History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 130

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317

USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 130

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1 See Chapter XXVIII.

53+

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Of legislators, Col. Roswell and Israel, of Ledyard ; Lyman, of Waterford; Calvin and James, of Mont- ville; Robert, of East Greenwich, R. I. James, of Montville, was county commissioner of New London County from 1869 to 1875, and one of the commis- sioners to locate and build a building in Norwich for the county of New London, town of Norwich, and city, known as Norwich City Hall.

In later times the Allyns and Bills have added to its reputation. Gurdon Bill and Charles Allyn in early life were in company in mercantile business, and were ever fast friends, as have their families been. The Bill family consists of six brothers, each of which has been distinguished in their several localities.

Of the Allyns, sons of Charles, of Ledyard, the eldest, Robert, perhaps has occupied a field of as much importance as any one of the distinguished citizens of which the town is justly proud. His early education was in the district school just mentioned, supplemented by a short attendance at the old Bacon Academy, in Colchester, after which he began teach- ing school in the town of East Lyme at the age of seventeen, and from that time prepared himself for college, teaching school winters, and spending the summer vacations at home with his father, who had removed to Montville and owned and improved a large farm. The farm as managed by his father was no idle place, neither would idleness suit young Allyn. Per- haps the vacation was as valuable for his education as any part of his training; no more thorough man or one who put a higher estimate on time and care for the time of others than his father, Charles Allyn.

Robert graduated at the Wesleyan University, Mid- dletown, in 1841, and was immediately employed as teacher in mathematics in the Wesleyan Academy, at Wilbraham, Mass. In 1845 he became principal of that institution. Under his management it increased in number of students and reputation for scholarship. He resigned his place in that institution to accept the position of principal and financial agent of the East Greenwich Academy, in Rhode Island, in 1848, and remained in that position till 1854, when he was appointed commissioner of public instruction in that State. He held that office for three years, when he was chosen to represent the town in the State Legis- lature for the years of 1852 and '54. In 1854 was ap- pointed by the President of the United States and commissioned by the Secretary of War (Jeff Davis) visitor at West Point Military Academy ; at that time R. E. Lee was superintendent. While there his fine social qualities helped him to a large and important acquaintance, and he did not fail to profit by his ob- servation of the methods of instruction practiced at that institution. In 1857 he removed to Ohio, and became professor of Greek and Latin in the Ohio University. At the end of two years he removed to Cincinnati, and became president of the Wesleyan Female College in that city, and remained here till

1863, when he resigned to accept the presidency of McKendree College, in Lebanon, Ill. Here he con- tinued till 1874, and then was chosen to be principal of the Lutheran Illinois Normal University, which the State was just opening. Here to a certain extent he was enabled to have his idea of what an American school should be. The male students receive at this institution practice in infantry and artillery cach day, taught by a regular graduate of West Point. Such a school in every State would soon leave no excuse for a national school, as each State would have qualified men who would come forward when needed. He holds that position at the present time.

JUDGES OF PROBATE.

Christopher Newton, Erastus Williams, Heury W. Avery, Samuel W. Wood, Edmund Spicer, Israel Allyn, James A. Billings, Jacob L. Gallup, Nathaniel B. Geer, John Brewster, George Fanning.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1837 TO 1882.

1837, Anson Avery; 1838-39, Henry Hullett ; 1840, Sanford Stoddard; 1841, D. B. Williams; 1842, Daniel Lamb; 1843, Roswell Allyn ; 1844, Jacob Gallup; 1845, S. Thomas; 1846, E. W. Brown ; 18-17, J. Brewster, Jr .; 1848, J. Gallup; 1819, E. Spicer; 1850, E. A. Satter- lee ; 1851, John Brewster; 1852, E. W. Brown; 1853, William M. Gray ; 1854, Ralph Hurlbutt ; 1855, E. W. Brown ; 1856, J. L. Gallup; 1857, N. M. Gallup, Jr. ; 1858, William L. Mann ; 1859, P. A. Wil- liams; 1860, S. Crandall; 1861, A. Reynolds ; 1862, W. Avery; 1863, William Fanning; 1864, A. L. Gallup; 1865, B. T. Lewis ; 1866; J. L. Gallup; 1867, N. Gallup, Jr .; 1868, Henry Larrabee; 1869, Israel Allyn; 1870, HI. Stoddard; 1871, William J. Brown; 1872, A. W. Turner; 1873, C. A. Brown ; 1874, L. II. Griswold; 1875, W. L. Main; 1876, F. Brewster; 1877, N. B. Allyn; 1878, John Brewster; 1879- 80, William T. Cook ; 1881, S. A. Crandall.

CHAPTER LV.

LEDYARD -- (Continued). BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Ralph Hurlbutt .- Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt was born May 19, 1767. On Jan. 10, 1790, he married Mary Jones, daughter of John and Sarah Jones. She was born Dec. 2, 1765, and died Dec. 20, 1851, aged eighty- six years. Rev. Mr. Hurlbutt was descended in a direct line from Lieut. Thomas Hurlbutt, who was appointed to the command of Fort Saybrook, Connec- ticut, 1636, and afterwards settled at Wethersfield in 1640.

Stephen Hurlbutt, great-grandfather of Ralph, set- tled in New London, Conn., between 1680 and 1690. His grandfather, John Hurlbutt, grew up and settled at Groton (now called Ledyard). His father, Rufus, was killed at Fort Griswold in 1776, aged forty years. Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt, the subject of this sketch, early embraced the Methodist faith and became a minister. He was the means of establishing the Methodist Church of Groton, and gave to this church his services as minister free. He preached almost to the last days of his life. He preached his last sermon sitting in his chair, being unable to stand. He was devoted to the interests of his church, and always ready to make any

Faith Hurtbut

M S

HIBBERD STODDARD.

Sanford Billing Stoddard

M-s

HENRY DENISON.

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LISBON.

personal sacrifice for the good of the cause. He was a member of the General Assembly in 1844, also jus- tice of the peace for many years, until his age disabled him for the duties of the office. He was for a long period judge of probate at Groton and Stonington. His life was one devoted in many ways to the interests and good of his fellow-men, and he died mourned by a large circle of friends.

Ralph Hurlbutt, nephew of Rev. Judge Ralph Hurlbutt, was born 1807, in Colchester (now Salem), Conn., came to Groton 1810, and settled on the farm on which he now resides. He married in 1833 Mar- garet Bolles. They have five children, three living,- Tabitha E., the oldest living child, married Robert M. Bailey ; son George W. married Lucia A. Perkins; and H. W. Hurlbutt.

Henry Denison was born in Stonington, April 8, 1793. His father was a farmer. At the age of twenty- one he began the world for himself. Two years after- wards he married Lucy Smith, of Groton. Their children are Lucy A., born Jan. 27, 1818; Hannah L., born Sept. 27, 1820 ; Eunice R., born Oct. 30, 1822; Julia A., born Feb. 22, 1825; William H., born Feb. 18, 1828 ; Harriet A., born Jan. 5, 1831 ; Rowland S., born Oct. 25, 1832; Emily. F., born Jan. 16, 1836; Jennie A., born Sept. 5, 1838; Jerome A., born Sept. 5, 1838, twin to Jennie, all of whom are now living. Mr. Denison is now living in Ledyard in the eighty- eighth year of his age. He receives a pension, hav- ing served in the war of 1812.

Hibberd Stoddard was born March 26, 1783. He married Betsey Mallison in 1809. Was a farmer, and served in the war of the Revolution. Their chil- dren, five in number, were Hibberd, Betsey, Mary, Jane, and Stephen James. Jane died in infancy ; Betsey married Capt. Benjamin Crowell ; Stephen J. married Susan J. Fish. Mr. Stoddard died June 19, 1866.

Sanford B. Stoddard .- Sanford B., eldest son of Sanford Stoddard, was born in Groton,1 Conn., Dec. 4, 1813. His father was a sea-captain. Having re- ceived a common-school education, young Sanford went on the water with his father while yet a boy. At the age of twenty-two he went before the mast; two years later he became mate, serving in that ca- pacity for two years, when he was again promoted to the position of captain. In 1842 he married Miss Mary, daughter of Hibberd Stoddard, of Ledyard, Conn. The children born to them were Mary Eliza- beth, Sanford B., and Jane F.

Capt. Stoddard left the sea soon after he was mar- ried. He has since devoted most of his time to farm- ing, and now lives in peace and plenty with his family on the old farm which has been in the family since the year 1700.

1 The town having since been divided, that portion is now Ledyard.

CHAPTER LVI.

LISBON.

Geographical - Topographical - Indian Claims - The Surrenderers - Owaneco's Deed to James Fitch-Pioneer Settlements-Names of the Pioneers-Ecclesiastical Ilistory-Civil History-Organization of the Town-Representatives from 1786 to 1882.

THE town of Lisbon lies on the north border of the county and is bounded as follows : on the north by Windham County, on the east by Griswold, on the south by Preston, and on the west by Norwich and Sprague. Its surface is hilly.

The territory embraced within the present bounds of the town belonged to the Mohegans, and at an early period was inhabited by a band of Indians trib- utary to Uncas, known as the Showtuckets. It was claimed by the town of Norwich, as will be seen by the following record :

" Feb. 25, 1669.

"The towne having seriously taken into their consideration the con- dition of Awaneco, the Sachem, being in hazard of the loss of his Sa- chemship for want of land to accommodate his subjects, for his reliefe herein the towne have seen canse to give unto the said Awaneco a par- cell of land. Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell, and John Post are to lay out to him 200 or 300 acres at their discretion, near Showtucket River, and abntting southerly on Queenapaug River, secured also to his heirs and successors, but not in their power to alienate any part of it."

Certain regulations were attached to this grant, and the act concludes as follows :

"It is further engaged by Oweneco, that whereas as he hath received these lands by gift from the town of Norwich, the town does order that he shall forbear on the Sabbath day from working, hunting, fishing, or any servile labor, and if any of his subjects be found guilty of this vio- lation they shall be liable to be punished, and to these said and above- specified particulars the said Oweneco doth bind and engage himself, his heirs, and lawful successors.

" Consented to and subscribed by Oweneco, March 22, 1669.

" Mark of OWENEKO.

" Witnesses :

" JAMES FITCH,

" JOHN MASON, JR.

"On this grant the sachem gathered his special clan, probably some twenty or thirty families. An annual tribute of ten deerskins was at first demanded of them, but the scarcity of deer in the vicinity ren- dered that regulation a dead letter. Moreover, the village was soon broken up by the war with Philip, which called the sachem and his warriors to the field and scattered the women and children among their neighbors.

" When the conflict was over a part of this tract was assigned to the Indian fugitives, called Surrenderers, and in May, 1678, Mr. Fitch reported to the govern- ment that twenty-nine families of this class had set- tled upon it under the supervision of the English.

" By a deed of trust, Dec. 22, 1680, Owaneco as- signed to James Fitch, Jr., the care and disposition of all his lands on Quinnebaug River. A few years later absolute deeds of sale of these and other tracts of land were executed by the sachem in favor of the same Capt. Fitch.

" In 1695, Owaneco and Capt. Samuel Mason, who

536

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

by his own choice and the authority of the govern- ment had been appointed his- trustee, requested that a committee of the town should be empowered to sur- vey the three-hundred-acre grant and fix its bounds.

"The next year Capt. Fitch, being then proprie- tary clerk, recorded the whole grant to himself, as in- cluded in the large purchases he had made of Owan- eco in 1684 and 1687. The town entered a formal protest against the claims of Capt. Fitch, particularly to the three hundred acres at Quinnebaug Falls, which had been guaranteed to the Indians with a proviso that it should not be alienated.

" The course of Capt. Fitch in regard to these In- dian purchases was distasteful to the town, and no clear account can be given of the basis upon which the difficulty was settled. Apparently the town, after some murmuring, acquiesced in the claim of Capt. Fitch to what was called the eighteen-hundred-acre grant.

"Capt. Fitch sold this grant in 1694 and 1695 to certain purchasers from Ipswich, Mass., viz. : Joseph Safford, Richard Smith, Meshach Farley, Matthew Perkins, and Samuel Bishop.

" Joseph and Jacob Perkins, also of Ipswich, pur- chased a tract between the rivers in 1695 of John Fitch, and subsequently bought also a part of the eighteen-hundred-acre grant from the former pur- chasers.

"Settlements were immediately commenced, and in 1718 sixteen persons on the roll of accepted inhabit- ants were characterized as farmers in ye crotch of ye rivers,-Samuel Bishop, Samuel Coy, Eleazar Jewett, David Knight, Daniel Longbottom, Samuel Lothrop, Jabez Perkins, Joseph Perkins, Josiah Read, Josiah Read, Jr., Joseph Read, John Read, William Read, Samuel Rood, Samuel Rood, Jr., Henry Wallbridge.

"Samuel and John Bishop were early settlers in this district. They were probably brothers, and sons or grandsons of Thomas Bishop, of Ipswich. Samuel married, in 1706, Sarah Forbes. John, in 1718, mar- ried Mary Bingham. Samuel was admitted 1702, and John in 1710.

" Matthew Coy obtained a grant of land east of the Shetucket in 1685. His cattle-mark was registered still earlier. He was probably that Matthew Coy (son of Matthew ) whose birth was recorded at Boston, Sept. 5, 1656.

"Samuel Coy, of Newent, may have been a brother or a son of Matthew, but no such connection has been traced. He had a son Abraham baptized in 1719.

" Eleazer Jewett, Dec. 5, 1698, purchased of Messrs. Waterman and Bushnell, agents of the town, seventy- five acres of land near the Shetucket River. He is supposed to have come from Rowley, Mass. His son, the second Eleazer Jewett, died in 1747, at which time the father was still living. The third of the name was the founder of Jewett City village.

" David Knight married, March 17, 1691-92, Sarah Backus. Land was granted him in 1700 for repairing

the meeting-house and school-house. He died in 1744.

"Daniel Longbottom was an inhabitant in 1698, and was chosen one of the surveyors in 1702. Him- self, wife, and six children were baptized by Mr. Woodward in September, 1718. He died in 1729.

"Jabez and Joseph Perkins, admitted 1701, were sons of Jacob Perkins, of Ipswich, and commenced their agricultural improvements between the rivers in 1695, holding their land in common until 1720, when it was equally divided between them. Joseph died in 1726, and Jabez in 1742. They left large estates and thriving families.

" Josiah Reed has been already noticed as one of the original proprietors of Norwich. His four sons are here enumerated with him as independent land- owners and accepted inhabitants.

"Samuel Rood was the son of Thomas and Saralı Rood, and born in 1666. In 1687 he became a house- holder, having his residence ‘below Showtucket Falls.'

" Henry Wallbridge was an accepted inhabitant in 1702. William is mentioned in 1719, Amos in 1721.

" Richard Adams, though not on the list of 1718, was an early proprietor between the rivers. He prob- ably came from Sudbury, and may have been the soldier of that name who was wounded in the great swamp-fight with the Narragansetts, Dec. 19, 1675. His wife, Rebecca, was received into full communion by Mr. Woodward in 1708, and three of his children baptized. He died Aug. 24, 1728. His will mentions ten children, among whom were four married daugh- ters,-Hannah Bacon, Mary Baldwin, Abigail Brown, and Rebecca Haggitt.

" William Adams, perhaps brother of Richard, died in 1727. Eliashib Adams, of Preston, died May 15, 1733.

"John Safford is mentioned as an inhabitant of Norwich in 1698. John, Joseph, and Solomon, of the next generation, were probably his sons.

" John Lambert was an early resident in Newent Society. He died July 30, 1727.

" Another name found in this society at an early period is that of Burnham. Eleazar Burnham was recognized as an inhabitant in 1793. He was prob- ably the son of Thomas, and born at Ipswich in Sep- tember, 1678. He married Lydia Waterman, Nov. 20, 1708, and died in 1743.

"James Burnham, admitted as an inhabitant in 1710, married in 1728 Elizabeth Hough, and died May 22, 1757.

" Aaron Burnham, a seaman, first mentioned in 1718; cattle-mark enrolled in 1720; died Aug. 18, 1727. His will was proved at Ipswich, October 9th of that year. His wife was the sole legatee.

"Benjamin Burnham, admitted in 1726 ; married, April 20, 1727, Mary Kinsman. He died Oct. 15, 1737.

"These four persons came from Ipswich before

537

LISBON.

1720. The Kinsmans, Palmers, and Stevenses were later emigrants, probably from the same place. The Lovetts came from Beverly, the Rathbuns from Block Island, and Thomas Crosby from Barnstable.

" Robert Kinsman was admitted an inhabitant Dec. 5, 1721. He was one of the selectmen in 1725 and 1728.

"The settlement of Newent was for many years obstructed by the diversity of claims arising from a confusion of grants and conveyances. In 1723 a committee was appointed "to enquire into and gain as good an understanding as they can come at re- specting the Indians land in the Crotch of Quinebang and Showtucket Rivers.' 1

" In 1725 the proprietors of the common and undi- vided land put an end to all controversy by giving a quit-claim deed to Capt. Jabez Perkins, Lieut. Samuel Bishop, Mr. Joseph Perkins, and Mr. John Safford of all the Indian land in the crotch of the rivers, and of all contained in Maj. Fitch's eighteen-hundred-acre grant, for the sum of seventy-five pounds money in hand paid to said proprietors, provided that the In- dians shall be allowed to remain and occupy the tract that had been secured to them. To these purchasers and to those who should claim under them the town confirmed the title of reversion. The Indians dwindled away, and in 1745 the descendants of Owa- neco and other principal Mohegans, for the sum of one hundred and thirty-seven pounds, executed a quit-claim deed of the Indian reservation in favor of the English claimants. This instrument, which ex- tinguished the last aboriginal claim to land in the Nine-miles square, was in substance as follows :

"Ann alias Cutoil, Betty Auenm widow, Wedemow daughter of Ma- homet deceased, Ann, otherwise young Ben's wife, all of whom are de- scendants of Owaneco, late sachem of Mohegan, and the said young Ben or Ben Uncas Jr. and Daniel Panganeek, all of Mohegan, for the con- sideration of 137 pounds in bills of credit-to Capt. Samuel Bishop, Jo- seph Perkins, Jacob Perkins, Jolin Safford, Joseph Safford, and Solomon Safford, to all of them in proportion as they now possess-do now relin- quish all right and title to the tract of 300 acres more or less in Newent, in the crotch of the rivers Quinebaug and Showtucket, called the Indian Land, abutting southeasterly on the Quinebaug, April 9, 1745.2

" Witnesses, ISAAC HUNTINGTON, " ASA WORTHINGTON."3

Congregational Church .- The ecclesiastical soci- ety in this place was organized in 1723, the town hav- ing previously appropriated sixty acres of land for the use of the first minister that should settle there. The affairs of the society were entirely under the control of the Perkins family, as appears from the following entry :

1 After this Indian reservation had been entirely cleared of native oc- cupants one of the English owners found at a certain time an old Indian woman, who had come from a distance, barking his birch-trees and otherwise trespassing upon his grounds, and upon remonstrating with her was met with a fiery and indignant rejoinder. "This land yours !" she exclaimed. "How you get it? Indian land, all of it; you white folks come here, drive away poor Indian, and steal his land; that the way you get it !"

This no doubt expresses in a homely way the feeling of many of the aborigines, as from time to time they have relinquished their ancient seats to the whites and retired into the wilderness.

2 Norwich deeds.

3 Miss Caulkins.

Jan. 17, 1720. In town meeting ordered, that if the Perkinses at their return from Boston, do not bring with them a minister to preach in the crotch of the river, or satisfy the selectmen they shall have one speedily, the rate-makers shall put them into the minister's rate.

The church was constituted and Rev. Daniel Kirt- land ordained its minister, Dec. 10, 1723. The orig- inal members were Daniel Kirtland, the pastor, Sam- uel Lathrop and Joseph Perkins, who were chosen deacons, John Bishop, Jeremiah Tracy (son of Thomas Tracy, of Preston), Isaac Lawrence, and Isaac Law- rence, Jr.,-the church resting upon seven pillars, a favorite number in that day.

The church agreed to profess discipline according to the Cambridge Platform. They professed to believe "that all organized church acts proceeded after the manner of a mixed administration, and could not be consummated without the consent of both elders and brotherhood." In this they agreed with the two older societies of Norwich.

Before the formation of this church the inhabitants between the rivers had been accustomed to attend meeting at the town plot, the distance for some of them being about eight miles. The older people went on horseback, the women on pillions behind the men, but the young people often traveled the whole distance, going and returning, on foot.

Church-going in former days was a serious and earnest duty. None stayed away from the house of worship that could by extremest effort get there. On horseback or on foot, over wearisome roads or through lonely by-paths that shortened the distance, they came with their households to obtain a portion of the truth. "Many a time," says Rev. Levi Nelson, " while passing over the society, has my attention been arrested to notice the paths, now given up, where they used to make their rugged way to the house of God almost as surely as the holy Sabbath returned."

And when there, how intently and with what eager- ness to profit they listened. "To this day," says the same reverend author, " I love to think of their ap- pearance in the house of God, of the seats they occu- pied, and of their significant motions to express their approbation of the truth."

The new society took the name of Newent, un- doubtedly at the suggestion of the brothers Perkins, and, according to tradition, in remembrance of a place of that name in Gloucestershire, England, from whence the family came.

The meeting-house was probably built immediately after the church was gathered.

1723. Sixty acres of land granted by the town to the Society in the crotch of the rivers for the first minister that shall settle there.

The same to be given to the Society over the Shetucket for their first minister.

Jan. 4, 1725-6. The proprietors grant that spot of land the Newent meeting house now stands upon and ye common land adjoining to it to that Society for their use so long as they shall have occasion for it.

Lieut. Jabez Hyde.

Deacon Christopher Huntington.

Capt. Benajah Bushnell.

JOSEPH TRACY, Moderator. Thomas Adgate.

Joseph Backus. Richard Hyde.

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

The site of this building was abont half a mile south of the present edifice, and continued to be used until about 1770.

The inhabitants of Newent, in a petition to the General Court, October session, 1727, state that they had been afflicted with a distressing sickness for two successive years, especially in summer. In 1726 every family but one was smitten, and about twenty persons died in three months. In the summer of 1727 every family, with no exception, felt the scourge, and one-sixth of the male heads of families died. The farmers could not secure their crops, and though kindly assisted by people from other parishes, they lost some of their grain and much of their hay.

Rev. Daniel Kirkland (Kirtland) was a native of Saybrook, born in 1701, and graduated at Yale Col- lege in 1720. His ministry in Newent was of nearly thirty years' duration. He was a man of scholastic habits and high aspirations, but of sensitive organ- ization. His failing health led to his dismission from the pastorate in 1752. Recovering partially, he was installed at Groton in 1755, but after two years of service he again broke down, and returning to his old home in Norwich, there remained till his death, which occurred in May, 1773.

Mr. Kirkland had ten or twelve children. His sec- ond son, John, born Nov. 15, 1735, was one of the first settlers of Norwich, Mass. Another son, Samuel, born Dec. 1, 1741, is well known as the Oneida mis- sionary, one of the most energetic, faithful, and self- denying men born within the limits of the old town of Norwich.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 130

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1317

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317