USA > Connecticut > New London County > New London > History of New London, Connecticut, From the First Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1852 > Part 36
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Expeditions against Canada formed a marked feature of the colo- nial history of New England. Those vain enterprises were always recurring, and consuming the strength and treasure of the country, without any compensation. The officers of the regiment raised in Connecticut, in 1709, were Col. Wm. Whiting, Major Allyn, Capt. John Clark, of Saybrook, and Capt. John Livingston, of New Lon- don ; the last two both having the rank of major, but commanding foot companies. Among the enlistments from New London county, for the expedition of 1711, were fifty-four Indians, procured by Gov. Saltonstall, and commanded by Capt. Peter Mason.1
The meetings of the governor and council were often held at New London, during the Saltonstall administration. In March, 1711, the governor was visited by some French embassadors, but the particular object they had in view is not known.2 During the whole of that year, the occasional appearance of French vessels on the coast kept the inhabitants in a state of constant apprehension. In May and June, a military watch was kept up at the mouth of the harbor for forty-six nights, under the charge of Lieut. John Richards. The ex- pedition against Canada, of this year, was exceedingly unfortunate. Heavy were the tidings that came through the country, after the wreck of the English fleet in the St. Lawrence, Aug. 22d. That disastrous event fixed a black seal on the day. It was in this expe- dition that Capt. John Mayhew, of New London, an old Newfound- land trader, was employed as a pilot.
In June, 1712, the governor and council ordered a beacon to be erected on the west end of Fisher's Island, and a guard of seven men, under charge of Nathaniel Beebe, to be kept there, with a boat in readiness to convey intelligence to the main land. Privateers were hovering upon the coast, and it was apprehended that they might combine together, and seizing a favorable opportunity, slip into the harbor and surprise the town. The Fisher's Island watch was kept up for three months. New London in this war suffered considerably in her shipping, several of her merchant vessels being cut off by French privateers. Hempstead writes :
" Aug. 5. (1712) Wm. Crocker, Captain of the Scouts, came home from
1 Council Records.
2 " March 21, 1712. At a meeting of the Governor and Council, Ordered that the Treasurer pay to Joseph Chamberlin of Colchester the sum of one pound and thirteen shillings for his entertainment of the French Embassadors in their journey to and from New London in March 1711."-Council Records.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Northampton ; one of his men had been killed, and two taken prisoners-all three belonging to Hartford."1
" Oct. 30. A suspension of arms was proclaimed at ye fort ; two guns and three chambers were fired."
" Aug. 26. (1713) Peace was proclaimed between England and France ; both companies in arms."
" Dec. 3. (1714) King George was proclaimed-the four companics werc in arms."
The existence, at this period, of four military companies, two of which had been recently formed, one in the North Parish, and the other at the West Farms, shows the advance of population. In 1683, there was but one company of train-bands in all New London, which then included Groton.
The superior court was held in New London, for the first time, in September, 1711. No court-house having then been erected, the session was held in the meeting-house. Before this period the supe- rior court had only sat in New Haven and Hartford. It was now made a circuit court, each county to have two sessions annually. Richard Christophers was one of the assistant judges, and Capt. John Prentis, county sheriff.
" In town meeting April 15. 1717.
" Voted that this town do utterly oppose and protest against Robert Jacklin a negro man's buying any land in this town, or being an inhabitant within s'd town and do further desire the deputies yt shall attend the Court in May next yt they represent the same to the Gen. Assembly that they would take some prudent care that no person of yt colour may ever have any possessions or free- hold estate within this government."
Sept. 20th, 1724, Governor Saltonstall died very suddenly of apo- plexy, having been apparently in full health the preceding day. He was interred the twenty-second, with all the civic and military hon- ors which the town could give. Col. Whiting, and Captains Lati- mer and Christophers, were the officers in command. "The horse and foot marched in four files ; the drums, colors, trumpets, halberts, and hilts of swords covered with black, and twenty cannons firing at half a minute's distance." After the body had been laid in its rest- ing-place, two volleys were discharged from the fort, and then the
1 " Due Crocker's Comp'-Oct. 22, 1712 .- £215, 15s. 6d."-State Records.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
military companies, first the troop, and afterward the foot, " marching in single file, as each respectively came against the tomb, discharged, and so drew up orderly into a body as before, and dismissed."1
The remains of Governor Saltonstall were deposited in a tomb, which he had caused to be excavated in the burial-ground for him- self and family, and in which his second wife, Elizabeth, and her in- fant child, had been previously laid. John Gardiner, son-in law of the governor, died a few months after him, (Jan. 15th, 1725,) and was the fourth inhabitant of this silent chamber. Another son-in- law, Richard Christophers, was gathered here in 1736, and Capt. Roswell Saltonstall, the oldest son of the governor that survived in- fancy, in 1738. Other members of the family have been laid here, from time to time.2 The tablet that surmounts the tomb is adorned with the family hatchment, and the following inscription :
" Here lyeth the body of the Honourable Gurdon Saltonstall Esquire, Gov- ernour of Connecticutt who died September the 20th, in the 59th year of his age, 1724."
G: Salt ons tall.
Governor Saltonstall was born at Haverhill, Mass., in 1666, and graduated at Harvard, in 1684. His name, Gurdon, was derived from the family of his grandmother, whose name was Mariel Gurdon He had three wives-first, Jerusha, daughter of James Richards, of. Hartford, who died in Boston, July 25th, 1697 ; second, Elizabeth, only child of William Rosewell, of Branford, Conn., who died in New London, Sept. 12th, 1710; third, Mary, daughter of William Whit- tingham, and relict of William Clarke, of Boston, who survived him, and died in Boston, in 1729.3
1 Hempstead.
2 It is not remembered that this tomb has been opened but three times since the commencement of the present century-in 1811 for the reception of the remains of Winthrop Saltonstall, Esq .; in 1845, for those of an unmarried daughter of the same, Ann Dudley Saltonstall, aged seventy-five; and once to receive the body of a young child of William W. Saltonstall, formerly of New London, but now of Chicago.
3 The births of his children and the death of his second wife are registered at New London, but neither of his marriages.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Children of Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., and Jerusha his wife.
1. Elizabeth, born May 11th, 1690; married, first, Richard Christophers ; second, Isaac Ledyard.
2. Mary, born Feb. 15th, 1691-2; married Jeremiah Miller.
3. Sarah, born April 8th, 1691; married, first, John Gardiner ; second, Sam- uel Davis ; third, Thomas Davis.
4. Jerusha, born July 5th, 1695; died Sept. 12th, 1695.
5. Gurdon, born July 17th, 1696 ; died July 27th, 1696.
Children of Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., and Elizabeth, his wife.
6. Rosewell, born Jan. 19th, 1701-2. Settled in Branford.
7. Katherine, born June 19th, 1704; married - Brattle.
8. Nathaniel, born July 1st, 1707 ; married Lucretia Arnold, in 1733.
9. Gurdon, born Dec. 22d, 1708; married Rebecca Winthrop, in 1733.
10. Richard, born Sept. 1st, 1710 ; died Sept. 12th, 1710.
Capt. Rosewell Saltonstall, the oldest son of the governor that sur- vived infancy, married a lady of Hartford, (Mary, daughter of John Haynes, and relict of Elisha Lord,) and fixed his residence in Bran- ford, the home of his maternal ancestors ; but he died in New Lon- don, while on a visit to his brother Gurdon, Oct. 1st, 1738. He had been seized with a nervous fever, the first day of his arrival, and lived but twelve days afterward. It was remarked that he seemingly came home on purpose to die, and be laid in the tomb with his par- ents. He was highly esteemed in New London, being a man of irre- proachable Christian character, and amiable in all the relations of life. His relict married Rev. Thomas Clap, of Windham, afterward president of Yale College. e
In the year 1735, the county of New London exhibited a scene of internal strife and uneasiness, which continued for several years. It was caused by a local jealousy between the rival towns of New Lon- don and Norwich, for the possession of the courts. An act of As- sembly in October, 1734, decreed that the superior and county courts should henceforward be held alternately at New London and Nor- wich, elevating the latter place to the rank of a half-shire town. This act, the inhabitants of New London declared to be injurious to them, " and of ill example." They remonstrated, and petitioned again and again, to have it repealed, but without success. In the spring of 1739, the agents of the town were instructed to pledge the reimbursement to Norwich of what had been laid out by them in building a court-house and prison since the passage of the act, in case
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
it should be rescinded. The Assembly, however, refused once more to remove the courts from Norwich.
It was perhaps this controversy which made the existing authori- ties so unpopular in New London. At the freemen's meeting of April 8th, 1740, Hempstead observes, that the people " were furi- ously set to make an alteration in the public officers of the govern- ment ; one hundred and forty-three voters-not above six or seven for the old governor, and generally for Mr. Elliot, Governor, and Thomas Fitch, Lieut. Governor." Talcott was however continued in office till his death, which took place Oct. 11th, 1741 ; and on that occasion, New London, by demonstrations of respect paid to his memory, showed that her enmity had been temporary and was then forgotten.
Intelligence was received in the autumn of 1739, that letters of marque and reprisal had been issued under the great seal of England, against Spain. The numerous depredations upon English commerce, the unlawful seizures of English subjects and their property, had provoked this measure. Affairs had been for some time rapidly tend- ing toward an open rupture. Preparations for hostilities were made by both kingdoms, and there was every reason to suppose that war would soon be declared, and that its disastrous effects would extend to the colonial settlements in North America. No place upon the sea-board was more exposed, or less prepared for defense, than New London. The inhabitants were alarmed ; they assembled in town meetings and prepared a memorial to the governor, urging him to convene the legislature without delay, and to recommend to them the immediate fortification of the town. This memorial, approved by the town on the first Monday in January, 1740, was drafted by a committee consisting of John Curtiss, Jeremiah Miller, John Rich- ards, Thomas Prentis and Nathaniel Saltonstall. It is an interesting document, evidently emanating from full hearts, that pour forth ar- guments, few indeed in number, but conveyed in copious terms. The considerations which they urge are of this nature :
" That the port is an outward port, and the chief haven in the colony, liable to sudden surprisal, and the present defense utterly inefficient to protect it in such peril.
" That it is greatly for the interest of the whole colony, that it should be put into a proper state of defense, as all our vessels are obliged here to enter and clear, and there is no fort erected in any other port or haven upon all the sea- coast of this colony, nor vessel of force to guard the same, and so no safety to 33
1
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
them who go out, nor to them that come in, nor refuge for the pursued, but much greater danger within the harbor than without.
" That this weak and undefended condition of the town and port renders us an easy prey, and will in all reasonable construction, invite the attempts of our enemies against us, seeing or hearing concerning us that we live carelessly without walls or strongholds, or other defense under heaven, and are un,wor- thy the care of providence, without the exercise of prudent endeavors for the safety of our lives and fortunes."
In conclusion they say :
" Forasmuch as this colony hath not as yet been much burdened, nor the public treasure exhausted with expensive fortifications and garrisons to defend their frontiers by sea and land, as the neighboring provinces have, the charges thereof can not be distressing, nor justly esteemed grievous to the inhabitants at this day ; but we rather hope that as all the other provinces are not only in a proper state of defense, but are less or more provided for the offensive part, and to contend with the enemy in battle, so this colony upon like occasion will exemplify that figure and heroic dignity it hath a right to assume, as well for the honor of the government as the safety of its borders, and provide and equip a suitable vessel to guard the coasting vessels, and to be ready on other occa- sions, as well as erect proper fortifications to defend the town and vessels in the port."
The reply of the governor, addressed to the selectmen, was of a moderate temper, assuring them of his hearty concurrence in any future measure for their defense, but declining to convene the legisla- ture expressly for that purpose. This letter was laid before the town January 24th, 1739-40, and acted like oil upon ignited coals. Since the draft of the petition, authentic news had arrived of the formal declaration of war, and the town in their excitement declared " that the danger of a surprisal by the sudden attack of the enemy is most imminent and certain." A second address to the governor was voted, and Messrs. Gurdon Saltonstall, Jeremiah Miller, Richard Durfey, John Curtiss and John Prentis, were detailed for a committee to wait personally upon his honor, and prefer the petition with urgency.
In consequence of this second petition, the governor convened his council at Hartford, February 7th, upon whose deliberations the committee from New London attended.
The firmness of the council was proof against importunity. They were too prudent to vote away the money of the people without giv- ing them a chance to be consulted. Yet they yielded in some meas- ure, and out of the funds already appropriated for the defense of the sea-coast, they ordered the battery at New London to be recon- structed, furnished with some suitable pieces of cannon, and garrisoned
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
by a detachment of forty men from the militia of the town, ten of whom were to be always on duty.
These measures failed to satisfy the town. Being laid before the people at a public meeting, they declared them wholly inadequate to the exigency. The question being put,
" Whether it be expedient for this town to rest in the provision that the gov- ernor and council have made for their safety ; resolved in the negative."
After a preamble fully stating what had been done, and their great apprehension of invasion, the record proceeds :
"In confidence that his majesty's tender care of his subjects extends to these distant parts of his dominions and exposed plantations, and out of his royal bounty and indulgence to the infant state of this colony, will grant us effectual redress according to the necessity and urgency of the case :
" Voted, that his sacred majesty King George the second, our rightful sover- eign, be humbly addressed in this our extremity, and that a petition proper therefore be prepared and laid before this meeting."
A petition was accordingly prepared, but it is scarcely necessary to say that it was never wafted across the ocean. The governor and leading men of the colony used their influence to conciliate the in- habitants, and prevent the execution of the design. Several town meetings were held on the subject, which adjourned from day to day without doing any business, until February 28th, when the question was put,
" Whether the prosecution of our address to his majesty to render the port and town of New London defensible against the invasion of our enemies shall be suspended till the sessions of the General Assembly in May next ; resolved in the affirmative."
The inhabitants were thus quieted for a time, resting in the confi- dent expectation that the Assembly would devise some plan of de- fense for a town and harbor which was in fact their frontier and out- post. In the mean time the attention of all New England was diverted toward a grand expedition fitted out by the British ministry against the Spanish dominions in the West Indies and on the northern coast of South America. Troops were raised in the colonies by voluntary enlistment, to join this expedition. They went forth with high hopes, but the issue was disastrous. Admiral Vernon, who com- manded the British squadron, took Porto Bello, in November, 1739, only to make it the grave of the army. The same commander, sub- sequently besieged Carthagena, but his force was so reduced by a mortal sickness, which was engendered in those tropical climes and
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
carried off its thousands and tens of thousands, that he was obliged to abandon the siege and return to Jamaica.
No military roll or domestic record has preserved the names of those soldiers from Connecticut, who shared in the plunder of Porto Bello, or died miserably under the walls of Carthagena. But it may be conjectured that various names which disappear from the rolls about this time, were extinguished in that unfortunate enterprise, or in the expedition against Cuba, which soon followed.
War was declared against Spain in the spring of 1740. Gurdon Saltonstall, of New London, having been raised to the rank of colonel of the militia, gave a banquet on the 24th of April, to his friends ; and at this entertainment, a large number of civil and military offi- cers, and other inhabitants being assembled, the colonel read the proc- lamation of the governor, that day received, declaring war to exist with Spain.1
In July, 1740, six recruiting lieutenants came on from New York, bringing 200 stands of arms, and other equipments for volunteers. Landing first at New London, they dispersed toward Boston, Provi- dence and Hartford, beating up for men to join the king's forces in another expedition against the Spaniards. Cuba was now to be the object of attack. A soldier's tent was forthwith erected on the training field, near the meeting-house, and an officer stationed there to enlist recruits. Many young men of the town and neighborhood were induced to join the company. They sailed in August. The fate of the expedition, as in the former case, was decided by a mortal disease, which cut off a large part of the army. In the summer of 1742, a few sick men were brought home from Jamaica; they dis- seminated the fatal camp epidemic through the several families to which they belonged, and these spread it yet further in the town, and thus the number of victims of the expedition was doubled.
In the spring of 1744, intelligence was received that a new power had entered into the contest. France had declared war against Eng- land, and England against France. This was just the drop which made our excitable town overflow. Little had been done in the way of fortification. Rumors of invasion thickened the air; faces were sad and hearts heavy with apprehension.
The legislature was then in session, and it was confidently expected that they would not separate without making some provision for the
1 Hempstead. The diarist observes, " The colonel wet his new commission boun- tifully."
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
defense of New London. But in this the town was greatly disap- pointed ; no appropriation was made for their relief. As soon as this was known, a town meeting was warned, which met the 12th of June, to consider their grievances. After ordering watch-houses to be built at the harbor's mouth, and on the fort land, (now Parade,) they appointed committees to draw up a memorial to the governor and a petition to the king, the latter to be held in reserve, and only used if the former application should be unsuccessful.
The committee immediately drafted a memorial to the governor :
" When (say they) the Honourable General Assembly at their last session had advice that war was proclaimed in England against our most formidable enemy the king of France, it was generally concluded here, that some adequate pro- vision for our security would have been made. But when our representatives returned, and we were informed nothing could be obtained for us, we were greatly surprised and distressed."
They proceed to state that the harbor often had vessels riding in it to the value of eighty thousand pounds, and now that France had joined in the war, even those of greater value might be expected in ; that the European and household goods were of sufficient importance to invite an enemy, and that probably the first French privateers that should appear on the coast, knowing the value of the plunder, and the weakness of the place, " whose only defense under heaven is a battery of four guns in town, and three for alarm at the harbor's mouth," would make an immediate descent upon them. The memorialists then give loose to their fears and fancy, and delineate the picture that would be presented when the town should be overcome " by a French enemy ;" houses in flames, substance plundered, inhabitants slaugh- tered. "Alas ! (say they) it will then be too late for those that re- main to fly to your honor for aid to preserve the lives and fortunes . thus unhappily destroyed." They next advert to what the king had done toward fortifying Georgia and Boston, and observe that if the colony do nothing for them, they shall think it " a duty we owe to Almighty God, who commands us to preserve our own lives, to apply to the king for aid." They conclude with disclaiming any disgust with the government, or any intention to bring the charter privileges into danger by this measure, which they say is purely a measure of self-defense, and inclosing a copy of the petition, intended to be pre- sented to the king, they subscribe, in behalf of the distressed town of New London,
G. SALTONSTALL, DANIEL DENISON,
Committee. SOLOMON COIT, THOMAS FOSDICK,
33*
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
No favorable answer being obtained to this memorial, a vote passed in town meeting, 26th of June, authorizing the selectmen to take im- mediate measures to forward to the king the following petition :1
" The humble representation and petition of the inhabitants of the town of New London, in the colony of Connecticut, in New England, to the king's most excellent majesty :
" May it please your majesty, we your very dutiful and obedient subjects being fully sensible that your majesty's royal ear is ever open and ready to hear, and your paternal care and goodness ever ready to diffuse itself even to your most remote subjects, beg leave with the greatest submission to represent the consequence [importance] of this harbor and town, and its defenseless state.
" Our harbor is the principal one in this colony, and perhaps the best in North America, capable to receive the whole navy of Great Britain, being at least seven miles in length, and near one mile in breadth, six fathoms water, bold shore and excellent anchor-ground ; all the navigation trading to this col- ony enter and clear at your majesty's custom-house in this port, and we shall probably have twenty, thirty, or perhaps forty vessels at a time, laden mostly with provisions, belonging to this and the neighboring governments, waiting for convoy, and have not any thing to defend such fleet from your majesty's enemies but a battery of seven guns, (some of which are very unfit for service,) and three other guns at the harbor's mouth, about three miles distant, and have no reason to question but an enemy on our coast will soon gain intelligence, when such number of vessels shall be here, and we fear make them a quick prey. With such large quantities of provisions, they will be enabled to fit out many more privateers, to the great annoyance of other your majesty's good subjects, and what renders such attempts from an enemy more to be expected, is the easy entrance to this harbor, it being very free and bold, and in three hours' sail they may be again without land in the open sea.
" Our town has npward of 300 fighting men-and therein is your majesty's custom-house above mentioned-every inhabitant true and loyal to your majesty, but by great losses suffered at sea, by the depredations of the Span- iards, &c., are not able of ourselves to put our harbor and town in a proper posture of defense, and fear we shall fall an easy prey to an haughty, aspiring enemy unless your majesty graciously provide for our defense in this our weak state. We beg leave to throw ourselves at your majesty's feet, our most gra- cious king and common father to his subjects, beseeching your majesty in your royal wisdom and paternal care, to order such defense for us, as may enable us in a manner becoming Englishmen, to repel the attempts of your majesty's enemies that shall be made on us, and secure all your majesty's good subjects coming into this harbor for protection.
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