Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 38

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1568


USA > Connecticut > New London County > Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families > Part 38


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(I) John Tift (or Teft or Tefft as the name is variously spelled), a brother of William Tefft, of Boston, lived in Portsmouth, Kingston, R. I. He died in 1676, and his wife Mary died in 1679. Mr. Tift was a freeman, 1655, and was recorded as an inhabitant of Pottaquamscott in 1671. Issue : Sam- uel, Joshua, Tabitha.


(II) Samuel Teft, born in 1644, in Providence, married Elizabeth Jenckes, who was born in 1658 and died in 1740, a daughter of Joseph and Esther (Ballard) Jenckes and a sister to Joseph Jenckes, deputy-governor of Rhode Island. Issue: John, Samuel, Peter, Sarah, Elizabeth, Esther, Mary, Tabitha and Mercy. Samuel Teft was a freeman, 1677 ; was taxed in Kingston, 1687, and was one of twenty-seven who, in 1709, bought the tract of land called Swamptown, being part of vacant lands in Narragansett ordered sold by the General Assembly.


(III) John Tefft married Joanna Sprague, daughter of Jonathan and Mehetabel (Holbrook) Sprague, and resided in South Kingstown. He died


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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


in 1760, and she in 1757. Issue: John (born Dec. 4, 1699), Joseph, Samuel, James (born April 21, '1715), Nathan, Mary, Mercy, Mehetabel, Tabitha and Sarah. Mr. John Teft was one of those engaged in the Shannock Purchase in 1703. Previous to his death he had given his son Joseph a tract of land in Richmond, Rhode Island.


(IV) Joseph Tefft married Feb. 22, 1729, Esther Brownell (of record in South Kingstown), and had issue : Elizabeth, born Dec. 20, 1730; William, Feb. 29, 1732 ; Joseph, March 19, 1737; Benjamin, June 3, 1741 ; Esther, Aug. 6, 1743; Thomas, Nov. 10, 1745; Sarah, Aug. 24, 1747 ; and Samuel, Aug. 27, 1749 (all born in Richmond).


(V) Joseph Tefft was born March 19, 1737. He was the father of Solomon.


(VI) Solomon Tift married Eunice Burrows, daughter of Amos and Mary (Rathbun) Burrows, of Groton, Conn., Dec. 2, 1779.


(VII) Mary Tift married Wanton Briggs, Senior.


CAPT. JAMES ALLYN BILLINGS (de- ceased) was one of the prominent citizens of Led- yard, where he was held in high esteem by his fel- low townsmen. He was born in Ledyard on the farm which for many generations had been in the possession of the Billings family, and which is now occupied by his granddaughter, and her husband, William I. Allyn.


Capt. Billings was the son of Stephen and Martha ( Allyn) Billings, and received a good, sound education. He began, when quite young, to teach school, and was a successful teacher during winter and summer seasons in Ledyard and neighboring places, until he was thirty years of age. He then settled down to farming on the home place, and there passed the remainder of his life, dying Dec. 7, 1896. On Dec. 28, 1852, Capt. Billings married Margaret J. Allyn, who was born in Ledyard, Nov. 17, 1834, daughter of Abel and Mary ( Hakes) Allyn. Their children were as follows: (I) Martha B. married Orrin E. Stoddard, who is a wealthy retired grain merchant .of Middletown, Conn. Of their four chil- dren, two daughters and one son are living, one daughter having passed away. (2). Mary Jane mar- ried Benjamin J. Gardner ; their home was in Gro- ton, where Mrs. Gardner died, leaving two chil- dren. One of these has since died ; the other, Martha A., is the wife of William I. Allyn, of Ledyard. (3) Stephen Allyn married Blanche Hall, and they have five children. Their home is in Meriden, where Mr. Billings is in the grain business. (4) Anna Estella married Henry P. Hallock, and became the mother of five children, of whom four are living. Mr. Hal- lock is manager of a large dairy establishment at Brooklyn, N. Y., and the family home is at Wood- haven, Long Island.


Capt. Billings served in the old local militia, and there gained his rank and title. In early life he was an adherent of the Whig party, and later became a


Republican. At one time and another he held n fiy every office which was within the gift of his forw citizens. He represented his town in the Legislafre for one term, was town clerk for a number of yies, and held the office of judge of probate until - empted from office by age. He was a man of mais and of great capability in many directions and sessed the respect and confidence of everyone. f.e was an earnest member of the Ledyard Congi t- tional Church, as is also his widow. Mrs. Bill's still lives on the old farm, where her entire ma ad life was passed.


CHESTER. The Chester family is one o: oldest in Connecticut, and Nathan Chester, the ternal great-grandfather of Wayland Morgan ( ter, was born April 14, 1765, on the Chester : near Eastern Point, in Groton, New London cou ... He passed his entire life in his native town, fol - ing farming on the old homestead (which is nov cupied by Judge A. S. Chester), and lived tofe good old age of ninety-one years. He married gail Walworth, daughter of Elijah Walworth, [d they became the parents of nine children, all now ceased, and of whom we have the following rec Nathan removed to Delaware, Ohio, and bec fe president of the Ohio Wesleyan University. Cha . the grandfather of Wayland Morgan, is mentiod below. Elijah was a resident of Noank. Ab. il died in infancy. Emily married Frank Ingham,Hi lived in Cleveland, Ohio. Asa and Eldredge, tv li, were residents of Kankakee, Ill., and Albion, N respectively. Daniel lived in Noank. Albert res at Noank.


Charles Chester was born in- Noank, Feb. 1793, and passed the greater part of his life in t place, engaged in the fishery business and boatbu 1


ing. He was industrious and unassuming, a :1 of very quiet disposition, and an earnest membe the Baptist Church. He married Betsey Wil who was born Nov. 3, 1800, and they had a farli of four children, viz. : William, born July 22, Ii who died in 1863 ; Delia, born June 22, 1825, wie? of George Chipman, of Noank ; Charles Ira, t1 May 2, 1834; and Daniel Webster, born Jan. 1839. The father of these died Dec. 28, 1849, [' mother surviving until 1884.


Capt. Charles Ira Chester was born May 2, 12| near his present residence in Noank, and there |- ceived his education. But his school days were si over, for he was but ten years of age when he w : on the water with his father, and after the latt ; death he engaged with other fishermen. At the : of twenty-two years he became master of the sl "Fulton," fishing off Nantucket. Later he built "Restless," which he ran until he sold her in I8 Capt. Chester was engaged in the coasting trade sixteen years, and besides the commands mentio already he served as master of the "Trium (which was lost near Stamford), "Agnes" ( years), and "William C. Bee" (ten years). In I


159


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


he fol


tired from the coasting trade, and he has since ved the water only in summer time.


n Feb. 2, 1869, in Noank, Capt. Chester mar- ried Miss Harriet Morgan, daughter of Roswell Au uni Ha 22, stus Morgan, and three sons have blessed this : Wayland Morgan, born March 10, 1870 ; : Wilbur, born Nov. 27, 1872, who died Oct. 387; and Daniel Webster, born Oct. 31, 1876. TheCaptain and his wife reside on Pearl street, in


No: <, and he is one of the most highly respected resil nts of his locality.


AYLAND MORGAN CHESTER, born March IO, I87 began his education in the public schools of Noak, and subsequently attended Mystic Valley Instite-in preparation for Colgate University, fro which he was graduated in 1894, with the de- gree Col wor of A. B. He further pursued his studies in e University, where he took post-graduate n biology, receiving the degree of A. M. from stitution in 1896. Since then he has been en- there, first as instructor, and now as profes-


that gag sor Biology. During the summer of 1896, he stud 1 in the Biological Laboratory of the Brooklyn te of Arts and Sciences, at Cold Spring Har- Inst


bor, . I .; in the summers of 1898 and 1900 he stud I at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Wood's Holl Mass. During his post-graduate life at Col- gate e was assistant in geology and natural his- tory. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi and the ] i Beta Kappa fraternities. Mr. Chester mar-


of N gan July


ried ura Davis, daughter of Capt. Henry E. Davis, nk, and they have had three children: Mor- iott, born Jan. 15, 1900; Harry Wilbur, born , 1901, and Margaret Ashbey, born Jan. 21, His religious connection is with the Baptist


I904 Chur


D iel Webster Chester received his early educa- tion i Noank, and later was a pupil at the Bulkeley hool, in New London, and the Connecticut y Institute, at Suffield, before entering Col- niversity, from which he was graduated in He has, like his brother, made a specialty of Biolo Harv ın tea , and did post-graduate work in that line at 1 in 1902-03. 'For two years he was engaged ing at New London, N. H., and he is at teaching biology in Colby College, Water-


prese Fille, aine. He was a member of the Beta Theta · at college. In religion he is a member of he B tist Church.


New nd s nd h bout nowl New as o


W LIAM A. HOLT, in his lifetime one of ndon's leading business men and prominent stantial citizens, is descended from a long orable ancestry. (I) William Holt, born SIO, is the first of whom there is definite ge. On July 1, 1644, he was a signer of the aven constitution. His original home lot Water street, and it comprised ten acres. bout 575 he removed to Wallingford. His wife's hrist i name was Sarah, and three of their chil- e baptized in her right in July, 1656. Mr.


Holt died in Wallingford Sept. 1, 1683, aged seven- ty-three years. His widow married (second) Dea- con William Peck. To William and Sarah Holt were born children, as follows: John, Nathaniel, Mercy, Eleazer, Thomas, Joseph and Benjamin.


(II) Sergeant Nathaniel Holt, son of William, was born in 1647, in New Haven. In 1673 he re- moved to New London. He held the rank of ser- geant in King Philip's war, was at the Great Swamp fight in the Narragansett country, and was wounded in one of his shoulders, on that occasion, Dec. 19, 1675. While a resident of New London he fol- lowed the trade of ship carpenter. He married (first) April 5, 1680, Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Millicent (Ash) Beebe, who died in 1689. After her death Mr. Holt removed to Newport, R. I., and there had a second wife of whom little is known. He died at Newport May 28, 1723.


(III) Nathaniel Holt (2), son of Sergeant Na- thaniel, was born July 18, 1683, in New London. On Dec. 20, 1706, he married Phebe Tomlin, who died at New London Jan. 3, 1739. He died March 19, 175I. Their children were: Elizabeth, William, Phebe and Nathaniel.


(IV) Nathaniel Holt (3), son of Nathaniel (2), was born in New London, Feb. 28, 1715. On July 29, 1735, he married Mary, daughter of Thomas Strickland. She died Feb. 14, 1793, aged seventy- six years, and he died about 1770. Their children were: Nathaniel, Nathaniel (2), Thomas, James, Peter, Phebe, and several who died in infancy un- named.


(V) Thomas Holt, son of Nathaniel (3), was born in New London, in 1743. On Sept. 24, 1769, he married Martha Morgan, and they had twelve children. Their family, however, seemed pursued by some fatality as nine of their children died before reaching the age of seventeen. The children were: Thomas, James, Nathaniel, Dolly, James (2), Martha, Nathaniel (2), Mary, Martha (2), and three unnamed.


(VI) James Holt, son of Thomas, was born March 19, 1778. In 1797, he married Jerusha, widow of John Coffrey. 'Mr. Holt died in 1824. His children were: Nancy, Thomas, Nathaniel, Harriet, Mary and Phebe.


(VII) Nathaniel Holt, son of James, was born April 3, 1804, and in 1825, he wedded Hester Mor- rison. He died in 1832, and his widow then married Jefferson Avery, of New London. To Nathaniel and Hester Holt were born the following children : Nathaniel, born May 26, 1827, died in 1832; and William A., born Feb. 23, 1829, both in New Lon- don county.


William A. Holt, mentioned above as a son of Nathaniel, acquired his education in the common schools of his native town. At the early age of twelve years he entered upon his business career as a clerk in the grocery store of John Douglas, and before he attained his majority he was familiar with the ways of the commercial world. Going to New


high Liter gate 1900


Pi wl


ren


162


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Waterman, who was one of the most prominent citi- zens of Lebanon ; Nancy F. died Sept. 4, 1850, aged fifty-eight years, unmarried ; Jeremiah is mentioned later; James Fitch entered Yale College at the age of seventeen years, being at that time the youngest student ever admitted, became a lawyer at Hartford, and defended the Masonic order during the Morgan episode, but owing to the strong factional feeling he left that city and went to Lockport, N. Y., and died there May 25, 1836; Sarah died unmarried, April 9, 1866, aged sixty-six years; Alfred went West in early life, and died there; William was a farmer and died in Lebanon, May 28, 1840, aged thirty-five years ; and Edward.


HON. JEREMIAH MASON, above mentioned, was born in the family home, March 4, 1795. His edu- cational advantages were of a limited nature, yet by that same energy which had always marked his progress, he acquired a good, practical education. His life work was farming, and by frugality, per- severance and sound business judgment he became one of the largest and best farmers of Lebanon. In family relations he was in every way admirable, serving as a kind and tender father to the children of his deceased brother Edward. After the latter's death he invited the widow and the three children, the eldest thirteen, and the youngest three years of age, to make their home with him and his two sis- ters, expressing a wish that the family might be kept together, and he spared no expense that a father could bestow upon his children. This was but one phase of his character, for he was very liberal to the church as well as charitable to the poor. Through life he was always attracted by children, and they reciprocated his kind feelings. He never married. Jeremiah Mason was a man of progressive ideas and kept abreast of the times, attending to the demands of business according to modern methods. In poli- tics he was a Republican, and while of a quiet, pa- cific nature, delighting most in his own home fire- side, his realization of the duties of good citizenship induced his acceptance of the office of representative in 1862. He was universally respected, and had a wide circle of most attached friends. Mr. Mason's days were prolonged on the earth, his death taking place May 7, 1886, at the age of ninety-one years, and he was buried in the cemetery west of Lebanon Green.


Edward Mason, the youngest child of James Fitch Mason, was born in Lebanon, and was reared to farm work. He obtained his education in the dis- trict schools and remained at home until his mar- riage. Soon after this event he removed to the town of Franklin, near Yantic, where he engaged in a butchering business. Later he removed to a farm in Goshen, the Jeremiah Mason (2) farm, and was prospering when he was stricken with some fell disease, while apparently in the best of health, and died March 30, 1849, aged thirty-nine years. In politics he was a Whig. In 1834, he married Phy- lura O. Stiles, born Jan. 4, 1814, at Guilford, Conn.,


daughter of Edmund and Wealthy (Loomis) files, extended mention of this prominent family Being found elsewhere. She in widowhood marrie Gid- eon Hoxie, of Lebanon, and she died in Noveber, 1860, leaving one child, George H. Hoxie ! The children of Edward and Phylura O. Mason James Fitch ; Nancy Fitch resides on the hon lead in Lebanon ; George Edward died April 10, 42, aged four years ; William Alfred enlisted in t 8th Reg. Conn. V. I., at the age of seventeen year ur- ing the Civil war, and lived but six months, ling at Newbern, N. C., May 2, 1862, an early vic of the Rebellion; and Jeremiah died Feb. 20, 446 aged four months.


James Fitch Mason, the eldest of the above ily, was born Dec. 22, 1835, near Yantic, the south part of the town of Franklin. He was It a youth when his father died, and he was reared ler the kind care of his uncle Jeremiah. His edu on was secured in the district schools and the Cor ti- cut Literary Institute at Suffield, and after le ing school he returned to the farm, and assisted his cle until the time of his marriage. This event was de possible by the continued kindness of his reve, who presented him a farm of 175 acr to which he removed, and where he has ever sin fe- sided. This home place is now a very valuablead desirable piece of property, owing its improver fits in the way of buildings to our subject, who in 4- 85 erected the present handsome residence, o of the best in Franklin. He has also added acrea. to his farm, and now owns some 600 acres of land frt of which are located in both the towns of Lelion and Franklin. Mr. Mason has made the growi pof stock his leading employment, and has met wit cellent success. In past years he has been paal to Durham cattle, and always kept large herds vých have attracted much favorable attention and re been exhibited many times. He has also fatt d and shipped beef for market, by his thorough kr !- edge and good management making this a very vf- itable business. As he has the management ofis sister Nancy's farming interests in his carefie operates about 1,100 acres of land, and hand a large amount of live stock, but during the past .y years has turned much of his agricultural bus is over to his son and son-in-law. Mr. Mason maje said to have one fad, if fad it be, and that is e possession of some fine, high-bred horses. Hen admirer of the noble beast, and is one of the it enthusiastic members of the Gentlemen's Drig Club at Norwich.


On Nov. 5, 1861, Mr. Mason was married Fannie G. Hoxie, born April 18, 1833, daughte Samuel and Phebe A. (Lillibridge) Hoxie, exter 1 mention of this family being found elsewhere. children of Mr. and Mrs. Mason are: (1) Wil. Alfred, born March 25, 1863, obtained his ed tional training in the district schools, Willi Academy and Eastman's Business College at Pot keepsie, N. Y. He assists his father and relic


JEREMIAH MASON.


163


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


hin of many of the active duties of the large estate. O1 [an. 26, 1888, he married Mary R. Gay, born 15, 1858, daughter of the late William R. Gay,


Ja:


No of ·banon, and they have children as follows: Al- fre Gay, born Feb. 13, 1889; Harold James, born II, 1891; Edward William, born May 29, 18d ; and Marion Nancy, born March 9, 1900. (2) Fa y Fitch, born Aug. 12, 1871, married, Nov. 16, 18 Frederick W. Hoxie, a farmer who assists in the peration of Mr. Mason's estate. Mr. and Mrs. Hoe have had children as follows: Frederick Jai s, born July 3, 1896, died in April, 1900 ; Her- bei Mason, born Aug. 19, 1897; and Mabel Gladys, boi Nov. 5, 1899.


politics Mr. Mason has always been identified wit the Republican party, but has had no political ations. He has been active, however, in all


asp ma rs pertaining to the advancement of the agri- cul ral interests of this section, and served for ma : years as president of the Lebanon Creamery Association. Through his encouragement and that of orge E. Hewitt, the business was continued and ma profitable to the stockholders, at a time when it vs threatened with disaster. He was a charter member of the Grange, but at present does not be- lon: :o that organization. Mrs. Mason is an active me1 er of the Congregational Church, and Mr. Man has been its chorister for the past forty-six yea His early musical talent was cultivated at the Bosn Conservatory 'of Music. Mr. Mason is kno 1 all through this section of the State, and en- joy: The esteem of those with whom he has either bus ess or social relations. He impresses a stranger as a han of character and firmness, and such is the esti te given by his fellow-citizens.


IARLES H. KENYON, in his lifetime a well kno 1 figure in the manufacturing world of Con- nect it, was born in Richmond, R. I., Aug. 21, 1829 a son of Lewis and Ann (Sherman) Kenyon (the son Rho Lew she ather also a native of Richmond), and a grand- Elijah Kenyon, an early settler of "Little "-Rhode Island. Of the eleven children of Kenyon but one, Miss Susan, is living, and sides at the old home at Kenyon, Rhode Isla1 T


. Kenyon received a liberal education in the scho ; of his native village and in an Academy at Nor Scituate, R. I., and then made use of his ad- vant


es by teaching in Richmond. His early work was the mills with his father, and in young man- hood ie came to Connecticut, locating at Laurel-


glen, his State. There he became engaged in wool acturing, and continued in that line until


man 1861 when he located in Norwich and bought the mills 1 South Coventry, Tolland Co., Conn., which he d oted to wool manufacturing as long as he While he always devoted the greater part


was Con


lived of h ime and attention to wool manufacturing, he terested in the cotton mills at Bozrahville, ticut.


Mr. Kenyon was a Republican in politics, but, while always interested in public matters, he was of too retiring a disposition to care to pose in the fierce light that shines on those in official position. He was of kindly disposition, charitable in his views, and consistently carried into the walks of every-day life the simple, unaffected manners of the old-time Quakers, in whose faith he, had been reared. His ideas were progressive, and he was ever ready to adopt new methods in his business. He was just and considerate in his rule, and his employes looked to him as a friend they honored and respected, and who would, in need, stand faithfully by them. He died Sept. 20, 1891, and was laid to rest at Kenyon, Rhode Island.


In 1861, in Stonington, Conn., Mr. Kenyon was united in marriage with Emeline Newell Bentley, who was born in that town, a daughter of Russell and Susan (Stanton) Bentley. Three children blessed this union: (I)? Carrie Stanton married William S. Slocum, a merchant at Brookline, Mass., and has two children, Rodney Kenyon and Stanton Farrier. (2) Charles Henry, who is treasurer of the National Machinery Co., at Providence, R. I., married Clara Hankey, of Arlington, N. J., and has one child, Clarice. (3) A son died in infancy. Mrs. Kenyon survives her husband, and still plays an im- portant part in the social life of Norwich. She is a member of Faith Trumbull Chapter, D. A. R., and is a member of Broadway Congregational Church.


The Bentley family, to which Mrs. Kenyon be- longs, is descended from William Bentley, who came to New England in the ship "Arabella" in 1671.


The Stanton family, to which Mrs. Kenyon is related in the maternal line, is traced to Capt. Thomas Stanton, the first ancestor in America, who embarked at London, England, Jan. 2, 1635, in the merchant ship "Bonaventura," bound first for Vir- ginia, and thence to Boston. He settled in Hart- ford, Conn., in 1637, and there married Ann, daugh- ter of Dr. Thomas and Dorothy Lord, of Hartford. .


JAMES LEWIS AUSTIN (deceased) was one of the leading and prominent farmers of the town of Franklin, and he belonged to an old and honored family of Rhode Island, of which State he was a native.


Pardon Austin, father of James Lewis, was born Aug. 20, 1788, and during his active life, was a resident of Charlestown, R. I. He learned the trade of tanner, at which he worked in early life, but later devoted his attention exclusively to farming. After giving up active work, he went to Franklin in 1872, and there resided with his son James L., until his death, which occurred April 29, 1877. His remains were buried in River Bend Cemetery, Westerly, R. I. His death was due to old age, for he had been a man of excellent health. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a Republican ; and his religious connection was with the Baptist Church at Charles- town. R. I. He married Nancy Sheffield, born Nov.


164


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


20, 1792, in Charlestown, R. I., and she died in that town in 1859. The children born of this union were : (1) Stanton, Sept. 14, 1812, was a Methodist min- ister, and was located for many years at Hopkinton, R. I., where he died. He was married twice. (2) Mathew, born Feb. 14, 1817, married Mary Hull. He was a stone mason, and lived and died in Westerly, R. I. (3) Charles P., Sept. 10, 1822, was drowned at sea when a young man. (4) James Lewis was born Oct. 22, 1829. (5) Ann Maria, born Sept. 9, 1832, married George Boss, and resides at Hope Valley, Rhode Island.


James Lewis Austin was born in Charlestown, R. I. In the winter seasons he went to the district school, and during the summers he worked at farm tasks. While a boy yet in his teens, he went to sea on a whaling vessel, and made several voyages, some of them covering one or more years. He gave up whaling voyages, however, and was engaged in the coasting trade as mate, for two years. He then began farming on a rented farm in Charlestown, and there continued three years. In 1862 he re- moved to Norwich Town, Conn., and resided on two different rented farms, which were located along the Baltic road, remaining nine years, until 1871, when he settled in Franklin, again upon rented land, ad- joining the farm which he later purchased. The latter is now owned by Abial Browning, but was then in the possession of George E. Hewitt. . There he lived for about eleven years, or until 1882, when he purchased the adjoining farm from Lathrop Williams, consisting of 130 acres, He added to this property, and at the time of his death owned over 180 acres. Upon this .farm he made very exten- sive improvements, erecting a large barn and a silo, and was recognized as one of the prominent dairy- men in the town. He also had a reputation for breeding fancy Swiss stock, and was successful in all his undertakings.




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