USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 57
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One day John L. Tomlinson, the lawyer, asked him for two dollars. "What for ?" said Hotchkiss. "Why, for speaking advice to you about your division fence," was the reply. "Well, I'll pay it, but don't you ever speak to me again."
When young Doct. B- came to Birmingham, in 1836, Donald Judson introduced him to Mr. Hotchkiss, saying that Doct. B -- had come to Derby to doctor folks and get a living. The quick reply was, " It is high time, neighbor Judson, that we all pre-pre-prepare for death."
Mr. Hotchkiss was a cooper by trade, and conducted the busi- ness at one time quite extensively. He died November 24, 1872, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, and will long be re- membered by the people of Derby.
JOHN I. HOWE
Was born at Ridgefield, Conn., July 20, 1793. His early education was obtained at the village school, and being of very studious habits, he at the age of nineteen commenced the study of medicine and surgery with Doct. Nehemiah Penny, a distin- guished physician of that town. He was graduated at the Medical University of New York; married Cornelia Ann, daughter of George Ireland of New York, and for many years was a successful and skillful physician in that city. A large portion of these years he was one of the resident physicians of
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the New York almshouse. His constitution having been impaired by a severe illness of fever, he removed with his family in 1829, to North Salem, N. Y. Before abandoning his chosen profession he made a series of experiments on India rubber with a view to its use with other substances and for purposes to which it has since been so variously applied.
As early as 1828, he obtained a patent on rubber compounds, and for the manufacture of which while in North Salem he constructed machinery at considerable expense, but he was beaten in the race by Charles Goodyear. He next gave his attention to model making for pin machines. During some of his visits at the New York almshouse among the English inmates he was forcibly impressed with the manner of making pins by hand, and being of a mechanical and inquisitive turn of mind he was moved with the idea that this staple article could be manufactured by machinery. In the winter of 1830 and 31 he employed his time in constructing a pin machine ; made a rude mold performing various movements and combinations essential to such a machine. In 1832 he was successful in making a machine which made pins though in an imperfect way. For this he was awarded by the American Institute a large sil- ver medal for "inventing a machine that would make pins by one operation."
To aid in his finances about this time James Brush and Ed- ward Cook (brothers-in-law, of New York) were associated with him by contract. In the spring of $1833 he completed a second machine and immediately sailed for Europe and secured patents in France, England, Scotland and Ireland; and spent about two years in London and Manchester experimenting and building machines according to his invention and finding a market for his patent.
In December, 1835, the Howe Manufacturing Company was organized in New York and Doct. Howe was appointed its general agent, in which position he had the sole management of its manufacturing department until 1863, a period of nearly thirty vears.
› These machines made what was called the "spun head " pins, but afterwards they were changed so as to make the " solid header," and for this patent, in 1842, the American Institute
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awarded him a gold medal for " the best solid headed pin made by machinery." The company removed their manufactory from New York in 1838 to Birmingham, since which time the busi- ness has been carried on most successfully. Doct. Howe with a persevering courage, contending against prejudice, inexperi- ence and poverty, knew no defeat, and must be placed at the head, as the first practical and successful pin manufacturer by means of automatic machinery, however worthy may be his numerous predecessors and competitors, especially, Slocum, Fowler, Atwood and others. The "History of American Manu- factures " by I. L. Bishop enrolls Doct. Howe among "the most useful inventors of the country."
While a resident of Birmingham Doct. Howe held many offi- ces of trust, and having accumulated large means he was enabled to identify himself with many substantial enterprises of the town. During the war he was very patriotic and contributed liberally to the support of the Union cause. Among other con- tributions he paid the amount of $1,500, to a certain number of families, in monthly installments, while the heads of those fami- lies were absent as volunteers in the army. As an evidence of his devotion to his country, a short time before his death, he headed a subscription with $500, towards erecting a suitable monument to the memory of the soldiers of Derby who lost their lives in the war.
Doct. Howe was a self-made man; modest below his merit, and governed his life by precepts of the golden rule. Inflexible in his principles, most exemplary in his habits, faithful to his professions, strict in his integrity, wise in counsel, he won for himself the highest approbation and was universally esteemed by the community in which he resided. He died suddenly of aneurism September 10, 1876, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
COMMODORE ISAAC HULL
Was born in Derby, March 9, 1775, and was the son of Joseph, the eldest brother of Gen. William Hull. His father was a sea captain and Isaac early learned the arts of navigation. When a boy he was entertaining one day a party of ladies at Derby Narrows, with a sail on the river in one of his father's old whale boats, affording much frolic and amusement to the participants,
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when a sudden squall (of wind, not the ladies) capsized the boat, and dumped the precious cargo all overboard. Young Hull being an expert swimmer plunged into the water, and by almost superhuman efforts succeeded in securing his entire party, some eight or ten in number, and placing them on the bottom of his boat, and was encouraging and cheering them when assistance arrived from the opposite shore. His coolness of conduct on that occasion was highly applauded by the peo- ple, and the ladies especially commended him for his noble exploits and at once named him the gallant Hull.
Isaac Hull entered the merchant service, and at the age of nineteen commanded a ship and made a voyage to London.
The first effort of the United States to establish and main- tain a Navy was made in 1798, when four frigates were built for that purpose.
To one of these, Isaac Hull, then a distinguished shipmaster of New York, twenty-three years of age, was appointed as Lieu- tenant in the United States Navy. He was, at the early age of twenty-five, in charge of the frigate Constitution on the West India station, where a French ship under letters of marque was lying under cover of the guns of a strong battery in the harbor of Port Platt, St. Domingo. Captain Hull, full of his youthful dash, manned a small sloop with ninety sailors and marines, and entered the harbor with it about noon, captured the ship by boarding her, carried the fort and spiked the guns, the whole being done with such adroit stillness that the commanding officer had no opportunity for defense.
From 1802 to 1805, Hull commanded the Nautilus and Argus, under Commodores Preble and Baron in the Tripolian War, and afterwards was with Gen. Eaton in the capture of the city of Deonoh, and in the bay of Naples protecting American ship- ping against an apprehended onslaught of the French. He was promoted to Master Commandant in 1804, and to Captain in 1806.
When the war of 1812 broke upon the country Captain Hull was in command of his favorite frigate, the Constitution, in which vessel he performed a surprising feat of seamanship.
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ESCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION.
" The frigate Constitution, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, had received orders to join the squadron, under Commodore Rodgers, and, for that purpose, sailed from Annapolis on the fifth of July. On the seventeenth. off Egg Harbor, four ships, apparently men of war, were discovered from the mast-head to the northward, and in shore of the Constitution ; and, in the belief that it was the American squadron, waiting her arrival, all sail was made in chase for them. At four in the afternoon, another ship was to the north-east, standing for the Constitution with all sail set. At ten in the evening, being then within six or eight miles of the strange sail, the private signal was made by the Constitution ; which not being answered, it was concluded that she, and the ships in shore, were enemy's vessels. Captain Hull immedi- ately laid his vessel in the same course with the others, having deter- mined to lie off till daylight to see what they were.
" Next morning, two frigates were seen from the Constitution under her lee, one frigate four or five miles, and a line-of-battle ship, a frigate, a brig and a schooner, ten or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase, and coming up fast, they having a fine breeze, and it being nearly calm where the Constitution was. Finding there was but little chance for escape, being then within five miles of three heavy frigates, the Consti- tution was cleared for action, and two guns were run out at the cabin windows, and two at the ports on the quarter-deck. At eight o'clock, four of the ships were nearly within gunshot, some of them having six or eight boats ahead, towing with all their oars and sweeps out.
" In this perilous situation a new expedient was adopted, which was the means of saving the vessel. Being in only twenty-four fathoms of water, boats were sent out ahead with anchors and the ship warped up to them, by which they soon began to get ahead of the enemy. They however adopted the same plan, and all the boats from the most distant ships were sent to assist those which were nearest. For two days and nights the Constitution was thus chased by the British squadron, some- times with light winds, at others, warping and towing in a calm, seldom much beyond gunshot distance. On the morning of the twentieth. only three of the squadron could be seen from the mast-head, the nearest, about twelve miles distant, directly astern. A light breeze now spring- ing up, the enemy was soon left far behind, and the Constitution, not being able to find the American squadron, arrived safe at Boston.
" During the whole of the chase the gallant crew of the Constitution remained at their stations. It is related on good authority, that the
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officers of the British expressed their admiration of the skill with which Captain Hull maneuvered his ship and effected his escape.
" But however brilliant the nautical knowledge and professional adroitness of Captain Hull displayed on that occasion were, his gener- ous disinterestedness afterwards is worthy of universal applause and imitation. The public notice taken of the affair, and the praises bestowed on the commander, induced him, on his arrival at Boston, to insert the following card on the books of the Exchange Coffee House.
"'Captain Hull, finding that his friends in Boston are correctly informed of his situation, when chased by the British squadron off New York, and that they are good enough to give him more credit for hav- ing escaped it than he ought to claim, takes this opportunity of request- ing them to transfer their good wishes to Lieutenant Morris and the other brave officers, and the crew under his command, for their very great exertions and prompt attention to his orders while the enemy were in chase. Captain Hull has great pleasure in saying, that not- withstanding the length of the chase, and the officers and crew being deprived of sleep, and allowed but little refreshments during the time, not a murmur was heard to escape them.10'
The following month the Constitution was lying in Boston harbor, when the British fleet from Halifax, composed in part of Hull's late pursuers, concocted another plan to capture our frigate, which would prove a very desirable prize at the opening of the war! Previous to this the ocean had been the theatre of many a sanguinary conflict, in which the British gained untar- nished laurels, and the Americans, with a weak little navy and crippled land forces, seemed to them easily conquered. The honor of bringing in the first Yankee prize was courted and claimed by Captain Dacres, their most accomplished commander. He was fitted out with their boasted frigate, the Guerriere, a former prize seized from the French, with a choice crew from the fleet. He had also this advantage over his opponents, he with his officers and crew were thoroughly trained to arms in the best naval schools then known in the civilized world. The Constitution's crew were mostly Cape Cod fishermen, expert sailors, intelligent, patriotic, obedient to their officers, but un- skilled in naval warfare.
10 Naval Battles, Smith, Boston, 1831.
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
CAPTURE OF THE GUERRIERE.
On the second day of August. the Constitution again set sail, pursuing an easterly course. She passed near the coast as far down as the Bay of Fundy ; then ran off Halifax and Cape Sable ; and not seeing any vessels for some days, Captain Hull steered towards Newfoundland, passed the Isle of Sables, and took a station off the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to intercept the Canada trade. While cruising here, he captured two merchant vessels. On the 15th, he chased a convoy of five sails, captured one of them, and prevented the prize ship of an American privateer from being retaken. Having received information that the British squadron were off the Grand Bank, and not far distant, he left the cruising ground, and stood to the southward.
On the memorable-9th of August, at two p. m., the Consti- tution being in latitude forty-one degrees and forty-two minutes north, and fifty-five degrees and thirty-three minutes west longi- tude, a vessel was discovered to the southward. The Constitu- tion instantly made all sail in chase, and soon gained on her. At three p. m., it could plainly be perceived that she was a ship on the starboard tack, under easy sail, close hauled to the wind. At half-past three, she was ascertained to be a frigate. The Constitution continued the chase. At about three miles' distance, Captain Hull ordered the light sails to be taken in, the coursers to be hauled up, and the ship to be cleared for action. The chase now backed her main-top-sail, and waited for the Constitu- tion to come down. As soon as the Constitution was ready for action, she bore down, intending to bring immediately to close action the British frigate, which had about this time hoisted three English ensigns in token of defiance. As soon as the Constitution came within gunshot, the British frigate fired her broadside, then filed away, wore, and gave a broadside on the other tack. They, however, produced no effect, her shot fell short. The British maneuvered and wore several times for about three-quarters of an hour, in order to obtain a raking position. But not succeeding in this, she bore up under her top-sails and jib with the wind on the quarter. Captain Hull immediately made sail to bring his ship up with her. At five minutes before six, p. m., the Constitution being alongside, within pistol shot,
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he ordered a brisk firing to be commenced from all her guns, which were double shotted with round and grape shot, and so well directed and so warmly kept up was the American fire, that, in fifteen minutes, the mizzenmast of the British frigate went by the board, and her mainyard in her slings. Her hull was much injured, and her rigging and sails torn to pieces. The fire was kept up, in the same spirited manner, for fifteen minutes longer by the Constitution. She had now taken a position for raking on the bows of the British frigate, when the latter could only bring her bow guns to bear on the Constitution. The grape shot and small arms of the Constitution completely swept the decks of the British frigate. Thirty minutes after the com- mencement of the action by the Constitution, the mainmast and foremast went by the board, taking with them every spar except the bowsprit. She then struck her colors which had been fas- tened to the stump of the mizzenmast. The Constitution then set fore and mainsails, and hauled to the eastward to repair damages. All her braces, a great part of her standing and running rigging, and some of her spars, were shot away. At seven p. m., she stood under the lee of her prize, and sent a boat on board, which returned at eight with Captain Dacres, com- mander of the frigate. She was the Guerriere, rating thirty-eight, and mounting forty-nine guns. The hull of the Guerriere was so much shattered that a few broadsides would have sunk her. She had fifteen men killed, sixty-one wounded and twenty-four missing, who, it is presumed, were swept overboard by the fall- ing masts. The Constitution had only seven killed and seven wounded.
The boats were immediately employed in bringing the wounded and prisoners on board the Constitution. About two a. m., a sail was discovered off the larboard beam standing to the south. The ship was instantly cleared for action. At three, the vessel stood away. At day-break information was received from the lieutenant on board the prize, that the ship was in a sinking condition, and had four feet of water in the hold. As soon as all her crew were removed from on board of her, she was set on fire, and blew up a quarter-past three.
Captain Hull, in his letter to the Secretary of the Navy, says that, " from the smallest boy in the ship to the oldest seaman,
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nct a look of fear was seen. They all went into action giving three cheers, and requesting to be laid along-side the enemy."1"
In the heat of the engagement, one of the crew of the Consti- tution, perceiving the flag at the fore-top-mast-head had been shot away, went up with it and lashed it so securely as to ren- der it impossible to shoot it away, unless the mast went with it.
The generosity of Captain Hull and his crew was equal to their bravery. Captain Dacres, in his official letter, confessed their conduct to have been " that of a brave enemy ; the greatest care being taken to prevent the men losing the slightest article, and the greatest attention being paid to the wounded."
The Constitution arrived in Boston harbor the 30th day of August. When Captain Hull landed he was received with every demonstration of affection and respect. The Washington Artillery, posted on the wharf, welcomed him with a federal salute, which was returned by the Constitution. An immense assemblage of citizens made the air ring with loud and unani- mous huzzas, which were repeated on his passage up State street to the Exchange Coffee House ; the street was beautifully decorated with American flags.
A splendid entertainment was given to Captain Hull and his officers by the citizens of Boston, to which Commodore Rodgers and the officers of his squadron were invited. The citizens of Philadelphia subscribed for two elegant pieces of plate-one to be presented to Captain Hull, and the other to Mr. Charles Morris, his first lieutenant. The Legislature of New York, the council of the cities of Albany and Savannah, the Congress of the United States, the House of Representatives of Massachu- setts, and other public bodies, voted their thanks to Captain Hull, his officers and crew. The order of Cincinnati admitted him as an honorary member. Congress voted fifty thousand dollars as an indemnification to the captain, officers, and crew, for the loss sustained by the destruction of the Guerriere.
The news of Commodore Hull's success in capturing the Guerriere was very gratifying to the people of Derby, and when assembled in town meeting April 12, 1813, they passed the fol- lowing resolution, which was presented by the old soldier, Gen. David Humphreys, " Resolved that John L. Tomlinson, William
11Clark's Naval History, vol. i. pp. 175-176.
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Humphreys and Pearl Crafts be a committee to collect and digest such distinguished and illustrative facts on the subject matter now before us as may be attainable, and that they will cause the result to be communicated to the public in such man- ner as they shall deem most proper." Very careful search has been made to find some report from this committee in the pub- lic prints of that day or on the town records, but without any success. Commodore Isaac Hull died at Philadelphia, Penn., February, 1843, aged sixty-eight years.
LIEUTENANT JOSEPH HULL,
Son of Joseph Hull, 3d, was born in Derby in 1750, and re- ceived the ordinary common school education. In early life he engaged in the West India trade, and became familiar with a seaman's as well as a farmer's life. A Scotch historian has said that " bravery like royalty runs in the blood," and it was so in the Hull family.
He was appointed Lieutenant of Artillery in Washington's army in 1776, and was taken prisoner at the capture of Fort Washington, that same year.
In defense of this fortress he is said to have behaved with great gallantry. He remained in captivity two years and was then exchanged (1778), when his unbroken spirit was once more given to the service of his country.
In 1779 he was appointed to the command of a flotilla on Long Island Sound, consisting of some boats formerly used in the whale fishery, but now fitted out to annoy the enemy, as op- portunity might offer. In this limited but dangerous sphere of action, he gave an earnest of a mind and spirit which under other circumstances would probably have developed more im- portant results.
On one occasion a British armed schooner was lying in the Sound, being engaged in transporting provisions from the coun- try to New York, where the British army was then stationed. Lieutenant Húll proposed to some of his companions of the town of Derby to go and capture the schooner.
On the evening appointed twenty men placing themselves under him embarked in a large boat, similar to those used in carrying wood to the city of New York. The men lay con-
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cealed in the bottom of the boat; and the dusk of the evening favoring the deception, it had the appearance of being loaded with wood. As they approached the vessel the sentinel on deck hailed him. Hull, who was steering, answered the call, contin- uing his course till quite near the vessel without exciting suspi- cion, when by a sudden movement he drew close along side of her. His men being well trained sprang to her deck with great celerity. The commander of the schooner was sleeping below, and aroused by the firing of the sentinel, he made an attempt to gain the deck, but was instantly shot dead. The Americans immediately fastened down the hatches, took possession of the vessel and conducted her in triumph up to Derby.
This gallant soldier was the father of Commodore Hull, who, by his coolness and intrepidity, was the first to give to America the knowledge of her naval superiority, as exhibited in his cele- brated escape from a British squadron, and afterwards by his victory over the Guerriere.
Lieutenant Hull -he is sometimes called in the family, captain because captain of a vessel, but he was a lieutenant in the Rev- olutionary army-is said to have been entirely engaged in the war during the Revolution. His coolness, presence of mind and energy of character as well as fearlessness, is manifested in the following anecdote : While on his way to New Haven, just as he came to the top of the hill in West Haven, he saw some Brit- ish soldiers advancing towards him. It was too late to retreat, and he at once resorted to a ruse, and turning in his saddle he motioned as if for his company to hasten forward, then riding forward demanded a surrender. The men, believing the enemy close at hand in numbers and that resistance would be unavail- ing, delivered up their swords.
Lieutenant Hull married Sarah, daughter of Daniel Bennett of Huntington, son of Nathan, son of Isaac of Stratford, son of James of Fairfield, who came from Concord, Mass., in 1639.
Captain Hull owned and occupied the Bennett farm, a large tract of land on the west side of the Ousatonic, in the latter part of his life. During his most active career the whale fishery was carried on in the Sound and the immediate coast, in open boats manned by four or six oarsmen, a steersman and chief or har- pooner ; a most dangerous calling, requiring a high degree of
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skill, perfect drilling and unity of action to insure success. In this school his son Isaac took his first lessons in seamanship.
GEN. WILLIAM HULL12
Was born in Derby, June 24, 1753, being the second son of Joseph Hull, a prominent farmer of the town. At an early age William resided with his grandfather, where he attended public school according to the custom of the times.
He fitted for college under the Rev. Mr. Leavenworth of Wa- terbury, and entered Yale at the age of fifteen, and was gradu- ated when in his twentieth year, the English oration being assigned him at commencement.
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