USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 187
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
Jonathan Rogers, fifth son of James and Elizabeth the first, was born Dee. 3, 1655; married Naomi Burdich, daughter of Elder Burdich; was drowned at Gull Island in 1697, aged forty-two years.
Capt. Jonathan Rogers, only son of Jonathan and Naomi, was born 1683; married Judith -; had eight children.
David Rogers, son of Capt. Jonathan and Judith Rogers, was born March 8, 1719; had three wives. By the first, Grace Lester, he had ten children. He died Oct. 17, 1803, aged eighty-four.
Zebulon Rogers, son of David and Grace Rogers, was born July 3, 1757 ; married Sally Green ; had four children,-Esther, David, Betsy, and Zebulon. He died March 19, 1829, aged seventy-three.
David Rogers, son of Zebulon and Sally Rogers, was born in Waterford, Conn., Jan. 20, 1786. His wife was Mary Potter, daughter of George Potter, of Hopkinton, R. I. They had nine children, as fol- lows: David P., Charles, Sarah, Daniel, Mary, Charlotte, George, Anu, and Lydia. Of these, Charles. and George died in infancy. Mr. Rogers was a prac- tical farmer and lived upon the old Rogers farm, which has been in the family for several generations, being occupied at the time of the writing of this sketch by his granddaughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Eliphalet Lyon.
In politics Mr. Rogers was a Whig, occupying several township offices and being a magistrate for many years. He and his wife were members of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church, and were among its strongest supporters, giving the ground where the building occupied by that society now stands, and he serving as one of its deacons for many years. He died May 29, 1859, his wife July 5, 1876, and both are buried in the cemetery near which they spent so many years of their lives. A man possessed of many ex- cellent qualities of head and heart, of the strictest integrity, and withal genial and courteous to his associates, Mr. Rogers lived respected and died regretted. His memory and that of his loved life- companion are still cherished by their neighbors and acquaintances, and the impress of their sterling char- acters is still stamped upon the community of which their old home is still the centre.
Eliphalet Lyon .- Amariah Lyon, the great-grand- father of Eliphalet Lyon, from the best information to be obtained from the ancient records in and around Boston, was the son of Thomas Lyon, who came from Roxbury and settled in Dedham, Mass., about the year 1798. He is believed to have been the son or grandson of William Lyon, the first of the name, who came from England to America, and settled at Roxbury, Mass., in the year 1635.
Amariah Lyon was educated a physician at Boston, Mass., and came to Montville, Conn. (formerly New London), about the year 1740, where he married a Miss Stibbins. There were born to them seven sons, all of whom served in the war of the Revolution, and one daughter, namely: John, Aaron, Josiah, Ama- riah, Thomas, Christopher, Ephraim, and Abigail.
Jolın Lyon, son of Amariah Lyon, was born and lived in the town of Montville, where he married Elizabeth Moore, daughter of Miles Moore, of the same town. There were born to them four sons and two daughters, namely : Caleb, Asa, John, Ephraim, Elizabeth, and Grace.
Ephraim Lyon, son of John Lyon, was born in Montville, Sept. 27, 1786; married Sarah Darrow, of New London, March 24, 1809. There were born to them three sons and four daughters, namely : Lorenzo, Electra, Elizabeth, Daniel, Eliphalet, Susan, and Sarah. Sarah, wife of Ephraim Lyon, died Jan. 21, 1822.
Eliphalit Lyon
LITTL:
DAVID ROGERS.
١١٢٠١٠٢٠
John Robertson
.
765
WATERFORD.
Ephraim Lyon and Margaret Strickland were mar- ried Dec. 1, 1822. There were born to them three children, namely: Lucy, Ephraim, and Margaret. Ephraim Lyon, Sr., died November, 1866, aged eighty years.
Eliphalet Lyon, son of Ephraim Lyon and Sarah Darrow, first opened his eyes to the light at Water- ford, Conn., July 26, 1816, where he lived with his parents until 1835. He worked on his father's farm, but was given a good common-school education, and taught one term when but eighteen years old. Leav- ing home at eighteen, he went to New York City and entered the drug-store of Dr. T. D. Lee, serving as a clerk for three years, at the end of which time he became a full partner in the business. Three years later he became sole proprietor, and for more than a quarter of a century continued the business at No. 470 Grand Street, finally leaving it in 1865. Previous to this, and as early as 1860, he became interested in the manufacture of machinery, and this business he still continues, the manufactory being located on the site of his former drug-store. With him are asso- ciated Mr. T. H. Watson and Mr. F. H. Stillman, the latter a son of his wife by a former marriage. The business employs some forty men, and is conducted under the firm-name of E. Lyon & Co. Mr. Lyon has been a stanch Republican since the organization of that party, notwithstanding that his father was an earnest Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon are members of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church. Each has been three times married. Mr. Lyon's first wife was Ra- chel De Pew. His second and third wives were sis- ters,-Ann M. and Lydia, daughters of David and Mary Rogers. To the latter he was married May 19, 1874. Mrs. Lyon has one son, Francis H. Stillman, by her first husband, Paul Stillman. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon reside on the family homestead of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Rogers, at Waterford.
John Robertson was born April 17, 1821, at Pen- nicuck, Scotland. He was a son of Duncan and Joan (Hodge) Robertson. His father died when he was young, and at an early age he was entered an appren- tice to Alex. Cowen & Co., extensive paper manufac- turers. There he commenced as "layer-boy" at the vats, and gradually worked his way upward, taking each step in the progress and filling each position well, until he at last graduated a thorough paper. maker, having acquired a complete knowledge of not only wrapping and manilla paper, but also all sorts of fine writing and bank-note paper. In 1845, in com- pany with his younger brother, Carmichael, he emi- grated to America, and entered the employ of Camp- bell, Hall & Co., Greeneville, Conn. On arriving in this country Mr. Robertson had no capital but his trade and a determination to succeed, and his in- dustry, prudence, and Scotch thrift soon improved his financial resources, and in 1851, in company with his brother Carmichael and Mr. James Bingham, formed the firm of Robertson & Bingham, and
started a mill in Waterford, near New London. And here in this little mill was the first real tissue manilla paper made in this country. So quickly was the change and improvement in the quality noticed that a revolution was at once made in the reputation of manufacturers, and Robertson & Bingham's tissue became the standard article in the market. So great was the demand for their work, and so encouraging their pecuniary success, that they were compelled to build another mill in Waterford, and purchased an- other in Montville. Thus the firm had three mills in active operation on tissue manilla paper. In 1866 the firm was dissolved; Mr. Bingham sold his interest, and John took the Waterford mills and his brother the one at Montville.
Mr. Robertson continued to manufacture tissue- paper and to maintain the high standing of his goods until his death, July 5, 1873.
He married, Nov. 2, 1851, Jane B. Walker. Their children were Jane, John (who now carries on the business), Alexander D., James Clate, and Margaret B. Mrs. Robertson died Aug. 14, 1862.
Mr. Robertson, for his second wife, married Miss Mary J. Thompson, June 12, 1863. Their children are Thomas B., Mary J., and Francis P.
Mr. Robertson was a man of sterling integrity, in- dustrious and prudent, of an agreeable and pleasant social disposition ; much loved, not only by his own household, but by a large range of acquaintance. He did not care for office, but, as a private citizen, did much for education, religion, and the betterment of Waterford. Coming to this country to seize the advantages a free country gives the able poor man, he wished to preserve the integrity of those principles that showed themselves to him as the guiding stars of the republic, and he earnestly and steadily advocated and worked for the success of the Democratic party as the only way to consummate that end. He was also for many years a consistent and valued member of the Congregational Church.
Orlando Comstock, son of Caleb and Lucy (Dart) Comstock, was born in the town of Montville, Conn., Oct. 19, 1812. His father was a son of Zebediah Comstock, and was born in Montville. Married and had ten children, seven of whom are living, the united ages of whom are about four hundred and fifty years.
Caleb was a carpenter and joiner, a man of moder- ate means. He settled in the town of Waterford in 1821, and continued to reside there till his death, May 2, 1841, aged fifty-five. He was a Democrat in politics. His father, Zebediah, was a farmer also, and settled in Montville, where he died at seventy- eight years of age. For a more complete history of this family, see biography of W. H. H. Comstock, of New London.
Orlando Comstock received a common-school edu- cation. He settled in Waterford with his parents when nine years of age, and continued with them till he was twenty-two, when he began working in a
49
766
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
Orlando Comstack
woolen-factory, which he followed one winter, the spring following working again on the farm by the month for eight months, and the next year hired his father's farm on shares, which he continued to do till the death of his father in 1841. In 1845 he pur- chased his present farm of two hundred acres. He has been twice married,-first to Mary W. Comstock, of Montville, September, 1839. Of their five chil- dren two only are living,-James E. and Emily C.
Mrs. Comstock died May 2, 1852, and he married for his second wife Mary Ann Keeney, March 6, 1853.
Mr. Comstock was a Democrat till the Republican party was organized. In 1858 he represented his town in the Legislature. He has been selectman nine years, and has held some of the other town offices. He is a member of the Second Baptist Church at Waterford, and one of its principal members.
SUPPLEMENT.
THE following items were received too late for in- | citizens of Groton in favor of liberty. The Colonial sertion in the body of the work :
NEW LONDON.
THE DAY.
The first number of The Day, a morning paper, was issued July 2, 1881. The original publishers and proprietors were John A. Tibbits & Co. The senior member of the firm, John A. Tibbits, was the first editor, and holds the position at the present time. Mr. Tibbits has been connected with the journalism of the county for nearly fifteen years. He was the editor of The Telegram for a period of over eight years, and is still one of the proprietors of that paper. He has taken quite a prominent part in Connecticut politics. In 1872 he represented New London in the General Assembly, and was the author of the local option amendment to the license law which was passed in that year. He was appointed five success- ive times by President Grant a government director of the Union Pacific Railroad, was a member of the Republican National Convention at Cincinnati in 1876, was appointed collector of customs for the dis- trict of New London by President Hayes in May, 1877, and reappointed by President Arthur in Oc- tober, 1881. During the war he served in the Four- teenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, enlisting as a private, and being afterwards promoted to second lieutenant, and was three times wounded, twice at Antietam and once at Gettysburg. The Day is the only New London paper which has ever taken the full Associated Press reports. It has a large city cir- culation, and also circulates more extensively than any other daily paper in the towns surrounding New London. The Week, published in connection with The Day, is issued every Thursday. It is a large and handsome sheet, and has already met with consider- able success.
GROTON.
Hon. Silas Deane .- Silas Deane was no common character. He was born in the north part of the town, within the present limits of Ledyard, and we trace him step by step in his career among the rising young men of the town. He graduated at Yale Col- lege in 1758, in the class of Samuel Wyllis, so long the Secretary of State for Connecticut. He returned to his native town, and became a leader among the
Legislature elected him, with Col. Dyer, to represent Connecticut in the Continental Congress of the United American Colonies, and the Continental Congress ap- pointed him to be ambassador to the Court of France, at the time when Louis XVI. had just ascended the throne, and the dazzling young queen, Marie Antoi- nette, was in the midst of her first bright career. How well he kept in view the object of his mission, en- gaging the services of distinguished officers both in France and Germany, and how well he enlisted the French government in the American cause, let his- tory answer.
The writer has before him a copy of the official contract between Silas Deane and the Marquis de La- fayette, and also the compact between Deane and Baron de Kalb. The original papers or certified copies form a part of the Silas Deane collection of papers, now in the Smithsonian Institute.
The translation of the contract with Lafayette is as follows :
"The wish that the Marquis de Lafayette has shown to serve in the army of the United States of North America, and the interest that he takes in the justice of their cause, making him wish for opportunities to distinguish himself in the war, and to make himself useful to them as much as in him lies; but, not being able to obtain the consent of his family to serve in a foreign country and to cross the ocean, except on the condition that he should go as a general officer, I have believed that I could not serve my country and my superiors better than by granting to him, in the name of the very honorable Congress, the rank of major- general, which I beg the States to confirm and ratity, and to send for- ward his commission to enable him to take and hold rank, connting from to-day, with the general officers of the same grade. Ilis high birth, his connections, the great dignities held by his family at this court, his con- siderable possessions in this kingdom, his personal merit, his reputation, his disinterestedness, and, above all, his zeal for the freedom of our colo- nies have alone been able to induce me to make this promise of the said rank of major-general, in the name of the said United States. In wit- ness of which I have signed these presents, done at Paris this seventh of October, seventeen hundred and seventy-six.
" To the above conditions I agree, and promise to start when and how Mr. Deane shall judge it proper, to serve the said States with all possible zeal, with no allowance nor private salary, reserving to myself only the right to return to Europe whenever my family or my king shall recall me. Done at Paris, this seventh day of October, 1776.
[Signed] " THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.
The agreement between Deane and De Kalb was written in English, as follows :
" Baron De Kalb's Contract .- Le Baron de Kalb being advised by some Generals of the highest reputation and by several other Noblemen of the first rank in this realm, to serve the cause of Liberty in America, he ac- cordingly offers his services to the most honorable Congress, on the fol- lowing terms:
" 1st. To be made a Major General of the American troops at the ap. pointments of the Major Generals in that Service, with all other perqui-
767
768
SUPPLEMENT.
sites belonging to that Rank, besides a particular sum to be allowed to him annually, which he will not determine, but rely on it for the Con- gress, hoping they will consider the difference there is, between their own Countrymen, who are in duty bound to defend their all, and a foreigner who out of his own accord offers his time, sets aside his family affairs to hazard his life for the American Liberties. The said appoint- ments to begin from this day November the seventh-1776.
"2nd. That Mr. Deane will furnish him presently & before embark- ing with n sum of twelve thousand livres french-money, namely 6000 to be considered and given as a gralification for the necessary expenses altending such an Errant, and th'other 6000 as an advance upon his ap- pointments.
"3rd. That Capt Dubois martin and another Gentleman who Le Baron de Kalb Shall nominate in time, may be agreed as majors to be his aid de Camps at the appointments of american officers of the Same Rank, and the sum of 3000,, or at least 2400,, be paid to each of them presently or before embarking, the half of which as a gratification, & the other half as an advance, the said appointments beginning too from this day.
"4th. That in ense the Peaco was made at their Landing in america, or that the Congress would not grant these demands, and ratify the present agreement, or that the Baron de Kalb himself should on any other account & at any time incline to return to Europe, that he bo allowed to do so, and besides be furnish with a sufficient sum of money for the Expenses of his coming Inck.
"On the above Conditions, I engage and promise to serve the ameri- can States to the utmost of my abilities, to acknowledge the authority and every act of the most honorable Congress, be faithfull to the Country as if my own, oboy to Superiors committed by that Lawfull Power, and be from this very day at the disposal of Mr. Deane for my embarkation and in such vessel and barbour as he shall think fit. Witness my hand, in l'aris November ye seventh in the year one thousand seven hundred seventy six.
[Signed] " DE KALB. " Recd. of Silas Deane at Paris Novr. 22nd 1776 Sixteen Thousand Eight Hundred Livs. on acct. of the above.
[Signed] " DE KALB.
" N I paid 8800 in Cash.
"&-8000 by a Bill on Messrs. Delaps."
Mr. Deane died in 1789, since fully vindicated from all the aspersions of his enemies. His services to the cause of his country can scarcely be overestimated.
NORWICH.
St. James' Lodge,1 No. 23, F. and A. M., was chartered by the Grand Lodge of the State of Con- necticut, May 18, A.L. 5793. Communications were held in the town of Preston till A.L. 5846, when it appears on the records that "The Brethren deem- ing it inexpedient to try to keep up the organi- zation of the Lodge any longer sent information to the Grand Lodge, and they sent a Committee, who took the charter, jewels, and implements and placed them in the hands of the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut ;" and the signature of E. G. Storer, G. S. of the State of Connecticut, appears on the records.
St. James' Lodge was resuscitated Sept. 12, A.L. 5872, under authority of Luke A. Lockwood, G. M., who appointed W. M. John W. Stedman, of Som- erset Lodge, No. 34, to present the dispensation, and the original charter was regranted June 16, A.L. 5873.
Meetings were held with the other Masonie bodies, in Masonic Hall, Norwich, till A.L. 5876, when they moved to their present lodge-room in the Bank Build- ing, on Shetucket Street.
The charter members of the lodge upon its reorgani-
Contributed by A. S. Comstock.
zation were H. Hobart Roath, H. Clay Albro, S. Al- phens Gilbert, Allen Tenny, P. St. M. Andrews, A. D. Smith, C. H. Dillaby, Nathan S. Gilbert, James Kir- ker, I. W. Carpenter, George W. Miller, Costello Lip- pitt, J. L. W. Huntington, Charles Webb, Hugh H. Osgood, W. II. Hovey, John Irish, and Ansel A. Beckwilt.
Rufus M. Ladd was the first Master ; Joseph J. Wait, first S. W .; and John L. Devotion, first J. W.
The Masters since that time have been as follows : Joseph J. Wait, John L. Devotion, S. Alpheus Gil- bert, George W. Miller, Gilbert L. Hewitt, and Al- bert S. Comstock.
The present officers are Albert S. Comstock, W. M .; Ashbel W. Fitch, S. W. ; Henry L. Bennett, J. W .; Rees D. Jones, Treas .; Charles C. Walker, Sec. ; Irving N. Gifford, S. D .; John C. Averill, J. D .; Samuel B. Case, Jr., S. S .; James L. Coffee, J. S. ; Albert D. Smith, Marshal ; William H. Dudley, Or- ganist ; H. Clay Albro, Tyler.
POSTMASTERS.
The following is a list of postmasters of Norwich and Norwich Town since 1854. (See page 313.)
Norwich .- John W. Stedman, Henry HI. Stark- weather, Charles M. Coit, and E. George Bidwell, the present incumbent.
Norwich Town .- Henry B. Tracy, Charles Smith, Jabez S. Lathrop, George D. Fuller, and John Man- ning.
ADDITION TO BIOGRAPHY OF II. L. JOHNSON, OF JEWETT CITY.
The following are the names of the children of George Tyler and wife: Frank J. Tyler, Fred. C. Tyler, John B. Tyler, Kate B. Tyler, Lucius S. Tyler, Charles T. Tyler, Florence L. Tyler.
Henry Johnson married Carrie D. Howe in De- cember, 1868, in New York City ; no children. Mar- ried again in June, 1873, to Carrie F. Leeds, of Staten Island, N. Y. Children : Leeds Johnson, born April 16, 1875; Larned Johnson, Dec. 25, 1879. En- tered Yale College, 1856; graduated, 1860. Entered the army as lieutenant in Fifth Connecticut Regi- ment, July, 1861. Was soon after transferred to the United States Signal Corps, in which he served about one year. Was appointed and accepted a position as aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Terry. In 1863 he was appointed an assistant adjutant-general of volun- teers, with rank of captain. Retired from the army in 1865. In 1868 he became a member of the New York Stock Exchange, and began the business of banking, which he still follows.
In the Mathewson family notices, George Ross should be George A. Ross ; Mira should be Almira J.
ERRATUM.
Lammon, on page 41, first line, should read Lan- man.
7
FEDATE DUE
DEC 1 9 986
JAN 1 3.1986
2. AUGEO 4 2005
JAN 1 3 1987
NOV 15
2003
033
AUG 0 8
7005
JUN 2 $ 1982
NOV 1 6|2011
JUL 00 1032
AUG 1 3 1982
NOV 2 7
1992
OCT 2
OCT & 8 NO
JAN 2 4 1997
JUL 0 9 1997 DEC 0, 2 1990 NOV 1 8 19.99
DEMCO 38-297
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
31197 20123 3118
2 . .
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.