USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The history of Waterbury, Connecticut; the original township embracing present Watertown and Plymouth, and parts of Oxford, Wolcott, Middlebury, Prospect and Naugatuck. With an appendix of biography, genealogy and statistics > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
23
-
354
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
nation. They did not, however, meet with the reception they expected. Instead of being welcomed and petted, they were treated with superciliousness and neglect. The discipline of the army they found almost intolerable, and a thorough disgust for their new friends soon took the place of former admiration. Many, taking advantage of the proclamations by Congress of pardon to such as should return to duty, deserted the royal stan- dard, came home and took the oath of allegiance to the State. A part of these entered the American service. Numbers died or were killed while still with the British army. A few served in it till the elose of the war. Of the latter number, a part, after peace was declared, settled in Nova Scotia. Others found a home in the southern states, while two or three returned to Waterbury.
The following list embraces the names of persons who left Waterbury during the Revolutionary war, with the intention of joining the enemy. The list is not complete :
John Baxter; returned to Waterbury.
Daniel Benham.
Asa Blakeslee ; left Waterbury Dec. 4, 1776. His father, David, who encour- aged him to go, was assessed for the support of a soldier in the American army, but died before the tax was collected.
John Blakeslee ; died on Long Island while with the British.
Zealous Blakeslee.
Bela Bronson ; left Waterbury Dec. 10, 1776. His personal estate was confis- eated. He died on Long Island with the British.
David Brown, son of Daniel; died with the British in New York.
Capt. Hezekiah Brown. (See p. 351.)
Levi Brown ; died with the British.
-
Zera Brown, son of Capt. Hezekiah. He went away with his father (and through his influenee) in 1776, and joined the enemy on Long Island. The father died, and the son, " convinced of his error," returned to Waterbury and gave himself up to the eivil authority. He was fined by the Superior Court £30, and or- dered not to leave the town. In 1783, he presented a petition for a discharge-that he might labor for the support of his mother in Watertown, which was not granted.
Noah Candee, or Cambe ; estate confiscated.
Samuel Doolittle. His estate was confiscated.
James Doolittle; estate improved for the benefit of the State.
John Dowd ; joined the enemy at the age of 15 years; was ordered to go south and was there taken prisoner. He was confined in goal 15 months in Pennsylva- nia. His father, Jacob, brought a petition to the Assembly, saying that his son was seduced away, and was now willing to serve his country. He desired that he (the son) might have liberty to return home. The request was granted, bonds to be given for good behavior.
Samuel Dowd.
355
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Moses Dunbar. He went to the enemy and returned with a captain's commis- sion, to Northbury. Against the entreaties of his father, brothers, wife and child- ren, he attempted to enlist a company of soldiers, for the enemy's service, and was taken with King George's commission in his pocket. He was convicted and hung in Hartford, March 19, 1777. The gallows, in a public place, was kept standing for a long time as a warning to others.
Elihu Grilley, ) sons of Jehula ;
Daniel Grilley, § both died with the British.
Dan Finch ; returned before the close of the war.
William Finch.
Capt. Abraham Hickox. He left Jan. 10, 1776, entered the British army ; was ordered south in 1779, and was finally killed in battle. He had been a deputy sheriff in Waterbury, and his property was improved for the benefit of the State.
Darius Hickox; returned and married in Waterbury.
Joel Hickox. He went to Long Island with his father, in 1776, and on his sep- aration from him, " made a cruise in the boating service," was taken prisoner and confined in Newgate during the pleasure of the Court, for not pleading to the indictment, he claiming the right of exchange as a British subject. When the prison was broken open, he escaped to Long Island, whence he returned in ten days, having released an American prisoner. He then brought a petition (from which the above facts are gathered) to the General Court, in which he confessed his error, and asked to be released. He was required to give a bond of £150 for good behavior and appearance at Court, he to remain in Waterbury.
Reuben Hickox ; returned and then removed to Nova Scotia.
William Hickox.
Daniel Killum; died with the British.
William Maningirrous ; estate confiscated.
David Manvil. He with others, Jesse Tuttle and Epha Warner, joined the en- emy on Long Island, served them till Nov. 1777, and then escaped. They were examined by Gen. Parsons, and received from him a pass to return home. They were then committed to goal, but were afterwards suffered to go at large. One of them enlisted into the American service. They brought a petition to the As- sembly, in which they asked pardon and prayed that their furniture might be re- stored to them. The request was granted, and the officers who held the goods in custody were authorized to return them, notwithstanding their seizure and con- demnation, the petitioners paying the costs that had arisen.
Mead Merrell.
Richard Miles ; estate improved for the benefit of the State. He deserted from the British service.
Heman Monson ; deserted from the British service. A prosecution against him was dismissed March, 1778.
Daniel Nichols; died with the British.
Isaac Nichols ; died with the British, in 1776.
William Nichols ; estate confiscated. He went to Nova Scotia after the war, and there died.
Asahel Parker ; returned to Waterbury.
Elisha Parker; died with the British of small pox.
John Parker ; died with the British.
356
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
John Porter.
Timothy Porter; returned and took the oath of fidelity to the State. Elihu Prichard ; died with the British.
Eliphalet Prichard of Northbury ; returned after the war.
Thomas Prichard; died with the British.
Eli Rowley ; deserted from the British.
Elijah Scott.
Noah Scott.
Timothy Scovill; returned, and enlisted into the American army.
Isaac Shelton ; returned.
William Seeley ; returned.
Jesse Tuttle ; see David Manvil.
Aaron Warner ; returned.
David Warner, son of Aaron ; returned.
Epha Warner ; see David Manvil. He took the oath of fidelity in Dee. 1777.
Justus Warner, ) brothers ; were taken on the way and brough baek. Justus Mark Warner, § died in Liverpool, April 16, 1856, aged 100 years and 20 days. Seth Warner ; deserted from the British.
Eben Way ; returned.
Titus Way ; left Dee. 4, 1776. After the war he went to Nova Scotia.
Amasa Welton ; remained with the British but a short time; returned and took the oath of fidelity.
Arad Welton ; went to the south and there married.
Ezekiel Welton; estate confiscated ; returned after the war and removed to Nova Scotia.
Noah Welton.
Stephen Welton ; returned and was one of the first to take the oath of fidelity. Benoni Welton, ) sons of Eliakim, one died in New York, and the other while Moses Welton, § serving in Burgoyne's army.
Daniel Wooster.
Oliver Welton. He was convicted of trying to enlist Joel Roberts into the ene- . my's service. After the war, as his conviction rested on Roberts' testimony alone, he petitioned the Assembly to discharge him from the exeention. The prayer was granted, but afterwards the vote was reconsidered and negatived. The next year, (1786,) on petition, he had liberty to pay in state securities.
[In the early part of 1780, (March 14th,) the house of Capt. Ebenezer Dayton, of New Haven, in the present town of Bethany, was broken into and robbed in the night, by a party of seven Royalists, headed by one Graham ("John Luke, otherwise called Alexander Graham") of Long Island. Several of the party belonged to Waterbury, and the affair made quite a stir. Dayton was a Whig, had lived on Long Island, and was charged (without foundation, it is alleged) with having been concerned in a robbery there. He was known to have money (which appeared to have been the main object of the burglars) and was absent in Boston at the time. Nobody was in the house except Mrs. Dayton and several children. Her hands were tied and her life threatened, if she made the least noise. £450 in gold and silver were carried off and much property destroyed, the whole loss being nearly £5,000. After leaving the house, the robbers came north and were secreted for several days, in the houses of David and Thomas Wooster in Gunn-
357
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
town. Afterwards they lay hid in a barn of Esq. John Wooster, (brother of Da- vid and Thomas,) in Oxford. They finally fled, and took a boat at Stratford for Long Island. The people of Waterbury and of other towns rallied and gave chase. The fugitives, all but one, were taken (says the Connecticut Journal of the time) on the Island, when they had nearly reached the British lines. They were brought back, examined before Esq. Hopkins, tried, condemned and sent to Newgate. Several of them-Jesse Cady, Noah Cande, David Wooster, Jr., and Samuel Doo- little (probably) were of Waterbury. Henry Wooster, Jr., one of the party, was of Derby. Doolittle, 18 years of age, was sentenced for your years, and was to pay a fine of £50 and costs. He petitioned for a commutation of punishment, on the ground that he was young, and was "seduced " by Graham. His prayer was not granted. David Wooster, Sen., was fined £500, the amount of his entire property. The prisoners, with others, finally (May, 1781) broke goal and escaped. A prison sentry was killed. David Wooster, Jr., (who held a musket to Mrs. Dayton's head, threatening her life,) was taken and confined in Hartford goal. He brought a petition for a release, in which he asked pardon, pleaded his youth, (being at the time of the robbery but 17 years of age,) claimed that he was se- duced by Graham, and offered to enlist into the army. He was released on £150 bond, and permitted to live in some town on the east side of Connecticut River. Afterwards, he was released from his bond, and allowed to reside west of the river, (with a permit from Gen. Spencer,) when he returned home. He died a few years ago. ]
The main east and west road through the town of Water- bury, communicating with Hartford and Middletown east- ward, and with Fishkill and the Hudson river, by way of Breakneck Hill in Middlebury, westward, was much used in the Revolutionary war, (as it had been in previous wars,) for the passage of troops and the transportation of stores." It was the most southern of the traveled roads, at a safe distance from the sea, (the sea was in possession of the enemy,) which connected New England with the west and south. Teams for carrying goods and supplies ran frequently and regularly to and from Fishkill. In the fall of 1777, after the capture of Burgoyne, a detachment of the American army with the
* In July, 1780, the town directed the selectmen to petition the General Assembly " to make provision for cost arising by soldiers when sick on the road to and from the army, belonging to this State."
Small pox prevailed extensively in the American army and was communicated to the Wa- terbury people. On account of several deathis from the disease, a town meeting was called in March, 1778, to consider the expediency of inoculation. Liberty to inoculate, under certain restrictions, was granted in September. A like liberty was given in Feb. 1782. to all the males of the town over ten years of age, and to all people living on the continental (or main east and west) road, till the 20th of March then ensuing. Afterwards, April, 1754, permission was given to Dr. Abel Bronson to erect a building and practice inoculation for small pox. He availed himself of the privilege, and established a pest house in Middlebury, which became somewhat famous.
358
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
enemy's splendid train of artillery passed over this road to the eastward. They pitched their tents and encamped for a night in Manhan Meadow, just above the bridge. Many people visited the ground to see the beautiful brass field pieces, all ranged in a line.
Gen. La Fayette, once during the war, perhaps more than once, passed through Waterbury. He, at one time, attended only by his aids, lodged at the house of Capt. Isaac Bronson, at Breakneck, who then kept tavern. The host introduced him to his best chamber, in which was his best bed. But La Fayette caused the feather bed to be removed, saying " straw for the soldier ;" and made the straw underbed his couch for the night. He also, on one occasion, stopped at the house of Esq. (Joseph) Hopkins, then the most prominent civilian in the place. He is described as a slender, handsome youth, who sat a horse beautifully, and altogether made a fine appearance. I am unable to say whether or not his visits at Isaac Bronson's and Esq. Hopkins' occurred in the same journey. In the sum- mer of 1778, La Fayette was detached by Washington from the continental army near New York to go to Rhode Island to assist to expel the British from Newport. The enterprise failed, and in the fall, La Fayette returned to the Hudson river, met Washington at Fishkill, and soon sailed for Europe. In these journeys to and from Rhode Island, it would have been most natural for him to pass by way of Fishkill, Waterbury, Middletown, &c.
Gen. Washington passed through Waterbury, certainly once, on his way to Hartford. He had with him Gen. Knox and a somewhat numerous escort. He rode a chestnut colored horse, came across Breakneck, and returned the salutations of the boys by the road side. His dignity of manner, set off by his renown, made a durable impression on all who beheld him. He dined with Esq. Hopkins, whose house stood on the site of S. M. Buckingham's dwelling. An anecdote is told of him which may be true, though it conflicts somewhat with the well known benevolence of his character. Mr. Hopkins made many inquiries, and at last became decidedly inquisitive. After reflecting a little on his last question, Washington said-
359
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
"Mr. Hopkins, can you keep a secret ?"-" I can."-"So can I," the General instantly replied.
This visit of Washington to Waterbury must have occurred while on one of his journeys to Hartford to consult with Count Rochambeau and the French officers concerning the conduct of the war. These consultations occurred, the first, late in September, 1780, and the other, late in May, 1781. It is supposed to have been in September, 1780, that "the father of his country " was in Waterbury ; but it may have been in May, '81. Possibly he was here at both times; for it is alledged that he passed through Waterbury at least twice. Perhaps he took our town on his way to and from Newport in March, 1781. On the sixteenth of that month he was in Hartford, on his return to the army. In the summer of 1778, Washington lay on the Hudson River, while Sullivan was in Rhode Island, as already suggested. Waterbury was in the line of communication.
I have thus indicated the different times when Washington may have found it convenient to pass through Waterbury, without intending, positively, to affirm that he visited the town more than once.
In the latter part of June, 1781, the French army under Count Rochambeau, in their march from Newport westward and south to join Washington in his operations against Cornwal- lis in Virginia, passed through Waterbury. They are said to have marched in four divisions, and to have encamped, for a night, just over the mountain in Southington, at a place since called French Hill. After the surrender of Cornwallis, or in October, 1782, they returned by the same route, in two divis- ions, (probably,) in order to embark for the West Indies. An old inhabitant says they marched two and two, and when the head of the column had disappeared beyond the hill at Capt. George Nichols', the other extremity had not come in sight on West Side Hill. The Middlebury people say that, at both times, they encamped on Breakneck Hill, making Isaac Bronson's house head quarters. On one of these occasions, probably the last, they stayed over one day to wash, bake, &c. All the wells in the neighborhood were drawn dry, and the
360
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
people, far and near, were employed, with their teams, to cart water from Hop Brook .*
[The following items relating to the Revolutionary period may as well perhaps be introduced here.]
April, 1777. An order on Isaac Doolittle, for 625 lbs. of powder, was given to the selectmen of Waterbury by the council of safety .- [Hinman's Rev. War, p. 436.]
Of the militia which the General Assembly, in May, 1779, ordered to be raised immediately, Waterbury was to furnish ten.
At the October session of the same year, the Assembly resolved to raise wheat and rye or meslin for the army, and assigned to Waterbury, as its proportion, 360 bushels of wheat and 200 bushels of rye or meslin.
In 1780, Abner Johnson, apothecary, asked of the Legislature liberty to trans- port to Boston one ton of wheat flour and three barrels of pork, which he wished to exchange for medicine that could not be otherwise obtained. The request was not granted. [In order to increase the supply at home, the carrying of provis- ions out of the State was forbidden by law. ]
STATE OF CONNECTICUT to Watertown Select Men, Dr. To sundry provisions, &e., furnished the men under the command of Lieut .- Col. Richards ordered for the relief of West Point, viz :
£ s. d.
To 707 lbs. wheat flour, @ 3d. 8 16 9
To 514 lbs. salt pork, @ 1s. 25 14 0
To 1 pork barrel 7 0
To 2 large flour barrels 10 0
35 7 9
To commission, @ 5 p. e.
1 15 4
To 2 men and horses to bring tents, &c., from Waterbury 4 0
To 2 teams, 4 cattle each, to transport the above provisions, tents,
&c., to Ridgefield, being forty miles @ 2s. 6d. per mile each .. 10 4 0
Lawful money £47 7 0
-[Revolutionary Papers, Vol. XVII.]
The names of forty-six soldiers who had been in the army previous to Jan. 1, 1780, are given, [Revolutionary Papers, Vol. XXX, ] whose families received supplies from the town.
The names of twenty-one persons are mentioned whose families received supplies in 1780. Eleven of them were of Watertown, (which included Northbury till 1795.) In May, 1781, Watertown was called on for twelve men for Horse Neek.
In the same year, the names of ten soldiers are given whose families received supplies from the town, five of whom were of Watertown.
Feb. 21, 1781. Whereas the officers and soldiers employed in the defense of
* Manuscript letter from Dea. Leonard Bronson.
Cothren seems to have fallen into error in supposing that La Fayette commanded the French army.
361
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
this and the United States have suffered much by want of the article of sauce, so necessary for their health and comfort, which inconvenience cannot be remedied except by the exertions of the people :
Therefore resolved [by the Assembly] That it be recommended to the inhabit- ants of the several towns in this State, that they remember their brethren in the field, and endeavor the next season to raise a quantity of peas and beans, suffi- cient to supply the officers and soldiers in public service belonging to this State, for which they shall receive a generous reward.
And the several printers in this State are requested to publish this resolve .- [Connecticut Courant, March 27, 1781.]
Jan. 1782, Waterbury was ordered to provide four footmen and one horseman for the continental army, and Watertown five footmen and one horseman.
1782. The following persons were returned as deserters by Col. Elisha Shel- don, viz : Richard Lawrence of Waterbury and Jared Humaston and James Ful- ford of Watertown.
April 12, 1784, the town appointed Aaron Benedict, Mr. Prichard and Samuel Bronson a committee "to examine three five pound notes given by Ozias Cyrus and Zibe Norton to the treasurer for a fine for not performing a tower of duty when draughted, and to settle with them and the treasurer."
At the same meeting, the town directed "the selectmen to dispose of the pots, tents, camp equipage, &c., belonging to the town."
Sept. 25, 1783, the town chose Messrs. Aaron Benedict, Andrew Culver, Capt. Samuel Upson and Capt. John Welton delegates to a convention to be held at · Middletown the 30th of September, then instant, " to obtain a redress of grievan- ces on account of the commutation of five years half pay granted to the officers of the continental army in lieu of half pay for life."
CHAPTER XXII.
AFTER THE WAR: MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
THE surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, in Oct. 1781, virtually closed the war; but peace was not finally proclaimed till April, 1783. The country came out of the conflict thor- oughly exhausted. Waterbury was poorer than ever. During the struggle, Westbury and Northbury, its richest portions, had been made into a new town. The poverty of her agricul- ture promised a slow and uncertain recovery. Old people tell,
362
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
or used to tell, a sad tale of those days. In 1774, the population of the whole town was 3,526 and its grand list £39,826, 18s. In 1779, the grand lists of the different societies stood, accord- ing to my notes taken from the State papers in Hartford, as follows, viz: Waterbury, £12,181, 17s., 6d. ; Westbury, £13,427, 10s. 9d .; Northbury, £10,070, 15s. 10d .; Farming- bury, £2,862, 12s. 6d .; Salem, £5,657, 12s. 3d. Total, £44,200, 8s. 10d.
This last sum, in consequence, perhaps, of abatements not being deducted and the whole of Farmingbury being included, exceeds very considerably the amount regularly returned for the entire town in that year, which is £38,504, 18s. 92d.
In 1790, the population of Waterbury was 2,937 and of Watertown 3,170, in the whole 6,107; an increase of 73 per cent. since 1774, the greatest part of it probably in Water- town. The grand list of Waterbury, in this year, stood as fol- lows, viz: first society, £12,093, 12s. 10d .; Farmingbury, £2,401, 3s. 9d .; Salem, £5,302, 3s. 6d. Total, £19,797, 0s. 1d., about the same as in 1782, but £3,000 more than in 1788.
In 1800 the population of Waterbury had risen to 3,256, notwithstanding several hundred people had been lost when Wolcott and Oxford were incorporated. Watertown contain- ed, at this time, 1,615 souls and Plymouth 1,791; together, 3,406. The three towns numbered 6,662, to which an impor- tant addition should be made of those set off with Wolcott and Oxford. There must have been, in 1800, within the limits of original Waterbury, over 7,000 persons.
There is to be found among the papers in the town clerk's office a series of taxable lists of the first society of Waterbury and of Salem society, commencing in 1782, from which much instruction may be gathered. I will give some extracts from the list of the first society, (which then included present Wa- terbury and those parts of Middlebury and Prospect which belonged to the old town,) bearing date Aug. 20, 1783, the first year after the peace. Here is the summary of polls and estate. The items were put in at a fixed rate regulated by statute.
363
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Polls-above 21 years,
No. 189
at
£18
£3,402 00s.00d.
under
54
9
486 00 00
Neat Cattle-Oxen,
237
4
948 00 00
66
2 year olds,
159
2
318 00 00
16 1 year olds,
198
66
1
3
810 00
00
66
2 year olds,
14
2
28 00
00
Swine,
Houses, *
135
"Price,"
124 19 07
Inclosed land-plough land, aeres "
18503
at 108.,
925 05 00
upland meadow and pasture,
2425송금
66
8
970 5 053
=
lowland,
66
66
512}
66
£ɔ̃
13 12 06
bush-pasture,
2933}
6
2
293 07 00
Uninclosed land-1st rate,
222110
=
2
.222 03
093
66
1
157 01 00
3d «
66
12713
66
6d.
31 15
10월
Cloeks, &c .- steel and brass-
wheeled elocks,
4
66
£3
12 00
00
66
wooden clock,
1
1
10
00
watches,
7
1
10s. 10 10 00
riding chair,
1
3
3 00
00
silver plate, 20 ounces and 10 pennyweights, [" at 6 p. e. on the just value thereof,"]
8 02 00
Money on interest, £33 at 6 p. c.
2 00 00
Total, £11,075 02 0110
In dollars, at $3 33} to the pound, $36,917 02.+
* " Each dwelling house in good repair [was assessed] at fifteen shillings for each fireplace therein," and the listers might " abate for old and decayed houses one quarter, one half, or three quarters of the sum aforesaid," &c.
t It may be interesting to compare the above figures with the following, as published in the Waterbury American :
LIST OF POLLS AND TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF WATERBURY, RATABLE BY LAW ON THE FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER, 1856.
1197 1-2 Dwelling Houses,
$1,192,854 00
14,111 3-4 Acres of Land,
380,139 00
92,900 00 28 1-4 Stores, . .
39 Mills and Manufactories,
39,015 00
353 Horses and Mules, .
23,512 00
1,228 Neat Cattle,
28,213 00
Sheep, Swine and Poultry,
164 00
Coaches, Carriages and Pleasure Wagons,
10,965 00
Farming Utensils,
50 00
Clocks, Watches and Jewelry,
10,733 00
Piano Fortes, &c.,
10,251 00
Furniture and Libraries,
8,800 00
Bank and Insurance Stock,
188,791 00
1
14 00
00
1 year olds,
14
363
1
363 00 00
bog-meadow,
543
" 7s. 6d.
192 03 09
66
2d
Cows and 3 year olds,
516
3
1,548 00 00
198 00 00
Horses-3 year olds and upwards,
270
3141
66
364
HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
The polls of all male persons between the ages of sixteen and seventy* were placed in the list, except ministers of the Gospel, professors and tutors of colleges, constant school-mas- ters, students at college, persons disabled by sickness or other infirmity, &c. The estates of ministers lying in their own society were exempted, and the polls of all the members of their families. In the list from which the summary is taken there are in all, 294 names, including 10 of females, 41 of non- residents, and 53 of residents, whose polls are not entered. Add the 53 non-taxable, to the 189 £18 polls, and we have a total of 242 males above 21 years of age, all of whom, except Moses Frost, Richard Nichols, Jr., Selden Scovill and Eben W. Judd, had taxable estate. The names of those who had the largest lists, are :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.