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 With an appendix, containing historical documents of local interest 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 26
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* Samuel Worden, the father of the doctor, thus notices the death of his wife on the records : "September 13, in the year 1715, it was to me that wofull day in which my dear, and tender, and loving wife departed this life and was buried on the 15th."
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December 17, 1728, the town voted to Dr. Thomas Worden " for trav-el and Medisons applied to Ebenezer Hunter's child, £3."
As indicating the public solicitude early manifested for the unfortunate poor, we add a few items from the records.
" Jan. 4, 1726-7, voted to allow to Dr. David Hartshorn, for services to Gaylor, £0 7s 0d.
To Thomas Blythe, for tending Gaylor £2 2s 0d.
To 13 watches with Gaylor, 2s each per night, £1 6s 0d."
" December 19, 1727. To Thomas Blythe, for digging Gaylor's grave, £0 5s 0d." July 5, 1727. " The inhabitants do now, by their vote, agree to allow to cach man that watches with Micah Rood two shillings per night. Also to those who have attended said Rood by the day, three shillings per day."
December 17, 1728. To Jacob Hyde, for digging Micah Rood's grave, £0 4s Od.
Dr. JOSEPH PERKINS was the eldest son of deacon Joseph Perkins, who married Martha Morgan in 1700. His lineage runs back to the first settler of the name, who came to America in the ship Lyon, of Bristol, in company with Roger Williams, in 1631.
Dr. Perkins was born 1704, and graduated at Yale college when twenty- three years old. Having enjoyed the best medical instruction obtainable, he opened an office in the present Lisbon. Possessed of brilliant talents, ardent in the pursuit of knowledge, and venturesome in experiment, he became distin- guished as a daring surgeon. Most of the capital operations of the circunjacent country were performed by his hand.
Attempting, on one occasion, a hazardous operation, the patient, a slave, died under the knife. Chagrined at the loss, the master charged the surgeon with having sent his victim prematurely to the Devil. " It is fortunate," said Per- kins, " that the only loss falls upon the owner, as the slave could not possibly suffer from an exchange of masters." Dr. Perkins was also a man of piety, patriotism, and benevolence. He filled the office of deacon from 1756 till his death, July 7, 1794.
A brief notice of the members of his family may not be uninteresting. He mar- ried, July, 1730, Mary, second daughter of Dr. Caleb Bushnell, already noticed. His eldest son, Dr. Joseph, born in 1733, became an eminent physician in his native town; was the father of Dr. Joseph Perkins, late of Norwich, and Dr. Elijah Perkins of Philadelphia, who died 1806, and the grandfather of the pres- ent Dr. N. S. Perkins, of New London.
The fourth child, Dr. Elisha Perkins, of Plainfield, acquired a world wide notoriety as inventor of the "medical tractors," from the use of which many supposed cures were reported, as well in Europe as America.
The seventh and youngest, Dr. Caleb Perkins, practiced in West Hartford. He married a sister of the author of McFingal.
Dr. CHRISTOPHER HUNTINGTON, a resident in that part of Norwich now called Bozrah, was the eldest son of Christopher, of West Farms, and grandson of Christopher, the first male child born in Norwich. Dr. H. appears to have been
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the sole physician of New Concord during its carly history. He also held the offices of deacon and clerk in the church; died in 1800.
He married, September 29, 1748, Sarah Bingham, and had six children, of whom the youngest, Christopher, became a physician.
Thus much for the earliest list of doctors.
Dr. THEOPHILUS ROGERS was born at Lynn, Massachusetts, October 4, 1699, the sixth in descent from John Rogers, the proto-martyr who was burned at Smith- field, February 4, 1555. Dr. Rogers studied his profession, and practiced for a while, in Boston. Afterwards, removing to Norwich West Farms, he entered upon a wide sphere of usefulness. Dr. Theophilus Rogers* died at Norwich, September 29, 1753. His wife died on the 17th of November, of the same year, and both sleep in one grave.
Dr. EZEKIEL ROGERS, eldest son of the above, was born at Norwich, October 2, 1723. Talented and amiable, he entered upon his professional career with bright prospects. But the hopes of many friends were doomed to disappointment, for in the flower of youth he died Nov. 11, 1745.
Dr. THEOPHILUS ROGERS, jr., younger brother of the above, having studied with his father, located in business at Bean Hill. The labors of an extensive practice, he performed according to the usual custom, on horseback. In the revolution Dr. Rogers was a staunch whig, a member of the committee of safety, and very active in the cause of liberty.
He married, March 25, 1754, Penelope Jarvis, of Roxbury, and had one son and three daughters. He died of consumption, September 29, 1801, aged 70. He was noted for rigid adherence to etiquette and nicety in matters of dress and appearance. Habitual courtesy, graceful manners, and skill in the winsome play of conversation, threw a chiarm around his presence which was felt alike by young and old.
The name and family have been distinguished in both the medical and cler- ical professions, on each side of the Atlantic.
Dr. ELINU MARVIN was born in Lyme about the year 1753, graduated at Yale college in 1773, and afterwards studied medicine with Dr. Theophilus Rogers, second, whose daughter he married. Entering the American army during the revolutionary war as a lieutenant, he soon won a high character for bravery, activity and efficiency. With others he suffered at Valley Forge on " the dread- ful winter." Leaving the army before the close of the war to resume the prac- tice of medicine, he located at the " Landing." Fond of military affairs, he was subsequently prominent in organizing the militia, and became brigadier
*Dr. Theophilus Rogers was the second son of captain Ezekiel Rogers, an instructor of youth, and the widow Louis (Ivory) Bligh, of Lynn, grandson of Ezekiel Rogers and Margaret Hubbard, of Lynn, and great grandson of the Rev. Nathaniel Rogers and Margaret Crane, of Islington, parish in Suffolk, England. The latter came to America in 1636, settling at Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Dr. Theophilus married October 20, 1720, Elizabeth, second daughter of William Hyde and Anne Bushnell, of Norwich, who was the third son of Samuel Hyde and Jane Lee, and grand-on of William Hyde, the emigrant ancestor of that family.
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general. As his fine talents were supported by an attractive countenance and genial social qualities, he was a general favorite, being much honored both in and out of his profession.
When the yellow fever broke out in New York, in 1798, he determined to visit the city in order to study the disease and qualify himself for its successful treatment. On returning home, he fell the first victim to that pestilence, a vol- untary sacrifice offered up on the altar of humanity. Like many noble breth- ren in a calling around which dangers thicken frightfully when "pestilence walketh in darkness, and destruction wasteth at noonday," he offered his own life in the devoted endeavor to ward off the blow of the destroyer from others.
His death sent a pang through the community, falling crushingly upon an amiable wife and six young children.
" What 's noble let 's do it, And make death proud to take us."
Dr. BENJAMIN WHEAT was a son of Dr. Samuel Wheat,* of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was born about 1709. Having studied the usual pre- liminary branches under the tuition of his father, he removed to Norwich at the early age of twenty-one. He resided where Thomas Billings, esq., now lives, in the valley just south of Bean Hill. For nearly thirty years he contin- ued in active practice, meanwhile instructing students in the principles of the healing; art. At the death of the father, Dr. Samuel, in 1750, the son inher- ited his valuable library, several volumes of which, containing the autograph of the ancient owner, written in bold and smooth hand, are now in the writer's possession.
Dr. JOHN BARKER, whose residence was located in the eastern part of Franklin, was the eldest son of John and Hannah (Brewster) Barker, and was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1729. The ordinary school advantages of that day he carefully improved. As a medical student in the office of Dr. Joseph Perkins, his close application, keen insight into the mysteries of disease, and particularly his quick and accurate interpretation of equivocal symptoms, gave certain promise of future success. Commencing business in 1750, he la- bored in the same field for more than forty years, till stricken down by death. As a physician, Dr. Barker enjoyed an enviable popularity, both with the public and the profession. He was extensively employed in consultation throughout eastern Connecticut, and great deference was yielded to his opinions.
He was one of the original memorialists who petitioned the legislature for a medical society. Not discouraged by the failure of that attempt, he and his compeers persevered till ten or twelve years later their efforts resulted in the organization of a voluntary association, with Dr. Barker for its first president. To this position he was annually re-elected so long as he lived.
Many anecdotes of Dr. Barker are still preserved. For thesc we have no
* Dr. Samuel Wheat was son of Samuel, born at Concord, October 25th, 1641, The first Samuel was son of Moses and Thomasine Wheat, who came from England in the ship Elizabeth, in 1635, the second year after the settlement of Concord.
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room. But even without collateral evidence, these would show that he was a man of sparkling wit, quick perceptions, sound common sense, and not least, generous heart. It was to these strong and noble traits of character that he owed his success, for he was not graced with elegance of person or polish of manner, nor did his pointed repartees derive their force from any fastidious selection of words. His careless and slovenly habits led a cotemporary to remark,
"Barker, a diamond, was both coarse and rough, But yet a diamond was, of sterling worth."
He died June 13th, 1791, of cholera morbus. On the 19th of September fol- lowing, Dr. Philemon Tracy, by appointment, delivered an eulogy on his life and character, before the N. L. Co. medical society.
Dr. ELISHA TRACY, son of captain Joseph Tracy,* was born at West Farms, in 1712, and graduated at Yale college in 1738. It was the wish of friends that he should enter the ministry, but yielding to his own predilections he commenced the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Theophilus Rogers, sr. He possessed thorough classical scholarship, and was well versed in medical literature.
In 1775 Dr. Tracy was appointed one of the members of a committee to ex- amine all candidates applying for situations in the army, either as surgeons or assistant surgeons.
For his earnest advocacy of inoculation for small pox, he encountered a storm of prejudice and persecution. By two grand jurors of the county he was pre- sented "for communicating the small pox, by inoculation, to Elijah Lathrop and Benjamin Ward, both of Norwich, aforesaid, and sundry other persons, against the peace, and contrary to the laws of this state." Pleading guilty to the charge, he was held in a recognizance of sixty pounds, to appear and an- swer before the county court. He was fortunate, however, in living to see his own views very generally adopted by the community.
Dr. Tracy was author of the inscription in memory of Samuel Uncas,t that brought to light the obscure Indian word " Wauregan," which has since ac- quired great local popularity.
After an active life of forty-five years, he died, in 1783, widely beloved and lamented.
* Joseph Tracy was the son of the first John Tracy, and a nephew of Dr. Solomon Tracy, already noticed. He married, first, June 6th, 1743, Lucy Huntington, and had daughter Lucy, born July 20th, 1744, who became wife of Dr. Philip Turner. After giving birth to five other children, wife Lucy died, October 12th, 1751. He married, second, April 16th, 1754, Elizabeth Dorr, of Lyme. Son Philemon born May 30th, 1757. By last marriage he had ten children.
+ The epitaph is as follows :----
"For beauty, wit, for sterling sense, For temper mild, for eloquence, For courage bold, for things wauregan, He was the glory of Moheagan- Whose death has caused great lamentation
Both in ye English and ye Indian nation."
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Dr. PHILEMON TRACY, son of the preceding, was born May 31st, 1759. Hav- ing enjoyed the professional teachings of his father and Dr. Philip Turner, he practiced medicine in his native town for more than fifty-five years. His forte lie in the patient and thorough investigation of chronic diseases, especially those which, from their complications, demanded deep research and accurate discrimination.
Honorable as a counselor, and faithful as a physician, his services were ex- tensively sought both at home and abroad.
The following "recollections" are from the pen of one* of our most gifted authoresses :- " As a man, greatly distinguished in liis profession, grave in man- ner, courteous in speech, held as an oracle in counsel, studying the cases of his patients with a profound attention that won their confidence, as his syin- pathy did their grateful regard. His habit was minutely to investigate every symptom before prescribing, to require strict obedience to his prescriptions, to regulate diet and regimen, and to give as little medicine as possible. I well re- member his dignified deportment, his originality in conversation, and that in early childhood I thought him a tutelary being, and that he liad power to heal all diseases."
We can not forbear to add that we remember with gratitude, in our early professional intercourse with Dr. Tracy, his courtesy, his many acts of kind- ness and words of encouragement.
Passing to the " army surgeons," we are compelled to confine our remarks to the briefest limits. The first on the list is
Dr. RICHARD TOZER. He was a student of Dr. Benjamin Wheat, and after- wards served as surgeon's mate in the Louisbourg expedition, under Dr. Norman Morrison, of Hartford. Though this military enterprise was success- ful, Dr. Tozer never returned, but died at Louisbourg.
Dr. JONATHAN MARSH, a native of Wethersfield, but resident of Norwich, was appointed surgeon to the force sent against Crown Point, in Aug., 1755. The following year he also accompanied a second expedition against the same place, in the same capacity.
Dr. Marsh was chiefly distinguished for success in bone setting. His death, in 1766, was caused by the absorption of virus, in treating a wound accidentally inflicted at a celebration of the repeal of the stamp act, in Hartford.
Dr. JONATHAN MARSH, jr., eldest son of the above, was twelve years old when his father died. But under the tuition of his mother, who claimed skill in the art of bone setting, he became famous in that special department. His death, April 18, 1798, was esteemed a public calamity.
Dr. ELISHA LORD, son of Cypriant and Elizabeth Backus Lord, was born Aug. 10, 1726. He located first at Farmington, but subsequently returned to Nor- wich. After accompanying the troops sent against Crown Point, he was ap- pointed, May, 1758, surgeon to the first regiment. In this capacity, and as di-
* Mrs. Sigourney.
{ Cyprian was a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Lord, and was born at Saybrook, March, 1702.
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rector of hospital stores, he served till Dec. 22, 1760. He died at the age of forty-two.
Dr. PHILIP TURNER, son of captain Philip and Ann (Adgate) Turner, was born Feb. 25, 1739-40. Having enjoyed the excellent instructions of Dr. Elisha Tracy, he received, in March, 1760, the appointment of assistant surgeon to a provincial regiment stationed at Ticonderoga, under the command of general Amherst. The exterior advantages of fine person and graceful address were passports to the society of those whose friendship, in a professional point of view, was likely to prove most profitable. His intimacy with the English surgeons afforded opportunities for improvement rarely enjoyed by men from the colonies. For at that period, when existing medical literature was for the most part locked up in the Latin tongue, the principal resources of the young and inexperienced practitioner were the precepts he had treasured up from the oral teachings of his instructor. The European surgeons were, as a class, too pretentious and exclusive to think of imparting information to their backwoods cousins. But Dr. Turner was treated by them with marked courtesy, and thus enjoyed ample facilities for learning the most approved methods of operation and treatment.
Having continued with the army till the peace of 1763, he then returned to Norwich, where he practiced the art of surgery with distinguished success. Upon the commencement of hostilities with England he accompanied the Con- necticut troops on their first campaign before Boston. He was also with the army at New York, in 1776. The disastrous battles of Long Island and White Plains brought into requisition all the resources of his ingenuity and professional skill.
In 1777, Dr. Turner was appointed surgeon-general of the eastern depart- ment of the army, which position he ably filled till near the close of the war. He then returned to his former field of private labor, where he stood unrivaled as an operator.
About the year 1800 he removed to the city of New York. Shortly after, he was appointed surgeon to the staff in the United States service, and stationed at York Island. This post he held till his death, in 1815. He was interred with military honors.
Dr. Turner possessed, in an eminent degree, the essential qualifications of a surgeon; accurate judgment, unflinching resolution, and steady nerve.
The late Dr. Shippen, of Philadelphia, remarked that he had never, either in Europe or America, seen an operator who excelled him.
During the periods of his civil practice, many students sought his instructions. The recommendation of the teacher was esteemed by his pupils a sufficient. guaranty of success.
He married early in life the eldest. daughter of his medical instructor, and had two sons. The eldest,
Dr. JOHN TURNER, born in 1764, seemed to inherit the strong qualities of his father's mind, and to surpass him in acuteness of perception and nicety of discernment. Familiarity, from early boyhood, with the duties and practical details of medical life, gave direction to his tastes, and was insensibly fitting
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him to adorn his future calling. It was his peculiarly happy lot to have no enemies and a large circle of devoted personal friends. This was owing to genuine benevolence of soul, manifesting itself in all the relations of life. Not to mention the heart ever welling forth sympathy for the suffering, the tongue that spoke no words to the sick but words of consolation or cheer, the generous bearing of Dr. Turner toward medical brethren, his freedom from professional jealousy, and his exertions to promote their welfare, indicate the true nobility of the man. He died in 1837.
We append a list of those who began practice before the present century. We aim to condense as much as possible. A majority of them were members of the Connecticut medical society :--
Dr. OBADIAH KINGSBURY, born 1735, died 1776.
Dr. NATHANIEL HYDE, born 1746, died 1832.
Dr. ELIJAH HARTSHORN, born 1754, died 1839.
These three were born at West Farms, studied with Dr. Barker, and prac- ticed in their native town.
Dr. BENJAMIN ELLIS, son of Rev. John Ellis, born at West Farms, 1752, student of Dr. Joshua Downer, of Preston ; field of practice, Franklin; death in 1835.
Dr. JOHN SCOT was born in Groton, studied with Dr. Elisha Tracy, and settled in Bozrah. He possessed great professional merit, taught many students, and died at an advanced age.
Dr. LUTHER MANNING Was born in Scotland, Connecticut, 1748, studied with Dr. Cheney, and settled in Lisbon, where he died, 1813.
Dr. JEDEDIAH BURNHAM was born at Lisbon, 1755, studied with Dr. Joseph Perkins, sen., and for a time practiced in his native town. Late in life he re- moved to Ohio, where he died in 1840.
Dr. LEMUEL BOSWELL, a cotemporary of Dr. Marvin, possessed an extensive practice at the Landing.
Dr. BENJAMIN MOORE, who died at Demarara about 1790, for a time practiced in the city of Norwich.
The following were natives of Norwich, but engaged in business elsewhere :
Dr. WILLIAM WHITING, son of colonel William Whiting, was born in Bozrah, 1730. Having studied with Dr. John Bulkley, of Colchester, he was appointed, in May, 1758, assistant surgeon of the second regiment of the Connecticut forces. After the close of the French war he settled at Hartford, but subse- quently removed to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where he became distin- guished as a patriot and civilian .*
Dr. PHINEAS HYDE, son of Phineas Hyde, and maternal grandson of Dr. Theophilus Rogers, sen., was born at West Farms, 1749. He practiced suc- cessively at Poquetanock and Mystic. During the revolution he was a surgeon in the United States service, both in the army and navy. He died in 1820.
Dr. LUTHER WATERMAN Was born at West Farms about 1750. He married Jerusha, daughter of his preceptor, Dr. Barker. He was attached as surgeon to the forces under colonel Knowlton during the campaign of 1776. After the war he removed to the west.
* Vide Alden's Biog. Notices in the Am. Qr. Reg., vol. vii.
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Dr. ELIPHAZ PERKINS, son of captain John Perkins, was born at Lisbon, 1753, graduated at Yale college, 1776, studied medicine with Dr. Joseph Perkins, his uncle, married a daughter of Dr. Fitch, of Canterbury, and settled in Vermont. Toward the close of the century he removed to Marietta, Ohio, where he died in 1828, greatly respected as a physician.
Dr. ABIJANI PERKINS, younger brother of the preceding, entering the revolu- tionary war as surgeon, was taken prisoner by the British at New York, and having barely crossed the threshold of manhood, fell a martyr to the cause of liberty.
Dr. JONATHAN KNIGIIT was born in Lisbon, 1758, studied with Dr. Cheney, and in 1777 received an appointment in a regiment under the command of colonel Durkee, of Norwich. He was at Valley Forge during the most disheartening period of the war. Leaving the army in 1780, he subsequently settled at Nor- walk, where his useful and eventful life was brought to a close in 1829. Pro- fessor Knight, of Yale college, is his son.
Dr. ABEL HUNTINGTON was born in Franklin, 1777. He located at East Hamp- ton, Long Island, was a member of the New York senate, and from 1833 to'37 represented his district in congress, besides filling other offices from time to time, and always worthily. Died 1858.
THE PRINTERS OF NORWICH.
In the year 1773, the art of printing was first introduced into Norwich. Two printing offices were established in the town during that year, and from one a weekly newspaper was issued.
Timothy Green, of New London, who was then printer to the colony, opened a printing office in this town early in 1773, and in company with Judah Paddock Spooner, his brother-in-law, prosecuted the business until 1778. At that time the people of Vermont had just completed an independent state government, although they were in the asserted limits of the state of New York. Upon invitation of the government of the new state, Green and Spooner removed their office from Norwich to Westminster, Vermont, where they established the first newspaper printed in that state, under the title of "The Vermont Gazette, or Green Mountain Post Boy." The motto of this paper was indicative of the spirit of the times :-
"Pliant as reeds where streams of Freedom glide ;
Firm as the hills to stem oppression's tide."
The other printing office established in this town in 1773, was by a company consisting of Alexander and James Robertson, who had emigrated from Scot- land to Albany, and from Albany came here, and John Trumbull, a native of Charlestown, Mass. In the month of October, in that year, they issued the first number of "The Norwich Packet, and the Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island Weekly Advertiser." The Packet was continued by this company until 1776, when the Robertsons, being tories, were obliged to leave Norwich. They went to New York, and on the conclusion of the war
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took up their residence in the British province of Nova Scotia. Trumbull conducted the paper alone till his death in 1802. The title was then changed to the "Connecticut Centinel," and printed but a short time for the benefit of his widow, Lucy Trumbull.
On the 29th of November, 1791, Ebenezer Bushnell issued the first number of " The Weekly Register." In the issue of that paper of the 7th of June following, Bushnell announces that he has associated with himself Thomas Hubbard "in the Printing and Stocking Weaving business." This firm con- tinued until Oct. 1, 1793, when Bushnell retired, leaving the business in the hands of Hubbard. In 1796, the office was removed from the Town to the Landing, then called Chelsea Landing, and the title of the paper changed to "The Chelsea Courier." On the 20th of November, 1805, Thomas Hubbard retired from the paper, leaving as his successor, his son, Russell Hubbard, who soon changed the title to "The Norwich Courier," by which title it has ever since been known. In February, 1817, Mr. Hubbard formed a co-partnership with Theophilus R. Marvin, and under the firm of Hubbard & Marvin, the Courier was continued until 1819, when Marvin removed to Boston. In April, 1822, the paper was purchased by Thomas Robinson and John Dunham, and continued by them until March, 1825, when it passed into the hands of Dunham, who retained it until 1842. In September, 1842, Dorson E. Sykes assumed the control of the Courier, and retained it until March, 1859, when he retired, and the paper was purchased by George B. Smith. In the August following, Smith's affairs were involved in bankruptcy, and at the present time the Courier is managed by his trustee.
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