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 67

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 67

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United States. Later on a company was formed, of which he became president. He devoted twenty years to this business and laid the foundation of a substantial fortune. In 1894 hic sold his interests in the business in order to devote himself to the King's Coun- ty Trust Company, of which he had been elected president, 1893, and since then he has held a position of prominence in the banking world. He has invested in various other enterprises and has been called to many posi- tions of trust. He is president of the Union Ferry Company ; director and member of the finance committee of the Lawyers' Title In- strance and Trust Company: director and vice-president of the Lawyers' Mortgage Bond Company : director of the National City Bank of Brooklyn, of the Nassau Fire Insurance Company, the Pacific Fire Insurance Com- pany, the Metropolitan Casualty Company of New York, the New York and Queen: Elec- tric Light and Power Company. the Suffolk Gas and Electric Light Company. the Fagle Warehouse Company, and the Majestic Thea- tre Company. He is a trustee of the East River Savings Bank, and a member of the New York Chamber of Commerce, the New York Produce Exchange, and Consolidated Exchange:

In addition to the burden of his varied and responsible business responsibilities and duties, he has given time to many social, philanthropie and political organizations and activities. Hle is president of the Brooklyn Central Dispensary : trustee of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Science: regent of the Long Island College Hospital and a director of both the Brooklyn and Mourack chubs. in politics he is a Democrat, and to the prin- ciples and candidates of that party he has given loyal support. In ISgt he was offered the Democratic nomination for mayor of Brooklyn, and his sense of public duty would have caused him to accept the nomination and election, but he vielded to the judgment of his family and declined to accept a larger burden. He also declined the nomination ist comptroller of the city of Greater New York in 1896. He accepted appointment fran Mayor Van Wyck, of New York, on the com- mission in charge of the construction of the Williamsburg bridge, and there has been no public work of this magnitude completed with such absolute freedom from public sus- picion of graft or mismanagement. M :. Fair- child was treasurer of the commission. The editor of the Long Island Gazette said of Mir. Fairchildl recently :

"Inhar D. Fairchild. president of the Kings County Trust Company. Brook'yn. is a notable in-

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stance of the old English saying. Good bloed will tell,' and also a remarkable example of the fact that in the American Repathe it is possible for a young man to attain to the highest positions in commercial life by self-reliance, energy and honesty in the face of stupendous difficulties. Julian D. Fairchild is un- questionably one of the leading representative men of Long Island at the present time, and it is when we recall this long business career of more than forty-three years, from the time when he was an office boy in New Haven to his present position as President of one of the strongest financial institu- tions in the city, that we see what a splendid ex- ample we have in a fellow-citizen, of what may be accomplished by a steadfast application to fixed pur- poses, based on sound principles, with a constant de- termination to succeed in life. We must not omit 10 say that while Mr. Fairchild's success in life he credited to his indomitable energy, his popularity among his fellow men must be attributed to that courteous bearing which so characterizes the Presi- dent of the Kings County Trust Company. We see in him what energy and industry can achieve in a progressive community, when it couples with a cour- teous, generous and enterprising spirit. In our judgment, Mr. Fairchild represents that which is best in good citizenship."

He and his family are communicants of the Dutch Reformed Church. He married, Jan- uary 9. 1879. Florence Irene, daughter of Charles L. Bradley, of New Haven, Connecti- eut. Children :. I. Florence Esther. born De- cember 8, 1879: married Edward Everett Read, of New York: children : Elizabeth ant Constance Read. 2. Julian Percy. August 15. 1881: is vice-president of the Kings County Trust Company of Brooklyn. New York City.

William Chamberlain, CHAMBERLAIN immigrant ancestor. was born about 1620 in England of an ancient and distinguished family. William, Edmund and Thomas Cham- berlain, brothers, all settled early in Massa- chusetts. Thomas was one of the three orig- inal purchasers of the Dudley farm at Bil- lerica, but settled at Chelmsford: Edmund was first at Woburn, but he too settled at Chelmsford before 1656, removing later to Woodstock. William Chamberlain was ad- mitted an inhabitant of Woburn, Massachu- setts, January 6. 1648, and removed to Bil- lerica in 1654. just about the time his brothers removed to Chelmsford. and lived there until his death. May 31, 1706, aged eighty-six years. His house in Billerica ( then Shaw- sliin ) was on a farm near the Woburn road. in the southeast part of the town. His name first appears on the records in October. 1654. on a petition to enlarge the boundaries of the town and to change the name to Billerica ( Billerikay in the petition). He married Re- becca ----- , who died September 26. 162. in the prison at Cambridge, where she was

held on the preposterous charge of witchcraft. Children: Timothy, born at Concord, Att- gust 13. 1649; Isaac, at Concord, October I, 1650; John, die March 3, 1652: Sarah. born at Billerica, May 20, 1655-56: Jacob, men- tioned below, born at Billerica also: Thomas, February 20. 1059; Edmund. July 15, 1661; Rebecca. February 25, 1662; Abraham, Jan- uary 6. 1664; Ann, March 3. 1665-66. Clem- ent, May 30, 1660; Daniel, September 27, 1671: Isaac, January 20, 1681.

(II) Jacob, son of William Chamberlain, was born at Billerica, January 18, 1657-58. It is very difficult to distinguish the records of the various members of this family bearing the name of Jacob Chamberlain in the second and third generations. According to the re- searches of George W. Chamberlain for the Chamberlain Association, however, the Jacob of Newton, whose wife was Experience, is the ancestor of the Westborough and Worces- ter families. Jackson himself, amher of the "History of Newton," altered the town rec- ords by inserting the name of Susanna as the wife of this Jacob in the copy of the birth record of Jason and Ebenezer. Jacob Cham- berlain married Experience Ile re- moved from West Cambridge to Newton about 1og9, was admitted a freeman in 16go. Children, born in Newton: Jason, mentioned below: Ebenezer, July 31, 1704: John. set- tled in Westborough.

(III) Jason, son of Jacob Chamberlain. was born in Newton, February 21, 1701. He mar- ried Hannah Clark. He was a man of ability and took an active part in public affairs. His son. Colonel Jason, represented the town of Holliston in the state convention that adopted the federal constitution : was often a repre- sentative to the general court. He was al- ways active in politics. Children: John, born Newton. September 26. 1728: Staples, at IIol- liston. September 1, 1,30: Lieutenant Jason. March 8. 1732: Samuel. mientioned below : Enoch, November 18. 1737: Elizabeth, Feb- ruary 26, 1739-40, died that year ; Ebenezer, born August 9. 1741.

(IV) Samuel, son of Jason Chamberlain, was born at Holliston. then part of Sherborn, July 18, 1734. He married Margaret Bullard, of Mendon, Massachusetts. He removed to Sandisfield, Massachusetts. about 176 ;. Chil- dren, born at Holliston : Elizabeth, October IO. 1756: Jemima. November 1, 1758 : Rhoda. November 27. 1760: Samuel Clark, mentioned below.

(V) Samtiel Clark, son of Samuel Cham- berlain, was born May 35. 1765, at Sandis- field. He lived at Sandisfield. Massachusetts. and at Colebrook, Connecticut, where he died,

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November 30, 1835. He married (second) Hannah Conklin, born October 30, 1772.

(VI) Abiram, son of Samuel Clark Cham- berlain, was born October 2, 1799: married, May 6, 1829, at Sandisfield, Massachusetts, Sophronia Burt, born January 9, 1805, in Tolland, Massachusetts, daughter of Caich and Anne ( Murray) Burt, descendant of Henry and Eulalia Burt, pioneers of Spring- field, Massachusetts. He was educated in the conimon schools and acquire 1 a knowledge of surveying and civil engineering. Some years after his marriage he removed to Colebrook River, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and thence in 1856 to New Britain, where the rest of his life was spent. He was much occu- pied with the profession of surveyor, and for some years was surveyor for the borough of New Britain. The preliminary surveys and plans for supplying water from Shuttle Meadow to the borough were made by himn. and the work of installing the system was in his charge a number of years. He died Oc- tober 14. 1876. In an obituary notice the New Britain Record said: "As a eivil engi- neer he was accurate and careful. The city has occasion to remember the great service which he so unostentatiously and faithfully rendered for years to come. As a public offi- cer he was courteous and unremitting in his conseientious efforts faithfully to discharge the duties entrusted to him. Ill health com- pelled him to resign his duties as surveyor and water commissioner some years since, and since that time continued ill health has kept him from engaging in active duties. Deacon Chamberlain is mourned by his neighbors, townsmen and church brethren, who knew him as a kindly man. an upright eitizen and · an . earnest and sincere Christian." Mrs. Chamberlain died October 4. 1889, aged eighty-four years. She was a member of Center Church, New Britain. She was strong. healthy and vigorous until her last illness, which lasted about four months. She was the last of ten children to pass away, all living to old age. Children of Abiram and So- phronia Chamberlain: Eliza R .. born June 22, 1831, died March 13, 1835 : Valentine B., mentioned below : John A .. born February 21, 1837; Hon. Abiram, mentioned below : Eliza A., born January 15, 1840. died November 17, 1841 : Cornelia A., born September 20. 1842, married. December 13. 1866, Charles Elliott Mitchell, a lawyer of New Britain, appointed in 1839, by President Harrison, United States Commissioner of Patents.

(VII) Valentine B .. son of Abiram Cham- berlain, was born April 13, 1833, at Cole- brook River. He was prepared for college

at the Connecticut Literary Institute, Suffield. and was graduated from Williams College in 1857. lle studied law in the office of S. E. Case, of New Britain, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. He was clerk of the house of representatives in 1861. During the civil war he was lientenant and captain in the Seventh Connecticut Regiment, Volunteer In- fantry. He was selected to command the picked battalion of the Seventh Regiment. which made the assault at Fort Wagner in 1863. and was one of the handful of men who scaled the parapet of the rebel fort and was captured inside. He was kept a prisoner until March, 1865. For several years after the war Captain Chamberlain was in business in the south. He then returned to New Brit- tain and soon afterward was elected judge of the city court and re-elected to this office from time to time as long as he lived. In 1880 he was elected judge of probate for the district. In 1884 he was elected state treasurer. For a short time he was assistant pension agent. He was president of the Mechanical National Bank and director in various industrial cor- porations. As a public speaker he had few rivals in the state, and his services were espe- cially in demand on Memorial Day. He died June 25, 1893. He married. November 17. 1877, Anna Smith.

(VII) Governor Abiram Chamberlain, son of Abiram Chamberlain, was born December 7, 1837. at Colebrook River. Connecticut. He attended the public schools and Williston Sem- inary at Easthampton, Massachusetts, where he made a special study of surveying and civil engineering. In 1856 he went with his fa- ther's family to New Britain, Connecticut. where he learned the trade of rule making, and was associated with his father in his surveying work. In 1867 he was appointed teller in the New Britain National Bank. re- signing to become cashier of the Home Na- tional Bank of Meriden, Connecticut, and since 18SI he has been president, succeeding Eli Butler. The bank has grown steadily, and AFr. Chamberlain has been a prominent figure in the financial world for more than a genera- tion. He has been vice-president of the Meri- den Savings Bank for many years. In public life he has been signally successful and hon- ored. From 1871 to 1874 he was city auditor of Meriden. In 1877 he represented Meriden in the general assembly with ability and dis- tinction. In 1901-02 he was state comptroller. and in September, 1902, was elected governor of Connecticut by a large majority. As gov- ernor he had an ideal administration. His natural executive ability, his training in finance and business, his wide knowledge of men and

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affairs and familiarity with the duties of his high office, his quiet dignity and force of character, formed a rare combination. As governor he reflected credit on his home city, his party and his state. One notable incident in which he displayed characteristic ability and sagacity was in settling the strike on the Waterbury street railway. His public papers and speeches were models of their kind. Ilis official as well as his private acts were tem- pered always with kindness and consideration of the feelings of others. He made a host of new friends while chief executive and his name is honored from one end of the state to the other. The honorary degree of I.L. D. was conferred upon him by Wesleyan Uni- versity in 1903, in recognition of his great service to the commonwealth. Ile is a staunch Republican. He has been active in many other fields of usefulness. He was one of the pro- moters and directors of the Meriden & Water- bury railroad ; president of the Meriden Fire Insurance Company ; president of the Win- throp Hotel Company ; director of the Meri- den Hospital; director of the Meridien Cut- lery Company, of Edward Miller & Company of Meriden, and the Stanley Works of New Britain. He is president of the Connecticut Bankers' Association, and vice-president of the American Bankers' Association. He was a member of the Home Club and Colonial Club of Meriden, of the Hartford Club. the Union League Club of New Haven, and the Metabetchouan Fishing and Game Club of Canada. He served five years in the state militia. He has been a prominent member of the First Congregational Church for many years. He died at Meriden, May 15. 1911.

He married, November 21, 1872, Charlotte E., born at Somers. Westchester county, New York. daughter of Albert F. M. D. and Charlotte (Crane) Rogers. Mrs. Chamber- lain has been active in various charitable movements. especially in the work of the Meriden Hospital. Children: 1. Albert Roberts, born in Meriden. January II. 1875. graduate of Meriden High School. Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, and Yale Law School : was admitted to the bar in 1901 ; was member of the common council of Meri- den two years: secretary to his father when governor : was appointed by Judge Frank S. Fay clerk of the city court. Ile married Sarah Chapel Waterman, of Hudson. New York. June 20. 1007. Child: Anna Chapel Chamberiain, born March 22, 190S. 2. Har- old Burt. born September 20. 1880.

The Burt lineage of Governor Chamberlain is: Sophronia (Burt) Chamberlain, wife of Abiram Chamberlain : Caleb Burt (6) and

Anne ( Murray ) ; Asa Burt (5) and Ruth ( Hubbard) ; James Bunt (4) and Morey (Saxton) ; Henry Bart (3) and Flizabal ( Warriner) : Jonathan Burt and Elizabeth ( Lobdell ) Henry and Eulalia Burt, first of Roxbury, then of Springfield, Massachusetts. Many of them lived at Springtiekl, Sandis- field and Tolland, Massachusetts.

James Cook, grandfather of the COOK late John Cook, of Bridgeport. Connecticut, was a native of Ire- fand, where his entire life was spent. By his first marriage he had a number of chil- dren, among whom were: James (see for- ward> : Watson and Alexander. He married (second) Margaret Clendening, who died in Simsbury, Connecticut, July, 1874, at the ad- vanced age of one hundred and six years. By this marriage there were two children: Re- becea and William.

(II) James (2), son of Jamies (1) Cook, was born in Londonderry, Ireland. 1806, died at Simsbury, Connecticut. July 13, 1879. His school education was acquired in his native country, and he came to America with a part of his family and settled at Simsbury. He was a farmer and veterinary surgcon, achiev- ing a widespread reputation for professional skill. He was well liked in the entire com- munity, where he was a member of the Con- gregational church, in his carlier years hav- ing been a Presbyterian. He married Re- becca Middleton, born 1816, died in Simis- bury, May 9, 1897. Children: Jane : James, married in California and has children ; Ma- tilda, married Robert Monigal, of Simsbury; William, married and has children ; Alexander, deceased: John (see forward ) ; Mariah, mar- ried Julins Miller, of Avon, Connecticut ; Caroline, Elizabeth and Margaret. died young : Charlotte, married Andrew Steiger, of Bridge- port. Connecticut; Thomas and Joseph, died young.

(III) John, son of James (2) Cook, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, 1847. died in Bridgeport, Connecticut, April 24. 1901. fIe was very young when he came to Simsbury with his parents and was educated there in the public schools. Ex-Governor Mclean was one of his schoolmates, and the entire family was highly respected in the town. Ile was in railroad work for a time. then went to Bridge- port, where he found employment in the var- nish factory of David B. Crockett, and occu- pied positions of responsibility with this con- cern to the time of his death. In politics he was a Republican, and in his younger days took an active part in the public affairs of the community. He was a member of St.

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Mark's Lodge, No. 24, Free and Accepted Masons, of Simsbury, in which he was held in high esteem. He was an earnest, kindly, charitable man and a useful and conscientious citizen.

Mr. Cook married. in Bridgeport. on June 25. 1885, Enna Mary, born in Waldo. Maine, May 1, 1854. daughter of William and Hannah ( Adams ) Bassick (see Bassick III ). Children : Willette May, born at Bridgeport, May 4, 1887, married William Henry Larkin, and has one child, William Henry, Jr., born in . Bridgeport, February, 1909; Rebecca Lillian, born in Bridgeport, May 14, 1889.

( The Bassick Line).

The origin of the surname Bassick is found in the French surname Basquet, meaning a native of Biscay. In England the spelling is Bassack, and Burke gives the coat-of-arms as follows: Azure, three piles wavy in point. or, on a chief of the first as many mascles of the second. The family seat was at Step- ney, Middlesex.

(I) George Bassick. the first of the name in this country. emigrated from England to Canada, where he settled on the shore of the St. Lawrence river, and was there edu- cated by Colonel Coleman. He became noted as a linguist, being known to speak at least seven different languages. It is said that he came to Prospect, Maine, to act as interpreter. Hle settled at Hampden, Maine, 1790, pur- chasing iot No. 126 in the center of the town. A considerable portion of his time was occu- pied with trading, and he was lost at sea on the vessel "Blackbird." He married in Maine, Sarah Goodell, who attained the age of ninety years and died at Prospect. According to the federal census of 1,90, at which time he wa's still of Frankfort, now Winterport. Han- cock county. Mainc. he had in his family three females and no sons.

(H) William, son of George Bassick, was born at Boxport or Prospect. Maine, 1790- 1800, and died at Waldo in that state at the age of seventy-seven years. He was reared by his mother, received his education in the district schools and was engaged in farming at Prospect throughout the active years of his life. He was an earnest, conscientious man and gave each of his children a good education and a fair start in life. He mar- ried Pauia Chase, who died at the age of seventy-seven years. Children, born at Pros- pect : Eliza Ann, married Edward Gav : Will- iam (see forward ) : Mary Jane. married Win- throp Ellis: Nathaniel : Margaret, married William Adams: John, died young: Ira, died at the age of five years : Edward Charles, born

August 10, 1834, died at Denver, Colorado. 1896.

( III) William (2), son of William (1) Bassick, was born 1826, died at Waldo, Maine. Jannary, 1901. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town, and during his boyhood days assisted his father in the labors of the farm. When a young man he bought a farm at Waldo, where he was engaged in farming during all his active life. He was well to do and thrifty and was a useful and honored citizen. In politics he was a Demo- crat, and his religious affiliations were with the Methodist church. Mr. Bassick married Hannah Adams, born in Waldo, 1826, died there 1872. Children: Emma Mary, mar- ried John Cook ( see Cook III ) ; Norris Edgar, died at Leadville, Colorado, unmarried: Fred- erick, lives in Montana, tinmarried ; Frank, died in Waldo, Maine, at the age of fifteen years: Albert, died in Waldo when almost two years old.

(II) Jonathan Tuttle, son of

TUTTLE William Tuttle (q. v.). was baptized in Charlestown, July 8. 1637. He married Rebecca. daughter of Lientenant Francis anti Rebecca Bell, of Stam- ford. She was born August, 1643. and died May 2, 1676. Her father was one of the twenty-nine original settlers of Stamford, who were assigned lands there in 1640. His name, with five others, is affixed to the second deed of lands there from the Indians. He was one of the commissioners to procure the union of the colonies of Stamford and New Haven. was several times representative, and one of the nine persons named in the patent of Stam- ford. He died January 8, 1690. His wite Re- becca died May 17, 1684. About 1670 Jona- than Tuttle began a settlement near the Quir- nipiac river, in what is now the southern part of the town of North Haven, and soon after several other families settled near the center. The settlement was very slow at first, and for many years the planters buried their dead and attended church in New Haven. Jonathan built a bridge over the Quinnipiac in North Haven, which was long known as "Tuttle's bridge" and by a decree of the court he was allowed to demand of each traveler passing over it, horse and man, two pence in money or three pence in pay ( barter ) ; exception was made in favor of deputies going to courr. He was also allowed to take moderate .compens ?- tion for any refreshment or drink furnished to travelers, except strong drink. February 20. 1;04-05. he conveyed to Joseph Tuttle one- sixth part of the third division that was laid out to William Tuttle. He died in 1755, and

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the following year Simon Tuttle administered his estate. Children : Rebecca, born Septem- ber 10, 1664: Mary, February 7, 1666; Jona- than. April 6, 1669; Simon, March 1I, 10;I: William, May 25, 1673 ; Nathaniel, mentioned below.

(III) Nathaniel, son of Jonathan Tuttle, was born February 25. 1676, and married Es- ther Blakeslee. He died in 1723, and the ad- ministration of his estate was given October 23. 1728, to Esther, widow, and the eldest son. Jonathan, who had a double part. In it are named his eldest daughter Silence Turner, sons Enos, Nathaniel and Ezra, and daughter Esther. The inventory was £547. His widow Esther died in 1756. Children: Jonathan, born March, 1702; Silence, 1703 ; Moses, May 8, 1704: Nathaniel, mentioned below ; Enos ; Esther ; Ezra.

(IV) Nathaniel (2), son of Nathaniel ( 1) Tuttle, was born May 29, 1714, and married. January 16. 1737, Mary, daughter of Josiah and Abigail ( Fredericks) Todd. She was born November 27, 1720, and died December, 1742. He married ( second) Abigail Ingham. Children, born in Hamden, Connecticut: Uri, September 8. 1738: Abigail, August 31, 1740; Nathaniel and Mary, (twins) November 26, 1742. Children of second wife: Charles, died about 1777: Esther, born October 21, 1748; Jonathan. May, 1752; Jesse. who is further mentioned.

(V) Jesse, son of Nathaniel (2) Tuttle, was born January 26. 1759, in Hamden, and died there in 1849. He married Lucy, daughter of Samuel and Mary Alling Dickerman, of Ham- den. She was born June 1, 1759. He mar- ried (second) Eunice Gilbert. Children of first wife: Ambrose, born September 17, 1784: Leverett, mentioned below ; Jesse, August IS. I802.

(VI) Leverett, son of Jesse Tuttle. was born in 1786. in Hamden, and died there, the oldest man in the town. December 11, 1877, aged ninety-one years. He was for many years selectman and assessor, and was repre- sentative in the Connecticut legislature. In 1812 he was captain of a militia company or- dered to the defense of New London. He married, March 27, 1800, Electa, daughter of Ezra Kimberly a revolutionary soldier and of- ficer. She died about 1874. Children: Hor- ace, born January II, ISII : Lewis, died March 2, 1833, aged twenty-five years; Julia, mar- ried Jesse Mansfield, and died in 1848: IIen- ry, born October 23, 1820, died in 1905 : Den- nis K., mentioned below.

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