USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > New Haven, a book recording the varied activities of the author in his efforts over many years to promote the welfare of the city of his adoption since 1883, together with some researches into its storied past and many illustrations > Part 56
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PROPOSED INSCRIPTION FOR A CENOTAPH TO JOHN BROCKETT (1612-1690) WHO HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING AMERICA'S FIRST CITY PLANNER
"In memory of John Brockett, surveyor and physician ; a Sur- geon of Connecticut troops in King Philip's War; a Signer of the Fundamental Agreement, and an Original Proprietor of New Haven, which he surveyed and laid out in 1638-the first town planner and the first town plan in America. He also provided a plan for Elizabeth, New Jersey, and he laid out Wallingford, which he served as Deputy to the General Court and as Commis- sioner of the town, where he died 1689-90."
The above is the inscription I proposed for a Cenotaph to John Brockett. New Haven has never been interested in erecting a monument to the planner of the city. The author hopes that some day his service to the city may be recognized.
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MACHADO'S PROPOSED MUNICIPAL GROUP
(See Section III, page 53)
Proposed Municipal Group designed by Ernest M. A. Machado (1868-1906) for the visualization of the writer's proposed devel- opment of New Haven Green as a Civic Center. The buildings suggested are (left to right) "a Public Library, a County Court House (on the axis of the 'lower Green') and a Hall of Records." The buildings were to be executed in brick and marble, as best suited to their style and to the unpretentious New Haven tradition. The author regrets that some design like the above could not have been executed.
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PROPOSED DESIGN FOR THE COURT HOUSE
Proposed design by the late Cass Gilbert (1859-1934) for the New Haven County Court House, designed to be executed in brick and marble. This was to be placed on the axis of the lower Green, on the north side of Elm Street. This design suggests Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
NEW HAVEN COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Marble New Haven County Court House, on the northwest corner of Elm and Church Streets, said to be modeled after St. George's Hall, Liverpool. Allen and Williams, architects. The author considered this design far less desirable than Mr. Machado's.
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1
in the Museum wet Vale College
WWW. JOHN DEVENPORT (37 The fat Minister of New Haven
THE REVEREND JOHN DAVENPORT
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THE REVEREND JOHN DAVENPORT (1597-1670)
(See Section XLV, pp. 393-397.)
The Reverend John Davenport, born in Coventry, England, in 1597 ; died in Boston, Massachusetts, March 15, 1670. His father had been Mayor of Coventry. He was educated at Oxford. He sailed on the "Hector," reaching Boston on June 26, 1637. In March, 1638, he sailed from Boston to Quinnipiac, and with Theophilus Eaton became a founder of New Haven. He was Minister of the First Church from 1638 until 1668, when he removed to Boston.
In Cotton Mather's account of Davenport in the "Magnalia," it is suggested that Davenport used the "Golden Snuffers of the Candlestick over much." The annals of New Haven from 1638 to the present time are heavy with the name of Mr. Davenport. Perhaps no one man connected with the history of New Haven has been so much written about. From the original portrait in the collection of Yale University, painter unknown.
Barber's "Historical Connecticut Collections" contains on page 404 a cut of the inscription on the tombstone of his grandson. the Reverend John Davenport, Minister of the church in Stamford. The inscription has been thought to show the attitude of the Davenports to "the others." Be that as it may, it shows the atti- tude of some of those old ministers toward their flocks.
Davenport's house was on the south side of Elm Street, about where the Presbyterian Church now stands. It is said to have had thirteen fireplaces.
The famous lawyer, Pierpont Edwards, lived in a house built over the foundations of the Davenport House, and here Mr. and Mrs. Edwards entertained Anstis Updike (afterwards Madam Lee) and her brother, the Honorable Daniel Updike (1761-1842) . who visited New Haven on their way home to Wickford from Hartford in May, 1791, where they went to participate in the festivities attendant upon the inauguration of Governor Samuel Huntington. Madam Lee, in her gossipy narrative of this journey, described the Edwards House and garden and the Sunday dinner to which they had been asked by the Edwards. She said, "We had calveshead for dinner, a pudding &c." (See pages 224-225 of the author's "Hale & Wyllys.") The above cut is taken from "The Complete History of Connecticut," by Benjamin Trumbull. D.D .. Vol. I, 1797.
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THE REVEREND JAMES PIERPONT
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THE REVEREND JAMES PIERPONT
(See footnote on page 155)
The Rev. James Pierpont (1659-1714, Harv. College 1681). minister of the First Church of Christ in New Haven, from 1686 until his death 1714. One of the founders of Yale College. From a portrait dated 17II, and now owned by his descendant, Allan Evarts Foster, Esq., of New York. The artist is unknown.
Mr. Pierpont, "One of the three ministers that concerted the plan of founding a college, which took effect in the establishment of Yale in 1701," an original trustee of Yale : he is reputed to have drafted the Saybrook Platform of 1708. "Among the clergymen whose names belong to the early history of New England, he was the most distinguished for nobility of character, the purity of his aspirations, and the spirituality of his temper." On his settlement over the First Church, a house was built for him ( 1686)-a house with a two-story projecting porch, the upper room of which he used for his study. This house, "one of the most commodious and stately in the town," according to Dr. Bacon, stood where the Public Library stands today. It was torn down in 1800 and replaced by the Bristol Mansion (designed and built for Judge Bristol by David Hoadley), whereof the exquisite portico, a masterpiece of design, is now one of the treasures of the Metro- politan Museum. The tradition is that when the old house of 1686 was torn down, some of its roof-timbers were incorporated in the Blake House (now the Graduate Club) then abuilding, and to be seen by anyone curious enough to go "up garret" in the club house. Those ancient timbers, peradventure. "listened in" during those secret confabs Pierpont had with Dixwell, the Regicide, who, it would appear, lived in a comfortable house that stood somewhere near the site of Byers Hall. A secluded path between the two houses served Colonel Dixwell for these meetings. He had mar- ried, first, the Widow Joanna Ling, and, second. Bathsheba How. Pierpont married three ranking colonial dames. For all the "other- worldliness" claimed for him, he did himself well in his matri- monial alliances. He left behind him not only the odor of sanctity, but a fine refectory table, a surpassing piece of Yale memorabilia, since its very owner was one of the original trustees of the college.
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The Faculty Club was built by John Pierpont, grandson of James, and is one of the few remaining eighteenth-century houses in New Haven.
a
The above cut of the Reverend Timothy Edwards House in Windsor is probably like the house built in 1686 for Mr. Pierpont. I feel sure that the inventory of the Pierpont house taken about 1714 may be found in the New Haven Probate Records.
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MARY HOOKER, WIFE OF THE REV. JAMES PIERPONT
It must be admitted that in her portrait, Mary Hooker, the Rev. James Pierpont's third wife, looks très mondaine for a granddaughter of the Rev. Thomas Hooker, founder of the Con- necticut Colony. Her father, the Rev. Samuel Hooker (Harvard College 1661), was minister of the church in Farmington. Who painted her portrait and that of her reverend consort is not cer- tainly known. For generations, the two canvases hung in the house known today as the "Faculty Club," built 1765, where they watched the pageant of such high pontifical life as New Haven knew. Her daughter Sarah was the wife of the theologian, Jona- than Edwards, clarum et venerabile nomen, and mother of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, Jr., minister of New Haven's North Church.
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CollombMathers S Theologin Doctor Regia Societatis Lundimany) . frau. et Exdefine quand Gestern Vor Angleren super Brapetites. Atatis Sure LXV. MDCCXXVII . 1
COTTON MATHER (1663-1728)
Author of the "Magnalia Christi Americana," and of a great number of other works. From a mezzotint by Peter Pelham, after the portrait by Smybert.
This portrait may seem out of place in a book on New Haven, but, after all, we owe to Mather the full accounts we have of Eaton and Davenport. Mather may also be ranked as one of the foremost benefactors of Yale· because he is said to have induced Jeremiah Dummer to incline Elihu Yale to favor the infant College at New Haven in preference to the College at Cambridge.
Mather, nothing if not a Calvinist, observing a trend at Cam- bridge toward antinomianism, favored the College at New Haven, where the leaders were more conservative. Thus it happened that Yale was spared the "Boston religion," which ultimately so flour- ished at Cambridge.
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REVEREND GOVERNOR GURDON SALTONSTALL [Courtesy of Yale University]
The Reverend Governor Gurdon Saltonstall ( 1666-1724, Harvard College 1684), a grandson of Sir Richard Saltonstall, the Colonist (1586-1658?) ; active in civil and ecclesiastical affairs of the Colony throughout his life ; he favored the location of Yale College at New Haven instead of elsewhere. During the early years of the College he took an active part in the direction of its affairs. From the original portrait, artist unknown, in the possession of Yale College.
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To the Hon" Jonathan San Sig" New up this frelped of YALE by his Henone's mafi humble
COLLEGE & hunde al heated _ r
AN OLD ENGRAVING OF YALE COLLEGE
This engraving of "Mother Yale" undoubtedly misrepresents it on the side of flattery. It may be doubted if J. Greenwood, who drew the picture, engraved on copper by Johnston, ever saw the building. As shown the building is much too wide for its known length, and if it ever had a clock, the College records are silent about it. The curious, flaring-lipped bell, too, presented to Yale by Madam Clap, is not shown in the cupola. Governor Saltonstall was responsible for the design of the building.
660
MR. GEORGE WELLES WITH "MOTHER YALE"
Mr. George Welles (1756-1813, Yale College 1779). By St. John Honeywood (1763-1798, Yale College 1782).
This cut is inserted to show not so much a Yale man in military dress, as the last end of "Mother Yale," the "stump" of which is seen at the extreme left under the towering mass of Connecticut Hall. The original of this picture was shown to me one day, many years ago, at Dublin, New Hampshire, by the late Raphael Pumpelly. What disposition he made of it I do not know.
661
By the Honourable . GURDON SALTONSTALL, ESq; Governour of His Majefty's Colony of Connecticut, A BRIEF.
W HERE AS Upon a Representation made to the General Affembly Holden at Hartford, the Eleventh. Day of May laft : It appeared, That the want of a Honfe for the Rector of YALE COLLEGE at New Haven, was a great Difadvantage to the good Order and Education of the Students there,
'AND, Among the Several Ways which were Propofed to Supply that Defelt, and raife Sum of Money for that 'End,
IT was thought most Suitable to Endeavour it, in Such a Method as might give, to all 'among us, who wifh well to the Promoting of LEARNING and PIETY, defign'd in the Founding of that SOCIETY, the mofi agreeable Opportunity of expreffing their Regard thereto, ex this Occasion.
AND Whereas Thereupon
The Allembly
Taking Encouragement, from the Generous Dona" tions already made to the great Comfort and Support of that Society, by Perfons of Diftinction in both Englands.
AND Moreover Confidering, That a fuitable Fortion, out of what Divine' Providence. fas bleffed us with, being Voluntarily Dedicated to Pious Ufes,is the mont lea id acceptable .. Way of expreffing our hearty Gratitude, to Almighty GOD, the Fountain of all the Blet. fing's we Enjoy ; To whofe Goodnefs it that we owe, both cur Ability to Contribute for de Encouragement of that Society ; and all the growing Hopes we have, to fee it prove a great Bleffing.
Retolbed & Enaited, That there be a Brief for a Publick Contribution, to be made throughout this Colony, for the aforefaid End,
I Have therefore in Purfuance of the faid Refolution and Order, ( by and with the Advice and Confent of the Council ) Appointed the Twenty-third Day of fuly next, being the LORD'S DAY, after the concluding of Divine Worthip in the Afternoon, to be the Time for attending to the faid Contribution : And the Deacons of the Refpective Congre- gations, or in their Abfence, fuch Other Perfon as the Minifter of the faid Congregation fhall Appoint, are hereby directed to receive what fhall be Contributed; and to give Notice as foon as may be, of the Sunis which Chall be fo Collected, to Me in Council, that further Orders may be given, for the Application of them, in the moft Effectual manner to the aforefaid Ufe:
A ND, To the Intent that all Perfons who may be inclined to Contribute to the faid Ufc, may be acquainted with the aforefaid Refolve of this Afembly, and the Time hereby appointed for attending to it.
IT is hereby Recommended to the Miniffers of the feveral Towns and Parifhes, to Publifh this Order in their refpective Congregations, on the Sabbath Day, before that herein appointed for the propofed Contribution:
AND the Conftables of the feveral Towns, are hereby Required, to fix this Order, in fome Publick Place within their refpective Precincts, at leaft Fourteen Days before the aforefaid Twenty third Day of fuly next.
Given in New-London the 13th, Day of June, Anno Dom. 1721. In the Seventh Year of His Majesty's Reign,
G. SALTONSI ALL.
NEW-LONDON : Printed by T. Green, Printer to the GOVERNOUR and COMPANY, 1721.
A UNIQUE DOCUMENT
662
A UNIQUE DOCUMENT- GOVERNOR SALTONSTALL'S "DRIVE" OF 1721 TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A RECTOR'S HOUSE- A SOUVENIR OF YALE'S FIRST "DRIVE" FOR FUNDS
(See Section XLI, pages 375-377)
The only known copy of this broadside of 1721. It was found, I am told, in Vermont, and is now in the collection of Yale Memo- rabilia in the University Library. With what interest the late Professor Dexter, devoted as he was to every item of Yale's Memorabilia, would have viewed this item, which was not secured until after his death.
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THE SALTONSTALL HOUSE, BRANFORD
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THE SALTONSTALL HOUSE, BRANFORD Built, 1708; Burned, 1909
This once famous house, built by Governor Saltonstall in 1708 near Lake Saltonstall, formerly called "Furnace Pond," was a house of two chimneys, one on either side of a wide central hall- way. It is said to have had a "massive oaken stairway," much wainscoting, and a "room of state" hung with embossed Cordovan leather, "representing a stag hunt in a forest, with a large and imposing retinue of huntsmen," covering four sides of the room. and imported from England.
It is "passing strange," however, that no contemporary writer or diarist makes any reference to all this splendor. Isham does not even refer to the house in his "Early Connecticut Houses" (1900), much less describe it. I suspect myself that the house has been greatly glorified to provide a suitable background for the glorious figure of Governor Gurdon Saltonstall, although even he seems to have lived in it but a very short time.
Governor Saltonstall was a man of means, and he was interested in architecture ; his wife was a lady of quality and an heiress ; and I have no doubt that the house was the finest hereabout ; but the stories about it and its fabled hangings of Cordovan leather seem to have been founded upon the report of a visitor, who accepted hearsay stories and who was no student of old work. The hang- ings seem actually to have been, not leather at all. but painted canvas.
After long neglect and degradation, the house was burned to the ground in November, 1909, unfortunately without having been measured or studied by any trained student of our early domestic architecture, such as Mr. Isham or Mr. Kelly.
The "Battle of Furnace Pond," in which the Governor was defeated, was fought near the house, as stated in Dodd's "East Haven Register." (See also the author's "Henry Caner" in "Old- Time New England," January, 1925.)
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THE BRANFORD DOORS AS CLOSED
THE BRANFORD DOORS AS OPEN
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A NEW ENGLAND GENTLEWOMAN CALLS ON THE WRITER-HOW THE DOORS OF THE REVEREND MR. RUSSELL'S HOUSE IN BRANFORD IN WHICH THE FOUNDERS OF YALE ASSEMBLED (1701-2) CAME INTO THE POSSESSION OF THE UNIVERSITY
(See Section XLII, pages 378-383)
These historic doors, which gave passage to the founders of Yale at the famous meeting in Parson Russell's house in Branford in 1701 or 1702, are now hung as entrance doors to the "1742 Room" in the Sterling Memorial Library. Presented to Yale in 1901, in behalf of Mrs. Mary Russell Mann, a descendant of Par- son Russell, by the author, to whom she gave them because of his interest in the history of old times in New England. A small lady in black, worthy of a portrait by a master, she was herself a charming souvenir of old times in New England and was much disturbed for fear something might happen to the doors, which had been cherished for so many years.
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RECTOR'S HOUSE, A.D. 1722.
HOUSE OF THE "RECTOR" OF YALE COLLEGE, 1722
The Rector's house, built 1722, occupied as the official home of Rector Williams, President Clap, President Daggett, and President Stiles. stood on the east side of College Street, on the site now occupied by the Roger Sherman Theater. It was designed, at least in general plan, by Governor Saltonstall, who too had a part in designing the "Collegiate house" of 1718. He was credited with an "architectonick" taste and was, as may be imagined, the "Super- vising Architect" of the infant school. The house, as was proper. was larger and more dignified than the average better-class house of the time. It measured 441/2 x 38, whereas the average superior house measured 40 x 30. It had a central hallway, two chimneys, and two dormer windows, as shown in the cut. and a square "look- out," which may have been added after the house was first built. The house was, beyond doubt. New Haven's chief social center for nearly a century. Madam Clap, as the wife of President Clap was invariably styled, was of exalted birth and social tone,-a personage, if, indeed, not a social institution. Here President Stiles might be seen issuing from the front door, "dressed in a full black gown, cocked hat and full bottomed wig." Here a caller found him in his study, "robed in his rich dressing gown and full bottomed wig." Here too the Stiles girls entertained the ill-fated Elizabeth Whitman, whose story furnished one of the greatest of all Connecticut scandals in high life. With whom she shared her guilt, a lawyer or soldier, is unknown-or at least not told. And here in this house Manasseh Cutler met the unbelievably gifted Miss Channing, of Newport (see "Life of Manasseh Cutler"). The house was demolished in 1834.
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ELIHU YALE (1649-1721) (Courtesy of Yale University)
The Snuff-Box of St. Eli: A Little-Known Portrait of Yale's Great Early Benefactor and Patron Saint- An Antiquarian Adventure
For the history and detailed description of this rare portrait of Yale's Patron Saint, see Section LXIII of this book, pp. 485-488.
669
Here iveth thee
Henry Cannen Who dyedfep
HEADSTONE OF YALE'S MASTER-BUILDER, HENRY CANER, REMOVED FROM THE GREEN AND NOW IN THE HILLHOUSE LOT IN THE GROVE STREET CEMETERY
(See Section XL, pages 366-374)
A full account by the author of Yale's First Builder, Henry Caner (1680-1731), was published in "Old-Time New England," Vol. XV, No. 3, January 1925.
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The Bermond Ros, Can. . ...
THE REVEREND HENRY CANER (1699-1792, YALE 1724), SON OF HENRY CANER, YALE'S FIRST MASTER-BUILDER
From the beautiful mezzotint by Peter Pelham of the portrait by John Smybert.
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THE TIMOTHY JONES MANSION (See Section LV, pages 447-458)
This house was built in 1765 or 1767 by Timothy Jones (1696- 1781). "a respected and wealthy merchant." grandson of Deputy Governor William Jones, who married in London. 1659, Hannah Eaton (President Stiles called her an "heiress"), daughter of Governor Theophilus Eaton. This ample brick house was one of the finest houses in the town. It had a notably fine staircase, with a mahogany handrail, a carved newel post, turned spindles and pendant flambaux. The house was at one time owned and lived in by James Brewster, the founder of the carriage industry, which made New Haven so well known both here and in England. Mr. Brewster was also one of the most public-spirited citizens who ever lived in New Haven. His grandson, our beloved Bishop Brewster, was often in this house during his college years ( 1860- 1864). Later on the house was occupied by Burton Mansfield, D C.L., for a long time Chancellor of the Diocese and throughout his life one of the leading citizens of New Haven. Mr. Mansfield had his celebrated collection of paintings hung throughout the house, a collection which he hoped might sometime form the nucleus of a New Haven Gallery of Fine Arts. In this house Mr. Mansfield gave a celebrated reception to former President Taft. The house was once occupied by the late Dr. C. Purdy Lindsley.
The house is still standing, but in a greatly altered form, the front being disfigured by stores, and it is destined soon to dis- appear. What a pity that this fine, pre-revolutionary house could not have been preserved !
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STAIRCASE IN THE TIMOTHY JONES MANSION
This fine staircase was a masterpiece of the stair builders' art with its mahogany handrail, carved newel post, turned spindles and pendant flambaux. The author secured one of the spindles and deposited it in the New Haven Colony Historical Society as a trifling souvenir of a house which was, perhaps, one of the finest ever built in New Haven and a house of supreme historical association. From a photograph by Peter Joseph Meyer, to whom the author is much indebted.
JAMES HILLHOUSE (1754-1832, YALE COLLEGE 1773) PAINTED IN 1816 BY JOHN VANDERLYN (1775-1852)
Prime-Mover in the Planting of the New Haven Elms
[Courtesy of Mrs. James Hillhouse] (See Section XI, pages 195-201)
The painting hangs in the manor house at "Sachem's Wood." (built about 1830) where Mr. Hillhouse died.
674
Born and bred a gentleman, Hillhouse was destined to do more for New Haven than any one of his generation. His life and public services are well set forth in Dr. Leonard Bacon's tribute, published in 1860, as well as in Professor Dexter's "Yale Biogra- phies and Annals." A friend. correspondent and "Linonia Brother" of Hale, a single letter to Hale is all of their correspondence that remains. No letter known to the writer gives such a graphic picture of Yale at the outbreak of the "Revolutionary War" as this single letter to Hale. The writer importuned the late James Hill- house, the grand-nephew and inheritor of the mansion that crowns the height of "Sachem's Wood." where the patriot died, to search in the garret among the old "Sachem's" papers in the hope of finding some letters to him from Hale, but the search was unavail- ing. It is too bad that Hale's correspondents were not as zealous to keep his letters to them as he was to keep theirs to him, but we may be thankful that we have as much as we have.
From the "Linonia Minutes" we learn that Hillhouse was a contributor to the Linonia Library, which is still in use by the Yale students, and that he was cast for a part in Farquhar's "Beaux Stratagems." Hillhouse's letter to Hale opens a long essay which the writer has selected for inclusion in this book and to which he has the temerity to ask particular attention. The annals of New Haven record the career of no citizen who accomplished more for the welfare and beauty of the city than Hillhouse, who always aimed at the public good. Dead over a century, no suitable memo- rial to him has been erected. either by the city or by Yale.
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1
THE ONCE FAMOUS COLONNADE OF TEMPLE STREET
( See Section V)
The famous colonnade of Temple Street after being wrecked by the elm-leaf beetle. A photograph taken by the late M. W. Filley, who made a large number of negatives of vanishing houses and trees for the writer during those (for him) strenuous early days of the new century. To the left, the Center and United Churches; to the right, the unlamented bandstand, which just escaped giving way to a comfort station, finally driven to cover under the Old County Courthouse at a memorable aldermanic hear- ing in which prominent "New Women" took part.
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Hard-4' s
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HILLHOUSE AVENUE (See Section XI, pages 195-201)
Hillhouse Avenue, laid out through his own land by James Hillhouse, the Patriot, who planted the elms which in their prime led local pride to claim the Avenue as "one of the finest streets in the world." On a height at the far end is the manor house (by A. J. Davis, architect), once standing in majesty in the noble domain of "Sachem's Wood." What a superb city park the entire acreage would have made! On either side of the Avenue are dignified mansions, some in the so-called "Tuscan villa" style. In the "lost years," in the great days of the New Haven elms, to "live on the Avenue" was the ambition of the socially aspiring-the last word in "gentility" !
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