History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 182

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 182

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Charles Hewitt, a grandson of Major Israel Hewitt through his son Charles and wife Hannah Stanton, was one of the forty volunteers who composed the heroic band, who, under the command of Gen. Bar- ton, of Rhode Island, on the 10th day of July, 1777, crossed over Narragansett Bay from Tiverton to War- wick Neck, and from there back to Portsmouth, on Newport Island, and captured the British Gen. Rich- ard Prescott, taking him from his bed at midnight, and recrossed the bay in safety with their royal prisoner.

CHAPTER LXXXIX.

NORTHI STONINGTON-(Continued).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Hon. Charles Perry White was born at North Stonington, Conn., Nov. 12, 1813. He received a common-school and academie education, studying in his native town and in Rhode Island. He has held the office of judge of probate at North Stonington for twenty-two years, and was a member of the House from that town in 1853. He was at that time a mem- ber of the Democratic party, but since then he has been associated with the Republican in politics, and has done long and faithful service in behalf of the prin-

CHARLES P. WHITE.

Engª by A H Ritchie

Mark

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NORTH STONINGTON.

ciples of that organization. He has held the office of justice of the peace for twenty-five years, and has held other local offices and trusts of responsibility. When he was elected to the House in 1853 by the Demo- crats he declined giving any pledges in regard to the subject of temperance, but when the test vote was re- quired in the Legislature that year, he was found to be firmly on the side of restriction. He was elected senator for the Eighth District in the fall of 1880, for two years, by a majority of eight hundred. His father, Charles White, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his paternal grandfather served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His mother, Ruth Perry, was a descendant of Commodore Perry.

Senator White is a farmer by occupation ; a man of great force of character, and possesses the confidence and esteem of all classes.

Asher H. Chapman was born in North Stonington, Dec. 18, 1807, where he has resided ever since, except fourteen years of his early life, which were spent in the town of Griswold. His emigrant ancestor was named John Chapman, who in early life learned the weaver's trade near London, England. After his apprentice- ship of seven years had expired he visited London, and being unaccustomed to the dangers of the city, and while lingering about the docks, he was pressed on board a man-of-war, where he remained until the ship came to Boston, when Mr. Chapman escaped, fled into the country, and finally reached Wakefield, R. I., where, under the hospitable roof of Samuel Alden, he found shelter, and for whom he subsequently worked at his trade. After a few years we find him in Stonington, where he married Sarah Brown, Feb. 17, 1710, locating himself within the present limits of North Stonington. They were blessed with eight children, one of whom, Andrew Chapman, born March 3, 1719, married Hannah Smith in 1747. They resided in North Stonington, and became the parents of ten children ; and their son, Andrew Chapman, born May 10, 1754, married Ann York, March 30, 1780, and they became the parents of six children ; and their son, Andrew Chapman, born Nov. 27, 1785.1 married a Miss Palmer; and their son, Asher H. Chap- man, born Dec. 18, 1807, was reared to farming among his native hills, and received a public-school educa- tion ; married Lucy A. Palmer, daughter of Capt. Frederick Palmer, of Stonington, June 5, 1871. Mr. Chapman enjoys to an unlimited extent the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. He has held the office of selectman and other town offices, and in 1870 and 1871 was elected representative to the Gen- eral Assembly. Mr. Chapman devotes the most of his time to farming on the old homestead, a portion of it, however, he employs in brokerage and assisting his friends in investing their funds.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapman trace their ancestral line back to Thomas Stanton, George Denison, Walter Palmer, and others, who were the most respectable of our early families.

Zebulon Treat York, of North Stonington, was born July 19, 1817. His parents were Zebulon York and Betsey Chapman, who were married March 17, 1803. Mr. York's emigrant ancestor was James York, who was born in 1608, and came to this country among its carly settlers, and located himself first at Brain- tree, Mass. He married Joannah -, in 1646, at Braintree, where their first son, James, was born, Aug. 14, 1648. James York, Sr., came to Stonington (or Southertown, as it was then called) in 1660, and settled on a tract of land at Anguilla.

He died in 1683; his widow in 1685. His son James went to Boston to reside, and there married Deborah Bell, daughter of Thomas and Anne Bell, Jan. 17, 1669, and came to Stonington in 1670. Sold his real estate in Boston in 1672; was made free in 1673, and died Oct. 26, 1676. They had four chil- dren, the youngest of whom, Thomas, was born Oct. 14, 1676, and married Mary Brown, Jan. 9, 1704. Their son, Bell York, born in 1725, married, Feb. 18, 1747, Ruth Miner, and they were the great-grand- parents of Mr. Z. T. York, who spent his boyhood with his parents, until he left home to complete his education and seek his fortune.

His education was finished under Prof. Joseph H. Gallup, a man eminent and widely known as a mathe- matician. Mr. York taught school more or less for fourteen years, and canvassed a large extent of terri- tory as a book agent. His home has always been in North Stonington, though not always there himself. He married Elizabeth S. Stanton (a direct descendant of the famous Indian interpreter-general of New Eng- land), and went to keeping house and farming on the southern slope of Pung-hung-we-nuck Hill, which he followed successfully, and a few years later established a line of brokerage in connection with his farming operations, which has been productive of the best results. Without aspiring to political honors, Mr. York has been elected repeatedly to positions of trust, holding a variety of town offices, and in 1858 was elected representative to the General Assembly. The ancestors of Mr. York were among our most respect- able citizens.

Deacon Charles Wheeler, of North Stonington, was born Sept. 20, 1789, consequently he was ninety- two years old last September. His body and mind are wonderfully preserved, largely owing no doubt to his temperate and industrious habits. Deacon Whee- ler was reared to farm-life in a model New England home, where, in addition to a good common-school education, he enjoyed the benefit of religious instruc- tion. Coming up to manhood with a mind well stored with useful and practical knowledge, he intel- ligently pursued his vocation, and gained the confi- dence of his fellow-citizens.

Feeling the want of intelligent and sympathetic companionship and the sweet counsel of womanly devotion, he sought the heart and hand of a young lady whom he had known from childhood, and on the

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

26th day of January, 1812, Charles Wheeler and Re- becca Williams were married.

The union thus formed was productive of the hap- piest results, and strengthened with increasing years ; blessing each other, their children, and friends with the light of a happy home.

His early religious training left its impress upon his heart, and when he reached maturer years the monitions that guided his youth led him to the throne of grace, imploring the divine forgiveness. The min- istry of the Holy Spirit renewed his heart, and he united with the First Congregational Church of North Stonington Oct. 4, 1834.

Later the church was summoned to choose a dea- con, and the choice fell upon him, June 17, 1838, which he modestly accepted, and all through the in- tervening years he has been constant in season and out of season. Death has summoned away his wife and all his children except one, who resides in a dis- tant State, yet with trusting confidence and un- shaken faith in "Him who doeth all things well," he is waiting for the sunset signal.

Paternally, Mr. Wheeler descends from some of our best Stonington families, and through them he is connected with John Howland, of the " Mayflower."

Alfred Clarke, son of Peleg and Fanny Clarke, was born in North Stonington, Conn., Sept. 24, 1817, and died Feb. 7, 1878. During his youth he worked on a farm, and also served an apprenticeship at tan- ning and currying leather, which business he followed quite a portion of his life at Clarke's Falls, the place of his residence. In connection with the tannery he operated a saw-, grist-, and bark-mill, and in com- pany with Mr. Spicer Tefft he erected a large factory building and its adjacent houses, which now consti- tute the enterprising village of Clarke's Falls. During his apprenticeship a large tumor formed in his side, which was removed by Dr. Miller, of Norwich, Conn. Although the operation was a most painful one, yet, seating himself in a chair, he submitted to it without a groan, refusing to let any one hold even his head or hands, exhibiting a calmness and courage quite remarkable for one of his years.

On Sept. 22, 1839, at the age of twenty-two years, he married Altana B. Langworthy, daughter of Deacon John and Sarah Langworthy, of North Ston- ington, Conn. She died April 2, 1841, leaving an infant daughter, who is now living, and the wife of Deacon Benj. P. Langworthy (2). On Oct. 2, 1841, he married Mary N. Palmer, daughter of Israel and Lucy Palmer, of North Stonington. Of this marriage five children were born, but only two are now living,-Alfred M. Clarke, who married Martha Witter, and Maria P. Clarke, who married B. Clay Pierce. At his death Mr. Clarke left surviving him, his wife, three children, and five grandchildren.

Second Seventh-day Baptist Church at Hopkinton City, of which he continued a worthy and respected member till his death. His wife and children are also members of the same church.

The Providence Journal, under date of Feb. 9, 1878, in speaking of Mr. Clarke, says,-

" Hon. Alfred Clarke died at his residence at Clarke's Falls to-day, February 7th, from a long sickness, which has been of a rheumatic char- acter, and has been extremely painful. He has long been a very proml- nent and highly-esteemed citizen of his town (North Stonington), having filled with great acceptance many offices of profit and trust therein. At the time of his death he was a member-elect of the Legislature, having, however, been unable to attend the present session on account of his sickness. He was a member last year also. He was one of the select- men of the town, and a director in the Ashaway National Bank. By in- dustry and economy he had secured n competence, and by his sterling integrity he had endeared himself to a host of friends. He will be grently mourned and missed in this community. He was in his sixty- first year, and leaves a widow and three children."

Charles G. Hewitt, the subject of this sketch, was born in Stonington, now North Stonington, Dec. 20, 1801. His early life was spent with his parents, who resided on Win-che-choog Hill, a mile or two west of the village of Milltown. He was educated in the public schools of the times, and very early developed a strong attachment for farm-life, and became a sue- cessful farmer, preferring the quiet enjoyment of agricultural pursuits to public life in any form. He married Lucy Randall, of Stonington, Dec. 25, 1823, and they became the parents of two children,-Dud- ley R. and Lucy A. Hewitt. His first wife died April 19, 1839, and on the 19th day of January, 1843, he was married to Mary Wheeler, of Stonington. Mr. Hewitt was an upright and honest man, of superior judgment and fixed principles, kind and genial in all of the relations of life; devotedly attached to his family, he deemed no sacrifice too great for their com- fort and benefit. His ancestors were some of the most prominent families of our town and State, no- tably Capt. George Denison, Thomas Stanton, Wal- ter Palmer, Thomas Hewitt, and John Howland of the "Mayflower," and Robert Williams, of Roxbury, Mass.

Deacon Solomon Barber, sixth son of Col. Moses Barber, of South Kingston, Washington Co., R. I., was born Feb. 6, 1823. Like most farmers' sons, his early boyhood was employed alternately in work on the farm and in attending school ; by this means lie obtained a fair education, and as he grew up he early manifested a strong desire to engage in the manufac- ture of cloth, and so he directed his energies in that channel, and became established in that pursuit at the age of twenty-four. His life has been devoted to the building up and in a legitimate manner extend- ing that business, and is now the proprietor of a large manufactory at Laurel Glen, Conn. Mr. Barber was married Aug. 18, 1844, to Miss Ellen M., daughter of Asa Dye. They have four children,-Rensaeller W., Moses, Ellie M., and Sarah S. The latter married A. F. Knight, of Bozrahville. They have one child,

When eighteen or nineteen years of age Mr. Clarke became a Christian, and made a public profession of religion by baptism, connecting himself with the ' a daughter, named Bertha. Rensaeller married Kate'

CHARLES WHEELER.

CHARLES G. HEWITT.

SOLOMON BARBER.

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VOLUNTOWN.

L. Lander, of Coventry, Conn. They have two chil- dren,-Anna E. and Edwin P. Moses married Maria Edgerton, of Coventry, Conn. Mr. Barber has long been a consistent member of the church, is a man of pleasant, agreeable manners, honest, upright, and in- dustrious, a successful business man, and commands the respect and esteem of those who know him. He will leave to his children the rich heritage of an hon- orable, honest man.

CHAPTER XC.

VOLUNTOWN.

Geographical-Topographical-The Volunteers' Grant-Original Bounds -Claimed by the Mohegans-Massushowitt's Claim-First Meeting of Proprietors-Survey of the Town-The Pioneers-Ecclesiastical-Con- gregational Church-The Separate Church-The Schools-Beachville -Manufacturing-Civil and Military-Organization of Town-First Town-Meeting-Officers Elected-Organization of Probate Court-First Officers-Military Record-List of Representatives from 1740 to 1882.

VOLUNTOWN lies in the extreme northeastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : on the north by Windham County, on the east by the State of Rhode Island, on the south by North Stonington, and on the west by Griswold. The surface of the town is uneven, but the soil is generally fertile.

The Volunteers' Grant .- The greater part of the tract embraced within the bounds of the present town of Voluntown was granted in 1700 to the volunteers in the Narragansett war, from which circumstance the town derives its name. From the organization of the colony it had been customary to make grants to officers and soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the service of their country. Capt. Mason and others engaged in the Pequot war were granted lands, which stimulated those who had performed such sig- nal feats in the Narragansett war to ask for a grant of a town in acknowledgment of their services. The petition to the General Court for the grant was pre- sented in 1696 by Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, of Nor- wich, and Sergt. John Frink, of Stonington, "that they with the rest of the English volunteers in former wars might have a plantation granted to them." The petition was formally received, and a tract six miles square was granted, "to be taken up out of some of the conquered land."

A committee " of discovery" was at once sent out in search of suitable land for a plantation, but found their choice very limited, as most of the conquered land had already been appropriated by Major Fitch, the Winthrops, and others. The committee reported that the only available land remaining within the Connecticut limits was lying a short distance east of Norwich, bordering on Rhode Island. A committee consisting of Capt. Samuel Mason, Mr. John Gal- lup, and Lieut. James Avery was appointed to view the said tract and report whether it " would accom- modate a body of people for comfortable subsistence

in a plantation way." After a deliberation of three years the committee reported favorably, and in Octo- ber, 1700, Lieut. Leffingwell, Richard Bushnell, Isaac Wheeler, Caleb Fobes, Samuel Bliss, Joseph Morgan, and Manasseh Minor moved that the grant be con- firmed. The original bounds of the grant were nearly identical with those of the present township, except it extended on the east to Pawcatuck River.

Voluntown was a barren tract of but little value, and after the Narragansett war was claimed by the Mohegans. The Quinnebaug sachem Massashowitt also laid claim to it.

The first meeting of the proprietors or grantees was held at Stonington, July 1, 1701, to make arrange- ments for survey and appropriation. Richard Bush- nell was chosen clerk of the company, and S. Leffing- well, James Avery, John Frink, and Richard Smith were appointed a committee "to pass all those that offer themselves as volunteers."

A number of years, however, passed before the di- vision was completed, as the territory was still in dis- pute, and it was not until 1705 that the Mohegans' claim was adjusted. In that year the town was for- mally surveyed and the bounds established.

But a narrow strip of land was accorded to the Mo- hegans under this survey, but during the same sum -. mer a considerable portion of the town was taken by Rhode Island. So greatly did it damage the grant " that they feared their intended purpose of settling a plantation so accommodable for a Christian society as they desired was frustrated."

At a meeting of the volunteers, held Nov. 14, 1705, it was decided to have the town resurveyed, computed, and laid out in as many lots as there was volunteers, and to number them, etc.

April 17, 1706, a meeting was held, when it was voted "to go on and draw lots upon that part of the land laid out," and the grant was made to one hundred and sixty persons who had enrolled their names as de- siring to share the benefit of the grant. These were residents of New London, Norwich, Stonington, Windham, Plainfield, and other neighboring towns. The list embraced officers, soldiers, ministers, chap- lains, and others who had served the colony in a civil capacity during the war.

Notwithstanding the survey of the town had been made and the various lots designated, very little pro- gress was made for several years in its settlement. Its soil was poor and its location remote and incon- venient. "A pair of come four year old steers" was once given in exchange for eighty-six acres.

The first settler in what is now Voluntown was doubtless Mr. Samuel Fish. Other pioneers were John Gallup, John and Francis Smith, Robert Parke, Thomas Reynolds, Thomas Coles, John Campbell, John Safford, Obadiah Rhodes, and Samuel Whaley.

The loss of so important a portion of the town as that taken by Rhode Island caused the volunteers at once to appeal to the General Assembly for an equivalent,

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

and they petitioned that body that the vacant colony land lying on the north might be annexed. After various carnest petitions, four years later, 1719, the prayer of the petitioners was granted, and what is now the present town of Sterling, except a small strip on the north border, was annexed to Voluintown. The annexed territory was surveyed as rapidly as pos- sible by John Plumb, surveyor for New London County. Thirty lots were laid out and assigned to nineteen persons.

Congregational Church .- Voluntown, like other towns in the colony, gave its first attention to the business of securing a minister for the plantation, and in the autumn of 1720 a Rev. Mr. Wilson was employed, and the first recorded public act of the in- habitants, March 14, 1721, was the choice of Robert Park and Jacob Bacon " to go to treat with ye Rev- erend Mr. Wilson of ye reason of his inclining to de- part from us and whether we can possibly keep him." The Rev. Mr. Billings preached to the little settle- ment a short time, but declined a call. Rev. Samuel Dorrance, a Scotch Presbyterian, lately arrived from Ireland, and a graduate of Glasgow University, was called in 1723, and on the 15th of October of that year Mr. Dorrance was ordained and the church or- ganized with the following members: Samuel Dor- rance, Robert Gordon, Charles Cole, John Kasson, John, Robert, and Samuel Campbell, John and Alex- ander Gordon, Ebenezer Dow, Jolin Keigwin, Wil- liam Hamilton, Robert Hopkin, John Smith, Daniel Dill, Thomas Welch, Jacob Bacon, Daniel Cass, John and George Dorrance, Samuel Church, Jr., John Dorrance, Jr., Nathaniel Dean, Vincent Patterson, Robert Miller, Patrick Parke, Samnel Church, Adam Kasson, William Kasson, David Hopkins, Charles Campbell, Nathaniel French, John Gibson, James Hopkins, John and Robert Parke, William Rogers, and John Gallup. The church thus organized adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith, and was the first and long the only Presbyterian Church in Connecticut.1' The location of the meeting-house caused a great deal of discussion among the good people of Voluntown, and it was not until 1731 that the church edifice was completed. It was erected upon the original site agreed upon by the inhabitants and proprietors, April 27, 1722. It stands on the line be- tween the present towns of Voluntown and Sterling. The present church was erected in 1858.

The following is a list of pastors from the organiza- tion of the church to the present time: Samuel Dor- rance, Micajah Porter, Elijah S. Wells, Otis Lane, Jacob Allen, Charles L. Ayer.

The Separate Church .- The date of the organ- ization of a Separate Church in Voluntown is uncer- tain, but .it was doubtless about the year 1745, and among the members were Peter Miller, Thomas Thompson, Benj. Park, Robert Campbell, James and

Thomas Douglass, John Kennedy, Isaac Gallup, Sam- uel Smith, Matthew Patrick, John Gaston, Robert Hinman, Robert Gibson, and James Stranahan. After a few years the church was abandoned and united with that of Plainfield.

The Catholics of Voluntown are few in number, and are attended by the resident pastor at Jewett City. Services are held once a fortnight in Union Hall. Rev. Thos. J. Joynt is now building in that village a neat church, which he expects to have dedi- cated this fall. The Catholics number about three hundred, and are mostly of French-Canadian extrac- tion.

The Schools .- The first reference to schools found upon the old town records is under date Dec. 4, 1732, when it was voted " that there shall be a surkelating school kep and a schoolmaster hired at ye town's charge." In March, 1735, it was voted "that the school be kept in four places, three months in a place, six months in ye north end and six months in ye south end, dividing ye town by a line from Alexander Gordon's to Ebenezer Dow's house, and that the master, John Dunlap, should have thirty pounds money, and sufficient meat, drink, washing, and lodg- ing, for keeping school eleven months and eighteen days, and in ye night when convenient."

The first school-house was built in 1737. It was located "four rods from ye northwest corner of ye meeting-house, and a rente of two pence allowed for the same."

Beachdale .- This is a little hamlet located in the western part of the town, on the Pachang River, and is the seat of the cotton manufactory of Ira G. Briggs & Co.

A library association was formed in 1792, and a hundred volumes procured.

Manufactures .- The Pachang at this point fur- nishes an excellent water-power, and one of the earliest factories of cotton yarn in New England was established here, that of the Industry Manufacturing Company, which was formed March 12, 1814, by James Treat, of Preston, and others. This property, after various vicissitudes, passed into the hands of the present firm of Ira G. Briggs & Co. The village contains two churches, Methodist and Baptist. George Weatherhead, a Killingly manufacturer, now deceased, was also engaged in business here.

Dr. Harvey Campbell, the beloved physician, who so long and faithfully administered to the medical wants of the people here, died in 1877, after a long infirmity. He was a prominent citizen and “ a leader in every good work." The present physician in Vol- untown is Dr. Ransom Young. Drs. Allan and Wil- liam Campbell were widely known as medical practi- tioners prior to Dr. Harvey Campbell.

Civil and Military .- Voluntown was incorporated as a town in 1721, and in addition to its present terri- tory embraced the present town of Sterling, and so remained until 1794, when Sterling was constituted a

1 It was reorganized as a Congregational Church, June 30, 1779.

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VOLUNTOWN.

separate town. In 1739 the vacant mile north of Voluntown was annexed to the town by formal act of . the General Assembly. Voluntown remained a por- tion of Windham County until 1881, when it was an- nexed to New London County.

The Voluntown Probate Court was established in 1830, with Sterry Kinnie judge, and Minor Robbins clerk.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 182

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