History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 52

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 52

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"Voted the Same Com'tee Chosen in a former Town Meeting To Class the Town in order to Rase the Con- tinantal Troops Should be a Com'tee To Class in order to Raise the Second Division of State Troops.

" Voted to appoint a Com'tee to procure Clothing for the Soldiers according to a Late act of the General Assembly the Com'tee Chosen and appointed are Gideon Hall Thomas Rogers John Eddy jun and Dewey Hall.

" Voted to Give Said Comittee Discreationary orders in Purchasing Said Clothing."

July 5th 1781. "Voted by this meeting To Raise four pence on the pound Through the Town for Suply of Beef for the army agreeable To a late act of the Gen- eral assembly.

John Bidwell Gideon Arnold and Enoch Smith ye 3 are chosen Receivers of provision and Clothing agree- able to a Late act of the General Assembly.

" Voted by this meeting that the Soldiers in the Town of Chatham Lately Draughted Called the three months Men Shall be paid out of the Town Treasury Consider- ing the publick Bounty and wages they may Receive as to make them Equal or as Good as the Soldiers were Who were Draughted the Last Sumer."

December 3d 1781. "Thomas Bliss Gideon Hall Hez'h Goodrich William Dixson Elijah Stocking John Bates and Ralph Smith were Chosen Commitee of Suplies for the Soldiers families for the year Ensueing."

February 2Ist 1782, "Eben'r White Esq'r Col'n John Penfield were chosen as a Com'tee to Represent the Town in Regard To meeting with a Com'tee appointed by the Generall assembly in Respect To Delinquents and Claims To State and Contenential Soldiers.

" Voted by this meeting To Raise men for Horse Neck Soldiers according To a late act of the assembly and To Do it by the Town.

" Capt. Joseph Sage Capt. Joseph Kellogg Ithamer Pelton Josiah Strong Chancy Bulkley Capt. Bryan Parmelee and L't James Bill are Chosen as a Com'tee To procure this Town's Cota of State Soldiers and also the Continentall Soldiers When the Number is ascertained " Voted by this meeting forthwith To Raise two pence on the Pound on the Common List taken in the year 178r in order to Defray the Charge of procuring and paying Said Soldiers the one half of which may be paid in Grain at the following prices (viz) Wheat at 6 / pr Bushel Rye at four and Corn at three and in the Care of the Town Treasurer To Direct where Such Grain Shall Be Delivered.

" Collectors Chosen To Gather Said Rate are Amasa Daniels Thomas Cowdery and Jesse Johnson."

On December 16th 1782, David White, Noah Smith, Thomas Cooper, Josiah White, Joseph Pelton, Hezekiah Sears, Capt. Stephen Brainerd, Isaac Bevin, and Benja- min Smith were Chosen a Committee of Supplies for the year ensuing.

" Voted the Com'tee of Supplies Should have Liberty of Drawing Money out of the Town Treasury the year Ensuing by order of the Selectmen To Support the Soldiers' families."

March roth 1783, Thomas Williams was chosen a com- mittee of Supplies for the " present " year.

" Voted by this meeting the Selectmen of the Town Shall have full power To Settle with Some former Com'tees of Supplies according to their Best Discreation on account of Deprecation of State orders which They Raised in pay for Supporting Soldiers' families."

" At a Town meeting held in Chatham the 25th of Sept'r 1783 Warned for the purpose of Chusing a Com'tee if found proper to joiyne the Convention which is to Set at Middletown the 30th Septem'r Instant by adjourn- ment in order To Consult about Some Public Concerne * * it being put to vote by ye moderator whether we would Send a Deligate To Joyn Said Con- vention at Middletown Voted in the Negative."

In the Revolution it is probable that if a complete list of persons between the ages of 15 and 50, able to bear

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arms, could be recovered, the list of those who served would be considerably larger than those who did not. In all probability nearly all served for a longer or shorter period during those trying times. A few names* of those who saw active service have been recovered from the town records and other sources, and the list as far as it goes is thought to be reliable.

List taken from the town treasurer's book, of soldiers to whom bounties were paid in 1781-82:

Sergeant Beriah Wheeler, Hewit Alvord, Jabez Ran- ney, Jesse Morgan, William Gray, John Welsh, Stephen Ackley, Samuel Caswell, Stephen Ackley jr. Andrew Cornwall, John Fuller, Richard Beebe, Randall Shattuck, Martin Stiles, Ebenezer Brown, William Exton, Abishai Penfield, Hopkins West, James Cook, Elijah Green, Asahel Cheney, Elijah Abell, Ichabod Bailey, Ephraim Norcutt, Richard Struckland, David Snow, John Stock- ing, George Pelton, Josiah Goff, Co !. Samuel Penfield, Samuel Fox, William Norcutt, James Bailey, Daniel Bliss, Jabez Hall, Jesse Kneeland, Aaron West, Joel Bacon, Nathaniel Roberts, Amos Rich, Isaac Johnson, Henry Goslin, Reuben Payne, George Carry, John Wright, Ithamar Pelton, Abraham Bailey, Daniel Miller, Daniel Lee, Samuel Brown, Capt. Churchill's son, Spar- row Smith, Joseph Shepherd, Abijah Fuller jr., Stephen Gates, Roland Percival, Capt. Stewart, Amos Ranney, Jonah Strickland, Daniel Burton, Daniel Lane, Eph- riam Briggs, Joel House.

According to Middle Haddam church records, Asa Brainerd died in the camp, December 1775; Gilbert died in the camp, March 1776; Jesse Swaddle died returning from captivity, December 1776; Josiah Arnold died re- turning from captivity, January 3d 1777; John Smith died at Milford returning from captivity, January 15th 1777; Elisha Taylor jr. died, "returned from captivity last Saturday, January 23d 1777;" Seth Doane jr. returned from captivity same day as Taylor, January 30th 1777; John Snow died at Milford returning from captivity, some time in January 1777; Jesse Higgins jr. died at Danbury of an accidental wound, November 24th 1777; Jonathan Cook jr. died at New York, a prisoner, November 1777; Seth Higgins died a prisoner in New York, August 1777; Heman Higgins, in the army, died with sickness 1778; Jesse Higgins died in the army, December 1778; Nathan- iel Rich was killed in the action at Norwalk, July 11th 1779; Jabez Arnold jr. died at East Haven, on a tour of the militia, August 9th 1779; Capt. David Brooks, Na- thaniel Stocking, Jonathan Brainard jr., William Akins, Elisha Cook, Elijah Green, James Stocking, died in New York, June 4th 1782.

From various scources, thought to be reliable.

Abel Abell, Nathaniel Cone, Daniel Morgan, Elihu Hubbard, Richard Mayo, jr., Capt. Seth Doane, Reuben Stocking, John H. Strong, Joseph Hurd, Benjamin Hurd, Jesse Hurd, Jacob Hurd, Major Jonathan Bowers, Timo- thy Clark, Jacob Norton, Dolphin, a slave, Joshua Frank, colored, David Clark, Daniel Clark, Stephen Clark, Elijah

Clark, died 1777, Abner Clark, died, Amos Clark, Philo Clark, Daniel Churchill, Gideon Cook, died August 19th 1776, in New York, in the army; Henry Strowbridge, John Trowbridge, Judah West, Ichabod Stoddard, Ben- jamin Cobb, Dr. Amos Skeels, Dr. Robert Usher, Dr. Elias Norton, Capt. Silas Dunham, Capt. Stephen Brain- erd, Capt. Stephen Olmstead, Stephen Olmstead jr., Daniel Judd jr., Nathaniel White, Peter Parker, Capt. Stephen Griffith, Nathaniel Ackley, Sylvester Summers, John Johnson, Lieut. Marcus Cole, Abner Cole, Hendrick Cole, Moses Cook, Nehemiah Gates, Soloman Bailey, Michael Smith, Samuel Young, Stephen Knowlton jr., Ebenezer Rowley, John Church, Lemuel Scoville, Na- than Scoville, Rev. Benjamin Boardman, Amasa Archer, Ichabod Lucas, Samuel Kilbourn, Timothy Kilbourn, killed in the battle of Bunker Hill; Othniel Brainerd, Sela Brainerd, Philip White, Comfort Beebe, Eli Bige- low, John Hill, Elisha Niles, John Markham, Lieut. Titus Carrier, John Niles, Robert Dingwell, Joshua Griffith, Joseph Dart, Sergeant Thomas Hubbard, Seth Knowles, Abner Stocking, David Strong, Richard Flood, John Rich, Samuel Rich, Cornelius Rich jr., Lieut. David Smith.

WAR OF 1812.

The following were soldiers in the war of 1812: Joel Archer, Justus Bolles, Lester Brainerd, Zechariah W. Calef, Festus Cone, Patrick Derby, Lemuel S. Griffith, William Haling, Jesse Hubbard (died in the army in 1812), Charles Markham, Nathaniel Purple, Russell Rich, E. Dunham Rowley, Porter Smith, Moses West, Warren West, John Willey, Elias Young, and Samuel Young.

THE REBELLION.

The first recorded action of the town of Chatham per- taining to the war of the Rebellion, was at a special town meeting held at the South Congregational Church in East Hampton, May 25th 1861, when it was voted:

" That the town appropriate not to exceed one thou- sand dollars for the support of the families of persons who have or may enlist in the service of the United States."

July 28th 1862, a special town meeting was held, and was voted to pay the sum of $too to each volunteer un- der " the late call of the president," before the 20th of August following. This action seems to have been taken in an illegal manner, for in response to the petition of 20 legal voters of the town and "as doubts were en- tertained as to the extent and effect of the Resolution of July 28th," another meeting was held August 9th 1862, and it was:

"Resolved that the selectmen be instructed to put such construction on the vote of July 28th 1862, as to pay one hundred dollars bounty to every man enlisting in the town of Chatham since the date of said vote until our full quota is made up under the late call for six hun- dred thousand men and extend the time of enlist- ment from the 20th inst. to the demands of the Govern- ment."

*Some of these names are also mentioned in the history of Portland, which was then included in the town of Chatham.

187

August 20th 1862, a bounty of $100 was voted to every volunteer who had enlisted previous to July 28th 1862, and the bounty for subsequent enlistments for a service of nine months was fixed at $150.

To meet the indebtedness incurred by the payment of bounties, the town voted, February 14th 1863, to issue town bonds to the amount of $11,850, the bonds to bear interest at the rate of six per cent. and none to be sold at less than par value. The sum to be raised was afterward increased to $12,000, and twelve bonds of $1,000 each were issued May Ist 1863, made payable as follows: $4,000 in five years, $4,000 in ten years, and $4,000 in fifteen years. Eleven of these bonds were sold to the So- ciety for Savings, Hartford, Conn., at a premium of 21/2 per cent., and the remaining one, Bond No. 8, was pur- chased by Sylvester N. Williams, at 10 per cent. premium.

At an adjourned special town meeting, held at East Hampton, July 28th 1863, the following resolutions were passed:

" Whereas, under the recent act of Congress for calling out the national forces, approved March 3d 1863, some twenty-five or thirty citizens of the town of Chatham are liable to be drafted into the United States service for a term of three years or during the war, thus not only de- priving the community of their services, without which the industrial interests of the town must inevitably suffer but the families of the means of support, rendering the same liable to become a town charge-and whereas it is understood that said act is permissory and not manda- tory in as much as it allows the person drafted to furnish a substitute or pay the exemption fee-and whereas, in the opinion of this meeting, the act itself is unjustly dis - criminating, and that between the rich and poor, the de- cision of the Sec'y of War in fixing the price of exemp- tion at the maximum allowed by law, to wit, three hun- dred dollars, needlessly oppressive and burdensome- and whereas it is not the design or belief of this meeting that to comply with the conditions of the law is to defeat the object of the Government-and whereas we firmly believe that the rich and the poor should meet together on equal and common grounds, at least so far as civil and political rights are concerned, not forgetting that the Lord is the maker of them all, therefore

"Resolved ist-That to provide against the possible contingencies set out in the foregoing preamble and to relieve to some extent those who may be drafted, of the burdens which the law unequally imposes and to furnish the Government with means to provide substitutes that the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars be and is here- by appropriated to each and every person drafted, whose ratable estate is set in the list at a sum of twelve hun- dred dollars and the sum of three hundred dol- lars to each and every person drafted whose ratable estate is set in the list at a less sum than twelve hun- dred dollars and who fail to secure exemption from disability or other causes, with the understanding that said sums are to be received by the person for whose benefit the same is appropriated as a bounty, with the further condition and understanding that it shall be optional with the drafted whether they will render the service demanded by the Government in person or by substitutes or in the not less legal and honorable method of paying the price of exemption.

" Resolved 2d-That the money thus appropriated be raised by the issue and sale of town bonds and the Selectmen and town Treasurer are hereby authorized and instructed to issue the same in sums not less than

five nor more than ten years to run and in all other to be under the same regulations as those issued, bearing the date, May Ist 1863." * * * * *

At a meeting held September 5th 1863, the second resolution was rescinded and the first was amended by striking out the following: " and to furnish the Govern- ment with means."

At the same meeting it was resolved,

" That the Selectmen be authorized and empowered to borrow on the faith and credit of the town such sum or sums as shall be equal to the sum total required to pay to each person drafted and accepted the sum of three hundred dollars as provided in the first Reso- lution."

At a meeting held September 24th 1863, the resolu- tions passed September 5th were rescinded and the fol- lowing were passed:

" Resolved, That the sum of three hundred dollars be appropriated to each person drafted under the late call of the President for 300,000 conscripts, said sum to be used in procuring substitutes or in payment of the exemp- tion fee at the option of the person drafted; said sum to be paid when accepted by the board of enrollment or sworn into the service of the United States.

" Resolved, That one or more of the Selectmen be in- structed to be present at the examination of drafted men from the town of Chatham, and pay to those who elect to serve in person or by substitute the sum of three hun- dred dollars for each person drafted from said town when accepted by the Board of Enrollment."

December 21st 1863 .- " Resolved, That the sum of eighteen hundred dollars or such part thereof as may be necessary be and the same is hereby appropriated by the town of Chatham to defray the expense of recruiting volunteers to fill the quota of said town under the late call of the President for 300,000 men, provided the fif- teen are secured."

The selectmen were authorized to borrow the neces- sary funds to carry out the provisions of the above reso- lution.

January 6th 1864 .- " Voted, That a committee of five consisting of the Selectmen, Abner G. Bevin, and New- ton S. Williams be authorized to procure substitutes and that they be unlimited and act discretionary in procuring the same."

At a special meeting called in accordance with an act passed by the Legislature, November 1863, held in East Hampton, January 18th 1864, the former acts of the town, making appropriations for the benefit of drafted men were legalized.

January 23d 1864 .- " Voted, to lay a tax of six mills on a dollar on the levy next to be completed, to defray the expenses incurred by paying the exemption fee for drafted men under the call of the President for 300,000 volunteers."

At a special meeting, held April 4th 1864, the sum of $too was voted " in favor of Timothy McCarty, a volun- teer in the service of the United States and credited to the town of Chatham."

August 9th 1864 .- "The following resolutions were presented to the meeting:

" Whereas, under the call of the President for 500,000 volunteers 36 men are required from the town of Chat-

CHATHAM-THE CIVIL WAR.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

ham, ten only of whom are known to have been furnished, and whereas a draft is already ordered in such towns and sub-districts as shall not have furnished the number re- quired on the 6th proximo, and whereas in the opinion of this meeting, the desire to avoid a draft is dictated | the town and applying on its quota, and the sum not ex- ceeding three hundred dollars to any person furnishing satisfactory evidence that a volunteer recruit from out of the town has been mustered into the United States service and is credited to the town of Chatham. * * * * * *

by economy as well as sound judgment, therefore, to en- courage enlistments and provide means to secure men to fill the quota of the town so that none shall be forced into the army against their choice, it is

" Resolved-That the sum of five thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated by the town of Chat ham to be known as the Volunteer and Substitute Re- cruiting fund, provided there shall be added to said fund by voluntary contribution on or before the 5th of Sep- tember next such sum as shall be equal to the ag- gregate sum of $25 for each and every person liable to a draft, including their several proportions of the tax here- after to be laid to pay the sum appropriated by this reso- lution.

"Resolved, 5th-That should the committee be unable to fill the quota as contemplated in the foregoing Resolu- tions and a draft take place, that they be instructed to divide the sum remaining in their hands pro rata among those drafted provided that no person shall receive any part thereof who neglects or refuses to pay the twenty- five dollars as provided in the first resolution."

Committees were appointed to receive the money payed by those enrolled, and to notify those subject to a draft of the action of the meeting.

August 27th 1864 .- "Voted that the committee be in- structed to pay every man three hundred dollars who shall furnish a substitute to apply on the late call for 500,000 men.

"Voted that the committee be instructed to fill the quota of the town by procuring one, two, or three years men."

September 3d 1864 .- " Voted that we appropriate the further sum of two thousand dollars for the purpose of procuring substitutes or volunteers under the late call of the President for 500,000 volunteers or men."

A committee was appointed to procure bonds for this appropriation.

A special meeting was held November 26th 1864, “ To consider the propriety and expediency of procuring vol- unteers to apply on the quota of the town in advance of the call which it is believed will soon be made, and if thought best to take measures to procure the same, and provide the means necessary therefor by tax or other- wise."

This meeting was adjourned till November 28th when the following action was taken:

" Voted-That the Selectmen take immediate meas- ures to have the roll corrected according to the Adju- tant General's circular.

" Voted-To reconsider the vote passed Sept. 3d 1864, appropriating two thousand dollars for the purpose of procuring substitutes or volunteers under the late call of the President for 500,000 volunteers.

"Voted-That the sum of six thousand dollars in ad- dition to any appropriation heretofore made, be and the same is hereby appropriated by the town of Chatham to be expended in procuring volunteers to apply on the quota of the town in anticipation of future calls.

"Voted-That the Selectmen be authorized and in- structed to borrow the sum of six thousand dollars, pledging the faith and credit of the town therefor, and

that the same be used or so much thereof as may be necessary in procuring volunteers.

" Voted-That the Selectmen be instructed to pay the sum of three hundred dollars to any person enlisting in

* *

" Voted,-That the number of men to whom the bounty is offered be limited to twenty and the premium for recruits the sum be fixed at ten dollars per man in- cluding expenses."

The last recorded action concerning the war seems to have been made July 29th 1865, when it was voted to lay a tax of seven mills for the purpose of paying a por- tion of the war debt.

CHURCHES IN CHATHAM.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, MIDDLE HADDAM.

In October 1738, Henry Akins, Richard Benfoy, Eben- ezer, Jonathan, and Nathaniel Burr, Edward Bill, Eben- ezer Dart, James Forsyth, Ephraim Fuller, Nathaniel Goff, Benjamin Harris, David Hurlbut, David Hurlbut jr., John and Thomas Hubbard, Josiah Johnson, James Pelton, Noah Phelps, Thomas Rich, Benjamin and Eben- ezer Smith, Samuel, Nathaniel, and John Spencer, George Stocking, and John Swaddle, residing in Middletown East Parish, and Joshua Arnold, William James, Abijah, Josiah, Nathan, and Benjamin Brainerd, William Mark- ham, Alexander Peterson, Ebenezer Smith jr., David Smith, and John Stocking, residing in Haddam, on a tract of land lying between the Connecticut and Salmon Rivers, petitioned the General Court for an act of incor- poration as a parish, and in May 1740, their request was granted, and the parish was incorporated by the name of Middle Haddam. It derived its name from the towns in which it was situated, Middletown and Haddam, or, as some think, from the fact that the Haddam portion lay between the two rivers mentioned and the two towns, Haddam and East Haddam. Its original extent was nearly seven miles in length, about four in breadth, and its area was about 25 square miles. The settlers on this tract attended public worship, before this time, with the various churches that were most accessible to them; those in the Haddam part with the churches on the west side of the river, and those north of the Haddam line were attached to the East Middletown Parish, now Port- land. In both cases they were subject to very great in- convenience by the condition of the roads, and at many times the weather rendered the river impassible. On the 24th of September 1740, a council of churches was con- vened, for the purpose of instituting the church and or- daining their chosen minister, the Rev. Benjamin Bowers. The Rev. Messrs. Stephen Hosmer, William Russell, Ashbel Woodbridge, Daniel Russell, and Moses Bartlett perfornied the solemnities. The confession of faith and

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CHATHAM-CHURCHES.

covenant were then made and signed by Benjamin Bow- ers, Ebenezer Smith, Samuel Spencer, Joshua Arnold, James Brainerd jr., Ebenezer Dart, Gideon Arnold, Thomas Rich, George Stocking, Thomas Hubbard, Jo- siah Brainerd, Ebenezer Smith jr., Nathan Brainerd, and Lemuel Daniels. Before the close of the year, William Brainerd, Sarah Brainerd, Nathaniel Rogers, Silence Rogers, Deborah Spencer, Mary Smith, Mary Hurlbut, Mary Stocking, Thankful Hubbard, Anna Brainerd, Abigail Arnold, Esther Markham, Hannah Smith, Thank- ful Rich, and Hannah Daniels had united with them.

Mr. Bowers was a son of Captain Jonathan Bowers, and was born in Chelmsford, Mass., March 7th 1713. His parents afterward removed to Bellerica, from which place he entered Harvard College in 1729, and graduated in 1733. He married, November 4th 1742, Sarah New- hall, of Malden, Mass. She died July 3Ist 1757, and he married, July 31st 1759, Ann, widow of Stephen Hosmer Esq., of East Haddam. He died May 11th 1761, in the 46th year of his age, and was buried in the cemetery on Hog Hill, but no monument marks his resting place. He is spoken of as a pious, exemplary, and devoted minister of the gospel. During his pastorate 171 persons united with the church, 477 children were baptized, and 131 marriages were solemnized. Jonathan Bowers, son of the Rev. Benjamin, married, July 6th 1779, Mercy Brainerd, by whom he had two children, Sally and Rus- sell. She died September 22d 1783, and he married Rebecca, daughter of Jacob Hurd jr., and widow of Joseph Carey. Mr. Bowers held the rank of major in the militia, served in the Revolutionary war, and was wounded at the battle of Bennington, Vt., and received a pension for many years. He resided for many years at Bennington, Vt., and Union Village, N. Y., but returned to Middle Haddam, and died there in September 1835, aged 81. He had one child by his second wife, a son, Horace W., who died in New York State in 1820, aged 36. Mrs. Bowers died December 21st 1855, aged 100 years, 8 months, and 12 days.

After the death of Mr. Bowers, the Rev. John Norton, of East Hampton, was chosen Moderator of the church, and severel children were baptized and a number of persons admitted to membership by him in the interval of seven and a half months that the church was without a pastor.

The second pastor of this church was the Rev. Ben- jamin Boardman, a native of Westfield Parish in Middle- town, a graduate of Yale College in 1758, and afterward a Dean scholar and tutor in that institution. He was ordained January 5th 1562, and in September 1783, was dismissed, and in 1784 removed to Hartford, where on the 5th of May in that year he was installed as pastor of

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 52

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