History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 23

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 23
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 23

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).

At West Wharf, Deacon Abel Hoyt was an active ship builder about 1830, employing from two to fifty men. Among other craft he built was a large brig, called the " Madison." Many vessels for the West Indies trade were built. Jonathan S. Hoyt was the last builder at that place, discontinuing about 1856.

At the East Wharf ship building has been carried on more than

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seventy years. Colonel Ichabod L. Scranton was there about 1825, and built from three to five vessels per year. Usually they were about 300 tons burden. Charles M. Miner was one of his workmen, and after 1843 was more or less engaged at that point, becoming the master of the yard. In 1860 he associated his son, William C., with him, and their firm achieved an enviable reputation as ship builders. Many fine vessels were constructed, among them being one, in 1868, called the "Alaska"-a bark of 1,200 tons for the Mediterranean sea trade. Scores of three-masted schooners were built, and about forty men were employed. The firm continued until 1884. Since that time William C. Miner, as marine architect, has superintended the yard for various builders, operations at times being extensively carried on, from 75 to 90 men being given employment. In the fall of 1890 two large vessels, on the stocks and nearly ready to launch, were con- sumed by fire.

North of the village of Madison small sloops were built many years ago by John S. Miner, and small craft were also built on the Hammon- assett.

Madison has had mills for grinding grain and sawing lumber since 1699, when the town of Guilford aided the East Farmers in acquiring those interests. Among the best known mills in the town are those on the Hammonassett, operated by the Hull family. On the same stream paper mills were operated for some time. Two miles north of Madison the wood turning shop of William Whedon, and later of his son, Webster D., is a small but active industry. The quarrying of flag stones in various parts of the town has afforded profitable occu- pation to a number of men; and the marble works of Julian Shelley give employment to several more, on the old Shore road.

At East River, Munger & Son are manufacturers of school appara- tus. This interest was begun in New Haven by George Munger, who first made liquid slating. In 1868 he removed to Guilford, and was a member of the firm of J. W. Schermerhorn & Co., which there made school apparatus. He located at East River in 1877, and with his son, George B. Munger, established the present business. Well equipped shops are occupied and about a dozen men are engaged in the manu- facture of blackboards and blackboard goods. Steam is used as the motive power.

East River is a straggling hamlet on the railroad about midway between Guilford and Madison village. A station was first located in 1871, but for lack of patronage it was soon discontinued. In 1876 the present station was opened, and the place has since that time grown to its present condition as a business point. Samuel D. Crittenden has here merchandised since 1871, and for most of the time has been the postmaster of the East River office, which supplies mail for about 600 people, there being six mails per day. There is a small chapel and a public library.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

A post office is also maintained at North Madison, and in the same locality stores and shops have long been kept.

Madison village has a very pleasant location, about lialf a mile from the beach of Long Island sound, and is built mainly on the street par- alleling it. This street is from four to ten rods wide, and has in most parts several rows of large clms, with the intermediate spaces well turfed, giving the place an attractive appearance. In the village proper it is about a mile and a half long. Leading from it to the rail- way station is another fine, wide street, about a quarter of a mile long. Many of the houses are old and stand on large lots, making a strag- gling appearance, yet indicating quiet comfort. There are also a number of business places, widely scattered, a fine Congregational meeting house, a Methodist church, a Masonic Hall, the new Hand Academy and several other school buildings.

The Madison post office has had as postmasters, in the last fifty years, S. F. Willard, J. R. Meigs, John Wilcox, Charles E. Scranton, J. Myron Hull and, since August, 1889, H. N. Coe. It is a money order office, and there are eight mails daily, distributing a large volume of matter.

Timothy Todd was a merchant at Madison after 1747, but studied medicine and removed to Vermont. David Cruttenden and Luman Stone were merchants in the present century. Ichabod L. Scranton was in trade fifty years ago. He was followed by Horace Dudley, who built the brick store in 1834. This has for many years been occu- pied by the Dowd family. At the green, stores were kept by A. & J. Tibbals, John R. Wilcox, Curtis Wilcox and others. Since 1861 James R. Meigs has merchandised at Madison.

Madison Beach, at and near the village, has become a popular sea- side resort, many attractive cottages being erected in the past ten years. Prior to that time several good hotels had invited the visits of hundreds of guests. Among these were the hotel of H. B. Wilcox, the " Sea Shore House," of Artemas Flower, and the " Hammonassett House," of H. L. Parker. The latter is still continued. The beach in Madison is hard and in long stretches, and the bathing is safe.

The Reverend James A. Gallup says the following physicians prac- ticed in Madison: Doctors Isaac Knight, Jonathan Todd, Abraham Blatchley, William C. Griffith, David Pritchard, George W. Scranton, George Stone, Reynold C. Webb, Edwin Bidwell, Joseph J. Meigs and Daniel M. Webb. The latter and A. D. Ayers were in practice in 1890.

Schools were early established in the East society and in North Bristol. In 1800 the First society had four schools, and also had a good library. In 1821 Captain Frederick Lee, who had commanded a revenue cutter in the war of 1812, built an academy a mile west of the green. In 1825 Lee's Academy was incorporated and the building drawn to the green, by Frederick Lee, James Graves, Jedediah Field,

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Samuel Robinson, Jr., and others. The latter was the teacher, and was followed, in 1840. by Richard E. Rice. Other teachers were : Theodore A. Leete, William Wallace Wilcox, John R. Freeman, George Sutton and Stillman Rice. The academy had for many years a splendid reputation. The building, a two story frame, was used more recently for both public and private schools. In 1889 it was thoroughly repaired, and is now wholly used for public schools.

East of this venerable institution is the new Hand Academy, erected in 1884 by Daniel Hand and presented, November 22d, 1884, by him to the town of Madison, upon the following conditions :

1. To be known always as the Hand Academy.

2. To be kept unencumbered and in good repair, and to be used as an academy only, where the youth of the town may receive a higher grade of education than in the common schools of said town.

3. The town to provide suitable teachers and to keep the academy open to all who may wish to attend the same, at least eight months in the year.

The building was erected under the direction of Mr. Daniel Hand, of Guilford, and his attorney, Judge Luzon B. Morris, of New Haven. It stands on a spacious lot, which has been enclosed with an iron fence. The building is two stories high, of brick, with granite trimmings, of attractive architecture, and has been well arranged for high school purposes. The school has a regular course of study, graduating those who complete it, and has about 25 students yearly. To his gift of an academy to his native town of Madison, Daniel Hand has added sundry pieces of land in the town, the income of which is to be used for the academy's support.

Mr. Daniel Hand, who died in 1891, was the donor of $1,000,000 to the "Hand Fund" of the American Missionary Association. It is said that this was the largest gift of charity made by an American during life. This munificent sum was largely the proceeds of the settlement of business carried on by Mr. Hand and George W. Williams, of Charles- ton, S. C., in the South before the war. During the rebellion Mr. Hand came to the North, supposing that he should lose all his inter- ests. But Mr. Williams, with singular and rare honor, continued the business to a successful end, and paid, of his own accord, the above large amount to Mr. Hand, as his share of the proceeds of their sev- eral ventures, and Mr. Hand, very wisely, has devoted the greater part of it to the education of the freedmen where the money was made.

The Hand Academy is supported by an annual outlay of about $1,000, and the other schools cost about $2,500 per year. Over two hundred pupils are enrolled, and there is an increasing interest in education. In 1890 the acting school visitors of the dozen schools were James L. Parker and Reverend W. E. B. Moore. The Reverend J. A. Gallup was the examining committee.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

The Madison Farmers' Library Association was incorporated in March, 1831. A good library was established, which was usually kept in the Boston street school house, and books were given out periodi- cally. It is said that in this circulation a peculiar method was pur- sued. The librarian called out the titles of the books, when those present wanting them bid on them, according to the degree of inter- est they had in the books. After a score of years the library went down.

At East River, a small public building for a reading room and social gatherings was built, in 1874, by Horace B. Washburne, of New York, and the citizens of that locality. In this the East River Library Company, incorporated in 1876, has established a library which had in 1890 nearly 1,200 volumes. Besides the local support given it, the library has an endowment fund, given by Mr. Washburne, which yields $150 per year. In 1890 the directors of the association were: Samuel D. Cruttenden, H. D. Knowles, I. L. Scranton, S. H. Chitten- den and E. W. Munger. William B. Chittenden is secretary of the company, and Miss Carrie Leete the librarian.

In the audience room of the above building a Union Sunday school was established in 1890,

The Madison Library Association was organized January 9th, 1878, with J. Myron Hull, president ; Mrs. J. A. Gallup, secretary; Dennis Tuttle, treasurer; Mrs. Frank Lee, librarian; H. B. Wilcox and Mrs. William Wilcox, trustees. The association prospered, and in 1883 was incorporated. In 1890 there were 25 annual, 13 semi-annual and 9 quarterly members. The library contained 650 volumes of well- selected books, besides a large quantity of periodical matter. It was opened three days in the week and was well patronized. At this time Reverend J. A. Gallup was the president, Miss M. E. Redfield the sec- retary, and Miss Fannie Fisk the librarian. This library is kept at Madison village.

It has been seen that the early settlers, in order to enjoy church privileges, were obliged to go to Guilford or Killingworth, and that parish privileges were not fully realized until 1707. But pending the efforts to secure these privileges, the planters took measures to build a meeting house, which should be used by the new society. As early as February 13th, 1701, " at a meeting of the easterly farmers, it was agreed that, provided that the town of Guilford give us liberty to erect a meeting house, that we will set the meeting house between John Grave's house and Jonathan Hoit's," which would be between the present residences of Deacon J. T. Lee and Mrs. Betsey Grave, a spot on the southeastern section of the present green; and it was there that the first meeting house was located, near the site of the one which suc- ceeded it. It had neither bell nor steeple, and was at first without galleries, and was built in 1705.

December 2d, 1714, the " societie voted a 2-peny roat to build the

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

galliros," also " that they wold not build the pues with the gallery," and " that they wold have seats in the galleres." February 11th, 1715, it was voted " that the tow penni reat that was granted to build the gallery, be paid in money, or in wheat at six shiling per bushel, or in corn at tow shiling and six-pence per bushel, or flax at eight-pence per pound, or ots at one shiling six-pence per bushel."

Permission was given from time to time to individuals to put up pews in the gallery at their own expense and for their own use. Abraham Bishop and Stephen Bradley were "granted liberty to build a peu over the gallery stares, provided it baint a damieg to ye going up into ye gallerys." John French and Nathaniel Dudley " to build peus between ye est gallirie stares and the south door," and " between the west gallery stares and south door," and to have the " emprove- ment of them till ye societie see caus to order otherways."

"October ye 25, year 1717, it was voted, that they will have eaight new winda freames in ther meting-hous, and they will have them put up in ther loer tiers of windars, and casements, and glass." It was, probably, without glass windows at first. In December, 1721, it was " voted to build up the hinder seats in side gallery, and banister them, and that the younger sort of men to set in the bannestered seat, and ye boys to set in ye meddlemost seat, and the like order to be in ye este gallery, by the younger sort of maids and garls;" also " voted to have a seat built before the foremost seat in the square body of ye meeting house for boys and girls to set on, and another on the hind part of sd square body, for the boys and garls to set on; also to build a pew on the west side of the pulpit, for Mrs. Hart to set in, and to move the pew este side of the pulpit up to the pulpit, for the aged widdows to set in, and to make the rest of the hy ground into seats."

Thus we have a fair idea of the first meeting house in which the fathers worshipped in this place. The pulpit was on the north. There were outside doors on the south, east and west. The gallery stairs were in the southeast and southwest corners of the audience room. Pews were built, to some extent, around the sides, and long seats were placed in the square body or center of the house. It was finished un- doubtedly in native wood, and was innocent of paint, varnish and car- pets. Externally it was a barn-like edifice, without paint or ornament- ation, panel or cornice. Instead of the bell to call the people together, they used the drum, which answered the double purpose of calling to- gether the assembly for worship and of sounding an alarm in case of attack by the Indians.

"At a society's meeting, held December 2, 1714, John Grave was chosen to beat the drum on Sabbath days and other publick days, for twenty shiling the year;" this salary was cut down the next year to "13 shiling and 4d.," and " Widdow Martha Dudley was chosen to sweep the meeting-house this year, and to do it for twenty shiling."

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

There were no fires to build and no candles to light, as evening meetings were not then thought of; no carpets to sweep or cushions to keep in order. The sexton's duties were not arduous or expensive. Another matter of importance was to have the congregation properly seated, and in order to do this a committee was appointed to "dignify the meeting house," that is, to seat those attending according to their ages, social position and the lists of rates paid. Twelve men were chosen " to have inspection over the youth on Sabbath days and other public days." A watch was also kept against Indian attack. In 1706 a house was built for the accommodation of the minister.

The organization of the church now properly followed, and in No- vember, 1707, was formed the present Congregational church of Mad- ison. The same time the first pastor, the Reverend John Hart, was installed. He was born at Framingham, in 1682, studied three years at Cambridge, removed to Saybrook in 1702, and became the sole mem- ber of the senior class of Yale College, from which he graduated in 1703, being the first graduate in course of that institution. He was soon after elected a tutor of that college, and probably had some of his classes at Madison, as he first preached here as early as 1705, serving the newly formed society before his installation. He continued as the pious, exemplary pastor until his death, March 4th, 1731, and added about 80 members to the church. He was interred in the West cemetery.

It was with some little difficulty that the next pastor was settled, calls being given in turn to Abraham Todd, Thomas Weld and Job Parker, before Jonathan Todd was finally invited to settle, August 27th, 1733. He was ordained October 24th, 1733, and at once began the work of harmonizing the church, which had become distracted in this period of two years and eight months, in which there was no minister. Mr. Todd was born in New Haven in 1713, graduated from Yale in 1732, and was ordained when he was but twenty years old. He took a high rank as a scholar, being one of the most accomplished linguists of his day, and was also highly esteemed as a pastor and preacher. In the epidemic of 1750-1, when 43 of his parishioners died, he was called upon to labor incessantly among the sick and the dying. But, although his labors were so arduous, " he outlived all in his parish who were heads of families when he was ordained, and during his ministry he buried twice his whole congregation. He had held, at his death, the pastoral office longer than any other person in the state-57 years and 4 months." He died February 24th, 1791, full of years, good works and honors. In his ministry about ten persons per year were added to the church, the number belonging at his decease being 84. A monument in West Cemetery fitly tells of his worth.

Soon after the settlement of Mr. Todd the building of a new meet- ing house was agitated, a vote to that effect being taken December 17th, 1736. But the question of site and other matters connected with

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the building prevented the speedy completion of the house, and it was not dedicated until May, 1743. " This meeting house, which is re- membered by many now living, stood on the southeastern section of the present green, which was then an open common. It was two stories, had two tiers of windows, and entrances on the south, east and west. In 1799 a steeple was built on the west end of the meeting house, and in 1801 a bell was purchased, which superseded the drum that up to this time had continued to call the assembly together for worship on the Sabbath.

" The internal arrangement of the house was quite similar to the one which preceded it. The pulpit was on the north side, and was reached by a long, winding flight of stairs and entered through sub- stantial doors, while over it hung the ' sounding board '-a bulky, pear- shaped contrivance of wood, suspended over the minister's head, to the anxious solicitude of the timid and the youthful of the congrega- tion, lest, by some mischance, it should break from its fastenings and fall upon the preacher's head, bringing to an untimely end both the sermon and the preacher. There were pews around the walls of the church, and an outside tier on the square body. On either side of the broad aisle were long seats, while the deacons sat below the pulpit and behind the communion table. The stairs leading to the galleries were in the southeastern and southwestern corners of the audience room. This house was considered large and handsome in its day."*

The plan of seating it was the same as that of the first house, and seating committees were appointed as late as October 10th, 1831, the following being last designated to serve in that capacity: Jesse Cramp- ton, J. T. Lee, Ichabod L. Scranton, Frederic L. Whedon, Walter P. Munger, Cyrus Bradley and Amos Bishop, all of them influential men in their day, as this was a most delicate duty to perform, so that none would be offended.

The successor of Mr. Todd was Reverend John Elliott, D.D., who was ordained to the pastoral office November 2d, 1791. He was born in Killingworth in 1768, and was a grandson of Reverend Jared Elli- ott, who was a son of Reverend Joseph Eliot, of the Guilford church. Entering Yale in 1782, he graduated with high honors and scholarly attainments in 1786. Before his settlement here he had preached for Mr. Todd when the latter's infirmities prevented him from doing so, and his ministry here was continued also till his death, December 17th, 1824. He was a wise, judicious and devoted minister, thoroughly con- secrated to his work and living only for its better advancement. His admissions to the membership averaged about ten per year, and through his instrumentality the " Ministerial Fund " was begun in 1815, whose income first became available in 1855. By additions and wise manage- ment the fund now amounts to more than $12,000. In Doctor Elliott's pastorate the Sunday school was also established in 1820, the pastor

*Reverend J. A. Gallup.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

and the church warmly cooperating to that end. It has been a most valuable auxiliary in the work of the parish.

For a time, after Doctor Elliott's decease, Reverend William C. Fowler supplied the pulpit and declined an invitation to settle as pas- tor. The fourth person in that office was Reverend Samuel Nicholas Shepard, who was ordained November 2d, 1825. He was a learned, vigorous preacher, faithfully serving his parishioners, among whom his life was ended September 30th, 1856, when but 57 years of age. He yearly added to the membership, the average for his ministry be- ing more than 16 per year. In his ministry the third and the present meeting house was built.

The first action of the society, with reference to a new meeting house, was taken January 11th, 1837; and January 22d they voted "to build a house for the worship of God," provided $2,500 be obtained by subscription. February 15th, the following persons were appointed a building committee: Benjamin Hart, Jedediah Field, Eber S. Hotch- kiss, Alva O. Wilcox and Timothy V. Meigs. It was voted to have the desk opposite the doors, "that there be three aisles," "that the wall slips be set bending, so as to face the desk," "to have the walls of the house arched," " that the posts be thirty feet high, on a basement of five feet."" to have a steeple with a spire." April 10th, it was voted, " to have the new house located on Dea. Hart's land, provided it can be obtained without expense to the society;" if not, "to move the present stakes one inch, and locate the house there."

The present site was finally fixed upon, but became the occasion of a very bitter controversy. Alienations and divisions followed, result- ing, in 1841, in the withdrawal of 47 members of the church for the purpose of forming a new and independent church. Measures were taken for the erection of a new meeting house. This breach in the church and society, which threatened the most serious consequences, was finally, through the kindly mediation of the Consociation, happily adjusted, and those who had withdrawn were restored to fellowship, and the lines of separation gradually faded out through the friendly aid of time and the grace of God.

The architect and builder of the new meeting house was Mr. Vol- ney Pierce. A very sad accident occurred in raising a heavy truss beam. The frame of the tower to which it was attached, and by which it was being raised, gave way and fell, precipitating those on it to the ground. Two workmen, by the name of H. M. Pierce and John A. Smith, were instantly killed. This was May 19th, 1838. The bell of the old house was sold to the society in North Madison, and a new one procured for this house. The tower clock, which still regulates the time-pieces of the village, was transferred to its present position from the old meeting house. The new meeting house was formally dedi- cated November 21st, 1838. The following year the basement was fitted up for a town hall and has since so been used.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

In 1867 the house was so thoroughly reconstructed that it practi- cally became a new edifice, and was rededicated November 21st, 1867, as one of the most comely country churches in the county. An organ costing $2,600 was supplied, and was first used on August 8th, 1869. Still later a convenient chapel was built, the entire outlay of these improvements being more than $19,000, all of which has been paid, leaving the parish free from debt.

Reverend Samuel Fisk, the fifth pastor of the church, was ordained June 3d, 1857. He was born in Shelburne, Mass., July 23d, 1828, and graduated from Amherst College in 1848, afterward serving three years as tutor of that institution. Subsequently he traveled in Europe and other foreign countries, and published his keen observations in a volume called " Dunn Browne Abroad." To this wasafterward added a companion volume of his experiences in the army of the Union, which he entered as a private August 23d, 1862. He was soon after elected captain of Company G, of the regiment in which he enlisted, and served in that office until his death, May 22d, 1864, from wounds received in the battle of the Wilderness. He was brought to Madi- son, where funeral services were held May 26th, when the remains were taken to Shelburne Falls for interment among his kindred. He was thus the first pastor buried away from the scenes of his labors at Madison.

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 23

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