History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 22

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 22

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

O., 1722 M., 1726 M .; John Andrews, 1727 M .- 1730 M .; Giles Hall, 1727 M., 1727 O., 1730 M .- 1731 M., 1732 O .; Joseph Wetmore, 1729 M .; George Phillips, 1729 O., 1730 O .- 1732 M., 1733 M .- 1738 M., 1740 O .; Jabez Hamlin, 1731 O., 1732 M., 1733 O., 1734 M., 1735 O .- 1758 M., 1766 O .- 1773 M .; Thomas Allyn, 1732 O .; Joseph White, 1733 M .; Nathan- iel Bacon, 1734, O .; Seth Wetmore, 1738 O., 1740 M., 1741 M .- 1743 O., 1744, O .- 1747 M., 1748 M .- 1750 M., 1753 O., 1754 O .- 1756 M., 1757 M., 1757 O., 1758 O .- 1766 O., 1768 M .- 1769 O., 1770 O., 1771 M .; Thomas Johnson, 1739 M., 1739 O., 1744 M .; Return Meigs, 1747 O .; Joseph Southmayd, 1750 O .- 1753 M .; Joseph Wright, 1754 M .; Michael Burnham, 1756 O .; Matthew Talcott, 1758 O., 1759 O .- 1764 M., 1772 M., 1774 O., 1775 M., 1779 M., 1780 M., 1781 M .- 1782 O .; John Fisk, 1759 M .; Richard Alsop, 1764 O .- 1766 M., 1767 M., 1767 O., 1770 M., 1771 O., 1772 O .- 1774 M .; Titus Hosmer, 1773 O .- 1778 M .; John Dickinson, 1775 O., 1776 O., 1778 M., 1778 O., 1779 O., 1780 O., 1781 M .; Comfort Sage, 1776 M., 1777 M., 1779 M., 1780 M., 1781 O .- 1784 O., 1785 O .- 1786 O .; Ebenezer Bacon, 1778 O., 1779 O., 1780 O., 1783 M., 1783 O .. 1785 O .- 1786 O., 1789 M., 1798 O., 1799 M, 1800 O .; Samuel H. Parsons, 1784 M .- 1785 M .; George Phillips, 1787 M .- 1788 M .; Asher Miller, 1785 M., 1788 M .- 1789 M., 1790 M .- 1793 M., 1798 M., 1803 O .- 1804 O .; Elijah Hubbard, 1787 M., 1787 O., 1788 O., 1789 O., 1790 O .- 1797 M., 1799 M .- 1800 M., 1801 M .- 1808 M., 1811 M .- 1814 O .; Samuel W. Dana, 1789 O., 1790 M., 1793 O .- 1796 O., 1822, 1826; Stephen T. Hosmer, 1797 M., 1800 M .; Andrew Campbell, 1797 O .- 1798 O .; Amos Church, 1797 O .; John Pratt, 1799 O., 1806 M .- 1808 M., 1809 M., 1809 O .; Jehosaphat Starr, 1800 O., 1801 M .; Enoch Par- sons, 1801 O., 1803 M .; Abijah Savage, 1802 M., 1802 O .; Joshua Stow, 1805 M., 1805 O .; Jabez Stocking, 1808 O., 1815 O., 1816 M .; Lemuel Storrs, 1808 O .; Chauncey Whittlesey, 1809 M .- 1811 O., 1816 O .; Ebenezer Sage, . 1810 M .. 1810 O .; Samuel Wetmore, 1812 M .- 1814 M .; Alexander Collins, 1814 O .; Elisha Coe, 1815 M., 1816 O .- 1817 O., 1819 M., 1820 .; Arthur W. Magill, 1815 M .; Samuel Gill, 1815 O., 1816 M .; Nathan Starr jr., 1817 M .- 1818 M .; John Alsop, 1818 M .- 1820, 1823; Hosea Goodrich, 1818 O .; Seth Paddock, 1821; Elisha Treat, 1821; Josiah Savage, 1822, 1823; Daniel Rand, 1824, 1825; Miner Hotchkiss, 1824, 1825; Daniel Burrows,

1826; William L. Storrs, 1827-29, 1834; Elijah Pad- dock, 1827, 1828, 1833; Ebenezer Jackson jr., 1829-32, 1846; Henry Woodward, 1830, 1831; Joseph Coe, 1832, 1850; Samuel Russell, 1833, 1846; Jedediah Wilcox, 1834; Stillman K. Wightman, 1835-37, 1842; William Plumb 2d, 1835, 1836, 1841; Timothy Savage, 1837; Richard Hubbard, 1838; Eben Wilcox, 1838; Charles Woodward, 1839, 1847, 1857; Henry D. Smith, 1839, 1847; Noah A. Phelps, 1841; Alexander Sage, 1842; Daniel M. Crowell, 1843; Elihu Spencer, 1844, 1848, 1851, 1855: Alfred Hubbard, 1844; Edwin Stearns, 1848, 1849; Earl Cooley, 1849; Noah H. Phelps, 1850; Buckley Edwards, 1851; Daniel H. Chase, 1852, 1853; Elisha S. Hubbard, 1852;

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Benjamin W. Coe, 1853, 1854, 1862; Benjamin Douglas, 1854, 1872; Austin Baldwin, 1855; Patrick Fagan, 1856: George W. Guy, 1856, 1870; Osborn Coe, 1857; Julius Hotchkiss, 1858; Alfred Hubbard, 1858; Ellsworth Burr, 1859; G. W. Bacon, 1859; Moses Culver, 1860; Asa Hub- bard, 1860; Edward A. Russell, 1861; Charles Hubbard, 1861; Bartlett Bent jr., 1862; Charles C. Hubbard, 1863; David Savage, 1863; John M. Douglas, 1864, 1865; George S. Hubbard, 1864; John Barry, 1865; John H. Watkin- son, 1866; Moses W. Terrill, 1866; Michael H. Griffin, 1867, 1868; Arthur W. Bacon, 1867, 1869, 1870, 1874; George L. Tuttle, 1868; Edwin Scoville, 1869; Samuel J. Starr, 1871; D. Ward Northrop, 1871, 1881, 1882; Abner Roberts, 1872; Joseph W. Alsop jr., 1873; Ashbel Bidwell, 1873; James K. Guy, 1874; Charles R. Fagan, 1875, 1876; George W. Roberts, 1875; Daniel Strong, 1876; Richard H. Newhall, 1877; Charles H. Williams, 1877; William W. Wilcox, 1878; Samuel J. Hubbard, 1878; Charles R. Woodward, 1879; George W. Atkins, 1879; William W. Wilcox, 1880: S. Otis Barrows, 1880; James Lawton, 1881, 1882; Horace R. Butler, 1883, 1884; John T. Walsh, 1883; Michael W. Lawton, 1884.

Town Clerks .- William Smith, 1650 to November 1656; Robert Webster, November 1656 to November 1661; John Hall, November 1661 to February 1695; John Hamlin, February 1695 to December 1707; Nathaniel White, March 1695, for a few weeks; Joseph Rockwell, December 1707 to January 1735; Jabez Hamlin, January 1735 to De- cember 1735; William Rockwell, December 1735 to death, July 28th 1765; Joseph Clark, August 20th 1765 to death, April 21st 1778; Bezaleel Fisk, May 1778 to September 1797; John Fisk, September 1797 to death, February 15th 1847; Thomas G. Mather, February 1847 to Octo- ber 1849; Elihu Spencer, October 1849 to October 1851; Elihu W. N. Starr, October 1851 to October 1865; Charles A. Boardman, October 1865 to October 1866; Elihu W. N. Starr, October 1866, still in office.

MIDDLETOWN PROBATE DISTRICT.

This district was formed in 1752, and included Chat- ham (with the exception of that part lying south of Salmon river), the part of Berlin which at first belonged to Middletown, with Haddam and Durham.

The parts of this district east of the Connecticut were detached from it in 1824, upon the formation of Chatham District.

At the same time the part of Berlin just named, was detached from it upon the formation of the Berlin District.

Haddam was detached from it in 1830, and made a separate district in connection with Haddam Neck.

Middletown District now embraces Middletown, Mid- dlefield, Cromwell, and Durham.

Probate Judges .- Jabez Hamlin, May 1752 to June 1789; Asher Miller, June 1789 to June 1793; John Dick- inson, June 1793 to June 1807; Asher Miller, June 1807 to death, December 24th 1821; vacancy, when Judge Brace officiated ; John Alsop, May 1822 to July 1832; S. K. Wightman, July 1832 to June 1834;

August Cook, June 1834 to June 1835; S. K. Wightman, June 1835 to June 1838; Samuel Cooper, June 1838 to June 1842; Linus Coe, June 1842 to June 1844; Samuel Cooper, June 1844 to June 1846; Linus Coe, June 1846 to June 1847; Samuel Cooper, June 1847 to June 1849; Elihu Spencer, June 1849 to July 1850; Noah A. Phelps, July 1850 to July 1852; John H. Sumner, July 1852 to July 1853; Noah A. Phelps, July 1853 to July 1854; Dennis Sage, July 1854 to July 1856; Waldo P. Vinal, July 1856 to July 1864; William T. Elmer, July 1864 to July 1866; E. W. N. Starr, July 1866 to July 1867; Charles G R. Vinal, July 1867 to July 1868; E. W. N. Starr, July 1868 to July 1872; John L. S. Roberts, July 1872 to July 1873; D. Ward Northrop, July 1873 to January 1881; Silas A. Robinson, January 1881 to Janu- uary 1883; Eldon B. Birdsey, January 1883, now in office.

THE CUSTOM HOUSE, DISTRICT OF MIDDLETOWN.

The oldest persons now living who remember anything about the location of the office state that the earliest place they can remember is the store now occupied by G. E. Burr, on the east side of Main street (No. 100). This certainly is a very old building, having a square roof and dormer windows of an ancient period. From this build- ing it was removed to the brick building on the north- west corner of Washington and Main streets, in which the office continued until the present building was ready for occupancy in 1834.

After a long and bitter controversy as to the site of the Custom House, the present building was put under con- tract, August Ist 1834, under the supervision of Noah A. Phelps, the collector, who, having been educated as a lawyer, and possessing much natural ability, was well fitted to manage the business.

The contract was with Barzillai D. Sage and Sage & - Merriman for the total sum of $12,249, and on the 19th of October 1835, it was reported as thoroughly finished. There having been some alterations one way and the other from the original plan,. the total amount paid was $12,289. It was stated to be " a handsome and substan- tial structure, fire-proof without, and nearly so within," and to have been erected with fidelity and skill.

For all this a bond was taken at the time of contract, that if any latent defect should thereafter appear the con- tractors should make it good.

The officers at the Custom House are: Augustus Put- dam, collector; George W. Burke, special deputy collector; and F. Howard Thompson, clerk. The collector and special deputy were appointed in 1869, and have held their respective offices 15 years.

The successive collectors, with dates of their appoint- ments, have been: George Phillips, June 1795; Chaun- cey Whittlesey, December 1797; Alexander Wolcott, August 1801; Henry Wolcott, July 1828; Noah A. Phelps, of Hartford, March 1829; Austin Baldwin, April 1841; Philip Sage, of Portland, October 1844; William D. Starr, February 1849; Samuel Cooper, June 1849; William D. Starr, April 1853; Samuel Babcock, October

MIDDLETOWN-STEAMBOATS-POST OFFICE.

1855; Patrick Fagan, February 1857; Origen Utley, May 1861; Augustus Putnam, January 1869.

Statement of tonnage at sundry dates: June 30th 1797, 4,509 tons; June 30th 1800, 2,070 tons; June 30th 1810, 5,363 tons; June 30th 1820, 10, 172 tons; June 30th 1830, 11,859 tons; June 30th 1840, 12,193 tons; June 30th 1850, 11,861 tons; June 30th 1860, 15,815 tons; June 30th 1870, 17,128 tons; June 30th 1880, 15,790 tons; June 30th 1882, 116 vessels, 16,840 tons.

On the 30th of June 1876, there were 119 sail vessels of 12,682.09 tons; 27 steam vessels of 6,050.03 tons; and 12 barges of 1,960.35 tons. Total, 158 vessels, 20,692.47 tons.

First Steamer in the District .- The old records show that on the 24th of August, 1819, the steamer Enter- prise, 10435 tons, took out enrolment No. 41, in the name of James Pitkin of East Hartford, agent of the Connecticut Steamboat Company.

Alexander Wolcott was, at that time, collector.

The first vessel ever documented in the district was the sloop Nancy, of Killingworth, owned by John Wilson and Silas Kelsey, of Killingworth, and Hezekiah Hotch- kiss, of New Haven.

She was new, of forty-nine tons burden; was surveyed by Richard Dickinson, commanded by Capt. John Wil- son, and took her enrolment and license, each numbered " one," June 6th 1795.

Steamers .- The first steamboat documented for the New York line was the Oliver Ellsworth, May 7th 1824. She was new, having just been finished in New York. Her registered tonnage was 22734 tons, and she was owned by the Connecticut River Steamboat Company. She was followed by the Ma donough, 27233 tons, May 12th 1826, also just built at New York. The Chief Justice Mar- shall, 314365 tons, was built in New York in 1825, but was not brought here until March 20th 1832, when she was documented by David F. Robinson, secretary of the Hartford Steamboat Company. The New England, 2613g tons, came on in 1833; the Bunker Hill, 31033 tons, came on in 1835; in 1838, Charter Oak, 43985 tons, built at Hartford; in 1842, Globe, 48135 tons, built at New York; in 1844, Bell, 4303} tons, built at New York; in 1845, Hero, 46235 tons, built at New York.

The intervening period was filled by the use of some of Vanderbilt's boats, notably the Water Witch, and the Lexington, afterward burned in Long Island Sound.

The wonder of the time was the palace steamer City of Hartford, (1,306 tons, 1852), which was visited by thou- sands, who up to that time had never seen such elegance of finish and such magnificent furnishing. This steamer is still running under the name of Capitol City. The other two passenger steamers on the New York line since 1852 were the Granite State (1, 187 tons), burned at Good- speeds in 1883, and the State of. New York (1,417 tons), which was rebuilt in 1882, and name changed to City of Springfield.

For the accommodation of small places along the river, the Washington Irving (149 tons), owned by the East Had. dam and Hartford Steamboat Company, commenced run-

ning in 1855, and after the war of the Rebellion the Silver Star (276 tons), which had been used as a dispatch boat on the James River, took this route and kept it until 1882.

Long Island Route -In 1850 the Cricket, owned by Joy Post jr., ran from Hartford to New London and Green- port, Long Island. In 1857 the L. Boardman (204 tons), I. T. Clark, managing owner, took the route, and was fol- lowed successively by the Mary Benton (365 tons) in 1861, and the Sunshine (427 tons) in 1864. For ten years this popular and safe boat has run regularly on this route, being commanded first by Captain George W. Bates, and lately by his brother, Hanson A. Bates.

MIDDLETOWN POST-OFFICE.

In the "Statistical Account of Middlesex County," by Dr. Field, published in 1819, occurs the following:

" The mail has long been carried on the road from Hartford to New Haven through Middletown and Durham in this county. * *

* * About the year 1800 a post road was established from Middletown, through Chatham, to East Haddam Landing and thence to New London; and in 1802, another, from Middletown, through Haddam, to Saybrook; but in 1810 these were given up, and a route was established from Mid- dletown to Middle Haddam, Haddam, East Haddam Landing, and , thence to Saybrook. The post road from Middletown through Chatham and Hebron, to Windham was established in 1814; that from Middletown through Chatham, to Colchester in 1817; and that from Middletown through the west part of Haddam to Killingworth, the same year."

The post-office at Middletown was established in 1775. The successive postmasters have been: Wensley Hobby, from 1775 to October 1807; Thaddeus Nichols, from October 1807 to April 1815; Joshua Stow, from April 1815 to April 1818; Samuel Williams, from April 1818 to November 11th 1821; Joshua Stow, from November 1821 to February 20th 1841; E. W. N. Starr, from Feb- ruary 20th 1841 to October Ist 1842; Eli Wilcox, from October Ist 1842 to May 21st 1845; Allen May, from May 27th 1845 to June 14th 1849; William Woodward, from June 14th 1849 to April 1853; Norman Smith, from April 1853 to -; Samuel Babcock jr., from January 1859 to May 15th 1861; Arthur B. Calef, from May 15th 1861 to June 30th 1869; Bartlett Bent, from July Ist 1869, now in office.

The post-office was first kept in a small building used by Wensley Hobby as a store, standing on the west side of Main street, on the extreme north part of the lot now occupied by E. B. Chaffee. From this time onward the office was in various localities until the evening of March 3Ist 1841, when it was removed to the northeast corner room on the first floor of the Custom House.

ALMSHOUSE.

The first almshouse in Middletown was completed and occupied in May 1814. It stood in the southwestern part of the city near Pameacha River. It was a substantial brick building, 40 by 60 feet in size, two stories high in front, and three in the rear and at the ends. It had in the lower story a work room, kitchen, cellar, and dungeon; in the second, two rooms for the steward, a victualling room, and a spare room for occasional uses; in the third, 13 lodging rooms, four of which had fire places. It had also an attic of sufficient size for twenty lodging rooms, The ground on which this stood, two and one-half

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY,

acres, cost $800; the buildings, fences, etc., $7,655; and the furniture, $300; a total of $8,755.

Prior to the erection of this almshouse the poor of the town were " boarded out " or assisted at their homes.

The town farm was purchased in 1853. This consists of 35 acres in the home farm, and a wood lot of 16 acres. On the farm is a large brick dwelling house, with barns, etc., beautifully situated on the south side of a bend in the Connecticut River, and it adjoins the farm of the Con- necticut Hospital for the Insane. The premises are un- der the superintendence of Frederic Cooley, who has made valuable improvements on the property. The average cost of maintaining the farm amounts to about $2,000 annually.

ACTION OF MIDDLETOWN CONCERNING THE CONSTITU- TION OF 1818.

" At a town meeting of the inhabitants of Middletown held on the first Tuesday of Feby A. D. 1818, the following resolves were unani- mously passed. Resolved that in a country like ours where the rulers exercise their power by delegations from the people, it is, we conceive, essential to the preservation of freedom that the public will, constitu- tionally & deliberately expressed should establish some plain standard to which all may immediately reter, to ascertain the authority of the government, and the rights of the community.

"Resolved, that for this purpose it is highly important that the State of Connecticut be provided with a written Constitution, which shall trace as far as practicable, definite boundaries between the executive, legislative, & judiciary departments, which may erect a barrier against the encroachments of power, or the collisions of party violence, & which may secure to the people, the uncontrolled enjoyment of those privileges which they have not, by compact transferred to their tem- porary rulers.

"Resolved, That the Representatives of the Town in the ensuing General Assembly shall be furnished by the Town Clerk, with a copy of these Resolutions and that the said Representatives be hereby re- quested to make all due exertions to procure from the Legislature a recommendation for the meeting of delegates from the several towns in this State, in order to prepare a written Constitution, which shall afterwards be presented to the people for their examination.

" Resolved, That we invite the co-operation of the friends of Civil liberty throughout this State.

"Voted, That the foregoing Resolves be published in the Middlesex Gazette.

"At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Middletown duly qualified legally warned & held on the 4th day of July 1818, at 9 0'c'lk A. M., Alex- ander Wolcott Esqr & Joshua Stow Esqr, were elected delegates to meet in Convention at the State House in Hartford, on the 4th day of August next, to proceed if they deem it expedient with the other delegates there assembled, to the promotion of a Constitution of Civil Government for the people of this State."

RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

" At a town meeting of the Inhabitants of Middletown qualified to vote in Town or Freemen's meeting legally warned & held on the 5th day of October A. D. at 9 o'ck A.M. for the ratification & approval of the Constitution formed by the Convention it was Voted, That those who are in favor of adopting the Coustitution give a vote, with the word Yes, written thereon; those against with the word No. On counting the votes, Two hundred & fifty voted for the ratification, of sd. Consti- tution & one hundred & twenty-five voters voted against the ratifica- tion of said Constitution.

LEAD MINE.

Dr. Field, in 1852, gives the following account of lead mine in Middletown:

"On the north side of Strait Hills, and near Butler's Creek, as it enters the Connecticut River, there is a mine usually called the Lead Mine, which excited a good deal of attention before the American Revolution, and on which foreigners had expended large sums of money. In May 1775, Jabez Hamlin, Matthew Talcott, and Titus Hos- mer were appointed a committee to provide stores of lead as they should judge necessary for the use of the Colony, or to take ore raised out of the mine at Middletown and refined and fitted for the use of the Colony. In July following, the Assembly ordered them to work the

mine. They did so and put up works for smelting and refining the ore, which were completed about the month of September; and at this time high expectations were raised of providing from it a large amount of lead. In March and July of the following year orders were given upon the committee to furnish quantities of lead for military purposes, and November 5th, 5,140 pounds were reported to be in the hands of the committec, and Capt. Samuel Russell was added to the committee to procure lead for the State and to work the mine. The vein ran north- erly toward the river, was followed thirty or forty rods, and in some places was very rich. But the vein being enclosed in granite rock, it was very difficult to get the ore, and as it approached the river it sunk abruptly into the earth. The works, however, were continued until the beginning of 1778, but at a session of the Assembly begun in Febru- ary of that year a report was made, that the manufacture of said ore was unprofitable to the State. The committee were therefore ordered to discontinue the works after having finished the ore on hand."

This mine was worked as a silver mine a short time, about 1852, but was soon abandoned.

MIDDLETOWN FERRY.

In 1726 the General Court,

"Upon consideration of the petition of Izrahiah Wettmore, of Middle- town, showing that there is much need of a ferry to be setup and duly maintained at Middletown, near the warehouses to transport passengers across the river of Connecticut, praying for liberty to set up said ferry. Granted by this assembly, that the said Wettmore shall have the sole lib- erty of setting up a ferry at said place for the space of ten years, and that the fare be sixpence for a man, horse, and load, and three pence for a single man and horse."

A year later, upon the petition of Mr. Wettmore, the authorized fare was increased to twelve pence for man, horse, and load; and four pence for a single person, or single horse. In May, 1737,

" Upon the memorial of Capt. George Philipse and Jabez Hamlin Esq., agents for the town of Midletown, praying that the ferry over Connec- ticut Riverat Midletown (in the town platt) which was formerly granted to Mr. Izrahiah Wettmore, should be granted to the town of Midletown, &c., for the reasons assigned in the memorial: This assembly do there- upon grant the said ferry to the said town of Midletown, to be kept by such person or persons as they shall nominate and appoint from time to time to keep and attend to the same; and that this grant shall continue during the pleasure of this assembly. And this assembly do hereby en- act that the fare of said ferry for the future shall be as formerly."

In 1742 it was ** *

* Resolved by this assembly, that the fare of said ferry be nine pence for man, horse and load, and three pence for a single per- son, in bills of credit of the old tenour or an equivalent in the new ten- our bills, at all times in the year said ferry is passable and no more; any usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding."

It appears by the town record that on December 9th J737, It was

" Voted Messrs. George Phillips Nath'n White and Joseph South- mayd be a com'tee with full power to lease out the ferry against the Town Platt in Middletown (that is granted to the town) to the highest bidder, he finding himself with Boat, Canoon, &c .: Provided he be a per- son sufficient to keep said ferry and to pay for the hire of the same, said Com'tee not to lett the same for more than three years at a time, and they toset up notifications on ye sign post at least Ten Days before such bidding appointing the time and place for such bidding."

In May 1821, it was enacted (Section 13, Title 16, Re- vised Statutes) that

" The ferry across the Connecticut River, between the towns of Mid- dletown and Chatham, shall be maintained exclusively by the Colches- ter and Chatham Turnpike Company; and the said company shall have and possess the said ferry with all its appurtenances and privileges in as full and ample a manner as they were formerly possessed by the town of Middletown," etc.

In June, 1852, the Middletown Ferry Company was incorporated. Section I of the act sets forth that

"The ferry across the Connecticut River between the towns of Mid- dletown and Portland, shall be maintained exclusively by the Middle- town Ferry Company hereinafter incorporated, and the said company shall have, possess, and enjoy the said ferry with all its appurtenances and privileges in as full and ample a manner, and with the same powers as they have been heretofore possessed and enjoyed by the Colchester and Chatham Turnpike Company, and those claiming under it "

MIDDDLETOWN-FERRY-RAILROADS.

Section 4 names as corporators, Stephen Brooks, Evan Davis, Joseph Bacon, and Norman Smith, "being the present proprietors of the Middletown Ferry under the thirteenth section of the sixteenth title of the Revised Statutes, together with such persons as may be hereafter associated with them," etc.

It is remembered that about 1810 a scow boat was used for taking teams over this ferry, and that passengers were carried in a small row boat. The scow was propelled by oars, and it had sails for use when the wind was favor- able. The landing in Middletown was then below where the railroad bridge now is, but it was on a sandy beach which extended for some distance up and down the shore; so that advantage could be taken of the wind and tide in landing. The ferry was then conducted by a Mr. Bowers, then by Mathew Haling, and afterward by a Mr. Savage. An assistant ferryman during many years was a colored man named Thomas Lewis, commonly called " Tom."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 22

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