USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut: from its possession by the Indians, to the year 1866 > Part 64
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Governor Buckingham is a direct descendant, in the sixth generation, from Rev. Thomas Buckingham of Saybrook, and his wife, Hester Hos- mer of Hartford, who were married in 1666. He was born in Lebanon, May 28, 1804, and has two brothers, Rev. Samuel Buckingham of Spring- field, and J. Matson Buckingham of Norwich.
Advertisements of the foundry of D. N. Bentley, "at the west end of the wharf bridge," begin in 1805, when he was 21 years of age. The connection of Mr. Bentley with the rise and establishment of the Metho- dist Society in Norwich is noticed elsewhere in this history.
William Williams, a native of Stonington, born March 12, 1788, be- came a resident of Norwich in 1809. For several years he was the act- ive partner in the firm of Goddard & Williams, flour merchants and man- ufacturers at the Falls, and has since been engaged in other commercial pursuits. In 1829, though still residing in Norwich, he entered into the whaling business at New London, and founded the house of Williams & Barns, a successful whaling company, still pursuing the same business. In this firm his place was afterward supplied by his son, Thomas W. Wil- liams, 2d, (born at Norwich in 1815,) who accumulated a handsome prop- erty in the business, but died suddenly at New London, Sept. 12, 1855.
General Williams is well known as a warm friend to the religious, benevolent and educational institutions of the country. But with the schools and school-houses of New London County he is particularly famil- iar ; visiting them often, dispensing good advice, and scattering the printed page. Another specialty for which he is noted, is his devotion to the interests of the Mohegan church; having for many years attended its services, and aided its ministrations with perseverance and self-denial.
The Golden Wedding of General and Mrs. H. P. Williams was com- memorated March 13, 1862. It is only within a few years that it has become customary to celebrate as a festival, the fiftieth anniversary of
41
642
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
married life, and this was the first instance of the kind in Norwich. Three others have occurred since, celebrated in a similar manner, with festive and religious ceremonies, by the following parties :
Rev. Comfort D. Fillmore, of the Methodist Church, and Mrs. Annice Fillmore, at the house of R. H. Fillmore on Bean Hill, March 16, 1863. Dea. Isaac and Mrs. Mary H. Bromley, Sept. 7, 1864.
Humphrey Almy and lady, at the residence of their son, William T. Almy, Jan. 15, 1866.
In connection with General and Mrs. Williams, we may here advert to one of the sterling men of former days, with whom they were connected by filial ties. Capt. Bela Peck was a man of independent and command- ing character ; his frame large and powerful, and in his youth remarkably athletic and of indomitable courage. In his physical and mental charac- teristics he was the impersonation of those qualities which make a staunch and fearless officer, whether civil or military ; and these were exhibited in the various duties he performed as captain of the old matross company in his younger days, and deputy sheriff for a long course of years.
He gained a large property by diligence and assiduity, preserved his interest in public affairs to extreme old age, lived to be the oldest man in the parish, took his daily drive alone in his chaise till he was past ninety, and died at last without any experience of disease, like one falling asleep, in the ninety-third year of his age, Dec. 15, 1850. He was one of those men whose images remain long in the memory, associated with the scenes and events of former days.
The firm of Dyer & Ripley, druggists, first appeared in 1793. Benja- min Dyer and Dwight Ripley, both from Windham, were the partners ; but the connection was soon dissolved. Dr. Ripley was in business forty- five years. Ripley & Waldo, (Dwight Ripley and Horace Waldo,) deal- ers in drugs, dry-goods and groceries, were the first merchants in Norwich to advance out of the old time-sanctioned forms of retail, and sell goods in larger packages by wholesale.
This example was followed in 1823 by the fictitious house of Willis Gray & Co., a name assumed by the partners, Calvin Tyler* and Joseph Backus. This firm launched at once into a business of considerable extent, and pur- sued it successfully while the partnership lasted, which was just four years to a day, closing in February, 1827, at which time Backus & Norton,t
* Capt. Tyler was a man of good business talent. Besides engaging in trade, he started a regular line of packets to New York, running one of them himself. The price of a passage in this line was $4 and found.
t The premises of Willis Gray & Co. are now occupied by the Norton Brothers. Mr. H. B. Norton has been a resident in Norwich since 1824, and was but 19 years of age when he formed the partnership with Mr. Backus.
Very truly Got OG Links
643
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
(Joseph Backus and Henry B. Norton,) entered into partnership and suc- ceeded to the business of the former house.
March 9, 1809, is the date of an advertisement in the Norwich Courier of merchandise for sale by George L. Perkins. This denotes the first entrance into business of the present treasurer of the Norwich & Worces- ter Railroad. Col. Perkins, when quite a young man, was one of the originators of the Sabbath School enterprise in Norwich. During the war of 1812, he held the office of paymaster, with the rank of brigade- major in the U. S. Army, and has occupied other positions of trust and honor.
The book-store of Thomas Robinson has been one of the standing accommodations of Norwich for forty-eight years. Mr. Robinson is a native of Hartwick, Otsego Co., N. Y., and began business at Norwich in 1818.
Gurdon A. Jones has been a dealer in shoes and leather at the Landing. for more than forty years.
Capt. Wm. W. Coit is a native of New London, but an inhabitant of Norwich since 1819, contributing in various departments to the business and improvement of the city.
Benjamin Huntington, the present treasurer of the Norwich Savings Society, engaged in business on his own account in the Town Plot in 1824, and in 1825 was chosen Town Clerk.
Norwich, at the period of which we now treat,-the end of the first quarter of the present century,-was in a state of depression and inactiv- ity. It had not recovered from the blow given to its commerce by the war of 1812. Many failures had taken place ; people were involved in debt, and everything was beginning to look old and dilapidated. Since then all things seem to have become new. The advance of the city in population and industrial pursuits may receive illustration from the follow- ing fact. In 1824, the population of the town was about 4000. Of these only one person was known to be of Irish birth. This was Edward Mur- phy, at that time the single Exile of Erin within the town limits. The Irish population alone now amounts to 4000.
In these last forty years, new and flourishing houses have been estab- lished, new branches of business undertaken, new and honorable names enrolled among the inhabitants. But on these new themes we can not dwell. It is the special province of history to speak of persons and things that have passed away. Yet the present glides so rapidly into the past that it is difficult to know where to draw the line.
644
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Since this work has been in the press, several natives of Norwich, of more than ordinary prominence, have been struck from the ranks of the living. Among these is a feminine name of wide celebrity, that has been repeatedly mentioned in this work, and which now claims from us the mournful duty of this additional record.
Lydia Huntley Sigourney, born at Norwich, Sept. 1, 1791; died at Hartford, June 10, 1865.
The writings of this lady, beginning with her first volume of "Moral Pieces, in Prose and Verse," published in 1815, have been for fifty years quietly diffusing an influence in favor of the true, the good and the beau- tiful, in literature, morals and religion. To the young especially they have been of incalculable benefit. The large number of Mrs. Sigour- ney's works, their high moral tone, and the good they have accomplished, have gained for her a name and reputation that will long endure.
A New London County Agricultural Society was formed in the year 1818, which continued in operation five or six years, holding its Annual Fair alternately at Norwich and New London. Oct. 30, 1822, the fair was held at Norwich on the Town Green. A book auction was connected with it, and an address by Mr. McCurdy of Lyme. This association declined, and after a few years became extinct.
A new County Society was organized April 12, 1854, in the Town Hall at Norwich. Rev. William Clift of Stonington was chosen President, and Dr. D. F. Gulliver Corresponding and Recording Secretary. The first fair was held at Norwich in September, 1855, at which time M. Paulin, the æronaut, enlivened the show with a balloon ascension, remaining an hour in the air, and descending at South Kingston, R. I. The next year, the same experimenter came down in Griswold, at the end of twenty minutes.
At the third fair, in 1857, the balloon of Messrs. Allen & King rose 10,000 feet, and after an hour's flight, descended in Canterbury, seventeen miles north of the place of departure.
This society still continues in operation, and holds its annual fair in Norwich.
At the Paris Exhibition, or World's Fair, in 1855, three natives of Norwich were present as representatives of three provinces: Daniel C. Gilman from Connecticut, Charles H. Rockwell from California, and T. Sterry Hunt from Canada.
T. S. Hunt is a grandson of Consider Sterry, who has resided for many years in Canada. In 1856, he was honored at Paris with the rank of "Chevalier d'Honor," as a recognition of his merits as a scientific chemist.
645
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Yantic Cemetery.
This rural burying-place was consecrated July 12, 1844, all denomina- tions of Christians in the city uniting in the services. The address was delivered by Dr. Bond of the Second Congregational Church, and the consecrating prayer made by Mr. Paddock, the Episcopal Rector. Two original hymns were sung, composed by Mr. Charles Thurber.
This cemetery is the property of the city, and has been much enlarged since the first purchase. It contains many beautiful and interesting mon- uments, and has recently acquired a new and permanent interest by gath- ering within its bounds the hallowed remains of many of the victims of the late war. Several brave soldiers who fell upon distant battle-fields, and others who perished in dreary prisons, have been brought home, and now rest in peace beneath these quiet shades.
The Wauregan Hotel.
This building was erected by an association of gentlemen, with the design of providing a public house that should afford ample accommoda- tion and be an ornament to the city. On the spot where it stands, and in the immediate vicinity, some of the earliest dwelling-houses at the Land- ing were built. Several wooden buildings, denizens of the spot for more than a century, and their foundations sunk below the level of the side- walks, were demolished to make room for the new structure, which was commenced in April, 1853.
It is built of brick, five stories high, with exterior trimmings of free- stone, and iron balconies, and cost $50,000, exclusive of the basement.
The situation is unfavorable to a noble and impressive appearance. Higher ground and more room are necessary to give effect to so large a building. It was opened Feb. 20, 1855.
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Family Meetings.
Sept. 13, 1853, a meeting was held at Norwich, of the descendants of Elder William Brewster. It was decided to erect a monument to the memory of Jonathan Brewster and his wife at Brewster's Neck, and to prepare a memoir of the venerated ancestor of the family, Elder William Brewster. The execution of these tasks was committed to Rev. Ashbel Steele of Washington, D. C., by whose instrumentality the meeting was convened. Both objects have since been accomplished. The monument, a shaft of granite ten feet high, was erected at Brewster's Neck in 1855, and a memoir, entitled " Chief of the Pilgrims," published by Mr. Steele in 1857.
646
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Sept. 3, 1857, a family gathering of the descendants of Christopher and Simon Huntington was held in Norwich Town. From 300 to 500 de- scendants from other places assembled to interchange greetings, to trace relationship, and rehearse the traditions of their ancestors. Original hymns were sung, original poems repeated, speeches made, and an historical ad- dress delivered by Rev. E. B. Huntington of Stamford, Ct.
Banking and Insurance Companies.
The first banking establishments in Connecticut were the Hartford Bank and the Union Bank of New London, both chartered at the May session of the Legislature in 1792.
Norwich applied for a similar privilege at the same time with New London, but the Legislature declined to authorize more than one bank for the county, and persuaded the applicants from the two towns to unite in one institution to be called the Union Bank,-the directors to be chosen from both places, but the seat of the bank to be at New London.
This arrangement was accepted. Gen. Jedidiah Huntington was chosen President. The directors were equally divided between the two places, and were chosen alternately from New London and Norwich. The first from the latter place were-
Joshua Lathrop,
Joseph Williams,
Daniel L. Coit,
Samuel Woodbridge,
Joseph Howland,
Joseph Perkins.
These were afterward varied, but Joseph Perkins continued to be a director till 1830.
Norwich Bank, incorporated 1796 ; capital, $150,000. In 1864, changed to Norwich National Bank, capital $220,000.
This bank was organized June 21, 1796, at Braman's Tavern on the Plain, but for several years afterward the banking-room was the office of the president, Gen. Ebenezer Huntington, in Shetucket street. The first choice of directors gave the following result :
Ebenezer Huntington.
Joshua Lathrop, declined, and Uriah Tracy chosen.
Daniel Dunham, Elias Brown, Joseph Williams.
David Trumbull, declined, and John Taintor of Colchester chosen.
Jabez Huntington, Jabez Perkins, Elijalı House, James Lanman, Luther Payne, Jonathan Devotion.
The bank has had four presidents and five cashiers.
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Jedediah Mintmytom
647
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Presidents : 1, Ebenezer Huntington, 1796. 3, Jabez Huntington, 1823.
2, Simeon Breed, 1820. 4, Charles Johnson, 1848.
Cashiers : 1, Hezekiah Perkins, 1796.
3, J. Newton Perkins, 1834.
2, Francis A. Perkins, 1825. 4, Charles Johnson, 1836. 5. Frank Johnson, 1848.
Charles Johnson has been an officer of this bank for thirty years. Jed- idiah Huntington has been on the Board of Directors since 1826,-forty years. Of the original stockholders, the one that lingered longest upon earth was Nathaniel McClellan, formerly of Pomfret, but lately of Nor- wich, who died Sept. 28, 1863, aged 86.
Thames Bank, incorporated 1825 : capital $200,000, increased in 1856 to $500,000, and in July, 1865, to $1,000,000. Organized as Thames National Bank, 1864.
It has had three presidents :
1, William P. Greene, 1825. 2, Edward Whiting, 1844. 3, Franklin Nichols, elected in July, 1851.
Cashiers : 1, Lyman Brewer, from 1825 to his deatlı in June, 1857. 2, Charles Bard, elected in June, 1857, and still in office.
Two of the original stockholders of this bank, Henry M. Wait of Lyme, and Adam Larrabee, (then of Groton, but now of Windham,) are still living. Mr. Wait was a director of the bank fifteen years .* Mr. Larra- bee is still a member of the board, having been recently chosen for the forty-first time.
The rooms of this institution in the new bank building in Shetucket st. are considered superior in style and accommodation to those of any other banking house in the State. They are adorned with admirable life-like portraits of the first President and first Cashier.
Quinebaug Bank, incorporated 1832 : capital $500,000.
First meeting of directors June 11, 1833. The first president, Charles W. Rockwell, in office three years, was followed successively by Wm. C. Gilman, John A. Rockwell, and F. A. Perkins, in short terms; Samuel C. Morgan, 1843-1860; Lucius W. Carroll, to 1862; David Gallup of Plainfield, to 1864.
In June, 1864, this bank, having purchased the title and privileges of a National Bank that had been organized the preceding year under the gen- eral banking act, dropped the name Quinebaug, and was reorganized as the First National Bank of Norwich. The capital remains the same.
Lucius W. Carroll, president ; Lewis A. Hyde, cashier.
Mr. Hyde had been cashier of the Quinebaug since 1832.
* The Golden Wedding of Hon. Henry M. Wait, LL. D., formerly Chief Judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut, was commemorated at Lyme, Jan. 23, 1866.
648
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Merchants' Bank, incorporated 1833; capital $200,000. Changed in June, 1865, to Merchants' National Bank.
This bank has had two presidents and three cashiers.
Ist president, William Williams, (25 years,) resigned Sept. 6, 1858 ; 2d, Henry B. Tracy, now in office.
Ist cashier, Joseph Williams; 2d, Joel W. White; 3d, James M. Meech, since 1856.
Shetucket Bank, organized under the Free Banking Law of 1852; in- corporated 1855 : capital, $100,000. Changed in 1864, to Shetucket National Bank.
Charles Osgood, president.
1st cashier, D. O. Strong; 2d, John L. Devotion, since 1855.
Uncas Bank, organized under the Free Banking Law of 1852 ; incor- porated 1855; capital, $300,000. Changed in 1864 to Uncas National Bank.
James A. Hovey, president ; Edward H. Learned, cashier.
In this bank there has been no change of officers.
Second National Bank, organized under the General Act in July, 1864. Capital, $100,000 ; since increased to $300,000.
J. Hunt Adams, the first president, resigned in May, 1865, and was succeeded by David Smith. Charles P. Cogswell, cashier.
The year 1857 was marked by a great financial crisis in American business. Norwich was seriously affected by it. The Pequot Bank, which had been incorporated, relinquished its charter. The Quinebaug and Uneas Banks, failing to redeem their bills, were thrown out by the Suffolk Bank, Boston. They were however taken at par in trade, and never lost their value as a medium of circulation. At the beginning of the next year, the banks were able to redeem their bills, and regained their former credit.
The bank building in Shetucket street was erected in 1863, at a cost of $60,000. It stands on a solid ledge of rocks, with the precipitous river bank in its rear. It is built of brick, with a front of Dorchester free- stone, and is over fifty feet in height. It consists of three sections, belong- ing to the Chelsea Savings Bank, Thames National Bank, and Norwich Savings Society. It accommodates also the Quinebaug National Bank and the Thames Insurance and Norwich Fire Insurance Companies, renting also a number of private offices.
During the years 1864 and 1865, the seven banks of Norwich were all arranged by their directors, under the General Banking Act of Congress, as National Banks.
649
HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Norwich Savings Society. This was incorporated in May, 1824, upon the petition of twenty persons, by whom, according to the terms of the charter, twenty others were chosen, the whole constituting a Board of Trustees. Of these forty trustees, at the close of 1865 only two are on the stage of life, viz., George L. Perkins and David N. Bentley. Three of the first twenty petitioners died during the year 1865, viz., Joseph Wil- liams, Jolın Breed, and Amos H. Hubbard, forty-one years after the char- ter grant.
The deposits during the first year (to Oct. 1, 1826,) amounted to $20,000 ; in the first ten years, to $160,000; and in twelve years, to $226,000.
The first president was Charles Rockwell,* who died in June, 1826, and was succeeded by Jabez Huntington. The late Francis A. Perkins was connected with this institution for a much longer time than any other officer. He was treasurer for the first ten years; then president four years ; and in 1848 again elected treasurer and secretary, which offices he retained till his death in March, 1863. He was succeeded by Benjamin Huntington, who is still in office.
Amount deposited to January, 1866, $4,553,580.40.
Chelsea Savings Bank, incorporated May, 1858.
Lorenzo Blackstone, president.
Charles M. Coit, treasurer ; resigned in 1861, to enter the army. John B. Ward chosen to supply his place ; four years in office. Chas. M. Coit re-appointed in July, 1865.
Amount of deposits to January, 1866, $516,780.37.
A third savings bank, with the title of Farmers and Mechanics' Savings Bank, was organized in 1854, capital $100,000, which was in operation a few years, but is now discontinued.
Insurance Companies.
Norwich Mutual Assurance. The charter for this company was granted on petition of Joshua Lathrop and others. The first meeting was held at the old court-house in Norwich Town, Dec. 29, 1794.
Zachariah Huntington, secretary.
This company has never had a president. Since 1844, Henry B. Tracy has been secretary and treasurer.
For a long course of years, the capital announced from year to year was $6,666. The assets at the present time (close of 1865) are $8,979.95.
* Father of Charles W. and John A. Rockwell.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
The Norwich Marine Insurance Co. was chartered in 1803; capital, $50,000. Joseph Howland, president ; Shubael Breed, cashier.
The Fire Insurance Co. was organized in 1813. Ebenezer Huntington, treasurer ; Joseph Williams, secretary.
These two companies were consolidated by act of the Legislature in October, 1818, and incorporated as the Norwich Fire Insurance Company. Capital, $100,000 ; increased to $200,000.
First president, Charles P. Huntington. Joseph Williams, secretary from 1818 to 1855.
Officers in 1865 : Ebenezer Learned, president; J. L. Denison, secre- tary.
Cash capital, $300,000. Assets, Feb. 1, 1866, $415,571.72.
New London Co. Mutual Fire Insurance. Chartered in May, 1840; organized in July.
Joseph Backus, president ; John De Witt, secretary.
Assets, Jan. 1, 1866, $32,869.13.
Elijah A. Bill, president since 1859.
John L. Devotion, secretary since 1853.
Thames Fire Insurance. Incorporated 1859 ; capital, $200,000.
Amos W. Prentice, president ; B. B. Whittemore, secretary.
Assets Jan. 1, 1866, $249,747.97.
Norwich and Worcester R. R. Co.
Chartered in 1832, with the title of Boston, Norwich and New London R. R. Co .; capital, $1,000,000.
In 1836, the corporate name was changed to Norwich and Worcester R. R. Co., and the capital has since been increased to $2,825,000.
Officers since 1836 : presidents-
William C. Gilman, June, 1836-1 year.
Charles W. Rockwell, " 1837-1 "
1838-3 John A. Rockwell,
Charles W. Rockwell, “ 1841-2
Dan Tyler, 66 1843-2
John C. Holland, 1845-3
Joel W. White, 1848-9 Augustus Brewster, 1857-1866.
James T. Richards, secretary and treasurer two years. George L. Perkins, treasurer since 1838,-28 years.
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HISTORY OF NORWICH.
Annual income of the road from 1840 to January, 1866 :*
1840, Earnings less than Disbursements.
1841, Earnings, $151,926.94
1854, Earnings, $322,754.43
1842,
126,761.79
1855,
304,236.33
1843,
125,020.49
1856,
132,745.92
1844,
223,465.65
1857,
287,756.58
1845,
204,308.45
1858,
283,556.27
1846,
241,909.55
1859,
351,689.68
1847,
234,895.59
1860,
358,362.34
1848,
218,073.30
1861,
288,512.22
1849,
236,197.61
1862,
353,664.90
1850,
261,259.12
1863,
432,559.56
1851,
270,049.37
1864,
631,728.19
1852,
267,561.70
1865,
714,059.83
1853,
321,046.14
Steamboat Companies.
The communication with New York by a line of steamboats has been sustained with but little interruption since its first inauguration in 1817. The merchants of Norwich and New London were mutually interested in the earlier boats, and united in forming the first incorporated companies.
The Norwich and New London Steamboat Co. was organized in 1848, with a capital of $200,000; Henry B. Norton, president. This line ran their boats in connection with the Norwich and Worcester Railroad ; the terminus being at Allyn's Point. Among the boats employed were the Cleopatra, Norwich, Worcester, and Connecticut. The Commonwealth was built for them in 1855, and sold in 1860, about which time the com- pany discontinued their operations, wound up their affairs, and was dis- solved.
The Norwich and New York Transportation Company was organized under the General Act in 1860. Capital, $350,000. Capt. Joseph J. Comstock of New York was the first president, succeeded in 1863 by David Smith of Norwich. Augustus Brewster treasurer, and P. St. M. Andrews secretary, from the beginning.
This company was formed for the purpose of facilitating the operations of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad Co. by furnishing an advanta- geous connection with New York. It was indebted for its origin, organi- zation, and subsequent success, chiefly to the president of the railroad,
* Furnished by G. L. Perkins, Esq., Treasurer of the Road.
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