History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 76

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 76


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).


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The following extracts from the town records show the action of the town during the great civil war:


On the 31st day of July 1862, it was:


" Voted: That a bounty of One Hundred Dollars be paid by the Town of East Haddam to each and every person of the number constituting the quota of such Town, who has or may hereafter before the 20th day of August 1862 volunteer (and be accepted) under the late call of the President of the United States for 300,000 men and that the town treasurer be empowered to raise a sum sufficient for said purpose by loan or other- wise.'


At the meeting held in pursuance of notice, August 14th 1862, it was:


" Voted: That the vote passed July 31st 1862, grant- ing bounties to volunteers be so extended as that the treasurer be empowered and directed to pay each volun- teer from the town of East Haddam under the call of the President of the United States for 300,000 men in July last and for an additional 300,000 men on the fourth day of August 1862, the sum of one hundred dollars as bounty to the number of sixty in the aggregate or what-


"At the same Mr. George Cone 2nd and Mr. Amos ever number may be the quota for this town, on present-


291


EAST HADDAM-THE REBELLION.


ing of their certificates on the Adjutant showing that they have been mustered into the service of the United States."


September 6th 1862,-" Voted that the sum of seventy- five dollars additional bounty be paid by the town of East Haddam upon the conditions of the vote passed at the last town meeting to a sufficient number of volunteers to fill its quota of nine months' men, who shall enlist after this date."


Also " Voted that a committee of three be appointed to ascertain the number of volunteers that have gore from this town since the commencement of the war, and present the same to the proper authorities, and make use of their best efforts to have the quota to be furnished from East Haddam so reduced as to be right and just under the circumstances."


The following persons were then appointed to act as the said committee, viz., Richard S. Pratt, Charles C. Brownell, Silas R. Holmes.


"Voted that the Committee be empowered to employ whatever assistance they may deem necessary at the ex- pense of the town."


" Voted that the selectmen be requested to investigate the cases of those who have received bounties from this town and soon after procured their discharge from the service thereby defrauding the town out of said bounty and if they find that fraudulent measures have been re- sorted to, to procure said bounty, to prosecute those guilty of said fraud."


At a meeting held on Saturday, October 25th 1862, it was


"Voted that the selectmen be and are hereby in- structed to draw an order on the treasurer of the town for the sum of $75.00 in favor of any person who shall show to them conclusive evidence that he inlisted in the service of the State and United States between the time of the adjournment of the Town Meeting, Sept. 1, 1862, and the hour of one o'clock A. M. on the roth of Sept., and that he had been mustered into the service of the State and had been accepted and ordered into the ser- vice of the United States and that he is now in said ser- vice and that his name is placed to the credit of this town which order to be in lieu of the $75.00 to be paid on the 6th of Sept. 1862."


" Voted That the sum of two hundred dollars be and is appropriated by the Town of East Haddam to each of a sufficient number of men who shall volunteer to fill the deficiency in the quota of soldiers of said Town under the late order of the Adjutant-general of Conn. and that the Selectmen of said town are hereby authorized to draw orders on the Treasurer of said town in favor of such men who shall so volunteer to fill such deficiency when the said volunteers shall furnish to the Selectmen sufficient evidence that they have been accepted and mustered into the service of the State and of the United States and that their names are properly accredited to the town of East Haddam."


July 18th 1863 .- "Voted That the Town of East Had- dam pay to each able-bodied man that may be drafted from said Town the sum of $300.00."


At a meeting held on July 27th 1863, it was "Voted That the following resolutions be adopted, viz. Whereas many of the citizens of this Town liable to do military duty and who may hereafter be drafted into the service of the United States under the recent act of Congress en- rolling the military forces and the families or dependents of such drafted men or such men as may hereafter be drafted, may become a public charge to this town in: case such men should be compelled into the military service of the United States under the requirement of said act. Therefore voted That a sum not exceeding $12,000.00 be and the same is duly appropriated by the town of East Haddam for the purpose of defraying all the necessary. expenses that may be incurred by said Town under the provisions of this series of votes.


" Voted That Richard S. Pratt, Edward P. Brownell and Ebenezer Fox be a committee to draw orders on the Treasurer of the Town in sums not exceeding $300.00 in favor of such persons, married or single, as may be drafted from this Town and liable to serve under the aforementioned act, who in the opinion of said com- mittee require this pecuniary assistance for the support of their families and those dependent upon them.


" Voted That the Town Treasurer be and is hereby directed to pay such orders as may be drawn as afore- said by said committee.


"That the Town Treasurer be and he is hereby author- ized to borrow such portion of said sum of Twelve Thousand Dollars as may be necessary to carry out the foregoing vote."


At a meeting held on Saturday, August 15th 1813


"Voted To rescind the votes passed at the last two Special Town Meetings.


"The following Resolutions were adopted, viz .:


" Whereas The President of the United States as au- thorized by a late act of Congress has ordered a draft of Three Hundred Thousand men from the enrolled mili- tary of the several States for the military service for the term of three years or during the war, the quota of this town being 54, and whereas said draft may fall with great severity upon such portion of the enrolled military force of the Town of East Haddam and those families as are pecuniarily unable to respond to the requirements of said draft it is Voted That a sum not exceeding Three Hundred Dollars be and the same is hereby appropri- ated for the relief of each person drafted from this town, who after due examination by the proper board shall be held to service under said draft and who in the opinion of a committee to be appointed by this meeting may re- quire pecuniary assistance for the relief of himself, his family or those depending upon him, or for the procura- tion of a substitute or for the payment of such exemp- tion fee as may be required by law.


" That D. B. Warner, Daniel Bulkley, and Francis M. Palmer be a special committee under the foregoing vote and it should be their duty to attend the conscript at the time and place for examination with the necessary funds and render them such assistance as may be in their pow- er under those votes; it shall also be the duty of one of


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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.


this number to attend at the time and place of drafting and see that fairness and impartiality be rendered to the entire quota required from this Town, said committee to make report of their doings at a subsequent or the next annual Town Meeting.


" That the selectmen be and they are hereby author- ized to borrow the sum of Eight Thousand Dollars for the purposes aforesaid and to draw their orders on the Treasury in favor of the special committee for such sums as may by them be required to carry into effect the full intent and purposes of this and the preceding vote."


At a meeting held September 5th,


"Voted that the votes relating to military matters passed at the last meeting (Aug. 15) be rescinded.


"The following Resolutions were Voted viz. Re- solved-That the Town Treasurer be and he is hereby authorized to borrow on the credit of the Town such sum not to exceed $11,000 as shall be necessary to pay to each man drafted from this Town at the approach- ing draft, who shall be examined and held to service, or who shall furnish an accepted Substitute the sum of Three Hundred ($300) Dollars.


" Resolved: That Amasa Day, Silas R. Holmes and Daniel B. Warner be a committee to supervise the draft and in behalf of the Town to see that fairness and im- partiality are used and to ascertain who may be entitled to receive the bounty from this Town and to pay the same and that said committee be requested to assist all in their power those persons drafted and accepted to procure substitutes in full at the next annual Town Meeting."


December 3d 1863 .- " Voted that Silas Holmes be appointed a Special Agent to procure a sufficient num- ber of volunteers to fill the quota of this Town.


"That the sum of Thirty Five Hundred Dollars be appropriated from the Treasury of this Town to defray the expenses of said Agent and any expenses incurred by him necessarily for such volunteers."


June 13th 1864 .- " It was voted that Silas R. Holmes Esq. be appointed Agent for procuring Substitutes, and that we hereby appropriate Five Hundred Dollars to defray expenses of procuring said substitutes and that it be left to his discretion as to the number he shall pro- cure provided the $500 appropriated shall cover all ex- penses.


" That Luther Boardman, Elijah Day, Harper Boies and Thos. Gross Jr. be appointed a committee with whom Mr. Holmes shall consult regarding the expenditure of the above appropriation."


August 6th 1864 .- " Voted that the town of East Had- dam pay to each individual who shall volunteer under the recent call of the President of the United States for 500,000 men to enter the army or navy of the United States in pursuance of the Act of Congress authorizing the same and to each person who has or shall furnish an acceptable substitute under said call, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars if said volunteer or substitute is accepted for three years. And for each person who shall volunteer, furnish a substitute, or be drafted into


the army or navy of the United States for one year the sum of One Hundred Dollars.


" Provided said Volunteer, Substitute or drafted man shall appear upon the quota of said town of East Had- dam under said call.


"Voted that Silas R. Holmes, O. H. Parker, and Harper Boies be a committee to borrow the necessary amount of money on the credit of the Town to carry out to procure the necessary number of substitutes to fill the quota of East Haddam, and it should be the duty of said Committee also to receive of such persons as are subject to the draft, a sufficient additional amount to what is ap- propriated by the town and State to procure a Substitute for them and have such substitute placed to their re- spective names."


August 27th 1864 .- " Voted That there be hereby appropriated from the Treasury of this Town in addi- tion to the sum appropriated by said Town on the 6th inst, for the purpose of encouraging volunteering from said Town, or procuring Substitutes to fill the quota of the same, under the late call of the President of the United States for 500,000 men, the sum of $200 to each person who shall volunteer into the army or navy of the United States for one year and for each Substitute such sum as shall be within $200 of the amount said substitute shall have or may cost the individuals procuring the sime.


"Also that the committee appointed at the last meeting be and are hereby empowered and authorized to carry the aforesaid Resolution into effect.


" Voted that the vote passed by a town meeting on the 6th inst. allowing for the town Treasury the sum of One . Hundred Dollars to each person drafted in this Town under the late call of the President of the United States for 500,000 men shall be so charged as to allow from said Town Treasury to each and every person so drafted the sum of Three Hundred Dollars instead of One Hun- dred Dollars as is now provided and allowed by said vote.


" That the selectmen of the Town be and they are hereby instructed to draw town orders payment con- ditional on the future action of the Legislature legalizing the action of this and previous meetings appropriating pecuniary aid for the purpose of filling the quota of the town under the late call for 500,000 men in favor of those persons who are entitled to receive a balance voted by resolutions passed at this meeting."


December 7th 1864 .- " Voted the sum of $300 be and the same hereby is appropriated to each and every per- son who shall volunteer or procure a substitute for the the term of three years for the army and navy with in- terest from the date of their acceptance in the service and payable from the Treasury of this town upon the legalization of said appropriation by the legislature of Connecticut provided such volunteers or substitutes be applied on the quota of this town.


" That the number of men to whom the town will pay the $300 as before specified shall not exceed fifty-five.


" That the selectmen of this town be instructed to


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EAST HADDAM-TOWN OFFICERS.


draw town orders to the amount of $300 and in favor of each person who shall volunteer or furnish a substitute in accordance with the preceding resolutions payment conditional upon the future action of the State Legisla- ture legalizing the action of this meeting."


CIVIL LIST.


Representatives .- The Representatives from East Had- dam from 1713 to the present time have been:


[842, 1843; James E. Swan, 1844, 1846; William Palmer jr., 1846, 1847; Lemuel Dickinson, 1847, 1849; William Silliman, 1848; Daniel B. Warner, 1849, 1850; Thomas Swan, 1850, 1851; Ozias H. Parker, 1851, 1857, 1877; Jonathan O. Cone, 1852; Lewis M. Hilliard, 1852, 1853; William D. Shipman, 1853; Moses Culver, 1854; Erastus F. Peck, 1854; O. O. Clark, 1855; Jared B. Silliman, 1856; Ebenezer Fox, 1856; R. WV. Miller, 1857, 1858; Alfred Gates, 1858, 1860; Loren Cowdrey, 1859; Ozias E. Palmer, 1859; Nathan Jewett, 1860; Emory Johnson, 1861; Silas R. Holmes, 1861; W. E. Cone, 1862, 1863; Francis Griffin, 1862, 1863; Luther Boardman, 1864, 1865; Richard E. Hungerford, , 1864; John B. Hungerford, 1865, 1866; Jacob R. Greenfield, 1866, 1867; Timothy Holmes, 1867; Elisha Bingham, 1868, Lord W. Cone, 1868; Charles E. Brownell, 1869; Edwin A. Em- mons, 1869, 1870, 1874, 1876; Almond Day, 1870, 1873; D. S. Purple, 1871, 1872; I. B. Carver, 1871, 1872; Julius Attwood, 1873, 1874; Albert E. Purple, 1875; David Watrous, 1875; Salmon McCall, 1876; Hiram Willey, 1877; E. Emory Johnson, 1878, 1879; Franci; H. Parker, 1878, 1880; Daniel B. Warner, 1879; Thomas Gross jr., 1880, 1881; Lauriston M. Stark, 1881; Richard H. Gladwin, 1882, 1883; Joseph W. Hungerford, 1882; William M. Sisson, 1883; Albert E. Olmstead, 1884; Joseph E Warner, 1884.


Thomas Gates, 1713 M., 1714 M., 1714 O., 1716 M., 1719 O., 1720 O., 1723M .- 1725 M., 1726 O., 1728 O., 1730 M., 1733 O., 1750 O., 1751 O; William Spencer, 1717 M .- 1719 M., 1720 M; Daniel Brainerd, 1721 O .- 1722 O., 1726 M., 1727 O., 1728 M., 1729 M., 1729 O., 1730 O., 1734 M., 1757 O., 1759 M; Jabez Chapman, 1731 O., 1746 O., 1747 M., 1773 O .- 1776 M., 1777 M .- 1779 O., 1784 M .- 1786 M., 1787 M., 1789 M .- 1790 O., 1791 O., 1792 M; Samuel Olmstead, 1733 M., 1736 0; Isaac Spencer, 1734 O., 1735 O., 1736 M., 1737 M.,- 1741 M., 1743 M; James Brainerd, 1735 M; Stephen Horsmer, 1741 O., 1742 M., 1744 M., 1745 O; Noadiah Brainerd, 1742 O .- 1743 O., 1745 M., 1746 M; Daniel Gates, 1744 O; James Cone, 1747 O .- 1749- O; Joseph Spencer, 1750 O., 1751 M., 1752 O .- 1753 O., 1755 M., 1755 O., 1756 O., 1761 M .- 1763 M., 1764 O; Thomas Adams, 1752 M; Daniel Cone, 1754 M., 1754 O; Chris topher Holmes, 1756 M., 1758 M., 1758 O., 1759 O., 1763 O., 1768 M .- 1770 M; David Brainerd, 1767 M; Daniel Town Clerks .- " At a publick meeting of the Inhabit- ants of East Haddam, December ye 23d 1703 being le- gally warned, William Spencer Junr was chosen Clarke for ye East Side." He served until 1706, and was suc- ceeded by: Thomas Gates, 1706-34; Daniel Cone, 1734- 66; James Gates, 1766-69; Daniel Brainerd, 1769-77; Timothy Gates, 1777-97; Timothy Gates 3d, 1797-1802; Timothy Gates jr., 1802-14; Timothy Gates, for a part of 1814; Christopher C. Gates, 1814, 1815, 1818-23; Nathan L. Foster, 1815-18, 1823-38, 1839, 1840; Syl- vester Gates, December 29th 1838 to January 7th 1839; Alfred Gates, a short time in 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1851, 1852; Daniel B. Warner, 1841, 1842, 1843- 51; George W. Lester, 1852, 1853; Charles Babcock, 1853, resigned January ad 1854. Alfred Gates was ap- pointed by selectmen in 1854 to fill vacancy. He was elected in fall of 1854 and served till his resignation, Jan- uary 6th 1862. N. Olmstead Chapman was then ap- pointed by the selectmen and afterward elected. He resigned, January 17th 1866, since which time Julius Attwood has been clerk. Brainerd jr., 1760 M., 1760 O., 1765 M., 1765 O., 1766 O., 1767 M., 1767 O .. 1769 M .- 1776 O; Joseph Fowler, 1764 M; Dyer Throop, 1766 M., 1770 O .- 1773 M., 1777 O., 1779 M., 1780 M., 1780 O., 1782 M., 1782 O., 1783 O .- 1787 M., 1788 O; Samuel Huntington, 1776 O., 1777 M., 1880 M., 1780 O., 1781 M., 1783 M; Israel Spencer, 1778 M., 1779 O., 1781 M .- 1783 O., 1787 O., 1788 M; Eliphalet Holmes, 1786 O., 1787 O .- 1892 M., 1793 O .- 1794 O., 1796 O .- 1809 O., 1810 O .- 1811 O., 1813 M., 1813 O., 1814 O., 1815 M., 1816 O., 1817 M; Epaphro- ditus Chapman, 1791 M., 1792 O., 1793 M., 1795 M; Barzillai Beckwith, 1792 O; Epaphroditus Champion, 1793 O., 1795 O., 1796 M., 1805 M .- 1806 O; John O. Mosely, 1794 M., 1794 O., 1895 O., 1796 M., 1798 O .- 1804 O; Isaac Spencer jr., 1795 M., 1796 O .- 1798 M., 1817 O., 1818 M; John Brainerd, 1807 M., 1807 0; Josiah Griffing, 1808 M .- 1810 M; Joshua Cone, 1810 M; Josiah Griffin, 1812 M., 1812 O., 1814 M., 1814 O., 1815 O., 1817 M., 1828, 1832; Sylvester Chapman, 1810 O .- 1814 M., 1815 M., 1815 O., 1816 O; Josiah Barber, 1816 M., 1817 O; Chevers Brainerd, 1816 M., 1818 O., 1819 PROBATE DISTRICT. M; Richard Lord, 1818 M., 1821-24; William Hunger- ford, 1818 O., 1819 M., 1820, 1824, 1825; William Pal- The Probate District of East Haddem was formed in October 1741, and embraced the towns of Haddam, East Haddam, Colchester, Hebron, and that part of Middle- town (now Chatham) lying south of the Salmon River. Haddam was taken from this and united to a new dis- trict in 1752, and Hebron in 1789. Colchester has re- mained a part of this district till within a few years. The first judge of this court was Hon. John Bulkley, of mer, 1820-22, 1831, 1835; Aaron C. Palmer, 1823, 1825, 1834; Gideon Higgins, 1826, 1827, 1833, 1838, 1839; Ozias Holmes, 1826, 1830, 1840; Joseph Brainerd, 1727; Timothy Green, 1828, 1830, 1832, 1833; Stephen Cone, 1831; Eliphalet A. Bulkley, 1834, 1841; William Marsh, 1835, 1836; John C. Palmer, 1836, 1837, 1842-44; Joseph Paddock, 1837; William H. Cone, 1838, 1839, 1848; Ed- ward P. Brownell, 1840, 1841, 1855; Nathan Jewett jr., | Colchester, from 1741 to 1753; Hon. James Spencer, of


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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.


East Haddam, from 1753 to 1789. In 1776, while the latter was out of the State, Daniel Brainerd Esq., of East Haddam, was appointed to act as judge, while Judge Spencer was connected with the armies of the United States. Isaac Spencer, Esq., of East Haddam, succeeded James Spencer, and held the office for 29 years. In 1832, the district was so modified as to include only the town of East Haddam.


The following is a list of the judges since that date: E. A. Bulkley, 1832, 1833; Stephen Cone, 1833, 1834; E. A. Bulkley, 1834, 1835; Stephen Cone, 1835, 1836; John C. Palmer, 1836-38; E. A. Bulkley, 1838-42; Stephen Cone, 1842-44; Gideon Higgins, 1844-46; William Marsh, 1846, 1847; Moses Culver, 1847-50; J. O. Cone, 1850, 1851; Moses Culver, 1851, 1852; Wil- liam D. Shipman, 1852, 1853; Roswell Davison, 1853 -55; Edmund Smith, 1855-57; Alfred Gates, 1857, 1858; Charles Attwood, 1858, 1859; Julius Attwood, 1859 to the present time.


MILITIA OF EAST HADDAM.


The circumstances under which the early settlers were placed rendered it necessary that they should be trained in the use of firearms, and local military organizations were found in all parts of the country. In the earlier history of the town the companies of East Haddam be- longed to the 12th Regiment. In 1776, East Haddam and Colchester were formed into the 24th Regiment. A company from Hadlyme belonged to the 33d Regiment.


The different commanders of the 24th Regiment from East Haddam were General Dyer Throop, Jabez Chap- man, David B. Spencer, General Epaphroditus Champion, John O. Mosely, Josiah Griffin and Jonah Gates.


In 1816, there was a general re-organization of the militia throughout the State, which was preserved till within a few years. It is within the memory of our young men that "Training Days " were great events in the history of the town, from which all other events were dated. Soldiers with their tall hats and taller plumes, dressed in showy uniforms, met in companies in the different societies in town, once a year, where they were drilled in the manual of arms-marched in sections, platoons, and by company, and dismissed after several general discharges of musketry. How the boys reverenced these famous soldiers! The greatest scalawag in town, upon these occasions, was transformed into a hero, in their eyes, as long as he wore the regimentals. Among the early captains of these companies were:


East Haddam, North Company: Samuel Olmsted, Ste- phen Cone, Thomas Gates, Daniel Gates, Caleb Chap- man, John Percival, Joshua Percival, Gen. Dyer Throop, Jonathan Olmsted, Jonathan Kilbourn, Jehial Fuller, Levi Palmer, Abner Hale, Deacon Caleb Gates, Elisha Cone, Darius Gates, Darius Brainerd, William Palmer.


East Haddam, South Company: John Chapman, John Holmes, Nathan Smith, Jabez Chapman, Daniel Cone, Berzaliel Brainerd, Deacon James Gates, Matthew Smith, Major Daniel Cone, Colonel David Spencer, Elijah Ackley, General E. Champion, Jeremiah Smith, Robert


Cone, Samuel P. Lord, Richard Green, Joseph Church, Samuel Crowel.


Millington, North Company: Joseph Arnold, William Church, John Willey, Enoch Brainerd, Amasa Dutton, John Arnold, Noadiah Emmons, Nathaniel Lord, Major N. Emmons, Aaron Fox, Oliver Church, Diodate Lord, Hezekiah Loomis, Manley Beebe.


Millington, South Company: Jared Spencer, John McCall, Aaron Cleveland, Jonah Cone; William Cone, Ebenezer Dutton, Nathan Jewett, John Chapman, Joseph Gates, Robert Anderson, Amos Randal, Col. Josiah Grif- fin, Diodate Jones, Samuel Morgan, Gardner Gallop, Uriah Spencer, David G. Otis, Jon. Beckwith Berah Beckwith.


Hadlyme Company: Deacon Chris. Holmes, Ephraim Fuller, Ebenezer Spencer, John Shaw, Colonel Eliphalet Holmes, Zack. Hungerford, Abraham Willey, Ebenezer Holmes, Jabez Comstock, Charles Spencer, Newton Marsh, Benjamin Crosby, Robert Hungerford, Chauncey Beckwith, Calvin Comstock, Ozias Holmes.


PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


The town of East Haddam has 17 school districts, in which prosperous schools are maintained. The numbers and names of these districts, and the number of children of school age in each is as follows:


First, or Center District, 37 scholars; Second, or Land- ing, 79; Third, or Red Lane, 53; Fourth, or Uptown, 27; Fifth, or Bashan, 68; Sixth, or Town Hill, 19; Sev- enth, or Nicket Lane, 33; Eighth, or Leesville, 16; Ninth, or Moodus, 130; Tenth, or Millington Green, 31; Eleventh, or Plain, 21; Twelfth, or Olmstead, 16; Thir- teenth, or Foxtown, 8; Fourteenth, or Tater Hill, 18; Fifteenth, or Millington West, 19; Sixteenth, or Acby, 20; Seventeenth, or Hadlyme, 47; a total of 633.


ROADS.


The original settlers of East Haddam laid out the town into nine sections of three-fourths of a mile square, and the roads running north and south were made that distance apart as boundaries for the same. In this "layout " con- venience and topography seein to have been of very little account. Any one familiar with our roads will readily notice this observance of distance. The same distance is also observed to a certain extent in the roads running east and west.


The East Haddam and Colchester Turnpike, extend- ing from " East Haddam Landing to Colchester Meeting house," was granted in October 1809, with a capital stock of $6,288. About the year 1800, a post road was estab- lished from Middletown, through Chatham, to East Hid- dam Landing and thence to New London. A turnpike from Norwich to New Haven, through East Haddam and Haddam, was granted in 1817.


CEMETERIES.


For many years after the settlement of the town, the people carried their dead across the river to Haddam for burial. Not far from the year 1700, a party of


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EAST HADDAM-CEMETERIES.


mourners, bearing their dead, crossed the cove and the narrow peninsula of Haddam Neck, and attempted to cross the river. It had overflowed its banks, and the floating ice rendered a passage impossible. Slowly and sadly the procession retraced its steps through the snow and buried its dead in the forest, in a romantic spot a little back from the cove. This person was Mrs. Ar- nold, a great great aunt of Mrs. Elijah Bingham. Thus commenced the Cove Burial Ground, and the place is now known as Grave Yard Point. It is situated about one and a half miles north of the Landing, and a little west of William O. Brainerd's. Although the spot has twice been cleared of wood within 90 years, large trees stand beside the rude grave stones, as if to offer their protection and throw over the spot their solemn shade. The brown stones, covered with the moss of time, are adorned by the tradition il angels having the usual round heads, with wings protruding from the ears. In a prominent part of the cemetery is a moss-covered tabular monument with this inscription: "Under this tombstone lyeth interred the body of the Rev. Stephen Hosmer, the first pastor of the First Church of Christ in East Haddanı, who departed this life the 18th day of June, A. D., 1749, and in the 70th year of his age. And at his right hand lyeth Mrs. Sarah Hosmer, his beloved consort, who departed this life September ye 30th A. D. 1749, and in the 67th year of her age.




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