USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > History of Norwich, Connecticut, from its settlement in 1660, to January 1845 > Part 15
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In 1773, Mr. Thomas Harland, from London, com- menced the business of clock and watch making. He taught a number of apprentices, who established them- selves in other places, and thus, though his means, the business became extensively spread in the sur- rounding country. This very ingenious artisan also constructed, in 1778, without any model, the first fire engine used in Norwich. [Mr. Harland died in 1807, aged seventy-one.]
The comb-making business was established in 1773
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by Noah Hidden, near the meeting-house. Mr. Alvan Fosdick about the same period undertook the mani- facture of Cards, for the breaking of wool and form- ing it into rolls, but the enterprize was not very suc- cessful. More extensive and cheaper factories else- where soon put a stop to it in Norwich. The manu- facture of cut shingle nails from old iron hoops was also commenced and continued during the war. It was a small business, but merits notice from its being one of the first attempts in this country to make nails in a way less slow and tedious than the old operation of hammering them out of solid iron.
At the Landing, a tape weaver, from Manchester, (England,) by the name of Zurishaddai Key, set up a tape factory ; Messrs. Hubbard and Greene, of Boston. opened an insurance office, and Samuel Loudon, from New York, established a bookseller's shop ; the first in that society. In the town there were already two booksellers' shops, one kept by Nathaniel Patten, and the other by John Trumbull, but the assortments were limited.
In 1773, the first newspaper was established in Nor- wich. This was an important measure, as it respected the business of the town, and it gave the Sons of Lib- erty an organ of their own, through which they could breathe the spirit of patriotism into other minds. The first numbers contained a series of well-written patri- otic essays, entitled "The Alarm," and signed Hamp- den. They were written by a distinguished patriot of New York, and were directed against East India mo- nopolies, the importation and use of Tea, and the De- claratory and Revenue Acts of Parliament. Many other spirited addresses appeared from time to time in this paper, calculated to cherish and inflame the grow- ing desire for political freedom.
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This paper was called " The Norwich Packet, and Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New- Hampshire Weekly Advertiser," -an imposing title and making pretensions to a wide circulation. It was printed by " Alexander Robertson, James Robertson, and John Trumbull, at their Printing Office, near the Court House, at Gs. Sd. per annum." The printers were also the editors and conducted the paper with considerable shrewdness and ability. The Robertsons, after the war, withdrew from the concern, but the junior editor Trumbull, continued the paper for many years alone, and on his death left it to his sons. Mr. Trum- bull died in 1802, and was the first person buried with masonic honors in Norwich.
In some of the first numbers of this paper, we find proposals issued for publishing " An American Maga- zine; " also, " Watts' Psalms and Hymns," neatly bound and gilt on the back for 1s. S. The New Eng- land Almanac, calculated for the meridian of Norwich, by Lemuel Warren, Philom: The New England Grammer, by Jacob Avery, school-master at Poquetan- noc : " The History of Louisiana, or the western parts of Virginia and Carolina : " The Conquest of Canada or siege of Quebec, &c. &c. Marriages were notified in such terms as these :
" Last Thursday evening, Mr. Mundator Tracy an accom- plished young gentleman, was married to the agreeable Car- oline Bushnell, a young lady endowed with every qualifica- tion to make the connubial state happy."
" John Chester, Esq. of Wethersfield, to the amiable Miss Elizabeth Huntington, daur of Col. Jabez Huntington."
Deaths in this way :
" On Friday last, departed this life at Pomechoag, her saffron colored majesty, Ann Queen Dowager, of the Mohe-
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gan Indians, and yesterday her remains were interred in a manner suitable to her high rank, in the Indian burying ground at Chelsea."
As the older files of this paper are very scarce, a few more items from them may not be uninteresting .- They will serve to illustrate the times :
May 2, 1774. A great military parade took place at Woodstock, accompanied by a mock fight, under the direc- tion of Capt. Samuel M'Clellan. A party dressed as Indi- ans, seized upon some children who were looking on, and ran off with them, but were pursued by the troop and the children rescued.
Oct. 28. The season has been so very mild, that a mess of green peas was picked the last week in this town, sponta- neously grown from seed produced this year.
Dec. 13. The officers and soldiers who belonged to Gen. Lyman's regiment of Provincials, and were at the taking of Hlavannah, are notified to meet at the house of Mr. John Durgie Innholder, in Norwich, to enquire why the last divi- dend of their prize money has not been paid, &c.
Feb. 10. Yesterday, Mr. James Burnam, of this town, brought to market a sled load of wood which completes the number of 2,500 loads, which he has drove in himself, 4 miles, and sold since 1754. A great part he cut himself- all but 50 loads on his own land -- all which he has done without upsetting a cart, breaking a wheel or sled, bruising a finger, or injuring an ox or horse by any wound. He sold his wood for £820 :- has about 5 times as much more on his land, which he intends leaving for some other person to cart and draw, he having done his full share that way. He has also expended 500 days of labour on 2 acres of land, in subduing and fencing it.
April -- Dr. Turner has recently extracted the bone of an alewife from the throat of Mr. Ebenezer Lord, where it had been lodged for 25 years, and at various times had given him exquisite pain. It was about the size of a brown thread needle and was barbed from end to end.
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July 7, 1774. To all those who call themselves Sons of Liberty in America, Greeting :-
My Friends. We know in some good measure the ines- timable value of liberty. But were we once deprived of her, she would then appear much more valuable than she now appears. We also see her, standing as it were tiptoe on the highest bough ready for flight. Why is she departing ? What is it that disturbs her repose ? Surely some foul monster of hideous shape, and hateful kind, opposite in its nature to hers, with all its frightful appearances and proper- ties, iron hands and leaden feet, formed to gripe and crush, hath intruded itself into her peaceful habitation and ejected her. Surely this must be the case, for we know oppositions cannot dwell together. Is it not time, high time to search for this Achan ? this disturber of Israel ? . High time, I say, to examine for the cause of those dark and gloomy appearan- ces that cast a shade over our glory. And is not this it ? Are we not guilty of the same crime we impute to others ? Of the same facts that we say are unjust, cruel, arbitrary, despotic, and without law, in others ? Paul argued in this manner : -- " Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself ? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal ? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, dishonorest thou God ?" And may we not use the same mode of argument and say -- We that declare (and that with much warmth and zeal) it is unjust, cruel, barbarous, unconstitutional and without law, to enslave, do we enslave ?- Yes, verily we do. A black cloud witnesseth against us and our own mouths condemn us. How preposterous our conduct ! How vain and hypocritical our pretences ! Can we expect to be free, so long as we are determined to enslave ? HONESTY.
Boston, Jan. 17, 1775. Tuesday last the Princess Caro- line Matilda, alias Princess of Cronenburgh, alias Marchi- ness of Waldegrave, who has travelled through all the Southern Provinces, set out, from hence for Portsmouth, N. H. She is the most surprising genius of the female sex that was ever obliged to visit America.
June 6, 1774, a town-meeting was convened on that oft-repeated plea, " to take into consideration the mel- ancholy situation of our civil, constitutional liberties, rights and privileges, which are threatened with de-
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struction." The citizens at first assembled in the court-house, but were obliged to adjourn to the meet- ing-house in order to accommodate the large concourse of people who came together. The Hon. Jabez Hun- tington was chosen moderator, and a series of patriotic resolutions drawn up by Capt. Joseph Trumbull, and Samuel Huntington, Esq., were passed, almost by acclamation, and a standing committee of correspond- ence appointed, consisting of
Capt. Jedidiah Huntington, Capt. Win. Hubbard,
Chr. Leffingwell Esq., Capt. Joseph Trumbull.
Dr. Theophilus Rogers,
These were some of the leading patriots of the day, whose images still linger, beloved and honored in the memories of the aged. Samuel Huntington was after- wards President of Congress, and Governor of Connect- icut ; Jedidiah, aid-de-camp to Washington, and Brig- adier General in the U. S. service : William Hubbard was a gentleman greatly revered for his benevolence and philanthropy. He neither commenced nor ended his life in Norwich, but during his long residence there, promoted in various ways the honor and prosperity of the town. His charities to the poor, and his liberal subscriptions to all works of public utility, were such as frequently to call forth votes of thanks from the town. He was a gentleman of the old school of po- liteness, bringing with him and preserving while here, the best style of Boston manners.
Capt. Joseph Trumbull was a very amiable and promising young man, who had settled in Norwich as an attorney. He was a native of Lebanon, the young- est son of Gov. Trumbull, and entered with character- istic ardor and singleness of heart into all the measures of the Sons of Liberty. He was a member of the Conn. Council of Safety, and afterwards Commissary
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in the colonial army. The hopes of his friends, who expected much from his talents and integrity, and whose affections were fondly fixed upon his person, were blasted by his untimely death. In the eulogy pronounced at his funeral, great praise is awarded to his abilities, his patriotism and his moral worth, and it is added, " In all the winning and agreeable arts of life, he had no superior." These qualities account for the tender attachment of his friends, and the lamenta- tions that were uttered on his death.
July 4, 1774. Mr. Francis Green, an eminent mer- chant of Boston, being on a journey into Connecticut, in order, as he stated, to collect debts and transact some private business, put up at a tavern in Wind- ham. This gentleman was a loyalist, and of course obnoxious to the sons of liberty, who affected to be- lieve that he had some sinister designs in this journey. He had been stigmatized in the patriotic papers as " one of that insidious crew who fabricated and signed the adulatory address to strengthen the hands of that par- ricidal tool of despotism, Thomas Hutchinson." The patriots of Windham were no sooner aware of his pres- ence, than they proceeded to show their displeasure. Assembling early in the morning, they surrounded the tavern, uttering shouts of insult and threats of exalting him upon a cart, unless he instantly left their precincts. This he did without delay, being followed with hoots and execrations. An express had been previously despatched to Norwich, with information that he was bound thither. The whole town was moved with this intelligence, and the sexton was ordered to give notice of his arrival by ringing the bell. Mr. Green's car- riage, therefore, no sooner stopped at Lathrop's tavern, than the bell rang an alarm, and the citizens were in an uproar.
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The plain was soon alive with the concourse, and a message was transmitted to Mr. Green, giving him his choice, to depart in fifteen minutes, or to be driven out on a cart. He was very reluctant to go ; pleaded business ; that he had debt's in town to collect, and stepping out upon the green, attempted to address the people : whereupon Capt. Simeon Huntington, a very stout man, collared him and called him rascal. By this time a horse and cart, with a high scaffolding in it for a seat, made its appearance, and demonstrations of lifting him to this conspicuous station being made, Mr. Green took the most prudent course, entered his carriage, and amid shouts and hissings drove off; a part of the populace following him with drums beating and horns blowing, till he was fairly out of their pre- cincts. On his return to Boston, Mr. Green offered one hundred dollars reward, for the apprehension " of any of the ruffians who had forced him to leave Wind- ham and Norwich, particularly for Capt. Simeon Hun- tington." This advertisement was a subject of merri- ment to the good people of Norwich, who republished it in hand-bills, and hawked it about town with a run- ning commentary.
About this time subscriptions were made in various towns in Connecticut, for the poor of Boston. Nor- wich sent on a noble donation, consisting of cash, wheat, corn, and a flock of three hundred and ninety sheep. This liberality was greatly applauded in the public prints.
The sympathy felt for the Bostonians was yet further displayed by the spirit manifested in September of this year, on the reception of a piece of intelligence which proved to be false. of a rupture between them and the royal troops. On Saturday, Sept. 3, at four, P. M. an express arrived from Col. Israel Putnam, that
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Boston had been attacked the night before, and six of the citizens killed. This was .but a rumor, yet it caused the greatest consternation ; the citizens assem- bled around Liberty Tree, then adjourned to the Court-house, and resolved to despatch an express to Providence. Mr. David Nevins volunteered on this service, as he had on many similar occasions, and de- parted at eight, P. M. On Sunday morning, four hun- dred and sixty-four men, well armed, and the greater part mounted on good horses, started for Boston, under the command of Maj. John Durkee, and rendezvoued at Capt. Burnham's inn, seven miles from town. Here at eleven o'clock, A. M., they were met by Mr. Nevins, on his return from Providence, with intelligence that the report was without foundation. Upon which they dispersed. That same morning, two hundred men, well armed and mounted, left Windham at sunrise, and had proceeded twenty or thirty miles, before they learned the falsity of the rumor. The people of Col- chester were attending divine service, when a messen- ger entered and announced the report that Boston had been attacked by the troops. The minister immedi- ately suspended the service, and all the men able to bear arms, equipped themselves and marched. It was supposed that upwards of 20,000 men, from this colony alone, were on the march to Boston that day.
September S. A convention of delegates from the counties of New London and Windham, met at Nor- wich to consider the necessity of revising the militia laws. Of this meeting the Hon. Gurdon Saltonstall was chairman, and Col. William Williams, of Lebanon, clerk .*
* For the resolutions passed at this convention, see Hinman's " His- torical Collection of the part sustained by Connecticut in the War of the Revolution." Hartford, 1$12.
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In October, the General Court of the Colony ordered, that all the militia should be called out for drill twelve half days before the next May. No regiment of mili- tia had at this time ever been reviewed cast of Con- necticut river ; the trainings had all been by compa- nies. In the town were three companies, that were mustered together upon the plain, under Captains Jed- idiah Huntington, Samuel Wheat, and Isaac Tracy. One at Chelsea, under Capt. Gershom Breed. In the autumn of 1774, the General Court ordered that Nor- wich should comprise the 20th regiment of infantry, and appointed Jedidiah Huntington, Lt. Colonel of the same; who gave notice that a regimental training would be held at Norwich on the first Monday of the next May. But before that time arrived, a great part of the men were in actual service near Boston, and the review was relinquished.
There was no regular uniform for the militia of the state at that period, nor for many years afterwards. Rifle frocks and trowsers were much worn, mostly white with colored fringes. One of the words of com- mand in training was "Blow off the loose corns;" and before and after the command to "Poise arms," came " Put your right hand to the firelock " - " Put your left hand to the firelock." An odd kind of aspi- rate was sometimes used after a command; thus " Shoulder! hoo !" The great object in the exercises then was to make the soldier familiar with his gin ; that he might charge quick and aim sure. Now the trainings consist much more in maneuvering, wheel- ing, marching, &c. Instead of firelock, arms is used.
During the winter the town passed a vote approving and adopting the measures proposed by the Continen- tal Congress at Philadelphia, and at the same time they ordered a quantity of military stores to be purchased.
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Such was the unanimity of the citizens, that through the whole revolutionary struggle, their proceedings were principally town-wise. They were not obliged to have such continual recourse to the committees of Correspondence and Safety, nor to invest them with such arbitrary powers as was done in most parts of the country. The public acts were all municipal, the dis- . senting voices few and weak, and very little change took place in laws or officers. The town was an inde- pendent community, actuated by a single impulse, swayed only by a Governor whom they loved, and a Congress which they revered.
March 28, 1775. In full town-meeting the follow- ing resolution was passed :
" Whereas numbers of persons are removing from the town of Boston to this place and others may remove :_ Voted, that this town request the select-men and committee of inspection to take effectual care that none of the addresses to Gov. Hutchinson or any others who have evidenced themselves to be inimical to the common cause of America, be admitted or suffered to reside in this town, unless they shall produce a proper certificate from the Provincial Con- gress that they have altered their conduct in such a manner as to give full satisfaction."
Among the persons alluded to in the above pream- ble, that at this time removed their families to Nor- wich, where they remained during the greater part of the succeeding contest, were some of the Hubbards Greenes and Philipses of Boston, the Malbones of New- port, and Col. Moore, afterwards a Commissary in the Colonial army.
The attention of the whole country was at this time turned towards Boston ; the Norwich Packet was rife with such remarks as these :
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" Boston is now reduced to an alarming crisis, big with important events. Like a new piece of ordnance, deeply charged for the trial of its strength; we listen with atten- tion to hear its convulsed explosion, suspending ourselves in mysterious doubt, whether it will burst with dreadful hay - ock, or recoil upon the engineers to their great confusion." " The blocking up of Boston is like turning the tide of a murmuring river upon the whole land, and thereby spread- ing a dangerous inundation through the continent, for resent- ment already flows high at New York, Philadelphia, and the southern towns, and if it join with the flux at Boston, it may occasion a sea of troubles."
The explosion waited for in such dread suspense at length broke upon the land. The battle of Lexington commenced carly on Wednesday morning, April 19. The news arrived in Norwich by an express from Woodstock in the afternoon' of the next day. . The facts were greatly exaggerated and the public sym- pathy highly excited. Mr. Nevins, with his usual promptness, again mounted and proceeded to Prov- idence after correct information, returning on Sat- urday evening. Handbills were immediately struck off' and dispersed through the town before day break the next morning.
At this time volunteers were almost daily departing for the army at Cambridge, in squads of two, three and four ; and in May, a company of one hundred choice men, raised under the superintendance of Col. John Durkee, a bold Bean-hill man, marched in charge of Lient. Joshua Huntington to the scene of action, and were annexed to Gen. Putnam's regiment. This company under the command of Col. Durkee [field officers in these enlistments frequently performed the duties of Captains, ] was in the battle of Bunker Hill, in camp during the succeeding winter on Pros- pect and Cobb's Hills, accompanied the army to New
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York in March, endured all the hardships of the retreat through the Jersies, fought at Germantown, &c. &c. Mr. David Nevins, one of the veterans of this band, to whom we have already repeatedly alluded, was perhaps its last survivor. He lived to enjoy a green old age, and having surpassed his ninetieth year, died among his children in New York in 1838.
Col. John Durkee died in 1782, aged 54.
Lieut. Andrew Griswold, another of this band, was a grandson of Deacon Joseph Griswold, and a very brave and spirited soldier. He fought at Bunker Hill and in several other severe engagements, until a ball in the knee, received at the battle of Germantown, dis- abled him from further service. He died in 1827, aged 72.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
Bird's-eye View of a scene in Norwich. 1775.
SUPPOSE it to be that Sunday in June which suc- ceeded the battle of Bunker Hill. . It is 10 o'clock, and the second bell has just commenced ringing. The inhabitants are gathering slowly and solemnly to the house of worship. From Bean Hill come a throng of Backuses, Hydes, Rogerses, Wheats, Tracys, Thomas- es, Griswolds. Here and there is a one horse chaise, almost large enough for a bed-room, square-bottomed, and studded with brass nails, looking something like a chest of drawers or an antique book-case on wheels. Those stout-looking men on horseback with women and children upon pillions behind, are reputable farm- ers from Waweekus and Plain Hills. That young man with such erect form and attractive countenance, is Dr. Elihu Marvin, unconscious that he alone of all this population is to be the victim of a future pestilence, that will nearly desolate a neighboring city. That one with the staid demeanor and grave aspect, whose hair is already silvered with age, is deacon Griswold, destined to live nearly to the confines of another con- tury.
Farther down, the stream is increased by the families of the philanthropic Dr. Elisha Tracy and Dr. Philip Turner, the surgeon, and Elisha Hyde, an enthusiastic young attorney, and Mr. Billy Waterman and Mr. Jo. Waterman. Many of the foot people have turned off'
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by the willow tree, and ascending the rocks, proceed by a rude pathway, once the beaten road that led to the ancient meeting-house upon the hill ; others pul - sue their way through the town street, winding under the eaves of precipitous rocks till they reach the church.
But see, from opposite quarters are advancing the Lathrops, Huntingtons, Leflingwells, Tracys, Adgates, Blisses, Reynoldses, Baldwins, Pecks, Trumbulls, &c. There is a very aged man in a white wig, creeping slowly along, supported by a staff in either hand; it is the venerable Deacon Simon Tracy. The respect- able group that accompany him are his descendants. Samuel Tracy Esq., his son, he also a man of mature age, and his wife Sybil, are among them. You may sce other men in white wigs; some five or six in all. Dr. Daniel Lathrop wears one; he has just rode up to the church with his dignified companion, the daughter of old Gov. Talcott.
There comes the Hon. Samuel Huntington, Judge of the Superior Court and recently elected member of the Continental Congress, with his wife and their adopted children : there too is the patriotic Gen. Jabez Hun- tington and his five sons, two of them attended by their children, and the family of the late Hon. Hezekiah Huntington, and other Huntingtons and Lathrops and Tracys innumerable.
Around the Plain, every threshhold seems to be simultaneously crossed ; the two taverns kept by Aza- riah Lathrop and Joseph Peck pour forth a goodly number. Mr. Ben. Butler and his family and Mr. Joseph Carew are coming up on one side, and Mr. Elly Lord and his two daughters are just passing the Court-house. And see, the Parsonage door opens, and the venerable pastor comes forth, and slowly walks to the church and up the broad aisle, tottering as he as-
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cends the pulpit stairs. How reverend are the curls of that white wig! The very wig which he wore some twenty years previous, when the old Rogerene so abusively followed him into meeting. exclaiming :- " Benjamin ! Benjamin ! dost thou think that they wear white wigs in heaven !" And again : "Benjamin ! thou art a sinner ! thou wearest a white wig !"
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