History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 183

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 183

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June 20, 1721, the first town-meeting was held, when the following officers were chosen : Selectmen, John Gallup, John Safford, Ebenezer Cooper, Samuel Whaley, and Nathaniel French ; Town Clerk, Jacob Bacon; Constable, Thomas Cole; Toller, Francis Smith.

In the following December Jolın Tyler, Obadiah Rogers, and Ebenezer Dow were added to the select- men. Various votes were passed. A pound was ordered. Three men were appointed "to lay out highways least to ye damage of ye owners of land and ye best advantage for the neighborhood."

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1740 TO 1881.

1740 .- Robert Dixson.

1741 .- John Kesson, John Dickson, Robert Dickson.

1742 .- Robert Dixon, Charles Campbell.

1743-44 .- Robert Dixon, Charles Campbell, John Dixson.

1745 .- John Dixson, John Kesson, Thomas Kesson.

1746 .- John Dixson, Joseph Palmer, Robert Dixson, Thomas Kesson.

1747 .- Capt. Robert Dixson, Capt. Isaac Gallopp, Capt. Thomas Kesson.

1748 .- Capt. Robert Dixson, Thomas Kesson, John Smith.

1749 .- Joseph Palmer, Capt. Robert Dixson, Joseph Park.

1750-51 .- Capt. Robert Dixson, John Smith.

1752 .- Capt. Robert Dixson, John Smith, Jr.

1753 .- Joseplı Park, Capt. Isaac Gallup, Jeremiah Keeney, John Kesson.

1754 .- Capt. Robert Dickson, John Smith.

1755 .- Capt. Robert Dickson, John Smith, Capt. Isaac Gallup.

1756 .- Robert Jameson, Capt. Robert Dickson, John Smith.

1757 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith, John Gordon, Capt. Daniel Fish. 1758 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith.

1759 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, Robert Jemison, John Smith.

1760 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith.

1761 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith.

1762 .- John Gordon, Capt. Robert Dixon, John Gordon.

1763 .- John Gordon, Robert Jameson.

1764 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, John Gordon, Robert Jameson. 1765 .- John Gordon, Moses Kinney.

1766 .- John Gordon, Robert Dixon, John Smith,

1767 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, Samuel Stewart.

1768 .- John Gordon, Capt. Isaac Gallop.

1769-70 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, Samuel Stewart.

1771 .- Capt. Robert Dixon, Samuel Stewart, Capt. Isaac Gallopp, Moses Kinney.

1772 .- Capt. Isaac Gallop, Samuel Stewart, Samuel Gordon.

1773 .- Capt. Isaac Gallop, Samuel Gordon.

1774-75 .- James Gordon, Robert Hunter.

1776 .- John Gordon, Ezra Crary, James Gordon.

1777 .- Robert Hunter, James Gordon.

1778 .- Robert Dixon, Moses Campbell, James Gordon, Matthew Newton. 1779 .- Robert Hunter, James Gordon.

1780 .- Isaac Gallop, John Cole, James Gordon, Robert Dixon.

I781 .- Solomon Morgan, Isaac Gallup, Moses Kinne.

1782 .- Joseph Frink, Isaac Gallup, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley. 1783 .- James Gordon, Joseph Wyley.

1784 .- Moses Campbell, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley.

1785 .- Joseph Alexander, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley.

1786 .- Benjamin Dowe, Benjamin Gallup, Joseph Wyley.

1787 .- John Wyley, Allen Campbell, Benjamin Gallup.

1788 .- Titus Bailey, Isaac Gallup, Joshua Frink.

I789 .- Robert Dixon, Samuel Robbins, Titus Bailey, John Stewart.

1790 .- Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Robbins, Moses Campbell, John Stewart.

1791 .- Robert Dixon, Joseph Wyley, Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Robbin. 1792 .- John Gaston, Thomas Gordon, Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Robbin. 1793 .- John Gaston, David Gallup, Samuel Kinney, Samuel Robbin. 1794 .- Lemuel Dorrance, Joseph Wylee.

1795-96 .- Samuel Robbin.

1797 .- James Alexander, Samuel Robbin.

1798 .- Joseph Wylie, Samuel Robbin.

1799 .- Allen Campbell, Moses Robbins.

1800 .- Samuel Robbins, Moses Robbins.

1801 .- Nicholas Randall, Allen Campbell.

1802 .- Samuel Robbins, Allen Campbell.

1803 .- Samuel Robbins, Moses Robbins.

1804 .- Samuel Robbins, Nicholas Randall.

1805 .- Wm. Gallup.

1806 .- Nathaniel Sheffield, Allen Campbell.

1807 .- Wm. Gallup, Loring Robbins.

1808 .- Daniel Keigwin, Samuel Robins.

1809 .- Wm. Gallup, Samuel Kinne.

1810 .- Allen Campbell, Samuel Robbins.

1811 .- Wm. Gallup, Daniel Keigwin. 1812 .- Amos Treat, Wm. Gallup. 1813 .- Samuel Robbins, Sterry Kinne.

1814 .- Allen Campbell, James Alexander.

1815 .- Wm. Gallup, Daniel Keigwein.

1816 .- James Alexander, Daniel Keigwein.

1817 .- Minor Robbins, Daniel Keigwein.

1818 .- Wm. Gallup, Sterry Kinne.

1819-20 .- James Alexander.

1821 .- Minor Robbins. 1822 .- Sterry Kinne.

1823 .- Minor Robbins.

1824 .- Sterry Kinne.

1825 .- Jonathan Stanton.

1826 .- Sterry Kinne.

1827 .- Kinne Gallup.

1828 .- Joel Kinney.

1829 .- Sterry Kinne.

1830 .- Joel Kinney.

1831 .- Harvey Campbell.

1832 .- Joel Kinne. 1833 .- Joseph Wylie.

1834 .- Elisha Patten.

1835 .- John C. Smith.

1836 .- Elisha Patten.

1837 .- John C. Smith.

1838 .- Harvey Campbell.

1839 .- Samuel R. Kinney.

1840 .- Ira K. Crandall.

1841-42 .- Elisha Patten.

1843 .- Wm. C. Stanton.

1844 .- Elislia Patten. 1845-46 .- Benj. Gallup (2). 1847 .- Samuel Gates.

1848 .- G. D. Campbell.

1849 .- Benj. Gallup, Jr.

1850 .- Eras D. Campbell.

1851 .- Elisha Patten.

1852 .- Stephen S. Kegwin.

1853 .- Kinney Gallup.

1854 .- Elisha l'atten.

1855 .- N. S. Gallup.

1856 .- O. H. Smith.

1857 .- Christopher Colegrove.

1858 .- Benj. Gallup. 1859 .- Martin Kinne.

1860 .- Caleb P. Patten.

1861 .- Charles E. Main.

1862 .- Robert II. Dixon.

1863 -Charles E. Main.

1864 .- Ira G. Briggs.

1865 .- Ilarvey Campbell.

1866 .- Ira G. Briggs.

1867 .- Albert Campbell.

1868 .- Ira G. Briggs.

1869 .- Albert Campbell.

1870 .- Edmund Hall.

1871 .- Benj. Gallup.

748

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

1872 .- Ezra Briggs. 1873 .- Charles S. Weaver. 1874 .- Charles E. Main. 1875 .- Jared A. Gallup. 1876 .- E. Byron Gallup. 1877 .- James M. Cook. 1878 .- Joseph C. Tanner. 1879 .- Robert II. Dixon. 1880 .- 1liram Jencks. 1881 .- James M. Cook.

CHAPTER XCI.

VOLUNTOWN-( Continued).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

Ira G. Briggs & Co .- Among the early factories of cotton yarn in New England was that of the Industry Manufacturing Company of Voluntown, Conn., which was formed March 12, 1814, by James Treat, of Preston, and others.

Mr. Treat was one of the most enterprising busi- ness men of that vicinity. He was largely engaged in trade, and invested in several manufacturing in- terests, among which was the Jewett City Cotton Manufacturing Company, organized in 1811, the germ of the present manufacturing enterprises of that place. In the Industry Manufacturing Company he owned at first five of the twenty shares, and by suc- cessive purchases from the other owners increased his interest until Nov. 4, 1823, when he became sole owner.

On Aug. 9, 1824, he conveyed an interest of one- third to his son-in-law, Joseph H. Doane, and on April 18, 1828, an additional one-sixth. Mr. Doane sold his interest to James S. Treat, son of James Treat, Dec. 29, 1832. The latter also sold his in- terest to his son, Sept. 18, 1843. James S. Treat operated the mill until Feb. 12, 1855, when he made an assignment. On the 18th of April of the follow- ing year the property was sold to a company, one of whom was Ira G. Briggs.

Ira G. Briggs was born in Coventry, R. I., April 29, 1820. His father, Wanton Briggs, was a farmer and a justice of the peace. He was the father of eight sons and four daughters. Of the sons, Ira was the elde-t, except one who died in infancy. He worked on the farm until he was twelve years of age, when his father removed to the village since known as Harrisville, where he was employed by Elisha Harris, the well-known manufacturer, and afterwards Gov- ernor of the State.

Ira entered Mr. Harris' factory, beginning in the picker-room, where he remained four years. He then worked about two years in the other parts of the fac- tory, and became expert in all the processes of cotton manufacturing. At eighteen he entered the machine- shop of Lavalle, Lamphear & Co., in the adjoining village (Phenix), that firm being then engaged as its successor. The Lamphear Machine Company is now

engaged in the manufacture of cotton machinery. He worked here three years, becoming familiar with the building of cotton machinery. Having attained his majority, he again entered the employment of Mr. Harris, and remained in it for seven years, having charge of the repairs of the machinery.

At the end of that period the factory of Brown & Ives, at Hope village, two miles above Harrisville, on the same stream, was being built under the supervision of David Whitman, and Mr. Briggs was employed to superintend the putting up of the shafting and setting the machinery in running order. Having finished this task, he was engaged by Brown & Ives to take charge of the machinery and repairs, and remained in that capacity at the Hope factory until 1852. He was then appointed superintendent of the Rockville Mills, in Hopkinton, R. I. These mills, built in 1845, were then owned by John C. Harris, Oliver D. Wells, and Harris Lamphear, the latter, a brother-in-law of Mr. Briggs, had been superintendent. The business had not been successful, and the company was embarrassed in its finances. In the four years of Mr. Briggs' agency, by his able administration, the indebtedness was materially reduced and the affairs of the company became more prosperous. Early in 1856, with other gentlemen, he purchased from the insolvent estate of James S. Treat the mills and adjacent real estate formerly belonging to the Industry Manufacturing Company, and at once commenced business as the Beachdale Manufacturing Company, in the manufac- ture of cotton cloth. In the same year such changes in the ownership occurred that at its end Mr. Briggs owned two-fifths and Jonathan R. Wells and Thomas R. Wells three-fifths of the whole interest, and in this proportion it was held by the same persons until Nov. 20, 1857, when the Messrs. Wells sold their inter- est to John L. Ross, of North Providence, R. I. This partnership continued for three years. It was then dissolved, Mr. Briggs purchasing the interest of his partners and becoming sole proprietor, Nov. 17, 1860. On the 12th of December ensuing he sold an interest of two-fifths to his brother-in-law, Jonathan L. Spen- cer, of Hopkinton, R. I., forming with him the firm of Briggs & Spencer. On Feb. 15, 1861, Briggs & Spencer bought a mill and privilege half a mile be- low the Beachdale Mill, on the same stream, from Samuel Gates. Mr. Gates had, several years before, built the mill and a temporary dam, but had not op- erated the mill. Briggs & Spencer did not occupy it, but leased it to Hiram Jenckes for four years as a twine-mill. The partnership continued until Oct. 1, 1863, when Mr. Spencer sold his interest to Jolin L. Ross, the style of the firm being changed to Ross & Briggs.

On July 1, 1865, Mr. Briggs conveyed to his young- est living brother, Ezra, one-sixth of his interest, amounting to one-tenth of the whole interest, the business being afterwards conducted under the style of Ross, Briggs & Co. On Ang. 21, 1868, Ira G.

Vau. The Boston

Tra G. Briggs

RES. OF IRA G. BRIGGS, VOLUNTOWN, CONN.

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749

VOLUNTOWN.

Briggs purchased John L. Ross' interest, and con- veyed to his brother Ezra an additional one-tenth of the whole business and mill property, forming with him the firm of Ira G. Briggs & Co. Their interests in it were respectively four-fifths and one-fifth. The firm-style and the relative interest remain the same to this day. During both of the periods of the part- nership of Ira G. Briggs and John L. Ross the latter had no active connection with any part of the busi- ness, his capital only being invested.

On Sept. 21, 1870, Ira .G. Briggs & Co. purchased, for further uses, the mill-privileges below the Gates mill, formerly belonging to Alice Branch, having a fall of twenty-four feet, and a capacity. nearly double that of either of the privileges owned by them, which had been leased to supply power for a saw-mill, a grist-mill, and a shoddy-mill. The next year, 1871, they purchased the Doane mill, on the same stream, below the Branch privilege. This property had passed from the ownership of Joseph H. Doane, by the fore- closure of a mortgage, Dec. 7, 1852. During the period between that date and its purchase by the Messrs. Briggs it had been owned by different firms, neither of whom had been successful in operating it. Since it has come into the hands of its present pro- prietors it has been profitably used for the manufac- ture of yarns and warps. Since Mr. Briggs acquired, in 1860, the controlling interest in the Beachdale Mills, he has expended large amounts out of his profits in increasing the capacity and facilities of his mills, by erecting new buildings, introducing im- proved machinery, and providing a larger and more continuous supply of water-power. He has pur- · chased the right of persons controlling the outlet and flowage of Beach Pond,-a principal means of supply of water-power to the mills in Voluntown, and below on the Pachaug River,-and has erected a new dam at the outlet of the pond, and raised the highway for half a mile. These works have enlarged the area of this natural reservoir to some twelve hundred acres, and increased the depth of the water by ten feet, thus enabling the Messrs. Briggs to run their mills throughout the year instead of nine months. The work was done under the personal supervision of Ira G. Briggs, and mainly at the expense of the firm. In 1873, Mr. Briggs became a stockholder, and the next year a director, in the Rockville Mills, at Hopkinton, R. I., in which, from 1852 to 1856, he had his first ex- perience in mill management. He has been the gen- eral manager and agent since 1874, with the personal supervision of the purchase of material and the man- ufacture and sale of the goods. There are three of these mills, situated on successive privileges of the same stream, like the mills of the Messrs. Briggs at Voluntown.

The Rockville Mills have been ably managed, and in a period of general depression have been kept in constant operation, paying their current expenses, together with the interest on a large debt, and heavy

expenditures in improvements in mills and ma- chinery. In the same year, 1873, Ira G. Briggs & Co. bought an interest of one-fifth in the Stillman Manu- facturing Company, at Westerly, R. I. This mill, en- gaged in the manufacture of cassimeres, has been in operation about six years, and operates eight sets of machinery. Ira G. Briggs has been president since October, 1876, and has devoted much personal atten- tion to its affairs. The result is seen in the marked improvement of its condition and prospects.

While Mr. Briggs has been engaged in these enter- prises he has occupied many public positions of honor and trust. He was first selectman of the town nine years in succession, a member of the lower branch of the General Assembly in 1865, 1866, and 1868, and of the Senate in 1870. In the Senate he was chairman of the Joint Committee on Banks and Banking.

The junior partner of the firm, Ezra Briggs, is the youngest son but one of Wanton Briggs, and was born in Coventry, R. I., Oct. 9, 1830. He attended the district school until he was about nine years old, when he was placed at work in the factory. He was employed there, except a brief interval of labor on a farm and about six months at school, until the spring of 1846, when his father's family removed to Phenix, R. I. There Ezra went to work in the Phenix Cotton- Mill, continuing in it until the spring of 1849.

He next obtained employment in the machine-shop of Lavalle, Lamphear & Co., and worked at building machinery about two years. He then went to school and engaged in teaching for three years. In the spring of 1854 he became book-keeper in the Harris Lime-Rock Company, in Smithfield, R. I., and in the summer of 1856 engaged in the same capacity with James H. Read & Co., wholesale dealers in woolens, in Providence, R. I.

In the autumn of the same year he engaged with Brown & Ives as book-keeper in their factory at Hope- ville, R. I. Here he remained nearly nine years, re- moving in June, 1865, at the invitation of his brother Ira, to Voluntown, Conn. On July 1, 1865, he became a member of the firm of Ross & Briggs, as above stated, the style being changed to Ross, Briggs & Co., and on Aug. 21, 1868, Mr. Ross retiring, the firm- style was changed to its present form of Ira G. Briggs & Co. The senior member of the firmn has since that date retained the general management, while to his brother has been committed the details of business at the mills, with special charge of the books, accounts, and correspondence.

Ezra Briggs is a man of large public spirit and in- fluence in the community, and served the town in 1872 as its representative in the General Assembly of Connecticut.

Both of the members of the firm are in the prime of mental and physical ·vigor, with ripe experience and ample capital, and with mills well supplied with machinery, and of a high industrial reputation.

750

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

CHAPTER XCII.

WATERFORD: >

Geographical-Topographical-Early Grants-The Pioneers-War of the Revolution-Ecclesiastical History-First Baptist Church-Second Baptist Church-Civil History-Organization of Town-Name of the Town-The First Town-Meeting-Officers Elected.

THE town of Waterford lies in the southern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Montville, on the east by the Thames River, which separates it from Ledyard and Groton, and by New London, and on the south by Long Island Sound, and on the west by East Lyme.

The carly history of the town will be found prin- cipally in the history of New London, of which this town formed a part until 1801. The early record history, Revolutionary, names of early settlers, ete., is incorporated in the history of the mother-town.

Early Grants .- The first location, in the south- western part of the present town, was made by John Winthrop, the founder of New London. It consisted of about seven hundred acres of land, and included what is now Millstone Point. In 1660 the General Court added to this farm the privilege of keeping the ferry at Niantic River, which gave it the name of the Ferry farm. It was a part of the portion bestowed by Mr. Winthrop on his daughter Lucy, the wife of Edward Palmer.

" Adjoining the Ferry farm was that of John Pren- tis, and north of these, on the bay, Hugh Caulkins and William Keeny ; at Pine Neck, Mr. Blinman ; 'rounding the head of the river,' Isaac Willey ; and yet farther west, Matthew Beckwith, whose land, on the adjustment of the boundary with Lyme, was found to lie mostly within the bounds of that town, though his house was on the portion belonging to New London.

" Mr. Bruen had an early grant on the west side of Jordan Cove, which is still known as Bruen's Neck ; George Harwood's land joined Bruen's. This locality was designated as 'old ground that had been planted by Indians.' Robert Parke had a valuable grant at Poquiogh (the Indian name of the tract east of the cove), and next to him smaller portions were laid out to the Beeby brothers. 'The three Beebys' had also divisions at Fog Plain, a name which is still in famil- iar use. Many of the small grants on this plain were bought up by William Hough.

" In the course of a few years James Rogers, by purchasing the divisions of Robert Hempstead and Robert Parke, called Goshen, and various smaller shares of proprietors, became the largest landholder on the Neck. Himself, three sons, and son-in-law, Samuel Beebe, all had farms in this quarter. The Harbor's Mouth farm was an original grant to Mr. Blinman, but was afterwards the property of John Tinker. Andrew Lester was another early resident upon the Neck.

town plot, was Mr. Winthrop's Mill-pond farm, which was probably a grant attached to his privilege of the mill-stream. His right to a portion of it being after- wards contested, the witnesses produced in court tes- tified that Mr. Winthrop occupied this farm 'before Cape Ann men came to the town.' Not far from the town plot, on the north side of the mill-brook, was a swampy meadow called Little Cove Meadow. This was given to James Avery. Advancing still to the northiward, we meet with a tract of high, ridgy land, often called the Mountain. Here Edward Palmes and Samuel and Nathaniel Royce had grants, which were called Mountain farms. This was a rough and barren region. An English emigrant at a later day settled on one of these farms, and the witticism was current that he selected the spot on the supposition that from the tops of the rocks he could see Eng- land."

Among the grants north of the present city of New London were those of Winthrop, Stebbins, Blinman, Lothrop, Bartlet, and Waterhouse. The Blinman grant included Upper Mamoquack Neck, and the grant of Waterhouse covered "the neck at the strait's mouth." " Winthrop had other important grants in this quarter. April 14, 1653, the whole water-course of Colewife's Brook was granted him, with privilege of erecting mills, making dams and ponds, cutting down timber, and taking up land on its banks." In the same year, 1653, he erected a house near the mill, which was without doubt the first on the west side of the river as far north as this. A few months later a grant of land with saw-mill privileges was made still farther north, near Uncasville, in the present town of Montville.

The Pioneers .- In addition to those mentioned previously, the following were among the pioneers of this town : Henry Brooks, living at Nahantick in 1679; William Cary, in the Jordan district before 1690 ; David Carpenter, at Nahantic Ferry, 1680; Aaron Fountain, son-in-law of Samuel Beebe,-his house on the Great Neck is mentioned in 1683 ; Roger Gibson and son William, Great Neck, 1680; Peter Huckley erected a fulling-mill at Jordan in 1694; John Harvey was living at Nahantie in 1682, and Thomas Munsall, or Munson, on the Great Neck in 1683.

First Baptist Church .- The town of Waterford ' was known until 1801 as New London, of which it was a part. The accounts of the early movements of Baptists are therefore put down to New London, though the seat of those movements was in those parts now known as Waterford. The first baptisms in the colony of Connecticut, after the primitive mode, took place in this town in the year 1674, by regular Baptist ministers from Rhode Island. An excite- ment was raised on account of it, and the General Court was invoked to suppress the innovation. Sev- eral of these Baptists remaining firm to their senti.

" In the district called Cohanzie, northwest of the | ments, on the organization of the First Baptist Church

751

WATERFORD.

in Groton, in 1705, put themselves under the watch- care of that church, and were visited from time to time by its pastor, Elder Wightman, till about the year 1710, when they were organized into a distinct church, which is called by Backus "The Second Baptist Church in Connecticut."

For several years the church remained destitute of a pastor, but received the occasional visits of Elders Wightman, of Groton, Tillinghast, of Providence, Wm. Peckham, of Newport, and others, who broke unto them " the bread of life."

Stephen Gorton, from Rhode Island, commenced visiting the church about the year 1720, and was or- dained as their pastor Nov. 28, 1726. Previous to the settlement of Elder Gorton the church had erected a commodious house of worship on East Neck, which was a " Bethel" to multitudes of souls for more than a century. The church also, as it grew stronger, pur- chased a parsonage, including a small farm, which El- · der Gorton occupied while he remained in Waterford. Great success attended the ministry of Elder Gorton for many years. He won the affection of his people at home, and was respected abroad for his talents as a speaker. Under his ministry the church rapidly increased, and spread into the adjoining towns and across the Connecticut River. His labors greatly pro- moted the progress of Baptist sentiments in Lyme and Saybrook, and in 1731 "a branch of Elder Gorton's church was planted in Wallingford, which remained under the watch-care of the New London ( Water- ford) Church till Aug. 20, 1739, when they were formed into the Third Baptist Church in Connecticut.

The preaching of Whitefield and Devenport in New London was attended with vast success, thou- sands hearing the Word of God from those devoted servants of their Master. But amid the general joy of Zion and increase of her converts which followed "The Great New Light Stir" (so called), an event occurred which threw this church into trial, and pro- duced much division and alienation, and subsequently the destruction of Elder Gorton's church and the for- mation of a new interest. That a minister of so long standing and usefulness as Elder Gorton should per- mit his moral character to be compromised was so as- tonishing and sorrowful that the church was thrown into a state of division. The majority, however, dis- believing the accusation alleged against him, adhered to the pastor, but the minority withdrew, and subse- quently, at about 1748, with some new converts, gathered under the preaching of Elder Wm. Peckham and Daniel Green, formed "a new interest," which was recognized as the First Church, the old having been considered as out of gospel order, and lost the fellowship of the other two churches. Elder Peckham's labors were highly conducive to the re- establishment of the Baptist cause in Waterford, and in vindicating the great Baptist doctrine of religious liberty. This venerable apostle extended his labors to Saybrook, where he "baptized both men and

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 183

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