USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Danbury > History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896 > Part 17
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Given in conformity with an Act of the Congress of the United States, passed on the 24th day of July, 1813.
Danbury Sans 28 1864
Taylor Ihrman Collector of the Revenue for the second Collection
District of Connecticut.
fr. Kennedy's Quartet Ball. Miss Harrior Whiteis respectfully solicited to honour the Assembly with her attendance, at Mr. P. Benedict's Hotel, on THURSDAY, 6th May next, at 6 o'clock P. M. E. M. STARR, E. S. SANFORD, R. RIDER, Managers. E. T. HOYT, Danbury, April, 1313.
MW Abigail Wood
is requested to attend the Ball, at Mr. Andrew's Ball Room, on Thursday the 9th Auguft; at 5 o'clock P. M. July 26th, 1798.
vere Joind
AS
True Afftant Society of Danbury Instituted Nov 21.1800 Hethen Probably Prefidit Benjamin Howard Jeny Engreat by Do Eduon Jun.
CARRIAGE LICENSE TO EBENEZER NICHOLS.
BALL TICKETS.
HATTERS' CARD.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
would undoubtedly be often found on pleasant, sunny days lean- ing against the monument fence, and looking with glistening eyes upon the mass of buildings opposite.
Those were remarkable papers published in the last century. The newspaper appeared to be a vehicle for views rather than news, and its advertising columns were used more in a legal than a commercial sense. The Danbury Journal, in 1793, had taken on another column to the page, and was now a sixteen instead of a twelve-column paper, but the extra room brought no addition of local news, and but very little mercantile advertising.
The most prominent announcement in the issue before us is to the effect that "Eli Hoyt has entered into a partnership with Elijah Sanford in the saddling business." Eli Hoyt was a cousin of Eli T. Hoyt, and Elijah Sanford was grandfather of Charles A. Sanford, our late librarian. They advertised two shops, one " opposite the store of Carrington & Mygatt," the other " in Beaver Brook, three miles northeast of the town (vil- lage centre), where said Hoyt formerly resided."
Thomas Tucker taught school here in 1793, and advertised the fact. Where his school was situated is not made known in his card to the public. Mr. Tucker was a successful teacher. He built and occupied the house now the homestead of Mrs. George Ives, Main Street. His daughter married Colonel Moss White.
Mr. Tucker employed what appears to us at this day to be an extraordinary manner of introducing his capabilities as a teacher. "Hops !" in large capitals is the heading to his card. There is nothing in hops to suggest school-teaching, although it may school discipline. Then follow three lines in almost equally prominent type informing the public that Thomas Tucker has " 250 weight of genuine well-cured Hops for sale." Following this is a paragraph in small type to this effect :
"N.B .- As several of his scholars are going to spring and summer labour, 5 or 6 new ones may be admitted. The advan- tage that small children obtain at his school may be easily im- agined, when the public are informed that those who spell, go through the whole of Webster's spelling book twice in a fort- night."
This will give the reader of to-day some idea of the hardships our forefathers had to undergo.
Samuel Gregory, of Norwalk (this is not strictly local, but
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
merely shows a style of manufacture in vogue hereabouts at that time), advertises in the Journal that " he continues to carry on the business of DYING yarn deep blue." Mr. Gregory, like several Danburians, but who were not so enterprising in adver- tising as he, made a business of weaving cloth, coverlids, and " the most fashionable diapers."
John Rider was a carpenter and cabinet-maker in Danbury in those days, as an advertisement for a journeyman and an appren- tice shows.
Illustrating the vast difference between an apprentice then and now is an advertisement of a New Milford wheelwright announc- ing that his apprentice had run away. A minute description of the deserter is given, and then follows this warning :
" Whoever will take up and return said apprentice, or secure him in any Gaol, shall receive eight dollars reward, and all neces- sary charges. All persons are forbid harboring said apprentice or imploying him either by sea or land, as they will answer it at peril of the law."
Carrington & Mygatt announce in this issue of the Journal that they have entered into partnership with Najah Taylor in the gold and silversmith business. The silver and gold business must have been in good condition in those days to have sup- ported three partners.
The balance of the advertising is made of duns, probate notices, warnings, and losses.
The Farmers' Chronicle for 1794, the successor of the Farm- ers' Journal, was conducted by Edwards Ely, his partner, Nathan Douglas, having withdrawn and started a job office. Mr. Ely announced, under the title of his paper, that the office was "near the Court House, where Useful Essays and articles of Intelligence are thankfully received."
The number of the Chronicle we have before us is dated Mon- day, September 29th, 1794. In its eleven columns of reading matter there is but one local item, and this is a request for " the civil authority and selectmen of the town of Danbury to meet the Listers at the Court House" for the " hearing and determin- ing the pleas of abatement on polls."
There is a moderate increase in business advertising, and con- sequently in the interest of that department of the paper. These advertisements give a fair idea of the widespread credit system
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
then prevailing. Aside from the special requests, with accom- panying threats, to call and settle, one half of the regular busi- ness cards are supplemented with serious invitations to square accounts.
There were several provision and lumber dealers in Fairfield, " on the east side of the Saugatuck River," who advertised lib- erally in the Chronicle for Danbury custom.
The stores in that day were not broken up into specialties as they are now. Dry goods, lumber, groceries, and drugs were sold by one firm. Boots and shoes did not, however, in those days form a part of the general stock as they did years after. The leather business was a business by itself, and every village of any size had its leather store. Many people bought the leather and had the foot covering made up by a neighbor who knew the trade, and some did their own shoemaking, just as many people nowadays do their own doctoring.
A staple article of merchandise in those days was rum, and to a grocery it was as indispensable in the stock as sugar or pork.
As a sample of the business then done by a single firm, we reproduce from the Chronicle its largest advertisement :
Carrington & Mygatt, and Filor Mygatt & Co. Have for sale, at their respective Stores, Good Salt, Rum, Molasses, Sugars, Teas, &c. Also A new assortment of DRY GOODS,
Amongst which are a great variety of Calicoes and Chints-all on the most reasonable terms. CODFISH by the quintal or pound. ONE SHILLING pr. pound given for GOOD BUTTER. N B. A few thousand feet good PINE BOARDS for sale by CARRINGTON & MYGATT.
Danbury, Aug. 25, 1794.
63
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
In 1794 Munson Gregory and Reuben Curtis sold leather of all kinds and " boot legs at their dwelling houses."
Justus Barnum kept store here then. In addition to the gen- eral variety of goods he announced "20,000 good bricks" and " a good milch cow with a calf 8 weeks old by her side."
Hugh Cain, of Ridgefield, announces that " he can full in the driest season," has now begun, " and can continue to full, pro- vided there should be no rain for six weeks to come." He says "he makes all colours made in America (scarlet ex- cepted)."
In 1794 Joseph F. White advertised the selling and the buying of stock at White's tavern in Danbury. Mr. White, we judge from his advertisement, was quite a dealer in live stock. He also advertised for " four good smart industrious Men who will be willing to devote their time and strength to threshing flax for the term of two months."
In 1794 the penalty for selling liquor without license was $50, as an announcement in this paper shows.
In the same paper White, Burr & White advertise for " three or four journeymen hatters, to whom good wages and good pay will be made."
Timothy Foster announces he has removed his clothing busi- ness from Danbury to Wilton.
Among other wants is one for "3 or 4 labourers, chiefly at cutting wood, for two months, at 40 shillings cash per month, and paid weekly," by E. & A. Peck.
Ezra Frost was a shoemaker then, and had a good trade that fall, as he advertised for a journeyman and an appren- tice.
Here is a model tax notice which we copy in full :
LL who have not settled their Town RATES, due to the A Subscribers, are hereby notified, that unless they make full payment of the same, within Fourteen Days from the date, they must expect to pay travelling and collecting Fees, without favor or affection.
Ebenezer B. White, Collector of Town Tax, for first society Danbury.
Eli Mygatt, jun.
Collector of Town Tax, for Bethel Society, Danbury. Danbury, September 19, 1794. 67 3
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Silas Abbott, who then did shoe business and tanned leather, could not have had a very exalted opinion of an absconding ap- prentice, judging from the following reward :
To Pence Reward.
R AN away from the subscriber, the 11th inst. an Apprentice- boy to the Tanning and Shoe-making business, named JOHN KNAPP, about 17 years old, small of his age, very talkative, wore away a blue & white Coat, striped Vest and calico Trowsers .- This is to forbid all persons trusting said boy on my account. I will pay no debts of his contracting after this date. Whoever will take up & return said boy shall have the above reward, but no charges.
Danbury, Sept. 12, 1794.
SILAS ABBOTT. 66 3
In January, 1793, Messrs. Douglass & Ely dissolved partner- ship in the publication of the Farmers' Journal, and Captain Douglass commenced the publication of the Republican Journal. In December of the same year Captain Douglass sold out to Mr. Ely, who issued a paper called the Farmers' Chronicle. In 1797 the Religious Monitor and Theological Scales made its appearance, conducted by Douglass & Nichols. It was a monthly religious magazine. In February, 1803, the Farmers' Journal and Columbian Ark, conducted by Stiles, Nichols & Co., was commenced, but was of short duration.
In its issue of date December 11th, 1803, we find as the close of a communication from Newtown, of the deaths in that town for the year 1802, the following: "Twenty of these persons belonged to the Episcopal Society ; six to the Universalists ; three to the Presbyterians ; four to the Sandemanians, and one to the Methodists. The first has ceased to contend for power ; the second, from denying future punishment ; the third, from opposing the moral law ; the fourth, from contending for eternal election and reprobation ; and the fifth, from condemning it and from mourning about the streets. They all rest in silence, and will be judged according to the deeds done in the body."
In 1804 Messrs. Gray & Steele commenced the publication of the New England Republican, a few rods south of the Court House. It was an exceedingly neat and well-gotten-up paper.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
The editorial department showed ability, and would be creditable to any paper of the present time. The publishers advertise " Fine woven letter paper, writing paper of the best quality, also all kinds of blanks," by which it would seem that in addition to their publishing a newspaper, they kept a book and stationery store. They also advertise " to print books, pamphlets, cards, handbills, etc.," and that they would pay cash for rags. The custom of keeping a bookstore in connection with a newspaper- office in Danbury appears to have been the practice from an early date, and to have been continued to a very recent period, for we find that Messrs. W. & M. Yale and others after them practised it.
We extract from the Republican a number of advertisements which will be interesting to many of our older citizens, who doubtless will remember hearing of the parties.
Joseph Trowbridge announces that "the just demands of im- patient creditors and the wants of a helpless family obliges him to request a settlement with those persons whose accounts have been due six months. Most kinds of produce and a few hun- dred good chestnut rails will be received in payment if delivered soon." This was Dr. Trowbridge, one of the leading physicians of the town.
Z. Griswold & Co. advertise "Broadcloths, coatings, cassi- meres, velvets, flannels, swansdowns, humhums, a great variety of calicoes very low, rose blankets, large camels'-hair and silk shawls, muslins, friezes, hosiery, silk and cotton gloves, um- brellas, etc. Likewise, best Cogniac brandy, rum, gin, cider brandy, by the barrel or gallon ; molasses, sugars, teas, coffee, indigo, tobacco, Nicaragua logwood, alum, glue, cotton, wool, etc. A good assortment of ironmongery, hardware, crockery, glass and earthen ware, also tickets in the Episcopal academy lottery, all for sale at moderate prices for cash, produce or a liberal credit." Their store on the corner of Main and South streets was robbed and burned by two strangers about 1812, who were arrested and sent to State prison.
Ebenezer Russell White proposes to open a mathematical school, where students " will be perfected in the art of survey- ing (according to the new rectangular system), navigation, and the science of algebra," for a stated price. Mr. White was a son of Rev. Ebenezer White.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
The following advertisement will be found interesting, as it refers to the old turnpike road between Danbury and Norwalk, once the principal means of communication between the two places :
" The proprietors of the Norwalk and Danbury turnpike road are hereby notified to attend a meeting of the company on Mon- day, the 8th of October next, at the house of Mr. Gregory, inn- keeper, in Redding (formerly Jacksons), at nine o'clock in the forenoon to consider of the expediency of petitioning the General Assembly at their next session for an extension of said turnpike road from Belden's Bridge to Norwalk Bridge, and to transact any other business proper to be done at said meeting. Should the day be stormy, the meeting will be held on the day fol- lowing.
" By direction of the committee,
" COMFORT S. MYGATT, Clerk."
This inn was kept by Benjamin Gregory, the father of Dudley S. Gregory, who removed to Jersey City, and became mayor and the most prominent citizen of that place. The meeting was held at the appointed time and place, and the following vote was adopted. Hon. Joseph P. Cook was moderator and Comfort S. Mygatt clerk of the meeting :
" Voted, That a petition be proposed to the General Assembly at their session to be holden at New Haven on Thursday, 11th instant, praying a grant to extend the turnpike road from Bel- den's Bridge to Norwalk Bridge, and to erect another gate in a suitable place, and collect another toll, the same as said com- pany are now entitled to collect according to the present grant."
This turnpike company "was incorporated by the General Assembly, at their session holden at New Haven on the second Thursday of October, 1795, for the purpose of making and repair- ing the great road from Danbury to Norwalk, from Simmepog Brook to Belden's Bridge."
The petitioners state that " the road from Belden's Bridge to the head of Norwalk harbor is much out of repair ; and that the public travel is hereby much impeded, and rendered difficult and dangerous, and petition the Assembly to extend their grant so as to include the road aforesaid from Belden's Bridge to the great bridge at the head of Norwalk harbor."
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
The Assembly resolved "that said petition be continued to the next General Assembly to be holden at Hartford on the second Thursday of May next." There appears to have been no further action taken upon the matter, for the turnpike was never extended.
Friend Starr advertises for "a boy of thirteen or fourteen years of age as an apprentice to the shoemaking business." Friend Starr was the father of the late Charles F. Starr, and the following anecdote is related of the latter when he was a boy : One of his duties was to go to the pasture and bring home the cows. He rode a horse for this purpose, and being of a social turn generally came home with several playmates perched on the animal behind him. In fact, the horse was full of boys. Old Mr. Starr got out of patience, finally, with making an omnibus of the steed, and he told Charles one day that if he came home at night with any boys behind him on the horse he would severely punish him. When the cows came in that evening there was the horse as full of boys as ever, but every mother's son of them was in front of Charles. His father gave up the point.
Daniel N. Carrington requests " all indebted to him to make immediate payment to save costs, and announces that he will pay cash for oats and flax-seed if delivered soon, also has tickets for sale in Canaan Meeting House lottery." Many quaint speeches are attributed to Dr. Carrington. At one time a large snake, commonly called " chunk-head" or "cousin," was killed and brought into the street as a curiosity. Some dispute arose as to its species, when one man said, "It is a cousin." The doctor immediately said, with vigor, "He may be a cousin of yours, but I'll be d-d if he is any relative of mine."
At another time a party of gentlemen were dining together on a public occasion, and as the custom was in those days the vic- tuals were prepared in mouthfuls, and placed on a large platter in the centre of the table, out of which each helped himself. One of the party, who was fond of pepper, caught up the pepper- box and sifted on a liberal quantity of that article, saying that he supposed they were all fond of pepper. Dr. Carrington, who abhorred pepper, and was an inveterate snuff-taker, took out his box of yellow snuff, and sprinkled it bountifully over the vic- tuals, saying that he presumed that they were all fond of snuff.
MI
FRIEND STARR.
CHAS. F. STARR.
STARR HOMESTEAD.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
He lived to an advanced age, and lost his speech several years before his death.
Bethel Morris advertises under date of September 4th, 1804, that " to-morrow he proposes to put his mill to work on cloth, and shall be ready to receive cloth at any time through the season, for the purpose of dressing." Mr. Morris's mill was in Beaver Brook, and he was brother to the late venerable Amos Morris.
It appears from the notice of Lewis Hoyt that distilling to a considerable extent was carried on, as he advertises "a still, partly worn, which will contain about five hundred gallons, if not sold immediately will be to let for the present season ; also a small still suitable for a refiner, both of which are erected in a convenient place for distilling, and in a neighborhood where one thousand barrels of cider might be annually purchased or dis- tilled on shares."
Comfort Hoyt wishes " to contract for several tons of sumac, and has several dozen morocco, goat and sheep skins for sale." Mr. Hoyt was a surveyor, and resided opposite the old Episcopal church, which stood in South Street, back of the burying- yard.
Foot & Bull advertise for "a boy 13 or 14 years of age as apprentice to the tailoring business." This firm consisted of David Foot and Horace Bull.
Abel B. Blackman wants " a lad of 13 or 14 years to learn the shoemaking business, and also wants to exchange boots and shoes for any kind of material for building a dwelling house."
Howard & Hoyt want an apprentice to the hatting business. The firm consisted of William Howard and Lewis Hoyt. Mr. Howard removed to New York, and was a celebrated fur dealer there and became wealthy. He married a sister of Colonel Moss White. Mr. Hoyt afterward went into partnership with Samuel Tweedy.
The next week Comfort S. and David Mygatt advertise for one or two boys to serve as apprentices " to the gold and silversmith, clock and watch-making business." They were the sons of Col- onel Eli Mygatt, and succeeded him in business. Colonel Mygatt died at New Haven while representative from Danbury in 1807, and was colleague with Colonel Moss White. Eliakim Benedict succeeded him in the Legislature.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Captain Nathan Douglass, one of the proprietors of the Jour- nal, died in Hartford, N. Y., March 17th, 1806, in the forty- eighth year of his age. Edwards Ely, the other proprietor, learned the printing business in Springfield, Mass., and at the expiration of his apprenticeship came to Danbury, and with Captain Douglass commenced the publication of the Farmers' Journal. After giving up the newspaper business he kept a store here, and later carried the mail on horseback from Dan- bury to New York, in company with Stephen Bronson Benedict (" Uncle Brons") and Eliakim Wildman, they taking their turns on alternate weeks. He afterward went to New York and was interested in several stage lines, one of which ran between New York and Danbury. Subsequently he went to the island of St. Bartholomew, W. I., where he was engaged in mercantile busi- ness, and died there in the latter part of the year 1809, aged forty-one years. He was buried on the neighboring island of St. Thomas.
Another early publisher of a paper in Danbury was Samuel Morse, who published the Sun of Liberty, a Democratic paper, here in 1800. He afterward removed to Savannah, Ga., where he was engaged in the publication of the Georgia Republican, and died in that city in 1805.
. Even as early as the date of its first newspaper, several books were published in Danbury. Almanacs especially were issued from the press here, one compiled by Joseph Leland being the first, afterward the celebrated almanac of Andrew Beers, philom., which was continued for a number of years. Gray & Steele advertise this almanac for sale in 1804, and state that it " contains, besides the usual astronomical calculations, the time of the setting of the courts in Vermont, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut, a tide-table for high water at New York, a tide-table showing the difference of high water at a great num- ber of places from New York, a table of interest at six per cent, with a variety of interesting and entertaining matter." This almanac was continued a number of years, and was indispensable in every well-regulated family. Mr. Beers is represented to have been very precise in his manners, fond of a joke, and a scholar of considerable attainment. That he was fond of a joke is shown by the following notice, which we copy from the New England Republican of May 20th, 1805 :
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
" TO THE PUBLIC.
"In my publication of eclipses this year I acknowledge that I very carelessly committed two errors. The eclipse for January 30th was calculated exactly right ; but in projecting I made a mistake of ten minutes on the scale in the moon's latitude. I had calculated the moon's latitude to be 81 minutes, N, which was right, but through mistake, took it off from the scale, but only 71 minutes, which was the sole cause of my error. Also, the eclipse on June 1st, I have pronounced invisible to us, but having lately projected that eclipse, I find there will be a small one of about 5 digits, before sunset, to be seen if the air is clear. The one reason of this error was that I never took the pains to project the eclipse ; for, considering the moon's latitude, and also the time of day, I concluded that there could be no visible eclipse. But this error, I acknowledge, arose from my presum- ing that I had been for many years perfectly acquainted with the doctrine of eclipses. And since these are the only errors of this nature that I have ever committed in the course of thirty years' calculations, I hope to be forgiven. But one more apology had liked to have slipped my memory. At the time of the cal- culation of those eclipses, I was a widower, and about entering again into the bonds of matrimony ; whether, under these cir- cumstances, is it at all strange that I should call things visible that are invisible, and things invisible that are visible, judge ye. I have now to inform you that a remarkable and total eclipse of the Sun will happen June 16th, 1806, in lat. 41. 56. N, long. 72. 50. W of Greenwich, the particulars of which you may timely see in my Almanack for 1806.
" ANDREW BEERS."
That Mr. Beers did commit matrimony the second time is proven by the following announcement copied from the same paper of the date of November 14th, 1804: " MARRIED-In this town, by the Rev. Mr. Ward, ANDREW BEERS, Esq., of New Stamford (N. Y.), to Mrs. ELIZABETH BENEDICT, of Danbury." Mr. Beers was fond of relating the following anecdote as happen- ing to himself : In going over the Fishkill Mountains one day he was caught in a violent thunder storm, and met a Dutchman in the same predicament. Hans scrutinized him as they passed each other, and soon turned about and asked if his name was
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