History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 13

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 13
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 13

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).

Leden H Hill

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Solomon Linsley, born in 1819, is a son of Elijah and Delia (Foote) Linsley, grandson of Solomon, and great-grandson of Joseph Linsley. Mr. Linsley is a farmer. His first wife, Adaline Hull, died leaving one son, Noah. His second wife was Mrs. Hannah Bradley, daughter of Augustus Hemingway. Mr. Linsley has been selectman two years, and has held other town offices.

William Maltby, farmer, born in 1825, is a son of Henry and Ruth (Hart) Maltby. He is a deacon of the Congregational church, which office he has held for the past 25 years. He has taken an active inter- est in all that pertains to the best good of the public schools in his town, having been a member of the school board for more than 35 years. He represented his town in the legislature of 1881. He mar- ried Esther, daughter of Doctor Rice Hall, and has two daughters- Ophelia H. and Mary J. A son, William T., died in childhood.

WILLIAM HALL MALTBY is a direct descendant of one of the oldest families in the eastern part of the county. He was born in Northford Society, August 29th, 1810, and was the elder child of Thaddeus and Elizabeth (Hall) Maltby. Their younger child, also a son, Isaac, born in 1819, removed to California, where he died in 1889, leaving an only son, Herbert. The grandfather of William H. Maltby was Benjamin Maltby, a large farmer and miller in Branford. He died May 10th, 1823, aged 68 years. He had been married first, January 22d, 1778, to Rebecca Taintor, who died in May, 1786, leaving him five children. By a second marriage there were five more children, the ten being as follows: Thaddeus (the father of William H.), born January 15th, 1779, married Elizabeth Hall, May 18th, 1809, died January 12th, 1873, being within three days of 94 years of age; Benjamin, born No- vember 11th, 1780, married Wealthy W. Chittenden in 1811, and died in 1834; De Grosse, born September 14th, 1782, married Sarah Smith, October 11th, 1807, died February, 1872; Elizabeth, born June 20tl1, 1784, married Bennett Bronson, May, 1820, died June, 1840; Rebecca, born April 19th, 1786, died April 22d, 1836; Julius, born January 5th, 1788, married Melinda Fowler, May, 1819, died October, 1872; Samuel, born January 27th, 1790, married A. De Witt, September, 1816, died January 28th, 1881; Elbridge, born January 23d, 1792, married Jane Ball, November, 1822, died in 1863; Erastus, born December 2d, 1796, married Almira Smith, September 7th, 1826; Eliza R., born April 13th, 1800, married Jonathan C. Fowler, April, 1820.

William H. Maltby was reared a farmer, and for many years ac- tively followed that pursuit, his habits of industry and frugality aid- ing him in accumulating considerable property. He was thus en- gaged in Wallingford from 1836 until 1842, and for the next twenty- one years in the town of Durham. In 1863 he returned to the old homestead, in Northford, where he has since resided, honored and respected by all who know him. Although now advanced in age, he retains his vivacious disposition and cheerful nature, which are among

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his chief characteristics, in spite of bodily affliction. On the 17th of December, 1845, his hip was dislocated by a fall over the drum of the water wheel of a saw mill, which precipitated him a great distance and badly injured him; but after a year he recovered, and thereafter led a very busy life. He has taken a warm interest in the affairs of the towns in which he resided, and for a number of years was a select- inan, both in Durham and in North Branford. The latter town he represented in the state legislature in 1871. He is a republican and a member of the Northford Congregational church, and member of the prudential committee. In the earlier years of his manhood he was much interested in military matters, and for several years he was in command of the Northford company.

Mr. Maltby was married September 30th, 1836, to Polly A., daughter of Rufus Foote, of Northford, who died November 27th, 1872. By this union there were three children: Benjamin E., born February 21st, 1840, died March 29th, 1841: William E., born April 7th, 1843, died March 31st, 1864; Elbridge Lyman Hall, born August 23d, 1846, now living in the city of Boston. Mr. Maltby was united in marriage the second time April 30th, 1873, to his present wife, Martha, daughter of John Birdsey and Esther Coe, of Middlefield, Conn., and grand- daughter of John Birdsey of the same town.

George H. Munger, born in 1827 in North Madison, Conn., is a son of Gaylord and Densie (Stephens) Munger, and grandson of Josiah Munger. He came from North Madison to North Branford in 1868, where he has been a farmer. He married Emily, daughter of David and Betsey (Norton) Russell. They have three daughters: Martha C. (Mrs. Erastus Dudley), Belle A. (Mrs. C. A. Harrison) and Helen R. M. (Mrs. C. M. Bergstresser).

Charles Page, born in 1839, is a son of Benjamin and Sarah E. (Mer- riam) Page, grandson of Benjamin, and great-grandson of Daniel, whose father, Daniel, was a son of George Page, who was among the first settlers of Branford. Mr. Page attended the schools of this and surrounding towns, spent one term in the State Normal School, and later he took a special course in Vale Theological Seminary and was licensed to preach in 1885. He taught school nine years in this vicin- ity. He was a member of the house of representatives in 1874, and has been town clerk and treasurer since 1871. He married Elbertine A., daughter of Luther F. Dudley. Their children are: Charles A., Edson C. and May C. Mr. Page has three brothers and one sister: John M., Benjamin, Martha E. and Robert.

Herbert O. Page, born in 1846, is a son of Judson and Mariette (Thompson) Page, and is a farmer. He has been for four years chair- man of the board of selectmen, and has held other town offices. He was a member of the house of representatives in 1886. He married Betsey R., daughter of John R. Baldwin, whose father, Noah, was a son of Edward, and grandson of Noah, who was a son of Noah, and

71 X Matiby

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

he a son of George Baldwin. They have two children: Herbert D. and Helen Gertrude.

Thomas Palmer, born in 1817 at Stonington, Conn., is a son of Thomas and Lydia (Austin) Palmer, grandson of George and great- grandson of Andrew Palmer. Mr. Palmer followed the sea more or less from the age of nine years until 1872. Several years of that time he was in command of vessels. He eame to North Branford in 1873, where he now lives. He married Eliza Hiscock, and their children are: Charles, George, Edith, Edgar, Jefferson, Daisy, Rosa E., and three that died-Thomas, Eliza and Edward.

Seth Russell, born in 1814, is a son of Augustus and Lydia (Rose) Russell, and grandson of Jonathan, whose father, Jonathan, was a son of Reverend Samuel Russell. Mr. Russell is a carpenter and farmer. He was a member of the house of representatives in 1866. He mar- ried, first, Abbie Chidsey, who died, leaving two children: Susan (Mrs. Samuel Thompson) and Clark. His second wife was Ann Hecock, and his present wife was. Elizabeth Baldwin.

A. Judson Smith, born in 1841, is a son of Henry and Emily (Wat- son) Smith, grandson of Abner, and great-grandson of Pollicarpus, who eame from Barnstable, Mass., to East Haddam, Conn. The latter was a son of Heman, whose father, Nathaniel, was a son of Heman Smith, who, it appears from the records of Barnstable, was made a freeman there in 1642. Mr. Smith is a tinsmith by trade. He came to Bran- ford in 1867, and from that time until 1888 he carried on the hard- ware business there, and since that time he has lived in North Bran- ford. In September, 1889, he was appointed the first postmaster at Totoket. His first marriage was with Aphelia Pyatt. She died, leav- ing three children: Nettie E., Etta M. and Albert W. His second wife was Mary S. Hand. Their children are: Mary E., Ruth E., Bessie S. and Margaret L.

Thomas A. Smith, born in 1827, is a son of Thomas and Hannah (Tuttle) Smith. He was for several years engaged in the manufactur- ing business in Northford, but since 1875 has been a merchant. He was for 12 years postmaster of Northford. He held the office of select- man and was for two years a representative in the legislature. His first wife, Ann Delia Harrison, died, leaving one son, Albert H. His present wife is Martha E., daughter of Benjamin Page.

DAVID STEARNS STEVENS, JR., was born at Quinnipiac, in the town of North Haven, April 5th, 1857, and is a son of David and Eliza (Ben- jamin) Stevens. He was the fifth of six children born to them, viz .: Albert Benjamin, who died in Northford; Alice Eliza, married Jared B. Bassett, of North Haven; Elizur Seneca, of the firm of Maltby, Stevens & Curtiss, of Wallingford; Henry M., also residing at Walling- ford; David Stearns, the subject of this sketeh; and Agnes Gertrude, married Watson D. Augur, of Middletown. By a second marriage, to Franees J. Hart, Mr. Stevens had two more children: Frances Jane

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

and Peter DeForest, both living in Virginia, to which state the father removed in 1883. He had become a resident of Northford in 1868 and for a number of years there carried on business as a spoon manu- facturer.

As a boy, David S. worked in his father's shops, attending mean- time the common schools of Northford, but completed his preliminary education at General Russell's institute in New Haven. In 1875 he returned to his home in Northford, where he then began the card-print- ing business in his father's spoon shop, with an outfit costing $36, which his father advanced to him. From the beginning his efforts were attended with success and the industry grew so rapidly that, in 1880, the present commodious rooms in the old Maltby Works were secured. In these new quarters the business was developed until it became one of the leading interests of the kind in this country. As many as fifty hands have been employed in carrying on the opera- tions, which embrace the manufacture and printing of an endless vari- ety of plain and fancy cards and scrap-book pictures, which are sold in every part of the Union. In 1880 his brother, Henry M., became asso- ciated with him, the firm since that time being Stevens Brothers .. Since 1890 the latter has been in charge of the Wallingford branch of the business, which was established that year.

Mr. Stevens possesses a fertile brain, which has enabled him to keep in advance of the ever-varying changes of his business and to constantly devise or add new features, which have further enlarged it. He has also developed a capacity for affairs which entitles him properly to a place among the representative successful self-made men of the county. His skill, tact and indomitable energy and persever- ance have brought him business prosperity and an honored name. He is much esteemed in the community in which he resides and has iden- tified himself with its best interests, serving them so far as the urgent demands of his business would permit.

Mr. Stevens was married October 9th, 1879, to Clara Hoadley,. daughter of E. C. and Hannah Maltby, who was born September 27th,. 1857. Her mother, Hannah Hoadley, was a daughter of the Reverend L. Ives Hoadley, who was an honored minister of the Congregational church. Five children have been born as the fruit of that union: Douglas Maltby, September 4th, 1880; Clifford Fleetwood, July 9th, 1885; Wilbur Benjamin, December 3d, 1886; David Stearns, July 23d, 1888; Clara Marguerite, December 3Ist, 1889.

Mr. Stevens resides in the E. C. Maltby place, at Northford, which has been finely fitted up for his home.

Albert Todd, born in 1834, is a son of Charles and Ann Louisa (Munson) Todd, grandson of Albert, and great-grandson of Charles Todd. Mr. Todd is a farmer. He married Orpha A., daughter of Samuel and Laura (Jones) Smith. They have two children living : Charles S. and Louisa L. One died, Lewis A.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Willys Tucker, born in 1821, is a son of Sheldon and Betsey (Dor- man) Tucker, and grandson of Oliver Tucker. He is a farmer and blacksmith. Since 1861 he has been agent for farm implements. He married Submit, daughter of John and Jerusha (Rossiter) Graves. They have two children: Ellen M., wife of Edgar Eaton, and Alice L., wife of Charles Munson. Mr. Tucker has served several years as selectman.

Douglas Williams, born in 1830, is a son of Herman H. and Sarah J. (Douglass) Williams, and grandson of Herman, whose father was Herman Williams. His maternal grandfather was Captain William Douglass, son of Colonel William Douglass. Mr. Williams is a far- mer. His first wife, Jeanette L. Foote, died, leaving three children: Benjamin D., Herman H. and Davis F. His second wife was Eugenia, daughter of Warram W. Foote, and sister of the first wife. His present wife was Mrs. Ann L. Shove, daughter of Abiatha Foote.

CHAPTER III.

THE TOWN OF GUILFORD.

Location and Description .- Natural Features and Points of Interest .- The Pioneers .- Civil Government .- Probate District .- Magistrates and Justices .- Town Buildings. -Cemeteries .- Roads and Bridges .- Industrial Pursuits .- Guilford Borough .- Lodges and Societies -Religious Interests .- Educational and Literary .- Some Distinguished Citizens .- Physicians and Lawyers .- Military Matters .- Soldiers' Monument .- Biographical Sketchies.

T HE original town of Guilford included the present town and Madison, which was set off in 1826. It stretched along the shore of Long Island sound from Branford to Killingworth, a distance of nearly ten miles, and was nearly eleven miles long from south to north. At the north end the width was not quite five miles, and at other points it was irregular. The boundary between Branford and Guilford was a straight line from the mouth of Stony creek to the center of Pistapaug pond, upon which cornered the towns of Walling- ford. Branford, Guilford and Durham. The pond is a mile long from north to south, and half a mile wide. From this common center a line, extending northeast to the western branch of the Hammonassett river, formed the northern boundary, and separated Guilford from Durham. The eastern boundary was down that stream to the Ham- monassett proper, thence down the middle of the river to Dudley's creek, thence down to West rock, on the sound. This separated the town from Killingworth. In this territory were for many years four Congregational societies, viz .: Guilford First Society, North Guilford, East Guilford (now Madison), and North Bristol (now North Madison). The latter two and a narrow strip, two miles long from the sound north, of the First Society, were constituted the town of Madison, thus leaving Guilford with a mean length of eleven miles and an average width of four miles, the town of Madison forming the eastern bound- ary, and having the East river in part as the dividing line.

That stream, called by the Indians Ruttawoo, has its source in sev- eral brooks, or branches, in the northern part of the old town, which unite at Nut Plains. Then it takes a southwesterly course, and emp- ties its waters into Guilford harbor, east of Guilford Point. For some distance it is a tidal stream, and is navigable for sloops to East River bridge, where are several wharves, in the town of Madison. Near its mottth are Sawpits, Quarry and the Farmers' wharves. The other

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

principal stream of the town is the Menuncatuc, or West river, which is the outlet of Quinnebaug or Quonepaug pond, in North Guilford. This pond or lake is two miles long from north to south, and a little more than a fourth of a mile wide. Its waters are very deep, and the environing scenery is attractive. Southwest is a smaller sheet of water called West pond, whose small outlet flows into West river. The latter stream has a southerly course to the west of Guilford bor- ough, and empties into the harbor west of the point. It is also a tidal stream as high as the village, where small wharves have been con- structed. East creek is a small stream occupying an intermediate position between the above streams, and also emptying near the neck · or mouth of East river.

Guilford harbor is too shallow to afford a good entrance for vessels. At low mark there are six feet of water on the bar, and twelve feet at full tide. A higher flow sometimes submerges the lowlands along the rivers. In these flats and channels are found clams of superior qual- ity, and the East River oysters are regarded by epicures as the finest flavored in the state. The quantity is limited, and the price is high. An effort was made to build a breakwater to improve the harbor, which has been filling up from the wash of the waters of the sound, but the government refused an appropriation. In 1703 Guilford was desig- nated by the general assembly as one of the eight ports of entry in the colony, and Josiah Rossiter was made naval officer. In the latter part of the last century Guilford was made tributary to New Haven harbor. Two miles west is Sachem's Head harbor, which is a small but deep body of water, almost wholly land locked, and before the period of light-houses was much used as a night station for vessels in the coastwise trade. Before 1775 this harbor was also used by vessels in trade with the West Indies. Many cargoes of cattle and other stock were shipped from that point, and lumber was also shipped to some extent. Still further southwest is another expanse of still water, wash- ing Leete's island on the east. It is too shallow for shipping purposes, but was formerly a favorite place for fishing.

At both of these larger harbors the land projects in points, which have for many years been esteemed as summer resorts. Guilford Point, a mile or more below the village, has thus been used more than a century. Later a hotel was built, known as the Point House, which increased the popularity of the place. This house is now old, but has an attractive location, with quieting surroundings. Before the use of the railroad, steamboats landed passengers at this point. A good road now leads to it from the village railway station.

Sachem's Head, the other point, is three and a half miles southwest from the village, and is more abrupt and picturesque than the former. It derived its peculiar name from an incident in the war upon the Pequots at their fort on Mystic river.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

" The defeat of the Pequots took place May 26th, 1637, by the Eng- lish under Captain Mason, and their allies, the Narragansett Indians, and a remnant took flight along the 'shore trail' of the Indians west- ward, pursued by a few English under Captain Stoughton and Indians under Uncas. The English kept a reserve force on board their trans- ports, which coasted along the shore, scouring every inlet for detached bands of the retreating foe. When the land party under Stoughton and Uncas had reached this head-land projecting into the Sound Uncas, who knew Indian craft, left the trail and made a thorough search of the point. A chief and several warriors were found. The refugees made effort to escape by swimming across the narrow part of the har- bor, and were captured as they landed. The Sachem was shot dead with an arrow by Uncas, who cut off his head and placed it between the limbs of an oak tree, which grew around the skull, holding it firmly for years, and from this tragedy originated the name 'Sachem's Head.'"*

This expedition of Captain Stoughton was one of the means which led to the settlement of the county, first at New Haven, and later brought the Guilford settlers to that place and this section.

" It has been said that Captain Stoughton on his return with the fleet put in for refuge and spent a few days in the beautiful bay of the 'Red Mountains,' later the 'Fayre Haven' of the Whitfield com- pany, and observing its many advantages for a commercial town site he, on his return to Massachusetts Bay, informed Governor Eaton and company, who had just landed, of its adaptability for settlement, and the Governor, notwithstanding advantageous offers which had been made at Boston, Salem and Lynn for their settlement, and also the lateness of the season, came here with a company to view this 'prom- ised land.' On being satisfied with its conditions which invited set- tlement, he at once made all preliminary steps necessary for its pur- chase of the then nearly extinct tribes (the Quinnipiacs), and built a hut and left a small company to hold and occupy the territory until the next spring. He then returned and took possession of his new purchase."

From New Haven attention was directed to the desirable lands of Guilford and Milford, which, no doubt, were soon after prospected, with a view to their acquisition by the whites.

A little east of Sachem's Head is a place called Bloody Cove, where is said to have occurred a fatal skirmish between Uncas and his clan and the Pequots before the above capture took place.

Sachem's Head point became well known as a seaside resort half a century ago, and was for many years a fashionable summer watering place. A hotel, with accommodations for several hundred guests, was erected, and the grounds were finely laid out for the accommodation of the visitors. It was for many years largely patronized, but was de-

*Captain Townsend.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

stroyed by fire in June, 1865. After some years the locality became popular for seaside cottages, and is again growing much in favor.

Between Guilford and Sachem's Head points is a projection of land called Mulberry point; and at the sound extremity of Leete's Island is Leete's point. The name Leete's Island is applied to the southwestern part of the town, much of which is low land. Off shore from Guilford harbor, and some distance from it, is Falcon or Faulk- ner's island, which is a part of this town. After belonging to various parties it was sold in 1801 to the United States government for $325, and a lighthouse has since been built on it, which has made this part of the sound comparatively safe .*

The surface of Guilford presents a varied aspect. The northern part is elevated and broken by the northeastern extremity of Totoket mountain, which extends into its territory several miles, terminating in a bold bluff. Along Quinnebaug pond and extending south to North Guilford Center are also a series of hills, some of them very steep. South of this are elevations bearing the local names of Long hill, a high ridge on the west side of the West river; Moose hill, of less altitude, extending into the town of Branford; and Clapboard hill, the elevation between the East creek and East river. South of these the change to the lowlands is rapid, there being only small elevations, showing upheavals of granite rock, with a hard and compact soil. Much of the entire surface is of a stony nature, better fitted for wood- lands than for cultivation. But along the shore are alluvial plains and along the streams are some intervales having strong and generous soils, which with proper tillage yield profitable crops. Corn, wheat and the root crops have given bountiful returns and the agriculture of the town in its extent and products is not exceeded by an equal area in the county.

Along the sound and several miles back the lands are either swampy or are alluvial deposits, naturally very fertile, and are still further enriched by skillful fertilization. For many years this was the section first tilled by the Guilford settlers and before their coming had been the favorite planting ground of the Indians, who called it Menuncatuc. All the bounties of nature were here generously pro- vided-a strong, fertile and easily cultivated soil, game and water fowl, fresh fish and sea food. These conditions, also, most naturally at- tracted the attention of the whites to this locality and led to the early purchase of the Indian lands.

That part of Guilford on the coast, lying between the East river (Ruttawoo) and the Stony creek (Agicomook), was purchased of the sachem squaw of Menuncatuck, Shaumpishuh, acting for the Indian in- habitants, who agreed to the sale September 29th, 1639. The commis-

* At the general court at Hartford, October 18th, 1677, " Liberty was granted

to Andrew Leete to purchase Falcon Island and Goose Island * * * which said Islands lie before or near Guilford." (Col. Rec. of Conn., 1665-77.)

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sioners for the whites were Henry Whitfield, Robert Kitchell, William Chittenden, William Leete, John Bishop and John Coffinge. The pay- ment was a dozen each of coats, glasses, pairs of shoes, hatchets, hoes, pairs of stockings, knives, hats, porringers, spoons, fathoms of wam- pum, four kettles and two English coats. Most of the Indians now removed to Branford and East Haven, but a few received liberty to remain for a time at Ruttawoo.

"At the time of the above purchase it was understood that the deed for the land should remain in the hands of the above committee of planters until a church should be formed, to whom it should then be given and under whose superintendence the lands should be divided out to those interested in them. The English settlement was con- menced immediately after this purchase on the ground where is now Guilford borough, the plain and some other lands near by having already been cleared by the natives and prepared for culti- vation." **

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 13

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