History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1138

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 10

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In the same period the first selectmen have been: 1831, Captain Jesse Linsley; 1832, John Rose, 2d; 1833, Timothy Bartholomew; 1834, Walter R. Foote; 1835, Jesse Linsley; 1836-7, Chauncey Linsley; 1838, Walter R. Foote; 1839-41, George Rose; 1842, Samuel Rose; 1843, George Rose; 1844, Timothy Bartholomew; 1845-6, Walter R. Foote; 1847, Langdon Harrison; 1848-9, Levi Talmadge; 1850, Whitney El- liott; 1851-2, Judson Page; 1853-4, Prelate Dernick; 1855-7, George Rose; 1858-9, Charles Todd; 1860-2, George Rose; 1863, William D. Ford; 1864, George Rose; 1865-7, Martin C. Bishop; 1868, George Rose: 1869-70, Martin C. Bishop; 1871-7, Alden H. Hill; 1878-81, George Rose: 1882, Alden H. Hill; 1883-4, Herbert O. Page; 1885, William D. Ford; 1886, Isaac B. Linsley; 1887, Alden H. Hill; 1888-90, Herbert O. Page.

The town meetings continue to be held alternately in the first and the second societies, the basement of the meeting house being rented for that purpose. All manner of accounts are also kept sep- arately under the heads of these societies. No public buildings are owned by the town. The yearly expenditures of the town are more

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

than $7,000, about $1,800 of which is applied to the maintenance of schools. About $2,100 is expended annually on roads and bridges, and the highways are in fair condition. For many years the roads of the town were mere pathways. The highway to North Guilford was not located until after 1745. One of the earliest and best roads is that connecting Northford and North Branford villages. The town has no railway, but Northford station, on the Air Line railroad, in North Haven, affords the necessary facilities of that nature a few miles from Northford.

" Among the earliest interests of North Branford, besides farming, were fulling mills and barkers' mills, in which cloth was shrunk and cleaned and hides were tanned. In 1734 Edward Petty was permitted to set up both a saw mill and fulling mill on the river not far from the center. In 1742 Barnabus Woodcock had both fulling mill and barkers' mill on Long Hill. He soon sold to James Burwell. In 1744 James Burwell was given liberty to set up fulling mill on the river, just south of the North Branford church.'

In the Connecticut Journal of November 25th, 1801, appeared the following advertisement of a fulling mill in this town:

" JOHN MALTBY

Informs his Customers and others, as water is scarce among the Clothiers, he has a good supply of water, and dresses cloth in the neatest order, that he is in want of what is called Cash, for which he will dress cloth on the shortest notice.

He lives in Northford, a place called Pog, North from Branford, along as you'd Jog.

"Two years before this, Calvin Mansfield, who had removed from Northford to North Haven, advertised a new mill there. John Maltby, who had bought the old works at Branford, writes: 'Messers Printers, I saw in your paper, No. 1665, a pompous advertisement of one Calvin Mansfield, of North Haven, setting forth a plurality of clothiers' works. That gentleman seemethi to be very fond of showing his name in the public prints. I believe he never owned clothier's works anywhere; I am certain that the clothier's shop and tools which he advertises for sale is not his, but the property of the subscriber, and it is not for sale. I should not have noticed the imposition so much as to put pen to paper had I been alone concerned. But this trouble I give my- self to undeceive the public. John Maltby, Northford, in Branford, Oct. 1st, 1799.'

" This letter called out Mansfield's reply, which is a specimen of the amenities of discussion then prevailing: 'Messers Printers: If my optics did not fail I saw in your Journal, No. 1666, a scurvy publication of a certain John Maltby, of Northford. This Maltby, I fancy, thinks it a pretty novelty to publish his name also, and that in opposition to his betters ;- children and fools have sometimes doubtless spoken the truth, but Maltby appears to me an exception to this general rule. I shall not enlarge, but observe simply that the clothier's works which

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

I advertised in your paper, No. 1665, are in fact Foot's and my prop- erty, and for sale with an indisputable title. The public will need no further conviction than to come and see the records and the subscriber. I shall not make another reply to any stuff of Maltby's, but subscribe myself the public's most obedient servant, Calvin Mansfield, North Haven, Oct. 7th, 1799.'"*

Mansfield was eccentric, but had a genius for invention, and his sons, Sherlock and Hiram, were pioneer manufacturers of wooden buttons and combs, near the village of Northford. John Maltby also carried on a large cooperage, the products being carted to Fair Haven. The clothing works were last operated by Henry De Wolf, and the site is now used by William M. Foote for the manufacture of carriage wood parts.

Fifty years ago this little Farm river began to be much used to fur- nish the power needed to carry on the industries devised by some of the citizens of Northford, there being here an unusual amount of inventive ability put to practical use. Maltby Fowler was, next to Mansfield, one of the first of these Northford inventors. He produced machinery for making metal buttons, combs, spoons, gimlets and pins. The machine for making the latter articles was one of the first of the kind in this country, and was sold to Waterbury parties when pin making was there begun. The sons of Maltby Fowler-William, · George, De Grosse, Horace, Frederick and Thaddeus-also had me- chanical ability, and most of them invented useful and meritorious articles. All are deceased. About 1840 Horace Fowler invented a machine for embossing silk. Thaddeus Fowler was one of the most successful inventors of this family. He made a very satisfactory pin machine, which was used about five years at Northford, in the old Maltby mill building, by the United States Pin Company, when the interest was transferred to Seymour, of which place Thaddeus Fowler became a citizen.

Frederick Fowler invented a machine for rolling brass lamp and household goods, and in company with F. C. Bartholomew, Isaac H. Bartholomew and others, formed the Northford Manufacturing Com- pany, which was organized in April, 1854. They occupied large shops, supplementing the water power with steam, and successfully operated about thirty years. Large quantities of tin, japanned and household goods were manufactured and shipped to all parts of the country. Operations were last carried on by F. C. Bartholomew, but for several years the shops have been idle.

The Fowlers and Bartholomews, as the Northford Hook & Eye Company, made those articles several years, and later manufactured rivets, but sold the machinery to parties in Chicago. About 1855 Isaac H. Bartholomew and Frederick Fowler invented a machine for perforating tinware, which was a very useful device. In recent years

*Reverend E. C. Baldwin.

HISTORY OF NEW IIAVEN COUNTY.

the former and his sons, Edward and George G. Bartholomew, engaged in the invention and manufacture of devices for electrical lighting, occupying a part of the old hook and eye factory. Dynamos and other appliances are made.

At Northford David S. Stevens and others formerly manufactured iron and steel plated spoons, the industry giving work to about thirty persons, but after twenty years it was allowed to go down and the buildings have been left in a state of decay. On another site, on Farm river, E. C. Maltby manufactured wooden goods, such as buttons, spoons, etc., but later successfully engaged in the process of manu- facturing dessicated cocoanut goods. The latter works became exten- sive, about forty persons being employed. This industry was re- moved to Shelton, and the buildings are now occupied by the exten- sive card printing and novelty business of D. S. Stevens, Jr., which is one of the chief occupations in the town. Until September, 1890, the works were owned by the Stevens Brothers (H. M. & D. S.), when the former removed to Wallingford.

At Northford a modern creamery has become a recent and success- ful industry. The milk of 300 cows is consumed.

On Farm river, at Bare Plain, the Rogers mills have been operated the best part of two hundred years. Samuel A. Rogers was the last of that family to own them, the proprietor since 1880 being Charles Page. In the neighborhood of Branford village lumber mills were run by Joshua Rose, Charles Todd, the Partridge family and the Foote family. At the latter site Samuel Foote had a carding mill, in which members of the Linsley family were also interested. A small grist mill, by Samuel Foote, is now kept at that place. At the next site below the milling interests were controlled in 1890 by Alden H. Hill, who was largely engaged in getting out ship timber for the builders at Fair Haven. For a short time Edward A. Lins- ley had a small forge in the southwestern part of the town, where he wrought axes of a good quality.

Bare Plain is a general name applied to the level tract of land a little north of the southwest section of the town. When the whites came there was but a scant growth of trees in that locality, hence the name. Here was begun the first mercantile business in the town, according to the account of Mr. Baldwin:

" The first and only store in those days for the northern farmers was kept in the house now owned by Mr. Marquand, half way up the hill, above James Linsley's, at Bare Plain. There were several Frisbie families living in that vicinity, and one of them kept the store."

At a later period, on the old New Haven road, Colonel Thaddeus Harrison had a very popular country tavern; this is now the farm house of his son, Jerome Harrison. In this section Doctor Increase Harrison practiced medicine half a century ago, and Doctor Jacob Linsley was located here at a later period.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

In 1880 a chapel was built at Bare Plain, and in 1889 a post office was opened near by, with the name of Totoket. A. J. Smith is the post- master. A daily mail, by stage from New Haven, is supplied. Here are also the card works of H. D. Bartholomew and A. J. Smith, and several mechanic shops in addition to the foregoing, complete the hamlet.

North Branford village was the next business point of the town. It has a pleasant location, five miles from Branford village, and about nine miles from New Haven. There are several dozen buildings, in- cluding two stores, shops, a fine new school house and Congregational and Episcopal houses of worship. The card works of C. W. Barker the past seven years is a thriving industry.

This was formerly more of a business place than at present, the " Totoket Store " having a large trade when Russell Clark occupied it. Since 1882 Ralph Beers has been the occupant, and was the post- master in 1890. Preceding him were, as postmasters, C. W. Barker, Albert Platt, Russell Clark and Jasper Monroe, the latter merchandis- ing in the village about 1840. At the post office is kept a small pub- lic library, established in 1889, which is controlled by the North Bran- ford Library Association. Reverend Franklin Countryman is the gen- eral manager.

Doctor Sheldon Beardsley lived here a number of years, following his profession until his death. After a time Doctor Edward A. Ward was located, and skillfully served the wants of the sick. Doctor Wel- lington Campbell remained a few years; and Doctor H. O. Brown, who removed in 1889, was the last located practitioner.

Public houses were formerly kept by Philo and Nathan Harrison. Since 1852 there has been little demand for such accommodations.

Northford is near the north line of the town, on the west side of the Totoket mountain, from which it is separated by Farm river. For many years it was known by the Indian name Paug. There are an Episcopal church and an attractive brown stone meeting house, be- longing to the Congregational society; a good Masonic Lodge, several factories, and about a dozen fine residences. The place has long been known as one of the most thrifty of its size in the state, and is also one of the most intelligent communities in the county. The removal of several industries has diminished the population and relative influ- ence of the place.

In 1827 Augustus Tyler was the postmaster of the Northford office, and the income was $42.02. Malachi Cook next held the office at his store, north of the churches, where it was kept in 1841 by Timothy Bartholomew. William Evarts was an innkeeper, and also kept the post office. Henry C. Hart was long in charge. Thomas A. Smith came next, at the same stand, and since March, 1889, Henry N. Pardee has been the postmaster. For many years it was a second-class presi-

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

dential office, being now in the third class. Several mails per day are supplied from Northford station, distant two and a half miles.

Reuben Harrison had a store fifty years ago, one mile north of the churches, where Lorenzo E. Harrison had a fruit distillery at a later day. In the same locality Doctor Joseph Foote was a medical practi- tioner many years. A Doctor Baldwin practiced later, but the past two years the town has not had a resident physician.

Corinthian Lodge. No. 103, F. & A. M., was instituted at Northford in 1868, with the following as charter members : John M. Page (first master), Milo A. Todd, Thomas A. Smith, R. N. Augur, John H. Mans- field, Edgar F. Eaton, Philo Williams, J. H. Bartholomew, F. C. Bar- tholomew. Considering its limited jurisdiction, the Lodge has pros- pered very much, and had, in 1890, 72 members, with T. F. Barnes, master; E. F. Eaton, secretary; S. M. Foote, treasurer; J. A. Smith, senior warden; and J. H. Baldwin, junior warden. The intermediate past masters have been: L. Peet Tuttle, Henry N. Pardee, Guernsey B. Smith, T. F. Barnes, A. L. Dayton, E. F. Eaton, Urban T. Harrison, S. M. Foote and John P. Potter.

In 1870 the meetings of the Lodge were convened in Association Hall, at Northford, built that year by a company organized for that purpose. This was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1878, and many of the Lodge records were also burned. The hall was rebuilt the same year, and is still in use. It is a three-story edifice, the first being used as a store, the second as a public hall, and in the third is the finely furnished Masonic hall.

In this hall are held the meetings of Northford Grange, No. 80, P. of H., which is well supported. Totoket Grange, No. 83, holds its meetings in Totoket Hall. Both bodies are doing a good educational work in their respective localities. Of the former Dwight M. Foote was the master in 1890, and Charles Linsley of the latter.

Foxon Grange, No. 84, in the northern part of East Haven, also draws upon North Branford for some of its membership. At this time Charles W. Granniss was the master.

This part of Branford shared the interest of the old town in the cause of education, and soon after the North Parish was established provision was made for schools.

" Nov. 5, 1736-Town vote to build a school house near Edward Frisbie's on the country road.

" March 29, 1732-Gave 40 acres for school lands in No. B.

" 1734-Laid out 60 acres on farther Great Hill for school for No. B.

"1760-Grant school to people of Bare Plain.

"1760, May 30-Grant to people of north of Great Hill money for school."

In the Northford parish, too, arrangements were made for schools soon after the machinery of the parish was gotten into operation.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

"At first, and until 1752, the entire parish was comprised in a single school district. A division was then effected, creating one district north and one south of the meeting house. Three years after, in 1755, a third district was organized, and still a fourth in 1769, these arrange- ments all being made, and common school education supervised-not by the town, as now, but by the Ecclesiastical Society."

A deep interest was taken in these primary schools, and although there have not been any academies or schools of higher order to which the youth of Northford might readily resort, the thirst for knowledge was so keen that many acquired an education in colleges and profes- sional schools elsewhere.

" Few parishes in the state, and perhaps none of equal population, have given to the world so large a number of liberally educated men -so goodly a number of emigrant sons, who have served their gener- ation in the varied fields of professional labor-as Northford, and of these it is she speaks with something of the honest exultation of the noble Roman mother, who pointed to her sons as they returned from the public schools, saying, 'These are my jewels.' Of these sons, 31, so far as I am informed, have been graduated at Yale College.

"The legal profession has been represented by four Northford men, as follows; Noah Linsley, Douglas Fowler, George Hoadley and Gustavus R. Elliott.

" Nineteen at least have borne, and for the most part honored, the diplomas of the medical schools. I give their names withont any at- tention to their arrangement in chronological order: Doctors Malachi Foote, William Foote, Salmon Frisbie, -- Auger, Stephen Todd, Jehiel Hoadley, Augustus Williams, Joseph Foote, Lyman Cook, Har- vey Elliot, William Baldwin, Chauncey Foote, Jared Linsley, Benjamin F. Harrison, D. A. Tyler, Benjamin Fowler, Anson Foote, Elizur Beach and John Linsley.

· "Sixteen have entered the ministerial profession. Their names are as follows: Reverends Medad Rogers, Lemuel Tyler, Jonathan Maltby, Mr. Rose, L. Ives Hoadley, Isaac Maltby, Oliver D. Cook, Eli Smith, Samuel Whitney, James H. Linsley, John Maltby, Erastus Maltby, Benjamin S. J. Page, Harvey Linsley, L. S. Hough and Ste- phen C. Loper.

"Thus 39 have represented the parish in the three leading profes- sions. In this connection mention should be made of Reverend Al- bert Barnes, author of ' Barnes' Notes,' etc., who, though not born here, was of Northford parentage ; his father, Rufus Barnes, and mother, Anne Frisbie, were natives, and lived here until their marriage, when they removed to New York state. And also of the two female mission- aries whose early homes were here-Mrs. Epaphras Chapman, mission- ary among the Indians, and Mrs. Dwight Baldwin, at the Sandwich Islands.

" Reverends Samuel Whitney and Eli Smith, already mentioned,

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

were also prominently engaged in missionary labor, the one at the Sandwich Islands, the other in Syria."*

At North Branford village a very neat school house was completed in the fall of 1889, and was first occupied December 30th, that year. It has 56 sittings and cost $1,400. The character of school buildings in other localities is also being improved.

Many learned men claim the old "North Parish" as their home or birthplace. Miss Martha Russell, a native of Bare Plain, is an author- ess whose works of fiction are read by many admirers of her talent.

The religious interests of the town embrace two Congregational and two Episcopal churches and a Union chapel at Bare Plain. Con- cerning the early religious history of the town, the Reverend Elijah C. Baldwin said, in his " Annals of Branford ":

" For a number of years the 'North Farmers,' as they were called, came to meeting at Branford, and were under the ministrations of Reverend Samuel Russell. As there were but few roads, and those poor, and the people had no carriages, the journey was slow and difficult. It was made on foot or on horseback, along the poorly- made paths, through forests and swamps. But the word of God and the privileges of the sanctuary were prized in those days. The journey took them all day. The whole family went, carrying their wood, also weapons for defense, hence Sabbath day houses were built to accommodate both family and horses. Having no fires in the meeting house, they went to these houses for warmth and bodily refreshment. In 1706 the town granted to Stephen Foote, Daniel Barker, John Frisbie and Edward Frisbie, 'North Farmers,' the privilege of building Sabbath day houses on the common at Bran- ford Village.

"Mr. Russell and others also occasionally preached for them, in their own locality, worship being held in private houses. But this only had the effect of strengthening the desire to have a minister of their own, at 'North Farms,' and for this privilege they peti- tioned. Naturally the people of the lower part of the town were reluctant to have so many valuable families separated from them. Not getting consent from the town they petitioned the general as- sembly in May, 1717, for relief. (Col. Rec.) This pressure led the town, the same year, to vote liberty to the people at Sibbie's Hill to have a minister for four months. Sibbie's Hill is just north of the present center of North Branford. This name comes from an Indian sachem, who once lived there near a spring of water which bears the same name. Daniel Page, afterward Deacon, one of the first settlers, lived near the summit of this hill. It is said that the services of the extra minister were held at his house. All expenses were paid from the town treasury, and collected from a tax on the property of the whole town.

*Reverend A. C. Pierce.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

" Thus encouraged, they renewed their efforts for a new society in 1717, and the town consented so far that it appointed a committee on proposed bounds. They ran the line from ' Rose's meadow,' ' Rattle- snake rocks,' 'Sawmill,' 'Long Hill,' and 'Cedar Swamp.' All were not quite satisfied with the first bounds, so they were changed a little. The North farmers had their minister longer and longer each year until on September 27th, 1722, they ask to have him permanently set- tled. The town therefore voted to set up another society, purchase minister's lot, build a meeting house and a house for the minister. In 1722, October 8th, the proprietors gave 200 acres for parsonage lands at Jod's lot on the east side of Great hill for the new society.

" December 30th, 1723-The North Farmers came with their request again and asked for a change of bounds. It was voted that if they would sit down contented with their former bounds then the town would go equal shares with them in building and perfecting a meet- ing house within those same bounds, of forty feet in length and thirty feet in breadth. The petitioners to which this answer was given were Jonathan Butler, David Barker, John Harrison, Benjamin Linsley and Samuel Harrison.

" In May 12th, 1724, the town voted ' that the whole town would, as one in respect that they are numerous, so that one meeting house is not sufficient to contain them, build another, have another minister, and to maintain each of them by one rate.' On June 23d of the same year, they vote to go on with the building at . North Farms,' the build- ing to be 45 by 35 feet. December 28th in the same year they recon- sidered the vote about the meeting house and minister, changing bounds and location. Three sites were debated. It was finally de- cided to locate it ' on the knoll on the west side of the river, at the place near Samuel Harrison's.' This spot was a few feet south of the present meeting house in North Branford. The town vote £200 for

the house if the North Farmers will accept the terms. But all is not quite satisfactory. Therefore, on August 5th, 1725, the town appointed a joint committee to arrange the matter. By December 14th, 1725, they have come to an agreement, and they appointed collectors for each society. They also arrange for the payment of the new meeting house bills. Isaac Foote, Lieutenant Rose, John Harrison, Daniel Barker and Josiah Rogers were the committee appointed to direct the building of the meeting house. It was not finished until 1732.

" Tradition says that Reverend Samuel Russell went up and offered prayer at the erection of the frame of the new meeting house. At the raising an accident occurred, which might have been very serious. One of the heavy upright beams fell from its position into the midst, as it seemed, of the people. Beams used then were very heavy. But, by a kind providence interposing, no one was struck or injured by the falling timber.

" That meeting house had its location very near the present newer

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

structure at the center. It stood and was used until after the present meeting house was finished. It is remembered by some persons now living. Its windows were small and diamond-shaped and numerous. It had doors on the east, west and south sides. The pulpit was high · and shut-in galleries went around three sides, and they were quite high. The floor of the house was a step below the sills as you entered. Box pews for families covered the floor. Above the pulpit was hung a square, roof-like structure for a sounding board. In later years the bats had nests in this and occupied them with impunity, because of many years accumulation of dust and filth, that seemed out of the reach of all cleaning efforts that were made in those days. It was no uncommon thing for a bat to get loose during a service and go scoot- ing through the house, to the manifest discomfort of many in the con- gregation. A number of the 'North farmers' lived near the Walling- ford line, but they came down to 'Sibbie's hill' to attend worship for a number of years."

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1138