Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut, a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume IV, Part 55

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Clement, E. H. (Edward Henry), 1843- joint ed. cn; Hart, Samuel, 1845-1917, joint ed; Talcott, Mary Kingsbury, 1847-1917, joint ed; Bostwick, Frederick, 1852- , joint ed; Stearns, Ezra Scollay, 1838-1915, joint ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1178

USA > Connecticut > Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut, a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume IV > Part 55

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to a position of prominence in the business world and acquiring a modest fortune. Oi the highest integrity and exemplary character. he was universally loved and respected in the community in which he made his home.

He married, February 17, 1835. Mary Jones. of Wilton, Connecticut, born September 19. 1818. died December 13. 1872, daughter of Henry and Anna Maria ( Olmstead ) Jones. Her mother was born in Wilton, Connecticut, and was a descendant of one of its old fami- lies. Her father, Henry Jones, was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where he spent his boyhood and early manhood, removing thence to Bridgeport where he spent most of hi- active life, and where he died March 13, 18;8. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones had eight children : Mary, mentioned above: Hannah, married Captain Charles Weeks, master of a vessel plying between Bridgeport and New York City: Susan A .. twin of Hannah, married (first ) Jolin Wilmot, (second ) Elisha Hub- bell : Eunice, married David Pendleton : Sam- nel : Henry; John: Henry, the sole survivor. residles in Bridgeport ( 1911). Mr. and Mrs. Peyton Randolph Bishop had children: I. Mary Delecta. born July 15, 1839. died June IQ, 1851. 2. Edwin, June 10, 1841. died April 19, 1861. 3. Harriet Augusta, September 29. 1843, died December 14, 1901. 4. William Henry, November 29. 1845, died February 12. 1846. 5. George Randolph, June 17, 1847. died in March, 1880; he married Eleanor C. Foote, and had four children, of whom For - rester is the only one living: Forrester mar- ried a Miss Shirley, of Stratford. Connecticut 6. Anna Maria, March 23, 1849, died July 17, 1849. 7. Benjamin, January 2, 1851. died January 23. 1851. 8. Anna Maria, twin of Benjamin, died May 27. 1851. 9. Samuel. March 10, 1852, died March 11. 1852. 10. Benjamin F., November 6. 1853, accompanied his father in his sojourn to California and was associated with him in the management of the sheep ranch there: died in Bridgeport. June 24, 1907. 11. William A., March 2, 1850. died April 1;, 1862. 12. Helen Louise, De- cember 1. 1858, died March 9, 18;o in Tulare county, California. 13. Thomas E .. mentioned below. He and his nephew, George R. Bishop. are all that are left of thirteen children and four grandchildren. . All are buried in Moun- tain Grove cemetery in Bridgeport. The parents of these children were members of the Presbyterian church.

(VII) Thomas E., son of Peyton Randoiph Bishop. was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. December 10, 1861. He was educated in the public schools there and in the private school of Rev. G. P. Day, known as the Golden Hili

Peyton R. Bishop

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Institute. In 1878 he went to California and became a clerk in the store of Sisson, Wallace & Company in Tulare, Tulare county, in that state, remaining in that position for four years. Afterward he assisted his father in the management of the sheep ranch which comprised two thousand four hundred acres of land. They also leased land from the gov- ernment and railroad company and had some eight thousand sheep. Ilis brother Benjamin F., as mentioned above, was also associated in the business of the ranch. After the father died, the brothers sold the sheep and devoted their attention to raising cattle. horses and mules, owning at times more than three hun- dred head. In addition to their other busi- ness they raised large crops of alfalfa and were uniformly prosperous in business. After his brother died, Thomas E. Bishop sold the California property and retired from active business and has since then made his home in Bridgeport, devoting his time to the man- agement of real estate and other investments. to the pursuit of various studies in which he is interested and to the enjoyment of well- earned leisure. In politics he is a Republi- can, and in religion a Presbyterian. He has never married.

ELMORE In the "Domesday" Book, a record of lands given by Wil- liam the Conqueror to his fol- lowers (1086) and the earliest record of land titles in England, the name Elmer frequently appears as "Elmer habet."

Subsequently, the name was variously spelled. AElmer, AAyler. Ailmer, Elmor, Elmour. Elmore, etc. John Aylmer, Bishop of London in Queen Elizabeth's time and tu- tor to Lady Jane Grey ( 1568) wrote his name AElmer and Elmer. Both in England and in America branches of the same family have used the forms. Eliner and Elinore.

Edward Elmer. immigrant ancestor, was born in England about 1604. probably at Quin- ton near Northampton, one of the sons of Edward and Elizabeth Elmer. He came to America in the ship "Lion." reaching Bos- ton, September 16, 1632, settled first at Cam- bridge and went to Hartford with Rev. Mr. Hooker's company in 1636, where he was an original proprietor, his home lot being on the east side of Main street, next north of that of J. Talcott. He was chimney viewer in 165: and in 1654 became one of the first set- tlers at Northampton. one of the first board of magistrates, and chosen recorder in 1656, was a witness to a deed, from the Indians to Major Pynchon of land, comprising the town of Hadley in 1658. He returned to

Hartford in 1660, and in addition to his lands there, acquired a tract of five boundred and fifty acres on the east side of the Great river it: what is now the town of South Windsor winch he and his sons cultivated until he was killed there by Indians in Tune, 1676. during King Philip's war. He was "freed from watching and warding in joo; and in 1669 was the only freeman of that name in Wind- sor. He married Mary ---. probably about 1644-45, who is said to have married (sec- ond ) Thomas Catlin, of Hartford. Children of Edward and Mary Elmer: John, born 1646: Samuel. baptized March 21. 1046-47; Elizabeth, baptized July 15, 1649: Edward, born 1654: Joseph, 1656; Mary, 1658: Sarah, 1664.

He left an estate consisting of personal property at Hartford, valued at one thousand twenty-one pounds fourteen shillings and nine pence, and one thousand three hundred acres of land at Podunk, valued at three hundred and sixty-nine pounds. A portion of his origi- nal tract at South Windsor has descended b. inheritance to the present owners.'

( II) John, eldest son of Edward Elmer, was born in Hartford, settled at South Wind- sor, where he died September 21, 1711. He married Rosamond Ginnuarie. They were members of the church at Hartford and he with his son. John. Jr., were petitioners in 1694 for leave to settle a minister ( Rev. l'im ?- othy Edwards ) at East Windsor. Children : John and Joseph.

(III) Joseph, son of John Elmer, was born about 1678, and died at Windsor July 24. 1758. He married. April 4. 1700, Jane. daugh- ter of Thomas Adkins, of Hartford. who died December 8, 1766. Children: Joseph, born March 28, 1701; Aaron, October 8. 1703; Samuel. December 12. 1705; Solomon, March 5. 1708; Elizabeth, February. 1710-1I : Jane. November 19, 17HI : Jacob. Februar; 27, 1713- 14: Phineas. September 6, 1716: Joseph. Sep- tember 16. 1718: Eunice. September 30, 1,20.

(IV) Samuel, son of Joseph Elmer, was born at East Windsor. He was one of the first settlers of the Long Hill district in South Windsor where he died August 24, 1761, from being overheated in trying to put out a fire in the woods. He married Susannah, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth ( Burnham ) Gilinan :. Children : Eliphalet, born 1735: Content : Samuel. November 18. 1755: Susannah.

( V ) Samuel (2), son of Samuel ( 1) Elmer. was born at South Windsor, where he died June 8, 1834. 1 He married ( first) Sarah Loomis. daughter of Enoch and Sarah (Treat) Loomis, who was born October IQ. 1755. and died January 6, 1805. Their chil-

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dren were: Allenson, born August 4. 1782; Susannah, October 20, 1784: Samuel, July 1. 1787: Sarah, November 23, 178): Elijah. No- vember 14, 1792; Harvey. December 20. 1700. He married (second ) Dorothy (Loons) Hurd, daugliter of Jedediah Loomis and widow of Abial Hurd. She died December 18, 1823. He served through five campaigns in the revolution; was at the battle of Long Island, at New London, and at Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga; also at Horseneck in 1779 and at West Point in 1780.

(VI) Harvey Elmore ( as the name is now spelled ), son of Samuel (2) Ehner, was born at South Windsor, and died there, March 26, 1873. He married. April 19, 1830, Clarissa daughter of Zenas and Thankful Burnham. of East Hartford, who was born October 23. 1798, and died January 5, 1871. Their chil- dren were: Mary Janette, born January 15, 1832, resides at the ancestral home in South Windsor ; Samuel Edward. November 3. 1833. Harvey Elmore was a school teacher in carly life; was a member of the general assembly of Connecticut in 1842, and in 1844: was cap- tain of an independent rifle company attached to the Twenty-fifth Connecticut Militia. 1836- 38.

(VII) Samuel Edward, son of Harvey El- more, was born at South Windsor, educated at Hinsdale Academy and Williston Seminary at Easthampton, Massachusetts, and gradu- ated at Williams College in 1857. While there he was an editor of the Williams Quarterly Magasine, with ( President) James \. Gar- field ; president of the Natural History Society and captain of a Scientific Expedition to Flori- da Keys and the Dry Tortugas. After gradu- ation was assistant principal of the Sedgwick Institute at Great Barrington, and principal of the academy at Stowe, Vermont. He was a member of the general assembly of Connec- ticut in 1860, and 1864, during the exciting time of the civil war, and chief clerk in the office of the State Treasurer 1860-65. In this capacity the duty of securing all the money for the equipment of troops sent to the front and of preparing and negotiating the first is- sue of State bonds, devolved upon him. He visited Washington and the front several times by appointment of Governor Bucking- liam, once to receive payment for large sums expended by the State on behalf of the general government, once to reenlist and pay bounties to regiments whose terms of service had ex- pired and once to look after and relieve sol- diers wounded at the battles of Sharpsburg and Antietam. While a member of the gen- eral assembly in 1864, he obtained a charter for the Continental Lite Insurance Company

which he organized and of which he became secretary and afterward- president. During a period of ten years under his management, the assets increased from $150,000 to more than $2,500,000. In 1875 he became president of the Connecticut River Banking Company of Hartford (founded in 1828), which posi- tion he has held continuously for thirty-five years, being now the eldest banker in that city. He has been treasurer of the J. R. Mont- gomery Company since its organization, is president and treasurer of the East Haddam Electric Light Company, president of the Dwight Slate Machine Company, a director in several companies in Hartford and New Haven and has managed many estates, is a member of the Park Congregational Church, the Hartford Scientific Society, the Connec- ticut Historical Society, the Sons of the Am- erican Revolution, and the Hartford Club. also president of the Williams College Alumni As- sociation, of Connecticut. He is the author of a genealogy of the Eimer-Elmore family, is fond of outdoor sports and has made many hunting and fishing trips, spends his winters in Florida, where he is part owner of an orange grove and other property, and con- ducts a tobacco plantation at his ancestral home together with a farin at East Haddam. Connecticut, where a part of his summers are spent.

He married, November 1, 1864, Mary Ame- lia Burnham, born December 21, 1837, died May 28, 1878, daughter of Dennis and Harriet (Sloan) Burnham, of Hartford. Children : Frank Harvey, born November 16, 1866; he is in business at Providence, Rhode Island : Samuel Dean. December 20. 1808. a lawyer in Boston, residing at Cambridge : Charles Burn- ham. May 17. 187!, vice-president and man- ager of the Dwight Slate Machine Company, of Hartford: Henry Dennis, AApril 11. 1875. teller of the Dime Savings Bank of Hartford.

The family of which Arthur COFFIN Dexter Coffin. president of the Connecticut River Company of Hartford, Connecticut, is a representative, has a distinguished ancestry, bein descendants of the same stock as Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin. of the British navy, who in 1826 visited the island of Nantucket, the site of the first sat- tlement of the family in this country, and es- tablished a school in their memory. endowing it with a fund of ten thousand dollars.

(T) The first of the line herein traced of whom we have record was Silas Coffin. who married and among his children was George S., see forward.

(II) George S .. son of Silas Coffin, was a

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manufacturer of flannels and woolen goods. first in Vermont, later in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and finally in Winfor Locks, Connecticut. {le was a man of influence in the community, and by his upright character won and retained the respect of all with whom he was brought in contact. He married Sarah Scoville and among their children was Her- bert R., see forward.

(III) Herbert R., son of George S. and Sarah ( Scoville ) Coffin, was born in Rindge, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, August 6, 1840. He was educated in the public schools of Ludlow, Vermont, Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire, and the Confer- ence Academy, West Poultney, Vermont. Completing his studies at the age of sixteen years, he at once entered upon his business career, serving in the capacity of clerk in the dry goods commission house of Upson, Tucker & Company in Boston, continuing in their em- ploy three years and thereby gaining a thor- ough knowledge of the business. His next employment was with W. F. Feld & Company. importers, of Boston, with whom he remained two years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Rindge and assisted his father in the wool grading and scouring industry. They formed the firm of Herbert R. Coffin & Company, and two years later moved their plant to Windsor Locks. Connecticut. In 1867 Herbert R. disposed of his interest to his father and accepted a clerkship in the office of the Star Paper Mills at Windsor Locks, which were established by C. H. Dexter in 1835. A year later he became a member of the firm of C. H. Dexter & Sons, and in 1886 became sole proprietor of the business. Under his efficient management the business rapidly increased in volume and importance, develop- ing into one of the important industries of the section, giving employment to one hundred hands, and manufacturing large quantities of high-grade paper, making specialties of tissue, typewriting, copying and cover paper. all widely marketed. In adition to this extensive interest, he also devoted considerable atten- tion to other enterprises which were calculated to advance and promote the growth and pros- perity of his section of the state, serving as president of the Connecticut River Water Company, vice-president of the Windsor Locks and Warehouse Point Bridge Company, and director of the Connecticut River Bank- ing Company of Hartford and of the Mendli- cott Company, manufacturers of knit goods. of Windsor Locks. He was a member and deacon of the Congregational church, and a Republican in politics.

Mr. Coffin married, December 4, 1866, Mrs.

Julia Sargeant Haskall, widow of the late Thomas Ha-kall, of Windsor Locks, and daughter of the late Charles Haskall Dexter ( see Dexter VIII ). Children : 1. Arthur Dexter. see forward. 2. Clarence, died young. 3. Herbert R., Jr., born June 15. 18;1, educated in public schools of Windsor Locks, then entered the employ of C. II. Dexter & Sons, and has made paper manufacturing his chief business interest : ever since he attained his majority he has been identified with the political life of the community and with the promotion of all movements for the better- ment of his town in the industrial, educational and moral progress. He is now serving his second term as state representative fron his town; during his first term in the assembly he bent all his energies toward the introduc- tion of the bill to have the state buy and main- tain the four bridges over the Connecticut river, the passing of which and the subsequent freeing of the bridge at Windsor Locks was the occasion of great rejoicing in that town. His fellow-townsmen expressed their appre- ciation not only by a gift of a loving cup but by making him the unammous choice for rep- resentative regardless of party lines. His zeal in freeing the bridge is of particular signifi- cance and merit, for he was at the time a di- rector and stockholder in the Windsor Locks and Warehouse Point Bridge and Ferry Com- pany. During his second term as representa- tive he served as a member of the committee on incorporationus and as chairman of the com- mittee on assignment of seats. He was a member of the committee on education and woman's suffrage in his first term in the leg- islature. His re-election not only reflects the gratitude of his townsmen for his valued serv- ices in freeing the bridge, but also his ability to represent his town at the capitol with a loy- alty, uprightness and zeal that made his first public honors sea but the beginning of a long political career. He has always been interested in education and was the chief in- strument in establishing a free high school at Windsor Locks. He is now serving his third term as a member of the town board of education, of which he is the financial secre- tary. Ile is a director of the Windsor Locks Trust Company. He is a Congregationalist in religion, a Republican in politics, and a member of Euclid Lodge, No. 109. Free and Accepted Masons. He married, May. 1895. Eugena S. Warburton. 4. Grace Pier-on. horn December 2, 18;4. married Charles H. Cooley, Jr., of Hartford. Mrs. Coffin has one daughter by her first husband. Thomasine Haskall.

(IV) .Arthur Dexter, eldest son of Herbert

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R. and Julia Sargeant (Dexter) ( Haskall) Coffin, was born at Windsor Locks, April 25. 1868. He attended the public school of his native town. Hartford high school, and Phil- lips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. In 188S he accepted a position in the office of the grist mill owned by C. H. Dexter & Sons, continuing for a number of years, and he also had the entire management of the floning mills connected with his father's paper indus- try. He has presented in his quiet and unob- trusive way, a phase of successful business life which we do not often see, one that illus- trates the fundamental principles of a true life, whatever the forms its enterprise assumes. Public-spirited to the highest degree, he is ever forward in encouraging enterprises which can in any way advance the interests of Wind- sor. He is a trustee of the State Savings Bank and a director in the Mendlicott Com- pany of Windsor Locks. He is a Republican in politics, and holds membership in the Knights Templar, Boston Athletic Association, Engi- neer's Club of Hartford and Wavassett Coun- try Club of Springfield. Massachusetts: he is also a Shriner. He married. April 11. 1894, Cora Loomis Drake, of Suffield. Connecticut. Child, Dexter Drake, born April 8, 1898.

(The Dexter Line).

(I) Of the early life of Thomas Dexter. the first ancestor of the line herein considered. but little is known. He came either with Mr. Endicott in 1629 or in the fleet with Governor Winthrop in 1630. He brought with him three of his children at least. and several servants. but as there is no record of his wife, it is presumed that she died before they sailed from England. There is some reason to be- lieve that they belonged in the neighborhood of Bristol, England, for in the years that fol- lowed he had considerable dealing with peo- ple who lived there. In 1640 he gave a mort- gage of his eight hundred acre farm at Lynn to Humphrey Hooke, alderman of Bristol, England. His house was on the west side of the Saugus river, about where the iron works were afterward erected. In 1633 he built a bridge over the Saugus river and stretched a weir aeross it. and a little later built a mill nearby. He was greatly interested in start- ing the iron works, which were the first to be built in this section of the country, getting the iron ore from the cape. He interested English capital in the enterprise and became the general manager. but some years later. becoming convinced that the enterprise would not prove satisfactory. he withdrew. He be- came a freeman in 1631. but was disfranchised March 4. 1633. In 1637 he and nine others

obtained from the Plymouth colony court a grant of the township of Sandwich. He went there and built the first grist mill, but did not remain there long, however, for in 1638 he had three hundred and fifty acres assigned to him as one of the inhabitants of Lynn, where he remained until 1646. About this time he purchased two farms in Barnstable, one ad- joining the mill-stream and afterwards occu- pied by his son William, and the other farm on the northeastern declivity of "Scorton Hill." In 1657 he took the oath of fidelity. He was admitted freeman of Plymouth colony, Tune 1, 1658. He was a member of the Puri- tan church, yet tolerant and liberal in his views. He died in Boston, 16,7, at the home of his daughter, wife of Captain Oliver, and was buried in the Oliver tomb in King's Chapel burying ground. Children: 1. Tho- inas, horn in England, married Elizabeth Vin- cent, 1648. 2. William, see forward. 3. Mary, born in England, married (first) John Frend; ( second ) Captain James Oliver. 4. Frances, born in England, married Richard Woodde or Woodee.

(II) William, son of Thomas Dexter, was born in England. came to America with his father and was in Barnstable in 1650. He lived on one of the two farms that his father purchased. He took oath in Barnstable in 1657. He removed to Rochester about 1679 and died there in 1694. Ile was one of a party of thirty, which included such men as William Bradford. Kenelm Winslow. Thomas Hinck- ley and Kev. Samuel Arnold. who became the grantees of the town of Rochester. He was the owner of considerable iand both in Roch- ester and Barnstable. and at his death devised the same to his children. as follows: James, Thomas and John had the Rochester lands. while Stephen, Philip and Benjamin had the Barnstable lands. The children all went to Rochester except Philip, who removed to Fal- mouth. Massachusetts, and Stephen, who re- mained in Barnstable and who was the only one of the name in the town in 1703. William Dexter married. July 1653. Sarah Vincent. Children, born in Barnstable: I. Mary, born January, 1655, married Moses Barlow, re- moved to Rochester. 2. Stephen, May. 1637. married Ann Saunders. 3. Philip. September, 1659, married Alice Allen. died 174 !. 4. James, May, 1662, married Elizabeth Tobey, died July 15, 1604. 5. Thomas. July. 1665 married ( first ), 1695, Mary Miller, ( second) Sarah C. March, no issue : died July 31. 1744. 6. John. August. 1668, married Sarah died July 31, 1744. 7. Benjamin, see for- ward.

(III) Benjamin, son of William and Sarah

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(Vincent) Dexter, was born in Barnstable, February, 1670, died in 1732 in Rochester, whither he removed with his father. He was a farmer ; lie sold land in 1603 to Moses Bar- low, in 1699 to John Hammond. m 1723 10 Edward Winslow, in 1715 to John Corning : all of this land was inherited from his father. He married Sarah, daughter of Rev. Samuel Arnold, who was the second minister at Roch- ester, and also one of the grantees of the town, and granddaughter of Rev. Samuel Arnold, who was third minister of Marshfield. Children : 1. Noah. born March 26, 1697. died 1755. 2. James. July 22, 1698, died 1775. 3. Benjamin, March 4. 1700. 4. Sarah, July I. 1702. 5. Josiah. November 12. 1704. 6. Constant. November 27. 1700. 7. Samuel, December 14. 1708. 8. Ephraim, May 27. 1711. died November 4. 1774. 9. Daniel, July 29. 1713. 10. Joanna. December 12. 1715, mar- ried. November 22. 1737. John Barrows. cere- mony performed by Rev. T. Ruggies. 11. Seth. see forward. All of these children were born in Rochester.

(IV) Seth, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Arnold) Dexter, was born in Rochester. Oc- tober 3. 1718. died April 6. 1793. He was a clothier. He was executor of his brother James' estate in 1775 : he was one of the com- mittee on correspondence before the war of the revolution, 1772-73 : he served as deacon ; served as town clerk in 1750-51-52-53-55-56. "In 1777 he with two others were a commit- tee to supply families of soldiers who are in the army." He married Elizabeth who was born InIS. died October 13. 1703. Children : 1. Seth, see forward. 2. Elizabeth, born June 5. 1745, married. January 5. 1764. Ebenezer Clark Jr. 3. Prince, June 12. 1747, not mentioned in father's will. 1791. 4. Eli- jah, February 22. 1749. 5. David. September 30. 1751, not mentioned in father's will. 6. Thomas. August 22, 1753, died same year. 7. Joanna, July 26, 1754. married. November 13. 1777, John Gibbs Tr. 8. Constant. November 12, 1756, died October, 1785. 9. Thankful, August 19. 1759, married. February 3. 1782. Zebulon Haskall.

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