History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 77

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 77

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" Sweet souls we leave you to your rest. Enjoy your Jesus and your God, Till we from bands of clay released, Spring out and climb the shining road."

Near this is another slab of brown stone with this in- scription: "Here lieth the body of Thomas Gates, Jus- tice of the Peace, April ye 20th 1734 in ye 70th year of his age." Near this is another slab recording the death of Deacon Daniel Brainerd, who died 1743. Beside this stands a handsome stone for those days, which has re- mained in a good state of preservation and records the death of Captain Joshua Brainerd, who departed this life May the 13, A. D. 1755 in the 84th year of his age." In a line with this stand rude brown stones which mark the graves of Nehemiah, Lucy, Uri, and Hannah Brainerd, and at the end of the line stands the only marble stones in the yard. They mark the graves of Berzaliel Brain- erd and Lydia his wife. They were the grandparents of Wm. O. and Abby Brainerd, who own the ground. Here, too, is the resting place of many of the Cones, the Ack- leys, Arnolds, Olmsteads, and many old families of the town.

The other grave yards in East Haddam were laid out or commenced as follows: Old yard in Hadlyme, 1723; Long Pond yard, 1726; Moodus yard, 1748; Meeting House yard, in Hadlyme, 1750; Bashan, 1760; " Tater Hill," 1760; Near Millington Green, 1764; Eight Mile River, 1769; Landing, 1773; Mt. Parnassus, 1774; Center Congregational Church, 1778; Wicket Lane, 1793.

old accounts refer to periods when virulent diseases pre- vailed throughout the town, but of nothing very serious. Within a few years past malaria has prevailed to some extent along the river, and, in fact, it has prevailed throughout the whole State. In 1775, there were over 40 deaths in the town; in the year following, more than 50. The population of East Haddam in 1800 was 2,805. The total number of deaths in the town for 10 years after was 614, or an average of over 60 each year, being a much larger average of mortality than has existed since that time. In 1870, the population was but 2,952, or 147 more than it was at the beginning of the century. The number of deaths during the year ending June Ist 1870 was 54, or an average of one in 55 per- sons. Twenty of these deaths were caused by consump- tion, six by typhoid fever, and two were accidental. The other deaths resulted from diseases pertaining to child- hood and old age. Twenty-two of the number were under 33 years of age, 11 over 70; 7 over 80, and one over 90 years. Thus while two-fifths failed to reach the average of human life, more than one-third passed the three score years and ten allotted to man.

MISCELLANEOUS.

December 5th 1774, it was "Voted that Swine Might Run at Large upon the Common & Highway provided that they Ware Will Ringed in the Nose to prevent their Rooting for the year Insuing.

"And also Said Meeting taking the Distressed Circun- stances of Jonah Spencer and his family into their Con- sideration and finding that Said Jonah's Wife hath of Long time been Visited With Sore and Distressing Sick- ness, and pain and that he had thereby been prevented in the performance of his Usual Daily Labor & his family thereby Reduced Therefore Voted that the Said Jonah have Liberty to Draw out two pound L M out of the Town Treasury for his and his families Relief and Support."

At a meeting held January 5th 1775, "Voted that Capt. John Willey have Liberty to make a Dam for the Purpose of Building a Mill on Eight Mile River on his own Land."

Manufacture of Salt Peter .- At a town meeting held in East Haddam on the roth of January 1776, " Upon the Petition of Major Dyer Throop, Jabez Chapman Esqr, Capt Elijah Attwood and Mr. Nathaniel Goodspeed, Requesting that they might have Liberty to Erect Suitable Buildings for the Purpose of Manufac- turing Salt Peter Somewhere in the Town Street between Daniel Brainerd Esqr and Mr Israel Spencer's Where they can find a Convenient place for the Works and not Discommode the Public the Town Voted that they might Have Liberty as Requested in said Petition Provided that they did not Discommode the travel."

Brander of Horses .- At a town meeting, held on the first day of December 1778, Mr. Joseph Church was chosen brander of horses for the year insuing.

There is probably no more healthy town in the State, Salary of Town Treasurer .- On December 7th 1778. the air and water being uncommonly pure. Some of the it was " Voted that Timothy Gates Treasurer for said

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

town Should have 125:00:0 money out of the Town Treasury for his trouble in S'd office for the year past."

Inoculation for Small-pox .-- At the annual town meet- ing held December 2d 1782, it was "Voted that In- oculation for the Small Pox may be Set up in Some con- Venient place in Said Town and to be under the Direction and Restriction of ye Authority and Select Men of Said Town as long as it is carried on;" but on December 24th of the same year, upon consideration of the subject, it was "Voted that Inoculation for the Small Pox Shall not be Set up in S'd Town." However, it must have been subsequently permitted, for on November Ist 1794, it was voted to " Recall their former vote that granted liberty to Ennoculate for the Small Pox and that Enoculation for the Small Pox shall discontinue and stop in said Town."

The Expected Court House .- The following preamble and vote were passed December Ist 1783: " Whereas at the approaching session of the Assembly it is probable the County of Hartford will be divided and the Town of East Haddam made a Shire or a half Shire Town pro- vided the Inhabitants of Said Town would Build a Court House and Gaol at their own Expense and whereas a member of Gent'n in said Town have liberally Subscribed to the amount of one half of the Expenditure that will be necessary to Build a Court House and Gaol Therefore Voted that a tax of three pence on the pound be laid on the polls and ratable estate of Said Town to be Collected and paid by the first day of December next on the List of 1783 and to be used and Improved toward the Building Said Court house and Gaol So far as said subscription Shall Fall short: provided Said provision Shall be made."

Dr. Gibbon Jewett's Pension .- At a meeting held Sep- tember 18th 1777, the following vote was passed relating to Dr. Jewett's pension: "Whereas Doct. Gibbon Jew- ett of s'd Town has obtained a certificate for a Pension for Being Impaired in his health by Service as a Physi- cian in the army in the year 1776 and it appearing to the Inhabitants of said Town unjust and unreasonable (con- sidering the circumstances) therefore voted that Israel Spencer Esqr Capt. Eliphalet Holmes be a Committee to Lay Before the Hon'bl General Court to be holden at New Haven in October next the facts relative to the said Jewett's service &c. and to Remonstrate against Said Pension" and at a meeting held on the 24th day of July 1788, the above preamble was again used to introduce the following vote: " Voted Major David B. Spencer Be an Agent for Said Town to lay into the Hon. Superior Court of this State on Information Objecting against Said certificate and stating the unreasonableness of said Jewett's Pension being Settled upon him and to appear and take proper methods to support said objections be- fore said court.

Captain Green was a leading citizen of the town. There were annual elections then, and Captain James Green was chosen "Brander of Horses," December 5th 1766, and every year to 1773. Every year from this until 1789 he held important offices in the town. In former days there was a forge near the spot where the old bank now stands. It was there he made guns during the war, which echoed the notes of the Declaration of Inde- pendence on many a battle field to the satisfaction of his present rebel associates, if not of his late royal master, and East Haddam was all rebel. As early as June 30th 1774, it voted unanimously for a declaration, and Jan- uary 6th 1778, adopted unanimously the articles of con- federation. They were prompt, generous, and patriotic in furnishing arms, money, and men.

'There is no record of the regiment to which he was at- tached, except it was a cavalry regiment and he was with it as captain in some engagements during the war, prob- ably in the year 1776. He died March 11th 1809 and his widow died November 27th 1816. They were both buried in the Landing Cemetery. The old stones which are falling to decay, were replaced with a marble slab, by the sons of Captain Green, with both inscriptions as follows: "Sacred to the memory of Captain James Green who died March 11th 1809 ÆE 80, also of Mrs. Ruth wife of Captain James Green who died Nov. 27, 1816 A 79."

Running east from the Ackley farm is an old road known as Pike's Lane. On this road lived one Thomas Riley who in his younger days, according to tradition, sailed over the seas with Captain Robert Kidd.

MILLINGTON.

According to Field's history, the first settler in Mill- ington was Jonathan Beebe, from New London, who settled by the Long Pond about 1704, and was soon joined by several persons, who have now no descendants in East Haddam. They settled west of the pond, on the hill, about the Hayward farm, recently owned by Row- land Allen. Some traces of their houses still remain, but most of them are completely obliterated. Except at this spot, there were no inhabitants in Millington until about 1732-3-4, when families moved into it by the names of Arnold, Barnes, Brainerd, Chapman, Church, Cone, Em- mons, Fuller, Gates, Olmsted, and Spencer, from East Haddam Parish; of Harvey and Hungerford, from Hadlyme; of Clarke, from Haddam; of Graves, from Colchester; and Stewart, from Voluntown. Daniel Smith, from some part of Plymouth Colony; Lemuel Griffin, from Lyme, and Thomas Fox, from Colchester, settled here not long afterward. Millington Society was for a number of years the most thickly settled and influential portion of the town. In 1810, there were 172

The following persons were appointed justices of the dwelling houses in that society, while in the First Society peace, or, as they were formerly called, commissioners, there were but 167. There were also a number of for East Haddam, at the time of the formation of the stores, and quite a large local business was carried on; Millington being the center of trade for quite a large tract of country. county: General Dyer Throop, Colonel Jabez Chapman, Israel Spencer, Timothy Gates.

EAST HADDAM-MILLINGTON.

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With scarcely a solitary exception, those who now re- main are tillers of the rugged soil, and are noted for their frugality, industry, and hospitality. The growing ten- dency of the age to centralize in the cities and villages, and the tempting allurements of the South and West, have diminished her population. Many of her children sleep in her hillside cemeteries, and many others have wan- dered far and wide; but none of them find happier hours than when they return to meet the hearty welcome of their native home. Sixty years ago, the Middle, or Green School District numbered 69. The same district now has about one-third of that number. At the same time the West District numbered 51; it now numbers but 13.

The Old Chimney Stocks form quite prominent fea- tures of the landscape in Millington. The tan yard at McLean's, once the scene of a large business, is now a mass of ruins. Just east of the yard is the cellar over which stood the house of Nathan Beebe, an uncle of Manly, and great uncle of Sherman Beebe. *

** * Sherman broke loose from the old farm and went to Cali- fornia in its early days, where he prospered, and returned to buy the large farm he now occupies in North Milling- ton. He has seven sons, and is one of the town's heaviest tax payers.

Just west of the tan yard, near the Dutton barn (so called), stood another house, and a short distance north, on the Colchester road, are ruins which mark the resi- dences of the Elys and Fullers.

A half mile south, on the corner, stands what is called the old Auger Stock, and further on, near Alexander's shop, lived Deacon Diodate Lord.

The Austin Beebe house is a comparatively late ruin. This corner, now so deserted, seems to have been quite a settlement many years ago. A store was kept here by Timothy Spencer, and just north, on the old stony road leading to Long Pond, lived Isham Fuller and Dr. Nye. The latter moved away, and afterward gained consider- able renown. The old house below Deacon Ackley's was built by one Williams, one of the early settlers. " Wall Street," the old road running north from the Green, is now entirely deserted. The store built by Ephraim Warner, near its entrance, in which consider- able business was carried 'on, was long since converted into Mr. Joseph Arnold's horse shed. A short distance north was Ephraim Warner's house, and further north, but short distances apart, stood the Marsh house, the Burke house, the Ephraim Arnold house, the Plum house, the Hall house, the Beri Gates house, and the Wickham house.

Here large families were raised, and the street formed an important thoroughfare of the town. Now, grass and weeds grow over its traveled paths; green mounds of house-leek and rude piles of stone and mortar are the only evidences of former civilization. A goodly portion of the north part of Millington Society was owned and occupied by the Arnolds; Ephraim, John, and Joseph. The last was the father of Isaiah Arnold and the grand- father of Samuel and Joseph jr. Samuel has four chil-

dren living: Fluvia, married L. W. Cone; Nancy, married Charles Minor; Emeline, married W. L. Fuller; William, living in Brooklyn, L. I.

Joseph jr. had one son, Joseph H., who married Har- riet M. Swan, who died early in 1879. He left two chil- dren, Dwight and Fred.

The old Esterbrook house, standing on Millington Green, was for a long time the parsonage. It was built about the time of the ordination of the Rev. Hobart Esterbrook as pastor of the Millington Congregational Church, November 20th 1745. The old road leading past the Estabrook house, or rather the road branching off from this to Chapman's Mills, was in early days a main thoroughfare upon which several families lived, but which is now lonely, deserted, and almost impassible- its silence seldom broken save by an occasional ox cart rattling over the stones, or by the sharp crack of the hunter's gun. The terminus of the road, however, pre- sents attractions which richly repay a rough and toilsome journey. The wild and romantic beauty of the scenery about Chapman's Mills is not surpassed by those historic spots about which volumes have been written. The pond here is the source of the Eight Mile River which empties into Hamburg Cove. It starts with two separate outlets which surround a rocky island and join about a half mile below. Both streams leap down rocky ledges, over one hundred feet high, with a roar that can be heard far away. The grist mill upon the west branch has gone to ruin, but the saw mill has been kept in running order. Between the two mills, on the island, stands the house now occupied by Cyrus W. Chapman, so that the place still retains the name of its original owners. It was owned and occupied for several years by Colonel A. T. Niles, and here the writer spent many "happy hours of childhood."

Following the river from the point where its branches unite, at the foot of the falls, down over Kettle Hill, so called from the deep circular holes in its rocky crest, along the old coal pit bed, the once black face of which is now white with birches; by the rough chimney pile which marks the little house where Benjamin Banning raised nineteen children, whose exploits at diving from mullen stalks into the dew surprised many a morning teamster; through the hop yard with its tall evergreens, its frowning precipices, and its Devil's Cave, and we reach the " Plain " with a feeling that we have journeyed the wilderness and finally reached the promised land. The Plain forms the southeast corner of the town and is within the bounds of Millington Society. The traveler here finds a pleasing landscape, with thrifty and well cultivated farms which were originally owned by settlers from the adjoining town of Lyme. The old Chimney Stock, which occupies so prominent a position just north of Nathan Jewett's, was known as the Griffin house, where lived Edward Dorr Griffin, D. D., president of Williamstown College. The old Jewett homestead is just beyond the bridges across the Lyme line.

Returning to Millington Green, and taking the Had- lyme road south, we soon come to the old Spencer

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Chimney Stock, where lived Gen. Joseph Spencer, of Revolutionary fame. Here, too, David Brainerd, the celebrated missionary, spent several years of his youth. Nearly opposite the Spencer place is the Williams place, where lived Dr. Datus Williams, a prominent physician of the town. He afterward moved to near the Center Church, where he died a few years since. His son, George G., president of the Chemical Bank, New York city, has enlarged and beautified the place till it is now one of the finest in the town. He occupies it as a sum- mer residence. A few rods south of the Spencer place is the Lyman place, where Dr. Lyman, who was for many years pastor of the Millington church, lived.

In the woods near Bald Hill, about two niiles south of Millington Green, are the remains of the old house where lived one Will Fox. Near by is the Oakley house, where lived Dr. Root, father of Francis G. Root, of Leesville. Dr. Root afterward lived at the Warner house, on Potash Hill.

MILLINGTON ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY.

The following is the first record of the society of Mil- lington:

" At a society meeting warned according to directions of ye law, to be holden on ye third day of December, Anno Domini, 1733, at ye mansion house of Jonathan Chapman, in ye parish of Millington, in ye town of Had- dam, John Bulkley was chosen Moderator of said meet- ting, and James Cone was chosen Clerk and sworn to a faithful discharge of his office by John Bulkley, justice of the peace. Samuel Emmons, Samuel Olmstead, and Mathias Fuller were chosen society committee. Also, it was voted that ye society will engage some suitable per- son to preach ye gospel to ye people in this society; also, it was voted that the committee as above said shall apply themselves to ye Rev. Mr. Hosmer for his advice and directions in their endeavors to engage some person to preach among them as aforesaid."

The meetings of the society were held at the house of Mr. John Chapman for a number of years. As near as can be ascertained his house stood near the lower part of the hop yard. The Rev. Mr. Hosmer, alluded to in the above report, was at that time the pastor of the church in the first society. It appears by the records that the society made several applications for preachers before they succeeded in having a permanent settlement. The first religious services were held for a considerable period in a house standing near the " Burke House," on Wall street. It appears that the first call for preaching was given to a Mr. Williams, for at a meeting held De- cember 1734, it is recorded, " that ye society will not give Mr. Williams forty shillings a day for preaching ye gospel to ye people in said society." At a society meet- ing held March 7th 1735, it was voted that the conimit- tee be instructed to engage the services of the Rev. Mr. Hosmer, and in case he refused, to apply to the Rev Nathaniel Brainerd.

At the same time there was voted the sum of 70 pounds a year for the support of the ministry. June 30th 1736,

the society applied to the Rev. Mr. Brown, and engaged him to preach the gospel for two months at 35 shillings a day. At a subsequent meeting, held in September 1736, the society voted a call to Rev. Timothy Symmes, and as an inducement it was "further voted that ye society will give Mr. Symmes three hundred and twenty pounds to- wards his settlement, and thirty pounds in labor towards building him a house, also one hundred pounds salary, and find him his fire wood; and that ye society will clear, break up, fence, and sow with wheat two acres of land, the first year Mr. Symmes is an ordained minister in said society, and also plant out one hundred of apple trees on said land ye next spring after it is sowed with wheat."

This call was accepted by Mr. Symmes in a letter dated October 26th 1736. The society meetings were generally adjourned " to ye hour of eight of ye clock in the morning."

For a number of years the society suffered by a divis- ion arising from a difference, partially doctrinal but more from different views in regard to forms. Finally, at a society meeting held the 17th of April 1776, "it was voted not to oppose a number of said parish who call themselves Old Fathers and Desenters of New England, if they should apply to the Hon. General Assembly of this colony to be made a district Ecclesiastical Soci- ety."

Several legacies were granted to the society, from time to time. The first one, of $260, was bequeathed by Mr. Samuel Gates, who died August 2Ist 1801.

A farm was also given, by Mr. Simeon Chapman, who died March 31st 1813; but to be used by his children during life. This bequest amounted to $4,280.

A legacy of $1,440 was also left by Thomas Beebe, who died June 6th 1816. He was a son of Dr. Beebe, - who lived a short distance southeast of the Esterbrook house. A part of the old chimney still remains. Dr. Beebe was a strong tory during the Revolutionary war, and made himself so obnoxious that a party, headed by Captain Aaron Fox, took him from the house one night and gave him a coat of tar and feathers.

Thomas, the legator, was not religiously inclined, and it is said that he did not make his bequest because he loved the society more, but that he loved his family less. Captain Aaron Fox was, for a number of years, captain of the Millington militia. His grandfather, Ebenezer, was one of the earliest settlers of Millington. He was one of three brothers who came from England. One of them settled in Massachusetts, one in Rhode Island, and Ebenezer in Foxtown, where he built a log house near the old house built by Aaron Fox, and now owned by Matthew Fox. The brothers occasionally visited each other, taking the journey through the wilderness on horseback, their wives riding behind them.

A portion of the house where Ebenezer, the son of Aaron, recently died, was built by Enoch Arnold about 150 years ago. People came from a great distance to the raising. It was covered with white oak clap boards securely fastened with wrought nails. Two of the orig-

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EAST HADDAM-CHURCH AT MILLINGTON.

inal rooms still remain. The Old Chimney Stock, just west of Charles Swan's, is what remains of a house built and. occupied by Brockway Beebe, and later by Josiah Willey. Turner Miner came from New London about the year 1770, and erected a house where Charles Swan lives. The place was subsequently bought by Rufus Swan, who gave it to his son, Wheeler. Turner Miner mar- ried a daughter of General Joseph Spencer by his second wife. The wife of Deacon Jeremiah Hutchins, and Mrs. James Stranahan, are daughters of Mr. Miner, and con- sequently granddaughters of General Spencer. Rev. Nathaniel Miner, who preached in Millington for a num- ber of years, is a nephew of Turner Miner.

MILLINGTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The first meeting house was erected in Millington in 1743. It was 50 by 40 feet, and stood on the Green, a few rods south of the present church. The building of the present house was proposed in society meeting, Janu- ary 2Ist 1832, when it was " voted that the society build a meeting house 32 feet by 44, from 16 to 18 feet posts, with a steeple not exceeding 60 feet in height." The house was built by Mr. Edward Worthington, and dedi- cated to divine service on the 23d of January 1833. The society tendered Mr. Worthington a vote of thanks for the faithful discharge of his work. For the excellent bell on the church the society were mainly indebted to John Chapman and William H. Cone-to the former for his liberal subscription-to the latter for his great activ- ity in the matter.

The first minister in Millington was Rev. Timothy Symmes, of Scituate, Mass., who was ordained December 2d 1736. Dr. Field says: " In the great revival of re- ligion which spread in New England a few years after his ordination, his feelings were extravagantly raised, and he prosecuted his work with a zeal not according to knowledge. This gave rise to difficulties which ended in his dismission in 1743."

He was succeeded by Mr. Hobart Esterbrook, son of the Rev. Mr. Esterbrook, of Canterbury. He graduated at New Haven in 1736, and was ordained in Millington, November 20th 1745. He was a steady, judicious, and faithful minister, and he is remembered with respect and affection by his people. He died January 28th 1766, in the 50th year of his age and 20th of his ministry.

The next minister in Millington was Mr. Diodate Johnson, who was ordained July 2d 1767. He was a son of the Rev. Stephen Johnson, of Lyme, was educated at Yale College, where he took his first degree in 1764, and became a tutor. Endowed with superior genius and learning, and animated with fervent zeal for his work, he entered the ministry with the fairest prospects of usefulness. His labors, however, were soon ended, for consumption closed his life January 15th 1773, at the early age of 28.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 77

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