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 9

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 9

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Joseph Stanton, grandfather of Oscar Fitzallan Stanton, died in 1840 or 1841. He married Fanny Miner, and they had two children, Frances (known as Fanny, who died when about twenty, unmarried), and Joseph.

Joseph Stanton, father of Admiral Stanton, was born April 12, 1804, in Stonington, Conn. By call- ing he was an architect and builder, but he also, for many years, ran a sawmill at Sag Harbor, L. I., and furnished fresh water for vessels plying Long Is- land Sound, his being the first steam engine used for that purpose in that section. He led a useful, industrious life, throve well in his business affairs, and was a respected member of the community where the greater part of his active life was spent. He was actively interested in the State militia, being captain of an artillery company. In political senti- ment he was a stanch Republican, and in religion he was a consistent member of the Methodist Church of Sag Harbor, where he passed away Oct. 22, 1866. Joseph Stanton was married, in June, 1833, to Elizabeth (Havens) Cooper, of Sag Har- bor, daughter of Elias Matthus Havens, and she

survived him many years, dying Feb. 26, 1892, Sag Harbor. The children of this union, all bo in Sag Harbor, were as follows: (1) Oscar Fit allan, the eldest, is further mentioned below. (: William Cooper went to sea, sailing to Chine ports, and later settled in San Francisco, where 1. was engaged in the grocery business. When tl war of the Rebellion broke out he enlisted in tl United States navy, and he died in Key West 1863. He never married. (3) Charles Wesley ar. (4) Harriet Frink died young. (5) Mary Eliz: beth, who is still living at Sag Harbor, has neve married. (6) Joseph Briggs is a resident of Ruther ford, N. J., where he is engaged in the domesti goods business, having been associated with Jame Talcott & Co., of New York, since the Civil war He married Jennie Eden, of Brooklyn, and has on son, William, who married Mary Bell, of Mt. Ver non, and has one son. (7) Emma died young. (8 Helen Augusta is the widow of Harold Booth, o Brooklyn, and is now living in Sag Harbor. She has two daughters-Florence, who married Regi nald Seeley, and Ethel, who married, in September 1904, William Youngs, of Sag Harbor, Long Island

Oscar Fitzallan Stanton was born July 18, 1834 in Sag Harbor, Long Island, and there pursued his education until fifteen years old. In 1849 he entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, to which he was appointed from the First Congressional District on the recommendation of John A. King, at that time Congressman, who later became governor of New York State. After almost a year's stay at the academy he went to sea as midshipman on the steam frigate "Susquehanna," bound for China, the voyage lasting until June, 1853. He was then transferred to the sloop of war, "Saratoga," as midshipman,! remaining on that ship until she arrived in Boston in September, 1854, during which time they were with the fleet of Commodore Perry, on the Japan expedition. Returning to Annapolis, he took a year's academic course, the four years' course in the meantime having been inaugurated. In June, 1855, he became passed midshipman and sailed on the "Constellation" to the Mediterranean Sea, that voy- age covering a period of three years, during which time, in September, 1855, he was promoted to mas- ter in the line of promotion. On April 2, 1856, he became lieutenant and finished the cruise in that ca- pacity, in August, 1858. He next sailed as lieuten- ant on the Paraguay expedition, on the "Memphis," which was chartered and fitted out as a cruiser by the United States Government. Coming back from this expedition in 1859, he sailed to the west coast of Africa on the store ship "Supply," and upon his arrival on the southwest coast of Africa was trans- ferred to the "Portsmouth," and later to the sloop of war "Marion," finishing the cruise on the last named vessel, at Portsmouth, N. H., in October, 1860.

In December, 1860, Lieut. Stanton sailed to Colon on a mail steamer, to join the sloop of war

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

t. Mary's," of the Pacific Squadron. After land- ; at Colon, the company went by rail across the imus of Panama to Panama, where the ship was anchor, this cruise lasting until March, 1861, en he was ordered to the East by a mail steamer the gunboat "Tioga," of the James River and tomac River flotilla. In July, 1862, he was pro- ted to lieutenant commander, which office had t been established by Act of Congress, and he tinued to serve on the same vessel, with the ving Squadron, in the West Indies, until Novem- , 1863, when he was ordered to the command of gunboat "Pinola," of Admiral Farragut's West lf Squadron. On this boat he participated in the nous blockade at Mobile, the "Pinola" being one the fleet with Farragut when the admiral raised e blockade by successfully passing the forts of obile, and he remained on her until relieved, in ovember, 1864. Proceeding North, he was lered to Ordnance duty at the New York Navy ird, where he remained until March, 1865, when went to Norfolk, Va., joining the "Powhattan" executive officer of the East Gulf Squadron, with nich he continued until Oct. 1, 1865, returning to ston.

Lieutenant Commander Stanton was next or- red to the New York Navy Yard again, until ovember, 1865, when he went to Annapolis as sistant to the superintendent, acting as such until e summer of 1866, when he was put in charge the practice vessel "Winnepec" for a short time. the fall of 1866 he returned to the Annapolis aval Academy, where he remained until the fol- wing April, when he was ordered to the gunboat Tahoma," of the Gulf Squadron, as commander, taining that command until October, 1867. Dur- g this time he cruised in the Gulf of Mexico, and as engaged in the laying of the telegraph cable om Havana to Key West. In December, 1867, he as promoted to the full rank of commander, and dered to the vessel "Purveyor" in that capacity in 368, on her cruising to the west coast of Africa, here he broke up the Government storehouse, inging the stores back. He arrived in New York April, 1869. His next orders were to proceed to ortsmouth, N. H., where he took charge of the ceiving ship "Vandalia," on which he remained til April, 1871. In January, 1872, he was ordered · China by way of San Francisco, where he took assage on a mail steamer for China, becoming mmander of the "Monocacy," on which he re- ained until June, 1873. His next command was le "Yantic," of the China Squadron, with which e continued until October, 1874, when he returned ome.

In November, 1874, Commander Stanton was Ordered to the Norfolk Navy Yard, as senior aid › the commandant, and was thus engaged until Iarch, 1877, when he was sent to the Newport R. I.) torpedo station, together with other com- landers, to attend a three months' course of instruc-

tion. This concluded, he became commander of the sailing frigate "Constitution," at New York, on a voyage to Hampton Roads and the West Indies, and during this cruise, which lasted until May, 1881, he was appointed captain, being thus honored June 19, 1879. In November, 1881, he went to the United States Naval Home at Philadelphia as executive officer and acting governor, remaining there until October, 1884, when he was ordered to another command, taking the steam frigate "Tennessee," the flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, on which he remained until October, 1885. That month he was ordered to the New London Naval Station, as commandant, in which capacity he served until April, 1889, and in June of the following year he was placed in command of the Naval Training Station at Newport, R. I. On May 19, 1891, he was promoted to commodore, and on July 1, 1891, became governor of the Philadelphia Naval Home. Commodore Stan- ton remained at that post until August, 1893, when he was ordered to the command of the South Atlan- tic Squadron, with the rank of rear admiral, on the flagship "Newark," cruising to Rio Janeiro. Re- turning home in November, he took command in December of the North Atlantic Squadron, on the flagship "Kearsarge," the command of which he re- tained until she ran on the rocks during the night of Feb. 2, 1894, at Roncador, off Nicaragua, about one hundred miles southwest of Jamaica. The crew were compelled to take to the small boats, the "Kearsarge" becoming a total wreck, and the Ad- miral was saved by taking to a raft, in that way reaching the small boats anchored on the reefs. His flag was then transferred to the "San Fran- cisco," of the same squadron, on which he remained until July 30, 1894, when he applied for retirement, after nearly forty-five years of active service.

Admiral Stanton had established his home in New London, Conn., in 1893, and thither he retired to enjoy a well-earned rest. In 1898, when war was declared against Spain, he was made command- ant of the Naval Station at New London, serving as such until October of that year. He continues to make his home at that place, and is deservedly ranked among its honored citizens. Admiral Stan- ton has numerous social connections, being a mem- ber of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States ; of the Society of American Wars; of the United States Associated Veterans of Far- ragut's Fleet, of which he is one of the vice-presi- dents ; of the Naval Order of the Naval Station, New York Commandery; of the Army and Navy Club, of New York; and of the Thames Club, of New London.

On July 6, 1859, Oscar F. Stanton was united in marriage with Caroline Eliza Gardiner, of Sag Harbor, daughter of Charles Fox and Eliza Ann (Corey) Gardiner, the former of whom was a mer- chant in Sag Harbor for many years. Mrs. Stanton also comes of an old Colonial family, being a direct descendant of Lyon Gardiner, after whom Gardi-

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ner's Island was named. He was a friend of Capt. Thomas Stanton, the earliest of these Stantons in America, and kept up a correspondence with him. To Oscar F. and Caroline Eliza (Gardiner) Stan- ton came two children: (I) Fanny Gardiner, born in Sag Harbor, became the wife of Daniel Latham, of New London, and they are now living in London, England, Mr. Latham being manager of the Sym- onds Stores Company, of America, with headquar- ters at City Road, London. They have one son, Stanton Latham. (2) Elizabeth Havens, born in Sag Harbor, married William Seeley Burrell, of New York City, where he is engaged in business as a dealer in imported linings, etc. They reside in New York City. They have one son, Gardiner Seeley Burrell.

The Admiral and his wife hold membership in tlre Presbyterian Church of Sag Harbor. His political support is given to the Republican party.

SPICER. The Spicer family of New London county is an old and numerous one. The ancestral line of LEVI SPICER, of Noank, is traced through Silas, Edward, John, Edward and Peter.

Levi Spicer was born in that part of Groton that is now Ledyard, Feb. 20, 1767, and he died April 26, 1850. He married (first) Lavina Chese- brough, who died April 13, 1794, leaving one son, Levi C., born Dec. 7, 1793, and who settled in Ash- tabula county, Ohio. Levi Spicer married (second) Prudence Palmer, who was born June 5, 1771, daughter of Elihu and Ruth Palmer, and a direct descendant of Walter Palmer, who came from Eng- land to New England as early as 1628, and later to Stonington, Conn. Mrs. Prudence Spicer died Aug. 14, 1846.

Levi Spicer received a common school education, and was reared a farmer, also learning his father's trade of wheelwright. When about twenty-eight years of age he removed to Stonington, where he became acquainted with Miss Palmer, whom he mar- ried, and they soon after removed to Noank, where he built a home and engaged in agricultural pursuits along with shipbuilding, continuing until after the death of his wife in 1846. He then made his home with his son Elihu, and there died April 26, 1850. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Spicer were esteemed and honored members of the Baptist Church. He was fond of his home and family, was of a social, genial nature, and had hosts of friends. Loving a good story he enjoyed its hearing or telling. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party. The six children of Levi and Prudence ( Palmer) Spicer were :

(I) Elihu Palmer, born Oct. I, 1796, is men- tioned farther on.

(2) Eldridge, born June 23, 1798, was in early life a sea captain, but later a farmer, and he died Jan. 30, 1865. On May 31, 1821, he married, in North Stonington, Lydia G. Stanton, daughter of Deacon John Stanton, a soldier in the war of the

Revolution ; she died June 19, 1854. He mari (second), Oct. 31, 1861, Mrs. Prudence Lath Reynolds. His nine children, all born in Grot were : (a) William Eldridge, born April 12, 18 was a sailor in early life and resided at Noank 1 til his death in 1904. . He married, March 22, 18 Narcissa Ingham, who died Oct. 7, 1887, the moth of three children, Judson, born June 6, 1848, d June 23, 1848, Marion, born Sept 2, 1849, marr:" Eugene H. Davis, of Noank, and has a daught Edna, and William Albert, born in 1847, marri June 9, 1870, Jane A. Douglas, resides at Noal and had three children, George A., Jane (decease and Eliza. (b) Lydia Ann, born June 14, 182 married Sept. 20, 1855, George E. Tripp, and di Nov. 24, 1887, at Mystic, leaving no children. ( John Stanton, born March 3, 1827, died Feb. 2 1894, in Calaveras county, Cal., unmarried. Hannah, born April 22, 1829, died in Poquetanuc Sept. 16, 1859. On Oct. 15, 1848, she marri Gurdon Wilcox, of Preston, Conn., born March 2 1825, died Dec. 27, 1883, son of Gardner U. ar Nabby (Egglestone) Wilcox; their children were Josephine, born July 19, 1849, married Edwar Steere, died Oct. II, 1880, leaving two daughter Annie who married Gustave A. Johnson, and reside at Norwich, and Eva, who married John Smity, an resides at Poquetanuck. Everett and another som both born Aug. 3, 1858, the former dying July { 1863. (e) Lucy Latham, born June 3, 183I, mai ried, May 24, 1853, Winthrop Ward, of Stonington Conn., and in 1866, they removed to Mystic. The had children : Lucibell, born June 19, 1854, mar ried Oct. 29, 1877, Ira C. Hoxie, and lives in Chi cago; Flora, born Oct. 15, 1858, died Nov. 26, 1865 and George E., born Jan. 19, 1868, married Sept. 6 1894, E. Bertha Cheney, of Mystic, a graduate of the New York College of Dentistry, and is engaged in practice at Mystic. (f) Silas, born July 19, 1835 married (first) Hattie Brewster; (second) Celia A. Hurlburt of South Carolina, who bore him three children, Sarah, Addie and Lydia ; and (third) Mrs. Agnes (Abbott) Wood, by whom he had two chil- dren, Edward and Stanton. Silas Spicer is now. superintendent of the 14th street ferry, having been deputy-harbor master at Port Royal, and master of the port of Savannah. (g) Mary E., born Dec. 2, 1837, died April 2, 1858. (h) Charles H., born Feb. 14, 1840, married, Nov. 27, 1872, Nancy W. Gates, of Worcester, Mass. He served in the war of the Rebellion and lives at Cleveland, Ohio. (i) Emmeline married, May 20, 1861, her brother-in- law, Curdox Wilcox, and had children-a daughter born in 1864; Charles, born March 10, 1866, died Jan. 30, 1867 ; and William, a resident of Poqueta- nuck, born Aug. 20, 1862, married, Nov. 30, 1882, Lillian Parkhurst, daughter of Chauncy and Susan (Chapman) Parkhurst, and they have four chil- dren, Maurine, Harry, Ward and Hope.

(3) Lucy C., born June 8, 1803, died March 28, 1866. On Oct. 6, 1822, she married Henry Latham,

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bcf Oct. 24, 1797, son of William and Sabrina am. They had the following children: Will-

Li Henry, born July 13, 1823; Catherine Crarey, March 22, 1827; Charles and Albert.

ia: bcl 4) Sarah P., born Nov. 10, 1806, died April 13, IE. On Nov. 18, 1827, she married Peter D. Ir), and had two children William O., who resided in lew London and there died; and Sarah, who m ied a Mr. Cutter and died in New York.

5) John Palmer, born Sept. 14, 1808, died May 3,1377. On Sept. 30, 1830, he married Abby Jane Lam, daughter of William and Sabrina Latham, b May 27, 1810, died Dec. 22, 1889. They had eilt children : (a) Sabrina, born June 21, 1831, ied Sept. 12, 1852, Henry Rockwell, of Groton, has two children, Edward Kidder and Grace Vadleton. (b) Prudence Abbie, born Feb. 14, I&., married, Oct. 26, 1853, George P. Wilbur, so of Nathaniel and Angeline Wilbur, and died Ja. IO, 1874, leaving one daughter, Emma Estelle. ( John Dennison, born Aug. 22, 1835, married Sth Jane Hill, born July 22, 1841, daughter of F. A tin and Mary Jane Hill. They had children, Smith, born in May, 1867, died in May, 1867; and Erie Austin, born Aug. 11, 1871. (d) Twin sons, byli in 1844, died in infancy. (e) Jane Steward, bon June 27, 1846, died Aug. 7, 1875. (f) Adelaide w born March 6, 1848. (g) Alice Hunter was b 1 Aug. 24, 1850.

(6) Silas, born April 29, 1811, was a mariner, a settled at Noank, and there he died Oct. 8, I. He married, Dec. 4, 1839, Mary Ann Mor- g , daughter of Gilbert and Catherine (Edge- cit) Morgan, and their six children were: (a) N y Helen, born Oct. 22, 1841, married, Feb. 14, I 2, Charles H. Fitch, and died April 29, 1866, ing no children. (b) Sarah P., born Nov. 27, I 3, died April 3, 1867. (c) Catherine, born Much 27, 1846, married, Oct. 22, 1872, Joseph Y. Aums, of Westerly, R. I., and resides at Noank. I one daughter Helen B., born April 18, 1874, is deased. (d) Prudence A., born Dec. 20, 1847, n ried, Sept. 9, 1871, Walter Chesebro, of Noank, has two children, Katherine Spicer and Lyle S. a

( Silas, born Feb. 9, 1850, died in infancy. (f) I llow C., born May 25, 1856, died unmarried, ). 25, 1891.

CAPT. ELIHU PALMER SPICER, eldest son of Levi a

Prudence (Palmer) Spicer and father of the

1 Capt. Elihu Spicer, of Noank, was born Oct. [796. Like his father and grandfather before 1

F . he was trained for life's duties on the farm and

S ired his fragmentary education in the district pols of Noank. He was only a lad when he went fit to sea, becoming cook on the "Thetis," one of

t first fishing smacks engaged in the business in tit locality. From that time on until a man of ¿ ut forty-five years, he followed the sea, and rose cessively from cook to captain. During the war 1812, while fishing in open boats, he was often chapelled to run the British blockade, was a num-

ber of times chased by their cruisers, and had many narrow escapes. The first vessel of which he was master was the fishing smack "Luzerne," which was engaged in Southern waters, and also, in addition to being in the fishing, he was in the wrecking business. Later on he commanded the schooner "Empress," which was engaged in the Southern coaling and West Indian trade. For several years he was master of the schooner "Magellan," which also was engaged as above, and following these commands, he had charge of the big transport "Apa- lachicola," which transported the troops under Gen. Scott to take part in the Seminole war. Still later he continued in the Southern coasting trade. He had the reputation of being a careful, skillful, pru- dent and successful mariner. Through his long, active sea-faring life he never met with serious loss or accident. During the war of 1812, when the town of Stonington was attacked by the British, Capt. Spicer was on duty, assisting in repulsing the enemy in their attempts to land, and in extinguish- ing the fires caused by the bursting of the enemy's shells.

Elihu Palmer Spicer died March 17, 1885. While a man of reserved manner, he possessed strong opin- ions, and was known for his positive character, as well as for the warm and sincere friendships he cherished. His considerate treatment of the large body of men who, at various times, were under his command, and often in most trying conditions, elic- ited universal commendation and won him undying regard. In business he was an excellent manager and a very successful financier.

For years Capt. Spicer held the government ap- pointment of United States Tide Master of the Mys- tic river. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, of the times when Jeffersonian principles prevailed, and to the close of his life he never swerved in his admiration for and support of those cardinal principles of true Democracy. He was twice elected representative from the town of Groton in the State Assembly, and he stood high in that body as a legislator. During many years he was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, liber- ally contributing to its support. He was a repre- sentative member of a most honorable family and to his numerous descendants left a spotless name.

Capt. Spicer was twice married. His first wife, Jemima Fish, who was born July 21, 1817, daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia Fish, died May 22, 1849. They had these children : (1) William, born Aug. I, 1819, died Jan. 15, 1820. (2) Prudence, born May 19, 1821, married, August 4, 1842, Capt. Par- don Taylor Brown, and died Nov. 21, 1850. Her three children were: Pardon and Levi, who both died young ; and William Hiram, born April 26, 1850. (3) Emeline, born June 16, 1823, died Sept. 2, 1836. (4) Elihu, born April 13, 1825, is men- tioned in full farther on. (5) Levi, born June I, 1830, married Aug. 31, 1859, Caroline Manchester, daughter of Shadrack and Clarissa (Coe) Man-

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

chester, and died March 26, 1897. He was a mer- chant of Noank, where his family still reside. His children were: Annie Coe, William I. and Sarah D .; (6) Sarah, born May 20, 1833, married Oct. 6, 1857, Andrew G. Dickenson, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they had three children, Mary, Sarah and Car- rie, all of whom died young. (7) Hirain, born Nov. 27, 1839, died July 8, 1842. On April 30, 1850, Elihu Palmer Spicer married (second) Eliza Huldah Roath, who died Nov. 1, 1874.

ELIHU SPICER, fourth in the family born to Elihu Palmer and Jemima (Fish) Spicer, was born in Noank, Conn., April 13, 1825. With the open sea before him from his birth, he instinctively adop- ted the profession of a sailor. From cabin boy he rose to the command of the bark "Fanny" at the age of twenty-two, and successively to that of the ships "Hound," "Samuel Willetts" and the "Mary L. Sutton." In them he sailed every sea, meeting with all the vicissitudes of a sailor's life, including ship- wreck, and he made many prosperous voyages dur- ing the years when San Francisco and China were the only stopping places in circling the globe. These voyages were made by clipper ships, carrying the American flag, and their fleetness has never been exceeded by sailing vessels. In 1861 Capt. Spicer left his ship at San Francisco and came home by way of Panama, in company with his life-long friend and brother sailor, Charles H. Mallory. They formed a partnership founding the present firm of C. H. Mallory & Co., of which company Capt. Spicer served as president for several years until his death. This company inaugurated a line of steamers in the coasting trade between New York and Galveston.

During the Civil war the demands for vessels for the use of the Government, as transports, re- quired the services of all available steamers, and the closing of the Southern ports of the United States having put an end to all coastwise trade, this firm engaged their vessels to the Government, and Capt. Spicer commanded the steamer "Victor" for a time. At the close of the war, the Galveston trade again occupied the firm's attention, and from this time forward, to the running of their ships and the build- ing new vessels, Capt. Spicer gave his attention. His long experience at sea had made him familiar with all the requirements of this work, and to the small and ill-adapted vessels of 1861, there succeeded a fleet of eleven ships, designed especially for the work they had to do, and able to carry cargoes safe- ly over a bar where there is little tide and the sands are constantly shifting.

However, with all his prosperity, the man never changed, still finding his greatest happiness at his home in Mystic, surrounded by old friends. His at- tachment to his birthplace was as strong in his ma- ture age as though he had never left it, and the memories of his deceased wife and child were ever fresh and unfailing. His disposition was full of sweetness and friendship for everyone. With a vigorous and determined temperament, strong in his

opinion when formed, yet, under the most ling circumstances, when deceived by those in who the had placed great trust, he displayed no feelin ward them but that of sorrow for their fault. Cth his increasing wealth, in the words of his fay ite poet : "Large was his bounty and his soul sind

He gave liberally in charity, but of this little as

y- ever known. He presented a library to the . n, technic Institute of Brooklyn, in memory of his Uriah D. Spicer, together with a large sum of m to which he added in his will. At the time ofis death he was erecting a building for a library, with he designed to present to the people of Noank id Mystic. It has since been completed by the Is, its shelves filled with books and presented to 113- tees who will manage it for the people's benefit thus carry out the wishes of the donor.

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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 9

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