USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour and vicinity. Historical collections > Part 8
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
north to the head of the bounds between Derby & Waterbury, including Mrs Abigail Gunn's farm, then running West with the line to Waterbury road, then running South with the road down to Mr. Miles' barn, then running West to Touantick brook, then running South with the brook to the bridge over said Brook Southeast of David Twitchel's, and from thence southerly down to the road to the first mentioned bounds, including widow Ruth Bunnell."
The following seems to describe what now constitutes the sub-districts of Shrub Oak and Bungay, Seymour. Petition granted in a town meeting Dec. 27th, 1779.
"We the Subscribers whose names are underwritten desire the town of Derby would permit us to be formed into a school district, to take in part of the north district in the old society, and part of the Great Hill, and part of the Rimmon District, bounded as followeth, beginning at the mouth of Hassekee meadow brook, running northerly by Naugatuck river till it comes to the upper end of Long Plain, so called, then running westerly to the north side of the Park, then running southerly to the west side of John Botchford's farm, then running southerly to Mr. Joseph Canfield's barn, then running southerly to the highway twenty rods north of Nehemiah Botchford's house, then running with the highway to Hassekee meadow brook, then running by said brook to the first mentioned corner."
Bradford Steel,
Eunis Pritchard,
Abram Wooster,
Ashbel Steel,
James Pritchard, Jr.,
Daniel Davis,
Hezekiah Woodin,
Samuel Wooster,
Benj" Davis,
Ruben Perkins,
William Gordin,
Eben" Keeney,
Ranford Whitney,
John Botehford,
Wm. Keeney,
Lowis Riggs,
Edward Harger,
Theous Miles,
John Wooster,
Josiah Washband,
Jona" Miles.
JOHN RIGGS, JOHN TOMLINSON, Committee.
The following is from the minutes of a town meeting held Mar. 8th, 1780. "The town by their voate appoint Capt. Bradford Steel and Mr. Gideon John- son a committe with full power to take care of the Indians' Lands in Derby, and let out the same to the best advantage for the support of said Indians, and to take care that there be no wast made ou said land, and to render an ac- count of their doings to said town of Derby." At the same meeting it was "voted that Abraham Hawkins, James Beard, Esq., Mr. John Humphrey, Capt. Nathan Person, Mr. Noah Tomlinson, Major Nathan Smith, David Tomlinson, Lient. Levi Hotchkiss, Walter Wooster and Ebenezer Warner be a committee to assist the officers of the several companies in the town of Derby in raising their quota of men that shall be requested in this town for the continental and state service, at the expense of the town, with discretion- ary orders to give such premiums as said comtte in their wisdom shall judge reasonable."
At a town meeting held June 27th, 1780, a rate of sixpence was voted "to pay the bounty to the Contenental soldiers and to defray town charges," and Capt. John Riggs, Capt. Daniel Holbrook and Capt. Bradford Steel were "appointed a comtte to enlist contenental soldiers and to pay them their bounty."
It was also voted "that the town shall give each man that shall enlist himself as a soldier into the Contenental army during the war shall receive of the town as a bounty the sum of £20, to be paid in bills of credit of this state
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at the time the muster, and £20 pounds at the commencement of the second year of their service, and twenty pounds at the commencement of the 3d year of their service. And all such as shall list for three years into the contenental army shall receive in bills of credit of this state £20 at the time of passing muster, & £15 at the commencement of the 2nd year of their service, and £10 at the commencement of the 3d year of their service. And also all such persons as have or shall enlist into the contenental service for one year and seven months from the date of these presents shall receive £10 at passing muster, and £5 at the commencement of the 2nd campaign.
By a vote at a town meeting held Nov. 13, 1780, it was provided that two shirts, two pair stockings, one pair shoes, and 1 pair mittens should be sent to each soldier.
In accordance with an act of the Assembly for collecting and storing a quantity of provisions, in the winter of 1780-81, the following prices were allowed for produce received as taxes, in lien of money; beef of the best quality 5p. per pound, merchantable 42p., pork 5 and 6p. per pound, wheat flour 24p. per hundred.
In Nov., 1780, "Johnathan Hitchcock, Capt. Thos Clark, John Howd, Capt John Tomlinson, Mr Johnathan Lum, Jnr, and Lient John Basit were appointed a committee to class the people agreeable to a late act of Assembly for filling up & compleating the state's Quotas of the Contenental Army," and measures were taken to provide clothing for those already in the field. At a town meeting held Dec. 11th, 1780, the following committee was appointed to take care of the soldiers' families; Peter Johnson, Joseph Russell, Thadeus Baldwin, Daniel Holbrook, Isaac Smith, Benj. Basit, Jabez Thompson, Christopher Smith, Andrew Smith, Johnathan Lum, Jnr, John Basit, Josiah Strong, Robert Wheler, Isaac Beecher, Ebenezer Johnson, Abiel Fairchild, Jnr and Noah Tomlinson.
Emancipation. At the same meeting it was "Voted that the authority and selectmen be impowered and directed to give certificates to Capt. Daniel Holbrook and Capt. John Wooster to free and emancipate their servants, Negro men, on the condition that the said negro men inlist into the State Rigt to be raised for the defense of this state, for the town, one year." At a town meet- ing held in 1781 it was voted that the selectmen give to the Revd David Humphreys a certificate or liberty to manumit his servants, Cambridge and Cate his wife.
In April, 1781, the town was called on for men for the post of Horseneck, and the selectmen were empowered to provide horses and accoutrements for the service.
In March, 1782, some who had been called on for service in the army were released on payment of Fifty pounds and the required number of soldiers for one year were obtained by the offer of bounties. A tax of two pence on the pound was laid to pay the bounties. George Beard was chosen collector for the Great Hill Society, and with Micah Pool was to be a committee to enlist the number of soldiers required. Capt Nathaniel Johnson was ap- pointed collector for the old Society and with Capt Daniel Holbrook consti- tuted the committee of enlistment. Abraham Beecher was appointed collect- or in Oxford Society and Capt Ebenezer Riggs was associated with him as enlisting committee. At a later meeting Ebenezer Plant was appointed to assist in the Oxford Society. There were, here as elsewhere throughout the colonies, some who believed that they owed first and indissoluble allegiance to King George III. Except these "loyalists," those who could best leave home had freely volunteered early in the contest, and now those who re-
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
mained, as freely contributed of their scanty means to fill the quota needed to secure the final victory.
The names of those who served their country on the field of battle are not all now to be found, but so many as can be gleaned from old manuscripts and records are given below.
Gen. David Humphreys, son of Rev. Daniel Humphreys, was born in Derby in 1752. As a boy he was passionately fond of books, and in 1767 he entered college at the early age of fifteen, graduating with distinguished honor. During his college course he earned the title of "the young bard of Yale." As a poet he graced the progress of freedom and the pathways of liberty with the flowers of his pen, and in this way helped to fire the hearts of patriots and hasten the growth of that public opinion which culminated in the establishment of our republic. After a short residence in New York he returned to New Haven county, and before joining the army in 1778, he wrote many poetic effusions, one of which was addressed to his friends in Yale College, of which the following lines are a specimen.
"Adieu, then, Yale! where youthful poets dwell, No more I linger by thy classic stream- Inglorious ease and sportive songs, Farewell! Thou startling elarion, break the sleeper's dream."
He entered the army as captain and in 1778 had been promoted as aid to Gen. Putnam with the rank of Major. Two years later he was appointed aid to General Washington, which position he retained during the war, enjoy- ing the full confidence of the Commander-in-chief, and sharing his toil and danger. When the army of Cornwallis laid down their arms at Yorktown, Oct. 19th, 1781, Humphreys had the honor to receive the English colors and as a mark of approbation was dispatched to Congress "with copies of the returns of prisoners, arms, ordnance, etc., and twenty-five stands of colors, surrendered," with a letter from Washington warmly commending Col. Humphreys to the thanks and consideration of the government for his valor, fidelity and signal services. In November following he was voted an elegant sword in the "name of the United States in Congress assembled," and in 1786 it was presented by Gen. Knox, then Secretary of War, with imposing ceremonies. Congress also commissioned him Lieut. Colonel, dating back his commission to his ap- pointment as aid to Washington. In 1784 he embarked for France in company with the brave but unfortunate Kosciusko; having on the appointment of Mr. Jefferson as ambassador to France, been appointed Secretary of Legation. In 1786 he returned to America and revisited the scenes of his youth.
Soon after his return, he was elected by his fellow citizens to be their representative in the legislature of the State, and continued to be elected for two years, when he was appointed to the command of a regiment raised for the western service. During the period that he held his office, he remained most of the time in Hartford; and, with Hopkins, Barlow and Trumbull, as- sisted in the publication of the Anarchiad. On the reduction of his regiment, he repaired to Mount Vernon, and continued with Gen. Washington until 1790, when he received the appointment of Minister to the court of Portugal, where he resided seven years. He was then appointed Minister to Spain, in which position he continued until 1802. He married a Spanish lady and thus added to his influence and rendered easier a project he had formed for the benefit of his native land. Knowing the superiority of Spanish wool, he planned to export some of the unrivalled Merino sheep to the United States, and in this he succeeded, though at great risk and cost, inasmuch as the Spanish laws forbade the exportation by stringent laws. He obtained permission to purchase
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four hundred Merinos in the mountain pastures of Estremadura and employing shepherds, drove them to the coast by night, remaining secreted by day. During this trip and the voyage to America the number was rapidly reduced, so that when landed at Derby dock they numbered only about one hundred. This was the first importation of Merino sheep into the United States. Gen. Humphreys then erected the first woolen factory in the United States in the village which took his name-Humphreysville-and in connection with which the labor of his later years will be spoken of at length.
Capt. Ebenezer Dayton was one of the brave privateersmen of the Sound, who annoyed the transports and boats of the tories and the British admiral offered a large bounty for his head and that of Caleb Brewster, his cousin. Fear- ing to leave his family at their home in Brookhaven, L. I., he brought them across the Sound to Milford. After remaining there a while, as a further precau- tion, he removed them to Bethany hill in Woodbridge. The robbery of the house occupied by Mrs. Dayton at that place by a British company and a band of tories is well described at length by Rev. Israel Warren in the book entitled "Chauncey Judd." Soon after the Revolution Capt. Dayton removed to Chusetown, where he opened a tavern, afterward the home for a time of Gen. Humphreys while he was establishing his woolen factory. Capt. Dayton, early seeing the advantage to his public house of a more direct communication with Waterbury and the towns above, set about the project of opening the Dug Road, which was finished about the beginning of the present century. Being of a restless disposition, he, after a while, undertook an enterprise in Louisiana, where he spent the latter part of his life.
Capt. Raymond Sanford, died in March, 1805, aged 53 years. E.
Lieut. Jabez Pritchard, who enlisted in July, 1777, under Capt. Corris, in the regiment of Col. Enos, was in command of the guard at Horseneck and afterward under the command of Major Humphreys near Fort Independence. In the conflict which occurred there, Lieut. Pritchard, with others, was taken prisoner and confined, first at King's Bridge, then in New York, and afterward on a prison-ship in the Northi River. His commission was taken from him by his inhuman captors and he was so ill treated that-like most of the other prisoners on that infamous ship-he survived but a short time. His generous character may be inferred from the fact that he might have escaped being taken prisoner but that he would not abandon a wounded, comrade, and that he afterward divided his funds with a fellow prisoner, to which act of liberality Bradford Steel ascribed his own recovery by means of the decent provision and comforts which he was thus enabled to purchase.
Bradford Steel, son of Capt. Bradford Steel, born in 1761, enlisted July 10, 1777, at the age of sixteen, under Capt. Corris, regiment of Col. Enos. Tho company was at first stationed at Horseneck, but was soon after ordered to join a branch of the continental army under the command of Maj. Humphreys. They marched to Peekskill and there joined the army and marched to West Chester, about 2,000 strong and having two pieces of artillery. At the battle near Fort Independence, (General Varnum, com- manding officer,) Steel, with Lieut. Pritchard and others, were taken prison- ers. One of the number becoming deranged under his sufferings, the British soldiers beat him with their muskets, then tied him on a horse, took him to King's Bridge and threw him over, leaving him with his head and shoulders buried in the mud. At night Steel and thirteen companions were placed in a small tent guarded by Hessian soldiers, and if any one pressed ont the tent cloth he was sure to feel the prick of a bayonet. Next day they were taken
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to the Sugar House, where most of the prisoners had nothing to cat for three or four days. They were then allowed four ounces each of wormy sea biscuit and four ounces of Irish pork daily.
About the 1st of December they were put on board a ship in the North River. After fifteen days the small pox broke out. Steel and twenty-five others were taken to the hospital, where they had so little care that only four of the number survived. Steel saw one man with his feet so frozen that after a time they dropped off at the ankles. One day while Steel was im- prisoned at the Sugar House, a well known tory came along and was all allow- ed by the guard to pass in. The prisoners seized him, dragged him to the pump, and the old pump handle went up and down in fine style until he was thoroughly drenched. He was then allowed to run, the prisoners saying good-bye to him with a shower of brickbats. Ang. 8, 1778, the few survivors received tidings that they were to be exchanged. Said Steel, "On the next day we were called out and paraded in the prison yard. To behold such a company of living skeletons, one might almost imagine that the prophecy concerning the dry bones had been fulfilled in us." Aug. 16th, they landed at Elizabethtown Point, and were marched to the meeting house where the exchange was effected. Steel and three others who were too much reduced by their sickness and sufferings to be capable of farther military service, were discharged and returned home. Steel recovered his health after some months and was for many years a highly respected citizen of Humphreysville, and deacon of the Congregational Society, dying Dec. 24, 1841, aged 80 years.
John White, son of Daniel White, died Feb. 19th, 1830, aged 73. C.
Leach, fought under Washington seven years, was several times badly wounded. M.
Abram Bassett, died Nov. 17th, 1853, aged 81 years. E.
Theophilus Miles, died 1822, aged 83 years. E.
Truman Loveland. E.
Sergt. James Baldwin.
Jesse Baldwin, brother to above.
Isaac Johnson, son of Benajalı, died April 10th, 1813, aged 78. M.
Ezra Butler, afterward lived in the house now standing in the rear of the house of Sheldon Tucker.
Ball.
Jethro Martin, colored, Gen. Humphrey's servant, died in North Haven. Received a pension from the government until his death.
Joseph Mauwehu, (Chuse.) .
Phineas Johnson, from Pinesbridge.
Nathaniel Johnson, from Pinesbridge, drafted, served till the close of the war.
Linus Lounsbury, of Nyumphs, was a soldier in the last French War and in the Revolution.
C-Buried in the Congregational Cemetery ; E-Episcopal Cemetery ; M-Methodist Cemetery.
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
The memorandum of Lieut. Jabez Pritchard, who was taken prisoner with Bradford Steel and others, and died on board the prison ship, was brought home by Steel, and contains the list of guards detailed at Horseneck from Sept. 15th to 21st. Most of the company were probably from this immediate vicinity. The names are
Gideon Alling,
Isaac Durand,
Samuel Andress,
Vespation Eastman,
Philo Sperry, Jabin Sperry,
Abraham Barns,
Corp. Foot,
Job Sperry,
Nathaniel Black,
Amos Fox,
Alexander Sperry,
Edward Bassett,
Joseph Hulse,
Johnathan Sperry,
David Blakesley,
Johnathan Lyman,
Corp. Smith,
Corp. Bristol,
James Leech,
Wm. Smith,
Corp. Candee,
James Lines,
Lieut. Steel,
Oliver Chatfield,
Nathan Mallory,
John Swift,
Caleb Chatfield,
Major Morriss,
Wm. Tomlinson,
Reuben Canfield,
Abraham Murray,
Thomas Torrance,
Martin Clark,
Asahel Newel,
Adam Vose,
George Clark,
Ensign Osborn,
David Whittemore,
Chauncey Clark,
Lieut. Pierson,
Samuel Wood,
Amos Collins,
Noalı Peck,
Hezekiah Wooding,
Jolinathan Cartright,
John Prindle,
Eli Washband,
Jairus Congdon,
Jabez Pritchard,
Aaron Webster,
Joseph Deremore,
John Priestly,
Bowers Washburn,
George Dachester,
Oliver Root,
married the widow of David
Samuel Durand,
Joseph Sanford,
Wheeler, who died in the revolutionary service.
Ebenezer Durand,
James Yatman.
That those who had sacrificed so much for freedom were prompt in more peaceful times to frame aright the new government may be seen from the following resolution, adopted Oct. 8th, 1787 :
"Resolved that this Town will instruct, and that it does hereby instruct its representatives in the General assembly to use their influence to have a Convention called as speedily as possible for the purpose of taking into con- sideration the Constitution proposed by the Federal Convention, agreeable to the recommendation of Congress ; in hopes that the business may be entered upon at an early period by the Legislature. Voted and passed unanimously."
Capt Daniel Holbrook and Capt John Holbrook were appointed the dele- gates to the State Convention.
A lottery was established in 1782 by authority of the Town of Derby to defray the expense of a highway from Derby to Woodbury, by the House- turnock river and Wesquantuc or Rock House Hill Purchase, the cost not to exceed £500. Capt. Thomas Clark and Daniel Holbrook were to petition the General Assembly for its consent and approval. John Humphrey and Lieut Joseph Riggs were appointed to lay out the road. The same year Aslıbel Loveland was appointed to build a bridge over the Naugatuck "below the falls."
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Amity, embracing the present towns of Woodbridge and Bethany, was constituted a parish in October, 1739, in the following words :
Whereas upon the memorial of Ebenezer Beecher, Jasper Gunn, and the rest of the inhabitants of that part of the town of New Haven called Chestnut Hill, and also of Barnabas Baldwin, Joel Northrop and others, to the number of fifteen, living on the northerly bounds of Milford, moving to the General Assembly at New Haven in October last that they might become one entire distinct parish, and praying for a committee, &c., the said General Assembly did appoint a committee, who accordingly making their report to the General Assembly at Hartford in May last, and the same not being ac- cepted ; and the said General Assembly in May last appointing another com- mittee, (riz.) Messrs. William Gould, William Ward and Joseph Thompson, to view and report, &c .: And whereas the said last mentioned committee have to this Assembly made their report, that according to the direction of the said Assembly they have repaired to the above said places, &c., and find and are of opinion that they, the above said inhabitants and farms, are able and sufficient to support parish charges, and that their bounds and limits ought to be as follows, riz : The north bounds in part upon the line between New Haven and Wallingford, so far as from New Haven north-west bounds easterly to the West Rocks till it comes down to the south side of Samuel Baldwin's land; thence westerly to the highway at the end of Sperry's Farms ; thence southerly, keeping said highway that leads up the great hill to Darby road ; then southerly at the rear of Westfield lots or second division lots ; then southerly till it comes to the south side of Capt. Isaac Johnson's farm ; then westwardly, between said Johnsons and that which was formerly Jeremiah Osborn's farm, to Milford east line; then westwardly to a cross highway ; then keeping said highway to the south-east corner of Hogs Meadow Purchase, so called, in Milford ; then westerly with the south line of Hogs Meadow Purchase, to the partition line between Milford and Derby ; then northerly, in said partition line, to Lebanon brook, so called ; then east- erly by said Lebanon brook to New Haven line; then northerly in said line between New Haven and Milford till it comes to New Haven north-west corner bounds aforesaid ; exeluding the lands in said Milford on the race be- tween New Haven line and Hogs Meadow Purchase from the aforesaid south bounds of the same, north to Derby road ; and the lands of Fletcher Newton and John Hind in said Hogs Meadow Purchase, and Ephraim Gillett and his estate; and also exclusive of Samuel Sperry, Joshua Sperry and Jona- than Sperry, with their estates in New Haven bounds ; as per said report on file, dated October sixth, 1738, doth appear :
It is thereupon resolred by this Assembly, That the above said memo- rialists, inhabitants of New Haven and Milford situated and living within the bounds and limits above described, exclusive of the persons and estates above in said committee's report exempted and excluded, as also exclusive of the lands of Capt. John Riggs, Samuel Riggs and Joseph Riggs, lying within the bounds of Milford, be and become together one entire, separate and distinct society or parish, subsisting and known by the name of the Parish of Amity, and endowed with all powers and privileges wherewith other parishes within this government are by law endowed." Col. Records, Vol. 8, pages 201-2.
Woodbridge was incorporated as a town in 1784, and was named from Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge, the first clergyman, who was ordained in 1742. This town has a fund of about five thousand dollars, given by Mr. Stephen
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Sanford, who it appears was a firm friend to the American cause during the Revolution. His will read thus : "I also give to the society of Amity, in the town of New Haven, for the support of a Presbyterian or Congregational minister, in said society, he being a friend to this, and the United States of America, after my wife's estate therein shall be ended," &c.
Rev. Daniel Humphreys, the father of General David Humphreys, for fifty-four years the established minister of the First Society, died in 1787. The follwing is a copy of the inscription on his monument in the old Derby burying ground:
The Revd. Daniel Humphreys died Sept. 2d, 1787, in the 81st year of his age. For more than half a century he was the established minister of the first Society in this town. Mrs. Sarah Humphreys, the affectionate wife of his youth, and the tender companion of his advanced age, died July 29th, 1787, just five weeks before him.
The seasons thus As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll, Still find them happy ; and consenting spring Sheds her own rosy garlands on their heads: Till evening comes at last serene and mild,
When after the long vernal day of Life Enamour'd more as more remembrance swells
With many a proof of recollected love,
Together down they sink in social sleep,
Together freed their gentle spirits fly, To scenes where love and bliss immortal reign.
In 1789 the Congregational Society was formed by the withdrawal of twenty-six persons from the Congregational church in Derby, as narrated in the account of the Congregational church of Seymour, on pages 10 and 17 of this book. Capt. Timothy Baldwin was the first deacon of the new society and Levi Tomlinson the next. The latter lived in the house on the Ansonia road now owned by Judge Bronson. After losing three children he moved to Ohio. The third deacon was Bradford Steel, Jun.
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