History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 26

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 26

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Treasurers .- Nehemiah Hubbard, January 1795 to January 1801; Matthew T. Russell, January 1801 to Jan- uary 1817; John Fisk, January 1817 to death, 1847.

From January 1819, this office was united with that of city clerk, and both offices filled by one and the same person.

COURT HOUSES.

The first Court House erected in Middletown was located on the north side of Court street, corner of Pearl, the site now being occupied by the residence of J. Peters Pelton. It was a wooden building, two stories high, 75 feet by 40, built by subscription, on land purchased of Mr. Samuel Russell by deed bearing date, September 1788, consideration £550. The contract for digging the cellar and laying the foundation walls, was made with Joel Hall, of Chatham, for £72, and was paid in rum: that for the frame was made with Samuel Hawley, of Middlefield, for £130, payment for the same being made in West India rum at 3 shillings per gallon, and molasses at 16 pence per gallon. The frame cost 750 gallons of rum and 231 gallons of molasses. It is now impossible to determine the whole cost, but the only subscription list now to be found is here given:

"We the Subscribers promise to pay the several sums affixed to our names respectively to such persons as shall undertake to build a Court House somewhere in the highway lately opened between the estate of

MIDDLETOWN-PUBLIC BUILDINGS-CITY COURT-OLD LANDMARKS.

Dr. Eliot Rawson, & Mrs. Ellsworth, as witness our hands, this 27th day of December 1786.

Comfort Sage ..

£50

Arthur Magill.

Asher Miller ...

Lamberton Cooper.

Ezekiel Woodruff.

20 Asahel .Johnson .. .

George Starr.

40 Ichabod Wetmore.

Bezaleel Fisk

25 Win. Keith.

40 Hezekiah Hurlbert.

Sam'l W. Dana.

40 Giles Sage ..

25 10 15 20 30

Richard Hamlin.

15 Aslıbel Burnham Eben'r Sage .. Chas. Plum.

Philip Mortimer.

20 Jon'n Denny

Mary Alsop.

30 Nathan Starr

George Phillips

60 Sam'l Bull.

John E. Hall ...

30 Chauncey Whittlesey

Seth Wetmore ..

25 Reuben Plum.

Oliver

15 Jos'h Smith ..

20 15

Hill engages ..

£851

" Wensley Hobby will give all the painting & glazing of the windows & find all the materials except glass, suposes to be worth at least

Sam. H. Parsons.

Thomas Goodwin, in rum.

£15 15 10

The present Court House, the second building of the kind, since the county of Middlesex was formed, was built in 1832. It is of brick, stuccoed in front, with a portico to the roof, 84 feet by 50. It cost $10, 100,of which the county paid $2,600, the city $1,500, the town $3,000, and individuals $3,000, it being all arranged at the time that the city and town were to enjoy certain privileges in the building. Here the records of the city and town are kept, and those of the courts until quite recently. Here are the offices of the town clerk and selectmen.

COUNTY JAILS.

There have been three jails in Middletown. The first was on Washington Street Green, and was erected about 1786. In a town meeting held March 13th of that year,

" On memorial of Amos Wetmore & others praying for liberty to erect a goal in the Highway Westward of Dea'n Whittelsey's-Voted that the memorial begranted agreeable to the Request of the Petitioners & that Eben'r Bacon, Colo. Tallcott & Nehemiah Hubbard junr. be a Com'tee to Lay out a place for a Goal & a Convenient Garden and Goal yard in sd. Highway."

The building was a small wooden structure and was probably used until the building of the second jail.

The second jail was located on the east side of Broad street, between College and Court streets. The lot, 55 by 95 feet, was purchased in February 1817 for $250. This was also a wooden building and was sold October 20th 1847.

The present jail was built in 1848. It is a stone struc- ture 44 by 26 feet, and contains twelve cells. It cost, without the site, $3,300. Of- this sum the town appro- priated $1,000, the county $2,300. The lot was a gift from the town. The building is located in the south- western part of the city and has not been materially altered since its erection. It is used as a place of tem- porary confinement and for prisoners convicted of minor offenses, the principal jail being at Haddam. A resi- dence for the jailer was built a few years ago in front of the jail building.

CITY COURT.

from 1879 until April 7th 1884, when he was succeeded by A. B. Calef, Esq., the present incumbent.

The first associate judge was Robert G. Pike, and in February 1884, Daniel J. Donahue, now in office, be- came his successor.

E. B. Birdsey, Esq., served as prosecutor in this court from April 7th 1879 to April 7th 1884, when he was suc- ceeded by M. E. Culver, Esq., now in office.

W. U. Pearne, Esq., has been the clerk of the court since its organization.

OLD HOUSES.

The Gaylord House .-- The oldest house now standing in the city is believed to be the one on Washington street, now occupied by Dr. F. D. Edgerton. It was erected about 1720 by Samuel Gaylord, a native of Windsor, in this State. The initials of himself and wife, S. & M., are still to be seen, cut in a stone, on the side of a fire- place therein.

He died in 1729, but it was not till 1750 that the title passed from his family to Capt. Michael Burnham, of Hartford, who kept a tavern here until his death in 1758. It was during his residence in this house that " St. John's Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons " was organized.

The Burnham family continued to hold the premises until about 1810. From them the title passed through several parties, and in 1848 Capt. Joseph W. Alsop pur- chased it, and it still remains a part of his estate.

One of the Starr Mansions .- The long house on the north side of Washington Street near Main, known by the name of "Jehosaphat Starr," was purchased by him in 1756, the date of its erection being unknown. The land upon which it stands was a part of a grant to the Rev. Samuel Stow in 1670. Mr. Starr enlarged it to ac- commodate his numerous family (14 in all) and it re- mained in the possession of his descendants till 1851, when it was sold to strangers.

The Henshaw House .- On the northeast corner of Broad and College streets, now the property of Charles A. Boardman, was purchased in 1756 by Benjamin Hen- shaw, and on his death the title was vested (1790) in his son Daniel, who lived there till 1803. During this time children were born unto him, and among them a daughter who married the Rev. John Jacob Robertson, D. D., and this couple accompanying the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Hill to Greece in 1830, she became the first female missionary born in this town. Another of these, a son, John Prentiss Kewley, born June 19th 1792, in after life became widely known as the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Rhode Island. The "highway" in front of this house bore the name of " Henshaw Lane " and terminated at this property till 1830, when Broad street was laid out over the western portion of it and the street in front was extended west- ward. When Mr. Henshaw removed from town in 1803, the property was purchased by Mr. William Boardman, the father of the present proprietor.

This court was incorporated by an act of the Legisla- lature, passed at the session of 1879, and was opened for Hubbard Mansion .- The dwelling.house now owned and occupied by Jonathan Kilbourn, on South Main the transaction of business on the 7th day of April in that year. W. T. Elmer, Esq., was judge of the court | street, is believed to be the second in age now in exist-

£30 25 10 30 8

Thompson Phillips

M. Tallcott Russell. Eliza'h Bigelow.

25 Wm. Richards.

Nehemiah Hubbard ..

10 10 15 15

Seth Wetmore, for Staddle

Sam'l Johnson.

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

ence in this city. The land, with the unfurnished house, was bought by John Kent, in February 1733. He com- pleted and occupied it as his residence until his death, December 1775.

In the settlement of his estate it became the property of his daughter Hannah, wife of Elijah Hubbard, the parents of the Hon. Samuel D. Hubbard, a former post- master-general of the United States, and it was his home for many years. Mr. Kilbourn purchased the place in 1854, and has not changed its external appearance since his ownership.

The Elihu Starr House .- March 27th 1759, Samuel Starr purchased of Andrew Bacon and Ann, his wife, a piece of land on the north side of the highway now known as Church street, "with the double dwelling- house in process of erection." In 1768 he conveyed the premises to his son, Elihu, who occupied it till his death, in July 1798. The property remained in the possession of his heirs for many years, and was purchased by Wil- liam Sonthmayd in 1819.

Upon his death, and the settlement of his estate, it be- came the property of his daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of William Woodward. In 1873 it was purchased by the firm of W. & B. Douglas, and has since been oc- cupied by the pastors of the " Strict Congregational So- ciety."

The Wetmore Homestead .- The farm on which is the Wetmore homestead on the Meriden Turnpike, was a portion of the landed estate of the Rev. Samuel Stow, who deeded it to his daughter, Rachael, who became the wife of Izrahiah Wetmore, May 13th 1692. The present house was built in 1746, by their fifth son, Judge Seth Wetmore, and has been kept in excellent preservation. Its carved work and landscape painting are the admiration of the past and present generations, and show it to have been a superior specimen of the mansions of "ye olden time." It has been continuously occupied by the family, five generations having been sheltered beneath its roof. Judge Wetmore was a prominent man in public life, be- ing deputy from this town 48 terms, running from 1738 to 1771, was judge of the County Court, and "justice of the Quorum" (with Jabez Hamlin) for the county, from 1761 10 1768. Though rigid in requiring the exact fulfilment of the laws, he was courteous and tender, much given to hospitality. Jonathan Edwards, after- ward president of Union College, and Timothy Dwight, president of Yale, were wont annually to visit their Aunt (Mrs. Wetmore) during their vacations, and Pierrepont Edwards and Aaron Burr, also her nephews, were mem- bers of his family and studied law with him. Thus this noble mansion was open to the best and most learned of the State, to the benefit and improvement of those born therein. Very many of these sons and daughters have proved themselves worthy of their training, earnest and useful in the ministry and the law, and in commerce they have nobly represented this nation as reliable and trustworthy. In South America and in China the house of Wetmore & Co. remain among the first to this day.

HOTELS AND TAVERNS.

Bigelow's Tavern .- Timothy Bigelow, believed to have come from Hartford, in March 1760, purchased a house and lot on the east side of Main street, being the site now occupied by the stores of A. G. & R. A. Pease, and S. T. Camp. These premises were used by him as a tavern until his death, in 1772, and from that time by his widow, Elizabeth Bigelow, until 1818, when the property was sold to the Swathel family, who also kept tavern there till 1826, when the building was demolished and stores erected in its place. This tavern was the principal house of entertainment in this town and, not to be behind the times in matters of tradition, it is said to be one of many places where General Washington stopped on his journey through New England. It was for many years the office of the public stage-coach on the route between Hartford and New Haven.

Central Hotel .- In 1825, Mrs. Harriet M. Swathel, the last proprietor of the Swathel Tavern, purchased of Samuel Gill the dwelling house and lot on the northwest corner of Main and Court streets and opened a tavern, which was known as the "Central Hotel." This tavern was kept by various persons under the same name unti! about 1850, when the building was removed, and the present McDonough House erected on the site.

Washington Hotel .- In 1812 a number of the citizens formed themselves into an organization known as " The Washington Hotel Company," and purchased the house and lot constituting the homestead of the first mayor, Hon. Jabez Hamlin. On this site they erected the large brick building now in existence, and in which was held the public reception of General Lafayette on his journey through New England in 1825. This building was used as a hotel and private boarding house till 1835, when it became the residence of the Rev. Samuel F. Jarvis, D.D., LL. D., and in 1860 the property of the Berkeley Divin - ity School and the home of the Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut.

The Mansion House was built about 1827, by Hon. Samuel D. Hubbard, and kept as one of the leading hotels for many years under various proprietors. About 1860 the name was changed to the Douglas House; later it became the Clarendon House, and now bears the name of the Forest City Hotel, having been improved and re- modelled by its present owner, Anthony R. Parshley.

Kilbourn House .- Jonathan Kilbourn is 82 years of age. He came to Middletown in 1825, when there were three hotels in the city: John Swathel's, where Pease's store now is, on Main street; Boardman's Coffee House and Hotel, South Main street, near the Baptist church, where Dr. Rush now lives; and Robert Paddock's, in South Main street, where is now the residence of Samuel Coe.

In 1835 Mr. Kilbourn bought of Esther, widow of John Williams, a private residence that stood on the site of the present Kilbourn House. This was opened as a public house, and was called the Farmers' and Mechanics' Hotel. In 1853 it was leased to Thomas Mitchell, and was finally sold to him. The old wooden dwelling was.

MIDDLETOWN-NEWSPAPERS.

burned in 1873, and the present structure was afterward erected. Jonathan S. Dickinson, who was at the same time the mine host of the McDonough House, kept this hotel for a time. He was succeeded by John Turner, and he, in 1876, by the present landlord, Jonathan Wetherbee.

Mc Donough House .- In May 1851, a number of the citizens of Middletown organized the "McDonough Hotel Co.," and in December of that year purchased the old "Central Hotel," removed the buildings, and erected on that site, the present brick edifice, which was named for Commodore Thomas McDonough, the hero of Lake Champlain, whose residence was a few feet north, on Main street, and whose portrait hangs in the office of the hotel. From the time of its erection this has been the leading house of its kind in this city.

THE PRESS OF MIDDLETOWN,

The Middlesex Gazette .- According to Dr. Field, a printing office was established in the city of Middletown in the year 1785, by Messrs. Woodward & Green. The publication of a newspaper, called The Middlesex Gazette was soon after commenced by this firm. Mr. Green sub- sequently withdrew from the business, which was con- tinued by Mr. Woodward until about 1797, when Tertius Dunning purchased the paper. He continued its publi- cation until his death, in October 1823. His son, Charles Dunning, continued it for a short time, and in 1824 it was sold to Epaphras & Horace Clark. In July 1828, they sold it to Theodore N. Parmelee and Edwin T. Greenfield. About a year after this Mr. Greenfield bought out the interest of Mr. Parmelee, and continued, to publish the paper until 1830, when Mr. Parmelee again assumed charge. In 1832 it was sold to Edwin Hunt, and Samuel W. Griswold, Esq., became editor. It next passed into the possession of Joseph Longking jr., and ceased in 1834.

The New England Advocate .- Shortly after the cessa- tion of the Gazette, a newspaper called The New England Advocate was started by George F. Olmsted, by whom it was published about two years.

The Connecticut Spectator was established here, in Jan- uary 1814, by Loomis & Richards. In 1815 Loomis sold out his interest in the enterprise to Richards, by whom it was continued a year or two longer.

The Sentinel and Witness .- January Ist 1823, the first number of the American Sentinel made its appearance. It was established by the firm of Starr & Niles, consisting of William D. Starr and William H. Niles. In 1827 Mr. Starr became the sole proprietor. In January 1833, the Witness was established by H. W. Green; after 32 num- bers had been issued, it was united with the Sentinel, on the 14th of August 1833. The name was changed to Sentinel and Witness, and Mr. Starr became sole propri- etor, and so continued until March 25th 1851, when his son, William J. Starr, and William H. Dunham were taken into partnership. The latter gentleman withdrew from the firm in October following, after which Mr. Starr and his son continued to conduct the paper under the

firm name of W. D. Starr & Co. November 14th 1854, the firm name was changed to W. D. Starr & Son, and so continued until the death of the senior partner, October 26th 1855. From this time his sons, William J., and Samuel J., conducted the paper until June Ist 1867, when it passed into the hands of Townsend P. Abel, and the name was changed to Our Country, and it was issued under this name until September 19th 1868, when Samuel J. Starr again became proprietor and restored the old name of Sentinel and Witness. In January 1878, the paper passed into the hands of Robert G. Pike, and in June of that year was purchased by the present proprietors, Ernest King & Son. It has always been the organ of the democratic party of Middlesex county. It is issued every Saturday from its office near the corner of Main and Center streets.

The Daily Sentinel was issued from the office of the Sentinel and Witness, by Samuel J. Starr, from January 2d 1876 till June 10th 1876, when it ceased.

The Monitor, a weekly paper, was started by Ernest King & Son, March 16th 1878, and was continued by them until the purchase by this firm of the Sentinel and Witness, when it became merged in that paper.

The Constitution .- A weekly paper of this name was commenced on the first Wednesday in January 1838, by Abner Newton. The first daily paper ever published in the city of Middletown was issued from the Constitution office, July Ist 1847. It was continued but a few days. July Ist 1856, Mr. Newton took his son, Abner jr., into partnership, under the firm name of A. Newton & Son. Abner Newton sen., died May 28th 1871, and, July Ist of that year, Abner jr., took entire charge under his own name, and continued it until his death, August 28th 1876. In March 1877, it was purchased by Charles W. Church, a son-in-law of the founder, and is still conducted by him.

The Daily Constitution was issued from the same office, by Abner Newton, July 10th 1872, and continued until a few days before his death.

The Daily News .- The second attempt to establish a daily newspaper in Middletown was made by J. N. Phelps & Co., in October 1850. In March 1851, Messrs. W. B. Casey & Co. assumed charge of the paper, and continued its publication until October 1851, when it was discontinued.

The News and Advertiser was started in January 1851. It was issued from the same office as the Daily News, as an independent paper, until July 1852, when it became a whig organ, and advocated the election of General Scott to the presidency. Like some of its predecessors it had but a short existence, and passed away many years since.

The Daily Herald, in connection with a daily paper in New Britain, was first published in this city, October 19th 1883, by C. E. Woodruff. November ist of that year, the firm name was changed to the Woodruff Publishing Company, and, March 5th 1884, the office became the property of its present owners,"," The Middletown Pub- lishing Company."

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The precautionary measures adopted by the good people of Middletown, nearly one hundred years ago, to guard against fire, have had a salutary effect on those of succeeding generations, for there are not many cities in the United States, of the same population, where so few fires have occurred, and where the destruction of property has been as small as is shown by the records of this city. The first ordinance adopted by the common council, of which there is any record, was as follows:

" MIDDLETOWN, 3d Monday of February, A. D., 1799.

" An Ordinance in addition to an Ordinance entitled 'An Ordinance to prevent Damages by Fire' in the city of Middletown passed Jan'y 14 1785."

"Be it ordained hy the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, That the sd. City be, and the same is hereby divided into three Wards, each Ward to consist of one School District, And that it shall he the duty of the Wardens as often as once at least on the first weeks of Novr. Jany. and March annually, to examine the State of Chimnies, Fire Places, Hearths, Stoves, and receptacles for Ashes in any and all Houses or Shops, within their respective Wards not to endanger the Buildings taking fire, and in all Cases where the sd. Chimnies, Fire Places, Hearths, Stoves, and receptacles for Ashes in the Opinion of such Warden is not sufficiently guarded, he is herehy authorized and directed to give such orders as he shall judge necessary."

The penalty for refusing to obey the warden in any particular was two dollars.

Having adopted suitable measures for guarding against fire, they next made provisions for fighting the "fire fiend " when it should appear. The following ordinance was adopted, providing for the purchase of fire apparatus.

"Be it further ordained That there be provided, for the use of the City Six Ladders of suitable Length. Six Pike Poles to be kept-one- Third in the Northern, one third in the Centre and one third in the Southern part of the City and also Two Fire Hooks, Chains & Ropes at such Places and under such Orders as the Mayor & Aldermen shall Direct."

The first fire company was organized in 1803, as ap- pears by the following, copied from the city records.

"At a meeting of the Freemen of the City of Middletown on the 22d of February 1803.

"Hon. Asher Miller present in the Chair.

By-Laws to prevent t) A By-Law for preserving the Buildings in the City of Middletown from Fire was Read and damage hy Fire. approved.

" At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut holden at Hart- ford on the Second Thursday ot May A . D., 1803.

"Upon the petition of the Inhabitants of the City of Middletown in the State of Connecticut hy their Agents, Elijah Huhhard and Enoch Parsons showing to this Assembly, that said Inhabitants have at great Expense provided a Fire Engine &c., and that a Company to take care of and work the same is ahout being raised, praying that the Mayor, Aldermen, & Common Council of said City may be empowered to grant to such Company the same privileges &c. as have heen usually granted to similar 'companies in other parts of the State.

" Resolved by the Assembly that full Powerbe and hereby is granted to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council in and for said City to cause to be raised, established and organized within the Limits thereof a Fire Engine Company to consist of Inhabitants not exceeding Twenty, and to exempt them from Military Duty, for and during the time they shall actually serve therein."

The power of appointing and discharging members of the company was vested in the mayor and Common Council. James Casey, a prominent merchant, received the first appointment as foreman of the engine company, which, many years subsequently, received the name of Mattabesett Fire Engine Company, No. I.

The following persons were the first appointed as mem- bers of this company: Samuel Wetmore, Phineas Ranney, Daniel Rand, Samuel Cooper, William Boardman, Samuel

Southmayd, Joseph Boardman, Charles Curtiss, John Hinsdale, John R. Watkinson, Samuel Gill, William Cooper, Hy. Carrington. James Casey continued to hold the position of foreman until 1809, when he resigned and Samuel Wetmore was appointed in his place.

At a meeting held in the court house on the first Monday of February 1803, it was

" Voted, That Nehemiah Hubbard, Jr., Jeps. Starr, and James Casey he and herehy are app'd a Com'tee to procure a Fire Engine for the use of the City."

At a meeting held at Mrs. Goodwin's Tavern, on the 4th of February 1803, several ordinances were passed relating to " the Preservation of sd. City from Fire," and among them the following, dividing the city into wards and describing the boundaries of each:

" The First Ward to include that part of said City which lies North of a line, to hegiu at Connecticut River, South of the house in which Com- fort Sage, Esq., formerly lived, to extend through the middle of the road Westward hy the Goal to the City Line.

" The Second Ward to include all that part of the City which lies he- tween the line aforesaid and a line commencing at Connecticut River, North of the Store belonging to Nehem'r Huhhard. Esq., & extending Westward through the middle of parsonage and Henshaw Lanes [now College street] and from the termination thereof in the same direction Westward to the City Line.

" The Third Ward to include all that part of said City which lics Southerly of the last mentioned line."

Every resident owner of a house, store, or office was required to " keep in constant readiness and repair one good Leather Bucket containing not less than two Gal- lons." Any person setting up a stove in a house, with- out the examination and approbation of the fire wardens, was to pay a fine of two dollars.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 26

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