USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour and vicinity. Historical collections > Part 10
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With respect to vice it may be remarked, that every person, who is dis- covered to be openly immoral, is discharged.
At the commencement of the institution, discreet parents were reluctant to place their children in it, from unfavourable apprehensions concerning the tendency of such establishments. Since that time they have been offered in more than sufficient numbers.
In 1813, the Legislature, at the instance of Gen. Humphreys, passed a law, constituting the select-men and magistracy of the several towns in which manufactories had been or should be established, visitors of these institutions. This law required the proprietors to controul in a manner specified, the mor- als of all their workmen, and to educate the children, as other children in plain families throughout the State are educated. The visitors were directed to enquire annually, into the manner in which the proprietors conformed to this law. The reports of the visitors in Derby, concerning the establishment at Humphreysville, have been in a high degree honourable both to the pro- prietor and his people.
The manufactures at Humphreysville are esteemed excellent. The best broadeloth made here, is considered as inferior to none which is imported.
Americans make all the machinery ; and have invented several kinds of machines, which are considered as superiour to such as, have been devised in Europe for the same purposes.
Most of the weaving has been done in private families.
The scenery at this spot is delightfully romantic. The Fall is a fine object. The river, the buildings belonging to the institution, the valley, the border- ing hills, farms, and houses, groves, and forests, united, form a landscape, in a high degree interesting.
The people of this country are, at least in my opinion, indebted not a little to Gen. Humphreys, both for erecting this manufacturing establishneut,
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and for introducing into the United States the invaluable breed of Spanish sheep, known by the name of Merinos. One hundred of these animals he procured to be brought by the connivance of the Spanish Court, from the interiour of Spain to Lisbon ; and thence transported to Derby under his own eye. A few of them died in consequence of the voyage. The rest speedily regained their strength and fresh, and from that time the breed, instead of declining, has sensibly improved. For some years strong prejudices existed in the minds of the farmers throughout our country against this breed of sheep. Gen. Humphreys has done more than any other man, perhaps than all others, to remove this prejudice, and to spread them through the country.
In this mannfactory he has, I think, fairly established three points of great importance. One is, that these manufactures can be carried on with success ; another, that the workmen can be preserved in good health, as that, enjoyed by any other class of men in the country; and the third, that the deterioration of morals in such institutions, which is often complained of, is not necessary, but incidental, not inherent in the institution itself, but the fault of the proprietor.
Derby, then including Oxford, contained in 1756, 1,000 inhabitants; in 1774, 1,889; in 1790, 2,994. Derby alone contained in 1800, 1,878 inhabi- tants ; and, in 1810, 2,051."
The employes of the works were mostly Americans, but it was necessary to send to England at great expense for men who were skilled in some branches of the work which were entirely new in this country. Among them were John Winterbottom, father of Mrs. Ann S. Stevens, and Thomas Gilyard, son of Edmund and Nancy Gilyard, born in Leeds, England, March 20, 1786. He came to New York in the "Commerce" in the summer of 1807, having had a very fine passage of 45 days, and by packet to New Haven in three days sail. a quick trip for those times. He immediately commenced work for Humphreys and worked for him until March 28th, 1810. In this year the manufacture of stockings was carried on here on a considerable scale. This was new work for Gilyard, but he soon learned it. He was an active member of the Methodist Society for many years. His very interesting journal has furnished many dates and incidents for these pages.
In 1802 Canfield Gillett was appointed a committee to make application to the General Assembly for permission to sell the land near Rimmon Falls still belonging to the Indians, (D. R., B. M. D., p. 419,) but the permission was not granted until 1810. The land was sold in 1812. Following is a copy of the deed to Gen. Humphreys.
"Whereas the General Assembly at their Session in May, 1810, authorized the Subscriber, Joseph Riggs of Derby, in New Haven County, to sell and convey certain lands lying in said Derby, Humpreysrille, the property of Philip, Hestor and Mary, ando other certain Indian Proprietors, under the direction of the judge of Probute for New Haven District, who has ordered the subscriber to proceed in the sale thereof, now thereupon, in pursuaiance of said authority und in consideration of three hundred and forty-six dollars and twenty-fire couts received to my full satisfaction of David Humphreys, Esq., of Derby aforesaid, I, the said Joseph Riggs, have remised, released and quitclaimed, and do by these presents remise, release und quitelaim to said Humphrey, his heirs and assigns forever, the following described two pieces of land, part of said lands directed to be sold as aforesaid, one piece bounded southerly and casterly on highways, northerly and westerly on said Humphreys' land, the other piece southerly and westerly on highways, northerly on part of said Indian lands I hare sold to Phebe Styles, and casterly on said Humphreys and said Styles, containing by estimation in both pieces six acres and one half, the whole tying custerly of said Humphrey's Fuetorys, and comprehending the whole Indian Lund excepting those contained in the courcyance to said
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Phebe Stiles, to hare and to hold said remised and quitclaimed premises to him, the suid Darid, his heirs and assigns forerer, so that said Indians and no persons under them shall hereafter make claim to said remised premises, and I hereby covenant that I have full right to sell and convey in manner aforesaid. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand und seal this 7th day of Sept., 1812.
JOSEPH RIGGS SEAL
New Haven County ss. New Haven, Sept. 7, 1812,
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence oť Personally appeared JOSEPHI RIGGS, signer ELIZUR GOODRICH, BENJAMIN BULL. and sealer of the foregoing instrument, and ae- knowledged the same to be his free aet and deed before me.
Recorded March 9th 1813. JOHN L. LOUNSBURY.
ELIZUR GOODRICH, Assistant.
The land referred to in above deed as sold to Phebe Stiles consisted of 2 acres and 20 rods, "beginning five rods and three feet from the northwest corner of Col. Humphrey's new cellar, and running northerly by highway to Col. David Humphreys' land, thence easterly to said Phebe's land, thence southerly by her lands to lands this day conveyed to said Humphreys, and thence by said land to place of beginning."
From the following extracts from the town records it appears that another tract of land was purchased for the Indians with the proceeds of the above sales. "Whereas the General assembly, June 7th, 1813, authorized Joseph Riggs to sell certain lands the property of Philip, Moses, Hester, Frank and Mary Seymour, which lay in Derby and which descended to them from John Howder (Howd), an Indian, and to lay out the avails in other real estate," a tract of land was purchased "for $230 for and in behalf of said Moses, Hester and the children of said Mary Seymour, the said Mary being de- ceased,"-four acres, three quarters and eleven rods bounded north on James Lewis, easterly and northerly on the lands of Isaac Short, and easterly ou Isaac Thompson, southerly on land of Peter Johnson, and westerly on high- way, "the children of said Mary Seymour (evidently Moses, Frank and Mary) to have one undivided third. To Phillip, Hester and representatives of said Mary, by Lewis and Betsey Prindle." Deed executed June 15th, 1813.
The War of 1812, calling for men and means from every section of the country, though it could but interrupt to some extent the progress of the peaceful arts, did not prevent a continued growth of the manufacturing in- dustries in Humphreysville. The busy hum of machinery and the sound of preparations for war were alike heard in our peaceful valley. A company of artillery was formed in Humphreysville, including a few from Oxford, and sent to New London and stationed at the fort at the mouth of the river Thames. The following names of the members of the company have been obtained from inscriptions in our cemeteries and elderly people of the vicinity :
Col. Ira Smith, died Nov. 19th, 1822, aged 44 years.
Capt. Daniel Holbrook, d. Dec. 28th, 1828, æ 59.
Capt. Amadeus Dibble, d. Sept. 25th, 1843, æ 65.
Anson Baldwin.
Jesse Baldwin.
Abel Bassett, d. March 23rd, 1863, æ 78.
Samuel Bassett, d. Sept. 28th, 1851, æ 67.
William Bassett.
James Bowman.
Lewis Broadwell, d. Sept. 6th, 1844, æ 53.
Thomas Gilyard, d. Nov. 12th, 1853.
Jesse Hartshorn.
Chauncey Hatch, from Oxford.
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Daniel IIolbrook, 2nd.
William Kinney, d. Jan. 7th, 1847, æ 87.
Calvin Leavenworth, from Pines Bridge.
Isaac Leavenworth.
Isaac Losee.
Theophilus Miles, Jr., d. March 15th, 1840, æ 70.
John Moshier.
Ebenezer Northrop, d. Jan. 11th, 1835, æ 49.
Sheldon Tucker, d. Jan. 5th, 1843, æ 57.
Isaac White, d. Feb. 6th, 1862, æ 72.
Nathan Wooster.
The company was completed by a draft and Samuel Canfield was one of those who were drafted. He was then apprentice to Elias Gilbert, a ma- chinist who worked in a shop which he had built near the corner of Hill and Pearl streets, next to the blacksmith shop, now occupied by William J. Roberts as a dwelling. Canfield was then eighteen years of age and had become so skillful a machinist that his employer, rather than lose his services, hired a substitute in his place. Gilbert did the machine work for Gen. Humphreys. William Humphreys, brother of Squire John Humphreys and nephew of Gen. Humphreys invented several useful machines to facilitate the manufacture of broadeloth, and the machines were built by Gilbert.
Gen. Humphreys was always ready to honor the memory of his brave com-patriots. At a town meeting held April 12th, 1813, he introduced and the following resolutions, which were passed unanimously :
Resolved, that Isaae Hull, Esq., a native of this town, Captain in the Navy of the U. S., and lately Commander of their Frigate Constitution, with the aid of his gallant officers and ships company and the smiles of Providence, having led the van in the career of our naval glory, capturing his Britanie Majesty's Frigate Guerriere commanded by Captain Daeres, has in our opinion deserved well of his country and is an ornament to the place of his nativity.
Resolred, that joining cordially in the universal applause, bestowed by our conn- trymen on Hull, Jones, Decatur, Bainbridge and Lawrence, and their brave and skillful associates in perils and triumphs, for their glorious naval achievements, we judge we have a right in our corporate capacity without showing an nndne partiality to the first mentioned officer or stepping aside from our municipal duties, to notice more particularly his exemplary merits from having better opportunities of becoming acquainted with theni.
Resolved, that Messrs. John L. Tomlinson, William Humphreys and Pearl Crafts be a committee to collect and digest such distinguishing and illustrative facts on the subject matter now before us as may be attainable and that they will eanse the result to be communicated to the public in such manner as they shall deem most proper.
Resolved, that from the interruption of our Fisheries and navigation by war, silver and gold we have not, to offer in costly demonstrations of respect and esteem in imitation of rieher towns, yet what we have we freely give, to wit, a tribute of gratitude.
Therefore, voted that Isaae Hull, Esq., being already constitutionally entitled to the freedom of this corporation, the thanks of this town be presented to him in a box made of heart of oak, the congenial growth of his native hills.
Voted, that the committee take order from the Selectmen for the performance of this service and report their proceedings to a future meeting for the express purpose that a town Record be made for the perpetual remembrance of these transactions.
Voted, that the committee above named be directed to transmit to Capt. Hull a certified copy of the foregoing resolutions.
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While the fathers were intent on raising sheep the boys had their depart- ment in the new industry, and busied themselves to raise the teasels used in dressing the cloth. Gen. Humphreys organized the boys of the factory into a trainband, and furnished them with the articles necessary for drill. The silk flag, beautifully embroidered by Lady Humphreys, is now in the possession of Carlos French, Esq. The inscription is as follows:
HUMPHREYSVILLE. SAJAM NOVA PROGENESA
PERSEVERANDO.
SHIELD WITH VINES.
PACTA SEMPER SERVANDA
MDCCCX.
Reverse : Semi-circle of 16 stars, "HUMPHREYS VILLE," eagle, arrows and state emblems.
Gen. Humphreys died in 1818. His remains were interred in New Haven Cemetery. Upon the monument is the following inscription on two tablets of copper inserted in the pedestal :
David Humphreys, LL. D. Acad. Scient. Philad. Mass, et Connect. et in Anglia Aqua Solis et Regia Societat. socius. Patria et libertatis amore accensus, juvenis vitam reipub. integram con- secravit. Patriam armis tuebatur, consiliis anxit, literis exornavit, apud exteras gentes concordia stabilivit .- In bello gerendo maximi ducis Washington administer ct adjutor; in exercitu patrio Chiliarchus; in republica Connecticutensi, militum evocatorum imperator; ad aulam Lusitan. et Hispan. legatus. Iberia reversus natale solum vellere vere aureo ditavit. In Historia et Poesi scriptor eximius ; in artibus et seientiis excolendis, quæ vel decori vel usuni inserviunt, optimus ipse et patronus et exemplar. Omnibus demum officiis expletis, cursuq; vitæ feliciter peracto, fato cessit, Die XXI Februar. Anno Domini MDCCCXVIII, cum annos vixisset LXV.
This may be rendered as follows :
DAVID HUMPHREYS, Doctor of Laws, Member of the Academy of Science of Philadelphia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut ; of the Bath [Agricultural] Society, and of the Royal Society of London .- Fired with the love of country and of liberty, he consecrated his youth wholly to the service of the Republic, which he defended by his arms, aided by his counsels, adorned by his learning, and preserved in harmony with foreign nations. In the field, he was the companion and aid of the great Washington, a Colonel in the army of his country, and commander of the Veteran Volunteers of Connecticut. He went Ambassador to the courts of Portugal and Spain, and return- ing, enriched his native land with the true golden fleece. He was a distinguished Historian and Poct ;- a model and Patron of Science, and of the ornamental and useful arts. After a full dis- charge of every duty, and a life well spent, he died on the 21st day of February, 1818, aged 65 years.
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Mrs. Mills, the wife of the pastor of Fairfield, and sister of General Humphrey, died in 1815. When the British burned Fairfield, July 7th, 1779, she fled on horseback, having put her best feather bed across the horse, and came to old Derby. The parsonage and the church in which her hus- band had preached were burned to the ground. She afterward had built for her the house in the rear of that now occupied by Dr. J. Kendall, and there re- mained until her death.
The representation of Humphreysville on the opposite page is from a woodent made either by Abial Canfield or by an English engraver in his employ, for use as a trade mark in the papermill, which may be distinguished in the woodcut by the water wheel outside the mill. Between the papermill and the dam was the gristmill, previously occupied by Nathan Stiles as a woolen mill. At the right of the papermill was the sawmill. . The large building at the right of the sawmill was the woolen factory in which General Humphreys made the first broadcloth ever manufactured in the United States. At the right of the factory was the "Long Honse," built by General Humph- reys for dwellings for his employes. The building on the right and the smaller one adjoining were used by Gen. H. as an office and storehouse. The little building at the foot of the hill was a machine shop connected with the woolen factory. The barn on the hill beyond the office spire belonged to Abel Bassett.
There was a great revival in the fall and winter of 1816 among the Methodists. "Uncle Timothy" Hitchcock was one of the converts. Reuben Harris was in charge. He lived in the house with Stiles Johnson. The summer of 1816 was known as "the cold summer." There was frost every month in the year. In this year Worrull & Hudson sold out the papermill to Ebenezer Fisher and Henry LeForge.
In 1817 the Congregational Society was organized. Vide page 9. In connection with the sale of the old church to the Methodists the following from the records is of interest :
"Humphreysville, Oct. 31, 1817. At a meeting of the Brethren of the Methodist Society, convened at the house of Timothy Hitchcock, for the purpose of transacting business for the benefit of sd. society, Voted that Robert Lees, Bezaleel Peck, Timothy Hitchcock and Stiles Johnson be ap- pointed a Committee to arrange business with a committee appointed by the Congregationalists relative to the old Meeting House in Humphreys Ville. Robert Lees, Moderator.
2nd, Voted, Newel Johnson-Secretary.
3rd, Voted, Stiles Johnson, Bezaleel Peck, Robert Lees, Thomas Gilyard, Timothy Hitchcock, Trustees for the said Methodist Society."
"Copy of the Deed of the old Presbyterian Meeting-house in Humph- reys Ville :
To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting : Know ye that we, Bradford Steele, Sarah Steele, William Kenney, Ira Smith, Phebe Stiles, & Philena Baldwin, of Derby in New Haven County, for the con- sideration of forty Dollars, rec'd to our full satisfaction of Stiles Johnson, Bezaleel Peck, Thomas Gilyard, Robert Lees and Timothy Hitchcock, do remise and release and forever quitclaim unto the said Johnson, Peck, Gilyard, Lees, and Hitchcock, for the use of the said Methodist Society, and unto their heirs and assigns forever, all the right, title and interest, claim & demand whatsoever, as we the said releasors have or ought to have in or to one certain House in Humphreys Ville, adjoining the burying ground
A
2
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built for a House of Public Worship, to have and to hold the said premises, with all their appurtenances, unto the said Releasees & their heirs & Assigns forever, so that neither we the relcasors, nor our heirs, nor any other person under us or them shall hereafter hare any right or title in or to the premises or any part thereof, but therefrom we, and they are by these presents forever debarred & secluded.
In witness whereof we hare hereunto set our hands & seals this 22nd day of Septr, Anno Domini, 1818.
BRADFORD STEELE, [seal]
SARAH STEELE, [seal]
IRA SMITH, [seal]
PHEBE STILES, [seal]
WM. KENNEY, [seul]
PHILENA BALDWIN. [seal]
Signed, sealed & delivered in presence of John Humphreys, Jr., Phebe Stiles, Elias Baldwin.
New Haven Co. S. S., Derby, Sept. 22, 1818, personally appeared B. S., S. S., I. S., P. S., W. K. & P. B., signers and sealers of the fore- going instrument, and acknowledged the same to be their free act & deed before me. John Humphreys, Jun'r, Justice of the Peace."
In 1818, Stiles Johnson gave by will to the Methodist Society the ground on which the church stands, with the green in front, also $334 in money, of which $134 was to be applied to repairs on the church, the $200 to be kept as a perpetual fund, the interest only to be applied for the support of "regular Sabbath preaching." Following is a copy of the clause of his will making the bequest to the church :
2nd .- I will and bequeath to the Methodist Society in Humphreys Fille the land on which the meeting house now stands, together with the Green in front of said House, to be in the care of the Trustees of said house, for the benefit of said Society, and I also give three Hundred and thirty-four dollars of my Estate to be applied to the support of the Methodist traveling Preachers as long as there shall be regular Sabbath preaching in the aforesaid Meeting House, which money shall be raised and paid out of my Estate as though it was a Debt to the Trustees of said House and the Interest annually applied as aforesaid. But if it should be thought by the aforesaid Trustees more for the benefit of said Society, they may apply any sum not exceeding one Hundred and thirty-four dollars to making further repairs on said Honse, and the remainder to be applied as aforesaid. But if the Traveling Connec- tion should neglect or refuse to supply said House as aforesaid then the Interest of said money shall be given to such local preachers as shall for the time being supply their place according to the discretion of the Trustees.
In May, 1822, the Humphreysville Manufacturing Company was incor- porated by act of the Legislature and organized with a capital of $50,000. John H. DeForest was the first president and J. Fisher Leaming, secretary. D. R., Vol. 22, p. 439. The falls property was purchased of Lewis Waln of Philadelphia Aug. 1st, for $10,000; being described in D. R., Vol. 22, p. 432, as follows :
Beginning "a few rods north of the east abutment of the Rimmon Falls bridge, at the corner of the highway, thence bounded northerly on said De Forest, thence easterly and south- erly on said DeForest, thence easterly on highway to Bladen's Brook, thenec northerly on Bladen's Brook to Naugatuck River, thence on said Rirer to the dam, including the whole of the dam and all the water privileges appertaining thercto, then bounded southerly on said Naugatuck River to a point where the highway strikes said river, thence easterly on highway
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to said first mentioned bounds, with all the mills, manufactories, &. buildings standing thercon,
(one piece of land-north of "Promised Land" to Bladen's Brook,) * *
* one other piece of land on the west side of Naugatuck River, opposite the manufactory, bounded west- erly on highway, southerly on highway to the channel, where the stream sometimes crosses the road, then bounded casterly on said channel to the Rimmon fulls rock, thence running on said Full rocks, bounded easterly on said Naugatuck River to the north side of the pathway leading from the river up the hill to the road bounded northeasterty on John, William and Elijak Humphreys' land, to the bars on the top of the hill at the highway, reserring a passway to the said John, William & Elijah Humphreys' land & to the burying ground, * * * contuin- ing about Sixteen aeres, more or less, with the full, absolute & exclusive water privileges on both sides the river," &c.
The dam was soon rebuilt, the watercourse to the mills widened and cotton machinery put in. There was then one store in the valley and one ou the hill near the Episcopal Church, De Forest lived at first in the Roth house, on west side of south Main street, opposite Pearl street, till he built the honse now occupied by Raymond French, Esq., in which he lived until his death in 1839.
The shop in the fork of the road near the M. E. Church was built in 1825 by Newel Johnson, Isaac Kenney and Jesse Smith owning a portion of the building. The upper part of the building was used by Johnson for a carpenter and cabinet shop and what coffins were required in the village were made there. Newel Jolinson built the houses of Denzel Hitchcock and others. Johnson's father lived in the house now occupied by Jeremiah Durand.
In 1828, Samuel R. Hickox, a local preacher from Southbury, moved into Humphreysville and took charge of the grist mill near the falls. Rev. Amos Pettengill was the pastor of the Congregational church, Rev. Stephen Jewett of the Episcopal church, and Rey. A. H. Sanford of the Methodist church. In this year a bell was first procured for the Episcopal church and a stove put up in the church. Previous to this, foot stoves were the only means of producing artificial warmth in the churches. Abont this time Judson English came from Hotchkisstown, now Westville, and bought out the tannery on the premises now owned by Arthur Rider, previously run by Benham. The bark mill was further south on the brook just below the rail- road crossing. About ten years later English sold out to George Kirtland and removed to Great Hill. The father of Judson was one of the early Methodists, and Judson was a class-leader when living in Hotchkisstown. Always a very hard working man and strictly temperate, few men could beat him in the field until he was nearly seventy years of age. He was always a working member of the church of his choice, and a trustee and steward of the Great Hill Society until his death.
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