History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 148

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 148

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Ethan Allen. Ebenezer Allen was three times mar- ried,-first to Eliza Bingham, and had one son, Eben- ezer B. He became a physician, married, and had two children.

Mr. Allen's second wife was Elizabeth Bass. To them were born two children, one of whom was Eliza- beth, who married for her second husband Myron Downs, of Chicago, and has nine children, all living in Chicago.

His third wife was Harriet Morgan, daughter of Elisha Morgan and Olive Coit, by whom he had six children, viz .: Ethan, Elisha M., Samuel C. M., died at forty-nine years, leaving five children ; Lucretia M., married, first, Eugene Hyde (deceased), of Norwich, and has two sons; second, to Dr. Elisha Morgan, of Wisconsin ; Barnabas Huntington, and Harriet M., who married Giles B. Williams, of Passaic, N. J.

He was a Whig and Republican in politics, and as such held the various town offices.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen were members of the Congre- gational Church, and he was a deacon of the same from 1817 until his death, Oct. 14, 1844. Mrs. Allen died March 16, 1880, aged eighty-three years, and at the same place and day Mrs. Hubbard Adams (mother of Mrs. Ethan Allen) died, aged eighty-one years.

Ethan Allen, son of Ebenezer, was born in Lisbon (now Sprague), Conn., Sept. 9, 1822. He received a common-school and academic education, and at sev- enteen began teaching, and taught four terms. Ever since he was eight years of age he has been engaged in the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods, first with his father till his death in 1844, then till 1860 with his brother, Elisha M., under the firm-name of E. & E. M. Allen, then till 1877 with his brother, Samuel C. M., firm-name being Allen & Bro. Upon the death of Samuel C. M., in 1877, Mr. Allen took in his original partner and brother, Elisha M., under the same firm-name, Allen & Bro. He is also inter- ested in the manufacturing business at Pittsfield, Mass., with his brother. While the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods is his principal business, yet he has dealt more or less extensively in wool.

He is a Republican in politics. He has been first selectman two years, and in 1857 was a member of the State Senate, serving as chairman of the Military Committee.

In his early life he took a deep interest in military affairs, and gradually rose from sergeant of a com- pany to that of colonel of the Third Connecticut National Guards.

Dec. 9, 1855, he married Mary E., daughter of Hub- bard and Sabrina Adams, and to them have been born (1) Ebenezer, a graduate of Highland Military Acad- emy, Worcester, Mass., and now in business with his father ; (2) Mary M .; (3) Sarah A., died at fourteen ; (4) Thomas H., a graduate of Highland Military Academy at Worcester, Mass .; (5) Morgan, died at four years ; (6) Harriet B .; (7) Olive C .; and (8) Maud E.

612

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Charles T. Hazen, son of Simeon Hazen and Temperance Sabin, was born in the town of Franklin (now Sprague), July 13, 1818. His great-grandfather was Thomas Hazen, a native of England, and settled in the town of Franklin at an early day. He was ac- companied by one or two brothers, who settled in other parts of New England. Thomas was a farmer. He had several children, one of whom was Moses, born in Franklin, and always remained there, in that portion which comprises the western part of Sprague. His children were Andrew, Levi, William, Simeon, and Sarah. He died at eighty-four years of age, on the farm now owned by his grandson, Charles T. Simeon Hazen was twice married,-first to a Miss Sampson, and had five children, viz. : Jolm, Polly (Mrs. Darius Armstrong), Lara (Mrs. Jeremiah K. Dow), Prosper, and Lois (Mrs. Calvin Ladd).

Mr. Hazen married for his second wife Temperance Sabin, and had five children,-Caroline, married Wil- liam H. Hazen; William, Eli H., Charles T., and Abby E.

Simeon Hazen held the various town offices; was a man esteemed for his many noble qualities. He died at the advanced age of ninety-five years, in July, 1864.

Charles Thomas Hazen received his education at the common schools. Mr. Hazen taught school some six terms during the winters, working on the farm summers. He has always been a farmer on the "Old Hazen" homestead in Sprague, except some seven years (from 1842 to 1849), when he lived on the Old Hartshorn place, near the centre of the town of Franklin. He married Mary, daughter of Ambrose and Elizabeth Armstrong, and granddaughter of Amos and Mary (Tinney) Armstrong, Jan. 9, 1842, and to them have been born Mary E. (Mrs. Daniel F. Tucker, of Columbia County) ; (2) Phebe E., married Adelbert R. Young, and have one daughter, Mabel Adell; and (3) James H., married Emma Jane Bar- low, and have two children, viz. : Mary W. and Flor- ence E.

In politics Mr. Hazen has always been a Democrat, as his fathers had been for generations before. He has held all the more important town offices for many years, not only in Sprague but in Franklin, such as assessor, first selectman, justice of the peace for more than twenty years, which he still retains, member of the board of relief, and member of the Legislature in 1860, serving on the Committee of Agriculture.

Mr. Hazen is an attendant and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Baltic. He is gener- ous towards all publie enterprises.

His father-in-law, Ambrose Armstrong, was a farmer and cabinet-maker, a Democrat in politics ; held the various town offices ; died June, 1863, aged eighty- two; wife died the same month, aged seventy-seven years. They left eight out of eleven children who grew to maturity, of which Mary, wife of Charles T. Hazen, was the fifth.

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

STONINGTON.1

PIONEER AND INDIAN HISTORY.

THIE claim of the Anglo race to the territory now embraced in Connecticut originated in the discoveries of Sebastian Cabot in 1497, while he was in the em- ployment of King Henry VII. of England.

No apparent effort was made on the part of that government to profit by Cabot's discoveries for more than a century, nor until 1606, when King James I. granted a charter to Thomas Hanham and others, which included our State in the boundaries.

But no permanent settlement took place under that charter in Connecticut. Soon after the Pilgrims left England for America, and before their arrival at Plymouth, to wit : on the 3d day of November, 1620, King James I. by letters patent under the Great Seal of England, incorporated forty noblemen, knights, and gentlemen, by the name of the Council established at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, ruling, and governing New England in America.

The territory included in that patent extended from the fortieth to the forty-eighth degree of north lati- tude, and east and west from sea to sea. It was or- dained by this patent that the country embraced in its boundaries should be called New England in America, and by that name have continnance forever.

In 1629 the Council of Plymouth granted to its president, Robert, Earl of Warwick, the territory granted by him in March, 1631, to William Viscount Say and Seal and others, as and for Connecticut; which grant the noble earl had confirmed to him by King Charles I. The territory now embraced in the town of Stonington was included in all of the fore- going discoveries, grants, patents, and charters.

The colony of Massachusetts having provided men and munitions of war for the conquest of the Pequot Indians in 1637,2 claimed an interest by right of con-

1 By Hon. Richard A. Wheeler.

2 " At a Generall Corte, at Boston, the 6th 3rd mº, 1646, Whereas John Winthrope, Junior, & othrs have by alowance of this Corte, begun a plan- tation in ye Pequod country, web appertaines to this jurisdiction, as pt of or pportion of ye conquered country, & whereas this Corte is informed yt some Indians, who are now planted upon ye place where this said plantation is begun, are willing to remove from their planting ground for ye more quiet & convenient settleing of ye English there, so that they may have anothr convenient place appointed-It is therefore ordred, yt ye said Mr. Winthrop may appoint unto such Indians as are willing to remove othr lands on ye othr side, yt is, on ye east side of ye great ryver of the Pequod country, or some other place for their convenient planting & subsistence, web may be to ye good likeing and due satisfaction of ye said Indians, & likewise to such of ye Pequod Indians as shall desire to live there, submiting themselves to ye English governt. (reserving to yo commission's of ye United Colonies what pply belongs to their disposing concerning ye said Peqnods), & also to set out ye place for ye said planta- tion, & to set out lots for such of ye English as are there already planted, or shall come to them, and to governe ye peoplo according to lawe, as occasion shall require, untill this Corte shall take further ordr therein ; & whereas Mr. Thom : Peter is intended to inhabite in ye said plantation, this Corte doth thinke fit to joyne him to assist ye said Mr. Winthrope, for ye better cariing on ye worke of ye said plantation according to this ordr."-Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay, vol. i. 160, 161.

Charles er Hazen

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STONINGTON.

quest in all the lands held by the Pequots before their overthrow, and determined to occupy it in ad- vance of any settlement on the part of the Connecti- cut authorities, though they had asserted jurisdiction as early as 1640-41-42 by granting lands thereof to Capt. John Mason and others. But, notwithstanding all this, Mr. John Winthrop, Jr., located himself at Pequot as early as 1645. The next year the Massa- chusetts General Court gave Mr. Winthrop a com- mission to begin a plantation there in behalf of that colony. Connecticut resisted the claims of Massa- chusetts, and in order to reach a peaceable settlement of all questions in dispute relative to jurisdiction, both colonies united in referring the whole matter to the commissioners of the United Colonies, who, after an exhaustive hearing in the premises, decided in favor of Connecticut.1 Massachusetts, dissatisfied with the result, brought the matter up again the next year before the commissioners, who refused to change their findings.2 Mr. Winthrop's planting at Pequot, or Nameaug, now New London, was the first settle- ment in Eastern Connecticut, and after the last de- cision of the commissioners he recognized the juris- diction of this colony, who in 1649 established the boundaries of his new township at four miles wide on each side of the river Thames, and six miles from the sea northwardly.

During the time that Mr. Winthrop was engaged in the early settlement of New London he became ac- quainted with William Chesebrough, then a resi- dent of Rehobeth, in the Plymouth Colony, and in-

vited him to join in the settlement of his new planta- tion. Mr. Chesebrough visited the place during the year 1645, but finding it unsuitable to his expecta- tions, did not conclude to settle there. On his way home he examined our town and selected a place for his future residence, and on which he erected a dwell- ing-house, and removed his family there during the year 1649, supposing that his new home was with- in the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. Connecticut having assumed jurisdiction and asserted her au- thority over all the territory embraced within her chartered limits, summoned Mr. Chesebrough to ap- pear before Capt. Mason at Saybrook, or some other magistrate upon Connecticut River, to give an ac- count to him or them of what he was doing alone in the wilderness outside the limits of any recognized township.

Mr. Chesebrough at first disregarded this order, claiming that his new home was within the jurisdic- tion of Massachusetts, but subsequently, acting under the advice and assurance of Mr. Winthrop and other friends at Pequot, he so far yielded to the authority of the colony of Connecticut as to appear at the Gen- eral Court at Hartford in March, 1651, and in answer to their summons said that he was not engaged in any unlawful trade with the Indians, and also as- sured them that his religious sentiments were in ac- cordance with those of the General Court ; that it was not his intention to remain alone and lead a solitary life in the wilderness, but that he should endeavor to induce a suitable number of his friends to join him and establish a new township.

On hearing his statement, the court so far changed its determination as to permit him to remain, on con- dition that he would give bonds not to engage in any unlawful trade with the Indians, and furnish to the court before the next winter the names of such per- sons as he might induce to settle with and around him at Wequetequock. The planters at New London were friendly with Mr. Chesebrough, and did not want him to remove unless he went there to live, nor did they like the idea of a new township in this region. After repeated conferences with him, they engaged that if he would put himself on the footing of an in- habitant of that town, they would confirm to him the title to his lands at Wequetequock. To this propo- sition he acceded, but the townsmen of New London soon discovered that they were making pledges that they had not the power to fulfill, for the eastern boundary of their then township did not extend but four miles east of the river Thames.

However, on request the General Court extended the eastern boundary of New London to Pawcatuck River, and then New London gave to Mr. Chesebrough a home-lot over there, which he never occupied.

In January, 1652, the town of New London re- deemed its promise to him, and gave a grant of con- firmation to Mr. Chesebrough and his sons of all the land they claimed in Stonington. Previous to the

1 " At a Meeting of the Commissioners for the United Colonies of New England at New Haven, September 9, 1646.

" An English plantation being lately begun by Mr. John Winthrop junior at Pequat, a question grew to which Colony the jurisdiction should belong. The Commissioners for the Massachusetts propounded an inter- est by conquest, the Commissioners for Connecticut by patent, purchase and conquest. It was remembered that in a treaty betwixt them at Cam- bridge 1638, not perfected, a proposition was made that Pequat River in reference to the conquest should be the bounds between them, but Mr. Fenwick was not then there to plead the patent, nor had Connecti- cut then any title to those lands by purchase or deed of gift from Uncas. But the plantation is on the west side of Pequat, and so within the bounds at first propounded for Connecticut. The Commissioners jointly agreed that an English plantation there being well ordered may in sun- dry respects be of good use to all the Colonies, and thought fit it should have all due encouragements, only they conceived unless hereafter the Massachusetts shew better title the jurisdiction should belong to Con- necticut."-C. J. Hoadley.

2 " At a Meeting of the Commissioners for the United Colonies of New England, held at Boston the 26th of July, 1647.

" The question concerning the jurisdiction of the English plantation lately settled on the west side of Pequat River was again taken into con- sideration by the Commissioners.

" Mr. John Winthrop now present exprest himself as more indifferent but affirmed that some of the planters sat down there in reference to the government and in expectation of large privileges from the Mattachu- setts, and should be much disappointed if that plantation fall and be set- tled under any other jurisdiction.

"The Commissioners considering what passed at New Haven last year, ard that in all the Colonies though the title to land may be several ways acquired, yet jurisdiction goeth constantly with the patent, they told Mr. John Winthrop that they doubted not but Connecticut would tenderly consider and afford such priviledges as may suit a plantation so remote, but concluded that the jurisdiction of that plantation doth and ought to belong to Connecticut."-C. J. Hoadley.

614

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

agreement of the General Court with Mr. Chesebrough, and the confirmation of his land to him and his sons by the town, Thomas Stanton, in 1650, procured of the General Court a license to ercet a trading-house at Paweatuck, with the exclusive right of trade in that region for three years. He immediately built and occupied the trading-house, but did not bring his family to Stonington until 1658. Thomas Miner, a former resident of Charlestown, Mass., and then of Hingham, eame to New London in 1645, received a home-lot there, and built a house on it the same year. He continued to reside there until 1652, when he eame to this place, and took up a traet of land east of and adjoining Wequetequock Cove, and during that year and the next erected a house thercon.

On the 30th day of June, 1652, the town of New London granted a tract of three hundred acres of land to Governor Haynes for a farm lying together on the east side of Wequetequoek Cove. When Walter Pal- mer (yielding to the request of his old friend Chese- brough to join him in settling the new township) came here and purchased this traet of land of Gov- ernor Haynes, but before he took his deed he found it covered and embraced the house and lands of Thomas Miner. So he and the Governor entered into a written agreement that Palmer should give a hun- dred pounds for the place, and such cattle as Mr. Haynes should select out of Palmer's stock. If any disagreement should arise as to the price of the stock, it should be decided by indifferent persons. This contract recognized the title to the house and lands occupied by Mr. Miner, and was dated July 15, 1653. Mr. Miner was selected to put Mr. Palmer in posses- sion of the land purchased of Governor Haynes, and did so by a written instrument, embodying therein a conveyance of his own land and dwelling-house (in- eluded in the boundaries of the Haynes land) to Mr. Palmer, reserving the right, however, to occupy his said house until he could build another at Mistuxet, now Quiambaug. The western boundary of Governor Haynes' land sold to Walter Palmer, including the house and lot of Thomas Miner, rested on the cove and the rivulet that enters the cove.

The other grants and purchases of land to and by Walter Palmer lay south of this purchase, and on the eastern slope of Togwonk, crossing Anguilla Brook, and embracing the large farms of the late Col. Wil- liam and Dudley Randall, in all some twelve hundred acres.

Mr. Thomas Miner built his new house at Mistuxet in 1652-53. Capt. George Denison and family joined the new settlement in 1654, erecting his house near Pequotsepos Brook. Capt. John Gallup and Robert Park, with their families, eame the same year, and settled near Mystic River. The new settlement being composed of men of note, progressed as rapidly as could be expected under the eirenmstances.

Mr. Chesebrough was now surrounded by a suffi- cient number of inhabitants to elaim corporate powers

from the General Court. The first local name that the settlement received was Mystic and Paweatuek, Mystic embracing the territory between Mystic River on the west and Stony Brook on the east, Pawca- tuck embracing the territory between Paweatuek River on the east and Stony Brook on the west. It being understood by the planters here, as a condition precedent to the new settlement, that as soon as a suitable number had joined them they should be in- corporated as a new town. So in 1654 they applied to the General Court for corporate powers. But no sooner made than it was opposed by New London, embracing Groton, and defeated.

The planters did not rest satisfied with their defeat, and resolved to agitate the matter until they sue- ceeded sooner or later. They were of the independ- ent Puritan stamp, and ready to make any sacrifice in defense of the right to worship God according to the dietates of their own conscience. But to be taxed for a minister at New London, some twelve miles away, with two rivers to eross to get there, and no ferry-boats, was a little too much for their Puritan- ism, so they were determined to have a town and a church of their own, and they continued to ask for them of the General Court, but were denied as often as they applied. In the early part of 1657 the Rev. William Thompson came here to reside, and preached to the planters a part of the time, and the rest of the time to the Pequot Indians. He was employed by the commissioners of the United Colonies, who were acting as the agents of the London Missionary So- ciety.

The first religious services were held at the dwelling- house of Walter Palmer, March 22, 1657. Services were subsequently held at the dwelling-houses of the planters, whose efforts were continued with unremit- ting determination to break loose from New London and organize for themselves a new town and church. They remembered that Massachusetts had previously elaimed a part or all of the Pequot territory, em- bracing Groton, Stonington, and Westerly, so they sought the friendship of Massachusetts in their con- test, and in October the planters, joined by the Rev. Mr. Thompson, prepared a memorial to the Massa- chusetts General Court,1 complaining of the course

1 " To the Honoured Gonernour, Deputy Gouernour & Magistrates, to- gether with the Deputies now assembled in the Generall Court, the peti- tion of the Inhabitants of Mistick & Pawquatuck, humbly sheweth that whereas we have taken severall grants of lands that we are now pos- sessed of from the Gonerment of Coneticot, lying upon the east side of Pequid River, being conquered land from the Pequids ; & since under- standing, that the Jurisdiction their of belongs not unto but is claimed by your selves & and that as we conceiue, instly, as apeares by the acts of the Commissioners in forty six, & forty seanen, we therfore humbly request the confirmation of those grants from this Honoured Court unto the present inhabitants : & that you would please to accept us under your Gouermen' : & grant unto us the Liberties & prinelledges of a Towne- shipp their being allready setled in this place about twenty families: And this conquered land being accepted of & owened by you, we hope may not be unprofitable to this common-wealth, it being sufficient to afford accommodations for another towne-shipp, which may (if it should seeme good to this Ilonoured Court so to dispose of it) be sufficient to grattify

615

STONINGTON.

pursued against them by the General Court of Con- necticut.1 Massachusetts notified Connecticut, who appointed a committee to confer with the planters here and bring the contest to an issue if possible. What was done in the premises cannot now be ascer -. tained, for no records of their proceedings have been preserved. In May, 1658, William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, and Walter Palmer, in behalf of the planters, petitioned the Massachusetts General Court again, stating that some of them were settled here by Governor Winthrop in 1649, by virtue of a commis- sion from that court, notwithstanding which they had been called to account for their doings under their authority, and asking for relief from such interfer- ences from the Connecticut authorities, and also for confirmation of their lands.2' But this was denied

such persons as have been deseruing in the conquest of that land; be- sides the commodity of one of the most convenient harbours in the land And will we hope be a meanes conducing much to our settlement & comfort, which we humbly expecting under your Gourment wher of we haue had former experience shall heartily pray : etc.

" Octob : 15 (57)

" GEOROE DENISON

"WM: THOMSON

" WALTER PALMER

" THO: STANTON

" JOHN GALLUP

" In the name of the rest of the Inhabitants & with their consents."

" The deputs desire or honord magists, would be pleased to give answer to this petn in the first place.

" WILLIAM TORREY Cleric."

" 20, 8 mo. 57, Iu Anst to this peticon ye magists Judge meet yt yr letter here to Anext should be sent from ys Court to ye Genll Court of Conecti- cott if theire brethren the depts Consent thereto.

"EDWARD RAWSON, Secrety."

" Consented to by the deputyes

" WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric."

1 " ANSWER TO CAPTAIN DENISON'S PETITION.

"Court Records, vol. vi., page 266.

"In ansr to the peticon of Georg Dennison, Wm Thompson, Walter Palter, Tho Stainton, and Jno Gallop, the Court judgeth it mete to order, that the letter here under writt be sent to the Generall Court of Conecticott by ye secretary.

"Gentn-Wee cannot but take notice of your claime unto and dis- posinge of the lands in the Pequot country wherein wee have alwaies challenged an interest, and yet see not reeson to lay downe the same wce have perused the judgment of the Comiss's in 46 and 47 that the Jurisdiction on the west side of Pequot river ought to belong to Conet- ticut till the Massatusets shew reason to the contrary, against wch we shal not at prest object conceiving there by our title to the lands on the east side the river to be (at least tacitely) yielded to us, notwithstaneting wch you have proceeded to dispose of these lands to diverse persons and to exercise Jusidiction over them, weh desire and expect you doe friendly yield up these aforesd lands on the east side of Pequot river unto us, and that you doe not further proceede to exercise authority over the Inhab- itants there, or to be grieveious to them, wth-out their owne consent till the matter be determined according to the articles of confederation if (at least) your owne justice shall not prevaile with you to yield it to us wthout that trouble, wee are moued at present to make knowne our claime to you, by a petition prsented to us from the Inhabitants thereof, supposing it will not be unacceptable to you that this business be issued peaceably & friendly, accordinge to the relation wherein wee mutually stand engaged, we shall not ad further at present but Comitt you to god & rest.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 148

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