History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 76

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 76

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No. 17. The house opposite Mr. Milbank's was built by Samuel Bradley, Jr., somewhere between 1750 and 1760. He was a merchant, or, as they expressed it in old colouial times, " kept store ;" he was also justice of the peace, and in consequence was called "'Squire." He had three sons : (1) Samuel (3d), who was a priva- teersman and died during the Revolution; (2) Zal- mon, who built the house known as the "Capt. Bald- win house," now owned by Mr. A. R. T. Nichols. Zalmon also was in the commercial business, and was engaged in the West India trade with Joseph Squire, of Fairfield, dealing largely in beef and pork ; (3) Walter is associated with house No. 14.

A man named Frazier broke into 'Squire Nichols' store, and was found guilty of theft, for which he

suffered the penalty of death, as he was hang on a gibbet erected on a knoll not far from the late Capt. Jolm Gould's. Crimes met with heavy penalties iu those days.

The store on this ground was in a greater danger from a member of the family, Samuel (3d), who went into the room where no fire was allowed at any time with a lighted candle in his hand and put it in a cask on the counter, which afterwards he found contained gunpowder. He went back and took out the candle in safety, showing he had courage.

The property descended to two sisters, Huldab and Lucy Bradley, and they willed it to Maj. William Bradley, who remodeled it in 1845. His three chil- dren being married, he and his wife are the sole occu- pants.

No. 18. The first minister of the gospel on Green- field Hill was the Rev. Jolin Goodsell, whose ashes repose in the Greenfield cemetery under the slab with this simple inscription :

" Here lies buried the body of the Rev. Mr John Goodsell, who departed this life December 26th, 1763, Aged 57 years."

The Rev. Jolin Goodsell's sou Lewis in 1772 built a house which was used as a tavern before and after the Revolutionary war. It has been a house of great resort, and became famous from its associations.

Mr. Alexander T. Nichols has kindly loaned for this work a legal abstract prepared by John H. Perry, a lawyer of note, containing the "transfers of property, whether by Deed, Will, Distribution, or by way of Mortgage, arranged for the most part in their chron- ological order." The historie parts are interlarded as they occurred.

(1) The premises in question were owned by Lewis Goodsell in fee simple, and unincumbered in 1772.

(2) Lewis Goodsell gave a warranty deed to Zal- mon Bradley, June 15, 1778, for the consideration of seventy pounds.

(3) Zalmon Bradley gave a warranty deed to Eunice Goodsell, wife of Lewis Goodsell, June 18, 1778; con- sideration, seventy pounds. Euuice Goodsell died some time between June 16, 1778, and Nov. 28, 1794, leaving heirs,-Peter Goodsell, Lewis Goodsell, Jr., Sarah Lyon, wife of Joseph Lyon, and probably two others, whose uames are difficult to be ascertained. There is no record of a will or of the granting of ad- ministration on her estate.

(4) Peter Goodsell quitclaimed his share to Lewis Goodsell, Jr., Nov. 28, 1794, for a consideration of four pounds and divers good causes, etc.

(5) Joseph Lyon, Sarah Lyon, and Lewis Goodsell quitelaimed their shares to Lewis Goodsell, Jr., April 23, 1796; consideration, ten pounds.

(6) Lewis Goodsell, Jr., gave a warranty deed to Joseph Bulkeley, Jr., April 23, 1796; consideration, fifteen pounds.

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304

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Joseph Bulkeley lived in this house sixteen years. According to the Bulkeley Genealogy, he lived to be over one hundred years. He was the son of Daniel and Hannah Hill Bulkeley. When he first moved into the house he probably rented it, as his son Uriah states he bought portions of the place as he could ob- tain them of the heirs. He said, " We all moved into the place Oct. 28, 1786, my mother riding on a bed in grandfather's cart, with my brother three weeks old, and all the furniture they had at the time. My father taught school for about two years in the district school-house, on the southeast corner of the green. His business-keeping tavern-was so good that in 1787 he raised up the front of the house, put windows up-stairs in front, made a double piazza, with stairs to the ball-room, plastered the chambers,-which had not been done before,-took down the chimney to the lower floor and rebuilt in a better manner, with free- stone hearths," etc.

In another place he says : " These houses [in Green- field] were all built on one plan, with back roofs de- scending to the height of the kitchen." The usual style was to have the well, with the old well-sweep, in front of the house, as was the hatchway-door. The roofs were, most of them, raised the same year except the old tavern.

In 1788, Joseph Bulkeley bought of his father-in- law, John Hubbell, the store which stood on the corner where Henry Goodsell now lives. He hired men and teams to draw it on to his premises. Mr. Uriah Bulkeley further states: "It was done with much difficulty, as the road at that time, and years after, was full of rocks. He at first left it the whole width on the green, west of the house, not connected, as there were some fruit-trees where it at last stood."

In 1791, Joseph Bulkeley went to New York and bought a small assortment of goods and began store- keeping. He succeeded pretty well, and next year went to New York and took with him his son Uriah, ten years old. He describes this trip seventy-seven years later, showing the only method of going to New York except by private conveyance at that time :

" We went to Mill River (now Southport) and to New York in a small sloop. Walter Perry, master, his brother David, hand, Job Perry (these were Peter Perry's sons), my father, myself, and one female, passengers. The sloop, only twenty tons, sails and vessel old, wind fresh at N. E. When we got to Norwalk Islands it shut in so thick with snow that we could hardly see the length of the vessel, a heavy rolling sea, and every sonl on board deadly sca-sick except the female. Could hardly find any one to steer, but we drifted along through the Sound to Hart Island, when it broke away, and went on to Riker's (then Hewlet's) Island, and anchored. Beat down next morning, went into Burling Slip to the head, and our bowsprit lay half-way across Pearl Street, then Queen Street, at the foot of John Street, on the corner of which was Rogers & Woolsey's hardware-store, with a large gilt padlock for a sign, which was my guide back to the sloop, as I lived on board.

" After about a week we started for home, wind S. E. In going through Hell-Gate, close-hauled on the wind. There was a large wood-sloop coming down before the wind with no one forward to look out. We hailed them, but could make no one hear until close on to us. She just grazed our side, and her bowsprit caught into the after-leach of our' mainsail and unshipped our boom, broke the gaff in three pieces, and took the whole sail off her bowsprit; took off our boat which was in tow.

" We made out, as the tide was with us, to get up, under our jib, against Riker's Island and anchored. The sloop anchored near where the old Hussar frigate was sunk. Our boat had drifted ashore ; they picked it up, and towed it back with the mainsail, and settled for the damages. Father and myself went ashore and slept. There was a tre- mendous gale that night.

"Next day was pleasant. Mended and bent our sail, and started for homc. Arrived at the dock at daylight next morning, walked home, and commenced at Dr. Dwight's Academy to learn

"' Arma virumque cano.'"

A smart boy for ten years ! The schools of to-day (1880) do no better in education than in 1792 unless Uriah Bulkeley was a grand exception as a pupil. Hc continues :

" The store and tavern, with its sign of a horse, which is no better than a caricature-did pretty good business that winter,-maybe pro- duced some jealousy among the old storekeepers, who perhaps felt as if the store was encroaching on their rights.

"Father next spring brought a large supply of goods, but within a few weeks after his return some one (or more) broke into the store and took about oue thousand dollars' worth of drygoods and fancy articles, and left the store bare and a considerable debt due in New York. To show the sympathy of the world, next day after the loss was known, as I was driving cows, a son of my father's friend met me and said, ' Well, your dad has lost his goods ! I guess you will have to come to 't now.'

"I remained at school and father paid his debts notwithstanding."

He further states :

" My father did not keep store in Greenfield after his loss, but moved the store back to connect with the house at the southwest corner of the bar-room, and moved the old bar from the northwest corner, where it remained till William Shaw moved it away. Father used it for a dining- room when he had much company."

Again he says (in 1869) :

" I am pleased to see the old home of my youthful days fitted up in sucht good style. The old tavern has had a great many customers of the noblest of the land and foreign countries. I recollect Talleyrand, and the Spanish minister plenipotentiary (Don Onis, or a similar name) dining there. The lawyers and judges of the court at Fairfield fre- quently came up and spent Sunday, among whom I recollect Judges Reeve, Edmunds, Chapman, Uriah Tracy, Gideon Granger, Ephraim Kirby, Bostwick Whittlesey, Thaddeus "Benedict, Pierpont Edwards, Bissel of Norwalk, Dagget, Nathan and Nathanicl Smith of New Haven, and nearly every judge and lawyer that attended the court, Rufus King, our minister to England, Joel Barlow, minister to France, Gen. Rufus Putnam, one of the first settlers in Ohio. I recollect him for his having holster and pistols aud a bearskin on his saddle. I think there have been more visitors in the old house of the best class than almost any other public-house in a country place, owing, probably, in part, to the great reputation of Dr. Dwight's academy and to the beautiful scenery on the hill, which cannot be surpassed for beauty, if it is in grandeur."

In connection with the hotel and Dr. Dwight's school he is quoted further :

"Those were lively times at Greenfield. The old house of ' entertain- ment' was full to overflowing. In the winter they would have a dance about once a month, having Moses Sturges to fiddle, wine and plum-cake. Dr. Dwight always came in, took a glass of wine and a piece of cake, told some pleasant story, and left within half an hour."

Joseph Bulkeley moved to Black Rock, and sold the tavern in 1810 or 1812. His son Uriah married Jane Sayre,* of Fairfield ; she died in 1831. He died at Dobb's Ferry, N. Y., July 23, 1874, aged ninety- two. Dr. Dunham relates he saw him a few months before he died, when he stated he "did not wish to live to be an old man." He has one son, William Henry Bulkeley, a bookseller in Louisville, Ky.,

* See note to Eliot's letter.

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FAIRFIELD.

where he resides. He has one daughter, the wife of Henry Gordon Harrison, the architect of Garden City.

It is related of Urialı Bulkelcy that when he was married everything was conducted in royal style, even the wood burnt in the fire-place was plancd, and, gossip now adds, " was gilded at both ends."

(7) Joseph Bulkeley, Jr., gave a warranty deed to Medad Bradley, March 23, 1812; consideration, six- teen hundred dollars.

(8) Medad Bradley mortgaged this property to Gershom Burr to secure the sixteen hundred dollars, March 23, 1812.

(9) Gershom Burr quitclaimed to Medad Bradley, April 3, 1817 ; consideration, sixteen hundred dollars.

(10) Medad Bradley mortgaged to Thomas Bartram to secure twelve hundred dollars, May 7, 1825.

(11) Thomas Bartram quitclaimed to Medad Brad- ley, March 10, 1826; consideration, one dollar.

(12) Medad Bradley gave a warranty deed Nov. 2, 1827, to Sturges Morehouse; consideration, eight hundred and fifty dollars.

(13) Sturges Morehouse mortgaged to Isaac Banks, Oct. 27, 1838, to secure twelve hundred and seventy- five dollars. Isaac Banks, the mortgagee, died about Jan. 1, 1841, leaving a will, in which William Nich- ols and Horace Banks were executors.

(14) William Nichols and Horaec Banks, executors on the estate of Isaac Banks, deccased, quitclaimed to Sturges Morehouse, March 12, 1841; consideration, one hundred dollars.

(15) Sturges Morchouse gave warranty deed to Hezekiah Phillips, March 12, 1841; consideration, five thousand dollars.

(16) Hez. Phillips gave warranty deed to D. Burr, March 17, 1845; consideration, fifteen hundred dollars.

The property is now definitely described as " con- taining three acres more or less," as all transfers do after this date on this estate.

(17) David Burr mortgaged to Nathan Bulkeley to secure three hundred dollars, April 17, 1845.

(18) Nathan Bulkeley quitclaimed to David Burr, Sept. 11, 1847 ; consideration, three hundred dollars.

(19) David Burr mortgaged to Samuel A. Nichols to secure six hundred dollars, Sept. 11, 1847.

(20) David Burr also mortgaged to P. T. Barnumi to secure one hundred and twenty-five dollars, April 21, 1849. The world knows the showman's history.

(21) David Burr gave a warranty deed, subject to mortgage, for six hundred dollars, Dec. 13, 1850, to Lewis Nichols; consideration, three hundred and fifty- two dollars.

(22) Lewis Nichols quitclaimed to Eleanor B. Burr, Dec. 13, 1850 ; consideration, three hundred and fifty- two dollars.

(23) David Burr and Eleanor B. Burr gave a war- ranty deed to Frederic S. Lyon, Nov. 5, 1851 ;* con- sideration, thirteen hundred dollars.

(24) Frederie S. Lyon gave warranty deed, subject to mortgage, for six hundred dollars, Nov. 1, 1852, to Rebecca A. Mclellan; consideration, fourteen hundred dollars.

(25) John G. D. Mclellan and Rebecca A. McLel- lan mortgaged to secure five hundred dollars, Nov. 1, 1852, to Samuel Betts.

(26) John G. D. and Rebecca MeLellan gave a warranty deed, subject to two mortgages, for six hundred dollars and five hundred dollars, to Henry B. Banks, May 1, 1854; consideration, twelve hundred and seventy-five dollars.

(27) Henry B. Banks dicd intestate soon after the above conveyance. Administration was granted ou liis estate, July 26, 1854, to his widow, Maria C. B. Banks.

(28) Maria C. B. Banks gave a bargain-and-sale deed, April 26, 1855, to Peter H. Shaw and Anna M. Shaw his wife ; consideration, one hundred dollars, and conveyed "the equity of redemption possessed by Henry B. Banks at the time of his decease."

(29) Maria C. B. Banks quitclaimed to Rev. Peter II. Shaw and Anna Maria Shaw, April 26, 1855; con- sideration, ten dollars. Anna Maria Shaw, wife of Peter H. Shaw, died Feb. 17, 1860, leaving two chil- dren,-William K. Shaw and Isabella O. Beard (wife of Ira Beard),-and probably intestate, no will or sct- tlement of hers appearing ou record.

(30) Peter H. Shaw quitclaimed to Wm. K. Shaw, April 14, 1860; consideration, one hundred dollars.

(31) Ira Beard and Isabella O. Beard qnitclaimed, Sept. 21, 1860, to Samuel Betts; consideration, one dollar.

(32) William K. Shaw quitelaimed, Marclı 5, 1861, to Samuel Betts; consideration, one dollar, and other values considered.

(33) Samuel A. Nichols, "Treasurer of thic Town Deposit Fund of the Town of Fairfield," quitclaimed, March 6, 1861, to Samuel Betts; consideration, six hundred dollars. (See "Biographical," Fairfield.)

(34) Samuel Betts gave a warranty deed, Aug. 5, 1861, to Rev. Samuel Nichols ; consideration, twelve hundred and fifty dollars.

The Rev. Samuel Nichols, D.D., died July 17, 1880, in his ninety-fourth year, at his residence on Green- field Hill. The degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Williams College. He was probably the oldest Episcopal clergyman in the United States, and was at his ordination the three hundred and eighty-seventli of that sect ordained in America. He was born Nov. 14, 1787. He graduated from Yale in 1811, and was not only the last survivor of his class, but, with one exception, the oldest living graduate of the college. He was the oldest living presbyter of the diocese to which he belonged (that of Bishop Potter), and was believed to be the oldest one of the Protestant Epis- copal Church in the United States.t

* Editor of Connecticut Republican, Norwalk.

t Evening Post, July, 1880.

in he

306

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

In his early days he was associated with the Rev. Virgil Barbour in charge of the school at Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., then under the special patronage of Trinity Church, of New York. Afterwards for twenty-two years he was rector of a St. Matthew's Church at Bedford, Westchester Co., N. Y. His was a blameless life, respected by all denominations, ever charitable to the poor, and universally beloved. He left a reputation which was a testimony of his Chris- tian character, his learning and fidelity, and his de- votion to his family and friends.

He married Susan N. Warner of New York, and they were blessed with several sons and daughters, of whom are the Rev. George Warner, Effingham H., a lawyer, William, and Alexander ; the latter is an ex- member of the Connecticut Legislature. These sons have amassed a goodly fortune, are men of talent and of trust, and have had a test of the confidence of men of means for many years which has never been abused. They are shrewd, excellent business-managers of great eapacity and foresight, and have a well-established office in New York City. Susan W. Nichols, a sister of the above, is a skillful artist and excels in oil- painting. They are all possessed with finc æesthetic tastes, and arc liberal patrons of works of eulture whether of literature or of art, to which their own pens and pencils contribute.

(35) Rev. Samuel Nichols quitclaimed, July 29, 1868, to Alexander R. T. Nichols; consideration, one dollar, and other divers good causes.

(36) Rev. Samuel Nichols quitclaimed to Susan W. Nichols, July 29, 1868; consideration, one dollar. (37) Susan W. Nichols quitclaimed to Susan N. Nichols, July 29, 1868; consideration, one dollar.

(38) Susan N. Nichols died March 22, 1872, leaving a husband, the Rev. Samuel Nichols, and several chil- dren living, and a will which is recorded in Kings County surrogate's office, in the State of New York.

(39) Phineas T. Barnum quitclaimed, Aug. 25, 1874, to Alexander R. T. Nichols and the devisces of Susan N. Nichols, being John J., Susan W., and Maria S. Nichols ; consideration, one dollar, which relcascd mortgage No. 20 above, the note secured thereby hav- ing long before been paid; so that the present owner, Alexander R. T. Nichols, at last has a clear title to a much entangled property. These transfers are given to show what changes property may pass through in one hundred years, also the variation of values on the same property.

This property is contiguous to that of the Rev. Samuel Nichols, D.D. Dr. Nichols' house was built for the Rev. Richard V. Dey, 1823-1828, who officiated during those years as pastor of Greenfield.

No. 19. The house occupied by Mr. Charles P. Bradley was built about the same time as the others in Greenfield. It was owned in 1786 by Mr. John Jennings, an old blind man, who was a blacksmith in his youth, afterwards by Josiali Jennings, who mar- ried - Heron, of Redding. William Bradley owned

it in 1823. From him it came to his son, Charles T. Bradley, the present owner. This house has been so remodeled by new sidings, verandas, etc., that it misleads the uninformed as to its antiquity.

No. 20. Deacon Joseph Bradley built this house. It descended to his son Joseph, who left three heirs on this place,-Burr, Grisel, and Polly. They being deceased, it was set off to find a, the only daughter, the wife of Lloyd N. Sherwood, who are the present owners and occupants.

As near as can be ascertained, this house was built in 1746, and was honored with a centennial party of some one hundred and thirty persons dressed in cos- tumes of 1776 carly in the Centennial ycar. Here is to be seen an old coat-of-arms of the Bradley family.

No. 21. The Hubbell home was built by Gershom Hubbell in It fell to liis son Moses, and then to the late Uriah Hubbell, and is now occupied by the widow and daughter. It seems that the first Hubbell in America was named Richard. He lived in New Haven, Conn., in 1647. Having been ad- mitted as a planter, in 1680 he settled in Fairfield, where lie died in 1692.

Dr. Dwight settled in Greenfield in 1783, and kept his academy at first in Gershom Hubbell's shop, where his grandson's widow now lives. Mr. Uriah Bulkcley relates, in his "Musings of Memory," that "Gershom Hubbell was a leather-brceches maker and dresser, and his daughter made the best gloves I ever wore." The academy building was built for Dr. Dwight in 1785 or 1786. "Joseph Bulkelcy, Jr., although a schoolmaster from his eighteenth year, went to Dr. Dwight's school after he was married, to study surveying and navigation. The doetor had the reputation deservedly of being a first-rate teacher, and scholars came from all parts of the world to his school. It is thought he had always an eye to the presidency of Yale College. He had a class which it was his ambition to teach superior to any graduate of Yale. Some of them were David Hill, Ezekiel Webb, Jonathan Pomeroy, Parson Bartlett, and Lemuel San- ford, from Redding; David Rogers, Abraham Daven- port, of Stamford. In the next class were two Henry Livingtons, from Poughkeepsie ; James Anaram, from Richmond ; Dubois, from France; Joel R. Poinsett, Minister to Mexico and Secretary of War; Dexter, from Newburyport; William Williams, from Nor- wich ; Charles Denison, of New Haven; John Ha- cock, from North Carolina ; Charles Hobby Pond, of Milford, afterwards Lieutenant-Governor of the State; Wilson, Richard, and Philo Hubbell, of Bridgeport ; two Capers, from South Carolina; Henry Baldwin, afterwards judge of the United States courts, also his brother Michacl; A. Tomlinson, who wore a suit of white broadcloth. Dr. Dwight had a elass of young ladies, said to be the most beautiful ever in a elass together,-two of Dr. Rogers' daughters; three Miss Burrs, from Fairfield; Miss Young, of Bridgeport; Sally Nichols, of Newtown; and others."

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FAIRFIELD.

One of the pupils never returned home, as this tombstone in Greenfield ground testifies.

"In Memory of William Jordan, a Native of No. Carolina, & Student at the Greenfield Academy, who died July 26th, 1794, Aged 15 years, 2 months & 11 days.

Sweet youth, alike to friends and strangers dear, On thy green turf I'll drop the tender tear; This last poor tribute let me daily pay, As here I ponder o'er the unconscious clay ; As here I feel thy distant brother's pain And see thy hapless weep in vain.

In vain thy soul was bright, thy bosom kind,- In vain the tears of those thou leav'st behind ; Cold is thy form and dark thy lone abode, Yet thou but tread'st the path thy Saviour trode, With him fond hope again behold thee rise From transient slumbers to superior skies."

The manuscript quoted from says: "Wednesday afternoons we spoke a short speech, and after ehoos- ing sides and spelling the winners had a quarter of an hour to play before the others were let out. Wed- nesday evening Dr. Dwight leetured on religion, and published them in four volumes of theology."

It is related of Dr. Dwight that oeeasionally he would ride to New Haven to preach. When he left Greenfield, the women were milking ; when he got to Fairfield, the women were milking; when he got to Newfield (now Bridgeport), the women were milking ; when he got to Stratford, the women were milking ; and in Milford, which is known as Sleepy Hollow. It conveyed to his mind the industry of these places, in which, in his estimation, Greenfield bore the palm.

For the benefit of the citizens of to-day a word eon- eerning Dr. Timothy Dwight may not be amiss. He was born in Northampton, Mass., May 14, 1752, and died in New Haven, Conn., Jan. 11, 1817. It is said his mother taught him the alphabet in one lesson, and he read the Bible when he was but four years of age. Latin he studied by himself at six, and was nearly ready for college at eight. He entered Yale at thir- teen, in 1765, and graduated in 1769, and for two years was a teacher in New Haven. He became a tutor in his eollege at nineteen. Dwight taught mathematies, rhetorie, and oratory in the eollege for six years. In 1777 he was lieensed to preaeh, and beeame a ehap- lain in the army, where he labored for the spiritual interest of the soldiers, and inereased their enthusiasm by sueh produetions as "Columbia." He was a mem- ber of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1781, and his popularity would have detained him in eivil life had he not deliberately preferred the ministry, the duties of which he aeeepted at Greenfield, Conn., in 1783, and discharged twelve years. As his salary was in- sufficient for his support, he established an academy, to which he devoted six hours of each day, and till sueh a building eould be ereeted he used the shop above mentioned. On the death of Dr. Stiles he was chosen his sueeessor as president of Yale, and was in- augurated in September, 1795, and held the office

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 76

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572