USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 169
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187
1843 .- Ephraim Williams, Elias B. Brown, Benjamin F. Langworthy, John Davis, Henry Noyes, Oliver B. Grant.
1844 .- Ephraim Williams, Elias B. Brown, John Davis, Oliver B. Grant, Henry Sheffield, Ezra Miner.
1845 .- Elias B. Brown, Oliver B. Grant, Benjamin F. Palmer, Ilenry Sheffield, Richard A. Wheeler.
1846 .- Ephraim Williams, Benjamin F. Palmer, Henry Sheffield, Richard A. Wheeler, Hiram Shaw, Perez Wheeler, Giles C. Smith.
1847 .- Benjamin F. Palmer, Hiram Shaw, Perez Wheeler, Giles C. Smith, John W. Hull, Francis Sheffield, Samuel Copp.
1848 .- Hliram Shaw, Giles C. Smith, John W. Hull, Samuel Copp, Elias P. Randall, Pitts D. Frink, Ilemy Harding.
1849 .- Giles C. Smith, Elias P. Randall, Pitts D. Frink, Peleg Noyes, Daniel P. Collings, David N. Prentice, George D. Hyde.
1850 .- Giles C. Smith, Pitts D. Frink, Peleg Noyes, David N. Prontico, Ezra Chesebro.
1851,-Giles C. Smith, Pitts D. Frink, Peleg Noyes, David N. P'rentice, Ezra Chesebro.
1852 .- Giles C. Smith, Pitts D. Frink, Peleg Noyes, David N. Prentice, Ezra Chiesebro.
1853 .- John W. Ifull, Elisha D. Wightman, Ezra Chesebro.
1854 .- John W. Hull, Clark Greenman, Henry Sheffield.
1855 .- Henry Shetfield, Harris Pendleton, Mason C. Ilill.
1856 .- Henry Sheffield, Harris Pendleton, Jr., Mason C. Hill.
1857-58 .- Alexander S. Palmer, William C. Moss, Leonard C. Williams.
1859-60 .- Horace R. Hall, William S. Noyes, Franklin Williams, Leonard C. Williams, Benjamin B. Hewitt.
1861 .- Horace R. Ilall, William S. Noyes, Leonard C. Williams, Benjamin B. Hewitt, Harris Pendleton, Jr.
1862 .- Ilorace R. Hall, William S. Noyes, Leonard C. Williams, Benja- min B. Hewitt, Thomas E. Swan.
1863 .- Iforace R. Hall, William S. Noyes, Benjamin B. Hewitt, Thomas E. Swan, Benjamin F. Stanton (2).
1864-65 .- Horace R. Hall, Benjamin B. Hewitt, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Gurdon S. Crandall, Charles 11. Denison.
1866 .- Horace R. Hall, Benjamin B. Hewitt, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Gurdon S. Crandall, Charles Grinnell.
1867 .- Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Gurdon S. Crandall, Charles Grinnell, Nathan G. Wheeler, Charles II. Rhodes.
IS68 .- Ilorace R. Ilall, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles Grinnell, George S. Brewster, Nathan G. Wheeler.
1869 .- Horace R. Hall, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles Grinnell, Geo. S .- Brewster, Nathan G. Wheeler.
1870 .- George S. Brewster, Charles Burch, Joseph S. Williams, Sr., Charles S. Bennett.
1871 .- Leonard C. Williams, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles Grinnell, Amos B. Taylor, Samuel H. Chesebro.
1872 .- Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles II. Rhodes, Joseph S. Williams, Nathan G. Wheeler, William E. Brewster.
1873 .- Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles II. Rhodes, Joseph S. Williams, Nathan G. Wheeler, William E. Brewster.
1874 .- Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles H. Rhodes, Joseph S. Williams, Nathan G. Wheeler, William E. Brewster.
1875 .- Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Charles If. Rhodes, Joseph S. Williams, William E. Brewster, Leonard C. Williams.
1876 .- John Forsyth, Samuel HI. Chesebro, Abel H. Hinckley, George W. Bliven.
1877 .- Elijah A. Morgan, Charles Grinnell, Samuel H. Chesebro, John Forsyth, George W. Bliven.
1878 .- Elias Babcock, Joseph S. Williams, Jr., Elijah A. Morgan, Charles Grinnell, George W. Bliven.
1879 .- Elias Babcock, Alexander G. Frink, Joseph S. Williams, Jr., Joseph E. Smith, Benjamin F. Stanton (2).
1880 .- Elijah A. Morgan, Benjamin F. Stanton (2), Elias Babcock, Joseph S. Williams, Jr., Laughlin Harty.
1881 .- Elijah A. Morgan, George S. Brewster, Laughlin Harty, Benja- min F. Stanton (2), Joseph S. Williams, Jr.
Stonington Borough was organized as such by a charter in 1801, making all needful rules and regula- tions for the government thereof. It was organized with the Hon. Charles Phelps, warden; Nathaniel
4
STONINGTON.
Miner, Esq., Capt. Amos Palmer, Mr. Edward Smith, Elijah Palmer, Esq., Col. Joseph Smith, Mr. Benja- min Smith, Mr. Jubish Holmes, Capt. Nathan Smith, burgesses; Dr. William Lord, treasurer; Capt. Na- thaniel Fanning, clerk; Mr. Oliver York, bailiff.
Custom-House Officers .- The Stonington district was established in 1842, since which the following persons have held the office of collector : Giles R. Hallam, Oliver York, Ezra Chesebrough, B. F. States, Ephraim Williams, Franklin A. Palmer, Horace H. Trumbull, George Hubbard. At present William Williams is deputy collector in charge.
WAR OF 1861-65.
Stonington was largely interested in commerce be- fore the war of 1812, which revived after its close. Manufacturing was introduced and successfully pur- sued on a large scale in the State of Connecticut, this town having a full share. Nothing of importance beyond the yearly routine of town and State elections, with a Presidential election every four years, hap- pened in our midst to attract particular attention until the Mexican war. But that did not materially affect our interests; it only served to stimulate the politics of the day. Later on the acquisition of terri- tory resulting from the war brought to the surface again the irrepressible conflict between slavery and freedom. The conflict of opinions between the North and the South began to assume a more violent form, and finally culminated in open rebellion.
After the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, in 1860, and the Southern States began to secede, this town favored coercive measures at once, and sent to our armies many of her best and bravest sons. The following list shows the men who enlisted from this town, not the men who made up the quota that we were required to fill :
THE ROLL OF HONOR. Infantry.
FIRST REGIMENT. COMPANY G.
James B. Anderson.
SECOND REGIMENT.
RIFLE COMPANY B.
Peter McEwen.
RIFLE COMPANY C.
James H. Lathan, William W. Latham, Herbert E. Maxson, Theodore C. Smith, Robert P. Wilbur.
THIRD REGIMENT.
RIFLE COMPANY D.
Charles J. Edwards.
FIFTH REGIMENT.
COMPANY G.
Albert L. Gavitt (sergt.), George W. Wilcox, Alhert C. Burdick, Albert C. Andrews, Jolın C. Briggs, Charles C. Brightman, George Bedford, Wm. H. Noyes (pro. Ist lieut.), Isaac E. Norman, Frank Vanaken, Francis Alvey.
COMPANY K.
Joseph N. Banks, Edward L. Cordner, John H. Nye, Erastus D. Smith, Nathaniel P. Wolf.
EIGHTH REGIMENT.
COMPANY D.
Horace Burton.
COMPANY E.
Capt. Thomas D. Sheffield (pro. lient .- col.), Lafayette Starr.
COMPANY G.
Ist Lient. Thomas D. Sheffield (pro. capt.) ; 2d Lient. Henry E. Morgan (pro. Ist lieut.) ; Sergeants Andrew M. Morgan (pro. capt.), Joseph C. Langworthy ; Corporals Leonidas A. Barter, Wm. II. Lamphear, Francis V. D. Sloan, Thos. C. Curtis, John H. Smith, Oscar W. Hewitt; John B. Averill, Franklin II. Crumb, James A. Peabody, Isaac Allen, George H. Barney, Charles Baird, Thomas Bedford, Henry Brannan, Thomas Brannan, Sanford P. Burdick, Horace Burton, David S. Bry- ant, Thomas Casey, Charles W. Clarke, William P. Clarke, Patrick Conlon, Ethan A. Collins, James P. Conlan, Charles H. Culver, Ben- jamin Crossley, Alpheus G. Davis, Alfred Dixon, Oliver A. Eccleston, Albert S. Edwards, Charles J. Edwards, John L. Edwards, George W. Foster, Marius E. French, Edward Gavin, Dennis Geary, Wm. Geary, Charles W. Hall, Ilenry Hallam, Hazzard Holland, James E. Hol- dredge, Francis Jager, Henry G. Knowles, Charles D. Lamphear, Clark F. Lamphear, Wm. Lamphear, Michael Lombard, Thomas H. Lord, John McCarthy, Franklin Mason, John M. Maynard, Erastus D. Miner, Joseph D. Nye, Stephen F. Nye, Jerome A. Palmer, Wm. R. Palmer, Wm. H. Potter, David W. Price, Jr., Wm. Reed, Ebenezer Rose, Patrick Shay, Horace Slocum, Henry Staplim, George II. Shep- ard, Charles Stebbins, Wm. Terwilliger, Nehemiah D. Tinker, George Usher, Charles B. Wilcox, John Walker, Wm. D. Wilcox, Edward Willis, John F. Cory, Courtland II. Durfee, Michael Farly, John C. Knowles, Benjamin A. Kempton, Ebenezer Rose, Ebenezer Rose, Jr., George Randall Jr., Barney Sisson, Henry E. Wells. John Miner, Joseph Milners, Wm. C. Macomber.
NINTH REGIMENT. COMPANY G.
Oswald Reed, Thomas McGregor.
COMPANY H.
Corporal Dudley Lewis.
TENTH REGIMENT.
COMPANY F.
Samuel Bentley.
COMPANY II.
William Pond.
TWELFTH REGIMENT. COMPANY K.
Ist Lieut. James D. Roach (pro. capt.); Sergeants William B. Lucas, George W. Stedman (pro. Ist lieut.); Stanton Allyn, Gurdon Green, Patrick Barnes, Charles W. Bicknell, Cornelius Burgoyne, William Butterworth, Ori E. Chapman, Levi A. Clarke, Charles H. Comstock, Edmund Congdon, James Crowley, Nathan Davis, George Fitzger- ald, Richard Lever, John Lucy, Felix McArdle, Hugh McColligan, John Murphy. Henry B. Pinney, Michael Ryan, William II. Rey- nolds, William Scott.
THIRTEENTII REGIMENT.
COMPANY K.
Clarence D. Payne, John E. Wheelock.
FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. COMPANY A.
William Brown, Charles F. Chester, George II. Snyder.
COMPANY B.
Thomas Holt, George Harris. COMPANY D.
Andrew Lovejoy, James Needhanı.
COMPANY E.
Samuel Steele.
COMPANY F.
Michael Henderson.
COMPANY G.
Thomas Kain, George W. Starr.
COMPANY H.
Charles Duncan, Charles E. Jones, John McDonald.
COMPANY I.
Ist Lieut. William Thompson.
689
690
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
COMPANY K. .
Corporal Paul l'. Noyes, Frank Coleman.
EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT. COMPANY K. John Loonnun, George Williams.
TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
Joseph Lombra. COMPANY A.
COMPANY G.
Maurice L. Nunan.
TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. COMPANY E.
Capt. Charles T. Stanton, Jr. (pro. maj.); Ist Lient. Henry R. Jennings; 2d Lient. Franklin H. Davis ; Sergeants James B. Vanderwater, James II. Carter, Howard E. Miner, John F. Trumbull (pro. Ist lieut.), Walter P. Long (pro. capt.); Corporals Seth Slack, John L. Ilill, William R. Targee, Jr., Charles II. Crumb, Nelson Wilcox, John J. McMillen, Joseph II. Newberry, Erastus Holmes; Charles G. Avery, Jesse Bennett, William C. Burdick, Oliver A. Brown, Al- fred L. Burdick, Joseph L. Burdick, Denison Brightman, Joseph W. Carpenter, William W. Crandall, William Conway, Charles L. Cordner, William Dunham, John C. Douglas, Samuel Denison, Elias N. Davis, George Eccleston, George W. Eldridge, George W. Frazier, Jr., William II. Frazier, Arvine A. Frazier, Lewis H. Gerry, Lyman Greene, William Gardner, John levy, Amos F. Heath, William F. Hancox, Amos S. Ilancox, Albert F. Harris, Joseph E. Harrington, Palmer Hulet, Ranson Jackson (pro. Ist liout.), Robert Kulbeck, Leonard O. Lamphere, Richard Lever, Patrick H. Mulligan, Bene- diet W. Morgan, Charles L. Miner, Francis J. Musgrave, George R. Newberry, Nathan Noyes, Wait W. Ridabock, George Root, William II. Robinson, Henry D. Smith, Gardner B. Smith, Charles Smith, Damel D. Tift, John L. Tilt, Frederick O. Tucker, Charles II. Tay- Jor, Abram Vanauken, Leonard Wilcox, Harlem H. Wilcox, Rufus C. White, Charles II. Williams.
Stafford Holland.
Robert Sutcliff.
COMPANY H.
Charles F. Brown.
COMPANY K.
Alexander Buchanan.
TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. COMPANY II.
Capt. David Champlin; Ist Lieut. John F. Jencks; 2d Lieut. Samuel K. Tillinghast (pro. Ist lieut.); Sergeants Henry II. Packard, John Il. Morgan, Thomas W. Grace, William M. Sherman, Thomas W. Gardiner; Corporals George E. Brayton, Frank W. Gard, Jacob R. Lockwood, Charles H. Burdick, George D. Edwards, Charles Bennett (2), George II. Burgess, Andrew II. Brown; Elias L. Maynard, Par- don L. Babcock, John R. Prentice, Erastus D. Appleman, Elias Bab- cock, Jr., Richard A. Brown, Horace F. Burdick, Amos D. Barnes, Thomas II. Brown, Orville M. Briggs, Henry L. Babcock, Amos A. Crandall, Joseph. W. Coleman, Thomas Crowley, William F. Eccles- ton, Samuel R. Eccleston, Alexander B. Frazier, Charles II. Glad- ding, John E. Holberton, Shubael Holmes, Philip A. Irons, George A. Latham, Christopher A, Lyman, James A. Lord, David S. Merritt, John C. Moore, Stephen D. Merritt, Jr., Charles A. Miller, John M. Mosher, Samuel M. Macomber. John Nye, Avery E. Parkes, Chauncey D. Rice, Elisha K. Rathbun, Edwin N. Shirley, Nathan S. Sheffield, James W. Targee, Warren P. Thompson, James O. Thompson, Charles W. Taylor, Thaddeus M. Weems.
TWENTY-NINTHI REGIMENT.
Isaac J. Hill.
COMPANY H.
Isaac II. Antonc.
THIRTIETH REGIMENT.
COMPANY A.
Corp. Courtland Thomas, Henry Demarest, James W. Darrell, George Fisher.
COMPANY B.
COMPANY C.
Augustus Jackson. Artillery. FIRST REGIMENT.
COMPANY C.
Ichabod B. Slates, Chas. E. Staplis. COMPANY D.
Courtland F. Hall, Joseph H. Pendleton, John P. Trant.
John Merklee.
COMPANY F.
COMPANY G.
Elias Babcock, Jr., Dennis S. Gilmore, James McCaffrey, Iliram P. Shaw.
COMPANY H.
George Walker.
COMPANY I.
2d Lieut. William C. Faxon (pro. capt.).
David Bradford.
SECOND REGIMENT.
Cavalry. FIRST REGIMENT.
COMPANY C.
Capt. William S. Fish (pro. col.); Ist Lieut. Charles P. Williams, Jr., died; Q .- M. Sergt. William T. Cork (pro. Ist lieut.); Sergt. Edwin W. French (pro. capt.); Corporals George Il. Lord, John G. Williams, William C. Harris (pro. q .- m.); John Bentley, George Braman, John HI. Bliven, Isaac T. Bliven, Henry D. Bennett, Alfred V. Barnum (pro. Ist lieut.) ; James L. Eggleston, Charles W. Sheffield, James A. Edwards, John O'Rourke, Joshua Perkins, Thomas I. Price, Chris- tian Pilaum, Zachariah Patterson.
COMPANY D.
John McGovethy, Peter Maines.
COMPANY I. Peter Wright, Reuben G. Weeks.
COMPANY K.
Lyman Doolittle, John N. Mitchell. . COMPANY L.
Myron H. Crandall.
COMPANY M.
John Smith, Michael Begg, John Burgan.
Since the close of the Rebellion our town has suf- fered its full measure from the inflation and contrac- tion of the currency. Since specie payment has been resumed business has revived and confidence in busi- ness circles has been established.
Thus the town of Stonington, where William Chesebrough first built his forest home in 1649, has grown to be a community of 7353 inhabitants, with a grand list of $5,390,130. The people, for in- telligence and enterprise, are the equal of any town- ship in the State. The soil is strong, rugged, and hard to cultivate, but when properly cared for yields remunerative crops.
CHAPTER LXXXVII.
STONINGTON-(Continued). BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIES.
Hon. Richard A. Wheeler, the subject of the fol- lowing notice, was born Jan. 29, 1817. He is the son of Richard Wheeler and Mary Hewitt Wheeler. His mother was from one of the best families of North
NOTI .- The Biographical Sketch of the Hon. Richard A. Wheeler was prepared by Rev. A. G. Palmer, D.D.
COMPANY D.
Henry Hall.
COMPANY F.
COMPANY G.
Enyour h.ERitchie
Trhund Wohuhr
Oh wl ancor
691
STONINGTON.
Stonington. His father was an industrious, thrifty farmer, and so his boyhood was under the discipline of the typical " New England home," which has fur- nished some of the best specimens of American man- hood. The period of his minority was divided be- tween the industries of the farm during the spring, summer, and autumn and the educational culture of the common school for the winter.
The range of studies in these "seminaries" at that time was very limited, Webster's Spelling-Book, Daboll's Arithmetic, Morse's Geography, Murray's English Grammar, and Murray's English Reader being the exclusive text-books. But the teaching and discipline were often severe, and the scholarship had a corresponding value of thoroughness and sol- idity for all practical ends.
Judge Wheeler's industrious use and improvement of the common school is seen in the fact that this rudimental education has been equal to all the varied positions of responsibility he has, during his opening and ripening manhood, filled with so much credit to himself, with honor to his town, and to the full satis- faction of his friends and fellow-citizens. Early called to important civil trusts, he has attained to a degree of legal culture that gives to his counsel great weight and value, and often renders his rulings deci- sive and final. In genealogical lore Judge Wheeler has no rival and few if any equals. His researches here are thorough and fearless, dispelling many a beautiful tradition, but fixing the plain prosaic truth by figures and data that will not lie. His discourse at the late Palmer reunion at Stonington, a masterly grouping of events scattered over a period of two hundred and fifty years, held the attention of a large and promiscuous crowd to its close.
Judge Wheeler has been twice married,-first to Miss Frances M. Avery, of North Stonington, Jan. 12, 1843, and second to Miss Lucy A. Noyes, of Stoning- ton, Nov. 5, 1856, He is descended from the following New England families : Wheeler, Park, Thompson, Kayson, Tilestone, Elliott, Burrows, Culver, Latham, Hubbard, Gore, Draper, Denison, Prentiss, Gallup, Lake, Stanton, Burch, Fanning, Breed, Chaplin, Hew- itt, Lord, Borodel, Short, Palmer, and others.
In 1838, when twenty-one years old, he was one of the society committee of the Road Church, and has held that office for forty-three years to the present time. He was chosen selectman in 1847 and '48; representative to the Legislature, 1851; sheriff of New London County, 1860; re-elected 1863, '66, and '69, and holding the office until 1872, when he de- clined re-election. In the spring of 1864 he was chosen judge of probate, and by successive re-elec- tions has held the office until the present time.
The above are the principal events of Judge Wheeler's active and varied life. He has a fine physique, an open countenance, pleasing address, and genial manners. Besides, he has an inexhaustible fund of genealogical anecdotes, can tell a good story
of olden or modern times, and excite and enjoy an honest, hearty, healthy laugh.
The proverb "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country" is not applicable to Judge Wheeler, for nowhere is he more popular than among his own townsmen, and by none more highly esteemed than by his own immediate neighbors.
Charles Mallory, son of David and Amy (Crocker) Mallory, was born in Waterford, Conn., on the Lyme turnpike, Feb. 24, 1796. His father was a native of Milford, Conn. When but sixteen David took the place of his father, who was drafted for six months in the Continental army, and after serving his time enlisted for service during the war. He served three years under Washington, and was in numerous en- gagements. While the army was marching through Connecticut his captain told him he was going to re- sign on reaching Milford. David told him if he left he, David, would do the same. At Milford the cap- tain resigned, his resignation was accepted, and David "resigned," as he had said he would do, went to New London, and shipped under a fictitious name as sailor on a privateer. In nine days he was a pris- oner on a Jersey prison-ship. After some time he was exchanged, shipped again, and was again captured. Three times in all he was a prisoner on the prison- ships, and three times was exchanged. On arriving at Waterford, on one of the first of these exchanges, being then about twenty years old, he married, and again shipped on a privateer, had a fight off Long Island, and spent most of his honeymoon a prisoner. The fourth time he shipped he returned with prize- money. His share was paid him in goods. As an evidence of his devotion to the American cause, we will say that although during Gen. Arnold's march to New London David was secreted to keep him from the American army, there were some Hessians who came to him for a drink, and leading one of them to a case of gin, he secured his gun while he was drink- ing, made him his prisoner, and marched him to the American line and surrendered him. This occurred the same day New London was burned. After the war David worked at farm labor and at butchering. He had ten children,-Frances ; Sally, who married Nathan Beebe, a sail-maker of New London ; Rebecca, who married a Mr. West, and went West soon after ; David; Amy, who married John Rogers, a caulker of New London ; Richard, who was a cooper, and sailed many years for Charles ; Amos; Charles; Benajah ; Nathan, who served his time at sail-making with Charles, and died at twenty-eight years of age.
David Mallory had a strong physical nature, and lived till he was about seventy-nine. His wife sur- vived him, and was taken care of by Charles until her death at the very advanced age of ninety-three.
Charles Mallory inherited a strong constitution and a persistency of purpose from his parents. These have enabled him to commence at the lowest round of the ladder, and step by step rise to the top, a
692
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
true type of a successful, self-made man. He lived with his parents till he was twelve years old, having common-school advantages for education, then was placed at service for six months at three dollars and fifty cents per month. In this employment he re- mained two years, receiving, however, four dollars per month the second year, and six months' school- ing each year, but could never arrive at the school till 10 A.M.
When he was fourteen years old Charles was in- dentured for seven years to his brother-in-law, Nathan Beebe, to learn the sail-making trade. His was not an easy life, and Charles ran away twice, but volun- tarily went back, and Mr. Beebe told him if he would stay till he was twenty he would release him. The qualities of thoroughness, self-reliance, and integrity which have characterized Mr. Mallory through life were shown at that early age, and at eighteen we find him the foreman of Mr. Beebe's establishment. He continued in this capacity till the expiration of his time, and for six months thereafter, receiving then for his services one dollar and twenty-five cents per day, twenty-five cents more than ordinary pay. He boarded with Mr. Beebe, and in the six months' time had only taken up two dollars in cash, and of this had loaned Mr. Beebe seventy-five cents. On settling Mr. Beebe claimed to have paid this amount, and accused Charles of falsehood, and said he never would employ him again. Charles indignantly re- sponded that he would never work for him again, and he kept his word, although Mr. Beebe endeavored afterwards to retain him. Christmas morning, 1816, the young man crossed Groton Ferry, en route for Boston and walked to Mystic, carrying all his worldly goods and tools for his trade upon his back. On crossing the ferry over the Mystic River his cash capital was one dollar and twenty-five cents. Finding an amount of work to do here on a vessel, he engaged the same, and Jan. 1, 1817, commenced his long, active, and re- markable business career in Mystic. His sail-loft was a small room, unclapboarded and exposed to the weather. To make himself comfortable it was sug- gested that he get a stove (almost an unknown thing then), and some one told him Mr. Dennison, at the head of the river, had one for sale. Mr. Mallory went up, saw the stove-a sheet-iron one-and asked its price. Mr. Dennison told him "Two dollars and a half." "Well," says Mr. Mallory, "there is some- thing else." "How is that ?" responded Mr. Den- nison. "If the stove suits you, and the price is not too high, what else can there be ?" "I have not the money to pay for it," said Mr. Mallory, and stated his circumstances. "How were you going to get the stove down to your room ?" "Carry it down on my back." " If that's the case I will wait on you for payment." And Mr. Mallory carried his stove three miles, through snow six inches deep. From this small beginning have the extensive interests of Mr. Mallory grown. Work continued to come in, and when sail-making
was not brisk the young man was ready to turn his hand to any honest industry, and would often scow wood down the river.
Feb. 22, 1818, Mr. Mallory married Eliza, daughter of John and Hannah Rogers, of New London. Her ancestors were from England, and trace their lineage back through John Rogers, the martyr, to an honor- able family of Wiltshire.1 For sixty-three years this worthy couple walked hand in hand through life, in good health and in the enjoyment of life, and in the latter years with three generations of descendants to do them honor, until the sudden death of Mrs. Mal- lory, Sept. 4, 1881. Their children now surviving are Charles Henry (senior partner of the large house of C. H. Mallory & Co., New York City), David D., George W., Franklin O., and Benjamin E.
Mr. Mallory engaged in sail-making until he was about forty years old. For the sake of getting the making and repairing of their sails, he became inter- ested in a small way in numerous vessels, at one time having an interest in thirty. From this he invested more and more in vessels, and owned at one time ten whalers. They were all successful. About 1848, Mr. Mallory purchased the lease of the Mystic ship-yard from Capt. Forsyth, and engaged extensively in ship-building. He built fifty steamers and many sailing vessels. A great many of them were sold to the United States, and became historic from the part they contributed to the annals of the late civil war.
At present Mr. Mallory has given up much of his business, but, among others, retains an interest in the New York and Galveston and New York and Fer- nandina Steamship Companies.
When the Mystic River Bank was organized Mr. Mallory was made its president, and occupied that position for many years. On the inauguration of the national banking system, Mr. Mallory founded the First National Bank of Mystic Bridge, and owned the entire stock of one hundred thousand dollars. This is still retained in the family, but to accommo- date other friends fifty thousand dollars was added to the capital.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.