History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 123

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532

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himself. I suppose, of all the clergymen whose names belong to the carly history of New England, Pierpont was the most lofty and pure in his aspirations, and of the most spiritual temper, with none of the sternness of Davenport, without the despondency of Wareham, and free from the impetuous moods that proved such thorns in the pillow of Hooker. His words, like the live coals from the altar in the hand of the angel, " touched and purified the lips" of those who listened to his teachings. His moral nature was so softly dif- fused over his church and people that they appeared to lose themselves in the absorbing element, as dark forms seem sometimes in pleasant summer days to dissolve in an atmosphere of liquid light. This James Pierpont was one of the founders of Yale College, and died in 1714. His daughter Sarah was the wife of the noted divine, Jonathan Edwards .*

One of the children of Rev. James Pierpont, D.D., was named James, who was a minister also. He was a native of Connecticut, married, and had several children, one of whom was James Pierpont, who was born in New Haven, Conn., and early in life settled in Litchfield (now Morris), Conn. He was engaged for a number of years in the manufacture of woolen goods, but later in life was farmer. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Collins, granddaughter of Rev. Timothy Collins, of Litchfield, Conn., by whom lie had the following children, viz. : Sherman, John, Elizabeth, Sarah, Abby, and James M., all of whom were born in Morris, Conn. His second wife was the widow of Rev. Mr. Crossman, of Salisbury, Conn., by whom he had one son, Leonard.

Mr. Pierpont was a member of the Congregational Church of Morris (known then as South Farms). He died in 1840, aged seventy-nine years.

Sherman Pierpont, eldest son of James Pierpont, was born in Litchfield (now Morris), June 27, 1783, married Sidney Humiston, daughter of Jesse Humis- ton, of Plymouth, Conn., Dec. 1, 1807. They had two children, viz., Minerva (who married Sherman P. Woodward, a farmer; she died in 1837, leaving two daughters) and George, born May 21, 1819.

Mr. Pierpont was a farmer during the earlier part of his life, but later he was engaged in the manufac- ture of screws at Unionville, in Hartford Co., Conn. He was an enterprising business man, of cheerful disposition, and a man universally respected. In politics he was a Whig. He was lost on Lake Erie, May 7, 1836, while on a voyage from Put-in-Bay to Sandusky City, Ohio. His wife died May 18, 1841. George Pierpont was reared on the farm till he was fourteen years of age. He received a common-school and academic education at Farmington, Conn. At eighteen years of age he commenced to work for Dan Catlin, of Litchfield, as a clerk in a dry-goods store, where he remained two years, when he came to Plym- outh, Conn., and entered the store as clerk of Stephen

Mitchel, and remained one year. On the 20th of April, 1840, he married Caroline E. Beach, daughter of Isaac C. Beach, of Plymouth, and began farming in Plymouth (now Thomaston), and continued two years, when he removed to South Farms (now Mor- ris), and was engaged in the mercantile business in company with William L. Smedley, under the firm- name of Smedley & Pierpont. After one year he went to Northfield, and engaged in the same business with Samuel A. Merwin, where he remained two years, when he settled at Plainville, Hartford Co., Conn., and was a book-keeper in the employ of H. M. Weleli & Co., merchants and lumber-dealers, where he remained two years. Thence he went to Forest- ville, Conn., where he continued to reside, and was then engaged as a merchant till 1861, when he re- moved to Watertown, Conn., and was engaged as a farmer. In 1865 he settled in Plymouth, Conn., where he has continued to reside.

In politics he is a staunch Republican, and as such has held various offices of trust and honor. In 1861 he was appointed United States assistant assessor, and continued to hold that position for eleven years, or until the office was abolished. In 1857 he was a member of the State Legislature from Bristol, Conn. Since his settlement in Plymouth he has been select- man, magistrate a number of years, judge of pro- bate several years, town clerk several years. He was elected by the Legislature county commissioner in 1877, and re-elected in 1880. His wife died Jan. 18, 1874, and he married for his second wife Nellie T. Hazen, widow of Howard N. Hazen, and daughter of J. Sherman Titus, of Washington, Conn., Jan. 19, 1875. By this union two children were born, George Sherman and Flora (deceased).

Mrs. Pierpont is a member of the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Pierpont is an attendant.

LYMAN D. BALDWIN.

Lyman D. Baldwin is of English origin. His an- cestors settled in New England at a very early day, and farming was their chief occupation for many gen- erations.

The great-grandfather of Lyman D. Baldwin was named Ebenezer Baldwin, who came from old Milford and settled in the town of Plymouth, Conn. He was a farmer by occupation. He had a family of children, of whom Thaddeus Baldwin was one, who was born in Plymouth and married Thankful Alcock, and had the following children, viz. : Polly, Thankful, Hannah, Thaddeus, Lydia, Lyman, David, and Nicy, who died at twenty-one, and all the remainder of this large family lived to be old people. Thaddeus Baldwin, Sr., was a farmer. He died far advanced in life, and his wife lived to be ninety years of age. Lyman Bald- win was born near where his son, Lyman D., now re- sides. He married Polly Alling, of Terryville, Conn., and had four children, viz .: Hiram, Mary P., Lyman

* Extract from Hollister's History of Connecticut.

Le. D. Baldwin

- -

Aaron P Himm

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PLYMOUTH.

D., and Hannah, all of whom were born on the old homestead, now in the possession of Lyman D. Mr. Baldwin was a farmer by occupation, and a dealer in lumber, which he manufactured. In politics he was a Whig, and held some minor town offices. He was a captain of State militia, and was known as Capt. Baldwin. He received a severe injury, which, after lingering seven months, caused his death, March 6, 1859. His wife died Aug. 29, 1860.

Lyman D. Baldwin, second son of Lyman and Polly · Baldwin, was born on the old Baldwin homestead, on the 19th of January, 1825. He was reared on the farm, receiving such advantages for an education as the district schools of his day afforded. At nineteen he commenced teaching school winters, which he followed for seventeen years, in which he was very successful. He is a farmer by occupation, and in connection he owns and runs a grist- and saw-mill. He has been " acting school-visitor" of Plymouth for eleven years, and a member of the school board for twenty years. In politics he is a staunch Republican. He has been assessor five years, and member of the State Legislature during the years 1871-77 and 1879, serving on the committees of constitutional amend- ments, temperance, and education. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman D. Baldwin are worthy members of the Con- gregational Church at Plymouth, of which he is at the present time a deacon. He is liberal towards the church, and charitable to the poor.

On the 14th of May, 1854, he married Emily, daughter of Erastus Fenn, of Plymouth. She was born April 14, 1825, in Plymouth. Their children were as follows, viz. : an infant son; Edward F., born Dec. 16, 1859, died May 20, 1864; Minnie E., born Dec. 24, 1864, and died Dec. 6, 1875.

WILLIAM B. FENN.

William B. Fenn, third son of Aaron and Sabra Fenn, was born where he now resides, one and a quarter miles north of Plymouth, Litchfield Co., Conn., July 11, 1813. His grandfather, Aaron Fenn, Sr., settled near by the same place, and had a large family of children, viz .: Aaron, Lyman, Erastus, David, JJeremiah, Sarah, and Polly, all of whom were born here ; all married and had children except Polly. Aaron Fenn, Sr., was a successful farmer for those days. He died at an advanced age ; his wife survived him many years.

Aaron, Jr., eldest son of Aaron, Sr., was born in 1774, and died in the fall of 1818. He married Sabra Fenn, and had six children, viz. : Isaac, Burr, Rosetta (Mrs. Joseph S. Peck, of Burlington), Nancy R. (Mrs. William L. Gaylord), William Bennet, and Abijah, all of whom were born in the house where William B. now resides. Of this large family all grew to maturity, married, and all except Burr have children.

Aaron Fenn, Jr., was a farmer by occupation. He was a Federalist, and held some minor town oflices.

He taught school .many years, and was successful. Mr. and Mrs. Fenn were members of the Congrega- tional Church at Plymouth. Mrs. Fenn died July, 1867, aged eighty-eight years.

William Bennet Fenn remained at home on the farm till he was sixteen years of age, attending the district school. At sixteen years of age he commenced working for Seth Thomas, Sr., in the ornamental de- partment of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, which he continued to follow, in connection with farming, until 1863, since which time he has confined his time to agriculture. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which is in a good state of cultivation. He has been quite largely engaged in dealing in fat cattle for home market. In politics he is a Democrat, though formerly he was a Republican. He has held several town offices to the general satisfaction of his constituents. He was married to Mary, daughter of A. Y. Culver, of Burlington, Conn., June 8, 1864. She was born Nov. 28, 1839, in Burlington, Conn. They have two daughters, viz. : Rosa Bella and Mary Eloise.

AARON PECK FENN.

Aaron Peck Fenn, eldest son of Jeremiah Fenn and Polly, only daughter of Hezekiah Peck, of Wood- bridge, Conn., was born in the town of Plymouth, Conn., Jan. 29, 1822. His paternal ancestor was Benjamin Fenn, an Englishman, who came to Amer- ica and settled, with the New Haven Company, in New Haven in 1637. His maternal ancestor was Henry Peck, who settled at New Haven with Gover- nor Eaton and his company in 1637. The grand- father of Aaron P. Fenn was Aaron Fenn, who was born in Milford, Conn , Dec. 1, 1746, and settled in Plymouth (then called Northbury) in 1767, about one and a quarter miles north of Plymouth Hill. The country was then an unbroken wilderness, -not a sign of any improvement near his log cabin. The wife of Aaron Fenn was Mary Bradley, of Woodbridge. Their children were as follows: Lyman, Sally, Aaron, Erastus, Polly, David, and Jeremiah, all of whom were farmers, every one of the sons receiving a farm from his father. Jeremiah Fenn married Polly Peck, and reared three sons, who grew to manhood, viz. : Aaron P., Stephen, and Horace.

Stephen was born Oct. 6, 1824, graduated at Yale College in 1849, studied theology at New Haven and Andover. He was pastor of a Congregational Church at Torringford three years, of the Congregational Church at Cornwall nine years, and of the Congrega- tional Church in Wntertown four years. He died in South Windham, Conn., in 1875.

Horace was born on the old homestead in Plymouth, Aug. 3, 1833. He has been town treasurer of Plym- outh for the last twenty consecutive years, and post- master for nineteen years. In politics a Republican.

Aaron P. Fenn was born and has always lived within a few feet of the place where his honored

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

grandfather settled in 1767. He was educated in the public schools, and taught school several years. He has been a member of the board of education for the last twenty-five years, and for ten years aeting school-visitor. He has been the leader of the choir of the Congregational Church of Plymouth for the last thirty years, and has taught singing-school in most of the adjoining towns. In polities a Republi- can, he has been first selectman of Plymouth for eight years, and assessor eleven years. In 1868 he was elected by the Republicans to the State Legisla- ture. In 1880 he was appointed census enumerator. On the 5th of October, 1864, he married Florence, youngest daughter of Alva Wooding, of Bristol, Conn. Their children are Clara, Kate, Aaron W., and Flor- ence J.

OLIVER SMITH.

Oliver Smith, son of Theophilus M. and Salome Smith, was born in Milford, Conn., Sept. 15, 1800, and settled in Plymouth with his parents in the spring of 1808. His father was a native of Milford, Conn., and was a shoemaker and farmer by occupation. He was twice married. By his first marriage lie had two children,-Nathaniel and Abigail,-and by his second marriage seven children,-Miles, Theophilus, Oliver, Samuel B., Edwin, Thaddeus, and Salome, who mar- ried Chauncey Jerome, a celebrated clock-maker of Plymouth. Mr. Smith settled in Plymouth in 1808, where he continued to reside till his death, Sept. 10, 1849. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a captain of State militia for many years. His wife died Dec. 3, 1849. Oliver Smith was reared on the farm, which honorable business has been his chief occupation. He has been engaged somewhat as a tanner, and worked for a while at joinering. He lias been successful at whatever he has undertaken, and is esteemed by his neighbors as an upright, honorable man. He married Harriet, eldest daughter of Allen Bunnel, of Plymouth, Oct. 16, 1822. She was born Jan. 31, 1801. Her father was a son of Titus Bunnel, who settled in Plymouth, Conn., in an early day, and was a farmer. Allen Bunnel married Clarissa Alvord, and had five children, of whom Mrs. Smith is the eldest.

Mr. Smith had the following children, viz. : Lyman, born Feb. 5, 1824, and died in California Aug. 10, 1862; Edwin, who died young; Candace, born June 14, 1830 (married Bryon Tuttle, an enterprising business man of Plymouth, Conn., and has two children, viz. : Hattie A. and William B.); James E., born March 11, 1833 (married Angeline Wadsworth, of Hartford, Conn., and had three children, viz. : Fannie W., Ed- ward L., and James E.). James E., Sr., died Sept. 24, 1872.

Mr. Smith is a staunch Republican in politics. He has held various town offices, such as selectman twelve years and magistrate several years, to the general sat- isfaction of his constituents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith

have been members of the Congregational Church for more than sixty years. They have been married more than fifty-eight years, yet they are hale and hearty, and do their own work. As a citizen, hus- band, and father, Mr. Smith is one of the best in old Plymouth, Conn.

CHAPTER LI.

ROXBURY.

Organization-Topographical-The Indians-The First Exploration- The First Settlements-Initial Events-The War of the Revolution- Ethan Allen-Col. Seth Warner-Capt. Remember Baker-War of 1812-The Schools-Prominent Citizena-Physicians, etc .- Ecclesiaa- tical History-Congregational Church-Episcopal Church-Tha Bap- tist Church-The Methodist Church-Civil and Military-Organization of Town-List of Representatives from 1797 to 1881-Organization of Probata District-List of Judges-Military Record.

THIS town lies in the southern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Wash- ington, on the east by Woodbury, on the south by New Haven County, and on the west by the towns of Bridgewater and New Milford. Its surface is hilly, and the soil is fertile. It is watered by the Shepaug River, which flows southerly through the western part.

A little more than two centuries ago its territory had been unexplored by white men. Along these hills and through these valleys roamed, in all their native freedom, the red men of the forest, possessors of the soil by rights primordial. The unbroken forest had not as yet resounded with the strokes of the woodman's axe, nor the reverberating echo responded to a lisp of the white man's dialect. Nature, rude and uncultivated, supplied the daily wants of her sav- age children, and the necessity for physical exertion in order to obtain the necessaries of life was with them almost totally unknown. Of this wild race, which has now passed away, we know but little. They have left us no sculptured monuments inscribed with their deeds of valor, no written records which will enable us to remove the veil which conceals the past. Tra- dition informs us that from the top of Pulpit Rock, on the east side of the river, and a little northerly from the railroad station in this place, prominent chiefs were wont to harangue their dusky followers with rude eloquence, and stimulate them to deeds of bravery. The name of the beautiful river Shepaug, and the occasional finding of a stone axe or arrow- head, are all that now remain to remind the dwellers of to-day of the existence of a race rude and bar- barous, yet possessing many ennobling traits of char- acter.

THE FIRST EXPLORATION.

The first exploration of this region of which we have any account was early in the spring of 1673, when a party of fifteen persons, under the guidance of Capt. John Minor (a surveyor and interpreter of the Indian language), started from Stratford on a tour

Oliver Ihnich

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ROXBURY.

of exploration. They proceeded up the Pootatuck or Housatonic River as far as the mouth of the Shepaug, thence up the Shepaug to a point near Mine Hill, and proceeding eastwardly across the country, they encamped for the first night upon Good Hill. Capt. John Minor, the leader of the expedition, was a man every way calculated to take charge of that little band of pioneers who were seeking for homes in the then wild region of Northwestern Connecticut. Educated as a missionary to the Indians, he was thoroughly versed in the dialects of the different clans iuhabiting these valleys, and his services to the early settlers were invaluable. From the top of Good Hill he offered up that memorable prayer that his posterity through all coming time might be a God-fearing and God-serving people, and invoked the blessing of heaven on all their undertakings. Capt. Minor and his party afterwards settled at Pomperaug, now Wood- bury.

THIE FIRST SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in this section was made about the year 1713, by a man by the name of Hurlbut. He located on the spot a few rods north of the resi- dence of the late Treat Davidson, and a little south- easterly from the house once occupied by Peace Minor, where they built a small fort for security against the Indians. This section was called " the Upper Farms." At about the same time a family of Hurds erected a house or fort on Good Hill, eastwardly from the pres- ent residence of Mr. John Minor. These forts were probably nothing more than log houses, surrounded by palisades, or logs set thickly in a vertical position, and, being thus protected from Indian invasion, they afforded security at night. About the year 1715, Lieut. Henry Castle settled a little southerly from where the school-house in the Warner's Mills District is now situated. This location was called "the Lower Farms." Each of these settlements provided itself with a cemetery, which accounts for the location of so many places of burial within the town limits. Dr. Ebenezer Warner, the progenitor of five generations of physicians, and the grandfather of Col. Seth War- ner, removed here from the Pomeraug settlement, and commenced the practice of medicine. Soon after a number of Castle families settled upon what was called " the lower road."

THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

The American Revolution may justly be considered as one of the most thrilling and interesting of any of the events in our history. On the 3d of September, 1774, the people of this vicinity were alarmed by the report that British ships-of-war were cannonading Boston. The people flew to arms, and many joined in the march towards the supposed scene of conflict. Counter intelligence was received on the way, and the troops returned peaceably to their homes. The honor of the first conquest made by the united colo- nies during the war of the Revolution belongs chiefly

to Roxbury. This was the capture of Ticonderoga, May 10, 1775, one of the most brilliant exploits of the war. Sixteen men were collected in Connecticut, who were joined by forty or fifty volunteers from Massachusetts. At Bennington, Vt., this force was augmented by nearly one hundred volunteers. Col. Ethan Allen, a native of Roxbury, was appointed commander of the expedition. Col. Seth Warner and Capt. Remember Baker, both natives of Roxbury, were appointed officers in the expedition. A part of this small force having been sent in another direction, Allen, with only eighty-three men, assaulted the fort, and captured the garrison without the loss of a man. Subsequently, Col. Seth Warner captured Crown Point, and in both these forts were found cannon and military stores, which were greatly wanted. One thousand men were afterwards sent from Connecticut to garrison these forts. The remark has often been made by aged men residing in this vicinity that, "three men, born in Roxbury, and within a stone's throw of the Shepaug River, contributed more than any others towards the achievement of our national independ- ence, because they struck at a time when 'hearts were faint,' and when their achievements tended to give the people courage to hope for the ultimate suc- cess of the colonial arms." These three men were the heroes of Ticonderoga. Roxbury was also repre- sented at Bunker Hill. In that memorable engage- ment, on the morning of June 17, 1775, was Philo Hodge, another citizen of Roxbury. He assisted in making up the scanty ammunition possessed by the Americans into the form of cartridges, and in the final charge of the British forces stood firm as a rock, elubbing them with his musket until Gen. Warren gave the signal for retreat.

Gen. Ethan Allen was born in Roxbury, Coun., Jan. 10, 1737-38. He married Mary Brownson, of Roxbury, June 23, 1762. He emigrated with the first settlers to Vermont, and was a prominent member of the social and political compacts into which the in- habitants formed themselves. The territory com- prising the present State of Vermont was comprised within the New Hampshire grants; it was also granted to the Duke of York. A controversy arose relative to the title which culminated in a valorous defense on the part of the early settlers, nearly all of whom favored the New Hampshire grants. Vermont is indebted to Roxbury for the spirited defense. . Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and Remember Baker were all prominent in resisting the encroachments of New York, the Governor of which first offered twenty pounds, and afterwards fifty pounds cach, for the arrest of these persons. Allen and the others offered a reward for the arrest of the officers of New York. He was bold and courageous, and even went so far as to go to Albany and take a bowlof punch in presence of his enemies on a bet. He drank the punch, and, giving n " Huzza for the Green Mountains !" departed unharmed. Ile was in many of the engagements of

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

the Revolution, and at one time a prisoner. IIe died at Burlington, Vt., Feb. 12, 1789. His epitaph is as follows :

"The corporeal part of Gen. ETHAN ALLEN rests beneath this stone. IIe died the 12th day of February, 1789, aged 50 years. His spirit tried the mercies of his God, in whom he believed and atrongly trusted."

Col. Seth Warner was the son of Dr. Benjamin Warner, and grandson of Dr. Ebenezer Warner, one of the first settlers of Roxbury. He was over six feet in height, and was courageous and command- ing. Engaged in the controversy with New York, he was fully prepared to engage in our Revolution- ary struggle. He was personally present in many of the engagements in the Northern colonies, and it has been reported that Gen. Washington relied espe- cially upon Allen and Warner, considering them as among the most active, daring, and trustworthy of his officers. Col. Warner died in Roxbury, Dec. 26, 1784. His place of residence at that time was in a small house situated on the west corner of the high- way leading northerly, near the present dwelling of Hon. H. B. Eastman. From this humble cottage his remains were carried by hand (as hearses were then unknown) to the place of burial. His funeral was attended on the 29th of December, when Rev. Mr. Canfield preached a sermon from 2 Samuel, i. 27: " How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished !" A detachment of military, consisting of thirty men, guarded his body after his decease until his burial. By a law of the colony at that time, the body of an individual could be attached after his de- cease and sold to satisfy his creditors. Col. Warner had expended all his estate in the war, and his family were destitute, hence the necessity of a guard to pro- tect his body after his decease is apparent. The mili- tary fired a volley over his grave and retired. Some years since a statement appeared in the papers to the effect that Gen. Washington visited Col. Warner's widow, and relieved her from pecuniary embarrass- ment. This has been doubted by some, but when we take into consideration the facts that Washington visited Woodbury more than once, that Col. Warner was his especial favorite, and that he left his family in straitened circumstances, have we not reason for believing that the "Father of his Country" actually visited and relieved the family ? The following in- scription was on the old tablet placed over the grave of Col. Warner :

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 123

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1532

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532