USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 26
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 26
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He afterward visited the company on the battle field, gave each member a silver souvenir, on which the members had engraved oc- currence, name and date. Some of those given are preserved to this day and carried about in the "Gray's" pockets. When the first three months of service were over a new organization was decided upon, formed out of the "Grays," and Mr. Townsend was appealed to to al- low his name to be given to the company. It was named the "Town- send Rifles." The Union flag he presented to the company was the first of its kind raised in Georgia after the rebellion began (see Net' Haven Palladium, May Sth, 1862), and it floated in the van in more than one victory. Mr. Townsend watched the fortunes of the "Rifles" with intense interest, was the patron of the "boys" on the field and of their families at home. adding constantly to the comfort of both and bear- ing a heavy load from his private funds. He showed his fondness for the "Rifles" by sending out monthly during the entire three years boxes filled with clothing, or other comforts, and the families of the soldiers had only to fill smaller boxes with their gifts and tokens of love and send them to him. They were enclosed in his larger boxes and went without any expense to the soldier or his family. Major General Eaton, of the commissary department of the army, had all confidence in Mr. Townsend that nothing contraband would be en- closed. Accordingly he directed that no box sent by him should be opened for inspection, and no box was opened, and not one of all those sent during the entire three years was lost. Never did soldiers have a kinder, more thoughtful patron.
He was also enthusiastic in recruiting the army from other sources. When volunteering began to lag and it was desired to fill up the quota of his town, East Haven, he offered every East Havener, who would enlist, five dollars, and on muster-day paid the amount to the volun- teers.
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Mr. Townsend was the warm personal friend of Governor W. A. Buckingham, and Governor Buckingham was accustomed to seek con- fidential counsel of him in the conduct of the affairs of state, when the war was at its height and much money to be paid for supplies, the soldiers and other things. Governor Buckingham appointed him pay- master general of the state of Connecticut, but owing to press of other business, Mr. Townsend declined the honorable position.
When the "Townsend Rifles" came home he invited them to a ban- quet in the New Haven House. "The Connecticut War Record," speaking of the soldiers separating that night, says: "Each paused and grasped the hand of their liberal patron with that deep and fer- vent gratitude which is best expressed by quivering lips and moistened eyes." The generous impulses of Mr. Townsend here displayed only make it seem natural that the poor and suffering have an excellent friend in him. Hence in both public and private ways he has during all his adult life helped the needy. The New Haven Hospital enrolls him as a life director.
Mr. Townsend has denied to himself the political preferments which his neighborhood and his friends have desired to confer upon him, and it is not too much to say that he has himself only to blame for not wearing the highest state honors. Besides the smaller trusts thrust upon him in town and city, he was secretary of the whig con- vention, in Baltimore, which nominated Mr. Fillmore for the presi- dency. He has frequently been delegate to state. congressional and national conventions. In his absence from the state he was nominated to the state senate, and although the majority in his district had been large against the party Mr. Townsend represented, he was tri- umphantly elected, running nearly one hundred ahead of his ticket in his own town of East Haven, and many were the felicitations. (See New Haven Palladium, April 7th, 1864.) Mr. Townsend was appointed chairman of the military committee, and introduced the bill to the sen- ate formulating the present military law of the state of Connecticut, and with some subsequent amendments it is now the military law of the commonwealth.
He declined a renomination to the senate, and also, later, when Marshall Jewell was elected governor, refused to be placed in nomi- nation for lieutenant-governor. And again, when urged to stand as a candidate for the governorship, refused to become the rival of a dear friend or to prejudice the chances of placing the name of Hon. (subse- quently Governor) Henry B. Harrison at the head of the party ticket (see New Haven Courier, December 10th, 1872).
Mr. Townsend, like conspicuous members of the Townsend family, has been the warm friend of education. He has served on the board of education of the city of New Haven. In recognition of his efforts to improve the educational equipment of the school district in which he lives, his neighbors in the same district presented him with a peti-
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
tion signed by nearly every voter in the district, requesting him to allow the district school to be called in honor of him " The Townsend Public School," but with characteristic modesty he declined the com- pliment and honor. Mr. Townsend has been active in Sunday school work; while a resident of the city of New Haven he was a teacher in the First Congregational church, of which Reverend Leonard Bacon, D. D., was pastor (and of which church he is still a member). After his removal to "Raynham" (then in East Haven) he organized a Sunday school in the immediate neighborhood, of which for some years he was superintendent, the outcome of which Sunday school is now the flourishing East Side Methodist Episcopal church, Reverend Doctor Smith, pastor.
"The Townsend Prize Fund," amounting annually to one hundred dollars, was his gift to the Yale Law School, and is offered to the stt- dent who shall write and deliver the best English oration in the best manner on graduation day.
His own pen also often graces pages of the New Haven press. His letters of foreign travel and on topics of antiquarian lore, or legend or narrative, are as pleasing as the intellectual eye which sees is bright.
His proclivities for good learning are inherited by his sons, and have come to their ripe attainment in them. His eldest son, William Kneeland, is professor in the Yale Law School, called Edward J. Phelps Professor of " Contracts, Admiralty, Jurisprudence and Torts." His other son, James Mulford, Jr., an eminent lawyer of New York, and a winner of the Townsend prizes of the academical department of Yale, and of the De Forrest " Gold Medal," awarded to that scholar of the senior class who shall write and pronounce an English oration in the best manner, and considered the highest honor in the Yale Uni- versity, is also lecturer in the Law School on the " Transfer of Mone- tary Securities."
Mr. Townsend is eminently a public-spirited citizen. He is now a member of the Park Commission of the city of New Haven, an office he consented to hold if unattended by remuneration. It is his ambi- tion to secure for the city the most eligible and capacious lots for parks, and at the same time provide ample and economical means of conveyance, so that for a few cents any person can visit ample and beautiful public parks in the city along the water front.
On September 1st, 1847, Mr. Townsend married Miss Maria Theresa Clark, of Middletown, Conn .. a' lady of very amiable nature and of many accomplishments of mind and heart. The family life was a close resemblance to ideal perfectness, but she died April 13th, 1884. The two sons already referred to were born to them-William Knee- land and James Mulford, Jr.
Mr. Townsend is now living quite free from all care at " Rayn- ham," or traveling as he shall choose, or visiting his sons. Besides the welcome which love gives, his social qualities are so agreeable as to make him a favorite among all acquaintances.
CHAPTER IV.
THE TOWN OF EAST HAVEN.
Location and Natural Features .- The Pioneer Settlers .- Civil Organization .- Bridges, Ferries, Roads, Etc .- Industrial Pursuits .- East Haven Village .- Religious and Educational Matters .- Cemeteries .- Military Affairs .- Biographical Sketches.
T HE original town of East Haven, as set off from New Haven, in 1785, was about six miles long and three miles wide, and was bounded north by North Haven, east by Branford, south by Long Island sound, and west by New Haven, the Quinnipiac river being the dividing line. Since the division, in 1881, the town retains its length, but is only a little more than half as wide, the New Haven line being moved east of the river to embrace the borough of Fair Haven East and contiguous territory. The old town embraced about 9,000 acres of land. Along the coast and the lower parts of the streams the lands were low and in some places marshy, but have been drained to some extent. In other parts the soil is light and in some places sandy, but much of it is well suited for truck farming. Many parts of the town are covered with rocky ledges, and sandstone and granite for building purposes abound. In some parts green stone also exists, but has not been utilized on account of the poor quality. These formations are in the hills, which trend to the south, and have in some parts an altitude so great that their surface is unfitted for cul- tivation. In the central part of the town one of the most distinct elevations was called "Fort Hill," the Indians having used it as a place of defense. The north part being used for burial purposes was called "Grave Hill." For many years Indian skeletons were there found, some of them being of large size. Another place of burial was on the old Ferry road; and evidences of Indian villages could be seen many years after the settlement of the whites, at South End and other parts of the town. It appears that the town was a favorite resort of the Indians, who came here statedly to procure a supply of sea food and fish in the fresh water streams.
The principal body of water in the town is Saltonstall lake, for- merly called Furnace pond. It lies on the eastern border and is about three miles long and from 100 to 400 yards wide. Its waters are clear and very deep. High hills hem in the lake, narrowing it to a point at its outlet, which is but a small stream. The attractive sur-
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
roundings have caused the lake to become a pleasure resort, and a steamboat has lately been placed on it for the accommodation of visitors.
Stony creek or river is the longest stream. Its source is Pistapaug lake, in the northern part of North Branford, through which town it flows as the Farm river. Nearer its mouth it has a rocky bed, hence the name. Its supply of water is constant and it has some mill seats. The other streams of the town are small. The shore line and the Quinnipiac river afforded fishing privileges which were formerly very valuable. Large quantities of oysters were taken and their cultivation became an important industry.
The first land purchased of the Indians by the projectors of the New Haven colony, November 24th, 1638, included a part of East Haven, for planting purposes. The second purchase, December 11th, 1638-a tract eight miles east of the Quinnipiac, five miles west of that stream and ten miles north of the sound-of course included East Haven. The constitution of the colony was signed June 11th, 1639, and soon thereafter, by 113 persons, many of whom ultimately settled in East Haven. Among the first signers were William Andrews, Jasper Crayne, Thomas Gregson, William Tuttle, John Potter, Matthew Moulthrop, Matthias Hitchcock, Edward Patterson, Thomas Morris and John Thompson.
Others were admitted to the colony, in the course of a few years, who also located in the East Haven section, viz .: In 1644, Matthew Rowe, Alling Ball, Edward Tooley, Thomas Robinson, Sr .: Thomas Robinson, Jr., William Holt, Thomas Barnes, Edward Hitchcock, Peter Mallory, Nicholas Augur; in 1648, Thomas Morris; in 1654, George Pardee, John Potter, Jr., Matthew Moulthrop; in 1657, John Davenport, Jr., Jonathan Tuthill, John Thompson; in 1658, John Chidsey (also spelled Chedsey); in 1660, Thomas Tuttle and Nathaniel Boykim.
The first divisions of lands made were within the town plot of New Haven and the home lots connected therewith, but the well located lands of East Haven early attracted the attention of the foregoing, who eagerly sought the privilege of settling on them.
In 1639 Thomas Gregson petitioned for his second division at Soli- tary Cove,* but received no allotment until August 5th, 1644, when 133 acres were assigned him. On this he soon after settled his family, the first in East Haven. Gregson was one of the leading men of the colony, but soon after met his death. In 1647, in company with others of the principal planters of New Haven, he sailed for England with Captain Lambertson, and was lost on his ill-fated vessel, it is supposed in a storm at sea. His widow, Jane, survived him until 1702, when she died, 80 years old. In 1678 and in 1716 the above tract of land became the property of George Pardee and George Pardee, Jr.
*Now called Morris Cove.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
I11 1640 Reverend Samuel Eaton had fifty acres granted in the first meadow toward Totoket, at which place lands were also given to Will- iam Tuttle, who settled at Stony River about 1645; to Jasper Crayne and Benjamin Lingo. The former had his house on the east side of the green, but in 1652 sold to Matthew Moulthrop and removed to Branford. All of Tuttle's five sons also removed, except Joseph.
In 1649 Reverend John Davenport, pastor of the New Haven church, had a farm of 600 acres laid out for him at Dragon Point. to which Alling Ball moved as his farmer, in 1650, and for a hundred years the place was known as the Davenport farm.
In 1662 John Potter received a grant of land on which to build a blacksmith shop, and near by he bought the house of John Tuttle. The same year Samuel Heminway was granted land where is now the village of East Haven. That year he was also married to Sarah Cooper. They reared a large family and descendants remain in the town. Thomas Barnes settled in the northern part of the town, on land south of Muddy river.
In 1667 William Fowler, of Milford, sold some of his land at the cove and on the creek which still bears his name, to John Austin. The latter was in East Haven as early as 1673, and in 1679 obtained land at the Forge dam. He lived on the road west of the " green."
The neck of land beyond Solitary cove was granted in 1651 to William Andrews, Richard Berkeley, Matthias Hitchcock, Edward Patterson and Edward Hitchcock. The Andrews land passed to the Dennisons before 1664; Patterson's passed to his son-in-law, Thomas Smith; and Berkeley's to John Thompson, who came as one of the first of the New Haven colony. The Hitchcocks retained their land. In 1690 Sarah Hitchcock married Jacob Robinson.
The Little Neck was bought in 1671 by Thomas Morris, a ship- builder of New Haven, who died in 1673. The cove in that part of the town took its name from him.
Between Dragon point and the ferry lived, very early, Matthew Rowe, who came to New Haven about 1650; Alling Ball, on the farm north of Davenport's, and Eleazer Morris on the hill east.
In the locality called Foxon's Farms (named for the Indian Saga- more. Foxon), the village of East Haven granted lands, in 1683, to Robert Dawson, Thomas Pinion and James Taitor, who were the first settlers in that part of the town. In the same locality were, later. Matthew Moulthrop, the third, Benjamin and Ashur Moulthrop and Samuel Thompson, Jr. Edward Russell, Isaac and Samuel Chidsey were pioneers in the same neighborhood, but in a later period of time.
On Stony river and where is now East Haven village there were. besides those already noted, John Cooper, who moved here from New Haven about 1655, as the agent of the iron works. Deacon John Chidsey, a tanner and a shoemaker, who signed the New Haven
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
colony constitution in 1644, settled here in 1681, having a house on the north side of the green, between John Potter and John Austin. Isaac Bradley came from Branford in 1674, and also lived near John Potter. Thomas Goodsell came from the same town in April, 1692, and soon after built the house which was long occupied by Azariah Bradley.
William Luddington died at the Iron Works in 1662, but his sons, John and William, built houses in the village, and lived there, as also did Thomas Smith, Jr. Edward Tooley built south of Sergeant John Potter; Samuel Thompson's house was west of the meeting house; Thomas Robinson's was opposite; Captain John Russell was west of Mullen hill. Both he and his brother, Ralph, were employed at the Iron Works. The latter died in 1679.
Between the village and the river and northward lived Samuel Hotchkiss, Peter Mallory, Joseph Granniss and others of those before named.
The descendants of some of these planters located in other parts, and in 1702 the following were taxed as living in the, at that time, village of East Haven: Joseph Abbott, David Austin, Joshua Austin, Captain Alling Ball. Isaac Bradley, Ebenezer Chidsey, Caleb Chidsey, Daniel Collins, James Dennison, Robert Dawson, Thomas Goodsell, Eliakim Hitchcock, Samuel Hitchcock, John Howe, Joseph Holt, Samuel Heminway, John Heminway, Widow Priscilla Thompson, Samuel Thompson, William Luddington, Henry Luddington, John Moulthrop, Samuel Moulthrop, Matthew Moulthrop, Eleazer Morris, Joseph Mallory, John Potter, Sr., John Potter, Jr., George Pardee, William Roberts, John Russell, Thomas Smith, Thomas Smith, Jr., John Thompson, John Luddington. Thomas Pinion. Joseph Granniss and William Bradley. In all there were 32 families and about 200 persons. This was an increase of twelve families over 1683, when the individuals numbered 121.
In 1754 there were 61 families, 500 population and the following freemen: Theophilus Alling, Joshua Austin. Daniel Augur, Samuel Bradley, Isaac Blakeslee, Zebulon Bradley, Daniel Bradley. Joseph Bishop, Jonathan Barnes, Nathaniel Barnes, Isaac Bradley, Stephen Bradley, Dan Bradley, Caleb Chidsey, Abraham Chidsey, John Chid- sey, Deodate Davenport, James Dennison, Daniel Finch, Daniel Finch, Jr .. Samuel Forbes, Daniel Granger, Isaac Goodsell, Reverend Jacob Heminway, Isaac Holt, Caleb Hitchcock, Abraham Heminway, Samuel Heminway, Daniel Hitchcock, John Heminway, Stephen Hitchcock, Daniel Holt, Nathaniel Luddington, Eliphalet Luddington, John Moulthrop. Dan Moulthrop, Amos Morris, Stephen Morris, Gideon Potter, Isaac Penfield, Moses Page, Eliakim Robinson, Thomas Rob- inson, Thomas Robinson, Jr., John Russell, William Rogers, Thomas Smith, Samuel Smith, Patterson Smith, James Smith, John Shepard, · Benjamin Smith, Abel Smith, Daniel Smith, Joseph Tuttle, Captain
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Joseph Tuttle, Samuel Thompson, Jr., Stephen Thompson, Joel Tuttle, John Woodward and Russell Woodward.
In 1820 there were about 200 families and a population of 1,237. The town had 185 houses, 3 mills, 1 store and a grand list of $15,661.58.
The inhabitants sought parish or village privileges as early as 1677, when the general court was petitioned for that right, but did not grant it until 1680. Before this New Haven had consented to the arrangement in the following manner:
" At a Towne meeting held in New Haven 24 December, 1678, and for the village on the East Side, those inhabitants gave in their propositions to the committee, which they desired might be granted, which was:
"1. That they might have liberty to get a minister among them, for their minister, and keep the Sabbath in the way they ought.
"2. That boundary might be granted to them as high-i. e., north- as Muddy River.
"3. That they have liberty of admitting inhabitants among them for their help in the work and maintenance of a minister.
" 4. That they may have liberty to purchase some lands of the Indians, near Mr. Gregson's-i. c., at the Cove-if the Indians are willing to part with it.
"5. That what land of the Quinnipiac is within Branford stated bounds the right of the purchase may be given them.
"6. Lastly. That they may be freed from rates to the Towne when they shall have procured a minister."
Thus being constituted a village, the inhabitants proceeded to do business practically as a separate corporation, but still being under the jurisdiction of New Haven. They elected officers, laid out and granted lands, etc., as they assumed they had a right to do, but which privilege was disputed, and the matter caused much trouble and expense, as all the village grants were not honored by the authorities of the town of New Haven.
The village granted lands in 1683 to John Chidsey and Joseph Russell, both on the north side of the present green. In the same year an allotment of lands was made, after the New Haven method, viz .: 20 acres to each family; 4 acres to each child of the family; and 20 acres for each £100 in the list. One-half of the lands were laid off on the Stony river, joining upon those of the five men at Foxon, viz .: Joseph Abbott, Robert Dawson, Thomas Pinion, William Roberts and James Taylor. The persons to whom lands were allotted were: John Austin, Alling Ball, Alling Ball, Jr., Thomas Corner, John Chidsey. James Dennison, Joseph Dickerson, Samuel Heminway, Eliakim Hitchcock, Nathaniel Hitchcock, John Luddington, William Ludding- ton, Matthew Moulthrop, George Pardee, John Potter, John Rose,
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Thomas Smith, John Thompson, Edmund Tooley and Edward Vickers.
At the meeting March 29th, 1684, nineteen inhabitants were present when, on the question, "Shall we go forward in building a village?" all voted to proceed. Accordingly, they chose John Thompson, Matthew Moulthrop and Samuel Heminway, selectmen; Samuel Hem- inway, clerk; and George Pardee, constable. But for some cause the village privileges were relinquished in 1685, and business was now transacted directly by the town of New Haven. This order prevailed until December, 1703, when the inhabitants voted to again take up their village grant, and "to that end chose Capt. Alling Ball, Lt. Samuel Hotchkiss, Samuel Heminway, Serg. . John Potter, William Luddington, Esq., John Russell and George Pardee a committee to manage the concerns of the village, in order to a settlement, accord- ing to the General Court's grant, and informed New Haven of their design."
But they soon again came into conflict with New Haven on account of the division of lands, when they obtained from the general assembly a renewal of the grant of 1680. This led to the further movement to organize a distinct and separate village, which was practically accom- plished by the act of May, 1707, which bestowed upon East Haven certain immunities enjoyed by other townsof the state. This carried with it the privilege of having a church and schools separate from those of New Haven, and exempted the inhabitants from paying taxes to New Haven.
Construing the act in the sense of a town charter, the inhabitants proceeded to elect town officers, laid rates, took charge of their own poor, and again assumed the right of dividing the common lands without the consent or approbation of New Haven. This claim of power was disputed by New Haven, which found a warm ally in Gur- don Saltonstall, who was elected governor of the colony in 1708. He had married the only child of William Rosewell, the owner of the old furnace farm, and was living at that place, unfortunately on unfriendly terms with his East Haven neighbors, whose geese had crossed over the lake and molested him by injuring his property. He killed some of the geese and in other ways so much aroused the ire of the people of this community that not a vote was here polled for him for gov- ernor. This slight irritated the governor, who, in 1710, influenced the assembly to interpret the act of 1707 to mean the enjoyment of parish privileges only. East Haven protested, and the controversy as to the proper construction of the act continued for some time. For many years the inhabitants continued under the jurisdiction of New Haven, excepting as they managed their own parish affairs.
But in the course of time the influence of the governor having passed away, a new generation made an effort to revive the powers conferred by the act of 1707 and memorialized the town of New
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Haven and the general assembly to that effect in 1753. For the East Ilaven people the petition was signed by Rosewell Woodward. Isaac Blakeslee. Daniel Holt and Samuel Heminway, as selectmen, which would indicate that they probably had the organized machinery of a town at that time. The assembly again decided that East Haven was a parish only, and ordered the inhabitants to pay the general New Haven rates. After several more futile efforts to secure town rights the matter was allowed to rest until 1780, when the village became more urgent in its demands for the confirmation of the privileges granted by the act of 1707; and in line with that purpose they voted, January 1st, 1782, "That Levi Pardee go around to the people to know whether they are willing to be a Town or not." The sentiment being in favor of such a movement, the object was prosecuted with renewed zeal, and after about eighty years of unavailing effort the town was at last properly incorporated.
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