USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 65
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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
" There is no minister whom I have been accustomed to account so emphatically my minister ; whom I so often referred to as my old pas- or, as Mr. Swift. His image is before me while I write ;- his serious ook, his smile, and his whole manner, are before me as if I saw him out last week. Having lived several years very near him, and having een for a time a member of the family of one of his daughters, Mrs. Lucy (Swift) Holbrook, I knew him well. For a time I went to him
.......
PHOTO ENG.CO. N.
REV. ZEPHANIAH SWIFT.
on Sabbath afternoons with other boys to repeat the catechism ; and occasionally worked in his fields. Mr. Swift was a rather uncommonly tall man, somewhat muscular, well proportioned and quite erect. His movements were moderate, neither dull and heavy on the one hand, nor nervous and excited on the other. His gait was evidently un- studied, natural and graceful. His temperament, I should say, was meek, calm and quiet. There was sunshine in his smile, but the loud,
660
HISTORY OF DERBY.
boisterous laugh he never, so far as I observed, indulged in. He was sufficiently emotional. and yet on the most hilarious occasions, and also on occasions most sad and mournful he showed remarkable self- control. The light mindedness, the boyishness, which is seen in some ministers of the present day, formed no part of the character of my venerable pastor.
" To human weakness, as he saw it everywhere, Mr. Swift was emi- nently condescending. but against human wickedness in all forms he was firm as the hills themselves. He was prudent without being time- serving ; generous without ostentation ; earnest and zealous in the Master's work without being extravagant.
" The preaching of Mr. Swift was scriptural and methodical. His sermons were easily understood, and were so prepared and presented under a few well stated and numerical divisions, that they could be understood, taken to our homes and made the topic of thought through the week if we chose.
" Mr. Swift's manner in the desk was always serious, such as is in- spired by a sense of the divine presence and by a holy fear of His name. His countenance in the desk was calm, betraying no excite- ment. His voice was full, not loud or rotund, but such as could be easily heard by all who wished. His prayers were rich and copious, always expressive of deep piety of heart, great reverence for God, and a tender sympathy for sinning and suffering man. When he left the desk and descended and mingled with his neighbors and fellow citi- zens, he was the same serious man that he appeared in the desk. He was social without lightness ; exemplary in all respects ; and in all his walk and conversation a model minister of the blessed gospel of Christ.
" Of the flippancy that we sometimes painfully notice in ministers in the desk, and the pertness of speech exciting wonder and perhaps laughter, that are sometimes heard. he had not a particle. His dignity would have disdained them. His whole heart and soul would have revolted at the bare thought of them.
" Having thus given utterance to facts as pertaining to my former beloved pastor, I will add my full conviction that the town of Derby is to this day feeling, and will for years to come feel, the good effects of his uniform Christian example. and the good influences of his loving, tender and yet fearless enunciations of God's truth."
The pastorate of Mr. Swift closed only at his death, which occurred February 7, 1848 ; but during the latter part of his life he had colleagues in his office. These were Rev. Lewis D. Howell, Rev. Hollis Read and Rev. George Thatcher ; the last
66 [
BIOGRAPHIES.
of whom was laboring here at the time of Mr. Swift's death. Mr. Swift is the fourth pastor of this church whose remains lie buried in the old cemetery.
WILLIAM TERRY, M. D.,
Was born at Enfield, Conn., in 1822. His early education was obtained in the public and private schools of his native town, and at Amherst College one year. He graduated from the med- ical department of the Pennsylvania College, Philadelphia, Penn., in 1846, and was for a number of years located at Sutton, Mass., and came to Ansonia in 1860. During the Rebellion Doctor Terry was assistant surgeon of the U. S. military hospital at Alexandria, Va. He has been a member of the town school committee and registrar of vital statistics. Naturally of a mod- est disposition he has declined accepting public offices, and given his attention to the practice of his profession, thereby estab- lishing a lucrative business and a high standing as a physician.
REV. GEORGE THATCHER, D. D.,
Son of Peter and Anne (Parks) Thatcher, was born in Hartford, Conn., July 25, 1817. Prepared for college at Hopkins Gram- mar School, Hartford; was graduated at Yale College in 1840, and at Yale Divinity School in 1843. He came to Derby in June, 1843 ; was ordained here January 4, 1844, and dismissed October 10, 1848. He was installed at Nantucket, Mass., No- vember 14, 1848, dismissed May 14, 1850 ; installed in Allen Street Presbyterian church, New York city, May 26, 1850, dis- missed October 9, 1854; installed in First church, Meriden, Conn., November 16, 1854, dismissed September 18, 1860; in- stalled at Keokuk, Iowa, October 30, 1860, dismissed April 8, 1867. After spending some months in Europe he supplied the Mercer Street church for a time, and then became the acting pastor at Waterloo, Iowa, where he continued three years. He was president of the State University of Iowa from 1871 to 1877 ; then acting pastor in Iowa City one year ; received the honorary degree of D. D. from Iowa and Knox Colleges in 1871. He died in Hartford, Conn., of disease of the brain and heart, December 27, 1878, aged 61 years.26
26Cong. Year Book, 1879.
662
HISTORY OF DERBY. 1
JOHN L. TOMLINSON
Was born in Derby, and read law with Dudley. His office was in one of the chambers of the ancient house now occupied by Miss Rachel Smith and her two sisters. He succeeded Josiah Dudley ; the latter, as near as can be ascertained, was the first educated lawyer located in Derby Narrows. He is represented as being a man of talent, but died early from amputation of the leg. During the shipwreck of the Derby Fishing Company, when many of the people were mortgaging their property to secure the company their negotiable notes, it is said he had a lively business day and night. Tomlinson was in the war of 1812, being first lieutenant in a company from Derby stationed at New London. Well read, and of a discriminating mind, he was not a very successful advocate at the bar. The latter years of his life were under the shadow of a great cloud, by his un- fortunate connection with the Derby Bank, which failed in 1825 through the legerdemain of Wall street brokers. The popular belief awards Mr. Tomlinson the credit of being honest in his transactions with the bank. Prior to his leaving Derby in 1832 his spirits were enlivened by brighter hopes of the future, for he entered the ministry of the Congregational church, in which he labored with much zeal; went west, where he died, aged about 70 years.
HON. DAVID TORRANCE.
Few public men of to-day enjoy a wider popularity than Hon. David Torrance. He was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, March 30, 1840, and came early to this country with his mother and located at Greenville, Conn., where he found employment as an apprentice in a paper mill, in which he continued until his en- listment.
He entered the Union army in 1862, as a member of the 18th Regiment, C. V., but his intelligence and aptitude for com- mand led to his speedy promotion to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 29th Regiment (colored), in which he served until the close of the rebellion.
On his return from the war he came to Birmingham and studied law with Col. William B. Wooster, and was admitted
Tho Wallace
663
BIOGRAPHIES.
to the bar in 1868, and since then, being associated with Col. Wooster in the practice of his profession, he has worked his way to an enviable position at the bar. In 1871 and 72 he represented Derby in the Legislature at a time when the town had but one representative, and distinguished himself by a num- ber of able speeches and conscientious work as a legislator- notably in the preparation of the schedule for railroad returns adopted at the session of 1872.
Col. Torrance was elected by the republicans in 1879 to the office of secretary of state, and has proved himself an able and efficient officer in that position.
IRA L. UFFORD,
Third lawyer of Derby, was born in Trumbull, Conn., and after his father removed to Huntington Landing, and after receiving a common school education, he studied law with John L. Tom- linson, and was admitted to the bar in Fairfield county. In 1836 he opened an office in Birmingham, where he practiced until his death.
REV. J. HOWE VORSE
Was born at Crown Point, N. Y .; fitted for college at Newtown Academy at Shoreham, Vt., and was graduated at Middlebury College, Vt. He was ordained and settled at South Meriden October, 1870, and remained there until April, 1873; was act- ing pastor at Essex, Conn., from July, 1873, to March, 1875 ; and the same at Derby from April, 1875, to August, 1879, when he accepted the position of acting pastor at Kent, Conn., where he is successfully laboring.
THOMAS WALLACE
Was born in Manchester, England, November 15, 1797. His father was an officer in the regular British army, and conse- quently could give his son little attention ; and the only advice the son remembered to have received from the father was: "Thomas, earn your clothes by honest industry, and they will wear like iron." This remark was never forgotten. Thomas's mother possessed a strong, cultured mind and gave him all the early education he received. She was the first to start a Sun- day-school in Manchester, it being in her own house.
-
664
HISTORY OF DERBY.
When fourteen years of age Thomas bound himself to learn the trade of a wire drawer for pin making. During his seven years apprenticeship he found time to improve his mind, and developed strong radical views, rather obnoxious to some of the English laws touching workingmen. In 1832, determined to breathe the free air of republican institutions, he came with his family to America and worked at his trade, making his resi- dence at Providence, R. I., Haverstraw on the Hudson, and Bloomingdale, N. J., until 1835, when he removed to Peekskill, N. Y., where he built a factory and carried on his business nearly six years, but owing to the dishonesty of his partner failed in business and became deeply involved in obligations, which he afterwards paid in full.
In 1841 he came with his wife and nine children to Birming- ham, and worked about ten years for the Howe Manufacturing Company, at his trade. In 1850 he commenced operations for his factory in Ansonia.
The advent of the Wallace family has proved a valuable ac- quisition to the town. Eleven marriages among the first chil- dren have taken place, and all that now survive reside in the community, and together with the grandchildren, with one or two exceptions, are interested in the business which Mr. Wal- lace established under the name of " Wallace and Sons," show- ing that in union and harmony there is strength.
Mr. Wallace was not easily discouraged at prominent difficul- ties, but possessed great powers of mental endurance and perse- verance, a mind replete with useful knowledge, and few men had greater powers for diversified conversation. Added to a fine physique, his personal habits were a model for others. Temperate in all things he despised all sorts of shams, "shoddy professions " and low tricks of pretended cunning.
He represented Derby in the Legislature ; was for many years a most efficient member of the School Committee Board, warden of the borough, besides filling many other positions of trust.
His life was a success, and when his head was silvered over with age he was gathered to his fathers, April 30, 1875, with many friends to mourn and no enemies to reproach.
665
BIOGRAPHIES.
REV. JOSEPH WEBB
Preached in Derby, probably as a licentiate, two or three years, being town clerk one year of that time. The record says "married Elizabeth Nichols of Stratford at Stratford, by Capt. William Curtiss, on the 8th day of July, 1691." He was ordained pastor at Fairfield in August, 1694, and died Sep- tember, 1732, having probably supplied that pulpit during that time. He took a very active part in establishing Yale College, and in sustaining the Congregational churches, and his own church at Fairfield, at the time the church of England began to establish societies in Connecticut. It is probable he was not college bred, but was a much better scholar than some of that class in his day ; much better than his predecessors at Derby, Mr. Bowers, or Mr. James. His penmanship was very beautiful, and all that he did indicates an energetic, classic mind, and a stable conscientious character, worthy of being a minister of the gospel.
REV. CYRUS BAXTER WHITCOMB,
Son of James and Eliza Pomeroy Whitcomb, was born July 2, 1839, at Otisco, Onondaga county, N. Y. His early education was obtained at Easthampton, New Salem, and other places in Massachusetts, and as a private pupil in the family of the late Rev. David Eastman of New Salem, Mass.
His professional training was received at the Hartford Insti- tute one year (1866-67), and at Union Theological Seminary, New York city, two years, where he graduated in May, 1869, and finally at Yale Divinity School two years, graduating in 1872. He received the University degree of Bachelor of Divin- ity from Yale College, in June, 1874.
Before entering upon professional studies, and previous to being licensed to preach, he was commissioned by and served the American Missionary Association for a time ; was also in the employ of the American Sunday-school Union one year, and the St. Lawrence Sunday-school Association, N. Y., two years. He was respectively superintendent of the Morgan Street Mission of Hartford, and of a Presbyterian Mission in New York, during his studies at Hartford and Union Seminary.
84
666
HISTORY OF DERBY.
After being licensed to preach Mr. Whitcomb was commis- sioned by the Presbyterian Home Missionary Society as acting pastor of the Presbyterian church, Somers, N. Y., where he labored twenty months from March, 1869. He was the acting pastor of the First Congregational church of Bethany, Conn., ten months from March, 1871 ; was the acting pastor of the First Congregational church of Derby sixteen months from December, 1871 ; and the acting pastor of the Second Congre- gational church at Chester, Mass., sixteen months from June, 1874, where he was ordained, and which place he left to accept a call to the pastorate of the Congregational church of Shel- burne Falls, Mass., November, 1875, where he remained two years, resigning at the close of 1877. Since that time he has been occupied in literary work, and in supplying pastorless churches as occasion required. Mr. Whitcomb married July 2, 1873, Miss Jennie M. Sawyer, daughter of Mr. Henry S. and Jane A. Sawyer of Derby, where he resides.
N. J. WILCOXSON
Came to Oxford November 30, 1825, and engaged in teaching the public school, in which he continued one year. He was then engaged as teacher of a select school in the same village which he continued to teach two years. A select school has been taught several seasons since that time in Oxford, but no regular academy has been maintained.
Mr. Wilcoxson has been a prominent man in the town, hold- ing various offices such as town clerk and judge of probate, many years.
SAMUEL WIRE,
Born at Greenfield Hills, Fairfield county, February 8, 1789, came to Humphreysville when thirteen years of age (in 1802) to learn the clothing business under General Humphreys. At the age of twenty-three he married the sister of the late Gen. Clark Wooster, who died after several years of happy mar- ried life, without children. Mr. Wire soon after commenced the manufacture of satin warps in the south part of Oxford, and married his second wife, who was the daughter of David Candee. He represented that town at several sessions of the assembly, and held other important offices of trust, being at one time the
667
BIOGRAPHIES.
most influential politician in the town. In 1847 he removed to New Haven, where he was constable several years and then city sheriff. He was one of the oldest Freemasons of the state, and a member of Franklin Chapter and Harmony Council. He was of genial disposition, faithful and upright, and died May 3, 1874, aged eighty-six years.27
GENERAL DAVID WOOSTER
Was born March 2, 1710, being the son of Abraham, and grand- son of Edward Wooster one of the first three or four settlers of Derby. Abraham Wooster, father of the general, removed from Derby about 1706, to Stratford, in the south-east corner of what is now Huntington, where he remained until about 1720, when he settled in Quaker's Farm, in Derby, where he resided until his decease. Several deeds recorded in Derby prove these statements, and in which he is said to be a mason (i. e., a stone-mason). He was living as late as 1743. David was therefore born in Stratford, and was ten or eleven years old when he removed with his father to Quaker's Farm. He was graduated at Yale College in 1738. Something more would probably have been known of his early life but for the burning of all his family papers by the British when they pillaged New Haven in 1779.
When the Spanish war broke out in 1739, he was employed as first lieutenant, and in 1745, as captain of a coast guard. In 1746 he married, in New Haven, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Thomas Clapp, who was president of Yale College ; but neither the society of a charming companion, his love of classic lore, nor his youthful inclination for a learned profession could restrain his devotion to the interests of his country. He continued in the service, and was appointed captain in Colonel Burr's regiment which formed a part of the troops sent by Connecticut in the celebrated expedition against Louisburg in 1745.
He there proved himself an active, spirited officer, and bore a distinguished part in the siege and capture of that strong fortress. He was retained among the colonial troops to keep possession of the conquest he had assisted in effecting, and he
27 History of Seymour.
668
HISTORY OF DERBY.
was soon after selected among the American officers to take charge of a cartel ship for France and England. He was not permitted to land in France, but was received in England with distinguished honor. The young American officer, as he was called, was presented to the King and became the favorite of the court and the people. The King admitted him in the regu- lar service and presented him with a captaincy in Sir William Pepperell's regiment, with half pay for life. His likeness at full length was taken and transferred to the periodicals of that day. The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, which took place in 1748, restored Louisburg to France, and the young American officer to private life and to his family.
He was not, however, permitted to remain long in this situa- tion, for the attempts at settling the boundaries between the French and the English North American possessions having proved vain, the war of 1756 followed ; and in this great contest Gen. Wooster was soon thought of as a man qualified for a higher sphere, and was appointed colonel of a regiment raised in Connecticut, and afterwards to the command of a brigade, in which station he remained until the peace of 1763, when he returned again to his family, bearing many marks of his valor and intrepidity.
Soon after the close of this war he engaged in mercantile business in New Haven, and held the office of his majesty's collector of the customs for that port. He was highly respected both in his private and public character.
In the great contest between England and the North Ameri- can colonies, Gen. Wooster took no doubtful part ; and although an officer in the British regular establishment, entitled to half pay for life, he did not hesitate to take sides with his native country, and his pen and his sword were actively employed in the defense of its rights.
After the battle of Lexington he was fully aware that the sword alone must decide the contest. Under these circum- stances he, as well as other military men of experience, saw at once how important it was for the Americans to get possession of the fortresses of the country, together with the cannon, arms and military stores there deposited. The peculiar situation of the fort at Ticonderoga, commanding the great pass between
669
BIOGRAPHIES.
the North Atlantic colonies and Canada, did not escape his no- tice. He, therefore, with a few others of a kindred spirit while engaged in the General Assembly in May, 1775, planned the expedition from Connecticut to seize upon and retain that fort- ress ; and to enable them to carry their plans into execution, they privately obtained a loan of eighteen hundred dollars from the treasury of the state, for which they became personally re- sponsible. Such was the secrecy and dispatch in planning and executing this measure that on the 10th of May, as is well known, this fort was surprised and delivered up to Allen and Arnold, and their brave followers. This step, one of the bold- est taken at that period of the contest, was at the sole risk and responsibility of Gen. Wooster and other individuals. Con- gress, when informed of this transaction, recommended that an inventory of the cannon and military stores found in the fort should be taken, " in order as they say, that they may be safely returned when the restoration of the former harmony between Great Britain and these colonies, so ardently wished for by the latter, shall render it prudent and consistent with the overruling care of self-preservation."
The military experience, as well as the daring spirit of Gen. Wooster, recommended him to Congress when raising an army of defense, and among the eight brigadier-generals ap- pointed by that body on the 22d of June, 1775, he was the third in rank. The operations of that year were principally con- fined to the vicinity of Boston, and to an expedition against Canada and Quebec, under the command of Gen. Montgom- ery, who held the second rank among the brigadier-generals. The death of their distinguished leader under the walls of Quebec was severely felt by the Americans.
During the campaign of 1776 Gen. Wooster was employed principally in Canada, and at one time had the command of the Continental troops in that quarter.
After this expedition he returned home and was then ap- pointed first major-general of the militia of his state. During the whole winter of 1776-77 he was employed in protecting Connecticut against the enemy, and particularly the neighbor- hood of Danbury, where large magazines of provisions and other articles had been collected by Americans. He had just
670
HISTORY OF DERBY.
returned to New Haven from one of his tours when he heard on Friday, the 15th of April, 1777, that a body of two thou- sand men, sent from New York on the preceding day, had effected a landing at Norwalk and Fairfield for the purpose of destroying the magazines at Danbury, which object they ac- complished the next day, having found little or no obstacle on their way.
Immediately on hearing this news Gens. Wooster and Arnold set off from New Haven to join the militia hastily collected by Gen. Silliman. In consequence of heavy rain the militia they had ordered to be sent to them from New Haven did not arrive until the 20th in the evening in the vicinity of Danbury. The number of the militia thus collected was about six hundred men, and with this small force it was determined to attack the enemy on the following morning in their retreat, and for this purpose a part of the men were put under the command of Gen. Woos- ter, and a part under Gen. Arnold. With his handful of men Gen. Wooster the next morning pursued the enemy, regardless of the inequality of numbers. But being inexperienced militia, and the enemy having several field-pieces, our men, after doing considerable execution, were broken and gave way. The Gen- eral was rallying them when he received a mortal wound. A musket ball took him obliquely, broke his back-bone, lodged within him and could not be extracted. He was removed from the field, had his wound dressed by Doct. Turner, and was then conveyed to Danbury, where all possible care was taken of him. The surgeons were from the first aware of the danger of the case, and informed the General of their apprehensions, which he heard with the greatest composure. His wife and son had been sent for, and arrived soon enough to receive his parting benediction. He told them that he was dying, but with strong hope and persuasion that his country would gain its indepen- dence. How gloriously his presentiment has been verified !
The symptoms soon became alarming, and on the second day of May he died, at the age of sixty-seven. His remains were deposited in the church-yard of that village, which he had thus volunteered to protect.
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.