History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 62

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 62

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

CAPTAIN OLIVER H. CLARK.

The history of the town would be incomplete without the mention of Capt. Oliver H. Clark, who spent many of his early' days in Chester. After acquiring a com- petency in business, in New York, he returned here about twenty years since, and freely spent his money in purchasing real estate, in beautifying the highways by building stone walls on his premises adjoining, and setting out shade trees. All the shade trees on both sides of the road from the post office to the railroad depot were placed there by him. He invested a large amount in the Connecticut Valley Railroad (in which the town invested $17,500), and was one of the active men in securing the building of the road, and also one of the first directors. He paid nearly eight hundred dollars from his own purse to give the town a better depot than was built by the road in other towns. He also gave the land for the road from Denison's Bridge to the depot, and made the road around the hill from E. Chappell's. He built the handsome residence on the hill near the railroad depot, costing some fifteen thou- sand dollars; but, as in the case of many other men who . have exhibited a public spirit, he felt that his efforts in what he regarded for the public good were not appre- ciated, and his residence is now in an adjoining State.

(Formerly Mill) O ( Kelsey's Factory.

Enelosod

COMMON.

D Mill.

24 Rods

80 Rods.

16 Rods

Samuel Buell.

Page 45.

Page 66

Page 67

80 Rods

J.Elderken.

Jonas Westover

R. Hendy.

20 Rods

Road

Now Turnpike

80 Ruds.

W™ Hayton. Edward

Griswold.

Eleazer Isbell.

Josias Hull. S ..

illiam Steviens.

George Saunders

Page 34

Page 42

Page 40

Page 38

Page 36

Page 3 5

River.

Parsonage

Jonathan

John

Matthew

Henry

John

· Rossetor.

Allen.

Crane.

Hodge.

122 Rods.

Home Lot. Pay. 34.

Dunning. Page 31.

LOWER GREEN.

COMMON.

Page 30

Pago 18

Page 26

Pago 25

MAIN

30 Roda.

{

afRodi.

Juan

Indian

Thomas Smith. Pago 1.

WW Barber. John Meigs. W"Kelsey Page 2. Page 4. Pays to.

Rev. Mr.

Josiah Woodbridge Rosseter . Pages .

Henry

Geo. William Farnham Well man Choutfield. Page 12.

17 Rods

16 Rods.

Robert Williams.

John Nettleton.

NECK FIELDS.

44 Rods.

ILL

MARSE

97.204

IA Reds

17 Rods

20 Rods

12 Rods

14 Rods.

En Roks.

16 Rods

LT Rod ..

STREET.

34 Rods

24 Roas

20 Rad6

5'h Rods

2 0" Rods.

Thomas Stevens.

John Kelsey.

Page 20.

Pays 22.

Page 20.

Page 14.

Page 16 .

Page 10.

16 Rods.

16 ROMS.

II ROAS.

Kelsey

MEETING HOUSE HILL

- Granted

16 Rods

17 Rods.

172015. 1/2 Raul

MAIN STREET CLINTON IN 1665.

Rocky Hill.

TOWN OF CLINTON.

BY HON. WILLIAM H. BUELL.

GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY.

C LINTON is the southwest town of Middlesex county, and is 2272 miles south of Middletown, 25 miles east of New Haven, and 25 miles west of New London. It is bounded on the north by Killingworth, on the east by Westbrook, on the south by Long Island Sound, and on the west by Madison, in New Haven county. Its breadth on Long Island Sound is three miles, and on the north line four and one-half miles. Its length from north to south is five miles. The surface in the southern portion of the town is generally level and in the north moderately hilly. On the borders of the Sound are large tracts of marine alluvial or salt marsh. It is watered by the Hammonassett River, which washes its western borders; the Indian River, which flows south through the center of the town; the Menunketesuc River, which runs through the eastern section, and other smaller streams. There is a safe and commodious harbor in the southern part of the town.

SETTLEMENT.

Main street, Clinton, is the original Killingworth, where the first settlers built their residences after laying out a street and locating 21 "homesteads." A commit- tee from the General Court ordered and directed the af- fair. The persons who had pledged themselves to settle there, and signed a paper to that effect, were permitted to draw lots. Lot No. I was on the south side of Main street, next east of Indian River, and in front of the hill already selected as "Meeting House Hill." This lot was drawn by Thomas Smith and is now occupied and owned by George E. Elliott Esq. The 21st lot was drawn by Samuel Buel, and is located north of the resi- dence of Henry A. Lyne. It was bounded on the north by the highway, which was the place of crossing the hill near where Mrs. John Buell lives. This road led up to the fording place on the Hammonassett River, above the crossing of the Shore Line Railroad. There were no means of crossing the Hammonassett River, except by boats, until 1675 or 1676, when the bridge known so long as the "Farm Bridge " was built. For 12 years at least there was no communication with Guilford, except by

fording or By boats. At the present time an iron bridge spans the Hammonassett River. It was built in 1882, at a cost of $2,200, one-half of which was paid by Madison and one-half by Clinton.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

Clinton was set off from the town of Killingworth by a special act of the Legislature, at its May session in 1838, on the petition of Henry Taintor, David Dibbell, and others. The causes of the separation and complaints were that Killingworth had a great many roads to repair, and that it was too far for those freemen living in the South Society to go to attend town meetings in Killing- worth. By mutual consent State elections were held in the South Society and town meetings in North Society. But the animus of the movements for separation was political dissatisfaction. The North Society was strong- ly democratic and the South Society was as strongly whig It was difficult to transport voters from the South Society to the North Society to attend to town affairs, so that the voters of North Parish had the disposal of town affairs wholly in their own hands.

The grand list of Clinton since its separation has been as follows: in 1840, $404.566; 1860, $605,455; 1870, $617,205.32; 1883, $666,499. In 1883, there were, ac- cording to the assessment books, 8,86812 acres taxable land, 334 dwelling houses, 155 horses, and 578 cattle.

CIVIL LIST.

Representatives .- The town of Clinton has been repre- sented in the General Assembly by the following named persons:

Josiah C. Crittenden, 1839; Leet Hurd, 1840; David Redfield, 1841, 1842; Edward Wright, 1843, 1844; Aaron G. Hurd, 1845, 1852; Samuel R. Dibble, 1846; George B. Hilliard, 1847, 1848, 1861; George Carter jr., 1849, 1851; Henry Taintor, 1850; George E. Elliot, 1853; John L. Hull, 1854, 1860, 1862; Edwin Parks, 1855, 1856; Dota L. Wright, 1857, 1858; Russell Stannard, 1859; John P. Johnson, 1863, 1864, 1883; Rutherford Russell, 1865, 1866; Andrew J. Hurd. 1867, 1868; James L. Davis, 1869, 1870; George W. Hull, 1871, 1872; David

230

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

C. Wright, 1873, 1874; William H. Kelsey, 1875, 1876; Giles C. Grinnell, 1877, 1878; Charles A. Elliot, 1879; George A. Olcott, 1880-82; Asa S. Pelton, 1884.

Town Clerks .- The town clerks of Clinton have been: David Dibbell jr., from 1838 to October 1841; Alfred Hull, from October 1841 to October 1877; Henry C. Hull, from October 1877 to October 1884; and Daniel W. Stevens, the present clerk, elected in October 1884.

Clinton Probate District .- The old town of Killingworth was set off from Saybrook Probate District in 1834, and was known as Killingworth District until May 1838, when the name was changed to Clinton. The district included the present towns of Clinton and Killingworth till 1861, when the latter town was made a district by itself. The judges of this court have been: George Carter Esq., 1834, 1835, 1838-42, 1844-46; David Wright Esq., 1835- 38; Ely A. Elliot, 1842-44, 1846, 1847; Leet Hurd, 1847-50; Philander Stevens, 1850-52; David Redfield, 1852 (died November 12th 1852); Alfred Hull, 1852, 1853, 1855, 1856, 1861-77; John D. Leffingwell, 1853, 1854; Henry Hull, 1854, 1855, 1857-59; George E. Elliot, 1856, 1857, 1859-62; Henry C. Hull, 1877, still in office.

WAR OF 1812.

The military record of the war of 1812 for Clinton has never been written. All historians have neglected this town. Hollister, in his "History of Connecticut," speaks of other depredations by the British beside Stonington and Essex, but does not say where. Field, in his "Statistical Account," gives a full account of the burning of vessels at Essex, April 8th 1814, but says nothing about Killingworth, now Clinton. In the war of 1812, Clinton had one company of infantry, Connecticut Militia, composed of military subjects liable to do mili- tary duty, commanded by Capt. Benjamin Hurd. They were paid for 10 days' service as soldiers, but were not paid for volunteer service on numerous occasions of alarm.

In the harbor of Clinton were several coasting vessels blockaded. There were stores for the British to plun- per and burn, but they did not succeed in landing. Capt. Richard A. Farnham, now 80 years of age, has always resided at the head of Clinton Harbor. He was 10 years old in 1814, and he says that there were as many as to attacks on this harbor during the war. The inost serious one was in November 1814, the day before Thanksgiving. The sloop of war Atalanta and the brig WAR OF THE REBELLION. Bover chased a coasting schooner, owned in Haddam, into Clinton Harbor and attempted to burn her, and fitted out a line of barges for that purpose. But the citizens and the artillery company, commanded by Capt. Amaziah Bray, were on hand and ready to attack. The · barges did not reach the schooner; the two brass six- pounder (artillery guns) and two four-pounder (iron guns), owned by the citizens, drove them back to their ships. The ship and brig kept up their firing upon the town all day. Happily, the shallow water kept them so far from the shore that the balls did not reach to the |be used for an armory and military drill room."

dwellings. The boys dug up these balls and kept them as trophies.

In 1813, the citizens were left without military pro- tection. But in 1814, a guard was maintained from May to December. The British fleet occupied Gardiner's Bay, at the east side of Long Island, and the passage of Long Island Sound was wholly blockaded. Time after time, during the summer of 1814, the alarm bell rang for the citizens to turn out. Constant alarm and anxiety prevailed all that summer. The citizens, a large majority of whom were in favor of war, were always prepared for an attack. This fact became known to Capt. Thomas Hardy, who commanded the British squadron, and he swore vengeance against them, and threatened to burn them out.

The most thrilling incident was one related by Gideon Kelsey, who was born in 1764, and lived at the head of the harbor. Seeing a large Block Island boat passing the harbor, he said to two neighbors, Silas and William Wilcox, " Let us go down and get a shot at them. It is a British boat full of men." Kelsey took his horse and his old kings arm and rode down and headed off the boat at Saul's Point, east of the harbor. Hitching his horse in the rear, he got a shot at the boat, with buck shot at close range. Again he loaded and fired. Then the two neighbors arrived, and they loaded while he fired, until the boat was too far away to be damaged. The next year the same boat came into Clinton Harbor, somewhat patched. She lay near Kelsey's house, and when he in- quired what was the matter with the boat he was told that the British had her during the war, and had been shot into somewhere in the Sound, and that nine men were killed, and buried on Block Island. Kelsey thought he recognized the boat as the one he fired into.

Capt. Amaziah Bray was commissioned by Governor John Cotton Smith to enlist a company of artillery for the defense of the State. One-half of the company was located for guard duty at Saybrook and one-half at Clinton, for two months in 1814. This company re- ceived several serious attacks from the British fleet at Clinton, all of which were repelled without loss to the company. Amaziah Bray was a lawyer, practicing at Clinton. He died October 26th 1823, aged 42 years.

Leet Hurd Esq., was authorized to raise a company, November 26th 1814, for the defense of Clinton Harbor, and served till December 16th 1814. This was the last guard of the war of 1812.

The following extracts from the records show the ac- tion which Clinton took in the great civil war of 1861-5. The first meeting was called May 14th 1861,

" For the purpose of aiding in sonie way for the de- fense of our country, by providing for the persons or families of such persons as may enlist or have enlisted in the service of the United States. Also to hear and act upon the report of a committee appointed to ascertain what may be necessary to forward the object of the meeting. Also for the purpose of providing for and furnishing, and lighting, and taking care of a room, to

231

CLINTON-THE REBELLION-THE VILLAGE.

At this meeting a room was ordered, which was to be lighted and occupied by " subjects of military duty, who shall form themselves into a inilitary company."

A special meeting was held August 25th 1862, and it was

" Voted: That for the purpose of encouraging enlist- ments under the recent and last call of the President of the United States upon the loyal States for 300,000 ad- ditional troops to serve for the term of nine nionths, the town of Clinton will pay the sum of twenty-five Dollars to each citizen of this Town, who has enlisted or who shall enlist into the Military service of the United States and be duly accepted to serve during the term of nine months aforesaid, to the number of our quota. And that the Selectmen be and they are hereby directed to pay the volunteers agreeable to this vote. And to make such loans as may be required for such payments."

August 4th 1862 .- "Voted, That for the purpose of en- couraging enlistments under the recent call of the Presi- dent * * * * for 300,000 additional Troops, the Town of Clinton, in addition to all other bounties and compensations, will pay the sum of one hundred dollars for each citizen of this town who, since July Ist 1862, has enlisted, or who shall, on or before the 20th day of August 1862, voluntarily enlist into the military service of the United States and be duly accepted to serve during the war, either in the old regiments already in the field or in the new regiments now re- cruiting, or soon to be raised, to the number of our quota to be required for the above 300,000. And the selectmen be and are hereby authorized to extend the time for vol- untary enlistments from the 20th day of August 1862, to the end of sixty days from the first day of July 1862, at their discretion. And the Selectmen are hereby di rected to pay the volunteers agreeable to this vote, and to make such loans as may be required for such pay- ments."

Henry A. Elliot and Silas Wellman were selectmen at this time. At a special meeting, September 16th 1862, called " upon the petition of Henry Hull and others, it was

"Voted, That we give the drafted men of this town for the nine months' call, one hundred dollars each, and that seventy-five dollars in addition to the twenty-five dollars previously voted, be given to the nine months' volunteers.

" Voted, That the Selectmen be and are hereby di- rected to pay the drafted men and volunteers, agreeable to the vote this day passed, at any time when called for after they have been mustered into the service of the United States, and make such loans as may be required for such payment."

October 15th 1863, the selectmen were directed to in- vestigate the claims against the town for bounties by volunteers and drafted men, and to " report at a future meeting;" and at a special meeting November 4th follow- ing, it was

" Voted, That the Selectmen be and they are hereby directed to borrow money and pay the $75 to each of the 9 mo's volunteers agreeable to the vote passed at the Special Town meeting, held on the 16th day of Sept. 1862."

VILLAGE OF CLINTON.

A portion of the town was incorporated in 1820, as a borough. Austin Olcott Esq.,* was authorized to call

*Dr. Austin Olcott died May 11th 1843, aged 68 years (See page 24).

the first meeting of electors. By-laws were enacted for protection against the spread of fire, for the protection of shell fishery, permitting the planting of shade trees on the streets, and other favorable privileges not granted to towns. For several years considerable interest was taken in the enterprise. In 1833, the charter was re- newed. About 1836, the annual meetings were neglected, and they have not since been renewed.

Clinton has four churches; one Congregational, one Methodist, one Baptist, and one Episcopal; a town hall; the Morgan School; two parks; two hotels; one bank; eight principal stores; two drug stores; two meat mar- kets; two fish markets; one axe handle factory; one paper mill; one flour mill; two saw mills; a factory for manfacturing small tools; one tin ware manufactory; one establishment for manufacturing fancy soap and extract of witch hazel.

A stone arch bridge was built across the Indian River, at Main street, in 1876, at a cost of nearly $5,000. The Shore Line Branch of the Consolidated Railroad Com- pany is building a stone arch bridge across Indian River, for a double track, about 200 feet north of the Main street bridge.

THE EAST GREEN.

" At a town meeting, held November 27th 1676, it was agreed upon and voted that all the land from John Kel- sey's* cow yard, that now is, so over unto John Rossi- ter's house Lot shall lie in Common forever."

This park layout is now the East Green. A school house has been erected on it since the Revolutionary war closed, and has been renewed three times. The present building was erected about 1844.

PLANTING OF TREES.

In 1846, Buckminster B. Elderkin, George L. Hurd Esq., and others living on East Main street, succeeded in arousing a spirit of enterprise in tree planting. In the early spring of that year elm trees were planted on the East Green, on East Main street. These were carefully watered during two sunimers following, and now several of the trees measure nearly eight feet and a half in cir- cumference, two feet from the ground, and the whole presents a beautiful park worthy of the originators.

Previous to 1846, tree planting had made some pro- gress, especially the planting of hard maples, and Main street, Clinton, is celebrated for its continuous double row of trees for the distance of a mile and a half. In April 1881, Hon. B. G. Northrop offered a premium of $roo to the persons who should set out the greatest number of trees during that year. This stimulus pro- duced a large number of shade trees on the cross streets of Clinton that will, in time, make the village look almost like a forest of trees.

LIBRARIES.

A society library was organized in the First Society of Killingworth in 1790. Rev. Achilles Mansfield, pastor

*John Kelsey was a son of William Kelsey.

232

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

of the First Society, is credited with the honor of awaken- ing an interest in the subject and organizing this institu- tion. In 1819 it had 208 volumes (Field's Statistical Account). This library was held in shares at $1 each, perpetual shareholders. The reading of the books was disposed of once a month by auction, to be kept one month, and each shareholder might bid for the privilege of reading. This library was very popular, and was the means of great good for many years. The officers, con- sisting of a librarian and a standing committee, were elected annually. Meetings were held regularly until about 1830.

In 1872, a new library was organized, called the Mor- gan Library. Shares are held at $t each for one year. Shareholders have the right to take books free, others can take them by paying five cents a week. It has 743 volumes, and issues books twice each week.

CLINTON NATIONAL BANK.

In 1856, a bank of discount was chartered, with a cap- ital of $75,000. The stock was all 'subscribed, and the bank went into operation November 18th of the same year. The year 1857 was remarkable for being one of the panic years. Of the five banks chartered at the same session of the Legislature, Clinton National Bank is the only one now in existence.

The first board of directors consisted of John D. Lef- fingwell, Henry Taintor, William Hull, John L. Hull, Luke E. Wood, William H. Buell; Horace L. Sill, of Old Lyme, Connecticut; Jonathan Nicholson, of New Haven; and Charles B. Wright, of Killingworth. John D. Lef- fingwell was elected the first president, and continues to hold that office. Alfred Hull was the first cashier. His term of office closed at his death, May 24th 1877. His successor is Ezra E. Post.

The institution became a national bank April 27th 1865. The shares have sold as high as $150. It has never failed to declare dividends semi-annually. In 1882, the directors ordered a new building, and they now have an elegant brick structure, occupied exclusively by the bank. The Clinton National is the only bank of discount on the Shore Line Railroad, between New Haven and New London. The present directors are John D. Lef- fingwell, Luke E. Wood, John B. Wright, William H. Lay, of Westbrook, Elisha E. Wright, Edwin M. Bradley, Charles A. Elliott, Elias W. Wellman, and Ezra E. Post.

MASONIC LODGES.

A masonic lodge known as Trinity Lodge, was organ- ized in Clinton, in 1797. The first officers were: Noah Lester, W. M .; Aaron Elliot, S. W .; Eli Kelsey, J. W .; David Wright, secretary and treasurer. In 1825, after the death of the W. M., Amaziah Bray, the charter was forfeited and taken away, and no record of the members exists in Clinton. Benjamin P. Jones, born in 1792, joined this lodge in 1822, as he says, and he is the only member now living.

September 23d 1864, a new lodge was chartered, called the Jeptha Lodge. The number of members now living

is 75. The officers for 1884 are: Charles E. Carter, W. M .; James W. Brooks, S. W .; Hiram L. Dee, J. W .; John H. Parker, secretary; Ezra E. Post, treasurer; W. H. Andrews, S. D .; Henry Stevens, J. D .; Charles E. Well- man, S. S .; George A. Olcott, J. S. John H. Parker is a director of the Masonic Mutual Benefit Association of New Haven.

CLINTON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This society was organized February 15th 1879, and was incorporated in 1880. The first officers were: John P. Johnson, president; Herbert G. Worth and Morgan Pierson, vice-presidents; Joseph H. Sperry, secretary; Ezra E. Post, treasurer. Six very successful fairs have been held, the last one October Ist 1884. The premiums have always been paid in full, and the financial affairs of the society are, and always have been, on a secure basis. No gambling has ever been allowed on or about the grounds. The present officers are: George E. Elliot, president; Edwin H. Wright and Marshall B. Johnson, vice-presidents; Sylvester P. Hull, secretary; Ezra E. Post, treasurer.

THE SHORE LINE RAILROAD.

In 1852, the New Haven & New London Railroad was finished from New Haven to New London, and the first passenger train carried stockholders free, on the 4th of July 1852. The people of Clinton subscribed to the stock, and bought second mortgage bonds, and lost all (about $28,000) in about three years, the road going into the-hands of first mortgage bondholders. They have leased the road to the New York, New Haven & Hartford Company, known as the Consolidated Railroad Com- pany, and this road is now known as the Shore Line. There are 22 trains daily, except Sundays.

THE MERCHANTS OF CLINTON.

It is not known who first opened a store in Killing- worth for the sale of goods, but it is reasonable to sup- pose that for the first 30 years of the settlers' life there was no need of any. In 1689 there were 45 taxable per- sons. It is tradition that Dr. Aaron Eliot had a store on the south side of West Main street, where Dr. D. A. Fox now lives, and flourished there before 1750.

Josiah Buell had a store on the south side of East Main street, on the premises where Hon. William H. Buell resides, as early as 1720. He was born March 7th 1691, and died November 11th 1732. His only son, Hiel Buell, succeeded him in the same store. He used to go to Boston on horseback and buy and bring home dry goods. He was elected captain of a troop of horse in 1767. He kept a hotel during the Revolutionary war. He died May 8th 1812, aged 88 years.

Theophilus Morgan, from Guilford, Conn., kept a store on the south side of East Main street as early as 1750. He built the dwelling house and store now oc- cupied by his great-granddaughter, Miss Miriam Mor- gan. He died November 22d 1766, aged 63. Theophilus Morgan Esq., son of the above Theophilus, engaged in

233

CLINTON-MERCHANTS-SCHOOLS.

the West India trade before the Revolutionary war, sold goods from the same store, and lived in the same house. The war broke up his trade with the West Indies, and he died February 7th 1788. He imported rum and molasses and sold to inhabitants as well as at wholesale to dealers in other towns. He bought cattle and horses, hay, oats, staves, and hoop's for export. "Rich as Squire Mor- gan " was a common expression among old people here 50 years ago. His estate inventoried between £7,000 and £8,000.

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

History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 62

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