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 66

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 66

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(VI) Henry Townsend, eldest child of

Henry Hull and Anna (Townsend) Martin, was born at Albany, New York, January 2, 1837, and died May, 1904. His early educa- tion was acquired in the city of his birth. and he was graduated from Union College in 185 ;. He then entered the banking business, with which he was connected throughout his life. He married Lydia Stringer Lush. Children : Henry Hull. deceased : William Lush, resides in Albany : Alice Townsend, married Benjamin B. McAlpin, of New York: Helen, married Edward Murphy (2d), of Troy, New York : Ilenry Townsend Jr .; Mabel, born January 21. 1881, married Frank Earle Seeley ( Seeley X).

( The Brown Line).

John Brown, an Englishman, the original settler and ancestor of the branch of the Brown family in America, we know nothing of prior to 1620. He met in the course of his travels the band of Pilgrims who were sojourning at Leyden, Holland, under the leadership of Rev. John Robinson. From the fact that he became attached to them it might be in- ferred that his home was in the part of England from which they had come, either Lincoln, Nottingham or Yorkshire. This, however, is only conjecture. He became their friend, joined them, and after their departure for America in the "Mayflower" and arrival. November 11. 1620, he followed them, land- ing at Salem (Naumkeag), Massachusetts, in March, 1629. It is probable in the interval of nine years that he returned to England and became interested with others in an ex- pedition for America, as the council for New - England, on the 19th of March. 1627, ap- proved a patent for "trade soil and planting." on which a royal charter was obtained. March 4. 1628, to certain patentees and their asso- ciates, among them being John Brown. John Saltonstall and others. ( Baylies' "Memoirs of Plymouth Colony," vol. i. p. 108). On April 3, 1629. John Endicott was elected gor- ernor ; John Brown and Samuel Brown were among the names of those chosen for a coun- cil. Between the date of his arrival, 1620. and 1639 he traveled from Salem to Plymouth and hence to Taunton with his son James. ("Memoirs of Plymouth Colony," vol. i. p. 289). A census made in 1613 of the inhabi- tants of Taunton shows that there were fifty- four males in the town between the ages of sixteen and sixty, among them "Mr. John Brown, John Brown and James Brown." John Brown being "Mr." John Brown's son or John, Jr. In 1644 John Brown went to Reho- both, where he and his son. John. Jr .. re- mained, being among the first settlers of that town, and from which James Brown, who

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was a Baptist, was forced to move in 1663 on account of opposition to the sect, and with others of his creed founded the town of Swansea. Mr. John Brown, John Brown Jr., and James were freemen of the town of Taunton in 1643. and of Rehoboth in 1658. "Mr." Brown (by which name he is always designated in the old records) and his sons, John ( Uncle Herbert's branch ) and James ( father's branch) were leaders in civic, judi- cial and military affairs. Mr. Brown was active in the government of Rehoboth, as old old records show. On March 16. 1045, Mr. Brown was appointed one of the townsmen for one whole year; June o, 1645, he was chosen one of three to order the prudential affairs of the town for one-half year; June 24, 1650, elected townsman: March 1, 1651. "at a town meeting it was agreed that Peter Hunt accompany Mr. Brown to Plymouth to make agreement of Indian complaints." Oc- tober 8, 1651, he was elected townsman. He was for years, from 1636 to 1638, one of the governor's assistants or magistrates. In 1638 the following were governor's assistants : William Bradford, Edward Winslow, Captain Miles Standish, John Alden. John Jenny and John Brown. He was one of the commis- sioners of the United Colonies of New Eng- land (which foreshadowed the later federa- tion). His son James, of Swansea, appears at court as attorney for one Seymour on October 29, 1678.

The friendship and kindness which Mr. Brown had invariably extended to the Indians, and particularly to Massasoit, was instru- mental in saving the life of his son James, as the following incident, related by Colonel Church, denotes: "It seems that during the continuance of King Philip's war, the gov- ernor, at the solicitation of James Brown, of Swansey, sent a letter to King Philip filled with amiable professions. anl disclaiming all hostile intentions." Colonel Church says : "The Indians would have killed Mr. Brown, who with Mr. Sam Gordon and two others, bore the letter, but Philip prevented it, tell- ing them that his father had charged him to show kindness to Mr. Brown." {Church's "History of Philip's War." Drake's edition. 1829, page 29.) The following notices of Mr. Brown are of interest: "This year Mr. Brown ended his life. In his younger years traveling into the low countries. he became acquainted with and took a liking to Rev. Pastor of the church of Leyden, and to sundry brethren, which ancient amity induced him to come to America. to seat himself in the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, where he was chosen magistrate, in which place he served

God and the country several years. He was well accomplished with abilities to both civil and religious concernments, and attained through God's grace unto a comfortable per- suasion of the love and serenity and spiritual comfort, fell asleep in the Lord, and was honorably buried at Wanwamoysette near Rehoboth in the spring of 1062, April 10." (Morton's "Memorials of New England." page 296.) We find the same remark re- specting Mr. Brown as of Mr. Winslow and Miles Standish-that while on their travels they became cordially acquainted with the refugees in Leyilen and were so attracted to them as to unite themselves to their society. Page 297 in same memorials: "There was another of Nature's noblemen among the original settlers of the town whose grave is with us to this day, Mr. John Browne, who was elected and served seventeen years for the government. First magistrate to raise his voice against the coersive support of the Ministry, taking the stand that all church sup- port should be voluntary and backed his pre- cepts by liberal example. He was a man of abilities, intellect, picty and patriotism, and was buried with military and civic honors, in 1662. He has only worthy descendants. one of whom is chairman of the committee of ar- rangements on this occasion." ("Rehoboth in the Past," an historical oration delivered by Sylvanus Chase Newman, A. M .. on July 4. 1860.) "He was first elected to office of as- sistant in Plymouth colony, 1636, which of- fice he ably filled for seventeen years. He was one of the original proprietors of the town and owned large estates of land both at Rehoboth and Wanwamoysette." ("Mem- oirs of Plymouth Colony," vol. ii. p. 54.) Dorothy, wife of John Brown, died 16;4. John Tr., died before his father, the same ver. James in 1665 was elected governor's as-istant in place of Thomas Willett. his brother-in-law, who was called to New York to be first English mayor after the exclusion of the Dutch under Peter Stuyvesant. MIr. James Brown held the position until 1681. Ile cherished his father's principles. After him came Nathaniel Bacon. He died. Oc- tober 29, 1710, aged eighty-seven years. Left two sons: James, who died at Barrington. in 1725, and Jabez: and a daughter, Dorothy Kent.

(I) John Brown, the immigrant ancestor, born 1595. died April 10, 1662. married Dor- othy born 1583. died at . Swansea. Massachusetts, January 27, 1673. Children: I. Ensign John. Jr .. of Rehoboth. died 1662. 2. Major James, of Swansea. born 1623. died I710 : married Lydia Howland. 3. Mary, mar-

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ried, July 6, 1636. Captain Thomas Willet, of Plymouth, the first English mayor of New York City. 4. William, resided at Salem.

(11) Ensign jolin (2) Brown, of Reho- both. son of John (1) Brown: no record of his marriage. He had following children : I. Captain John Brown. commissioned under Colonel Church in Indian wars. 2. Andia, married Thomas Willett's son Samuel (3) -- none of his dates.

(III) John (1). Captain or Samuel (3) ; uncertain through which descent he is traced.

(IV) William, a commissioned colony offi- cer under King George : married, October 10, 1728, Ruth Walker, born December 2. 1710, died March 6, 1790 ( see Walker ancestry ).

(V) Samuel. born 1729, died 1810: mar- ried (first ) Esther Bucklin, January 5. 1764. died 1782: ( second) Huldah Hunt.

(I) John Brown, gentleman, born at Rox- well, Essex county, England, in 1582. died 1662; married Dorothy - - -- , born in Eng- land. 1584. died in Swansea, January 29, 1674. aged ninety years.

(II ) James Brown, born in England. 1623, died 1710; married Lydia. daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Carver ) Howland, the mother being a daughter of Governor Carver, first governor of Plymouth.

(III) Jabez Brown, born in Swansea, July, 1668. married Jane

(IV) Hezekiah Brown, born in Swansea, November 18. 1608, married Johannalı

(V) Asa Brown, born in Barrington. died in 1802: married ( first ) Chloe Hunt. of Reho- both, October 17. 1,37; (second) Ann Shep- ard. of Wrentham. 1772.

(VI) William Brown, born in Wrentham. May 13, 1765. died January 16. IS48: mar- ried Lucina Whipple. born in Wrentham. Feb- ruary 13, 1782. died in 1841.

(VII) James Orme Brown, born in Wren- tham. February 14. 1800. died in Bellingham, March 5. 1883: married Nancy Guild. born in Wrentham. March 2, 1804. died in Bellingham, December 27. 1880.

(VIII) Allen Jabez Brown, born in Ox- ford. Massachusetts. December 12. 1825. died in Providence, Rhode Island. May 17. 1877: married Sylvinia Snow Simmons, October, 1845. born in Providence. January 19, 1829, died in 1910.

( IX) Charles Edwin Brown, born in Provi- cience. died in Torrington, September 7, 1904. He was for many years sales agent for John Davol & Sons, Brooklyn, but in 1889 came to Bridgeport. where he became agent for the Bridgeport Copper Company and spent the rest of his life here. His wife. Ella Taylor Brooker, was born in Torrington, Con-

necticut, died July 6, 1000, daughter of Sam- uel S. Brooker. They had eight children, al! living: 1. Charles Edwin, residing in An- sonia. 2. Alis. R. C. Secley, as noted above. 3. Arthur Seymour, with Coe Brass Company in Ansonia. 4. Harold S., in Bridgeport. 5. Ethel B .. married Charles Van B. Maclean, of Ansonia. 6. Mrs. George S. Benham, of Bridgeport. 7. William Lawrence, of Water- bury. 8. Dorothy, of Bridgeport.

PECK Joseph Peck. the immigrant, son of Robert and Anne Peck, was born at Hingham, county Norfolk, England, April 22. 1610. and settled first at New Haven, Connecticut. His name appears on the colonial records in 1043, but he was doubtless there earlier and is presumed to be a brother of Henry Peck, who settled there in 1638. They probably came over together. About 1649 he left New Haven to settle in Milford, Connecticut, and joined the church there in 1652. - He married ( first ) Alice, widow of John Burwell; ( second) Mary Rich- ards. Ilis house was near the present resi- dence of Captain Cornelius B. Peck. a de- scendiant, and stool until comparatively a re- cent date. It had two stories in front in the lean-to style, sloping back to about six feet in the rear, with the gable end to the street. He died in 1700-01. He decdel to his son Joseph his lands on condition that he shall be supported for life. He left legacies to his son-in-law, Thomas Hayes; to Mary, wife of William Northrop, and to his daughter Anna. Children: Elizabeth, baptized 1651. married Sergeant Thomas Haves: Joseph. mentioned below: Mary. baptized April 20. 1670. married William Northrop: Ann. bap- tize ! 16;2; Hannah.

(II) Joseph (2). son of Joseph ( 1) Peck, was born in 1653. settled in Milford and die1 there. He disposed of his estate by deeds to his sons. . Hle married. January 27. 16;S -; 9, Mary Camp. Children, horn at Milford: Jo- seph. February 25. 1680-81 : Mary, born De- ceinber 15. 1682: Jeremiah. 1687: Samuel, mentioned below: Ephraim. 1602: Henry, 1605: Elizabeth. 1607: Nathaniel. 1699: Abi- gail. September 25. 1701: Heth. October 3. 1703.

(III) Samuel, son of Joseph (2) Peck. was born in 1600 at Milford. He married. May 5. 1714. Martha Clark. Children, born at Milford: Martha C., January 31. 1714-15: Samuel. mentioned below : Mary, July 30. 1718: Job. September 15. 1720: Abigail. 1722: Nathan, 1724.

(IV) Samuel (2). son of Samuel ( 1) Peck, was born at Milford, May 21. 1716. He mar-

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ried, August 18. 1735, Hannah Jennings, of Fairfield, Connecticut. Children, born at Mil- ford: Samuel, mentioned below ; Michael, August 10, 1738; Sarah, married Mansfield Stone ; Mehitable.

(V) Samuel (3). son of Samuel (2) Peck, was born at Milford. August 22, 1736. He married, July 7, 1702. Mehitable Smith, and settled in Milford, where he died June 12, 1822. She died January. 1826, aged eighty- five years. He was captain of a company from Milford in the war of the revolution, and a very prominent man in his day. He commanded a company under Colonel William Douglas at Long Island and in the retreat from New York: was in the engagement at Kip's Bay and fought at White Plains. Chil- dren: Mehitable, born February 13, 1763, married Abraham Clark : Samuel, October 19, 1764; Ephraim, November 19, 1766, a draper and tailor; Hezekiah. December 25, 1768, a farmer of Milford; Nathan, March 20, 1771 ; Michael, mentioned below : Dan. November 28, 1775.

(VI) Michael, son of Sammuel (3) Peck, was born at Milford. August 12, 1773; he resided in Milford, and was a carpenter and joiner by trade. He married. January I, 1797, Mary Marshall. He died December 27, 1861. Children, born at Milford: I. Jona- than MI., born October 12, 1799: settled in Augusta, Georgia : had Julia, Cordelia H., Martha A., Abigail and James. 2. Maria, born October 12, 1801. 3. Elnathan, mentioned be- low. 4. Susan, April 23, 1805. 5. Julia, October 23, 1807. 6. Elisha T., October 22. 1810. lived at Milford : children: Catherine. Jonathan, Catherine, George T .. Julia A. and Emma L. 7. Abigail. June 5. 1813.

(VII) Elnathan, son of Michael Peck, was born August II. 1803. Hc settled in New Britain, where he was one of the first to en- gage in the manufacture of hardware. He founded the Peck & Walter Company, now Sargent & Company, New Haven : also Peck Brothers & Company, New Haven. He con- tinued in this business all his active life. He died at New Haven, December 28. 1865. He married Mary Dewey. Children: Henry F., born March 31. 1829: Charles, mentioned be- low : Abigail, June 8, 1832: Mary J., April 13, 1835: Martha, May 12, 1837: Jolin M1., Feb- ruary 25, 1840: Ann E .. September, 1842 ; Oliver D., August 15, 1844 : Louisa Frances, July 15. 1846.

(VIII) Charles, son of Elnathan Peck, was born at New Britain, March 16, 1830. He married Mary Folger Davis, of Westfield, Massachusetts, born September 7. 1833. daughter of Emerson Davis, D. D. Children,

born at New Britain: Mary Louise, June I, 1856; William Emerson, June 30, 1858: Ed- ward Folger, March 8, 1861 ; Carol, Septem- ber 13, 1869.

(IX) William Emerson, son of Charles Peck, was born in New Britain. June 30. 1858. He attended the public schools of his native town and prepared for college at Williston Seminary, Easthampton. Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in 1877. Ile entered Yale College in the fall of 1877, and grad- uated in the class of 1881 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During the next seven years he traveled extensively in South Amer- ica. He left New York City in October, 18SI, bound for Valparaiso. Chile. where he spent a year, returning to his home in 1882 by way of San Francisco. In February, 1883, he returned to South America by way of Panama and spent considerable time in Peru and Bo- livia. In the month of October he crossed the Andes on foot through snow, and spent the rest of the year in Buenos Ayres and Montevideo. Thence he went to Liverpool by way of the Cape Verde Islands and Lisbon. and returned to South America the following summer. Since then his time has been di- vided between his native land and foreign countries. He has been one of the leaders in developing trade with South American ports. His travels were fruitful. He has continued to study trade conditions and the markets of the cities and countries he has visited. Few men engaged in the export trade have done as much in the interest of American commerce as Mr. Peck. He has crossed the Andes mountains five times, and formerly this trip was one of great hard- ship and risk. He is at the head of the great export commission house of William E. Peck & Company, the principal offices of which are at 116 Broad street. New York City. The concern has a business of world-wide extent. He has given personal attention, not only to South American markets but to those of the whole world. He recently completed a busi- ness trip of some sixty thousand miles, begun August 14. 1909, when, accompanied by his family, he left New York for Vancouver. After a visit at Vancouver. Victoria, and at the Seattle Exhibition. he proceeded to San Francisco, and sailed for Honolulu in a party that included two congressional committes. After spending a few weeks in Japan and China, he went to Manila, sailed through the Philippine Islands to Yap, one of the Caro- line Islands, and visited New Guinea. New Britain and Samarai, and observed the life and conditions of the South Sea Islands. He then spent three months in Australia and New

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Zealand, being a passenger on the steamship "Waikare," which was wrecked off the New Zealand coast. For several weeks he trav- eled through Ceylon, India and Egypt, re- turning to New York by way of Marseilles, Paris and London.

Mr. Peck has contributed many valuable articles on the subject of export trade to vari- ous periodicals and newspapers, and delivered public addresses on topics relating to the for- eign trade. He is president of the export commission house of William E. Peck & Com- pany, and vice-president of the Colonial Trad- ing Company : treasurer of the Hale Company. and vice-president of the American Exporters and Importers Association. He is a member of the New York Chamber of Commerce, be- ing a member of the committee on foreign commerce and the reventie laws : the New Eng- land Society of New York: the Sons of the Revolution : the National Geographical So- ciety of Washington: the Down Town Asso- ciation ; the University, Yale, Barnard and Nassau Country clubs of New York City ; of the New Haven Yacht and Graduates clubs of New Haven : of Sachem's Head Yacht Club of Sachem's Head, Connecticut : of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club of Bermuda and the Pil- grims of London. He is a trustee of Mount Meigs Colored Institute of Alabama, and of the United States Savings Bank of New York. In politics he is an independent Republican ; in religion a Congregationalist.

He married, in Liverpool, England. January 30, 1884. Bertha Thompson Pierce, born in New Haven, November 20. 1860. daughter of Edward Napoleon Pierce and Permelia Thompson. of Bristol, Connecticut (see Pierce IX). Alonzo Thompson, father of Per- melia Thompson, was born in Bristol. Con- necticut, February 12. 1785. and died May 24, 1835 : married Tryphena. daughter of Cap- tain Thaddeus Rich. Reuben Thompson. fa- ther of Alonzo, married Lydia Warren, and had children, born at Bristol: Alonzo and Isaiah.

(The Pierce Line).

(VI) Abraham, seventh son of John (5- q. v.) and Comfort ( Jenner ) Pierce, was born March 14. 1737. in South Britain. and re- sided there until 1797, when he removed to Bristol, residing in the eastern portion of the town. His body was deposited in the "Downs cemetery." west of the Pierce homestead. He married, about 1767-68. Ann Hubbell, bap- tized September 19. 1744. daughter of Mat- thew and Abigail ( Hawley) Hubbell, who re- moved about 1770 to Lanesborough, Massa- chusetts Children : Calvin, Philo and Noble A., baptized September 3, 1769; the last died

June 21. 1773: Calvin settled at Wales, near Buffalo. New York : Annis, baptized June 15. 1771, married Barnabas Powers: Sally, Nancy and Abraham N., baptized October 2, 1778; Edwin, died young.

(VII) Noble Abraham, as he transposed the name, son of Abraham and Ann ( Hub- bell ) Pierce, baptized October 2, 1778, resided at East Bristol, and was known throughout the region as "Uncle Noble Pierce." He died in 1834 and was buried in the Compounce cemetery. He married Lydia Gridley. Chil- dren: Sophronia, Antoinette, Edward Napo- leon and Julius.

(VIII) Edward Napoleon, elder son of Noble .A. and Lydia (Gridley) Pierce, was born April 15. 1815. in the old Pierce home- stead at East Bristol, the same house where his father was born. After attending the district schools near his home he attended the old academy on Federal Hill, leaving school at the age of seventeen years to enter upon a business career. At the age of eigh- teen he was summoned to New Yorl: by the death of his father, who died a few moments before his arrival. A year later, with others, he started south, making the journey to Mont- gomery, Alabama, in six weeks by coach. For several years he remained in that vicinity selling Mitchell maps, and was very success- ful despite his youth, receiving from the firm he represented a goldl piece as a testimonial of his worth. He had previously visited Bos- ton and New York in the interest of the Bris- tol manufacturers of rat traps and other Yankee notions. Modern railroads were un- known at that time in his section and the entire journey was made by stage. Mr. Pierce told many interesting experiences of those early days, and often recalled the jolting of the coach as the primitive steam engine drew it from Worcester to Boston over tracks con- structed entirely of wood. He also told of being forbidden by an officer to smoke a cigar on the streets of Boston, such being the law at that time. In 1846 he established a lumber and coal business in Plainville, which has continued to the present time. About this time the Plainville Manufacturing Company was established, Mr. Pierce being one of the incorporators and the first bookkeeper of the establishment. He died at his home in East Bristol, October 15, 1903. in his eighty-ninth vear. He marriedl Permelia Thompson, of Bristol, and they had children: Nettie, mar- ried Robert Usher : Frances, wife of Edward H. Rogers, of New Haven: Minnie L. ; Har- riett E. ; Helen M. : Berthia Thompson.

(IX) Bertha Thompson, daughter of Ed- ward M. and Permnelia ( Thompson) Pierce.

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was born November 20, 1860, in New Haven, Connecticut, and became the wife of William Emerson Peck (see Peck VIII).

The Fairchild family is of FAIRCHILD Scotch origin, and the name was originally Fairbairn, "bairn" being the Scotch equivalent of "child." According to family tradition, it was repre- sented in three of the Crusades in the Holy Land.

Thomas Fairchild, ancestor of the American line, and one of the first settlers in Stratford, Connecticut. was born in England, where a branch of the family was seated in the fif- teenth century. He married there ( first). about 1630. Sarah. daughter of Robert Sea- brook, and sister of William Preston's wife, of New Haven, Connecticut, and ( second) Katherine Craig, of London, England. He died December 11. Info, and she married ( second ) Jeremiah Judson. Children of Thomas Fairchild by first wife: Samuel, born August 31, 1640. probably the first child born in Stratford. Connecticut: Sarah. Feb- ruary 19. 1642: John, May 1. 1641: Thomas, February 21. 1645: Dinah. July 14. 1648: Zachariah. December 14, 1651: Emma, Oc- toler. 1653. Children of second wife: To- seph, born April 18. 1664: John. June 8, 1666: Priscilla, April 20. 1060.

Douglas Fairchild. a de-cendant of Thomas and son of George. was born in Stratford, and removed to- New Haven. He married Lydia Esther Hawley, a member of one of the most prominent Connecticut families. anl whose ancestors were among the first settlers of Danbury. He died November 7, 1808, aged seventy-two years, his wife having died March 30,-1889, aged fifty-nine years.

Julian Douglas Fairchild, son of Douglas Fairchild, was born at Stratford. April 17. 1850. Ilis education was received in the pub- lic schools. He went with his parents to New Haven, and at the age of thirteen began to work as office box in a large manufactur- ing concern in that city, and in the course of three years he became assistant book- keeper. With the savings of these three years he embarked in business on his own account as a merchant. and after a year or two of successful business he sold his store to ad- vantage and entered upon a new line of busi- ness, becoming at the age of twenty-one the secretary of the Quinnipiac Fertilizer Com- pany of New Haven and New London. In 1874 he sold his interest in this company and came to Brooklyn, having made a connection with Mr. E. Frank Coe, who was then one the largest fertilizer manufacturers in the

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