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 63

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 63

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Professor Farnam has been active in chari- table work. He was a member of the pruden- tial committee of the New Haven hospital from 1880 to 1886, and chairman part of that time. He has been director of the Organized Charities Association for many years. He aided in organizing the Lowell House, and was elected president of the association in

1901. As the work of the settlement was ex- tended and the old quarters became inade- quate, he secured land on Hamilton street and presented it to the association in 1906, with funds for the erection of a new building. He was a member of the Committee of Fifty and secretary of the sub-committee which prepared a report on the Economic Aspects of the Liquor Problem in 1899. He is a col- laborator in the department of Sociology, Carnegie Institution, Washington, appointed in 1903 and was made chairman of the board in 1909. He assisted in the organization of the American Association for Labor Legisla- tion and became its president in 1907. He is fond of art, a subject to which he has de- voted much study. He is a member of the State Commission of Sculpture, one of the duties of which is to pass judgment upon works of art offered for the capitol and grounds at Hartford. He was made clerk of the commission in 188; and has been chair- man since 1902. He has published: "Die Innere Französische Gewerbepolitik von Col- bert bis Turgot," his Strassburg thesis; a bi- ography of his father, and numerous papers on political and sociological subjects. In re- ligion he is a Congregationalist, and he at- tends the historic Center Church of New Ha- ven. In politics he is classed as an Inde- pendent. He is a member of the American Statistical, Historical, Economic and Political Science Associations and of the Sociological Society, Graduates Club, the Country Club and the Lawn Club of New Haven: of the Century, University, Reform and Yate Clubs of New York, and the Golf and Casino Clubs of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where he owns a farm and spends some time each summer. His New Haven home is at 43 Hillhouse ave- nue. Professor Farnam has given this ad- vice to the young: "Form high ideals early. Stick to them. Cultivate industry, self-con- trol, persistency. Think more of your work than of yourself. Bring up your chil- dren to do better service than their father."

He married, June 26. 1890, Elizabeth Up- ham Kingsley, daughter of Dr. William L. Kingsley, of New Haven. Children: Louise Whitman ; Katherine Kingsley : Henry W .. Jr.

( The Whitman Line).

(T) John Whitman, the immigrant ancestor, came from England, perhaps from Holt. coun- ty Norfolk, where the name of Whitman or Whiteman was common. He was an early settler of Weymouth, Massachusetts, and was admitted a freeman March 13, 1078-79. and a town officer in 1643. In 1645 he was ap- pointed ensign by the governor, an.I was prob-

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ably the first military officer in the town of Weymouth, and May 14. 1645. he was made a commissioner to end small causes. He was also a deacon of the church there probably from its foundation and until his death. No- vember 13. 1692. He was doubtless nearly ninety when he died. It is supposed he was married in England about 1625. The family did not follow the father to Weymouth until 1641. He had a brother Zachariah who emi- grated at the time he did or soon afterward. and settled in Milford. Connecticut. as early as 1639. His estate at Milford was be- queathed to Rev. Zechariah Whitman, son of his brother, John Whitman. of Weymouth. The records, according to Pope, show that Zachariah, aged forty, came with his wife Sarah, aged thirty-five, and child Zachariah, aged two and a half, in the "Elizabeth." from Weymouth. England. April 11. 1636. Robert Whitman, aged twenty, from the parish of Little Minories, England. came in the "Abi- gail" in June, 1635. and settled at Ipswich. It is not known that he was a relative. That Zachariah and Robert Whitman came in 1636 makes it probable that John came in that year.

John Whitman owned and lived upon a farm adjoining the north side of the high- way, leading by the north side of the meet- ing house of the north parish of Weymouth and directly against it, and extending to Wey- mouth river. His dwelling house was near the middle of the farm, and a part of the house now on the place was built about 1680. If this date is correct it was occupied by the immigrant ancestor. He had many grants of land and must have become by purchase and otherwise the largest or one of the largest landholders in the town. He held the office of ensign until March 16. 1680. On May 15, 1664, he was appointed messenger to the In- dians and held other position of trust in the colony. Children : I. Thomas. born about 1629. died 1712: married Abigail Byram : set- tled at Bridgewater. 2. John, died February I. 1713. 3. Zechariah. mentioned below. 4. Abialı, born 1646. died January 28. 1727-28. 5. Sarah. married Abraham. son of Thomas Jones. tailor, of Hingham, she was probably the eldest child: they lived together nearly sixty-five years: she died June 11. 1718 : they resided at Hull. 6. Mary, born 1634. died July 10. 1716; married. November 22. 1656. John Pratt. 7. Elizabeth, died February 2. 1720: married. May. 1657. Joseph Green. S. Hannah, born August 24, 1641 : married. Sep- tember 9. 1660. Stephen French. 9. Judith, married Philip King.

(II) Zechariah, son of John Whitman, was born at Weymouth, 1644. He graduated at

Harvard University, 1668, and on September 13, 1070, was ordained as the first minister of Point Alderton, Nantasket or Ilull, upon a salary of forty pounds. His ministry con- tinued throughout his life, and August 23, 1726. the town voted to pay his children twenty-five pounds for his maintenance while he lived and did not preach. Soon after his ordination he married Sarah, twin daughter with Anna, of Dr. Jolin Alcock, of Roxbury, baptized May 26. 1650. She died April 3, 1715. The contract of marriage was dated October 26, 1670, and the ceremony doubt- less took place soon after. In May, 16.3. he was admitted a freeman. At the death of his uncle, Zachariah Whitman, of Milford, Connecticut, in 1666, he inherited the former's property in that town, and in the right of his wife was also possessed of a considerable estate, including lands on the Assabet river at Stow, Massachusetts. Mr. Whitman is described as "a good scholar and penman, and wrote most of the wills and legal papers in Hull," also. "he was well esteemed for his natural and acquired accomplishments; but especially for steady piety. diligent zeal and faithfulness in the discharge of his pastoral office : the exemplariness of his conversation : and his patience and submission to the will of God under his afflictions." His will. dated June 12. 1725. proved December 16, 1726. con- firmed the grants of land already made to his sons and daughters : charges the shares of his sons Zechariah and John with certain pay- ments to their sister. Joanna Hunt : makes his son Samuel and daughters Sarah Goold. Joan- na Hunt and Mary Jacobs. his residuary lesa- tees. and appoints his son Samuel his sole executor. He died November 5, 1726. Chil- dren : Zechariah, born 16;2. died 1752: John. born 1674, died February 22, 1684: Joanna. born 1600: Rev. Sanmiel. mentioned below : Sarah: Elizabeth. died November 10. 1708: John, born 1688, died August 3, 1772: Mary; Eunice, horn April 10, 1696.

(III) Samuel, son of Zechariah Whitman. was born at Hull, 1676. He graduated at Harvard in 1696, and is said to have been a tutor there for a short period. In 1699 he was employed as teacher of the grammar school at Salem, where he doubtless remained till he was called to preach at Farmington. Connecticut. at that time one of the largest and wealthiest towns in the State. He is mentioned as having occasionally preached at Lancaster, Massachusetts, between 169 ;- ITOL. He was ordained at Farmington December 10. 1706, and remained there until his death. He had a high repute as a clergyman, and was much beloved by the perpie under his charge.

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He ranked among the first literary men of New England and was interested in all mat- ters of education and culture. In 1726 he was appointed one of the fellows of Yale College, a position which he retained for more than twenty years. During Mr. Whitman's ministry the second meeting house was be- gun in 1709 and finished in 1714. He had by bequest one-half his father's lands in Stow, Massachusetts, and was appointed executor of the will. His home stood on the inain street, just in rear of the present savings bank and the property remained in the family until after 1863. He married, March 19. 1707, Sarah. daughter of Rev. Solomon and Esther (Warham) Stoddard, of Northampton, born April 1, 16So, died September 10, 1755. She joined the church at Farmington by letter, February II. IFIO-UI. Children: Rev. El- nathan, born January 12, 1709 : Solomon, men- tioned below : Eunice. born February 24, 1712; John. December 23. 1713: Dr. Samuel, Janu- ary 13, 1716: Sarah, March 12, 1718; Eliza- beth, January 17, 1721.

(IV) Solomon, son of Samuel Whitman, was born at Farmington. April 20, 1710. He settled on a portion of the homestead, and learned the trade of shoemaker, bat appar- ently never followed it. He was well edu- cated and deeply interested in all literary mat- ters. Early in life he was appointed a magis- trate by the colonial government, and was honored by the citizens of his native town with offices of every grade. In 1751 he was appointed by the assembly as justice of the peace. an office which he held until 1767. In 1751 he was chosen deputy to the general as- sembly and re-elected for sixteen years. In 1760 the probate court of the Farmington dis- trict was established, and he was the first judge appointed. He held the office of town clerk at the age of ninety-two. He inherited from his father large landed possessions, which he improved by careful management, so that at his death, he left a handsome prop- erty. He married (first) December 17. 1736, Susanna Cole, of Farmington, born 1715, died March 19. 1,72: (second) November 19. 1772. Ruth. daughter of John and Abigail ( Stanley) Hooker. and widow of Asahel Strong. She was born April 16. 1708, and died September IS, 1777. He married ( third) July 30, 1778, Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Thomson) Hart, and widow of Wil- liam Wadsworth. born April 16, 17os, died February 20, 1,79. Children. Chloe. horn 1737 : Lemuel, August 1, 1739 : Solomon. Jan- uary 2, 1743. Elnathan. mentioned below : Mary, May 8. 1751. died Angust 10, 1751; Samuel, born September 20, 1752.

(V) Elnathan, son of Solomon Whitman, was born at Farmington. March 21. 1,40. and married, February 9, 1782, Lois, daughter of Joseph and Lois ( Perkins) Dickerman. She was born in Hamden, Connecticut. March 22, 17419, and died December 15, 1833. He set- tled as a farmer in his native town aml lived in the family homestead on High street. He died March 15. 1813. Children: William, mentioned below : Chloe ; Catharine.

(VE) William, son of Elnathan Whit- man, was born at Farmington, July 12. 1;83. He passed his boyhood in the old Whitman homestead, in the family of his grandfather. After his grandmother's death in 1799 he lived with his father and managed the farm. After his father's death he remainel at home with his mother until 1823, when he purchased the estate of Adney Curtis, at the upper end of the main street. The house on this es- tate had been occupied as a hotel, and Mr. Whitman and his wife continued the business already established. Under their management Whitman's Hotel became widely known for its good cheer, comfort and cleanliness. and was carried on for more than fifty years in the family. In person Mr. Whitman was tali. over six feet in height, and possessed of an iron constitution. lie was noted for his great shrewdness and acuteness of observation. He married. October 12, 1812. Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Zenas and Leah (Loring) Whiting. She was born in Beverly, Massachusetts. April 3. 1787. and died March 14, 1866. He lied November 12, 1876. Children, born at Tarm- ington: 1. Ann Sophia, September 15. 1Stf. married December 1, 1839, Hemty Fainam ( see Farnam). 2. William Henry. born March 18, 1823. 3. Charles Loring, May 25, 1827. 4. George Bronson.

The history of the Norton NORTON family begins at the time of the Norman Conquest, when Le Signeur de Norville crossed over to Eng- land with William the Conqueror, S .; tember 29. 1066. and was his constable. The wine at that time was Norville, which in French signified North Village. It was long after changed to Norton, which was in Ensis North-town. It is supposed that all the fam. lies of this name in England. Ireian land Am- erica were derived from one man.

(I) George Norton, immigrant ancestor was born in England. died in 1050. He came to this country with Illegiason in 1620. He Settled in Salem, where he took the freeman's oath. May 14, 1634. In 1640 he was con- neeted with a company who obtained leave from the general court to settle Jeffrey's

Joseph At Moston

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Creek, afterwards called Manchester. He re- moved to Gloucester about 1641, and was rep- resentative of that town 1642-43-44. He moved back to Salem in 1644. He was dis- missed from the church at Gloucester to the church at Wenham, September 21, 1645. It is supposed that he was a carpenter by trade. and that he built the first Congregational church in Salem. The frame of the church is still preserved by the Essex Historical Insti- tute of Salem. He married Mary Children : Freegrace, born 1635; John, Octo- ber, 1637; Nathaniel, May, 1639; George, March 28, 1641. mentioned below ; Henry, February 28. 1643: Mchitable, 1645; Sarah, September 14. 1647: Habbah, 1649; Abigail, 1651 : Elizabeth. August 7, 1653.

(Il) George (2), son of George (1) Nor- ton. was born March 28. 1641. He married ( first ) October 7, 1660, Sarah Hart, who died June 23, 1682, at Suffield. He married ( sec- ond) Merey, widow of Windsor Gillett. He lived in Salem. Ipswich and Suffield. Connec- ticut, then called Stony Brook Plantation. In the latter place a grant of sixty acres of land was made to him. September 14. 1674. The following year the settlement was broken up on account of King Philip's war, but was commenced again in 1676-77. The name of George Norton occurs as an inhabitant there as early as September 25, 1677. In the list of voters, March 9, 1682, he is called Ensign Norton. In 1693 he was chosen one of the selectmen, and was sent as a representative to the general court in Boston the same year, and at this time was called Captain Norton. In 1695 the town of Suffield agreed with George Norton and Richard Austin to make all the windows for the minister's house at eighteen pence per light, and to pay for the same in provision and flax. He died Novem- ber 15, 1696, and his estate was settled March 31, 1GOS-99. Children of first wife, the first five born in Ipswich: George, November 10, 1671, mentioned below ; Thomas, November IO, 1674; Nathaniel, June 30, 1676: Sarah. July 12, 1677 : Alice, married Robert Kimbal : Samuel, January 22. 1679. died February 2, 1679; Samuel, April 9, 1681, died April 27. 1681. Children of second wife: John, born June 12, 1683, died June 16, 1683 : Mary Jane, June 18, 1685; Abigail. January 14. 1687, died October 21. 1705: Freegrace, born January 1, 1689: Joanna, March 17, 1603: Elizabeth, August 31, 1695, died August 1, 1607 ; Eliza- beth, born March 19, 1697.

(III) George (3), son of George (2) Nor- ton, was born November 10. 1671. in Ipswich, died February 13. 1742. Ile married (first) Hannah Youngglove. and (second) Martha

Stiles, widow. Children of first wife: George: Thomas; Nathaniel; Sarah: Alice: Samuel ; Sarah : Children of second wife: John; Mary; Abigail; Freegrace; Joanna : Joana ; Elizabeth.

(IV) Nathaniel. son of George (3) Nor- ton, was born in Suffield, 1702. died in 1776. Ile married Mercy He had a soi, Jonathan, mentioned below.

(V) Captain Jonathan, son of Nathaniel Norton, was born in 1739, died in 1830, at Otis, Massachusetts. He settled in Loudon, now Otis, and bought land in North London, April 24. 1787, of Joseph Cook, of Loudon, twenty acres, bounded on the Equivalent South line (col. 24, P. 377. Berkshire Deeds). He was a soldier from Otis ( London ), in the revolu- tion, first lieutenant in Captain Jacob Cook Jr.'s company, Berkshire county regiment. commissioned May 5, 1776; lieutenant of same company in Colonel Ashley's regiment in the summer of 1777 at Saratoga : also of Captain Samuel Warner's company, Colonel John Brown's regiment, for three months in 178o. According to the census of 1790 he had two males over sixteen and three females in his family. while Jonathan Tr. had two male; under sixteen and two females.

(VI) Jonathan (2), son of Captain Jon- athan (1) Norton, was born at Otis. June S. 1761. Among his children was Joel H., men- tioned below.

(VII) Joel H., son of Jonathan (2) Nor- ton, was born March 10. 1785. at Otis died October 23. 1846. at Blandford. Massachu- settes. He was educated in the public schools, in which he was for many years a teacher. He was also a farmer. He married, March 22, 1810. Arn. daughter of Joseph Hunt. She was born at Paxton, Worcester county, Massa- chusetts. April 12. 1788, died at Blandford, Angust 31, 1873. Children: Eunice: Harri- son : Joseph H., mentioned below : Chauncey : George; Ann Eliza; Permelia; Lyman R .; John P.

(VIII) Joseph Hunt. son of Jocl H. Nor- ton, was born in Tolland, Massachusett .. March 29. 1814. died August 10, 1805. He was educated in the public schools, and raised on his father's farm. At the age of fifteen he "worked out" for a time for his unde for six dollars a month. For four seasons he tended a carding machine, and made lin- seed oil at Otis Village, in the employ of his uncie. Joseph Hunt. In 1835 he became a clerk in the store of Incius Gibbs, at East Otis. but after a short time entered the eci- ploy of Isaac Miller, of West Granville, as a salesman of silverware and jewelry, and trav- eled in all parts of the country. His salary

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the first year was SIjo. the second year $480. Subsequently he was salesman one year for another firm, then he embarked in business for himself and continued until December, 1841. In 1841 he bought the store of Pom- eroy & Nonon, at New Boston, Massachusetts, and continued in business there for sixteen years. He was active in public affairs, was selectman, assessor several years and post- master. He had been urged for some time by leading business men of Winsted to come there to manage the Winsted Manufacturing Company, and he accepted, September 4, 1862, the office of agent, secretary and treasurer of the company. In the later years of his life he was president and his son. Allen H. Nor- . ton, was secretary. This concern is one of the largest manufacturers of scythes in the country, and much of its prosperity was due to the management of Mr. Norton. He was a director of the Ifurlbut National Bank ; trus- tee of the Mechanics Savings Bank and presi- dent of the Winsted Real Estate Company. In politics he was first a Whig, then a Re- publican. In religion he was a Congregation- alist. Ife was a useful and public-spirited citizen, an able business man and a loyal

friend. He married, March 7. 1849. Maria L. Hawley, born at Sandisfield. Massachusetts. Children : Allen H., mentioned below : Mary A. (IX) Allen H., son of Joseph Hunt Norton, was born in New Boston, December 22. 1849, died in Winsted, May 22, 1901. He was edu- cated in the public and private schools and throughout his business life was connected with the Winsted Manufacturing Company. After the death of his father he was president and sole owner. He married Mary, daughter of David Miller. Children: Helen, died in childhood ; Joseph Allen, mentioned below.

(X) Joseph Allen, son of Allen II. Norton. was born 1884, in Winsted. and educated in the town schools and at the Hotchkiss school, at Lakeville. Connecticut. Since his father's death he has been president of the Winsted Manufacturing Company. He married, 1995. Annie M., daughter of Charles G. and Mary (Griswold) Rood, of New Hartford, Con- necticut. Child. Helen Mary.

NORTON (VIII ) Lyman R., son of Joel H. Norton (q. v.), was born in Otis. Berkshire county. Janu- ary 1. 1827, died January 20, 19Ut. He was educated in the public schools of Blandford, whither his parents removed. From carly youth he worked at farming. and when but seventeen years old had charge of a three- hundred and twenty acre stock farm at Bland- ford. After his father died he "worked out"

for a year or two, then entered the employ of Avery Tracy, lumber dealer. In 1853 he bought an undivided half interest in a small tannery and lumber business in North Bland- ford of Alfred Peckham, the firm becoming Peckham & Norton. The partnership con- tinued for ten years, when Mr. Norton sold his interest to his partner. Mr. Peckham, and' in company with a cousin, B. B. Norton, ac- quired a general store in the same town, conducting it under the firm name of L. R. & B. B. Norton. In 1866 Alr. Nor- ton disposed of his interest in that business. In 1867 he engaged in business at Winsted, Connecticut, with his brother, J. H. Norton. under the firm name of L. R Norton & Com- pany, dealing in dry goods, groceries and gen- eral merchandise, and continued with substan- tial success until he disposed of the business in order to devote all his attention to the Mechanics' Savings Bank, of which he was elected treasurer. April 23, ISS7. which office he held to the time of his death. Previous to his becoming treasurer he had been elected a director of the bank in 1881 and was elected president at a special meeting. December t. 1882, and during his administration of its affairs the bank made steady and substantial growth. He was vice-president of the Win- sted Savings Bank prior to 1875. His long experience in the banking business and spe- cial aptitude for the duties of his office mane him one of the best known and trost success- ful bankers of his section. He was also a director of the William L. Gilbert Clock Com- pany, of which he was an officer since 18;3. and this connection brought him into promi- nence in the industrial world. He was an or- ficer of the corporations controlling the GE- bert School and the Gilbert Home for Or- phaned and Destitute Children since their or- ganization. He was one of the school com :- mittee of the Gilbert School and a member of its finance committee, aud vice -; resident and member of the finance committee of the home. He was also a director of the Winsted .Jan ::- facturing Company and of the First Nations Bank. He was a man of excellent indymer :. possessed rare business sagacity. was -tror: in his principles, and a man that won the a :- miration and friendship of his associate- an : acquaintances. He took an active part in politics, adhering to the Republican principles. In 1873 he was elected first selectman of Blandford, and it was during his period .: office that the town first opened its books in a formal way. and several substantial ir- provements were made in the town. He was chairman of the board of selectmen of Win- chester for three years, and was assessor a.i

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member of the board of relief. He invested extensively in real estate in his section and made much of his fortune in buying and sell- ing real estate, being deemed one of the best judges of valves in the country, 1Te attended the First Congregational Church of Winstead.

Mr. Norton married, October 25. 1848. Ruth Ann, born at Blandford. December 10. 1828, died at Winsted, April 18, 1910, dangh- ter of Avery and Charlotte ( Shepard ) Tracy. Children, born at Blandford: Elizabeth Ruth, August 31. 1850: Ella Louise, April 2. 1853.

The Hough family is of Giallic- HOUGH Flemish origin: a branch still exists at Bruges, in Flanders. the name being De la Hooghe. Repre- sentatives of the family were in England in Cheshire at the time of the Conquest, the name at that time being Del Hoghe, and until the year 1500. In manuscript gene- alogies in the British Museum the name ap- pears as Del Hoghe, De Hogh. De Hooghe. etc. The Houghs of Pennsylvania came largely from Richard Hough, who emigrated from Cheshire. England, and arrived in the Delaware river September. 1683. in the ship "Endeavor." from London. He bought two tracts of land in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Richard Hough was a leading member of the Society of Friends. Soon after his arrival he became a member of the supreme executive council of William Penn, and continued to be until his death in 1705.

(I) Edward Hough, the progenitor (men- tioned below ), also lived at Cheshire. England, and the Houghs of New England are primar- ily descended from him. It is not known that he came to this country, but his widow Elizabeth died at Gloucester. Massachusetts, in 1672. aged eighty-five years.

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