History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 40

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 40
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 40

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).

One of the developments of his public life has been as interesting as it is noteworthy. Appointed years ago the prosecuting grand juror of the town, he began the study of the simpler phases of law and of the statutes of Connecticut. His brother, Dennis, a lawyer, upon moving to Iowa, left his law library in charge of Henry, and Henry indulged his legal propensity at will. The result was that as prosecuting grand juror he knew when a complainant had a " case," was himself able to work it up for trial in the best manner, and conduct it in court with marked ability, even to the making of the technical plea. The town of Hamden was fortunate in its officer, and its treasury saved from the careless drafts made by many state or city attorneys upon the constituencies they serve. The courts have also recognized his ability by appointing him on committees to try questions of fact in civil suits.

The opinion held of him by his townsmen may be inferred from a general trust reposed in him in the matter of the settlement of estates. Not infrequently has he been applied to to draft wills, and then be the custodian of them, also to act as executor or administrator. Through a long succession of years he has not been without much responsibility of this kind. And to him the widow and the orphan. as well as the neighbor, have appealed for such counsel and help as only a trustworthy and competent citizen can give. Expense has been often saved by his kindly services to the large class weighted with grief or troubled concerning the disposal or inheritance of property.

Mr. Tuttle is nominally a democrat in politics, and on all the great lines of party policy is true to his political lineage. But after all he places men above party allegiance. If his own party should not offer him a capable candidate he may be found working for the election of a political opponent, and upon the principle that the town and the state should have the best and most efficient public servants. He hını- self has been chosen to state honors; as to the house of representa- tives in 1858 and 1864, and to the state senate in 1871. Several important measures or amendments in behalf of his town or district

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

were carried through the legislature under his leadership, as making free the Cheshire turnpike, the street location of the Whitney avenue horse railroad, the eleansing of the reservoir of the New Haven Water Company, and the securing of the original rights to the town once belonging to the New Haven colony, along the shores where mollusks thrive.

The centennial of the town of Hamden occurred in the year 1886. Mr. Tuttle was an enthusiastic promoter of the celebration, and both for the pride of the town in himself, and for his long family history in the town, the committee in charge called him out as one of the few whose voiees should be publiely heard on that oceasion.

On August 17th, 1858, he married Miss Delia A. Francis, daughter of Joseph S. Francis, of Durham. One son has been born to them, Homer Tuttle, a prosperous merchant of Mt. Carmel. And now his parents in affluence, and yet in the simple manners and tastes of the typieal Connectieut farmer, are passing the afternoon of life in hap- piness in the beautiful valley beside Mt. Carmel, enjoying their own peaceful self-respect and the esteem of their townsfolk.

Hubert E. Warner, born in Hamden, September 12th, 1839, is a son of Elias, he a son of Samuel, and he a son of Benjamin Warner, all natives of Hamden. Elias Warner was born in 1807, learned the mason trade and followed that business for over 40 years. For his first wife he married Nancy Short. They had one son, Charles War- ner. For his second wife he married Sybil M., daughter of Amasa Tuttle. She was born in 1809. Their children were ; Elizur, Huldah, Hubert E. and Amasa T. Huldah and Hubert E. are living. Elias Warner was elected representative from Hamden in 1863 and re- elected in 1864. His wife died April 12th, 1891. Hubert E. Warner early learned the mason's trade, and has always been engaged in that business, since 1872 as a contractor and builder, doing business in New Haven. He was elected state representative in 1886. He is a mem- ber of Hiram Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M., of New Haven ; Montowese Lodge, No. 15, I. O. O. F .; Golden Rule Encampment and Hammon- assett Tribe of Red Men. In 1861 he was married to Charlotte A. Rogers, of Hamden. Their children are: Charles W., Hattie E., Minnie R., Frank A., Hubert E., Lottie J., Harry M. and Ray- mond E.

John E. Warner, born in Hamden in 1842, is a son of Horace and Elizabeth (Keep) Warner and grandson of Elam, who was a son of Hezekiah Warner. Elam Warner was representative from Hamden in 1833. John E. Warner is engaged in farming. He was married in 1868 to Isabel Pardee. They have three children : Grace I., Ella P. and Ida M.

Benjamin C. Woodin, born in Hamden in 1828, is a son of Charles and grandson of Benjamin. His great-grandfather was also named Benjamin. He built the house where Benjamin C. now resides, it

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IIISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

being one of the oldest in the town. Charles Woodin married Betsy, daughter of Abraham Cooper (he served in the revolutionary war). Their children were : Eunice R., who married John L. Sperry ; Rhoda M., married Jared Benham ; William H., married for his first wife Juliet Munson, and for his second Mary Downs; and Benjamin C., who married for his first wife Ann R. Beckwith, October 1st, 1852. She died in November, 1861. Their children were : Hattie, died at the age of five, and Bessie H., who married Frank Gorham, and has one child, Freddie S., aged eight years. Mr. Woodin married, in 1868, Julia Shipman. He enlisted in September, 1861, in the 7th Connecticut Regiment, and was discharged November 23d, 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Deep Run, August 16th, 1864. He is a member of Admiral Foote Post, No. 17, G. A. R. He was elected representative in 1886.

Vinus Wooding, born in Hamden in 1805, died in 1891, was a son of Abner and Lydia (Alling) Wooding and grandson of Samuel Wooding, a revolutionary soldier, who was killed by the British when they landed at New Haven. Abner Wooding was a carpenter, and Vinus in his earlier years worked at that trade. Farming, however, was his principal business. He was married in 1840 to Jane Tuttle. They had three daughters : Vestina, Hettie and Janie. Abner Wooding framed the building now known as the Old Tontine in New Haven, his sons Eneas and Vinus working as helpers.

CHAPTER VII.

THE TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.

Location and Description .- Early Settlers .- Growth of the Town .- Second Centen- nial .- Organization of Town and Early Records .- Town Clerks and Probate Judges .- Public Highways .- Manufacturing .- Wallingford Borough .- Incorpora- tion and Officers .- Sewerage .- Street Improvement .- Water Department .- Fire Department .- The Wallingford Disaster .- Gas Light Company .- Banks .- Building and Loan Association .- Business Places .- Post Office .- Public Buildings .- The Press .- Libraries .- Yalesville .- Tracy .- East Wallingford. - Physicians and Attor- neys .- Societies.

A S at present constituted, the town of Wallingford is bounded north by Meriden, west by Cheshire, east by Durham and Middlefield, and south by North Branford and North Haven. In extent it is seven miles from east to west and about six miles from north to south. Its central part is near thirteen miles from New Haven. The general surface is diversified by hills and dales, except in the eastern part, where are some mountainous lands, the Totoket range extending into the town. An elevated section west of Pista- paug lake, near the east line, bears the name of Whirlwind. Other elevations also bear local names, as Pond hill, which is on the line between Wallingford and North Haven ; Sugar Loaf hill, which is southwest of the borough ; Mt. Tom, west of the village; and Long hill, applied to the range of hills east of the borough. In that part of the town are also some swamp lands, the largest bodies being called Muddy River and Tamerack swamps. The principal stream in that section is Wharton's brook, which flows southwest into the Quin- nipiac. The latter stream drains the main valley of the town and has several good water powers. Community lake or pond, near Walling- ford village, covers 150 acres. Along the east bank, for about four miles long and nearly a mile in width, is the great Sandy or Walling- ford plain, the largest level belt and the most extensive barren lands in the state. Aside from this and the extreme eastern section, the lands are fairly productive, and the town has some good farms on the smaller hills and in the larger vales.

What is now the town of Wallingford was included in the second purchase of Indian lands, made by the New Haven colony, December 11th, 1638. At that time was deeded a tract thirteen miles long and ten miles wide, lying along the Quinnipiac, several miles north of the

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

first tract purchased by Messrs. Davenport and Eaton. The colony thus had the right to the lands as far north from the sound as West Meriden. The consideration for the last purchase was an English coat for each ten square miles of land, the right to hunt and fish thereon being conceded to the Indians.

It is probable that the Indians were undisturbed in the enjoyment of these privileges a long time, for it was not until about thirty years later that the settlement of the lands by the whites was considered by the New Haven colony. In 1667 that town voted to set off a village in the new territory, which purpose was confirmed by the general assembly at the October court the same year. In the next two years the territory was prospected for an eligible site for a village by John Moss, John Brockett, Abraham Doolittle and others, who suggested the locality which was later chosen.

In order that the affairs of the projected village of New Haven might be prudently managed and only proper persons be admitted as planters, certain rules were prescribed by the town of New Haven. November 31st, 1669, and Samuel Street, John Moss, John Brockett and Abraham Doolittle were empowered as a committee to see that the rules of the town in relation to the village were carried out. Those purposing to become members of the new village now covenanted with one another by signing an agreement to do certain things in har- mony with the town's articles, which would have the effect of estab- lishing a church and maintaining a minister, etc .; " and lastly we doe engage personally to settle upon the place by May next, come twelve month, if God's providence inevitably hinder not, and to observe and perform all and every other article agreed upon."

This agreement was signed by 38 persons, not all of whom settled in the new village. The committee now proceeded to locate the vil- lage site, " upon the hill, on the east side of the great plain, commonly called New Haven plain," now the borough of Wallingford. They laid out the south part of the village, "beginning at the southeast of said hill;" and, then, "Next to the aforesaid house lots it is ordered that there shall be a highway crosse the hill, from east to west of six rods broade*, and from thence a long highway of six rods broade on the top of the hill to run northwardt, and on each side of itt to ranges of hous lotts of six acres to a lott; and these lotts to be distributed."

The settlement of New Haven village was thus begun, in the spring of 1670, the first assignment of lots being made on the east slope of what is now South Main street and continuing northward until all those admitted as villagers were supplied with lots, which each embraced six acres, and jutted on streets six rods wide. Most of the early settlers had previously lived in New Haven; others came from adjoining towns in the colony, and the following year a number more came direct from Boston, where they had landed as emigrants from

*Now Centre street. +Now Main street.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

England. But all were settled on the approval of the New Haven village committee.

On the 12th of May, 1670. the court of elections, held at Hartford, sanctioned the action of New Haven in forming this settlement. and " having been moved to state the bounds of the new village that is settled upon the playne, as you goe to New Haven," it described bounds five miles wide on each side of the Quinnipiac river, extend- ing from Branford bounds northward " to where the old road to New Haven goeth over Pilgrim's Harbour." with a provision that no planta- tion or previous grant would be prejudiced by these village bounds. This court also ordered "that the plantation on the playne, in the road to New Haven be called Wallingford."*

The Branford bounds being disputed, a joint committee, composed of John Moss and Nathaniel Merriman for Wallingford, and John Wilford. Thomas Harrison and Samuel Ward for Branford, acted on it, September 22d, 1670, but their recommendation does not appear to have settled the matter. In January, 1673, another committee passed on it, agreeing in effect, "that the Meadow between the Mill River and the East River northward above the blue Hills shall be Walling- ford. as to the Bulk of it, and Liberty of draweing the line as they shall see cause, and though the line agreed too should cut through it."

The following year John Wilford and Nathaniel White ran the lines of the survey according to the grant of the general court, namely: "We did Runn from the East River, comonly called New Haven River, upon an east and south line five miles; very nere pish- atipague ponds, and from there upon a North and by east line until it meets with Middletown South bounds; and on East and by South line, till it meets with Middletown west bounds; and on the west side New Haven river upon a west and by north line seven miles."

" The original proprietors of the country thus set apart as Walling- ford were: Samuel Street, Samuel Whittlesey, Thomas Yale, John Moss, John Brockett, Nathaniel Merriman, Samuel Thorp, Jeremiah How, Isaac Curtis, John Atwater, Edward Peck, John Parker. sen., Joshua Culver, John Hitchcock, Roger Tyler, Samuel Cook, Henry Cook, Daniel Mix, Samuel Brockett, Mercy Moss, John Hall, Eliasaph Preston, Jehiel Preston, John Merriman, John Beach, Samuel Munson, Joseph Thompson, Benjamin Holt, John Peck, John Lathrop, Thomas Curtis, Nathaniel Royce, Doctor Hall, David Hall, John Austen, Zach- ariah How, Nathaniel How, Joseph Benham, sen., Robert Roice, Will- iam Ebenatha, Ebenezer Clark, Samuel Hough, Joseph Benham, Jr., John Doolittle, Joseph Andrus, Thomas Beach, Abraham Doolittle."+

In addition to the assignment of home lots in the village, each planter received an allotment of meadow or woodland, at a convenient

*Named for the town of Wallingford in England, the term meaning, literally, an "old fortification," or a walled town by a bridge or ford.

+Doctor Davis, pp. 85-6.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

distance from the village. What was deemed most desirable for such purposes was described as being "Lotts on the river called New Haven east river, that are layed out to severall of the inhabitants as ineddow land. They are to begin at the end of the hill called Blew hill, where it comes to the river, and so to run upward the river." Thirty-eight lots of eight or twelve acres each were thus assigned on both sides of the river, according to the judgment of the surveyors, acting on the orders of the committee.

It should be borne in mind that, at this time, nothing was more abundant than land, and that it was comparatively worthless until it was cleared. In all these transfers from New Haven to the commit- tee, thence from them to the associated planters, as the original pro- prietors, there was no consideration of money. But there was a distinction made, based on the rank or relative importance of the planter. Hence, when it was proposed a year or so later, that other allotments be made, the matter was referred to a special committee, the results of whose labors are thus set forth in the records of Walling- ford :

" Whereas at a towne meeting held July 29, 1672, the towne apoynted a comitee of 9 persons viz. Mr. John Moss Sen. Mr. John Brockett, Senior Nathanliell Merriman Sen. Abraham Dowlittle, Sen. Samll Andrews, Nathan Andrews, John Hall, Jun Samell Monson & Thos. Yale, for the Distribution of Lands, Respecting quantity to every planter. the above named comitee have had several Debates & Seri- ous Considerations, after which upon the 3rd of January 1673 they came to a conclusion of this matter Respecting every planter now in being & the conclusion is as foloeth. first that there shall be 3 sorts of Divisions according to the proportion of 2. 3. 4. that is to say, the lowest Ranks of allotments shall have halfe so much as the highest, the middle Ranke, of alottments three quarters so much & to every particular person as followeth.

The highest rank to John Moss: Sen John Brockett: Sen Nath11. Merriman: Sen John Beach Abraham Dowlittle Sen Mr. Samuel Street

The Middle rank to be Samuel Roise Nehemia Roise Thomas Hall

Samuel Thorpe John Hall Sen

Jeremiah How Joseph Eives Samuell Potter

John Hall Jun Samuel Hall Abraham Dowlittle Jr Eliaseph Preston Nathaniel Merriman Jr Samuel Monson Ephriani How

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

John Moss Jun

The lowest Ranks to

Nathan Andrews

Richard Beach

Samuell Andrews

Elieazur Holtt

William Holtt

Daniell Hopper

Zachrias How

John Peck Jolın Eives

Eliazur Peck

Thomas Curtice

Joseph Benham

Thomas Yaile

Samuell Cook

Nathaniell Roise

Isaac Roise

Benjamin Lewes George Pardy, Sen"

William Ebnatha

In June, 1673, the planters voted " That there shall be alowed for the first division of lands to each planter, taking in house lotts, river lotts and all sorts of land, to the loest ranke. 40 acres; to the middle ranke 60 acres and to the hiest ranke, 80 acres and so to keep for the present." Taxes were laid in the same proportion, the highest rank paying double that of the lowest rank, etc. After this, allotments of lands were made from time to time to new settlers, to the original settlers as their families grew larger, or to meet the wants of special demands, until the whole territory was occupied.

Those having lands allotted them were permitted to dispose of them after a three years' residence, provided they were alienated or sold to such persons as were approved by the town, one of the essen- tials of approbation being " sufficient testimony of their good conver- sation in the place where they formerly lived ;" and none were per- mitted to dwell in the town as planters, by purchase or otherwise, unless the full consent of the town was first obtained.# Even those sojourning within the town limits could do so only with proper per- mission.+ As a natural consequence the character of the inhabitants was better than if an indiscriminate population had been invited, and although some of the action taken appears to us like an interference with private rights, yet they were doubtless warranted by the exigen- cies of the times, which prompted a desire to have none but good citizens in the body corporate. To this care in laying the foundations of society may be attributed much of the stability which characterized the citizenship in later years.

The progress of Wallingford in population and property, for a number of years after its settlement, was as follows:

No. of planters, 1680, 50; 1685, 63; 1691, 76; 1695, 95; 1700, 120; value of estates, 1680, 62,466; 1685, 63,072; 1691, 63,959; 1695, £4,298; 1700, 65,492.

In 1701 the grand list of the town of Wallingford embraced the following persons and values of estates (in pounds):

John Ives, 674; Widow Merriam, 14; Thomas Matthews, 28; Joseph Ives, 40; Samuel How, 27; Zachariah How, 33; Mathew How; 32; John *Town Records, February 12th, 1671. +Records, September, 1678.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Brocket, 87; Z. How, sen., 53; Gideon Ives, 36; Walter Johnson, 46; Nicholas Street, 43; Nathaniel Hall, 29; Samuel Royce, 48: Joshua Culver, 120: Mathew Bellamy, 22; Henry Cook, 118; Thomas Hall, Jr., 23; Jonathan Hall, 22; E. Royce and servant, 121; Mill, 10; Francis Kendrick, 32: R. Royce, Jr., 43; Sergeant Thorp and ap., 102; David Hall, 66; John Austen, 33; Nathaniel Ives, 26; Captain Thomas Vale. 168; Ebenezer Lewis. 52: Nathaniel How, 66; Simon Tuttle, 79; John Peck, 69; Samuel Munson, 69; Eben Clark. 90; J. Hitchcock, 98: Lieutenant Hall, 99; Doctor John Hull, 115; Deacon Hall, 74; Thomas Hall, 112: Theodore Doolittle, 45; Samuel Street, 59; John Beach, 50; Daniel Doolittle, 34: J. Merriman, 137; William Hendriek, 49; Eleazer Peck, 101; Ensign Andrews, 64; David Hall, 41; John Moss, 153; Nathaniel Curtiss, 24; John Cook, 39: Deacon Preston, 96; William Andrews, 48: Edward Fenn, 60; John Tyler, 51; John Hull, 79; John Parker, 27; Isaac Curtiss, 93; Samuel Royce, 102; J. Westwood, 28: Joseph Cook, 30; Daniel How, 40; Jacob Johnson, 46; John Peck. 40; Robert Roys. 60; William Tyler, 57: Samuel Cook, Jr., 64; Samuel Cook, Sen., 111; Nathaniel Andrews, 25; Josiah Doolittle, 40; Thomas Richardson, 27: James Alling, 28; J. Royce and 1 ap., 78; William Abernatha, 28; Joseph Parker, 24; Benjamin Hall, 50; Richard Wood, 41: Ebenezer Hull, 25; Thomas Curtiss, 80; John Doolittle, 45; Samuel Lathrop. 36: Hugh Chappel, 18; John Lathrop, 18; Minor Phillips. 18; Joseph Thompson, 73; James Benham, 26; J. How, Jr., 34; J. Munson. 50; Widow Merriman, 11: Thomas Beach, 79; Benjamin Beach. 32: Samuel Brockett, 82: Benjamin Royce, 29; William Kendrick. 22; C. Merriman, 75; A. Doolittle, 109; John Atwater, 113; Daniel Mix, 116: N. Royce, 100; Elijah How, 20; Nathaniel Tuttle, 28; William Aber- natha, 64; E. Doolittle, 39; John Parker, 74; Roger Tyler. 36; Samuel Curtiss, 21: J. How, Sen., 47; Widow Holt, 33. Total. £6,261.

In 1723 the inhabitants numbered 1,100. In 1774 the old parish of Wallingford had 2.130 inhabitants; Cheshire parish had 1,933; and Meriden parish, 852, making 4,915 inhabitantsin all. In 1800 Walling- ford and Meriden had 3,214 inhabitants, about one-third being in Meriden. In 1840 Wallingford had less population by several hundred than in 1830, but increased from that time. In 1850 there were 2.595 inhabitants. In 1880 the population of the town was 4,686; of the borough 3,017; in 1890 the population of the entire town was 6,584.

The second centennial of the settlement of Wallingford was cele- brated in the fall of 1869. The preliminary steps were taken at a town meeting, held October 5th. 1868, when the following committee of representative men of the oldest families was appointed to make provision to have it properly observed, namely: Caleb Atwater, Augustus Hall, Elisha Whittlesey, Randall Cooke, Samuel Peck. Ira Tuttle, Harvey S. Hall, Street Jones, H. L. Hall, Franklin Johnson, Julius Williams, Elihu Vale, Almer I. Hall, Garry I. Mix, Enos Doo. little, Thaddeus Cook, Samuel Simpson, Joel Hall, 1st. Peter Whittle-

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

sey, Orrin Andrews, Doctor B. F. Harrison, Doctor Nehemiah Banks, William Francis, George W. Whittlesey, Joseph F. Noyes, Rhoderick Corliss, George B. Kirtland, William Carrington, E. H. Ives, Medad C. Munson, Medad W. Munson, John Atwater, S. C. Ford, William Y. Beach, D. Gaylord, William Elton, L. Pomeroy, Joel Hall, 2d, L. Lewis, Erastus A. Doolittle, Jeremiah A. Hall, George R. Dutton, Alexander Hall, Othniel I. Martin, William M. Hall, Elizur Hall, Walter Ives, Hezekiah Hall, Silas Blakeslee, Horace Austin, Augustus Bartholo- mew. Samuel Miller, Lyman Humiston, John Allen, Joel Rice, Joel Hough, L. M. Monroe, Hubbard Jones, Chauncey Hough, Chauncey Andrews and Charles Ives.

A meeting with appropriate exercises was held on the green, at the old Whittlesey place, which was largely attended and was a pleas- ant re-union of those who had been instrumental in the later develop- ment of the town. A generous collation was an attractive feature of the occasion, giving proof of the abundance to be found in the homes of these descendants of the first settlers, and affording a sharp con- trast of the two periods, separated by the lapse of two hundred years, when this beantiful town was first located in the wilderness.

Although the town was named by the general court in May, 1670, no meeting was held until April 6th, 1671. At that time there were probably one hundred inhabitants in the territory designated as Wal- lingford, but as they lived in a humble way in a compact village, but little business of general interest was transacted for several years. In fact, nearly all the affairs remained in charge of the New Haven com- mittee-Samnel Street, John Moss, John Brockett and Abraham Doo- little-until April 28th, 1673, when Nathaniel Merriman was elected town clerk, a position which he held nine years. Since that time the town's transactions are quite fully recorded. Previons to this election, May 9th, 1672, the general court had appointed John Brockett and John Moss commissioners for Wallingford, and the former and Na- thaniel Merriman were the first deputies to the general court several years later. The other civil officers were elected as the town affairs developed, the first chosen being the selectmen, clerk, treasurer, con- stable, tithing men and surveyors of highways.

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 40

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 966

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966