USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > The Norwich jubilee. A report of the celebration at Norwich, Connecticut, on the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the town, September 7th and 8th, 1859. With an appendix, containing historical documents of local interest > Part 18
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The first child of this marriage was Ruth Huntington ; who married deacon Ralph Wheelock, of Windham, and was the mother of the reverend Eleazer Wheelock, D. D., founder of the Indian school at Lebanon, and the first president of Dartmouth college, New Hampshire. She was also the ancestress of colonel John Wheelock, LL. D., of Hanover, New Hampshire, a distin- guished officer in the war of the revolution, and second presi- dent of Dartmouth college; of Abigail Wheelock, wife of the reverend Benjamin Pomeroy, D. D., minister of Hebron; of Ruth Wheelock, wife of the reverend William Patton, of Hartford; and of Maria Malleville Wheelock, wife of the reverend William Al- len, D. D., of Northampton, president of Bowdoin college, and author of the American Biographical Dictionary.
The second child of deacon Christopher Huntington by his first wife, Sarah Adgate, was Christopher Huntington, tertius; who married for his first wife Abigail (Abel) Lathrop, widow of Bar- nabas Lathrop, and sister of my great grandmother, Mary Abel. The sixth child was deacon Hezekiah Huntington, of Norwich, who was judge of the probate court of the Norwich district twenty- five years, and one of the assistants of the colony for a longer period of time. His granddaughter, Elizabeth Huntington, be- came the wife of Frederick Wolcott, of Litchfield, son of the first governor, Oliver Wolcott.
I have only time to add that the first white male child born in Norwich, had by his two wives, twelve children, and died in 1735; that he was the ancestor of many who are an honor to this good old town, and several of them are now present; and that among his descendants there are numerous families of Huntingtons, Hydes, Wheelocks, Leffingwells, Lathrops, Rudds, &c.
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And now I will detain you a few moments to speak of the first daughter of Norwich, sister of my great grandfather, and of a few among the many of her many distinguished descendants.
Elizabeth Hyde, as you have already been told, was born here in August, 1660. Her mother, Jane Lee, was born in England ; and with her parents and her brother and sister, sailed for Ameri- ca in 1641. Her father died with the small pox on the passage. The rest of the family arrived at Saybrook, where they settled on the east side of the river; and where Thomas Lee, her brother, was a large landholder. Her father, Samuel Hyde, was the only son of William Hyde the first, of Norwich, who came from Eng- land and settled at Hartford, where his name appears upon the monument erected to the first settlers of that town. As the infant settlement of Norwich, in the arms of a loving Providence, has become a great city, and has sent forth its thousands of sons and daughters to improve and bless mankind, so has the infant Eliza- beth Hyde, who, in August, 1660, was nurtured upon her moth- er's breast, been enabled, with the assistance of her sons and her daughters, and by the care and protection of the same loving Providence, been enabled to raise up, instruct and Christianize a host of descendants, and send them forth upon the same heavenly errand of love and mercy.
This Elizabeth Hyde married, in 1682, Richard Lord the first, of Lyme, third son of William Lord, of Saybrook, and grandson of Thomas Lord the first, of Hartford. She had two sons and seven daughters, all of whom arrived at adult ages and married.
She was the ancestress of Charles J. McCurdy, of Lyme, lieu- tenant governor, and justice of the superior court of Connecticut, and United States minister at the court of Vienna; of John Mil- ton Niles, of Hartford, United States senator, and postmaster gen- eral; of Samuel D. Hubbard, LL. D., of Middletown, member of congress, and postmaster general; of Caroline M. Rosekrans, wife of Benjamin F. Wade, United States senator, of Ohio; of Lucin- da C. Niles, wife of Elisha M. Pease, governor of Texas; of Eli- jah Hubbard, of Middletown, United States commissary, and for many years a member of the state legislature; of reverend Robert Hubbard, minister of Shelburn, Massachusetts; of Phebe Hub- bard, wife of Thomas H. Hubbard, of Utica, member of congress,
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and clerk of the supreme court of New York; of colonel Nehe- miah Hubbard, of Middletown, quartermaster general in the rev- olutionary war; of John W. Allen, of Washington, member of congress, of Ohio; of Ursula McCurdy Allen, wife of judge Sher- lock J. Andrews, of Cleveland, Ohio; of Sarah McCurdy Hart, wife of the reverend Samuel Farmer Jarvis, LL. D., professor of biblical learning in the protestant episcopal seminary at New York; of Anne McCurdy Hart, wife of commodore Isaac Hull, of the United States navy; of Sarah McCurdy, wife of reverend Henry Channing, minister of New London; of general Theodore Sill, of Whitesboro, member of congress; of Sarah Sill, wife of Thomas Ruggles Gould, of Whitesboro, member of congress, and a very distinguished lawyer; of Elisha Sill, of Goshen, surgeon in general Wolcott's brigade, in the war of the revolution; of the reverend Elijah Sill, minister of New Fairfield; of major Richard Sill, of Albany, aid to major general William Alexander, (lord Sterling) in the revolutionary war; of colonel David Fithen Sill, of Lyme, town clerk and magistrate; of Elizabeth Sill, wife of colonel Robert Davison, who commanded a regiment in the ser- vice of the United States at the battle of Wyoming; of major gen- eral Elisha Sterling, of Salsbury, who was colonel of a regiment of militia in the service of the United States in the war of 1812; of Ansel Sterling, of Sharon, Connecticut, and Micah Sterling, of Watertown, New York, members of congress ; of judge Thomas Sill Sterling, of Winchester, Mississippi; of Mary Fish, wife of Joel A. Matteson, of Springfield, governor of Illinois; of the rev- erend Jared Lay Elliot, chaplain in the United States navy ; of Edward Gregory Elliot, a captain in the United States army ; of Mary Ann Elliot, wife of William C. Rives, of Washington, D. C., editor of the Washington Globe ; of the reverend John Elliot, D. D., minister of Madison and fellow of Yale college; of judge Ely Augustus Elliot, state senator, and brigadier general of artil- lery ; of Hannah Elliot, wife of reverend John Niles, minister of Bath, New York; of Eunice Lathrop, wife of judge Nathaniel Niles, of West Fairlie, Vermont, the talented author of "The American Hero," the war song of the revolution, which was sung by the choir yesterday ; of Anne Lord, first wife of colonel Zebulon Butler, of Wyoming, an officer in the French war, and commander of the United States troops at the battle of Wyoming ;
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of the reverend Zebulon Butler, D. D., of Port Gibson, Mississippi ; of Sylvania Butler, wife of Garrick Mallery, president judge of the 3d judicial district of Pennsylvania ; of Chester Butler, of Wilkes- barre, member of congress; of Priscilla Lord Mallery, wife of William Strong, judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, and member of congress ; of Hannah Butler, wife of Roswell Welles, of Wilkesbarre, circuit judge; of the reverend John Lord, minis- ter of Washington, New Hampshire; of the reverend John C. Lord, D. D., of Buffalo; of Charles Backus Lord, judge of the land court at St. Louis; of the reverend Claudius Buchannan Lord, of Springville, New York; of the reverend William Wil- berforce Lord, episcopal minister at Vicksburg, Mississippi; of Scott Lord, of Geneseo, New York, judge of the county court of Livingston county ; of Lucy Lord, wife of the reverend Zadock Darrow, of Lyme; of Joseph Lee Darrow, of Collinsville, Illinois, physician and clergyman ; of Eunice Amanda Look, wife of the reverend Reginald Heber Weller, episcopal clergyman at Jefferson City, Missouri; of judge Jedediah Peck, of Burlington, New York, state senator; of captain Joseph Jewett, of Lyme, an ofi- cer in the United States army, who was basely assassinated at the battle of Flatbush, by a British officer, to whom he had surren- dered; of Lynde Lord, esq., high sheriff of Litchfield county ; of colonel Elisha Sheldon, of Litchfield, who was the commander of a regiment of dragoons, in the revolutionary war ; of Dr. Elisha Sheldon, an eminent physician of Troy, New York; of Mary Platt, wife of colonel Carlos Waite, of the United States army ; of Alfred Ely, of Rochester, member of congress ; of the reverend Samuel Ely, of Somers; and of Mary Ely, wife of major Thomas Anderson, of Lyme, an officer in the army of the revolution.
This Elizabeth Hyde was also the ancestress of many families of Lords, Sills, Elys, Pearsons, Jewitts, Lees, Lathrops, McCurdys, Elliots, Butlers, Hubbards, Nileses, Sheldons, Pecks, Mathers, Raymonds, Moodys, Lays, Hydes, Latimers, Johnsons, Noyeses, Stewarts, Channings, Clarks, Sterlings, Wellses, Smiths, Crowells, Robertses, Andersons, Seldens, Perkinses, Beckwiths, Gardners, Bradfords, &c.
And when the record of the next two hundred years shall be made up, may some one, in behalf of each of Norwich's young and lovely maidens now here, be able to present a list of honorable
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and honored descendants which shall equal, if not surpass, that which I have now exhibited in behalf of my relative, the first born of the daughters of Norwich.
In addition to the distinguished and worthy descendants of some of the first settlers of Norwich, which have been particularized by me, I could give you the names of many scores of the descendants of others of the first settlers who have been as deservedly honored and esteemed as those I have mentioned. Indeed, with the ex- ception of one whose dishonored name shall not pollute my lips or offend your ears at this time, I can freely say, we have good reason for being proud of the descendants of the thirty-five origin- al proprietors of Norwich, and of others who have since adopted Norwich as their home.
And long may the sons and daughters of the good old nine miles square, and their descendants, wherever born and wherever their lots may be cast, continue to be deservedly honored and be- loved in their day and generation, and to be themselves an honor to their ancestry, and a blessing to their country and to their kind.
" The Mohegans :- Their services to our forefathers should be held in our ever- lasting and grateful remembrance."
This sentiment was responded to by William C. Gilman, of New York, Thomas Sterry Hunt, of Montreal, and Rev. Anson Glea- son.
" The Fair Town of Norwich .- Her foundations were laid in justice. Her soil was not wrested by force or guile from reluctant savages, but was, at least twice, solemnly conveyed by the Mohegans to the Colonists, and each time a satis- factory equivalent was paid and received. May her progress ever be according to this beginning ; then for ages shall she continue to be 'like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in season.'"
Charles W. Rockwell, of New York, being called upon to re- spond, said :---
MR. PRESIDENT :- That the foundations of Norwich were laid in justice, and that in all their intercourse with the Mohegans, the early settlers were ever careful to treat them as the rightful owners of the soil, is matter of history, and the public records contain evidence of the fact. But the presence of undisturbed harmony between them from 1659 to the present time, affords the clearest evidence on this point. (Cheers.) In the earlier period, the friend- ship of the Mohegans was essential to the safety of our fathers,
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and the growth of the town. For more than a century, however, they have been dependent on our friendship and protection for their very existence, and for all the means of common and religious instruction, and the establishment and maintenance of their church and school. (Applause.)
There is no similar record of friendly relations between the white and Indian races-an alliance offensive and defensive, founded upon mutual interests-an alliance most faithfully adhered to when our fathers were defenseless and feeble, by UNCAS and his people,-and now as solemnly observed by the people of Norwich, when the Mohegans are but the remnant of a once powerful nation. (Loud applause.) There are those who regard the £70 paid for the purchase of nine miles square, on the 6th of June, 1659, as a meager compensation for such a territory. We can not, at this late day, form any just estimate of the cash value of a small part of a wilderness, both populated and surrounded by savage tribes. But it is quite certain that the Indians had more land than money ; that they were anxious to secure the settlement of MASON and his friends, as their neighbors and protectors, and have received returns for their land and their services, the most ample, and now enjoy the care and guardiauship of the state of Connecticut,-a pro- tection which so long as they survive will be continued.
In addition to this general supervision, the graves of their chiefs have ever been respected, and the only monument on this continent in commemoration of the friendship of an Indian sachem, is that of UNCAS, erected by the women of Norwich. (Applause.)
The love of justice, in which the foundations of the town were laid, has marked its progress to this good hour; has never shone brighter than on this two hundredth anniversary; and the good name of Norwich was never in better keeping than on this glorious day. (Cheers.)
But in speaking of the " fair town of Norwich," is not its sur- passing beauty to be named? And if its reputation for old fashioned and sterling integrity of character may be confided to her resident children, we may entrust them with the care of its magnificent and venerable trees, the use of its water courses, and its architectural embellishments. The Norwich of to-day is in ad- vance of any former period of its history, in its outward appear- ance generally, its churches, schools and academies ; and we have
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the firm belief that at no former time were its pulpits filled by men of greater ability, or of purer and more ardent zeal in their sacred calling; or its halls of education presided over by more competent and devoted instructors.
Sir, claiming to know much of Norwich, and something of other fair towns in the eastern, western, and southern portions of our land, I am proud to hail it as my native town, and point to it as a model for beauty of scenery, for the comfort and elegance of its homes, and for its conservative influence far and near.
But, sir, in speaking of the "fair town of Norwich," may I not say a word of the fair of the town of Norwich ? (Cheers.) What, sir, has been the prominent, distinguishing characteristic of the people of Norwich? From the beginning until now; from the time when Uncas was closely besieged and near starvation, down to this grand jubilee, this fair town has been conspicuous for its whole souled liberality and benevolence. It is famed for its genuine hospitality, more than for all its other attractions and ad- vantages; and allow me to say, that for this good name, more to be prized than gold and silver, we are indebted to the women of Norwich, past and present, native and adopted. They are not afraid to entertain strangers,-and who can tell how many angels they have entertained unawares. (Loud cheers.)
Sir, while we admire all that is outside your stately and elegant mansions, the great attraction is within doors, and around your firesides. We are under the deepest obligations to yourself and your noble band of associates for your generous invitation to all the descendants of Norwich to celebrate this day among you. Sir, it requires a governor, and I had almost said a Norwich governor, to greet such an assembly as received your welcome yesterday. Warm and hearty as it was, it did not exceed, sir, that cordial wel- come that was extended to us individually at the homes of your families-to the tables and pillows so bountifully provided for the tens of thousands who obeyed your call. (Cheers.) No one here present, entertains a higher respect for the men of Norwich, than myself. I know their worth, and do not undervalue it, when, for all that is most estimable and praiseworthy, from long and familiar acquaintance, I am compelled to assign them to the second rank.
The remembrance of this great day will be fresh for many a year. The recollections of our gathering will recur to grateful
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hearts in the remotest habitations of men. The eloquent and in- structive addresses to which we have listened, the hymns that have been sung, will long ring in our ears, and their influence extend to remote generations; but I have an abiding conviction that those who have been received at your homes by your wives and daughters, will cherish the remembrance of the day as one of the happiest of their experience.
This is not the place to refer to individuals of this fair town. I leave that delicate but grateful duty to the young and eloquent historians of our town, and would advise them that while pursuing their interesting research among the worthies of ancient times, they devote themselves with still greater assiduity to a careful study of those nearer home. (Cheers.)
Sir, among the interesting events of this celebration is the com- mencement of a monument to the memory of captain JOHN MASON. Have you secured the co-operation of your wives and daughters in this work? (Applause.)
Do you know of a monument in the United States that has been erected by the voluntary contributions of the men? They are ready to lay corner stones with becoming ceremonies and eulogy ; but without an appropriation from some public treasury, or the grant of a lottery, they are apt to fail of completion until the women assume the work. They build the monuments to the brave and good; and few are the enterprises that make their appeal to our benevolence or patriotism, that prosper without their personal and active aid. (Cheers.)
Sir, I heartily wish that a suitable monument, which would commemorate the first settlement of this town, and this two hundredth anniversary thereof, be erected. It has been proposed to present this subject at this banquet, and I hope that before we separate, some movement to that end may be made.
To me it would serve as a memorial, not merely of those events, but of the open-hearted hospitality of the citizens of Norwich. (Loud cheers.)
" Franklin, Bozrah, Lisbon, Lebanon,. Preston, and Griswold .- Separation is not disunion. In affection we are still ONE."
Dr. Woodward responded as follows :-
MR. PRESIDENT : In response to the sentiment just read, I can assure you that we, as the off-shoots of ancient Norwich, rejoice in a
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common origin. It is for us a just source of pride and self-congrat- ulation that your early history is ours also. We proudly trace our lineage to the pioneers who, two centuries ago, rescued from barbarism these fair fields, which have already yielded an abundant harvest of the choicest fruits of civilization.
If for three-eighths of this period we have lived under separate corporations, the children none the less glory in the prosperity which advantages of location have conferred upon the parent town- ship. And while we rejoice that your records present an imposing array of illustrious names, let us modestly claim that from our more humble homes strong men have gone forth ; men who, in the various callings of life, have taken rank amongst the foremost ; men whose actions have left an enduring impress on the history of the country and the race. But all these names are clustered to-day in one bright galaxy, our common glory, our common heritage.
Mr. President : If in our progress it seemed fitting that the original domain of Norwich should be divided, and exist under distinct organizations, let not the bonds of our relationship be for- gotten or discarded. United by the ties of interest and blood, let us also be one in sympathies and in efforts to promote the general good.
" Then and Now-The Spinning Wheel and the Telegraph-Capital Musicians -One hums the Song of Progress, the other beats time."
The president introduced Mr. Daniel Tyler, as a gentleman born in the right place, who, like many others, would not stay there, but ran away. (Laughter.)
Mr. Tyler said :-
MR. PRESIDENT : In rising to respond to the sentiment just an- nounced, it is a fair, as it would be a legal presumption, that I as- sent to the enforcement of the ten minutes rule. And as you have so near at hand high equity power, by which you may enforce a specific compliance of implied contract, I can not hope to escape its exactions. [Chancellor. Walworth sat at the left hand of the presi- dent.]
So now, sir, if my wheel should chance to be under full head- way, its acquired impetus may cause a few revolutions, even after the hammer falls; so that if your excellency really expects to stop it at the end of ten minutes, perhaps prudence may dictate that you should commence the operation before I begin to spin !
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In the palmy days of the spinning wheel, two skeins were a day's work; and I shall hardly be willing to afford such evidence of de- generacy as to close mine with a single knot, and so stop at the first snap of the reel.
In the sentiment to which I attempt to respond, the spinning wheel is recognized, and very justly too, as possessing musical powers.
True, indeed, is it, that those " little" spinning wheels were the pianos of 1776, but with only two keys; the one was touched at six o'clock A. M., and the other at nine P. M .; and yet our grand- mothers were such skillful performers as to make the very best kind of music ; and the reason was, that they kept constantly humming the same tune, " from rosy morn till dewy eve." Besides, this wheel minstrelsy was the most profitable kind of instrumental music, for the hum of the spinning room saved our fathers the ne- cessity of paying out their hard earnings for the hum-hum of the counting room.
And now, although the spinning wheel challenges our high re- spect and veneration as a symbol of domestic industry and prim. itive simplicity, yet it is rather difficult to perceive the exact pro- priety of the declaration that it "hums the song of progress," be- cause many a good old lady would literally foot it all day without progressing an inch.
In relation to the other branch of the sentiment, that the " tele- graph beats time," although it is, doubtless, true, yet I have never heard of a trial of speed between them, and the reason why there has never been a match race I suppose to be, that among all the sportsmen of the day, no one can be found reckless enough to bet on old father Time. Not on the ground that he would be beaten by his modern competitor in three straight heats, but because he would surely be distanced before he could start !
I was prepared, when I came here, to witness a mighty gather- ing of people, but I could hardly believe that even at the flood tide of this celebration the crowd would equal the multitude who assemble upon a gala day in the great city of New York, and yet, sir, in the matter of tents we can this day Fill-more than the em- pire city herself, and because we can Fill-more, we can also fill better.
We have all of us, in our schoolboy days, read of the great wall of China, and sat in silent amazement as we contemplated the im-
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mense amount of time and labor the mighty structure must have cost, and now we have around us, not for our protection, (for there is none to molest or make us afraid,) but with us, and of us, as our cousin, our companion, and our friend, a Wall-worth more, yes, worth infinitely more !
And now, sir, leaving the sentiment, a word or two about our goodly town and city.
Norwich is the place of my birth, and although I left here at an early age, still I suppose I have an absolute title, a sort of fee simple interest in the honors of this day, which the longest resident of this city, born elsewhere, can not claim; and, although an alien may, by lapse of time and adversary possession, acquire a title to our lands and our houses, yet by no such process can he gain for him- self, or filch from us these honors, which are the rich, ripe family fruit of the locus in quo; therefore, while we bid all welcome to this gay pageant and this festive scene, yet we natives must be excused if we are a little clanish-if you please a little selfish-and we offer as our apology, which, we trust, will be deemed ample and satis- factory, that this first and only exhibition of that ugly trait is at the end of two hundred years from the foundation of the city. In the language of the constitution, " we hold this truth to be self- evident," that the sons and daughters of this old municipality, as she to-day gathers them beneath her wings, have the right and the privilege as grateful, obedient and affectionate children, to look up and exclaim, " God bless you, and smile upon you, and prosper you, our dear old mother !"
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