USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Danbury > History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896 > Part 12
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Thomas T. Whittlesey's land, sixteen rods eastwardly from the intersection of said boundary line with the Town Hill road, by a passway leading to and through Henry Benedict's land, near the dwelling-house of Luke Tyley ; thence southeastwardly in a straight line to a point in the north line of the highway lead- ing from the south end of Main Street to Bethel, four rods east- wardly of the point of intersection of said north line with the west line of the highway called the Town Hill road ; thence southwardly directly across said road to the south side thereof ; thence south twenty rods ; thence westwardly in a straight line to a point on the east side of the highway extending the length of Deer Hill, twenty rods south of the point of intersection of said Deer Hill road with the road leading to Deer Hill from the south end of Main Street ; thence westwardly directly across said road to the west side thereof ; thence northwestwardly to a point in the south line of the highway leading from Main Street to Miry Brook, opposite the southwest corner of the lot of land on which Eli Wildman's barn stands, thence directly across said road to the corner of said lot ; thence west, directly across the road passing on the west side of said barn to the west line of said road ; thence northwardly in the west line of said last-men- tioned highway, to the north line of the highway leading across Frank's Hill, so called, at the point of intersection of said two roads ; thence in a straight line to the northeast corner of David Petit's dwelling-house ; thence northwardly in a straight line to the northwest corner of Russell Hoyt's land on Mill Ridge, opposite William P. Starr's barn ; thence in a straight line to the place of beginning ; and all that part of the said town of Danbury included within the foregoing limits and not within the present limits of the borough of Danbury, be annexed and made a part of said borough of Danbury."
In 1862 the Legislature granted an amendment to the above, enlarging the limits of the borough, and these lines remained until the city charter was granted.
OUR TAX LIST A CENTURY AGO.
In 1795 a book of twelve pages, four by thirteen inches in size, was all that was necessary to contain the names of all taxpayers in Danbury and Bethel, with the amount upon which each was taxed. In this little brown-paper-covered book there appear the
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
names of 544 taxpayers, with a total amount of £23,257 19s. 7d. in taxable property. The proportion of each is as follows :
Taxpayers. 397
£ s. d.
Danbury,
17,247 5 0
Bethel,
147
5,983 14 7
The families represented by the largest number of taxpayers were as follows, in the order given, in Danbury : Benedict, 30 names ; Barnum, 23 names ; Hoyt, 21 ; Wildman, 17; Gregory, 15 ; Starr, 14, and Knapp, 13. In Bethel : Benedict, 20 ; Bar- num, 12, and Hoyt, 10.
The list is certified to by Thomas P. White, Ezra Barnum, Joseph Trobridge, Phineas Taylor, Eli Hickock, listers, and Eli Mygatt, town clerk. On the front is written the date "1795 ;" also, "The lender must be paid," and on the back, " He that borrows must return."
In 1836 the sum of taxable property amounted to $2,981,680, and the tax thereon was paid by 1164 individuals. In 1885 the amount of taxable property was $6,384,391, and the number of taxpayers was 2225.
Ninety-six pages were required for making a copy of the list of 1885. We give below a copy of the amount of list for 1836 and 1885, from which an idea of our growth may be had.
1836.
1885.
No.
Value.
No.
Value.
Dwellings.
910
$938,716
2,398
$3,433,885
Acres. .
23,107
706,257|
24,123
886,101
Mills and stores.
114
182,181
262
910,500
Horses ..
541
34,255
1,198
64,240
Neat cattle
2,644
75,042
1,812
37,861
Sheep.
507
2,124
172
634
Wagons.
513
18,643
679
32,975
Time pieces.
1,067
10,210
211
7,345
Stocks
218,152
291 276
Bonds
39,500
115,405
In trade
102,828
252,750
Manufacturing
187,275
195,997
At interest
438,000
116,527
Total
$2,981,680
$6,384,391
The above table presents some queer contrasts, especially in the last two items.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CHRISTENING IDEAS OF OUR FATHERS.
OUR venerated ancestors were tinctured with the spice of humor, if we may judge from the names bestowed by them upon some of the districts and streets of the town. Presuming that it may be interesting to many of our readers, we have ventured to prepare this chapter upon some of the changes in the borough within the last fifty years.
We will first wrestle with Squabble Hill, comprising that por- tion of Park Avenue which lies between Division Street and the old Miry Brook Road, and was probably named from the then steep and rough hills to ascend at both ends of it. At the period above mentioned there was but one building upon it, a small brown house at the summit of the hill near Division Street, and on the latter street there was none.
Dumpling Hole is now known as Mountainville, and we never learned from whence it derived its former name. Perhaps it was from the mud-holes that formerly occupied a portion of the road in the spring of the year. It now makes a charming and picturesque drive in the summer.
Sugar Hollow extends from the Miry Brook Road to Starr's Plain, and is most delightful and charming. Its quiet is rarely disturbed, though occasionally a man with a straw hat and an apple-wood pipe trudges through its shades to the margin of an adjoining lake, peers into the water, unwinds a long string, puts a bait on a hook, and throws it in. If Rip Van Winkle had travelled a little farther east and taken his nap among the rocks here, he would probably be still sleeping.
Gallows Hill is now called Beaver Street, and derives its name from an execution which took place there in the latter part of the last century.
Clapboard Ridge comprised the rising ground at the north end
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
of Main Street, over which the old King Street and Ball's Pond Road passes.
Pinchgut, which we cannot locate, was in one of the outside districts. It sails under some other cognomen now, and its orig- inal romantic name is rarely heard to-day.
Monkeytown, Wolfpits, Dodgingtown, Wildcat, and Puppy- town were on the southeastern border of our town, but when Bethel set up housekeeping for herself she wrested all these chickens from Danbury and gathered them under her wing. Elmwood supersedes Wildcat, but the others, we think, retain their primitive names.
Pumpkin Ground covered the upper part of Elm Street, and also bore the name of Rabbit Hill. It was rarely traversed save as a path to pastures. It still retains its ancient reputation for producing prodigious pumpkins.
The Boggs is now known as Westville, a decided improvement. Years ago the manufacture of hats was carried on here as in most of the other out-districts, but long since succumbed to the centralizing influence of the trade, and farming industries have taken its place, especially the milk business.
The first milk-wagon that appeared on our streets excited much curiosity, and the remark was made : "I wonder if that man ever expects to make a living in that way !" Of course this was before our water-works were built. Several years ago we hinted to a milkman something about milk and water, and the rejoinder was : "Water in milk ? To be sure there is. People must be blamed fools to think that a cow never drinks water." That argument was unanswerable. We have never been uncharitable to the persecuted milkman since.
This portion of the town, it will be remembered, attracted much attention and occasioned an exciting war of words between the Boggs Ponders and the East Lakers a short time since, in reference to a new reservoir, ending in victory for the latter ; but if we are to judge from the past experience, at no very dis- tant date we shall be obliged to harness in the Boggs Pond and set it to work.
Plum Meadow Woods, or a portion of it, is now the old Catholic Cemetery. Thirty years ago or more a considerable area here was covered by a very attractive grove, in which the partridge and rabbit were frequently startled from their hiding-
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
places in the underbrush, and it was a favorite resort of young people for wild flowers in the spring of the year. This locality and the adjoining South Street are historic grounds of the Revo- lution. It was almost within the shadow of this grove that Wooster died. In June, 1781, a detachment of the French army in Rhode Island, about four thousand strong, on its way to join the American army on the Hudson, passed through this town, and encamped for the night in these woods.
Shelter Rock still wears its primitive name, but is almost shorn of its former heavy forest garniture. At one time its woods covered the west side of the river, and almost connected with Plum Meadow Grove. Three brigades of the American army of the Hudson were encamped here in winter quarters during the winter of 1779-80, on a level plateau on the east side of the hill, with a forest lining it on the north and east, and a rocky precipice also on the east side. The wells that they dug can be seen at the present day, but they are filled up with stone to prevent cattle from falling into them. The fireplaces where their cooking was done are also visible by the side of some rocky cliffs.
Padanaram is the modern name of a portion of the district of Hayestown, and is now the gateway to Pembroke Pond. Nearly half a century ago Colonel E. Moss White had an extensive hat- forming factory in connection with the pond. It was kept running night and day by two sets of hands, as long as the water-power would hold out.
At this time there were only three buildings, including the factory, from its intersection with North Street to King Street, a distance of about two miles. Many years ago there was very good trouting from the factory dam to North Meadow Brook, but like all trout streams in this vicinity, it now affords little encouragement for the lover of piscatorial sport.
CHAPTER XXV.
OLD DANBURY.
A LONG and narrow account-book, in the possession of Miss Hollister, of Grassy Plain, bears upon its inner cover these words : "Stephen Trowbridge. His Book. Bought 1748."
A few items from its contents will be of interest to the descend- ants of those whose names are mentioned.
In May, 1749, is written :
" William Cook, Dr.
" To one iurney to Stratfield with a teem."
" To 4 barils and half of sider."
" To filing up your hogshead and taking care of it."
And in October another "iurney to Stratfield" is charged.
In 1751 Thomas Starr is debtor " To three pounds of boter at 4s. per pound," and credited with " two pare of shoes for self, and two pare for wife, £.2. $5."
Joseph Starr is credited "By making one pare of Child's Shoes and what els you have don."
In 1766 Joshua Knap is Dr. "To weaving 22 & & yards of bed tick very fine and rotten, £1. 10. 2."
Just here a sudden appreciation of the merits of this " Book" seems to have struck its owner, for the following is written with decided clearness : " this Litel book is Very Good Sort of paper to Wright on."
In 1769 we find the following :
" By making one gound for my wife. 2.s.
66 a frok for Lydiah. 6d.
66 66 three jackets for my boys. 5ธ.
66 a gound 9.d
" " shirt 2s."
In 1759, "3 bushels of appels" were bought for 2s. 3d .; in 1775, " A fat Goos" for "2s .; " in 1785, " Silver Buckels 10.s."
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
The following is certainly a novel settlement of accounts :
"July 15, 1787, By agreement with Capt. Daniel Taylor with- out comparing our accts we ballanced our books. £3. 9. 6."
The following letter, which we copy by permission of Mrs. L. D. Brewster, will give the present generation some new ideas regarding life, not only in Danbury, but in New York City, ninety years ago :
"DANBURY, Jan 24, 1805 " DEAR CHILDREN,
We hoped and strongly expected a letter per last mail which did not arrive until this day about noon on horseback through much difficulty, the roads being filled with a dreadful snow storm which fell the day Moss left Danbury. We were much conserned about him and are still, how he got along & whether he did not freeze, but we cannot hear a word. . . . Zar has the most company this court he ever had at any court before this ; 150 eat dinner at his house to day. He burns about two loads of wood per day and is nearly out and it is next to impossible to get at his wood.
" We feel much for you that you must suffer with a multitude of others for the want of this article as we understand it is diffi- cult to procure it at any price in New York, and impossible that any can be" conveyed by water as usual. But to day has been not so severely cold"as for a long time heretofore and we hope the weather"may continue to moderate more and more, and in this way you with the distressed inhabitants of New York may have relief.
" (Signed) JOSEPH MOSS WHITE."
In the " Recollections of a Lifetime," by S. C. Goodrich, we find the following reminiscences of his short residence in Dan- bury :
" There was, if I rightly remember, in the month of February, 1809, though it might have been a year later, a certain 'cold Friday,' which passed down to succeeding generations as among the marvels of the time. It had snowed heavily for three days, and the ground was covered three feet deep.
" A driving wind from the northwest then set in, and growing colder and colder, it became at last so severe as to force everybody to shelter. This continued for two days, the whole air being
---
MRS. JOSEPH P. COOK.
JOSEPH MOSS WHITE.
JOSEPH F. WHITE.
JOSEPH P. COOK. E. M. WHITE.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
filled with sleet, so that the sun, without a cloud in the sky, shone dim and gray as through a fog.
" The third day (Friday) the wind increased both in force and intensity of cold. Horses, cattle, fowls, and sheep perished in their coverings. The roads were blocked up with enormous drifts : the mails stopped, travelling was suspended ; the world indeed seemed paralyzed and the circulation of life to be arrested."
Mr. Goodrich came to Danbury to become a clerk in the store of Amos Cooke, his brother-in-law. Amos was the son of Col- onel Joseph Platt Cooke, who graduated at Yale in 1750 ; estab- lished himself in Danbury ; married Sarah, daughter of Captain Daniel Benedict, and died in February, 1816. Of Colonel Joseph Cooke and his wife, Goodrich thus writes :
" The father and mother of my brother-in-law were aged peo- ple living with him in the same house, and as one family. They were persons of great amiability and excellence of character ; the former, Colonel Cooke, was eighty years of age, but still had perfect exercise of his faculties, and though he had ceased all business, he was cheerful and took an interest in passing events. His career had been one of great activity and usefulness. He was greatly esteemed, not only by the community, but by the leading men of the country. He enjoyed the friendship and con- fidence of Washington, and the acquaintance of Lafayette, Rochambeau, and De Grasse, whom he entertained at his house. In manner and dress he was strongly marked with the Washing- ton era ; he was sedate, courteous, and methodical in all his ways ; he wore breeches, knee-buckles, shoe-buckles, and a cocked hat to the last. The amenity and serenity of his coun- tenance and conduct bespoke the refined gentleman and dis- ciplined Christian."
Of Amos Cooke he writes :
" My brother-in-law was tall, emaciated, somewhat bent, with a large head and large, melancholy eyes. His look was gravity itself, his air meditative, his movements measured, slow, and wavering.
" In sharp contrast was his friend, "Squire Hatch,' who was rather short, full-chested, perpendicular, and with a short, quick, emphatic step. His eyes were gray, small, and twink- ling, his lips sharp and close-set, his hair erect and combed
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
back, giving to his face the keen expression of the old-fashioned flint set in a gunlock.
" He was celebrated for his wit no less than his learning, and he seldom opened his mouth without making a report of one or both."
Amos Cooke was born October 11th, 1773, and died November 13th, 1810. Moses Hatch was born in Kent, Litchfield County, in 1780, and died there in 1820.
Mr. Goodrich also writes of " a neighbor over the way, a good- natured, chatty old gentleman by the name of Ebenezer White. He had been a teacher and had a great taste for mathematics."
At that time " it was the custom to put forth in the newspapers puzzling questions of figures, and to invite their solution. Master White was sure to give the answer first. Under his good-natured and gratuitous lessons I learned something of geometry and trigonometry, and thus passed on to surveying and navigation."
This was Ebenezer Russell White, and his note-book, now in possession of his descendants in Danbury, is filled with mathe- matical and algebraical problems, besides a number of poems original with him, mostly bearing upon family matters.
Among the merchants doing business here in 1804 we find Amos Cooke, the brother-in-law of S. C. Goodrich, who adver. tises quite extensively in the fall of that year. We copy his advertisement.
"AMOS COOKE
Has just received a new supply of Goods, consisting of the fol- lowing, with many other articles, which are offered for sale at very moderate prices for Cash, Produce, or the usual Credit :
"Superfine, Middling and Coarse Broadcloths, Cassimeres, Flannels, Lion Skin, Rose Blankets, Cotton and Woolen Check, Muslins, Brown and White Linens, Velvets, a great variety of Cali- coes very low, large Silk Shawls, Blue, Green and Purple ditto, Romals, Bandanna and Lungee Handkerchiefs, Lustrings, Satins, Laces, &c.
Likewise,
Jamaica and Antigua Rum, Brandy, Cider Brandy, two years old ; Madeira and Sherry Wines, Molasses, Sugars, Young Hyson, Souchong and Bohea Teas, Coffee, Chocolate, Starch, Hair Powder, Cloves, Nutmegs, Cassia, Biscuit, good Writing Paper, Snuff and Tobacco, English Powder, Patent Shot, &c.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
"Nicaragua, Fustic, Logwood, Madder, Verdigris, Alum, Copperas, Indigo, Blue Vitriol and Oil of Vitriol.
"The following Books, most of which will be sold lower than the New York price, &c. [Here follows a list of exceedingly heavy volumes.]
"Danbury, Oct. 23."
June 8th, 1805, Mr. Cooke advertises to sell his stock of goods at very reduced prices, as he intends to relinquish his present business.
Mr. Cooke's place of business was near the residence of the late Edgar S. Tweedy.
Another merchant doing an extensive business here at that time was Comfort S. Mygatt, who advertised goods of all kinds, similar to Mr. Cooke.
" Wheat and Rye Flour, constantly on hand, and for sale, at the Red Mill, for Cash, or on a Credit of 60 days when punctual payment can be depended on, by Samuel C. Dibble & Co."
This mill stood on the site of the Eureka Mill, near Main Street bridge. The business was afterward carried on where White's fur factory now stands. About 1830 George Crofut and Charles F. Starr established the business where Mr. Crofut's mill was burned down. Mr. Dibble removed to Stamford, and bought a farm on Strawberry Hill, a mile from the village. He was the father of Ira S. Dibble. Mr. Dibble moved back to Danbury, and died here.
" DELAYS ARE DANGEROUS.
" Those indebted to the subscribers, on Book or Note (now due by agreement), may have an opportunity of cancelling the same, by payment in Walnut, Oak, or Maple Wood, Wheat, Rye, Corn, Oats, Buckwheat, Flax Seed, Hats, Saddles, or Shoes, at their full value, if delivered soon, but if delayed Cash will be the only substitute which will be received by
"JOSEPH F. & E. M. WHITE."
This firm consisted of the brothers Joseph F. White and Colonel E. Moss White.
Peter Benedict advertises "an indented lad to the farming business, named Levi Wood, about nineteen years old, tall of his age, and heavy moulded," and offers one cent reward and no
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
charges paid to any one who will return said lad. We think Mr. Benedict could not have wanted " said lad" very badly, as he did not run very far away, for he died here at an advanced age. Peter Benedict lived at Dumpling Hole, now Mountain- ville, and was the grandfather of Egbert S. Benedict.
Ezra Wildman is more liberal in offering rewards, for he will give 25 cents for the return of Gershom G. Finch, an indented apprentice to the hatting business, but he will pay no charges.
Justus Barnum carried on the tailoring business in the lower part of the Court House.
William Chappell informs us that he has " lately become pro- prietor in the machine for carding wool in this town, and is now erecting a new one of the first quality which will be ready for carding in the course of a week. As it is intended to use the old machine for breaking the wool, and the new one for rolling, and having employed an experienced workman, the proprietor will be enabled to dispatch the business with punctuality, and in the best manner.
"N.B .- The wool must be brought to hand well picked and greased, at the rate of one pound of grease to ten of wool."
Mr. Chappell lived on South Street and carried on the furni- ture business. Mr. Horace Marshall learned the trade of him, and married his daughter.
Edwards Ely informs us that he has " lost a grey Horse Colt, near the colour of a grey squirrel ; four years old, nearly four- teen hands high, has been docked and nicked, was barefoot, lean in flesh, and has had the horse distemper during the winter."
Ebenezer D. and Walter Starr say they will "pay cash for Green Calf Skins and Tanner's Bark at their place of business, ten rods south of the meeting house." They were brothers of Friend Starr, and their place of business was where the Pahquioque Block now stands.
Ezra Boughton & Co. advertise that they " have received from New York a handsome assortment of Summer Goods and Groceries at the store lately occupied by Z. Griswold & Co." Mr. Boughton was afterward engaged in the cloth-dressing business near West Street bridge, and resided near there.
Starr & Sanford advertise for fifty cords of oak, hemlock, or birch bark, for which cash at $5 a cord will be given at the tan works. The boys of the present time would improve this oppor-
135
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
tunity of laying in a supply of birch bark. Their tan works was near the corner of Liberty Street and Railroad Avenue.
Ezra Starr " wants a house carpenter to go to a healthy island in the West Indies, to whom a generous salary will be given for a term of years. None need apply who is not master of his busi- ness in all its branches, and can produce the best recommenda- tions. One acquainted with mill work would be preferred." This was Major Ezra Starr. He was a man of note in his day, and resided in a large house which stood back of the homestead of the late D. P. Nichols. The old building has been removed to Boughton's Lane.
Jerrey Hoyt lost " nine sheep all marked with a half-penny on the fore side of each ear, and one of them of a chestnut color." Mr. Hoyt lived on Clapboard Ridge, on the farm now occupied by Lewis Elwell. He was of a genial disposition, and made droll remarks. He said he had plowed that land over so much that he had worn all the stones smooth and turned them into lap-stones. He sold the farm to Russell Hoyt, removed to Rochester, N. Y., and bought a farm which is now the centre of that city. He sold before it became so valuable, lost his prop- erty, and became very poor.
Ebenezer Benedict said eight sheep had broken into his en- closure. Perhaps these were a part of Mr. Hoyt's lost sheep. Mr. Benedict lived in Miry Brook.
Ezra Frost offers for sale at his store in Main Street, timothy, clover and garden seeds.
Mr. Frost was at one time connected in business with Samuel H. Phillips. He was the father of Stoddard J. Frost, at one time a prominent merchant of Norwalk, and also of Daniel Frost, once in business in New York.
Caleb Starr informs " the inhabitants of the town of Danbury that he has received a warrant to collect a town tax, one cent and five mills on the dollar ; and likewise a warrant to collect a State tax, seven and a half mills on the dollar." He " will take cash, town orders, flax seed or any kind of produce for the taxes." This tax to many without explanation would seem excessive, but it was in reality much less than at the present time. At that time $1000 of real estate went into the list at $30, and $1000 personal property at $60, and on this the tax was laid. Mr. Starr resided in the old house now standing on
136
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
West, near Harmony Street. This house was built before the Revolutionary War, and is still in possession of the family.
James Clark, librarian, notifies the members of Franklin Libra- ry Company of the annual meeting to be held at Ebenezer B. White's, and also reminds them that " a vote of said company makes it necessary that the books be returned to the librarian 4 days previous to said meeting on penalty of thirty-four cents for each neglect." Mr. Clark was a man of note in his day. Elijah Wood offers at public vendue at the Court House, "a number of unfinished wagons, a horse and a variety of house- hold furniture." Mr. Wood lived at Stony Hill.
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