USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut: from its possession by the Indians, to the year 1866 > Part 58
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Mr. Trumbull died Aug. 14, 1802. The paper was then issued for a year in the name of his widow, Mrs. Lucy Trumbull, and subsequently
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
by his sons, Charles E. and Henry Trumbull. After a few years it was discontinued.
II. "The Weekly Register" was first issued Nov. 29, 1790, by Eben- ezer Bushnell. Thomas Hubbard, the brother-in-law of Mr. Bushnell, appeared as joint publisher, June 7, 1791. In October, 1793, Bushnell retired from the paper, which was thenceforth conducted by Hubbard alone. The printing-office was "24 rods west of the meeting-house," and nearly opposite the press of Trumbull.
Mr. Bushnell was a man of quick wit and varied information ; fluent with his pen, and ready even at poetical composition .* He was a native of Windham, graduated at Yale in 1777, and settled at Norwich as an attorney. After leaving the Register, he entered into the paper-making business in connection with Andrew Huntington, but a few years later enlisted in the U. S. Navy, and was made purser of the ship Warren. He died while serving in that capacity, at Havana, in July or August, 1800, aged 43.
"The Weekly Register" was continued for seven years. At the close of the year 1797, Mr. Hubbard removed to the Landing, closing up the Register, and proposing to issue a paper more particularly devoted to the commercial part of the town.
III. This new weekly, "The Chelsea Courier," was first issued in February, 1798, and with slight variations in the title has been continued ยท to the present time-a period of sixty-six years. Thomas Hubbard relin- quished the concern to his son, Russell Hubbard, Nov. 13, 1805; the transfer being accompanied with a change of heading to Norwich Courier, its present title.
In February, 1817, Theophilus R. Marvin became a partner in the concern, and for a couple of years the paper was issued by Hubbard & Marvin, but it then reverted to Mr. Hubbard, whose last number bears the date of April 3, 1822. [Vol. 26, No. 22.]
The Courier then passed into the hands of Robinson & Dunham, (Thomas Robinson and Jolin Dunham,) who commenced a new series, April 10, 1822. Robinson retired from the firm in March, 1825, but the . paper was continued by Mr. Dunham to September, 1842,-more than twenty years.
* Several of Mr. Bushnell's poetical effusions were circulated in MS. after his de- cease. One of them, written on the coast of Cuba, was an apology for not joining his brother officers, during their rambles on the shore, in carving the names of dear ones at home on the rinds of trees. The sentiment was tender and refined, showing how his sensitive nature shrunk from the bare possibility that strangers with coarse feelings might u ter their rude jests over " my much loved Susan's name."
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
The next editor of the Courier was Rev. Dorson E. Sykes, who, in March, 1843, added a tri-weekly to the issue, and continued to occupy the position of editor and proprietor for sixteen years and a half. He pub- lished his valedictory March 2, 1859.
George B. Smith, a young printer from Springfield, having purchased the establishment, enlarged the weekly paper to a folio of eight pages, and instead of a tri-weekly, issued a handsome Daily Courier, No. 1, Dec. 1, 1858. Both papers were well printed, and highly creditable to the taste and enterprise of the editor. But he was met, almost at the outset, by financial embarrassments, and at the end of five months the Courier again reverted to Mr. Sykes, under whose supervision and control it continued till 1861, when the Daily Courier was dropped, and the Weekly Courier published in connection with the Morning Bulletin .*
The Chelsea Courier being in point of fact a continuation of the Weekly Register,-with the same press, proprietor, and general character,-with nothing to mark the difference except change of name and locality, might be regarded withont great impropriety as one individuality, having for its birthday Nov. 29, 1790. In this list, however, we have arranged them as distinct publications.
IV. "The True Republican " was the fourth newspaper issued in Nor- wich. Consider Sterry, John Sterry and Epaphras Porter were the print- ers, editors and proprietors. It was devoted to the Jeffersonian system of policy, and was continued about three years, beginning in June, 1804.
V. "The Native American" made its first appearance in February, 1812. It was published at Norwich Town by Samuel Webb, who had served an apprenticeship with the Trumbulls, and in 1811 set up a book- store and printing-press on Norwich Green. The press was afterwards removed to Windham, Mr. Webb's native place, and the paper issued from thence.
VI. "The Norwich Republican" was commenced in September, 1828, by Boardman & Faulkner. The same year, a paper called the "Stoning- ton Telegraph" was issued at Stonington, John T. Adams editor .; In
* Mr. Sykes, who edited the Courier for so long a period, removed to California, where he still resides.
t Though entering upon public life as an Editor, and now a State Senator, Mr. Adams has devoted himself more assiduously to literature than to political affairs. He is the author of several tales of American life, published anonymously. One of these, The Lost Hunter, is a story of the last century, the scene of which is placed in Norwich and its neighborhood. It embodies some of the rich old legends of the place, and is interspersed with vivid descriptions of its varied scenery.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
1829 these two publications were united, and under the double title pub- lished at Norwich by Adams & Faulkner. The double title was soon relinquished, and the paper continued under its original name.
In September, 1834, it went into the hands of Malzar Gardner, by whom it was published for eighteen months. A new series began April 15, 1835, under Whig management ; Marcus B. Young publisher, and La Fayette S. Foster editor. It was discontinued in 1838.
VII. "The Canal of Intelligence," begun in May, 1826, by Levi Huntington Young, was continued about three years.
VIII. "The Norwich Spectator," first issued in November, 1829,- Park Benjamin editor, and Marcus B. Young publisher. This was of short continuance. It was revived in 1842 by John G. Cooley, but soon ceased.
IX. The "Norwich Free Press," commenced in February, 1830, by Marcus B. Young, but soon discontinued.
X. "The Aurora" was first issued May 20, 1835, by J. Holbrook, who had previously published a paper at Brooklyn, (Windham county.) In July, 1838, it passed into the hands of Gad S. Gilbert, by whom it was published under the title of the "Norwich Aurora," which it still retains. Gilbert's connection with it terminated in May, 1842, and it was after- wards successively conducted by William Trench and Trench & Conklin. Since Aug. 8, 1844, it has been issued by Jolin W. Stedman, as editor, proprietor, and printer.
A Daily Aurora was connected with it for one year, viz., 1860.
XI. "The Norwich News," published by William Faulkner from 1843 to 1848, inclusive.
XII. "The Norwich Gleaner," commenced Jan. 1, 1845, by Benjamin F. Taylor.
XIII. "The American Patriot," 1848; a temporary enterprise, advo- cating the claims of Gen. Taylor to the presidency.
XIV. "The Norwich Tribune," a large, well-printed weekly, which began in January, 1852, E. S. Wells editor and proprietor, soon succeeded by Charles B. Platt and Edmund C. Stedman .* It was discontinued in June, 1853.
* Mr. Stedman was at this time about twenty years of age. He has sinee been eon-
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
XV. "The Examiner," published by Andrew Stark; first number issued July 16, 1853. This paper was devoted especially to the advo- cacy of the Maine Law, the observance of the Sabbath, and the improve- ment of the Common Schools, and these subjects were under the editorial supervision of Revs. H. P. Arms, J. P. Gulliver, and J. A. Goodhue. An agricultural department was attended to by Rev. William Clift. It was continued over two years ; its valedictory was dated Nov. 16, 1855. The agricultural department was transferred to "The Homestead," a journal established by Mr. Stark at Hartford, when the Examiner was discontinued.
XVI. "The State Guard," Andrew Stark publisher, began in January, 1855, and ceased in May, 1856. It was an organ of the party called the Native American, or familiarly the Know-Nothing party : advocating a revision of the naturalization laws, and opposing papal and other foreign influence. Its motto was "Liberty, Country, Home." I. H. Bromley was one of its editors.
XVII. "The Weekly Reveille," issued by Walter S. Robinson; only ten or twelve numbers printed. No. 1, Oct. 8, 1858.
XVIII. "The Morning Bulletin," issued by an association formed for the special purpose of furnishing the city with a daily paper that should be enterprising in the collection of local details, and give the latest tele- graphic intelligence. The first number appeared Dec. 15, 1858; pub- lished by Manning, Perry & Co .- the Co. being understood to consist of Homer Bliss and the principal editor, I. H. Bromley.
The Daily Courier and the Morning Bulletin were cotemporaneous,- making two Republican daily papers in the city. In January, 1861, the Weekly Courier and the Morning Bulletin were united, and the Daily Courier was discontinued.
In 1862, Mr. Bromley, the editor, enlisted in the army, and went into the field as captain in the 18th regiment. He was afterwards detailed to act as provost-marshal, and held this office to the close of the war, but through the whole continued in connection with the Bulletin, though not giving it his personal oversight. In 1865, he resumed his place as chief editor.
nected with the New York Tribune and other city papers. He is the author of "Alice of Monmouth," a fine lyric poem, or " Idyl of the Great War," and various other poems : one of which, a satirical effusion, thrown like a lance at a passing event, and called " The Diamond Wedding," obtained a wide temporary circulation.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Uncas and the Indian Graves.
The ancient Indian Cemetery, heavily shadowed with a native growth of trees, is now little more than an inclosure for the Uncas Monument.
During the summer of 1833, General Jackson, President of the United States, with a part of his Cabinet, made a tour through a portion of the Eastern States. The citizens of Norwich had long been desirous of erect- ing some memorial of respect for their "Old Friend," the Mohegan Sa- chem, and they suddenly decided to celebrate the visit of the President by connecting it with the interesting ceremony of laying the corner-stone of an Uncas monument.
The Presidential party came from Hartford by land, arriving by the Essex turnpike in open coaches, with a brilliant escort of cavalry that had gone fortli to meet them. Vice-President Van Buren, Gov. Edwards of Connecticut, Major Donelson, and Messrs. Cass, Woodbury and Poinsett, Secretaries of War, Navy and State, formed the party. They arrived at 3 o'clock P. M., paused a few moments at the Falls, and then advanced to the Cemetery, where a great assemblage of the inhabitants, military companies, bands of children with banners and mottoes, and a few scat- tered Indians from Mohegan, received the visitors with martial salutes and joyful acclamations.
At the cemetery, where all stood with uncovered heads, N. L. Shipman, Esq., in behalf of the Association, gave a brief sketch of the family of Uncas and the existing condition of the tribe. The President then moved the foundation-stone to its place. It was an interesting, suggestive cere- mony : a token of respect from the modern warrior to the ancient,-from the emigrant race to the aborigines. General Cass, in a short but elo- quent address to the multitude, observed that the earth afforded but few more striking spectacles than that of one hero doing homage at the tomb of another.
The ceremony being concluded, the children sang a hymn, and the Presidential party passed away, pausing again at the Landing for refresh- ments, and embarking from thence in a steamer for New London.
Though the corner-stone was thus auspiciously prepared, no funds had been obtained or plans matured for the erection of the monument. The ladies at length took hold of the work, and brought it to a successful issue. Embracing the opportunity of a political mass-meeting, which assembled at Norwich, Oct. 15, 1840, in honor of Harrison and Tyler, they prepared a refreshment fair,-with generous enthusiasm arranged and filled their tables,-took their station as saleswomen, and with the profits paid for the monument.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
It consists of a simple granite obelisk, with no inscription but the name, ---
UNCAS .*
The raising of the shaft, and fixing it upon the foundation-stone, was the occasion of another festival. This was on the 4th of July, 1842, at which time William L. Stone of New York delivered an Historical Dis- course on the Life and Times of the Sachem.t
Among the persons present in the tent where the address was delivered, were ten citizens of the place over 75 years of age :
Erastus Perkins, 89. Samuel Avery, 88. Seabury Brewster, 86. Christopher Vail, 82.
Ichabod Ward, 80.
Newcomb Kinney, 80.
Benjamin Snow, 77.
Nathaniel Shipman, 76.
Bela Peck, 82.
Zachariah Huntington, 75.
The whole space inclosed as the Uncas Cemetery, and probably the ground for some distance upon its border, is thickly seeded with Indian graves, though but very few inscribed stones or even hillocks remain. The only inscription of any particular interest is on the grave-stone of Samuel Uncas, one of the latest of the Uncas family that bore even the nominal title of Sachem, and who died not long before the Revolutionary war. An exact representation of the stone in its present ruinous state is given on the opposite page. It bears no date. The epitaph, written by Dr. Elisha Tracy, reads thus :
SAMUEL UNCAS.
For Beauty, wit, for Sterling sense, For temper mild, for Eliquence, For Courage Bold, for things wauregan, He was the Glory of Moheagon. Whose death has Caused great lamentation, Both in ye English and ye Indian Nation.
* The Rev. Mr. Fitch, in 1675, wrote this name Unkus. Before the monument was completed, G. L. Perkins, Esq., who had charge of the undertaking, wrote letters to Noah Webster, the philologist, Thomas Day, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, and Col. Wm. L. Stone, a diligent investigator of Indian history, to inquire what they would consider the most eligible mode of spelling the name to be inscribed on the obe- lisk. They all concurred in recommending the modern orthography,-Uncas.
t Published afterwards in a small duodecimo volume, entitled "Uncas and Mianto- nomoh."
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
UrDeutet for Sterling fed
Newofthe Glory of Mohedcontato
whose Death has Cayfedigreatlen
The Bi-Centennial Celebration.
The two hundredth anniversary of the town was celebrated by a mag- nificent festival of two days continuance,-occupying Wednesday and Thursday, 7th and 8th of September, 1859.
The arrangements for this great jubilee had been planned with a wise forecast. A committee of preparation had been for a year in office ; invitations had been extensively circulated, and a general enthusiasm pre- vailed among the sons and daughters of Norwich and their descendants, far and near, to honor this interesting birthday. It was aptly termed the great Golden Wedding of the town, kept in remembrance of the hallowed union of the Puritan emigrant and his wilderness bride, two hundred years before.
" Here where the tangled thicket grew, Where wolf and panther passed, An acorn from an English oak In the rude soil was cast."
A vast fraternity, genial intercourse, cordial fellowship, and lavish ex- changes of thought and fact, were confidently expected, and seldom are joyful anticipations and enlarged plans so fully realized.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
The weather seemed adapted to the occasion. The season in all its bearings harmonized with the festal robes and out-door encampments with which the inhabitants prepared their dear old homestead for the reception of its guests. A general glow of happiness pervaded every countenance. The absentees, the wanderers, the distant relatives, friends and neighbors assembled. It was a mighty gathering, but yet far more orderly and quiet than a customary militia muster, or political convention. It was an ovation, hilarious and triumphant, but not tumultuous. The devotional element was not perhaps sufficiently prevalent to chime with the princi- ples of "two hundred years ago,"-but on the other hand, there was no bacchanal accompaniment, no rude disturbance to break the swell of a note of music or the sound of a speaker's voice, and it was said not a sol- itary case of inebriety was observed during the whole festival.
The most conspicuous features of the celebration were these :
The decoration of the streets and buildings, and the erection of a wide- winged tent upon the Parade.
A grand procession, military and civic, half a mile in extent, that made the tour of the town, with banners, bands of music, and exhibitions of trades and professions, many of them in active operation.
Two historical discourses of lasting value and interest.
Two descriptive addresses of an oratorical character,-impressive and eloquent in a high degree.
A dinner, with numerous toasts and speeches.
A closing ball at the great tent on the town park or parade.
The various exercises were interspersed and enlivened with original poetry and good singing. A descriptive poem by Anson G. Chester of Syracuse, N. Y., was one of the expected entertainments of the festival, but owing to the severe illness of the poet it was not delivered.
It was estimated that at this celebration 1500 flags were spread upon the wind,-not only those of our own country, but the motley emblems of all nations. Several magnificent arches were erected at prominent points. A very tasteful arch in Franklin street represented two clasped hands,- 1659 and 1859, with the motto, "A Hearty Greeting."
General David Young was the chief marshal of the ceremonies. Gov- ernor Buckingham presided in the assemblies. Ex-President Fillmore was the most distinguished guest. The Bi-Centennial Discourse was by. Daniel C. Gilman ; the Discourse on the Life and Times of John Mason, by Hon. John A. Rockwell. The other addresses, or more properly ora- tions, were by Rt. Rev. Alfred Lee, Bishop of Delaware, and Donald G. Mitchell.
The speakers were all natives of the town, and had the same object in view, gratefully to commemorate the scenes and influences by which they had been nurtured. It was beautiful to see with what variety of touch
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
they struck the key-note, producing with great diversity of tone, entire harmony. The faithful historic record, the biography of the founder, the chastened retrospect, and the graceful survey of the two centuries of the town's life, presented by the orators, each in his own characteristic style, converged upon the same theme-Norwich, our Home.
Many interesting incidents were connected with this great festivity. The corner-stone of a monument to the memory of Mason, the Conqueror of the Pequots, was laid in Yantic Cemetery. A dinner was given by General Williams to the Mohegans, of which more than sixty of the remains of that tribe partook. Mrs. Wm. P. Greene, as a memorial of the celebration, presented a house and grounds to the Free Academy for the residence of the principal, valued at $7,000. Mr. Giles L'Homme- dieu, the oldest native-born American in the town, was then in his last illness, and the procession passed the house where he lay, in reverential silence. He died six days after the celebration, in the ninety-fourth year of his age.
A history of the celebration, including the preliminary measures and a registry of the various committees, with the addresses, poems, hymns, speeches, and particulars of interest connected with the great festival, was published by John W. Stedman of Norwich, in a well-executed, attractive volume, entitled The Norwich Jubilee. The work was compiled, printed and published by Mr. Stedman ; the paper was manufactured at the Chel- sea Mill, and the whole book in its print, binding and illustrations is a Norwich production. As a memorial volume it is of enduring interest. Its contents are so comprehensive as to render it unnecessary to give in this history any thing more than the foregoing brief outline of the two grand Red Letter Days of the bi-centennial commemoration.
The year 1859 was the bi-centennial anniversary of the signing of the purchase deed, and of, the preliminary steps taken by the proprietors in laying out the town, but the anniversary of the actual settlement, when woman arrived upon the ground and homes were constituted, was more definitely the year 1860.
It is to be regretted that a prominent measure, often referred to by the speakers, and discussed in the committees,-supposed indeed to be deci- sively settled and pledged,-has since the two days of rejoicing been entirely overlooked. This is the erection of a monument to the memory of Major John Mason, which as yet has gone no further than the planting of the corner-stone.
The Yantic Cemetery, where the corner-stone is laid, does not, however, seem to be the most appropriate place for the proposed monument. The beautiful elevation in the western part of the town, where his remains lie unhonored, unmistakably and imperatively claims the memorial.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Missions and Missionaries.
Norwich is justly entitled to the credit of having manifested a more than ordinary devotion to the cause of missions. This interest commenced with the Rev. Mr. Fitch, and the exertions made by him to teach and Christianize the Mohegans. It was coeval with the settlement, and seems never to have died out of the place.
After Mr. Fitch, the Rev. Samuel Kirkland is doubtless the brightest exponent of this missionary spirit the town has produced. The welfare, temporal and spiritual, of the poor untutored tribes of the wilderness, appears to have been the inspiring object and main pursuit of Mr. Kirk- land's whole life. Having been well prepared for his work by an education at the Indian School of Dr. Wheelock in Lebanon, and the College of New Jersey, where he graduated in 1765, he cast in his lot among the Oneida Indians, and for a period of forty-four years acted as their pastor, teacher, friend, and guardian,-living a part of the time among them, and always spending a large portion of each year with them, or in their immediate neighborhood. He was born in Newent Society, then a part of Norwich, Dec. 1, 1741, and died on a farm given him by the Oneida tribe, near Clinton, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1808 .*
Rev. John Ellis, of West Farms, if a correct judgment can be formed from the scanty memorials left of him, was a man of energetic action, glowing with Christian enterprise. He took a lively interest in those pio- neer missions to the West that preceded the formation of the Connecticut Missionary Society, and was agent and treasurer of the General Associa- tion in New London county, as the following notice testifies :
Whereas the General Association at their session in September, 1744, appointed me to receive the Monies that might be collected in the several Churches in New London County for executing a plan proposed of sending Missionaries to the infant settlements north and northwestward : These therefore are to desire said Monies may be sent in, it being necessary to transmit the same shortly to the Committee intrusted with the over- siglit and prosecution of that truly Christian undertaking.
Norwich, Feb. 2, 1775.
JOHN ELLIS.
The Connecticut Missionary Society was formed by the General Asso- ciation in May, 1798. Joshua Lathrop of Norwich, and Jedidiah Hunt- ington of New London, were among the original trustees, and each retained this connection during the remainder of his life. Societies in aid of this institution were formed by ladies both in the Town Plot and Chelsea in 1799.+
* Rev. John Thornton Kirkland, D. D., LL. D., President of Harvard College from 1800 to 1828, was his son.
t "At the collection for the support of missionaries, made in Chelsea, last Sunday,
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was organized in September, 1810. In the spring of 1812, auxiliaries to this institution were formed in New London and in Norwich. The first pres- ident of the Norwich Society was Rev. Joseph Strong, D. D., and of the New London Society, Gen. Jedidiah Huntington, one of the corporate members of the Board. These two auxiliaries kept on their way with commendable constancy, with no failures or gaps in their annual contribu- tions and reports, to the year 1850, when they were united into one body under the title of the Norwich and New London Foreign Missionary Society. This association includes all the towns in New London county, except Lyme. A semi-centennial anniversary, to commemorate the organ- ization of the two original branches, was held by the United Society at Norwich Town in October, 1862.
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