USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > History of Seymour, Connecticut, with biographies and genealogies > Part 6
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
Israel, was Charles, born Dec. 19, 1765, who was the father of Raymond French, Esq. Charles, brother of Israel French, was town clerk of Derby thirty-four years. The family were remarkable for their tenacious memories. It was said of Israel that after once hearing a sermon he could repeat it from memory with but little varation.
Richard Baldwin, one of the original grantees of the town of Derby, was a native of England, baptized there in 1622, and came over with his father Sylvanus on board ship Martin. Sylvanus was the son of Sylvester, from parish Ashton, Clinton, Bucks Co., Eng., who died in 1638 on ship Martin. Richard bought land Oct. 10th, 1669, in the south part of Derby, of Ockemunge, (written also Okenuch and Okenug,) "sole sachem of Pau- gussett," Chupps and Nehawkumme.
He was selected by the General Court as "Moderator of the new settle- ment of Paugussett, and he was one of the committee appointed on the part of the New Haven colony to effect the union with the Connecticut colony. Barnabas, son of Richard, was born in 1665. About six hundred acres in the south-west part of Woodbridge, which had been purchased of an Indian chief by his father, was conveyed to him by his brothers and sisters, and is largely in the possession of his descendants to the present day. He died in 1741. His son Timothy was born in 1695 and died in 1766. Capt. Timothy, son of the above mentioned, was born Dec. 13, 1722, in what was then Milford, near the Derby line, afterwards Woodbridge. Jan. 15, 1744, he was married to Sarah Beecher, who died in 1794. He was in 1779 one of the committee to facilitate the arrangements to strengthen the patriot army. He lived in what is now Seymour, and in 1789 was the first signer of the petition for the establishment of the first religious society formed in this place. See page 17. He had a slave Peter, baptized Dec. 23rd, 1790. He died Dec. 22, 1800. His children were Sarah, b. Apr. 11, 1746, m. Simeon Wheeler of Derby, Oct. 10, 1764: Timothy, b. 1749, lived in Derby, d. Aug. 30, 1822: Thaddeus, b. June 22, 1751: Anne, b. Feb. 24, 1757, m. Edmund Clark of Derby.
Occasionally the records of public proceedings seem to indicate a large proportion of the public men as residing in this part of old Derby. At the town meeting held Dec. 10, 1764, Daniel Holbrook was chosen moderator ; Charles French, town clerk; Ashbel Loveland and Abiel Fairchild, grand jurors ; John Howd, one of the tything men ; and John Washband, surveyor of highways. In 1765, (Dec. 9th,) Daniel Holbrook is again mentioned as moderator of the town meeting, and Gideon and Nathaniel Johnson and John Basit were chosen surveyors of highway. Daniel Holbrook lived on Skocorat.
The practice of allowing cattle and swine to run at large on the common lands made necessary some method of marking, and each proprietor had his "earmark" duly recorded. Dr. Josiah Canfield's earmark was a swallow fork in the end of the left ear. (Entered Mar. 27, 1769.) Jonathan Miles' earmark was a swallow fork in each ear and a half penny cut in the upper side of the right ear. (Entered May 9, 1766.)
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
OXFORD.
As an adjoining town. carved. like Seymour, from what was once Derby, and whose boundary line has been changed from time to time. so as to include more or less of what is now Seymour, some account of the early history of Oxford may properly be inserted here. The first petition looking to the setting apart of Oxford as a separate parish was made to the General Assembly in May, 1740. A committee was appointed to investigate the case, and in May, 1741, the petition was granted in the following words:
"Whereas upon the memorial of Timothy Worster. John Twitchel and John Towner, &c., dwelling in the north and northwest part of the township of Derby. Isaac Trowbridge, John Weed. Jonas Weed. Joseph Weed, Thomas and Joseph Osborn, dwelling in the southwest part of Waterbury woods, in the old society in said Waterbury, and Isaac Knowles. Joseph Towner. Eliphalet Bristol, John Tift and Aaron Bristol. dwelling in the southeast part of the township of Woodberry woods in the parish of Southberry. moving to the General Assembly holden at Hartford, May, anno Dom. 1740. that they might become one entire, distinct ecclesiastical society, and praying for a committee. &c .; the said General Assembly did appoint a committee, who accordingly making their report to the General Assembly at New Haven in October last, and the same not being accepted; and the said General Assembly in October last appointing another committee, Colo. Benjamin Hall, Capt. Isaac Dickerman and Capt. John Fowler. to view and report. &c .: And whereas the said last mentioned committee have to this Assembly made their re- port, that according to the direction of said Assembly they have repaired to the abovesaid places. &c., and find and are of opinion. that it is necessary and best that the said inhabitants be made a distinct, separate ecclesiatical society, and that their bounds and limits be as followeth: Beginning at the mouth of the four mile brook in Derby bounds. where the brook emptieth itself into the great river, and to run as said brook runneth by said brook unto the bridge that is between the dwelling houses of Abel Gun and John Holbrook; and from said bridge by the highway that runneth between the land commonly called the Camp's Mortgage and the land called Quakers Farm Purchase. unto the river called the Little river; and thence as the Little river runneth to Nau- gatuck river; and thence northerly, by said Naugatuck river. that being the east bounds of said society, until it comes to the dividing line between the towns of Derby and Waterbury; thence turning westerly and running as the line runneth between the towns of Derby and Waterbury, as aforesaid, until it comes to the southeasterly boundary of Thomas and Joseph Osborn's farm in the bounds of Derby; and from thence to run northerly to the northeast corner boundary of Jos. Weed's farm in Waterbury town bounds; and from thence a northwesterly line to the northeast corner boundary of Isaac Trowbridge's farm in said Waterbury town bounds; and from thence to run westerly, in the line of said Trowbridge's farm, about sixty rods. to Woodberry town line; and thence to the northwest corner of Isaac Knowles's farm in the township of Woodberry; and from the northwest corner of said Knowles's farm a west line to the eight mile brook in the bounds of Woodberry; and then by the said brook, until it comes to the dividing line between the towns of Woodberry and Derby; and thence to run westerly in the line that divideth between the said towns of Woodberry and Derby, unto the great river; thence by the river southerly to the first mentioned boundary, the mouth of four mile brook; as by said report on file. dated May the 7th, anno Dom. 1741."
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"It is thereupon resolved by this Assembly, That the above said memori- alists, inhabitants of Derby, Waterbury and Woodberry, situate and living within the bounds and limits above described, be and become together one entire, separate and distinct ecclesiastical society or parish, subsisting and known by the name of the parish of Oxford, and endowed with all powers and privileges wherewith other parishes within this government are by law endowed."
The members of the "Society of Oxford," as they termed themselves, met for the first time and organized June 30, 1841. On the 6th of October, 1741, in meeting lawfully warned, it was voted, "by a two-thirds part of the inhabitants by law qualified to vote and present in meeting, to build a meet- ing house, and to meet the assembly in their next session at New Haven, to pray for a commission to appoint, order and fix the place whereon their meet- ing house shall be erected and built." Mr. Ebenezer Riggs was appointed agent to the General Assembly. The following is the order of the Assembly:
"Upon the report of Capt. Isaac Dickerman, Mr. James Talmadge and Mr. John Hitchcock, appointed by this Assembly to affix the place for the inhabitants of the parish of Oxford to build their meeting house upon, &c., the said committee having viewed their circumstances, and have set down a stake and laid stones to the same, at the south end of the hill, commonly called Jack's Hill, and near the highway that runs on the east side the Little river, on land belonging to Ephraim Washbourn, which said place the said committee report to be the most convenient place for the said inhabitants to build a meeting house upon : Resolved by this Assembly, that the abovesaid place be the place for the said inhabitants to build their meeting house upon ; and the said inhabitants are hereby ordered to build a meeting house at the said place accordingly."
In May, 1743, "upon the prayer of Isaac Trowbridge, of Oxford parish, in behalf of himself and the rest of the inhabitants of said parish, pray- ing this Assembly that they may be allowed to imbody into a church estate and be impowered and enabled to settle a minister according to the establishment of the churches in this government, &c .: Whereupon it is granted by this Assembly, that the said parish of Oxford, by and with the consent and approbation of the neighbouring churches, may imbody into church estate, and are hereby allowed and impowered to proceed to and settle a minister according to the establishment of the churches in this government."
Rev. Johnathan Lyman was ordained minister of the parish Oct. 4, 1745, and received a settlement of ₺500, to be paid in four yearly installments, and a salary of £125 per year. The next minister was Rev. David Bronson, from Milford, called Mar. 3rd, 1764, with a settlement of £200 and a salary of £60. He served the parish forty years, dying in 1806.
The Episcopal parish of St. Peter's was organized in 1764 by Rev. Richard Mansfield, the rector of the Derby church. The first settled clergy- man of this parish was Rev. Mr. Prindle.
Although a separate parish since 1741, Oxford was not incorporated as a town until 1798. Father mention will be made in connection with contem- porary events.
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
The Period of the Revolution.
The hardy pioneers who had made their homes among these hills and vales, of good old English stock, and, in part, descendants of the puritans who came over in the Mayflower, had grown stronger in their love of freedom, and were prompt to second the resistance to the encroachments upon their liberty. Meetings were held and arrangements made to send men, provisions and clothing, to the extent of their ability, to the patriot army. Of necessity the business was done in town meetings, but the records show that those living in this section did their duty nobly.
As early as Nov. 29th, 1774, a special town meeting was called to con - sider "the doings of the Reputable Continental Congress held at Philadelphia, Sept. 5th 1774," Daniel Holbrook, moderator. They agreed that the proposal of Congress was "a wise and judicious plan," and resolved that they would "faithfully adhere to and abide by the association entered into by said Con- gress." The meeting also voted as follows: "That the Gentlemen hereatter named be a Committee to see the same carried into execution, viz: Capt. John Holbrook, Mr Henry Tomlinson, Maj. Jabez Thompson, Mr John Pickit, Capt Thomas Clark, Mr Abraham Smith, Henry Whitney, Capt Joseph Riggs, Lieut Bradford Steel & Lieut Ebenezer Buckingham. In case a county Con- gress should be agreed upon in this county, then the aforesaid committee shall chuse and appoint two out of their number to attend such congress. Again the town have taken into their consideration the needy & distressed circum- stances of the poor of the Town Boston, by the operation of a late act of Par- liament blocking up their Harbour, this Town is opinion that it is necessary and their duty to contribute for their help."
In 1777 all male citizens of lawful age were required to take an oath of fidelity. Among those who took this oath appear the following familiar names. Rev. Daniel Humphrey, Charles French, Esq", John Davis, Esqr, Thomas Clark, Esqr, Capt John Holbrook,* Agur Tomlinson, Joseph Durand, Benja- min Tomlinson, Capt Joseph Riggs, Abraham Basit, David DeForest, Philo Johnson, John Coe, Daniel Chatfield, Ruben Baldwin, Gideon Johnson, Nathan Mansfield, Bradford Steel, Eleazer Lewis,* Ebenezer Keeney, Henry Tomlin- son,* Turel Whittemore, Abraham Beacher, Enos Bradley, Johnathan Hitch- cock, Noah French, Nathaniel French, Samuel French, John Howd, David Johnson, Deacon Daniel Holbrook, Jnr, Capt Nathaniel Johnson, Abraham Hawkins, Isaac Smith, Capt John Tomlinson, Capt William Clark, John Botelford, Ashbel Loveland, Asahel Johnson, Capt Joseph Lum, Joseph Loveland, Jehiel Spencer, Ebenezer Johnson, Samuel Russell, Zachariah Fairchild, Freegift Hawkins, Edward Howd, Joseph Canfield, Silas Baldwin,
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
Abijah Hull, Lewis Hubbell, Philo Holbrook, Eleazer Wooster. (*Specified in records as living on Great Hill.)
At a town meeting held Feb. 10th, 1777, the following action was taken: "Whereas the General Assembly of this state at their sessions at Middle- town on the 18th day of December last past, by an act did regulate the prices of a number of articles in sd act enumerated; and whereas it appears to this town that it is of the utmost consequence to the Community in general and to this town in particular that said act should be immediately carried into execution-Voted therefore that this town will by every legal measure en- deavour to have the directions of said act strictly complyed with, this town being fully sensible that it is the duty of every friend to his country to sell & dispose of the articles enumerated in the act of assembly fixing the price of labour, provisions, &c., at the prices at which they are therein stated. Therefore,
Voted, that those of us who have any of them beyond what we want for our own consumption will readily and cheerfully sell them either for money or produce at the price in said act stated : and that we will esteem all persons who shall not do the same, enemies to their country, and treat them accord- ingly : Provided such person is properly convicted thereof before the Com- mittee of Inspection of this Town : whom we impower to take cognizance of such offense."
That those who were serving their country on the field of battle were pro- vided for by those who remained at home, as far as their means would permit, is shown by frequent votes of supplies and appointment of special committees to see that the supplies were furnished. On the 8th of Dec., 1777, John Coe, David DeForest and Capt Thomas Clark were appointed such a committee. In Dec., 1778, Sam1 Hull, David DeForest, Abraham Beecher, Capt John Tomlinson, Capt Timothy Baldwin, Capt John Riggs, Lieut Samnel Wheler, Sam1 Basit, Dan? Holbrook, Junr, Capt Joseph Riggs, Ruben Tucker, Capt Nathaniel Johnson, Jos Russell, Noah Tomlinson, Thomas Clark, Esqr, John Howd, Capt John Holbrook, Edward Howd, Thadeus Baldwin and others were appointed a committee to provide clothing for the soldiers.
At a town meeting held Dec. 28th, 1778, it was voted to "give to each soldier in the Continental Army that counts for the town of Derby Ten Pounds money each in lew of the linnin overhawls, linnin shirts, and shoes that was voted to them last year as a bounty," and a town tax was laid of one shilling nine pence on the pound. Ensign John Humphrey was appointed to receive the money and to pay it to the soldiers.
Notwithstanding the excitement caused by the war and the heavy taxes upon the resources of the people, the schools were not forgotten, as the fol- lowing documents show. The first seems to define a district in the western part of what is now Beacon Falls. The petition was granted in a town imeeting Dec. 13th, 1779.
"Considering the distance that a considerable number of the inhabitants of the 4th & 5th districts live from the center of said districts and the incon- venience it is attended with, we therefore whose names are under written, desire to be set off to be an entire District. Signed and approved by us, Joseph Davis, Abraham Basit, Sam Smith, Jr., David Person, John Davis, John Church, Isaac Beecher, Abraham Beecher, Ebenezer Riggs, John Riggs, Bradford Steel, Committee. Beginning at the Stone Bridge at the lower end of Mr. Abraham Basit's Little river meadow, from thence running East to the top of the hill South of said Basit's, then running north with the high-way to Capt. Joseph Davis' including said Capt Davis, and from thence running East to the high way that runs west of Tobey's rock, then running
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north to the head of the bounds between Derby & Waterbury, including MIrs Abigail Gum's farm, then running West with the line to Waterbury road, then running South with the road down to Mr. Miles' barn, then running West to Touantiek brook, then running South with the brook to the bridge over said Brook Southeast of David Twitchel's, and from thence southerly down to the road to the first mentioned bounds, including widow Ruth Bunnell."
The following seems to describe what now constitutes the sub-districts of Shrub Oak and Bungay, Seymour. Petition granted in a town meeting Dec. 27th, 1779.
"We the Subscribers whose names are underwritten desire the town of Derby would permit us to be formed into a school district, to take in part of the north district in the old society, and part of the Great Hill, and part of the Rimmon District, bounded as followeth, beginning at the mouth of Hassekee meadow brook, running northerly by Naugatuck river till it comes to the upper end of Long Plain, so called, then running westerly to the north side of the Park, then running southerly to the west side of John Botchford's farm, then running southerly to Mr. Joseph Canfield's barn, then running southerly to the highway twenty rods north of Nehemiah Botchford's house, then running with the highway to Hassekee meadow brook, then running by said brook to the first mentioned corner."
Bradford Steel,
Eunis Pritchard,
Abram Wooster,
Ashbel Steel,
James Pritchard, Jr.,
Daniel Davis,
Hezekiah Woodin,
Samuel Wooster, Benjn Davis,
Ruben Perkins,
William Gordin, Ebenr Keeney,
Ranford Whitney,
John Botchford,
Wm. Keeney,
Lowis Riggs,
Edward Harger,
John Wooster,
Josiah Washband,
Theous Miles, Jona" Miles.
JOHN RIGGS, JOHN TOMLINSON, 1 Committee.
The following is from the minutes of a town meeting held Mar. 8th, 1780. "The town by their voate appoint Capt. Bradford Steel and Mr. Gideon John- son a committe with full power to take care of the Indians' Lands in Derby, and let out the same to the best advantage for the support of said Indians, and to take care that there be no wast made on said land, and to render an ac- count of their doings to said town of Derby." At the same meeting it was "voted that Abraham Hawkins, James Beard, Esq., Mr. John Humphrey, Capt. Nathan Person, Mr. Noah Tomlinson, Major Nathan Smith, David Tomlinson, Lieut. Levi Hotchkiss, Walter Wooster and Ebenezer Warner be a committee to assist the officers of the several companies in the town of Derby in raising their quota of men that shall be requested in this town for the continental and state service, at the expense of the town, with discretion- ary orders to give such premiums as said comtte in their wisdom shall judge reasonable."
At a town meeting held June 27th, 1780, a rate of sixpence was voted "to pay the bounty to the Contenental soldiers and to defray town charges," and Capt. John Riggs, Capt. Daniel Holbrook and Capt. Bradford Steel were "appointed a comte to enlist contenental soldiers and to pay them their bounty."
It was also voted "that the town shall give each man that shall culist himself as a soldier into the Contenental army during the war shall receive of the town as a bonnty the sum of £20, to be paid in bills of credit of this state
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at the time the muster, and £20 pounds at the commencement of the second year of their service, and twenty pounds at the commencement of the 3d year of their service. And all such as shall list for three years into the contenental army shall receive in bills of credit of this state £20 at the time of passing muster, & £15 at the commencement of the 2nd year of their service, and £10 at the commencement of the 3d year of their service. And also all such persons as have or shall enlist into the contenental service for one year and seven months from the date of these presents shall receive £10 at passing muster, and £5 at the commencement of the 2nd campaign.
By a vote at a town meeting held Nov. 13, 1780, it was provided that two shirts, two pair stockings, one pair shoes, and 1 pair mittens should be sent to each soldier.
In accordance with an act of the Assembly for collecting and storing a quantity of provisions, in the winter of 1780-81, the following prices were allowed for produce received as taxes, in lieu of money; beef of the best quality 5p. per pound, merchantable 4}p., pork 5 and 6p. per pound, wheat flour 24p. per hundred.
In Nov., 1780, "Johnathan Hitchcock, Capt. Thos Clark, John Howd, Capt John Tomlinson, Mr Johnathan Lum, Jnr, and Lieut John Basit were appointed a committee to class the people agreeable to a late act of Assembly for filling up & compleating the state's Quotas of the Contenental Army," and measures were taken to provide clothing for those already in the field. At a town meeting held Dec. 11th, 1780, the following committee was appointed to take care of the soldiers' families; Peter Johnson, Joseph Russell, Thadeus Baldwin, Daniel Holbrook, Isaac Smith, Benj. Basit, Jabez Thompson, Christopher Smith, Andrew Smith, Johnathan Lum, Jn", John Basit, Josiah Strong, Robert Wheler, Isaac Beecher, Ebenezer Johnson, Abiel Fairchild, Jnr and Noah Tomlinson.
Emancipation. At the same meeting it was "Voted that the authority and selectmen be impowered and directed to give certificates to Capt. Daniel Holbrook and Capt. John Wooster to free and emancipate their servants, Negro men, on the condition that the said negro men inlist into the State Rigt to be raised for the defense of this state, for the town, one year." At a town meet- ing held in 1781 it was voted that the selectmen give to the Revd David Humphreys a certificate or liberty to manumit his servants, Cambridge and Cate his wife.
In April, 1781, the town was called on for men for the post of Horseneck, and the selectmen were empowered to provide horses and accoutrements for the service.
In March, 1782, some who had been called on for service in the army were released on payment of Fifty pounds and the required number of soldiers for one year were obtained by the offer of bounties. A tax of two pence on the pound was laid to pay the bounties. George Beard was chosen collector for the Great Hill Society, and with Micah Pool was to be a committee to enlist the number of soldiers required. Capt Nathaniel Johnson was ap- pointed collector for the old Society and with Capt Daniel Holbrook consti- tuted the committee of enlistment. Abraham Beecher was appointed collect- or in Oxford Society and Capt Ebenezer Riggs was associated with him as enlisting committee. At a later meeting Ebenezer Plant was appointed to assist in the Oxford Society. There were, here as elsewhere throughout the colonies, some who believed that they owed first and indissoluble allegiance to King George III. Except these "loyalists," those who could best leave home had freely volunteered early in the contest, and now those who re-
GEN. DAVID HUMPHREYS.
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
mained, as freely contributed of their seanty means to fill the quota needed to secure the final victory.
The names of those who served their country on the field of battle are not all now to be found, but so many as can be gleaned from old manuscripts and records are given below.
Gen. David Humphreys, son of Rev. Daniel Humphreys, was born in Derby in 1752. As a boy he was passionately fond of books, and in 1767 he entered college at the early age of fifteen, graduating with distinguished honor. During his college course he earned the title of "the young bard of Yale." As a poet he graced the progress of freedom and the pathways of liberty with the flowers of his pen, and in this way helped to fire the hearts of patriots and hasten the growth of that public opinion which culminated in the establishment of our republic. After a short residence in New York he returned to New Haven county, and before joining the army in 1778, he wrote many poetic effusions, one of which was addressed to his friends in Yale College, of which the following lines are a specimen.
"Adieu, then, Yale ! where youthful poets dwell, No more I linger by thy classic stream -- Inglorious ease and sportive songs, Farewell! Thou startling clarion, break the sleeper's dream."
He entered the army as captain and in 1778 had been promoted as aid to Gen. Putnam with the rank of Major. Two years later he was appointed aid to General Washington, which position he retained during the war, enjoy- ing the full confidence of the Commander-in-chief, and sharing his toil and danger. When the army of Cornwallis laid down their arms at Yorktown, Oct. 19th, 1781, Humphreys had the honor to receive the English colors and as a mark of approbation was dispatched to Congress "with copies of the returns of prisoners, arms, ordnance, etc., and twenty-five stands of colors, surrendered," with a letter from Washington warmly commending Col. Humphreys to the thanks and consideration of the government for his valor, fidelity and signal services. In November following he was voted an elegant sword in the "name of the United States in Congress assembled," and in 1786 it was presented by Gen. Knox, then Secretary of War, with imposing ceremonies. Congress also commissioned him Lieut. Colonel, dating back his commission to his ap- pointment as aid to Washington. In 1784 he embarked for France in company with the brave but unfortunate Kosciusko; having on the appointment of Mr. Jefferson as ambassador to France, been appointed Secretary of Legation. In 1786 he returned to America and revisited the scenes of his youth.
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