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 39

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 39

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On Oct. 1, 1855, Mr. Austin was married in Stonington, Conn., to Sarah A. Gavitt, a native of Westerly, R. I., daughter of Charles P. and Hannah (Gavitt) Gavitt. She now resides upon the home farm at .North Franklin. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Austin were: Benajah, born Dec. 30, 1856, died at the age of thirteen years ; Sarah Louise, born April 17, 1859, married James O. Babcock, of Westerly, R. I., and has one child, Lewis Austin ; Mary Elizabeth, born May 31, 1862, married Dea- con Archibald Gallup, of Scotland, Conn., and they have one child, Winslow Sprague; a daughter and a son died in infancy unnamed ; Minnie Carrie, born Nov. 25, 1868, is the widow of William T. Bab- cock, and resides in Franklin (she has one daugh- ter, Martha).

In politics Mr. Austin was a Republican, and had served as a member of the board of selectmen of Franklin for many years, and he also held many of the other town offices, being active and influential in town affairs. Mr. Austin was one of the incor- porators of the Lebanon Creamery Association, and

served for a number of years as a director in same. Early in life he united with the Bay Church at Baltic, but after removing to Frank he attended the Baptist Church in Lebanon, later the Congregational Church at Franklin. death was preceded by failing health for sevo months, and the end came Sept. 26, 1902, when passed peacefully away, sustained by his faith in religious creed, and the love of those dear to h The funeral services were very largely attend friends and acquaintances gathering in large ni bers to do honor to one who in life had never fail in any duty, either as a private citizen or public ficial. The remains were tenderly laid to rest the Yantic cemetery in , Norwich.

Mr. Austin was a self-made man, progress in his ideas, and his methods of conducting affairs were, and are, followed by many of the b farmers and dairymen of the town. During th long happy married life Mr. and Mrs. Austin bored together," he always declaring that a la1 measure of his success was due to her industry a thrift, both in the household and in the manageme of their children. With him she always enjoyed 1 highest confidence of the community, and now in l widowhood there is added for this most excelle lady, the sympathy of those who knew Mr. Aus and appreciated his many noble traits of charact

WILLIAM SOULE, M. D., entered into rest May 15, 1900, in Jewett City, after an active 1! filled with good deeds. With respect to age he w! the oldest physician in the city, while the years his practice were more than a quarter of a centų in excess of any other practitioner here. He w essentially one of that fast-disappearing class-t family physician. For generations he administer to the ailments of his patients, from grandparents grandchildren-all knew him, employed him and b lieved in him. He was the confidant of all t. troubles-physical, mental, or financial-that bes the families in his clientele. Patient, gentle ai sympathetic, he was always the same courtly gentl man, whose own trials were put aside while he constantly ministered to others.

Born Aug. 24, 1827, in Chaplin, Conn., son Ivory and Marilla (Bingham) Soule, he was a d scendant of George Soule, who came to America the "Mayflower," and was the thirty-fifth signer the Cape Cod Compact, November, 1620. He wi at Plymouth,, and afterward (1643) settled Du: bury. He had a grant of one acre of land at Pl: mouth, which he sold to R. Hicks and Thomi Southworth. He was among those taxed in 163 He was a representative in 1645, and some yea: later was among the proprietors of Bridgewate Mass., as, in 1652, he had been among the purcha ers of Dartmouth. Mr. Soule married Mary Becke and their children were: (1) John. (2) George ir herited one half of his father's lands in Dartmout! (3) Benjamin was killed by the Indians in th

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

si ng of 1675. (4) Zachariah lived at Powder it and died in 1663. (5) Nathaniel inherited P la in Dartmouth. (6) Elizabeth married Francis W ker, of Middleboro, Mass. (7) Susannah. (8) y married John Patterson.

George Soule, the pilgrim, was one of the peti- tiders for a church in Duxbury. He died in 1680, VE old, and his wife passed away in 1677. There fcpwed the name in New England a long line of se captains-men always to the front in maritime af) rs.

Villiam Soule passed his early years in a typi- New England home. Taught habits of industry ca ar

frugality by his father, who at one time con- died a large boot and shoe factory, his Christian m her instilled in his mind those stern principles of m lity that characterized the early Puritans. His na re was gentle, and his disposition studious. His pr aratory studies were pursued in Woodstock Aclemy, and he became proficient in the ordinary litfary branches taught in the schools of the day, an early engaged in teaching. Determining to en- tei he professional world, he began the study of me cine, and graduated from Yale in 1851. After rec ving his degree in medicine he first located for pra ice at Pascoag, R. I., and then went to Hamp- to1 Conn. On October, 1854, he located at Jewett Ci: where he made his home until his death. For many years he conducted a drug store in connection wi his practice. When the Civil war broke out he

wa appointed assistant surgeon, with rank of cap- tai of the Ist Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and at the

nd of a year he was promoted to the position of suij on of the 21st Conn. V. I., and with the latter regfient was present at the battle of Fredericks- bu!

r. Soule was twice married. His first wife, Haliet A. Hall, daughter of Jeremiah Hall, of Ch lin, died in 1857. Three children of that union sur ve: Mary, teacher in the Jewett City schools ; Gedge, a physician at Wickford, R. I .; and Delia, wif of George Robinson, of Willimantic. For

his cond wife Dr. Soule married Martha P. Chap- ma: of Voluntown, who bore him two children : Car:, who married E. D. Cady, of Oxford, Mass. ; and Villiam O., at home. The family home was

d by Dr. Soule in 1857. In his political faith ere the octor was a Republican, and in his busy life al-

found time to keep abreast of the times. For way twe : years he was a member of the board of edu- cati , and for twenty-five years justice of the peace, dur ; twenty of which he was principal trial justice of

: town. His religious connection was with the ongregational Church, of which for several yeaı le was senior deacon, and for twenty-five years sup ntendent of the Sunday-school. Fraternally

liated with the K. P., holding membership in

he Un inted Lodge, in which he passed all the chairs, and : belonged to the Grand Lodge of Connecticut,. and as Supreme Representative of the Grand Lod of the World for four years. The Doctor's

mind was well stored, and he possessed the gift of easy, fluent speaking, never being at a loss for some- thing to say. He was a prominent figure at public meetings, and his genial presence has been greatly missed. In his death Jewett City suffered a loss that every citizen of the town felt was irreparable.

CHURCH. That branch of the Church family so worthily represented in Montville by Capt. Erastus Church and Capt. James Leander Church is directly descended from Col. Benjamin Church, who helped drive the Indians from Mount Hope, in the town of Montville. Benjamin Church was a son of Richard Church, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Rich- ard Warren, of Plymouth, Mass. His wife was Alice, daughter of Constant Southworth. The fam- ily coat of arms is as follows : Gules, a crosier, re- served, in bend sinister, surmounted by a sword in bend dexter, ppr., on a chief, argent, a thistle, leaved, also ppr. CREST: A hand holding a sword, erect between two branches of laurel entwined around the blade, all ppr. Over the crest the word "Virtue."

(I) Jonathan Church, the first member of the family in America of whom much is known, was a descendant of Richard Church, and an early settler in North Parish, New London, where he came from Colchester, Conn. A full record of his life is given in the sketch of Capt. Simeon Church. The children of Jonathan Church were: Jonathan, Fairbanks, Jo- seph and Peleg, the latter being the ancestor of Capt. Erastus and Capt. James Leander, through the fol- lowing line: Jonathan (1), Feleg, Sr., Peleg, Jr., Erastus, Erastus (2) and James Leander.

(II) Peleg Church, Sr., born about 1738, son of Jonathan Church (I) and Abigail Fairbanks, mar- ried Elizabeth Congdon, daughter of Jeremiah and Ann (Chapel) Congdon, of Montville. He was a blacksmith by trade, and first started a shop on the land he purchased of Joseph Church in 1764. He afterward moved on to the "Fort Hill" farm at Mohegan, in the town of Montville, where he is said to have lived for thirty years. He owned, in 1788, as is shown by the tax-list, thirty-five head of cattle, five horses and one hundred fifty sheep. He died previous to 1805. His children, all born in Mont- ville, were: Elizabeth, Peleg, Jr. (born about 1766), Sanford (born about 1768, married Sarah Monroe), and John (born about 1770, married Sarah Leach).

(III) Peleg Church, Jr., born about 1766, son of Peleg, Sr., and Elizabeth Congdon, married Mary Leach, daughter of John and Mary (Gray) Leach. He was a farmer and lived at Mohegan, town of Montville, where he died. His children, all born in Montville, were: (1) Erastus, born April 6, 1792, married (first) Nancy Ford, and (second) Fitche (Comstock) Church. (2) Peleg, born about 1793, married Jane Harrington, and had children, Jere- miah, Austin and Lydia. (3) Henry, born about 1795, married Parthena Bradford, and had children,

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Perez, Frank and Betsa. (4) Nancy, born about 1796, married Ebenezer Story. (5) Maria, born about 1798, married Joshua Rogers. (6) James B. married Julia O'Brien. (7) Lydia married Joseph Fuller. (8) Eliza, born April 2, 1800, married John Marwaring. (9) Harriet, married Samuel H. At- well. (10) William L. married Harriet Lucas. (II) Abby married George F. Dolbeare.

(IV) Erastus Church, born April 6, 1792, son of Peleg, Jr., and Mary (Leach) Church, married (first) about 1811, Nancy Ford, daughter of John Ford. After the death of his first wife he married Fitche (Comstock) Church, born about 1790, widow of George Whitman Church, of Montville, and daughter of Ebenezer and Desire (Comstock) Comstock, of Montville. She died Dec. 27, 1860. His children by his first wife, Nancy Ford, were as follows : (I) Mary, born Nov. 2, 1812, now lives in Norwich, the wife of a Mr. Carpenter. (2) Henry F., born June 5, 1814, married Caroline Church. He was master of vessels, and, off the coast of Patagonia, fell from aloft, while looking at a whale through his glass, and was killed. (3) Elisha R., born April 2, 1816, married (first) Augusta O'Brien, and (second) Mercy Williams. He was engaged in the oyster trade, and died in Preston, Conn. (4) Almira, born April 23, 1821, died Sept. 24, 1822. (5) Emeline, born Sept. 20, 1822, married (first) George Crans- ton, (second) Dr. King, of Norwich, Conn., and died in Norwich. (6) Tliza, born Jan. 16, 1824, mar- ried Nathan Champlin Chappell, of Montville, where she died. (7) Nancy, born Dec. 20, 1826, married Edward Burdette, of New London, Conn., and died in Brooklyn, N. Y. The children of Erastus Church by his second wife, Fitche (Comstock) Church, were as follows: (1) Capt. Erastus, born April 13, 1834, is mentioned below. (2) Charles E., born Feb. 14, 1837, died May 23, 1902, in Montville. He fol- lowed the sea for a number of years, and in 1872 returned to Montville and engaged in farming. He married Sept. 20, 1859, Isabella Utley Beebe, daugh- ter of Francis and Emeline (Comstock) Beebe, of New London. They had one daughter, Lottie Beebe, now Mrs. Jerome W. House, of Montville. (3) Nicholas W., born May 24, 1839, married (first) Ellen Congdon, and (second) Juliet Maynard. He is living in Montville, and for years was boss dyer at Uncasville. They have five children : Nellie, Clarence, Julian, Fanny and Abby.

Erastus Church was a farmer all his life, and in his younger days helped to improve about 1,500 acres of land in that part of Montville known as Mohegan, and had charge of the lands there inhab- ited by the Indians. He was of a social, pleasant nature, and well-liked by all who knew him. He served in the cavalry in the war of 1812, riding his own horse to the field of action. He was an old line Jeffersonian Democrat, and held several of the town offices. He was an industrious, hard-working man, and enjoyed good health the greater part of

his life. He retired from active farm work att twenty years before his death, which occurred Montville, June 10, 1882, when he was aged eig nine years. He was a member of the Unca gle Methodist Church.

The first husband of Fitche (Comstock) Chah was George Whitman Church, who was engage the fish and oyster trade on the Thames river, at fit time the leading industry among the resident n the banks of that stream. He met his death y drowning in the Thames, in the winter of 1833 le ice on which he was walking suddenly giving aky at Moses' Island, near Gale's Ferry. To him d his wife, Fitche Comstock, were born the fol - ing children : (1) Mary Ann Church, born Dec ff, 1815, married a Mr. Carpenter, of Norwich, Co. (2) James Leander (Capt.), born Jan. 19, 181 en Montville, is mentioned below. (3) George W. ) Electa, born Aug. 20, 1821, married (first) . tn Chapman, and (second) Levi Lester. (5) Duty died young.

(V) Capt. Erastus Church, born April 13, 3 was the eldest son of Erastus and Fitche (C. stock) Church. He was born in Montville, C where he attended school until he was fifteen y of age. After leaving school, having a liking r the water, he went to sea on a whaling voyage, ing from New London, with Capt. Charles O. B ster, on the "Phoenix," a vessel which had be ja privateer in the war of 1812. On this voyage was gone about thirty months. He then saileden the "Jefferson," Capt. James Williams, remai on board twenty months, and leaving the vess Honolulu, from whence he took sail on the "M ark," of Stonington, Conn., Capt. Dickens, of W erly. He remained on this vessel some six months as third mate. He then returned home shortly sailed as second mate with Capt. Ster Bolles, on the "Iris," this voyage lasting about th months. He then became mate of the brig "G. gianna," Capt. George Tyson, remaining with about fifteen months. After this he sailed on e "George Henry," as mate with Capt. Christopfr Chapin. They set sail March 12, 1863, anch August, 1863, the vessel was lost in Hudson Str the ice driving her onto the shore. They abandod her as she had been cut in two. Her crew was pic je up by Capt. Spicer, who succeeded in getting provision from the wreck. Capt. Church retur 1 home on the "Monticello," and soon again set 1

on the "Pioneer," Capt. Ebenezer Morgan, know "Rattler" Morgan. They were gone fifteen mo: S and eleven days, and brought back a $220,000 ca . On this voyage Capt. Church was mate of : vessel.

Capt. Church then went to Friendship, A- gany Co., N. Y., and for a year was engaged farming. He then returned to Montville and - gaged in farming for another year, but his fo- ness for the water again asserted itself, and he ( : more sailed as mate with Capt. Christopher Chap 1

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

on yea Ca

e bark "E. B. Phillips," this covering about one After this he sailed on the bark "Niles," John Williams, as mate, to the Antarctic Ocn, on a fur sealing voyage, being gone about months, and returning with 5,301 fur seal and about 600 barrels of sperm oil. The skins cht about 130 to 160 English shillings each, or verage of $40 each, in all a cargo of about 000 value. He and Capt. Williams were then

eig ski brc an $20 fitt out by Lawrence Brothers, of New London, on :hooner, "Golden West," and were gone about months on a sealing voyage. Capt. Church nex sailed as mate with Capt. Simeon Church, on

the eig the Charles Colgate" on a sealing voyage, on which the were gone eight months. He then went to New Beord, Mass., and sailed from there as master of the essel, "Franklin," on a whaling voyage, which occ ied about fifteen months. He then sailed from the ime port on a new vessel, the "Adelia Chase," beingone sixteen months, and on his return being fitt sea esti hur "G‹

out for another voyage around Cape Horn in 1 of seals. During this voyage Capt. Church ates he passed around Cape Horn about one 'ed times. He then became master of the ge and Mary," out of New Bedford on a whang voyage, on which he was gone for fifteen is. He next sailed as mate, but on an equal tage with the captain, on the "Tamerlane," w Bedford, on a whaling voyage, but left the at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. He then ted home, and was quarantined on account of ellow fever epidemic in Pensacola, Florida. ext voyage was as mate of the "Colgate," with elev

mo: per of ves: rett the His Ca

Benjamin Rogers. They were gone about months, returning with 1,250 barrels of sea- Chi h gave up whaling voyages after this expedi- and was engaged in the coal trade between elep nt oil, taken from Desolation Islands. Capt. tior No1 and

lk, Va., and Philadelphia, New York, Boston, ortland, Maine, until Sept. 3, 1897, when he reti1 [ from the water, and has since been engaged in f ning and in the ice business. He has earned a w 1-deserved rest from the water, having fol- low it for about forty-seven years.

June 1, 1859, Capt. Church married Helen wyer, daughter of Jeremiah Sawyer, of Mont- Their children, all born in Montville, are as fol- (1) Irving B., born April 23, 1860, married

ville lows Hat M. Weaver, of Lebanon. He is engaged in at business in Lebanon. Their children are

the Ern and Roy. (2) Winnifred S., born April 20, married Frederick L. Clark, of Willimantic,

186 a sto : and horse dealer in Providence, R. I. They have o children. (3) Oscar, born Dec. 12, 1872, is eng: ed with his father in the ice business. Fra-

tern: y Capt. Church is connected with Union Lod F. & A. M., of New London. In political prin

le he is a Democrat, but votes for the man whoin his opinion, is best fitted for the office. He has ved on the town board of assessors.

OPT. JAMES LEANDER CHURCH, born Jan. 19,

1819, in Montville, was, as before stated, the second child of George Whitman Church and Fitche Com- stock. He attended the district schools of his na- tive town, but left his studies when quite young. He had a fondness for the water, and when a mere lad went to sea on a whaling voyage. By close appli- cation to the duties of his place he early earned the confidence of his captain, and under his instructions studied navigation, fitting himself for the intelligent performance of the responsible duties which after- ward devolved upon him as an officer. In his deal- ings with his crew he was ever kind, though a thor- ough disciplinarian, and was greatly beloved by his men.

From the time he was eighteen for over forty years Capt. Church was engaged in whaling voyages. He sailed from New London for the Lawrences, with the old whaling fleet which traversed the north- ern and southern waters in search of seals and whales. In the course of his voyaging he visited all quarters of the globe, going seal fishing in the Indian Ocean, and whaling off the coast of Green- land, and making a record as a skillful captain. Among the vessels which he commanded were the "Roswell King," the "Golden West," on which he went to Desolation Islands, the bark "Erie," and the "E. B. Phillips," which he navigated on a whaling trip to Greenland. In 1883 he experienced his first shipwreck, about 100 miles off Montauk Point. At the time he was captain of the "Flying Fish," which had just returned from the South Shetland Islands off Cape Horn. With this experience he gave up the seafaring life and located in Montville, where he purchased a farm at the head of Haughton's Cove, the well remembered place of his boyhood days. There he lived until ten years before his death, when he exchanged his farm for property in Norwich, and built a summer home in Montville, spending the winter months in Providence, R. I. He always looked forward with the greatest pleasure to the time passed at his summer cottage.

Capt. Church married in Providence, Anstiss Wentworth Sweet, daughter of Nathaniel and Bet- sey (Ellis) Sweet, of Providence. Their children, all born in Providence, were as follows: (I) Ans- tiss Virginia, married (first) Alvah Crawley, of Norwich, to which union were born two children : Charles and Edgar, and (second) Harvey H. Lath- rop, of Norwich, Conn., there being no children of this union. (2) Nathaniel Sweet, who is a travel- ing salesman, married Lillian Atwood, of Provi- dence, R. I., and they have one son, Arthur Sweet Church. (3) Mason Burnsides is a registered phar- macist, living in Providence, R. I. He married Annabella Guest, and they have one son, Mason B. Church, Jr. (4) James Arthur died in Montville at the age of seventeen years.

Capt. James Leander Church died at his winter home in Providence, R. I., Jan. 15, 1901, at the age of eighty-two, from an illness incident to old age. He was a Democrat in politics, but never cared for

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

office. Of a quiet, unassuming nature, he was a man who loved his home above all else. He was, perhaps, the last survivor of the older generation of whaling captains, and was well-known and highly respected throughout his native State of Connecti- cut, where he was everywhere familiarly known as "Captain Jim."

FREDERIC BILL, of Groton, son of the late Hon. Gurdon Bill and a descendant in the seventh generation from John Bill, the immigrant ancestor of this branch of the Bill family, through Phillip, Joshua, Phineas, and Joshua (2), was born in that part of the old town of Groton, which is now Led- yard, Sept. 7, 1833.

His early life was spent upon the home farm. He was educated in the public schools, Robert's Academy at Poquetanuck, and Suffield Literary In- stitute, afterward teaching school in the western part of his native town. Though successful as a teacher, he chose a more active life, and traveled in the Brit- ish Provinces, visiting Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, subse- quently spending a considerable time in the South and West in the sale of books.

On May 19, 1858, Mr. Bill was married to Lucy G. Denison, daughter of Nathan F. Denison, of Groton. In 1856 he became a partner of his brother Gurdon in the book publishing business at Spring- field, Mass., continuing in the business until the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861, when he disposed of his interest to his brother. In 1865, after the close of the war, he engaged in the importa- tion and manufacture of linen goods under the firm name of Tracy & Bill, with an office and salesroom in New York City. In 1870 he purchased the inter- est of his partner, disposing of his entire business, and retiring from commercial life in 1873. The fol- lowing year he made a tour of Europe with his wife, spending a year abroad. In 1872 he purchased a farm in Groton, Conn., near the mouth of the river Thames, where he still resides. His wife died April 2, 1894. On Aug. 14, 1895, he married Julia O. Avery, daughter of E. D. Avery, of Groton, im- mediately going abroad, visiting many countries on the continent, including Norway, Sweden and Spain, and extending his travels to Egypt and the river Nile.

In 1888 Mr. Bill presented to a board of trustees for the use of the inhabitants of Groton a library in memory of his deceased sisters, which was in- corporated under the title of the Bill Memorial Li- brary, and in 1890 he erected a granite library build- ing at a cost, including grounds, etc., of nearly $20,- 000, which he also presented to the trustees of the library. Subsequently he gave the board of trustees $10,000, as an endowment fund.

As chairman of the building committee, it was largely due to Mr. Bill's taste and financial aid that the Congregational Church of Groton, was enabled to build its present beautiful house of worship. Al-

though declining political preferment, he has by means been indifferent to public affairs, and has ways been found ready to give his aid and supj to the worthy enterprises of his town. Mr. Bill director in the Chelsea Savings Bank of Norw and in other institutions.

HIRAM COOK. The name of Cook has b familiar in the annals of Connecticut and New L don county, since the early Colonial period, and well represented in the present generation by Hil Cook, a civil and hydraulic engineer of Norwich which town he is an influential and prominent cf zen. He is a lineal descendant of Richard Coc who moved to Norwich (now Preston), probably the latter part of 1680, and took possession o thirty-acre tract of land deeded him that year Greenfield Larrabee, in consideration that (Cooke) should live thereon with his family at le five years. He bought other land of Oneco, al was granted several tracts by Norwich, of wh town he became a citizen.

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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 39

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

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