USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 19
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 19
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Another bright man of that period was Reverend Thomas Rug- gles, Jr. In addition to the publication of some of his sermons his authorship embraced a manuscript history of Guilford up to 1769, most of which has been printed. He died in 1770.
Other ministers of the town who contributed to the literary life in the periods in which they lived, were the following: Reverend Jonathan Todd, of the Madison Society, in 1749; John Eliot, of the same society, in 1810 and earlier, who was a very scholarly man; David Dudley Field, born in Madison in 1781, graduated from Yale in 1802, and who died in 1867, author of a number of books on local history and other works; Aaron Dutton published a notable sermon in 1815; Abraham Chittenden Baldwin, born in North Guilford in 1804, died in 1887, was the author, among other admirable works, of a prize essay, " Letters to a Christian Shareholder," published in 1857; S. W. S. Dutton, born in Guilford in 1814, and who deceased in 1866, was a prolific writer on theological and contemporary sub- jects; Samuel Fiske, of Madison, who died in the army May 22d, 1864, wrote letters for the press as "Dunn Browne," which were "as graphic, genial and bright as the man himself."*
A number of laymen also gave expression to rich literary thoughts which entertained and ennobled. Among those of minor nature may be noted the Nortons, Elijah and Colonel Rufus, the latter being a writer of short hymns and poems, which did not pass out of the manu- script state; John P. Foote, of Cincinnati, a native of the town, was a clear writer and biographer.
Ralph D. Smith, a lineal descendant of John Smith, who came to Milford in 1640, was born in Southbury in 1804, graduated from Yale in * Robinson.
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1827, was admitted to the bar in 1831, in November of which year he came to Guilford, where he died September 11th, 1874. Besides being a lawyer of good reputation and practice extended beyond the limits of his village, he was an industrious and painstaking author. He wrote sketches of the graduates of Yale College from 1702 to 1767, and other sketches pertaining to the university, of which institution his sons, Walter H. and Richard E., were also graduates in 1863 and 1866, re- spectively. His researches in the local history of Guilford have been very valuable. After his death some of his manuscripts on Guilford were published.
Doctor Alvan Talcott also prepared a valuable genealogy of the citizens of Guilford. In May, 1890, his manuscripts embraced 30,000 names, 1,700 belonging to the Norton family. He noted 100 families fully and 78 more not so completely. This exhaustive work was do- nated to Yale College, from which the doctor graduated in 1824, and from the medical department in 1831.
The town has produced several poets of national reputation. The foremost of these, Fitz-Greene Halleck, occupied a position which brought him the honor of having the first bronze statue in a public place erected to the memory of an American poet. This figure, of heroic size, is in Central Park, New York, near the statues of Shakes- peare and Sir Walter Scott.
Fitz-Greene Halleck was the son of Israel and Mary (Eliot) Hal- leck, and was born in Guilford, July Sth, 1790. When but a lad his poetic nature found expression in verses of promise and merit, which are still extant. At the age of 15 he became a grocer's clerk at Guil- ford, and so continued until 1811. He then went to New York and entered the banking house of Jacob Barker, also as a clerk. Visiting Europe in 1822, he formed the acquaintance of many literary men of the Old World. In 1832 he entered the service of John Jacob Astor, and in his banking house he remained until Astor's death, in 1848. He received an annuity of $200 from the elder Astor, to which was added a gift of $10,000 by William B. Astor. In 1849 Halleck returned to Guilford, where he continued to reside until his death, November 19th, 1867. For many years his home was in the old house opposite the south west corner of the green, and he was a well known personage to many of the present inhabitants of the village, where he was beloved as much as he was admired abroad.
George Hill, a brother poet, was born in Guilford, January 29th, 1796. After graduating from Yale College, in 1816, he was in public service at home and abroad until about 1856, when he retired to private life, taking up his residence at Guilford, where he died De- cember 15th, 1871. At that time his volume of short poems had passed several editions. They were carefully written and show fine poetic taste. In the last years of his life Mr. Hill was very unobtru- sive and retired in his habits, but his gentle manners caused him to be much esteemed.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Abraham Bradley, 3d, who was born in Guilford, December 11th, 1731, and who in the latter years of his life was a deputy postmaster general, was also a poet of some merit, and his verses on pioneer life in Guilford are fairly descriptive and entertaining of a period which always awakens interest.
Many of the settlers of the town and their descendants became dis- tinguished in civil and other avocations of life. Samuel Disbrowe or Disborough, who came with Whitfield, a young man of 24, was one of the "seven pillars " of the church, and served as magistrate of the plantation from 1643 until 1651. In the latter year he returned to England, where he became one of the principals in the Cromwell ac- cession, and held many important trusts in England and Scotland. He · died in the latter country in 1690.
Another of the " seven pillars," Reverend John Hoadley, while not so active in civil affairs, became noted after his return to England, as the ancestor of two of the most distinguished prelates of their times. In 1642 he was married in Guilford to Sara, daughter of Francis Bush- nell, one of the foremost of Guilford's planters, and their grandsons John and his brother Benjamin, attained the highest ecclesiastical honors.
The male descendants of Francis Bushnell were prominent in every generation in the ordinary walks of life;# and another daughter, Eliza- beth, married William Johnson, another of the leading planters. Their son, Samuel, was the father of the Reverend Samuel Johnson. D. D., who was the president of King's (Columbia) College, from 1754 until 1763. His son, William Samuel Johnson, was the first United States senator under the national confederation, serving from 1789 until 1791. He was also one of the most learned men of his times. The Univer- sity of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of D. D.
William Chittenden was another of the foremost planters of Guil- ford, and being a brother-in-law of Whitfield, had one of the choicest locations on the Menuncatuc river, in the northwestern part of the first settlement, which is still owned by descendants. He was the military leader of the community, and also held civil offices. One of his grandsons, Ebenezer, married a sister of Reverend Samuel John- son, and settled in Madison. Their eldest son, also called Ebenezer, moved to New Haven, where he became a mechanic of great skill. A younger son, Thomas, born in 1730, at the age of 20 left his paternal home and removed to Salisbury, and in 1774 to the Onion River local- ity in Vermont. He was elected the first governor of that state in 1778, and continued to hold that office 18 years. He died in 1797. Sub- sequently his son, Martin, twice occupied that office. Of the Chitten- den stock which remained on the Guilford homestead, Simeon B. Chit- tenden was a descendant. He was born March 9th, 1814, and remov-
*Cornelius S. Bushnell, a native of Madison, was instrumental in furnishing Captain Ericsson the means to complete his monitor in use in the civil war.
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ing to New York, became one of the merchant princes of the metrop- olis. His benefactions in the town and the county are well known. Through his liberality the erection of the fine library building on Yale campus, lately occupied, was made possible.
The Leete family has ever been one of the most important in the annals of Guilford. The first of that name and one of the founders of the town, rose to the rank of a colonial statesman, and was a worthy peer of Thomas Hooker and John Winthrop, Jr., in the early history of Connecticut. William Leete was born of a good family, in 1613, and was, therefore, 26 years of age when he came to Guilford. He was bred to the law, and was a clerk in the Bishop's Court in Eng- land. In the old country he was a neighbor of Disborough, and suc- ceeded him here as the first magistrate. He was chosen deputy gov- ernor of the New Haven colony from 1658 to 1661, when he was chosen governor of that colony, serving until the union with Connecti- cut in 1665. Four years later he was elected deputy governor of the united colonies, in which office he served until 1676. He was then elected governor and was reelected until his death in 1683. He thus served in a magisterial capacity forty years, and was one of the best trusted men in the colony. He was buried at Hartford, and his grave was for a long time unknown, but was discovered about 1830, in the ancient burial ground of that place.
He left a numerous family in Guilford, and his eldest son, John, who died November 25th, 1692, is said to have been the first white child born in the town. Another son, Andrew, was active in the management of the affairs of the colony and the town. He was mar- ried to a daughter of Thomas Jordan, Esq., and after the return of his father-in-law to England, about 1660, lived on his estate, on the north- west corner of the green. It is said that he here kept for a time the charter of the colony, which he was instrumental in recovering, in the period when Major Andross had usurped the government.
The Guilford home of Governor William Leete was opposite the Chittenden place, on the east bank of the West river, where he had a store or warehouse, in the cellar of which he secreted the Judges Whalley and Goffe, some time between June 11th and June 20th, 1660. They spent about a week here and at Mr. Rossiter's, being supplied with victuals from the governor's table. This property passed to Caleb Stone in 1714, was long owned by Timothy Stone, and is now the property of Leverett C. Stone. The old store building has long since disappeared, but the cellar in which the judges were hidden remains practically as built, and is now covered by a barn. In other parts of the town descendants of William Leete remain, and his name has been ineffaceably affixed to the southwestern part of Guilford.
Doctor Bryan Rossiter came to Guilford in 1651, upon the depart- ure of Samuel Disborough, whose large estate he purchased. As Leete was the first lawyer, so he was the first physician, and like his
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professional neighbor, was a man of great force of mind and character. He was, moreover, a physician of ability, and it is claimed that he made the first post mortem, that is a matter of record, in Connecticut, in Hartford, in 1662 .* Doctor Rossiter was very warmly interested in bringing about the union of the Connecticut colonies in 1665, and his action in this matter caused offense to some of the New Haven colon- ists. He died at Guilford September 30th, 1672. His son, Josiah Ros- siter, who died in 1716, was actively interested in the affairs of the town and the county. A daughter married John Cotton, and their descendants became distinguished in Massachusetts affairs. Descend- ants of the Rossiter family have remained in the town, and have always held an honored place in the estimation of the inhabitants.
Samuel Baldwin, the blacksmith, was the founder of another fam- ily, which is greatly esteemed in the town and especially honored in North Guilford, from which have gone some of its best representa- tives. He was the ancestor of Abraham Baldwin, who was born in North Guilford, November 6th, 1754. Graduating from Vale College in 1772, he was a tutor from 1775 to 1779. He studied theology, and was a chaplain in the continental army several years. In 1784, at the request of his friend, General Greene, he removed to Georgia, was admitted to the bar, and was elected a member of the continental con- gress. As a member from Georgia of the constitutional convention, in 1787, he drafted the constitution, which was finally adopted, and has been called the "Father of the Constitution." He was also instru- mental in founding the University of Georgia, having been placed at the head of the system of education in 1785. He died at Washington, March 4th, 1807, as a United States senator from Georgia. His brother, Henry, became a distinguished justice of the United States supreme court; and their sister was the wife of Joel Barlow, the author and diplomat at the French court.
Doctor Stephen C. Bartlett was another brilliant native of North Guilford, where he was born April 19th, 1839. He was thoroughly educated in the medical profession, and after practicing at Naugatuck settled at Waterbury, where he died at the early age of 40 years, but not before he had given abundant evidence of his great medical skill.
James Hooker, Esq., the first judge of the probate court, was a son- in-law of William Leete, Esq. He lived in the town about 40 years, dying in 1740. His successor, Colonel Samuel Hill, who was one of the principal public men of his time, was then elected judge, and served in that position until his death in 1752. He was also for a time judge of the county court. His son, Nathaniel, and grandson, Henry, also became eminent in public affairs. So also were Colonel Timothy Stone, General Andrew Ward, Nathaniel Griffing, etc., who enjoyed the highest honors in the gift of the town. In the same connection may be given the name of General Augustus Collins, who had been
* Colonial Records, Vol. I., p. 396.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
in the revolution. He served in 64 consecutive sessions of the legisla- ture of the state, before 1813. His sister, Lorain, married Oliver Wol- cott, the first secretary of state under President Washington, and who was one of Connecticut's signers of the declaration of independence, and afterward governor of the state.
Among other notable men, as natives who attained distinction else- where, was Doctor David Dudley Field, born in Madison in 1771, son of Captain Timothy Field of the revolutionary army. He was the father of the famous Field sons, David Dudley, Cyrus West, Stephen and Henry Martyn, all of them men of national reputation. Doctor Bela Hubbard, born in Guilford in 1739, became a distinguished Epis- copal minister in the county, dying in New Haven in 1812. Reverend Andrew Fowler, born in 1765, became an Episcopal missionary, and died at Charleston, S. C., in 1851. The names of other and later public men are found in the civil lists of the town and county.
The physicians of the town have been the following:
At Guilford village .- Doctor Bryan Rossiter, died at Guilford Sep- tember 30th, 1672.
Doctor Anthony Labore, died at Guilford March 19th, 1712.
Doctor Nathaniel Ruggles, died at Guilford 1794, æ. 82 years.
Doctor John Redfield, born at Guilford 1813, æ. 78 years.
Doctor Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, died at Guilford 1796, æ. 36 years.
Doctor Jared Redfield, died at Guilford 1821, æ. 50 years.
Doctor Seth H. Rogers, died at Guilford 1807, æ. 35 years.
Doctor Lewis Collins, removed.
Doctor David Marvin, removed, 1811.
Doctor Elias Shipman, removed to New Haven.
Doctor Lyman Strong, removed to Hebron.
Doctor Anson Foote, died at Guilford 1841, æ. 57 years.
Doctor Joel Canfield, died at Guilford 1877. Had located in North Guilford in 1824 and in Guilford village 1825.
Doctor Elias Hutchinson, located 1838, removed 1849.
Doctor Alvan Talcott, graduated from Yale, Medical Department, 1831, located at Guilford in 1841; was in active practice until 1886, when he was one of the oldest physicians in the county. Hedied Jan- uary 17th, 1891, in his 87th year.
Doctor Gideon Perry Reynolds located in 1870, and still continues in practice.
Doctor Frederick P. Griswold was in practice from 1878 to 1883; Doctor Charles HI. Hamilton from 1883 to 1886; Doctor George H. Beebe located in 1886, and continues in practice; so also does Doctor H. I. Fisk, an eclectic physician.
At North Guilford were, at different times after 1800, the following:
Doctor David Brooks, removed to New York, where he died, in January, 1826.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Doctor Samuel Fitch, died August 8th, 1847, aged 71 years.
Doctor Joel Canfield, from 1824 until 1825.
Doctor George Kirtland, died 1825, aged 25 years.
Doctors Julius Willard, Richard Dennison and Justin W. Smith removed after short periods of practice.
After the death of Doctor Rossiter, and for about 50 years later, the town purchased medicines and distributed them out of the com- mon stock. July 3d, 1679, a meeting was held to consider whether the inhabitants would buy " Mrs. Cosster's physic and physical drugs," " and was answered by a unanimous vote that they would buy them." Subsequently, August 28th, 1679, " Lieut. William Seward was chosen and appointed to fetch or procure the Physic and Physical drugs bought of Mrs. Cosster, brought to Guilford and deliver them into the hands of Mr. Joseph Elliott for the town's use."
The mortality was at first not great, and there were for many years no epidemic diseases. Later the death rate was greater, being about one death to every 69 persons in the course of a year.
The staid habits of the people of the town, with its fixed popula- tion, gave little occasion, the first 150 years, for the employment of a lawyer. Ralph D. Smith was one of the first after William Todd to devote himself almost exclusively to the legal profession. He settled in Guilford in November, 1831, and remained in the town until his death, in 1874. Previous to that time Edward R. Landon, who had read law with him, was also a practicing attorney, and was thus en- gaged until his death, in 1883. H. Lynde Harrison lived in the town a number of years, but his practice was mainly in New Haven. Will- iam Kelsey, after being here a while, removed to Cheshire. Edwin C. Woodruff died in the town in May, 1886, and Hollis T. Walker has since been the attorney.
1
While the people of the town were not warlike, provision for de- fense was early made. A train band was organized, which had in 1665 William Seward as its captain: George Bartlett, as lieutenant; and Samuel Kitchell, ensign. At that time the town stock of ammunition was reported as 140 pounds of powder and 235 pounds of lead. In 1672 the "town's arms were mended " by a mechanic, who came from Hart- ford for that purpose, so as to be ready in case of Indian attack. Up to this time there had been but little fear on account of the local In- dians, and there never was any hostility between them and the whites. The danger apprehended was from Indian incursions.
In the period of King Philip's war the town was active. In 1676 it voted to fortify two houses, and all males over fourteen years of age were pressed into the work of speedily building them. The town voted " that all damage to housing by enemies shall be borne and made good by the towne in generall:" and also voted " to grant tenn acres of land to every soldier from Guilford " serving under Major
11
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTV.
Robert Treat and Mr. John Talcott. It thus anticipated the bounty land warrant system of the United States.
In 1690 Reverend Mr. Eliot's house was again fortified, and it was voted that " the great guns be set up on carriages and fitted for ser- vice." In 1697 these guns or cannon were desired by Connecticut, but the town refused to give them up, "as they wanted them for their own defense against the common enemy." They were finally sold in 1739. But a company of artillerists has almost continually been a feature of the military life of Guilford. In the present century there was a com- pany of " Flying Artillery," of which Joel Griswold was the captain. In the rebellion 36 men were in the First Light Artillery of Connec- tient Volunteers. Since the war a section of artillery has been main- tained in the town, which has been united with the platoon in Bran- ford in forming a company -- Battery A-of which, in 1890, Arthur S. Fowler, of Guilford, was the captain.
In 1705 a train band was formed in East Guilford, and in 1728 another at North Guilford.
In 1745 Colonel Andrew Ward, of Guilford, commanded a company at Louisburg, in which were some Guilford men; and in the expedition at Fort William Henry, Oliver Dudley and Nathaniel Johnson had companies of Guilford soldiers.
In the second French war there were also two companies of Guil- ford men, commanded by General Andrew Ward, son of the above Colonel Andrew Ward, and Colonel Ichabod Scranton, of East Guil- ford, and were at the battle of Lake George. It is said that an Indian picket attached to the Guilford troops found the wounded Baron Dieskau and carried him as a prisoner into the English lines. In this excursion Enos Bishop, of North Madison, served as a lieutenant.
In the war for independence Guilford took a patriotic position, a few only adhering to the cause of the royalists. The acts of the con- tinental congress were endorsed as early as December, 1774. The fol- lowing spring 45 men, under Colonel Noah Fowler, and 23 under En- sign Jehiel Meigs, held themselves ready to move after the alarm at Lexington. General Ward was at Valley Forge with some Connecti- cut troops, and others of Guilford's sons distinguished themselves on fields of battle elsewhere.
From the fall of 1776 until the close of the war the town main- tained a watch upon its coast, a guard of 24 men being set nightly, and received but little aid from the state. In 1777 a bounty of £10 was voted to soldiers enlisting for three years, and this offer was thrice re- newed later. In 1779 these bounties and other taxes caused the rate to be five shillings on the pound, payable in such things as the select- men might deem necessary.
Some of the movements of the war were performed on Guilford soil. " May 29th, 1777, Col. Return J. Meigs, of Guilford stock, led an expedition from Sachem's Head in three sloops and thirteen whale
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
boats. In twenty-four hours, with one hundred and seventy men, he crossed the Sound to Sag Harbor; broke up a depot of the British there, destroying much property; took ninety-six prisoners without losing a man; and returned safely to Sachem's Head. For this service Congress voted him a sword."*
The British, however, soon retaliated. On the 17th of June follow- ing a party from three ships landed at Sachem's Head and burned the house of Solomon Leete and two barns. In the following December the house of Timothy Shelley was burned. But the most serious at- tack was made at Leete's Island June 18th, 1781. A party of British and tories, in all about 150 men, from two brigs and a schooner, landed at that point, burned the guard house built by Deacon Pelatiah Leete and a house and barns of Daniel Leete. They now made a movement toward the village of Guilford, but were met by the company of Cap- tain Peter Vail, who took shelter behind rocks and fences and opened a spirited attack. Captain Vail became exhausted from the heat and soon afterward died from the effects. The Guilford men, under com- mand of Lieutenant Timothy Field, succeeded in driving the enemy to its boats, with the loss of several men. Simeon Leete and Ebenezer Hart were mortally wounded.
The last incursion of the British was made near the East Wharf, in Madison, in 1782. The militia, under Captain Phineas Meigs, suc- ceeded in repelling their advance, but not until Captain Meigs had been killed. He was shot through the head.
In 1783 Samuel Lee, Jr., who had been a lieutenant in the Guilford company, was commissioned its captain and the company became a part of the 28th Regiment.
In the summer of 1780 a young man by the name of Tucker worked as a farm hand for Deacon Daniel Leete, who resided at Leete's Island. In the fall he left, but received the idea (probably a correct one) that Deacon Leete had considerable money. About this time marauding parties from within the British lines were in the habit of plundering along the coast; consequently all the inhabitants able to bear arms were enrolled as a coast guard and detailed in squads of from ten to fifteen, under a sergeant, and stationed at different exposed points as a protection to the inhabitants. Leete's Island was one guard station, but no guard had been regularly kept there during Tucker's stay. After he left a small guard was maintained at the guard house, and a sentry stood at his post every night, though the season was so far ad- vanced that no one expected an enemy. About 3 o'clock one morning near the last of October, a boat with about a dozen armed men landed at a little harbor about half a mile west of Deacon Leete's house, where an old man was making salt. They inquired if a guard was kept at the guard house. He told them he believed not; so they compelled the old man to go with them to find Deacon Leete's. When they ar-
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