USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour and vicinity. Historical collections > Part 18
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You will remember, that these observations are applied only to the narrow valley of the Hooestennuc, through which we passed; extending rarely more than a mile in breadth; and generally not more than one fourth of a mile. As soon as these steep hills are ascended, their surface presents a good soil, and sprightlier scenery, had numerous population and flourishing settlements.
The first township, along the skirt of which we passed after we had left Derby, is Oxford ; formerly a part of that township. Oxford is a collection of hills and vallies, generally covered with a strong soil. The inhabitants are universally farmers. It includes two Congregations; a Presby - terian and an Episcopal plurality ; aud, in 1800, contained 1,410 inhabitants; in 1810, 1,413.
Immediately North of Oxford lies the township of Southbury, along a tributary stream of the Hooestennuc. Its surface is pleasant ; and the soil, excellent. It is divided into two parishes; the Town, and South-Britain. The town is a pretty collection of houses, chiefly on a single street, running from North to South. The parish of South-Britain is small. That part of it, which borders upon the Hooestennuc, presents the only specimen of soft scenery on our road, until we reached New-Milford. The expansion here was wider, the hills more handsomely shaped, and the river adorned with several intervals. The soil was better than in the parts through which we have passed before. Here, also, was a scattered hamlet, the inhabitants of which appeared to be in better circumstances. Southbury contains two Presbyterian congregations. In the year 1774, it was a part of Woodbury. In 1790, it contained 1,738 inhabitants : in 1800, 1,757; and in 1810, (a part of it having been taken off to form the township of Middlebury,) 1,413 .- [Vol. III, pp. 396-7.]
New-Haven is the shire town of the County of New-Haven, in a State distinguished for the rigid execution of its laws. Of course all the capital punishments in the County have been inflicted here. The whole number of these in one hundred and seventy-five years, has been thirteen. Of these, five were whites; five were Indians: and three were blacks. Of the whites, one was a stranger taken up as a spy, as he was passing through this town, and executed, pursuant to a sentence of a court martial. Three of the remaining four were natives of England. It does not appear, that any inhabitant of this town, or County, ever suffered death by the hand of law. There is no reason to conclude, that the people of this County are more distinguished for their morals than most of the other settlements, which have been established for any length of time. In this respect, (the paucity of capital punishments,) New-England may be compared with Scotland, and Switzerland ; and will suffer no disadvantage by the comparison .- [Vol. IV, p. 334.]
There is not a spot on the globe, where so little is done to govern the inhabitants ; nor a spot, where the inhabitants are so well governed, or, perhaps, in more appropriate terms, where the state of society is so peaceable, orderly, and happy. A recurrence to the manner, in which elections are carried on here, as described in a former part of these letters, will enable you to compare them with
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your own. Those in your country have been described to me on various occasions, by authority which cannot be questioned. They are scenes of riot, tumult, and violence. Ours are scarcely less decent than religious assemblies .- [Vol. IV, p. 335.]
The people of New-England have always had, and have by law always been required to have, arms in their hands. Every man is, or ought to be, in the possession of a musket. The great body of our citizens, also, are trained with a good degree of skill, and success, to military discipline. Yet I know not a single instance, in which arms have been the instruments of carrying on a private quarrel. * On a country, more peaceful and quiet, it is presumed, the sun never shone.
* * * In Connecticut, the government, whether of the Colony or the State, has never met with
a single serious attempt at resistance to the exeention of its laws. *
* * Our laws provide effectually for the comfortable maintenance of all the poor; who are inhabitants; and, so long as they are with us, of poor strangers, in what country soever they are born; and, when they are siek, supply them with physicians, nurses, and medieines. The children of the poor are furnished with education and apprenticeships, at the publie expense .- [Vol. IV, p. 336-7.]
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ABIEL CANFIELD,
A soldier of the Revolution, was born April 6th, 1753. He enlisted in the company of Capt. Pierson as piper, May 8th, 1777, and marched to New Haven the same day, where he remained with the forces for the protection of the city and harbor during the term of his service. He married Mary Barlow of Stratford Dec. 23d, 1779, and lived in West street, the second house on the left from Church street, still standing. He had a shop in the rear, where he manufactured brass and pewter buttons, buckles, sleigh bells, metal tags, &c. The pewter buttons were cast in moulds. He employed an English engineer to cut the dies used in making the figures upon the buttons, for military and other uses. He afterward purchased of Bradford Steele the house east of the Episcopal church and built a shop near by. He died Dec. 6th, 1812, aged 59 years and 7 months.
REV. ALONZO B. PULLING,
Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church a portion of 1876 and 1877, laboring zealously and efficiently for the good of those under his pastoral care. "A good minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, put in trust with the Gospel." He became superannuated at the end of his pastorate and continued to reside at East Village, with the exception of his pastorate in Seymour, until his death. He united with his conference in the spring of 1846, and filled important charges with marked fidelity and acceptability, remaining almost without exception the full term allowed by the church. He served in the New Milford charge twice, the first term of two years and the second three years. He leaves a good record, and has been called from labor to his reward. "Well done good and faithful servant."
MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS,
The gifted writer, was the daughter of John Winterbottom, junior partner of T. Vose & Co., successors to General Humphreys in the manufacture of broadcloth. She went to school in Sheffield, Canaan and other places, and wrote her first composition - an epigram upon a boy in her father's employ- at the age of seven. The first composition she published was an address to a
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friend, a student in Yale College, printed in the New IIaven Post. In 1832 she married Mr. Edward Stephens of Plymouth, Mass., and in 1834 published the "Polish Boy." Two years later she started a literary magazine in Port- land, Maine, and in it wrote her first story and published "The Tradesman's Daughter." In 1838 she became editress of the Ladies' Companion, in New York, and published "Mary Derwent," "The Deluded," and other serials. Later she was with George R. Graham and Edgar A. Poe on Graham Maga- zine in Philadelphia, at the same time acting as co-editress with Charles J. Peterson, of Peterson's Magazine. Mrs. Stephens and Mr. Peterson have been associated for over thirty years. About twenty years ago Mrs. Stephens published the original of "Fashion and Famine" in Peterson's Magazine, which was afterwards printed in book form, being the first book she ever pub- lished. Her published works now include about thirty novels, a "History of the War" in two volmines, and two humorous works. The opening scenes of "Bertha's Engagement" are laid here, and also the story of "Malvina Gray." She is now a regular contributor to Peterson's Magazine and other publica- tions. Her story of " Fashion and Famine" had a circulation of over 80,000 copies.
SQUIRE DAVID FRENCH,
The oldest son of Israel French, was a patriot of the Revolution, going to Boston after the battle of Bunker Hill to assist in resisting the encroachments of despotism. He was trial justice of the north part of the town of Woodbridge for many years, and tried more cases than any other justice in Woodbridge. The late Judge David Dagget of New Haven said that he had pleaded a great many cases before 'Squire David. He represented the town of Wood- bridge in the General Assembly twenty successive semi-annual terms. He first built his log-house in Nyumphs, at a place which he afterwards gave to his son Luther. He was for many years a deacon of the First Congregational Church of Bethathy under the Rev. Samuel Hawley, but when Rev. George Whitfield visted this country he became a convert to his views of experimental religion, and afterwards was a regular member of the new sect of Methodists, which soon spread over the country like a great tidal wave. He was never one of the enthusiastic kind, but earnest and strongly sincere. All his public life he was much accustomed to public speaking, and used often in the General Assembly to encounter the celebrated Pierpont Edwards. He had a strong voice and expressed his opinions with energy and confidence. These opinions, whether religious or political, were always such as to command respect. He died Aug. 4th, 1821, aged 80 years.
LUGRAND SHARP,
Son of Thomas and Mary Sharp, was born in Ridgefield, Ct., June 1st, 1797. He was a great-grandson of Thomas Sharp of Newtown, who emigrated from England to Stratford in 1700, and was one of the original thirty-six proprietors and a surveyor of the the town of Newtown. Thomas Sharp, 3rd, purchased lands in Oxford, near Zoar Bridge in 1804 and settled there, but died in 1805, Lugrand being then but eight years of age. In 1821 he purchased the place in Southford on which the Abbott mansion now stands. In 1823 he married Olive M., dangher of Ebenezer Booth, cabinet maker, who built the house, dam and factory since owned by Rev. William Cutts, knife manufacturer. He was an earnest and efficient laborer in the Methodist society formed at Southford, of which Rev. Samuel Hickox of Seymour was the first pastor. It was to a great extent due to his efforts that a union meeting-house was soon built at Southford, and a class formed at Quaker Farms, of which he was the
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first leader. His house was always open to the hard-working itinerant preachers of those days, and he continued to be one of the most active members of the Southford church until 1843, when he sold out and came to Humphreys- ville, now Seymour. In 1849 he built the house on Hill street, which he afterwards occupied until his death. He was for several years superintendent of the Sunday school, and afterwards an active member of it until within two or three years of his death. He contributed liberally to such religious and benevolent causes as received his approval, giving over $1,500 to the mission- ary cause during the last nine years of his life. He died May 1st, 1876, aged 78 years. His last years were literally and fully devoted to the service of the Lord, and when his last sickness came he felt that his work was done and he waited in patience for the Master's call.
SAMUEL WIRE
Was born at Greenfield Hills, Fairfield, Feb. Sth, 1789. He came to Hum- phreysville when thirteen years of age to learn the clothing business under General Humphreys. At the age of twenty-three he married the sister of the late General Clark Wooster, who died after several years of happy married life, without children. Mr. Wire soon afterwards commenced the manufacture of satinet warps in the south part of Oxford, and married his second wife, who was the daughter of David Candee. He represented the town at several sessions of the General Assembly and held other important offices of trust, being at one time the most influential politician in town. In 1847 he removed to New Haven, where he was a constable for several years and then city sheriff. He was one of the oldest Freemasons in the State, and a member of Franklin Chapter and Harmony Council. He was a man of genial disposi- tion, faithful and upright. He died May 3rd, 1874, aged 86 years.
IN MEMORIAM.
In the Rimmon burying-ground, on a bluff on the west side of the Nau- gatuck, are seven gravestones with the following inscriptions :
Susanna, wife of Lieut. Thomas Clark, died Apr. 1, 1768, aged 29 years. Phoebe, wife of David Johnson, Aug. 6, 1777, in the 47th year of her age. In memory of Joseph Riggs, son of Mr. Joseph and Mistress Anna Riggs, who departed this life March 22, 1794, in the 8th year of his age. Joseph Riggs died Mar. 19, 1791, in the 38th year of his age, who was a pattern of industry, a friend to virtue, and a pillar of society.
In memory of David Johnson Riggs, son of Mr. Joseph and Mistress Anna Riggs, who departed this life March 24th, 1794, in the 15th year of his age. In memory of Mrs. Sarah, relict of Mr. Benajah Johnson, who departed this life May 7, 1773, aged 72 years.
Thomas Clark, died Oct. 11, 1797, aged 33 years.
DEATHS, ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.
Abram Bassett, Nov. 17th, 1853, aged 81 years.
Samuel Bassett, Sept. 28tlı, 1851, aged 67 years.
Betsey, wife of David Beach, Oct. 9th, 1822, aged 21 years. Mrs. Beebe, Nov. 15th, 1822, aged 70 years.
Mrs. Charles Benham, June 1st, 1822, aged 27 years.
Dorcas Bradley, Dec. 3rd, 1814, aged 92 years.
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Betsey Broadwell, March 10th, 1821, aged 33 years.
Lewis Broadwell, Sept. 6th, 1844, aged 53 years. Huldah, wife of Stephen Booth, Feb. 2nd, 1848, aged 70 years. Annie Case, Nov. 10th, 1821, aged 68 years. Residence, Skokorat. Joel Chatfield, June 14th, 1836, aged 79 years.
Ruth, wife of Joel Chatfield, Nov. 2nd, 1831, aged 62 years 6 months. Sheldon Church, Nov. Sth, 1873, aged 76 years.
Laura, wife of Sheldon Church, Feb. 10th, 1871, aged 73 years. William Clark, Oct. 24th, 1834, aged 70 years.
Miles Culver, July 28th, 1857.
Phebe Dayton, widow of Capt. Eben" Dayton, March 18th, 1827, aged 77 yrs. John H. DeForest, Feb. 12th, 1839.
Capt. Amadeus Dibble, Sept. 25th, 1827, aged 65 yrs. Residence, Skokorat. Mary, wife of Capt. Amadeus Dibble, Mareb 7th, 1826, aged 29 years. Raymond Dibble, Nov. 17th, 1826, aged 29 years.
Joseph Durand, Aug. 6th, 1792, aged 84 years.
Anna, wife of Joseph Durand, Feb. 14th, 1778, aged 64 years.
Samuel Durand, Feb. 18th, 1852, aged 68 years.
Nathaniel French, Nov. 13th, 1780, aged 64 years.
Samuel French, Feb. 2nd, 1883, aged 78 years.
Charles French, Esq., Nov. 9th, 1783, aged 79 years.
Enoch French, May 21st, 1824, aged 64 years.
Hannah, wife of David French, Esq., Aug. 19th, 1823, aged 19 years. William French, Oct. 16th, 1823, aged 37 years.
Nancy, wife of William French, July 13th, 1823, aged 19 years. William Gerling, Nov. 25th, 1814, aged 60 years. From England. Ezekiel Gilbert, July 6th, 1848, aged 55 years.
Sarah Hurd, wife of Ezekiel Gilbert, Nov. 16th, 1870, aged 76 years. Thomas Gilyard, Nov. 12th, 1853, aged 67 years.
Annie Gilyard, Jan. 11th, 1821, aged 61. Born at Hightown, Yorkshire, Eng. Mrs. Jona. Harden, April 10th, 1822, aged 51 years. Residence, Skokorat. Matilda Hatte, Nov., 1814, 15th daughter of Stephen Hatte.
Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Hickox, Dec. 9th, 1841, aged 26 years. Timothy Hitchcock, Aug. 5th, 1820, aged 72 years.
Capt. Daniel Holbrook, Dec. 28th, 1828, aged 59 years. Residence, Skokorat.
Lois, wife of Capt. Daniel Holbrook, March 10th, 1827, aged 63 years. David Humphreys, 2nd, March 21st, 1814, aged 28 years.
David Humphreys, 3rd, Dec. 2nd, 1814, aged 3 years. George, son of William Humphreys, Esq., July Sth, 1828. Hon. John Humphreys, Jr., June 29th, 1826, aged 53 years. Alexander Johnson, Sept., 1817, aged 87 years. Benajah Johnson, April 13th, 1763, aged 59 years.
Sarah, wife of Benajah Johnson, March 7th, 1773, aged 72 years. Chauncey Johnson, Dec. 26th, 1814, aged 37 years. Ebenezer Johnson, Sept. 25th, 1792, aged 31 years. Ebenezer Johnson, Feb. 11th, 1830, aged 38 years.
Eleanor Allen, wife of Ebenezer Johnson, July 3rd, 1870, aged 76 years. Elijah Johnson, 1847, aged 75 years.
Hepsibah Johnson, April 13th, 1823, aged 43 years.
Hezekiah Johnson, Nov. 15th, 1826, aged 70 years.
Isaac Johnson, April 10th, 1813, aged 78 years. Residence, Skokorat. Lois, wife of Isaac Johnson, Oct. 16th, 1814, aged 76 years. Rev. Jesse Johnson, Oct. 21st, 1829, aged 56 years.
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Jesse Johnson, Jr., Feb. 9th, 1826, aged 25 years.
Joseph Johnson, June 26th, 1818, aged 59 years. Stiles Johnson, Oct. 4th, 1818, aged 36 years. Residence, Skokorat.
Timothy Johnson, Jan. 21st, 1836, aged 70 years. Residence, Pinesbridge. Zeviah Johnson, May 29th, 1816, aged 77 years. Abraham Kenney, Oct. 29th, 1822, aged 30 years. Isaac Kinney, Ang. 18th, 1875, aged 85 years and 6 months.
Anna Church, wife of Isaac Kinney, Jan. 24th, 1868, aged 64 years.
Wife of William Kenney, Sr., March 9th, 1827, aged 70 years. William Kinney, Jan. 7th, 1847, aged 87 years. Elijah Kirtland, May 25th, 1831, aged 31 years. Jolin Lane, July 6th, 1834, aged 26 years. Jonathan Miles, Feb. 25th, 1830, aged 85 years.
Mrs. Jonathan Miles, Oct. 5th, 1822, aged 70 years.
Theophilus Miles, Nov. 11th, 1822, aged 83 years. Theophilus Miles, Jr., March 15th, 1840, aged 70 years.
Ebenezer Northrop, Jan. 11th, 1835, aged 49 years. Miss Lucy Norton, Dec. 31st, 1809, aged 30 years.
John Pitt, Nov. 11th, 1848, killed by the bursting of a cannon. Ebenczer Peck, Sept. 20th, 1813, aged 70 years.
Hiram Randall, Dec. 14th, 1833.
Betsey, wife of Moses Riggs, Sept. 12th, 1828, aged 40 years. John Riggs, Nov. 14th, 1855, aged 84 years.
Mary, wife of John Riggs, Dec. 15th. 1827, aged 53 years. David Sanford, March 7th, 1842. Dr. Samuel Sanford, Jan. 25th, 1803, aged 38 years.
Jason Skeels, Nov. 1st, 1855, aged 40 years.
Col. Ira Smith, Nov. 19th, 1822, aged 44 years.
Jesse Smithi, 1831, aged 65 years.
Sarah, wife of Jesse Smith, Feb. 1820, aged 55 years. James Spencer, May 30th, 1827, aged 30 years.
Capt. Bradford Steele, April 18th, 1804, aged 69 years.
Mary, wife of Capt. Bradford Steele, Oct. 16th, 1788, aged 57 years. Deacon Bradford Steele, Dec. 23rd, 1841, aged 80 years.
Norman Steele, July 9th, 1822, aged 40 years.
Abiram Stoddard, Nov. 23rd, 1855, aged 79 years.
Eunice, wife of Abiram Stoddard, Aug. 23rd, 1855, aged 69 years. John Storrs, March 18th, 1841, aged 42 years. Mark Tomlinson, Oct. 2nd, 1822, aged 36 years. Sheldon Tucker, Jan. 5th, 1843, aged 57 years. Zephaniah Tucker, Sept. 18th, 1848, aged 89 years. Smith Washburn, May 21st, 1823, aged 28 years.
John Todd Wheeler, (born May 4th, 1777), died Sept. 3rd, 1868, ÆE. 91 yrs. 4m. Sarah Clark Wheeler, Ang. 14th, 1823, aged 47 years.
Almira Chatfield Wheeler, Dec. 12th, 1873, aged 82 years and 6 months. Sally Wheeler, Aug. 14th, 1823, aged 47 years.
Simon Wheeler, Sept. 22nd, 1794, aged 24 years. Daniel White, May 6th, 1854, aged 76 years. Isaac White, Feb. 6th, 1862, aged 72 years. John White, Nov. 17th, 1830, aged 73 years. '
Abigail, wife of Marchant Wooster, Dec. 18th, 1832, aged 78 years. Grace, wife of Clark Wooster, Jan. 1st, 1826, aged 27 years.
Henry Wooster, May 30th, 1815, aged 79 years.
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Elizabeth, wife of Henry Wooster, Sept. 7th, 1786, aged 44 years. John Wooster, Ang. 2nd 1804, aged 84 years.
Ennice, wife of John Wooster, Nov. 17th, 1799, aged 74 years. John Wooster, Oct. 27th, 1823, Æ. 60. Arrived from England Sept. 5th, 1819.
MORNING STAR LODGE, No. 47, F. & A. M.
The time-honored order of Free Masonry is repre- sented in this town by a lodge which has reached the venerable age of seventy-four years. Morning Star Lodge was constituted under a charter from the M. W. Stephen Titus Hosmer, Esq., Grand Master of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Connecticut, bearing date, or rather granted the 1Stli day of October, A. D. 1804. The petitioners to whom the charter was granted were Adam Lum, Veren Dike, Silas Sperry, Geo. W. Thomas, Benjamin Candee, Lewis Wakelee, E. C. Candee, Joel Finch, Ar- nold Loveland, William Hurd, Wm. Bronson, Daniel Candee, Abel Wheeler, Samuel Riggs, William Morris, Levi Candee, Nathan Davis, Charles Monson, Jessie Scott and Moses Candee, "Brethren of the Honora- ble Society of Masons residing in the town of Oxford."
Abel Wheeler is named in the charter as first Master, Levi Candee as Senior Warden and William Morris as Junior Warden.
In 1832, so much had the principles of the order been misrepresented that the following declaration was prepared by the Grand Lodge, signed by members of the order generally throughout the State, and published, not only in the Masonic proceedings, but in the newspapers of the day, and helped to a great extent to allay the prejudices against the order. Appended is the declaration and the names of signers who lived in this vicinity.
PREAMBLE.
WHEREAS, charges have been made against the Institution of Freemasonry, accusing the whole Fraternity with having adopted and cherished principles dangerous to the community and re- pugnant to morality and religion; and from the silence of the members of our Institution concerning these accusations, many persons have supposed or may suppose that we admit the truth of these charges, or that we cannot conscientiously deny them:
We, the officers and members of the Grand Lodge of the State of Connecticut, and of the subordinate Lodges under its jurisdiction, have come to the conclusion that justice to ourselves and a decent regard for the opinions of our fellow-citizens, demand from us a public avowal of the prin- ciples of the Order, and of the nature and tendency of the Institution. A declaration on this subject, dated December 31st, 1831, having been made and published by our brethren of the Masoule Frater- nity in the State of Massachusetts, to which we fully assent, as it is strictly true in all respects, we have adopted the same, and now beg leave to present it to the public.
THE DECLARATION.
WHEREAS, it has been frequently asserted and published to the world, that in the several de- grees of FREEMASONRY, as they are conferred in the United States, the candidate, on his initia- tion and subsequent advancement, binds himself by oath, to sustain his Masonic brethren in acts which are at variance with the fundamental principles of morality, and incompatible with his duty as a good and faithful citizen. 1u justice, therefore, to themselves, and with a view to establish TRUTH and expose IMPOSITION, the undersigned, members of the Masonic Fraternity, and many of us the recipients of every degree of Freemasonry known and acknowledged in this country, do MOST SOL- EMNLY DENY the existence of any such obligation in the MASONIC INSTITUTION, as far as our
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knowledge respectively extends. And we do also solemnly aver, that no person is admitted to the Institution, without first being made acquainted with the nature of the obligations which he will be required to ineur and assume.
Freemasonry secures its members in the freedom of thought and of speech, and permits each and every one to act according to the dictates of his own conscience in matters of religion, and of his personal preferenees in matters of polities. It neither knows, nor does it assume to inflict upon its erring members, however wide may be their aberations from duty, any penalties or punishments other than Admonition, Suspension and Expulsion.
The obligations of the Institution require of its members a striet obedience to the laws of God and man. So far from being bound by any engagements inconsistent with the happiness and pros- perity of the nation, every citizen, who becomes a Mason, is doubly bound to be true to his God, his country, and his fellow-men. In the language of the "Ancient Constitutions" of the Order, which are printed and open for publie mspection, and which are used as text-books in all our Lodges, he is "required to keep and obey the moral law, to be a quiet and peaceable citizen, true to his govern- ment and just to his country."
Masonry disdains the making of proselytes. She opens the portals of her asylum to those only who seek admission, with the recommendation of a character unspotted by immorality and vice. She simply requires of the candidate his assent to one great fundamental religious truth,-THE EXISTENCE AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD, and a practical acknowledgement of those infallible doctrines for the government of life, which are written by the finger of God on the heart of man.
Entertaining sneh sentiments, as Masons, as Citizens, as Christians, and as moral men, and deeply impressed with the conviction that the Masonie Institution has been, and may continue to be, productive of great good to their fellow-men; and having "received the laws of the Society, and its accumulated funds, in sacred trust for charitable purposes," the undersigned can neither renounce nor abandon it.
We most cordially nnite with our brethren of Massachusetts, in the declaration and hope, that, "should the people of this country become so infatuated as to deprive Masons of their civil rights, in violation of the written constitutions and the wholsome spirit of just laws and free govern- ment, a vast majority of the Fraternity will still remain firm, confiding in God and the rectitude of their intentions for consolation under the trials to which they may be exposed."
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