History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 85

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 85

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Emory

Johnson

WILLIAM E NICHOLS.

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EAST HADDAM-BIOGRAPHIES.

to be used as the Republican nominee for the Legislature, yarn was bought of the cotton shirting factories in the and was elected by a large majority.

Outside of his business affairs his tastes and inclina - tions have led him to engage in works of charity and benevolence. For more than thirty years he has been an active member of the Methodist church, where he still occupies the position of trustee and steward. He was for a number of years superintendent of the Sunday school, where he labored faithfully to impart that relig- ious instruction which should fit the children for a useful, happy life here on earth, and a more blessed inheritance hereafter. Recently, his other duties have compelled him to seek relief from these more active duties, but he still maintains his interest in them and seeks by every means in his power to promote and encourage their growth.

On the 24th of October 1838, he married Eliza A., daughter of Stanton S. Card, of the town of East Had- dam, by whom he has had two children: Elijah Emory, born May 23d 1841, and Stanton C., born March roth 1851, died July 26th 1871.

The death of his wife occurred on the roth of April 1882.

Although he has lived to nearly three score and ten years, the age allotted to man, he is still in the enjoy- ment of all his mental and physical faculties, and is able to give full attention to the management of his large and extensive business.

WILLIAM EBENEZER NICHOLS.

"No name has been more prominently connected with the history of Moodus and of the cotton twine manufac- ture than that of William E. Nichols. He was born in Clinton, August 15th 1806, the third son of Ebenezer and Hannah Grinnell Nichols. About the year 1820, the family moved to Moodus. The son received a common school education, which, by constant reading and appli- cation, he improved to a degree beyond that of the boys of his own age. When 17 years old he went to Saybrook to study medicine with Dr. Carter. There he remained for two years, afterward studying for a short time with Dr. Richard Warner, of this town. But, at this point, his health broke down, and after a winter of rest spent at Nantucket, he reluctantly gave up the practice of his chosen profession, and went into business with his father, starting with no other capital than his father's experience and his own inventive brain.

vicinity, and, when made into twine, was sold in quanti- ties of a few pounds each to the fishermen along the Sound. Flax and hemp had, up to this time, been the only materials used for nets, and, at first, great difficulty was found in introducing the new material among fish- ermen. But, by degrees, the prejudice against it was overcome, and in this humble beginning was laid the foundation for the present cotton seine twine industry of America.

But to William E. Nichols, the son and co-worker of Ebenezer Nichols, is largely due the successful develop- ment of the twine industry to its present proportions. In 1827, the twister was moved to the present Stone Mill and a year afterward to the old mill at Bishan. As the demand for the twines increased, other twisters were built. The mill site of the Red Mill was purchased, and about the year 1830, the father and son, in company with Messrs. Card and Higgins, started the first cotton seine twine manufactory. The interests of the other partners were afterward purchased, and we find the accounts kept here in the name of E. Nichols & Son until the death of the father in 1842.

The mill known as the East Mill was erected about 1837, by William E. Nichols, Timothy Greene, and R. Davison, and the manufacture of gimlets begun in it. This project was abandoned after a few years, and the mill was then fitted up for the manufacture of cotton spool thread. In 1844, this was also abandoned, and Mr. Davison having withdrawn from the business, for a short time the mill was controlled by Mr. Greene alone. But in 1850, the property was purchased by Mr. Nichols, and from this time on until 1869, he continued to operate both the Red and East Mills in the manufac- ture of twine.

In 1849, he received a patent for his well known "whirl-agig " twister for the making of hard laid twine, which machine has proven a great success, both mechan- ically and financially. Other important improvements and patents were developed as the business advanced. .

In 1865, he associated with himself Messrs. Demarest and Joralemon, of New York, and Z. E. Chaffee, of Moodus, and erected the present large factory at the Falls, for the manufacture and knitting of cotton seine netting. This was among the first attempts to knit fish nets by machinery. In 1869, the mill at the Falls, the Red Mill, and the East Mill, were consolidated into one

Ebenezer Nichols had previously, in 1826, put up in the present Red Mill, a machine which he called a " twister," for the making of cotton yarn into seine twine. It is believed that this is the first instance on record of the manufacture of cotton seine twine. The management, under the name of the New York Net and

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Twine Company. This company became widely and favorably known, and to-day continues to be in success- ful operation.

William E. Nichols, or Dr. Nichols, as he was famil- iarly called, will long be remembered as one of the fore- most agents in the growth and prosperity of the village and town. He was one of the active movers in the organization of the Moodus Reservoir Company, was the first president of the Moodus Savings Bank, and it is said to have been on his suggestion that the name of the village was changed from Mechanicsville to Moodus. He was a man of wide acquaintance among men, quick

thought, and extensive reading, his library being one of the largest private libraries in the State. By his consid- erate speech, his unpretending ways, his unostentatious gifts, and upright life, he gained the love and respect of the community in which he lived.

He united with the First Congregational Church of East Haddam, July 4th 1858. He was married June 6th 1861, to Catharine T. Gillette. She died in March 1869. By her he had two children: William E., born August 27th 1862; and Mary C., born December 23d 1868, both of whom are now living. He died in New York city, of general congestion, April 28th 1878.

TOWN OF ESSEX.

BY RICHARD M. BAYLES.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

T HE TOWN of Essex lies on the west side of the river, and is bounded on the north by Saybrook, west by Saybrook and Westbrook, and south by Old Say- brook and Westbook.

The soil of this town is composed of a mixture of sand and loam, in quality and proportions suitable to make for the most part a soil that is, with moderate fer- tilizing, very productive and favorable to cultivation. Several ridges of hills, founded upon rock ledges, extend in a general northeasterly and southwesterly direction across the town, and their intervales afford rich flats of arable land or spontaneous meadow.

The width of the river at Brockway's, against the northern part of this town-the site of an ancient ferry- is 96 rods. The tide in its ebb and flow here varies about three feet. Nott's Island, lying southeast of the latter point, belongs to the town of Lyme. It was formerly called Eight Mile Island. Brockway's Island, lying opposite the north part of this town, also be'ongs to Lyme. Potapaug Point, is the low point of land upon which the principal part of the village of Essex is built.

Numerous localities are mentioned in the ancient records, some of which retain their names to the present time and some have been forgotten by their ancient names.

Scotch Plains, or Scott's Plains, was the comparatively level tract stretching away from the neighborhood of the railroad station southwest to Westbrook. It was of a good soil, and, probably having but little wood upon it was easily cleared. The land was fertile and very desirable as "plowable " land, and the proprietors all, or nearly all, had shares in it. The origin of the name is unknown, but it was in use among the earliest settlers.

Kelsey Hill is west and southwest of Deep River, about one and a half miles from the Connecticut. It is mentioned as early as 1702, when land was laid out on it for Rev. Thomas Buckingham. Land was also laid out at the south end of it for Benjamin Lynde in 1723.

Whittlesey's Brook, mentioned as early as 1727, is a small stream about one and three-quarter miles south

from Potapaug Point. John Clarke jr. took up land on his £50 right where the brook crossed the country road. Rocky Hill is on the west side of the turnpike, a short distance north of where the late Alpheus Parker lived. Rocky Hill Plain lies east of it, beginning a little south of it, and extending north to the land of John Case, a distance of about two miles. The " boyne tree," spoken of in the original description of the quarter lines, stood near it. The term " boyne tree " means bound tree.

Muddy River is a brook that drains Scotch Plains, and flowing northward near the railroad station empties into Falls River. Sites for mills of different kinds have been improved upon it.

Viney Hill, named as early as 1709, is the hill eastward of where Jared C. Pratt now lives. The hill has from time immemorial been covered with running evergreen vines, called ground laurel or running vine, which cir- cumstance gave its name. The vines are in much demand for decorative purposes on festival occasions, and, beside the local use for this purpose, whole sloop loads have been carried to New York. A brook by the same name flows through it into Muddy River.

Book Hill is an elevation of about 200 feet, northwest from Essex village, near the north line of the town. Beaver Pond lies on or near the south line of the town. It was once a beaver pond, and had a dam across it which was constructed by those industrious animals. In 1705, the proprietors granted John Clarke liberty to dig out the stream that ran through it, the pond then being a sort of marsh. At that time, the dam was there, and the records show that it lay below or south of Clarke's land. It has long been known as a quagmire, the ooze of which was of unknown depth. In olden times, cattle used to go astray, and sometimes never return or be found, and it was supposed that they had wandered into this marsh and sunk out of sight in its ooze. The Rev. Thomas Buckingham, one of the cor- porators of Yale College, settled on the border of this pond, and tradition says that he made something of a business of trapping beavers, which were numerous here then, and their skins were valuable.

His home was near the Porter Griswold place. When

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

the Valley Railroad was built, great difficulty was expe- rienced in getting a foundation solid enough for its road bed. Piles, 70 feet in length, were driven down, and re- peated attempts were made before the sinking of the road bed could be arrested. The pond now feeds the stream that furnishes power for a grist mill at Saybrook.

Walnut Hill was probably the hill to the west of the settlement of Ivoryton. It was noted for the growth of hickory wood which it bore.

Cedar Swamp, mentioned in the records as early as 1728, is in the western part of Chester, and is still known by its original name.

The Maple Tree, a well known locality at the time, was probably at Meadow Woods, near where Muddy River joins the Fall River.

Bushy Hill is a wild country north of Ivoryton. It was known by this name as early as 1727. Later a road led up to it through a pair of bars near the present school house in that vicinity.

Stone-pit Hill, which name has been contracted to "Stumpit Hill," by which it is familiarly known, is the hill to the west of the residence of Dr. B. H. Stevens. It has quarries of granite on the north side. These quarries were known and utilized at an early date, and gave the name, which appears as early as 1750. The tradition has been handed down that General Washington and his staff passed through this region once during the Revolu- tion. He was on his way from New London to Hart- ford, and his road lay over this hill. As he passed this point, several boys who were near the road were overawed by the military appearance of the party, but as they stood gazing with fear and wonder the General bowed to them. This incident was related by Wells Denison and others, boys at that time, but who have now long since passed away in the ripeness of old age.

Gridley's Cove was that now called South Cove, on the south shore of Potapaug Point. The former name was given to it in 1702, or before. A heap of rocks in the cove bore the name of Gridley's Rocks.

Prospect Hill is the high hill now just south of Ivory- ton, where George Clark formerly lived. Samuel Willard had land on it in 1722. Its name appears in the original bounds of the quarter.

Tillis' Point is now called Ferry Point. This bluff on the river, above the old ferry, is named in honor of a man by the name of Tillis, who was killed by the Indians and buried here. This is a tradition that ante-dates any written record. Curbine Point, which lies just above this, is now called Sills' Point.

Robert's Hill is situated about one-third of a mile north of the Congregational church in Centerbrook. In its side, and on the old Eli Denison place, there is a quarry of steatite or soapstone, which was also some- times called cottonstone. This lies about one half a mile northward from the railroad station, on the road to Meadow Woods, and near the present residence of Rich- ard Denison. The existence of this bed of stone was known to the Indians. They used the material in mak- ing pots and mortars, some of which have been found

in their graves, and about the fields in the vicinity. Soon after the Revolution, the owners of a furnace in Killing- worthi used the material in making an oven for baking steel. It is said to possess durable qualities, and to be capable of taking a very high polish. Efforts were made as early as 1815 to bring it into use in manufacturing, but it was found to be too hard for practical purposes, and nothing further than preliminary experimenting was done. A quarry of granite lying near it is now being worked.

Great Hill is a mile west of Essex village, on the right of the road going to Westbrook.

Long Hill is below the village, on the west side of the turnpike that leads to Saybrook.

Millstone Hill is on the north line of this town, about two miles above the village, and about one-fourth of a mile from the river. The name was applied to it previ- ous to 1704, at which date land was laid out at the west side of it to John Webb.

Pound Hill is the elevation in the back part of the vil- lage, on which the churches stand, and it received its name from the circumstance of a cattle pound being once located here. The old road from Saybrook to Hartford ran along under this hill, but above the present line of North street. This bluff is about 40 feet above the level of the village street on the point, which extends from its foot easterly to the river. It commands beautiful views of the embowered village beneath it, the coves on either hand, the winding river, and the opposite hill-sides.

The name Potapaug is variously spelled, but most com- monly it appears in the old records as it is here spelled. It is of Indian origin, and is said to mean " bulging out of the land or jutting of the water inland." It was ap- plied by the Indians to the point upon which the village of Essex stands, but was early applied by the white set- tlers to the whole region known as the Quarter, which then covered the land of the present towns of Essex, Saybrook, and Chester.

The list of Potapaug, which then did not include Ches- ter, for the year 1814, amounted to $25,186.72. There were then 275 dwelling houses and seven merchants' stores. There was a library belonging to the Second So- ciety of Saybrook, which in 1695 contained 30 volumes and had previously numbered 100.

Business began to thrive and the village to build up soon after the Revolution, at which time there were but few houses on the Point. The number of dwellings in the next 30 years had increased to 30, and within a mile as many as 100 could be counted, besides a few stores and mechanics' shops. These were mostly on Main street.

The expenses for maintaining the various departments of the town work for the current year, included in the last report of the selectmen were: for the almshouse, $11.92; for partial supplies, $612.80; for roads, bridges, &c., $2,346.68; for schools, including teachers' wages, $3,775.22; interest on the funded debt, $2,293.71; notes, $1,540.28; taxes, $1,875.80; sinking fund, $1,500; sal- aries of officers, $604.35; liquors, $1,278.55; small-pox, $63.03; miscellaneous expenses, $623,39; making a total

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ESSEX-SETTLEMENT.

of $16,525.73; which was provided for by receipts from taxes, loans, and balance from previous year, and other sources, amounting to $19,610.29.

INDIANS.

By the treaty with Mr. Winthrop and his associates in 1636, or about that time, the Indians gave to the Eng- lish their right to the river and the bordering lands. A considerable Aboriginal settlement is supposed to have existed at Ayres' Point and along the shore from there to Potapaug Point. On the point nearly half a mile be- low the present village site, where an Indian burying- ground lay, remains have been found in a sitting posture, and Indian arrows, pestles, axes, and other implements have been found upon a sandy plain lying back from Ayres' Point, together with other indications of former Indian occupancy.

SETTLEMENT OF POTAPAUG.

After the abandonment of the original idea of the set- tlement of Saybrook, the territory appears to have been sold to a company of settlers, who, under the jurisdiction of the colony of Connecticut, founded the town and gained possession of the land. In order to give each of the different sections of the town a more complete con- trol over its own local affairs, the territory was divided into three parts, each of which was owned and occupied by a company who were allowed to exercise in their re- spective sections all the proprietary rights that were en- joyed by the inhabitants of the town with respect to the common lands within the limits of their grant. These three sections were named the Oyster River Quarter, the Eight Mile Meadow Quarter, and the East Side of the River Quarter.

The Eight Mile Meadow Quarter included the terri- tory now occupied by the towns of Chester, Saybrook, and Essex. It was also called the Potapaug Quarter. The earliest record that can now be found indicates that the setting apart of the quarter referred to was about the middle of the 17th century. A memorandum of the proprietary records bears date January 4th 1648, and reads as follows:

" The town for the improvement of those out lands that lye remote have divided themselves into 3 parts ac- cording to the quarters as they are laid out."

The Eight Mile Meadow Quarter was valued in the aggregate at £2,000, and its proprietorship was given to the following men, whose shares were as indicated: Master Eldred, £250; John Clarke, £200; William Hyde, £200; William Parker, £200; William Pratt, £150; William Waller, £150; Thomas Birchard, £300: Mr. Fenwick, f250; John Birchard, fro0; John Clarke, £100; John Parker, £100.

The boundaries of this " quarter " were as follows:

" That is to say from the midle of Curbine point to a marked boyne tree, and from the marked boyne tree to the south side of Rockky-hill, and from the south side of rockky hill to the south corner of prospect hill, and from the south corner of prospect hill to run a north-

west line seauen miles and the tenth part of a mile, which said tract of land with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, that is to say from the end of the northwest line to the great river together with all the meadow betweene Curbine point and Tillis point doth belong to the proprietors of Potapaug."

The proprietors held occasional meetings for the transaction of their business. The meetings were not held regularly, but as occasion demanded, and to make them legal it was necessary to give notice to every pro- prietor. A committee was elected for this purpose, and empowered to call meetings of the proprietors in this manner whenever in their discretion it was necessary. These men were chosen as occasion dictated, without any stated term of service, and when they became tired of acting their places were filled by other selections. The first mention of the selection of a committee for this pur- pose was in February 1701, when at a meeting held at the house of Robert Lay, John Parker sen., was chosen and empowered to call meetings of the proprietors at such times and places as he should deem expedient, and to preside at such meeting.

Two measurers of land were chosen, and authorized by the quarter to lay out parcels of land to individuals as they desired. These measurers were often paid for their service in land. In fact land was the most convenient thing that the settlers could use with which to pay for any service or make any gift. There was but little regu- larity about the layout of the land, and it was generally in small parcels of irregular shape, and frequently of in- definite and unstable boundaries. The lands were de- scribed as lying near some object or adjoining the land of another, and lines were marked by heaps of stones, rocks, trees, and very commonly by saplings, which they called "staddle." These parcels of land, granted either for some special purpose or consideration, or to satisfy proprietary claims in pro rata divisions, were frequently of not more than two or three acres in size, and rarely reached so great an area as 50 acres in a single piece. Oftentimes when a proprietor was entitled to so many acres he made choice of it in five or six different parcels, more or less, choosing a small parcel here and another there, as the custom allowed him to do, until the re- quired amount was made up to him. As might be ex- pected from such a condition of things, the systematic tracing of titles, or location of the original divisions is now almost beyond the realm of possibility. The follow- ing persons were measurers during the years indicated, and some of them perhaps for longer terms: Deacon William Parker, 1703-14; Joseph Pratt, for some time previous to his death, in 1704; Nathaniel Pratt, 1704-27; John Clarke, 1705-66; Samuel Pratt, 1714; Hezekiah Buckingham, 1724, to his death in 1752; Charles Wil- liams, 1724-35; Samuel Willard, 1725; Thomas Starkey, 1730-52; Jabez Pratt, 1730-52; Samuel Williams, 1738- 49; Daniel Williams, 1752-70; David Pratt, 1768; Jabez Denison, 1770; Gideon Buckingham, 1770.

On the 12th of December 1670, a joint meeting of the proprietors of Potapaug and Oyster River was held to

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consult in regard to the dividing line between the two quarters. According to the minutes this meeting was called for by the fact that "since the first foundation of these quarters, a people hath been planted at homanasak which is feared will entrench upon the quarter of Oyster River." The proprietors of Potapaug therefore by a " louing compliance," agreed to allow an enlargement of the Oyster River bounds from their lands so as to divide with them the contraction which they should sustain by the encroachment of Homanasak upon their western bor- der.

" That is to say they shall have half the bredth of the land at the north end from homanasak line to Connecti- cut river and then the line to run to the rock in the falls river, and from the said rock to prospect hill to remaine as already done, and that the Commons in each quarter shall be free without any trespass or molestation for the proprietors cattell to feede upon, and upon the abousaid consideration it is agreed that the great Cedar Swamp ajoyning to the pond shall belong to both quarters."

Some dispute in regard to the line between the town and Potapaug Quarter had arisen, and Messrs. Matthew Griswold and Thomas Tracy, of Lyme, had been called to determine it, but probably through neglect of proper marking and recording the line had again fallen into dispute, and the proprietors, September Ist 1684, deter- mined to call Messrs. Griswold and Tracy, again to de- cide the question in controversy, agreeing to abide by their verdict. The town agreed to the proposal, and accordingly the arbitrators met and gave their award on the Ist day of October 1684, in the following language:

" That the bounds between the town and potapauge quarter doth begin at the Southerd end of Prospect hill, at the Rock which lyeth at the head of the river the line doth extend to Beaver pond and from thence to Rockie hill, and from Rockie hill to the Boyne tree that is now fallen down, and from the Boyne tree to a tree standing about the middle of Curbine point near the great river having stones laid up against it, And all the meadow and marsh lyeing between Tillis' point and Curbine point with all the severall spongs and branches thereof begin- ning at the Creek that comes in at the great Rock that runs in westerly about Tillis' point doth belong to Pota- pauge quarter, And that which wee meane & understand to be Tillis' point is the great bluff point above the fferry."

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 85

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