USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > New Canaan > Landmarks of New Canaan > Part 19
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Ephraim's son, James, wooed and wed Lydia, daughter of Samuel Smith around whose large holdings dating from 1698 the set- tlement on Smith Ridge had started to grow, and James Lockwood himself acquired consid- erably more than fifty acres adjoining his father-in-law's and Mr. Benedict's property. There are some eight or ten deeds of property that he acquired in the early 1700's; some are in exchange of property, some are recorded as grants from the Towne of Norwalk, and some by a Proprietor's Grant, which gave him con- siderable acreage, described variously as on "upper Canoe Hill," "east side of Smith Ridge" and adjoining "Smith and Bennedict Grants." In a warranty deed of August 1744, he left ten acres, house, barn and orchard to his son Job with the provision "only reserving my right to improve the one half of the barn that is the west part of said barn, and for a cow yard be- tween said barn and South Highway so long as I live to want it."
This son, Job, married in 1718 to Rachel, joined the Congregational Church Canaan Parish in 1744 and is probably the builder of the house on Canoe Hill. Job's elder brother, the Reverend James Lockwood had graduated from Yale College in 1735 and had been chosen tutor there two years later. He married the daughter of a minister in Norwalk, Mary Dick- inson, and they were called to the parish in Wethersfield. The Reverend James Lockwood was a very distinguished man, and in 1758, the Presidency of the college of New Jersey, va-
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An Interior in the Macrae Home as photographed by Geoffrey Baker
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cated by the death of Jonathon Edwards was offered him. He declined that honor and also the presidency of Yale College in 1766, giving as his reason his strong attachment to the people of his charge. However, he was well- known throughout the state and was called upon to give the sermon at the General Elec- tions of 1754 and 1763. In 1763 he also gave the official Thanksgiving sermon for the cele- bration of peace with France and Spain.
Job died of smallpox in the epidemic that apparently left its toll in 1768 and is buried in the Canoe Hill cemetery. His son, the second James, was born in New Canaan in 1746 and joined the Canaan Parish in 1768. The first of his three wives was Rachel and his family was listed in the Reverend William Drummond's "Journal of Family Visitations." In 1772 when Rev. William Drummond made his visit, he entered the following paragraph in his "Jour- nal":
"James Lockwood, Phoebe his wife; Job, James Daniel, Asa, children. Joseph Hait, Rachael Lock- wood, Rebecca Abbot, Phoebe Hendrick, resi- denters. Very intelligent and knowing."
Also in his diary, Mr. Drummond wrote May 2, 1772, "Went hunting; killed four foxes; dined with James Lockwood."
James settled by direct inheritance to his son David, known as "Bull's Eye," in 1782. David died in 1854, but his son Samuel Kel- logg Lockwood was ready to carry on the part the Lockwoods had always played in the com- munity. He was listed as a farmer but he served as the first Republican State Representative for this town and he was chosen by his neighbors as their selectman several times. He married Mary Hoyt and they had five children. Edwin Hoyt Lockwood carried on the family's close association with Yale College and when he graduated from the Sheffield School of Sci- ence, he won honorable mention for excellence in all studies. His distinguished career as an educator ended in 1930 when he died at New Haven. At that time he was the Robert Higgin Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a member of the governing board of Sheffield. He had been a recipient of many honors and
at his death was a Fellow of the American As- sociation for the Advancement of Science and a life member of the American Society of Me- chanical Engineers.
The house left the Lockwood family in 1916 when it was sold to Frederick Howard who re- modeled it and lived in it until he died. It was then purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Reus of Chicago who again did extensive remodeling and spent their summers on Canoe Hill.
In 1942 this famous old homestead came into the possession of Mr. Elliott Beach Mac- rae. Mr. Macrae who succeeded his father as president of the famous publishing house of E. P. Dutton and Company brought another line of distinguished ancestry to continue the Lockwood record.
There is among the "Lares and Penates" of the Macrae family a remarkable volume of genealogy, handwritten in meticulous victorian script. It is the work of a loving old aunt- Martha Edwards Beach who devoted her life to the task of perpetuating the lives of those who had contributed a share in what their de- scendants had become. To mention them cate- gorically only invites interest in their lives and attainments. But they are all set forth in the prized work of that "aunt."
Here are Edwards with their crest bearing the legend "Everything with God-Nothing without God"-what a slogan for the tribe that produced the Reverend Jonathan; Nichols, Mallett, Wells among whom was the governor of Connecticut of long tenure, Stiles with the famous Ezra president of Yale College; Plumb, Sherman with its sturdy Roger who was the "Cicero of Connecticut" and bravely signed the Declaration of Independence thus putting his neck into a possible noose; Curtis, Booth, Tom- linson; Hawley whence came another governor of Connecticut whose dignified old home still stands on the main street of Ridgefield; Chet- wood Bulkley with another governor; Hol- lister, a name identified with both law and let- ters among which are the two classic volumes of Connecticut History; Jennings, a name still famous in Fairfield. These are all New England families. But there are others equally interest- ing from the South.
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In 1747 Alan Macrae came from Scotland to Virginia where he became a founder of the seaport of Dumfries. His son, John, married Euphan Washington. By strange coincidence, John had a sister named Euphan who married Col. John Macrae Washington. Among these two Virginian families were many descendants who became famous historical figures. Dr. Bailey Washington, the navy surgeon on the "Chesapeake" held the dying Lawrence in his arms at that tragic moment when he said "Don't give up the ship, boys." Bailey Wash- ington was a first cousin of General George Washington. He married Ann Lee, a second cousin of General Robert E. Lee. Elliott Mac- rae's grandfather, John Hampden Macrae, was a roommate of General McClellan and a class- mate of General Ulysses S. Grant at West Point.
The Beach family ancestry stemming from Bridgeport where the name has been promi-
nent since colonial days, brings General Sher- man into the line. When Savannah, Georgia, fell, a maternal great grandfather of Elliott Macrae, Charles Green offered his home to Sherman for headquarters. It was accepted and is today a museum.
Space forbids extensive exploration into these inviting family names. It is impressive to note the remarkable continuity of substantial American families who have contributed to the story of this dignified old home. Perhaps no other spot in New Canaan has a prouder his- tory.
And so, the Lockwood homestead is today an established home, loved by its owners and their two daughters, Monica Beach and Gwynne Lee. It is, also, a charming house, partly due to the taste of its owners, and partly due no doubt to the integrity of the many gen- erations of Lockwoods who must have left their imprint.
THE COMMUNITY CHURCH
AMY LONG, Author
MRS. LOUISE HAWTHORNE, Artist
[January 22, 1948]
The New Canaan A. M. E. Church was or- ganized June 30, 1922, by the Rev. E. W. Thompson and seven members at the residence of the late Mrs. Lena Davis on Seminary Street. In May, 1933, the mission was received into the New England Conference of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church by Bishop Heard. In 1925 Mrs. Cora E. Scott and Mrs. Mary Cantor were appointed by Bishop Heard as Evange- lists in charge.
For eight years church services were held in Raymond Hall through the kindness of the Congregational Church, which had an interest in the Raymond estate. This helped the Evan-
gelists and the few members to raise funds for a future church of their own.
In 1923 a lot, 72x140, was purchased on Baldwin Avenue for $1,400. After the land was paid for, a sum of $2,500 was borrowed with Mrs. M. R. Breuchaud, George Yuengling, At- torney J. D. Higgins and John Brotherhood en- dorsing the note.
In March, 1931, ground was broken for the building by First Selectman George T. Smith and Selectman George R. Stevens and a short service was conducted by the Rev. I. A. McCoy of Stamford. April 13 of that year witnessed the laying of the cornerstone by the Rev. E. W.
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LHAWTHORNE
The Community Church
Coit of the New York Conference. On May 3 the church was completed and the first service was conducted by the Rev. S. P. Perry, presid- ing elder of the New England Conference.
The cost of the building was $4,500. A mem- bership of 41 and a group of white friends who gave freely of their time, interest and money helped to make all payments on the mort- gage. On November 24, 1940, the mortgage burning service was held in the town hall of New Canaan with Bishop David H. Sims and the Rev. John G. Drade, presiding.
In June, 1942, a parsonage costing $300 was erected adjoining the church for the use of Evangelists Cora E. Scott and Mary E. Cantor.
Following the death of Evangelist Mary E. Cantor, Cora E. Scott was ordained in New York City.
In May, 1943, the trustees and members of the church voted to incorporate as the Com- munity Church of New Canaan. John D. Hig- gins was retained as legal counsel and papers of incorporation were filed according to the laws of the state. The church has now grown to an active membership of 85 and has several services every Sunday: Church School for the children, a 6 p.m. meeting for the young pepole and an afternoon program with a guest speaker as well as its regular morning and evening services.
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THE HICKOK HOUSE
CONSTANCE T. YOUNG, Author
KENDRIC RUKER, Artist
[January 29, 1948]
The old Hickok place has remained in posses- sion of the family of the ancestor who first built it, in unbroken succession. His descendants still live there. This is a distinction unique in New Canaan history, as far as we know. In ad- dition, the house is, both historically and ar-
chitecturally, one of the town's most interest- ing landmarks.
The family originated in this country, in all probability, with William Hickock ( sometimes spelled Hickocks or Hickox), who was known as a man of property in New Haven as early
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as 1643. Samuel Hickock, his son, was among the Proprietors of Farmington in 1673, and later moved to Waterbury, where, as one of the first 30 settlers, he was a signer of the Articles of Association in 1674.
Samuel's son, Ebenezer, born in 1693, was the first to settle in New Canaan. Although his children were all born in Waterbury, Ebenezer and his second wife, Abigail Stevens, came to Canaan Parish later, and built a home on Val- ley Road, east of the present homestead, near the lower, or Grupe Reservoir. It is with Ebenezer's son John, born in 1734, that we are particularly concerned, for it is through him and his wife, Lydia Kellogg, that the present family is descended. John was the first Hickok to build on the present site.
Ebenezer's wife, Abigail, survived her hus- band by some years, and apparently came to live with her son, because the Reverend Drum- mond, in his Journal, notes that on December 10, 1772, he "visited John Hickox, Lidia his wife, Huldah, Lydda, Seth, Rachel, Benedict, children; Abigail his mother, knowing." We may gather that Abigail was an astute old lady!
It has been generally assumed that John Hickok built the house as it stands today. The fact is, however, that the original house was torn down and the present one erected by his son Seth-presumably because the first was too small. This is readily understandable when we recall that John and Lydia had 11 children- although only seven survived.
The first house was deeded to Seth by his father in 1806. A copy of the deed reads: "Know ye ... that I, John Hickok of New Ca- naan, ... for the consideration of the Love and goodwill which I have and bear toward my son Seth Hickok of said New Canaan do give grant and confirm the East half of the dwelling house where I now live ... and the land on which it stands with the privilege of using the water in the Well near the house." John also deeded to his son Jesse a "dwelling place" further south on Valley Road, the site of the present Stephen Valentine home.
One of the most interesting documents con- cerning the family, is John Hickok's will, dated January 1800. It is written in a clear, rounded
hand, extremely legible. This was written be- fore the deed to his son Seth, but mentioned specific acreage leaving the entire homestead and most of his land to Seth-one-third of the remainder of his estate to his wife, Lydia, one- third to Seth, and one-third to Jesse. His daugh- ters had been taken care of previously, but were to be further helped by their brothers. John Hickock died in 1819. His wife, Lydia, survived him by 18 years, dying at the age of 89.
The exact date of the building of the "new house" is not known. There is some reason to believe, however, that it was built in 1818, as the family has a memorandum of a transaction dated December of that year: "To cutting and carrying two loads of wood to Norwalk, $2.00- to fetching shingles and things from Norwalk, .50." It is logical to presume that these shingles were for the new house. In any case, the house was certainly completed before 1821, as it is known that Martha Elizabeth Hickock, one of Seth's daughters, was born in the present house in April of that year.
Of the original house, only the great chim- ney and a small "wash-house", about ten feet behind it, were retained. Later that chimney was also removed, and the "wash-house" was torn down about 50 years ago.
Seth Hickock's house was unusually spacious for the times. There are five bed rooms on the second floor, each large enough to accommo- date a double bed; two bed rooms downstairs, as well as a parlor, sitting room, kitchen and pantries. There are oaken floors throughout the house, and large wooden pegs support the beams. Of the three large fireplaces, two still have the original iron cranes. One had a large brick oven beside it.
The hearth stones are particularly interest- ing. The one in the "sitting room" is a single huge slab of reddish granite, at least eight feet long and two feet wide, and one in the kitchen is nearly as large. Several oxen must have been employed to transport them! (One of the fire- places in the old house, however, is said to have been "big enough to take a pony!") It would be interesting to know who was the architect of the present house, with its authentically
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beautiful lines, but built on so much larger a scale than its neighbors.
John Hickock was a weaver, as well as a farmer, and near the old wash house he had a small shop where he did his weaving. There was also a small black-smith shop adjacent to it. The family recalls that a spark once came dangerously near the house, and the shop was then moved to a corner of the field, across the road from the house. Although the wash house was torn down, a water-color (made by a boarder who spent the summer there), about 50 years ago, shows the wash house still stand- ing, behind the house, and the blacksmith shop across the road.
The old well, mentioned in John's deed to his son Seth, is still there, and still used-the water, however, now being pumped into the house. The water was known for its purity, as well as for being "the coldest in New Canaan."
During Seth Hickock's time the farm con- sisted of about 95 acres, extending from the family graveyard, about a quarter of a mile south of the house, north to the little bridge by the reservoir, and some distance east to Huckleberry Hills. It also extended up the hill to Laurel Road and the Poor Farm. The farm was divided into lots, all named for conven- ience-"The Home Orchard Lot," the "North Middle Lot," the "South Middle Lot," and the "Poor House Lot."
The little Hickok Burying Ground, shaded by evergreens, still stands by the side of the road. It contains 17 graves, mostly Hickoks. Seth's stone bears the inscription: "Dea. Seth Hickok-died April 23, 1860, aged 86 years 7 mos and 1 day." The oldest grave (1809) is that of Ephraim Warren, the first husband of Huldah Hickok, one of Seth's sisters.
Seth Hickok was a man of importance in the community. Besides operating his large farm, he was apparently a tanner, as a license issued to him for operating a tannery is among the family papers. But his principal activities seem to have been of a civic nature. He was a dea- con of the church, a school committeeman, and, particularly, assisted his neighbors in their many and various legal affairs. Among his papers, for instance, is the will of Isaac
Richards, a well known citizen; a map of Josef Everit's property-dated 1805, (the Everit, or Everett, family had long been a well known name in the community ): and a record stating "received of Seth Hickok my lawful guardian of the property set to me by my father's estate with the interest arising thereon to my full and entire satisfaction. Hanna Everit." Another, similarly worded, was signed by Betty St. John. These are examples picked at random from a sheaf of papers still in possession of the family. We can be well assured that Seth had a hand in all community affairs!
Among the family records are also four military commissions granted to Seth Hickok. The first, dated 1807, made him a "Sergiant" in the Second Grenadier Company of the 34th Militia, State of Connecticut. The last one, re- confirming his appointment as Ensign, in the same organization, was signed by Samuel Au- gustus Foote, "Captain General and Comman- der in Chief over the State of Connecticut, 1834."
Seth had first married Keziah Hoyt, in 1795. After her death, he married Elizabeth Bene- dict. A picture, made from an enlarged daguer- rotype, shows Seth as a slender, well-dressed gentleman with an intelligent and charming smile; Elizabeth, more sombre, but with char- acter and serenity. Her step-children were de- voted to her, and always knew her as their mother.
When Seth died, he left all his property to his son, Seth Junior. Seth Junior married Anna Maria Hall. They had only one child, Huldah Maria.
Anna Maria Hall Hickok must have been a young woman of character. She came from Warren, Conn., "by coach" to teach in the Rock School (Second District), an adventurous pro- ceeding in those days. She first boarded near the school, later married Seth and settled down in Valley Road.
With the death of Seth Hickok, Junior, who was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, the name Hickok disappears from the Valley. However, descendants of the original settler still live there, and at least a brief review of the more recent history of the family should be included.
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The house which John Hickok had deeded to his son, Jesse ( the present Valentine house ), had passed out of the family. It was bought sometime later by James Osborn, who came here from Washington, D. C. He was a stone dresser, and is responsible for some specimens of fine workmanship still to be seen in New Canaan and Norwalk. James Osborn had twin sons. One, Zachary Taylor Osborn (a Republi- can), married Huldah Hickok, the only daugh- ter of Seth and Anna Maria Hall. The other, Millard Fillmore Osborn (a Democrat), mar- ried Elizabeth Lockwood.
Zachary Taylor Osborn was the father of Huldah, Anna Frances and James Seth Osborn. Huldah is now Mrs. Howard Hoyt and lives next door to the old house. Her sister married Dr. Emilio Dolores Costales, a member of a prominent Cuban family. Their son, Clarence, our First Selectman, also lives on land once owned by his ancestor, John Hickok, although not in the Valley. He was born in the old house, however.
Mrs. Hoyt and Mrs. Costales have a valuable collection of family records, such as John Hick- ok's will, various deeds, letters and maps. Mrs. Hoyt also has an old chair given to John and Lydia (Kellogg) Hickok at the time of their
marriage. A small card attached to it states "Given by Eliasaph Kellogg to his daughter Lydia as a wedding present 1757." In addition to actual records and heirlooms, the reminis- cences of Mrs. Hoyt and Mrs. Costales are a delightful contribution to New Canaan lore. They used to trudge the long way from the house on Valley Road to the school at the cor- ner of Canoe Hill and Laurel Road, in all sorts of weather, staying all night with relatives, usu- ally the Lockwoods, if the weather became too severe. Random recollections about life on the farm make it seem very real. They recall, for instance, that one of their jobs at home was "bringing in the syrup." Five large maples stood in front of the house and there were oth- ers across the road.
The old place has been the scene of many sorts of activity besides farming-weaving, tan- ning and stone-dressing, and certainly, being New Canaan, there must have been some shoe- making! We are grateful to the present mem- bers of the family for helping recreate a picture of the life of their ancestors. It is particularly pleasant to know that in an era of constant changes, one family still lives in the original house and on the acres tilled by its forefathers so long ago.
NEW CANAAN ENGINE COMPANY No. I
RUTH STEVENS LYDEN, Author
CARROLL J. HOLLIDAY, Artist
[February 5, 1948]
When the fire whistle blows and the man who's been waiting on you runs out of his shop, the teller darts out of his bank, and there is a gen- eral rush of men up the street, they aren't just curiosity seekers, more than likely they are members of the volunteer fire department on their way to save your property and mine.
This is something you don't find in big cities, or in many small ones either. According to James R. Thomas, Commissioner of Public Safety here. "New Canaan has one of the best organized and most efficient volunteer fire de- partments in the country."
And by volunteer he means just that. There
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are three salaried men in all of the sixty active members. They are the engine drivers who sleep in, with two on duty every day and one at night. Members pay to belong. Their dues of two dollars and a half a year, various other fines and assessments, help to pay for the new television set and other recreation equipment used in the club rooms of that handsome fire- house of theirs.
Organized as it is as a private company, its running expenses cost the town some $15,000 a year. If the town had to pay the full bill for as complete a fire-fighting service as this, the cost to the public would be, according to Mr. Thomas, about $75,000. The present building and much of the apparatus was given by the town but the furnishings and club equipment are paid for out of the company's private funds.
Situated on the corner of Locust Avenue and Main Street opposite the Town Hall, the red brick structure with white trim was built and ready for occupancy on May 1st, 1938, ten years ago this spring. The third of New Canaan fire houses, it incorporates so many improve- ments that firemen from other towns come to study it as a model before building theirs.
What we're most interested in at the mo- ment, however, is the spirit which has contin- ued through the years and made this a superior fire-fighting unit. Their willingness to face danger any time the alarm sounds has never wavered since the company was organized in 1881.
And New Canaan has known some big fires. Old-timers love to hark back to the fire of '99 (1899) when the Raymond Block, involving four buildings housing several shops, burned to the ground and the entire business center of town was threatened. Today Raymond's block would be the section on Main Street running from Dickerman's store to DeWitt's.
The stage was set for tragedy that cold night in February. Snow had been falling steadily for forty-eight hours and by nightfall had turned to a driving sleet. It was February 15th and the townsfolk had been indoors spending Monday as a business holiday following Lin- coln's Birthday. No one had passed that way, looking at the shops, but the night watchman,
John A. Weed. "At seven-fifteen," according to the account in the old Messenger newspaper, "he looked in the window of Silliman & Co., grocers, saw that the fire was all right, lamps were in good order and then passed on with the impression that all was well. Not fifteen minutes later, Burgess Daniel O'Neil came out of Fitzpatrick's news store and passed in front of Silliman's. He smelled smoke. "About the same time John E. Hersam, foreman of this of- fice," continues the Messenger, "came out of Dickerman's and discovered smoke circling from between Raymond's block and the Dick- erman building. .. . While O'Neil shouted the cry of fire to alarm the people living on the street, Hersam hurried to the engine house (now the Breslow store) and rang the fire alarm bell."
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