USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > Historical sketches of Meriden Connecticut > Part 5
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From that time onward, various articles were manu- factured in our town ; but. the business was conducted on a very small scale. The manufacturing career of our town, did not really commence until about the year 1820. Some branches of business established about that time have been growing in importance ever since, and many other manufactories have been com- menced. Those who are best acquainted with the business of our town, are confident, that the value of articles manufactured here cannot now be less than one million of dollars annually.
It should also be known and recorded, that nearly all the proprietors of our manufacturing establishments have been the decided friends of morality and religion; have aimed to introduce into our population only per-
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MANUFACTURES.
sons of correct habits ; and endeavored to promote the highest good of those whom they employed. The results have been most gratifying. Large numbers of the young persons who came here for employment, have been led, it is hoped, to the true knowledge of Christ. The general tone of morals, will compare favorably with that of almost any town in our State. :
A minute historical and statistical account of each branch of manufactures among us would be a very in- teresting and valuable document. But this kind of information, many proprietors, for obvious reasons, think it inexpedient to furnish, and therefore it cannot be presented here. Should these pages however be in existence one hundred years from this time, the reader of that day would no doubt like to know what articles are now manufactured in Meriden. Such information as can be procured, will be given in the appendix. *
Of all these branches of business, no one is more interesting than the "Ivory Comb Manufactory," whether one regards its origin and growth, or the great beauty and admirable mechanism of the machinery employed. According to the best means of informa- tion, ivory combs were first made in this country by Andrew Lord of Saybrook, about sixty years ago. He cut out the " plates," and the teeth, by hand with a hand-saw: a slow and expensive process. John Gra- ham of Boston, and Mr. Tryon of Glastenbury, made
* See Appendix, No. 12, where the statistics so far as they could be obtained are given.
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MANUFACTURES.
ivory combs about the same time, on a small scale: the latter person used machinery. Ezra and Elisha Pratt of Hartford, also manufactured the article about fifty- five years ago, cutting the teeth by hand, like Mr. Lord. Abel Pratt, of Saybrook, made ivory combs fifty-one years ago. He sawed the "plates" by hand, and two hundred and fifty was considered a good day's work ; whereas by the present improved processes four thousand plates can be sawed out in one day by one man. He cut the teeth however, with circular saws, and machinery moved by hand and afterwards by wind. Ezra Williams also commenced the same business in Saybrook, soon after Mr. Pratt, and began to saw the " plates" with machinery moved by water power. This establishment has continued to the present time, and is now known by the name of George Read & Co. Great improvements have been made there, in the machinery, and at one time nearly all the ivory comb business in the country was done by that firm. Various other attempts to carry on this business have been made, most of which have not succeeded. At the present time, all the ivory combs made in America, are manufactured in Connecticut, and nearly two-thirds of the whole, are made in Meriden. The business was commenced in this town in 1819 by Merriam & Collins, who used the best machinery known at that time. Their establishment was not long continued. Howard, Pratt & Co., began to manufacture ivory combs in Meriden in 1822. This firm is now in existence under
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MINES.
the name of Julius Pratt & Co. In this establishment, very great improvements have been made in the machinery by which the work is executed. The slow processes of the hand have been discarded, and ma- chines which almost seem to have intelligence, perform the work with such rapidity, precision and beauty, that while the value of the raw material remains as it was thirty years ago, a far better article can now be sold at less than half the price formerly demanded.
Walter Webb & Co., commenced the business in 1831 : Philo Pratt & Co., in 1836. The business of this latter firm was subsequently transferred to W. Webb & Co., and Mr. Pratt became a partner. In this establishment also, the best machinery is used.
The three firms of Geo. Read & Co., of Deep River, Julius Pratt & Co., Walter Webb & Co., of Meriden, now turn out about 15,000 or 18,000 combs daily, or about five and a half millions, annually; of these probably more than three millions and a half are made in Meriden. Quantities of these are exported to all parts of North and South America, and some are even sent to England.
MINES.
Very soon after the settlement of the town, it was- conjectured that mineral wealth lay hidden within our hills. Various attempts have been made to find these buried treasures ; and the old shafts and excavations still attest the zeal and industry of the miners. But it is utterly impossible to ascertain when or by whom
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MINES.
the mining business was commenced. We know that as early as 1712, the legislature passed a law for the encouragement of proprietors of mines in Simsbury and Wallingford [Meriden], and from the phraseology of the act it is evident that the mines had been worked, (though unsuccessfully ;) previous to that time. But we have no more information on the subject until the year 1737. At that time a company was formed for the purpose of working the abandoned mines, and of this attempt we have an authentic account, as some of the papers relative to it, have been preserved by Dea- con Silas Royce, the descendant of one of the partners in the company. These mines were on "milking-yard hill," and the shafts may still be seen, in the rear of the present residence of Mr. Norman Wood.
As matters of this kind are now exciting special interest, and as loose papers will not probably long be preserved in manuscript, it has been thought advisable to print them in full in these " Sketches." Although it is now generally supposed that these excavations were made solely as copper mines, yet these papers indicate an expectation of finding gold. Indeed it is probable that the hope of obtaining this more precious metal was the main inducement to re-opening the abandoned works. Several of the old inhabitants of our town have informed me, that in their boyhood they heard it spoken of as matter of current and universal belief, that small quantities of gold had actually been found in these mines. A very considerable quantity
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MINES.
of the ore was once shipped to England, as the means of smelting it were not to be found in America, but the ship was lost at sea. Tradition asserts that the for- eigners who wrought in the mines concealed, and appropriated to themselves, whatever gold they found. For these reasons or for other causes of failure, the works were once more abandoned, and have never been resumed. Indeed, the Geological character of the " formation" around these mines, indicates neither cop- per nor gold, unless at very great depths.
Annexed is the document containing the articles of co-partnership.
GOLDEN PARLOR MINES.
" Articles of Agreement made and Concluded upon this twenty-Seventh day of April Anno Domini, 1737, Between Edward Higbee of Middletown, and Walter Henderson of Hartford, both of ye County of Hart- ford, and Thomas Thomas of New York, Arthur Rexford, Sam'll Androus, Benj. Royse, all of Walling- ford, in ye County of Newhaven, and Colony of Connecticut, and Daniel Higbay of Middletown in ye County of Hartford afores'd, and Josiah Grizwold, Thomas Goodwin, Benjamin Stillman, John Pierce, all of Wethersfield in ye County aforesaid, Proprietors and Joint owners of a certain peice of land, or Mines in said Wallingford, as leased out to them by Timothy Royce of s'd Wallingford, as will appear by said Lease, reference there unto being had to carry on the work 11
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MINES,
in said Mines, Wittnesseth that we the s'd partys do covenant and agree to, and with each other, and do hereby oblidge and bind our Selves to Stand to, and perform the following articles, viz :
" 1. That the Name of S'd Mine, Shall be the GOLDEN PARLOUR.
"2. That the Work to be done in said Mines, Shall be ordered by a vote of ye Majority of ye owners, and ye Costs and Charge arising on ye work in said mines shall be paid according to ye proportions of each owner's part.
" 3. That Each owner's vote shall be in proportion to what part he owns.
" 4. That if any owner or owners cannot attend ye meeting or meetings, appointed by ye Majority of ye owners in order to manage ye affairs of said mine, they shall have liberty to appoint any of ye owners to vote or act in his or their behalf, and said owner so appointed shall vote or act there in shall be Esteemed as good and valid as if the owner appointing was himself present.
"5. That Mr. Benj. Royce be a Clark to Enter and Keep ye votes that may from time to time be passed by the owners or the majority of said owners untill ye said owners shall chuse another in his room in which case, ye said Royce is to deliver all ye votes he has Entered and kept in ye Hands of said owners.
"6. That the last Wednesday of July, October, January and April, be days, Stated for ye Meeting of Said owners at Meriden, to make up the acc'tts of said mine and also to pay what Charge or Cost may arise between each Meeting to ye Satisfaction of ye under- taker, and if ye majority of ye owners shall think fitt to order a meeting on any other time, or times besides
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MINES.
those herein Stated ye meetings so ordered and ye affairs managed therein shall be good and valid.
" 7. That these articles be committed into ye Hands of ye Clark for ye time being, and if any of ye owners desire a Copy hereof, ye said Clark shall give it him attested under his Hand, he or they satisfying him therefor.
" In confirmation of ye above mentioned articles, we the Subscribers, have hereunto Sett our Hands and Seals in Meriden, the Day and Date above mentioned. " Edward Higbee, L. S. Thos. Thomas, L. S.
Josiah Griswold, L. S. Thos. Goodwin, L. S.
Arthur Rexford, L. S. Benjamin Roys, L. S.
Samuel Andrus, L. S, B. Stilman, L. S.
John Pierce, L. S.
" In Presence of
Amos hall, Moses Parse, Jr.,
Wm. Hough."
It appears however that previous to the formal or- ganization of the company on paper, a partnership had actually existed, for a few months at least, as we find a paper dated the previous February. It is ag follows.
" A Record kept by Benjamin Roys, Clark of the proprietors of the mines in the land of Timothy Roys in wollingford.
" February ye 11, 1736-7. Then the owners of the mines in the land of Timothy Roys in Wollingford, being Regularly met together at the hous of John Way in Wallingford, did then make up their Acounts
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MINES.
of the Charg expended in the mines, from 8 of novem- ber, 1736, Which Charg did amount to the Sum of 86£, 4s, 2d.
" At a meeting of the proprieters of the mines in the land of Timothy Roys in Wallingford, February ye 11, 1736-7. The said oneers did make A fair agreement with Arther Rexford, one of the owners, to Dig ten foot in the north Shaft of said mines keeping the Smoth wals east and west and about five foot wide finding himself Tools and materials for the Same, to be done in five months, for which work the said propri- eters did unanimously agree to give Said Rexford the Sum of eighty-one pounds,-81£-0-0."
We have also the record of two other meetings of the company, as here annexed.
" At a meeting of the Proprietors of ye Mine in Meriden on ye 27th day of April, 1737.
" Voted, that mr. Griswold Shold be moderator for Said meeting.
" That Thomas Thomas be an undertaker to carry on the work in Said Mine for ye Space of three months next ensuing.
"That ye s'd Thos. Thomas be allowed at the rate of fifteen pounds per month, for so much time as he spends in said service, the time of pay to begin when the Hands begin to work in said mine.
" That Arthur Rexford having desired to be released from a bargain he made to sink a Shaft of ten feet deep in s'd mine that he be released. 1
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MINES.
" At a meeting of ye proprietors of ye Mine in Meriden, on ye 27th day of July, 1737.
" Voted, That Mr. Grizwold be Moderator for s'd Meeting. Also, Voted, by a full Vote the majority of ye owners, that ye owners acording to their proportion- able parts, pay to Georg Bell the Sum of fourty pounds, upon his finishing a job of work he had undertaken to do in the Golden Parler, viz : to sink twelve feet in the deeper Shaft nerest to docter houghs and to leave the bottom of the Shaft nere the wedth and length that it now is, to find him Self with all materials, &c. necisary and Sutable to cary on and finish Said work.
" And at s'd meeting, July ye 27, 1737, the s'd own- ers made up their acounts which did amount to the Sum of 132€, 13s. 1d."
These documents contain all the information we now have relative to the mines on "milking-yard hill." They were probably again abandoned after the unprofit- able labor of two or three years.
Mining operations on a much smaller scale were commenced in another part of the town. The excava- tions are about fifty rods east of the turnpike road to Hartford, about one mile and three-quarters, from the centre of the town. Dr. Percival in his "Geological Survey," speaks of them as excavations for copper : but tradition says, that small quantities of gold were found there. But there is no other information whatever as to the mine, its proprietors, products, or the time when it was worked.
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MINES.
More than one hundred years ago, Mr. Dan. John- son, bought of Mr. Yale who was one of the first " planters" in Wallingford, a large tract of land, lying south of the " Hanging Hills," and within " the Notch" so called, the picturesque pass or glen opening north- erly from the gate on the Waterbury road, towards Kensington. This land was purchased on account of its probable value for mining purposes, and has been retained in the family of Mr. Johnson ever since : though the necessary expense of searching for ores, has hitherto prevented them from undertaking mining operations. Within " the Notch" is an elevation called " Mining Hill," which is said by those acquainted with Geology to abound in indications of valuable minerals.
About sixty years ago, one Mr. Parsons commenced an excavation a short distance west of the Hanging Hills, just over the line between Southington and Meri- den, and found gold in small quantities. It was taken to Hartford, assayed, and found to be pure gold. The search was not continued probably on account of the cost : for mining operations are usually so expen- sive, that individual enterprise and wealth, can rarely afford the cost and risk. Large and wealthy stock companies, are needed for such undertakings.
In "Sketches" like these it has been thought best to preserve a variety of other miscellaneous facts, which, though individually unimportant, have some local interest for one who is desirous of information
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PHYSICIANS-REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
about former times. Such facts are accordingly here stated.
PHYSICIANS.
The first physician in Meriden, was Dr. Isaac Hall, he died in 1781, and probably had practised here twenty or thirty years previously. He resided, while living, quite in the easterly part of the town, on that road which now passes the residence of Mr. Charles Paddock, and Dea. Silas Royce. Dr. Ensign Hough, commenced business in this town, in 1769, and fixed his residence near the centre of the town. He was well-known, and highly esteemed. He died in 1813. His son, Dr. Isaac I. Hough, still surviving, com- menced medical practice in this town, in 1802. Dr. Wyllys Woodruff, entered on his profession here, about 1825, and died in 1842, universally beloved for his many estimable qualities, and highly esteemed for his medical skill. The medical gentlemen, now in practice here, are of course well-known.
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
In that eventful war which terminated in the "In- dependence" of the United States, Meriden, whose whole population embraced but 123 families, nobly bore her share of exertion and peril, if we may judge by the numbers of her citizens, who were personally engaged in the contest. In addition to those who, as militia men, were called occasionally into service, the
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REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
persons whose names are annexed, were soldiers in the regular army. There were probably others, of whom no information has reached me.
*John Couch, Jotham Hall, Oliver Collins,
· +Joseph Shaler, Joseph Twiss,
James Baldwin, Lem. Collins,
John Ives, David Hall,
B. Rexford, Jr., #Chatham Freeman, Enos Hall, Jr.
Abner Andrews, & Black Boss, Joash Hall,
Lamberton Clark, Ambrose Hotchkiss, A. Merriam,
Edmund Merriam, Ephraim Merriam, Dan. Crane, David Roberts, Josiah Merriman.
* JOHN COUCH, held a commission, and was prisoner for several years on Long Island.
t JOSEPH SHALER, was a Lieutenant in the regiment of Col. Meigs, a corps distinguished for its gallantry and efficiency. Sub- sequently he was engaged in the frontier war with the Indian tribes in the year 1791. Having received a Captain's commission he raised a company of soldiers from this town and vicinity, and joined the forces of Gen. St. Clair, in their expedition against the Indians on the Miami. At the time of St. Clair's disastrous defeat, with terrible slaughter of his troops, Capt. Shaler was absent as commander it is believed of some garrisoned fort, in the rear. About that time he and and his son venturing to hunt a short distance from the fort, were attacked by Indians. His son was killed and scalped. Capt. Shaler escaped. He settled in Ohio at the close of the war and died there.
# CHATHAM FREEMAN, was the slave of Mr. Noah Yale. Ac- cording to the State law of that period, any able-bodied male slave who enlisted in the army became thereby FREE. So far as these pages shall be read and preserved, the writer is happy to perpet- uate in them the memory of a colored " revolutionary hero."
§ BLACK Boss. He was the slave of Abel Curtiss, and like his colored friend preferred the harsh discipline of the camp, and the perils of battle, even to that very mild form of slavery which existed in Connecticut. The name here given is a nickname ; but is the only one by which he was ever known, according to the information of those elderly people who remember him.
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SLAVERY.
For some of the preceding information, I am in- debted to Dea. Phinehas Hough.
SLAVERY.
It is painful to be compelled to place side by side with the facts just narrated, some features of olden time, not so creditable to our predecessors. Slavery had existed in Connecticut, though to a very limited extent, from an early period. In 1646, we are told that "an Indian woman fled from her master" to the Dutch .* " Though her master demanded her as his property, they would not restore her," as was most assuredly right. Even at that early period, in a few cases, some Indians or Indian families, who had become by treachery or crime peculiarly obnoxious, were sold as slaves.
Negro slavery did not exist in the Colony, I believe, until about the year 1680. At that time thirty slaves were brought from Barbadoes and sold at an average price of £22 each. From that time their numbers slowly grew by natural increase and by importation. But it is worthy of remark, that in this case, as in nearly, if not quite, all other cases, slavery commenced and grew without any positive law. It became estab- lished in Connecticut without law; it grew up in the Southern States without law ; it will grow up in New
* This took place at Hartford ; near which, at a place still called " Dutch Point," the Dutch had then a small fort and garrison.
12
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SLAVERY.
Mexico and California without law. The man who sup- poses or pretends that there is no danger of its taking root firmly and speedily, because no law expressly authorises it, or who denies the necessity of an express prohibitory law to keepit out; must have forgotten the manifold lessons of the past.
Some few slaves were owned in this town. But that their condition living singly in the families of their masters, and laboring side by side with them, was very different from that of slaves, held and worked in large gangs, under a brutal over- seer, is unquestionable. They were indeed considered as members of the family and baptized as such on the plan of " household baptism." For we meet with entries on our Church records like the following. " March 1, 1741, baptized London, servant of John Webb." "Sep. 12, 1742, baptized Primus, servant of Lazarus Ives." "Sep. 6, 1747, baptized Champe, a negro of Lazarus Ives." " April 24th, 1748, baptized negro child of John Merriam." About twenty of these baptisms are recorded within a period of forty years.
The deaths among the slaves were also recorded no less carefully than the decease of the whites, though in somewhat less respectful terms. Thus in the register . of burials for 1736, is this entry, "Aaron Lyman's ne- gro," and " Nov. 15, 1737, Theo. Mix's negro man.". "Feb. 25, 1745, a negro of Serg't Jerom." "Feb. 28, 1748, Serg't Jerom's negro child." Even the reverend
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SLAVERY.
man who officiated at funerals, met with losses of the - same nature, for I find this entry, "June 8, 1758, my negro child, Gin."
On the records of deaths for thirty-eight years, from 1728 to 1766, there are three hundred and sixteen names. Of these, twenty-nine are recorded in a man- ner which indicates that they were slaves, which is almost exactly one-eleventh of the whole number. If this be taken as an index to the relative proportion of the numbers, of slaves and whites, we reach the follow- ing results. In 1729 there were in Meriden, 35 families, and giving to each family the average number of five persons-175 inhabitants. In 1770, there were 123 families, or 615 inhabitants. Supposing the slaves to be as one to eleven, we have in 1729, sixteen slaves, and in 1770, fifty-six.
The slave trade, as such, never existed here, and yet transfers of slaves, as personal property not unfrequent- ly took place. Some singular documents being legal instruments of sale, are in my possession. Exact copies of two of them, which are regularly signed, sealed and witnessed by the parties respectively, like deeds of land, and which are here annexed, with the names of the contracting parties omitted.
"Know all men by these presents that I of Meriden, Widow, for the consideration of thirteen pounds, Lawful money, already Received of of s'd Meriden, do sell and make over unto the s'd
QUIRIT
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SLAVERY.
- his Heirs and assigns forever,* all my Right and title to and in Interest in the Negro Girl named time, that was the Estate of the s'd deceased, and that was let out to me for the settlement of s'd estate, and do hereby promise to warrant the same against all claims whatsoever. In witness whereof I have here- unto set my Hand and Seal this Second day of May, Anno Domini, 1760.
-, L. S. " Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of , "
" Know all men by thees presents, that I of Wallingford, the County of New Haven, and colony of Conecticut in New england, Have Sold and Deliver- ed unto of s'd Wallingford, one negro man called by the name of Steep, about eighteen years old who is in perfect health acording to the best of my knowlidg, for which negro I have Received of s'd - -, the sum of one hundred and eighty pounds,
told tenor, to my full satisfaction, and do promise to warrant and defend the sale of the above s'd negro,
* We hope the benevolent seller did not suppose that the servi- tude was to extend to a future world.
t This " old tenor" money consisted bills ofcred it, issued by the State, in the terrible embarrassments and debts consequent on the English, French and Spanish wars : which wars always involved the colonies, in great danger and expense. These bills, at one time became so depreciated, that they were received as 10 for 1, and even 20 for 1.
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THE FIRST WAGON.
dureing the term of his natureall life against all the lawfull claims of any person whatsoever, in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this first day of March, A. D. 1743.
L. S.
" Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
THE FIRST WAGON.
In 1789, or 60 years ago, the first wagon was brought into Meriden. It was owned by Mr. Ezra Rice. It was of a very rude construction, being simply a square framed box placed on four wheels, drawn by two horses, with ropes for traces, and cords for the guiding or driving lines. Yet it was then thought to be a very elegant establishment. Previous to that time, there had never been owned in the town, but three two-wheel carriages, being very rude, awk- ward chaise bodies or uncovered seats hung on two wheels, in the manner of our modern chaise.
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