History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 9

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 9
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 9

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).

Sidney V. Osborn, born March 10th, 1856, in Woodbury, Conn., is a son of Aaron and Polly (Bishop) Osborn, and grandson of Daniel Osborn. Mr. Osborn came to Branford May 7th, 1879, where he has since been a farmer. He was for one year assessor of the town, in 1889, and one of the board of selectmen in 1890 and 1891. He mar-

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

ried May 6th, 1879, Emma, daughter of Daniel and Alvira Tyler, of Middlebury, New Haven county, Conn., and granddaughter of Daniel Tyler, of Middlebury. They have one son, Sidney V., Jr., born Janu- ary 23d, 1888.

George Palmer, born in 1829, is a son of Lauren and Polly (Butler) Palmer, and grandson of Jared Palmer. Mr. Palmer is a farmer, and has what are acknowledged to be the finest farm barns in the town. He has been for 25 years insurance agent, and for 30 years agent for farm implements. He married Ellen J., daughter of Hezekiah War- ner, of Wheeling, W. V. They have one daughter, Fannie, a school teacher.

SAMUEL ORRIN PLANT was born in Branford, January 24th, 1815. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Frisbie) Plant, and was the young- est of their family of five children, namely: Anderson, deceased in Bran- ford, the father of Henry B. Plant, the president of the Plant system of Southern transportation companies; Sarah, married Judah Frisbie, a merchant of New Haven; John, a deacon of the church, and who died as a farmer at Plantsville; Mary R., deceased at the age of 17 years; and Samuel O.

The father of this family was a son of Benjamin Plant, who de- scended from the Plant family which was among the early settlers of Branford, and whose allotment of land was in the fertile little valley, a mile from the village, and bounded on the west by the Branford hills. Here for six generations have been the homes of the Plant fam- ily in Branford, and for many years the place bore the name of Plants- ville. At this place lived Samuel Plant, when he served as a coast guard in the war of 1812, and here he died in July, 1861, aged 90 years.

Benjamin Plant, the grandfather of Samuel O., also rendered mili- tary service. In the revolution he and two of his sons were enlisted. One of them was with Washington in his perilous retreat across the Delaware; the other son, Timothy, was killed at the battle of German- town. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Frisbie, was also a patriot and there is a tradition that he was with the detachment of soldiers at the execution of Major Andre. Mr. Plant thus being of revolutionary stock, has become a member of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Samuel O. Plant was educated in the common schools of his native town, at the academy at Branford, and also attended the boys' school of General James N. Palmer, at New Haven, where he was a class- mate of General A. H. Terry. In February, 1841, he married Mary A., daughter of the venerable Captain James Blackstone, of Branford. By this union two children attained mature years: Ellen B. Plant, of Branford; and Sarah F., who became the wife of Judge Lynde Harri- son, of New Haven.

Since his boyhood Mr. Plant has been a farmer, and to that occu-

& C Plant

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

pation has industriously confined his efforts, achieving well-merited success. Although limiting himself to the private walks of life, he is well-known and enjoys the respect and esteem of his townsmen as one of the leading citizens of Branford. Mr. Plant was a whig until that party ceased to exist, and has since been a republican. For the past fifty years he has been a member of the Branford Congregational church.

Willis T. Robinson, born in 1847, is a son of John H. and Julia A. (Tyler) Robinson. He has been engaged in mercantile trade in Bran- ford for a number of years. He married Lucy F., daughter of Gilbert Gaylord. Their children are: James H .. Oswin H., and one that died, John G. Mr. Robinson was a member of the house of representatives in 1886.

HENRY ROGERS, born at Branford July 31st, 1821, is a descendant of two of the oldest and most respected families in the county. He is a son of Abraham and Fanny (Fowler) Rogers, a grandson of Abraham Rogers, great-grandson of John Rogers. whose father, also John, was a son of Noah Rogers, the first of the family name to settle in Bran- ford. It is claimed on good authority that the latter's ancestor, William Rogers, was a son of Thomas Rogers, who came from England in the "Mayflower," in 1620. Some of his sons, according to Governor Brad- ford,* had been left in England, but followed their father to this country, and William was at Wethersfield as early as 1640. He prob- ably removed with Andrew Ward and his company to Stamford, Conn., about 1641, and later went with the company to Hempstead, L. I., where he was allotted some land. He afterward moved to Southampton, L. I., where he died about 1650, and his widow deceased at Huntington, L. I., about 1664. From the latter place, about three years later, the youngest son, Noah, removed to Branford. Here he married, April 8th, 1673, Elizabeth Taintor, and had a family of four sons and three daughters. Their son, John, married Lydia Frisbie, daughter of John Frisbie, January 17th, 1713. Of their family of four sons and the same number of daughters, John, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was one. He married Thankful, daugh- ter of Nathaniel Harrison, Jr., Esq., and one of their five children was Abraham Rogers, the grandfather. The wives of the foregoing Rogers' ancestors were daughters of some of the earliest and most prominent settlers of Branford. Lydia Frisbie was a granddaughter of Reverend John Bowers, one of the first ministers in Branford, and Michael Taintor, John Frisbie, Nathaniel Harrison and Nathaniel

* History of Plymouth Plantation 1656. p. 449.

[Passengers in the " Mayflower."]

" Thomas Rogers Joseph his sone his other children came afterwards."

P. 543: "Thomas Rogers dyed in the first sickness, but his son Joseph is still living and is Married and hath 6 children."

" The rest of Thomas Rogers [children] came over and are married and have many children."

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Harrison, Jr., as well as Noah Rogers, were frequently, in their day, members of the general court.

Abraham Rogers, senior, was married in Branford, March 11th, 1773, to Hannah, daughter of Benjamin Palmer, and of their family of six children there was but the one son, Abraham, the father of Henry Rogers. The elder Rogers removed to Stony Creek, where he died in 1827, being at that time one of the largest landowners of the town. Besides being a farmer he was in the coasting trade, and owned several vessels. He served in the revolution, being with the Connec- ticut militia in their retreat on Long Island, in the fall of 1776.

On November 16th, 1809, Abraham Rogers, Jr., married Fanny, daughter of Eli Fowler, of Branford. They reared a family of four sons: Eli F., born July 15th, 1811; Abraham, born June 11th, 1813; Elizur, born November 2d, 1816; Henry, born July 31st, 1821. All settled in Branford, becoming useful and honored citizens. The father remained on the homestead, and for many years was a justice of the peace, besides holding other town offices. He died in 1870. In the war of 1812 he was first lieutenant in the 5th Company, 2d Regiment of state corps of troops. In 1814 the British, under Commander Hardy, blockaded the Long Island sound coasts, and threatened to make incursions into Connecticut. Troops were called out and the 5th Company, with Lieutenant Rogers in command, was in service from September 12th, 1814, until the following October 20th. Most of the service was at New Haven, in the regiment of Colonel Sanford.

The maternal ancestry of Henry Rogers is equally important, the descent being from William Fowler, the magistrate, who came to America in 1637, and who was one of the leading settlers of Milford. From that town John Fowler moved to Guilford in 1649, marrying Mary Hubbard, of Guilford (daughter of George Hubbard, formerly of Wethersfield), and in his new home became a man of note. His son, Abraham, born in 1652, married in 1677, Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon George Bartlett. They were the parents of Abraham Fowler, Jr., born in 1683. The elder Abraham Fowler was one of the most important men of the town in his day, representing it in the general courts and serving as a justice until his death in 1720. The last eight years of his life he was a member of the governor's council. In 1720 his son, Abraham Fowler, Jr., married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Hubbard, Jr., and their youngest child, Noah, was born in 1730. The latter married Deborah Pendleton, daughter of Joshua Pendleton, of Stonington, who was a descendant of Andrew Ward, one of the very first settlers of Connecticut, and who helped to found that plantation. She also descended from William Spencer, who was one of the depu- ties of the new colony in 1639. Noah Fowler became a large land owner, living on a part of his estate in Guilford, near the Branford line. His revolutionary service was very honorable. He marched with his company, as its captain, to the relief of Boston in 1775, served

Hurry Roger

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

as major of his regiment in the Long Island retreat in 1776, and was on the coast guard many times during the war. At the formation of the 27th Regiment of militia, about 1780, he was appointed its colonel.

His son, Eli Fowler, maternal grandfather of Henry Rogers, was born April 1st, 1765. and in 1784 married Mary, daughter of Ebenezer Hopson, of Guilford. About 1790 he settled on aspart of his father's estate, in Branford, which he occupied until his death in 1850. He was a man of great prominence and served in many official capacities. In 1797 he was elected a member of the state legislature and was re- turned to that body 17 times, the last time being in 1819. In 1818 he was a member of the constitutional convention; in 1806 he was ap- pointed a brigadier general of Connecticut Militia; January 8th, 1814, he was commissioned colonel of a regiment of artillery to defend the state coast; from 1816 until his death he was a deacon of the Congre- gational church. One of his five daughters, Fanny, born April 24th, 1789, was the wife of Abraham Rogers, Jr. She was a most excellent woman and was held in great esteem.

Henry Rogers, her youngest son, was reared on the old homestead as a farmer, living there and following that occupation until 1870, when he began to divide his land into building lots, and his former farm is now covered with the principal part of the village of Stony Creek. He was also active in the introduction of the present system of oyster cultivation at Stony Creek, and has been concerned in the development of those celebrated beds. In 1851, at the first election of the people for that office, he was elected justice of the peace and served until 1858. In 1877 he was a member of the general assembly of the state and has held numerous minor offices, to the satisfaction of lis townsmen, who hold his worth in high esteem.

Mr. Rogers was married May 16th, 1849, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Townsend, of Oneida county, N. Y. The only child by this union is a son, Edward Henry, born September 4th, 1854. He graduated from Yale in 1875 and from the law school of that university in 1877, and is now a successful attorney in New York city.

John Rogers, born in 1821, is a son of Jarus and Fannie (Frisby) Rogers, and grandson of Isaac Rogers. He is a farmer. He was se- lectman two years. He married Mary C., daughter of Peter Winn. They had two children: Ida O. and J. Sumner, both deceased.

Charles H. Wilford, born in 1842, is a son of John and Lucretia (Goodnow) Wilford, grandson of John Augustus, and great-grandson of John Wilford. Mr. Wilford is an iron moulder by trade. Since 1874 he has been engaged in the butchering business. He was mar- ried in 1866, to Hattie, daughter of John Grannis. They have five children living and have lost three.

CHAPTER II.

THE TOWN OF NORTH BRANFORD.

Location and Description .- Settlement and Settlers .- Civil Organization .- General Industrial Interests .- Bare Plain .- North Branford Village .- Northford .- Masonic Lodge .- Patrons of Husbandry .- Educational Affairs .- North Branford Congrega- tional Church .- Northford Congregational Church .- The "Enrolled " Church .- Zion (Protestant Episcopal) Church .- St. Andrew's (Protestant Episcopal) Church. -Bare Plaia Union Chapel .- Cemeteries .- Roster of Captain Eells Company in the Revolution .- Soldiers' Monument .- Biographical Sketches.

N 1831 the " North Society" and the "Northford Society," in the 1 old town of Branford, were formed into a new town, with the name of North Branford. It is about five and a half miles long from north to south, and a little more than four miles wide. The Totoket mountain extends through the greater part of it from northeast to southwest, causing a large part of the area to be unfit for cultivation. Other sections are hilly, but east and west of the general ranges are some pleasantly located and fertile lands, which have been well im- proved. The west section is drained by Farm river and its affluent brooks. The former is the outlet of Pistapaug lake and affords several small but good water powers. In East Haven this stream is called Stony river. Along it are some pleasant vales and meadow lands. The east section is drained by Stony creek and Branford river, both small streams. Agriculture is the chief occupation of the inhabitants and the town has had, in all periods, a number of substantial farmers. It has also been noted for the sturdy, self-reliant nature of its inhabi- tants, as well as the general intelligence which characterized them.

Regarding the early settlements of the town, the Reverend Elijah C. Baldwin, who thoroughly investigated it, said:

"It seems quite clear that when the territory Totoket was pur- chased of the Indians, in 1638, two white families were already on the ground. One was Thomas Mulliner, who claimed as his a large tract in Branford Point region. The other was Thomas Whitway. He was living in the vicinity of Foxon. Both were identified with the early settlement of North Branford. As Whitway's settlement was within the Branford lines, it must have been a portion of the region since and now called Bare Plain. The New Haven purchasers, before selling to the Branford settlers, arranged with Mulliner to give up a consider- able portion of his claim. Whitway was left to enjoy peaceable pos- session of his, partly because the land was not wanted and partly be-

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

cause he made himself useful. He understood the Indian language and could act as interpreter on occasion. 'Nov. 11, 1644, upon com- plaint made by some of the planters of Totoket, that the Mohegan In- dians have done much damage to them by setting their traps in the walks of their cattell, itt was ordered that the marshall shall goe with Thomas Whitway to warne Uncus or his brother, or else Foxon to come and speake with the Governor and the magestrates.' The name Foxon shows the origin of the designation of the western por- tion of this locality. Whitway went with the marshal to interpret for him without doubt. Thomas Whitway died on December 12th, 1651. His lands were reclaimed by the town because he seems to have left no heirs to continue in possession of them. Other parties beginning to occupy them, the town in 1695 took measures before the court to keep them off, E. Stent and John Rose to enter caveat upon such lands at a special court at New Haven April 23d, 1695.

" Thomas Mulliner also died in due time, but his son, Thomas, who was his sole heir, so far as known, was living in 1691. That year it is on record that Thomas Mulliner and his wife, Martha, give up all other claims to land, and are given 200 acres of land in the extreme northwest corner of the town. This was a piece almost square, bounded by New Haven and Wallingford. In 1714, December 25th, Horseman Mulliner and his wife Elizabeth sell to Nathaniel Johnson the 200 acres. The Mulliners moved then to Westchester county, New York, and no more appear in Branford history.

" In 1687, March 4, John Rosewell, Samuel Hoadley, Joseph Foot, Josiah Frisbie, William Barker, John Maltbie* and Isaac Bartholomew were granted a parcel of land one mile square in the western and northerly part of the town. That grant must have included much of the land in the district of Bare Plain. The conditions were that each man was to build a habitable house and settle on his land within three years. If any failed to do this they could not hold the property. These were young men starting out to secure homes for themselves. There is much reason to believe that Foote, Maltbie, Hoadley, Frisbie and Bartholomew did settle on these lands." They were thus the founders of families that have ever since been in North Branford.

"Josiah Frisbie was the son of Edward Frisbie. John Maultbie was probably the son of William Maultbie, and Joseph Foote was the son of Robert Foote. Samuel Hoadley was probably the son of William Hoadley, who was, August 25th, 1697, granted the privilege of setting up a saw mill on Stony river (Farm river), if he would agree to sell boards at five shillings, and not take more than half a log to pay for sawing it. William Maultbie was a justice and magistrate in the town. September 28th, 1699, he was granted the liberty to retail 'rhum.' March 21st, 1700, John Maultbie removes to New London, and sells to his father Williamn.

* Also spelled Maultbie.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

"Captain Jonathan Rose, son of Robert Rose, built a house near Hop-Yard Plain before 1700." His father was one of the Branford original proprietors. There is a tradition "that Robert Rose owned ten cows and sixty horses; also, that the Sunday 'milking ' was always given to the poor. The Bible he brought with him from England, printed in 1599, is still extant. It has been, in its time, the property of three or four deacons of the Rose family." Colonel George Rose, prominent in the later affairs of the town, who died in 1884, was a descendant.

"Bare Plain was settled by Frisbie, Hoadley and others before 1700. John Linsley and Bartholomew Goodrich were among the earliest and largest owners of North Branford lands. Ensign Isaac Harrison and Eleazer Stent drew lands on others' rights, which they had bought, and thus were early owners. June 6th, 1700, John Coley, of New Lon- don, a grandson of John Linsley, of Branford, sells a Bare Plain farm to John Barnes. It was land on which the new chapel is now built. The Barnes house stood out in the middle of this farm lot, south of the present chapel. This John Barnes gets liberty from the town, October 26th, 1702, to build a Sabbath day house on the common at Branford Center. Other families were rapidly pushing up to settle in the northern half of Branford territory. Hence there was a ne- cessity of another division of lands." It was completed March 9th, 1703.

" This was the fourth proprietor's division and a long step toward equalizing rights. It disposed of most of the lands now in North Branford. It also confirmed the titles of several who were already in possession. There were fourteen different parcels. A roughly drawn map of this division is to be found upon the 223d page of the 2d vol- ume of Branford town records. Along the Wallingford line, from west to east, were Thomas Mulliner, Thomas Wheadon and Ensign Harri- son, who drew for William Hoadley.

" The next range below, from west to east, was drawn by Josiah Frisbie for Samuel Frisbie, Eleazer Stent for the Rosewell family, John Linsley for Bartholomew Goodrich. Below Rosewell was Wil- liam Hoodly again. The eastern tier extending from boundary of present Northfield Society to Guilford road at Paved street comprised the particles of Jonathan Rose, Micah Palmer, Samuel Pond and Thomas Gutsell. Next west was a tier assigned to John Rose, Noah Rogers and William Maultbie. Still another tier west was set to Mr. Maultbie, Nathaniel Foote, Josiah Frisbie and William Barker for Thomas Sargeant."

Concerning the Northford section, the Reverend A. C. Pierce said in his historical sermon, in 1876 :

" With respect to the precise time of settlement, it is not easy now to determine it with absolute certainty; but from the earliest dates to be found upon the tombstones in your cemetery, and from some other

75.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

evidence, traditional and otherwise, of which I have been able to avail myself, I have judged that this must have taken place not far from the year 1720. The tradition is, that various individuals from the town of Branford, to which the parish then belonged, in the pur. suit of a larger success in their industry, and with something of that roving and adventurous spirit which has ever characterized the people of our New England towns, and which has so rapidly peopled the broad West, were accustomed to leave their homes in the opening spring with their provisions and implements of husbandry for a sort of backwoods life through the summer months, occupying "clearings" at the base of your mountain range, from which they gathered ample crops, returning again by their woods' path with the approach of win- ter to enjoy the fruits of their summer absence, in the bosom of their families.

"The first encampments of these Branford laborers, it is said, were at the foot of the mountain, near the dwelling long occupied by Dea- con Ralph Linsley-the place of these encampments, determined, per- haps, by the fact that there tlie laborers were well sheltered by the high bluff from southern and easterly winds, and that there they might avail themselves of pure and abundant supplies of water from a never- failing spring, still held in high esteemn.

"But evidently this migratory sort of life could not long continue, and arrangements for a continuous residence in the Northford ' clear- ing ' must have been shortly made. Near the fountain already alluded to, a cellar, filled in by the plowshare but a few years ago, was pointed out as the probable site of the first permanent dwelling, or rather, I should say, the first erected and occupied by the white men, for in this immediate vicinity and along side the pelucid stream above were numerous wigwams of the Indians, two or three of which were inhab- ited by their dusky owners within the memory of those who were the oldest residents of the parish when my own ministry here began."

These young men were the descendants of the following early set- tlers of the old town of Branford: Michael Taintor, Robert Foote, Peter Tyler, John Rogers, John Linsley, John Frisbie, William Maltby, Francis Linsley, Edward Frisbie, Thomas Harrison, William Hoadley, John Taintor, William Bartholomew. They were soon after joined by families bearing the names of Cook, Harrington, Barnes, Baldwin, Todd, Munson and Rose. In most instances these names are still per- petnated by the present inhabitants, and around them clusters most of the history of the parish. Among later prominent settlers here were the Smiths, Fowlers, Williams, Elliotts, Beaches and Whitneys -- all good types of true New England citizens.

Like in most of the inland hill towns of the state, the population has, in the last half century. decreased instead of increased. In 1880 there were 1,025 inhabitants; in 1890 there were two hundred inhabi- tants less, but the grand list was about the same as in 1880.

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

The North Branford people began to ask to be a separate town soon after the revolutionary war, in which they had taken a very ac- tive part. In 1799 they asked the legislature to help them to this. The town strongly opposed the effort. For a time town meetings were held alternately in the two societies. April 22d, 1751, meetings were held at Hopyard Plain to do business for both societies. Sep- tember 21st, 1790-Voted to hold future town meetings at First So- ciety's meeting house.

North Branford was finally organized as a town under the terms of an act passed by the May (1831) session of the general assembly. The first town election was held at the Congregational meeting house, in North Branford village, June 13th, 1831, Benjamin Page acting as the clerk, and was chosen to that office and treasurer. Jesse Linsley, Sam- uel Bartholomew and Eleazer Harrison were chosen selectmen. Luther Chidsey, Timothy R. Palmer, L. Talmadge, Gideon Baldwin, De Grosse Fowler and Wyllys Linsey were chosen tythingmen. The highway districts were altered and placed in charge of John Maltby, Jonathan Rose, 2d, Timothy Bartholomew, Jr., Richard Linsley, Jared Potter, Rufus Rogers, 2d, Levi Rose, Jr. It was voted to hold the meetings alternately in the North Branford Society and in the North- ford Society.

At the next regular meeting Rufus Rogers, 2d, Ralph Linsley and Samuel Foote were chosen as a board of relief.

The town clerks since the organization of the town have been the following: 1831, Benjamin Page; 1832, Joseph Munroe; 1833, John Linsley; 1834, Ralph Linsley; 1835-43, Benjamin Page, Jr .; 1844, Wil- liam M. Fowler; 1845-9, Francis C. Bartholomew; 1850-63, Benjamin Page, Jr .; 1864-70, T. Russell Palmer; 1871, Charles Page.

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 9

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