History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 3

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 3
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 3

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).

" In Branford, as in some of the other towns, slavery was a recog- nized institution, Indians and negroes being sold in bondage. The more wealthy families had usually two or more colored men and women. These servants, as they were called, were often a very inter- esting part of the household."

" Among the foregoing Richard Harrison came to Branford about 1650, and died in 1653. One of his sons, Richard, removed to New Jersey in 1666. It is supposed that the family came from Virginia and was connected with the Harrisons of that state. Thomas Harrison, another son of Richard, remained in the town. He had five sons, who left numerous descendants, among them being Governor Henry B. Harrison, Hon. Lynde Harrison and others. One of the five sons, Thomas, and his son, Nathaniel, and grandson, Nathaniel, Jr., were very prominent men in their day, filling many positions of honor and

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

trust. The Harrison family is still numerously and honorably repre- sented in Branford and North Branford."

Another settler of prominence was William Maltby, who for a long time was one of the justices of the quorum and was usually called Judge Maltby. Samuel Maltby graduated from Yale, and also became prominent in affairs. Most of this family removed.

Captain William Hoadley, born about 1630, and supposed to have been a brother of Reverend John Hoadley, of Guilford (who returned to England in 1650), was an early merchant of Branford. He left a large family, and from them have descended members who attained honorable distinction; as Governor George Hoadley of Ohio, Charles J. Hoadley, LL. D., state librarian; David Hoadley, the architect, and his son David, president of the Panama railroad, and others who were active in the town's affairs.

Edward Barker was one of the leading men in the western part of the town. His son, Samuel, graduated from Yale, and bore the title of Mister. One of his sons, Samuel S., who graduated from Yale in 1772, was an officer in the revolution, resigning as major in 1782. Both he and his father removed to Beekman, N. Y., where he died in 1819.

Noah Rogers, another early prominent settler, also had a grandson, Captain Edward Rogers, who took an active part in the revolution. Removing to New York, his son, Edward, became a member of Con- gress after 1840.

Colonel Edward Russell, a son of Mr. John Russell, one of the lead- ing public men in his time, was a captain in Colonel Douglass' regi- ment, in 1776, and the same year became a major in General Wooster's command. In 1778 he received the rank of colonel and did inuch service in the war.

An idea of the names of many of the citizens of Branford may be obtained from the following lists, which have been compiled from the town books, in the periods named, where they were registered as own- ers of ear marks for their cattle :

1747: Nathaniel Page, Benjamin Barnes, Ebenezer Harrison, John Parrish, Joel Parrish, Nathan Goodrich, Abraham Foote, Nathaniel Butler, Isaac Harrison, Daniel Hoadley, Nathaniel Frisbie.

1748: Samuel Barker, Thomas Rogers, William Barker, Benjamin Palmer, John Butler, John Potter, Josiah Harrison, Daniel Harrison, Wheeler Brown, Samuel Palmer, Aaron Baldwin, Enos Barnes, Joseph Page.

1749: Elisha Frisbie, Daniel Page, Noah Frisbie, Daniel Butler, Eliphalet Howd, James Barker, Samuel Rose, Isaac Hoadley, Daniel Otis.

1750: John Ford, Joseph Palmer, Abel Butler, Josiah Butler, Sam- uel Butler, Asa Leete, David Leavitt, Eleazer Stent, Samuel Stent, Samuel Kirkham, Abraham Hoadley.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

1751: Benjamin Bartholomew, Daniel Rogers, Joseph Bartholomew, Daniel Bradley, Samuel Russell, Jehiel Whedon, Samuel Maltbie, John Russell, Edward Russell, Joshua Dudley.

1752: Daniel Johnson, Timothy Harrison, Samuel Rose, Elnathan Beach, John Plant, Abraham Plant, Samuel Barker, Abraham Har- rison.

1753: Stephen Blackstone, Jacob Hoadley. Samuel Rogers, Josiah Fowler, Ebenezer Linsley, Edward Brockway, Silas Parker, David Tyler, Benjamin Plant, Richard Towner, Jonathan Plant, John Smith, Elisha Smith, Jonathan Russell, Jr., Nathaniel Taintor, Thomas Gould.

1754: John Johnson, David Hudson, Ebenezer Russell, Jonathan Whedon, John Linsley, Jr., Stephen Harrison, Joseph Rogers, Eben- ezer Hoadley, Daniel Baldwin, Stephen Foote, Joseph Wilford, James Hoadley.

1756: James Baldwin, Daniel Palmer, Jacob Palmer, David Hudson.

1757: Phineas Baldwin, David Foote, Jr., William Gould, Ebenezer Foote.

1758: Joseph Finch, Reuben Whedon, Nathaniel Goodrich, Timothy Frisbie, Amos Seward, Josiah Parrish, Thomas Frisbie.

1759: John Barnes, Richard Baldwin, David Linsley, David Good- rich, John Welford, Joseph Tyler, Joseph Tyler, Jr., Jonathan Good- sell.

1760: Samuel Barker, 2d, Isaac Palmer, Jeremiah Woolut, Nathan- iel Harrison, John Welford, Jr., Abel Page, William Harrison.

1761: Papillon Barker, Edward Rogers, Samuel Baldwin, Abijah Hobart, Thomas Norton.

1762: Reverend Warham Williams, Jacob Linsley, Ephraim Foote, Samuel H. Torrey, Nathan Foote, Timothy Hoadley, Wilkinson Howd, Obadiah Winters, Abraham Rogers, John Blackiston, Jr.

1763: Ralph Hoadley, Isaae Linsley, Thomas Stent, Eli Rogers, John Rose, Solomon Rose.

1764: Isaac Foote, Obed Linsley, John Harrison, Rufus Palmer, Noah Baldwin, Jr.

1765: Ezekiel Hays, George Baldwin, Timothy Russell, Edward Barker, Timothy Palmer, Samuel Still, Othniel Stent, Jeremiah Sear- ritt, Minor Merrick.

1766: Solomon Tyler, Benjamin Linsley, Ebenezer Truesdell, Thomas Russell, Jared Robinson, Peter Harrison, Bille Rose.

1767: Isaac Tyler, Stephen Potter, Zaccheus Baldwin, Bartholomew Goodrich, Timothy Goodrich, Samuel Russell, Jr., Amos Harrison.

1768: Jonathan Linsley, Rufus Hoadley, Sainnel Buel, Asa Foote, John Butler, 2d, Samuel Harrison, Jr., Orchard Guy, Samuel Maltbie, Jonathan Truesdell, Joseph Chidsey.

1769: Samuel Hoadley, Judah Howd, Ozias Tyler, John Negus, Joseph Page, Joel Rogers, Jolin Stent.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

1770: Jared Barker, Roger Tyler, Samuel Ford, Josiah Harrison, Jonathan Tyler, Peter Tyler, Jason Rogers, Ephraim Beach, Jareb Palmer, Jabez Palmer, Rufus Palmer, Nicholas Palmer, William Good- rich, Bille Tyler, Samuel Byington, Elisha Barker, Reuben Page.

1771: Daniel Page, James Maltbie, Timothy Hoadley, Enoch Staples, Jonathan Maltbie, Bernard Lintot, Samuel Hand, Samuel Eells.

1772: Samuel Page, Jr., Edward Mulford, Russell Barker, Rogers Tyler, Jairus Bunnell, Edward Stent, Benjamin Tyler, Samuel Whedon.

1773: Jonathan Beers, Freeman Crocker, Ebenezer Rogers, David Rose, John Johnson.

1774: Samuel Foote, David Harrison, Jr., Asahel Tyler, Obadiah Tyler, William Douglas, Jeremiah Johnson, John Monroe.

1775: Elihu Stone, John Harrington, Hezekiah Palmer, Abijah Rogers, Ammi Harrison, Peter Harrison, Ichabod Culpepper, Joseph Rogers, Jr., William Monroe.

1776: Jonathan Towner, Jonathan Bartholomew, Samuel Tyler, Ebenezer Beach, Matthew Butler, Isaac Hotchkiss, Benjamin Hoadley, Israel Baldwin, Israel Linsley, Elihu Linsley, Timothy Barker, Jr., Aaron Morris, Jesse Stent, Ransom B. Harlow, Solomon Goodrich, Samuel Howe, Samuel Howe, Jr., Solomon Talmadge, John Butler, 3d, Major Edward Russell, John Russell, Joseph Parmalee, Timothy Parmalee.

1777: Timothy Chidsey, Barnabas Palmer, Collins Page, Isaac In- graham, James Goodrich, Estus Barker, Michael Taintor, Jr., Medad Taintor, Jonathan Towner, Ephraim Parrish, Lemuel Johnson, Cor- nelius Johnson, Samuel Griffing, Artemas Johnson.

1778: Elnathan Tyler, Amaziah Rose, Gideon Goodrich, Jr., Rose- well Chidsey, Robert Olds, Hooker Frisbie, Benjamin Maltbie, Zaccheus Maltbie.

1779: Edwin Harrison, Rufus Linsley, Nathan Rose, Wooster Har- rison, Isaac Smith, Elihu Rogers, Oliver Lanfair, John Augur, Malachi Rogers, Benjamin Barker.

1780: William Scott, William McQueen, Captain Benjamin Baldwin, John Rogers, Captain Reuben Rose.

Some doubt attaches to the early records of the town, and it is questioned whether they are complete. Certainly, on some points, they are obscure and imperfectly preserved. But it is not true, as is often said, that the early Branford records were carried to Newark, New Jersey, when Mr. Pierson and his adherents removed thither, in 1666-7. John Plum, the first clerk, died in Branford in 1658, and his successor gathered up his accounts and preserved them as well as he could, after he had copied them. These records of Eleazer Stent show nice care in the writing, but their orthography is in the peculiar style of two hundred years ago. Most of the early records pertain to affairs of the planters in relation to the allotment and disposition of lands,

IIISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

the care of the herds and flocks, and the support of a minister, as examples:

"December 15th, 1645. This day it was ordered that Mr. Sher- man should be allowed a year, to begin from the 1st of October, 1644."

" This day it was ordered by the inhabitants of this place (com- monly called Totokett), that John Plum shall keep the town books. It is ordered, also, that all the inhabitants shall give in their estate unto John Plum by the 25th of this month, and the second day of the week next following all the inhabitants are to meet at Mr. Sherman's house by eight of the clock, upon the penalty of losing of twelve pence."

" December the 28th, 1645. It is ordered this day that Mr. Pal- mer, Mr. Swaine, Samuel Swaine and John Plum shall go to-morrow to New Haven to meet Mr. Mulliner at the Governor's, to agree upon a way both for Mr. Mulliner, the accommodating and voting, and any other difference that is between him and the town. It is ordered, also, that any one under a 100th shall be accommodated according to that rule that Mr. Sherman, Mr. Swaine, Goodman, Rose, and John Plum did bring in. Those that have a 100s bond accord- ing to the former order. Moreover, it is ordered that Mr. Palmer, in consideration of some former expense and also for the good serv- vices he has done the town, and also for the public business that he is to do the town for one year following as they call him thereunto, he is to have that piece of meadow which lyeth at the end or side of his lot to the neck, and also upland apportionable to it."

This shows that Mr. Palmer was the first town agent chosen.

" The 2nd month, the 10th day, 1646. This day it was agreed by the town and Francis Linsley that the said Francis shall keep the heard of cows and heifers from the 16th of this month to the 16th of the 9th, and he to call for them by the sun half an hour high in the morning and to bring them home at that time in the evening, and he must blow a horn, or make some other noise, before he come in the morning and also in the evening, that we may be ready to turn them out of our yards, and to return them in the evening." They further arrange that he is to have one Sabbath out of four. If any of the cat- tle get lost he is to look for them four days, with a man to help, at his own charge.

Another important public measure was the surrounding the town or much of it by a strong fence.

" The 16th of the 9th month, 1646. This dai it is ordered that there shall a fence be made from the sea, beginning near that neck where Thos. Mulliner sometime dwelt, to run about five miles to the sea near a place where the Indians now dwell. And four miles of this fence is to be done according as it shall fall to men by lott. And the first lott

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

that shall be drawn is to begin within one-quarter of a mile next that part of the sea first mentioned, and so every one shall do his part ac- cording as he shall be drawn, as he that is drawn first shall make first, so every one severally shall do it according as their name shall be drawn then following. And the rest that remains shall be done in generall. This fence is to be finished by the first of May next, and no man is to take any timber but right against his fence. And whoever defaults of not doing by the time appointed every one shall forfeit to the town two shillings per pound a rod or span or pole. And for every day after this it shall not be done every one that is defective shall pay sixpence a day for every rod or span or pole until it be made, and also pai the damages that shall come whoever defaults of not making. The fence is to be 4 feet 2 inches. It is to be a log fence."

" The 27th of the 3d month 1647. This day it is agreed between the Townsmen of Totokett and John Edwards of Wethersfield, of Con- necticut, that the said John Edwards hath agreed to pay all the charges that have arose within the said Totokett from the beginning of the plantation unto this present day, with equal proportion with each man according to estate he gave in both for himself and his son and that as well in respect of joyning the preaching of the word of God as all other common charges that have occurred to this planta- tion."

Many domestic matters were very carefully regulated, the most explicit rules being adopted in the town meetings. If, for instance, a man wanted to own a gun, he had to secure the town's consent. De- cember 31st, 1718, " Charles Tyler asked for that liberty, but the town thought it would not be safe and voted in the negative."

A demand having been created for various products of the town, their shipment was regulated. February 6th, 1717, the town votes that none should be allowed to cut staves on the town's land without special permission from the town. About this time (1717) the town had to regulate the gathering of " bayberries." These small, waxy balls, found on bushes, were useful in making wax. This wax entered into the manufacture of several very useful articles-especially of blacking and salve. It continued to be an article of trade in Branford· down to within the last fifty years. In 1717 the town forbid the gath- ering of these berries on the highways and common before Septem- ber 15th. A fine of ten shillings was exacted for each violation of the law.

A deed from the Indians for all the lands in Branford bounds was secured in 1685, and February 16th that year the town received its patent from the colony. It was signed by Governor Robert Treat, and was granted Mr. William Rosewell, Ensign Thomas Harrison, William Hoadley, Samuel Pond, Edward Barker, William Maltby, Lieutenant Eleazer Stent, John Frisby and John Tayntor, representing all the settlers. Both instruments were properly recorded July 13th, 1719.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Since the war for the Union among the first selectmen have been: John Bishop, David Beach, Henry E. Towner, Thomas S. McDermott, John Plant, George H. Page, J. August Blackstone, Richard S. Bradley, William R. Foote and Daniel O. Brien.

In the same period the town treasurers were: Elizur Rogers, Eli F. Rogers, and the past thirteen years, Henry H. Stedman.

Jolin Plum was the first town clerk, and left papers which Eleazer Stent afterward copied. None of Mr. Plum's writings have been found. He died in 1648, and John Wilford was chosen in his place. Succeeding him the town clerks served until the years set after their names: Eleazer Stent, to 1705; William Maltbie, 1710; John Russell, 1712; Nathaniel Harrison, 1714; John Russell, 1721; Samuel Maltbie, 1746; John Russell, 1747; Israel Baldwin, 1748; John Russell, 1754; Nathaniel Harrison, 1758; Samuel Barker, 1775; William Monroe, 1776; Samuel Barker, 1781; Edward Russell, 1794; Samuel Gould, 1798; Orchard Gould, 1818; Samuel Frisbie, 1824; John Barker, 1825; Samuel Frisbie, 1839; William Tyler, 1841; William R. Frisbie, 1843; Wil- loughby L. Lay, 1847; Orrin D. Squire, 1858; Samuel Beach, 1861; J. E. Russell, 1866; A. M. Babcock, 1867; Elizur Rogers, 1870; Eli F. Rogers, 1876; Henry H. Stedman, 189[, deceased the same year and was succeeded by Walter Foote.

The town hall at Branford is a large, two-story frame building, centrally located on the green. It was erected in 1857, thoroughly re- paired in 1869, and placed in good condition since that time. In 1875 a fine safe, manufactured at Branford by James E. Russell, was placed in the office of the town treasurer.

The town prison or lockup was erected in the rear of the town hall in 1878-9. It is a small, strong stone building and cost $1,100.

The town poor farm was purchased in 1874, at a cost of $3,200. It was thereafter greatly improved.

By an act of the general assembly, January 15th, 1874, the town was divided into two voting districts-Branford and Stony Creek. In 1890 the latter had about one hundred voters, or about one-eighth of the whole number of polls cast.

An act of the general assembly, July 25th, 1867, authorized the in- corporation of Branford village as a borough, and the matter of or- ganization was placed in the hands of John R. Holcomb, Samuel E. Linsley and Elizur Rogers. A board of officers was elected the fol- lowing September, but the organization was soon dropped. In 1883 the privileges of the act were revived and another election was or- dered to be called by Samuel E. Linsley and T. F. Hammer. But this, like the former movement in this direction, was also void of prac- tical results.

The affairs of the town are carried on at a yearly outlay of about $17,000, about one-seventh of that amount being used for the mainte- nance of the poor. There was, in 1890, a debt of $31,470.97, $30,000

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

of which was bonded. The grand list of the previous year was $1,- 581,618, and the rate of taxation 12 mills.

The Branford Probate District was established in 1850, when it was set off from the Guilford district. The first court was held July 8th, 1850, Levi S. Parsons being the judge, and Ebenezer B. Barker the clerk. The subsequent judges have been the following: 1853, O. D. Squire; 1854. Jolin J. Bartholomew; 1863, J. E. Russell; 1869, Edward R. Landon, of Guilford, acting judge: 1870, Eli F. Rogers; 1879, Henry H. Stedman.

It has been stated that when the proprietors laid out the land they usually made allowance for roads, but evidently there were no fenced roads for many years after the town was settled. Fences were gradu- ally made, as different persons found it needful to have them. They did not always conform to the highway, as laid out; they often en- croached, and thus much land is now held by individuals that really belongs to the town as highway. Most of the roads, before the year 1800, were only cart paths to peoples' houses and fields. In most in- stances they were called lanes, and often received some outlandish names. Many of the people of the town were opposed to the location of general highways, and it is said that the petition of the people of "North Parish," in 1741, for a road to connect them with Guilford, was pending several years before it was granted, and other roads to points outside of the town shared a like fate.

The town has had no turnpikes, but the Shore road following, in a general way, the old "Totoket path" of the very first settlers, has gen- erally been improved to an easy condition. In the past thirty years nearly all the principal highways, whose courses in many places have been modified over the original layout, have been graded and made hard and smooth by covering them with paving material found in abundance near Cherry hill. In the main, all the principal roads are now well improved.

The streams of the town being narrow, it has been a small item to maintain the bridges. One of the most important is the stone bridge at the foot of Montowese street, which was built in 1869 and provided with tide gates. In 1874 a part of it was swept away, but was sub- stantially repaired, and is now an attractive structure. The pile bridge, next below, was built in recent years.

The railway through the town was got in operation in the summer of 1852. A station was first located at Branford village, later another at Stony Creek, and still later, the third, at Pine Orchard. The first two have become important points on the Shore Line railroad.

The wants of the early settlers were supplied by several mills, erected on the streams of the town, among the first improvements of the kind being a tide mill, near where is now the Branford Point bridge. Later the Bartholomews and others built a mill higher up

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

the stream, at Mill Plain, and mills have been there continued until the present time.

The town united with New Haven in granting liberty to set up iron works at Saltonstall lake, at that time called the Great pond, and later known as Furnace pond, voting aid to encourage the enterprise, from 1655 until 1658. These were the pioneer iron works in the state. The power has ever since operated some kind of machinery, a small feed mill being at present kept up. On Beaver brook, above this point, William Rosewell built a saw mill about 1672. On other small streams machinery was set up, as the wants of the town demanded, but the operations were on a small scale.

The Branford Lock Works rank as one of the oldest and the lead- ing industry in the town. They are the outgrowth of small industries established in the early part of the century. About 1809 Orrin D. Squire became a resident of the village, and as a skillful blacksmith carried on a shop in the rear of the "Hayes Garden." Near the same time I. D. Hosley and Daniel Nichols had a small foundry on the brook, above the village. They united their interests and established a new plant, where are now the works, removing some of their old buildings to that place. At that time the " hollow" was a part of a wood lot, being full of trees and stumps. They engaged in a general foundry business and made fine castings and stoves, which had a good reputation. Subsequently the variety of products was increased and changes of the firm occurred.

In 1852 the business passed to the " Squire & Parsons Manufactur- ing Company," which had among its members Levi Parsons, Lyman Squire and William S. Kirkham, and the manufacture of locks was extensively begun. After several years the company failed, and in 1862 the property passed to Thomas Kennedy, a practical lock maker of New York. He brought to his assistance skilled labor and im- proved machinery, much of which he devised himself. and soon cre- ated a vast business, which in 1865 he placed under the management of the present corporation, which was organized with a capital of $150,000. Thomas Kennedy was elected president, and so served until his death, in 1880. John H. Royal was the first secretary, and was succeeded by E. F. Jones, who now serves in that capacity, and is also treasurer of the company. A. L. Runyan succeeded Kennedy as president; John J. Kennedy is the general superintendent and W. J. Powes the general agent of the works.

The plant is valued at a quarter of a million of dollars and covers nearly five acres of land. Most of the buildings are brick, and afford a working capacity for 500 people. In addition, many of the operations are performed by machinery, peculiar to this establishment, making it possible to produce 500 dozen complete locks and knobs per day, some of them being very handsome in design and finish. About five

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

tons of iron, brass and nickel are consumed daily, and this industry has contributed very much to the prosperity of the town.

The Branford Malleable Iron Fittings Company have extensive works opposite the railway depot, at Page's Point. The first improve- ment there was made after the building of the railroad, by Elizur Rogers, who built a dock and opened a coal yard, which are still con- tinued. On the west, and having the facilities of the railroad and Branford river, the manufacture of iron articles was soon after begun by the "Totoket Company," which was incorporated in October, 1854, with a capital of $16,000. Among the principal stockholders were William H. Perry, William S. Kirkham, F. Northrup, L. S. Parsons, John Plant, Samuel O. Plant, Henry L. Baldwin, William Blackstone, Gurdon Bradley, A. & E. Rogers, Eli F. Rogers, J. Henry Page, Henry Rogers, David Beach and William Wadsworth. Operations were begun in 1855, on malleable iron, brass and wrought iron goods. Two years later Henry Rogers was authorized to sell the property of the "Totoket Company," and for several years Elizur Rogers and B. H. Hadley, as Rogers & Hadley, carried on the business. In 1864 the present corporation took charge of the property and developed the business to its fine proportions.

The plant is one of the largest in the Union, devoted to this line of manufactures, which embraces fittings of every nature. About four acres are covered with substantially constructed brick buildings, a number of them being several stories high, and the main structure is more than 200 feet long. One foundry is also 200 feet long and two others are of less length. There are two large annealing rooms and other spacious buildings, adapted for the uses of the company. Power is furnished by ponderous engines, and every department is equipped with labor-saving machinery, but the works give employment, aside from these devices, to nearly 300 persons. A specialty is made of the manufacture of goods from semi-steel, which have proved excellent substitutes for drop forgings and gun metals, and all goods are manu- factured on a basis of chemical analysis.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 3

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