History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 23

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 23

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About 1830 a horse boat was put on the ferry, and then, or soon afterward, William J. French became the conductor. A few years later this boat was replaced by a larger one, on which four horses could be used instead of two as on the first. Stephen Brooks and Evan Davis succeeded Mr. French, and continued to conduct it as a horse ferry till 1852, when the Middletown Ferry Com- pany was incorporated and the steamboat Mattabesett was placed on it. This was built in New York and its cost was about $15,000. In 1859 a small steam apron ferry boat was placed on the ferry as a spare boat to the Mat- tabesett. It was built by S. Gildersleeve & Sons, and its cost was $3,500. The Mattabesett was used till 1870 when the present steam ferry-boat, the Portland, succeeded it. This was also built by Gildersleeve & Sons, and its cost was $30,000.

The first president of the Ferry Company was Stephen Brooks. The succeeding ones have been Erastus Brai- nerd, S. Gildersleeve, Erastus Brainerd jr., and Henry Gildersleeve, the present president. The capital of the company is $40,000.

RAILROADS.

The Connecticut River was during nearly two centuries the main avenue of travel and transportation between Middletown and the great centers of trade and population of the country. During a portion of each year, however, communication between this town and distant places was by the more tedious stage routes over common highways. During the first two decades of the present century turn- pikes came into existence, and these afforded improved means of travel, and supplied a great desideratum, espe- cially in that portion of each year when the navigation on the river was closed.

The era of railroads came, and the people of Middle- town were not slow to discern their prospective utility.

The following record shows the action of the town in the case of the Hartford and New Haven Railroad:

" At a special meeting of tho Inhabitants of the Town of Middletown held at the Town Hall on the 31st day of Oct'r A. D. 1835, agreeable to notleo.

"Charles Woodward Esqr. was chosen Moderator. Voted, That the thanks of this meeting be presented by the Moderator to the President & Engineer of the Hartford & New Haven Rail Road Company for the attention which they have given to the route through Middletown, & the communication they have just made to this meeting on the subject.

" Voted, That William S. Camp be, & he is hereby appointed an agent as proposed & suggested to this meeting by the President of said Rail Road, at the expense of said Company to see the several proprietors of land on the Railroad route & procure from them, on the best terms for said Company release deeds of such lands as may be wanted for said Rail road."

The New York and Boston Railroad was chartered in 1846, and when the people in Hartford assumed an atti- tude of hostility to this road, the people in Middletown manifested their interest in the enterprise by their action in town meeting, as shown by the following record:

" A special meeting of the inhabitants of Middletown was held agree- able to notice in the Town Hall on the 25th day of Jan'y A. D. 1847.

" Whereas this Town is deeply interested iu the success of the con- templated New York & Boston Rail Road, & whereas efforts are now making in Massachusetts & are soon to be made in Rhode Island for its extension through a portion of those States to Boston & whereas the people of Hartford in a hostile spirit have given forinal notice that they shall petition the next Legislature of our own State to repeal so much of the existing Charter as authorizes the ereetion of a bridge over Con- neetieut River for the purposes of s'd Railroad & whereas it is perfectly apparent to all that such a bridge will afford ample facilities to the free navigation of said River, & Whereas the increasing demands of the public require immediate action in the premises, we feel sanguine that if decisive steps are now taken, said Road will forthwith be extended to Boston, & said Charter triumphantly sustained & that thereupon a great national inland thoroughfare will be opened from Boston to New York, directly through this town, which for profitable investment, safety at all seasons of the year, shortness of time & distance will defy competition & Whereas at a full convention of delegates from the sev-

eral towns, along the proposed route of said road, holden at this place on the 13th instant, said towns were requested to appoint agents whose duty it shall be to act in furtherance of this popular & noble enterprise. It is therefore Resolved, That persons be now appointed as such agents. whose duty it shall be to represent the interests of the Town, in facili- tating the extension of said Road & in defending said charter, or in act- ing upon any other matter relative to said Road, which may effect the interests of the Town, & so far as consistent with said interests, they shall endeavor to act in accordance with the views of the original Town Railroad Com'ee."

At a special town meeting held April 14th 1851

"The following resolution was passed, the vote being taken by ballot by order of the meeting, yeas 372, nays 176, viz .:

"Resolved, That the Seleetmen of this town be directed, and they are hereby required to apply in the name of this town, to the next General Assembly of this State, to be holden at the City of Hartford, for per- mission to loan the eredit of this town, and to issue bonds for the same to an amount not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars to aid the New York & Boston Railroad Company in constructing their rond with- in the limits of this State."

Through all the subsequent struggles of this company, and till the completion of the road, the people of Mid- dletown gave it their support. By taking stock from time to time, and loaning its credit to the company the town contributed toward the construction of the road an aggregate of $897,000.

In the case of the Connecticut Valley -Railroad the following extracts from the town records show the action of the town:

"A Special Town Meeting was called to be held in Middletown on Thursday tho Hth day of Jan'y 1869, for legal voters of said town to enst their ballots, for or against the following Vote:

" Vote, That Gaston T. Hubbard be & he is hereby authorized to sub- scribe, in the unme & behalf of the town of Midd'n for fifteen hundred shares of the Stock of the Connecticut Valley Railroad Company, nt the par value thereor, whenever such Agent shall receive n written notice so to do, signed by all the members of a Committee of tive persons to be appointed nt n special town meeting herenfter to be called for that pur- pose. The meeting was held according to notlee and when the returns cumo in from the several voting districts the following was deelared to be the aggregate vote, Yes five hundred & seventeen, No Ninety four " "A Special Town meeting was held In Middletown on Ist dny of

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

October 1869, when no objection being made to its legality, & after a full discussion the following Vote was passed. Voted, "That a Com- mittec of five persons, be appointed, in accordance with the vote of the special town meeting of the town of Middletown held at the Town Hall on the 14th day of January A. D. 1869, said Committee to be con- stituted as follows: Henry G. Aubbard, Allyn M. Colegrove, Samuel Babcock, Augustus Putnam & Michael H. Griffin."

"MIDDLETOWN Conn Oct 2, 1869.

"G. T. HUBBARD ESQR. Sir, You are hereby authorized to subscribe ' for fifteen hundred shares of the Capitol Stock of the Connecticut Valley Rail Road, in conformity with the vote passed at a meeting of the voters of Middletown held at the Town Hall Augt 14 1869, and the vote passed at a subsequent meeting held at the same place Octr 1st 1869, appointing the undersigned said Committee.

"HENRY G. HUBBARD

SAMUEL BABCOCK

AUG PUTNAM M. H. GRIFFIN ALLYN M. COLEGROVE."

" I have subscribed to the Capital Stock of the Connecticut Valley Railroad fifteen hundred shares. in accordance with the above authority this 2d day of Octr 1869. " GASTON T. HUBBARD,

Agent for town of Middletown."

It is thus seen that the town contributed toward the construction of these roads an aggregate of $1, 137,000.

It is hardly necessary to add that the usual course of foreclosure of first mortgages has been followed in the cases of these roads, and that beyond the benefits which these roads afford of increased facilities for travel and trans- portation the town has received no return for these ex- penditures.

MIDDLETOWN IN THE REVOLUTION.

It is not necessary to rehearse the events which led to the war of the Revolution, for with these almost every one is familiar. It is proposed to give here a brief his- tory, based on such records as are available, of this town in its relation to that important war.

It must be remembered that at the breaking out of the Revolution, Middletown had developed the most pros- perous foreign commerce that the town ever enjoyed, and that, as a consequence, agriculture and domestic manu- factures had a degree of prosperity which they had never before reached. There were few towns, therefore, that felt the calamities of war more keenly than did this. No hesitation, however, was ever manifested by the people in the discharge of what they deemed their patriotic duty. More than a century of self-government, under a charter or constitution which neither threats nor bribes could compel or induce them to relinquish, had so greatly strengthened the independent spirit here, as elsewhere in Connecticut, that, regardless of mercenary considerations, they were ready to resist the first encroachments on their liberties.

When the news of the enactment of the Boston Port Bill, and of the arrival of General Gage to enforce it was received, the inhabitants of this town, to the number of more than five hundred, assembled and adopted the fol- lowing resolutions:

"That we will heartily concur in any salutary measures that may or shall be devised and come into or recommended by a General Congress, from all or most of the Colonies, or by the greater places of trade or commerce on the Continent, or by the inhabitants of this colony, for the preservation of the rights of British Americans.

"2." That Messrs Matthew Talcott, Richard Alsop, and Titus Hosmer be our committee of correspondence, whose duty it shall be to collect all such intelligence as may be necessary to enable us to act our part presently and to good effect in the system of America; to communi- cate such intelligence to others as may be useful to them and the com-

mon cause, and in our behalf to co-operate with the committees of other towns in concerting any general plan of proceeding for the good of the whole."

The non importation and non consumption of British goods was recommended by the Continental Congress and the Colonial Assembly, and it was promptly and heartily concurred in by the people here, as the follow- ing record shows:

" December 5, 1774 .- Whereas the Continental Congress of Delegates from the British Colonies in America held at the City of Philadelphia on the fifth day of September last, did in behalf of said Colonies, enter into an association for non importation, non exportation, & non consumption as by their Journal appears did in the eleventh article of the same recom- mend & direct that a committee should be chosen & impowered in every city, town & place in said colonies to inspect the conduct of the inhabitants and see that said association was duly kept & observed, & whercas the House of Representatives of this Colony in their sessions held at New Haven, on the 2d of October last, did resolve that said as- sociation ought to be kept & observed, by the inhabitants of this co- lony, and did recommend it to the several towns in this colony, in their town meetings, to choose committees for the purposes in said eleventh article of said association expresscd;

" Voted That Major Matthew Talcott, Capt. Philip Mortimer, Titus Hosmer Esq., Major Jehosaphat Starr, Mr. George Phillips, Capt. Solo- mon Sage Joseph Frary, Capt. Roger Riley Capt. Nathaniel Gilbert, Capt. Isaac Miller, Daniel Whitmore Capt. Stephen Hubbard, Francis Clark, Capt. Ebenezer Johnson, Joel Adkins, Liut. David Tryon Elijah Hubbard Jr. be a Committee for this town to inspect the conduct of the inhabitants of this town, touching the said association & see the same duly observed & kept, to publish the names of any wilful transgressor of said association and generally to do everything necessary to the carrying into execution the association aforesaid, according to the true intent and meaning of said Congress."

The members of this committee, as well as those of the committee of correspondence, were active and effi- cient in the discharge of their duties, and among the prominent and influential men in the town, who exerted themselves in giving a right direction to public opinion, Titus Hosmer, Esq., was one of the most efficient.

A company of light infantry was formed in Middle- town during 1774, and Return Jonathan Meigs was made its captain. On the receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington, in April 1775, Captain Meigs marched his company, fully armed and uniformed, to the environs of Boston, where Captain Comfort Sage, with his troop of artillery had already arrived.

In the same month Samuel Holden Parsons, whose family resided here during the Revolution, together with several others, undertook the project of surprising and seizing the post of Ticonderoga. The successful execu- tion of this project did much to inspire the patriots here, as well as elsewhere, with confidence.

A lead mine in this town had been worked by foreign- ers, who had expended on it large sums of money. At the commencement of the Revolution it was in possession of Colonel James, a British officer, who had a large quantity of ore ready for exportation. The Government of Connecticut at once seized and smelted this ore for use in the war.

The following extracts from letters of Titus Hosmer to Silas Deane, Esq., show, among other things, that great expectations were entertained concerning this mine. They also show to what expedients the people were con- pelled to resort for obtaining the most necessary war materials.

" MIDDLETOWN, May 22, 1775.

* * "Our next object was to provide for our troops; and here you might have been entertained with very various debates,

MIDDLETOWN-REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

whether the soldiers should take their chances to find lodgings in de- sorted houses, barns, and hovels, or whether tents should be provided for them; whether they should have spoons to eat their pease with, pails to draw water, bottles to carry it with them, and many such important subjeets; on which the gentlemen on the saving establishment shone with peculiar luster.

" The state of the Lead Mine in this town has likewise engaged ourat- tention. Upon enquiry, we find the ore is plenty and reputed rich, the vein is opened, seven tons of ore now raised and ready for smelting, and any other quantity may be had that may be required. The only desi- deratum is, how to smelt the ore and the metal. This may unquestion - ably be done if skilful,workmen can be obtained. Mr. Wales who is now at New York, has orders to make enquiry there for such workinen, and gain every information necessary on this subject. If you could give ns any light, from enquiries you can make where you are, eitber with regard to workmen, or the process, you will render an acceptable service to your country, as there ean be no reasonable doubt, if we can succeed in refining, that this mine will abundantly supply, not only New England, but all the colonics with lead, in such plenty as to answer every demand of war of peace.

"Our men enter into the service with great ardor. Most of the Cap- tains have enlisted more than their compliment, and some who came too late have bought in, rather than be disappointed of a share in the ser- vice. Samuel Webb is Lieut. in your brothers place. Mr. Whitney goes General Spencer's Quarter Master. Everything out doors is spirit, ac- tivity, and determined bravery. The outside of the sepulchre is fair, but within-the Seripture will tell the rest; tho' we have not so many devils as Mary Magdelen had; indeed the Devil of Avariee is all that we have to complain of."

" MIDDLETOWN, May 28th '75.

" We have resolved to give a bounty of five shillings on a stand of arms complete, and one and sixpence for a gun-loek manufactured in this colony. Also a bounty of ten pounds on every fifty wt of saltpetre and £5 on every 100 lbs. of sulphur manufactured from materials found in this Colony, and manufactured here, within one year from the rising of this Assembly . I believe you must be advised of this before, and I only mention them to introduce a request that you would inform yourself as well as you can, at Philadelphia, how the earth impregnated with nitre may be known and distinguished, and by what process the saltpetre is separated: also, how the ore or bed in which Sulphur is found may be known, and how it is separated; which may be of service towards matur- ing and setting on foot the manufacture of gun-powder. Iam informed Sulphur is found in Maryland; if so, perhaps the delegates from that colony may give some intelligence that may be material."

" MIDDLETOWN, Nov. 19th 1775.

" Kibbe has discovered a method of combining an alkali with the nitrous acid, and at the same time disengaging and precipitating the oily and heterogeneous matters that prevent the crystalization of the Nitre

" He at present makes it a seeret not to be communicated, but for a largo reward Major Troop purchased of him. I bought it of Major Troop. I am under no injunetion to conceal it, and as I have no very sanguine expectations from the Nitre works in this Colony, I will give you the best account of it I can, in hopes it may be of some greater use where you are than (I fear) it will be here. *

* *

" Major Troop and Mr. Chapman had wasted the summer in a number of fruitless experiments, but they practiced upon this plan, since which they have had success. They had before made about 40 lbs. of saltpetre which cost near four months; they have sinee in about six weeks, made 170 lbs. and continue .to turn out about 30 lbs. per week. But 30 lbs. a week will not detray their expence, when the bounty ex- pires. The best native carth contains but a small proportion of nitre. Mr. Troop gave ine a partienlar account of their weekly expenses, as follows:

"I Team constantly employed to get carth 2 s. 10 d. per diem. £0 17 0 2 men with the team, at 3 s per diem each 1 16 0 2 men at the works, at 3 s per diem caeh 1 16 0 4 loads of wood, at 5 s .. 1 00 0

Besides the wear and tear of works, utensils, contingenees &e.

not less than 1 00 0

6 09 0

30 lbs. saltpetro at 3 s.

4 10 0

Net loss per week .. 1 19 0

"As none of the manufacturers of saltpetre in this Colony at present seem to think of attempting any other way of procuring materials for their manufacture but from carth found under barns, &e., I expeet they will be given up at tho expiration of the Colony's bounty, without weh, In their mothod they must bo accompanied with loss.

" I believe a nitrons compost may be made, by a mixture of animat and vegetable substances, proper earth, ashes, lime, &c. digested und incorporated by putreťaction in a suitable place, which will render tho manufacturo of saltpetre profitable, independent of the Colony bounty

and I am preparing to try the experiment at my works. If this will not. I must give them up with the rest, in the Spring.

"The discovery of this method *

* was merely accidental, * -tho it appears to be the same with that practiced by the Norwich artist, who demands £500 for his secret. You have my free consent to communicate the above process to any gentlemen to whom it may be useful; but as those here who made the first discovery have been at great expense, and are endeavoring by the sale of their secret to liek them- selves whole, I should not ebose to have them blown at present by a publication in the newspapers, or otherwise.

"Our Lead works have been kept back by the great rains this month past. In ten days at fartbest, I shall be able to inform you bow they succeed. The Stamping mill is going and the furnaec will begin to blow next week, unless prevented by stormy or cold weather. We are very ignorant here of what is doing with you, and some begin to eom- plain, that the measures of Congress are very secret. When will a Con- federation take place? Shall we not be in danger of falling to pieces soon, if it is delayed? Remember, we know not of the extent of the powers of Congress. Jealousy is easily exeited, in many minds, once excited it is not easily conjured down. You may curse my cold that has confined me -to-day, for the trouble of the long letter, and thank my want of paper it is no longer-as I have only room to subscribe my- self. "Afectionately yours,

"TITUS HOSMER."

Although the people here were, from the first, strongly opposed to the measures adopted by Great Britain to op- press the colonies, and to force submission to these op- pressive acts, and this opposition became stronger as time went on, there were those here who not only doubted the propriety of the course pursued by the colonies, but were strictly and conscientiously loyal to the English govern- ment. Toryism, however, never flourished here as it did in those portions of the country where the presence or proximity of the British troops encouraged those who were disaffected toward the American cause. Of the few that were here, some took refuge in Nova Scotia or else- where in the King's dominions, and others took care to conceal their real sentiments. Instead of being a place where loyalists might with impunity declare their senti- ments it was rather the colony to which they were sent for safe keeping. The tory mayor of the city of New York, and many other smaller tories were sent hither to be cared for by the people, who were also often called on to bestow kindness and hospitality on those who fled from Long Island to escape the consequences of their patriot- ism.

The last royal governor of New Jersey was sent by a convention of that State to Governor Trumbull, who was requested, in case of his refusal to give his parole, to treat him as a prisoner. He was brought into the State on the day of the Declaration of Independence, and after a few days, by his own request, was sent to Middletown. Here he remained till the people became alarmed because of his presence, and in town meeting took the following ac- tion:

"January 7th 1777 .- Voted that upon a motion made to this meeting for a committee to remove Gov. Franklin out of this town, Capt. Samuel Russell, Col. Comfort Sage and Seth Wetmore to be a committee to prefer n petition to his Honor Gov'r Trumbull, to remove said Gover'r Frank- lin from this for safety of this town & State."

It does not appear from any record here that action was taken by Governor Trumbull, but the journal of Congress of the 22d of April in that year records the fol- lowing:

"Congress resolved, That Gov. Trumbull be informed that Congress have received undoubted information that William Franklin, Inte Gov- ernor of the State of New Jersey, and now a prisoner in Connecticut. lins, since his removal to that State, sednlously employed himself in dis- persing among the inhabitants the protection of Lord Howe and Gen.

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Howe. styled the King's Commissioners for granting pardons, &c., and otherwise aided and abetted the enemies of the United States; and that he be requested to order the said William Franklin, Esq., into close con- finement, prohibiting to him the use of pen, ink, and paper, or the ac- cess of any person or persons but such as are properly licensed by Gov- ernor Trumbull."

During 1776 the militia of Connecticut were subjected to five heavy drafts, and in August of that year all the standing militia of the State west of the Connecticut River, were ordered to march to New York city. Instead of the question, who went from Middletown that year ? the proper inquiry would be, who did not go ? Of offi- cers from this town Comfort Sage went as a colonel, and General Samuel H. Parsons. Captain Jabez Hamlin, who went as an ensign under Captain Return Jonathan Meigs the previous year, died this year. It is known that the hardships and privations of the militia this year were very great; that many from Middletown suffered severely, and that some died in prison or of cold and hunger. Of those who died in prison, the names are known of James Smith, Abijah Kirby, Nathan Edwards, and Reuben Kirby, from Upper Middletown alone. The number from all parts of the town must have been large.

Early in the campaign of 1777, the State of Connecticut was invaded, and during this year the services of her sons were required in other States. The following from the town records will give something of an idea of what was done here to supply men for the ranks of the Continental army, in addition to the services that the militia rendered from time to time:

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 23

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