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 HISTORY 
 
 Town of Wolcott 
 
 (CONNECTICUT) 
 FROM I73 I TO 1874, 
 
 WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE 
 
 CENTENARY MEETING, SEPTEMBER ioth AND iith, 1873 
 
 AND WITH THE GENEALOGIES OF THE FAMILIES 
 
 OF THE TOWN. 
 
 By REV. SAMUEL ORCUTT. 
 
 WATERBURY, CONN.: 
 
 PRESS OF THE AMERICAN PRINTING COMPANY. 
 
 1874. 
 
TO THE FAMILIES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ANCIENT PARISH OF FARM INGBURY. 
 
 NOW WOLCOTT, 
 AND THEIR DESCENDANTS AT HOME AND ABROAD, 
 
 ■Stljis IWork is Jnambcii, 
 
 WITH SINCERE RESPECT AND ESTEEM, 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 O U 
 
PREFACE 
 
 My acquaintance with the Town of Wolcott began in 
 May, 1872. After preaching there a few Sabbaths, with 
 no expectation of continuing in the place, I became in- 
 terested in the history of the church by discovering that 
 its Centenary would occur in 1873. I soon after accept- 
 ed an invitation to supply the pulpit for one year. After 
 a few months' labor in the parish, the idea of writing a 
 brief history of the Congregational Church and Society 
 was entertained, and the work was commenced with the 
 expectation that it would not exceed two hundred pages. 
 From that beginning the present volume has grown, and 
 is, therefore, a little different in plan and style from what 
 it would have been if the original design had included so 
 large a field. 
 
 The work necessary to the making of this book has 
 been performed with the greatest pleasure, though pros- 
 ecuted, much of the time, under circumstances of disad- 
 vantage and discouragement. Now that it is done, I 
 have no apologies to offer ; nor have I any regrets to ex- 
 press, save that the people who form the subject of the 
 volume have not received from my pen as high com- 
 mendation as they deserve. 
 
 The labor has been performed within the space of two 
 years, and has rather aided than hindered parish duties. 
 In the commencement, it was as the Spring-time, full of 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 buds and blossoms of hope ; but in the closing* it has 
 seemed as Autumn. A shade of sadness has touched my 
 mind as I have taken leave of one and another, individu- 
 als and families, when they passed from study and re- 
 search ; for, after so much thought expended upon them, 
 it seemed as if they were friends and neighbors among 
 whom I had spent my days, and I was at last attending 
 their funeral services. The summing up of life, for each 
 one of them, has seemed written in great characters be- 
 fore the mind, in the proverbial expression : " Born, lived, 
 and died." And wherever the mind looks in review of the 
 past, the epitome of history seems recorded in the repe- 
 tition of this form. Yet in remembering the good of the 
 past (and in fulfilling the responsive feelings of the heart), 
 it is a comfort, if nothing more can be said, to repeat 
 this form, and in it cherish the memory of those who have 
 completed the routine of its unchangeable decrees : — 
 " Born, lived, and died." 
 
 The style of the work is without ornament, because the 
 times and the character of the persons forming the sub- 
 ject-matter of the history are better represented thus 
 than otherwise. Of the times and circumstances through 
 which the early settlers passed, there can be but one 
 opinion : they were rigorously hard. Although the num- 
 ber who lived to be over three score and ten is large, yet 
 to most of them, life meant hard work with many priva- 
 tions, plain food with scanty allowance at times, little 
 clothing, and that of the plainest kind, restricted to the 
 fashion of two seasons. Of the character of these ances- 
 tors, a good summary, in a few words, is given by Dr. 
 Henry Bronson, in his History of Waterbury : "Individ- 
 ually, our Puritan ancestors were very much such men as 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 we are ; little better, no worse. They were bred in a rig- 
 orous age, and were exposed to peculiar hardships, dan- 
 gers, and temptations. Yet, on the whole, they, like us, 
 were average men."* In one thing, however, it seems to 
 me they have the pre-eminence, namely, in faithfulness 
 to moral and religious convictions. Modesty, honesty, 
 and integrity in the profession of the Christian religion, 
 might have been written over nearly every man's door, 
 to be read by all the world. 
 
 It will be observed that the genealogy of a few families 
 is wanting. The cause of this, in every case, is the want 
 of sufficient information to make a respectable represen- 
 tation of the family. The Blakeslee family was among the 
 first in the parish, but no records could be obtained until 
 it was too late to introduce them in their proper order. 
 I have hope of including them in the history of another 
 town where their number is larger than in Wolcott. The 
 Ponds and the Baileys were influential and leading fami- 
 lies for some years. They are all now gone from the 
 town, and no records have been obtained of them. A 
 few families early in the parish, disappeared so soon that 
 no connected account of them could be obtained. Also, 
 a few came in about 1800, tarried a few years, then joined 
 the grand army which for two or three generations has 
 been steadily marching Westward. 
 
 The limited number of subscribers, and hence of copies 
 printed, has compelled the laying aside of all illustrations, 
 after considerable preparation had been made for their 
 publication. This has been to myself and others a source 
 of great regret. 
 
 In acknowledging my obligations to the very kind 
 
 * Page 323. 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 friends who have rendered special aid in this work, it is 
 pleasant to say that all have cheerfully contributed infor- 
 mation and encouragement as they were able, and have 
 urged that the book be made as perfect as possible, even 
 though the price of it should be increased. In fulfilling 
 this last desire its publication has been delayed nearly six 
 months. 
 
 I am specially indebted to Rev. Joseph Anderson, pas- 
 tor of the First Congregational Church of Waterbury, 
 who has taken much interest in the work from the first, 
 and has rendered very valuable assistance. Also, to 
 Frederick B. Dakin, Esq., of the Waterbury American, a 
 practical book-maker, under whose supervision the vol- 
 ume was printed. The following persons have also ren- 
 dered special service to the work : Messrs. A. Bronson 
 Alcott, Frank B. Sanborn, and William Ellery Channing, 
 of Concord, Mass. ; Judge William E. Curtiss, of New 
 York ; Hon. Leman W. Cutler, of Watertown ; Hon. 
 Birdsey G. Northrop, of New Haven ; E. Bronson Cook, 
 Esq., Editor of the Waterbury American ; Hon. Elihu 
 Burritt, of New Britain ; Rev. William H. Moore, of Ber- 
 lin ; Rev. Heman R. Timlow, and Messrs. Gad Andrews, 
 Simeon H. Norton, and Isaac Burritt, of Southington ; 
 Rev. William R. Eastman, of Plantsville ; the late Ralph 
 L. Smith, Esq., of Guilford ; Mr. Aaron G. Atkins, of 
 Chenango County, N. Y. ; Mr. Lucas C. Hotchkiss, of 
 Meriden ; Mrs. Lucina Holmes and Mrs. Lucina Lindsley, 
 of Waterbury. 
 
 Waterbury, November ioth, 1874. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 FIRST SOCIETY IN WOLCOTT. 
 
 First Settlers — Formation of the First Society — Assembly Act — Warn- 
 ings — First Meeting — Adjourned Meetings. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE. 
 Committee to Stick the Stake — Notification — Order of the Court — The 
 Deed — The House Built — Officers Chosen in 1770, 1771, 1772. 1773, 
 1774 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OBTAINING A PASTOR. 
 Grant of a Tax — First Call, Mr. Jackson — Second Call, Mr. Gillet — Or- 
 ganization of the Church — Declarations — First Members — The Ordi- 
 nation of Mr. Gillet. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MR. GILEET'S MINISTRY. 
 
 Graduate of Yale — His Father — A Library — Church Discipline — Revi- 
 val — Results, Repairs on Meeting House, Singing Additions — Mr. Gil- 
 let at Home — His Salary — He closes his Labors — Doings of the Coun- 
 cil. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 MR. woodward's ministry. 
 
 The Call — Letter of Acceptance — Subscription — His Labors — Comple- 
 tion of the Meeting House — Dedication — Mr. Woodward's Salary — 
 Rate Bill — His Death. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 REV. MR. HART'S AND REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY. 
 The Call — His Ordination — The Ball — His Labors — His Death — Mr. 
 
viii C S . 
 
 Keys — Urgent Invitation; 1 — Dr. Beecher's Sermon — 
 
 Sunday School — Efficiency of the Church — Mr. Keys' Resignation and 
 Dismissal. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 WITHOUT A PASTOR. 
 
 The Meeting House full — Payment of Debts — Improvement in Singing 
 
 — Deacon Isaac Bronson — His Gratuitous Labors Five Years — Journal 
 of Rev. Erastus Scranton — The Revival — Dr. Wm. A. Alcott — Sun- 
 day School — Procuring a Bell — Subscription — Improvement of the 
 Meeting House — Rev. Nathan Shaw — Rev. Seth Sacket — Rev. W. F. 
 Vail — Pew-holders according to Age. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MINISTRY OF REVDS. J. D. CHAPMAN AND AARON C. BEACH. 
 
 Anti-slavery — Burning of the Meeting House — Second Society Organized 
 
 — Efforts to Rebuild the Church — A Council Called, its Findings — Mr. 
 Chapman Dismissed — Difficulties Settled — Rev. Zephaniah Swift — 
 Rev. A. C. Beach — His Settlement — His Labors — His Dismissal. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 REVDS. STEPHEN ROGERS, LENT S. HOUGH, W. C. FISKE. 
 
 Mr. Rogers' Settlement — His Illness — He Resigns — Rev. Lent S. 
 Hough — Letter of Commendation — A Communion Service — Revised 
 Articles of Faith — Mr. Hough Closes his Labors — Rev. Mr. Fiske — 
 He Resigns after Three Years — Rev. S. Orcult — The Home Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 The List of Ministers — List of Deacons — Clerks of the Church — Moder- 
 ators — Clerks of the Society — Treasurers — Prudential Committees — 
 School Committer — Members of the Church. 
 
 PART II.— THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. 
 
 Episcopalians Early in Wolcott — Withdrawal from the First Society — 
 Call for the First Meeting — Minutes of the First Meeting — Officers — 
 Building a House of Worship — A Site Given by the Town — The 
 House Built. 
 
CONTENTS. IX 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Early Records — A List of Ministers — Clerks — Society Committees — 
 Wardens — Vestry Men. 
 
 PART III.— CIVTL HISTORY. 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE TOWN INCORPORATED. 
 
 Votes of the Society — A Memorial — Act of the Assembly — The Poor — 
 First Town Meeting — Hills of Wolcott — Streams in Wolcott. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE FIRST SETTLERS. 
 
 Farmington Part — Waterbury Part — Wolcott Center in 1S00 — The 
 Public Green — The Will Place — Atkins' Will — Woodtick — Hotels — 
 Highways. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 The Districts — Expenses — Will of Addin Lewis — Whipping Post — Law 
 — Small Pox — Burying Grounds — Yankee Peddlers — Taxes. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ROLL OF HONOR. 
 
 List of Freemen — Town Officers — State Officers — Revolutionary Sol- 
 diers — Soldiers in the Late War. 
 
 PART IV.— BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 John Alcock, . . . 231 
 
 Capt. John Alcox, . 233 
 
 A. Bronson Alcott, . . 233 
 
 Dr. Wm. A. Alcott. . 265 
 
 Rev. Wm. P. Alcott. . 27S 
 
 Joseph Atkins, Senr.. . 279 
 
 Dea. Joseph Atkins, . 280 
 
 Rev. A. C. Beach, . 282 
 
 Rev. J. W. Beach, . . 285 
 
 Dea. Isaac Bronson, . 287 
 B 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Timothy Bradley, . . 29S 
 
 Rev. James D. Chapman, 300 
 
 Rev. W. C. Fiske, . 302 
 
 Judah Frisbie, . . 303 
 
 Rev. Alexander Gillet, . 313 
 
 Rev. Timothy Gillet, . 322 
 
 Dea. Aaron Harrison, . 326 
 
 Rev. Lucas Hart, . . 330 
 
 Lucas C. Hotchkiss, . 332 
 
 Rev. Lent S. Hough, . 336 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Capt. Heman Hall, 
 Ephraim Hall, 
 Dr. Ambrose Ives, 
 Rev. John Keys, 
 Simeon H. Norton, 
 Dr. John Potter, 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 333 
 3-10 
 342 
 
 344 
 347 
 350 
 
 Rev. Nathan Shaw, 
 Seth Thomas, . 
 Rev. Benoni Upson, D. D., 
 Rev. Henry E. L. Upson, 
 Rev. Israel B. Woodward, 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 351 
 352 
 354 
 356 
 358 
 
 PART V. — THE CENTENARY MEETING. 
 
 Opening of the Meeting, ........ 377 
 
 Remarks by Rev. A. C. Beach, ....... 378 
 
 " " A. Bronson Alcott, 379 
 
 " Editor E. B. Cook, 381 
 
 " Hon. B. G. Northrop, 385 
 
 " Rev. W. H. Moore 386 
 
 " Simeon H. Norton 389 
 
 List of Aged Persons, ........ 396 
 
 The Centenary Poem, ......... 399 
 
 Wolcott People removed to Meriden, ..... 403 
 
 Isaac Burritt's remarks, ......... 404 
 
 Hon. Elihu Burritt's remarks, ....... 410 
 
 Antiquities, ........... 414 
 
 Judge W. E. Curtiss' remarks, ....... 415 
 
 George W. Seward's '' ........ 416 
 
 Dea. Samuel Holmes' " .... ... 417 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hillard's " 41 S 
 
 PART VI. — GENEALOGIES OF FAMILIES. 
 
 Alcott. 
 
 Atkins, 
 
 Barnes, . 
 
 Bartholomew, 
 
 Beecher, . 
 
 Bradley, 
 
 Brockett, 
 
 Brooks, 
 
 Bronson, . 
 
 Brown, 
 
 Byington, 
 
 Carter, 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 425 
 
 Churchill, 
 
 471 
 
 439 
 
 Curtiss, 
 
 472 
 
 446 
 
 Fairclough, 
 
 473 
 
 449 
 
 Finch, . 
 
 475 
 
 45Q 
 
 Frisbie, 
 
 477 
 
 453 
 
 Frost, . 
 
 4S0 
 
 45° 
 
 Gillet, 
 
 482 
 
 457 
 
 Hall, . 
 
 485 
 
 45S 
 
 Harrison, 
 
 490 
 
 464 
 
 Higgins, 
 
 497 
 
 465 
 
 Hitchcock. 
 
 499 
 
 467 
 
 Hopkins. 
 
 500 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XI 
 
 Hotchkiss, 
 
 Hough, 
 
 Johnson, . 
 
 Kenea, 
 
 Lane, 
 
 Lewis, . 
 
 Lindsley, 
 
 Merrill, 
 
 Minor, 
 
 Moulthrop, 
 
 Munson, . 
 
 Nichols, 
 
 Norton, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Parker, . 
 
 Peck, . 
 
 Plumb. . 
 
 Potter, . 
 
 Pritchard, 
 
 Richards, 
 
 AGE. 
 502 
 
 Rogers, 
 
 506 
 
 Root, . 
 
 508 
 
 Rose, 
 
 509 
 
 Scarritt, 
 
 5" 
 
 Seward, 
 
 5^3 
 
 Slater, . 
 
 519 
 
 Smith, 
 
 520 
 
 Somers, 
 
 521 
 
 Sperrv, 
 
 525 
 
 Stevens, 
 
 52S 
 
 Sutliff, 
 
 529 
 
 Thomas, 
 
 53i 
 
 Todd, 
 
 536 
 
 Tuttle, . 
 
 538 
 
 Twitchell 
 
 540 
 
 Upson, . 
 
 541 
 
 Wakelee, 
 
 544 
 
 Warner, 
 
 545 
 
 Wei ton. 
 
 548 
 
 Wiard . 
 
 l'AGE. 
 
 550 
 
 552 
 
 553 
 555 
 556 
 556 
 557 
 558 
 
 559 
 560 
 56i 
 563 
 564 
 57o 
 575 
 57S 
 592 
 400 
 
 59o 
 
 607 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Amidst the rugged hills in the northernmost corner of 
 New Haven County, just on the edge of the extensive 
 granitic district which spreads through the western part 
 of Connecticut, lies the town of Wolcott. It covers an 
 area measuring six miles from north to south, by about 
 three from east to west, and contains within its limits 
 higher ground than any that lies south of it in the State. 
 In its external features it is a good representative of 
 those rural towns of New England which have failed, for 
 whatever reason, to keep abreast of the age in its 
 rapid onward movement. On the plateau at the center 
 of the town stand two churches of that nondescript style 
 of architecture so often seen amidst New England hills ; 
 one of them in good repair, through the kindness of out- 
 side friends, the other closed and going to decay. The 
 Green which lies between these edifices is skirted by 
 dwelling-houses, which have the look of having seen bet- 
 ter times, — amongst these the remains of a flourishing 
 country store, and of an equally flourishing tavern. There 
 is the same look of incipient decay upon many of the 
 houses of the town, some of which are still waiting for 
 their first coat of paint. To one who wanders up and 
 down these hills, on a sunless Autumn afternoon, the ef- 
 fect is monotonous and depressing, and even in the pleas- 
 antest Summer days there is but little that is interesting 
 in these remnants of a farm life which must, at its best, 
 have been unusually prosaic and dreary. 
 
 Not alone in its external appearance, but also in its 
 
INTRODUCTION. xiii 
 
 history, is Wolcott a fair specimen of the rural towns of 
 Connecticut. There are the same noteworthy features in 
 its earlier period ; there is the same steady growth up to 
 a certain point ; and then, after the transition from agri- 
 culture to manufactures has fully set in in the State at 
 large, there is the same gradual decline. The hills of 
 Wolcott, although lying midway between Farmington 
 and the Manhan or Meadows of the Naugatuck, received 
 scarcely a passing thought from the pioneers who settled 
 Waterbury, and whose chief attraction in this quarter 
 consisted in the open meadow- land which they had here 
 discovered stretching along both sides of the river. The 
 first permanent settlement by the Farmington colonists 
 was made in the valley, and it was only by slow degrees 
 that the population spread backward from the central 
 basin, and extended up the hills. In course of time, 
 however, as more land for farming purposes was required, 
 the hill country came to be occupied, and the territory 
 lying between Farmington and Waterbury (and there- 
 fore called Farming-bury, according to the old Connecti- 
 cut method of constructing place-names), naturally took 
 the precedence in this respect. As early as 173 1, there 
 were residents within the limits of what is now called 
 Wolcott, but it was not until eighty-two years after the 
 First Church in Waterbury was organized that a separate 
 church was established in Farmingbury ; and not until 
 1796 was Farmingbury incorporated as a town, and named 
 Wolcott (after the Lieutenant-Governor, who, as Speaker 
 of the Assembly, gave it the benefit of his casting vote). 
 Attaining to the dignity of a separate existence so 
 shortly before the great transition which has been referred 
 to began, the period during which Wolcott could be con- 
 sidered a flourishing town was necessarily brief. As ap- 
 pears from several statements in the following pages, it 
 attained its highest prosperity during the first decade of the 
 present century. The parish was then one of the strong- 
 est in the county ; the Society had over two hundred tax- 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 payers on its list, and the attendance at public worship 
 was so large that the meeting-house was habitually- 
 crowded. But the population of the town, which num- 
 bered nine hundred and fifty-two in 1810, diminished 
 steadily from decade to decade, until, in 1870, it num- 
 bered only four hundred and ninety-one ; so that at the 
 last census Wolcott was in respect of population one of 
 the three smallest towns in Connecticut. The population 
 of Waterbury, on the other hand, which in 1800 numbered 
 3256, but which in 1810 had been reduced to 2784, or less 
 than three times that of Wolcott, received within the next 
 ten years a fresh impulse from the development of new 
 industries within the limits of the town, and has continued 
 to increase from year to year, until it now numbers over 
 fifteen thousand, and is therefore thirty times as great 
 as that of Wolcott. In comparison, then, with its sister 
 town, not only, but in comparison with most of the towns 
 in the State, Wolcott seems, even to its own inhabitants, 
 insignificant, — so much so that the author of this volume 
 was, in the course of his inquiries, frequently greeted with 
 the remark, "What can you find here of which to make 
 a history? What can you say of Wolcott — the last 
 place on earth that will interest anybody ?" It was dif- 
 ficult, indeed, to make people feel that such a place could 
 have a history which any practical person would care to 
 hear about. But this goodly volume, with its varied con- 
 tents, proves not only that the old town upon the hills, 
 now in its decadence, has a history, but that its history is 
 of great interest and value, — partly because of the exam- 
 ple its people have set of quiet, heroic living, and partly 
 because of the impress it has made on the character and 
 career of the nation by the men it has sent forth into 
 other parts of the land. 
 
 In view of this last-mentioned fact, it is eminently 
 proper that so large apart of this volume should be occu- 
 pied with biographical sketches of men born and reared 
 on the Wolcott hills. These sketches constitute one of 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 the most interesting and valuable portions of the book. 
 In the biographies of such men as the Rev. Messrs. Gillet 
 and Woodward, Deacons Aaron Harrison and Isaac Bron- 
 son, Dr. Ambrose Ives, Seth Thomas, Judah Frisbie — a 
 soldier of the Revolution — and, especially, Dr. William 
 A. Alcott and Mr. A. Rronson Alcott, we find represent- 
 ed the utmost diversity of experiences and the most 
 varied types of character. Some of these were remark- 
 able for their intellectual ability, others for their enter- 
 prise, others for their philanthropic spirit or their piety ; 
 but, in the case of most of them, their broad and fruitful 
 lives were in striking contrast with the sterile country 
 and the contracted sphere in which they had their birth 
 and training. In none of these men is the contrast more 
 marked than in him whose biography fills the largest 
 space in the following pages, but who still lingers 
 amongst us, Mr. Bronson Alcott of Concord. It is a 
 strange transformation, that by which the farmer boy of 
 Spindle Hill, having served his time as a peddler of Yan- 
 kee notions in eastern Virginia, becomes the father of ed- 
 ucational reform in America, a leader of the Transcend- 
 ental school of New England philosophers, the intimate 
 friend of Thoreau and Emerson, and the silver-tongued 
 conversationalist, whose monologues on lofty themes at- 
 tract and charm the selectest spirits of the East and the 
 West. 
 
 The biographical portion of the book, though large, is 
 not the largest. Of its six hundred pages, a hundred and 
 fifty-four are devoted to the history of the Congregation- 
 al church and society ; and this is the natural result not 
 simply of the plan according to which the work was put 
 together, but of the prominent position held by church 
 and religion in the life of the people. In this, as in almost 
 every old town in New England, the history of the commu- 
 nity is to a large extent the history of the church, its 
 meeting-houses and its ministers ; and we arc thus taught, 
 more impressively than by any deliberate presentation of 
 
Xvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the subject, how the fathers of four score years ago de- 
 voted their thought to theology and their lives to relig- 
 ion. 
 
 Besides the history of the two churches, and the bio- 
 graphical sketches, we have in the volume an account 
 of the civil history of the town, a full report of the 
 varied exercises of the Centennial Meeting, and a hundred 
 and eighty pages of genealogies. In each of these divis- 
 ions of the work there is evidence of the industrious 
 research and faithful labors of the author. He has 
 brought to this work, not indeed a facile pen, but a great 
 fondness for antiquarian investigation and a warm sym- 
 pathy with old-time phases of life and thought ; and the 
 result is a book which is readable not because of its pol- 
 ished periods, but because of its pictures of the past, so 
 full of local coloring, and for a certain simplicity and 
 quaintness of style, imparting to the page that flavor so 
 well known to all readers of town and county histories. 
 Among such histories this volume is destined to hold a 
 creditable place. The extent of the class of books to 
 which it belongs, no one can apprehend until he exam- 
 ines the work of Ludewig on the "Literature of Ameri- 
 can Local History" (published in 1846), and considers 
 how many local histories have appeared since that bibli- 
 ography was compiled. To this extensive and steadily 
 incerasing literature the present volume constitutes a 
 substantial addition. It calls attention once more to the 
 minutest details of the old Connecticut life ; it increases 
 the store of available materials from which the future his- 
 tories of America must draw their most valuable facts 
 and illustrations. 
 
 In scanning these pages, the reader is impressed not 
 only with the prominence of the ecclesiastical element in 
 the life of this old community, but also with the influence 
 upon the people of the ecclesiastical system to which 
 they adhered. The period most fully portrayed was one 
 in which church councils, and the consociations which 
 
INTRODUCTION. XVU 
 
 they represented, were recognized as possessing power. 
 Their advisory function had all the force of authority, as 
 may be seen in the declaration recorded on pages 120- 
 122, and its reception by the Wolcott church and society. 
 It was a time in which the fellowship of the churches was 
 something more than a name and a formality. In all 
 acts of fellowship between the Wolcott church and its 
 neighbors, the church in Waterbury took part ; for this 
 old parish held to the other the relation of mother and 
 sister at once, and made its influence felt in a beneficent 
 way. It is to the writer of this a gratifying fact that the 
 pleasant relations so long existing have suffered no real 
 interruption, and that he is permitted as the representa- 
 tive of the older organization, which still seems young 
 and vigorous, to bespeak for the younger, as it seems to 
 grow weak with age, the attention and sympathy of this 
 new and busy generation. As pastor of the " First Church" 
 of this whole region, I have a special interest in this his- 
 tory of the church and people of Wolcott ; and I take 
 pleasure in bidding this volume, in which a precious frag- 
 ment of the past is treasured up, God speed on its useful 
 errand. Its mission is not alone to the households scat- 
 tered over the Wolcott hills ; it should find a place in 
 homes and public libraries throughout our broad country. 
 Whatever hands it may fall into, may it do a good work- 
 in reviving pleasant memories of other days, and render- 
 ing vivid to young eyes the sober pictures oi the ances- 
 tral time. May it incline us to do honor to those New 
 England fathers to whom honor is so largely due ; and 
 may it deepen our reverence for the nation by showing 
 us how its foundations were laid with toil and sweat and 
 patience on New England hills. 
 
 Joseph Anderson. 
 
 Waterbury, Conn., Dec. \bth, 1874. 
 C 
 
INDEX 
 
 Atkins, Esther, , . 48 
 
 Joseph, Sen., 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 
 
 11, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, igo 
 
 194, 199 
 
 Dea. Joseph, 11, 23, 54, 61, 72 
 
 175, 195 
 
 John S., . . . . 99 
 
 Levi, jr., . . . 2, 197 
 
 Samuel, . . . 47, 48 
 
 Alcock, John, Sen., 2, 3, 11, 38 
 39, 188, 189, 190, 197 
 
 Alcox, Capt. John, 6, 185, 194, 199 
 
 Daniel, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, 43, 45. 54 
 
 61, 62, 158, 194, 196 
 
 David, . . 7, 47, *94 
 
 Jesse, jr .158 
 
 Joseph, . . . 194 
 
 James, . . . .194 
 
 David, jr., . . . 158 
 
 Joseph C, . - .158 
 
 J aims, . . . . 158 
 
 Alcott, A. Bronson, . .210 
 
 Dr. Wm. A. . . 108 
 
 Johnson, .... 192 
 Thomas, . . . 210 
 
 Bailey, Dea. James, 70, 106, 176 
 
 Beach, Rev. A. C, . 122-125 
 
 David M 158 
 
 Joseph, .... 190 
 
 Barnes, Benjamin, . .188 
 
 Nathan, ... 70 
 
 Stephen, . 6, 7, S. 17, 27, 47 
 
 Barrett, John, 7, 9, 25, 190, 192 
 James, .... 190 
 
 Bartholomew, Seth, . 7 
 
 Bartholomew, William, . 108 
 
 Beecher, Capt. Amos, . 7 
 
 Capt. Joseph, 7, 8, 17, 43, 60, 61 
 
 70 
 
 Capt. Walter, . 60, 68, 177 
 
 Dr. Lyman, . 85, S8, 98, 102 
 
 John, jr 99 
 
 Joseph, jr., . . . 177 
 
 Beckwith, Marvin, jr., . 15S 
 
 Bement, Jonathan, . 185 
 
 Benham, Shadrick, . . 1S9 
 
 Isaac, .... 192 
 
 Samuel, .... 192 
 
 Birge, Elijah, . . . 191 
 
 Bishop, Bani, . . 190, 191 
 
 Bradley, Amos, . . 158 
 
 Brockett, Zuer, . . 12, I08 
 
 Brown, Levi, . . . 15S 
 
 Bronson, Daniel, . . 8 
 
 Dea. Isaac, . 40, 41, 48, 99 
 
 100, 101, 102, 106, 179, 193 
 
 Dea. Iracl, 90, 106, 10S, 193 
 
 John, 6, 12, 23, 38, 188. 196, 199 
 
 John, jr., . . -79 
 
 Levi, . . . . 7, 47 
 
 Byington, Daniel, Sen., 5, 6, 7, 11 
 
 25, 199 
 
 Daniel, jr., II, 23, 45, 60, 158, 
 
 t 75, 176, 177, 181, 195 
 
 Samuel, 48, 50, 54, 177, 190 
 
 Carter, Isaac, . . 47 
 
 Jacob. 7, 12, 45, 47, 4S, 53, 54 
 
 61, 68, 181 
 
 Ensign Jonathan. 47, 4S, 53, 54 
 
 61, 70, 176, 177 
 
 18 
 
INDEX OF N A M E S . 
 
 XIX 
 
 Carter. Mary, ... 48 
 
 Major Preserve, . 71, 138 
 
 Chapman, Rev. James D., 117, 118 
 
 120, 122 
 
 Clark. Rev. Peter G. , . . 166 
 
 Harrison, Aaron, jr., . . 192 
 
 Benjamin, sen., . . 187 
 Benjamin, jr., 39, igo, 192, 194 
 
 Cowles, Asa 
 
 Calvin, 
 
 Josiah, 
 
 William, 
 Covill, Rev. Mr., 
 Curtiss, Abel, . 
 Deming, Phineas, 
 Dutton, Enos, . 
 Downs, Isaac, 
 Fenn, Abijah, . 
 Finch, Daniel, 
 Fiske, Rev YV. C, . 
 French, Rev. Wm, G., 
 Frisbie, Charles, . 
 
 David, . 
 
 Elijah. 
 
 Ira, 
 
 Judah, 
 
 Levi, 
 Frost, David, 
 Gaylord, Levi, 
 
 188 
 53. 54. 176, 1S1 
 
 . 158 
 
 210 
 
 . 166 
 
 8, 190, 197 
 
 . 158 
 
 70 
 
 . 158 
 
 190 
 
 47, '99 
 
 135, 136 
 
 166 
 
 • 177 
 101 
 
 . 1S9 
 
 120 
 
 12, 38,45 
 
 210 
 
 . 188 
 
 37 
 
 Gillet, Rev. Alexander, 32, 33, 38 
 
 39,40, 41, 45.49- 50, 52.53, 54 
 
 62 
 
 Nathan, 
 
 Capt. Zaccheus, 
 
 Grilley, Gehula, 
 
 Gregor, Rev. Mr., 
 
 Griswold, George. 
 
 Hall, Curtiss, 
 
 Ephraim, 
 
 Lieut. Heman, . 
 
 Capt. Heman, 
 
 Levi, 
 
 Orrin, 
 
 Richmond, 
 Hart, Rev. Lucas, 
 Harrison, Dea. Aaron, 
 ii, 23, 24, 25, 2; 
 
 . 47, 62 
 
 39.47 
 
 185, 189 
 
 . 166 
 
 99 
 
 6, 8, 9. 23 
 
 108, 210 
 
 . 187 
 
 12, 43, 1S8 
 
 . 158 
 
 108, 196 
 
 • 158 
 
 79 
 
 5. 6. 7. 8 
 
 37. 54. 62 
 
 David, 
 
 
 
 47 
 
 Jabez, . 
 
 
 
 192 
 
 Jared, 
 
 
 7. 8, 47 
 
 158 
 
 Michael, 
 
 
 
 194 
 
 Mark, 45, 47, 
 
 48, 
 
 53. 54. 61 
 
 , 64 
 
 71. 72. 175. 
 
 176 
 
 . 177. 181, 
 
 191 
 
 Phebe, . 
 
 
 
 48 
 
 Samuel, 
 
 . 
 
 
 47 
 
 Stephen, 
 
 
 
 94 
 
 Hitchcock, John 
 
 
 
 70 
 
 Higgins, Lyman, 
 
 
 158, 
 
 209 
 
 Holmes, Dea. Samuel, 132, 
 
 133 
 
 Holt, Daniel, 
 
 
 107, 
 
 112 
 
 Hopkins, Isaac, 
 
 9. 
 
 11. 25, 39 
 
 , 60 
 
 
 
 7o, 
 
 189 
 
 Simeon, 
 
 7. 
 
 43. 45, 62, 
 
 175 
 
 Hotchkiss, Abner, 
 
 . 
 
 107 
 
 Asaph, 
 
 
 191, 192, 
 
 194 
 
 Chester, , 
 
 
 
 209 
 
 190, 192, 193. 194, 199 
 
 Emerson M., 
 
 Harpin, 
 
 Holt, . 
 
 Jason, 
 
 Major Luther, 
 
 Solomon, 
 
 Timothy, 
 
 Titus, 
 
 Wait, . 
 Horton, Elijah, 
 
 Samuel, 
 
 Seth, 
 
 Thomas, 
 Hough, Ira, 
 
 Isaac, 
 
 Rev. Lent S., 
 Ives, Ambn 1 e, . 
 
 Mrs. Wealthy, 
 Jackson, Mr. 
 Johnson, Daniel, 
 
 Salmon, 
 Kenea, John J„ 
 
 Leverett, 
 
 196 
 
 158 
 
 210 
 
 210 
 
 112 
 
 190 
 
 158, 209 
 
 158, 159, 160 
 
 7, 11, 190 
 
 • 47 
 209 
 210 
 
 99 
 
 79, 101, 120 
 
 185, 192 
 
 • 130-135 
 
 158 
 
 • 134 
 
 3i 
 
 7, 25 
 
 158 
 
 . . 158 
 
 210 
 
INDEX OF NAMES. 
 
 Keys, Rev. John, 82, S3, 88, 89, 92, 
 93. 94. 95, 97, 98, 99, 193, 196 
 
 Potter, Ashbel, . . 8 
 
 Rev. Collis I , . . . 165 
 
 Lane, Asahel, . 
 
 70 
 
 Dr. John, 47. 54, 60, 61 
 
 , 62, 70, 
 
 Lewis, Capt. Nathaniel, 12, 43, 53, 
 
 7L 176, 
 
 177, 192 
 
 68 175, 176, 18 
 
 [, 183, 188,197, 
 
 Plumb, Family, 
 
 12 
 
 
 199 
 
 Ansel H„ . 
 
 132, 134 
 
 Nathaniel G., . 
 
 . 153 
 
 Orrin, 
 
 158 
 
 Reuben, 
 
 153 
 
 Simeon, . 54, 60, 
 
 177, 199 
 
 Lindsley, Lud, 
 
 101 
 
 Preston, Joseph, . 
 
 . 187 
 
 Loveland, Lewis, 
 
 158 
 
 Pritchard, Dennis. . 
 
 13, 194 
 
 Merrills, Caleb, . 
 
 . 158 
 
 Roger, 
 
 . 189 
 
 Mills, Rev. Mr., 
 
 41 
 
 Richards, Streat, 45,48,5/ 
 
 , 71,158 
 
 Minor, Archibald, 
 
 109, 112. 158 
 
 175, 176, 177. 
 
 181,195 
 
 Jedediah, . 
 
 9, 199 
 
 Richmon, Jacob, 
 
 8 
 
 Joseph, . 47, 
 
 62, 70, 71, 158 
 
 Robins, William, 
 
 • 194 
 
 Marcus, 
 
 158 
 
 Roberts, Abiel, 
 
 194 
 
 Marvin, 
 
 120 
 
 Rogers, Josiah, 6, 8, II, l 
 
 7, 25, 37 
 
 Mix, Eldad, 
 
 189 
 
 
 43- 19° 
 
 Mott, Jonathan, . 
 
 . 188 
 
 Sandford, Rev. David, 
 
 166 
 
 Moulthrop, Levi, Sen., . 120 
 
 Scarritt, James, 
 
 ■ 158 
 
 Norton, Abraham, 
 
 175, 190, 194 
 
 Jeremiah, 
 
 60, 70 
 
 
 196 ' 
 
 Scott, Timothy, . 
 
 . 189 
 
 Cyrus, 
 
 47, 43 
 
 Scovill, Rev. Mr. 
 
 157 
 
 Daniel, 
 
 45 
 
 Scranton, Rev. Erastus, 
 
 102, 103 
 
 David, . 7, 
 
 11, 43, 61, 190 
 
 
 106 
 
 Jerusha, 
 
 4 3 
 
 Seward, Amos, 6, 12, 2; 
 
 , 27. 43, 
 
 John, 
 
 • 158, 194 
 
 53.54, 60,175, 176, 189. 
 
 195, 199 
 
 Noah, . 
 
 47 
 
 Shaw, Rev. Nathan, 
 
 • 113 
 
 Ozias, 
 
 • 47 
 
 Smith, Eliakim, 
 
 158 
 
 Orcutt, Samuel. 
 
 136 
 
 Rev. John D., . 
 
 . 166 
 
 Parker. Family, 
 
 11 
 
 Sperry, Jeremiah, 
 
 158 
 
 Joseph, . 
 
 45. 189 
 
 Joseph, N. 
 
 99, 120 
 
 Joseph M.. . 
 
 47, 70, 71 
 
 Steadman, Selah, 
 
 62 
 
 Levi, 
 
 • 15S 
 
 Stevens, William, 
 
 . 62 
 
 William, 
 
 158 
 
 Stocking, Rev. Servilius, 
 
 166 
 
 Zephana, . 
 
 . 15S 
 
 Sutliff, Joseph, Senr., . 
 
 11. 189 
 
 Peck, Daniel, . 
 
 45 
 
 Talmage, Joseph, 
 
 . 9. 11 
 
 Dea. Justus, 
 
 7, 11, 53 175 
 
 Josiah, 
 
 190 
 
 
 188 
 
 Terry, Eli, 
 
 209 
 
 Pike, David. . 
 
 iSS 
 
 Henry, 
 
 . 209 
 
 James, 
 
 . 188 
 
 S. B. . 
 
 43 
 
 Samuel, 
 
 18S 
 
 Thomas, Seth, 
 
 • 195 
 
 Pond, Moses. Sen. 
 
 . 70 
 
 Thrasher Elnathan, . 
 
 195 
 
 Col. Moses, . 
 
 196 
 
 Todd, Caleb, 
 
 192 
 
 Powers, Barna, 
 
 • 158 
 
 Hezekiah, 
 
 190 
 
INDEX OF NAMES. 
 
 XXI 
 
 Todd, Moses, 71, 190, igi, 192 
 
 Jerry 158 
 
 Twitchell Isaac, . . 190 
 
 Joseph, . . . 158, 196 «. 
 
 Upson, Ashbel, . 101, 107 
 
 Capt. Charles, 43, 48, 53, 54, 60 
 
 61, 63, 68, 70, 134, 175, 176 
 
 177, 1S1, 191, 193, 195 
 
 Gates, , . 79, 99, 102 
 
 Dea. Harvey, . 107, 196 
 
 Isaac, ... 70, 195 
 
 Jerry 99 
 
 / Capt. Samuel, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 43 
 
 45. 47. 53. 54. 61, 175. 177- 181 
 
 196 
 
 Samuel, Jr., . . 158, 196 
 
 Samuel W., . . . 107 
 
 Thomas, 1st, 38, 183, 187, 190 
 
 197 
 
 Thomas, 2d, 11, 99, 107, 112 
 
 158, 195 
 
 Upson, Wealthy, 
 
 
 48 
 
 Warner, David, 
 
 
 7 
 
 Erastus W., . 
 
 
 192 
 
 James, 
 
 
 8 
 
 Wakelee, David, 
 
 
 158 
 
 Lewis H., 
 
 
 79 
 
 Welton, Eliakim. 1st. 
 
 189, 
 
 197 
 
 Eliakim, 2d, 
 
 
 157 
 
 Oliver, 
 
 9. 
 
 T57 
 
 Thomas, 
 
 
 189 
 
 Richard F., 
 
 
 62 
 
 Rev. Ximenus A., 
 
 
 166 
 
 Whiting, Adna, . 
 
 
 112 
 
 Wiard, Darius, 
 
 . 192. 
 
 193 
 
 Matthew, 
 
 
 192 
 
 Thomas, . 
 
 
 196 
 
 Woodward, Rev. I. B 
 
 ,60, 62 
 
 65, 
 
 66, 72, 76, 93, 158. i 
 
 76, 191, 
 
 192 
 
 Woster, Abraham, 11, 
 
 19, 190, 
 
 193 
 
 Rebecca. 
 
 
 11 
 
 TOPICAL INDEX 
 
 Academy, Southington, 
 Articles of Faith, 
 Bell, Subscription for, . 
 
 Weight of, . 
 
 New one, 
 Beecher, Dr. Lyman's Sermon 
 
 Family, .... 
 Bronson, Isaac, Character and 
 Gratuitous Labors, 
 
 Remarkable Eloquence, 
 
 Reasons why he should have 
 had some Salary, 
 Beach, Rev. Aaron C, Or- 
 dained, 
 
 Dismissed, 
 Burr, Rev. Z. B,. A call, 
 Burying Grounds, The Center, 
 
 Pike's Hill, . 
 
 Northeast, 
 
 Southeast, 
 
 Southwest, 
 Biographies, See Table of Con- 
 tents. 
 
 202 Church, Congregational, Or- 
 
 134 ganized, 33 
 
 no First Members, . . 33 
 
 112 Covenant Rules, . . 36 
 
 126 Discipline, . . . 41, 90 
 
 85 Efficiency under Mr. Keys, 91 
 
 88 List of Members, . . 14 S 
 
 List of Officers, See Officers. 
 99 Episcopal, Organization, 165 
 
 100 Clock-making, . . 209 
 
 Council, Ecclesiastical, Meet- 
 roi ingof, . . 35, 42, 54 
 
 To Ordain Mr. Hart, . 80 
 
 123 
 
 Letter for, ... 83 
 
 125 
 
 Meeting of, . . T20, 123 
 
 128 
 
 Centenary Meeting, . 377 
 
 204 
 
 See Table of Contents. 
 
 206 
 
 Chapman's Ministry begins, 117 
 
 20S 
 
 Dismissed, . . . 122 
 
 208 
 
 Communion Service, . . 133 
 
 208 
 
 Episcopalians, early in Wol- 
 
 
 cott, .... 157 
 
TOPICAL INDEX. 
 
 Episcopalians, Taxed by Law, 157 
 Petition to General Assem- 
 bly, .... 157 
 List who withdrew from First 
 
 Society, . . . 158 
 
 Fiske, Rev. Warren C, hired, 135 
 Fever, the great, of 1810, . 76 
 
 Freemen, List of, . . 213 
 
 Genealogies, . . . 425 
 
 See G, Table of Contents. 
 Green, the Public, . . 193 
 Rev Mr. Gillet, Settlement, 50 
 His Marriage, . . 50 
 
 Builds a House, . . 51 
 His Salary, . . 51, 52 
 
 Closes his Labors, . . 53 
 His last entries in Church 
 
 Book, ... 59 
 
 His Biography, ' . . 313 
 
 Hart, Rev. Lucas, his Call, 79 
 
 His Ordination, . . 80 
 
 The Ball, ... Si 
 
 His Term of Service, . 81 
 
 His death, ... 82 
 
 Hough, Rev. Lent S., hired, 131 
 
 Letter of Commendation, 131 
 
 Closes his Labors, 
 
 Hills, of Wolcott, . . 181 
 
 Highways, . . . 196 
 
 Hotels,. .... T96 
 
 Jack's Cave, . . . 197 
 
 Keys, Rev. John, his Call, . 82 
 
 Installation, ... 84 
 
 A Communication, . . 92 
 
 Resignation, . . 94 
 
 Reasons for, . . 95, 97 
 
 Law in Wolcott, . . 203 
 
 Mill, Atkins', . . . 194 
 
 Mill Place, ... 194 
 
 Meeting House, Voted to build, 14 
 
 Stake fixed, . . 14, 16 
 
 First Meetings in, . 24 
 
 Description, ... 24 
 
 Its size, . . .18, 19 
 
 Deed for Land, . . 20 
 
 Meeting House, improvement, 44 
 Seating by age, . . 45 
 Pulpit, . . -45, 46 
 Its final completion, . 67 
 Dedicatory Poem, . 69 
 
 Pews first rented, . 113 
 
 Burning of, . . . 117 
 
 Building a new one, . 119 
 New one completed. . 124 
 
 Repaired, . . 135, 136 
 Episcopal, site given, . 163 
 
 Built 164 
 
 Mountain, Southington, . 49 
 
 Officers, of Cong. Church : 
 
 Ministers, . . . 139 
 
 Deacons, . . . 140 
 
 Clerks, . . . 140 
 
 Society, Moderators, . 140 
 
 Clerks, 14 1 
 
 Treasurers, . . . 141 
 
 Committees, . . 142 
 
 School Committees, . . 146 
 
 Officers of Episcopal Church : 
 Ministers, . . . 167 
 
 Clerks, . . . . 167 
 
 Vestrymen, . . .170 
 
 Society, Committees, 160, 168 
 Wardens, . . .169 
 
 Town Moderators, . 221 
 
 Clerks 221 
 
 Selectmen, . . . 221 
 Justices, .... 223 
 Representatives, . . 225 
 
 Senators, . . . 226 
 
 Peddlers, Yankee, . . 209 
 
 Parsonage Built, . . .124 
 
 Bought by Society, . 127 
 
 Rogers, Rev. Stephen, in- 
 stalled, . . £28 
 Letter of resignation, . 129 
 Dismissed, . . . 13° 
 
 Revivals, under Messrs. Gillet 
 
 and Mills, ... 41 
 Results, ... 42 
 
 Under Rev. Mr. Scranton, 103 
 
TOPICAL INDEX 
 
 XX1I1 
 
 Revivals under Rev. Jos. Smith, 129 
 Under Rev. L. B. Hough, 132 
 Roll of Honor, . . 213 
 
 Sabba' day Houses, . . 50 
 Sackett, Rev. Seth, . . 113 
 Scranton, Rev. Erastus, Jour- 
 nal, .... 103 
 School, Public, Committee, 
 
 First, .... 7 
 
 Public. . . . 199 
 
 Tax by poll, ... 7 
 Expenses of, . . 200, 202 
 
 Sunday, ... 88, 90 
 Sunday Class, . . 109 
 
 Shaw, Rev. Nathan, . .113 
 Settlers, First in New Eng- 
 land, .... I 
 Hartford and Farmington, 1 
 Waterbury, . . . 1 
 Farmingbury, . . 38, [87 
 Singing, improvements in, 46, 48 
 70, 94 
 Singers in the Gallery, . 48 
 Smith, Rev. David, hired, . 113 
 Rev Joseph, hired, . 129 
 
 Small Pox 204 
 
 Society Congregational, pre- 
 liminaries, ... 3 
 Assembly, Act for, . 3 
 
 Warnings, . . . 4, 5 
 
 First Meeting, . . 6 
 
 Measured, ... 8 
 
 Vote for Meeting House, 8 
 
 Offices, . . . 10 
 
 First Officers, ... 25 
 Annual Officers, . . 26, 27 
 Incorporated as a Town, 71 
 
 Rate Fist 73 
 
 Cong., Second, Organized, 120 
 Fund, . . . . 137 
 
 Episcopal, Organized, . 159 
 Domestic Missionary, . 88 
 
 Conn. Home Mis^., 88, 91, 113 
 Donations to Wolcott, . 137 
 Soldiers, Revolutionary, . 226 
 
 Late Rebellion, . . 226 
 
 Stoves, in the Church, . 11S 
 
 Streams of Water, . - 1S5 
 
 Subscription for Gospel, ac- 
 cording to age, . . H4 
 Swift, Rev. Z., hired, . .122 
 Taverns, ... 50, 196 
 
 Taxes for Society, 7, 10, 28, 96, 98 
 
 99 
 
 To build a Meeting House, 23 
 
 Twelve per cent., . 91, 92 
 
 Assembly Act for, . . 29 
 
 Order to collect, . . 44 
 
 List of 1S06, ... 7 
 
 List of 1789, . . .211 
 
 Grand Lists, . . . 210 
 
 Episcopalians, . . • T 57 
 
 A List, .... 189 
 
 For Singing, . . 7°, 93, 94 
 
 Vail. Rev. Wm. F., hired, . 113 
 
 War of the Revolution, . 49, 50 
 
 Late Rebellion, . . 49 
 
 Wheelock, Rev. Mr., hired, 109 
 
 Whipping Post. . . .202 
 
 Will of Addin Lewis, . 201 
 
 Wolcott like Land of Canaan, 51 
 
 As a Business Centre, . 63 
 
 In its Strength, . . 89 
 
 Incorporated. . . 178 
 
 Care of the Poor, . .181 
 
 First Town Meeting, . 180 
 
 The Center in 1800, . .190 
 
 Woodtick, . . . 195 
 
 Woodward, Rev. I. B. begins 
 
 to preach, . . .60 
 Letter of Acceptance, . 61 
 
 Ordained 62 
 
 His Marriage. . 63 
 
 Subscribers to his Settle- 
 ment, . . . .64 
 Salary, .... 65 
 
 His School. ... 67 
 Offers his Resignation, . 71 
 
 His death, ... 76 
 
 His ( Iravestone, . . 77 
 
 I lis Widow, ... 77 
 A Federalist. . 98 
 
HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 FIR SI SOI I E T Y 1 \ WOLCO T T. 
 Flksi SETTLERS. 
 
 In the settlement of Connecticut, and other New Eng- 
 land States, the settlers mad< their homes first in the 
 valleys and along the rivers and streams of water. After 
 fifty to seventy years' experience of decimation from 
 fevers and sicknesses, caused by the fogs and mala- 
 ria in these low lands, they began to climb the hills and 
 mountains, and to make their homes where the sun rose 
 before ten o'clock in the morning, and set after four o'clock 
 in the afternoon ; so that the first settlers came into 
 Wolcott, upon the hills, fifty-seven years after the 
 tlement ofWaterbury, and ninety-one years after the set- 
 tlement of Farmington. 
 
 The first settlers of Hartford reached that place in 1635, 
 and "in 1640 the people of Hartford commenced a settle- 
 ment at Farmington, it being the first made in Connecti- 
 cut away from navigable waters. From this time to 1673, 
 small beginnings were made at Norwich, Derby, Walling- 
 ford, Simsbury, Woodbury, and Plainfield." In the year 
 1674, "Articles of Association and Agreement " were 
 signed by some of the people of Farmington for a set- 
 tlement in Waterbury, but the first houses were not 
 erected until the summer of 1678. The Indian " trail "or 
 path by which the people of Farmington reached Mat- 
 tatuck. now Waterbury, lay across the north vest corner 
 of what is now Wolcott, and became, probably, the first 
 " traveled " road in this town. It is the road that now 
 2 
 
2 HISTORY OF VVOLCOTT. 
 
 passes Air. Levi Atkins' dwelling house, and it is said 
 that the millstones for the first Grist Mill in Woodbury 
 were carried from Farmington on this road, on the back 
 of a horse, the stones being in a sack balancing on each 
 side of the horse, and the horse led by a footman. In 
 173 1 Mr. John Alcock, of New Haven, settled in the west 
 part of what is now Wolcott, he being the first settler 
 there. In less than thirty years (in 1760) the people had 
 become so numerous within this territory as to desire 
 parish privileges, and so petitioned the General Assem- 
 bly to make them a "Distinct Society." They x stated 
 that they "occupied a tract of land five miles square, 
 were ,£2,000 in the list, and lived an inconvenient dis- 
 tance from places of public worship." Waterbury First 
 Society remonstrated with arguments, and the petition 
 was rejected, as was another with forty-three signers, 
 in May, 1762. In October, 1762, the people, numbering 
 thirty-eight, renewed their petition, and the old Society 
 remonstrated, the chief reason given being the difficulty 
 of supporting the First Society, if Farmingbury, West 
 Farms, and South Farms, should be granted society 
 privileges. Notwithstanding the cogency of this reason- 
 ing, the people of Farmingbury (so called at this time) 
 were allowed to hire preaching five months in the year, 
 and to set up a school, and in the meantime to be ex- 
 empt from other society and school taxes. In the spring 
 of 1767, thirty-one petitioners of the Winter parish re- 
 quested society privileges, and asked that the limits of 
 the society might be extended into New Cambridge 
 (now Bristol). They said they numbered seventy-one 
 families, and had a list of £3,872 8s. The petition was 
 denied, as was also another in October, 1768." 
 
 FORMATION OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 The organization of the First Ecclesiastical Society 
 took place at the house of Mr. Joseph Atkins, on the 13th 
 
 * See History of Waterbury, pages 279-81. 
 
FIRST S< >CIETY IX V, OLC< >TT. 3 
 
 day of November, 1770. This house stood south of the 
 highway that now runs westward from the meeting-house, 
 and stood about two hundred rods west from the present 
 meeting-house, in what was then the town of Waterbury. 
 The site may be recognized by a small part of the cellar- 
 wall which still remains. 
 
 The preliminaries to this meeting were very carefully 
 attended to according to the Colonial Law of that time, 
 by a grant from the General Assembly, and by orders 
 from the Courts, and legal warnings to the people. This 
 grant formed the parish from the towns of Waterbury and 
 Farmington, and gave it the name of Farmingbury. 
 
 Several efforts had been made between the years 1760-69 
 to form such Society, but without success. In the Spring 
 of 1770 a petition, signed by forty-nine persons, was pre- 
 sented to the General Assembly, and was laid over until 
 the next ( >ctober, when the petition was granted. 
 
 The territory taken from Waterbury had been settled 
 but a short time, — the first settler, Mr. John Alcock, of 
 New Haven, having taken his residence on Spindle Hill, 
 in March, 1731. So far as known all other settlers had 
 come into this territory during the thirty-nine years in- 
 tervening: and so far as known all the settlers in Far- 
 mington part of Farmingbury had come in after 1732."" 
 
 All the original papers issued for the purpose of form- 
 ing the Society are preserved, though much changed by 
 age and use, and are of such peculiar character that their 
 insertion here will be particularly interesting. They are 
 as follow 
 
 ASSEMBIA SlCT. 
 
 At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the Colony of Connecti- 
 cut, kolden at New Haven, on the Second Thursday of October, A. D., 1770 : 
 
 Upon the Memorial of Joseph Atkins, of Waterbury, in the 
 count) of New Haven, and others living within the following lim 
 its and boundaries, viz. : Beginning half a mile west from the 
 
 * Mr. Thomas Dpson, moved into the Southeast 1 orner, in 1732-3. 
 
4 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 northeast corner of the first " Long Lot" in said Farmington, next 
 to said Waterbury; thence west about two miles and a half by the 
 limits of Cambridge Parish to Northbury Society; thence south- 
 ward to the middle of the dwelling-house of Caleb Barnes, of said 
 Waterbury ; thence to extend west to a line that is two miles west 
 from the southwest corner of said Cambridge; thence south two 
 degrees east, about three miles to a place two hundred rods north, 
 two degrees from the four mile tree ; thence southward to the mid- 
 dle of the dwelling house of Elijah Frisbie ; thence a straight line 
 to a line drawn west from the southwest corner of said Farmington 
 three quarters 'of a mile; thence to said corner of Farmington; 
 thence east on said Farmington south line to the east side of the 
 original twenty rod highway ; thence northward to the top of the 
 mountain west of John Merriman's ; thence a straight line to the 
 first Station, — praying for society privileges, a committee was ap- 
 pointed [by] this assembly, who having reported in favor of the 
 memorialists, which is approved of by this Assembly and accepted : 
 Resolved, by this Assembly, that the said Inhabitants living with- 
 in said limits and boundaries as above described be and they are 
 hereby made and constituted a distinct Ecclesiastical Society, and 
 shall be called and known by the name of Farmingbury, with all 
 the privileges and immunities to such societies usually belonging 
 in the Colony, and the said Caleb Barnes hereby has liberty 
 granted him of choosing whether he will be of said New Society 
 or remain and belong to the First Society in Waterbury, and the 
 same liberty is hereby given unto said Elijah Frisbie. 
 
 A true Copy of Record, 
 
 Exa mined bv 
 
 -I W I'll. 
 
 GEORGE WYLLIS, Secretary. 
 
 Upon the reception of this grant, application was made 
 to the officers in Farmington and Waterbury, and the ex- 
 ecution of the several papers was attended to as follows : 
 
 To fared Lee, Esq*, our of his Majesty's Jwstict Farming- 
 
 ton, in the County of Hartford : 
 
 The Honorable Assembly Having Constituted Part of Farm- 
 ington and Part of Waterbury, to be a Distinct Ecclesiastical So- 
 ciety, In October, A. D., 1770, Ave the Subscribers, Principle In- 
 
I Iks l SOCIETY IN WOLCOTT. 5 
 
 habitants of said Society, Do as the Law Directs make applica- 
 tion to the said Jared Lee. Esq., tor a warning to the Inhabitants 
 of said Society for a Societ) Meeting on Tuesday, the 1.5th day 
 of November, inst, at 12 of the Clock, at the house of Mr. Joseph 
 Atkins, in said Society. 
 
 JOSEPH ATKINS, , 
 
 AARON HARRISON, [• Principle Inhabitants. 
 
 DANIEL BYINGTON, ' 
 
 On the above said application of Mr. Joseph Atkins, Capt. 
 Aaron Harrison, and Daniel Byington — these are therefore to 
 command ('apt. Aaron Harrison in His Majesty's name, to give 
 lawful warning to all the Inhabitants in said Society In Farming- 
 ton Part allowed by Law to vote, to meet at the Dwelling house 
 dI Mr. Joseph Atkins on the 13th Day of November. Instant, in 
 said Society, at 12 o'clock of said day to Choose a Moderator and 
 Societ\ Clerk, and to do all other business Proper to be Done at 
 said meeting. 
 
 Dated at Farmington, the 5th Day of November, A. D., 1770, 
 and in the nth year of his Majesty's Reign. 
 
 JARED LEE, Just. Peace. 
 
 Pursuant to this warrant. I have proceeded and given Legal 
 warning to the Inhabitants of Farmingbury, in Farmington Part, 
 for a Society Meeting at the house of Mr. Joseph Atkins, on Tues- 
 day the 13th of November, inst.. at 12 of the Clock on said Day. 
 
 AARON II VRRISON, Inhabitant of said Society. 
 
 WARNING FOR WATERBURY PART. 
 
 To M>. /htin.; ByingtonoJ /■'/, S$a ty oj Farmingbury, in the Town oj 
 Waterbury,in New Haven County, Greeting: 
 
 Whereas, The Honorable General Assembly, in their Session 
 in New Haven, on the 2d Thursday of October last made and 
 constituted the said Farmingbury, consisting part of the Town of 
 Farmington, in Hartford County, and part of the Town of Water- 
 Jmry, in New Haven County, a Distinct Fcclesiastical Society, as 
 appears of Record, and it is now necessary that the said Society 
 be convened in Society Meeting for the Lawful Purposes thereof, — ■ 
 These are therefore in His Majesty's name, to Require you to 
 
6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 warn all the inhabitants of said Waterbury, within the Limits of 
 said Society of Farmingbury, to meet at the Dwelling House of 
 Mr. Joseph Atkins, in said Waterbury, on Tuesday, the 13th Day 
 of Instant Nov., at twelve of the Clock on said Day, then and 
 there to choose a Moderator, Society's Clerk, and other proper 
 Officers, and to do and transact all other Business proper for said 
 meeting according to law. 
 
 Dated at Waterbury the 6th day of Nov., 1770, and in the 1 ith 
 year of His Majesty's Reign. 
 
 JOSEPH HOPKINS, Justice Peace. 
 JOSEPH ATKINS, ^ 
 
 AARON HARRISON, - Inhabitants of said Society. 
 DANIEL BYINGTON,) 
 
 Pursuant to this Warrant, I have Proceeded and given Legal 
 warning to the Inhabitants of Farmingbury, in Waterbury Part, for 
 Society Meeting at the house of Mr. Joseph Atkins, on Tuesday 
 the 13th of Nov. inst., at 12 o'clock on said Day. 
 
 DANIEL BYINGTON, Inhabitant of said Society. 
 
 The foregoing Instruments are true copies of the warrants 
 granted for the warning of the First Society Meeting in Farming- 
 bury. 
 
 Certified by, 
 
 DANIEL BYINGTON, Society Clerk. 
 
 FIRST SOCIETY MEETING. 
 
 At a Society meeting holden in Farmingbury; the inhabitants 
 being lawfully assembled on the 13th day of November, A. D., 
 1770, the following votes were taken. Capt. Aaron Harrison was 
 chosen Moderator, Daniel Byington was chosen Society Clerk, 
 Lieut. Josiah Rogers, Mr. John Alcox, Mr. Stephen Barnes, Mr. 
 John Bronson, and Mr. Amos Seward, were chosen Society Com- 
 mittee for the year ensuing. 
 
 Voted, that we will procure preaching the year ensuing. 
 
 Voted, to lay a rate of two pence on the pound to be paid on 
 the list of August, 1770, and that the said rate should be paid 
 by the first day of September next. Curtiss Hall and Daniel Al- 
 cox were chosen to collect said rate. 
 
 At the same meeting Lieut. Josiah Rogers was chosen Society 
 
FIRST S< (CIETY I \ W( IL( < 'II. J 
 
 Treasurer for the year ensuing. David Norton, Seth Bartholo- 
 mew, Daniel Alcox, Amos Beecher, Joseph Beecher, Justus Peck, 
 
 Capt. Aaron Harrison, and Stephen Barnes were chosen School 
 Committee for the year ensuing. 
 
 David Warner. Wait Hotchkiss, Simeon Hopkins. Nathaniel 
 Lewis, Capt Aaron Harrison, and Joseph Beecher, were chosen 
 a committee to divide the Society into Districts. Voted to give 
 Mr. |oseph Atkins i\\ 5s od for the use of his house to meet in 
 on the Sabbath for the year ensuing, till the first of May next. 
 
 Jacob Carter. Levi Bronson, Jared Harrison, Stephen Barnes, 
 and David Alcox were chosen Choristers for the year ensuing. 
 Capt. Aaron Harrison and Mr. Amos Seward were chosen to read 
 the Psalms for the year ensuing. 
 
 John Barrett was chosen Grave Digger. At the same meet- 
 ing. \oted to build a Meeting house. Joseph Atkins was chosen 
 Agent to go to the County Court for a committee to stick the 
 stake for said Meeting house. Capt. Enos Brooks, Capt. Enos 
 Atwater, and Col. Hall were nominated a committee to stick the 
 stake of said Meeting house. Vol :d to lay a rate Hah" Penny on 
 the Pour) I to d< fra) the S01 iet) C and said half 
 
 penny rate by the first day of February next, and Joseph Atkins 
 and fared Harrison wei 1 said half penny rate. 
 
 Voted to adjourn said meeting to the last Thursday of Inst. No- 
 vember, at one o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 ADJOURl I tNG. 
 
 At the adjourn ants did meel an i \ 'ted as fol- 
 
 lows, viz. : To accept the 1] the committee in dividing 
 
 Society into Districts. [thai the Schooling should be by 
 
 the poll. Mr. Samuel Upson was chosen School Committee. 
 Voted that each School committee shah collect their poll rate 
 each one in his own District. Adjourned -or one hour. At the 
 adjournment the inhabitants did meet and voted to procure a 
 Book for Records. Voted ti 1 the meeting to the Third 
 
 Monday in December nexl at '~>nr o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 Met according to adjournment. Daniel Johnson and Daniel 
 Byington were chosen to take the marks of stra) sheep the year 
 ensuintf. 
 
S UISTl '-V OF WOLCOl I 
 
 Voted to have the Society measured by a Count) surveyor, and 
 to reconsider the vote taken to lay a rate two pence on the pound 
 in order to procure preaching. Voted to lay a halfpennj rate to 
 pav for measuring the Society, and that said hah" penny rate be 
 paid by the first da) of February next. Joseph Atkins and Jared 
 Harrison were chosen to collect said half pennj rate. Sargent 
 Samuel Smith and James Warner and Daniel Bronson were cho- 
 sen chairmen, and Lieut. Ashbel Potter, County surveyor. Voted 
 to lay a rate of one penny half penny on the pound to procure 
 preaching, and to pay said rate by the first day of September 
 next, and Abel Curtiss and Curtiss Hall were chosen to collect 
 said rate. Voted to adjourn the meeting to the last Monday in 
 Inst. December, at one o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 Met according to adjournment and adjourned to the Second 
 Wednesday of January next at one o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 At the adjournment voted to adjourn half an hour, and then 
 met and voted to confide in what the committee did in fixing a 
 place for the Meeting house. Voted to have Society meetings on 
 the first Monday of December annually. Voted to dissolve said 
 meeting. 
 
 At a Society meeting holden in Farmingbury, on the 21st day 
 of January, A. D.. 1771. the inhabitants being lawfully assembled 
 on said dav. the following votes were taken, ('apt. Aaron Har- 
 rison was chosen Moderator to lead the meeting. Voted to ad- 
 journ the meeting one hour, then met and voted to confide in 
 what the late committee did in fixing a place tor a Meeting house 
 and dissolved said meeting. 
 
 At a Society meeting holden in Farmingbury. on the 2 2d day 
 of April, A. D., 177 1, the inhabitants being lawfully assembled on 
 said daj the following votes were taken. Capt. Aaron Harrison 
 was chosen Moderator. Lieut. Josiah Rogers. Mr. Samuel Up- 
 son, Mr. Stephen Barnes, Mr. Joseph Beecher, and Mr. Daniel 
 Alcox were chosen a Meeting house Committee. Voted to have 
 all the land in the Society taxed. Voted to have the tax three 
 peine per acre for four years. At the same meeting Capt. 
 Aaron Harrison was chosen agent to appl) to the Assembly to 
 procure the said tax. Mr. Stephen Barnes was chosen for the 
 same purpose. Voted to give Mr. Jacob Richmon his rate ; also 
 
FIRST S< »CIE 1 \ IN Wnli OTT. 9 
 
 to give Mr. Jedediah Minor his two half penny rates, and also to 
 give Mr. Joseph Taknage his two hall" penny rates. Voted to 
 have preaching this summer, and to lay a half penny rate in ad- 
 dition to the penny halfpenny to be paid the first of September 
 next. Adjourned to first Tuesday of June next at three o'cloi k 
 in the afternoon. 
 
 At the time, met and adjourned to last Monday in September 
 next, at one o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 Met according to adjournment, and voted to have the said me- 
 morial for said land tax carried into the next Assembly, giving the 
 agents leave to alter in respect to the Churchmen as they shall 
 find best, and Mr. Samuel Upson and Mr. Daniel Alcox were 
 chosen agents to apply to the Assembly to procure said tax. 
 Mr. |oseph Atkins was chosen for the same purpose. Daniel 
 Alcox and Stephen Barnes were chosen to collect said tax. 
 \ oted to have our meeting on the last Monday of November, annu- 
 ally, and to warn said meeting by setting up Notifications at these 
 places, viz. : John Barrett's, Isaac Hopkins'. Dan Tuttle's Shop, Cur- 
 tiss Hall's, and Ensign Welt on' s. Voted to dissolve said meeting. 
 
 These several meetings, as recorded, show the effort 
 and labor and patience expended in forming a new Socie- 
 ty and bringing it into working order, and the manner of 
 attending to such duties in those days. They also bring 
 forward names that are prominent in these records for 
 many years afterward, and names which will appear in va- 
 rious relations, and frequently, in the progress ol this 
 History. 
 
 Farmingbury did not become a Town till [796. Hence 
 man_\' interests were attended to by the Parish Society 
 which belonged properly to township authority, and not 
 to the Church. In those days it was a principle of Chris- 
 tian duty to take special care of political matters and 
 not to leave them in the hands of the n ters of 
 
 piety. '1 his was supposed to be right and righteous, 
 and human experience concurs with the supposition; 
 for what would the unprincipled man like better than 
 that he should take care of polities, while men of princi- 
 
IO HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 pie should sit at home to be governed like slaves, and 
 then pay the expenses of government ? What would the 
 thief like better than that he should be left to make the 
 laws and execute them at his own pleasure ? This is not 
 Church and State united, but church men in the state, 
 acting. To demand that when a man embraces, person- 
 ally, the benefits of the gospel, he shall forsake the polit- 
 ical interests of his community and nation, leads only to 
 the revival of the days of the Inquisition, that is, in- 
 fliction of punishment for obedience to the Gospel. 
 
 From the first, Farmingbury Parish took supervision of 
 the public schools ; appointed the committees ; voted 
 how much "schooling" they should have each year ; laid 
 taxes for the support of schools, and directed how these 
 should be collected, and appointed the collectors of these 
 taxes. They appointed the "grave digger" and the 
 keeper of the "key," and persons to take the " marks of 
 stray sheep." In one instance only did they go to the 
 Assembly for power to lay a tax, and that was for a 
 church rate on all the lands " for maintaining the worship 
 of God."' :: " 
 
 •"".// ,r General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the Colony of 
 ut holden nt Netv Haven, on th, 20 7 Thursday of October, Anno 
 Domini, J 771 : 
 
 Upon the memorial of the Society of Farmingbury, prepared by Joseph 
 Atkins, Samuel Upson, ami Daniel Alcox, agents for said Society, represent- 
 ing to this Assembly that the list of -aid society is small and they unable 
 up and maintain the worship of God among them without some fur- 
 ther help, praying for a tax on all the lands within said Society, &c, as per 
 menu trial on tile : 
 
 Resolved by the Assembly, that a tax of three pence on the acre for the 
 term of four years, to be annuall) coll cted, be laid on all the lands within 
 said Society which belong to the inhabitants living within said Society not 
 being professors of the Church of England, and also on that part of the 
 non-resident professors, which land is not put on the general list of 
 such non-residenl persons and subject to pay taxes in other societies and 
 Towns; and Stephen Barnes of Farmington ami Daniel Alcox of Water- 
 bury, are hereby appointed and fully empowered to collect the said tax of 
 the proprietors of such lands as aforesaid and the same to pay to the com- 
 
FIRS I S< >CIETY l\ WOLCOTT. II 
 
 Thus was formed, organized, and [nit into effectual op- 
 eration the First Ecclesiastical Society in Wolcott, which 
 was as a tree in the wilderness and proved to be "a 
 fruitful vine in the tops of the mountains." The fami- 
 lies of the parish were very much scattered amidst the 
 forests that then covered most of these hills and the 
 small patches of low lands. 
 
 It is not certain that at the time of the formation of 
 the parish, there was more than one house at Wolcott 
 Center, that of Abraham Woster, all traces of whose 
 family have disappeared from Wolcott long ago. He 
 was a carpenter, and was"foreman" or "boss" carpenter 
 at the building' of the first Meeting house. His wife, 
 Rebecca, united with the church on the [2th of January 
 1777, and on the 19th of the same month their son Lyman 
 w as baptized. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Atkins and his sou Joseph lived in one 
 house, a quarter of a mile west of Abraham Woster's 
 house, or of the Center. Deacon Rogers lived half a mile 
 west of the Center. Daniel Byington and his sou Daniel 
 lived at the "Mill Place." West of this were Mr. John 
 Alcock and several of his children, settled on nearly one 
 thousand acres of land. North of the Center on the 
 " Hound Line" road there were- no residents, except Mr. 
 Talmage, nearer than Thomas Cpson, the father of 
 Charles, Esquire, and where Charles afterward resided. 
 Tin' Peck families lived further north-north-east. East 
 of the Center less than half a mile lived Aaron Harrison 
 (the first Deacon) with his father if then living. South- 
 west was David Norton ; then Wait Hqtchkiss, Isaac Hop- 
 kins, the Sutliff family and Parker family. In Woodtick 
 
 mittee of said So< iety, to be improved i<> sel up ami maintain a < lospel min- 
 istry in said Society, and that thi of the Colony shall issue and 
 sign warrants forcollei lid tax in due form oi law. 
 
 \ true copy of Record, 
 
 Examined, 
 
 B3 GEORGE WYLLIS, Secretary. 
 
12 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Judah Frisbie and others ; and further east and south, on 
 Bound Line, Amos Seward, and south of him Capt. Sam- 
 uel Upson on the Turnpike. On the road from Wolcott 
 to Cheshire were the Halls and Lewises, and east of this 
 on Southington Mountain, the- Carters ; and further north 
 the Beechers, Brockets, Plumbs, and others. John Bron- 
 son lived in the hollow half a mile directly east of the Cen- 
 ter, and west of Southington mountain. It is said that 
 at that time Southington Mountain was the best cultiva- 
 ted part of what is now Wolcott. And as the forests then 
 consisted of "mighty trees" and the inhabitants were 
 widely separated, it was in reality, "a church in the wil- 
 derness." The wild beasts made night hideous with their 
 bowlings, and it is told as a true story that the mother 
 of the Halls used to relate, many years after, how care- 
 ful she was at first, before putting her children to bed, to 
 go to the bed and feel over the top of it, and under the 
 blankets to see if, during the day, the "big snakes" had 
 crept into the children's places. 
 
 Another difficult)' at this time and for some years after 
 was in the fact that there was not sufficient land cleared 
 to produce food to supply the people, and hence many 
 went to Southington, in summer time, and worked to 
 earn provisions which they carried up the mountain on 
 their backs, so as not to "starve in winter." Much is 
 said at the present day about farming being hard work, 
 but if we were to walk three miles down a mountain, and 
 work from sunrise to sunset and then carry up the 
 mountain three-fourths of a bushel of rye as the reward 
 of such a day's labor we might think farming harder 
 than it now is. Now, a man laboring by the day earns 
 between two and three bushels of rye, but a hundred 
 years ago he received only three-fourths of a bushel. The 
 necessity for summer work was increased by the fact 
 that very little could be done in the winter by which to 
 get money or provisions. If they cut down the forests to 
 clear the land, there was no demand for the wood ; this 
 
FIRST S< x III Y IX WOLC< >TT. [3 
 
 must be burned in great heaps where it was cut. No me- 
 chanical work of any extent was required. The first wag- 
 on in Wolcott was brought in, in [800, by Lucius Tuttle, 
 and it marked a period of wonder and improvement. A 
 little could he done l>y way of getting "logs to the mill 
 for lumber, hut no great amount of work of this kind 
 could be done, for there were but two "saw mills" in the 
 town, — one where Mr. Pritchard's mill now is, and one at 
 Woodtick, — and there was but little demand for lumber. 
 In the house, the women were always at work. In the 
 fall and beginning of winter they must make the 
 clothes for the family for the year. As soon .^ "New 
 Year's Da}-" was past the}' prepared to sit down at the 
 " little wheel" to spin the "flax," and from New Year 
 until April the "little wheel" occupied all the leisure time 
 the mother and elder daughters could find. And in the 
 latter part of spring and on into summer the "big wheel'' 
 usurped authority over the "little wheel" and the spin- 
 ning of wool was the great extra work of the house. 
 Thus began the church in Wolcott. 
 
CHAPTER 11. 
 
 BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE. 
 
 At the first meeting of the Society, Nov. 13, 1770, ac- 
 tion was taken in regard to a Meeting house. We find 
 the following votes : 
 
 " Voted to Build a Meeting House. At the same meeting Jo- 
 seph Atkins was chosen Agent to go to the County Court lor a 
 Committee to stick the stake for said Meeting House. At the 
 same meeting, Capt. Enos Brooks, Capt. Enos Atwater, and Col. 
 Hall were nominated a committee to stick the stake for said 
 House. At the same meeting voted to lay a rate Half Penny on 
 the Pound to defray the Society Charges [in this matter]. At 
 the same meeting voted to pay the said Half Penny rate by the 
 first Day of February next, and Joseph Atkins and Taxed Harrison 
 were chosen Collectors to collect said' rate." 
 
 The energy with which Mr. Joseph Atkins moved in 
 this matter is seen in the fact that the next day after 
 this meeting and after his appointment as agent, he pre- 
 sented his memorial to the Court in Hartford, as appears 
 from the following paper : 
 
 APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE. 
 
 " At a County Court held at Hartford, in and for the County of Hartford, on 
 the first Tuesday of JVovembe; ', A. D., 1770 : 
 
 Upon the Memorial of Joseph Atkins of Farmingbury and the 
 Rest of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Farmingbury in said 
 County showing to this Court that at a Society Meeting held in 
 said Society on the 13th day of November, instant, it was voted 
 (wherein more than two thirds of the Inhabitants were in the 
 
BUILDING A MEE 1'ING IK H SE. 15 
 
 affirmative), to Build a Meeting House in said Parish, and 1 
 upon appointed the said Joseph Atkins their Agent to apply to 
 this Court, for the appointment of a Committee to repair to said 
 Society to affix a stake in said Society, for said Inhabitants to 
 Build a Meeting House upon, for Divine Worship, as per Memo- 
 rial nn file, dated the 4th day of November, 1770 : 
 
 Whereupon this Court appoint Col. Benjamin Hall, Capt. Enos 
 Brooks, and Capt. Enos Atwater, all of Wallingford, in New Ha- 
 ven Count}-, a Committee with full power to repair to the Said 
 Parish of Farmingbury, Notify the Inhabitants of said Parish, View 
 all circumstances, and hear all Parties, and affix a stake upon some 
 convenient spot of ground in said Society, for the Inhabitants 
 thereof to Build a meeting House upon for the Purpose of Divine 
 Worship, and make report of their doings herein to us at the next 
 Court. 
 
 A true co])}' of Record, 
 
 Examined 
 
 By GEORC.K WYLLYS, Clerk. 
 
 NOTIFICATION OF THE COMMITTEE. 
 
 To the Inhabitants of the Society of Farmingbury, Greeting : 
 
 Whereas, The Honorable County Court at Hartford in Their 
 Sessions In November, Instant, appointed us subscribers a Com- 
 ttee with instructions to repair to Said Society, Give warning to 
 the Inhabitants, view their circumstances, Hear the Parties, e\:c.. 
 and affix a Place for said Inhabitants to build a meeting house 
 upon : 
 
 These are Therefore to Notify said Inhabitants to Attend on 
 said Comttee on The Last Tuesday of Instant November by Their 
 Agents, Committees, or otherwise as They Shall Think fit in order 
 to Enable said Comttee to Do The business assigned Them by 
 Said Court, and Mr. Joseph Atkins of Sd Society is hereby Desired 
 to Notify said Inhabitants accordingly. Dated at Wallingford the 
 23d of November , Anno 1770. 
 
 BENJAMIN HALL, \ 
 
 ENOS BROOKS, - C„//ittee. 
 
 ENOS ATWATER, J 
 
t6 HTSTORY <>l WOLC( Ml. 
 
 ORDER Of THE C< >1 B I 
 
 At an adjourned County Court holden at Hartford, in and for tkt County oj 
 Hartford, on thi fourth Tuesday oj January, Anno Domini. 1 7 7 1 . 
 
 Whereas, upon the Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Parish 
 of Farmingbury by their agent Joseph Atkins praying for a Com- 
 mittee to affix a place in said Society for the Inhabitants thereof 
 to Build a Meeting House upon, for Divine Worship, the County 
 Court al their sessions at Hartford within and Cur Hartford Coun- 
 ty on the first Tuesda) of November, A. I).. 1770, appointed Ben- 
 jamin Hall, Esq., ('apt. Enos Brooks, ('apt. Enos Atwater a Com- 
 mittee I" repair to said Societ) oi Farmingbury — hear all parties 
 and view all circumstances, and affix a place for the Inhabitants 
 thereof to Build a Meeting House upon, for Divine Worship as 
 by the records of said Count}' Court fully appears. 
 
 The said Committee having Returned their report in the 
 1'reinises therein setting forth that on the 27th, 28th, and 29th 
 Days ol November, 1770. the Said Parish before being Notified to 
 attend them, did repair to Said Parish of Farmingbury and there 
 heard all parties and viewed all circumstances, and there affixed a 
 Place in said Society, and erected a stake thereon, with stones 
 about it, viz.: on a Beautiful Eminence and on the line Dividing 
 between the Towns oi' Waterbury and Farmington, a little North- 
 erly of Mr. Abraham Worster's Dwelling House in said Society. 
 near where the North and South Highways cross each other in 
 said Society as per Report on file, Dated the 30th 1 >ay of Novem- 
 ber, 1 770, which said report this Court accept and approve of. and 
 thereupon this Court < >rder and Direct that the Place mentioned 
 in the said report of the said Committee be and the same is here- 
 by Established as the Place whereon the said Society Shall Erect 
 and build a Meeting House, for the Purpose of Divine Worship 
 accordingly. 
 
 \ I'mc 1 !opy oi Recoi i, 
 
 Exa mi nei 1 
 
 B3 GEORG1 WYLLYS, 
 
 The Papers containing the above action of the Court 
 are still preserved, and are signed in the hand writing of 
 George Wyllys, Clerk of Records. After being folded, 
 
Bl [LDING A MEETING HOUSE. 17 
 
 on one is written: "Copy of record for Mr. Joseph 
 Atkins. 
 
 Court F& 9 ~ 
 
 and Cop) ing fee 6 £0 15 3." 
 
 Mr. Atkins' name in these papers, and frequently in 
 the church Records, is spelled Adkins. It is herein uni- 
 formly written Atkins; because when he signed the Deed 
 to the Society, he wrote his name "Joseph .Atkins." 
 
 This order of the court was given during the court 
 term which began on the fourth Tuesday of January, 177 1 ; 
 but before the order was received by the Society, and 
 probably before the court made the order, the Society 
 took the following action on the report of the committee, 
 in a Society meeting held on the Second Wednesday 
 of January, 1771 : "Voted to confide in what the late 
 Committee did in fixing a place for the Meeting house." 
 On the 21st day of the same month, in another Society 
 meeting, they again " Voted to confide in what the late 
 Committee did in fixing a place for a Meeting house." 
 
 In the next April, 22cl day, at a Society meeting, the 
 following persons were chosen a " Meeting House Com- 
 mittee :" Lieut. Josiah Rogers, Mr. Samuel Upson, Mr. 
 Stephen Barnes, Mr. Joseph Beecher, Mr. Daniel Alcox. 
 
 This was a choice committee. These men were reli- 
 able, good men ; equal, under ordinary circumstances, to 
 the work committed to them ; but the difficulties around 
 and before them were peculiarly numerous. The Parish 
 was new, not yet six months old, and had assumed 
 nearly all the responsibilities of a Town, without the 
 benefits. They had the work of dividing the parish into 
 school districts, laying taxes for tin: support of these 
 schools, providing school houses in some parts, and the 
 ordering of the number of months school should be kept. 
 They appointed a committee to survey the parish and fix 
 the boundaries, and laid a tax to pay the expenses of sur- 
 veying. 
 
 3 
 
1 8 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 The Society meetings had voted, besides school tax and 
 surveying tax, a tax for the committee to fix the stake for 
 the Meeting house ; a tax of "one penny half-penny" to 
 procure preaching, and the tax of three pence per acre 
 granted by the Assembly, for " Maintaining of Divine 
 Worship." Besides this, the country was new. Some of 
 these men were born in Wolcott, but were the first gene- 
 ration. Their fathers all, as near as we can learn, immi- 
 grated to Wolcott. How were they to build a meeting 
 house ? If the house could be built at the cost of five 
 hundred dollars, from whence was the money to come? 
 This committee doubtless consulted together, and with 
 the people of the Parish, and much desired to see that 
 Meeting house, but we hear nothing of it for six months. 
 
 There was but one thing unfortunate about that com- 
 mittee ; the name of Joseph Atkins was not at its head. 
 He never slept six months at a time ; when he moved 
 others moved also. Whatever he touched seemed to 
 rise to life, like the bones of the old prophet. As far 
 as the record shows, he never failed but once, and 
 that when sent by this parish as agent to the General 
 Assembly in 1787 to secure town privileges. The united 
 opposition of the adjoining towns of Waterbury and 
 Southington was too strong for the energetic Joseph. 
 Had he been on the committee there would have been 
 some work clone somewhere, and a report made at the 
 next meeting ; but as it was, they came to the meet- 
 ing on the 22cl day of next November, made Mr. Joseph 
 Atkins moderator, and the first business done is recorded 
 thus : "Voted to go about building a Meeting house forth- 
 with." Voted to build said house 58 feet in length and 42 
 feet wide. Voted to have said house 24 feet between 
 joints. Voted to face said house to the south. Voted 
 to board the body of said house. Voted to shingle said 
 house with chestnut shingles. Voted to clapboard said 
 house with 'drent' oak." 
 
 On the first Tuesday of the next December, about two 
 
BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE. 19 
 
 weeks after the above meeting, they met and " Voted 
 to take 12 feet from the length of the house, and 8 feet 
 from the width, and two feet from the height." Also, 
 "Voted that Abraham Woster should be master builder 
 on said house." 
 
 Another meeting was held on the first Tuesday of 
 January, 1772, when it was "Voted to add to the length 
 of said meeting house six feet, and four feet to the 
 breadth." After these last votes there appears to have 
 arisen some further discussion about the Meeting house, 
 when they voted to "Reconsider all the votes taken in 
 said meeting, respecting building a Meeting house, and 
 dissolved said meeting." 
 
 This last vote seems to have referred to all the votes 
 taken in all the previous meetings in regard to the build- 
 ing of a Meeting house, for on the 20th day of the same 
 month (January, 1772), the}- held another meeting, in 
 which the only business recorded was concerning the 
 Meeting house, as follows: "Voted to build a Meeting 
 house 48 feet long and 36 feet wide. Voted to have the 
 height of said house left with the carpenter. Voted to 
 cover said house as the first proposed house was voted to 
 be covered. Voted to give Mr. Abraham Woster 24 shil- 
 lings for his services." From these records it appears 
 that some work in making preparations, or estimates for 
 building had been done by the master carpenter, and also 
 by others, towards the building of the house. We are 
 not informed as to the method pursued in building, except 
 it appears that the work was not let by the job, but done 
 by the day, as to the master builder. Whether work or 
 lumber and materials were given by the parishioners, we 
 are not directly informed, but the probability, from the 
 facts mentioned, is that much was given in this way. * 
 
 :;: The frame of the Meeting house was, probably, raised about the first of 
 April, 1772, but no record is found concerning it, except the following, 
 which was written on the inside of the back cover of the Society Book, 
 without date : " Capt. Hopkins, Ensign Beechcr, Daniel Byington, Isaac 
 
20 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 On the first Monday in March next a meeting was held 
 and further action taken. "Voted to lay the underpin- 
 ning of the Meeting house in lyme mortar. Voted to 
 have the window frames made of chestnut, and to have 
 24 panes of 7 by 9 glass in each window." 
 
 The next meeting was held on the first Monday of 
 April, one month later, when they "Voted to lay a rate of 
 two p'ence on the pound, to defray the Meeting house 
 charges, and that said rate should be paid by the first of 
 October next." 
 
 It is very probable that from the first Mr. Joseph Atkins 
 agreed to give the land on which to build a Meeting 
 house, but now that that house was in process of construc- 
 tion, and probably the frame was standing in its place, 
 and a tax was to be collected to pay for the building 
 of the house, it was very proper that it should rest on 
 a good title of land, so that no trouble should arise from 
 this direction. Therefore Mr. Atkins proceeded to exe- 
 cute the deed. And here again is seen the character of 
 Joseph Atkins. Instead of giving a plot of ground one 
 hundred feet by fifty, he gave two acres. This land was 
 given, as is seen by the deed, from the noblest impulses 
 and for the noblest ends. And when thus devoted to the 
 publishing of " good tidings" to lost men, it is saddening 
 to know that on one corner of this square was erected a 
 " whipping post," and that at this post were whipped 
 several persons, and among them one woman, for stealing. 
 
 THE DEED.* 
 
 " To all people to whom these presents shall come greeting. 
 Know ye that I, Joseph Atkins, of Waterbury, in the County of 
 New Haven, in the Colony of Connecticut, in New England, for 
 the Consideration of the love and good will which I have and do 
 
 Twitchell, Joseph Atkins, Jr.. Abraham Woster, Isaac Cleveland, Elijah 
 Gaylord, to sell liker and vitels During the time of Raising the meting 
 House, and any Body Else that is a mind to." 
 * The original deed is preserved. 
 
BUILDIXC A MEETING HOUSE. . 2 1 
 
 bear to the Society of Farmingbury, part of which is in Waterbury 
 aforesd, and part in Farmington, in the County of Hartford, do 
 give, grant, convey, & Confirm unto David Norton. Amos 
 Seward, Daniel Alcox, Stephen Barnes, and Joseph Beecher, as 
 they are Society's Committee for sd Society and their Successors 
 in Quality of Society's Committee, and to the rest of the Inhab- 
 itants of the Society of Farmingbury aforesd, to be Used & im- 
 proved for the only purpose of Building and continuing a Meeting 
 House for the Public Worship of God thereon, and for n< 
 and convenient accommodations around the same, Two aa 
 Land. That is to say, one acre at the Southwest corner of the 
 forty-first Long lot in the West Division in the Township of 
 Farmington aforesd, Eleven Rods & an half wide at the West 
 end. and nine Rods & an half wide at the East End, I 
 East from the Line between the Towns so far as to mike or 
 bating West on the Line of Waterbury aforesd, South on High- 
 way, East and North on the Remainder of the said 41st Lot. 
 
 And also one acre of Ian 1 in the Township of Y\ 
 aforesd, lying West from the above described land adjoining to 
 the Highway between s ( l Waterbury & Farmington Twelve Rods 
 wi 1 ■. N >rth a [ West so far as to make one 
 
 acre, Buting Northward on H West and South on m\ 
 
 land, & East on Highwa ! i band Described as a 
 
 the sd Atkins, make over to the Society of Fannin »resd, 
 
 for their use and b >v for the Chic 
 
 gathere 1. & vhi :h >h ill or may Worship in the sd House I 
 Erected according to th id, Doctrines, & Discipline now 
 
 owned and practiced by the churches in the Colon;. 
 Called Presbyterian, Con ;ociated by way of 
 
 Distinction from Episcopalians, Ba 3 :paratists, or other S c- 
 
 taries, — To have and to hold the above granted and given prem- 
 ises, with all the Privileg tpurtenances thereunto b lo 
 unto them the sd grantees and to their successors forever, to & for 
 the use aforesd. And also I. the said Joseph Atkins, do for my- 
 self and my Heirs, Executors, and administrators. Covenant with 
 the said Grantees and their successors, that at & until the Ei 
 ing of these presents 1 am well ''seized of the premises as a good 
 indefeasible Estate in Fee simple, and have good Right to give 
 
22 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 and Convey the same in manner and form as is above written, and 
 that the Same is free of all Encumbrances whatever. And fur- 
 thermore, I, the sd Atkins, do by these presents Bind myself and 
 my Heirs forever to warrant and Defend the above granted and 
 given premises to them the sd Grantees and their successors 
 against all Claims and Demands whatever. In Witness, whereof, 
 I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Sth Day of June, in 
 the 1 2th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the 
 Third of Great Britain, &c, King, A. D., 1772. 
 
 JOSEPH ATKINS. l. s. 
 
 Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of 
 JOSEPH HOPKINS, 
 LAURA HOPKINS. 
 
 N. B. The words Eleven Rods & an half Interlined in the 16th 
 line, and the words nine Rods and an half Interlined in the 17th 
 line, and the word eleven, Interlined in the 23d line, were wrote 
 before the Deed was signed. 
 
 Waterbury, in New Haven County, the Day and Date above 
 written, Personally appeared Mr. Joseph Atkins, Signer & Sealer 
 of the foregoing Instrument, and acknowledged the same to be 
 his Free act and Deed. 
 
 Before me JOSEPH HOPKINS, Justs. Peace." 
 
 On the Deed, after being folded, is written : 
 
 u David Norton & others. Inhabitants of Farmingbury. Deed 
 of Gift of Joseph Atkins. 
 
 Reed. June 12th, A. D., 1772, & is Recorded in Farmington, 
 17th Book of Records, page 427. Pr Sal. Whitman, Regr. 
 
 Reed also to Record in Waterbury, July the 6th, A. D., 1772. 
 
 And Recorded in Waterbury Land Records, Book 15th, Page 
 312. Pi" Ezra Bronson, Recorder." 
 
 While Mr. Atkins was thus doing his part, the Meeting 
 house was rising to perfectness in its place, and the 
 people seemed ready to do their part as the cause might 
 need. They were not only ready to pay the tax already 
 assessed in behalf of the Meeting house, but they met 
 
BUIU>IX<; A MEETING HOUSE. 23 
 
 again on the "Third Monday of August, following, and 
 
 voted to lay a rate of four pence on the pound, to be 
 paid the first of December next, said rate being to defray 
 the Meeting house charges." 
 
 In order to know what an effort it was for the people 
 to build this church, we must take a little survey of the 
 parish. The territory was newly settled. The older, active 
 men in the Society, such as Joseph Atkins. Sen., Curtiss 
 Hall, and John Bronson, were born elsewhere, and had 
 come into the community ^nd settled as farmers. The 
 younger men, like Aaron Harrison, Daniel Byington, Jr., 
 Joseph Atkins, Jr., and manyothers who were active mem- 
 bers in the Society, were born here, or a little time before 
 their parents came here, and were just beginning in the 
 world, having no fortune of money, or old homesteads left 
 them. The sixteen thousand acres of land in the parish, 
 with all other taxable property, amounted in the assess- 
 ment on the tax list to about two dollars and fifty cents 
 per acre, or forty thousand dollars, or £8,000. Some of 
 this amount belonged to Episcopalians, and hence was 
 not available to the parish. The parish proper contained 
 about seventy-five families, and the $40,000 divided 
 equally among them, gives them about five hundred dol- 
 lars of farming capital each, in the assessment list. 
 
 If we were building a church to-day, and should find a 
 family with only such a capital in farming, we would be 
 moved to pass by without asking a dollar, even for the 
 church. Yet they taxed themselves toward building 
 the church equal to six dollars a family. Several of these 
 families were building houses for their own shelter from 
 the cold and the storm.* 
 
 How could the}-, with all other expense- growing out 
 of the forming of a new parish, build and pay for a meet- 
 ing house ? Yet they did it, for the house was built at 
 
 * Quite a number of them were Iivine in Los: houses. 
 
24 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 that time, and we hear nothing of debts for a meeting 
 house afterward.* 
 
 On the 26th day of October, 1772, at a parish meeting, 
 they voted to have " our meetings for the future in the 
 Meeting house." Here was the Meeting house so far 
 completed that they could hold meetings in it. What a 
 day of gladness to all who loved the " Hill of Zion" must 
 that have been when they first assembled in that house ! 
 
 This Meeting house stood on the north side of the 
 "Green," or "Square," facing the Green, and also facing 
 the south. The principal door was in the front, and there 
 was a door also in each end, east and west. It is said that 
 the house stood on the line that divided the towns from 
 which the parish was formed, — half in Waterbury and half 
 in Farmington. The house at first was not finished inside. 
 The floor was laid, the frame-work of the gallery was 
 put in its place, and the stairs were built. The gallery 
 may have been used some on special occasions, and for 
 the singers, in which case a temporary flooring must have 
 been laid, but ordinarily the singers sat below. The 
 house was furnished in the simplest manner for some ten 
 years, there being neither pews, stationary seats, nor per- 
 manent pulpit. 
 
 There were probably but little if any dedicatory ser- 
 vices, as they had no pastor, though they were trying to 
 arrange with a Mr. Jackson to become their pastor ; but 
 in this they did not succeed. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Keys said, in an obituary notice, that Deacon 
 Aaron Harrison made the first public prayer that was 
 made in this house. This is all we can learn of dedica- 
 tory services. 
 
 At this time there were neither church organization nor 
 church officers. The Society was organized, and had a 
 Meeting house, and the parish had charge of many duties 
 
 :]: Since writing the above I have found that there was a small amount of 
 indebtedness for the lumber, not paid till some ten to twelve years after. 
 
BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE. 25 
 
 which were attended to by town officers in other parts. 
 In Westbury and Waterbury the town managed ecclesi- 
 astical matters for years, but in Farmingbury the Eccle- 
 siastical Society conducted man}' interests belonging to 
 the towns. 
 
 As illustrative of the man)' interests they attended to, 
 we give a list of the officers chosen at some of the Society 
 meetings for a few years after the organization : 
 
 OFFICERS CHOSEN NOV. 13, 1770. 
 
 Moderator, Capt. Aaron Harrison ; Clerk for the year, Daniel 
 Byington, Sen.; Society Committee for the Year, Lieut. Josiah 
 rs, Mr. John Alcox, Mr. Stephen Barnes, Mr. John Branson, 
 Mr. Amos Seward ; Collectors to collect the Society Rate, Curtiss 
 Hall and Daniel Alcox; Treasurer, Lieut. Josiah Rogers; School 
 Committee for the year, David Norton, Seth Bartholomew, Daniel 
 Alcox, Amos Beecher, Joseph Beecher, Justus Peck, Capt. Aaron 
 Harrison, Stephen Barnes, and Samuel Upson ; Special Commit- 
 tee to Divide the Society into Districts, David Warner, Wait 
 Hotchkiss, Simeon Hopkins, Nathaniel Lewis. Capt. Aaron Har- 
 rison. Joseph Beecher; To read the Psalms for the year, Capt. 
 Aaron Harrison and Mr. Amos Seward; Grave-Digger, John 
 Barrett. 
 
 Voted that the schooling should be by the poll, and that each 
 School Committee shall collect their poll rate in his district. 
 
 In December of the same year, 1770, at the adjourned 
 meeting, they again elected officers : 
 
 To take the marks of Stray Sheep, Daniel Johnson and Daniel 
 Byington; Chainmen, to measure the Society, Sergt. Samuel 
 Smith, James Warner, and David Bronson ; County Surveyor, 
 Lieut. Ashbel Potter; To collect the Rate to pay for Surveying the 
 Parish, Abel Curtiss and Curtiss Hall. 
 
 1771. 
 
 At the annual meeting held in November, 1771, they 
 elected the following officers : 
 
 Moderator, Isaac Hopkins; Clerk for the year, Daniel Bying- 
 
26 HTSTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ton ; Treasurer, Lieut. Josiab Rogers ; Society Committee for the 
 year, Mr. David Norton, Mr. Amos Seward, Sergt. Stephen Barnes, 
 Mr. Daniel Alcox, and Mr. Joseph Beecher. Collectors, Heman 
 Hall and Joseph Atkins, Jr.; To Collect the Churchmen's Rate, 
 Ensign Oliver Welton ; School Committee, Joseph Sutliff, Jr., Jo- 
 seph Atkins, Jr., Ensign John Alcox, Amos Seward, Capt. Aaron 
 Harrison, Jedediah Minor, Nathaniel Lewis, Samuel Plumb, and 
 Daniel Finch. 
 
 Voted that each School Committee shall collect the poll rate. 
 
 1772. 
 
 At a meeting in March. 1772, a committee was appointed to 
 " Fix a place or places for burying grounds, consisting of Ensign 
 Welton, Capt. Harrison, Sergt. Barnes, Mr. Joseph Beecher, Mr. 
 Israel Clark." 
 
 In November, 1772: Moderator, Capt. Isaac Hopkins; Clerk 
 for the year, Daniel Byington ; Society Committee, Mr. David 
 Norton, Mr. Amos Seward, Lieut. John Alcox, Mr. Joseph 
 Beecher, Mr. John Bronson, Mr. Stephen Barnes, and Daniel 
 Alcox; Treasurer, Lieut. Josiah Rogers; School Committee, 
 Mr. Simeon Hopkins, Jacob Carter, Capt. Aaron Harrison, 
 Eliakim Welton, Jr., Joseph Beecher, Justus Peck, Daniel Bying- 
 ton, John Bronson, Samuel Upson. 
 
 Voted that the school shall be by poll, and that each School 
 Committee shall collect the poll rate. 
 
 Special Collectors, Ensign Oliver Welton and Eliakim Welton, 
 Jr.; Collectors for the year, Levi Gaylnrd and Justus Peck; 
 Special Committee to try to secure Mr. Jackson as Pastor, Capt. 
 Harrison, Mr. Hotchkiss, Lieut. Rogers, Sergt. Barnes, and Mr. 
 Amos Seward. 
 
 1773- 
 
 Officers chosen in Society meeting', November, 1773 : 
 
 Moderator, Capt. Hopkins ; Clerk, Daniel Byington ; Treas- 
 urer, Simeon Hopkins ; Society Committee, Mr. Amos Seward, 
 Mr. Joseph Beecher, and Sergt. Stephen Barnes ; Collector, Justus 
 Peck; School Committee, Stephen Barnes, Capt. Harrison, Joseph 
 Beecher, John Bronson, Daniel Byington, Nathaniel Sutliff, Amos 
 Seward, and Daniel Alcox ; Grave Digger, John Barrett ; To take 
 
BUILDING A MEETING HOUSE. 2J 
 
 the marks of Stray Sheep, Daniel Johnson and Daniel Byington; 
 Extra School Committee, Lieut. Rogers, Capt. Harrison, Na- 
 thaniel Lewis, Samuel Upson, and Capt. Hopkins were chosen a 
 Committee to "view the School Districts and alter them as they 
 see fit." 
 
 The list of offices filled for the next year includes sonic 
 in addition to those already given, and nearly completes 
 the list of those appointed by the Society. 
 
 NOVEMBER 28, I 7 7 4. 
 
 Moderator, Deacon Aaron Harrison; Clerk, Daniel Byington; 
 Treasurer, Simeon Hopkins ; Society Committee, Mr. Amos Sew- 
 ard. Sergt. Stephen Barnes. Mr. Samuel Upson; Collectors, Mark 
 Harrison and James Thomas ; Grave Digger, John Barrett ; Ley 
 Keeper, Daniel Alcox ; School Committee. Justus Peck, Jessie 
 Alcox, Deacon Harrison, Sergt. Stephen Barnes, Daniel Johnson, 
 Amos Seward, Simeon Hopkins, Daniel Alcox, Eliakim Wel- 
 ton, Jr. 
 
 At the same meeting, " Voted, that we would try the 
 affair respecting the land belonging in Southington." 
 Here was a resolution to enter into a suit at law with 
 Southington. 
 
 At an adjourned meeting held the week afte the above 
 action, it was " Voted to reconsider the vote by which 
 Samuel Upson was nominated Constable, and also that 
 by which Eliakim Welton was nominated Surveyor." 
 
 By these votes it seems that the Parish sometimes 
 nominated such officers ; or that having done so once, it 
 seemed wise to withdraw the nomination. 
 
 'idle energy and correctness with which these men en- 
 tered upon this work indicates more than an ordinary 
 business talent and spirit in the community, for I venture 
 that few ecclesiastical societies and towns in this or any 
 other State have kept as full records and attended to all 
 items of public interest with greater care than has been 
 the case here. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 OBTAINING A PASTOR. 
 
 At the first Society meeting, Nov. 13, 1770, the follow- 
 ing record was made: "Capt. Aaron Harrison was cho- 
 sen to read the psalms for the year ensuing. At the same 
 meeting Amos Seward was chosen for the same purpose." 
 At the same meeting five choiristers were appointed, and 
 it was voted to " give Mr. Joseph Atkins £1 5s od for the 
 use of his house to meet in on the Sabbath, for the year 
 ensuing until the first of May next." 
 
 In the adjourned meeting held in December, about a 
 month later, it was " Voted to lay a rate of one penny 
 half penny on the pound to procure preaching." 
 
 At the meeting, the next April 22d, 1 77 1 , they "Voted 
 to have preaching this summer," and, to sustain this, they 
 voted to lay a "half penny rate in addition to the penny 
 half penny" voted in December previous. As the tax list 
 of the Parish amounted to about three thousand five hun- 
 dred pounds, this tax brought them only one hundred and 
 fifty dollars, and at five dollars a Sabbath, this would 
 give them preaching thirty Sabbaths, or a little over two 
 Sabbaths in the month during the year. Hence, because 
 of this small sum with which to maintain public worship, 
 they at this same meeting, April, 177 1 , "Voted to have 
 all the land in this Society taxed," and appointed Captain 
 Aaron Harrison and Mr. Stephen Barnes agents to pro- 
 cure a grant from the Assembly to this effect ; but it was 
 so late in the session that the application was not made 
 till the next meeting of the Assembly in the Autumn. 
 Hence at an adjourned meeting held on the last Monday 
 of the following September they "voted to have the said 
 
OBTAINING A PASTOR. 29 
 
 memorial for said land tax to be carried into the next 
 Assembly ; giving the agents leave to alter in respect to 
 the Churchmen as they think best." Mr. Samuel Upson, 
 Daniel Alcox, and Joseph Atkins were appointed agents 
 to carry the Memorial to the Assembly. It was carried 
 and the result appears in the following 
 
 GRANT OF THE ASSEMBLY. 
 
 At a General Assembly of the Governor and company of the Colour of Con- 
 nection/, hclden at New Haven, on the id Thurfd&y of October, Anno 
 
 Domini, 1771 : 
 
 Upon a memorial of the Society of Farmingbury presented by 
 Joseph Atkins, Samuel Upson, and Daniel Alcox, agents for said 
 Society, representing to this Assembly that the list of said Society 
 is small, and they unable to set up and maintain the Worship of 
 God among them without some further help, praying for a tax on 
 all the lands within said Society, &c, as per memorial on file: 
 
 Resolved by this Assembly, that a tax of three pence on the 
 acre for the term of four years, to be annually collected, be laid on 
 all the lands within said Society which belong to the Inhabitants 
 living within the limits of said Society, not being professors of the 
 Church of England, and also on that part of the lands of the non- 
 resident Proprietors, which land is not put into the General list of 
 such non-resident proprietors, and not holden to pay taxes in 
 other Societies or towns : and Stephen Barnes, of Farmington, 
 and Dani'd Alcox. of Waterbury, are hereby appointed and fully 
 empowered to collect the said tax of the Proprietors of such lands 
 as aforesaid, and the same to pay to the Committee of said Society 
 to be improved to set up and maintain a Gospel ministry in said 
 Society ; and that the Secretary of the Colony shall issue and sign 
 warrants for the collecting of said tax in form of law. 
 A true cop) of record. 
 
 Examined 
 
 By GEORGE WYLLYS, Sec. 
 
 By this tax the Society raised, probably, four hundred 
 and fifty dollars. If it had received a tax on all the lands 
 within its bounds, at three pence per acre, it would have 
 received about six hundred dollars, but the Episcopalians 
 and some others were exempt. 
 
30 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Several persons were paying taxes for church support 
 in Bristol and Waterbury and perhaps Southington. 
 The Society, also, released every year quite a number of 
 persons from paying their rate. 
 
 It was very soon after this grant of tax from the As- 
 sembly that this Society voted to "go about building a 
 Meeting house forthwith," and it is possible that some of 
 this tax money was used in building the Meeting house, 
 which would be "setting up and maintaining the worship 
 of God." 
 
 At the annual meeting, November, 177 1, they "Voted 
 to give John Atkins, Jr., ten shillings for the use of his 
 house the summer past," and also to " Give Mr. Atkins 
 and his son five shillings per month" for the future. And 
 at the same meeting they "Voted to lay a rate of two 
 pence on the pound, to be laid out for preaching the 
 ensuing year." 
 
 Thus had they passed through the first year of ecclesi- 
 astical society work. That they had had preaching 
 much of the time is quite evident from the fact of the use 
 of the money raised for that special purpose ; and, also, 
 from the fact of laying another tax for the same purpose, 
 besides that which was to come by the Assembly tax. 
 To read the psalms the ensuing year, they had appointed 
 Mr. Isaac Hopkins, Capt. Aaron Harrison, and Mr. 
 Amos Seward. They meant "progress," and began to 
 look more cheerfully for a minister who should become 
 their pastor. In January, 1772, they met and made 
 further arrangements for a Meeting house. In March 
 they met again, and decided as to the laying of the 
 foundation of the Meeting house. In April they held 
 another meeting, and arranged further concerning the 
 foundation. 
 
 THE FIRST CALL. 
 
 On the first day of June, 1772, in a Society meeting 
 they " Voted to give Mr. Jackson a call on probation." He 
 
OBTAINING A PASTOR. 31 
 
 had probably been preaching to them a few Sabbaths be- 
 fore this meeting was held, and he accepted this call on 
 probation. On the second Monday of the next August 
 they voted "to meet on the Sabbath at Mr. Upson's new 
 house." Hitherto they had met at Air. Atkins' house, but 
 now the) r go to the new house, probably because it was 
 larger and more commodious. Where this house was we 
 cannot learn definitely, but the Upson families resided 
 near the center on the north road, and it was doubtless 
 on that road.'"' 
 
 The Society met again on the last Monday in the- fol- 
 lowing September and voted to have Mr. Jackson on 
 probation one month longer, and also that the Society's 
 Committee should " go and treat with Mr. Jackson 
 whether he will stay one month longer on probation, and 
 likewise to ask him whether he will settle with us if we 
 can agree on terms." At the end of the month, 26th of 
 October, they came together and voted to settle Mr. 
 Jackson if they could agree, and adjourned the meeting 
 one hour. When they met, at the end of the hour, they 
 agreed to give Mr. Jackson as a settlement 175 pounds 
 and to be "four years paying said settlement," and to 
 " give 50 pounds salary, to be paid yearly, four years,'' 
 and then to raise it to 75 pounds; "to be continued dur- 
 ing his continuing with us.'' 
 
 And it was at this meeting that it was voted to hold 
 their meetings for the future in the Meeting house. Mr. 
 Jackson did not accept this call, but appears to have con- 
 tinued to preach to the Society several weeks, for on 
 the last day of November, 1772, a month later, -the)- ap- 
 pointed a special committee to prevail with him to settle 
 with them ; and this committee did not succeed. In the 
 next meeting, in January, 1773, they voted to " apply to 
 some man to preach with us on probation a few- Sabbaths." 
 
 * Since writing the above, we have learned that this house was that of 
 Mr. Thomas Upson, and was the house where Charles Upson, Esquire, after- 
 wards resided, and where Mr. Joseph II. Somers now resido. 
 
32 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Thus were they all "at sea" again concerning a Minister 
 and Pastor. 
 
 A PASTOR OBTAINED. 
 
 On the second day of August, 1773, the record says: 
 " Voted to continue Mr. Gillet with us as a preacher 
 longer." "Voted to improve Mr. Gillet ten Sabbaths 
 more, and on probation." On the second Monday of 
 October next, before the ten weeks were ended, they 
 gave Mr. Gillet a call, agreeing to give him as a settle- 
 ment 175 pounds, and to be four years paying the settle- 
 ment, and to pay him 50 pounds salary yearly for four 
 years, and then raise it to 75 pounds yearly, which was 
 $250 a year for four years, and after that $375 a year. 
 
 Mr. Gillet accepted this invitation, as appears from the 
 fact that the Society held another meeting about six 
 weeks after the invitation was given (Nov. 29th), and 
 voted to have the "ordination on the 29th day of De- 
 cember next," and voted also that "All that is due to 
 Mr. Gillet shall be paid the first of March next ; and all 
 that shall become due between this time and the first of 
 said March, together with one-quarter of the settlement 
 proposed by the Society." 
 
 The minister thus found by the Society could hot be 
 installed over a church until a church should be organ- 
 ized, and to this work Mr. Gillet gave his attention. Here 
 were scattered sheep in the wilderness, and duty was laid 
 on him to look till he should find them, and gather them 
 into one fold. Some were members in Waterbury, some 
 in Southington, and other places. Of this there is no 
 specific record, only that they were " members of several 
 churches." 
 
 The only ceremony at the organization was the signing 
 of "The Covenant of Confederation," in a meeting held 
 for that purpose on the 18th of November, 1773. The 
 original paper which they signed is not preserved ; that 
 which we have is the record which Mr. Gillet wrote in 
 
OBT FINING A PASTOR. 33 
 
 the Church Hook five years after he was installed. This 
 hr.ok. the first used for church records, is a paper-covered, 
 foolscap-size, unruled book of twenty-four sheets. It is 
 literally "crammed" with Writing, except parts of a few 
 pages. The last record made was in 1830, by Deacon 
 Isaac Bronson. On the first page of this book Mr. Gillet 
 wrote the following statement, in an elegant handwriting: 
 "A Book of Church Records from the year 1774. or De- 
 cember 29th, 1773. for Farmingbury Church. Alexander 
 Gillet, Pastor." 
 
 The third page of this book contains the record of the 
 formation of the church, and we give it just as Mr. Gillet 
 wrote it, excepting the ornamental part : 
 
 "the foundation of the church at farmingbury. 
 
 Their Covenant of confederation, assented to at Farmingbury, November 
 l8M, E773. 
 
 Ac, who are members of several churches, desiring to be built 
 up a spiritual house on the foundation of the Apostles and Proph- 
 ets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner-stone, in order to offer 
 spiritual gifts and sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ, 
 and being united in the bonds of Christian love, and in the faith 
 of the gospel of Christ, do this day renewedly dedicate ourselves 
 to God, acknowledging our great obligation to walk in all the com- 
 mandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, — and in the 
 presence of God, angels, and men, do enter into covenant obli- 
 gation with each other, as members in particular of one distinct 
 and entire church, for all the purposes of Christian edification ; 
 promising, by the grace of God, to treat each other with all the 
 tenderness, faithfulness, and watchfulness, which become members 
 of the same body of Christ, humbly depending on, and begging 
 grace from God, that we may find so much favor in His sight as 
 to be found faithful to these our solemn obligations, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. In confirmation of which we here subscribe 
 our names. November, &c. 
 
 Aaron Harrison, Deacon, and Jerusha his wife. 
 Josiah Rogers, Deacon, and Sarah his wife. 
 Isaac Hopkins, and Mary his wife. 
 
 4 
 
34 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Joseph Atkins, and Abigail his wife. 
 
 Thomas Upson. 
 
 Joseph Sutliff. 
 
 Amos Seward, and Ruth his wife. 
 
 David Norton. 
 
 John Alcox, and Mary his wife. 
 
 Samuel Dpson. 
 
 Wait Hotchkiss, and Lydia his wife. 
 
 Nathaniel Butler, and Rebecca his wife. 
 
 Elizabeth Porter. 
 
 Daniel Alcox, and Elizabeth his wife. 
 
 Joseph Hotchkiss and Hannah his wife. 
 
 Judah Frisbie. 
 
 Israel Clark, and Mahetable his wife. 
 
 Daniel Lane, and Jemima his wife. 
 
 Stephen Miles. 
 
 Stephen Barnes, and Sarah his wife. 
 
 Zadoc Bronson, and Eunice his wife. 
 
 Lucy Peck, the wife of Justus Peck. 
 
 Rebecca, wife of Nathaniel Hitchcock. 
 
 Esther Barrett. 
 
 Joseph Benham, and Elizabeth his wife. 
 
 Josiah Barnes. 
 
 Admitted by letter, &c, December 22d, 1773, — William Smith, Anne, 
 
 wife of James Bailey ; John Bronson, David Frost. 
 January 2d, 1774, Samuel Bradley. 
 By letter, Ephraim Pratt and his wife. 
 Elizabeth, wife of Ebenezer Wakelee. 
 Admitted January 16th, 1774, Sarah, wife of Isaac Clark, Martha, wife 
 
 of Aaron Howe. 
 January 30th, Daniel Byington. 
 
 These names, with the above "covenant," fill the third 
 page of the book. They are given entire, as an illus- 
 tration of Mr. Gillet's method of church work. 
 
 Of these persons, there were forty-one who united in 
 organizing the church ; four united with the church one 
 month later, in December, and seven united during Jan- 
 uary following. 
 
 The church being organized, their next step was the 
 ordination of a pastor. There is no record of any action 
 of the Church separate from that of the Society, yet it is 
 evident that the Church united cordially with the So- 
 ciety in calling an ordaining Council. 
 
OBTAINING A PASTOR. 35 
 
 The record of the ordination is as follows : 
 
 At an Ecclesiastical Council at Farmingbury, on Wednesday, 
 the 29th of December, 1 773, invited by the church in said Farming- 
 bury for the purpose of the solemn separation of Mr. Alexander 
 Gillet to the pastoral charge of said Church, and to the work of 
 the gospel ministry in said Society, — -convened according to let- 
 ters missive : Present, Elders, — John Trumbull, Mark Leaven- 
 worth, Samuel Newell, Timothy Pitkin, Joseph Strong, Andrew 
 Stores, Rufus Hawley. Messengers, — Thomas Matthews, Esq., 
 Deacon Andrew Bronson, Deacon Stephen Hotchkiss, Deacon 
 Seth Lee, Judah Holcomb, Esq., Deacon John Warner, Joseph 
 Hart, Esq. 
 
 Rev. John Trumbull was chosen Moderator, and Timothy Pit- 
 kin chosen Scribe. This Council, having been certified by attested 
 copies from records, both of this Church and Society, of their re- 
 spective united invitations of Mr. Alexander Gillet to be their 
 pastor, and his acceptance of their invitation, proceeded to ex- 
 amine Mr. Gillet as to his regular church membership, and his 
 views and ends in entering into the sacred work of the gospel 
 ministry, and qualifications therefor, are of opinion that the way 
 is clear for this Council to proceed to the solemn separation of 
 Mr. Alexander Gillet to the work of the gospel ministry and pas- 
 toral office in this place. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Stores to make the prayer before the sermon, 
 Rev. Mr. Strong to preach the sermon. Rev. Mr. Leavenworth to 
 make the prayer before the charge, and Rev. Mr. Trumbull to give 
 the charge ; the Rev. Mr. Newell to make the prayer after the 
 charge, and Rev. Mr. Hawley to give the right hand of fellowship. 
 Passed in Council, 
 
 Test. TIMOTHY PITKIN, Scribe. 
 
 On the same day that the Council was convened the 
 Church held a meeting, and adopted some statements 
 
 CONCERNING CHURCH DISCIPLINE.* 
 
 At a church meeting held in Farmingbury December 29th, 1773, 
 after mature consideration, the church agreed and voted in ye 
 
 * Two or three samples only of the spelling and literal methods of writ- 
 ing in olden times are given in this hook ; all else is put into modern style 
 as nearly as possible. 
 
36 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 following plan of chh discipline : That this chh takes ye word of 
 God . to be the only sure and unerring rule of chh Discipline ; 
 neither do we think that any platform of human composure, with- 
 out just exceptions. However, we agree that ye platform drawn 
 up by ye Elders & Messengers of y e chhs of Connecticut, con- 
 vened at Saybrook, A. D., 1808, in ye main is agreeable to ye 
 Word of God & a good Directory. But, 
 
 1st. We are not well satisfied that ye 7th article in ye heads of 
 agreement, drawn up by ye Elders & Messengers aforesaid, and 
 ye first article in ye administration of chh discipline are without 
 just exceptions; but we are of opinion yt ye administration of 
 chh discipline is communicated jointly to Pastor & church. How- 
 ever, as Pastors or Elders are worthy of double honor, so we be- 
 lieve they ought to have and be allowed a double vote in all acts 
 and votes of ye chh. 
 
 2ly- We are not satisfied with ye 7th article, that a chh in ye 
 calling of a council, ought to be confined to y e consociated chhs 
 of ye circuit to which they belong ; but we believe that ye chhs 
 when they so agree, have a right to call in a promiscuous Council. 
 
 3rd. With respect to y e 8th article we are not satisfied. But 
 we think an offending brother has no liberty of appealing to a 
 Council, either before or after excommunication from ye chh, un- 
 less ye Pastor & church judge that ye nature of ye case require it, 
 and will join in calling a Council. 
 
 4thly. With respect likewise to ye 4th article, we are not very 
 well satisfied, for we believe that whenever a Council is called, 
 nothing ought to be deemed an act of it which hath not ye major 
 part of ye Elders separate, and likewise of ye Messengers present. 
 
 5 thly. Lastly, we are not satisfied with ye 14th article ; for tho' 
 we allow it to be expedient, yet destitute and bereaved chhs 3 J n 
 ordinary cases, consult ye association, and take their advice con- 
 cerning those persons who are fit to be called and settled in the 
 gospel ministry among them ; yet notwithstanding, as we believe 
 yt chhs have a right of choosing their own officers, so we do not 
 look upon it they are absolutely bound to adhere to such advice 
 at all times ; but there may be cases in which they have a right to 
 judge for themselves, and act without it. 
 
 Concerning ye rest of ye articles in Saybrook Platform, we are 
 
OBTAINING A PASTOR. 37 
 
 so far satisfied with them as to agree in taking them as a good 
 help to understand ye mind of God in ye administration of chh 
 discipline, and we agree to act in conformity to them till God 
 please to give us further light. 
 
 At a chh meeting, Farmingbury, April 15th, 1779, the chh 
 voted to adopt ye above plan of chh discipline. 
 
 Test. ALEXANDER GILLET, Pastor. 
 
 Thus was the first gospel minister settled in Farming- 
 bury, afterwards Wolcott, to feed the flock of God and 
 publish glad tidings to lost sinners. The scattered 
 sheep had waited long for a fold, for they began to peti- 
 tion the General Assembly for such privileges, in 1760, 
 and had continued their toils and oft-repeated petitions 
 until the desired object was obtained and the}- had a Zion 
 in the midst of them. One thing remained yet to be done 
 to make complete the outward working of a church,- — the 
 election of deacons, and the consequent orderly adminis- 
 tration of the sacraments. 
 
 The sacrament of baptism was administered the first 
 time, in January, 1774, to a child : Eunice, the daughter 
 of Stephen and Zilpha Pratt. 
 
 On the 29th of January, 1774, the church met for the 
 purpose of electing deacons, and elected Captain Aaron 
 Harrison for their first deacon, and Lieutenant Josiah Rog- 
 ers for their second. They also "voted that the Sacra- 
 ment of the Lord's Supper be observed once in two 
 months ; the first to be on the first Saturday of February 
 ensuing." It was probably observed on the 6th of that 
 month, when Levi Gaylord and Lois his wife united with 
 the church. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 DURING MR. GILLET'S MINISTRY : FROM 1 773 TO 1791. 
 
 The ministry of Mr. Gillet, as a settled pastor, began 
 on the first Sabbath of January, 1774, with a church mem- 
 bership of forty-five persons, and a parish numbering 
 scarcely seventy-five families, the greater part of whom 
 had come into the territory within the twenty years 
 preceding the organization of the church ; so that the 
 whole parish was only a new settlement. 
 
 The settlement was began, in Waterbury part, in 1731, 
 by Mr. John Alcock. Mr. Thomas Upson removed into the 
 south-east corner of the parish territory in 1732 or 1733, 
 but most of the other families living in the eastern part of 
 the parish in 1773 had removed thither after 1755, as nearly 
 as can be ascertained. The comforts of these families, 
 when Mr. Gillet's work began, were of the most restricted 
 kind. Many of them resided in log houses, with no out- 
 houses of an)' kind ; a haystack with a fence around it 
 was the only barn some of them possessed. Many years 
 after, Mr. John Bronson, father of the Bronson families 
 in this parish, quoted the text : " Is it time for you, O 
 ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house 
 lie waste ?" and said he was not guilty of living in a 
 ceiled house while the Meeting house was unceiled. In 
 1795, the Meeting house was ceiled ; but Mr. Bronson's 
 dwelling was not, until some time afterward. The west- 
 ern, or Waterbury part of the parish, was more advanced 
 in settlement, but was mostly a wilderness of heavy 
 timber. Mr. Judah Frisbie, one of the first settlers in 
 Woodtick, if not the very first, purchased land there in the 
 fall of 1773 ; the deed of the same being still preserved. 
 
DURING MR. GILLET'S MINISTRY. 39 
 
 Mr. John Alcock had been in the parish territory thirty- 
 two years when the church was organized ; and some of 
 his sons and daughters were settled on their farms before 
 1773. Mr. Isaac Hopkins and Benjamin Harrison father 
 of Deacon Aaron Harrison), and a few other families, 
 had been in the parish about thirty years. 
 
 This was Mr. Gillet's parish. The remark is attributed 
 to the oldest inhabitants, that when the Meeting house- 
 was raised, all the inhabitants in the parish could sit on 
 its "sills." If those sills were of the length fixed upon 
 by the Society in its first vote on the subject, they were 
 42 by 58 feet, and would not have seated over 140 per- 
 sons, — men,- women, and children. 
 
 Mr. Gillefc graduated at Vale College, September, 1770. 
 In 1 77 1 he united with the church in Granby. After 
 graduating, he taught school in Farmington a year or 
 more, and may have studied theology during that time, 
 under the direction of Rev. Timothy Pitkin, then pastor 
 of the Farmington church. He was licensed to preach by 
 the Hartford Association, on the 2d day of June, 1773, and 
 on the 2d day of next August, the Society in Farming- 
 bury "voted to continue Mr. Gillet ten. Sabbaths more, 
 and on probation." He had probably preached two Sab- 
 baths, and these with the ten made three months, at the 
 end of which he was installed. When he settled here he- 
 was unmarried, was twenty-four years of age, naturally of 
 a quiet spirit, but devotedly, and what is often called 
 deeply religious. The good order with which all church 
 matters were arranged, indicates a qualification, both in 
 maturity of thought and in devotedness to the work, 
 equal to the position he had accepted. Many churches, 
 directed by older men, have not been as well directed ; 
 and it is seldom that church records are as full}- kept and 
 as carefully preserved as these ; and to this preservation 
 of these first records is clue, in a large degree, this book 
 of history. 
 
 Mr. Gillet's father, Capt. Zaccheus Gillet, removed into 
 
4-0 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the parish soon after the installation of his son, and 
 therefore it became home, indeed, to the young pastor. 
 
 Under Mr. Gillet's labors, the church, from the first, 
 experienced a gradual growth, receiving members on 
 profession of their faith from month to month, and some 
 of the time from Sabbath to Sabbath. In June follow- 
 ing the organization, there were sixty-two members. 
 Ten years later, one hundred and three persons had united 
 with the church. During his whole ministry, which lasted 
 eighteen years, one hundred and forty persons were re- 
 corded as members of the church, — ninety-nine besides 
 those who organized the church, and most of them by 
 profession. 
 
 Through Mr. Gillet's efforts a library was formed for the 
 parish. The only account of it which I have been able 
 to procure is contained in an inscription in one of the 
 books which has come into my hands : "This book be- 
 longs to the library in Farmingbury. Founded Novem- 
 ber 5, 1779. No. 50." This library was, after some years, 
 scattered among the original contributors, and between 
 1820 and 1830, another was formed, which suffered a like 
 fate. 
 
 In 1784, a larger number united with the church 
 than in any other year during his stay in the parish. 
 This was the result of some special efforts made in the 
 previous year. From some writings left by Deacon Isaac 
 Bronson, we learn that in 1783, "Mr. Gillet was unable 
 to preach, and Rev. Fclmond Mills preached here, and 
 there was quite an awakening among the people, so that 
 they had preaching three times on the Sabbath, and con- 
 ferences three or four times a week;" and "Mr. Gillet 
 visited from house to house, and brought many good 
 preachers here," so that the "awakening soon became 
 general," and this continued, somewhat, during the sum- 
 mer, and on "August the 9th, on Saturday, while alone 
 at work," Isaac Bronson became greatly awakened in his 
 own behalf. This interest in the church "greatly ani- 
 
1)1 RING MR. GILLETS MINISTRY. 41 
 
 mated Mr. Gillet," and his health began to improve, and 
 
 after a few months he resumed his preaching. 
 
 By a vote of the Society, in June. 1783, Mr. Mills was 
 hired to preach. No length of time is specified, but 
 the probability is that he preached three or four months. 
 At the next annual meeting of the Society Mr. Gillet's 
 salary was made "the same as other years ;" and while 
 the}' paid two ministers, the Society received more than 
 double benefit, for more members were added than during 
 the five years preceding, ami the church was greatly 
 quickened, and the minister much encouraged in his work. 
 Previous to this revival there had been some things to 
 discourage the minister and the church, and the commu- 
 nity felt these influences more, even, than the church and 
 minister. Deacon Isaac Bronson, speaking of the effort 
 which Mr. Gillet made, in connection with the preaching 
 of Mr. Mills, says : "A serious attention began to take 
 place, which Mr. Gillet perceiving, was greatly animated 
 himself, and brought man}' good preachers here, and went 
 round to every house to visit his people, and alarm them 
 from that stupidity which for a long time had grossly 
 overspread the Society." 
 
 During the ten years since the organization of the 
 church, there had been several cases of church discipline 
 which caused much trouble, and as is usual, much dead- 
 ness in church interests. The first case arose in June, 
 1774, peculiar in itself, because it related somewhat to 
 the civil courts. It caused considerable difference of 
 opinion, and some personal feeling, and in regard to it 
 the church voted twice to call a council ; but they finally 
 settled it among themselves by making " null and void* 
 all the votes that had been passed in regard to it," and 
 likewise voted "to banish all differences which had been 
 entertained, one towards another, and conduct them- 
 selves as forgiving Christian brethren." 
 
 In 1779, another difficult}' arose, and continued till the 
 autumn of 1781, when a council rendered its decision, and 
 
42 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the church " voted to consent to the doings and advice 
 of the Ecclesiastical Council," and "that all matters of 
 past altercation, complaint, and uneasiness shall be laid 
 aside ; and that the pastor and the church shall not re- 
 ceive any manner of complaint whatsoever from any per- 
 son for anything that has been matter of complaint before 
 the Council." But a further difficulty grew out of this 
 same case, about one year after the above settlement, 
 and caused some further feeling and dissatisfaction to- 
 wards the minister and among the members of the 
 church. 
 
 These troubles, doubtless, affected the sensitive mind 
 of the pastor, and ma}- have had much weight in dis- 
 couraging him, and bringing him to that state of health 
 in which he was not able to preach. Hence, when the 
 signs of revival appeared among the people in 1783, it 
 was the morning of a new life to pastor and people, and 
 was, in effect, like the passing away of a very cold win- 
 ter, and the coming of April showers ; all things began 
 to spring into life and activity. The church had been 
 overcome and trodden clown by the spirit of the world. 
 The revival was like the return of the captives from 
 Babylon after seventy years. Jerusalem was all astir, 
 and the walls of the city and of the temple began to rise 
 from the dust and ruins with marvelous rapidity, and 
 promise of final completion. 
 
 RESULTS. 
 
 Several things resulted from this revival worth) 7 of no- 
 tice. They proceeded to " improve the Meeting house." 
 Hitherto the Meeting house had no stationary seats 
 or pews. Their place was supplied with seats from 
 various sources, — among others, some provided chairs 
 for themselves. There is now in the possession of Mrs. 
 Henry Carter a chair that was used by some of her ances- 
 tors for this purpose. 
 
 The gallery had no floor or seats in it, and there had been 
 no plastering or ceiling done in the house. In Decern- 
 
DURING MR. GILLETS MINISTRY. 43 
 
 ber, 1783, the Society appointed " Lieut. Joseph Beecher, 
 Deacon Josiah Rogers, Capt. Daniel Alcox, Capt. Samuel 
 Up^on, Esquire Stephen Barnes, Mr. Amos Seward, and 
 Daniel Byington, a committee to settle the Meeting house 
 accounts." These accounts had never been fully settled 
 since the building of the Meeting house. There does 
 not appear to have been debts of. any great amount, but 
 there was some trouble in adjusting these accounts 
 among the different parties interested. This committee 
 did not succeed in this matter, and in the spring (May 
 4, 1784), they appointed another committee, " with power 
 to settle them according to their best judgment." This 
 committee was the same as the former, except Mr. Simeon 
 Hopkins in place of Deacon Rogers. At this meeting in 
 May the} - " voted that we should do something to the 
 Meeting house." " Voted that the joiner work to the low- 
 er part of the house should be done, and the front seats in 
 the gallery, if there should be stuff enough." At the same 
 meeting, Mr. David Norton, Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, and 
 Lieut. Charles Upson were chosen a Meeting house com- 
 mittee. " Voted that the lower part of said Meeting 
 house be ceiled up to the windows, and be made into 
 pews, and the work to be done decent and plain. Voted 
 to lay a rate of four pence (which was afterwards made 
 to five pence) on the pound, to be laid on the list of [783, 
 to be paid by the first of October next, in wheat, rye, or 
 Indian corn." At the same meeting Heman Hall and 
 Nathan Stevens were chosen to collect said rate. This 
 tax, with a one-penny addition laid on the list of 1784, 
 to be paid the first of October, 1785, was, doubtless, for 
 these expenses on the Meeting house. 
 
 Since writing the above a paper has been presented me 
 by Mr. Silas B.Terry, of YVaterbury, which was the order 
 of the court for the collection of the tax for repairing the 
 Meeting house. The list of assessments is not to be 
 found, but reference to a town tax list in the history of tin- 
 town, elsewhere in this volume, will give some idea of the 
 
44 HISTORY OF YVOLCOTT. 
 
 tax to repair the Meeting house, only the Meeting house 
 tax is double that of the town tax referred to. 
 
 THE ORDER OF THE COURT. 
 
 To Isaac Barnes, Collector of Society rate for the purpose of 
 doing something to the Meeting house of the Parish of Farming- 
 bury, in Waterbury, in New Haven County, greeting : 
 
 By virtue of the authority of the State of Connecticut, you are 
 hereby commanded forthwith to levy and collect of the persons 
 named in the annexed list herewith committed unto you, each one 
 his several proportion as therein set down of the sum total of such 
 list, being a tax or assessment granted by the inhabitants of the 
 said Society of Farmingbury, regularly assembled on the 24th day 
 of September, 1784, to defray the charge that shall arise in prose- 
 cuting the above said purpose, and pay or deliver such sum or 
 sums which you shall so levy and collect unto the Society's treas- 
 urer for the time being of the said Society of Farmingbury, at or 
 before the first day of October next ensuing the date hereof. 
 
 And if any person or persons shall neglect or refuse to make 
 payment of the sum or sums whereof he or they are assessed and 
 set in said list, to distrain the goods or chattels of such person or 
 persons, and the same dispose of as the law directs, returning the 
 surplus, if any be, unto the owner or owners ; and for want of such 
 goods and chattels whereon to make distress, you are to take the 
 body or bodies of such person or persons refusing, and him or 
 them commit unto the keeper of the gaol of said county, within 
 the said prison, who is hereby commanded to receive and safely 
 keep him or them until he or they pay and satisfy the said sum 
 assessed upon him or them as aforesaid, together with your fees ; 
 unless the said assessment, or any part thereof, upon application 
 made to the county court shall be abated, or otherwise as the law 
 directs. 
 
 Dated at Waterbury, this 24th day of September, A. D., 1784. 
 JONATHAN BALDWIN, Justice of the Peace. 
 
 When the Meeting house was thus improved by pews, 
 it became quite a serious matter how and where the peo- 
 ple should sit. On September 24th, 1784, "voted to have 
 the front seats done in the gallery." " Voted that Capt. 
 
DURING MR. GILLETS MINISTRY. 45 
 
 Samuel Upson, Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, Judah Prisbie, 
 Simeon Hopkins, and Daniel Peck, be a committee to 
 Dignify the Meeting house.'' " Voted to scat the Meet- 
 ing house by age." "Voted to have men and women sit 
 together." At the same meeting Daniel Norton, Mark- 
 Harrison, Daniel Byington, Jacob Carter, Capt. Daniel 
 Aicox were chosen a committee to seat the Meeting- 
 house. One month after this meeting they met again 
 and made further efforts to seat the Meeting house. 
 "Voted to give the pew by the pulpit stairs to Mr. Gil- 
 let during the pleasure of the Society." " Voted to recon- 
 sider the vote that was taken to seat the Meeting house 
 by age ; and voted to seat the Meeting house by age 
 and by list, allowing eight pounds to a year." " Voted 
 that each man have one head, and only one, to be seated 
 on." "Voted to have the aged widows seated in the 
 first pew east of the pulpit." "Voted that Capt. Daniel 
 Alcox, Daniel Byington, Jacob Carter, David Norton, and 
 Ensign Streat Richards, and Simeon Hopkins, and Mr. 
 Joseph Parker be a committee to seat the Meeting house- 
 as above." Two weeks after they met again, and voted 
 that the seating of the Meeting house in regard to the 
 money list, should be on the list of I//2. That is, if on 
 that list a man paid taxes on forty pounds, he should 
 have double honor in the church, compared with a man 
 forty years old without any list. Also, at this adjourned 
 meeting, they " voted to have a pew built over the stairs 
 for the niggers." The seats made at this time in the 
 gallery, were a row of "front seats," and some years 
 after this, there were box pews made in the rear of these 
 seats. The pews below were old-fashioned box or square 
 pews. The pulpit stood on the north side of the church, 
 opposite the front door, with a double window in the rear 
 above it ; and there was a door in each end of the church, 
 east and west. The pulpit was very high, as was the cus- 
 tom in those days, and beneath it, and perhaps extending 
 a little in front, were the seats for the deacons, and those 
 
46 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 important officers who noted the absentees from church, 
 and especially those absent from the preparatory lecture 
 and the Lord's Supper. The house thus arranged and 
 well filled, as it probably was at this time, was well calcu- 
 lated to animate the speaker and secure the sympathy 
 and attention of the^ audience. The pulpit was high, but 
 so were the galleries on the three sides. The pulpit 
 stood on the side of the house, — a great advantage over 
 its being at the end, according to a more recent style. 
 
 This was as far as the Society could go at this time, 
 and though the house was far from being furnished, it was 
 a great improvement on the first ten years of its exist- 
 ence and use. The Society had some difficulty in paying 
 for these improvements and settling the old accounts, 
 for in November, 1785, they appointed another commit- 
 tee " to settle the old accounts in building the Meeting 
 house." 
 
 Another interest arose from the improvements in the 
 Meeting house. It was respecting the singing, and the 
 singers. Soon after the house improvements were made, 
 — that is, in November, 1784, at the annual meeting, they 
 appointed three choristers, as they had been accustomed 
 for several years, and voted that "the singers should 
 have the front seats, if they chose to sit there." That is, 
 probably, the front seats in the gallery. 
 
 The next April, at a Society meeting, they voted, 
 that "it is our mind to have more help respecting setting 
 the psalm," for by vote the church had decided to use 
 Watts' Psalms in public worship. They also voted that 
 the " singers should have liberty to choose their own 
 leaders ;" and then, frightened at this innovation, immedi- 
 ately reconsidered the vote and adjourned the meeting- 
 two weeks. 
 
 When they came together at the appointed time, they 
 were over their fright, and more venturesome than before, 
 and voted that " we will leave it with the singers to carry 
 on singing as they think best, during the pleasure of the 
 
DURING MR, GILLETS MINISTRY. 47 
 
 Society." The Society had from the first taken special 
 interest in singing, from the fact that they had, for a new 
 farming" community, a marvelous number of singers. 
 Almost everybody could sing ; and this heavenly talent 
 is well continued unto the present day. The following 
 list of choristers, chosen previous to 1785, will show 
 somewhat the musical talent of the community ; and 
 several of them were not only singers, but musicians and 
 poets : 
 
 1770. 
 
 Jacob Carter, Levi Bronson, Jared Harrison, Stephen Barnes, 
 and David Alcox. 
 
 1771. 
 
 Samuel Upson, Levi Bronson, Jared Harrison, Jacob Carter, 
 Samuel Harrison, Cyrus Norton. 
 
 1772. 
 Samuel Harrison, Jacob Carter, Cyrus Norton. And for bass 
 singers, Mark Harrison, Samuel Atkins, Daniel Finch, and Jared 
 Harrison. 
 
 1776. 
 
 Stephen Barnes, Samuel Harrison, Cyrus Norton, Mark Harri- 
 son, David Harrison, Ziba Norton. 
 
 1778. . 
 Zaccheus Gillet. 
 
 1781. 
 
 Samuel Harrison, Cyrus Norton, Nathan Gillet. 
 
 1784. 
 Cyrus Norton, Isaac Carter, Nathan Gillet. 
 
 1785- 
 
 Samuel Harrison, Cyrus Norton, Isaac Carter, Mark Harrison, 
 Dr. Potter, Jacob Carter, David Harrison, Ozias Norton, Joseph 
 M. Parker, Joseph Miner, Jonathan Carter, Noah Norton, Elijah 
 Horton. Thirteen. 
 
 This last array of choristers would frighten modern 
 choirs, though many churches would be very glad to see 
 the fright. Some persons now living in Wolcott remem- 
 ber having seen the front seats in the gallery of the old 
 
48 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 church on three sides nearly filled with singers, and with 
 them the congregation joined in the singing. This was 
 during Mr. Keys' ministry. 
 
 In 1787, the Society appointed " a committee to draw 
 up a subscription for the encouraging of singing," consist- 
 ing of Streat Richards, Mark Harrison, Cyrus Norton, 
 Charles Upson, and Isaac Carter ; and some years after 
 they "laid a tax" for the same purpose. Such were some 
 of the substantial and joyous results of one revival. 
 
 There came into the church at this time men who for 
 many years were its leading members : among the more 
 prominent of whom were Justus Peck, afterwards deacon, 
 whose wife was one of the first members of the church ; 
 Charles Upson, afterwards justice of the peace in the town, 
 and for quite a number of years an active man in the 
 church and Society, Jacob Carter, Samuel Byington, 
 Samuel Atkins, and Mark Harrison, afterwards justice of 
 the peace, all active and reliable men for years, and some 
 of them, many years. Isaac Bronson, though converted 
 at the same time, did not unite with the church till 1788, 
 and was afterwards made deacon and served the church 
 and Society many years, in many offices. He also served 
 the town in various offices, being elected Town Clerk and 
 Treasurer, when the town was organized, and afterwards 
 was Representative in the Assembly for many years. 
 
 There were also gathered into the church at this time 
 a number of noble women who strengthened the church 
 and did their part in the Redeemer's kingdom. Judah 
 Frisbie was one of the formers and first members of the 
 church ; his wife was now also led into the fold, and the 
 household was one in the church. Wealth}-, wife of 
 Charles Upson ; Phebe, wife of Samuel Harrison ; Mary 
 Carter, wife of Jacob ; Jerusha Norton, wife of Cyrus ; Es- 
 ther Atkins, wife of Samuel ; and a number of others 
 equally noted for their honorable lives, as Christian 
 women. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that this revival occurred in 
 
DURING MR. GILLETS MINISTRY. 49 
 
 the year, and soon after the Declaration of Peace, and 
 the acknowledgment of the Indept ndence of the United 
 Colonies in America. Mr. Gillet had not been settled 
 three years when the war " broke out." He and his little 
 band had held on their way courageously, considering the 
 " trouble" of those years of sore conflict, privations, and 
 fears. A number of his fellow citizens and parishioners 
 " went to the war ;" some had returned, some never would 
 return to the homes they had left. When the war began, 
 Southington Mountain, lying just within the eastern 
 boundary of Farmingbury, was the most flourishing dis- 
 trict in the parish. The line of the mountain runs north 
 and south ; and a road was constructed on the ridge or 
 highest part of it, nearly the whole length, some two miles 
 or more. Along this road were settled some of the most 
 thrifty farmers in the parish, on some of the most 
 beautifully located land, and most easy of cultivation, in 
 the township. 
 
 It is said that the war made such desolation in these 
 families, that those who were left began to move into 
 other parts ; and the emigration continued until 1 a few 
 years since, when the last inhabitant had fled. This 
 whole district is now grown up into woods and bushes, 
 except a few fields near the only remaining skeleton of a 
 house, where stands, as a lonely sentinel, the "sweep" 
 over the well; the "old oaken bucket'' having gone 
 to the depths of the well many years ago. 
 
 The Revolution began this work of desolation with a 
 strong hand, and now the end is fully come. Legends 
 of the Revolution are still told, but they are thrown far 
 into the shade by the sorrows of war in our own day. 
 There is a family now in the parish whose grandfather 
 was captain under Washington in Boston and on Long 
 Island, and was in the battle which secured the surrender 
 of General Burgoyne and his arm}-, in 1777 ; but the re- 
 membrance of their only sun and brother, who died in 
 5 
 
50 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Sherman's army, near Atlanta, Georgia, obscures all the 
 victories of the Revolution. 
 
 Though the times of the Revolution tried every man's 
 courage, and every woman's heart, yet through these 
 years this little Society and its ministerial captan, passed 
 securely and prosperously, and came out into a "large 
 place, beside still waters." 
 
 When a people are in the way of improvements, it is 
 easy to continue the same. The added comforts of the 
 Meeting house may have suggested the idea of building 
 " Sabba Day" houses, for we find a vote passed in 1788 
 appointing a committee to direct where such houses 
 should be built on the land near the church, owned by 
 the Society. Some few were built, but soon went out of 
 use, — for 1 have some suspicion that the hotel or tavern 
 was the "Sabba Day" house many preferred to any other, 
 between sermons. And I find, also, that many of the 
 business meetings of the Society were held at Mr. Samuel 
 Byington's house, which was the "tavern ;" and Samuel 
 Byington was a member of the church, as were also many 
 who came in to warm at his "fire." 
 
 MR. GILLET AT HOME. 
 
 Mr. Gillet recorded his own marriage in the Church 
 book as occurring " Dec. 3, 1778." This fact is mentioned 
 specially because in Sprague's Annals it is given as hav- 
 ing taken place "December, 1779," which latter date would 
 not look well along with the fact that his son, Timothy 
 Phelps, was baptized in this church July 23, 1780. He 
 married Adah Rogers, daughter of one of the deacons of 
 his church, and a man very prominent in all the doings 
 of the church and Society for many years. The marriage 
 services were conducted by Rev. Samuel Newell, proba- 
 bly in the church. Mr. Newell preached a sermon from 
 the following text, John ii : 1,2. " And the third day there 
 was a marriage in Cana of Galilee ; and the mother of Je- 
 sus was there. And both Jesus was called and his disci- 
 
HIRIxr, MR. GILLET'S MINISTRY. 51 
 
 pies to the marriage." Mr. Gillet's marriage was on the 
 third clay of the month and this made the text more literal 
 to the occasion, and it is said that a minister once likened 
 Wolcott to the land of Canaan ; possibly the audience at 
 this time thought they were in that land, and if the au- 
 dience did not, perhaps the bride and bridegroom did. 
 Mr. Gillet and wife resided first about half a mile east of 
 the church, in a house now entirely gone, part of the walls 
 of the cellar only are remaining. He afterwards built 
 a house on a farm, a quarter of a mile north of the church 
 on the east side of the road. This house is still standing 
 and is quite inhabitable, though no one resides in it- and 
 must have been a good home in those clays when that 
 street was inhabited by a number of the first families of 
 the parish. It is not known at present what peculiar in- 
 cident, if any, gave to this part of the community the elo- 
 quent name of " Puddin' street," but it certainly has had 
 this honor from beyond the memory of any persons liv- 
 ing. In this house Mr. Gillet probably resided but a few 
 years, for the recollections of some of his children are 
 connected much more with the old house now gone than 
 this one north of the Meeting house. Mr. Gillet had four 
 children baptized while pastor here. Timothy Phelps, 
 July 23, 1780, afterwards pastor in Branford, Conn., over, 
 fifty years ; Asaph, Nov. 24, 1782 ; Esther, July 17, 1785 ; 
 Adah, Jan. 27, 1788. 
 
 MR. GILLET'S SALARY. 
 
 When Mr. Gillet settled here his salary was to be fifty 
 pounds a year, for four years, and seventy-five pounds 
 yearly after that. The Society was faithful to this agree- 
 ment. The nominal amount varied during a very few 
 years, but varied because of the diminished or increased 
 price of wheat, for wheat seems to have been the standard 
 of value. His salary for the first four years (^50 per year) 
 was paid regularly, with one -quarter of the £17$ settle- 
 ment, on the 1st of March. In 1778 they promptly voted 
 
52 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 him ,£75 for the ensuing year, according to agreement. 
 In 1779 they voted him .£75, " to be paid in wheat, at six 
 shillings a bushel." In 1780 it was £$0, "to be paid in 
 wheat at four shillings a bushel." In 1781 it was the same, 
 ^50, "to be paid in wheat, at four shillings a bushel." 
 After 178 1 it was £y$, with one exception, till he closed 
 his labors here. In 1787 they paid him £75 and twenty- 
 five cords of wood, and in 1788 it was ^"70 and twenty- 
 five cords of wood. 
 
 This salary, though apparently small, was larger than 
 Rev. Mr. Leavenworth, Congregational minister in Water- 
 bury, was receiving at the same time*. " In 1755, Mr. 
 Leavenworth's salary was £6$ "proclamation money," 
 or its equivalent in old tenor; in 1759, £$4; in 1761, 
 £6$ ; in 1762, £82 ; in 1781, £55 ; but on account of the 
 burdens of the Society and the public taxes, Mr. L. 
 agreed to accept £4$. In 1782, the salary was £6$, and 
 £10 in wood ; in 1791 , £jo ; but Mr. L. gave the Society 
 £$ of it." 
 
 These figures show that Mr. Gillet's salary, on an 
 average, was about ten pounds a year more than Mr. 
 Leavenworth's, and therefore was very honorable for a 
 new society, compared with one more than ninety years 
 old. From the fact that the Society voted twenty-five 
 cords of wood in 1787, we infer that Mr. Gillet was then 
 residing in his new house, on his own farm, and that that 
 farm included no woodland ; and hence, also, that the 
 farm was a small one, which we learn to have been about 
 ten acres. It was in this house, probably, that the 
 New Haven West Association held its first meeting. 
 May 31st, 1787. t "There were present, Messrs. Lea- 
 venworth, Williston, Foot, Edwards, Wales, Gillet, Da- 
 vid Fuller, Fowler, Perry, and Martin Fuller. Mr. Lea- 
 venworth was moderator, and Dr. Jonathan Edwards was 
 scribe." 
 
 * Branson's History of Waterbury, p. 285. 
 f Kingsley's Eccl. Hist. Conn., p. 327. 
 
DURING MR. GILLET'S MINISTRY. 53 
 
 The fact that this meeting was held at Mr. Gillet's 
 house, indicates his interest in the neighboring ministers 
 and churches ; for this being the first meeting, there 
 must have been some preliminaries, and in these he must 
 have taken considerable part, and hence the propriety of 
 going to his house for this meeting. This was in accord- 
 ance with his character, for though naturally reserved in 
 his manner, he heartily gave all attention and effort to 
 build up the churches and spread gospel light, and his 
 home was a home of welcome to all who toiled as minis- 
 ters in the Master's kingdom. 
 
 MR. GILLET CLOSES HIS LABORS IN WOLCOTT. 
 
 At the annual Society meeting, the 29th day of No- 
 vember, 1790, it was "voted to send a committee to the 
 Rev. Mr. Gillet, to discourse with him concerning the 
 uneasiness there is in the Society with him as a teacher." 
 The committee consisted of Mr. Jacob Carter, Captain 
 Nathaniel Lewis, Deacon Peck, Capt. Samuel Upson, 
 Mr. Amos Seward, Mr. Mark Harrison, Capt. Charles 
 Upson, Mr. Calvin Cowles, and Mr. Jonathan Carter. 
 No reasons are given as to the cause of this " uneasi- 
 ness," except in the words " with him as a teacher," and 
 afterwards it is said "with him as a pastor and teacher." 
 This committee, doubtless, performed the work assigned 
 it, and reported to the Society the information obtained, 
 for from this time they held several adjourned meetings 
 from week to week. On the 23d day of December, 1790, 
 in a Society meeting, they "voted to have Mr. Gillet 
 invited into the house." He probably came, and they 
 had a conference together like brethren. About two 
 weeks after this conference, the Society " voted that 
 Mr. Leavenworth, Mr. Trumbull, Mr. Smalley, and Mr. 
 Waterman, with their delegates, be an advisory Council 
 respecting the uneasiness there is with Mr. Gillet as a 
 public teacher," and that the Council meet on the "first 
 Tuesday of February next, at nine o'clock in the morning, 
 
54 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 at the house of Samuel Byington," and that Capt. Samuel 
 Upson, Jacob Carter, Lieut. Richards, Deacon Atkins, 
 Capt. Charles Upson, Jonathan Carter, Mark Harrison, 
 Capt. Daniel Alcox, Calvin Cowles, Simeon Plumb, and 
 Dr. Potter, be a committee to attend on the Council." 
 This Council met, but of its doings I find no record, 
 yet from several items afterwards recorded, conclude 
 that it advised against a dismissal. On the first day of 
 next September, the Society "voted that all those that 
 are easy with the Rev. Mr.' Gillet as a pastor and teacher 
 signify the same. Yeas, 40 ; nays, 19." " Voted that 
 all those that are willing the Rev. Mr. Gillet be dis- 
 missed, agreeable to his request, signify the same by lift- 
 ing the hand. Yeas, 20 ; nays, 29." One week from 
 this meeting they "voted to call the same Council that 
 were here in February last, to meet at the house of 
 Samuel Byington in said Farmingbury, on the fourth 
 Tuesday of October next, at nine o'clock in the morning, 
 then and there to hear, advise, and determine, on matters 
 of difficulty between the Rev. Mr. Gillet and his peo- 
 ple." Deacon Aaron Harrison, Deacon Peck, Deacon 
 Atkins, Messrs. Amos Seward, Streat Richards, Jacob 
 Carter, Jonathan Carter, Capt. Samuel Upson, Capt. 
 Daniel Alcox, were chosen a committee to make pro- 
 visions for the Council, and to represent the Society be- 
 fore them." 
 
 DOINGS OF THE COUNCIL NOVEMBER 9, 1 79 1. 
 
 The original copy of the proceedings of the Council is 
 preserved, in Mr. Trumbull's hand- writing, and a splen- 
 did hand-writing it is : 
 
 At an Ecclesiastical Council convened by letters missive, in 
 Farmingbury, at the house of the Rev. Alexander Gillet, October 
 25, 1 791, the Rev. John Smalley was chosen Moderator, and Mr. 
 Trumbull, Scribe. The Council, considering the importance and 
 difficulty of the matters to be laid before them and their own 
 thinness, not half the members being present, judge it altogether 
 
DURING MR. GILLETS MINISTRY. 55 
 
 inexpedient to proceed to business ; and therefore voted that tin's 
 Council be adjourned till Wednesday, the oth of November, to 
 meet at Mr. Samuel Byington's at 9 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 Farmingbury, November 9th. the Council met according to ad- 
 journment, and adjourned to the Meeting house. In the recess 
 of this Council the Society of Farmingbury, at the desire of Mr. 
 Gillet and a number of the disaffected members, voted their will- 
 ingness, that the Rev. Noah Benedict and Dr. Jonathan Edwards, 
 with delegates from their respective churches, should be called to 
 sit with the former Council, to advise with them relative to the 
 matters of difficulty subsisting among them ; in consequence of 
 which vote, and letters missive to said gentlemen, predicated 
 upon it, the Rev. Mr. Benedict and Dr. Edwards. Deacon Daniel 
 Sherman from the First Church in Woodbury, and Mr. Jeremiah 
 Atwater from the Church in White Haven, joined the Council. 
 
 The Council thus formed consisted of the gentleman above 
 mentioned (Benedict, Edwards. Sherman and Atwater), the Rev. 
 Messrs. Mark Eeavenworth, John Smalley, Simon Waterman, and 
 Benjamin Trumbull, and of delegates Joseph Hopkins, Esq., 
 from the church in Waterbury, Colonel Isaac Lee from the church 
 in New Britain. Mr. Elijah Warner from the church in Northbury, 
 and Joseph Darling, Esq., from the church in North Haven. 
 
 The Council was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Leaven- 
 worth. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Gillet, a committee of the Society in Farming- 
 bury, and a committee of the members of said Society who were 
 dissatisfied with Mr. Gillet, appeared before the Council, and after 
 considerable conversation a question arose between the parties, 
 whether the Society had properly submitted the matters of diffi- 
 culty to the decision of the Council. Sometime was taken up in 
 the discussion of that point, and the parties disagreeing on the 
 subject, the Council adjourned till two o'clock, p. M. 
 
 Met according to adjournment, and found the Society in 
 regular meeting, and that the question stated above had been 
 largely debated in said meeting, but without any determination. 
 However, towards evening, said Society " voted that the Council 
 of ministers and delegates from the several neighboring churches, 
 present, be a mutual Council, to hear and determine respecting 
 
$6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 any matters of difficulty between the Rev. Mr. Gillet, the said 
 Society, or any disaffected persons." 
 
 The Council adjourned to Dr. Potter's. Met according to ad- 
 journment, and the parties appeared before the Council and began 
 to make a statement of their difficulties. Adjourned to the Meet- 
 ing house, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Farmingbury, November ioth, the Council met according to ad- 
 journment. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Gillet delivered to the council a paper, in which 
 he submitted all matters of difficulty, and declared, that if this 
 Council shall judge that there is not a prospect for his future use- 
 fulness and comfort in this Church and Society as their pastor, it 
 is his honest wish to be liberated from their pastoral charge ; and 
 they continued the hearing. 
 
 Voted that this Council be adjourned to Deacon Harrison's. 
 Met according to adjournment ; continued and finished the hear- 
 ing ; in which it appeared to this Council, that though the Rev. 
 Mr. Gillet has done nothing inconsistent with the Christian or min- 
 isterial character, and has through a long scene of controversy 
 acted with great prudence, patience, and gentleness, yet there is 
 about a third of the church and Society dissatisfied with his min- 
 istrations ; that this dissatisfaction appears to be of long continu- 
 ance and deeply rooted ; that, therefore, on the most thorough 
 consideration of the whole matter, in all its circumstances, there 
 is not a prospect of his continuing in his present pastoral relation, 
 with either usefulness to the cause of religion or comfort to him- 
 self; that he and some individuals have settled his temporal af- 
 fairs to his satisfaction ; and that if he should be advised to con- 
 tinue in his present situation, his continuance would, probably, be 
 but temporary, and for which he would be removed with greater 
 loss of property, with greater disadvantage as to his settlement in 
 the ministry, and equal if not greater disadvantage to this Society. 
 For these reasons this Council think it necessary for the interests 
 of religion in general, and especially in this church and Society, 
 and for the usefulness and comfort of Mr. Gillet and his family, 
 that he be dismissed from his pastoral relation to this church and 
 Society, and accordingly he is hereby dismissed, though we feel 
 very tenderly for Mr. Gillet. for his family, and for those of this 
 
DURING MR. GILLET'S MINISTRY. 57 
 
 Society who wish him to be continued as their minister j yet we 
 are satisfied that they are called, in Providence, to the patient ex- 
 ercise of self denial in this instance ; and we wish them to rest 
 assured, that we advise to this dismission of Mr. Gillet in a full 
 persuasion that it is necessary for their respective interests and 
 spiritual prosperity as well as for the interests of true religion in 
 general. 
 
 We take the liberty here to refer it to the consideration of this 
 whole Society, whether this whole calamity has not, in a great 
 measure, come upon them in consequence of the want of due 
 care to supply Mr. Gillet and his family with the conveniences of 
 life ; and whether if he had been duly supplied in this respect, he 
 would not have been free from those cares, embarrassments and 
 labors which have been inconsistent with that habitual study and 
 improvement which would have rendered him more respected 
 both to his own and neighboring Societies. 
 
 With respect to Mr. Gillet, from all that has appeared concern- 
 ing him in the course of the hearing, and from our acquaintance 
 with him, we believe him to be a man of strict morality and sin- 
 cere piety ; and of such ministerial accomplishments, natural and 
 acquired, as may, if Divine Providence open the way, render him 
 useful in the ministry; and as such we recommend him to all 
 churches and to all Christians wherever God may cast his future 
 lot. Passed unanimously in Council. 
 
 Test. BENJAMIN TRUMBULL, Scribe. 
 
 Thus closed on the ioth clay of November, 1 791 , the 
 ministerial labors of the Rev. Alexander Gillet as an am- 
 bassador of the court of heaven over this his first parish, — 
 a pastorate which continued nearly eighteen years. 
 
 The "finding" of this council is very plain and very 
 suggestive. They say that "the Rev. Mr. Gillet has 
 through a long scene of controversy acted with great 
 prudence, patience, and gentleness ;" and as a reason for 
 this they say, "that this dissatisfaction appears to be of 
 long continuance and deeply rooted," and the explana- 
 tion to this is, a difficulty in the church in the first year 
 of Mr. Gillet's labors here, and another in 178 1, in regard 
 
58 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 to which the church called a Council. The first was a 
 case in which the parties, a husband and wife of influen- 
 tial family connections, had been prosecuted in Court for 
 "scandal" and were acquitted, and soon after applied to 
 be received as members of the church. This difficulty 
 continued over six months, and then the whole matter was 
 dropped and the persons admitted. The other case was 
 concerning parties also of influence who had been before 
 "Esquire Baldwin " and then came into the church, which 
 was settled once by a council and came up again a year 
 after, in another form, and caused considerable trouble in 
 the church and community, and as a result the minister 
 was thought to be prejudiced against these parties. Be- 
 cause the minister valued the honor of the church he was 
 censured and a prejudice was entertained against him to 
 strengthen in the years to come in proportion to his faith- 
 fulness to God and the church. 
 
 From several things mentioned in the records I am 
 persuaded that these were the beginning of difficulties 
 that finally secured the dismissal of Mr. Gillet. But there 
 were other things which would not be worthy of mention 
 but for the lessons we are to learn from them ; the prin- 
 cipal of which is stated thus by the Council : "We take 
 the liberty here to refer it to the consideration of this 
 whole Society, whether this whole calamity has not, in a 
 great measure, come upon them, in consequence of the 
 want of due care to supply Mr. Gillet and his family with 
 the conveniences of life ;" and the supplying of which 
 would have saved him from embarrassment and made 
 him "more respected, both to his own and neighboring 
 Societies." The secret is this : Mr. Gillet received his 
 salary at the end of the year, only, according to agree- 
 ment, and that on the first of March, and seldom re- 
 ceived it promptly at that time. In 1787 he sent word 
 to the parish meeting that if he could have his money at 
 the first of May, he would give five pounds for twenty- 
 five cords of wood, and accept sixty pounds in place of 
 
DURING MR. GILLET'S MINISTRY. 59 
 
 the seventy due him. In one case, at the annual meeting, 
 he had not received his money, due nearly a year. 
 
 These are the things that made trouble in the home 
 of the minister, and because of which we are told Mr. Gil- 
 let was not respected as he would have been, although 
 he was not in fault. These things are suggestive and we 
 leave them. 
 
 The last entries made by Mr. Gillet, in the church 
 book were, " A marriage, Thanksgiving day, November 
 24, 1791 ; a baptism of a child, November 27, 1791, and 
 the death of James Bailey, December 8, 1791. 
 
 His house and farm he sold to some individuals, who 
 transferred it afterwards to the Society, it being valued 
 at ^250, and the Society gave two hundred pounds of it 
 to Mr. Woodward, as we shall see, as his " settlement " in 
 the parish. 
 
 Mr. Gillet was settled in Torrington, Conn., May, 1792, 
 where he labored as pastor thirty-four years, till his 
 death. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY: FROM 1792 TO l8lO. 
 
 Mr. Woodward began to preach for this Society as a 
 candidate about the first of February, 1792, — that is, 
 two months and a half after Mr. Gillet left. On the 13th 
 of February the Society voted : " That we would wish to 
 continue Mr. Woodward with us as a preacher till the 
 first of May next," which would, probably, make three 
 months' service. This was the only business done at this 
 meeting, and it then adjourned until the first Monday in 
 April. Hence it is probable that the meeting was called 
 for this one purpose, and that it was held soon after his 
 first service among them. 
 
 When they met, according to adjournment, they voted, 
 "That we are agreed in Mr. Woodward as a preacher; 
 that we are desirous to continue Mr. Woodward with us 
 as our minister;" also, "That we will give Mr. Wood- 
 ward ;£8o salary and twenty-five cords of wood, yearly. 
 Yeas 48, nays 7." Having passed these votes, the meet- 
 ing adjourned for three or four days, then met and voted 
 "That Capt. Walter Beecher, Dr. John Potter, Lieut. 
 Joseph Beecher, Daniel Byington, Capt. Charles Upson, 
 Capt. Isaac Hopkins, Mr. Simeon Plumb, and Jeremiah 
 Scarritt be a committee to circulate the subscription pa- 
 per in each school district for the purpose of raising a 
 sum for Mr. Woodward's settlement." This meeting was 
 adjourned from Friday to the next Tuesday, when they 
 voted "to give Mr. Israel B. Woodward two hundred 
 pounds as a settlement, as subscribed, to be paid accord- 
 ing to the subscription," and appointed as a committee 
 
REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY. 6 1 
 
 Deacon Atkins, Capt. Samuel Upson, Capt. Charles Up- 
 son, Mr. Jacob Carter, and Capt. Daniel Alcox, to wait 
 on Mr. Woodward and inform him what the meeting had 
 done. The meeting adjourned to the " last Monday of 
 inst. April," and then appointed a committee to receive 
 Mr. Woodward's answer, after which it adjourned to the 
 "second Monday of May next, at three o'clock in the 
 afternoon." 
 
 When they met, according to adjournment, they voted 
 " to give Mr. I. B. Woodward two hundred pounds, we 
 heretofore voted as a settlement, out of the late farm of 
 the Rev. Mr. Gillet, estimated at two hundred and fifty 
 pounds." They then appointed a committee "to wait 
 on Mr. Woodward to the meeting." At this meeting the 
 whole matter of settlement was arranged, and they ap- 
 pointed a committee to complete the work, as follows : 
 " Voted that Capt. Samuel Upson, Capt. Charles Upson, 
 Mr. Amos Seward, Mr. David Norton, Lieut. Joseph 
 Beecher, Mr. Jonathan Carter, Mark Harrison, Esquire, 
 Dr. John Potter, Deacon Joseph Atkins, be a commit- 
 tee to agree with Mr. Woodward on the time of the 
 ordination, and on the ordaining council, and to attend 
 said business till the ordination is over." 
 
 Mr. Woodward's letter of acceptance is still preserved 
 in his own hand-writing, and is as follows : 
 
 May 14, 1792. 
 
 To the Church of Christ, and to the inhabitants of the Society of Farming- 
 bury : 
 
 Having some time since received from you a unanimous invi- 
 tation to be your minister in the gospel of Christ, I have, as I 
 hope, most seriously considered the subject, and asked of my 
 God, in a matter of so great importance, that wisdom which is 
 profitable to direct ; and after soberly viewing the circumstances 
 which the subject involves, I have though it my duty, should the 
 unanimity heretofore expressed in the Society be continued, to 
 accept of your proposals, and submit myself to the doings of an 
 
62 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ordaining council, hoping that it may issue in the salvation of 
 those that are lost; in building up the Redeemer's kingdom on 
 earth, and in displaying the nature and glorious perfections of 
 God; and wishing that grace, mercy, and peace may be multi- 
 plied among you through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 
 I subscribe myself your brother in the Christian faith. 
 
 ISRAEL BARD WOODWARD. 
 
 Near the end of May, 1792, the Society met and voted 
 that " Mr. Woodward's salary should become due on the 
 1st day of March annually," also that Mr. Richard F. 
 Welton, Wm. Stevens, Dr. John Potter, Aaron Harrison, 
 Capt. Daniel Alcox, Selah Steadman, Nathan Gillet, 
 Simeon Hopkins, and Joseph Miner be desired to make 
 preparation to entertain the people on ordination day. 
 No records of the installation have been preserved ; but 
 we infer from these votes that some time in June, 1792, 
 Mr. Woodward was ordained as pastor of this church 
 and Society. On the fourth Tuesday of June the So- 
 ciety made further provision for Mr. Woodward. Cer- 
 tain persons had purchased Mr. Gillet's farm, apparently 
 as a favor to Mr. Gillet. The Society at this meeting 
 assumed the obligations of these persons, relieving them 
 from further responsibility to Mr. Gillet, and ordered the 
 treasurer to pay to Mr. Gillet the several sums collected on 
 Mr. Woodward's settlement. The amount of the settle- 
 ment was two hundred pounds ; the farm was estimated 
 at two hundred and fifty pounds. Hence they "voted 
 that the above said committee be empowered to put the 
 Rev. Mr. Woodward into possession of said farm, taking 
 surety of him for the fifty pounds overplus of said two hun- 
 dred pounds settlement agreeably to an agreement now in 
 the hands of Judge Hopkins." It is reported that the So- 
 ciety lost the whole value of this farm, which must be a 
 mistake. They may never have received the fifty pounds 
 " overplus " but anything more they could not have lost. 
 Mr. Woodward resided on this farm until 1799, when he 
 
rev. MR. woodward's ministry. 63 
 
 sold it to Charles Upson, Esq., and purchased the house 
 east of the Meeting house where he resided until his 
 death. This house is now owned by Mr. Ephraim Hall 
 and his grandson, Charles Hall, and is the finest looking 
 residence at Wolcott Center. 
 
 Mr. Woodward was not married when he settled here. 
 He afterward married the daughter of Rev. Dr. Smalley, 
 of New Britain, now Berlin, but died childless. After his 
 death his widow received from her father a house in East 
 Haven, where she resided many years. She is spoken of 
 as "a very fine woman," of a cheerful temperament, and 
 fond of society. It is said that she was often present 
 with her husband at public balls, given at the Hotel, and 
 that she sometimes took part in the dance. Her husband 
 never danced, but engaged in the social chat with much 
 animation. 
 
 When Mr. Woodward settled here, Farmingbury was a 
 flourishing parish, a " wide awake" community with con- 
 siderable enterprise and business energy. In those days 
 the present park in the city of Waterbury was a swamp, 
 and Wolcott was a business centre with several stores 
 and other enterprises which attracted visitors and drew 
 trade from the vicinity for many miles around. The 
 Church was really ;i strong one ; it had in its member- 
 ship men of talent and men of means. .Several of these 
 subscribed toward Mr. Woodward*'s settlement twenty- 
 five dollars or more, and paid their yearly tax towards 
 his salary, besides. This "settlement" was raised by 
 subscription ; the salary was paid by tax. There seems 
 to have been considerable opposition to this method of 
 raising the salary ; so that, when Mr. Gillet closed his 
 labors, the Society voted "that we are willing that those 
 who find themselves willing, may have preaching by sub- 
 scription for three months." But they were compelled 
 to return to the tax rate in order to fulfil their engage- 
 ment with Mr. Woodward. 
 
 The two hundred pound settlement was paid in three 
 
6 4 
 
 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 installments, or in three yearly parts. This subscription 
 was copied into the Treasurer's Book by Mark Harrison, 
 Esq., who was Treasurer in 1794: 
 
 The several subscriptions for Mr. Woodward's settlement are 
 as follows : 
 Nov. 5, 1794. 
 
 
 £ s. 
 
 d 
 
 
 £ s. 
 
 d 
 
 Joseph M. Parker, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Moses Todd, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Zephana Parker, 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 Jesse Alcox, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Isaac Upson, 
 
 4 9 
 
 
 
 Aaron Harrison, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Joseph Minor, 
 
 4 2 
 
 
 
 Elijah Lane, 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 Nathaniel Lewis, 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 Ezekiel Upson, 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 Samuel Upson, 
 
 6 18 
 
 
 
 Richard Welton, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Obed Upson, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Nathaniel Lane, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Jacob Carter, 
 
 4 6 
 
 
 
 Calvin Cowles, 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Wait Hotchkiss, 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 Amos Seward, 
 
 3 12 
 
 
 
 Solomon Alcox, 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 David Norton, 
 
 1 11 
 
 
 
 Heman Hall, 
 
 2 12 
 
 
 
 Thomas Upson, 
 
 8 12 
 
 
 
 Asahel Lane, 
 
 1 4 
 
 
 
 John Kenea, 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 David Alcox, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Isaac Hopkins, 
 
 3 1 
 
 
 
 Mark Barnes, 
 
 1 12 
 
 11 
 
 Joseph Smith, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Nathan Barnes, 
 
 1 5 
 
 
 
 Abel Curtiss, 
 
 2 15 
 
 
 
 David Norton, Jr., 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 David Harrison, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Jesse Selkrigg, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Benoni Gillet, 
 Samuel Byington, y 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 Charles Frisbie, 
 
 2 12 
 
 
 
 5 10 
 
 
 
 Daniel Byington, 
 
 4 q 
 
 
 
 James Bailey, 
 
 3 6 
 
 
 
 Joseph Beecher, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Joseph Beecher, Jr., 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 Judah Frisbie, 
 
 2 12 
 
 
 
 Brainard Lindsley, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Elnathan Thrasher, 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 Ezra Stevens, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Farrington Barnes, 
 
 © 15 
 
 
 
 John Alcox, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Stephen Carter, 
 
 3 10 
 
 
 
 Amos Beecher, 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Daniel Alcox, 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 James Thomas, 
 
 4 10 
 
 
 
 Ephraim Smith, Jr., 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Aaron Harrison, Jr., 
 
 iS 
 
 
 
 Streat Richards, 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 Benjamin Alcox, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Moses Pond, 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 Jonah Barnes, 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 John Bronson, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Joseph Freeman, 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 Mark Harrison, 
 
 6 12 
 
 
 
 Jeremiah Scarritt, 
 
 2 10 
 
 
 
 Charles Upson, 
 
 13 10 
 
 
 
 Ezra Mallery, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Simeon Plumb, 
 
 2 10 
 
 
 
 Timothy Bradley, 
 
 1 5 
 
 
 
 Samuel Plumb, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Asahel Bradley, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Solomon Plumb, 
 
 1 5 
 
 
 
 Amasa Bradley, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Justus Peck, 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 William Stevens, 
 
 1 6 
 
 
 
 Ashbel Upson, 
 
 2 5 
 
 
 
 Caleb Miner, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 John Beecher, 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Heman Byington, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY. 
 
 65 
 
 
 £ s. 
 
 d 
 
 
 £ s. .1 
 
 Joseph Sutlift", jr., 
 
 2 O 
 
 
 
 Eli Roberts, 
 
 100 
 
 Noah Neal, 
 
 i iS 
 
 
 
 Aliram Norton, 
 
 2 (> 
 
 John B. Alcox, 
 
 I o 
 
 
 
 Joseph Atkins, 
 
 1 10 
 
 Joseph Twitchel, 
 
 3 o 
 
 
 
 O/.ias Norton, 
 
 1 S 
 
 James Alcox, 
 
 3 I2 
 
 
 
 Jesse Alcox, jr., 
 
 iS 
 
 Selah Steadman, 
 
 I o 
 
 
 
 Hezekiah Beeeher, 
 
 18 
 
 Jonathan Carter, 
 
 4 IS 
 
 
 
 Noah W. Norton, 
 
 or 18 
 
 Daniel Johnson, jr., 
 
 o IS 
 
 
 
 Nathan Scarritt, 
 
 100 
 
 Nathan Gillet, 
 
 I o 
 
 
 
 Elisha Morton, 
 
 018 
 
 John Norton, 
 
 i i5 
 
 
 
 John Wiard, 
 
 060 
 
 Walter Beeeher, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Ebenezer Bailey, 
 
 060 
 
 Barnabas Powers, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Jerry Moulthrop, 
 
 12 
 
 Levi Johnson, 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 Enos Dutton, 
 
 iS 
 
 John Talmage, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 James Scarritt. 
 
 1 
 
 John Frisbie, 
 
 1 19 
 
 
 
 Luther Atkins, 
 
 18 
 
 Daniel Dean, 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 Nathan Stevens, 
 
 200 
 
 John Potter, 
 
 6 10 
 
 
 
 Ebenezer Johnson, 
 
 100 
 
 By this list it may be seen that most of these men, 
 if not all, subscribed liberally. They paid Mr. Woodward 
 400 dollars salary and twenty-five cords of wood, and 
 gave him in addition this iooo dollars settlement. To 
 make up this settlement several persons gave twenty 
 dollars, others thirty, and one — Mr. Charles Upson — six- 
 ty-five ; while some of those who gave smaller sums, 
 doubtless gave more in proportion to their ability than 
 the more wealthy. This subscription list is highly cred- 
 itable to the community in which it originated ; it shows 
 the effort they made to sustain the institutions of the 
 Gospel. But those were the days of strength in Wol- 
 cott ; for from 1790 to 1820 the town was at the height 
 of its prosperity, as regards wealth and population. 
 At the time of Mr. Woodward's settlement the num- 
 ber of inhabitants was about 900. In 1800 it was 948 ; 
 in 1810, 952; in 1820, 943; in 1830, 844; in 1840, 
 633 ; in 1850, 603. The church membership, when Mr. 
 Woodward began his ministry, numbered about ioo, 
 and the congregation from 300 to 500, which must have 
 filled the Meeting house. That the congregation was 
 large may be inferred from the apparent difficulty the 
 6 
 
66 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 committee had in "seating the Meetinghouse." Be- 
 sides, Mr. Woodward's preaching was calculated to at- 
 tract the attention of the multitude more than Mr. Gil- 
 let's because of the apt and animating illustrations 
 which he habitually introduced. The increasing esteem 
 in which he was held is indicated by the three annual 
 subscriptions which were raised for paying the settle- 
 ment. The first amounted to sixty-three pounds, the 
 second to sixty-seven, the third to nearly one hundred 
 pounds, or almost thirty pounds more than the two hun- 
 dred pounds first agreed upon. 
 
 Under Mr. Woodward's labors the membership of the 
 church increased somewhat ; how much, we are unable 
 to say, because there is no record to be found of those 
 who united with the church from 1798 to 18 n. In a 
 list of members prepared by Mr. Keys in 181 5, there 
 are over forty names of persons of whose uniting with 
 the church we have no record, but who must have be- 
 come members during these twelve years.* 
 
 Mr. Woodward was more than ordinarily successful as 
 a preacher, and was highly esteemed as a neighbor and 
 citizen. He was easy and friendly in his manners, 
 ever read}- with some pleasant remark, and was therefore 
 liked by all classes. Probably no minister in the parish 
 was ever loved and confided in as a minister more than 
 he, for to this day the remark of the people, as to all 
 they ever heard of him, is in the highest tone of Chris- 
 tian love. 
 
 *A like difficulty is experienced in regard to baptisms. Deacon Isaac 
 Bronson was appointed in iSn.to keep the church records, and he says: 
 " Here seems to be a long chasm (from 1792 to 1811) as to the record of 
 baptisms, but no further papers have as yet come to hand. I therefore be- 
 gin at the time I received the papers." If Isaac Bronson could find " no 
 further papers " sixty years ago, I may properly cease the search now. Yet 
 it seems a little singular that Mr. Woodward should keep the record of ad- 
 ditions to the church, and of marriages, from 1792 to 179S, and then con- 
 tinue the record of deaths as he did, to 1809 (a short time before his death) 
 and omit the two former. 
 
REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY. 67 
 
 He h;ui a school for several wars that was very popu- 
 lar with young men. He usually had from four to six- 
 scholars boarding with him, and others came to recite. 
 Benoni Upson, son of Thomas and brother of Charles 
 Upson, fitted for college at this school. He resided about 
 half a mile from Mr. Woodward's. Mr. Woodward had 
 students from New Haven, from Waterbury and other 
 neighboring places, and also from the Southern States. 
 
 The efforts of the parish to promote education were 
 quite commendable for those times. In November after 
 Mr. Woodward's settlement the Society voted that "we 
 will keep eleven months school," and this length of term 
 does not appear to have been an unusual thing. It is 
 probable that Mr. Woodward was induced to commence 
 his school, because of the large number of young men in 
 the community needing opportunities of more advanced 
 culture than the common schools afforded. 
 
 Immediately after the success of the subscription to 
 pay Mr. Woodward's settlement, the people proceeded to 
 complete the inside of the Meetinghouse. 
 
 At a meeting held on the first day of December, 1794, 
 the} - voted first, "that we will do something to the 
 Meeting house." Then they " voted that the Meeting 
 house be finished in the following order, viz. : First, that 
 the roof be shingled with pine, and the siding with white- 
 wood. 2"clly. that the body of the house be painted white 
 and the roof red. y-tty, that the inside of the said house 
 above and below be decently and properly finished, 
 lathed, and plastered, and timbers capped ; a row of pews 
 built in the back part of each of the galleries, raised to a 
 proper pitch to overlook the seats in front of said pews. 
 Voted that the above described work be done and com- 
 pleted by the first day of November next, and that a com- 
 mittee be appointed to cause the house to be repaired as 
 is above written or described, at their own discretion ; and 
 further, the said committee are to sell or dispose of any 
 boards, shingles, or nails thaf may be taken off or out of 
 
68 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the said house, for the benefit of the Society, or appro- 
 priate them for any use for which they may be proper in 
 repairing said house as above ; and further that the said 
 committee exhibit a true and just account of all the ex- 
 penses that shall arise in so doing, before the annual So- 
 ciety meeting in November next. Voted that Capt. Na- 
 thaniel Lewis, Jacob Carter and Capt. Charles Upson be 
 a committee for the above purpose. Voted to lay a rate 
 three pence on the pound on the list of 1794 to be paid the 
 first of June next. Voted a tax on said list of three pence 
 on the pound to be paid in cattle and sheep' 55 ' the first of 
 November next. Voted that John Beecher and Judah 
 Frisbie be collectors to collect the above rates." In a 
 meeting held in the last part of January next they added 
 one penny to each of these taxes making them each four 
 pence on the pound. At a meeting held on the 5th of 
 next February they voted " that we are willing that 
 there should be a steeple erected adjoining this house, at 
 the expense of individuals ; and that the overplus, if 
 there be any, of the rates laid to do the Meeting house 
 be laid out on the steeple." The steeple was not built 
 at this time, but the rest of the work proposed was com- 
 pleted before July of 1795 and then for the first time Far- 
 mingbury had a finished Meeting house. There is one item 
 we mention and leave the reader to interpret, for he will 
 probably know as much about it as any one. In the 
 Treasurer's book for 1797 we find the following record : 
 "Capt. Walter Beecher debtor to an order on the Treas- 
 urer for one dollar. Contra, credit by making three pair 
 of butterflies for the Meeting house." It is thought 
 these were ornaments about the sounding board over the 
 pulpit. 
 
 There were, probably, some services .dedicatory of this 
 house in the summer of 1795, but I have seen no record 
 
 * There was a ready market for these cattle and sheep at the Center. The 
 hides were made into leather in Wolcott, and the beef was packed in bar- 
 rels for foreign markets. 
 
REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY. 69 
 
 of them in the books. There is a hymn printed and 
 preserved, said to have been composed by Mr. David Har- 
 rison especially for this dedication.* 
 
 " DEDICATORY POEM. 
 
 With joyful heart and tuneful song, 
 
 Let us approach the mighty Lord, 
 Proclaim his honors with our tongue, 
 
 And sound his wondrous truth abroad. 
 
 His glorious name on golden lyres, 
 
 Strike all the tuneful choirs above, 
 And boundless nature's realms conspire 
 
 To celebrate his matchless love. 
 
 The heaven of heavens is his bright throne, 
 
 And cherubs wait his high behest, 
 Yet for the merits of his Son, 
 
 He visits men in humble dust. 
 
 In temples sacred to his name 
 
 His saints assemble round his board, 
 Raise their hosannas to the Lamb, 
 
 And taste the supper of the Lord. 
 
 O God our King, this joyful day, 
 
 We dedicate this house to thee ; 
 Here would we meet to sing and pray, 
 
 And learn how sweet thy dwellings be. 
 
 O King of saints, O triune God, 
 
 Bow the high heavens and lend thine ear; 
 
 O make this house thy fixed abode, 
 And let the heavenly dove rest here. 
 
 Within these walls may Jesus' charms 
 
 Allure ten thousand souls to love, 
 And all supported by his arms, 
 
 Shine forth in realms of bliss above. 
 
 There saints of every tribe and tongue 
 
 Shall join the armies of the Lamb ; 
 Hymn hallelujahs to the Son, 
 
 The Spirit, anil the great I AM. 
 
 *A copy of this poem is now in the possession of Mrs. Mark Tuttle. 
 
JQ HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Their songs seraphic shall they raise, 
 And Gabriel's lyre the notes resound ; 
 
 Heaven's full toned organ join the praise, 
 And world to world repeat the sound. 
 
 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 
 Be ceaseless praise and glory given, 
 
 By all the high angelic host, 
 
 By all on earth and all in heaven. 
 
 Hallelujah ! Amen." 
 
 This hymn, sung by the large number of trained sing- 
 ers then in the community, must have given a sense of 
 gratitude and joy worthy of the occasion. That they 
 were trained singers is abundantly evident from the sing- 
 ing talent here, and the money they had spent in years 
 past, and were spending for the "improvement of sing- 
 ing." In the last of November, 1793, the Society ap- 
 pointed " Joseph Minor, Lieut. James Bailey, Moses Pond, 
 Isaac Upson, Enos Dutton, Joseph Beecher, Jr., Asahel 
 Lane, Joseph M. Parker, a committee to circulate a sub- 
 scription for singing, and procure a teacher according to 
 the subscriptions they shall get." 
 
 In November, 1794, they appointed another committee : 
 " Voted that we will do something to encourage singing. 
 Voted that Dr. John Potter, Ensign Joseph Beecher, Capt. 
 Charles Upson, Isaac Upson, Ensign Jonathan Carter, 
 James Scarritt, Isaac Hopkins, Jr., Lieut. James Bailey, 
 Nathan Barnes, Asahel Lane, and John Hitchcock, be a 
 committee to get subscriptions to hire a singing master." 
 
 These committees were composed of substantial men, 
 and the singing school was not to be a young people's 
 pleasure meeting, but a school of thorough training in 
 singing. And this old practice of "doing something to 
 encourage singing" was continued for many years after 
 the dedication of the church. In 1797, they "voted that 
 we lay a rate of three mills on the dollar on the last 
 August list, payable the first of March next, to be laid 
 out to hire and pay some man to teach and instruct in 
 
REV. MR. WOODWARDS MINISTRY. J\ 
 
 singing ; that Dr. John Potter, Moses Todd. Mark Harri- 
 son, Esq., Capt. Streat Richards, Joseph Minor, Joseph 
 M. Parker, and Preserve Carter, be a committee to pro- 
 cure a teacher in singing, ami to see to the laying out the 
 above rate." 
 
 With this spirit of industry and improvement in the 
 minds of the people, success and prosperity came to their 
 hands and homes from every direction. They had peti- 
 tioned for some years for "Town privileges," and in the 
 spring of 1796, the parish was incorporated as a town, 
 and the effect was to relieve the Society of various cares 
 and responsibilities, and encourage them in all good 
 things.* 
 
 In November, 1800, Air. Woodward sent a communi- 
 cation to the annual meeting which caused the following 
 vote, and which is explained only in a vote taken a year 
 after: " Voted that a committee be appointed to treat 
 with Mr. Woodward on the subject of the communication 
 
 *At this place in the Society's history J must take leave of an acquaint- 
 ance whn at first sight and introduction, gave me considerable trouble and 
 misunderstanding, but to whom, after .six months' acquaintance, I am quite 
 reluctant to say "good-by," for lie has been of great service to me. Be- 
 sides, when we are well acquainted with tried friends, we may well hesitate 
 to change them for strangers, though the strangers may be clothed in exqui- 
 site style and beauty. For twenty-nine years the records of the Society 
 were written by Daniel Byington — the first year by Daniel Byington, Sen., 
 the other twenty-eight by Daniel, jr. In 1790 Isaac Bronson was elected 
 Society Clerk, and to his most elegant writing 1 now come, ami in so lining 
 must leave the le^s elegant ' hand " of Daniel. Apart from a little 
 formality in the introduction of transactions, Mr. Byington was very 
 nearly a model in the use of concise and appropriate terms, and of fidelity 
 and honor in the office he held. It is, therefore, with great pleasure 
 that T record my high appreciation of Daniel Byington, jr., as clerk of the 
 Society of Farmingbury, whose writings I h tve consulted daily for much of 
 the time for three months past, until I had become familiar with every turn 
 of his pen, ami e\ :n form of expression ; and until it seem -1 in me as a 
 communion of spirits, in which friend Daniel was helping me on in giving 
 to the world a picture of twenty-nine years of Society life in Farmingbury. 
 Good-by, Daniel, till I am introduced to you "on the other side of the 
 veil." 
 
J2 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 by him made to this meeting, and that said committee 
 report to this meeting at their adjournment." No report 
 of the committee is recorded, and the matter went over 
 till December 7th, 1801, when it was voted "that Charles 
 Upson, Esq., Deacon Joseph Atkins, Mark Harrison, 
 Esq., Major Streat Richards, and Isaac Bronson, be a com- 
 mittee to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Woodward and inform 
 him that the Society, for various reasons, wish not to act 
 upon the proposition by him made as to a dismission, par- 
 ticularly, as they are well pleased with his performance 
 as their minister, and are by no means willing for a dis- 
 solution of the pastoral connection between him and 
 them." This action is all that is recorded concern- 
 ing this matter, unless it be a resolution passed soon 
 after by the Society in regard to the payment of Mr. 
 Woodward's salary when it should become due. The 
 unusual rigor of this action may give us a suggestion 
 of the reason why he desired a dismission, — namely, 
 because the Society was so slow in paying his salary, 
 even after waiting a year for it to become due. The 
 first action reads thus: "Voted that if the Rev. Mr. 
 Woodward's salary be not paid by the first day of March, 
 annually, or any part of the same, such salary, or such 
 part of it as is not paid, shall be upon interest until paid." 
 But this, after three years' trial, did not remedy the diffi- 
 culty as desired, and hence the second vote : " That exe- 
 cution be taken out against the Society collector at the 
 end of ninety days next coming after the first day of 
 March, yearly, "and put into the officer's hands by the So- 
 ciety's Committee, unless said collector shall have paid 
 the Rev. Mr. Woodward's salary in full by that time." 
 After this it may be supposed that either- the collectors 
 or parishioners recognized the fact that a minister had 
 a right to, his salary after having earned it. It is proper 
 to state here that the Treasurer's book shows that Mr. 
 Woodward received part of his salary from time to time 
 during the year. He received money (a very little), orders, 
 
REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY. 73 
 
 notes, wheat, and other items, as individuals felt disposed 
 to let him have, or to sell to him, but much of it went over 
 from month to month after the end of the year, until be- 
 ing weary with delay he proposed to find another parish, 
 or other work. 
 
 It may be thought that it must have been difficult to 
 obtain a collector after a vote to "take out execution" 
 against him but it was not. The first man elected after 
 the above rule was passed was Selah Upson, and it is a 
 singular incident that the assessment which he was to 
 collect, with the order from the justice of the peace to 
 collect it, have come into my hands just in time for in- 
 sertion here : 
 
 To Selah Upson, Collector of the Society Rate in tJie Society of Farmingbury, 
 in Wolcott, in New Haven Count]', Greeting : 
 
 By authority of the State of Connecticut, you are hereby com- 
 manded forthwith to levy and collect of the persons named in the 
 annexed list herewith committed to you, each one in several pro- 
 portion as therein set down of the sum total of such list, being a 
 tax or assessment granted or agreed upon by the inhabitants of 
 said Society of Farmingbury, regularly assembled on the 27th day 
 of October, 1805, for defraying the ministerial and other charges 
 arising within the same, and to deliver and pay the sum and 
 sums which you shall so lay and collect, unto the Treasurer of the 
 said Society, at or before the first day of March, 1806, and if any 
 person or persons shall neglect or refuse to make payment of the 
 sum or sums whereat he or they are respectively assessed and set 
 in the above list, to distrain the goods or chattels of such person 
 or persons, and the same dispose of as the law directs, returning 
 the overplus (if any be) unto the owner or owners ; and for want 
 of goods and chattels whereon to make distraint, you are to take 
 the body or bodies of the person or persons so refusing, and him 
 or them commit unto the keeper of the gaol of the said county 
 within the said prison, who is hereby commanded to receive and 
 safely keep him or them until he or they pay and satisfy the said 
 sum or sums assessed upon him or them as aforesaid, together 
 
74 
 
 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 with your fees; unless the said assessment, or any part thereof, 
 upon application made to the County Court, shall be abated. 
 
 Dated at Wolcott, this 28th day of February, 1806. 
 
 ISAAC BRONSON, Just. Peace. 
 
 John Alcox, 
 
 $1.00 
 
 Benham & Tuttle, 
 
 $3.07 
 
 Jesse Alcox, 
 
 2.31 
 
 Samuel Benham 
 
 25 
 
 James Alcox, jr., 
 
 1.94 
 
 Estate of Joseph Beach, 
 
 1.97 
 
 Mark Alcox, 
 
 77 
 
 Hannah Beach, 
 
 33 
 
 David Alcox, 
 
 2.0S 
 
 Asa Barnes, 
 
 15 
 
 Solomon Alcox, 
 
 349 
 
 Bezaleel Bowen 
 
 02 
 
 Obed Alcox, 
 
 34 
 
 Solomon Barnes, 
 
 07 
 
 Jesse Alcox, jr., 
 
 2.52 
 
 Stephen Barnes, 
 
 08 
 
 John B. Alcox, 
 
 2.95 
 
 Levi Brown, 
 
 37 
 
 Joel Alcox, 
 
 2.30 
 
 Estate Lois Blakeslee, 
 
 17 
 
 David Alcox, jr., 
 
 1.00 
 
 Jared Burr, 
 
 94 
 
 Eldad Alcox, 
 
 1. 00 
 
 Abel Curtiss, 
 
 3-41 
 
 Elisha Adams, 
 
 2.01 
 
 John Cooper, 
 
 07 
 
 Joseph Alcox, 
 
 32 
 
 Jacob Carter, 
 
 5-93 
 
 Edmund Bradley, 
 
 2.22 
 
 Stephen Carter, 
 
 4-44 
 
 Zebulon Byihgton, 
 
 20 
 
 Preserve Carter, 
 
 3-23 
 
 Daniel Byington, 
 
 3-23 
 
 Elihu Carter, 
 
 52 
 
 Joseph Beecher, 
 
 2.25 
 
 Stephen Carter, jr., 
 
 1.28 
 
 John Beecher, 
 
 4.04 
 
 John & Dan Carter, 
 
 1.26 
 
 Hezekiah Beecher, 
 
 3-3S 
 
 Ashbel Cowles, 
 
 45 
 
 Hezekiah Beecher, Woodbi 
 
 :idge, 84 
 
 James Cowles, 
 
 i-75 
 
 Sylvester Beecher, 
 
 54 
 
 Hope Co"bb, 
 
 07 
 
 James Bailey, 
 
 3-36 
 
 Allen Clark, 
 
 33 
 
 David Bailey, 
 
 39 
 
 Phineas Castle, 
 
 21 
 
 Glover Ball, 
 
 3-4* 
 
 Phineas Deming, 
 
 i.95 
 
 Timothy Bradley, 
 
 1.20 
 
 Isaac Downs, 
 
 3-55 
 
 Amasa Bradley, 
 
 2.32 
 
 Prince Duplax, 
 
 1.30 
 
 Moses Byington, 
 
 1.69 
 
 Jesse Dutton, 
 
 77 
 
 Daniel Byington, jr.. 
 
 1-34 
 
 Ezra Doolittle, 
 
 17 
 
 Farrington Barnes, 
 
 2.33 
 
 Jiulah Frisbie, 
 
 343 
 
 Mark Barnes, 
 
 3-29 
 
 John Frisbie 
 
 4.27 
 
 John Bronson, 
 
 3.00 
 
 Lydia Frisbie, 
 
 1. 14 
 
 John Bronson, jr., 
 
 45 
 
 Ransom Frisbie, 
 
 7i 
 
 Hannah Bronson, 
 
 2S 
 
 David Frisbie, 
 
 52 
 
 Isaac Bronson, 
 
 87 
 
 Reuben Frisbie, 
 
 08 
 
 Osee Bartholomew, 
 
 4-51 
 
 Daniel Frisbie, 
 
 44 
 
 James Bartholomew, 
 
 2.16 
 
 Sarah Granniss, 
 
 i-75 
 
 Heirs of Sam'l Bartholomew, 2.73 
 
 Heirs of Irujah Granniss, 
 
 23 
 
 Marvin Beckwith, 
 
 66 
 
 Stephen Granniss, 
 
 19 
 
REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY. 
 
 75 
 
 Joseph Holt, 
 
 $2.34 
 
 Hotchkiss & Upson, 
 
 2,15 
 
 Asaph Hotchkiss, 
 
 2.07 
 
 Timothy Hotchkiss, 
 
 2.27 
 
 Titus I [otchkiss, 
 
 4.89 
 
 Abner Hotchkiss, 
 
 2.23 
 
 Mary Hotchkiss, 
 
 1.42 
 
 Luther Hotchkiss, 
 
 29 
 
 Miles Hotchkiss, 
 
 1.79 
 
 Mark Harrison, 
 
 5-74 
 
 David Harrison, 
 
 3-94 
 
 Rollin Harrison, 
 
 32 
 
 Leonard Harrison, 
 
 65 
 
 Isaac Hopkins, 
 
 3.18 
 
 Estate of Isaac Hopkins, 
 
 i-54 
 
 Harvey Hopkins, 
 
 39 
 
 Mill\- 1 lopkins, 
 
 95 
 
 Elisha Morton, 
 
 2.62 
 
 Samuel Horton, 
 
 S5 
 
 Heman Hall, 
 
 1. 19 
 
 Levi Hall, 
 
 1.84 
 
 Lyman Hotchkiss and Nathan 
 
 Andrews, 
 
 28 
 
 Uriel Holmes, jr., and Ephrai 
 
 in 
 
 Root, 
 
 70 
 
 William Robinson and Isaac 
 
 Upson, 
 
 2.00 
 
 Estate of Enos Hotchkiss, 
 
 25 
 
 Abigail Hull, 
 
 73 
 
 John I [itchcock, 
 
 2-54 
 
 1 >.i\ id I [itchcock, 
 
 4i 
 
 Abel Ives, 
 
 1.47 
 
 Ebenezer Johnson, 
 
 39 
 
 Levi Johnson, 
 
 1.40 
 
 John J. Kenea, 
 
 1.20 
 
 Nathan Lewis, 
 
 4-41 
 
 Job Lewis, 
 
 09 
 
 Timothy Lewis, 
 
 22 
 
 Lemuel Lewis, 
 
 66 
 
 Jesse Lewis, 
 
 08 
 
 Nathaniel Lewis, 
 
 7.96 
 
 Reuben Lewis, 
 
 I.65 
 
 Royce Lewis. 
 
 1.38 
 
 Nathaniel Lane, 
 
 30 
 
 Josiah Lane, 
 
 5i 
 
 Lud Lindsley, 
 
 3-oi 
 
 Lewis Loveland, $1.88 
 
 Elijah Lane, 09 
 
 Laura Lane, 14 
 
 Joseph Miner, 5.05 
 
 Archibald Miner, 20 
 
 Ichabod Merrills, 1.73 
 
 Caleb Merrills, 27 
 
 Amasa Mix, 28 
 
 Samuel Munson, 04 
 
 Elihu Moulthrop, 20 
 
 Susanna Norton, 37 
 
 Ozias Norton, 1.34 
 
 John Norton, 5.03 
 
 Ziba Norton, [.40 
 
 Rhoda Norton, 14 
 
 David Pardee, 2.32 
 
 Samuel Porter, 1.34 
 
 John Potter, 4.07 
 
 Joseph M. Parker, 2.75 
 
 Zephana Parker, 1.67 
 
 Amos Parsons, 1-99 
 
 Justus Peck, 3-62 
 
 Simeon Plumb, 2.42 
 
 Gamaliel Plumb, 61 
 
 Samuel Plumb, 55 
 
 Joseph Plumb, 1.68 
 
 Amariah Plumb, 14 
 
 Marcus Potter. 1-4° 
 
 Asahel Peck, 02 
 
 St real Richards, 4.04 
 
 Elijah Royce, I.36 
 
 Elijah Rowe, r.12 
 
 Lydia Rogers, 28 
 
 William Robinson, 1-74 
 
 Jeremiah. Scarritt, 94 
 
 fames Scarritt, 2.48 
 
 David Scarritt, 25 
 
 Joseph Smith's Estate, 29 
 
 Joseph Sutliff, 63 
 
 Titus Sutliff, 1.29 
 
 John Sutliff, 1.25 
 
 Jesse Selkriggs, 42 
 
 Ephraim Smith, 1.30 
 
 Timothy So il 1. i') 
 
 Tinman Sandford, 15 
 
 Jan 'I Smith, r.20 
 
y6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 James Smith, 
 
 $O.I2 
 
 Manley Upson, 
 
 $2.48 
 
 James Stone, 
 
 TO 
 
 Charles Upson, 
 
 8.06 
 
 Lucius Tuttle, 
 
 1.97 
 
 Washington Upson 
 
 T.14 
 
 Ichabod Talmage, 
 
 1.28 
 
 Lee Upson, 
 
 81 
 
 Jacob Talmage, 
 
 2.29 
 
 Gates Upson, 
 
 32 
 
 Josiah Thomas, 
 
 2.60 
 
 Benoni Upson, 
 
 52 
 
 John Thomas, 
 
 I.50 
 
 Ashbel Upson, 
 
 2.67 
 
 Seth Thomas, 
 
 1-43 
 
 Selah Upson, 
 
 i-55 
 
 Joseph Twitchel, 
 
 T.40 
 
 Jesse Upson, 
 
 3-50 
 
 Samuel Upson, 
 
 2.25 
 
 Freeman Upson, 
 
 37 
 
 Isaac Upson, 
 
 5-°4 
 
 Amos Upson, 
 
 07 
 
 Harvey Upson, 
 
 373 
 
 Ephraim Winstone, 
 
 1.S2 
 
 I. Upson and H. Townsend, 
 
 26 
 
 David Wakelee, 
 
 4.07 
 
 Obed Upson, 
 
 1.80 
 
 Silas Weed, 
 
 1.72 
 
 Samuel Upson, jr., 
 
 2.26 
 
 
 
 Aside from this one item, there seems to have been no 
 "uneasiness" but great satisfaction with Mr. Woodward 
 in the parish and in his own mind as to the parish ; and 
 with his school in a good degree of prosperity, he might 
 well feel assured of filling an important position in his 
 Lord's vineyard. For the last ten years- of his ministry 
 the Meeting house was so filled with, hearers that there 
 were extra committees appointed from year to year to 
 seat the people and to provide seats for those who should 
 become regular attendants. 
 
 It is painful to record the sudden close of such a ministe- 
 rial service. In the Autumn of 18 10, there prevailed 
 somewhat, a peculiar and very fatal fever called typhoid. 
 It was also called " the great fever." With this Mr. 
 Woodward died after a sickness of but a few days.* In 
 
 *In the summer of 1810, the typhoid fever appeared in the family of Mark 
 Harrison, Esq. Rev. Mr. Woodward attended this family and others in 
 their sickness, as pastor and neighbor, and rendered great comfort in this time 
 of fear and dread, for it is said to have been very difficult to get help to 
 take care of the sick. Mr. Harrison's son Rollin died July 22d ; his wife, 
 Rebecca Miles Harrison, died August 20th ; his son Michael died in New 
 Haven, two days after his mother, he having been home and taken the fe- 
 ver. Reuben Beebe, son-in-law of Mr. Harrison, died in Waterbury, Sept. 
 26th, of the same fever, having taken it in rendering help to the sick in 
 Wolcott. Several others died in Wolcott besides Mr. Woodward and mem- 
 bers of Mr. Harrison's family. 
 
REV. MR/WOODWARDS .MINISTRY. J J 
 
 the grave yard at Wolcott Center, stands a stone, on 
 which is written not without ornament, 
 
 iHemorn of 
 Rev. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD, 
 
 WHO DIED 
 
 Nov. 17, 1810, /£. 43. 
 
 It is a singular fact that this grave is made directly 
 and wholly across the walk or space between the two 
 rows of graves adjoining ; as though, when dead, this 
 remarkably good man's body must lie in the path where 
 men walk, to arrest their attention and preach to them 
 still. 
 
 He had served this people for eighteen years, preach - 
 ing more than a thousand sermons ; he had welcomed to 
 church membership about one hundred persons, many of 
 whom were noble men in the church long after their lead- 
 er left the toils of earth, and most of whom we doubt not 
 have joined him again beyond the flood, where snows of 
 winter, heat of summer, and the sorrows of earth will 
 never come. It seems sad that one just reaching man- 
 hood's strength of intellect, and of whom we might 
 properly expect thirty years more of efficient labor, 
 should fall so soon ; but so doeth He, who " doeth all 
 things well." 
 
 His wife remained in the place during the winter and 
 supplied the pulpit by inviting neighboring ministers to 
 preach from Sabbath to Sabbath. This illustrates the 
 ability and faithfulness of this noble woman. On the 
 15th of April, 181 1, the Society voted, "that the Socie- 
 ty's committee pay over to Mrs. Woodward, the widow 
 of our late pastor, the same sum for each Sabbath which 
 she had supplied the pulpit by the neighboring ministers 
 that the Rev. Mr. Woodward's salary would have amount- 
 
78 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ed to for the same term of time including next Sabbath." 
 Mr. Woodward's salary was 80 pounds a year and 25 
 cords of wood until 1796, when the Society voted him 90 
 pounds without wood, and this continued, probably, until 
 his death. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 REV. MR. HART'S AND REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY: FROM 
 
 1 8 1 1 to 1822. 
 rev. mr. hart's short ministry. 
 
 At the meeting- on the 1 5 tli of April, 181 1, when the 
 Society voted the settlement with Mrs. Woodward, they 
 also voted, "that the Society's committee be directed to 
 procure a candidate to preach to or in said Society after 
 the next Sabbath,'' and on the 27th of Ma)- next they 
 voted " to request the Society's committee to employ 
 Rev. Mr. Parmele to supply the pulpit for a time that 
 they shall judge proper." 
 
 In August next they had another candidate ; for on 
 the 26th they voted, " that the Society's committee be 
 requested and directed to agree with Mr. Lucas Hart to 
 preach with us six Sabbaths after the next, on probation 
 as it is termed, that is to say, if his performances and the 
 prospect of his health are such as to be satisfactory to 
 the Society and the Society to him, that he continue 
 with us as our minister." At the annual meeting, Oct. 
 7, 1811, they voted " to give the Rev. Mr. Hart a call 
 for a settlement with us as our minister. Voted, to give 
 Mr. Hart four hundred and fifty dollars annually as a 
 compensation for his services, if he see cause to accept 
 the invitation to be our minister. That the Society's 
 committee be directed to wait upon Mr Hart and inform 
 him what the meeting had done." This meeting ad- 
 journed and met on the 4th of Nov., 1811, and voted, 
 "that Lewis H. Wakelee, Gates Upson, Ira Hough, Lu- 
 cius Tuttle, and John Bronson, Jr., be a committee, in con- 
 
80 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 junction with the church committee, to provide for the 
 Council at the time of ordination, and to take all neces- 
 sary measures for the well ordering and conducting the 
 same in all respects on the part of the Society." An 
 account of the ordination is preserved. 
 
 ORDINATION OF MR. HART. 
 
 "At an Ecclesiastical Council convened at Wolcott, by letters 
 missive from the church and Society in said town, at the house of 
 Mr. Lucius Tuttle, on the 3d day of December, 181 1, for the 
 purpose of ordaining Mr. Lucas Hart to the pastoral care and 
 charge of said church and Society, — present : The Rev. Simon 
 Waterman, from Plymouth; the Rev. Benoni Upson and Deacon 
 Asaph Smith, Kensington; the Rev. Jonathan Miller and Dea- 
 con Seth Peck, from the church at Burlington ; the Rev. Luke 
 Wood and Mr. Stephen Hotchkiss, from the church at Water- 
 bury; the Rev. Luther Hart and Deacon Jacob Heminway, from 
 the church at Plymouth ; the Rev. Jonathan Cone and Deacon 
 Bryan Hooker, from the church at Bristol ; and Deacon Benja- 
 min Dutton, from the church at Southington. 
 
 The Council proceeded to appoint the Rev. Simon Waterman 
 Moderator, Rev. Jonathan Cone, Scribe. Business was then 
 opened by prayer by the Moderator. The Council then attended 
 to the communications from the church and Society, and from 
 Mr. Hart, relative to his call and its acceptance. Being satisfied 
 with these communications, the Council voted that the way was 
 prepared to proceed to the examination of the candidate. After 
 a thorough examination into his doctrinal and experimental ac- 
 quaintance with the Christian religion, and his views with regard 
 to entering the ministry, the Council unanimously voted to pro- 
 ceed to the ordination of the candidate at eleven o'clock to-mor- 
 row, A. M. The exercises of the ordination were then appro- 
 priated as follows : Voted that the Rev. Luther Hart make the 
 introductory prayer; Rev. Jonathan Miller preach the sermon; 
 Rev. Simon Waterman make the consecrating prayer; during 
 which the Rev. Messrs. Waterman, Upson, Miller, and Wood, are 
 to impose hands ; Rev. Benoni Upson give the charge ; Rev. 
 Luke Wood give the right hand of fellowship; Rev. Jonathan 
 
R!.\ . MR. MARIS MINISTRY. 8l 
 
 Cone to rnak I icluding prayer. Voted to adjourn til! 
 
 past S (/dock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday, Decern i . \\ i, th Council met according to ad- 
 journment. Voted that they approve .the minutes oi the Co 
 
 Test SIM< >\ \\.\ ll-.KMAX, Moderator 
 JONA rilAN Ci >NE, 6 
 
 The exercises of the ordination were performed at the time and 
 
 in the manner specified as above. 
 
 I i. JONA I'llAX CONE, 
 
 On the evening of the day of the ordination of Mr. 
 
 Hart, an ordination " Ball" was held at the house of Air. 
 Pitman Stowe, which was th m a hotel, and was the house- 
 Mr. Keys afterward occupied as his residence. This ball 
 rtified by most reliabl il i sses and confirming 
 circumstances. It is also stated that the young pastor 
 gave a sermon soon after, that was a high reprimand for 
 this ball festivity. It is not asserted that the same com- 
 mittee of the church and Society that provided for the 
 ordination s - vi was the committee of the ball, but 
 that nearly the whole congregation attended the ball. 
 
 Mr. Hart's term of ministerial service was short. He 
 was ordained Dec. 4, 181 1, and died in East Haven, ( )ct. 
 16, 1813. When he was preaching here on trial his health 
 was such that there was doubt whether he would be able 
 to do the work of the parish. From all w ■ can learn he 
 was a very good and acceptable minister, with more am- 
 bition than h :alth to perform the work of a pastor. 
 
 He received I 1 the fellowship of the church fourteen 
 »ns ; a ( if church discipline ; 
 
 kept the 1 of the church very carefully in all res- 
 
 pects, and apparently was fully read}- for the summons 
 that called him to rest in the mansions of peace. 
 
 I find the following receipt preserved with other papers 
 by the clerk of the Society : 
 
 Wolcott, December 9th, 1813. 
 Received of Mr. William Bartholomow three hundred and thir- 
 ty dollars, in full of all demands, which I have against the Eccle- 
 7 
 
82 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 siastical Society in the town of Wolcott, in favor of Rev. Lucas 
 Hart, late of said Wolcott, deceased. 
 
 SIMEON HART, Administrator. 
 
 Since writing the above I have seen the record of deaths 
 in East Haven, wherein I find the following: "From 
 Wolcott, Oct. ii, 18 1 3, Edward, son of Rev L. Hart; 
 disease, dysentery ; one year old ; buried in East Haven. 
 Oct. 16, 1813, Rev. Lucas Hart, of dysentery, buried in 
 East Haven, aged 29 years." Hence I infer that Mr. Hart 
 was married, probably shortly after his settlement in 
 Wolcott ; that he was visiting his kindred in East Haven ; 
 his little son departed this life, ,and five days later, the 
 father followed."" 
 
 REV. MR. REVS' MINISTRV. 
 
 In February, 18 14. a Mr. Stebbins was preaching here 
 as a candidate, and the Society voted that "The meet- 
 ing give Mr. Stebbins notice that it is their wish to have 
 him continue with the Society if it is consistent with him 
 and them," but no arrangement was made with him for a 
 settlement. 
 
 On the 18th day of April next (1814) they had anoth- 
 er candidate and voted: " That we are satisfied with the 
 Rev. Mr. Keys as a preacher, and wish to settle or con- 
 tinue him as our minister. Voted that we will give Mr. 
 Keys the sum of five hundred dollars each year that he 
 shall serve us as our minister, as a compensation for his 
 services." 
 
 On the 23d of May next they voted : " To renew the 
 former call made to the Rev. Mr. Keys to settle with 
 us as our minister, and to give him in addition to the 
 sum already offered, the quantity of 15 cords of wood 
 yearly, so long as he continues to serve as our minister." 
 These fifteen cords of wood had weight in this matter, 
 evidently, for Mr. Keys came again, and on consulta- 
 
 *See Biography. 
 
REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY. 83 
 
 tion the Society took the following action : " Voted 
 that Lucius Tuttle, James Bailey, Pitman Stowe, William 
 Bartholomew, Gates Upson, Clark Bronson, Mark Upson, 
 and Harvey Upson be a committee to consult with the 
 Rev. Mr. Keys respecting the time of installation, the 
 council, etc., and make the necessary provisions and ar- 
 rangements for their entertainment and convenience, 
 and the ceremonies of the day." 
 
 It was nearly three months after this when the invita- 
 tions for the Council were sent out, and a month inter- 
 vened before the Council met. 
 
 THE LETTER OF INVITATION. 
 
 '• To the Ghurch of Christ in Plymouth, etc., The Church of Christ in Wol- 
 cott sendcth Greeting: 
 
 Whereas, the Congregational Church of Christ and Society of 
 the town of Wolcott, have unanimously and in due form, given a 
 call to the Rev. John Keys of the Presbytery of Albany, State of 
 New York, to become their pastor and minister — and whereas, 
 the said Mr. Keys has accepted their call, and with them is desir- 
 ous of having the pastoral relation constituted — and whereas, 
 they have agreed upon and appointed Wednesday, the twenty- 
 first of September ensuing, for the installation to take place : This 
 is therefore to invite and request you to attend, by your Rev. Pas- 
 tor and delegate, at the house of Mr. Lucius Tuttle in Wolcott, 
 on the day preceding, at eleven o'clock, A. M., then and there to 
 assist in Council, and if the way shall be prepared for the installa- 
 tion of Mr. Keys, to take such parts as the Council convened shall 
 assign. 
 
 Signed, JOHN. KEYS, Pastor Elect, 
 ISAAC BRONSON and others of the committee, in behalf of the church 
 and Society. 
 August 37 [27], 1814. 
 
 THE COUNCIL. 
 
 " The Council convened according to appointment. Several, 
 however, who were invited did not attend, their reasons, after- 
 ward assigned, were deemed satisfactory. At an Ecclesiastical 
 Council convened by letters missive from the church of Wolcott 
 
84 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 on the 20th of Sept., 1814, at the house of Mr. Keys, pastor elect, 
 in said place, for the purpose of installing the Rev. John Keys in 
 the work of the Gospel ministry in said Wolcott — there were pres- 
 ent, Rev. Messrs. Lyman Beecher, Litchfield; Luke Wood, Wat- 
 erbury ; Luther Hart, Plymouth ; Jonathan Cone, Bristol ; with 
 Deacons Pomeroy Newell, Southington ; Thomas Trowbridge, 
 from the church in Litchfield ; Jacob Heminway, from the church 
 in Plymouth ; Lemuel Porter, from the church in Waterbury ; 
 Charles G. Ives, from the church in Bristol. 
 
 The Council proceeded to choose the Rev. Luke Wood, Mod- 
 erator, and Rev. Jonathan Cone, Scribe. Prayer was offered by 
 the Moderator. The Council having attended to the call of the 
 church and Society to the Rev. Mr. Keys, to settle with them in 
 the work of the ministry, and likewise to his answer accepting the 
 call, and also to his credentials relative to his ministerial standing, 
 concluded to proceed to his examination. Having obtained full 
 satisfaction as to his doctrinal and experimental knowledge of the 
 gospel, — voted unanimously, that we approve of Mr. Keys, as a 
 minister of the gospel, and that we proceed to install him in the 
 ministry over this people. 
 
 The exercises of the installation were then appointed as fol- 
 lows, viz : 
 
 The Rev. Jonathan Cone to read the doings of , the Council and 
 make the introductory prayer ; Rev. Lyman Beecher to preach 
 the sermon and make the installing prayer ; Rev. Luther Hart to 
 give the charge to the pastor elect, and an exhortation to the 
 church and people ; and the Rev. Luke Wood to give the right 
 hand of fellowship, and make the concluding prayer. 
 
 Voted to proceed to the exercises to-morrow at eleven o'clock, 
 A. M. Prayer being offered, voted to adjourn till to-morrow at 
 nine o'clock, A. M. 
 
 Wednesday, September 21, 181 4, the Council met and the 
 
 meeting was opened with prayer. Voted to accept the minutes 
 
 of the Council. 
 
 LUKE WOOD, Moderator. 
 JONATHAN CONE, Sc 
 
 At eleven o'clock, according to the foregoing resolution, the ex - 
 ercises of the installation were performed as above appointed. 
 
 Test. JONATHAN CONE, Scribe. 
 
REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY. 85 
 
 This installation is memorable because of Dr. Beech- 
 er's sermon on the occasion; for the effects of that ser- 
 mon have not ceased in Wolcot.t nor in Connecticut to 
 this day. The subject of the sermon was,* 
 
 "the building of waste places." 
 
 Text: Isaiah. Ixi, 4. And they shall build the old wastes; 
 they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair 
 the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 
 
 In the introduction it is stated that : c> The waste 
 places of Connecticut, and the duty of building them, 
 will be the subject of consideration in this discourse. 
 The building of these wastes will include the propaga- 
 tion of the truth, the communication of strength to the 
 feeble, and the restoration of fallen Societies to the order 
 of the gospel. In the illustration of the subject it is pro- 
 posed to consider, 
 
 " I. The cause of these desolations. 
 
 " II. The means of restoring them. 
 
 " III. The motives to immediate exertion for that pur- 
 pose. 
 
 " I. The immediate causes are, evidently, the difference 
 of religious sentiment and worship which prevail, con- 
 nected with a criminal indifference to the institutions of 
 the Gospel. There is not, in this State, a town or parish 
 unable to support the Gospel constantly, and with ease, 
 provided all the families in the limits of each wire of one 
 heart and of one way to serve the Lord. Hut the prop- 
 erty, in many Societies, is divided between three or four 
 different denominations, besides a part, which the love of 
 money and indifference to the Gospel wholly withdraw 
 
 from the support of divine institutions 
 
 A remote cause of our present wastes is to be found in a 
 very great declension of vital piety in the churches, 
 which took place many years ago One 
 
 * Only the outline of this sermon i-- given, from a volume of Dr. 1'' 1 1 ti- 
 er's sermons. 
 
2,6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 effect of this decline was the introduction into the minis- 
 try of men, who probably had never experienced the 
 power of divine grace on their own hearts, and who, of 
 course, would be prepared by native feeling to oppose 
 the doctrines of the gospel." These innovations, the Dr. 
 says, became at length almost universal throughout New 
 England. 
 
 " As another cause of debility and desolation, may be 
 noted the defection occasioned by the restoration of 
 evangelical doctrine and discipline. The revivals of 
 1740 were the commencement of a reformation in this 
 state, which has brought the churches back to the doc- 
 trines and discipline of our fathers. 
 
 " Another cause of desolation, more limited in its op- 
 eration, but not less disastrous in its effects where it has 
 operated, has been, the timid policy of forbearing to 
 preach plainly those doctrines which offend, and of 
 shrinking from a vigilant, efficient discipline in the 
 church, lest these things interrupt the peace, and en- 
 danger the stability of the congregation. 
 
 " A later cause of decline and desolation has been the 
 insidious influence of infidel philosophy." 
 
 Another cause, Dr. Beecher mentions, is "political 
 violence and alienation." Another : " The direct enter- 
 prise of religious denominations to augment their num- 
 bers." Another : "The change made in the law for the 
 support of the gospel, in order to accommodate it to the 
 changes in religious opinions which had gradually taken 
 place in the State." The last cause he mentions is : 
 " The common policy, to settle a minister upon an in- 
 competent salary, with the expectation that he will sup 
 port himself in part by his own exertions." 
 
 " II. The means by which the wastes, in this State, 
 may be built. 
 
 " 1. The great utility of the occasional itineration of 
 the stated pastors within the limits of each association." 
 
 " 2. Another means may be found in the appointment of 
 
 -" 
 
REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY. 87 
 
 evangelists ; and to these must be added, in some cases, a 
 permanent stated supply, until the work of restoration be 
 consummated." To these he adds : " Special enterprise 
 of ministers in the performance of pastoral duties," and 
 especially " pastoral visits." 
 
 " 3. To parochial visits, it will be proper to add an effi- 
 cient system for the instruction of children and young 
 people in the doctrines and duties of religion," 
 
 And last : " Earnest prayer among the churches, for 
 the outporing of the Holy Spirit upon these desolations, 
 and the revival of religion." 
 
 " III. The motives to immediate exertion. 
 " 1. Duty of the churches to help sister churches to rise. 
 "2. Unless these desolations are built, they will be- 
 come more desolate. 
 
 " 3. If these waste places are not built, they will exert a 
 powerful influence to create other wastes, and extend 
 the scene of desolation. 
 
 "4. If these wastes are not built, they will undermine, 
 ultimately, the civil and religious order of the state. 
 
 " 5. The time past is more than sufficient to have neg- 
 lected our duty and slept over our dangers." 
 
 It was on that part of this sermon concerning the sup- 
 port of evangelists, who might be sent out, that Dr. 
 Beecher made remarks which were suggestive to the 
 ministers of the State, and which resulted in the change 
 of the Missionary Society of the State to the Connecti- 
 cut Home Missionary Society. 
 
 The " Missionary Society of Connecticut" was organ- 
 ized in 1798, the objects of which were : " To Christianize 
 the heathen in North America, and to support and pro- 
 mote Christian knowledge in the new settlements of the 
 United States." This did not include home evangeliza- 
 tion. Doctor Beecher in this sermon recommended the 
 formation of a "general society for this special purpose." 
 In 181 5, about six months after the delivery of this 
 sermon, the General Association of Connecticut took up 
 
88 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the subject and appointed a committee who reported at 
 the next annual meeting. " On their report it was re- 
 solved unanimously to form a Domestic Missionary So- 
 ciety, for Connecticut and its vicinity." This Society is 
 now the " Connecticut Home Missionary Society" and is 
 auxiliary to the American Home Missionary Society. 
 So much for the State of Connecticut. 
 
 In this sermon, also, Dr. Beecher refers to the educa- 
 tion of children, in the following words : " To parochial 
 visits, it will be proper to add an efficient system for the 
 instruction of children and young people in the doctrines 
 and duties of religion." " It is almost unspeakably im- 
 portant, that a system of religious instruction adapted to 
 the age and altered feelings of young people be provided, 
 to succeed the shorter catechism." Here we perceive the 
 largeness of the Doctor's plan. " A system of religious 
 instruction, for children and young people." The pres- 
 ent Sabbath-school system of instruction is intended to 
 meet this " unspeakably important" demand. 
 
 This part of the sermon resulted in the commencement 
 of Sunday-schools in the parish under Mr. Keys' adminis- 
 tration. 
 
 So much for this sermon. It is frequently remarked 
 that Dr. Beecher's thoughts were " Fifty years ahead of 
 his day." It is now fifty-nine years since he delivered 
 this sermon and we arc only beginning to realize the 
 systems of church work he planned out for us. Truly 
 some men's works do follow them ; and works of which 
 the}', and the world, need not be ashamed. What if 
 there had been a thousand Dr. Becchers, and each with 
 a family as numerous and noted for good as Dr. Lyman 
 Beecher's ! This may be thought no part of Wolcott 
 history, but I assure such that without the Beecher fam- 
 ily a large and very important part of Wolcott history 
 would be wanting."' 
 
 * It is said that Capt. Joseph Beecher and his sister who married Capt. 
 Herman Hall, and Capt. Amos Beecher (all of Wolcott) were cousins to 
 Dr. Lyman Beecher. 
 
REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY. 89 
 
 It should be remembered that this sermon was 
 preached in Wolcott when Wolcott was not a " waste 
 place" but in its glory and strength. From 1790 to 1820, 
 it was one of the strong Societies of the count}'. In 1806 
 it had over two hundred tax payers on the list of the So- 
 ciety, and this continued about the same for twenty years 
 afterward; and the town had a reputation for agricul- 
 tural products equal to any in the count}'. 1 hen wheat 
 grew on these hills more abundantly than in the valleys 
 adjoining, and it would have been a disgrace to have im- 
 ported corn into " Puddin' street." 
 
 Dr. Beecher did not preach this sermon, alone for Wol- 
 cott, but for all Connecticut, and that, too, for a century 
 of time after he should cease preaching on earth. 
 
 Mr. Keys had moved into the parish before he was in- 
 stalled and was read}- to move forward in his work when 
 the ex ;rcises of installation closed, and he did it right 
 well. The first thing that meets us in his work, is the 
 fulness of the records he made of the doings of the 
 church, a matter which had been almost wholly omitted 
 by the pastors before Mr. Hart. Hence we have the 
 names of all who made application to join the church ; 
 the reports of the examining committees, and the decision 
 of the church on each report during Mr. keys' pastorate. 
 We discover, also, from these records that Mr. Keys was 
 a man of church discipline, not afraid to try to preserve 
 the honor of the church by attending to those delinquent 
 cases that sometimes occur in regard to individuals of 
 the: highest standing in the community. 
 
 Mr. Keys was a good preacher, above medium, but not 
 equal to Mr. Woodward ; a good and faithful pastor and 
 public school visitor, and was esteemed, and kindly 
 cared for, by the parish during his stay among them. 
 Daring his pastorate, forty-one united with the church, — 
 thirty-five of them by profession ; and every interest of 
 the church seems to have been cared for faithfully to 
 the close of his labors, and even after he was dismissed. 
 
90 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 The following entry in the church book illustrates 
 these statements : 
 
 "At a church meeting, July 2d, 181 9, opened with prayer. 
 . . . After some conversation on the duty of calling the 
 brethren to account, for neglecting gospel institutions, and on 
 the subject of setting up a Sabbath School, adjourned till our 
 next preparatory lecture — conclude with prayer. 
 
 Attest. JOHN KEYS, Pastor. 
 
 In the church meeting of March 2d, 1821, we find the 
 following entry : " After some free conversation and 
 earnest exhortation by several of the members, on the 
 present low state of our church, and on the importance 
 of awaking to activity to some extraordinary exertions 
 to revive our drooping graces and promote the cause of 
 the Redeemer among us — adjourned." 
 
 Mr. Keys had more than an ordinary amount of church 
 discipline to attend to, all of which was prosecuted by 
 church vote in regular form, and it was the fact of these 
 difficulties that led the brethren on this occasion to 
 "earnest exhortations to the importance of awaking to 
 extraordinary exertions to revive drooping graces and 
 promote the cause of the Redeemer." 
 
 Also, from the first, Mr. Keys had been a faithful pastor 
 in catechising the children at home and in the public 
 schools ; but now he was on the move towards the Sab- 
 bath-school, which he succeeded in holding two sum- 
 mers. Here he calls this enterprise a " Sabbath-school," 
 and as far as I can learn, it was a "Sabbath-school full 
 grown for those days, and to this Deacon Irad Bronson , 
 now living, adds his testimony. The catechism was re- 
 cited, verses of the Bible were committed to memory, 
 for which the children received credit of so many mills 
 for every ten verses, and at the end of the school a book, 
 in value according to the credit standing to their sev- 
 eral names. Addresses were made by pastor, deacons, 
 and others, which, doubtless, were quite as appropriate 
 
REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY. 91 
 
 and valuable as many are in these later days. Mrs. 
 Mark Tuttle has now in her possession a little book 
 given her by Rev. Mr. Keys on account of attendance at 
 Sabbath-school. It is a paper covered book, 16 mo., print- 
 ed in New York in 1S10. The subject matter is : "The 
 principles of the ( 'hristian Religion, in verse, for the use 1 >1 
 children, by P. Doddridge, D. D., arranged for this object 
 by Dr. Doddridge at Northampton, England, Oct. 31, 
 1743. One of the teachers in this school, Mrs. Hannah 
 Plumb, is now living, and four women, who were then girls 
 in her class,— Mrs. Mark Tuttle, Mrs. Johnson Alcott,Mrs. 
 James Alcott, and Mrs. Isaac Hough, — are still living. 
 
 EFFICIENCY OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 During Mr. Keys' pastorate the church and Society 
 were diligent and energetic. There was appointed, eve- 
 ry year, a committee like the following, and for the same 
 purposes: 1816, "Voted that Lucius Tuttle, John Pot- 
 ter, and John Frisbie, be a committee to provide seats 
 for persons moving in [into the parish] and others as shall 
 be necessary the coming year." Year after year this was 
 attended to regularly, because then people removed 
 into the community but now they remove out. The 
 tax to provide for the support of the gospel, includ- 
 ing " ministerial and other necessary charges," was four 
 to six cents on a dollar, on the tax list ; now the 
 Connecticut Home Missionary Society requires " one per 
 cent" to be paid before they render help to a church ; 
 but the assessment was much lower, on property then 
 than now. In 18 1 5 the tax was 5 cents ; in 1816, 4 cents ; 
 in 1 8 17, 6 cents ; in 1818, 6 cents ; in 1 8 19, they " voted 
 that a tax of 12 cents on the dollar be laid on the assess- 
 ment list of said Society for 18 19, payable to the Treas- 
 urer of said Society, immediately, to pay Mr. Keys' sala- 
 ry for 1820, and other necessary expenses." 
 
 This twelve per cent, tax, "raised a dust" in Wolcott, 
 that ended in the dismissal of Mr. Keys, and in a vacant 
 
92 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 pastorate for many years. At the next annual meeting 
 in October they voted to try to raise, by subscription, a 
 sum sufficient to defray the necessary expenses of the 
 Society for the year ensuing." During these years Mr. 
 Keys' salary was five hundred dollars a year ; and other 
 Society expenses very little. The Society went through 
 this year on the subscription plan, and at the end of the 
 year voted : "That a tax, payable on demand, be laid on 
 the list of said Society for 1819, sufficient to raise the 
 sum of three hundred dollars, to be applied wholly to the 
 payment of the debts of the Society at that time due, or 
 that were incurred that year." Yet they proceeded to 
 try the subscription plan another year, and appointed 
 " Ira Hough, Jesse Upson, David Frisbie, James Bailey, 
 Ziba Norton, Samuel Plumb, and Josiah Thomas, a com- 
 mittee to solicit subscriptions." These were mostly new 
 men in the business of the Society and doubtless were op- 
 posed to taxation and in favor of a free gospel. 
 
 What was the result ! At the next annual meeting, 
 Oct. 14, 1822, the\- "voted that David Frisbie, James 
 Bailey, and Thomas Upson be a committee to consult 
 with Mr. Keys and obtain from him the lowest terms 
 upon which he is willing to preach for us the year ensu- 
 ing, and whether, if the Society cannot find it possible to 
 raise the stipulated sum, it would be agreeable to his 
 feelings to be amicably dismissed." The committee wait- 
 ed upon Mr. Keys and returned with a written answer, 
 whereupon the meeting adjourned. 
 
 This twelve per cent, tax was called for probably, from 
 the fact that the Society had fallen in debt from year to 
 year till something must be done to pay up. 
 
 MR. KEYS' COMMUNICATION. 
 " To the Ecclesiastical Society in Wolcott : 
 
 Gentlemen: Your committee have waited on me to know 
 what proposition I have to make to the Society, to which I reply : 
 1 st. I will accept for the current year of what sum you shall be 
 able to raise, together with the usual quantity of wood, for which 
 
REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY. 93 
 
 I will supply the desk so many Sabbaths as that compensates for, 
 at the rate of $500 the year. Or, 2 1. [f a dissolution of our re- 
 lation shall be judged necessary — deeply as 1 deplore it, wt con- 
 sidering the situation 01" the Society, 1 shall consent mi condition 
 that they pay me two hundred dollars in money or in things nec- 
 essary for the support of my family at cash prices, old 
 being paid up. I propose this not as a compensation but as wil- 
 ling to bear a part of the burden which in Providence is fallen 
 upon us ; or. 3d. I am willing to abide the decision of any disin- 
 terested Council. That you may be directed in the path of duty 
 and come to such a result as may be for the glory of Cod and 
 the best interests of Christ's kingdom, is the prayer of your sin- 
 cere friend and servant in Christ. 
 
 joiin 1. 1 \ s." 
 
 Wolcott, ' >ct. 14, I 322. 
 
 It is often the case that when troubles come in a Soci- 
 ety, the minister is thought worthy of a full share of the 
 responsibility. In 1806 there were over two hundred 
 tax payers in the Society- and the largest sum paid by 
 any one man was less than nine dollars a year, and only 
 n that paid over five dollars a year. The Society 
 was not reduced by emigration as in after years, for the 
 diminishing of numbers in the town began after Mr. Keys 
 left. Quite a number withdrew from the Congregational 
 and joined the Episcopal Society, but apparently 11 
 ly an equal number graduated, by age, into member- 
 ship or removed into the parish. Besides, there was ener- 
 gy and ability in the church for other interests. 
 
 In 1815, they voted, "that a stove or stoves may be 
 erected in the meeting house ; if one only, at the west 
 door ; if two, then one at the east door, in the aisles, with 
 pipes to convey the smoke out of the house in a conven- 
 ient and proper manner." This resolution was executed, 
 and one of those stoves is now used in Mr. Dennis 
 Pritchard's saw mill. 
 
 The singing was improved at considerable expense. 
 During Mr. Woodward's ministry a tax was laid several 
 
94 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 times for the "encouraging of singing." In 1815 they 
 laid a tax of " six mills on the dollar to procure a teacher 
 of singing;" and at a special meeting six months later 
 they added 4 mills, making one per cent. " to pay the 
 singing master." In 18 16 they voted to accept the offer 
 of Mr. Stephen Harrison, and directed the committee to 
 pay him the sum of ten dollars upon his spending one 
 half day in each week so long as it shall be necessary to 
 initiate young beginners who shall attend, in the first ru- 
 diments of singing, and two evenings in each week for 
 three months in teaching and perfecting the singing." 
 In 18 1 7, "voted that the Society's committee be author- 
 ized and requested to take such measures and expend 
 such sums from the Society treasury as they shall judge 
 proper for the encouragement of singing, the year ensu- 
 ing." In 1817, voted " That the committee be requested 
 to take such measures as they shall judge proper to en- 
 courage and keep up singing." 
 
 Notwithstanding this apparent prosperity, the Society 
 had lost so much strength that it could not meet the en- 
 gagements made with Mr. Keys. 
 
 In Oct. 28th, they voted that " under existing circum- 
 stances we are willing to dismiss the Rev. Mr. Keys from 
 his service as our pastor and minister." 
 
 On November 5th, they appointed a committee to con- 
 fer with the church and Mr. Keys, and if desirable to 
 make arrangements for the Council. 
 
 Upon this Mr. Keys wrote the following letter to the 
 church : 
 
 Beloved Brethren : 
 
 The painful hour seems now arrived, in the sovereign dispensa- 
 tions of Providence, when we must part. The course of your 
 deliberations this day, unpleasant and trying as they are, is 
 plainly marked out. I have judged it best not to be present ; 
 the task would be painful ; but I think also, that prudence dic- 
 tates, you should be by yourselves. 
 
REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY. 95 
 
 If you shall concur with the propositions of the Society, relative 
 to a dissolution of the pastoral relation between me and this 
 church and congregation, which propositions have already been 
 communicated to me, by their committee, I hereby give consent, 
 and am ready to unite with you in calling a Council to carry them 
 into effect. You will not need my assistance in selecting a Coun- 
 cil. Any of the neighboring churches may be sent to — I should 
 suppose five would be sufficient ; but I cheerfully submit the mat- 
 ter to your discretion. 
 
 The condition of each of us — of the church and Society, and 
 myself, — must necessarily be very unpleasant and trying. A church 
 without the stated ordinances, and the minister without the 
 means of support. We can, therefore, and I trust do, mutually 
 sympathize with each other. Let us remember, brethren, and let 
 us receive the consolation of it : The Lord reigns. 
 
 While I have been with you, though one of the least of all 
 saints, if a saint, and unworthy to be called to the pastoral office, 
 yet I have endeavored to be faithful. I have many and strong 
 ties of affection towards this church. I never can forget you, or 
 cease, in my feeble, unworthy manner, to pray for you; and 
 brethren, I hope and trust you never will forget to pray for me. 
 
 Our journey in this life is a thorny maze ; every bush we pass 
 inflicts a wound. Truly we may not look for our portion here 
 below. But, blessed be God, our hopes reach beyond the grave. 
 There may we meet, when the storms of life are o'er — free from 
 sin. free from sorrow and pain and perplexity and disquietude, to 
 dwell in the smiles of our God and Sovereign, forever. 
 
 That you, brethren, may be kept from falling j enabled to 
 maintain the good fight of faith, walking in obedience to all 
 God's commands, and be preserved through grace to the final 
 coming of Jesus Christ in his kingdom, is the sincere prayer of 
 your yet affectionate pastor and unworthy brother in Christ. 
 
 JOHN KEYS. 
 
 Wolcott, Nov. nth, 1822. 
 
 No vote of the church in regard to this is preserved. 
 
 On the 18th of the same month, the Society voted, 
 "That the only cause or reason which we have for our 
 committee to lay before the Council as a ground of dis- 
 
g6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 missing the Rev. Mr. Keys from his pastoral relation to 
 us, is our being, from the smallness of our numbers, and 
 already embarrassing circumstances, utterly unable to 
 afford him a sufficient support." 
 
 There are no records of the session or decision of a 
 Council, yet it is very probable that the Council was called 
 and rendered its decision, and that Mr. Keys was regu- 
 larly dismissed in the first part of Dec, 1822, having 
 served the parish eight years and three months. 
 
 He had several children and a family that he could 
 scarcely keep comfortable on five hundred dollars a year, 
 and to be dismissed in December, the beginning of winter, 
 was a sore trial, besides the fact that Mr. Keys was 
 greatly attached to his church and people. 
 
 He made an entry in the church book in December, 
 1822, and signed it as " Late Pastor." 
 
 On Dec. 31, 1822, the Society voted "That we lay a 
 tax on the list of 182 1, to the amount of three hundred 
 and twenty-five dollars for the purpose of discharging 
 the claims of Mr. Keys against the Society." 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 WITHOUT A PASTOR. 
 
 It runs in the memory of some persons now living, as 
 well as in the records of the Society, that before and 
 after the dismissal of Mr. Keys, the Meeting house was 
 crowded with hearers to such an extent that it was one 
 of the great difficulties of the Society, to provide seats 
 to accommodate and satisfy the people. One dollar per 
 person, per year, from the regular attendants, would 
 probably have paid the salary of Mr. Keys [$500], and 
 yet they dismissed him, as they say, "for no other rea- 
 son " than that the salary could not be raised, and had 
 not been for a number of years, on which account the 
 Society was in debt. At this time there was money 
 enough in Wolcott, and if not, there were wheat, corn, 
 and butter in abundance ; for those were the days of 
 prosperity in it. We are compelled to conclude that 
 there must have been some radical cause for the unwil- 
 lingness to support Mr. Keys. I am at a loss to know 
 what it was, and have heard but one suggestion, — 
 namely, that while Mr. Keys was an eminent scholar, and 
 a man of diligence and energy, faithful in all his work, 
 visiting families and public schools, catechising the chil- 
 dren, attending social meetings, and preaching, yet the 
 theology he preached was so imbued with the darker 
 doctrines of Calvinism, that the people did not feel like 
 paying heavily, nor even moderately, for it. Another fact 
 deserving of consideration is that his dismissal occurred 
 during the conflict of public sentiment in this town, be- 
 tween the two systems of supporting the gospel, — the 
 
98 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 one by levying a tax, and the other by subscription. 
 There was much opposition to the taxing system ; there- 
 had been for thirty years. But if this had been the cause 
 of the failure to raise the money, I do not understand how 
 it occurred that when the Society voted to raise Mr. Keys' 
 salary by subscription one year, as they did two or three 
 years before his dismissal, they should have incurred a 
 debt of nearly three hundred dollars. I have not learned 
 that Mr. Keys was an objectionable minister on account 
 of discussing "politics in the pulpit." Mr. Woodward was 
 a high toned Federalist, and Thomas Jefferson was criti- 
 cised with spirit and energy, more especially because 
 Mr. Jefferson was supposed to be an infidel, which was the 
 highest wickedness to the good minds of the Puritans. 
 But Mr. Woodward's commanding dignity and learning, 
 and his genial good nature, disarmed opposition even on 
 the part of political opponents. Yet a considerable num- 
 ber left the Society during his ministry ; some for this 
 cause and some for other reasons. But these questions 
 do not appear to have effected the minds of the people 
 during Mr. Keys' ministry, and hence some other cause 
 must have brought the support of the gospel into disre- 
 pute. 
 
 Another singular fact is, that although when Dr. Beech- 
 er made it emphatic at the installation of Mr. Keys, that 
 a Society could much better afford to pay for the preach- 
 ing of the gospel than to go without it, this Society should 
 dismiss Mr. Keys with the expectation of remaining with- 
 out a minister for a length of time, though probably not 
 as long as proved to be the case. For three years after 
 the dismissal of Mr. Keys there is no mention of any vote 
 of the Society referring to the matter of hiring a minister, 
 or obtaining one in any way.* They attended regularly 
 
 * During the history of the Society for seventy years, or more, the com- 
 mittee never hired a minister or procured a candidate without a vote of the 
 Society to that effect. It was left for committees of later days to hire min- 
 isters, continue them ad libitum, and dismiss them, without allowing the 
 Society any voice in the matter ; a clear violation of Congregational rules. 
 
WITHOUT A PASTOR. 
 
 99 
 
 to all other interests of the Society. Soon after his dis- 
 missal (Dec. 31, 1822 ) they voted to lay " a tax on the list 
 of 1 82 1, to the amount of three hundred and twenty-five 
 dollars, for the purpose of discharging the claims of Mr. 
 Keys." In May next they voted that a tax be laid suffi- 
 cient to raise the sum of two hundred and seventy dol- 
 lars. They appointed Thomas Upson as agent to collect 
 the several " notes and debts due the Society on old ar- 
 rearages, and if possible to settle the debts of the Socie- 
 ty due S. J. Hitchcock." They appointed yearly the 
 seating committee to seat the people in the Meeting 
 house, and appointed in 1823 a special committee to "dig- 
 nify or number the pews anew." 
 
 In annual meeting, 1824, the)- voted, "That John S. 
 Atkins, Joseph N. Sperry, Jerry Upson, John Beecher, Jr. 
 and Thomas Upson be a committee, to solicit subscrip- 
 tions for the encouragement of singing ; lay out and ap- 
 propriate the moneys obtained as they shall judge proper 
 and best, and superintend the whole business." In 1825 
 they appointed another committee for the same purpose, 
 consisting of Gates Upson, Thomas Horton, George 
 Griswold, Jerry Upson, John S. Atkins, and Ira Frisbie. 
 Here is evidence of energy and of ability to do almost 
 anything they chose to do as a Society. 
 
 These facts bring to view the character and standing of 
 Deacon Isaac Bronson. After Mr. Keys was dismissed 
 Mr. Bronson became the minister, in fact, although not in 
 form ; first, to fill the vacancy during the embarrassed 
 condition of the Society, and after that, by the informal 
 choice of the people. He had been a member of the 
 church over thirty years ; had been a deacon seventeen 
 years, being sixty-one years of age. He had not the 
 advantages of high school or collegiate education, — Mr. 
 Woodward's school having begun several years after Mr. 
 Bronson was married. Yet Isaac Bronson attained to a 
 very creditable education for those times. 
 
 We have now in the Ministers' Library of this parish 
 
IOO HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 a book of " Mathematicks" containing" Arithmetick, Al- 
 gebra, Geometry, Conick Sections, and Arithmetick of 
 Infinites," which was owned by Rev. Alexander Gillet, 
 (dated as "his book," 1767) and which Mr. Bronson 
 bought of Mr. Gillet for six shillings.* Mr. Bronson was a 
 Latin scholar, as may be seen in his writings as clerk of 
 the church and the town. Some sketches of sermons of 
 his have fallen into my hands which show unusual histor- 
 ical knowledge and very great familiarity with Bible his- 
 tory. 
 
 He is said to have been a man of remarkable eloquence 
 in prayer, and in addressing a religious assembly, and with 
 this all his writings now left correspond. Could he have 
 had the opportunities of an early education, it is doubt- 
 ful if the county or State could have boasted of a greater 
 man than he. To this opinion all persons with whom I 
 have conversed, in and out of Wolcott, agree. He was 
 a man of great diffidence, but when called out by cir- 
 cumstances or peculiar occasions, he surpassed the ex- 
 pectations of all. 
 
 When, therefore, the Society in Wolcott was brought 
 to extremities, Isaac Bronson became its leader and min- 
 ister without ordination. Thus he continued for nearly 
 three years, but for what " consideration " from the Society 
 we have no means of knowing except by a vote passed 
 at the end of three years, as follows : "That the Soci- 
 ety's committee" (and others named,) " be a committee 
 to circulate subscriptions to raise money to hire preach- 
 ing." This indicates that no money was raised for this 
 purpose during the three years, for in those times money 
 was not raised except by vote of Society. It is further 
 evident from the fact, that upon the passage of this vote 
 Mr. Bronson refused to serve the Society, as before ; as is 
 
 *The possession of hooks relating to advanced studies, and the fact fre- 
 quently mentioned among the people, that often, when tired at night, he 
 lay on the floor of his shop, with his head toward the fire, studying by fire- 
 light, indicate the methods by which he obtained knowledge. 
 
WITHOUT A PASTOR. IOI 
 
 evident from a vote of the Society two months later, as 
 follows : " That Gates Upson, Lud Lindsley, Ashbel Up- 
 son, Ira Hough, and David Frisbie, be a committee to 
 confer with Deacon Isaac Bronson in regard to the diffi- 
 culties subsisting between him and the Society, and the 
 cause of his unwillingness to serve the Society as hereto- 
 fore." After conferring with him the Society in a meet- 
 ing held one week later, voted to rescind the former vote 
 to hire preaching, and that money be raised to hire 
 preaching " for one third part of the year, beginning the 
 first of April next." That is, the} 7 should hire preaching 
 four months, and the remainder of the year Isaac Bron- 
 son should preach for nothing. How the men of the So- 
 ciety could be at ease in their consciences, and let one 
 man, and he a poor man, carry the largest part of the 
 burden of the church for three years without compensa- 
 tion is beyond explanation, except on the supposition 
 that they had been educated to think that if a man 
 were ordained, he should be paid for preaching, other- 
 wise not, no matter how eloquent or successful the 
 preaching, or how great the service rendered. Probably 
 but few ministers were ever more highly appreciated, 
 in their parish generally, than was Isaac Bronson during 
 these years, and but for the prejudices of a few leading 
 men, he would have been ordained and settled as pas- 
 tor; and in that case would have served their Society 
 with as great success as any man they had had. 
 
 There were peculiar reasons why they should have 
 paid him something appropriate for his work infilling the 
 place of a pastor. He had several children and a noble, 
 patient wife, for whom he could scarcely provide the com- 
 forts of life which his neighbors possessed. He had been 
 clerk of the Society for twenty-six years, and had served 
 the church as clerk and treasurer for fifteen wars ; and 
 as deacon for twenty years. His health had been so 
 poor, from hemorrhage of the lungs, that his family often 
 expected his speedy departure to the better land. He 
 
102 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 had taught school many years with small pay ; and was 
 constant in every good work, for religion, education, and 
 the town and State in which he lived. The Society had 
 prospered and the public feeling had improved, so that 
 they began to feel like raising a minister's salary, and 
 did proceed with a tax in Sept., 1826, of ninety dollars, 
 to repair the Meetinghouse. In all righteousness among 
 brethren why should they not have payed Deacon Isaac 
 Bronson for his labors in preaching and attending to the 
 other duties of a pastor ? 
 
 Thus did the Society continue enjoying a gratuitous 
 ministry for the space of five years. What was the result ? 
 They had all grown " lean" except Isaac Bronson. Dr. 
 Beecher had told them they could better afford to pay a 
 minister than go without one. They had now tried the 
 latter, and to what effect? All were asleep, in religion, 
 except when the voice of Isaac Bronson aroused them in 
 church or "broke" their hearts at the funerals. The 
 year before Mr. Keys left, twelve united with the church, 
 and during his ministry of eight years, forty-one united, 
 but during these five years of a vacant pulpit, not one 
 united, as far as the books show. But in mercy God 
 sent them a minister to awake them, for in the midst of 
 their sleep, a voice was heard as of one "in the wilderness" 
 calling them to repentance. How he came we know 
 not, but certainly not by the call of the Society or 
 church." At a meeting held Oct. 28th, 1827, they voted 
 that the "committee be directed to employ Mr. Scran- 
 ton to preach for us until the end of May next." 
 
 On the 10th of next March they voted, " That seven 
 persons, one in each school district, be forthwith ap- 
 pointed to solicit subscriptions for the support of the 
 Rev. Mr. Scranton as a preacher of the gospel for the 
 year next ensuing, after the first of June next." He 
 
 * We learn from his journal, left in the hands of Mr. Jarvis R. Bronson, 
 that he came here on Saturday, June 16, 1S27, to preach for a number of 
 Sabbaths. 
 
WITHOUT A PASTOR. IO3 
 
 preached here two years and then departed ; the only 
 reason we find is that the Society failed to raise three 
 hundred dollars for his support for the year, as he desired. 
 The first winter he was here he taught school three 
 months, and in the spring and summer following there 
 was a general awakening, and many were added to the 
 church. This carried them through the second year. 
 but when an effort was made for the third year it did 
 not succeed well, and the Society voted on Jul}- 7, 1829, 
 " That the committee appointed on the 30th of May to 
 solicit subscriptions to hire preaching, offer their papers 
 on the terms that in case there is not enough obtained to 
 raise the sum of three hundred dollars, then whatsoever 
 is subscribed to be null and void." Soon after this, Mr. 
 Scranton left. Mr. Scranton's labors were many and re- 
 sulted in great good to the church and community. As 
 proof of this and as evidence of the Lord's faithfulness 
 to those who labor faithfully, we give some extracts 
 from Mr. Scranton's journal, which was sent after his 
 death to Mr. Jarvis R. Bronson. These labors were put 
 forth amidst great difficulties and, hindrances. The 
 church was much divided, and great indifference to relig- 
 ion prevailed throughout the community. Indeed, when 
 there began to be a stir about religion, some of the peo- 
 ple spoke against it and ridiculed it. 
 
 JOURNAL OF REV. ERASTUS SCRANTON IX WOLCOTT, 1S27 AND 1828. 
 
 June 16, Saturday; came here to preach several Sabbaths. 
 
 17. Preached, being unwell. 1 have not recovered from my 
 dangerous illness in May. I found the Society feeble and dis- 
 united, but desirous to have steady preaching. 
 
 July 1st. Administered the Lord's Supper. It had not been 
 celebrated here before, for a long time. It was a precious sea- 
 son to Christian people. 
 
 Great coldness among professors 01' religion — much immorality 
 among the people. 
 
 Sept. Miss Orpha Thomas, who is about 16, has been 
 
104 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 awakened and hopefully converted to Christ in the course of the 
 summer. The preaching of the word is better attended than it 
 was during the two months past. . Administered the sacrament of 
 the Lord's Supper. 
 
 Oct. 26. Maria, wife of S. Wheeler Upson, and Laura, wife of 
 Linus Munson, admitted to the church. For several years there 
 has not been an addition to the church. Mr. Upson, on seeing 
 his wife come out and join the church, was led to reflect. It was 
 the means of his conversion, 'tis to be hoped. 
 
 Oct. 30, Thursday. Returned from attending the conference 
 of the churches at Waterbury; called on Wheeler Upson, and 
 found him an awakened sinner. Attended meeting at Woodtick 
 School House; preached from Jer. 17, 9. 
 
 In the course of the season past, Colonel Moses Pond has been 
 awakened and hopefully converted. He did not let it be known, 
 till his sickness. He has been in great distress at times, and 
 found relief, I suppose, on Sabbath, Nov. 4, on his way home 
 from meeting. 
 
 November, 1827. I have had repeated conversation with Mr. 
 Upson, &c. He obtained hope about three weeks after his 
 first awakening. 
 
 Nov. 4, Sabbath. Spoke to several young ladies that came 
 in to Mr. Whiting's. 
 
 Nov. 14. Conferences begin to be full and solemn. We seem 
 on the eve of an awakening here. There has not been anything 
 like a general revival here at any time.* B. L. revive thy work. 
 
 December, 1827. Meetings still full and solemn. Some Chris- 
 tians awake and pleading for a revival. 
 
 January 15, 1828, Thursday. Miss Rebecca Hall came here 
 with Miss Vesta Frisbie, to see me, being awakened three weeks 
 ago at her Uncle Frost's. She talked as one under conviction; 
 proposed to come to school, f 
 
 Jan. 18. Took tea at Mr. Mark Tuttle's — found his wife 
 
 * There was a general awakening in 1783 under the preaching of Rev. 
 Messrs. Mills and Miller and the labors of Mr. Gillet, and this was therefore 
 forty-four years before Mr. Scranton came here. Tint a forty-four years' sleep 
 was probably long enough ! 
 
 \ Mr. Scranton taught school — I suppose a selecl school like Mr. Wood- 
 ward's and Mr. Keys'. 
 
WITHOUT A PASTOR. 105 
 
 awakened. She told me that my conversation at their house, 
 when I and Capt. Gates Upson came there, two or three weeks 
 before, first awakened her. She had never disclosed her anxious 
 feelings to any one before. Preached in the East School House 
 this evening — full and solemn meeting. It is now manifest that 
 an awakening is begun in this place. 
 
 19, Saturday evening. I went to make a religious visit to Mr. 
 Albert Boardman. He was absent, but I found her [his wife] 
 awakened as I suppose. I then called to see Mr. J. N. Sperry, 
 and found him more anxious than he ever was before, as he told 
 me — his wife listened. 
 
 20, Sabbath. This evening called to see Mr. Clark Bronson 
 and wife. I found her indulging a hope. I called at Eldad 
 Parker's and found his wife thoughtful. She told me that 13 
 yeais ago, at Shenango, she was awakened, but grieved away the 
 Holy Spirit. Has feeling, but no reason to hope. 
 
 Jan. 21. Monday evening. Mr. Boardman came to see me. in 
 deep concern of soul. He tells me that he was first awakened 
 last June. 
 
 Jan. 22, Tuesday. Conversed with Miss Rebecca Hall, at 
 noon, who says her mind is relieved. In the evening I went to 
 preach at Mr. Levi Atkin's. Heard that Mr. Newton Norton 
 talks seriously. 
 
 25th. The center school house was full (though it rained hard), 
 and the meeting solemn. 
 
 27th, Sabbath. Exchanged with Mr. Hart and preached at 
 Plymouth. 
 
 29. In conversation I find Mr. Doolittle anxious. He has felt 
 that religion is important since his sickness two years ago. He 
 lacks decision. 
 
 Feb. 1, 1828, Friday. Martha Tuttle is still anxious. No hope. 
 
 3, Sab. To-day Col. Pond and Mr. Upson told me they had a 
 wish to join the church. 
 
 7. Conference of the churches at Prospect. 
 
 8th, Friday. Held first inquiry meeting; present 10 persons — 
 Col. Pond, Mr. Upson, Clark Bronson and wife, Mrs. Parker, 
 Mrs. Moulthrop, Mary Upson, Charlotte Harrison, (lea G. Doo- 
 little, and Rebecca Hall. 
 
 11. Monday. Preached at Woodtick ; meeting full and solemn. 
 
106 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 13. Preached at South School House. 
 
 15. Preached in Center School House, and meeting solemn, 
 and 70 present. 
 
 18, Monday. Anxious meeting here to-night and a very rainy 
 evening — 6 only present, one of whom is Miss Clarissa Upson, 
 rejoicing in hope. 
 
 March 2, Sab. Col. Pond and S. VV. Upson joined church. 
 
 3. Monthly Concert. Full meeting and interesting. 
 
 1 2th. Preached at Woodtick, having closed my school to-day. 
 
 13th. Visited at Mr. Bement's, &c. Cyrus Fenn somewhat anx- 
 ious. 
 
 17th, Monday. Anxious meeting. 
 
 15th. Esther Hotchkiss anxious some, and came to the anx- 
 ious meeting. 
 
 23. Began a Bible class. 
 
 24. Went to N. Milford and found there had been 4 to 6 con- 
 versions. 
 
 30, Sab. Preached at Cheshire and came to Wolcott and 
 preached in the evening at Center School House, where I heard 
 that Lowman Upson has a hope. Church voted to invite the 
 Conference. 
 
 April 1st, Tuesday. Went to N. Milford. 
 
 2d. Conference of churches at N. M. 78 delegates. 
 
 4th. Annual Fast. Snowed all day. Rode from Prospect 
 (where I preached last night) to Wolcott. 
 
 6th. Report from the Conference was listened to by all the 
 congregation. Many were affected tt> tears. 
 
 7th. Monthly concert. Asaph Hotchkiss came to see me, 
 P. M., in distress — and sent for me to come to his house, &c. 
 His wife and Esther and Wealthy interested. 
 
 8th. Preached at Spindle Hill. 
 
 9th. Preached at South District. 
 
 nth. Preached at Woodtick. 
 
 May rst. Preached at South District. 
 
 Up to this time Mr. Scranton had urged forward this 
 work without any formal action on the part of the church. 
 On April 25th the church met, and voted, "That Dea- 
 cons James Bailey, Isaac Bronson, and Irad Bronson, 
 
WITHOUT A PASTOR. IO7 
 
 with Brethren Thomas Upson, Harvey Upson, Ashbel 
 Upson, Lucius Tuttle, Daniel Holt, Abner Ifotehkiss, 
 and Samuel W. Upson be a committee to visit the seve- 
 ral members of the church, male and female, and inquire 
 the situation of their minds in a religious point of view , 
 and whether any, and if any, what matter of offense lies 
 upon their minds and against any brother or sister, and 
 if an}' such exist, to use their influence that the same may 
 be mutually and satisfactorily healed and settled in a 
 Christian manner." 
 
 On May 1st, Mr. Scranton wrote: "The church com- 
 mittee began their visits to prepare for the Conference to 
 be held among them, and it was ascertained there was a 
 happy state of feeling among the brethren ; a readiness 
 to confess their sins and to renew covenant. Several 
 meetings of the church were pleasant and humbling sea- 
 sons. Some few are opposed to the Conference — call it 
 a Methodist meeting ; speak against a revival as a perni- 
 cious thing. \Y. A. ; J. H.; J. A." 
 
 May 4th. Wednesday. The Conference met late in the day, 
 owing to the great rain yesterday. The church and people were 
 prepared to receive them with open hearts. 
 
 5th. The meetings last evening and this morning, in the sev- 
 eral districts were full, solemn, and interesting. 30 churches 
 represented and 40 delegates. 
 
 May 6, Friday. Went down to Mr. John Frishie's and found 
 him an awakened, distressed church memher. Mrs. Frisbie was 
 all in tears. Soon after, Sarah, their son's wife, came in anil on 
 my speaking to her she was much affected. I prayed, and it was 
 a scene of deep interest. 
 
 Met Mr. Fitch Higgins 12 or 15 rods from his door, and he 
 clasped my hand, and on being asked h§w he did, he exclaimed. 
 "T am a poor sinner." His wife was under deep conviction. He 
 said he had tried to work but could not. 
 
 At Mr. David Frishie's was another deeply interesting scene, 
 and a meeting was appointed at the school house in the evening, 
 which was ' a full and solemn concourse.' 
 
IOS HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 On arriving home I learned that Mr. Smith Atkins had been to 
 see me, and was deeply distressed in mind and could not work. 
 
 May 7 th, Saturday. Went to see James Alcott and Smith At- 
 kins and wife. Met the two first on their way to see me. At 
 Mr. Alcott's house several came in and I exhorted and prayed. 
 
 Two days later he was sent for to go to the north-east 
 part of the parish, where several were in great distress of 
 mind. The whole parish was moved on this subject, — 
 and why not ? Too long had the people been indifferent 
 or greatly negligent as to these things. 
 
 Among the names he mentions, of those greatly inter- 
 ested at this time, are the Brockets, Lindsleys, Nortons, 
 Ephraim Hall and wife, Orin Hall and wife, Anna Lewis, 
 Lucius Tuttle, Jr., Maria Thomas, Mr. Bartholomew, and 
 a number of others. 
 
 On May i ith, they held their "first public prayer meet- 
 ing in the Meeting house, and a considerable number 
 present, and a most solemn and impressive meeting — 
 many in tears — the prayers appropriate, and Deacon 
 Isaac Bronson's address was most weighty, powerful, and 
 awakening.'' 
 
 Thus the church, after six years wandering in the wil- 
 derness, returned to her allegiance to the mission for 
 which she was sent. — to save men. Had the church been 
 faithful, there had been no occasion for such excitement, 
 as it was there was no other way to salvation. 
 
 Mr. Scranton says, in his journal, March 23, 1828, "Be- 
 gan a Bible class." This, I think, was on a week day eve- 
 ning, and was additional to the Sunday-school which 
 was held on the Sabbath, between services, Dr. William 
 A. Alcott being superintendent. The school was organ- 
 ized for the first time under a superintendent and other 
 officers and teachers, during the summer of 1827. 
 
 Deacon Iracl Bronson, now living in Bristol, thinks, this 
 was not an organized school ; only two or three classes 
 were organized with teachers, Dr. YVtn. A. Alcott assist- 
 
WITHOUT A PASTOR. IO9 
 
 ing, particularly in collecting books for the pupils of tin- 
 classes to read. Others think Dr. Alcott was regularly 
 
 appointed superintendent ; for one of the class papers 
 written by him is still preserved. These are the names: 
 Ira H. Hough, Isaac Upson, Samuel Upson, Daniel H. 
 Holt, Asaph Upson, Mahlon Hotchkiss, Leverette Al- 
 cott, Ambrose B. Alcott, John E. Alcott. These were 
 then boys from eight to twelve years old ; so says Mr. 
 Ira H. Hough. This was class No. 3, taught by Lucius 
 Tuttle, Jr., and afterward by L. C. Hotchkiss, who still 
 holds the original class paper. 
 
 By vote of the Society, Rev. Mr. Wheelock was en- 
 gaged to preach " for the term of one year" from Sept. 1 1, 
 1829 ; but in March next. 1830, they voted to " obtain 
 from him the terms on which he is willing to settle with 
 the Society for his past services and relinquish the con- 
 tract for the future." To this he made a written reply, 
 but the records do not show whether he continued long- 
 er or not. The reason for this movement on the part of 
 the Society, I apprehend to have been the difficulty of 
 raising the salary of Mr. Wheelock, and that an arrange- 
 ment was made by which he relinquished so much of that 
 as to continue the time for which he engaged. The So- 
 ciety and church were probably without a stated minis- 
 ter from Sept., 1830, till August, 1831. On January 3r, 
 1831, a subscription was started to raise money for a cupo- 
 la and bell, to be attached to the Meeting house. This 
 subscription, in the elegant " hand-writing" of Mr. Archi- 
 bald Minor is preserved, and the spirit of it, in one re- 
 spect, is worthy of perpetuation, and in another respect 
 so peculiar that I copy it : 
 
 •• Whereas, the inhabitants of the town of Wolcott, feeling desir- 
 ous to have a hell in said town, do propose to build a cupola on the 
 Congregational Meeting house in said Wolcott for the purpose of 
 hanging said bell, provided a sufficient sum can be raised to de- 
 fray the expenses of the same ; and wishing that if there be one 
 provideJ it may be used for all denominations whatever, and that 
 
I IO 
 
 HISTORY OF WOI.COTT 
 
 the same shall be freely used whenever it may be necessary for 
 the convenience of any and every individual of said town ; and 
 hoping and trusting that a thing of this kind would be the means 
 of uniting the people of this town rather than of dividing them ; 
 it is therefore to be hoped and trusted that the inhabitants of this 
 town generally will take so deep an interest in an object of this 
 kind that they will cheerfully and liberally contribute to effect said 
 object. The bell to be always considered the property of the 
 Town of Wolcott, and the ringing of the same to be directed by 
 the inhabitants of said town in their annual town meetings. The 
 weight of the bell to be determined by the subscribers or by a 
 committee by them appointed. 
 WOLCOTT, January 31, 1831. 
 
 Therefore, we whose names are underwritten do agree to pay 
 the several sums annexed to our names, respectively for the at- 
 tainment of the object as above specified, to be paid to him or 
 them, whom the subscribers shall appoint for that purpose. 
 
 NAMES OF SUBSCRIBERS AND AMOUNT SUBSCRIBED. 
 
 Moses Pond, 
 Daniel Holt, 
 Adna Whiting, 
 Lucius Tuttle, 
 A. & II . Roardman, 
 Archibald Minor, 
 Thomas Upson, 
 Marvin Minor, 
 Charles M. Upson, 
 Freelove Upson, 
 Caroline R. Byington, 
 David Frisbie, 
 John Bronson, 
 Hannah Bronson, 
 John Bronson, jr., 
 Lua S. Carter, 
 Luther Hotchkiss, 
 Irad Bronson, 
 James Alcott, 
 James Alcott, jr., 
 Anson G. Lane, 
 Leveritt Kenea, 
 John Thomas, 
 
 525.00 
 
 George Griswold, 
 
 23.00 
 
 Lydia Alcott, 
 
 25 00 
 
 Josiah Thomas, 
 
 25.00 
 
 Luther Andrews, 
 
 15.00 
 
 John S. Atkins, 
 
 20.00 
 
 Samuel Plumb, 
 
 20.00 
 
 Mercy Beecher, 
 
 5.00 
 
 Lud Lindsley, 
 
 1. 00 
 
 Esther R. Hotchkiss, 
 
 2.00 
 
 Rev. E. Scranton, 
 
 2.00 
 
 Almon Plumb, 
 
 20.00 
 
 Joseph N. Sperry, 
 
 8.00 
 
 George G. Alcott, 
 
 50 
 
 Wm. Blakeslee, 
 
 5.00 
 
 Wm. F. Curtiss, 
 
 2.00 
 
 Alben Alcott, 
 
 20.00 
 
 Lewis Churchill, 
 
 5-00 
 
 Mark Tuttle, 
 
 16.00 
 
 Simeon N. Norton, 
 
 4.00 
 
 Wm. Parker, 
 
 5.00 
 
 Ansel H. Plumb, 
 
 10.00 
 
 Reuben Carter, 
 
 5.00 
 
 Mark Alcox, 
 
 5.00 
 1. 00 
 
 10.00 
 5.00 
 5-0O 
 1. 00 
 1. 00 
 
 10.00 
 2.00 
 5.00 
 1. 00 
 5.00 
 1. 00 
 1. 00 
 1. 00 
 2.00 
 1.00 
 8.00 
 2.00 
 1. 00 
 3.00 
 5.00 
 5.00 
 
WITIK 'I T A PASTOR. 
 
 I I 1 
 
 Nathaniel Lane. 2.00 
 
 Levi Atkins, 3.00 
 
 Samuel i Lorton, 5.00 
 
 Moses Bradley, 5.00 
 
 Win. R. Bradley, 2.00 
 
 Eri Wehon, 5-oo 
 
 Ira Hough, 20.00 
 
 Scth Norton, 5.00 
 
 Deiius [lull, 1.00 
 
 JoclAlcox, 4.00 
 
 Elijah Royce, 2.50 
 
 Timothy Royce, 50 
 
 Luther Bailey, 2.00 
 
 Ilemv Beecher, 5.00 
 
 Leonard Beecher, 7.00 
 
 Titus Brockett, 5.00 
 
 Salmon Upson, 3.00 
 
 Cyrus C. Upson, 5.00 
 
 Abner Holchkiss, 1.00 
 
 Onin Hall, 400 
 
 Erastus All ins, 3.C0 
 
 Rollin Tuttle, 2.00 
 
 Ziba Norton, 4.00 
 
 Elihu Moulthrop, 10.00 
 
 Mark Upson, 5.00 
 
 Prosper Hull, 1.00 
 
 Abram Norton, 3.00 
 
 |< 1 n A Brady, i.eo 
 
 Ephraim Hall, 5.00 
 
 Wm. A. Finch, 2.00 
 
 Selim Doolittle, 2.00 
 
 Selah Upson, 8.co 
 
 Reuben Lewis, 4.00 
 
 Harvey Upson, 10.00 
 
 Marshal Upson, 2.50 
 
 Marcus Upson, 1.50 
 
 Wm. Baitholomew, 10, co 
 
 Isaac Bronson, 2.00 
 
 Selh Peck, 1. 00 
 
 Timothy H. Hotchkiss, 2.co 
 Subscription for painting and cover 
 L. Tuttle, jr., added ... 
 
 Era Frisbie, to.oo 
 
 John Frisbie, IO.OO 
 
 Almus W.l 10.00 
 
 Jonathan Bement, 15.00 
 
 Erastus Nichols, 1.00 
 
 1 (avid 1'ai 1 1.00 
 
 Levi Frisbie, 4.00 
 
 A -libel Upson, IO.OO 
 
 Low 111 an Upson, 2.00 
 
 Clark Bronson, 6.00 
 
 Harley Downs, 1.00 
 
 Isaac Alcott, 1.00 
 
 Ransley Minor, 2.00 
 
 Henry Harrison, 1.00 
 
 Seth Thomas, 25.00 
 
 Solomon Parker, 1.00 
 
 Allen Wells, 1.00 
 
 Ambrose Ives, 5.00 
 
 Ransom Blakeslee, 1.00 
 
 Martin Upson, 2.C0 
 
 Alfred Churchill, 200 
 
 Ives Brnii .011, 2 00 
 
 Chester Andrews, 3.00 
 
 Joshua Minor, 1.50 
 
 Newel Minor, 1.00 
 
 Miles Loveland. 3.00 
 
 Fitch A. II iggins, 8.00 
 
 Ilezekiah Mix, 1.00 
 
 Royce Lewis, 1.00 
 
 Samuel B. Tuttle, 5.00 
 
 Pliny Bartholomew, 1.00 
 
 Thomas Barnes, icco 
 
 Susan Byington, 1.00 
 
 Jerry Upson, 5.00 
 
 John Beecher, 6.00 
 
 James Bailey, 10.00 
 
 Eldad Parker, 2.00 
 
 Gates Upson, 5.00 
 
 Almon Alcox, 3.00 
 
 Truman Price, j.oo 
 ing Meeting house, - - 51.00 
 
 7.00 
 
 Amount, $650.50 
 
 In fifteen days this subscription was raised and the sub- 
 
112 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 scribers in assembly voted " to apply the balance of the 
 subscriptions already obtained over and above the ex- 
 pense of erecting cupola and procuring bell, towards 
 covering and painting the house. Upon this the Society 
 voted, " That we accept and approve of the proposals of 
 the subscribers for the cupola to the Congregational Meet- 
 ing house and placing a bell in the same, agreeable to 
 the terms and upon the same principles as stated in the 
 caption to the subscription paper now before the meeting. 
 That the Society approve of the proposal of individuals 
 and grant permission to have the outside of the house 
 covered and painted, if the subscriptions shall furnish 
 means sufficient. That the committee appointed by the 
 subscribers to superintend the erection of the cupola, 
 be authorized to superintend the covering, painting, etc." 
 This committee consisted of Archibald Minor, Thomas 
 Upson, Daniel Holt, Luther Hotchkiss, Adna Whiting. 
 It is worthy of note that this project was carried on by 
 the citizens as such, and not as members of the Society or 
 church, and yet a very large part of the money came 
 from members of the church. Why it was they would 
 not do as well through the Society as through the Town 
 I am unable to say ; but the fact is very evident, and 
 to complete the whole, the Society gave its own work 
 into the hands of the' special committee." 
 
 On the 28th of June, 183 1, the contractor gave a re- 
 ceipt in full for the pay for the work done on the house 
 and cupola, $440. The bell, weighing 931 pounds, and the 
 hangings cost at the foundry, Medway, Mass., $313.61. 
 At the following Town meeting the cupola and bell 
 were offered by the subscribers to the Town as Town 
 property, but the Town refused to accept the same ; af- 
 ter which the subscribers organized into a stock company, 
 
 * In 1S26 the Society voted a tax to the amount of ninety dollars, for re- 
 pairing and painting the house, but in 1S27 they rescinded the vote and 
 gave up the work, having failed to raise the money. 
 
WINK H'T A PASTI »R. I 13 
 
 appointed oflficers and held the property several years. 
 It was finally given to the Society. The first bell became 
 fractured soon after it was put up. It was returned to the 
 foundry, and another sent in its place, according to the 
 stipulations made by Mr. Ho^brook, the maker. It is be- 
 lieved, to this day, that the first bell was not properly 
 used. 
 
 In August, Rev. Nathan Shaw was hired for four 
 months, beginning 4th of July, previous ; and a vote was 
 passed by the Society to apply to the Home .Missionary 
 Society for aid in paying the minister. Eighty dollars 
 were obtained and Mr. Shaw preached until July 4, 1832. 
 He is said to have been a "very smart " preacher. 
 
 In October, [832, the pews were offered for the first 
 time, for rent for one year ; " to be sold to the highest bid- 
 der, provided the sum bid amount to three hundred and 
 twenty-five dollars, reserving the pew east of the pul- 
 pit." One year from this time they were rented again. 
 
 On the 1 2th of November, 1832, the committee were 
 directed to " engage the Rev. David Smith for three Sab- 
 baths." During the year 1.S33 there is no account of a 
 minister being hired by the Society. Mr. Shaw may have 
 preached part of the year and others the remainder ; 
 the Home Missionary Society appropriated 80 dollars 
 for 1833. On April 10th, 1834, they voted, that " this Soci- 
 ety will settle a minister provided the means can be ob- 
 tained." On the 2 1 st of the same month they voted 
 "That the prudential committee be directed to wait on 
 Rev. Seth Sackett and invite him to become our minister 
 and that we on our part will pay him four hundred dollars 
 yearly, and that at any time, either party giving six 
 months' notice, the connection between them maybe dis- 
 solved, without damage on either side." This proposition 
 was not accepted, and Mr. Sackett preached two months 
 and probably no longer. 
 
 In [835 Rev. Wm. F. Vail was hired for one year, his 
 term of service extending into the summer of 1836. 
 9 
 
114 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Several persons, not members of the committee, per- 
 sonally bound themselves for the payment of his sal- 
 ary. They circulated a subscription and obtained what 
 they could, and at the end of the year made up the whole 
 amount that was wanting, by paying, each, an equal pro- 
 portion of the deficiency. These are the names of the 
 persons so uniting : Fitch Higgins, Jonathan Bement, 
 Ephraim Hall, Orrin Hall, Reuben Carter, Luther Bailey, 
 Joel Alcott, Lud Lindsley, Selah Upson, Noah H. Bying- 
 ton, Lucius Tuttle. 
 
 The committee were directed on the 4th of August, 
 1837, to "hire Mr. Chapman six weeks after next Sab- 
 bath, as a candidate for settlement," and in September 
 they voted to invite Rev. James D. Chapman to settle 
 with them " as a gospel minister," and this invitation being 
 accepted, Mr. Chapman was " ordained Pastor of the 
 church and Society of Wolcott, on the 25th day of Octo- 
 ber, 1837," with a salary of "three hundred dollars and 
 all that is realized from the Home Missionary Society, 
 annually, so long as he shall continue our minister." 
 
 The following is a list of those who subscribed for the 
 support of the gospel in 1837, who were seated in the 
 Meeting house according to their age : 
 
 John Bronson, agL<l 102, July 16th. Rhoda Norton, 63, Nov. 6th. 
 
 John Frisbie, 75, April 8th. James Alcott, 63, Dec. 5th. 
 
 Nathaniel Lane, 73, May 4th, Levi Atkins, 62, Jan. 14th. 
 
 Sarah Parker, 72, January 12th. Royce Lewis, 62, Feb. 1st. 
 
 Theda Bailey, 72, May 7th. Ruth Johnson, 62, Feb. 1st. 
 
 Samuel Plumb, 71, July 13th. Luther Andrews, 62, April 16th. 
 
 Amy Tuttle, 70, March 14th. Josiah Thomas, 62, Sept. 10th. 
 Mehitable Upson, 69, January 24th. John Bronson, Jr., 61, Jan. 31st. 
 
 Samuel Gaylord, 69, June 12th. Joshua Minor, 61, May 9th. 
 
 Lois Alcott, 68, April 6th. Selah Upson, 61, May 26th. 
 
 H arvey Upson, 68, Nov. nth. Lydia Hall, 61, Aug. 14th. 
 
 L ud Lindsley, 67, Sept. 24th. Moses Bradley, 60, Sept. 25th. 
 
 Abner Hotchkiss, 66, May 24th. Luther Hotchkiss, 59, Dec. 17th. 
 
 Hannah Bronson, 66, Aug. 2_)th. Elizabeth Alcott, 58, July 14th. 
 
 Mark Alcott, 64, May nth. Titus Bracket, 58, Nov. 25th. 
 
 John Thomas, 64, Dec. 9th. Elihu Moulthrop, 57, March 12th. 
 
WITHOUT A PASTOR. 
 
 115 
 
 Gates Upson, 57, July J 8th. 
 David Scarritt, 56, Dec. 221I. 
 Ziba Norton, 55, October 2d. 
 Ira Hough, 54, March 7th. 
 Wm. Bartholomew, 54, Nov. 13th 
 Archibald Miner. 53, May 23d. 
 Jonathan Bement, 52, August 2Sth. 
 Thomas Upson, 52, Sept. 23d. 
 Nathaniel G. Lewis, 51, April 2d. 
 Clark Bronson, 51, Dec. 6th. 
 Moses Pond, 50, January. 
 Eldad Parker, 50, July 24th. 
 Isaac Hotchkiss, 50, October. 
 Olive Wiard, 48, January roth. 
 Almon Alcott, 47, February 29th. 
 Lucy S. Carter, 47, Dec. 2d. 
 Freelove Upson, 46, Feb. 2d. 
 Daniel Holt, 46, August. 
 Stephen Harrison, 45, Sept. 20th. 
 Amanda Perkins, 44, March 13th. 
 Reuben Carter, 44, March 18th. 
 Jedediah G. Alcott, 44, June 26th. 
 Hannah Plumb. 43, February 12th. 
 Lamburton Tolls, 43, August. 
 John Beecher, 42. May 5th. 
 Milo G. Hotchkiss, 42, June 13th. 
 Marvin Miner, 42, August 19th. 
 Stephen Meriman, 42, Sept. 20th. 
 Flavins Norton, 42, Nov. 27th. 
 Anson G. Lane, 41, March 19th. 
 William Plumb, 41, July 29th. 
 Orrin Hall, 40, October nth. 
 L. L. Kenea, 39, June 21st. 
 Leonard Beecher, 39, Now 27th. 
 Ephraim Hall, 38, Sept. 15th. 
 Nelson Tuttle, 38, Nov. 21st 
 Florida Hickox, 37, March 7th. 
 Chester Andrews, 37, Sept. 1st. 
 Joseph N. Sperry, 37, Sept. 5th. 
 Prosper Hull, 36, April 10th. 
 Timothy Bradley, 36, May 22d. 
 Alben Alcott, 36, October 5th. 
 David S. Bailey, 35, July 21st. 
 Mary Hotchkiss, 35, August nth. 
 Abram Norton, 35, Sept. 15th. 
 
 Ansel H. Plumb, 34, Jan. 6th 
 Wm. B. Bradley, 34, August 13th. 
 Salmon Upson, 34, Sept. 8th. 
 Mark Tuttle, 34, October 2 1st. 
 George Griswold, 34. 
 Sylvia Thomas, 33, Feb. 15th 
 Ira Frisbie, 33, March 28th. 
 Alfred Churchill, 33, May 28th. 
 Johnson Alcott, 33, Dec. 10th. 
 Lydia Hotchkiss, 32, March 15th. 
 Carlos R. Byington, 32, April 24th. 
 Lucius Tuttle, Jr., 32, Sept. [7th. 
 Luther Bailey, 31, July 10th. 
 Eneas Blakeslee, Jr., 31, Aug. 10th. 
 Wm. Blakeslee, 31, Oct. 22d. 
 Charles Welton, 30. April 30th. 
 L. M. Sutliff, 30, Sept. 15th. 
 David Scarritt, 30, Dec. 28th. 
 Anson H. Smith, 29, March 20th. 
 Jarvis R. Bronson, 29, April 5th. 
 Henry Beecher, 23, Jan. 24th. 
 Lenas Tolls. 28, May. 
 Charles Upson, 2S, June 4th. 
 Benjamin Z. Lindsley, 28, July 31st. 
 Noah H. Byington. 28, Sept. iSth. 
 John Humiston, 28, Sept. 23d. 
 Henry D. Upson, 28, Oct. 5th. 
 Henry Harrison, 27, March. 
 James W. Norton, 27, March 24th. 
 Joel Alcott, 27, August 16th. 
 Henry Minor, 27, December 17th. 
 Levi Moulthrop, 26, Jan. 5th. 
 Roxannah Perkins, 25, Feb. 13th. 
 Augustus Rose, 25, May 25th. 
 Isaac Hough, 25, Nov. 23d. 
 Cyrus Wiard, 24, Jan. 13th. 
 Wm. Johnson, 24, April 25th. 
 George H. Plumb, 24, Oct. 15th. 
 Levi Atkins, Jr.. 24. Nov. 5th. 
 Henry A. Pond, 23, January 13th. 
 David B. Frisbie, 23, June 17th. 
 J. B. W., 23, June 23d. 
 Ezra S. Hough, 23, August 9th. 
 Joel A. Hotchkiss, 23, October 26th. 
 Lucius Upson, 22, Feb. 13th. 
 
1 16 
 
 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Lucian Upson, 22, Feb. 13th. John C. Alcott, 17, March 24. 
 
 Elihu Moulthrop, Jr., 21, March 16th. Wm. Wiard, 16, Dec. 10th. 
 Hendrick Norton, 21, Dec. nth. Rachel Lindsley. 
 Stiles L. Hotchkiss, 20, March 6th. Isaac Bronson. 
 Mary Ann Wiard, 19, Nov. 10th. Mr. Higgins. 
 
 Rufus Norton, iS, Feb. 18th. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE MINISTRY OF REV. JAMES D. CHAPMAN AND REV. 
 AARON C. BEACH: FROM 1837 TO 185/. 
 
 REV. JAMES D. CHAPMAN. 
 
 Mr. Chapman's ministry was passed during troublesome 
 times. The anti-slavery spirit was rising in the country 
 and making itself felt in political issues. Wolcott was a 
 strongly democratic town and Mr. Chapman was a strong 
 anti-slavery man, and it was not long after his settlement 
 that the conflicting elements gave forth their legitimate 
 prophecies. In April, 1839, when Mr. Chapman had 
 preached here but eighteen months, the Society "voted 
 that a committee be appointed to confer with Rev. J. D. 
 Chapman, with regard to the expediency of dissolving the 
 pastoral relations existing between him and the Society." 
 So strong was the sympathy .of some with the " peculiar 
 institution " of the South that they adopted the barbar- 
 ous expedient of despoiling their neighbors' property in 
 order to intimidate them to silence. As a consequence, 
 Mr. Chapman's horse was sheared, mane and tail, and 
 also the horses of several other members of the church, 
 and one member who had no horse had his cow sheared. 
 
 The church was satisfied with Mr. Chapman, but seve- 
 ral members of the Society, not members of the church, 
 were very greatly opposed to him. The contest went on 
 till the nth day of December, 1839, when the Meeting 
 house was burned to the ground. It is said in charity 
 that the burning of the house was in part accidental. A 
 notice had been given for an anti-slavery meeting to be 
 held in the Meeting house. The evening before this 
 
Il8 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 meeting was to take place, a quantity of powder was 
 placed in the stove with a slow match attached, and a lit- 
 tle after nine o'clock in the evening a heavy explosion 
 was felt and heard by the people residing near the Meet- 
 ing house ; but the cause they could not discover. 
 About 12 o'clock in the night they were aroused by the 
 cry of fire, and found the house all in flames, and it was 
 soon a heap of ashes. The next day the anti-slavery 
 meeting was held, and the people gathered around the 
 smouldering ashes to keep warm while they were ad- 
 dressed on the great subject of freedom. It is possible 
 that the intention was not to burn the Meeting house, but 
 to destroy the stove, and thus prevent the meeting ; for 
 it is said that there was great opposition to having any 
 stove in the house, and for this reason some wanted it 
 destroyed. The first stove was put into the Meeting 
 house about 1 815 and was used till near 1829, when it 
 was set aside. The stove destroyed by the fire was a 
 new one, and had been in the house about one month. 
 This event made great excitement in the town and 
 through the county. Some persons were arrested and 
 held to trial, but when the trial came the principal wit- 
 ness was wanting. This witness was well known, and 
 declared that certain parties had told him that if he 
 testified in the court against them they would certainly 
 kill him. Believing this, he left the town just before the 
 trial, and has never been seen in Wolcott since. These 
 things are still asserted by several of the most trust- 
 worthy persons of the town. This was the tribute that 
 Wolcott paid in those early stages of the great conflict 
 between slavery and freedom, a tribute which, though 
 it seemed great at the time, was but a tithe of what it 
 paid years after, in the conflict that closed, in 1865, in 
 the realization of freedom to all the subjects of this 
 nation without distinction of race or color. And it is to 
 the highest honor of many in this town that, although 
 they held strictly to the Democratic party, when the flag 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. JAMES D. CHAPMAN. I 19 
 
 of the nation was dishonored by her own sons, they then 
 buckled on the soldier's pack, marched to the war, and 
 acquitted themselves like men. At the annual meeting 
 held on the 26th of April, 1840, seventeen men withdrew 
 from the First Society. They were the anti-slavery men, 
 who had been true and faithful to the church and to 
 church principles as maintained in the Congregational 
 churches in New England. They were nearly, if not all, 
 communicants, and among them was Deacon Isaac Bron- 
 son, the great and good man of this church. 
 
 When these persons had withdrawn, being strong 
 friends of Rev. Mr. Chapman, and on the same side of 
 the great question at issue, the Society at once "voted 
 that the Society hereby notify the Rev. James D. Chap- 
 man that they wish that the pastoral relation may be 
 dissolved between him and this Society agreeably to the 
 contract entered into between him and this church and 
 Society at the time of his settlement."" 
 
 An effort was made at this meeting, 26th of April, to 
 raise a subscription to build a Meeting house, but did not 
 succeed. On the 16th of May next they met again, and 
 put forth the following statement as the heading of a 
 subscription paper : 
 
 Whereas, the Congregational Society in the town of Wolcott 
 have suffered a severe loss in the destruction of their house of 
 public worship, inasmuch as they have been deprived of a suit- 
 able and convenient place to assemble for the public worship of 
 God ; and whereas certain individuals who have formerly belonged 
 to said Society have withdrawn from the same, thereby rendering 
 said Society, whose strength has always been small, still more en- 
 feebled ; and whereas it is believed that the erection of a house 
 of public worship by said Society will greatly tend to unite the 
 feelings and promote that peace and harmony throughout the 
 parish which ought ever to exist amongst all ecclesiastical bodies; 
 and whereas said Society are contemplating the erection of such 
 
 * The contract was that the relation between the parties should be dis- 
 solved on condition that either party give six months noti< e. 
 
120 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 a house, and feeling in their present circumstances the necessity 
 of soliciting the aid of all those who feel desirous of promoting so 
 laudable an object; therefore we, the undersigned, for the purpose 
 of assisting said Society to build said house, hereby promise to 
 pay, on demand, to the treasurer of said Society, or his successors 
 in said office, the several sums set opposite our respective names, 
 to be used by said Society for the purpose aforesaid. 
 
 Fifteen men were appointed to circulate this subscrip- 
 tion paper, and on the 20th of June they had succeeded 
 so far that the Society held a meeting and appointed the 
 following persons a building committee: Joseph N. 
 Sperry, Marvin Miner, Ira Hough, Ira Frisbie, and Levi 
 Moulthrop. "The house, including portico, to be 52 feet 
 long ; main body of the house 46 feet long by 36 feet 
 wide ;. length of posts, 20 feet." 
 
 This effort to build a Meeting house did not bring back 
 those persons who had withdrawn, and on the 10th of 
 July, 1840, a Second Congregational Society. of Wolcott 
 was organized. Under these circumstances a Council was 
 called, consisting, of the " whole Consociation." The 
 church united in calling the Council because the Society 
 demanded the dismission of the pastor. On the 9th of 
 November, 1840, — probably the day on which Mr. Chap- 
 man was dismissed, — the church, at a church meeting, 
 took the following action : " Voted unanimously that we 
 are well satisfied with the Rev. James D. Chapman as a 
 gospel minister, both as to his preaching and personal 
 deportment, and are desirous that the pastoral relation 
 might be continued, but as the persons who now consti- 
 tute the Society over which he was installed are anxious 
 for his dismission, we reluctantly consent to it ; provided 
 the Rev. Consociation shall judge it meet and proper." 
 
 The Council met apparently on the 9th of November, 
 1840, and passed the following remarkable but just and 
 high-toned declaration : 
 
 " Whereas, there have existed various difficulties in the church 
 and Ecclesiastical Society in Wolcott, which have led to the form- 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. JAMES D. CHAPMAN. 121 
 
 ation of distinct congregations for public worship ; and whereas, 
 the Consociation has been requested to act on the case, in which 
 request both parties have acquiesced ; and whereas, the interests 
 of religion must be seriously injured in the place by their contin- 
 ued separate existence ; and whereas, the Consociation anticipate 
 no good result from investigation into difficulties complicated and 
 of so long standing, which it would be impossible now wholly to 
 settle ; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That as in the opinion of Consociation, a union 
 of these two bodies may take place without any sacrifice of 
 principle by either of them, a union ought therefore to take 
 place on the basis of the following great principles and stipula- 
 tions, to be solemnly assented to and forever faithfully observed 
 by the parties herein before mentioned: — 
 
 The church, in Congregational usage, is a body distinct and 
 independent of the Ecclesiastical Society, and as such, should in 
 the settlement of a pastor, give a separate vote to be concurred in 
 by the Society, if the Society see fit ; and moreover, may for suf- 
 ficient reasons separate from the Society; but the separation 
 never should take place except in peculiar emergencies and after 
 seeking counsel of Consociation or the neighboring churches. 
 
 It is a cardinal principle that every pastor has a right to discuss 
 in his pulpit those subjects, moral and religious, the discussion of 
 which will in his judgment promote the cause of the Redeemer, 
 and that it is an unreasonable and dangerous infringement on his 
 right, for his church or Society to dictate to him, while their pas- 
 tor, what moral and religious subjects he shall or shall not discuss ; 
 while we full}' admit not only that the exercise of this right 
 should be governed by discretion and wise regard to the interests 
 of religion in the community, but also that a church or Society if 
 they deem themselves aggrieved by indiscreet and improper dis- 
 cussion in the pulpit may seek redress, but only by the regular 
 iastical and civil processes. 
 The above principles of Congregationalism are fully established 
 and admitted, which no Congregational church or Society can 
 violate without injustice to others and unfaithfulness to their de- 
 nominational obligations. 
 
 We. therefore, the Congregational church and Society in Wol- 
 cott, do hereby solemnly admit these principles and express our 
 
122 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 fixed intention to abide by them. We also acknowledge it to be 
 the sacred right of all individuals to enjoy, undisturbed, their own 
 views in respect to Moral Reform, Anti-slavery, Temperance, 
 and kindred subjects, and that we will not disturb, and will use 
 our influence to prevent others from disturbing, any public meet- 
 ing held for the discussion of these subjects. 
 
 Resolved, That on the above principles and stipulations we 
 will unite in good faith as one Society in finishing fche House of 
 Worship which has been commenced on the site of the former 
 house, and endeavor hereafter to support the gospel therein in 
 peace and harmony, it being mutually understood that said house 
 shall be opened for the discussion of the above mentioned sub- 
 jects whenever it shall be requested by a majority of the Church." 
 
 Upon this arrangement between the Society and the 
 church, the pastor was dismissed with the full confidence 
 of the church and Council, and the church and Society 
 entered upon their engagement to complete the Meeting 
 house. 
 
 During Mr. Chapman's first year of labor twenty-one 
 persons united with the church, most of them by profes- 
 sion, so that the condition of the church and the congre- 
 gation was prosperous and hopeful ; and had the Society, 
 or rather certain members of it, conducted themselves 
 according to the Congregational principles which they 
 finally bound themselves to obey', there would have been 
 little if any of this difficulty. 
 
 This conflict of opinion was not peculiar to Wolcott, 
 but occurred in many communities in the nation. It 
 resulted from the persistent effort of a political party 
 striving to please slaveholders, by intimidation and by 
 formal attacks upon the faith and freedom of the gospel, 
 as maintained by a very large portion of the Christian 
 people of the nation. 
 
 REV. AARON C. BEACH'S MINISTRY. 
 
 During the interval between Mr. Chapman's dismission 
 and the employment of Mr. Beach, the Rev. Zephaniah 
 
.MINISTRY OF REV. AARON C. BEACH. 1 23 
 
 Swift supplied the pulpit from nine months to one year, 
 and seems to have given good satisfaction as a minister. 
 Mr. Aaron C. Beach preached his first sermon in Wolcott 
 on December 19, 1 841 , in the Center School House. On 
 the 6th of September, previous, the Society voted to hold 
 their meetings in the Meeting house, but it is probable, 
 that as the Meeting house was not finished inside, and as 
 there was no way to warm it sufficiently in December, 
 they held their meetings in the school house. Mr. Beach 
 was engaged to preach six months, at the end of which 
 time he received a unanimous call to become the pastor. 
 
 He was ordained by New Haven West Consociation, on 
 the 22d day of June, 1842. The members of Consociation 
 present were : Rev. Zephaniah Swift, Rev. John E. Bray, 
 Rev. Jason Atwater, Rev. Anson Smith. The delegates 
 were : Brothers Eben Hotchkiss, of Prospect ; Eli Dick- 
 erman, of East Plains ; Nathaniel Richardson, of Middle- 
 bury ; Amos R. Hough, of Mt. Canned ; George W. 
 Shelton, of Derby; Andrew W. De Forest, of Hum- 
 phreysville ; Deacon Lucian I 7 . Lewis, of Naugatuck. 
 
 Rev. Z. Swift was chosen moderator and Rev. A. 
 Smith, scribe. Revs. S. W. S. Dutton, of New Haven, 
 and E. Lyman, of Plymouth, being present, were invited 
 to sit as corresponding members, and after the examina- 
 tion the ordination services were arranged as follows : 
 Mr. Lyman to offer the introductory prayer, Mr. Dutton 
 to preach the sermon, Mr. Bray to offer the ordaining 
 prayer, Mr. Swift to offer the right hand of fellowship, 
 and Mr. Atwater to address the people and offer the con- 
 cluding prayer. The services were held in the Meeting 
 house, under the "naked rafters," at 11 o'clock on 
 Wednesday, June 22d, 1842. Mr. Beach graduated at 
 Yale College, in 1835, was licensed to preach in 1838, and 
 remained connected with Yale Theological Seminary till 
 near the time when he began to preach in Wolcott. He 
 had a wife and one child when he came here, and resided 
 three or four years in the house which Mr. Keys had for- 
 
124 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 merly occupied. After his settlement, the first great work 
 was to finish the Meeting house, which had already been 
 in process of building nearly two years. It was com- 
 pleted January 18th, 1843, an d dedicated the next day, 
 and has been a very comfortable and commodious house 
 to the present time. During the year 1843 fifteen per- 
 sons united with the church, and affairs presented a more 
 promising and hopeful appearance than for some years 
 before. Mr. Beach says of his labors here : " No exten- 
 sive revival of religion occurred while I was in Wolcott, 
 but more than once we enjoyed a pleasant season of 
 quickened religious interest, which resulted in additions 
 to the church at different times." Forty-four names were 
 added to the list of members while he labored here ; the 
 church and Society worked together in great harmony, 
 and the way was prepared for better days. 
 
 A very important work was accomplished by Mr. Reach 
 in building the house now owned as a parsonage. He 
 built it for himself, but when he closed his labors here 
 the Society purchased it of him. The ground around it, 
 about four acres, was given to him for the purpose of a 
 home, and a hard piece of land it was. There were more 
 than four acres of stones to be disposed of before much 
 soil could be found. Money and work were contributed 
 by the parish, — some say, over a thousand dollars in 
 money, besides the work ; but often such matters are 
 over-estimated. Mr. Beach put in money of his own, to 
 the amount of twelve hundred dollars, and when he left 
 there was a debt of five hundred dollars, which the Society 
 accepted, and on this condition Mr. Beach sold them the 
 house. It is a good house, commodious, and pleasantly 
 located, and there would be pleasure in the thought of 
 the accomplishment of so good an object, but for the 
 little item that somebody "paid too dear for his whistle."' 
 When they began to build this house, the house that Mr. 
 Woodward had owned, with ten acres of land, and very 
 commodious out buildings, was for sale at the low price 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. AARON C. BEACH. 125 
 
 of seven hundred dollars. The choice to-day between 
 that and the parsonage would be in favor of the former. 
 If that had been purchased, Mr. Beach might have saved 
 his $1,200, and the Society its $500, and then put that 
 in repair with the extra money over $700 and the labor 
 expended on the parsonage grounds. 
 
 MR. BEACH DISMISSED. 
 
 At a church meeting held May 10th, 1857, the "church 
 having appointed Deacon A. H. Plumb chairman, re- 
 ceived a communication from their pastor, requesting the 
 church to unite with him in calling the Consociation for 
 the purpose of dissolving his relation to them as their 
 pastor." This communication was as follows : — 
 
 •May 10, 1857. 
 To the Congregational Church of Wolcott : 
 
 Beloved : It is not without pain and sadness that I separate 
 myself from such tried and faithful friends as you have been to 
 me and mine, in health and sickness, in joy and sorrow, these fif- 
 teen years. But the serious and growing inadequacy of my salary 
 constrains me to ask, and I do hereby ask, you to unite with me 
 in calling the Consociation to dissolve my relations to you as 
 your pastor. Affectionately, your fellow disciple, 
 
 AARON C. P.EACH." 
 
 Upon the reception of this letter the church voted to 
 "grant said request, and accordingly appointed Deacon 
 Orrin Hall a delegate to the said Consociation whenever 
 it shall be convenient for that purpose."' 
 
 DOINGS OF CONSOCIATION. 
 
 At a special meeting of the Consociation of New Haven West, 
 held at Wolcott, May 27th, 1857, there were present the follow- 
 ing pastors and delegates : 
 
 Wolcott, A. C. Beach, pastor, Deacon Orrin Hall, delegate; 
 Waterbury, P. YV. Carter, delegate ; Naugatuck, C. Sherman, pas- 
 tor, Bro. David Hopkins, delegate; Oxford, S. Topliff, pastor; 
 Woodbridge. J. Guernsey, pastor, Bro. Nelson Newton, delegate ; 
 
126 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Hamden E. Plains, Deacon Eli Dickerman, delegate; Hamden, 
 Mt. Carmel, Bro. Lucius Ives, delegate ; Seymour, Bro. W. H. 
 Tuttle, delegate. 
 
 Mr. Topliff was appointed moderator, and C. S. Sherman, 
 scribe. 
 
 After full inquiry and discussion, Consociation voted unani- 
 mously that the pastoral relation between Rev. A. C. Beach and 
 the Congregational Church and Society in Wolcott be dissolved, 
 the dissolution to take place on the 2 2d proximo. In coming to 
 this result. Consociation express their conviction of the self-de- 
 nying work of Bro. Beach, in laboring fifteen years, under the 
 embarrassments of an inadequate temporal support, to preach 
 the gospel to this people, raising up men and women for useful- 
 ness in other places to which they have been constantly emigra- 
 ting, and preparing saints here for heaven. We sympathize with 
 him in the necessity of leaving a still warmly attached church and 
 people. We sincerely commend him to the ministry and churches 
 as an able and faithful minister. With this church and Society, 
 in their destitute circumstances, we also heartily sympathize, bear- 
 ing witness to their self-denying efforts to sustain the gospel 
 among themselves. We pray the Great Head of the Church that 
 the way may be opened, the means of support supplied, and a 
 faithful servant of Christ be sent to them, and this place not be 
 left waste, or the people be scattered as sheep having no shepherd. 
 
 Attest: C. S. SHERMAN, Scribe. 
 
 The above statements were very true as to the sacri- 
 fice and efforts on the part both of pastor and people to 
 sustain the preaching" of the gospel in this place. Those 
 were the years of emigration from Wolcott. The build- 
 ing of the church was a heavy work for the people, and 
 after the best that could be done in raising money to pay 
 for it, there was a debt of $3SO, which they tried to liqui- 
 date in the autumn of 1843, but whether they succeeded 
 or not we are not told. In 1846 they took up the subject 
 of procuring a bell, in which they seem to have been 
 successful, partly by the sale of the bell metal of the old 
 bell which melted when the church was burned, and by 
 a special subscription. 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. AARON C. BEACH. 127 
 
 In 1847 they took up the work of procuring a parson- 
 age, and voted that subscription papers be circulated for 
 this purpose, but they did not succeed. In 1848 they 
 voted to "issue subscription papers to raise $750, for the 
 purpose of buying," for a parsonage, "the place' now 
 owned by Mrs. Finch, provided the amount be raised." 
 But they did not succeed in getting the parsonage. 
 Then, in 1849, we find another special subscription for 
 the purpose of paying $100, "arrearages." 
 
 The efforts to secure a parsonage having failed, Mr. 
 Beach engaged in building a house for himself, which he 
 finished in good style ; but alas, when he proposed to sell 
 it, the Society could hot refund the money he had put 
 into it ; for, to assume the five hundred dollars debt was 
 all they could do, and that cost them many years of hard 
 labor and sacrifice to pay. 
 
 Thus closed the labors of Rev. Aaron C. Beach, as 
 pastor in Wolcott. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 REV. STEPHEN ROGERS', REV. LENT S. HOUGH'S, AND 
 REV. W. C. FISK'S MINISTRY : FROM 1 858 TO 1 872. 
 
 REV. STEPHEN ROGERS. 
 
 In the Spring of 1858, Rev. Z. B. Burr, of Weston, 
 Conn., received a " call" from this church and Society, 
 but a settlement was not secured with him. In January, 
 1859, a call was extended to Rev. Stephen Rogers, and in 
 February next the Society concurred in the call, and he 
 was installed, the Society Records say, on the 7th of 
 March, 1859, Dut tne Church Records, a copy of the 
 scribe's paper of the proceedings of Consociation, says 
 the 25th day of March, 1859. Probably the latter is cor- 
 rect. 
 
 Members of the Consociation and other churches invi- 
 ted, who took part in the exercises of installation, were 
 as follows : (The list of ministers and delegates present 
 is not preserved.) 
 
 Rev. Austin Putnam, moderator ; Rev. E. W. Robinson, 
 scribe. 
 
 Invocation, by Rev. Geo. Bushnell; Sermon by Rev. Jas. Averil ; 
 Installation Prayer, by Austin Putnam ; Charge to the Pastor, 
 by Rev. Charles S. Sherman ; Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. 
 Alexander D. Stowel ; Address to the People, by Rev. E. W. 
 Robinson ; Concluding Prayer, by Rev. E. C. Jones ; Benedic- 
 tion, by the pastor. 
 
 Mr. Rogers came from Northfield, and was a man ad- 
 vanced in life, of precarious health, but of noble spirit 
 and of devoted mind. He found a quiet, peaceful parish, 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. STEPHEN ROGERS. 12-j 
 
 a good parsonage to live in, and a warm-hearted, working 
 church. It must be noticed here that during the year 
 1858 the church was greatly revived under the preaching 
 of Rev. Joseph Smith, who was engaged some months as 
 a supply. I find no mention of him in the records of 
 either church or Society, but he was a Methodist local 
 preacher, not engaged regularly in the Conference of 
 that denomination, and resided in or near Birmingham.* 
 During the year 1858, thirty-nine persons united with 
 the church by profession, quite a number of whom re- 
 main to this day devoted and trustworthy members. 
 Most of these persons united in May, 1858, but it is prob- 
 able that Mr. Smith began to preach in the summer or 
 autumn of 1857, and continued during the following win- 
 ter, it being a time of general religious interest in the 
 parish. Mr. Rogers came here less than a year after 
 these thirty-nine persons (at one time) united with the 
 church, and had the comforting advantage of a church 
 wide awake in religious things. He did well, considering 
 his state of health, and is remembered with great kind- 
 ness by the people of the parish. The following commu- 
 nication received by the church explains the difficult}- of 
 parish work to him, and the cause of the dissolution of 
 the pastoral relation. 
 
 MR. ROGERS' LETTER. 
 To the Church and Society of Wqlcott : 
 
 Beloved Brethren ami Friends: — God in his alhvise provi- 
 dence has for a long time visited me with sickness, rendering me 
 incapable of performing all the duties that are expected of one 
 having the pastoral relation; and, as there is no reasonable prospect 
 of seasonable returning health, I feel constrained for your good 
 and my own, to ask that the relation existing between myself and 
 the church and Society be dissolved, to take effect the 18th of 
 
 * Rev. Mr. Smith is now (1874) a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Conference, and is a successful minister in his denomination. He is 
 preaching in Derby, Conn. 
 10 
 
[30 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 April next. Grateful for the friendly relations that have existed 
 between us from the first to this day, and for the sympathy and 
 !;indness manifested to me through all the months of trial through 
 which I have been called to pass ; greatly desiring the prosperity 
 of the church and Society, and the re-establishment of the pas- 
 toral relation, and that you may enjoy and abound in all the bles- 
 sings of the Spirit, is the prayer of your unworthy servant. 
 
 STEPHEN ROGERS. 
 Wolcott, Conn., Sept 6, 1862. 
 
 ACTION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Wolcott, Sept. 6, 1862. 
 
 Church voted unanimously to accept the above request. 
 
 Voted, that we as a church deeply sympathize with our pastor, 
 Rev. Stephen Rogers, in his protracted illness and inability to 
 preach the gospel. And further that we have full confidence in 
 his Christian character and integrity as a minister of the gospel 
 and that we cheerfully recommend him to any church wherever 
 in the providence of God he may be called. 
 
 The Society concurred in a vote to accede to Mr. 
 Rogers' request for a dismissal by Consociation, and it 
 is probable that he was regularly dismissed, though I 
 find no record to that effect."" 
 
 Mr. Rogers removed to Woodbury, Conn., where he de- 
 parted this life a few weeks after reaching that place. 
 
 REV. LENT S. HOUGH. 
 
 Rev. Lent S. Hough came to Wolcott in the Spring of 
 
 * Mr. Rogers donated to the church a library of about a hundred and 
 thirty volumes, consisting chiefly of standard theological works The idea 
 of writing a history of Wolcott was first suggested to the author while ex- 
 amining a book in this library, entitled Hay-ward's New England Gazetteer. 
 This book contains an account of Wolcott, but makes no allusion to the 
 church, — as though it were a heathen community, or one in which the 
 preaching of the gospel had been discontinued. The author was thus led 
 to make special inquiry respecting the religious history of the town, and 
 the present volume is largely occupied with the results of his investigations. 
 If it were not for the strange omission in the Gazetteer, the history of Wol- 
 cott might never have been written. 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. LENT S. HOUGH. 1 3 1 
 
 1863. Mr. Rogers closed his labors on the 18th of April, 
 ami on the 27th of the same month the Society voted 
 to raise three hundred and twenty-five dollars for the 
 purpose of hiring " Rev. L. S. Hough to preach for one 
 year, and that the salary should be paid semi-annually." 
 On the 4th of Ma)-, following, the Society voted "to in- 
 vite Rev. L. S. Hough to serve as acting pastor of this 
 Society, and that we invite the church to unite with us in 
 the request." There is no record of any action by the 
 church. In the Society vote there is no mention of the 
 time for which he was engaged, nor of the terms upon 
 which he was to continue with them. Mr. Hough came 
 from Westfield Society, in the town of Middletown, 
 where he had been a settled pastor for seventeen years. 
 The letter he brought with him from that Society shows 
 the appreciation of him by that people. It is as follows : 
 
 The Fourth Congregational Church of Middletown, to the Congregational 
 Church at ll'oleolt, Conn : 
 
 Beloved Brethren : — This is to certify that the Rev. Lent S. 
 
 Hough and Hannah S. his wife, are esteemed members of the 
 
 Fourth Congregational Church in Middletown, in good and regular 
 
 standing; and having signified their wish to remove their particular 
 
 relations from us to yourselves, they are hereby recommended to 
 
 your special care and fellowship, and when they shall be received 
 
 into membership with you their particular connection with us will 
 
 be considered as dissolved. Hoping that our beloved late pastor 
 
 will find among you warm hearts and kind friends, and a liberal 
 
 support, both in temporal and spiritual things, we recommend 
 
 him, dear brethren, to your special love. And may his labors be 
 
 as faithful and as successful with you as they have been with us, 
 
 and may your prayers ever follow him, as ours certainly will, 
 
 through all the troubles and trials he may still be called to pass 
 
 before he shall finally reach his heavenly rest. 
 
 In behalf of the church, 
 
 HENRY CORNWELI., Clerk: 
 Middletown, May 4, 1863. 
 
 Thus introduced, Mr. Hough went forward with the 
 success of former pastors in this church, for three years, 
 
132 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT; 
 
 during which time nineteen persons united with the 
 church, and other interests were proportionately prosper- 
 ous. I am informed, however, that during the summer 
 of 1866 he manifested great discouragement in regard 
 to the religious condition of the church, and seemed 
 ready to seek some other field of labor. It was during 
 this summer that Deacon Samuel Holmes, of New York, 
 with his family, made his home in this parish for a few 
 months ; a fact that will be remembered with gladness 
 for many years to come. The larger part of the time 
 had passed before Mr. Hough became really acquainted 
 with Mr. Holmes, for as he said afterward, he supposed 
 Mr. Holmes was one of the city people, and would 
 scarcely take notice of a country pastor or his flock. 
 Early in the autumn, while the church was still in a tor- 
 pid state, and after Mr. Hough had passed through sev- 
 eral attacks of illness, accompanied with most acute 
 pain, he gave expression publicly to his feeling of de- 
 spondency, and added that if any one present had any 
 word of encouragement or exhortation he would be glad 
 to have him speak. Upon this, Deacon Holmes arose, 
 took his position by the table in front of the pulpit, and, 
 referring to the pastor's feeling of discouragement, ex- 
 pressed the conviction that if efforts were put forth in 
 cheerful hope, better days would dawn in Wolcott. To 
 test the matter, he proposed that as the evenings were 
 becoming longer, and the people had passed through the 
 hurry of farm work, they should come together in a 
 prayer meeting at a private house during the week. 
 This proposal was eagerly adopted by Deacon Ansel H. 
 Plumb, who invited them to his house. Between that 
 day and the evening of the meeting, Deacon Holmes 
 conversed with three young men on the subject of per- 
 sonal religion. He found one of them cherishing a hope, 
 and the other two anxious in regard to their spiritual 
 state. He persuaded them to come to the Thursday 
 evening prayer meeting and state there what they had 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. LENT S. HOUGH. 133 
 
 told him. When the evening came and the meeting 
 was opened, Mr. Holmes made a few remarks, and 
 called upon the young men to take up their cross. 
 After they had spoken, there was no lack of interest in 
 the meeting, nor in subsequent meetings of the church, 
 for several months. For some few weeks, while Dea- 
 con Holmes remained in the place, regular prayer meet- 
 ings were held, and sometimes special meetings, which 
 resulted in the conversion of a number of persons. 
 When Mr. Holmes left, he had engaged J. D. Potter, 
 the "evangelist," to hold meetings here for one week, 
 which engagement was fulfilled at the time with good suc- 
 cess. The result was that at the first communion in 1867, 
 on January 6th, twenty-seven persons united with the 
 church, and at the next communion four more. This 
 success in the church revived the courage of Mr. Hough 
 for a time, but he still felt inclined to find another parish, 
 and offered his resignation to that effect, but it was not 
 accepted. Again, in the beginning of 1869, he offered his 
 resignation, and it was at once accepted by the officers of 
 the church, without calling a meeting either of the church 
 or of the Society. This method of doing business by the 
 officers, gave dissatisfaction to man)- ; but it is said by 
 the officers that the agreement with Mr. Hough was that 
 " upon his giving a certain timely notice, he was to be 
 allowed to go." It will be readily seen that if any per- 
 sons were to vote, those who called him, or the Society, 
 should have clone it ; so that the method adopted was 
 clearly contrary to Congregational rules and usages. 
 
 A COMMUNION SERVICE. 
 
 In the year 1864, the church was the recipient of a 
 valuable present, which will be cherished by it, proba- 
 bly for the next century at least, and the following en- 
 try in the Records explains itself : 
 
 At a meeting of the Congregational Church in Wolcott, duly 
 held on this 18th day of April, 1S64. it being the 70th birthday 
 
134 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 anniversary of our much esteemed friend, widow Wealthy H.. Ives, 
 of Waterbury, formerly of this town ; there was presented from 
 her to this church as a birthday free-will offering, an exceedingly 
 rich and valuable communion service. Whereupon, it was voted : 
 That we gratefully receive the highly prized offering, and tender 
 to the kind donor our heartfelt thanks for it, hoping that in min- 
 istering to others she may be ministered to from on high, abun- 
 dantly, and that finally she may meet all the recipients of her 
 bounty in the general assembly of the church in heaven. 
 
 Mrs. Ives was born in Wolcott, and was the daugh- 
 ter of Charles Upson, Esquire, for many years one of the 
 most influential men of the town.* 
 
 In 1867, Feb. 28th, the church voted unanimously " to 
 donate our old communion service, not now used, to the 
 Congregational church in Allegan County, Michigan." 
 
 REVISED ARTICLES OF FAITH. 
 
 On the 1st of February, 1865, a committee was ap- 
 pointed to revise the Articles of Faith and Covenant, 
 consisting of Rev. L. S. Hough, Deacon A. H. Plumb, B. 
 A. Lindsley, S. L. Hotchkiss, and Deacon L. B. Bron- 
 son. They made their report at the next communion, 
 and the revised Articles and Covenant were adopted, 
 and were afterward printed, together with a list of the 
 ministers and deacons, and the surviving members of the 
 church. The old articles were twelve in number, and 
 were Calvinistic in their doctrinal statements ; the new 
 or revised articles are eight in number, and have not the 
 slightest tincture of Calvinism in them. The wording of 
 these articles, however, is so obscure that it is difficult 
 to discern what doctrines are intended to be taught. 
 The rules of the church, as published in this " Manual," 
 are peculiar in this respect, that members are received 
 without vote, on the negative condition that no one 
 publicly objects. 
 
 * See Biogiaphy of Dr. Ives. Mrs. Ives died November 2ist, 1S68, in 
 the seventy-fifth year of her age. 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. WARREN C. FISKE. 1 35 
 
 Mr. Hough closed his labors in the Spring of 1869, and 
 went to Salem, Conn., where he preached sixteen months. 
 He then settled in Lyme, where after three years he is 
 still successfully at work, notwithstanding the severe and 
 peculiar afflictions experienced by himself and family. 
 
 During Mr. Hough's labors in Wolcott, important re- 
 pairs were made on the Meeting house, inside and out- 
 side, and a cabinet organ was purchased to aid in the 
 singing. The money for these improvements was secured, 
 mostly, by the Ladies' Sewing Society of the congre- 
 gation, and, as is often the case, the number of ladies 
 engaged in the work of the Sewing Society was no'. 
 large. 
 
 REV. WARREN C. FISKE. 
 
 The officers of the Society, having dismissed Mr. Hough 
 without a vote of the Society or the church, proceeded in 
 like manner to hire another minister. They secured Rev. 
 Warren C. Fiske, of Barkhamstead, a good pastor and 
 preacher. It is possible that the committee proceeded 
 in this manner without intending any violation of Con- 
 gregational order, but it is difficult to see how they 
 could proceed in this manner, when it was well known 
 that there was much dissatisfaction in the parish in con- 
 sequence of their dismissal of Mr. Hough. Mr. Fiske 
 came to Wolcott in May, 1869, and continued to serve 
 the church very acceptably for three years, and then, 
 at his own pleasure, closed his labors, with the intention 
 not to take charge of a parish again, — for a time, at least. 
 
 The year 1870 was the one hundredth year of the organi 
 zation of the parish Society, and in that year should have 
 been held the centenary meeting ; but as far as I have 
 learned, no one thought of it or proposed such a meet- 
 in< r .' : ' 
 
 *If some persons were so capable of conducting such a 111 
 they represented themselves t<> be in 1873, why did they not show a speci 
 mer of their skill in 1870? 
 
136 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 No special revival occurred during Mr. Fiske's la- 
 bors, yet the church kept up its meetings regularly, and 
 attended to all the usual interests with earnestness and 
 fidelity. The people speak in high terms of Mr. Fiske, 
 his excellent wife, and agreeable family. He preached 
 as he was able, in the school houses, but being subject to 
 sudden attacks of a bronchial ailment, could not do as he 
 otherwise would, in the work of preaching. He removed 
 from Wolcott to Charlton, Mass., where he now resides, 
 preaching only occasionally, being without regular pas- 
 toral work. 
 
 REV. SAMUEL ORCUTT 
 
 commenced his services in this parish as stated supply, 
 July 1st, 1872, and as to his labors, this book, including 
 the account of the Centenary meeting, must bear its 
 testimony. He preached three Sabbaths as supply, with- 
 out any purpose of continuing here. But on learning 
 from -the records that 1873 was the one hundredth year 
 of the existence of the church organization, the idea 
 of holding a Centenary meeting arose in his mind and 
 became a special attraction, because of the great pleasure 
 he takes in historic study. In regard to that meeting, 
 he has but one regret, namely, that in consequence of 
 the restricted notions of a few brethren in the church, he 
 was obliged to omit several items which would have 
 given greater interest to that very successful and long 
 to be remembered gathering. 
 
 During his second year, the Meeting house was re- 
 paired, outside and inside, at a cost of over two hun- 
 dred dollars, and chairs, tables, and a sofa were placed 
 in the Meeting house and in the parsonage, to the value 
 of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, besides a beauti- 
 ful and durable clock, donated by Deacon Charles 
 Benedict, of Waterbury, through the agency of George 
 Bridgeman, Esq., of Wolcott, lately deceased. A large 
 proportion of the funds to purchase this furniture was so- 
 licited by the kind favor of Miss Mary E. Cook, of the 
 
MINISTRY OF REV. SAMUEL ORCUTT. 137 
 
 First Church in Watcrbury. and was presented to the 
 church through Mrs. Henry Minor and Mrs. Elihu Moul- 
 throp, of Wolcott. Mr. Kphraim Hall contributed twenty- 
 five dollars toward this fund ; the remainder was raised 
 by subscription in sums of five dollars and under. 
 
 Preaching services have been held in each of the six 
 School Districts in the parish ; and the whole number of 
 sermons preached in the eighteen months, preceding 
 January 1st, 1S74, was two hundred and sixty, being an 
 average of three and one-third a week for that time ; and 
 while thus preaching, the duties of Acting School Visitor 
 have been faithfully attended to. Much time and labor 
 were bestowed, meanwhile, upon preparations for the 
 Centenary meeting, and also upon the pleasing task of 
 collecting materials for this history, and preparing it for 
 the press. 
 
 The church has received aid from the Connecticut 
 Home Missionary Society during the last forty-six years 
 as follows : 
 
 IS2S, 
 
 $50. 
 
 [843, 
 
 $100. 
 
 1852, 
 
 $100. 
 
 i860, 
 
 $125. 
 
 1829, 
 
 80. 
 
 1844, 
 
 100. 
 
 1853, 
 
 100. 
 
 l86l, 
 
 125. 
 
 1831, 
 
 70. 
 
 1845- 
 
 100. 
 
 1S54, 
 
 100. 
 
 1862, 
 
 125- 
 
 [832, 
 
 40. 
 
 1846, 
 
 100. 
 
 1855, 
 
 100. 
 
 1863, 
 
 IOO. 
 
 1833: 
 
 80. 
 
 1847, 
 
 iS°- 
 
 1856, 
 
 125. 
 
 1864, 
 
 i75- 
 
 1836, 
 
 75- 
 
 1848, 
 
 100. 
 
 1857, 
 
 I2 5- 
 
 1872, 
 
 IOO. 
 
 1838, 
 
 75- 
 
 1849, 
 
 100. 
 
 1858, 
 
 100. 
 
 1873, 
 
 200. 
 
 1842, 
 
 i5°- 
 
 1850, 
 
 100. • 
 
 1859, 
 
 IOO. 
 
 1874, 
 
 200. 
 
 The whole amount thus received being three thousand 
 four hundred and eighty dollars, a sum for which all the 
 people feel grateful, and which reflects great honor on 
 the Missionary Society. 
 
 The Society has a small fund left to it by legacy, the 
 interest of which is used for the support of the gospel in 
 the parish. The following resolution was passed by the 
 Society in regard to a part of this fund, in April, i860, but 
 whether that was the date of the reception of the same 
 does not appear : 
 
138 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Resolved, That the legacy of one hundr.ed dollars left by Major 
 Preserve W. Carter for the Congregational Society of Wolcott, 
 constitute a permanent fund to be kept for the benefit of said So- 
 ciety, in the Waterbury Savings Bank, until further action of said 
 Society ; the income to be appropriated for the support of the 
 gospel. 
 
 The sum of two hundred and fifty dollars was given by 
 Judge Bennet Bronson, of Waterbury, the income of 
 which is used for the support of the gospel. 
 
 In addition to these items of aid, it is a fact that in 
 order to maintain the gospel in the parish, the members 
 of the church are paying yearly a sum equal to one and 
 one-eighth per cent, on their assessment in the grand 
 list, a sum much larger in proportion than is generally 
 paid by the more wealthy churches. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY, AND MEMBERS 
 OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Gillet, ordained Dec. 29, 1773, dismissed Nov. 
 10, 1791. Died in Torrington, Conn., Jan. 19, 1826. 
 
 Rev. Israel B. Woodward, ordained June, 1792. Died Nov. 17, 
 1S10. 
 
 Rev. Lucas Hart, ordained Dec. 4, 181 r. Died October 16, 
 1813. 
 
 Rev. John Keys, installed Sept. 21, 18 14, dismissed December, 
 1822. Died in Dover, Ohio, 1868. Aged 86. 
 
 Dea. Isaac Bronson, read sermons most of the time five consecu- 
 tive years, from 1822 to 1827. 
 
 Rev. Erastus Scranton, stated supply from June 1, 1827, to Au- 
 gust, 1829. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Wheelock, stated supply from Sept. 7, 1829, to Sept. 7, 
 1830. 
 
 Rev. Nathan Shaw, stated supply from July 4, 1831, nine months. 
 
 Rev. Seth Sackett, stated supply, a short time. 
 
 Rev. Wra. F. Vail, stated supply one year. 
 
 Rev. James D. Chapman, ordained Oct. 25, 1837, dismissed 
 Nov., 1840. 
 
 Rev. Zephaniah Swift, stated supply, probably one year. 
 
 Rev. Aaron C. Beach, ordained June 22, 1842, dismissed June 
 22, 1857. 
 
 Rev. Z. B. Burr, stated supply a short time. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Smith, stated supply, one year. 
 
 Rev. Stephen Rogers, installed March 25, 1859, dismissed April 
 18, 1863, and died the same year in Woodbury. Conn. 
 
140 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Rev. Lent S. Hough, stated supply from May, 1863, to May, 1869. 
 Rev. Warren C. Fiske, stated supply, from May, 1869, to June, 
 
 1872. 
 Rev. Samuel Orcutt, stated supply, from July 1, 1872, to May 17, 
 
 1874. 
 
 DEACONS. 
 
 Aaron Harrison, elected Jan. 26, 1774. Died Sept. 5, 18 19. 
 Josiah Rogers, elected Jan. 26, 1774. Died Oct. 1, 1803. 
 Justus Peck, elected 1784, resigned Feb. 27, 181 2. Died Nov. 
 
 23, 1813. 
 Joseph Atkins, jr., elected April 19, 1786, resigned and moved to 
 
 Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1805. 
 Isaac Bronson, elected May 16, 1805. Died April 28, 1845. 
 James Bailey, elected Feb. 27, 181 2. Died March 29, 1834. 
 Irad Bronson, elected June 3, 1825, resigned March 20, 1834. 
 
 Removed to Cheshire, thence to Bristol, where he now resides. 
 Harvey Upson, elected May 12, 1832. Died Sept. 11, 1857. 
 Orrin Hall, elected May 18, 1835. 
 
 Ansel H. Plumb, elected Nov. 9, 1838. Died Aug. 20, 1870. 
 Lyman B. Bronson, elected June 3, 1S64. Died May 27, 1866. 
 Miles S. Upson, elected March 1, 1867. 
 George W. Carter, elected Sept. 2, 1870. 
 
 CLERKS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Gillet, from 1773 to I 79 I - 
 Rev. Israel B. Woodward, from 1792 to 181 o. 
 Rev. Lucas Hart, from 1811 to 181 3. 
 Rev. John Keys, from 1814 to 1822. 
 Dea. Isaac Bronson, from 1823 to 1836. 
 Rev. James D. Chapman, from 1837 to 1840. 
 William Bartholomew, from Nov., 1840, to May, 1842. 
 Rev. Aaron C. Beach, from June, 1842, to May, 1857. 
 Stiles L. Hotchkiss, from March, 1858, to 1874. 
 
 MODERATORS OF THE ANNUAL SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
 
 Dea. Aaron Harrison, 1770, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, 
 
 1782, 1783, 1788, 1789, 1794, 1795. 
 Capt. Isaac Hopkins, 177 1, 1772, 1773, 1 7^5? 1786. 
 Capt. Samuel Upson, 1780, 1787, 1790. 
 Capt. Zaccheus Gillet, 1781. 
 
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 141 
 
 Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, 1784, 1793. 
 
 Dea. Joseph Atkins, 1791, 1792, 1797. 
 
 Esq. Charles Upson, 1796, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1803, 1804, 1807, 
 
 1809. 
 Esq. Mark Harrison, 1801, 1802, 1805, 1806, 1809. [811, 1S14, 
 
 1815, 1816, 1820. 
 Jacob Carter, 1810. 
 Asaph Hotchkiss, 181 2. 
 Lud Lindsley, 1813. 
 
 Doct. John Potter, 1817, 1818, 1819, 1822, 1823, 1827. 
 Capt Harvey Upson, 182 1, 1828, 1829, 1834, 1837. 
 Thomas Upson, 1824, 1825. 
 
 Lucius Tuttle, 1826, 1830, 1831, 1842, 1852, 1854. 
 Luther Hotchkiss, 1832, 1833, 1835, 1838, 1841, 1844, 1846. 
 Clark Bronson, 1836, 1849, 1855. 
 Dea Orrin Hall, 1839. 
 Ira Hough, 1S40, 1843, 1845, 1847. 
 Dea. George W. Carter, 1848. 
 Dea. Ansel H. Plumb, 1850, 1856, 1863. 
 Jarvis R. Bronson, 185 1, 1858, i860, 1872. 
 Benjamin A. Lindsley, 1853, 1862, 1864. 
 Eldad Parker. 1861. 
 Mark Tuttle, 1865. 
 Stiles L. Hotchkiss, 1857, 1859, 1866, 1870, 187 1, 1873. 
 
 CLERKS OF THE SOCIETY. 
 
 Daniel Byington, sen., was clerk one year, or, from 1770 to 17 71. 
 
 Daniel Byington, jr., from 1 77 1 to 1798, 26 years. 
 
 Dea. Isaac Bronson, from 1799 to 1831, 32 years. 
 
 Thomas Upson, from 1832, one year. 
 
 William Bartholomew, from 1833 to 1835, two years. 
 
 Mark Tuttle, from 1836 to 1838, two years. 
 
 Ezra S. Hough, from 1839 to 1842, 3 years. 
 
 Joseph N. Sperry, from 1S43 to April, 1847, 3^ years. 
 
 Stiles L. Hotchkiss, from April, 1847, to April, 1850, 3 years. 
 
 Dea. George W. Carter, from April, 1850, to May, 1874, 24 years. 
 
 TREASURERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
 
 Dea. Josiah Rogers, from 1770 to 1773, 3 years. 
 
142 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Capt. Simeon Hopkins, from 1773 to 1789, 16 years. 
 
 Capt. Charles Upson, from 1789 to 17 90, one year. 
 
 Jacob Carter, from 1790 to 1793, 3 years. 
 
 Esq. Mark Harrison, from 1793 to 1797, 4 years. 
 
 Dea. Isaac Bronson, from 1797 to 1830, ^^ years. 
 
 Ira Hough, from 1831 to 1832, one year. 
 
 Lucius Tuttle, from 1833, one year. 
 
 Clark Bronson, from 1834, one year. 
 
 Mark Tuttle, from 1835 to 1838, 3 years. 
 
 Ezra S. Hough, from 183S to 1S43, 5 years. 
 
 Stiles L. Hotchkiss, from 1843 to l ^5°, 7 years, 
 
 Dea. George W. Carter, from 1850 to 1874, 24 years. 
 
 PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEES. 
 
 1770 — Josiah Rogers, John Alcox, Stephen Barnes, John 
 Bronson, Amos Seward. 
 
 1 77 1 — David Norton, Amos Seward, Stephen Barnes, Daniel 
 Alcox, Joseph Beecher. 
 
 1772 — David Norton, Amos Seward, John Alcox, Joseph 
 Beecher, John Bronson. 
 
 1773 — Amos Seward, Joseph Beecher, Stephen Barnes. 
 
 1774 — Amos Seward, Stephen Barnes, Samuel Upson. 
 
 1775 — Samuel Upson, Stephen Barnes, Joseph Beecher. 
 1776 — Joseph Beecher, Samuel Upson, Amos Seward. 
 
 1777 — Amos Seward, Jared Harrison, Thomas Upson. 
 
 1778 — Daniel Byington, jr., Thomas Upson. Daniel Alcox. 
 Jared Harrison. 
 
 1779 — Daniel Byington, Jared Harrison, Lieut. Alcox. 
 1 7 So — Daniel Byington, Deacon Rogers, Jared Harrison. 
 1 78 1 — Daniel Byington, Charles Upson, Joseph Beecher. 
 1782 — Lieut. Beecher, Daniel Byington, Lieut. Peck, Simeon 
 Hopkins, Charles Upson. 
 
 1783 — Lieut. Beach, Mark Harrison, David Norton. 
 
 1784 — David Norton, Justus Peck, Mark Harrison, Simeon 
 Hopkins, Lieut. Beecher. 
 
 1785 — Justus Peck, David Norton, Mark Harrison, Joseph 
 Beecher, Simeon Hopkins. 
 
 T y86 — Abraham Norton, Jonathan Carter, Justus Peck, Sim- 
 eon Hopkins. 
 
I HI MI KS or THE SOCIETY. 143 
 
 1787 — Simeon Hopkins. Nathaniel Lewis, Amos Beecher, 
 Joseph Atkins. Jonathan Carter. 
 
 !788 — Jonathan Carter, Amos Beecher, Simeon Hopkins. 
 
 1789 — Amos Beecher, Jonathan Carter, Samuel Byington, 
 Charles Upson. 
 
 1700 — Mark Harrison, Streat Richards, Jonathan Carter. 
 
 1 791 — Jonathan Carter, Abraham Norton, Jacob Carter, Sam- 
 uel Byington, Walter Beecher. 
 
 1792 — Walter Beecher, Streat Richards, Mark Harrison, 
 Esq., Simeon Hopkins. 
 
 1793 — Streat Richards. Mark Harrison, Walter Beecher, 
 Charles Frisbie. 
 
 1 ; ( j4 . — Mark Harrison, Streat Richards, Isaac Bronson, Charles 
 Upson, Samuel Byington, Joseph Minor. 
 
 1795 — Judah Frisbie, Joseph Minor, David Norton, Isaac Up- 
 son, Isaac Bronson. 
 
 1796 — James Bailey. Samuel Clinton, Joseph Atkins, Isaac 
 Bronson, Daniel Johnson. 
 
 1797 — Deacon Atkins, James Bailey, Stephen Carter, Daniel 
 Johnson, Samuel Clinton. 
 
 1798 — Moses Todd, David Harrison, Stephen Carter, Samuel 
 Clinton. James Bailey. 
 
 1799. — Stephen Carter, Charles Upson, Joseph M. Parker, 
 Samuel Clinton, Preserve Carter. 
 
 1S00 — Charles Upson, Preserve Carter, Joseph M. Parker, 
 James Bailey, Isaac Upson. 
 
 1 80 1 — Joseph M. Parker, Preserve Carter, James Bailey, 
 Charles Upson, John Frisbie, Nathan Johnson. 
 
 1802 — Nathaniel Lewis, Joseph M. Parker, David Harrison, 
 Elijah Rowe, John Frisbie. 
 
 1803 — Joseph M. Parker, John Potter, Jesse Upson, Samuel 
 Horton, David Harrison, John Frisbie, Royce Lewis. 
 
 1804 — David Harrison, John Potter, Jesse Upson, Washing- 
 ton Upson, Royce Lewis, Farrington Barnes, Samuel Horton. 
 
 1805 — John Potter, John Frisbie, Israel Upson, Washington 
 Upson, James Bailey, Mark Barnes, Farrington Barnes. 
 
 1806 — John Potter, Asaph Hotchkiss, Washington Upson, 
 Elijah Rowe, Hezekiah Beecher, John Frisbie, Stephen Carter, 
 jr., John Hitchcock, Farrington Barnes. 
 
144 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ^07 — John Potter, Asaph Hotchkiss, Joseph M. Parker, Far- 
 rington Barnes, Harvey Upson, Stephen Carter, jr., John Frisbie, 
 John Hitchcock, Hezekiah Beecher, Washington Upson. 
 
 j8o8 — Asaph Hotchkiss, Heman Hall, John B. Alcox. 
 
 !8o9 — Asaph Hotchkiss, Harvey Upson, Lud Lindsley, Ab- 
 ner Hotchkiss, Heman Hall. 
 
 1810 — Harvey Upson Gates Upson, Lud Lindsley, David 
 Frisbie, Lucius Tuttle. 
 
 !8n — Asaph Hotchkiss, Harvey Upson, David Frisbie. 
 
 181 2 — Harvey Upson, Lucius Tuttle, Thomas Upson. 
 
 1813 — Lucius Tuttle, William Bartholomew, Pitman Stowe. 
 
 18 1 4 — Lucius Tuttle, William Bartholomew, Pitman Stowe. 
 
 18 1 5 — William Bartholomew, Luther Hotchkiss, Clark Bron- 
 son. 
 
 1816 — Gates Upson, Ira Hough, Daniel Holt. 
 
 18 1 7 — Ira Hough, Daniel Holt, John B. Alcox. 
 18 1 8 — Irad Bronson, Orrin Plumb, David Frisbie. 
 
 18 19 — Thomas Upson, David R. Upson, Moses Pond, Lucius 
 Tuttle. 
 
 1820 — Lucius Tuttle, Thomas Upson, William Bartholomew, 
 Daniel Holt. 
 
 182 1 — Lucius Tuttle, Irad Bronson, Daniel Holt, William 
 Bartholomew. 
 
 1822 — Lucius Tuttle, William Bartholomew, Irad Bronson, 
 Harvey Upson, Daniel Holt. 
 
 1S23 — Ira Hough, Lucius Tuttle, Irad Bronson, William Bar- 
 tholomew. 
 
 1824 — William Bartholomew, Gates Upson, Clark Bronson, 
 Thomas Upson, Luther Hotchkiss. 
 
 1825 — Luther Hotchkiss, David Frisbie, Jonathan Bement. 
 1826' — Harvey Upson, Jonathan Bement, Ira Hough. 
 
 1827 — Ira Hough, William Bartholomew, Daniel Holt. 
 
 1828 — Thomas Upson, Luther Hotchkiss, David Frisbie 
 Clark Bronson. 
 
 1829 — Thomas Upson, Lud Lindsley, Clark Bronson. 
 
 1830 — Reuben Carter, Mark Tuttle, Ira Frisbie. 
 
 1 83 1 — Asa Boardman, George Griswold, Mark Tuttle. 
 1832 — Gates Upson, Ira Hough, Lucius Tuttle, jr. 
 
I iFFICERS Ol' THE SOCIETY. 145 
 
 1833 — Ira Hough, Luther Hotchkiss. Mark Tuttle. 
 1S34 — Fitch Higginsj Ciark Bronson, Orrin Hall. 
 
 1835 — Leonard Beecher, Ephraim Hall, Albert Boardman, Ira 
 Frisbie, Mark Tuttle. Orrin Hall. 
 
 1836 — Ephraim Hall, Ira Frisbie, Joel Alcox, Luther Hotch- 
 kiss 
 
 1837 — Moses Pond, dates Upson, Joseph N. Sperry. 
 
 1838 — Milow G. Hotchkiss, Charles H. Upson, Reuben 
 Carter. 
 
 [839- — dates Upson, Daniel Holt, Ira Frisbie. 
 
 1X40 — Gates Upson, Ira Frisbie, ira Hough. 
 
 1X41 — Ira Hough, Joseph N. Sperry, Ira Frisbie. 
 
 [842 — [ra Frisbie, Ansel H. Plumb, Luther Hotchkiss. 
 
 1843 — Ansel H. Plumb. Orrin Hall, Stiles L. Hotchkiss. 
 
 1S44 — Orrin Hall. Stiles L. Hotchkiss, George W. Carter. 
 
 1S45 — Stiles L. Hotchkiss, George W. Carter, Isaac Hough. 
 
 1846 — Isaac Hough. Mark Tuttle, Carolus R. Byington. 
 
 1S47 — Ansel H. Plumb, Mark Tuttle, George W. Carter. 
 
 1S48 — Ansel H. Plumb, George W. Carter, Benjamin A. 
 Lindsley. 
 
 1849 — Jarvis R. Bronson. Ansel H. Plumb, Miles S. Upson, 
 Mark Tuttle. 
 
 1850 — Ansel H. Plumb, Jarvis R. Bronson, Stiles L. Flotch- 
 kiss, Miles S. LJpson. 
 
 185 1 — Miles S. Upson, Ansel H. Plumb, Benjamin A. Lindsley. 
 
 1852 — Ansel H. Plumb, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Henry Beecher. 
 [853 — Ansel H. Plumb, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Jarvis R. Bronson. 
 1 54 — Ansel H. Plumb, Benjamin A. Lindsley. Ira II. Hough. 
 
 1855 — Ansel H. Plumb. Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Benjamin A. 
 Lindsley. 
 
 1856 — An^el H. Plumb. Benjamin A. Lindsley, Miles S. 
 Upson. 
 
 1857 — Miles S. Upson, Ira H. Hough, Stiles L. Hotchkiss. 
 1858 — Miles S. Upson, Ira H. Hough, Benjamin A. Lindsley. 
 1859 — Miles S. Upson, Benjamin A. Lindsley, Ira H. Hough. 
 i860 — Miles S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Ira H. Hough. 
 1S61 — Miks S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Ira H. Hough. 
 1862 — Miles S. Upson. Ira H. Hough, Joel \V. Upson. 
 II 
 
146 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 1863 — Miles S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Benjamin A. 
 Lindsley. 
 
 1864 — Miles S. Upson, Benjamin A. Lindsley, Stiles L. 
 Hotchkiss. 
 
 1865 — Miles S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Ira H. Hough. 
 1866 — Miles S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Albert N. Lane. 
 1867 — Miles S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Albert N. Lane. 
 1868 — Miles S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Albert N. Lane. 
 1869 — Miles S. Upson, Albert N. Lane, Stiles L. Hotchkiss. 
 1S70 — Miles S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Albert N. Lane. 
 
 187 1 — Miles S. Upson, Albert N. Lane, Benjamin L. Bronson. 
 
 1872 — Miles S. Upson, Albert N. Lane, Stiles L. Hotchkiss. 
 
 1873 — Miles S. Upson, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Albert N. Lane. 
 
 SCHOOL COMMITTEES, AS APPOINTED BY THE PARISH SOCIETY. 
 
 1770 — David Norton, Seth Bartholomew, Daniel Alcox, Amos 
 Beecher, Joseph Beecher, Justus Peck, Capt. Aaron Harrison, 
 Stephen Barnes, Samuel Upson. 
 
 177 1 — Joseph Sutliff, jr., Joseph Atkins, jr., Ens. John Alcox, 
 Amos Seward, Capt. Aaron Harrison, Jedediah Minor, Nathaniel 
 Lewis, Simeon Plumb, Daniel Finch. 
 
 1772 — Simeon Hopkins, Jacob Carter, Aaron Harrison, Elia- 
 kim Welton, jr., Joseph Beecher, Justus Peck, Daniel Byington, 
 John Bronson, Samuel Upson. 
 
 1773 — Stephen Barnes, Aaron Harrison, Joseph Beecher, John 
 Bronson, Daniel Byington, Nathaniel Sutliff, Amos Seward, Daniel 
 Alcox. 
 
 1774 — Justus Peck, Jesse Alcox, Aaron Harrison, Stephen 
 Barnes, Daniel Johnson, Amos Seward, Simeon Hopkins, Daniel 
 Alcox, Eliakim Welton. 
 
 1775 — Daniel Johnson, Justus Peck, Jesse Alcox, Joseph 
 Smith, Jacob Carter, Amos Seward, Eliakim Welton, jr., Joseph 
 Hotchkiss, Daniel Alcox. 
 
 1776 — Lieutenant Cleveland, John Barrett, Wait Hotchkiss, 
 Eliakim Welton, jr., Justus Peck, Jesse Alcox, Samuel Upson, 
 Stephen Barnes, Stephen Pratt. 
 
 1777 — Reuben Frisbie, Deacon Rogers, Captain Alcox, Amos 
 
SCHOOL COMMITTEES OF THE SOCIETY. 147 
 
 Seward, Nathaniel Hitchcock, Nathaniel Lewis, Joseph Beecher, 
 Abel Beecher, Jared Harrison. 
 
 1778 — Josiah Rogers, Jared Harrison, Stephen Pratt, John 
 Alcox, Nathaniel Lewis, Isaac Hopkins, Noah Neal, Samuel Up- 
 son, Zadoc Bronson. 
 
 1779 — Captain Gillet, Eliakim Welton, jr., Samuel Upson, 
 Mark Harrison, Simeon Plumb, Simeon Hopkins, Timothy 
 Bradley. 
 
 1780 — John Bronson, Heman Hall, James Alcox, Samuel Up- 
 son, Abel Beecher, Simeon Hopkins, Amasa Gaylord, Reuben 
 Frisbie. 
 
 17S1 — Reuben Frisbie, Levi Gaylord, Heman Hall, Stephen 
 Carter, Elisha Horton, Jonathan Robins, Amos Seward. 
 
 1782 — David Warner, Eliakim Welton, jr., Ozius Norton, Na- 
 thaniel Lewis, Captain Upson, Jacob Carter, Elisha Horton, Jo- 
 seph Atkins, Abel Beecher, Samuel Byington, Lieutenant Beach. 
 
 1783 — Jacob Carter, John Silkregg, Mark Harrison, Eliakim 
 Welton, jr., Samuel Byington, Charles Upson, Simeon Plumb, 
 Justus Peck. 
 
 1784 — Jacob Carter, Jonathan Carter, Charles VJpson, Wait 
 Hotchkiss, Nathaniel Lewis, John Alcox, Amos Seward, Simeon 
 Plumb. 
 
 1785 — Simeon Plumb, Nathaniel Lewis, Joseph Atkins, Za- 
 doc Bronson, Jonathan Carter, Charles Upson, Simeon Hopkins, 
 David Warner, Amos Seward. 
 
 1786 — David Harrison, Simeon Plumb, Charles Frisbie, Calvin 
 Cowles, Joseph Atkins, James Bailey, James Thomas, Josiah 
 Warner. 
 
 1787 — Charles Upson, Stephen Carter, Jonathan Carter, David 
 Warner, Eliakim W'elton, jr., Daniel Dean, Deacon Peck, Zadoc 
 Bronson, Samuel Upson. 
 
 1788 — Charles Upson, Jonathan Carter, Mark Harrison, Jesse 
 Alcox, Charles Frisbie, Amos Beecher, Eliakim Welton, jr., Sam- 
 uel Upson, Ephraim Smith, jr. 
 
 1789 — Dr. John Potter, Samuel Byington, Charles Upson, 
 Heman Hall, Ozius Norton, Joseph Minor, Simeon Plumb, Na- 
 thaniel Lewis, Nathan Scarritt, Eliakim Welton, jr., Samuel 
 Upson. 
 
148 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 l yc )0 — Abraham Norton, John Potter, Charles Frisbie, Luther 
 Atkins, Deacon Peck, Mark Harrison, Captain Lewis, Nathan 
 Scarritt, James Bailey, Zaccheus Gillet, Eliakim^Welton, jr., Amos 
 Seward, Joseph Minor Samuel Byington. 
 
 ijgi — Simeon Plumb, John Potter, Nathan Scarritt, Moses 
 Pond, David Alcox, Judah Frisbie, Deacon Atkins, Daniel John- 
 son, jr., Samuel Upson, Nathaniel Lewis, Joseph Minor, Ezekiel 
 Upson. 
 
 1792 — David Harrison, Nathaniel Lewis, Streat Richards, 
 William Stevens, Nathaniel Sutliff, Jesse Alcox, Samuel Bying- 
 ton. Zenas Bracket, Joseph Minor, Nathan Seward, John Alcox, 
 Samuel LJpson, Ephraim Smith, jr. 
 
 1793 — Joseph Twitchel, Daniel Tuttle, Mark Barnes, Joseph 
 Minor, John Frisbie, Jonathan Carter, Stephen Carter, James 
 Scarritt, Zuer Bracket, Moses Pond, John B. Alcox, Samuel 
 Upson. 
 
 1794 — Simeon Plumb, Heman Hall, Joseph Beecher. Joseph 
 M. Parker, David Wakelee, Selah Steadman, James Alcox, Joseph 
 Minor, John Talmage, Samuel Clinton, Samuel Upson, Giddeon 
 Finch, Nathan Scarritt, Walter Beecher. 
 
 1795 — Heman Hall, Joseph Beecher, Simeon Plumb, Joseph 
 M. Parker, Selah Steadman, David Wakelee, James Alcox, Jo- 
 seph Minor, John Talmage, Samuel Upson, Samuel Clinton, Gid- 
 deon Finch, Nathan Scarritt, Walter Beecher. 
 
 1796 — Town organized. 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 1773 — Aaron Harrison and Jerusha his wife, Josiah Rogers 
 and Sarah his wife, Isaac Hopkins and Mercy his wife, Joseph 
 Atkins and Abigail his wife, Thomas Upson, Joseph Sutliff, Amos 
 Seward and Ruth his wife, David Norton, John Alcox and Mary 
 his wife, Samuel Upson, Wait Hotchkiss and Lydia his wife, Na- 
 thaniel Butler and Rebecca his wife, Elizabeth Porter, Daniel 
 Alcox and Elizabeth his wife, Joseph Hotchkiss and Hannah his 
 wife, Judah Frisbie, Israel Clark and Mahetabel his wife, Daniel 
 Lane and Jemima his wife, Stephen Miles, Stephen Barnes and 
 Sarah his wife, Zadoc Bronson and Eunice his wife ; Lucy, wife of 
 Justus Peck; Rebecca, wife of Nathaniel Hitchcock; Esther Bar- 
 
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. I49 
 
 rett, Joseph Benham and Elizabeth his wife; Josiah Barnes, Wil- 
 liam Smith; Anne, wife of James Bailey; John Bronson, David 
 Frost. 
 
 1774 — Samuel Bradley, Ephraim Pratt and his wife, Eliza- 
 beth, wife of Ebenezer Wakelee ; Sarah, wife of Isaac Cleveland ; 
 Martha, wife of Aaron Howe; Daniel Byington, jr., Cyrus Nor- 
 ton, Levi Gaylord and Lois his wife, Nathaniel Sutliff, Joseph 
 Beecher and Esther his wife, Jesse Alcox and Patience his wife, 
 Daniel Byington and Sarah his wife, Sarah Seward, Simeon 
 Plumb ; Zeruiah, wife of Joseph Sutliff, jr. 
 
 1775 — Stephen Pratt and Zilpha his wife, Abel Curtiss and 
 Anne his wife, Joseph Atkins, jr., and Phebe his wife; Sarah R., 
 wife of Thaddeus Barnes ; Eunice, wife of Samuel Bradley ; 
 Sarah, wife of Ingham Clark. 
 
 1776 — Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Byington, jr.; Mary, wife of 
 Ezekiel Upson; Eunice, wife of Luther Atkins; Rebecca, wife of 
 Heman Hall. 
 
 1777 — Rebecca, wife of Abraham Wooster ; James Alcox and 
 Hannah his wife; Man-, wife of Jeremiah Scarritt ; Wait Hotch- 
 kiss ; Elizabeth, wife of Zaccheus Gillet, jr., Jared Harrison and 
 Hannah his wife, Zenas Brackett, Calvin Cole and Miriam his 
 wife ; Hannah, wife of Reuben Frisbie. 
 
 1778 — Susanna, wife of Noah Neal ; Sarah Jones, widow; 
 Mrs. Josiah Hart. 
 
 1779 — Josiah Hart. 
 
 1 78 1 — Isaac Barnes and Lucy his wife ; Rebecca, wife of Amos 
 Beecher; Sarah, wife of Capt. Zaccheus Gillet; Joseph Mallery 
 and Eunice his wife. 
 
 1783 — Justus Peck, Charles Upson and Wealthy his wife; 
 Elizabeth, wife of Joel Lane. 
 
 1784 — Ruth, wife of Reuben Frisbie; Joseph Smith, Jacob 
 Carter and Mary his wife, Samuel Byington and Olive his wife, 
 Jonathan Carter and Abigail his wife ; Phebe, wife of Samuel Har- 
 rison ; Sabra, wife of Asa Alcox ; Sibyll, wife of Archibald 
 Pritchard; Jerusha, wife of Cyrus Norton; Samuel Waters and 
 Sarah his wife, Samuel Atkins and Esther his wife ; Esther, wife 
 of Joseph Smith; Hannah, wife of Judah Frisbie; Hannah, wife 
 of Ebenezer Johnson. 
 
150 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 1 7 85 — Mrs. Nathan Stevens; Mary, wife of Charles Upson; 
 Mark Harrison and Rebecca his wife. 
 
 1786 — Triphene Carter, Abraham Norton; Betty, wife of Jer- 
 emiah Smith. 
 
 1787 — Sarah, wife of Nathaniel Lewis ; Catharine, wife of John 
 Sutliff. 
 
 1788 — Miriam, wife of Ozias Norton; Esther, wife of Joseph 
 Beecher, jr. ; Isaac Bronson, Ephraim Smith and his wife ; Rachel, 
 wife of Curtiss Hall 
 
 1789 — Mrs. Selah Steadman. 
 
 1 79 1 — Adah, wife of Rev. Alexander Gillet ; Sarah, wife of Jo- 
 siah Barnes. 
 
 1792 — Eunice, wife of Streat Richards; Hannah Talmage, 
 widow. 
 
 1793 — Sally, wife of Rev. J. B. Woodward; Lois Hopkins, 
 widow ; Heman Hall, David Harrison. 
 
 1794 — James Bailey; Pamela, wife of Solomon Alcox ; Lydia, 
 wife of David Harrison. 
 
 1794 — Isaac Bronson, Mrs. Loise Clark, — Clinton, Mrs. Joel 
 Granniss ; Hester, wife of Jerry Moulthrop ; Cretia, wife of John 
 Talmage ; Ruth, wife of Elisha Horton. 
 
 1796 — Charles Frisbie and wife. 
 
 1798 — John Frisbie. 
 
 Of persons who united with the church from 1798 to 
 181 1, I find no record. In a list written on the inside 
 of the cover of the old book, probably by Rev. Mr. Keys, 
 several names occur that I find in no other place. They 
 are the following : 
 
 Preserve Carter, Prince Duplax, Lud Lindsley, Mrs. Lud 
 Lindsley, Mrs. Preserve Carter. Stephen Carter, Mrs. Stephen 
 Carter; Lowly Carter, widow; Jesse Upson, Mrs. Jesse Upson, 
 Mrs. Moses Byington, Jeremiah Scarritt, Washington Upson, 
 Mrs. Washington Upson, Abigail Pardee, Asaph Hotchkiss, Mrs. 
 Asaph Hotchkiss, John Potter, Mrs. John Potter, Joseph Parker, 
 Mrs. Joseph Parker, Joseph M. Parker and Hannah, his. wife ; 
 Henrv Upson, Mrs. Henry Upson, Mrs. Selah Upson, Mrs. Man- 
 ly Upson. Gates Upson, Mrs. Gates Upson, Isaac Upson, Mrs. 
 
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. 1 51 
 
 Isaac Upson; Lydia Frisbie, Zeruiah Sutliff, Mrs. Ozias Norton, 
 Mrs. John Thomas, Mrs. John Hotchkiss, Mrs. Bildad Hotchkiss ; 
 Martha Thomas, widow ; Mrs. Joshua Minor, Daniel Rose, Mrs. 
 Erastus L. Hart, Widow Sandford, Nathaniel Lane, Mrs. Laura 
 Upson. 
 
 181 1 — Eldad Parker; Ruth, wife of Lewis Wakelee ; Jona- 
 than Case. 
 
 18 1 2 — Esther Harrison, widow; Lydia Alcox, Maria Wakelee, 
 Lewis H. Wakelee, Pitman Stowe and his wife, Mrs. Elisha Hor- 
 ton, jr. 
 
 1813 — Abner Hotchkiss and his wife, Mrs. Ira Hough, Lydia 
 Rogers, Julia Upson, Delight Carter. 
 
 1 814 — Abiather Sutliff and Clarissa his wife, Manly Upson, 
 Harvey Norton, Hannah Beach. 
 
 181 5 — Fanny Knight, widow; Beda Goodyear ; Mary, wife 
 of Reuben Carter; Mary, wife of Bela Row; Abigail Royce, 
 Sarah Churchill, Luther Roper, Mrs. Luther Hotchkiss, Mrs. 
 Ziba Norton, Mrs. David Frisbie. 
 
 1816 — Daniel Holt and Abby his wife, Reuben Carter, Bildad 
 Hotchkiss ; Hannah, wife of Orrin Jackson ; Sarah, wife of Jerry 
 Moulthrop; Hannah, wife of William Bartholomew; Phebe, wife 
 of Irad Bronson ; Sarah Bronson ; Lucette, wife of Obed Doo- 
 little ; Zechariah Hitchcock, Lois L. Doolittle, Mrs. Orrin Plumb. 
 
 1 81 7 — Luna, wife of Amos Pierson ; Irad Bronson; Amy Tut- 
 tle, widow; Lucy Upson. 
 
 182 1 — Mrs. Higgins, Jonathan Bement and Hannah his wife, 
 Anne M. Bailey, Lucius Tuttle, Rebecca Tuttle ; Hannah, wife 
 of John Bronson, jr.; Sarah, wife of Titus Brackett; Lucy, wife 
 of Uri Carter; Betsey, wife of Almond Alcox; Thomas Upson 
 and Jerusha his wife. 
 
 1827 — Sally M. Upson, Laura Munson. 
 
 1828 — Moses Pond, Samuel W. Upson, Clark Bronson and Ex- 
 perience his wife. Sophia R. Alcox, Orlinda Thomas, Selah Upson, 
 Martha Tuttle, Wealthy Moulthrop, Hannah Norton, Fitch A. 
 Higgins. Amanda Higgins. William Bartholomew, Lowman Up- 
 son. John S Atkins, Esther Atkins. Ira Frisbie. Sarah Frisbie, 
 Marilla Lindsley, Hannah M. Lindsley, Rachel Lindsley, Henrietta 
 M. Bailey, Sylvia Thomas, Chloe Alcox, Bennet W. Parker. Mar- 
 
152 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 cus Upson, Mary Harrison, Clarissa Upson, Theda M. Carter, 
 Laura A. Bement. 
 
 1829 — Elizabeth Alcox, Sarah Plumb, Lois Alcox, Benjamin 
 
 A. Lindsley, Lucas H. Carter, Eunice Hotchkiss, Salina D. Car- 
 ter, Asa Boardman, Louisa Boardman, Timothy H. Hotchkiss, 
 Mary A. Hotchkiss, Mabel Downs, Sarah Scarritt. 
 
 1830 — Desire Bunnel, Charles Welton. 
 
 1833 — Polly Upson, Harriet Norton, Mary H. Upson, Char- 
 lotte R. Lindsley, Parlia A. Perkins, Sarah Upson. 
 
 1834 — Ruth Johnson; Lydia, wife of Moses Pond; Nancy, 
 wife of Zenas Tolles ; Parlia, wife of Leonard Beecher ; Mary, 
 wife of Josiah Thomas ; Amanda Perkins ; Lucy, wife of Lowman 
 Upson ; Luther Hotchkiss. Ansel H. Plumb, Luther Bailey, John 
 
 B. Alcox, Russel Rowe, Cyrus Upson, Orrin Hall and Nancy his 
 wife, Albert A. Boardman and Mary his wife ; Ephraim Hall and 
 Mary, his wife, Matthew S. Norton and Betsy M. his wife. David 
 S. Bailey and Sarah L. his wife, Miles S. Hotchkiss and Abigail 
 his wife, Jenette Upson, Mary A. H. Holt, Phebe L. Bronson, 
 Thankful B. Bartholomew, Sarah Hotchkiss, Almira Norton, Ro- 
 sanna L. Perkins, Lois A. Johnson, Lucy A. Bement, Sarah Jane 
 Bartholomew, Rachel Pond, William R. Higgins, Lorin C. Holt, 
 Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Hendric Norton, Polly Alcott, Esther R. At- 
 kins, Harriet Alcott, Russel Upson, Adeline Upson, Roxanna 
 Hall, Florilla Hickox, Isaac Upson. 
 
 1838 — Timothy U. Carter; Lois M., wife of Lucas Sutliff; 
 Hannah V., wife of Carolus Byington ; Bertha Bartholomew, Joel 
 Alcott, Samuel Lindsley, Daniel H. Holt, Mrs. Luther Bailey, 
 George" A. Duran, Lucius Tuttle, jr.; Sylvia, wife of Eldad Par- 
 ker; Polly, wife of Willard Plumb; Vina, wife of John Beecher; 
 Henry D. Upson, Jarvis R. Bronson, Mary P. Smith, Lucius 
 Upson, Anson Sutliff, Ezra Stiles Hough and Lucy his wife, Dei- 
 damia Minor. 
 
 1842 — Marietta Bradley, Mary A. Hough; Harriet, wife of 
 Henry Beecher. 
 
 1843 ' — Lucy Ann, wife of Aaron C. Beech; Adah Finch, Still- 
 man Bronson, Henry Beecher, Rollin W. Plumb ; Lois A., wife of 
 Ansel H. Plumb; Esther P., wife of Jarvis R. Bronson; Eliza 
 A. Norton, George W. - Carter, Rufus Norton, Mrs. Harriet 
 
MEMBERS OF THE ( HURCH. 1 53 
 
 E. Norton, Narcissa Sperry, Esther Alcott, Royce Lewis and 
 Fanny his wife. 
 
 1844 — Mrs. Rachel Upson, Hannah Tuttle, Esther Atkins, 
 Charles Kirk, Benjamin A. Lindsley and Lucina his wife. 
 
 1S46 — Sarah Ann, wife of Geo. \V. Carter; Matthew S. Nor- 
 ton and Betsey his wife. 
 
 1848 — Mercy Gaylord Alcott. 
 
 1849 — Emoret A. Bartholomew. Sarah Plumb. 
 
 1850 — Lois S., wife of David M. Sanford ; Amos Roberts and 
 Rebecca his wife. Miles M. Upson, Burritt W. Beecher. Newell B. 
 Churchill, Lyman B. Bronson. 
 
 1853 — Dudley H. Abbott ; Jenette, wife of Seth Wiard. 
 
 1854 — Martha Tuttle. John Wickliffe Beach, Mary R. Hotch- 
 kiss. David F. Beach, Jane Beach. 
 
 1858 — Augusta E. Markland, James Alcott, Salina Alcott, 
 Harriet Ann Alcott, Emily Alcott, Ardelia M. Tuttle, Mary A. 
 Hough. Ann A. Hough, Ira H. Hough, Ezra S. Hough, Harriet 
 E. Hough, Emma J. Odell, Sarah E. Bartholomew, Augustus E. 
 Brackett, Joel W. Upson and Eleanor his wife, Lucian Upson, 
 Leroy Upson, Saphrona Upson, William A. Munson, Julia A. 
 Munson, Mary E. Hitchcock, Henry B. Carter. John H. Beecher, 
 Joseph A. Beecher. S. Dwight Beecher, James B. Bailey, Elmer 
 Hotchkiss, Mary E. Atkins. Lucy S. Bronson, John Frisbie, Fran- 
 cis (i. Churchill. Esther E. Hough, Harriet L. Bronson, Emogene 
 E. Minor, Laura Ann Hough, Amelia E. Rose, Rufus A. Sand- 
 ford. 
 
 1859 — Mrs. Sarah Whitlock, Albert N. Lane and Esther Me- 
 lissa his wife. Mary Harrison. Emma A. Upson, Edward H. 
 Allen, Rev. Stephen Rogers and Jerusha his wife, Hannah Be- 
 ment, Esther A. Beecher. 
 
 i860 — Andrew R. Rowe, David A. Sandford. 
 
 1861 — Mrs. Betsey Sperry. 
 
 1862 — Helen M. Rogers. Abigail Brooks. 
 
 1863 — Rev. Lent S. Hough, Hannah S. Hough, Leonard 
 Blakeslee. Emma C. Hitchcock. Maria S. W. Hough. Mary E. 
 Hough, Martha R. Hough. 
 
 1864 — Sarah M. Moulthrop, Annis E. Hotchkiss, Emily M. 
 Upson, Luther W. Plumb, Eliza A. Plumb, Emeline Thomas, 
 
154 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Sarah U. Hall, Helen R. Thomas, Harriet S. Norton, Omer C. 
 Norton. 
 
 1865 — Mary E. Upson. 
 
 1866 — Helen R. Hall. 
 
 1867— Mahlon Hotchkiss, Heman W. Hall, George W. At- 
 wood, Huldah Atwood, Leverette A. Sandford, Harriet J. Hall, 
 Amelia C. Hitchcock, Sarah J. Johnson, Augustus Rose, Mary- 
 Rose, Ella J. Rose, Arthur Terrill. James P. Alcott, Benjamin L. 
 Bronson, Henry Fields. John 1 . Harrison, Evelin M. Upson, 
 Frank C. Munson, Inez E. Munson, Mary Alcott, Mary W. Har- 
 rison, Anna C. Downs, Emilyette Upson, Isaac Hough, George 
 Atkins, Cora A. Atkins, Elliot Bronson, Lydia J. Norton, Lydia 
 S. Downs, Alice S. Lewis, Charles E. E. Somers, Sarah Terrill, 
 Lucilla M. Upson. 
 
 1868 — Martha A. Brooks, Mary A. Richardson. 
 
 1869 — Rums J. Lyman, Rev. W. C. Fiske and H. M. his wife, 
 James P. Fiske, Sarah L. Fiske, William W. Fiske, Orrin Yemmans, 
 Rebecca Yemmans. 
 
 187 1 — Mary P. Carter, Sarah G. Thomas. 
 1S72 — Persis H. Atwood, Frank G. Mansfield. 
 
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 This church, though never large, has performed an im- 
 portant work in this part of the great vineyard, — a work 
 of which it need not be ashamed in any respect. It 
 has suffered more by removal of its members than the, 
 other church, and as a consequence, it is reduced to 
 a handful compared to its former numbers, and has not 
 held regular service for several years. 
 
 Among the earliest settlers in Wolcott were Episco- 
 palians, and when the First Society was organized and a 
 " tax laid" for the support of the gospel, the Episcopa- 
 lians were taxed the same as others, but their tax was 
 appropriated, according to law, for the support of their 
 church in Waterbury. The First Society being the legal 
 one, assessed the ecclesiastical taxes on all persons with- 
 in its bounds, and appointed special collectors to gath- 
 er the tax of Episcopalians, and hence we find as early 
 as 1772, Ensign Oliver Welton and Eliakim Welton, jr., 
 "chosen to collect Rev. Mr. Scovill's rate," and this ar- 
 rangement continued many years afterward, and therefore 
 the Episcopalians paid, by tax, for the support of the 
 gospel as regularly as the Congregationalists. 
 
 In 1779 the Episcopalians were so numerous as to peti- 
 tion the General Assembly to be made a distinct Society, 
 as appears from the following record in the proceedings 
 of the First Society : " Voted, to remonstrate against the 
 memorial whereby we are cited to give reason, if any, at 
 
 
158 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the General Assembly, why Josiah Cowles and others 
 should not be made a distinct Ecclesiastical Society, and 
 that Thomas Upson, Daniel Alcox, Daniel Byington and 
 Jared Harrison be agents for the same purpose," and in 
 consequence of this remonstrance, probably, this petition 
 was not granted. 
 
 Soon after Mr. Woodward's settlement, persons began 
 to withdraw from the First Society, in favor of other 
 churches, and from 1791 to 1822, twenty-six families 
 withdrew and joined the Baptist Societies in Bristol, 
 Southington, and Waterbury ; twenty withdrew in favor 
 of no Society, and the following in favor of the Episco- 
 pal church : 
 
 1793 — Barna Powers. 
 
 1806 — Timothy Hotchkiss. 
 
 1808 — Daniel Byington, Streat Richards, Joseph Minor, Lewis 
 Loveland, David Wakelee, Reuben Lewis, Jesse Alcox, jr., Na- 
 thaniel G. Lewis, David Alcox, jr., Joseph C. Alcox, Phineas 
 Deming, Levi Brown, James Scarritt, David M. Beach. Isaac 
 Downs, Elkanah Smith.* 
 
 1809 — John Norton, Caleb Merrills, Marvin Beckwith, jr. 
 
 181 1 — Jairus Alcox, Titus Hotchkiss, John J. Kenea. 
 
 18 1 2 — Levi Hall, Zephana Parker, Anion Bradley. 
 
 18 1 3 — Joseph Twitchell, Richmond Hall, Samuel Upson, jr._ 
 Lyman Higgins, Jerry Todd, Levi Parker, Ambrose Ives, Archi- 
 bald Minor. 
 
 18 1 6 — Marcus Minor, Jeremiah Sperry, Harpin Hotchkiss. 
 
 1820 — Salmon Johnson. 
 
 182 1 — Orrin Plumb. 
 
 1822 — William Parker. | 
 
 About the year 1805, the Episcopal people began to 
 hold service at the house of Daniel Byington at the Mill 
 
 * And two others, whose names were afterwa"rds erased, making eighteen 
 at one time. 
 
 f We have the certificates of over ninety families that withdrew from the 
 First Society, between the years 1791 and 1S22. 
 
CALL FOR THE FIRST SOCIETY MEETING. 1 59 
 
 Place, where they continued to hold it, most of the 
 time, for a number of years. 
 
 The Episcopal Society was organized January 26th, 
 181 1, at the house of Mr. Titus Hotchkiss, who then re- 
 sided on the Twitchell place. 
 
 CALL FOR THE FIRST SOCIETY MEETING. 
 
 We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Wolcott, being 
 of the order of Christians denominated Episcopalians, and being 
 desirous to form ourselves into a Society for the purpose of exer- 
 cising all the privileges which by law are granted to the several 
 Societies, being of the aforesaid order of Christians, do hereby 
 agree to meet on the 26th day of instant November, at the dwell- 
 ing house of Mr. Titus Hotchkiss, in said Wolcott, at one o'clock 
 in the afternoon of said day, for the purpose of choosing a moder- 
 ator and clerk of said meeting, which clerk, when chosen, shall be 
 sworn as the law directs j and also to choose all other officers 
 which shall then be thought necessary and proper for the good of 
 said Society, and also to tax ourselves for the purpose of pro- 
 curing such proportion of preaching as shall by the Society be 
 thought best, being at all times governed and directed by a 
 majority of said meeting, in the doing and performing of all which, 
 as above written, will ever hereafter consider ourselves a Society ; 
 and to be guided by the same laws and in the same manner as 
 other Societies of the same denomination, belonging to this State, 
 are. 
 
 Wolcott, November 21, 181 1. 
 
 John Welton, Moses Welton, Levi Hall, William Parker, 
 William Hotchkiss, Ambrose Ives, Eliakim Welton, Timothy 
 Hotchkiss, Streat Todd, Phineas Deming, Joseph Minor, John 
 Norton, Zephana Parker, Bildad Hotchkiss, John J. Kenea, Asaph 
 Finch, Levi Brown, Erastus Welton, Joseph Welton, Eliakim 'Wel- 
 ton, 2d, Titus Hotchkiss, Thomas Welton, Daniel Langdon, Hez- 
 ekiah Bradley, Daniel Byington, David Wakelee, Joseph C. Al- 
 cox, Eleazer Finch. 
 
 MINUTES OF THE FIRST SOCIETY MEETING. 
 
 Wolcott, Nov. 26, 181 1. 
 At a legal meeting this day holden at the dwelling house of 
 
l6o HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Mr. Titus Hotchkiss, by the members of the Episcopal Society, 
 the following votes were passed by the members of said meeting : 
 That Daniel Langdon be moderator of said meeting, and that 
 Erastus Welton be clerk for the year ensuing ; that Moses Wel- 
 ton be treasurer; that Moses Welton, Bildad Hotchkiss, and 
 Irad Wakelee be Society's Committee for the year; Daniel 
 Langdon and Thomas Welton, Wardens. Voted that a tax of 
 one cent on a dollar be laid on the list 1811, and made payable 
 to the Treasurer the first day of March. 181 2, and that Irad 
 Wakelee be Collector of said Tax. Voted that the annual society 
 meeting be hereafter holden the last Monday in November, annu- 
 ally. That the society committee receive the money at the 
 hands of the Treasurer, and at their discretion apply it for preach- 
 ing the ensuing year." 
 
 For two years after the formation of the Society, the 
 Rev. Mr. Prindle, then of Naugatuck, supplied the Soci- 
 ety with preaching once a month during the summer sea- 
 son, six or seven months, at $6 per Sabbath, as the 
 Treasurer's book shows. In 181 5 Rev. Tillotson Bron- 
 son preached for them. After this, names of ministers 
 are not mentioned for some years, yet the amount spent 
 for preaching seems to have been most of the time near- 
 ly fifty dollars a year. 
 
 Services were conducted by laymen regularly in the 
 absence of a minister, and the following committees were 
 appointed from year to year to " read the prayers of the 
 church," and also to read sermons. 
 
 181 2 — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Elias Welton. 
 
 18 1 3 — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Elias Welton, Erastus 
 Welton. To read sermons — Elias Welton, Ambrose Ives, Levi 
 Parker, Erastus Welton, Jarius Alcox, Joseph Welton. 
 
 1814 — To read prayers — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, 
 Eliakim Welton, Erastus Welton, Elias Welton. To read ser- 
 mons — Ambrose Ives, John Kenea, Levi Parker. 
 
 181 5 — To read prayers — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton. 
 Erastus Welton, Elias Welton, Eliakim Welton, Eben Welton. 
 
CHURCH COMMITTEES. l6l 
 
 To read sermons — John J. Kenea, Levi Parker, Ambrose Ives, 
 Elias Welton. 
 
 1816 — To read prayers — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, 
 Eliakim Welton, jr., Erastus Welton. To read sermons — Am- 
 brose Ives, Levi Parker, William Alcox, Amos B. Alcox, Elias 
 Welton, Erastus Welton 
 
 18 1 7 — To read prayers — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Eben 
 Welton, Erastus Welton, Eliakim Welton. To read sermons — 
 Ambrose Ives, William Alcox, Levi Parker, Erastus Welton, 
 Ziba Welton, Amos B. Alcox. 
 
 18 18 — To read prayers — Eben Welton, Moses Welton, Eras- 
 tus Welton, Thomas Welton. To read sermons . — Ambrose Ives, 
 Erastus Welton, William Alcox, Levi Parker, Elias Welton. 
 
 18 1 9 — To read prayers — Eben Welton, Thomas Welton, 
 Erastus Welton, Moses Welton, Archibald Minor. To read ser- 
 mons — Erastus Welton, Archibald Minor, William Alcox, Levi 
 Parker. 
 
 1820 — To read prayers — Eben Welton, Moses Welton, 
 Thomas Welton, Erastus Welton. To read sermons — Ambrose 
 Ives, Archibald Minor, Erastus Welton, Elias Welton, William 
 Alcox. 
 
 182 1 — To read prayers — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, 
 Eben Welton, Erastus Welton, Archibald Minor, William Alcox. 
 To read sermons — Archibald Minor, Erastus Welton, William 
 Alcox, Levi Parker, Elias Welton, Willard Plumb. 
 
 1822 — To read prayers — Thomas Welton, Eben Welton, Moses 
 Welton. Erastus Welton, Archibald Minor, William A. Alcox. 
 To read sermons — Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb, Elias Welton, 
 Willard Plumb, William A. Alcox, Levi Parker, Erastus Welton, 
 Levi Hall, Ambrose Ives. 
 
 This list of names for ten years exhibits the working 
 force of the church without a minister. In contrast with 
 the other church in Wolcott, it shows that as the Epis- 
 copal Society and church grew strong, the Congregation- 
 al grew weak, and hence, in 1822 and 1823, when the 
 Episcopal Society began to make arrangements to build 
 a house of worship, the Congregational Society dismissed 
 Mr. Keys for want of ability to support him, and en- 
 12 
 
1 62 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 tered upon the plan of lay preaching, by Isaac Bronson, 
 which continued a number of years after. There seems to 
 be no occasion for censure, but if the whole people could 
 have consented to worship as one body, the result would 
 have been, apparently, more happy and advantageous to 
 the community and to the world. 
 
 BUILDING A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. 
 
 In 1817 the Society voted that "we meet at the house 
 of Mr. Daniel Byington the winter coming," and at this 
 house they probably had met during the winters, most of 
 the time, from the commencement of holding services 
 separate from Waterbury, and during the summer meet- 
 ing in the school houses. 
 
 On April 10th, 1820, the Society, at an adjourned meet- 
 ing, took into consideration the subject of building a 
 house of worship, and "voted that we appoint an agent 
 to consult the minds of gentlemen on the expediency of 
 petitioning the Legislature for a grant of a lottery for 
 the purpose of building a house of public worship." At 
 an adjourned meeting held in the same month, April 
 24th, they "voted that we will build a house of public 
 worship, provided that we can agree upon a spot for that 
 purpose." Also "voted that we will build a house in the 
 Centre, provided we can be accommodated with a place 
 to set it, and that Levi Hall, Ambrose Ives, and Erastus 
 Welton, be a committee to look out a spot to build a 
 house." 
 
 At an adjourned meeting, held December 31st, 1821, 
 they "voted that we will build a church in case we can 
 get money enough subscribed, and that we will build it 
 in the centre of the town, near the Meeting house, and 
 that Archibald Minor, Levi Hall, Moses Welton, Eben 
 Welton, Willard Plumb, and Ambrose Ives, be a com- 
 mittee to circulate subscription papers for the purpose of 
 building a house." 
 
 On January 21st, three weeks later, they "voted to 
 
BUILDING A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. 163 
 
 ascertain the probable expense of a house from 40 by 30 
 to 46 by 36 feet, and also to get a plan of the frame." 
 One week later they "voted to build a church 30 by 40 
 feet, that it be two stories high, with 20 feet posts and 
 a cupola suitable for hanging a bell." At the same meet- 
 ing they directed the Society Committee to "agree with 
 Moses Pond for a room in his chamber to meet in for one 
 year, if in their opinion they can get it reasonable." 
 Moses Pond's house was at this time the public house at 
 the Centre. In the Autumn of the same year they 
 circulated subscriptions to raise money to defray ex- 
 penses for hiring a house in which to hold public worship 
 the year ensuing, and it is probable it was this chamber 
 in Mr. Pond's hotel. 
 
 In December, 1823, they accepted the report of their 
 committee on a place to build a house, and fixed a site 
 and appointed a committee to forward the enterprise. 
 Between the years 1822 and 1830, the Society met fre- 
 quently, discussed the whole subject of building and 
 appointed committees to forward the same, but the 
 house did not appear in its place as desired. The Society 
 was not able to build a church that would accommodate 
 even its small congregation, and during the same time 
 the Congregational Society was unable to "hire preach- 
 ing." The "revival" in the Spring of 1828 in the Con- 
 gregational Society under the Rev. Mr. Scranton had re- 
 vived the religious energies of the whole community, and 
 the Episcopal Society shared in its benefits. In Feb- 
 ruary of 1830, they changed the size of the house to 24 
 by 36 feet, and proceeded to gather materials for the 
 building. 
 
 A SITE GIVEN BY THE TOWN. 
 
 Wolcott, April 5th, 1830. 
 
 Then met according to adjournment, and at said meeting, upon 
 the petition of a number of the members of the Episcopal So- 
 ciety in said town in the form following : 
 
 Whereas, the Episcopal Society in the town of Wolcott are 
 
164 I ITS TORN' OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 about to erect a house of public worship in said Wolcott, and 
 being desirous to set the same somewhere near the Congre- 
 gational Meeting house in said Wolcott, or as near as a suitable 
 spot of ground can be obtained for that purpose, we, therefore, 
 whose names are underwritten, petition the inhabitants of said 
 Wolcott, in legal town meeting this day assembled, for leave to 
 erect said house on the most eligible spot of ground belonging to 
 said town of Wolcott on the south part of the public green. 
 
 Signed by JOHN J. KENEA and others. 
 Wolcott, April 5, 1830. 
 Voted to grant the prayer of the petition. 
 
 During the summer of 1830 the frame was raised, and 
 in December the outside of the church was covered. 
 The only record of expense of the Society is a paper- 
 covered book, found in possession of Mr. Orrin Hall, hav- 
 ing been left by Mr. Levi Hall at his death, containing 
 Mr. Erastus Welton's account with the Society as treas- 
 urer from 181 1 to 1823, and containing Mr. Levi Hall's 
 account with the same from 1835 to J S39- These items 
 give us no account of tliz cost of the church, nor when it 
 was completed. It is probable that the church was not 
 finished till some time during the year 1832, from the 
 fact that a meeting of the Society was held on the first 
 Monday of April, 1833, and they "voted to discharge 
 Levi Hall, Archibald Minor, Thomas H. Welton, and 
 Orrin Plumb, building committee for the church, from 
 any further services as committee aforesaid, and from all 
 liabilities in said capacity," which indicates the work of 
 building completed at that time. 
 
 In 1836 a stove was put into the church, as appears 
 from a subscription paper for that purpose, still pre- 
 served. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 The early records of the church were destroyed, 
 purposely, as we are informed, by Rev. Collis I. Potter, 
 who was minister to this parish in 1850; but from a 
 minute made in the transactions of the Society, we learn 
 quite clearly that the church was organized on or about 
 Easter, 1834, for the meetings are called "Meetings of 
 the Episcopal Society" till October, 1833, when they ad- 
 journed to the first Monday after the next Easter, and on 
 that date the record made is of "All Saints' Parish in 
 Wolcott." I have no doubt, therefore, of the date of 
 the organization. 
 
 The records destroyed contained the list of the mem- 
 bers and families of the church, and their destruction 
 left the Book of Records in an unseemly condition, such 
 as we should think no one would tolerate, — especially 
 for the reason given, that some few things objection- 
 able had been written therein. Hence, as to the rec- 
 ords of the church, we are carried forward to the year 
 1850, when the Rev. Mr. Potter, then minister of "All 
 Saints' Church," makes the following minute : "The old 
 register is exceedingly imperfect, partly from the negli- 
 gence of former ministers, and partly from the fact that 
 it has been judged expedient to destroy several pages 
 containing matter which was inappropriate for a register 
 of the church, and which gave offence to some." After 
 thus giving reasons for the destruction of the records, 
 he enters on an earnest exhortation to future ministers 
 
166 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 and wardens to keep the register fully and faithfully, and 
 in a " proper manner;" but he himself makes no record 
 whatever of past historical items, except this one of the 
 destruction of the register. Instead of giving reasons 
 why a register should be kept, it would have been better 
 to copy such parts of the old register as were "proper" 
 for a church record. Five years after Mr. Potters reign 
 of destruction in records, we come to some account of 
 the members and families of the church, which was made 
 by Rev. Ximenus Alanson Welton, who " took charge 
 of the parish under the supervision of the Bishop," in 
 1855. 
 
 During the years 1836 and 1837, the church was sup- 
 plied with preaching by Rev. Peter G. Clark, residing in 
 Cheshire. Several receipts for moneys paid are pre- 
 served, but they are not explicit as to the amount of 
 yearly salary ; only from one receipt it might be conclu- 
 ded that he received $230 a year. In 1838 and 1839, Rev. 
 Mr. Covill is mentioned as preaching to this church " half 
 of the time." 
 
 In 1840 and 1841, and possibly longer, the church was 
 supplied with preaching by Rev. Servilius Stocking, who 
 resided in Wolcott, and may have been the first resident 
 minister of this church. The salary seems to have been 
 $300 a year, which was equal to the amount raised by 
 the other Society at the same time. 
 
 From Easter, 1843, for one year, the Rev. Mr. Gregor 
 supplied the pulpit, and the Rev. Wm. G. French the 
 year following ; and following him, in 1845 to 1846, the 
 Rev. David Sandford was engaged, and after him Rev. 
 John D. Smith, for three years. The Rev. Collis Ira 
 Potter was employed as minister from the Spring of 1850 
 to that of 1855. He entered in a new register a list of 
 communicants and families then belonging to the church, 
 and continued a faithful registry of baptisms, confirma- 
 tions, and deaths, during his stay in the parish. The 
 Rev. Ximenus Alanson Welton followed Mr. Potter in 
 
EPISCOPAL MINISTERS. l6/ 
 
 1855 and 1856, and showed equal faithfulness in regard 
 to the records. 
 
 MINISTERS WHO PREACHED FOR THE EPISCOPAL PEOPLE IX 
 WOLCOTT. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Prindle, of Naugatuck, two years once in six weeks, 
 from 18 1 1 to 18 13. 
 
 Rev. Tillotson Bronson, of Cheshire, preached a short time. 
 
 From 1 8 17 money was raised nearly or quite every 
 year till 1835, to procure preaching, but the ministers' 
 names are not mentioned in the records. 
 
 1836 and 1837 — Rev. Peter G. Clark of Cheshire. 
 
 1838 and 1839 — Rev. Mr. Covell, of Bristol. 
 
 1840 and 1841, and perhaps longei — Rev. Servilius Stocking, 
 resident minister. 
 
 1843 — Rev. Mr. Gregor. 
 
 1844 — Rev. Wm. G. French. 
 
 1845 and 1846 — Rev. David Sandford. 
 
 1847 — Rev. John D. Smith, of Seymour, three years. 
 
 1850 to 1855 — Rev. Collis Ira Potter, four years. 
 
 1S55 and 1856 — Rev. Ximenus Alanson Welton. 
 
 1858 — Rev. Samuel A. Appleton, assistant to Rev. Dr. Clark, 
 of Waterbury. 
 
 1859 — Rev. James Morton, of Harwinton preached most of 
 the year as supply on Sabbath. 
 
 i860 — Rev. J. M. Willey, assistant of Rev. Dr. Clark, of Wat- 
 erbury. He is said to have been a " smart man," and enjoyed 
 preaching at YVolcott very much. 
 
 Since Mr. Willey, Rev. Prof. Russell, of Waterbury, has 
 preached a few times. 
 
 CLERKS. 
 
 181 1 to 1823 — Erastus Welton. 
 1824 to 1835 — Orrin Plumb. 
 1836 to 1839 — Seth Horton. 
 1840 to 1841 — Orrin Plumb. 
 1842 to 1864 — Ezra L. Todd. 
 1865 to 1873 — Dennis Pritchard. 
 
168 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 TREASURERS. 
 
 1811 to 1823 — Erastus Welton. 
 1824 to 1834 — Orrin Plumb. 
 1835 to 1841 — Levi Hall. 
 1842 to 1844 — Heman Hall. 
 1845 to 1847 — Levi Hall. 
 1848 to 1859 — Geo. G. Alcott. 
 i860 to 1873 — Dennis Pritchard. 
 
 SOCIETY COMMITTEES. 
 
 181 1 — Moses Welton, Bildad Hotchkiss, Irad Wakelee. 
 
 1 81 2 — Moses Welton, Irad Wakelee, Elias Wakelee. 
 
 1813 — Moses Welton, Ambrose Ives, Levi Parker. 
 
 1814 — Ambrose Ives Levi Hall, Moses Welton. 
 
 18 1 5 — Levi Hall, Ambrose Ives, Eliakim Welton. 
 18 16— Ambrose Ives, Levi Hall, Eliakim Welton. 
 18 1 7 — Joseph Minor, Jeremiah Todd. Jared Welton. 
 
 18 1 8 — Eben Welton, Joseph C. Alcox, Streat Todd. 
 
 1819 — Eben Welton, Streat Todd, Marcus Minor. 
 ^20 — Streat Todd, Levi Hall, Eldad Alcox. 
 
 182 1 — Levi Hall, William Plumb, Eldad Alcox. 
 
 1822 — Eldad Alcox, William Plumb, Archibald Minor. 
 
 1823 — Archibald Minor, Hezekiah Bradley, Erastus Welton. 
 
 1824 — Hezekiah Bradley, Archibard Minor, Levi Hall. 
 Xo record of election from 1825 until 1829. 
 
 1S29 — Lyman Higgins, Orrin Plumb, Eldad Alcox. 
 
 1830 — Lyman Higgins, Levi Hall, Orrin Plumb. 
 
 1 83 1 — Levi Hall, Eldad Alcox, Lyman Higgins. 
 
 1 S3 2 — John J. Kenea, Lyman Higgins, Marcus A. Minor. 
 
 1833 — Martin Upson, Marcus Minor, Seth Horton. 
 
 1834 — No record. 
 
 1835 — Marcus Minor. Chester Hotchkiss, Seth Horton. 
 
 1836 — Seth Horton, Jesse Nichols, Martin Upson. 
 
 1S37 — Martin Upson, Heman Hall, Thomas H. Welton. 
 
 1 S3 8 — No record. 
 
 1839 — Marcus Minor, Moses Pond, Sammy Finch. 
 
 1540 — Moses Pond, Heman Hall, Willis Merrill. 
 
 1541 — Martin Upson, I evi Hall, James Alcott. 
 
WARDENS OF THE SOCIETY. 169 
 
 1842 — Martin Upson, Lyman Higgins, Levi Hall. 
 
 1843 — Martin Upson, Harvey G. Plumb, Upson Higgins. 
 
 1844 — Upson Higgins, Hezekiah Todd, Thomas H. Welton. 
 
 WARDENS. 
 
 811 — Daniel Langton, Thomas Welton. 
 
 812 — Eliakim Welton, Thomas Welton. 
 
 813 — Eliakim Welton, Thomas Welton. 
 
 814 — Eliakim Welton, Thomas Welton. 
 
 815 — Eliakim Welton. Thomas Welton. 
 
 816 — Thomas Welton, Eliakim Welton, jr. 
 
 817 — Eben Welton. Erastus Welton. 
 
 818 — Eben Welton, Erastus Welton. 
 
 819 — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton. 
 820 — Thomas Welton, Moses Welton. 
 
 821 — Erastus Welton, Moses Welton. 
 
 822 — Erastus Welton, Eben Welton. 
 
 823 — Moses Welton, Thomas Welton. 
 
 824 — Hezekiah Bradley, Moses Welton. 
 
 No record of any elections from 1824 to 1829. 
 
 829 — Levi Hall, Lyman Higgins. 
 
 830 — Sammy Nichols, Hezekiah Bradley. 
 831 — Sammy Nichols, Hezekiah Bradley. 
 
 832 — Hezekiah Bradley, Sammy Nichols. 
 
 833 — Lyman Higgins, Levi Hall. 
 834 — No record. 
 
 S35 — Sammy Nichols, Heman Hall. 
 
 836 — Lyman Higgins, Heman Hall. 
 
 837 — Heman Hall, Lyman Higgins. 
 
 838 — No record. 
 
 539 — Lyman Higgins, Heman Hall. 
 
 540 — Heman Hall, Lyman Higgins. 
 
 541 — Heman Hall, Lyman Higgins. 
 
 842 — Lyman Higgins, Moses Pond. Martin Upson. 
 
 843 — Lyman Higgins. Moses Pond. 
 844 — Lyman Higgins, Moses Pond. 
 
 No record until 1848. 
 
 1848 — Levi Hall, Martin Upson. 
 
170 
 
 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 1849 — 
 1850- 
 1851- 
 
 1852- 
 
 1853- 
 1854- 
 
 1855- 
 1856 — 
 
 1857- 
 1858 — 
 1859- 
 
 1860 — 
 
 1861 — 
 
 1862 — 
 
 1863 _ 
 
 1864 — 
 
 Lyman 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 Martin 
 
 Higgins, Levi Hall. 
 Upson, George G. Alcott. 
 
 1, George G. Alcott. 
 
 1, George G. Alcott. 
 
 , George G. Alcott. 
 
 ., George G. Alcott.- 
 
 ., George G. Alcott. 
 
 1, George G. Alcott. 
 
 i, George G. Alcott. 
 
 , George G. Alcott. 
 
 , George G. Alcott. 
 
 , Willis Merrill. 
 
 , Willis Merrill. 
 
 , Willis Merrill. 
 
 ., Willis Merrill. 
 
 , Willis Merrill. 
 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 Upson, 
 
 VESTRYMEN. 
 
 1845 — Moses Pond, Martin Upson, Heman Hall, Marcus 
 Minor, Levi Hall, Lyman Higgins, Hezekiah Todd. 
 
 1846 — Moses Pond, Chester Hotchkiss, Levi Hall, Lyman 
 Higgins, George G. Alcott, Hezekiah Todd, Marcus Minor. 
 
 1847 — Lyman Higgins, Martin Upson, Hezekiah Todd, Mo- 
 ses Pond, Levi Hall, Willis Merrill, Geo. G. Alcott, Marcus Mi- 
 nor, Eldad Alcott. - 
 
 1848 — Moses Pond, Chester Hotchkiss, Orrin Hotchkiss, Lu- 
 ther M. Pond, Geo. G. Alcott, Hezekiah Todd, Ezra L. Todd, 
 David S. Bailey, Marcus Minor, Willis Merrill. 
 
 1849 — Moses Pond, Willis Merrill, Hezekiah Todd, Marcus 
 Minor, George G. Alcott. 
 
 1850 — Ezra L. Todd, Marcus Minor, David S. Bailey, Willis 
 Merrill, Bennet Upson, Luthur M. Pond, Wells Plumb. 
 
 185 1 — Marcus Minor, Dennis Pritchard, Hezekiah Todd, Ezra 
 L. Todd, Luther M. Pond. 
 
 1852 — Dennis Pritchard, Marcus Minor, Willis Merrill, Heze- 
 kiah Todd, Moses Pond. 
 
 1853 — Dennis Pritchard, Moses Pond, Marcus Minor. 
 
 1854 — Willis Merrill, Hezekiah Todd, Dennis Pritchard. 
 
 1855 — Marcus Minor, Willis Merrill, Dennis Pritchard. 
 
VESTRYMEN OF THE SOCIETY. 171 
 
 1856 — Dennis Pritchard, Willis Merrill, Marcus Minor. 
 
 1857 — Dennis Pritchard, Marcus Miner, Willis Merrill. 
 
 1858 — Marcus Miner, Dennis Pritchard, Willis Merrill. 
 1859 — Dennis Pritchard, Willis Merrill, Marcus Minor. ^ 
 i860 — George G. Alcott, Marcus Minor, Dennis Pritchard. 
 
 186 1 — Dennis Pritchard, Ezra L. Todd, Marcus Minor. 
 
 1862 — Dennis Pritchard, Ezra L. Todd, Marcus Minor. 
 
 1863 — Dennis Pritchard, Ezra L. Todd, Marcus Minor. 
 
 1864 — Marcus Minor, Ezra L. Todd. 
 
 
CIVIL HISTORY OF WOLCOTT 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 TOWN INCORPORATED. 
 
 The Ecclesiastical Society of Farming-bury, at a Society 
 meeting held December 7th, 1787, passed the following 
 votes respecting the privileges of a town : "Voted that 
 we are willing and desirous to be incorporated into a 
 town. The negative was called, and not a hand up. 
 Voted that it is our mind when made a town to be con- 
 nected to New Haven County. Voted that Deacon Jo- 
 seph Atkins, Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, Capt. Charles Up- 
 son, Deacon Justus Peck, Streat Richards, Mark Harri- 
 son, be a committee, or agents, to treat "or confer with 
 the towns of Southington and Waterbury respecting our 
 becoming incorporated into a town, and likewise to carry 
 a memorial to the General Assembly in May next. 
 Voted that we prepare a petition to the Hon. General 
 Assembly for privileges of a town, at their session in May 
 next." 
 
 At an adjourned meeting on the second Monday of 
 January, 1788, the Society "Voted that we will choose a 
 committee to treat with the Waterbury committee re- 
 specting our having town privileges, and that Captain 
 Charles Upson, Daniel Byington, Streat Richards, Simeon 
 Hopkins, Abraham Norton, Amos Seward, and Capt. 
 Samuel Upson be the committee ; and said committee are 
 desired to make their report to this meeting as soon as 
 an agreement may be made ; and it is understood that 
 the agreement of said committee is not binding on said 
 Society until agreed to by said Society." 
 
iy6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 From Bronson's History of Waterbury we learn the 
 opinion of that town respecting this movement : 
 
 In December, 1787, the inhabitants of Farmingbury presented 
 a memorial, in town meeting, giving reasons why they should be 
 incorporated into a distinct town, and asking the consent of the 
 meeting. A committee was appointed to take the matter into 
 consideration, and hear the proposals that might be made " con- 
 cerning public moneys, bridges, and town's poor," &c, and report 
 make. Josiah Bronson, Stephen Ives, Aaron Benedict, Ezra 
 Bronson, John Welton, and Samuel Lewis were the committee. 
 " It is rather a doubt in our minds," they reported, " of the expe- 
 diency of granting them their request, on any consideration what- 
 ever, but more especially upon the offers and proposals in several 
 articles by them made." * 
 
 On the 14th day of next April the Society "voted to 
 reconsider the vote that was taken to send agents to the 
 General Assembly in May next, to try to obtain privi- 
 liges of a town." 
 
 In a Society meeting, held on the 13th day of February, 
 1792, this subject was again taken up. It was at the same 
 meeting that voted the settlement of Mr. Israel B. Wood- 
 ward. "Voted that we prepare a petition to the Hon. 
 General Assembly, at their session in May next, for town 
 privileges ; and Dr. John Potter, Lieut. Streat Rich- 
 ards, Mark Harrison, Esq., Capt. Charles Upson, Jona- 
 than Carter, Lieut. James Bailey, Daniel Byington, 
 Calvin Cowles, Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, Mr. Amos Seward, 
 were chosen a committee, or agents, to treat with the 
 towns of Southington and Waterbury respecting the 
 above petition to the Assembly." We learn from the Wa- 
 terbury History that this petition was not presented in 
 the Spring, but in the Autumn session of the Assembly. 
 
 On the 8th of October, 1 792, Farmingbury applied to the 
 Legislature for the desired act of incorporation. The 
 town of Waterbury " voted that if the memorialists would 
 
 * History of Waterbury, p. 282. 
 
ACT OF [NCORP< 'KA'I [ON. 1/7 
 
 within eight days give up all right to the ministerial and 
 school moneys, pay twenty pounds in consideration of 
 being released from supporting the great bridge on the 
 Woodbury road, bind themselves to take care of their 
 portion, according to the grand list, of the town poor, 
 and to pay their share of the town debts ; then, in that 
 case, the town would not oppose the object of the memo- 
 rial. "■• We find no report of the Farmingbury committee. 
 
 In the fore part of December, 1793, the Society again 
 voted to present a petition to the General Assembly, 
 and appointed the following committee to attend to this 
 business : Capt. Charles Upson, Mark Harrison, Esq., 
 Lieut. Streat Richards, Dr. John Potter, Capt. Samuel 
 Upson, Lieut. Charles Frisbie, Capt. Walter Beecher, 
 Ensign Jonathan Carter, Simeon Plumb, Joseph Beecher, 
 Jr., Daniel Byington, and Samuel Byington. Of this com- 
 mittee we hear nothing, except that in a Society meet- 
 ing on the 5th day of February, 1795, the Society voted 
 that " the committee heretofore appointed to prepare a 
 petition to the General Assembly for town privile 
 prepare the same." Hence it is probable they had clone 
 nothing about it. 
 
 On the 25th day of April, 1796, another committee was 
 appointed, and this application was successful. The 
 committee consisted of Mark Harrison, Esq., Captain 
 Charles Upson, Capt. Streat Richards, Mr. Jacob Carter, 
 Mr. Eliakim Welton, and Mr. Elijah Frisbie. 
 
 ACT OK THE GE1 I l.V. 
 
 At a Genera! Assembly of the State of Connecticut, holden at 
 Hartford, on the second Thursday of May, 1796 : 
 
 Upon the petition of the inhabitants of the Society of Farming- 
 bury, in the towns of Waterbury and Southington,f in the coun- 
 
 * Waterbury History, p. 2S2. 
 
 I When Southington was incorporated a town, from Farmington, in Oc- 
 1779, the eastern part of Farmingbury was included within the boun- 
 daries of Southington, ami belonged to that town until the above act took 
 effect. 
 
 13 
 
178 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ties of Hartford and New Haven, showing to this Assembly that 
 some years since said Society was formed by the extreme parts of 
 said towns of Waterbury and Southington, with the dividing line 
 of said towns and counties running from north to south through 
 the centre of said Society, upon which line their Meeting house 
 was erected and stands ; that their local situation is such, being 
 obstructed in their travel eastwardly by a mountain, and other 
 natural impediments, that great inconveniencies arise in their at- 
 tending upon public meetings, and other public services and du- 
 ties, and various other disadvantages are attached to them under 
 their present circumstances ; praying to be incorporated into a 
 distinct town, with usual town privileges, and to be added to the 
 said county of New Haven, as per petition dated May 9th, 1796, 
 on file ; and the said towns of Waterbury and Southington hav- 
 ing withdrawn all objections against the prayer of said petition, 
 
 Resolved, That all the land lying and being in said Society of 
 Farmingbury, and according to the established lines and limits 
 of said Society, be and the same hereby is incorporated into a 
 town by the name of Wolcott,* and that it shall have and retain, 
 and enjoy all the privileges incident and belonging to any other 
 town in the State; except, only, that said town shall hereafter send 
 but one representative to the General Assembly of this State, and 
 that the said town of Wolcott shall hereafter support their propor- 
 tion of the present town poor, according to their list in said towns 
 of Waterbury and Southington, on the said 9th day of May; pro- 
 vided that all debts and taxes due on said 9th of May from the 
 inhabitants of said Wolcott shall be paid and discharged, as the 
 same then or now remains due and owing ; and that all debts and 
 credits of said petitioners with said towns of Waterbury and South- 
 ington (except those appropriated for schooling in said Southing- 
 ton) shall be according to their respective lists of the year 1795. 
 And it is further ordered that the inhabitants of said town of 
 Wolcott shall hold a town meeting on the 13th day of June next, 
 for the purpose of appointing town officers, and the meeting 
 
 * The name of the town would have been Farmingbury, but for the fact 
 that Lieutenant Governor Oliver Wolcott, presiding in the Assembly when 
 the bill was voted on, and there being a tie vote, he gave the " casting 
 vote," which made it a town, and in honor of this fact it was called Wolcott 
 
CARING FOR THE POOR. 179 
 
 shall be warned by a warrant signed by Mark Harrison, Esq., 
 and posted on the public, sign-post in said town at least five days 
 before holding said meeting ; and Mr. Aaron Harrison shall be 
 moderator of said meeting, and said town shall then and there 
 proceed to appoint a town clerk, and other town officers for said 
 town, who shall continue in office until the second Monday of 
 December next, or until others are chosen in their places and 
 stead. 
 
 And it is further Resolved that said town of Wolcott be" and the 
 same is hereby annexed to the county of New Haven, and shall 
 be and remain within and part thereof. 
 
 A true copy of record. 
 
 Examined by SAMUEL WYLLIS, Secretary. 
 
 A true entry of the bill in form of the Town of Wolcott. 
 
 Test. ISAAC BRONSON, Regr. 
 
 The following is the agreement of the towns named 
 concerning the poor : 
 
 Know all men by these presents, that whereas the General As- 
 sembly, at their session in May last, incorporated the parish of 
 Farmingbury into a distinct town from a part of the towns of 
 Southington and Waterbury, by the name of Wolcott, said Wol- 
 cott to support their proportion of the town poor, and the town 
 of Southington having appointed Asa Barnes, Ashbel Cowles, 
 Elizur Andrews, Samuel Hart, and Daniel Langton, jr.. and the 
 said town of Wolcott having appointed Jacob Carter, Nathaniel 
 Lewis, Calvin Cowles, and Mark Harrison, a committee to divide 
 said poor, which dividend is this day concluded and made mutu- 
 ally by us the said committee, viz.: The said town of Wolcott do 
 agree to take Elizabeth Bailey, and Susannah Bailey and her 
 child, on the 13th day of December next, and Abraham Pierson 
 and wife on or about the first day of said December, into their 
 care as their proportion of the poor of said town of Southington, 
 and said Southington does agree to take into their care as their pro- 
 portion of the poor of said towns of Southington and Wolcott, 
 viz : Amos Parsons, his wife and child, Rebecca Hitchcock, Amos 
 Nicholson, Mary , and Eunice Buck ; said Wolcott to haw- 
 no demand, of any name or nature, on said Southington; neither 
 shall said Southington have any demand, of any name or nature, 
 
1 80 HISTORY OF. WOLCOTT. 
 
 on said town of Wolcott, except a note of dollars, which 
 
 note is to be delivered unto the selectmen of Southington as soon 
 as said selectmen of Southington shall execute the said deed unto 
 the said selectmen of Wolcott of the land deeded to said South- 
 ington selectmen by Philemon Barnes, now deceased, and each of 
 said towns are hereby forever discharged from any demands on 
 each other up until this date, except the above deed and note. 
 
 In testimony of the aforesaid agreement and settlement, we 
 have hereunto set our hands, in Southington, this 25th day of 
 November, A. D., 1796. 
 
 Ashbel Cowles, Asa Barnes, Jacob Carter, Nathaniel Lewis, 
 
 Calvin Cowles, Mark Harrison, Samuel Hart, Daniel Langton, 
 
 jr., committee. 
 
 A true copy. ISAAC BRONSON, Reg'r. 
 
 THE FIRST TOWN MEETING. 
 
 At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Wolcott, legally 
 warned and holden according to appointment of the Hon. General 
 Assembly, on the 13th day of June, 1796, Deacon Aaron Harri- 
 son, being appointed Moderator, proceeded to choose the follow- 
 ing gentlemen to the several offices to which their respective 
 names are annexed, viz : 
 
 Town Clerk — Isaac Eronson. 
 
 Selectmen — Mark Harrison, Streat Richards, Jacob Carter. 
 
 Treasurer — Mark Harrison. 
 
 Constables — John Potter, Streat Richards. 
 
 Surveyors of Highways — Daniel Dean, John Potter, Elnathan 
 Thrasher, Simeon Plumb, Eliakim Welton, Joel Granniss, Charles 
 Upson, Samuel Upson, jr., Nathaniel Lane, Jeremiah Scarritt, 
 Nathan Barnes, Joseph Twitchell, Ebenezer Johnson, Truman 
 Smith, Dan Tuttle, Streat Richards. 
 
 Listers — Daniel Byington, John Potter, Isaac Bronson. 
 
 Collector — Samuel Plumb. 
 
 Leather Sealer — Farrington Barnes. 
 
 Grand Jurors — Mark Barnes, Ashbel Upson, Walter Beecher. 
 
 Tything Men — John Frisbie, David Harrison, Solomon Plumb, 
 William Bailey. 
 
 Gauger — Isaac Bronson. 
 
 Packer — William Bailey. 
 
THE II ILLS OF WOLCOTT. iSl 
 
 Sealer of Weights and Measures — William Stevens. 
 
 Key Keepers — Calvin Covvles, Dan Tattle, Amos Upson. 
 
 Fence Viewers — Silas Hine, David Norton, Samuel Clinton, 
 Amos Brockett. 
 
 At the same meeting, it was voted "that Messrs. Samuel 
 Upson, Charles Upson, Streat Richards, Jacob Carter, 
 Mark Harrison, Calvin Cowles, Nathaniel Lewis, and Dan- 
 iel Byington, be a committee to reckon and settle all ac- 
 counts, whether by book, note, or bond, that are or may 
 be open with this and the towns of Waterbury and South- 
 ington, at or before the 9th day of May last ; to divide 
 the town poor (if any be) according to list, and to com- 
 promise and settle all claims and demands, that are or 
 may arise between this and said towns of Waterbury and 
 Southington previous to said 9th day of May last, and, if 
 possible, to effect such settlement, and make a true and 
 just report of their doings to this town, at their an- 
 nual meeting in December next. Voted, that the annual 
 town meeting in this town be holden on the second 
 Monday in December annually, and that the same — and 
 all other ordinal'}' town meetings — be warned by noti- 
 fication, set upon the sign-post eight clays previous to 
 said meeting, by the selectmen of the town for the time 
 being." 
 
 Thus were the people of Farmingbury constituted a 
 distinct town, by the name of Wolcott, after petitioning 
 nine years, and after being an Ecclesiastical Society 
 twenty six years ; and the only evil we could wish to 
 Wolcott, when its century of town history shall be com 
 pleted, is that its prosperity may be much greater than 
 ever before, and that the celebration of that event may 
 witness a population tenfold more than at any time in 
 its past history. 
 
 THE HILLS OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 The town of Wolcott is situated on hills, there being 
 only one valley of any extent within its territory, and 
 that the one coming up from Waterbury to within half a 
 
l82 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 mile of the centre of the town. The stream of water 
 called Mad River, rising in the extreme northern portion 
 of the town, runs down this valley to Waterbury.* West 
 of Mad River, and in the northwesterly part of the town, 
 is Spindle Hill. A little to the north, on the western 
 boundary of the town, and rising higher than Spindle Hill, 
 is Clinton Hill, for a time called New Canaan. This is 
 the highest point of land in the town, and from it may 
 be seen nearly a dozen church spires, in as many villages, 
 and from it also may be seen Long Island Sound and 
 Long Island. A little east of Clinton Hill is a large and 
 nearly barren rock, called Rattlesnake Rock. A little 
 distance northeast of this rock is Becar Hill, which is 
 nearly as elevated as Clinton Hill, but does not afford so 
 extensive a view as the latter. South of Spindle Hill is 
 Chestnut Hill, extending south to the valley of Mad River, 
 where the valley is half a mile wide. Between Chest- 
 nut Hill and Spindle Hill is Potucco's Ring.t The hill 
 which is*iow Wolcott centre was known as Benson Hill, 
 until it was called Farmingbury, and contained a settle- 
 ment of but few families. A small hill south of the 
 centre was called Hogfields. Woodtick;|; is in the south- 
 ern part of the town, at the head of the valley that 
 continues westward to the city of Waterbury. A little 
 south of Woodtick is a hill with which has been connected 
 a legend from which it derives the name of Tame Buck, 
 and west of this is Bald Hill, and west of the Woodtick 
 pond is Wolf Hill. East of the bound line, and situated 
 near Mr. Shelton T. Hitchcock's present dwelling, is 
 Judd's Hill, probably so called from the fact that Deacon 
 
 * This stream, near Waterbury, was called in early times Mill River. 
 
 •f Potucco's Ring, written 'also Petucker's Ring, derived its name from an 
 Indian who kindled a fire in a circle around the hill in order to shoot deer. 
 Potucco himself, remaining within the ring was burned to death. 
 
 \ So called from a story told of a man who, having laid aside his 
 coat during the day while at work, found it at night in the possession of 
 an innumerable number of insects called woodticks. 
 
THE HILLS Of WOLCOTT. [83 
 
 Thomas Judd, of Watcrbury, father-in-law to Mr. Thomas 
 Upson, was among the first land owners on or near it. 
 The hill extending northwardly from Judd's Hill was 
 sometimes spoken of as a part of Southington Mountain. 
 That part of it, especially, where Captain Nathaniel Lewis 
 and Mr. Thomas Upson resided, was called Southington 
 Mountain by Waterbury people before Wolcott terri- 
 tory was settled. Southington Mountain, so called by 
 Wolcott people, begins at the south-east burying ground, 
 and extends northward about two miles. The land next 
 to the highest in the town is in the north-east, and was 
 called for man}- years Pike's Hill, and after that Rose 
 Hill, and still later has been known as the Lindsley Hill. 
 This hill, for some time supposed to be the highest in the 
 town, is lower than Clinton Hill, is also a little lower 
 than East Mountain, near Meriden, and a very little lower 
 than the highest land near Long Island Sound, west of 
 New Haven. 
 
 The hills of Wolcott are composed of ledges of gray 
 rock, and in many parts the rock is near the surface, or 
 rising above it ; and where the rock is covered to a con- 
 siderable depth, much of the soil is so filled with stones 
 and small rocks that the cultivation of it is a difficult and 
 laborious work. Some fields now under cultivation show 
 nearly as great an area of stone as of soil, yet there are 
 many acres of arable land. The greater part of the 
 land under cultivation is at present devoted to grazing. 
 If as much money was devoted to fertilizing the soil as 
 in many other parts of the country, the trade of Wolcott 
 would consist of exports more largely than imports. The 
 rule governing most of the farmers at present seems to 
 be, to get as much from the soil as possible and put 
 nothing on it, which rule would bring barrenness to any 
 land on the planet called Earth. ( )ne reason why the 
 rule is in good favor, is because of the burdens laid upon 
 the men left in the town, the young and strong men 
 having gone away to engage in manufacturing and mer- 
 
184 HISTORY Of WOLCOTT. 
 
 cantile enterprises elsewhere, and there is not force suffi- 
 cient remaining to cultivate the land. Many of those 
 who have emigrated from Wolcott have been remarkably 
 successful, and this success abroad has been an injury, in 
 one respect, for the impression seems to prevail that 
 young men can make money faster and enjoy it more in 
 any place other than in Wolcott. 
 
 Those farmers who cultivate the land with energy, by 
 hiring "help" and buying fertilizers, reap harvests as 
 large as the average throughout the eastern portion of 
 the nation. One thing sure to grow if the soil is left 
 to itself, is white birch, chestnut, oak, and swamp maple 
 trees. The average yearly export of wood is about four 
 thousand cords, while the amount standing does not ap- 
 pear to be diminished. There are many acres of land 
 now called woodland that were under thorough cultivation 
 from thirty to fifty years ago. Mr. Levi Atkins has land 
 where once he mowed an abundant crop of hay from 
 which he has taken one crop of wood, some of the trees 
 being from twelve to fifteen inches in diameter, and the 
 second growth of wood on the same land is now of con- 
 siderable value. Others have valuable timber land where 
 they mowed large quantities of hay less thin twenty* 
 five years ago. Land with a full crop of wood standing 
 is worth two-thirds more than without the wood, and 
 when a farmer removes five or ten acres of wood, he ap- 
 plies to the assessors to lessen, proportionately, the as- 
 sessment on his farm ; so that the amount of the "grand 
 list" is diminishing every year, for the growth of the 
 wood is slow compared with the time required for the re- 
 moval of it. On the other hand, the increase of the as- 
 sessment list in proportion to the growth of wood is a 
 very difficult matter, and one against which the people 
 seem to have strong prejudices. The area of woodland 
 is increasing every year, because the trees are springing 
 up on grazing land in many parts with great rapidity. 
 Without considerable effort to subdue these "rowinGf 
 
THE STREAMS 01 WOLCOTT. 1S5 
 
 bushes they will soon become trees, and the present pas- 
 tures will become forests. From the fact of this rapid 
 growth of wood on land which had been under cultivation 
 from forty to seventy years, it may be properly conclu- 
 ded that the strength of the soil has not been exhausted, 
 and hence with labor and fertilizers Wolcott soil could 
 be made to produce as abundantly as ever. 
 
 STREAMS IN WOLCOTT. 
 
 Mad River is the largest stream within the limits of the 
 town. It rises at the northern boundary and flows south 
 and southwest into the Naugatuck River. Several streams 
 flow into Mad River. One from Spindle Hill, called 
 Stony Brook, enters the river from the west above the 
 Great Falls, or the Mill Place ; another from the east, 
 north of the center, enters below the Great Falls, and is 
 the one on which was situated the tannery of Mr. Ira 
 Hough. Another stream from Buck's Hill enters the 
 river in the Big Plains, and is the one on which Mr. 
 Jonathan Bement built a tannery, near Gehula Grilley's 
 residence, where Mr. Isaac Hough now resides. A small 
 stream east of Capt. John Alcox's residence was called 
 East Misery Brook. Another from the north-eastern part 
 of the town enters Mad River a little north of Woodtick, 
 while another from the south-east part, called Lily Brook, 
 enters a little below Woodtick. 
 
 Three reservoirs are now constructed in this town in 
 connection with Mad River, to supply the manufactories 
 of Waterbury, — one in the northern portion of the town, 
 covering Cedar Swamp ; another in the south-eastern, 
 adjoining Judd's Hill, and the other at the north end 
 of Chestnut Kill. The last named, which is not yet com- 
 pleted, has been constructed at a much greater expense 
 than the others ; and all of them have been built by 
 Waterbury manufacturing companies. In the north-east 
 part of the town is Roaring Brook, running in a south- 
 
186 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 eastern direction down Southington Mountain, on which 
 is, at present, a saw mill of considerable power. There 
 was another mill on the same stream further up, but 
 nothing remains of it except the dam and the foun- 
 dation walls. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE FIRST SETTLERS. 
 
 The land in Wolcott. belonging- as it did originally to 
 the towns of Farmington and Waterbury, was "taken 
 up" largely by the inhabitants of those towns some years 
 before any persons made their residence on these lands, 
 and hence the Waterbury part of Wolcott was, much of 
 it, owned by Waterbury people, and was settled largely 
 by the people of that town, while the Farmington part 
 was "taken up" by the people of that place, and many 
 of the early residents were from that town, including 
 Southington, a few coming from Wallingford. The Far- 
 mington part was laid into " long lots," being in three 
 tiers, of one mile each. The first tier joined the Water- 
 bury, or the "bound line," the second lay east of the 
 first, and the third east of the second, extending to the 
 foot of Southington Mountain. The whole length of 
 each " long lot " is said fin some of the deeds) to have 
 been three miles. The lots were numbered from north 
 to south, and must have commenced near the northern 
 boundary of Wolcott. 
 
 The earliest record of the purchase of land in this 
 part of Wolcott that I have seen, except that of Mr. 
 Thomas Upson, in 1732, is that by Lieutenant Heman 
 Hall, on March 12th, 1750, on the long lot, number fifty- 
 six ; but on this farm was then a dwelling house, in 
 which Mr. Joseph Preston was probably residing. This 
 house stood on the " twenty-rod highway" running north 
 and south on Southington Mountain, directly east from 
 
I 88 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the present gamble-roofed house which he or his son, 
 Captain Heman Hall, afterwards built. Mr. Hall sold 
 this farm to Mr. Preston, of whom he purchased it, and 
 the deeds are dated on the same day. On the 19th of 
 the same month, Mr. Hall purchased another farm on lot 
 fifty-six, of a Mr. Jonathan Mott, fifty acres, "with a 
 dwelling house on it and a road across it," for two hun- 
 dred and ten pounds. He purchased other land near 
 this in 1754, but was then residing in Wallingford, and 
 did not make his residence here until after this date. In 
 1753, Mr. James Pike, and his two sons, Samuel and Da- 
 vid, were residing on or near Pike's Hill. Mr. Samuel 
 Pike bought eighty-five acres on lot thirty-eight, of Mr. 
 Robert Porter, of Farmington, for two hundred and fifty- 
 pounds, in 1753, which land "butted on Waterbury line." 
 Mr. Cogswell purchased of Asa Cowles a part of lot 38, 
 "middle tier," in 1754. Mr. David Pike sold land to Mr. 
 Daniel Mix, in 1753, it being a "part of the lot his father 
 owned." Mr. Benjamin Barnes owned land near that 
 purchased by Lieut. Heman Hall, in 1753, and may have 
 resided on it. 
 
 The earliest record I have seen of Mr. John Bronson 
 in Wolcott, is that of 1762, but whether he was then re- 
 siding here or not I am not able to say, certainly, but 
 think he was. Mr. Justus Peck, afterwards Deacon, was 
 in Wolcott as early as January 1 Sth, 1762. Captain Na- 
 thaniel Lewis, probably, made his residence on the farm 
 still known by his name, about 1760 to 1765, and Mr. 
 David Frost near the same time, perhaps a few years 
 later, and the Carters about 1770. The Beechers may 
 have been here before 1765, as also the Brockets, Hor- 
 tons, and some others who settled in the north-east por- 
 tion of the town ; still, I am of the' opinion that they had 
 not been here long when the Society was organized, in 
 1770. 
 
 In Waterbury part, Mr. John Alcox, of New Haven, 
 was the first resident, removing hither in March, 1 73 1 . 
 
THE FIRST SETTLERS. 
 
 I? 9 
 
 In the autumn of the same year Mr. Isaac Hopkins pur- 
 chased the farm in the valley cast of Chestnut Hill, and 
 probably made it his residence the next year, 1732, 
 the year that he was married, and on this farm he resided 
 until his death. Mr. Benjamin Harrison was living on 
 Benson Hill, now Wolcott Center, in 1739, when he pur- 
 chased land adjoining " his own land," according to the 
 reading of the deeds. He purchased one hundred and 
 eleven acres of land of Stephen Hopkins, jr., of Water- 
 bury, deeded July 2, 1737, which land joined on Isaac 
 Hopkins' land. By the reading of some of Mr. Harrison's 
 deeds it appears that other families had resided or ^vere 
 residing in that portion of the town before he removed 
 there. After Mr. Isaac Hopkins and Mr. Benjamin Har- 
 rison, the following families became settlers in the valley 
 south-west of Benson Hill : Elijah Frisbie, Roger Prichard, 
 Eldad Mix, and a few others, before 1760 ; and Joseph 
 Parker, Joseph Sutliff, Gehulah Grilley and Timothy 
 Scott,* before 1770. On Spindle Hill, Thomas Welton 
 and Eliakim Welton, and Sliadrick Benham settled soon 
 after John Alcox. Mr. Amos Seward was residing east 
 
 * Inhabitants of Waterbury 
 Branch (afterwards Wolcott), 
 as given in Bronson's History 
 Thomas Welton, 
 Benjamin Nichols, 
 John Alcox, jr., 
 John Ale. ix, 
 Benjamin Benham, 
 Seth Bartholomew, 
 Joseph Sutliff, jr., 
 Conrad Johnson, 
 Eldad Mix, 
 Edward Rogers, 
 William Cole, 
 Roger Prichard, 
 James Bassett, 
 Joseph Beach, 
 
 Whole No. 28. 
 
 subject 
 
 to pay taxes in 1760, residing in East 
 
 three miles or more from the Meeting 
 
 house, 
 
 of Wat 
 
 erbury. 
 
 
 £s 3 
 
 Isaac Cleveland, 
 
 £29 
 
 34 
 
 Joseph Sutliff, 
 
 86 
 
 54 
 
 Sliadrick Benham, 
 
 26 
 
 Si 
 
 Josiah Adkins, 
 
 35 
 
 40 
 
 William Ilickox, 
 
 52 
 
 52 
 
 Abial Roberts, jr., 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 William Monson, 
 
 13 
 
 45 
 
 Daniel Alcox, 
 
 4 s 
 
 22 
 
 James Alcox, 
 
 42 
 
 21 
 
 William Woodward, 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 Isaac Hopkins, 
 
 151 
 
 96 
 
 Barnabas Lewi-., 
 
 36 
 
 55 
 
 Abial Roberts, 
 
 73 
 
 54 
 
 Josiah Rogers, 
 
 49 
 
 Total, £1,261 
 
190 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 of Woocltick in 1770, and had been there some years, 
 probably, and south of him were settled at that time sev- 
 eral of the sons of Thomas Upson. Wait Hotchkiss came 
 to Wolcott in 1765, and Abel Curtiss, Isaac Twitchell, 
 and Joseph Beach, near the same time ; probably a little 
 before. David Norton came about 1760. Josiah Rogers 
 had been here but a short time before 1770, though his 
 father, Deacon Rogers, of North Branford, purchased 
 land here in 1724. Solomon Hotchkiss was an early set- 
 tler on Spindle Hill, east of Mr. John Alcock's, but very 
 few particulars concerning him and his family have been- 
 seen» Joseph Atkins removed here about 1758. In 1770 
 there were residing at the Center, then called Farming- 
 bury, Aaron Harrison and the family of his brother Ben- 
 jamin Harrison, Abraham Woster, John Barrett and the 
 family of James Barrett, Joseph Atkins, and Josiah Tal- 
 mage, and soon after were added Daniel Tuttle, Samuel 
 Byington, and possibly a few others ; yet of this I am 
 not certain. 
 
 WOLCOTT CENTER IN l8oo. 
 
 The Center, soon after the town was incorporated, was 
 a place of considerable mercantile business and land 
 speculations, the land sales being stimulated by the ex- 
 pectation that a turnpike would be constructed from Tor- 
 rington to New Haven, and that Wolcott would be an 
 important station on that road. In 1796, Mr. Samuel 
 Byington sold his farm and hotel, west of the Green, and 
 a little southwest of the Meeting house, to Moses Todd, 
 Bani Bishop, of Southington, and Hezekiah Todd, of Che- 
 shire, for four hundred and eighty-four pounds. This farm 
 contained forty-seven acres, the hotel and wheelwright 
 shop, and was bounded on the north by Joseph At- 
 kin's land, on the west by Mad River, on the south by- 
 David Norton's land and the highway. In February, 
 1797, this farm waspurchased by Abijah Fenn, of Water- 
 town, who built in the following year, 1798, the store 
 
WOLCOTT CENTER IX I SOO. Kjl 
 
 near the corner of the lot towards the Meetinghouse, 
 which he built on contract for Truman Woodward and 
 Amos Baldwin, said to be of Wolcott, but who, probably, 
 came from Watertown, previously. In i.Soo Moses Todd 
 purchased this store, and soon after sold it to Hcnham 
 and Tuttle, who continued the store with great enter- 
 prise for a number of years. Mr. Fenn sold his hotel and 
 farm in January, 1799, to Mark Harrison, Esquire, "for 
 the consideration of eighteen hundred and thirty-three 
 dollars." Mr. Dan Tuttle sold his place, containing nine- 
 ty-three acres, at the south-west corner of the green, in 
 1797, to Moses Todd, for seven hundred and fifty pounds. 
 This farm, Mr. Asaph Hotchkiss afterwards purchased, 
 and resided on it some years, and gave some of it, lying 
 west of the old bound line, for a public green. Mr. 
 Asaph Hopkins came from East Haven to Woodtick and 
 then to the Center, and was engaged largely in buying 
 and selling land. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Woodward sold the Gillet place, March 4, 
 1799, to Charles Upson, Esquire, for five hundred and fifty 
 pounds, and on the 26th of the same month he purchased 
 of Mr. Bani Bishop " a certain piece of land about fifteen 
 rods east of the Meeting house, containing about one 
 acre of land, together with a large dwelling thereon 
 standing, and store and horse shed near and adjoining 
 the same," for eleven hundred and thirty dollars. In 
 April following, he purchased of Elijah Birge thirty-five 
 acres, with buildings, King north of and adjoining the 
 one acre. These buildings, including a dwelling house, 
 stood opposite the burying ground, and was the house 
 where a fatal accident occurred." Mr. Woodward con- 
 
 * Sonic military officers came to the house early in the morning to " wake- 
 up" their fellow officer; and went into the hou>e ; upon which, the resident 
 officer arose quickly and said in a joke, "Go out of my house, or 1 will 
 shoot you," he, supposing his gun was not loaded, and suiting his action to 
 his words, fired, and the gun being loaded with a wad, the firing proved 
 fatal in a few hours. 
 
192 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 tinned to reside in the house east of the Meeting house 
 until his death. 
 
 The old dwelling house now st nding on the corner 
 opposite the house Rev. Mr. Woodward resided in, was 
 sold by Jabez Harrison, in January 1799, to Moses Todd 
 and Bani Bishop. Jabez Harrison was the son of Benja- 
 min, the only brother of Deacon Aaron Harrison, and 
 may have resided in this house a number of years. Todd 
 and Bishop sold it to Aaron Harrison, jr., the land con- 
 taining about half an acre. Mr. Harrison sold the south 
 part, or about a quarter of an acre, to Darius Wiard, and 
 then sold the house and lot in April, 1800, to Hezekiah 
 Todd and Caleb Todd, who sold it in October of the 
 same year to Matthew Wiard. In December 1801, Rev. 
 Mr. Woodward purchased this dv* filing, and the bound- 
 aries are thus designated : "a certain lot of land lying in 
 said Wolcott, about fifteen rods Southeast of the Meet- 
 ing house, and is butted North on highway, East on Lu- 
 cius Tuttle, South on Darius Wiard, and West on said 
 Town's land, containing about twi nty-six rods of land, 
 be the same more or less, with a dwelling thereon stand- 
 ing." This dwelling Mr. Woodward sold to Isaac Ben- 
 ham, of Waterbury, and Samuel Benham, of Wolcott, in 
 1802, the latter residing in it many years. 
 
 The house now the residence of Mrs. Johnson Alcott, 
 was built by Darius Wiard, about the year 1800, and was 
 the residence for a number of years afterward of Dr. John 
 Potter. The house at the south-west corner of the Green 
 was the residence of Mr. Daniel Tuttle for several years 
 before 1797, and after that was the residence of Messrs. 
 Asaph Hotchkiss, Isaac Hough, and for the last twenty 
 years of Erastus W. Warner. I am of the opinion that 
 the old cellar wall standing south-west of Mr. Erastus 
 M. Warner's, near a large rock on east side of the pres- 
 ent road, marks the place of the residence of Mr. John 
 Barrett, the grave digger at the Center for many years. 
 
 The second house on the south side of the road going 
 
THE PUBLIC GREEN. 193 
 
 cast from the green appears, by a certain deed, to have 
 been built by a Mr. Bishop in the summer of 1800, and it 
 was afterward purchased by Mr. Lucius Tuttle, and pos- 
 sibly enlarged by him. The house next this on the east 
 was built by Air. Pitman Stowe, and was kept by him as 
 a hotel for a number of years, after which Rev. Mr. Keys 
 resided in it, and it is frequently spoken of at the present 
 day as Mr. Keys' house. By some of the deeds it seems 
 that there must have been a house here before the one 
 Mr. Stowe built. 
 
 On the opposite side of the road from Mr. Keys' house, 
 and a little east, was the residence, for some years, of 
 Deacon Aaron Harrison. It was afterward the residence 
 of Deacon Isaac Bronson for a number of years, and 
 then of his son, Irad Bronson. East of the site of this 
 house, and within a quarter of a mile of it, are remaining 
 parts of the foundation walls of three other houses that 
 were probably standing in 1820. 
 
 The house of Abraham Woster, in 1770, stood about 
 three rods west of the present Meeting house ; the com- 
 mittee who fixed the stake for the site of the first Meet- 
 ing house said it was placed " a little north of Abra- 
 ham Woster's house," but it must have been a little east 
 instead of north. 
 
 GREEN. 
 
 The land given to the Ecclesiastical Society was lo- 
 cated on the north side of the highway running east and 
 west in front of the Meeting house, and all the Green 
 south of this highway belongs to the town. The east 
 part of this Green was given to the town 'by Charles Up- 
 son, Esq., in 1801, and is described in the deed as "a 
 certain piece of land being and lying in said town of Wol- 
 cott, about ten rods southeast of the Meeting house, but- 
 ting north on highway, east on Matthew Wiard and Da- 
 rius Wiard, south on William Robinson, west on high- 
 way, or the bound line. The west part of this Green was 
 14 
 
194 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 given to the town by two individuals ; the northwest cor- 
 ner, containing about a quarter of an acre, by Michael 
 Harrison, in 1800, and the remaining part by Asaph 
 Hotchkiss, in 1808. 
 
 THE MILL PLACE. 
 
 There was " Laid out to Benjamin Harrison," father of 
 Deacon Aaron Harrison, "December 5, 1748, five acres of 
 land in the Northeast quarter of the bounds at the Great 
 Falls of the Mad River," on which he probably built a saw 
 mill, for he sold the same with a saw mill on it, deeded 
 November 19, 1 75 1 , to John Alcox and Abiel Roberts. 
 This property, with a clothing mill then standing below 
 and adjoining the saw mill, was purchased of John, Da- 
 vid, and Joseph Alcox, by Abraham Norton, in 1787, and 
 at this place was erected afterwards a grist mill, one half 
 of which was deeded on purchase, to John Norton by John 
 Alcox, James Alcox, Daniel and David Alcox, November 
 I, 1793. John Norton received by gift from his father, 
 Abraham Norton, one fourth part of this mill property in 
 1 791, and in 1793 a dwelling house and one acre of land. 
 Abraham Norton removed to Litchfield, in 1796, at 
 which time his son John purchased sixty-four acres of his 
 land at the mill place. The year following he sold to his 
 son John thirteen acres more, it being, probably, all he 
 owned in that part of the town. This grist mill was 
 owned for many years by John Norton, and known far 
 and near by his name. There is now standing at these 
 Great Falls only a saw mill and cider mill which are 
 owned by Mr. Dennis Pritchard. 
 
 ATKINS' MILL. 
 
 Joseph Atkins built a grist mill on Mad River, some 
 twenty rods below the Great Falls, about the year 1760, 
 which he continued as the only grist mill in the parish 
 for twenty years or more. 
 
 Mr. Atkins died in 1782, and in 1783 his son, Deacon 
 
ATKINS MILL. I95 
 
 Joseph Atkins, sold half of this mill property to Thomas 
 Upson, father of Charles Upson, and afterward Streat 
 Richards owned the whole property for a number of years, 
 deeding it in 1800 to Isaac Upson, with " about one quar- 
 ter of an acre of land a few rods northeast of said mill, 
 with a dwelling house standing on the same." Some 
 years after this, the mill was removed to Woodtick, where 
 it was operated as a grist mill. There is now a building 
 known as the "old carding mill" standing on the site of 
 Atkins' grist mill, but no work is done in it, and the indi- 
 cations are that it will soon go down the river. There 
 are two mills on this river a few rods below the 
 "old carding mill," one a saw mill, now doing yearly a 
 large amount of work. It is said that Seth Thomas made 
 an agreement about the year 1800 or a little after, for 
 some mill property, owned by Daniel Byington at this 
 mill place, proposing to engage in the manufacture of 
 clocks, and that by some peculiar requisitions after- 
 wards made by Mr. Byington, and because of the want of 
 encouragement from the people of the town in construct- 
 ing a road from the mill place to Cheshire so that he 
 could reach the market conveniently with his merchandise, 
 he gave up the project, and went to Plymouth Hollow, 
 and entered upon the same plan there, and the result has 
 been the establishing of that enterprising village now 
 known as Thomaston, Connecticut. 
 
 WOODTICK. 
 
 Mr. Judah Frisbie was the first settler in Woodtick, as 
 far as I have learned, and he purchased his first land here 
 in the autumn of 1773, but did not reside on it until some 
 years afterward. His account book shows that he board- 
 ed at Mr. Amos Seward's before he was married, and 
 while, probably, he was working on his land and attend- 
 ing to business of various kinds (for he was a busy man). 
 The same book shows that he was engaged in build- 
 ing, probably a house, in 1776. His brother-in-law, El- 
 
196 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 nathan Thrasher, was married in 1778, and probably set- 
 tled on the farm now owned by Deacon Orrin Hall, the 
 same year, where he resided until about 1800. Judah 
 Frisbie mentions the saw mill as early as 1776, and as he 
 sold lumber at different times and frequently from that 
 time forward until 1790, it is probable that he owned a 
 part or all of the mill. Abraham Norton sold,, one half 
 of this saw mill in 1801 to Harvey Upson, the other half 
 being " owned by Capt. Samuel Upson and Samuel Up- 
 son, jr." 
 
 The Atkins grist mill at the mill place was taken down 
 (after 180c) and removed to Woodtick, and used for a grist 
 mill for a time, and then changed into a paper mill, which 
 has been greatly enlarged and improved by machinery, 
 so that, at present, it is producing, yearly, a large amount 
 of paper. It is now owned by Mr. Emerson M. Hotchkiss, 
 late of Southington. 
 
 HOTELS. 
 
 The first hotel was that of Samuel Byington, on the 
 west side of the Green, where he also had a wheelwright 
 shop. Joseph Twitchell kept the same house after the 
 year 1800, for a short time. Pitman Stowe kept a hotel 
 a few years in the house that Rev. Mr. Keys afterwards 
 occupied. Col. Moses Pond kept a hotel in the house 
 previously occupied (about twenty-five years) by Mr. Lu- 
 cius Tuttle. Daniel Alcox kept hotel for a time at the 
 Center, probably in a house that stood near the corner of 
 the roads east of the Center ; one of the roads going east 
 toward John Bronson's, the other toward Cheshire . 
 Thomas Wiard had a hotel, but in what house I know not. 
 
 HIGHWAYS. 
 
 One hundred years before Farmingbury parish was or- 
 ganized, the hunters from Farmington followed the In- 
 dian trail, or path, that passed through what is now the 
 towns of Bristol and Wolcott, to the valley of the Nau- 
 gatuck and to Woodbury. After the settlement of 
 Waterbury, this path became the traveled road between 
 
HIGHWAYS. 197 
 
 Farmington and Watcrbury, passing from Bristol over 
 the hills in a direction a little south of west, through what 
 is now the northwest corner of Wolcott, into the valley 
 near the present village of Waterville, thence down the 
 stream to Watcrbury. Tradition says this road passed 
 Mr. Levi Atkins' present dwelling, and that the Indian 
 trail at that point passed a little further north, near a 
 large shelving rock called " Jack's Cave."'" This road 
 continued to be, as I judge, the principal road between 
 Farmington and Waterbury more than seventy years, 
 until after the settlement of Spindle Hill. In 1750, nine- 
 teen years after Mr. John Alcock settled on Spindle Hill, 
 a road was laid out from Mr. Eliakim Welton's running 
 east of north until it reached the road above described, 
 then east to the Farmington line at the Scarritt place, 1 
 it being a continuance of the road from Waterbury to 
 Buck's Hill. We learn from the records that in 1754 
 another road was laid out from Waterbury to "Farming- 
 ton bounds." This came up the Mad River, passing Mr. 
 Isaac Hopkin's dwelling, the Abel Curtiss place, the 
 mill place south of the great falls, thence east through 
 land now inclosed in the Center burying ground, to the 
 bound line, thence north on that line to the Scarritt 
 place. This road was called the East Farmington road, 
 the one passing Mr. Alcox's being the west. 
 
 When Mr. Thomas Upson settled on Southington 
 Mountain there was probably no road from Waterbury to 
 Southington, except a path for persons on foot and on 
 horseback. The old "twenty rod highway" was the first 
 laid out highway near his farm, as far as ascertained, and 
 began south of Mr. Upson's dwelling (I know not how fan. 
 going north past Capt. Nathaniel Lewis' and David 
 
 *The Indians encamped under this rock nights in pacing between Far- 
 mington and Woodbury. It was near this cave that the large che 
 stood from which Mr. Timothy Bradley said he cut two hundred bullets, 
 which were shot into the tree by the Indians while shooting at a mark. 
 
 f See Waterbury Records. 
 
 
198 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Frost's dwelling, thence east across the brook to the' 
 present burying ground, thence north on the mountain to 
 the northern boundary of present Wolcott, at least, but 
 more probably to New Cambridge, now Bristol. The 
 deeds recorded in Farmington that I have seen mention 
 this twenty rod highway as far north as the "tenth long 
 lot," making it certain that the road continued north as 
 far as the first of the long lots at least. The date when 
 the road was laid out I have not seen, but it was there 
 twenty rods wide in 1750. 
 
 A few years after the incorporation of the town, there 
 was considerable effort made by individuals and by the 
 town, in town meetings, to secure a turnpike through 
 the town from Torrington to New Haven. The town ap- 
 pointed committees at different times to meet other com- 
 mittees of the Legislature, to forward this object, and the 
 town did considerable work on the road, but the project 
 did not succeed. 
 
 About the time (near 1812-15) the New Haven turn- 
 pike was given up, the road on the southern boundary 
 of the town running from Waterbury to Marion was made 
 a turnpike, a large part of the stock being owned by ' 
 the Upson families of Wolcott. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 As early as 1763 the people of Farmingbury winter 
 parish had their own schools and were exempted from 
 paying tax for schools outside of the parish, and this 
 privilege was granted them until the parish was organized. 
 
 At the first Society meeting', in Nov., 1770, a committee 
 of six was appointed to divide the Society into Districts, 
 and that committee made report to the adjourned meet- 
 ing in the same month, whi. h report was accepted by 
 the Society, but what the report was is not stated in the 
 records, and hence the difficulty of ascertaining how many 
 Districts were established. There are, however indica- 
 tions th.it from the first, and for several years afterwards, 
 there were nine districts, for the)- appointed nine men as 
 committeemen, and passed the following vote : " bach 
 school committee shall collect their poll rate, each one 
 in his district." The words "each one in his district," 
 are quite definite information that one man only was ap- 
 pointed to a district. The names of the several commit- 
 tees indicate where these districts were located. Joseph 
 Sutliff, jr., for the Southwest district ; Joseph Atkins for 
 the one at tile Mill place, for which district no name has 
 been seen ; John Alcox for the West district ; Capt. 
 Aaron Harrison at th.; Center; Jedediah Minor for the 
 East district, near John Bronson's ; Nathaniel Lewis for 
 the Southeast district ; Amos Seward for the South dis- 
 trict ; Simeon Plumb for the North district, and Daniel 
 Finch for the Northeast district. All these districts are 
 
200 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 mentioned by name as given above except the one at the 
 Mill place, or at Daniel Byington's. It is probable that 
 the schools in some of these districts were kept in pri- 
 vate houses, and perhaps most of them at first, but when 
 school houses were erected the Southeast district and the 
 one at the Mill place were discontinued, as we learn of 
 no school-house sites in these parts of the town. The 
 East district continued many years ; the school-house 
 standing at the corner of the roads a litle east of Mr. 
 Mark Tuttle's present dwelling house. This was the 
 house in which Mr. David Harrison taught school much 
 of the time for many years. The other districts, six in 
 number, still continue. 
 
 EXPENSES OF THE SCHOOLS. 
 
 The expenses were paid " by the poll," that is, parents 
 paid for their children, for each in proportion to the 
 whole number of pupils and the number of days in at- 
 tendance. Under this system it was often quite difficult 
 for some parents to pay their school bills, and because of 
 this many children were educated very little. Until the 
 town was organized, the number of months the schools 
 should be kept was decided by parish vote, and usually was 
 voted to be according to law, but sometimes the vote was 
 to "keep eleven months school." Wages were, for a man, 
 from six to ten dollars a month, for a woman one dollar 
 a week, and a school bill of eighty-eight dollars for the 
 year was a great amount to be paid by the district, and 
 was in reality a much greater burden then than any tax 
 for schooling at the present time. 
 
 It is a matter of great congratulation to the people of 
 this town that nearly three-fourths of the expenses of the 
 schools are now paid by receipts other than taxes on the 
 property of the town. The fund of $8,500 left to this 
 town by the late Addin Lewis, of New Haven, a native 
 of YVolcott, is of very great value in sustaining the 
 schools. The income from this fund amounts to five hun- 
 
ADDIN LEWIS' BEQUEST FOR SCHOOLS. 201 
 
 dred dollars per year, and with the fidelity continued 
 that has characterized its administration hitherto, it will 
 be hereafter a benefit incalculably great. That part of 
 the will of Mr. Lewis which relates to Wolcott is given. 
 
 THE WILL OF ADDIN LEWIS AS IT RELATES TO THE TOWN OF 
 WOLCOTT. 
 
 Section 8. If my said daughter shall die without disposing by 
 her will of the estate mentioned in the foregoing article, I do give, 
 devise, and bequeath all said estate (so not disposed of by her) to 
 her lineal descendants who shall be living at the time of her 
 death, in the same manner and proportions as the same would 
 have descended and been distributed to them if she had owned 
 the same as her own proper estate, and had died intestate and 
 solvent; and if there should be no lineal descendants of my said 
 daughter living at the time of her death, I give, devise, and be- 
 queath ten thousand dollars of said estate to the School Society of 
 the town of Wolcott, in Connecticut, for the purposes hereinafter 
 expressed ; and fifteen thousand dollars of said estate to the 
 School Society of the town of Southington, in Connecticut, for the 
 purposes hereinafter expressed ; and five thousand dollars of said 
 estate to " The President and Fellows of Yale College, in New 
 Haven," for the purposes hereinafter expressed ; and the balance 
 of said estate shall go to increase proportionally the devises and 
 legacies given in the following articles of this will. 
 
 And as to the said ten thousand dollars given as aforesaid to 
 the School Society of the town of Wolcott, I direct that said So-" 
 ctety shall hold the same as a permanent fund for the encourage- 
 ment of the district schools in said town, and said Society shall 
 annually pay the net income of said fund to the different school 
 districts in said town in proportion to the number of children as 
 ascertained by law ; but every school district shall raise and ex- 
 pend for the support of district schools in such district during the 
 year a sum equal to the sum to be paid to such district from the 
 income of this fund, otherwise such district shall not for such year 
 receive any part of said income, but the proportion of such dis- 
 trict shall go to increase proportionally the sums to be paid for 
 such year to the other districts as aforesaid ; and if all the school 
 districts in the said town of Wolcott shall neglect for any year to 
 
202 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 comply with the conditions aforesaid, then the whole of the net 
 income of said fund for such year shall be paid to the different 
 school districts in the town of Southington for the purposes and 
 on the conditions aforesaid; and if all the school districts in the 
 town of Southington shall neglect for any year to comply with the 
 conditions aforesaid, then the whole of the net income of said 
 fund for such year shall gn to increase proportionally the devises 
 and legacies given in the following articles of this will : 
 
 And whenever any persons or corporation shall have in their hands 
 money to be invested in execution of any part of this will, I do 
 expressly direct that said money shall in all cases be invested in 
 mortgage security of unencumbered real estate of double the value 
 of the amount of the loan secured thereon ; and all loans may be 
 varied from time to time on similar security. 
 
 In regard to the Southington Academy, for the erec- 
 tion and maintaining of which Air. Lewis gave fifteen 
 thousand dollars, he made this provision : "And all pu- 
 pils from the town of Wolcott, not exceeding ten at any 
 one time, who may wish to receive instruction in said in- 
 stitution, shall receive the same without any charge for 
 tuition." 
 
 The income from this Lewis Fund of Wolcott, was five 
 hundred dollars for the year 1873. I n tne same year 
 were received from the School Fund and State appropri- 
 ation two hundred and twenty dollars ; from the Town 
 Deposit Fund, one hundred and thirty dollars ; in all eight 
 hundred and fifty dollars. The actual expenses of all the 
 schools for the same year were about twelve hundred 
 dollars. 
 
 THE WHIPPING POST. 
 
 The whipping post stood east of the present Meeting 
 house at the Center, near the southeast corner of the 
 present horse sheds. Besides the three persons men- 
 tioned below, it is said, there w r ere one man and a col- 
 ored woman whipped at this post for stealing. 
 
 About the year 1815, Dr. George Williams (so he titled 
 
LAW IN WOLCOTT. 203 
 
 himself), traveling through Wolcott, stayed over night at 
 the house of Mark Upson, where he stole a shawl, and 
 for which after trial, the court ordered seven lashes on 
 the bare back. His hands were tied to the post a little 
 higher than his head, and Capt. Levi Hall, constable, 
 struck three blows when the lash came off, when some 
 one said to the constable, " I am afraid the old man will 
 not stand the blows quite so hard." The remaining blows 
 were given lighter, the old man trembling greatly under 
 the punishment. He was then taken to the store and his 
 back washed with rum, upon which the old man said : 
 " my God, that is worse than the stripes, I think I will 
 have a little inside," which was not denied him. 
 
 Pond and Granniss were convicted of stealing a cow 
 about the year 1K17, tor which, after trial, the court or- 
 dered seven lashes each. Their hands were tied as in 
 the case of Williams, and Levi Parker, constable, laid the 
 blows on Granniss with considerable severity, he remain- 
 ing stubborn and making no complaint. Pond was very 
 penitent, and while they were tying his hands to the 
 post he prayed God to have mercy on him, the tears fall- 
 ing from the eyes of many who witnessed the unpleasant 
 scene. The blows were given lightly, and while putting 
 on his coat, Pond said: "It is just that it was done." 
 It is thought that tin's was the last whipping done at the 
 whipping post in the town. 
 
 LAW IX WOLCOTT. 
 
 Besides the above described whipping I have heard of no 
 criminal proceedings in the courts of the town, nor in the 
 county, concerning the inhabitants of Wolcott, of any 
 special importance, except that which was instituted in 
 regard to the burning of the first Meeting house. There 
 were some old " stocks" for fastening the feet of criminals, 
 laid up many years in the horse sheds which stood west 
 of the Meeting house, but no one remembers to have 
 heard of any use to which they were ever put except to 
 
204 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 look at. The real facts I apprehend to have been these : 
 There have existed in natural character and disposition 
 of the people too much musical talent and good nature 
 to allow disturbances of any serious kind to obtain a 
 place of recognition among the people, and therefore 
 they have worked hard, given much time and attention 
 to singing, played the fife and drum, encouraged cheer- 
 fulness by pleasant associations, kept out of mischief, out 
 of gaol, and off the gallows, and given as earnest adherence 
 to religion as the average of country towns. 
 
 SMALL POX. 
 
 This disease was a great terror to the people and had 
 made sad desolation in several families in the town before 
 the year 1800. The following record indicates the con- 
 servatism of the people of those days in regard to the 
 introduction of any new practice in medicine. 
 
 "At a special Town meeting held in Wolcott on the 27th day 
 of October, 1800, Dr. John Potter prayed for liberty to set up or 
 introduce the small pox by inocculation, into said town under the 
 care, superintendence, and direction of the civil authority and se- 
 lectmen of said town for the time being, or their successors in of- 
 fice, until said civil authority and selectmen, or the town at large 
 by vote in legal meeting assembled, shall discontinue or suspend 
 said liberty at the same meeting. 
 
 Voted to grant the prayer of the above petition, two-thirds of 
 the members [voters] present being in the affirmative." 
 
 BURYING GROUNDS THE CENTER BURYING GROUND. 
 
 In the Waterbury town records we learn the following 
 action was taken in a town meeting held on December 
 10th, 1764: " At the same meeting Capt. George Nichols, 
 and Capt. Stephen Upson, jr., were chosen a committee 
 to go out eastward near Joseph Atkins', to view and pur- 
 chase half an acre of land, upon the town cost, in that 
 
BURYING GROUJS'] S. 205 
 
 neighborhood where they shall think it most convenient 
 for a burying ground."* 
 
 The earliest record on monuments is that of Lieut. 
 Heman Hall, bearing date 1769. 
 
 In the Wolcott town records are found the following- 
 entries : 
 
 December 11. 1797. Voted that Messrs. .Mark Harrison 
 Charles Upson, Streat Richards, ami Moses Todd, be a commit- 
 tee to confer with William Stevens to investigate and search into 
 the circumstances of the Center Burying Ground, to see if it is 
 the property of said Stevens, as is by him asserted, and also to 
 settle and compromise the matter with said Stevens if it appears 
 to be his property, by exchanging a certain quantum of highway 
 now in the enclosure of said Stevens therefor, and also to draw 
 upon the treasurer for a small sum in order to enlarge said bury- 
 ing ground to three-fourths of an acre; provided they think 
 proper, and cannot obtain it without. 
 
 On the 9th day of April next the town meeting ap- 
 pointed another committee " to negotiate with William 
 Stevens concerning the Center Burying Ground, to en- 
 large the same to three-fourths of an acre, to exchange 
 the highway now enclosed in said Stevens' lot as part 
 payment, etc., and make report of their doings at the an- 
 nual meeting in December next." At the annual meeting 
 in next December the report of the committee was ac- 
 cepted, and the selectmen were authorized to attend to 
 the execution of the deeds. 
 
 The three-quarters of an acre became too small, and 
 about 1870 the ground was again enlarged, so as to in- 
 clude nearly two acres. 
 
 * Mr. Bronson, in the History of Waterbury, page 229, in a note, make-, 
 a mistake in supposing this ground to be the one at East Farms, for it was 
 to he ••near Joseph Atkins'," and he never resided al East Farms. Be- 
 sides, the East Farms ground was laid out since the memory of soirn 
 sons now living. lie says this burying ground, near Atkins', was on Farm- 
 ington road, which was true ; but Farmington road, instead of going direct 
 to Southington, turned up Mad River, and through New Cambridi 
 Farmington. 
 
206 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 pike's hill burying ground. 
 
 This ground was laid out about 1774, by a committee 
 of the Society appointed to " fix a place or places for 
 burying grounds." The ground is located on the north 
 declivity of the hill adjoining the Alcox road, in a most 
 picturesque place. Here but few graves were made, 
 some of whichfwere afterwards removed to the ground 
 east at the foot of the same hill, about fifteen yet remain- 
 ing. Graves continued to be made in this ground until 
 1805, when the one east was constructed, and all burying 
 ceased in the old yard, it having been used but thirty 
 years. Some five or six monuments remain having in- 
 scriptions on them ; the other graves are indicated by 
 small field stones. The inscriptions below are given 
 precisely as'they are written on the head stones : 
 
 3n illemorw of Jflrs. 
 
 RACHEL BRACKITT, who 
 Died October ye 17th, 1776,/// 
 
 V E 22D YEAR OF HER AGE. 
 
 ' While you are blooming young and spiy 
 Perhaps you think you ne'er shall die ; 
 But here's a witness of the truth, 
 That you may die when in your youth. 
 
 $ere £ietl) iFntemb 
 
 THE BODY OF MR. 
 
 MATHEW BLAKSLEE. 
 
 HE DEI'ARTED THIS 
 LIFE MAY YE 2S, A. D. 
 
 1776, in ye blst year 
 of his age. 
 
BURYING GROUNDS. 207 
 
 JJn fllcmorn of 
 
 THE WIDOW RHODA 
 BLAKSLEE, the wife of 
 
 MR. MATHEW BLAKSL1 I . 
 DEPARTED THIS 
 LIFE M \Ki H I2 TH i A. I). 
 178 r, in the 63"' 
 
 of her at . 
 
 The foregoing inscriptions are on brown stone. The 
 following are on blue stone : 
 
 3n fUcmorw of 
 Mr. ABNER BLAKS- 
 
 LY. HE DIED NOV. 
 2-jtfi. A. D., 1 791, /;/ 
 Ihc 51 year of 
 hit 
 
 3 1 f) a m e r , 
 
 SON TO 
 
 JESSE and PATIENCE ALCOX, 
 
 Died Aug. qth, 177s, 
 
 £ 11 m a n , 
 
 SON TO 
 
 JESSE and PATIENCE ALCOX, 
 
 Died Nov. \-th, 17S1, 
 M. 16. 
 
208 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 The foregoing are all the inscriptions that remain in 
 the old ground. 
 
 THE NEW NORTHEAST BURYING GROUND. 
 
 At a Town meeting held April 8, 1805, the meeting 
 voted, "That the selectmen be authorized to purchase at 
 the expense of the town such quantity of land and in 
 such place as they in their discretion think proper and 
 best, to be appropriated as a burying ground in the north- 
 east quarter of the town ; and that one rod in width be 
 taken from the south side of the highway running east 
 and west by the proposed burying ground the whole 
 length of said ground and appropriated as a part thereof." 
 
 This new ground is on a gravel knoll at the foot of the 
 hill east of the old ground, and is the one now in use as 
 the northeast burying ground. 
 
 THE SOUTHEAST BURYING GROUND. 
 
 In March, 1772, the Society appointed a committee to 
 "fix a place or places for burying grounds," and in 1776 
 it appointed three grave diggers, which indicates the ex- 
 istence of three graveyards, and their location defined by 
 the residence of the three men — Mr. John Barrett at the 
 Center, where he had filled the same office several pre- 
 vious years ; Mr. Zadoc Bronson at the northeast, and 
 Mr. David Frost at the southeast. The earliest inscrip- 
 tion on any monument in the Pike's Hill yard is dated 
 May 28, 1776; the earliest date in the southeast yard is 
 January 1, 1782, and is the grave of Archibald Upson, 
 who died with small-pox. 
 
 THE SOUTHWEST BURYING GROUND. 
 
 At a Town meeting held Nov. 20, 1807, the meeting 
 voted, " That Isaac Bronson, Mark Harrison, and Isaac 
 Upson be a committee to view the circumstances of the 
 southwest part of the town, and if they judge proper, lay 
 out and purchase a burying ground in such place as they 
 judge most convenient, and that the committee be au- 
 
YANKEE PEDDLERS. 209 
 
 thorized to draw on the town treasurer for payment of 
 tlu sum which they shall agree tog r said -round, 
 
 and take a deed thereof to the town.'' This is the pres- 
 ent Woodtick burying ground. 
 
 THE YANKEE PKDDLERS. 
 
 The Yankee peddler has been a celebrated character 
 in the Middle and Southern States more than in the 
 Eastern, yet the origin of this kind of merchant was in 
 the New England States, particularly in Connecticut. 
 Wolcott raised from thirty to fort) men who engaged at 
 different times quite largely in this business, traveling 
 through all the Middle States, and most of the Southern 
 during the years from 181O to 1840. Among the first 
 who went out were Samuel Horton, Timothy Hotchkiss,. 
 Lyman Higgins, and Chester Hotchkiss. These sold 
 "tin ware and Yankee notions ;" beginning about 1810 
 and continuing for a number of years in the employment 
 of a firm in Southington, and traveling mostly in Virginia, 
 North Carolina, and South Carolina. 
 
 When Mr. Eli Terry," then of Plymouth, completed 
 in the year 1810, the first great contract of four thousand 
 clocks, for a Waterbury company, the Yankee peddler was 
 wanted to sell these clocks, and Wolcott not only fur- 
 nished an important man, in the person of Seth Thomas 
 to make these clocks, but also men to sell them. Mr. 
 Terry's shop was on Hancock River, at a place known 
 since as Hoadleyville, being about a mile west of the 
 boundary of Wolcott. The cords for these clocks were 
 spun by Wolcott women from flax raised in Wolcott, and 
 much of the inside woodwork of these clocks was made 
 of Wolcott " ivy" or "laurel," of which there is still an 
 abundance. For many years this work occupied the at- 
 tention of Wolcott people, and fur shed them extra 
 work in winter and some additional comforts of life. For 
 
 * Sec History of " American Clock Making " by Henry Terry, of Water- 
 bury ; and also the Biography of Mr. Seth Thomas, in this book. 
 
 15 
 
2IO HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 a few years the clock peddling was confined mostly to 
 the New England and Middle states, and was a different 
 work from the selling of Yankee notions. The clocks were 
 sold on " trial," the agent calling for the money six or 
 more months after the delivery of the clocks, but the reg- 
 ular Yankee peddler sold for cash, if (as we have often 
 heard him announce), he sold "two shillings worth for a 
 six pence," at which ruinous prices his wife and babies 
 certainly would starve. 
 
 About 1820 the spirit of enterprise called out a new 
 and more numerous company of young men in the work 
 of selling tin ware and Yankee notions, in the Southern 
 States. Among these were Ephraim Hall, Seth Horton, 
 Holt Hotchkiss, A. Bronson Alcott, Thomas Alcott, Ja- 
 son Hotchkiss, Leverette Kenea, William Cowles, Levi 
 Frisbie, and many others. Some went out with a horse 
 and peddler's wagon, selling tin ware, razors, pins, 
 needles, patent medicines, peppermint essence, suspend- 
 ers, and a large number of such like things, called " Yan- 
 kee notions ;" others sold dry goods only, carrying them 
 in two large trunks made for that purpose. Some of 
 these men went in this employment one or two winters, 
 while others continued until near the time of the late 
 rebellion. Mr. Thomas Alcott was one of these, but the 
 articles which he sold in later years consisted of carriages 
 of various kinds, which he sold frequently on time, and 
 hence lost considerable money by the war. The effect 
 of this work on the young men, was to introduce them 
 into mercantile life, which many of them continued, in 
 one form or another, in different parts of the country, 
 most of them making their homes and establishing them- 
 selves in business elsewhere, rather than in Wolcott. 
 
 TAXES. 
 
 The grand list was in i860, $291,827 ; in 1865, $297,891 ; 
 in 1870, $248,677; in 1871, $243,640;. in 1872, $236,545; 
 in 1873, $241,100. The tax collected in 1872 was eleven 
 
TAX ASSESSMEN I' 
 
 II 
 
 mills on the dollar, and that for 1873 is ten mills. The 
 decrease of the grand list, as appears above, is mostly in 
 consequence of the decrease of cattle and money at inter- 
 est, considerable money having been placed in United 
 States bonds, and other untaxable property. 
 
 The following is a town rate made on the list of [789, 
 of two pence half-penny on the pound, on the inhabitants 
 of Farmingbury, in Waterbury." 
 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 John A 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 John Frisbie, 
 
 
 3 
 
 9 A 
 
 James Alcox, 
 
 13 
 
 9 
 
 Gehulah Grilley, 
 
 
 r 
 
 7 
 
 David Alcox, 
 
 9 
 
 1 1 
 
 Cyrus Grilley, 
 
 
 4 
 
 s^ 
 
 Solomon Alcox, 
 
 7 
 
 11J2 
 
 Isaac Hopkins, 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 Samuel Alcox, 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 Wait Hotchkiss, 
 
 
 8 
 
 *A 
 
 John B. Alcox, 
 
 6 
 
 S 
 
 Simeon Hopkins, 
 
 
 10 
 
 sA 
 
 Daniel Alcox (Southington), 
 
 
 
 
 
 Joel Hotchkiss, 
 
 
 2 
 
 sA 
 
 Sarah Atkins, 
 
 
 9/2 
 
 Daniel Johnson, 
 
 
 1 
 
 *A 
 
 Joseph Atkins. 
 
 3 
 
 4% 
 
 John Kenea, 
 
 
 4 
 
 2A 
 
 Samuel Bartholomew, 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 1 >aniel Lane, 
 
 
 1 
 
 i°A 
 
 Samuel Byington, 
 
 19 
 
 3 
 
 Nathaniel Lane, 
 
 
 5 
 
 oA 
 
 Warner Barnes, 
 
 6 
 
 6^ 
 
 Asahel Lane, 
 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 Isaac Blakeslee (N. Haven) 
 
 1 
 
 iK 
 
 Joseph Mallery, 
 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 Amos Beecher, 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 Jedediah Minor, 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 Ezekiel Barnes, 
 
 1 
 
 (>A 
 
 Joseph Minor (Southington) 
 
 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 Josiah Barnes, 
 
 4 
 
 9 l A 
 
 Caleb Minor 
 
 
 6 
 
 1% 
 
 Abel Baldwin (Watertown), 
 
 
 
 6^ 
 
 Abraham Norton, 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 Daniel Byington, 
 
 10 
 
 5 
 
 Ozias Norton, 
 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 Jonah Byington, 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 Noah U. Norton, 
 
 
 7 
 
 *A 
 
 David Beckwith, 
 
 3 
 
 vA 
 
 Ruth Norton, 
 
 
 
 
 SA 
 
 Thaddeus Barnes, 
 
 
 
 i# 
 
 Joseph Noyce (Stratfo 
 
 rd), 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 Moses Byington, 
 
 4 
 
 o j A 
 
 Joseph M. Parker, 
 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 Sturges Burr (N\ Haven), 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Streat Richard,, 
 
 
 11 
 
 2 
 
 Abel Curtis. 
 
 8 
 
 4'3 
 
 Tim >thy Scott, 
 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 Joseph Curtiss (Stratford), 
 
 
 
 VA 
 
 William Stephens, 
 
 
 
 
 3A 
 
 Jonathan Carter, 
 
 
 
 rA 
 
 Ephraim Smith, 
 
 
 4 
 
 iA 
 
 Daniel Dean, 
 
 5 
 
 *A 
 
 Ephraim Smith, jr., 
 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 Elijah Frisbie, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Joseph Sutliff, 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 Judah Frisbie, 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 Joseph Sutliff, jr., 
 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 Charles Frisbie, 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 Nathan Stephens, 
 
 
 8 
 
 oA 
 
 * The original copy of this paper is in the possession of Mr. Silas B. Ter- 
 ry, of Waterbury, and was brought to light at the Centenary meeting. 
 
212 
 
 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 s. 
 
 d 
 
 12 
 
 5% 
 
 Samuel Upson, 
 
 14 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 IO 
 
 Ashbel Upson, 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 \oy 2 
 
 Ezekiel Upson, 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 Charles Upson, 
 
 10 
 
 s>£ 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 Eliakim Welton, 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 nK 
 
 Eliakim Welton, jr. 
 
 10 
 
 b% 
 
 o 
 
 5/ 2 
 
 Benjamin Welton, 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 Thomas Welton, 
 
 9 
 
 S 
 
 6 
 
 $ 
 
 David Wakelee. 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 IO 
 
 $y 2 
 
 Eliakim Welton, 3d, 
 
 5 
 
 A l /z 
 
 o 
 
 7 
 
 Eben Welton, 
 
 6 
 
 2^ 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 Philemon Wilcox, 
 
 4 
 
 **A 
 
 Nathaniel Sutliff, 
 
 Amos Seward, 
 
 Justus Scott. 
 
 Josiah Talmage, 
 
 John Talmage, 
 
 Jacob Talmage, 
 
 Moses Todd (N. Haven), 
 
 Joseph Twitchell, 
 
 Elnathan Thrasher, 
 
 James Thomas, 
 
 Amos Upson (Southington), 
 
 Josiah Upson, do 
 
 The sum total is found to be, errors excepted, ^24 7 g^£ 
 
 The foregoing rate, made this qth day of February, 1790, by us. 
 
 EZRA BRONSON, 
 SAMUEL JUDD, 
 EPHRAIM WARNER, 
 SIMEON HOPKINS, 
 EBENEZER HOADLEY, 
 
 Selectmen of Waterbury. 
 
 The order of the court to collect was made to Capt. 
 Charles Upson, collector of the town rate in the town of 
 Waterbury, in New Haven county, and signed by "Ezra 
 Bronson, Justice Peace." 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ROLL OF HONOR. 
 
 The following lists are believed to be complete, except 
 that of the Revolutionary soldiers, which, probably, con- 
 tains about two-thirds of those who were engaged in 
 that war : 
 
 LIST OF FREEMEN IN THE TOWN OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 September, 1800 — Isaac Hopkins, Joseph Beecher, Joseph 
 Smith, Aaron Harrison, David Norton, Joseph Sutliff, Rev. Israel 
 B. Woodward, Ebenezer Johnson, Abel Curtiss, Jeremiah Scarritt, 
 Nathaniel Sutliff, Moses Pond, Streat Richards, Mark Harrison, 
 Charles Upson, Elisha Horton, Jacob Carter, Stephen Carter, 
 Thomas Upson, Walter Beecher, Charles Frisbie, John Potter, 
 David Harrison, Joseph M. Parker, Farrington Barnes, Daniel 
 Johnson, Moses Todd, William Stephens, John Frisbie, Wait 
 Hotchkiss, Preserve Carter, Samuel Upson, jr., Amos Upson, 
 Mark Barnes, Joseph Beecher, jr., John Bronson, Elijah Perkins, 
 Samuel Clinton, James Bailey, Philemon Wilcox, Philo Thomas, 
 Isaac Bronson, Gideon Finch, Titus Sutliff, David Pardee, John 
 Sutliff, Harvey Upson, David Frost, Darius Wiard, Jacob Tal- 
 mage, Daniel Deane, Richmond Hall, Abner Hotchkiss, Nathan- 
 iel Lewis, Justus Peck, Calvin Cowles, Judah Frisbie, Simeon 
 Plumb, Amos Brockett, Joseph Minor, Samuel Horton, Isaac 
 Upson, Abel Beecher, David Wakelee, Joel Hotchkiss, Zephana 
 Parker, Nathaniel Lane, John Norton, Jared Welton, Benoni Gil- 
 let, Zuar Brockett, Aaron Wiard, John J. Kenea, Eliakim Wel- 
 ton, Jesse Alcox, Joseph Twitchell, Justus Scott, Nathan Barnes, 
 Bani Bishop, David Alcox, Ashbel Upson, John Hitchcock, Enos 
 Beecher, Luther Atkins, Nathan Scarritt, John Clark, Samuel 
 
214 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Plumb, Solomon Plumb, Jesse Alcox, jr., Solomon Alcox. He- 
 man Hall, David Talmage, Jesse Pardee, James Scarritt, Moses 
 Byington, Timothy Bradley, Selah Steadman, Washington Upson, 
 Michael Harrison, James Alcox, jr., Seymour Welton, Wil- 
 liams Bailey, Amos Baldwin, Philenor Bronson, Appleton Lewis, 
 Samuel Horton, jr., Reuben Lewis, Levi Johnson, Truman Wood- 
 ward, Abijah Fenn, Cyrus Clark, Josiah B. Morse, John B. Alcox, 
 Mark Alcox, Joseph C. Aicox, Royce Lewis, Joseph Sutliff, jr., 
 Michael Sutliff, Aaron Harrison, jr., Andrew Jerome, Lee Upson, 
 Elijah Royce. 
 
 April, i8or — Nathan Johnson, Shubael Upson, John Thomas, 
 Luther Hotchkiss, James J. Truesdel, Levi Atkins, Joseph 
 Plumb, Amasa Bradley. September, 1801 — Elijah Rowe, Na- 
 thaniel Sutliff, jr., Lucius Tuttle. 
 
 April, 1802 — Joel Alcox, Ebenezer Beecher, John Bronson, jr., 
 Ashbel Atkins, John Dean. September, 1802 — Gates Upson, 
 Thomas Wiard, Caleb Minor, Joshua Minor, Mark Welton. Gid- 
 eon Finch, jr., Moses Bradley, Manly Upson, David Alcox, jr., 
 Obed Alcox. 
 
 ril, 1803 — Josiah Thomas, Silas Weed, Elijah Lane, Isaac 
 Downes. Ransom Frisbie, Timothy Hotchkiss. September, 1803 
 
 — John Wiard, Stephen Carter, jr., Truman Smith, David Bailey, 
 Rollin Harrison. Ephraim Smith, jr., Eleazer Finch, Marvin Beck- 
 with. 
 
 April, 1804 — Jesse Silkriggs, Richard O. Hopkins, Elihu 
 Moulthrop, Josiah Lane, Elias Welton, Gamaliel Plumb, Nathan 
 Sutliff, Miles H. Richards, Leonard Harrison, David Scarritt, 
 Prince Duplex. September, 1804 — Levi Hall, Miles Hotchkiss, 
 Abiathar Sutliff, Joseph Welton, Jesse Dutton, Aaron Wiard. 
 
 April, 1805 — Moses Welton, Eldad Alcox. September, 1805 
 
 — Amos Parsons, Adonijah Moulthrop, Archibald Minor, David 
 Frisbie, Amasa Mix, Titus Brockett, Asahel Bradley, Solomon 
 Wiard, Levi Brown, Truman Sandford, James Bartholomew, Har- 
 vey Hopkins. 
 
 April 1806 — Silas Hine, Seth Thomas, William Hotchkiss. 
 September, 1806 — David Churchill, Lester Scarritt, David M. 
 Beach. 
 
 April, 1807 — Zephana Potter, Thomas Upson, Loammi Carter,. 
 
LIST OF FREEMEN. 2 15 
 
 Luther A. Richards, Jared Harrison. September, 1807 — Isaac 
 Curtiss, Sylvester Beecher, Isaac Frisbie, Asahel Brockitt, Joseph 
 Minor, jr. 
 
 April, 1S08 — Orrin Rice. Ira Hough. Nathaniel Barnes, Na- 
 tha Lie! G. Lewis. Bildad Hotchkiss, Aaroiv Pond, Clark Bronson. 
 September, 1808 — Eldad Par] :r, Miles Harrison, Daniel Bying- 
 ton, jr., John Curtiss, Asa Granniss. 
 
 April, 1809 — Lyman Higgins. September, 1809 — Irad Bron- 
 son, Aaron Harrison, jr.. Justus L. Peck. 
 
 April, 1810 — Archibald Barnes. September. 1810 — William 
 Bartholomew, Samuel Bartholomew, son. 
 
 April. 18 r 1 — Jairus Alcox. September, 18 n — Uri. Carter. 
 Elisha M. Pomeroy, David S. Grillee. 
 
 April. 1812 — Mark Upson, Alpheus Pond. September, 1812 
 
 — William Parker, [rad Wakelee, Orrin Plumb, Anion Bradley. 
 April. 1813 — Orrin Jackson, Ziba Norton, Levi Parker. Sep- 
 tember. 18 13 — Simeon N. Norton. 
 
 April, [814 — • Hezekiah B Aaron Finch, Thomas Hor- 
 
 ton. September, 1814 — Reuben Carter. 
 
 April, 18 15 — Stephen Harrison. September, 18 15 — Bar- 
 tholomew Curtiss. Ransel Brockitt. 
 
 iril, 1816— Jerry Todd, Streat Todd, David R. Upson, Levi 
 B. 1 Truesdell, Thomas H. Welton. September, 18 16 
 
 — Eben S. Bartholomew, Seth Horton, Marvin Minor, Harpin 
 Hotchkiss. M inor. 
 
 [ohm Ke I ibie, Jeremiah 
 
 Sperry. iber, 18 17 — Alpheus Bradley, Green Perl 
 
 Han tveland, Willard Plumb. 
 
 April. 1S1S — Asahel Levis, Irad Harrison. July, 1818 — 
 
 Bela Rose, Samuel Merriman, Milo G. Hotchkiss, Luther Roper, 
 
 Leveret Kinnea, Jedediah G. Alcox. September, 1818 — CI 
 
 1 cey Royce, A Ucox, John Beecher, jr., William Smith, 
 
 Frisbie, [oseph P. Sandford, Anson G. Lane, Osmon 
 
 Norton. 
 
 April, 18 19 — Luther W. Plumb, Bazilla Bradley, John A. Pot- 
 ter, Salmon Johnson. 
 
 April, 1820 — Amos Bradley, Orrin Hall, Samuel W. Upson, 
 William A. Alcox, William P. Turtle. 
 
2l6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 April, 182 1 — Leonard Horton, Marcus H. Upson, Wells 
 Plumb, Leonard Beecher, John S. Atkins, Jesse Barnes. 
 
 April, 1822 — Osee Talmage, Robert A. Hickox, Cyrus C. 
 Upson, Albert R. Potter, Shelden Welton, Garry Atkins, Chester 
 Andrews. 
 
 April, 1823 — Jonathan Bement, Jerry Upson, William Munson, 
 Almus Wakelee, Fitch A. Higgins, Anson Upson, Timothy Brad- 
 ley, 2d, Jonas Hickox. 
 
 April, 1824 — Edward Lewis, Jacob Talmage, jr. 
 
 April, 1825 — Amos B. Alcox, Abraham Norton, Asaph Hotch- 
 kiss, Lucius Alcox, Ira Frisbie. 
 
 April, 1826 — Mark Tuttle, Ansel H. Plumb, William R. Brad- 
 ley, Marshall Upson, James Bailey, jr. 
 
 April, 1827 — Ephraim Hall, John A. Bradley, Lucius Tuttle, jr. 
 
 April, 1828 — Ard Welton, George G. Alcox, Luther Bailey. 
 
 April, 1829 — Martin Upson, Wyllis Merrils, Prosper Hull, 
 Erastus Nichols, Erastus Atkins. 
 
 April, 1830 — George Griswold, Hezekiah T. Upson, David 
 Beecher, Harley Downs. Alben Alcox, Jesse L. Nichols, Albert 
 Boardman, Orrin Byington, Asa Boardman, Alfred Lewis. 
 
 April, 1 83 1 — David Bailey, Addison Alcox, Alfred Churchill, 
 Loman Upson, Orestus Welton, Ezra L. Todd, Henry Minor, 
 Marcus Upson, Northrop Jackson, Kneeland S. Hall, Charles H. 
 Upson, Salmon Upson, James Alcox, jr. 
 
 April, 1832' — Jarvis B. Bronson, David Scarritt, jr., Russel 
 Rowe, Levi Moulthrop, Shelden Smith, Isaac Alcox, William 
 Blakeslee, Russel Upson. 
 
 April, 1833 — Abraham Tuttle, Rollin Tuttle, Lloyd Lewis, 
 Thomas J. Lewis, Anson H. Smith, Joel Alcox, Sylvester Frost, 
 Henry Harrison, Selah Upson, Henry D. Upson. 
 
 April, 1834 — Chester Hotchkiss, Stillman Bronson, Matthew 
 S. Norton, Ives Lewis, Geo. W. Carter, Geo. Mansfield, Edward 
 Welton, Selim Doolittle, Eri Welton, Chauncey Woodbridge. 
 
 April, 1835 — Johnson Alcox, Thomas Alcox, Sylvester Brad- 
 ley, Isaac Hough, Levi Atkins, jr., Simeon H. Norton, Daniel T. 
 Todd, Lucian E. Hickox, Levant D. Johnson, George Plumb, 
 Martin L. Andrews, Thomas Upson, jr., Jeremiah S. Plumb, 
 Henry Beecher, Newel Minor, Dennis Lewis. 
 
LIST OF FREEMEN. 217 
 
 April, 1836 — Lucien Upson, Sherman Moulthrop, William 
 Johnson, Ezra S. Hough, Seth Wiard, Upson Higgins, David B. 
 Frisbie, Romeo Upson, Timothy N. Upson. 
 
 April, 1837 — Lewis Churchill, Ransom S. Todd, Harvey 
 Thomas, Elihu Moulthrop, jr. 
 
 April, 1838 — Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Hendrick Norton, Lucius 
 Upson 
 
 April, 1839 — Edward W. Thomas, Rollin Harrison, Levi Fris- 
 bie, Lucius B. Welton, James Scarritt. 
 
 April, 1840 — Joel Brown, by certificate; Ira H. Hough, Isaac 
 Hotchkiss, Harvey G. Plumb, John Hummiston, Jason Hotch- 
 kiss, Moses Pond, Charles Byington, Rufus Norton, Isaac Pardee; 
 Elias Mix, by certificate; Dagget Barnes, by certificate. No- 
 vember, 1840 — Hezekiah Brown, by certificate ; Mahlon Hotch- 
 kiss; Miles B. Ford, by certificate ; David Warner, by certificate 
 Lewis Johnson, by certificate ; Lynde Preston, by certificate 
 Merritt Welton, by certificate; Philip A. Cowles, by certificate 
 Algernon Newcomb, by certificate ; Rufus Hotchkiss, by certifi- 
 cate ; Sellock J. Nichols, by certificate. 
 
 March, 1841 — Charles Rose, Daniel Holt; Lucius Tuttle, by 
 certificate; Harrison Welton. April, 1841 — Henry G. Hotch- 
 kiss, by certificate ; Frederick J. Bunnell. 
 
 March, 1842 — Samuel Downs, by certificate. April, 1842 — 
 Augustus Minor, Miles S. Upson, Eli Alcott, Asaph H. Upson ; 
 Francis Wood, by certificate ; James Seeley, by certificate. 
 
 March, 1843 — John Dorman. April, 1843 — William Wiard, 
 Andrew J. Plumb, Benjamin F. Finch ; Julius A. Sandford, by 
 certificate; Ambrose I. Downs, by certificate ; Asahel Lane, by 
 certificate. October, 1843 — Jabez Hard, by certificate. 
 
 April, 1844 — Joel W. Upson, Hezekiah Todd; Willis Upson, 
 by certificate ; Charles Kirk, by certificate ; William Welton, by 
 certificate ; Norris Clark, by certificate ; Elias Brooks, by certifi- 
 cate. October, 1844 — David F. Welton, Robert C. Todd, 
 George C. Nichols, Samuel Nichols; Lucius Tuttle, by certificate; 
 David Nichols, by certificate ; Levi Norton, by certificate ; Albert 
 W. Hubbard, by certificate. 
 
 March, 1845 — Richard Mansfield, Noble Baldwin ; Joseph 
 Guernsey, by certificate ; Algernon S. Plumb, by certificate ; Her- 
 mon Woodin, by certificate. 
 
2l8 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 April, 1846 — Uriah S. Tompkins, by certificate; Alva An- 
 drews, by certificate ; Levi Barnes, by certificate ; Isaac Bates, 
 Leroy O. Phillips, John H. Holt, Marshall Minor, Herrick Payne, 
 by certificate ; Isaac B. Baxter, by certificate ; Cyrus Barnes, by 
 certificate; Heraan W. Hall, Cyrus Beach. 
 
 March, 1847 — John L. Beach, James M. Scarritt, Samuel 
 Butler, Robert Hoadley, John Welton, John M. Beecher, Orlando 
 Plumb, Chauncey P. Welton, David A. Sandford. April, 1847 — 
 Orrin F. Hotchkiss, Luther M. Pond, William B. Barnes ; Daniel 
 Lane, by certificate ; Edward J. Hall ; Charles Dean, by certifi- 
 cate; Linus Barber, by certificate ; Bennett Upson, by certificate ; 
 Bennett J. Wakelee. 
 
 November, 1848 — James L. Kenea, Samuel Brooks, Willis 
 Bunnell ; William Henry, by certificate ; Nelson Thorp, by cer- 
 tificate. 
 
 April, 1849 — Noah H. Byington, Peter Brockett, Jesse Brock- 
 ett. 
 
 April, 1850 — Sherman E. Welton, Asahel Brockett, Henry 
 Todd, Charles A. Welton ; Ira H. Smith, by certificate ; Joel John- 
 son, b/ certificate; David F. Johnson, by certificate; Smith B. 
 Pritchard, by certificate ; Friend C. Eggleston. 
 
 April, 1 85 1 — Asahel Brockett, by certificate; Stephen L. Nor- 
 ton, by certificate ; Amos Brockett, by certificate ; George W. 
 Royce, by certificate; Asa Farrel, by certificate ; Zadoc B. Bas- 
 sett, by certificate ; Willis Jerome, John L. Bradley. 
 
 April, 1852 — Lyman G. Bradley, by certificate; William Peck- 
 ham, by certificate ; George W. Winchell, Richard A. Lane, 
 Charles W. Beach. October, 1852 — Sheldon B. Welton, Charles 
 Allen, Albert N. Lane, Chester A. Andrews. November, 1852 — 
 Erastus W. Warner, by certificate ; David S. Smith, by certifi- 
 cate; Silas Pardee, by certificate; Merrit Beach, by certificate; 
 Joseph H. Hull, by certificate ; William C. Pluymut, by certifi- 
 cate ; Bunville A. Bradley, Henry Lum, David H. Frost, Linus 
 Thorp, Martin L. Hine. 
 
 April, 1853 — Dwight L. Kenea, by certificate ; Daniel Riggs, 
 by certificate ; John Hurd. 
 
 April, 1 85 4 — Andrew J. Slater, Orimel S. Webber, Albert P. 
 Hitchcock, Samuel E. Davis, Erastus Todd, Roswell Pardee, 
 Jeremiah S. Thomas, by certificate ; Horace P. Leonard, by cer- 
 
LIST OF FREEMEN. 219 
 
 tificate; Liberty C. Palmer, Luther W. Plumb. October. 1854 
 — Samuel M. Turtle; Hiram Chipman, by certificate. 
 
 April, 1855 — Frederick C. Slade, George F. (bites, Moses 
 Bradley, Henry C. Walker, Ezra A. Pierpont, Burritt W. Beecher, 
 Frederick L. Nichols, Samuel N. Sperry, Wallace H. Lee, Abi- 
 ram S. Atwood, Aaron C. Beach, by certificate ; Samuel M. Bai- 
 ley, by certificate ; Benjamin P. Downs. David H. Nichols, by 
 certificate; Luther Higgins, William Waldon, by certificate. 
 
 April, 1856 — Darius Hummaston, Hiram Welton, William 
 McNeil, by certificate; Shelton T. Hitchcock, 1 cate ; 
 
 Wheaton S. Plumb, by certificate. October, 1856 — George L. 
 Marks. November. 1S56 — James B. Norton, Martin V. B. Hotch- 
 kiss. Frederick M. Upson, Lucien S. White, Henry A. Johnson, 
 Horace R. Roberts, by certificate; Edwin Hough, by certificate; 
 John I). Lane, by certificate; Elmon E. Smith, John J. Ga 
 by ce tificate; Robert Atkins, by certificate. 
 
 April, 1857 — Lucien Alcott. 
 
 April, 1858 — Henry D. Todd, Theodore Moulthrop, Daniel 
 S. Rowe, James Foley, Patrick Foley, Joseph N. Millard, by cer- 
 tificate; John D. Pritchard, Levi W. Plumb, George S. Marks, 
 Henry Aldrich. Lyman B. Bronson, Ozias \\ iter. 
 
 April. 1859 — Linas Lane, by certificate; Joseph Fairclough, jr., 
 Adna Andrews. Homer F. Bassett, William 15. Rase ; Nelson 
 Thorp, by certificate ; Henry Chatfield, William Sherwood, Rod- 
 ney F. Norton, Clark Wright, Sidney W. Alcott. by certificate. 
 
 April, i860 — Amos M. Alcott, Theron Minor, George E. Al- 
 cott ; Edwin Perkins, by certificate; Henry Rose. Andrew A. Nor- 
 ton. Berlin J. Pritchard, Emerson C. Bradley, John P. Butler ; 
 James W. Hough, by certificate. October, i860 — David E. 
 Downs, Lucius F. Norton ; Philo Andrews, by certificate ; Ho- 
 bart Smith, by certificate. 
 
 March, 1861 — Newel Moulthrop; Henry L. Lane, by certifi- 
 cate ; Henry B. Carter, Leroy LIpson. 
 
 March, 1862 — Timothy Root; Arthur Byington, by certificate 
 William Shipley, by certificate ; Ezra E. Bassett, by certificate 
 Edward Johnson, by certificate. April, 1862 — John E. Wiard 
 Elmer W. Hitchcock, by certificate. 
 
 March, 1863 — George Atkins, Rufus A. Sandford, Charles A. 
 
220 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Plumb ; Leverette A. Sandford, by certificate ; Seldon S. Norton, 
 by certificate. April, 1863 • — Richard Morrow, Theron S. John- 
 son ; Leonard Blakeslee, by certificate ; George S. Atwood, 
 George E. Todd. 
 
 March, 1864 — Eugene Lane; Lyman C. Bradley, by certi- 
 ficate. November, 1864 — Lent S. Hough, by certificate; 
 Charles S. Galpin, by certificate; James F. Robbins, by certifi- 
 cate ; Leander Norton, by certificate ; William F. Wiard, by 
 certificate ; Theron A. Sandford, by certificate ; Charles F. Rob- 
 bins. 
 
 March, 1865 — George N. Dingwell, by certificate. 
 
 March, 1866 — Benjamin F. Chipman ; Joseph H. Somers, by 
 certificate ; Elijah H Warner, Mark H. Harrison, Lowry S. 
 Richardson ; Jesse Gaylord, by certificate ; Edwin A. Welton, by 
 certificate ; Julius D. Beecher. 
 
 March, 1867 — Frederick W. Carter, John R. S. Todd, Elmer 
 L. Andrews, Calvin B. Brockett, John H. Beecher, William 
 McLaughlin, by certificate ; J. Henry Garrigus, by certificate ; 
 Joseph Porter, by certificate. 
 
 March, 1868 — Chauncey F. Chipman, Joseph Fairclough, by 
 certificate ; Corald D. Blakeslee, by certificate ; Elmer Hotchkiss, 
 Reuben J. Lewis. April, 1868 — George W. Walker, James P. 
 Alcott, Huber Birdsey, Oliver J. Norton. October, 1868 — Hor- 
 ace Garrigus, Benjamin F. Somers, Oliver L. Baldwin, Thomas 
 Slade, Patrick Walsh. October, 1868 — Philo B. Lewis. 
 
 March, 1869 — George Bridgman, Patrick Donovan, Benjamin 
 A. Pratt, George Sellew, Arthur W. Andrews, Edgar S. Moul- 
 throp, Lester A. Hotchkiss. 
 
 March, 1S71 — Henry Hall, Henry Tompkins, Rufus J. Ly- 
 man, Dewitt Todd, James A. Wakelee, Cornelius F. Munson, 
 Benjamin L Bronson, Charles E. S. Hall, Ransom Strong, Lav- 
 allette Upson ; Michael Kelly, by certificate ; John I. Ambler, by 
 certificate. 
 
 March, 1872 — Fordyce D. Loomis, James Burns, Eri L. Lane, 
 F. Albert Helmischkist, Charles E. Somers, Homer L. Atkins, 
 Samuel L. S. Porter, Martin L. Andrews, jr., Bement D. Wake- 
 lee, Michael Kelly. October, 1872. — Elliot Bronson, Alfred M. 
 Northrop, William H. Brown. 
 
TOWN OFFICERS. 221 
 
 March, 1873 — Benjamin F. Brooks. April, 1873 — William 
 Farrall. 
 
 March, 1874 — Anson O. Sanford, William E. Andrews, Emer- 
 son M. Hotchkiss, Ransom B. Hall, Alonzo Hart, Overton Je- 
 rome, Frank G. Mansfield, Nathan C. Prince, Horatio B. Strong, 
 John M. Stevens, William Glynn, Evelyn M. Upson, Charles G. 
 Yeomans, Samuel Orcutt. 
 
 TOWN OFFICERS. 
 
 Moderators — 1796, June: Deacon Aaron Harrison. 1796, 
 December: Charles Upson. 1797-8: Mark Harrison. j 799— 
 1800: Charles Upson. 1801-3: Mark Harrison. 1804: Dea- 
 con Joseph Atkins. 1805 : Daniel Byington. 1806 : Charles 
 Upson. 1807 : Daniel Byington. 1808 : Nathaniel Lewis. 
 1809: Streat Richards. 1810-n : Mark Harrison. 1812 : Asaph 
 Hotchkiss. 18x3-17: Mark Harrison. 1818-26 : Ambrose Ives. 
 1827-8: David Frisbie. 1820-30 : Capt. Gates Upson. 1831 : 
 Gates Upson. 1832-4: David Frisbie. 1835-8: Gates Upson. 
 1839 : Orrin Plumb. 1840 : Gates Upson. 184-1 : Mark Tuttle. 
 1842: Noah H. Byington. 1S43-44: Gates Upson. 1845 : I ra 
 Frisbie. 1846: Orrin Plumb. 1847-48: Noah H. Byington. 
 1849: Orrin Plumb. 1850: Gates Upson. 185 1 : Orrin Plumb. 
 1852-4: Joseph N. Sperry. 1855 : Orrin Plumb. 1856 : George 
 W. Carter. 1857-63: Orrin Plumb. 1864: George W. Carter. 
 1865 : Orrin Plumb. 1866 : Joseph N. Sperry. 1867-8 : George 
 W. Carter. 1869-72: Dennis Pritchard. 1873: Elihu Moul- 
 throp. 
 
 Town Clerks — Isaac Bronson, from 1796 to 18 14, 17 years. 
 Archibald Minor, from 1815 to 1838, 23 years. 1839-40 : Levi 
 Moulthrop. 1841 : Isaac Hough. 1842 : Ezra S. Hough. 
 1843-44: Joseph N. Sperry. 1845: Elihu Moulthrop. 1846-47: 
 Joseph Sperry. Henry Minor from 1848 to 1873, 2 5 years. 
 
 Selectmen — June 13, 1796: Mark Harrison, Streat Richards, 
 Jacob Carter. December, 1796: Jacob Carter, Charles Upson, 
 Streat Richards. December, n, 1797: Streat Richards, Charles 
 Upson, Amos Brockett. 1798 : Streat Richards, Amos Brockett, 
 Elijah Perkins. 1799 : Streat Richards, Amos Brockett, Samuel 
 Clinton. 1800 : Streat Richards, Amos Brocket, Joseph Minor. 
 
222 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 1 80 1 : Streat Richards, Amos Brockett, Stephen Carter. 1802 : 
 Streat Richards, Nathaniel Lewis, Joseph Minor. 1803 : Isaac 
 Bronson, Stephen Carter, David Harrison. 1804 : Isaac Bron- 
 son, Stephen Carter, David Harrison, Eliakim Welton, Joseph 
 Atkins. 1805 : Nathaniel Lewis, Streat Richards, Joseph Minor, 
 Titus Hotchkiss, Hezekiah Beecher. 1806 : Isaac Bronson, 
 Hezekiah Beecher, Asaph Hotchkiss, John Potter, Isaac Upson. 
 1807 : Nathaniel Lewis, Streat Richards. Joseph Minor. 1808 : 
 Streat Richards, Joseph Minor, Isaac Upson. 1809 : Streat 
 Richards, David Wakelee, Joseph Minor. 18 10: Heman Hall, 
 David Frisbie, Daniel Langdon. 181 1: Heman Hall, David 
 Frisbie, Erastus Welton. 181 2 : Heman Hall, David Frisbie, 
 Erastus Welton. 18 13 : Heman Hall, David Frisbie, Solomon 
 Plumb. 18 1 4 : Heman Hall, David Frisbie, Luther Andrews. 
 1815: Solomon Pumb, Ambrose Ives, Levi Hall. 1816: Levi 
 Hall, Ambrose Ives, Titus Brockett. 181 7 : Titus Brockett, Lu- 
 ther Andrews, Archibald Minor. 18 18 : Titus Brockett, Luther 
 Andrews, Luther Hotchkiss. 1819: Luther Andrews, Luther 
 Hotchkiss, Erastus Welton. 1820 : Levi Hall, Jerry Todd, Thom- 
 as Upson. 1821 : Levi Hall, Jerry Todd, Obed Alcox. 1822 : 
 Obed Alcox,, David Frisbie, Thomas Upson. 1823 : Luther An- 
 drews, David Frisbie, Obed Alcox. 1824 : Orrin Plumb, Wil- 
 liam A. Finch, Gates Upson. 1825 : Orrin Plumb, Luther An- 
 drews, Obed Alcox. 1826 : Orrin Plumb, David Frisbie, Levi 
 Hall. 1827 • Heman Hall. Titus Brockett, Luther Hotchkiss. 
 1828: Luther Hotchkiss, David Frisbie, Orrin Plumb. 1829: 
 Orrin Plumb, Luther Andrews, Levi Hall. 1830 : Orrin Plumb, 
 Moses Pond, Ira Hough. 183 1 : Orrin Plumb, Ira Hough, Mo- 
 ses Pond. 1832 : Moses Pond, Luther Andrews, Ephraim Hall. 
 1833 : Moses Pond, Levi Hall, Orrin Hall. 1834: Moses Pond, 
 Orrin Hall, Mark Tuttle. 1835 : Orrin Plumb, Seth Horton, 
 Mark Tuttle. 1836 : Orrin Plumb, Levi Hall, Leonard Beecher. 
 1837 : Orrin Plumb, Heman Hall, Ira Frisbie. 1838 : Ira 
 Frisbie, Isaac Hough, Moses Pond. 1839 : ^ ra Frisbie, Moses 
 Pond, Isaac Hough. 1840 : Ira Frisbie, Willard Plumb, Marvin 
 Minor. 1841 : Luther Hotchkiss, Levi Hall, Mark Tuttle. 
 
 1842 : Willard Plumb, Carolus R. Byington, Marvin Minor. 
 
 1843 : Orrin Plumb, Dennis Pritchard. 1844 : Dennis Pritchard, 
 Mark Tuttle, Isaac Hough. 1845 : Moses Pond, Carolus R. By- 
 
TOW.X OFFICERS. 223 
 
 ington. 1S46-47 : Dennis Pritchard, Orrin Plumb. 1848-49 : 
 Dennis Pritchard, Orrin Plumb, Joseph N. Sperry. 1850: Mark 
 Tattle, SethWiard: 1851-53: Isaac Hough, George G. Alcott. 
 1854: Isaac Hough, Orrin Plumb. 1S55 : Dennis Pritchard, 
 James Alcott, jr. 1856 : Henry Minor, Erabtus W. Warner. 
 1857-60 : Henry Minor, Levi Atkins. 1861-63 : Henry Minor, 
 Willis Merrill. 1864-69: Henry Minor, Shelton T.Hitchcock. 
 1870: Henry Minor, Augustus Minor. 1S71-73: Henry Minor, 
 Shelton T. Hitchcock. 
 
 Justices of the Peace — 1 796-1804 : Mark Harrison, Charles 
 Upson. • 
 
 1805-S : Mark Harrison, Charles Upson Isaac Bronson. 
 
 1809 : Mark Harrison, Isaac Bronson, William Durand. 
 
 18 10-16: Mark Harrison, Isaac Bronson. 
 
 181 7-18: Mark Harrison, Isaac Bronson, Ambrose Ives. 
 
 181 9 : Mark Harrison, Ambrose Ives. 
 
 1820: Mark Harrison Ambrose Ives, Moses A. Street. 
 
 1X21-4 : Ambrose Ives, Archibald Minor. 
 
 1S25: Ambrose Ives, Archibald Minor. David Frisbie. 
 
 1S26 : Ambrose Ives, Archibald Minor, Lyman Prindle, Samuel 
 Wise. 
 
 1827 : Archibald Minor, Levi Hall, Orrin Plumb, William A. 
 Alcott. 
 
 182S : Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb, William A. Alcott, 
 David Frisbie, T. Upson. 
 
 1829-30 : Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb, David Frisbie. 
 
 1831-32 : Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb, David Frisbie, Lu- 
 ther Pritchard. 
 
 1833-34: Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb, David Frisbie. 
 
 1835 : Archibald Minor, David Frisbie, Orrin Plumb, Mark H. 
 By ington. 
 
 1836 : Archibald Minor. Orrin Plumb, Noah H. Byington, 
 Levi Hall. 
 
 1837 ; Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb, Noah H. Byington, Mo- 
 ses Pond. 
 
 1838 ; Archibald Minor, Mark Tuttle, William Bartholomew, 
 George G. Alcott. 
 
 1839 : Archibald Minor, Mark Tuttle, William Bartholomew, 
 
224 HISTORY OF VVOLCOTT. 
 
 Lucius Tuttle. jr., Carolus R. Byington, Orrin Plumb, Mark H. 
 Byington. 
 
 1840: Archibald Minor, William Bartholomew, Carolus R. By- 
 ington, Mark Tuttle, Leverett Kinney, Orrin Plumb, George G. 
 Alcott. 
 
 1841 : Archibald Minor, Mark Tuttle, William Bartholomew, 
 Carolus R. Byington, George G. Alcott, Isaac Hough. 
 
 1842 : Gates Upson, William Plumb, Carolus R. Byington, Ezra 
 S. Hough, Elihu Moulthrop, jr., Timothy Bradley, Marvin Minor, 
 Mark Tuttle. 
 
 1843: Elihu Moulthrop, jr., Timothy Bradley, Carolus R. By- 
 ington, Willard Plumb, Leverett Kinney, Orrin Plumb. 
 
 1844 : Carolus R. Byington, Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb 
 William Bartholomew, Mark Tuttle, Gates Upson. 
 
 1845 : Gates Upson, Carolus R. Byington, Mark Tuttle, G. W. 
 Carter, James Alcott, jr., Orrin Plumb. 
 
 1846 : Gates Upson, Orrin Plumb, Carolus R. Byington, Wil- 
 lard Plumb, Elihu Moulthrop, jr., Joseph N. Sperry. 
 
 1847 : Carolus R. Byington, Mark Tuttle, Orrin Plumb, George 
 W. Carter, Stiles L. Hotchkiss. 
 
 1848 : William Bartholomew, Carolus R. Byington, George W. 
 Carter, Henry Minor, Mark Tuttle, Gates Upson. 
 
 1S49 : William Bartholomew, Henry Minor, Orrin Plumb, Wil- 
 lard Plumb, Joseph N. Sperry, Mark Tuttle. 
 
 1850: Ansel H. Plumb, Willard Plumb, Dennis Pritchard, Jo- 
 seph N. Sperry, Mark Tuttle. 
 
 185 1 : George W. Carter, Henry Minor, Orrin Plumb, Willard 
 Plumb, Joseph N. Sperry, Mark Tuttle. 
 
 1852-53: Carolus R. Byington, George W. Carter, Willis Mer- 
 rill, Henry Minor, Dennis Pritchard, Joseph N. Sperry. 
 
 1854-55 : Henry Minor, Ansel H. Plumb, Orrin Plumb, Wil- 
 lard Plumb, Joseph N. Sperry, Mark Tuttle. 
 
 1856—57 : George W. Carter, Henry Minor, Orrin Plumb, Den- 
 nis Pritchard, Joseph N. Sperry, Erastus W. Warner. 
 
 1858-59 : Carolus R. Byington, Henry Minor, Orrin Plumb, 
 Dennis Pritchard, Joseph N. Sperry, Erastus W. Warner. 
 
 1860-61 : James Alcott, jr., Isaac Hough, Henry Minor, Orrin 
 Plumb, Dennis Pritchard, Joseph N. Sperry. 
 
TOWN OFFICERS. 
 
 1862 : Joseph N. Sperry, Dennis Pritchard. Henry Mi >r, 
 Isaac Hough, Seth Wiard, James L. Kenea. 
 
 1863-4: Joseph N. Sperry, Dennis Pritchard, Henry Mi. or, 
 James L. Kenea. 
 
 1S65-7 : Joseph N. Sperry, Dennis Pritchard, Henry Minor. 
 
 1868: Joseph N. Sperry, Dennis Pritchard, Henry Minor, Ben- 
 jamin F. Finch, Isaac Hough, Seth Wiard. 
 
 1869: Joseph N. Sperry, Dennis Pritchard, Henry Minor. 
 
 1870-2 : Dennis Pritchard, Henry Minor. 
 
 1873: Henry Minor, Amos M. Johnson, Dennis Pritchard. 
 
 1874: Henry Minor, Dennis Pritchard, Albert N. Pane, Amos 
 M. fohnson, Frederick L. Nichols, Lucien Upson. 
 
 Representatives — October, 1796: Mark Harrison. May, 1797 
 Mark Harrison. October, 1797 : Charles Upson. May, 1798 
 Charles Upson. October, 1798 : Streat Richards. May, 1799 
 Mark Harrison. October, 1799: Charles Upson. May, 180 , to 
 October, 1802 : Isaac Bronson. October, 1802 : Streat Richards. 
 May, 1803, to October, 1S05: Mark Harrison. October, 1805, 
 to May, 1806 : Streat Richards. May and October, 1807 : Na- 
 thaniel Lewis. May, 1808: Isaac Bronson. October and 
 1809: Nathaniel Lewis. October, 1809: Streat Richards. May, 
 1S10: Nathaniel Lewis. October, 1 810: Joseph Minor. .V y, 
 181 1, to May, 1815, including special session in August, 1812, 
 and in January, 1815 : Isaac Bronson. May, 1815: Ambrose 
 Ives. October, 1815: Isaac Bronson. May, 1S16, to October, 
 1817: Ambrose Ives. October, 1S17, to May, 1S18: Era tus 
 Welton. May, 1819: Luther Andrews. 1820: Erastus Wel- 
 ton. 1821-2: Heman Hall. 1823: Levi Hall. 1824-5: David 
 Frisbie. 1826-7: Archibald Minor.* 1828-9: David Frisoie. 
 1830: Archibald Minor. 1831 : Luther Hotchkiss. 1832: Or- 
 rin Plumb. 1833-4: Archibald Minor. 1835: Orrin Plumb. 
 1836: Daniel Holt. 1837: Moses Pond. 1838: Salmon Up- 
 son. 1839: Noah H. Byington. 1840: Ira Hough. 1841 : 
 Ira Frisbie. 1842: Levi Moulthrop. 1843-4: Moses Pond. 
 1845: Sheldon Welton. 1846: Willard Plumb. 1847-8: Henry 
 Minor. 1849 : Marvin Minor. 1850 : Dennis Pritchard. 185 1 : 
 
 * Mr. Minor is still living, and at the time of this writing is in the nine- 
 tieth year of his age. 
 16 
 
226 
 
 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Willis Merrill. 1S52 : Isaac Hough. 1853: Joseph N. Sperry. 
 1S54 : Lyman Manvill. 1855 : Moses Pond. 1856 : Erastus W. 
 Warner. 1857 : George W. Winchell. 1858 : Henry Minor. 
 1859: Shelton T. Hitchcock, i860 : Erastus W. Warner. 1861 : 
 William McNeill. 1862: E. W. Warner. 1863: Seth Wiard. 
 1864: James Alcott. 1865 : Orrin Plumb. 1866 : Henry Minor. 
 1867 : Augustus Minor. 1868 : Elihu Moulthrop. 1869 : Isaac 
 Hough. 1870: Berlin J. Pritchard. 187 1-2: Shelton T. Hitch- 
 cock. 1S73 : George W. Carter. 1874 : Shelton T. Hitchcock. 
 Senators — Orrin Plumb, George W. Carter. 
 
 John B. Alcox, 
 Samuel Alcox, 
 Solomon Alcox, 
 Joseph Atkins, jr., 
 Samuel Atkins, 
 Josiah Atkins, 
 Deacon Isaac Bronson 
 Stephen Carter, 
 John Dean, 
 Judah Frisbie, 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. 
 
 Benoni Gillet, 
 
 John Harrison, 
 Joel Hotchkiss, 
 Levi Johnson, 
 John J. Kenea, 
 Nathaniel Lane, 
 Dan Minor 
 Joseph Minor, 
 Elijah Royce, 
 Captain Lucius Tuttle. 
 
 SOLDIERS IN THE LATE REBELLION. 
 
 The following list is 
 cott born citizens, and 
 who entered the army 
 
 James P. Alcott, 
 Henry Alcott, 
 Newton Alcott, 
 Eugene Atwood, 
 Albert A. Andrews, 
 Martin L. Andrews, 
 Philo Andrews, 
 James B. Bailey, 
 Samuel M. Bailey, 
 Pliny Bartholomew, 
 Moses Bradley, 
 John P. Butler, 
 
 very nearly complete of all Wol- 
 of all substitutes for such citizens, 
 in the "great American conflict :" 
 
 Charles E. Byington, 
 Dwight Beecher, 
 Francis Churchill, 
 Benjamin F. Chipman, 
 David L. Frisbie, 
 Frederick Harrison, 
 Mark H. Harrison, 
 Orrin Harrison, 
 Theron S. Johnston, 
 Elihu Moulthrop, 
 Evelyn E. Moulthrop, 
 Sherman Moulthrop, 
 
SOLDIERS FROM WOLCOTT. 
 
 22J 
 
 Newell Moulthrop, 
 David M. Manning, 
 Samuel A. Merriman, 
 John Mahon, 
 John Milligan, 
 Amon L. Norton, 
 Luzern T. Norton, 
 Burritt M. Norton, 
 Lucius F. Norton, 
 John Owens. 
 Charles H. Robbins, 
 William B. Rose, 
 Henry Rose, 
 
 Samuel N. Sperry, 
 John Smith. 
 James Sweeney, 
 Alvah P. Tolman, 
 Thomas P. Tompkins, 
 
 Orrin Taylor, 
 George E. Todd, 
 
 Henry Todd, 
 
 Rev. Henry E. F. Upson, 
 
 Lucian Upson, 
 
 Leroy Upson, 
 
 George S. Wiard, 
 
 William Wiard, 
 
 William Wrav. 
 
 Joseph H. Somers, 
 
 The following are the names of some of the sons of 
 former residents of Wolcott who were in the arm)' in the 
 late war : 
 
 Lucern, son of Simeon H. Norton, of Plantsville, died in battle. 
 
 Edgar, son of Jerry Upson, of Cheshire, died of disease con- 
 tracted in the army. 
 
 David Frame, son of Rev. Aaron C. Beach, mortally wounded 
 at Louisville, Kentucky, May 2d, 1862, aged 21 years. 
 
 Rev. Joseph H. Twitchell, chaplain, son of Deacon Edward 
 Twitchell, of Plantsville. 
 
 Manton D. and Theron, sons of Russell Upson, of New Haven. 
 
 Hobart V., son of Luther Bailey. 
 
 Charles, son of Lucius Upson, of Plantsville. 
 
BIOGRAPHY 
 
JOHN ALCOCK. 
 
 John Alcock, son of John, and grand-son of Phillip, was 
 born in New Haven, where his father resided at that time, 
 January 14, 1705. He married Deborah, daughter of Isaac 
 Blakeslee, of North Haven, on the, twenty-fourth anniver- 
 sary of his birth, and settled in Wolcott in the spring of 
 1731, on a farm of wy}, acres of land, which he had pur- 
 chased of Deacon Josiah Rogers, of Branford. He contin- 
 ued to add to his landed estate until he was the possessor 
 of about one thousand acres. He purchased more than 
 twelve hundred acres, but had given some to his children 
 previous to the later purchases. He gave to each of five 
 or six children a farm of about one hundred acres of land, 
 in the immediate vicinity of his home, retaining his home- 
 stead for himself as long as he lived. He was a man of 
 great energy and endurance, for without these qualities 
 no man would or could have accomplished what he did 
 in a wilderness country in the short space of time of 
 forty-seven years. When he made his residence on this 
 farm, coming up from Waterbury, he passed a little be- 
 yond the bounds of civilization into the territory of pan- 
 thers, bears, wild-cats, and immense forests. Here he 
 built his log house and introduced his bride of fifteen 
 months as "queen of the realm," to the privations and 
 severe toil which the circumstances must have imposed 
 in following years. Before his strong arm the wilderness 
 gave way, and in a few years neighbors were on every 
 side. Prosperity was his lot until his acres numbered a 
 thousand, and his sons and daughters a dozen, and his 
 
232 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 log house, being too strait, gave place to the more com- 
 fortable framed house. 
 
 He was a man of considerable public spirit, serving the 
 ' own of Waterbury in different capacities, but especially 
 as surveyor of lands and highways — the old records now 
 showing his name connected with much work of this kind. 
 His name is not prominent in th^ doings of the. Ecclesi- 
 astical Society, for when it was organized he was sixty- 
 six years of age, and had performed a large amount of 
 hard labor, and was very properly allowed to rest on the 
 retired list of prominent men of the community. He 
 lived to see his children comfortably settled in life, most 
 of them near him, and' some of them highly honored as 
 public citizens ; and if a consciousness of having per- 
 formed successfully the work of life can give satisfaction 
 at its close, he must have enjoyed a larger share than is 
 common among men. 
 
 He departed this life January 6th, 1777, within eight 
 days of his seventy-second birth-da}', and a little over 
 forty-six years after his settlement on territory that be- 
 came Wolcott nineteen years after his death ; and had 
 all the inhabitants of the town since his day been as 
 energetic and diligent in the work of life as he, Wolcott 
 would bloom as a garden, and would be the pride of the 
 State. As the first settler of the town, every citizen 
 must feel to honor his name, and congratulate his de- 
 scendants, scattered in many parts of this great nation. 
 
 His wife, she that was Deborah Blakeslee, of North 
 Haven, and became the queen bride of Wolcott, by being 
 the first bride residing within its limits, survived her hus- 
 band twelve years, departing this life January 7th, 1789, 
 in the seventy-eighth year of her acre. 
 
CAPT. JOHN ALCOX. 
 
 Capt. John Alcox was the eldest son of Mr. John Al- 
 cock, the first settler in Wolcott, and was born Decem- 
 ber 28, 1 73 1, and was, without doubt, the first child born 
 in the territory of present Wolcott. He married, Au- 
 gust 28, 1755, Mary Chatfield, daughter of Solomon 
 Chatfield, of Derby, Connecticut, and settled on a farm, 
 a little east of his father's residence, where his grandson, 
 Almon, still resides, he being in the eight) -fifth year of 
 his age. Captain Alcox was appointed one of the first 
 prudential committee, at the organization of the first Ec- 
 clesiastical Society, and he and his wife Mar}- were among 
 the number of forty-one persons who united in the for- 
 mation of the first church in Farmingbury parish. He 
 was a man of stability and honor, but his energy of char- 
 acter fitted him for military service more than ecclesias- 
 tical, and hence he was distinguished in the former more 
 than the latter, though in the church he was a leading 
 and substantial member. 
 
 All his commissions in the military service are preserv- 
 ed, though that of Sargeant is not at hand. That of 
 Ensign was addressed, dated, and signed as follows : " To 
 John Alcox, Ensign of the new erected company or train- 
 band in Waterbury [Farmingbury] Winter Parish so called. 
 Given under my hand and the seal of this colony, in New 
 Haven, the 19th day of October in the 9th year of the 
 Reign of our Sovereign, Lord George the Third, King 
 of Great Britain, &c, A. D., 1769. By His Honor's Com- 
 mand, Jonathan Trumbull. George Wyllys, Secretary." 
 
234 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 captain's commission. 
 
 Jon a than Trumbull, Esquire, Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief of 
 His Majesty's Colony of Connecticut, in New England. 
 
 To John Alcox,, Gent., Greeting : You being, by the General 
 Assembly of this Colony, accepted to be Captain of the Thir- 
 teenth Company, or Trainband, in the 15th Regiment in this 
 Colony, — reposing special trust and confidence in your loyalty, 
 courage, and good conduct, I do, by virtue of the letters-patent 
 from the crown of England to this corporation, me thereunto en- 
 abling, appoint' and impower you to take the said Company into 
 your care and charge, as their Captain, carefully and diligently 
 to discharge that trust ; exercising your inferior officers and 
 soldiers in the use of their arms, according to the discipline of 
 war ; keeping them in good order and government, and com- 
 manding them to obey you as their Captain for His Majesty's 
 service. And you are to observe all such orders and directions as 
 from time to time you shall receive, either from me or from other 
 your superior officer, pursuant to the trust hereby reposed in you. 
 
 Given under my hand and the seal of this Colony, in Hartford, 
 the 1 8th day of May, in the fourteenth year of the reign of our 
 Sovereign Lord, George the Third, King of Great Britain, etc. 
 Annoque Domini 1774. 
 
 By His Honor's Command, JONTH. TRUMBULL. 
 
 GEORGE WYLLYS, Secy. 
 
 In the Autumn after Mr. Alcox received his Captain's 
 commission, and when Colonial matters were taking on 
 a serious attitude toward the mother country, in conse- 
 quence of the warlike preparations of Governor Gage, of 
 Massachusetts, he received the following paper, appar- 
 ently in General Putnam's hand-writing and signature, 
 and signed by other persons : 
 
 putnam's order. 
 
 Pomphret, Sept. 3, 1774. 
 Capt. Hopkins : * 
 
 Mr. Keys this moment brought news that the men of war and 
 
 * Isaac Hopkins had been Captain previous to the appointment of John 
 Alcox, and hence when he received the above notice, he not then being 
 
CAPT. JOHN ALCOX. 235 
 
 troops began to fire on the people last night at sunset at Boston, 
 when a post was sent immediately to inform the country ; he in- 
 forms the artillery played all night. The people are universally 
 for Boston as far as here, and desire all the assistance possible ; — 
 it was occasioned by the country's being robbed of their powder 
 as far as Framingham, and when found out, people went to take 
 them and were immediately fired upon; six of our people were 
 killed the first shot, a number more were wounded ; and [ I ] beg 
 you would rally all the forces and be upon the march immediately 
 for the relief of Boston and the people that way. 
 
 ISRAEL PUTNAM. 
 
 A copy compared, etc. WOLCOTT. 
 
 Per James Hunting ion. (Probably Governor.) 
 
 Ten days later, the Colonel of the Regiment sent the 
 following paper : 
 
 To Captain John Alcox, Captain of the \"$th Company in the l$th Regiment 
 of the' Colony of Connecticut : 
 
 These lines are to desire you to call forth the company under 
 your command as soon as may be, and see that they and each 
 of them are furnished with arms and ammunition according to 
 law, and see that they hold themselves in readiness to march at 
 an hour's warning, if need be. 
 
 Dated at Farmington, this 13th day of Sept., A D., 1774. 
 
 JOHN STRONG, Colonel. 
 
 The following paper is also preserved in Capt. Alcox's 
 handwriting, except the name of Abraham Woster, and 
 is now, 1874, ninety-nine years old : 
 
 Tc the Honorable Assembly to beholden at Hartford on the Second Thursday 
 of May, A. £>., 1775 : 
 
 These may serve to inform your honors, that being required by 
 a statute of law passed in your session in October last requiring 
 all captains of military companies in the government to call out 
 their companies twelve half days before the first day of May next 
 
 captain, passed the order to Mr. Alcox, who preserved it. It is now in pos- 
 session of Mr. A. Bronson Alcott. 
 
2$6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 then ensuing, and to cause them to be taught in the art of mili- 
 tary discipline, encouraging all that would faithfully attend, with 
 a premium of one dollar for their service, whereupon I have 
 warned out my company to said twelve half days within said act 
 limited, and under me there have attended faithfully the said 
 twelve and a half days, fifty-eight of those to draw pay. Eleven 
 that have attended eleven half days, eight that have attended ten 
 half days, two that have attended nine, two that have attended 
 eight, and one that attended seven, on which I exhibit this ac- 
 count before your honor, requiring the aforementioned premium. 
 
 Dated Waterbury, May 9th, A. D., 1775. 
 
 JOHN ALCOX, 
 
 Capt. of the 13th Company in the Fifteenth jRegi/nent. 
 
 The above is a true account of the proceedings of the above 
 
 said half-day trainings. 
 
 ABRAHAM WOSTER, 
 
 Clerk of said Company. 
 
 On the reverse side of this paper is the following re- 
 ceipt and autographs : 
 
 Farming-ton, June 24. 
 
 We, the subscribers, have received of Capt. John Alcox in full 
 for our half-day training. 
 
 Ezekiel Upson, Samuel Atkins. 
 
 Joseph Benham, Abraham Tuttle, 
 
 Amos Hall, Joseph Beecher, 
 
 James Thomas, Wait Hotchkiss, 
 
 David Alcox, John Bronson, 
 
 Aaron Welton, Jacob Carter, jr., 
 
 Elkanah Smith, Noah Neal, 
 
 Eliakim Welton, jr., Abel Collins, 
 
 John Talmage, Jared Harrison, 
 
 Abel Curtiss, sen., Charles Upson, 
 
 Heman Hall, Jeremiah Smith, 
 
 James Alcox, Mark Harrison, 
 
 Johnson Cleaveland, Cyrus Norton, 
 
 Stephen Miles, jr., Abraham Woster, 
 
 Daniel Alcox, Nathan Seward, 
 
CAPT. JOHN ALCOX. 237 
 
 Samuel Harrison, Nathaniel Sutliff, 
 
 Dan Tuttle, Philemon Bradley, 
 
 Aaron How, John Greely, 
 
 Curtiss Hall, Isaac Newell, 
 
 John Miles, Moses Pond, 
 
 Jeremiah Selkrigs, 
 
 James Alcox received the wages for Phillip Barrett and David 
 Alcox, jr., and receipted accordingly. Daniel Lane received "six 
 shillings" for Joel Lane. 
 
 Captain Alcox espoused the cause of his country in 
 the revolutionary war with great spirit and energy. It is 
 said of him that on hearing some report, about the time 
 of the commencement of the war, he buckled on his Cap- 
 tain's sword and walked to New Haven, twenty-five miles, 
 to see if his services were needed as a soldier. Three 
 of his sons, Solomon, Samuel, and John B., served in that 
 war. 
 
 His wife, Mary, departed this life, February 28, 1807, 
 and Mr. Alcox died September 27, 1808, wanting one day 
 of being seventy-seven years of age. 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT.* 
 
 The first settler of Wolcott, John Alcock, of New Ha- 
 ven, left a son, Captain John Alcock, who lived on Spindle 
 Hill, along with his brothers, each possessed of a good 
 farm. At his house his grand-son, Amos Bronson Alcott, 
 now of Concord, Mass., was born November 29, 1799, 
 being the eldest of eight children of Joseph Chatfield Al- 
 cox and Anna Bronson, his wife. The homestead of 
 Joseph C. Alcox was near his father's, and it was there 
 that Mr. Alcott spent his boyhood. The present house, 
 built in 1 8 19, is that from which Mr. Alcott set forth for 
 Boston in 1828, when he began his active career in the 
 great world. It stood near the fork of the road, where in 
 former times was the district school house in which Mr. 
 Alcott and his cousin, Dr. William A. Alcott, commenced 
 their education, in the fashion described by Dr. Alcott 
 many years ago. This school house has now disappeared, 
 and the house and farm of Joseph C. Alcox have suffered 
 from neglect since his death in 1829. 
 
 He was a skillful farmer and country mechanic, making 
 farming tools and household utensils for his townsfolks, 
 and having the best tilled and best fenced farm (of nearly 
 100 acres) in the Spindle Hill district. Two of his broth- 
 ers had built log cabins on their clearings and lived in 
 
 * This biographical sketch was prepared by request of the author of this 
 book, by F. B. Sanborn, Esq., of Concord, Mass., and is extended for the 
 purpose of giving some account of the experiences of the young men of 
 Wolcott in their southern tours, and of Mr. Alcott's efforts in education, 
 for which the author extends to Mr. Sanborn his most cordial thanks. 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 239 
 
 them in the early part of this century, but he always oc- 
 cupied a frame house, and lived with comfort, though 
 with frugality. He was a diffident, retiring man, and 
 kept much at home, content with his simple lot ; indus- 
 trious, temperate, conscientious, honorable in all his deal- 
 ings, and fortunate in his domestic life. 
 
 His wife, the mother of Mr. Bronson Alcott, deserves 
 special mention, since from her he inherited his name, 
 his early religious training, and the general turn of his 
 mind. Anna Bronson was the daughter of Captain Amos 
 Bronson, of Plymouth : a man of property, influence, and 
 decided theological opinions, somewhat at variance with 
 those of the majority of Connecticut farmers at that time. 
 She was the sister of an eminent clergyman and scholar, 
 — Dr. Tillotson Bronson, for some years at the head of 
 the Episcopal Academy in Cheshire, and previously rec- 
 tor of St. John's Church, in Waterbury. She had some 
 advantages of culture not so common in Wolcott at that 
 time, and at her marriage brought to the Spindle Hill 
 neighborhood a refinement of disposition and a grace of 
 deportment that gave a more polite tone to the little 
 community. In course of time her husband and children 
 joined her in the Episcopal form of worship, when intro- 
 duced in their neighborhood, where the service was read 
 (at the Spindle Hill school house), until in course of time 
 a church was gathered. She united steadfastness and 
 persistency of purpose with uncommon delicacy and 
 sweetness of spirit, and was truly, as her son declares her, 
 " meek, forgiving, patient, generous, and self-sustained, 
 the best of wives and mothers." She lived to a great age, 
 surviving her husband more than thirty years. 
 
 From his earliest years Mr. Alcott was fond of books, 
 and read eagerly all that he could find. He went to 
 school in the Spindle Hill district until he was thirteen 
 years old, and at the age of twelve began to keep a diary, 
 a practice which he has continued the greater part of the 
 time since. Still earlier he had read Bunyan's Pilgrim's 
 
240 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Progress, the book of all others which had the greatest 
 influence on his mind. He learned to write by practising 
 with chalk on his mother's kitchen floor, and became in 
 his boyhood a skillful penman, so that his first essay in 
 teaching was as master of a writing school. He was 
 mainly self-taught, in the higher studies, although he 
 was for a time a pupil of his uncle, Dr. Bronson, at Che- 
 shire, in 1813, and in 1815 of Rev. John Keys, of Wol- 
 cott Hill. 
 
 He worked during boyhood on the farm and in the 
 shop with his father and brothers, and was dextrous at 
 mechanical tasks. At the age of fourteen he worked for 
 a while at clock making, in Plymouth, and in the same 
 year went on an excursion into northern Connecticut 
 and western Massachusetts, selling a few articles as he 
 went, to meet the expenses of his journey. At the age 
 of fifteen he was confirmed, along with his father, as a 
 member of the Episcopal church, the ceremony being 
 performed in Waterbury, by Bishop Brownell, after which 
 young Alcott, with his cousin, the late Dr. Alcott, used 
 to read the chur.ch service on Sundays at the school 
 house in their neighborhood. The two cousins also car- 
 ried on a correspondence at this time, and founded a 
 small library for their mutual improvement. A few years 
 later they visited Virginia and the Carolinas together, 
 on one of those peddling pilgrimages which make such a 
 romantic feature of Mr. Alcott's early life. Of one of 
 these journeys Dr. Alcott has printed an extended ac- 
 count. 
 
 His first visit to New Haven was in 181 3, when he went 
 to a book store and sighed for a place in it, for the sake 
 of reading all the books. And he turned his rambles in 
 Virginia and North Carolina to good account in the way 
 of reading ; gaining access to the libraries of the great 
 houses as he w nt along. 
 
 The beginning of these rambles was in the autumn 
 and winter of 181 8, when the youth was almost nineteen 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 241 
 
 years old. At the age of sixteen he had played the part 
 of a subscription book agent, selling copies of Flavel's 
 " Keeping the Heart." His earnings were spent in New 
 Haven for a prayer book for his mother, another for him- 
 self, a dictionary, and a supply of paper for his diaries. 
 These short journeys in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and 
 New York, had worn off his natural bashfulness some- 
 what, and had increased his longing to see more of the 
 great world. His father and mother would fain have re- 
 tained him at home, but he resolved to go to Norfolk in 
 one of the coasting vessels from New Haven, and had a 
 dream that he could easily, in Virginia, find a place as a 
 teacher. Accordingly he sailed from New Haven, Octo- 
 ber 13th, 1818, in the good sloop "Three Sisters," Cap- 
 tain Sperry, skipper, with fifteen other passengers, chiefly 
 peddlers from Connecticut and workmen going in the 
 employ of the Tisdales, Connecticut tinmen, who had a 
 shop at Norfolk. The voyage lasted about a week, and 
 young Alcott landed in Virginia, October 20th. His pas- 
 sage money seems to have been ten dollars. For a few 
 days after arriving at Norfolk he continued to board with 
 Captain Sperry, but soon went to live at Tisdale's, the 
 tinman, and was urged by him to enter his service. At 
 first Mr. Alcott was bent on teaching, but having tried 
 from the 24th of October to the 12th of November, with- 
 out success, to get a school, and being then somewhat in 
 debt, the youth accepted his offer, and began to peddle 
 for him about the city. This continued until some time 
 in December, but apparently without much pecuniary re- 
 sult, for just before the Christmas holidays we find Mr. 
 Alcott buying a small stock of Virginia almanacs, and 
 selling them to the citizens of Norfolk at a profit of two 
 hundred per cent. Each almanac cost threepence, and 
 was sold for ninepence, and the young merchant easily 
 earned a dollar or two a day so long as the holidays 
 lasted. Then it occurred to him to enlarge his stock, and 
 to selltrinketsand silks to the families in the surrounding 
 17 
 
242 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 country. He went, therefore, to a dealer in "fancy 
 goods " in Norfolk, and bought goods costing nearly three 
 hundred dollars, which he bestowed in two small tin 
 trunks, to be carried in the hand, as the peddler jour- 
 neyed on foot from house to house. There were tortoise 
 shell combs, thimbles, scissors, various articles of orna- 
 ment for ladies, puzzles and picture books for children, 
 spectacles, razors, and many other wares for *the men, 
 besides needles, buttons, sewing-silk, and much more 
 that was not then a part of a peddler's stock in Eastern 
 Virginia. 
 
 The first trip was made in January, 1819, and was a 
 circuit from Norfolk, by way of Hampton, along the 
 James River for awhile, then across the country to York- 
 town, and by the York county plantations back to Hamp- 
 ton and Norfolk again. It proved profitable, and both 
 goods and merchant found unexpected favor in the eyes 
 of the Virginians. An American foot-peddler, a bashful 
 Yankee, neither impertinent nor stingy, was a novelty in 
 those regions, and, it soon appeared, an agreeable nov- 
 elty. He was kindly received at the great houses of the 
 planters, where he generally spent the night, accepting 
 courteously their customary hospitality, though some- 
 times sleeping in the slave quarters. On Sundays and 
 rainy days, when his trade could not be pursued, this diffi- 
 dent and bookish Autolycus remained in the planters' 
 houses, and had permission to read in their libraries, 
 where he found many books he had never seen or heard 
 of before. In that part of Virginia there lived some of 
 the oldest and best descended families of the Old Do- 
 minion, with large and choice libraries, which they al- 
 lowed the young man from Connecticut to explore for 
 himself. Biography was his favorite reading, then poems 
 and tales, and he had a keen appetite — not so common 
 among lads of nineteen — for metaphysics and books of 
 devotion. Cowper's Life and Letters, Locke's Conduct 
 of the Understanding, and Lavater's Physiognomy, were 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 243 
 
 among the books thus read ; nor was his favorite, Pil- 
 grim's Progress, forgotten, which he found in fine editions 
 among the Virginians. 
 
 A word may here be said of the style of life and of 
 reading, schooling, etc., which had up to this time been 
 familiar to Mr. Alcott. The region where he lived was 
 one of the most primitive parts of Connecticut at the 
 opening of the century, and, though it was so near to 
 those centers of culture, Hartford and New Haven, was 
 but scantily supplied with books. There were not a 
 hundred volumes in the parish library, and it had fallen 
 into disuse when Mr. Alcott was a lad in his teens. He 
 used to get permission from his father on Saturday after- 
 noons to go round to the houses of the farmers in Wolcott 
 for several miles about to examine their libraries and 
 read their books, which included the Bible, and perhaps 
 half a dozen other books, among them Bunyan's Pilgrim's 
 Progress, Hervey's Meditations, Young's Night Thoughts, 
 and Burgh's Dignity of Human Nature, a book then in 
 much vogue among the country people of New England. 
 These volumes would be kept on a shelf in a corner of 
 the family room, and young Alcott readily got leave to 
 borrow them. 
 
 It was his custom for years to borrow and read the 
 Pilgrim's Progress once a year ; and this book, more than 
 any other, gave direction to his fancies and visions of life. 
 Wolcott, indeed, might pass either for the Hill Difficulty 
 or for the Delectable Mountains, according to the mood 
 of the inhabitant of its uplands. The township lay high, 
 and Spindle Hill, or " New Connecticut," was at the sum- 
 mit of the range of Wolcott hills, commanding a wide 
 prospect on all sides. Seven parish steeples were in 
 sight, and from an oak-top the young Christian could see 
 the glittering waters of Long Island Sound. 
 
 Books were always his solace and delight, and he read 
 constantly of evenings, and while resting from work at 
 noon, during his father's nap or pull at the tobacco-pipe, 
 
244 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 in which he indulged himself moderately. Som times, 
 too, the barefoot boy took his book afield with him, and 
 read under the wall or by some tree, while the oxen 
 rested in the furrow. 
 
 To a youth thus bred, the comparatively elegant and 
 courtly life of the wealthy Virginians was a graceful and 
 impressive revelation, — the first school of fine manners 
 which he had entered. An English gentleman, hearing 
 the story of Mr. Alcott's early years — his farm life and 
 his progress as a peddler — could scarcely believe it true. 
 "Why," said he, "your friend has the most distinguished 
 manners — the manners of a very great peer." He would 
 have been still more surprised to learn that it was during 
 the years of peddling that this polish of manner b^gan to 
 be acquired by contact with a class then esteemed the 
 first gentlemen in America. 
 
 During these first months of 1819 he visited the Vir- 
 ginian towns of Portsmouth, Smithfield, Williamsburg, 
 the old capitol of the colony, Gloucester, and others in 
 that region, and traversed the surrounding districts, 
 without anxiety or misadventure, and with something to 
 show at the beginning of April as the profits of the win- 
 ter's trade. Something more than one hundred dollars 
 was the net income, after all debts were paid, and travel- 
 ling homeward with this, Mr. Alcott put it into the 
 hands of his father, as the price of the six month's time 
 he had taken from the work of farm and shop. The 
 money went into the new house which the father was then 
 building (in 18 19), and which is still standing. 
 
 In November, 1819, Mr. Alcott and his brother Chat- 
 field went to Virginia and both engaged in peddling. 
 They succeeded well, and carried home their earnings to 
 their father in the summer of 1820. The following autumn, 
 when Bronson Alcott was one-and-twenty, he went ^>outh 
 again, this time as far as South Carolina, and with his 
 cousin, afterwards Dr. Alcott, for a companion. Their 
 plan was tote ach school in the Carolinas, but that failed, 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 245 
 
 and after making the journey on foot, from Charleston to 
 Norfolk, they betook themselves, in the winter of 1820- 
 21, to peddling again. During this winter Bronson Al- 
 cott suffered from a severe typhus fever, and William Al- 
 cott took care of him. The profits of the season were 
 not so much as before, owing to this illness and other un- 
 favorable circumstances. On his way home in June, Mr. 
 Alcott, visited for the first time, Washington, Baltimore, 
 Philadelphia, and New York. In the following Septem- 
 ber, the now experienced adventurer set forth from home, 
 and after settling his affairs in Norfolk, he gave up mer- 
 chandise and began teaching. His first school was a 
 writing class in Warrenton, N. C. With the money thus 
 earned he paid his way back to Wolcott in June, walking 
 most of the distance. Not quite willing to abandon the 
 hope of retrieving his fortune, he set forth again for the 
 South with his cousin, Thomas Alcox, in October, 1822, 
 and spent the winter in North Carolina, among the Qua- 
 kers of Chowan and Perquimons counties, returning in the 
 spring of 1823. Here he saw much of the Quakers and 
 read their books, such as William Penn's No Cross, no 
 Crown ; Barclay's Apology ; Fox's Journal ; and other 
 works of like spirit. The moral sentiment, as Mr. Al- 
 cott has since said, now superceded peddling, clearly and 
 finally. 
 
 The next stage in his career was school keeping, — an 
 occupation that he pursued for more than fifteen years, 
 after once taking it up. His first school was in a district 
 of Bristol, the adjoining town, and only three miles from 
 Spindle Hill. Here he taught for three months, his wa- 
 ges being. $10 a month besides board, and was so good 
 a teacher as to make the school-committee desirous to 
 engage him again. He did indeed teach school in Bris- 
 tol the next winter (1824-5), but n °t in the §ame district, 
 and for a part of the year he gave writing lessons at 
 Wolcott. In the spring and summer of 1825 he resided 
 in Cheshire with his uncle, Dr. Bronson, who then edited 
 
246 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the Churchmans Magazine, for which Mr. Alcott procured 
 subscribers and copied his uncle's manuscript for the 
 printer. While residing with Dr. Bronson this season he 
 read Butler's Analogy, Reid and Stewart's Metaphysics, 
 Watts's Logic, Vattel's Law of Nations, and Dwight's 
 Theology, his readings being to some extent directed by 
 his uncle, with whom he continued to live after begin- 
 ning to teach school in Cheshire, in November, 1825. 
 This school occupied Mr. Alcott from that time until 
 June, 1827, nearly two years, when he closed it and re- 
 turned to Wolcott. He wrote a brief account of it and 
 of his method in it, which was published in Mr. William 
 Russell's "Journal of Education," in January, 1828, and 
 attracted much notice, as the school itself had done. It 
 was in Cheshire, in fact, that Mr. Alcott began to de- 
 velope his peculiar system of instruction, which after- 
 wards received so much praise and blame in Boston. 
 He continued this system in a similar school in Bristol 
 in the winter of 1827-8, and then removed to Boston to 
 take charge of an infant school in Salem street, in June, 
 1828. In the following April, he opened a private school 
 near St. Paul's church on Tremont street, in which he 
 remained until November 5, 1830, when he gave it up to 
 open a school in Germantown. near Philadelphia, where 
 with his associate, Mr. W. Russell, he remained a little more 
 than two years. On the 22d of April, 1833, he opened 
 a school in Philadelphia, which continued until July, 1834, 
 soon after which, September 22, 1834, Mr. Alcott return- 
 ed to Boston and there began his famous Temple school, 
 concerning which so much has been written and pub- 
 lished. This was nearly eleven years after his first win- 
 ter's school keeping in Bristol. Mr. Alcott had now 
 reached the 35th year of his life, and the fifth of his mar- 
 ried life. 
 
 Concerning the Cheshire school-keeping, which Mr. 
 Alcott has always regarded as one of the most fruitful of 
 his experiences, his brother-in-law, Rev. Samuel J. May, 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 247 
 
 himself distinguished as a teacher and friend of education, 
 says in his autobiography', under the year 1827: "Dr. 
 William A. Alcott, then living in Wolcott, a philosopher 
 and a philanthropist, wrote to give us some account of a 
 remarkable school, kept on a very original plan, in the 
 adjoining town of Cheshire, by his kinsman, Mr. A. B. Al- 
 cott. His account excited so much my curiosity to know 
 more of the American Pestalozzi, as he has since been 
 called, that I wrote immediately to Mr. Alcott, begging 
 him to send me a detailed statement of his principles and 
 method of training children. In due time came to me a 
 full account of the school of Cheshire, which revealed 
 such a depth of insight into the nature of man, such a 
 true sympathy with children, such profound appreciation 
 of the work of education, and was, withal, so philosophi- 
 cally arranged and exquisitely written, that I at once felt 
 assured the man must be a genius, and that I must know 
 him more intimately. So I wrote, inviting him ur- 
 gently to visit me (in Brooklyn, Connecticut, where Mr. 
 May then had a parish). He came and passed a week 
 with me before the end of the summer. I have never, 
 but in one instance, been so immediately taken possession 
 of by any man I have ever met in life. He seemed to me 
 like a born sage and saint. He was a radical in all mat- 
 ters of reform ; went to the root of all theories, especially 
 the subjects of education, mental and moral culture."* 
 
 At this time the Cheshire school was just coming to an 
 end, in consequence, partly in opposition to the radical 
 ideas of its teacher, who had now reached that point in 
 his experience as a teacher where he had confidence in 
 his own ideas and methods, and began to make them dis- 
 tinctly felt, not only by pupils, but by their parents, and 
 by the community. Previous to 1827 the district schools 
 of Connecticut, and of all New England', were at a low 
 degree of discipline, instruction, and comfort, and in all 
 these matters Mr. Alcott set the example of improve- 
 
 * Life of Samuel J. May, .pp. 121-2. Boston: Roberts Brothers. 1S73. 
 
248 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ment. He first gave his pupils single desks, now so com- 
 mon, instead of the long benches and double or three- 
 seated desks, still in use in some sections. He gave his 
 youthful pupils slates and pencils, and blackboards. He 
 established a school library, and taught them to enjoy 
 the benefits of careful reading ; he broke away from the 
 old rule of severe and indiscriminate punishments, and 
 substituted therefor appeals to the affections and the 
 moral sentiment of children, so that he was able almost 
 wholly to dispense with corporeal punishment. He intro- 
 duced, also, light gymnastic exercises, evening amuse- 
 ments at the school-room, the keeping of diaries by 
 young children, and, in general, an affectionate and rev- 
 erent mode of drawing out the child's mind towards 
 knowledge, rather than the pouring in of instruction by 
 mechanical or compulsory processes. Familiar as this 
 natural method of teaching has since become, it was an 
 innovation five and forty years ago, — as much so as Pes- 
 talozzi's method had been in Europe when he began the 
 instruction of poor children in Switzerland a hundred 
 years ago. Mr. Alcott followed in the course pointed 
 out by Pestalozzi, and may be said to have been his im- 
 mediate successor and continuator, for Pestalozzi died, 
 (February 1827) while Mr. Alcott was in the midst of his 
 Cheshire school. It has been remarked that the plan of 
 communicating all instruction by immediate address to 
 the child's sensations and conceptions, and effecting the 
 formation of his mind by constantly calling his powers 
 into exercise, instead of making him a mere passive re- 
 cipient, was original with Pestalozzi, — and so it was with 
 Mr. Alcott. Our townsman added also a Platonic and 
 mystic tinge to his system, which, although found in Pes- 
 talozzi's was not c o marked. The most devoted of Pes- 
 talozzi's personal friends and followers in England, Mr. 
 James Pierrpont Greaves, who first learned of Mr. Alcott's 
 experiments in education from Miss Harriet Martineau, 
 after her return from America in 1837, a ^ once recognized 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 249 
 
 the right of our townsman to the mantle of Pestalozzi. 
 Afterwards, in founding a school near London, on the 
 principles of his beloved master Pestalozzi, he gave it the 
 name of " Alcott House." He was even meditating a 
 voyage to Boston for the sake of making Mr. Alcott's 
 acquaintance, when he was prevented by the illness which 
 preceded his death in 1842. Mr. Alcott's own visit to 
 England happening later in the same year, he never met 
 Mr. Greaves. 
 
 The principles which guided Mr. Alcott in his long 
 course of school-teaching, in so many places, being fully 
 set forth in the "Record of a School," lately republished 
 in Boston, need not here be dwelt upon in detail. They 
 were Pathagorean, Platonic, Pestalozzian, and we may 
 add, Christian ; for though the forms of belief which he 
 for sometime held varied widely from the standard of 
 doctrine most commonly upheld in Connecticut, the spir- 
 it in which he acted was always that of reverent and self- 
 sacrificing love, — the true spirit of Christianity. He was 
 in advance of his age, and his ideas in education, now al- 
 most universally received, were slow in making their way 
 among the plain and practical people of New England. 
 Like Pestalozzi, he was continually at a disadvantage in 
 dealing with affairs, and he was not so fortunate as to 
 find a coadjutor in his schools who could supply the prac- 
 tical ability to match and complete his own idealism. 
 Hence the brief period of his success in each place where 
 he taught, and his frequent removals from town to town, 
 and city to city. Everywhere he impressed the best men 
 and women with the depth and worth of his character, 
 the fervor of his philanthropy, the delicacy and penetra- 
 tion of his genius, and they spoke of him as Mr. May did, in 
 the passage quoted above. They sought his fellowship, 
 aided his plans, rejoiced in his successes, and knew how 
 to pardon his failures. During the period from 1826 to 
 1836 he made the acquaintance and enjoyed the friend- 
 ship of some of the most eminent persons in Connecti- 
 
250 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 cut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania ; among 
 them Drs. Gallaudet and Henry Barnard, of Hartford, 
 Dr. Channing and Mr. Garrison, of Boston, Mr. R. W. 
 Emerson, of Concord, Messrs. Matthew Carey, Roberts 
 Vaux, and Dr. Furness, of Philadelphia ; and many of 
 the most esteemed Boston families, — the Mays, Phillipses, 
 Savages, Shaws, Quincys, etc. Among the eminent wo- 
 men who took an interest in his school may be named, 
 (besides Miss Martineau), Miss Margaret Fuller, Miss 
 Elizabeth Peabody, her sister, the late Mrs. Hawthorne, 
 Miss Elizabeth Hoar, and others. Both Miss Fuller and 
 Miss Peabody were assistant teachers in the Temple 
 school at Boston, and Miss Peabody compiled the ac- 
 counts of it which were published under the title of " Re- 
 cord of a School." and " Conversations with Children on 
 the Gospels." Mr. Emerson, who had become intimate 
 with Mr. Alcott in 1835, saluted him with high expecta- 
 tion in this part of his career and said to him what Burke 
 said to John Howard, "Your plan is original, and as full 
 of genius as of humanity ; so do not let it sleep or stop> 
 a day." To his friend at Concord Mr. Alcott seemed in 
 his work as a teacher, a man in earnest, and of rare pow- 
 er to awaken the highest faculties, — "to awaken the ap- 
 prehension of the Absolute," as he said. And this was. 
 the general verdict of those persons who visited the Bos- 
 ton school in the Masonic Temple, on Tremont Street, 
 during the years 1834-5-6. The conversation with pupils 
 on the New Testament, in the winter of 1835-6, excited 
 some opposition, however, and the lectures of Dr. Gra- 
 ham, the vegetarian, in 1836, also gave offense. The 
 publication of the "Conversations" in the winter of 
 1836-7 was the occasion of a fierce attack in the newspa- 
 pers of 1837. 
 
 The hostile criticism poured out upon Mr. Alcott and 
 his school after the publication of this book was singu- 
 larly varied in its nature. The Boston Advertiser com- 
 plained that "on the most important and difficult ques- 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 25 1 
 
 tions this teacher, while he endeavors to extract from his 
 pupils every thought which may come uppermost in their 
 minds, takes care studiously to conceal his own opinions." 
 But this was not all : "In some cases he gives opinions, 
 and sometimes opinions of very questionable soundness." 
 He supposes, we are told, "that a new era in philosophy 
 is dawning upon us in the discover)' that childhood is a 
 type of the divinity ; and the Advertiser sneeringly adds 
 that "these conversations appear to be the first fruits of 
 the new attempt to draw wisdom from babes and suck- 
 lings," — as if, forsooth, there were anything unchristian 
 or unscriptural in such an attempt. The Courier, a paper 
 justly celebrated afterwards for standing firmly by the 
 unpopular cause, was more abusive than the Advertiser, 
 — compared Mr. A. with Kneeland, who had been indicted 
 for blasphemy, and suggested that this teacher also 
 should be brought before the " honorable judge of our 
 municipal court." The indignation of Mr. Emerson was 
 aroused at this injustice, and he wrote a note which was 
 published in the Courier, the Advertiser having declined 
 to publish it. It appeared in March or April, 1837, and 
 said, among other things : " In behalf of this book 1 have 
 but one plea to make — this, namely: Let it be read. 
 Any reasonable man will perceive that fragments out of 
 a new theory of Christian instruction are not quite in the 
 best place for examination betwixt the price current and 
 the shipping list. Try the effect of a passage from 
 Plato's Phaedo, or the Confessions of St. Augustine, in 
 the same place. Mr. Alcott has given proof of a strong 
 mind and a pure heart. A practical teacher, he has dedi- 
 cated for years his rare gifts to the science of education. 
 He aims to make children think, and, in every question 
 of a moral nature, to send them back on themselves for 
 an answer. He is making an experiment in which all the 
 friends of education arc interested. I ask whether it be 
 wise or just to add to the anxieties of his enterprise a 
 a public clamor against some detached sentences of a 
 
252 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 book which, as a whole, is pervaded with original thought 
 and sincere piety ?" But this protest had no effect on 
 Mr. Buckingham, who soon after quoted in his Courier 
 the opinion of a distinguished professor of Harvard Col- 
 lege, to the effect that " one-third of Mr. Alcott's book 
 was absurd, one-third was blasphemous, and one-third 
 was obscene." " Such," remarked Mr. Buckingham, "will 
 be the deliberate opinion of those who diligently read 
 and soberly reflect." 
 
 To one who reads the two volumes thus severely con- 
 demned, after the changes of the last thirty or forty years, 
 such bitterness only provokes a smile. They would now 
 be admitted with little hesitation to Sunday School libra- 
 ries, and to use in the Sunday Schools of most Protest- 
 ant churches. But the effect of such denunciation then 
 was crushing. The school at the Temple, which began 
 in 1834 with thirty pupils, and had received as many as 
 forty, fell to ten pupils in the spring of 1837, and after 
 lingering along for a year or two, with one or two changes 
 of place, was finally given up in 1839. The immediate 
 occasion of closing it then was the unwillingness of Mr. 
 Alcott's patrons to have their children educated in the 
 same room with a colored child whom he had admitted, 
 and when the protesting parents found Mr. Alcott deter- 
 mined not to dismiss the colored child, they with- 
 drew their own children — leaving him with only five pu- 
 pils, — his own three daughters, a child of Mr. William Rus- 
 sell, and young Robinson, the cause of offense. Up to 
 this time (June, 1839) tne receipts of Mr. Alcott for tui- 
 tion since he began his school at the Temple, five years 
 before, had been $5,730 ; namely, in the first year, $1,794, 
 the second, $1,649, tne third $1,395, the fourth, (after 
 the attack in the newspapers), $549, and in the last year 
 only $343- The expenses of rent, furniture, assistant 
 teachers, and the maintenance of family had been much 
 more than this,- — and in April, 1837, the costly furniture, 
 school library, and other apparatus of the Temple school 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 53 
 
 were sold at auction. The city press and the city mob 
 had their way with Mr. Alcott's school, just as two years 
 before they had their way with Mr. Garrison's anti-slav- 
 ery meeting. The poor and unpopular schoolmaster 
 from Connecticut was hooted down, and his generous ex- 
 periments in education were frustrated in Boston, in spite 
 of the protests and appeals of such champions as Dr. Al- 
 cott, Mr. Emerson, Mr. Russell, James Freeman Clarke, 
 Rev. Chandler Robbins, Miss Fuller, Dr. Furness, Dr. 
 Hedge, and other friends of culture and philosophy. 
 
 During this period, as at all times since his marriage 
 in 1830, Mr. Alcott found great sympathy and encourage- 
 ment at his own fireside. Mrs. Alcott was a daughter of 
 Col. Joseph May, of Boston, and was born in that city, 
 October 8, 1800. The Rev. Samuel J. May, of Syracuse, 
 whose memoir has been quoted, was her elder brother, 
 born in 1793. It was at his parsonage house in Brook- 
 lyn that she first met Mr. Alcott, in 1827, when he was 
 teaching school in Cheshire, and it was largely on her 
 account and through the efforts of her family and friends 
 that he went to Boston, in 1828, and took charge of the 
 Salem street infant school. They were married May 23, 
 1830, and resided in Boston until their removal to Ger- 
 mantown in the following winter. Their oldest daughter 
 Anna Bronson, now Mrs. Pratt, (the mother of Miss Al- 
 cott's "Little Men") was born at Germantown, March 
 16, 1 83 1, and Miss Alcott herself (Louisa May) was born 
 at Germantown, Nov. 29, 1832. A third daughter, Eliz- 
 abeth Sewall, was born in Boston, June 24, 1835, an d 
 died in Concord, March 14, 1858. Miss May Alcott, the 
 youngest of the four daughters, now a well-known artist, 
 was born in Concord, July 26, 1840. The eldest of the 
 four, Anna Bronson Alcott, named for her grandmother, 
 was married May 23, i860, the anniversary of her moth- 
 er's wedding day, to Mr. John B. Pratt, of Concord, a son 
 of Minot Pratt, one of the Brook Farm community in 
 former years, and of late an esteemed citizen of Concord. 
 
254 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Their children are the famous "Little Men," — Frederick 
 Alcott Pratt, born March 28, 1863, and John Sewall Pratt, 
 born June 24, 1866. Mrs. Pratt was left a widow by the 
 sudden death of her husband Nov. 27, 1870, and has 
 since resided much of the time, with her two sons, at her 
 father's house in Concord. 
 
 It will be seen then that Miss Alcott, the authoress, 
 was old enough to be a pupil, and in fact she was a pupil in 
 her father's Boston school. She received her education 
 mainly at home, after work, from her father and mother, 
 both very competent to instruct her, and to lay the 
 foundation of mind and character that her books display. 
 Mrs. Alcott inherited from her ancestors, the Mays, Sew- 
 als, Ouincys, of Boston, a vigorous constitution, a robust 
 mind, and the kindliest and most comprehensive affec- 
 tions. In a domestic life interrupted by frequent changes 
 of residence and of fortune, she was the stay of the house- 
 hold, a model wife and mother, and had a reserve force 
 of philanthropy which expended itself freely on the good 
 works of her husband, of her friends, or such as naturally 
 fell to her own share. Many of her marked traits reap- 
 pear, it is said, in her daughter Louisa, in whose books, 
 also, much of the fireside history of the Alcott, May, 
 Sewall, and Pratt families reappears in the guise of fiction. 
 
 From birth to 1823, a period of twenty-four years, we 
 may consider Mr. Alcott as preparing himself for the 
 work of life. From 1823 to 1839, nearly sixteen years, 
 he was zealously occupied in the business of education. 
 For the last thirty years and more he has stood forth as 
 an ideal reformer, and the representative of a school of 
 thought and ethics, of which he was one of the founders 
 in New England. During the years from 1834 to 1840, 
 the so-called Transcendental Movement was making pro- 
 gress among the New England people, and particularly 
 in the neighborhood of Boston. Dr. Channing was one 
 of its originators, and so, less directly, were Coleridge, 
 Carlyle, and the Germans whom they make known to the 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 255 
 
 English-speaking races. Mr. Alcott was a Transcenden- 
 talist by birth, and early imbibed a relish for speculation 
 and sentiments such as the Transcendentalists were famil- 
 iar with. He first heard Dr. Channing preach (on the 
 "Dignity of the Intellect") in April, 1828, and in Octo- 
 ber of the same year he listened to a sermon from R. W. 
 Emerson, at the Chauncey Place church, Boston, on "The 
 Universality of the Notion of a Deity." In Philadelphia, 
 between the years 1830 and 1834, he read many meta- 
 physical and mystical books, and speculated deeply on 
 the nature of the soul and on human perfectability, so that 
 he was well prepared, upon his return to New England 
 in the autumn of 1834, to join in the then nascent Trans- 
 cendental movement, which went forward rapidly to its 
 culmination about 1840, after which it ebbed away, and 
 gave its strength to other and more special agitations. 
 In 1837, when the Philistines were in full cry against the 
 Temple School and its heretical teacher, Mr. Alcott was 
 spoken of as the leader of the Transcendentalists, — a dis- 
 tinction now generally given to his friend Mr. Emerson, 
 with whom he became intimate in 1835-6. They joined in 
 man\- activities of the time ; were members and originators 
 of the somewhat famous Transcendental club, which met 
 under various names, from 1836 to 1 850. It was first 
 called "The Symposium," and met originally on the 19th 
 of September, 1836, at the house of George Ripley, then 
 a minister in Boston. In the October following, it met 
 at Mr. Alcott's house (26 Eront street), and there were 
 present Mr. Emerson, George Ripley, Frederic H. Hedge, 
 O. A. Brownson, James Freeman Clarke, and C. A. Bar- 
 tol. The subject of conversation that day was "Ameri- 
 can genius ; causes which hinder its growth." Two years' 
 later, in 1838, we find it meeting at Dr. Bartol's, in Chest- 
 nut street, Boston, where of late years the "Radical 
 Club" has often gathered; there were then present Mr. 
 Emerson, Mr. Alcott, Dr. Follan, Dr. C. Francis, Theo- 
 dore Parker, Caleb Stetson, William Russell, James Free- 
 
256 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 man Clarke, and John S. Dwight, the famous musical 
 critic. The topic discussed was "Pantheism." In Sep- 
 tember, 1839, there is record of a meeting at the house 
 of Dr. Francis, in Watertown, where, besides those already 
 mentioned, Margaret Fuller, William Henry Channing, 
 Robert Bartlett, and Samuel J. May, were present. In 
 December, 1839, a t George Ripley's, Dr. Channing, George 
 Bancroft, the sculptor Clevenger, the artist-poet C. P. 
 Cranch, and Samuel G. Ward, were among the company. 
 These names will give some notion of the nature of the 
 club, and the attraction it had for thinking and aspiring 
 persons. In October, 1840, we find Mr. Alcott in consul- 
 tation with George Ripley and Margaret Fuller, at Mr. 
 Emerson's house, in Concord, concerning the proposed 
 community, v. hich was afterwards established at Brook 
 Farm. In 1848, the Transcendental club became the 
 "Town and County Club," on a wider basis, and in a year 
 or two came to an end, having done its work. 
 
 During thi ^ period of Transcendental agitation, from 
 1835 to 1850, Mr. Alcott gradually passed through the 
 various degre s of his progress as a reformer. In 1835, 
 he gave up the use of animal food, and the next year want- 
 ed Dr. Sylvester Graham to lecture in his school. Still 
 earlier he had joined the anti-slavery society, when found- 
 ed by Willia n Lloyd Garrison, and he was present at 
 many of the celebrated gatherings of abolitionists, — for 
 instance at the Lovejoy meeting in Faneuil Hall, in 1837, 
 when Wendell Phillips made his first appearance as an 
 anti-slavery orator. In 1840, he met at Chardon Street 
 chapel, with the "Friends of Universal Reform," among 
 whom were Garrison, Edmund Quincy, Henry C. Wright, 
 Theodore Parker, W. H. Channing, Mrs. Maria Chapman, 
 Abby Kelly, Christopher Greene, and others of the same 
 school of thought. Soon after this, plans for life in com- 
 munities began to be much talk :d about, and Mr. Alcott 
 indulged in the hope that something might thus be done 
 to reform the evils of the time. He was invited to join 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 257 
 
 the Brook Farm community, and that of Adin Ballou at 
 Hopedale in Milford, but declined and instead, fell back 
 for a while on plain living and manual labor at Concord, 
 where he worked in field and garden, and in the winter 
 of 1840-1 chopped wood in the woodlands of that village. 
 
 Speaking of this period in Mr. Alcott's life, Dr. Chan- 
 ning said in a letter to one of his friends, written in 
 July, 1841 : — " Mr. Alcott little suspects how my heart 
 goes out to him. One of my dearest ideas and hopes 
 is the union of labor and culture. I wish to see la- 
 bor honored, and united with the free development of 
 the intellect and heart. Mr. Alcott, hiring himself out 
 for day labor, and at the same time living in a re- 
 gion of high thought, is, perhaps, the most interesting 
 object in our Commonwealth. I do not care much for 
 Orpheus in ' The Dial ; ' but Orpheus at the plough is af- 
 ter my own heart. There he teaches a grand lesson ; 
 more than most of us teach by the pen." 
 
 Sailing for England in May, 1842, his experience there 
 confirmed Mr. Alcott in his dream. of an ideal community, 
 and on his return in October, he began to prepare for found- 
 ing such a paradise. Meanwhile he refused to comply with 
 the requirements of civil society, and for declining to pay 
 his tax was lodged in the Concord jail, January 16, 1843. 
 The late Samuel Hoar, father of Judge Hoar, and Hon- 
 George F. Hoar, paid the tax without Mr. Alcott's con- 
 sent, and he was released the same day. During the fol- 
 lowing spring, in company with one of his English friends, 
 Charles Lane, he examined estates with a view to pur- 
 chase one for the proposed community, and finally Lane 
 bought the " Wyman Farm, in Harvard, consisting of 90 
 acres, with an old farm-house upon it, where Mr. Alcott 
 and his family, with Mr. Lane and a few others, took up 
 their abode in June, 1843, calling the new home "Fruit- 
 lands." 
 
 This place, a picturesque farm, lying now along the 
 Worcester and Nashua railroad, and be dering the Nash- 
 18 
 
258 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ua river in Harvard, Mass., was not well adapted for such 
 an experiment as Mr. Alcott and his friends undertook ; 
 nor did their hopes and plans agree with the condition of 
 things in the world. Their way of life was to be cheer- 
 ful and religious, free from the falsehood and the cares 
 that infested society ; it became, in fact, hard and dismal, 
 and ended in bringing Mr. Alcott, almost with despair in 
 his heart, to give up his hopes of initiating a better life 
 among mankind by the example of such communities as 
 he had planned Fruitlands to be. He finally abandoned 
 the farm, in poverty and disappointment, about the mid- 
 dle of January, 1844. The lesson thus taught, was a se- 
 vere one, but Mr. Alcott looks back upon it as one of the 
 turning points in his life. From that day forward, he has 
 had less desire to change the outward condition of men 
 upon earth than to modify and enlighten their inward life. 
 He soon after returned to Concord, and in 1845 bought a 
 small farm there with an old house upon it, which he re- 
 built and christened " Hillside." A few years later 
 when it passed into the hands of Nathaniel Hawthorne, 
 he changed the name to " Wayside." It is the estate 
 next east of that where Mr. Alcott now resides, in Con- 
 cord. At " Hillside " Mr. Alcott gardened and gave con- 
 versations, and in the year 1847, while living there, he 
 built in Mr. Emerson's garden, not far off, the unique 
 summer house which ornamented the grounds until with- 
 in ten years past, when it decayed and fell into ruin. In 
 1848 he removed from Concord to Boston, and did not 
 return until 1857. Since then he has lived constantly in 
 that town. 
 
 It was a favorite theory of Mr. Alcott's, through all this 
 period of agitation and outward activity, that he could 
 propagate his ideas best by conversations. Accordingly, 
 from 1839 to the present time, a quarter of a century, he 
 has held conversations on his chosen subjects, and in 
 many and widely separated parts of the country. He 
 has not valued, as many reformers do, the opportunity of 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 259 
 
 moving great numbers of people, at conventions and in 
 churches, but has preferred the more quiet, and, as he 
 esteems it, the more natural method of conversing. This 
 period of his life may perhaps then be best described as 
 the period of conversation ; although of later years he has 
 often spoken from pulpits and platforms, on the same 
 topics with which his conversations have to do. It is to 
 be remembered, also, that Mr. Alcott was the first per- 
 son in America, at least in modern times, to develop 
 conversation as a means of public instruction, for which 
 it was much employed in the period of Greek philosophy. 
 An ingenious critic, Mr. Harris, of St. Louis, has lately 
 argued that the philosophy of Mr. Alcott is rather that 
 of Aristotle than of Plato ; but however this may be, it 
 is certain that his conversational methods arc more like 
 those which Plato has made so familiar than like the sen- 
 tentious disquisitions of Aristotle. In spirit, it must be 
 said that from what we know of Pythagoras, he was more 
 nearly the prototype of Mr. Alcott in philosophy than 
 either Plato or Aristotle. 
 
 The literary period of Mr. Alcott's life has been 
 subsequent to his greatest activity as a teacher by con- 
 versation, and it is only of late years that he has ap- 
 peared as the author of volumes. The "Record of a 
 School," and the " Conversations on the Gospels," were 
 compiled by other persons, reporting what was said. 
 During the publication of the Dial, from 1840 to 1844, 
 when it was the organ of the Transcendentalists, Mr. 
 Alcott contributed some pages, among them his "Orphic 
 Sayings," which attracted much notice, not always of the 
 most respectful kind. Other writings of that period and 
 earlier, for the most part, remained in manuscript. After 
 a long period in which he published little or nothing, Mr. 
 Alcott, about 1858, became the superintendent of schools 
 in Concord, and in this capacity printed several long re- 
 ports, which are noticeable publications. He published 
 some essays, poems, and conversations in the Boston 
 
26o HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Commonwealth and The Radical, between 1863 and 
 1868, and in the last-named year brought out a modest 
 volume of essays entitled " Tablets." This was followed , 
 in 1872, by another volume styled " Concord Days," and 
 still other volumes are said to be in preparation. Mr. 
 Alcott has been pressed to write his autobiography, for 
 which his journals and other collections would give him 
 ample material, and it is to be hoped he will apply him- 
 self to this task. Should the work include his corres- 
 pondence with contemporaries, it would be of ample bulk 
 and of great value. 
 
 At all times he was enamored of rural pursuits, and 
 has practiced gardening with zeal and success. His pres- 
 ent Concord estate, of a few acres only, was laid out and 
 for years cultivated by himself. His connection with the 
 public schools of Concord continued for some years and 
 was of much service to them. In later times he has 
 visited and spoken in the schools wherever he hap- 
 pened to be lecturing or conversing, particularly at the 
 West, where he has been warmly welcomed in his annual 
 tours. His home has been at all times a center of hos- 
 pitality, and a resort for persons with ideas and aspira- 
 tions. Not unfrequently his formal conversations have 
 been held there ; at other times in the parlors of his 
 friends, at public halls or college rooms, or in the cham- 
 bers of some club. A list of the towns and cities in 
 which these conversations have taken place, with the 
 names of those who have had part in them, would indi- 
 cate how wide has been the influence, for thought and 
 culture, exercised by Mr. Alcott in this peculiar manner. 
 Mr. Alcott is in person tall and fair, of kindly and dig- 
 nified bearing, resembling somewhat the portraits of 
 Wordsworth, but of a more elegant mien and a more pol- 
 ished manner than Wordsworth seems to have possessed. 
 There are severa 1 portraits of Mr. Alcott, at different 
 ages, — one a crayon sketch by Mrs. Richard Hildreth, 
 taken in 1855, an ; anothei by Seth Cheney the Con- 
 
A. BRONSON ALCOTT. 26l 
 
 necticut-born crayon artist, taken about 1855. This is 
 not a crayon, however, but a medallion in plaster, and 
 perhaps the best representation of Mr. Alcott's features 
 yet made. A bust modelled by the sculptor, Thomas 
 R. Gould, in the autumn of 1873, when cut in marble, will 
 give his features and expression at the age of seventy- 
 four. At this period, though touched by time, he is still 
 youthful in spirit and capable of much travel and fatigue 
 and of assiduous mental labor. It is not, however, so 
 much by intellectual efforts that he has distinguished 
 himself, as by a "wise passivity," and a natural intuition, 
 or as Mr. Emerson has said of him, in the sketch which 
 the New American Cyclopedia contains, by " subtle and 
 deep science of that which actually passes in thought." 
 Mr. Emerson adds : "Thought is ever seen by him in its 
 relation to life and morals. Those persons who are best 
 prepared by their own habit of thought set the highest 
 value on his subtle perception and facile generalization." 
 No person of our time seems to have valued them more 
 highly than Mr. Emerson himself, and the long and con- 
 stant friendship between these two founders of a school 
 of philosophy in New England deserves mention in any 
 memoir of either. Mr. Alcott has sought to pay a tribute 
 to his friend by the writing of an essay concerning his 
 genius, which was privately printed in Cambridge in 1865. 
 Some of the other writings of Mr. Alcott have already 
 been mentioned, and all of them will be found in the 
 Wolcott Centenary Library. They are compiled in 
 part from the journals which he has been in the habit 
 of keeping for many years, and which, along with his 
 " Autobiographical Collections " now form a long series of 
 volumes in his library, of great personal and historical 
 interest. They have been freely used in the preparation 
 of this sketch. But however much or little he may write 
 in the serene years of age which still remain to him, he 
 will probably point to his children, as the old poet did 
 to his early lost son, — 
 
 " Ben Jonson, his best piece of poetry." 
 
262 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 MISS LOUISA M. ALCOTT. 
 
 Miss Louisa May Alcott, the popular writer of humorous 
 and pathetic tales, owes her training, and thus her success 
 in writing, to her father and mother more than to all the 
 world beside. Her instruction for many years came almost 
 wholly from them, and though her genius has taken a 
 direction quite other than that of Mr. Alcott (guided 
 strongly by her mother's social humor and practical be- 
 nevolence), it still has many traits of resemblance ; while 
 the material on which it works is largely drawn from the 
 idyllic actual life of the Alcott family. It can scarcely 
 be remembered when Louisa Alcott did not display the 
 story-telling talent, either with her voice or with her 
 pen. Her first book was published nineteen years ago, 
 and had been written several years before that. For a 
 long period afterward she contributed copiously to news- 
 papers and periodicals of no permanent renown, though 
 some of the pieces then written have since appeared in 
 her collection of tales. Her first great success as a wri- 
 ter was in 1863, when, after a brief experience as an army 
 nurse, followed by a long and almost fatal illness, she 
 contributed to the Boston Commonwealth those remark- 
 able papers called " Hospital Sketches." These were 
 made up from her letters written home during her army 
 life, and bore the stamp of reality so strongly upon them, 
 that they caught at once the popular heart. They were 
 re-printed in many newspapers, and in a small volume, 
 and made her name known and beloved all over the 
 North. From that time forward she has been a popular 
 writer for the periodicals, but her great success as an 
 author of books did not begin until she found a publisher 
 of the right quality in Mr. Thomas Niles, of the Boston 
 firm of Roberts Brothers, who have now published all her 
 
MISS MAY ALCOTT. 263 
 
 works for six years. Within that time the "Little 
 Women " and their successors have been published, and 
 the sale of all her books has exceeded a quarter of a 
 million copies. Her earliest novel, " Moods," published 
 in 1864, by A. K. Loring, of Boston, did not at first com- 
 mand much attention, but has since sold many thousand 
 copies. Her second novel, "Work," was published by 
 Roberts, in the summer of 1873, and at once had a great 
 sale, both in America and in Europe. Many of her books 
 have been translated into French and German, and there 
 are now few living authors whose works are so universally 
 read. 
 
 MISS MAY ALCOTT. 
 
 Mr. Alcott's youngest daughter, now pursuing her art 
 in England, has been known for some years as a grace- 
 ful artist, and art teacher. She has studied in London 
 and in Rome, as well as in her own New England, and 
 though she has attempted few original pictures or sketch- 
 es, she has shown an appreciation for drawing and model- 
 ling and coloring, which give promise of excellent work 
 hereafter. It is interesting to know that the best por- 
 traits of her mother in existence are the work of her 
 hands — one a crayon sketch, and the other a medallion 
 modelled by Miss May Alcott quite early in her course 
 as an art student. She has also had some practice of 
 late, as a writer, and several of her letters from Europe 
 have been published in the journals of the day. 
 
 The town of Wolcott can point with pride to the 
 career of the Alcott family in all its branches, as one 
 of its glories. Those who have remained within the 
 town limits have been diligent and virtuous citizens, while 
 of those who have gone forth into the great world, more 
 
264 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 than one have distinguished themselves and become illus- 
 trious without wandering from the ancestral path of vir- 
 tue and fidelity. Mr. Bronson Alcott has held opinions 
 and engaged in enterprises, during his lifetime, which 
 would not have commanded the entire approbation of 
 his townsmen, had they been called to pass judgment 
 upon them ; but with the general result of his long and 
 varied life, neither they nor he can have reason to be dis- 
 satisfied. He has not accumulated riches, nor attained 
 political power, nor made labor superfluous and comfort 
 cheaper by ingenious mechanical inventions. But he has 
 maintained, at all times and amid many discouragements, 
 the Christian doctrine that the life is more than meat, 
 and that the perishing things of this world are of small 
 moment compared with things spiritual and eternal. He 
 has devoted himself, in youth with ardor, in mature and 
 advancing years with serene benevolence, to the task of 
 improving the hearts and lives of men, by drawing their 
 attention to the sweetness of philosophy and the charms 
 of a religion at once contemplative and practical. There 
 is no higher work than this, and none that leaves so 
 plainly its impress on the character and aspect of him 
 who spends a lifetime in it. Those who had the pleas- 
 ure of seeing and hearing Mr. Alcott, at the Centenary 
 gathering will remember how much his words and his 
 presence added to the interest of that occasion. And we 
 are confident the reader will not regret the space allotted 
 to his biography in this collection. 
 
DR. WILLIAM A. ALCOTT. 
 
 Dr. William A. Alcott was born in Wolcott, Connecti- 
 cut, on the 6th of August, 1798. His father was a hard 
 working farmer, in moderate circumstances, being a lin- 
 eal descendant of the third generation of Mr. John Al- 
 cock, the first settler in the territory which became Wol- 
 cott. His mother, Anna Andrus Alcott, was descended 
 from Abraham Andrus, one of the original settlers of 
 Watcrbury, and was a woman of practical good sense, 
 having been a teacher in the public schools, which was 
 regarded, in those days, as more than an ordinary accom- 
 plishment. His cypportunites for education were confined 
 to the district school', for three or four months in the 
 summer, and four months in the^ winter, until he was 
 eight years old, and after that age, to the winter term for 
 four or five years. After this he attended for about 
 six months the select school taught by Rev. Mr. Keys, 
 the minister of the parish, in which school he acted fre- 
 quently as tutor, and where he first began to develop a 
 genius and pleasure in teaching, which afterwards formed 
 a large part of his life work. He possessed from his early 
 years a taste for the reading of books, which was prob- 
 ably inculcated by his mother, and continued to be fos- 
 tered by his associations with his cousin, A. Bronson 
 Alcott, who was also of the same mind. In addition 
 to the books in his father's house, and those which he 
 could borrow from the neighbors, he had access to the 
 parish library, after he was fourteen years of age, which 
 library, though not in a flourishing condition, furnished a 
 
266 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 number of very valuable books, and some of them ex- 
 erted a most marked influence upon his character in after 
 years. 
 
 When a little more than eighteen years of age he com- 
 menced teaching school in his native district, the school 
 house standing but a few rods west of his father's dwell- 
 ing house, and in the district where the larger part of the 
 pupils and inhabitants were his relatives. The wages 
 were ten dollars per month for three months, and seemed 
 doubtless quite a sum for a lad to bring into his father's 
 treasury, even though the father boarded him during 
 the time ; especially when the work performed out of 
 school hours was equal in value to the board. In those 
 days the son had no right to money for his labor while 
 under twenty-one years of age, for the law said the son 
 should serve the father until twenty-one, and to obey the 
 law was one part of Christian life, whether the law was 
 Christian or not. His labor in the school and that for 
 his father consumed every moment not occupied in sleep, 
 and divided his efforts to such an extent that the success 
 of the school was not what it would have been if the time 
 out of school could have been given to plans and appli- 
 ances for the forwarding of the work of teaching. 
 
 We make the following extracts from a Memoir of Dr. 
 Alcott, published in Barnard's Journal of Education, for 
 March, 1858 : 
 
 For six successive winters, with the single interruption of one 
 year (when he went to teach), he continued to be employed in 
 different parts of Hartford and Litchfield counties, with a grad- 
 ually increasing compensation. By a few he was valued because 
 they thought him a smart master, who would make the pupils 
 know their places; by others, for his reputation as a scholar; and 
 by others still, because he was valued highly by the children. It 
 was in those days very much as it is now ; parents would not visit 
 schools where their children were if they could help it ; and what 
 they knew about the school they had to take at second-hand. 
 Two things he certainly did as a teacher: he labored incessantly, 
 
DR. WILLIAM A. ALCOTT. 267 
 
 " both in season and out of season." No man was ever more 
 punctual or more faithful to his employers. And then he gov- 
 erned his school with that kind of martial law which secured a 
 silence, that in the common schools of that day had been little 
 known, which fact secured for him one species of reputation that 
 extended far and wide, so that his services were by a particular 
 class much sought after. 
 
 In a teacher's life under the influences, and surrounded 
 by the difficulties that existed in those days, it could 
 not be expected but that some mistakes would be 
 made, yet with all these, be was pre-eminently a suc- 
 cessful teacher and was very greatly attached to his em- 
 ployment, and began to entertain the hope that he could 
 one day make teaching his one permanent occupation 
 though there were serious difficulties in the way. The 
 scanty wages, twelve dollars a month, gave little encour- 
 agement to such an object, besides male teachers were 
 usually hired for only three or four months in the year, 
 and if he concluded on this life work his chosen profes- 
 sion, that of a printer, must be abandoned, which he was 
 not fully reconciled to do. 
 
 In the spring of 1822, when he was nearly twenty-four years of 
 age, after he had closed his sixth annual winter term, he engaged 
 in a school for one year. It was a new thing in the place, but re- 
 lying on his fame, which had long since reached them, and anxious 
 to obtain his services, even at extra cost, it was agreed to employ 
 him for the time above mentioned, including a vacation of one 
 month, at nine dollars a month, or ninety- nine dollars a year and 
 his board. To this was added, by a liberal individual, one dollar, 
 making the sum one hundred dollars, upon which the offer was 
 accepted, and he began his school early in May. He boarded in 
 the families, which, to a person of a missionary spirit, such as he 
 possessed, had its advantages, and Dr. Alcott endeavored to im- 
 prove these opportunities to raise the standard of education 
 among the people. One of the first things he urged upon the at- 
 tention of his employers was an improvement of the school-room, 
 and after much effort and patience in urging upon parents the 
 
268 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 physical benefits of some reforms, he secured seats in the school- 
 room with backs to them in the place of the old slab benches. 
 Heating and ventilating came next, but the most he could accom- 
 plish in this respect was to open the doors and windows at every 
 recess, and let the pure air of heaven sweep through for a few 
 moments. His largest improvements, however, were in regard 
 to methods of teaching, particularly for the youngest pupils, and 
 for these he substituted the employment of drawing on slates as an 
 amusement as well as improvement, which was a new idea in the 
 schools of those days. He procured a dozen or two of small 
 slates and one large one, which latter answered for a blackboard, 
 upon which were pictured birds, dogs, cats, houses, trees, and 
 many other things, and proceeding from these to the making of 
 letters in the printed form, then to words and their arrangement 
 into sentences, and compositions. He delighted, also, to get 
 around him a group of children, and by telling stories of history 
 thus secured their cheerful and punctual attendance rather 
 than by way of flogging. To these exercises he added some extra 
 recitations out of school hours which he was not allowed to hear 
 in the formal six hours. His zeal and labors were as untiring as 
 they were unheard of before in that region, for he not only gave 
 up his mornings and evenings to the children and their parents, 
 but he would not permit himself to sit in the school room, and 
 was literally on his feet from morning until night, or, as more com- 
 monly expressed, was " always on the jump." 
 
 The severities of his self-denials and exertions, joined to oth- 
 er causes, especially a feeble and delicate constitution, brought 
 on him, toward the end of the summer, a violent attack of ery- 
 sipelas, from the effects of which, though he escaped with his life, 
 he never entirely recovered. 
 
 At the close of the year for which he had engaged, although 
 the district did not feel able to continue him by the year, they 
 unanimously engaged him for the term of six months the ensuing 
 winter, at the price of thirteen dollars a month. This was deem- 
 ed a compensation quite in advance of those times, and was ac- 
 cepted as entirely satisfactory." During the winter of 1824-5, 
 Mr. A. Bronson Alcott succeeded him in this district while Dr. 
 Alcott was engaged in the central school of Bristol, a- district ad- 
 
DR. WILLIAM A. ALCOTT. 269 
 
 joining the scene of his former labors. Here he took upon him- 
 self the additional work of the study of medicine, restricting 
 himself to four hours of sleep, which brought on him a severe ill- 
 ness, from which causes he did not add to his reputation as a 
 teacher. In studying medicine he had no intention to relinquish 
 teaching but the better to prepare himself for this profession, and 
 also, should his health fail, of which there were increasing signs, 
 he might have another method of doing good and securing a com- 
 petency for life. 
 
 During the winter of 1825-6, he attended a regular course of 
 medical lectures at New Haven, and in the following March re- 
 ceived a Diploma to practice medicine and surgery. At this time 
 his health was far from good and he began to have apprehensions 
 of fatal results of lung difficulty. 
 
 Leaving the college at a season of the year when it was not 
 customary to hire male teachers, he, after some hesitation made 
 application for the central school in his native town at a dollar 
 and a half a week and " board around," that being the usual rate 
 paid to female teachers. This offer, though unexpected and not 
 a little mysterious, was accepted by the district ; and in May, 1826, 
 he commenced his work. 
 
 It was his settled determination, and he did not hesitate to 
 make it fully known, to have a model school, on his own favorite 
 plan, although the pecuniary means were wanting. He had not 
 ten dollars in the world. All his resources, after paying for his 
 medical education and a few books, and after remunerating his 
 father, as he was proud to believe he did, for the expense of 
 bringing him up, were soon exhausted in fitting up his school- 
 room, — in the purchase of maps, designs, vessels for flowers and 
 plants, and such fixtures as in his judgment would conduce to the 
 proper cultivation of the mind and heart and taste of his pupils. 
 He rightly judged that a plain and unpretentious people, who 
 knew him well, would not seriously object to innovations which 
 cost them nothing in dollars and cents. He was, indeed, regarded 
 as a little visionary, but was allowed to go on uninterrupted in his 
 plans ; and in his missionary life, going from house to house for 
 his board, he had opportunity for making, from time to time, such 
 explanations as were quite satisfactory. 
 
 Besides carrying out and perfecting the approved method of 
 
270 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 teaching the elementary branches, which he had for several years 
 been applying with so much success, he added to them several 
 others, particularly in defining grammar and geography. He 
 introduced, also, what he called his silent, or Quaker, exercises. 
 This consisted in requiring his pupils, at a certain time every 
 morning, usually immediately after the opening of the school and 
 devotional exercises, to lay aside everything else, and give them- 
 selves up to reflection on the events, duties, and privileges of the 
 twenty-four hours next preceding. At the close of this unbroken 
 silence, which usually lasted five minutes, any pupil was liable to 
 be called upon to relate the recitations and events of the preceding 
 day, in their proper order and sequence. 
 
 In commencing this school in his native town, Dr. Alcott had 
 other and very exalted ulterior aims. His warm heart embraced 
 no less than the whole of his townsmen. These he meant to en- 
 lighten, elevate, and change, until Wolcott should become a 
 miniature Switzerland. But his pulmonary difficulties, which had 
 been for ten years increasing upon him, aggravated, no doubt, by 
 hard study, improper diet, and other irregularities of the pre- 
 ceding winter, now became threatening in the extreme. Besides 
 a severe cough and great emaciation, he was followed by hectic 
 fever, and the most exhausting and discouraging perspirations. 
 He fought bravely to the last moment, but was compelled to quit 
 the field and relinquish for the present all hopes of accomplishing 
 his mission. 
 
 For a short time he followed the soundest medical advice he 
 could obtain ■ keeping quiet, taking a little medicine, eating nu- 
 tritious food, and when his strength would permit, breathing pure 
 air. This course was at length changed for one of greater activ- 
 ity, and less stimulous. He abandoned medicine, adopted for a 
 time, the "starvation system," or nearly that, and threw himself 
 by such aids as he could obtain, into the fields and woods, and 
 wandered among the hills and mountains. In the autumn he was 
 evidently better and was able to perform light horticultural labors 
 a few hours of the day, and to ride on horseback. For six 
 months he continued the horseback exercise, almost daily, as a 
 sort of journeyman physician ; at the end of which period he 
 commenced the practice of medicine on his own responsibility, at 
 
DR. WILLIAM A. ALCOTT. 2JI 
 
 Wolcott Centre, continuing to make his professional visits on 
 horseback. His hopes of inspiring the people of his native town 
 with a spirit of improvement now revived. He not only practiced 
 medicine but took a deep interest in the moral and intellectual 
 condition of the people. He superintended a Sabbath school ; 
 aided in the examination of the public school teachers, and held 
 teachers meetings in his own hired house. Not Oberlin himself. 
 in his beloved Ban de La Roche, had purer or more benevolent or 
 more exalted purposes." 
 
 Dr. Alcott's application to become a member of the 
 Congregational Society is still preserved among the pa- 
 pers of the Society, and corroborates the above extracts. 
 
 Dr. Alcott's Letter. 
 
 " Clerk of the Congregational Society in Wolcott : 
 
 Sir: — Believing that regular public preaching of the Gospel 
 useful to Society in general and a means of training up children 
 in the way they should go, as well as of affording instruction to the 
 ignorant and those that are out of the way even in later life ; — and 
 furthermore despairing of seeing any other Society in town do any 
 thing at present, I have come to a conclusion to make request 
 that my name be entered among the names of those who belong 
 to your Society, until such a state of things shall arise as may 
 seem to justify the withdrawing of my support. Should a tax be 
 laid this day suffer me to be considered a member of the Society 
 and taxed accordingly. Yours, «.\:c. 
 
 WM. A. ALCOTT. 
 
 Wolcott, April 16, 1S27. 
 
 The Sabbath school which the Doctor inaugurated was 
 the first one in the parish superintended by a layman, 
 and was a successful school, being remembered with 
 great pleasure by a number of people still living." One 
 feature of the school was the books which the superin- 
 tendent contrived (some way, no one knows how,) to 
 obtain for the children to read. It was a marvel of joy 
 
 * See page log of this History. 
 
272 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 then, and as such is still very distinctly remembered. 
 Not content with this effort to furnish books for the Sab- 
 bath School, " he began to collect a library for the town." 
 These volumes were loaned from time to time, but the 
 plan was so troublesome that he abandoned it, and pre- 
 vailed with his friends and townsmen to establish a pub- 
 lic town library on the ruins of the old one, to which ref- 
 erence has been made. This library continued a few 
 years, and then was distributed among the original con- 
 tributors. 
 
 He had already begun to write for the newspapers, on various 
 subjects, particularly on common school education. A series of 
 papers had been contributed and published in the Columbian 
 Register, of New Haven, as early as 1S23, and several shorter se- 
 ries on the same subject appeared in this and other papers during 
 the years 1826 and 1827. Another series appeared from his pen 
 between the years 1826 and 1829, in the Boston Journal of Edu- 
 cation, then under the care of William Russell. 
 
 These papers brought him into association with the 
 best minds in his native State, on the subject of edu- 
 cational improvement, particularly the Rev. Samuel J. 
 May, of Brooklyn, Conn., and others in Hartford. 
 
 Dr. Alcott's labors in Wolcott, in his profession as phy- 
 sician and his connection with the Sabbath school and 
 the Ecclesiastical Society, are spoken of in the highest 
 terms of praise, though it is acknowledged that his opin- 
 ions and ideas were regarded at the time, by some of the 
 people, as radical and a little visionary. To-day his 
 memory is honored by all the people, and at the late 
 Centenary meeting no descendant of Wolcott's sons was 
 received with greater cordiality by the people than Rev. 
 William P. Alcott, the only son of the Doctor. 
 
 In the Autumn of the year 1829, he resigned his med- 
 ical practice and engaged in teaching a school in the 
 town of Southington. In this school he followed suc- 
 cessfully some of his new ideas of teaching, so far that a 
 decided impression was made by them, but the effort im- 
 
DR. WILLIAM A. ALCOTT. 273 
 
 paired his health so that he .ive up for a time all hope 
 of teaching and concluded to labor on a farm near New 
 Haven. Just .as he was settling on the farm he had oc- 
 casion to be in Hartford, where, to his surprise, he met 
 Rev. Wm. C. Woodbridge, who had returned from Eu- 
 rope, and, though in feeble health, was endeavoring to 
 rouse the attention of a few friends of education to the 
 necessity of forming a school for teachers, on the plan of 
 Mr. Fellenberg's school, in Hofwyl, which he had been 
 studying for some time. Mr. Woodbridge inquired of 
 Dr. Alcott what he considered the capital error of mod- 
 ern education. " The custom o'f pushing the cultivation 
 of the intellect at the expense of health and morals," 
 was the reply. This question and reply laid the founda- 
 tion for an acquaintance and friendship that was as last- 
 ing as the life of the parties. He engaged as an assist- 
 ant to Mr. Woodbridge in a "miniature Fellenberg 
 school" in the vicinity of Hartford, for the moderate 
 compensation of twelve dollars a month, and such was 
 his enthusiasm in trying to elevate the common schools, 
 that when offered three hundred dollars a year as teach- 
 er he only required Mr. Woodbridge to raise his wages 
 to fifteen dollars a month. 
 
 During this engagement with Mr. Woodbridge the 
 press teemed with his articles ; especially the Connecti- 
 cut Observer and Hartford Courant. One very substan- 
 tial, and elaborate review of a report on the Manual La- 
 bor School of Pennsylvania, the product of his pen, ap- 
 peared and met with much favor, and was quoted by for- 
 eign writers. At this time he conceived the idea of es- 
 tablishing a journal of education, but for several reasons 
 was under the necessity of delaying the enterprise. 
 
 It was during the years 1830 and 1831 that he prepared, 
 and on several occasions delivered, his essay on the con- 
 struction of school houses, to which the American Insti- 
 tute of Instruction, in the Autumn of 1831, awarded a 
 premium, and which led the way to that large and thor- 
 19 
 
274 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ough improvement in this department, which is now go- 
 ing on in this country and elsewhere. 
 . At this time, also, he engaged with Mr. Gallaudet, Hon. 
 Roger W. Sherman, Hon. Hawley Olmstead, Mr. Wood- 
 bridge, and others in forming a state society for the im- 
 provement of common schools, and he did much to sus- 
 tain it. 
 
 A History of the first public school of Hartford, in 
 which some recent advances had been made, a volume 
 of a hundred pages or more, was written by him about 
 this time, and also a volume of nearly the same size, en- 
 titled " A Word to Teachers." It is believed that his es- 
 says, in conjunction with the labors of others, had much 
 influence, not only in New England, but throughout the 
 United States. The most important of all his numerous 
 labors at this period was his travels for the purpose of 
 collecting facts concerning schools. Reports of these 
 travels were made in various ways, and enlisted much 
 interest and tended to awaken the public mind to the 
 subject of common schools. In 1 83 1 , Mr. Woodbridge 
 removed to Boston to edit the Journal of Education, and 
 induced the Doctor to follow him. On his arrival in Bos- 
 ton, through a severe storm, he was attacked with a 
 pulmonary difficulty, from which he but slowly recovered, 
 but from which difficulty, thereafter, for nearly twenty- 
 five years, he was surprisingly free ; nor did he often have 
 so much as a common cold. 
 
 Doctor Alcott had formed many valuable acquaint- 
 ances in Connecticut ; among them were Dr. John L. 
 Comstock, Rev. Horace Hooker, Rev. C. A. Goodrich, 
 Noah Webster, A. F. Wilcox, and Josiah Holbrook, and 
 therefore he left the state with regret. 
 
 Besides assisting Mr. Woodbridge in conducting the 
 Journal of Education, by writing a large proportion of the 
 articles on physical education, methods of instruction, 
 and book notices, he was for two years, 1832 and 1833, 
 the practical editor of a children's weekly paper, started 
 
DR. WILLIAM A. ALCOTT. 275 
 
 by Mr. Woodbridge and his aged father. The paper was 
 called the " Juvenile Rambler," and was perhaps the first 
 paper of the kind ever issued in this country. He also 
 engaged in labors in various forms in the cause of edu- 
 cation, never losing sight for a moment of the public 
 schools. During ,1832 and 1833 ne wrote " The Young 
 Man's Guide," a book which found an extensive sale, and 
 proved remunerative to its author, as well as accomplish- 
 ing a great amount of good. At the end of the year 
 1833, he was engaged by S. G. Goodrich as the editor of 
 a monthly journal entitled " Parley's Magazine," which 
 he edited four successive years, continuing his relation 
 with the " Annals of Education," which he did to the 
 end of his career, sometimes with pay, and sometimes 
 without. His contributions to the periodical press, many 
 of them to the Recorder, Watchman, and Traveler, of 
 Boston, and to the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, 
 have been almost innumerable. He preserved copies of 
 more than a thousand. Probably no individual up to his 
 time ever devoted more hours during forty years to edu- 
 cation, especially that of the common school and the 
 family, than Doctor Alcott. It is difficult to imagine 
 any mode in which more beneficial results could be se- 
 cured to the schools than by the varied and instructive 
 lectures which he delivered to schools, teachers, parents, 
 and pupils, during many years of travel for this purpose, 
 and the innumerable hints and suggestions which his con- 
 versation would supply, on the subjects of hygiene, ele- 
 mentary instruction, and physical and moral training, to 
 all, whether old or young. The labor of such a life is 
 not easily summed up or described, but one conclusion is 
 inevitable : it was a life of immense work, and is very 
 fittingly represented by a remark written by the sister of 
 the Doctor's wife, in a letter to the author of this book : 
 "He was an earnest worker for humanity; the great 
 purpose and aim of his life being to make men better, — 
 to raise them physically, intellectually, and morally." 
 
276 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Dr. Alcott married (January 14th, 1836,) Miss Phebe 
 L. Bronson, daughter of Deacon Irad Bronson, of Bris- 
 tol, and grand-daughter of Deacon Isaac Bronson, of 
 Wolcott, who still survives him. His children are Wil- 
 liam P., now a successful Congregational minister, and 
 Phebe A., married and residing in Alabama. 
 
 Dr. Alcott's home, for the last fifteen years of his life, 
 was in the town of Newton near Boston, and the last 
 seven on a place of his own in Auburndale, a village of 
 that town, where he died of pleurisy, March 29, 1859. 
 His remains were buried in the Newton cemetery. His 
 last illness lasted but one week, and he seemed to be con- 
 valescent on the day before his death, so much so that 
 he dictated several letters, and as a member of the School 
 Committee gave some directions concerning the grading 
 of the school grounds. During the night his suffering' 
 returned in great severity, he being unable to lie down. 
 He was conscious that his end was near, and made such 
 final arrangements as were necessary. In the morning 
 his pain was less but his breath grew shorter and he be- 
 came unable to speak. Towards noon, while sitting in an 
 easy chair, he suddenly looked up, extending his hands 
 in the same direction, while an expression of delight 
 passed over his face, as if he beheld a vision of glory, 
 and fell asleep. His wife and daughter were with him in 
 his last sickness and received his last expressions of con- 
 fidence and devotion, and to his son, then in college and 
 for whom it was thought unnecessary to send until it was 
 too late, he sent this message : " Tell William to live 
 for others, not for himself." He died, as he had always 
 hoped to die, "with his harness on." It was his desire 
 that a post mortem examination should be made, which 
 revealed such a variety of morbid conditions of the lungs 
 as to make it surprising that he had lived so long. He 
 was accustomed to say that " through the Divine bless- 
 ings on his simple diet and healthful modes of living, 
 his life had been lengthened twice as long as King Hez- 
 ekiah's." 
 
DR. WILLIAM A. ALCOTT. 277 
 
 In the life and labors of Dr. Alcott, as well as in many- 
 others, the people of Wolcott have much reason to feel 
 greatly honored. 
 
 Dr. Alcott's published volumes are classified as follows : 
 
 I. Works designed particularly for schools and teach- 
 ers, and friends of education, — nineteen volumes, — nine of 
 them containing over three hundred pages each. 
 
 II. Physiology, physical education, and health, — thirty- 
 one volumes, — twelve of which contain over three hun- 
 dred pages ; several of which had passed through twelve 
 editions each, two fifteen, and one twenty-one, in 1858. 
 
 III. Books for the family and school library, — fourteen 
 volumes, — one of which had passed through twelve edi- 
 tions, one through seventeen, and one through twenty- 
 two editions in 1858. 
 
 IV. Books for Sabbath School library, — forty-four vol- 
 umes. 
 
 Whole number of volumes, one hundred and eight. 
 
REV. WILLIAM P. ALCOTT. 
 
 Rev. William P. Alcott, son of Dr. William A. Alcott, 
 was born in Dorchester, Mass., July nth, 1842. He grad- 
 uated at Williams College in 1 861, and at Andover Theo- 
 logical Seminary in 1865. After preaching for a short 
 time in Heath and Cohasset, Mass., and giving a course 
 of lectures on chemistry in Williams College, he was set- 
 tled over the Congregational church, in North Greenwich, 
 Conn., Feb. 18, 1868, where he still remains. He was 
 married Aug. 26, 1868, to Sarah Jane, daughter of the 
 late Rev. David Merrill, of Peacham, Vt. He has been 
 very successful in his parish and is rising in influence and 
 esteem in his own denomination, and wherever known. 
 He was moderator this year (1873) of Fairfield West 
 Consociation. His intellectual character is of the scien- 
 tific-philosophic type, yet he holds firmly to revealed 
 truths as such, and is reliable in his convictions and judg- 
 ments. His mother being a Bronson (grand-daughter of 
 Dea. Isaac) he has an inheritance of ancestry in which 
 many would find great satisfaction. 
 
 While in college he accompanied, by appointment, a 
 scientific expedition to Greenland, — an honor and an ad- 
 vantage quite important. He has given much attention 
 to science, and especially to botany. As might be ex- 
 pected, he cherishes many of the thoughts and principles 
 of moral and physical culture, so forcibly and practically 
 given to the world by his honored father. 
 
JOSEPH ATKINS. 
 
 Joseph Atkins came from Hartford to Bristol about 
 1752, where he owned a dwelling and several pieces of 
 land, and the half of a grist mill. He removed to Wolcott 
 in 1758 or 1759, where he purchased several pieces of 
 land. Not long after his settlement here, he built a grist 
 mill on Mad River, a little below the Great Falls. He 
 afterwards owned a saw mill near his grist mill. In 1770 
 he resided with his son Joseph, and it is thought that the 
 house in which they lived stood half a mile east of the 
 mill, on a lot lying south of the highway, a little east of 
 Mr. Ira H. Hough's present dwelling house, but it possi- 
 bly may have stood near the mill. Mr. Atkins was a 
 very energetic, successful business man, and was an im- 
 portant man in the organization of Farmingbury Society, 
 and in building the first Meeting house. He gave two 
 acres of earth surface for the use of the Society for a 
 church site, and other purposes. It could not be said to be 
 land, for much of it is rock, but yet it is very good upon 
 which to build a church, and has served that end as well 
 as any portion of the town could. His name, and that 
 of his wife, Abigail, stand seventh and eighth on the list 
 among the first members of the church. He died in 1782, 
 as given on the church record, — there being no inscrip- 
 tion on grave stones to mark his grave. He was sev- 
 enty-one years of age. His wife, Abigail, died in 1796, 
 and was probably over eighty years of age. 
 
DEACON JOSEPH ATKINS. 
 
 Deacon Joseph Atkins, the son of Joseph, senior, who 
 came from Bristol, was elected second deacon of the 
 church April 19, 1786, or four years after the death of his 
 father, and when the church was prosperous, and had a 
 large number of men that, we should judge, might have 
 served acceptably as deacons. He is said to have been 
 a polemical deacon, always ready to go through with the 
 argument of the decrees without hesitancy, and without 
 a shadow of doubt as to the interpretation of the Scrip- 
 tures thereby given. He was a very faithful, diligent 
 Christian man, always at his place in church, and in visit- 
 ing and comforting the flock, as an under shepherd. On 
 a Sabbath, once, a bear came from the wood and took a 
 pig from the deacon's pen and made a dinner of him, 
 but it is not asserted that the reason of his taking the 
 deacon's pig was that he was sure the deacon would be at 
 church on that day ; nor do we learn that the deacon 
 staid at home on Sunday afterward in order to shoot 
 that old bruin ; but we are quite certain that if the peo- 
 ple at church in those days had heard the report of a gun 
 on Sunday (a thing we do not mind now-a-days), they 
 would have rallied to a man for a fight with the Indians, 
 not dreaming that any other occurrence could be suffi- 
 cient cause for such a desecration of that day. 
 
 Faith ran in grooves in those days, and one groove was 
 politics (not allowable now-a-days), and when Mr. 
 Thomas Jefferson came up in politics against the great 
 Washington, it is said the deacon was terrible on poor 
 
DEACON JOSEPH ATKINS. 28l 
 
 Thomas. The argument ran thus: " If Jefferson (sup- 
 posed to be an infidel) were made President of the Uni- 
 ted States, the Meeting houses would be burned to the 
 ground, and Christians would be burned at the stake." 
 To us this is amusing, knowing as we do how perfectly 
 innocent Mr. Jefferson was of all this kind of argument. 
 However, it shows how diligent the deacon was to watch 
 over the faith and liberty of the church, even though he 
 might not watch the bears of the woods sufficiently on 
 Sunday to save his pigs. After the death of the deacon's 
 father, in 1782, he resided near the mill, east side of the 
 river, in a house built, perhaps, by his father, or by Mr. 
 James Barrett, who resided in that vicinity as one of the 
 first settlers in that part of the town. It was near this 
 house that the deacon's great apple tree stood, from 
 which he is said to have taken apples in such quantity 
 that he made nineteen barrels of cider from one harvest- 
 ing. The tree was cut down by Mr. Ira H. Hough a few 
 years since, it being over four feet in diameter at the 
 place where it was cut off. The Deacon maintained his 
 integrity of character and faithfulness to the church until 
 1805, when he resigned his office of deacon and removed 
 west, being among the first settlers (it is said) in the 
 town of Smyrna, Chenango county, N. Y., where he 
 died. 
 
REV. AARON C. BEACH. 
 
 Rev. Aaron C. Beach was born in South Orange, N, J., 
 and was graduated at Yale College, in 1835, an< ^ m the 
 autumn of the same year entered Yale Theological Semi- 
 nary, with greatly impaired health. He was licensed to 
 preach by the New Haven West Association, at Water- 
 bury, in 1838, and continued in the seminary about two 
 years after. Late in the year 1841, while visiting in 
 Southington, he was invited to preach in Wolcott, ac- 
 cepted the invitation, and preached in the school-house 
 December 19th, the Meeting house not being completed. 
 He then engaged to preach for the people of Wolcott six 
 months, at the end of which time he received a unani- 
 mous call to become their pastor, accepted it, and was 
 ordained to that office June 22d, 1842. It was no small 
 work to engage as pastor of a church and parish where 
 there had been so much division and violent feeling as 
 had been in Wolcott during three years previous to 1841 ; 
 but Mr. Beach was, as far as now can be seen, " the right 
 man in the right place." The house of worship was com- 
 pleted during the fall and winter, and dedicated January 
 19th, 1843, when the old difficulties seem to have been 
 buried forever, and the people with one heart fol- 
 lowed their leader into the harvest-field to gather the 
 harvest. During his fifteen years of labor here forty-four 
 were added to the membership of the church, twenty- 
 seven of whom by profession ; and the dwelling-house 
 (now the parsonage) was built by himself, as his house, 
 and was afterwards sold to the Society. His labors seem 
 
REV. AARON C. BEACH. 283 
 
 to have been of the quiet, steady, every-day-life sort, 
 without great excitement, and without days of complain- 
 ing and discouragement. Such a life-work of faithful- 
 ness is not always appreciated by those to whom it is de- 
 voted. In a letter, received from Mr. Beach since this 
 book was commenced, he speaks, as also he did at the 
 Centenary meeting, in the highest terms, of the kindness 
 and sympathy which he received during the whole time 
 of his labors in the parish, and the feeling of kindness is 
 reciprocated from this parish toward him. 
 
 Mr. Beach married Lucy Walkley, of Southington, 
 December 28th, 1840. She died in Wolcott, April 2d, 
 1853. He married, 2d, Jane Talcott, of Portland, Conn., 
 May 6th, 1856. His children are as follows : 
 
 David Frame, born in Southington, Conn., October 
 5th, i84i,and was in the army against the late rebellion, 
 and died of a mortal wound in Louisville, Ky., May 2d, 
 1862, aged 21. 
 
 John Wickliffe, born in Wolcott, January 5th, 1843, 
 and is now settled pastor of the Congregational church 
 at Windsor Locks, Conn. 
 
 Lucinda Clark, born in Wolcott, May 1st, 1845, an ^ 
 died in Portland, Conn., May 2d, i860, aged 15 years, 
 and was buried in Wolcott. 
 
 Olive Huldah, born in W'olcott, October 9th, 1847, an ^ 
 died in New Jersey, October 3d, 1848, and was buried 
 there. 
 
 Roger Sherman, born in Wolcott, January 5th, 1850, 
 and died in Wolcott, January 30th, 1852. 
 
 Since leaving Wolcott two daughters have been added 
 to his family ; Laura, the latter of which, died Septem- 
 ber 28th, 1873, in the sixteenth year of her age. 
 
 It will be seen by this record that Wolcott was a place 
 of trial and many sorrows, as well as patient toil, to this 
 good minister of the Lord, and that the graveyard at 
 Wolcott Center has some monuments upon which, when he 
 looks, there will come thrilling remembrances of the past. 
 
284 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 And how peculiar the fact that, after having visited Wol- 
 cott at the Centenary meeting, and seeing many familiar 
 and friendly faces, and visiting the beautiful little monu- 
 ment in the graveyard that marks the sleeping dust of 
 those once treasured ones of his own household, he 
 should find the waves of sorrow flowing over his home 
 again within fifteen days. 
 
 After leaving Wolcott, as pastor, he preached a short 
 time in Marlborough, Conn., receiving a call to become 
 settled pastor, but did not accept it. Soon after this he 
 was installed pastor in Millington parish, East Haddam, 
 Conn., where he is still diligently laboring for the good 
 of men. 
 
REV. JOHN WICKLIFFE BEACH. 
 
 Rev. John Wickliffe Beach was born in Wolcott, Conn., 
 January 5th, 1843, and was tne second son of Rev. Aaron 
 C. and Lucy Walkley Beach, of Wolcott. A severe ill- 
 ness (scarlet fever) in early childhood left him in deli- 
 cate health, from which he did not recover for many 
 years, and from this fact his attention was directed to 
 study more than it might otherwise have been under the 
 circumstances of life in which he was placed. His fath- 
 er's limited salary as pastor in Wolcott would have 
 driven him into other pursuits of life but for the habit of 
 early culture and a natural love of learning, and as it 
 was, there was much doubt for years of accomplishing his 
 great desire of collegiate education. But by encourage- 
 ment and some assistance from kind and considerate 
 friends, and by persevering efforts on his part, he was 
 graduated at Yale College in 1864. His religious life, in 
 definite form, began while in Wolcott, at eleven years of 
 age, when, under his father's ministry, he united with the 
 church. When, therefore, he was graduated, his early 
 and careful Christian life gave a balancing influence in 
 the choice he made as to his future life, to make the 
 preaching of the gospel his life-work. In preparing for 
 this work he spent five years, some of the time teaching, 
 and the balance of the time in Yale Divinity School, in 
 New Haven. None but those who have the trial of such 
 a protracted effort of preparation to commence the work 
 of life, can understand the severe tax of courage and en- 
 durance, mental and moral as well as physical, of such a 
 
286 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 preparation, and especially when the end of such prepar- 
 ation promises, as to this world, small remuneration and 
 limited comforts. Nine years of mercantile life in the 
 place of nine years of college and seminary studies, 
 would have brought this young man, with ordinary suc- 
 cess, to a comfortable establishment in a successful, inde- 
 pendent business, whereas, as it was, he was only pre- 
 pared to begin his profession. 
 
 His is not an isolated case, but that of many of the 
 successful ministers of the gospel in this country. When, 
 therefore, a young man has run such a race at the begin- 
 ning of life, and enters upon his life-work, he is worthy 
 of much confidence and encouragement from his parish 
 and friends. 
 
 In 1869, John Wickliffe Beach received the degree of 
 Bachelor of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and the 
 same year began his pastoral labors for the Congre- 
 gational church at Windsor Locks, Conn., and after 
 preaching there one year was ordained pastor, Septem- 
 ber 28th, 1870, in which place he is still successfully 
 prosecuting his pastoral labors, and the prospect is that 
 he will honor the name of Wickliffe. 
 
DEACON ISAAC BRONSON. 
 
 Deacon Isaac Bronson was born Jul}' 19th, 1761. His 
 father, John Bronson, was a native of Southington, and 
 was descended from the Waterbury Bronson family, 
 through John, the son of John Bronson, one of the origi- 
 nal thirty subscribers in 1674, in the settlement of Wa- 
 terbury. Deacon Isaac inherited the characteristics of 
 trie Waterbury Bronson families, — strength and decision 
 of intellectual and moral qualities, — and upon these his 
 whole life career was built. Being the son of a plain 
 farmer, in a new country, his early years were passed 
 under disadvantages as to his intellectual aspirations. 
 His life was introduced almost at first to calamity. He 
 says in his journal : "At the age of sixteen months I lost 
 my left eye, and schools not being kept much in those 
 days in the out parts of society, I had not the benefit of 
 one until half way in my sixth year, when I attended 
 one for about three months. When I began in this school 
 I did not know my letters, but soon learned them, and 
 went from class to' class until I arrived to the first, during 
 that term ; and before I was eight years old, I had read 
 the Bible through in course, and every other book I 
 could lay my hands on, and so unbounded was my desire 
 after reading, that if I could get hold of a book that I 
 had not read, it was not in the power of my brothers and 
 other mates, either by frowns or flatteries, to persuade 
 me to leave it for the sake of play." 
 
 This taste for literature and knowledge so entirely oc- 
 cupied his mind as he grew up to manhood, that when he 
 
288 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 saw no way to attain a collegiate education, he became 
 greatly discouraged as to life, and fell into a state of in- 
 difference and bashfulness that nearly proved his ruin. 
 He says that "it proved my ruin as to this world ;" 
 meaning, probably, that he, but for this, could have de- 
 voted himself to ordinary work with satisfaction and 
 success. He says also of this thirst for improvement of 
 intellect: " My days were spent in fruitless wishes, and 
 my nights in dreams of books, and of college, and of 
 learning, for years together, until I lost all hopes ; 
 although I believe that my living in such an obscure 
 place, and being kept so exceedingly under, and always 
 at home, served to crush me more entirely, and increase 
 my bashfulness until I dare not speak to a person, or I 
 should have attempted, by some means or other, to ob- 
 tain, and should have persevered in the attempt until 'I 
 should have forced my way to the attainment of, such a 
 degree of literature as would have enabled me to have 
 spent my life in its delightful researches." 
 
 This was written soon after his conversion, and before 
 he was twenty-five years old, and illustrates the manner 
 of training children in those days by good Christian pa- 
 rents ; the "keeping them under," and making them 
 bashful as a sign of humility. 
 
 Of his religious exercises in early years, he says : " The 
 first workings of conscience which I recollect was when 
 about eight years old, on the occasion of my mother's 
 reading the sufferings of Christ, which made me weep 
 bitterly. When I was about twelve years old, the dis- 
 ease called ' canker ' made great ravages in the neighbor- 
 hood where I lived, — great numbers died. This gave 
 me a violent shock, so that for several months I was in 
 the case of the wicked man mentioned in Job ; a dread- 
 ful sound was in my ears, for death appeared to be at 
 hand ; but it soon wore off. Again, when about halfway 
 in my fifteenth year, I set up a new resolution, and partly 
 from awakenings of conscience, and partly from my being 
 
DEACON ISAAC BROXSON. 289 
 
 debarred from learning, I fell into a kind of melancholy, 
 so that I scarcely smiled for a long time. I sometimes 
 thought of enlisting in the service (revolutionary war), 
 on purpose to get where my life was in constant danger, 
 in hope that it would make me in continual fear of death, 
 and thereby induce me to prepare for it. At last I en- 
 listed, particularly with this view. Alas ! how different 
 did it prove ! " His description of the reaction of his 
 mind from religion during his soldier life is startling, 
 though to a philosophical mind nothing otherwise would 
 be expected. After returning from the war he continued 
 in this reactionary state of mind several years. 
 
 When about half way in his twenty-second year he 
 married Thankful Clark, probably the daughter of Israel 
 Clark, who resided a little north or north-west of Capt. 
 Heman Hall's, and a few months after, was attracted to 
 church by the "extraordinary eloquence," as he says, 
 of the preaching of Rev. Edmond Mills, who was filling 
 Mr. Gillet's pulpit, Mr. Gillet being unable to preach. 
 During the revival which occurred in the summer of 1783, 
 under the preaching of Mr. Mills and Mr. Miller, he 
 entered into the Christian life with great exercises of 
 mind, and also with great decision and earnestness. This 
 new life revived a thirst for knowledge, but brought with 
 it encouragement instead of despondency, and being in 
 his own family, with a noble-spirited wife to cheer him in 
 every good work, his mind was relieved from its many 
 years of morbid reflections and distrust, and his rejoicing 
 was very great. He dates the commencement of his 
 Christian life on the ninth day of August, 1783, and on 
 the 27th of the same month he entered into a "covenant 
 of self-dedication to God," as directed by Dr. Doddridge, 
 of which act he says : "Then, if I know my own heart, 
 on full consideration and serious reflection, I came to this 
 happy resolution, — that whatever others might do, I 
 would serve the Lord, and as I humbly hope, sincerely 
 20 
 
'290 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 entered into the following covenant."" This he copied 
 on paper, and signed. On the 21st day of August, 
 1786, he renewed this covenant, with great confessions 
 of unfaithfulness, and renewing of consecrations to the 
 Lord. At the end of his name on this paper he made a 
 circle, nearly one inch in diameter, and within the circle 
 he made the form of a heart. Inside of the heart he 
 wrote, "May all mv heart be thine, my God," and out- 
 side the heart, but within the circle, he wrote, "Sealed 
 for eternity, I hope. Amen, and amen." In the year 1788 
 he united with the church, having hesitated to do it pre- 
 viously because of a feeling of unfitness. His religious 
 life, as indicated in his journal, was characteristic of the 
 age in which he lived ; more self-condemnatory than 
 hopeful, yet it was the life of hope to him. 
 
 His health was, much of the time, for a number of 
 years, quite poor. He wrote : " May, 1790. Having sus- 
 tained great loss of blood by bleeding at the nose, which 
 brought on great weakness, and having continual pain at 
 my stomach and in my head for about two months, 
 being troubled with influenza, and continuing to bleed 
 several times a day I began to conclude my stay here 
 would be but short." As Lo this prospect of the great 
 change, he expressed resigi tion to the Divine will, and 
 writes : " But I wished to bring up my children, if it 
 might be, though the greatest attachment I have to this 
 world, by far, is one of the most prudent, kind, and af- 
 fectionate wives the world ever produced, who spared no 
 pains to render my life comfortable and agreeable, and 
 who was very anxious to have me recover, and would be 
 up and taking care of me when she ought to have been 
 in bed, and to have had a nurse herself." And the result 
 ' was, that soon after this care for him, his wife was very 
 ■ill, so that her life seemed about to end here, which 
 weighed heavily on his mind ; but she recovered. 
 
 *See Dr. Philip Doddridge's " Rise and Progress," published by Ameri- 
 can Tract Society, page 242. 
 
DEACON ISAAC BRONSON. 291 
 
 The following is taken from his journal : 
 
 Wolcott, October 13th, 1802. 
 After twelve years interregnum I again sit down to write, in the 
 bitterness of my soul, a few words respecting the hand of God 
 at this time lying heavy upon my poor broken, desponding heart. 
 Alas ! alas ! I have just now closed the eyes of my first-born, — 
 my Isaac, the son in whom I greatly delighted ; always faithful, 
 dutiful, and obedient ; apt to learn, delighted with reading, of a 
 retentive memory, reflecting mind, and penetrating judgment, and 
 acute discernment for one of his age in the characters and dispo- 
 sitions of all whom he beheld. He was scrupulously fond of 
 truth at all times ; sober and temperate in his deportment at all 
 seasons, particularly upon the Sabbath ; modest and diffident of 
 himself, he was to me, I had well nigh said, every way agreeable ; 
 but O, my God, how hast thou, in a sudden and distressing man- 
 ner, torn him from me at the age of eighteen years. Assist me, 
 O blessed Jesus, thou who when on earth didst weep at the grave 
 of a friend thyself; thou who knowest all the tender emotions, all 
 the heart-rending sorrows which harrow up the soul of a fond 
 father in my distressed situation. O, may that almighty power of 
 thine that supports the falling universe sustain me in this trying- 
 moment." 
 
 The following stanzas were composed by himself, soon 
 after the burial of the body of his son, as he says, "On 
 visiting the grave of my dear son on the morning after a 
 violent storm." 
 
 Heart-rending sight ! how cruel was that storm, 
 
 That did not spare this loved, this hallowed mound ; 
 
 With wanton rage could Isaac's grave deform, 
 Tear it in twain and wash the earth around. 
 
 But why this grief ? these unavailing tears ? 
 
 Isaac is safe from storm and tempests' rage ; 
 Terrestrial scenes no more excite his fears, 
 
 And worldly cares no more his mind engage. 
 
 When solemn darkness veils the midnight skies. 
 And the huge tempest bellows o'er the plain. 
 
29^ HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Here in the dust, my once loved Isaac lies, 
 
 Nor heeds the howling winds, nor drenching rain. 
 
 When driving snows and rattling hail storms sweep 
 In fierce tornadoes o'er this hallowed ground, 
 
 Lashing his grave till my fond passions weep, 
 
 He sleeps secure, nor hears the ungrateful sound. 
 
 Harsh thunders roar, red lightning's shafts are hurled, 
 Volcanoes bellow, fiery comets blaze, 
 
 And rumbling earthquakes shake the solid world, — 
 Silent he sleeps and no attention pays. 
 
 Yet fond affection draws me to this place ; 
 
 Pensive I leave my family and fire, 
 And, under covert of the evening shades, 
 
 To Isaac's grave I secretly retire. 
 
 I find him not, but sit and weep alone ; 
 
 His name I call ■ — his silence mocks my cries; 
 The most obedient, dutiful of sons, 
 
 Regardless of a father's call now lies. 
 
 Oh, my fond heart, resign parental joys, 
 Nor hope to see him till the final hour, 
 
 Since naught can move him but Jehovah's voice, 
 Wait the. sure efforts of Almighty power. 
 
 Soon will the .moment come when Gabriel's voice 
 Shall rouse the sleeping dust, bid Isaac rise ; 
 
 Then may I have the bright, the ecstatic joy 
 Of rising with him far above the skies. 
 
 May I so live that death may be no dread ; 
 
 And when I'm called to bid my last farewell 
 To earthly things, and make the grave my bed, 
 
 May I ascend with God and saints to dwell. 
 
 There may I meet my son in realms of bliss, 
 And hail him happy in those worlds of light, 
 
 No more to suffer such sad pangs as this 
 From parting, but endless joys unite. 
 
DEACON ISAAC BR'ONSON. 293 
 
 In trying to draw instruction from this afflicting Provi- 
 dence, he remarks : 
 
 I feel that for a long time I have been too much involved in 
 the world and its cares. I have a large and chargable family to 
 provide for, and no means to* do it with scarcely, and ever since 
 the incorporation of this town I have been crowded with a large 
 weight of public business ; some years eighteen or twenty different 
 offices, and no years less than ten or twelve in the town, the so- 
 ciety, the school society, and the like, which have engrossed a 
 large proportion of my time and thoughts ; and in the spring of 
 eighteen hundred, and for four succeeding sessions, I was chosen 
 to represent the town in the General Assembly. All these various 
 avocations, but perhaps more than all the rest, my corrupt incli- 
 nations, have served to keep my heart at too great a distance 
 from my God. Perhaps, though I have never allowed myself to 
 be elated by any of these trifling considerations, yet I have un- 
 doubtedly been inclined to place my heart on, and to expect my 
 happiness too much from the world, and the good opinion of my 
 poor fellow worms. Perhaps I have set my heart too much upon 
 my children, and especially upon the dear object I now lament. 
 
 His public labors were, probably, more than those of 
 any other man in the town up to the present day. After 
 the labors he speaks of as having been done previously to 
 1802, he was justice of the peace eight years, representa- 
 tive five years in succession, from 181 1 to 1815. He was 
 surveyor of lands so many years that it is said that he 
 knew at once where to go to commence tracing any line 
 in the town. He was deacon of the church from 1805 
 until his death, in 1845, an ^ from 1822 to 1827 supplied 
 the place of pastor in the church ; attending many 
 funerals, as well as reading sermons on the Sabbath, and 
 making himself distinguished far and near in attendance 
 on conferences of the churches and public meetings. 
 
 The few scraps of his writings that are preserved indi- 
 cate extensive reading and much study, especially of the 
 then authorities of the church. He mentions as particu- 
 larly helpful to himself, "Watts' Logic," "Doddridge on 
 
294 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Education." Quoting the list of books of classic au- 
 thors recommended by him, "Shuckford's Connections," 
 D'Prideau's works, and J. Taylor's writings. 
 
 Near the close of his life he seemed to be determined 
 to destroy his writings, and unfortunately succeeded, ex- 
 cepting his journal, and eight or ten other fragments, 
 which his daughter, Mrs. Bartholomew, succeeded in 
 literally pulling out of the fire while they were burning 
 in the dooryard, where he had made a bonfire of them. 
 The following are some of them : 
 
 The store keeper's wish, made and put up in Bani Bishop's 
 store when I attended for him [before 1800] to prevent people 
 having such noisy scrapes as they had done before, staying late 
 Saturday nights, etc. 
 
 May customers plenty now enter these doors, 
 
 With a mind for to trade and their pockets well stored ; 
 
 May they chink down the cash, and the goods take away, 
 
 Thus keep me employed throughout the whole day. 
 
 And others, likewise, though they do not pay down, 
 
 As many good people that can't may be found ; 
 
 If their credit is good and their residence steady, 
 
 May they step in and trade and pay when they're ready. 
 
 May those who are idle or knavish ne'er call, 
 
 Nor ask to be trusted here any at all. 
 
 May innocent mirth be a guest at the store, 
 
 But the tongue of profaneness ne'er enter the door. 
 
 May none ask for liquor to make them the worse, 
 
 Or, if they should do it, may they meet a repulse. 
 
 May each one retire before it is late, 
 
 And the store never once be defiled with a scrape. 
 
 May none be insulted while here they do business, 
 
 Neither old men or boys, or maidens, or widows. 
 
 May trading go brisk all the week at the store, 
 
 And Saturday sunset fasten the door. 
 
 Hymn made out on the death of General Washington, Feb- 
 
DEACON ISAAC BRONSON. 295 
 
 ruary, 1700, on going into the Meeting house to commemorate 
 his death : 
 
 [Tunc of Friendship ] 
 
 With solemn awe and humble dread 
 May we this sacred mansion tread, 
 
 While every heart is filled with gloom. 
 For mighty God thine awful frown 
 Hath cast our glory to the ground, 
 
 And veiled our honors in the tomb. 
 
 Our Father and our faithful guide, 
 
 Our Friend, our Trust, our Strength, our Pride, 
 
 Whose presence gladdened every heart, 
 Lies cold and mouldering in the dust; 
 Great God we own the sentence just 
 
 That bid him from this world depart. 
 
 For, while the blessing we enjoyed. 
 
 Our hearts and tongues were not employe* 
 
 As such rich favors did demand, 
 In praising God whose goodness shone 
 In giving us great Washington 
 
 To be the bulwark of our land. 
 
 Was not the man too highly prized. 
 And made an idol in our eyes ? 
 
 Did not our hopes on flesh rely, 
 Forgetting, while we him applaud, 
 He's but the instrument of God, 
 
 And, like all other men, must die ? 
 
 Yet gratitude to our great chief 
 Forbids us to conceal our grief. 
 
 While rising sobs our bosoms swell : 
 In such amazing scenes of woe 
 Stern virtue bids our tears to flow, 
 
 And bids us all our sorrows tell. 
 
 Permit us. Lord, to enter here, 
 
 In mourning clad, with grief sincere, 
 
296 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 While waves of sorrow o'er us roll ; 
 With due submission, mild and meek. 
 Our loss to mourn, thy blessing seek 
 
 With humble fervency of soul. 
 
 Let us his deeds of fame relate. 
 
 And bless the God that made him great ; 
 
 Trace the bright road his feet have trod; 
 And while we grieve and mourn for him, 
 Get near the font that fed the stream, 
 
 And rest our souls alone on God. 
 
 When treason's black infernal shades, 
 Or diplomatic skill invades, 
 
 With all the cursed arts of hell ; 
 When faction's hateful front appears, 
 Or war's fell trumpet grates our ears 
 
 With cannon's roar and savage yell, 
 
 Though Washington in silence lie. 
 We have a greater Friend on high, 
 
 Who governs with resistless might ; 
 A sure support in all distress, 
 Superior to an arm of flesh, — 
 
 Who dwells in uncreated light. 
 
 To Him we'll seek, to Him we'll go, 
 In all the scenes of death and woe ; 
 
 When tumults rise and nations roar, 
 We'll at his footstool prostrate fall. 
 And make our God our all in all, 
 
 When this vain world shall be no more. 
 
 The deacon's real character was nearly the complete 
 opposite of his usual manner and deportment. A warmer 
 heart, probably, did not beat in Wolcott ; yet this made 
 him sensitive and reserved, and being naturally diffident, 
 and made much more so by the early training he received, 
 and failing to accomplish that degree of study he so 
 much desired, — these, all combined, caused him to appear 
 
DEACON ISAAC BRONSON. 297 
 
 cold and unfriendly, except on extra occasions, when his 
 true character shone out in grandeur and power. Hence 
 in his addresses and prayers at funerals, he was captivat- 
 ing and moving in a remarkable degree. All now liv- 
 ing, who have heard him, say they "never heard his 
 equal at funerals." It is said that his address on the 
 death of Washington, at the time he composed the pre- 
 ceding verses, was the most masterly production of the 
 kind ever heard in Wolcott, and was talked of as such 
 for years. The same is said of an address he gave at a 
 conference of churches at Cheshire. It is not surprising, 
 therefore, that he is spoken of as " The great man of 
 Wolcott." 
 
 He died April 28th, 1845, aged eighty-four years. His 
 wife, Thankful, died June 23d, 1847, aged ninety-three 
 years. His children bear the impress of his character in 
 modesty and decision to the present day. 
 
TIMOTHY BRADLEY. 
 
 Timothy Bradley came from North Haven to Wolcott, 
 and settled on a farm on the west side of Cedar Swamp, 
 in the north part of the town. Nearly all of his descend- 
 ants are now gone from the town. He was a good citi- 
 zen, honest and industrious, and had, so far as known, 
 but one exceptional quality of character, and that was 
 the telling of such improbable stories that no one thought 
 of believing them ; though nothing disappointed him 
 more than to have it suggested that any one doubted his 
 narrations. It is said that his sons grew up with the same 
 exceptionable habit, — one of them, at the age of twelve 
 years, declaring that for a little extra birth-day dinner, 
 at that age, he ate twelve dozen eggs, without the least 
 injury. 
 
 some of mr. bradley's stories. 
 
 A carpenter was at work on the steeple of the North Haven 
 Meeting house with a heavy broad-axe. The axe came off the 
 helve; he called to those below to get out of the way of the fall- 
 ing axe ; a man below seeing it coming, and not having time 
 to move out of the way, opened his mouth and caught the 
 edge between his teeth, without injury. 
 
 He owned a broad-axe that was made of razors, which had 
 a peculiar ring while being used. At the close of a day's work 
 on the shore of Long Island Sound, he left his axe where he had 
 been at work. The next morning it was gone. He went to work, 
 and after some little time he thought he heard the axe ring, and, 
 after giving attention to the direction whence the sound came, he 
 discovered that the axe was being used on the shore of Long 
 
TIMOTHY BRADLEY. 299 
 
 Island, across the Sound, a distance of about twenty miles. He 
 jumped on his faithful mare, a trusty beast, and she swam across 
 the Sound, carrying him. He obtained his axe, and returned in 
 the manner in which he went. 
 
 While at work in July, harvesting grain near the Sound, there 
 came a change of weather, to freezing cold, and the change was 
 so sudden that the frogs had not time to go under the water, but 
 were frozen in the ice. 
 
 On a certain occasion, speaking of a superior cat which he 
 had, he said he had no doubt but that the cat had caught a cart 
 body full of " chipmunks " that summer. 
 
 In a certain year he had very wonderful potatoes ; the tops grew 
 twelve feet long, and the largest potatoes in the ground were not 
 bigger than the head of a pin. 
 
 He said he once cut down four chestnut trees which stood near 
 together, and a shower of rain coming on just then he went to 
 the house, and when the rain was over he went back, and a flash 
 of lightning, striking at the stumps, had split each of the four 
 trees into quarters, from end to end. 
 
 His son Moses went to Ohio to visit an old neighbor who had 
 removed there for the purpose of hunting. At the time of the 
 visit, he said this neighbor had on hand three thousand pounds of 
 deer tallow, which he was to use in greasing the patches he put 
 around his rifle balls, and that this amount of tallow would last 
 only two or three weeks. 
 
REV. JAMES D. CHAPMAN. 
 
 Rev. James Dyer Chapman was born in Columbia, 
 Conn., in November, 1799. He graduated at Yale Col- 
 lege in 1826, and studied theology at Yale Divinity 
 School from 1830 to 1833. He preached as supply at 
 Prospect, Conn., one year, — from September, 1832, to 
 September, 1833. He preached for the Wolcott church 
 first in July, 1837, probably, an ^ on August 4th, 1837, the 
 Society instructed the Prudential Committee to hire him 
 six weeks, "as a candidate for settlement," and at the 
 end of that time the Society invited him to become their 
 settled pastor, which invitation he accepted, and was 
 ordained to that office October 25th, 1837. His salary 
 was three hundred dollars paid by the Society, and what- 
 ever additional that might be obtained from the Con- 
 necticut Home Missionary Society, which amounted to 
 fifty dollars a year during his three years' service. Under 
 such circumstances it is not surprising that he purchased 
 a farm, whereby to add a little to the comfort of his 
 family. His labors in Wolcott were in peculiarly trying 
 times, and through the whole he conducted himself in 
 such a manner as to receive the unqualified expression of 
 the confidence of the members of the church, in meeting 
 assembled near the close of his labors, and without the 
 slightest intimation, by the Consociation which dismissed 
 him, of any want of discretion in regard to his ministerial 
 life or preaching. That he was an honest man in his re- 
 ligious principles and in his practice, and was true to his 
 convictions, is evident from the many things he suffered 
 
REV. JAMES D. CHAPMAN. 3OI 
 
 because of his anti-slavery sentiments. He was dismissed 
 by Consociation November 9th, 1840, and it must have 
 been one of the greatest days of joy of all his life when 
 thus released from a position in which he had received 
 the vilest treatment for preaching Bible truth according 
 to the golden rule. 
 
 On June 12th, 1844, he was employed at Cummington, 
 Mass., where he continued to preach ten years, and 
 where he died, December 19th, 1854, aged 55 years. 
 
REV. WARREN C. FISKE. 
 
 Rev. Warren C. Fiske preached in Wolcott three years 
 as stated supply, and retired at his own pleasure to his 
 present home in Charlton, Mass. A bronchial difficulty 
 led him to retire from regular pastoral work. 
 
 He was born in Wales, Mass., September 21st, 1816, 
 and experienced religion in his thirteenth year. He was 
 fitted for college at Monson Academy, in Monson, Mass. 
 He entered Amherst College in the fall of 1836, in the 
 twentieth year of his age, and graduated in 1840. He 
 then engaged in teaching at the Salem Academy, in New 
 Jersey, and continued there two years, and then entered, 
 in the fall of 1842, the East Windsor Theological Semi- 
 nary (since removed to Hartford), and graduated in 1845. 
 
 He married Harriet M. Parsons, of East Haddam, 
 Conn., May 19th, 1847, and in June following went to 
 Wisconsin as home missionary, where he remained three 
 years, returning East in June, 1850, and was settled in 
 Marlborough, Conn., in November of the same year. 
 After eight years' labor in this place he was dismissed, in 
 January, 1858, and settled in Canton, Conn., the next 
 month. Here he remained three years and a few months, 
 being dismissed on July 1st, 1861. After this he was 
 stated supply one year in Barkhamstead, Conn., and 
 from that place he came to Wolcott, in May, 1869, where 
 he was and is still much respected. His wife was also 
 highly esteemed as a noble-hearted Christian woman, 
 and friend to all the people, and their children are spoken 
 of in the kindest and highest terms. They were all born 
 in Marlborough, Conn., as follows : Isaac Parsons, born 
 September 16th, 1852 ; Sarah Lyon, born November 4th, 
 18.54; William Warren, born June 26th, 1857. 
 
JUDAH FRISBIE. 
 
 Judah Frisbic was a man of great energy in work ; a 
 man of considerable influence in the Woodtick community 
 and throughout the town ; a man with peculiar traits of 
 character, — for his account books containing full accounts 
 of business transactions during fort)' years, i. e., from 
 1762 until 1800, are still preserved, and this was a pecu- 
 liarity for his day, the like of which the writer has not 
 found concerning any other man in the town. He not 
 only wrote the minute items of his own work, but the 
 remarkable occurrences in the community, and hence we 
 are indebted to his notes for man}- items of history. The 
 account books he used were made by himself, of unruled 
 paper, sewed together, and covered with brown or "paste- 
 board" paper, or leather. The one with earliest accounts 
 was used by him before he enlisted in the Revolutionary 
 army ; the second is filled mostly with his journal in the 
 war, and his family records ; the third contains accounts 
 after the war. From the first of these books we learn 
 that his account with Ebenezer Warner, for board, began 
 February 20th, 1763, and the board bill ran thus : 
 
 To 2 meals, to 4 meals, to 3 meals, 9 shillings. To four meals, 4 shil- 
 lings. To 1 meal, one shilling. To IS meals, 18 shillings. 
 
 In 1772, we find him working for various individuals, 
 and some extracts will indicate the work and the wages. 
 
 JOSEPH SUTLIFF, DR. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 To riding to Abraham Hotchkiss'i O 10 
 
 To two horse journeys to said Hotchkiss', 1 6 
 
 To an axe, 1 10 
 
304 
 
 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 To a horse to mill, 
 
 To mowing two half days, 
 
 To cradling at hogfields, 
 
 To cradling oats and buckwheat, 
 
 To 6 dozen buttons, 
 
 To Lucy Scott's pole rate, 
 
 To a day's work, hoeing, 
 
 To three dozen of buttons, 
 
 To a day's work, 
 
 To two day's work, 
 
 EBENEZER WARNER, CREDIT. 
 
 By one horse one week and one day, 
 
 By pasture for a colt one week and four days, I 
 
 By horse to Judd's meadow, 
 
 By a day's work with oxen and cart, 
 
 By two quarts of rum, 
 
 By pulling flax a spell, 
 
 By a day's work with one yoke of oxen, 
 
 By eight pounds beef, 
 
 By carting lath, 
 
 By a tree which made 150 clapboards, 
 
 By a pair of oxen and cart to town, 
 
 By a team a day, 
 
 DANIEL BYINGTON, DR. 
 
 To running buttons, 
 
 To running 4 dozen buttons, 
 
 1 773- JOSEPH HOTCHKTSS, CREDIT. 
 
 By sawing 150 feet of boards, 
 
 1773. JOSEPH SUTLIFF, DEBTOR. 
 
 To two quarts of metheglin. 
 To cradling buckwheat, 
 To one quart metheglin, 
 To two quarts metheglin, 
 
 In the spring of 1776, while at home on furlough from 
 the army, he entered several items in the first book. 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 O 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 T 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 S 
 
 „ 
 
 d. 
 
 O 
 
 6 
 
 O 
 
 13 
 
 s. 
 
 d 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 O 
 
 9 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 APRIL 23, 1776. TIMOTHY SCOTT, CREDIT. 
 
 By 290 feet of boards, 
 
 By sawing 265 feet of boards. 
 
 d. 
 10 
 10 
 
JUDAH FRISBIE. 
 
 305 
 
 By sawing 150 feet of plank, 
 By sawing 130 feet of boards, 
 By sawing loo feet of boards, 
 By sawing 182 feet of plank, 
 By sawing 140 feet of plank, 
 
 1774. WILLIAM NICHOLS, DEBTOR. 
 
 To two thousand shingles, £1 10s. 
 
 HANNAH FRISBIE, DEBTOR. 
 
 To a quart of metheglin, 
 
 Credit by picking and breaking wool, 
 
 I 7 76. WILLIAM WAK.ELEE, CREDIT. 
 
 I'.\ sawing 3 logs 8 feet in length, 
 By sawing 60 feet of plank, 
 By sawing 230 feet of boards. 
 
 5. 
 
 d. 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 In December, 1773, there was "laid out to Judah Fris- 
 bie four acres and fifty-six rods of land in the north-east 
 quarter of the bounds, at the Little Plain, a place east of 
 the Great Plain, next to the bounds of Farmington." 
 This was the first land he bought in the east part of 
 Woodtick, and was surrounded by " common land," and 
 hence was the first land taken up by actual residence in 
 Woodtick, as far as is known. Another piece was laid 
 out to him at the same time of two acres and a half, ex- 
 tending from the highway east to the bound line. The 
 first house is said to have been a log house, or a very 
 small framed house. It may have been built with the 
 785 feet of boards and the 472 feet of plank which his ac- 
 count book tells us Timothy Scott sawed for him in 1776. 
 He was not married until 1779, and the account book 
 items rather indicate that he had a house for his wife 
 when he married her, — a fact not the fortune of every 
 young man in those days, and possibly not of every one 
 at the present day. He afterwards built another house, 
 which was taken down in 1872, by his great-grandson, 
 David L. Frisbie, and on the same site he has built a fine 
 21 
 
306 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 house, good for the next hundred years. The house he 
 took down is said to have been eighty-nine years old. 
 
 Mr. Frisbie's journal is given in full, because of its con- 
 nection with the war of the Revolution : 
 
 A REMARKABLE SEASON. 
 
 On the 24th day of April, in the year 1773, things were so re- 
 markably forward as that rye began to ear, the buds and leaves in 
 the woods began to be considerably thick, the buds of walnut and 
 black oak began to part and shoot forth into leaves, and I saw 
 one cherry sprig that had grown nine inches this season. It is 
 to be noticed that on the 14th of May, apple trees were past 
 the bloom. 
 
 June, the first part, 1773. Having occasion to travel into 
 several towns, viz., Lenox, Richmond, and Norfolk, I saw on 
 the nth and 12th days of June, the biggest grass I ever saw, and 
 on the 12th I saw grass mowed and the hay carried oft". It is to 
 be observed that on the night following the nth of June there 
 was a great frost, which much damaged Indian corn, — killed it 
 to the ground in many places, cut off some pieces of wheat and 
 rye, and much damaged other-. And it is likewise to be noticed 
 that we had a remarkable warm fall and fore part of winter, so 
 that the whole summer was very long. But about the eight and 
 twentieth day of December, there fell a snow, and by numbers of 
 succeeding snows, the ground was deeply covered, and good 
 sleighing and sledding held till the latter part of February. I 
 would likewise remark that Mr. Alexander Gillet was ordained at 
 Farmingbury, on the 29th day of December, in the year 1773. 
 
 JOURNAL AS A SOLDIER IN THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 Waterbury, May 10th, 1776. 
 
 I, that is, Judah Frisbie, enlisted into the government service. 
 Met our company the 31st of May, in Waterbury, and had a ser- 
 mon by Rev. Mr. Leavenworth. June the first, we marched for 
 New York, setting out at noon, and marched to the stores in 
 Derby, being thirteen miles. June 2d, — marched from about 
 five miles from above Derby town, through it, across Ripton to 
 Stratford, being thirteen miles. June 3d. we marched through 
 
JUDAH FRISBIE. 307 
 
 Poquonack to Old Fairfield, where we were stationed three weeks, 
 keeping two guards, the one at the State house, the other at the 
 battery. June 24th, we marched across Green's Farms to Norwalk, 
 being thirteen miles. June 25th, marched to Stamford, where we 
 attended meeting in the afternoon, and at night marched to 
 Greenwich, the whole being fourteen miles. June 26th, we joined 
 our regiment, which was General Woster's, and, Colonel Water- 
 bury's regiment attending us, we set out for New York, and 
 marched through Rye, about twelve miles, to New Rochelle. The 
 27th. setting out early, we met General Washington, who passed 
 us in a genteel manner, and there followed him a band of music. 
 June 28th, we marched to the Bowery, of the city of New York ; 
 it being very stormy, we got into barns. June 29th, we encamped 
 a little back of New York, where we continued three weeks, keep- 
 ing two guards, — the General's and the main guards ; the rest of 
 the time being spent in exercises and reviews. July 18th, we had 
 general orders to decamp and go to Harlem, which we accord- 
 ingly did, where we encamped in the manner we did at York. 
 About the 24th of July, Colonel Waterbury's regiment had orders 
 to embark for Albany, which they did, and were sent to Canada. 
 I myself about this time went back to take care of one of our 
 company that was left sick at New York. After his recovery I 
 again returned, and was sick myself, at a hospital. On the 8th of 
 August our regiment, as many as were able, embarked for Long 
 Island in pursuit of the regulars that were robbing the inhabitants 
 of their cattle, sheep, etc. They were there about three weeks, 
 after which they returned, and informed that they — a few of 
 them — had been fired on by an armed schooner belonging to the 
 regular fleet that was lying off in the Sound, who gave them chase 
 as they were in a small boat. A barge also chased them swiftly, 
 and ordering them to strike, which they refused, gave fire on the 
 barge and caused her to withdraw. They lost no lives, but sup- 
 posed they killed three regulars. They had their stations during 
 their stay in several places, separately or in parties, — as Plumb's 
 Island, Shelter Island, East Hampton, etc. It should have been 
 noticed that while they were gone, on Thursday night, 24th of 
 August, the people of York were removing from the Battery some 
 cannon, of their own property, the Asia, man-of-war, lying in the 
 
308 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 harbor, took occasion to fire on the city, which much alarmed the 
 city, and many of its inhabitants moved back to the country. 
 September 28th, we had general orders for a march to Canada. 
 We embarked in six vessels, but while we were getting on board, 
 a sergeant was drowned in the North River, which was the first 
 man we lost in the regiment after we joined them. The said 
 sergeant's name was Peck, .belonging to Captain Porter's com- 
 pany. 
 
 September 29th, we sailed for Albany, and arrived the first day 
 of October; landed and went into the barracks, but, by being 
 frightened through fear of the small-pox, we removed to Green- 
 bush, where we tarried till the 9th, when we again crossed the 
 river, and the 10th we took our way through Albany, thence 
 across the Mohawk river to the Half Moon. October nth, we 
 went along the still waters to Saratoga. October 12th, we 
 marched to Fort Edward, across Harris' Ferry. October 13th, 
 we marched to Lake George. October 14th, 15th, and 16th, we 
 crossed Lake George to Fort Ticonderoga, where we tarried- until 
 the 2 2d of October, when we set out to go up Lake Cham plain. 
 The same day we landed at Crown Point, but went about six 
 miles above and lodged on the east side of the lake in the woods. 
 The 23d we went about forty miles up the lake, and lodged on 
 an island. October 24th, we went up the lake about thirty-five 
 miles and lodged the west side the lake, in the woods. The 25 th, 
 we went to the island of " Oxnawix." October 26th, we went to 
 a battery two miles below St. Johns. October 27th, we went 
 across the lake, east, a little below St. Johns, and were fired upon 
 from the fort, but had no man killed ; only one wounded, and 
 that slightly. We then traveled through miry woods, in which 
 we got bewildered, till most night, having heavy pieces, when we 
 came in sight of an encampment, which was our design. This 
 encampment, lying two miles north of St. Johns, and on the west 
 side of the river Sorell, we being to the east, were helped across 
 the river by the French, and accordingly we pitched our encamp- 
 ment by the other. The 2Sth of October, at night, we began a 
 battery within about sixty rods of the fort, which we were two 
 days and three nights in building, during which time we had a 
 considerable number of bombs, cannon balls, and grape-shot fired 
 
JUDAH FRISBIE. 309 
 
 at us from the fort; but it was remarkable that we had not a man 
 killed, and only a few slight wounds. The first day of November 
 we opened our battery in the morning, and continued a hot fire 
 from it, and from a battery the east side of the lake, till near 
 night, when the fort was forced to a capitulation, which held till 
 the third day of November, and then the regulars marched out 
 with their arms, the artillerymen coming out first, with a field 
 piece, and the train following them. They paraded and laid down 
 their arms, our people taking possession of them. Our officers 
 marched their soldiery into the fort, taking possession of the same. 
 It is to be noted that on the first of November we had two men 
 killed and another wounded. The sixth day of November we 
 marched for Montreal, and though the traveling was extremely 
 bad. yet we arrived at Laparary, where we tarried awhile, and I 
 was sent on a guard of prisoners, and it fell to my lot to take care 
 of a sick man, at the Half-way House, until our men had been to 
 Montreal and returned for home. 
 
 The 18th of November they came to where I was, and I 
 marched with them to St. Johns. The 19th. we got five brass 
 cannon and six "hoits" out of St. Johns. The 20th, we set 
 out from St. Johns, rowing about twenty-four miles, and lay the 
 west side of the lake, among the French. The 21st, we rowed 
 about thirty miles, and la\ in the woods, and on the 2 2d we rowed 
 about thirty-two miles, and lodged on the west side of the lake, 
 among the English settlements. The 23d, we rode about thirty 
 miles, and lodged the east side of the lake, among the English 
 settlements. The 24th. we were forced to leave the lake, by rea- 
 son of ice, and take our baggage on our backs and, marching, we 
 arrived at Ticonderoga. The 25th, we crossed Lake Champlain, 
 eastward, and lay in the woods. The 26th, we marched for Otter 
 Creek Road, but it being stormy, we got lost, being bewildered 
 the most of that day. The 27 th, we marched about ten miles, 
 from Shoreham to Sudbury, and the 28th we came to Huberton, 
 being about ten miles. The 29th, we came through Castletown to 
 Poultney, about fifteen miles, and the 30th we came about eleven 
 miles, to Wellstown. December 1st, we came through Paulet, 
 thence through Rueport to Dorset, about seventeen miles. De- 
 cember 2d, we came through Manchester, thence through Sun- 
 
310 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 derland, thence through Allington to Shaftsbury, about twenty-two 
 miles. December 3d, we traveled to Bennington, about twelve 
 miles, and December 4th we came through Poundwell to East 
 Hoosack, about sixteen miles, to Captain Jones'. December 
 5th, we came about three miles, to Mr. Todd's. December 6th, 
 we came to Lansingburg, about fourteen miles, and the 7th we 
 came through Pittsfield, thence through Lenox to Stockbridge, 
 about twenty miles. December 8th, we came through Barrington 
 to New Marlboro, twenty miles. December 9th, we came to Nor- 
 folk, where I stayed with my cousin till the 13th, when I trav- 
 eled through Colebrook, thence across a part of Winchester and 
 Barkhamstead, thence across New Hartford, thence through West 
 Simsbury, thence through Farmington to Farmingbury. 
 
 JOURNAL BEGINNING AUGUST I2TH, 1 7 76. 
 
 Marched with Ensign Gaylord from Farmingbury, with twelve 
 men, to Wallingford. August 13th, Lieutenant Peck joining us, 
 we marched to East Guilford.- August 14th, Captain Meigs, with 
 his company, sailed from New York. We arrived at New York 
 the 15 th, and tarried there until the 20th of August, when we 
 marched up and crossed the North river about ten miles above 
 the city, and were stationed at Fort Lee. September 5th, died 
 one Lyman, of Captain Denny's company, with camp distemper. 
 September 8th, died Sergeant Mosley, of Captain Denny's com- 
 pany, with camp distemper. 
 
 Here suddenly ends the journal of the war life of Judah 
 Frisbie. The little book in which this is written by him- 
 self is 16 mo., covered with thin " pasteboard," written in 
 a very plain hand, and almost elegant style, and the com- 
 position indicates an unusual aptness in writing a journal. 
 It is here copied almost word for word. 
 
 The following extracts from Judah Frisbie's account- 
 book show the prices of several articles as sold in a 
 farming community : 
 
 1767 TO 1774. CAPTAIN GEORGE NICHOLS, DEBTOR. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 To a month's work, 1 10 o 
 
 To 1 bushel of wheat, o 4 o 
 
JUDAII FRIsmfc. 311 
 
 To a bushel and a half of wheat, 060 
 
 To two bushels Indian corn, 040 
 
 To one day's mowing, 030 
 
 To a day's work cradling, O 3 O 
 
 To a day's mowing, o 3 O 
 
 To two day's reaping, 060 
 
 To five shillings cash, 050 
 
 To paying by Ebenezer Wakelee, 080 
 
 To a day's mowing, 030 
 
 To two day's mowing, 060 
 
 r;S5 TO 17S9. CHARGES TO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 To a pair of oxen half a day, O 8 
 
 To a yoke of oxen two-thirds of a day, 1 <> 
 
 To a horse to Farmingbury and to Southingt'n, o 4 
 
 To a pair of women's soles, I 6 
 
 five pounds and four ounces of pork, 2 9 
 
 To two bushels of rye. 7 o 
 
 I'm half bushel of potatoes, O 9 
 
 To one and a half pounds of fat, o g 
 
 To half pound of butter, O 5 
 
 To ten pounds seven ounces of pork, 6 1 
 
 To a quart of rum, I 3 
 
 To a pound of butter, o 10 
 
 As balancing in part some of the above charges, we 
 
 find credit : — 
 
 s. d. 
 
 By a day's \\ ork, 2 o 
 
 By two days' work, 4 o 
 
 By a day's farming, 2 o 
 
 By two daj s, 4 o 
 
 By half a day, 1 o 
 
 KLXATHAN THRASHER, DKBfOR. 
 
 s. d. 
 To a Live sheep weighing ninety pounds, at a 
 
 penny a pound, 7 6 
 
 Credit (in part) by cash, 1 4 
 
 By seven pounds of mutton, 1 o 
 
 NATHANIEL SUTLIFF, DEBTOR. 
 
 To a bushel of flaxseed, 6s. 
 
DEBTOR. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 1 1 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 9 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 312 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT 
 
 NATHANIEL BARNES, THE SMITH, 
 
 To seven hundred boards, 
 
 To live pounds and fourteen ounces of 
 
 steel, at eight pence per pound, 
 To four pounds three ounces of flax, 
 To five pounds of flax, 
 To six pounds of flax, 
 
 MR. GILLET, DEBTOR. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 To eight pounds of mutton, 2 o 
 
 To four pence over pay in grain the last year's 
 
 rate, the above to go on March, I7c)0, rate, o 4 
 
 To a bushel of rye, 3 O 
 
 To twenty-eight pounds of beef, 4 8 
 
 To six pounds of tallow, 3 o 
 
 To a pound of hog suet, o 6 
 
 To a pound of beef suet, O 6 
 
 To a bushel of rye. 3 o 
 
 To over pay on last rate bill, 2 5 
 
 To a bushel of wheat, 5 o 
 
REV. ALEXANDER GILLET. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Gillet was ordained first pastor of the 
 Church and Society of Farmingbury December 29th, 
 1773, as we learn from the diary of Mr. Judah Frisbie, for 
 though the church book that Mr. Gillet kept is dated 
 December 29th, 1773, yet he does not say in it that he 
 was ordained that day. He had preached for the Society 
 previously to the installation, five months or more, and it 
 was during this service, on November 1 8th, 1773, and 
 after he had received a call from the Society to become 
 its pastor, that the church was organized. He served 
 the parish with great devotedness under many difficulties, 
 nearly eighteen years, being honorably dismissed by a 
 conference of churches, and highly commended by the 
 conference, and was soon after installed pastor of the 
 church in Torrington, Conn., where he continued many 
 years. The description of him and his labors published 
 in Sprague's Annals, vol. 2, and taken in part from the 
 funeral sermon preached at his death, and in part fur- 
 nished by Rev. Mr. Marsh, will be interesting to man}', 
 and is given in full. 
 
 The poem annexed is certified to be the production of 
 Mr. Gillet by very reliable persons of the parish. It was 
 printed in a public journal man)- years since, and cut 
 from the paper and preserved with great care to the pres- 
 ent time ; and it is so much like Mr. Gillet's cast of mind, 
 and like the style of religious thought of those days, that 
 it is here given in full. 
 
 " Alexander Gillet, son of Zaccheus and Ruth Gillet, 
 was born in Granby (Turkey Hills), Conn., August 14th 
 
314 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 (O. S.), 1749. He early discovered a great fondness for 
 books, and especially for history. At the age of thirteen 
 he was the subject of serious impressions during a revival 
 which then prevailed in several towns in Hartford county ; 
 and these impressions, though they seem subsequently to 
 have greatly declined, never entirely left him. At the 
 age of fourteen he began his preparation for college, 
 under the Rev. Nehemiah Strong, his pastor, and com- 
 pleted it under the Rev. Roger Viets, an Episcopal cler- 
 gyman, and a missionary of the society for propagating 
 the gospel in foreign parts. He was admitted a member 
 of Yale College, in June, 1767, at an advanced standing, 
 and was graduated in September, 1770. It was not till 
 the summer of 1769 that his mind seems to have become 
 fully settled in regard to the doctrines of the gospel, and 
 not until about the close of 1770 that he was the subject 
 of any religious experience that he himself believed to 
 be genuine. In May, 1771, he united with the church in 
 Turkey Hills (Granby), though owing, probably, to there 
 being no settled minister in the place, he had no oppor- 
 tunity of joining in the celebration of the Lord's Supper 
 until December following. After leaving college he 
 taught a school for a year or more at Farmington, and it 
 is supposed that he may have studied theology during 
 that time, under the direction of the Rev. Timothy Pitkin. 
 He was licensed to preach by the Hartford Association, 
 at Northington, on the 2d of June, 1773. On December 
 29th of the same year he was ordained the first pastor of 
 the church in Farmingbury (now Wolcott), where he re- 
 mained almost eighteen years, diligently employed in the 
 duties of his office. Owing to a difficulty which arose in 
 his parish, involving no delinquency on his part, his pas- 
 toral relation to them was dissolved in November, I79 x » 
 and in May following he was installed pastor of the First 
 Church, Torrington, with very promising prospects of 
 usefulness. Here he continued to labor during the rest 
 of his life. 
 
REV. ALEXANDER GILLET. 315 
 
 Mr. Gillct's ministry was attended with much more 
 than the ordinary degree of visible success. At Wolcott 
 he was privileged to see large numbers added to his 
 church, as the fruit of several revivals that occurred in 
 connection with his labors. During the period of his 
 ministry at Torrington there were three seasons of deep 
 religious interest among his people, the results of which 
 are equally benign and extensive. Of one of these last- 
 mentioned revivals he published a detailed and interest- 
 ing account in an early volume of the Connecticut Evan- 
 gelical Magazine. 
 
 Mr. Gillet had much of the missionary spirit, and 
 several times volunteered to perform missionary labor. 
 Long before the Connecticut Missionary Society was 
 formed, he performed good service in some of the desti- 
 tute portions of the counties of New London and Wind- 
 ham. In 1789, or 1790, he made a missionary tour of 
 several months in the new settlements of Vermont, 
 under the approbation of the Association of New Haven 
 County, and almost entirely at his own expense ; his pul- 
 pit being supplied a part of the time by his brethren in 
 the vicinity. And at a later period he went, several 
 times, by appointment from the Connecticut Missionary 
 Society, into those destitute regions, on the same errand 
 of good will to men. 
 
 During a few of his last years, Mr. Gillet, on account 
 of the advancing infirmities of age, was unable to per- 
 form the same amount of ministerial labor to which he had 
 been accustomed ; and yet there was scarcely any per- 
 ceptable waning of his intellectual faculties, with the ex- 
 ception only of his memory, till near the close of his life. 
 On being informed of some small mistakes which he had 
 made in the pulpit, in consequence of the failure of his 
 recollection, he proposed to his people, in the Autumn of 
 1824, to release him from his public duties till the follow- 
 ing Spring, and to employ some other preacher in his 
 stead ; at the same time voluntarily relinquishing his sal- 
 
316 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ary during that period. He resumed his labors after hav- 
 ing devoted a few months to rest and relaxation, and 
 thenceforward continued to supply his pulpit, with few 
 exceptions, as long as he lived. He officiated on the last 
 Sabbath of his life with his usual correctness and fervor. 
 On the following Tuesday, January 19, 1826, he entered 
 into rest. During the greater part of the day there was 
 nothing to indicate to himself or others the approaching 
 change ; for though he complained, about noon, of a 
 shooting pain in his breast, it was supposed to be only a 
 rheumatic affection, to which he had before occasionally 
 been subject. About four o'clock in the afternoon, his 
 wife, having occasion to go into his study to ask him a 
 question, observed that he made no reply. Upon her re- 
 peating the question, and still receiving no answer, she 
 hastened to him and found him unable to speak. He was 
 immediately laid upon the bed, and after uttering, with 
 difficulty, a few broken sentences, ceased to breathe, be- 
 ing in the seventy-second year of his age, and the fifty- 
 third of his ministry. His funeral was attended on the 
 succeeding Sabbath, and an appropriate sermon preached 
 by the Rev. Luther Hart, of Plymouth, which was pub- 
 lished. 
 
 Mr. Gillet was married, in December, 1779, to Adah, 
 third daughter of Deacon Josiah Rogers, of Farming- 
 bun', a descendant of John Rogers, the martyr. They 
 had six children, one of whom, Timothy Phelps, was 
 graduated at Williams College, in 1804, and has been for 
 many years pastor of the Congregational church in 
 Branford, Conn. Mrs. Gillet died in May, 1839, aged 
 seventy-seven. 
 
 Mr. Gillet published a sermon in a volume entitled 
 " Sermons on Important Subjects," 1797, and a sermon at 
 the ordination of his son, 1808. He was a contributor 
 to the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, and to the 
 Christian Spectator. 
 
REV. ALEXANDER G1LLET. 317 
 
 FROM THE REV. FREDERICK MARSH. 
 
 Winchester, Conn., May 27th, 1856. 
 
 Dear Sir: — My first knowledge of the Rev. Alexander Gillet 
 was in New Hartford, during the great revival, 1798 and 1799, 
 when he occasionally came there with Mr. Mills, Mr. Miller, and 
 others, to assist Dr. Griffin. My particular acquaintance with 
 him commenced soon after coming to this place, in 1808. From 
 that time (as our parishes were contiguous) till his decease in 
 1826, our relations became more and more intimate, and I can 
 truly say that he ever treated me with paternal kindness. Besides 
 the ordinary ministerial exchanges and intercourse, he used to 
 visit us and preach in seasons of special religious interest. 
 
 In his person, Mr. Gillet was rather above the medium stature 
 and size, of a full habit, broad shoulders, short neck, and large 
 head. His position was erect, except a slight forward inclination 
 of the head. His face was broad, and unusually square and 
 full, illumined by large, prominent blue eyes, the whole indicating 
 more of intellect than vivacity. His ordinary movements were 
 grave and thoughtful. In his manner he was plain, unosten- 
 tatious, and at the greatest possible distance from all that is ob- 
 trusive. He was courteous and kind, swift to hear and slow to 
 speak, apparently esteeming others better than himself, and in all 
 his intercourse exhibiting a delicate sense of propriety. 
 
 As a man of intellect he held a decidedly high rank. He had 
 an aversion to everything superficial. Ever fond of study, he 
 went thoroughly and deeply into the investigation of his subject, 
 whatever it might be. He was an admirable linguist, and above 
 all excelled in the knowledge of the Bible, — not merely in his own 
 language, but in the original. As a scholar, he was characterized 
 by great accuracy. I have heard an eminent minister, who fitted 
 for college under his instructions, say that he never found any 
 tutor so accurate and thorough in the languages as Mr. Gillet. 
 He was also very familiarly and extensively acquainted with 
 history ; and he studied history especially as an exposition of 
 prophecy. 
 
 But the crowning attribute of his character was his devoted 
 piety and high moral excellence. While great simplicity and 
 godly sincerity characterized his habitual deportment, it was still 
 
318 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 only by an intimate and extended acquaintance with him, and by 
 observing his spirit and conduct in trying circumstances, that one 
 could gain anything like a full view of this part of his character. 
 During seventeen years of familiar intercourse with him, my mind 
 became constantly more impressed with the depth of his piety, — 
 his unreserved consecration to God, his self-sacrificing devoted- 
 ness to the cause of Christ and the highest interests of his fellow 
 men. Among the most striking elements of his religious character 
 were meekness, humility, and a conscientious and apparently 
 immutable regard to truth and duty. 
 
 In social life, Mr. Gillet's constitutional reserve, and defect of 
 conversational powers, rendered him less interesting and useful 
 than might have been expected from such resources of mind and 
 heart as he possessed. Ordinarily he said little in ecclesiastical 
 meetings. Patiently listening to all the younger members choose 
 to say, he would remain silent, unless some gordian knot was to 
 be untied, or some latent error to be detected ; and then he would 
 show his opinion to good purpose. With individuals and in 
 private circles, where religious or other important topics became 
 matter of conversation, he would often talk with much freedom 
 and interest. 
 
 In his ministeral character and relations there was much to be 
 admired and loved, and some things to be regretted. It may 
 readily be inferred from what I have already said in respect to his 
 intellectual powers and attainments, his piety, his studious habits 
 and devotedness to his appropriate work, that his sermons were of 
 no ordinary stamp. And thus it really was. He presented Divine 
 truth with great clearness and point. Hence his preaching took 
 strong hold of congregations in times of revival. Often in closing 
 his discourse by an extemporary effusion, he would turn to some 
 one class of hearers, and urge upon them his subject in its practical 
 bearings with a tenderness and earnestness that were quite over- 
 powering. 
 
 But as his delivery was rendered laborious and difficult by an 
 impediment in his speech, he could not be called a popular 
 preacher. Those who regarded the manner more than the matter 
 of a discourse would pronounce him dull. But he was a ski llful 
 and faithful guide to souls; and his labors were abundantly 
 
REV. ALEXANDER (Ml LET. 319 
 
 blessed not only to the people to whom he ministered but to 
 others. 
 
 Of pastoral labor Mr. Gillet performed less than many of his 
 brethren. His constitutional diffidence, his incapacity for entering 
 into free and familiar intercourse with people generally, and his 
 love for study, probably all combined to produce in him a convic- 
 tion that he could accomplish the greatest good by making 
 thorough preparation for the pulpit, for occasional meetings, and 
 seasons of prayer, rather than devoting much of his time to 
 pastoral visits. 
 
 On the whole, he was an able, laborious, faithful and successful 
 minister — ever bringing out of his treasure things new and old, 
 edifying the body of Christ, enjoying the confidence and affection- 
 ate regard of his brethren, and exhibiting uniformly such an 
 example of consistency with his profession as to leave no room to 
 doubt either his sincerity or his piety. 
 
 I remain, dear sir, fraternally and truly yours. 
 
 Frederick Marsh. 
 
 gloom of autumn. 
 
 [Said to have been composed by Alex. Gillet.] 
 
 Hail ! ye sighing sons of sorrow. 
 
 View with me the Autumnal gloom ; 
 Learn from hence your fate to-morrow — 
 
 Dead perhaps — laid in the tomb. 
 
 See all nature, fading, dying ! 
 
 Silent all things seem to mourn ; 
 Life from vegetation flying, 
 
 Calls to mind my mouldering urn. 
 
 Oft an Autumn's tempest rising, 
 
 Makes the lofty forest nod ; 
 Scenes of nature, how surprising I 
 
 Read in nature, nature's God. 
 
 See our Sovereign, sole Creator, 
 
 Lives eternal in the skies; 
 While we mortals yield to nature, 
 
 Bloom awhile, then fade and die. 
 
320 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Nations die by dread Belona, 
 Through the tyranny of kings ; 
 
 Just like plants by pale Pamona 
 Fall to rise in future springs. 
 
 Mournful scenes, when vegetation 
 Dies by frost, or worms devour ; 
 
 Doubly mournful when a nation 
 
 Falls by neighboring nation's power. 
 
 Death my anxious mind depresses, 
 Autumn shows me my decay; 
 
 Calls to mind my past distresses, 
 Warns me of my dying day. 
 
 Autumn makes me melancholy, 
 Strikes dejection through my soul; 
 
 While I mourn my former folly 
 Waves of sorrow o'er me roll. 
 
 Lo ! I hear the air resounding 
 With expiring insect cries : 
 
 Ah ! to me their moans how wounding — 
 Emblem of my own demise, 
 
 Hollow winds about me roaring; 
 
 Noisy waters round me rise ; 
 While I sit my fate deploring, 
 
 Tears are flowing from my eyes. 
 
 What to me are Autumn's treasures, 
 Since I know no earthly joy? 
 
 Long I've lost all youthful pleasure^ — 
 Time must youth and health destroy. 
 
 Pleasure once I fondly courted, 
 
 Shared each bliss that youth bestows ; 
 
 But to see where then I sported 
 Now embitters all my woes. 
 
REV. ALEXANDER (HI. LET. 32 I 
 
 Age and sorrow since have blasted 
 
 Every youthful, pleasing dream ; 
 Quivering age with youth contrasted : 
 
 Oh, how short their glories seem. 
 
 As the annual frosts are cropping 
 
 Leaves and tendrils from the trees, 
 So my friends are yearly dropping 
 
 Through old age or dire desease. 
 
 Former friends, oh, how I've sought them ! 
 
 Just to cheer my drooping mind; 
 But they're gone, like leaves in Autumn, 
 
 Driven before the dreary wind. 
 
 Spring and Summer, Fall and Winter, 
 
 Each in swift succession roll — 
 So my friends in death do enter 
 
 Bringing sadness to my soul. 
 
 Death has laid them down to slumber ; 
 
 Solemn thought — to think that I 
 Soon must be one of their number. — 
 
 Soon, so soon with them to lie. 
 
 When a few more years are wasted ; 
 
 When a few more suns are o'er; 
 When a few more griefs I've tasted 
 
 I shall fall to rise no more. 
 
 Fast my sun of life's declining. 
 
 Soon 'twill set in endless night ; 
 But my hopes are past repining ; 
 
 Rest in future life and light. 
 
 Cease this fearing, trembling, sighing; 
 
 Death will break the awful gloom — 
 Soon my spirit fluttering, flying, 
 
 Must be borne beyond the tomb. 
 
 22 
 
REV. TIMOTHY P. GILLET. 
 
 The following biographical sketch is taken from the 
 funeral sermon of Rev. T. P. Gillet, preached by Rev. W. 
 P. Eustis, jr., pastor of Chapel Street church, New Ha- 
 ven, at Rranford, November 7th, 1866: 
 
 Timothy Phelps Gillet was born June 15, 1780, in Farming- 
 bury, now Wolcott, being the eldest child of Alexander and Adah 
 Gillet. His father was, at the time of his birth, pastor of the 
 church in Farmingbury, and after a settlement of eighteen years, 
 was dismissed November, 1791, and in the following May was 
 installed pastor of the First Church in Torrington, where he died, 
 January 19, 1S26, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and the 
 fifty-third of his ministry. His wife was the third daughter of 
 Deacon Josiah Rogers, of Farmingbury, Conn., and a descendant 
 of the famous John Rogers.* Rev. Alexander Gillet was the 
 child of pious parents, who lived in a part of Simsbury, Conn., 
 now Granby, and was trained in the knowledge of divine truth by 
 his devout grandmother. 
 
 The father of Timothy was a man of uncommon ability, and 
 was, in his day, among the leading preachers in Connecticut. 
 Graduating at Yale College, in 1770, he retained his familiarity 
 with classical literature, and after the meridian of life commenced 
 the study of Hebrew, and modestly acknowledged, in later years, 
 that he had read through the Hebrew bible three times. He had 
 a large library for that day, and in theology claimed to be a 
 disciple of Edwards. His ministry was abundantly blessed, and 
 one of the early volumes of the "Connecticut Evangelical 
 
 * Deacon Rogers belonged to the family of Thomas Rogers, who came 
 over in the Mayflower. 
 
REV. TIMOTHY P. GILLKT. 323 
 
 Magazine " contains his narrative of a great revival of religion in 
 Torrington, where his son Timothy was hopefully converted. This 
 son, the eldest of six children, two of whom survive, inherited 
 many of his father's characteristics, and we trace a family likeness 
 between the pastor at Torringford and the pastor at Branford, in 
 the portrait of the former, by his friend. Rev. Luther Hart. 
 
 The following sentences of this brief memoir might be 
 applied to the venerable son, as well as to the honored 
 father : " It was one of the most prominent traits of his 
 character that he made all of his literary pursuits sub- 
 servient to the momentous business of his holy calling. 
 He daily consecrated his time and talents to the service 
 of Christ. Scarcely has any person, in any station, ut- 
 tered fewer words at random. Possessing a wonderful 
 command over his passions, provocations rarely betrayed 
 him into expressions which demanded regret ; and care- 
 full}' guarding against all undue animal excitement, even 
 if others in his company were facetious, it is not recol- 
 lected that he ever uttered a sentence inconsistent with 
 the dignity and sobriety becoming the gospel. His 
 eldest son has observed, 'Though he frequently smiled, I 
 never heard him laugh.' " 
 
 Alluding to his personal habits and characteristics, the 
 writer adds : 
 
 Upon him whose character is attempted to be delineated -in 
 these pages, no defect, on the score of economy, could be charged. 
 Without patrimony, and receiving, till within a few years of his 
 death, a small salary, he yet, by the assistance of his frugal and 
 industrious companion, brought up six children ; assisted one of 
 them in procuring a collegiate education, and left his family in 
 possession of a valuable farm. 
 
 Another leading trait in his character was, that he did every- 
 thing methodically, and in season. At a particular hour he 
 retired at night, and at a particular hour he rose in the morning. 
 He was distinguished for his punctuality in the fulfillment of his 
 public and private engagements. 
 
324 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 These quotations indicate the origin of those charac- 
 teristics in which the son closely resembled the father, 
 whom he revered. Timothy P. Gillet entered Williams 
 College in 1800, when he was twenty years of age, and 
 graduated in 1804. After graduation, Mr. Gillet taught 
 for one year at Cornwall, and then in the academy at 
 Williamstown, until, in 1806, he was appointed tutor, 
 and retained that office for a year and a half. Gordon 
 Hall, Samuel J. Mills, and James Richards, were then 
 under-graduates in that college, and Mr. Gillet has stated 
 to members of his congregation that they were accus- 
 tomed to hold a prayer-meeting in his room, and to con- 
 sult in regard to the duty of carrying the gospel to the 
 heathen. He never lost the interest thus awakened in 
 foreign missions, but was an earnest advocate of the 
 cause, and a warm friend of the American Board. 
 During his tutorship he studied theology under President 
 Fitch, and was licensed as a candidate for the gospel 
 ministry, by the Litchfield North Association, September 
 30th, 1806. In the winter of 1 807-8, having resigned his 
 tutorship, Mr. Gillet supplied the pulpit, for two Sundays, 
 at East Haven, and was then invited to preach in the va- 
 cant pulpit of the church at Branford. He received, 
 shortly after, a call to settle with them in the gospel 
 ministry, on a salary of five hundred dollars, and the 
 privilege of cutting fire-wood on the Society's lands, until, 
 from continued ill health or infirmity, he should be no 
 longer able to perform the duties of a gospel minister 
 among them. This invitation was accepted, and June 
 15th, 1808, on his twenty-eighth birth-day, he was or- 
 dained to the work of the gospel ministry as pastor of 
 this church. 
 
 Mr. Gillet was married, November 29th, 1808, to Sallie 
 Hodges, who, after nearly sixty years of a happy and 
 peaceful wedlock, survives him to mourn his absence, 
 tarrying for the summons which will reunite them in the 
 heavenly society. 
 
REV. TIMOTHY P. GILLET. 325 
 
 He died at his residence in Branford, November 5th, 
 1866, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, and the fifty- 
 ninth of his ministry. 
 
DEACON AARON HARRISON. 
 
 Aaron Harrison was born May 3d, 1726, in East Ha- 
 ven, where his great-grandfather settled after emigrating 
 from England. His father, Benjamin, removed from East 
 Haven to Wolcott, in 1738, and settled on Benson Hill, 
 now Wolcott Center, where Aaron resided until near the 
 close of life, when he removed half a mile south-east, 
 where he died. Coming to Wolcott at the age of twelve 
 years, where there were no schools within six miles, he 
 in some way attained to a proficiency of scholarship more 
 than ordinary, under the circumstances, as appears in his 
 writings and the prominent relations to the community 
 which he sustained through life. 
 
 He married, October 26th, 1748, Jerusha, daughter of 
 Obadiah Warner. His brother Benjamin and sister Abi- 
 gail married a daughter and son of Dr. Benjamin Warner, 
 the brother of Obadiah. 
 
 In the organization of the Ecclesiastical Society and 
 Church of Farmingbury, Aaron bore a responsible and 
 honorable part, and on the fourth of January, 1774, he 
 was chosen first deacon of the church, when in his forty- 
 eighth year. He was chosen moderator of the first So- 
 ciety meeting, a position of special honor at that time, 
 and served in many offices of the society and church many 
 years thereafter. He was the first captain of the military 
 company of Farmingbury Winter parish, — Isaac Hop- 
 kins, probably, being the second, and John Alcox the 
 third. The deacon's kindly disposition, his intelligence 
 and faithfulness to the public good, were such that the 
 
DEACON AARON HARRISON. 327 
 
 people reposed in him the fullest confidence and trust, as 
 indicated by Deacon Isaac Bronson, who felt at liberty to 
 talk with "that good man, Deacon Aaron Harrison," 
 when he was afraid to speak to any one else on the sub- 
 ject of religion. He was, indeed, the under shepherd in 
 the church during the labors of Revs. Gillet, Woodward, 
 Hart, and Keys, — a term of nearly fifty years, being at 
 the time of his death a father to all " Israel " in this 
 parish. The first public prayer offered in the first Meet- 
 ing house was by Deacon Aaron Harrison, and in that 
 house he worshiped forty-seven years, hearing in his 
 latter days the remarkable voice of his grand-son, Ste- 
 phen, leading the hosts of Israel in the songs of the 
 sanctuary. 
 
 The following extracts are taken from that part of his 
 journal which is still preserved : 
 
 OCTOBER 21, 1797, 1N THK SEVENTY- SECOND YEAR 01 MY AGE. 
 
 When I look upon a life of sin and iniquity, through the course 
 of the age of man, it seemeth impossible that such a creature 
 should ever be saved. I am a stupid creature and dead in sin, and 
 a faithless hypocrite, but not in utter despair, because the grace 
 of God is infinite. But O that I could overcome my lusts and 
 get into the liberty of Christ Jesus. O that I could act and 
 conduct right towards God and men! O that I could keep a 
 conscience void of offense towards God and men ! 
 
 October 14. — Melancholy apprehensions concerning my state 
 and situation, looking on myself to be on the brink of eternity and 
 so unconcerned and unmoved that I wonder at my own stupidity. 
 
 May 29, 1798. — I have lived to see seventy-two years this 
 present month. There has not been a sermon preached in 
 Wolcott Meeting house since Mr. Woodward preached his first 
 sermon on probation, but that I have heard, except a few Sabbaths 
 when I was sick with the pere-pneumonia. which 1 look upon as 
 strange, considering my age and infirmities. 
 
 It is a poor sign for people to rejoice more in their good frames 
 and good feelings than in the perfections of the blessed God. 
 
 Man lives a fool, a fool he cannot die. 
 
328 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 May i, [or 3] 1799. — I have lived seventy-three years this day, 
 but am dead while I live. 
 
 May 23, 1799. — Yesterday Mr. Curtiss Hall fell from a tree 
 that was already down, as he was standing upon the body of the 
 tree, about six feet from the ground, was immediately struck 
 senseless and died the next morning, without speaking a word. 
 
 July 24, 1802. — Mr. David Norton, aged seventy-one, sitting 
 near the fire, was struck with lightning which came down the 
 chimney, and instantly expired. He was a constant attendant on 
 public worship and religious conferences; improved in church, 
 and was approved in society as a useful member; frequently 
 visiting and helping and praying with the sick. Labor and care, 
 misfortune and wearisomeness were his constant attendants 
 through life, and he has left an infirm and almost helpless widow 
 to mourn her loss in briny tears. 
 
 January 20, 1803. — Departed this life, by the fall of a tree, 
 which instantly killed him, Mr. Nathan Johnson, a man of profes- 
 sion and example, and in the prime of life, leaving a widow and a 
 young child. 
 
 Take the alarm, O my soul ! 
 
 July 8, 181 2. — Taken into church — Esther Harrison, Freelove 
 Upson, Maria YVakelee, and Lydia Alcox, in younger life. May 
 they live and adorn the Christian profession. 
 
 He died Sept. 5, 1819, aged 93, and his wife died eight 
 days later, Sept. 13,1819, aged 92 ; they having been mar- 
 ried more than seventy years. The following record was 
 made by Rev. Mr. Keys, concerning the funeral : " He 
 had been a man highly useful and highly esteemed in this 
 place. He was one of those through whose exertions a 
 located society was first established in this place. He aided 
 in procuring the town charter ; moderated the first town 
 meeting ; was the first captain of a military company ; 
 was the first deacon of the church, and offered up the 
 first public prayer in the first Meeting-house. He was 
 buried on the sixth, and his bier was followed by a large 
 concourse of people. It being the day of a semi-annual 
 military review,-- the militia being then under arms, — 
 
DEACON AARON HARRISON. 329 
 
 the procession was met by the company and escorted to 
 the Meeting house where the Throne of Grace was ad- 
 dressed, and a short address made to the congregation ; 
 thence to the grave-yard, where the remains were depos- 
 ited in the tomb, followed by the tender sympathies of 
 many relatives and friends." 
 
 Some of the people now living remember that funeral 
 procession ; the long concourse of people ; the military 
 men with their reversed arms ; the slow, solemn tread of 
 the company, while the band played the funeral dirge 
 (Pleyel's Hymn), thrilling every heart with sadness by 
 the peculiar strains of minor music, as rendered by the 
 old style instruments. 
 
 Well might the people sorrow, for a good man of Israel 
 had fallen. Not many men live so long and do as much 
 public service, and go down to their last sleep so gen- 
 erally respected, loved, and honored as he. His life is a 
 worthy pattern for the church for ages to come. The 
 church had trials and difficulties severe, but in the midst 
 of them stood, always, Deacon Harrison, firm to justice, 
 full of mercy, true to God, and large-hearted towards all 
 men. He had seen the wilderness give place to a pros- 
 perous, fruitful land. The church from a feeble band had 
 become numerous and strong, though many had gone 
 before him to the church triumphant. His children, 
 grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, had grown up 
 around him, to give him only honor and gladness in the 
 closing years of life, 
 
 Eight days after his departure his wife Jerusha followed 
 him to that land for which they had been striving for 
 many years, and where he was scarcely introduced to the 
 angelic throng before she joined him in the melody and 
 harmony in that land of life. 
 
REV. LUCAS HART. 
 
 Rev. Lucas Hart was a descendant of Deacon Simeon 
 Hart, one of the pioneers of what is now Burlington, then 
 Farming West Woods, and subsequently West Briton. 
 Deacon Hart was the first deacon of the church organized 
 at the ordination of its first pastor, Rev. Jonathan Miller. 
 The father of Lucas was the third son of Deacon Simeon, 
 and was a prominent man in the town in civil, military, 
 and ecclesiastical matters. His name was Simeon. Lu- 
 cas was born at West Briton, June 5th, 1784. When 
 quite young he was employed as a school teacher in the 
 winter season, studying at the same time, until he com- 
 menced fitting for college. When nineteen years old he 
 united with the church in his native place, under the pas- 
 toral care of the Rev. Jonathan Miller. From this time 
 he bent all his energies to get an education, teaching in 
 the winter, and working on the farm with his father in 
 the summer, until the spring previous to his arriving at 
 the age of twenty-one. At this time he commenced in 
 earnest to fit for college. He went to Morris Academy, 
 then in South Farms, now the town of Morris, in Litch- 
 field county, to prosecute his studies, and by too close 
 application to study, injured his health, which he never 
 afterwards regained. Unwilling to give up the idea of 
 becoming a minister, he applied himself, as he was able, 
 to theological studies, his pastor being his instructor ; at 
 the same time writing largely on theological subjects, as 
 he had been accustomed to do for several years. When 
 twenty-six years old he was licensed by the Litchfield 
 
REV. LUCAS HART. 33 1 
 
 North Association, September 25th, 1810. He was em- 
 ployed by the Missionary Society of Connecticut, part of 
 the time, until he commenced preaching for the church 
 in Wolcott, in August, 181 1. He was ordained pastor in 
 Wolcott December 4th, 181 1. He married Harriet, 
 daughter of Deacon Amos Harris, of East Haven, on 
 Thanksgiving evening, November, 181 1, about a week 
 before his ordination. He was a good minister and pas- 
 tor, and successful in his work a year and ten months. In 
 the fall of 1813, he went with his wife and child to East 
 Haven, to his wife's father's, on a visit, where he and his 
 little son were sick with dysentery. His son died Octo- 
 ber nth, and he October 16th. His son, Edward Lucas, 
 was born after his father's decease. This son is now a 
 successful teacher, resides in Farmington, and has in his 
 care two Chinamen and one Spanish lady as his pupils. 
 The widow died in New Haven, February 23d, 1853. 
 
LUCAS C. HOTCHKISS. 
 
 Mr. Lucas Curtiss Hotchkiss, the son of Major Luther 
 Hotchkiss, was born in Wolcott, October 14, 1807, and 
 resided with his father, on the farm, until he was eighteen 
 years of age, during which time he attended the District 
 school in the winters after he was of sufficient age to 
 attend school. In 1825, he went to that part of Southing- 
 ton called Plantsville, where he engaged as a mechanic 
 for Messrs. Merriman and Copps, manufacturers of lasts 
 and many kinds of handles used in making boots and 
 shoes. Here he continued three years, making some 
 intellectual improvement by attending school in the 
 winters. In the spring of 1828, he removed to Meriden, 
 and was in the employ of Messrs. Lauren, Merriman, & Co., 
 making ivory and wooden combs, and machinery for the 
 manufacturing of the same. After a few years this firm 
 dissolved, and Mr. Hotchkiss became partner in the same 
 business with Messrs. Walter Webb and Philo Pratt. He. 
 was afterwards partner with Mr. Oliver Snow in the 
 manufacture of hardware and general machinery. 
 
 In 1829, he united with the First Congregational church 
 in Meriden, where he still holds his membership, and in 
 which church he was leader of the choir for a number of 
 years. To him music has lost none of its charms, 
 especially when in the order of the " old tunes." Like 
 many others, when prosperity began to favor his labors 
 in worldly goods, he returned to his native town, and 
 won for his bride Miss Rufina Hall, daughter of Captain 
 Levi Hall, in October, 1831. He has four children. His 
 
LUCAS C. HOTCHKISS. 333 
 
 daughter, Sarah Ann, married Mr. Edward P. Yale, a 
 successful merchant of New Haven ; his daughter, Olive, 
 married Mr. L. W. Curtiss, of New Britain ; and his son, 
 Levi H., married Miss Mary Marshall, of Hartford. His 
 wife, Rufina, died in 1850, aged forty years. About two 
 years afterwards he married Mary Ann Raymond, of 
 New Haven, and the son of this marriage, Arthur R., 
 resides in Providence, R. I. 
 
 Mr. Hotchkiss has a very pleasant home in West 
 Meriden, where he now resides, striving to accomplish 
 good for humanity in various ways, as opportunity affords. 
 He has been a man of thought, taking notice of passing 
 events around him in all his life, and hence many items 
 of history are incorporated in this book which will add 
 much to the pleasure of the reader, for they are all of the 
 pleasant and cheerful kind. 
 
 He has furnished the following interesting reminiscen- 
 ces : 
 
 Some of the school teachers in the Center district from 181 2 
 to 1825, were these : Thomas Upson, Mark Upson, Irad Bron- 
 son, William Bartholomew. Clark Bronson, Luther Roper, Levi 
 Parker, William A. Alcott, John Potter son of Dr. Potter. Mr. 
 John Clark of Waterbury taught a select school in the winter of 
 1826, in the house where Rev. Mr. Keys had lived. The old 
 school house stood very near the present one. The writing tables 
 extended around on three sides of the room, and were placed 
 against the wall, so that the writers sat with their backs to the 
 teacher. Long benches, made of oak slabs, extended around 
 the room in front of the writing tables. Benches were made for 
 small children, in the same style, with no backs. Bible reading, 
 without opposition, was the custom in the morning. Columbian 
 Orator, American Preceptor, and Webster's Spelling Book, were 
 text books. Writing and spelling were leading studies every day, 
 and on Saturday the Old Assembly Catechism, in the Con- 
 gregational order and the Episcopal order, were regularly repeated. 
 Daily exercises were required in the Moral Catechism, in Webster's 
 spelling book, and the sounds of the letters of the alphabet, viz : 
 b has one sound, as in bite, etc. 
 
334 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 When David Harrison taught school in the East district, he had 
 a nephew by the name of Beebe, living with him and attending 
 school. Mr. Harrison composed some verses, which the boy 
 repeated, and for which he received hundreds of pennies : 
 
 "Alvin Miles Beebe is my name, 
 
 I am a lad of little fame ; 
 
 Yet I can read, and spell, and play, 
 
 Which is my business every day. 
 
 Before I lived, my father died; 
 
 Three orphans left and me beside — 
 
 And here I stand, a squint-eyed lad, 
 
 Pray, give me a cent — I will be glad." 
 This Mr. Beebe now resides in West Haven, and has a family 
 grown to manhood. 
 
 One of the members of the military company, a good, honest 
 man, but very odd, was chosen a corporal, and when the choice 
 was announced by the captain, he stepped in front of the company 
 and spoke as follows: "Gentlemen, officers, and fellow-soldiers — 
 I am greatly surprised at the choice you have made, when there 
 are such men as the Plumbs and the Beechers, who are not afraid 
 of the woods full of Indians, nor a hell full of devils. I thank 
 you for the respect you have shown me, but I cannot accept." 
 Then making a low bow, took his place in the ranks. 
 
 This same person went to spend an evening with a young lady, 
 in the West district, and she refused his company by saying she 
 was sick. "Well," said he, "if you are sick, you must be prayed 
 for," and he wrote a notice (giving the name as was the custom) 
 and gave it to the minister the next Sabbath, who read it, and 
 prayers were offered in the presence of the young lady, but she 
 did not rise as was the custom. 
 
 Daniel Munson married Maranda Selcriggs, the daughter of 
 widow Molly Selcriggs. The next day Mr. Jared Welton's 
 daughter told Dinah, a negro woman, what had happened. Said 
 Dinah: "Law me, du tell; Daniel Munson smart man, married 
 Randa Selcriggs ; how it does seem ; what a happy choice it is to 
 Mrs. Molly — git all Mrs. Molly's wood. Did oor pappa and 
 mamma do to wedding ? " 
 
 Praying /or the sick was a custom regularly observed. When 
 
LUCAS C. HOTCHKISS. 335 
 
 any members of the congregation were sick, the following 
 notice was read from the pulpit: Elijah Royce and wife re- 
 quest the prayers of God's people in behalf of their son, who is 
 dangerously ill ; friends and neighbors joining with them in this 
 request." Any members of the family present at the reading, 
 would rise in their seats. If the sick recovered, thanks were re- 
 turned, the form of rising in the audience being observed. If the 
 person died, another notice would be read, as follows ; " Elijah 
 Royce and wife having lost a beloved son, by death, ask the 
 prayers of God's people that this severe affliction may be sancti- 
 fied to their spiritual and everlasting good." I speak of Mr. 
 Royce's family, as they were often sick. This was in Mr. Keys' 
 time. 
 
 Mr. Keys once preached from the text: "Ephraim is joined to 
 his idols ; let him alone." Ephraim Hall was present, and was 
 young enough to smile, then, as did many others ; they are too 
 old now to smile. 
 
 Mr. Keys exchanged pulpits with the minister at Northfield. 
 In those days it was the custom for the leader of the choir to 
 name the tune so loud that the singers and the congregation 
 could hear. The minister from Northfield, in opening the ser- 
 vice, read the hymn commencing: — 
 
 " Lord, what a wretched land is this 
 That yields us no supplies." 
 
 The chorister named the tune Northfield, at which many 
 smiled ; the catch of the word indicating that the minister had 
 come from such a wretched land. 
 
 Mr. Keys, while preaching a sermon, told of a man who, while 
 riding over a bridge, the bridge gave way, and he exclaimed, as 
 he went down, ; ' Devil take all ! " at which the young people 
 smiled, which was a rare occurrence in those days, for many were 
 so superstitious as to think it sinful to smile in church. 
 
REV. LENT S. HOUGH. 
 
 Rev. Lent S. Hough was born in Wallingford, January 
 2 ist, 1804, of worthy parents, and was the second child 
 of a family of nine children. His childhood and youth 
 were spent in his father's home, on the farm, where he 
 received a good common school and academical edu- 
 cation. He taught a district school one winter in Meri- 
 den, and afterwards taught a select school two years, 
 summer and winter, in Freehold, Monmouth county, New 
 Jersey. His classical, and part of his theological edu- 
 cation, was obtained in Bangor, Maine. He graduated, 
 theologically, at Yale Divinity School, in 183 1. During 
 his last years in Yale he preached frequently as supply of 
 vacant churches, and in aiding neighboring, pastors. 
 Under his preaching, in his native town, in aid of an aged 
 pastor, a revival commenced, in which there were many 
 conversions. 
 
 About the time of graduating he was ordained pastor 
 of the church in Chaplain, where he remained five years 
 and a half, when his health became poor, causing his dis- 
 mission. He afterwards preached as stated supply three 
 years in North Madison, and one year in Bethel. He 
 then preached in Middletown, Westfield Society, as sta- 
 ted supply, nine months, and was then installed pastor 
 of the same Society, where he remained, seventeen years. 
 He came from Westfield to Wolcott, as stated supply, 
 where he preached six years. Here he labored with suc- 
 cess, though considerable of the time with poor health. 
 The letter of commendation of him as their pastor, from 
 
REV. LENT S. HOUGH. 337 
 
 Westfield to the church in Wolcott, is preserved, and is 
 of the highest honor to him as a successful pastor and 
 minister. While in Wolcott, there were considerable re- 
 pairs done upon the Meeting house, and furnishing inside, 
 which were creditable both to him and the people. From 
 Wolcott he went to Salem sixteen months, and from Sa- 
 lem to East Lyme, where he has labored with much suc- 
 cess three years, and where he still resides, receiving the 
 greatest kindness from his people, while deeply afflicted 
 in his family. 
 
 23 
 
CAPT. HEMAN HALL. 
 
 Captain Heman Hall was the son of Lieutenant Heman 
 Hall, the first of the name who settled in Wolcott, and 
 was born in Wallingford, in the year 1750. His father 
 purchased land in Wolcott as early as 1754, but removed 
 hither some years after, and resided near the present, so- 
 called, '' gamble-roofed house" on the road from Wclcott 
 Centre to Marion. Captain Heman, it is thought, built 
 this gamble-roofed house, and resided in it with his 
 mother until 1800, when they exchanged this farm for 
 the one then owned by Elnathan Thrasher, in Woodtick, 
 where his grandson Orrin now resides. He married 
 Rebecca Finch about the year 1770, by whom he had 
 eight children, three of whom are recorded as being 
 baptised at the same time, October 20th, 1776. 
 
 He was entrusted with the military authority of 
 "Ensign of the Ninth company or train-band, in the 
 Fifteenth regiment in this State," on the 27th day of 
 May, 1785, and subsequently was made captain of the 
 same company, and has been known as Captain Heman 
 Hall ever since. His son Heman was made corporal in 
 1795, and sargeant in 1797. His son Levi has been des- 
 ignated as Captain Levi, and is still so called. 
 
 Captain Heman Hall was near relative to the Hon. 
 Lyman Hall, of Georgia. This Lyman was the son of 
 Hon. John Hall, and was graduated at Yale College in 
 1747; studied medicine and located at Midway, Ga. 
 Having earnestly espoused the cause of his country in 
 the Revolution, his efforts contributed much to induce 
 
CAPT. HEMAN HALL. 339 
 
 the people of Georgia to join the Confederacy. He was 
 in May, 1775, elected to Congress, and as a member of 
 which, he signed the Declaration of Independence, and 
 continued in that body until the close of the year 1780. 
 In 1783 he was elected Governor of Georgia. He died 
 in February, 1791 , aged sixty-six. Captain Heman was 
 a man of prominence and responsibility in Farmingbury 
 Society from its first organization until his death in 1795, 
 at the age of forty-five. 
 
EPHRAIM HALL. 
 
 Ephraim Hall was the son of Sargent Heman, and 
 grandson of Captain Heman, and great-grandson of 
 Lieutenant Hall, the first of the name in Wolcott. He 
 was born September 15th, 1799. In the autumn, when 
 twenty-two years of age, he went to South Carolina to 
 work on the Broad and Saluda rivers in constructing ca- 
 nals and locks around the falls in those rivers. Early the 
 next spring, an opportunity presenting itself, he engaged 
 two or three months in peddling, traveling on foot. 
 After this he spent six or seven winters in peddling in 
 the Southern States, and working on a farm at the north 
 during the summer. He first engaged in selling tin-ware 
 for the Yale Brothers, of Wallingford, they having a 
 depot in Richmond, Virginia, where their peddlers ob- 
 tained their goods, transporting them through the 
 country with a horse and wagon. He peddled by license, 
 taking license for a county or two, and remaining all win- 
 ter within the prescribed circuit. At first he found this 
 business wearisome and discouraging, but when he be- 
 came acquainted he fared well and did well in the busi- 
 ness. He learned to fall in with the notions and preju- 
 dices of the people, and let them talk as they pleased, 
 and then everything went well. He usually paid for the 
 privilege of staying over night, and sometimes traded to 
 the amount of thirty dollars, sometimes forty, sometimes 
 over a hundred. He would seldom go away without 
 trading, for the people learned to expect him at a certain 
 time, and prepare for his coming ; especially was this the 
 case in the later years when he sold dry goods. 
 
 For several summers he worked for Rev. Wm. Robin- 
 
EPHRAIM HALL. 341 
 
 son, of Southington ; the good minister saying in the 
 autumn when he closed work: "Well, Ephraim, when 
 you get back in the spring, come over and see me, and if 
 I am living I shall want you again to work for me." 
 
 He married, September 9th, 1824, Mary Minor, daugh- 
 ter of Archibald Minor, Esq., with whom he lived until 
 her death, July 19th, 1870. He had .three children, only 
 one of whom survives him. His .farm in Wolcott was 
 that now owned by C. Frank Munson ; the large maple 
 trees now standing by the roadside at that place he set 
 there soon after he purchased the farm. This farm he 
 gave to his grandson a few years since, and made his 
 residence at Wolcott Center. 
 
 When the anti-slavery cause began to move the public 
 mind, Mr. Hall was found on the side of the oppressed, 
 and calmly, but decidedly, he maintained their cause as 
 long as he lived. In his anti-slavery sentiments, as in 
 all other things, he was not violent, but calm and deci- 
 ded, firm and true, at any cost. In 1839, ms horse, with 
 those of a few other men, was sheared because of his 
 anti-slavery principles ; and when the Meeting house was 
 burned, through this excitement, and there seemed to be 
 no prospect of peace in the old Society, he, with several 
 others of the most reliable members of the church, with- 
 drew, and formed a second Society. Through the high 
 and honorable decision of the Consociation held on the 
 subject, the rights of the church were guaranteed, and 
 then the new Society dissolved and returned to help the 
 old in building the new Meeting house, and in settling a 
 pastor. 
 
 His regular subscription to the American Missionary 
 Society in behalf of the Freedmen has been, for several 
 years, one hundred dollars a year, and in his will he left 
 to that society the sum of fifteen hundred dollars. He 
 was a true man to the church and humanity, and was 
 greatly respected by the citizens of his native town. He 
 died June 7th, 1874, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. 
 
DR. AMBROSE IVES. 
 
 Dr. Ambrose Ives was the son of Abijah, and grandson 
 of Abraham Ives, and was born in Wallingford, December 
 20th, 1786. He studied medicine with Dr. Cornwall, of 
 Cheshire, and settled in Wolcott about the year 1808, at 
 which time Dr. Potter was enjoying a good degree of 
 confidence from the people of the community. The 
 young physician was regarded by some as intrusive in 
 coming into the field where one physician could attend 
 all the sick, and by others as a welcome friend, who 
 might, possibly, be helpful in turning aside the death 
 messenger. Dr. Ives identified himself with the interests 
 of the community to such a degree, and gave such 
 diligent attention to his profession, that he soon secured 
 an extensive practice, and an important standing as a 
 citizen. On the 30th day of March, 18 17, he married 
 Wealthy Hopkins, daughter of Charles Upson, Esq., and 
 thereafter continued his professional labors until 1827, 
 when he removed to Wallingford to look after his 
 deceased father's estate. Dr. Ives was celebrated in 
 Wolcott for careful living, diligence in his profession, and 
 not particularly enterprising in the town and local inter- 
 ests. He identified himself with the Episcopal church 
 and did good service therein. From Wallingford he 
 removed to Plymouth, where he resumed his profession, 
 and soon obtained a large practice. In 1834 he became 
 interested in the manufacture of gilt buttons at Waterville 
 and took charge of the business. In 1837 he removed his 
 residence to Waterbury, and in 1839 so ^ ms interest at 
 
DR. AMBROSE IVES. 343 
 
 Waterville and became a stock owner in the company of 
 Brown & Elton, and continued in this connection until 
 his decease. He died in Waterbury, January 31st, 1852, 
 having accumulated quite a fortune. 
 
 His wife, Wealthy H., survived him a few years, always 
 manifesting much interest in the people of her native 
 town, and made a present of a very choice Communion 
 Set to the Congregational church a short time before 
 her decease. 
 
REV. JOHN KEYS. 
 
 Rev. John Keys was a Presbyterian minister, and came 
 from the Albany Presbytery, State of New York, and 
 hence of his early history we have no knowledge. He 
 was settled in Wolcott in the days of its greatest pros- 
 perity. The inhabitants numbered about eleven hun- 
 dred. The old Meeting house was crowded with hearers, 
 and among them were as fine a class of men and women, 
 young people and children, as could be found in any rural 
 congregation in the land. The money credit of the town of 
 Wolcott is said to have been at this time as high as any 
 town in the State. Its fame for schools and education 
 was noted. The commercial business of the town rivaled 
 that of Waterbury, Southington, and Bristol. The salary 
 ($500 and twenty-five cords of wood) was liberal for those 
 days, and the circumstances under which he was intro- 
 duced into his office and work were most favorable. The 
 installation sermon, preached by Dr. Lyman Beecher, 
 was sufficient to inspire a man and a congregation a life- 
 time. The ceremonies of that installation were im- 
 posing, and have been referred to by many out of Wol- 
 cott, as well as in it. 
 
 The council met at the house of Mr. Keys, a little 
 east of the church, for examination. When the hour came 
 for services at the church, the members of the council 
 formed in procession, two by two, then the gentlemen 
 and ladies of the choir, and following them, in the same 
 manner, the members of the church, all walking to the 
 church. Miss Abigail Hall, now (1873) residing in Meri- 
 
REV. JOHN KEYS. 345 
 
 den, says, the Meeting house was full. The singers sat 
 in the gallery, nearly filling the front seats on three 
 sides. The ladies sang with their bonnets off in those 
 days, — and they were bonnets, not hats. " Mr. Hender- 
 son, who had been employed to teach a singing-school, 
 took charge of the singing at the installation. The bass 
 singers sat on the west side of the gallery, David Harri- 
 son, with bass viol, in the center ; the tenor and counter 
 on south side, and Stephen Harrison, with tenor viol, in 
 the center; first treble on east side, and Doct. Harvey 
 Norton, with violin, in the center." Such was the choir 
 in 1 8 14, and such were the encouraging facts around Mr. 
 Keys as a minister. He was a laborious, diligent, good 
 man, careful of all, and a true man. All those who re- 
 member him speak kindly of him, without a word of re- 
 proach. Eight years he toiled for this people, as though 
 the\- were his own children, and when the separation 
 came it was a heavy trial to him. His letter to the 
 church is the saddest of the kind I have ever read. 
 He commences that letter with the following- words : 
 " The painful hour seems now arrived, in the sovereign 
 dispensations of Providence, when we must part." He 
 was endeared to many young men who had attended his 
 school, by influences arising in such labor, which are not 
 easily severed, and can never be forgotten. He closed 
 his labors in December, 1S22, at a time of the year 
 when a church should hesitate to dismiss a faithful ser- 
 vant. Without house, or home, or work, with a large 
 family, in the dead of winter, is rather a sad picture con- 
 cerning one who gave up all secular pursuits to preach 
 the gospel ! 
 
 Mr. Keys moved to Ohio, and other western States, 
 where he resided forty-six years, and died at Dover, 
 Ohio, in 1868, aged eighty-six. His wife, Mary, died at 
 Peoria, Illinois, in 1850, aged sixty-six. Their children 
 were Mary O. (Kingsbury), now living in Toledo, Ohio ; 
 John A., now living in Visalia, California ; William M., 
 
346 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 now living in Saltillo, Nebraska ; Richard M., now living 
 in California ; David C, died in 1867, in Oakland, Cali- 
 fornia ; Catharine S. (Moore), living in Dover, Ohio ; 
 Lucy H. (Abbott), living in Cleveland, Ohio ; Charles F., 
 died in 1837, in Alabama ; Luther H., living in Greeley, 
 Iowa. This record dates in 1873. 
 
SIMEON H. NORTON. 
 
 Simeon H. Norton, son of Simeon N., and great-grand- 
 son of David Norton, was born in Wolcott, August iith, 
 1 8 1 3. He began attendance in the district school at the 
 Center, when but two years and nine months old, and 
 continued to attend the same until twelve years of age, 
 during which time he acquired, besides the regular studies 
 of the school in that day, some knowledge of geography, 
 arithmetic, and English grammar. At the age of thirteen 
 he engaged in a manufactory in Meriden, Conn., where 
 he continued two years, at which time, being at the age 
 of fifteen, he accepted an invitation to teach the north 
 district school of his native town, one term, in which 
 being quite successful, he accepted an invitation to teach 
 the north-east school the following summer and winter 
 terms ; and while engaged in teaching he was pursuing 
 a course of study preparatory to the teaching of a high 
 school, the accomplishment of which was of great con- 
 sideration in his own mind. In order to perfect this de- 
 sire, he attended the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, 
 where he became an Episcopalian. At the age of nine- 
 teen he engaged as teacher in the largest district school 
 in Bristol, where he continued teaching, summer and 
 winter, three years, — at the same time teaching singing 
 school in the winter season, and taking charge of the 
 choir of the Episcopal church. During his last term in 
 Bristol he wrote to Dr. William A. Alcott, then in Bos- 
 ton, to assist him in obtaining the place of assistant in 
 some high school in that city, to which the Doctor re- 
 
348 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 sponded cordially, expressing great pleasure in the aspi- 
 rations of the young men of Wolcott. Before any ar- 
 rangement of this kind could be made, Mr. Norton was 
 urgently requested to engage as clerk in the store of 
 Messrs. Benham and Tuttle, in Wolcott, which invitation 
 he accepted, and notified his friend the doctor, in Bos- 
 ton, accordingly. He was in the store at Wolcott one 
 year, and during that time served as acting school-visitor 
 for the town, that being the first office he ever held by 
 the votes of the people. From Wolcott he went to Bris- 
 tol, and engaged as clerk in a store in the same portion 
 of the town where he had taught school, and where he 
 accepted his old place in the Episcopal choir. At the 
 end of four years he left Bristol, and entered, as clerk, the 
 store of Messrs. H. M. Welch & Co., in Plainville, the 
 largest store at that time in that part of the country, and 
 continued there about four years, during which time, there 
 being no Episcopal church in the place, he attended 
 regularly the Congregational church, and served, by invi- 
 tation, as leader of the choir during the time of his resi- 
 dence there. 
 
 In the spring of 1843, ne was urged to go into partner- 
 ship with an old merchant at Plymouth, which offer he 
 declined, but engaged with him as clerk in the store. 
 Not being well pleased with the business of selling liquors 
 as connected with this store, he left as soon as the time 
 of his engagement expired, and, collecting all his capital, 
 located himself in a store at a place now known as 
 Hitchcock's Station, in Southington, where he remained 
 three years, and then removed to Plantsville, where he 
 still resides. He engaged in this place as a merchant, 
 keeping a temperance store, until 1869, when, having 
 been quite successful in business, he retired from the 
 same, to pass the remaining years in quietness and rest. 
 
 While in his store, he held the office of postmaster fif- 
 teen years, from 1853, and has since received a good 
 share of honor in various offices in the town, — standing 
 
SIMEON H. NORTON. 349 
 
 several years as first selectman, going once to the legis- 
 lature, and has been for several years, and is now, a jus- 
 tice of the peace. He has been called on to serve as ad- 
 ministrator of estates, drawing deeds and wills, and other 
 like documents, to a large extent, and continues to re- 
 ceive a high degree of confidence from his fellow-citizens. 
 
 When twenty-three years of age he married Sarah 
 Ann, daughter of Capt. Levi Hall, of Wolcott. with 
 whom he spent thirty-five years of happy wedded life, 
 until her death, in 1872. Of his wife's Christian life and 
 death he speaks in the highest terms. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Norton has been a Democrat, though 
 not a strong partizan, and at the breaking out of the late 
 war, he took the ground that the rebels, having taken up 
 arms against the government, should be put down by 
 force of arms, and sustained the efforts of the United 
 States for the accomplishment of that end. His only 
 son, twenty-one years of age, enlisted, and fell at his 
 post, May 3d, 1863, in the terrible battle of Chancellors- 
 ville, where several of his Wolcott friends also fell. 
 
DR. JOHN POTTER. 
 
 Dr. John Potter came to Wolcott and established him- 
 self as a physician about the year 1780, and was trusted 
 and respected many years as a physician and citizen. 
 He was active in the Ecclesiastical Society, and sustained 
 a large share of the responsibilities of the offices of the 
 same ; and so far as the records show, or the friends re- 
 member, he acquitted himself in all things as a faithful 
 man in his profession, and a worthy citizen. He mar- 
 ried Lydia, the daughter of Deacon Aaron Harrison, 
 than which family there was none more honorable in t he 
 community. 
 
 His children grew up around him in honorable, and 
 active employments, but when the glory of Wolcott began 
 to decline, they removed west, and last of all, the Doctor 
 went, also, saying he went "west to die, not to live," for 
 his days were nearly run. He was of the progressive 
 kind of physicians, for when it was noised abroad that 
 inoculation by kine-pox would secure the community 
 from the dreadful ravages of small-pox, he at once pe- 
 titioned the town for the privilege of introducing the 
 practice of vaccination. His children and family are very 
 kindly remembered by some of the older people of the 
 town at the present time. 
 
 350 
 
REV. NATHAN SHAW. 
 
 Rev. Nathan Shaw, son of Solomon and Betsy (Dil- 
 ingham) Shaw, was born in Abington, Mass., June 3d, 
 1788. In 1796 his father removed to Cummington, Mass., 
 where, under the instruction of Rev. James Briggs he 
 prepared for college. He studied theology one year at 
 Andover Theological Seminary, and with Rev. Alvan 
 Hyde, D. D., of Lee, Mass. Having performed, for a 
 year, missionary labor in Berkshire County, Mass., he was 
 ordained, in 1820, over the Congregational church in 
 West Stockbridge, Mass. In 1826 he was settled over, 
 or served the church as stated supply, in Curtisville, 
 Stockbridge, Mass. He subsequently supplied various 
 churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1831, on 
 the fourth of July, the Society in Wolcott voted to hire 
 him four months, and before that time expired they voted 
 to hire him one year. The probability is that he preached 
 here nine or ten months only. After leaving Wolcott 
 he was engaged among the Osage Indians, under the 
 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
 He died in 1865. 
 
 35i 
 
SETH THOMAS. 
 
 Seth Thomas was the son of James Thomas, who 
 married Maria Ward, of West Haven or Orange, Conn., 
 and removed to Wolcott. James came from Scotland to 
 this country. Seth Thomas is said to have been born in 
 Wolcott, where he lived until about the year 1810. He 
 was a man of few words, but of great energy and perse- 
 verance in any employment in which he engaged. His 
 father was a cooper, but he turned somewhat naturally 
 to the trade of a carpenter, in connection with which, 
 probably, he obtained some knowledge of mill property 
 and manufacturing interests. He was apprenticed to 
 Mr. Daniel Tuttle, of Plymouth, and in consequence of 
 his quiet attention to his duties, and want of boyish 
 vanities, he was called, by some of the wild lads of 
 Wolcott, "Daniel Tuttle's fool." As in many cases, so 
 in this — history shows who are wise and who are fools. 
 
 Mr. Thomas engaged in the manufacture of clocks in 
 the firm of Terry, Thomas & Hoadley, at Hoadleyville, in 
 about the year 1810, where he continued three years. 
 It is said that previous to this engagement he made an 
 offer for the purchase of the mill property of Mr. Daniel 
 Byington, at Wolcott, and desired the town to open a 
 road direct to Cheshire for the export of goods that 
 might be manufactured by him. But the spirit of enter- 
 prise had not come upon the people of Wolcott, and Mr. 
 Thomas being discouraged as to the location, went to 
 Hoadleyville and thence to Plymouth Hollow, now 
 Thomaston. It is possible that this proposition to come 
 
SETH THOMAS. 353 
 
 to Wolcott was made just before going to Thomaston. 
 Had he received suitable encouragement, the enterprising 
 village of Thomaston might have been in Wolcott instead 
 of Plymouth, for the water power in Wolcott is pro- 
 nounced by competent judges to be superior to that of 
 Thomaston. About the year 18 13, Mr. Thomas pur- 
 chased some property of Mr. Heman Clark, in Plymouth 
 Hollow, containing a small manufactory of some kind, 
 and here commenced, on his individual responsibility, 
 the making of clocks. In this business he had great 
 success; and about 1830, he built a cotton manufactory, 
 which, after some years, was reconstructed into the 
 clock making business. Such was the prosperity of his 
 enterprises that about t 1850 a joint stock company was 
 formed, which resulted in the enlargement of the business, 
 so as to establish depots for the sale of goods in different 
 parts of the world. The present capital stock in use is 
 half a million of dollars. The branch depots are located 
 in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and London. 
 Thomaston now numbers two thousand inhabitants, 
 and is an enterprising, thriving village. Such has Wol- 
 cott lost, and such has Plymouth gained, and such are 
 the results of the energy of one man. 
 
 24 
 
REV. BENONI UPSON, D. D. 
 
 Dr. Benoni Upson was born in " Farmington Part" of 
 what is now Wolcott, Conn., February 14th, 1750. His 
 father was Thomas Upson, who resided one mile north 
 of the Meeting" house in Wolcott. His mother was 
 Hannah Hopkins, of Waterbury, sister of the celebrated 
 Dr. Samuel Hopkins, of Newport, R. I. He graduated at 
 Yale College in 1776, and was ordained pastor of the 
 church in Kensington April 21st, 1779. August, 1778, 
 he was married to Livia Hopkins, daughter of Joseph 
 Hopkins, Esq., of Waterbury. Their children were eight, 
 viz : Gustavus, Laura, Henry, Livia, Laura, Sophia, Sally, 
 William. Of these but one was living in 1863. Dr. 
 Upson was for fourteen years fellow of Yale College, 
 from which in 18 17 he received the honorary degree of 
 Doctor of Divinity. 
 
 Rev. Royal Robbins in his notes upon the history of 
 the church in Kensington, as given in " Contributions to 
 the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut," p. 412, speaks 
 of him as a "wise and benevolent man, a lover of peace, 
 and a peacemaker, and distinguished, with his family, for 
 hospitality. In the sermon preached by Mr. Robbins at 
 the funeral of Dr. Upson, he describes him as "in social 
 intercourse highly agreeable, — courteous and attentive 
 to all, his address at once dignified and easy, agreeable 
 and cheerful in his feelings, companionable and concili- 
 ating, tender and gentle." He says, also, that he was 
 "a valuable friend and counsellor; in his intellectual 
 character, possessing a clear understanding and ready 
 wit ; a man of information and of great native sagacity, 
 
REV. BENONI UPSON, D. D. 355 
 
 admirably acquainted with human nature, and cau- 
 tious and wary, prudent and discreet." 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hillard, in a letter, speaks of him as "a most 
 accomplished gentleman. He was regular in his attend- 
 ance upon the ministry and ordinances of religion, after 
 as well as before giving up his ministerial labors, — being 
 for several of the last years of his life the oldest man 
 usually seen in the congregation. He was buried in the 
 East burying ground, Kensington. The inscription on 
 his monument is as follows : " Rev. Benoni Upson, D. 
 D., native of Waterbury, Conn.; Graduate and Fellow of 
 Yale College ; Pastor of the Church of Christ in Berlin ; 
 Ordained April 21, 1779; Died Nov. 13, 1826, aged 76 
 years." 
 
REV. HENRY E. L. UPSON. 
 
 Rev. Henry E. L. Upson was born in Wolcott, May 2 1, 
 1 83 1, and was a twin brother to Harriet Arabella Frances 
 Upson. He was baptized by the name of Henry Eugene 
 Loomis, and was the son of Thomas and Jerusha Upson, 
 and grandson of Esquire Charles and Mary (Moulthrop) 
 Upson. His early school days were spent at the Centre 
 District school of Wolcott. of which he gave some 
 reminiscenses at the Centenary meeting. He was fitted 
 for college at Lewis Academy, in Southington, and 
 entered Yale college in 1855, from which he graduated 
 with honors in 1859. He was one year in the Andover 
 Theological Seminary, and two years, nearly, in Yale 
 Theological Seminary, at New Haven. While in the 
 Seminary at New Haven he was appointed, August 
 7, 1862, chaplain of the Thirteenth Regiment of Con- 
 necticut Volunteers, by Governor Buckingham, and was 
 ordained June 22d, and joined his regiment in New 
 Orleans, where he remained to the fall of Fort Hudson. 
 He distinguished himself by gallant conduct on several 
 occasions, and received special commendation from his 
 superior officers for efficient efforts for the physical com- 
 fort of the soldiers, while earnestly exercising his office 
 as a minister among them. 
 
 He resigned his chaplaincy and left the service of the 
 United States August 7, 1863, to become the pastor of 
 the Congregational church in New Preston, Conn., where 
 he was installed September 23, 1863, in which place his 
 labors have been ordinarily successful, and where he still 
 continues to preach. 
 
REV. HENRY E. L. UPSON. 357 
 
 He married Miss Abbie A. Piatt, daughter of Prof. 
 Merritt and Abigail (Merwin) Piatt, of Milford, Conn., 
 October 13, 1863. He is the only Upson, descended from 
 Wolcott, who is now in the ministry, so far as we know. 
 Dr. Benoni Upson was great-uncle to Henry, and spent 
 a long and successful life in the ministry. Rev. A. J. 
 Upson, D. D., of Albany, N. Y., professor in Union 
 College, being a descendant of the Waterbury Upsons, 
 and of the same original family with the Wolcott Upsons. 
 
REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD. 
 
 Rev. Israel Beard Woodward was born in Watertown, 
 Conn., December 4th, 1767. He was the son of Israel 
 and Abigail (Stoddard) Woodward, and great-grandson, 
 on his mother's side, of Rev. Anthony Stoddard, the set- 
 tled Congregational minister of Woodbury, Conn., for 
 sixty years. He was graduated at Yale College in 1789, 
 at the age of twenty-two, and was ordained pastor of the 
 church in Wolcott in June, 1792. From the time of 
 graduation to his settlement, he had three years for theo- 
 logical studies, but where he pursued these, or whether 
 he did or not, regularly, we have not learned ; but we 
 have no doubt that one of his cast of mind would avail 
 himself of such advantageous preparation for so great 
 a work. From the first the majority of the people of 
 Wolcott were greatly pleased with Mr. Woodward, for 
 his style of preaching was quite the opposite of his pre- 
 decessor, Mr. Gillet. Mr. Gillet never indulged in re- 
 marks that would create a smile, but Mr. Woodward was 
 a man of cheerful spirit, and his natural turn of mind 
 would make a pleasing reply or remark, in little matters 
 in conversation, which was relieving and agreeable to 
 most persons, and the aptness and appropriateness of his 
 illustrations in the pulpit would sometimes create a smile 
 in the audience ; yet he was sedate and quite serious, and 
 this sharpness of perception and application of truth in 
 a cheerful way made him an acceptable preacher to most 
 persons. It was, I apprehend, the pleasant witicisms of 
 ordinary times, turned into sarcasms in the exciting politi- 
 
REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD. 359 
 
 cal times of Mr. Thomas Jefferson, that offended some of 
 Mr. Woodward's parishioners who withdrew from the 
 support of the church at that time ; and yet there are 
 indications that Mr. Woodward's most earnest church 
 members, who became very zealous in politics, influenced 
 more persons to leave the Society than he did ; for they 
 declared their belief, that if Mr. Jefferson was elected 
 president, the religious liberties of this country would 
 be at once annulled, and persecution would reign instead ; 
 and there are those living now who have heard their 
 fathers repeat these sayings as given by Mr. Woodward's 
 strongest church members. There can be no doubt of 
 the honesty and uprightness of these men who opposed 
 Jefferson, for Jefferson was commonly reported an infidel, 
 and infidelity was a great enemy and persecutor of the 
 Christian church in the sixteenth and seventeenth centu- 
 ries, both in England and in America. And the po- 
 litical excitements immediately following the revolution 
 were nearly as effective on the minds of the people as 
 was the revolution itself, and Wolcott, which had suffered 
 severely in the loss of its men in the war, could not for- 
 get how dearly it had bought Freedom. And had not 
 Mr. Woodward endeared himself to the people by dignity 
 of character, and a cultivated mind, and also by a hearty 
 sympathy with them in all their trials and privations, 
 the loss of support to the church would doubtless have 
 been far greater than it was. Mr. Woodward was the 
 strong band of union in those days, though the people 
 knew it not ; yet he could not maintain his position 
 without saying something on the political questions of 
 the day, — for a large majority of the people were Feder- 
 alists, and opposed to Mr. Jefferson's politics. And this 
 may have been the reason why he sent to the Society's 
 annual meeting in November, 1800, a proposition to be 
 dismissed. He may have found it so hard to harmonize 
 the conflicting elements, that he was greatly discour- 
 aged, and preferred to be relieved from the distressing 
 
360 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 situation. When he requested to be dismissed, the parish 
 meeting voted a committee to go to him and " inform 
 him that the Society, for various reasons, wish not to act 
 upon the proposition by him made as to a dismission ; 
 particularly as they are well pleased with his perform- 
 ances as their minister, and are by no means willing for 
 a dissolution of the pastoral connection between him and 
 them." These words, "by no means," tell no more than 
 the truth for the men of the Society. 
 
 One of the present parishioners relates that he has 
 heard his mother sa3 r , many times, that Mr. Woodward 
 was the best man she ever knew. Mrs. Woodward is said 
 to have been a kind and noble woman, much esteemed by 
 the people. A colored girl was employed in the family. 
 A short time after Mr. Woodward's death she became 
 displeased at some request of her mistress, and retorted by 
 saying, " I wish you had died instead of Mr. Woodward." 
 This girl, living in New Haven some five years since, told 
 fhe fact to a person who was at the late Centenary meet- 
 ing, and as she told it she repeated the good qualities of 
 her late master with much interest and feeling. Yet such a 
 man and minister, so kind-hearted, sympathetic and feel- 
 ing in religious life, and in regard to the sorrows bf men, 
 was, in the common expression used, "full of his jokes." 
 The old superstition that a Christian should never laugh, 
 is one of the darkest errors of the Roman Catholic 
 Church, and found no countenance in the life of this good 
 man. 
 
 SOME OF MR. WOODWARD'S JOKES. 
 
 A man with a pig under his arm passing Mr. Woodward's 
 house one morning, saw Mr. Woodward in the yard, and ad- 
 dressed him with "Good-morning." Mr. Woodward's ready re- 
 ply was : " Good-morning, gentlemen, both of you." 
 
 It was customary in those days for minister and people, all, to 
 use intoxicating drinks, and Mr. Woodward and his church mem- 
 bers kept up this custom, not discerning the fearful consequences 
 of such a practice. On one occasion Mr. Woodward sent his 
 
REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD. 361 
 
 work boy to the store for a bottle of whisky. The boy returned 
 with the bottle, when Mr. Woodward asked him what kind of 
 liquor he had brought. He replied the store keeper said it was 
 whisky. "Have you not tasted it?" said Mr. W. "No," said 
 the boy. "Then," said Mr. W., "you shall have none of it, to 
 pay you for not tasting it." 
 
 The next time he sent him on a like errand he asked him the 
 same question, — "What have you?" "Rum," said the boy. 
 "How do you know?" "I drank some, and treated the company 
 at the store," — and the half empty bottle indicated that the com- 
 pany was rather numerous. 
 
 Mr. Woodward being so ready at repartee, the people learned 
 to reply to him in the same way, and were much pleased when 
 they could catch him with a pleasant word. He hired a man to 
 Avork for him, and the man came to engage in the work about 
 ten o'clock in the morning. Mr. Woodward said : " Rather late. 
 
 Mr. H , to begin a day's work." Mr. H. replied: "It is 
 
 about the time you usually begin work for me," referring to Mr. 
 Woodward's preaching on Sabbath. 
 
 He was very fond of children, taking them on his knee 
 and kissing them. There is a woman now in the parish 
 whose mother, when a little girl, hid from Mr. Woodward 
 many times, when he came to her father's home, so as 
 not to be kissed. 
 
 The students in his school enjoyed his pleasant ways 
 very much, and hence they came to look upon him as a 
 father, as well as a teacher, and the tenderness with 
 which the poet, Mr. Maxwell, speaks of him is seldom 
 equaled. Mr. Woodward wore a cue in the old style on 
 the back part of his head. One Sabbath this cue was left 
 at home and observed by the students. Mr. Woodward's 
 little dog, that would follow him anywhere, if allowed, 
 was at home ; the students put the cue or " switch of 
 hair" on the dog's head, and let him out the door. The 
 dog went direct to church, mounted the pulpit stairs, in 
 presence of the audience, sat down at the pulpit door, 
 facing the audience, and there remained until the bene- 
 
362 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 diction. The children of the audience, big and little, had 
 hard work to keep sober faces during that service. Not- 
 withstanding the pleasant witicisms and cheerful manner 
 of life of Mr. Woodward, he is said to have been a man of 
 much dignity of character, and highly respected in his 
 parish and by all who knew him in neighboring parishes. 
 
 Of his students no list can be obtained, and but few 
 persons now living remember the names of any of them. 
 Mr. Stephen Upson, of Waterbury, who became one of 
 the most celebrated lawyers of the State of Georgia, 
 "pursued his classical studies for a time with Mr. Wood- 
 ward." 
 
 Mr. J. G. Percival,* the poet of considerable celebrity, 
 pursued his studies, for a time, with Mr. Woodward. A 
 Mr. Peck, from New Haven, was here, and cut the initials 
 of his name and the date on Mr. Woodward's " door- 
 stone," in 1803, where they still remain. 
 
 Mr. William Maxwell, of Virginia, attended school at 
 Mr. Woodward's, and on hearing of his death, composed 
 an elegy of great pathos and beauty, on Wolcott and 
 Mr. Woodward. This poem was read at the late Centenary 
 meeting, and might properly be placed as one of the 
 papers of that occasion, but I place it in connection with 
 Mr. Woodward's name because of its beautiful memorial 
 character, and the appropriate honor it does his memory. 
 
 This poem is secured by the very great favor of the 
 
 * James Gates Percival, the poet, was born in Berlin, near Hartford, 
 Conn., on the 15th of September, 1795. He entered Yale College, when 
 fifteen years of age, and graduated in 1S15, with the reputation of being 
 the first scholar of his class. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
 from Yale Medical school, in 1820. He published several volumes of 
 poems and miscellaneous prose writings. He was appointed assistant sur- 
 geon in the U. S. army, in iS2-i,'and acted as professor of chemistry in the 
 Military Academy at West Point. This position he resigned, and for two 
 years subsequently he superintended the printing of the first quarto-edition 
 of Dr. Webster's American Dictionary. Few men possessed higher poetical 
 qualities than Percival. He died in 1856. See National Fifth Reader, 
 p. 23S. 
 
REV. [SKAEL B. WOODWARD. 363 
 
 Hon. L. W. Cutler and Judge Curtiss, of Watertown, 
 Conn. 
 
 Mr. Woodward owned land in several parts of the town 
 besides his home at the Centre. He owned a consider- 
 able part of a distillery that was constructed in the old mill 
 where Mr. Ira Hough ground bark for tanning purposes; 
 but very little is known of this distillery, except the fact 
 of its short existence. 
 
 Mr. Woodward belonged to the militia of the county 
 in some office, probably that of chaplain, and the follow- 
 ing letter explains itself somewhat, while it furnishes 
 some characteristics of the man.* 
 
 Wolcott, Sept. 7, 1803. 
 Mr. Staxi.fa : 
 
 I send you by the bearer, Mr. Lucius Tuttle, my old beaver. 
 1 want you to display upon it a little military skill. I have no 
 use for it except on brigade or regimental reviews. That old 
 despot, Poverty, sternly forbids me to lay out ten or twelve dollars 
 for a hat to be used but once a year. 
 
 Now, sir, I am little acquainted with the mechanical operation 
 of furs, nevertheless, I will presume to give you my ideas. The 
 hat you will find torn about one inch and a half directly in front, 
 and a small breach made on the left wing. I have supposed that 
 a surgical operation need first be performed, and perhaps a piece 
 taken out in front, which would make the angle more obtuse and 
 in less danger of pricking people on public occasions. It is my 
 wish, not to have my hat drawn directly perpendicular in front, 
 nor to have the point of the cock sunk to a horizontal direction. 
 ending in abstract sharpness. But I wish it to incline about 
 thirty degrees from a perpendicular, and terminate half way 
 between the form of a cap-a-pie military hat and what its name is. 
 To speak in plain English. I want it made decent for a chaplain, 
 remote from either extreme. 
 
 As to the looping, binding, or trimming the hat, you will act 
 your own judgment, and indeed, in all you do to it. All I would 
 
 *The letter in Mr. Woodward's own hand writing is -till in the pos 
 sion of Mrs. Mark Tuttle, of Wolcott. 
 
364 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 do, is to express my wishes, believing you will wish to gratify 
 them. It doubtless wants a thorough dressing, and if you can do 
 it so as to make the hat answer, I should be glad you would 
 undertake it, if not, to return it by the bearer. 
 
 I should be glad to have it done so that I might obtain it within 
 fifteen or sixteen days. By complying with the above request, 
 you will much oblige me, and shall receive a just compensation. 
 
 From, sir, your humble servant, 
 Mr. W. Stanley. Israel B. Woodward. 
 
 The address on the outside of the letter is, 
 
 MR. WHITING STANLEY, 
 Hatter, 
 
 Cheshire. 
 
 Mr. Woodward married about the time of his settle- 
 ment, "Sally," the daughter of the Rev. John Smalley, 
 D. D., of New Britain, Conn., an accomplished woman, 
 of whom we hear no complaints, and who survived her 
 husband some years, and on whom the parishioners of 
 Wolcott used to call with pleasure, years after she left 
 Wolcott, and while she lived in New Haven or East 
 Haven. 
 
 In the summer and fall of 18 10 the typhoid fever pre- 
 vailed fearfully in Wolcott, beginning in the family of 
 Mark Harrison, Esq. The disease was so uncontrolable 
 by the physicians that the people of the community 
 feared to go near a house where it prevailed. Mr. 
 Woodward, true to his pastoral relations and his natural 
 kindness of heart, visited the sick and bereaved, admin- 
 istering comfort as best he could in such a trying time. 
 As a consequence, the fever "set in," and on the 17th of 
 September, 18 10, he closed his labors and sufferings on 
 earth, and entered the, to us, great unrealized future. 
 He was forty-three years of age, and left no family 
 besides his wife. 
 
 His death made a great vacancy in the community, 
 
REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD. 365 
 
 nearly or quite all lamenting him as their great and true 
 friend, and feeling that his place could not easily be filled 
 in the sacred office of minister and pastor. 
 
 WOLCOTT.* AN ELEGY. 
 
 In these green shades where soft Eliza f flows 
 To soothe her own dear poet in his woes ; 
 While ev'ning gales from yonder willows breathe 
 The balmy sighs that dying flow'rs bequeath, 
 Thus let me rove, forgotten and alone. 
 To muse on sorrows that are all my own. 
 Alas ! the guardian of my early days, 
 The fond inspirer of my tuneful lays, 
 Long cherished object of my filial love, — 
 My Woodward leaves me for the realms above ! 
 And I am left, thro' long succeeding years, 
 To mourn my loss with unavailing tears. 
 Then come, sweet muse, resume the lyre again, 
 And teach my heart a sad lamenting strain • 
 Some soothing air to whisper soft relief, — 
 At once indulge, and tranquilize my grief. 
 And thou, sad memory, to sorrow true, 
 Restore the scenes my happy childhood knew ; 
 Those faded scenes thou only canst restore, 
 Now past forever, and beloved the more. 
 High on a mountain all unknown to Fame, 
 Tho' grae'd with Wolcott's venerable name, 
 The village bloom'd in her serene retreat, 
 And smil'd to see the clouds beneath her feet. 
 Such scenes of old the saintly hermit sought, — 
 Retreat for Penitence, and pious Thought; 
 Where Faith might love to breathe a parting sigh, 
 
 * Here the author, William Maxwell, Esq., lived for some time, when a 
 boy, under the care of the Rev. Israel B. Woodward, pastor of the place, 
 pursuing his preparatory studies for admission into Yale College. The 
 death of that gentleman, communicated in the letter of a friend, first sug- 
 gested the idea of this poem. 
 
 I Elizabeth river, Virginia. 
 
366 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 And hope a shorter passage to the sky. 
 
 Mild were the virtues of the village train, 
 
 The rural virgin, and the faithful swain ; 
 
 Hid from the world, unconscious of its arts, 
 
 While Peace and Innocence possessed their hearts. 
 
 Virtue beheld them with approving eye, 
 
 And vice confessed her homage by her sigh. 
 
 There Woodward reign'd the genius of the place, 
 
 The friend and guardian of the simple race. 
 
 And well the pastor led his little flock, 
 
 Thro' peaceful meadows to the gushing Rock ; 
 
 Himself before, lest they should go astray, 
 
 His only care to help them on their way, — 
 
 Fulfill his office, and approve his love 
 
 To the great Shepherd of the fold above. 
 
 'Twas on a hill just rescued from the wood. 
 The Preacher's hospitable mansion stood, 
 Where oft the taper, with inviting ray, 
 Allur'd the stranger from his weary way, 
 And oft the cheerful table spread its best 
 To win the smile of some unbidden guest. 
 Beside the fence bloom'd many a graceful vine, 
 The blushing rose, and sweeter eglantine ; 
 Before the door, the green sward, trim and gay, 
 Entic'd the lamb and little child to play. 
 Spring set her flow'rs, too beautiful to last, 
 And Winter nipp'd them with unwilling blast. 
 
 Here, led by Heav'n. a happy child I grew, 
 Fresh as the wild rose in the morning dew ; 
 The bird that carol'd on the hawthorn by, 
 Less gay, and scarce more volatile than I. 
 Then oft the groves and solitudes around 
 Bore witness to my lyre's unskillful sound ; 
 So soon I felt the darling passion strong, 
 And lisp'd the feelings of my heart in song. 
 I knew the merry mock bird's fav'rite tree, 
 And dear enough his wildwood notes to me ; 
 
REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD. 367 
 
 I aim'd no death against the robin's breast. 
 
 The sparrow twitter'd fearless on her nest : 
 
 Young as I was, a visionary boy, 
 
 I felt a sympathy with Nature's joy ; 
 
 And Woodward, happy as myself the while, 
 
 Look'd on, and owned my pleasure with a smile. 
 
 Not his the brow of dark, forbidding frown ; 
 
 With graceful ease his spirit would come down 
 
 To share my childhood's inoffensive play. 
 
 With useful freedom, profitably gay; 
 
 Pleased from his graver studies to unbend, 
 
 And lose awhile the master in the friend ; 
 
 To win and guide me still his constant view, 
 
 At once my teacher and my playmate too. 
 
 Thus, all unknown the anxious cares of man, 
 
 How fair the morning of my life began ! 
 
 My head unburdened with Ambition's schemes, 
 
 Light all my slumbers, innocent my dreams ; 
 
 Too sweet the scenes my playful fancy drew, 
 
 And Hope half whisper'd, "You may find them true." 
 
 Stay, rude Experience, hear my pleading sigh, 
 
 Nor bid these visions of Remembrance fly. 
 
 Why wake the dreamer from his smiling sleep? 
 
 Why wake the dreamer to be wise and weep? 
 
 Each season then in her successive reign, 
 
 Brought some peculiar blessing in her train. 
 
 ' Twas sweet when Spring renew'd the faded scene, 
 
 And dress'd the landscape in her cheerful green; 
 
 When little birds on ev'ry conscious tree, 
 
 Renew'd their songs of simple melody ; 
 
 And many a tender, many a merry lay, 
 
 All sweet, came mingled from the budding spray : 
 
 All sweet, but sweeter sung the happy swain, 
 
 While smiling Beauty listen'd to his strain. 
 
 Next Summer came with soft luxurious sweets, 
 And lur'd our footsteps to her green retreats. 
 Now sweet to ramble thro' those waving trees, 
 
368 HISTORY OF WQLCOTT. 
 
 And breathe the fragrance of the ev'ning's breeze ! 
 
 The moon looks down with chaste and tender beam, 
 
 And smiles to see her image in the stream. 
 
 In silent joy we gaze upon the sky, 
 
 Till the sweet pleasure melts into a sigh. 
 
 Or let me pause upon the mountain's brow 
 
 (Where oft the Muses listen to my vow), 
 
 And view with eyes that fondly overflow, 
 
 The various beauties of the scene below — 
 
 Lawns, mountains, villages, in fair display, 
 
 All soften'd by the sun's descending ray. 
 
 Thy steeple, Southington, that high in air, 
 
 Invites the rustic to the house of pray'r : 
 
 And spread around it, many a smiling plain, 
 
 Waving with harvests of the golden grain. 
 
 The farmer's mansion, fair in modest pride, 
 
 With barns of plenty rising at its side ; 
 
 Bright running streams that shine between the hills. 
 
 While fancy hears the music of their rills ; 
 
 And, far retreating into fading blue, 
 
 Old Carmel mountain closing in the view. 
 
 O lovely scenes so dear to me before ! 
 
 O lovely scenes that 1 shall see no more ! 
 
 Still may thy wilds bloom ever undecay'd, 
 
 A grateful shelter to the mountain maid ! 
 
 Still may thy charms in all their beauty shine ! 
 
 For other eyes — but never more for mine. 
 
 And now, with all his shining honors crown'd, 
 Rich Autumn strews his treasures all around — 
 And sweet it is to snuff the swelling gale, 
 That steals its fragrance from yon 'bending vale, 
 Where lusty Labor makes his toil a play, 
 And smiling bears his yellow spoils away : 
 Or here I wander o'er the custom'd hill, 
 Where lovely Nature smiles to see me still. 
 Viewing the foliage of her lively trees, 
 That gayly rustle in the passing breeze ; 
 Too vain to gratify admiring eyes 
 
REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD. 369 
 
 With all the fancy of their various dyes — 
 Ah ! soon to vanish, when the falling leaf 
 Suggests its moral to the heart of grief. 
 
 Last, Winter comes with all his dear delights, 
 
 His cheerful days, and still more cheerful nights ; 
 
 His songs and pastimes that can never tire, 
 
 And charming tales around the sparkling fire; 
 
 While storms without, tho' terrible their din, 
 
 Endear the silence of the calm within. 
 
 The sun has set behind yon dusky trees ; 
 
 Shut close the door upon the whistling breeze, 
 
 Now heap the fire, and trim the cheerful light, 
 
 To welcome in the pleasures of the night ; 
 
 While Phebe carols to her humming wheel, 
 
 Or little Mary turns the winding reel, 
 
 Perhaps the merry doctor sings his song, 
 
 Or tells a story to the list'ning throng ; 
 
 While Woodward, still with gay, good natured mirth. 
 
 As playful as the kitten on the hearth, 
 
 Improves the joy with charms that never fail, 
 
 And draws a moral from each harmless tale. 
 
 Shut close the door, — winds whistle as ye will, — 
 
 The storm may come, but we'll be happy still. 
 
 So passed the joys that charm'd my early youth, — 
 Dear fleeting joys of innocence and truth ; 
 As roses die upon the summer wind, 
 And leave a sad sweet memory behind. 
 
 Fair was the scene, when Sunday's smiling day 
 
 Call'd the good villagers to praise and pray ; 
 
 When up the hill in order they repair, 
 
 To join their pastor in the house of prayer : 
 
 The sober matron, in her russet best, 
 
 Her little infant smiling at her breast; 
 
 The blooming maid. — her eyes are raised above, — 
 
 Her bosom sighs, — but not with earthly love ; 
 
 The swain, unconscious of his resting plow, 
 
 25 
 
370 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 And free to seek a nobler service now. 
 Forget alike their labors and their sports; 
 They meet their Maker in his earthly courts. 
 Away with earth ! I see the Preacher rise ! 
 And hark ! he speaks ! a message from the skies ! 
 No poor ambition, void of grace and sense. 
 Betrays his tongue to gaudy eloquence ; 
 He scorns the tricks of vain theatric art, 
 That catch the eye, but cannot cheat the heart. 
 Warm, but yet prudent, is his temper'd zeal ; 
 He feels himself, and makes his hearers feel. * 
 How sweet the accents of that silver tongue, 
 That wins the old, and fascinates the young ! 
 The scoffer hears at last, and, undeceiv'd, 
 Wonders to find how much he had believ'd. 
 Ev'n children listen to the simple style. 
 And half divine the doctrine by his smile. 
 
 Where yonder locust overhangs the stream, 
 And contemplation loves to sit and dream ; 
 Those parting trees the village school disclose. 
 Where little children, rang'd in shining rows. 
 Whisper their tasks as busy as you please, 
 And murmurs rise, like hum of hiving bees ; 
 All trim and shining in their best attire, 
 They wait with awe the coming of the Squire ; 
 But Woodward most their beating hearts attend,— 
 Well known by all to be their dearest friend. 
 This quarter day they feel resolved to shew 
 Quite all they know, and something over too. 
 And see, he comes ! the whisper flies around : 
 Now all is still, and silence rules the ground. 
 On him alone their eyes intently gaze, 
 And little bosoms tremble for his praise ; 
 For he shall mark where bashful merit lies, 
 Tho' half conceal'd by modesty's disguise, 
 And crown the petty candidate for fame, 
 Who lifts an artless blessing on his name. 
 And soon the tale thro' all the village flies, 
 
REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD. 37 1 
 
 How little Reuben won the letter' d prize. 
 The mother, too, with fond and simple joy, 
 Tells how the Pastor call'd her son "good boy," 
 And how he said — she never can forget — 
 " He'll be a man before his mother yet." 
 O tender scenes of innocent delight ! 
 But ah ! no more ! — they vanish from my sight — 
 Like colors melting in the ev'ning skies. 
 What shades of darkness gather on my eyes ! 
 See! there they mo\e, yon sad funereal train! 
 Wind round the hill, and seek the lowly plain. 
 They bear him off upon that gloomy bier : 
 They bear him off and leave me weeping here, 
 And now they hide him in the narrow grave ! 
 My sorrows How — alas ! they could not save ! 
 
 O Wolcott ! all thy pleasant days are tied ! 
 Thy friend, thy father, rests among the dead ! 
 The hand of Death has wither'd all thy flowers, 
 And Winter howls along thy leafless bowers. 
 Thy hills that echo'd to the lowing kine, 
 Thy plains where golden harvest us'd to shine, 
 The tuneful groves — all, all, have felt the wound ; 
 And all is still, and desolate around. 
 
 Now let me seek that silent scene once more. 
 
 And trace the path so often trod before ; 
 
 Move o'er the vale, a silent shade of woe. 
 
 While sorrow wakes, and bids my eyes o'errlow ■ 
 
 Gaze at the spot, seen dimly thro' my tears, 
 
 The peaceful nest of early happy years. 
 
 And drink once more the murmurs of the grove. 
 
 Where oft together we were wont to rove — 
 
 Then turn, and pause on that forsaken hill, 
 
 Beneath the moon's pale beam, when all is still; 
 
 And O ! yet dearer to my mourning breast, 
 
 Steal to the grave where Woodward takes his rest ; 
 
 Bedew with faithful tears the grassy mound, 
 
 And mix my sighs with those that breathe around. 
 
372 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 I reach the hill, but tremble to ascend. 
 
 I fear to meet my dear departed friend. 
 
 These mossy tresses floating from the trees, 
 
 Too sadly murmur on the passing breeze ; 
 
 Unearthly voices whisper in the air, 
 
 And all is dark, and changed, to my despair. 
 
 There stands the house of God! I know not how — 
 
 It looks not as it did — how silent now ! 
 
 Is this the meadow so loved before ? 
 
 Alas ! how faded ! it shall bloom no more ! 
 
 Yon drooping elm, that dear familiar tree ■ — 
 
 It hangs its head — it is to weep with me ! 
 
 And the sweet green on which my childhood play'd - 
 
 Ev'n the sweet green, is wither'd and decay'd ! 
 
 I seek the house, my dear abode so late : 
 
 He comes not now to meet me at the gate. 
 
 How still and mournful is the silent hearth, 
 
 Once the dear scene of Nature's simple mirth ! 
 
 No more the doctor, or the cheerful Squire, 
 
 Shall crack their nuts and jests around the fire ; 
 
 No more the maid her humming wheel suspend, 
 
 To hear the tale of sorrows without end ; 
 
 Nor I, the least of all the harmless train. 
 
 Shall taste those joys of innocence again. 
 
 But where is she, the partner of his heart ? 
 Perhaps in some recess she mourns apart. 
 Ah ! no ! she would not linger here alone ; 
 Spoil'd is the nest, the wounded dove has flown, 
 And whither, whither will the mourners fly ? 
 Who now will kiss the sorrow from her eye ? 
 Her father's hospitable home is near, 
 ' And friends and kindred shall embrace her there ; 
 And she shall feel the solace of their love, — 
 But sigh for him whose spirit soars above. 
 
 I too must leave this sad deserted scene ; 
 It soothes no more to be where, I have been. 
 Lost all the charms my bosom held so dear. 
 
REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD. 373 
 
 Alas ! I feel I have no business here. 
 O gentle stream, whose melancholy flow 
 Now bears a sympathy in all my woe ! 
 Ye trees, whose sorrow-soothing branches wave 
 In mournful murmurs o'er my Woodward's grave ! 
 Ye groves, where Silence and Despondence dwell ! 
 Ye rocks, still vocal with his funeral knell ! 
 One parting look — one sad, one final view — 
 One look — and now — eternally adieu ! 
 
 'Tis past ! the vision leaves me like a dream ! 
 
 Again I rove beside my native stream, 
 
 And see ! the colors of departing day 
 
 Are fading slowly, silently away; 
 
 While yon bright star, the herald of the night, 
 
 Comes smiling forth, and sparkles with delight. 
 
 So would I steal from life's tumultuous throng, 
 
 And leave a world where I have liv'd too long; 
 
 So pass away, unseen by human eyes, 
 
 And melt serenely in my native skies ; 
 
 Yet not extinct — the soul that God has given, 
 
 Shall shine forever, as a star, in heaven ! 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 
 
 FIRST DAY. 
 
 September iothand i ith, 1873, will long be memorable 
 days in the town of Wolcott, — they being devoted to 
 the first centennial celebration of the Congregational 
 Church and Society of that town-". The day opened 
 with clear sky and promise of good weather, though a 
 little cool. Precisely at sun rise the church bell began to 
 ring, and the effect was thrilling to the ear, while the 
 imagination ran over the hundred years past, contrasting 
 it with the present, and calling up the changes and 
 onward march of events during these years. 
 
 At ten o'clock the bell rang again, for the assembling 
 of the people in the large tent constructed for the occa- 
 sion in the center of the green. 
 
 After a little delay from the coldness of the morning 
 air, the audience gathered at the call of the drum band, 
 the old honored band of Wolcott, playing an old fash- 
 ioned tune, in charming style. Then followed the singing 
 of a hymn from the collection printed for the occasion. 
 The hymn begins : — 
 
 Oh, 'twas a joyful .sound to hear 
 
 Our tribe devoutly say, 
 " Up, Israel, to the temple haste, 
 
 And keep our festal day." 
 
 It was sang to the old tune "Mear." In the singing, the 
 
 * The meeting would have taken place on the iSth of November, but for 
 the fact that the coldness of the weather would have rendered it impracti- 
 cable at that time of the year. 
 
3/8 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 choir were accompanied by a cabinet organ, bass viol, vio- 
 lin, and silver flute, all played with skill and power. In the 
 choir were skilled singers, old and young, natives of 
 Wolcott, mostly, and residents here and from abroad. 
 These, with the large audience, who were supplied with 
 the hymns, sang with gladness and spirit. The one hun- 
 dred and forty-seventh Psalm was read, and seemed pe- 
 culiarly appropriate. A prayer, offered by Rev. A. C. 
 Beach, a former pastor, touched all hearts, and very 
 happily opened the meeting in the right spirit. The 
 singing of the next hymn, — 
 
 Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing, 
 
 to the old tune of " Exhortation," added to the interest 
 of the meeting. 
 
 The acting pastor, Rev. S. Orcutt, made a brief and 
 pertinent address of welcome. He alluded to the nature 
 of the occasion, and the auspicious circumstances of the 
 day, and announced that the exercises had been arranged 
 to cover two days, and would consist of historical ad- 
 dresses, old fashioned music, and off hand remarks by 
 former residents and other friends of the town. 
 
 After the welcome the Rev. A. C. Beach was intro- 
 duced, and began his remarks by avowing his deep inter- 
 est in the occasion. As he reviewed the hundred years, 
 he found his own pastorate covered one-seventh of that 
 period. While lamenting that he had done so little, he 
 yet rejoiced in his work, and was grateful to God for 
 sparing him to witness this hour. There came to his 
 mind mingled memories, — pleasant and sad. The monu- 
 ments in the grave yard reminded him of loved ones gone 
 before, to a better land. His only surviving son was 
 born here, and this son he was glad to speak of to-day 
 as a minister of Christ. He made a playful allusion to 
 the fact that some thought that the son excelled the 
 father, and for his part, he half believed it. 
 
 After another hymn, a paper prepared for the occasion, 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 379 
 
 on the settlement of the town and organization of the 
 First Society was read by Rev. H. R. Timlow, of South- 
 ington. This paper consisted in part of extracts from 
 the first chapters of the History of Wolcott. 
 
 After the reading of this paper, Mr. A. Bronson Alcott, 
 of Concord, Mass., was introduced. He said he was 
 proud to stand there as the descendant of John Alcock, 
 the first settler. He alluded to the name as being Al- 
 cock, originally, but that it had been changed to Alcox, 
 and also to Alcott. John Alcock was a surveyor, and 
 owned about twelve hundred acres of land. He had four 
 sons and four daughters. To each son he gave a farm, 
 and to each daughter, as she was married, he gave an 
 endowment. Two settled at North Haven, and one each 
 at Bristol and Plymouth, Conn. He spoke of the grave- 
 yard as containing the dust of the past generations, and 
 was happy to-day to do honor to the memory of the good 
 who had lived here. He was ready to praise them for 
 what they did and suffered. Living, as they did, quite 
 a mile apart, there was but little social intercourse, ex- 
 cept on the Sabbath. Nor were there roads, as now, — 
 only paths. Neither had they many horses, and they 
 went chiefly on foot. He humorously gave his recollec- 
 tion of old-time ministers and usages. Human nature 
 was the same then as now, and about as unimpressible. 
 He was taught the catechism — both Westminster and 
 that of the Episcopal church. These two streams he 
 thought about satisfied the wants of his nature. Boys 
 and girls carried their shoes in their hand until near the 
 church, when they would put them on. The tithing-men 
 were around to keep order. His description of the big 
 hats and ill-fitting garments that clothed the boys, was 
 laughable. He thought that, on the whole, the young 
 people behaved better in church than they do now. The 
 first preaching he remembered was that of Rev. John 
 Keys, pastor from 1814 to 1822. Mr. Keys was highly 
 educated, and conducted a school, which was flourishing, 
 
380 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT., 
 
 and of great use to the town. It was the custom then 
 for children to repeat ' the text at home, giving chapter 
 and verse, and often the whole chapter was read in the 
 family. Mr. Alcott said he early began to take notes of 
 the sermon, a fact that was a discipline to him of great 
 service in after life. After sunset, on the Sabbath, there 
 was great liberty, and then the " courting" was done. 
 He spoke of the farmers going to church in warm weather 
 with the coat upon the arm. The clothing of both sexes 
 was home-spun. He told of his first appearance in broad- 
 cloth, and how he earned the money to buy the suit, — 
 his pride when going to church, and how he was " taken 
 down " by the remarks of bystanders. He spoke of his 
 early thirst for knowledge, — how he gathered, from the 
 neighborhood, old almanacs and papers, and finally 
 coming across a copy of " Pilgrim's Progress," how he 
 devoured it. This book he commended to the young be- 
 fore him as a priceless treasure. 
 
 No report can do Mr. Alcott's remarks justice, for his 
 mirthfulness cannot be transferred to paper. 
 
 There were exhibited at this time a number of articles 
 over a hundred years old. A dozen or more chairs on 
 the platform, each of which indicated a hundred years of 
 use ; a table, also of the same description, covered with 
 a home-spun linen table-cloth, that was more than a 
 hundred and twenty-five years old, yet perfectly white, 
 and good as new ; a large, elegant book, over two hun- 
 dred years old, imported from England by the Pritchard 
 family, and a number of other articles of smaller value. 
 
 Rev. W. W. Belden was introduced, and made remarks 
 of interest concerning the Governors Wolcott, after the 
 younger of whom this town was named. He also gave 
 some account of the historical occurrences on the tenth of 
 September, — the day on which the meeting was being 
 held. 
 
 At twelve o'clock a recess was taken for two hours, 
 during which time the large company partook of a col- 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 38 1 
 
 lation on the green ; the ministers and speakers, their 
 wives and families, being invited to the parsonage for din- 
 ner and rest. During this recess many old friends shook 
 hands and talked over old times, and "seemed young 
 again." The weather being the most delightful possible, 
 all were glad as in the days of youth ; though the re- 
 membrances spoken of brought tears to many eyes. 
 
 Re-assembling at two o'clock, at the call of the drum 
 band, a hymn was sung, and prayer offered by Rev. Mr. 
 Belden. A paper containing the names of the ministers 
 of the town, and the length of their services, was read 
 by Rev. J. Wickliffe Beach, from which it appeared that 
 the settled pastors have been seven ; the whole number 
 of years they served were seventy, an average of nearly 
 ten years. In one hundred years the church has had 
 ninety years of preaching services, — or 4,680 Sabbaths, 
 or 9,360 sermons. The expense of hiring ministers 
 eighty-five years amounted to $42,500, $3,000 of which 
 had been paid by the Connecticut Home Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 Another paper containing a short account of the or- 
 ganization of the Congregational church in Wolcott, was 
 read by Rev. William P. Alcott. 
 
 Mr. A. Bronson Alcott, by desire, then read the fol- 
 lowing address from the pen of Edward Bronson Cooke, 
 Esq., editor of the Waterbury American : 
 
 Friends and Citizens of Wolcott : — Having been invited 
 on behalf of the committee, to furnish some reminiscenses of my 
 youthful days, in regard to the town and people of Wolcott, on 
 this great occasion, I most cheerfully comply, hoping that the facts 
 and incidents will interest many of my hearers, and meet their 
 approbation and acceptance. Though not a native born citizen, 
 yet I am no stranger here, having a family relationship through 
 the medium of the Wolcott Upsons, the grandmother of the wri- 
 ter being Jemima, the daughter of Joseph Upson, who married 
 my grandfather. Moses Cooke^ of Waterbury, in 1766, a lineal de- 
 scendant of Thomas Upson, the ancestor of the Wolcott and 
 
382 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Waterbury Upsons, all original proprietors and first settlers, who 
 came from Farmington and Hartford in the company of the Rev. 
 Mr. Hooker, all of Puritan stock and lineage. The writer also 
 has the honor to claim his descent from the Bronsons, Judds, Por- 
 ters, Scotts, and others, all of whom were original proprietors of 
 Waterbury, including Wolcott, Middlebury, Watertown and Ply- 
 mouth. 
 
 Thus having defined my position, I claim the undisputed right 
 to an eligible seat in this august assemblage, both by propinquity 
 of blood and courtesy, and to all I cordially extend the right hand 
 of fellowship. Now, having passed the eightieth mile stone of 
 one hundred years, I am here to answer to the long centennial roll 
 call, the oldest survivor of whom probably being present, although 
 unknown to the writer, but whoever he may be, I congratulate 
 him upon having lived to the present period, and witnessed the 
 grand march of events as they have rolled onward, introducing 
 new ideas and modern inventions in the industrial world, — on the 
 farm, in the workshop, the manufactory, and the warehouse. Within 
 the last century, the steam engine, steamboats, canals, railroads, 
 and, to crown all, the genius of a Morse has invented the light- 
 ning telegraph, followed by the lightning printing press, revolution- 
 izing time and space, and uniting together the whole universe by 
 a girdle around the world, making the most distant inhabitants 
 next door neighbors. 
 
 Among my earliest impressions of Wolcott, the names of Gates 
 Upso i, Col. Streat Richards, and the Rev. Israel B. Woodward, 
 were the most familiar I can call to remembrance. The former, 
 Mr. Upson, came to Waterbury about 1802-3, and taught the 
 Waterbury Center District School, consisting at the time of about 
 one hundred scholars, ranging from five to eighteen years, of both 
 sexes, — at that time being deemed one of the hardest schools in 
 the country. Fortunately, however, for all parties concerned, he 
 was equal to the position, both as a teacher and disciplinarian, 
 having but on two occasions to administer corporeal punishment 
 during the whole term, proving himself a most thorough and com- 
 petent instructor, and an honor to his profession, acquitting him- 
 self to the entire satisfaction of his patrons. A model man in 
 all respects, leaving behind him a reputation and influence which 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 383 
 
 was Celt for many years after he left the town and district, whom 
 we did not again meet until the installation of Rev. Mr. Keys, 
 in 1814. 
 
 The first time I ever saw Wolcott, was at a General Training 
 held there about 1803, the regiment of which at that time being 
 commanded by Col. Streat Richards, who, by the virtue of his 
 office, ordered the regiment to parade at Wolcott, — the only 
 time that Wolcott was ever honored by that distinction. The 
 Colonel was then in his prime and glory;, a man of wit, of 
 strong impulses, of a gay disposition, well calculated for a 
 popular officer, having that pride and ambition which consti- 
 tutes the essentials of a military profession, but not averse to 
 show, or " fuss and feathers," when having an opportunity to show 
 himself off upon a well trained charger, clad in the old colonial 
 or revolutionary uniform, with well powdered wig, ruffles on his 
 bosom and at the wrists, high white-topped boots, three-cornered 
 plumed hat, a la >/to</e, — the old regime of the Baron Steuben 
 school, forming an imposing picture of the olden time. The 
 Colonel felt his station, and casually observed to a brother officer, 
 that on Sunday the Lord commanded, but to-day (Monday), his 
 day, he was in command, — and the troops found it out during 
 the day. Waterbury being so near at hand, all the boys from 
 eight to fifteen were bound to attend, and although wheel con- 
 veyances were scarce at that time, they organized a company, 
 and resolved to foot it over the hills to the town center, starting 
 from home an hour or two before daylight, arriving there just as the 
 glorious sun gilded the eastern horizon, in time to see the out-of- 
 town companies enter the village, and headed by martial music 
 and colors flying, were conducted by the adjutant to the station 
 for inspection. Captain John Kingsbury, of the old light infan- 
 try, being brigade inspector, and Garret Smith adjutant. This 
 occupied the forenoon till dinner, which was taken under the 
 shade trees on the green, the boys participating in a shilling 
 cut, after which the regiment took up the line of march to an 
 open field, about a mile east of the center, where the parade and 
 review took place, with all the pomp and circumstance of the 
 old time General Training. Wolcott bore off the palm, as she 
 always did, by her soldierdike bearing, neat and tidy uniforms. 
 
384 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 and her splendid military band, — the nucleus of the celebrated 
 drum band still existing in spirit to the present time. The day 
 was unusually fine, the display grand and without accident, an 
 honor to the town and its intelligent people ; the only drawback 
 being for those spectators condemned to foot their return after the 
 fatigues of the day. 
 
 The second time I saw Wolcott was in the year 18 13, at the 
 installation of the Rev. Mr. Keys, the successor of the Rev. Mr. 
 Woodward, though on a very different occasion, but which 
 brought together a concourse of people filling the church to its 
 utmost capacity, and the town with strangers. The leading min- 
 ister on that occasion was the Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, of Litch- 
 field (father of Henry Ward), then in his prime, who preached 4 the 
 sermon, in the course of which he paid a warm eulogium upon the 
 life and character of the deceased pastor as an impressive preach- 
 er, a kindly and able instructor of youth, and one of the most 
 useful and enterprising of citizens, — a great loss to the church 
 and its people by his death. The deceased was one of the most 
 popular of men ; by his amiable manners, his fine sociable quali- 
 ties, and a great favorite with young people ; and particularly at 
 weddings, parish gatherings for religious and benevolent purposes. 
 The singing by the Wolcott choir received the highest praise 
 from those present. After the exercises in the church were 
 concluded, the writer dined at the village tavern then kept by 
 Gates Upson, our old teacher, who provided an excellent enter- 
 tainment for all who were present. 
 
 And now, in conclusion, at the time of the installation of Mr. 
 Keys, in the autumn of 18 13, Wolcott had evidently reached its 
 maximum, in points of population, business, and prosperity. The 
 census of 18 10, as published by authority, gave Wolcott a popu- 
 lation of 952 souls, — at that time a flourishing town, supporting 
 two well stocked stores with a large home trade, and three public 
 houses, — one in the center, one at Shrub Oak, and the other 
 known as Lewis', on the mountain, all apparently doing a fair 
 business. A wonderful change, indeed, as we contrast the popu- 
 lation of 1810 with that of 1873, as follows, viz.: 1810, 952; 
 1830, 843; 1850, 603; i860, 574, and in 1870, 491 — a decline 
 of fifty per cent, in the last sixty years. These figures exhibit 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 385 
 
 the two extremes of 18 10 and 1870, showing the instability and 
 vicissitudes of human calculation, which governs the times and its 
 people. This decline, however, must not be attributed to any 
 fault or deficiency on their part, as lacking in industry or enterprise 
 over circumstances beyond their control, while such an impu- 
 tation would be wrong and unjust. The reasons are manifold ; 
 and first the western emigration fever entered Wolcott early in 
 the present century, sowing the seeds of discontent, and bearing 
 off some of her best and most enterprising citizens, giving up 
 their farms and moving to the new Eldorado, — many of whom 
 would afterwards gladly have returned had they the adequate 
 means. But the greatest obstacle to its increase has been the 
 establishment and multiplication of manufactories in the neigh- 
 boring .towns, by drawing off the young men as they became 
 of age, to enter the factories, induced by the offer of higher wa- 
 ges, they leaving the old homesteads to take care of themselves, 
 and their fathers in their old age. This is the solution which ex- 
 plains itself. But Wolcott has reached bottom at last, the real 
 hard pan, and must rise again, and with her present staid popu- 
 lation, with her renewed energies, by putting the shoulder to the 
 wheel in earnest, must show to those of the next century, that 
 her sons have not degenerated, or we are no prophet. 
 
 Thus we have known Wolcott and its people for sixty years, as 
 industrious, intelligent, and upright a community as is to be found 
 in the State ; as we have met them at their fireside, their fairs, 
 cattle shows, and other public gatherings, where a welcome hospi- 
 tality was always extended, as the editor of the American is ready 
 to testify, a large number of whom have been its steady patrons 
 for nearly thirty years, to whom we tender our most hearty com- 
 pliments, hoping they may live to see Wolcott what she was in 
 her most prosperous days, before the next century expires. 
 
 Another paper, containing an account of the district and 
 select schools of Wolcott was read, and was followed by 
 remarks by Hon. B. G. Northrop, Secretary of the State 
 Board of Education. He said he did not appear as a 
 native, but as a visitor. He presented words of con- 
 gratulation to the people on the joyfulness of this meet- 
 ing, and the honor reflected from the past, as exhibited 
 26 
 
386 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 in the papers read, but urged upon the people the pro- 
 priety of considering the defects as well as the glory of 
 the past. He noticed that, according to the statistics, 
 the present state of education was defective, and should 
 receive the earnest attention of the people. He pro- 
 ceeded to show that all of our country towns were suf- 
 fering, and traced the causes by referring to the effect 
 of the want of education in some of the European na- 
 tions. The absorption of capital in the railroads, and in 
 the cities, was depopulating the rural districts. These 
 districts should be beautified and magnified as the best 
 place for the training of the young. The youth rush to 
 the city to find employment and entertainment, but he 
 would have them cultivate industries that they can 
 pursue in the country. He proposed a town library, to 
 be commenced at this time, the setting of trees along 
 the streets, and other improvements. His remarks were 
 received with pleasure, and were very appropriate and 
 encouraging. 
 
 He was followed by Mr. A. Bronson Alcott, on the 
 subject of a town library, and he proposed a present of 
 the books of the Concord authors to start the enterprise. 
 
 Remarks by Rev. William H. Moore, Secretary of the 
 Connecticut Home Missionary Society : 
 
 The public worship of God has been a central idea in our 
 Connecticut towns from the first. In the early days the general 
 court would not incorporate a community as a town until the peo- 
 ple showed their ability and readiness to support a minister • and 
 not unfrequently one of the first votes passed after the organi- 
 zation of the town, was to provide for the preaching of the gos- 
 pel. It was in this spirit that twenty-one men and twenty women, 
 accustomed to go from five to seven miles to worship with the 
 churches of which they were members, took letters, and were 
 constituted the church in Farmingbury. November 18th, 1773; 
 the parish lying then partly in the town of Farmington, and 
 partly in the town of Waterbury ; and the church being the third 
 of the nine springing from the Waterbury First, — formed in 1687; 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 387 
 
 and the eighth of the twenty-two springing from the Farmington 
 First, — formed in 1652. Southington, the south parish in Farm- 
 ington, became a town in 1779, and the parish of Farmingbury 
 became the town of Wolcott in 1796. The church has had seven 
 pastors, averaging ten years each, and five stated preachers, 
 averaging three years each, and has been no long time without a 
 minister. Its ministers have been good men, in doctrine and in 
 life. The discipline of the church has been conducted with firm- 
 ness and wisdom. There have been eight years of spiritual re- 
 freshing, in which the church has received the following numbers 
 on profession: 1774, 13: 1784, 18; 1815, 10; 1816, 10; 1828, 
 30; 1843, 10; 1858, 37; 1867, t,^, — in all, 161. It reported in 
 1840, 116 members, probably the largest number it has ever at- 
 tained ; in 1852, 66; and in January, 1873, 93. 
 
 A noticeable fact in the history of this place, is the steady de- 
 cline of the population. The town first appeared in the census 
 .in 1800, when the population was 948. In 1810, it was 952. 
 Since 18 10 it has gone down with every census, and in 1870 was 
 only 491. It lost in 1810 to 1820, 9; in 1820 to 1830, 100; 
 in 1830 to 1840, 210; in 1840 to 1850, 30; in 1850 to i860. 
 18; in i860 to 1870, 94. The only other town in the State 
 which has declined at each census from 18 ro to 1870 is Hart- 
 land, which, in this period, has lost 39 per cent. But Wolcott has 
 in this time lost 48 per cent. In 1870, only two towns in Con- 
 necticut had fewer inhabitants than Wolcott, namely : Marl- 
 borough, 476, and Andover, 461. 
 
 This fact is, naturally enough, discouraging. But what can be 
 .said for your comfort? You have reason to be proud of the mi- 
 gration which has gone forth from you, even as the old folks 
 lingering at the hearth-stone where they have trained a family now 
 scattered by the ways of Providence to bless the world. Your 
 case is not desperate. Your estates, tenements, and families, have 
 an aspect of thrift. You are not poor. The tax list of 1872 was 
 $252,789, or an average of $512 for each person, and $2,022 for 
 each of the one hundred and twenty-five families reported in 
 1870, — in which respect you are better off than many of us min- 
 isters. Your young people, as they grow up, move away; but 
 you are not past fruitfulness, nor blighted with barrenness, and 
 
388 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 had in January, 1873, 100 school children, and an average of 
 $2,348 of taxable property for each of these children, while 
 Waterbury had only $2,067, and Southington only $1,817 for 
 each school child. In this comparison only fifty towns in the 
 State are above you, and 113 are below you. In this order, Wol- 
 cott is numbered 51; Waterbury, 87 ; and Southington, 114. 
 
 Religion has not waned among you. The spiritual condition 
 of the place is certainly better than in 1800, and better than in 
 1850. The ratio of the members of this church to the popu- 
 lation (nineteen per cent.) is larger now than then. Probably 
 no equal period in the history of the church has been more fruit- 
 ful than the last fifteen years, — 1857 t0 1 &7 2 - I n tms ti me y° u 
 have raised up two ministers of the gospel, — the only two ever 
 raised here. In this time, while 94 have been removed from the 
 church — a number larger than it now contains — namely: 3 by 
 discipline, 40 by death, and 51 by letter, you have added 115, 
 namely: 24 by letter, and 91 by profession, including the fruits- 
 of the two most extensive revivals ever enjoyed here. These ad- 
 ditions by profession have averaged one for each communion sea- 
 son in the whole fifteen years. You have a good Meeting house 
 and parsonage, and the Society is free from debt. You have a 
 fine choir, a flourishing Sabbath school, embracing all ages, and 
 a stable and intelligent congregation, attending church all day. 
 You have made a commendable advance in the salary of the 
 minister, — from $500 in 186 1, to $950 in 1873. In addition to 
 the local support of the gospel, you have given in the last four- 
 teen years, for charities, $2,066.25, — or an average of about $150 
 a year. You have the aid of the Connecticut Home Missionary 
 Society, which has voted you in 1832 to 1873, $3'335> anc ^ wll 
 not fail to stand by you so long as you are needy and worthy of 
 its assistance. You are not the weakest, nor the most irresolute 
 of the aided churches. Only three of those assisted this year have 
 more taxable property than you. In January. 1873, the resident 
 members of this church had $49,691 of taxable property, on which 
 they pledged for the expenses of the year $575, or a per centage 
 of .01157, an d an average of $17.42 for each of the thirty-three 
 male members of the church. 
 
 And while the town stands so well in property as compared 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 389 
 
 with other towns, it is to be noted and remembered that we have 
 seventy-six Congregational churches in this State, — or more than 
 one-quarter of our whole number, — which are smaller than this 
 church. 
 
 In this condition of things you have reason to respect your 
 history, your church, and yourselves, and to be hopeful. With a 
 right spirit in yourselves, you have a right to expect the aid, if 
 need be, of prosperous sons who have gone out from you, the 
 help of the abler churches, and the blessing of God securing you 
 an eligible future for the life that now is, and for that which is to 
 
 Rev. J. Wickliffe Beach followed in remarks explana- 
 tory of the statistical representation of the town, as 
 contrasted with former years. 
 
 Another paper was read containing a sketch of the 
 formation of the Episcopal Society and church in Wolcott. 
 
 Remarks by Simeon H. Norton, Esq., of Plantsville : 
 
 Mr. Chairman : — It is always pleasant to be kindly greeted 
 by friends, but to-day I am extremely happy to meet you and 
 the,se my fellow citizens in this great meeting. The associations 
 are delightful, and I feel their magnetic influence in every fibre of 
 my system, while standing in my old native town surrounded by 
 the friends of my youth. You may not attach any great impor- 
 tance to anything I shall say, since you have a large amount of 
 speaking talent here to-day; yet while they build the substantial 
 superstructure I may fill in the chinking. Now, ladies and gentle- 
 men, being a native Wolcott man, I beg your patient consider- 
 ation for a short time while I indulge in some personal reminis- 
 censes. The scenes of my childhood and youth are vividly 
 brought to my mind this day. My rambles over these hills, and 
 through these valleys, — my early admiration of the vast extent 
 and unfathomable depth of the mill pond in yonder hollow, — all 
 recur to me with great clearness. In my early youth I looked 
 with amazement at the magnificent machinery of Norton's carding 
 machine and grist mill, and wondered where all the money came 
 from to build such enormously great works. Having been to the 
 mill one day, upon returning home, I asked my mother if there 
 
390 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 was another mill in the world as large as Uncle John's grist mill. 
 Benham and Tuttle's store I considered the greatest emporium 
 of trade in the universe, and doubted if there were any other 
 men in the world rich enough to buy as many fine things as they 
 exhibited in their store. And, oh ! how my mouth did water for 
 the candies in their jars, — but alas! I had no money with which 
 to buy them. On one training day I had five cents, and only 
 five, for spending money, and with this I intended to buy at least 
 two rolls of candy, and a few peanuts. As soon as I arrived upon 
 the ground Mr. Manly Upson tempted me to give the whole of 
 my money for a little foolish picture book. Presently the boys 
 came around me eating their candies, and asked me why I did 
 •not buy some. Then my joy and courage all fled, and bursting 
 into tears said : " I have paid all my money for a darned, little, 
 foolish, picture book." At that time a very kind hearted but 
 eccentric man came along, whose name was Richard Hopkins, 
 alias Dick Brady. Perhaps it may be interesting to our South- 
 ington friends who are here, to be informed that this man was a 
 brother of Mrs. Elihu Carter, who was the mother of our re- 
 spected townsmen, Messrs. Hopkins and Asahel Carter. Well, 
 Uncle Dick asked me what was the matter. I told him I had 
 paid Mr. Manly Upson all my money for a darned little picture 
 book, and had none to buy candy with. He said he would go 
 with me to Mr. Upson, and get him to take the book and give 
 me the money ; but this Mr. Upson peremptorily declined, and 
 was inexorable. Upon this Uncle Dick gave me five cents from 
 his own pocket, after talking rather harshly to the man who sold 
 me the book. Oh, what a sense of thankfulness filled my young 
 heart towards that kind man. I thought Uncle Dick would 
 surely go to heaven, and that the other man would as surely go 
 in the opposite direction. Since arriving to the years of manhood, 
 I have received many favors from distinguished men, but they all 
 dwindle into insignificance compared with that of my kind old 
 Uncle, Dick Brady. 
 
 Now, my friends, that was a great lesson to me, and may be to 
 my young friends present. Whenever I am tempted to buy any- 
 thing I do not really need, I think of the little, darned, foolish 
 picture book. The moral of the lesson is, that when we see a 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 39] 
 
 poor, destitute, crying boy among many happy children, we may 
 accomplish a great good by helping such a boy. 
 
 Another remembrance is peculiarly pleasant to me, — it is that 
 of the singing I used to hear in Wolcott. I thought there was 
 no tenor vocalist in the world equal to Stephen Harrison; and in 
 all candor I must say that I never heard a sweeter or more natural 
 voice for singing tenor than his. 
 
 My early school teachers, too, — Mr. Bartholomew, Capt. Gates 
 Upson, Mr. Isaac Bronson, and others, — I regarded as the very 
 embodiment of learning. I used to sit on the little slab bench 
 with four legs and eagerly imbibe their marvelous teachings. And 
 our school committee I considered the most august body in the 
 world. I had no idea that any other body of men could be 
 found who could be half as dignified, half as consequential, half 
 as magnanimous, as they were. 
 
 Another item. I never felt as rich in my life, or so much like 
 a millionaire, as when I received twenty-five cents from Mr. Ira 
 Hough, for two long days' work, gathering apples. 
 
 The" first clergyman of whom I have any recollection was the 
 Rev. John Keys. Oh, how dignified, how holy, how awfully sub- 
 lime, he appeared to me. I regarded him as belonging to a su- 
 perior order of beings. I was afraid of him. His name was 
 Keys, and I had the superstitious notion that he held in his hands 
 the keys of the bottomless pit into which he would put all 
 naughty boys. Many a time, when I saw him coming in the dis- 
 tance, I have run back or turned into the fields to avoid meeting 
 him. 
 
 On Saturday afternoons, in the public schools, we always recited 
 the Westminster Catechism, all through, from "What is the chief 
 end of man?" to "What doth the conclusion of the Lord's 
 Prayer teach us ? " After the recitation the teacher would talk 
 to us on religious subjects, and then allow the school to ask ques- 
 tions. I was very diffident, but on one occasion I mustered cour- 
 age to ask the question : "Mr. Bartholomew, who made God?" 
 The teacher smiled, and asked me what I thought of the ques- 
 tion. I could not tell. Upon which owe boy in the school, by 
 the name of Ezra S. Hough, jumped up and said, "I know who 
 made God." The teacher gave him liberty to tell, when he said, 
 
392 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 "I don't know certain, but I guess Mr. Keys did." Tn those 
 days it was considered very impious to smile when the Catechism 
 was under consideration, but on this occasion Mr. Bartholomew 
 laughed outright, and said to the little boy, "You had better go 
 and ask Mr. Keys." 
 
 In the old church, on one occasion, when we had a long prosy 
 sermon, a young man, by the name of Timothy Hotchkiss, who 
 occupied one of the old-fashioned pews alone, lay down on the 
 seat, and fell asleep. The meeting ended, the congregation 
 retired, the house was closed, and the young man left asleep. 
 After sleeping about two hours, he awoke and succeeded in 
 creeping out of one of the windows. Upon arriving home, his 
 mother said, "Timothy, why are you so late from meeting?" He 
 replied, "I tell you what it is, mother, we had a long-winded 
 preacher to-day." 
 
 While on reminiscences I must not omit to say that three of the 
 most important, interesting, and solemn scenes of my life were 
 enacted on this very ground. The old Meeting house was used 
 for the conveniences of town meetings, as well as religious 
 services, and in it I took the Freeman's oath, and solemnly 
 swore to be true and faithful to my State and to my country, and 
 always to cast my vote as should conduce to the best good of the 
 same, according to the dictates of my own conscience; and, 
 allow me to add, that every freeman should have this oath written 
 upon the tablets of his heart, and be governed by it in all his 
 political actions. 
 
 In yonder little church, I took the vows of God upon me, and 
 before God, angels, and men, solemnly promised, that by God's 
 help, I would obediently keep His holy commandments, and walk 
 in the same all the days of my life. 
 
 In that same church I stood before the altar, on the 16th day 
 of October, 1836, and held one by the hand, whom I promised 
 to love, comfort, honor and keep, in sickness and in health, so 
 long as we both should live. 
 
 My friends, this town is the place of my birth, the home of my 
 early years, and though in the providence of God I have been 
 absent from it most of my years, yet I have always cherished a 
 lively remembrance of itj and have always had great respect for 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 393 
 
 the general character of my native townsmen, and whenever I 
 hear anything said of them derogatory, it stirs within me a feeling 
 of resentment. Wherever my residence has been, it has been in 
 the midst of Wolcott men, and I have seen them greatly respected 
 and occupying places of trust and responsibility. After leaving 
 Wolcott my residence, for different periods of time, was in the 
 following places : Meriden, Bristol, Plainville, and Plymouth. In 
 1844 I alighted in the town of Southington, where I now reside. 
 I first struck on the banks of the "raging canal," when there was 
 no railroad in Southington. The first two men who greeted me 
 were Mr. Isaac Burritt, who will speak to you at this meeting, 
 and his brother, the world-renowned Elihu Burritt, who will also 
 address you. I found then in Southington a population of fifteen 
 hundred, it has increased to five thousand. I am much attached 
 to my adopted town, and desire gratefully to acknowledge that 
 the people of the town have bestowed upon your poor, diffident 
 Wolcott boy a large amount of patronage and confidence. 
 
 ( )ne word to my Episcopal brethren and friends. Allow me to 
 earnestly advise you to unite with the Congregationalists, here, 
 and help support their organization. And, although you will 
 miss some of the solemn, impressive, and distinctive features of 
 our church service, yet we all have the same holy bible for the 
 foundation of our faith and practice. During the last illness of 
 my dear wife, the Rev. Mr. Eastman frequently called on her, and 
 it was her dying request that he should attend her funeral with an 
 Episcopalian clergyman, and it has always been my practice to 
 worship with Christians of other denominations in the absence of 
 the service of the church of my choice. 
 
 In looking around me to-day the sad reflection involuntarily 
 comes to my mind that many of my former friends and acquaint- 
 ances are not here. Where are they? Some have gone to 
 distant lands; others have passed that bourne from whence no 
 traveler returns. My father and mother, and sisters Jennette 
 and Justina, lie in yonder grave yard. My sister Hannah 
 Higgins lies in the yard in the south part of this town. My 
 sister Julina Bail lies in one of the cemeteries in New Haven. 
 My brothers, Levi and Samuel, remain with me in the land of the 
 living — the former in Plantsville, the latter in Sacramento, Cal. 
 
394 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Many of the companions of my earlier years are gone. Where 
 is Colonel Tuttle ? Where is Ezra S. Hough, and where are 
 many, many others ? We call them, but they answer not ! A 
 messenger has taken them hence and they come not again nor 
 answer the call of their friends. And it is the impression of this 
 hour that whither they have gone we are all rapidly hastening. 
 
 Now, my friends, one reminiscence of a more modern date and 
 I shall have done. The last time that I had the pleasure of 
 addressing a public meeting in this town was on the Fourth of 
 July, 1863. At that time a dark cloud, like a pall, hung over our 
 beloved country. But two months previous my only son had 
 fallen in the terrible battle of Chancellorville. The storm of 
 civil war was upon us; its lightnings were flashing and its 
 thunders roaring ! At that meeting you passed a resolution by 
 acclamation that the rebellion must be crushed at whatever hazard 
 or cost. It was a dark day for our country. At that meeting the 
 people of this town assembled en masse, in yonder grove, re- 
 enforced by many from the adjacent towns, and over all floated 
 our national flag. I notice that the same flag now waves over 
 this bower. 
 
 My fellow citizens, there is to my mind overwhelming inspira- 
 tion in the " Old Flag of our Union," which now floats triumph- 
 antly over all the people of this great nation. But a few years 
 ago that sacred emblem of national honor was insulted, torn flown 
 and trampled in the dust by those who had sworn to protect it. 
 The people of the loyal states solemnly resolved to raise and 
 protect it to their utmost, and it is now the flag of all the people. 
 Republicans and Democrats; old line Whigs and Abolitionists ; 
 Christians and sinners ; all, with rare exceptions, rushed to the 
 support of the flag. For it the people sacrificed their sons and 
 brothers, their fathers and husbands, upon the altar of their country. 
 When our good old ship of state was on the breakers ; when the 
 storm of civil war was periling all our cherished hopes, then 
 these brave kindred went out to the rescue, and, blessed be God, 
 they saved the old ship! And now the glorious constellated 
 banner of the United States floats over all this vast expanse of 
 country, — from Maine to the Rio Grande, from the Atlantic to 
 the Pacific. Our national sun does not seem destined to set in 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 395 
 
 the dark night of chaos, but bids fair to culminate in the meridian 
 sky. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hillard, of Plymouth, followed in remarks 
 in the highest style of anecdote and illustration, which 
 greatly animated the audience, and prepared them to 
 come up to the second day's meeting with the greater 
 intellectual appetite for what might be in store. Thus 
 ended the first day of the great meeting at Wolcott. 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 
 
 SECOND DAY. 
 
 The' morning opened cloudy, but about ten o'clock 
 brightened up, with a soft south wind, and most delight- 
 ful weather. The audience was nearly the same as the 
 day before, — about one thousand, — and but for the threat- 
 ening of the weather in the morning, would have been 
 much larger. The memorial meeting of the morning 
 opened with affecting remembrances of the past, and 
 passed into inspiring hopes of the future. The first pa- 
 per read contained the names of the inhabitants who 
 settled in Wolcott before the year 1770, as fully as had 
 been obtained. The second paper contained the names 
 and ages of persons who had lived to be over seventy 
 years of age, as follows : 
 
 John Alcott, first settler, aged 71; his widow Deborah, 77; 
 Obed Alcox, 71; his widow Anna, 87; Eldad Alcox, 71; Capt. 
 John Alcox, 77; his wife Mary, 71 ; James Alcox, 1st, 74; his 
 widow Hannah, 92; James Alcott, 2d, 87 ; his wife Esther, 85; 
 Jesse Alcox, 74; his widow Patience, 97; David Alcox, 81 ; John 
 B. Alcox, 73; his widow Lois, 70; Mark Alcott, 74; widow 
 Lydia xAlcott, 82; Jedediah G. Alcott, 79 ; widow Elizabeth Al- 
 cott, 84 ; Thomas Alcott, 73 ; Anna Bronson Alcott, widow of 
 Joseph C, 91: Joseph Atkins, sen., 71; his widow Abigail, 80; 
 Luther Atkins, 71; Esther Atkins, 74; Levi Atkins, sen., 81; 
 his widow Eunice, 91; Abel Beecher, 74; Capt. Joseph Beecher, 
 90; his wife Esther, 75 ; John Beecher, 74; Luther Andrews, 77; 
 widow Martha Andrews, 89; Israel Baldwin, 87; his wife, 80; 
 Deacon James Bailey, 78; widow Thede Bailey, 91; Benjamin 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 397 
 
 Bement, 88; Jonathan Bement, 72 ; Zealous Blakeslee, 7;,; his 
 wife Sarah, 72 — both died on the same day; Hezekiah Bradley, 
 82; widow Anna Bradley, 79; Moses Bradley, 71 ; Titus Brack- 
 et^ 77; Sarah, wife of Titus Brackett, 71; Zuar Brackett, 87; 
 his wife Eunice, 81 ; widow Semantha Brooks, 84; Daniel living- 
 ton, jr., 86; his widow Elizabeth, 87 ; John Bronson, 103; his 
 wife Hannah, 72; John Bronson, jr., 91 ; Deacon Isaac Bronson, 
 84 ; his widow Thankful, 93 ; Hannah Bronson, 88; Clark Bron- 
 son, 82; his wife Experience, 72; Samuel Downes, 73; Obed 
 Doolittle, 90 ; Stephen Carter, 88; widow Lucy S. Carter, 76; 
 Mary Chatterton, 95; widow Sarah Churchill. 92 ; widow Sarah 
 Finch, 85; widow Ruth Finch, 86; Adah Finch, 77; Eleazer 
 Finch, 83 ; his wife Hannah. 76; Jerusha Finch. 77; Judah Fris- 
 bie, 73; his widow Hannah, 83; John Frisbie, 84 ; Reuben Fris- 
 bie, 78; Elijah Frisbie, 82; David Frost, 83; Mr. Gridley, <u . 
 willow Naomi Guernsey, 87 ; Asa Hall, 76 ; Capt. He man Hall, 
 73; Capt. Levi Hall, 80; Lydia. widow of Heman Hall, 79; 
 widow Betsey A. Hall. 86: Mary, wife of Ephraim Hall, 70; 
 Nancy, wife of Orrin Hall, 74 ; Deacon Aaron Harrison, 93 ; 
 his widow Jerusha. 92 ; widow Lydia Harrison, 76 ; Samuel Hor- 
 ton, 84 ; Elisha Horton, 8 1 ; Mary, wife of Ira Hough, 83 ; Bet- 
 sey, wife of Lyman Higgins, 74; Timothy Higgins, 75; his 
 widow, 75 ; Isaac Hopkins, 96 ; Harvey Hopkins, 76 ; Titus 
 Hotchkiss, 81; Timothy Hotchkiss, 77; Isaac Hotchkiss, 83; 
 Milo G. Hotchkiss, 75; his wife Abigail. 73; Major Luther 
 Hotchkiss. 84 ; his widow Anna, 83 ; Abner Hotchkiss, 75 ; his 
 widow Mary, 72; widow Patience Hitchcock, 97 ; John J. Ke- 
 nea. 76 ; his widow Obedience, 88; Levi Johnson, 72 ; his widow 
 Ruth. 80 ; Nathaniel Lane, 76 ; widow Melicent Lane, 88 ; Dan- 
 iel Lane. 86; his widow Ke/.iah, 87; Royce Lewis, 73; laid 
 Lindsley, 75; Nathaniel Lewis, 90; Lois, widow of Appleton 
 Lewis, 83 ; Joseph Minor, 89; his wife Mary, 82 ; Joshua Minor, 
 83; Marcus Minor. 80; Klihu Moulthrop. 75: Mrs. Mills. 74; 
 David Norton, 71 ; ( )zias Norton, 87 ; widow Hannah Norton, 
 87; widow Viah Norton, 73; widow Abigail Norton, 73; Samuel 
 Nichols. 95 ; Joseph M. Parker, 77 ; Eldad Parker, 85; his wife 
 Sylvia, 74; Mary Parker, 99; David Pardee, 84; Elizabeth Par- 
 dee. 77 : Deacon Justus Peck. 75 ; Col. Moses Pond. 87 ; Solo- 
 
39S HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 mon Plumb, 79; his wife Lydia, 76; widow Mary Rowe, 83 ; 
 widow Phebe Rich, 85 ; Orrin Plumb, 75; Samuel Plumb, 74; 
 widow Lucietia Plumb, 85; Willard Plumb, 70; William C. 
 Pluymert, 74; widow Pluymert, 83 ; Amos Roberts, 76; widow 
 Eunice Smith, 83 ; David Scarritt, 81 ; his wife Hannah, 73 ; 
 Joseph N. Sperry, 71 ; Josiah Thomas, 73 ; his widow Mary, 88 ? 
 Martha, widow of James Thomas, 79 ; widow Jemima Thomas, 
 85 ; John Thomas, 75 ; Jerry Todd, 73 ; widow Amy Todd, 98; 
 Capt. Lucius Tuttle, 97 : widow Rebecca Tuttle, 86 ; widow 
 Amy Tuttle, 76; Lucius Tuttle, 89 : Abraham Tuttle, 89 ; widow 
 Eunice Tyler, 84 ; widow Sarah Truesdell, 94 : Rhoda, widow of 
 Washington Upson, 72 : Capt. Samuel Upson, 79 ; his wife Ruth, 
 70 : Gates Upson, 72 ; Selah Upson, 78 ; his widow Martha, 83 ; 
 Deacon Harvey Upson, 88; his wife Rachel. 76 : Ashbel Upson, 
 71; Martin Upson, 77; his wife Phebe, 73: widow Margaret 
 Warner. 84 ; Eliakim Welton, 1st, 79 ; Eliakim Welton. 2d, 95 : 
 his wite Amy. 87 : Vodicia Welton, 73 ; widow Julia A. Welton, 
 71: widow Hannah Welton, 88: Bronson Welton, 79; Elias 
 Welton. 77 : Aaron Wiard. 74; Olive Wiard, 77 ; Philomela, 
 widow of Jared Welton, 85 : Joseph Smith, 75. 
 
 In all, 177 who lived over 70 years. Of these, 97 lived 
 over 80 years, 24 lived to be over 90 years old, and 10 
 lived to be over 95 years old. John Bronson lived to be 
 103 years old. When he was one hundred years old a 
 a centenary meeting was held in Wolcott to celebrate 
 his one hundredth anniversary, at which time a sermon 
 was preached and a pleasant time enjoyed. 
 
 The Mother of David Norton lived in Wolcott several 
 years, and returned to Guilford, Conn., when she was 105 
 years old, and she lived to be 1 10 years old. 
 
 Remarks were made by the acting pastor, appreciative- 
 of the great service the clerks of the church and society 
 had rendered in keeping the records-so fully and carefully. 
 But for want of time in preparing it, a list of these offi- 
 cers would have been read on this occasion. A list of 
 the deacons of the church was then read, and some re- 
 marks made by the present minister in regard to them, 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. ' 399 
 
 and particularly Deacon Aaron Harrison, and Deacon 
 Isaac Bronson. Of Deacon Harrison, it was said he was 
 the first deacon of the church, the first captain of the 
 first military company in Wolcott, and made the first 
 prayer in the first Meeting house. At his burial the 
 military were in review, and marched to the grave, fol- 
 lowing the corpse, the band playing with muffled drums 
 a funeral dirge. This dirge was performed by the 
 band present, and gave great satisfaction to all, and was 
 so peculiarly appropriate that it was called for again in 
 the afternoon. Following this was a funeral hymn : — 
 
 " Why do we mourn departing friends, 
 Or shake at death's alarms?" 
 
 sung to the tune China, C. M., in the old style, — slow 
 and pathetic. This was followed by remarks memorial, 
 by Rev. A. C. Beach, who remembered with great satis- 
 faction Deacon Isaac Bronson. Mr. Isaac Bronson, son 
 of Deacon Irad Bronson, of Bristol, and grandson of 
 Isaac, made some appropriate remarks, and to these 
 were added remarks by Mr. A. B. Alcott, in the same 
 cheerful yet kindly remembrances of the good man now 
 gone. 
 
 THE CENTENARY POEM. 
 
 Inscribed to the Congregational Church and Society of Wolcott, Conn. 
 
 BY WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING. 
 
 The Ages pass, their heroes live and fade, 
 And mythic pens prose to a future shade ; 
 Again the Trojan plains refresh our sight, 
 The Hashing plumes Astyanax delight, 
 Again to us, — again his Sabine farm 
 That Roman Horace sends us with a charm, 
 And silver Virgil slowly tunes his lay, — 
 Time was and is, — let us implore to-day ! 
 
 In these plain fields, upon old Spindle Hill, 
 
 Not vainly Wolcott looks nor turns its mill, 
 
 Mad River, — child of the deep and moss-clad swamp, 
 
 Around whose spruce our wandering thoughts encamp ; 
 
400 * HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 For sweet renew the fading dreams of old, 
 When the fleet Indian here was hunting bold ; 
 Not merely savage, but possessed with sense, 
 Social and kind, shrewd in his eloquence. 
 No mere destructive, formed to mash and slay, 
 He loved to see the softening light delay 
 On Wolcott's height and touch her shadowy vales ; 
 Child of mysterious thought and Nature's ails. 
 His altar was the sunshine on the hills, 
 The bird's quick song, the woodland or the rills, 
 And where to-day we greet the Hundred Years, 
 Since first this church allayed 'uncivil fears, 
 Tolled on dark centuries a moldering knell, 
 Trees were their pillars, winds were all the bell. 
 
 To us, this hundred years more than a line 
 
 Of tawny sachems comes, a thought divine ; 
 
 It, in our human nature has its dates, 
 
 And more to us, than outward things relates. 
 
 The Father's home, Wolcott the dear, the good ; 
 
 The hills, the vales a crowning multitude, 
 
 Eyeing afar the steeples where they shine ; 
 
 From Spindle Hill we touch the blue sea brine, 
 
 And Farmingbury names the simple truth. 
 
 As now, so in the pastime of her youth, 
 
 They ploughed the shining glebe, they stocked the mill. 
 
 Rising from homelier attributes to skill. 
 
 Our virtuous Fathers, strong and steady folk , 
 
 Slow in their motion, not divest of joke ; 
 
 On "proxing day" they voted for the best, 
 
 To guide the impulse of the busy nest. 
 
 They brewed the vintage oft from mellow grain, 
 
 Saw rich Pomona load the joyous wain, 
 
 Bearing great tributes from the orchards fair, 
 
 In sparkling cups desiderable cheer. 
 
 Pleased with .sobriety our yoemen held 
 
 Feasts of the farming genius, not impelled 
 
 By thoughtless fashion's quite unfeeling sway, 
 
 A spendthrift worm that eats its web away. 
 
 The husking frolic made the barn aloud, 
 
 The ruddy corn sent laughter through the crowd, 
 
 While the coy virgin held the blackened ear, 
 
 Half mischief bent, she still reserved its fear ; 
 
 And gay Philander marching chose his love, — 
 
 His choice forever, let us hope to prove. 
 
 No word profane then sullied house or street ; 
 
 I 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 401 
 
 The time was innocent, its moral sweet. 
 
 So lived the Fathers ; natural men were they, 
 Whate'er they held, the youth should swift obey. 
 They did not spare the law, the child to spoil ; 
 They cherished industry, nor thought it toil. 
 Duly each Sabbath to this church they came, 
 Devoutly pious in salvation's flame ; 
 Good counsels got, that brought the week in view ; 
 Here might one think, and here his thought renew. 
 
 An English race, an English tint may prize ; 
 The Saxon blonde that shines from friendly eyes. 
 Light waves the tress across yon Parian brow ; 
 Blue are those tender orbs as violets grow, — 
 Those pleasant glances of the English maid , 
 Stealing along the barnside, by the glade. 
 Such blood shows temperate, such in virtue grows ; 
 Loves the old homestead, where the sires repose ; 
 The modest field along the gentle height ; 
 They rest from all their labors, from the fight. 
 The silent hermits of the peaceful cell, 
 "Afterlife's fitful fever they sleep well." 
 So sang a poet once, and yet this race, 
 After life's earnest action, seek for grace. 
 Softly that watchful sky bends patient down, 
 And winds and waters smooth their burial-town. 
 
 And must we ask for monuments more high 
 
 Than these plain stones, and should this church defy. 
 
 With pillared arches or o'er-fretting spire, 
 
 Time's deepest dents or the last judgment-fire ? 
 
 A glittering abbey but a sty of monks, 
 
 Dull contributions piled o'er filthy trunks ? 
 
 Our people are the church, its virtues shine 
 
 Of theirs, in eminence, the work divine ; 
 
 If they control their thoughts, their passion stay, 
 
 Seek generous acts, and truth and love obey, — 
 
 Strive for unhappy souls, who strewn about, 
 
 Need home and friends, wrecked on the rabble rout ; 
 
 The pallid widow left her mate to mourn, — 
 
 The narrow orphan by remonstrance shorn. 
 
 We build this church of justice, carve the right 
 Along her battlements, whose heaven-born flight 
 Defies the patience of the loftiest tower, 
 Spurns history and dates from Virtue's hour ; 
 27 
 
402 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Something that never feels the chill of death, 
 No moth, no rust, that draws its lovely breath 
 From groves of Palm, by Rivers of the Cross, 
 Deliverance from alarm, beyond all loss. 
 Such are our altars, these our flamens wear 
 Across their hearts : Be good and true, be fair ! — 
 Like some cold fountain to a traveler's taste, 
 In his hot summer toil across the waste. 
 
 Nor all unknown, for from this mount may flow 
 Pure streams of thought, such as the gods allow. 
 The youthful pilgrim with his pack unslung. 
 From far Virginia's vales, unbind his tongue, 
 And prove how love and beauty yet are clear 
 In Wolcott's skies as to the Athenian year. 
 And many a mirthful child shall eager hold 
 The cheerful sermons from this pulpit rolled ; 
 Tales that in all the households of the land 
 Call up their " Little Women " to be grand. 
 Let us believe, yea, may we oft declare, 
 That round us lies a scene as rich, as fair, 
 As that Boccacio dreamt, and Milton caught, 
 When on its wings upsprung the verduous thought 
 Of Paradise ; rare, because innocent, 
 Fair, because true, — pledge of a people bent 
 To make their problem clear, — self-government. 
 • No gilded King betrays his hollow fate, 
 The tattered symbol of a treacherous date ; 
 No tax-built church compels us here to sign 
 Thirty-six articles, or life resign. 
 Here every man be, to himself, a state, — 
 His own prerogative, his own debate. 
 This land is ours, those heavens are our own, 
 The rac« here blossoms more maturely grown ; 
 We may not seek to live a down-trod life, 
 Bring back mad Rome, or whet Napoleon's knife. 
 Enough the grassy fields that round us lie, 
 Enough the cheerful hill, dear Wolcott's eye, 
 That by its lifting purities the air, 
 And shows us blither to both sun and star. 
 
 Child of the ancient Race ! who sailed with fate, 
 Across cold ocean's vault not desolate, — 
 Child of the blue-eyed Saxon ! here thy sire 
 Built his warm hearth-stone, here lit up its fire. 
 Never let us forget from whence we came, — 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 403 
 
 From Shakespeare's fields, fanned by an English flame ; 
 
 United by the past, yet one to-day, 
 
 Fused in humanity's o'ermastering ray. 
 
 Then may the people lift the song of praise, 
 
 And ask the Lord to grant them length of days, 
 
 To screen our church from madness and deceit, 
 
 In virtue's strength each virtuous soul entreat. 
 
 And in those future hours, when future years 
 
 Build up, by hundreds, o'er our smiles and tears. 
 
 Must never sin nor stain pollute this soil, 
 
 Of peace the faithfulest, of love the oil ! 
 
 When, in reading, Mr. Alcott came to the passage 
 about Philander, he recited the old-fashioned ditty, 
 "Come, Philander, let's be marching," to the great glee of 
 the audience, many of whom had never heard it. There 
 was great regret that Miss Alcott could not be present 
 on such an interesting occasion, which was enjoyed to 
 the utmost by those who participated in it. 
 
 Names of persons who removed from Wolcott to 
 Meriden, Conn., prepared by Mr. L. C. Hotchkiss. 
 
 John Sutliff, in 18 19. Lucas C. Hotchkiss, in 1828. James 
 H. Williams, in 1844. Junius Norton, Phineas Bradley, Abigail 
 Hall, Levia Davidson, Esther E., wife of James Hough, in i860. 
 Anson Sutliff, in 18 17 ; removed in 1857, and died in Minnesota, 
 aged 59. Isaac Hotchkiss, in 1810; died in Bristol, aged 83, 
 and was buried in Wolcott. Mary Hotchkiss, died in 1840, and 
 was buried in Wolcott. Olive Ann Webb, in 1825; died in No- 
 vember, 1855, aged 84. Emily Welton, in 1824; died in 1825; 
 buried in Wolcott. Rufina Hotchkiss, in 183 1; died September, 
 1850, aged 40. Lucy Hough, married T. T. Hubbard, in 1846, 
 and died February 9th, 1855. Cornelia Hough, died 1856. 
 Caroline Hough, married George Parker, and died in 1864. 
 Statira Williams, in 1835 ; died August iSth, 1870, aged 73. 
 Richmond Hall, jr., in 1840; died 1848, aged 45. Thomas 
 Hotchkiss, in 1832; died in 1866, aged 56. Albert R Potter, in 
 1830. Anson Williams, in 1842. Newell Minor, died 186 1. 
 Leonora Downs, in 1864; died in 1870, aged 65; buried in 
 Wolcott. Mary Ann Norton, in 1833 ; married Joel T. Butler in 
 1835 ; died m Alabama in 1837. 
 
404 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 After recess, the meeting again assembled at two o'clock, 
 and after opening exercises, Mr. Isaac Burritt, of Plants- 
 ville, was introduced, and spoke as follows concerning 
 the inhabitants of Southington who were natives of 
 Wolcott : 
 
 There was a handful of corn planted on the top of Wolcott 
 Mountain, which after a brief growth was transplanted upon the 
 sands of Southington. Of that seed and its fruitage I am to 
 speak on this occasion. A man's birth-place, with all its ineradi- 
 cable impressions upon both mind and heart, is an essential ele- 
 ment in his history and character, and is recognized as such by 
 the Lord, who says that " He shall count when he writeth up the 
 people that this and that man was born there." The history of 
 the world shows that the average man grows better upon the hills 
 than the plains, and better still upon the mountains than the 
 hills. As the springs gush out of the mountains and hillsides, 
 with their pure and health-giving waters, to find their way down 
 to the valleys, so there are continuous streams of people, with 
 their pure morals, systematic economy, thrift, and well developed 
 physical constitutions, flowing from the mountainous and hill 
 countries to the cities to recover from corruption and degenera- 
 tion the cities, without which " they would become like Sodom 
 and be made like unto Gomorrah." 
 
 The mountains have been in all ages the refuge and strong- 
 hold of liberty and religion among men. The temple of the 
 Lord, and the city of His chosen people, were builded upon a 
 mountain, while the metropolis of sin and Satan was upon the 
 plains. And in the future, as in the past, it is divinely declared, 
 " The mountain of the Lord's house (the concentration of holy 
 influences) shall be established upon the top of the mountains, 
 and all people shall flow unto it." This (Wolcott) undoubtedly is 
 the place, for it answers the description. There is also confirma- 
 tory evidence as strong as holy writ, for it is written, "The last 
 shall be first ;" and as Wolcott is the last town in the State, or 
 will be, if emigration goes on, this must be the place so far as 
 Connecticut is concerned. This being the case, it ought to in- 
 crease the value of real estate here. 
 
 The first name on the roll of honor, of grateful remembrance 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 405 
 
 and obligation of the town of Southington to Wolcott, is that of 
 Addin Lewis, who gave fifteen thousand dollars to found the 
 Lewis Academy in that town, which has been a high school to a 
 large part of its youth, including seven young men of the place 
 now in the ministry. 
 
 Statira Alcott, widow of Amos Shepherd, and three other young 
 women of the age of nineteen, were married, removed to South- 
 ington, and each had a son during the same year. Their hus- 
 bands were accused, humorously, of stealing sheep in Wolcott, — 
 and taking their pick, at that.* The progeny of these lambs 
 are here to-day in large numbers, and I do not think they will 
 " go back on " their fathers for that. Samuel Shepherd, Statira's 
 son, is the owner of the extensive greenhouse and grounds at 
 Plantsville; furnishing Southington and neighboring towns with 
 flowers, plants, and shrubbery. Amos Shepherd, her son also, has 
 fine mechanical genius, and is superintendent of the Peck, Stow, 
 and Wilcox Company. James Shepherd, of Bristol, a third son, 
 is an expert solicitor of patents at Washington. 
 
 Rev. Henry E. Barnes, son of Ida Alcott, wife of Selah Barnes, 
 an eloquent and able minister, and pastor of the Congregational 
 church at Moline, Illinois. 
 
 Romantha Carter, of gigantic frame, at present an invalid, but 
 formerly of great physical power, "lifting up his axe against the thick 
 trees." Theda Carter, wife of Salmon F. Clark, of large personal 
 power and executive ability ; distinguished and valued for uniting 
 puritanical convictions of religious duty with great geniality of 
 spirit and manner, and for moulding her sons in the same like- 
 ness. James Clark, her son, has demonstrated the possession of 
 mechanical talents of a superior order. His massive machines 
 reverse the Yankee maxim of thrift ; instead of " strike while the 
 iron is hot," make it hot by striking. Delight Carter, wife of 
 Deacon Edward Twitchell, in Jewish fashion, named by a forecast 
 
 *It was stated by the author of this book, at the Hitchcock picnic, in 1S73, 
 that it was not certain that the character of the young men of Southington 
 was above reproach, for some of them did carry away, by night visits, some 
 of the finest lambs of the Rev. Israel B. Woodward's flock, i. c, some of 
 the young ladies of his parish, in about the year 1800. And the Rev. Mr. 
 Keys, and other ministers, in after years, suffered in like manner. 
 
408 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT-. 
 
 Luman Lewis has been for forty years the principal stone 
 mason and mover of buildings in the town. He has raised up a 
 large family of children of robust development. Two of his 
 sons were volunteers in the late war. 
 
 Ives Lewis has long been a blacksmith in the town. 
 
 Bennet J. Lewis, son of Nathaniel Lewis, is postmaster in 
 Marion. 
 
 Simeon H. Norton, esq., was for ten years the first merchant and 
 the first postmaster in Plantsville. For several years he was first se- 
 lectman of the town ; has been member of the legislature, and for 
 many years the acting -magistrate of the place. He has performed 
 the difficult duties of that office in such a manner as to secure 
 the confidence and approval of all classes. He is withal a clear 
 and forcible writer. 
 
 Julina Norton, wife of Prof. P>ailey, of Yale College, had great 
 literary ability. 
 
 Levi P. Norton has long been a leading merchant in Plants- 
 ville ; has very good taste and judgment in dress and dry goods, 
 and, being childless, has built his monument, better than marble, 
 in a neat settlement of residences, west of the cemetery of 
 Plantsville, now numbering eighteen, called Pine Park. 
 
 Deacon Edward Twitchell learned his trade of Deacon Higgins. 
 In active, protracted labor, and executive ability the master and 
 apprentice were alike. Edward Twitchell had a well-balanced 
 mind. He devoted his leisure hours to reading, obtaining much 
 practical knowledge, of which he made good use in conversation 
 and address. His habits were to work from twelve to fourteen 
 hours a day in his tanyard, and to spend his evenings in visiting 
 the sick and poor, and watching with them, and attending religious 
 meetings. Soon after his apprenticeship, conversing with the 
 speaker, he said : " I have looked over the fields of enterprise in 
 life and concluded that the best way for me to serve God and be 
 useful to my fellow men is to 'tan hides.'" His life of great 
 usefulness and earnest godliness demonstrated the wisdom of his 
 judgment. Joseph Twitchell, his son, fired with patriotism, left 
 his studies, at the breaking out of the war, and was long a chaplain 
 in the army. His fervid appeals did more to fill the quota of 
 volunteers from Southington than any other agency. He is at 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 409 
 
 present the well-known pastor of the Asylum Hill Church, of 
 Hartford. Edward Twitchell, jr., inherited his father's name, 
 business, and spirit — the last his best legacy. The business firm 
 consists of Hon. H. D. Smith, son-in-law of Deacon Higgins, 
 Edward Twitchell, and George Smith. It is but just to say of 
 the firm, as it is of Wolcott parentage, that it gave ten thousand 
 dollars toward the building of the Plantsville Congregational 
 church. Sarah Jane Twitchell, his daughter, has long been a 
 devoted and distinguished teacher of the children of the Freedmen 
 of Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 Dwight Twitchell, brother of Deacon Edward, learned his trade 
 also of Deacon Higgins, and was long a member and jobber of 
 the Stowe Manufacturing Company; now in a green old age of 
 leisure, residing in a house lately erected, contrasting widely with 
 his Wolcott origin. Mrs. Jennie Twitchell (Pultz), his daughter, 
 is the gifted singer in the Plantsville choir. 
 
 Burritt Parker, a cabinet and coffin maker by trade, and such 
 a man ought to have many serious thoughts. 
 
 Lucas Upson, long the leading merchant of Southington; 
 honest and genial, and sagacious in business; selectman, a great 
 politician, and the most popular candidate of his party. 
 
 Jerry Upson. He does not belong to that class of so vinegar an 
 aspect as would not deign to show their teeth by the semblance 
 of a smile, though Nestor himself should say the jest were laugh- 
 able. Jerry has a " merry heart, which doeth good like a 
 medicine." The spirit is not catching, the more the pity. His 
 only son gave his young life for the life of the country. 
 
 Parlia Perkins, wife of Dr. Noah H. Byington, whose husband 
 is a leading physician in Southington; she is very highly respected ; 
 of pleasant disposition, and good judgment. 
 
 Lucius Sutliff is a prominent joiner of the town; is highly 
 esteemed, as also his sons, who occupy important positions in the 
 community. 
 
 Hopkins Upson, a merchant in partnership with his uncle 
 several years, and an honorable citizen. 
 
 Deacon Lucius Upson, of Plantsville church, has been school 
 teacher, mechanic, clerk, and farmer. In him is illustrated how 
 the mind can hold the body up, by genial love, Christian zeal, and 
 
4IO HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ceaseless labor for the good of others. Elijah was a man of like 
 passion and prayer, who shut up heaven by the space of three 
 years and six months. 
 
 "The place from whence such virtuous things proceed, is 
 honored by the doers' deeds." 
 
 May the Lord bless this old church and the town of Wolcott, 
 while the sun and moon endure, for the sons and daughters they 
 have given to Southington. 
 
 The Hon. Elihu Burritt, of New Britain, made the 
 Following- remarks : 
 
 I am happy to be here to-day to enjoy the fellowship of all the 
 interesting memories which this occasion revives. These com- 
 memorations are full of deep and varied interest. And there is 
 one circumstance about them that we are entitled to speak of 
 with just complacency. These commemorations are, as far as I 
 know, exclusively New England institutions. They show the 
 best characteristics of the New England mind. They show that 
 our hard-soiled and hilly towns have a history far longer than the 
 lives of their oldest inhabitants — a history that we revere, a 
 history reaching back in some cases to those perilous years when 
 the red Indians of the country outnumbered the whites — a 
 history of hardship, privation, of faith, patience, and patriotism — 
 one long battle of life, in which our forefathers and foremothers 
 acted their parts with a Christian heroism that makes us love their 
 memories. There are a hundred small towns and villages in New 
 England in which you may read the continuous record of a 
 century or more on the grave-stones in their church-yards. Many 
 of these church-yards are divided in the middle by a kind of 
 equatorial line. On the one side you will see the old red sand- 
 stone monuments that tell us that the men and women beneath 
 lived and died subjects of the British crown, and called England 
 "home," just as naturally, proudly, and fondly as Canadians and 
 Australians now call our common motherland by that pleasant 
 Saxon name. Then, side by side with these colonial graves, 
 sometimes on the same stone, we may read the names of the first 
 men of the village who died in the full right and title of citizens 
 of a new-born nation. Both English fathers and their American 
 sons were happy and true in their lives, and in their deaths they 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 41 I 
 
 were not divided. No volume ever written unfolds the history of 
 the two Englands — of the mother and daughter — so fully and 
 impressively as any one of our grave-yards a hundred years old. 
 And no stones in them should be more tenderly watched and 
 cared for than those erected before the American Revolution. 
 For what pages of our New England history are dearer to us than 
 those that record the lives and characters of our pre-Revolutionary 
 fathers and mothers. 
 
 Now it is these foot-prints of our history, hidden by a brook, 
 but seen on either side, that give these New England centenaries 
 their peculiar interest. No one of our smallest towns, in all the 
 centuries it is yet to see, will, I am sure, ever erase the foot-prints 
 on the farther side of that brook, or seek to break or tarnish the 
 hasp that connects its history with the history of that noble mother 
 country which has begotten and nursed more free and glorious 
 nations than all the other kingdoms of the world. And it is a fact 
 worthy of mention on an occasion like this. There is not a town 
 or village like this in New England which does not resemble Old 
 England more fully than any great commonwealth or nation can 
 do. The children that England has sent abroad to people all 
 latitudes and climates with young and growing nations, far out- 
 number, with their offspring, all her population at home. Not 
 one of these young and scattered communities but remembers 
 her and speaks of her with filial pride and affection. Now, is not 
 this goodly old town, set upon these eternal hills, just such an- 
 other Old England in these pleasant maternal relations? Has 
 not Wolcott sent out as many families into the broad territory of 
 this great Union as England has sent colonies into the distant 
 continents and islands of the globe? Do not her children and her 
 children's children, thus scattered abroad in widely sundered 
 families, think of her and speak of her with the same filial senti- 
 ments? 
 
 This, then, to my mind, is the aspect and appreciation in which 
 we should view the life and relations of any New England town 
 as old as this, or younger still. It is not what it is and has been 
 at home, but what it is, has been, and does abroad ; what ele- 
 ments of social, moral, and political life it has contributed to 
 other communities far and near; what men and women it has 
 
412 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 sent out to impart the vitality of their characters to other towns, 
 and States, and to the nation at large. Its history, without in- 
 cluding this vital department of its being and influence, would 
 be like the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. Certainly this 
 whole history of a town, the whole of its home life and outside 
 life, should be passed in review on an occasion like this. And 
 we have had some of these facts and aspects presented to us to- 
 day. 
 
 It is both a necessity and custom for great commercial and 
 manufacturing corporations to take stock of their establishments 
 at the end of the year, to see what they have sold or produced in 
 that period, what they have gained, and what material they have 
 on hand to begin a new year with. Well, it is equally fitting that 
 every town, at the end of its century, should take stock — an in- 
 ventory of its being, faculties, and influence ; of the men and 
 women it has produced, in the hundred years, who have made 
 their mark at home or abroad ; of the institutions it has estab- 
 lished and sustained, and of the working material, the faculty, 
 and the will it has for beginning a new century. I am sure that 
 all the people of this town, and all who claim kindred with it, 
 have good reason to be proud and happy at the inventory it pre- 
 sents the world at the end of its first century. I am equally sure 
 that the young generation here, who are to inherit the coming 
 century, will remember this occasion, and resolve to make a his- 
 tory in their day which their children's children will review with 
 pride and gladness at the next centenary which Wolcott will cele- 
 brate. 
 
 I think that not one of our New England towns could make a 
 contribution to the history of the country at large which would 
 be so interesting, instructive, and valuable as the simple record of 
 its men and women ; of the life it has lived at home, and the life 
 and character it has sent abroad in a hundred years. I remem- 
 ber well how deeply I was impressed with a few facts stated of 
 another small, stony, hard-soiled Connecticut town. A distin- 
 guished native of old Lebanon told me that that town had pro- 
 duced five governors, and had given a full college education to 
 seventy-two men for the ministry, and other learned professions, 
 since its incorporation. What a record that to present to the 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 413 
 
 world ! What faith and patience, what tireless industry and self- 
 sacrificing frugality, are represented by these simple facts ! Think 
 of a little community of farmers toiling on small and stony farms, 
 and making them yield not only comfortable sustenance, clothing, 
 and schooling for their children at home, but the means of giving 
 a full classical education to seventy-two graduates of Yale Col- 
 lege in the life-time of their town! How instructive and useful 
 would the history of such New England towns be to the rich and 
 fertile townships of our great West, who send agents to Lebanon 
 and other small communities in New England, to solicit contri- 
 butions for the support of Western Colleges ! 
 
 We have seen what a record Wolcott has contributed to the 
 history of our good old Connecticut, and the whole State may 
 truly and proudly say, "•well done !" 
 
 The following lines, written for the occasion by Amos 
 M. Johnson, esq., of Wolcott, were* sung to the tune " New 
 Jerusalem," C. M.: 
 
 ONE HUNDRED YEARS. 
 
 One hundred years have passed away, 
 
 And memory now revives ; 
 One hundred years are passed and gone ! 
 
 This Church, — it still survives. 
 
 One hundred years, — the greatest age 
 
 That mortals ever knew ! 
 One hundred years, — the wisest sage 
 
 Will ever keep in view . 
 
 What scenes the memory brings to view ! 
 
 What wonders have been wrought ! 
 How many souls been born anew, — 
 
 Their God and Saviour sought. 
 
 The fathers of this Church now rest, — 
 
 In yonder graveyard lie ; 
 Their spirits dwell among the blest, 
 
 In bliss, beyond the sky . 
 
 One hundred years, — how great the sum, 
 
 And yet how quickly sped ! 
 One hundred years, the next to come, 
 
 Will find us with the dead. 
 
414 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Then let us live with Heaven and Hell 
 
 And Death before our eyes ! 
 One Hundred years, — we then shall dwell 
 
 In glory 'hove the skies. 
 
 Mr. Orcutt again exhibited "antiquities." Among 
 them was a pair of high-heeled slippers worn by a Wol- 
 cott lady at the commencement ball of Yale College. 
 The sword of Captain John Allcock, presented to him 
 by George III, and now in the hands of a grandson, was 
 shown by A. Bronson Alcott, who gave an interesting 
 account of the high uses to which it had been put by his 
 patriot ancestor. A large fan over one hundred years 
 old was exhibited, which, in size and appearance, resem- 
 bles the fans just coming into use. A musket made in 
 London, and carried in the French war by David Welton, 
 of Wolcott, was exhibited. Mr. George Pratt, of South- 
 ington, stated a family tradition that this musket was 
 once so skillfully used that it "brought down" in 
 succession three British officers. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Upson read a list of the deacons of the 
 church in Wolcott from the beginning. Mr. Isaac Bronson, 
 of Bristol, a descendant of one of the first deacons of the 
 church, followed with some remarks. He gave interest- 
 ing traditions of the Bronson family. A diary of Deacon 
 Isaac Bronson, which had been preserved, was shown 
 and extracts from it read by Deacon Samuel Holmes. 
 Deacon Holmes read a hymn composed by Deacon 
 Bronson on the death of Washington, and which was 
 sung in the church at the time. Rev. A. C. Beach added 
 some recollections of Deacon Bronson, who was an old 
 man when he was pastor here, and he pronounced him 
 one of the noblest men he ever knew. These allusions 
 to Deacon Bronson brought A. Bronson Alcott to his 
 feet again, who referred to the Deacon's efficiency as a 
 church officer at a time the church was without a pastor. 
 He was peculiarly gifted in prayer, and impressed every 
 one with his deep sincerity and nearness to God. His 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 415 
 
 counsels and prayers were sought by the sick and afflicted. 
 No man ever lived in Wolcott with such natural gifts as 
 he, and had he been favored with a liberal education, he 
 would have equaled any of the great men this State has 
 produced. 
 
 Judge W. E. Curtis, of New York, was introduced, and 
 very tenderly alluded to a former pastor, Rev. Mr. 
 Woodward. He held in his hand a small volume of 
 poems by William Maxwell, esq., of Norfolk, Va. Mr. 
 Maxwell, seventy years ago, was an inmate of Mr. 
 Woodward's family, and by him prepared for college. 
 Upon hearing of his instructor's death, he composed a 
 poem upon " Wolcott," which is contained in this vol- 
 ume. Judge Curtis read extracts from the poem. A 
 general desire was expressed to have the poem published 
 in an account of the proceedings. 
 
 A. Bronson Alcott was again called for to give an ac- 
 count of his cousin Wra. A. Alcott, M. D., and widely 
 known in our country as a teacher and author. He said 
 that although cousins, they were more like brothers. 
 They were much together in younger years, and helped 
 one another in their literary course. Dr. Alcott has done 
 more for primary education than any other person. He 
 was very successful as a teacher and author. It is said 
 that he wrote over one hundred books, and also edited 
 three different journals. He was a "vegetarian," and for 
 many years tasted no meat. Mr. Alcott, before closing, 
 alluded very modestly to his own family, among whom 
 is the celebrated authoress of " Little Women." This al- 
 lusion awakened the people, who listened with " erect 
 ears " to all that was said of their favorite authoress. 
 
 The Rev. Wm. P. Alcott, of Greenwich, and son of 
 Dr. W. A. Alcott, having been called for, arose and gave 
 some facts concerning the family. His grandfather, 
 John Bronson, was a man of extraordinary strength and 
 endurance. At eighty he challenged the young men of 
 Wolcott to engage in a " mowing match " with him for a 
 
416 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 day, but none of the young yeomanry were bold enough 
 to accept the challege. The lesson that Mr. Alcott 
 would impress, was what could be accomplished by 
 work. The sons of Wolcott had achieved all honor and 
 influence by hard work. He mentioned that his father 
 learned arithmetic at night, holding the slate on his left 
 arm and candle (the candlestick being a potato) in 
 his left hand. Under great difficulties he attained his 
 final eminence. 
 
 The next speaker was George W. Seward, esq., of 
 New York, only surviving brother of the late Secretary 
 Seward. A branch of the Seward family lived in Wol- 
 cott, and among the earliest settlers was Amos Seward, 
 who is held in fragrant memory. Mr. Seward began by 
 thanking the good people of Wolcott for the generous 
 hospitality that had been extended to him since he came 
 amongthem. He entered into some of the details of 
 the family history. Without speaking of his immediate 
 family, he related some facts concerning his ancestors 
 who were prominent in the revolutionary war. His 
 grandfather was Col. John Seward, of Morristown, N. J. 
 Col. Seward was not only a patriot, but one of the most 
 active of patriots. He made himself felt as a power on 
 the side of the colonies, and feared by tories. Several 
 anecdotes of his skill as a marksman, and acts as a 
 soldier, were given. 
 
 As a general desire had been expressed to hear some- 
 thing about his brother, the late Secretary Seward, he 
 gave two interesting facts. When Mr. Seward was Gov- 
 ernor of New York, in 1839, ^ e was invited, in connec- 
 tion with President Van Buren, to attend a Sabbath 
 school celebration on Staten Island. He addressed 
 them, and in the course of his remarks said, that great 
 wealth, education, and talents, even in this country, 
 tended to aristocratical views and feelings, and were preju- 
 dicial to the interests and well being of the masses. And 
 the counteracting agency was to be found in the Sunday 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 417 
 
 schools of the day. These are the great leveling agen- 
 cies which are to educate the masses and fit them for 
 citizens and voters, and to hold the institutions of the 
 country and a free government in perpetuity. By some 
 these sentiments were considered the noblest the Gov- 
 ernor ever uttered during his long and eventful career. 
 Another fact. The ex-Secretary, seated in the parlor 
 with some friends, and talking of incidents during the 
 war, stated that shortly after the Mason and Slidell ar- 
 rest, he received a confidential communication from 
 Louis Napoleon, in which was expressed personal respect 
 for the Secretary, as a statesman, but that he (the Em- 
 peror) must bow to the will of the French people, and 
 recognize the confederacy, and declare war in its behalf. 
 The same day this letter was received, a reply was sent 
 to the Emperor, telling him, in substance, to keep hands 
 off, — that we neither asked for nor would permit inter- 
 ference on the part of any European government, — and 
 should he recognize the Confederacy, and send troops to 
 this country, we would emancipate the slaves, and 
 before this Union would submit to a slave government, 
 we would put arms into the hands of the slaves, and 
 doom the Southern States to devastation and ruin. Some 
 friends were at once sent to England and France to 
 maintain our cause, and it only cost us $7,000. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Upson was the next speaker, and 
 gave recollections of his childhood here. 
 
 Deacon Samuel Holmes, of Montelair, N. [., was now 
 called out, and before he took his seat showed himself 
 what all before knew, — that he was a prince among dea- 
 cons. He urged with great practical effect that the peo- 
 ple should at once establish a town library, and offered 
 fifty dollars for the purpose. This generous offer was at 
 once responded to by others, until two hundred and fifty 
 dollars were subscribed. 
 
 While the subscription to the library was in progress* 
 28 
 
41 8 HISTORY OF W'OLCOTT. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hillard, of Plymouth Center, was called on 
 and spoke as follows : 
 
 Mr. Chairman: — I consent to speak, on one condition only, 
 and that is that the subscription to the library shall go forward 
 without interruption. That is of more consequence than talk. 
 The library ought to be secured, and now is the time to secure it. 
 So much butter at least ought to come of this two day's stirring 
 of the cream. So let the subscription go right on. My estimate 
 of that is about what the boy's was, on a certain occasion, of a 
 collection. Three boys, the story goes, not much accustomed to 
 religious services, strolled, one day, into a meeting, where, 
 besides the usual exercises of prayer and song, a collection was 
 taken up. On leaving the meeting they went off sailing together, 
 and a squall coming up, and the case looking desperate, Jim, the 
 leader .of the crew, felt that they must have help. Turning to 
 his companions, who were shivering with fright, he inquired, 
 "John, can you pray?" "No," was the answer, '"not here." 
 "Joe, can you sing?" "No, not now." "Well," was Jim's con- 
 clusion, "something religious has got to be done right off; we'll 
 take up a collection." So, in my opinion, one of the most 
 religious things that we can do just here and now is to take up 
 a collection. 
 
 I have been greatly interested in the exercises of this centennial. 
 My heart has gone out in thorough sympathy with all your pride 
 and joy. It has almost seemed to me that I had a personal 
 share in it. You remember the affecting passage in Mark 
 Twain's " Innocents Abroad," in which he describes his feelings 
 on being shown, in his travels, the grave of Adam. It overwhelmed 
 him, he says, with emotion, to come, in that far off land, upon the 
 grave of a blood relation. So, though not myself born here, I 
 somehow feel as though those who have been born here were my 
 blood relatives, and so have been interested in their histories. 
 [Question from the crowd, " Don't you wish you had been born 
 here?"] Some one asks if I do not wisji I had been born here. 
 No, I do not ; for I do not believe in a man's going back on his 
 mother, and so I am not going back on old Preston, the town 
 where I was born, even for the sake of being born in Wolcott. 
 Put I will tell you how near I come to wishing I had been born 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 419 
 
 in Wolcott. You recollect that Mrs. Jarley in the exhibition, in 
 her wax works, of those miracles of art, the Siamese Twins, in- 
 forms her audience that they were born, one on Cape Cod, and 
 the other on the Island of Borneo. Now, since being here these 
 two days, and listening to all that Wolcott has been and done, 
 though glad that I myself was born in Preston, I have wished that 
 instead of being born a single child, and so limited to a single 
 birth-place, I had been born a twin, and that my twin brother had 
 been born in Wolcott. 
 
 But though missing thus myself the honor of being born in 
 Wolcott. I have become convinced that it must have been here 
 that a certain distinguished character of history was born. I 
 refer to the. Roman Emperor Marcus Antoninus. I am not quite 
 sure in my dates — this always was a weakness with me — but if 
 I get muddled some one of the learned gentlemen here present 
 can set me right. I am not sure about the dates, but I am con- 
 fident, from internal evidence, that Antoninus, the Roman Emperor, 
 was born on Wolcott Hill. And the ground of my confidence is 
 this: In a passage in his "Meditations," weary of the littleness 
 and meanness of life around him, and challenging to life high and 
 noble, he exclaims, "Live as on a mountain;" and while listening 
 to Mr. Alcott and others as they have entertained and instructed 
 and inspired us with reminiscences of the fathers of Wolcott, I 
 have said to myself, " It was from life here on Wolcott Hill that 
 Marcus Antoninus got his idea." I am confident of it, and if those 
 inveterate liars, the dates, deny this, I have only to say that if he 
 wasn't born here, it would have been wisdom in his head if he had 
 been. 
 
 But soberly, it seems to me a grand thing to have been born in 
 Wolcott. We do not, in our fast and pretentious time, appreciate 
 as we should these old hill-towns of New England. Why, here 
 are the head-springs of all her greatness. Just as the streams 
 which furnish the power in the valleys head on these hills, so the 
 intelligence and strength and energy of manhood, which makes 
 the villages and cities, come from these hill-parishes. Not more 
 is the rich soil that forms the valley meadows washed from these 
 rocky hills, than is the society which constitutes the valley com- 
 munities the contributions of these hill-towns. Without this 
 
420 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 supply those communities would soon become extinct. As 
 physicians tell us that were it not for the ever fresh supply of 
 healthy men and women from the country, the cities would soon 
 become depopulated, and a desert waste, — so were it not for the 
 fresh supplies of intelligence and character and energy trained 
 on these hills, the valley communities would soon lose their 
 importance and power. When I was down at Block Island this 
 Summer, a government vessel was at work there clearing out the 
 rocks from the harbor bottom. The man who did the work, or 
 seemed to, was the diver, who, in his armor, went down into the 
 water and made fast the grappling chains. On him was concen- 
 trated all the attention. But there was another man, not much 
 noticed, who attracted my attention. He remained on deck and 
 steadily turned a crank. That crank worked an air-pump, and 
 from that pump a tube went down into the water and supplied 
 the diver with fresh air for his work. How long do you think the 
 diver down there under water would have gone on with his work 
 if the man at the air-pump had ceased to turn the crank ? So, 
 though the valley communities seem to do the work, and so get 
 the credit of it, it is these hill-parishes that pump down the fresh 
 air to them, and keep them alive. Very quickly would come the 
 end of their history if you were to- stop turning the crank. It is 
 with the hill-parishes of New England as it was with the hill- 
 fortresses of Palestine. You recollect the passage in the Old 
 Testament which records the discomfiture of the Syrians in their 
 attack on one of those forts : and you recollect the explanation 
 of that discomfiture by the Syrians : " Their gods are gods of the 
 hills ; therefore they were stronger than we, but let us fight against 
 them on the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they." 
 So the gods of New England's strength and greatness have ever 
 been gods of the hills, — and this of spiritual as of physical strength. 
 Here, in these hill-parishes, have headed the spiritual streams that 
 in their flowing forth have blessed the world. From Torringford 
 Hill, from the parsonage of old Father Mills, flowed the stream 
 of American missions. So take any chapter of New England's 
 spiritual greatness and power, and you will find the sources of it 
 largely here. Here head the rivers, the streams whereof make 
 glad the city of God. 
 
THE CENTENARY MEETING. 421 
 
 You, then, whose lot is cast here in Wolcott, whose destiny it 
 is to remain here, count it no mean destiny. You may so improve 
 it that there shall be none nobler. Remember the answer of the 
 Down-East Yankee to the contemptuous inquiry suggested by the 
 rocks and ice, "What they raised there;" "We raise men!" It is 
 a good place, a grand place, here on these rocky hills to raise men. 
 Here, bless God, this has not yet come to be one of the lost arts. 
 In these old parishes children are yet born, and of all crops this is 
 the noblest. Given the man, and you have given all things. 
 Raise the children, then; train them up for manhood and woman- 
 hood; train them up for God; send them out healthy, strong, 
 noble, pure, upright, God-fearing, and God-serving, to bless the 
 world, and you will not have lived in vain. Remember the 
 decision of David in the case of the brook Besor. Part of the 
 company, you remember, did not cross the brook ; were too faint 
 to pursue and "tarried by the stuff." Their pursuing and victo- 
 rious companions, returned from the victory, refused them a share 
 in the spoils. But David reversed their decision, and made it a 
 law forever, "As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so 
 shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff; they shall part alike." 
 It is the law of God's Kingdom. Be faithful, and you shall find 
 it the law of your reward. " They also serve who only stand and 
 wait." 
 
 Then, next to the children, there are the aged. Towards 
 these hill-parishes our hearts are ever turning, because " here's 
 where the old folks stay." The old folks, God bless them ! — .the 
 old fathers and mothers, and grandfathers and grandmothers, here 
 is where they stay, — sending their children out to influence, and 
 wealth, and power, while they remain, quiet and unknown. Boys, 
 girls, count it not a hardship to stay by the old folks. Count not 
 life so devoted lost. God has a blessing for those who honor 
 father and mother when they are old. Again I say, God bless 
 them ! we owe all to them. Boys, you will never lose anything 
 by staying by them while they stay here below ; and you, girls, 
 when somebody, one of these days, asks you if he may have you, 
 tell him, "Yes, if he'll take the old folks with you." 
 
 And now these festivities are at an end and we must disperse. 
 You, people of Wolcott, who are to remain, life may seem to you 
 
422 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 lonely when the occasion is over and the friends from abroad 
 whom you are proud of, and whose presence has given you joy 
 are gone, and you settle back to the old, plain, common life of 
 Wolcott. But suffer no reaction of sadness. Rather look on to the 
 higher festival, the heavenly home-coming, of which this is but a 
 symbol, when all the history of your lives with all their outcome 
 shall be made up before God. The morning succeeding the night 
 of the Transfiguration seemed, doubtless, to the disciples who had 
 been with Jesus on the mount, plain and lonely with its contrast of 
 earthly plainness with the heavenly glory. But beyond was the 
 Mount of Ascension, and to it, across the intervening valley, the 
 Mount of Transfiguration looked. So, across your remaining life 
 on earth, plain and lonely though to the earthly view it may be, 
 there waits for you the glory of your eternal reward, when the 
 King shall say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, you have been 
 faithful in a few things, enter into the joy of your Lord." Keep 
 this prospect clear by faith before you, and may it ever strengthen 
 your hearts. 
 
 After one or two more brief addresses, a vote of thanks 
 to the citizens for hospitality was passed, and the hymn 
 
 "Blessed be the tie that binds 
 Our hearts in Christian love ; 
 The fellowship of kindred minds 
 Is like to that above," 
 
 was sung, with the sense as well as the sound, and the 
 benediction pronounced by Rev. A. C. Beach. At the 
 close a number of persons came to the platform to obtain 
 each one flower from the beautiful collection placed 
 there by Mr Shepherd, of Southington. They wanted 
 "just one flower" to carry to their distant homes, — 
 Kansas and elsewhere, — as a memento of this centenary 
 meeting. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 
 
ALCOTT. 
 
 ALCOCKE, ALCOCK, ALCOCKS, ALCOX. 
 
 This name is spelled Alcock in English history. As a surname 
 it was established, by authority of the king, about the year 1 6 1 6, 
 by the granting of a "coat of arms," and according to the law 
 established by King Henry Third, about 1250, was inherited by 
 all descendants of the family. The full development of the 
 "Science of Arms" occurred during the " Holy Wars," or the 
 "Crusades," and hence most of these insignia, date back, only, 
 to that period, and from this fact, these signs bear a decidedly 
 religious character. On the Alcock shield is "Fesse; emblematic 
 of the military girdle worn around the body, over the armour ;" 
 three heads of the cock, emblematic of watchfulness. From this 
 shield and crest we learn that the peculiar characteristic for which 
 this family was honored as soldiers, was watchfulness. 
 
 The name was spelled Alcock in this country, until about 
 1770, when the spelling was changed to Alcox, and also Allcox. 
 This was the spelling on all records, as well as in the family, until 
 1820 to 1825, when by the proposition of Dr. William A., and 
 A. Bronson Alcott, it was, by common consent, not by legisla- 
 tive enactment, changed to Alcott. and in this form has become 
 world-renowned.* 
 
 I THOMAS. I — FIRST GENERATION. 
 
 Thomas Alcock, the progenitor of all bearing the name in 
 Connecticut, came from England in Winthrop's company, in T630, 
 
 *Mr. Savage tells us that this name was written Alcott by some of the 
 family in the early records of Massachusetts. 
 
 f John Alcock was born at Beverly, Yorkshire. England, and was Bishop 
 of Rochester, Worcester, and Ely, in the time of Henry VII.; also Lord 
 Chancellor of England. Me founded Jesus College, Cambridge, and was 
 distinguished in his day for learning and piety. He died October 1. 1500, 
 and was buried in a sumptuous tomb of his own designing in Ely Cathedral. 
 
426 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 with his brother George.* In the covenant of the First church of 
 Boston, dated at Charlestown, August 27, 1638, Thomas Alcock 
 stands forty sixth on the list of original members. " Ano. 8:7: 
 1639, our brother Thomas Alcock and sister Margary were 
 recommended to Dedham," where he settled. He afterwards 
 removed to Boston, where he died, September 14, 1657. His 
 widow, Margary, married John Benham, of New Haven, to which 
 place she removed about 1660, where she died. 
 
 Children: 2 Mary, bapt Nov. 3, 1635, d 1644; 3 Elizabeth. 
 bapt Dec. 10, 1637, d same year ; 4 Elizabeth, b Oct. 4, 1638, m 
 May 6, 1656, Joseph Soper of Boston; 5 Sarah, b Dec. 28, 1639; 
 6 Hannah, b May 25, 1642; 7 Mary, b June 8, 1644, m Sept. 
 27, 1664, James Robinson of Dorchester, d March 13, 17 18; 8 
 Rebecca, b 1646 ; 9 Phillip, b 1648 ; 10 John, b in Boston, May 6, 
 165 1, m Constance, daughter of Humphrey Milam of Boston, 
 where he died before 171 2. He had two sons and six daughters. 
 
 9 PHILLIP. SECOND GENERATION. 
 
 Phillip Alcock, son of Thomas and Margary Alcock, was 
 born in Dedham, Mass, and removed to New Haven with his 
 mother. He married, Dec. 5, 1672, Elizabeth, only daughter of 
 Thomas Mitchell. He married at Wethersfield his second wife, 
 April 4, 1699, Sarah, widow of Nathaniel Butler. He had large 
 landed estates, besides his home lot in New Haven, on the 
 North side of what is now George Street, between College and 
 Temple streets, adjoining the Beecher family property. He died 
 in 17 16, ae. 68. 
 
 Children: n John, b July 14, 1675; 12 Thomas, b 1677, m 
 Mary Gedney, and a second wife Abigail Austin; 13 Elizabeth, 
 
 b Feb. 6, 1679, m Gray; 14 Phillip, b Nov. 19, 1681 ; 15 
 
 Agnes, b 1683, m Harrison. 
 
 IT JOHN. THIRD GENERATION. 
 
 John Alcock, son of Phillip and Elizabeth [Mitchell] Alcock, 
 of New Haven, married Susanna , and lived on the pater- 
 nal estate in New Haven, owning land at East Haven, Walling- 
 
 * George Alcock settled at Roxbury, Mass., where he was a deacon of the 
 church, and an important man in the colony. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 427 
 
 ford, and elsewhere. He died March, 1722. ae. 47 ; his wife died 
 in 1737. 
 
 Children: 16 Abigail, who married, Jan. 6, 1736, Caleb 
 Thomas of New Haven, d Feb. 23, 1793, ae. 73; 17 John, b Jan. 
 14, 1705, settled in Waterbury ; 18 Elizabeth, b July 13, 1708, m 
 Samuel Humiston of New Haven; 19 Sarah, b Aug. 12, 17 11, m 
 John Ailing of New Haven; 20 Stephen, b Aug. 10, 1714, m 
 Abigail Humiston of New Haven, and lived at Amity, now 
 Woodbridge ; z\ Mary, b Aug: 10, 17 17, m Daniel Lines of New 
 Haven. 
 
 17 JOHN. FOURTH GENERATION. 
 
 John Alcock, son of John and Susanna Alcock of New Haven, 
 was married, Jan. 14. 1729 or 30, by Rev. Isaac Stiles of North 
 Haven, to Deborah, daughter of Isaac Blakeslee of North Haven. 
 In 1 73 1 he removed to Waterbury, bringing his wife and infant 
 child, Lydia, and settled on Spindle Hill, Wolcott. He died Jan. 
 6, 1777, ae. 71'; his wife died Jan. 7, 1789. ae. 77. (See Biog. 
 P- 231.) 
 
 Children: 22 Lydia, b Nov. 24, 1730. m Isaac Blakeslee of 
 North Haven, where she resided, d Nov. 15. 1796, ae. 66; 23 
 John, b Dec. 28, 1731 ; 24 James, b June 1, 1734 ; 25 Jesse, b 
 March 23, 1736; 26 Daniel,b March 25, 1738; 27 David, b Jan. 
 12, 1740; 28 Deborah, b 1741, married 1st, Isaac Twitchell. 
 2d, Wait Hotchkiss, and settled near the "Mill Place" in Wol- 
 cott, d June 18, 183 1, ae. 89 ; 29 Mary, b 1744, m June 28, 1763. 
 Obed Bradley of North Haven, where she settled. She d March 
 1825, ae. 81; 50 Thankful, b 1748, m Thaddeus Baldwin of 
 Plymouth, Conn., where she lived, and d March 1, 1839, ae. 90; 
 31 Hannah, b 1 75 1, m Joel Norton of Bristol, where she lived, 
 and d March 1, 182 1, ae. 70; 32 Anna, m Abel Curtiss of Wol- 
 cott, lived near the "Mill Place," d Feb. 5, 1822 ; 33- Stephen, d 
 young. 
 
 21, JOHN, JR. — FIFTH GENERATION. 
 
 Capt. John Alcox, son of John and Deborah (Blakeslee) 
 Alcock, was born in Waterbury (Wolcott), in the year his father 
 settled on Spindle Hill. He married, Aug. 28, 1755, Mary, the 
 daughter of Solomon Chatfield of Derby, Conn. He built a 
 house on Spindle Hill, near his father's, where Almon Alcott now 
 
428 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 (1873) resides ; and where he (John) died Sept. 27, 1808, ae. 77 ; 
 Mary, his wife, died Feb. 28, 1807, ae. 71. (See Biog. p. 233.) 
 Children: 34 Lydia, b Dec. 8, 1756, m 1st, Charles Frisbie, 
 2d, Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, both of Wolcott, d Sept. 23, 183 1, ae. 
 74; 35 Solomon, b May 8, 1759 ; 36 Samuel, b Nov. 29, 1761 ; 37 
 John Blakeslee, b June 24, 1764; 38 Mary, b Sept. 8, 1766, d 
 Feb. 18, 1770; 39 Isaac, b April 12, 1769; 40 Joseph Chatfield, 
 b May 7, 1771; 41 Mark, b May 11, 1773; 42 Thomas, b Oct. 
 16, t 775, d April 27, 1778. 
 
 24 JAMES, 1ST. 
 
 James Alcox, son of John and Deborah (Blakeslee) Alcock, 
 married Hannah Barnes, and settled a mile northeast of the old 
 homestead, where his grandson, James, now (1873) resides. His 
 house was built in the Autumn of 1774, and he moved into it 
 while the carpenters were at work upon it. On the 5th of Decem- 
 ber following, his son James was born. Three weeks from that 
 da)- the house took fire in the night and was consumed. Strangled 
 by the smoke, he awoke, and began some efforts to save the 
 house. His wife, who had not been out of the house during her 
 illness, tried to raise the window, but this could not be done, it 
 being new. She then broke the window with her hands, and gave 
 the baby to his sister outside, and she crept out, the window con- 
 sisting of only four panes of glass, and went to the neighbors, with 
 no apparel except her night clothes, her hands bleeding by the 
 way from cuts by the glass. Nothing was saved from the house 
 but the members of the family. In nine days the frame of a new 
 one was raised, and it is still standing. People came from far and 
 near to help build this house ; some coming over fifteen miles. 
 He resided in this house until his death, Aug. 9, 1806, ae. 72. 
 
 Children : 43 Obedience, m John J. Kenea ; 44 Rosanna, m 
 John Frisbie, d Aug. 18, 1830; 45 Meliscent, m Nathaniel Lane, 
 1793, d in Wolcott, ae. 88; 46 James, b Dec. 5, 1774; 47 Mehitable 
 m James Bradley; 48 Lois, bapt April 2, 1780, m John Smith . 
 49 Diadama, bapt July 14, 1782, m Joshua Minor of Wolcott ; 50 
 Hannah, m Osman Norton; 51 Livia, bapt Oct. 29, 1786, m 
 Edward Goodyear; 52 Rhoda, bapt Dec. 6, 1789, m Lewis 
 San ford. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 429 
 
 25 JESSE. 
 
 J.ESSE Ai.cox, son of John and Deborah (Blakeslee) Alcock, 
 married Patience Blakeslee. and settled in the northeast part of 
 Wolcott. He died October 29, 1829, ae. 74. His widow. 
 Patience, married Zechariah Hitchcock, and died 1840, ae. 97. 
 
 Children: 53 Sarah, m David Churchill; 54 Lyman, d Nov. 17, 
 1781, ae. 16; 55 Susan, m John Beecher, and d Nov. 3, 1836. 
 ae. 69; 56 Jesse, m Lucy Minor, June 16, 1791, d July 6, 1814; 
 57 Joel, m Elizabeth Johnson; 58 Hannah, m Daniel Byington ; 
 59 C/i/oe, bapt Dec. 7, t 783, m Salmon Shelley: 60 Ithamer, d 
 Aug. 9, 1798, ae. 3. 
 
 26 DANIEL. 
 
 Daniel Ai.cox, son of John and Deborah (Blakeslee) Alcock, 
 married Elizabeth Dutton. He settled first, in Wolcott Center ; 
 and afterwards removed to Colebrook, where he died, May 24, 
 1805, ae. 67. 
 
 Children: 61 Asa, m Sabra Plumb; 62 Daniel; 63 Samuel; 
 64 Joseph; 65 Benjamin, m Chloe Norton; 66 Elizabeth; 67 
 
 Mary, m Darrow; 68 Benoni ; 69 Susanna, m Abram Tut- 
 
 tle : 70 t 'rami, m William Burr. 
 
 27 DAVID. 
 
 David Alcox, son of John and Deborah (Blakeslee) Alcock, 
 married, Jul}- 5, 1767. Abigail Johnson. She died Feb. 5, 170:;. 
 ae. 53. He married 2d, Sarah Pratt, Feb. 5. 1795. He lived on 
 the old homestead, and died there Jan. 29, 182 1, ae. Si. 
 
 Children: 71 Amy, b Sept. 16, 1768, d May 5. 1830, ae. 62; 
 72 Abigail, b Dec. 14, 1770, m Aug. 26, 1793, Asahel Lane; 73 
 DiiT'ic/, b April 10. 1774, m Anna Fenn ; 74 Obed, b Sept. 8. 
 1776. m July 13, 1797, Abigail Andrews, d Aug. 8. 1847. ae. 71 ; 
 7^ Eldad, ami 76 Medad, twins, b Sept. 14, 1779 : 77 Eunice, b 
 Oct. 17, 1782,111 April 24. 1806, Archibald Mosher ; 78 Deborah. 
 b Nov. 25, 1784. m ist. Feb. 18. 1808, Isaac Minor. 2d, Lorin 
 Fancher, March 4, 1820. 
 
 35 SOLOMON.- — SIXTH GENERATION. 
 
 Solomon Alcox, son of (.'apt. John and Mary (Chatfield) 
 Alcox, married ist. Pamelia Roberts. 2d. widow Abigail Good- 
 
430 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 year, both of Wolcott. He lived near " Potucco's Ring," near 
 his father's, and died May 21, 1818, ae. 59; his wife, Pamelia, 
 died Aug. 20, 18 10, ae. 49. 
 
 Children: 79 Lydia, m and d in Ohio; 80 Hannah, m 1st, 
 Richard Withington of Bucks Hill, and 2d, Capt. Gates Upson of 
 Wolcott; 81 Seth, d in Ohio; 82 Solomon, d in childhood; 83 
 Leonard, d near Cleveland, O., where Seth resided in 1857. 
 
 36 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Alcox, son of Capt. John and Mary (Chatfield) Alcox, 
 married Lydia Warner of Bucks Hill. He died at the Mill 
 Place, on Mad River, June 9. 18 19, ae. 49 ; his wife, Lydia, died 
 May 2, 1848, ae. 82. 
 
 Children: 84/airus, m Sarah W. Warner of Waterbury and d in 
 Western New York; 85 Mary, m Isaac Hotchkiss of Wolcott, d 
 Dec, 1840; 86 C/eora, d Feb. 16, 1826, ae. ^; 87 S/afira, m 
 Oct. 4, 18 1 9, Amos Shepherd of Southington; 88 Candace, m 
 George Griswold, and moved to Iowa, thence to Washington 
 Territory, where she now resides. 
 
 37 JOHN BLAKESLEE. 
 
 John B. Alcox, son of Capt. John and Mary (Chatfield) Alcox, 
 married Lois Gaylord of Wolcott, and resided near his father's 
 homestead, on Clinton Hill. He died Sept. 17, 1837, ae. 73; 
 Lois, his wife, died April 7, 1839, ae. 70. 
 
 Children : 89 Riley, m 1st, Ruth Frisbie, 2d, Olive Warner, 
 settled in Waterbury, and d there, May 21, 1857, ae. 74; 90 
 A In/on, b Feb. 22, 1790, and is still living; 91 Jedediah G., b 
 June 24, 1793; d May, 1872. 
 
 39 ISAAC. 
 
 Isaac Alcox, son of Capt. John and Mary (Chatfield) Alcox, 
 married Isabel Lane of Wolcott, sister to Mary, the wife of Mark 
 Alcox, his brother. He lived at East Church Parish, near 
 Terryville, in Plymouth, where he died Sept. 12, 1809, ae. 40. 
 
 Child: 92, he had an only child which died an infant. 
 
 40 JOSEPH CHATFIELD. 
 
 Joseph C. Alcox, son of Capt. John and Mary (Chatfield) 
 Alcox, married, Oct. 13, 1796, Anna, daughter of Capt. Amos 
 
GENEALOGIES. }^i 
 
 Bronson of Plymouth, and sister of Rev. Tillotson Bronson, L). D., 
 
 Rector of St. John's church in Waterbury. Joseph first lived near 
 "Potucco's Ring." but in 1805 he settled near his brother, |ohn 
 Blakeslee, at Clinton Hill, or New Connecticut, the highest land 
 in Spindle Hill district. He died April 3, 1829. ae. 58 ; his 
 widow. Ann;), died at West Edmeston, \. \ .. Aug. 1^. iSi'i-. 
 ae. 90. 
 
 Children: 93 Betsey, 1> April 4, 1798. d Nov. 5. 179S ; 94 Autos 
 Bronson, b Xo\ r . 29. 1799: 95 Chatjield. 1> Oct. 23, 1801 ; 96 
 Pamelia, and 97 I 'ami/a, 1> Feb. 4. 1S05. Pamelia m James 
 Bailey of Wolcott, moved to Pennsylvania, and d Feb. 1 1. 1849. 
 Pamila m Ransom Gaylord of Bristol, went to Stockbridge, N. Y., 
 and d June 14. 1833; 98 Betsey, b Feb. 14. 1S08. m Linus Par- 
 dee of Wolcott, and removed to West Edmeston, near ( )riskany 
 Falls, N. Y.; 99 Phebe, b Feb. iS, 1810, m William Norton of 
 Wolcott, lived on the family homestead, where she d July 28, 
 1844, ae. 34; 100 George, b March 26, 1812, d July 10, 1812; 
 101 Junius, b July 6, 1818, m Nancy Jane Pritchard ol Litchfield, 
 Conn., lived at Oriskany Falls, N. Y., and d April 16. 1852, ae. 
 34 ; ro2 Ambrose, b Sept. 10, 1820, m Anna V. L'pson of Wolcott, 
 and resided at Plantsville, in Southington, and removed thence to 
 Fair Haven. 
 
 41 MARK. 
 
 Mark AlcOX, son of Capt. John and Mary (Chatfield) Alcox, 
 married Mary Lane of Wolcott, in 1795. He lived on his father's 
 homestead several years, then settled near James Alcott's. where 
 his son Thomas resided many years. In winter he engaged 
 largely in the manufacturing of clock cords. He d Nov. 21. 1846 
 ae. 74; she d Oct. 8. 1834, ae. 61. 
 
 Children: 103 A/ma, and 104 Amanda, twins, d in infancy; 
 105 Thomas, never married. He lived on his father's homestead 
 and died at his sister Salina's home, Oct. 30, 1872, ae. 73. He 
 traveled in the Southern States, mostly' in Yirginia and the Caro- 
 linas, over twenty years, selling various articles of merchandise. 
 It was Thomas and Amos B. Alcott who bought broadcloth suits 
 with ruffled shirts, in Broadway, New York, on their first return 
 from the south. This was the last fancy "rig" Thomas ever put 
 on. 106 Emily, m Amos Newton; 107 A /bin, m Chloe Finch, 
 
432 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 d December, 1871 ; 108 Salina, b Aug. 12, 1807, m James Alcott,. 
 3d, of Wolcott; 109 Isaac, m 1st, Mary Farnesworth, 2d, Clarissa 
 Higby, and lived at Plainville, Conn.; no A//uira, m Thomas 
 Matthews, and resides in Hopeville, Waterbury, and has sons, 
 George and Isaac. 
 
 46 JAMES, 2D. 
 
 James Alcox, son of James and Hannah (Barnes) Alcox, 
 married Esther Castle, Jan. 8, 1800. She died March 6, 186 1, 
 ae. 85 ; he died May 30, 1862, ae. 87. 
 
 Children: in Lucius, b Jan. 24, 1801 ; 112 Lois, b July 9, 
 1805, m Ansel H. Plumb; 113 Infant, b Feb. 27, 1807, d young;. 
 114 James, b May 18, 1809; 115 Phineas C, b Dec. 2, 1817; 
 116 Leverett, b Dec. 5, 1820. 
 
 73 DAVID, JR. 
 
 David Alcox, son of David and Abigail (Johnson) Alcox, 
 married Anna Fenn of Plymouth. 
 
 Children: 117 Fenn, b Feb. 3, 1804, m Susan Taylor; n8 Lli, 
 1 1 April 21. 18 10; 119 Irena, b Oct. 4. 181 7; all removed west. 
 
 74 OBED. 
 
 Obkd Alcox, son of David and Abigail (Johnson) Alcox, mar- 
 ried, July 13, 1797, Anna, daughter of William Andrus, a soldier 
 of the Revolution, and descendant of Abraham Andrus, one of 
 the original settlers of Waterbury. She was born at Watertown, 
 Sept. 1, 1777. His home and farm were about half a mile north 
 of his father's, on the road going east. He engaged largely in the 
 manufacture of clock cord and clock pinions for Terry, Thomas. 
 and Hoadley. He died Aug. 5, [847 ; Anna, his wife, died Sept. 
 2, 1864. 
 
 Children: 120 IViL,. ,. A., 1> Aug. 6, 1798; 121 Lovina, b 
 Jan. 17, 1801, m William Knowles of Haddam, Feb. 8, 1820, d 
 March 1,1821 ; 122 Morenna, b Aug. 9, 1804; d Dec. r8. 1856; 
 123 George G, b March 25, 1807. 
 
 75 ELD AD. 
 
 Eldad Alcox, son of David and- Abigail (Johnson) Alcox, 
 married widow Sybil Bartholomew, Jan. 29, 1817. He died June 
 5, 1850, ae. 71. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 433 
 
 Children: 124 Sarah Ann, b Jan. 9, 1818; 125 Newell, b 
 Dec 23, 1820. 
 
 76 MEDAD. 
 
 Mkdad ALCOX, son of David and Abigail (Johnson) Alcox, 
 married, April 30, 1801, Sylvia Bronson of Plymouth. She was 
 born Nov. 22. 1776. He resided in Plymouth, and died Jan. 13, 
 1829; his widow, Sylvia, died Sept. 18, 1855, ae. 79. 
 
 Children: 126 Dennison, b Nov. 8, 1801 ; 127 Rosetta, b Aug. 
 3, 1X03. m Alfred Churchill j 128 Johnson, b Dec. 19, 1804; 129 
 Julia, b Oct. 12, 1806, m Willis Merrill, Oct. 18, 1827; 130 
 Addison, 1) Sept. 6, 1808; 131 Sylvia Ann, b July 14, 1810, d 
 Feb. 10, 181 1 ; 132 Lucy Maria, b Aug. 10, 18 17. 
 
 89 RILEY. — SEVENTH GENERATION. 
 
 Riley Alcott, son of John B. and Lois (Gaylord) Alcott, 
 
 married 1st. Olive Warner, 2d, Ruth Frisbie, April 13, 1820. His 
 residence was in Waterbury, near Wolcott, where his son Gaylord 
 now resides. He died May 21, 185.7, ae. 74; his wife, Olive, 
 died March 14, 1819, ae. 28; his widow, Ruth, is now in her 88th 
 year. 
 
 Children by first wife: 133 Isaac, d Nov. 19, 1826, ae. 14. By 
 second wife: 134 Jane, b Sept. 1, 1821, m Abel Beardsley of 
 Plymouth, where she resides and has children, Charles II., 
 William G, Arthur S., Ella, Samuel, Mary, Jennie, Rodolph, 
 and Franklin; 135 Gaylord. 
 
 90 ALMON. 
 
 Almon Alcott, son of John B. and Lois (Gaylord) Alcox, 
 married 1st, Betsey Cleveland, April 4, 1816; she died Oct. 18, 
 1827, ae. 32. He married. 2d. Polly Cleveland, Dec. 7, 1829; 
 she died Oct. 12. 1838. 
 
 Children: 136 Lois C, b March 22, 1817, d Oct. 5, 1827; 
 137 Clarissa, b Sept. 29, 1822, m George M. Hard, and has 
 children, Estella C, George \\\, and John A.; 138 Sidney IV., b 
 Sept. 6, 1827, d June 29. 1829. By second wife : 139 Sidney 11'.. 
 b Aug. 1, 1831; 140 Rufus C, b Feb. 28, 1833; 141 Liteian, b 
 July 11, 1835; 142 Infant, d. 
 29 
 
434 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 91 JEDEDIAH G. 
 
 Jedediah G. Alcott, son of John B. and Lois (Gaylord) Alcox, 
 married 1st, Sophia Roper, she died Jan. 19, 1833. He married 
 2d, Mercy Gaylord of Harpersfield, N. Y. His residence was on 
 Clinton Hill. He died in New Haven, April 22, 1872, ae. 79. 
 
 Children: 143 Mary; 144 Olive; 145 John ; 146 Charles; 
 147 Egbert. 
 
 94 AMOS BRONSON. 
 
 Amos B. Alcott, son of Joseph C. and Anna (Bronson) Alcott, 
 married Abigail May, May 23, 1830, at King's Chapel, Boston. 
 She was born Oct. 8, 1800. They reside in Concord, Mass. 
 (See Biog. p. 238.) 
 
 Children: 148 Anna Bronson, b March 16, 183 1, at German- 
 town, Penn., m John B. Pratt, May 23, i860, and has sons, 
 Frederick A., b March 28, 1863, and John Sewall, b June 24, 
 1866. Mr. Pratt d Nov. 27, 1870. 149 Louisa May, b Nov. 29, 
 1832, at Germantown, Penn.; 150 Elizabeth Sewall, b June 24, 
 1835, at Boston, d March 14, 1858, at Concord Mass.; 151 May, 
 b July 26, 1840, at Concord. 
 
 95 CHATFIELD. 
 
 Chatfield Alcott, son of Joseph C. and Anna (Bronson) 
 Alcott, married 1st, Nancy Comstock of Paris, N. Y., 2d, 
 Miranda Bailey, and lived at Oriskany Falls, N. Y. 
 
 107 ALBIN. 
 
 Albin Alcott, son of Mark and Mary (Lane) Alcott, married 
 Chloe Finch of Wolcott, June 24, 1807. He died Dec. n, 187 1. 
 His wife died Sept. 24, 1870. 
 
 Children: 152 Emeliiie, b Sept. 7, 1829; 153 Henry Gilbert, 
 b Feb. 27, 1832; 154 Maiiette, b March 10, 1834; 155 Sarah 
 Jane, b April 19, 1836; 156 Amos JVeivtou,b Oct. 17, 1838; 
 James P. 
 
 Ill LUCIUS. 
 
 Lucius Alcott, son of James and Esther (Castle) Alcott, 
 married Emily Roberts of Burlington, and removed to Plymouth 
 Hollow, where he died Oct. 14, 1856, ae. 56. 
 
 Children: 157 Robert C, m Mary Trowbridge; 158 John, m 
 Frances Knowles, and has a son Charles. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 435 
 
 114 JAMES, 3D. 
 
 James Alcott, son of James and Esther (Castle) Alcott, mar- 
 ried Salina, daughter of Mark Alcott, Aug. 27, 1833, ant ^ resides 
 on the homestead of his father and grandfather. 
 
 Children: 159 Esther Melissa, b April 9, 1835, m Albert N. 
 Lane, Nov. 17. 1855; 160 Harriet Ann. b Dec. 15, 1837, m 
 William F. Grilley, Jan. 8, i860, and has daughter, Eva Melissa, 
 b Oct. 16, 1866; 161 Emily, b March 15, 1841, m 1st, Berlin 
 Pritchard, Nov. 1, i860, and has a son, Evelin James, b Dec. 16. 
 1866; 162 Mary b Sept. 12, 1842, m Coral D. Blakeslee. May 
 31. 1868. 
 
 I 1 5 PHINEAS C. 
 
 Phineas C. Alcott, son of James and Esther (Castle) Alcott, 
 married 1st, Emily Horton, and removed to Medina, ()., 2d, 
 Sarah Welton of Ohio. 
 
 Children: 163 Esther; 164 Mary ; 165 Lois; 166 Eva. 
 
 Il6 LEVERETT. 
 
 Leverett Alcott, son of James and Esther (Castle) Alcott, 
 married Mary Williams of Ohio. After some experience in selling 
 goods in Southern States, while quite young, he engaged with the 
 Suspender Co., of Waterbury, for a time, in selling their goods in 
 Ohio. After his engagement with this company expired he 
 engaged in the mercantile business for himself. His first store 
 was in Medina, O., and from that place he removed to Cleveland, 
 where he has had large success. 
 
 Children: 167 Eddie, d young; 168 Willie; 169 Frankie. 
 
 I20 WILLIAM ANDRUS. 
 
 Dr. William A. Alcott, son of Obed and Anna (Andrus) 
 Alcox, married Phebe L., daughter of Deacon Irad Bronson 
 June f4, 1836. He died March 28, 1859. (See Biog. p. 265.) 
 
 Children; 170 William Penn, b July 11, 1838; 171 Phebe Ann, 
 1) ( tot. 17, 1840, m Walter Crafts, resides in Alabama, and has a 
 son. Walter Nathan, and daughter, Phebe R., b Nov. 17. 1873. 
 
 123 GEORGE GARY. 
 
 George G. Alcott, son of Obed and Anna (Andrus) Alcox, 
 married Harriet Nichols, Oct. 25, 1835. He died June 27, 1869. 
 
43^ HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Children: 172 Lovina A., b Dec. 29, 1836, m H. F. Bassett, 
 April 8, 1855, and has children, Sarah Antoinette, b May 23, 
 1857, and Frank Alcott, b April 19, 1867. 173 George Edwin, b 
 Oct. 1, 1838; 174 Antoinette, b April 24, 1840, m O. E. Smith, 
 May 14, 1863, resides in Massachusetts, and lias children, Hattie, 
 b June 6, 1864, d March 8, 1867; Annie Alcott, b Oct. 19, 1866; 
 Mabel, b March 23, 1870, d Dec. [9, 1872 ; Olive, b Dec. 15, 
 1872. 175 Anna, b May 29. 1843, m Edward W. Peck, Sept. 
 
 13, 1865, resides in Birmingham,, Conn., and has children, Lewis 
 A., b Jan. 17, 1866; Beulah, b May 29, 1868; Lovina, b Jan. 
 
 14, 1870, Archibald A., b Sept. 24, 1872. 176 Elmer, b March 
 4, 1848, m Adeline Johnson. 
 
 126 DENNISON. 
 
 Dennison Alcott, son of Medad and Sylvia (Bronson) Alcox, 
 married Emily Blakeslee, June 24, 1825, at Paris, N. Y., resides, 
 now, in Wisconsin. 
 
 Children: 177 Amelia, b May 4, 1826; 178 Maria, b Oct. 31, 
 1827; 179 William, b July 31, 1833. 
 
 128 JOHNSON. 
 
 Johnson Alcott, son of Medad and Sylvia (Bronson) Alcox, 
 married Harriet, daughter of Silas Merrill of Wolcott, June 21, 
 1830. He died Jan. 23, 1872. 
 
 Children: 180 Adeline, b April 18, 1831, d July 22, 1848; 181 
 Martha, b March 21, 1833, m John Howd, April 5, 1855, and 
 has a daughter, Hattie, b June 23, 1861 ; 182 Emily, b Jan. 3, 
 1837, d Aug. io, 1840; 183 Burritt, b May 3, 1839, ^ May 12, 
 1863 ; 184 Emma, b Aug. 4, 1844, m Frederick C. Neal of 
 Southington, and has sons, Charlie and Frank. 
 
 130 ADDISON. 
 
 Addison Alcott, son of Medad and Sylvia (Bronson) Alcox, 
 married Almira Norton of Wolcott, Sept. 12, 1838, resides in Iowa. 
 
 Children: 185 Amos Bronson, b June 2, 1839; 186 Emmerson 
 C, b Sept. 22, 1843; l8 7 Mar y Elizabeth, b March 12, 1847; 
 188 Hannah Jane, b Aug. 22, 1849; l8 9 Celia Maria, b June 9. 
 1852; 190 Carrie Eugenia, b May 16, 1S55. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 437 
 
 135 OAYLORD. — EIGHTH GENERATION. 
 
 Gaylord Alcott, son of Riley and Ruth (Frisbie) Alcott, 
 married Caroline K. Blackman of Roxbury, May 20, 1S50. She 
 died Feb. 10, 1862. He married 2d, Elizabeth Bronson of 
 Southington, April 18, 1S70. 
 
 Children by first wife: 191 Hubert Gaylord, b June 25, 1851, 
 d Sept. 6, 185 1 ; 192 Abel Seward, b Nov. 6, 1852; 193 Morris 
 Blackman, b March 13, 1S54; 194 James Lorenzo, 1) Feb. 27, 
 1856 ; 195 Edmund Gaylord, b May 27, 1858, d Sept. 22, 1865; 
 196 Carrie E., b March 20, 1861. d May 11, 1862. 
 
 139 SIDNEY w. 
 
 Sidney W. Alcott, son of Almon and Polly (Cleveland) Alcott, 
 married Mariette Alcott in 1854; resides in Waterbury. 
 Children: 197 Clara E., b Sept., 1856; 198 Kiifus C 
 
 140 rufus c. 
 
 Rufus C. Alcott, son of Almon and Polly (Cleveland) Alcott, 
 married 1st, Mary B. Pinks of New Britain, May 8, 1853, 2d, 
 Maria Hitchcock of Oxford, Sept. 30, 1858. 
 
 Children by first wife: 199 Alice J. C, b June 27, 1854. By 
 second wife: 200 Frederick d", b April 8, i860, d Feb. 4, 1868; 
 201 Hubert, b Sept. 28, 1861 ; 202 George A., b Oct. 22, 1864; 
 203 William R., b Feb. 21, 1867 ; 204 Jolui F., b April 25, 
 1868; 205 Antoinette L., b July 28, 187 1. 
 
 141 LUCIAN p. 
 
 Lucian P. Alcott, son of Almon and Polly (Cleveland) 
 Alcott, married Maria E. Robinson of Goshen, March 22, 1859, 
 and lives on his father's homestead. 
 
 Children: 206 Bertha, b June 7, 186 1 ; 207 Frances E., b 
 May 10, 1864; 208 Lois G., b Jan. 28, 1866; 209 Eddie L., b 
 April 20, 1867. 
 
 170 WILLIAM PENN. 
 
 Rev. William P. Alcott, son of Dr. William A. and Phebe 
 (Bronson) Alcott, married Sarah Jane, daughter of Rev. David 
 Merrill, of Vermont. (See Biog. p. 278.) 
 
438 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Children: 210 William Bronson, b Jan. 6, 1870, d Sept. 10, 
 1872; 211 Mary Hunt, b March 17, 187 1; 212 David Merrill 
 b Aug. 25, 1873. 
 
 173 GEORGE EDWIN. 
 
 George E. Alcott. son of George G. and Harriet (Nichols) 
 Alcott, married Sarah E., daughter of Willis Upson, March 4, 
 1 86 1. They removed to Page Co., Iowa, November, 1868. 
 
 Children: 213 Willis Upson, b Jan. 7, 1867; 214 Maria 
 Antoinette, b Aug. 18, 1869; 215 Harriet Eliza, b Aug. 2S, 187 1. 
 
ATKINS. 
 
 ADKINS, ATKINS. 
 
 This name was written on Hartford and Waterbury records 
 Adkins until near 1770, and after that time it uniformly appears 
 on the Waterbury records as Atkins. Adkins is an English name, 
 the heraldic signs indicating that the family were in the Crusades, 
 and received special honor for faithfulness in the defence of forti- 
 fications. 
 
 JOSIAH. 
 
 Josiah Adkins. of Middletown. Conn., married Elizabeth Wet 
 more, Oct. 8, 1673; died Sept. 12, 1600, leaving seven children 
 minors, and three older, probably by a former wife. 
 
 Children: 1 Thomas; 2 Samuel; 3 Elizabeth. Minors: 4 
 Sarah, ae. 16; 5 Abigail, 14; 6 Solomon, 12; 7 Josiah. 10; 8 
 Benjamin, 8 ; 9 Epkraim, 6; 10 Elizabeth, 3. 
 
 7 JOSIAH. JR. — SECOND GENERATION. 
 
 Josiah Adkins, son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Wetmorc) Adkins. 
 married Mary Wheeler of Stratford, Dec. 16, 1708, and resided in 
 Middletown. He died Nov. 1, 1724. 
 
 Children : n Joseph, b Sept., 1709; 12 Mary, b Oct. 14, 17 10; 
 13 Elizabeth, b Feb., 17 12; 14 Abigail, b Aug. 14,1713; 15 
 Josiah. b Oct. 11. 1 7 15; 16 John, b Oct. 14, 17 17, d Nov. 1, 
 1724. 
 
 I I JOSEPH. THIRD GENERATION. 
 
 Joseph Adkins.* son of Josiah and Mary (Wheeler) Adkins. 
 married Abigail Rich, and removed to Bristol, Conn., where he 
 purchased seventeen acres of land, the deed being dated, "March 
 
 *Sce lJiog. p. 274. Sec al*o pp. 18 and 20. 
 
440 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 6, in the 23d year of the reign of King George, 1749-50." He 
 was a miller, and sold, in 1753, eighty acres of land with a corn 
 mill, to Samuel Thompson of Kensington. He removed to 
 Wolcott about 1759, where he had purchased land a year or two 
 before. He was a very important and highly esteemed man in 
 Farmingbury parish. He died in 1782 ; his wife, Abigail, died in 
 the Autumn of 1796. 
 
 Children : 1 7 Sarah, m Isaac Cleveland of Wolcott, and 
 removed to "Cherries Brook" parish, in East Simsbury, Conn. 
 She had two sons and two daughters. 18 Alary, m Simeon 
 Plumb of Wolcott; 19 Joseph, b about 1743; 20 Rebecca, m 
 Heman Wooster, and died in the Eastern part of Massachusetts, 
 leaving two sons and two daughters; 21 Samuel, b 1753; 22 
 Abigail, b Aug. 19, 1745, m Gideon Finch of Wolcott; 23 Eliza- 
 beth, m Joel Lane of Wolcott, May 22, 1776; 24. Joszah. 
 
 19 JOSEPH, JR. FOURTH GENERATION. 
 
 Deacon Joseph Atkins, son of Joseph and Abigail (Rich) 
 Adkins, married Phebe Hall, and was a respected and reliable 
 citizen, and was deacon of the church nineteen years. He 
 removed to Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1805, and died there April 
 5, 1820, ae. about 77; his wife, Phebe, died in the Summer of 
 1828. (See Biog. p. 280.) 
 
 Children: 25 Rosanuah, b March 5, 1768, m Jonas Heacock 
 of Waterbury. Conn., d Jan. 11, 1790; 26 Sylvia, b Nov. 3, 1769, 
 d Jan. 11, 1790; 27 Asahcl, b Feb. 20, 1772; 28 Samuel, b Jan. 
 1, 1774, of whom we have no account; 29 Xenia,\ b June 30, 
 1776, d Jan. 8, 1777; 30 Adah, b Jan. 9, 1778, d Oct., 1778; 31 
 Phebe, b May 26, 1780, m Joseph Twitchell of Wolcott; 32 
 Abigail, b June 7, 1783, m Ziba Norton of Wolcott; 33 Joseph, 
 and 34 Joel, twins, b Feb. 10, 1786. 
 
 21 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Atkins, son of Joseph and Abigail (Rich) Adkins, 
 married Esther, daughter of Jedediah Minor of Wolcott, May 19, 
 1774; lived and died in Wolcott, July 13, 1788, ae. 35. 
 
 Children: 35 Levi, bapt Feb. 20, 1785; 36 Ashbel, bapt Feb. 
 
 f Xenia, on church book. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 441 
 
 20, 1785; 37 Betsey, bapt Feb. 20. 1785. m Reuben Chatfield of 
 Waterbury, removed to Colbrook, Conn, where she died; 38 
 Esther, bapt Sept. 4, 1785, d unmarried ; 39 Samuel, bapt June 
 t6, 1788. 
 
 24 JOSIAH. 
 
 JosiAH Atkins, son of Joseph and Abigail (Rich) Adkins, 
 married Sarah, daughter of Deacon Josiah Rogers. He left 
 Wolcott in 1802 or 3, and settled in Ashtabula Co., O., sixty miles 
 east of Cleveland. Josiah Atkins was a remarkably strong man, 
 being about six feet in height and very muscular, and of great 
 ambition in work. He is said to have walked seven miles in 
 November and chopped seven cords of coal wood (seven feet 
 long) in one day, and walked home before dark. Charles Upson, 
 Esq., measured off one acre of grass for him, and he mowed it in 
 four hours, then took his place with the other mowers and worked 
 with them all day. There was at least three tons of hay on the 
 acre he mowed. Capt. Nathaniel Lewis said of him, " that he 
 would mow or reap or chop more in one day, or any number of 
 days, than any man in the town. 
 
 Children: 40 Paulina; 41 Flaminius ; 42 Lucinda; 43 Philin- 
 tus, who d March 19, 1801, by a flood which carried away the 
 grist mill he was in, at Canton, Hartford Co., Conn.; 44 Diana; 
 45 Josiah ; 46 Albertus ; 47 Philintus. 
 
 27 ASAHEL. — FIFTH GENERATION. 
 
 Asahel Atkins, son of Deacon Joseph and Phebe (Hall) 
 
 Atkins, married 1st, Warner, 2d, Widow Prudence Metcalf. 
 
 He resided in Chenango Co., N. V.. where he died April 6, 1S57. 
 ae. 85. 
 
 Children. by first wife: 4S Fardice W., b May 19. 1797. m 
 Pleuma Judson of Connecticut, and lives in the western States ; 
 49 Selma, b May 3, 1799. m Robert Ames. Nov. 13, 1818, had 
 sons Fardice, Robert, and two others, and daughter Sallie ; 50 
 Lovema, b March (•>. 1802, m Jira Fish, has sons Asahel J. and 
 Luke M., and daughters Pleuma. Vienna, and Alvira ; 51 Aaron 
 G.,b Feb. 12, 1804 ; 52 William .V. b Dec. 8, 1805 ; 53 James 
 T.. b in 1868, m Matilda Cash, had three or four children. 
 Children by second wife-: 54 Sarah .Inn. 1) Dec 22. 1814,111 
 SO 
 
442 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 John D. Truman, and has children, Charles E., b March 4, 1835 ; 
 Arsenith, b 'Sept. 8, 1836; Sarah M., b Aug. 21, 1838 ; Mariette 
 A., b March 19, 1841 ; Marcus H., b June 4, 1844; Harriet C, 
 b July 6, 1846, d Feb. 8, 1847 ', Harriet L., b May 21, 1849. 55 
 Alvira Mali?ida, b in 18 17, m Ludington Frink, March 18, 1835? 
 had children, Rosina, b Jan. 18, 1836; Frances A., b Sept. 24, 
 1837; Billings C, b Dec. 30, 1839; phuo L -> b Ma y 7> l8 4 2 ; 
 Marvin A., b .Oct. 27, 1845; Mary E., b March 17, 1847. 5 6 
 Mary S., b March 26, 1820, m Benjamin Ingersoll, had three 
 sons; 57 Eliza D., b Nov. 6, 1822, m James Becker, has one 
 son; 58 George; 59 Charles D., b Dec. 8, 18 ti. 
 
 3^ JOSEPH, 3 d. 
 
 Joseph Atkins, son of Deacon Joseph and Phebe (Hall) 
 Atkins, married Elizabeth Cutting. 
 
 Children: 60 Rumin ; 61 Cemantha; 62 Harriet; 63 Lois; 
 64 Norman. 
 
 34 JOEL. 
 
 Joel Atkins, son of Deacon Joseph and Phebe (Hall) Atkins, 
 married Esther Burrows of Connecticut. He was skilled as a 
 joiner. He built the first Presbyterian Meeting house in Norwich 
 village, the county seat of Chenango Co., N. Y., and also the first 
 Meeting house in the village of Smyrna of the same county, 
 besides much other work of a superior kind. He left Chenango 
 county many years ago, and has not been heard of since. 
 
 Children: 65 Emily, d June, 1874; 66 Julia ; 67 Adaline ; 68 
 Lea/ider, m Eunice Chapman, and has a son, Irvin ; 69 1 1 illiam ; 
 70 Riley. 
 
 35 LEVI - 
 Levi Atkins, son of Samuel and Esther (Minor) Atkins, 
 served seven years as apprentice to Deacon Elisha Stevens of 
 Naugatuck, as shoemaker and tanner. He married Eunice Smith 
 of Naugatuck, and removed to Middlebury, Conn., where he built 
 a house near the brick-yard, and afterwards removed to Wolcott, 
 where Dennis Pritchard now resides. He afterwards removed to 
 Bucks Hill and thence back to Wolcott, where his son Levi now 
 resides. Here he took care of his grandfather, Jedediah Minor, 
 
GENEALOGH - 443 
 
 while he lived, and here, also, he died, April 4, 1856, ae. 81; his 
 wife, Eunice, died July 29, 1869, ae. 91. 
 
 Children: 71 Julia, b 1797, d Oct. 29, 1835, unmarried; 72 
 John S., 1) Aug., 1798; 73 Garry, born May, 1800; 74 Harriet, 
 b 1802, in Asaph Hotchkiss of Wolcott, removed to Medina, O., 
 and died there, leaving one daughter, Caroline; 75 Erastus, b 
 [804; 76 Betsey, b 1808, ra Prosper Hull of Tolland, Mass., d 
 Oct. 30. 1847, leaving no children; 77 Esther, b 1810, m Anson 
 11. Smith of Wolcott; 78 Levi and 79 Leva, twins, b Nov. 5, 
 1813 ; Leva m William Johnson of Wolcott, her children were 
 Henry, b 1835. and Theron. b 1S41. 80 Vina, b June 13, 1816, 
 d June 10. 1832. 
 
 36 ASHBE1 . 
 
 Vshbel Atkins, son of Samuel and Esther (Minor) Atkins, 
 
 married Cowles of Southington, removed to Genesee, N. Y., 
 
 and died there. 
 
 39 SAMUEL, JR. 
 
 Samuel Atkins, son of Samuel and Esther (Minor) Atkins, 
 married a daughter of Philo Bronson, and lived and died in 
 Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 8r Edwin; 82 Ellen. 
 
 41 FLAMINIUS. 
 
 Flaminius Atkins, son of Josiah and Sarah (Rogers) Atkins, 
 went to Ohio with his father in 1802-3. He carried the first mail 
 from Buffalo to Detroit, on foot, through the wilderness. He had 
 with him a large dog, two rifles, and an axe. He continued to 
 carry the mail, when he went only half way and met the mail from 
 Detroit and returned to Buffalo. On one occasion he waited for 
 the mail two days and three nights, in a shanty he had put up for 
 the purpose, and while there the old dog drove a large panther up 
 a tree, in the night, and in the morning the long rifle despatched 
 him, to the great relief of the master of the shanty. Mr. Atkins, 
 it is said, was over six feet in height, and chopped, in Ohio, an 
 acre of heavy forest timber as a fallow, for one dollar and a half. 
 
 51 AARON ('.. — SIXTH GENERATION. 
 
 Aaron G. Atkins, son of Asahel ami (Warner) Atkins, 
 
444 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 married Maria P. Garton, Feb. 22, 1826. He resides in North 
 Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., and is seventy years old, being a 
 grandson of Deacon Joseph Atkins. 
 
 Children: 83 David If., b Sept. 17, 1829, m Margaret Cratson- 
 bury, Oct. 25, 1854; 84 Mary M, b Oct. 15, 1831, m David E. 
 Williams, Dec, 15, 1852, d May 31, 1855; 85 Sally G., b Oct. 
 21, 1839, m David E. Williams, March 31, 1858, d Feb. 2, 1866; 
 86 James T., b Aug. 7, 1841. 
 
 52 WILLIAM S. 
 
 William S. Atkins, son of Asahel and (Warner) Atkins, 
 
 married Eunice C. Babcock, Jan. 6, 1839. 
 
 Children: 87 George H. ; 88 Delos Z., a lawyer of ten years' 
 standing, now residing in Sherborne, N. Y. ; 89 Carlos ; 90 
 Phi ma. 
 
 72 JOHN SMITH. 
 
 John S. Atkins, son of Levi and Eunice (Smith) Atkins, mar- 
 ried Esther, daughter of Rollin Harrison of Wolcott. He removed 
 to Berlin, Conn., where he died Oct. 25, 1864, ae. 64. 
 
 Children : 91 Wealthy, m Charles Higgins of Berlin, Conn ; 92 
 Rollin, d young; 93 Adaline, m Joseph Eggleston. resides in 
 Winsted, Conn. • 94 Juliette, d young. 
 
 73 GARRY. 
 
 Garry Atkins, son of Levi and Eunice (Smith) Atkins, mar- 
 ried, 1st, Melvina Welton of Plymouth, Conn., and removed to 
 Medina, Ohio, in 1829. 
 
 Children : 95 Ellen IV. ; 96 Harriet A. : these were born in 
 Wolcott. He has a daughter, 97 Elizabeth, by his fifth wife. 
 
 78 LEVI, JR. 
 
 Levi Atkins, son of Levi and Eunice (Smith) Atkins, married 
 1st, Dec. n, 1836, Emily Buckingham, of Roxbury, Conn. She 
 died May 1, 1847, and he married, 2d, widow Eunice A. Gril- 
 ley, Feb. 6, 1848. He is professionally a farmer and shoe- 
 maker, but practically a musician. His drum band has long been 
 celebrated through the State, and especially so during the late 
 war. With the violin he is quite at home, as is also his son Ho- 
 mer with the piccolo, and Atkins' Quadrille Band is well and fa- 
 
GENEALOGIES. 445 
 
 vorably known throughout the county. The one peculiarity about 
 his music is a little preference for the "old-fashioned tunes." He 
 lives comparatively at his ease, but retains the characteristic of 
 his great and first ancestor in Wolcott, — " whatever he undertakes 
 must be carried to completion." 
 
 Children by first wife : 98 Iiifant.h 1837, died young ; 99 Mary 
 Emily, b Nov. 7, 1839, m Leverett Sandford of Wolcott, d Feb. 
 6, 1873, leaving one son, Leverett, b July 7, 1862 ; 100 George^ 
 b Jan. 26, 1842; 101 Stiles U., b Sept. 29, 1844, d March 28, 
 1871, not married. Children by second wife: 102 Homer Z., b 
 Oct. 23, 1850. 
 
 IOO GEORGE. 
 
 George Atkins, son of Levi and Emily (Buckingham) Atkins, 
 married Cora Sandford, Oct., 1866. 
 Children : 103 Em ma, b March, 1869. 
 
BARNES. 
 
 I STEPHEN, 1ST. 
 
 Stephen Barnes, said to have come from Long Island, resided 
 a short time in Branford and married Mary . 
 
 Children: 2 Benjamin, b Dec. 13, 1702 ; 3 Stephen, b Jan. 2, 
 1704 or 5; \Sarah, b May 17, 1708; 5 Experience^ Dec. 4, 1710. 
 
 2 benjamin. 
 
 Benjamin Barnes, son of Stephen, 1st, married, Dec. 7, 1727, 
 Hannah Abbott, and settled in the eastern part of Southington. 
 
 Children : 6 Lydia, b Oct. 22, 1728; 7 Mary, b June 17, 1730, 
 m Noah Woodruff, Dec. 5, 1752; 8 Sarah, b Sept. 29, 1732, m 
 John Bronson, March 30, 1750 ; 9 Deborah, b Nov. 10, 1734; m 
 Luke Hart, March, 1764; 10 Eit?iice, b Nov. 8, 1737, m Joseph 
 Mallory, 1774, and settled in Wolcott, d Nov. 22, 1793. 
 
 3 STEPHEN, 2D. 
 
 Stephen Barnes, son of Stephen and Mary Barnes, married, 
 Jan. 5, 1725 or 6, Martha Wheadon of Branford, and settled in 
 the southwest part of Southington. He was a large land-holder. 
 and a man of influence and respectability in the community. 
 His wife, Martha, died March 18, 1773, ae. 65, and was buried 
 in Plantsville burying-ground, and on her headstone is written : 
 " I am the first brought here to turn to dust." He died March 
 27, 1777, ae. 73. 
 
 Children: 11 Mary, b Oct. 22, 1726, m Jacob Carter, Jr. ; t2 
 Stephen, b. Dec. 3, 1728, settled in Wolcott; 13 Jonathan, b. Feb. 
 21, 1730 or 31; 14 Martha,h Aug. 22, 1734; 15 William, !> 
 Nov. 10, 1738; 16 Nathan, b Aug. 25, 1742; 17 Asa, b Aug. 24, 
 1745- 
 
GENEALOGIES. 447 
 
 12 STEPHEN, 3D. 
 
 Sergeant Stephen Barnes, son of Stephen and Martha (Whea- 
 don) Barnes, married Sarah Barnes Nov. 14, 1 75 1, and settled in 
 Wolcott on Southington mountain. He was an active and influ- 
 ential man in Farmingbury Society a number of years from its 
 commencement in 1770, serving as Society's committee, school 
 committee, and Society's collector, and in other offices. He is 
 called Sergeant in 1772, and must have been one of the first offi- 
 cers in the first military company organized under the king, in 
 Farmington part of Farmingbury. He died Aug. 26, [784, ae. 
 50. His wife Sarah died March 4, 1798, ae. 69. 
 
 Children: 18 Sarah, b Aug. 13, 1754, d Nov. 6, 1784 (a few- 
 days after her father), ae. 31 ; 19 Philemon, b June 26, 1757, m 
 Anna Scott of Waterbury, in 1779, d Jan. 29, 1795, ae. 38, and 
 his wife, Anna, d Aug. 9, 1798, ae. 41 ; 20. Harrington, b Dec. 2, 
 1760; 21 Mark,}} March 12, 1764; 22 Martha, b Jan. 29, 1768. 
 m Samuel Poole of Bristol, June 24, 1788; 23 Nathan, b Jan. 
 8, 1771. 
 
 13 JONATHAN. 
 
 Jonathan Barnes, son of Stephen and Martha (Wheadon) 
 Barnes, married Elizabeth Woodruff, Aug. 4, 1757, and lived in 
 Southington. He died Jan. 7, 1807, ae. 76. She died Feb. 8, 
 1814, ae. 76. 
 
 Children: 2 4 Jonathan, b March 13, 1763, m Rachel Steel, 
 Feb. 19, 1789 ; 25 Elizabeth, b Oct. 21, 1764, m Rufus Ward, 
 Oct, 10, 1787, went to Ohio; 26 Mary, b Mar. 4, 1767, d July 
 6, 1772 ; 27 Stephen, b Feb. 12, 1769, m Sally Andrews; 28 Syl- 
 via, b Aug. 7, 1 77 1, m Roswell Hart, d March 21, 1857 ; 29 Lois, 
 1) 1772, m Gideon L. Smith, Nov. 15, 1793 ; 30 Levi, b June 28, 
 1777, m Hezekiah Woodruff, Oct. 28, 1800; 31 Joel, b 1779, m 
 Rebecca Stevens; 32 Truman, bapt July 6. 1783, m Lowly 
 Barrett, Jan. 3, 181 5. 
 
 15 WILLIAM. 
 
 William Barnes, son of Stephen and Martha (Wheadon) 
 Barnes, married Martha, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Judd) 
 Upson, of Waterbury. He removed from Southington to South- 
 ampton, Mass., in March, 1800. 
 
 Children : ^ Hannah, b Aug. 8, 1757 ; 34, Azuba, b Feb. 27, 
 
44-8 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 1759 ; 35 Benjamin, b Oct. 6, 1761 ; 36 Experience, b Sept. 17, 
 !763 ; 37 William, b Feb. 2, 1767 ; 38 Elijah, b July 22, 177 1. 
 
 16 NATHAN. 
 
 Nathan Barnes, son of Stephen and Martha (Wheadon) 
 Barnes, married Sarah Byington, Dec. 1, 1763, and lived and died 
 in the west part of Southington. No children. 
 
 17 ASA. 
 
 Asa Barnes, son of Stephen and Martha (Wheadon) Barnes, 
 married Phebe Barnes, and lived in what is now called Marion, in 
 Southington. He died Feb. 13, 1819, ae. 73. Sarah, his widow, 
 died Jan., 181 1. 
 
 Children: 39 Naomi, b April 27, 1766; 40, Allen, b July 15, 
 1767, d Sept. 27, 1809; 41 Selah, b March 4, 1769; 42 Ruth, 
 b Dec. 21, 1771 ; 43 Martin, b June 17, 1773, d Sept. 29, 1776; 
 44 Eli, b May 21, 1775; 45 Asa, b July 22, 1777 ; 46 Martin, 
 b March, 1779, d Sept., 1780 ; 47 Ira, b Nov. 15, 1781; 48 
 Philo, b March 2, 1783; 49 Dennis, who died Sept., 181 1. 
 
 20 farrington. 
 Farrington Barnes, son of Stephen and Sarah (Barnes) 
 Barnes, married Sally Talmage of Wolcott, Dec. 25, 1783, and 
 resided a little north of David Frost, on Southington Mountain. 
 He afterwards removed to Northampton, Mass. 
 Children: 50 Archibald ; 51 Nathan. 
 2 1 MARK. 
 
 Mark Barnes, son of Stephen and Sarah (Barnes) Barnes, 
 married Sarah Roberts of Wolcott, Nov. 16, 1786. 
 
 Children: 52 Abigail, b March n, 1789; 53 Sarah, b April 
 26, 1791 ; 54 Mark, b Dec. 13, 1795 > 55 Sylvia, b Aug. 11, 1798; 
 56 Martha, b Nov. 18, 1800; 57 Moses Roberts, b June 18, 1803. 
 
 23 NATHAN. 
 
 Nathan Barnes, son of Stephen and Sarah (Barnes) Barnes, 
 married Elizabeth ; — 
 
 Children: 58 Nathan Whiting, b Sept. 18, 1797; 59 Eliza, b 
 Dec. 14, 1798.* . 
 
 * There have been other families of this name (Barnes) in Wolcott, some 
 of whom came from Waterbury. 
 
BARTHOLOMEW. 
 
 William Bartholomew was born in Northford, Conn., Nov. 
 13, 1783. He married Hannah C, daughter of Dea. Isaac Bron- 
 son, Nov. 13, 181 1, and lived in Wolcott, nearly a mile south of 
 the center. He united with the church in 1828, under the labors 
 of Mr. Scranton, and was a valuable man to the church and com- 
 munity, serving both in various offices. He died March 22, 1850, 
 aged 66. His wife. Hannah, is still living (1873). 
 
 Children: t Thankful Bronson, b Sept. 22, 181 2; 2 Israel 
 Beard Woodward, b June 23, 1814; 3 Bertha, b Sept. 3, r8i6, 
 m David Gaylord, of Wallingford, Oct. 4, 1841 ; 4 John Milton. 
 b Feb. 3, 1818, d Feb. 4, 1818; 5 Sarah Jane, b Nov. 28, 18 19. 
 m Ira H. Smith of North Haven, Feb. 27, 1846; 6 Rmeret Ante/ia. 
 b Oct. 12, 1832, m Julius Morse of Cheshire, June, 1855. 
 
 2 ISRAEL b. w. 
 
 Israel B. W. Bartholomew, son of William and Hannah 
 (Bronson) Bartholomew, married Maria Theresa Byington of 
 Southington, Sept., 1841. He died in Hannibal, Mo., Sept. 1, 
 1846, ae. 32. His wife, Maria Theresa, died in St. Louis, Mo., 
 Jan. 26, 1844, ae. 21. 
 
 3i 449 
 
BEECHER. 
 
 I JOHN. 
 
 John Beecher's name appears very early in New Haven 
 records. 
 
 Children recorded in New Haven: 2 John, b Aug. 9, 167 1 ; 3 
 Mary, b Feb. 23, 1672 ; 4 Johanna, b July 21, 1677 ; 5 Jemima, 
 b Feb. 11, 1 68 1 ; 6 Joseph, b Feb. 13, 1683; 7 Ebenezer, b April 
 12, 1686. 
 
 6 JOSEPH, 1ST. 
 
 Joseph Beecher, son of John the first, lived in New Haven. 
 
 Children : 8 Allis, b Jan. 28, 1695 ; 9 Joseph, b Nov. 22, 1698 ; 
 10 Lidiah, b Feb. 15, 1700; 11 Hezekiah, b June 14, 1703 ; 12 
 Nathaniel, b March 7, 1706 • 13 Eliphalet, b May 31. 171 1. 
 
 9 JOSEPH, 2D. 
 
 Joseph Bercher, 2d, married Sarah Ford, May 15, 1729, and 
 lived in New Haven. 
 
 Children: 14 Joseph, b Feb. 9, 1731 ; 15 Moses, b Feb. 2, 1733; 
 16 Timothy, b Feb. 8, 1735 i *7 Abell, b Nov. 17, 1737 ; 18 Titus, 
 b July 5, 1740; 19 Amos, b June 10, 1743. 
 
 14 JOSEPH, 3D. 
 
 Capt. Joseph Beecher, son of Joseph and Sarah (Ford) Beech- 
 er, married Esther Potter, and settled in northeastern part of Wol- 
 cott, before the year 1770. He was a reliable, active man in the 
 Society and church many years. He is called captain in 1778, 
 in the records of the Society, and must have been among the 
 first officers of the first military company in Farmington part of 
 Farmingbury. He is said to have been first cousin to Rev. Dr. 
 Lyman Beecher. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 455 
 
 Children: 64 Charles; 65 Eliza ; 66 Edward Burdett ; 67 
 Moses ; 68 Mary ; 69 George Adelbert; 70 Nancy, 71 Jennette; 
 72 Harriet; 73 Virginia. 
 
 51 BUEWELL. 
 
 Burwell Bradley, son of Timothy, 19th. 
 
 Children: 74 Augusta; 75 Frances; 76 Jesse; 77 Nellie. 
 
 52 EMMERSON. 
 
 Emmerson Bradley, son of Timothy, 19th. 
 Children: 78 Wallace; 79 Winslow; 80 Bertie. 
 
 66 EDWARD BURDETT. 
 
 Edward R Bradley, son of Riley, 33. 
 
 Children: 81 //'//,/; 82 Edward; 83 Ha#ie\ 84 Harry; 85 
 William. 
 
 69 GEORGE ADELBERT. 
 
 George A. Bradley, son of Riley, 33. 
 Children: $6 John; 87 7vV^. 
 
BROCKETT. 
 
 I SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Bkockett removed from Wallingford to Wolcott, hav- 
 ing several children who were born in Wallingford. His wife, 
 Ruth, died in Wolcott, April 14, 1780. 
 
 Children: 2 Eunice, b Jan. 15, 1744; 3 Zuer, b March 24, 
 1746 ; \ Joel, b June 14, 1739 5 5 J oe ^ t> July 28, 1760 ; 6 Zenas, 
 b July 12, 1752 ; 7 Benjamin, b Oct. 1, 1760 ; 8 Rachel, d in Wol- 
 cott, Oct. 17, 1776. 
 
 3 ZUER. 
 
 Zuei? Brockett, son of Samuel and Ruth Brockett, married 
 
 Eunice , and lived in the northeastern part of the town, 
 
 his name being found on parish records very early. His wife, 
 Eunice, died March 11, 1833, ae. 81. He died Sept. 17, 1834, 
 ae. 87. 
 
 Children : 9 Ramel ; 10 Titus, m Sarah, daughter of Dea. Jus- 
 tus Peck, and d Feb. 21, 1857, ae. 77. His wife, Sarah, d April 
 23, 1850, ae. 71. 
 
 AMOS. 
 
 Amos Brockett, born April 10, 1756, married Lucy Button' 
 March 27, 1783, and lived in northeast part of Wolcott. 
 
 Children : 1 Zephna, b June 21, 1784; 2 Eli, b Sept. 11, 1786; 
 3 Amos, b April 16, 1789 ; 4 Alva, b Jan. 20, 1792 ; 5 Lucy, b 
 Dec. 8, 1793; 6 Joel,b Sept. 9, 1795 ; 7 Rhoda, b March 8, 
 1798; 8 Rebecca, b Oct. 9, 1799; 9 Rachel, b Sept. 22, 1801. 
 By second wife, Rachel: 10 Benjamin D., b Oct. 14, 1803; 11 
 Zenas, b May 4, 1806; 12 Timothy D., b Dec. 31, 1808. 
 
GENEALOGIES. • 45 1 
 
 Children: 20 John, b Jan, 10, 1756; 21 Nathan, bapt June 16, 
 1774, m Lucy, daughter of Uea. Peck (probably) ; 22 Sybil, bapt 
 June 16, 1774, m (probably) Jesse Potter of New Haven; 23 
 Joseph, bapt June 16, 1774; 24 Hezekiah L., bapt June 16, 1774; 
 25 Esther, bapt Aug. 7, 1774; 26 Sylvester, bapt April 15, 1781. 
 
 17 ABELL. 
 
 Abel Beecher lived in Wolcott, and died Oct. 27. 181 1, and 
 his son, 27 Abel, died in 1813. 
 
 19 AMOS. 
 
 Capt. Amos Beecher was in Wolcott some years, his name 
 not being as prominent on the records of the Society as his bro- 
 ther Joseph's. 
 
 Children: 28 Samuel; 29 Lucy; 30 Amos; 31 Rebecca; 32 
 Salmon /, all bapt July 29, 1781. 
 
 20 JOHN. 
 
 John Beecher son of Joseph and Esther (Potter) Beecher. 
 married Susanna Alcox, and lived on or near the homestead of 
 his father. She died Nov. 3, 1836, ae. 68. He died Aug. 4, 
 1829, ae. 75. 
 
 Children : 33 Lyman, b Aug. 19, 1793, and was killed by the 
 falling of a tree, Jan. 17, 1805; 34 John, b May 5, 1795; 35 
 Julia, b March 27, 1797, d Nov. 5, 1846; 36 Leonard, b Nov. 
 27, 1798 ; 37 Delight, b May 17, 1801, m Marcus H. Upson, Jan. 
 13, 1830, removed to Burlington, Conn. ; 38 Jesse Lyman, b < )et. 
 16, 1803, d Nov. 22, 1841 ; 39 Esther Potter; b March 1, 1806, 
 m Jarvis R. Bronson, June 24, 1835 I 4° Henry, b Jan. 4, 1809. 
 
 34 JOHN. 
 
 John Beecher, son of John and Susannah (Alcox) Beecher, 
 married widow Vina Smith, July 26, 1826. She was born May 
 1 1, 1800. He resides on his father's homestead. 
 
 Children: 41 Ellen Augusta, b June 12, 1827, m Rufus Norton, 
 April 15, 1845; 4 2 Angeline Minerva, b Sept. 6, 1829, d July 15, 
 1846 ; 43 Burritt William, b Aug. 1, 1832, d Jan. 6, 1859 ; 44 
 Lnfant, d young. 
 
452 • HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 36 LEONARD. 
 
 Leonard Beecher, son of John and Susannah (Alcox) Beech- 
 er, married Polly, daughter of John Frisbie, built a fine house 
 near his father. 
 
 Children : 45 John Merritt, b 1825 ; 46 Noble Leonard, b Jan., 
 1838. 
 
 40 HENRY. 
 
 Henry Beecher, son of John and Susannah (Alcox) Beecher, 
 married Harriet Barnes, and lives in Bristol. 
 
 Children : 47 John, lives in Brookline, N. Y. ; 48 Joseph, lives 
 in New Jersey ; 49 Dwight, lives in Bristol, Conn. 
 
 43 BURRITT WILLIAM. 
 
 Burritt W. Beecher, son of John and Vina (Smith) Beecher, 
 married Esther A., daughter of Dea. A. H. Plumb, July 8, 1855. 
 
 Children: 50 Arthur F., b Aug. 29, 1856, d Sept. 13, 1858; 
 51 Helen A., b June 28, 1858. 
 
BRADLEY.* 
 
 I TIMOTHY. 
 
 Timothy Bradley came from North Haven to Wolcott about 
 the year 1769 and resided first in a small log house. In 1772 he 
 built a frame house which is still occupied by some of his descen- 
 dants. He was a member of the Congregational church, a good 
 citizen, and kind neighbor. (See Biog., p. 298.) 
 
 Children : 3 Asakel ; 4 Timothy; 5 Ziba ; 6 Moses ; 7 Amasa; 
 8 Anion ; 9 Chloe ; 10 Lydia ; 11 Phebe. 
 
 2 ABEL. 
 
 Abel Bradley was a brother of Timothy and came from North/ 
 Haven to Wolcott and lived near his brother in the northern part 
 of the town, on the west side of Cedar Swamp. 
 
 Children: 12 Abigail; 13 Rosa una ; 14 John, who weighed 
 three hundred pounds and was strong in proportion to his unu- 
 sual weight. 
 
 3 AS AH EL. 
 
 Asaiiel Bradley, son of Timothy, lived in Wolcott. 
 Children: 15 Asakel ; 16 Rosetta ; 17 Alpheus ; iS Barzilla ; 
 19 Timothy; 20 Melinda; 21 Stephen, who had three children. 
 
 4 TIMOTHY, JR. 
 
 Timothy Bradley, son of Timothy, lived in Wolcott. 
 Children: 22 Amasa; 23 Ziba; 24 Anion; 25 Lydia; 26 
 Phebe; 27 Chloe. 
 
 5 ZIBA. 
 
 Ziba Bardley, son of Timothy, Senr., lived in Wolcott. 
 Children : 28 Harry ; 29 Lovinia ; 30 Nancy. 
 
 * A number of the Bradley families removed to Ohio as pioneers. 
 
454 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 6 MOSES. 
 
 Moses Bradley, son of Timothy, ist, lived in Wolcott. 
 Children: 31 Lue • 52 Sylvester; 33 Riley ; 34 Cynthia. 
 
 7 amasa. 
 
 Amasa Bradley, son of Timothy, ist, lived in Wolcott. 
 Children : 35 Rachel ; 36 Harry ; 37 Jemima ; 38 Chloe. 
 
 8 Amon. 
 
 Amon Bradley, son of Timothy, ist, lived in Wolcott. 
 Children: 39 Maria ; 40 Albert, had three children ; 41 Lewis, 
 had three daughters and one son ; 42 Sally. 
 
 15 ASAHEL, JR. 
 
 Asahel Bradley, son of Asahel, 15th. 
 
 Children : 43 Alphcus ; 44 Orange ; 45 Lyman ; 46 Orlando. 
 
 18 barzilla. 
 
 Barzilla Bradley, son of Asahel, Senr. 
 
 Children: 47 Asahel ; 48 Herman; 49 Stephen , and two more. 
 
 19 TIMOTHY. 
 
 Timothy Bradley, son of Asahel, Senr. 
 
 Children: 50 Mariette ; 51 Burwell ; 52 Emmerson. 
 
 22 AMASA. 
 
 Amasa Bradley, son of Timothy, Jr. 
 
 Children: 53 Harry; 54 Levi ; 55 Rachel; 56 Jemima ; 57 
 Diadama. 
 
 23 ZIBA. 
 
 Ziba Bradley, son of Timothy, Jr. 
 Children: 58 Harry; 59 Lovinia ; 60 Nancy. 
 
 24 AMON. 
 
 Amon Bradley, son of Timothy, Jr. 
 Children: 61 Harry; 62 Alpheus ; 63 Volney. 
 
 33 R ILEY - 
 Riley Bradley, son of Moses, and grandson of Timothy, ist. 
 
 
BROOKS. 
 
 Henry Brooks, Sen., of Cheshire, had eight children : 2 Henry; 
 3 Mary ; 4 Nabbx ; 5 Stephen ; 6 Jerusha ; 7 Phebe ; 8 Sarah : 9 
 Joel. ' 
 
 2 HENRY. 
 
 Henry Brooks, Jr., lived in Cheshire, and had eleven children : 
 10 Henry; it Allen; \2En0s; 13 Tenna; 14 Betsey; 15 Mary; 
 16 Jesse; 17 Aaron; 18 John; 19 Elias, b May 2, 1796; 20 
 Simeon. 
 
 19 ELIAS. 
 
 Elias Brooks, son of Henry, Jr., married, 1st, Juliana Ives of 
 Cheshire, May 26, 1824. She was born April 19, 1806, died Jan. 
 14, 1840. He married, 2d, Abigail Austin. Nov. 23, 1840. 
 
 Children by first wife : 21 Joel, b June 20, 1825, d June, 1861 • 
 22 Saninel b June 8, 1827, d Nov., 1850 ; 23 Levi, b Oct. 6, 1828, 
 d April 28, 1857; 24 Aaron, b Sept. 5, 1831, d Nov. 14, 1853; 
 25 Julia Ann, b June 3, 1834. Children by second wife : 26 
 Martha Ada line, b Nov. 1, 1842 ; 27 Esther A., b Oct. 6, 1846, 
 d June, 1850; 28 Benjamin Franklin, b March 17, 1852; 29 
 Henry Elias, d an infant. 
 
 32 457 
 
BRONSON.* 
 
 I JOHN. 
 
 John Bronson,, believed to have been one of the company who 
 came with Mr. Hooker to Hartford, in 1636, was in the bloody 
 Pequot battle of 1637. He removed to Tunxis (Farmington) 
 about 1 641, and was one of the seven pillars at the organization 
 of the Farmington church in 1652. He died Nov. 28, 1680. 
 His estate was ^"312. 
 
 Children: 2 Jacob, b Jan., 1841, m Mary and lived in 
 
 Farmington, in the Society of Kensington ; 3 John, b Jan., 1644 ; 
 4 Isaac, b Nov., 1645; 5 Mary, m Ellis; 6 Abraham, re- 
 moved to Lyme, where he died at an advanced age, leaving des- 
 cendants ; 7 Dorcas, m Stephen Hopkins of Hartford ; 8 Sarah. 
 
 3 JOHN. 
 
 John Bronson, son of the first of the name in Farmington, was 
 an early settler in Mattatuck (Waterbury) where he died. 
 
 Children: 9 y^Zv/, b 1670 ; 10 Sarah, b 1672; n Dorothy, b 
 1675; 12 Ebenezer, b 1677 ■ 13 William, b 1682; 14 Moses, b 
 1686; 15 Grace, b 1689. 
 
 9 JOHN. 
 
 John Bronson, son of John of Waterbury, removed from Wa- 
 terbury to Southington, and married Rachel Buck of Weathers- 
 field, Jan., 1697. 
 
 Children : 16 John, b Nov. 21, 1698, d 17 16 ; 17 David, b Aug. 
 9, 1704; 18 Jonathan, b May 14, 1706; 19 Joseph, b June 15, 
 1708; 20 Rachel, b July 6, 17 10; 21 Mary, b Jan. 30, 1712; 22 
 James, b Nov. 29, 17 13. 
 
 * This name is often spelled Brownson in the early records. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 459 
 
 18 Jonathan. 
 
 Jonathan Bronson, son of John and Rachel (Buck) Bronson, 
 married Abigail Clark, May 17, 1732, lived in Southington, and 
 
 died Aug. 20, 1 75 1, ae. 45. 
 
 Children: 23 Asakel, b Oct. 25, 1733; 2 4 ./ ;//// . bapt July 6, 
 1735 j 25 Amu b March 30, 1737 ; 26 Abigail, b Feb. 18, 1739; 
 27 Jonathan, b Dec. 24, 1740; 28 Son b Jan. 20, 1743, d; 29 
 Zadoc, b Aug. 7. 1745; 30 Huldah, b April 18, 1747; 31 Lois, 
 b Jan. 6, 1749 : 32 Isaac, b June 20, 1751. 
 
 24 JOHN. 
 
 John Bronson, son of Jonathan and Abigail (Clark) Bronson, 
 married, March 30, 1758, Sarah Barnes. She was born Sept. 27, 
 1732, and died Dec. 17, 1804, ae. 73. Mr. Bronson settled in 
 Wolcott soon after his marriage, probably. The earliest deed of 
 his that I have seen is dated 1762. He owned but one farm, so 
 far as known, that being the one now owned by Dea. George W. 
 Carter. He was a man of rigid intellectual qualities and vigorous 
 physical nature. Being reared in the days of Calvinistic theology 
 he was a Calvinist of the strictest sort, and having had but little 
 advantages of education, he entertained, like many of his day, a 
 decided prejudice against the higher departments of education, 
 as disqualifying men for the more honest employments of life. 
 Hence when his son Isaac desired to go to college the father was 
 most decidedly opposed to it. He was a very hard worker, and 
 retained marvelous strength after he was eighty years old. He 
 was considerably active in the parish Society for a number of 
 years after its organization. After the death of his first wife he 
 married the widow of Curtiss Hall. He died Nov. 10, 1838, ae. 
 103 years. 3 months, and 25 days, thereby living to be the oldest 
 of any person in the town except the mother of David Norton. 
 
 Children: ^t, Joel, b March 9, 1759, lived in Burlington, Ct. ; 
 his son was the well known Dr. Bronson of that place. 34 Isaac, 
 b July 19, 1 76 1 ; 35 Benjamin Barnes, b Aug*. 19, 1763, lived 
 and died in Southington ; 36 JViilcnor, bapt in Southington. April 
 27, 1766; 37 Hannah; 38 John, b Jan. 31, 1776. 
 
 29 ZADOC. 
 
 Zadoc Bronson, son of Jonathan and Abigail (Clark) Bronson, 
 
460 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 married Eunice Dutton Nov. 19, 1766, and settled in Wolcott, 
 where he was an active man some years in the parish Society, 
 serving particularly as grave digger and school committee in the 
 North East District. 
 
 Children: 39 Abigail Dutton, bapt Dec. 4, 1774; 40 Zadoc, 
 bapt Oct. 6, 1776; 41 Zenas, bapt April 23, 1780; 42 Rhoda, 
 bapt Oct. 16, 1785 ; 43 Eunice, bapt May 10, 1789. These 
 were all baptized in Farmingbury parish ; there may have been 
 others baptized in Southington. 
 
 33 Joel- 
 
 Joel Bronson, son of John and Sarah (Barnes) Bronson, mar- 
 ried , and resided in Burlington, Conn. 
 
 Children : 44 Ira, who married a Frisbie; 45 Samuel, m Ursula 
 Humphrey ; 46 Avis, m Simeon Woodruff of Burlington, and was 
 the mother of Dr. Woodruff of New Britain ; 47 Mary, m Petti- 
 bone of Burlington; 48 Nancy, m Woodruff; 49 Joel ; 50 Cyn- 
 thia, m Bull of Plymouth. 
 
 34 ISAAC. 
 
 Deacon Isaac Bronson, son of John and Sarah (Barnes) 
 Bronson, married, Feb. 10, 1773, Thankful Clark (probably), the 
 daughter of Israel Clark of Wolcott, who, I think, lived where 
 Ransom Hall now (1874) resides. He resided much of his life 
 at Wolcott Center, being one of the most active and highly 
 esteemed men in the Society, church, and town, that ever lived 
 in it. He died April 28, 1845, ae - 84. His widow, Thankful, 
 died June 23, 1847, ae. 93- (See Biog. p. 287.) 
 
 Children: 51 Isaac, b Aug. 18, 1784, d Oct. 13, 1802, ae. 18; 
 52 Clark, b Dec. 6, 1786; 53 Irad, b Aug. 27, 1788; 54 Hannah 
 C, b Aug. 25, 1790, m William Bartholomew of Northford, Conn., 
 lived in Wolcott; 55 Thankful, b Oct. 28, 1792, d May 4, 1808 ; 
 56 Sarah, and 57 Mary, twins, b July 28, 1795. Sarah married 
 Samuel Atwater of Hamden, and removed to Windham, N. Y., 
 and d 1866, and Alary, m Harry Tuttle, and lived in Cheshire, d 
 Dec. 12, 1854, ae. 59; 58 Urania, b Dec. 10, 1799, m Sheldon 
 Frisbie, removed to Ohio, and thence to Illinois, where she d July, 
 1854, ae. 54. 
 
 38 JOHN, JR. 
 
 John Bronson, son of John and Sarah (Barnes) Bronson, mar- 
 
GENEALOGIES. 461 
 
 ried Hannah Root of Farmington. She was born Feb. 14, 1781, 
 and died Feb. 24, 1853, ae. 72. He lived in Wolcott, on his 
 father's homestead, and died Nov. 25, 1866, ae. 91. 
 
 Children : 59 Jarvis Root, b April 5, 1808 ; 60 Sarah Ann, b 
 April 1, 171 1, m George \V. Carter; 61 Still man, b Sept. n, 1812 ; 
 62 Pitkin, b May 2, 181 5 ; 63 Sarah Maria, b June 18, 1823, d 
 Sept. 5, 1827. 
 
 52 CLARK. 
 
 Clark Bronson, son of Isaac and Thankful (Clark) Bronson, 
 married. May 24, 18 13, Fxperience Hart of Burlington, Conn. 
 She was born July 9, 1792, and died in Wolcott, Jan. 13, 1864. 
 He resided in Wolcott the greater part of his life, and was an ac- 
 tive and honored man in the church and community. He died 
 in Hartford, Jan. 20, 1868, ae. 82. 
 
 Children : 64 Isaac If., b April 28, 1814, d Dec, 29, 1814; 65 
 Oliver H., b Jan. 24, 1816 ; 66 Sylvia M, b Feb. 5, 1818, d Feb. 
 19, 1819 ; 67 Sylvia M, b March 13, 1820, d March 3, 1829 ; 68 
 Robert Clark, b March 29, 1825, d March 12, 1850; 69 Betsey 
 B. Tuttle, adopted daughter, b Sept. 1, 1835, resides in Litchfield. 
 
 53 IRAD - 
 
 Deacon Irad Bronson, son of Isaac and Thankful (Clark) 
 Bronson, married Phebe Norton of Bristol, Nov. 6, 181 1. He 
 was deacon of the church in Wolcott nine years, and was highly 
 esteemed. He removed to Southington, thence to Bristol, where 
 he still resides, being in his 86th year. 
 
 Children : 70 Phebe L., b Nov. 8, 1812, m Dr. William A. Al- 
 cott. June 14, 1836; 71 Isaac, b May 15, 1815, is married, and 
 resides in Bristol, no children; 72 Elizabeth T., b Jan. 27, 18 18, 
 not married. 
 
 59 JARVIS ROOT. 
 
 Jarvis R Bronson, son of John and Hannah (Root) Bronson, 
 married Esther P., daughter of John Beecher of Wolcott, June 
 24, 1835, and resides in the northeast part of the town, retaining 
 distinctly some of the characteristics of the Bronson family. 
 
 Children : 73 Lyman B., b Oct. 7, 1836; 74 Son, b Nov. 6, 
 1843, d ; 75 Martha Elton, an adopted daughter, b Oct. 2, 1838. 
 
/ 
 462 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 6 1 STILLMAN. 
 
 Stillman Bronson, son of John and Hannah (Root) Bronson, 
 married Charlotte R. Lindsley of Wolcott, March 29, 1840, and 
 resides in the northeast part of the town. 
 
 Children : 76 Emerson K., b March 21, 1841, d Feb. 21, 1846 ; 
 77 Lucy S.. b June 26, 1843, m Benjamin C. Lum, Oct. 31, 1867, 
 and resides in New Haven, having a son, William S., b Aug. 2, 
 1868, and daughter, Charlotte C, b Nov. 6, 187 1 ; 78 Harriet Z., 
 b Dec. 7, 1844, d Nov. 10, 1869 ; 79 E. Bruce, b Feb. 23, 1847, 
 d Oct. 7, 1862 j 80 Benjamin Z., b July 16, 1849; 8l EllioU, b 
 May 13, 185 1 ; 82 Esther L. M., b July 16, 1853, d Oct. 25, 
 1869 ; 83 Edith M, b Nov. 1, i860. 
 
 62 PITKIN. 
 
 Pitkin Bronson, son of John and Hafnnah (Root) Bronson, 
 married Sarah Merriam, and lives in Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 84 John T. ; 85 Edward P.; 86 Nellie ; 87 Willie. 
 
 65 OLIVER HART. 
 
 Oliver H. Bronson, son of Clark and Experience (Hart) Bron- 
 son, married Emily Munson of Wallingford, Ct., Nov. 14, 1840. 
 He learned the trade of carriage making of Chauncy Munson of 
 Wallingford, and afterwards married his eldest daughter. He re- 
 sided a short time in Meriden and removed thence to Waterbuiy 
 where, in 1841, he established a carriage business which he car- 
 ried on successfully until about 1852 when he engaged in the Wa- 
 terbury Lumber and Coal Co., where he remained until 1863. 
 He then removed to Hartford and opened a coal yard, in which 
 business he continued until his death, Nov. 28, 1867. His widow 
 still resides in Hartford. 
 
 Children: 88 Henry Trumbull, b Sept. 18, 1842; 89 Alice Em- 
 ily, b April 21, 1848 j 90 Lillie Martha, b March 6, 1859, d May 
 31, 1862; 91 Arthur Hart, b May 14, 1865. 
 
 73 LYMAN B. 
 
 Deacon Lyman B. Bronson, son of Jarvis R. and Esther P. 
 (Beecher) Bronson married Martha A., daughter of Mark Tuttle, 
 Jan. 1, 1859. He united with the church when thirteen years of 
 age, and was active and very successful in his church relations. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 463 
 
 At the time of his death he was deacon of the church, superinten- 
 dent of the Sunday school, and one of the most reliable and valu- 
 able young men of the community, and many persons remarked 
 concerning him, that " Any one could be more easily spared than 
 he." After a few days sickness with diphtheria he closed his 
 earthly life May 27, 1866. 
 
 Children: 92 Edward L., b May 18, i860; 93 Esther Ardelia. 
 b Aug. 27, 1862, d June 23, 1866. 
 
 88 HENRY TRUMBULL. 
 
 Henry T. Bronson, son of Oliver H. and Emily (Munson) 
 Bronson, married Ellen Amelia Philips of New York, June 10, 
 1869, and resides in Hartford, Ct. He enlisted, in Aug., 1862, 
 in the 23d Connecticut Volunteers, and served as 1st Sergeant of 
 Co. A, one year, about New Orleans, under Gen. Banks, and a 
 part of the time in erecting fortifications under Gen. Weitzel. 
 
 Children : 94 Oliver Hart, b March 26, 1870; 95 William 
 Henry, b Sept. 28. 1S71 ; 96 Helen Chauncey, b Jan. 3, 1873. 
 
BROWN. 
 
 William H. Brown, born March 5, 1828, in Boston; married 
 Mary A. E. Richards, April n, 187 1. Resides half a mile south 
 of Wolcott Center. 
 
 Child: Willie, b Jan. 16, 1872, d Oct. 17, 1872. 
 
 I JOHN. 
 
 John Brown was born July 4, 1844, in Maryland. He mar- 
 ried, August 13, 1866, Sarah Ann Pratt of Cheshire, born Jan. 1, 
 1848. They reside near Mr. Isaac Hough's, on the road from 
 Wolcott to Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 2 George Winfield, b July 14, 1868; 3 Nellie Ann, 
 b May 10, 1870. 
 
BYINGTON. 
 
 I DANIEL. 
 
 Daniel Byington, Senr., bom Sept. 18, 17 11, was son of Jon- 
 athan of Branford, came to Wolcott, and was one of the leading 
 men in organizing the parish of Farmingbury, and lived at the 
 •' mill place." He was chosen clerk of the Society at its first 
 meeting, and held that office one year, after which his son accept- 
 ed it. He and his wife Sarah united with the church in May after 
 its organization. He appears to have been a mechanic, and to 
 have had a shop for the construction and repairing of various 
 wooden articles of use in those days. He died Nov. n, 1781, 
 but no grave-stone with an inscription marks his resting-place, for 
 at most of the graves constructed in those early times there were 
 only small field-stones placed without any inscriptions. 
 
 Children: 2 Daniel; 3 Samuel. 
 
 2 DANIEL, JR. 
 
 Daniel Byington, Jr., married Elizabeth Hall, daughter of the 
 first settler of that name in Wolcott. He was clerk of the Society 
 twenty-six or seven years, and was on committees of various kinds 
 for many years. His mechanical skill, and that of his son Daniel, 
 was celebrated for years for the making of the "great wheels" for 
 spinning wool, and the "little wheels" for" spinning flax. (See 
 note, page 71.) 
 
 Children: 4 Moses; $Jared; 6 Jonah; 7 Heman; 8 Daniel; 
 9 Anne, all baptized March 20, 1774; 10 Elizabeth, bapt July 30, 
 1775; n Rufus, bapt June 14, 1778; 12 Lydia, bapt June 10, 
 17S1 ; 13 Zebulon, bapt Feb. 1.3, 1785; 14 Active, bapt Oct. 26, 
 1788. 
 
 33 465 
 
466 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 3 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Byington, son of Daniel Byington, Senr., married 
 
 Olive , and had a farm and " tavern," or public house, at 
 
 Wolcott Center. Many of the business meetings of the Society 
 were held at his house. 
 
 Children: 15 Abraham, bapt July 19, 1789; 16 Adnah, bapt 
 Nov. 27, 1791. 
 
 8 DANIEL, 3D. 
 
 Daniel Byington, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hall) Bying- 
 ton, married Susy , and lived at the mill place, and was a 
 
 mechanic with his father. 
 
 Children : 17 Zina, b July 20, 1795; 18 Amy, b Oct. 28, 1797 ; 
 19 Hiram, b Aug. 19, 1800. By second wife : 20 Polly, b Sept. 3, 
 1805- 21 Randal, b Sept. 15, 1806; 22 Wells, b Nov. 8, 1808; 
 23 Coral, b June 12, 1811 : 24 Ambrose Ives, b Feb. 18, 1813; 
 25 William Robinson, b July 25, 1814. 
 
CARTER. 
 
 I JACOB, 1ST. 
 
 Jacob Carter came from Southold, L. I., to Branford, Conn., 
 and married Dorcas Tyler, Dec. 4, 17 12. She died 1735 or 6. 
 
 Children: 2 Sarah, b Feb. 4. 17 14; 3 Jacob, 2d, b Nov. 26, 
 1 7 16; 4 Abel, b June 4, 17 18. 
 
 3 JACOB, 2D. 
 
 Jacob Carter, son of Jacob and Dorcas (Tyler) Carter, married 
 Mary, daughter of Stephen Barnes, 2d, and settled in the south 
 part of Southington, where he died July 6, 1796. Mary, his wife, 
 died Oct. 23. 1788, ae.62. 
 
 Children : $ Jacob, b May 1, 1745; 6 Sarah, b Sept. 16, 1747 ; 
 7 Step/wit, b July it. 1 749 ; 8 Jonathan, b May 20, 1751 ; 9 Ithiel, 
 b Aug. r, 1753, lived in Warren, and later in Torrington and 
 other parts; 10 Isaac, b May 12, 1757; n Levi, b Sept. 23, 1762. 
 These all settled in Wolcott. 12 Elihu, bapt March 18, 1759, 
 lived in Southington.* 
 
 4 ABEL. 
 
 Abel Carter, son of Jacob and Dorcas (Tyler) Carter, married 
 Mary Coach April 17, 1739. 
 
 Children: 13 Dorcas, b June 28, 1739; 14 John, b Nov. 20, 
 r 741 ; 15 Daniel, b May 29, 1744; 16 Abel, b March 21, 1747. 
 
 5 JACOB, 3D. • 
 
 Jacob Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Barnes) Carter, mar- 
 ried Mary Hitchcock, and settled on East Mountain, Wolcott. 
 His wife, Mary, was killed by being thrown from a wagon in 
 
 * For these names see Town Records of Branford ami Southington. 
 
468 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Becket, Mass., in 1818. After her death he lived with his child- 
 ren in the latter place. 
 
 Children: 17 Preserve, b Feb. 24, 1773; 18 Marcus, b July 28, 
 1774, removed to Massachusetts, thence to New York and Michi- 
 gan; 19 Rhoda, b Nov. 6, 1775, m Washington Upson ; 20 Mary, 
 b Feb. 1 6, 7781; 21 Uri, b June 15, 1782; 22 Gains, and 23 
 Loami, twins, b Dec. 2, 1785. 
 
 7 STEPHEN. 
 
 Stephen Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Barnes) Carter, 
 
 married Triphena Upson, June 2d, 1779, and lived for a time 
 where Dea. Miles S. Upson does, and afterward he lived near 
 
 Mahlon Hotchkiss' present dwelling. They are all removed from 
 Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 24 Stephen, bapt Jan. 15, 1786; 25 Reuben, bapt 
 Jan. 15, 1786. 
 
 8 JONATHAN. 
 
 Jonathan Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Barnes) Carter, 
 married Abigail Moulthrop, Jan. 10, 1776, and lived in Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 26 Joel, b Dec. 5, 1778; 27 Ira, b May 4, 1781 ; 28 
 Asa, bapt July 4, 1784; 29 Eli, b Oct. 5, 1786. 
 
 IO ISAAC. 
 
 Isaac Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Barnes) Carter, mar- 
 ried • . 
 
 Children: 30 Seth, b March 17, 1783 ; 31 Sybil, b Jan. 8, 1785 ; 
 32 Zera, b April 17, 1787; 33 Salmon, and 34 Salma, twins, b 
 April 20, 1789. 
 
 12 ELIHU. 
 
 Elihu Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Barnes) Carter, mar- 
 ried Mercy Scott, Jan. 29, 1789. She died Nov. 10, 1789. He 
 married, 2d, Sarah Hopkins, Nov. 2d, 1790. 
 
 Children by first wife : 35 Polly, m Nathan Lewis. Children 
 by second wife: 36 Mary, b Oct. 24, 1789; 37 Mercy, b Dec. 22, 
 1 791, m John Howd; 38 Hopkins, b Dec. n, 1794, married Phila 
 Frisbie; 39 Asa/iel, m Aurelia Pond; 40 Janette, b Sept. 5, 1803, 
 m Timothy Higgins, Nov. 4, 1824. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 469 
 
 17 PRESERVE. 
 
 Major Preserve Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Hitchcock) 
 Carter, married Polly Wood, of Bristol, and resided in Wolcott. 
 He was a man of considerable influence in the church, Society, 
 and town, and maintained the dignity and honor characteristic in 
 the Carter family. 
 
 Children: 41 Preserve IV. , who died in Waterbury ; 42 Polly 
 
 II'., m ■ Crofts, of Waterbury, has children Edward, Margaret, 
 
 and Mrs. Frederick Norton; 43 C H . 
 
 Uri Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Hitchcock) Carter, mar- 
 ried L. S. Baxter, of Wolcott, died Feb. 6, 1835. She died March 
 .7, 1867. * 
 
 Children : 44 George W., b Jan. 18, 181 1 ; 45 Henry J., b Feb. 
 17, 1813 ; 46 John J/., b Oct. 2, 1815 ; 47 Mary E., b March 
 12, 18 18, married William W. Steel, and has children Fannie and 
 Truman; 4S L. Salina, b Feb. 25, 1820; 49 Cyrus If., b Oct. 
 19, 1822. 
 
 2 2 GAIUS. 
 
 Gaius Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Hitchcock) Carter, 
 married Hannah Perkins of Wolcott, and removed to Becket, 
 Mass. 
 
 Children: 50 Mark; 51 Stephen; 52 Mary; 53 Lydia. 
 
 2T, LOAMI. 
 
 Loami Carter, son of Jacob and Mary (Hitchcock) Carter, 
 married Marcia, daughter of David Harrison, of Wolcott. 
 Children: 54 Ezra; 55 Esther ; 56 Joel; 57 Trad; 58 Ami. 
 
 44 GEORGE WILLIS. 
 
 Deacon George W. Carter, son of Uri and L. S. (Baxter) 
 Carter, married Sarah A. Bronson, who died March 12, 1868. 
 Married, 2d, Mary P. Baldwin, May 10, 1871. She was born 
 March 27, 1823. He is deacon of the church, and has served the 
 Society continuously, as clerk and treasurer, over twenty years. 
 Has been a senator and representative in the State Legislature. 
 
 Children : 59 Henry B., b Dec. 2, 1839; 6° Mary M, b May 
 
470 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 23d, 1842, m George W. Walker; 61 Sarah S., b May 23, 1842, 
 d Aug. 24, 1866 ; 62 Hanna/i J., b Jan. 26, 1844, m Elmer Hotch- 
 kiss : 63 Frederick W., b Oct. 27, 1845; 64 Walter S., b "Dec. 3, 
 
 1853, d May 8, 1855. 
 
 45 HENRY J. 
 
 Henry J. Carter, son of Uri and L. S. (Baxter) Carter, mar- 
 ried Mary Elton, of Burlington, and removed to Michigan, in 
 1840 ; has three children. 
 
 46 JOHN M. 
 
 John M. Carter, son of Uri and L. S. (Baxter) Carter, mar- 
 ried, removed to New Madrid, Missouri, and died Feb., 1865, 
 leaving three chddren. His wife's death occurred previous to his. 
 
 59 HENRY b. 
 
 Henry B. Carter, son of George W. and Sarah A. (Bronson) 
 Carter, married Mary R., daughter of Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Feb. 1, 
 i860, and resides near his father-in-law's home. 
 
 Child : 65 Charles H. 
 
CHURCHILL 
 
 I DAVID. 
 
 David Chuuchill married Sarah, daughter of Jesse Aleox, 
 Senr., and lived near Amos Seward's. 
 
 Children: 2 Ruth, b Aug. 31, 1787; 3 Clara, b Jan. 8, 1789; 
 4 Ithimar, b May 18. 1790; 5 Mi/ton. b Nov. 15, 1791 ; 6 Lewis, 
 b Oct 8, 1793; 7 Polly, b Aug. 29, 1795. d Sept. 5. 1795; 8 
 /V/r. 1) Jan. 28, 1797; 9 Sally, 1> July 3, 1798; 10 Alfna, 11 
 .//Av/, \i Alfred, triplets, b May 28, 1804: Albert d Aug. 16, 
 1804. This is the only case of triplets I have found on YYolcott 
 records. 
 
 12 ALFRED. 
 
 Alfred Churchill, son of David and Sarah (Alcox) Churchill. 
 married. 
 
 Children: 13 Eveline, b Oct. 3, 1830; 14 Newell />'.. b July 
 11. 1833: 15 Dennis A., b Feb. 5, 1837. 
 47' 
 
CURTISS. 
 
 Abel Curtiss married Anne Alcox, and lived on a farm a lit- 
 tle west of the "mill place," where he died. 
 
 Children: i Deborah, b Dec. 31, 1771, m Zephaniah Parker; 
 2 Abel, b Nov. 29, 1773; 3 John, b Dec. 7, 1775; 4 Anna, b 
 Nov. 23, 1778, m Truman Sanford, and had children Pamelia, 
 Triphena, Maria, Curtiss, Rhoda, Manila, Ruel, Rufus ■ 5 Sylvia, 
 b Dec. 9, 1780, m Silas Merrill of Wolcott ; 6 Isaac, b Feb. 11, 
 1783, removed to New York; 7 Joel, b Sept. 21, 1786; 8 Bar- 
 tholomew, b April 19, 1788, m Brockett, and removed; 9 
 
 Roxanna, b April 28, 1790, m William Parker, March 22, 1808, 
 lived a time in Wolcott. 
 
 3 JOHN. 
 
 John Curtiss, son of Abel and Anne (Alcox) Curtiss, married, 
 and lived on the old homestead, where he died. 
 Children: 10 Carlos ; it Augustus; 12 one other. 
 
 7 JOEL. 
 
 Joel Curtiss, son of Abel and Anne (Alcox) Curtiss, married 
 Hannah, daughter of David Pardee, and removed to Cairo, N. Y., 
 where he died. His wife died in Illinois. 
 
 Children: 13 Polly ; 14 Harriet; 15 George ; 16 Elmira ; 17 
 Anson; 18 Ann Eliza. 
 472 
 
FAIRCLOUGH. 
 
 Joseph Fairclough was horn in Birmingham, England, Feb. 
 16, [792, and married Elizabeth Mills, Oct. 1, 1817. They came 
 to New York early in 1828. He died. Nov., 1865, in Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 1 John, b in England, July 10, 1818; 2 Mary, b in 
 England, Jan. 28. 1820, married, 1st, Laurin Russell, March [9, 
 1X41 ; 2d, Edward de Bellefonds, Aug. 7, 1848; 3 Charles, bin 
 England, Jan. 19, 1822, d [an. 20, 1822; 4 Susanna. 1) in Eng- 
 land, Jan. 24. 1825, m Thomas Royce, Feb. 18. 1844; 5 Charles 
 S., 1) Feb. 17. 1828, in New York ; 6 Thomas, b Feb. 1 1, 1831 ; 7 
 Joseph, b Sept. 6, 1833; 8 Matthew, b March 13, 1834, d Sept. 
 25, 1836; 9 James, b March it, 1837, d July 4, 1863, not mar- 
 ried ; to refer, b Nov. 4, 1841, d Nov. n, 1841. 
 
 I JOHN. 
 
 John Fairclough, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mills) Fair- 
 clough. m Lavinia Merrill, P'eb. 17, 1844, and resides in Water- 
 bury. 
 
 5 CHARLES S. 
 
 Charles S. Fairclough, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mills) 
 Fairclough, married Fliza Rrodrick. 
 
 6 THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Fairclough, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mills) 
 Fairclough, married Elizabeth Ann Kahoe. April 4, 1859, in New- 
 York ; now resides in Wolcott. 
 
 7 JOSEPH. 
 fosKi'ii Fairclough, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mills) Fair- 
 
 34 473 
 
474 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 clough, married Catharine A. Baldwin, July 2, 1857- lives in 
 Wolcott. 
 
 Children: n Mary E.,b March 26, 1859, d May 25, 1864; 
 
 12 Charles S., b March 24, 1861 : 13 Harriet A, b May 3, 1863 ; 
 
 14 Benjamin E, b Oct. 8. 1865 ; 15 Henry H.. b March 15. 1868 ; 
 
 16 Emma J., b Sept. 17, 1870; 17 Laura £., b Nov. 15, 1872. 
 
1 INCH. 
 
 I GIDEON. 
 
 Gideon Finch was born Oct. 23, 1743. and married, in Wol- 
 cott, Abigail, daughter of Joseph Atkins. Senr., and settled in 
 Wolcott. She was born Aug 19, 1745. 
 
 Children: 2 Isaac, b Feb. 6, 1769; 3 Samuel, 1> 177 1, d young; 
 4 Gideon, b Jan. 6, 1775, removed to Ohio ; 5 Abigail, b Feb. 16, 
 1 7 7 S . m Daniel Hall of Waterbury; 6 Samuel, b Dec. 2, 1780; 
 7 Joel, b June 21, 1783, d in Wolcott, not married; 8 Jerusha, b 
 Feb. 5, 1786, d in Wolcott, not married; 9 Adah, b Dec. 16, 
 d in Wolcott. not married. 
 
 6 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Finch, son of Gideon and Abigail (Atkins) Finch, 
 married Sarah Dames of Waterbury, and lived on a farm half a 
 mile the ■"mill place." He died April 22, 1841, ae. 60. 
 
 ilis wife. Sarah, was born May 5. 1786, died Dec. 26, 1870, ae. 
 
 84 
 
 Children : 10 Sarah A, b Dec. 29, 1804, m 1st, William IJlakes- 
 
 Munson Wilcox: 11 Chloe />'.. b June 24, 1807, m Albin 
 
 Alcott; 12 Samuel r/..'b Aug. 23, 1S10. d Aug. 10. 1827; [3 
 
 Lucian A'., b March 19, 1813, resides in New Haven; 14 Eliza 
 
 /., 1) Dec. 1 X. 1S18. m Hendrick Norton; 15 Benjamin F.,b 
 
 Sept. 24, 1821 ; 16 George A'., b Jan. 30. 1827, d Jan. 12, 1828. 
 
 13 LUCIAN R. 
 
 Lucian R. Finch, son of Samuel and Sarah (Barnes) Finch, 
 married, Feb. 18. 1837. Charlotte, daughter of Chauncey Turner, 
 
 of Susquehannah Co.. l'enn. She was born Sept. 28, 1S16. He 
 
476 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 resides in New Haven, and is a commission merchant in New 
 York city. 
 
 Children: 17 Leroy IV., b Jan. 18, 1839; l8 Henry T. b June 
 24, 1843, in Sarah Barker of Glens Falls, N. Y., July 2, 1873 ; 19 
 Edward /.., b May 31, 1845; 20 George Chauncey, b Nov. 1, 
 1S52, d July 28, 1854, at New Haven, Conn. 
 
 15 P.ENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 
 
 Benjamin F. Finch, son of Samuel and Sarah (Barnes) Finch, 
 married Janette Hall of Plymouth, daughter of Sherman Hall, 
 and grand-daughter of Jonathan Hall, of Wallingford. He re- 
 sides on his father's homestead. 
 
 17 LEROY W. 
 
 Leroy W. Finch, son of Lucian R. and Charlotte (Turner) 
 Finch, married, Oct. 14, 1862, Martha H. Hunter of Montgomery 
 Co., Md. She died Aug. 15, 1870. He died July 19, 1872. 
 
 Child: 21 Lucian /, b April 5, 1867, living with his grand- 
 parents. 
 
 19 EDWARD L. 
 
 Edward L. Finch, son of Lucian R. and Charlotte (/Turner) 
 Finch, married Anna R. Crane, of New York City, Feb. 12, 1873. 
 Child: 22 Edward Ridley, b Nov. 15, 1873. 
 
FRISBIE. 
 
 I JOHN'. 
 
 John Frisbie, and Abigail Culpepper, his wife, came from 
 -IV ales, and settled in Branford, Conn. 
 
 2 ELIJAH. 
 
 Elijah Frisbie, son of John and Abigail (Culpepper) Frisbie, 
 married, ist, Abigail Culver, who died April 19, 1771 ; 2d, .Eliza- 
 beth Ives, who died Oct. II, 1770. He married. 3d, I.vdia Red- 
 field. He came from Branford to Wolcott, in 1759, and lived on 
 the road to Waterbury, near John Frisbie's present residence. 
 He died Feb. 15, 1800, ae. 81. 
 
 Children: 3 Esther, 1> 1743, d 1795; 4 Jitdah, b Sept. 12, 
 (o. s.) 1744; 5 Reuben, 1> 1746; 6 Abigail, m Dan Tuttle ; 7 
 Charles, b 1752 ; 8 Hannah, m Elnathan Thrasher, and lived in 
 Woodtick, on the farm now owned by Orrin Hall, and had child- 
 ren, John. Abigail, Betsey. Hannah, and Elnathan; 9 Sarah,, m 
 [chabod Merrill; \o John, b 1762. 
 
 4 JUDAH. 
 
 Judaii Frisbie, son of Elijah and Abigail (Culver) frisbie. 
 married Hannah, daughter of Israel Baldwin of Buck's Hill, Aug. 
 12. 1779, and settled in Woodtick. (See Biog., p 303.) 
 
 Children: ir Mary, b 1780, m Abner Hotchkiss ; 12 David. 
 b Jan. 12 (o. S.), 1782; [3 Hannah, b Nov. 10. 1783, rn Orrin 
 Jackson, and had children, Northrop, Mary M.. Andrew I!.. Kris 
 bie J., Eliza, Orrin H., Hannah J.; \^ Jitdah, d 1829. 
 
 5 REUBEN. 
 
 Reuben Frisbie, son of Elijah and Abigail (Culver) frisbie. 
 
47$ HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 married, ist, Hannah Wakelee, born 1751, d 1778- 2d, Ruth, 
 daughter of Amos Seward, June 3d, 1779. She died 1833. He 
 died 1824. 
 
 Children by first wife: 15 Elizabeth, m Mark Warner; 16 
 Daniel, m Eunice Hill; 17 Ebenezer, m Deborah Twitchell : 
 [8 Abigail, m Sanford. By second wife: 19 Polly, m Dan- 
 iel Jackson; 20 Samuel, m ist, Isabella Barnes, 2d, Margaret 
 Conner; 21, A'///'//, m Riley Alcott; 22 .Sir/VY. m Zara Warden. 
 
 7 CHARLES. 
 
 Charles Frisbie, son of Elijah and Abigail (Culver) Frisbie, 
 married Lydia Alcott. He died 1799, ae. 47. His widow mar- 
 ried Capt. Nathaniel Lewis. 
 
 Children: 23 Ransom ; 24 Polly; 25 Isaac ; 26 Sheldon, ist, 
 din infancy; 27 Sheldon, 2d; 28 Charles. 
 
 IO JOHN. 
 
 John Frisbie, son of Elijah and Abigail (Culver) Frisbie, mar- 
 ried Rosanna Alcott, Jan. 4, 1787. He died in 1846, ae. 84. 
 
 Children: 29 Levi, d Nov. 14, 1852; 30 Amanda, m Green 
 Perkins, had children, Rosanna, Mark, Parle)', m Dr.- Byington of 
 Wolcott, and later of Southington; 31 Esther, m Salmon Johnson, 
 had children, Charlotte, John F., Charles; 32 James, d Dec, 1862; 
 33 Parley, m Leonard Beecher, had children, Merritt, Noble; 34 
 Ira. 
 
 12 DAVID. 
 
 David Frisbie, son of Judah and Hannah (Baldwin) Frisbie, 
 married Leva Hall, Feb., 1805. He lived on his father's home- 
 stead. 
 
 Children : 35 Samira, b Aug. 10, 1806, m Joel Johnson. Aug. 
 11, 1825, and removed to California, where both died, leaving 
 three sons: 36 Hannah K, b Nov. 15, 1810, m Oct. 10, 1829, 
 Carlos R. Byington of Southington. d Nov. 10, 1870. leaving 
 three sons; 37 Almira, b Nov. 17, 1812, m David Somers, Oct, 
 16, 1830; 38 David B., b July 19, 1S14. 
 
 27 SHELDON. 
 
 Sheldon Frisbie, son of Charles and Lydia (Alcott) Frisbie, 
 married Urana Bronson. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 17<» 
 
 Children: 39 Isaac; 40 Bronson ; 41 She/don. 
 
 34 IRA. 
 
 Ira Frisbie, sun of John and Rosanna (Alcott) Frisbie, mar- 
 ried Sarah E. Hotchkiss, Dec. 20, 1826. He died July 6, 1863. 
 
 Children: 42 John, d in infancy; 43 Emogene ; ^Elizabeth, 
 b Jan. 21, [832; 45 John, 1) Oct. 1. 1838. 
 
 38 DAVID B. 
 
 David B. Frisbie, son of David and Leva (Hall} Frisbie, mar- 
 ried Charlotte Hall of Cheshire, and lived on his father's hi 
 
 stead. 
 
 Children: 46 Darn/ /... b March 15, 1841. 
 
 46 DAVID L. 
 
 David L. Frisbie, son of David B. and Charlotte (Hall) Fris- 
 bie. married Ann Downes of Waterbury, Oct. 8. 1868. and lives on 
 the old homestead. 
 
 Children: 47 Frank David,h Dee. 30, 1870; 48 Berkley Levi, 
 b March 8, 1874. 
 
FROST. 
 
 1 DAVID, SENR. 
 
 David Frost, Senr., was born Sept. 5, 1742, and married Mary 
 -, born Dec. 22, 1740. They lived three miles east of Water 
 
 bury, on Southington road, at a. place now called East Farms. 
 He died Dec. 15, 1812. His wife, Mary, died Feb. 6, 1819, ae. 
 
 79- 
 
 Children: 2 Jesse, b Oct. 18, 1762, became a Baptist minister, 
 living not far from his father's home ; is well and favorably re- 
 membered by the old people now living; 3 Enoch, b Jan. 8, 1765 
 lived in town of Waterbury; 4 David, b March 1, 1767, settled 
 on Southington mountain; 5 Naomi, b July 1, 1770; 6 Mary, b 
 March 24, 1775, d Sept. 14, 1778; 7 Mary,b March 11, 1780. 
 
 4 DAVID, JR. 
 
 David Frost, son of David and Mary Frost, married Mary 
 Ann, daughter of David Hitchcock of Southington. He settled 
 on Southington mountain, a little north of Capt Nathaniel Lewis, 
 and was a man of considerable responsibility and influence in the 
 town. He died March, 18, 1850, ae. 83. His wife, Mary Ann, 
 was born June 14, 1770, and died Nov. 24, 1832, ae. 62. 
 
 Children: 8 Naomi, b Aug. 10, 1792, m Neal ; 9 -Levi 
 
 Brown, b Aug. 21, 1794; 10 Lucy, b March 29, 1797, m Seth 
 Alcox ; 11 David Hitchcock, b Oct. 16, 1799; 12 Martha, b Feb. 
 14, 1803, d Aug. 16, 1803 ; 13 Patty, b Nov. 4, 1804, m Herrick 
 Payne; 14 Sylvester, b May 8, 1807; 15 Polly Ann, b Aug. 31, 
 1809. 
 
 9 LEVI BROWN. 
 
 Levi B. Frost, son of David and Mary Ann (Hitchcock) Frost, 
 
 480 
 
GENEALOGIES. 48 1 
 
 married Sylvia, (laughter of Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, and lived in 
 Marion, Southington. 
 
 Children: 16 Tra Sylvester, b Aug. 20, 1820; 17 James £,., b 
 Aug. 15, 1823. d Sept. 24, 1843; x 8 Lewis Hall, b March 10, 
 1826; 19 Levi Dwight, b Oct. 10, 1830; 20 Reuben Thomas, b 
 Aug. 20, 1835; 21 Mary Ami. b July 17. 1841, m Lewis Dailey 
 <>f Watertown, Conn. 
 
 18 LEWIS HALL. 
 
 Lewis H. Frost, son of Levi B. and Sylvia (Lewis) Frost, mar- 
 ried Adaline Lewis; resides in Marion. 
 Children: 22 Lewis E. ; 23 James. 
 
 [9 LEVI DWIGHT. 
 
 Levi I). Kknsr. son of Levi B. and Sylvia (Lewis) Frost, mar- 
 ried Cornelia Thorp ; resides in Marion. 
 
 Children : 24 Cora M., b June 4, 1859] 25 Edson /.., b April 
 1 1, 1862 ; 26 Edgar IV., b June 9, 1864; 27 Cornelia C, b Sept. 
 26, 1866, d Aug. 5, 1868; 28 Cornelia G., b Jan. 22, 1869. 
 
 20 REUBEN THOMAS. 
 
 Reuben T. Frost, son of Levi B. and Sylvia (Lewis) Frost, 
 married Helen Stever of Bristol ; lives in Marion. 
 Child: 29 Helen J., b May 22, 1874. 
 
 35 
 
GILLET. 
 
 Nathan and Jonathan came from England to Dorchester, Mass., 
 in 1630. Nathan was admitted freeman in Dorchester in 1634, 
 and removed to Windsor in 1635, and afterward removed to Sims- 
 bury where his wife died Feb. 21, 1670. 
 
 Children: 1 Elizabeth, b Oct. 6, 1639; 2 Abia, b Aug. 22, 
 1641 ; 3 Rebecca, b June 14, 1646, d July 13, £647 ; 4 Elias, bapt 
 July 1, 1649; 5 Sarah, bapt July 13, 165 1 ; .6 Benjamin, b Aug. 
 29, 1653 ; 7 Nathan, b Aug., 1655; 8 Rebecca, b Dec. 8, 1657. 
 
 7 NATHAN, JR. 
 
 Nathan Gillet, Jr., son of Nathan the emigrant, married, ist, 
 Rebecca Owen, June 13, 1692 • 2d, Hannah Buckland. 
 
 Children by first wife : 9 Isaac, b Aug. 2, 1693; 10 Dinah, b 
 Oct. 18, 1696. By second wife : 11 Azariah. b March 28, 1705 ; 
 12 Ann, b April 3, 1707 ; 13 Zabed, b April 6, 17 10 ; 14 Hannah. 
 b Aug. 11, 1712; 15 Gothiniel, b Jan. 7. 17 14; 16 Gideon, b 
 Aug. 12, 17 17. 
 
 9 ISAAC. 
 
 Isaac Gillet, son of Nathan and Rebecca (Owen) Gillet, mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Griswold Oct. 29, 17 19. His will was dated Dec. 
 24, 1762. 
 
 Children: 17 Isaac, b May 16, 1720, married Honora Stephens 
 Dec. 28, 1742; 18 Zaccheus, b Dec. 18, 1724; 19 Jacob, b Jan. 
 29, 1726; 20 Elizabeth, b Feb. 2, 1728; 21 Ava, b Dec. 28. 1731, 
 d Dec. 28, 1736; 22 Ava. b Dec. 10, 1739. 
 
 18 ZACCHEUS. 
 
 Zaccheus Gillet, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Griswold) Gillet. 
 married, 1st, Ruth Phelps, Dec. 15. 1743 ; 2d, widow Sarah Dean 
 
GENEALOGIES. 483 
 
 ofWolcott, Dec. 17. 1778. He resided in Granby until 1773 or 
 1774. when he removed to Wolcott. He died Jan. 7. 1793. 
 
 Children: 23 Zaccheus, b Nov. u, [745; 24 Ava, b Oct. 4, 
 17.(7. d Sept. 3, 1748; 25 Alexander, b Aug. 14, 1749; 26 Ruth, 
 b Sept. 29, 175 r; 27 Mary, b Aug. 4. 1753, m Josiah Atkins, 
 ofWolcott, Nov. 25, 1779; 28 Nathan,h Sept. 29, 1755'; 29 Eli- 
 zabeth, 1> March 30, 1758. m Elkanah Smith of 'Wolcott. July 26, 
 1 781; 30 Benoni, b July 23, 1760; 31 Anne, b Jan. 3, 1763, m 
 George Cornish. <1 March 13, 1793; 32 Rachel, b Nov. 28, 1764, 
 in Noah U/.za Norton, April 22, 1784; 33 Timothy, b July 21, 
 1770. <1 April 22. 1780. 
 
 25 ALEXANDER. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Gillet, son of Zaccheus and Ruth (Phelps) 
 
 Gillet, married Adah, daughter of Deacon Josiah Rogers, Dec. 3, 
 
 1778. He died Jan. 19. 1826. in the 77th year of his age and the 
 
 titty-third of his ministry. His wife, Adah, died May 10, 1831;, 
 
 1 77. (See Biog., p. 313). 
 
 Children : 34 Timothy Phelps, b June 15, 1780, d Nov. 5, 1866, 
 ae. 86. (See Biog., p. 322.) 35 Asaph, b Oct. 15, 1782, d Aug. 
 21, 1846, ae. 64; 36 Esther, b May 26, 1785. d Dec. 30, 1834, 
 ae. 50; 37 Atlah, b Oct. 10, 1787, still living, being in her 87th 
 year; 7,8 Elias, b June 11, 1792, d Oct. 26, 187 1, ae. 79; 39 Ma- 
 rianna, b Jan. 13, 1796, d Nov. 4, 1815, ae. nearly 20. 
 
 23 ZACCHEUS. 
 
 Zaccheus Gillet, son of Zaccheus and Ruth (Phelps) Gillet. 
 
 married Elizabeth , and lived in Wolcott, where five of his 
 
 children were baptized. 
 
 Children: 40 Zaeeheus Phelps, bapt May 8, 1777; 41 Sarah 
 Thrasher, bapt Oct. 14, 1781 ; 42 Dinah Holcomb, bapt Oct. 3, 
 1784; 43 Selina, bapt July 15, 1787; 44 Rachel, bapt Oct. 28, 
 1790. 
 
 28 NATHAN. 
 
 Nathan Gillet, son of Zaccheus and Ruth (Phelps) Gillet, 
 married Lucy, daughter of Dea. Aaron Harrison of Wolcott, 
 April 16, 1779. 
 
 30 BENONI. 
 
 Benoni Gillet, son of Zaccheus and Ruth (Phelps) Gillet, 
 
484 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 married Phebe Dean, daughter of his father's second wife, Oct. 
 16, 1783, and, after some years settled in Fair Haven, Conn., 
 where he died. 
 
 Children : 45 Theophilus, and 46 another brother, went to St. 
 Augustine, Florida, one being captain and the other an officer on 
 a vessel. They were invited to tea, and the next day they died, 
 having been poisoned. 47 John was a merchant in Dublin, 120 
 miles west of Savannah, Ga., where he became wealthy, and then 
 returned to Fair Haven, Conn. He was afterward one of a firm 
 called "Gillet, Hotchkiss, & Tuttle." They purchased a large- 
 tract of land at Nauvoo, 111., to which place Mr. Gillet removed. 
 48 Merritt lived awhile in Georgia. 49 Marcus went to Florida, 
 and was a successful merchant, and died there leaving children. 
 
HALL. 
 
 Lieut. Heman Hall, the first of the Halls in Wolcott, was the 
 son of Nathan Hall of VVallingford, and Nathan was the son of 
 John Hall of New Haven, and this John was the son of John Hall 
 of Boston, New Haven, and Wallingford, who was an emigrant. 
 having come to America before 1660. The emigrant's sons, John, 
 Thomas, and Samuel, settled in Wallingford before their father. 
 
 I JOHN. 
 
 John Hail, of England, married Jane Woolen. He was freed 
 from training in 1665, being then in his 60th year, and was most 
 certainly in New Haven as early as 1639, and at Wallingford 
 about the year 1670. He died early in the year 1676, ae. 71. 
 
 Children: 2 John, bapt Aug. 9, 1646; 3 Sarah, bapt Aug. 9, 
 1646, at New Haven; 4 Richard, b July 11. 1645 > 5 Samuel, b 
 May 21, 1646, d March 5, 1725 ; 6 Thomas, b March 25, 1649; 
 7 Jonathan, b April 5, 165 1 • 8 David, b March 8, 1652, d July 
 17, 1727, ae. 75. 
 
 2 JOHN". JR. 
 
 John Hall, son of John and Jane Hall, married Mary, daugh- 
 ter of Edward Parker, at New Haven, Dec. 6, 1666, and settled 
 in Wallingford with the first planters in 1670. He died Sept. 2. 
 1721, ae. 86. She died Sept. 22. 1725. 
 
 Children: 9 Elizabeth, b Aug. 11, 1670, in New Haven; 10 
 Daniel,b July 26. 1672,111 Thankful Lyman, March 15. 1693 ; 1 1 
 Mary, b June 2^. 1675 ; 12 Nathaniel, b Feb. 8, 1677 ; 13 John 
 b March 14. 16S1, m Elizabeth Royce ; 14 Lydia, b Jan. _• 1 . 
 1683 ; 15 Samuel, b Dec. 24, 1686, d Nov. 1, 1689 ; 16 Esther, 
 b Aug. 30, 1693 ; 17 Caleb, b Sept. 14, 1697. 
 
486 - HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 12 NATHANIEL. 
 
 Nathaniel Hall, son of John and Mary (Parker) Hall, mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Curtiss, May, 1699. She died Sept. 30, 1735, and 
 he married, 2d, Lydia Johnson, Sept. 15. 1736. He died Aug. 
 16, 1757. 
 
 Children : 18 Amps, b Jan 24, 1700, m Ruth Royce ; [9 Mar- 
 garetta, b Dec. 21, 1701. d Oct. 30, 1707; 20 Caleb, b Jan. 3. 
 1703, d May 11, 1766, ae. 62; 21 Moses, b June 6, 1706, d Feb. 
 x 5> 1 765, ae. 59; 22 Mary, b Oct. 30, 1707; 23 Nathaniel, b 
 April 17, 17 1 1, d Dec. iS, 1727 ; 24 James, b April 23, 1 7 r 3 ; 25 
 Elizabeth, b Sept. 22, 17 15 ; 26 Desire, b June 19, 17 19; 27 He- 
 man, b Oct. 17, 1720. 
 
 27 HEMAN.* 
 
 Lieut. Heman Hall, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Curtiss) 
 
 Hall, married Elizabeth , and was among the early settlers in 
 
 Wolcott. He died in 1769, and the date on his grave-stone is the 
 earliest in the Center grave-yard in Wolcott. Elizabeth, his wife, 
 married, 2d, Mr. Lee, who came to Wolcott with Mr. Hall and 
 his family. She died about 1804. 
 
 Children: 28 Curtiss, b 1746; 29 Heman, b 1750; 30 Phebe, 
 m Dea. Joseph Atkins; 31 Elizabeth, m Daniel Byington, Jr. „ 
 
 28 CURTISS. 
 
 Curtiss Hall, son of Heman and Elizabeth (Curtiss) Hall, 
 married Rachel Beecher, said to have been first cousin to Rev. 
 Dr. Lyman Beecher. Mr. Hall was killed "by falling from a tree 
 which was already down," in 1799, ae - 53- His widow married, 
 John Bronson. 
 
 Children : 32 Moses, bapt Nov; 2, 1788 ; ^t, Richmond, b March 
 2 3> 1773 ; 34 Mary, bapt Nov. 2, 1788, m Reuben Lewis; 35 
 Anne, bapt Nov. 2, 1788, m Luther Hotchkiss, Nov. 24, 1800 ; 36 
 Leva, bapt Nov. 2, 1788, m David Frisbie ; 37 Amos, bapt Nov. 
 2, 1788; 38 Sukey, d 1778; 39 Sukey, bapt Nov. 2, 1788, m 
 Thomas Wiard, removed to Massachusetts ; 40 Rachel, bapt Nov. 
 2, 1788, d Nov. 3, 1788; 41 Infant, d Aug. 23, 1785 ; 42 Infant, 
 
 ♦This name is written Harmon in the Wallingford History, but is Heman 
 on Wallingford Town Records. 
 
GENEALOGH 487 
 
 d 1786 ; 43 Infant, d July 27, 17S7 ; 44 Sylvia Curtiss, bapt May 
 1, 1789; 45 Infant, A March 9, 1790; 46 Infant, & 1795: 47 
 Child, d 1797. 
 
 29 H F.MAX. 
 
 Capt. Heman Hall, son of Heraan and Elizabeth Hall, mar- 
 ried Rebecca Finch of Wolcott, and lived on the homestead, 
 where he died, 1795, ae. 45. His wife, Rebecca, was born in 
 1746. and died June 3, 1805. aged 59. (See Biog., p 338.) 
 
 Children : 48 Sally ; 49 Rebecca, m Osee Bronson, and re- 
 moved to Madison Co., N. Y.. where they both died. Their 
 son. Miles Bronson, has been a missionary in India about thirty 
 years. 50 Heman,\) 1775; 51 Levi, bapt Sept. iS. 1778; 52 
 Sally, bapt April 30, 1780: 53 Ursula, bapt Aug. 18. 1782. m 
 Noah Walker, and removed to Saybrook; 54 Sarah, b 1780. m 
 Willsey, d July 10. t86o, ae. 80; - .'■.. m Daniel Byington. 
 
 32 MOSES, 
 
 Mom;-. Hall, son of Curtiss and Rachel (Beecher) Hall, mai 
 ried Olive Porter, and removed to Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 56 Nelson; 57 Hopkins; 58 Samuel; 59 Olive, m 
 John P. Elton. 
 
 7,7, RICHMOND. 
 
 Richmond Hall, son of Curtiss and Rachel (Beecher) Hall, 
 married Lucy Dudley, July 3, 1795. lived in Wolcott, and died 
 Nov. 12, 1825. His wife, Lucy, was born Jan. 22. 1774, and 
 died Nov. 1 4. 1842. 
 
 Children : 60 Rachel Beecher, b Feb. 16, 1796, m Stephen Mer- 
 riman of Southington, d Jan. 30. 1839; 61 John, b Jan. 24, 1798, 
 d April 7. 1844 : 62 Abigail, b Oct. 25, 1 7 1>9. now living in Mer- 
 iden ; 63 Curtiss, b Oct. 8, 1801, settled in Susquehanna Co., 
 Penn., d 1870; 64 Richmond, b July 27. 1803, d in Meriden, 
 Conn.. April 23, 1848 ; 65 Lucy, b Oct. 5, 1805. m Mansfield 
 
 Merriman of Southington; 66 Emetine, b Aug. 7. 1807, m 
 
 Richardson, removed to Slatersville, R. I. ; 67 Susan, b Now 24. 
 1809, m Lewis Woodruff, and resides in Southington ; 68 Leva, 
 b June 5, 181 2. m John Davidson, lives in South Meriden; 69 
 Eleanor, b Nov. 22, [814, m Jared Matthews, and removed to 
 
4<S8 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 New York, d July 26, 1854; 7© Elizabeth, b Sept. 1, 18 18, m 
 Steel, and resides in Windham, N. Y. 
 
 50 HEMAN. 
 
 Sergt. Heman Hall, son of Heman and Rebecca (Finch) 
 Hall, married, Dec. 12, 1796, Lydia, daughter of David Hitch- 
 cock of Southington. His commission as sergeant is dated at 
 Farmington, 1797. He and his widowed mother changed the 
 farm on the road towards Marion for the one owned by Flnathan 
 Thrasher, in Woodtick, where he died. Feb. 4, 1848, ae. 73. 
 Lydia, his wife, b Aug. 4, 1777, d Feb. 9, 1856, ae. 79. 
 
 Children: 71 Orrin, b Oct. n, 1797 ; 72 Ephraim, b Sept. 5, 
 1 799 ; 73 Polly, b Aug. 17, 1801, m Willard Plumb, Jan. 1, 1822 ; 
 74 Lydia, b June 21, 1804, m William Frost, June 24, 1823, and 
 lived at East Farms in Waterbury; 75 Rebecca F., b Aug., 1808, 
 m William H. Payne, May 31, 1829, and settled in Waterbury; 
 76 Roxanna, b April 1, 18 16, m Laurin L. Stevens, Sept. 30, 
 Sept. 30, 1838, d Dec. 11, 1867, ae. 50. 
 
 5 I LEVI. 
 
 Capt. Levi Hall, son of Heman and Rebecca (Finch) Hall, 
 married, 1st, Sarah Welton, who died Oct. 13, 1842, ae. 64 ; 2d, 
 Miss Warner, of Plymouth. He was a leading man in the Epis- 
 copal Church a number of years. He died June 27, 1857, ae. 80. 
 
 Children: 77 Kneeland T., not married, d April 6, 1859; 78 
 Hector H, b July 30, 1808 ; 79 Rufina, b Oct. 9, 1810, m Lucius 
 C. Hotchkiss ; 80 Sarah Ann, b Oct. 26, 1813, m Simeon H. 
 Norton. 
 
 71 ORRIN. 
 
 Dea. Orrin Hall, son of Heman and Lydia (Hitchcock) 
 Hall, married Nancy Minor, and lives in Woodtick, on his father's 
 homestead, and is in his 77th year. His wife, Nancy, died Feb. 
 9, 1873. 
 
 Children: 81 Heman IV., b June 11, 1824; 82 Harriet Julina, 
 b Nov. 6, 1834. 
 
 72 EPHRAIM. 
 
 Ephraim Hall, son of Heman and Lydia (Hitchcock) Hall, 
 
GENEALOGIES. 489 
 
 married Mary Minor, Sept. 9, 1824. His wife, Mary, was born 
 Nov. 23, 1800, (1 July 19, 1870, ae. 69. He died June 7, 1874. 
 (See Biog., p. 340.) 
 
 Children: 83 Lydia Amu b 1825, d Sept. 5, 1826; 84 Charles 
 )', b March 6, 1827 ; 85 Julia Ann, b. Nov. 18, 1829, m Wm. A. 
 Munson of Wolcott. 
 
 78 HECTOR H. 
 
 Hector II. Hall, sou of Levi and (Warner) Hall, mar- 
 ried Mary, daughter of Dr. Branch of South Carolina, but former- 
 ly of Vermont. He formed a partnership with Lucius Tuttle, Jr., 
 in 1832, and went to South Carolina, where he engaged in the 
 dry goods business, remaining until 1838. He then settled on a 
 farm in Cumberland, Indiana, remaining there until 1870, when 
 he sold his farm and invested his money in real estate in Indian 
 apolis, and is one of the leading men in that city. 
 
 80 HEMAN WTLLSEY. 
 
 Heman \Y. Hall, sou of Orrin and Nancy (Minor) Hall, mar- 
 ried Betsey Ann, daughter of Joseph N. Sperry, and lived on the 
 old Curtiss Hall farm. 
 
 Children : 86 Sarah Ursula, b April 17. 1847, m Charles M. 
 Potter, Oct. 20, t866, and has a son Herbert L., b Dec. 3, 187 1 ; 
 87 Ransom />'., b July 12, 1852; 88 Hattie f... b Jan. 10, 1863. 
 
 84 CHARLES Y. 
 
 Charles Y. Hall, son of Ephraim and Mary (Minor) Hall, 
 married Janette A. Smith, June 6, 1848. He died March 10, 
 1849, ae - 22 - 
 
 Child: 89 Charles E. S., b May 17, 1849. 
 
 87 RANSOM };. 
 
 Ransom B. Mali, son of Heman W. and Betsey A. (Sperry) 
 Hall, married Anna Root. Feb. 25, 1874. 
 
 89 CHARLES :•:. s. 
 
 CHARLES. E. S. HALL, son of Charles Y. and Janette A. (Smith) 
 Hall, married Emma A., daughter of Dea. Miles S. Upson, Sept. 
 25, 1869. 
 
 Child: 90 Louis Charles* b Dee. 7. 1872. 
 36 
 
HARRISON.* 
 
 Thomas Harrison, from England, settled in New Haven, in 
 that part now called East Haven. He took the oath of fidelity 
 at New Haven, April 4, 1654. He had three brothers who came 
 with him to this country, viz. : Richard, Benjamin, and Nathaniel. 
 Richard was a few years at Branford, but removed to New Jersey. 
 Nathaniel and Benjamin settled in Virginia. Benjamin, it is said, 
 was grandfather of the late William Henry Harrison, President of 
 the United States. Thomas married, 1st, the widow of John 
 Thompson of New Haven, and, 2d, widow Elizabeth Stent, 
 March 29, 1666. 
 
 Children: 1 Thomas, b March 1, 1657; 2 Nathaniel, b Dec. 
 13, 1658 : 3 Elizabeth, b Jan. 1667; 4 John ; 5 Samuel ; 6 Isaac; 
 7 Mary. 
 
 I THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Harrison, son of Thomas Harrison and his first wife, 
 married Margaret Stent, daughter of his step-mother. 
 
 Children: 8 Lydia, b 1690; 9 Jemima, b 1692; 10 Thomas, b 
 Oct. 12, 1694, removed to Litchfield, Conn.; 11 Abigail, b Nov. 
 17, 1696; 12 Benjamin, b Aug. 7, 1698, settled in Waterbury, 
 now Wolcott, about 1738 ; 13 Joseph, b May 25, 1700 ; 14 David, 
 b Feb. 7, 1702 ; 15 Aaron, b March 4, 1704, d 1708 ; 16 Jacob, 
 b Oct. 23, 1708, d 1748. 
 
 IO THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Harrison, son of Thomas and Margaret (Stent) 
 Harrison, married Elizabeth Sutliff, April 21, 1721, and lived for 
 a time in the eastern part of North Branford. He purchased 
 1000 acres of land in Litchfield, Conn., in the eastern part of the 
 
 See Bronson's History of Waterbury. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 49 1 
 
 parish of South Farms, to which he removed in 1739. He gave 
 100 acres of land to each of nine sons, reserving only 100 for him- 
 self. He was chosen deacon of the First Church in Litchfield in 
 
 '755- 
 Children: 17 Thomas; 18 Ephraim; 19 Gideon ; 20 'Jitus ; 
 
 21 Abel; 22 Jacob ; 23 Lemuel; 24 Elihu ; 25 Levi. 
 
 \2 BENJAMIN. 
 
 Benjamin Harrison, son of Thomas and Margaret (Stent) 
 Harrison, married Mary Sutliff, Oct. 19. 1720, and settled in that 
 part of Waterbury now Wolcott, about 1738. He died in 1760, 
 leaving his wife, Mary, and three children. 
 
 Children: 26 Abigail, m David Warner, son of "Dr. Ben," of 
 Buck's Hill; 27 Benjamin, b 1722; 28 Aaron, b April 26, 1726. 
 
 27 BENJAMIN. 
 
 Benjamin Harrison, son of Benjamin and Mary (Sutliff) Har- 
 rison, married Dinah, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Warner, of 
 Buck's Hill, Dec, 24. 1741, and died March 13, 1760. in his 39th 
 year. 
 
 Children : 29 fames, b Oct., 1742, d 1760; 30 Jabez, b Oct., 
 
 I 744 ; 31 Lydia, b Sept., 1747 ; 32 Samuel, b Sept., 1750, d 1750 ; 
 
 II Rozel. 1) 175 1 ; 34 Daniel, b July, 1754, m Phebe Blakeslee, 
 Feb. 7. 1774, the first marriage performed by Rev. Alexander 
 Oillet, and the first recorded in Farmingbury parish. 
 
 28 AARON. 
 
 Dea. Aaron Harrison, son of Benjamin and Mary (Sutliff) 
 Harrison, married Jerusha, daughter of Obadiah Warner, and 
 grand-daughter of Dr. Ephraim Warner of Waterbury. She was 
 born Oct. 13. 1727. He was deacon of the church in Wolcott 
 45 years. He died Sept. 5, 18 19, ae. 93. She died Sept. 13, 
 1819. five days after her husband, ae. 92. 
 
 Children : 35 fared, b Oct. 13, 1749; 36 Mark, b Aug., 1 75 1 ; 
 37 Samuel, b March 19, 1753; 3 8 Da-rid. b 1756 ; 39 John, b 
 Dec. 3, 1758, went into the army of the revolution, and d Nov. 
 10, 1776, ae. 18; 40 Aaron, b (probably) 1760. was in the war 
 of the revolution, d near New Haven, 1808 ; 41 Lucy, b March 
 
492 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 i, 1762, m Nathan Gillet, brother of Rev. Alexander Gillet, April 
 16, 1779; 42 Lydia, b 1766, m Dr. John Potter of Wolcott, 
 Sept. 27, 1783, d Sept. 27, 1796. ae. 30. 
 
 35 JARED. 
 
 Jared Harrison, son of Aaron and Jerusha (Warner) Harri- 
 son, married Hannah , and resided in Wolcott some years ; 
 
 removed to Watertown, Conn., and was elected deacon of the 
 church there in 1801 ; removed to Whitestown, N. Y., and died 
 there, Jan. 21, 18 10, ae. 61. 
 
 Children: 43 Daniel Webster, bapt March 25, 1777; 44 Ros- 
 well, bapt. May 25, 1777 ; 45 Benjamin, bapt May 25, 1777 ; 46 
 fo/ui, bapt Jan. n, 1778; 47 Ruth, bapt June 18, 1780. All 
 baptized in Wolcott. 
 
 36 MARK. 
 
 Mark Harrison, Esq., son of Aaron and Jerusha (Warner) 
 Harrison, married Rebecca Miles of Wolcott, March 30, 1775. 
 He was a man of prominence and influence, and of a more pro- 
 gressive mind than many of his fellow-townsmen ; and if the town 
 records indicate the truth, Wolcott would have been much more 
 of a town now than it is if it had followed his advice, for he seems 
 to have been in favor of helping Seth Thomas in establishing his 
 clock manufactory in Wolcott, and was a leader in several other 
 improvements which the people were slow to adopt. His wife, 
 Rebecca, died Aug. 20, 18 10, ae. 59. He married, 2d, widow 
 Hannah Beach, Feb. 24, 1811. He died July 15, 1822, ae. 71. 
 
 Children: 48 Michael, b Jan. 17, 1776 ; 49 Abigail, b Oct. 5, 
 1777, m Reuben Beebe, and d Feb. 10, 1862, leaving a son, Miles 
 Beebe, in West Haven. Reuben Beebe d Sept. 26, 18 10. 50 
 
 Susannah, b Sept. 27, 1779, m Clinton, and removed to 
 
 Ohio ; 51 Rollin, b March 14, 1782 ; 52 Rebecca, b Aug. 5, 1784, 
 
 m Lucius Tuttle of Wolcott ; 53 Miles, b July 9, 1787, m 
 
 Hotchkiss of Wolcott, d in Ohio, leaving several children ; 54 
 Sarah, b May 1, 1790, d April 21, T791; 55 Stephen, b Sept. 20, 
 1792. 
 
 37 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Harrison, son of Aaron and Jerusha (Warner) Har- 
 rison, married Phebe . 
 
GENE \i i >GiES; 493 
 
 Children: 56 Olive, bapt Sept. 1, 1784/ 57 Deliverance, bapt 
 Sept. 1. 1 784 ; 58 Lucy, bapt Sept. 1. 17S4 ; 59 Lydia, bapt Sept. 
 1. [784; 60 Josiah, bapt Sept. 1.1784; 61 Palmyra, bapt March 
 12, [786. 
 
 38 DAVID. 
 
 David Harrison, son of Aaron and Jerusha (Warner) Harri- 
 son, married, 1st, Hepzibah Roberts of Wolcott, Dec. 10, 1778. 
 She died Aug. 28, 1793. He married, 2d. Lydia, daughter of 
 Wait Hotchkiss. and she died July 25, 1838. ae. 76. He died 
 April 5, 1820, ae. 64. 
 
 Children: 62 Laura, b Aug. 1. 1779; 63 Leonard, b Sept. 27, 
 17S1 ; 64 Marcia,b Oct. 17, 1783; 65 Jared, b March 10, 1786; 
 66 Aaron, b July 30, 1788; Alary, b Oct. 22, 1790; b^ Joseph, 
 and 69 Benjamin, twins, b Aug. 27, 1793. By second wife: 70 
 Lowly, b 1795, d Sept. 26. 1826, ae. 31; 71 Trad, b 1796, d Nov. 
 30, 1826. ae. 30 ; 72 Lyman, d young. 
 
 48 MICHAEL. 
 
 Michael Harrison, son of Mark and Rebecca (Miles) Harri- 
 son, married Cynthia Rosanna Welton, and lived in New Haven, 
 and died there with the same fever with which Rev. Mr. Wood- 
 ward died in Wolcott. Mr. Harrison died Aug. 22, 1810, two 
 days after his mother died in Wolcott, he having watched with his 
 father's family in Wolcott. His wife, Cynthia R., died in Water- 
 bury, 1867 or 8. 
 
 Children : 73, Sara/!, m Hiram Upson, lived in Waterbury ; 
 74 Maria, m Meigs Allen, lived in Plymouth, Conn. ; 75 Rebecca, 
 m James Somers of Milford. 
 
 5 1 ROLLIN. 
 
 Roi.i.in Harrison, son of Mark and Rebecca (Miles) Harri- 
 son, married Esther Moulthrop, and died July 22, 18 10. with the 
 great fever that prevailed at that time. 
 
 Child: 76 Esther, m John S. Atkins of Wolcott, and lives in 
 New Haven. 
 
 55 STEPHEN. 
 
 Stephen Harrison, son of Mark and Rebecca (Miles) Harri- 
 son, married Lois . He was celebrated for having the most 
 
494 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 remarkable tenor voice in singing that was ever heard in Wolcott. 
 That voice he used cheerfully and constantly for many years in 
 aid of public worship in both churches. His wife, Lois, died 
 Sept. 14, 1859, ae - 66. He died July 11, 1866, ae. 73. 
 
 Children: 77 Henry, b March 9, 18 10; 78 Michael, and 79 
 A'ol/in, twins, b Oct. 3, 181 1, Michael d Dec. 21, 181 1 ; 80 Char- 
 loth', b Oct. 17, 1813, m Ferdinand Cadwell, May 12, 1831, had 
 children, Ferdinand G., b Aug. 5, 1832, Solomon F, b May 12, 
 1834, George D., b May 16, 1837, Mortimer H., b Oct. 1, 1839, 
 was a soldier in the late war, and died in hospital at Washington, 
 Birdsey A., b Feb. 10, 1843, Charles G., b June 1, 1845, John 
 W. and James W., twins, b Jan. 9, 1847, Laura Jane, b April 1, 
 1853; 81 Michael, b July 29, 1815- 82 Isaac, b June 4, 18 17 ; 
 83 Orrin, b March 1, 18 19; 84 Mark, b April 10, 182 1, d March 
 24, 1 841 ; 85 William Franklin, b Feb. 8, 1823 • 86 Alma Jane, b 
 May 7, 1825, m James M. Cadwell, May 22, 1846; 87 Caroline 
 Miles, b May 16, 1827, m Milo M. Gilbert, June 1, 1835, an d 
 had children, Adaline, b April 8, 1846, Ella Jane, b Sept. 6, 1853, 
 Charles H., b Sept. 28, 1858, Milo M., d April 10, 1873; 88 Jen- 
 >iet, b Jan. 20, 1829, d Sept. 20, 1831 ■ 89 Emily, b Nov. n, 1830, 
 d Oct. 2, 183 1 ; 90 Emily Jentiet, b July 4, 1832, m Emerson R. 
 Thomas, Jan. 3, 1853, and had children, Elsie ]., b Feb. 5, 1856, 
 Carrie J., b July 16, 1859, Emerson B., d June 20, 1863, in his 
 country's service, at New Orleans; 91 Frederick, b July 2, 1834, 
 d July 8, 1864, in his country's service; 92 Eliza Ann, b May 27, 
 1836, m Luther W. Plumb of Wolcott. 
 
 77 HENRY. 
 
 Henry Harrison, son of Stephen and Lois Harrison, married 
 Wealthy H., daughter of Gates Upson, Nov. 29, 1832. She was 
 born Nov. 25, 181 2, and died July 7, 1848. He married, 2d, 
 Mary H. Goodrich, July 2, 1859. He lives half a mile east of 
 Wolcott Center. 
 
 Children : 93 Henry Upson, b April 27, 1839, d April 28, 1842 ; 
 94 Mark Hbtchkiss, b June 30, 1843 \ 95 Mary Wealthy, b Nov. 
 29, 1846, m Sidney B. Ruggles of Southington, and d Feb. 18, 
 
 1873- 
 
 79 ROLLIN. 
 
 Rollin Harrison, son of Stephen and Lois Harrison, married 
 
GENEALOGIES. 495 
 
 H. F. Mesherel of Southington, April 12. 1833. He died in New 
 Britain, March 24, 1866, ae. 55, 
 
 Children: 96 Martha E., b Feb. 1834; 97 William II.. b Feb. 
 19, 1836, d Oct 26, 1862, in the United States service, in South 
 Carolina ; 98 Charles F., b Jan. 26, 1843, d Sept. ri, 1847. 
 
 81 MICHAEl . 
 
 Michael Harrison, son of Stephen and JLois Harrison, mar- 
 ried Eliza J. Hayes, Sept. 26. 1837. 
 
 Children: 99 Harriet, b April 28, 1838, m Charles Noble ; roo 
 Charles, b June 15, 1840; ior Franklin, b April 11, 1850. 
 
 82 ISAAC. 
 
 Isaac Harrison, son of Stephen and l.ois Harrison, married 
 Elizabeth Small. Oct. 15, 1836. 
 
 Children : 102 William /?., b Sept. 21, 1837, and was killed at 
 the battle of Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862 ; 103 James H, b Sept. 6, 
 1839, d Dec. 30. 1843 ! ro 4 Stephen E.. b Aug. 19. 1840, m Etta 
 Shepherd, July 9, 1870; 105 Susan E., b June 3, 1844, m Theo- 
 dore Olive. Aug. 7, 1862; 106 James H, b Sept. 20, 1845, m 
 Deborah Walker, June 28, 1 87 1 ; 107 Edward, b July 20, 1847, 
 d Aug. 27. 1 847 ; 108 Washington R., b Sept. 16, 1848; 109 
 Matilda, b Feb. 10, 1852, d Feb. n, 1852 ; no Car, dine 11. i> 
 June 30, 1853; 111 Martha O., b April 12, 1858. 
 
 83 ORRIN. 
 
 Orrin Harrison, son of Stephen and Lois Harrison, married 
 Emily Harrison, Jan. 28, 1840. 
 
 Children: 112 Theodore F, b March 14, 1842 ; 113 Mary ./.. 
 b Jan.. 22, 1846, m John A. Parker, June 30, 1867. has children, 
 Charles Motley, b Aug. 14, 1868, Lena Violetta, b July 7, 1870 ; 
 1 1 4 Henry Frank/in. b Nov. 12, 1849. m Nancy Reed, May 17. 
 1868; 115 Adalena.h July 14, 1852,111 William A. Benedict, 
 Nov. 30, 187 1 : 116 Caroline, b June 9, 1857, d March r, 1864; 
 117 Jessie E., b March 14. 1863. 
 
 85 WILLIAM FRANKLIN. 
 
 William F. Harrison, son of Stephen and Lois Harrison, 
 married Harriet A. Bradley, Jan. 20, 1844. 
 
49^ HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Children : 118 James F, b March 16, 1846 ; 119 John T., b 
 Feb. 8, 1848 ; 120 Edwin M., b May 25, 185 1 ; 121 Wilbur E, 
 b May 22, 1854. 
 
 94 MARK HOTCHKISS. 
 
 Mark H. Harrison, son of Henry and Wealthy H. (Upson) 
 Harrison, married Mary Palmer, who was born April 9, 1843. 
 Children: 122 George 11'.. b May 26, 1864; 123 Josephine 
 
 Wilbur, b Aug. 18, 1866. 
 
 TOO CHARLES. ' 
 
 Charles Harrison, son of Michael and Eliza J. (Hayes) Har- 
 rison, married 
 
 Children : 124 Abel, b April, 1869 ; 125 Eva, b Dec. 31, 1872. 
 
 112 THEODORE F. 
 
 Theodore F. Harrison, son of Orrin and Emily (Harrison) 
 Harrison, married Charlotte Corbin, Nov. 12, 1864. 
 
 Children: 126 Frederick, b March 14, 1866; 127 Frank Ar- 
 thur, b Feb. 29, 1868; 128 Eugene Corbin, b 1870. 
 
 I 1 8 JOHN T. 
 
 John T. Harrison, son of William F. and Harriet A. (Brad- 
 ley) Harrison, married Harriet E. Hough of Wolcott, Oct. 3, 
 1869. 
 
 Children: 129 Walter Stiles, b Feb. 1, 187 1; 130 Frederick 
 James, b Feb. 26, 1874. 
 
HIGGINS. 
 
 I TIMOTHY, SKNK. 
 
 Timothy Higgins was born in Milford where his father then 
 resided. He married Hannah Allen and lived in Milford until 
 about 1803 when he removed to Middleburv, Conn. In Milford 
 he was engaged as a shipping merchant. He remained in Mid- 
 dlebury until [819 when he removed to Wolcott, whither his son 
 Fitch and his son-in law, Jonathan Bement, had preceded him. 
 
 Children : 2 Allen, died young ; 3 Harriet, m Beers Bradford, 
 lived in Middlebury; 4 Lyman ; 5 Laura, m Klias Tibbies of 
 Milford ; 6 Hannah, m Jonathan Bement, resided in Wolcott and 
 had children. Eliza, Laura. Ann. Lucy, Louisa; 7 Fitch; 8 Lucy, 
 m Adolphus Baldwin of Milford; 9 Luther and another child, 
 twins; 10 Timothy, b Dec 8, 1800. 
 
 4 LYMAN. 
 
 LYMAN HlGGINS, son of Timothy and Hannah (Allen) Higgins. 
 married Betsey, daughter of Samuel Upson of Wolcott, Jan. 
 25, 1808, lived near the mill in Woodtick. She died Nov. 15. 
 1853. He died July 31, 1866, ae. 83. 
 
 Children: 11 Emily, b July 26, 1809, m Lucius Frisbie Jan. 
 31. 1828, d May 12, 1830; 12 Upson, b Jan. 27, 1815 ; 13 Sally, 
 1) Sept. 28, 1818, m Harvey Plumb of Wolcott, May 3, 1840. 
 
 7 FITCH. 
 
 Fitch Higgins, son of Timothy and Hannah (Allen) Higgins, 
 married Amanda Royce and lived on the Parker farm, now owned 
 by Augustus Rose. He took an active part in sustaining the So- 
 ciety and church, and was a citizen of honor and good report. 
 He removed to Wisconsin as a pioneer and was engaged, to a con- 
 37 
 
49§ HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 siderable extent in buying and selling real estate. His first wife 
 died about 1840. He married again. 
 
 Children : 14 Emeline, m RollinTuttle, of Wolcott, and removed 
 to Wisconsin, and had children, Mary Ann, Eliza, Amanda; 15 
 William, m in Wisconsin and has a family of several children. 
 Children by second wife : 16 Charles; 17 Frederick. 
 
 9 LUTHER. 
 
 Luther Higgins, son of Timothy and Hannah (Allen) Higgins, 
 married widow Lambert of Waterbury, lived a time in Wolcott, 
 and removed to Cheshire. 
 
 Children: 18 Henry; 19 Mary; 20 Stephen, who died in the 
 late war. 
 
 IO TIMOTHY, JR. 
 
 Timothy Higgins, son of Timothy and Hannah (Allen) Hig- 
 gins. married Janette Carter of Southington, Nov. 4, 1824, and 
 settled in Southington as a tanner in which business he was suc- 
 cessful. He has been deacon, and an active man in the Congre- 
 gational church in Southington for a number of years. 
 
 Children : 21 Laura A., b Aug. 31, 1828, m, April 2, 1852, 
 Joseph B. Beadle and resides in New Jersey, and has children, 
 Emma, Charles, John; 2 2 Janette C, b Jan. 31, 1830, m H. D. 
 Smith of Plantsville, April 24, 1850, and had children, William, 
 Charles D., Janette; 23 Lucius LL., b July 4, 1832 ; 24 Mary, b 
 April 8, 1834, m E. P. Hotchkiss, Dec. 5, 1855; 25 Harriet, b 
 March 21, 1836; 26 Lnfaut, b April 8, 1838, d April 16, 1838; 
 27 Edwin, b June 19, 1841, d Sept. 30, 1861 ; 28 Augusta, b 
 May 31, 1843, d Oct. 16, 1852 ; 29 Julia, b Dec. 15, 1845, ^ F eD - 
 19? l8 47; $0 Julia //:, b Jan. 31, 1843, d July 25, 1852. 
 
 12 UPSON. 
 
 Upson Higgins, son of Lyman and Betsey (Upson) Higgins, 
 married, 1st, Hannah M. Norton, June 7, 1840. She died Jan. 
 16, 1842. He married, 2d, Mary Upson, Sept. 18, 1842, and 
 she died Jan. 25, 1862. He resides on the homestead of his 
 father. 
 
 Children : 31 Amelia M. and 32 Hannah A., twins, b Jan. 15, 
 1842, Amelia M. d Aug. 15, 1843. By second wife: ^ Amelia 
 
GENEALOGIES. 499 
 
 /, 1) Feb. 22, 1844, in Sidney B. Ruggles of Plantsville, Feb. 25, 
 1874; 34 Ann ('.. b Oct. 29, 1848, <1 Jan. 4. 1864; 35 Frederick 
 C/., b Aug. 7, 1853. 
 
 HITCHCOCK. 
 
 Shelton T. Hitchcock was born in Waterbury, Conn., Dec. 
 13, 1822, and married Cornelia C. Andrews of Wolcott, Oct. 6, 
 1855. She was born Aug. 22, 1833. Mr. Hitchcock resides on 
 the old turnpike road, near Judd's Hill, in Wolcott. He has been 
 representative and selectman a number of terms each. 
 
 Children : 1 Jennie J., b March 26, 1857 ; 1 Nettie C, b Aug. 
 22, i86o; 3 Eva .J/, b Sept. 1. 1862, d Sept. 8 : [862 ; 4 Elbert 
 S.. 1. Nov. 7, 1867. 
 
HOPKINS. 
 
 John Hopkins, of Hartford, Conn., left a widow, Jane, and 
 two children : i Step//,// ; 2 Bethia, m Samuel Stocking of Mid- 
 dletown. 
 
 I STEPHEN. 
 
 Stephen Hopkins, son of John and Jane Hopkins, married 
 Dorcas, daughter of John Bronson, 1st, of Farmington, and lived 
 at Hartford, 
 
 Children: 3 John ; 4 Stephen; 5 Ebeneezr ; 6 Joseph ; 7 Dor- 
 cas; 8 Mary. 
 
 5 EBENEZER. 
 
 Ebenezer Hopkins, son of Stephen and Dorcas (Bronson) 
 Hopkins, resided at Hartford. 
 
 Children: 9 Ebenezer, bapt Nov. 19, 1693, d young; 10 Jona- 
 than, bapt June 28, 1696; 11 Ebenezer, b June 25, 1700; 12 
 Mary, b Jan. 30, 1705; 13 Stephen, b Aug. 8, 1707, settled in 
 Waterbury; 14 Isaac, b Nov. 28, 1708, and settled in that part of 
 Waterbury now Wolcott; 15 Sarah, b June 25, 17 10.* 
 
 14 ISAAC. 
 
 Capt. Isaac Hopkins, son of Ebenezer of Hartford, came to 
 Waterbury (Wolcott), and married Mercy, daughter of Thomas 
 Hickox. Sept. 21, 1732. She died May 27, 1790. Mr. Hopkins 
 died Jan. 13, 1805, ae. 96. His house stood on the road from 
 Wolcott to Waterbury, at the corner of the roads, a little north of 
 Mr. W. A. Munson's present dwelling. He was one of the most 
 valuable men of the Society and church of Farmingbury. 
 
 Children: 16 Obedience, b Sept. 1, 1733, d 1736; 17 Simeon, 
 
 See Bronson's History of Waterbury. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 50 1 
 
 b April 30, 1735, d 1736; 18 Bede, b Nov. 21, 1737, m Samuel 
 Judd ; 19 Simeon, b Nov. 19, 1740 ; 20 Irene, b 1742 or 3; 21 
 Rut/i. 1) Dec. 26, 1 745, d 1752; 22 Ore^ b June 18, 1748,11 1749; 
 23 Mittee, 1> Dec. i.|, 1750, d Nov., 1806; 24 Mary, l> Dec. |, 
 1753 ; 25 Wealthy, b June 2, 1756; 26 A'/////, 1) Dec. 10, 1759, 
 m 1 st, Ziba Norton, 2d, Thomas Welton. 
 
 19 SIMEON. 
 
 Capt. Simeon Hopkins, son of Isaac and Mary (Hickox) 7 1 < > j < 
 kins, married Lois, daughter of Obadiah Richards, Nov. 15, 1764, 
 and died May 4. 1793. He was an influential man in the society 
 
 and church, and was actively engaged in their support while he 
 lived. Besides being a tanner he pursued the business of making 
 leather. 
 
 Children : 27 Hannah, b Aug. 5, 1765, m Joseph M. Parker, 
 Feb. 28, 1787, and resided in Wolcott; 28 Sarah, b June 2, 1767. 
 m Elihu Carter; 29 Electa, b July 8, 1770, m Joseph Twitchell, 
 April 16, 1793; 30 Isaac, b Jan. 11, 1773; 31 Lois, b July 21, 
 1775, m Samuel Upson, son of Capt. Samuel Upson ; 32 Rich- 
 ards Obadiah, b Jan. 1 1, 1778, never married, d in Massachusetts; 
 ^^ Polly, b Sept. 19, 1779, m Salmon Tuttle of Sheffield, Mass. ; 
 34 Harvey, b June 9, 1782. 
 
HOTCHKISS. 
 
 HODGKIS, HOTCHKISS.* 
 
 Samuel Hodgkis came from Essex, England, and was in New 
 Haven as early as 1641. He married Elizabeth Cleverly, Sept. 
 7, 1642, and died at New Haven, Dec. 28, 1663. The name is 
 spelled at first Hodgkis, but the third generation spelled it, nearly 
 uniformly, Hotchkiss. 
 
 Children : 1 John, b 1643 ; 2 Samuel, b 1645 ; 3 James, b 1647 ; 
 4 Joshua, b Sept. 16, 165 1 ; 5 Thomas, b Nov. 31, 1654 ; 6 Da- 
 vid, b March 9, 1657. 
 
 I JOHN. 
 
 John Hodgkis, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Cleverly) Hodg- 
 kiss, married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Peck of New Haven, 
 Dec. 5, 1672. His will was proved in New Haven, Sept. 23, 
 1689. 
 
 Children : 7 John, b Oct. r 1, 1673 ; 8 Joshua, b 1675 ; 9 Joseph, 
 b June 3, 1678, went to Guilford; 10 Josiah, b July 24, 1680; it 
 Caleb, b Oct. 18, 1684; 12 Elizabeth, b July 18, 1686. 
 
 9 JOSEPH. 
 
 Joseph Hodgkis, son of John and Elizabeth (Peck) Hodg- 
 kis, went to Guilford, married Hannah, daughter of Isaac Crut- 
 tenden of Guilford, April, 1699, and was a weaver in Guilford. 
 His tax in 17 16 was for ^50 ns, and for weaving £2 os 3d. 
 He died July 31, 1740. His wife, Hannah, died March 27, 1756. 
 
 Children: 13 Joseph, b Sept. 3, 1700; 14 Isaac, b Dec. 25, 
 
 * For collateral branches see Branson's History of Waterbury ; C. H. S. 
 Davis' History of Wallingford ; Dodd's History of East Haven. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 503 
 
 1702; 15 Wait, b Jan. 18, 1704; 16 Hannah, b Sept. 13, 1707; 
 17 Deborah, b Jan. 18, 1710, d young ; [8 Miles, b July 28, 171 2. 
 died young; 19 Mark, b July 1. t 7 1 4. 
 
 15 WAIT. 
 
 \V\11 Hotchkiss, third son of Joseph and Hannah (Crutten- 
 den) Hodgkis, married Sarah Bishop, Nov. 2, 1 7 3 1 . She <lied in 
 Guilford, April 24, 1761. He removed to Wolcottin 1777, where 
 he died July :;o. 1 778. 
 
 Children: 20 Wait, b Nov. 18, 1733 ; 21 Lois, b Oct. 5, [735, 
 ii May 9, 1818; 22 Sarah, 1> June 5, 17.38. d Feb. 5, 1746; 23 
 Selah, b I >ec. 24, 1 742. 
 
 20 WAIT. 
 
 Wait Hotchkiss, son of Wait and Sarah (Bishop) Hotchkiss, 
 married Lydia Webster o\ Bolton. Conn., Oct. 16, 1759, and set 
 tied in Wblcotl in 1764 or 5. His wife, Lydia, died April 12, 
 1776. He married. 2d. widow Deborah Twitchell, Oct. 10, 1776. 
 He died 1799. ae. 66. His widow. Deborah, died June 1 8, 1831, 
 ae. 89. 
 
 Children : 24 Joel, b in Guilford, Aug. 8, 1760; 24 Lydia, b in 
 Guilford. Aug. 28. 1762; 25 Sarah,b in Wolcott, March 27, 1765, 
 never married ; 26 and 27 Abner, and a twin sister that lived but 
 a short time, b May 24. 177 1. Children by second wife: 28 Lu 
 ther, b \)vr. (). 1 7 7 S ; 29 Miles, b July 23d, 1783; 30 Lsaac, b 
 Oct. [6, 1787. 
 
 23 SKI. AH. 
 
 Ski. \n Hotchkiss, son of Wait and Sarah (Bishop) Hotchkiss, 
 married Rebecca — , and may have lived in Wolcott a short 
 time. 
 
 Children : 3] Lucy, b Oct. 3, 1771 ; 32 /esse, b fan. 17, 1777, 
 who resided in Wolcott a short time and went "west." 
 
 24 JOEL. 
 
 JOEL HOTCHKISS, son of Wail and Lydia (Webster) Hotchkiss. 
 married Mary, daughter of Lea. Josiah Rogers of Wolcott. Feb. 
 6, 1785, and died in 1798, ae. ,38. 
 
 Child : 33 Asenath, m Ira Hough. 
 
504 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 26 ABNER. 
 
 Abner Hotchkiss, son of Wait and Lydia (Webster) Hotch- 
 kiss, married Mary Fr-isbie, Nov. 19, 1805. She was born 1780, 
 and died Feb. 3, 1852, ae. 71. He lived where his son Mahlon 
 now does, and died March 21, 1846, ae. 75. 
 
 Children: 34 Joel h March 25, 1807, d Aug. 27, 1852, ae. 37 ; 
 35 Sarah, b April 8, 1809; 36 Joet I Arba, b Oct. 26, 1814, d Aug. 
 27, 1852 ; 37 Mahlon, b Aug. 3, 1819. 
 
 28 LUTHER. 
 
 Major Luther Hotchkiss, son of Wait and Deborah (Twitch- 
 ell) Hotchkiss, married Anne, daughter of Curtiss Hall, Nov. 24, 
 1800. He lived half a mile south of Wolcott Center, and his 
 farm included most of a piece of land called " Hog-Fields," and 
 contained some of the most tillable land in the town. He was a 
 good and highly respected citizen, and a faithful supporter of the 
 church. He died April 14, 1863, ae. 84. His wife, Anna, died 
 March 3, 1864, ae. 83. 
 
 Children : 38 Olive Ann, b Nov. 22, 180 1, m Walter Webb, 
 and removed to Meriden, where she died Nov., 1855. Her hus- 
 band now (1873) resides in La Crosse, Wis. They had four 
 children, Luther F., Walter W., John R, Mary A. ; 39 Sarah 
 Elizabeth, b Sept. 24, 1805, m Ira Frisbie ; 40 Lucas Curtiss, b 
 Oct. 14, 1807; 41 T/w/iias Goldson, b Feb. 6, 181 1; 42 Stiles 
 Luther, b March 25. 181 7. 
 
 40 LUCAS CURTISS. 
 
 Lucas C. Hotchkiss, son of Luther and Anne (Hall) Hotch- 
 kiss, married, 1st, Rufina, daughter of Capt. Levi Hall, Oct. 13, 
 1831. She died Sept. 19, 1850. He married. 2d, Mary Ann 
 Raymond of New Haven, Lee. 2, 185 1. 
 
 Children by first wife : 43 Sarah A., b Sept. 29, 1832, m Ldw. 
 P. Yale, and has children, Flora R, b Aug. 22, 1855, Anna M., 
 b May 29, 1858, Charles F., b Jan. 15, 187 1; 44 Olive IV., b 
 Jan. 24, 1836, m Lucius W. Curtiss of Bristol, Dec. 15, 1857, and 
 has children, Nettie B., b Aug. 26, i860, Bertha Olive, b April 
 13, 1863, d Sept. n, 1863; 45 Levi H., b April 25, 1844. By 
 second wife : 46 Arthur R., b March 18, 1854. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 505 
 
 41 THOMAS GOLDSON. 
 
 Thomas G. Hotchkiss, son of Luther and Anne (Hall) Hotch- 
 kiss, married Sarah L. Pratt of Meriden, in 1837. He died in 
 Meriden, Dec. 22, 1866. 
 
 Children: 47 Philo P.,b 1838; 48 Luther, b 1840, lives in 
 
 Detroit, Mich ; 49 Addie, b May, 1844, m Curry of New 
 
 York. 
 
 42 STILES LUTHER. 
 
 Stiles L. Hotchkiss, son of Luther and Anne (Hall) Hotch- 
 kiss, married, 1st, Mary Ann Holt, Oct. 12, 1836. She died Sept. 
 9, 1863, ae. 46. He married, 2d, Annis E. Bassett of Plymouth, 
 Conn., March 31, 1864. 
 
 Children by first wife : 50 Martha Anna, b July 1, 1827, d Sept. 
 9, 1S42 : 51 Mary Rufina, b March 29, 1840, m Henry Carter, 
 Feb. 1, i860, has son, Charles H., b Oct. 31, 1862; 52 Elmar, 
 1) March 1 7. 1846. 
 
 45 LEVI H. 
 
 Levi H. Hotchkiss, son of Lucas C. and Rufina (Hall) Hotch- 
 kiss, married Mary B. Marshall of Hartford, Conn., Oct. 18, 1870. 
 Child: 53 Marshall, b Oct. 18, 187 1. 
 
 47 PHILO P. 
 
 Philo P. Hotchkiss, son of Thomas G. and Sarah L. (Pratt) 
 Hotchkiss, married Miss Imley of Hartford, and has two children 
 residing in Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 52 ELMAR. 
 
 Elmar Hotchkiss, son of Stiles L. and Mary A. (Holt) Hotch- 
 kiss, married Hannah Jane, daughter of Deacon Geo. W. Carter, 
 May 2, 1866. 
 
 38 
 
HOUGH.* 
 
 JOEL. 
 
 Joel Hough, son of Joseph and Catharine Hough of Walling- 
 ford, settled in Hamden, Mount Carmel Society, where he died. 
 He was a shoemaker and farmer. 
 
 Children: i Ira, b March 7, 1784, settled in Wolcott, Conn.; 
 
 2 Joseph, settled in Cheshire. Conn., m Moss, daughter of 
 
 Bowers Moss of that place ; 3 went to western New York ; 
 
 4 Amos, m Nancy daughter of Nehemiah Rice of Wallingford, d 
 at Hamden in 1869; 5 Joel, went to state of New York. 
 
 Ira Hough, son of Joel and Catharine Hough, came to Wol- 
 cott about 1805. He married Asenath, daughter of Joel Hotch- 
 kiss, Nov. 15, 1808. She died Aug. 31, 18 10. He married, 2d, 
 Mary Hubbard of Meriden, Conn., Jan. 1, 1812. He was a shoe- 
 maker and tanner and resided by the little brook west of Wolcott 
 Center. He was an active man in the Society and town for some 
 years. He died June 13. 185 1, and Mary, his wife, died March 
 6, 1869. 
 
 Children by second wife: 6 Isaac, b Nov. 23, 181 2; 7 Ezra 
 Stiles, b Aug. 9, 18 14 ; 8 Ira Hotchkiss, b May 4, 18 18 ; 9 Mary 
 Asenath, b Oct. 2, 1822, m Miles S. Upson, April 20, 1845; TO 
 Sally, b Jan. 17, 1830, d April 9, 1849. 
 
 6 ISAAC. 
 
 Isaac Hough, son of Ira and Mary (Hubbard) Hough, married 
 Laura Ann Johnson of Wolcott, April 6, 1835, and resides on road 
 towards Waterbury on the Gehula Grilley farm. 
 
 * See History of Wallingford. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 507 
 
 Children : 1 r Mary Aurelia, b June 9, 1839, m William Upson, 
 Feb. 23, 1874; 12 Anne Amelia, b May 8, 1843. m J- H. Beecher, 
 April 6. 1863, and had daughter, Carolina Amelia, b July 21, 1865, 
 d March 3, 1873. She obtained a divorce and the custody of her 
 daughter some time before the daughter died ; 13 Hobart Isaac, 
 b Oct. 1, 1850, d Oct. 1, 1861. 
 
 7 EZRA STILES. 
 
 Ezra S. Huron, son of Ira and Mary (Hubbard) Hough, mar- 
 ried Lucy Minor of Wolcott, April, 1836. He died Jan. 1, 1843, 
 and his wife, Lucy, died Feb. 9, 1855. He was clerk of the First 
 Society in Wolcott the last three years of his life, and was an ac- 
 tive and highly respected young man. 
 
 Children: 14 Cornelia, b Sept. 21, 1836, d June 1, 1856; 15 
 Caroline, b May 14, 1838, m George T. Parker, Feb., 1865, d 
 July 17, 1865. 
 
 8 IRA HOTCHKIS>. 
 
 Ira H. Hough, son of Ira and Mary (Hubbard) Hough, mar- 
 ried, 1st, Mary P. Smith of Wolcott; April 9, 1841. She died 
 Oct. 2, 1867, and he married, 2d, widow Martha A. Bronson, 
 daughter of Mark Tuttle, June 1, 1868. 
 
 Children by first wife: 16 Ezra Stiles, b June 12, 1842, d Feb. 
 28, 1862; 17 Harriet Eliza, b June 26, 1845, m John T. Harri- 
 son. Oct. 3, 1869; 18 Emily Smith, b Aug. 29, 1849, d April 19, 
 1861. By second wife: 19 Alary Rebecca, b May 13, 1870. 
 
JOHNSON. 
 
 AMOS M. 
 
 Amos M. Johnson was born Oct. i, 1816, and was the son of 
 William and Anne (Mitchell) Johnson, who were descended from 
 the first settlers of ancient Woodbury. He married Sarah, young- 
 est daughter of Hon. Orrin Plumb of Wolcott, May, 1854, and 
 lives in the north part of Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 1 Sarah Jane, b Nov. 12, 1855; 2 Hannah Maria, 
 b Sept. 5, 1858. 
 
 WILLIAM. 
 
 William Johnson, of Bristol, married Leva^ daughter of Levi 
 Atkins, Senr., and lived in the north part of Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 1 Henry Atkins, b 1835 '■> 2 Theron Smith, b 1841. 
 
 1 henry a. 
 
 Henry A. Johnson, son of William and Leva (Atkins) John- 
 son, married Alphia Sanford, and lives in Plymouth. 
 
 Children : 3 Hattie ; 4 Willie ; 5 Carrie ; 6 Nettie ; 7 Fred- 
 die. 
 
 2 theron. 
 
 Theron Johnson, son of William and Leva (Atkins) Johnson, 
 married Sarah J. Alcott. 
 Child : 8 Josephine Lillian. 
 
 EDWARD. 
 
 Edward Johnson was born in New Hartford, N. Y., and mar- 
 ried widow Laura Scovill, Sept. 21, 1850, in Vienna, N. Y., and 
 came into Wolcott in 1856. 
 
 Children: 1 Ellen Amelia, b Nov. 17, 1853, m Willie E. Som- 
 ers, Jan. 15, 1874; 2 Infant, died. 
 
 508 
 
KENEA. 
 
 JOHN JORDAN. 
 
 John J. Kenea was born in that part of Stratford now called 
 Huntington, March 21, 1763. Little is known of his father, ex- 
 cept that In- was a. Scotchman and a sea captain. His mother's 
 name was Jordan. At the age of 15 he enlisted and served in 
 the revolutionary war. At its close he came to Wolcott, and 
 learned the cooper's trade of James Alcox, and married his eldest 
 daughter, Obedience, Ma) 5, 1785. He died Jan., 1840, ae. 77. 
 His widow, Obedience, died in 1855, ae. 88. 
 
 Children: 1 Hu/dah, b Feb. 5, 1788, m Isaac Hunt. Sept., 
 181 1, and d Nov. 2, 1813, leaving a daughter Huldah • 2 Lever- 
 ette. b Jan. 10 1791 ; 3 Sophia, b Dec. 15, 1798, m Dec. 18, 1836, 
 Horace Stevens, of Plymouth, and married, 2d, Daniel Baldwin 
 of the same place ; 4 Hitah, b May 26, 1802, m Jan. 8, 1822, Wells 
 Plumb of Wolcott, and had children, Salome, Orlando, Henry; 5 
 Bede, b June 4, 1805, m Abial Canfield of Oxford, in 183 1, and 
 had children, John, Leverette, Henry, Walter, Alice ; 6 John 
 Henry, b May 14, 1809. 
 
 2 LEVERETTE. 
 
 Leverette Kenea, son of John J. and Obedience (Alcott) 
 Kenea, married Laura L. Fuller of Barkhamstead, Sept. 28, 1826. 
 He died March 10, 1846. 
 
 Children: 7 James L., b July 10, 1827 ; 8 Lanriette, b April 6, 
 1829, m Henry Sage of Berlin, April, 1852, and has children, 
 Florence and George H. ; 9 Leverette D.,h Aug. 21, 183 1, m 
 Harriet M. Welton of Waterbury, April, 1864, and has children, 
 Hattie W. and Edith Lee; 10 Harriet E., b April n, 1834, m 
 James E. Smith of Plymouth, March 13, 1854. She died Jan. 
 23, 1866; 11 Henry W., b July 14, 1836, d Oct. 23, 1849. 
 
 509 
 
5IO HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 6 JOHN HENRY. 
 
 John H. Kenea, son of John J. and Obedience (Alcott) Ke- 
 nea, married, Oct. 22, 1837, Mehitabel H. Phelps of New York. 
 He died in Madison, Wis., June 3, 1863. 
 
 Children : 12 Emily Barton, b July 31, 1838, m Lucius C. 
 Cary of Madison, Wis., March 21, 1857, and has sons Harry and 
 Freddie. 
 
LANE. 
 
 I DANIEL. 
 
 Daniel Lane marrie 1 in Killmgly, his native place, Mary Gris- 
 wold, and removed to Wolcott His wife, Mary, died in Wolcott, 
 Aug. 29, 1789, and he married, 2d, Sarah Seward, April 6, 1791. 
 He died in 1794. 
 
 Children : 2 Mabel, m David Beckwith, Dec. 18, 1786, and re- 
 moved to Camden, N. Y. ; 3 Nathaniel, and 4 Isabel, twins ; Isa- 
 bel m Isaac Alcox, and removed to Plymouth ; 5 Asahel ; 6 
 Mary, in Mark Alcox; 7 Daniel. 
 
 3 NATHANIEL. 
 
 Nathaniel Lane, son of Daniel and Mary (Griswold) Lane, 
 married Millicent Alcox, and lived a little north of the James 
 Alcox place. 
 
 Child: 8 Anson Griswold, b 1796. 
 
 5 ASAHEL. 
 
 Asahel Lane, son of Daniel and Mary (Griswold) Lane, mar- 
 ried Abigail, daughter of David Alcox, and removed to Camden, 
 New York, having children. 
 
 7 DANIEL, JR. 
 
 Daniel Lane, son of Daniel and Mary (Griswold) Lane, mar- 
 ried Keziah Norton, of Wolcott, and lived in Plymouth, Conn. 
 
 Children : 9 Linus, m Jewell, and removed to Cornwall, 
 
 Conn. ; 10 Lucas, m -Jewell, lives in Plymouth, and has child- 
 ren ; 11 Lucia, m Krastus Todd, removed to Southington; 12 
 Elizabeth, m Joel Barnes, and removed to Plymouth ; 13 Leonard; 
 14 Asahel. 
 
512 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 8 ANSON GRISWOLD. 
 
 Anson G. Lane, son of Nathaniel and Millicent (Alcox) Lane, 
 married Lydia Ann, daughter of Richard F. Welton, and lived on 
 his father's homestead. 
 
 Children: 15 Richard Anson, b Aug. 19, 1829; 16 Albert N., 
 b July 22, 1831 ; 17 Edward Ephraim, b July 29, 1836, went to 
 Warsaw, 111., and m Carrie Rosevelt. 
 
 13 LEONARD. 
 
 Leonard Lane, son of Daniel and Keziah (Norton) Lane, 
 married Lucy Jewell, and lived in Plymouth. He was found dead 
 on the Waterbury and Southington turnpike, on Southington 
 mountain, in Wolcott, — supposed to have been murdered. 
 
 15 RICHARD ANSON. 
 
 Richard A. Lane, son of Anson G. and Lydia Ann (Welton) 
 Lane, married Elizabeth Hawkins, and removed to Kankakee, 
 Illinois. 
 
 Children: 18 Willie, d young; 19 Edward; 20 Charles Al- 
 bert; 21 Ida. 
 
 I 6 ALBERT NATHANIEL. 
 
 Albert N. Lane, son of Anson G. and Lydia A. (Welton) 
 Lane, married Esther Millicent, daughter of James Alcott, Nov. 
 17, 1855, and lives on the Lane homestead. 
 
 Child: 22 Elsie Salina, b Aug. 18, 1856. 
 
LEWIS. 
 
 I WILLIAM. 
 
 William Lewis came from England in the ship "Lion," which 
 arrived at Boston Sept. 16, 1632. He was admitted freeman Nov. 
 6, 1632, and belonged to the Braintree company which removed 
 from Braintree August, 1632, to Cambridge. He was one of the 
 earliest settlers of Hartford in 1636, and was juryman and select- 
 man in 1641. He afterwards became one of the first settlers of 
 Hadley in 1653; was representative for Hadley in 1662 and for 
 Northampton in 1665. His wife's name was Felix, who died in 
 Hadley April 17, 167 1. Soon after, he removed to Farmington, 
 where he died Aug. 2, 1683. 
 
 Child : 2 William, the only child, was born in England. 
 
 2 WILLIAM, JR. 
 
 William Lewis, son of William and Felix Lewis, married, 1644, 
 Mary Hopkins, said to have been a daughter of William Hopkins 
 of Stratford ; 2d, Mary Cheever, daughter of the celebrated school 
 teacher, Ezekiel Cheever, of New Haven. He was an important 
 man in Farmington, being first registrar. 
 
 Children by first wife : 3 Mary, b May 6, 1645, m Benjamin 
 Judd, son of Thomas; 4 Lewis Philip, bapt Dec. 13, 1646; 5 
 Samuel, b Aug. 18, 1648 ; 6 Sarah, b 1652, m Daniel Boltwood ; 
 7 Hannah; 8 William; 9 Felix ; 10 Ebenezer ; 11 John; 12 
 James. By second wife : 13 FJizabeth,h Oct. 20, 1672, d 1674; 
 14 Ezekiel, b Nov. 7. 1674; 15 A T athaniel,\> Oct. 1. 1676; 16 
 Abigail, b Sept. [9, 1678; 17 Joseph, b March 15, 1679 or 80; 
 18 Daniel, b July 16, 1681. 
 
 5 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Lewis, son of William and Mary (Hopkins) Lewis, 
 39 
 
5 H HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 married Elizabeth and was made freeman, 1676. He held 
 
 the rank of Sergeant and died Nov., 1725. 
 
 Children : 19 Hannah, bapt Oct. 4, 1691 ; 20 Samuel, b March 
 29, 1692 ; 21 John, b Sept. 28, 1703 ; 22 Nehemiah, b May 3, 
 1705 ; 23 Nathan, b Jan. 23, 1707 ; 24 Hester, b Nov. 8, 1708 ; 
 25 Josiah, b Dec. 31, 1709 ; 26 Job, b Jan. 13, 17 13. 
 
 23 NATHAN. 
 
 Nathan Lewis, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Lewis, married 
 Mary Gridley, July 28, 1730, and settled in Southington where 
 he died Sept. 7, 1799. 
 
 Children: 27 Job, b April 20, 1731, m Hannah Curtiss ; 28 
 Rhoda, b 1733; 29 Nathan, b Dec. 15, 1734; 30 Lemuel, b 
 1735 i 3 1 Timothy, b April 18, 1740 ; 32 Mary, b Dec. 31, 1743 ; 
 ^ Asahel, b Feb. 25, 1744 or 5 ; 34 Nathaniel b Dec, 1747, set- 
 tled in Wolcott; 35 Hannah, b 1753. 
 
 30 LEMUEL. 
 
 Lemuel Lewis, son of Nathan and Mary (Gridley) Lewis, mar- 
 ried Royce, lived in Southington. He died in 1821, ae. 86. 
 
 Children: 36 Ebenezer ; 37 Elisha ; 38 Royce, b Feb. 1, 1784; 
 39 Merab, m Dr. Root ; 40 Sally, m Arnold Atwater, and had 
 children Orrin, Charles, John, Heman, Laura, Emeline, Belinda, 
 Maria; 41 , who m Newell. 
 
 34 NATHANIEL. 
 
 Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, son of Nathan and Mary (Gridley) 
 Lewis, married Sarah Gridley, Feb. 15, 1769, and settled on 
 Southington mountain, on what is still known as the Capt. Lewis 
 place. He held the rank of Captain, and was, otherwise, one of 
 the most efficient men in the Society and in the town of Wolcott. 
 His wife Sarah died Aug. n, 1800, ae. 68. He married, 2d, 
 widow Lydia Frisbie. He died Feb. 24, 1839, ae - 9°> an< ^ on his 
 gravestone is written: "He was one of the first settlers of this 
 town. An honest man." 
 
 Children: 42 Sylvia, b Dec. 31, 1770, m Isaac Upson of Wol- 
 cott ; 43 Reuben, b Aug. 16, 1772; 44 Appleton, b Aug. 18, 1774; 
 45 Addin, b Nov. 18, 1776, d, being scalded, Nov. 1, 1779; 46 
 
GENEALOGI1 SS. 5 I 5 
 
 Addin, b Jan. 14, — ; 47 Roxanna, b Nov. 28, — , m Lee Upson ; 
 4S Salome, in Seth Peek; 49 Nathaniel G. ; 50 Sarah. 
 
 38 ROTCE. 
 
 Royce Lewis, son of Lemuel and (Royce) Lewis, married 
 
 Electa, daughter of Pomeroy Newell, and settled in Wolcott in 
 1798. His wife was born Feb. 2, 1783, d 1808. He married 
 2d, widow Fanny Smith, in 1809. He died in 1848, ae. 64. 
 
 Children by first wife : 51 Lucy, b 1799, m Romeo Warren, set- 
 tled in South Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., and had children, 
 Andrew, Mary, Sophia, Edward; 52 Charles, b June 1803; 53 
 Lemuel, and 54 Edwin Newell, twins, b Nov. 7, 1806; 55 Pome- 
 roy, 1) June 1808. By second wife: 56 Electa, b 1810, m Ely 
 Sanford. lives in Binghampton, N. Y., had children, Edwin and 
 Emerson; 57 Ann, b 181 2, m Edward Terry, and died in Water- 
 bury, leaving one son, George E., b Sept. 15, 1836; 58 Harvey, 
 b 1813; 59 Laura, b 1816, m Lewis Wilmot, lived and died in 
 New. Haven, had children, Mordant, John, Lewis; 60 Fanny, b 
 18 1 8, m Orrin L. Botsford, lives in Plainville, and had children, 
 Thomas, Lucy J., Catharine; 61 Martha, b 1826. 
 
 43 REUBEN. 
 
 Reuben Lewis, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Gridley) Lewis, 
 married Mary Hall of Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 62 Nathaniel C, b Dec. 16, 1797; 63 Sylvia, m 
 Levi B. Frost; 64 Ira G., m Fanny Tully of Southington; 65 
 Luman ■ 66 Thomas Z. ; 67 Ives A. ; 68 Sarah G., m Henry A. 
 Pond of Bristol, Conn., and had children, Robert H. and Ellen S. 
 
 44 APPLETON. 
 
 Appleton Lewis, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Gridley) Lewis, 
 married widow Lois Hall, Nov. 15, 1797, and lived near his fa- 
 ther's home. He died July 29, 1820, ae. 46. His wife, Lois, 
 died March 23, i860, ae. 83. 
 
 Children: 69 Rufus, b Oct. 29, 1798; 70 Mille Ann, b Sept. 
 7, 1800, m Joel Wightman of Southington; 71 Edward, b June 
 27, 1802, m Janette Wightman of Southington; 72 Alfred, b 
 June 20, 1804, m Rosanna Barnes of Southington ; 73 Julina, b 
 Oct. 22, 1807, m Truman Dailey of Watertown ; 74 Lloyd, b Jan. 
 
5 l6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 15, 1 810, m Dama Phinney of Southington; 75 Dennis, b Feb. 
 
 16, 18 1 2, m Lucinda Phinney of Southington; 76 Lois Melissa, 
 b Nov. 28, 1814; 77 Jared Appleton, b Jan. 9, 18 18, d Aug. 17, 
 1825. 
 
 46 ADDIN. 
 
 Addin Lewis, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Gridley) Lewis, 
 married Fanny Lewis of Southington, and had three children, all 
 of whom died young. • He was a merchant, and while pursuing 
 this business in Mobile, Ala., he was elected mayor of the city, 
 and was highly respected. He became quite wealthy, and re- 
 turned to New Haven, where he died, leaving, by bequest, $8,500 
 to the town of Wolcott, the interest to be used for the support of 
 public schools. He left, also, nearly $15,000 for an academy in 
 Southington. In these gifts he has left monumental honors more 
 lasting than granite or marble, and conferred the greatest possible 
 benefit upon his native town and its half-mother town, Southing- 
 ton. (See remarks on p. 200, and the will of Mr. Lewis, on 
 p. 201.) 
 
 49 NATHANIEL G. 
 
 Nathaniel G. Lewis, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Gridley) 
 Lewis; married Amanda Truesdel of Bristol. 
 
 Children: 78 Sophia, m Russel Judson of Bristol, Conn.; 79 
 Maria, died ; 80 Amanda, m Jeremiah Ely of Hartford. 
 
 52 CHARLES. 
 
 Charles Lewis, son of Royce and Electa (Newell) Lewis, 
 married Emeline Bartholomew, and lives in Plainville, Conn. 
 
 Children: 81 Henry; 82 Romeo; 83 Gustavus ; 84 Marion ; 
 85 Nellie; 86 Josephine. 
 
 53 LEMUEL. 
 
 Lemuel Lewis, son of Royce and Electa (Newell) Lewis, mar- 
 ried Eliza Tubbs, and lives in Oxford, Chenango Co., N. Y. 
 Children: 87 Electa; 88 Lucy ; ^Elizabeth; 90 Charles. 
 
 54 EDWIN NEWELL. 
 
 Dea. Edwin N. Lewis, son of Royce and Electa (Newell) 
 Lewis, married Lucinda Curtiss, Nov. 27, 1833, and lives in 
 Plainville, Conn. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 517 
 
 Children: 91 Rudett A. t b May, 1836; 92 Charles C, b April 
 6, 1840; 93 Ella F., b Sept. 22. 1.S48, m Henry T. Gibson of 
 Woodbury, Conn. 
 
 55 POMEROY. 
 
 Pomeroy Lewis, son of Royce and Electa (Newell) Lewis. 
 
 married , and lives in California. 
 
 Children: 94 Thomas; 95 Charles; and others. 
 
 58 HARVEY. 
 
 Harvey Lewis, son of Royce and Fanny (Smith) Lewis, mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Bassett, and lives in Salem Center, Indiana. 
 
 Children: 96 Hiram; 97 Laura A.; 98 Newell; 99 Dwight; 
 100 Frank. 
 
 62 NATHANIEL C. 
 
 Nathaniel C. Lewis, son of Reuben and Mary (Hall) Lewis, 
 married Lucy N. Adams of Bristol, March 19, 1823, and died 
 Aug. 19, 1849, ae - 5 2 - His wife died Feb. 19, 1855. 
 
 Children: 101 Reuben Bennet, b Jan. 18, 1824; 102 Anna Lu- 
 cina, b Feb. 10, 1827, d Oct. 16, 1828. 
 
 65 LU-MAN. 
 
 Luman Lewis, son of Reuben and Mary (Hall) Lewis, married 
 Maria Foot of Southington. 
 
 Children : 103 Addin, m Eliza Goldsmith of Torrington ; 104 
 George F, m Emma A. Cowles of Southington; 105 Emma, m 
 Bernard Kennedy of New York; 106 James, m Alice Riley of 
 Southington; 107 Sarah, m Joseph Long of Southington; 108 
 Dwight //., m Julia Johnson of Southington. 
 
 66 THOMAS Z. 
 
 Thomas Z. Lewis, son of Reuben and Mary (Hall) Lewis, 
 married Samantha Seeley of Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 109 Mary Z, in Bennett Merchant of Waterbury; 
 no Reuben T. ; in Alice. 
 
 67 ives a. 
 
 Ives A. Lewis, son of Reuben and Mary (Hall) Lewis, mar- 
 ried, 1st, Almira Hall of Waterbury, and, 2d, Harriet N. Thomp- 
 son of Southington. 
 
510 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Children: 112 Oliver R.. m Sarah Thorp of Long Branch, 
 N. J. By second wife : 113 Arvilla ; 114 Ida H. 
 
 91 BURDETT A. 
 
 Burdett A. Lewis, son of Edwin A. and Lucinda (Curtiss) 
 Lewis, married Anna Westover of New Britain, and lives in 
 Plantsville. 
 
 Children: 115 Burton '\V. ; 116 Bray ton ; 117 Helen. 
 
 I OI REUBEN BENNETT. 
 
 Reuben B. Lewis, son of Nathaniel C. and Lucy (Adams) 
 Lewis, married Eunice Osborn of Oxford, Conn., Jan. 29, 185 1, 
 and lives in Marion, Southington. 
 
 Children: 118 Rosena Theresa, b Nov. 18, 185 1; 119 Emma 
 Lucina, b July 21, 1854 ; 120 Emerson JVellesley, b Jan. 31, 1856 ; 
 121 Warren Fremont, b Sept. 5, 1862. 
 
LINDSLEY. 
 
 BENJAMIN. 
 
 Benjamin Lindsley was born, tradition says, in Branford, 
 Conn., in 1743. He married Keturah Auger, who was born in 
 1748. He settled'in Bristol in 1773 or 4, his first deed being 
 dated 1774. He died in 1784, and his wife died in 1824. 
 
 Children: 1 Sara//, b Feb. 5. 1766; 2 Keturah. b Feb. 2, 1768 ; 
 3 Lud, b Sept. 24, 1770; 4 Rachel, b Oct. 24, 1772; 5 fared, b 
 Dec. 5, 1774; 6 Lucretia, b March 17, 1777; 7 Dorcas, b April 
 i2, 1779; 8 Benjamin, b Nov. 10, 1782; 9 Eldad, b June 19, 
 1784. All of these children married and removed to central part 
 of New York State except the third, Lud. 
 
 3 LUD. 
 
 Lud LlNDSLEY, son of Benjamin and Keturah (Auger) Lind- 
 sley, married Hannah Gaylord of Bristol and settled in Wolcott. 
 in the Spring of 1801, on Rose Hill, afterward called Lindsley Hill. 
 
 Children: 10 Rebecca A., b March 8, 1798, d June 2, 1814; 
 11 Murilla, b Jan. 7, 1800; 12 Hannah .1/. b Sept. 16, 1802, m 
 Gad Lewis of Bristol; 13 Rachel, b Jan. 2, 1805, d Feb. 12, 1841 ; 
 14 Benjamin A., b July 31, 1809; 15 Samuel, b Dec. 2, 181 1, d 
 Nov. 14, 1855; 16 Charlotte A'., b Dec. 21, 1816, m Stillman 
 Bronson of Wolcott. 
 
 14 BENJAMIN A. 
 
 Benjamin A. Lindslkv. son of Lud and Hannah (Gaylord) 
 Lindsley, married Lucina, daughter of Selah Upson, May 16, 1844, 
 and lived on his father's homestead. He was a good citizen, an 
 industrious farmer, and is said to have had the best cultivated 
 farm in the town. He was an active, reliable member of the So- 
 ciety and church, and is spoken of throughout the community, 
 with respect and honor. He died Feb. 22, 1867, leaving no chil- 
 dren. 519 
 
MERRILL. 
 
 [ SILAS. 
 
 Si [-as Merrill married Sylvia, daughter of Abel Curtiss, and 
 lived in Wolcott. 
 
 Children : 2 Polly, m Ashbel Allen and removed to Salisbury, 
 Conn.; 3 Sheldon, never married; 4 Roxy ; 5 Willis, b Jan. 19, 
 1803 ; 6 Harriet, m Johnson Alcott. 
 
 5 WILLIS. 
 
 Willis Merrill, son of Silas and Sylvia (Curtiss) Merrill, mar- 
 ried Julia Anna, daughter of Medad Alcott, Oct. 18, 1827. She 
 was born Oct. 12, 1806. 
 
 Children: 7 Harriet, b Aug. 13, 1828, d Sept. 25, 1829; 8 Lu- 
 celia, b March 30, 183 1, m Timothy Root of Wolcott, April 18, 
 1861 j 9 Sylvia Aim, b March 3, 1836, d May 29, 1836; 10 Juli- 
 ette, b July 6, 1844, m Arthur W. Ashburn, June 7, 1866, and has 
 children, Willis Merrill, b July 9, 1868, Addison Alcott, b March 
 26, 1870. Walter James, b Jan. 5, 1872. 
 
 520 
 
MINOR.* 
 
 I CLEMENT. 
 
 Clement Minor inherited the homestead of his father, William, 
 in Somerset, England, and departed this life the 31st of March, 
 1640. and was interred in Chow Magna, in the county of Somer- 
 set. 
 
 Children: 2 Clement ; 3 Thomas; 4 Elizabeth ; 5 Mary. 
 
 3 THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Minor, emigrated to '"Connecticut Colony in New 
 England" and was living at Stonington. Conn., in 1683. 
 
 His children were: 6 John, who removed to Stratford, then to 
 Woodbury. Conn. ; t 7 Thomas, of whom we U\\(\ no record ; 8 
 Clement, married an led in New London, where some of his 
 
 descendents now live, and from whom the Lyme Minors sprung; 
 1) Ephraim, settled in Stonington; 10 Judah, record says, went 
 East ; 1 1 Manassah, settled in Stonington, ancestor of the North 
 Stonington Minors ; 12 Joseph ; [3 Samuel ; [4 Ann; 15 Maria; 
 1 6 Eunice ; 1 7 Elizabeth ; 1 8 Hannah. 
 
 Iededia'h Minor was born in Lyme. Conn., and married Eliza- 
 beth Marvin of that place, and settled in Wolcott about 1; -'. 
 and lived, first, on the road going directly east from the Center 
 towards Dea. Carter's present dwelling. He lived a little east oi 
 
 * Cothren's History of Ancient Woodbury. 
 
 (• Grace, daughter of Capt. John Miner of Stratford, and afterwards "i 
 iury, married Samuel Grant, Jr., of Windsor, Conn., April 11 (688 
 and thus became the ancestress <>f Gen. Ulysses S. (Iran', the President "f 
 
 4^ 
 
522 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the top of the hill, and afterwards moved to the top of the hill, 
 north of Augustus Minor's present dwelling. 
 
 Children : i Betsey, m William Roberts of Bristol ; 2 Joseph, 
 who was about 12 years old when his father came to Wolcott ; 3 
 Esther, m Samuel Atkins, who lived half a mile east of Levi At- 
 kins' present dwelling; 4 Dan, enlisted in Revolutionary army 
 and died with small pox; 5 Caleb ; 6 Lucretia, m Michael Day- 
 ton of Watertown; 7 Lucy, m Jesse Alcox, June 16, 1791 ; 8 
 Theda, m William Barnes of Southington ; 9 Joshua; 10 Eliza- 
 beth. 
 
 2 JOSEPH. 
 
 Joseph Minor, son of Jedediah and Elizabeth (Marvin) Minor, 
 married Miry, daughter of Capt. Samuel Upson. He lived and 
 died on his father's homestead, a mile north of Wolcott Center. 
 
 Children: 11 An Infant that died May 3, 17S3; 12 Archibald 
 b May 23, 1784; 13 Joseph, b April 22, 1786; 14 Wealthy^ b 
 Dec. 8, 1789, m Elihu Moulthrop; 15 Marcus, b July 17, 1790; 
 16 Marvin, b Aug., 1792; 17 Nancy b July 12, 1798, m Orrin 
 Hall; 18 Mary, b Nov. 23, 1800, m Ephraim Hall. 
 
 5 CALEB. 
 
 Caleb Minor, son of Jedediah and Elizabeth (Marvin) Minor, 
 married Jane Terrill of Naugatuck, and lived in Wolcott, for a 
 time, then removed to Sheffield, Mass., where he died. 
 
 Children: 19 Isaac; 20 Sally; 21 Theda y 22 Betsey ; 23 
 
 9 JOSHUA. 
 
 Joshua Minor, son of Jedediah and Elizabeth (Marvin) Minor, 
 married Diadama Alcox and lived in the northwestern part of the 
 town. 
 
 Children: 2 4 Selden ; 25 Hiram; 26 Renselaer / 27 Newell; 
 28 Lucy, m Ezra S. Hough; 29 Diadama, m George Plumb; 30 
 Olive. 
 
 12 ARCHIBALD. 
 
 Archibald Minor, son of Joseph and Mary (Upson) Minor, 
 married Betsey Tuttle of Plymouth, Oct. 27, 1808, and resides 
 half a mile north of the Meeting house, being in his ninety-first 
 year. He has been one of the most useful, respected, and hon- 
 
GENEALOGI] 523 
 
 ored citizens of Wolcott, having served the town in many offices 
 for many years. A shed with the pen. his legible hand- 
 
 writing adorns many a page of town records, (rifted with a voice 
 of great melody he aided, man) years, divine worship with regu- 
 larity and heart) earnestness, nor has his voice yet. though much 
 broken, lost all its sweetness or power. His 1 oars seem 
 
 tinted with a richer golden sunset than falls to the lot of many in 
 this world. 
 
 Children: 31 Henry, b !' 7, J09 ; 32 Harriet, b Dec. 8, 
 
 r8i 1. m George W. Welton of Waterbury. 
 
 13 JOSEPH, JR. 
 
 Joseph Minor, son of Joseph and Mary (Upson) Minor, mar- 
 ried Charlotte Munson of Wolcott. lived a time on the David Nor- 
 ton farm, then removed to Ohio. 
 
 Children: 33 Austin ; 34 Marcus; 35 . 
 
 15 MAR( 1 s. 
 
 Marcus Minor, son of Joseph and Man- (Upson) Minor, mar- 
 ried Harriet, daughter of Titus Hotchkiss, and lived a time on the 
 ol 1 In nastea 1. then on the oil Squire Charles Upson place, and 
 later he removed to Bristol, where he died S^pt. 8, 1872, ae. 80. 
 
 Children : 36 Maria, h Oct. 29, 1813, m, Nov. 2.2, 1838, Willard 
 Downs, lived in Wolcott and had children, Edson, b Sept. 10, 
 1839 (who m Josephine Upson and had children, Lizzie M. and 
 George E.), Untie E., b Aug. 14, 1842. She died April 25, 
 1872; 37 Marshall and 38 Marcus, twins, b June 16, 1824. 
 
 16 MARVIN. 
 
 Marvin Minor, son of Joseph and Mary (Upson) Minor, mar- 
 ried Amanda Johnson of Bristol. She died' June 22. r 8 5 1 . He 
 died Nov. 7, 1864. 
 
 Children : 39 Caroline, b April 29, 1819, 40 Augustus, b March 
 11, 182 1 ; 41 James IV., b Feb. n, 182S; 42 Elvira, b July 28, 
 1831. 
 
 51 HENRY. 
 
 Henry Minor, son of Archibald and Betsey (Tuttle) Minor, 
 married Sarah J. Clark of Waterbury, and resides on the home- 
 
524 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 stead of his father. He has served the town in various offices be- 
 sides being Town Clerk twenty-five years. 
 Child : 43 Theron C. A. 
 
 37 MARSHALL. 
 
 Marshall Minor, son of Marcus and Harriet (Hotchkiss) Mi- 
 nor, married Mary E. Downs. 
 
 Children: 43 Marcus IV., b July 29, 1852; 44 George JV., b 
 Tuly 9, 1854; 45 Cornelius E.,b July 29, 1856; 46 Etta A., b 
 May 15, 1859. 
 
 40 AUGUSTUS. 
 
 Augustus Minor, son of Marvin and Amanda (Johnson) Mi- 
 nor, married Emogene E. Frisbie, and lives on his father's farm, 
 in a new house built by himself. 
 
 Child : 47 Charlie J., b Aug. 26, 1855. 
 
 43 THERON. 
 
 Theron C. A. Minor, son of Henry and Sarah J. (Clark) 
 Minor married, Dec. 1, 1861, Sarah Jane, daughter of Erastus W. 
 Warner of Wolcott and resides in Waterbury. 
 
 Child: 48 Myrtie D., b Oct. 6, 1862. 
 
MOULTHROP. 
 
 MOULTHROPP, MOLTHROP, MOULTROP, MOULL- 
 
 TROP, MOLTROP, MOLTROUP, MOULTROUP, 
 
 MOULTREP. 
 
 This is a Danish name and the first Matthew Moulthrop is said 
 to have come from Denmark to .New Haven There are all of 
 the above spellings on the records except the second, which is 
 probably the original one. Moulthropp. 
 
 I MATTHEW. 
 
 M.vuiiiu Moulthrop, married Jain — , was early in New 
 Haven and removed to Stony River. Fast Haven, in 1662. 
 
 Children: 2 Matthew ; 3 Elizabeth, m John Gregory, 1663; 4 
 Mary. 
 
 2 MATTHEW, JR. 
 
 Matthem Moulthrop, son of Matthew and Jane Moulthrop, 
 married Hannah Thomson in 1662. lived in East Haven. 
 
 Children: 5 Hannah, b Jan.. 1663, d young; 6 Hannah, b 
 April 20. 1665 ; 7 John, b Feb. 5. 1667; 8 Matthew, b July 18, 
 [670; 9 Infant, b 1673; 10 Lydia, b Aug. 8, 1674; ri Samuel, 
 I) |une 1677. d : 1: Samuel, b April r 3. 1679 ; r 5 Keziah, b April 
 12. 16.S2. 
 
 7 JOHN. 
 
 |ohn' Moulthrop, son of Matthew and Hannah (Thompson) 
 Moulthrop, married Abigail Bradley, June 29, 1692, lived in East 
 Haven. 
 
 Children: 14 Abigail, b Aug. 12, 1693; 15 John, b March 17, 
 [696 ; r6 Mary, b [698, d ; 17 Sarah, b 1701. m Adonijah Mor- 
 ris; 18 Zto», b Dec. 1. 1703; 19 Israel, b June 7. 1706 ; 20 /<'- 
 seph; 21 Timothy. 
 
526 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 20 JOSEPH. 
 
 Joseph Moulthrop, son of John and Abigail (Bradley) Moul- 
 throp, married Mary Wheadpn, lived in East Haven. 
 
 Children: 22 Joseph ; 23 Elihu; z\Jude; 25 Adonijah, lost in 
 the French war; 26 Hannah; 27 Rhoda ; 28 Mary; 29 Lucretia; 
 
 30 Abigail. 
 
 23 ELIHU. 
 
 Elihi Moulthrop, son of Joseph and Mary (Wheadon) Moul- 
 throp, married Mary Hotchkiss, Nov. 21, 1770, lived in East 
 Haven until after the birth of his children, when he removed to 
 Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 31 Jared; 32 Polly; 33 Adonijah; 34 Elihu; 35 
 Esther. 
 
 34 ELIHU, 2D. 
 
 Elihu Moulthrop, son of Elihu and Mary (Hotchkiss) Moul- 
 throp, married Wealthy, daughter of Joseph Minor, in 1807, and 
 lived in Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 36 Caroline, b Aug. 21, 1808, d; 37 Levi, b Jan. 5, 
 181 1 ; 38 Sherman, b May 18, 1813 ; 39 Elihu, b March 16, 
 1816 ; 40 Mary, b Jan. 12, 1824, d 1826. 
 
 37 levi. 
 
 Levi Moulthrop, son of Elihu and Wealthy (Minor) Moul- 
 throp, married Charlotte S. J. Stocking, Sept. 8, 1841. She was 
 born June 9, 1825. 
 
 Children: 41 Philura Phonora,h Nov. 16, 1842, m, 1st, Moses 
 S. Fuller, 2d, Joseph B. Fenn, had two children, both died young. 
 She died July 1,1872; 42 John Roioe, b Feb. 20, 1845 ; 43 Henry 
 Harwood, b Feb. 6, 1849. 
 
 38 sherm w. 
 
 Sherman Moulthrop, son of Elihu and Wealthy (Minor) 
 Moulthrop married Sarah Ann, daughter of Eldad Alcott, April 
 23, 1835, and lives on the old David Alcox place. 
 
 Children: 44 Theodore, b Feb. 4, 1836; 45 Augusta, b March 
 19, 1838. m George Waters of Waterbury; 46 Newell, b Feb. 29, 
 [840; 47 Frederick, b Dec. 12. 1844. d March 5, 1853 ; 48 Ed- 
 gar S., b Nov. 10. 1847 ; 49 Frederick C, b July 30. 1855. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 527 
 
 39 ELIHU, 3D. 
 
 Elihu Moulthrop, son of Elihu and Wealthy (Minor) Moul- 
 throp, married Sarah M., daughter of Lucius Tuttle, and lives in 
 Wolcott. 
 
 Children : 50 Antoinette M., b Sept. \. 1839, m Robert Steven- 
 son of Ansonia and has a daughter Jessie E.; 51 Evelyn E., b 
 July 12, 1841, enlisted in late war and died Aug. 30, 1864, in 
 Georgia. 
 
 46 NEWELL. 
 
 Newell M01 lthr ~'\ son of Sherman and Sarah A. (Alcott) 
 M 1 I'i'ir > >. in irri :d Jennie E. Thompson fuly 5, 1868. 
 
 Child: George, b May 24, 1870. 
 
 48 EDGAR S. 
 
 Edgar S. M ' 1 ■. s >n of Sherman and Sarah A. (Alcott) 
 M mlthrop, married Kate Rogers of Cornwall, Coin.. April, 1870. 
 
MUNSON 
 
 I WILLIAM A. 
 
 William A. Munson was born in Waterbury Dec. 14, 1824, 
 and married, Oct. 5, 1846, Julia A., daughter of Ephraim Hall. 
 
 Children : 2 Cornelius F., b Dec. 28, 1849 > 3 ^ nez Y&&, b May 
 15, 1852, ra John Thompson of East Haven, resides in Water- 
 bury, and has children, Ella Mary, b Jan. 2, 1870, John, b Jan. 
 15, 1873 : 4 Eva Luc/la. d young. 
 
 2 CORNELIUS F. 
 
 Cornelius F. Munson, son of William A. and Julia A. (Hall) 
 Munson, married Eveline 1., daughter of Merritt Frisbie of South- 
 ington. 
 
 Child: Emma Fidelia, b May 31, 187 1. 
 
 528 
 
NICHOLS. 
 
 The ancestor of the Waterbury Nicholses came from Long 
 Island. 
 
 I RICHARD. 
 
 Richard Nichols, son of George of Long Island, had 
 Children: i Elijah; 2 Joseph ; 3 Sam me ; 4 James ; 5 Rich- 
 ard; 6 Sarah; 7 Marian, m Bronson; 8 Lydia ; 9 Tamar. 
 
 3 SAMME. 
 
 Samme Nichols, son of Richard, married Abigail Landon, and 
 lived in the western part of the town of Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 10 Erastus, d young; 11 Charles ; 12 Polly ; 13 
 Almira ; 14 Abigail ; 15 Julia; 16 Erastus, b June 8, 1798; 17 
 Rhoda ; 18 Bit hard; 19 Jessie ; 20 Harriet, d young; 21 Har- 
 riet. 
 
 16 ERASTUS. 
 
 Erastus Nichols, son of Samme and Abigail (Landon) 
 Nichols, married Rachel Pardee, Feb. 25, 1819, and resides on 
 the Pardee place, in Woodtick. She was born April 30, 1798. 
 
 Children: 22 Phyletta, b Feb. 1, 1820, m Frances Wood, and 
 
 lives in Southington ; 23 George E., b June 8, 182 1 ; 24 Samuel, 
 
 1) Sept. 3, 1823 ; 25 Polly,b Aug. 27, 1825. d Dec. 25, 1825; 26 
 
 Polly, b Nov. 6, 1826, m David T. Welton, d Sept. 8, 1845; 27 
 
 Frederick I.., b Nov. 1, 1832 ; 28 Emma E., b April 24, 1838, d 
 
 Aug. 22, 1863. 
 
 23 geor<;k. 
 
 George Nichols, son of Erastus and Rachel (Pardee) Nichols, 
 married Eliza O. Marsh of Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y. 
 
 Child: 29 Mary Henrietta, b Oct. 31, 1845, m Luther S. Hall, 
 of Middletown, Conn. 
 
 41 
 
530 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 24 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Nichols, son of Erastus and Rachel (Pardee) Nichols, 
 married Charlotte Wells, Jan. 18, 185 1. She was born July 12, 
 1830. 
 
 Children: 30 Eugene Ellison^ b Jan. 18, 1854; 31 Emma 
 Eliza, b Sept. 12, 1861, d Jan. 29, 1865 ; 32 Samuel, b Sept. 16, 
 1872. 
 
 2.7 FREDERICK L. 
 
 Frederick L. Nichols, son of Erastus and Rachel (Pardee) 
 Nichols, married Helena Ann Stevens of Wolcott, Nov. 2, 1854. 
 She died June 24, 1864. 
 
 Children: 33 Helen £., b Nov. 27, 1857; 34 Susan E., b. 
 Sept. 2, 1861 ; 35 Charlotte E. Joslin, an adopted daughter, b 
 Feb. 13, 1853, m, June, 1872, Henry Carnett, resides in New- 
 York Mills, N. Y. 
 
 30 EUGENE ELLISON. 
 
 Eugene E. Nichols, son of Samuel and Charlotte (Wells) 
 Nichols, married Emma A. Smith of New London, Sept. 20, 
 
 i873- 
 
NORTON. 
 
 Thomas Norton, emigrated from Ackley in Surrey, England, 
 to Guilford, Conn., in 1639, having a wife and three daughters at 
 that time. He married Grace Wells some fourteen years before 
 he came to America. 
 
 Children : 1 Anne, b about 1625, and m John Warner of Say- 
 brook and Hartford ; 2 Grace, b 1627, m William Seward, April 
 2, 1651, of New Haven and Guilford, and d May 29, 1689; 3 
 Mary, b 1635, m Samuel Rockwell, son of William of Windsor, 
 April 9, 1660; 4 John, b 1640; 5 Abigail, b 1642, m Ananias 
 Tryon of Killingworth, Aug. 6, 1667; 6 Thomas, b 1646, m Eli- 
 zabeth Mason, May 8, 167 1. 
 
 4 JOHN. 
 
 John Norton, son of Thomas and Grace (Wells) Norton, mar- 
 ried, 1st, Hannah Stone, 2d, Elizabeth Hubbard. He was a mil- 
 ler of Guilford, and died May 5th, 1704. 
 
 Children: 7 John, b Nov. 18, 1666, d Jan. 10, 1667; 8 John, 
 b May 29, 1668; 9 Susannah, b Oct. 4, 1672 ; 10 Mary, b 1680; 
 11 Thomas, b May 4, 1675 ; 12 Hannah, b Feb. 4, 1677 or 8, m 
 Ebenezer Stone, Jan. 16, 1702. 
 
 8 JOHN, JR. 
 
 John Norton, Jr., son of John the miller of Guilford, married 
 Hannah, daughter of Emanuel Perk of Wethersfield, Nov. 14, £!}*•*- R 
 1694. He died March 15, 171 1. She died Oct. 22, 1730- 
 
 Children: 13 Anna, b Oct. 16, 1695, d Oct., 1721 ; 14 Mary, 
 b Dec. 6, 1697 ; 15 John, b Dec. 23, 1699; 16 Sarah, b Feb. 26, 
 1702; 17 Joseph, b Oct. 10, 1704: 18 Elizabeth, b Oct. 6, 1706, 
 m David Benton, Aug. 8, 1728, of Guilford, d Aug. 25, 1756; 
 19 Hannah, b March 4, 17 10, d 1724. 
 
532 HI-STORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 15 JOHN, 3 D. 
 
 John Norton, son of John and Hannah (Peck) Norton, mar- 
 ried, 1 st, Elizabeth Robinson, and, 2d, Mary Morgan, daughter 
 of John of Groton. He lived in Guilford and died Jan. n, 1798, 
 ae. 99. 
 
 Children: 20 Hannah / 21 John y 22 Ruth, m Nathan Chit- 
 tenden, Oct. 23, 1756, of Guilford ; 23 Zebulon, m Naomi Booth, 
 moved to Wolcott, and afterwards to Bloomfield, N. J. ; 24 Abra- 
 ham, m ■ Doolittle, removed to Wolcott, had 4 sons and 9 
 
 daughters ; 25 Mary, m I. Pierce of Southbury, Conn. ; 26 
 Nathan; 27 Andrew; 28 Huldah ; 29 Elizabeth, b 1732, d 
 single, Oct. 21, 1788. 
 
 17 JOSEPH. ^ 
 
 Joseph Norton, son of John and Hannah (Peck) Norton, mar- 
 ried Mary Champion of Lyme, April n, 1728. He died in 
 Guilford, May 9. 1781. His widow, Mary, resided several years 
 in Wolcott with her son David and is said to have been 105 years 
 old when she left Wolcott and went to Guilford to live with a son 
 there. She died, July 13, 1800, ae. no years. 
 
 Children : 30 Simeon, b May 3, 1729, lived in Guilford and d 
 Dec. 22, 1772 ; 31 David, b Oct. 21, 1730; 32 William, b Jan. 
 22, 1732, d June 17, 1760; ^ Hannah, b Oct. 1, 1734 ; 34 Phil- 
 amon, b June 24, 1736, d Oct. (?), 1736; 35 Noah, b Jan. 27, 
 1740, d May 31, 1763; 36 Beniah, b 1742, d Nov. 10, 1803. 
 
 31 DAVID. 
 
 David Norton, son of Joseph and Mary (Champion) Norton, 
 married, 1st, Submit Benton, Nov. n, 1752. She died about 
 1755. He married, 2d, Suza Bishop. His home and farm were 
 about half a mile south west from Wolcott Center. Dea. Aaron 
 Harrison speaks of him, after his death, in the highest terms, both 
 as a citizen and Christian. Abraham Norton, of considerable note 
 in this town, was first cousin to this David. 
 
 Children: 37 Ozia's, b Feb. 10, 1753; 38 Cyrus, b Jan. 14, 
 1755, m Jerusha Johnson of Wolcott and removed to N. Y. ; 39 
 Ziba, bapt. June 20, 1757, m Ruth Hopkins, Nov. 26, 1778, had 
 daughter, Philomela, m Jared Welton ; 40 Suza, bapt. June 12, 
 1759; 41 Zebul, bapt. Sept. 22, 1761, m Rhoda Norton, his 
 
GENEALOGIES. 533 
 
 cousin; 42 Noah Uzza, bapt. July 3, 1764, m Rachel Gillet, of 
 Wolcott, April 18, 1784, settled in New York. 
 
 37 OZIAS. 
 
 Ozias Norton, son of David and Submit (Benton) Norton, 
 married Maria Frisbie. He died Feb. 6, 1840, ae. 87. 
 
 Children: 43 David, m 9+tff-' Welton and removed West; 44 
 Keziah, m Daniel Lane, of Wolcott ; 45 Susan and 46 Elizabeth, 
 twins, Susan m Daniel Byington, Elizabeth m Thomas Cook and 
 settled in Ohio; 47 Moses Frisbie, -ax Percy Barber, removed to 
 Ohio; 48 Jonathan Fowler, m Polly Smith, lived and died in 
 Wolcott; 49 Ziba ; 50 Simeon Newton, 1> March 28, 1791 ; 51 
 Jedediah Harmon, b May n, 1788. 
 
 49 ZIBA. 
 
 Ziba Norton, son of Ozias and Maria (Frisbie) Norton, mar- 
 ried Abigail Atkins of Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 52 Adah, b June 23, 1803, m, 1st, M. Doolittle, 2d, 
 Geo. W. Royce, had children, Marcia, Cecilia, William ; 53 Tal- 
 cott, b Sept. 19, 1807, m Belinda Hall of Plymouth, had daughter 
 Amelia; 54 Leonora, b March 12, 1805, m Harley Downs, had 
 daughters, Esther Elvira, d, and Esther Elvira; 55 Phebe, b Dec, 
 1809, m George W. Winchel ; 56 Minerva, b March, 181 2, m Ev- 
 erest Norton, had children, Rutilla, Rufus, Sylvester; 57 Hendric, 
 b Dec, 1817; 58 Rufus, b 1819; 59 Manville, b June 8, T821; 
 60 Rufinus, b Sept., 1824. 
 
 50 SIMEON NEWTON. 
 
 Simeon N. Norton, son of Ozias and Maria (Frisbie) Norton, 
 married Rebecca Parker of Wolcott, Nov. n, 181 2. He died 
 in Wolcott, Feb. 5, 1847. 
 
 Children: 61 Simeon Hopkins, b Aug. 11, 1813; 62 Levi 
 Parker, b Sept. 22, 181 5; 63 Hannah Miriam, b Jan. 4, 181 8, 
 m Upson Higgins, of Wolcott; 64 Janette, b July 31, 182 1, d 
 young; 65 Justina, b Aug. 8, 1822, d young; 66 Ju Una Janette, b 
 Jan. 28, 1825, m Prof. Louis Bail, of New Haven; 67 Samuel 
 Newton, is in California. 
 
 51 JEDEDIAH HARMON. 
 
 Jedediah H. Norton, son of Ozias and Maria (Frisbie) Nor- 
 
534 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 ton, married Hannah, daughter of Matthew Rowe of Fair Haven, 
 Sept 4, 1805. She was born Sept. 21, 1782, died Sept. 9, 1873. 
 He resides in Plymouth, in his 87th year. 
 
 Children: 68 Ozias Rowe, b June 12, 1806; 69 Rodney Fris- 
 bie, b Dec. 10, 1807, m Lucinda Blakeslee, of Bristol, and d Oct. 
 11, 187 1 ; 70 Stephen Ludington, b July 23, 1810 ; 71 Matthew 
 Simeon, b Aug. 19, 1812; 72 Selden S., b Nov. 25, 1813 ; 73 
 Eunice JR., b Aug. 2*, 1817, m Lewis Smith, and resides in Hart- 
 ford; 74 Hannah R., b Nov. 10, 1819, m Elliot Dawson, resides 
 in Plymouth; j$Jedediah Roswell, b June 28, 1822 ; 76 Daniel 
 Eli. b Sept. 16. 1826. 
 
 57 HENDRICK. 
 
 Hendrick Norton, son of Ziba and Abigail (Atkins) Norton, 
 married Eliza Finch. 
 
 Children: 77 Lucius; 78 Mary y 79 Emetine,' 80 George. 
 
 58 RUFUS. 
 
 Rufus Norton, son of Ziba and Abigail (Atkins) Norton, mar- 
 ried, 1 st, Harriet Smith, 2d, FMen Beecher. 
 
 Children: 81 Harriet: 82 Omar; 83 Winfield ; 84 Carrol; 
 
 85 Minnie. 
 
 59 MANVILLE. 
 
 Manville Norton, son of Ziba and Abigail (Atkins) Norton, 
 married Thankful Foss of Skaneatelas, N. Y., lives in town of 
 Waterbury. 
 
 Children : 86 Mary A. ; 87 Harley D. ; 88 Amos F. ; 89 
 Adelbert H. 
 
 60 RUFINUS. 
 
 Rufinus Norton, son of Ziba and Abigail (Atkins) Norton, 
 married Mary Ann Brooks of Albany, N. Y. 
 Child : 90 Charles. 
 
 6l SIMEON HOPKINS. 
 
 Simeon H. Norton, son of Simeon N. and Rebecca (Parker) 
 Norton, married Sarah Ann. daughter of Capt. Levi Hall, Oct. 16, 
 1836, settled in Southington. She was born Oct. 26, 1813, d 
 Feb. 24, 1872. 
 
 Children : 91 Luzern Townsend, b July 22, 1841, died in the 
 
GENEALOGIES. 535 
 
 Battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863 ; 92 Sarah Eveline, b 
 May 26, 1846. d March 29, 1849 ! 93 Sarah Eveline, b May 19, 
 1848. m Walter A. Cowles, Jan. 3, 1872. 
 
 68 OZIAS ROWE. 
 
 Ozias R. Norton, son of Jedediah H. and Hannah (Rowe) 
 Norton, married Fanny Roper of Wolcott. 
 
 Children : 94 Harriet ; 95 Maria ; 96 Charles ; 97 Martin. 
 
 70 STEPHEN LUDINGTON. 
 
 Stephen L. Norton, son of Jedediah H. and Hannah (Rowe) 
 Norton, married Lucinda Bradley. He died June 7, 1867. 
 
 Children: 98 Amnion ; 99 Lewis; 100 Oliver; 101 Andrew; 
 102 Eunice; 103 Sarah; 104 Turtius / 10 5' Wallace y 106 Addie. 
 
 7 I MATTHEW SIMEON. 
 
 Matthew S. Norton, son of Jedediah H. and Hannah (Rowe) 
 Norton, married Betsey Maria, daughter of John Thomas of Wol- 
 cott, Nov. ^o, 183T. She was born Sept. i, 1811. He died 
 May 22, 1874. 
 
 Children : 107 James /?.. b Aug. 21, 1833 ; 108 Caroline E., b 
 July 24, 1836. -m George A. Dingwell, and had children, Nelson, 
 Wesley. Freddie. Augustus and Infant ; 109 Bnrrett M, b Jan. 30, 
 1848. d June 7, 1864. in the late war, aged 16 years. 
 
 72 seldon s. 
 
 Seldon S. Norton, son of Jedediah H. and Hannah (Rowe) 
 Norton, married, 1st, Aury C. Nichols, 2d, Anna M.. daughter of 
 Arthur Decker of New York. 
 
 Children: no Ellen Hannah, b Oct. 20, 185 1, m Lewis E. 
 Dailey, 1868. and has children, Alfred and Jennie; in Lucius 
 and 112 Lucian, twins, b May 19, 1855 ; 113 Emma Jane, b June 
 26, 1857 ; 114 Elmar, b Feb. 26, 1862. 
 
 76 DANIEL ELI. 
 
 Daniel E. Norton, son of Jedediah H. and Hannah (Rowe) 
 Norton, married, 1st, Mary Russell, 2d, Addie Russell. Dec. 10, 
 1867. 
 
 Children: 115 Dwight Edward, b Oct. 13, 1868; 116 Jerrus 
 Step/ien, b Nov. 21, 187 1. 
 
PARDEE. 
 
 Eliphalet Pardee married, ist, ■ Blakeslee and lived in 
 
 North Haven. She died in North Haven and he married, 2d, 
 widow Bishop, who died in Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 1 David ; 2 Jessie; 3 Mary, m Solomon Barnes, 
 lived and died in North Haven; 4 Abigail ; 5 Hannah, m John 
 . Cooper of North Haven. 
 
 I DAVID. 
 
 David Pardee, son of Eliphalet Pardee, married, ist, Polly 
 Spencer of North Haven, who died April 15, 1802, 2d, Philetta 
 Neal, 1805. He settled in Wolcott, in Woodtick, where Erastus 
 Nichols resides. He died Feb., 1844. 
 
 Children: 6 Hannah, b Jan. 2, 1786, m Joel Curtiss of Wol- 
 cott and removed to New York and died in Illinois ; 7 Rose/, b 
 Feb. 23, 1788; 8 Heman, b Feb. 17, 1791 ; 9 Silas, b Sept. 13, 
 1795; IO Rachel, b April 30, 1798, m Erastus Nichols, Feb. 25, 
 1819, and lives on the Pardee homestead; n Linus, b Jan. 28, 
 1801. 
 
 7 ROSEL. 
 
 Rosel Pardee, son of David and Polly (Spencer) Pardee, mar- 
 ried Polly Nichols of Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 12 Mary Ann ; 13 Esther; 14 Henry Spencer ; 15 
 Jane ; 16 Nancy. 
 
 8 heman. 
 
 Heman Pardee, son of David and Polly (Spencer) Pardee, 
 married, ist, Almira Nichols, 2d, Sarah Brockett. 
 
 Children: 17 Isaac; 18 Charles; 19 Erne line ; 20 Isaac; 21 
 Abigail; 22 Bavid; 23 Polly; 24 Charles; 25 Heman. By 
 second wife : 26 Almira. 
 
 536 
 
GENEALOGIES. 537 
 
 9 SILAS. 
 
 Silas Pardee, son of David and Polly (Spencer) Pardee, mar- 
 ried Polly Root. #^va . $ &jJ.u^.^ 4- 
 
 Children : 27 Lewis; 28 Eliza; 29 Olivia; 30 Silas; 31 
 Laura Ann; 32 Belinda; $■$ Ruth M.; 34 Polly; 35 Rachel; 
 36 Maria. 
 
 11 LINUS. 
 
 Linus Pardee, son of David and Polly (Spencer) Pardee, mar- 
 ried Betsey Alcott and removed to New York State. 
 
 Children : 37 Joseph Dwight; 38 ^«# Delight ; 39 Adelaide ; 
 40 Emehza. 
 
 42 
 
PARKER. 
 
 I JOSEPH. 
 
 Joseph Parker was among the early settlers in Wolcott. His 
 house was on the bound line near Amos Seward's, south part 
 of Wolcott. His wife Mary lived to be 99 years of age. 
 
 Children : 2 Joseph M. ; 3 Zephaniah, called Zephna, or "Uncle 
 Zeph " ; 4 Mary, m David Wakelee. 
 
 2 JOSEPH MERRIAM. 
 
 Joseph M. Parker, son of Joseph and Mary Parker, married 
 Hannah, eldest daughter of Simeon Hopkins, Feb. 28, 1787. 
 He was a prominent man in the Society, in his day. 
 
 Children: 5 Eldad,h July 24, 1787; 6 Levi,h March 26, 
 1 79 1 ; 7 Rebecca, b Sept. 9, 1794, m Simeon N. Norton. 
 
 3 ZEPHANIAH. 
 
 Zephaniah Parker, son of Joseph and Mary Parker, married 
 Deborah, eldest daughter of Abel Curtiss. He sold the Churchill 
 place and bought that now owned by Augustus Rose. 
 
 Children : 8 Alpha; 9 Roena, m Selah Hall of Waterbury ; 10 
 Harvey; 1 1 Almira, m Micah Ruggs of Southington ; 1 2 Almon; 
 1 3 William ; 1 4 Joel / 1 5 Zephaniah / 1 6 Willard. 
 
 5 ELDAD. 
 
 Eldad Parker, son of Joseph M. and Hannah (Hopkins) 
 Parker, married Sylvia and lived some time at Wolcott Cen- 
 ter. He was a man of remarkable intellect and physical endur- 
 ance, but of poor judgment, uncultivated manners at times, and 
 was led captive by old customs. He died aged 85. 
 
 Children: 17 Bennet Woodward, b May 12, 1808; 18 Joseph 
 
GENEALOGIES. 539 
 
 Merriam, b Aug. n, 1814, was a wild boy, left home in his teens 
 and died young. 
 
 6 LEVI. 
 
 Levi Parker, son of Joseph M. and Hannah (Hopkins) Parker, 
 married and lived considerable of his life in New Haven. He 
 was a very fine man ; was clerk in New Haven some years, then 
 returned to his native town and died aged about forty years. 
 
 Children : 19 George, who was a successful clock manufacturer 
 in Bristol. He went to California about i860, where he resides, 
 having accumulated a large property, and is much respected. 20 
 Jane, the wife of Noah M. Pomeroy, a clock manufacturer in 
 Bristol. They now reside in Hartford, in affluent circumstances. 
 
 17 bennet woodward. 
 
 Bennet W. Parker, son of Eldad and Sylvia Parker, was an 
 ambitious, resolute boy. His father apprenticed him, against the 
 wish of the boy, to Fitch A. Higgins, to learn shoemaking. He 
 ran away ; was advertised as a " Ragged boy, escaping, with a lit- 
 tle patch on his, back, and one cent reward, but no charges, paid 
 for his recovery." A few years after, Bennet appeared in Yale 
 College, where he graduated. He afterwards became a success- 
 ful physician in the State of New Jersey, where he died in the 
 meridian of life. 
 
 WILLIAM. 
 
 William Parker, supposed to be brother to Zephaniah (not 
 certain) married Roxanna, daughter of Abel Curtiss, March 22, 
 1808. 
 
 Children : 1 Bennet, b March 12, 1809 ; 2 Edward, b Sept. 10, 
 1812; 3 Sarah Ann., b Feb. 23, 1815 ; 4 George Wolcott, b 
 March 26, 181 7 ; 5 Still man, b June 7, 181 9; 6 Charlotte, b June 
 16, 182 1 ; 7 Samuel Jackson, b Sep. 25, 1829. 
 
PECK. 
 
 Deacon Justus Peck* was a descendant of Deacon Paul Peck 
 of Hartford, and was the son of Zebulon Peck, who died in Bris- 
 tol, Conn., Jan. 13. 1795. Justus was born Nov. 14, 1737, and 
 married, 'Sept. 6, 1759, Lucy Frisbie and settled in Wolcott pre- 
 vious to 1762. He was Deacon twenty-eight years and his wife 
 was one of the first members of the church. He died Nov. 23. 
 1813, ae. 76. His wife, Lucy, died Dec. 11, 1823, ae. 83. 
 
 Children: 1 Lucy, b March 10, 1761, m and d in New Hamp- 
 shire, leaving children; 2 Elisha, b Sept. 9, 1763; 3 Mary, b 
 Sept. 23, 1766, m Joshua Cook of Rutland, Vt., Jan. 20, 1789 ; 4 
 Sarah, b June 10, 1768, d March 30, 1773 ; 5 Rachel, b Nov. 13, 
 1 77 1, m Rev. Asa Talmadge of Southington, Oct. 17, 1801, d 
 June 5, 1845 I 6 Justus, b June 28, 1774, d Sept. 2, 1777 ; 7 
 Sarah, b June 28, 1779, m Titus Brockett of Wolcott, d April 23, 
 1850, ae. 71 ; 8 Lowly, b Dec. 15, 1782, m Stephen Carter, Jr., 
 Nov. 15, 1804, d Dec. 14, 1861, ae 79 ; 9 Rhoda,h Jan. 4, 1786, 
 d March 30, 1792; 10 Justus Lot, b April 29. 1788, m Sarah 
 Merriman of Southington, d April 15, 1812. 
 
 * See Peck Genealogy. 
 
 540 
 
PLUMB. 
 
 I SIMEON. 
 
 Simeon Plumb was among the early settlers in Wolcott, and 
 married, about 1762, Mary, daughter of Joseph x\tkins, Senior, 
 and lived in the northern portion of the town ; the road is known 
 as " Plumb Street." His wife, Mary, died in 1807, and he died 
 in 1813. 
 
 Children: 2 Solomon: 3 Samuel, b July 13, 1766; 4 Gama- 
 liel; 5 Joseph, bapt. Aug. 7, 1774; 6 Sarah, bapt. Dec. 10, 1775 ; 
 
 7 Sylvia, bapt. June 28, 1778, m James Scarritt, June 13, 1781 ; 
 
 8 Azariah, Amariah on church book, bapt. July 30, 1780; 9 
 Sabra, m Asa Alcox, May 18, 1780 ; 10 Sibyl ; n Susanna, bapt. 
 March 28, 1784. 
 
 2 SOLOMON. 
 
 Solomon Plumb, son of Simeon and Mary (Atkins) Plumb, 
 married Lucretia Scarritt, Jan. 28, 1790. He died in 1848. 
 
 Children: 12 Orrin ; 13 Amanda, m Solomon Griggs; 14 
 
 Willard, b July 29, 1796; 15 Wells; 16 Romanthy, m 
 
 Gridley ; 1 7 Jerry. 
 
 3 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Plumb, son of Simeon and Mary (Atkins) Plumb, mar- 
 ried, Sarah, daughter of Jeremiah Scarritt, Jan. 17, 1797. She 
 
 was born Sept. 6, 1778, and married, 2d, Truesdel, and died 
 
 Jan. 28, 1873, in her 95th year. Samuel Plumb died Oct. 25, 
 1840, ae. 74. 
 
 Children : 18 Luther Wlieaton, b Oct. 2. 1797, ^ m South Car- 
 olina, July 9. 1822 ; 19 Vina, b May 1 l, 1800; 20 Ansel Har- 
 vey, b Jan. 6. 1803 ; 21 • Mary, b Sept. 2. 1805. d 1806; 22 Al- 
 mon, b Aug. 4, 1807 ; 23 George Henry, b Oct. 15, 1813 ; 24 
 Rollin Wiard, b Feb. 11, 1821. 
 
 541 
 
542 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 5 JOSEPH. 
 
 Joseph Plumb, son of Simeon and Mary (Atkins) Plumb, mar- 
 ried Phebe Sutliff, Dec. 4, 1800. She died March 22, 18 13. 
 
 Children : 25 Sabra, b Dec. 19, 1801 ; 26 Harvey, b Aug. 6. 
 1804; 27 Triphena,\> Feb. 10, 1808 ; 28 Hester, b Oct. 19. 18 10. 
 
 12 ORRIN. 
 
 Orrin Plumb, son of Solomon and Lucretia (Scarritt) Plumb, 
 married, 1st, Diadama Gaylord, 2d, Hannah Beach, and was long 
 known as Squire Plumb. He was the "Boss" politician of his 
 party and received a large share of the honors of the same. 
 
 Children: 29 Harvey; 30 Andrew^ is in the West; 31 Jane ; 
 32 Diadama; 33 Sidney ; 34 Sarah. 
 
 14 WILLARD. 
 
 Willard Plumb, son of Solomon and Lucretia (Scarritt) Plumb, 
 married Polly, daughter of Sergeant Heman Hall, Jan. 1, 1822. 
 He lived within the North East School District, and died Feb. 18, 
 1867. 
 
 Children: 35 William A., b April 4, 1825, d Nov. 29, 1834; 
 36 Solomon W., b Jan. 3, 1829, lives in Southington; 37 Loretta 
 B., b Jan. 20, 1834, d June 21, 1837 ; 38 Levi W., b Nov. 16, 
 1836, is living in Waterbury; 39 Lydia Ann, b Nov. 29, 1845, d 
 Aug. 23, 1849. 
 
 15 WELLS. 
 
 Wells Plumb, son of Solomon and Lucretia (Scarritt) Plumb, 
 married Highly Kenea, and lived in Wolcott, northeastern part. 
 
 Children: 40 Salome, m Edwin Hough; 41 Orlando ; 42 Hen- 
 ry ; 43 Henry. 
 
 20 ANSEL HARVEY. 
 
 Deacon Ansel H. Plumb, son of Samuel and Sarah (Scarritt) 
 Plumb, married Jan. 9, 1828, Lois, daughter of James Alcott, 2d, 
 and lived on the old homestead. He died Aug. 20, 1870, ae. 67, 
 and is spoken of by all as a very good and reliable man, and a 
 consistent, exemplary deacon. 
 
 Children: 44 Luther W., b Sept. 16, 1832; 45 Esther A., m 
 Burritt W. Beecher. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 543 
 
 23 GEORGE HENRY. 
 
 George H. Plumb, son of Samuel and Sarah (Scarritt) Plumb, 
 married Diadama, daughter of Joshua Minor, May 3, 1840. She 
 was born Jan. 13, 1820. They reside in Terry ville. 
 
 Children : 46 Mary A., an adopted daughter, b May 25, 1846 ; 
 47 Newell M., b Sept. 17, 1853; 48 Wallace G., b Dec. 10, 1858 ; 
 49 Elsie Jane, b Dec. 15, 1861, d June 5, 1867. 
 
 24 ROLLIN WIARD. 
 
 Rollin W. Plumb, son of Samuel and Sarah (Scarritt) Plumb, 
 married, Sept. 1, 1844, Caroline N., daughter of Jesse Brooks of 
 Cheshire, and lives in Terryville. 
 
 Children : 50 Rollin Jesse, b Sept. 13, 1853 ; 51 Henry Brooks, 
 b Dec. 24, 1857 ; 52 Caroline Louisa, b Oct. 13, 1862, d Jan. 10, 
 i8 7 3- 
 
 44 LUTHER W. 
 
 Luther W. Plumb, son of Ansel H. and Lois (Alcott) Plumb, 
 married Eliza A. Harrison, May 11, 1856. 
 
 Children : 53 Frank ; ^4 and 55 two daughters, twins. 
 
 ROLLIN JESSE. 
 
 Rollin Jesse, son of Rollin W. and Caroline N. (Brooks) 
 Plumb, married Cora J. Rossiter, July 29, 1872, and lives in Ter- 
 ryville. 
 
 Child: 56 Charles Wetmore, b Dec. 28, 1873. 
 
POTTER. 
 
 Dr. John Potter, son of Joel Potter of Southington, came 
 to Wolcott and married Sept. n, 1783, Lydia, the daughter of 
 Dea. Aaron Harrison, and was a practicing physician many years. 
 He identified himself fully with the religious, social, and political 
 interests of the town and secured only a comfortable living. For 
 many years the " brethren " used to go over to Dr. Potter's house, 
 at intermission on Sunday and smoke the pipe of peace, and talk 
 over the important events of the town and nation; events more 
 important as then regarded than any that transpire in later days. 
 (See Biog., page 35.) His wife Lydia died Sept. 26, 1796. He 
 married, 2d, widow Highly Clark, March 30, 1797, and removed 
 West about 1820. 
 
 Children: 1 Zephna, b Oct. 19, 1785, became a physician and 
 went West; 2 Samuel Young, b Feb. n, 1794. By second wife : 
 3 John Adams, b Feb. 25, 1798 ; 4 Lydia Maria, b Sept. 23, 1799, 
 d Oct. 12, 1799-; 5 Albert Rodney, b Nov. 29, 1800; 6 Sarah 
 Maria, b March 5, 1803. 
 
 544 
 
PRITCHARD. 
 
 I ROGER. 
 
 Roger Pritchakd came from England and settled adjoining 
 Wolcott territory in the Big Plains near Mark Warner's late resi- 
 dence, on the south road from Woodtick to Waterbury. He was 
 a very stout, fearless man and was chosen leader to keep the In- 
 dians from committing depredations. He died Sept. 19, 1792, 
 ae. 76, and was buried in the old burying ground in Waterbury 
 city. 
 
 Children: 2 Roger; 3 Amos; 4 Abraham. All settled on 
 Buck's Hill. 
 
 2 ROGER, JR. 
 
 Roger Pritchakd, son of Roger Pritchard the first settler, 
 was a tailor by trade and had no children. 
 
 3 AMOS. 
 
 Amos Pritchard, son of Roger Pritchard the first settler, was 
 a farmer, and was called the "Old Trumpeter" on account of his 
 strength of voice, which could be heard distinctly three miles. 
 He was twice married. 
 
 Children : 5 Amos ; 6 Lydia, m Eleazar Hall, had three chil- 
 dren j 7 Roger, who died in infancy; 8 Sabra, m Isaac Ailing, 
 had children, Elvira, Norman; 9 Roger ; 10 Orry ; w Elias ; 12 
 Ruth, never m, d Jan. 16, 1873, ae - 80. 
 
 4 ABRAHAM. 
 
 Abraham Pritchard, son of Roger Pritchard the first settler, 
 married Anna Hotchkiss and had children. 
 
 Children: 13 Reuben; 14 Abigail, m Lemuel Cleaveland and 
 had children ; 1 5 John ; 1 6 Sarah ; 1 7 Abraham. 
 
 43 
 
54-6 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 5 AMOS, JR. 
 
 Amos Pritchard, eldest son of Amos, Senr., married Limera 
 Lounsbury. 
 
 Children: 18 Asahel; 19 Roxanna; 20 Harvey; 21 Marinda; 
 22 Erastus ; 23 Marshall; 24 Lovicy ; 25 Esther; 26 Betsey; 
 
 27 Isaac. 
 
 9 ROGER. 
 
 Roger Pritchard, son of Amos Pritchard, married Chloe 
 Nichols. 
 
 Children: 28 Gilbert; 2 9 Dennis ; 30 Amy, m Charles Seeley, 
 Dec. 24, 1843, and had children, Chloe, George, Charles, Grace 
 Dwight, Polly. She died May 3, 1870. 
 
 10 ORRY. 
 
 Orry Pritchard, son. of Amos, Senr., married Dyer Hotch- 
 kiss. 
 
 Children: 31 Charles; 32 Henry; 33 Mary; 34 Amos; 35 
 Sarah. 
 
 1 1 elias. 
 
 Elias Pritchard, son of Amos, Senr., married Hannah Payne. 
 
 Children: 36 Luman ; 37 Minerva; 38 Erne line ; 39 Rebecca ; 
 40 Clarissa; 41 Roxanna; 42 George; 43 David ; 44 Harvey ; 
 45 Infant, d. 
 
 13 REUBEN. 
 
 Reuben Pritchard, son of Abraham and Anna (Hotchkiss) 
 Pritchard, had 
 
 Children : 46 Sarah, m Arad Wakelee, and had children, 
 David and Sarah; 47 Amera, m Henry Oaks. 
 
 15 JOHN. 
 
 John Pritchard, son of Abraham and Anna (Hotchkiss) 
 Pritchard had 
 
 Children: 48 Eben ; 49 Beza ; 50 Celestia ; 51 Buel ; 52 
 Luther; 53 Mary Ann ; 54 Abigail. 
 
 28 gilbert. 
 
 Gilbert Pritchard, son of Roger, grandson of Amos, Senr., 
 married Julia Ann Sutton. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 547 
 
 Children: 55 Mary, m John B. Downs and had child, Nellie; 
 56 Candee ; 57 Julia. 
 
 29 DENNIS. 
 
 Dennis Pritchard, son of Roger, and grandson of Amos, mar 
 ried, 1st, Julia A. Downs, Jan. 30, 183 1. She died Dec. 16, 1868, 
 ae. 57. 2d, Mrs. Polly (Welton) Minor, March 10, 1870. He 
 owns the John Norton mill property and resides on a farm a little 
 east of the mill. 
 
 Children: 58 John D., b Sept. 25, 1834; 59 Berlin, b March 
 3i, 1839. 
 
 58 JOHN D. 
 
 John D. Pritchard, son of Dennis and Julia A. (Downs) 
 Pritchard, married Caroline Norton and lived on the Thomas Up- 
 son place. He died Oct. 13, 1866, in the midst of prosperity. 
 
 Children: 60 Harriet J., b Jan. 27, 1859, d April 17, 1874; 
 61 Willey E., b Dec. 7, 1863; 62 Esther C, b Aug. 30, 1866. 
 
 59 BERLIN. 
 
 Berlin Pritchard, son of Dennis and Julia A. (Downs) 
 Pritchard, married Emily, daughter of James Alcott, Nov. 1, i860. 
 He died Oct. 17, 1872. 
 
 Child: 63 Evelyn, b Dec. 16, 1866. 
 
RICHARDS. 
 
 Col. Streat Richards, son of Abijah and Huldah (Hopkins) 
 Richards of Waterbury, was born Dec. 12, 1750 and married Eu- 
 nice Culver, and was among the early settlers in Wolcott, near 
 Potucco's Ring. He became a prominent man in the parish So- 
 ciety about 1790, and for twenty years was a stirring, energetic 
 citizen. He was ambitious of distinction in the way of usefulness 
 to his fellow men, never shunning work or responsibility. As a 
 farmer, he has left the marks that show his home to have been 
 the scene of energy and thrift. The house, still standing, must 
 have been equal to any in the town, in comfort, convenience and 
 appearance, all of which cost energy and work. In the militia, 
 and in the town offices, agencies, and enterprises, he was ready, 
 always, to go to the front, with a helping hand, an open purse, 
 and a resolute heart. And though at times, he may have used 
 some large words with a little flourish, yet he was equal, under all 
 circumstances, to the propositions he introduced. His was a use- 
 ful life to the community and would have received higher consid- 
 eration than it did but for a slight pretentiousness in performing 
 the duties assigned him. He removed from Wolcott about 18 15, 
 to Westminster, Vt., where he died in July, 1835. 
 
 Children: 1 Polly, b June, 1778, d March, 1780; 2 Miles Hop- 
 kins, b 1779, d 1834, in Waterbury, never married; 3 Achsa, b 
 May 30, 1783, m Nathaniel Lewis of Wolcott, and died in 1847 ; 
 4 Luther Abijah, b Sept. 25, 1785 ; 5 Sally, b in 1789, m Daniel 
 Steel of Waterbury, 1813, d in Illinois, Feb. 1, 1853; 6 Amanda, 
 b April 10, 1792, m Jasper Johnson, 1813, and after her sister's 
 death, married Daniel Steel Feb.. 1854, d in Waukegan, 111., Aug. 
 29, 1868. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 549 
 
 4 LUTHER ABIJAH. 
 
 Luther A. Richards, son of Streat and Eunice (Culver) Rich- 
 ards, married in 1813, Mary Page of Vermont, and settled in 
 Westminster, Vt., to which place he went in 1807 or 8. He died 
 Jan. 29, 1840. 
 
 Children: 7 Mary A., m Hobart V. Welton of Waterbury, Oct. 
 28, 1834, where she resided until her death in 1873, leaving four 
 children;- 8 Roderick S.; 9 Aoi/a/i, d an infant; 10 Lut/ier A.; 
 n Sarah A.; 12 Amanda ; 13 Harriet; 14 Huldah H. ; 15 
 Mark ; 16 Henry G. ; 17 George A. ; 18 Frances E. ; 19 William 
 E. 
 
ROGERS. 
 
 I JO SI AH. 
 
 Deacon Josiah Rogers, a descendant of John Rogers, the 
 martyr of England, was a wealthy and influential man in North 
 Branford, now Northford. He bore the rank of captain as well 
 as deacon. He bought land in Wolcott, on which his son, Josiah, 
 afterwards settled as early as 1724. His sons, Edward and 
 Medad, owned lands in Wolcott. He died Oct. 5, 1784, ae. 76. 
 Martha, his wife, died Dec. 17, 1794, ae. 85. 
 
 Children : 2 Ruth, b Oct. 8, 1728, m Amos Seward and d April 
 29, 1810, ae. 82; 3 Rebecca, b June 10, 1731, d 1809, ae. 76 ; 4 
 Josiah, b Sept. 16, 1733, settled in Wolcott; 5 Edward, b Jan. 
 12, 1736 or 7, d Dec. 6, 1801 ; 6 Gideon, b Nov. n, 1739, d 
 Nov. 3, 1807, ae. 68; 7 Martha, b June 6, 1741, d Oct. 16, 1819, 
 ae. 79; 8 Mary, b Oct. 13, 1743; 9 Elihu, b Jan. 28, 1745; 10 
 Ebenezer, b Jan. 29, 1747; n Medad, b 1750; 12 Timothy, b 
 Dec. 24, 1752. 
 
 4 JOSIAH. 
 
 Deacon Josiah Rogers, eldest son of Josiah and Martha 
 
 Rogers of Branford, married, 1st, Sarah • , who died Sept. 17, 
 
 1779, ae. 40; 2d, Mary , and settled in Wolcott, about 1760. 
 
 He was elected Deacon of the church in Wolcott, Jan. 26, 1774, 
 which office he held twenty-nine years, being one of the reliable 
 and faithful men of the parish. All of his descendants have long 
 since left Wolcott. Some of them are in the " Black river " 
 country, near Oswego, N. Y. He died Oct. 1, 1803, ae. 70. 
 
 Children by first wife : 13 Sarah, b Nov. 22, 1756, m 
 Josiah Atkins of Wolcott, 1777, and d Dec. 31, 1778, ae. 22. 
 (Mr. Atkins married, 2d, Mary Gillet, Nov. 25, 1779, and had 
 
GENEALOGIES. 55 1 
 
 children); 14 Mary, b Oct. 25, 1758, m Joel Hotchkiss ; 15 
 Adah, b Sept. 5, 1762, m Rev. Alexander Gillet, Dec. 3, 1778, d 
 May 10, 1839, ae - 77 > 16 Josiah, b April 2, 1765, d July 16, 1815 
 ae. 50; 17 Enoch, b Sept. 28, 1769, d June 20, 1813, ae. 44 ; 18 
 Joseph, b Nov. 26, 177 1, d Dec. 27, 1798, ae. 27 ; 19 Jacob, b 
 July 3, 1774; 20 Lydia, b Nov. 19, 1777. By second wife: 21 
 Samuel, b April 11, 1781 ; 22 Ruth, b Jan. 1, 1783; 23 Martha, 
 b Nov. r5, 1784. 
 
 II MEDAD. 
 
 Rev. Medad Rogers, son of- Josiah and Martha Rogers of 
 Branford, married Rachel Baldwin of Kent. He died Aug. 25, 
 1824, ae. 74. 
 
 Children: 24 Flora, m Ira Kellogg of New Fairfield. Conn.; 
 25 Louisa, m Seeley Barnum of New Fairfield; 26 Amzi. 
 
 12 TIMOTHY, M. D. 
 
 Dr. Timothy Rogers, son of Josiah and Martha Rogers of 
 Branford, married, removed to Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., 
 was a practicing physician for many years, and had several chil- 
 dren. 
 
 27 MEDAD. 
 
 Medad Rogers, son of Dr. Timothy, married Lydia Crosby, 
 aunt to the author of this book. She was born May 23, 1789, 
 and died Aug. 25, 1832, ae. 42. They resided in Hamilton, Mad- 
 ison Co., N. Y. He died Dec. 18, 1866, ae. 82. 
 
 Children: 28 Amanda, b May 23, 1808; 29 Asahel Timothy, 
 b June 28, 1810; 30 Hinkley, b Feb. t. 1812, d Oct. 8, 1815 ; 
 31 Harriet, b Sept. 22, 18 14, m John R. Baldwin of Branford, 
 Conn; 32 Henry H, b Sept. 13. i8iq, d Sept. 17, 18 19 ; 33 Ly- 
 man, b Sept. 14, 182 1. 
 
ROOT. 
 
 Timothy Root, son of Mark Root of Farmington, was born 
 April 19, 1830, and married, Oct., 1852, Mary Jane Goodwin of 
 Wolcottville. She was born Aug. 27, 1835, died May 18, i860. 
 He married, 2d, Lucelia Merrill of Wolcott, April 18, 186 1, and 
 lives a little north of Woodtick. 
 
 Children by first wife: 1 A?i?ia Elizabeth, b July 19, 1853, m 
 Ransom B. Hall, Feb. 25, 1874; 2 Ellena Goodwin, b Oct. 3, 
 1857, d March 22, 1858. By second wife : 3 Jane Luetta, b Feb. 
 20, 1863, d March 13, 1873 j 4 Jtilia Ellena, b Aug. 29, 1864 ; 
 5 Marguretta Burd, b Nov. 8, 1867. 
 
 552 
 
ROSE. 
 
 r DANIEL. 
 
 Daniel Rose came from Branford to Wolcott, settled on 
 "Pike's Hill," afterward "Rose Hill" where he died. 
 
 Children: 2 Hannah, b 1773, m, 1st, Capt. Page of North 
 Branford and had one son, Andrew S. Page, who raised a large 
 a nd respectable family, and died 1864, ae. 66. She married, 2d, 
 Swayne Moulthrop and had two sons : Major, the eldest, has an 
 Art Gallery in New Haven ; and Lembert, who died in New 
 Haven about 1864. 3 Sally, never married, died recently in 
 Grand Isle, near Canada; 4 Bela ; 5 Daniel; 6 Chandler, lived 
 and died in Middlebury, Vt, leaving a family; 7 Rensselaer, lived 
 and died in Berlin, Conn., leaving three daughters; 8 Betsey, b 
 1791, m Wm. Butler of Hartford, Conn., and died Oct. 30, 1867, 
 leaving several children " well to do." 
 
 4 BELA. 
 
 Bela Rose, son of Daniel, married Mary Brockett, and lived 
 and died in Wolcott. He lost both hands in a wool picking ma- 
 chine in Plymouth Hollow. 
 
 Children: 9 Charles : 10 Augustus, b May 28, 181 2 ; n Re- 
 becca, m Asahel Thomas ; 1 2 Mary, m John Payne and lives in 
 Straitsville, Conn.; 13 Jessie B., b Jan. 10, 1821; 14 Daniel, 
 
 married; 15 Jane, in ■ Moses; 16 Henry, m Harriet Seeley ; 
 
 r7 Bela, m Amanda Todd. 
 
 IO AUGUSTUS. 
 
 Augustus Rose, son of Bela and Mary (Brockett) Rose, mar- 
 ried, 1st, Rachel, daughter of Moses Byington, 2d, Mrs. Charlotte 
 Frisbie, 3d, Mary A. Comer, April 9, 1856, who was born Dec. 
 
 44 
 
554 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 25, 1834. Children by first wife : 18 William Bela, b Feb. 19, 
 1838; 19 Cornelia £., b July 22, 1842, m Sept. 1, 1862, Edwin 
 L. Bolster of Waterbury and has a son, Elvin S., b July 17, 1863. 
 By second wife : 20 Edwin, b Dec. 31, 1853. By third wife : 21 
 Ella Jane, b Jan. 1857; 22 F.verette E., b Jan. 5, 1862, d June 
 14, 1874. 
 
 13 JESSE B. 
 
 Jesse B. Rose, son of Bela and Mary (Brockett) Rose, married, 
 1st, Perlina Hart of Bristol, 2d, May 7, 1867, Mrs. Harriet E. 
 Griswold of Goshen. She was born Nov. 29, 1840. He learned 
 his trade by six years apprenticeship in a Woolen Mill in Bristol, 
 and settled in Wolcottville in 1850 as an overseer. He after- 
 wards became partner in the Union Manufacturing Company, 
 having a business employing $230,000 capital. 
 
 Children: 23 Edwin C, b May 18, 1844; 2 4 Wallace A., b 
 Dec. 16, 1848, d Feb. 16, 1850; 25 Willie A., b Aug. 22, 1852. 
 His second wife has a son, 26 Frederick H. Griswold, b May 4, 
 1862. 
 
 23 EDWIN C. 
 
 Edwin C. Rose, son of Jesse B. and Perlina (Hart) Rose, mar- 
 ried Mattie E. Hamilton, Nov. 26, 1870. She was born in Cin- 
 cinnati, Sept. 20, 1852. 
 
 Child : 27 Edwin H., b April 19, 1872. 
 
SCARRITT. 
 
 Jeremiah Scarritt was an important man in Wolcott, from 
 1790 to 18 1 5, being engaged to considerable extent in buying and 
 selling farms. His wife, Mary, united with the Congregational 
 church, May 4, 1777, by letter, making it certain that they came 
 into Wolcott before that time. He died March 21, 1825, aged 
 91. His wife, Mary, died Jan. 26, 1827, aged 92. 
 
 As near as I can ascertain some of their children were : 1 
 
 Sarah, b 1779 m, 1st, Samuel Plumb, Jan. 17, 1797, 2< ^> 
 
 Truesdell, and d 1873, ae - 94 j 2 David, b 1781, m Hannah 
 
 and had a son David, who died April 25, 1870, aged 65 ; 3 Jere- 
 miah, bapt. March 1, 1782. 
 
 James Scarritt married Sylvia Plumb June 13, 187 1, and was 
 probably brother to Jeremiah. 
 
 555 
 
SEWAKD 
 
 Amos Seward was born in Durham, Conn., and baptised 
 March 27, 1726. He had two brothers and a sister; Salmon, 
 bapt Jan. 21, 1721 or 2; Catharine, bapt. Dec. 31, 1727; Nathan, 
 bapt. June 14, 1730, who removed to Cornwall, Conn., thence to 
 Utica, N. Y. Amos Seward came to North Bran ford, where he 
 married Ruth Rogers, sister to Deacon Josiah Rogers of Wolcott, 
 and from that place he removed to Wolcott about 1760, and set- 
 tled on a farm a mile southeast of Woodtick. He was one of 
 the solid, respected men of the first Society, being appointed with 
 Deacon Aaron Harrison for a number of years to lead the wor- 
 ship of the congregation, before they had a settled pastor. While 
 various titles were applied to other persons, he was invariably hon- 
 ored with " Mr." apparently in a very respectful manner, so long 
 as he lived. He died in Wolcott. His widow, Ruth, removed 
 to New Hartford, near Utica, N. Y. 
 
 Children : 2 Sarah, m Daniel Lane ; 3 Ruth, m Reuben Fris- 
 bie; 4 Nathan, m Martha Gridley of Wolcott, June 3, 1779; 5 
 Lois. 
 
 SLATER. 
 
 Andrew J. Slater, born Oct. 6, 1830, in Cairo, N. Y., mar- 
 ried Lucy A. Robbins, daughter of Mrs. Edward Johnson of Wol- 
 cott, May 4, 1856. His wife, Lucy A., was born Feb. 7, 1838, 
 in Cleveland, N. Y. 
 
 Children: 1 William Henry, b June 27, 1858; 2 Sarah £., b 
 June 14, 1862; 3 Laura E., b April 26, 1866, d Sept. 10, 1868 ; 
 4 Joseph W. C, b Aug. 25, 1869. 
 
 556 
 
SMITH.* 
 
 Jared Smith of Prospect, married Eunice Tyler of the same 
 place, and settled in Wolcott. 
 
 Children : i Isaac ; 2 Jedediah ; 3 Jeremiah ; 4 Orrin ; 5 
 William • 6 Franklin; 7 PJiilo ; 8 Hiram; 9 A. Hector; 10 
 Alma ; n Eunice ; 12 Lois ; 13 Emily. 
 
 5 WILLIAM. 
 
 William Smith, son of Jared and Eunice (Tyler) Smith, mar- 
 ried Vina Plumb, Sept. 25, 1818. He died Aug. 21, 1822. 
 
 Children: 14 Mary, b Aug. 11, 1819, m Ira Hough; 15 Har- 
 riet. 1) Sept. 13, 182 1, m Rufus Norton, and died Aug. 20, 1844. 
 
 9 ANSON HECTOR. 
 
 A. Hector Smith, son of Jared and Eunice (Tyler) Smith, 
 married Esther, daughter of Levi Atkins, Senr., and lives in the 
 northeastern part of Wolcott. 
 
 Children: 16 Harriet C, b Nov. 28, 1827; 17 Jenette A., b 
 
 Aug 2, 1829, m, 1st, Charles Y. Hall, June 6, 1848, 2d, Robert 
 
 Atkins. 
 . g. 
 
 * Ephraim Smith and Ephraim, Jr., were in Wolcott in 1799. They came 
 from Derby. Jeremiah Smith married Betty Cleaveland, in Wolcott. in 
 1778. There was a Joseph Smith, also, of some prominence. 
 
 557 
 
 1 
 
SOMERS. 
 
 David Somers was born in Milford, Conn., Nov. 29, 1808. He 
 married, Oct. 16, 1830, Almira, daughter of David Frisbie of Wol- 
 cott, and lived in Woodtick. He died Sept. 15, i860. 
 
 Children: 2 Dwight Leroy, b in Waterbury, May 28, 1832 ; 3 
 Augusta A. £., b April 15, 1834, m Heman Miller, Sept. 26, 1853, 
 resides in Waterbury; 4 Joseph Hill, b June 24, 1836 ; 5 Amelia 
 Rebecca, b Sept. 2, 1840, m Alfred Carpenter Dec. 25, 1858, d 
 April 26, 1859 ; 6 Christine Estelle, b June 5, 1844, m Andrew 
 W. Goldsmith, Jan. 1, 1868, has children : Jennie Augusta, b 
 Nov. 19, 1868, George Edwin, b June 6, 1870, d Aug. 8, 1870, 
 Annie Amelia, b Aug. 12, 1872, d Nov. 1, 1873 > 7 Benjamin 
 Levi, b April 15, 1847 ; 8 Charlie Edward E., b March 6, 1850 ; 
 Willie Eldridge, b Jan. 17, 1854. 
 
 2 DWIGHT LEROY. 
 
 Dwight L. Somers, son of David and Almira (Frisbie) Somers, 
 married Emogene Chatfield, Aug. 2, 1862. resides in Waterbury. 
 
 Children: to Lillie, b Sept., 1868; n Robbie Dwight, b June, 
 1870. 
 
 4 JOSEPH HILL. 
 
 Joseph H. Somers, son of David and Almira (Frisbie) Somers, 
 married Frances D. Woolworth of Naugatuck, July 30, 186 1, re- 
 sides a mile north of Wolcott Center. 
 
 Children : 1 2 Lizzie Amelia, b Oct. c i 2, 1864 ;-it, David Chester, 
 b July 22, 1866 ; 14 Josie H., b Jan. 3, 1868 ; 15 Eannie and 16 
 Freddie, twins, b Aug. 2, 1871, Fannie d July 16, 1872, Freddie 
 d Feb. 14, 1874; 17 Mira M., b Aug. 17, 1873. 
 
 558 
 
SPERRY. 
 
 Joseph N. Sperry, of Cheshire, came to Wolcott. and married 
 Abigail, daughter of William Tuttle. who lived with her aunt, Mrs. 
 Benham. in Wolcott. He took an active part in the Society and 
 the Town, occupying various offices and acquiting himself honor- 
 ably. He married for his second wife, Narcissa Kinney, a id 
 for the third Bristol. He died, May 9. 187 1, ae. 70. 
 
 Children : 1 Betsey Ann, b June 29, 1S27, m Heman W. Hall ; 
 2 Samuel N., b Dec. 17, 1833 ; 3 Phebe L., b March 11. 1838. 
 
 2 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel N. Sperry, son of Joseph N. and Abigail (Tuttle) 
 Sperry. married, 1st, Rosanna Thorp of Southington, 2d, Sarah E. 
 Norton, Feb., 1872. 
 
 Children: 4 Jane Z., b Aug, 31, 1859, d Dec. 10, 1865; 5 
 Charles A., b Jan. 3, 1866. 
 
 559 
 
STEVENS. 
 
 I NEHEMIAH. 
 
 Nehemiah Stevens, son of Elijah, was born in Guilford, Sept. 
 n, 1799. 
 Child : 2 John M, b Aug. 8, 1829. 
 
 2 JOHN M. 
 
 John M. Stevens, son of Nehemiah Stevens, was born in Mid- 
 dletown, Conn., and married Oct. 11, 1852, Antoinette E. Goff, 
 born in Middletown, June 7, 1835. He resides on the Seth 
 Wiard farm, northeastern part of Wolcott. 
 
 Children : 3 Justus JV., b Nov. 17, 1857 ; 4 John J, b Sept. 
 17, 1859; 5 Alfred M, b Aug, 18, 1872. 
 
 560 
 
SUTLIFF. 
 
 I JOSEPH, SENR. 
 
 Joseph Sutliff was in Wolcott as early as 1765, his house be- 
 ing probably at the foot of Chestnut Hill, on the old road going 
 directly up the hill. He was a tailor, one leg being defective, so 
 that he walked with a cane or crutch. His wife died July io, 
 1780. He afterwards married Catharine, sister to Amos Seward. 
 She died Nov. n, 1791. He died Nov. n, 1801. 
 
 Children by first wife: 2 Joseph; 3 Nathaniel ; 4 Anne, m 
 Daniel Dean, May 16, 1776 ; 5 m Scott. 
 
 2 JOSEPH, JR.* 
 
 Joseph Sutliff, son of Joseph, the first in Wolcott, married, 
 1 77 1, Zerviah Webster, sister to Lydia, the wife of Wait Hotch- 
 kiss. He lived on the farm afterwards owned by Ephraim Hall, 
 a little east of Chestnut Hill. 
 
 Children: 6 Zerviah, b Jan. 29, 1772, m Gideon Curtiss ; 7 
 /oseph, b Dec. 27, 1773, the second child baptized in Wolcott; 
 8 Michael, b Feb. 5, 1776; 9 Lydia, b Feb. r, 1778; 10 Abia- 
 thar, b May 7, 1780. removed West and was killed by the fall of 
 a tree; n Nathan, b April 4, 1782. 
 
 3 NATHANIEL, f 
 
 Nathaniel Sutliff, son of Joseph, Senr., had 
 
 Children: 12 John; 13 Nathaniel; 14 Titus; 15 Hannah; 
 16 Anne, all bapt. April 19, 1774; 17 Ruth, bapt June 21, 1778; 
 18 Elizabeth, bapt Dec. 14, 1782. 
 
 * See Waterbury Town Records. 
 See CK irch Recor ds. 
 
 45 
 
562 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 12 JOHN. 
 
 John Sutliff, son of Nathaniel, married Munson. 
 
 Children: ig Anson, b 1798, went to Meriden in 1817, married 
 Miss Cumstock of Deep River, Conn., and removed to Minnesota, 
 in 1857. where he died, ae. 59. 20 Statira, b 1800, m Jerry 
 Williams of Waterbury, settled in Meriden in 1835, d in 1873, ae. 
 73 ; 21 John, b 1802, went to Meriden in 1819, married, 1st, 
 Mary Ann Dayton of North Haven, 2d, Rebecca Miles of 
 Cheshire; 22 Lucius, b 1806, m Rachel Foot, lives in Southing- 
 ton ; 23 Lucas, b 1808, m Maria Melissa Upson of Wolcott, who 
 died in 187 1, in Southington, ae. 66 years. 
 
 14 TITUS. 
 
 Titus Sutliff, son of Nathaniel, married Roxanna (or Sally) 
 Selcriggs. 
 
 Children : 24 Garry ; 25 Eliza ; 26 Leicester; 27 Nancy ; 28 
 Fanny; 29 Delevan. 
 
THOMAS. 
 
 James Thomas came from Scotland, married Martha Barnes, 
 and settled near James Alcox on Spindle Hill. 
 
 Children: i John; 2 Josiah ; 3 Martha, m Luther Andrews, 
 had children, Chester, Luther, Randall, Harriet, Alma; 4 Phebe, 
 m Truman Prince ; 5 Seth ; 6 Sibyl* m John Newton and lived in 
 Naugatuck ; 7 James, d young. 
 
 I JOHN. 
 
 Johnt Thomas, son of James and Martha (Barnes) Thomas, 
 married Jemima Tomlinson. 
 
 Children : 8 James : 9 Afaria : 10 Maria : 1 1 Jenette. ■ 
 
 2 JOSIAH. 
 
 Josiah Thomas, son of James and Martha (Barnes) Thomas, 
 married Mary Bowen of Bristol. 
 
 Children: 12 .Vann: m Apollos Camp; 13 Olinda, m Samuel 
 Sanford ; 1 4 J far}', m Eli Norton ; 1 5 Edward Woodward, b 
 Dec. 25, 181 7 ; 16 Emetine, b May 5, 1819. 
 
 5 SETH. 
 
 Seth Thomas, son of James and Martha (Barnes) Thomas, 
 married, 1st, Philinda Tuttle, 2d. Laura A. Andrews. (See Biog., 
 page 352). 
 
 Children by first wife : 17 Philinda. By second wife: 18 Seth; 
 19 Martha ; 20 Amanda ; 21 Edward; 22 Elizabeth; 23 Aaron. 
 
 15 EDWARD WOODWARD. 
 
 Edward W. Thomas, son of Josiah and Mary (Bowen) Thomas, 
 married Sarah J. Warner of Plymouth, Feb. 15, 1854. 
 
 Children : 24 Edward J., b Oct. 20, 1855 ; 25 Lalah, b Jul)- 3, 
 1857, d 1863 ; 26 Hattie, d 1863 ; 27 Alice E., b July 20, 1863 ; 
 28 Fanny, b March 6, 1866; 29 Clara, b Nov. 16, 1849; 3° 
 Jennie, b July 10, 1872. 
 
TODD. 
 
 I CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 Christopher Todd was a son of William Todd of Pontefract, 
 Yorkshire, England. He married Grace, daughter of Michael 
 Middlebrook of Hold Mills, and came to this country as one of 
 the original settlers of Davenport's New Haven Colony, in 1637. 
 He owned the large lot on Elm street, between Church and 
 Orange streets, subsequently known as the Blue Meeting-house 
 Lot, where St. Thomas church now stands, and resided on it. 
 The place remained in the family for a hundred years. He was 
 a farmer, miller, and baker, having bought a mill which the town 
 had erected. 
 
 Children: 2 John; 3 Samuel, b in 1645; 4 Mercy ; 5 Grace; 
 6 Michael ; 7 Nancy. 
 
 3 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Todd, son of Christopher and Grace Todd, married 
 Mary, daughter of William Bradley, Nov. 26, 1668. He suc- 
 ceeded his father in the mill, and died in 17 14. 
 
 Children: 8 Samuel, b July 1, 1672; 9 Joseph; 10 Mary ; n 
 Sarah; 12 Joseph; 13 Hannah ; 14 Jonah; 15 Daniel; 16 Abi- 
 gail ; 17 Mercy ; 18 James. 
 
 8 SAMUEL, JR. 
 
 Samuel Todd, son of Samuel and Mary (Bradley) Todd, mar- 
 ried, 1st, Susannah Tuttle, Sept., 1698, 2d, widow Esther Maltby. 
 He was a farmer in North Haven, and a Deacon, and died Dec, 
 1741. 
 
 Children: 19 Lydia, m Rev. Benjamin Doolittle of Northfield, 
 Mass., and had eleven children; 20 Caleb ; 21 Stephen, settled 
 in Northford and had nine children; 22 Mehitable ; 23 Christo- 
 
 564 
 
GENEALOGIES. _ 565 
 
 pher, m and had nine children ; 24 Samuel, was the first pastor 
 in the North Parish. Waterbury, Conn., and had nine children ; 
 
 25 Susannah, m Rev. Caleb Humaston and had twelve children ; 
 
 26 Elizabeth, m Dea. Samuel Sackett. 
 
 20 CALEB. 
 
 Caleb Todd, son of Samuel and Susannah (Tuttle) Todd, was 
 born Feb. 2, 1700, and married Mary, daughter of Samuel Ives. 
 Dec. 15, 1725, and settled in North Haven. He died July 5, 
 
 J737- 
 
 Children: 27 Phebe, m David Blakeslee ; 28 Hezekiah, b May 
 2, 1728; 29 Perthia, in Matthew Gilbert. 
 
 28 HEZEKIAH. 
 
 Hezekiah Todd, of North Haven, married Lydia, daughter of 
 Ebenezer Frost, Jan. 17, 1753, and settled in Cheshire, a little 
 south of Judd's Hill in Wolcott. 
 
 Children : 30 Caleb ; 31 Hezekiah, b Nov. 5, 1755 ; 32 Bethuel; 
 33 Lydia, m Joel Sackett of North Haven; 34 AToses ; 35 Oliver; 
 36 Joel; 37 Phebe, m Parker Bates, d in Southington. 
 
 ^ 30 CALEB. 
 
 Caleb Todd, son of Hezekiah and Lydia (Frost) Todd, mar- 
 ried and had children. 
 
 Children: 38 Lyman ; 39 Farrington ; 40 Allen; 41 Luther. 
 
 31 hezekiah. 
 
 Hezekiah Todd, son of Hezekiah and Lydia (Frost) Todd, 
 married Mercy, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Blakeslee) Holt, 
 Jan., 1783. He settled in Cheshire, adjoining Wolcott, and 
 died there, May 18, 1836, ae. 81. His farm is now occupied by 
 Wm. Todd. Mercy, his wife, died Sept. 12, 18 19. 
 
 Children : 42 Hannah, b April 13, 1784, m Freeman Upson ; 
 43 Jerry, b Dec. 3, 1785; 44 Lydia, b Dec. 7, 1789, m Joseph 
 Holt of Waterbury, and died in Wisconsin ; 45 Streat, b Aug. 27, 
 1792; 46 Mercy Melinda, b June n, 1794, never married, d Jan. 
 22, 1822; 47 Lucina, b March 7, 1796, m Samuel J. Holmes of 
 Waterbury, May 2, 1822, and had children: Israel, b Aug. 10, 
 1823; Samuel, b Nov. 30, 1824; William B., b Dec. 16, 1826, d 
 
566 HI-STORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 May 2, 1828 ; Sarah, b July 6, 1829. m J. W. Hough of Homer, 
 N. Y. ; William B., b July 25. 1831 ; Hannah Adelia. b Nov. 8, 
 1834, d May 18, 1835; 4 8 P°Uy Anf '< b May 12. 1800, m Timo- 
 thy Porter of Waterbury, Dec.;, 1824. 
 
 32 BETHUEL. 
 
 Bet-hurl Todd, son of Hezekiah and Lydia (Frost) Todd, mar- 
 ried Esther Ives of North Haven, and settled in Waterbury. He 
 married, 2d, widow Sarah Welton. 
 
 Children by first wife : 49 Bethia, m Reuben Bartholomew and 
 removed to Chautauqua Co., New York; 50 Lovisa, m Levi Upson 
 of Southington ; 51 Russell m Sarah Clark; 52 Roxy, m Daniel 
 Scott ; 53 Lererelt, moved into New York ; 54 Phebc. m Martin 
 Upson of Wolcott ; 55 Sala, m Salome Upson and moved to 
 Ohio; 56 Miles, m Laura Hotchkiss and resides in Waterbury. 
 By second wife : 57 Esther and 58 Sarah. 
 
 34 MOSES. 
 
 Moses Todd, son of Hezekiah and Lydia (Frost) Todd, mar- 
 ried Delight, daughter of Timothy Upson, and moved to Ohio. 
 
 Children : 59 Sarah, m Abijah Pardee of East Haven and 
 moved to Ohio ; 60 Woodward; 61 Charlotte; 62 Isaac and 63 
 Kneeland, twins. 
 
 35 OLIVER. 
 
 Oliver Todd, son of Hezekiah and Lydia (Frost) Todd, mar- 
 ried Betsey Smith and lived and died in North Haven. 
 
 Children: 64 Zerah ; 65 Deborah; 66 Ro swell ; 67 Maria ; 
 68 Betsey; 69 Bede ; 70 Emily ,'71 Louisa. 
 
 36 JOEL. 
 
 Joel Todd, son of Hezekiah and Lydia (Frost) Todd, married 
 Mabel Mansfield in North Haven. 
 
 Children: 72 Dennis; 73 Orrin ; 74 George ; 75 Louisa; 76 
 
 Caleb. 
 
 43 jerry. 
 
 Jerry Todd, son of Hezekiah and Mercy (Holt) Todd, mar- 
 ried Rebecca Tuttle of East Haven, in 1806. 
 
 Children: 77 Daniel b July 31, 1807; 78 Amy, b April 10, 
 
GENEALOGIES. 567 
 
 1809, m Sherman B. Chipman of Waterbury, d Nov., 1831 ; 79 
 Hezekiah, b Aug. 9, 1821. 
 
 45 STREAT. 
 
 Streat Todd, son of Hezekiah and Mercy (Holt) Todd, mar- 
 ried Ruth W. Welton, Feb. 16, 1815, d Oct. 25, i860. 
 
 Children : 80 Ransom S., b Jan. 18, 18 16 ; 81 Jenelte, b Aug. 
 
 17, 1817, m Harry Thomas, d May 9, 1836; 82 Robert C, b 
 April 21, 1820; 83 Edwin, b Ian. 30, 1823; 84 James, b Oct. 
 
 18, 1825; 85 William S. and 86 Willis H, twins, b Jan. 19, 
 1828, William S., d Dec. 12, [833, and Willis H., d Nov. 9, 187 1 ; 
 87 Franklin, b Nov. 24, 1832, m Adaline Thomas, and settled in 
 Ohio; 88 Eveline, b July 29, 1834, m Nelson Morris of Water- 
 bury, and has daughter, Nellie J., b April 19, i860 ; 89 Jane, b 
 Aug 9, 1836; 90 William S. , b May 20, 1838, m Emogene Mi- 
 nor, Nov. 28, 1862, no children. 
 
 51 RUSSELL. 
 
 Russell Todd, son of Bethuel and Esther (Ives) Todd, mar- 
 ried, 1 st, Sarah Clark, 2d, . 
 
 Children: 91 Bennet, b about 1820, m widow Ives of Cheshire; 
 
 92 Rosaline, m Scott. 
 
 56 miles. 
 
 Miles Todd, son of Bethuel and Esther (Ives) Todd, married 
 Laura Hotchkiss, and settled in Waterbury. 
 
 Children : 93 Nelson, m Mary Brooks ; 94 Sarah, m John 
 Clark. 
 
 77 DANIEL. 
 
 Daniel Todd, son of Jerry and Rebecca (Tuttle) Todd, mar- 
 ried Nancy Mansfield of Oxford, Conn., Jan. 3, 1830, and died 
 Dec. 29, 187 1. 
 
 Children: 95 Emily, b Oct. 21, 183 1, d 1841; 96 Henry, b 
 June 27, 1833, d May 20. 1837; 97 George, b Dec. 15, 1835; 
 98 Henry, b Feb. 14, 1837 ; 99 Amy, b Jan. 16, 1842, m George 
 Sills of Wolcott; 100 Emily, b March 17, 1843, d Jan. 14, 1853. 
 
 79 hezekiah. 
 
 Hezekiah Todd, son of Jerry and Rebecca (Tuttle) Todd, 
 married Lucy Hotchkiss of Wolcott and moved to New Jersey. 
 
568 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Children: 101 Leicester; 102 Sherman; 103 Chester Jerry ; 
 104 Eunice Rebecca : 105 Eugene : 106 Lucy. 
 
 80 ransom s. 
 
 Ransom S. Todd, son of Streat and Ruth (Welton) Todd, mar- 
 ried Cornelia E. Sperry, Oct. 15, 1849, d June 24, 1857. 
 
 Children: 107 Edson R., and 108 Edgar A., twins, b Aug. 21, 
 1850, Edgar A. d in infancy. 
 
 82 ROBERT c. . 
 
 Robert C. Todd, son of Streat and Ruth (Welton) Todd mar- 
 ried Louisa Barnes of Cheshire, April 2, 1843, an d resides in 
 Wolcott. 
 
 Children : 109 Ellen E., b April 2, 1844, d June n, 1865; 
 no John R. S., b March 7, 1846 ; in Emily J, b Feb. 26, 1848, 
 d Oct. 14, 1856; 112 James A., b Oct. 29, 185 1 ; 113 Edwin A., 
 b Jan. 21, 1854. 
 
 83 EDWIN. 
 
 Edwin Todd, son of Streat and Ruth (Welton) Todd, married, 
 1st, Salina Hall, Oct. 27, 1847. She died June 27, 1865. He 
 married, 2d, Lucinda C. Barnes, Sept. 13, 1865. He died Oct. 
 30, 1868. 
 
 Children: 114 William E., b Aug. 29, 1848; 115 Andrew, 1> 
 Jan. 6, 185 1, d in infancy. 
 
 84 JAMES. 
 
 James Todd, son of Streat and Ruth (Welton) Todd, married 
 Esther Hall, May 29, 1853, and lives in Cheshire. 
 
 Children: 116 Liim E.. b May 5, 1856; 117 Hattie Z., b 
 Sept, 17, 1858; 118 James L, b July 4. 1861, d Sept. 6. 1862; 119 
 Lucy P., b May 14, 1864, d Jan. 8, 1873 ; 120 Edna J, b June 
 10, 1867. 
 
 97 GEORGE. 
 
 George Todd, son of Daniel and Nancy (Mansfield) Todd, 
 married Ann L. Lynch, July 4. 1858. 
 
 Children: 12T Ellen Elisabeth, b Aug. 27, 1859. Has in his 
 care Ann Jane (Palmer^ Todd. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 569 
 
 98 HENRY. 
 
 Henry Todd, son of Daniel and Nancy (Mansfield) Todd, mar- 
 ried Emma Slade, Feb. 9, 1857. 
 
 Children: 122 Arthur^ Jan. 17, 1858; 123 Bertha, b Aug. 4, 
 1859. 
 
 114 WILLIAM E. 
 
 William E. Todd, son of Edwin and Salina (Hall) Todd, mar- 
 ried Emeline Barnes. 
 
 Children: 124 Edwin S., b March 25, 1869 ; 125 Eva L., b 
 July ,30, 1870. 
 46 
 
TUTTLE.* 
 
 William Tuttle, Elizabeth his wife, and three children, John, 
 Ann, and Thomas, sailed from London in the ship " Planter," in 
 April, 1625. They landed in Boston the same year, and removed 
 to New Haven in 1639. He had twelve children, from whom 
 have descended a numerous and respectable race. It is said that 
 this William had a brother John, who settled on Long Island, the 
 ancestor of the Long Island " Tuthills." 
 
 Children: 1 John, b 1631, m Catharine Lane, lived in New 
 Haven; 2 Ann, b 1633; 3 Thomas, b 1635, m Hannah Powell, 
 lived in New Haven; 4 Jonathan, b 1637. m Rebecca Bell, re- 
 moved to North Haven in 1670; 5 David, b 1639, d. leaving no 
 children; 6 Joseph, b 1640, m Hannah Munson, settled in East 
 Haven; 7 Sarah, b 1642, m John Slauson ; 8 Elizabeth, b 1645, 
 m Richard Edwards, and was the mother of Rev. Timothy Ed- 
 wards, and grandmother of Jonathan Edwards. D. D., the cele- 
 brated theologian ; 9 Simon, b 1647, m Abigail Beach; 10 Ben- 
 jamin, b 1648. never married; n Mercy, b 1650; 12 Nathaniel, 
 b Feb. 24, 1652, m Sarah Howe. 
 
 9 SIMON. 
 
 Simon Tuttle, son of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, married 
 Miss Abigail, daughter of John Beach, and was among the first 
 subscribers to the compact for the settlement of New Haven vil- 
 lage (now Wallingford), in 1669-70, and settled there near his 
 father Beach's land, perhaps on a portion of it. His house lot 
 was No 13, east side Main street, with 8 acres of out land. He 
 died April 16, 17 19, ae. 72 years. Mrs. Abigail died Aug., 1722. 
 
 * A full history of the Tuttle family is to be published soon by George 
 F. Tuttle, of New York 
 
GENEALOGIES. 571 
 
 Children : 13 Daniel, b Nov. 11, 1680, m Ruth Howe, Oct. 18, 
 1711; 14 Timothy, b 1681; 15 Thankful; 16 Rebecca, h April 
 30, 1698 ; 17 Jonathan, b Sept. 18, 1701; 18 Isaiah, b July 10, 
 1704; 19 Elizabeth, b Nov. 8, 1705; 20 Deborah, b Jan. 1, 
 1709; 21 David, b April 25, 1713. 
 
 14 TIMOTHY. 
 
 Dea. Timothy Tuttle, son of Simon and Abigail (Beach) Tut- 
 tle, married Thankful Doolittle, Nov. 2, 1706. She' died Nov. 
 23, 1728. . He married, 2d, Mary Howe of New Haven, June 9, 
 1729, and she died Jan. 22, 1747-8. He married, 3d, Sarah Hum- 
 iston, June 28, 1749. He died at Cheshire, April 15, 1756, aged 
 76. He built the first frame house in Cheshire, in which house 
 four generations of his descendants were born and lived. 
 
 Children: 22 Rachel, b April 10, 1706, m Nathan Tyler; 23 
 Ebenezer, b May 18, 1708, d Dec. 3, 1736, ae. 28; 24 Eph7-aim, 
 b April 10, 1710; 25 Mary, b Oct. 3, 1712, m Miles Hull of 
 Derby. Dec. 4, 1729; 26 Gershom, b Aug. 11, 1714, settled in 
 Bristol, Conn., d ae. 74; 27 Timothy, b Dec. 4, 17 16, m Han- 
 nah Wadhams of Goshen, Conn. ; 28 Abigail, b April 11, 1719, m 
 John Gaylord of Cheshire ; 29 Simon, b June 12, 17 21, settled in 
 Bristol, Conn., 30 Moses, b Dec. 18, 1723, settled in Cheshire; 
 31 Thankful b Nov. 15, 1826, d Dec. 9, 1747; 32 Mehitable, b 
 Nov. 15, 1730, m Andrew Clark; 33 Ichabod, b July 2, 1732, d 
 Jan. 9, 1747-8. 
 
 24 EPHRAIM. 
 
 Ephraim Tuttle, son of Deacon Timothy and Thankful Tut- 
 tle, married Esther Hotchkiss, June 11, 1731. She died May, 
 1732, of small pox. He uiariied, 2 J, Hannah Payne, Jan. 16, 
 1734. She died May 22, 1756, ae. 42. He married, 3d, Thank- 
 ful Preston, Dec. 16, 1761. He died in Cheshire, Feb. 2, 1775, 
 ae. 64. 
 
 Children: 34 Edmund, M. D., b Nov. 26, 1733-4, d May 5, 
 1763, ae. 30; 35 Esther, b Feb. 10, 1736; 36 Ebenezer, b Oct. 
 15, 1737 > 37 Ephraim, b March 20, 1739 > 3& Noah, b June 30, 
 1741, d July 23, 1742 ; 39 Timothy, b July 1, 1743, d young ; 40 
 Noah, b Dec. rS, 1744, d June 30, 1828, at Camden, N. Y., ae. 
 84; 41 Timothy, b May 17, 1745, went to Ohio; 42 Hannah, b 
 
572 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Jan. 4, 1746-7 ; 43 Lucius, b Dec. 4, 1749, d in Wolcott, June 
 27, 1846, ae. 97; 44 Thankful, b March 13, 1752. By second 
 marriage : 45 Ruth, b Jan. 3, 176 1-2 ; 46 Edmund, b Dec. 30, 
 1764, d Jan. 1, 1856, ae. 90. 
 
 43 LUCIUS. 
 
 Captain Lucius Tuttle, son of Ephraim and Hannah (Payne) 
 Tuttle., married Hannah, daughter of Andrew and Lowly Hull of 
 Cheshire. He was a prominent man in Cheshire, for many years, 
 and during the Revolution was under General Washington's com- 
 mand at Boston and Long Island, and himself had command of 
 a company of his townsmen at the battle which resulted in the 
 surrender of General Burgoyne and his army, at Saratoga, N. Y., 
 in 1777. His wife died Aug. 11, 1800, ae. 46. He died at the 
 house of his son Lucius, in Wolcott, June 27, 1846, ae. 97. 
 
 Children : 47 Andrew Hull, b Aug. 28, 1775, married and 
 moved to South Carolina, where he died; 48 Lucius, b Aug. 7, 
 1776; 49 Betsey Ann, b April 8, 1778, m Samuel Benham of 
 Cheshire. They settled in Wolcott, and died there, leaving no 
 children ; a pair of silk slippers is preserved, and was exhibited 
 at the late Centenary meeting, which Miss Betsey Ann wore at a 
 Commencement Ball, at Yale College, when she was 15 or 16 
 years old, i. e., in 1793 or 4. She died April 8, 1864, ae. 86; 50 
 Marcus, b March 24, 1780 ; 51 Anson, b Dec. 22, 1781, had a 
 family, and died at New Lisbon, N. Y., Feb. 19, 1863, ae. 82 ; 52 
 William B., b Feb. n, 1784, m, had a family, d Jan. 6, 1822, ae. 
 38; 53 Gaius, b July 5, 1786, m Bede Gaylord, d March 16, 
 1855, ae 68; 54 Hannah, b March 24, 1787, d June, 1846, ae. 
 59 ! 55 Esther, b Dec. 30, 1792, m Levi Doolittle of Cheshire, d 
 March 20, 1855, ae. 62. 
 
 48 LUCIUS, JR. 
 
 Lucius Tuttle, son of Capt. Lucius Tuttle and Hannah (Hull) 
 Tuttle, came to Wolcott in the year 1800, and engaged in busi- 
 ness with his brother-in-law,. Samuel Benham, as a merchant. He 
 married Rebecca, daughter of Mark Harrison, Esq., of Wolcott, 
 Dec. 19, 1802. He died July 7, 1865, ae. 89. His wife, Rebec- 
 ca, died Aug. 10, 1870, ae. 86. He was probably the most en 
 terprising and energetic business man of whom Wolcott can 
 
GENEALOGIES. 573 
 
 boast. Soon after coming to Wolcott in 1800, he brought in the 
 first wagon ever seen there, for the purpose of earning away and 
 bringing in merchandise, and for thirty years that wagon and 
 others were kept on the road, much of the time, night and day. 
 This made a better market than any other place within twenty 
 miles, north or west, and hence all things flowed into it. " All 
 sheep and oxen," and the forbidden swine ; and all butter and 
 grains, and gold well refined, as well as some " shin plasters." 
 This made the town a thriving, prosperous one, — enterprising 
 and energetic, and without a revival of this spirit the town will 
 soon repose with " Rip Van Winkle." 
 
 Children: 56 Mark, b Oct. 21, 1803; 57 Lucius, b Sept. 17, 
 1805; 58 Samuel Benham, b Dec. 21, 1807; 59 Rollin, b May 
 28, r8io; 60 Rebecca M, b May 31, 1812, m Orrin Byington of 
 Wolcott, lived in Wisconsin, and had sons, Lucius, Charles E., 
 killed at Bentonville. N. C, in the last battle of the late war ; 61 
 Adeline, b Dec. 19, 1814, m Russell Upson of Wolcott, now of 
 New Haven; 62 Edward II, b July 28, 18 19; 63 Sarah M., b 
 Feb. 10, 1820, m Elihu Moulthrop ; 64 William P., b March 18, 
 1824. d Jan. 13, 1825; 65 William P., b Sept. 11, 1826, d Aug. 
 10, 1850, at Cleveland, Ohio, ae. 23, 
 
 56 MARK. 
 
 Mark Tuttle, son of Lucius and Rebecca (Harrison) Tuttle, 
 married Martha, daughter of Selah Upson, April 12, 1827, and 
 resides half a mile southeast of Wolcott Center, on the Southing- 
 ton road. 
 
 Children : 66 Samuel, b Aug. 20, 1828, d July 7, 1830 ; 67 
 Samuel Mark, b March 29, 1832; 68 Martha Ann, b Feb. 17, 
 1839, m j ist ' Lyman B. Bronson, Jan. 1, 1859, 2d, Ira H. Hough, 
 June 1, 1868; 69 Ai-delia Maria, b May 7, 1843, m Leroy Upson, 
 Nov. 26, 1862. 
 
 57 LUCIUS, 3D. 
 
 Lucius Tuttle, son of Lucius and Rebecca (Harrison) Tuttle, 
 married Laura A. Bement. He died April 13, 1858, ae. 52. 
 Children: 70 Eugenia ; 71 Lucius. 
 
 58 SAMUEL BENHAM. 
 
 Samuel B. Tuttle, son of Lucius and Rebecca (Harrison) 
 
574 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Tuttle, married, ist, Sabrina Ives of Bristol, 2d, Lucretia Carlisle 
 of Goshen. 
 
 Child : 72 Carrie. 
 
 59 ROLLIN. 
 
 Rollin Tuttle, son of Lucius and Rebecca (Harrison) Tuttle, 
 married Emeline Higgins of Wolcott, lives in Kenosha, Wis. 
 Children: 73 Wallace M. ; 7 4 Margaret ; 75 William. 
 
 62 EDWARD H. 
 
 Edward H. Tuttle, son of Lucius and Rebecca (Harrison) 
 Tuttle, married Louisa Bement of Wolcott, and resides in New 
 Haven. 
 
 Children: 76 William; 77 Edward, d young; 78 Eddie; 79 
 Louis. 
 
 67 SAMUEL MARK. 
 
 Samuel M. Tuttle, son of Mark and Martha (Upson) Tuttle 
 married Susan E., daughter of Henry Walker of Saybrook, May 
 ist, 1856. She was born Aug. 7. 1835. 
 
 Child : 80 Charles Samuel, b April 28, i860. 
 
TWITCHELL. 
 
 Isaac Twitchell, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Thompson) 
 Twitchell of Oxford, Conn., married Deborah Alcox of Wolcott, 
 about t 767-8. and settled half a mile northwest of the '" Mill 
 Place," on a farm, afterwards owned by Moses Beach, and now 
 known as the Beach place. He died Feb. 10, 1776, ae. 35. 
 Deborah, his wife, m Wait Hotchkiss, and died fan. 18, 1831, ae. 
 89. 
 
 Children : 1 Joseph, b July 15, 1769; 2 Mary, m John Norton 
 of Wolcott ; 3 Deborah, bapt Sept. 17, 1775, m Ebenezer Frisbie, 
 and removed to Ohio. 
 
 I JOSEPH. 
 
 Joseph Twitchell, son of Isaac and Deborah (Alcox) Twitch- 
 ell, married Electa, daughter of Simeon Hopkins of Wolcott, 
 April 16, 1793. She died Jan. 13, [803. He married, 2d, 
 Phebe. daughter of Dea. Atkins of Wolcott, Feb. 19. 1804. She 
 died Dec. 5, 1823. He died in Wolcott, March 14, 1824. 
 
 Children : 4 Isaac, b Jan. 9, 1795, d March 31, 1799 > 5 Poll}\ 
 b Dec. 23, 1797, m, 1st, Orrin Hollinbeck, 2d, John Barnes, re- 
 sides in Cheshire, Conn., had children, Orrin and Roxanna ; 6 
 Lois Electa, h Jan. 27, 1800, m, 1st, Amos Beach, 1823. 2d, Friend 
 Barnard, 1827; 7 Isaac Hopkins, b Jan. 10. 1803, d March 28, 
 1838, ae. 35, not married. By second wife: 8 Joseph Atkins, b 
 Dec. 18, 1804; 9 Stoddard Whitman, b Dec. 27, 1806; ic Ed 
 ward, b Sept. 5, 1810; 11 William Henry, b Jan. 11, 1813; 12 
 Dwight, 1) Jan. 24. r8i6; 14 Hobart Amos, b at Wolcott, Aug 
 1820. 
 
 8 JOSEPH ATKINS. 
 
 Joseph A. Twitchell, son of Joseph and Phebe (Atkins) 
 
576 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Twitchell, married Elizabeth Scales, and removed to City Point, 
 Miss. 
 
 Children: 14 Mary ; 15 Emetine; 16 Rosamond; 17 Pleasant 
 William; 18 Joseph / 19 Clark. 
 
 9 STODDARD WHITMAN. 
 
 Stoddard W. Twitchell, son of Joseph and Phebe (Atkins) 
 Twitchell, married Dorcas Matthewson, Oct. 31, 1833, resides at 
 Hamburg, Mich. No children. 
 
 10 EDWARD. 
 
 Dea. Edward Twitchell, son of Joseph and Phebe (Atkins) 
 Twitchell, married. 1st, Selina D. Carter, Sept. 3, 1835 ; 2d, Jane 
 Walkley, May 16, 1850. He entered upon his life career in 
 Southington, when about sixteen years of age, and, as remarked 
 by Rev. E. C. Jones in the funeral discourse, he literally "Worked 
 his way up to prominence, as a man of business, property, and 
 high standing in society." In the same discourse, Mr. Jones said 
 with emphasis : " How can we do without Deacon Twitchell." 
 Also : " He was a man of remarkable industry," " a modest 
 man," " a conscientious man," " a man of genuine practical 
 piety." He died April 16, 1863. 
 
 Children: 20 Joseph Hopkins, b May 27, 1838; 21 Edward 
 William, b Nov. §, 1839; 22 Upson Carter, b Oct. 10, 1841, d 
 Jan. 24, 1843; 2 3 Sarah Jane, b June 28, 1844, m Rev. Edmund 
 A. Ware of Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 10, 1869, and has children, Katha- 
 rine and Edward Twitchell; 24 Mary Delight b Oct. 8, 185 1 ; 
 25 Sarah Ann Elton, an adopted daughter, b Nov. 20, 1835, d 
 Sept. 29, 1849; 26 Olive Newell, b Aug. 18, 1854; 27 Timothy 
 Dwight, b Sept. 6, 1856, d Sept. 18, 1858; 28 Julia Emetine, b 
 Dec. 25, 1859: 29 Anna Walkley, b Oct. 8, 1862, d June 27, 
 1863. 
 
 II WILLIAM HENRY. 
 
 William H. Twitchell, son of Joseph and Phebe (Atkins) 
 Twitchell, married Margaret A. Hull, and resides in West Wind- 
 sor, Mich. 
 
 Children: 30 Edward B '. ; 31 Samantha. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 577 
 
 3 HOBART AMOS. 
 
 Hobart A. Twitchell, son of Joseph and Phebe (Atkins) 
 Twitchell, married Hannah M. Wilner of Genesee, N. Y., Dec. 
 29, 1844, and resides in Hamburg, Mich. 
 
 Children: 32 Alsena Phebe, b June 2, 1846; ^ Lois Selina, 
 b Sept. 25, 1847; 34 Mortimer Hobart, b Oct. 9, 1849 > 35 Gracia 
 Maria, b Sept. 14, 185 1. 
 
 20 JOSEPH HOPKINS. 
 
 Rev. Joseph H. Twitchell, son of Edward and Selina D. (Car- 
 ter) Twitchell, married Julia H. Cushman, of Orange, N. J., Nov. 
 1, 1865. He graduated at Yale College and Yale Divinity School, 
 was a working Chaplain in the Army in the late war, and is now 
 the Pastor of the Asylum street Congregational church, Hartford. 
 
 2 1 EDWARD WILLIAM. 
 
 Edward W. Twitchell, son of Edward and Selina D. (Carter) 
 Twitchell, married Sarah L. Harrison of Southington, and is a 
 successful business man in Plantsville. 
 
 Child : 46 Alice Cary Moore. 
 
 47 
 
UPSON. 
 
 I THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Upson was early in Hartford. He was one of those, 
 not proprietors, enumerated in 1638, who had a privilege of get- 
 ting wood and keeping cows on the common. He was an origi- 
 nal proprietor and settler of Farmington, and married Elizabeth 
 Fuller in 1646. He died July 19, 1655, and his widow married 
 Edmund Scott. 
 
 Children: 2 Thomas, removed to Saybrook and died there, 
 having no children; 3 Stephen; 4 Mary; 5 Hannah; 6 Eliza- 
 beth, d July 20, 1655. 
 
 3 STEPHEN. 
 
 Stephen Upson, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Fuller) Upson, 
 married, Dec. 29, 1682, Mary, daughter of John Lee, Senr., of 
 Farmington, and died in 1735, a S eo ^ 85. His wife died Feb. 15, 
 17 15 or 16. He removed to Waterbury before his marriage and 
 became proprietor, Dec. 29, 1679, to the amount of fifty pounds. 
 He signed the ^60 agreement with Mr. Peck and was one of the 
 committee to settle bounds with Woodbury in April, 1702. He 
 was Surveyor, School Committee, Grand Juror, often Townsman, 
 and three times Deputy to the General Court, in May, 17 10, Oct., 
 17 1 2, Oct., 1729. He was Sergeant in 17 15, and in 1729 he had 
 a seat with the veterans in the new meeting house. 
 
 Children: 7 Mary, b Nov. 5, 1683, m Richard Welton, son of 
 John; 8 Stephen, b Sept. 30, 1686; 9 Elizabeth, b Feb. 14, 1689 
 or 90, m Thomas Bronson; 10 Thomas, b March 1, 1692 or 3; 
 11 Hannah, b about March 16, 1695, m, 1st, Thomas Richards, 
 2d, John Bronson, and was living a widow in 1751 ; 12 TaMlha, 
 
 * See History of Waterbury. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 579 
 
 b March n, 1698, m John Scovill, 2d; 13 John, b Dec. 13, 
 1702; 14 Thankful, b March 14, 1706 or 7, m James Blakeslee. 
 
 10 THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Upson, son of Stephen and Mary (Lee) Upson, mar- 
 ried Rachel, daughter of Dea. Thomas Judd, and "lived on Cole 
 Street, near Hast Main/' Waterbury. He sold this home and re- 
 moved, in 1732 or 3, into Farmington, afterwards Southington,, 
 and now the southeastern corner of Wolcott, where he lived and 
 died, respected and esteemed, leaving a numerous family, who 
 have done great honor to his name. His wife, Rachel, died Jul) 
 J 3> I 75° 5 aged 56. He died Sept. 29, 1761, aged 68. 
 
 Children: 15 Thomas, b Dec. 20, 17 19; 16 Mary and 17 John, 
 twins, b Jan. 21, 1721. Mary m Josiah Newell of Southington, 
 John d 1 741 ; 18 Josiah, b Jan. 28, 1724 or 5; 19 Asa, b Nov. 
 30, 1728; 20 Timothy, b Oct. 8, 1731; 21 Amos, b March 17, 
 1734; 22 Sam uc I , b March 8, 1737; 23 Freeman, b July 24, 
 *739> (1 ^1S°- 
 
 15 THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Upson, son of Thomas and Rachel (Judd) Upson, 
 married Hannah, daughter of Capt. Timothy Hopkins of Water- 
 bury, May 28, 1749. He settled one mile north of Wolcott Cen- 
 ter, where his son, Squire Charles, afterward lived. He died in 
 1798, aged 79. His wife, Hannah, died June 6, 1757. 
 
 Children: 24 Benoni, b Feb. 14, 1750; 25 Charles, b March 
 
 8, 1752; 26 Sylvia, b June 7, 1756, d 1764. 
 
 18 josiah. 
 
 Josiah UrsoN, son of Thomas and Rachel (Judd) Upson, mar- 
 ried Elizabeth , and settled in Marion, Southington. He 
 
 died Dec. 21, 1806, aged 82. His widow, Elizabeth, died Aug. 
 
 9, 1823, aged 96. 
 
 Children: 27 Ruth, bapt Jan. 17, 1755; 28 James, bapt June 
 11, 1757; 29 Simeon, bapt March 15, 1761 ; 30 Thomas, bapt 
 April 3, 1763 ; 31 Josiah, m March 5, 1789. Margaret Scott. 
 
 19 ASA. 
 
 Capt. Asa Upson, son of Thomas and Rachel (Judd) Upson, 
 married Mary Newell of Southington, Jan. 17, [750. He held 
 
580 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 the military rank of Captain and died in Bristol, Feb. 5, 1807, 
 aged 78. His widow died Nov. 17, 1816, aged 84. 
 
 Children: 32 Truman, b Dec. 20, 175 1 ; 5$ Rachel, b Dec. 
 26, 1753; 34 Asa, b 1755 ; 35 Saul, b Jan. 24, 1758; 36 George, 
 b Feb. 4, 1760, d March 3, 1732, in Bristol, ae. 62; 37 Mary, b 
 Jan. 28, 1762; 38 Job, b June's, 1 T 6 4, d J ul Y IX > *7 6 4; 39 Syl- 
 via, b Aug. 10, 1765; 40 Z//ry, b Sept. 14, 1767; 41 Adah, b 
 June 14, 1770. 
 
 20 TIMOTHY. 
 
 Timothy Upson, son of Thomas and Rachel (Judd) Upson, 
 married Delight Norton, March 25, 1755, and uve d on the home- 
 stead at the foot of the first hill, east from the top of Southing- 
 ton mountain, on the old road. He built, in 1775, a house a lit- 
 tle further east, on the same road. He was a very exemplary, 
 good man. He died Sept. 4, 1799, aged 68. His widow, De- 
 light, died Feb. 24, 1828, aged 94. 
 
 Children: 42 Tryphena, b Sept. 1, 1756,111 Stephen Carter; 
 
 43 Freelove, b March 22, 1759, m James Smith of Southington ; 
 
 44 Sarah, b June 20, 1761, m Dr. Samuel Towner and removed 
 to Vermont; 45 Ashbel, b March 19, 1764; 46 Timothy, b Sept. 
 21, 1866; 47 Delight, b March 11, 1869, m Moses Todd, re- 
 moved to Vermillye, Ohio; 48 Seth, b June 21, 1771 ; 49 Mar- 
 tin, b March 29, 1774, d Feb. 7, 1777 ; 50 Selah, b May 20, 
 1776; 51 Freeman, b June 16, 1781. 
 
 21 AMOS. 
 
 Amos Upson, son of Thomas and Rachel (Judd) Upson, mar- 
 ried Sarah Woodruff of Southington, Feb. 27, 1766, who died Feb. 
 13, 1797, aged 56. He married, 2d, April, 1798, widow Dorcas 
 Alford of Kensington. He died July 8, 181 9, being burned to 
 death while clearing a piece of land, aged 85 years. 
 
 Children: 52 Lucy, b Nov. 19, 1766, m Bacon, removed 
 
 to Mass.; 53 Shubel, b Nov. 15, 1767, d Aug. 20, 1773; 54 Sarah, 
 b March 18, 1769, d Sept. 1^, 1773; 55 Amos, b March 14, 1771, 
 m, May 8, 1794, Keziah Root; 56 Mark, b Aug. 2, 1772; 57 
 Shubel, b 1774, m Roxanna Cowles; 58 Levi, b Jan. 2, 1777, d 
 Aug. 12, 1779. 
 
 2 2 SAMUEL. 
 
 Capt. Samuel Upson, son of Thomas aud Rachel Judd) Up- 
 
GENEALOGIES. 58 1 
 
 son, married Ruth Cowles, April 5, 1759, aiu ^ settled on the road 
 about a mile west of his father's home. He was an active and in- 
 fluential man in the Parish Society many years. When the road 
 was made into a turnpike he became largely interested in that en- 
 terprise. He died Feb. 25, 1816, aged 79. 
 
 Children: 59 Mary, b Feb., 1759, m Joseph Minor; 60 Archi- 
 bald, b April 26, 1 76 1, d 1782; 61 Isaac, b Dec. 22, 1763; 62 
 Obed, b Jan. 2, 1767; 63 Harvey, b Nov. n, 1769; 64 Samuel, 
 and 65 AW//, twins, b Aug. 16, 1772, Ruth, m Moses Byington ; 
 66 Jerusha, b June 27, 1775, d 1775; 67 Manly, b March 12, 
 1777; 68 Betsey, b Aug. 10, 1779, m Lyman Higgins. 
 
 24 BENONI. 
 
 Benoni Upson, D. D., son of Thomas and Hannah (Hopkins) 
 Upson, married Livia, daughter of Joseph Hopkins of Waterbury. 
 He was pastor of the Congregational church in Kensington many 
 years and died Nov. 13, 1826, aged 76. (See Biog., page 354.) 
 
 Children: 69 Gitstavus ; 70 Laura ; 7 1 Henry; 72 Livia ; 
 73 Laura ; 74 Sophia y 75 Sally ; 76 William. 
 
 25 CHARLES. 
 
 Charles Upson, son of Thomas and Hannah (Hopkins) Up- 
 son, married, 1st, Wealthy Hopkins, May 26, 1773. She died 
 Dec. 2S, 1783. He married, 2d, widow Mary Moulthrop, Nov. 
 24, 1784. He resided on the homestead, and was a man of large 
 influence in the community, and in 1805 had the largest tax list 
 of any of the men in the Society. He subscribed the largest sum 
 for the settlement of Rev. Mr. Woodward in 1792. He was Jus- 
 tice of the Peace so many years that he was spoken of mostly as 
 "Squire Charles," and the farm where he lived is known at the 
 present time as the place of " Squire Charles Upson." He was 
 accidentally killed in New Haven by hitting his head against a 
 beam while riding into a barn on a load of hay, April 29, 1809, 
 aged 57. His widow, Mary, died March 30, 1826, aged 76. 
 
 Children by first wife: 77 Washington, b Sept. 2, 1775; 78 
 Lee, b May 7, 1778; 79 Gates, b July 18, 1780. By second 
 wife: 80 Thomas, b Sept. 23, 1785; 81 Charles Hopkins, b July 
 19, 1788; 82 Mark, b Oct. 24, 1790; 83 Wealthy II, b April 
 
582 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 18, 1794, m, March 30, 1817, Dr. Ambrose Ives, and after some 
 years removed to Waterbury. 
 
 28 JAMES. 
 
 James Upson, son of Josiah and Elizabeth Upson, married, Jan. 
 4, 1 781, Mary, daughter of Josiah Cowles. He died in Southing- 
 ton, Jan. 22, 1803, aged 45. His widow died Sept. 2, 1842, aged 
 
 85- 
 
 Children: 84 Asakel, m Aug. 7, 1806, Lydia Webster; 85 Sal- 
 mon, m Aug. 28, 1 81 6, Belinda Lewis; 86 Levia, b 1786, d Oct. 
 22, 1801; 87 Stanley, b 1796, d March 20, 1797. 
 
 45 ASHBEL. 
 
 Ashbel Upson, son of Timothy and Delight (Norton) Upson, 
 married Mehitable Castle of Waterbury, in 1787, and lived in 
 Woodtick. 
 
 Children : 88 Allen, b Nov. 30, 1788; 89 Freelove, b Feb. 7, 
 1790, d Feb. 20, 1842; 90 Julia, b Dec. 21, 1793, d Nov. 20, 
 1813 ; 91 Lucy, b June 5, 1796, m Samuel W. Truesdell, removed 
 to Pennsylvania; 92 Ashbel, b Sept. 5, 1798; 93 Selah, b Nov. 
 21, 1800; 94 Salmon, b Sept. 8, 1803; 95 Loman, b May 9. 
 1806 ; 96 Clarissa E., b Sept. 9, 1809, d Jan. 27, 1830. 
 
 46 TIMOTHY. 
 
 Timothy Upson, son of Timothy and Delight (Norton) Upson, 
 married Mary Johnson. 
 
 Children: 97 Martin; 98 Amanda; 99 Joel ; 100 Robinson ; 
 10 1 Alary; 102 Salome ; 103 Timothy; 104 Romeo. 
 
 48 SETH. 
 
 Seth Upson, son of Timothy and Delight (Norton) Upson, 
 married Chloe Blakeslee of North Haven, Dec. 25, 1795, settled 
 in Burlington and died there. 
 
 Children: 105 Orrin, b May 29, 1799; 106 Theodosia, b Oct. 
 
 19, 1799; 107 Seth, b July 14, 1801 ; 108 Chloe, b April 12, 
 1803. 
 
 50 SELAH. 
 
 Selah Upson, son of Timothy and Delight (Norton) Upson, 
 married Martha Hitchcock, Oct. 18, 1802, and lived a mile and a 
 
GENEALOGIES. 583 
 
 half south of Woodtick. He died June 3, 1854, aged 78. His 
 wife, Martha, was born Oct. 29, 1780, and died Dec. 31, 1863, 
 aged S3. 
 
 Children: 109 Sabrina, b Aug. 21, 1804, m Chester Thorp of 
 Southington, Feb. 9, 1825; no Martha, b Aug. 28, 1807, m 
 Murk Tuttle, April 12. 1827 ; in Henry D., b Oct. 5, 1809; 112 
 Emily, b June 24, 1814, d June 28, 1815 ; 113 Emily M, b 
 April 16, 1817. d Sept. 13, 1865; 114 Miles S., b Dec. 6, 1820; 
 IX 5 J oe l W, D J an - IO > l % 2 3- 
 
 51 FREEMAN. 
 
 Freeman Upson, son of Timothy and Delight (Norton) Upson, 
 married Hannah Todd in 1802. 
 
 Children : 116 Nancy, b Feb. 21, 1803, m Joel Moss of Chesh- 
 ire ; 117 Hezekiah T., b March 21, 1805; 118 Julius, b Feb. 15, 
 1807; 119 Beimet, b Feb. 21, 1809; 120 Fidelia D., b July 6, 
 181 1. m Lucius Odel, lived and died in Waterbury ; 121 Emma, 
 b June 12, 1813, d Jan. 19, 1833; I22 Willis, b Oct. 2, 1815, d 
 Sept. 6, 1819; 123 Julia, b Nov. 19, 1817, m Joseph H. Rogers 
 of East Haven; 124 Willis, b April 5, 1820; 125 Luc in a, b May 
 2, 1822, m Benjamin A. Lindsley. May 16, 1844. 
 
 56 MARK. 
 
 Mark Upson, son of Amos and Sarah (Woodruff) Upson, mar- 
 ried, May 9, 1796, Mereb, daughter of Immer Judd of Southing- 
 ton, and settled in the south part of the same place, where he 
 died Nov. 16, 1806, aged 33. After his death, his widow, Mereb, 
 lived, with her daughter, Elpatia, near Boston, where she died. 
 
 Children: 126 Dana Judd, b 1797; 127 Marcus, b 1799, d 
 July 11, 1831, ae. 32; 128 Elpatia. 
 
 6 1 ISAAC. 
 
 Isaac Upson, son of Samuel and Ruth (Cowles) Upson, mar- 
 ried Sylvia, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Lewis, lived in Wood- 
 tick and at the Mill place. 
 
 Children: 129 Jerusha, b May 22, 1789, m Thomas Upson; 
 130 Ira Gridley, b Oct. 11, 1791 ; 131 Lucas, b June 7, 1796; 
 132 Harriet, b Aug, 3, 1800, m Abel Hendrick, died in New 
 Britain in 1869. 
 
584 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 62 OBED. 
 
 Obed Upson, son of Samuel and Ruth (Cowles) Upson, mar- 
 ried Sybil Howe and lived in Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 133 Laura; 134 Hiram; 135 Maria ; 136 Garry; 
 137 Leva ; 138 Charlotte. 
 
 63 HARVEY. 
 
 Dea. Harvey Upson, son of Samuel and Ruth (Cowles) Up- 
 son, married Rachel Wheeler Nov. 28, 1796. She was born Aug. 
 2 5> 1775- He was deacon of the church twenty-five years. He 
 bore the military rank of Captain, and is spoken of as a good man, 
 faithful and true in all the relations of life. The blessings of a 
 good man descend to his children. 
 
 Children : 139 Samuel Wheeler, b Oct. 8, 1798; 140 Jerry, b 
 Nov. 16, 1800; 141 Marshall, b Feb. 22, 1803; 142 Lois Mlis- 
 sa, b Aug. 27, 1805, m Lucas Sutliff ; 143 Marcus, b Aug. 20, 
 1807; 144 Harvey Woodward, b Nov. 22, 1810 ; 145 lucia/h 
 and 146 Lucius, twins, b Feb. 13, 1815. 
 
 64 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Upson, son of Samuel and Ruth (Cowles) Upson, mar- 
 ried Lois, daughter of Simeon Hopkins, and removed to Camden, 
 N. Y. 
 
 Children: 147 Wealthy, b Dec. 24, 1793; 148 Archibald, b 
 Feb. 11, 1796; 149 Ruth, b Feb. 2, 1798; 150 John, b March 
 19, 1801 ; 151 Polly, b Oct. 24, 1803; 152 Alvin, b Sept. 1, 
 1806; 153 Salmon, b May 29, 1809; 154 Hopkins, b Dec, 29, 
 181 1 ; 155 William, b June 10, 1814; 156 Major Isaac, b May 
 10, 1817. 
 
 67 MANLY. 
 
 Manly Upson, son of Samuel and Ruth (Cowles) Upson, mar- 
 ried Laura, daughter of David Harrison. 
 
 Children : 157 David, b Feb. 2, 1802 ; 158 Betsey, b June 27, 
 1803 ; 159 Ira Cowles, b April 21, 1805; 160 Marcia, b Dec. 2, 
 1806; 161 Nelson, b Nov. 14, 1808; 162 Sophia, b June 20, 
 181 1; 163 Caleb Strong, b May 30, 1813; 164 Lucas Hart, b 
 Aug. 15, 1815; 165 Mary Maria, b Nov. 10, 18 18; 166 lucas 
 Manly, b April 30, 182 1. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 585 
 
 77 WASHINGTON. 
 
 Washington Upson, son of Charles and Wealthy (Hopkins) 
 Upson, married Rhoda Carter. 
 
 Children: 167 Marcus; 168 Cyrus; 169 Charles, lives in 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 78 LEE. 
 
 Lee Upson, son of Charles and Wealthy (Hopkins) Upson, 
 married Roxanna Lewis. 
 
 Children: 170 Sarah ; 171 Israel ; 172 ; 173 . 
 
 79 GATES. 
 
 Gates Upson, son of Charles and Wealthy (Hopkins) Upson, 
 married, rst, Polly Hotchkiss, June 25, 1809. She died March 
 21, 1830, aged 37. He married, 2d, Polly Smith of Wallingford, 
 April 12, 1832, and she died Oct. 18, 1840, aged 54 years. He 
 married, 3d, Rachel Hotchkiss, Sept. 8, 1S42, who died Feb. 5, 
 1845. He married, 4th, Hannah Withington, May 21, 1846. 
 He was a prominent man in the Society and Town for a number 
 of years. 
 
 Children: 174 Mary Hotchkiss, b Feb. 15, 181 i,d May 3, 
 1836; 175 Wealthy Hopkins, b Nov. 25, 1812; 17 6 Asaph ; 177 
 Hotchkiss, b Oct. 1, 1820; 178 Henry, b June 10, 1829, d May 
 12, 1830. 
 
 80 THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Upson, son of Charles and Mary (Moulthrop) Upson, 
 married Jerusha, daughter of Isaac Upson, May 14, 1807. His 
 house was half a mile north of the Center, where he lived some 
 years, and where all of his children were born. He removed to 
 Berlin about 1834, where he died March 8, 1848, aged 63. His 
 wife, Jerusha, died Aug. 9, 1864, aged 75. 
 
 Children: 179 Charles Hopkins, b Jan. 28, 1808; 180 Gusta- 
 vus, b Feb 10, 1810; 181 Russell, b Jan. 31, 181 1 ; 182 Thomas, 
 b March 25, 18 13; 183 Jenette, b June 28, 18 15, m Renselaer 
 Minor, son of Joshua, May 14, 1835, an ^ ' ias children, Robert, b 
 April 18, 1837, and Ellen Jenette, b Sept. 3, 1839; x &4 Isaac, b 
 June 9, 18 1 7 ; 185 Samuel, b Feb. 7, 1820; 186 John, b March 
 14, 1822; 187 William, b July 2, 1825; 188 Ambrose Ives, b 
 April 18, 1827 ; 189 Seth Peck, b April 5, 1830, d July 30, 1865 ; 
 48 
 
586 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 190 Henry, and 191 Arabella H. F, twins, b May 21, 1831, Ar- 
 abella died Jan. 11, 1857. 
 
 94 SALMON. 
 
 Salmon Upson, son of Ashbel and Mehitable (Castle) Upson, 
 married Maria Jackson Nov. 26, 1835, removed to Bristol, Wis- 
 consin, in June, 1840. 
 
 Children: 192 Julia, b Dec. 6, 1836, m John C. Newberry of 
 Pilot Point, Texas; 193 Mary J., b Nov. 5, 1838, m J. R. Marsh, 
 Kenosha, Wis.; 194 Salmon E., b in Wisconsin; 195 Hannah 
 A., b Sept. 9, 1844, d 1845 > x 9 6 Lucy M., b Aug. 9, 1846, m 
 Alson Stonebreaker and lives in Racine, Wis.; 197 Hannah A., 
 b Sept. 18, 1850; 198 Ellen E., b Oct. 5, 1852, d April 10, 
 1872. 
 
 97 MARTIN. 
 
 Martin Upson, son of Timothy and Mary (Johnson) Upson, 
 married Phebe Todd and lived in Woodtick. 
 
 Children: 199 Mary, b Aug. 26, 1824; 200 Ann V., b Feb. 
 11, 1826; 201 Julina, b April 11, 1828; 202 Clarissa C, b April 
 11, 1830; 203 Lucy A., b May 19, 1832; 204 Frederick M., b 
 March 3, 1835 » 2 °5 Salome, b Jan. 22, 1839. 
 
 114 miles s. 
 
 Dea. Miles S. Upson, son of Selah and Martha (Hitchcock) 
 Upson married Mary A., daughter of Ira Hough, April 20, 1845, 
 resides a mile east of the Center and is a prosperous farmer. 
 
 Children: 206 Emma A., b Feb. 9, 1846, m Charles E. S. 
 Hall, Sept. 25, 1869; 207 M Elodine, b May 3, 1850; 208 Ev- 
 elyn M, b May 7, 1852 ; 209 Eugenia L., b Aug. 11, 1859; 210 
 Martha A., b Nov. 27, 1864. 
 
 115 JOEL w. 
 
 Joel W. Upson, son of Selah and Martha (Hitchcock) Upson, 
 married Eleanor Gaylord, Oct. 3, 1855, and resides on his father's 
 homestead. His wife, Martha, was born Jan. 4, 183 1. 
 
 Children: 21 1 Evalcna J., b July 30,1856; 212 a daughter, b 
 July 23, 1858, d same day; 213 Ellen £., b July 23, i860, d Aug. 
 9, 1862 ; 214 Ella A., b April 11, 1863; 215 Harriet A., b June 
 4, 1865, d Dec. 22, 1872; 216 Carrie E., b July 17, 1868. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 587 
 
 126 DANA JUDD. 
 
 Dana J. Upson, son of Mark and Mereb (Judd) Upson, mar- 
 ried Mary Clark of Utica, N. Y. He died in Southington, Aug. 
 27, 1829, aged 32. After his death his widow removed to Utica 
 with her children. 
 
 Children: 217 Elizabeth E., bapt Oct. 12, 1828, in Southing- 
 ton ; 218 Anson Judd, is pastor of the Second Presbyterian church 
 in Albany, N. Y. 
 
 134 HIRAM. 
 
 Hiram Upson, son of Obed and Sibyl (Howe) Upson, married 
 Sarah, daughter of Michael Harrison, lives in Waterbury. 
 
 Children: 219 LeTa ; 220 Laura; 221 Maria; 222 Garry; 
 223 Caroline ; 224 Charlotte ; 225 Luther. 
 
 I39 SAMUEL WHEELER. 
 
 Samuel W. Upson, son of Harvey and Rachel (Wheeler) Up- 
 son, married Sally Maria Stevens of Columbus, Chenango Co., N. 
 Y., March 28, 1820, and now resides in New Haven. They cel- 
 ebrated their Golden Wedding March 28, 1870, and have six 
 children and eighteen grandchildren. 
 
 Children: 226 Charles Dwight, b Aug. 20, 1821 ; 227 Albert 
 S., b March 16, 1823; 228 Emetine M., b Dec. 5, 1824, m 
 Franklin Downs of Bristol ; 229 Clark W., b Nov. 6, 1826; 230 
 M. Ashmun, b Nov. 29, 1830, m Elbert McLendon of Alabama. 
 
 140 JERRY. 
 
 Jerry Upson, son of Harvey and Rachel (Wheeler) Upson, 
 married Rhoda Munn of Southbury, Nov. 24, 1829. She was 
 born June 14, 1809. He lives in Marion, Southington. 
 
 Children: 231 Ellen, b Sept. 12, 1830, m Ira B. Andrews of 
 Cheshire, d Oct. 16, 1850; 232 Jane, b Feb. 8, 1832, d April 4, 
 1848 ; 233 Edgar, b Sept. 24, 1840, d Aug. 1, 1864, having con- 
 tracted sickness in the late war; 234 Ella Jane, b July 21, 1849, 
 m Leonidas M. Camp of Rocky Hill, June 1, 187 1. 
 
 141 MARSHALL. 
 
 Marshall Upson, son of Harvey and Rachel (Wheeler) Up- 
 
588 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 son, married Esther Jenette Barker of Bristol, lives in southern 
 part of the Town. 
 
 Child : 235 Lavallette, b Sept. 27, 1849. 
 
 143 MARCUS. 
 
 Marcus Upson, son of Harvey and Rachel (Wheeler) Upson, 
 removed to South Carolina. 
 
 Children: 236 John Drenan ; 237 Marcus; 238 Holly; 239 
 Rachel. 
 
 144 HARVEY WOODWARD. 
 
 Harvey W. Upson, son of Harvey and Rachel (Wheeler) Up- 
 son, married Elizabeth Ransom of Oxford and lives in Cheshire. 
 
 Children: 240 Charles, a physician, and resides in Massachu- 
 setts; 241 George. 
 
 145 LUCIAN. 
 
 Lucian Upson, son of Harvey and Rachel (Wheeler) Upson, 
 married Lois A. Johnson, and lives on the homestead, south part 
 of the Town. 
 
 Children: 242 Leroy, b Jan. 14, 1840; 243 Sophronia £., b 
 June 30, 1842, m J. H. Garrigus of New Jersey, Dec. 24, 1865, 
 and had children, Ella May, b Oct. 28, 1866, d Nov. 13, 1866, 
 Walter Henry, b March 10, 1869, Fannie E., b Oct. 29, 1871, 
 Willie L., b Jan. 25, 1874; 244 Lucella M., b Nov. 13, 1853, m 
 James A. Todd, Oct. 29, 1874. 
 
 146 LUCIUS. 
 
 Dea. Lucius Upson, son of Harvey and Rachel (Wheeler) Up- 
 son, married, Nov. 8, 1840, Lucy K. Bement, lives in Plantsville, 
 Southington. 
 
 Children: 245 Josephine Z., b Aug. 6, 1841, m David E. 
 Downs, May 24, 1865, and has children, Lizzie M., b May 17, 
 1869, George E., b Aug. n, 1872; 246 Charles B., b July 27, 
 1843; 247 Augusta E., b April 26, 1845 ; 2 4S Justi/ia E., b Jan. 
 13, 1847; 2 49 Bement IV., b Jan. 19, 1849; 2 5° Emma J., b 
 Oct. 22, 1851 ; 251 Edivard L., b March 27, 1856; 252 Arthur 
 JV., b July 13, 1858; 253 Frank E., b May 17, 1861. 
 
 179 CHARLES HOPKINS. 
 
 Charles H. Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Up- 
 
GENEALOGIES. 589 
 
 son, married Nancy S. Whittlesey of Southington. He was a 
 merchant in that place. 
 
 Children: 254 Mary Whittlesey, h Feb. 2, 1843; 2 55 Charles 
 Hopkins, b Dec. 17, 1849. 
 
 180 GUSTAVUS. 
 
 Gustavus Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, 
 married Rachel C. Woodruff of Hartford, April 20, 1836, who died 
 March 30, 1843. He married, 2d, Emily M. Woodruff, sister of 
 1st wife, July 1, 1844, who died Nov. 30, 1872. He is a farmer. 
 
 Children: 256 Alice Rachel, b Aug. 2, 1837 '■> 2 57 Francis Ma- 
 ria, b Nov. 30, 1845; 2 58 Royal Robbins, b April 15, 1848 ; 259 
 Amelia Elizabeth, b July 18, 1850. 
 
 181 RUSSELL. 
 
 Russell Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, 
 married Adeline, daughter of Lucius Tuttle, Senr., May 19, 1834. 
 He lives in New Haven. 
 
 Children: 260 Theron, b Oct. 14, 1835; 2< ^ r Emily, b June 5, 
 1837; 262 Eveline, b Feb. 4, 1839; 263 Martin, b March 31, 
 1843, was m tne army in the late war, d 1866 in Chicago; 264 
 Fanny, b Nov. 30, 1848; 265 Charles, b May 25, 1853. 
 
 182 THOMAS, JR. 
 
 Thomas Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, 
 married, Sept. 13, 1841, Mrs. Mariette Smith of Berlin, whose 
 maiden name was Robbins. 
 
 Children : 266 Thomas and 267 William G., twins, b June 22, 
 1844; 268 Minnie Francis, b Oct. 29, 1855. 
 
 184 ISAAC. 
 
 Isaac Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, 
 married Elizabeth D., daughter of Benjamin Allen of Berlin, Sept. 
 23, 1856. She died Oct. 13, 1866. He married, 2d, Mrs. Fi- 
 delia Buckley, whose maiden name was Roberts, April 18, 1867. 
 
 Children : 269 Harriet Elizabeth, b March 6, 1857 ; 270 Ben- 
 jamin Allen, b Feb. 13, 1859; 271 Ambrose Isaac, b Sept. n, 
 i860; 272 George B. McLelland, b Aug. 23, 1862; 273 Henry 
 Gridley, b Dec. 6, 1863. 
 
590 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 185 SAMUEL. 
 
 Samuel Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, 
 married Margaretta, daughter of Rollin Dickinson of Southington, 
 Sept. 15, 1841. He was a merchant in that place and afterwards 
 in Kensington. He was several times a member of the Legisla- 
 ture. His first wife died Nov. 29, 1844. He married, 2d, Ann 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Whittlesey of Southington, Nov. 5, 
 1845. 
 
 Children: 274 Margaretta, b March 17, 1843; 275 Lovine,\> 
 Sept. 17, 1847; 2 7^ Julia Whittlesey, b March 29, 1851; 277 
 Nellie Eveline, b March 22, 1855 ; 278 Grace, b Aug. 21, 1863. 
 
 186 JOHN. 
 
 John Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, mar- 
 ried Cornelia, daughter of Dr. Timothy Jones of Southington, 
 July 29, 1856. She died June 21, 186 1. He married, 2d, Mrs. 
 Emily B. Humiston of New York City, daughter of Russell 
 Barnes of Cheshire, Feb. 16, 1870. He was a merchant in 
 Southington, Kensington, and New York City. He resides in 
 New Haven. 
 
 187 WILLIAM. 
 
 William Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, 
 married Mary, daughter of Samuel Hart of Berlin, Oct. 15, 1856, 
 who died June 30, 1871. He married, 2d, M. Aurelia, daughter 
 of Isaac Hough, and is a farmer in Kensington. 
 
 Children: 279 William Henry, b March 29, 1858; 280 Lucy 
 Jenette, b March 26, i860; 281 Arthur William, b June 25, 
 1863; 282 Alice Cornelia, b June 9, 1868; 283 Mary Hart, b 
 April 15, 187 1. 
 
 188 AMBROSE IVES. 
 
 Ambrose I. Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Up- 
 son, married Mary Scovill, daughter of Rev. Dr. Clark of Water- 
 bury, Nov. 2, 1864. He was a merchant in Michigan, some 
 years, in which State he was member of the Senate two years. 
 He afterwards removed to New York' City, where he was engaged 
 in business fifteen years. He now resides in Hartford. 
 
 Children: 284 Ambrose Ives, bin New York, Feb. n, 1866 • 
 285 Mary Scovill Clark, b in New York, March 1, 187 1. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 591 
 
 190 HENRY. 
 
 Rev. Henry Upson, son of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Up- 
 son, married Abbie A. Piatt of Milford, Oct. 13, 1863. (See 
 Biog., page 356.) 
 
 242 LEROY. 
 
 Leroy Upson, son of Lucian and Lois J. (Johnson) Upson, 
 married Ardelia M. Tuttle, Nov. 26, 1862, and resides in Water- 
 bury. 
 
 Children : 286 Walter Leroy, b June 19, 1866, d July 7, 1866 ; 
 287 Addie Maria, b May 12, 1868; 288 Herbert Manton, b April 
 4, 1873. 
 
 246 CHARLES B. 
 
 Charles B. Upson, son of Lucius and Lucy K. (Bement) Up- 
 son, married Hester L. Potter, June, 1866. 
 
 Children : 289 Alice J., b Aug. 6, 1867 ; 290 Emma L %} b 
 April 26, 1870. 
 
WAKELEE. 
 
 I EBENEZER. 
 
 Ebenezer Wakelee was born in Stratford, Conn., where his 
 father, James, resided. He came to Wolcott and married Eliza- 
 beth Nichols of Waterbury, and settled on land purchased by his 
 father, it being several hundred acres. He was probably the first 
 settler in that part of Wolcott, called, originally, the " Big Plains." 
 The residence of the late Bement J. Wakelee is the old home- 
 stead. 
 
 Children : 2 David ; 3 Elizabeth, m Reuben Frisbie ; 4 Sarah, 
 m Josiah Barnes of Waterbury, Nov. 20, 1777, resided in Wol- 
 cott j 5 
 
 2 DAVID. 
 
 David Wakelee, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Nichols) 
 Wakelee, married Mary, daughter of Joseph Parker, Feb. 21, 
 1788, and lived on the homestead. 
 
 Children : 6 Haiinah, m Allen Upson ; 7 Arad, m Esther 
 Pritchard • 8 Mary, m Julius Jones of Litchfield ; 9 Lovisa, never 
 married; 10 Irani, m Content Sabins and died in Southington ; 
 1 1 Sabrina, m Rufus Smith of Pennsylvania ; 1 2 Almus, b March 
 9, 1801 ; 13 Miranda, m Norton G. Smith of Pennsylvania; 14 
 David, m Clarinda Carrier of Susquehanna Co., Penn., in which 
 place he settled. 
 
 12 ALMUS. 
 
 Almus Wakelee, son of David and Mary (Parker) Wakelee, 
 married Harriet E. Bement about 1824 and resided on the home- 
 stead. 
 
 Children: 15 Hannah Eliza, b March 2o ; 1826, m Willis Up- 
 son and had daughter Sarah, who married George E. Alcott ; 16 
 Bement J., b Oct. 25, 1828. 
 
 592 
 
GENEALOGIES. 593 
 
 1 6 BEMENT J. 
 
 Bement J. Wakelee, son of Almus and Harriet E. (Bement) 
 Wakelee, married, Aug. 16, 1848, Salinda Hickox of Susquehanna 
 Co., Penn., and lived on the homestead, and died Jan. 15, 1855. 
 
 Children : 1 7 James Almus, b July 21, 1849 ; 18 Bement David, 
 b Oct. 28, 1859, d April 10, 1873; 19 Edward Decosti, b May 
 30, 1852, d Aug. 1, 1853 ; 20 John Evelyn, b March 12, 1854, d 
 Jan. 12, 1855. 
 
 49 
 
WARNER.* 
 
 John Warner was among the early settlers of Hartford and 
 Farmington. 
 
 Children: i John; 2 Daniel; 3 Thomas ; 4 Sarah. 
 
 I JOHN, JR. 
 
 John Warner, son of John, was in Waterbury in 1703, and re- 
 turned to Farmington, where he died soon after 1706. 
 
 Children : 5 Ephraim; 6 John; 7 Robert (see Cothren's History 
 of Woodbury, p. 752); 8 Ebenezer ; 9 Lydia ; 10 Thomas. 
 
 5 EPHRAIM. 
 
 Doct. Ephraim Warner, son of John, married Esther, daughter 
 of Obediah Richards, Aug. 16, 1692, and died Aug. 1, 1753, aged 
 83. He practiced medicine a few years in Woodbury, and then 
 returned to Waterbury, where he became a prominent man in the 
 town. He was townsman, school committee, town collector, 
 deputy to the general court, several years. He was the second 
 captain of the " train band." 
 
 Children: 11 Margaret, b Feb. 16, 1693, d March, 1693; 12 
 Ephraim, b Oct. 29, 1695, d Dec. 28, 1704; 13 Benjamin, b Sept. 
 30, 1698; 1 4 John, b June 24, 1700; 15 Obediah, b Feb. 24 
 1702 or 3 ; 16 Esther ; 17 Ephraim; 18 Ebenezer. 
 
 13 BENJAMIN. 
 
 Doct. Benjamin Warner, son of Ephraim, married Hannah, 
 daughter of Josiah Strong of Colchester, March 17, 1720, and 
 died April, 1772, aged 73. His widow, Hannah, died April, 1785 
 aged 85. He was a physician, and lived on Buck's Hill, where 
 his father gave him a house and lands. 
 
 Children: 19 Josiah, b April 10, 1721, m Rebecca Brown; 20 
 
 "■ : See History <>f Waterbury. Those parts of the Warner family who are 
 connected with Wolcott families are given. 
 
 594 
 
GENEALOGIES. 595 
 
 Dinah, b Feb. 11, 1723, m Benjamin Harrison, brother of Dea. 
 Aaron of Wolcott ; 21 Reuben, b Oct. 12, 1725, d March 28, 1727 ; 
 22 Margaret, b Nov. 9, 1727, in Oliver Welton ; 23 Reuben, b Sept. 
 21, 1729; 24 David, b Nov. 27, 1731 ; 25 Benjamin, b Jan. 26, 
 1734; 26 Anna, b Jan. 31, 1736, m John Hickox, jr. ; 27 Ephraim, 
 b June 26, 1738, m Lydia Brown, March 30, 1760, d May 20, 
 1808, his widow died July 20, 1S15 ; 27 Eunice, b Aug. 5, 1740, 
 m John Hickox, 3d; 28 Ant, b Nov. 1, 1742, m Elizabeth Porter. 
 
 14 JOHN. 
 
 Dea. John Warner, son of Ephraim and Esther (Richards) 
 Warner, married Esther, daughter of David Scott, Dec. 17, 1724. 
 She died Feb. 18, 1726, and he married, 2d, Mary, daughter of 
 Thomas Hickox, Oct. 3, 1728, who died in 1784. He settled 
 first on Buck's Hill, where his father gave him twenty acres of 
 land, valuing it at " £60 money." He afterwards removed to 
 Northbury, and was the third deacon in the Northbury church, 
 appointed in 1746. He died Sept. 7, 1794, aged 94 years. 
 
 Children: 29 Esther, b Sept. 11, 1729^ Sept. 4, 1730; 30 
 Phebe, b Jan. 8, 1732; 31 Aunis, b Jan. 3, 1735; 32 Jimes, b 
 Dec. ti, 1739; 33 Mary, b Oct. 9, 1742, d April 21, 1745; 34 
 Elijah, b March 21, 1746, 35 John, b Oct. 14, 1749, m Anne 
 Sutliflf. 
 
 19 JOSIAH. 
 
 Josiah Warner, son of Benjamin and Hannah (Strong) War- 
 ner, married Rebecca, daughter of James Bronson, March 26, 
 1748, and died Aug. 26, 1750. His widow died Jan. 5, 1756. 
 
 Child : 36 Ozias, b Aug. 21, 1749, m Tamar Nichols. 
 
 24 DAVID. 
 
 I >AVID Warner, son of Benjamin and Hannah (Strong) Warner, 
 married Abigail Harrison, sister of Dea. Aaron of Wolcott, Dec. 
 
 ", ^Si- 
 Children: 37 Josiah. b Oct. 6. 1754. m Anne Pritchard; 38 
 laron, b Nov. 24, 1756, rh Lydia Welton ; 39 L^rauia, b Oct. 1, 
 1758; 40 James /f..\) Dec. i<S, 1760; 41 Benjamin, b Nov. 17, 
 1762. 
 
 28 ARD. 
 
 Ard Warner, son of Benjamin and Hannah (Strong) Warner, 
 
596 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of Doct. Daniel Porter, Jan. 12, 1764, 
 and died April 30, 1824, aged 82. His widow died Aug. 21, 
 
 1835, a E ed 9°- 
 
 Children: 42 Johanna, b 1764, m Samuel Gunn, had several 
 children, and died in Ohio ■ 43 Lydia, b 1766, m Samuel Alcox, 
 lived in Wolcott; 44 Ephraim, b 1768, was drowned in 1786; 45 
 
 Elizabeth, b 1769, m Osborn, went to Black River, N. Y. ; 
 
 46 Prudence, b 1772, removed to Camden, N. Y. ; 47 David, b 
 1774; 48 Irena, b 1775, m twice, and lived in Pennsylvania; 49 
 Ard, b 1777 ; 50 Hannah, b 1780, m Anson, son of Ozias War- 
 ner ; 51 Asahel, b 1782 ; 52 Chauncey, b 1785, removed to Fulton, 
 Ohio; 53 Susan, b 1789, m Levi, son of Ozias Warner. 
 
 32 JAMES. 
 
 James Warner, son of John and Esther (Scott) Warner, mar- 
 ried Eunice, daughter of David Dutton, Jan. 1, 1761, and died 
 May 27, 18 1 9. His wife died May 7, 1815. 
 
 Children : 54 Sarah, b Oct. 2^ 176J ; 53 Noah, b Aug., 1763, d 
 Sept. 18, 1820; 56 Luanda, b Sept. 20, 1765, m Elijah Hotch- 
 kiss; 57 Eunice, b April 3, 1769, d Aug. 20, 1769; 58 James, b 
 Jan. 25, 1771, d Jan. 15, 1773; 59 Eunice, b May 31, 1773, m 
 Eli Terry; do James, b Nov. 1, 1775. 
 
 34 ELIJAH. 
 
 Elijah Warner, son of John and Esther (Scott) Warner, mar- 
 ried Esther, daughter of Thomas Fenn, Nov. 19, 1767, and lived 
 in Plymouth. 
 
 Children : 61 Lyman, b May 22, 1768; 62 Chauncey, b June 
 n, 1770, m A. Talmadge ; 63 Rosetta, b Feb. 25, 1773 ; 64 Eli- 
 jah ; 65 Apollos, m Chloe Wilcox of Simsbury. 
 
 64 ELIJAH, JR. 
 
 Elijah Warner, son of Elijah and Esther (Fenn) Warner, 
 married Clarissa Guernsey, who is now (1874) in her ninety- third 
 year, residing in Plymouth. 
 
 Children: 66 Emeline, m, 1st, Charles Butler, 2d, Newman At- 
 water, and lives in Plymouth; 67 Noah G., in Eliza Darrow, lives 
 in Plymouth; 68 Erastus W. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 597 
 
 68 ERASTUS W. 
 
 Krastus W. Warner, son of Elijah and Clarissa (Guernsey) 
 Warner, married Eliza J. Whitlock of Plymouth, Jan. 7, 1842. 
 He removed to Wolcott in 1852, where he still resides, engaged 
 in business as a merchant. 
 
 Children : 69 Sarah Jane, b April 27, 1843, m Theron Minor, 
 Dec. 1, 1861, lives in Waterbury and has a daughter, Myrtie D., 
 b Oct. 6, 1862; 70 Elijah M, b Oct. 8, 1864, d March 5, 1867 ; 
 71 Clara E.< b Dec. 24, 1859. 
 
WELTON. 
 
 John Welton was an early settler of Farmington and was one 
 of the eighty-four proprietors of that town in 1672, and a signer 
 of the articles in 1674, and was probably in Waterbury as early as 
 1679. He died June 18, 1726, and his wife, Mary, died Oct. 18. 
 1 7 16. 
 
 Children : 1 Abigail, m, about 1691, Cornelius Bronson of 
 Woodbury; 2 Mary, m John Richards, Aug. 17, 1692; 3 Eliza- 
 beth, m Thomas Griffin; 4 John, m Sarah Buck of Weathersfield. 
 March 13, 1706; 5 Stephen, m Mary Gaylord, March 4, 1701 or 
 2 ; 6 Richard, b March, 1680, reputed the first male child of Eu- 
 ropean parents born in Waterbury; 7 Hannah, b April 1, 1683, 
 m Thomas Squire, Jr. • 8 Thomas, b Feb. 4, 1684 or 5 ; 9 George, 
 b Feb. 3, 1686 or 7; 10 Elsie, b Aug., 1690. 
 
 6 RICHARD. 
 
 Richard Welton, son of John and Mary Welton, married 
 Mary, daughter of Stephen Upson, and lived a few years in Wa- 
 terbury, then bought of Joseph Gaylord, Jr., in 1708, a house on 
 Buck's Hill, to which place he removed. 
 
 Children: 11 Richard, b 1701; 12 John, b July 13, 1703; 13 
 Stephen, b March 12, 1706; 14 Mary, b June 1, 1708 ; 15 Thom- 
 as,^ Oct. 25, 1710, d Dec. 1, 1780; 16 Hezekiah, b Dec. 1, 
 1713, m Abraham Warner; 17 Eliakim, b Jan. 21, 1715,; 18 Ta- 
 bitha, b Feb. 17, 1720, m Edward Neal, lived in Southington, af- 
 terwards Wolcott; 19 Ede, b April 24, 1726, rri Lewis, d 
 
 ae. 21. 
 
 13 STEPHEN. 
 
 Stephen Welton, son of Richard and Mary (Upson) Welton, 
 
 598 
 
GENEALOGIES. 599 
 
 married Deborah, daughter of John Sutliff and died April 30, 
 
 1759- 
 
 Children: 19 Martha, b Nov. 19, 1732, d 1735; 20 Levi, b 
 Nov. 10, 1734, d 1736; 21 Martha, b March 1, 1736, m J. Gril- 
 ley; 22 Dinah, b May 2, 1738 ; 23 Levi, b March 6, 1741 ; 24 
 Stephen, b Jan. 7, 1744; 25 Thomas, b Dec. 22, 1749, d 1751; 
 26 Thomas, b Nov. 22, 1 75 1. 
 
 17 ELIAKIM. 
 
 Eliakim Welton, son of Richard and Mary (Upson) Welton, 
 married Eunice, daughter of Moses Bronson and settled on Spin- 
 dle Hill, a little north of [ohn Alcox's place. He died Nov. 20, 
 [794, aged 79. 
 
 Children: 27 Eliakim, b Sept. 22, 1736; 28 Eunice, b Oct. 19, 
 1738, m David Roberts; 29 Avis, b Aug. 13, 1740, m Thaddeus 
 Barnes; 30 Richard, b Oct. 10, 1743, d Feb. 26, 1822; 31 Eli, 
 b Oct. 10, 1746; 32 Moses, b June 25, 1749; 33 Aaron, b Feb. 
 19, 1752 ; 34 Benoni and 35 Benjamin, twins, b Feb. iS, 1756. 
 
 26 THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Welton, son of Stephen and Deborah (Sutliff) Wel- 
 ton, married, 1st, Abigail, daughter of Lieut. Wm. Hickox, June 
 22, 1772, who died Jan. 13, 1791, 2d, Ruth Thomas, 3d, Hannah 
 Hill. He settled on the north end of Chestnut Hill, a little south 
 of the Streat Richard's place. 
 
 Children: 36 Seymour, b July 2, 1772; 37 Sarah, b Dec. 18, 
 1773- d 1774 J 38 fared, b July 15, 1774 ; 39 Elias, b July 18, 
 1776, m Rhoda Prindle of Watertown : 40 Sarah, b Dec. 12, 
 1778. m Levi Hall of Wolcott ; 41 Chloe, b Nov. 2, 1789, m John 
 Barnes; 42 Lydia, b July 21, 1783; 43 Fanny, b April 1, 1785; 
 44 Laura, b Feb., 1787; 45 Ransom, b July 18, 1789, went to 
 Canada ; 46 Thomas LL and 47 Ruth Al., twins, Ruth married 
 Streat Todd; 48 LLerschel, b 1797, d 1842. 
 
 27 ELIAKIM, 2D. 
 
 Eliakim Welton, son of Eliakim and Eunice (Bronson) Wel- 
 ton, married Amy, daughter of Ebenezer Baldwin, who died Jan. 
 3, 1829, aged 87. He died June 8, 182 1, aged 85. He was an 
 
600 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 active man in the Episcopal Society, and is still kindly remem- 
 bered as " Uncle Kim." 
 
 Children : 49 Eben, b June 24, 1764; 50 Eliakim, b Dec. 13, 
 1766 ; 51 Amy, b Sept. 25, 1770, d 1770 ; 52 Joseph, b Sept. 6, 
 1 77 1, d 1774; 53 Mark, b April 27, 1773 ; 54 y///y, b April 4, 
 1776 ; 55 Avice, b March 12, 1779, d 1779 ; 56 Joseph, b March 
 29, 1780; 57 Moses, b March 16, 1783, d Sept. 14, 1829; 58 
 Micock, b March 9, 1787, d 1788. 
 
 30 RICHARD. 
 
 Richard Welton, son of Eliakim and Eunice (Bronson) Wel- 
 ton, married Margaret, daughter of Ebenezer Warner, April 27, 
 1766. She died Oct. 19, 1768, and he married, 2d, Hannah Da- 
 vis, Aug. 7, 1770, who died Dec. n, 1839. 
 
 Children: 59 Noah, b Feb. 15, 1767, d Jan. 26, 1847, ae. 80; 
 60 Richard Warner, b Oct. 10, 1768, d Dec, 1768; 61 Richard, 
 b May 10, 1770, d Sept. 26, 1807; 62 Margaret, b July 2, 1772, 
 m Daniel Steel; 63 Thomas, b Dec. 8, 1774, d April 18, 1856, 
 ae. 82; 64 Lydia, b April 1, 1777, m David Roberts of Burling- 
 ton; 65 Hannah, b Oct. 10, 1779, m David Warner, went to 
 Geneseo, N. Y.; 66 Joseph Davis, b April 15, 1783 ; 67 Re/a, b 
 Sept. 9, 1787, d Oct. 16, 1822. 
 
 31 ELI. 
 
 Eli Welton, son of Eliakim and Eunice (Bronson) Welton, 
 married Anna Baldwin July 1, 1771. 
 
 Children : 68 Eli, b Aug. 10, 1772; 69 Asa, b Nov. 24, 1773 ; 
 70 Phebe, b Sept. 29, 1775, d 1777 ; 71 Eunice, b Aug. 12, 1777 ; 
 72 Benoni, b April 19, 1780; 73 Anna ; 74 Printha. 
 
 32 MOSES. 
 
 Moses Welton, son of Eliakim and Eunice (Bronson) Welton, 
 married Betta Woster. 
 
 Children: 75 Andrew ; 76 Elizur. 
 
 $7) AARON. 
 
 Aaron Welton, son of Eliakim and Eunice (Bronson) Wel- 
 ton married Zera Bronson, Jan. 13, 1777. 
 
GENE ALOG IKS. 6oi 
 
 Children : 77 Tamos, b Feb. 28, 1778; 78 Junia, b Dec, 1779; 
 79 Harvey, b Oct. 28, 1780, d 1782 ; 80 Harvey, b Nov. 2, 1782. 
 
 36 SEYMOUR. 
 
 Seymour Welton, son of Thomas and Abigail (Hickox) Wel- 
 ton, married Olive Harrison. 
 
 Children: 81 Harrison; 82 Sophronia ; 83 John P. 
 
 38 JARED. 
 
 Jari-:i> Welton, son of Thomas and Abigail (Hickox) Welton, 
 married Philomela Norton. 
 
 Children: 84 Abbe; 85 Ziba ; 86 Emily; 87 Orestes; 88 
 Leonard ; 89 Fanny ; 90 Delia A., m Daniel Clark; 91 Almira ; 
 92 Maryett. 
 
 46 THOMAS H. 
 
 Thomas H. Welton, son of Thomas and Abigail (Hickox) 
 Welton, married and lived half a mile north of Woodtick. 
 Child : 93 . 
 
 48 HERSCHEL. 
 
 Herschel Welton, son of Thomas and Abigail (Hickox) Wel- 
 ton, married Eunice, daughter of David Prindle of Watertown. 
 
 Children : 94 David T.; 95 Chauncey P., m Jenette Cleave- 
 land and had children, Dwight, Caroline, and Ella; 96 Sherman 
 E. ; 97 Hannah A.; 98 Ranslin N. ; 99 Hector E. ; 100 Her- 
 schel O. 
 
 49 EBEN. 
 
 Eben Welton, son of Eliakim and Amy (Baldwin) Welton, 
 married Sarah, daughter of Titus Barnes and removed to Ohio. 
 
 Children: 101 Avice ; 102 Sarah; 103 Selden ; 104 Jacob ; 
 105 Elisha ; 106 Caroline; 107 Eben ; 108 Polly. 
 
 50 ELIAKIM, 3D. 
 
 Eliakim Welton, son of Eliakim and Amy (Baldwin) Welton, 
 married Loly, daughter of Titus Barnes, Jan. 3, 1788, and re- 
 moved to Ohio. 
 
 Children: 109 Orasena, b March 10, 1790, m Thomas War- 
 den; no Micha B.,b Aug. 13, 1792^1 Wealthy Upson ; n 1 
 Sherman P., b Oct. 24, 1796, d Oct. 1797 ; 112 Sherman P., b 
 50 
 
602 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Oct. 8, 1798, m Ruth Upson ; 113 Sally M.,.b July 7, 1801, m 
 in Ohio. 
 
 53 MARK. 
 
 Mark Welton, son of Eliakim and Amy (Baldwin) Welton. 
 married Sally Davis and removed to the State of New York. 
 
 Children: 114 Samuel; 115 Truman; 116 Amy ; T17 Hi- 
 ram; 118 Harriet; 119 A I intra / 120 Dorcas. 
 
 56 JOSEPH. 
 
 Joseph Welton, son of Eliakim and Amy (Baldwin) Welton, 
 married Ellen, daughter of John Warner of Plymouth, and re- 
 moved to the State of New York. 
 
 Children: 121 Norman; 122 Charlotte; 123 Warner ; 124 
 Emetine ; 125 Eliakim. 
 
 57 MOSES. 
 
 Moses Welton, son of Eliakim and Amy (Baldwin) Welton, 
 married Huldah, daughter of Titus Hotchkiss, Aug. 20, 1810. 
 
 Children: 126 Milo, b 181 1, d young; 127 Julia, b Nov. 22, 
 1813, m Andrew Hough; 128 Sarah, b Feb. 20, 1820, m Frank- 
 lin Hall; 129 Huldah, b' Sept. 12, 1823, m Edward Pratt; 130 
 Hester, b April 6, 1825, m Hiram Curtis ; 131 Mary, b April 25, 
 1827, m Joel Hungerford. 
 
 59 NOAH. 
 
 Noah Welton, son of Richard and Margaret (Warner) Wel- 
 ton, married, 1st, Nabby Chidsey of East Haven, in 1791, 2d, 
 Ellen Cowles, Dec, 1804, who died Nov. 26, 1848. He lived 
 in Harwinton. 
 
 Children: 132 Miles, b June 15, 1793; 133 Margaret A.,b 
 March 28, 1800, d 1803 ; 134 Adaline, b June 15, 1803, m Wil- 
 lard Hitchcock of Burlington, April 3, 1822, and removed to Ver- 
 mont ; 135 Nabby, b Nov. 17. 1805, m Charles Judson, May, 
 1826; 136 Margaret A., b Jan. 2, 1808, m Enoch Marks, May, 
 1826; 137 Noah E., b Aug. 12, 181 1, d Oct., 1848; 138 John 
 J., b Feb. 2, 1814; 139 Leicester C, b April 20, 1817; 140 El- 
 vira^ April 25, 1821, m Rev. Collis Potter of Plymouth, in 
 1851; 141 Bela A., b Dec. 25, 1823; 142 Jane, b July 12, 1829, 
 m Jared Smith of Harwinton in 1854. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 603 
 
 6 1 RICHARD. 
 
 Richard Welton, son of Richard and Margaret (Warner) 
 Welton, married Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Gunn, March, 
 1797. 
 
 Children: 143 Artemesia, b April 15, 1798, m Laurin Frisbie, 
 Nov. 28, 1S21; 144 Edward, b Jan. 19, 1800; 145 Merritt, b 
 April 5, 1802; 146 Amy, b April 18, 1804, m Mortimer Jordan 
 of Alabama; 147 Hannah M., b July 10, 1807, m Nathaniel 
 Hawkins of Alabama. 
 
 63 THOMAS. 
 
 Thomas Welton, son of Richard and Margaret (Warner) Wel- 
 ton, married Sybil Cook of Wallingford, Jan. 3, 1797. She was 
 born Oct. 10, 1778. 
 
 Children : 148 Lyman, b June 15, 1798 ; 149 Evelina, b Jan. 
 23, 1800, m Anson Downs, Oct. 26, 1823; 150 Minerva, b March 
 19, 1802, m Burton Payne, Feb. 3, 1828; 151 Sally D., b Sept. 
 5, 1807, d 1808 ; 152 Sally D., b June 14, 1810, m Henry Bron- 
 son, Oct. 4, 1832; 153 Nancy, b April 12, 1812, m Frederic A. 
 Bradley, May 22, 1836. 
 
 66 JOSEPH DAVIS. 
 
 Rev. Joseph D. Welton, son of Richard and Margaret (War- 
 ner) Welton, married Eunice, daughter of Victory Tomlinson. 
 She died Feb. 29, 1832. He died Jan. 16, 1825. 
 
 Children : 154 Julia M., b July, 1809, m George Warner; 155 
 Jlobart ['., b Oct. 28, 181 r ; 1 56 Joseph, b May 15, 18 14. 
 
 67 bela. 
 
 Bela Welton, son of Richard and Margaret (Warner) Welton, 
 married, April 16, 18 17, Polly, daughter of Benjamin Morehouse 
 of Washington, Conn. She was born Nov. 27, 1792. 
 
 Children : 157 Richard, b Jan. 7, 1820 ; 158 Haivley Seymour, 
 b Oct. 13, 1821. 
 
 68 ELI. 
 
 Eli Welton, son of Eli and Anna (Baldwin) Welton, had 
 Children: 159 Joel ; 160 Bennet / 161 Eli ; 162 Asa. 
 
 69 ASA. 
 
 Asa Welton, son of Eli and Anna (Baldwin) Welton, married 
 Fenn 
 
604 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Children: 163 Selden ; 164 If/ram, m Harriet, daughter of 
 Timothy Ball; 165 Lyman; 166 Emily, m Simeon Phillips; 167 
 Heman. 
 
 94 DAVID T. 
 
 David T. Welton, son of Herschel and Eunice (Prindle) Wel- 
 ton, married, 1st, Polly Nichols, 2d, Caroline Turner. 
 Children: 168 Everett ; 169 . 
 
 95 CHAUNCEY p. 
 
 Chauncey P. Welton, son of Herschel and Eunice (Prindle) 
 Welton, married Jenette Cleaveland. 
 
 Children: 170 Dwight ; 171 Caroline; 172 Ella. 
 
 96 SHERMAN E. 
 
 Sherman E. Welton, son of Herschel and Eunice (Prindle) 
 Welton, married Caroline Cleaveland, who died June 15, 1856. 
 Child : 173 Hattie. 
 
 98 ranslin n. 
 
 Ranslin N. Welton, son of Herschel and Eunice (Prindle) 
 Welton, married Mary, daughter of Edward Scott. 
 Children: 174 Mary ; 175 . 
 
 132 MILES. 
 
 Miles Welton, son of Noah and Nabby (Chidsey) Welton, 
 married, Jan., 18 15, Nancy, daughter of Stephen Graves of East 
 Plymouth. 
 
 Children: 175 Streat C, b Sept. 8, 1816; 176 Ximnus, b Dec. 
 16, 1817, d Aug. 9, 1822; 177 Albert, b May 7, 1820; 178 Car- 
 los, b April 3, 1822; 179 X. Alanson, b March 17, 1824; 180 
 Ruth Adaline, b July 14, 1826, m Eben Coll of Plymouth, April. 
 1845; l ^ 1 Nancy Ann, b Jan. 25, 1830, m Ralph Humphrey of 
 Ansonia, Nov., 1853; 182 Major G., and 183 Marvin B., twins, 
 b June 21, 1832 ; 184 Emily IV., b April 17, 1836. 
 
 137 NOAH E. 
 
 Noah E. Welton, son of Noah and Ellen (Cowles) Welton, 
 married, 1st, Mehitable Bulkley in 1832, 2d, Lydia J. Chidsey in 
 1836. 
 
GENEALOGIES. 605 
 
 Children: 185 Charlotte A.; 186 Noah J. ; 187 Ellen J. ; 188 
 
 Seymour H. 
 
 138 JOHN j. 
 
 John J. Welton, son of Noah and Ellen (Cowles) Welton, mar- 
 ried Maria Wilcox, April, 1840, who died Sept., 1847. 
 Children : 189 Charles, b 1841 ; 190 Ellen M., b 1846. 
 
 139 LEICESTER C. 
 
 Leicester C. Welton, son of Noah and Ellen (Cowles) Wel- 
 ton, married Cora Matthews of Bristol, Sept., 1845, lived in Illi- 
 nois. 
 
 Children : 191 James AT.; 192 Ellen A.; 193 Merritt Hobart. 
 
 144 EDWARD. 
 
 Edward Welton, son of Richard and Sarah (Gunn) Welton, 
 married Laura Brown. 
 
 Children; 194 Richard; 195 Noah A.; 196 Caroline A.; 
 197 Martha A. 
 
 145 merritt. 
 
 Merritt Welton, son of Richard and Sarah (Gunn) Welton, 
 married, removed South, then to California. 
 
 Children : 198 Lamson ; 199 Amy y 200 Lydia E. 
 
 148 LYMAN. 
 
 Lyman Welton, son of Thomas and Sybil (Cook) Welton, 
 married Minerva, daughter of Benjamin Judd, Dec. 24, 1822. 
 
 Children : 201 Henry A., b Dec. 2, 1823 ; 202 Franklin L., b 
 Dec. 11, 1827; 203 Nelson J., Feb. 15, 1829. 
 
 155 hobart v. 
 
 Hobart V. Welton, son of Joseph D. and Eunice (Tomlin- 
 son) Welton, married Adaline, daughter of Luther Richards of 
 Vermont, and lives a little east of Waterbury City. 
 
 Children : 204 Edwin £)., b 1836; 205 Sarah C, b 1839; 206 
 Harriet A., b 1850. 
 
 156 JOSEPH. 
 
 Joseph Welton, son of Joseph D. and Eunice (Tomlinson) 
 Welton, married Mary, daughter of Seabury Pierpont. 
 
606 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 Children: 207 He be r H, b 1837; 208 Eunice C, b 1839; 2 °9 
 Lucy A., b 1841. 
 
 157 RICHARD. 
 
 Richard Welton, son of Bela and Polly (Morehouse) Welton, 
 married Abby Mitchel, May 10, 1853. 
 Children: 2 1 o Nellie M. ; 211 Richard. 
 
 158 HAWLEY SEYMOUR. 
 
 Hawley S. Welton, son of Bela and Polly (Morehouse) Wel- 
 ton, married Eliza Merriam, Dec. 19, 1844. 
 Children: 212 Bela; 213 Ric hard. 
 
 167 HEMAN. 
 
 Heman Welton, son of Asa and (Fenn) Welton, mar- 
 ried, 1st, Adaline Blakeslee, 2d, A. Carter. 
 Children : -214 Oliver Blakeslee ; 215 son. 
 
 175 streat c. 
 
 Streat C. Welton, son of Miles and Nancy (Graves) Welton, 
 married Adaline Smith of Orange, N. J., Sept., 1841. 
 Children : 216 John S. ; 217 Alanson. 
 
 1 7 7 albert. 
 
 Albert Welton, son of Miles and Nancy (Graves) Welton, 
 married Susan A. Bidwell of Northfield, Jan., 1842. 
 
 Children; 218 Francis G. ; 219 Mary E. ; 220 George IV. 
 
 178 CARLOS. 
 
 Carlos Welton, son of Miles and Nancy (Graves) Welton, 
 married Maria E. Peck of Farmington, Nov., 1846. 
 Child: 220 Henry A. 
 
 179 x. ALANSON. 
 
 Rev. X. Alanson Welton, son of Miles and Nancy (Graves) 
 Welton, an Episcopal clergyman some years in Illinois, married 
 Harriet F. Root of Guilford, Vt., Sept. 4, 1853. 
 
 Child: 221 Ellen E. 
 

 WIARD. 
 
 AVI ARE, WIRD. 
 
 Solomon Wiard was born in Wolcott in 1780. He married, 
 Dec. 7, 1808, Olive Comes, who was born in Danbury, Jan. 10, 
 1790. He died July 11, 1829, aged 49. She died Oct. 8, 1869, 
 ae. 78. 
 
 Children : 1 Delila, b Oct. 9, 1809, m William B. Bailey, May 
 22, 1827; 2 Seth, b April 4, 181 1 ; 3 Cyrus, b Jan. 3, 181 2 ; 4 
 Edward, b March n, 181 4, m widow M. H. Smith, in San Fran- 
 cisco, Cal., Dec. 28, i860; 5 George, b Feb. 9, 1816, d Sept. 24, 
 1821 ; 6 Marion, b Nov. 15, 1817,01 Gad Norton, Oct. 23, 1839; 
 
 7 lunina J., b May 6, 1820, m William B. Cargill, May 9, 1840; 
 
 8 William, b Nov. 10, 182 1 ; 9 George Solomon, b Sept. 16, 
 1825; 10 Infant, b Nov. 28, 1826; 11 Harriet; 12 Eveline, b 
 July 3, 1827; 13 Angeline T., b Nov. 14, 1828. 
 
 2 SETH. 
 
 Seth Wiard, son of Solomon and Olive (Comes) Wiard, mar- 
 ried in New York, April 25, 1853, Janette . 
 
 3 CYRUS. 
 
 Cyrus Wiard, son of Solomon and Olive (Comes) Wiard, mar- 
 ried in New Fairfield, Aug. 18, 1853, Lucy Chase. He died, 
 April 24, 1873, m Patterson, N. J. 
 
 8 WILLIAM. 
 
 William Wiard, son of Solomon and Olive (Comes) Wiard, 
 married Janette Thomas, Oct. 24, 1837. 
 
 Children : 14/0/1/1 Edward, b April 16, 1840, d Feb. 14, 1865; 
 15 William F., b Jan. 22, 1843 > l(i Francis E.,b Aug. 18, 1850, 
 
 607 
 
608 HISTORY OF WOLCOTT. 
 
 d March i, 185 1 ; 17 Gerrick Thomas, b Feb. 16, 1852 ; 18 Hen- 
 ry De Forest, b June 16, 1858. 
 
 9 GEORGE SOLOMON. 
 
 George S. Wiard, son of Solomon and Olive (Comes) Wiard, 
 married, Dec. 15, 1844, Nancy M. Sherwood of Naugatuck, and 
 resides in the northeastern part of Wolcott. His wife, Nancy M., 
 died June 19, 1847, ae - 3 1 - He married, 2d, Amanda M. Peck 
 of Wolcott, Jan. 9, 1849. 
 
 Children : 19 Georgianna M., b May 10, 1847, ^ J une I 7^ 1862, 
 ae. 15; 20 Angeline T., b Dec. 14, 1854, m Edward A. Judd, 
 Nov. 28, 1872, and has daughter Grace Judd, b June 6, 1873; 2I 
 Charles Edward,'\> May 21, 1858; 22 Dora Etta,h Dec. 24, 
 1867. 
 
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