History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 119

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 119

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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

A Methodist Episcopal church was established in Old Saybrook in 1837, and the building was consecrated Sep- tember 21st. It is in the Ferry District, and has usually been supplied by the pastor of the Methodist church in Essex.

In 1853, another Methodist church was established, and a building erected on the west side of the street, nearly opposite the Congregational church. It was dedicated January 11th 1854, and a parsonage was built adjoining. Rev. F. Bottome, of New York, was tbe first pastor. He remained a year or two, and then Rev. Mr. Boole, of New York, was sent to the church by the Conference. There were, however, but few of that denomination near the center of the town-not enough to support a minister-and when Mr. Boole went away services were discontinued. The building was afterward

* Mr. McCall's centennial sermon.

+ During his ministry the chapel was built, costing about $3,000. It was opened for service July 9th 1875.

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OLD SAYBROOK-EDUCATION.

bought by Miss Susan Hotchkiss, daughter of the former pastor, and presented by her to the Congrega- tional society for a chapel. The steeple was taken down, and after a few years' service as a chapel, it was again sold to Mr. George A. Vogel, by whom it was used as a public hall, and lastly it was sold to William E. Clark, who fitted up the lower part for a grocery and the upper part for a hall, which is now used for town meet- ings and other gatherings. The parsonage is now the residence of G. F. Ward.

SCHOOLS.

The cause of education was early considered by the settlers of the town, as may be seen by votes recorded in the Town Acts."

" Mar. 19th 1673-74, allowed to Mr. Tilly thirty pounds a year, & a load of wood, & that every scollar shall bring, and that his pay shall be paid in these spe- cies (to wit)five pounds in beefe at prize currant, and the rest in corn, in severall Graine in equal proportion-and the aforesaid money to be gathered by collector and delivered to Mr. Tilly in consideration of his constant, thorough schooling of ye town male children, in reading, writing, and casting up of accounts."

The same year, voted to employ Mr. Bellamy, at £30. " Jan. 18th 1676 At a Town meeting it was voated that the school house shall be set up at the neck gate where about now it is." "At the same meeting Mr. Bellamy was chosen to keep school." " It is also voted the school house be removed to the corner of Widow Tousland's Lott in the Lane going to Mr. Bucking- ham's."

" Feb. 22 1676 Voted to employ Mr. Bellamy to teach school 6 mos. in winter, town scholars to bear half the expense."

" Dec. 3d 1678 At a Town Meeting it was agreed and voted, that the Schoolmaster's Salary should be Levied as followeth, viz: three pence a week for every schollar for the time they have gone, and the remainder to be levied upon the Town's Rate."

Mr. Edward Lorey, of Saybrook Point, in his will, dated June 17th 1689, gave to the town £300, to be ap- plied toward the support of schools. A part of this leg- acy was lost many years ago by the reception of bills of credit from those who had borrowed it. The remainder was divided in 1773 or 1774 to the several parishes in the town, according to their list.

Little or nothing is known in regard to the schools in Saybrook from 1700 to the Revolutionary war. In 1799, Mr. Bray kept a private school in a room in Capt. Timothy Pratt's house, now Mrs. Treadway's. The following from the journal of a girl of 16 who attended the school, will show what studies were taught, and the style of a young lady's journal of that day :

"Saturday Sept. 28th .- The ordinary duties of the Morning having been attended to, at 9 I walked to Capt. Pratts, where I met my School Mates, and School was soon after began with prayer by my Instructor. Our class was then called, and we read the 17th and 18th Chapters

of Genesis. After that, studied our spelling Lessons, and the Boys were catechised, Mr. Bray explaining the cate- chism. He then asked us to repeat the commandments. We then took our seats, and he informed us, that some one of us, he was assured had been guilty of ridiculing, and making Game of his school Prayers; which surprised me much, for I knew myself innocent and know not how any of my Class could be guilty. After which, he severely reproved us, talking long and well upon the matter, shew - ing the evil of such doings. School was then dismissed, App'd O. BRAY."

Reading, writing, spelling, and grammar seem to have been the only branches taught by Mr. Bray, except the customary catechism. The entry for "Lords Day," Sep- tember 29th, is as follows, showing how a young girl spent the Sabbath:

" I tarried at home this day and read, in the Repository, The piece called Daniel in the Den of Lions. I also read several pieces in a book by Mr. McEwen on the Types of the O. Testament, one was the History of Joshua, another the History of Samson, and other pieces in the same. Also read several Chapters in the Bible. I also assisted about common family affairs, and closed with the usual Services. In the evening was present at the Singing Meeting and stayed till half an Hour past 9 or more."

Miss Sarah Tully, commonly called " Miss Sally Tully,' was a teacher from youth to old age. In 1802, she taught in the First District, 16 weeks for $24, and H. Belden, 8 weeks for $37.40. Mr. Belden boarded with Mr. Hotch- kiss, and the School Society paid $12 for the 8 weeks board. The same year, Levi Collins taught 8 weeks for $33.37 7/2. He was charged by H. Pratt, the tavern keeper, for his board, firewood, and candles, for 8 weeks, $12.621/2. Miss Tully boarded with E. Clark 6 weeks, E. Shipman 6 weeks, and E. Tully 4 weeks, at $1 per week.

In 1803, William Smith taught in the First District 5 months for $80, and Miss Tully 4 months for $24. The money that was annually received from the State for schools, was brought from Hartford or Middletown, from 1803 to 1824, by Mr. Jeremiah Stocking, who drove a stage coach between Saybrook and Middletown. His charge for doing the business was 25 cents. In 1824, Daniel Havens drew it, for which he charged $1.00, and in 1838, Mr. Bidwell brought it at the old price. Mr. Bidwell drove the mail coach between Saybrook and Middletown for many years, and Mr. Skinner, who was one of the last, drove for a number of years. In 1840, Rev. Mr. Crane and Rev. Mr. Warland were paid $4.00 each for visiting schools. In 1856, there were 240 scholars in the society -59 in the Ist District, 53 in the 2d, 58 in the 3d, and 70 in the 4th. At a school meeting held in the First or Point District, October 27th 1818, of which Ezra Clark was moderator and Benjamin Dowd clerk, it was "voted to keep a five month school by a man and a woman, both schools to be under the direction of the man." Also " Voted that arithmetic shall not be taught in school."

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

The cutting of the wood was sold to the lowest bidder; the lowest bid being 50 cents per cord. Also "Voted that the members of the first District have liberty to use the House and wood two nights in each week for the pur- pose of ciphering." In 1824, the First District was di- vided, the Point and the land adjacent forming the First District, and the other part the Center District. The first school meeting in the Center District was held at the house of Dr. Carter, June Ist 1824, at which it was voted to build a school house 28 by 24 feet, with 10 foot posts. At the next meeting the committee reported that Capt. Elisha Hart would sell 16 square rods of ground for a site, next R. W. Hart's store for $50.00. The low- est bid for building the house was $440.00. The site, well, stove, fence, and painting, $120.00. Total, $561.00. October 13th 1824, " Voted that the rate of board be 23 cts. per day, and that the inhabitants have the liberty of boarding the teacher in proportion to the number of days they may send scholars to schools." April 15th 1825, "Voted, that Miss Mabel Bushnell be allowed the school house for the purpose of holding a school therein the ensuing summer." Previous to the division of the First District in 1824, the school house stood in the street in front of the mouth of the Neck Lane, or Maple avenue, as it is now called. The new district sold their interest in the school house to the Ist District for one dollar, and it was to be conveyed by deed. A site was bought of Mr. James Ingraham, near what is called the " Cochran corner," where the roads meet that intersect Saybrook Point, on the south side of the road, " say about 36 feet in front to contain about 9 or 10 rods of ground for the consideration of $3.50 per rod, the District to erect and maintain a good picket fence next his land." One stormy night in October 1854, the school house was set on fire and burned to the ground, and the school was kept the next winter and summer in the next house, known as the " Cottage." A new building was contracted for, the cost of which was not to exceed $1,050, and it was built during the summer of 1855. The lot on which the old school house stood was exchanged with Capt. George Dickinson for one- fourth of an acre on the " Middle Road " on the Point, in what was known as the Beman lot, and the new house was built there. Eight rods of the land in the rear of the lot were afterward exchanged for four rods on the east side so as to take in the ancient well that belonged to the Beman house. In April 1722, Robert Lay jr., of Say- brook, sold to Deacon Nathaniel Chapman, Mr. Stephen Whittelsey and Ensign Samuel Jones,

" Selectmen & Committee for ye School of ye Town afores'd " * * " in consideration of ye sum of five Pounds in Currant money of this Colony. (Being part of ye fifty pounds given By ye Honb'll ye Gen'll Assembly of this Colony for ye Vse & maintainance of a School in Say-Brook aforesaid) which I have In hand Received &c * * * *

* do Convey &c * *

* * unto y said Selectmen, Committee fors'd School, & and their successors forever. A Certain Tract or par- cell of Land Lying & Being in ye Township of Say-

Brook afores'd in Oyster River Quarter, at a Place Called & Known by ye name of Stonney Brook, Contain- ing ten Acres, Bounded South upon ye Country Road, West on ye Lands of Capt. Sam'll Chapman, North on s'd Lay's Lands, & East on the Heirs of Sam'll Stannard Dec'd *

* * for the use & Benefitt of s'd School forever."

This was probably for the establishment of one of the schools in what is now Westbrook, as Capt. Samuel Chapman was a prominent man in that society, and with his wife assisted in organizing the church there in 1726.

The Oyster River school house formerly stood on the west side of the road, and opposite the "Doane house," but it was removed to the present location, where it was burned about 1816, after which the present house was built. Deacon William R. Clarke, who was for many years a prominent citizen of the town, and died in 1879' aged 81, was a teacher in the public schools of the town for many years. He was also a surveyor and measurer of land, and was authority in town and ecclesiastical mat- ters among his fellow citizens. In the latter part of his life, he was largely employed by the Connecticut Valley Railroad in settling land damages, and similar matters. Miss Hannah Williams was a life long teacher, and a good one. Her portly form and heavy thimble are well remembered by many now living.

An academy was built in 1831 where the Episcopal church now stands, and most of the young men of Say- brook at that period obtained a large part of their edu- cation there. College students and others taught there during the winter months. It had two rooms, one above and one below, one of which was sometimes used for the younger, and the other for the older scholars. When only one room was used for a school, the other was used for lyceums, religious meetings, etc., and after the last division of the town, it was used for town meetings. After the land was sold to the Episcopal society, the building was sold to Mr. J. H. Tileston for a joiner shop, and moved to his house on the Oyster River road. The bell was given by Mr. James Ingraham, who lived nearly opposite, and the first use made of it was to toll for his death, the church bell being out of order. Among those who taught at the academy was a man named Hurd, from Clinton, Ely, from Lyme, Perry Haskell, James H. Pratt, Rev. Mr. Hobart, Willis S. Colton, and Henry C. Sanford.

A number of private schools have been kept within the last 40 years, which have been distinguished for their thoroughness and discipline. Misses Hetty B. and Nancy Wood kept a flourishing boarding and day school at their house, next the Congregational church, for many years, to which Rev. P. L. Shepard, formerly rector of Grace church succeeded. He removed it to his own house, changed it to a boarding school for boys, and gave it the name of Seabury Institute. Mrs. F. M. Manning has kept a boarding and day school for girls and young children, for several years past, which is doing a good work.

479

OLD SAYBROOK-INDUSTRIES.

EARLY MILLS.

The first grist mill stood on the brook near where Mr. James Chalker now lives, and Deacon Francis Bushnell, who died in 1681, erected it in 1662, for which the pro- prietors gave him a farm on condition that a mill should be kept there continually, and that the inhabitants should have equal privileges in regard to grinding. The pres- ent grist mill, known as the "Ira Bushnell Mill," is about a quarter of a mile from the site of that one, and on another branch of the same stream. In 1696, " the lands, housing, & grist mill that belonged to Sam'l Bush- nell dec'd," were in possession of the administrator- Lieut. Samuel Jones. A tide mill, which was in opera- tion some years, was afterward built at the ox pasture dam. Part of the house now owned and occupied by Richard J. Cadwell, which is near Oyster River bridge, was this tide mill.

Another tide mill was built at Oyster River bridge, probably soon after the war of 1812, by Judge William Lynde, and a small business in carding wool, as well as grinding corn was carried on, but after a few years it was sold to Capt. Daniel Kirtland, on Saybrook Point, where it was removed and converted into a store. It is now the store of Messrs. H. Potter & Son. After this mill was sold, Judge Lynde built, near his own house, a wind- mill, which was taken down between 1845 and 1850. A windmill was built near the "Neck Gate," where the palisades were placed, before the present century, but when is not known. It rotted and fell about the time of the last war with England. A fulling mill was built in the latter part of the last century, on the same stream on which the present grist mill stands, but a short dis- tance below. Portions of the old dam still remain. The business of fulling cloth was carried on for many years, on a small scale, by Mr. Ira Bushnell and his sons. Charles Bushnell, one of his sons, built the house where Charles King now lives, and for several years carried on a small manufacturing business there. He had two spinning jennies in his house, spun some yarn and wove some cloth, probably all by hand and foot power. Nearly the whole of that branch of the Bushnell family moved away and joined the Shakers.

WEST INDIA TRADE AND SHIPBUILDING.

Saybrook being a maratime port, did quite an exten- sive trading business with the West Indies, most of it, however, being done in small vessels. The records in regard to this trade are very meagrc, and little is known regarding it except by tradition. John Tully jr. had a store where the house of W. B. Tully now stands, and was concerned in the West India trade till his death in 1760, at the age of 26. He owned one-eighth of the sloop Polly as chartcred to Charles Clark, of Colchester, June 1759, for a voyage to the West Indies. Captain Charles Chadwick sailed the sloop Molly in 1755. J. Tully insured the sloop Ruby from Saybrook to Bar- bados, W. I., Jabez Stowc, master, 560, March 4th 1758. On a previous voyage, returning from Barbados to Say- brook in 1757, the insurance was £100 on vessel and

cargo. The sloop Ann and Lidia, Saybrook to Bar- bados, Jeremiah Brainerd, master, sailed May 4th 1758, insurance £60. The following are the orders to Captain Stillman, of Saybrook, from the owners of the sloop Ruby:

" July 20th 1758 To Capt. Sam'll Stilman Master of the Sloop Rubie now Riding at Anchor in the Harbour of Saybrook-

" You will Imbrace the first Wind and Weather and take your Departure from the Harbour and then Proceed on your Voyage to the Island of Antigua in the West Indies, if you can make by Runing to the South Ward, and then Dispose of your Cargo to the Best advantage for the Owners; but if you shall happen to fall to the Lew Ward, then you are to go to either of English or Dutch West India Islands as you shall think most Advantagious for the s'd Owners, and there dispose of your cargo & layout the neet Proceeds thereof in the Produce of s'd Islands-And then you are to make the Best of your way home to this Port: unless you shall think it best to Stop at Anguilla or St Martin's, and make up your Load with Salt.

" Or notwithstanding what is above written, when you shall arrive at any of the aforesid Ports you shall lite of a market for the Sloop, that you shall think advantagious for the owners, sell her, and lay out the neet Proceeds as above, and ship the affects home to this or some other Neighboring Port, in one, two, or three Bottoms, as you shall think best. And so God Send the good Sloop to her Desired Port in Safety, Amen, Dated at Saybrook the 20th of July A. D. 1758.

" SAM'LL STILMAN " JOHN MORDOCH " BENJAMIN MERRELEYS " JOHN TULLY JUN " SAMUE'LL FIELD " THEOP. MORGAN."

The ship or brig America was largely owned here, and was lost after the Revolutionary war. Samuel Clark, grandfather of William J. Clark, was lost in it, and so was William Stowe, a brother of Mrs. David Newell, and William Kirtland, a brother of Daniel and son of Am- brose.

Shipbuilding was formerly carried on to some extent, but no record of it remains. In the early part of the present century, Messrs. John, Asa, and Bushnell Kirt- land, of Saybrook Point, carried on shipbuilding for many years. They had a yard where John L. Kirtland's house now stands. The last ship built there was the Niagara, about 1820. In 1809, they received the follow- ing letter:

" NEW YORK Jan. 14th 1809. " Messrs. JNO KIRTLAND & BROTHERS,

" GENTS-Provided that you have timber on hand suitable, we propose to you to take one half Interest in a Small pilot boat Schooner of about 110 Tons. Should you acceed to this proposition you will commence build- ing her immedeately, and forward us an order for such articles as you wish us to supply. We recommend

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

giving her a great length, and let her be sharper than this description of vessels have usually been built with you, pierce her for about 14 Guns, and give her a roomy deck, with a full harpin. You will inform us what quantity of composition it will take to light water mark. We think by increasing the trunnels, we can do with much less composition, and the expense will not much exceed that of Iron, do not inform anyone what descrip- tioned vessel you are about to build, or who you are concerned with, perhaps it will be well to hold up an ide that you are building a Sloop, to prevent others following your example, let us hear from you on this Subject soon.

" Your friends " HALL & HULL."

The schooner was built at a landing in Ragged Rock Creek, toward the ferry, and when she was launched, she was so sharp that she lay over on her bilge, and they were forced to ballast her, before they could get her spars in. When she went up Sound, it was said that she made the best time ever known at that time be- tween the river and New York. This was the time of the Embargo, and the French ports were blockaded by English vessels, and this craft was designed to run the blockade.

Her commander is not certainly known, but is sup- posed to have been a Captain Williams, of Potapaug. She was loaded with coffee, and dispatched for one of the French ports, off the mouth of which she arrived in a thick fog. The mate tried to prevail upon the cap- tain to attempt the passage before the fog should lift, but he refused, and the consequence was that when the fog lifted, she lay within range of a British man of war. Owing to her superior sailing qualities, she would have escaped as it was, had not an unlucky shot carried away one of her spars, when she was forced to surrender. Had she succeeded in getting in with her cargo, the for- tunes of her owners would have been made.

The firm of Hall & Hull was composed of Deacon William Hall, who afterward lived in Saybrook, and a brother of Commodore Isaac Hull. The schooner was rigged after the fashion of those days, with an immense square fore-topsail. Among the vessels which navigated the river and sound, some of which were partly owned here, were the sloop Hylas, 67 tons, Aaron Chapman, 1816; brig Aurora, 197 tons, John Kirtland, N. Y. to Saybrook, 1816; sloop Industry, 25 tons, Chauncey Cooley; sloop Young Hornet, Samuel B. Gladding; sloop Maria, Thomas Silliman; sloop Driver, 92 tons, Gurdon Waterman, 1816; sloop Cleopatra, 55 tons, Charles Jones, of Saybrook, 1816; sloop Juliette, 66 tons, John C. Rus- sell; sloop Commerce, of Lyme, 48 tons; sloop Mercator, August Jones; sloop Betsey, 31 tons, William Spencer, 1816; sloop Young Phenix, Phillip Tooker, 51 tons; sloop Jay, of Saybrook, 90 tons, John L. Whittelsey.

chartered by Mr. William Lynde, laden with potatoes and small stock, sailed for Bermuda, Charles Denison, master, and the 11th of September 1819, she sailed with a similiar load. February 12th 1819, T. Mather's brig sailed for West Indies. February 25th, A. Whittelsey's sloop Antelope broke from her moorings at Dickinson's pier, during a storm, and ran ashore on Plant- ing Field Meadow, and the sloop Syren drove ashore near Blague wharf. At the same time, a sloop loaded with wood went ashore near the lighthouse, and went to pieces. The Antelope and Syren were got off next day. The Syren was built at the head of the South Cove, at that point nearest Main street, and not far from the house of Mr. Samuel Kirtland, about 1812, and ran between Saybrook and New York during the war. Captain Sam- uel Dickinson, Captain Jeremiah Denison, J. and S. M. Tully, Benjamin, Joshua, and Samuel Kirtland, were among her builders and owners, and all went in her at times, more or less. December 26th 1815, Messrs. John and Asa Kirtland launched from their yard a brig of 19633 tons. February 15th 1818, a schooner, chartered by Lynde & Company, sailed for the Bermudas. March 12th 1818, a schooner, bound to West Indies, sailed with stock from Colchester. No vessels had been built here for several years, till about 1855, when a fishing schooner, largely owned in town, was built by a man named Brain- erd, just above the Fort. She was named the James H. Ashmead, after one of her Hartford owners, and was lost after a few years. The next and last vessel built here was probably the largest ever built in Old Saybrook. She was largely owned here, and was called the Mary E. Kellinger, after the wife of one of her New York owners. She was rigged as a three-masted schooner, and was com- manded by Captain Austin E. Penny. Her builder was a man by the name of Ketchum, from Long Island. She was built a little south of where the Pease House now stands, in 1865, and was lost a year or two after, in Ches- apeake Bay. Saybrook has produced many hardy mar- iners, some of them having been lost at sea. Captain John Ingraham jr. sailed between Hartford and the West Indies, in the schooner Harvey, in 1789, and, in 1800, in the brig Harriot. In one of his letters, dated at Port Republic, while in the schooner, 9th September 1799, he says:

"I cannot determine when I shall be ready to Sail but think likely in 12 or 14 days & then shall likely wait some time for a Convoy as there is a Number of Boats which Cruise in the Bite, that make a practice of Rob- bing the unarmed vessels that fall in their way." In a letter of the 26th, he says: "I shall sail to morrow with about seventy Sail of American Merchant Vessels under Convoy of the Washington, Capt. Fletcher." In Febru- ary 1804, his brig was driven ashore in a gale in the harbor of Plymouth, England, and sustained some dam- age. His son, Capt. John D. Ingraham, was master of master in the navy during the war of the Rebellion. He died in 1875. Capt. David Newell was another who followed the sea for a lifetime. He was in the harbor

The cargo of the sloop Cleopatra, from Saybrook to a vessel for many years, and was a volunteer acting New York, May 11th 1816, consisted of " 40 bbl. shad, 10 hhds. sugar, 8 bbls. sugar, 3 boxes hats, I sack do., and a quantity of wood." September 12th 1818, a sloop

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OLD SAYBROOK-SHAD FISHING.

of Fayal, and witnessed the attack by 400 officers and men from three British vessels on the privateer brig, Gen. Armstrong, Capt. Samuel C. Reid, in which the at- tacking party lost 120 killed and 130 wounded, while the privateer lost only two killed and seven wounded. Capt Newell was engaged in the slave trade, and was killed during a rising of the slaves on board his vessel at the Island of Bonavista. His son, Capt. William Newell, sailed to all parts of the world till old age overtook him. On one occasion, during or after the war of 1812-15, he, in company with another Yankee captain, was in a saloon in a port in the Eastern Hemisphere, when a numberof English captains who were present began to revile Americans and America, whereupon Capt. New- ell, seizing a stool,;drove them all out of the saloon. He was a man of powerful frame, and commanding per- sonal appearance. Capt. Mather also sailed to the West Indies, and was lost with his ship, Peace and Plenty, in a gale at Turk's Island. Capt. Richard Wood went to sea for many years, and died at sea. Capt. Benjamin Whittlesey and his mate, Mr. Richard Dickinson, both of Saybrook, sailed on their last voyage for the West In- dies in a new brig or bark, built expressly for making fast trips, and were never heard of after leaving port. They were supposed to have been lost, in a storm about 1848. Capt. J. Chauncey Whittlesey was in the West India trade for many years, sailing mostly from New Haven, and Capt. Samuel B. Dickinson also sailed to the West Indies.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 119

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818