USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > The history of the town of Litchfield, Connecticut, 1720-1920 > Part 17
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JULIUS DEMING
جليد احب جدواها
THE LINDENS. JULIUS DEMING HOUSE, 1793
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dozen or single book; Allum; Copperas; White and Red Lead; Span- ish White and Spanish Brown; Redwood; Logwood; Fustick and Nickaragua; Hyson, Shushong and Bohea Teas, by the chest or smaller quantity; Loaf and Brown Sugars, by the Hund. or lb .; Chocolate; Ginger; Pimento; Pepper; Snuff; Tobacco; Cotton Wool; Indigo; Old Spirits, St. Croix, St. Vincents and Grenada Rum, Wine of different qualities, and molasses, Best Holland and Geneva, do Nantz Brandy, by the Hogshead, pipe, bbl, or gal. For further particulars please to call on the subscribers, Benj. Tallmadge and Co."
Both Col. Tallmadge and Julius Deming made their importations direct from abroad, which was very unusual in those days, and would be enterprising today. Together, on one occasion, they imported a cargo of horses from England, to improve the stock in this country. Julius Deming himself went abroad to select goods; on his trip home he was wrecked, and wisely decided never to go near salt water again. This did not prevent his joining with Oliver Wolcott Jr. and Col Tallmadge, however, in a far-reaching enter- prise, the Litchfield China Trading Co. This was after the expira- tion of Oliver Wolcott's term as Secretary of the Treasury of the United States in 1800, when he took up his residence in New York. Each partner contributed an equal share, but the Company was directed principally from New York. They purchased the ship Trident, as their first vessel, and commenced shipping Pillar Dollars, the only available export to China at the time, bringing back the usual products of that country. The company was a successful one, but was dissolved in 1814, possibly as a result of the Embargo Act of 1812-13.
After this Oliver Wolcott returned to Litchfield, and was active in various enterprises with his brother, Frederick Wolcott. They were associated in the improvement of agriculture and the introduc- tion of improved breeds of stock, particularly the Devon and Dur- ham cattle and the Merino sheep, of both of which they were importers. (Wolcott Memorial, p. 318).
His services as Governor again interrupted his commercial ven- tures at home, but when his terms aggregating ten years were fin- ished he once more undertook an extensive experiment. This was the manufacture of woolen cloth at Wolcottville (Torrington). Although this was disastrous financially, it was the foundation of the present industrial prominence of our neighboring borough. The experiment terminated in a lawsuit, which was tried in Litchfield before Judge David Daggett. The Judge was an ardent Federalist, and the jury was opposed politically to Wolcott. It was at this trial that Judge Gould made his last appearance as Counsel. He conducted the case against Wolcott, and carried the Jury with him. Judge Origen S. Seymour, then a young man, attended the trial, and felt that Judge Daggett's conduct of the case was partisan. On reviewing the matter, however, in later years, he not only modi- fied, but reversed his opinion". (Book of Days, p. 184).
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NEWSPAPERS.
The following notices of the several newspapers issued in Litch- field are taken from the Catalogue of the Litchfield Historical Society, 1906:
WEEKLY MONITOR AND AMERICAN ADVERTISER. Collier and Copp, Printers. Began Dec. 21, 1784. The Monitor, with variation in name and size of paper, continued for twenty two years. On Sept. 15, 1788, Thomas Collier, who had been for some years the sole printer, associated with him one Adam. April 27, 1789, the partnership was dissolved and the paper suspended until Nov. 17, 1789, when Collier again became the printer. Jan. 18, 1792, the Monitor was published by Collier and Buel, who continued until the last issue of the paper, 1807.
WITNESS. Selleck Osborn and Timothy Ashley, Editors and Pub- lishers. Began Aug. 14, 1805. Discontinued, 1807.
LITCHFIELD GAZETTE. Charles Hosmer and Goodwin, Printers. Began March 13, 1808. Discontinued May 17, 1809.
LITCHFIELD JOURNAL. Published by I. Bunce. This was a non-partisan paper, but proved unsuccessful, and upon May 12, 1819, the Litchfield Republican was commenced. In 1821 the Miscellany, in continuation of the Litchfield Republican appeared in a smaller size sheet than the former paper. This continued until Feb. 2, 1822, when 'for one year from this date the profits arising from the circulation of this paper are bestowed on a young man of this village in order to assist in completing his education'. The Miscellany, or Juvenile Folio, was published on Feb. 9, 1822. The following is taken from the 6th of March 1822: 'The Miscellany or Juvenile Folio is published at I. Bunce's bookstore by the proprietor. The profits of the circulation are for one year transferred to Henry Ward. Terms, 871/2 cents at the office. No paper to be discontinued until arrearages are paid'. On July 31, 1822, H. Ward 'abandons the paper' and for a time there was none published. I. Bunce, as publisher and editor, on Sept. 9, 1822, commenced the publi- cation of the American Eagle, which was moved to New Haven on March 7, 1826.
THE DEMOCRAT. Melzar Gardner, Publisher. Began Nov. 3, 1833. Discontinued Sept. 13, 1834.
THE SUN. John M. Baldwin, Publisher and Printer. This paper commenced on Feb. 7, 1835, and continued under the same man- agement until Sept. 9, 1837, when S. G. Hayes became printer and publisher. From June 9, to Oct. 6, 1838, it was discontinued, and the last issue of the paper is April 20, 1839.
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THE MERCURY. C. E. Morse and Co., Printers. This paper began its existence on Jan. 16, 1840, and on Aug. 20, 1840, was sold to Josiah Giles, who became editor and publisher. The Mercury was discontinued on April 7, 1842. Josiah Giles began on Jan. 20, 1844, the publication of the Democratic Watchman, which was discontinued the same year.
LITCHFIELD REPUBLICAN. J. K. Averill began the New Mil- ford Republican in 1845, and the next year moved to Litchfield where he continued his paper under the name of Litchfield Repub- lican. He afterwards, 1856, moved to Falls Village, and con- tinued his paper as the Housatonic Republican. After he moved away, W. F. and G. H. Baldwin continued the paper as publishers and proprietors. With the 13th number Henry Ward appeared as editor, but in 1853 Albert Stoddard became editor and publisher, with Henry Ward as associate. On Sept. 14, 1854, Franklin Hull was publisher, with himself and Henry Ward as editors, and on April 4, 1856, Franklin Hull assumed full charge as editor and publisher.
LITCHFIELD SENTINEL. Published in Litchfield by John D. Champlin Jr., as editor. Vol. No. 1, is dated 1865. Champlin continued as editor until February 2, 1866, when he associated with him George H. Baldwin, who published the paper. On February 3, 1867 Champlin again took charge of the paper and continued it alone until April 30, 1869, when Solon B. Johnson took up the paper as editor. John R. Farnham bought the paper in 1869, and continued the publication until May 7, 1875.
THE LITCHFIELD ENQUIRER. The Litchfield County Post was established in 1825 by Stephen S. Smith from Poultney, Vt. He disposed of the establishment to Joshua Garrett, who after publishing the Post for a few weeks sold out to Henry Adams. In 1829, Mr. Adams changed the name of the paper to the Litchfield Enquirer, which it still bears. During this time it was a five-column folio. It was the only regular paper published in Litchfield county. Mr. Adams was drowned while fishing in Bantam Lake and was the only editor who died "in the harness". He was immediately succeeded by his brother, Chas. Adams, in 1843. In October, 1845, the paper was sold to Payne Kenyon Kilbourne, who conducted it until "ill health caused by many arduous duties caused him to sell" in March, 1853. The new proprietor, H. W. Hyatt, changed the heading from plain block style to the same as the text which has been used ever since. In March, 1856, the size was changed to a larger sheet. On Sept. 4, 1856, he sold to Edward C. Goodwin. On May 1, 1858, Chas. Adams again took the editorship and associated with him Henry E. B. Betts. Oct. 13, 1859, James Humphrey Jr., bought the paper, and his foreman was Alex- ander B. Shumway, who held that position under succeeding
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owners practically up to the time of his death, February, 1912, excepting when he was in service during the Civil War. Mr. Humphrey enlarged the paper to seven columns, a little smaller than the present paper. In 1865, the paper passed into the hands of Wing and Shumway, under whose management it remained for one year, when Geo. A. Hickox bought the paper and secured Mr. Wing as editor. One year later Mr. Hickox commenced the duties of proprietor and editor, which he con- tinued for twenty five years and changed its size. In 1891 he sold the paper to C. R. Duffie Jr. In October, 1894, it was sold to George C. Woodruff, who has since continued the paper. Mr. Woodruff immediately changed the make-up of the paper and in February, 1918, enlarged it to its present size of eight pages of six columns each.
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GEORGE C. WOODRUFF (JR. ), EDITOR LITCHFIELD ENQUIRER
FREDERICK WOLCOTT
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WOLCOTT FAMILY.
In his Memorial Address about the late Governor Roger Wol- cott of Massachusetts, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge said of the Wol- cott family: "We have one of the rare instances of a family which starting in America with a man of fortune and good estate always retained its position in the community. In the main line at least it never encountered the vicissitudes which attend nearly all families in the course of two hundred and fifty years. The name has never dropped out of sight, but was always borne up by its representa- tive in the same place in society as that held by the founder. More remarkable still, in almost every generation there was at least one of the lineal male descendants of the first immigrant who rose to the very highest positions in military, political and judicial life. The list of Judges, Governors, Generals, Cabinet officers and mem- bers of Congress in this pedigree is a long and striking one. From the days of the Somersetshire gentleman to those of the present generation, which has given a Governor to Massachusetts and a bril- liant Senator from Colorado to the United States, the Wolcotts, both as soldiers and civilians, have rendered service to their country, as eminent as it has been unbroken. ... Here is a long roll of honor where the son felt that he would be unworthy of his father if he did not add fresh lustre to the name he bore by service to his state and country either in the hour of trial or in the pleasant paths of peace".
This was the heritage of Oliver Wolcott Sr., when he first came to Litchfield in 1751; just as it has been the heritage of every mem- ber of the family before and since. He belonged to the fourth generation of Wolcotts in this country, the original settler, Henry Wolcott, who came over from Somersetshire in 1630, being his great- grand-father. His father was Roger Wolcott, Governor of Con- necticut from 1750-54. So far as we can now tell, the attention of Roger Wolcott was first directed towards Litchfield in 1725, when John Marsh and others presented their Memorial to the General Court asking that the non-resident Proprietors of the town be made responsible for their share of its defence and support. Major Roger Wolcott was appointed to the Committee to consider the Memorial and soon after, when non-residents who failed in their duties to the new settlement were to be deprived of their rights in the town, he was appointed chairman of the Committee "to take account of all forfeitures that shall arise by force of this act, and upon the non-payment of the same, to make sale of the lands"
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in question. Later he purchased a farm on South Street, includ- ing the present Wolcott property and considerable land on the other side of the Street. No account remains of his having been in Litchfield in person, though it would seem very probable that he had been here, either in connection with his appointment of 1725, or to visit his farm, or to visit his son after the latter came to Litchfield in 1751.
Roger Wolcott died May 17, 1767. In his Will, dated July 18, 1761, he left to Oliver "all my land in Litchfield, and all my land in Hartford, and all my land in Colebrook, and all my land in Windsor that lies in the Equiuelent to him & his heirs forever. I also give him my Silver Can".
Oliver Wolcott Sr. began his career as a physician. When it seemed probable that the seat of the new County would be fixed at Goshen, he went there and began practice, but as soon as the County Seat was established at Litchfield he came here. He was chosen Sheriff of the new County, 1751.
The following account of him is given by his friend, James Morris, (p. 108-9) : "He was born in Windsor, December 1726. ... He represented the town in the General Assembly, in the year 1770. In the year 1772, he was chosen a member of the Council. In 1772, he was appointed Judge of Probate, for the district of Litchfield. In the year 1774, he was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In the year 1775, he was chosen a Represnta- tive in Congress, and was present at the declaration of Indepen- dence. He continued a member of the Council till the year 1786, and was then chosen Lieutenant Governor of this State. In this office he continued till the year 1796, and was then chosen Governor; and in this office he died December 1, 1797. The duties of all these stations, he discharged with unshaken integrity and firmness; courted favors from no man, and neither sought, nor obtained, any end by intrigue, or from interested motives. He was singularly modest, and even diffident, in his intercourse with men, in the common walks of life. Those who best knew this gentleman, well knew that the highest trust was never improperly placed in him. Two questions only were asked by him, while discharg- ing the duties of the several offices of high responsibility which he held, viz, What is right? and, What is my duty? He possessed a benevolent heart, and was warm in his friendships; a firm friend to order; a promoter of peace; a lover of religion; and a tried, unshaken friend to the institutions of the Gospel. He was an indefatigable student; and neither wasted his time nor his words. His mind was clear and penetrating; his views of political sub- jects, just and comprehensive; his discernment of the wisest means to promote the best ends, ready and exact; and his acquaintance with science, particularly with Theology, extensive. He had a remarkable talent at investigations, and nothing satisfied him but proof. He has left a name, which is a sweet savor to his surviving friends".
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No mention of Oliver Wolcott Sr. is adequate, which fails to speak of his wife, Lorraine, or Laura, daughter of Capt. Daniel Collins, of Guildford. She was related, though not closely, to Timothy Collins, the first minister in Litchfield. She was a woman of remarkable strength of character and executive ability. Oliver Wolcott's long absences in the discharge of his many varied duties were made possible primarily by her capable handling of the home. She cared for the children, directed the servants and slaves, managed the farm, kept up the hopes of her circle through the most trying days of the Revolution, with an unshaken faith and energy which it is not easy to picture to-day.
There were five children. Oliver, born 1757, who died an infant; Oliver, born January 11, 1760; Laura, born 1761, who mar- ried William Mosely of Hartford; Mariann, born 1765, who mar- ried Chauncey Goodrich of Hartford, afterwards Lieutenant-Gov- ernor of the State; and Frederick, born November 2, 1767.
Oliver Wolcott Jr. left an autobiographical sketch of his boy- hood in Litchfield, written when he was over seventy years old, which is so interesting both as a picture of Litchfield from a boy's point of view, and as a picture of the boy who was to become so distinguished, that it is unfortunate that it cannot be included here entire. It will be found in the Wolcott Memorial, pp. 222-227, and should be read by all, especially the account of his trip to New Haven.
"My Mother and Grandmother learned me to speak early; I could read before I was four years old, and was proud of my acquirements. The School House was in the street near the N. W. corner of my Father's Home-Lot, and was about twenty rods from home. The street was nine or ten rods wide, and the hillocks were covered with whortleberry bushes, which were tall enough to hide a young man or boy from observation. It was an excellent place for truants, and used for that purpose by many of the larger Boys of the School. When I had attained the age of six or seven years, I was told that it was time for mne to go to School, and was flattered by my Mother that my learning exceeded that of Boys twice my age. I was accordingly dressed in my Sunday habit, and set out, whip in hand, on a Monday morning. I was the smallest and most slender boy who appeared, with a pale face and white hair. The Master was a stout, rough man, and I think it probable that he was a foreigner. When I was called before him, he, judging from appearances, took me between his knees, and with a ferule and Dilworth's Spelling Book in his hand, offered to instruct me in spelling words of several syllables. My astonishment and indigna- tion exceeded all bounds; I considered it as the greatest possible indignity. I had no conception that a Schoolmaster, whom I deemed a great personage, could be so ignorant as not to know that I could read in the Testament. I remained mute, and stifled my proud sobs as well as I was able. The Master supposed that he
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had put me too far forward, and turned me back to words of one syllable. My wrath increased, and I continued silent. £ He tried me in the Alphabet; and as I remained silent, he told me that I came to learn to read, and that I must repeat the words after him, or he would whip me. He actually struck me, supposing me to be obstinately mute; my sobs nearly broke my heart, and I was ordered to my seat. Some of the boys tried to console me, and others laughed. I left the School with the most decided disgust, resolved never to enter it again.
"I evaded going to School as long as possible; and when I did go, I hid myself in the bushes. At length the Master enquired why I had left the School. This brought out my explanation; and such were my horror and antipathy, that my parents judged it proper to excuse me, and I was soon sent to another School, kept by a Miss Patterson, whose mild and conciliating manners attracted my affections. ... At about eleven years of age I went to the Gram- mar School, which was kept by Nathaniel Brown Beckwith, a graduate of Yale College. ... I was far from being a student. One of the eldest and stoutest Boys was still less so; he and the Master were attached to Fishing and Hunting. Trouts, Partridges, Quail, Squirrels both grey and black, and in the season Pigeons and Ducks, were in great abundance. To these sports all our holidays were devoted, and I engaged in them with great alacrity, in which the Master joined on the footing of an equal. In this course I con- tinued till, in the summer of 1773, Master Beckwith pronounced me fit to enter College. ...
"When I got back to Litchfield", he had made the trip to New Haven and wisely decided not to enter the College for another year, "it took a long time to recount all the wonders I had seen,-the grandeur of New Haven, its numerous Streets, beautiful Trees, Shrubbery and Flowers in the House Yards, the Vessels at the Long Wharf, and the peculiar dress and language of the Mariners. With one of these I had formed an involuntary acquaintance, which cost me a shilling. The wharves of a mud harbor presented no prospect of the Sea; to mend my prospect, I climbed a part of the way up one of the strands, when I felt a Sailor below me, who was tying one of my legs to what I considered a rope ladder. He did it mildly and silently. As I could move neither up nor down, I soon began to lament, which brought my companions to my aid. They desired the Sailor to untie and let me down. He enquired
who I was, and why I had climbed his Vessel without his liberty. I assured him that I intended no harm, and was ignorant that I was doing wrong; that I was a boy from the Country, and having seen the sea on coming to New Haven, I was desirous of seeing its shores. The sailor said, that as it was the first time I had been . on board a Sea Vessel, and had seen and smelt the Salt Water, I ought to pay what he called beverage; that he would require but a. Shilling, though if I was a Scholar, he would exact three Shillings. I agreed with joy to his demand, and was instantly let down, amidst
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the hearty laughter of his comrades; it seemed no unusual occur- rence, so my friends joined in the joke. The Sailor told me that no person ought to pay twice, and that if I found myself tied up again, and called upon him, he would see me liberated without expense. When I had recounted my travelling News to my School Mates, I was advised to resume my Studies, and repeat my travel- ling Stories out of School hours, which I thought but reasonable. ..
"I had now passed the infantine period, and was between thir- teen and fourteen years of age. I was no longer a Child, but a Boy, and hoped soon to be a Man. I found myself useful to my Mother. I could drive Cows to and from Pasture, ride the Cart Horse to Mill, bring in light wood and chips for the kitchen fire, and rock the Cradle, when necessary. ..
"Sunday was to me the most uncomfortable day of the Week, from the confinement in dress and locomotion which it imposed on me. After Prayers and Breakfast, I was taken by my Mother to the Wash Tub, and thoroughly scrubbed with Soap and Water from head to foot. I was then dressed in my Sunday Habit, which, as I was growing fast, was almost constantly too small. My usual dress, at other times, was a thin pair of Trousers, and a Jacket of linsey-woolsey; and I wore no shoes, except in frosty weather. On Sunday morning, I was robed in a Scarlet Cloth Coat with Silver Buttons, a white Silk Vest, white Cotton Stock. ings, tight Shoes, Ruffles at the Breast of my Jacket, and a cocked Beaver Hat with gold lace Band. In this attire I was marched to the Meeting House, with orders not to soil my Clothes, and to sit still, and by no means to play during meeting-time.
"Parson Champion succeeded Parson Collins, our first Minister, Doctor, and Justice of the Peace. Mr. Champion was a pleasant, affable man, and a sonorous, animated Preacher. I liked loud preaching, and suffered only from the confinement of my Sunday dress. Mr. Champion not unfrequently exchanged Sunday services with a neighboring Parson, whose performances were most uncom- fortable. They were dull, monotonous, and very long; in the after- noon they frequently extended to two hours. As I was not allowed to sleep during meeting-time, my sufferings were frequently extreme.
"After service, new toils awaited me. Our Sunday was in fact the old Jewish Sabbath, and continued from sunset to sunset. In the interval, from the end of services in the Meeting House till Sunset, my Father read to the Family from the Bible or some printed Sermon, and when he had done, I was examined by my Mother in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism. When this task was ended, I was allowed to resume my ordinary Habit. It exhilarates my spirit, even at present, to think of the ecstacies I enjoyed when I put on my Jacket and Trousers, and quit my Stockings and Shoes. I used to run to the Garden Lawn or into the orchard; I would leap, run, lie down on the grass, in short, play all the gambols of a fat calf, when loosened from confinement".
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After his services in the Revolution, he left Litchfield in 1781 and "proceeded to Hartford, where he accepted a clerkship in the office of the Commissioners of the Pay Table. The following year he was appointed one of the board. In May 1784 he was selected one of the commissioners to adjust the claims of Connecticut against the United States; his colleagues were Oliver Ellsworth and Wil- liam Samuel Johnson.
"The abolishment of the Commissioners of the Pay Table caused him to be appointed in 1788 Comptroller of Public Accounts; this office he resigned to become Auditor of the United States Treasury. He was afterwards made Comptroller and in the spring of 1791 he declined the presidency of the United States Bank. On the resig- nation of Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury in 1795, Governor Wolcott succeeded him, holding the office until November 8, 1800. Two years later he removed to New York City, engaged in mercantile pursuits, ammassed a fortune, and became the first president of the Bank of North America. After the close of the second war with England, he returned to his native town, where in company with his brother he founded large woolen mills near Torrington. For ten consecutive years he was elected to the gubernatorial chair; on his retirement from this office, he returned to New York City, where he died June 1, 1833. Governor Wolcott was the last survivor of Washington's Cabinet, and the last link in the chain that represented the principles of the founders of the republic". (Connecticut as a Colony and a State, by Forest Mor- gan, 1904, Vol. III, pp. 108-9).
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