History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 85

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 85

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Moses the fifth, known as Judge Lyman, eldest son of Col. Lyman and Ruth Collins, was born in Goshen, Conn., April 16, 1768; married Elizabeth Buel, daughter of Ira and Prudence Buel, of Litchfield, Conn., Jan. 21, 1796. Judge Lyman had in a re- markable degree the characteristics of his father and ancestors,-a man of commanding influence and foremost standing in society, a thorough and success- ful business man, and a firm supporter of the gospel. He engaged extensively in commercial pursuits, and through a long course of years successively sustained most if not all the offices in the gift of the town; was representative many times in the General Assembly, and long acted as a civil magistrate. He was a man of superior mind, polished manners, and distinguished for politeness. He died May 22, 1844, aged seventy- seven years. To Judge Moses and Elizabeth (Buel) Lyman were born only two children,-Lucretia, the eldest, was born in Goshen, Feb. 13, 1801 ; married to Caleb Day, Esq., of Catskill, N. Y., Jan. 18, 1826; she died at the residence of her son, Edward Lyman Day, in Kent, Ohio, in the autumn of 1876. She was a noble and attractive woman, inheriting many of the characteristics of her excellent father.

Their son, Moses, the sixth of the name, was born in Goshen, Oct. 1, 1810. He partially fitted for col- lege with Rev. Timothy Cooley, in Granville, Mass., and in Goshen Academy, but student-life being neither congenial to taste nor conducive to health, he chose mercantile life, and at the age of sixteen years en- tered the store of Lyman & Porter, successors to M. & E. Lyman. From that time, to use his own words, he "took care of himself." Engaged in mercantile pursuits both in Goshen and West Cornwall; during

the early days of the Housatonic Railroad through that valley he did a large and prosperous business. About 1844, associated with Samuel S. Robbins, of Salisbury, Lee Canfield, and the Hunts, of Canaan, he was one of the founders of the Hunts-Lyman Iron Company, in Canaan. A few years later, relinquishing mercantile pursuits, he became interested in the manu- facture of charcoal pig-iron from the celebrated Salis- bury and Richmond (Mass.) ores, and continued this during all the after-years of his life. In 1867 he visited Florida, purchasing lands in Orange County, a portion of which he developed for fruit culture. His charming winter home, "Onoro," surrounded by lovely lakes and orange-groves now in full bearing, in the heart of a delightful and rapidly-developing country, proves that as a pioneer in that section he anticipated the future wisely and well. This was the pride and pet of his latter years. Here he spent half a score of delightful winters, and the impress of his character is still felt in that community. In 1872 be was one of the incorporators of the Wheel and Foun- dry Company of Waverly, N. Y., and continued its president until the sickness that prostrated him in 1877 removed him from connection with all active business and the entire outer world. In politics he has been a Republican since the organization of that party. He has been called repeatedly to positions of responsibility and of trust in his native town, but he had little taste for political life, and was haunted with no longing for office. His nature scorned the methods by which place and power are usually acquired, and he "would none of them." He possessed to a re- markable degree patriotism undefiled with the scum of politics. Mr. Lyman was a most dutiful son, an upright man and public-spirited citizen, combining integrity and manly virtue with great energy, prompt- ness, and generosity. In 1833 he united with the Congregational Church in Goshen, and has always been one of its most liberal supporters. Christianity has ever been his ruling principle. All that an affec- tionate, generous hushand and father could do to make home happy he has done, and his domestic life is a blessed memory. On the 6th of May, 1834, he mar- ried Mary Ann, daughter of John Milton and Sally Porter Holley, of Salisbury, Conn. (see history of John M. Holley), and to them have been born five children. Moses, the eldest, and seventh of the name, was born in Goshen, Aug. 20, 1836. He has been twice married, first to Ellen Augusta, daughter of Edwin A. and Har- riet Dexter Douglas, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., Dec. 31, 1863. Their children were Moses, the eldest, and eighth of the name, born July 17, 1865; Isabel Doug- las, born March 21, 1867 ; Harriet Dexter, born July 27, 1870 ; she died at her grandfather's in Florida, aged four years and six months. Mrs. Lyman died in Goshen, Aug. 17, 1871, aged thirty-two. It may truly be said of her

"None knew her but to love her, Few named her but to praise."

Priesters Lyman

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GOSHEN.

Mr. Lyman married for his second wife Sarah H., daughter of Philip S. and Lucy R. Beebe, of Litch- field, Conn. (see history of the Beebe family), on March 6, 1873, in Florida. Of their four children only one is living, Mary Alice, born July 8, 1877. Mr. Lyman is a graduate of Brown University, Provi- dence, R. I; served as first lieutenant in the Fifteenth Vermont Volunteers in 1862-63. For a few years he was engaged in the Inmber business, and is now man- ager of the Cayuta Wheel and Foundry Company, at Waverly, N. Y. Mary, born Aug. 15, 1839, in Goshen, Conn., married, June 15, 1865, to Philip Wells, of Brattleboro', Vt. He died in Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., Jan. 28, 1872. On the 15th of August, 1877, she was again married to Rev. Lyman Phelps, in Goshen, Conn. They spend the greater part of each year at Onoro, Florida, in charge of her father's in- terests there. Alice, born May 15, 1845, married to Hon. J. T. Sawyer, of Waverly, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1872. Their only child, Ellen, was born May 12, 1874. Richard, born in Goshen, June 27, 1848, died Dec. 24, 1851; Holley Porter, born in Goshen, Jan. 22, 1855, died December 5th of injuries received by falling from his horse.

ERASTUS LYMAN.

Erastus Lyman was a lincal descendant, in the sev- enth generation, from Richard Lyman, an Englishman, who left the parish of Ongar, county of Essex, Eng- land, and in the middle of August, 1631, embarked with his wife and children in the ship "Lion," and, on the 4th of November, 1631, landed in Boston. Richard Lyman's name is on the list of the original proprietors of Hartford in 1636. He died in 1640, leaving a family of children, one of whom was named John, who was born in High Ongar, England, Sep- tember, 1623; came to Boston with his father; mar- ried Dorcas, daughter of John Plumb, of Branford, Conn. In 1654 settled in Northampton, Mass., where he resided until his death, Ang. 20, 1690. He was in command of the Northampton soldiers in the famous Falls fight, above Deerfield, May 18, 1676. He had ten children, the fourth of whom was named Moses, born Feb. 20, 1662, or 1663, and died Feb. 25, 1701. He had eight children ; three only grew to maturity, one of whom was Moses, the second, born Feb. 27, 1689, married Mindwell Sheldon, Dec. 13, 1712, and died March 24, 1762, aged seventy-three years. Ilis wife died May 23, 1780, aged eighty-eight years. Moses, the only son who left issue, thus became the ancestor of a very numerous posterity. He was the great-grandson of Richard.

Moses Lyman the second had a family of ten children, the eldest of whom was Moses the third, born Oct. 2, 1713, and died Jan. 6, 1768. Hle married Sarah Hayden, or Heighton, of Windsor, Conn., March 24, 1742. She was born Sept. 17, 1716, and died in Goshen, Conn., Aug. 27, 1808, aged ninety-

two years. Mr. Lyman settled in Goshen in the autumn of 1739, being one of the earliest settlers there. He was the ancestor of a distinguished and noble lineage, an honor to the name and the whole Lyman family. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman were charac- terized as religions, exemplary, industrious, economi- cal, and liberal to the poor. He was remarkable fer his endeavors to make peace and reconcile difficulties. Of sennd judgment, and for many years a magistrate, he exercised a controlling influence in the town ; he was a representative fourteen times.

He had seven children, the eldest of whom was Moses the fourth, born March 20, 1743 ; married Ruth, daughter of William Collins, of Guilford, Conn. She died June 8, 1775, and he married for his second wife the widow of Jesse Judd, of Litchfield, danghter of Capt. Jonathan Buell, of Goshen. Mr. Lyman was a farmer, and occupied the homestead of his father through life. He died Sept. 29, 1839, aged eighty-seven years, and his wife died Oct. 7, 1835, aged seventy . three.

In the militia Mr. Lyman held in succession every grade of office from that of corporal to colonel, and was known as Col. Lyman. During the Revolution- ary war he was frequently in the army, sometimes by draft, sometimes as a volunteer on sudden alarms. Col. Lyman was commander of a body of troops sta- tioned, on the night of the 7th of October, 1777, to watch the movements of Gen. Burgoyne's army, and was the first to inform Gen. Gates, on the morning of the 8th, that they had deserted their camp. In con- sideration of his important services he was honored with the duty of conveying to Gen. Washington per- sonally the first intelligence of the battle of Sarntoga and the surrender of the British under Gen. Bur- goyne. He was also commander of the guard over the illustrious and gallant captive, Maj. Andre, at and previous to the time of his execution. In civil life Col. Lyman sustained many offices in the gift of his town. Ile was a man of strong mind and great energy and decision of character, and of the strictest integrity.

He had six children, the fourth and last of whom by his first marriage was named Erastus, born Nov. 1, 1773. Ile married Abigail, daughter of Ephraim Starr, of Goshen, Sept. 8, 1803. Both united with the church Jan. 1, 1832, and resided through life in Goshen.

Mr. Lyman, like others of the family, was a man of distinguished nbilities, energetic, methodical, and successful in business, eminently distinguished for his piety and benevolence, and his deep interest in the affairs of the church and town. In the course of his life he filled almost all the offices of the church, the society, and the town. Towards the close of his ac- tive life he remarked to a friend that he transacted more business for others than for himself. He was a friend of the friendless, the protector of the widow and the orphan, and the ready adviser of all who sought

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

his counsel. He died Dec. 20, 1854, aged eighty-one. His wife died Jan. 22, 1855, aged seventy-seven.

Their children were Horatio Nelson, born May 2, 1804; Lucy, born Dec. 19, 1805, married, May 16, 1831, Dr. De Forest, of Watertown, a graduate of Yale College, 1826. She was an exemplary Christian, and died in the faith, Aug. 3, 1855.

Jane M., born Feb. 7, 1808, united with the church Ang. 28, 1831, and married, Oct. 4th of the same year, Alexander H. Holley, of Salisbury, Conn. She died Sept. 18, 1832, in the peace and serenity of Christian faith and hope.

Rev. Ephraim, born June 3, 1810, died Oct. 29, 1880, at Minneapolis, Minn .; William, born Oct. 2, 1812; Abigail, born Sept. 4, 1814, died Sept. 21, 1879; Erastus, born Nov. 29, 1816, married Abigail Wade; Frederick, born Dec. 7, 1819, married, first, Julia, daughter of Samuel W. and Phebe Gold, second, Mary Talmadge; Samuel, born July 19, 1829, mar- ried Lydia Cunneer, Oct. 20, 1875.

Erastus Lyman was a man and a Christian of in- estimable value to the community. Self-made, or rather made by circumstances incident to a life of bold business adventure in all parts of this country, with more than an average amount of natural endowments, actuated under the pressure and the promptings of an indomitable purpose, he rose to prominence and an influence indicative of his character. In him, as a man, with remarkable physical energy were combined great mental activity and a strong moral sense. He became associated with the prominent men of this country and State in conducting and adjusting im- portant business matters, and enjoyed a high repu- tation abroad as a counselor and an executor in finan- cial affairs. We can point our young men to his regularity and punctnality at every place where duty called him; to his readiness for every good word and work ; to his promptness in saying or doing whatever he had to say or do; and to his ready and cheerful re- sponse to almost every call of charity, and say to them, " Go ye and do likewise."

THE WADDAM FAMILY IN ENGLAND.

Sir John Waddam, Knight, was one of the justices of the Common Pleas or the King's Bench in the county of Devonshire, and was a native of that county. He was born at Egge (now Edge),-"so called from that figure which the hill wherein it stands casteth itself, in the parish of Branscombe, lying on the sea- side in the southeastern part thereof." Both the house and parish were for a considerable time the possession and habitation of a family by the name of Branchescombe, which was of great fame, so much so that its antiquity runs so far back that it can hardly be traced to its origin, as asserted by an ancient author :*

"The parish of Branscombe was given to the church of Exeter by Thomas de Branchescombe before the Norman conquest (1056). Here lived Sir Richard Branscombe in the days of King Edward, son of Ed- ward, king of England, a person well read in the laws of his land, and much employed in the government of his country, as being high-sheriff thereof for several years, and also one of the knights of that shire in Parliament. These lands did Branscombe part with unto Waddam in the latter end of the reign of King Edward III." Lyson, in his "Magna Britannia,"t says in his article under the head of "Knowston," that the Manor of Waddam belonged at the time of the Doomsday survey to an old Saxon by the name of " Ulf," who held it in demise ever since the time of Edward the Confessor, A.D. 1042. It is possible that Ulf might have been the ancestor of Wadham, of whom this was the original residence. In a copy of the " family arıns" of Waddam the ancient name is Wadeham, and may have been given, as was the cus- tom in those times, as a designation of one of the family of Ulf. Before the end of the year of Edward III., A.D. 1327, it had passed to Sir John Waddam, whose seat and dwelling-place it was and also that of his son after him, Sir John Waddam, one of the jus- tices of the King's Bench. This estate at Egge, after the death of Nicholas Waddam, Esq., the founder of Waddam College, Oxford, passed to the heirs general of Waddam, and was a few years since the property of the Hon. Percy Wyndham. It is also saidt that this estate, after remaining in the Waddam family for eight generations, passed with two of the co- heiresses of Nicholas Waddam, founder, to the family of Strangways and Windham, and is now the joint- property of Earle Ilchester and of B. J. Stackey Bartlett, Esq. In the parish church are memorials of Joan, relict of John Waddam, A.D. 1581.

Prince, in his history entitled " Damonii Orientales Illustres, or Worthies of Devon," says, "This ancient and renowned family of Waddam had its original in the county of Devon, and derived its name from the place of its habitation, Waddam, in the parish of Knowston, near the corporate town of South Molton. William de Waddam was a freeholder of this land in the days of King Edward I., A.D. 1272, and both East and West Waddam descended in his name for three hundred and thirty-seven years unto Nicholas Waddam, who left them to his heirs general."

As to when this family came into possession of their noble and moated seat of Merryfield, in the parish of Ilminster in the county of Somers, but little has been ascertained ; but it must have been some time after they became possessed of the estate at Egge, for the family sustained the office of sheriff for the county of Devon near threescore years before they did that at Somers. We are told? that the manor, which had

* Pied. Surv. of Dev. in Branscombe MS.

t Leyson, vol. vi., Part II., p. 306, and vol. viii., pp. 62, 63, 305.

Į Prince's " Worthies," pub. 1701, p. 588.

¿ " Magna Britannia," vol. ii., Part II., p. 450.

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GOSHEN.

been a part of the ancient demesne of the crown, belonged at an early period to the Beauchamps of Hache, of whose heirs it was purchased by Sir John Waddam, one of the justices of the Common Pleas in the fourteenth century.

William Waddam was sheriff of the county of Devon in the twentieth year of Henry VI., A.D. 1441, and Nicholas Waddam was sheriff of Somerset- shire and Dorsetshire in the fourteenth year of Henry VII., A.D. 1499, showing that the office was held some time in the former before it was the latter shire.

In the introduction of Collin Simmons' "History of Somersetshire" the following knights and sheriffs of that county are named: Sir John Waddam, A.D. 1485, King Henry VII .; Sir Nicholas Waddam, A.D. 1499, King Henry VII. ; Sir Edward Waddam, A.D. 1503, King Henry VII .; Sir John Waddam, A.D. 1556, Queen Mary; Sir James Waddam, A.D. 1561, Queen Elizabeth.

It is certain that the chief seat of the Waddam family was removed from the county of Devon to the county of Somer, as early as 1499, but both estates were kept in the family, as may appear from their in- terinents in Branscombe church, whereof there is one example in the mother of Nicholas Waddam, the last of the name who lies buried there, a noble monument having been erected to her memory with this inserip- tion, which time hath rendered somewhat imperfect :

" ITere lieth Intomb'd the body of a virtuous and ancient geotlowoman, descended of the ancient Jonge of Plantagenets, sometime of Cornwall, namely Juan, one of the danghtors and helre unto Johu Tregarthio, Esq., in the county of Cornwall. She was first married unto John Helle- way, who hnd by her much jasue. After his death she was married to Joha Waddam, of Merryfield, in the county of Somerset, Esq., and by him had ... childroo. She lived a virtuous and godly life, and died In an honorable age, Sept. . . . In the year of Christ, 1581."

The early sepulchral monuments of this family - may be found, Ist, at or in the parish church of Branscombe, Devonshire ; 2d, in the parish church dedicated to Almighty God, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin, at Ilminster, a small town ten miles from Taunton, in the county of Somers. The ancient moated seat of Merryfield, which for many years was in the possession of the family, is in the parish of Ilton, and five miles from Ilminster to the north. There is St. Mary's church, which is one hundred and thirty feet long, built with nave, tower, and aisles, and was the family burial-place. Sir William's monument in St. Mary's is older than that of Sir Nicholas'. How long after the year 1610 this church remained the burial-place is not known, but portions of the family must have been buried there for at least one hundred and twelve years. The north nisle of St. Mary's (by which is meant the portion of the church under a roof, distinct from the nnve) is called the Wnddam's aisle, because it is occupied with monuments, mural and other kinds, erected to the deceased members of the family. Sir William Waddam was buried, ns was the custom in Catholic times, very near the altar. Sir William Pole, p. 11), British Museum.

Sir Nicholas' tomb is also there, and bears this in- scription :

"Pray for the Soul of Sir Nicholas Waddam, Sire of Sir Nicholas and Captain of the Isle of Wight, who departed out of this world on the 8th December, 1508; ou whom Jesus show mercy."

There also may be found the monuments of Nich- olas and Dorothy, his wife, co-founders of Waddam College, Oxford. Nicholas died about the year 1609. He was educated at Christ College, Oxford. Dorothy, his wife, died A.D. 1618.

This honorable family possessed this seat called Egge about eight generations in a direct line, five of which were knights, who matched with divers daugh- ters and heirs, and became allied to many great and noble houses, as will appear from the following pedi- gree :*

(1) Sir John Waddam, of Egge (now Edge), about 1380 had issue : (2) Sir John, who by Joan, daughter of Wrothesley, had issue : (3) William, who by Mar- garet, daughter and coheir of Chiselden, of Holcomb Rogers, had issue : (4) Sir John Waddam, also Wil- liam, and Elizabeth, the wife of Stawel, of Codlistor, and Mary, the wife of Gilbert Ford, of Bradley, and Anne, wife of William Montacule, of Henligle, near Crookham. Sir John Waddam,' by Elizabeth, daughter and one of the heirs of Sir Stephen Pop- ham, had issue : (5) Sir John, who by Elizabeth, daughter of Ilugh Stukely, had issue: (6) Sir Nicho- las, who by Joan, daughter of Robert Hill, of Hale- way, had issue, Lawrence, who died without issue. (7) Jolın, Giles, and Andrew, and Mary, wife of Sir Richard Chadleigh, and Elizabeth, wife of Richard Bampfield, of Poltimore. John Waddam, Esq.,' mar- ried Joan, the widow of John Keleway, of Colump- ton, daughter and coheir of Tregarthin, of Corn- wall, and had issue: (8) Nicholas and Joan, wife of Sir Giles Strangways, and Margaret, wife of Nicholas Martin, of Athelhampton, and Florence, wife of Sir John Windham.

Nicholas Wnddam, of Edge,t married Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Petre, Knight, principal seere- tary of state to Henry VIII .; but having no issue, the issue of his sisters beenme heirs to his inherited estates.

It may be further stated of the first Sir John Wad- dam, Knight, that he applied himself even from his younger years to the study of the laws of the land, and became very successful therein, so that his learn- ing and knowledge of this kind became his profession, which preferred him to great honor and reputation. Hle was called to the degree of sergennt, nud mado one of the king's sergeants at law the same year with William Hankford, his county man, and only three years after he was constituted judge, which latter

* W. Pole's Dissertation of Devon In Branscombe MIS.

t A manuscript life of Nicholas Waddamn, In the Wadham College library, Oxford). Also, " Collections lowards a description of Devon," by

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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

took place about the eleventh year of the reign of King Richard II., 1388 .*

" He had a large practice, and thereby made a great addition to his estate; among other things he joined unto it the rich manors of Merryfield and Silferton in this county, which yet continue in his heirs general, the How family of Windham, of Orchard Wind- hamn."

Sir Nicholas Waddam, of Edge and Merryfield, Esq., founder, had about three thousand pounds in- come per annum of hereditary estate, which, partly by his own and partly by his wife's thrift, came to be increased by the addition thereto of eight hundred pounds per annum in land and forty thousand pounds in money. He was born in the reign of Henry VIII., and married Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Petre, prime minister under Henry VIII., and he lived through the reigns of Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, and died during that of James I. As Nicholas and Dorothy could not hand their name down in a regular line, having no children, they determined to perpetu- ate it by other means.

Fuller says that "they had great length of extract, great breadth of estate, and great depth of liberality." Originally they intended to found a college at Venice for the benefit of the youth of England who might still desire to be educated in the Catholic faith, for both Nicholas and Dorothy were Catholics; but finally they consented to establish their college at Oxford, which they did. He made purchase of the ground for the site at an expense of six thousand pounds, " which having done, before he laid one Stone of the Foundation thereof he yielded to Fate, and left the care of that matter by Will unto Dorothy, his wife." Nor could he have left it in better hands, for soon after her husband's death she went on with the work, and, by great industry as well as charges, quickly brought it to a close, expending in the building twelve thou- sand pounds. Having raised this beautiful structure in the northeast part of the city, in a very beautiful place, adjoining the pleasant fields and meadows called New Parks, she settled upon the same a very fair endowment of eight or nine hundred pounds for the maintenance of one warden, fifteen fellows, as many scholars, two chaplains, two clerks, one manci- pee, two cooks, two butlers, and a porter, and having obtained the royal leave of King James I. about 1612, she sent a charter of incorporation for said warden, fellows, etc., together with a book of statutes for the better government of the house.

Sir Nicholas Waddam was educated at Christ Col- lege, Oxford, and died about the year 1609, aged seventy years, and his widow died in 1618.

THE FAMILY IN AMERICA.

In the ancient family arms the name was Wade- ham; in America on the early records it is written

Wodom, Wadoms, Wadams, Waddams, and Wad- doms.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 85

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