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 87

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 87

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Lines may well be proud of the record of his firm and company. Financially strong and well managed for more than forty years, the weekly payroll has never been postponed, and not even ordinary lawsuits have been en- countered. The policy to deal justly and to carry out all contracts to the letter has proved wise and profitable in the long run.

Mr. Lines is also director of the C. F. Mon- roe Company. of Meriden: of the Chapin- Stephens Company, of Pine Meadow, Con- nectieut : treasurer and director of the New Haven Investment Company ; president of the Pacific Real Estate Company : president of the Meriden Machine Tool Company : vice-presi- dent of the Meriden Savings Bank, and has been from time to time interested in various other industries and enterprises.

He has had a notable public career. He served two terms as a member of the board of education and two terms in the common council of the city of Mieriden, 1868-69. In 1872 he was elected a member of the house of representatives of the general assembly of

2136

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut, and served on the committee on railroads. He was nominated for mayor of Meriden in 1876, and was the first mayor elected under party alignments, having a ma- jority of 16r. He was re-elected next term with a majority of 318, and for a third term with a majority of 566. Ile declined a unani- mous nomination at the end of his third terin. During his first term the common council was evenly divided politically, while during his last term it was unanimously Republican. At the beginning of his administration, offices of vari- ous municipal departments were scattered in six different locations, and before the close of his administration all except the police depart- ment were concentrated under the roof of the town hall. Under his administration the fire alarm system was introduced. He found re- corded only surveys of improvements on two streets and he placed on record thie surveys of nearly all the streets of the city. During his first year the revenue of the water de- partment scarcely sufficed to pay the interest on the water bonds. A new main was laid from Merimere to the center of the city; the meter system was introduced and the manage- ment of the department placed under one re- sponsible and capable commissioner. Con- sumption of water was diminished by reduc- ing waste, revenues increased and at the close of his third term a sinking fund was estab- lished to enable the department to set aside funds out of its earnings to pay the water bonds. During his first term the city was involved in old lawsuits, more than a score being pending, but at the end of his term every lawsuit had been settled and the legal expenses reduced to a minimum. Two new houses for the fire department were built while he was mayor, the equipment improved and efficiency increased. Economy was intro- duced in the management of every city de- partment, the efficiency increased and the ex- penses reduced. The first year that the city had been managed within its income and the city debt reduced was the first year of his administration. and his first annual report gave to the citizens of Meriden the first debt statement and first table of appropriations, expenditures and unexpended balances. The rate of tax during his first term was eight and one-half mills and the city debt was re- duced that year $6,519. The tax rate was eight mills and the debt was reduced SI7 .- 537 the second year. The tax rate was seven and a half mills and the debt was reduced $24,954 in the third year. Under his admin- istration a complete revision of the city char- ter was made and a thorough reformation in the methods of the departments. The

system of keeping accounts that he in- troduced has been continued to the present time. Not only was due regard paid to econ- omy and reforms in methods of doing city business, but very creditable public improve- ments were made.

In 1879 Mr. Lines was elected from the sixth senatorial district to the state senate by a majority of four hundred and ninety-one, and served in that body two sessions. He was chairman of the committee on cities and boroughs, and of capitol furnishings, buildings and grounds, and of contested elections. Dur- ing the three terms he served in the house and senate every Meriden matter that he pre- sented was passed without change or amend- ment. He never lost a committee report when he was chairman and never had one amended except upon his own motion. During his term as senator. Hon. O. II. Platt was first elected to the United States senate. In 1888 Mr. Lines was the Republican candidate for Congress from the second district and was defeated by some seven or eight hundred, the Democratic presidential ticket carrying the same district by two thousand five hundred plurality and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate by three thousand two hundred. In 1902 MIr. Lines was a delegate to the constitu- tional convention, receiving a majority of six hundred and ninety, and was twice appointed a member of special committees to secure an agreement on the representation question. Mr. Lines was a member of the commission to remodel and improve the state capitol and to build a state library, memorial hall and su- preme court building. He was a member of the Fort Griswold Tract Commission in charge of the old Fort Griswold Battle Ground at Groton Heights. He was chairman of the Senator O. H. Platt Memorial Commis- sion.

No citizen has taken a keener interest in the welfare and improvement of the city. In March, 1871, at a meeting of the citizens of Meriden held in the old town hall, he recom- mended a plan of action which, being fol- lowed, secured to the business of Meriden its first general and considerable reduction of freight rates and improvement in the delivery of manufactured goods at destination. He was one of those who after several detcats in town meeting finally secured the passage of a vote to establish a high school in Meriden and an appropriation for the purpose. He was chairman of the Town Hall building com- mittee, chosen March 25, 1904. The building was erected at a cost of over $200,000. and is a substantial fireproof structure, an ornament to the city.

2137

CONNECTICUT

Mr. Lines has been active in charitable work. In August. 1878, when a tornado de- vastated Wallingford. Mayor Lines called the first public meeting held in the state to raise relief funds for sufferers. was appointed chairman of a committee that secured more than two thousand dollars, and sent it to Warden Charles D. Yale for relief work. During the famine in Ireland, Mr. Lines was one of the speakers at a meeting held in the old town hall, February '9. 1880, and in re- sponse to his appeal a large sum was then and there raised for the needy and unfortunate Irish people. He was for two years in succes- sion chairman of the committee that raised a goodly subscription for the relief of fever- stricken Memphis, Tennessee. He has always been a staunch friend of civil war veterans, and keenly appreciates the numerous votes of thanks that the Grand Army Post has had oc- casion to send to him for favors done both in private and public life. Mr. Lines is a mem- ber of the Young Men's Republican Club, of New Haven; of the Home, Colonial, and Highland Country Clubs, of Meriden; the Mayflower Society of Connecticut; the Con- necticut Historical Society; the New Haven Colonly Historical Society; life member of the New London County Historical Society; the Society for the Preservation of New Eng- land Antiquities: one of the board of man- agers of the Connecticut Society. Sons of the American Revolution and president of Captain John Couch branch, of Meriden : director of the Meriden Board of Trade and member of the Mayors' Association of Connecticut. He belongs also to Pilgrim Council, Royal Ar- canum ; Wilson Lodge, Knights of Honor ; of Meriden Lodge, No. 77, Free Masons. of which he was worshipful master in 1872; Meriden Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star ; Keystone Chapter, No. 27, Royal Arch Ma- sons; Hamilton Council. Royal and Select Masters; of St. Elmo Commandery, No. 9, Knights Templar, of Meriden, of which he was eminent commander in 1869-70-73-74-75- 88, and of which he has been treasurer since 1879. He belongs to Mecca Temple. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. New York City. He re- ceived his thirty-third and highest degree, September 19, 1893. at Chicago, Illinois, be- coming a member of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the high- est governing body of the northern Masonic jurisdiction. He is also a member of the Royal Order of Scotland; honorary member of Harmony Lodge, No. 42, Free Masons of Waterbury, Connecticut: chairman of the board of visitors of the Connecticut Masonic Home at Wallingford. In 1877-78 he was

grand commander of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, of Connecticut, and for a number of years has been grand treasurer of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar, of the United States. His first election was in 1886, and all subsequent eleccions have been by unanimous vote. He is a member of the Paeitic Lodge of Odd Fellows and is presi lent of the Pacific Real Estate Company, which owns the Odd Fellows' Temple, Meriden. His Masonic biography says of him: "In all these organizations he has shown the qualities that adorn his individuality. Possessed of a well- balanced mind and of a tenacious purpose. he has exercised an influence upon his associates, and in many things of enterprise and larger undertaking he has made good proof of his capabilities as a prudent adviser and a wise and courageous leader. He is a man possessed of strong convictions and of generous and gentle sentiments as well; large minded and tolerant, his heart responds to the truths and principles fundamental in Masonic teaching and whose life is held to loving service in the ways of righteousness and true benevolence." We quote the following from "A Century of Meriden": "His opinion and judgment upon any matter are slowly formed and firmly held. Precise in speech, accurate in method, and of a commanding personality, his mental strength and his large grasp upon affairs have always made him a dominating force in any company. He was never known to use illiberal language towards an enemy nor to abandon a friend. He is a forceful public speaker. of the delib- erative type, carefully weighing every word. seeking always to be correct in what he states rather than to be eloquent. and to convince rather than to please." In politics he is a Re- publican, and though he has had many honor- able offices he has never been self-seeking. He has always been ready and active in support- ing his party and the cause of good govern- ment. In I879 he was chairman of the or- ganization which conducted the campaign when the Hon. O. H. Platt was elected Uni- ted States senator, and in 1902 he conceived the idea and directed the campaign which re- sulted in the nomination of Hon. Abiram Chamberlain for governor and he made the nominating speech for him in the state con- vention.

He married, June 23, 1861, Sarah Congdon Munger, daughter of Rev. Washington and Louisa (Nichols) Munger, of Waterford, Connecticut. She is a member of Susan Car- rington Clarke Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. and was for eleven years vice-regent, two years regent. Chil- dren : 1. Harriet L., married Robert L. Peck,

2138

CONNECTICUT

of Kensington, Connecticut; children: Nor- man V., Frederick Lines, and Amy L. 2. Henry W., died in infancy. 3. Sarah L., mar- ried Frank L. Hamilton. of Meriden; chil- dren : Maude Lines and Lorenzo. 4. Clara B., married Roger B. De Bussy, of Mount Ver- non, New York; children: Beatrice, Wales Lines and Roger B. Jr., who died April 12, 1901. 5. Ellie M., married Frank M. Chapin. of Pine Meadow. Connecticut ; she is grand worthy matron of the grand chapter. Order of the Eastern Star of Connecticut, and as- sociate grand conductress of the general grand chapter, Order of the Eastern Star of United States of America: child: Catharine Lines.

The surname Leigh, or Lee, is LEIGH also commonly spelled Legh, Leghe, Ligh, Lyghe, Lea, Leaye, Ley, Leye, and many of these forms have survived from early variations in the spelling favored by different branches of the family. The surname is derived from a place name, leigh or lea, meaning meadow, or pasture. The name is found in the Domesday Book, 1086. The family ranks among the most numerous in England, and families of the name bearing coats-of-arms are found in . Somersetshire, county Surrey, York, Shrop- shire, London, Lancashire. Kent. Isle of Wight. Devonshire. Derbyshire, Cumberland. Cheshire, Berkshire and Warwickshire.

It has been an eminent Cheshire family for centuries, having been of High Leigh of that county and from the Cheshire Leighs nearly all the gentry families of the surname claim descent. The Leighs are as prolific, we are informed. as they are ancient.

Two families took the name of Leigh from their residence at High Legh or Leigh, Che- shire, between 1154 and 1189, though both bear the same coat-of-arms, with one varia- tion in color, viz .: Or a lion rampant gules armed and langred azure. Edward de Lega, progenitor, is thought to have been Saxon from the baptismal name.

The Leighs of Stoneleigh. county Warwick. bear: Gules a cross high argent in the first quarter a lozenge of the second. Crest: A unicorn's head erased argent armed and crined or. Supporters: On either side a unicory armed, maned, tufted and unguled. or, gorged with a ducal coronet gules pendant therefrom an escutcheon chargee with the arms of Brydges, viz .: Argent a cross sable. thereon a leopard's face or. Motto: Tout vient de Dieu. Stoneleigh is in Warwickshire where in 1561 the family bought the old Cis- tercian Monastery and has contributed two

mayors of London and Lord Leigh, Earl of Chichester.

(I) William Leigh, who was of the Stone- leigh family, according to family tradition, was born in England, died at Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was buried in Mountain Grove cemetery, Bridgeport. He came to this country with his wife and children from Coventry, England, making the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in a sailing vessel, taking fifty-four days, landing at New York City, but locating soon in Bridgeport, where he spent the remainder of his days. In religion he was an Episcopalian. He married. in Eng- land. Rebecca Cattell, who died at Bridgeport at the age of eighty-five years. Children, born in England: John: Thomas: William, men- tioned below ; Rebecca, married - Jones, of Charlestown; Lorine, married John Rus- sell, of Salisbury, Connecticut; Elizabeth, 1111- married, only one now living; Frederick.

( II) William (2), son of William (1) Leigh. was born at Coventry, England. died in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was edu :- cated at Rugby School. At the age of teu he came with his father's family to Bridge- port. He was a gifted musician. He was a teacher of the piano and for many years a dealer in musical instruments with a store on Main street. Bridgeport. He was for twenty-five years organist of St. John's Church. He was successful in business. In religion he was an Episcopalian and in poli- tics a Republican.

He married Cordelia Banks, born in Bridge- port, daughter of Jessup Banks, born at Bridgeport. Children. born at Bridgeport : Sophia, married Dr. J. E. L. Davis. of Nyack. New York; Thomas C., a coal dealer of Mount Vernon, New York, married Frances Jones ; William Bushnell. residing at 510 Park place, Bridgeport, married Frances Thomp- son : Elizabeth ; Carolene R.

MANN The surname Mann appears very early in English history, and at an earlier date even. in Ger- many, as a patronymic. In the earliest rec- ords it is generally spelled Man, and in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries both Man and Mann. In the Domesday Book. "Willelmus filius Manne" is mentioned as a landholder in County Hants. England. Va- rious branches of the Mann family are found in counties Norfolk. Northampton. Glouces- ter, Norfolk, Lincoln and York. The prin- cipal seat of the family. however, seems to have been at Bramley. county York, and from this branch springs, it is believed. the ances- tor of the American family, William Mann.

2139

CONNECTICUT

who settled in Cambridge. There are several coats-of-arms borne by various branches of the Mann family, all somewhat similar. some bearing. three lions. others three goats and one, three legs conjoined, while a tower ap- pears in the crest. Arms of the Essex family : Or a chevron ermine between three lions ram- pant sable. Crest : A tower or, issuant from the top five tilting spears proper. Motto: Virtus vincit invidiam. Another armorial : Argent three antique boats sable spurs or. Crest : A demi inan proper wreathed about the temples and loins vert holding over the dexter shoulder an arrow proper. The Lan- caster family bore arms: Per fesse embattled argent and azure, three goats passant coun- tercharged, attired or.

(I) William Mann, immigrant ancestor, was born in England probably in County Kent, about 1607, and was the youngest of eleven children. He may have been the son of Sir Charles Mann, of Hatton Braddock. county Kent, who was knighted in 1635 by Charles I. He was a proprietor of Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, in 1634. He married ( first ) in 1643, Mary Jarrad, who came from England. He married (second) June 11, 1657, Alice Tiel. His will was dated December 10, 1661. and proved April 1, 1662. It was unsigned. He bequeathed to his wife and only son, Samuel.

(II) Rev. Samuel Mann. son of William Mann, was born at Cambridge, July 6, 1647. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1665, and began to teach school May 13. 1667, at Dedham, Massachusetts. He taught for five years and preached to the small society in that part of Dedham. now Wrentham. until March 30, 1676, when the people fled from the town on account of Indian hostility dur- ing King Philip's war. He was again in Dedham as a teacher in 1676, and 1678. In the fall of 1677 the town of Dedham voted to invite him to become their minister for the winter, and early the following spring he was engaged to preach at Milton, but returned to Dedham in the summer of 1680. Here he continued his ministerial labors until a church of ten members was gathered, and April 13, 1693, he was ordained and preached his own ordination sermon. On October 26. 1600, "In dead of night" his dwelling house with the church records were burned. It is said his mind was afflicted with infirmities and for twenty-five years before his death he did not go out of his own town. One of the first men of the province said that "he was not only a very good but a very learned man." He wrote a work containing' advice to his children. who were soon to enter the married state. "His ordinary sermons were fit for the

press," and "yet such was his humility that he thought nothing of his worth publishing." Ile was beloved by his people. His last ser- mon was from the text, "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behol i all is vanity and vexation of spirit." He died at Wrentham, May 22, 1719. He married. May 19, 1673, Esther Ware, born September 28, 1655, died September 3, 1734, daughter of Robert and Margaret ( Hunting) Ware. Children, born in Wrentham and Milton: I. Mary, April 7, 1674. 2. Samuel, August 8, 1075. 3. Nathaniel, mentioned below. 4. William, May 1, 1679. 5. Theodore. Feb- ruary 8, 1680. 6. Thomas, October 21. 1682. 7. Hannah, January 12, 1685. 8. Beriah. March 30, 1687. 9. Pelatiah. April 2, 1689. IO. Margaret, December 21. 1691. II. Esther, June 26, 1696.

( III ) Nathaniel, son of Rev. Samuel Mann, was born in Milton, about 1677: died in Wrentham, May II, 1756. He married, December 19, 1704, Elizabeth George. His will was dated October 19, 1754. Children. born at Wrentham : 1. George, September 29, 1705. 2. John, August 12, 1707. 3. Nathan- iel, August 6, 1709. 4. Mary, July 21, 1711. 5. Robert. April 11, 1713. 6. Jeremiah. May 26. 1715. 7. Joseph, August 13, 1717. 8. Ezra, October 13. 1719. 9. Timothy. men- tioned below. 10. Richard. August 17. 1723.

(IV) Timothy, son of Nathaniel Mann, was born at Wrentham. May 3. 1722. He settled in Dummerston, Vermont. He also lived at Montgomery, Massachusetts, and in New Jersey. In 1790 Timothy was living at Dummerston, Vermont, and had in his family two males over sixteen, two under sixteen and one female, while his son James had one son under sixteen and one female. and his son Nathaniel had one female in his family, according to the first federal census. A Timothy Mann from Chesterfield. Massa- chusetts, presumably this one, was a soldier in the revolution. Children: 1. Stephen. married, October, 1798, Naomi Perham. at Dummerston, and had ten children. 2. Na- thaniel. married Eunice Bennett. 3. Darius. married Lois Zwears and had Darius. Tr .. 1795. 4. Richard. 5. Rachael. 6. Rev. James, mentioned below.

(V) Rev. James Mann, son of Timothy Mann. was born at Montgomery, Massachu- setts. February 6. 1768. He was not licensed, but often preached in the Baptist churches in the vicinity of his home for several years. He was called Elder Mann. He was a tax- payer in Dummerston, 1802. He moved to Dover, Vermont, in 1813 and died there Feb- ruary IT, 1854. He married September 3.

2140

CONNECTICUT

1789, at Dummerston, Anna Rogers, supposed to be a descendant of Jolin Rogers, of revolu- tionary faine, born at Guilford, Vermont, died at Dover, March 6, 1844. Children, born at Dummerston : I. James, July 13, 1790; died October 6, 1876; had Gilbert Hosea, Sep- tember 28, 1838, resides at Zoar, Massachu- setts. 2. Abijah, May 3. 1792; died in Ohio. 3. George, December 11, 1793; died in Sulli- van, Ohio, Nevember 22, 1862. 4. Betsey, August 28, 1796; died in Ohio. 5. Sally, September 4, 1798. 6. Hosea, mentioned be- low. 7. William Riley, December 16, 1806; died in Dover, May 30, 1869.

(VI) Hosea, son of Rev. James Mann, was born at Dover, Vermont, October 18, 1801. He attended the public schools, but was largely self-educated and taught school in his younger days. He followed farming on a large scale during his active life and made a specialty of his dairy and stock-raising. He owned a thousand acres of land. He died at Wilmington, Vermont, in 1896. He married Maria Groesbeck, born at Irasburg, Vermont, in May, 1829. died in 189 -. Chil- dren: Two died in infancy; Hosea, men- tioned below.

(VII) Hosea (2), son of Hosea (1) Mann. was born at Wilmington, Windham county, Vermont, July 13, 1858. He attended the public schools of his native town, and the Eastman Business College of Poughkeep- sie, New York. He was appointed treasurer of the Wilmington Savings Bank. in 1879, and studied law while holding that office. He was admitted to the bar in 1883. He filled the offices of the town treasurer and town clerk of Wilmington, and was state's attorney for Windham county. In 1885 he resigned these offices to become the president of the Vermont Loan & Trust Company, engaged chiefly in handling western mortgages. He was bank examiner of the state of Vermont from 1896 to 1898, appointed by Governor Grout. He represented Wilmington in the state legislature in 1884, 1886 and 1890. He was chairman of the committee on railroads and in 1890 was speaker of the house. He was speaker when President Harrison visited Vermont, and had the honor of introducing him to the legislature, to which he made an address. Mr. Mann lived for a time at Brat- tleboro, Vermont, and in Springfield. Massa- chusetts. He came to Torrington, Connecti- eut, in 1899, and in December of that year organized the Torrington National Bank and became its cashier. It is now the largest national bank in the county. In 1911 it added a savings department and was the first na- tional bank in the state to take this step. In

polities he is a Republican. In religion he is liberal.

He married, in February, ISSO, Eva Gif- ford, of Whiting, Vermont, born March S, 1859, died April 1, 1901, daughter of Rev. Jeremiah and Jane (Stafford) Gifford. He has one son, Ralph Hosea, born at Wilming- ton, May 23, 1884, graduate of Harvard Col- lege and secretary and treasurer of the Man- chester (Massachusetts) Trust Company.

The Avis family came early from AVIS England and settled in Virginia. At the close of the revolution, accord- ing to the census of 1782, there were six fami- lies of the name, the heads of which were Francis Avis, of Princess Anne county, James Avis, Thomas Avis and William Avis, of Northumberland county, John Avis, of Nanse- mond county, and John Avis, of Norfolk county. John Avis, of Massachusetts Bay, was banished for some suspicion, and may have gone to Virginia. William Avis, of Bos- ton, had a son Jolin, born in Boston, in 1664, and it is possible that all this Boston family went to Virginia. The name is not common in England or this country, and it is reason- able to suppose that all of the name are from the same stock.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.