History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 96

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506

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bank is $110,000. With its July dividend, 1889, it had paid back to its stockholders $226,600 in dividends. In August, 1864, he was elected treasurer of the Windham County Savings Bank, and organized the bank, and held that position till 1875. Under his treasurership the bank's deposits reached $1,300,000. It was. the first savings bank in eastern Connecticut to allow interest to commence each month. In 1866-7 the savings bank built, under his supervision, their present bank building. On the organiza- tion of the Music Hall Company he was chosen treasurer, and arranged in its building the banking rooms now occupied by the national bank. In 1866 he was chosen treasurer of District No. 1, Killingly, and on the union of districts 1 and 2 was re-elected, carrying out the financial arrangements needed in building the high school house, holding the office for eighteen years. Mr. Clemons was treasurer of the Congregational church for thirteen years, and has been notary public for twenty-five years in this state.

THOMAS J. EVANS, who was born May 17th, 1826, in Brooklyn, Connecticut, is the son of Elijah Evans, and the grandson of Elisha Evans. His active career was begun at the age of seven- teen, as a teacher in Killingly, where he continued for ten suc- cessive years, his last term at Dayville having closed with an in- teresting exhibition, the proceeds of which aided greatly in the purchase of a library and other school supplies. For five years he was engaged in the clothing business in the above village, and his capital was afterward invested in a livery stable which he suc- cessfully managed for nine years at the same point. In the year 1878 Mr. Evans erected a substantial brick block in Danielson- ville, and the following year made that place his residence. His political connections were with the republican party, which he frequently represented in the various county and town offices. He was for sixteen years a member of the board of education, for five years assessor, three years town clerk, and judge of pro- bate from 1872 to 1886. He was also warden of the borough and a member of the court of burgesses. For two years he was pres- ident of the Windham County Agricultural Society and four years its treasurer. Mr. Evans was married in 1850 to Miss Eliza Kennedy. His death occurred in 1889.

TIMOTHY EARLE HOPKINS .- The grandparents of Mr. Hop- kins were Timothy Hopkins, born in 1751, and Sarah Carver, daughter of Captain Joseph Carver. His father was Carver

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N Y.

W.W. Preston & C?NY

J. C. Hopkins

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Hopkins, born October 26th, 1799, who married Abby K. Man- chester. Their children, seven in number, were : Israel M., Flo- rinda A., Sarah C., Abby E., Ann E., Timothy E. and Lillian P., of whom all but the eldest son are still living. Timothy Earle Hopkins was born in Burrillville, R. I., December 5th, 1835, of which place he continued a resident until 1862. His education was received in the public schools and at New Hampton, N. H., where a year was spent in study, after which he served an ap- prenticeship as a spindle maker in his native town. He then engaged for two years in mercantile business, and at the expira- tion of this time removed to Providence, where three years were spent as a merchant. In 1865 Mr. Hopkins removed to Thomp- son and embarked in the manufacture of cotton goods, remain- ing at this point until 1870, when Burrillville again became his home. Here he continued the business of a manufacturer, the pro- duct of his mills being woolen fabrics. In 1876 he suffered dis- aster and loss as a consequence of the severe flood of that year, and soon after removed to Fitchburg, Mass., where until 1880 he continued the manufacture of woolens. Mr. Hopkins then be- came a resident of Danielsonville, his present home, where he is still engaged in the production of woolen goods in the town of Killingly. He is also treasurer of the Jesse Eddy Manufactur- ing Company, of Fall River, Mass., and one of the promoters of the Crystal Water Company, of Danielsonville, of which corpo- ration he is president. He is a director of the First National Bank of Killingly. Mr. Hopkins in politics gives his support to the republican party, and represented the town of Thompson in the Connecticut house of representatives in 1868. He has also, since his residence in Danielsonville, been active in furthering the educational interests of the borough. He is an active Ma- son, member of Friendship Lodge of that order at Chepachet, of Providence Chapter, and of Calvary Commandery, of Provi- dence. Mr. Hopkins was in May, 1859, married to Marcella S., daughter of James S. Cook, of Burrillville. They have had three children-Elsie M., Earle Carver and Earle Cook ; Earle Carver being deceased.

ALMOND M. PAINE .- Benjamin Paine, the grandfather of Judge Almond M. Paine, was a successful farmer in Glocester, R. I. By his marriage to Phebe Aldrich were born a numerous fam- ily of children. The birth of his son, Ransom Paine, occurred December 13th, 1787, and his death on the 15th of January, 1854,

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

in Glocester, where he followed the trade of a wheelwright, and spent the latter years of his life as a farmer. He married Phebe, daughter of Thomas Smith, of the same town, who was born June 12th, 1794, and died March 12th, 1860. Their children are : Almond M., Mary Ann, wife of James M. Adams; Emily, married to Elijah Mann; Adaline M., who died in infancy, and James A.

The eldest son, and subject of this biography, was born Sep- tember 15th, 1820, in Glocester, and received an academic edu- cation. At the early age of fifteen he engaged in teaching, and for nine successive years the winters found him at the teacher's desk, while the healthful employments of the farm engaged his attention during the summer months. In 1846 he removed to Sterling, and four years later made East Killingly his home. Here he embarked in trade as a country merchant, and contin- ued a successful business until his retirement, since which date his time has been largely devoted to the management of his pri- vate interests, and to the public service.

As a republican he for several years filled the office of justice of the peace, and was repeatedly elected assessor of his town. In 1857 he was made judge of probate and served four years, having also, during a brief residence in Thompson, been chosen to the same office for a term of two years. He was appointed by President Lincoln postmaster of East Killingly, and held the commission during that administration. Judge Paine was in 1864 made a director of the First National Bank of Killingly, and later a corporator and trustee of the Windham County Sav- ings Bank. His services are often sought as administrator and trustee, where integrity and judgment are primary qualities. Judge Paine was in 1847 married to Phebe Salsbury of Foster, Rhode Island, born April 28th, 1817, who died in 1878. Their children are: Eliza D., born May 31st, 1848, who died in 1879; and Emily M., whose birth occurred June 12th, 1854.

HENRY WESTCOTT .- James Westcott, the grandfather of Henry Westcott, familiarly known as the "Captain," was born March 5th, 1740, and married Martha Tillinghast. Their son Joseph, whose birth occurred April 9th, 1779, in Glocester, Rhode Island, married Esther Richmond of the same town. The children of this union were: Henry; Almira, wife of Jude Sabin; Elizabeth, married to James Wood; and David. Henry, the eldest son, was born April 18th, 1801, in Glocester, and in early childhood re-

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ARTUTYPE, Z. BIERSTADT, N. Y

Henry Wistoft

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

moved to East Killingly, where the primitive schools of the day afforded him a beginning for that practical education which was chiefly the growth of experience and observation.

In early years a farmer, he afterward identified himself with the commercial interests of East Killingly, and was associated with Thomas Pray as a manufacturer, under the firm name of Westcott & Pray. They built the Ross mill and the Whitestone mill, conducted an extensive business, and were regarded as among the most prosperous owners of mill property in the county. Mr. Westcott's marked ability, keen discrimination and indomitable perseverance won for him an enviable reputation in financial circles, and carried him safely through many a crisis where a less resolute man would have faltered. In his business relations he enjoyed a record for integrity and generous dealing, while his genial nature made all transactions a matter of pleas- ure to others. On disposing of his interest at East Killingly, he retired to Danielsonville, his residence at the date of his death, on the 5th of June, 1878. Mr. Westcott was an active and honored member of the Baptist church, and contributed with liberality toward the erection of the new edifice in the borough where he resided. In politics a whig and republican, he filled the more important town offices, and was elected to the state legislature in 1840. Mr. Westcott was, on the 3d of Feb- ruary, 1824, married to Almira Browning of Rutland, Mass. Their eldest child, Nancy N., died in infancy. The surviving children are a daughter, A. Elizabeth, and a son, Henry T., both of Danielsonville.

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CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE TOWN OF ASHFORD.

The Wabbaquasset Country .- Land Speculators .- Settlement of Ashford .- Major Fitch .- James Corbin .- New Scituate .- The Town Established .- Titles Confirmed .- Common Proprietors .- Land Controversies .- Civil Disorder .- Military Company .- Population and Growth .- Public Morals and Order .- Growth of the Settlement .- Early Town Officers .- Land Title War .- Days of the Revolution .- Visit of President Washington .- Post Office, Taverns and Probate Court .- Honored Sons .- Roads and Bridges .- Schools .- Ec- clesiastical History .- First Church .- The Great Revival and the Separates .- Wetford Congregational Church .- Meeting Houses and Ministers .- First Baptist Church .- Eminent Men of Westford .- Baptist Church of Westford. -- Manufacturing in Westford .- Warrenville Baptist Church .- Manufactur- ing and Business at Warrenville .- Eminent Sons of Ashford .- Babcock Li- brary and Band .- Biographical Sketch.

I N the early period of settlement the territory of Ashford, which originally included also the present town of East- ford, was a part of the Wabbaquasset country which was conveyed to Major Fitch by Owaneco in 1684. It was a wild forest region, remote from civilization, but known and traversed from the early settlement of New England, lying directly in the route from Boston to Connecticut. The first company of Con- necticut colonists encamped, it is said, on the hill north of the present village of Ashford, and the old Connecticut Path crossed what is now Ashford Common. Thus the land here was exposed to the view of passing adventurers for three-quarters of a century before any attempt was made at settlement in this vicinity. The first land laid out within this territory was a tract four miles square, now in the south part of Eastford, which was made over to Simeon Stoddard of Boston, in 1695, in satis- faction of a judgment of court. Major Fitch was at the time greatly embarrassed in business affairs, and his title to the Wab- baquasset country was questioned. Mr. Stoddard was a resident of another colony, and so neither was disposed to undertake the settlement of this region.

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At this time representations had been made to the general court of Connecticut upon which that body on the 9th of May, 1706, granted to "such good people as shall be willing to settle thereon," a township eight miles square, and appointed a com- mittee of its own members to lay out the township by actual sur- vey, also to lay out home lots and other divisions of land, to or- der and manage the affairs of the town and to admit and settle all such inhabitants as should be approved, and who should pay their proportionate share of the expense of surveying and set- tling the same. This action of the court aroused Major Fitch to action, and he at once began to push the sale of lands which he claimed. In 1707, a tract five miles in length and three in width was purchased for £110, by John Cushing, Samuel Clap and David Jacob, of Scituate, and laid out on the west of the Stod- dard tract, and was called the New Scituate Plantation. Captain John Chandler soon purchased a large part of this tract and a strip of land adjacent, and became the chief proprietor of New Scituate. The whole remaining territory of original Ashford, comprising 21,400 acres, was sold by Major Fitch to James Cor- bin, of Woodstock, in 1708, and he conveyed the same to David Jacob, Job Randall and twelve others, residents of Scituate, Hingham and Andover, Mr. Corbin retaining an equal share in the land and managing the affairs of the company. These tracts were laid out as rapidly as possible, and efforts made to initiate a settlement in advance of the government. The proprietors had but partial confidence in the validity of their titles. The first actual settlement upon this land appears to have been by John Mixer, of Canterbury, who for four pounds purchased a tract of one hundred acres, the deed to which containing the stipulation that if the proprietors' right should be proven in- valid the four pounds should be returned to the purchaser. His land lay on the river at a place called Mount Hope, where the present village of Warrenville is situated. This was in January, 1710. A few months later, in April, John Perry, of Marlborough, bought three hundred and fifty acres near the present site of Eastford village, and settled upon it.

The general court, whose committee had done nothing toward laying out a town here, now reappointed a committee with more practical instructions to proceed at once with the project of es- tablishing a town here. The committee now took possession of the township and undertook to lay it out in the name of the col-

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ony. The name Ashford was suggested by the great number of ash trees which grew in the primitive forests. The region was rough, rocky and unattractive, a great portion of it being covered with dense forests which abounded in wolves, bears and various species of game. This was a favorite hunting ground of the re- maining Wabbaquassets, who secured large quantities of furs here, which they furnished in trade to Mr. Corbin, who derived therefrom a considerable revenue. Only two families of white inhabitants, and they living five miles apart, were now upon the tract. The impending contest between the individual proprie- tors already mentioned and the government of Connecticut was a serious obstacle in the way of settlement. Both parties ap- pealed to the general court; the representatives of the Fitch title for confirmation of their title and liberty to settle, and the committee to show their inability to carry out their instructions under existing circumstances. While the court was undecided as to what course to take, the claimants under Fitch pushed for- ward the work of settlement. Philip Eastman, of Woodstock, and John Pitts, Benjamin Allen, Benjamin Russel and William Ward, of Marlborough, bought farms of James Corbin and set- tled on them, north of the Stoddard tract, on Still river, in the summer of 1711. Houses were built, lands broken up, and a . highway was laid out by these settlers. In the following year William Price, senior and junior, David Bishop, Nathaniel Wal- ker, John Chubb and John Ross bought land of Corbin and joined the eastern settlement. Daniel James and Nathaniel Ful- ler, of Windham, Josiah Bugbee, of Woodstock, and Samuel Rice and Philip Squier, of Concord, purchased farms of Captain" Chandler in New Scituate. The court's committee also sold some land. Homesteads were purchased of them by Isaac Ken- dall, William Chapman, Isaac Farrar and Simon Burton.

In answer to a petition of the settlers, in October, 1714, the general court granted town privileges, which included the right to elect officers for carrying on the prudential affairs of the place, building a meeting house and settling and maintaining a minis- ter. The inhabitants were also instructed to employ the sur- veyor of Hartford county to lay out the town eight miles square, and each claimant of land within its limits should within one year enter the deed or other record or instrument by which he claimed title in a book to be provided by the town clerk for the purpose. At the same date a quit-claim to 10,240 acres of land

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in Ashford on the Pomfret line was granted by the general court to Simeon Stoddard and heirs, of Boston. Other non-resident claimants complied as soon as possible with the requirements of the court respecting the recording of land evidences.

Under the grant of town privileges the first town meeting was held early in 1715. William Ward acted as moderator; John Mixer was chosen town clerk and treasurer; John Perry, con- stable : William Ward and John Perry, selectmen ; William Ward and John Chapman, grand jurors, and William Ward, Philip Eastman, Nathaniel Fuller, John Pitt, Benjamin Russel, James Corbin and Isaac Kendall were chosen to lay out high- ways. The town now determined, if possible, to secure posses- sion of the large tracts of wild and unoccupied land which lay within its limits and were claimed under the Fitch title by non- residents who were holding it, though by a very precarious ten- ure of ownership, for purposes of speculation, without any ex- pense for highways or improvements upon it. Though the town was divided upon this subject, the majority prevailed, and after considerable conflicting proceedings, the people became nearly unanimous in agreement to proceed in exercising jurisdiction and ownership of the lands claimed by non-residents before men- tioned. As several of the inhabitants opposed these proceed- ings of the town lest it should invalidate their titles obtained from Corbin or Chandier and compel them to pay twice for their homesteads, it was granted by the town that all such as had lands purchased in that way should be allowed to hold them free, and should have an equal share in the undivided lands in addi- tion thereto.

The town now set about the work of confirming their individ- ual titles. January 11th, 1718, it was voted, "That the town doth grant all those lands that have been already granted to be free and clear according to the most free tenure of East Green- wich, in county of Kings in the Realm of England-provided these persons give sufficient bonds, with sureties, to John Perry and Philip Eastman, who are appointed to furnish the commit- tee with money to build the meeting house." Under the new system the first general distribution of undivided lands was or- dered by vote of the town, March 5th, 1718. This was a division of two hundred acres to each proprietor. Each farm was to be laid out in regular form, to begin at the west end of the town and extend east to a common line, so placed as to allow two

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hundred acre plots of uniform size and shape. These were al- lotted to the proprietors by drawing. The following are the names of the forty-five persons who, having given bonds, drew lots in this division, and were thus admitted to be proprietors of Ash- ford : John Follet, Caleb Jackson, James Fuller, Joshua Ken- dall, Nathaniel Abbot, Joshua Beckman, Isaac Farrar, Nathaniel Gary, Thomas Corbin, Peter Aldrich, William Ward, Sr., Thomas Tiffany, William Ward, Jr., Joseph Ross, John Perry, Nathaniel Walker, John Mixer, Isaac Magoon, Nehemiah Watkins, Philip Squier, E. Orcutt, Nathaniel Fuller, Jacob Parker, William Price, Obadiah Abbe, Josiah Bugbee, Benjamin Miller, William Fisk, John Pitts, William Price, 2d, John Chapman, John Follet, 2d, Philip Eastman, Jacob Ward, Daniel Fuller, Widow Dimick, Jeremiah Allen, William Farnum, William Watkins, Thomas Tiffany, 2d, James Tiffany, Joseph Cook, Matthew Fuller, Isaac Kendall, Antony Goffe. A few of these proprietors were resi- dents of Windham and Pomfret, but the most of them were al- ready residents of Ashford. In this assumption and division of territory the town, though acting solely in its own name and au- thority, undoubtedly had received the sanction and advice of the committee which the general court had appointed for that purpose.

Messrs. Chandler and Cushing, in behalf of themselves and others, as claimants under the Fitch title, appealed to the gen- eral court May 8th, 1718, for a confirmation of their title. That body also, about a year later, heard the representation of the Ashford proprietors in defense of their action, they also asking for confirmation. The general court then appointed a committee, composed of James Wadsworth, John Hooker, Captain John Hall and Hezekiah Brainard to investigate the matter. They met for that purpose at Ashford, September 9th, 1719. The question of the rights of the adjoining towns of Windham and Mansfield, which were claimed to have been encroached upon by the survey of Ashford, was also involved in the investigation, but to the committee there appeared in that claim no cause of action. The investigation resulted in a settlement of the con- troversy as follows: As to the New Scituate claimants, Chandler, Cushing, Clapp and others, all persons holding as inhabitants on lands claimed by them, should within one year pay three pounds per hundred acres for what they held, except those persons who had purchased lands directly of them, previous to the assump-

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tion of the town inhabitants or proprietors; the Reverend James Hale was to have free the two hundred acres upon which he had built; sixty acres near the meeting house were to be sequestered for the support of the ministry forever; and ten acres where the meeting house then stood were to be set apart for a green or com- mon; all of which should be free of any claim on the part of the previous claimants, who in turn were to hold the remaining lands in their claim without taxation. As to the claim of James Cor- bin and others a considerable part of their land was already sold to and occupied by about twenty inhabitants, amounting to 10,- 770 acres; it was accordingly agreed that such sales should stand, and of the 6,000 acres still unappropriated in that tract 2,500 acres should be confirmed to Corbin and company, and the re- mainder was to be sequestered to the common use of the inhabi- tants. Of the New Scituate tract, which contained 9,600 acres, 5,726 acres had already been appropriated by the inhabitants, and after deducting the reserves for ministers, ministry and common, there remained 3,374 acres to be occupied or disposed of by the claimants.

The report of the committee was presented to the general court, October 20th, 1719, and by that body accepted and con- firmed. The Stoddard tract was undisturbed by these contro- versies. The assembly had already confirmed this land to Mr. Stoddard, and the town recognized his claim, while he in turn recognized the jurisdiction of the town by paying his taxes as other proprietors of lands did. In 1716 Mr. Anthony Stoddard conveyed this tract to his sons, Anthony, David and William. The first settler upon it was John Chapman, who took what was delicately termed "irregular possession," in 1714, but was num- bered among the regular inhabitants of the town. William Chapman, Benjamin Wilson and John Perry bought land in this tract in 1718. Captain John Chandler bought the strip lying west of the Natchaug and sold it out to settlers. The remainder of this land was long left vacant and unimproved, its owners paying their rates duly and manifesting an interest in the affairs of the town.

An unusual instance of disorder and the subverting of the ends of government appears in the annals of this town, about the years 1721 and 1722. By the act of 1714 an unusual liberty was allowed in the qualification of voters. This was on account of the few inhabitants then in the town. As long as everything

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was harmonious this liberality in suffrage qualifications gave rise to no difficulty, but at the time spoken of a faction of ignorant and irresponsible men arose with such power that one Arthur Humphrey, their leader, was elected a selectman, whereupon the other members of that body refused to act, and for a time the affairs of the town were at the mercy of this faction, which op- posed all schools, broke up one that had already been estab- lished, warned the schoolmaster out of town, prosecuted the re- fractory selectmen to their great cost and trouble, made a scan- dalously unjust and imperfect rate list, and by other outrageous acts kept the town in a ferment of agitation. The matter was at length appealed to the assembly, who confirmed the elections thus far had, but ordered that after that time the usual qualifi- cations required of voters in other towns should be required here.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 96

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York, Preston Number of Pages: 1506

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506