USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 80
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
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS FROM NORWICHI.
Joshma IInntington, 1805, Thomas Jefferson elected ; opposition candi- date, C. C. Pinckney.
Calvin Goddard, 1813, James Madison elected ; opposition candidate, De Witt Clinton.
Charles W. Rockwell, 1845, James K. Polk elected ; opposition candidate, Ilenry Clay.
William A. Buckingham, 1857, James Buchanan elected ; opposition can- didate, Jolin C. Fremont.
John T. Wait, 1864, Abraham Lincoln re-elected ; opposition candidate, George B. Mcclellan.
Henry Bill, ISGS, Ulysses S. Grant elected ; opposition candidate, Ilora- tio Seymour.
Ilenry l'. Ilaven, 1872, Ulysses S. Grant re-elected ; opposition candidate, Horace Greeley.
Henry B. Norton, 1880, James A. Garfield elected ; opposition candidate, Winfield Scott Hancock.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1662 TO 1882.
1662 .- Thomas Leffingwell, Thomas Tracy.
1663 .- Ilugh Calkin, Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell.
1664 .- Ingh Calkin, Francis Griswohl.
1665 .- Ingh Calkin, Francis Griswold, Thomas Leffingwell.
1666 .- Hugh Calkin, Francis Griswold.
1667 .- Thomas Tracy, Francis Griswold.
1668 .- Francis Griswold, Benjamin Brewster. Thomas Leffingwell. 1669 .- Francis Griswold, Hugh Calkin, Thomas Leffingwell.
1670-Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leflingwell.
1671 .- Francis Griswoid, Thomas Leflingwell, Hugh Calkin.
1672 .- Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell, John Mason.
1673 .- Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell.
1674 .- Thomas Leflingwell, Simon Huntington, John Mason. 1675 .- John Mason, Thomas Tracy.
1676 .- Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leflingwell.
1677 .- Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leflingwell, Simon Huntington.
1678 .- Thomas Tracy, James Fitch, Jr., James Fitch.
1679 .- James Fitch, Thomas Leflingwell, Benjamin Brewster.
1680 .- James Fitch, William Backus.
1681 .-- Benjamin Brewster, James Fitch, Thomas Leffingwell.
1082 .- Thomas Leffingwell, Benjamin Brewster, Thomas Tracy. 1683 .- Thomas Letlingwell, Thonms Tracy, William Backus.
1684 .- Thomas Tracy, William Backus, Thomas Leffingwell.
1685 .- Thomas Leflingwell, Simon Huntington, Thomas Waterman.
1686 .- Benjamin Brewster, Thomas Leffingwell.
1687 .- Benjamin Brewster, Thomas Leflingwell.
1689.1-Benjamin Brewster, Thomas Leffingwell, William Backus.
1 Charter government suspended, October, 1687, to May, 1689.
331
NORWICH.
1690 .- Benjamin Brewster, Thomas Leffingwell.
1691 .- Thomas Leffingwell, Richard Bushnell, John Birchard.
1692 .- Benjamin Brewster, Richard Bushnell.
1693 .- Thomas Leflingwell, Richard Bushnell, Benjamin Brewster. 1694 .- Benjamin Brewster, Richard Bushnell, John Tracy.
1695 .- Benjamin Brewster, William Bushnell, Thomas Leffingwell.
1696 .- Thomas Leflingwell, Richard Bushnell, Benjamin Brewster.
1697 .- Benjamin Brewster, Richard Bushnell, John Tracy.
1698 .- Richard Bushnell, John Tracy, Solomon Tracy.
1699 .- Richard Bushnell, John Tracy.
1700 .- Thomas Leflingwell, Solomon Tracy.
1701 .- John Tracy, Solomon Tracy.
1702 .- Richard Bushnell, Solomon Tracy.
1703 .- Richard Bushnell, Thomas Leffingwell, Solomon Tracy.
1704 .- Richard Bushnell, Solomon Tracy, Joseph Backus.
1705 .- Richard Bushnell, Solomon Tracy, Joseph Backus. 1706 .- Solomon Tracy, Richard Bushnell.
1707 .- Richard Bushnell, Solomon Tracy, Samuel Griswold.
1708 .- Richard Bushnell (clerk), Solomon Tracy, Joseph Backus.
1709 .- Richard Bushnell (clerk), Solomon Tracy, Joseph Backus.
1710 .- Richard Bushnell, Christopher Huntington, Solomon Traey.
1711 .- Richard Bushnell (clerk), Solomon Tracy.
1712 .- Richard Bushnell (clerk), Josephi Backus.
1713 .- Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Joseph Backus.
1714 .- Richard Bushnell, Joseph Backus.
1715 .- Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Joseph Backus.
1716 .- Richard Bushnell, Joseph Backus, Thomas Leffingwell.
1717 .- Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Solomon Tracy, Joseph Backus. 1718 .- Richard Bushnell, Joseph Backus.
1719 .- Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Joseph Backus, Daniel Tracy.
1720 .- Richard Bushnell (Speaker), Jabez Hyde, Benajah Bushnell, Jabez Perkins.
1721 .- Joseph Backus, Jabez Ilyde, Benajah Bushnell, Thomas Adgate.
1722 .- Joseph Backus, Jabez Perkins.
1723 .- Joseph Backus, Jabez Perkins, Thomas Adgate.
1724 .- Joseph Backus, Benajah Bushnell, Christopher Huntington, Thomas Adgate.
1725 .- Joseph Backus, Jabez HIyde.
1726 .- Joseph Backus, Jabez IIyde, Thomas Adgate, William Hyde.
1727 .- Joseph Backus, James Huntington.
1728 .- Joseph Backus, Jabez Ilyde, Jabez Perkins.
1729 .- Jabez Hyde, Joseph Tracy, Benajah Bushnell, Joseph Backus. 1730 .- Joseph Backus, Benajah Bushnell, Jabez Hyde.
1731 .- Joseph Backus, Isaac Huntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Jr.
1732 .- Jabez Hyde, Simon Lothrop, Jabez Huntington, John Edgerton. 1733 .- Joseph Backus, Jabez Hyde, Joseph Tracy.
1734 .- Ilezekiah Huntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Jr., Benajah Bushnel, Jabez llyde.
1735 .- Benajah Bushnell, Joseph Traey, Simon Lothrop, Ilezekiah IFun- tington.
1736 .- Benajah Bushnell, Hezekiah Huntington, Joseph Tracy, Isaac Iluntington.
1737 .- Hezekiah Huntington, Joseph Tracy.
1738 .- Hezekiah Huntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Samuel Backus.
17.9 .- Hezekiah Iluntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Samuel Backus.
1740 .- Hezekiah Huntington, Joshua Huntington, Samuel Backus.
1741 .- Joshua IInutington, Isaac Huntington, Isaac Tracy.
1742 .- Joshua Huntington, Isaac Huntington, Joseph Kingsbury, Simon Lathrop.
1743 .- Joshua Huntington, Simon Lathrop, Hezekiah Huntington.
1744 .- Joshua Huntington, Hezekiah Huntington, Ebenezer Backus.
1745 .- Joshua Huntington, Hezekiah Huntington, Ebenezer Backus. 1746 .- Hezekiah Huntington, Ebenezer Backus.
1747 .- Ebenezer Backus, Daniel Huntington, Hezekiah Huntington.
1748 .- Hezekiah Huntington, Ebenezer Backus, Isaac Tracy.
1749 .- Ebenezer Backus, Isaac Tracy.
1750 .- Ebenezer Backus, Jabez Huntington, Ebenezer Ilartshorn, Wil- liam Whiting.
1751 .- Joseph Tracy, Jr., Ebenezer Hartshorn, William Whiting.
1752 .- Philip Turner, Isaac Tracy, Elisha Tracy.
1753 .- Isaac Tracy, Elisha Tracy, Jabez Huntington, Simon Tracy, Jr.
1754 .- Isaac Tracy, Joseph Tracy, Jabez Huntington, Daniel Lothrop. 1755 .- Isaac Tracy, Elisha Tracy, Elisha Fitch.
1756 .- Isaac Tracy, Joseph Tracy, Jabez Huntington.
1757 .- Isaac Tracy, Jabez Huntington (clerk), John Perkins.
1758 .- Jabez Huntington (clerk), Isaac Tracy, Jolin Perkins.
1759 .- Jabez IHuntington (clerk), Isaac Tracy, Daniel Lothrop.
1760 .- Jabez Huntington (Speaker), Isaac Tracy, Daniel Lothrop.
1761 .- Jabez Huntington (Speaker), Isaac Tracy.
1762 .- Jabez Iluntington (Speaker), Ebenezer Backus, Ebenezer Hlarts- horn.
1763 .- Jabez Huntington, Isaac Tracy, Daniel Lothrop.
1764 .- Daniel Lothrop, Ebenezer Backus.
1765 .- Daniel Lothrop, Samuel Huntington, Isaac Tracy, Wm. Morgan.
1766 .- Isaac Tracy, John Durkee, Joseph Tracy.
1767 .- Isaac Tracy, Joseph Tracy.
1768 .- Joseph Tracy, Elisha Lothrop, Elisha Fitch.
1769 .- Elisha Fitch, Elijah Backus.
1770 .- Elisha Vitch, Chris. Leffingwell, Elijah Backus.
1771 .- Samuel Tracy, Benjamin Huntington.
1772 .- Rufus Lathrop, Benjamin Huntington, Isaac Tracy.
1773 .- Rufus La: hrop, Benjamin Huntington, Isaac Tracy.
1774 .- Isaac Tracy, Benjamin Huntington.
1775 .- Benjamin Huntington, Samuel Huntington, Isaac Tracy.
1776 .- Benjamin Huntington, Rufus Lathrop.
1777 .- Benjamin Huntington (clerk), Rufus Lathrop, Elijah Backus, Elisha Lathrop.
1778 .- Benjamin Huntington (Speaker), Jabez Perkins.
1779 .- Nathaniel Niles, Aaron Cleveland, Benjamin Huntington, Jabez Perkins.
1780 .- Nathaniel Niles, Jabez Perkins, Elisha Lathrop.
1781 .- Nathaniel Niles, Benjamin Huntington, Joshua Huntington, John Backus.
1782 .- Barnabas Huntington, Samuel Lovert, John Backus, Elisha Lathrop.
1783 .- Elisha Lathrop, John Backus, Chris. Leffingwell.
1784 .- Elisha Lathrop, John Backus, Chris. Leffingwell.
1785 .- Elisha Lathrop, Chris. Leflingwell, Barnabas Huntington.
1786 .- Elisha Lathrop, Barnabas Huntington, Jed. Huntington, Na- thaniel Backus.
1787 .- Jed. Huntington, Jared Tracy, - Backus, - Tracy.
1788 .- Jed. Huntington, John M. Breed, Elisha Ilyde.
1789 .- Elisha Hyde, Elijah Backus, Chris. Leffingwell.
1790 .- Elisha lyde, Chris. Leffingwell.
1791 .- Benjamin Huntington, Elisha Hyde, Joseph Williams.
1792 .- Elisha Ilyde, Joseph Williams.
1793 .- Joseph Williams, John Backus, Elisha Ilyde.
1794 .- Elisha Hyde, Roger Griswold (clerk), Joseph Williams.
1795 .- Elisha Ilyde, Asa Spalding, Joseph Williams, John Backus.
1796 .- Joseph Williams, John Backus, Elisha Hyde, Asa Spalding.
1797 .- Joseph Williams, John Backus, Elisha IIyde, John Turner. 1798 .- Julin Backus, Eben. Huntington.
1799 .- Elisha Ilyde, John Turner, Jona. Frisbie.
1800 .- Elisha Ilyde, John Backus, Jacob De Witt.
1801 .- Elisha Ilyde, Jacob De Witt.
1802 .- Elisha Tracy, Jacob De Witt, Elisha Hyde, Nath. Shipman, Jr. 1803 .- Elisha Ilyde, Nathaniel Shipman, Jr.
1804 .- Asa Spalding, Benjamin Coit, Nath. Shipman, Jr., John Backus. 1805 .- Nathaniel Shipman, Benjamin Snow.
180G .- Nathaniel Shipman, Benj. Snow, Cushing Eells, Jona. Devotion. 1807 .- Cushing Eells, Newcomb Kinney, Simeon Thomas.
1808 .- Simeon Thomas, Peter Lanman.
1809 .- Thomas L. Thomas, John Fanning.
ISIO .- Cushing Eells, Daniel L. Coit, Moses Benjamin, Ezra Lathrop.
1811 .- Moses Benjamin, Jabez Huntington, Daniel L. Cuit.
1812 .- Benj. Snow, Nath'l Shipman, John Hyde, Moses Benjamin.
1813 .- Ezra Lathrop, Nathaniel Shipman, Joseph Williams.
1814 .- Nathaniel Shipman, Joseph Williams.
1815 .- Nathaniel Shipman, Newcomb Kinney, Charles Thomas.
1816 .- Chas. Thomas, Roger Huntington, Elisha Tracy.
1817 .- Ezra Lathrop, Roger Huntington, James Lanman (clerk).
1818 .- Cushing Eells, Newcomb Kinney, Charles Thomas, Erastus Coit. 1819.2-Calvin Goddard, Newcomb Kinney.
1820 .- Roger Huntington, Erastus Coit.
1821 .- Elisha Tracy, Asa Roath.
1822 .- Charles Rockwell, Elisha Tracy.
1823 .- Elisha Tracy, George IIill.
1824 .- Ehsha Tracy, David Tracy.
2 Under the new constitution only one session a year has been held, iu May. .
1 So in the record, for Richard Bushnell probably.
332
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
1825 .- Roger Huntington, Newcomb Kinney. 1826 .- Charles P. Huntington, Cushing Eells.
1827 .- Frank T. Lathrop, George Ilill. 1828,-Charles P. Huntington, Ichabod Ward. 1:29 .- Charles P. Huntington, Epaphras Porter. 1830 .- John De Witt (clerk), Charles F. Lester. 1831 .- Charles P. Huntington (clerk), Jona. G. W. Trumbull. 1832 .- William II. Law, Charles P. Huntington. 1823 .- Charles P. Huntington, James Lanman.
1834 .- Charles W. Rockwell, Roger Huntington (Speaker).
1835 .- Charles P. Huntington, Samuel Tyler. 1836 .- Charles W. Rockwell, Lewis Ilyde. 1837 .- Lewis Hyde (clerk), Enoch C. Chapman. 1838 .- Gurdon Chapman, James Stedman. 1839 .- Roger Huntington, L. F. S. Foster. 1840 .- Lafayette S. Foster, Charles Bliss. 1841 .- Benj. W. Tompkins, John Dunham. 1842 .- No choice.
1843 .- No choice.
184-1 .- Zebulon R. Robbins, Roger Huntington.
1845 .- Henry Strong, Charles W. Rockwell.
1846 .- L. F. S. Foster, Gardiner Thurston.
1847 .- L. F. S. Foster (Speaker), Charles Bliss.
1848 .- L. F. S. Foster (Speaker), Thomas L. Stedman. 1849 .- Henry McNelly, Alba F. Smith, 1850,-James Stedman, Edmund D. Roath. 1851 .- Philo M. Judson, Benj. Durfey. 1852 .- Jeremiah Halsey, Samuel Case. 1853 .- Jeremiah Halsey, Oliver Woodworth. 1834 .- L. F. S. Foster (Speaker), Moses Pierce. 1855 .- Edmund Perkins, John D. Park. 1856 .- Stephen W. Meech, Henry H. Stark weather.
1857 .- S. W. Meech, Samuel H. Grosvenor. 1858 .- George W. Gould, Charles N. Farnam. 1859 .- Jeremiah Halsey, James A. Ilovey. 18GO .- John T. Adams, Jeremiah Halsey. 1861 .- John T. Adams, Amos E. Cobb. 1862 .- John T. Adams, Sanmel B. Case. 18G3 .- John T. Adams, John A. Sterry. 1864 .- John A. Sterry, George Pratt. ISG5 .- Samuel Mowry, George Pratt. 1866 .- D. W. Perkins, I. H. Bromley. 1867 .- John T. Wait, Paul B. Greene. 1868 .- Joseph Selden, William R. Potfer. 1869 .- Edward Harland, George Pratt. 1870 .- L. F. S. Foster, T. C. Gordon. 1871 .- John T. Wait, Lorenzo Blackstone. 1872 .- Alba T. Smith, A. S. Dulles. 1873 .- John T. Wait, S. T. Holbrook.
1874 .- Allen Tenny, Willis R. Austin. 1875 .- l'anl B. Greene, Willis R. Austin. 1876 .- S. T. Holbrook, George R. Hyde. 1877 .- A. W. Prentice, Horace Whitaker. 1878 .- Edward Harland, I. W. Carpentor. 1879 .- J. S. Lathrop, I. W. Carpenter. 1880 .- J. P. Barstow, I. W. Carpenter. 1881 .- J. l'. Barstow, J. S. Lathrop.
Military Record .- The amount of indebtedness of the town of Norwich Sept. 1, 1861, was $107,370. On the 1st of September, 1865, the debt had risen to $180,303, showing an increase in the four years of $72,933. During the war the town disbursed for di- rectly war purposes $164,178.68, and at its close its distinctive war debt was in the form of loans amount- ing to $84,096.
The town action in the frequent meetings held during the progress of the civil conflict to devise means for promoting enlistments and filling up the quotas under the various calls of the President for volunteers was remarkably unanimous. Very little, if any, opposition was made to the liberal appropria-
tions voted for war purposes. There was not only great unanimity of spirit, but the utmost energy and promptitude of action, so that the town was kept in advance of the calls made upon it for men. Its con- tributions to the national armies were of its most worthy and promising citizens, and nobly did the latter maintain the reputation of Norwich for patriotic devotion to the country's weal.
The first action of the town in reference to war matters was on July 16, 1862, when, after a spirited meeting, the following votes were passed :
" Voted, That a bounty of thirteen dollars be paid from the town's treasury of the town of Norwich to every man who shall, on or before the 20th of August, 1862, enlist into any company enlisted in the town of Norwich, the same to be paid when he is mustered into the service of the United States.
" l'ofed, That the same bounty of thirteen dollars be paid to those who have already enlisted into companies now enlisting in the town of Nor- wich.
" l'oted, That the sum of eight thousand dollars be, and the samo is hereby, appropriated from the town treasury for the purpose of paying said bounty, and such necessary expenses of recruiting as are not pro- vided for by the General and State government, and for the purpose of aiding and encouraging in any proper way the enlistment of volunteers. " l'oted, That the selectmen of the town of Norwich be, and are here- by, instructed to raise, by Joan or otherwise, and to place at the disposal of the committee, consisting of James Lloyd Greene, Amos W. Prentice, William M. Converse, Lorenzo Blackstone, N. C. Brackenridge, and F. M. Hale, from time to time, such sums of money as said committee shall desire, not exceeding the sum of eight thousand dollars, to be by said committee expended according to their judgment in carrying into effect the preceding vote, and said committee are authorized to pay said bounty of thirteen dollars for enlistments after said 20th day of August, if, iu their discretion, it is deemed desirable to do so."
These measures were carried by a unanimous vote. On the 4th of August, 1862, in accordance with the warning of the selectmen, a town-meeting was held in the town hall. The attendance was very large, and the proceedings of the meeting were marked with great enthusiasm. Amos W. Prentice was called to preside, when it was
" Toted, That a bounty of thirty-seven dollars, in addition to the bounty heretofore voted by the town of Norwich, be paid from the town treasury to every resident of the town who has enlisted, or who shall, on or before the 20th day of Angust, enlist into any company raised in the town of Norwich, under the recent call of the government, and said bounty shall be payable when he is mustered into the service of the United States. And the same shall also be paid to every resident of the town of Norwich who has been enlisted by Capt. William II. Tubbs and James B. Coit for the Fourteenth Regiment.
" J'oted, That the selectmen be authorized and directed to raise, by loan or otherwise, a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, or so much of the same as may be necessary to pay the bounties provided for in the previous vote, and to pay such expenses of recruiting as are not pro- vided for by the State or general government."
On the 30th of the same month (August, 1862), when the call for three hundred thousand nine months' troops was made, the town, in regular meet- ing convened,-
" Voted, That a bounty of one hundred dollars be paid to any resident of the town who has volunteered, or who shall volunteer, in any regi- ment of militia of this State, and who shall be accepted into the service of the United States, under the recent call of the President for three hundred thousand nine months' men."
The selectmen were further instructed to raise a sum not exceeding twenty-two thousand dollars, to be
333
NORWICH. .
placed at the disposal of the "war committee" for the purpose of paying the first voted bounty, and defraying the general expenses incident to recruiting. This meeting was one of the most spirited held during the war, and after it resolved itself into a committee of the whole to obtain volunteers, as elsewhere de- seribed, rose to the very highest pitch of enthusiasm.
In January, 1863, the debt of the town, incurred for "war expenses," was reported to be over forty thousand dollars, and it was voted to provide for this by the issue of town bonds, authorized by the action of the Legislature at the December session in 1862. These bonds bore interest at the rate of six per cent., the attached coupons being payable semi-annually.
On May 29, 1863, and by virtue of more recent legislative provision, the town voted to repeat this action, funding in the same way its increasing debt. The issue was limited by vote to sixty thousand dol- lars, and the bonds were made payable at the expira- tion of twenty years' time. It should, however, be stated that this new issue of town bonds was to pro- vide for the general indebtedness of town, and not for exclusively war expenditures.
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1863, a town-meeting was regularly warned, "to take action on the bounty question." There was a very large attendance, and the discussion showed a general interest to have those who were called into service under " the enrollment act" impartially provided for. The action taken was intended to meet any cases of distress that might occur in connection with the drafting of those who would leave their families in a dependent condition. The benevolence of the citizens, however, never per- mitted this to occur, and the town and State appro- priations were always liberal enough to meet any exigeney of this kind. Still, as showing the public interest in this matter, Judge Hovey presented the following resolution, which, after some debate, was passed with but one dissenting voice :
" Whereas, Four hundred and thirty-five persons residing in this town have been recently drafted for military service in the army of the United States, pursuant of the act of Congress entitled ' An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes,' approved March 3, 1863 ;
"And whereas, Nearly all the persons so drafted have been found to be exempt from military duty under said act, or have furnished substitutes to take their places in the draft, or paid the sum of money required by said aet for the procuration of said substitutes ;
"And whereas, Fears are entertained that a further draft may be or- dered, pursuant to the provisions of said act, and that thereby individu- als and families may become chargeable to the town, and otherwise greatly distressed, unless adequate measures of relief are adopted by the town ;
"And whereas, Under the warning for this meeting it is believed that such measures cannot be legally adopted ; therefore,
" Resolved, That in case a further draft from this town shall be or- dered, pursuant to the said act ef Congress, the selectmen be and are hereby directed to convene, as soon as possible, a meeting of the town, for the purpose of adopting such measures for the relief of those who may be drafted as the town shall deem adequate and proper."
At a town-meeting held Jan. 26, 1864, Mr. George Pratt stated that the quota of the town, numbering two hundred and six, had been filled by the select-
men at a cost to the town of $20,950.76. After the quota was full the seleetmen enlisted forty-three ad- ditional recruits, at a cost of $2150, with the assurance on the part of the "war committee" that if the town did not pay this additional sum they would. A few men enlisted at Fort Trumbull would swell the num- ber of recruits from the town on the present quota to two hundred and sixty.
Again, under date of July 15, 1864, after the Presi- dent's call for five hundred thousand troops made the town feel the need of prompt action to fill up its quota, it was now voted, with no dissenting voices :
" That the selectmen of the town of Norwich be and they hereby are authorized to pay to each resident of this tewn who enlists or proeures a substitute or reeruit, who shall count on the queta of this town, under the recent call of the President, the sum of one hundred dollars, and to draw orders on the town treasurer to pay the same. The selectnien were also authorized te employ persons to aid them in filling up the quota of the town."
The bounty of one hundred dollars to veterans re- enlisting and counting on this quota was continued. At this period of the war the business of raising the men apportioned to the town devolved upon the select- men, and they, together with the most active and in- terested of our citizens, labored earnestly to secure recruits, and to keep the quota of the town full. And yet this was no easy task, for volunteering on the part of our citizens had perforce largely ceased, and good recruits were difficult to be procured. Still, their efforts were successful, and the town never failed to raise promptly its assignment of men.
On Dec. 1, 1864, at a regularly convened town- meeting, a new committee, consisting of Messrs. Sam- uel B. Case, Charles Crawley, John T. Brown, Henry B. Tracy, and William Peckham, was appointed to have in charge the moneys appropriated for bounties, and by vote this committee was authorized
" to pay to any person of this town liable to a draft who hereafter may furnish an acceptable and lawful military substitute, under the laws of the United States, to be credited to the town, such sums of money as to such shall seem necessary and proper, provided the number of such substitutes does not exceed the number required, in the judgment ef the committee, to fill the next quota.
" Voted, That the selectmen are authorized to borrow, from time to time, on the credit of the town, such sums of money as shall be approved by the committee, not to exceed, in the whole, the sum of seventy-five theusand dollars."
Under this liberal provision the quota of the town was again raised, and a surplus secured to apply on any future calls. At the close of the war Norwich was found to be in advance of the number regularly assigned to her to be raised, and this highly creditable faet was due to the energetic action of the town offi- cers, supported, as they always were, by the loyal co- operation of all the citizens. These town-meetings were always well attended by our leading citizens, and though there were occasionally some sharp dis- cussions, yet there were no war measures adopted by the town that did not receive a practically unanimous vote. It should be recorded to the honor of our eiti- zens that, differing as they did in political views, yet
22
334
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
in the town assemblages to which they so often were summoned they acted with great cordiality, debated measures with earnestness but uniform courtesy, and maintained the reputation of the town for loyalty to the government and liberality in providing for all war expenses.
TABLE OF DEBT.
UNITED STATES DERT.
March 31, 1862.
$2,030,000.00
July 1, 1860 ..
$64,769,703.08
1861
90,867,828.68
44
1862
514,211,371.92
1863
1,098,793, 181.37
NORWICH TOWN DEBT.
Sept. 1, 1860.
113,582.28
1861.
107,370.05
121,270 52
91
1863.
135,387.75
March 31, 1860. ...
18G1.
*7,7+ 0.50
1865. 180,303.71
TOWN EXPENSES FOR WAR PURPOSES.
Amount paid to volunteers or substitutes.
$139,149.68
Amount paid families of volunteers, additional to State al- lowance ...
15,000.00
All other war expenses.
9,021.00
Total expenses for war purposes.
163,170.68
Estimated amount paid for bounties to volunteers and sub- stitutes.
19,600,00
Estimated amount paid by individuals for commutation .. Present indebtedness of town for war purposes ..
84,096.00
Grand list of the town
10,494,035.00
LIST OF ARMY AND NAVY OFFICERS.
Major-General Joseph Lanman, U.S.N. ; app. midshipman from the State, Jan. 1, 1825 ; passed midshipman June 4, 1831; com. lieut. March 3, 1835; commander Sept. 14, 1855; capt. July 16, 1862; commodore Aug. 29, 1862; com. rear-admiral Dec. 8, 1867.
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.