History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 58

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 58

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fith, July 19th 1759; Mercy, born April 27th 1742, mar- ried Noadiah White, January 30th 1772; and Sarah, bap- tized November 4th 1744, at which time he was dead, but no date of the death of himself or widow has been found. Richard Mayo jr. married, June 2d 1751, Ruth Gibbs, by whom he had a son, Richard, born March 24th 1760, and died of the camp fever in the American Army, on Long Island, September 22d 1776. His wife dying, he married, May 3d 1773, Elizabeth Bradford, by whom he had a daughter, Ruth, who married Simon Smith. He died May 25th 1813.

Ebenezer Munger, a native of Guilford, Connecticut, and graduate of Yale College in 1814, practiced medicine in Middle Haddam a few years, and about 1823 removed to Bainbridge, New York, and afterward to Homer, New York, where he died October 13th 1857. He mar- ried Cynthia, daughter of Rev. David Selden, December 3Ist 1818.

Frederic Morgan, M. D., a native of Groton, and graduate of Yale College in 1813, practiced medicine in Middle Haddam about two years, 1824-26. He after- ward removed to Middletown, then to Ellington, and in 1830 settled in 'Colchester, where he died June 18th 1877, aged 88 years.

Elisha Niles, of Colchester, married Naomi Ackley, October 16th 1783, and settled in East Hampton. He was a schoolmaster and for niany years a post rider between Middletown and New London. He died Jan- uary 18th 1845, aged 81 years. His widow died in 1850. Their children were Nancy, George H., Zelinda (married George Welsh), Lydia, Esther (married Harry Rock- well), and a number who died in infancy.

Daniel Niles, of Millington, married Abigail Beach and removed to East Hampton about the year 1800, residing near the railroad depot. Their children were: Dan. B .. and Laura. Dan. B. was a bell manufacturer and carried on the business for a number of years in connection with his sons, under the firm name of D. B. Niles & Sons. He died in 1878.

Stephen Olmsted, son of John and Susannah Olmsted, of East Haddam, and a descendant of Nicholas and Sarah (Loomis) Olmsted, who settled in Hartford in 1640, was born August 17th 1721. He married Mary and resided near where Horatio D. Chapman now lives, and was quite a prominent man in the early days of the society, being often called to preside over its meetings and serve on its committees. He also held successively the ranks of ensign, lieutenant, and captain in the train band. He went with others to Boston, in April 1775, and served some time in the Revolutionary Army. He: died of the small-pox, April 26th 1778, and is buried near the grave of the Rev. John Norton, on Miller's, Hill. His epitaph:

"Let no rude step disturb the ground Where this reposing dust is found,"

seeming out of place, in view of the fact that the ground has been plowed and cultivated to the edge of the mound. He left two sons, Rev. Stephen, who also served in the Revolutionary war, and was fox forty years settled as a

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CHATHAM-SKETCHES OF THE SETTLERS.

Baptist clergyman at Schodack, New York, and Jona- than, a merchant in Hamilton, New York, and a liberal donor to the college there. He also left six daughters: Dorothy, who married; March 10th 1776, Elijah Day, a descendant of Robert Day, of Cambridge, Massachu- setts, in 1634, but who died in 1648 in Hartford (she was the grandmother of Mrs. A. G. Bevin, Mrs. J. C. Kellogg, and Roderick Day, of East Hampton. She died August 4th 1846, aged 94 years); Susannah, married Jared Parmelee; Hannah, Anna, Mercy, and Aurelia.

Jonathan Parmelee, a descendant of John Parmelee, one of the early settlers of Guilford, Connecticut, married Sarah Taylor in 1728, and about the year 1750, removed to East Hampton, having previously lived in Litchfield and Branford. His children were: Sarah, born April 22d 1730, died young; Bryan, born July 31st 1732; Oli- ver, born October 1734; Ann, born February 1737; Sarah, born November Ist 1739; Jonathan, born October 7th 1743; Asaph, born November 2d 1746; Jared, born August Ist 1748, married Susannah Olmstead; and Lucy, born January 15th 1752, married Dr. Titus Hull, of Ches- hire. Bryan married, November 13th 1755, Rebecca Cone, and resided near where B. B. Hall now lives. He built the first saw and grist mill in the parish, if not within the present limits of the town, and was for many years a justice of the peace and prominently connected with the affairs of the town and society. He died January 6th 1817. His children were: Mary, Ann, John (married Lucy Annable), Esther, David, Sarah, and Timothy (mar- ried Hannah Smith). Mr. S. D. Parmelee is a descendant of this family and especially interested in its history.

Linus Parmelee, a native of Guilford, whose parents re- moved to Haddam when he was quite young, studied law with Levi H. Clark, and was admitted to the bar in 1809. He practiced in Haddam until 1842, when he re- moved to Middle Haddam, where he continued to practice until a few years before his death, which oc- curred May 29th 1870, at the age of 84. John, one of his sons, has been a letter carrier in New Haven for a num- ber of years.

"IN MEMORY OF MR. JOSEPH PETERS BORN AUG. 27 1726 HE DIED OF SMALL POX JAN. 27 1761 TO YE GREAT GRIEF OF HIS RELICT FIVE CHILDREN & ACQUAINTANCE WHOSE CHARITIES TO YE POOR ENTITLES HIM TO YE TEMPLE OF EVERLASTING MEMORYS & YE BLESSINGS OF GOD. MORTALS MUST DIE TO BECOME IMMORTAL. HEAVEN GAINED ONLY THROUGH DEATH. FAITH IN CRUCIFIXION. HOPE BY RESURRECTION."

The above is a copy of the inscription on a broken headstone lying on the ground a few rods to the west of the residence of Chauncey B. West, Mr. Peters was a native of Hebron and a brother of the Rev. Samuel Peters of Tory fame. He married Deborah Birchard, in Hebron, January 14th 1747-8, but the name of only one of his children is known to the writer-Phoebe, born October 26th 1760, who married George Gates. Tradi- tion has it that Mr. Peters was a very pious and worthy man.

Josiah Purple, of East Haddam, married Martha Cook in 1776, and resided where John P. Purple, his grandson, now lives. He died November 17th 1836, aged 84 years, and his wife in 1829, aged 74. Their children were

Ruth, Martha, Josiah, James, Lydia, Mehitabel, Nathaniel, Liva, Julia, Polly, and Phila.

John Hugh Peters, son of Jonathan Peters of Hebron, graduated at Williams College in 1798, studied law with his brother, Judge John T. Peters, began practice in Middle Haddam in 1803, and practiced there until his death, October 7th 1811, at the age of 35. Dr. Field says that he was a well read lawyer but not distinguished as an advocate. He was the first postmaster in Middle Haddam and held the office at the time of his death.

Thomas Rich removed from that part of Eastham, Mass., that is now Orleans, to Middle Haddam about 1738. He was a son of Richard and Mercy (Knowles) Rich, and a descendant of Samuel Rich, who died in Eastham about 1665. Thomas married Thankful Mayo, and after their removal to Middle Haddam had the fol- lowing children baptized: Bathsheba, Sarah, Thomas, and Eliakim.

John and David Rich, brothers of Thomas, also settled in Middle Haddam, from which place David removed to Wallingford. John, by wife Lydia, had Isaac, James, Mary, Samuel, John, and Isaac, born to them between 1738 and 1756. Amos Rich married Mary Brown in 1749 and had a son Amos, who served as a Continental soldier during the greater part of the Revolutionary war. The following, copied from the records of Governor Trumbull's Council at a meeting held in Lebanon, August 10th 1779, is deemed worthy of preservation in this connection.

"On representation of Cornelius Rich of Chatham that he has had five sons in the Continental Army, three of which are dead, killed in the service, one lately at Norwalk, that he has two more in ye service, one son only remaining with him who is lately detached in the Militia service for one month or five weeks on ye sea coast, that his circumstances are such that he cannot part with and has been detained till this time praying this board that he may be excused from said service. This board in consideration of the particular and almost singular circumstances of Mr. Rich's case release his son from this detachment and will direct that his case be favor- ably considered for the future."

The son mentioned above as being killed at Norwalk was Nathaniel Rich, who was killed at that place July IIth 1779. He was wounded in the knee and his com- rades endeavored to carry him from the field as they were retreating, and being closely pressed he begged of them to leave him and save themselves. This they were reluctantly compelled to do, and upon returning in about two hours, found that he was dead, with the top of his head blown off by the discharge of a musket used to dis- patch him. He was in fact brutally murdered by some of the British soldiers.

John, son of Robert and Martha (Hine) Richmond, was born in West Brookfield, Mass., December 9th 1767. In 1792, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Timothy Hall, of East Hartford, and in 1795 com- menced practice in East Hampton and resided there until his death, December 16th 1821. He married Pru- dence, daughter of William Wadsworth, of East Hart- ford, May 14th 1795, and had the following children:

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

William Wadsworth, Hiram, Eunice, Robert Usher, Jemima Birge, Abner Hall, Leonard, John, and Nelson Clark. His widow died March 11th 1822. Three of his grandsons, James, John, and Hiram jr., sons of Hiram and Phœbe (Edwards) Richmond, served in the Confed- erate army during the late Rebellion, James and John losing their lives in the service. Besides attending to his professional duties he instructed several young men in the profession, and Norton Bill, - Kneeland, Benajah Mynard, Isaac Whitmore, Jesse Bigelow, Newell Smith, Elijah Root, Abner N. Clark, Orrin Cook, Green Parmelee, Harry Parmelee, and Richard M. Smith learned from him their first lessons in medicine and surgery.

Harry Rockwell was born in Warehouse Point, Conn., January 18th 1796, and on the 19th of January 1817, married Esther, daughter of Elisha Niles. In 1819, he went to Savannah, Georgia, in the employ of a New York man as a carpenter. Here he spent the winter and re- turning to New York, shipped on board a vessel bound on a whaling expedition to the South Sea Islands. On account of cruel and inhuman treatment by the officers, Mr. Rockwell and some of his comrades deserted and after almost incredible suffering they reached a place where an English man of war. was lying, on board of which they shipped. England and Spain were then at war and in a short time a Spanish vessel captured the Englishmen, and the crew were introduced to all the horrors of a Spanish prison. At length he was released, and enlisted in the American naval service, where he re- mained a number of years, and afterward entered the merchant service as a sailor, and visited many foreign countries. In about six years after leaving home he came into New York and learning that his wife, sup- posing him to be dead, had married again he returned to his seafaring life. Mrs. Rockwell married George Evans, who died in 1831, leaving her with three children. In 1835, Mr. Rockwell, moved by a desire to learn what for- tune had befallen his home during his 16 years of absence, returned to East Hampton, where he was unrecognized, and by cautious inquiry he learned the particulars. On the afternoon of July 4th 1835, he knocked at the door of his home and asked permission for brief shelter from an impending thunder shower and was cheerfully bidden to enter. In a few moments he was recognized and five days later they were reunited in marriage. Three sons were born of this union and the couple thus reunited lived together nearly 48 years, until Mr. Rockwell's death, April 8th 1883.

Capt. Timothy Rogers, from Cape Cod, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution from Chatham, and was confined as a prisoner in one of the prison ships in New York for a time. He received the appointment of en- sign from Samuel Harrington, Esq., Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief, in October 1789. He taught school in Middletown, and in 1793 and 1794, represented the town of Chatham in the General Assembly, and made an effective speech at one of the sessions in favor of some educational measure that was under considera-

tion. He married Hannah, daughter of Ebenezer Sears and died September 27th 1796, aged 39 years.

Ebenezer Rowley married Susannah Annable, October 18th 1750, and lived near the present residence of John N. White. He died February 7th 1811, aged 84, and his widow died January 11th 1821, aged 88 years, and their remains were deposited in a tomb not far from their residence on the banks of Salmon River. Their children were: Susannah; Ithamar, who married Dem- mis Gates; Ebenezer, who married Abigail Knowlton, and settled in Winchester, Connecticut; Marah; Olive, who married Philip White; Anna, Lydia, Asher, Dorothy, Daniel, Lucina, Elijah, and Elisha. Moses Rowley was an early settler in Chatham, and Ebenezer, above men- tioned, may have been his son, but it is not positively known to the writer.

Ebenezer Sears, son of Paul and Mercy (Freeman) Sears, and a descendant of Richard Sears, who was in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1632, removed about 1746 from Yarmouth, Massachusetts to East Hampton, where he died and left the following children: Desire, married John Markham; Ebenezer, Paul, Thomas, Hezekiah, Mary, Dinah, and Betsey. Ebenezer jr. married Eliza- beth Cook in 1753, and had Anna, who married Amos Clark; David, who married Lucy Hall; Sarah, who married Seth Alvord; Hannah, who married Timothy Rogers; and Betsey, who married John Willey. He died in 1814. Joshua Sears, brother of Ebenezer, and who removed from Yarmouth with him, is said to have been a man of great stature and strength. His children were Rebecca, Elkanah, Joshua, Betsey, Paul, Simeon, Thomas, Sarah, and Hannah.

Elkanah Sears, born in 1734, married Ruth White, January 6th 1757, and resided west of Poco- topaug Lake. He was a tall man and very muscular and . is said to have been reckless of danger. After the Revo- lutionary war broke out he equipped a vessel, which he commanded himself, and which preyed on the British commerce. His vessel was captured and he and one of his men were taken prisoners and confined on board a British ship. From what he heard and saw he suspected that preparations were making for their summary execution, and confiding his suspicions to his man proposed an at- tempt to escape. His man thought the attempt hazard- ous, but concluding that they had rather trust their necks in the water than to a rope, they eluded the sleep- ing sentinel about midnight and let themselves into the water, but were soon discovered and fired upon from the ship. Sears reached the shore in safety, and taking a boat went out and picked up his man, whose strength had given out, and both escaped. After the war he be- came extensively engaged in mechanical and agricultural pursuits, and died November 24th 1816, leaving a large estate. His wife died May 7th 1823. Their children were: Isaac, Willard, Ruth (died young), Ruth, Rachel, and Benjamin. Benjamin Sears married Ann Bigelow and removed to Ohio where he joined the Baptist church, was ordained, and traveled extensively in the far West, and among the Indians as a missionary. Clark O.

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CHATHAM-SKETCHES OF THE SETTLERS.

Sears, postmaster and merchant in East Hampton, is a descendant of Elkanah.

Judah Sexton and Margery, his wife, probably from Colchester, were residing in town at the time of its in- corporation. Their children recorded on the town records are: Mary, Mercy, Elizabeth, and Levi. Samuel and Jesse Sexton's names appear later on the town records.

Justin Sexton married Narcissa Brainerd in 1817, and resided on Pine Brook in Middle Haddam Parish near the Haddam line. He owned a saw mill and a satinet factory, where he and his sons carried on the business of carding wool and manufacturing cloth for a number of years.

Deming W., and Leverett S. Sexton, sons of Walter, and grandsons of Samuel, above mentioned, carried on the business of manufacturing wrought iron cow bells in a building on Miller's Hill for a time, and afterward built a small factory below Skinner's Mills, on Pine Brook, where they carried on the business until the death of Leverett, in 1865. Deming W., is supposed to be the originator of the tuning of sleigh bells by a set of fours as it is called. He also made a set of Swiss hand bells, running through four octaves, for Leavitt's Swiss Bell Ringers.

Abel Shepard, a descendant of Edward Shepard, of Cambridge, Mass., in 1639, carried on ship building at Middle Haddam Landing for a number of years. He died October 9th 1833, aged 86. His wife, Mary Lewis, whom he married in 1769, died in 1828, aged 78. Their children were: Sarah, Lucy, Hannah, Mary, Bartlett, Abel, Edward, Anna, and Harry. The last vessel built at his yard was the Liberty, but one that was on the stocks at the same time was burnt, it is supposed, by a disap- pointed rigger.

Warren A. Skinner, of Westchester, and a descendant of John Skinner, one of the early settlers of Hartford, married Anna Day, in 1810, and removed to East Hamp- ton, where, in 1818, he was elected deacon of the church, and was highly respected. He died January 4th 1862, and his widow died in 1879. Their children were: Dian- tha, who married Anson Carpenter; Samuel, who suc-

ceeded his father as deacon, and is proprietor of a paper box manufactory in East Hampton; Ruth Ann, Emily, Mary, Henry, John W., Warren, Lyman F., and Rosanna. Henry is the proprietor of the saw and grist mill on Pine Brook, on the old Colchester Turnpike, and is also a wheelwright. John W. was a shoemaker, and during the late Rebellion served as drum major of the 24th Regi- ment, C. V. M.

been definitely traced. He married Mary Sparrow in 1738, and removed to East Hampton, where he was dea- con of the church, and where he died in 1802. His children were: Azubah, married John Hinckley: Ralph, married Hannah Hollister; Isaac, married Jerusha Brooks; Mary; Sarah; Phoebe; Asenath, married John Markham; and Sparrow, who married Eunice Clark, and was the father of Nathaniel C., for many years town clerk and justice of the peace, and is now living, at the age of 89, in East Hampton.

Isaac Smith, who married Jerusha Brooks, succeeded his father as deacon, and died in 1815. His son, Isaac, was a distinguished physician in Portland.

Benjamin Smith, from Hebron, and wife, Hannah, lived in Middle Haddam Parish as early as 1748, when they had seven children baptized by the Rev. Mr. Bow- ers: Andrew, David, Elijah, Benjamin, Israel, Ephraim, and Frederic; in 1749, Stephen, Timothy, and Waitstill; and in 1750, Content Hannah. Representatives of this family resided until recently in Portland and Middle- town.

Simon Smith married Ruth Mayo, and lived at the foot of Chestnut Hill, near where the railroad crosses by Nathan Alden's, where he died in 1846, aged 8t. His widow died in 1855, aged 80. Their children were: Elec- ta, who married Nathaniel Purple; Richard Mayo, who studied for a physician, and married Eunice Richmond, and died in 1822, soon after he commenced practice; William R., late of Portland, deceased; Lydia, who mar- ried William A. Brown; and Ruth, who died young.

Dr. Newell Smith, a descendant of Benjamin Smith, of Middle Haddam, practiced medicine a number of years in Oneida County, N. Y., but about 1834 removed to Portland, where he died in 1844, aged 60.

Hon. Samuel Simons, born at Hampton, Conn., July IIth 1792, studied medicine and practiced in Middle Haddam from 1822 to 1824, when he removed to Bridge- port, where he died January 13th 1847. From 1843 to 1845 he represented the Fourth Congressional District of Connecticut in Congress.

Hon. John Stewart was born in what is now the town of Portland, February 12th 1793, and married Delia Hurd in 1719, engaged in ship building and merchandise in Middle Haddam, and was very successful in business. He represented the town at different times in both branches of the Legislature, and the Second Congres- sional district of Connecticut in Congress from 1843 to 1845. While engaged in ship building he built upwards of 30 vessels. He died September 16th 1860. His son, Henry L., has been one the largest breeders of Ayrshire cattle and Southdown sheep in the town. In 1867, he imported five ewes and two rams from the celebrated Webb flock in England. He subsequently purchased from the estate of J. C. Taylor, in New Jersey, a ram for which he paid $200. In 1872, his flock had cost him up-

Ralph Smith and wife, Mary, with sons, Thomas, Isaac, Enoch, Ezra, and Heman, and daughters, Mary and Phobe, removed from Eastham, Mass., and settled on Hog Hill, about the year 1739. He was a son of Thomas Smith, and a descendant of Ralph Smith, a non-conform- ist preacher in Hingham, England. He died April 8th wards of $1,700, but within three months over $Soo 1763, aged 82 years, and she died July 13th 1744, worth were killed or rendered useless by dogs. In 1857, he commenced raising Ayrshire cattle from stock pur- chased of Commodore Goldsboro, of Maryland. He kept aged 50 years. Nearly all of the name in town are descendants of this settler, but only the line of Isaac has

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

a record of the stock killed for beef, which showed bet- ter results than that of any other stock in the country. The demand for Jerseys and other popular cattle, led him to abandon the enterprise which for a time was very successful.

Asahel Hooker Strong, son of Rev. Cyprian Strong, D. D., of Portland, graduated from Yale College in 1796, and was one of the best scholars in his class. He studied law with the Hon. Sylvester Gilbert, of Hebron, and commenced practice in Middle Haddam about the be- ginning of the present century. He died January 7th 1818, about 41 years of age.

Josiah Strong jr., son of Josiah and Hannah (Fuller) Strong, of Colchester, where he was born, January 28th 1740, married, January 13th 1761, Mary, daughter of Deacon Benjamin Harris, and settled in Middle Haddam, where he died September 8th 1814. She died January Ist 1822, aged 82 years. Their children were: John Harris, born January 19th 1762, married Elizabeth Carey, and in 1811 removed to Euclid, Ohio, where he was a land agent, and judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1817 until his death, April 28th 1823; Esther, born Oc- tober 3d 1763, married Asaph Doane; Hannah, born Oc- tober 3d 1765; Davis, born August 21st 1767, married, February 24th 1788, Mary, daughter of Elisha Swift, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, and was a farmer in Middle Haddam, where he died July 10th 1848 (their children were Sophronia, Davis Swift, Morris M., Susan, Roderic, Braddock, Titus, Mary, and Adeline); Mary, born De- cember 26th 1768; Martha, born December 30th 1771; Grace, born June 20th 1774; Josiah, born January 12th 1777; and Hope, baptized March 19th 1780.

Joshua Strong, brother of Josiah jr., born April 24th 1743, lived in Middle Haddam, and had Noah, Anna, Hope, Joshua, Noah, Rachel, and Lydia, baptized by the Rev. Benjamin Boardman between January 1765 and March 30th 1777. He died November 25th 1779, and no further particulars are known concerning this family.

Benjamin Strong, brother of Josiah jr., and Joshua, was born February 15th 1759, married, November 27th 1782, Susannah Trowbridge, and settled in Middle Had- dam, where he died about 1818. His children were: Reuben, born October 6th 1783, and Benjamin, born 1785, both lost at sea November 19th 1809, when sailing to Norfolk, Virginia; Susan, who married Oliver Ackley; Ansel, who married Hannah Stocking; Rhoda, who mar- ried Alfred Hubbard; and Lovina, who married Chaun- cey B. Bulkley. Braddock Strong resided on the home- stead, and filled various offices of profit and trust in the gift of his fellow townsmen, dying September 30th 1878, nearly 79 years of age, universally respected.

Adonijah Strong, son of Asahel and Betterus (Crouch) Strong, of Colchester, born May 2 1st 1749, married Mary, daughter of Daniel Kellogg, of Bolton, and settled in East Hampton as a farmer, dying there, May 17th 1824. She died February 9th 1823, aged 73 years. Their chil- dren were: Adonijah; Mary, married Nathaniel Markham; Abigail, married, first, Elijah Ackley, second, William Holmes; Henry; Betsey, married Daniel Harding; Anna,

married Oliver Brainerd; Asahel Kellogg, died young; Louisa Kellogg, died young; Kellogg, born October 30th 1791, married and lived in Portland; and Daniel, who died December 3d 1813, aged 20.

Adonijah Strong jr., married, September 11th 1794, Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon Moses Cook. He was a farmer and peddler, and was drowned April 17th 1809, in attempting to cross Westfield River. She died August 14th 1851, aged 77 years. Their children were: Eliza- beth, born 1795, married Bliss Welsh; Charlotte, born January 18th 1797, married Nathaniel C. Smith; Lydia, married Henry Bush; Lucy, married Henry Strong; Han- nah, married Gilbert Hills; Charles A., who married, first, Lucy Hurlbut, and second, Sally Hurlbut, and was a farmer living on Miller's Hill, in East Hampton, also a member of the Legislature in 1861, and for a number of years the first selectman of the town; Julia Ann, who married Henry Harding; and Polly, who married George K. White. Henry Strong, son of Adonijah, married, Sep- tember 17th 1801, Susannah Newton, widow of Daniel B. Newton and daughter of Deacon Moses Cook. She died April 15th 1820, and he married, September 13th 1820, Philena, daughter of Apollas Arnold. He was a farmer and resided in a house that stood where the silk mill now stands, and where he died July 2d 1828. His children by his first wife were: Henry, born August 27th 1802, married his double cousin, Lucy, daughter of Adonijah Strong jr., and died a year or two since at his residence on Miller's Hill; Susan, who married Julius Gates; Elizabeth Mary, who married Nehemiah Gates; Butler Newton, who manufactured waffle irons, gridirons, and other iron castings, on the site of the shops of Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company, and was afterward a seedsman at Wethersfield; Deidana, who married Wash- ington S. Ackley; Adeline, who married William G. Com- stock; Daniel, who married Anna Gates, and was a seeds- man in Wethersfield and Portland for a number of years; Philanda, who married Nehemiah Gates as his second wife; and Samuel Leverett, who married Abby Susan Dillingham, of New Bedford, Massachusetts. By his second wife he had one son, Jamin Allin, who was a phy- sician at Warren, Pennsylvania, and was killed there, Sep- tember 22d 1849, by the kick of a horse. The descend- ants of Adonijah Strong held a family festival, August 22d 1866, on the grounds of Charles A. Strong, and four generations were represented there, from grandchildren to great-great-great-grandchildren. Young and old sat down at two tables, 290 feet long, spread under a canopy of canvas and loaded with inviting viands. In the latter part of the day they adjourned to the Methodist Episco- pal church opposite and listened to addresses from Henry Strong, of East Berlin, and Gideon H. Welsh, of Torrington, followed by various speakers in prose and verse. Daniel Strong, of Portland, who has 'since been killed by the cars in Westfield, Connecticut, stated that the number of descendants up to that time was 533, and that no one of the family had ever been arraigned for any even petty crime, or was ever an inmate of an almshouse or dependent upon public or private charity for support.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 58

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