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 8

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

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The Continental Congress was slow in recogniz-

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing such appointments, and when, at last, Trum- bull's commissison arrived, it bore a date several months later than the date of the appointment, at which he took great offense, returning his commis- sion to Congress, accompanied by a letter, written Feb. 22, 1777, which was rather more spirited than respectful. This terminated his official connection with the army. It was during his service in the Northern army that he made a discovery, which, had his advice been followed, would have made a great difference in the campaign. In August, 1776, when the army was posted at Fort Ticonderoga and in its vicinity, Trumbull insisted that the posi- tion would be untenable if the enemy should occupy Mount Defiance, bringing artillery to bear from that commanding point. He was laughed to scorn by his seniors, who claimed that the point was out of range and that it would be impossible to carry even light artillery to the summit. Both these state- ments Trumbull had the satisfaction of controvert- ing by actual experiment, but the position remained unoccupied by the Americans. Burgoyne later ad- vanced upon the position, "established a battery of heavy guns on the summit of Mount Defiance, the shot from which plunged into the old French fort and lines, so that, as I [Trumbull] had predicted, the whole position became untenable, and was im- mediately abandoned."

In this year, 1777, he went to Boston for the purpose of resuming his studies in art, but finding no suitable instructor, he was at last persuaded to go to London, with letters of introduction to Ben- jamin West, under whose auspices he was much helped and encouraged in the pursuit of his chosen profession. While in London, on the 15th of No- vember, 1780, when the news of the capture and execution of Andre was received, Trumbull was arrested on the charge of being in the military serv- ice of the Americans, and was kept in prison for seven months, still practicing painting, and finally released on bail, West and Copley being his sureties. His release was upon the condition of his leaving the kingdom within thirty days, not to return until peace should be declared between Great Britain and America.

After a trip to Holland and a perilous voyage to America he remained at or near his home, engaged principally in assisting his brother in carrying out a contract for supplies for the army. He passed a part of this time at headquarters on the North river, where he renewed his acquaintance with Washing- ton, who received him kindly. Upon the declaration of peace, and contrary to the advice of his father and the previous advice of the President of Har- vard College, he resumed his career as an artist, continuing it uninterruptedly to the time of his death, passing much of his time in London and in Continental Europe. He married, rather mysteri- ously, an English lady in London, a woman of rare beauty and of noble birth.

Trumbull is principally known as an historical

painter, who, far more than any other America artist, has commemorated the important events ( his times by paintings familiar to every schoolbc of to-day. Principal among these are: The Batt of Bunker Hill, The Death of Montgomery, Th Sortie from Gibraltar, The Declaration of Indepenc. ence, The Surrender of Cornwallis, Capture of th Hessians at Trenton, The Battle of Princeton, Th Surrender of Burgoyne, The Resignation of Gen eral Washington. He was also noted as a portrai painter. The largest collection of his works, which is in the Yale School of Fine Arts, was given to Yale University during his life, under an agreemen for an annuity, at a time when he had reached ad vanced age. [See Autobiography, Reminiscence and Letters, by John Trumbull, 1841; John Trum bull: a brief sketch of his life, to which is added a catalogue of his works; by John F. Weir, N. A. M. A., 1901.]

Of the children of David and Sarah ( Backus). Trumbull, Joseph removed to Hartford soon after graduating from Yale College. He was first ad- mitted to the Bar of Windham county in 1803, but commenced the practice of law in Hartford in the! following year. In 1828 he was made president of the Hartford Bank; was a member of the General Assembly of Connecticut in 1832 and 1848; member of Congress, 1834-35, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of William W. Ellsworth. He was. again a member of Congress, 1839-43. In 1849 he was elected Governor of Connecticut, and served for one term. In the year of his election to this office he received from Yale College the degree of LL. D. He was connected with many of the indus- trial and educational interests of Hartford.

His brother, John M., after a business career in Georgia and New Jersey, returned to Connecticut, and settled in Colchester, where he died at an ad- vanced age. His children removed from the County, his son David going to Valparaiso, Chili, where he established the first American mission, which he conducted with marked success. Another son, James, also removed to South America, and estab- lished himself as a physician in Valparaiso.

Jonathan George Washington, the third son of David Trumbull, established himself at Norwich after graduating from Yale College. He com- menced the practice of law at Norwich. but soon abandoned it for manufacturing and mercantile pur- suits, becoming in later life identified with the man- agement of banking and industrial corporations of Norwich.

His son, Daniel Lathrop Trumbull, was the only son who lived to manhood. He was also a business man, being connected principally with banking and manufacturing interests.

His son, Jonathan Trumbull, also pursued a business career for some thirty years, but aban- doned this for literary pursuits. He is now libra- rian of the Otis Library of Norwich ; president of the Connecticut Society of Sons of the American

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

F olution ; treasurer of the William W. Backus Hospital; president of the Connecticut Library As- s ation ; honorary member of the Society of the ( cinnati ; president of the Board of Education of t Central School District of Norwich ; besides be- i: a member of the Connecticut and New London ( inty Historical Societies, and occupying several c/ er positions in charitable and banking institu- is. He has contributed several articles on the sly of Shakespeare, to the magazines; and has a) contributed to the historical and patriotic soci- € 's of which he is a member several papers on (inecticut history which these societies have ited. He has also contributed for the Encyclo- I ia Americana an article on Connecticut and has witten for a history of Connecticut now in the lads of the publisher that portion which covers t Revolutionary period. He has also contributed 1 the Library Journal articles on library history il 1 administration.

WARNER. The representatives of this family the present generation come through several lines m a sturdy New England ancestry of the Colon- period and of the first comers to the old and his- ic county of Windham.

(I) Andrew Warner, the American ancestor of : family, is of record at Cambridge, Mass., in 32, and was admitted a freeman of the colony May , 1634. He removed to Hartford with the body of ginal proprietors of that town, and thence with a w wife, Esther, widow of Thomas Selden, to Had- , Mass., in the first settling of that point. Mr. arner died Dec. 18, 1684, aged nearly ninety-three ars, and his widow, Esther, died in 1693. His he children, all born to a former marriage, were : drew, Robert, Jacob, Daniel, Isaac, Ruth, a ughter whose name is not given, Mary and John. f these, Robert and Andrew died in Middletown, onn., and John also resided in that town.

(II) Isaac Warner, born about 1645, married ay 31, 1666, Sarah, daughter of Robert Boltwood. about 1686 Mr. Warner removed from Hadley to orthfield, and thence to Deerfield, where he died in 91. His widow married, in 1696, Deacon John oomis, of Windsor, Conn. Mr. Warner's fourteen tildren were: Sarah, Isaac, Mary, Andrew (set- ed at Saybrook), Hannah, Ebenezer, Daniel, Sam- el, Ruth, Mercy, Ichabod, Lydia, Thankful and [ehitable.

(III) Ichabod Warner, born about 1687, married Iarch 5, 1712, Mary Metcalf, and seems to have ved in Lebanon, where the births of his children re recorded. The names and dates of birth of his hildren are: Ichabod, Dec. 10, 1712; Daniel, July 0, 1714; Isaac, Jan. 4, 1717; Ebenezer, March 20, 719; Nathaniel, Feb. 18, 1722; Timothy, Dec. 21, 724 ; Samuel, Aug. 21, 1726; Mary and Hannah twins), Sept. 13, 1730; Ruth, Oct. 17, 1732; and ohn, May 22, 1734. An Ichabod Warner, of Leb- non, bought land in Windham of James Babcock,

June 29, 1721, and there is of record in Windham the death of Mary Warner (wife), April 26, 1747, and of Ensign Ichabod Warner, Jan. 18, 1767, and filed the inventory of Ichabod Warner, March 23, 1767 ; also a record of the deaths of children of Icha- bod and Mary Warner, viz .: Mary died Jan. 29, 1747; Samuel, June 21, 1747; and Hannah, Sept. 28, 1750.

(IV) John Warner, born May 22, 1734, married Feb. 28, 1762, Priscilla Wood. The inventory of John Warner was recorded Jan. 2, 1775.

(V) Ichabod Warner married Hannah Collins. Their children were: Betsy, Emily, Lucia, Earl, William, Nancy, John and George.

(VI) Earl Warner married (first) Harriet Gil- bert and (second) Adeline Lester. His children were (by second marriage) : Adeline E., of Nor- wich, unmarried ; Earl, of New London, who mar- ried Hattie Champlin and had two children, Jewell and Harry ; Frances Lester, widow of George A. Robinson (he was librarian of Otis Library, Nor- wich, Conn., from 1875 to 1892, and she is now assistant librarian of same; her children are Frank Tyler and Juliet W.) ; Sarah Belton, who died when nineteen months old; Louis Belton, of St. Joseph, Mo., unmarried ; Edgar Morris; and a twin sister of the latter who died when one day old.

EDGAR MORRIS WARNER, son of Earl, was born June 16, 1850, in Worcester, Mass. He attended the common schools of the neighborhood in which his youth was passed, and the Bartlett high school, at New London, Conn. He taught school for sev- eral years and also sold books for a time, and for some two years clerked in a store at New London. He began the study of la wwith Judge Hiram Wil- ley, of New London, with whom he remained a couple of years, when for a time he again taught school to aid in the furtherance of his legal studies. He then entered Harvard Law School, from which institution he was graduated in June, 1872, being admitted to the Bar in New London county in Sep- tember, 1872. He began the practice of the law at Norwich, entering the office of Hon. George Pratt, a leading lawyer there. Remaining in Norwich three years, he removed to Central Village, Plain- field, Conn. In 1885 he opened an office in Putnam, removing thither in 1887. Between 1875 and 1885. Mr. Warner passed one year-1881-1882-at Little- ton, N. H., but the climate not agreeing with him he returned to Connecticut.

Mr. Warner was clerk of the Connecticut Gen- eral Assembly in 1877-78-79, and clerk of the Senate in 1880. He represented the town of Putnam in the Legislature of 1895, and although serving his first term as a legislator was a prominent candidate for Speaker. However, he withdrew in favor of Speaker Samuel Fessenden. He served as chairman of the committee on Incorporations, and his legis- lative record was one of distinguished value. Mr. Warner was frequently called to the chair during the absence of the Speaker, and gave a fitting address

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of welcome in his capacity as presiding officer upon the occasion of the visit of Gov. William McKinley, of Ohio. Yet perhaps the greatest service ever ren- dered to the public by Judge Warner occurred in 1895-96, during the prosecution of the Putnam liquor case, when he acted as attorney for the Law and Order League of Connecticut, and succeeded in ob- taining the conviction and imprisonment of the liquor dealers who had been selling without a license.

Mr. Warner took an active part in the incor- poration of Putnam as a city, and was a member of the committee which formed a charter for presen- tation to the Legislature, and was appointed by the Legislature of 1895 to the position of first judge of the City court of Putnam, which position he held from Jan. 1, 1896, until September, 1901, resigning to assume the clerkship of the Supreme and Superior courts, to which office he was appointed June 4, 1901. Judge Warner also served for a number of years on the school board of Putnam, during which time he was acting school visitor.

The Judge and his wife are members of the Sec- ond Congregational Church at Putnam, and the Judge for several years was superintendent of the Sunday school of the church.

On Aug. 3, 1887, he married Jane Elizabeth Car- penter, eldest daughter of Judge John A. and Mar- cia (Chandler) Carpenter, both of old and prom- inent New England families, and the union has been blessed with children as follows, all born in Putnam : Frances Lester, born July 19, 1888; Gertrude Chan- dler, April 6, 1890; and John A. C., July 12, 1893.

Judge Warner justly takes pride in his ancestry and family connections. John Warner Barber, the Connecticut historian, was a cousin. On the mother's side the Judge descends from Capt. John Avery, of Groton, a patriot of the Revolution.

HON. LUCIUS BRIGGS. In the death of Mr. Briggs, which occurred at his home in Norwich, Jan. 27, 1901, the community in which he resided lost an upright man and good citizen, his household a devoted parent and husband, and the business world one of its zealous and leading characters. Born Dec. 21, 1825, in Coventry, R. I., Mr. Briggs was for fifty years identified with the manufacturing interests of Connecticut, and was a conspicuous character in the industrial life of that section, which included those interests in the neighboring States. He was the fifth son and sixth child of Wanton and Mary (Tift) Briggs, a full history of which family appears elsewhere in this volume.

As a boy Lucius Briggs went and came to the ring of a factory bell until nineteen years of age, be- tween times and at intervals attending the neighbor- hood schools, which training was supplemented by one year's attendance in the Smithville (R. I.) Academy. In these years he became proficient in the several departments of cotton manufacturing. At nineteen he entered the shop of Nicholas Potter, in Coventry, and served an apprenticeship of three

years at the machinist's trade. For the next tw years he was the machinist in the mills of Gov. Ha ris, in that town. In 1849 the discovery of gold ; California allured young Briggs and his brothe Wanton, Jr., to the New Eldorado. They saile from Warren, R. I., on January 28 of that year, i the ship "Hopewell," and on the 9th of August fo lowing reached San Francisco. Two years later Lt cius decided he would return, and return he dic married, and located at Masonville, a point in th town of Thompson, Conn. There he entered th employ of the Masonville Manufacturing Company and soon was in charge of the repairs in all three o that company's mills. This relation was agreeabl. all around, and led to Mr. Briggs's becoming super intendent of the mills and the local agent of all che company's business and interests in the village. Ir less than one year after be became superintenden Hon. William Grosvenor, of Providence, the agent for the mills, and a son-in-law of Mr. Mason, pur- chased all of the holdings of his father-in-law, ex- cepting 1-16 inherited, which Mr. Briggs bought. Soon thereafter Mr. Grosvenor and his sons pur- chased all other interests excepting that held by Mr. Briggs. These purchases marked an era in the con- cern's life, and, too, in that of its owners. The three small mills then operated less than 8,000 spindles and only 189 looms, the machinery in main was old and out of date, as was nearly all of the equipment. The new holders modernized the property. The two upper mills were made into one, making a mill of 11,000 spindles. The third mill was converted into tenements, and a new mill of brick, with 20,000 spindles of the very best patterns, took the place of the 2,700 worn-out ones and the wooden mill. In 1864 Mr. Briggs and Mr. Grosvenor bought the mill at Fisherville, a village just above Masonville, the mill being one of 5,000 spindle capacity, but with much undeveloped water power. This property was soon developed to its full proportions. An im- mense brick factory was built, of splendid architec- tural design, capable of holding 60,000 spindles, and was put in operation in 1872. This brought the number of spindles owned and operated by the com- pany to about 96,000. In the meantime, and while these great changes were in progress, the names of Fisherville and Masonville had given place to Gros- venor Dale. At that time this company possessed one of the finest manufacturing plants in New Eng- land, and the masterful mind and hand of Mr. Briggs were conspicuous in the transformation made. From the day of the new ownership to the close of his connection with the property, in 1883, Mr. Briggs had full charge of manufacturing and building, and was the deviser of all plans and pro- jects for developments and enlargements, purchased all machinery and material of every kind, made all contracts for building, etc. From the start Mr. Briggs gave his entire time and abilities to the con- ducting of the manufacturing and the development of the property. His health became so impaired that

Lucius Briggs

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

le was ordered by his physician to go abroad, and in December, 1875, with his daughter Evelyn for a companion, he sailed from New York for Liverpool, and they passed six months in travel in England, France, Italy and the East, visiting Alexandria, Cairo and other points in Egypt, Constantinople and minor cities in Turkey, the Ionian Islands, Athens, and various other interesting localities in Greece.

In 1883 Mr. Briggs sold his interests in the Grosvenor Dale Mills, and became half owner and manager of the Glasgo Yarn Mill Company, of Glasgo, Conn., taking up his residence at the latter point. In 1898 he sold his interest in the Glasgo Company to the American Thread Company, and at that time retired from active business. After 1896 he resided in Norwich, which city is the home of his son Charles W. Briggs, for years a prominent busi- ness man of New York City, and now a leading citi- zen of Norwich.

Lucius Briggs was president of the Thompson Savings Bank, was a director in the Thompson Na- tional Bank, and at the time of his death was a di- rector in the Thames National Bank at Norwich, in the Uncas Paper Company of that city, and in the Manufacturers Insurance Company ; for years he was a director in the Greeneville Bleachery. Mr. Briggs's political affiliations were with the Repub- lican party. He was a representative from the town of Thompson in the Lower House of the State Assembly in 1867, and in 1875 served in the State Senate from the Fourteenth District. He was a Presidential elector on the Republican ticket at the time of the second election of Gen. Grant as Presi- dent. Mr. Briggs was a well-read man.

Soon after his return to Rhode Island from Cali- fornia, on April 21, 1851, Mr. Briggs was mar- ried to Miss Harriet Taylor Atwood, of Coventry, R. I., Rev. Thomas F. Waterman officiating. This union was blessed with four children-two sons and two daughters-two of whom, a son and a daughter, died in infancy ; the others are Charles W. Briggs and Evelyn Clara. The latter married Floyd Cran- ska, of Moosup, Conn., a successful manufacturer of fine combed yarns, and died on March 26, 1900. Mrs. Briggs died Sept. 9, 1887.

CHARLES WANTON BRIGGS, son of the late Lu- cius Briggs, was born in Grosvenor Dale, in the town of Thompson, Windham Co., Conn., Oct. 2, 1855. He attended the public schools of Thompson, and later the Highland Military Academy, at Wor- cester, Mass., where he graduated in 1874. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Gros- venor Dale Company, where his father was super- intendent, beginning at the bottom, and working himself up to the position of assistant superintend- ent, which position he filled until 1879. In that year his father bought a mill at Haydenville, Mass., and Charles W. was appointed superintendent of same, continuing thus until his father bought the mills at Glasgo and consolidated both mills. Then the son went to Boston as special agent of the company for

two years, when he was sent to New York, filling the same position there until 1898, when his father sold his interest to the American Thread Company. Charles W. Briggs then engaged in the manufacture of folding box-board paper at Bogota, Bergen Co., N. J., acting as treasurer and general manager of the Bogota Paper Company, and he conducted the business for five years, during which time he in- creased the capacity of the factory from seven tons. to twenty-five tons of paper per day, it being one of the six largest establishments of that kind in the coun- try. In July, 1902 the company sold out to the paper trust, and Mr. Briggs came to Norwich, where he is now residing in the beautiful home left by his father. He has not relinquished business activities alto- gether, being a director in the Davenport Fire Arms Company, and is also interested in several other en- terprises in Norwich. Mr. Briggs is a Republican in political faith.

In February, 1880, Mr. Briggs was married, to Sadie Elizabeth Horne, who was born in Somers- worth, N. H., daughter of Samuel P. and Mary Horne. They have had three children: (I) Lu- cius, born in 1882, was educated in a New York high school, in the New York City College and in Pack- ard's Business College, New York. He was subse- quently engaged with his father at the head office in New York. He married Miss Mary Goffe Brewer, daughter of Arthur H .. Brewer, of Norwich, and they have one son, Lucius Goffe. (2) Charles Walter, born in October, 1885, was educated in what is now the Morris high school, New York, and Nor- wich Free Academy. (3) Robert Elmer, born in June, 1893, is attending the Norwich Academy. The family attends the Congregational Church.

OSCAR FITZALLAN STANTON, Rear Ad- miral, United States Navy, now living in retirement in New London, was for many years one of the most distinguished figures in the naval service in this country. In that connection he voyaged over all the globe, visiting the principal ports and many interesting parts of the world, and the record of his experiences is most entertaining. He is a descend- ant of one of the oldest families of New England, one which has held an honored place in the annals of American history from the days of Winthrop and the early Puritans.

Thomas Stanton, his first ancestor in America, known as Capt. Thomas Stanton, was of English birth. He was educated for a cadet, but not liking the profession of arms, and taking a deep interest in the religious principles of the migrating Puritans, he came to the Colonies in the ship "Bonaventura," in 1635, embarking at London, England, Jan. 2. He landed in Virginia, thence going to Boston, where he was recognized by Winthrop and his asso- ciates as a valuable man, worthy of their unlimited confidence. The next year he was selected by the Boston authorities to accompany Mr. Fenwick and Hugh Peters as interpreter on a mission to Say-

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

brook, Conn., to hold a conference with the Pequot Indians relative to the murder of Capts. Stone and Newton. He possessed an accurate knowledge of the language and character of the Indians which gave him prominence in the new settlements of Connecticut. In 1637 he took up his home at Hart- ford, where the General Court declared he should be a public officer to attend the court upon all occa- sions, either general or particular, at the meetings of the magistrates, to interpret between them and the Indians, at a salary of ten pounds per year. He became the intimate and special friend of Gov. Winthrop of Connecticut, acting as interpreter in all of his intercourse with the Indians. He was the first white man who joined William Chese- brough in the new settlement in the Pawcatuck Valley, and in the spring of 1650 or 1651 he estab- lished a trading house in Stonington, on the west bank of the Pawcatuck river. For a few years his family resided in New London before permanently locating in Stonington, in 1657. After this he took an active part in town affairs, becoming prominent ; and he was elected to almost every position of pub- lic trust in the new settlement ; he served as magis- trate from 1662 until his death, was appointed a judge of the court in 1666, and was a deputy to the General Court, 1666-1675. Mr. Stanton mar- ried in Hartford, in 1637, Anna. daughter of Dr. Thomas and Dorothy Lord, and they had ten chil- dren: Thomas, John, Mary, Hannah, Joseph, Dan- iel, Dorothy, Robert, Sarah and Samuel. Through these they became the progenitors of a numerous race in the country about Stonington. Thomas Stanton died Dec. 2, 1677, aged sixty-eight years, and his wife passed away in 1688. Before the removal of the family from Hartford they had come into possession of a considerable quantity of land, and were considered well-to-do for the times.

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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 8

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