USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 128
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S. Hall N. Pease Levi Stewart
Levi Stewart aud others,
125
6,000
22 1834
Joel Hall and others.
160
7,000
23 1834
..
Frie
Asaph and David Hall,
66
140
6,000
25 1835
Henrietta
Whitmore
Joel Hall and others,
66
160
7.000
26 1835
Sloop
Amelia Julia Orion
Cheuey
Russell & Hall,
3
125
5,500
29 1835
Schooner
Henrietta Jane
Rain & Morgan, of New York.
160
7.000
30 1836
Sloop
A. Strickland
Asa Striekland and others, of Chatham, Conu. Henry Churchill and others,
200
10,000
33 1836
Sehooner
Marion
S. Johnson and others, Chatham, Connecticut.
60
3,500
Ebenezer Flower, Hartford, Connecticut.
125
6,000
S. Gildersleeve; J. W. Alsop, New York.
250
11,500
Joel Hall and others, Chatham, Conneetieut. Evelyn White and O. G. Terry.
100
5,000
40 1839 41 1840
Sehooner Sloop
Wm. Hendley & Co , and S. Gildersleeve.
200
10,000
42 1840 43 1841 44|1841
SeDw
Brooks, Jackman and others, Cromwell, Connectieut. Wm. W. Wakemen and others, Southport, Conn.
280
14,000
45 1841
Cornelia
J. W. Davis and C. Perry, Southport, Connecticut.
250
12,500
46 1842 47 1343 48 1844
Middletown Lone Star Empire Hartford
Wm. Hendley & Co. and S. Gildersleeve.
85
5,000
49 1844
Brig Ship
J. Godfrey, W. W. Wakeman, & others, Southport, Ct E. & S. Brainerd, Portland, Conn.
125
6,000 5,000
53 1846
Ship Sehoouer
Shaler & Hall Quarry Co., Portland, Conn.
135
6,500 5.000
56 1847
Ship
Henry Churchill
950
35.000
57 1847
66
Stephen F. Austin B. R. Milan
D. N. Morse A. M. Allen J. B. Bowles Peter Norris Gurdon Gates W. S. Coe Martin Brooks J. B. Cary
Middlesex Quarry Co., Portland, Conn. E. & S. Brainerd and others, Portland, Conn. Middlesex Quarry Co , Portland, Conn.
145
7,000
65 1851
Barque
E. Sherwood and others, Southport, Conn.
550
23,000
66 1851
Schooner
Owners of Brainerd Quarry, Portland, Conn.
155
7.500
67 1851 68 1851
Middlesex Quarry Co., Portland, Conn.
150
7,500
69 1852
135
6,500
70 1852
1,000
38,000
71 1853
175
8,500
72 1853
175
8,500
73 1853
75
5.000
74 1854 75 1854
S. & H. Gildersleeve, Wm. & J. J. Hendley, J. H. Brower, C. Brown.
1,400
59,000
76 1854
Barge
Amos Clark
O. G. Terry, Hartford, Conn.
300
8,000
77 1855 78 1855
Schooner
400
17.000
79 1856
Propeller
Evelyn White Chas. Hodge
Gleason & Willard, E. White, S. & H. Gildersleeve. Middlesex Quarry Co., Portland, Conn.
170
8,500
81 1857
Geo. Gates
J. H. Brower & Co., S. & H. Gildersleeve, Wm. & J. J. Hendley.
1,500
55,000
82 1859
Barqne
J. C. Kuhn
D. N. Morse
S. & 1I. Gildersleeve, Wm. & J. J. Hendley, J. 11. Brower & Co.
1,100
40,000
84 1860
S. & H. Gildersleeve and others.
260
10,000
85 1861
IJ. S. Government
500
125,000
86 1862
Hartford & New York Steamboat Co.
350
35,000
8711862
Wm. W. Wakeman and others, Southport Conn.
600
26,000
1863 88
Wakemann, Dimon & Co. & S. Gildersleeve & Sons.
900
85,000
89 1864 90 1861
Schooner
Middlesex Quarry Co., Portland, Conn.
200
14,000
91 1861
325
19,500
92 1865
250
17.800
93 1865 94 1866
Sehooner
IF. Fuller, S. Glldersleeve & Sons, and others.
500
33,400
Middlesex Quarry Co., Portland, Conn.
200
16.500
96 1866
S. Paddock
260
21,500
97 1867
Schooner
4225
28,000
98 1867
Enoch Lewis.
S. Glidersleove & Sons, C. 11. Mallory .
1,300
65,000
100 1868 101 1870
Barque Schooner Barque
Lewis Crosby Enoch Lewis Lewis Breaker R. Clark II. Fuller
Chas. Hamilton
Middletown Ferry Co.
Consumers Ice Co., New York, N. Y.
800
20,000
104 1871
175
15.000
105 1871
106 1872
Steamship
Portland Protection J. W. Allison Middlesex Clty of Dallas
Wm. Churchill J. N. Buell
E. Brainerd. S. Glidersleeve & Sons, Churchill, Ko. Middlesex Quarry Co .. Portland, Conn
C. 11. DeLamater & Co. and S. Gildersleeve & Sons.
1,100
110,000
:
120
5,800
6 1826
Mary
C. Brainerd Edward Hall
110 5,300
8 1827
11 1829
Boston
Daniel Weber W. Ransom
..
I35
6.500
13 1830
Sehoonor Sloop Brig
Frances Ann
Norman Pease, of Hartford. Conn.
100
4,500
18 1832
Sloop Brig
S. Gildersleeve; R. T. Hicks, of New York.
160
7,500
20 1833
6.
66
160
7,500
21 1833
66
Mary Shields Brace
W. Ransom
160
7,000
24 1834
125
5,500
27|1835
70
3,000
28 1835
31|1836
Sehooner.
Mary Elizabeth Octavia Joel Hall Wm. Bryan
H. Churchill J. I. Worthington J. J. Hendley F. Goodspeed S. Johnson B. Murly
Wm. and J. J. Hendley. S. Gildersleeve and A. Keith. Russell & Hall, Chatham. Connectieut.
125
6.000
35 1837
36 1838 37 1838 38 1839 39 1839
Brig Sloop
Samuel Hall Phoenix Robert Mills Henry Sterling Star Mary
Wm. Lawrence Evelyn White J. J. Hendley Henry Bacon Risley Warren Taylor
Daniel Russell and others, Portland. Connectieut. Chas. Perry and others, Southport, Conneetieut.
100
5,000
Brig
Star Republie
Wm. Hendley & Co., S. Gildersleeve and others.
Brooks & Davis, Middletown, Connecticut.
25
2,000
50 1845 51 1845
Sehooner
Wm. Hendley & Co. and S. Gildersleeve.
600
27.000
54 1846
Silas Brainerd J. G. MeNeil Marion Nathan Shaler Unele Bill Harmonia
Wm. Hendley & Co. and S. Gildersleeve. Dunham & Dimon and others.
Wm. Hendley & Co., S. Gildersleeve & Sons, & others.
650
29,000
60 1849
66
..
500
25,000
61 1850
44
1.000
37.000
62 1850
155
7.500
63 1850
140
6.800
64 1851
Frederick Hall Ellen M. Duffield Joseph Rogers Hannah E. Chave Ravenswood Lion Eagle S. N. Williams Jane M. Brainerd S. Gildersleeve
L. M. Hitehox Henry Russell Cicero Brown
L. M. Hitcheox, Galveston, Texas.
Owners of Brainerd Quarry, Portland. Conn.
145
7,000
J. Godfrey and others, Southport, Conn.
600
25.000
80 1856
Sehooner Ship
E. M. Clark James Lawrence J. Godfrey Parthenia Annie J. Russell National Guard
1. Leonard
Middletown Ferry Co.
45
3,500
Steam Gunboat Propeller Brig Steamship 66
Gurdon Gates J. (). Wilcox
J. 1 & J. S. Worthington & S. & II. Gildersleeve. S. Gildersleeve & Sons, H. G. Hubbard and others. II. G. Hubbard. S. Gildersleeveand others.
325
21,700
Owners of Shaler & Hall Quarry Co. and S. G. & Sons, Lewis Crosby and others,
Middlesex Quarry Co., Portland, Conn.
250
18,000
8. Gildersleeve & Sons, C. II. Mallory & Co., Fuller, and others.
1,500
67.500
102 1870
103 1871
Stemn Ferry Boat leo Barge Steamer
The Spare Boat Free Wind Cayuga Dudley Back Rival America United States E. F. Meany .1. I. Worthington Helen Augusta Einily S. Gildersleeve Florence H. Allen Henry Hartequ David Currie Mary E. Rankin Marela S. Lewis Sabino F. G. Russell Brazos
E. R. Jones
Applegate Share
1,600
150,000
52 1846
Hinckley J. J. Hendley Brooks Knapp Lewis Simerman Geo. Hilliard Tenterton Robertson John MeCleve Sheffield
Z. B. Wakemau and others, Southport, Conn.
350
17,500
700
30,000
55 1846
90
625
28,000
58 1848 59 1848
66 Sehooner Sehooner 66
Wm. B. Travis J. W. Fanning Wm. H. Wharton Joseph Hall Freestone George Gillum Harvest
Nichols Russell Geo. Hillard J. I. Worthington Dwight Johnson Cooper N. Johnson
Owners of Shaler and Hall Quarry Co., Portland Conn. S. Gildersleeve & Sons; Wm. Nelson & Son, of N. Y. Whitehead, North Carolina.
150
7,500
32 1836
Sloop
Joel Hall and others of Chatham, Connectieut.
125
5,500
150
8,000
34 1837
Mary Jane
A. Wilcox Nye
Johnson
Hilliard
Seth Overton and others,
115
5,000
16 1831
Sehooner Sloop
Stranger
Gordon Whitmore and others.
80
3,800
4 1826
Albany
66
Norman Pease, of Hartford. Joel Hall and others of Chatham."
155
7.500
R. Carey. N. Pease Huntings
Henry Churchill, and others, of Chatham, Couu.
100
4,500
Shoal Water Eliot Isabella
100
5,000
400
20,000
50
2,000
Brig
476
22,000
Sehooner Barque Ferry Boat Sloop
Henry Perry and others, Southport, Conn.
90
850
33.000
Ship Schooner 66
Pilot Boat Schooner Ship
Barque
275
20,000
83 1859
Steam Ferry Boat Schooner
J. S. Worthington John McCleve John Carroll 11. Fuller W. S. Coe
95 1866
28,000
99 1868
27,000
66
70
$3,500
2 1823
66
330,000
516
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
VESSELS BUILT BY S. GILDERSLEEVE & SONS .- Continued.
No. Date
Rig.
Name of Vessel
Name of Captain.
Names of Owners.
Ton- age.
valua- tion.
107 1873
Schooner
Louise P. Mallory
H. H. Stetson
S. Gildersleeve & Sons, A. J. Bentley, C. Brown, and others.
550
28,300
Consumers Ice Co., of New York, N. Y.
800
22,000
108 1873
Ice Barge
H. J. Bean Ruth Robinson
N. F. Rogers
S. Gildersleeve & Sons, H . G. Hubbard, C. Brown, and others.
725
34,000
110 1874
Leona
Gordon H. B. Doane
S. F. Shortland, S. Gildersleeve & Sons, C. Brown, &c. New York City Ice Co., N. Y. .
800
20,500
112 1874
Ice Barge
Minot F. Winch
800
30,500
113 1875
66
Wm. Nelson
800
19,000
115,1876
6.
Robert Burns
United States Government.
300
3,000
118 1877
Oil Barge
Nameless
R. T. Spaulding
S. Gildersleeve & Sons, and others.
300
5,000
120 1880
Oil Barge
Nautilus
300
5,000
121 1880
300
5,000
122 1880
300
5,000
123 1880
64
Nimrod
66
300
5,000
125 1880
Nymph
C. H. Mallory & Co., New York, N. Y.
300
4,000
126 1880
Lighter
300
4.000
127 1880
P. C. Golder
46
325
4,500
129 188]
S. A. Walker
66
325
4,500
130 1882
Hotchkiss
325
16,000
131 1882
Schooner Lighter
Sam'l B. Baker Jr.
650
25,500
133 1883
Schooner
Emily F. Northam
H. H. Stetson
S. Gildersleeve & Sons, Capt. Stetson, N. Shepard, and others
825
16,000
134 1884 135 1884
Ice Barge
S. T. W. Sandford Wm. De Groot
825
16.000
49,620 $2,406,700
PORTLAND QUARRIES.
Previous to 1665, the inhabitants of Middletown, though they knew of the great masses of brown stone, which overhung the river on its eastern bank, nearly op- posite the town, and though they made use of this easily obtained material in various ways, had no conception of the vast treasures which lay hidden around and beneath " The Rocks," as the huge detached masses were termed. At first the loose fragments were used for building pur- poses and for gravestones by the neighboring settlers, but soon persons from other places sought these stones, and quarry work was begun on the cliffs which jutted out over the river in places. The inhabitants of Middle- town began to realize in some degree the worth of these immense deposits of a stone which was everywhere found valuable and in increasing demand.
"At a town meeting September 4th 1665, it was Voted -That whosoever shall dig or raise stone at ye rocks on the East side of the Great River for any without the town, the diggers shall be none but an inhabitant of Middletown and shall be responsible to ye town 12 pence per tunn for every tunn of stone that he or they shall digg for any person whosoever without ye towne, this money to be paid in wheat and pease, to ye townsmen or their assigns, for the use of the towne, within six months after the transportation of said stone."
" It was also agreed; That the Inhabitants do freely give Mr. Richards this first freight which skipper Plumb is now taking in."
Here is probably the first quarryman recorded to have shipped a vessel load from these quarries, though undoubtedly much stone had been carried off in scows and boats of different kinds. It would be impossible now to ascertain at what time the high, shelving rocks had disappeared, and the stone must be procured farther inland and by digging below the surface of the ground. Perhaps as the stones lying upon the surface were Shaler & Hall Quarry.
removed the townsmen became alarmed lest the supply should fail, for all transportation was soon prohibited.
"At a Town Meeting March 4th 1715 the town by Voat doe prohibit all persons getting any stone in the town Quarry on the East side of the Great River for transportation out of the town, and whosoever shall pre- sume to get and to transport any stone for the futur contrary to this act of the town shall forfeit the sum of 20 shillings a stone for every stone by him or them transported out of the town, or sold in order to transpor- tation (one half to him who complains and prosecutes the other half to the town)."
Ebenezer Gill was appointed to take charge of the town's quarry on the east side the river, and December 29th 1726 the town appointed and empowered the selectmen " annually to take effectual care of the rocks and quarries on the east and west sides the Great River." They were also empowered to lease or to grant liberty to particular persons to get stone, but it was declared that no inhabitant should be debarred from getting any stone for their own particular use.
As early as 1690, James Stancliff owned considerable land on the " Rocks," partly bought of the town and partly granted to him in consideration of his services as a stone mason "in building the town's chimneys." It was about six acres, and lay in the rear, and is now a part of the Brainerd Quarry. His house stood near here in 1690.
THE OLD SHALER & HALL QUARRY .- The quarry which was first opened in this vicinity was afterward dis- posed of by the town to various parties, and at length passed into the possession of Shaler (or Shaylor, as the name is spelled in an old chart of Chatham) and Hall. This was in 1788. They began the active work of quarrying, and carried it on vigorously for some years, and this was long known as the " Shaler & Hall Quarry." In 1791 this firm bought the ground now known as the In this first quarry, from 1810
350
23,000
111 1874
Ada G. Shortland
National Ice Co., of N. Y.
800
20,000
114 1875
J. W. Mason
66
800
19.000
117 1876
Lightship
No. 41
Chas. Pratt & Co., New York, N. Y.
250
12,500
119 1879
Schooner
Neptune
Navigator
Novelty
300
5,000
124 1880
C. F. Deering
325
4,500
128 1881
E. Coggins
S. Gildersleeve & Sons, N. Shepard, and others.
400
6,000
132 1883
Emily Shepard
C. H. Mallory & Co.
National Ice Co., of New York.
4
300
45,000
116 1876
Schooncr
109 1874
1. H. Brower, New York, N. Y.
425 24,800
Win. Kemp
Rebecca
Chas. Pratt & Co., New York, N. Y.
Chas. E. Goin
517
PORTLAND-THE QUARRIES.
to 1820, thirty hands were employed eight months in the year and from four to six teams. " The quantity of stone prepared for market was then regarded as very great, though small in comparison with what is now prepared."
THE TOWN QUARRY .- In 1786, as there still remained quarry land which had not been disposed of, " At a meeting of the proprietors of the common and undi- vided lands of Middletown and Chatham it was voted: that what remains undivided of the two quarries in Mid- dletown and Chatham remain for the use of the inhabi- tants of said towne to get stone for their own particular use, or for the general use of either of said towns."
At a proprietors' meeting, April 14th 1812, a committee was appointed to give a deed of the quarries to the towns of Middletown and Chatham equally. This committee failing to act, January 29th 1822, Joshua Stow of Mid- dletown, and Seth Overton, of Chatham, were appointed to execute a deed of the quarries in favor of the towns of Middletown and Chatham. A committee was also ap- pointed to investigate titles. March 18th 1822, these deeds were accepted by the towns interested, and by an act of the Legislature passed at the May session of the same year, all individual rights were extinguished. June 17th 1822, a number of hands, under the direction of a committee previously appointed by the town, com- menced opening the quarry in Chatham, and the work was continued without interruption other than the win- ter season, and occasional disputes in relation to bounda- ries, etc. It was estimated by the committee that the value of the quarry had increased to the same amount as money had been expended on it; which sum was stated to be not less than $1,000. April 21st 1824, it was
"Voted, to give to Washington College the net profits and rents of our interest in the Quarries at Chatham and Middletown until the net profits and rents of said Quar- ries shall amount to $20,000 on condition that said Col- lege be located and continue in said town."
September 6th 1824, the town of Middletown leased to John Lawrence Lewis the town quarry at Chathanı for a term of five years for the purpose of quarrying stone to erect buildings "to be occupied by Capt. Par- tridge as a scientific and military academy." Capt. Par- tridge's school having been given up in 1829, June 19th
This company employs upward of 300 workmen, 45 yoke of oxen, and 36 horses. They also employ from 12 to 16 schooners in transporting stone to various markets along the coast. Large quantities are also shipped by rail to the interior and to the Western States. Four steam engines are used in hoisting stone, and in pump- 1830, the quarry was leased to Joel Hall and E. and S. ing water from the quarry. One 60-horse power engine Brainerd for a term of five years. Before this time ex- pired, and while inducements were being held out by the town of Middletown and vicinity to Wesleyan Uni- versity to locate in Middletown, it was voted (on the fourth Monday in November 1833),
" That the interest of the town in the town quarry at Chatham should be appropriated to the use and benefit of the Wesleyan University for the period of forty years, on condition that when the net amount of the avails thereof shall equal the sum of ten thousand dollars within said period said grant shall cease."
The benefit of this grant was enjoyed till 1860, during which time the fine university buildings which are the
pride of Middletown, were erected of the stone taken from this quarry. The "Town's Quarry," which was a little over two acres in extent, was held and managed by the town until August 1884, when it was bought by the two adjoining corporations, the Brainerd Quarry Com- pany taking two-thirds of it and the Middlesex Quarry Company one-third. The price paid was $20,000, which was divided between Middletown, Cromwell, Portland, and Chatham. This quarry had been worked to the depth then considered practicable. For some years past it had been leased by the Brainerd Quarry Com- pany for a scrappling ground or place of deposit for stone, partly also on account of the river frontage. They built a freshet wall at an expense of $20,000, six feet in width at the bottom, laid on the solid rock.
The " Town's Quarry," in which any of the towns- men had for nearly 200 years the right to dig stone for their cellars, steps, walks, etc., has thus become extinct, and with it the office of town quarry agent; the last in- cumbent of this office being William H. Beebe.
THE BRUSH POND QUARRY .- Some time prior to 1767, a quarry was worked below the present bridge of the Air Line Railroad, near where the Middletown ferry was then located. It was called the Brush Pond Quarry, and for some reason was soon abandoned.
THE BRAINERD QUARRY .- In 1783, Hurlburt & Rob- erts began work here. They sold the quarry to Erastus and Silas Brainerd, brothers, who came here from Middle Haddam. From about 1812 to 1884, the business was conducted under a partnership firm, and was managed by Erastus and Silas Brainerd during the greater portion of this period; the firm name being E. & S. Brainerd till 1857, then Erastus Brainerd & Co. Silas Brainerd died in 1857, and Erastus Brainerd sen. died in 1861. The business was managed by the surviving partners till 1884, when the " Brainerd Quarry Company " was organized and incorporated. The officers of the company are: Erastus Brainerd, president and general manager; Robert G. Pike, secretary; Benjamin F. Brainerd, treasurer.
carries a large double-acting cylinder pump capable of discharging from 15 to 20 hogsheads of water per min- ute. Excavations have been made to the depth of 200 feet. The amount of stone produced annually is about 300,000 cubic feet. This stone is shipped to all parts of the country, and is used for elegant private residences, churches, and other public buildings, monuments, bridges, docks, piers, etc.
A large old elm stands before the office of the com- pany. When this tree was a sapling, it stood on the bank of the " Great River," which now flows many feet distant, and boats were then fastened to rings in its trunk. The retirement of the river is due to an artificial
518
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
formation made from quarry waste, along the whole front of the quarries, by the labors of the last 80 years. It varies in depth from 14 to 28 feet. The trunk of this elm was 21 feet high before the branches began. It now stands 28 feet below the present surface of the ground. Stones piled around its base, and continued upward, allow some circulation of air. There was a shipyard here in early times, owned by Captain Moses Bush, who built ships for the government during the Revolution. Where the present " quarry pit" is was a hill called Shipyard Hill, and the boys of 70 years ago coasted from its sum- mit across the frozen river. The old house now standing on the brink of the quarry is the " Bush house." Tradi- tion says that the office was in the boughs of the elm tree mentioned above, and was reached by a ladder, and here all hands were regularly " piped to grog " in the old nau- tical style. There is also an old elm in the Shaler & Hall Quarry, which stands 14 feet below the present surface.
THE MIDDLESEX QUARRY .- In 1819, a quarry was opened by Robert Patten and Daniel Russel above the old Shaler & Hall Quarry. The firm at first was Patten & Russell and afterward became Russell & Hall. In 1841 this quarry was united with the original Shaler & Hall property, and the firms were incorporated under the name of the Middlesex Quarry Company. Their present officers are: F. W. Russell, president and agent; Charles A. Jarvis, secretary and treasurer; Henry Corn- well, superintendent; directors, F. W. Russell, Ferdinand Gildersleeve, Henry Gildersleeve, J. I. Worthington, C. F. Browning. Thomas Murdock is general engineer and W. J. Stuart is in charge of locomotive. This quarry employs 45 yoke of cattle and 16 horses, and sends its stone to market in five schooners and one steamer, owned by the company, hiring other vessels when required. They have recently laid a railroad track to run entirely around the quarry, and placed thereon an engine and six cars, which will be used in carrying stone, quarry waste, earth, rubbish, etc., thus doing away with the expense and trouble of keeping oxen, which have been used for this work heretofore. They have several steam hoisting engines, cranes, pumps, etc., with the most improved machinery. The largest engine was made by T. R. Pickering & Co., of Portland. The Middlesex Quarry Company have filled out 75 feet for a wharf.
THE SHALER & HALL QUARRY .- This is sometimes called the " Lower Quarry," being the first seen on ap- proaching from the railroad or Middletown ferry. The ground was bought by Shaler & Hall in 1791, while they were carrying on quarrying in their upper property, then known as the " Shaler & Hall Quarry." When this title was dropped, in consequence of the incorporation of the Middlesex Quarry Company, it was carried to the new field of operations. The Shaler & Hall Quarry Com- pany was organized in April 1844. The first directors were: Joel Hall, Samuel Hall, Samuel Russel, Edwin F. Johnson, and Ebenezer Jackson. Joel Hall was presi- dent, and Samuel Hall, secretary.
They have excavated to the present time five acres, to the depth of 150 feet. Three hundred men are em- ployed annually in quarrying and dressing the stone. Five steam deiricks are used in hoisting the stone from the pit, and 22 pair of cattle and 14 horses are used in drawing stone to the vessels and cars for shipment. Eight vessels of various tonnage are employed in carry- ing stone to different markets; besides large quantities shipped by cars. Stone sales are annually about $200,000.
The present directors are: Elijah H. Hubbard, Philo Bevin, Edwin Bell, Titus Hale, George W. Harris. The officers are: Elijah H. Hubbard, president; Charles H. Sage, secretary and treasurer; Oliver W. Mack, agent.
THE OLD GRAVE YARD .- The old grave yard which crowned a hill nearly in the center of the quarries and was until recently a strange and anomalous feature of its busy precincts, was granted by the town of Middletown to the inhabitants on the east side in 1712: "one acre between the land of James Stancliff and the Great River for a burial place." The first person laid here was Samuel Hall, who died February 22d 1712. Perhaps the inclemency of the season, or the breaking up of the river at this time prevented interment on the other side of the river, as had before this been the custom. After- ward it continued to be used by the First Society as a place of burial until land for a cemetery was bought nearer the church and laid out in 1767. Even after this an occasional burial took place, the last, that of George Bush, being as late as 1843. Thus, for many years, the old grave yard remained, silent in the midst of noise and clamor, a desert island set in an ever flowing and ebbing tide of laborers and cattle, green and blossoming with wild roses or golden rod amid the prevailing sombre tint, a quiet, peaceful spot to look upon, yet the subject of much dispute and litigation, the battle ground of courts and corporations; elbowed on every side by busy Labor and his master, Enterprise, who looked with prac- tical eyes at the treasures of stone beneath the scanty five to ten feet of soil, in which, under the carven cherub heads, slanting at unseemly angles, had reposed for nearly two centuries the dust of the pioneers, "Lying low,
'Neath the daisies or the snow;
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