USA > Connecticut > New London County > New London > History of New London, Connecticut, From the First Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1852 > Part 62
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The first regular line of steamboats from New York to New Lon- don was established in 1816. On the 28th of September, in that year, the Connecticut (Bunker) arrived from New York in twenty- one hours, which was regarded as a signal triumph of steam, the wind and a swell of the tide being against her. In October, the regular line commenced, making two trips per week to New Haven. The Fulton (Capt. Law) was running at the same time between New York and New Haven. The price of passage was five dollars to New Haven, and from thence to New York, four dollars.
Steam propellers, carrying principally freight, but some passengers,
C
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commenced navigating the Sound in 1844. The first was the Quin- ebaug.
In one respect New London stands in honorable connection with the history of steam navigation. Capt. Moses Rogers, the command- er of the steam-ship Savannah, the first steam-vessel that ever crossed the Atlantic, and Capt. Stevens Rogers, sailing-master of the same, and brother-in-law of the captain, were both natives of New London. The Savannah was built in New York, under the direction of Capt. Rogers, for a company in Savannah, and was a full-rigged ship of about 350 tuns burden, and furnished with an engine of eighty or ninety horse-power, by which she made about eight knots to the hour. She sailed from Savannah, May 26th, 1819, for the sole purpose of making the grand experiment of ocean steam-navigation. Mr. Scar- borough, of Savannah, one of the company that owned the steamer, asserted that they had no other object in view ; that anticipating the use of steam-enginery in that line, and having a surplusage of profit on hand from some successful operations of the company, instead of dividing it, they built and fitted out the Savannah, in order to give to America the honor of making the first attempt to navigate the Atlan- tic by steam.
The passage to Liverpool was made in twenty-two days; fourteen by steam and eight by sails, the latter being used solely through the prudence of the captain to save the consumption of fuel, lest some emergency might occur, and the supply be exhausted. From Liver- pool the steamer proceeded to Copenhagen, and from thence to Stock- holm and to St. Petersburg. At these ports she excited universal admiration and interest. Lying at anchor like a public vessel, with no business to accomplish, no port charges to defray, no cargo to take on board, her stay was a continued reception of visitors, and her whole passage through the Baltic might be likened to a triumphant procession. Bernadotte, king of Sweden, and the emperor of Rus- sia, with their nobles and public officers, not only came on board to examine the wonderful American steamer, but tested her perform- ance by short excursions in the neighboring waters. On the return home, the last place left in Europe was Arendel, in Norway, from whence the passage to Savannah was made in twenty-five days ; nine- teen by steam and six by sails.
Capt. Moses Rogers gained his experience as a steam engineer, on the Hudson River, where he had been engaged in some of the earli- est experiments in propelling vessels by steam. After his return from the voyage in the Savannah, he took command of a steamboat
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running on the Great Pedee River, and died suddenly at Cheraw, S. C., Sept. 15th, 1822, at the age of forty-two years.
Capt. Stevens Rogers is now an officer of the customs in New Lon- don, and from him the foregoing account of the first voyage by steam across the Atlantic, is derived.1 He has in his possession a massive gold snuff-box, presented to him by Lord Lyndock, an English no- bleman, who took passage in the steamer from Stockholm to St. Pe- tersburg, through an arrangement made for him by Mr. Hughes, the American minister at the Swedish court. On the inside of the lid is the following inscription :
" Presented by Sir Thomas Graham, Lord Lyndock, to Stevens Rogers, sail- ing-master of the steam-ship Savannah, at St. Petersburg, October 10th, 1819."
Capt. Moses Rogers, among other costly presents, received from the emperor of Russia, an elegant silver tea-urn.
The log-book kept during this voyage, is deposited in the National Institute at Washington.
Newspapers.
There are two newspaper establishments in the town, regularly issuing a daily and weekly paper, under the control of a single editor and proprietor.
The New London Daily and Weekly Chronicle, by C. F. Daniels, formerly proprietor and editor of the Camden Journal, and afterward connected with the New York Courier and Enquirer, and the New York Gazette.
The Daily Star and the New London Democrat, by D. S. Rud- dock.
The first newspaper of the town bore the following title :
THE NEW LONDON SUMMARY, OR THE
Weekly Advertiser, With the Freshest Advices, Foreign and Domestic.
1 A more detailed account of the Savannah and her voyage, was published in the New York Journal of Commerce, August 23d, 1850; the facts being obtained from the same source as the above, viz., Capt. Stevens Rogers, of New London.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
At the close of the paper was the notification, Printed by Timo- thy Green. It was a folio sheet ; the size of the page about twelve inches by eight, with two columns of print. The heading was adorn- ed with an ornamented cut of the colony seal, with the escutcheon of the town added by way of crest, viz., a ship in full sail. The first number was issued August 8th, 1758. The editor died August 3d, 1763, and the paper was discontinued.
2. "The New London Gazette," with a stamp of the king's arms, appeared in November, 1763. The size was considerably increased, the print arranged in three columns, and the price 6s. per annum ; one-half to be paid on the delivery of the first number. This was in fact the same paper under another name, being a continuation by Timothy Green, nephew and assistant of the former publisher ; but as the numerical series of the Summary was not continued, the num- bers being commenced anew, it may be classed as another paper. It was soon enlarged in size, and the name changed in the course of a few years to "The Connecticut Gazette." This had been the title of the first newspaper in the colony, established in New Haven, 1755, by James Parker and Co .; John Holt, editor; but discontinued in 1767, and there being then no paper in the colony bearing that title, it was adopted by the proprietor of the New London paper. In 1789, Mr. Green took his son Samuel into partnership with him, and the Gazette was issued by Timothy Green and Son, to 1794, when Samuel Green assumed the whole business. In 1805, he retired a while from the paper, and it was issued by " Cady and Eells," (Eb- enezer P. Cady, and Nathaniel Eells.) In May, 1808, it was re- sumed by Green, and continued to January, 1838, when it passed for two years into the hands of John J. Hyde, who was both editor and publisher. In 1840, it reverted to the former proprietor, or to his son, S. H. Green, and was conducted by the latter to July, 1841. The next editor was A. G. Seaman, by whom it was continued about three years, after which the existence of the Gazette entirely ceased. It had been issued regularly under the name of the Gazette, for more than eighty years.
We would here notice that the Spooner family, which is connected with the history of newspapers in this country, was linked both by marriage and occupation, with the Greens. Judah P. Spooner and Alden Spooner, early printers in Vermont, were sons of Thomas Spooner (who came to New London from Newport in 1753) and brothers-in-law of Timothy Green. Alden Spooner, 2d, son of the first named of the brothers, was a native of New London. He is
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
known as the editor of "The Suffolk Gazette," published at Saghar- bor from 1804 to 1811, and of the " Long Island Star," which he conducted from 1811 to his death, a period of about thirty-five years.
Charles Miner, long a noted printer in Wilkesbarre, Penn., ob- tained his knowledge of the business in the Gazette office at New London. He was for a number of years a member of Congress, and has left an enduring memorial of his talents and research, in the History of Wyoming, of which he is the author.
Green's Connecticut Register, was first published in 1785, and again in 1786; it was then intermitted for one year, but has regu- larly appeared every year since, making, inclusive of 1852, seventy- six volumes.1
After the year 1750, the Greens annually printed an Almanac or Astronomical Diary. The first numbers were prepared by James Davis, and calculated for the meridian of New London. Next to the series of Davis, they reprinted the Boston Almanac of Nathaniel Ames, until 1766, when Clark Elliott, a mathematician and instru- ment maker, who had settled in New London, commenced an inde- pendent series of almanacs, which were at first published with his own name, but afterward with the assumed one of Edmund Freebetter. This change is said to have been caused by a mistake which Elliot made in one of his astronomical calculations, which so much discon- certed him that he refused ever after to affix his name to the alma- nac. He died in 1793, and Nathan Daboll, of Groton, began his series of almanacs with that year, which were continued by him during his life, and have been prepared by successors of the same name and family, to the present year, 1852.
Nathan Daboll was a self-taught mathematician. He compiled an arithmetic, which was extensively used in the schools of New En- gland, and a system of practical navigation, that was also highly es- teemed. He opened a school in New London for the common and higher branches of mathematics, and the principles of navigation. He died in Groton, March 9th, 1818, aged sixty-eight.
3. " The Weekly Oracle ; printed and published by James Springer, opposite the Market." This was the title of a newspaper commenced at New London in October, 1796, and continued four years.
1 Col. Samuel Green, for so many years editor and proprietor of the Gazette, though no longer a resident in New London, is still living, (1852,) aged eighty-four, realizing that happy enjoyment of health, cheerfulness and prosperity, which is designated as a green old age.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
4. "The Bee; printed and published by Charles Holt." This paper was commenced June 14th, 1797, and discontinued June 30th, 1802. The editor immediately issued proposals for publishing a paper with the same title at Hudson, N. Y. The Bee may there- fore be considered as transferred to that place. This paper was a prominent organ of the democratic party, and under the adminis- tration of the elder Adams, the editor was arrested for a libel, tried by the United States court then sitting at New Haven, and under the provisions of the sedition law condemned to six months' imprison- ment, and to pay a fine of $200. Charles Holt was a native of New London ; he died in Jersey City, opposite New York, in August, 1852, aged seventy-eight.
5. " The Republican Advocate." Established in February, 1818, and continued about ten years. It was first issued by Clapp and Francis-Joshua B. Clapp and Simeon Francis-but after four or five years the partnership was dissolved. Francis removed to the west, and has for a number of years published a newspaper in Spring- field, Illinois. Clapp continued the Advocate alone, until about the close of the year 1828, when he sold the establishment to John Eld- ridge. The latter changed the name to "The Connecticut Sentinel," but the publication was not long continued.
6. "The People's Advocate, and New London County Republic- an." This paper was commenced August 26th, 1840, with the im- mediate object in view of promoting the election of William Henry Harrison to the presidency. The proprietor was Benjamin P. Bis- sell. The editor for 1840, John Jay Hyde ; for 1841, Thomas P. Trott. Bissell then took the whole charge of the paper till his death, Sept. 3d, 1842. In 1843, J. G. Dolbeare and W. D. Manning ap- peared as associated editors and proprietors, but the next year, Dol- beare assumed the sole editorship. In November, 1844, he com- menced the first daily paper published in New London ; it was a folio sheet, the page twelve inches by nine, and called " The Morning News." In April, 1848, the Advocate and the News were merged in the Weekly and Daily Chronicle, which commencing a new series of numbers, and bearing a different name, must be considered as alto- gether a new undertaking.
7. " The New London Democrat" was commenced March 22d, 1845, by J. M. Scofield and S. D. Macdonald ; but the second editor retired with the publication of the forty-fourth number. January 1st, 1848, Scofield, in connection with the Democrat, commenced a daily paper entitled " The Morning Star." He has since emigrated to
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
California, having assigned his whole printing establishment, January 1st, 1849, to D. S. Ruddock, the present editor and proprietor of the Star and Democrat.
8. The New London Weekly and Daily Chronicle, were first issu- ed in May, 1848, by C. F. Daniels and F. H. Bacon, an association which continued for three years. Since August, 1851, C. F. Daniels has been sole editor and proprietor.
The above are all the serial publications of the town that have been continued long enough to count their existence by years. Tran- sient undertakings for a special purpose, and some occasional papers not issued at regular intervals, have been omitted.
Fire- Companies.
In the year 1805, the city was impowered by the Legislature to establish fire-companies, consisting of eighteen men each ; a privi- lege that had been previously granted to Hartford, Middletown and Norwich. The fire-department was thus transferred from the town to the city authority. Three companies were soon afterward ac- knowledged, and to these a fourth was subsequently added. Two of the engines were new in 1848. In 1850, the Independent Nameaug Fire Company was formed, which purchased by subscription a superb engine, at the cost of $1,200. This fifth company is a voluntary un- dertaking, but like the others, under the control of the city fire-de- partment. Their discipline, neat equipments, and beautiful engine, rank them as the most brilliant fire-company in the state.
Turnpike Companies.
Three turnpike companies have been established at different peri- ods, having one of the termini of each at New London. The commis- sioners of the road leading from New London to Norwich, through the Mohegan reservation, were authorized to establish a gate and collect a toll, by a resolve of the General Assembly, in May, 1792. This was the first turnpike of the state, or perhaps coeval with a toll-gate established on the stage road in the town of Greenwich, Fairfield County. The commissioners on the Mohegan road were William Stewart and Samuel Wheat, of New London, Joseph How- land and Ebenezer Huntington, of Norwich. The railroad con- structed in 1849, along the bank of the river, in the same direction with this turnpike, now absorbs nearly the whole travel. The com-
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
pany, by consent of the legislature, have relinquished their charter, and during the present year, 1852, ceased to exist. The establish- ment of a railway is generally a death-blow to the nearest turnpike.
The Hartford and New London Turnpike Company was incorpo- rated in 1800. This company assumed the old highway of the town, leading west from State to Hempstead Street, and from the point where this ended, (on the north side of the Edgecombe house,) they opened an entirely new road to Colchester, further to the south, and less hilly and circuitous than the old country road that went out of the city by the present Granite and Vauxhall Streets. In 1829 that part of the road lying east of Huntington Street, was discontin- ued by the company, assumed by the city, and in 1845, the city ac- cepted another portion, lying west of Huntington Street, which has since been graded, furnished with sidewalks and called Broad Street. The turnpike road now commences at Williams Street.
The New London and Lyme Turnpike Company was incorporated in May, 1807, for the purpose of establishing a new and improved route from New London through Lyme to Connecticut River. This company commenced their road at the end of Bank Street, con- structed a bridge over Bream Cove, (the town assisting them with a bonus of $500, and the materials of the old bridge,) and opened a high- way over the neck to join the main road, forming a new entrance into the town. This new street was named by the city authorities in 1815, Shaw's Avenue.1
The ferry to Groton has been one of the standing embarrassments of the town. The disposition of it from the earliest times has been by leases, varying in term from one year to fifty years, and in rent from two or three pounds to two hundred dollars per annum. The ancient ferry wharf was near the head of Water Street, a position of manifest advantage when a sail-boat was used, as the high ground of Winthrop's Neck served as a protection from the winds and swell of the waves. It was comparatively easy, even in rugged weather, to round the point and run into the smooth water of the cove. The width of the river from this old wharf to the ferry wharf in Groton,
1 Among the improvements of modern times, a more refined taste in names is wor- thy of note. Shaw's Avenue was at first "the highway over Hog Neck." It would have been a disgrace to the town to retain such a name.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
as measured on the ice with a chain in February, 1741, was one hun- dred and fifty-four rods.
In 1794, the sum of $500 was raised by subscription, and a wharf built at the end of the Parade, which was accepted by the town as the only ferry wharf. The width of the river from this point to the opposite shore, as measured on the ice in January, 1821, was one hundred and forty-four rods, sixteen rods short of half a mile. The wharf was rebuilt in 1815. In 1821, a horse or team ferry-boat commenced running. This was an improvement on sculling, rowing and sails ; but it was often out of repair, and in some respects incon- venient and offensive. In 1849, an arrangement was made by the town with Maro M. Comstock, by which he was to have a lease of the ferry for ten years, (to Feb. 1st, 1849,) on condition of his run- ning a ferry-boat propelled by steam. Under this lease a steamboat was provided, seventy feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and of twenty- five horse-power, which furnishes the public with every requisite accommodation. .
The river is seldom frozen opposite the town, or much below the point of Winthrop's Neck. Such an event occurs however once in twelve, fifteen, or twenty years. In 1821, the harbor was closed for six days, commencing January 24th, and the ice extended below the town, nearly to the mouth of the river. In 1836, the frost was yet more intense and protracted. January 30th, the river was crossed on skates, but the same day the Bunker Hill steamer came up to the wharf, breaking through the ice, and landed her passengers. Feb- ruary 2d, the ship Newark, on her way to New York, came into the river in distress, and was brought up to the wharf, by cutting through ice six inches in thickness. On the 6th, a rare spectacle was pre- sented; the weather being fair, and the ice firm, a large number of people went out upon the river. Parties of both sexes and all ages, might be seen scattered over the harbor, some walking, and others on skates, while sleighs and teams were crossing back and forth from Groton. The ice was perfectly secure, a foot thick opposite the town, and about six inches at the light-house. A thaw commenced with a storm the next day.
In January, 1852, there was again a bridge of ice across the river which continued firm from the 21st to the 24th, inclusive. The steam ferry-boat kept a path open for crossing, but people crossed on foot by its side. A measurement was made of the width of the river from Coit's wharf to the Groton shore, and found to be about two- fifths of a mile.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
In 1835, a lot for a new or third burial-ground, was purchased by the city for $1,200. One-third part was reserved for free interments, and the remainder laid out in family lots.
Two of the most imposing funerals ever witnessed in the city, are connected with interments in this ground, viz., the burial of the Wal- ton family, and the re-interment of the remains of Commodore George W. Rodgers. These solemnities demand a more particular descrip- tion.
Among the passengers of the Atlantic wrecked on the coast of Fisher's Island, was an English emigrant family of the name of Wal- ton. They had sojourned a short time in West Newbury, Mass., and were then on their way to the far west. The father, mother, and four children perished. A young man, recently married to one of the daughters, and a boy, thirteen years of age, were all that sur- vived of a family of eight persons. They had no home in this coun- try-no departed relatives to whom they might be gathered-no friends to claim their remains, and bestow on them the last rites. This family was brought to New London, and the whole city sponta- neously pressed forward with offers of aid and sympathy to the be- reaved, and of an honorable sepulture for the dead.
A granite pillar, twenty feet in height from the surface, was raised over the graves of the family in the third burial-ground, with the fol- lowing inscription :
" Erected by citizens of New London, as a memorial of the loss of the steam. er Atlantic, wrecked on Fisher's Island, Nov. 27th, A. D., 1846.
" Near this spot are buried John Walton, aged 51. Jane A., his wife, aged 45, and their children, Mary-Ann, aged 18, (wife of Robert Vine,) John, aged 13, Eleanor-Jane, aged 11, and James, aged 6, natives of England, who with more than thirty others, perished in the wreck."1
Commodore Rodgers died in 1832, while in command of the U. S. naval force on the coast of Brazil, and was interred at Buenos Ayres. He had resided for some years in New London, and his family have since continued here. One of his sons, Lieut. Alexander P. Rodgers. was killed at the battle of Chepultepec, in Mexico, September 13th, 1837, and his remains brought to New London for interment. Sub- sequently the navy department made arrangements to have the re- mains of the commodore removed to this country. They were con-
1 Robert Vine and Jacob Walton, the survivors of this family, returned to their form er residence in West Newbury.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
veyed to New York in the U. S. ship Lexington, and brought from thence under a naval escort in charge of Commodore Kearney and other officers, and deposited by those of his son, June 6th, 1850. A great concourse of people, from this and the neighboring towns, as- sembled on the occasion. A band of music, belonging to the U. S. service was in attendance. Gov. Seymour, from Hartford, and his guards, were also present. The large number of persons that assem- bled on this occasion, and the blending of military pomp with relig- ious services and solemn martial music, rendered it an impressive scene.
The Union Bank of New London was incorporated in May, 1792. This and the Hartford Bank, chartered at the same session, are the oldest banking institutions in Connecticut. The New Haven Bank was chartered in October of the same year. The capital of the Union Bank is $100,000. Jedidiah Huntington was the first pres- ident ; John Hallam, cashier.
New London Bank, incorporated in May, 1807. Capital, $150,000. Elias Perkins, first president. Anthony Thatcher, cashier.
Savings Bank; May, 1827. The benefit of the seafaring popu- lation was the first and principal object that led to the formation of this institution. The members of the corporation enumerated in the act were the following :
William P. Cleaveland,
Nathaniel Saltonstall,
Ebenezer Learned,
Peter Richards,
Robert Coit,
Ezra Chappell,
Edward Learned,
Increase Wilson,
Isaac Thompson,
William P. Cleaveland, Jr.
Ephraim Chesebrough, Thomas West.
Archibald Mercer,
Charles S. Stockman,
Jirah Isham,
Guy Turner,
Nathaniel S. Perkins,
Thomas W. Williams,
Jacob B. Gurley.
The first president was Ezra Chappell.
Whaling Bank, May, 1833. Capital, $163,000. Coddington Bil- lings, first president ; Peter C. Turner, cashier.
Bank of Commerce. This company is recently organized, (Sept .; 1852,) under the free banking law, which was established by the legislature at their May session. Capital, $100,000. Acors Barns, president ; Charles Butler, cashier.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Several insurance companies have been incorporated during the last half-century, but some have made no use of their charters, and others have closed their accounts and ceased to exist. The oldest was the Union Insurance, chartered in 1805. The Marine and Fire was in operation from 1831 to 1842. The New London Marine was organized in July, 1847, but discontinued business in 1849.
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