History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 139

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

USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > History of Litchfield county, Connecticut > Part 139

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Samnel S. Elliott was from Killingworth, and came to Sharon in 1780.

Deacon Jonathan Elmer was from Norwalk, and came to Sharon in 1746.

. Martin Elmer was a son of the preceding, and was a cooper by trade, and a Baptist by religions profession.

Col. Samuel Elmer was a son of Deacon J. Elmer, and was a brave officer in the Revolutionary war. He was appointed a major in Col. Hinman's regiment in 1775, and was engaged in active duty in the campaign of that year. The next year he was appointed a col- onel in the New York Line, and continued in command of a regiment while he remained in the army.

Ebenezer Everett was from Hebron in 1745, and settled where Adolphus Everett lived. He had three sons,-Isaiah, Ebe, and Eliphalet, the two latter of whom were Revolutionary soldiers. Eliphalet was for several years the steward of Gen. Washington's military family.

John Everett was a brother of Ebenezer Everett, and came to Sharon from Windham in 1757. He was a blacksmith by trade, and lived on the road which formerly led north from Joel Whitford's, now discon- tinned.

David Foster was from Lebanon in 1750. He was a leading man in the affairs of the town for many years. He was a member of the Assembly at the Oc- tober sessions in 1763 and 1764, and selectman eight years.

Elijah Foster was a son of the preceding, and was a highly respectable man. He entered the Continen- tal army as a lieutenant in the campaign of 1776, and was in active service till the close of the year.

Deacon Ebenezer Frisbie was from Branford, and was the first settler at the place ocenpied by the late Benjamin Bailey, on the Ellsworth turnpike. He came to Sharon with the first settlers, and, being a sur- veyor, he was much employed in laying out lands in the early location of the township. He was town clerk from December, 1743, to January, 17-16, and one of the deacons of the church nearly the whole of the time of his residence in the town.

Benjamin Fuller was from Colchester, and came with the first settlers. He was among the first who died in the town.

Dr. Samuel R. Gager was born at Norwich, May 23, 1763, and was an assistant surgeon in the navy in the Revolutionary war. Soon after the close of the war he visited England. He established himself in Sharon in the practice of surgery in 1788. He was long celebrated in his profession, and was much re- speeted as a citizen. He represented the town in the Assembly in the years 1821-22 and 1829. He was also for many years a justice of the peace. He died Aug. 4, 1835.

Joseph Gallow was from Hudson, N. Y., in 1785.

John Gay, Esq., was born in Dedham, Mass., and in early life settled in Litchfield, and was among the first white inhabitants of that town. In 1743 he came to Sharon, and purchased of Israel Holley the thirty- ninth home-lot, which was in the north part of the town. He had sons John, Ebenezer, Fisher, and Perez. John was the father of the late Capt. Daniel Gay. He died Jan. 1, 1776, at the age of forty-eight. Ebenezer was a merchant, and built the brick house lately owned by Reuben K. Hunt. He was a colonel in the militia, and frequently commanded detach- ments in the Revolutionary war. He was the father of the late Mr. David Gay.

Job Gibbs was from Wareham, Mass., and came to Sharon in 1747. His house was the one next sontli of the Governor's mansion. Mr. Gibbs was a mer- chant, and did a large business for those times. Ho had three sons-Sylvanus, Heman, and Job. Capt. Sylvanus Gibbs, the eldest, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and died on the 19th of June, 1834, at the age of eighty-one.

Jonathan Gillett was from Colchester in 1745 Hc

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

was representative to the Assembly at the May and October sessions in 1788, and a delegate to the con- vention called to ratify the Constitution of the United States.

Charles Gillett was a brother of the preceding, and came to Sharon from Colchester in 1755. He was a blacksmith by trade. He was town treasurer from 1760 to 1771. He enlisted into Capt. Downs' com- pany, and marched to the Northward in 1776. While the army lay at the "Cedars," in Canada, he was killed by a party of Indians lying in ambush, as he was riding out on business connected with his duty as commissary. He left several children, one of whom was the wife of the late Capt. Edmund Bennett.

Eleazar Gillson was from Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., and came to Sharon in 1784. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and settled a little north of Elijah Juckett's. He was one of the first emigrants to Ohio, and the first mail-carrier on the post-road between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Ile carried the whole mail in his pocket on foot. He died at the age of nearly ninety years.

William Goodrich was the ancestor of the Good- rich family, which has been quite numerous in the town. He was originally from Wethersfield, and first moved to Litchfield, where he remained ten years. He afterwards removed to Sheffield, Mass., and when the township of Sharon was sold he became the pur- chaser of two rights. He brought bis family to the town in the fall of 1738, and built a hut near the out- let of Mudge pond. Here he spent the winter, with no neighbors, except Indians, nearer than the Dutch settlements at Leedsville. He went to mill on foot during the winter, once to New Milford, and once to Red Hook, N. Y., on snow-shoes, and carried his wheat on his back. That he was a sincere Christian we may well believe from the introductory clause in his last will and testament, the first recorded on the probate records for the district of Litchfield. After speaking of the uncertainty of life as a reason for making his will, he says, " Wherefore, committing my body to the dust from whence it was taken, and my soul to the bosom of my dear Lord Jesus Christ, hoping and believing that he will raise me up with all his saints at the glorious morning of the resurrec- tion, I give, etc." Mr. Goodrich died on the 31st day of March, 1743, at the age of fifty-six. He had sons Samuel, Jared, William, Elnathan, David, Elisha, and Solomon, and their descendants have been very numerous.

John P. Goodwin was from Hartford, and came to Sharon in 1784. He was a corporal in the Continen- tal army, and was eight years in the service. His dis- charge, under the hand of Gen. Washington, spoke highly of his merits. He was a representative to the Assembly in May, 1818. He was killed at the raising of a small building belonging to Benjamin Hollister, Esq., on the 15th of May, 1833, and his untimely end was deeply lamented.

John Gould was an original proprietor from Hebron, and drew the thirty-fourth home-lot. He was grave- digger for many years.

Job Gould was from New Milford in 1763, and pur- cbased of Deacon Jackson the place on the mountain lately owned by his grandson, Major David Gould.

John Gray was from Scotland, and came to Sharon in 1743. He first settled in the valley, and his house stood on the bank, a little east of the valley store.

Joseph Gregory was from Norwalk in 1759. He was a merchant for many years.

Ephraim Griswold was an early settler. He had three sons,-Azariah, David, and Jabez. Azariah was a subaltern officer in the Revolutionary army.

Daniel Griswold, Esq., was from Norwich in 1756. He lived where Richard Smith, Esq., now lives. He was a physician, and pursued the practice of his pro- fession for many years. He was appointed a justice of the peace at an early day. On the death of Col. Williams, in 1774, he was appointed town clerk, which office he held till his death. He also succeeded the latter gentleman as deacon in the church.

Francis Griswold was a brother of the preceding, and came to Sharon in 1762. He was a tanner and currier.

Capt. Adonijah Griswold, another brother of Daniel Griswold, Esq., came to Sharon in 1762. He was a lieutenant in Capt. Downs' company in 1776.

David Hamilton was from Lebanon, and was the first settler on the place owned by Judge Sterling. He afterwards lived opposite Governor Smith's. He appears to have been the great land speculator of the day, his name appearing on the records as the grantor. or grantee in deeds more frequently than any other. He was also for a time deputy sheriff. He died in 1781, leaving sons Dudley, John, and Joseph. Joseph was a physician, and practiced medicine in the town for several years. Dudley formerly lived where Wil- liam Marsh now lives. Mr. Hamilton disposed of most of his real estate in town previous to his death. He was largely interested in land in Vermont, and in what was called the Susquehanna purchase.

Cornelius Hamlin was an early settler from Ware- ham, Mass.

Deacon Ebenezer Hamlin was also from Wareham. Deacon Benjamin Hamlin was son of Deacon Ele- azar Hamlin, of Fredericksburg, now Carmel, in Putnam Co., N. Y. He came to Sharon in 1780, and lived at different places in the northwest part of the town. He was elected deacon of the Congregational Church in 1793, and held the office till his death.

Sylvanus Hanchett was from Salisbury in 1769. He is celebrated as being the first person who formally invited the Methodist preachers into Sharon, in 1788. It was at his house that the first Methodist society was formed by Rev. Freeborn Garretson, and where public worship was celebrated for several years. He removed to the State of New York many years since, where he died.

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SHARON.

Joel Harvey was from New Milford in 1742, and settled in the valley. He bnilt a grist-mill, which stood more than sixty years. He also built the stone house in the valley in 1747. He was a large land- holder, and had a very numerous family.

Capt. Ebenezer Hatch was from Kent in 1768.

Bartholomew Heath was from Lebanon, and was among the first settlers.

David Hide was from Lebanon in 1748. He was appointed constable in 1750, and served in that capac- ity, and as collector, ten years. He was also a deputy sheriff for several years.

William Hide was from Lebanon in 1759.

Samuel Hitchcock was from Norwalk in 1752. It was at his house that the first Methodist sermon preached in the town was delivered.

Israel Holley was an early settler from Stamford.

Joseph Holley was from Stamford, and was the original owner of one-half of the thirty-sixth home- lot, the same on which the late George Bissell after- wards lived.

Josiah Hollister, from Glastonbury, was the com- mon ancestor of the Hollister family which resided in the south part of the town.

Samuel Hollister, from whom the family of that name in the southeast part of the town are descended, was from the parish of Kensington, in Farmington, now Berlin. In 1744 he purchased of Dr. George Holloway, of Cornwall, one hundred acres of land on the Ousatonic River, which had formerly been laid out by Joseph Skinner. There he settled and died.

Rev. Aaron Hunt, who for the last thirty years of his life was a citizen of Sharon, was a Methodist eler- gyman of high standing in that denomination of Christians, and whose reputation is eminent among the early lights of the church. He commeneed preaching in 1791, and for more than fifty years was an able, active, and efficient itinerant minister.

Daniel Hunt was from Lebanon at the earliest set- tlement of the town.

Phineas Hunt, a brother of the preceding, was from Lebanon in 1747.

Jonathan Ilunter was from Warcham, Mass., where he had been deacon of the church. He came to Sha- ron in 1747, and purchased of Benjamin Richmond the farm on which Benjamin Sears lived.

Ebenezer Hunter was from Norwich about the year 1760. Ifis son, Nathaniel Hunter, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

Capt. Samuel Hurlburt was from Lebanon in 1743.

Samuel Hutchinson, Esq., was one of the first set- tlers, and the second magistrate in the town. He was from Lebanon, and drew the tenth home-lot, the same on which the stone house owned by Anson Boland stood.

Deacon Ebenezer Jackson was from Norwalk, and settled on the forty-second home-lot, now owned by John Jackson, on the mountain. Ile was an early deacon of the church, and was a useful man.

Capt. Caleb Jewett was from Norwich, now Lisbon, in 1743. He was selectman of the town twelve years, and representative to the Assembly at eleven sessions. Joseph Jennings was from Fairfield in 1771.

Benjamin Johns was an early settler in the valley, and lived on the Burr place.

Evans Jones was the first settler upon the place owned by Deacon William M. Smith, which was the old parsonage of Parson Smith.

Elijah Juckett was originally from old Plymouth colony, Mass. He served faithfully and honorably through the Revolutionary war, and was a sergeant in the light infantry under Gen. Lafayette. He was in the severe conflict at Stony Point when that post was taken by Gen. Wayne, as well as in several other battles. He was a pensioner under the act of 1818. He died in 1839, at the age of seventy-eight.

Oliver Kellogg, Esq., was from Sheffield, Mass., and settled in Sharon in 1788. He was a clothier by trade, and lived at Hitchcock's Corner. He was a highly respectable and influential citizen, and was a representative to the Assembly at sixteen sessions. He was also for many years one of the magistrates of the town. He died Sept. 17, 1830, at the age of seventy.

Elihu Ketchum was the first settler on the Bates place, so called.

George King was from Windsor in 1784. He had previously been connected with the commissary de- partment of the army, and at the close of the war established himself as a merchant in company with Eli Mills.

Rev. Ebenezer Kniblee. Some account of this gen- tleman is given in a foregoing part of this werk. It may here be added that he had three sons,-William, Elijah, and John P.,-all of whom were cut off within a few weeks of each other by the epidemic which swept over the town in 1812.

Cornelius Knickerbacker was one of the early Dutch inhabitants of Salisbury, and lived at the Fur- nace village.

Joseph Lake was a soldier in the old French war and in the war of the Revolution. Ile came to Sha- ron from Stratford in 1772.

Joseph Landers was from Warcham, Mass., in 1748. Ile bought of Caleb Chappell the eighth home- lot.

Joseph Landers, Jr., was a son of the preceding, and lived with his father on the eighth home-lot. Ile was appointed a deacon of the church in 1781, in the place of Deacon Frisbie, resigned, which office he retained till his death. Ile was a representative to the Assembly at the May session in 1782.

Samuel Lewis was from Hebron in 1743. He was the first settler on the ninth let in the first hundred- acre division in Ellsworth. He continued in town about thirty years, and then removed to New Ashford, Mass. His son, Samuel Lewis, Jr., was a soldier in the early part of the Revolutionary war, and a history

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

of his captivity in England and his escape is given in the former part of this work.

David Lillie was from Windham in 1765.

Nathaniel Lockwood was from New. Canaan in 1784, and purchased the farm on the mountain known as the Lockwood place, near Mr. Jewett's.

Jonathan Lord was from Colchester, and was one of the first inhabitants of Ellsworth, where he settled in 1743.

Joseph Lord, Esq., was a son of the preceding, and came to the town with his father in 1743. He was for many years the only justice of the peace in Ells- worth. He was for several years a selectman, and member of the Assembly in October, 1777. He was the first person buried in the burying-yard now used in Ellsworth.

Baltus Lott. This individual appears to have been a squatter upon the public lands before the township was sold. He was probably a Dutchman, and had taken possession of a considerable tract of land in Connecticut and New York, and had erected a house and barrack, and made considerable clearings. His territory embraced what is now called the Burr farm. The proprietors made many efforts to remove him, but he resisted them all until March, 1742, when Joseph Skinner purchased his possessions for three hundred pounds, old tenor, and he went away. He afterwards lived in the north part of Amenia, N. Y.

John Lovell came to this part of the country from Rochester, Mass., in 1745.

Joseph Lovell was from Rochester, Mass.

Joseph Manrow was from Norwalk in 1744.

Noah Manrow was for more than forty years an in- habitant of Mudgetown. He came from Salisbury in 1751.

Amos Marchant, from Newtown, came to Sharon in 1773.

Capt. Ephraim Marriner was from Colchester in 1765. He was a member of the Assembly in May, 1787, and in May and October, 1788.

Pelatiah Marsh was from Lebanon in 1764.

Eliphalet Martin was from Windham in 1786.

John Marvin, Jr., was from Norwalk in 1748. He bought of Elihu Ketcham the farm called the Bates place, about one mile easterly from the mecting-house, and lived there. He was also a part owner in the iron-works at the month of Mudge pond. Mr. Mar- vin was a member of Assembly in May, 1756, and 1768.

Adonijah Maxam was from the old colony in 1748. The name in the early records is spelled Muxam, and is so pronounced by elderly people at the present day. Mr. Maxam settled where Orrin Abel lived, on the Ellsworth turnpike, where he died in 1760. He left four sons,-Samuel, Benjamin, Adonijah, and Jacob. The third son, Adonijah, after having gone through the active and perilous services of the Revolutionary war, died at the age of ninety-seven years. ,

Joshua Millard was from Cornwall in 1768.

Henry Miller was from Branford in 1750.

Deacon Gain Miller was born in Ireland in 1716.

Ebenezer Mudge was one of the original proprie- tors of the town, and was from Colchester. He drew the twenty-fifth home-lot, lying on both sides of Town Street.

Capt. Thomas North was from Wethersfield in 1743. He was one of the first proprietors of the iron-works in the Hollow. He lived on the twenty-sixth home-lot.

Calvin Noyes was from Lyme, and was a direct de- scendant of the Rev. Mr. Noyes, the first minister of that town. He came to Sharon in 1792, and pur- chased a large and valuable real estate in the neigh- borhood of Benedict's mill, where he resided. He was distinguished for his public spirit, and for his many acts of private charity. He lived a bachelor, and for the last few years of his life was entirely blind. By his last will he gave the greater part of his estate to the Congregational society in Sharon, the American Education Society, the Connecticut Mis- sionary Society, and the Connecticut Bible Society. Each of those societies has received nearly seventeen hundred dollars from his estate. He died at the resi- dence of his brother, Deacon Moses Noyes, in Poult- ney, Vt., Jan. 22, 1831, at the age of eighty.

Selden Noyes was a younger brother of the pre- ceding, and came with him from Lyme in 1792.

John Orton was from Litchfield in 1764.

Lieut. John Pardee, the patriarch of the numerous family of Pardee in Sharon, was from Norwalk, and was an original proprietor. He was a shoemaker and tanner by occupation, and settled near the stone bridge, north of the meeting-house. He was a lead- ing and prominent man in all the affairs of the town, and was a very large land-holder. He was one of the first representatives of the town in the Legislature, being elected such in October, 1755, when the town was first represented in that body ; and he was chosen to that office at six sessions. He died July 13, 1766, aged sixty-nine. He had six sons, who settled in the town, and whose descendants are very numerous.

Joseph Park was from Middletown, and was the first settler on the place owned by the heirs of the late Samuel Beecher.

Capt. Enoch Parsons was from Newtown in 1763. He was a carpenter by trade, and settled where his great-grandson, Frederick L. Parsons, now lives. Being a man of more than a common education for those days, he was appointed for many years to " line the psalm," agreeable to the ancient manner of singing in public worship. He served as selectman and constable for several years, and was member of the Assembly in October, 1795.

Abel Patchen was from Welton in 1783. He pur- chased of Zebulon Badcock the south half of the twenty-sixth home-lot, originally Deacon Skinner's, and kept a public-house during his life. He was a representative to the Assembly in October, 1798, and May, 1799.

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SHARON.

Dr. Abner Peck was a physician, and came to Sharon in 1751 from Salisbury. He purchased a place of Luke St. John, a little south of Joel L. Whitford's. He died of smallpox, Oct. 11, 1756, leaving a widow and two daughters.

John Pennoyer came from Stamford in 1742. He purchased a part of the twenty-second home-lot, originally owned by Samuel Calkin, being the place where the late Gen. Augustine Taylor lived.

Jonathan Petit was from Stamford, at the earliest settlement of the town. He owned the thirty-second home-lot, and he lived on the road, which is now dis- continued, leading north from Joel C. Whitford's. He was much employed in public affairs. He was constable nine years. He died in 1772, at an advanced age.

Samuel Petit was a son of John Petit, of Stamford, and a nephew of the preceding.

Joel Petit was a brother of the preceding, and was for many years an inhabitant of Sharon. He lived to a very advanced age. His son, Joel T. Petit, Esq., was a young gentleman of great promise, who was educated for the law, and settled in the town. After a short professional career he died of consumption, Sept. 13, 1807, aged thirty-two. 4

Jonathan Pratt was originally from the old Plym- outh colony, and came to Sharon in 1753. He first lived in the Hollow, near the outlet of Mudge pond, and was a partner in the iron-works.

Capt. Abraham Pratt was from Saybrook in 1783.

Abner Quitterfield is supposed to have come from Norwalk in 1752.

John Randall was from Wareham, Mass., in 1753. His wife, who was the daughter of John Bates, was the first female, and the second child, born in the town.

Daniel Raymond came from Woodbury in 1748.

Moses Reed was the first settler on the place lately owned by Capt. Abraham Pratt.

Arthur Rexford was from Wallingford in 1757.

Asa Rice was from Wallingford, now Meriden, in 1774.

Nathaniel Richards was from Norwich in 1744, and settled on the lot lately owned by Samuel Beecher.

Benjamin Richmond was one of the first proprie- tors and settlers, and came to Sharon in 1742.

Nathaniel Roberts was from Salisbury in 1759. He lived in Abel Street, a little north of Stephen Tiek- ner's. He died July 15, 1766, at the age of fifty-five. He left sons John, William, Lebbeus, and 'Amos.

Samnel Roberts, Esq., was from Windsor, and came to Sharon in 1784. He was at one time a magistrate of the town, and twice its representative in the Gell- eral Assembly.

Dr. Samuel Rockwell was born in East Windsor, Feb. 18, 1759. While he was young his father re- moved to Colebrook, and was one of the first settlers of that township. In 1776 he was in the army, for which he drew a pension after 1831. He entered

Yale College in 1779, but soon left that institution, and commenced the study of medicine under the celebrated Dr. Lemuel Hopkins. He settled in Sharon in 1784, and, except about five years, when he lived in Salisbury, remained here till his death, which oc- curred on the 24th of June, 1836, at the age of seventy- seven. He represented the town in the Legislature at the session in 1815.

Jonathan Rowlee was from East Haddam in 1741, and lived near Richard Woodward's.

Deacon Matthew St. John was from Norwalk in 1745. He bought of Samuel Comstock the thirty- second home-lot.

Timothy St. John came from Norwalk in 1756.

Daniel St. John was a brother to the preceding, and came to Sharon in 1761. He was a blacksmith by occupation.

Silas St. John was also a brother of Timothy and Daniel St. John. He lived in Ellsworth. He was the first deacon of the church in Ellsworth, and was for several years town treasurer. He died Sept. 21, 1805, at the age of sixty-four.

Amos Sanford was from Newton in 1768.

Capt. Stephen Scars was originally from Barnstable, Mass., and came to Sharon in 1760.

Dr. Asher Shepherd came from Hartford in 1772, and was a partner with Dr. Simeon Smith in the druggist business.

Benjamin Skiff was from the town of Chilmark, on the island of Martha's Vineyard, and came to Sharon in 1774. He lived in Ellsworth.

Samuel Skiff was a cousin of the preceding, and came from the same place.

Nathaniel Skinner, Esq., was from Colchester, and was one of the first and principal proprietors of the township. He drew the twenty-sixth home-lot, known as the Patchen place. He was the first magistrate, first town clerk, and first deacon of the church. He remained in town until 1760, when he removed to Salisbury, and was an owner of the mill now known as Benedict's mill.

James Smith was from Bolton, and was one of the original proprietors. He drew the eighteenth home- lot, which lay on both sides of the Town Street, and bounding south on the highway leading by Dwight St. John's. Mr. Smith was the first person ever chosen constable in the town, and was elected to that office for three successive years.

For sketch of Hon. John Cotton Smith, see Chapter II.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 139

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