USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 51
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Baptist Church, Huntington Street .- At the annual meeting of the First Baptist Church in the city of New London, in January, 1849, a resolution was passed to give letters to those who desired to form another Baptist Church in the city, to be in fellowship with the First Church. March 14th, the same year, one hundred and eighty-five brethren and sisters of the said First Church met, and after prayer and solemn deliberation constituted themselves into a church, and having previously purchased the Uni- versalist meeting-house in Huntington Street, agreed to be known as "The Huntington Street Baptist Church," adopting articles of faith and covenant. Elder Jabez Swan was elected pastor, and William P. Benjamin and Isaac Harris deacons.
March 29, 1849, the house recently bought of the Universalist society was dedicated to the worship and praise of Almighty God, and the church was pub- licly recognized, and the deacons elect were ordained with appropriate services. Sermons were preached this day by Elder J. S. Swan appropriate to the dedi- cation of the house, and by Elder B. Cook on the recognition of the church. Elder P. G. Wightman preached in the evening. The following is a list of pastors : J. S. Swan, S. B. Grant, A. P. Buel, J. B. Barry, J. J. Townsend, J. S. Swan, and J. K. Wilson.
The Universalist Church .- A Universalist society was formed in New London in the year 1835, and occasional services held, but no church was erected or regular ministry established till 1843, when an edifice of brick was erected on Huntington Street, and dedicated March 20, 1844. Rev. T. J. Greenwood was its pastor for four years. In 1849 it was sold by the trustees in order to liquidate the debts of the society, and was purchased by the Third Baptist Church. In August of the same year the Universalist society pur- chased the former Episcopal church on Main Street for three thousand five hundred dollars. This was subsequently sold, and services have since been held in Allyn Hall. A church edifice is now in process of erection. Among the pastors are mentioned the names of Rev. J. C. Waldo, Mr. Campbell, and George W. Gage. The church has no pastor at present.
St. Mary Star of the Sea, Roman Catholic Church. - The holy sacrifice of the mass was first celebrated in this city on Washington Street, in about the year 1840, by Father Fitton, the great pioneer of
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
New England Catholicity, then stationed in Worces- ter, Mass. The second place in which mass was cele- brated by this honored divine was at the corner of Bank and Blinman Streets. He soon noted indica- tions of success, and at once commenced the crection of a church edifice, which was soon after completed. This was located on Jay Street. Father Fitton was soon succeeded by Father Brady, who in 1848 was followed by Father James Gibson, the first resident pastor. From this date, 1848, New London has been a distinct parish. He remained until 1850, when Rev. Peter Blenkinsop became pastor; in 1851 Rev. P. Dufly, who was soon succeeded by Rev. F. Stokes, who officiated until October, 1852. He was followed by Rev. Thomas Ryan, during whose pastorate a church was erected on Truman Street. The Jay Street church was still held by the parish and used for Sun- day-school purposes.
In 1858, Father Ryan was succeeded by Rev. P. A. Gaynor, who organized St. John's Literary Society. Rev. Father Gaynor remained until 1866, and was followed by Rev. B. Tully, who stayed but a short time. He purchased the lot on the corner of Wash- ington and Huntington Streets. In August, 1867, Rev. P. Grace, D.D., became pastor and commenced the erection of the present church. His service here was brief. His successor was Rev. E. A. O'Conner, who had as an assistant Father Furlong. St. Mary's Be- nevolent Society was organized by Father O'Connor.
Father O'Connor died in 1871, leaving Father Fur- long in temporary charge. Father M. Tierney be- came pastor in May, 1872, and remained until some time during the year 1873. He organized the Star of the Sea Total Abstinence Society. About Jan. 1, 1874, Rev. P. P. Lalor assumed the pastoral charge, and during his pastorate the present beautiful and substantial church edifice was completed, one of the finest in New England. It was dedicated in May, 1876, with elaborate ceremonies. He remained until 1879. Father Lalor was a very popular man, and had a high reputation for executive ability.
In losing Father Lalor the Catholics of New Lon- don have been singularly fortunate in his successor, the present popular incumbent, Rev. T. Broderick. Ilis priestly zeal, his self-sacrificing spirit, his glad- some temperament and engaging manners quickly gained for him the affections of his people. Father Lalor's mantle of popularity fell on worthy shoulders. Immediately after taking possession of the parish, Father Broderick commenced to beautify the grounds about the church and pastoral residence, and is still making improvements. St. Mary Star of the Sea is now in a prosperous condition, and is one of the strongest parishes in Connecticut.
CHAPTER XV.
NEW LONDON-( Continued).
MISCELLANEOUS.
Commerce-Whaling-The Port of New London-Custom-House-List of Collectors-The Ferry-New London in 1800-Societies-Incor- poration of the City-First Charter Election-Officers Elected-Mayors from Organization to Present Time-Schools-The Yellow Fever-The Old Militia-City Hall-Manufactures-Cedar Grove Cemetery-Gas Company-Water-Works.
Commerce1-Whaling .- As a commercial town, New London became carly noted in the colony. Ever sagacious and on the alert, the people were not slow to improve the facilities offered by the natural advan- tages of the place for engaging in commercial pur- suits.
As early as 1659 nine persons were appointed by the General Court, one for each of the small ports in the colony, to enter and record such goods as were subject to customs. John Smith was appointed cus- tom-master for New London. The office was unimn- portant in point of fees, as an order of the General Court in 1654 allowed all articles, except wine and liquors, to be received free of duty. Under the term liquors, however, the spirit called rum, which was then a recent product of the English West India Islands, was not included, but strictly prohibited.2 Daniel Wetherill was subsequently appointed to the office, and was the last person who held it by colonial au- thority. He was, however, reappointed by the sur- veyor-general of the plantations, under commission from the Treasury Board of the mother-country, " as deputy collector and searcher for Connecticut" in 1685, the whole colony being thrown into one district for the collection of customs, and held his office about twenty years.
The building of vessels commenced about 1660 by John Coit, or Coite, and was continued by Joseph Coit, Hugh Mould, John Stiness, and others. The barks "Speedwell," "Hopewell," and "Endeav- our" were among the first vessels constructed, and in 1661 the "New London Tryall," the first mer- chant vessel in the place, was built by John Elderkin, and was regarded a remarkable affair, "costing, ex- clusive of iron-work, spikes, and nails, two hundred pounds."
The early coasting trade was principally with Bos- ton. Household goods, clothing, powder, lead, and military accoutrements, also implements of husbandry, were obtained, and returns made in "peltins and wampum." Small vessels and boats trafficked with Long Island, Rhode Island, and elsewhere, and soon the trade extended to New York, and as far as Vir-
1 By William H. Starr.
2 It is recorded in New London, lib. 3, " that whatsoever Barbadoes liquors, commonly called rum, kill-devil, or the like, shall be landed in any place in this jurisdiction, drawne or sould in any vessel lying in any harbor or roade in this commonwealth, shall be all forfeted and con- fiscated to the commonwealth."-Miss Caulking' History, p. 230.
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ginia. Dry hides and buckskins constituted the principal commerce with the latter place.1
During the year 1660 a circumstance of some note occurred in the town. The ship " Hope," from Malaga, Spain, came into harbor in want of provisions. She had been chartered for Virginia, and was loaded with wine, raisins, and almonds, destined for that port. But her voyage had been long and the weather tem- pestuous, and the storm-beaten vessel was leaky and obliged to put into this port for repairs. Her cargo was found to be damaged, and the state of affairs in Virginia was not favorable for its shipment to that colony. As the vessel needed " trimming and sheath- ing," and required the discharge of the cargo for that purpose, it was sold at New London, and the super- cargo of the vessel, Mr. Robert Loveland, became a resident of the town. He entered fully into commer- cial affairs of the place, and prosecuted a voyage to Newfoundland for the purpose of trade and barter. He afterwards purchased a tract of land at Green Harbor, intending to build wharves and warehouses, and to make it a port of entry for the town. Finding the spot unfavorable for the purpose he abandoned the project, and after a few years died, assigning all his estate, "whether lands, houses, horses, cattle, debts due by book, bill, or bond, either in New Eng- land, Virginia, or elsewhere," to Alexander Pygan.
Commercial relations between New London and Newfoundland were early established. Pork, beef, and other provisions were shipped there, and dry fish, and frequently West India produce were taken in return. This trade continued until after 1700.
Between New London and Barbadoes an early com- mercial intercourse was established. A regular voy- age was made twice a year to that island with horses, cattle, beef, pork, and frequently pipe staves, which were exchanged for sugar and molasses. This trade was the most lucrative business of the period. Mer- chants of Hartford, Middletown, and Wethersfield made shipments from this town. Captains from the river towns often took in their cargoes at New Lon- don.2
In 1666, Mould and Coit, previously referred to as the leading ship-builders in New London, launched the ship " New London," a seventy-ton vessel, being larger than any vessel heretofore constructed in the place. The "New London" was designed for and
employed in European voyages. In 1678 the same builders completed the largest, undoubtedly, of all the vessels built by them, viz., the " John and Hester," of about one hundred tons burden, which made sev- eral successful voyages under the command of John and Jonathan Prentis, who were part owners of the vessel.
The West India trade assumed quite an important place in New London. On the 26th of June, 1724, six vessels sailed at one time for the West India Islands, all freighted with cargoes of horses, which at that time constituted a principal article of export from the town. Eight years previous, in 1716, men- tion is made by Miss Caulkins of a shipment by one vessel of forty-five horses to Barbadoes.
In 1723 "Jeffrey's great ship" was commenced, and launched in October, 1725. Its burden was seven hundred tons, and it was the largest vessel at that time ever built this side of the Atlantic, and excited much interest and attention throughout the colony. New London at that period had acquired a reputation for building large ships. This port is noticed by Douglas, in his history of the British settlements, pub- lished previous to 1750, in which he describes Con- necticut as having eight commercial shipping ports for small crafts ; but " all masters," he remarks, " can enter and clear at the port of New London, having a good harbor and deep water." He adds also, "here they build large ships."
The commercial enterprises of New London con- tinued to increase, and were generally successful until British aggressions and the war of the Revolution in- terrupted and finally closed all its commercial rela- tions.
Collectors of the Port-Custom-House .- The first collector of the port of New London was Gen. Jedediah Huntington. He was, as before stated, at one time one of Washington's aides and a special favorite under his command. He performed his duties as collector with promptness and fidelity from the close of the Revolutionary war to the second rup- ture with Great Britain. It is said that at least eighty coasters were owned principally at Norwich and New London, and one hundred and fifty sail of merchant vessels entered and cleared at the port of New Lon- don. The receipts of the office were from fifty thou- sand to two hundred thousand dollars annually. Mr. Huntington performed this large amount of business in a single room, the office being in the second story of a store at the corner of Bank Street and the Parade.
He was succeeded in 1815 by Gen. Thomas H. Cushing, who held the office until his death in 1822. He had served in the Revolutionary war, and in 1790 held a commission as captain in the army of St. Clair. During the second war with Great Britain, in 1813, he attained the rank of brigadier-general.
Capt. Richard Law was appointed his successor, and continued in office eight years, followed by In-
I The least buckskin was to weigh was four pounds and a half. A pound and a half of hides was equal in value to a pound of buckskin, one pound of hides equaled two pounds of old iron, two pounds of hides equaled one pound of old pewter. Here are old iron and old pewter having a fixed value as articles of barter and merchandise !- Miss Caulkins.
2 The following receipt shows the comparative value of two prime articles of exchange.
" Barbadoes :- I underwrit, do hereby acknowledge to have received of Mr. Jeffrey Christophers one hl. of pork, per account of Mr. Benja- min Brewster, the which I have sold for 300 lbs. of sngar .- Elisha San- ford, Aug. 18, 1671.
"True copy of the receipt which was sent back to Barbadoes by Mr. Giles Hamlin in the ship 'John and James,' Oct. 29, 1671. Charles Hill, Recorder."-Miss Caulkins' History, p. 235.
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goldsby W. Crawford, eight years ; Charles P. Lester, four years; Wolcott Huntington, a short term ; Les- ter again until his decease in 1846 ; after which Thos. Muzzey and Nicholl Fosdic, the latter receiving his appointment in 1849. More recently the office has been successively filled by Henry Hobart, J. P. C. Mather, Edward Prentis, George T. Marshall, and John A. Tibbits, the present incumbent.
In 1833 the present fine granite structure on Bank Street was erected by the government as the custom- house for this district, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars. Its accommodations are ample and conven- ient, quite in contrast with the little cramped-up loft occupied by the early collectors. Its door has peculiar interesting historical associations, being con- structed of oak from the old frigate "Constitution," reserved for that purpose.
New London was noted for the early steam naviga- tion of the Sound. In 1816, one year after the close of the war, the first trip from New York was made by the "Connecticut," Capt. Bunker, on the 28th of September, in twenty-one hours, considered a remark- able and triumphant success in steam navigation at that time. Afterwards she commenced running in regular line to New Haven twice a week, connecting with the " Fulton" at that place for New York. The fare then established to the latter place was nine dol- lars for each passenger. In 1844 freight-boats pro- pelled by steam were introduced, and have since been very largely employed as propellors in the freight de- partment of the transportation lines between New York and Boston.
New London is also distinguished in this and for- eign countries in connection with the early history of steam navigation. Capt. Moses Rogers, commander, and his brother-in-law, Capt. Stevens Rogers, sailing- inaster of the steamship "Savannah," both natives of New London, were the first to navigate a steam-vessel across the Atlantic. Their little ship of three hun- dred and fifty tons burden sailed from Savannah May 26, 1819, and made the passage to Liverpool in twenty- one days. From Liverpool she proceeded to Copen- hagen, Stockholm, and Sweden. Her arrival at each of the ports produced great excitement. The little American steam craft was heralded in the public jour- nals and visited as a wonder of the age. "Bernadotte, King of Sweden, and the Emperor of Russia, with their nobles and public officers, not only came on board to examine the vessel, but tested her performn- ance by short excursions in the neighboring waters." She left Arundel, in Norway, and made her passage back to Savannah in twenty-five days. Capt. Moses Rogers was presented with an elegant silver tea-urn and other costly gifts by the Emperor of Russia, and Capt. Stevens Rogers received from Lord Lynddock, an English nobleman, who was a passenger in the steamer from Stockholm to St. Petersburg, a massive gold snuff-box. This is now in the possession of the family.
The whaling business of New London has been one of importance and success. The enterprise, energy, and seamanship of so large a portion of her citizens were important qualifications for this hardy and some- what perilous occupation. As early as 1647 the Gen- eral Court at Hartford passed a resolution granting a monopoly and exclusive privilege "for the taking of whale" within its jurisdiction to one Mr. Whiting for seven years.1 We hear nothing further of Mr. Whit- ing's project, and the probability is that it did not prove a success. It was not unusual, however, that whales were often seen in and outside the Sound, and sometimes were pursued and caught by the hardy fish- ermen of the place.2
At first the only whaling expeditions were small sloops fitted and sent out for a few weeks' voyage, the extent of which rarely or never extended beyond the banks of Newfoundland, but the business increased, and larger vessels and longer voyages became common. After 1770 voyages were made to the Brazil banks, and the number of vessels from various parts employed in the business increased until, in 1775, Nantucket alone had one hundred and fifty vessels and two thousand men employed in whaling.3 In 1784 the New London Gazette announced the sailing of the sloop "Rising Sun" on a whaling voyage. In 1794 the ship "Commerce," owned and fitted out at East Haddam, sailed from New London, and in 1800 a small ship called the " Miantonomoh" was sent out by Norwich parties, and sailed from New London and passed around Cape Horn. She was, however, seized at Valparaiso by Spanish authorities and condemned.
In 1802 the ship "Dispatch," Howard, was fitted out at New London to cruise in the South Seas after whales, but the voyage was not repeated. In 1805 the "Dauphin" was purchased by Dr. Samuel H. P. Lee, through whose efforts a company was formed and the vessel fitted out for the Brazil banks. She made a successful voyage, and returned with her cargo in June, 1806. After this the business was continued and increased until the embargo, followed by the war of 1812, completely broke up the business.
After the return of peace to the country the West India trade never revived, but in 1819 the whaling interest recommenced under the late Hon. Thomas W. Williams and Daniel Deshon, who engaged with their characteristic energy in the new enterprise. Messrs. N. & W. W. Billings followed in 1827, and fitted out three ships in the business. These enter- prising pioneers in the whaling interest were soon fol-
1 " If Mr. Whiting, with any others, shall make trial and prosecute a design for the taking of whale within these liberties, and if upon trial within the term of two years they shall like to go ou, no other shall be suffered to interrupt them for the term of seven years."-Colonial Records. 2 " The whale.fishery on the south side of Long Island has consider- ably increased. Latterly it has been much neglected. But Inst winter a number of whales were caught and killed by the inhabitants, who at- tacked them in boats launched from the shore."-New York Daily Adver- tiser, published 1802.
3 Ilistory of Nantucket.
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lowed by others,-Benjamin Brown & Sons, Miner, Lawrence & Co., Perkins & Smith, Williams & Barnes, Lyman Allyn, Frink & Prentis, Thomas Fitch (2), E. V. Stoddard, Weaver, Rogers & Co., and several others, including Williams, Haven & Co., more recently Haven, Williams & Co., all of whom have contributed largely by their energy and enter- prise to the wealth and growth of the city. In 1845 the number of ships, brigs, and other vessels employed was seventy-eight, the tonnage of which exceeded largely that of any other port in the United States, New Bed- ford only excepted. Many of these vessels made re- markable voyages. That of the "Clematis," Capt. Benjamin, fitted out by Williams & Barnes, which returned in 1841, made her voyage in little less than eleven months, sailed round the globe, and brought home two thousand five hundred and forty-eight barrels of oil,-a voyage worthy of historic record. Of the scores of hardy, enterprising men commanding the numerous vessels engaged in the whaling business we might add very largely, but the foregoing record must suffice. Capt. John Rice, the oldest in commission whaling-captain of the port, died in 1873, at the age of seventy-five years.
The late Hon. H. P. Haven, with Richard H. Cha- pell, were among the first and most active originators of the Alaska Commercial Company, one of the most important and successful enterprises in the country, developing the resources of this newly-acquired terri- tory, and yielding to the government annually two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in rent and royalty. Mr. Haven was one of the trustees of the company, and to his influence and efforts may in a good degree be attributed the wise and humane pro- visions of its lease from the government providing for the education and protection of the natives of that remote region.1
A circumstance of considerable note occurred dur- ing the winter of 1855 in connection with the whaling interest of the town. This was the arrival in the har- bor of the English ship " Resolute" from the Arctic regions, brought in by Capt. James M. Buddington, of the whale-ship "George Henry," of this port. The " Resolute" was a vessel of six hundred tons burden, stanch and strongly built in England with reference to encountering the hazards of polar navigation, and fitted with special regard for that purpose. She was one of a fleet of five vessels sent out by the British government to search for Sir John Franklin and his crew, under command of Sir Edward Belcher. The effort, it will be recollected, was unsuccessful. The " Resolute," in the vicinity of Melville Island, was separated from her consorts, became entangled in the ice, and, unable to extricate herself, was soon sur- rounded by an ice-field hundreds of miles in extent. After remaining in this condition several months,
with no prospect of release, she was abandoned by the captain and crew, who returned home in the other vessels of the expedition in safety, leaving their own ship to her fate, imprisoned beyond escape, as they supposed, in the impenetrable ice-fields of the North.
In September, 1855, sixteen months after her aban- donment, Capt. Buddington and his crew found this vessel while in Davis Straits, and took possession of the abandoned ship. She had drifted at least eleven hundred miles from the place where she had been left by her crew nearly a year and a half previous. Every- thing on board was precisely in the condition in which they had been left. The furniture of the officers' room was undisturbed. The lamps, bottles, wine-glasses, and other articles stood on the table as they were left after their final parting health was drank, apparently to the discoverers but a few hours previous. In the cabin books lay open just as they were laid down from their last perusal, and everything appeared as though but left for the briefest absence. Capt. Bud- dington transferred a part of his own crew to the aban- doned vessel, and after a rough and perilous voyage of about one hundred days brought her safely into New London Harbor. The "Resolute" lay at New London seven months, and was visited by thousands of people from our own and other towns, some far dis- tant, with the greatest interest. The government, however, very properly paid a liberal redemption for her to the rescuers and took possession of the vessel. After having her fully repaired and put in the best condition, she was returned to the British govern- ment as a present, under the command of Capt. Harts- tene, of the United States navy. Capt. Hartstene was the officer that in 1853 had been sent to the Polar seas to relieve Capt. Kane, who commanded the "Second General Expedition to the Arctic Regions."
The Ferry. - The ferry privilege between New London and Groton was first leased to Edward Mes- senger, Nov. 6, 1651, for the period of twenty years. The lease, however, was surrendered in two or three years, and in 1654, Mr. Winthrop and the townsmen entered into an agreement with Cary Latham, grant- ing him a lease of "the ferry over Pequot River at the town of Pequot for fifty years from the twenty- fifth of March, 1655. The said Cary to take 3d. of every passenger for his fare, 6d. for every horse or great beast, and 3d. for a calf or swine ; and to have liberty to keep some provisions and some strong liquors or wine for the refreshment of passengers. No English or Indians are to pass over or near the ferry-place that they take pay for ; if they do, the said Cary may require it."
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