Cffivy't*"'-'*-" YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The Congregational Church and Soldiers' Monument, Meeting House Hi HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD 1 650 -- 1900. BY Rev. JOHN AVERY. NOYES & DAVIS : PRESS OF THE BULLETIN CO., NORWICH, CONN. I90I. Entered according to Act of Congress with the Librarian at Washington. by Ledyard Bill, Z901. YALE ^' /3' //^^ Preface. At the annual meeting of the Bill Library Association, held in Ledyard, Aug. 30, 1899, the writer read a paper on the Pequot Indians. It prompted Ledyard Bill, who was present, to suggest the preparation of a History of the Town of Ledyard, Mr. Bill offering to publish it, also to assist in its preparation. After a few months delay — during which the proposal was duly con sidered — the work was begun, and the result is here given. To the many friends who have rendered assistance the un dersigned tenders hearty thanks. Some have written portions of the work in full ; many have furnished facts and statistics that have been wrought into it. All has been done so cheerfully and thoroughly as greatly to relieve the difificulties and discourage ments of the work. J. A. Norwich, Conn., 1 901. Table of Contents. CHAPTER I. Early History of the Town, etc. CHAPTER II. History of the Congregational Church and Society. CHAPTER III. History of the St. James' Episcopal Church. CHAPTER IV. History of the Separatist Cliurch. CHAPTER V. History of the Methodist Ep'iscopal Church. CHAPTER VI. History of the Baptist Church. CHAPTER VII. History of the Rogerene Quakers. CHAPTER VIII. The Revolutionary War — 1775-1783. CHAPTER IX. The Second War with England — 1812-15. CHAPTER X. The Civil War of 186 1-5. TABLE OF CONTENTS. c CHAPTER XI. Family Histories and Genealogies. CHAPTER XII. Biographical Sketches. CHAPTER XIII. History of the Bill Library. CHAPTER XIV. The Pequot Indians. CHAPTER XV. The Norwich & Worcester Railroad. APPENDIX. Memorial Of Separatists of Preston, North Groton, Norwich and Stonington to the General Assembly of Connecticut, October, 1751. Order to Sheriff Respecting Preston Separatists. Order for the Lay Out of the Principal Highway Leading from Centre Groton to Preston Town Line in 1723. Names of School Teachers, Sixth School District. Letter of Samuel Capron to Col. Benadam Gallup. Letter of John Quincy Adams to Norman B. Brown. Committee Appointed to Perambulate Line Between Groton and Preston.. List of Probate Judges. Roll of the Fallen, on Soldiers' Monument. " Catalogue of De'aths — 1713-1854. List of Illustrations. Page. Allyn, Israel .... 171 Allyn, Lt. Stanton . • . . . 165 Avery, Rev. Frederick D. 177 Avery, Henry W. . . . . ¦ 175 Avery House, The . . . ¦ . . -73 Avery, Rev. John .... 41 Bill, Charles . . . . . 112 Bill, Gurdon . . 106 Bill, Hon. Henry . . ... 183 Bill, Hon. Richard . . . . . 104 Bill, Rev. William, D. D. . . 102 Billings, Capt. James A. ... 186 Brewster, Hon. John 188 Congregational Church, .... . . Frontispiece Cook, Rev. Nehemiah B. . . 37 Cook, Lt. William T. . . . . 192 Cutting, Rev. Charles . • 39 Episcopal Church, The St. James' . .46 Fanning, George . . . . . . . . 120 Fort Decatur, •. . ... . . 82 Gallup, Dea. Erastus .... . . . 203 Gallup, Henry H. . . . 202 Gallup Homestead, The . .. . . 121 Gallup, Isaac . , , , . 197 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Gallup, Rev. James A. Gallup, Maj. Jacob L. Gallup, Dea. Russell Gallup, Dea. N. Sands Gale's Ferry R. R. Depot, Geer, Capt. Nathaniel B. Geer, James L. . . . Hurlburt, Rev. Ralph Kinmouth, Rev. Albert E Latham, Thomas . . Larrabee, Capt. Adam Larrabee, Hon. Henry Larrabee, Capt. Nathan F, Larrabee, Gov. William Library, The Bill . . Methodist Episcopal Church Norman, Stephen H. Parsonage, The Bill Peckham, Rev. Stephen H Plan of Fort Griswold, Spicer, Capt. Edmund Spicer, John S. . Stoddard, Ebenezer Stoddard, Guy C. . Tuttle, Rev. Timothy Williams, Denison B. Williams, Hon. Elias Hewitt Winthrop, Gov. John, Jr, The Page. 205 196 204206 266209 129 55 43 141 214219218215243 53 223 40 58 76 227 228 160 229 35 161 239 18 CHAPTER L The Town of Ledyard. The town of Ledyard, formerly the North Society of Groton, and earlier still a part of the town of New London, is situated in the south-eastern central part of New London County, and is bounded on the north by Preston, on the east by Stonington and North Stonington, on the south by Groton, and on the west by the Thames river, which separates it' from Montville and Waterford. In form it is nearly square, and the distance from the northern boundary line to the southern is about six miles ; the distance from the eastern to the western, an average of about seven miles. The surface is rough and uneven, and much of it better adapted to grazing than to tillage. Yet the soil is fertile, and, when thoroughly svibdued, gives good returns for the labor bestowed upon it. Near the north-east corner of the town — just over the line in North Stonington — is Lantern Hill, well-known as the first land seen by mariners approaching our coast. Some of them have spoken of it as looking, when it first comes into view, much like a round-crowned hat resting upon the ocean as far away as the eye can reach. It is a famous resort for picnic parties and others seeking a wide outlook upon greatly varied and charming scenery. In the south-west corner of the town is a tract of land — some thirty acres or more — which belongs to the United States Govern ment, being a part of the Navy Yard established there upon the deep waters of the Thames about 1881. There are large deposits of granite in different parts of the town; and some of them have been utilized, to a considerable extent, for building purposes. This is especially true of those located near the Thames river. Iron ore is found in some places, though not in sufificient io HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. quantities to render it specially valuable. In one granite quarry in the northern central part of the town — on land belonging to the heirs of the late Israel Allyn — an ore was discovered some years since which was thought by a man who had worked in silver mines, to be silver ore. A specimen of it was sent to Prof. E. S. Dana, of Yale College, who pronounced it non-magnetic iron. A deposit of kaoline, located on. Avery Hill, in the west part of the town, was worked some years since by the company that was then engaged in working the large silex mine near Lantern Hill. But while the silex proved to be remarkably fine in quality and well-nigh exhaustless in quantity, this was far from being the case with the kaoline; and the working of it was presently abandoned. Gold and silver, also nickel and copper, are found in a broad belt of granite which passes under the farm of Mr. Courtland Lamb in the south part of the town ; whether the percentage of metal in the granite is sufificient to pay for working has not yet been determined. The territory now covered by the town originally abounded in forests made up of oak, chestnut, ash, walnut, birch, maple, poplar, whitewood, cedar and other varieties of trees. These forests were largely cleared away by the first settlers and their immediate successors. But they were fast growing up, and ap proaching their old-time proportions again, until a dozen or fifteen years ago the steam saw-mills came in, and have since greatly reduced the territory covered by them and done much damage to the beauty of many landscapes. There are several large cedar swamps in the town. One of them, near Lantern Hill, is nearly a mile in diameter ; another in the west part of the town about the same size. These swamps abound in cedars, pines, hemlocks, and have furnished, in years gone by, large quantities of valuable lumber— used both in house-building and ship-building. During the latter part of the eighteenth century - —from a time previous to the Revolutionary War— and on into the nineteenth century up to the War of 1812-15, a large trade with the West Indies, with various South American and Euro pean ports, and even with more distant countries, was carried on THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. II from Norwich and New London ; and the vessels engaged in this trade were mostly built in the last-named places. No small part of the timber used in building them was obtained from the forests of (North Groton) Ledyard; This was especially true of the spars, man'y of which were taken from "Mast Swamp," as it was called, in the west part of the town. During the first part of the nineteenth century, when the whaling business was largely car ried on from New London much of the best material used in the construction of whale-boats was obtained in the cedar swamps of (North Groton) Ledyard. The underbrush growing among the evergreen trees in these swamps are often rhododendrons, which, in the season of their blooming early in the month of July, often attract large numbers of admiring spectators. Perhaps of all the deciduous trees native to the town, the most interesting and beautiful is the tulip tree. It may be found in the central por tions along the principal highway from the ancient home of Peter Gallup to the present parsonage. A friend of the writer says that more than half a century ago he used, on Sunday mornings in summer, to stop under the shade of one of these fragrant trees at the foot of Newton's hill and rest before proceeding tO' church. This tree is now destroyed, but its progeny still exist. The evergreen swamps, with their surroundings, often present, in the early autumn, scenes which are admired by every beholder. The swamp itself, in the valley, retains its rich, deep green. The adjoining hill-sides, covered as they are with a great variety of trees, such as oak, chestnut, maple, birch, beech, assume almost every variety of color. In some places there is dark brown — in others, bright crimson — in some, rich golden hues — in others, light yellow approaching to whiteness. And all these varied colors are so charmingly mingled with each other that the com bined effect of them is, in the highest degree, pleasing. A lover of nature, who, from some neighboring hill-top, had beheld one of these beautiful views, penned the following : "Autumn forests, so bright and so gay, Decked with green, brown, crimson and gold, Invite us among them to stay, And gaze on their beauties untold." 12 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. During the early years of the occupancy of the territory by white settlers wild animals abounded in the forests. ,If bears were here to begin with they left at an early date. The same is true of the deer, though, in recent years, under the protection of law, a representative of the species has occasionally made a journey through the regions which were once perhaps inhabited by his ancestors. Wolves were numerous, and they stayed for. a good many years. Beavers were plenty in early colonial days, but long ago migrated to regions remote from civilization. But foxes, raccoons, woodchucks, skunks, minks, muskrats, rabbits and squirrels are still on the ground ; and these together with such game-birds as partridges, quails and woodcocks attract con siderable numbers of hunters at certain seasons. Venomous rep tiles were abundant in the early history of the region; so much so as to he a serious annoyance to the settlers. Red-snakes oc cupied the section near Lantern Hill ; and rattle-snakes, that on and .around Candle-wood Hill. A story has come down to us, illustrating the manner in which our ancestors dealt with these uncomfortable occupants of the Candle-wood territory. An old Indian, resident in the neighborhood, offered, for a price which he named, to inaugurate a war of extermination against the venomous reptiles. His price was accepted, a bargain was made, and, after some preliminary preparations, he entered upon his work. The first important thing which he set himself to do was, to capture, without killing, one of the harmful creatures against which the war was tO' be waged. He accordingly concealed him self near the entrance to the clefts in the rocks which they in habited. After several days of patient watching he discovered a large rattle-snake lying quietly in the sun off quite a distance from his den. He approached him as noiselessly as possible, placed a crotched stick over his neck, and held him fast to the ground. He then called for help, which, being not far away, was soon present. His assistant took his place in holding the snake firmly in his place. He himself meantime proceeded to the performance of other parts of the plan which he had marked out. With a pointed knife he made a hole through the skin on the back of the snake, and into it slipped a strong cord which he THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 1I3 tied firmly around the snake's body. To this cord he attached a powder horn filled with powder — its nozzle closed with a punk- wood stopple reaching well down into the powder. He then set fire to the outer end of the stopple, and after it had begun to burn freely, he' headed the snake toward his hole and let him go. He soon disappeared under the rocks dragging the powder-horn with its burning stopple behind him. A signal was then given for the neighborhood to assemble; and men and boys from far and near, armed with guns and clubs and stones, were promptly upon the ground. In due time the ignited stopple of the powder- horn burned down to the powder, and there was a tremendous explosion, by which rocks and stones were thrown in all direc tions, and some of the snakes with them. Others, in their fright, left their quarters and attempted to escape, but were everywhere met and dispatched by the men and boys who were waiting to receive them. From this time onward dwellers in the Candle- wood district were not often seriously annoyed by rattle-snakes. But there were larger creatures than snakes that were troublesome in by-gone generations. Miss Caulkins quotes from the New London Records, "That upon Mond., the i6th day of Jan., 1709-10, being a very cold day, upon the report of a kennel of wolves, mortal enemies to our sheep and all our other creatures, was lodged and lay in ambuscade in the Cedar Swamp, waiting there for an opportunity to devour the harmless sheep ; upon information whereof, about thirty of our valiant men, well disciplined in arms and special conduct, assembled themselves and with great courage beset and surrounded the enemies in the said swamp, and shot down three of the brutish enemies, and brought their heads through the town in great triumph." Remarking upon, this Record, Miss Caulkins says — "For thirty years after the date referred' to in the above Record, a wolf- hunt was a customary annual sport. From ten to forty persons usually engaged in it, who surrounded and beat up some swamp in the neighborhood. Mill-pond Swamp and Cedar Swamp were frequently scoured for wolves in Nov., or the latter part of Oct. George, son of John Richards, had a bounty of £ii for 14 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. wolves killed in the year 1717. The bounty had been raised to twenty shillings per head. The bounty for killing a wild-cat was three shillings. It was not till 1714 that any enactment was made to encourage the killing of foxes. At that time a bounty was offered of three shillings for a grown fox ; with whelps, four shillings; a whelp, one shilling." (History of N. L., 404-5)- The town contains a large number of excellent springs of water. They are found in almost every part of it — sometimes breaking out by the sides of rocks or at the roots of trees — sometimes bubbling up through sand or gravel in open fields, and flowing off through woods or meadows, and uniting with similar rivulets coming from different directions to form rush ing streams. These springs generally send forth water of superior quality; and not a few of them are never-failing — the dryest seasons do' not fully check their flow. The waters from the north part of the town empty into Poquetanuck River and Poquetanuck Cove, and thence find their way to the Thames River and Long Island Sound. Those in the west part flow directly into the Thames. Those in the eastern, central and southern portions find their way through the ponds near Lantern Hill and other channels into the Mystic River, and all at length into the Sound. The numerous spring brooks in the town are favorite resorts for trout ; and considera ble numbers of them are caught by fishermen "when the law is off.*' In the ponds on the east border, pickerel, perch, pumpkin- seeds, bullheads and shiners are sometimes taken in considerable numbers. In the Thames River shad and alewives were formerly very abundant ; but since the dam at Greeneville was built they have left. Some of the varieties of fish which remain are striped bass, blue-fish, flat-fish, weak-fish and smelts ; oysters and crabs are also found in the river, and clams upon its shores. On the streams which run through the town or skirt its borders are water privileges which were perhaps more largely utilized formerly than they hive been in recent years — some industries which called them into use being no longer prosecuted. The carding machines, the fulling mills, the cloth dressing es tablishments — so common a hundred years ago — are no longer THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. I5 needed. The place of the cloth which was made from wool sheared from sheep raised on the home-farm, spun and wove in the family, and fulled and dressed at a neighboring mill, is now supplied by that made at the great manufacturing establishments, built up by the sides of our rivers, where styles of goods are made, far superior to those of the olden time, and by processes which, for rapidity and excellence of workmanship, put to shame all the old-time ways of doing such things. So the leather that was made at the neighborhood tannery from hides taken from animals butchered by the farmer upon his own premises, and by some neighboring shoe-maker made into boots and shoes for the use of the family, is no longer needed, as ready-made shoes, far superior to those of former times, are everywhere sold at reason able prices ; and nobody cares to go back to the old-fashioned ways in matters of this sort. Still the local water-powers are to some extent useful. The grist-mill is still running, to provide corn-meal and rye-meal for the lovers of old-fashioned rye and Indian bread, and provender for the feeding of animals, especially those that are being fattened for market. Saw-mills and shingle-mills, tooi, still supply por tions of the lumber used in building. Agriculturally, the town of Ledyard has been compared to a pumpkin ; the best part of it being on the outside. And it is true that the farms upon the out-skirts are, as a rule, more easily tilled than those in the central portion, yet, perhaps, no more productive. The crops cultivated by the farmers are quite various. The principal cereals are corn, rye, buckwheat and oats; the vegeta bles, potatoes and turnips ; the fruits, apples, pears and peaches ; and the small fruits, strawberries and raspberries. It is interest ing to note just here that Indian corn was a new thing to our ancestors, and that the Indians themselves showed them how to cultivate and prepare it for food. The strawberry, fifty or sixty years ago, was known chiefly as a wild fruit — of small size; and very limited in quantity. It is now one of the most valuable crops cultivated in the town. Many of the larger farmers rely upon it more than upon any other one thing. In the height of l6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. the season from some single farms have been shipped from 2,000 to 6,000 baskets a day. They have been sold in nearly all the cities and villages of Eastern Connecticut ; and not a few have gone to Worcester and other places in Massachusetts. The peach crop, which was once very abundant, and then, by reason of disease in the trees, diminished in quantity till it was almost an entire failure, has been greatly revived in recent years. Large quantities of this delicious fruit are raised, which command ready sales at remunerative prices. A good many of the farmers rely largely upon the products of their dairies. Others fatten for the market, beef, pork, mutton and veal. Others raise and sell large numbers of turkeys, chickens, geese and ducks. And many depend very much upon eggs, the demand for which is so great that it is seldom fully supplied. Finally, it may be said that of all the towns in Isastern Connecticut, this town excels in the growth and cultivation of the small fruits and their cash value probably exceeds that of any other of its products, so that it has come about that the central ' portion of the town yields more of profit to the farmer than the out-skirts where nature was original - ly far more kind to agriculture in general. Wheat was largely cultivated in former years. But, after a while, the crop began to suffer from the ravages of the weevil and from unfavorable seasons. At length the great wheat-fields of the West, with the modern facilities for transportation, ren dered it more advantageous to the farmer to buy his wheat-flour than attempt to cultivate such an uncertain crop. Flax was much relied upon in the olden time. The cloth made from it was entirely a home product. The plant was grown and rotted and broken and hetcheled and spun and wove into strong cloth by the family themselves.' And this cloth was used for towels and sheets and shirts and summer jackets, vests and pantaloons, and a great many other purposes. All this has passed away, and linen and cotton goods, from raw materials raised in other parts of the country, and manufactured by processes widely different from those which prevailed in the days of home-spun, have come, and come, doubtless, to stay. The silk culture, which was carried on in a good many fami- THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 1 7 hes, sixty to eighty years ago, and was quite a source of profit to them, has been abandoned ; and the trees from whose leaves the worms were fed— the white mulberry and the multicaulis— have nearly disappeared. Silk, in its raw state, is now obtained in lands where labor is much cheaper than it is here; and is manufactured in large establishments where the art is carried to a high degree of -perfection. There are establishments of this sort in Norwich, Preston side, New London and near Hartford. The earliest occupants of the territory, which makes up thc town of Ledy.ard, were, so far as known, the Pequot Indians- some account of whom is given in another place. Their succes sors, who are now upon the ground, are largely the descendants of English Puritans, who came to this country during the first half of the seventeenth century. Some of them were in the first company of emigrants, who landed upon Plymouth Rock, Dec. 21, 1620. Others came at later dates — a good many between 1620 and 1640. The majority of them settled first in eastern Massachusetts, but moved to Connecticut about 1650 — some a year or two earlier; a larger number several years later, and settled at New London and Groton and Stonington — the two last named towns being at that time parts of New London. A few pioneer settlers found their way up the Thames River into what is now Ledyard within a few years after the settlement of New London. There were not a great many, however, that did' this till near 1700. In the years that immediately preceded and followed this date a considerable number of families — made up largely of the grand-children of the first settlers at New Lon don — ^located permanently within the present boundaries of Ledyard. Thus four at least of the grand-children of James Avery (who moved from Gloucester, Mass., about 1649 or 50, settled in New London, and later, about 1700, moved to Poquonnoc), settled on Avery Hill near Poquetanuck Cove. Among the earliest settlers were those at AUyn's Point. John Winthrop, Jr., left Massachusetts Bay and sailed to the Thames River and up that river, and located in that part of Groton, now Ledyard, and known later as AUyn's Point. Win throp brought with him quite a number of the original settlers, 2 1 8 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. and came with the authority of the Bay Colony at Boston. He gave the name qf Groton to the territory in honor of the name of "Groton manor" of England, from whence he came. He subse quently became the Governor of the Connecticut Colony and was a man highly respected and much honored. "Other early settlers in the region were Robert Allyn, Philip Bill, Jonathan Brewster, William Chapman, Edward Culver, Silas Gov. John Winthrop, Jr. Deane, Edmund Fanning, George Geer, John Hurlbutt, William Maynard, Benadam Gallup, Isaac Lamb, Robert Park, Peter Spicer, Ralph Stoddard, Ezekiel Turner and William Williams." — Miss Caulkins. Those who were church members retained their church con nections in Groton for quite a number of years. Religious serv ices, however, were held from time to time in their homes. In due time they began to move in the matter of establishing a Church in the region where they resided. THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 1I9 The Ecclesiastical Society was formed in 1725 — the center of the territory covered by it was found by actual measurement — and upon it the erectioni of a meeting house was begun in 1727. While the work was going on Mr. Samuel Seabury, a Licentiate, son of Dea. John Seabury, of Groton, was engaged as a supply. Four places were designated, in which ten sermons were to' be preached. One of the places was the house of Dea. William Morgan — now (1900) owned and occupied by Mr. Billings T. Avery — in which six of the sermons were tO' be preached. The other preaching places were the houses of Capt. John Morgan, Robert Allyn and Ensign William Williams. The Church was organized and a minister settled in 1729. Fuller particulars are given in another part of this volume. Though the people in the Second or North Society, as it was called, were now, in ecclesiastical matters, quite independent of those in the south part of the town, they were still associated with them in town affairs, and remained so a great many years. A little previous to the Revolutionary War — also during the War — the subject of forming a new town out of the Second Society was considerably agitated. But after the massacre at Fort Gris wold, in which large numbers of the leading men in both Societies were slain, and those who' remained were drawn into closer sympathy with each other than they had been, the matter was laid aside. In after years it came up again from time to time; but for one reason or another the project failed, until at last it was consummated in 1836. After the requisite preliminary steps were taken, application in due form was made to the Legislature, and in the course of the session that year, action was taken ; and the Second Society of Groton became the town of Ledyard. The name was given in honor of Col. William Ledyard, of Groton, the heroic Commander of Fort Griswold on the fatal sixth of September, 1781. The action of the Legislature in the premises was as follows : "An Act to Incorporate the Town of Ledyard. "Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representa tives in General Assembly, convened : "Section I. All that part of the Town of Groton iri the 20 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. County of New London, lying North of the line dividing the first and Second School Societies, in said town, is hereby made and constituted a separate and distinct town by the name of the town of Ledyard ; and all the inhabitants now or at any time hereafter residing North of said line, in said town, shall be and remain a separate and distinct corporation with all the powers, rights and privileges, and subject to all the liabilities and obligations of other towns in this State, with the right of sending one Repre sentative to the General Assembly." Action was soon taken by the town thus incorporated to pro vide itself with officers for the administration of its affairs. At , a meeting, called for the purpose, June ii, 1836, it was voted to have but three selectmen ; and Capt. Anson Avery, Capt. Henry Hallet and Mr. Noali Davis were appointed. In the Constitution of the State, adopted in the year 1818, Art. III., Sec. 3, is as follows : "The House of Representatives shall consist of electors re siding in towns from which they are elected. The number of representatives from each town shall be the same as at present practiced and allowed. In case a new town shall hereafter be incorporated, such new town shall be entitled to one representa tive only ; and if such new town shall be made from one or more towns, the town or towns, from which the same shall be made, shall be entitled to the same number of representatives as at present allowed, unless the number shall be reduced by the con sent of such town or towns." In accordance with this provision, Ledyard has had but one representative from the time of its incorporation to the present. The following list of its representatives has been furnished by George Fanning : REPRESENTATIVES FROM LeDYARD IN THE LEGISLATURE. 1836 Capt. Anson Avery, Democrat. 1837 Capt. Anson Avery, Democrat 1838 Capt. Henry Hallet, Democrat 1839 Capt. Henry Hallet, Democrat THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 21 1840 Capt. Sanford Stoddard, Whig. 1841 Denison B. Williams, Democrat. 1842 Daniel Lamb, Democrat. 1843 Col. Roswell Allyn, Democrat. 1844 Capt. Jacob Gallup, Democrat. 1845 Seabury Thomas, Democrat. 1846 Col. Elias W. Brown, Democrat. 1847 Capt. John Brewster, Whig. 1848 Capt. Jacob Gallup, Democrat. 1849 Capt. Edmund Spicer, Democrat. 1850 Capt. Elisha A. Satterlee, Democrat. 185 1 Capt. John Brewster, Whig. 1852 Col. Elias W. Brown, Democrat. 1853 William M. Gray, Whig. 1854 Ralph Hurlbutt, Whig. 1855 Col. Elias W. Brown, Democrat. 1856 Maj. Jacob L. Gallup, Democrat. 1857 Nehemiah W. Gallup, Democrat. 1858 William L. Main, Democrat. 1859 Park A. Williams, Democrat. i860 Stiles Crandall, Democrat. 1861 Ambrose Reynolds, Democrat. 1862 Capt. Washington Avery, Democrat. 1863 William Fanning, Democrat. 1864 Asa L. Gallup, Democrat. 1865 Benj. F. Lewis, Whig. 1866 Maj. Jacob L. Gallup, Democrat. 1867 Nehemiah M. Gallup, Democrat. 1868 Henry Larrabee, Republican. 1869 Israel Allyn, Republican. 1870 Henry Stoddard, Democrat. 1871 William J. Brown, Democrat. 1872 Alonzo W. Turner, Democrat. 1873 Capt. Chris. A. Brown, Republican. 1874 La Fayette H. Griswold, Democrat. 1875 William L. Main, Democrat. 1876 Franklin Brewster, Republican, 22 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 1877 William T. Cook, Republican. 1878 Capt. John Brewster, Republican. 1879 Lt. William T. Cook, Republican. 1880 S. Ashbel Crandall, Democrat. 1881 Capt. James A. Billings, Republican. 1882 William J. Brown, Democrat. 1883 Stephen H. Peckham, Democrat. 1884 Chas. A. Satterlee, Republican. 1885 Hiram A. Hempstead, Democrat. 1886 Courtland Lamb, Democrat. 1888 Hiram A. Hempstead, Democrat. 1890 George W. Spicer, Democrat. 1892 George W. Spicer, Democrat. 1894 Chas. A. Gray, Democrat. 1896 Nathan S. Gallup, Repubhcan. 1898 Jacob Gallup, Democrat. 1900 Daniel Lamb, Republican. The town of Ledyard contains fourteen school districts. For several years past a number has been attached to each of these districts, and, in the official reports to the town and the State, each district is referred to by its number. But long before these numbers were used each district had a name of its own — a name that had come down from fonner generations — and that still clings to it. It seems not improper therefore to put these names on record in this place. The district in the extreme north-east corner of the town is known as the Lantern Hill district, in recognition of its proximity to that famous land-mark of mariners approaching our coast. .Some of the families belonging in this district reside in North Stonington. The district directly south of this is Cider hill, tak ing its name from that of an elevated stretch of land and the'good cider made within its borders. South of this is the Gallup Hill district, named from the families that were more or less numerous in the district at the time of christening. In the northern central part of the town is the Church Hill district— the name given from the fact that, for about fifty years, the Episcopal Church, which THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 23 was removed to Poquetanuck in the year 1785, stood upon the same hill, though nearly half a mile away. East of this is a frac tional district, including *Shewville, the scholars from which at tend school on Avery's Plains in the town of Preston. A mile and a half west of the Church Hill school-house is that of the Geer district. And some two miles south of it is that of the' Center district — located very nearly in the geographical center of the town. A mile and a quarter east of the Center school-house is that of the Morgan district — a mile and a half west of it that of Unionville, and less than two miles south of it that of Lamb Town. In the north-west corner of the town is a new school- house — not far from the draw'bridge over Poquetanuck Cove. Tlie families which send their children to it formerly belonged to the Avery Hill district which has gone down. Some who were once connected with this last-named district now attend school in Poquetannuck — some in the Geer district — some in Unionville. South of this north-west district, and somewhat more than half way down to the south boundary-line of the town is the school- house of the Gale's Ferry district; and off north-east of this is that of the Stoddard district. South-east from this is that of the Lester district. And then in the south-west corner of the town, is the Long Cove district, upon a body of water whose name it bears. Each of these fourteen districts has a history of its own. In some — indeed in most of them — the history covers a long stretch of years, and is specially interesting tO' those who have partici pated in its varied scenes, and also' toi many who> have succeeded them. In many instances the residents are proud of their district, and often dilate with enthusiasm upon the events that have oc curred in it, and extol the noble qualities of the men and women that have been educated in their school and fitted for eminent usefulness in the world. In the biographical and family sketches, which appear in other parts of this volume, there is considerable proof that their views of the subject are not wholly unauthorized. There have been times in the history of each of these districts *Forinerly Ay.er's Mills, 24 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. when the school-houses were filled with scholars — almost every seat occupied. But this is far from being the case at the present time. About every district has at times had teachers that de veloped a high order of fitness for their work ; and some teachers of this stamp have been called to much wider fields of usefulness than any which were here opened to them. Not a few scholars, who received their early intellectual training in these little red school-houses, have', as their lives advanced, become members of academic and collegiate institutions, and in them developing superior talents, have at later stages in life, filled, with eminent ability and success, high and honorable positions. The training received in the public schools of the town has been supplemented in various ways. An important factor in the training of some of the young men was the debating society — formed at the centre of the town — having its home at the Centre school-house during the winters for quite a number of years. Prominent among the members was Col. Elias W. Brown, who was president of the club. Its membership embraced about all of the young men living in the Centre and adjoining districts, and visitors from out of town frequently attended and took part in the discussions. They grappled with about all of the knotty public questions of that day — from 18.48 to i860 — and settled them all to their satisfaction. It was a useful, instructive and important aid in the education of all attending. In former years the young men, who wished to study survey ing, navigation and kindred branches often sought instruction from the Dabolls — father and son — of Center Groton. In the 30's and 40's of the nineteenth century, a good many pursued similar studies with Mr. Joseph H. Gallup, of Poquetanuck, a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1827. Rev. Mr. Tuttle, during a large part of his ministry, which extended from 1810 to 1864, was accustomed to teach young men who applied to him, not only in the higher branch of com mon school education, but in the Latin and Greek languages. thus fitting them to enter college. Rev. Mr. Cutting, during his residence in Ledyard— 1868 to 1881— did similar work, Miss TIIE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 25 Anna Maria Tuttle (afterward Mrs. N. B. Cook), taught many of the young ladies of the place in branches which they did not have facilities for studying in the district schools. In several years, not very far back in the' past, select schools have been taught in the town — generally in the Center district — which have awakened great interest and proved themselves high ly beneficial. They usually began in the latter part of August and continued about eight weeks. The number of scholars in attendance ranged from about twenty to forty. Mr. Samuel Lamb was the teacher in the years 1867, 1868 and 1877 — Mr. George Fanning in the years 1869, 1870 and 1871 — Miss Mary A. C. Avery, of Mount Holyoke Seminary, in the year 1884 — and Mr. William M. Gallup, of Yale University, in the year 1886. When Bacon Academy of Colchester was in a very flourish ing condition — along in the early and middle portion of the nineteenth century — a considerable number of young people from Ledyard patronized it, as also Plainfield Academy, the Suffield (Connecticut) Literary Institution, and the Academy at Poque tanuck, established by the Rev. Mr. Roberts, rector of St. James' Church at that place. This last named school, however,. was soon abandoned and later the house was moved into the village of Poquetanuck to serve as a common school building. Since the establishment of the Free Academy at Norwich, many have availed themselves of the advantages which it offers ; and some of them have won high encomiums from their well-quali fied and experienced teachers. The population of the town, at the time of its incorporation, was about 2,000. In 1880 it was not far from 1,400. The census of 1900 gives the following statistics: Number of living inhabitants 1,218 Number of Indians on reservation 18 Total 1,236 Number of farms 212 Number of manufacturing establishments. . 12 Number of persons, deaf and dumb or blind . 1 1 Number of persons, 70 years old and over. . 94 26 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. The decline in population is owing partly to the fact that much smaller numbers of children are born in the families than in previous generations; but more especially to the increased emigration from the "worn-out farms," as they are called, to the more productive regions of the West, and to the neighboring cities and villages which, for many years past, have been rapidly increasing, and opening various industrial pursuits which are much more remunerative than farming on the hard soil, not only of Ledyard, but of all New England as well. This emigration began very early in the history of this part of the country. In the enterprise, which was started a little previous to 1700, and completed a few years after for securing for "volunteers in former wars," a tract of land six miles square — to be distributed among those justly entitled to shares; the Averys, the Parks, the Stantons, the Smiths, and others from Groton and vicinity had a part. The enterprise resulted in the settlement of Voluntown (i. e.. Volunteer Town) ; and several men, of the names above-given, located there with their families ; and some of their descendants are there to-day. Between 125 and 150 years ago many people moved from southern to northern New England — from Connecticut and Massachusetts to New Hampshire and Vermont. Among those who went from this region were Averys, Brewsters, Parks and others. About the same time and a little later considerable numbers moved fro^m Eastern Connecticut to Eastern Pennsylvania — into the Wyoming Valley and adjacent regions ; and North Groton had her representatives among them, in the persons of Averys, Packers, Hurlbuts and others. So also, when, from a few years before 1800 on for more than half a century, the tide was moving westward into Central and Western New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and territories still further on toward the Rockies; there were Allyns and Geers and Morgans and Gallups and Williamses and a good many others from North Groton swept along with it. But the largest out-flow from the place, at any one period, was that to California in the years 1849-1853, inclusive. THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 27 In it were included over thirty young men, who went out in aS' many as four different companies. One company, of six, started from New London in a sailing vessel, January 28, 1849 ! another, of twelve, on the third of February following; and still another, of two, a year later. All these went around Cape Horn. In the spring of 1853 a company of eight went by steamer to Aspinwall, by rail and boat and mules to Panama, and thence by steamer to San Francisco. In these four parties were six men by each of the names Gallup and Stoddard, four by the name of Chapman, three by the name of Allyn, two by each of the names Arthur, Lester, Morgan, Perkins, Turner, and one by each of the names Brown, Miner, Norman, O'Brien, Rogers and Williams ; thirty-three in all. Several of these, after a few months' experience in the land of gold, returned and settled down in the East. Several others came back, married wives in their native place, and returned to make California their permanent home. Since the rush to California most of the removals from the town have been to Norwich, New London, Mystic and other places not far away. Yoimg persons, and persons in middle life too, have gone — some to^ labor as carpenters and masons, some to serve as clerks and book-keepers, some to establish themselves in business. The removals have been constantly go ing on, and constantly reducing the home-population; for the numbers moving away have been greater than the numbers moving in. A heavy drain upon the young life of the community in former years was the trade with foreign ports, in which North Groton took such an active part. Between the years 1770 and 1814 some thirty or forty men from the place were lost at sea, or died at sea or in foreign ports. So when the whaling business was vigorously prosecuted in New London, from fifty to seventy- five years ago, there were similar losses of life in that perilous employment. But war has carried off larger numbers than any industrial pursuit, whether by land or sea. A large number, in the aggre gate, of young men living here have been from time to time 28 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. called forth as soldiers whenever any war was on foot. In the French and Indian wars, a century and a half ago, several from North Groton were engaged — some of them at the sacrifice of their lives. Also during the first three years of the Revolution no less than fifteen Pequot Indians went forth from their reserva tion, and, becoming connected with the army, died in the service. And then in the awful massacre at Fort Griswold, twenty-six young men from North Groton were among the unhappy victims. In the Civil War of 1861-5, many lost their lives, and their names may be found upon the roll of honor on the monument erected at the center of the town to perpetuate their memory. A list of those engaged in various wars, sO' far as known, is given further on. A mere glance at these painful facts can hardly fail to awaken in the bosom an ardent longing for the time when men "shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning- hooks ; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more ;'' and yet, the nineteenth century, now ck)sed, will be considered, by historians, the most important and influential, so far as it relates tO' the inhabitants of the earth, of any preceding century ; it gave tO' the world railways, steam ships, lucifer matches, photography, anaesthetics, antiquity of man, evolution established, electric telegraph, electric storage batteries, Roetengen rays, germ theory of disease, illuminating gas, the oil of the earth, multiplied colors, the Jacquard loom, the. cotton gin, the sewing machine, conservation of energy, the telephone, wireless telegraphy, compressed air, electric railways, Maxim guns, Krupp rifled cannon, iron shipping, steel-clad battle ships, spectrum analyses, submarine telephoning, paper from wood, the phonograph and molecular theory of gases. These sum up more, in number, and are of larger import to mankind than all the in ventions of all preceding centuries, and still, notwithstanding these improvements and advantages, more of war and more of trained soldiers lined up in battle array appeared than in all the previous worid's history, perhaps ! Out of these things, however, the races of men have been uplifted, liberty and equality more firmly established and civilization greatly advanced. Many millions THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 29 of our fellow men, in two hemispheres, give thanks for enlarged liberty and millions more take renewed courage in consequence of the achievements of the century now closed. But what of the new, the twentieth century, just dawned upon us? Let us hope for better and larger things for those who' shall come after us. "Our mother earth, whose ages none may tell. Puts on no change ; time bids not her wax pale Or kindle, quenched or quickened, when the knell Sounds, and we cry across the veering gale Farewell — and midnight answers us. Farewell ; Hail — and the heaven of morning answers. Hail." CHAPTER II. The Congregational Church. The town of Ledyard was set off from Groton and incor porated in 1836. Previous to this the territory which it covers was for many years known as the Second or North Parish in Groton. The Ecclesiastical Society in this North Parish was organized in 1725, with six or seven members, and at once took measures to find, by actual measurement, the exact centre of the parish as the proper place for a meeting-house. That centre was found to be "in the north-east corner of Stephen Morgan's goat pasture." Upon the spot thus designated the erection of a meeting-house was begun in 1727. The present church edifice stands partly on the same ground, but a little further back from the highway. The Congregational Church was organized in 1729. The early history of the Church for about 80 years, is veiled in obscurity. During the last 39 of these 80 years the Church had no settled pastor, and at sometime in this period became extinct ; and its records, if it ever had any, have been lost. Rev. Mr. Tuttle, in a historic sketch, says, "In respect to the state of the Church during its early history, whether its cir cumstances were prosperous at any time, or only adverse, or at what particular time it ceased to be, even tradition now affords no light." Still considerable is known of the men who ministered to the Church in this obscure portion of its history. Public worship seems to have been established and maintained — for how long a time and with how much regularity we know not — previous to the formation of a Church as such. THE CONr.REGATIONAL CHURCH. 3I The first resident preacher, of whom wc have any definite knowledge, was Rev. Samuel Seabury, a Licentiate, who became later an Episcopalian before he was ordained ; entered the Episcopalian ministry, and was, for many years, rector of St. James's Church, New London. He was . a son of John Seabury, deacon of the Congregational Church in Groton, and was educated at Yale College and Harvard Univer sity, and graduated from the last-named institution in 1724. While supplying at North Groton he occupied a house standing on the lane that leads westward from the Bill parsonage. In this house was born his oldest son, Samuel Seabury, Jr., who be came the first Episcopal Bishop in America. A more extended sketch of him is given further along in this volume. The first ordained pastor of the Church was Rev. Ebenezer Punderson. He was a native of New Haven, and a graduate of Yale Col lege, in the class of 1726. On the 25th of Dec, 1729, he was ordained pastor of this Church, being at the time only 21 years of age. His pastorate continued less than five years, being terminated by council, Feb. 5, 1734. While ministering to this people he lived in a house which stood off north-west from the Church, on the opposite side of the road from the house of Mr. George H. O'Brien. The early termination of his ministry in this Church was owing to the fact of his going over to Epis copacy. On the first of January, previous tO' his dismission, he made a communication to the Society, avowing himself a con formist to the Episcopal Church of England. This communica tion, it is said, "was received with amazement and sorrow, and a committee chosen, consisting of Robert Geer, Christopher Avery and Benadam Gallup, to reason with him, and see if he might not be persuaded that his ordination was good and that he might return to his people again." But notwithstanding all that was done by the committee and others, Mr. Punderson per- 32 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. sisted in his course. After his dismission he went to England and received Episcopal ordination. Returning to this country he served for a good many years as an itinerant missionary of an organization in England known as "The Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," giving his time largely to North Groton during the earlier portion of the period, but, at later dates, travelling all over the State and into neighboring States, and preaching in a great many different places. About 1752 or 1753 he petitioned the Society that he might become their settled missionary in New Haven ; and his petition was granted. At a later date he labored in Rye, N. Y., where he died in the year 1771, aged 63. Tlie second pastor of the Church was Rev. Andrew Croswell. i T- (^ '["t Ar^ He was a native of Charlestown, Mass., and was graduated at Harvard College in 1728. He was ordained here, Oct. 14, 1736. "The settlement offered him was two hundred pounds per annum for the first two years, and one hundred and ten pounds afterward." He was to be paid "in bills of public credit of this and the neighboring Governments" — a kind of paper cur rency, then in use, which was already depreciated, and which continued to depreciate. The Society stipulated that "in case he should withdraw from the established religion of this govern ment to any other persuasion he should return two hundred pounds to the Society." Like Mr. Owen, of Groton, and Mr. Parsons, of Lyme, Mr. Croswell was in sympathy with Edwards and Whitefield, and even with the erratic Davenport in the New Light movement or the Great Awakening. And in the interest of this movement he is said to have preached a good deal in other parishes besides his own. Though regulariy ordained by council as pastor of this Church, he was dismissed without the intervention of a council— he himself giving the Society notice of his intention to leave them-they voting not to oppose him in the matter though disapproving of his course— he then giving THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 33 in his formal resignation ; and the Society, some two years later, voting that he was dismissed. This last named vote was passed in April, 1748. While living here he occupied the house that stands on the top of the hill out east of the Church. On Oct. f,, 1748, he was installed over a newly-formed organization in Bos ton, calling itself the Eleventh Congregational Church. Though the enterprise was started in such a way that some of the other Churches regarded it as irregular, and as setting a bad precedent it seemed to succeed fairly well. For Mr. Croswell continued to be the pastor for almost forty years — dying in office, April 12, 1785, at the age of 76, having been several years blind. He pub lished a large number of sermons and essays — quite a number of them of a controversial character. Among these publications are the following: "What is Christ to me, if he is not mine? or a Reasonable Defense of the Old Protestant Doctrine of Justifica tion by Faith, 1745." "Second Defense of the Old Protestant Doctrine of Justification by Faith, being a reply to the excep tions- of Rev. Solomon Williams, against a book entitled, 'What is Christ to me,' &c., 1747." "Heaven shut against Arminians and Antinomians — a Sermon, 1747." The next pastor was Rev. Jacob Johnson. Rev. Mr. Tuttle, in his forty-eighth anniversary sermon, makes these statements in regard to him : "I have understood that he was a native of Wallingford. He was a graduate of Yale College, in the class of 1740. He was ordained here in June, 1749, and continued in the pastoral office about twenty-three years. In making provision for his support, the Society, at its meeting, March 10, 1749, voted, 'that Mr. Jacob Johnson should have four hundred pounds. settlement, and three hundred pounds in old tenor bills salary yearly, as long as he continues to be our Gospel preaching minister.' Another vote was passed affirming that the amount, both of the settlement and the salary of Mr. Johnson, should vary as the prices of provisions varied at the time when the money was paid. And it was further stipulated 3 34 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. that, if Mr. Johnson should withdraw himself to any other per suasion, he should return the four hundred pounds settlement to the Society again, in the same value as he received it. In Oct., 1772, at a Society meeting, he asked for a dismission, and his request was readily granted. No mention is made of any council called for the purpose of his dismission. He married a Miss Giddings, of Preston, by whom he had several children. He owned a farm, on which he labored for part of- his maintainance. A piece of swamp land was cleared by him and cultivated." He lived in the same house that his predecessor, Mr. Croswell, had . occupied. A child of his lies buried near that house. Soon after he was dismissed in 1772, he left this place, and went to Wilksbarre, Pa., where he died in 1794. For many years after his removal the old Church, in which he here preached, was known as Johnson's meeting house. The Interim. After the dismission of Mr. Johnson, for about 39 years, the parish was without a settled minister. The place was not wholly without religious services during all this period. But the serv ices were probably not very regularly sustained; and for a con siderable time in one portion of the period, entirely intermitted. For tradition affirms that at one time the sanctuary had become so dilapidated that the cattle, that were wont to feed upon the green nearby, would walk in at the open doors and occupy the premises as a shelter from the scorching suns or the raging stonns. In this state of things, religion, of course, did not pros per—the Church as an organized body of Christian believers be came extinct, and the whole region lapsed into a state of moral desolation. There were some, doubtless, who deplored this sad condition of things and wept over it, and prayed and hoped for better times. And when at length there was a fair prospect of another minister being settled among them were ready to do all that lay in their power to secure the invaluable boon. It was in conjunction with the First Church in Groton (which had also been without a pastor for 15 years) that the end was secured. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 35 Rev. Timothy Tuttle, a native of East Haven, and a graduate of Yale College, was the man whom the two Churches united in calling to be their joint pastor; the arrange ment being that he should give half his services to each Church — preaching in ""^ one Church one Sabbath, and in the other Church the next Sabbath, and that the twoi Churches should share equally in paying him a salary of $450 a year. Mr. Tuttle began tO' preach here in April, 1810. On Dec. 12, 1810, a Church of five members — one male and four females — was or ganized in this parish, the service being conducted by Rev. Walter King, pastor of the Second Church in Norwich, with the co-operation of Mr. Tuttle, who, in the Record, is spoken of as a candidate for the ministry. The ordination of Mr. Tuttle took place in the Church at Groton, Aug. 13, 181 1 — the people from this part of the town attending in large numbers — a cavalcade of seventy young people, with their leader, Mr. James Geer, going down on horseback, to assist in the service of song. The sermon was preached by Rev. David Smith, of Durham. Mr. Tuttle con tinued to serve the two parishes, according to the original agree ment, till April 2, 1834; when, by the mutual consent of all concerned, his pastoral relation to the South Parish was dis solved, and he became pastor in full of this parish, and gave all of his time to the work here — the salary to be paid him being $300. From the first, Mr. Tuttle proved himself a good minister of Jesus Christ. He was souffd in doctrine, sincere and earnest in pressing the truths, of the Gospel upon the heart and the con- Rev. Timothy Tuttle. 36 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. science, faithful in pastoral duty, and, on the whole, eminently successful in his work — leaving salutary impressions upon the community which will remain for a long time to come. From a membership of five, to begin wfth, the membership of the Church steadily increased as the years passed by. This was es pecially true when the Spirit was poured out, and revivals of religion were enjoyed, as was the case in the years 1814, 1831, 1842, 1850 and 1858. After 48 years of service, Mr. Tuttle stated in an anniversary sermon, that the whole number that had become members of the Church since its formation in 1810, in cluding the original five was 209. Several things should be men tioned as occurring in his day, and, to a considerable extent, through his instrumentality; e. g., the establishment of the Sun day-school, about 1818, the starting of the. great Temperance Reformation, a few years later, and the erection of the present house of worship in 1843. ^r. Tuttle's work here, especially during the earlier portion of it, was very difficult and attended with peculiar trials. There were individuals who were opposed to him, or rather opposed to the Evangelical Doctrines which he preached, and seemed to delight in throwing obstacles in his way. But every move they made only strengthened him in his position. His friends were drawn closer around him, and their numbers constantly increased, until in the closing years of his life he was eminently happy in the affections of the people generally. And not a few seemed ready to do almost anything that would afford him pleasure or satisfaction. The good influences exerted by him as a preacher and pastor, were greatly enhanced by the efforts he put forth in behalf of the public schools, and especially by the instruction which he imparted in his own home to young men gathered there from his own and neighboring towns, train ing many of them to become teachers, and fitting quite a number for college. He lived to preach on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination, and to do considerable ministerial work for two or three years longer. He died June 6, 1864. The parents of Mr. Tuttle were Joseph Tuttle, of East Haven, and Mary Granger, of Suffield. He was born, Nov. 29, 178 1. The family moved to Durham when he was about eighteen years old. He THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 37 was graduated, with high rank as a scholar, from Yale College in the class of 1808. Under the instruction of his pastor, Mr. Smith, afterward Dr. Smith, he studied theology and fitted for the ministry. Mrs. Tuttle, in whom he had a faithful help mate, was Miss Mary Norton, of Durham. The greater part of their married life was spent in the first house south of the Church, on the road leading to New London. Two daughters were born to them — Anna Maria, who became the wife of Rev. N. B. Cook, and Harriet Newell, who married Mr. Leonard Smith. Mrs. Tuttle died several years before her husband — Feb. 14, 1856 — leaving him comparatively alone. But, in a few years a kind Providence opened the way for his oldest daughter and her husband to come and live with him. And by and by, as the in firmities of age came upon the venerable pastor, his son-in-law, Rev. Nehemiah B. Cook, became associated with terial work of the parish. Ret, N, B. Cook, him in carrying forward the minis- Mr. Cook was born in Southhamp ton, L. I., Sept. 20th, 1793. In his youth he worked on the firm, and attended the public schools. Later he studied naviga tion with the view of going to sea; but was dissuaded from it by an older brother. He taught school for a while ; then learned and worked at the carpenter's trade for several years. He made a profession of religion in 1817; and soon after began to prepare for the ministry. He was graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 38 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 1 82 1. Being licensed by Presbytery he served as a missionary in Pennsylvania, and as a pulpit supply for several years at various places on Long Island. He was called to the pastorate of the First Church in Stonington, and was installed March 17, 1838. He preached at the Road Church one Sabbath, and in the village of Mystic the next Sabbath, and so on, from week to week, till the church in the village became strong enough to support a minister. He then preached at the Road Church in the morning, and in the village of Upper Mystic in the afternoon till the close of his labors in Stonington; his dismission taking place, March 7, 1859. Moving to Ledyard, Nov. 15, i860, he relieved his father-in-law by occupying the pulpit one-half of the time. Upon the death of the latter, he continued to minister to the Church till another minister was called. It was in the later part of his ministry that the Town library was founded by the Hon. Henry Bill, of Norwich. Mr. Cook was the first presi dent of the Bill Library Association; and he continued to hold the office till the time of his death which occurred, Nov. 17, 1879. Mrs. Cook lived on till March 21, 1890. Both of them were highly esteemed and beloved by the people of Ledyard. The next pastor was Rev. Charles Cutting, a son of Horace and Harriet (Upham) Cutting. He was bom in Sturbridge, Mass., March 24, 1840. He fitted for college at Dudley Academy. He was graduated at Amherst College in 1863, and Hartford Theological Seminary in 1866. As a licen tiate he preached in Hadlyme about a year. He was ordained in Ledyard, June 25, 1868. Very early in his ministry the com munity was visited by one of the most powerful revivals of re ligion ever experienced here. It extended into every part of the parish, and reached all classes of people— the old, the middle- aged and .the young, and not a few who had been but little accustomed to attend upon the public services of rehgion. As a result of this revival the membership of the Church was very largely increased. In 1868 the total membership, as reported the congregational church. 39 upon the minutes, was only 65. In 1869 it was 171. As is usual in such cases some fell away after the exciting scenes amid which they were wrought upon had passed by. Still a f' '•* goodly number persevered ; ^ and some became very stable and consistent mem bers. Among the instru mentalities through which this revival was brought about the earnest labors of the young pastor were quite prominent. So the co-operation of neighbor ing ministers — especially Messrs. Dana and Merri- man, of Norwich — was greatly blessed. Then, too, the members of the Church were unusually active. And the young converts also — as they were brought in one after another — took hold of the work with great enthusiasm. Yet very much doubtless depended upon the good seed that had been sown in faith and hope and prayer all along through previous years. Father Tuttle, during the closing portion of his life, often expressed the earnest desire that he might live to witness another revival. Though he was called away before the revival came, his prayers doubtless stood very closely connected with it. And what is here said of him may also be said of others who had long been members of the Church and deeply interested in its welfare. A few years after Mr. Cutting's labors began here the Hon. Henry Bill, of Nor wich, donated to the parish the parsonage, which has since been occupied by the ministers. It was the home of Mr. Bill's child hood, and had been sold out of the family several years previous. Mr. Bill bought it back again — thoroughly renovated the house ¦ — built a new barn and out-buildings, and gave the whole to the Rev. Charles Cutting. 40 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Society, to be the dwelling-place of their ministers. For more than twenty years the Bill Library Association held its meetings in this house, and here, in a large hall, whose walls are hung with portraits of prominent citizens of the place, the annual library dinner was served. After leaving the place, in Sept., 1881, Mr. Cutting served the Church in Montville till 1891. The Bill Parsonage. He then removed to Whitneyville, where he was settled in 1891, and dismissed in 1893. While living at Whitneyville, as a re tired minister, he was attacked by Bright's disease and valvular disease of the heart, which terminated his life, Dec. 24, 1894, at the age of 54 years and 9 months. Mr. Cutting was married Oct. 31, 1878, to Jessica Anna, daughter of Deacon William and Jessica (McKenzie) Campbell, of Philadelphia, Pa. Of their four children, two daughters and one son are living. The widow, with her children, are at the present time in New Haven, Conn, THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 41 The next minister was Rev. John Avery, son of Robert Stanton and Sally (Crary) Avery, born at Preston, Aug. 19, 1819. Like other farmers' boys he spent the summers working on the farm — the winters in the district school. In 1836 he began to study Latin with Rev. Mr. Tuttle, of Ledyard. He com pleted his prepara tion for college at the Norwich Town High School and Bacon Academy, Colchester. He was graduated from Yale College in 1843 ^^^^ Yale D i v i n i t \' School in 1847. He taught school quite a number of terms between the commencement and completion of his educational course. He was ordained pastor of the Exeter Church, Leba non, June 21, 1848, and held the position! 25 years. Toward the close of this pastorate — in the year 1870 — he was a representa tive from the town of Lebanon in the Connecticut Legislature. Soon after closing his work in Lebanon, in 1873, he became act ing pastor of the Church in Central Village, and held the office between five and six years ; and then sustained the same relation to the Church in West Woodstock three years. He began his labors in Ledyard in Nov., 1881, and closed them April i, 1892. Early in his ministry here — in the autumn of 1882 — the town was thoroughly canvassed by an agent of the Connecticut Bible Society. One result of this canvass was that it placed upon the Rev. John Avert. 42 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. pastor's calling list no less than ii6 families— a number nearly twice as large as was commonly regarded as connected with the parish. Yet he called upon everyone of these families, and, as long as he lived in the place, continued to call upon them from time to time, and to hold religious meetings in school-houses and private dwellings that were easily accessible by all of them. In very many of them he was called to officiate at weddings and on funeral occasions. Among the important events that occurred durin,g Mr. Avery's ministry were the painting of the parsonage and barn in 1883 — the introduction of new hymn books in 1885 — the painting of the Church outside and in — the frescoing of the interior . and providing it with new carpets and cushions — the work begun in 1886 and completed in 1887 — the purchase of a new organ in 1888, at an expense of $182, $50 being paid by- a single individual. Miss Hannah Norman — the commencement, early in 1892, of the beautiful and commodious structure, in which the Bill Library has found a permanent home every way suited to its need. It should be added that the Church was struck by lightning on Sunday morning, Oct. 19, 1892 — ^the building injured to the amount of $125 (which was covered by insurance), the minis ter's horse killed outright, and his daughter. Miss Mary A. Avery, so seriously injured that several months had elapsed be fore she had fully recovered. Since removing from the place and taking up his residence in Norwich Mr. Avery has frequently been called back to attend weddings and funerals, and to- assist on- anniversary occasions. On the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination he preached in the Church where he was ordained; and he still continues to respond to calls for his ministerial serv ices whenever they are presented. Mr. Avery was married Nov. 6, 185 1, to Miss Susan Cham pion, of Old Lyme. They have had three daughters, only one of whom survives. The present pastor, Rev. Albert Edward Kinmouth, of Scotch-Enghsh parentage, was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1846, THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 43 He was educated at Queen's University, and Weslyan Theologi cal Seminary, Belfast— admitted to the British Weslyan Confer ence in 1870, and for more \ Rev. A. E. Kinmouth. than two years was As sistant Secretary of the British Home and Foreign ¦ Missionary Societies. He camefroim London to> this country in 1873, with the .^^^^ t \ view of going as a mission- ^* ^ *. ^ ary to Japan ; but, deciding ii * ¦^ ^,,j,^p«A * in 1874. He has had pas torates at Seneca Falls, Oswego Falls, Pulaski and West Newfield, N. Y.— also Greenwich and Montr ville, Conn. He began his work in Ledyard in 1893; and during his ministry a Y. P. S. C. E. has been organized and well sustained; a goodly number of young people — sixteen at one time — have united with the Church;- and $7,100.00 have been added to the permanent funds of the Society. The. platform in the Church was lowered in 1890, and the interior of the Church re-frescoed in 1898. Mr. Kinmouth is living with his second wife, who was Miss Bellows, from Seneca Falls. By the first wife he had four children, and by the second, four. Two daughters have married in Ledyard, and the eldest of these has died. ¦"'¦¦ Deacons of the Church : Warren Williams, Russel Gallup, Erastus Gallup, Jonathan B. Beckwith, Nathan S. Gallup, Isaac G. Geer, Russel Gallup. The Sunday-school. Though the Sunday-school is a comparatively recent institu tion the ends which it aims to secure were previously sought in 44 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. different ways. This matter is well-stated by Mr. William T. Cook, in a sketch of the life of his grand-father. Rev. Timothy Tuttle. He uses the following language : "Before the formation of the Sabbath-school, the young people met their pastor once in two weeks to recite the Assembly's Catechism. A Sabbath- school was organized about 1818. The manner in which it was conducted was entirely different from modern Sabbath-schools. The children were required to learn verses from the Bible, and hymns ; the pastor heard the recitations, and a young man, Mr. Norman L. Chester, who was studying with him, kept an account of the number learned. At the close of the school in autumn scholars were paid in books, at the rate of the value of a penny for ten verses from the Bible, and the same for twenty verses of hymns. Three little girls, Sally Sterry, Anna Billings and Tabitha Lamb, recited each one thousand verses from the Bible, and each received a Bible as a reward. After several years a proposition was made to establish a Sabbath-school library ; some of the young ladies started a sub scription paper and obtained the sum of seven dollars, with which to commence a library. At the close of the Sabbath-school for the winter, a Bible class for young people took its place, the pastor prepared ques tions, and copies of them were distributed among the members of the class, who were expected to prepare answers in writing, and read them at the class meeting.. From these small begin nings the Sabbath-school has increased till it has embraced neariy all the members of the congregation, and has obtained the name of 'The Banner Sabbath-school of the State.' " The following gentlemen have held the office of superin tendent : Deacon Warren Williams, Henry W. Avery, Moses Norman, Jacob A. Geer, Col. Samuel W. Wood, Col. Elias W. Brown, Israel Allyn, Dea. Jonathan B. Beckwith, Dea. Nathan Sands Gallup, George Fanning, John M. Gray. Invested Funds. The funds of the Church and Society— the income of which may be used for defraying the annual expenses— amount to THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 45 about $12,000. The origin of them dates back to 1808. In that year a lottery, authorized by the State, netted $2,000. In 1825, William H. Woodbridge bequeathed $500, on condition that the Church and Society would raise as much more. This condition being complied with $1,000 was realized. In 1836, the United States revenue was in excess of the expenditures, and the amount of the excess was, by act of Congress, divided among the States. This State received over three-fourths of a million of dollars. This last named sum was distributed among the towns on condi tion that one-half at least of the annual income be expended upon the common schools. This town, it seems, devoted $300 of its share to this Ecclesiastical Society. About i860, it was found that the income of the Society had, for several years, more than paid expenses ; and the surplus, amounting to $500, was added to the permanent investments.. Since then the following be quests have been received : In 1875, from Sidney A. Roach, $1,000. In 1872, from Mrs. Ichabod Chapman, $100. In 1896, from Miss Eliza B. Geer, $100. In 1897, from Israel Allyn, $1,000. In 1898, from Charles Bill, $1,000. In the same year, 1898, a gift of $5,000, the largest that was ever made to the in vested funds, was received from Miss Sarah Norman. CHAPTER IIL The Episcopal Church, An Episcopal organization, bearing the name of St. James' Church, was started here in the latter part of the yezrj234- Rev. St. James' Episcopal Church. Ebenezer Punderson, who had been, for four or five years, pastor of the Congregational Church, was the prime mover in the enter prise. The house of worship stood on Church Hill, about a mile and a half north-east of the Church at the Center, and some three miles south-east of the village of Poquetanuck. The parsonage connected with it stood on the lane that leads westward from the present Bill parsonage, and was pulled down by Rev. Qias. Cutting. "It was the first Church parsonage in America." The THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 47. lot in which the Church stood was used as a cemetery, in accord ance with an old-time English custom. The records of this Church, up to the ^ time of the Revolutionary War, were lost. Hence its early history is quite obscure. Extracts from the re ports which Mr. Punderson made to the Missionary Society in England, which paid a part of his salary, are still extant; and some of them seem to indicate that the Church was quite pros perous. In one of these reports, dated June 18, 1739, he says that "there has been a great increase in the number of my parishioners, and a corresponding change in the temper of dis senting brethren ; many of whom, from being haters and revilers of the Church and her clergy have been brought to occasionally attend her services. On last Christmas, and on a Lord's Day afterwards, more than four hundred persons of sober and devout ; behavior, were present in the Church, many of whom had been bitter enemies." Mr. Punderson drew a portion of 'his former flock with him into Episcopacy. Some "ten or twelve Congre gational people — heads of families — signed his papers, and con tributed money to bear his expenses when he went to England to be ordained." Probably all of these, and very likely others with them, were his friends and supporters after his return. Though the Episcopal movement began to take to itself definite shape and form as early as 1734, it is probable that the Church edifice was not erected quite as early as that. Very likely, how ever, it was within twoi or three years, though the precise date has not come down to us. This edifice stood where it was first located till 1785, when it was taken down, moved to Poque tanuck, and re-erected on Single Point, just south of the village. Since that date it has been succeeded by two Church edifices, erected one after the other, a little east of the village — the last in the year 1898. As to the number of persons connected with this Church, in the earlier portion of its history, Mr. Punderson at one time reported that there were 104 male members over sixteen years of age. Among them were "five each of the names of Williams and Rode (Rood?) ; three each of the name of Ames, Geer, Hide, Minor, Park, Rose, Pelton, Spicer, Starkweather, Stoddard and Waterman; two each of the names of Capron, 48 HISTORY OF THE TOWN.OE LEDYARD. Crouch, Forsee (Forsyth), Hillam, Lee, Turner, Wilkinson and Willoughby. The single names were Allyn, Ashcraft, Barker, Bassett, Barnard, Bennett, Bordish, Button, Cleveland, Cramer, Davis, Dean, Dickinson, Dood, Downing, Doyle, Fanning, Fountain, Frink, Gray, Grist, Hancock, Holdridge, Holly, Houghton, Hutchinson, Larkin, Lancasta, Leeds, Malason, Mc- Cloughton, Meach, Norton, Nuton (Newton), Parish, Randal, Ranger, Raynolds, Rouse, Samson, Thiton, Utley, Welsh, Wick wire and Weeks." [See Rev. X. A. Welton's article in Episcopal Herald for July, 1891]. CHAPTER IV. • The Separatist Church. One result of "The Great Awakening," which began in the early forties of the last century, was the formation of Separate Churches in various parts of the country, but especially here in Eastern Connecticut. There was hardly a town, either in New London or Windham Counties which did not have one or more of these churches within its borders. The state of things, in the older churches, had come to be such that a change for the better was demanded ; and some of the clearer headed .and more spirit ually-minded members were beginning to see it. These churches though they had previously been in a much better condition, were now rapidly drifting into formalism. The Half- Way Cove nant plan, which permitted parents, of fair moral character, who were not church-members, to have their children baptized, and, in some churches, to partake of the communion, had been wide ly adapted. The feeling seemed to be everywhere gaining ground, that the outward observance of the rites and forms of religion was all that was required, and that the spiritual renova tion of the heart was altogether unnecessary. It was this gen eral drift of things, away from the high standards set up and •maintained by the first settlers in the country and their more immediate successors, that roused the spirits of Edwards, White- field and their co-adjutors, and called forth from them such earnest protests and such thrilling appeals that "The Great Awakening" was the result. The hearts of these conspicuous leaders in the work were fired with the loftiest enthusiasm; and their preaching was of such a character that immense numbers of people, in every walk in life, were intensely moved by it. Very soon movements were set on foot which resulted in serious divi- 50 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. sions in many of the churches, and at length in the formationi of Separate Churches in the same communities with the- Churches of the Standing Order. The followers of the Refoirmers, in their aspirations after greater spirituality and a higher style of Chris tian living, were often over-zealous and fanatical in their pro ceedings, while those who did not adopt their views were often excessively conservative in their action. Hence, in nearly all the churches, there were opposing parties which were frequently in violent conflict with each other. And whenever a separation took place the Conservatives succeeded in retaining possession of the Church already established, and the Reformers were obliged to establish a new church. And then there were long and bitter controversies between the two. The Conservatives had everything in their favor, sO' far as law and authority and prec edent were concerned ; the Reformers were obliged to work at tremendous disadvantage. The storm-center of this violent commotion, here in Eastern Connecticut, was in the town of Canterbury. Here a young man, John Cleveland by name, a student in Yale College, was expelled from that institution for attending a Separate meeting with his parents during his vaca tion. A prominent citizen, Mr. Elisha Paine, a lawyer by pro fession, for espousing the cause of the Separates, and laboring to promote it, was imprisoned for months in the Windham County jail. Very many persons, for declining to pay the "minister's tax," which was levied upon them for the support of the minis ter of the old established Church, had various articles of property taken from them, by due process of law— sold at public auction, and the whole amount of money received — ^whether more or less— retained by the officials — not a penny returned to the right ful owners. Says Miss Larned, in her "Historic Gleanings in Windham County, Conn.:" "Separates were excluded from town offices; men of substance and character, like Obadiah Johnson, of Canterbury, when elected representative to the As sembly by a majority of his fellow-citizens, was not allowed to take his seat because of holding the office of deacon in the re bellious church. Ordained Separate ministers were shut up in jail for joining in marriage their own church members Bap- THE SEPARATIST CHURCH. 5] tisms and marriages performed by them were pronounced illegal. And worse than all in its effects, touching all classes, were the rates extorted for the support of the established churches. In the eyes of the law each Separate was still a member of the parish in which he resided, and obliged to pay for the support of its stated religious worship. Refusing to pay, his goods were forcibly taken by the collector, and, however much exceeding the amount due, no overplus was ever returned. If goods were insufficient the men were carried to prison. These were the days of Connecticut's 'religious persecution,' not bloody, indeed, but most harrassing and persistent. All over the colony were heard the cries of these afflicted Separates — men dragged tO' jail by force, wives and children left helpless at home. Instances of special hardship are noted, the poor man's only cow driven away from his door, the meat or grain laid up for winter sustenance carried off by the merciless collector. Windham jail was so crowded with victims as tO' require an additional story. In Nor wich, where there was a strong New Light element, the contest was very bitter. The venerable mother of the church historian. Rev. Isaac Backus, was taken from her home and confined thir teen days in jail for refusing to pay her church rate" (pp. 42, 43). It was long before the liberty for which these Separate people contended was secured. Concessions were made tO' the Baptists, the Episcopalians, and the Qualters, long before they were to them. In due time, however, the ends which they sought were obtained. "The voluntary principle" in the support of religion was universally accepted. And the churches of every name and denomination were left perfectly free to govern themselves in whatever ways they chose — to make whatever spiritual attain ments seemed to them desirable ; all this without any interference from the State or from any rival religious denomination. It is an historic fact, therefore, not to be overlooked, that this town once had a Separate Church within its bounds, and that that church was in hearty sympathy and cordial co-operation with a large number of sister churches, scattered all over the country, each one of them contending earnestly for those broad principles of religious liberty which, more than anything else, help to make 52 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. our land the glory of all lands. At what time the Separate Church here was formed we do not definitely know. Mr. Tuttle, in his forty-eighth anniversary sermon, says it was probably "some time between 1742 and 1748.'' On Nov. 14, 1751, Na thaniel Brown, Jr., was ordained as its pastor, and held the office about four years. He was probably a native of the place. His successor was Park Allyn, who was born here, June 15, 1733, and died Feb. 13, 1804. He lived in the house now occupied by Mr. Amos G. Avery. Nothing has come down to us indicating that he had a long continued ministry or any permanent successor, though services, conducted by different persons, continued tO' be held. The church edifice stood a little to the west of the house of Mr. A. G. Avery; and the step-stone is there to. this day. The building was removed to Gale's Ferry in 1803; and, for more than fifty years, standing where the Methodist Church now stands, was occupied by the Methodist people as their place of worship. Nearly the whole of the ministry of Rev. Ralph Hurl butt was accomplished in that church. It gave place tO' the present Methodist Church in 1857. CHAPTER V. The Methodist Episcopal Church At Gale's Ferry. Methodism seems to have gained little, if any, foothold in New England, until after the close of the Revolutionary War in 1783. The descendants of the Pilgrims were Orthodox Congrega tionalists, and for many years, no man could vote or hold of fice unless he was a member of a Church of "The Standing Or der." The land was di vided into "Parishes," and the clergy were maintained by public tax. Jesse Lee, born in Virginia, in 1758, entered the itinerant ministry of the Meth odist denomination in 1783, and was ap pointed to preach in New England at the New York Conference of 1789. He preached the first Methodist sermon, in New London, in the court house (now standing), at early candle light, on Sept. 2, 1789, and the first Methodist sermon in Norwich, at the house of Mrs. Thankful Pierce, on, June 25, 1790. On August II, 1793 a conference was held, at Tolland, at Methodist EIpiscopal Church, Gale's Perry. 54 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. which George Roberts was placed as Elder in charge of a circuit that covered nearly the same territory that is now known as the Norwich District of the New England Southern Conference. Elder Roberts, who is said to have exhibited "extraordinary pulpit power," appears to have preached a sermon, in the open air, to a large congregation, at Gale's Ferry, in July, 1793. This was followed by occasional preaching by different men, and it is presumed that R. Swain and Fredus Aldrige, who' were junior preachers, at that time, might have been among the number. In 1803, Gale's Ferry was taken into the New London circuit, and in May of that year, a class was formed, consisting of eight persons, namely — Ralph Hurlbutt, Jonathan Stoddard and wife, Nathan Avery and wife, Hannah Hurlbutt, Lucy Hurlbutt and Lydia Stanton. Ralph Hurlbutt was appointed class-leader and eleven more names were added to the class during the year. About this time, the Separatist Congregational Church, which- stood on the road leading from Gale's Ferry tO' Ledyard Center, near the present residence, in 1900, of Amos G. Avery, was taken down, removed and rebuilt, on a little elevation of land, near the residence of Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt; where it remained and was occupied as a place of worship, until 1857. Among the early preachers at Gale's Ferry in the former part of the nineteenth century, we find the names of Amos T. Thompson, Jesse Stoneman, Daniel Ostrander, Timothy Dewey and Lorenzoi Dow. In 1806, Ralph Hurlbutt, son of Rufus Hurlbutt, who was killed at Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, was licensed to exhort, and he obtained a local preacher's license in 1810. Ralph Hurl butt seemed to have been a more than ordinary man, in his day and generation, for in addition to his being a Methodist preacher with a power to sway the minds of his audiences, 'we hear of him in the capacity of school-master, farmer, justice of the peace, money-lender, administrator of the estates of deceased persons, and he was quite extensively known, and also feared, more or less by the degenerate, and was generally spoken of by all classes, in the vernacular of those times, as, "The Square," or "Square Hurlbutt," ^ ^ THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 55 Being industrious, frugal, temperate and intelhgent hc naturally became more thrifty than those of opposite traits, and when once in a general conversation, in a store in the vicinity, where both wet and dry groceries were vended, the question as to the probability of "land in the moon," was being dis cussed, one man wittily re marked that he could settle that question by asking Square Hurlbutt, for if there were land in the moon, the Square had a mortgage on it. Ralph Huributt's wife was Polly Jones, daughter of John Jones, an immi grant from Wales, who married Sarah Boles, and her memory is revered, as that of a most excellent woman. She had a sister, Judith, who married Elijah Newton, and became the mother of John J. Newton, who married Charity Norman, one of the Norman family, whoi in recent years have contributed $3,000 as a permanent fund, the interest of which is applied to the support of preaching in the Gale's Ferry Church. Ralph Hurlbutt and wife, for many years seem to- have kept a "Methodist minister's tavern," or, in other words, to have sheltered, lodged and fed, the circuit preachers, who happened around from 1810 to 1840, and during that time, on alternate Sundays or more often. Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt preached the Gos pel without charge for his services. From 1840 to 1846, other ministers assisted Mr. Hurlbutt, and since 1846 the Church has. been supplied with preaching by Conference appointments. Other donations and bequests, besides those of the Norman Ret. Ralph Hurlbutt. 56 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD., family, previously mentioned, the first $100 of which was by Phillis Daniels, a colored woman, whose mother was a slave, by different individuals, at sundry times, have helped to establish the permanent fund for the support of preaching, the total amount of which, at present writing, is about $4,000. In 1857, during the pastorate of Rev. Jesse E. Heald, Chris topher Allyn, John E. Perkins and Ralph Scott Stoddard were constituted a building committee, and the present Church edifice was constructed by Courtland Chapman and Nelson Gallup, at a cost of $3,221. The subscription being inadequate to meet the expense of building, the committee assumed the debt of $969.75, which amount was cancelled, by voluntary subscriptions, a few years later, mainly by the persistent efforts of Rev. Warren Emerson. The new Church edifice was dedicated in October, 1857. It has a seating capacity for 250 people, is nicely frescoed, carpeted and cushioned, and with necessary repairs, as occasion demands, ought to be a comfortable place of worship for many future years. The parsonage, which stands a short distance to- the west of the Church, is a fairly comfortable dwelling place for the preacher in charge. The main part was built a little previous to 1850, and two ells have since been added, the last at an expense of some $400, during the pastorate of Rev. W. A. Taylor. Both Church and parsonage are unencumbered by debt and are kept insured. The following is a list of the Conference appointees since 1846, as nearly as can be readily ascertained : Daniel Dorchester, 1846. L. D. Bentley, 1858-59 Dickson, 1848. David Bradbury, 1860-62 Jesse Denison, 1850. Warren Emerson, 1863-65 Dunham, 1851. G. D. Boynton, 1866-67 E.F.Hinks, 1852. D.G.Ashley, 1868-70 O-Huse, 1853. J. M. Worcester, 1871-73 J. W. Case, 1854-55- F.C. Newell, 1874-75 J. E. Heald, 1856-57. Wm, Turkington, 1876-78 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 57 Nelson Goodrich, 1879-81. Thos. Denman, 1892-94. Wm. Turkington, 1882-84. John Q. Adams, 1895-96. C. H. Dalrymple, 1885-86. J. B. Ackley, 1897. Wm. A. Taylor, 1887-91. The present membership of the Church in January, 1900, is as follows: Members in full connection, 51; Probationers, 22. The Church officials at the same date are: * Trustees : C. A. Satterlee, D. C. Perkins, Thomas Latham, C. A. Brown, N. B. Allyn, Elmer Tubbs, C. E. Colver, C. H. Chapman, Henry Hurlbutt. Stewards : C. A. Brown, C. H. Chapman, E. E. Tubbs, D. C. Perkins, C. E. Colver, Mrs. Lucy Palmer, Mrs. Sarah Perkins, Mrs. Sarah Latham, Mrs. Frances Rogers, Mrs. Lydia Maynard> Mrs. Susan Satterlee, Mrs. Hannah I. Chapman and Mrs. Kate B. Colver. Sunday-school : Superintendent, Courtland Colver ; As sistant Superintendent, D. C. Perkins; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Alice Satterlee; Librarian, Elmer Satterlee; Organist, Mrs. H. Chapman. Teachers: Rev. J. B. Ackley, Kate B. Colver, Mrs. S. E. Latham, Hattie Brown, Laura A. Perkins, Bertha Maynard, C. H. Chapman, Fanny R. Hurlbutt, Mrs. Hannah I. Chapman. The Church has had its season of spiritual refreshing when several have been added to its membership. The most promi nent revivals occurred in 1814, 1815, 1816, 1818, 1820, 1833, 1841, 1868, 1875, 1884, and 1899. [T. L.] CHAPTER VI. The Baptist Church. In Oct., 1842, a movement was set on foot to organize a Baptist Church in the town of Ledyard. The first decisive step taken was a petition to the First Baptist Church in Groton, signed by twenty persons — ten males and ten females — all of them members of said Church, praying that they might be permitted to organize as a branch of the Church of which they were already members. Steps were taken also with reference to the ordination of Mr. Stephen H. Peckham as pastor of the proposed branch ' ' Church. On March 2, 1843, ^ council, composed of ministers and delegates from neighboring Baptist Churches, met at the house of Mr. Aaron Brown, and, after due deliberation, decided to organize the Church, and ordain Mr. Peckham. Public services were held ; a sermon preached by B. Cook ; other parts by E. Denison, B. F. Hayden and A. Avery. The names of the persons who signed the petition for the formation of a new Church were as follows : Stephen H. Peck ham, Albert Brown, Aaron Brown, Elias Brown, Daniel Brown, Elder Peckham. THE BAPTIST CHURCH. 59 Avery WJ Brown, Thomas Prosser, Randall Holdredge, Daniel Main, Robert Willcox, Esther Peckham, Lois Main, Mary Brown, Annis Brown, Anna Prosser, Harriet Stanton, Lura Ann Barnes, Caroline Woodmancy, Mercy Brown, Emeline F. Hold redge. Within a few months after the formation of the Church, there were additions which carried the membership up to about forty. A house of worship was felt to be a necessity, and arrange ments were made for building. The result was consummated before the -close of the year. The church edifice, located about a mile and a half north-east of the Congregational Church at the Centre, was dedicated Nov. 21, 1843. Th^ ^^^^ of the edifice was about $1,000. In raising this amount considerable aid was received from outside. Elder Peckham received no regular salary. The people met at his house about once a year, and made him presents, whose annual value varied from $20. to- $40. in money, with other arti cles useful in his family. There were frequent, though never very large, accessions to the Church. The largest number belonging to^ it at any one time was ninety-seven. Discipline was maintained in the Church, as the records abundantly show. Members were called to account for their delinquencies, and, failing to give satisfaction, were cut off ; and, whenever proper amends were made, they were restored. Elder Peckham held the office of pastor up to the time of his death, which occurred, Dec. 18, 1863. There were only a few Sabbaths, near the close of his life, on which he was unable to officiate. Rev. Stephen Hazard Peckham was born in Ledyard in 1805, the youngest of fifteen children. His parents were Benjamin and Lucy (Wilcox) Peckham. He was thrice married. First, to Phebe Esther Barber, Nov. 20, 1825. By her he had three sons and four daughters. She died April 4, 1843. On Nov. 30, 1843, he was married to Phebe F. Gates, who bore him one son and two daughters, and died Nov. 15, 1849. His third mar riage was to Almjra Holdredge, Sept. 2, 1850, by whom he had 6o HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. three daughters. While pastor of the Church, Elder Peckham lived in the house at the foot of Rose Hill, which has since been owned by Mr. John Main ; and later, in the house which his son, Stephen H. Peckham, Jr., took down a few years since and re placed by a new one. Since the death of this faithful and beloved pastor, the Church has had no regular minister for any great length of time. Sometimes the meeting-house has been closed for several months in succession. Then, again, services have been held with considerable regularity, conducted by ministers or lay-preachers from neighboring places. The names of some of them are M. G. Smith, P. Kinney, Elder Tilness, A. E. Goff, Vine A. Starr, Lorenzo Williams Tillinghast. At present, Mr. Frank S. Robbins, of Preston, holds a service on the third Sabbath of each month. The names of the men who have held the office of deacon in the Church are John Myers, Thomas Prosser, Nelson Chapman, Stephen H. Peckham, Jr., John Ben nett. In 1892-3, the church was shingled and otherwise repaired at an expense of over $70.00. CHAPTER VII. The Rogerene Quakers Made their appearance in New London in the year 1674. Their leader, John Rogers, belonged to a prosperous and in fluential family that had, for quite a number of years, been con nected with the First Church of Christ in that place. After breaking off from the Church of the Standing Order and adopting peculiar views and peculiar practices, they still continued to- be orthodox in respect to many of the essential doctrines of the Gospel. As Dr. Blake, in his "History of the First Church of Christ in New London," says of them : "They held tO' salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, to the Trinity, to the necessity of the new birth, to the resurrection of the just and the unjust, and to an eternal judgment." Some of the respect in which they dif fered in belief from the Christian people, among whom they dwelt, were these: They held and stoutly maintained that all days were alike ; that the Sabbath was no more sacred than other time; that the established ministry of the Gospel, with its paid officials, was an abomination; that a place for public worship, where people might assemble statedly to be instructed in spiritual things and to engage in prayer and praise, was' an unnecessary and indeed a very improper thing. As Dr. Blake has expressed it : "They regarded a church-tower, a pulpit, a cushioned pew, a church, a salaried minister, in a black suit of clothes, with peculiar aversion. * * * Tliey did not believe in the use of medicines for the recovery of health; nor in any civil or religious rite in marriage." If they had simply adopted and adhered to these peculiar beliefs, without any offensive demonstrations of them in opposition to the beliefs and practices of other people, there might have been no serious collisions between themselves and 62 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. those from whom they differed. But they were not content to do this. On the contrary, they felt themselves called upon to interfere wfth, and, so far as lay in their power, to obstruct and hinder the religious observances of those whose views and practices were at variance with their own. For this purpose they would hang around the doors of churches Sabbath mornings, and do things calculated to annoy the people, and especially the ministers, who entered. They would make boisterous and offen sive noises under the open windows and in the porches of the churches, while the people were engaged in worship. Their women would walk into the churches with their spinning wheels, take their places in the aisles, and proceed with their work in the presence of the congregations, and in the very midst of the serv ices. And some would even go so far as to^ rise up in the con gregation, while the minister was preaching, and contradict what he was saying. Dr. McEwen, giving a historic sketch of these proceedings, uses the following language : "They regarded wor ship performed on the first day of the week as a species of idolatry, which they ought to oppose. They held it to be their special mission tO' destroy priestcraft. In carrying out their peculiar notions, they used a variety of measures to disturb those who were assem'bled for public worship on the Lord's day. They traveled about in small companies, and entered churches and other places of worship in a rude and boisterous manner, and sometimes engaged in different kinds of manual labor in order to break up and interrupt the religious services." Says Dr. Blake : "They would often rise up in worshipping assem blies and interrupt the preacher and call him a hireling, accuse him of making merchandise of the flock, telling the people that they were sunk in the mire of idolatry, and entangled in the net of anti-Christ, and calling the preacher a liar, if he said anything which they did not, believe. They even went so far as to rush into church and interrupt the preacher to declare their violations of the laws respecting the keeping of holy time. Bathsheba Fo'X, a sister of John Rogers, went openly to church to proclaim that she had been doing servile work on the Christian Sabbath. John Rogers went with her, and interrupted the preacher to proclaim THE ROGERENE QUAKERS. 63 a similar offence. On one occasion he trundled a wheel-barrow into the porch of the church during divine service." (Pages 83-4)- John Rogers took it upon himself to show his defiance of all laws and statutes in regard to marriage in this way. After his first wife, Elisabeth Griswold, had been divorced from him and he had lived without a wife for twenty-five years, he assumed to marry himself to his maid-servant by going into the county court and there, in the presence of the court and a great crowd of spectators, declaring that he and the woman he had with him were husband and wife ; and presently going to the house of the Governor, and repeating the same performance there. Some tirne after this, as Mr. Rogers and his so-called bride were walk ing upon the street they fell in with Rev. Gurdon Saltonstall, the pastor of the Church to which Mr. Rogers had formerly be longed. Mr. Saltonstall questioned them as to- the report in cir culation of their being married, and said : "Why, John, do you mean to say that you take this woman to be your wife?" "I do," said Mr. Rogers.. And turning to the woman, Mr. Saltonstall addressed a similar question to her : "Do yo-u mean tO' say that you take this man, who is so much older than yourself, to be your husband?" "I do," said she. "Well, then," said Mr. Sal tonstall, "I pronounce you husband and wife — united in mar riage according to the laws of this colony." The Quaker, seeing that the minister had stolen the march upon him, and that he was now legally married, in spite of his determination not to be, could only reply : "Ah, Gurdon, thou art a cunning creature." As many of the things done by these people were not only out of harmony with all the decencies and proprieties of civilized society, but were also open and defiant violations of statute law, the penalties of the law were visited upon them. The penalties inflicted were at first comparatively light ; but were increased as the contest continued ; and, in some cases, amounted in the ag gregate to large sums of money, and long and weary months spent in prison. It is said that John Rogers, after he began to proclaim his peculiar views and to act openly in accordance with them, spent nearly one-third of his life in prison. Writing upon the subject in 1706 he used the following language: "I have 64 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. been sentenced to pay hundreds of pounds, laid in iron chains, cruelly scourged, endured long imprisonments, set in the stocks many hours together, &c." According to the testimony of his son his suft'erings continued through the long period of forty-five years. As we look back over this history we wonder, perhaps, that such events as it records could ever have happened in this "land of steady habits;" wonder that these people could become so perfectly infatuated, and that the magistrates, administering the civil government, could proceed to such extremes in its treatment of them. And we may well rejoice that the times have so greatly changed, and this so decidedly for the better. The parties that were in such violent conflict with each other, here upon New London County soil, over two^ hundred years ago, still survive in the persons of their successors. But the contest between them has long since passed away. Peace now reigns where strife and contention and violence once prevailed. Quite a community, made up of the successors of those oldhtime Rogerenes, or Quakers, as they are more commonly called in our day, still live, and for a good many years have lived in the south-east por - tion of the town of Ledyard. They are a peaceable and pros perous people, and maintain friendly relations with the people who live among them and around them. They are still quite inclined to live isolated from others in many things. They have their own views of religion ; their own meeting-house ; their own modes of worship ; their own Sabbath-school ; and their own ways of doing things generally. They are in the main indtistrious, peaceable and honest, and inclined to let other people have their own ways, provided that other people will let them have theirs. Formerly, they refused to have anything to do wfth politics; refused to go to the polls to vote ; refused to pay taxes ; refused 'to bear arms. Some of these peculiarities have in recent years been partially laid aside. In the Civil War some of their young men enlisted as soldiers, and several laid down their lives in their country's service. The children are now educated in the public schools, and several of the young people have become successful teachers. Two or three of their young ladies have done well in THE ROGERENE QUAKERS. 65 the line of authorship. One is a gifted and widely-known poetess. Qufte a number of their young men, and young women, too, have married into other than Quaker families. The result of this has been that considerable numbers have, in a measure, at least, broken away from the Quaker faith. The old-time prejudice against churches and ministers, though still retained by some, is slowly wearing o-ff with the ris ing generation. Whenever a marriage ceremony is to be cele brated, generally a clergyman is called in to officiate. At funerals also a minister of the Gospel is generally requested to take charge of the service. With few exceptions they are strong ly opposed to war ; and have for many years been putting forth strenuous effo-rts to promote universal peace among men. They hold an annual Peace Meeting, so-called, on the banks of the Mystic river, just south of the village of Old Mystic. The meet ing occurs in the month of August — is continued for three suc cessive days- — and brings together from the whole surrounding region large numbers of people. The services are held in a plain, yet spacious and well-arranged structure bearing the name of Temple of Peace. It is located on a hill-top in a beautiful grove. Distinguished speakers from abroad are usually present to par ticipate in the exercises. In the religious movements outlined in the foregoing sketches, we have perhaps a pretty fair sample of what has been going on during the last two hundred and fifty years all over New England, and to a considerable extent also in other parts of the country — in the line of spiritual development and ecclesiastical progress. Very many and quite varied religious opinions and practices have prevailed. Earnest discussions and sometimes violent con tentions have taken place. Religious societies have come into- be ing and prospered for a time, then declined and disappeared, and others have taken their places. Still the great under-lying prin ciples of the holy religion of Jesus Christ have survived; and that most important element — religious liberty — has been more and more thoroughly understood, and more and more firmly es tablished as the years and the generations have passed by. And 66 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. what has been done in this respect here in New England has been of incalculable service to the nation and the world. Well did Josiah Quincy, a former president of Harvard University, once say : "What lessons has New England, in every period of her history, given to the world? She has proved that all variety of Christian sects may live together in harmony under a government which allows equal privileges to all, exclusive pre eminence to none ; and that human happiness has no security but freed >m, freedom none but virtue, virtue none but knowl edge, and neither freedom nor virtue nor knowledge has any vigor or immortal hope, except in the principles of the Christian faith and in the sanctions of the Christian religion." CHAPTER VIII. The Revolutionary War— 1775-1783. The struggle for liberty, through which our fathers passed a century and a quarter ago-, was between a few feeble Colonies on one side, and a great and powerful Kingdom on the other. It resulted, indeed, in thc independence of the Colonies, and the establishment of a Republic which has become one of the great powers of the earth. But it was at an expense of treasure and of blood, which, considered in connection with the small population and the limited resources of the country at the time, seems truly appalling. Each of the thirteen Colonies had a share in that vast ex penditure ; but no one probably a larger share, according tO' its means, than Connecticut ; and no part of Connecticut a larger share than New London County, and no part of the county a larger share than New London and Groton. And North Groton, now Ledyard, had its full proportion. Abundant proof of this is furnished in the following account of the massacre at Fort Gris wold, taken from The Springfield Republican, also in the appended list of North Groton men who served in the Revolution — so many of them at the cost of their lives. The Fort Griswold Battle and Massacre. "At daybreak on Sept. 6, 1781, a British fleet of 32 sails appeared at the mouth of New London harbor. Sir Henry Clinton had sent Benedict Arnold to destroy stores, privateers, and forts. A native of Norwich, Arnold knew the country and its inhabftants. At about nine o'clock the troops began to land in two divisions of eight hundred men each. The first, under command of Arnold, landed on the west side of the harbor and 68 History of the town of ledyard. immediately moved on the town of New London. Fort Trum bull was then only a water battery, and readily yielded to a superior force coming from the land on its unprotected rear. Capt. Shapley and his men retired in their boats to reinforce Fort Griswold on the opposite hights. The second division, under command of Lieut.-Ool. Eyre, landed at Groton point, on the east side of the harbor. This force was to take Fort Griswold, which commanded the surrounding country, and would prevent all operations if held by the Americans. Meeting no opposftion, they moved rapidly up the hill in two bodies. "Fort Griswold had a small regular garrison, but depended on the support of militia who responded to alarm guns fired at the first sign of danger. From its posftion the surrounding coun try was entirely at its mercy. On the morning of the fatal day Lieut.-Col. William Ledyard, commander of the military district of New London, Groton and Stonington, took personal com mand of this position as the best place from which to- protect the co-untry. "When the British fleet appeared, the alarm was fired to call in the militia. The signal was broken by the enemy. This alarm consisted of two guns discharged at intervals. Privateers had been in the habit of firing three guns on entering the harbor after a successful cruise. Arnold knew the signal of the fort, and he knew the habit of the privateers. By ordering a third gun, he broke the alarm. Ledyard then sent out two messengers to tell every militia captain to hurry his men to the fort. But ex presses could not go far in a few hours, and the enemy moved rapidly. Only i6o men were in the fo-rt when the storming com menced. They were not enough to man the 32 guns of the fort and dependent batteries. While many had seen service on bat tle fields and privateers, a very large number had never been in action. "A detachment under command of Col. Eyre halted and pre pared for action behind a ledge of rocks 130 rods south of the fort; one under command of Maj. Montgomery, behind Avery's hill, 150 rods to the south-east. About 10 o'clock Eyre sent a flag to demand surrender, which was refused. A second flag was the revolutionary war — 1775-1783. 69 sent, with the statement that if he had to take the place by storm, martial law would be put in force. This was understood to mean death by bayonet to- all who survived the storming. Without a dissenting vote, Ledyard and his officers replied that the fort would not be given up, be the consequences what they might. The obstinacy of these men is inspiring. If they had surrendered in this contest of five to one, history would have approved the act. Fort Griswold was thus made an altar of liberty, on which was offered the last sacrifice on New England soil ; it was trans- forrned into a monument to the bravery of its little garrison and their stubborn loyalty to duty. It was II o'clock when the second flag returned with Led- yard's answer, f. Immediately both British divisions started, mov ing rapidly. Capt. Halsey directed a charge of grape into Eyre's solid column, clearing a wide space, killing and wounding over 20 men, disabling their leader and scattering the column. They rallied and returned to the attack, tO' be repulsed a second time. Montgomery's column was approaching from the east, suffering severely under a heavy fire from the fort and east battery. Sev eral times the enemy were repulsed and demoralized, once so completely that the cheers of the little band rang out over the hills in triumph to their listening homes. "But for an accident the fort would probably not have been taken. Seeing that the position was stronger than he had sup posed, Arnold sent an officer toi Eyre to- countermand the order for an attack. This officer was instructed to make all possible haste to deliver the message, that the storming might not be begun. But a stray shot cut the halyards of the flag and it fell to the ground. Though this was instantly caught up and re mounted on a pike pole, the enemy thought it had been struck by its defenders and rallied with determined energy. They swarmed into the ditch and assaulted the fort on three sides. There was hard fighting at every point. Cannon balls and other missiles were hurled by hand upon -those who' came near the walls. Williams and Bailey, who worked the one-gun battery at the east, were forced to fly for their lives. One of the assailants boldly tried to unlock the gate and was killed. It was a long 70 history of the town of ledyard. time before another could get near enough to make the attempt. The assailants were losing heavily. "A grand-daughter of Caleb Avery writes me : 'I have often heard grandmother and aunt and father recount the terrible mas sacre at Fort Griswold ; I have always understood from them that the British were repulsed so successfuUy that they were in a demoralized condition, when the flag was shot from the pole, which caused the enemy to make a desperate assauft.' Caleb Avery was one of the defenders. "That desperate rush gave entrance at the south-west bastion, which was entered through its embrasure. Soon the sallyport was forced. The enemy mounted the south wall. Montgomery was killed while coming through an embrasure, and died with the words, 'Put every man to death.' The main gate had now been opened and the British were pouring into the fort. The day was lost. "Ledyard ordered his men to throw down their arms. He himself approached the British leader to surrender. When wfthin six feet, Bromfield called out: 'Who commands this fort?' 'I did, but you do now,' said Ledyard, presenting his sword. Bromfield seized the weapon and plunged it through Ledyard's heart, driving it through the bo^dy from the left armpit to the right. Capt. Youngs Ledyard and many of his companions rushed again into the thick of the fight and died around the body of their chief. Maddened by the determined resistance of so small a force, by Mo-ntgomery's death, and by the havoc made in their ranks, the enemy proceeded to execute the threat made by Eyre before the battle. Platoon after platoon delivered their fire into a garrison that had thrown down their arms. Squad after squad kept pouring volleys into- the magazine, where many had fled, till BrOmfield called out : 'Stop firing ; you'll send us all to hell together.' Soldiers in broken ranks rushed here and there plying the bayonet on living and dead. Some they brained with clubbed muskets, others they knocked senseless and stabbed. .Daniel Stanton, helpless with a bullet wound, received 20 gashes with bayonets and cutlasses. The wounded crying piteously for life were murdered in their blood, Park Avery received a bcCyo- THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1775-1783. 71 net thrust that carried away one eye and part of the skull. One man's ribs were driven from the bone by the stroke of a musket butt. 'Be Jasus, I'll skipper ye!' screamed a Briton as he planted his bayonet in Rufus Avery's breast. Charles Eldridge, helpless with wounds, saved his life by giving a gold watch to the soldier that would transfix him. John DaboU, who had been already disabled, was knocked senseless by a ruffian who was in the act of bayoneting him when a British officer drove him off. Edward .Stanton's left breast was torn open by a wound that showed the heart ; but a British officer, of whom he asked aid, bound up the wound with a night-cap that he took from his pocket, gave him water, and saved a life. Some fought with the desperation of despair, selling their lives at a fearful price. Others dropped among the slain and feigned dead. Many jumped from the parapets to meet death in trying to flee. Samuel W. Jacques alone escaped unhurt. Having killed his antagonist in a hand- to-hand fight, he leaped from the walls unseen. But 'it was a source of grief to him in his last hours that he won his freedom by the death of one so young and beautiful.' The enemy kept saying that they must all die before sundown ; for that was in the ¦ summons sent to Col. Ledyard. "But not all were of this mind. After the deadly order had been well-nigh executed, an English officer, who is said to have entered the fort too late to stop the butchery, cried out : 'My soul cannot bear such destruction !' Ordering the drums toi beat a parley, he stopped the carnage. "Stephen Hempstead says : 'The cruelty of our enemies can not be conceived, and our renegade countrymen surpassed in this respect, if possible, our British foes. We were at least an hour after the battle within a few steps of a pump in the garrison, well supplied with water ; and although we were suffering with thirst, they would not permit us to take one drop of it nor give us any themselves. Some of our number, who" had not been disabled from going to the pump, were repulsed with the bayonet, and not one drop did I taste after the action commenced, although begging for it after I was wounded of all who came' near me.' "Eighty-eight victims of 'martial law' lay dead upon the 72 . history of THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. ground. Most of those not killed were wounded by the bayonet. Only six or seven of the garrison had been slain when the fort was taken. One month later Yorktown fell, but not a Briton was killed except in fair fight. Alexander Hamilton led the American attacking column. The redoubt that he took was car ried by the bayonet. Not one of the enemy was injured after he surrendered. Our troops showed to the world that they would not be provoked into retaliation for the butchery of Fort Gris wold. Two years before this Wayne had stormed the fortress at Stony Point. The attack was at midnight, when fiercest passions might be aroused in a hand-to-hand fight in the darkness. Yet not a man in the fort was put to death except in fair combat, and not one was hurt after he surrendered. The British themselves praised the magnanimity of our men. "At I o'clock the enemy began preparations for departure. They loaded a large wagon with the wounded to be taken to the boats. They piled them in on top of each other, like cordwood. Starting to draw the wagon down hill to the place of embarka tion, they found themselves unable tO' control the heavy load. Letting the wagon run down the incline, it struck a tree with such force that many of the wounded were thrown out and killed. One who had been thrown out attempted to crawl away and was knocked in the head with' a musket butt. Twenty-six were car ried off to Briton prison ships. . Thirty-five of the most severely wounded were paroled at the request of Ebenezer Ledyard, eldest brother of the murdered colonel. These were taken by the British into the house of Ebenezer Avery, near the place where the enemy. were to embark. Soon after the men had been taken to this house, marauders fired it in several rooms. Tliese fires were extinguished with difficulty. At Mr. Ledyard's request, Capt. Bromfield posted a sentinel to defend the helpless fellows till the last British soldier had embarked. This was not till ii o'clock at night. The blood that flowed from their wounds stained the floor where the men lay. The owner of the house, who was one of the number, would never aUow it to be washed out. These blood stains can be.seen to-day. "It was a night of terrible anguish. Thirty-five mangled, ex- THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1775-1783. 73 hausted men suffered by exposure and cold, racked by spasms and the tortures of undressed wounds, weakened from loss of blood, parched with thirst ; not a friendly hand to relieve distress, turn tFie aching body, or bear a last message from those upon whom the day would dawn in eternity. But the morn brought relief. None of the friends or neighbors dared to come toi their relief till daylight, not knowing that the enemy had gone. First Avert House. to appear was Miss Fanny Ledyard, neice of the dead colonel. Stephen Hempstead says : 'We were a horrible sight at this time. Our friends did not know us. Even my own wife came in the room to search for me, and did not recognize me ; and as I did not see her, she left the room to look for me among the slain. . . It was with the utmost difficulty that many of them could be identified, and so we were frequently caUed upon to assist their friends in distinguishing them, by remembering particular wound, etc Being myself taken out for that purpose. 74 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. I met my wife and brother. . . Never, for a moment, have I regretted the share I had in ft. I would be willing, if possible, to suffer it again.' "The American dead were left unburied, mostly wfthin the fort walls. The Brftish had ah that they could do- to attend to their own wounded and slain. Their dead were buried in the ditch of the triangular work before the gate and in shallow graves near it. Maj. Montgomery ind one or two other officers were buried in the fort, under the embrasure where Montgo-mery feU. Great emergencies call forth acts of pathetic devotion. Edward Mills lived three miles from the fort, and responded to the alarm on that fatal morning. Anna Wamer was a member of her uncle's household. During the long hours of that terrible day no tidings reached the home but the boom of cannon. At its close no message came. Night passed and morning dawned, but no tidings reached the distracted wife. At an early hour Anna walked to the fort. On the floor of Avery's house she found her uncle. At sight of her he began toi mourn for his wife and children. Hastening back to the lonely ho-me, placing the wife and elder child upon the horse, and taking the babe in her arms, she hurried to the dying father and placed the infant on his breast. Capt. Burroughs, hearing the signal gun, left his oxen still hitched tO' the plow and started for the fort, taking his son to ride back the horse. 'When wiU you get back?' asked the wife. 'Good-by ! God knows !' On the morrow the son rode back the horse for the body of l)is father. The wife and daughter of Buddington watched, with anxious eyes, as he left their home above the fort and went within its gate. All that dreadful day they watched the battle and conflagration from the rocks above the fight. The long suspense ripened into months of heartache. They never knew whether father and husband were dead or alive tiU the starved and sick survivor of the prison ship staggered across the threshold of his home. John Prentis, and others who had dropped among the slain and feigned dead, arose during the night and ministered to the wants of their dying companions. "The defenders of Fort Griswold were mostly young men. Fifty-two of their tombstones give dates of birth. Most of them THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR I775-I783. 75 were less than 30; 36 were under 40; only 16 were over that age. Lieut.-Col. Ledyard was but 43. Boys were there, and one aged sire whose locks had been silvered by the snows of 70 winters. Daniel WiUiams fell at the age of 15 ; James Comstock st75- "In the darkness of the morning, anxious wives and mothers, daughters and aged sires, sisters and those of a tenderer tie, groped among the slain for those who had left their hearth stones not a day before. As the lantern gleam showed the lifeless features of one, and another, and then another of neighbors whom they had known for years, they came at last uj>on the mu tilated form of the one they sought. Often they were so dis figured as to need some mark tO' prove the body. The dead were borne, one by one, to their last resting places in the different towns. "Four or five hundred yards south-east of the fort are the graves of Ledyard and many of his fellow-martyrs. Here Led yard saw the British column trample the grave of his daughter whom he had laid to rest just six weeks before that day. Tlie state of Connecticut has erected a granite monument over the remains of William Ledyard. Near it is all that relic hunters have left of the original tombstone. The inscription has been nearly all chipped away, but it may be found copied upon the north side of the monument. In a wooded valley called 'Gunga- wamp' is a rough granite slab bearing the letters N. A. This marks the grave of John Adams's brother, Nathaniel. Many of the graves were never marked and cannot be located. In 1826-30, Groton monument was erected 'In memory of the patriots who fell in the massacre of Fort Griswold near this spot on the 6th of September, A. D. 1781, when the British, under the command of the traitor, Benedict Arnold, burnt the towns of New London and Groton, and spread desolation and woe throughout this region.' The top of this granite obelisk is 265 feet above the har bor. Within the door of the monument is a marble slab bearing the names of those who fell ; beside it hang many relics of the battle. In the Bill Memorial Library near by is the sword of Ledyard, It is a short weapon of the rapier pattern. In the 76 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. atheneum at Hartford are the vest and shirt that he wore, with the rents made by the sword. The writer has a piece of the trimming of this vest, presented by a granddaughter of Gurdon Ledyard, a brother of the colonel. "In form and outline Fort Griswold is substantially the same as when taken by the British. In the south-west bastion is the E 6cale of SoVarcLs Plan op Fort G-riswold, Groton, Conn. ruined masonry of the old magazine. Across the east side of the parade are the remains of the barrack chimneys ; the stone foundations of the old platform run along the west. On the right of the gate is the well ; in the south wall, opposite, is the sallyport where Shapley's party entered, with fts covered way outside Tn front of the gate is what was left of the brea'st-wo-rk after the enemy had shoveled ft into the ditch to bury their slain; just within^ the marble slab* marking the spot where Ledyard fell. ¦¦'¦This was erected by Frederic Bill, of Groton, THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR — 1775-1783. •J'J On the south parapet is the embrasure where Montgomery died by Lambert Latham's pike; near it is his grave. Capt. Amos Stanton of the continental army happened to be at home at the time on a furlough, and went into the fort that morning as a volunteer. He was an experienced soldier, and far superior in military albility to any man present at the council of war held early in the day. He wished to meet the enemy at the landing and skirmish with them through the woods, handling his men so that they would seem more than they were. The constantly ar riving militia and volunteers co-uld thus be given an opportunity to swell the number of fighters, while the enemy were held in check. It was the plan followed with success at Conco-rd, Lexing ton, Norwalk and other places. But as it was, the speedy arrival of the British prevented the assembling of more than 160 men. "Though the Connecticut coast had been terrorized by war ships that patroled the Sound, New London had thus far escaped in spite of the stronger reasons for destroying it than attached to any other place. British and tories hated the town. It was a stronghold of the privateers that played such havoc with English merchant marine, and helped to bring the war to- its close. 'Two hundred and fifty vessels in the West India trade, with cargoes amounting to $10,000,000, were captured in a single year.' 'In the year 1777 alone only 40 English vessels out of 200 engaged in the African trade escaped the American cruisers.' For the in surance of a single vessel for a single voyage more than 50 per cent, was paid in England. Most of these privateers went out from the harbors of Essex County in Massachusetts and New London County in Connecticut. At the end of the war the port of Salem counted a privateer force of 4,000 men and 1,280 guns. The New London force was as strong till weakened by Arnold's raid. In the single year 1779, 18 prizes were taken into that port. A few weeks before the event of which we write, the Hannah, laden with an unusually rich cargo, was brought into New Lon don by the Minerva. This prize, valued at $400,000 was prob ably the richest that the American privateers had ever taken. It is thought that this seizure was the immediate cause of Arnold's raid. yS HISTORY OE THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. "In New London was a fabulous amount of accumulated store; but the enemy enjoyed no plunder, and were able to destroy but a small fraction of this booty. The privateers and 12 other vessels, having taken on board their stores and plunder, went up the river out of danger. The forts were not even destroyed, owing to the haste of the enemy and the watchfulness of the Americans. Arnold's orders had been to burn the bar racks of Fort Griswold and blow up the magazine. When leav ing the enemy laid a train of powder and fired it. This was put out by those who had dropped among the slain to save their lives. The Italian historian, Botta, says : 'This expedition was but a piratical inroad, absolutely without utility.' "This was probably, also a move on the chessboard of war. Washington and Clinton were playing a game between York- town and New York, with advantages in Washington's favor. Some doubt the theory that Arnold's raid was to draw off Wash ington from New York, which Qinton supposed was the real objective point of the expedition to- Virginia; but suggest that Qinton thought a severe blow against New London would delay reinforcements from that region. It has always been believed that Clinton hoped to secure this as an advantageous base of operations from which to attack New England. The obstinate resistance at the fort, the militia that were rallying like hornets, the threatening attitude of the inhabitants, and the non-appear ance of the sympathizers that they expected to see, warned the enemy that the place was untenable. "While the British failed largely to accomplish their declared object, they destroyed a large amount of private property. Ship ping that did not go up the river was burned, with most of the wharves and warehouses. The Hannah, the immediate cause of all this trouble, was destroyed, with her cargo. Arnold pretended to aim only at the destruction of privateers and public property. He professed great regret for the burning of the towns, but strong evidence supports the personal malice theory. One hun dred and forty-three buildings were destroyed in New London, including the homes of 97 families ; in Groton 12 houses and 9 other buildings. The British lost over 220 men, killed and missing." the REVOLUTIONARY WAR — 1775-1783. 79 Men OF Ledyard in the Revolutionary War. Ichabod Babcock, Daniel Stoddard, Robert Stoddard, WiUiam Forsyth, Joshua BUl, John Packer, Andrew Gallup, Thomas Smith, Zebanah Williams, WUliam Noyes, William Latham, Nehemiah Gallup, Thomas Roach, Ralph Stoddard, Vine StO'ddard, Asa Lester, Nathan Lester, Phineas Bill. Killed in Fort Griswold. Capt. Samuel AUyn, Capt. Simeon Allyn, Befton Allyn, Benadam Allyn, Corporal Andrew BUlings, Andrew Baker, Samuel Hill, Sergeant Rufus Hurlbutt, Moses Jones, Lieut. Joseph Lewis, Ensign John Lester, Corporal Simeon Morgan, Thomas Miner, Joseph Moxley, Corporal Luke Perkins, Jr., Elisha Perkins, Luke Perkins, Asa Perkins, Elnathan Perkins, Simeon Perkins, Capt. Amos Stanton, Sergeant John Stedman, Corporal Nathan Sholes, David Seabury, Lieut. Plenry Williams, Joseph Wedger. CHAPTER IX. The Second War with England— 1812-15. Our second war with England, like the first, was occasioned by England's fault; and both of them resulted disastrously to her — advantageously to us. Previous to this second war Eng land had been accustomed to assume and maintain "the right of search" in regard to- o-ur vessels upon the high seas. Under the cover of this so-called right she would board and overhaul American vessels wherever found — take from them able-bodied men, upon the claim that they were deserters and press them into her naval service. In this way many grievous wrongs were committed. American citizens, engaged in legitimate pursuits, were seized and hurried away into the service of England. This nefarious business was carried on for many years. At length it was felt by our rulers, and perhaps by a majority of the people, that it should be endured no longer. The result was the War of 1812-15. The fighting in -this war was mostly done at sea; and, in the great majority of cases, with brilliant achievements on the part of the American Navy. The battle of New Orleans on Jan. 8, 181 5, under the leadership of Gen. Andrew Jackson, was a triumphant conclusion of the war — ^fought, though it was, after the terms of peace had been agreed upon. This war was not very popular in Connecticut, though the Connecticut sailors went into it most heartily, hoping thus to avenge the injuries that the mother country had heaped upon them by her "right-of- search" proceedings. The people of the State generaUy were not in favor of the war for the reason that a law, recommended by the President and adopted by Congress, to the effect that "the seamen, ships and merchandise of the Unfted States should be detained in port to preserve them from the dangers which the second war with ENGLAND — 1812-15. 81 threatened them upon the ocean," interfered very seriously with their trade to foreign ports. Still there was no open; revolt, and the State as such co-operated in carrying on the war till a fav orable conclusion was reached. Large numbers of men were called out from Groton and adjoining towns for the defense of Stonington, when bombarded by a British fleet in Aug., 1814. Almost every man in North Groton, liable to bear arms, went into the service. Though no man was killed, there were two ^t least who had a very narrow escape, viz., William Avery and Joseph Geer. By direction of the officer in charge, they had gone down to the beach with an ox-team to draw away a field-piece that was lying there to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy. While engaged in this work a cannon ball, fired from one of the British ships, passed over the backs of their oxen, and within a few feet of their own heads, and near where Gurdon Bill, who was doing sentry duty, stood. Mr. Bill was, at the time of this attack, in Stonington, engaged in tea.ching school, and while not a member of the military co-mpany, yet was summoned by the officer above-named to the duty assigned as aJbove. Shortly after the incident referred to a boat-load of British troops started for the shore, with a view, doubtless, to reconnoiter as they landed, and while forming, a company of minute men concealed behind a stone wall near by, opened fire and being taken completely by surprise the enemy went pellmell for their boat, and in doing so quite a number lost and dropped their guns which were picked up by our men. Mr. Bill securing one, which was always kept by him as a trophy of the battle, and is now in the possession of Mr. Frederic A. Bill, of Springfield, Mass. Early in the wa:r the squadron of Commodore Decatur, con sisting of three ships, was chased into New London harbor by a greater force of British war-ships, and for two years Decatur's ships lay in the Thames wfthin a few miles of Norwich, the British ships remaining off the mouth of the harbor and so closely blockading its approaches that no vessels could enter or leave without risk of capture. While lying in the Thames the gallant Commodore took measures to defend himself should the 6 82 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. British attempt to ascend the river and attack him. He buUt a fortification on the top of a high hiU just north of Gale's Ferry, and mo-unted cannons upon it in positions which would render it well-nigh impossible for any British vessel to proceed northward much above New London. That old fortification is still extant, though in quite a dUapidated condition. It is in the form of a tri angle. One side, fronting eastward, is 130 feet, more or less, in length. An other, fronting toward the south west, and lying nearly at right angles with the river, is about no feet long. The remaining side, parallel with the river, is about 90 feet long. The fortification has long borne the name of Fort Decatur. On its north-west corner is a huge granite boulder, five or six feet high, bearing this inscription: This Boulder Was Marked By The Belton Allyn Society C. A. R. Of Gale's Ferry As Being The North Boundary Of Fort Decatur That Was Erected In The Years 1813 And 1814 To Protect Decatur's Fleet Prom The British Fort Decatur. Feb. 28, 1898. CHAPTER X. The Civil War of 1861-5. The Civil War of 1861-5 was between the great loyal North on one side and the "solid South" on the other. It was precipi tated by the South in their secession from the Union, and this with the view of riveting more firmly the chains of slavery. It was entered upon and prosecuted by the North primarily for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the nation. It resulted in the overthrow of slavery, the emancipation of three millions of bondmen, and the re-establishment of the nation upon a much broader and firmer foundation than that upon which it had previously rested. The cost of the war in treasure and blood was immense. In the South it was perfectly overwhelming. In the North the strain was so severe that it was felt in every fiber of the nation's life. Every portion of the country, frOm the largest city to the smallest town, had a share in it about as large as it was able to- bear. How large the share of Ledyard was will ap pear in part in the long list of volunteers engaged in the conflict. A granite shaft, in memory of the fallen, stands on the "Com mon," in front of the church at the center of the town, and dedi cated on July 4, 1873, and was the gift of Ledyard Bill. The services of the dedication were held in the church where Gov. Wm. A. Buckingham, and Col. Hoyt, speaker of the House of Representatives,, delivered addresses, followed by remarks by Col. John T. Wait and others, Mr. BiU first making delivery of the monument to John Brewster, Esq., Chairman of the Selectmen. The committee in charge of the arrangements for the day con sisted of Hon. Henry Larrabee, Edmund Spicer, Esq., and Rev. Charles Cutting. At the close of the exercises, a picnic dinner was served by the ladies of the town to several hundred people. The address of Gov. Buckingham, on this occasion, was ac- 84 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. counted by his friends to have been among the very best of all his efforts during his public life. Volunteers from Ledyard, 1861-5. First Connecticut Cavalry. Cook, WUliam T., Lieutenant.* Knapp, Henry E., Private, Co. B. Lamb, Franklin A., Commissary Sergeant, Co. B. Brown, Daniel H., Private, Co. C. Egan, Michael, Private, Co. C. Brown, Elias S., First Lieutenant, Co. G. Whipple, Daniel, Sergeant, Co. G.* Whipple, Samuel S., Sergeant, Co. G. Boiles, Orrin S., Corporal, Co. I.* Chapman, Daniel, Private, Co. L. Brown, Ferdinand, First Sergeant, Co. M. Turner, Isaac D., First Sergeant, Co. M. Eighth Infantry. Lamb, Samuel S., Private, Co. G. Tenth Infantry. Allyn, Asa, Private, Co. H. Bromley, Lyman W., Private, Co. H.* Eleventh Infantry. Satterlee, Dwight, Assistant Surgeon. Rogers, Samuel C, Private, Co. H. Smith, George A., Private, unassigned. Twelfth Infantry. Avery, Horace, Private, Co., D. Ball, Cephas, Private, Co. D. Turner, Henry, Private, Co. D. AUj^n, Stanton, First Lieutenaiht, Co. K. Avery, Alexander W., Sergeant, Co. K. ?Enlisted in othier towns, according- to Catalogue THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-5. 85 McCracken, Charles T., Sergeant K. Stoddard, Orrin E., Sergeant, Co. K. Ball, Frederick N., Corporal, Co. K. Ball, John G., Corporal, Co. K. Clarke, Tliomas J., Wagoner, Co. K. Ball, Grosvenor, Private, Co. K.* Clark, Edwin, Private, Co. K. Comstock, Charies H., Private, Co. K.* Peckham, Adin R., Private, Co. K. Perkins, Albert M., Private, Co. K. Perkins, Charles L., Private, Co. K. Pratt, Gurdon, Private Co. K.* Reynolds, WUliam H., Private, Co. K. Cold, George, Private, unassigned. Thirteenth Infantry. Smith, William, Private, Co. I. Fourteenth Infantry. Wagner, Henry, Private, Co. C. Lull, Oscar S., Private, Co. E. Dart, John N., Private, Co. H. Perkins, Prentice A., Private, Co. H. Thomas, George, Private, Co. I. Allyn, Stephen D., Private, Co. K. Allyn, William R., Private, Co. K.* Dyetch, Jacob, Private, Co. K. Hasler, Henry, Private, Co'. K. Maynard, Erastus A., Private, Co. K. Babcock, George W., , Private, Co. K. Eighteenth Infantry. Caswell, Guilford, Private, Co. F. Mastin, James W., Private, Co. F. Sweet, William H., Private, Co. F. ?Enlisted in other towns, according' to Catalogue, 86 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Twenty-first Infantry. Bailey, Thomas L., Corporal, Co. C. Wilcox, Chauncey F., Corporal, Co. C* Gallup, Francis E., Private, Co. C. Latham, Ira C, Private, Co. C* Maynard, Augustus E., Private, Co. C. Meech, George F., Private, Co. C. Peckham, Benjamin B., Private, Co. C. Green, Gurdon, Private, Co. E. Moxley, Solon R., Private, Co. F. West, William R., Corporal, Co. G. Lamb, Warren A., Private, Co. G.* Main, John L., Private, Co. I. Twenty-sixth Infantry. Gray, Montgomery, Private, Co. B. Johnson, Henry, Private, Co. B. Lamb, Noyes, Private, Co-. B. Avery, Timothy A., Second Lieutenant, Co. D. Moffitt, Arden, Second Lieutenant, Co. D. Tuttle, Erastus R., Sergeant, Co. D. Chapman, Ephraim A., Corporal, Co. D. Lee, Denison P., Corporal, Co. D. Miller, George, Corporal, Co. D. AUyn, James A., Private, Co. D. Allyn, Denison, Private, Co-. D. Allyn, Nicholas, Private, Co. D. Ball, Henry J., Private, Co-. D. Bromley, Isham, Private, Co. D. Chapman, William E., Private, Co. D. Christie, Edwin L., Private, Co.' D. Christie, Jonathan L., Private, Co-. D. Crouch, William W., Private, Co. D. Farrelly, Peter, Private, Co. D. Frink, Thomas H., Private, Co. D. Maynard, Appleton J., Private, Co.. D. *Knligted in other towng, aocording- tq- Catalogue, THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-5. 87 MftcheU, John N., Private, Co. D. Murtit, Ray, Private, Co. D. Myers, Elias E., Private, Co. D. Palmer, Moses N., Private, Co. D. Slater, Rudolph, Private, Co. D. Smith, William, Private, Co. D. Stoddard, Simeon A., Private, Co-. D. Whipple, Austin, Private, Co. D. Gray, Stephen, Private, Co. K. Sawyer, Peter, Private, Co. D. Tzventy-ninth Infantry — Colored. Fisher, Isaac J., Private, Co. K. Hoxie, Noyes J., Private, Co. K. Jones, John M., Private, Co. K. Lawrence, Amasa, Private, Co. K. Lee, George, Private, Co. K. Thirty-first Infantry — Colored. Peckham, Albert A., Private, Co. B. Enlisted in Regular Army. Spicer, Allen, Third ArtUlery. Turner, Henry, Fourteenth Infantry, Co. E. Morgan, Frank, Fourteenth Infantry, Co. H. M'organ, Simeon, Fourteenth Infantry, Co. G. Members in Navy. Ball, Justin. Gallup, Christopher M., "Landsman." Allyn, Gurdon L. Bailey, Latham A. Ball, Guilford. Bro-wn, Latham A. Satterlee, Charles A. Stoddard, Ebenezer M. Enlisted in other States. Ball, Thomas, New York. Gallup, Simeon, Rhode Island. CHAPTER XI. Family Histories and Genealogies, THE ALLYN FAMILY. (By Thomas Latham). The AUyns of Ledyard are undoubtedly of English descent. A coat of arms, at present in possession of Gurdon F. AUyn, of Salem, Conn., has an accompanying description which con tains the names of John Allyn, of Utoxeter, in the county of Stafford, Francis Allyn, of London, and also the names of Richard Allyn, Thomas Allyn and WUliam Allyn. History informs us that a certain William Allyn was a Pro testant Martyr of Walsingham, England, during the reign of the "Bloody Mary." We are told that for refusing to- read the "Book of Sports," and fOr refusing to- follow the cross in pro cession he was condemned to death, was permitted to go to the stake untied, where he was chained and stood quietly without shrinking, until he died, one year after John Rogers suffered martyrdom at Smithfield. I. Robert Alfyn, who was born in 1608, emigrated to Salem, Mass., in 1637. He united with the church in 1642, and moved to New London in 165 1. He wa!s one of the company who first purchased the Town of Norwich, and he obtained a grant of a large tract of land on the Thames River, including "AUyn's Point," where he died, in 1683, aged 75 years. His children were John, m. Elizabeth Gager. Sarali, m. George Geer. Mary, m. Thomas Park, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 89 Hannah, m. Thomas Rose. Deborah, m. John Gager, Jr. II. John Allyn, who was boim about 1640, married Elizabeth Gager, daughter of John Gager, of "New Noirridge," Dec. 24, 1668. He died in 1709, leaving an estate valued at £1,278, to be divided between his only son, Robert, and only daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Waterman. His inventory named three farms and a trading post on the Thames river. Among his household effects werel a silver tankard, cup, tumbler and whistle, a gold ring, a wrought cushion and a lignum-vitae mortar and pestle. III. Robert, son of John Allyn and Elizabeth Gager, married Deborah Avery, Jan. 26, 1691. Their children were I. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 20, 1693, m. Jonathan Williams. 2. John, b. Jan. 10, 1695, m. Joanna Miner, 1726. 3. Robert, b. Jan. 25, 1697, m. AbigaU Avery, 1725. 4. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 29, 1699, m. Mary Thurber, 1726. 5. James, b. Feb. 29, 1699, m. Althea Avery, 1729. 6. Christopher, b. April 12, 1702, died March 26, 1703. 7. Samuel, b. May 26, 1704, m. Hannah Avery, 1731. 8. Christopher, b. July 26, 1706. 9. Lucy, b. July 29, 1708, died unmarried. 10. Nathan, b. Oct. 5, 171 1, m. Jane Purl. II. Deborah, b. , m. Jonathan Lester. IV. Ebenezer Allyn, born Feb. 29, 1699, married Mary Thurber, April ¦zj, 1726. He died AprU 21, 1760. She died Nov. 16, 1780. Their children were I. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 25, 1727, died same date. 2. Mary, b. Nov. 26, 1727, died young. 90 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 3. Son, b. Sept. 6, 1729, died Nov. 5, 1729. 4. Deborah, b. Oct. i, 1730, died April 19, 1731. 5. Lucy, b. Feb. 14, 1732, m. James Avery, 1749. 6. Mary, b. July 4, 1734, m. Thos. Lester, 1754. 7. PriscUla, b. June 24, 1736, m. John Allyn. 8. Rebecca, b. May 3, 1738, m. Ezekiel Turner. 9. Ebenezer, b. March 28, 1740. 10. Thomas, b. June 23, 1742, m. Lucy Avery, 1762. II. Rufus, b. Aug. 17, 1745, m. Hannah BiUings, 1766. 12. Amos, b. Feb. 21, 1748, m. Elizabeth Morgan. V. Thomas Allyn married Lucy Avery, Nov. 30, 1762. Their children were I. Thomas, b. Sept. 20, 1763, died May 20, 1849. 2. Lucy, b. March 16, 1766. 3. Eunice, b. Aug. 7, 1768. 4. Joshua, b. July 22, 1770. 5. Cyrus, b. May 22, 1772, died Oct. 25, 1774. 6. Anna, b. Jan. 13, 1775. 7. Phebe, b. Oct. 17, 1778, died June 12, 1786. VI. Thomas Allyn, son of Thomas and Lucy Avery Allyn, born Sept. 20, 1763, married Susannah Morgan. He died May 20, 1849. She died June 20, 1850. Children : — Isaac A., died Nov. 27, 1802, aged 17 years. Cyrus, b. Feb. 14, 1786, died Jan. 12, 1840. Susannah, died March 16, 1839, aged 50 years. Lucy, married Edmund Stoddard. Prudence, died Dec. 30, 1814, aged 23 years. The Susannah, who died in 1839, was the first wife of Guy C, Stoddard. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 91 VII. Cyrus, son of Thomas and Susannah Morgan Allyn, born Feb. 14, 1786, married Mary Morgan. He died Jan. 12, 1840. She died June 12, 1869. Children : — I. Cyrus Morgan, b. March 27, 1816. 2. Sidney, b. May 12, 1817, died April 15, 1890. 3. Caroline, b. Oct. 9, 1818, died Oct. 13, 1820. 4. Susan Mary, b. Feb. 10, 1820, died Oct. 12, 1896. 5. Thomas Avery, b. Dec. 5, 1821, died Feb. 8, 1895. 6. TheophUus Morgan, b. Nov. 23, 1823. 7. Charlotte Maconda, b. Oct. 6, 1824. 8. John Hobart, b. Sept. 30, 1827, died March 29, 1887. 9. Byron, b. Feb. 2, 1830, died Nov. 25, 1830. 10. Byron, b. Oct. 31, 1831, kiUed Nov. 16, 1881. II. Jeannette Dwight, b. AprU 2, 1834, died Aug. 22, 1875. 12. Prudence, b. March 20, 1836. , VIII. Thomas A. Allyn, who died in 1895, had three wives. His first wife, who died in 1862, left one- son, Cyrus, who' in A. D. 1900 is in possession of a fai-m at AUyn's Point, which has been owned by nine succeeding generations of Allyns. The names of the owners, in the direct line of succession, is as foUows : I. Robert, original grantee, who died in 1683. 2. Jo'hn, who died in 1709. 3. Ro'bert, who married Deborah Avery. 4. Ebenezer, who married Mary Thurber. 5. Thomas, who married Lucy Avery. 6. Thomas, who married Susannah Morgan. 7. Cyrus, who died in 1840. 8. Thomas, who died in 1895. 9. Cyrus, present owner in 1900. 92 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. THE AVERY FAMILY. The Averys of Ledyard and neighboring towns are de scendants of James Avery, who was bom in England about 1620, and who, with his father Christopher, came to this country wfth Gov. Winthrop's Coanpany in 1630. They lived at first in Bos ton or Salem, afterwards in Gloucester. About 1650, James, with his wife, who was Joanna Greenslade, of Boston, and his three oldest children, moved to New London. They constituted a portion of quite a party from Cape Ann, including Rev. Richard Blimnan, the pastor of the church in Gloucester, who became the first pastor of the First Church in New London. James Ave.ry built the famous "Avery Hive" on Poquonnoc Plain in 1656, and moved thither with his family. In 1684 the church edifice in New London, being no longer large enough to accommodate the congregation, was sold to James Avery. He took it down, moved the materials to Poquonnoc, and with them made a large addition to his house. The house, thus enlarged, was occupied by him and his famUy, and also by a regular line of his descendants from generation to generation, till it was set on fire by a spark from a passing locomotive on the railroad, July 20, 1^94, and burned to the ground. A bronze statue of James Avery, mounted upon a column of Scotch granite, now marks the spot where it stood. In their earlier generations in this country the Avery families were very large- — from ten to fifteen children generally in each of them. While a goodly number, bearing the name, stiU reside within a few miles of the spot where the old Hive stood, others have scattered off in all directions ; and Groton Averys, or their descendants, may be found in almost every town in New London County and every State of New England; also in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, lUinois, Iowa, Wiscon sin, Nebraska, North Carolina, Louisiana, Oregon, California and other States and Territories. The majority of them have been farmers with moderate means and limited aspirations. Some, however, have become the owners of large farms, and been withal very enterprising and progressive. John J. Avery (1776-18—), of Groton, had a well- FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 93 tilled farm of 700 acres, covering the ground now occupied by that charming summer resort. Eastern Point. Robert Stanton Avery (1771-1846), of Preston, had a farm of 250 acres, which included a large part of Avery's Plains, so-called. He was the first man in Preston to own a wagon, and the first to use a cast- iron plow ; the first to introduce into his neighborhood Merino sheep from Spain and blooded stock from England. Dwight Avery (1828 ), of Norwich Town, is an extensive market- gardener, running his spacious greenhouses with their ap pendages in connection with a large milk farm. One of the many who have gone West, and become farmers on a much broader scale than any who have settled down in the Nutmeg State, is Phineas O. Avery (1838 — — ). After enlisting in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry and serving his country over three years in the Civil War, he settled in Humbolt, Nebraska ; and in 1866 owned 800 acres of fine farming land, all under cultivation, 300 head of Hereford cattle and 30 horses. Several Averys, of the Groton stock, have developed a good deal of mechanical skUl ; and some of this class have acquired distinction as inventoirs. This is true of John Avery, Jr. (1732-1794), of Preston, a self-taught silver-smith and clock- maker; of Samuel Avery (1760-1836), of Preston, inventor of a nail-cutting machine; of Otis Avery (1808, living in 1889), of Honesdale, Pa., who was one of the first to receive a patent for a sewing machine — a patent which was taken out not only in this country, but also in England and France. To his inventive talent, Mr. Otis Avery added that of a legislator, and that also of a judge, and was called to fill these offices as long as he was willing to hold them. Some of the Groton Averys have proved themselves capable of managing large business concerns, and have acquired fortunes in doing it. Benjamin Franklin Avery (1801-1885), of Central New York, was a man of this sort. For many years he was en gaged in the manufacture and sale of plows on a grand scale. His plows were of such superior quality that they commanded a ready sale wherever they were thrown upon the market. Abra ham Avery (1824-1893), of Boston, is another good example. 94 HlSTOfiY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. He was a printer by trade, and for many years was a member of the firm of Rand & Avery, whose publications, including "Uncle Tom's Cabin,'' went — thousands upon thousands — into every land where the English language is spoken. A pretty fair percentage of the family have been liberally educated, and have entered the learned professions. Nineteen have been graduated from Yale University ; a dozen or more from Harvard ; and enough from Amherst, Williams, Dartmouth, Middlebury and Brown to make out between forty and fifty from these New England CoUeges. And a good many more have been graduated from colleges outside of New England. Some of the men who have attained to a good degree of suc cess in the professions may be fittingly named here. In the medical profession, Christopher Swan Avery (1788-1862), who served as an army surgeon in the War of 1812-15, and afterward settled in Windham, Conn. Amos Geer Avery (1822-1898), who after much valuable service in the War of 1861-5, settled in Iowa, afterward in New York. George Whitfield Avery (1836-1893), who performed very extensive and valuable services as a surgeon in the army during the Civil War — afterward built up a large practice in Hartford, Conn., and was stricken down in the midst of eminent usefulness. Edward Woodbridge Avery (1841 ), who, as a surgeon, held important positions in the Army and Navy of the United States, also in the German Army during the Franco-Prussian War, and afterward settled down to practice in Brooklyn, N. Y. Of Groton Averys, who have attained to eminence in the legal profession, the following may be named: Edward Avery (1790-1866), who, after several years of legal practice, became Judge of the Supreme Court, Wooster, Ohio. D'aniel Dudley Avery (1810-1879), a lawyer and judge in Baton Rouge, La. Edward Avery (1828-1898), lawyer and statesman, Boston, Mass. A very large number of the Averys have been clergymen. Among them are the foUowing: Parke Avery (1710-1797), pastor of the Separate Church in Groton, Conn. Nathan Avery (1712-1780), pastor of the Separate Church in North Stonington. Christopher Avery (1737-1819), pastor ofthe Separate Church FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 95 in North Stonington. David Avery (1746-1818), a chaplain in the army of the Revolution, and pastor of Congregational Churches in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. David Avery (i8oi-;-i87S), pastor of Baptist Churches in Moodus, Ashford and other places in Connecticut. Charles Eldridge Avery (1794- 1 854), pastor of Congregational Churches in the State of New York. Jared Reid Avery (1804-1885), pastor of Congre gational Churches in Groton and Franklin, Conn. John Thomas Avery (1810 ), evangelist in Cleveland, Ohio-, and neighbor ing places. WiUiam Pitt Avery (1816-1885), pastor of Congrega tional Churches in Bozrah, Conn., and Chapin, Iowa. Frederick Denison Avery (181 8 ), pastor of Congregational Church in Columbia, Conn. John Avery (1819 ), pastor of Congrega tional Churches in Lebanon, Central Village and Ledyard, Conn. George Porter Avery (1852 ), pastor of Methodist Churches in New York and Minnesota. Of the educated men, who have not entered either of the three learned professions, some have performed very valuable services. The following may be named as representatives of this class : Prof. Charles Avery, LL. D. (1795- 1883). His life was given to teaching — 35 years of it as Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in Hamilton College, N. Y., his alma mater. Through his instrumentality large endowments were secured for various departments of the institution. Elroy McKendree Avery, Ph. D. (1844 ), of Qeveland, Ohio-, is the historian of the family. He made a good military record in the War of '61-5 ; and has since been largely engaged in teaching. He has written quite a number of educational works — some of which have obtained wide circulation. Robert Stanton Avery, Jr. (1808-1894), of Washington, D. C, was for many years con nected with the United States Coast Survey, and for over 20 years the head of its Tidal Department. He wrote several treatises on phonographic, mathematical and scientific subjects. He pub lished several of these works in his lifetime, and a short time previous to his death arranged for the publication of others by the Smithsonian Institute bequeathing the greater part of his estate to the Institute for this purpose. 96 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. The Averys have participated more or less largely in the wars in which the country has been involved. James Avery him self was a prominent leader in the conflicts with the hostile Indian tribes. In the spring of 1676, during the war known as King PhUip's War, the Connecticut authorities gave him command of a company of English from New Lo-ndon, Stonington and Lyme with as many Pequots as he should deem necessary, and sent him into the Narragansett country. His third son, John, was also' in the company. His great-grandsons and great-great-grandsons fought heroically in the Revolution, and nine of their number fell in Fort Griswold. In the War of 1812-15, a large number of his descendants, in the sixth and seventh generations, were called out for the defense of New Lon don, Stonington and other places against British invasion. In the Civil War, 1861-5, many took an active part; and several for their valor in action were highly honored. 'They became captains and majors and colonels ; and one at least, Robert Avery, having been engaged in many battles and several times severely wound ed, was breveted a brigadier and then major-general of United States Volunteers. In civil affairs the Averys have from the first taken an active part. The founder of the family held almost every honorable position to which he was eligible ; and in some of the offices to which he was elected he was retained for many years. Many of his descendants have been in like manner honored. Hon. Richard A. Wheeler, in 1872, published an article in a Mystic newspaper, in which he gave the names of all the men who hiad represented the toAvn of Groton in the GeneTal Assembly of Connecticut, between the years 1704 and 1871, inclusive. The whole number was 545. He closed the article wfth these words : "It is worthy of note that of these 545 Representatives, 104 were Averys-^all of them descendants of Capt. James Avery. Glory enough for one man in one town." Some of the Averys have been elevated to high positions in the national govemment. Daniel Avery (1766-1842), whose father fell in Fort Griswold when he was fifteen years old, settled in Central New York, and represented his Congressional Dis- F.'\MILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 97 trict in three different Congresses. William Thomas Avery (1819-1880), was elected a member of Congress in Tennessee in 1857 and again in 1859. Quite frequently some of the side shoots from the parent stalk have yielded fruit not at all inferior to that borne by the principal branches. In other words, the descendants of the daughters of the Averys as well as the descendants of the sons, have become widely known and been highly honored. Temperance Avery, daughter of Capt. Christopher Avery, of Avery HiU, in Ledyard, married William Morgan, and became the grandmother of Hon. Edwin D. Morgan, govemor of the State of New York. Lucy Avery, second daughter of Col. Ebenezer, of Groton, married George Colfax, and became the great-grandmother of Ho-n. Schuyler Colfax, who was a member of Congress fourteen years in succession — Speaker of the House of Representatives through three successive Congresses, and Vice-President of the United States during the first term of President U. S. Grant. Lucy Avery, a descendant of James, 1st, thrO'Ugh his son, Samuel, and his grandson, Humphrey (who lived and died at Poquetanuck), married Godfrey RockefeUer, and is the mo-ther of John D. Rockefeller, the famous millionaire. The Averys, like most of the peo-ple who came from England with them were Puritans, who left the mother country that they might find upon these Western shores "freedom to worship God." The religious element in their character was a predominant one. And it has given clear evidence of its presence in each of their successive generations from the first settlement of the country to the present time. They have been firm believers in the Chris tian religion and earnest defenders of it, even when it cost much to do it. Especially has it been true of them that they have ac cepted and acted upon the great moral principles which con stitute such an important element of the religion of Christ. Most of them, doubtless, have received and profited by family training much like that which one of their number administered in his household — the substance of which was reiterated again and again in his parental instruction : "My children, don't you ever allow yourselves, under any circumstances whatever, to do a mean thing." gg HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. THE AYER FAMILY. John Ayer, of Haverhill, settled in Stonington in the latter part of the seventeenth century. His homestead farm was north of "Lantern Hill," and ad joining the town of Groton. His son,- John, born in 1689, mar ried Sarah Colt, and later, settled in Saybrook, as the marriages of several of his children are recorded there. John, Jr., died in 1760, leaving seven children, one of whom, Joseph, married Thankful Drake, and settled in Stonington. His father, John, gave him 150 acres of land in 1743 and he afterward added to it by purchase, until he had a tract of between four and five hundred acres in Stonington, Groton and Preston. Joseph's brother John married Abigail Cook and settled on what was formerly his grandfather's homestead farm. Joseph died in 18:4, leaving to his son, Joseph, his lands in Stonington, and to his son, Elisha, his lands in Groton and Pres ton. Elisha died in 1853, and his farm descended to his son George. It is still in the possession of his descendants. Dr. James C. Ayer was born in Ledyard (North Groton), May 5, 1819. He was the son of Frederick and Persis (Cook) Ayer. He married Josephine M. Southwick, of LoweU. They had two sons and one daughter., Dr. Ayer died July 2, 1878. Dr. Ayer was an enterprising and bright man. He early went to Lowell, where he served as clerk in a drug store, ' of which later on he became the owner, and then prepared patent medi cines that afterwards had an extensive sale, and made him famous and wealthy. His son, Frederick Ayer, succeeded to the large business established by his father and is a prominent citizen of Lowell, Mass. THE BELLOWS FAMILY. Nathaniel Bellows lived on the farm in Ledyard now owned by Samuel Caswell. He was bom in Groton in 1757. He served in the Revolutionary War as private in Capt. Amos Stan ton's Company, of Groton, from March 19, 1777, to March, 1780. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 99 He married Sarah Smith, daughter of Lieut. Nehemiah and Abigail (Avery) Smith. He died Jan. 24, 1814. His wife died March 10, 1827, and both are buried on their farm. They had one chUd, Elizabeth, bom Aug. 16, 1794. She married Frederick Avery and removed West. Nathaniel was descended from John Bellows, who' came from England in the ship "Hopewell" in 1635, at the age of twelve. He maixied May 9, 1655, Mary Wood, of Marlborough, and settled ih Concord, Mass. Their ninth child, Nathaniel Bellows, was born in Concord, April 3, 1676, and removed to Groton, Conn., where land was granted to him by the town, Feb. 2^, 1699. He married Nov. 15, 1704, Doroas Rose, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Allyn) Rose, of New Lo-ndon. Groton land records show numerous purchases of land by him as late as Dec. 25, 1732. In 1736, Nathaniel and his wife Dorcas, joined in a deed to their son, Ithamar. The last mention of his name in Groton records occurs Feb. 22, 1759, when the bonds were recorded be tween himself and his grandson, John BeUo-ws. Their chU dren were John Bellows, born Sept. 13, 1705. Danuris Bellows, bom Sept. 17, 1707. Zerviah Bellows, born Oct. 30, 1709. Johan'ah Bellows, born March 24, 1711. Ithainar Bellows, born Feb. 24, 1713, died Oct. 24, 1777. Margaret Bellows, born Jan. 5, 1718. Dorcas and Hannah Bellows (twins), born Oct. 18, 1722. Dorcas married Israel Standish, of Preston. The eldest son above, John Bellows, born Sept. 13, 1705, mar ried Mary . They had a son, John Bellows, born Feb. 29, 1727, and died Sept. 16, 1793. He married Elizabeth WiU iams, who was bom Sept. 18, 1733, and died May 11, 1803. They were the parents of Nathaniel, the subject of this sketch. John Bellows, of Groton, is mentioned in the Colonial records of Connecticut, as collector of the Colony tax in the town in 1763. 100 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Lucretia Bellows, daughter of John and Elizabeth BeUows, born Sept. 2, 1763, married Jan. i, 1784, Daniel Stoddard, who was born Nov. 6, 1761. Tliey had eight children— Lucretia, Daniel, Lucy, Phebe, Clarissa, Maria, Sidney and Edward. Another daughter of John and Elizabeth Bellows, Cynthia BeUows, born April 12, 1771, married Shubael Morgan, and had eleven children. Ithamar Bellows, who was born Feb. 24, 1713, married Dor cas , born 1728, died July 22, 181 1. Tiieir children were Thomas Bellows, born May 2, 1755. Hannah Bellows, born Dec. 6, 1756. David Bellows, born May 8, 1760. Asa Bellows, born June 15, 1762. Anna BeUows, born July 7, 1764, married Richard BushnelF of Norwich. Ephraim Bellows, born July 14, 1766. Lydia Bellows, born May 14, 1767; married. Asa Bellows, born June 15, 1762, married Lydia Kellum, daughter of Capt. Samuel and Thankful Rose Kellum. They had five children — Thomas, Lucy, David, Lydia, Laura. Some of the above named persons are buried in the old churchyard near the Bill parsonage. [E. G.] THE BILLINGS FAMILY. The family from which the Billingses of Ledyard and neigh boring towns are descended, settled first in Eastern Massachu setts, later in New London, and later still in Stonington. The earliest immigrant to this country was William Billings, who located in Dorchester, Mass., in 1654, and was married to Mary in 1658. They had several chUdren, among them Will iam, Joseph and Lydia. It is uncertain whether these chUdren were born in Massachusetts or Connecticut. Their son, Ebenezer Billings, of the second generation, was born in 1659. He settled in Stonington and became an influen tial man in that town, frequently holding office as a magistrate. Large grants of land were made to him, lying chiefly in what is now North Stonington. He was married in 1680 to Ann Com- FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. IOI stock. Their children were Ann, Ebenezer, James, Zipporah, Margaret, Jemima and Increase. Their son, Increase BiUings, of the third generation, was born in 1697. Like his father before him he was prominent in military and civil affairs. He was married in 1720 to Hannah Hewitt. Their chUdren were Andrew, Stephen, Increase, Abi gail, Lucy, Tabitha, Jemima, Sophia and Jaheel. After the death of Mrs. B. in 1751, Mr. B. was married to Sarah Perkins, widow of Robert Stoddard. Stephen BiUings, son of Increase B. and Hannah Hewitt, of the fo'Urth generation, was born in 1723. He resided in North Groton (Ledyard). He was married in 1746 to Bridget Grant. By her he had six children. Mrs. B. and her infant child died in 1762; and Mr. B. was married to Mary Avery, widow of Youngs Ledyard. Three children were the fruit of this marriage. This second wife died in 1787; and Mr. B. was married the third time to Martha Denison. She died in 1808, and he, in 1814. Stephen BiUings, 2d, son of Stephen B. and Bridget Grant, of the fifth generation, was born in 1750. He entered the Army of the Revolution as a sergeant in 1775, participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, served through the entire war, and was honorably discharged at the close of it, holding the office of captain at the time. He was married, in 1774, tO' Cynthia Hewitt. By her he had four sons and one daughter. She died in 1786, aged 28. In 1787 he was married to Anna Raymond, by whom he had four daughters and one son — also a child that died in infancy. Stephen Billings, 3rd, of the sixth generation, son of Stephen B., 2nd, and Cynthia Hewitt, was born in 1781. He resided in North Groton (Ledyard). He was a captain in the War of 1812-15; and later was colonel of mUitia. He was married, in 1809, to Martha Allyn. Their children were Cynthia, Hannah, Adelia, Anna, Patty or Martha, Stephen, James AUyn, Henrietta. James Allyn BUlings, of the seventh generation, son of Stephen B., 3rd, and Martha Allyn, was born in 1821. (See biographical sketch of him). He was married, in 1852, to Mar garet J. Allyn. Their children were Martha, Mary J., Stephen A., and Anna E. I02 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. THE BILL FAMILY. The name is one of the oldest in English annals. Members of this family lived in the Counties Kent, Shropshire, Stafford shire, Yorkshire and in Wales ; likewise in London, Birmingham and Manchester. At the present time there are about as many persons living in England bearing the name as in this country. The first of whom we have a full and authentic account is one Dr. Thomas Bill, who was born about 1490, though the name has been traced back to the year 1300 when surnames first came into general use. This Dr. Thomas was a physician. He was in attendance at one time during an illness of Princess Elizabeth in 1549. He achieved the distinction of a B. A. in 1524; in 1548 he received the degree of M. A. He travelled for several years on the Continent, and attended medical lectures and received the degree of M. D. from the celebrated university founded by Emperor Charlemagne at Pavia, Italy. He was physician to Henry VIII. and Edward VI.; from the latter he received a grant of £100 per annum. He died 1551. William BUl, LL.D., a brother, born about 1505, was edu cated at St. John's College under Sir John Chekes, who later gave him a let ter of introduction to Queen Anne Boleyn, wherein he spoke of him as a "leamed and honest man, plentifrUly en dowed with knowl edge and of exem plary morals." He received several de grees from said col lege and later was, on recommendation of Lord Somerset, Rev. William Bill, D, D, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. IO3 elected master president of the college. In 1547 he received the degree of D. D., and became vice-chancellor of the University, 1548-9. In 1551 he was appointed master of Trinity CoUege. After the accession of Queen Mary, he was in disfavor on account of his protestantism, but when Queen Elizabeth came into power he was again in favor and preached the next Sunday after her accession, Nov. 20, 1558, at St. Paul's Cross, and soon after was made the Queen's almoner and was, by command of the Queen, on June 30, 1560, installed as Dean of Westminster. He died on July 15, 1561, and was buried on the 20th, in St. Benedict's Chapel in Westminster Abbey. No other person ever held, at the same time, the positions of master of Trinity, provost of Eton, and Dean of Westminster.- (His to-mb has been visited by Frederic Bill, on^different O'ccasions, when in London.) Charles BiU, bom in London about 1550, a son of the pre ceding, was a celebrated Latin scholar and was made the suc cessor of Sir Thomas Smith as Latin secretary to- the King. John Bill, son of the above, was born in 1576, and appears in London, in 1613, as a "Publisher to His most excellent Majestie King James the ist." One of the earliest books, p-rinted by him, was one by King James himself. A copy of this volume may be seen at the New York Society Library in University Place, New York City. From 1607 to 1700, the names of this John, and then that of his son, Charles, appear as publishers. They printed Bibles and prayer books for the use of churches, besides sermons and various miscellaneous work. The printing of the Bible was only allowed by royal permission, and both John and Charles had that right for many years. As many as twelve different edftions of the Bibles published by them, ranging from large folios to i8mos. in size, can, even now, be seen at the American Bible House on Fourth avenue in New York City. The writer likewise has several examples of their work. The first news sheet, as such, ever printed, was the "English Mercuric," and it is believed John Bill printed it. It is certain, however, that he printed the first "London Gazette," in time of Charles II. I04 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. John Bill, son of above, came to America in 1633, followed by his children in 1635 on the "Hopewell," and settled in Salem- or vicinity of Bosto-n. His son, James, settled at what is now known as Winthrop, then called Pullen Point, and owned large Hon. Richard Bill. tracts of land there, and his next neighbor was Mr. Deane Win throp, son of Gov. Winthrop, Sr. The old bound made by three walls in Winthrop, at one corner of his farm, was standing in 1894, as was also the old house where one of his sons lived Richard Bill was born in Boston, March 25, 1685 and was married on June 30, 1709, to Sarah Davis, daughter of Mai Benj. Davis. His wife died April 24, 1727, aged 49 years. His FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I05 second wife was Miss M. Minot. This Mr. BUl was a pros perous merchant, doing business on Cornhill, near the post- office in Boston. He was a noted citizen of his day and genera tion and widely known to all the peo-^le of the Bay Colony. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1707. In 1720 he was a lieutenant of the company, and later captain of one of the local mUitary organizations. In 1714 he was a member of the Commissio-n having to do* with the Abenaki Indians who dwelt partly in New Hampshire and partly in the Bay Colony. In 1741, and for several years prior thereto — five years in all — he was a member of the Colonial Governor's Coun cil and a warm friend and neighbor of John Hancock, James Otis, Paul Revere and Dr. Warren. His portrait, given here, is a co-py from a painting by John Singleton Copley, a" celebrated artist of those days. A duplicate of said painting, presented by Led yard Bill in 1898 to the State, now hangs on the walls of the capitol in Boston. He was the owner of "Spectacle Island" in Boston harbor and several houses in Boiston. He gave his daughter, Elizabeth, who married Joshua Henshaw, Junior, of Boston, a house on Sudbury Street, as a wedding present. He died in 1757. PhUip Bill was living in Ipswich, where John Winthrop, Jr., had also lived before going to New London. Philip retumed with Winthrop to occupy a portion of the grant of land Which Winthrop had obtained froim the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The latter held a Commission tO' begin a plantation which was bounded "Easterly from the Thames river four miles and North- erl.v fro-ni the sea six miles."* Passing rapidly, Joshua was the son of PhUip, Phineas was the son of Joshua, and Joshua, 2d, was the son of Phineas. This Joshua, 2d, was born 14th May, 1762. He was wounded at the battle of Groton Heights, and one Dr. Crary dressed his wounds. He received a pension from the Government, but not tUl many years after the battle. He died on 20th Dec, 1841. Gurdo-n Bill, Sr., the son of the above Joshua, was bom in Groton (Ledyard), Jan. 18, 1784. He had few advantages in his *See Wheeler's History of Stonington, I06 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. early life. He decided upon obtaining an Academic education, and to this end attended Plainfield Academy. Later he taught school seven successive winters and worked on a farm during the summers. He taught the first grammar school ever taught in Groton. While teaching school in Stonington he was called out as a "minute man" to do guard duty near the harbor. The Brftish fleet lay o-ff the town and made an attack. A boatload // <^-^ ^^'^y/a^^^/P-p^ a^fe^^^ of British soldiers gained the land and he, with others, who were sheltered by a stone wall near the shore opened fire whereupon the invaders took to their heels and to the boat and rowed back to the fleet, but in their haste to get safely away the}' dropped several guns and accoutrements ; one of the guns captured he had as a trophy and it is still kept in the family as a so-uvenir of that affair in the War of 1812. He, however, was never mustered into the govemment service and did duty only during the at tack on Stonington. He was engaged for a time in the whole sale fish trade at the old "Fly Market" in New York Cfty, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. IO7 Leaving there he returned to Groton and entered the mercantile business in the store which now stands opposite the "parsonage." This business he conducted successfully for a number of years. In those days the spinning of cotton yarn for the mUls at Jewett City, engaged the attention of many families, and he procured every two weeks froim those factories a supply which was dis tributed among the people in North Groton for spinning. This product he returned to the miUs regularly and this grew to- quite a large business in itself. He finally bought a part of two^ farms lying adjacent to his .store, one of which was the old Bishop Seabury place. This Seabury house, now destroyed, was the first parsonage in America. The house on the other place nearest the store, he had remodelled for his own use and at considerable cost for those days. He employed Isaac Gallup to doi the work. In the second story he had made a large hall for the accommoda tion of the Masonic Lodge, of which he was the master, and which since has served as a place for lectures, meetings, dancing, and in later years as a place where the trustees of the Bill Library have held their annual dinners. The Lodge was moved tO' Mystic Bridge. He married in Aug., 1821, Miss Lucy Yerrington, of Preston, Conn. He represented Groton in the General Assembly of 1828. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of .the Univer salist Church of Norwich, Conn., of which church he, in 1820, with David Tracy, H. K. Park and Paul Harvey, was among the founders. He died Sept. 10, 1856, and wals buried in the family lot in Ledyard, with Masonic honors by members of Norwich fraternity. The lodge for which he had built a home was later located in the lower vUlage of Mystic where it now flourishes. He left a large family of chUdren, three of whom died early and eight arrived at maturity. Two daughters, Eliza and Harriet, died at the ages of 16 and 18, respectively. The others were : — Edward M. Bill, the oldest son, born April, 1822. He learned the carpenter's trade and for a whUe was located in Norwich and then travelled West, where he married and settled in lo-wa, rais- I08 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. ing a family. He was a member of the Iowa Senate for four years, their terms of office being two years. He was also super intendent of schools of Munroe County for several years. He died in 1886. Henry Bill — See biographical sketches. Gurdon BUl, Jr., was bora June 7, 1827, and remained on the farm until the age of eighteen, after which he engaged in the sale of boo-ks for several years, travelling in many of the Westem .States, also in New England and the British Provinces. He then engaged with his brother Henry in the publishing business. In the year 1855 he removed to^ Springfield, Mass'., and entered the publishing business on his own account, and continued success fully in that line untU the year 1868 when he sold out to his brother Charles. Later on he became interested in the paper, envelope and other manufacturing enterprises. In 1871 he rep resented Springfield in the General Court, and in 1885 became the president of the Springfield and New London Railroad Co., and vice-president of the Connecticut Valley Railroad; until the latter road was sold to the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. For several years he was the president of the Second National Bank of Springfield; in 1900 he resigned. He gave to the City of Springfield the soldiers' monument located on Court Square in said city. By economy and business sagacity, Mr. Bill has gathered an ample fortune. He married May 12, 1853, Emily A. Denison, daughter of Nathan Fish Denison, of Groton. She died Feb. 17, 1879. They had chil dren : — Nathan D., b. Oct. 12, 1855, m. Ruth Wight, and lives in Springfield, Mass. Harriet E., b. Aug. 21, 1857, m. George D. Dutton, and lives in Pittsfield, Mass. Mary A., b. Sept. 15, 1859, m. E. Howard Beach. She died Jan. 24, 1889. Edward E., b. Feb 22, 1862, single, and lives in Springfield, Mass. Charies G., b. Feb. 13, 1870, m, Susan P, Marsh, and lives in UnionviUe, Conn, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I09 Frederic Bill was born in 1833. His early life was spent upon the ho-me farm. He was educated in the public schools, Roberts' Academy at Poquetanuck and Suffield Literary Insti tute. He afterwards taught school in the "Lester" district in the western part of the town. Though successful as a teacher, he chose a more active life, and travelled in the British Provinces; visiting Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Ed ward's Island, subsequently spending a considerable time in the South and West in the sale of books. In 1856 he engaged in the publishing business in Springfield, Mass., in connection with his brother Gurdon, who was already established there. In 1858 he spent a winter in Cuba, and in the spring of the same year, married Lucy G. Dennison, daughter of Nathan F. Dennison, of Mystic, Conn. At the beginning of the CivU War he disposed of his interest in the publishing business. In 1865 he became interested in the importation and manufacture of linen goods under the firm name of Tracy & Bill, with a place of business on Franklin street. New York City. After a few years he bought out his partner and continued the business alone, until 1873, when he disposed of his entire interest and retired from com mercial life. Soon afterward he made a tour of Europe with his wife, spending a year abroad. Since 1872 he has resided in Groton, Conn., near the mouth of the river Thames. His wife died in April, 1894. In August, 1895, he married Julia O. Avery, daughter of E. D. Avery, of Groton, immediately going abroad, visiting many countries on the continent, including Norway,,, Sweden and Spain, extending his tour to the far East and the river Nile. In 1888 he presented to the village of Groton a library in memory of his deceased sisters, which was incor porated under the title of the Bill Memorial Library, and in 1890 erected a granite library building at a cost, including grounds, etc., of nearly twenty thousand dollars, which he also presented to the trustees of the library. Subsequently, he gave the board of trustees ten thousand dollars as an endowment fund. He is a dir-ector in the Chelsea Savings Bank, of Norwich, and in other institutions. He has always declined pohtical preferment. no HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Ledyard BiU, bom in 1836. He was brought up on the farm wfth one season's "working out" for Isaac Avery "thrown in."' It was the rule of his father that his boys should have a taste of going away from home to work. It was and is a wholesome rule in the case of boys. He attended school at Norwich and Suffield Academy for a brief period, and then naturally drifted into the business of travelling and seUing books. This was fol lowed for a number of years in about all portions of the co-untry. Finally he was encouraged to settle in LouisviUe, Ky., with a branch publishing office at that place. He remained there till the Civil War broke out, but, before leaving, he wfth several other Union men in that city, established the first Union League Qub in this country, in time of that war. This society flourished, and saved that border state, it was believed, from secession. Later he removed to New York City where he opened an office at 10 Spruce street, and afterwards, at 75 Fulton street, and con tinued publishing. He was married in June, 1872, to Miss Sophia Earle, in Brooklyn, N. Y. Subsequently, he gave up business and removed to- Paxton, Mass., where he still resides. Mr. Bill has been for albout twenty years chairman of the se lectmen and chairman of the school board, saying nothing of the other local offices held, temporarily filled, such as town treasurer, town clerk, and overseer of the poor. In 1891 he represented his district, comprising five towns, in the General Court at Boston, and was the chairman of the committee on agriculture, and also a member of that on printing. In 1894 he was chosen to the Senate as a Republican in a previously strong Democratic district. This district comprised 19 towns — three of which, Webster, Southbridge and Spencer, are large manufacturing towns and nearly eligible to promotion as cities. He led every person associated with him on the ticket and redeemed the dis trict. In the Senate he was the chairman on engrossed bills, member of the committee on education, chairman of roads and bridges, a member of committee on agriculture, and sundry other special commfttees. In 1895 he was re-elected from the Fourth Worcester County district to the State Senate at Boston, without difficulty. He defeated the "Salary Grab" measure in the House FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. Ill in 1891, thereby saving to the State over $70,000.00 per year, also defeated the sportsmen's game law and caused to be enacted the oleoni-argerin act. In 1894, in the Senate, as chairman of the committee on roads and bridges of the State, he advocated "good roads," and secured, after a hard and prolonged contest, an ap propriation of $200,000., being the first dollar ever granted in the United States by any State Legislature for State roads, pure and simple. In 1895 he advocated a larger sum, which was given, viz., $300,000. It has now become the policy of the State and to date, something over two millions have been appropriated and over two hundred miles have been constructed at an average cost of about ten thousand dollars per mile for a macadam hig'h- way. Other states have fallen intoi line and, eventually, this country will have fine carriage roads. Mr. Bill defeated the tuberculin act which was about to sweep the State before much was known as to its merits. Instead of being mandatory the statute is now permissive. Mr. BiU has been mentioned of late years as a possible candidate for Congress. He is a member of the Society of American Authors of New York ; a corresponding member of New England Historic-Genealogical Society, of Bos ton ; an honorary member of the Wisconsin Historical Society ; a member of the corporation of the Mechanics Savings Bank, of Worcester, Mass. ; chairman of the Third Congressional District Republican Committee ; a member of the Republican State Committee, declining further service ; vice-president of the Wor cester County Agricultural Society, when in its most flourishing condition; was on the committee to dispose of its fair grounds, obtaining $185,000.00 for the same; president of the Oraskaso Historical Society of Worcester County, Massachusetts, for sev eral years; a member of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of the American Revolution of Massachusetts ; a member of the Wor cester County Horticultural Society, also of the Fruit Growers' Association of Massachusetts, and original projector and member of the Bay State Agricultural Society ; gave the soldiers' monu ment, now standing in his native town, to the town on July 4, 1873 ; was instrumental in establishing the free public library in his adopted town in Massachusetts. 112 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. He has written several volumes, namely: One on Florida, also one on Minnesota, one on the town of Paxton, Mass., and compiled a volume on the Civil War, and a genealogy of the Bill family in this country. Charies BiU, Ph. B., the youngest of the children of Gurdon Bill, Sr., was born June 7th, 1840 and lived at home till 1856, Charles Bill, Ph. B. when he entered the State Normal School at New Britain, Conn., where he remained one year when he entered the Norwich Free Academy, at which school he continued till time of his gradua tion in June, 1861. He was the valedictorian of his class. He entered Yale in the fall of 1861, taking a scientific course, grad uating in 1864, taking the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. He won at Yale three prize medals in the course of his studieis. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. II3 one for declamation, one for the best examination in the natural sciences and one as an essayist. He was later offered a profes sorship in an educational institution in York State, but on ac count of his health declined. He decided upon an o-utdoor occupation and commenced the sale of books by subscription ; finally locating in Chicago, Illinois, at 132 South Clark street, having a general publishing agency. In 1868 he succeeded his brother, Gurdon, in the publishing business in Springfield, Massachusetts, under the firm name of Bill, Nichols & Company. In 1869-70, be, in connection with his brother, last named, erected a large iron block on Main street, in said city. Soon after its completion he met with a serious accident, caused by a gas explosion in the building, which nearly cost him his life. It was a couple of years ere he recovered his usual health, mean while he disposed of his business to his partners and set sail for Europe, spending a year and more abroad, visiting all portions of Europe and the Holy Land, including a voyage up the Nile. He retumed in 1874, somewhat improved in health. He after wards repeated in part his European tour. He was a member of the National Academy of Science ; also a member of the Yale Alumni Association of the Connecticut Valley ; was a member of the Co-nnecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution ; and of the American Economic As sociation ; also of the Science Association of Springfield ; and of the Winthrop and Nyassett Clubs of that city ; a member of the Apalachian Club of New England. He was fond of out-doior life and was a well-known amateur ornithologist. He was a member of the South Congregational Church in Springfield, Mass. He made a trip in the winter of 1897 to Florida, and on his return was taken ill at Lithia Springs, Georgia, where he died after a brief illness on AprU 15, 1897. His public benefactions were many, chief of which were those to the church and library of his native town and six thousand dollars to city hospital of Springfield, and seven thousand dollars to found a free scholar ship in WeUesley College, WeUesley, Mass. The place of his interment was in the family lot at the old homestead in his native town. 114 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. THE BOLLES FAMILY. (By Amos Hurlbut). Robinson Boiles, oldest child of Amos and Abigail (Smith) BoUes, was born in New London County, Jan. 25, 1766. When a small boy he went to live, vnth his grandfather, James Smith. He was married Nov. 26, 1789, to Hannah Stoddard. They lived at Gale's Ferry, on the plot of ground now owned by Mr. Frank Brown. In 1810, Mr. and Mrs. Boiles, wfth nine chUdren, moved to Rush, Susquehannah Co., Pa. They made the journey with their own team, drawn by horses, in twenty-one days, every one of which was rainy. Some of the way their route was through a wilderness where there were no roads, and their course was indicated by marked trees. They located about eight miles from Montrose, the present county seat, near Wyalusing Creek. Deer were very plenty in the region ; and it was no uncommon thing to hear wolves howling about their cabin at night. Mr. Boiles established the first tannery in the region ; and it was patronized by the people for many miles around. His sons cleared away the forests ; and divided their time between hunting, fishing, trapping and farming. The miller, not far away, was generally glad to exchange meal and flour for the meat which they had to dispose of ; so- that their larder was always well supplied. Once every year — usually in the winter — they carried a load of meat, furs and leather to New York City. Mr. John A. Boiles, in "The BoUes' Genealogy," says : "In the spring of i860 I visited Fairdale and the vicinity, in which reside the children of Robin son and Hannah (Stoddard) BoUes; and a more vigorous and manly race I never saw. The men were farmers, all of them above the medium height — most of them upwards of six feet — ^and had never tasted ardent spirfts or tobacco. I felt proud of this branch of our tribe." Mr. BoUes died at Rush, Pa., Jan. 28, 1842, aged 76. Mrs. B. died at Jessup, Pa., Nov. 20, 1852, aged 84. Their children were Hannah, b. Aug. 29, 1790, d. April 25, 1792. Simeon A., b. Oct. 13, 1792. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. II5 Maria, b. Sept. 26, 1794. Abel, b. Dec. 14, 1796. Nelson, b. May 25, 1799. Elkanah, b. April 28, 1801. Hannah, b. Sept. 9. 1803. John, b. Sept. 5, 1805. James S., b. July 28, 1807. Nancy L., b. May 17, 1809. Amy Boiles, second child of Amos and AbigaU (Smith) Boiles, married Benjamin BUl May 9, 1791. They lived near the present residence of Mr. Moses Baily. They had two children — Fanny BoUes and Sarah. Mr. BUl was lost at sea in the month of January, 1795. Mrs. BUl was married in 1803, to Jonathan Stoddard, by whom she had one child, Hester. With this daugh ter, at the old homestead, Mrs. Bill spent the closing years of her life. She died Feb. 11, 1861, at the age of 93. THE BREWSTER FAMILY. The Brewsters of Ledyard and vicinity, also' many bear ing other names, such as Avery, Crary, Gallup, Morgan, Roach are descendants of Elder William Brewster, who was the spiritual leader of the Mayflower Pilgrims, who established the first per manent settlement in New England, at Plymouth, Mass., in the year 1620. He and his associates in this enterprise were fugitives from religious persecution. They were originally from Scrooby and adjacent towns in the east part of England. They had spent a dozen years in Holland before coming to America. But not finding in that country all that they desired they concluded to try their fortunes in the new world. From the time that they left their homes in the father-land on for a good many ye'ars they experienced great privations and hardships, but at length suc ceeded in establishing upon this continent a colony that has been instrumental of unspeakable good to our own land and to the world. Brewster was pre-eminently a leader, not only in spiritual, but temporal things in this exceedingly difficult undertaking. Il6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Though a man of education and refinement, educated at Cam bridge University, and originally possessed of a large estate, he freely consented to share with his fellow-pilgrims in the indigni ties and penalties that were heaped upon them by tyranical op pressors, as well as in the arduous labors and extreme sufferings necessarily incident to the planting of a colony 3,000 miles from home, across a stormy ocean, in an unsubdued wilderness and in the presence of untamed savages. Yet he had the happiness of seeing his labors crowned with success, and prospects opening be fore him and his fellows of the most encouraging character. He was one of the Mayflower Pilgrims who lived to see not a few of the fruits of their great self-denial and arduous toil. As he drew near the end of life in 1643-4, so-me of the accomplished re sults which he bad the pleasure of witnessing were: "A Chris tian colony planted ; the savage foe, to- a large extent, appeased, conciliated, and, in several cases, encouragingly influenced by Christian instruction and example. From that one poor settlement had others arisen, now numbering eight towns. Instead of one small church, he could behold eight Christian folds, with their pastors. In room of the small number of fifty souls, spared through the first season, were now eight thousand, with a con stitution, established laws, and a government defined. Along wfth their churches, he had witnessed the establishment of schools, to be the glory of New England ; and not only these, but a college, and its graduating classes, showing their purpose, that freedom, education and religion should go hand in hand." (Steele's Life of WiUiam Brewster. Page 382). William Brewster was born about 1560, and died at his home in Duxbury in 1644, aged 84. His wife, Mary (Love?), died at Plymouth, where the family then resided, between 1623 and 1627. Their children : — I. Jonathan, b. at Scrooby, m. (probably in Holland). Lucretia (Oldham), d. 1661 ; buried at Brewster's Neck, near Poquetanuck Cove. Mrs. B. d. 1671. 2. Love, b. (probably in Holland), m. May 15, 1634, Sarah Collier; had four chUdren; lived to 1650. 3. Wrestling. The following things are probably true of him : FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I17 m. 1630, Emla Story — settled in Portsmouth, N. H. — had a daughter b. May 3, 1636, named Love Lucretia, d. in 1636, or soon after. 4. Feav, m. about 1625 Isaac Allerton; had one son, Isaac; d. 1632. 5. Patience, m. 1629, Thomas Prince ; had three daughters ; d. 1634. Jonathan Brewster, son of Elder WiUiam B. (i 560-1644), settled first in Duxbury, Mass., and became a leading man in the affairs of the town. About 1649 he moved to New London, and later to Brewster's Neck, where, on land purchased of Uncas, the chief of the Mohegans, he established a Trading Post. ChUdren of Jonathan and Lucretia Brewster: — I. WUliam, b., m. and settled in Duxbury. 2. Mary, b. 1625, m. 1645, John Turner, of Scituate. 3. Benjamin, m. 1659, Ann Dart, of New London. 4. Elizabeth, m. 1654, Peter Bradley, second, Christophers, of New London. 5. Grace, m. 1659, Daniel Wetherell, of New London. 6. Ruth, m. 1648, John Picket, of New London, second Charies Hill. ChUdren of Benjamin and Ann (Dart) Brewster, who prob ably resided at Brewster's Neck : — I. Ann, b. 1662. 2. Jonathan, b. 1664. 3. Daniel, b. 1667, m. 1686, Hannah Gager. 4. William, b. 1669. 5. Ruth, b. 1 671. 6. Benjamin, b. 1673. 7. Elizabeth, b. 1676. Benjamin Brewster died 1710, aged 77. Benjamin Brewster (1633-1710), who married Ann Dart, had a son Jonathan (b. 1664, m. Judith Stephens), who had a son Joseph (m. Dorothy Witter), who had a son Nathan, who had a son Nathan who was the father of the late Franklin Brewster, of Ledyard. Il8 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Joseph Brewster, who married Dorothy Witter, had a son Jabez (1747-1802), who had a son John (1782-1848), who was the father of Hon. John Brewster, now (1900) living m Ledyard. Children of Daniel (b. 1667) and Hannah (Gager) Brewster:— I. Hannah, b. 1690. 2. Mary, b. 1692. 3. John, b. 1695, m. 1725, Dorothy Treat, daughter of Rev. Salmon Treat. 4. Jerusha, b. 1697, d. 1705. 5. Ruth, b. 1701. 6. Bethia, b. 1702. 7. Jonathan, b. 1705. 8. Jerusha, b. 1710, d. 1711. 9. Ebenezer, b. 1713. Daniel Brewster died 1737. ChUdren of John (b. 1695), and Dorothy (Treat) Brewster, who lived some two miles south-west of Preston City : — I. Oliver, b. 1726. 2. Dorothy, b. 1727. 3. Hannah, b. 1728, d. 1736. 4. Daniel, b. 1731. 5. Sarah, b. 1733, m. Moses Parke, of Preston. 6. SybU, b. 1735. 7. John, b. 1737, d. 1752. 8. Eunice, b. 1740, m. Oliver Crary. 9. Levi, b. 1743, d. 1750. 10. Asaph, b. 1746. Sarah Brewster, daughter of John and Dorothy, who married Moses Parke, had a daughter Parthenia, who married Stephen Morgan, of North Groton. This Stephen Morgan was the grandfather of Stephen Morgan, now resident in Ledyard. Eunice Brewster (1740-18 — ), daughter of John and Doirothy (Treat) Brewster, married Oliver Crary. iTheir children: — Oliver, m. Desire Ayer, had three sons and one daughter. Elisha, m. Nabby Avery, bad five sons and two daughters. Sarah, m. Robert S. Avery, had five sons and three daughters. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. II9 Dorothy, m. Amos Avery, had four sons and four daughters. Nancy, second wife of Robert S. Avery, had no chUdren. [E. G.] THE FANNING FAMILY. About the year 1635-40, Edmond Fanning arrived in Ameri ca and took his place among the early pioneers; he was fol lowed by a son of the same, and he by a grandson bearing the Christian name of his grandfather. A son of the third Edmond had a son WUliam, and he a son George. George Fanning was the first of this famUy settling in North Groton, near Lantem Hill, about 1770. He married Eunice Barnes. They had three children, viz. : Eunice, James (b. Aug. 5, 1772) and Keturah. These children were left fatherless at an early age. The date of his death is not given on the head stone which marks his grave. His widow died Aug. 21, 1829. The son Janies was early in life bound to Caleb Tyler, of Preston, with whom he lived till the age of twenty-one, suffer ing many hardships, as was sometimes wont to be the case under like circumstances. After leaving Mr. Tyler he learned the car penter's trade and followed that occupation for a number of years. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Williams and located in Preston, where five children were bom tO' them, viz. : George, James, Phebe, WiUiam, and Isaac. This faniily, later on, moved intO' North Groton (now Led yard), and settled on a faiTn purchased of one Nathaniel Brown, his wife's grandfather, being the same place now occupied by Lyman A. Latham, about one mile and a half north-easterly fro-m the BiU parsonage. On this farm he lived during the remainder of his life. He died quite suddenly on July 9, 1839, of heart disease. His son William was born Dec. 14, 1808, and was married July 21, 1836, to Mary Ann Gallup, of Ledyard. He remained on the old homestead and was an industrious farmer. In 1863 he was chosen to represent the town in the General Assembly at Hartford. Later he moved to the William Williams farm. I20 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. located in the northerly part of Ledyard. This farm is noted as being the birthplace of the notable SUas Deane, minister to France in the time of the Revolution. Mr. Fanning died May i, 1880, of heart trouble. His son' George Fanning, born Oct. 4, 1837, married Mary A. Spicer, daughter of Capt. Edmund Spicer, of Ledyard, April 16, 1862. They have several children, some of whom are married. Mr. Fanning occupies the farm of his father and finds time to run a small store at Shewville, formerly known as "Ayer's Mills," and is the post-master at that place. For many years Mr. Fanning has taught school in his native town, and was a well-known and popular teacher, and is a member of the school board of the toiwn and served as acting school visitor and secretary for many years of the board. In 1880 was chosen judge of probate for the town, serving continuo-usly for ten years. Mr. Fanning is the president of Bill Li brary board of trustees. He is known as a very capable man, far above the average of men holding posftioins of trust and in fluence in like rural com- munfties. The names of their chUdren foUow, viz.: Mary Bethiah, was born March 19, 1863 and married July II, 1894, Walter A. Waterman, who was a graduate of Yale in class of 1894, and is now a teacher in the "Dwight" school New York. They reside in Mt. Vernon, N. Y., and have four children. Fannie Elizabeth, born Nov. 24, 1864, and lives in Hartford. Susan Ehda, born Sept. 21, 1866, married Christopher Allyn Brown, 2d, Sept. 21, 1866. They lived in Gale's Ferry He George Fanning, Esq. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 121 was a merchant there and died Feb. 26, 1890, leaving a widow and two children. WUliam Edmund, born June 27, 1870, was married to Ada Marie Moxley, of Noirwich, May 24, 1893. They live in Hart ford where he is the proprietor of a steam laundry. They have three children. "Hattie Eunice, born Dec. 18, 1872, married WUliam S. Thomas, March 10, 1898, and live in Groton, near Poquonock Bridge. [G. F.] THE GALLUP FAMILY. The first ancestor of the Gallup families, now residing in Ledyard, was John, who came to Boston from county Dorset, England, in 1630. He lived in Boston or vicinity, and died there in 1650. His son John came to New London, 1650, and settled upon land granted him in Stonington in 1654, which was named "Whitehall," and is midway between Old Mystic and Mystic. He was married, in 1643, to- Hannah Lake, and was killed in the great swamp fight at Narragansett in 1675. His son Benadam married Esther Prentice and lived, and died, in 1727, at "Whftehall." His son (Lieut.) Benadam, born 1693, married Eunice Cobb in 1 716, was the first to settle in Groton (now Ledyard), upon a grant of land said to contain about 1,000 acres. He at first lived in a log house, upon a part of the grant now owned by Joseph Albert Gallup. his great-grandson ; about 1730 he buUt the large and commodious house, now occupied by Augustus O. Ackley, which was long used as a tavern stand, it The Gallup Homestead. being On the old pOSt-road 122 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. commanding a fine view of the sound, Atlantic Ocean and Long Island. His son Benadam, bom Oct., 1716, married Hannah Avery, 1740, and built, in 1751, the house now occupied by his great-grandson, Joseph Albert Gallup. Col. Nathan Gallup (son of Lieut. Benadam), born 1727, married Sarah Giddings, in 1.749, and the same year built the house occupied by his grandson, Dwight Gallup, until it was demolished in 1876, and the present one built. These two farms, which contain about 400 acres, are all of the original grant, that is left in the Gallup name. There have been many deacons among the descendants of Col. Bena dam, but few ministers. Rev. James A. Gallup, of Madison (a great-grandson), being, I think, the only one bearing the Gallup name. Rev. Salmon McCall was a great-grandson. The present deacons of the Ledyard Congregational Church are descend'ants — Nathan S. Gallup, a great-grandson, and Isaac G. Geer and Russell Gallup great-great-grandsons. Gallup Land Grants. "A Session of the General Court held at Hartford October i2th, 1671. "John Gallop is Granted a hundred Acres of Land, for his Service in the Pequott Warr, Provided he take it up where it may not prejudice any former Grant, Granted tO' any Plantation or P'articular person. "A True Copy of Record, "Test George Wyllys Secretary." "Att a Session of the General Court held in Hartford Octo ber loth, 1678 "Upon the Petition of Mrs. Hannah Gallop and as a recom pense for great loss She hath Sustained, "This Court do see cause to Grant unto the said Mrs. Gallop aforesaid and her heirs, the Sum of Two hundred Acres of land, which she may Take up in Two places provided She do not take it up where it may p-rejudice any fornner grant to any parti cular person or Plantation. "A True Copy of Record, "Test George Wyllys Secretary." FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I23 In the colonial records at Hartford may be found the fol lowing : "February 9, 1652-3, John GaUup, in consideration and with respect unto the services his father hath done for the country, hath given him up the river of Mistick, which side he wUl 300 acres of upland. February 6, 1653-4, John Gallup, hath given him a further addition to his land at Mistick, 1 50 acres, which he accepts of and acknowledgeth himself satisfyde for what lands he foirmerly laide claim unto upon the general neck as a gift of his father's which as he saith was given toi his father by General Stoughton after the Pequott War." Benadam Gallup's Military Commission Lieutenant. "Joseph Tallcott Esq ; Governor and Commander in Chief of His Majesties Colony of Connecticut in New England "To Benadam Gallop, Gent, Greeting You being by the Gen eral Assem-bly of this Colony, Accepted to be Lieutenant of the 2d Company or Trainband in the town of Groton, Reposing Special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, I do by Virtue of the Letters Patents from the Crown of England to this Corporation, We thereunto Enabling, Appoint and Impower Yoii to take the said Company into your Care and Charge, as Their Lieutenant 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 Go-vernment, and Com manding Tliem to Obey You as Their Lieutenant for His Ma jesty'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 Re posed in you. Given under my hand and the Seal of this Colony, in Hartford the 29th Day of May, In the Sixth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord GEORGE, the Second, KING of Great Britain &c. Annoque Domini, 1733. J. Tallcott, "By his Honours Command "Hez. Wyllys Seer," 124 history of the town of ledyard. Benadam Gallup's Military Commission Lieut.-Colonel "Jonathan Trumbull, Esquire, Captain-General, and Com mander in Chief, of the State of Connecticut, in America. "To Benadam Gallop Esq ; Greeting You being by the Gen eral Assembly of this State appointed to be Lieutenant-Colonel of a Regiment now ordered to be raised in this Colony, and to join the Continental Army, repoising especial Trust and Confi dence in your Fidelity, Courage, and good Conduct, I do, by Virtue of the Laws of this State, We thereuntO' en-a:bling, ap point and impower you the said Benadam Gallop, tO' be Lieut Colonel you are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Lieut Colonel in leading, ordering and exercising said Regiment in Arms, both inferior Officers and Soldiers, in the Service aforesaid, and to keep them in good Order and Discipline, hereby commanding them to obey you as their Lieut Colonel, and yourself to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions, as you shall from Time to Time receive from me, or the Commander in Chief of said State, for the Tim-e being, or other your superior Officer, according to- the Rules and Dis cipline of Wtar, ordained and estaiblished by the Continental congress, pursuant to the Trust hereby reposed in you. "Given under my Hand, and the public Seal of said State, at Hartford the 2nd Day of December Anno- Domini 1776. "Jonth Trumbull. "By His Honor's Command "George Wyllys Sect." Isaac Gallup's Military Commission Lieutenant. IN CONGRESS "The Delegates of the United Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island', Connecticut, New- York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South Carolina, to Isalac Gallop, Gentleman, "We reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriot ism, valour, conduct and fidelfty, DO by these presents con- FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 125 stitute and appoint you to be Lieutenant in Capt. Spicers Com pany in the 13th Regiment, commanded by Colo. Parsons, in the army of the United Colonies, raised for the defence of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof. "You are therefore carefully and diligently to- discharge the duty of Lieutenant by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And we do' strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under your command, to be obedient to your orders, as Lieutenant. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as yo-u shall receive from this or a future Congress of the United Colonies, or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief for the time being of the army of the United Colonies, or any other your superior officer according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This commis sion to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Con gress. "By Order of the Congress. "July ist 1776 "John Hancock President. "Attest "Chas. Thomson Sect." [J. A. G.] THE GEER FAMILY. One of the earliest settlers in North Groto-n, or Ledyard, was George Geer. He was born in England about 1621, and his brother Thomas in 1623. Tradition says they were the so-ns of Jonathan Geer, of Hevitree, County of Devon. The original drafts of the Visitation of Devon, in 1620, given in the Harleian MSS., at the British Museum, gives something of John Geer, a relative of Jonathan, to whom the family coat of arms pertains. Mention is also, made of the family of Jo-hn Geer, of Hevitree, in "The Worthies of Devon," by Prince, in 1701, and in "Devon shire," by Thomas Westcote. They came toi this country, land ing in Boston in 1635. Thomas settled in Enfield, Conn., in 1682, and George came to New London about 1651, probably with Robert Allyn and others. Feb. 17, 1658, he married Sarah, 126 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. eldest daughter of Robert Allyn, and settled on a tract of land adjoining or near the said AUyn's land on the grant of fifty acres made to him by the town of New London. About twelve years later he purchased of Eleazer Isbell 150 acres of land which the town of New London had given to Isbell's father Robert Isbell, and was known as one of the "Poquetannock grants." July 24, 1665, the town of New London also- granted George Geer 100 acres more of upland. The survey was May 6, 1698, but evidently covered the grants made in 1653. It is difficult now to designate the precise bound aries of this original farm, but most of it has been occupied by his descendants to the present time. The northern boundary was the dividing line between the towns of Noirwich and New London, now known as the Rose Hill road, and included most of the farm now occupied by Isaac W. Geer, and the next farm of the late James Geer, also the adjoining farm south knoyyn as the Capt. Nathaniel B. Geer farm, now owned by Alfred Clark, and the intervening land south toi a short distance beyond the mill. He also purchased tracts of land, near Preston City, and in what is now Griswold, of Owaneco-, son of Uncas, which have been occupied by his descendants. George Geer had eleven children, all of whom married and had families. Of these children, Sarah, born Feb 27, 1659, married Na thaniel Park, and lived in Preston. Jonathan Geer, b. May 26, 1662, lived in what is now Gris wold, on the Fred Brown fann, about ten miles north of his father's. His father deeded this farm of 130 acres to him Jan. 1 1, 1686. Dec. 27, 1686, he with about twenty other landholders, including the above named Nathaniel Park, petitioned the Gen eral Court of Hartford for a town to be set off bordering on Norwich, New London and Stonington. Their petition was granted and the town was called Preston. Joseph Geer, born Oct. 14, 1664, married Sarah Howard, and lived in Griswold on land his father bought of Owaneco, where David Austin Geer now lives. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. ' I27 Hannah, born Feb. 27, 1666, married Charles Williams, and lived in Preston. Margaret Geer, born February, 1669, married Thomas Gates, and lived in Griswold, on the place known as the Edward Cook farm, near Jewett City. Mary Geer, born March 26, 1671, married Zachariah Mainor, and lived near AUyn's Point, adjoining the farm of her grand father, Robert Allyn. Daniel Geer, born Sept., 1673, hved in Griswold, on the Nehemiah Prentice farm. Robert Geer, born Jan. 2, 1675, married AprU 3, 1700, Martha Tyler, daughter of HopestUl Tyler, and settled south of the homestead on land deeded him by his father, where he built a house and the first grist mill in this part of the country. This was one of three places in the town where warnings were posted ; the other places were at Capt. Morgan's and Ralph Stoddard's. Robert Geer served as sergeant and captain in the colonial mili tia. He died Nov. 20, 1742. Anne Geer, born Jan. 6, 1679, married Daniel Tyler, May 28, 1700, and lived near her sister Mary, wife of Zachariah Mainor. Isaac Geer, born March 26, 1681, lived next south of the homestead, where Capt. Nathaniel B. Geer lived until within a few years. The old house is still standing, and occupied by Alfred Clark. Jeremiah Geer, born Sept., 1683, married Esther Hilliard, and lived with his parents on the homestead place. Georg-e Geer's first house was built on the side hill near a never-failing spring of water, still in use, a few rods from the present house. The second house was built by George Geer, and occupied later by his youngest son Jeremiah, until his death in 1721. George Geer became blind in his old age, and spent the last five or six years of his life yyith his daughter Margaret, who married Thomas Gates and lived near Jewett City, where he died in the latter part of the year 1726, aged 105 years. He was buried in the old graveyard near the Welcome A. Browning farm in Griswold. It appears that Jeremiah failed to fulfil the contract made 128 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OP LEDYARD. wfth his father, and the homestead property reverted to George Geer, about 1718, and was subsequently purchased in part by Robert, who probably removed there from the mill property in his later years, and who deeded the farm to his three sons, Robert, Ebenezer and James. Capt. Robert Geer, was one of the foremost men of the town and prominent in founding and supporting St. James' Episcopal Church. He died in 1742 and was buried in the churchyard near the Bill parsonage. Robert Geer, Jr., bought, in 1732, land of the heirs of Jere miah Geer and settled where Isaac G. Geer now lives. James, the younger brother, succeeded to the mill property and the business of tanning which his father begun. In 1742 Ebenezer bought out the interest of his elder brother, Robert, in the homestead where he lived, and built the third house. Ebenezer was born AprU i, 1709, and married Jan. 2, 1735, Prudence Wheeler, daughter of Richard and Prudence (Payson) Wheeler. He died Aug. 28, 1763. Of his ten children, Robert, the second son, succeeded to the homestead. Robert Geer was born Feb. 18, 1744. He was graduated at Yale College in 1763. He m'arried Lucy Fitch, daughter of John and Alice Fftch, of Windham, Nov. 4, 1767. He served in the Revolutionary War as corporal in Capt. Williams' Company of detached militia, under command of Lt.-Col. Nathan Gallup, stationed at Fort Griswold in 1779. ' . He was prominent in town affairs and was senior warden of St. James' Church many years. He died Aug. 30, 1834, at the age of 90. He had eight children, of who^m the sons, Charles and Ebenezer, and two daughters, Prudence, who married Amos Bailey, and Sophia, who married Stephen Breed, who went to Brooklyn, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where they were among the pioneers of that part of the State. The youngest son, James, remained on the home farm. James Geer was born Oct. 31, 1783. He married SaUy Lewis, daughter of Peleg and Abigail (Smfth) Lewis, Jan. 20, 1808. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 129 He was teacher of singing schools in Ledyard many years, served as justice of the peace for a long period, and was senior warden of St. James' Church more than forty years. He died March 4, 1872. The fourth house o-n the homestead farm was built by James Geer in 1848, and is now standing. After his death, his youngest son, Capt. Nathaniel B. Geer, occupied it until his death Aug. 18, 1898, and it is now the home of his two eldest daughters who are of the seventh generation. James Lewis Geer was born Nov. 8, 1808, son of James and Sally (Lewis) Geer. His boyhood days were spent in Ledyard. Later he taught school in the "Lester district," also in Long Society, Preston, Groton if^* ^X A^' 'M:\^ Bank and Geddes, now Syracuse, N. Y., — seven winters in all. Nov. 19, 1834, he married Prudence ^//"^ 'WP^ ¦¦''", ."' "^'SS Almira Gallup, daughter of ' *'' * " '*' ¦ ' " ¦ Isaac and Prudence (Geer) Gallup, of Preston. She was born in Ledyard, in the glebe house or rectory of St. James' Church, on the BUl farm, March 4, 181 5. She died July 17, 1847. Mr. Geer moved to- Nor wich in 1835 and lived (with the exception of a few years at the home stead) on Park Street. In his early life he engaged in cabinet-making and house-painting. In 1859 h^ formed a copartnership with Shubael Gallup under the firm-name of Gallup & Geer, conducting an auction and commission business in Norwich for twenty years. He mar ried, second, Mary Ellen Geer, daughter of Elijah D. and Dorothy Geer, of Griswold, who died June ist, 1887. Mr. Geer was one of the original members of Trinity Episcopal Church in James L. Geer. 130 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Norwich and a vestryman several years. He died in Norwich, Feb. 9, 1899, at the age of ninety years. Robert Geer, son of James Lewis and Prudence Almira (Gallup) Geer, was born at the Geer homestead March 23, 1837, and attended school in the Geer school-house and Poquetanuck Academy. The rest of his early life was spent in Norwich. -He learned the drug business in the stores of Wm. P. Eaton, and John L. Devotion, and later conducted the drug business for himself on Main Street, Norwich, and in Syracuse, N. Y. In 1864 he went to Albany, N. Y., where he has been engaged in the wholesale salt business since that date. He has held various positions of trust in that city. [E. G.] THE GRAY FAMILY. Tradition affirms that two Scotch boys, by the name of Philip and Benjamin Gray, taken on board a vessel off the coast of Great Britain, were landed in Boston, and that Philip is the ancestor of the Grays in this part of the country. He came from Eastern Massachusetts to New London, later to North Groton. About 1710 he married Mrs. Mary (Stoddard) Button. Their children were Philip, Benjamin, Ezekiel, Elijah. Philip Gray was by occupation a knitter. He died 1780, aged 90 years. His son, Philip, married Hjmnah Latham. They had six children — Jonas, Latham, Ezekiel, Stephen, Lydia and Mary. After the death of Mrs. Gray, Mr. Gray married for a second wife, Mercy Chapman. They had one child, Asa Gray. Philip Gray, 2nd, died in 1802, aged 63 years. ' Mrs. Mercy Gray died in 181 6. Benjamin Gray, second son of Philip, ist, and Mary Stoddard, was born in 1740. He married Temperance Baxter. They had two sons — ^Thomas Baxter and Philip Gray, 3rd. Benjamin died in 1813. Ezekiel Gray, sOn of PhUip, ist, and Mary, died at sea, aged 18 years. Elijah Gray, son of Philip, ist, and Mary, bom 1743, married Candice Perkins. They had four children— Elijah, Prudence, Hannah and Eunice. Elijah lived in the time of the Revolution, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I31 was wounded, taken prisoner and died on board Jersey prison- ship near New York. Jonas, son of Philip, 2nd, and Hannah, was born 1770. He married Lucy S-picer. Their children were Philip, Winthrop, Oliver, Abisha, Hannah, Mary and Althea. Jonas followed the West India trade. Lucy, his wife, died in 1813. Jonas married May Gardiner as his second wife, then moved to Pennsylvania. Latham Gray, son of PhUip, 2nd, and Hannah, bom 1772, married Amy Brown. Their children were Henry, Latham, Mercy, Esther, Annah, Betsey, Amy and Filena. Latham, ist, died 1821 ; Amy died 1822. Stephen, son of PhUip, 2nd, and Hannah, born 1775, married Lydia Stedman. Their ehildren were Stephen, 2nd, Austin, Norman, Lydia and Ardelia. Stephen, ist, died 1840. Asa Gray, son of Philip, 2nd, and Mercy Chapman, bom in 1786, married Susannah Wilcox. Tliey had one son, Asa Gray, 2nd, who lived in the eastern part of the town of Ledyard. He was a store-keeper, mechanic and farmer. He printed a little history himself in 1851. Thomas B. Gray, son of Benjamin, 2nd, and Temperance Biaxter, born 1769, married Suweah Stanton. She soon died. He then married Katurah Stanton. They had five children — Benjamin, 3rd, John, Thomjas, Suweah and Temperance. This famUy lived on the place now owned by John Yeomans. The father and children moved into the State of New York, and their descendants are still living there. Thomas B. died in 1830. Though we know but little of the family we presume that the name of the post-office. Gray, in Herkimer County, was sug gested by the fact that so many Grays are living in the region. The three heads of Gray families living in the town of Led yard in 1836 were as follows : Philip Gray, 3rd, known as Esquire Gray, a carpenter and builder. He lived in the house now occupied by WUliam H. Spicer. Asa Gray, 2nd, a mechanic and farmer. Stephen Gray, 2nd, a mechanic. Philip Gray, 3rd, son of Benjamin and Temperance Baxter, 132 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. born in 1775, married Sabrina Stanton. She soon died. He then married Sarah Morgan. Their eight children were Thomas Baxter, Benjamin Shapley, William Morgan, Sabrina, Mary, Sally, Julia, Betsey. PhUip Gray, 3rd, died 1838. Sarah Morgan, his wife, died 1854. Thomas Baxter, born 1802, married Amanda Williams. They had eight chUdren— Philip B., Thomas B., James B., WiUiam Shapley, Daniel M., Amandar W., Prudence M. and Lucy A. His wife, Amanda Williams, died 1849. He then mar ried Martha B. York. They had one son, Eneas M. Gray, born 185 1. Philip B.,born 1825, married Mary Myers. Their chUdren were Henry B., Amos M., Daniel E., Hadley G. and PhUip B., Sth. Henry B. married Mary Bryan. Daniel E. married Martha A. Gray. Their children were Elsworth Cutler, Philip Enos, Hadley P and AUyn D. Hadley G. married Mary Capwell. They had one chUd, Nettie May. PhUip B., 5th, married Charlotte Weathered. Thomas B. Gray, 3rd, married Esther Gates. Their children were Charles H., born 1853; Luther C, born 1857; Frank, born 1861, died 1886; Edwin. Charles H. married Phebe Babcock. Their children were Minnie, Arthur and Frank. Luther C. Gray, born 1857, married Mary E. Beckwith. Their children were May Belle Gray and Edna Gray. Edwin Gray married Edith Thornton. Their children were Ruth, Herbert, Thomas B., 4th, Lewis H. (Earl M. and Esther M., twins), Helen G. and Walter. James B. Gray, lost at sea; unmarried. William Shapley Gray, settled in Iowa; married. Their chUdren were John, William. Daniel M. Gray settled in Iowa; married Samlantha Wheeler. Their children were James, Samantha, Lucy and Thomas. Amandar W. Gray, the well-known horticulturist and fruit grower and dealer, married Francina Peckham, daughter of Rev. Stephen Peckham. They had eight chUdren, viz. : — FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 133 Charles A. Gray, born 1858, married Elizabeth Peckham. James B. Gray, bom i860, married Helen Littlefield. Their children were Betsey L., Bertha F., Alba A., Julia, Charles A., Frederic and Helen M. Battie Gray, born 1861, married Ralph W. Gallup. George Gray, born 1863, married Miss Snyder. Edwin Gray, born 1865, married Lena A. Turner. WUliam Gray, born 1873. Frank Gray, born 1875. Jennie B. Gray, born 1876, married Frank E. King. Francina P. Gray, wife of Amandar W., died 1897. Amandar W. Gray married, for his second wife, Mrs. May Staubly, who was Miss May Sawyer. Prudence M. died at the age of 18 years. Lucy A. Gray married Henry M. Durfey. Their children were Harry and LUcy. Eneas M. Gray, born 1851, married Saralh J. Harvey. Their chUdren were Martha A., Mason T., Benjamin U., Nathan G. and Mary E. Eneas M. Gray married, for his second wife, MUlie McKenzie. They had one child, Eneas M. Gray, Jr. William Morgan Gray, son of Philip, 3rd, born 1814, married Sarah Gallup. They had five children — Ellen, Edwin, Emily M., William M. and Mary. Emily M. married Semore Church. They had one child. Emily. William M. married Nellie Pettigrew. They had one child, Sarah. William married second wife. Four children. Benjamin Shapley Gray, son of Philip, 3'rd, born 1812, mar ried Sarah J. Lewis. They had three children — John S., Eunice and William W. John S. married Delia Baldwin. They had three sons — George, Benjamin and Harry. Eunice Gray married Amos Cutler. William W. married Anna Wing. They had one daughter, Hattie J. She married Rev. Joseph Carey, 1899. 134 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Sabrina Gray, daughter of Philip, 3rd, married James Will iams. Their children were John S. Jackson, James, Sarah, Julia A., Mary Nelson, Charles and Edwin. Mary Gray, daughter of Philip,- 3rd, born 1806, married Charles S. Hewitt. Sarah M., bom 1808, died 1821. Julia A. Gray, daughter of Philip, 3rd, married Amos M. Allyn. Their chUdren were John and Charles B. Allyn. Betsey Gray, daughter of Philip,_3rd, bom 1821, married Rufus M. GaUup. Their children were Erastus, born 1845, and Russell Gallup, born 185 1. Asa Gray, 2nd, son of Asa and Susannah Gray, born 1802, married Lusanna Prosser. Their children were Asa F., Denman, George, Montgomery, Mercy, Susan and Sarah. Asa F., born 1823, died 1846. Denman, born 1830, died 1831. George, born 1835. Mo-ntgomery, boim 1837, died in the War of the Rebellion. Mercy, bom 1822, died 1838. Susan, bom 1825, married Stanton Main. They had two sons — Wilmot and Stanton Main. Sarah, bom 1833, died 1839. The members of this family living in 1901 : George Gray living now in Ledyard, a printer by trade, and Susan (Mrs. Main), residing in Rhode Island. Stephen Gray, 2nd, a mechanic, born 1775, died 1841, married Lydia Stedman. They had five child-ren— Stephen, 3rd, Austin, Norman, Lydia and Ardelia. Stephen Gray, 3rd, son of Stephen, 2nd, a wagon-maker, born 1800, married Caroline Bibcock. They had one son, Stephen, 4th ; he lived at Gale's Ferry. Austin L., son of Stephen, 2nd, born 1807, a weU-known me chanic and wagon-maker, married Betsey F. Smith. They had five children— Lydia E., Julia F., Sarah J., Austin L., Jr. and John M. ' Lydia E. married Austin Benham, They had two sons- John and George, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 1 35 Julia F. married Daniel Strong. They had one son, Daniel W. Sarah J. married Erastus GUbert. John M. Gray married Flora I. Peckham. Their children were Marion I., John R. and Leslie P. Gray. Austin L. Gray, 2nd, and John M. Gray, reside in Ledyard. John M. is the well-known groceryman and general store keeper and post-master. There now reside in Ledyard fifteen voters by the name of Gray, all of them descendants of the three heads of families who were living here when the town was set off from Groton in 1836. The name outnumbers every other on the registry list. This brief history is for nearly two hundred years, from the first land ing in this country, to the present time. The Grays are widely scattered over this country. "Where are they — the companions of our games. With whom in youth we gamboled on the sod. The gray-haired fathers and the gentle dames. Whose hospitable thresholds once we trod! The beauteous forms that taught our hearts to love. And woke our hopes and fears with magic spell The cheerful friends with whom we yyont to rove. Who twines around the hearts we lo-ved so well." [R. G.] THE HURLBUT FAMILY. Thomas Hiu-lbut, the first of the name in this region, came to Saybrook in 1635. Stephen Hurlbut, descendant of Thomas, in the third generation, settled in New London soon after 1690. John Hurlbut, son of Stephen, married Mary Stoddard, and settled on the farm now owned by Henry Hurlbut. He died May 5, 1761, and she May 22, 1790. Their son, John Huribut, Jr., married Abigail, daughter of Dea. John Avery, of Preston. They resided for several years in the north-east part of Groton ; but in the spring of 1778 moved to Wyoming, Pa., where they spent the remainder of their days. He was three times a mem- 136 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. ber from Westmoreland, Pa., to the General Assembly of Con necticut. They had eight children. He died March 10, 1782, aged 52; and she March 29, 1805, aged 70. — ^See biographical sketch. Rufus Hurlbut, fourth child of John and Mary (Stoddard) H., married Hannah, daughter of Peter and Anna Lester. They lived a few rods north of vyhere the Gale's Ferry Church now stands. Mr. Hurlbut was kiUed in Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, when the oldest of their nine children was only fourteen years of age. Hannah, fifth child of John and Mary S. Hurlbut, married James Stoddard Dec. 4, 1761. They lived near Poquetanuck Cove. Ralph Hurlbut, sixth child of John and Mary S. Hurlbut, died near Lake Champlain, during the French and Indian War. He was never married. ' Lydia wlas the seventh child of .John and Mary S. H. Rispa, their eighth child, was married to Amos Champan Feb. 26, 1786. They lived at Gale's Ferry, near the old wharf. Freelove, their ninth child, became the wife of Dea. Shapley Morgan, of North Groton. Freelove Hurlbut, first child of Rufus and Hannali, died April 19, 1767, aged two years. Ralph, their second child, and oldest son, was born May 19, 1767, and died May 8, 1850.— See biographical sketch. Rufus Huribut, Jr., (1769-1850), third child of Rufus and Hannah, in eariy life moved to Westem New York. After spending three years there, where the city of Rochester now stands, he returned and spent the remainder of his life in Groton. He was ma.rried Sept. 29, 1803, to Mary Stuart, of Kent, Conn. Amos Huributt (1770-1832), fourtli child of Rufus and Han nah, had two wives; the first, Sally Starr (1773-1804), of Groton; the second, Betsey Starr (1768-1805). To the first wife he was married Jan. 4, I796; to the second Sept. 27, 1804. He had four children— I. Sophia (oldest), was born Nov. 10, 1796. In the winter of 1797 he moved wfth his family from Groton to Venice, N. Y., driving an oxnteam and sled, crossing the Thames, the Connecticut and the Hudson rivers on the ice. FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I37 Asaph Huribut (1772-1810), fifth chUd of Rufus and Hannah, lived in Groton and Salem, Conn. He had two wives. The first was Hannah Woodbridge, of Groton, who died at Salem, February 27, 1809. They had four children — Hannah (1802-1829), Asaph (1804-1858), Anna (1805-1861), Ralph (1807-1886). His second wife was Hannah Stoddard (1773-1823), of Groton, to whom he was married June 11, 1809. By her he had two children — Tabitha (1810-1853), and Mary (1811-1893). Hannah (1774-1839), sixth chUd of Rufus and Hannah, was married March 21, 1793, to Joshua AUen, son of the first Thomas Allen, of AUyn's Point. About 1822 they moved to- Homer, now Cortland, N. Y. They had eight children — Hannah (1796 ), Eunice (1798-1850), Joshua (1800 ), Rufus (1803 ), Anna (1804 ), Isaac (1807 ), Mary (1810 ), Thomas (181 2 ). Peter Lester Hurlbut (1776-1837), seventh chUd of Rufus and Hannah, was married Feb. 3, 1822, to Fanny Bill (1792-1866), daughter of Benjamin and Amy BUl, of Groton. They located on the farm, first owned by James Smith (1674-1756), then by his son, then by his grandson, who sold it toi Peter Lester Hurlbut about 1822. It is now (1900) owned by Amos Hurlbut, the fifth in the direct line of descent from the above-named James Smith. Peter Lester and Fanny (BUl) Hurlbut had foiir children^ — Sarah B. (1823- 1 859), John (1826- 1 894), Amos (1828 ), Peter Lester (1838-1853). Lucy (1778-1837), eighth child of Rufus and Hannah, was never married. Anna (1780-1804), ninth child of Rufus and Hannah, was married in 1801 to Stoddard Niles, of Groton. They moved to Genoa, N. Y. They bad a son, Ralph, botn in Groton in 1802, and a daughter, Anna, born in Genoa. Asaph Hurlbut (1804-1858), second child of Asaph and Hannah (Woodbridge) Hurlbut, was married November 7, 1830, to Bridget N. Stoddard (1807-1890). They resided on a farm near Gale's Ferry. After the death of Mr. Huribut, Mrs. Hurl but sold the farm and bought a place in Groton, where she spent the remainder of her life. They had five children — Hannah J. 138 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. (1834-1860), Henry J. (1836-1838), Ralph A. (1839-1862), Will iam H. S. (1843-1860), Mary Etta (1853-1864). Anna Hurlbut, third child of Asaph and Hannah, was born in Salem, Conn., in 1805, and died in Ledyard, in 1861. Ralph Hurlbut (1807-1886), was the fourth child of Asaph and Hannah. His father died before he was four years old, and he went to live with his uncle and guardian. Rev. Ralph Hurlbut. He inherited the old homestead, where his great-grandfather, John, his grandfather, Rufus, and his uncle, Ralph, in succes sion, resided. Here he spent his whole life, with the exception of the early years of his childhood and a single year (1864) in Genoa, N. Y. He was married Jan. 27, 1833, to- Margaret Boiles. They had seven children — an infant (1837-1837), Ralph W. (1840-1863), Mary A. (1842-1859), Tabitha (1845 ), an infant (1848-1848), George W. (1851-1891), Henry W. (1857^ ). Mrs. Margaret (Boiles) Hurlbut, born in 1813, is still (1900) living. Tabitha Hurlbut, fourth chUd of Ralph and Margaret (Boiles) Hurlbut, was married Aug. 10, 1865, to Robert M. Bailey, of Gale's Ferry. They moved to Belle Plain, Iowa, where they now reside. George W. Hurlbut, sixth child of Ralph and Margaret B., was married Sept. 14, 1876, to Lucy A. Perkins, of Gale's Ferry. They had five chUdren. Henry W., seventh child of Ralph and Margaret B., was married Oct. 17, 1881, to Lydia A. Perkins, of Gale's Ferry. Tliey had seven children. Sarah B. Huribut, first child of Peter L. and Fanny B., was married June 18, 1854, to Amos C. Stevens, of Pike, Pa. They had one child, John Huribut Stevens, born at Gale's Ferry, Nov. 21, 1859, ¦who is now living near Camptown, Pa. John Huribut (1826- 1894), second child of Peter L. and Fanny B. was married January 7, 1857, to Abby JaUe Bailey (1830 ). They resided on a part of his father's farm near Gale's Ferry. They had three children^Francis Edgar, born i860; Isaac Lester (1864-1887); Fanny B., born 1866. Frantis Edgar Huribut, oldest child of John and Abby Jane FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I39 B., is an engineer and electrician. He married Minnie A. MUler, of Colchester, Conn. They have two sons. Amos Hurlbut (1828- ), third chUd of Peter L. and Fanny B., was married Feb. 8, 1858, to S. Rosella BoUes (1836 ), daughter of Elkanah Boiles, of Jessup, Pa. They reside on the ancestral homestead at Gale's Ferry. They have four children — - Emma R., born at Jessup, Pa., Dec. 12, i860; Annie B.. born at Ledyard, April 16, 1863 ; Fanny R., born at Montrose, Pa., May 24, 1872; Ralph Amos, bom at Montrose, Pa., Nov. 14, 1880. [A. H.] THE LAMB FAMILY. The first ancestor in this country, of the Lamb family of Ledyard, came from England, and settled in Haverhill, Mass. Having lost possession of his lands in that place, through some difficulty with the Indians, he moved to Connecticut, and bought of Peter Crary a tract of land near the present village of Old Mystic. At a later date he obtained possessio-n of lands which include the place now occupied by Deacon James C. Lamb. This ancestor (whose name has not come down to us) was suc ceeded in the ownership of the place by his son, Isaac Lamb, whose wife's name was Elizabeth. Daniel Lamb, son of Isaac and Elizabeth, bom 1704, was the next owner. He built the house which now stands upon the place. He married Zerviah Button. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters. Their son, Samuel, became the next owner and occupant. He was bom in 1748, and died in 1834. His wife was Tabitha Wightman. Daniel W. Lamb (1783-1859), succeeded his father, Samuel, in the occupany of the place. He was a famous school teacher in his day. He taught in the Lamb district no less than eleven winters. He was the father of Deacon James C. Lamb, who with his son, Daniel, now (1900) lives on the place. The Lambs, through their several generations, have been decidedly religious people. Isaac Lamb, the first name on the above list, was one of the first deacons of the first Baptist Church (1705), in Groton, which was the first Baptist Church in Con- 140 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. necticut. His grandson, Samuel, was a deacon of the same church, and Samuel's grandson, James C, is now deacon of that church. The family has been very fruftful in clergymen. Two uncles of Deacon James C. Lamb, Nehemiah and John, were Baptist ministers. The former preached in the States of New York and Michigan ; the latter at different places in the State of New York. Rev. Nehemiah Lamb, above-named, had four sons who were Baptist ministers. Rev. Roswell Lamb, a brother of Deacon James C, preached in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Rev. J. Curtis Lamb, of Noank, has preached in Lyme and Haddam. Conn.; Hays City, Kansas; Brewster, Mass., and WUmington, Del. THE LATHAM FAMILY. The home of the family, whence all of the Lathams sprang, is Derbyshire, England, and they can be traced back to- the time of the Danish conquest of England. The title of Earl of Latham is now held by one of the family there. Susannah Winslow, the daughter of John Winslow, who came over in the Mayflower, married a Robert Latham. The first ferryman between New London .and Groton was Carey Laitham, fro-m whom the Lathams, of Groton and Ledyard descended. For an account of Carey Latham and his descendants see Miss Caulkins' History of New London. Among them, as connected with the early history of North Groton (now Ledyard), we note Thomas Latham, who was born April 8, 1744. He married Eunice Perkins July 15, 1770. She was the daughter of Ebenezar and Sarah Perkins and was born Oct. 2,7, 1750. Thomas Latham, became a ship carpenter and built at Gale's Ferry several vessels, including twO' ships, one of whidh called "The Phenix," was of "the burthen of 500 tons." For services rendered to the Unfted States Government, in the ship-buUding line, during the Revolutionary War, he received a grant of a considerable tract of land, in the western part of the FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 141 State of New York, but owing to his death away from home and the wanton destruction of his papers and documents, his claim, which might have been a rich legacy to his heirs, seems to- have been invalidated. He died at Burlington, Vt., Oct. 17, 1801. The children of Thomas and Eunice Latham were Thomas, boni March 28, 1771 ; Eunice, bom Oct. 8, 1772; Sarah, born Aug. 6, 1774; Comfort, born Dec. 31, 1777; William, born AprU 25, 1780; Jacob, born Aug. 29, 1783. Thomas was drowned at sea Jan. 7, 1796. Eunice was married to Jonathan Gardner, Dec. 14, 1792, and they moved to Pennsylvania, where they reared a numerous family. Sarah married Alexander AUyn, Sept. 8, 1791, and was the mother of Captains Christopher and Latham Allyn, also of Henry Allyn, who removed to Palmyra, N. Y., and of Mrs. Sarah Brown, who reared at Gale's Ferry a large family, including Christopher A. and Latham A. Brown. Comfort Latham died in Virginia, in 1802. William married Esther, daughter of Obadiah and Esther (Williams) Bailey, Sept. 9, 1807. Their chU dren were Emmeline, bom July I, 1808; Sally Maria, born Oct. 3, 181 1 ; Thomas Morgan, born Aug. 29, 1813- Emmeline married Sim eon A. Bailey. Sally Maria died young. Thomas M., the father of the writer of this sketch, died October 13, 1898. He was thrice married, and his surviving chUdren at date of writing (Oct., 1900), are Thomas Latham, Esq. Thomas and Orrin, who re- '¦'W/^ • - 142 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. side at Gale's Ferry ; Lyman A. and Mrs. Fanny Spicer, of Led yard; Ira C, of Stonington ; John N., of Groton; and Mrs. Sarah Lamb, of Meriden. Their dates, deeds and descendants we leave to future chroniclers. In writing a sketch of ancestors we have an idea of the senti ment which caused the poet Gray to say : "No longer seek their merits to disclose Nor draw their frailties from their dread abode. There they alike in trembling hope repose, The bosom of their Father and their God." [T. L.] THE LESTER FAMILY. Genealogy of the Lesters that settled in the town of Ledyard, New London County, Co-nn. : Andrew Lester first appears at Gloucester, Mass. An eariy settler from 1643. (Then called Lister). He was licensed to keep a house of entertainment by the county court, Feb. 26, 1648-9. The births of four children of Andrew and Barbara Lester, are recorded at Gloucester, Mass. : Daniel Lester, born April 15, 1642, married Hannah Fox, daughter of Thomas Fox, 1669. Andrew, Jr., born Dec. 26, 1644, married Lydia Bailey. Mary Lester, born Dec, 1647, married Samuel Fox. Anna Lester, born March 21, 1651, married Thos. Way. Andrew Lester removed to Pequot (now New London, Conn.), in 1651. Eearly in 1651 a new street was laid out in the rear of the town plot in New London, for the accommodation of "The Cape Ann Company." This street was called "Gape Ann Lane." The lots on this street were nine in number. Hugh Caulkins had the first lot, Hugh Roberts lot 2, Mr. Coit had lot 3, and Andrew Lester lot 4. AprU, 1 65 1, the marsh land laying along Alewive cove, was given to a company of undertakers, viz., Mr. Denison, Hugh Caulkins, John Elderkin and Andrew Lester, who undertook to FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I43 drain it, and were to have all the land "Now under water for ever." Barbara, wife of Andrew Lester, died at New London Feb. 2, 1653-4, being the first death of a woman recorded in New London. Andrew Lester's second wife was Joanna, widow of Robert Hempstead, and probably daughter of Isaac WUly. She died in 1659, without issue. Andrew Lester married, for his third wife, Anna Clark. They had three children — Timothy, boim July 4, 1662. Joseph, born June 15, 1664. Benjamin, born 1666, married Ann Sted man. Andrew I>ester was constable and collector of New London in 1668, and bought land in said town, July 12, 1659. He died in 1669. His widow married Isaac WiUey. She died in 1692. Andrew Lester, Jr., removed to Groton and was constable in 1669, and is supposed to have been the first deacon of the Groton Church, and the first Lester that settled in Groton. He settled on land granted to his father. He married Lydia Bailey, daugh ter of Thomas Bailey. He died in 1708. Their children were Andrew Lester, 3d, born about 1675, married Lydia Stark weather. Jonathan Lester, born 1677, married Deborah Allyn, Sept. 22, 1724. Samuel Lester, born 1679, married Hannah Bill. Hannah Lester, born 1681, married Ralph Stoddard, June 3, 1723. Margaret Lester, born 1683, married Duglass. Daniel Lester, son of Andrew and Barbara, married Hannah Fox, daughter of Thomas Fox, of Concord, 1669. Children — ¦ Ann, born Aug. 30, 1670. Hannah, born March 11, 1671, mar ried William Chapman, March 22, 1690. Elizabeth, bom Feb. 25, 1672, married probably Philip Bill. Daniel, bom April 5, 1676, married Mary Wells, Oct. 20, 1702. John, born Oct. 15, 1679. Sergeant Daniel Lester, son of Andrew and Barbara, lived upon the great neck. New London, where he died June 16, 1716. He was brought in to town and buried under arms. Joseph and Benjamin Lester, sons of Andrew Lester and Ann Clark, his wife, settled on farms in the vicinity of the town 144 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. of New London. The descendants of the latter are qufte num erous. By the first wife, Ann Stedman, he had nine sons, and two daughters, and probably other children by a second wife. Only six children are recorded to Benjamin and Ann Lester in New London. Andrew Lester, 3d, born about 1675, married Lydia Stark weather. He died May 22, 1757. Their children were John Lester, born Jan. 2, 1716. Timothy Lester, bom Aug. 2, 1718. John Lester, born July 19, 1721. Mary Lester, born Oct. 19, 1723. Jonathan Lester, son of Andrew, Jr., and his wife,. Lydia Bailey, daughter of Thomas Bailey, born about 1677, married Deborah Allyn, daughter of Robert and Deborah Allyn, Sept 22, 1724. Children of Jonathan and Deborah Lester — -Jonathan born about 1725. Deborah, born , baptized Oct. 10, 1731 Thomas, born , baptized Oct. 10, 1731. Amos, born 1728 baptized Oct. 10, 1731. Wait, born — -. — , baptized Oct. 10, 1731 Peter, born , baptized Aug. 8, 1732. Simeon, born — baptized Aug. 4, 1734. David, born , baptized Nov. 7 1736. On July 3, 1742, a severe thunder stoirm occurred, in which a son of Jonathan Lester was killed. He and his two' brothers were at work on hay at the time. The lad killed was ten years of age. Samuel Lester, son of Andrew Lester, Jr., and Lydia Bailey Lester, was born about 1679. He married Hannah Bill, probably daughter of Philip BUl, Nov. 5, 1707, and died Jan. 15, 1750. She died Nov. 24, 1751. Their children were Samuel, Jr., bom Sept. 23, 171 1. Elizabeth, bom March 23, 1715. Elamuel, bom July 18, 1719. Sarah, born Jan. 30, 1722. Hannah, born Jan. 12, 1727. Margaret, born Feb. 17, 1729. Zarniah, bom Nov. ". 1733- Thomas Lester, probably son of Jonathan and Deborah Allyn Lester, born about 1727. He married M'ary Allyn, Feb. 28, 1754. Their children were Thomas, Jr., bom- March i, 1755. M'ary, born March 14, 1756. Wait, born Dec. 17, 1759; killed in Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781. Ebenezer, born Aug. i, 1761. Daniel, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I45 born March 27, 1763. Jonathan, bom April 9, 1765. Ebenezer, 2d, bom Dec. 2, 1766. Charles, born Nov. 14, 1768. Peter Lester, Sr., probably son of Jonathan Lester, born about 1705. He married Anna Street, probably daughter of James Street, August, 1733. He died Sept. 10, 1789. She died March 6, 1790. Their children wei^e Peter, Jr., born April i, 1734, married Delight Karon Bailey, daughter of Jedediah Bailey. Anna, born Dec. 17, 1736, married Amos, son of Jonathan Lester. Hannah, bom March 17, 1737, married Rufus Hurlbutt, son of John. Asa, born Dec. 13, 1738, died whUe young. John, born Oct. 13, 1740, married Dorothy Morgan, Dec. 14, 1775. He was slain in Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781. Nathan, born July 25, 1742, married Susanna Gallup. Lucy, born June 4, 1744, died April 18, 1814, age 70 years ; never married. Elizabeth, born April 2, 1746, died 1749. Eunice, born Jan. 8, 1748, married Nathan Conda. Deborah, born March i, 1751, died whUe young. Sarah, born May 8, 1753, married John Dean, died Feb. 4, 1838; no chUdren. 'Mary, born June 18, 1755, married Solomon Perkins. They had a large family. Nathan Lester, son of Peter Lester, Sr., and Anna Street Lester, bom July 25, 1742, married Susanna Gallup, April 24, 1798. They had one child, Hannah G. Lester, bom June 8, 1798, married Adam Larrabee. Amos Lester, Sr., son of Jonathan Lester, married Anna daughter of Peter Lester, Sr., and Anna Street Lester. They had five chUdren — Deborah, born . Anna, born 1762, mar ried Peter Lester, 3d. Hannah, born , married Lathrop Allyn. Lyra, born , died — — . Amos, Jr., born March 25, 1776, married Sarah Avery, Jan. 18, 1801. Asa Lyraan Lester, son of Asa Lester and Dorothy Morgan Lester, married Eliza Mariah Lester, daughter of Amos Lester, Jr. He died Oct. 5, 1841. Their chUdren were Sarah, boirn Sept., 1836, married Edmond Chapman. Dolly, born Aug., 1838, married Ephraim Chapman. Hellen, born Sept., 1840, mar ried RusseU Wells. Mary, bom May, 1846, married Henry Gay, Jan. 7, 1868. Asa Lyman Lester died Oct. 5, 1841. His widow, Eliza 10 146 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Mariah Lester, married, second, Asa Allyn. Child, Henry, born Jan. 18, 1855, married Nellie Gray. Hannah, daughter of Peter Lester, ist, married Rufus Hurl butt, son of John Hurlbutt. Rufus was born 1741 ; killed in Fort Griswold, Sept. 6. 1781. They had nine chUdern — Freelove, born 1765, died April 19, 1767. Ralph, bom May 19, 1767, mar ried Mary Jones, daughter of John and Sarah Jones. Rufus, Jr., born March 19, 1769, married. Amos, bom Nov. 10, 1770, mar ried. Settled in Cayuga County, New York. Asaph, born Sept. 10, 1772, married Hannah Wooidbridge. Hannah, boirn Oct. 12, 1774, married Joshua Allyn. Peter L., bom June 2, 1776, mar ried Fanny Bill. Lucy, born Dec. 14, 1778, single, died Oct. 17, 1837. Anna, bom July 10, 1780, married Stoddard Niles. Peter Lester, Jr., born AprU 4, 1734, son of Peter, Sr., and Anna Street Lester, married Delight Karon Bailey, daughter of Jedediah BaUey. She was born April 13, 1741. His second wife was widow Bridget Bailey, who died AprU 13, 1822. ChU dren by first wife — Asa Lester, born Sept. 26, 1761, married Dorithy Morgan. Jonas Lester, born , killed at Fort Gris wold, Sept. 6, 1 78 1. Peter, 3d, born 1768, married Anna Lester, daughter of Amos Lester. Child by second wife, Karon Lester. Solomon Lester, born 1771, married Polly Forsyth. He died Dec. 4, 1840. Their children were Prudence, born 1807, mar ried Ephraim Stoddard. She died July 18, 1875, age 68 years. John, born , single. Amy, bom , married Mr. Isah Adams. Asa Lester, son of Peter Lester, Jr., and Delight Karon Bailey Lester, married Dorithy Morgan. He. died July 2, 1839 She died March 29, 1828. Their children were John, bom Jan I, 1786, died Aug. 6, 1814; drowned. Eliza, bom Oct. 25^ 1788, married James McCracken, a widower. Nancy, born Nov 9, 1790, married John Comstock. Mary, born April 13, 1793 married Amos Etheredge. Sarah E., bom Feb. 23, 1795 Lucindy, born May i, 1798, single, died Dec. 12, 1870. Thomas J., born May 4, 1801, died Jan. 20, 1828. Wiliam P., bom July FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I47 19, 1803, died Oct. 30, 1807. Asa Lyman, born Feb. 10, 1810, married Mariah Lester. He died Oct. 5, 1841, aged 32 years. Susannah, born Sept 24, 181 1. Peter Lester, the 3d, son of Peter, Jr., and Delight Karon Bailey Lester, married Anna, daughter of Amos Lester, Sr. He died June 5, 1852. She died July 4, 1852. Their chUdren were Avery, born 1791, single, died Nov. 21, 1873, age 82 years. Hannah, born April 10, 1793, married Isaac BaUey, died Oct. 19, 1859, aged 66 years. Abby W., born 1800, single, died Nov. 15, 1853, aged 53 years. Amos Lester, Jr., son of Amos and Anna Lester, daughter of Peter Lester, Sr., bom March 25, 1776, married Sarah Avery, daughter of Janies Avery, born March 3, 1781, married Jan. 18, 1800. Their children were Anna, born July 20, 1801, married Oliver S. Tyler, Jan. 3, 1831. Lydia, born Dec. 19, 1802, mar ried Erastus Kimball, Dec. 30, 1821. Amos A., born March 30, 1805. Isaac A., born March 4, 1810, married Mary Chapman, Oct. 7, 1838. Eliza Mariah, born July 26, 1813, married Asa Lyman Lester, Aug. 16, 1835. Isaac Lester, son of Amos Lester, Jr., and Sarah Avery Les ter, born March 4, 1810, married Mary Chapman, daughter of Icbobod Chapman, married Oct. 7, 1838. Their children were Amos, 3d, born Dec. 3, 1839, married Caroline S. Spicer, May 28, 1868. Mary Jane, born June 6, 1841, married Courtland Lamb, Dec. 12, i860. Nathan L., bOm Jan. i, 1843, married Sarah E, Spicer, May 24, 1871. Henry C, bom Oct. 20, 1844, died Sept. 17, 1850. Jonathan F., born June 11, 1846, married Cecelia Spicer, May 28, 1873. WiUiam I., born Feb. 7, 1848, married Sarah E. .Simmons, April 16, 1885. Frank L., bom April 23, 1850, died Nov. 17, 1876. Samuel W., bom April 7, 1852, single. Walter C, born AprU 15, 1854, died July 14, 1855. Sarah E., bOrn Jan. 22, 1856, died March 11, 1857. Edward E. Lester, born April 29, 1858, son of Isaac and Mary Lester, married Almyra Chapman, Sept. 6, 1884. Their children were Edna Lucy, bom May 28, 1886. Samuel L., born April 23, 1889. Dorithy, bom April 20, 1893. 148 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Edward E. Lester and his famUy reside on the same farm, formerly owned by his great-grandfather, Amos Lester, Sr., and his children are the fifth generation that have lived on this farm in Ledyard. Allyn Lester, of Groton, son of , born April 28, 1775, and Lydia Miner, boim Feb. 25, 1782, were married April 17, 1803. Their chUdren were Austin M. Lester, born Feb. 2, 1804, married Nancy Stoddard. Emelyne Lester, born Jan. 20, 1806, married John Short, March 23, 1828. Rebeca A. Lester, bom Nov. II, 1808, married Avery E. Bailey, March 18, 1832. Francis A., born 1810, single. Austin M. Lester, son of Allyn and Lydia Miner Lester, mar ried Nancy Stoddard, daughter of Asa Stoddard, Sept. 16, 1827. Their children were SaUy Ann, born April 22, 1829, died Sept. 6, 1849. Emelyne, born May 25, 1831, married Orlando Stoddard. Austin A., bo'm June 23, 1832, married Laura Marshallj M'arch 12, 1856. Elizabeth, born Jan. 3, 1835, married Charles Davis. Avery E. Baily and Rebeca Lester, daughter of Allyn Lester and Lydia Miner Lester, were married March 18, 1832. They had no chUdren. John Short and Emelyn Lester, daughter of Allyn and Lydia Lester, were married March 23, 1828. 'They had one child, Emelyne Lester Short, born May 12, 1829. Austin A. Lester, son of Austin M. Lester and Nancy Stod' dard Lester, married Laura Marshall, March 12, 1856. Orlando Stoddard, son of Daniel Stoddard, married Emelyne Lester, daughter of Austin M. Lester and Nancy Stoddard Lester. Elizabeth Lester, daughter of Austin M. Lester and Nancy Stoddard Lester, married Davis. [T. B.] THE MAIN FAMILY. In the eariy part of the last century, three brothers by the name of Main, wfth their famUies, were living in the no-rth-east part of the town of Groton (now Ledyard). Their names were Abel, Samuel and Thomas. They were sons of Benajah Main, who, according to Hon. Richard A, Wheeler, in his "History of FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. I49 Stonington," was the son of Thomas (born Feb. 13, 1730), who was the son of Jeremiah (bom about 1778), who was the son of Ezekiel, the first of the name who came to Ston ington to reside permanently. He settled in that town in 1670. He was admitted to the First Qiurch, Sept. 3, 1676, and he died June 19, 1714. The name of his wife was Mary. Their children were Ezekiel, married Naomi Wells, died 1715; Mary, baptized 1677, d'^d young; Jeremiah; married Ruth Brown, died 1727; Thomas, baptized 1679, died young; Phebe, baptized 1681, mar ried Kingsbury; Hannah. The descendants of Thomas Main, the last of the three brothers named above, are quite numerous. Many of them have settled not far from the places of their birth. At the present time there are probably more persons by the name of Main living in Ledyard than there are of any other name. THE MORGAN FAMILY.* The first ancestor of the Ledyard Morgans, resident in this country, was James Morgan, who was born in Wales in 1607. With two younger brothers, John and Miles, he sailed from Bristol, England, in March, 1636, and arrived at Boston, the following April. John journeyed southward and settled in Vir ginia. Miles joined a company of emigrants, mostly from Rox bury, Mass., and became one of the founders of Springfield, Mass. James, the elder brother, may have spent a few years in Plymouth, Mass. He is found, however, in Roxbury, before 1640. Here, on August 6, 1640, he was married to Margery Hill, and here most of his children were bom. In 1650 he moved to Pequot (New London), where lands were granted him on wh^t is now one of the western suburbs of the city. Here was his hom.e for half-a-dozen years. "On the 25th day of Dec, 1656, he sold his homestead and removed soon after, with several others, across the river, upon large tracts of land previously *Most of the facts contained in this sketch are found in "The Morgan Genealogy," hy N. H. Morgan, Hartford, 1869. 150 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. granted them by the town, upon the east side of the Thames river, now the south part of Groton. James Avery, William Meades and Nehemiah and John Smith, who also had grants of land adjoining him, were among the first settlers, and the earliest resident farmers in that region." "James Morgan was a large proprietor and dealer in lands; distinguished in public enterprise; often employed by the public in land surveys, establishing highways, determining boundaries, adjusting civil difficulties as a magistrate and ecclesiastical diffi culties as a good neighbor and a Christian man, in whom all seem to have reposed a marked degree of confidence and trust." "He was one of the 'townsmen' or selectmen of New London for several years, and was one of the first 'Deputies' sent from New London plantations to the General Court at Hartford, May Session, 1657; and nine times afterwards was chosen to fill the same important position, the last time in 1670." He was an active member of the First Church in New London. In respect to property he ranked high among his fellow townsmen. In 1662, his list, on the toWn assessment, stood the third highest in amount, being £250. Only seven, out of about one hundred taxpayers, had lists amounting respectively to more than £200. "The spot where he first buUt his house, in 1657, and where he ever afterward resided, and where he died, is about three miles from Groton Ferry, on the road to Poquonoc Bridge. This patriarchal homestead has had an unbroken succession of Morgan occupants from the days of James Morgan, first, down to the present time." He died in 1685, aged 78. Children of James and Margery (Hill) Morgan: — Hannah, bom i8th May, 1642, married Nehemiah Royce, 20th Nov., 1660. James, bom 3rd March, 1644, married Mary Vine, Nov., 1666. John, born 30th March, 1645, married Rachel Dymond; 2d, widow Elizabeth Williams. Joseph, born 29th Nov., 1646, married Dorothy Park, April, 1670, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 151 Abraham, born 3rd Sept., 1648, died Aug., 1649. A daughter, bom 17th Nov., 1650, died the week after. The descendants of James and Dorothy (Hill) Morgan have been very numerous. There is hardly a state or territory in the Union which has not had at some time members of the family residing in it. In regard to the general characteristios of the family its his torian, Hon. N. H. Morgan, remarks : "The family, as a whole, is an honorable one, ranking quite above the average in moral and social position. Standing as I have been, for several years, at the focal point of a widely extended family correspondence, gathering in the rays which have come to me from every State and territory of the Union, I have been highly gratified with the abundant evidence of general intelligence, moral worth, and social standing, which has greeted me from every branch of the sept or clan. Although among us 'one star differeth from another star in glory' the constellation is an effulgent one." All this may be said of the family as a whole. Then there have been a good many individuals in it who have held important official positions, and filled them often with such ability as to achieve high commendation. The family has had a fair number of representatives in each of the learned professions, and some of them have risen to eminence in their callings. Quite a number. Outside of the professions, have developed marked ability ih highly useful pursuits, and attained to eminent success. Some have been remarkably successful in business, and have acquired princely fortunes. This is especially true of Charles Morgan, son of Col. George, born at KUlingworth, Conn., in the year 1795 ; moved to New York, and became an extensive ship ping merchant and founder of the famous Morgan Iron Works ; also of Gov. Edwin D. Morgan, son of Col. Jasper, bom in Wash ington, Mass., in 181 1, lived afterwards in Hartford and later in New York City, and there en-gaged in commercial pursuits which were remarkably successful. Some members of the family have obtained high rank as mUi tary officers, in the several wars, in which the country has been engaged, and been specially honored for their courageous and 152 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. efficient services. Quite a number as civilians have been placed in high and honorable positions, and proved themselves every way worthy of the trusts committed to their hands. One, Edwin D. Morgan, for two successive terms, served as Govemor of the great State of New York. Three at least have been members of Congress, and done much to shape the counsels of the nation, and guide it in the ways of righteousness. They are Edwin B., of Aurora, N. Y., son of Christopher, born 1806; in Congress for four terms in succession — 1850-1858; Christopher, of Auburn, N. Y., son of Christopher, born 1808, in Congress two succes sive terms — 1839-1843; and Edwin D., of New York City, son of Jasper, born 181 1, member of the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. THE ROACH FAMILY. The farm now occupied by Calvin Roach, in Ledyard, was bought from Dea. Peter Avery, by Thomas Roach, Sen., grand father of the present occupant, about 1816. Thomas Roach, Sen., was the son of jOhn Roach, who en listed in January, 1777, and joined the Georgia Battalion, April II, 1777. Thomas Roach, Sen., enlisted in the Revolutionary Army July 15, 1780, and received a pension for his services in 1839. He was probably bom in New London. When a boy he lived in the family of Mr. Vine Stoddard in North Groton. He mamed Thankful Williams. Thomas Roach, Jr., married in 1817, Lydia Avery. Their children were Sidney A., m. Isabel Settle. Delia A. Lucy A. m. Simeon Stoddard. Albert B. Erastus N., m. Mrs. Emma Phillips. Frank V. R., m. Mary Burrows. Calvin H., m. Maria Lamb. Thomas Roach, Jr., served in the War of 1812-15, under Capt Stephen BiUings, ^ ' FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 1 53 THE SMITH FAMILY. Lieut. Nehemiah Smith's house stood on a lot east of the Bill parsonage, only the cellar now remains to locate the place. He was son of John and Temperance (Holmes) Smith, of Groton, and was born Oct. 30, 1733. He martied May 3, 1758, Abigail Avery, daug'hter of Benjamin and Thankful Avery and died May 4, 1810. He served in the Revolutionary War as first lieutenant in Capt. William Whitney's Company in Col. Samuel Mc Clellan's regiment, which was faised for one year's service from March, 1778. They served in Tyler's brigade under Sullivan in Rhode Island, August and September, 1778. He had eight chil dren of whom one died young. Abigail, born Aug. 10, 1759, married first, Peleg Lewis, Jan. 27, 1782, and lived in Groton. He died Dec. 25, 1792. She married, second, Noah Bailey and lived on Meeting house HiU, Ledyard. Noah Bailey died Dec. 26, 1819. His wife died Sept. 16, 1842. They are buried in the Starr cemetery, Groton. Sarah Smith, born Aug. 10, 1761, married Nathaniel Bellows, and lived on the neighboring farm now owned by Samuel Cas well and buried there. Anna Smith, born Dec. 8, 1765, martied Oct. 5, 1786, Capt. Isaac Gallup, who died Aug. 3, 1814. She married, second, Jan. 30, 1825, Seth Williams, who died May 21, 1843. S-lie died Dec. 21, 1848. They were buried in Ledyard. Nehemiah Smith, bom April 21, 1767, married 1792, Abigail, daughter of Amos and Mary (Wig'ht) Geer, and lived in Pres ton, He died Aug. 13, 1803. His wife died Dec. 2, 1856, in Nonvalk, Ohio, and was buried there. Temperance Smith, born Jan. i, 1769, married, first. Park Allyn; second, Packer; lived in Ledyard. She died Feb. 6, 1859. John Smith, born April 9, 1771, married June 13, 1792, Martha Brown, of Stonington. He married, second, March 27, 154 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 1839, Abigail, daughter of Reuben Palmer, of Colchester. He died April 3, 1856, and was buried in Salem. Thankful Smith, born Jan. 21,. 1775, married Ezra Geer, son of Isaac and Mary (Leeds) Geer, and lived in Ledyard, north of her parents. She died July i, 1864. Her husband died June 13, 1855 They are buried in the Poquetanuck cemetery. Lieut. Nehemiah Smith was fifth in line of descent from Rev. Nehemiah Smith, who was born in Engla,nd, about 1605. He emigrated to America and was admitted freeman at Plymouth, Mass., March 6, 1637-8. He married Anna Bourne, of Marsh field, Jan 21, 1640, sister of Martha Bourne, who' married John Bradford, son of Gov. William Bradford. Rev. Nehemiah Smith lived in Stratford, New Haven, New London, Groton, and came to Norwich as one of the original propridtors of the town who purchased the land from Uncas in June, 1659. His son, Nehemiah Smith, born in New Haven, 1646, came to Groton with his parents about 1656. He married Oct. 24, 1669, Lydia Winchester, daughter of Alexander Winchester, of Roxbury, Mass. He served in the Colonial mUitia and held various offices in the town as justice of the peace, representa tive to the General Assembly from New London, 1705, and Groton, 1707, and town clerk of Groton, 1707 to 1718. He married, second, Mrs. Elizabeth Haynes, Sept. 7, 1724, and died Aug. 8, 1727. They are buried in Smith Lake cemetery, Groton. His son, Nehemiah, third, born Nov. 14, 1673, married April 22, 1696, Dorothy Wheeler, daughter of Isaac and Martha (Park) Wheeler. He died Nov. 21, 1724, and his wife died May 25, 1736. His son, Capt. John Smfth, born June 14, 1704, married May 10, 1727, Temperance Holmes, daughter of Joshua and Fear (Sturges) Holmes. They lived in Groton and later in Colchester. He was buried in Poquonoc. His widow married, second, James Treadway, of Colchester. rg q 1 FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 1 55 THE STANTON FAMILY. The first ancestor of the Ledyard Stantons, resident in this country, was Thomas Stanton, who bore a very pro'minent part among the early settlers. He embarked at London, England, Jan. 2,1635, in the merchantman "Bonaventura." He went to Virginia; but evidently did not stay -there very long, for in the next year, 1636, he appears on record in Bosto-n, serving as a magistrate. The next we know of him is in co-nnection with the Pequot War. In this war he ' came near losing his life in the battle of Fairfield Swamp. Soon after this he returned to- Bos ton; but how long he remained there we are not informed. Some time about 1637-8, he was married to Ann Lord, daughter of Dr. Thomas and Dorothy Lord, of Hartford; and from this 'time on for quite a number of years his home was in Hartford, though he seems to have been called away fro-m there quite frequently on official business, particularly as an Indian interpre ter. He probably went to Pequot (New London) in 1651 and in 1658, to his permanent home in Stonington, where he had al ready established a trading post on the Po-quetuck river, upon a 300 acre tract of land, granted to him as early as 1652. A descendant of Mr. Stanton, Rev. WUliam A. Stanton, D. D., com piler of the "Stanton Genealogy," truly says of him : "Mr. Stan ton's prominence, in the affairs of colonial Connecticut, can be best estimated by the possibility of so much about him being secured from contemporaneous history after a lapse of two' and a half centuries. As interpreter for Connecticut and for Gov. Winthrop, as interpreter-general of the New England Colonies, as county commissioner and judge for twelve consecutive years, as a member of the Connecticut General Assembly for seven years, as Indian co'mmissioner for many years, as a successful, all around man of affairs, as a worthy husband, father, citizen and Christian, the descendants of Thotaas Stanton have every reason to be proud of their emigrant ancestor." Miss Caulkins, in her "History of New London," speaks of him, as an interpreter, in these words : "Never, perhaps, did the acquisition of a barbarous language give a man such immediate 156 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. wide-spread and lasting importance. From the year 1636, when he was Winthrop's interpreter with the Nahantic sachem, to 1670, when Uncas visited him with a train of warriors and captains, to get him to write his will, his name is connected with almost every Indian transaction on record." And it is an interesting fact that all of his sons seem to have inherited their father's ability to speak the Indian dialects, and were in much demand as inter preters. ChUdren of Thomas and Ann (Lord) Stanton : Thomas, born 1638, married Sarah Denison, died April 11, 1718. John, born 1641, married 1664, Hannah Thompson, died Oct. 3, 1713- Mary, born 1643, married Samuel Rogers, Nov. 17, 1662. Hannah, bom 1644, married Nov. 20, 1662, Nehemiah Palmer. Joseph, born 1646, married June 19, 1673, Hannah Mead; married Aug. 23, 1677, Hannah Lord; married two- more wives, the fourth probably being a Miss Prentice. He died 1714. Daniel, born 1648, married and died in Barbadoes; he died before 1688, and left one son, Richard. Dorothy, bom 1651, married Rev. James Noyes, Sept. 11, 1674. died Jan. 19, 1742. Robert, born 1653, married Joanna Gardiner, Nov. 12, 1677, died Oct. 25, 1724. Sarah, born 1655, married 1st, Thomas Prentice; 2nd, WUl iam Denison; died 1713. Samuel, bom 1657, married Borodell Denison, June 16, 1680, died not before 1698. All of these ten children lived to have children of their own. The descendants of Thomas and Ann (Lord) Stanton have been very numerous, and have been very widely scattered. Dur ing the early generations many of them resided in Stonington. Hence we find on the records of the First Church, founded in 1674, of which Mr. Stanton was one of the first members, and his son-in-law. Rev. James Noyes, the first pastor, that between the years 1674 and 1842 no less than 156 persons by the name of Stanton were baptized; between the years 1674 and 1856, 61 FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 1 57 persons received into full communion; and between 171 5 and 1871, 83 couples, in which one of the parties was a Stanton, were united in marriage. Thomas Stanton is the first name on the roll of members, and Thomas Stanton, Jr., is the sixth. Ann, wife of Thoimas Stanton, Sen., became a member in 1675. Some pastors failed to leave on record their baptisins, etc. This fact accounts for periods during which the family is apparently not represented in the church. At the same time it is a well-established claim that at no period during the entire history of the church has it been without descendants of Thomas Stanton among its members. In each of the wars in which the country has been engaged, the Stantons have botne a prominent part. "It is worthy of note," says the genealogist of the family, "that from the Pequot War in 1636 to the CivU War in 1861-5, there was no' colonial or national war in which our family was not well represented among it country's defenders. In the massacre at Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1 78 1, four of the Stanton family were victims. Quite a number rendered valuable services in the War of 1812-15 ; and one of them, Phineas Stanton (1780-1842), became a major-gen eral. In the Civil War, of 1861-5, no less than thirty-six Stan tons are known to have served, some as privates, quite a nuriiber as officers of various rank from corporal up to colonel and brigadier-general. Some have engaged in the naval service. Tliomas Stanton, son of Daniel, and a descendant of the first Thomas in the fifth generation, was with that famous naval commander, John Paul Jones, on board the "Bon Homme Richard," and was killed in a naval battle off the coast of Scotland. John Stanton (born 1758), son of Nathaniel, and a descendant of the first Thomas in the fifth generation, was in the privateer service in the time of the Revolution ; was captured and confined for a long time on the infamous Jersey prison ship. Afterward, when France was at War with England, he enlisted in her marine service and remained in it quite a number of years, that he might (to use his O'wn words) "have his revenge upon England for the injury she had done him." 158 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. The Stantons have been enga,ged in almost every industrial employment that has been opened to them. Many have been farmers; many mechanics and merchants and not a few sea faring men. Goodly numbers have entered the learned profes sions, and a fair percentage of them have acquired honorable distinction. Dr. Daniel Stanton (1799-1884), of Mount Pleasant, Pa., Dr. George D. Stanton (1839 ), of Stonington, and others have ranked well in the medical profession. Judge Joshua Stan ton (1740 ), of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont; Hon. Joseph Stanton (1739-1842), member of Congress from Rhode Island; Hon. Lewis E. Stanton (1833 ), of Hartford, Conn. ; and Others have acquired a good degree of distinction as lawyers and civUians. Henry Brewster Stanton (1805-1887), of Connecticut and New York, husband of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, was quite celebrated in his day as a philanthropist and refomner ; and his wife was perhaps m.ore celebrated than he. Rev. Robert Stanton (1751-1821), pastor of Baptist Churches 'in Stonington and Woodstock, Conn. ; Rev. Benjamin F. Stanton, (1789-1843), pastor of Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in New York and Connecticut; Rev. Robert P. Stanton (1818-1898), for many years pa.stor of the Congregational Churcii in Greeneville, Conn. ; Rev. William A. Stanton (1854 ), pastor of Baptist Churches in Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania; and many more have stood well in the clerical profession. THE STODDARD FAMILY. The name Stoddard has been found in history as far back as 1060. There is a tradition that there was a noble Noirman by the name of Stoddard with William When he invaded England in 1066, and that he Was a relative of the famous Conqueror. Families bearing the name have lived in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. All the Stoddards in this country claim the same coat of arms, a fact whidh points to a common ancestry. Anthony Stoddard and three John Stoddards came from Eng- FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 1 59 land to this country about 1638. Anthony settled in Boston, and became a successful merchant. One of the Johns settled in Hingham, Mass. ; another in Newington or Wethersfield, Conn. ; and the remaining one, from whom the Stoddards in Groton (Ledyard) are descended, was first at Hingham, later at Say- brO'O-k, and about 165 1, in New London. Grants of land were made to him in New London, also at Stoddard's landing on the Thames river. Portions of this last named grant are still in the possession of one of his descendants. He married Catherine , and had four sons. His posterity is numerous and re spectable. He died in 1676, aged 64. / His son, Robert Stoddard, born about 1654, married Mary Mortimer, daughter of Thomas Mortimer, about 1684. Robert Stoddard, Jr., of the third generation, son of Robert and Mary, bom in 1700, married in 1728 Bathsheba Rogers, daughter of John Rogers. Mark Stoddard of the fourth generation, son of Robert, Jr., and Bathsheba, born in 1743, married in 1768 Lucy AUyn, daugh ter of .Samuel Allyn. Mark Stoddard was a farmer by occupa tion. He was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and par ticipated in the battle of Bunker Hill. He died March 8, 1829, aged 85. His wife Lucy (Allyn) Stoddard died July 29, 1831, aged 84. Stephen Stoddard, of the fifth generation, son of Mark and Lucy (Allyn) Stoddard, born in 1788, married in 1810 Sarah Morgan, daughter of Stephen Morgan. He was a farmer. He served in the War of 1812-15, later as captain of mUitia. Stephen M. Stoddard, of the sixth generation, son of Stephen and Sarah (Morgan) Stoddard, boim 1810, married in 1838 Hen rietta Allyn, daughter of Col. Roswell Allyn. In early life he went to sea, and made several whaling voyages out of New Lon don. Later he settled on the homestead of his father, and spent the rest of his life in farming. He died in 1879, aged 69; his wife in 1887, aged 75. Ebenezer Stoddard, son of Stephen, in early m'anhood, fol lowed the sea, and during the Civil War served in the Navy and was sailing-master on board the "Kearsarge" at time of the bat- i6o HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. tie off the coast of France with the rebel "Alabama." He was married at Ports mouth, N. H., and later o-n lived for a while in Brook lyn, N. Y. James Allyn Stoddard, of the seventh generation, son of Stephen M. and Hen rietta (Allyn) Stoddard, bom Oct. i8, 1848, mar ried Sept. 10, 1873, Anna Mariah Davidson. Their children were Henrietta, born Nov. 9, 1874, married John Finnigan, 1892. Stephen Denison, bom Dec. I, 1877. Albert Morgan, born Jan.. 19, 1881. Mrs. Anna Mariah Stoddard, died March 10, 1892, aged 42. Mr. James A. Stoddard, married Dec. 28, 1892, Miss Amey Jane Hopkins, of Nomvich. The Stoddards have generally been farmers. 'Quite a num ber of them have been seafaring men, and several, like Sanford Stoddard (1779-1860) and his son, Sanford Billings Stoddard (1813-1892), have, as sea captains, developed much enterprise and achieved a high degree of success. Ebenezer Stoddard. THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. Denison Billings Williams, the second son of Deacon Eleazar Williams, was born March 2, 1794, in the old homestead, on WUliams Hill, Stonington, Conn. He married twice; first, Hannah Avery, of Groton, daughter of Youngs Avery, and grand-daughter of Caleb Avery (the old soldier), and Han nah Latham, daug'hter of Capt. Wm. Latham, descendant of FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. l6l Cary Latham, two of the oldest English families in this country. His second wife was Eliza Avery, daughter of Park Avery, of Groton. After spending a few years in Norwich, he removed to Ledyard. In 1829, he bought a farm about a mile so-uth of the village of Poquetanuck, and there made his home, in connection with farm ing; he held town offices, settled estates, and was justice of the peace. He also bought large quantities of wool in all the surrounding towns for the various mills. He was a member of the Congre gational Church in Led yard, and when his hair was white, did not think he was too old to attend the Sunday-school. His two oldest children were born in Stonington, and seven in Ledyard, and at Thanksgiving time they all came home, both children and grand-children, where saucer pies and little cakes were plenty. In 1861 he sold his farm, and moved back to the old homestead, where so many of his family had lived and died. Later, he moved to Preston (Bridge) and bought a home on what is now WUliams street, taking his name. He died Feb. 26, 1867, aged 72 years. The chUdren of Denison were Mary Esther, born Miarch 13, 1818. Denison BiUings, born June 30, 1819, died Feb. 23, 1867. Cecelia Hannah, born July 9, 1822, died Jan. 30, 1893. Luke Latham, bom Jan. 12, 1824, died Feb. 15, 1859. Park Avery, born Feb. 28, 1826, died Aug. 31, 1892. Eunice Avery, bom March i, 1828. Benjamin Frank, born AprU 26, 1830, died March 17, 1893. Denison B. Williams. 11 l62 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYABD. Youngs Avery, born May 25, 1833, died Aug. 24, 1865. Elam Vanderpool, born July i, 1837, died March 9, 1849. Youngs Avery was a graduate of Rutgers College, and an exemplary and promising young man. At the time of his death he was studying law with the Hon. John Turner Wait and had already been admitted to the bar. Denison BiUings Williams descended from Robert WiUiams, of Roxbury, Mass., whose ancestry, in Wales, can be traced far back into the Ninth Century. He was born in Great Yarmouth, England, 1598. He married Elizabeth Stratton of the same place, and came to New England in the ship "Rose," in 1635, and lived to the great age of 100 years. Their descendants have been prominent in building up, and supporting the civU, educa tional, and religious institutions of their co-untry. One of his descendants, William Williams, of Lebanon, Conn., was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He married Mary Trumbull, daughter of Governor Trumbull, of Co'Unecticut. His second son, Isaac, bom in Roxbury, 1638, settled on five hundred acres of land in Newtown (Newton), then included in Cambridge, Mass. 'He was a deacon in the church, and rep resented Newtown in the General Assembly, for six years. From his son, by a second marriage, was descended the Rev. John WiUiams, the learned and revered Bishop of Connecticut. Eleazar, of Roxbury, the fourth son of Isaac, by his first marriage, with Martha Park, came to Connecticut, first to Lebanon, then to Stonington, Conn. He purchased in 1712, a tract of land on "Williams HiU" (now known as "Quagataug HiU"), and built a house, where he lived tiU his death in 1725. He and his wife (Mary Hyde) were members of the "Road" Churcii in Stonington. Nehemiah, son of Eleazar, was twice married; his first wife was Deborah Williams, and Gen. Joseph Warren, who dies at Bunker Hill, was their grand-son. Eleazer, second son of Nehemiah, was born Aug., 1730, FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 163 baptized October, 1730, and was the first person baptized in the new meeting-house on Agreement Hill, Stonington, Conn. He married Abigail Prentice. Deacon Eleazar, son of Eleazar and father of Denison, was born June, 1759, married Mary BUlings, Nov. 5, 1786, and died March 20, 1814. He lived in the homestead on "WUliams HiU ;" made farming his principal business. He was deacon in the church, and served in the Revolutionary Army. His great- granddaughter, Mrs. Josephine Middleton, now owns the home stead. [P. E. L.] , CHAPTER XII. Biographical Sketches. Col. Roswell Allyn, son of James and Anna (Stanton) AUyn, was bom in North Groton (Ledyard), July ii, 1789. In the spring of 1806 he commenced as an apprentice at tanning, currying and shoemaking, just north of Preston line, at the place where later was the grist and saw-mUl of the late Jonah Witter. He served two years there with a Mr. Capron. In the spring of 1808 he began as a journeyman with a Mr. Wood- bridge at the head of Mystic, where he worked two years. In 1810 he set up a small tannery near where he was born and where he afterward lived most of the time, and where he died Aug. 11, i860. He was twice a representative from Groton in the State Legislature ; the first time with Hon. Elisha Haley, who was af terwards in Congress. He held several town offices in Groton. In 1836, after Ledyard became a town, he was appointed sheriff's deputy by Alex. Stewart, then sheriff of New London County. He resigned this to become qualified to act as representative for Ledyard, being elected in April, 1843. He held tO'wn offices at various times in Ledyard. He belonged to the order of Free Masons. In early life he enlisted in the troop and when that was disbanded he served in infanitry and held offices in company and regiment. In 181 1 he married Henrietta Morgan, of Groton, whose children were Henrietta, born 1812, who after ward married Stephen M. Stoddard, of Ledyard, and who died his widow in 1887. Deborah A., died July 23, 1814, aged 10 months, 14 days. Emila, died Aug. 13, 1815, aged six weeks. His wife died Sept. 27, 1824. In June, 1826, he married Harriet Palmer, of Preston, who died Sept. 14, 1888. 'Her children were Palmer, born April 26, 1827. Stanton, born Aug. 23, 1835, and who died in the army in Louisiana, Aug. 28, 1863. [P. A.] BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 165 Lieut. Stanton Allyn, son of Roswell and Harriet (Palmer) Allyn, was born Aug. 23, 1835, in North Groton, on the old farm next north of the Bill parsonage, where his father was born. In 1840 his father moved back to the tannery which he had left in 1834. When old eno-ugh to work he was employed at tanning and farm ing, with the ex ception of two winter terms when he taught school. He had a com,mon s c h 01 o 1 education, sup plemented with instruction by Mr. Joseph H. Gallup for a short time. He had held so^me im portant town of fices in Ledyard when the Civil War broke out in the spring of 1861. He was very anxio-us to enlist in the three months' service, but was prevent ed by private bus iness. In the fall of 1 86 1 he re cruited a portion of a company and with them went into camp at Hartford the last of November. He was commissioned as second lieutenant of Company K, Twelfth Regiment, Connecti cut Volunteers. The regiment stayed in camp till the last of February, 1862, when they left for Ship Island, Miss., where they Lieut. Stanton Allyn. 1 66 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. remained till New Orieans was captured in April, 1862. They occupied Camp Parapet, La., for a whUe. The first time the regiment was under fire was Oct. 27, 1862, when one man was kUled from Company K. In the spring of 1863 he went with the regiment into the region of the Red river. Here they were at one time in battle for about three days, when one morning the rebel works were found to be evacuated. The regiment fol lowed in pursuit, but Allyn was taken ill with malaria and had to return to New Orleans, where he went to the hospital and stayed until the last of May, 1863. He went with his regiment to Port Hudson, where General Banks called for a picked company of men to make an assault. Allyn volunteered and nearly reached the rebel works, but was obliged to seek shelter under the same till night came and he was rescued, but it was a terrible trial and required greatest of bravery. He had been recovering from sickness and was poorly able tO' endure the conflict at Port Hud son. He stayed in camp till Port Hudson surrendered. He with his company and three other coimpanies were engaged on the night of June loth and nth, where several men were killed and wounded, almost under the rebel works. Also on June 14, and at other times. They were under fire much of the time during the siege. Port Hudson surrendered July 9th and the regiment soon after left for Brashaer City, Louisiana. Weak ened as he had been by sickness the service at Port Hudson was too much for him, and after a few days' sickness at Brashaer City, he died Aug. 28, 1863. His body was brought home and buried in the Allyn burying ground on the Charies Allyn farm, now A. W. Gray's farm. The foUowing extract from an article on "Port Hudson" in Harper's Magazine for August, 1867, gives us some idea of the character and bearing of Mr. Allyn as a mihtary officer. "At last daylight appeared. * * * * Lieut. Allyn of Company K, now arrived from lower down the ravine, and went into the lines after the stragglers of his command. Re-appear ing in the course of a few minutes with a dozen men, he had to expose himself recklessly in order to shame certain dem'oralized ones into advancing over the fatal knoll behind us. He was BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 167 admirable as he walked slowly to and fro at his full height, say ing, calmly, 'Come along, men ; you see there is no danger.' Old Putnam, galloping up and down Charlestown Neck, to en courage the Provincials through the ricocheting of the British army, was no finer." Lieut. Allyn was not only a noble specimen of manhood, physically, but mentally as well. He was known perhaps as the best, or one of the best scholars in the tov/n for his years, and perhaps the most promising of all the youth of Ledyard in those days. He was given a sash and sword by his admiring friends early in his mUitary career. [P. A.] Capt. Gurdon Lathrop Allyn was in the direct line of descent from Robert Allyn, whoi came from Salem, Mass., to New London in 165 1. He was a son of Nathan and Hannah (Lester) AUyn and was born at Gale's Ferry, Dec. 23, 1799. His surroundings in childhood and youth evidently determined his subsequent career. From his earliest years he was familiar with men and boys connected with the sea-faring life and heard from them many narratives that were fascinating to him. He was an eye-witness of scenes and events which early awakened in him desires and aspirations which could only be satisfied by actual experiences upon broader waters than those of the Thames river, and among other peoples than those who- dwelt in and near Gale's Ferry. Hence he embraced the first opportunity of acquainting himself with "life on the ocean wave," by personal participation in its varied and trying experiences. His first trip was with his father to Newport, when only nine years of age. Some two years later he was with his father on a sloop bound from Gale's Ferry to Staten Island for oysters. They encoun tered a terrible gale on the Sound in which many vessels were wrecked. But they made a port on Long Island in a disabled condition and after necessary repairs finished the ro-und trip with success. One might think that such a trying experience would cure a boy of his longings for the sea, but as a matter of fact it seems to have had the opposite effect. For about as soon as he could do so to advantage, he was studying navigation under 68 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. m experienced teacher, fitting himself for the calling which he nt ended to pursue. A year or two later he is on the sea, mate of a sloop, of which :apt. Christopher Allyn is master, carrying rice and cotton from :harieston, S. C, to New York, The next year he is master of the same vessel engaged in the iVest India trade, and in one year's time and before he was twen- :y-one years of age, he earned for the owner, Mr. Hyde, of Nor- vich, more money than he had paid for the vessel. From this time, for several years, he made many voyages jetween New London, Hartford and New York, on the north, . md various ports in the Southern States, West India Islands and lorthem coast of South America. Sometimes his enterprises vere very successful and at other times qufte the reverse. In 1829, when about thirty years of age, Capt. Allyn attempt- id a longer voyage. As master of the schooner "Spark," manned by sixteen seamen, he sailed from New London for the South African coast, in pursuit of seaJ-skins. After an absence Df fourteen months, he returned to New London, having made i voyage which was very satisfactory to all concerned. In 1832 he made a simUar voyage, to the regio-n of Cape Horn, md in 1834 still another. In 1842 he went to- the Indian Ocean, in the schooner "Franklin," for whale and sea-elephant oil and returned safely, making a profitable' voyage. In 1844-5 he was master of the ship "Brookline," in which he conveyed a cargo of guano from an African Island to Boston. After that as master of the ship "Charles Henry," he circumnavigated the globe, in pursuit of whale oil and made a profitable voyage. After that he made three successful voyages between New London and Patagonia for guanoi, twice in the s'hip "Palladium," and once in the bark "Iris." Afterwards he made two more voyages^ around the world, one in a new bark, the "N. S. Perkins," which was very profita ble, and the other in the bark "Tempest." On one of these long voyages he was accompanied by his wife and daughter. On an other his wife and the wife of his mate were on board. On the return from one of these voyages, they had sighted BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 169 Long Island, when the captain, wearied with watching, left the vessel in charge of his mate, who disregarded the captain's orders, ran the ship aground on the south side of Long Island, where ^he became a wreck ; but the ship was insured and the cargo of oil was saved. In May, 1861, Capt. Allyn obtained a commission as acting master and coast pilot in the United States Navy, and received an order in June, from Com. Dupont, to report for duty on the United States frigate, "Saint Lawrence." He was a participant in the famous Merrimac and Monitor engagement at Hampton Roads, in March, 1862. He had an honorable career in the navy, and in due time was discharged on account of his age. His salary while in the service, and the prize-money and pension, which he afterwards received, were a great help to him in his declining years. Capt. Allyn was married Oct. 13, 1822, to Miss Sally Sher wood Bradford, of Gale's Ferry, a descendant in the seventh generation from Gov. Wm. Bradford, who came over in the "Mayflower." They had five chUdren, four sons and o-ne daugh ter, but were survived by only twoi, Gurdon F. Allyn, of Salem, Conn., and Mrs. Sarah E. Latham, of Gale's Ferry. Capt. Allyn and his wife moved from Gale's Ferry tO' Salem, Conn., in 1839, when the captain took a three years' respite fro^m sea-faring, by managing a farm and a saw-mUl and grist-mill, but they returned to the Ferry in 1863 and spent the closing years of their lives amid the scenes of their childhoiod. After living together as husband and wife, nearly 66 years, Mrs. Allyn was caUed away on August 16, 1888. Just three years after, on Aug. 16, 1891, Capt. Allyn followed at the advanced age of 91 years, 7 months, 24 days. [For a fuller account of Capt. Allyn, see his autobiography]. [T. L.] Rev. Robert Allyn, D. D., LL.D., son of Qiarles and Lois (Gallup) Allyn, was born in North Groto-n (Ledyard), Jan. 24, 1817, on the farm now owned by A. W. Gray. His youth was spent in work on the farm and study in the district school ; first in North Groton, then in MontviUe, whither the famUy moved 170 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. in his boyhood. After a season of preparation in Bacon Acade my, Colchester, he commenced his career as a teacher in East Lyme. He fitted for college at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., teaching at intervals while doing so. Taking the four years' course at Wesleyan University, Middletown, he was gradu ated at that institution in 1841. About this date uniting with the N. E. Southem Conference he supplied for a time the Methodist Church in Colchester, also that at Tho-mpsonville, Ct. Being in vited erelong to be teacher of m'athematics in Wilbraham Academy he accepted; and in 1845 became principal of that institution. Under his management its number of students was increased and its reputation in the matter of scholarship advanced. He resigned this place to accept the position of principal and financial agent of the East Greenwich Academy in Rhode Island in 1848, and remained in that position till 1854, when he was appointed com missioner of public instruction in that State. He held the office for three years, when he was chosen to represent the town in the State Legislature for the years 1852 and '54. In 1854 he was appointed by the President of the United States, and commis sioned by the Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis^ visitor at West Point MUftary Academy, Robert E. Lee being superintendent of the Academy at that time. While holding this posftion he formed many valuable acquaintances, and greatly profited by observing the methods of instruction employed in the institution. In 1857 he removed to Athens, Ohio, and became professor of Greek and Latin in the Ohio Universfty, located at that place. At the end of two years he removed to Cincinnati and became president of the Wesleyan Female College in that cfty, and re mained there tiU 1863, when he resigned to accept the presidency of McKendree College in Lebanon, 111. Here he continued till 1874, and then was chosen to be principal of the Illinois Normal University which the -State was just opening at Carbondale. Here, to a certain extent, he was enabled to carry out his ideas of what an American school should be. The' male students in the institution practiced in infantry and artillery each day, taught by a regular cadet from West Point. After resigning this posi tion in 1 89 1 he continued to reside in the place tiU the time of BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 171 his death, which occurred Jan. 7, 1894. The honorary degrees of D.D. and LL.D. were conferred upon him by his alma mater. Professor Allyn was married No-v. 16, 1841, to Miss Emeline Denison, of Colerain, Mass. After becoiming the mother of two children, a son and a daughter, Mrs. Allyn died April 24, 1844. On June 24, 1845, Mr. Allyn was married to Miss Mary Budding ton, of Leyden, Mass. Two sons and two daughters were the fruits of this marriage. [In part from New London County History] . Israel Allyn, Esq., son of Abel and Mary (Hakes) Allyn, was born in North Groton, May 13, 1822. His education was in the public schools, be ing supplemented by sev eral terms of attendance upon select schools. He began to teach pretty early in life and continued in the work nine winters and two summers. Later he served as a travelling agent for the Henry BiU Publishing Co., and remained in the serv ice twenty years, achieving eminent success. After giving up the book busi ness he settled down o-n the old homestead as a farmer, married and reared a fami ly. His wife was Miss Mary Ann Williams, to whom he was married Nov. 25, 1873. They had two sons and one daughter. Mr. Allyn and his wife were both members and supporters of the Congregational Church, and he was superintendent of the Sunday-school for quite a number of years. Among the town o-ffices which he held were those of selectman and judge of probate. He repre sented the town in the State Legislature in 1869. His death Israel Alltn, Esq. 172 history OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. occurred Jan. 22, 1897. He early invested in wild lands in Iowa which, later on, became valuable, and made him quite wealthy. He bequeathed one thousand dollars to the Congregational Church. Edward Avery, who with his brother Christopher, settled in the north-west corner of Groton (now Ledyard), was the second son of James Avery, Jr., and if the recorded dates are correct he was born March 20, 1676, just seven days before his father left Norwich as lieutenant in his father's company, on the expedition into^ the Narragansett country during King Philip's war, when the sachem Canonchet was captured, whose capture and death was really the death blow of the war. He married Joanna Rose, June 3, 1699, daughter of Thomas Rose, whose house stood on Rose Hill, and became a noted landmark, being near the boundry line between Preston and Groton and near the south-east corner of the nine-mil^ square, the original claim of Norwich. He built him a home o-n the west side of what is now called Avery Hill near Poquetanuck cove. Here he and his wife Joanna lived to a ripe old age, sixty years of married life. They had thirteen children — 'a. baker's dozen — ^and nearly all of them lived to mature age and married. He died March 14, 1759, and was buried in his own family burying ground, a well selected spot not far fro-m his house on a high bluff just back from Poquetanuck cove. Since then m-any of his own family have been gathered around him. His wife survived him less than two years. Their graves are marked by enduring stones, well lettered. His will dated Feb. I, 1 752, was witnessed by Nathan Avery, Jacob Avery and Samuel Hutchinson, and approved June 19, 1759, by G. Saltonstall, judge of probate. An inventory taken after his death of his wearing apparel and household goods contained a long list. Tlie follow ing are a few of the many articles mentioned : Seven coats, one full suit, a beaver hat, eleven pair hose, three pair shoes, six linen shirts, a silver-headed cane, a wearing sword and three belts, a pistol, two cutlasses, two guns and five flints, a drum, a Bible and eleven books, seventeen chairs, a spoon mould, two BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. I73 button moulds, three shot moulds, and bullet mould, a looking glass, an hour glass, warming pan, two coffee-pots, tea-pot, spice mill, chopping knife, seven iro-n pots, four brass kettles, tea ket tle, lignum-vitse mortar, eight tubs, nine trays, three sugar boxes, ivory handle knife and fork, case of knives and forks, linen table cloth and napkins, tea and saucers. [B. T. A.] Capt. Christopher Avery, was born in Groton, Jan. 25, 1679-80. His parents were James Avery, 2nd, and Deborah (Stallyon) Avery. Both he and his brother Edward settled on Avery Hill in North Groton (now Ledyard), a mile or two- south of Poquetanuck, probably on lands granted to their grandfather, James Avery, ist, in 1653. He appears to have been a very in fluential and useful man. In the militia he held successively the offices of ensign, lieutenant, and captain. He was also justice of the peace, town clerk, clerk of the ecclesiastical society, and was retained in some of these offices many years in succession. The first pew in the North Groton meeting-house was built by him, so say the society records. For a considerable time after the recognition of North Groton as a separate parish, the prOf- fessors of religion residing there were co-nnected with the church in the South Society. On a catalogue of these professors, drawn up Nov. 22, 1727, containing about forty names, appear the names of Christopher Avery and wife, Edward Avery and wife, and Christopher Avery, Jr. The subject of this sketch was mar ried Dec. 19, 1704, to Abigail Park, daughter of Capt. John Park, of Preston. This wife bore him four children — Jo-hn, Abigail, Christopher and Nathan, and died Feb. 12, 1713. On April 14, 1714, he was married to Mrs. Prudence (Payson) Wheeler, widow of Richard Wheeler, of Sto-nington. Her first miarriage was solemnized in Roxbury, Mass., where she probably belonged. She had three sons and a daughter by her first husband. Her children by Mr. Avery were PriscUla, Isaac, Jacob and Ternper- ance. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Avery was mar ried to Mrs. Esther (Hammond) Prentice. This wife 'also- died before him. And in his will, made in 1752, the year before his own death, he speaks of his "wife Susanna," whom tradition al- 174 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. firms to have been a Stoddard. A partial inventory of property, appended to his will, gives the value of his homestead farm as £10,000 (old tenor?), Brewster's Neck farm of 70 acres, £2,500; his negroes, Jude, £500; Jenne, £260; Nero, £530; Lydia, £260; Sarah, £240; and Tom, £210. In the year 1888 a plain obelisk of brown stO'ue, commemorating the memory of Mr. Avery and his four wives, was placed over their graves in the cemetery on the east side of Avery Hill, the expense being borne. by several of his descendants. Rev. Nathan Avery, so-n of Capt. Christopher and Abigail (Parke) Avery, was bo'rn in North Groton, March 10, 1712. He was ordained pastor of the Separate or Strict Congregational Church in North Stonington, April 25, 1759; died in the twenty- second year of his ministry, Sept. 7, 1780. He was married March 21, 1746, to Hannah Stoddard. They had four sons and three daughters. Mrs. Avery died Oct. 10, 1810. Rev. Christopher Avery, son of Christopher Avery, Jr., and Eunice (Prentice) Avery, was born in North Groton, Jan. 23, 1737-8. He succeeded his uncle, Rev. Nathan Avery, in the pastorate of the Separate Church in North Stonington, Nov. 29, 1786, and continued to minister to this church tUl the time of his death, which occurred July 5, 1819. His grave marked by a large white marble slab, is on Wintecho'g HiU. He was mar ried, first, to Dorothy Heath, Dec. 16, 1763. By her he had five children, four sons and one daughter. Mrs. Avery died June 14, 1803, aged 61. Mr. Avery was married again, Nov. 7, 1803, to Miss Mary Eldridge, who out-lived him some nineteen or twenty years, dying Dec. 7, 1848, aged 89. PIenry William Avery, Esq., was born in Groton, Oct. 12, 1795, the son of Col. Ebenezer and Mary (Eldredge) Avery, and grandson of Ebenezer Avery, Jr., who was slain in Fort' Gris wold, at the Brftish massacre, Sept. 6, 1781. He was of the eighth generation from Christopher Avery who came from Salisbury, England, in 1630, and settled in Gloucester, Mass. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 175 Through his mother he was of the eighth generation from Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower. His education was gained in the district school of his home opposite the New London fort, the house of his parents and grandparents still (1900) standing. At the close of school age the family moved to the house in North Groton which, in 1836, became the south-east house in the new town of Ledyard. At the age of seventeen he served about two months in the War of 1812. When nine teen years old he united with the First Congrega tional Church in Groton, under the ministry of Rev. Timothy Tuttle, after wards, by letter, Feb. 22, 1835, with the Congrega tional Church in North Groton (Ledyard), under the same ministry. He was married Nov. 27, 181 7, to Betsey, daughter of Fred erick and Hannah (Fish) Deniso'ii. As justice of the peace his services were re garded as very valuable in adjusting difficulties and reconciling contending parties. For many years he held the position of judge of probate, rendering kindly and faithful serv ices in the fulfillment of the delicate duties of that office. He was ever helpful in his relation to the church, usually among the first to reach the Sabbath services vdth his famUy in a drive of five miles. As teacher and superintendent of the Sabbath- school he showed his loving devotion to the spiritual interests of the young. He had the charge of the large farm where, with his parents, he resided for thirty years, giving his lo'ving and faithful care to his aged parents while they lived. When this filial service was no loinger needed, he laid aside the responsibili- Henrt W. Avery, Esq. 176 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. ties and labors of his active life, and with his wife moved to Belvidere, 111., to live in the house which he buift on the prairie for the use of himself and his son who preceded him, a few years, to that place. The rest of his days were spent in comparative quiet, yielding what labors he pleased to his garden and the farm of his son. iOn his removal from Ledyard he connected himself with the Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, and con tinued to be a punctual attendant at the Sabbath services as long as strength permitted, and with as interested attention as his serious and prolo-nged defect of hearing would allow. The great and sore trial of his life was the sudden death of his de voted companion in Belvidere, May 11, 1866, at the age of 66. He had hitherto lived much with his Bible, in private and family devotions, but when she who had walked O'U with him from early manhood until near the jubilee was taken from him, then es pecially the loved BoO'k became his daily, almost hourly, com panion, and this is his own record : "June 21, 1866, commenced reading Scott's Bible with notes and commentaries ; finished the first volume Nov. 15, 1866. Finished the second volume Dec 20, 1866. Finished third volume Jan. 14, 1867. Finished fO'Urth volume Feb. 11, 1867. Finished fifth volume March 9, 1867. Finished sixth volume April 8, 1867." After that he read the Bible, in course without notes, so frequently, that his record shows that he had read it ninety-six times since April, 1867. The ho'urs of the Sabbath were sacredly observed, secular papers and ordinary books being discarded, and sometimes three or four sermons being read instead. He retained an active mind and deep interest in passing events. His correspondence was quite extensive and continued to the last — the latest letter which came to him, a sho'rt time be fore his death, being from his life-long friend and frequent cor respondent, Jonathan Whipple, of Ledyard. The blessing of almost uninterrupted heafth and strength had been his through his long life. His last sickness kept him to his room and bed only twelve days, and, having no desire to abide, he went to his heavenly home March 5, 1883, aged 87 years, 4 months, 21 days. Two sons, Frederick D. and Henry W., survive. [F. D. A.] BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 177 Rev. Frederick Denison Avery, son of Henry W. and Betsey (Denison) Avery, was born in the north-east corner house of the present town of Groton, Oct. 30, 181 8. His childhood and yo'Uth was spent in the ho-use a few rods above, now in the town of Ledyard. Having graduated from the "Pumpkin Hill" school, he took a "short course" in the study of his pastor. Rev. Timothy Tuttle, whose daughter, Anna M'aria, was bis prin-- cipol teacher. At the close of his farm life, when seventeen years old, in February, 1836, his father gave him a sleigh-ride, a week long, tO' Sherburne in Central New York, where he entered the shop of his uncle, Sidney Avery, to learn the cabinet trade. The first lesson, however, for him to learn was to be a Christian, as he passed im mediately into the pro tracted meetings which his uncle wished aU his faniUy to attend. Very so-on the great question of his life was decided, and, with many others he united with the Congregational Church in Sherburne, in April, 1836. In attendance upon the commencement exercises at Oneida Institute where his cousin, Colby C. Mitchel, was to graduate, his attention was earnestly 'directed by his cousin to the work of the gospel ministry. Having spent eighteen months in the cabinet shop he returned to his father's ho'use to confer with his parents, and in a short time went to a proposed school in Derby, with Isaac Jennings as instructor. This enterprise failing, he followed his instructor to a classical school in New Haven, in preparation for college. He united, by letter, with the Congregational Church in Ledyard, March 3, 1839. After a 12 Rev. Frederick D. Avert. 178 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. winter's practice as schoolmaster, boarding around in the Union ville district in Ledyard, he entered the freshman class in Yale College, in September, 1840, having two years previously secured the privilege and pecuniary aid and had the care of the chapel for his senior year. With a fair standing in his class of 104, he was graduated in 1844. Passing immediately intoi the Yale Di vinity School, he received his graduation there in 1847, in a class of thirty-three, the Rev. John Avery, of Preston, being one. He was licensed to preach Aug. 12, 1846, by the New Haven West Association. Having preached two months in South King ston, R. I., and two months in Exeter (Lebanon), toi aid the minister in each place; and as stated supply in Eden, N. Y., fifteen months, he received a call from the Congregational Church in Columbia, Conn., where he was ordained and installed, June II, 1850. This pastorate terminated in accordance with the foUo-wing announcement made July 14, 1895 : "To the Congre gational Church and Ecclesiastical Society: Forty-five years ago necessity was laid upon me to preach the gospel, and in this house taking the pastoral charge of the church and congrega tion worshipping here. With this protracted service the neces sity is now laid upon me to lay down this charge because of these accumulating years wfth my increasing disabilfties, es pecially my difficulty of hearing. I, therefore, hereby resign this pastorate, the resignation to take effect on the thirty-first day- of October, next. Affectionately, Frederick D. Avery." At the beginning of his pastorate in that farming town, where there was no other church, the church numbered 118, and at its close 178. There were seven special revival seasons, and benevolent con tributions were trebled. When his active service closed Mr. Avery, by vote of the church, became Pastor Emeritus. He was a member of the school board 36 years, a large portion of the time being acting school visitor. He has now (1900) been a member 32 years, and president 27 years, of a board of trustees of the "Hale Donation Fund" of $10,000. for the perpetuation and increase of a ministers' library for the vicinfty of Coventry and for giving aid to needing theological students. He hai attended sixty-six ecclesiastical councils. He was registrar of BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. I79 Tolland Association of Congregational Ministers seventeen years, and of Tolland County Conference seventeen years. In 1880 he was moderator of the General Association of Connecticut, and in the following year delivered the moderator's address. His published writings have been pamphlets, including "Historical address at the 150th Anniversary of the Columbia Congrega tional Church, in 1866;" "Historical address at the looth Anni versary of the Tolland County Association of Congregational Ministers, June, 1889;" "Loyalty to the Church," an essay, read at the county conference, October, 1893. He was a member of the Coinnecticut House of Representatives in 1885. In the sum mer of 1879, as a member of the excursion party, directed by Eben Tourjee, he visited the Scottish lakes and cities London, Paris, chief cities of Switzerland, Italy and Holland. M'arch 12, 1849, he married Julia Sophia, daughter of Ros well and Phebe (Harrison) Smith, in New Haven, Rev. Edward Strong, his former college tutor, officiating. A daughter, Julia Sophia, born June 11, 1855, was graduated from Mount Holyo'ke Seminary in 1876, and has been engaged in teaching since that time. Her mother died June 24, 1855, at the age of 32. He married at Hagaman, N. Y., May 18, 1857, Charlotte, daughter of Benjamin and Barbara (De Graffe) M'ansy, Rev. Lansing Pearce officiating. A son, Frederick Henry, born July 10, 1863, married Lillian Irene, daughter of George B. au'd June (Clark) Fuller, November 20, 1889, his father ^officiating. Hugh Fred erick, son of F. H. and L. I. Avery, born April 15, 1891, died Sept. 5, 1896. Another SO'U, Frederick Denison Avery, was born Sept. 13, 1895. Residence of Rev. F. D. Avery, and of his son, F. H., is now at East Hartford, Conn. [F. D, A.] Henry William Avery, Jr., son of Henry WiUiam and Betsey (Denison) Avery, was born in Groton, Conn., May 31, 1823. His childho'od and youth were spent in the ho'me of his parents, upon the farm, attending the district school during the winter months, until at seventeen years of age he taught the winter term of school at Ledyard Centre, near the church, and l8o HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. for three winters and one summer at Burnet's Corners in Groton. He was one of twenty-five, who united wfth the Congregational Church in Ledyard, Jan. i, 1843, under the pastorate of Rev. Timothy Tuttle. This was the largest accession ever made to that church at any one time previous to that date. The summer of 1844 was spent in the family of' his uncle, Sidney Avery, in Sherburne, N. Y., and in attendance upon the Sherburne Acade my. He was married Sept. 10, 1844, to Miss Lydia Goodell Avery, daughter of Sidney and Mary (Dickey) Avery. The fol lowing winter they were with his parents in Ledyard, Conn., he teaching in the school-house on Pumpkin Hill, where his early education was obtained. In the spring of 1845 they joined his wife's parents in Sherburne, N. Y., and all emigrated to Belvi dere, Boone County, 111., and united by letter v/itli the First Presbyterian Church of that place. He was soOn thereafter elected superintendent of the church Sunday-scho'ol, which posi tion he -held most of the time for forty years. In 1852 he was elected and ordained ruling elder of the church, and in 1855 he was elected clerk of session, both of which o-ffices he has con tinuously held and retains to this date, April, 1900. As secretary and treasurer of church and society for forty-five years nearly all the records have been kept by him-, and all funds, for all purposes. His occupation for thirty-five years in Illinois, was farming, having converted the natural prairie soil into well-cul tivated and fruitful fields. During these years upon the farm, five miles fro'm the city and the church, he oirganized and helped sustain many country Sunday-schools. In 1881 he retired fro-m the farm of three hundred acres, and located in the city of Belvi dere. At the county Sunday-school convention in that year, he was elected president of the Boone County Sunday-school As sociation, which office was continued by re-election for ten years. In 1887, after having been elected moderator of presby tery and having delivered the address as retiring moderator, Freepo'rt Presbytery, upon its own motion, granted him licensure to preach. Having this authority he has often supplied vacant pulpfts and conducted funeral services. Many of his public ad dresses and essays at Presbytery Sunday-school conventions. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. l8l dairymen's conventions and farmers' institutes, have been pub lished. Numerous estates have been entrusted to him for settle ment, and his counsel and aid are often solicited. For twenty years he has been and yet is secretary and business manager of "The Belvidere Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company of Boone County, Illinois." In May, 1847, the wife of his youth was removed by death, leaving one daughter, Eliza beth Denison, about six months old. In October, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Patterson McCord, daugh ter of Elder Robert McCord, of Carlisle, Pa. They have no children. His daughter, Elizabeth, was married in June, 1873, to Jo'hn C. Thompson, of Belvidere, IU. She died in December, 1880. Two sons, Edward Avery Thompson and Henry Sidney Thompson, survive her. 'The eldest is now a senior in Ann Arbor, Michigan, University. The youngest is no-w a senior in the Belvidere High School. The last visit of Mr. Avery to the home of his youth was in 1891, when he preached for his friend. Rev. James A. Gallup, in M'adison, for his bro-ther. Rev. F. D. Avery, in Columbia, and for Rev. John Avery, in his ho-me church in Ledyard. He also', by special invitation, made an ad dress at the Bill Library dinner in the BUl homestead, now occu pied and used as a parsonage for the Congregatio'ual Church. [H. W. A.] Christopher Swan Avery, M. D., son of Isaac and Lucy (Swan) Avery, was born in North Groton, Nov. 25, 1788. "He served in the medical department of the army in the War of 1812; was a successful practftioner, both in physic and surgery, and no man in his time was his superior." His practice as a physician was chiefly in the town of Windham, in this State; though a portion of it, toward the close of his life, was near the ho'me of his childhood, in the village of Poquetanuck and the surrounding commumty. His first wife was Margaret Brew ster, a daughter of Judge Benjamin Brewster, of Windham. 'She bore him three children — Benjamin Brewster, who died April 4, 1827, aged 8 years, Susan, who married a Prior, and Lucy 1 82 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Swan, who died July 12, 1827, aged 4 years. Mrs. Avery died April 7, 1827, aged 32. He married for a second wife, the widow of Dr. Kent, from the State of New York. He died in Windham, July 19, 1862, aged 73. Amos Geer Avery, M. D., youngest son of Nathan and Matilda (Babcock) Avery, was born in North Gro'to-n, March 3, 1822. He studied with his uncle. Dr. Christopher S. Avery; attended lectures in Connecticut and New Hampshire, and re ceived his diploma from the Medical Institute in Louisville, Ky., in 1845, in a class of 345 members. "Soon after graduating he went to Iowa, then to California and stayed tUl 1857, when he returned east, and practiced medicine a few years in Orleans County, N. Y. On the fitting out of the Burnside' expedition to North Carolina, he was on the staff of William O. Howard, as marine agent, and had charge of eleven boats. He retumed bro'ken in health, and crippled by internal injuries, contracted in • the line of duty, and was pensio-ned at seventeen dollars per month. He returned to* the army and held an appointment from Surgeon-General S. Oakley Vanderpoel, to the Forty- fourth New York Regiment (Ellsworth's Avengers), General Rice then in command. * * * * jje was then chosen for the service in New York and vicinity, in examining men and supervising army camps and hospitals, and this co-ntinued to near the close of the war." After the war he located at Bergen, N. J., where he practiced medicine for several years ; then moved to Portland, Oregon. But the climate not agreeing with him he went to Florida and resumed his professional work in that sunny state. He was married, about 1859, in Wilna, Lewis County, N. Y., to Caroline Amanda Johnson. They had one son and two daughters. Only one of the three children, the youngest, Frederikie, lived to grow up. She was married April 13, 1872, to Adelbert Vrooman, of Great Bend, N. Y. Mrs. Dr. Avery died in Florida, May 2, 1892. Dr. Avery died at the home of his daughter, Sept. 18, 1898, '' BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 183 Henry Bill. Few of the sons of New London County have made a more lasting impress upon its material and moral in terests than the subject of this notice. He was born in that part of the old tO'wn of Groton (now Ledyard) on the i8th of May, 1824, the second born of the large family of Gurdon and Lucy Bill. At the early age of fifteen he entered the office of the Nczi' London Gazette as an apprentice, but soon afterwards re turned to his native town, and the following winter engaged as a teacher in the Broadbro-ok district in Preston. In O'rder to qualify himself for the profession of teacher he afterwards entered the Academy in Plain- field, then one of the most celebrated schools in the coun try From this time, tUl the age of twen ty, he taught in the schools of Plainfield and Groton in the winter and helped his father on his farm in summer, in terspersing his occu- patio-ns with a brief period of trade in New London. At age of twenty he purchased of his father his remaining year of minority, and sooin after en tered upon a busi ness which was destined to occupy the remainder of his active life, and in the prosecution of which he achieved all the objects of his highest ambition. A near kinsman, the Ho-n. James A.Bill of Lyme was then engaged in book publishing in the city of Philadelphia. Into his service he entered, and for three years he traveled for Hon. Henry Bill. l84 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. him through the Western States. At the end of that time, in' the fall of 1847, he returned to his native county and en.gaged in book publishing on his own account, locating in the city of Norwich. He was encouraged to do this by the elder Harper Brothers, of New York, who, instinctively, saw the material for success there was in him, and who gave him unlimited credit and remained his warmest friends during their lives. Here, few- more than twenty-five years, he pursued his profession of a book publisher with ceaseless energy and with uniform success. Re warded with the possession of an ample fortune, and failing in health, he then formed his large business into a joint stock cor poration, which still flourishes under the title of the Henry Bill Publishing Co'mpany, and personally retired, as the world ex presses it, from active life. But in temperaments like his, there is no period of a man's life more active than that which succeeds a retirement from that occupation by which he is best known among men. A list of the works which he has published and distributed by hundreds of thousands all over the United States by agents would include "Stephens' Travels in Yucatan," "Maunder's History of the World," "Murray's Encyclopedia of all Nations," "Kftto's Bible Histories," and "Abbott's History of the CivU War." Among the many works which have distinguished his life may be mentioned his founding of Laurel HUl, now one of the most thrifty and beautiful of the suburbs of the city of Norwich ; the reclaiming of this rugged hillside and meadow was emphatic ally his work ; the establishment of the Bill Library in his native town of Ledyard, a work purely for the benefit of the people of the town, and which, in connection .with his gift of a parso-nage, has cost him at least twelve thousand dollars ; and the donation of a public park on Laurel Hill to the cfty of Noirwich valued at eight thousand dollars. He has been deeply interested in the education of many colored young men in the Southern States since the war, one of whom is no'W a professor in the Richmond University in Virginia, and one an editor of a paper in Georgia. In eariy life Mr. Bill's political affiliations were with the BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 185 Democratic party, as his father's were, before him, and as a Democrat he represented the Norwich district in the State Senate in 1853, receiving in the election a large portion of the votes of his opponents ; but in the split in that party in 1856 he cast his lot with the anti-slavery sentiment, and has been from its formation an active and uncompromising member of the Re publican party. During the Civil War he was greatly relied upon by Connecticut's war Governor, Buckingham, and was his devoted friend. His time and means were always at the service of the State. Mr. Bill from early life was a member of the Congregational Church, and during his residence in Norwich was connected with the Broadway Society. He was married on the loth of February, 1847, to Miss Julia O. Chapman, of Groton. Seven children have been born to them, of whom two daughters and a son are living. Mr. BUl has always had great faith in the future of his adopted city. His investments have, been almost wholly there in real estate. In its care and manage ment he found ample occupation. In all the leading traits of his life, his example has been a safe guide, and when the roll of the sons of New London County, who have made them selves an honored name, is called, his will be found among the first. He died at Eastern Point, Groton, Aug. 14, 1891, whUe sum mering there with his family. His place of burial was Yantic cemetery in Norwich. They had children: Henry Gustavus, bo-rn Nov. 18, 1847, died Nov. 3, 1853. John Harper, born June 21, 1851, died 1871. Henry Sumner, born June 19, 1856, died . Julia Plorence, born April 29, 1858, married Rev. J. Henry Selden, and live in Greenwich, Conn. They have one son, Henry BUl Selden. Jennie Eliza, born April 8, i860. Frederic Abbott, born March 12, 1864, married Ella Sprague, March 15, 1889, and Uve in Springfield, Mass. [N. L. Co. Histo'ry.] i86 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Capt. James A. Billings, son of Col. Stephen and Martha (Denison) Billings, was born in North Cl-roton, Feb. 24, 1821. He received his education in the public schools ; early he began to teach in them, and prosecuted the work through sixteen sea sons. He succeeded his father in the occupancy of the home stead farm, and his principal employment on to the close of life was the cultivation of this farm. He and his family were all members and active sup porters of the Co'Ugrega- tio-nal Church. In early life Mr. Billings w as chosen captain of the mili tary company to which he belonged and bore the title as long as he lives. In the year 1881 he represented the town in the State Leg islature. For several years, in the latter part of his life, he held the office of judge of pro'bate. He was mar ried December 28, 1852. to Miss Margarette J. Allyn. They had one son and three daughters. He h ^ Capt. James A. Billings. I died at his home in Ledyard, December 7, 1896. Franklin Brewster was born Jan. 15, 181 1, i;ear Poque tanuck in Preston, on the Shipley Halsey farm. His parents were Nathan and Cynthia Brewster. They died when he was a small boy. He then went to live wfth his guardian, Theophilus Avery, of Ledyard, with whom he remained till he was a young man, meanwhile learning the carpenter's trade. His leading employment through life was that of a carpenter. He also owned a small farm to the cultivation of which he gave his at tention when not pressed with other engagements. He was frequently trusted wfth important interests by his fellow towns- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 187 men. In 1876 he was the representative of Ledyard in the State Legislature. From 1876 to 1885 he was president of the Bill Library Association. In this work, from first to last, he had the earnest and efficient co-operation of his wife who gave much time and labor every year to the preparation of the elaibo- rate dinner provided for the trustees and their invited guests. Mr. Brewster was for many years an esteemed member and earnest worker in the Congregational Church. He was mar ried Nov. 23, 1832, to Sarah Elmina Stoddard. They had two chUdren, William Franklin and Harriet. Mr. Brewster died March 22, 1885, at the age of 74. The son married EUen Allyn, daughter of Abel Allyn, and went West and lived a number of years, and then returned, and now lives on "Meeting-house HUl." Jabez Brewster, the father of John, Sr., was a native of New London Co-unty, and a farmer. His family comprised six sons and two daughters ; one married Jeremiah S. Halsey. John Brewster, Sr., was born in Preston, Dec. 15, 1782, and died Nov. 12, 1848, a few days after he had cast his vote for President and Vice-President of the United States. His wife was Mary (commonly called Polly) Morgan, daughter of Capt. Israel Morgan, a soldier of the Revolution. Capt. Morgan's father was WUliam Morgan, and a lineal descendant of James Morgan, born in Wales in 1607, who settled in Pequot, now ¦ New London. He died June 4, 1816, his death being caused by an accident. In 1820, John Brewster, Sr., purchased the homestead then known as the "Capt. Israel Morgan Farm," but now called "Hillside Farm.'' His family consisted of three sons and a daughter, who married Elisha A. Crary, and had a large family. Hon. John Brewster, son of Jo'hn, Sr., and Mary (Morgan) Brewster, now living in retirement in Ledyard, Conn., upon the Brewster homestead, was born May 13, 1816, in the HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Hon. John Brewster. adjoining town of Preston, and is a direct descendant of the distinguished Pil grim leader, WiUiam Brew ster, "the excellent Elder of Plymouth," whose eldest son, Jonathan, was the first town clerk of New Londo'n. He is the only surviving son of the family and grew to manhood o-n the farm, was educated in the common schools, and in Colchester Baco'n Acad emy. He enlisted as ser geant in a rifle company from Groton and Stoning ton, when in his eighteenth year, and afterwards was chosen cap tain, by which title 'he is now well known. 'Previous to- his mar riage he taught school several winters. Mr. Brewster was mar ried April 2, 1840, to Mary Esther Williams, daughter of Denison Billings Williams and Hannah Avery, of StO'uington. Mrs. Brewster, now in her eighty-third year, was the eldest of nine children, seven of whom have passed away. The remaining .sister is the wife of Richard A. Roberts, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Six chUdren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brewster : Mary Hannah, born Jan. 19, 1841, died Sept. 2, 1842. John Denison, born Jan. 29, 1843 ; was married to M. Adaliza Geer, Oct. 18, 1871 ; died April 30, 1894, leaving his wife and two children, Clara Louise and Arthur Morgan. Fanny Halsey, born Sept. 14, 1845, was married June 30, 1868, to Thomas A. Geer, of Cleveland, O., formeriy of Ledyard. They have one daughter, Mary Brewster, now married to Edwin L, Thurston, a prominent lawyer of Cleveland, O., and have one BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 189 son, Thomas Brewster, the only great-grandchUd of Mr. and Mrs. Brewster. Phebe Esther, born July 21, 1848, was married Oct. 22, 1873, to Benjamin F. Lewis, Jr., of Mystic. Frank WiUiams, born April 24, 1854, was married Oct. 24, 1878, to Mary L. Brown, of Preston. They have two chUdren, Hannah Elizabeth and Phebe Halsey. The son Frank and his family remain on the ho'rriestead. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Brewster brO'Ught his wife to the home, where he has lived more than eighty years, and with his wife over sixty years. The farm, situated in the town of Ledyard, and just south of the viUage of Poquetanuck, four miles from Norwich, contains about 140 acres. The house is O'ver 200 years old, but has always been kept in good repair. In it were born the twelve children "of Capt. Morgan. It is re-- lated that one of the little girls, on her way to school, meeting a stranger, was asked by him what family she belo-nged to, and she promptly replied, that she "belonged to- the tribe of Israel." In addition to tilling his farm, Capt. Brewster bought wool in company with the late L. W. Carroll, of Norwich, and also for the Yantic Wo-olen Co. In the capacity of appraiser, trustee and administrator, he has often assisted in settling estates, some or them requiring the handling of large amounts of property, and involving knotty and troublesome problems. 'He was al ways conspicuous for broad intelligence, and sound judgment, honest, kind-hearted and generous to a fault. He, with his family, have always attended St. James' Episcopal Church of Poquetanuck, of which he has been a liberal supporter. He represented the town of Ledyard, in the House of Repre sentatives, 1847, 185 1 and 1878, and the Tenth district in the Senate, i860, 1885 and 1886. A contemporary paper thus speaks of him : "The Tenth district, in the person of senator, who has been one of the most prominent sen'ators at the capitol, has had much excellent effect upon legislatioin. The seniator has cared for fisheries and temperance, being at the head of the committees on those topics, but his usefulness has been in no sense confined to this pent-up field. As a member of the committee on execu- 190 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. tive nominations he has served the Senate well. On all the lead ing matters before the Senate, he has had the courage of his con victions, and has asked questions, and made some statements very hard for antagonists to- answer." For several years he held the office of selectman (first and second), probate judge of the town of Ledyard, and president of the Bill Library Association. He was president of the Mer chants Bank, of Norwich, twelve years, and is now the first vice- president of the Norwich Savings Society. He was also director, president and treasurer (untU his health faUed) of the New Lon don County Agricultural Society, and for several years a mem ber of the State Board of Agriculture. In politics Mr. Brew ster was a Republican. Let a life-long neighbor add her tribute to her worthy friends.: "Captain Brewster and 'his estimable wife, have ever been noted, in their own neighborhood, for their charity to the needy, and sympathy in sorrow. No poor neighbor ever went to them in trouble who did not come away wfth a more hopeful heart and a heavier purse. Their generous deeds were not the impulse of the moment, but the fruit of their religious principles. In the evening of their lives, these words of Scott can be truly applied to them : 'When the hour of death comes, it is not what we have done for ourselves, but what we have done for others, that we think of most pleasantly.' " John D. Brewster, the eldest son of Cap-tain and Mrs. Brewster, was a worth scion of the parent stock. His genial addrefes attracted, and his uprightness secured for him a host ol friends in his business life, under the firm name of "O'Brien & Brewster." He held the positions of councilman and water commissioner, and served the city of Norwich fafthfuUy and con scientiously. IP E L 1 Elias S. Brown, son of Avery W. Brown, enlisted from Ledyard as a private in Company C, First Connecticut Cavalry, Oct. 31, 1861. He was promoted to corpoiral Oct. 23, 1863, and to sergeant of Company G Nov. i ; while in this position he BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. I9I was detailed to take charge of the pioneer corps. He re-en listed as a veteran Dec. 17, 1863 ; was promoted to first sergeant Feb. 12, 1864, to second lieutenant Nov. 17, and to first lieuten ant Dec. 5. On the fourth of February, 1865, he accompanied Col. Whitaker, with three hundred picked men, on a difficult march all day and all night, over the AUeghanies, of seventy miles, thirty of them within the enemy's lines, to surprise and capture Major Harry Gilmore, the famous rebel raider. The war having closed, he was honorably discharged Aug. 2, 1865, and returned to Ledyard, where he pursued the vocation of a farmer and in which town he died M'ar;ch 18, 1877. Hon. Stiles Ashbel Crandall was born in Ledyard, Oct. 12, 1851, son of Stiles and Caroline L. (Greene) Crandall. On the paternal side he is of Scotch descent, and on the maternal side English. After receiving a common school education he attended the law school connected with the State University of Iowa, from which he was graduated in the class of 1878. Before taking up the study of law he taught school, besides working on a farm. In 1879 he was admitted to the bar of the State of Connecticut, and at once began practice in Norwich, and has continued in said practice to the present time. In 1881 he was one of the representatives of the town in the State Legislature, and from 1888 to 1892 he was mayor of the City of Norwich. He was a member of the State Senate in 1893 ; and in 1895 was a candidate for the Lieutenant-Governor on the Democratic ticket. He has served six years on the Noirwich board of educa tion. He is a member of the Putnam Phalanx, Masons, Odd Fellows and other organizations. He was married April 25, 1883, to Jane F. Stoddard, of Ledyard, by whoim he has two children — Mary S. and BUlings F. T. Crand'all. Mrs. Crandall died in 1886. Lt. William Tuttle Cook, so'U of Rev. N. B. and Mrs. Anna M. Tuttle Cook, was born at Mystic Bridge (now Mystic), Conn., April 26, 1840. Pie received his education in the common and select schools, attending in later years the Academy taught by Rev. S. N. HoweU, after which he pursued a course of study 192 history of the town of ledyard. under the tutorage of his grandfather. Rev. Timothy Tuttle. While engaged as a clerk in the general store of Mr. A. H. Sim mons, at Old Mystic, the CivU War commenced, and Oct. 8, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, First Connecticut Cavalry, under Capt. Wm. S. Fish. He was at once made company quarter master-sergeant, and his company of cavalry served under Rose- crans in West Virginia, in the Potomac, and Shennan- doah Valleys under Sigel, during Pope's campaign, up to and including the second battle of Bull Run. Remained for a time in front of Washington, and was finally transferred with his regiment to the com mand under Gen. Schenck and located at Baltimore. WhUe serving here he was proimoted to first sergeant, then to second lieutenant, and again to first lieuten ant, afterwards acted as adjutant of the regiment, and later in command of his company. March 8, 1864, he, with the regiment, started for the front, marching through Washington and across Long Bridge, into Virginia, reaching Stevensburg, March 24th, and Was there placed under the command of Gen. Wilson, who com manded the third division of the cavalry corps under Gen. Sheri dan. May 4th, 1864, crossed Germania Ford with the advance of Grant's army, took part in the battles at Craig's Church, Spottsylvania, in Sheridan's "Richmond Raid," and other battles which followed, serving until Oct. 25, at which time his three years having expired, he retumed to Connecticut. After re maining at home for awhile he went to Saginaw, Mich., and entered the employ of the First National Bank. He afterwards L.T. William T. Cook. biographical sketches. 193 became a member of the firm of Derby & Co., wholesale grocers, but his health failing he returned to Connecticut. In 1875 he was elected collector of town taxes in Ledyard and continued to act in that capacity till 1880. He was a member of the board of education for twelve years, and for five years was secretary of the board and acting school visitor. He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1879 and 1880. During the first session was clerk of the committee on roads and bridges, and during the second session was clerk of the. committee on educa tion. Was assistant adjutant-general of the Department of Con necticut, G. A. R., for the year 1880, and was secretary of the. New London County Agricultural Society from 1886 to 1890, inclusive. He was elected a trustee of the BUl Library in 1880, to succeed his father, and was chosen secretary of the organiza tion in 1887, remaining as such until chosen president in 1894. The latter position he resigned in 1897 by reason of failing health. He was secretary of the Ledyard Cemetery Association for four years and has been secretary of the Connecticut Cavalry Asso ciation from 1884 to date. [W. T. C] Hon. Silas Deane was born in North Groton (Ledyard) on the place, formerly known as the Chas. Allyn farm, now owned and occupied by Mr. Amandar W. Gray. His residence in later years, was in Wethersfield, Conn. He was graduated at Yale CoUege in 1758, and early entered the political arena. He held important offices in the towns in which he resided — in the com monwealth of Connecticut, and in the Continental Government. The Legislature of Connecticut appointed him and Col. Dyer as its representatives in the first Colonial Congress which met in 1774. In 1776 he was sent by the Government to France as a political and commercial agent to secure, if possible, co-operation and assistance in the struggle with Great Britain into which the Colonies had just entered. Mr. Deane arrived in Paris in June of that year ; and later in the same year. Dr. Franklin and Arthur Lee were sent out to join him ; and the three were empowered to act as ministers in negotiating treaties with foreign powers. Though Mr. Deane assisted in making the desired arrangement 13 194 HISTORY OF THE TOW^f OF LEDYARD. wfth the French sovereign, and inducing the Marquis De La fayette, Baron De Kalb and others to come to America, and ren der important assistance in our struggle for liberty, yet his pro ceedings were characterized by such lavish expenditures and such a profusion of promises, both of office and of money to the young men whom he wished to induce to enlist in our cause, that the Colonial Government felt const-rained to recall him. When called to acco'unt for his conduct he failed to give an ac count that was satisfactory. A long controversy ensued, and from that day to this there has been a difference of opinion in , regard tO' the character and conduct of Mr. Deane ; some claim ing that "he' had but very little to recommend him to the high position in Which he was placed" (Blake's Biographical Dic tionary) ; others, that he "was fully vindicated from all the as persions of his enemies,'' and that "his services to the cause of his country can scarcely be over estimated" (New Lo-ndon County History, page 766). He died at Deal, in England, in 1789. A fair conclusion is that his love of liberty for his country and his zeal in her cause, was such as to hold out inducements and en large on the opportunities in this new land. Lafayette came, the navy of France came, soldiers came, and but for them and others from Europe, our cause had been lost. The people of America now know that he could not well have overdrayyn the interests of this new world. Nathan Daboll, son of Nathan DaboU, was born at Centre Groton, April 24, 1750. He early developed a fondness for mathematical and scientific studies. At that day it was very diffi cult for a young man, with tastes like his, to procure such books as he tieeded. But doing the best he could in this matter, and prosecuting his studies wfthout the aid of a teacher, he prepared himself for a most successful career as teacher and publisher in after life. Through a long series of years he taught in his native place, giving prominence in his instmction to navigation, and thus fitting young men to be practical navigators. From 1783 to 1788 he was the matheniatical instructor in Plainfield Acade my, a famous institution of learning at that time. "In 181 1 , upon BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. I95 the invitation of Commodore Rogers, he taught a large class in the cabin of the frigate President," then lying in New London harbor. He began his career as a publisher soon after attaining to his majority. A series of Almanacks, prepared by Mr. Qark Elliott, of New London, and published by Timothy Green, was commenced in 1766. A serious error in the issue for 1770 ren dered it unpopular, and by and by opened the way for "the Con necticut Almanack" for 1773, by Nathan Daboll. This work has made its annual appearance from that time to the present, being prepared successively by Nathan DaboU, Sen., Nathan DaboU, Jr., and David A. Daboll, who is now upon the stage. In 1799, with the warm approval of Noah Webster, Prof. Meigs of Yale, Prof. Messer of Brown University, and O'ther noted scholars, the first edition of "DaboU's Complete School master's Assistant" was given to the world. During the period of its prejjaration, and for some years thereafter, Mr. Daboll re sided in North Groton (Ledyard) in a house Whose foundations are still visible near the entrance to the pent-way that leads to the house of H. R. Norman. In this house his son, Nathan, who succeeded him as almanac-maker and teacher of mathematics and navigation, was born in 1780. Nathan Daboll, Sen., died in 1818. On the nth of March in that year he was buried in a rural cemetery about one mile to the north-west of the village of Centre Groton. Capt. Jacob Gallup was bom in North Groton, April 24, 1787. He was a carpenter and farmer and prosecuted his callings with great energy and success. He was a Democrat in politics, and as such represented the town of Ledyard in the State Legis lature in the years 1844 and 1848. He was married May 24, 1812, to Parthenia Morgan, who was bom Sept. 4, 1794. Their chil dren were A daughter born Feb. 3, 1814, died Feb. 19, 1814. Prudence, born Sept. 27, 1815, married Aug. 4, 1836, John W. Bill, of Lyme. Jacob Lorenzo, bom Nov. 27, 1818. Francina, bom April 20, 1821, married Oct. 19, 1841, Dudley Davis, of Stonington. 196 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Calvin, died July 20, 1821, aged one mo'Uth. Horace, died May 27, 1828, aged eight months. Mrs Parthenia (Morgan) GaUup died in 1828. Capt. GaUup married as a second wife, Mrs. Sarah (Bill) WUliams. She bore him one chUd, viz. : Sarah Ann, born Sept., 1835, died May, 1864. ^^ „ , Capt. GaUup died Nov. 11, 1852. His widow, Mrs. Sarah BiU Gallup,' died Feb. 24, 1878. Capt Gallup was one of the foremost men in his time. He was a staunch Democrat in his day, and few men were more active in all the offices of life than he. Maj. Jacob Lorenzo Gallup was born in No'rth Groton, Nov. 27, 1818. He was the third child and oldest son of Jacob and Parthenia (Morgan) Gallup. When a young man he made one voyage to the Pacific on a whaling vessel. He succeeded his father in the occupancy of the home stead as a carpenter and farmer. He became special ly interested in religious things in the great revival which occurred in Ledyard early in the ministry of Rev. Charles Cutting. From this time on he was an active member of the Congregational Church, al ways "ready to every good work." As a deacO'U in the church and a teacher in the • Sunday-school he did much to promote the interests of religion in the community. As a citizen, a neighbor, a friend, he was much esteemed and beloved. In the year 1856 and again in 1866, he represented the town in the State Legislature. He was married April 14, 1841, to Eliza- •Maj. Jacob L. Gallup. biographical SKETCHES. 197 beth Spicer who was born Feb. 21, 1815. Their children were Fannie Elizabeth, born Sept. 21, 1842, died May 2, 1864. An infant, died Aug. 17, 1848. Mrs. Elizabeth (Spicer) Gallup died June 28, 1854. Maj. Gallup married Sept. 9, 1857, Anna Gallup, who was born July 13, 1835. Their chUdren were Jacob, born Jan. i, 1859. Agnes, born Sept. 29, 1866, married James I. Hewitt, Oct. 10, 1888. Maj. GaUup died Dec. 11, 1877. Isaac Gallup was bo'rn in Ledyard (then North Groton) Jan. 21, 1789, and was the second child and eldest son of Capt. Isaac GaUup and his wife Anna, daughter of Lieut. Nehemiah Smith, a direct descendant of Rev. Nehemiah Smith. From the earliest settle ment of New England the Gallup famUy have been distinguished for patriot ism, enterprise and promi nence in civil and military affairs. The founder of the family in America was Capt. John GaUup, who came to New Engl-nd in 1630. Isaac Gallup, the subject of this sketch, had the advantage of be ginning life in a good home and springing from a strong, brave and capa ble ancestry. He pos sessed a robust consti tution, a keen and active mind and a resolute spirit. The Connecticut farm at that period afforded excellent opportunities for the training of boys and giris in. industry, economy and other hardy virtues. The Isaac Gallup, Esq. 198 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. eldest son, Isaac, seems to have been a natural leader, and an example to his seven younger brothers in the energy, eamest uess and faithfulness with which he accomplished his tasks. Though his advantages were limited, he early acquired the rudi ments of a sound, practical education, was accurate and thorough in scholarship and, at an early age, showed tastes for solid, sub stantial reading. He always had an aptftude for acquiring prac tical knowledge and learned so well how to use his mental po'Wers that he was able to meet the requirement of the varied pursuits of a long and busy life. Being of an energetic temperament, his mind readUy turned to active pursuits, and in his youth he served an apprentices'hip in the trade of a carpenter, with Col. Joseph Smith, one of the leading contractors and business men of Ston ington. He seems, also, tO have cultivated a taste for good architecture and that absolute thoroughness of construction, so characteristic of his own work all through life. While still a young man, Mr. Gallup went into the business of buUding, on his own account, employing apprentices and taking such con tracts as he could secure. At the age of 23, he was married to Prudence, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Stanton) Geer, a young woman fully as energetic, ambitious and capable as himself, who proved herself a faithful wife and true helpmeet during all the years of their married life. The young couple began house keeping in a small but comfortable home near the Bill home stead. About that old house (not nqw standing) some interest ing traditions cluster. Neariy a hundred years before it became the home of the Gallup family, it was occupied by Samuel Seabury, a Congrega tional licentiate of North Groton, and there, in 1729, was born his son, Samuel Seabury, who became the first Bishop of the Episcopal Church in America. Some years later it was the home of the clergyman who ministered to the Episcopal body who wor shipped on the neighboring Church Hill, and has been styled the first rectory in America. Later on the Seabury parsonage and land was purchased by Gurdon BUl, and formed a part of his biographical SKETCHES. I99 realty, and all is now known as the Bill parsonage property, be longing to the Congregational Society of the town. During the first year of their married life, the bombardment of Stonington occurred, and Mr. GaUup did duty as a soldier during the War of 1812. The death of his father, two years later, con siderably increased his responsibUities. He assisted his mother in the management of her business affairs, and helped his younger brothers to acquire useful callings in life. During all these years, he carried on business, taking such contracts as he could secure, the busy wife, meanwhile plying the loom, managing the house and caring for the increasing famUy of children. In this house were born the four daughters, and the only son. For sixteen years it continued to be their home; but in the spring of 1828 Mr. Gallup felt it advisable to remove his family to Norwich Falls, much of his work being in that vicinity. They remained there one year, and the following spring saw them located in Greeneville, then a mere hamlet, but soon to be the scene of great and varied activity. The year 1829 wftnessed the begin ning of a great enterprise. The skUl of the inventor, as applied to the production of textile goods, was already opening up great possibilities. The keen vision of such capable and far-sighted men as Wm. C. Gilman and Wm. P. Greene, clearly saw that the swift flowing river above Norwich would furnish sufficient power, if rightly applied, to turn the wheels of great factories, and put in motion the thousands of spindles, soon to supersede the slow and tedious handloom. To make that power available it was necessary to construct the GreenevUle dam. It was a great, a stupendous work, and fts completion was counted a great triumph of engineering skill. The importance of that work can scarcely be over estimated ; for the opening of that fine water privilege paved the way for those great and important industries which shaped the future of Norwich and laid the solid foundations of her prosperity. The GreeneviUe of that time though in fts infancy, was a place of great activfty, and there Mr. Gallup found full scope for his business talents and executive abUfty. He 20O HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. superintended the work of the large force of carpenters employed in the construction of the dam, he also built temporary quarters, and with the aid of his efficient and practical wife and such help . as they could secure, cared for the small army of mechanics and laborers there employed. At the end of a year, the work being virtually completed, Mr. Gallup purchased a farm in Preston adjoining the Geer homestead, the birthplace of his wife. 'His connection with Greeneville continued for sometime later, al though his family removed to Preston in 1830, and he held, for a number of years the position of agent of the Norwich Water Power Company. Mr. Gallup took a great interest in improving his farm in Preston, and in building the large, comfortable and well-appointed house which he felt would be a fitting and per manent home for his family. That house, now standing and still in the name and family, has a beautiful and healthful situation, and with its well-tilled fields, large orchards and substantial buildings, is a goo'd specimen of the Co'nn'ecticut country home. For many years after his removal to Preston, Mr. Gallup carried on business as a builder, handling many important con tracts. Though often absent from, home, he skillfuUy directed the labor of his farm, on which he was constantly making im provements. In addition to other business, he was much occu pied in surveying.. He probably acquired some knowledge of this pursuit from his father who followed it to some extent. He perfected himself, ho'wever, by dUigent study and the instruction he received from the late Asahel Robbins, then the leading sur veyor of No-rwich. In his connection with town affairs and in the settlement of estates, Mr. Gallup's proficiency as a surveyor was of great value. His work was always marked by the thor oughness, accuracy and nice regard for details, which were char acteristic of the man. Boundary lines laid down by him were seldom, if ever, disputed. Possessing a strong mind, a posftive character and a sound judgment. Squire Gallup, as he was generally called, was held in the highest regard by his friends and townspeople who often biographical SKETCHES. 20I sought his advice and always valued his counsel. With his fine administrative ability, his wide experience and perfect integrity, he was singularly well qualified for the adjustment of business affairs and the settlement of estates and his services were in demand in his own and neighboring towns. For many years hc transacted business for the Treat and Doane famUies of Preston, whose affairs he managed to their entire satisfaction. Although able to adjust the most complicated and difficult business, he never betrayed a trust or missed an opportunity. Mr. Gallup was a man of strong convictions and took an active part in the early movement for temperance reform, uttering a resolute pro test against the habit of treating and the drinking customs of society, and aiding many of his friends and neighbors to shake off the bondage of alcohol. In his mature manhood, Mr. Gallup united with the Congregational Church of Ledyard, of which he was a strong supporter all through life. His pastor and life long friend. Rev. Timothy Tuttle, found him a ready helper and counted him his strong right hand in every good work. He ex erted an excellent influence on the young men who' served him as apprentices. Though a kind m'aster, he was an earnest ad vocate of good morals, correct habits and honest work. Being himself of a broad, progressive spirit, he always welcomed signs of enterprise and ambition in the yO'Ung men of his town whom he often aided in making a start in life, by friendly encourage ment and practical assistance. Mr. Gallup was devoted to- his home and happy in the relations of domestic life. He was also a truly public-spirited citizen, a friend and promoter of gO'od schools, so-uiid government and public improvements. He re tained his mental vigor to the close of his long, useful and honored life,' from which he departed May 2, 1867. Isaac Gallup was the worthy head of a good family, and a tower of strength in his day and generation. The children of the family were Mary Ann, born Dec. 10, 1812, married Elias B. Avery. Prudence Almira, bom March 4, 1815, married Jas. L. Geer. Emeline, born Feb. 27, 1818, married Orlando Smith. Isaac, born Nov. 13, 1820, married Maria T. Davis. Julia, born April 4, 1823, married Jacob A. Geer. [J. E. S-] 202 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Isaac Gallup, Jr., born Nov. 13, 1820, married Maria T. Davis, and lived with his father at the homestead for the most part till his father's death, when he succeeded to the estate and has since spent his life O'U the farm near Poquetanuck. His eldest son, Hon. Henry H, Gallup, was educated in the public schools. He early entered business in Norwich in the leather belting and kindred sup plies and has won great success in his business, and been conspicuous for many years among the best citi zens of that city. Lately he has been honored by the Republican party of his State by an election as State treasurer. He is a director in several of the ban-ks of Norwich, president of The Bulletin Co., and prominent in church aff-airs. Hon. Henry H. Gallup. Dea. Erastus Gallup was bom in Ledyard (North Groton), July 31, 1800, and died at Groton, July 7, 1882, aged 82. He was the son of Isaac Gallup and grandson of Col. Benadam Gallup, a soldier of the French and Indian Wars. He was one qf the young est of a family of ten children, eight of whom were sons — one of • those sturdy New England famUies such as have made its religious and political history and have created its thrift. He received the advantages of the public schools. 'He was also well grounded in the Scriptures, and to the end of life could recite with ease whole passages of the sacred writings. In his sixteenth year he was put to the carpenter's trade to his older brother Isaac, but biographical sketches. 203 he soon acquired all that was then practiced of the art, and set up in business by himself. He became a master builder and took contracts. Pie had leamed carperftry by what was known as the scribe rule but soon threw it away for the square rule, which is now altogether practiced b y skiUed mechanics. H i s workmanship was so thor ough and his terms so fa vorable that he was sought for as a builder far and near, to construct dwell ings, factories, churches and school-houses. As the contracts increased he took apprentices, brought them up in his famUy, accus tomed them to go to church, and in that way became a moral and relig ious instructor as well. And it is a fact to be noted that very many of the young men who learned the carpenter's art of Dea. Gallup became devout men. Probably very few teachers have lived to see so many of those under their tuition become members of churches. Two of the deacons of the church of which the departed died a mem ber were apprentices to him. He frequently had six or eight young men in his family at one time. In 1834 he was chosen a deacon of the church in Ledyard of which Rev. Timothy Tuttle was pastor. He had joined the church when a boy. Of this church he remained a member for fifty-nine years, when he re moved his connection to the Co'Uigregational Church at Groton, where he resided, being then too old and infirm to attend service at the fo'rmer. He was Father Tuttle's belo'ved and trusted deacon, ever ready with counsel and encouragement. About the same time that he was elected a deacon of the church at Ledyard Dea. Esastus Gallup. 204 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. he was also elected captain of the First Flank Company of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment, and he was ever after styled Captain and Deacon interchangeably. He married for his first wife a daughter of Seth WUliams. She having died, about 1840 he married again. Miss Frances Sheffield, sister of Dr. W. W. Sheffield, of New Lo-ndon. About this time, 1843, he removed from Ledyard to Groton Bank, where he afterward resided except for a short period at Norwich and again at Ledyard. He con tinued active through his whole life, and New Lo-ndon County is do'tted all over with substantial structures built by him, many of them temples to the God he wors'hipped, crowning the hilltops with their white spires pointing heavenward, whither he has gone. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like His." Russell Gallup, son of Capt. Isaac and Anna (Smfth) Gallup, was born in North Groton (Ledyard), AprU 11, 1791, and married Hannah Morgan, daughter of Shap ley and Hannah (Allyn) Morgan, March 28, 1816, and they had children, viz. : Edwin R., born Jan. 22, 1 81 7. Rufus M., Sept. 24, 1818. Sarah, Sept 10, 1821. James A., Nov. 15, 1823. Nelson, Jan. 8, 1827. Erastus, Sept. 24, 1828. Ellen, Dec. 18, 1830, Francis E., Aug. 15, 1833, and Joseph Albert, July 2, 1835, three of whom are living — Nelson, in Nor wich, Co'im. ; Francis E., in Groton, Conn., and Joseph Albert, at the old GaUup homestead in Ledyard, Conn. Russell Gallup was a Dea. Russell Gallup. biographical sketches. 205 farmer by occupation and bought the land and built the house in which he lived till his death, which is now owned by his grand son, Russell Gallup. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church for more than fifty years, which office he held tUl his death. 'He was in the military service in the War of 1812. Pie was an honest, upright man, of sterling integrity, always ready as far as he was able to help those in need of assistance or counsel. He died at his home in Ledyard, Feb. 16, 1869. Hannah (Mor gan) Gallup died April 26, 1868. Avery Gallup, fourth son of Capt. Isaac and Anna (Smith) Gallup, was born in North Groton (Ledyard), April 6, 1796, and married, first, Melinda Bailey, Nov. 2i-, 1822. Their chUdren were William A., bo-rn Jan. 2, 1826. Elizabeth, Oct 8, 1828. His wife dying in 1828, he married, second, Mary Haley, March 13, 1834, and their children were Anna, born 1835 Simeon, 1837; Lucy, 1840; Mary, 1843; EmUy, 1846; Edward 1850; of who'm Wm. A., Anna, Simeon and Lucy are now living. He learned the trade of blacksmith and worked at it for a num ber of years ; afterw:;rds purchased the home farm, and devoted the remainder of his life to farming. He was chosen deaco-n of the Baptist Church in Old Mystic in 1842, and held the office till his death, Nov. 4, 1864, which oc curred very suddenly. His widow, Mary Haley Gal lup, died Dec. 8, 1891. [W. A. G-] Rev. James A. Gallup, third son of Dea. RusseU and Hannah (Morgan) Rev. James A. Gallup. Gallup, was born in Led- \ ^3 2o6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OP LEDYARD. yard, then p'art of Groton, Nov. 15, 1823. He was graduated at Yale College in 1851, and Yale Divinity School in 1854. 'He was ordained and installed as the first pastor of a new Congre gational Church in Essex, Conn., May 17, 1854. After a very successful ministry there he accepted a call to a larger field in Madison, Conn. .He was dismissed from Essex, Oct. 4, 1865, and installed in Madison, November 2, and continued there with great acceptance until his retirement on account of advancing years and declining health in Novem'ber, 1893. His connection with the church as pastor emeritus was terminated by his death, in MadisO'U, on Jan. 30, 1898, after a distressing illness of several weeks, in his 75th year. He married, on June 21, 1854, EmUy T., daughter of Ezra S. Hubbard, of New Haven, who' died on May 3, 1870. He next married, on Nov. 28, 1876, Charlotte R., daughter of Rev. Samuel R. Andrew, of New Haven, who sur vives him. He had no children. [Yale Obit. Record for 1898.] Dea. N. Sands Gallup. Peter A. Gallup was born Jan. 16, 1776, and died April 9, 1851. My mother, Rebecca T. Mor gan, bom Aug. 19, 1793, died Jan. 15, 1886. They were bom in Groton and were married AprU 9, 1820. There children were Eliza, born Dec 16, 1820, died May 22, 1869. James M., bom October 28, 1822, died August 27, 1841. Annis F., bom July 9, 1824, died July 7, 1865. Nathan Sands, born Sept. 13, 1829. Julia A., born Oct. 2, 1832. Ray D., bom Aug. 29, 1834, died April 21, 1854 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 207 Mary Ellen, born Nov. 5, 1837. N. S. Gallup, married Julia A. Gallup, daughter of B. F. Gallup, May 6th, 1858. Their chUdren were Josiah Wesley Gallup, born March 10, 1859. Ellen Gallup, born April 23, 1862. Amos Morgan Gallup, born Oct. 20, 1864. Cora B. Gallup, born June 11, 1866. [N. S. G.] Amos Geer, Esq., son of Robert Geer, Jr., and AbigaU (Greenman) Geer, was born AprU 14, 1736, in North Groton, on the place now occupied by his great-grandson, Dea. Isaac Gallup Geer. He was graduated at Yale College in the class of 1757. He was a superior penman; and many old documents, in his elegant hand, are still preserved — among them the records of Groton for the years 1797 and 1804. He served the town 34 years as justice of the peace, from 1781 to 1815, and during that period performed the marriage ceremony for more than one hun dred co'uples, as it was custO'mary in those days to call upon a civil magistrate rather than a clergyman for that service. He was appointed by the tO'wn one of the committee of correspond ence, June 20, 1774, in the cause of liberty, after the British had ordered the port of Boston closed. He represented the town of Groton in the State Legislature in the year 1780 — twoi terms — ¦ and again in 1790. He died May 19, 1821, aged 85. He had ten children. His son, Amos Geer, Jr., succeeded him on the same farm. Amos Geer, Jr. (1772-1865), was succeeded by his son, JacO'b A. Geer (1817-1857), and he by his son, the present oc cupant. Dea. I. G. Geer has, within a few years, added to his landed possessions by purchasing the adjoining farm on the east, kno'wn as the Seabury Thomas farm, which includes the ledge known as Winthrop's ledge, as it was granted to Gov. John Winthrop, May 6, 1656, and described as "the stone quarry, south-east of Poquetanuck river, near the foot-path from Mo hegan to Mistick." — Miss Caulkins. [E. G.] David Geer was bom in the town of Groton (now Ledyard), in the year 1755. He was the son of Ebenezer and Pru- 208 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. dence (Wheeler) Geer, and was a descendant of George Geer, the first of the Geer family in America. David was of the third generation born in this country. When he was bO'rn, Connecti cut was a British Colony, and subject to British law. Under that law the eldest son had a double portion, David being the young est son received a small inheritance of land, to which he added by purchase, and in 1785 he built the house now occupied by Isaac W. Geer. By trade he was a tanner, and shoemaker, trades that then went together. He carried on farming in con nection with his trade, and acquired a good estate for the times in which he lived. His wife was Mary Stanton, of Stonington, by whom he had ten children. One child died in infancy. 'Three of the sons settled in this county. David, the eldest, settled in Lebanon. From him the Geers of that town are descended. Joseph and Isaac settled in their native place. Three sons, Will iam, Robert and Charles, settled in Central New York, which then was a frontier settlement. The daughters were married to men who resided in this county. The subject of this sketch died 1835. [I. W. G.] CoL. Isaac W. Geer, the sixth son of David and Mary (Stanton) Geer, was bom in the year 1801, and came to the in heritance of the homestead. He lived here and carried on farm ing during his life. In early life he served in the mUitia where he rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He had m'ore ambi tion to succeed in personal business affairs than for public hfe, but was honored by several town and society offices. He was passionately fond of music. For 25 years he was chorister in St. James' Church in Poquetanuck. He was one of the old- fashioned singing masters. He taught singing at Meeting-house Hill in Ledyard, at Preston Plains, and Poquetanuck. He was frequently called upon at funerals to conduct the music. He was twice married— first, to Asenath Williams, of Groton, by whom he had one daughter. Later he was married to Experi ence Avery, of Preston, by Whom he had two sons and two daughters. He died 1855. The children by last wife were Isaac, David, Delia and Louise. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 2og The eldest son lives on the old homestead in Ledyard and near Poquetanuck. The next two are deceased, and the youngest married Capt Brown and they live a mUe south ot the "ferry" in Groton, Conn. [I. w. G.] Capt. Nathaniel Bellows Geer, the second son of James and Sally (Lewis) Geer, was born at Geer homestead. North Gro ton (no-w Ledyard), Jan. 31, 1810. He is a descendant, in a direct line, in the sixth gen eration, of Geo'rge Geer, who came from England to this country in 1635, settling at the place now known as Geer homestead in 1653, which has ever since been continuously in possession of his descend ants. In early life he gave his attention to- farming, af- terwardLengagingJii t,e_aching in the public schools of Led yard 'and adjoining towns. He was also' a surveyor. In 1832, he was appointed to the captaincy of the fifth company of the Eighth Regiment of Infantry in the State, and always re tained the title. In politics, he was a Republican, holding the offices of constable, assessor, tything-man, justice of the peace, and treasurer of the town deposit fund. As judge of probate he served several successive terms, and on reaching the age of compulsory retirement from that office, was continued in charge as clerk of the court. He was one of the original trustees of the Bill Library Association, and a president of the Poquetanuck Cemetery Association. In early life he became a member of St. James' Church, Poquetanuck, and in the various capacities of Sunday-school teacher, member of the choir, player of the bass-viol, vestryman, collector, delegate to the convention, parish clerk for sixty years, 14 Capt. Nathaniel Bellows Geer. 210 history of the town of ledyard. and warden for twenty-six years ; until the time of his death, he steadfastly wrought in the cause of Christ and His Church. Nov. 19, 1837, he married Julia, eldest child of Tho-mas and Mary (Shaw) Davis, of Preston, Conn., whom he survived two years. Soon after his marriage, he purchased the farm ad joining Geer homestead, on the south. Here he lived fifty years, returning to the ancestral home in 1887, where he spent eleven years, being called to the life eternal, Aug. 18, 1898. He left two sons and three daughters — Thomas Henry Geer, of Cleve land, Ohio; Albert Davis Geer, of Binghamton, N. Y. ; Misses Juliette and Mary A. Geer, of Ledyard, and Mrs. John D. Brew ster, of Norwich, Conn. Also four grand-children — Mrs. Edwin L. Thurston, of Cleveland, Ohio; Harold M. Geer, of Bingham ton, N. Y. ; and Clara Louise and Arthur Morgan Brewster, of Norvyich, Conn. The immediate famUy relations of Mr. Geer, who survived him, were his brother, James L. Geer, of Norwich, Conn., and his sister. Miss Abby Geer, also of Norwich. The spirit of his life work is portrayed in tributes to his memory, here briefly quoted. From the Trustees of the BUl Library Association : "A val uable cUizen ; an exemplary Christian gentleman." From The Poquetanuck Cemetery Associatio-n : "He pos sessed the respect and friendship of all who- were associated with him in life." From The Ncw York Churchiiian: "Capt. Geer, as he was affectionately styled for the half century following his meritorious service in the organization of the militia of his native State, was a man of mark, one of those whom a community easily counts among the pillars of Church and State. He combined, with the sweet humility of a disciple of the Christ, the power which quali fies a guide and leader of men. His sUent example was a living force. Such men as he, combining high ability with the modesty which never seeks official pro-motion, are they who have been and continue to be the 'makers' of this nation. And such men as he. as humble-minded as they are brave and true-hearted, are they whose light of Christian living, shining in a naughty world, gives truest glory to Almighty God." [J. G.] BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 211 Dea. John Hurlbut was the son of John, who was the son of Stephen, who was a descendant, in the third generation, of Thomas Hurlbut, the first of the name in this region who came to Saybrook in 1635. Stephen Hurlbut, the grandfather of Dea. John, settled in New London soon after 1690. John, his father, settled at Gale's Ferry, and died there May 5, 1761. The subject of this sketch was born at Gale's Ferry, M'arch 13, 1730. About 1757 he was married to Abigail, daughter of Dea. John Avery, of Preston, by wlio-nj he had eight children — four sons and four daughters. After their marriage they lived for several years in the north-east part of North GrotO'n (Ledyard), on what has been known as the Phineas Holdridge place. "In the movements which immediately preceded the Revolution, Mr. Hurlbut was associated with Col. Ledyard, Robert AUyn and Phineas Bill, and others in tO'Wn as a committee of correspondence. As early as 1773 he visited the Susquehanna Valley, having bought a right in the Connecticut Susquehanna Company. Selling his farm in Groton in the summer of iJJT, he, in the spring of 1778, with his wife and children, with two wagons, horses, cattle, sheep and swine, left his home in New England for the Connecticut colony on the Susquehanna. Detained on the way by sickness they reached their destination in November, 1779. Dea. Hurlbut was a member of the General Assembly of Connecticut for three years." While living in Pennsylvania, the famUy occasionally visited their friends in Connecticut, and generally made the journey on horse-back. In one instance Mrs. H., hearing that her father was very sick, and fearing that it might be his last sickness, started promptly for the home of her chUdhood by the usual mode of travel, with a baby in her arms, and one of her little bo'ys, some ten years old, on a pillion behind her. As she ap proached the Housato-nic river late in the afterno'on, she halted at a country tavern, where she had been accustomed to stop on previous trips, with the expectation of spending the night there. To her great disappointment she was told that the house was occupied with a great crowd of people, gathered for a so'cial en tertainment, and that they co'uld not accommodate her. She 212 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. was told, however, that she could find a good stopping-place a few miles further on, just over the river. So she pushed on. As she came to the place where she supposed the bridge o-ught to be it was so dark that she could see nothing distinctly,- but could hear the water rushing by with great violence, the result of a recent storm. Presently, her horse came to a full stop. She urged it to go forward, and it did so, though with slow and measured step. Pretty soon she came to the tavern to which she had been directed, and, upon inquiring if they could keep her over night, was glad to receive an affirmative answer. "But," said the keeper of the tavern, "How did you get over the river?" "Why," she replied, "I rode over on the bridge, I suppose." "But," said he, "the bridge was swept away withthe flood a few hours ago." Here the matter rested for the night. And in the morning it was* found upon examination that the faithful horse, with his precious burden, had walked over the boiling flood on one of the stringers of the bridge which the swollen river had not displaced. Dea. Plurlbut died March lo, 1782, aged 52. Mrs. Hurlbut lived on into the following century, dying March 29, 1805, at the age of 70. She is said to have been a woman of great personal worth, and withal a very devoted Christian. "There is evidence, too, that her patriotism was no- less than that of her husband, for it is told that she first proposed to send their two oldest sons — one aged 19 and the other 16 — to aid in their coun try's necessities." Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt was born May 19, 1767. On Jan. 10, 1790, he married Mary Jones, daughter of John and Sarah Jones. She was bom Dec. 2, 1765, and died Dec. 20, 185 1, aged 86 years. Rev. Mr. Hurlbutt was descended in a direct line from Lieut. Thomas Hurlbutt, who was appointed to the command of the fort at Saybrook, Conn., 1636, and afterwards settled in Wethersfield. Stephen Hurlbutt, great-grandfather of Ralph, settled'in New London, Conn., between 1680 and 1690. His grandfather, John Huributt, grew up and settled in North Groton (ledyard). His father, Rufus Huributt, was killed in Fort Griswold, Sept. 6, 1781, aged 40 years. The subject of this BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 213 sketch early embraced the Methodist faith and became a minister. It was largely through his instrumentality that the Methodist Church at Gale's Ferry was established. He supplied the pulpit of this church without compensation during a large part of his active life. He preached almost to the last days of his life, his last sermon while sitting in a chair, being unable to stand. He was thoroughly devoted to the interests of his church, and al ways ready to make any personal sacrifice for the good of the cause. He was a justice of the peace for many years, holding the office till disqualified by age. He was for a long period judge of probate. For the varied services performed by him, whether in behalf of the town or the pro-bate district, he was re markably well qualified ; and in each and all of them he proved himself a faithful and efficient officer. As a minister of the Gospel he was not liberally educated, and not learned in the ordinary sense of the word, yet he was a reader and a thinker, and a very instructive preacher, accustomed to present the truths of the Bible in such ways that they would be remembered. In the pulpit he spoke without notes, yet with great freedom and correctness, and often with a fervid earnestness that was very im pressive. He died May 8, 1850, mourned by a large circle of friends, and is stUl widely and affectionately remembered. Ralph Hurlbutt, 2nd, nephew of Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt, was born in Colchester (now Salem), in 1807. From 1810 on ward his home was in North Groton (now Ledyard). He repre sented the town of Ledyard in the S'tate Legislature in 1854. He was a trustee of the Bill Library Association from the time of its organization to the time of his death which occurred June 25, 1886. He was married in 1833 to Margaret BoUes. Of their five children, Ralph WUbur died Jan. 10, 1863, aged 23, and Mary . Annie died Dec. i, 1859, aged 17. Capt. Adam Larrabee, son of Frederic and Abigail (Allyn) Larrabee, was born in that part of Groton which is now Ledyard, March 14, 1787. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Mili tary Academy at West Point, and remained there till be had com- 214 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. pleted the prescribed course of study. He was then appointed second lieutenant of light artUlery, and a few months later was promoted and made first lieutenant. "His service at that time was in garrisons on the At lantic coast, tho'Ugh he also participated in the campaign along the north ern fro'ntier in 1812. His next service was under General Wilkinson O'U the St. Lawrence, where he was engaged in the attack on La Colle Mills, March 30, 1 814. In this engagement he was shot through the lungs, the bullet lodging against the shoulder-blade, whence it was removed by the surgeon. After being thus wounded he was car ried soime twenty miles in an open sleigh to the house of ChanceUor Reuben Hyde Walworth, where he was tenderly cared for by the family. It was no doubt due largely to this ex cellent nursing that his life was saved. He was soon after pro moted to a captaincy, but resigned his commission in 1815." After retiring from the military service his principal occupation was that of a farmer, first in Groton, where he resided till 1853, when he removed to- Windham, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Repre sentatives in 1822; one of the board of visitors to the Military Academy in 1828, and o-ne of the presidential electors in 1840. He was for more than forty years a director of the Thames Na tional Bank, Norwich. In 1817 he was married to Hannali Gallup Lester, who bore him nine children, aU of whom survived him, except his son, John, who died in 1852. Capt. Larrabee died at Windham, Oct. 25, 1869, aged 82, His upright char- Capt. Adam Larrabee. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 215 acter and exemplary conduct co'mmanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His memory is cherished with affection by a large circle of friends. Ex-Gov. Willi.\m Larrabee, of Qermont, Fayette County, Iowa, son of Adam and Hannah G. (Lester) Larrabee, was born Jan. 20, 1832, in North Groton, Co'Un. (now Ledyard), and was the seventh child and the fifth son of a family of nine children, and was raised on the farm where he was born, which formerly be longed to his Lester ances tors. In early chUdhood and youth he was slender in stature, yet his general health was good; but when seventeen years of age he suffered a great misfortune by losing the sight of his right eye, which has been more or less painful, and a great and a very serious in convenience for these Gov. William Larrabee. many years. He was educated in the district school of the town, but he always had access to his father's library which was well supplied with valuable books. The last winter that he lived in Ledyard he taught school in the district where he was raised. In the fall of 1853 he left Connecticut for Iowa; and soon after his arrival there he engaged in corn harvesting, which was about the only labor the country afforded at that season of the year ; and a little later he engaged a school for the winter which was held in a log school-house where, a portion of the time, he was compelled to wear his overcoat during the day to protect himself from the extreme cold. 2l6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. The next three succeeding years he was engaged as foreman on the two-thousand-acre farm belo'Uging to his brother-in-law, the late Judge Elias H. Williams. This farm was largely brought under improvement fro'm the raw prairie by breaking and fencing whUe under his supervision. WhUe engaged in this enterprise he used to drive O'ue of the teams of six pairs of oxen on a breaking plow. At this time the farm was quite remote fro-m neighbors, but o-ne of the few that he was favored with has since becoime speaker of the House of Representatives — Hon. David B. Henderson. After leaving Judge Williams' employ he engaged with partners in flo-ur manufacturing, and labored vigorously, early and late, with indifferent success. A little later his partners retired from the business leaving him sole proprietor of a mill of two hundred barrels capacity per day. But the results were far more gratifying than foirmerly. This enterprise involved quite a large capital, also much care and labor-^at times co'nfining him nineteen hours per day. In the fall of 1861 he married Anna Appelman, the oldest daughter of the late Capt. Gustavus and Prudence Ann (WUl iams) Appelman, formerly from Mystic and Ledyard, Conn. They have had seven children, three so'Us and four daughters, and six are living. Probably the loss of his eye prevented his entering the army in the War of the Rebellion, but he contributed freely for the government in those trying times. He has always been intense ly loyal to the govemment, also to the State of his adoption. After living in Iowa some twenty years, Mr. Larrabee en tered the political arena. The special' occasion of his doing ft was this: The people of his county left that they had been, without good reason, passed by in the laying out of railroads through the State. It was to advocate their interests in this matter that he was elected a member of the State Senate in 1868. He entered earnestly upon the work entrusted to him, but faUed in his first endeavors. He was re-elected the next term and re newed the contest, and persisted till success crowned his efforts After serving in the Senate for eighteen consecutive years he BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 2I7 was solicited to run for Governor, and finaUy consented. In the nominating convention that year — 1881, — a rival candidate re ceived a few more votes than he. Four years later he was the regular nominee of his party, and was chosen Governor by a majority of 7,000. Two years later still his re-election to the same office was by a majority of 16,000. His first term as Govemor was largely given to- the contest over prohibition. Though he had at an earlier period opposed prohibition, yet when prohibition became the policy of the State he felt that it ought to be enf&rced, and did all that he could to have it enforced, and with most satisfactory results. During his second term as Govemor, the ques'tion of the State supervision of railroads pame up. He contended earnestly for such supervision, sometimes single-handed and alone, and this against all the legal talent and all the money influence which the railroads could array against him. But, in due time, he achieved complete and triumphant success. A law, embracing the principles which he advocated, was passed by the Legisla ture without a dissenting vote ; and that law is preserved as if it were something s'acred. He has published a Treatise on railroads w'hich is esteemed by those specially interested in such miatters. In February, 1900, Gov. Larrabee resigned his office as a member of the State Board of Control, an office which he had held about two years. Pretty soon after, with four members of his family, he started on a journey tO' Europe, being possessed of ample means for such luxurious recreation. The Des Moines Leader, of Feb. 11, 19,00, speaking of his late retirement from office, uses the following language : "It is not saying m'ore than is warranted to declare that no man in Iowa to-day possesses so large a share of the public confidence in his integrity, earnestness of purpose and devotion to public good as Gov. Larrabee." Capt. Nathan F. Larrabee, oldest son of Capt. Adam Lar rabee, was born in North Groton, Oct- n, 1818, "On the d'ay 2l8 history of the town of LEDYARD. he arrived at the age of twenty-one his father, to gratify the boy's fond ambition, went wfth him to New York and shipped him 'to go before the mast,' in the line of London packets of Grinnell, Minturn & Co. His first trip was a severe one, and his master was surprised, upon their arrival in New York, to have the boy ask for a second voyage, which was readily granted. He rapidly rose, on account of his merit and faithfulness, to be master of one of the largest vessels O'yyned by the firm. He rem'ained in the employ of this firm through his entire active life of forty years ; and during all those years lost but one trip." Most of his voyages were between New York and London. Several of them, however, were between New Yo-rk and China. Capt. Larrabee was a great favorite with the numerous passen gers who crossed the ocean in his ships, and, indeed, with all who came to know him well. His strictly temperate habits and his thorough devotion to duty won for him a high place in their estimation. He was never married. When overtaken with what proved to be his last sickness, he retired to the home of his brother, Hon. Henry Larra'bee, of Windham, where he was ten derly cared for by loving friends till his painful sickness, of sev eral weeks' continuance, terminated in his death on Sept. 13, 1879, at the age of 61. Capt. Nathan F. Larrabee. Hon. Henry Larrabee, fourt'h son and sixth chUd of Capt. Adam and Hannah G. (Lester) Larrabee, was born in North Groton, now Ledyard, April 15, 1830. He was educated in the BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. t 219 public schools of his nativfe town, became a farmer, and has con tinued in that occupation through life. He held the office of selectman many years. He was a member of the enrolling com-. mittee during the closing portion of the Civil War, in 1865. He has been a' member of the Bill Library Association fro-m the date of its organization. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the State Legislature in 1868, and of the Senate in 1875. Mr. Larrabee moved to Windham in 1878, and from that time to- the pres ent has been a resident of that town, and held O'ffice in it much after the same fashion that he did in Led yard. He worships with the Congregational Church, and has often served on the committee of the Ecclesiasti cal Society. For many years he has been accustO'med to- settle estates. Large amounts of pro-perty have passed through his hands, and in the manag^ement of these important trusts he has commanded the confidence of all Who have known him. He has been a trustee of the No-rwich Savings S'ociety for thirty years, a director for twenty-five years, and a vice-president for ten years ; also a director of the Windham National Bank some eight or ten years. Mr. Larrabee has m'ade valuable contributio-ns to this history. He has given much time to the preparation of the lists of soldiers, and furnished many facts and statistics that have been wrought into- the work. Mr. Larrabee was married M'arch 17, 1853, to- Miss Maria S. Allyn, daughter of Christopher and Maria Allyn. They have had ten children — seven sons and three daughters. Only two Hon. Henry Larrabee. 220 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. sons and one daughter, Mrs. Lucius Brown, of Norwich, are now living. Mrs. Larrabee died Dec. 20, 1898. Samuel S. Lamb, son of Daniel W. and Hannah (Culver) Lamb, was born in Groton, AprU 21, 181 6. He began teaching at the age of seventeen, and continued at the work over fifty years. The following sketch of his career, as a teacher, is taken from the published account of the "Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary" of his teaching : "The fiftieth anniversary of public school teaching by Samuel S. Lamb, of Groton, was observed on Thursday, Aug. 16, 1883, by a. basket picnic on his farm. At noon the anniversary exer cises commenced according to programme. The large crowd fiUed the tent. Capt. J. K. Bucklyn, of the Mystic Valley In stitute, presided with tact and efficiency. The music was con ducted by Mr. Simeon Gallup, who had a large, well-trained choir at his command; they enlivened the day with several choice se lections. At the organ was Prof. Griest, of Baltimore, who opened with a voluntary, followed by a song. Rev. C. H. Rowe, of Mystic River, read the Scriptures, and Rev. J. A. Gallup, of Madison, offered prayer. Mr. S. S. Lamb, the veteran, but hale hero of the day, then came forward to greet his friends, giving an interesting sketch of his school life: "At the age of thirteen, in the old red school-house of Led yard, he became master of the 'three R's.' DaboU's Arithmetic, Woodbridge's Geo-graphy, Murray's Grammar, the Testament, the English Reader and Webster's Spelling Book were the text books. From thirteen to fifteen, he studied much at home — some of his teachers during that time not being very efficient. At seventeen he began to teach in the Ninth Groton or Fishtown district. One of the examiners who signed his first certificate, Henry Haley, was present at the gathering. The spring of- 1835 found him at Colchester, under the faithful instruction of Charles P. Otis, A. M., principal of Bacon Academy, and from this source he derived valuable information in regard to his chosen calling. Day's Algebra, :^layfair's Euclid, and Mr. Otis' Order of Exer cises in Grammar, were leading studies. He attended Joseph BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 221 H. Gallup's school at Poquetanuck, and then for two years he was a student in the Suffield Literary Institution. There he sub stantially prepared himself for coUege, but did not enter for the lack of means. He rarely taught summers, but worked hard farming, except in the Mystic River graded school, where he taught the year round for two years. Mr. Lamb did not men tion his teaching in a graded school in New Jersey, nor his teaching select schools fro-m time to time. Over one thousand pupils, first and last, have been under his instruction, for which he received about $7,000, or, on an average, $140 per year; and he might have added, a sum quite too small for the service ren dered. He had never been oblig'ed to ask for a situation, but his services had always been sought. His experience had been long, but he said it had not made him sage. He tho-ught teaching was an hono'rable calling. It was not always a healthy one, but if the teacher was conscientio'Us and faithful, was surely laborious. He spoke of one school where he had eighty-nine enrolled, and eighty-five in attendance in a day ; where the recess at noon had to be shortened, and later hours kept in order to accomplish the object; and that was supplemented by an evening school for volunteers to receive additional instruction, and every moment not used in eating and sleeping must be improved for the benefit of the school. Those days were full of labor, but they were happy days. He had been on the board of education six years in Ledyard, and over thirty in Groton. He took pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness_tp Mr. Palmer Gallup, deceased, long a teacher of youth in Groton, in Suffield Institute and else where. His advice to young teachers, or aspirants present. Who wanted the best situations was to deserve them. "The president of the day then made a short, pithy address. "He then introduced the orator of the day. Rev. John W. Richardson, of New London. His subject was : 'Free Schools.' To say that it was an elegant tribute would be insufficient, for he was forcible, instructive and full of enthusiasm; seeming to- be lieve with his whole soul his own grand, often startling and radical propositions. In our judgment it is unsurpassed in its 222 HISTORY OE THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. discussion of the progress of the United States as a nation, and the causes which, underlie that progress and its greatness." Mr. Lamb was thrice married. First to Miss Eliza Gallup, March 20, 1842. She bore him three child-ren and died May 22, 1859. His second marriage was to Miss Parthenia Morgan. The fruit of this marriage was one child, a daughter. His third wife was Miss Harriet E. Gallup, to- whom he was married July 23, 1865. She died Jan. 6, 1892. Mr. Lamb died Jan. 2, 1892. Col. William Morgan, son of Christopher and Margaret (Gates) Morgan, was born March 28, 1809. His education was limited to what the public schools of his native town were able to give him. At the age of sixteen, he left school, and served several years as an apprentice to the carpenter's trade. Tlie years of his mature manhood were mainly given to carpentry and farming. A fondness for general reading, made him a well-in formed man. He was frequently heard on public occasions ; and was regarded as an earnest and forceful speaker. In politics he was originaUy a Whig ; but upon the formation of the Republican party he entered its ranks at the beginning, and became one of its ardent supporters. He was a great admirer of Seward, Sumner, and Greeley. With the last-named he had a personal acquaint ance, which was promoted by frequent correspondence. He was a prominent actor in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the community; was colonel of militia, selectman, town agent, justice of the peace, county co-mmissioner, representative in the State Legislature, and for many years a faithful and efficient overseer of the Pequot Indians, whose reservation is located in' the north part of the town of Ledyard. Though not a church member he was an active member and supporter of the ecclesiasti cal society connected wfth the Congregational Church. Col. Morgan was married Feb. 22, 1836, to Cynthia Billings, daugh ter of Stephen and Martha Billings. They settled in Ledyard, on the place now (1900) occupied by Dea. Beckwith. Their chUdren were BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 223 Augusta, born July 18, 1837, married Oct. i, i860, Wm. A. GaUup, died Sept. 28, 1890. Julia, born Aug. 18, 1839, married June 25, 1861, Chas. Stan ton, died Jan. 11, 1896. William, bo-m Sept. 26, 1844, married Frances E. Niles. Christo-pher, bo-rn Oct. 11, 1852, married Edith Noyes. Col. Morgan, died Nov. 3, 1859, aged 50. Plis wife died Aug. 10, i860, aged 50. Stephen Henry Norman, youngest of the seven children of Tho-mas and Hannah (Stoddard) Norman, was born in Groton (now Ledyard), Aug. 30, 1825. With the exception of one term in Bacon Academy, Col chester, his educatipii was acquired in the public schools of his native place. He began to teach in his sixteenth year ; and quite early in life had established a good reputation as a teacher. He taught the school in the Allyn district one year. He spent one year as book-keeper iri the dry goiQ'ds store of A. T. Stewart, New York. About i860 he spent a year in the service of the Harper Brothers, New York. In 1865 he was teaching a public school in New port, R. I., when he was unexpectedly requested to abandon his work as a teacher and assume that of a banker. The cashier of the Aquidneck National Bank of that city had become a de faulter. The directors were looking for some one to take his place, when one of their number, who had become well ac quainted with Mr. Norman, and formed meantime a high esti- Stephen H. Norman, Esq. 224 HISTORY OP THE TOWN OE LEDYARD. mate of his abUfty and character, spoke of him as just such a man as they needed in the office now vacant. When the thing was mentioned to Mr. Norman he at once replied, "I know nothing about banking." "But," said one of the gentleman con ferring with him, "You can learn." The upshot of the matter was that he gave up his school, went into the bank on a salary of $900 a year, and began at once to learn the business to which he was thus introduced. In due time he learned it thoroughly, and became a very successful cashier. "FrO'm 1873 to his death he was cashier of the National Ex change Bank on Washington square. He was the originator of the Island Savings Bank and one of its incorporators, and was its treasurer from its start. Careful and methodical in all his affairs and giving his full and undivided attention to busi ness, he made the banks yield profitable dividends to the stock holders and accumulated a generous competency, estimated at $150,000, for himself." [From Newport Mercury for Aug. i, 1891.] He died in Newport, R. I., July 27, 1891. His remains were interred in the Ledyard cemetery. Conn. Mr. Norman was never married. One brother and three sisters, living in Ledyard, survived him. Hibbard R. Norman, the elder brother, remained with his sisters O'U the homestead, where he still resides. Rev. Samuel Seabury, D. D., was bom in the first Episcopal rectory in America, which formerly stoo'd just westerly of the present Bill parsonage in Ledyard, Nov. 30, 1729. He was a son of Rev. Samuel Seabury, who began preaching as a licentiate in the Congregational denomination, but soon went over to Episco pacy, and became at length the first minister of St. James' Church, New London. The son was graduated at Yale CoHege in 1748. He was admftted to O'rders by the Bishop of London in 1754. For some eighteen or twenty years he preached in different places in the vicinity of New York City. Upon the breaking out of the Revolutionary War he left his parish and moved into the city, and for a time served as chaplain in the BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 225 British army, being a Royalist, like most of the Episcopal clergy in the Northern States. After the resto-ration of peace he was chosen by the Episcopal clergy of Connecticut, their first Bishop ; and immediately went to England, to secure, if possible, conse cration to the office. But the relations between the two coun tries just at that time were such that the English clergy were very reluctant to grant his request. They felt that they could not consistently consecrate a bishop for a foreign land, which the United States had now become, and require him to take oaths which no true American could honestly take. The govern ment, too, was very cautious about doing anything which might incense America. After a good deal of vexatious delay, Mr. Sea bury went to Scotland, where he soon secured the end he was seeking. He was consecrated at Aberdeen, by the bishop of that place, Nov. 14, 1784. Returning to America he entered at once upon the duties of his office, and held his first ordination — ^the first Episcopal ordination in America — at Middletown, Aug. 3, 1785. Having already been chosen rector of St. James' Church, New London, he took up his residence in that city, and con tinued to live there in the discharge of ministerial duties till the time of his death, which occurred Feb. 25, 1796. Upon the com pletion of the new church edifice, in 1849, his remains were re moved from the public cemetery, where they had lain for over half a century, and placed beneath the chancel. He was married early in life to a Miss Hicks, of New York. They had three sons and two daughters. His biographer. Dr. Hallam, says of Bishop Seabury, that "in person he was large, robust and vigor ous. His appearance was dignified and commanding, and, in the performance of his official functions, inspired universal reverence. His mind was forcible and clear. His reading was extensive, and his memory a store-house of knowledge." He published a large number of addresses, sermons and essays. Dwight Satterlee, M. D., was the youngest chUd of Elisha A. and Hester S. Satterlee and was born near Gale's Ferry, March 24, 1837, being one of the sixth generatio'U born on the same spot. His early years were spent on a farm, attending 15 220 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. district school in winter, and helping his father on the farm in summer. When about sixteen years of age he attetided the Providence Conference Seminary at East Greenwich, R. I., and afterwards a school at CharlottsvUle, N. Y. He was an as sistant teacher at the Bartlett High School in New London for nearly two years. 'He studied medicine with Dr. Lord, of New London, afterwards pursuing his medical studies at the University of Vermont, and graduating in medicine at the Berkshire Medi cal College in the winter of 1862. He was commissioned as sistant surgeon of the Eleventh Regiment, Connecticut Volun teers, in February, 1863, and served with that regiment almost three years, or until it was mustered out of service in December, 1865. Previously, he was commissioned major of the regiment. In 1867 he moved to Iowa, and settled in the new town of Dunlap, in the western portion of the State. The country at that time was yery sparsely settled, and in practicing his profession he fre quently rode distances of twenty and thirty miles, including four counties. In 1870 he was married to Anna E. Hickox, who with her parents had moved to Iowa, from Rockville, Conn., a year or two previously. The union has been blessed with four children, three of whom, two daughters and one son are now living. Be sides the practice of medicine. Dr. Satterlee engaged in the drug business in 1869. He was one of Dunlap's pioneer postmasters, and, subsequently, after retiring from active professional life, was for nine years county commissioner. He also owned and managed a large stock farm, and still holds an interest in bank ing and other concerns in Dunlap and elsewhere. Soon after locating at Dunlap, the doctor unfted with the Congregational Church, in which he has since taken an active interest. His has been a successful business career, and at present he lives to enjoy the fruits of his years of toU. [D. S.] Capt. Edmund Spicer was bom in North Groton, Jan. 11, 1812. He was a grandson of Edmund and AbigaU (AUyn) Spicer. His parents were John Spicer, born Aug! 14, 1770, died June 2, 1856, and Elizabeth Latham, bom July 23, 1775, died BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 227 June 10, 1859. They were married Sept. 7, 1794. Their chil dren were Prudence, born May i, 1795, died May 25, 1864. Abigail, born Aug. 21, 1797, died Dec. 25, 1849. Isaac, born Sept. PS' ."H 19, 1799, died Nov. 30, 1 861. John Seabury, born April 30, 1802, died Sept. — 1829. Fanny, born Aug. 20, 1804, died March II, 1894. Gurdon Bill, born Nov. 14, 1806, died Sept. 8, 1816. Mary Avery, bom March 28, 1809, died July 9, 1824. Edmund, born Jan. II, 1812, died May I, 1890. Elizabeth, born Feb. 25, 181 5, died June 28, 1854. Cynthia, born Sept. 5, 1817, died Feb. 28, 1818. Edmund Spicer was educated in the public schools of his native place, and in his early manliood was a successful teacher in these schools for quite a number of terms. Later in life he was for many years a inember of the school board. His regular vocation was that of a farmer, and with it he at length combined that of a mercharft. He was postmaster from 1867 to the time of his death. He became captain of the rifle company to which he belonged, and the title adhered to him through the remainder of his life. Among the offices which he held, by appointment of the town, was that of selectman, seven years, between 1836 and 185 1 ; clerk and treasurer from 1853 to 1865 ; representative in the State Legislature in 1849. He was a candidate for the State Capt. Edmund Spicer. 228 HISTORY OE THE TOWN OE LEDYARD. Senate in 1862. He was judge of pro-bate for twdve years, be ginning in 1,855. He was one of the charter members of the Bill Library Association, and was secretary of the association eighteen years in successio'U, retiring from the office in 1885. He was treasurer and librarian from 1867 till his death in 1890. Mr. Spicer united with the Congregational Church in 1843. His wife and chUdren were also members of this church. He often served on the churcii committee, also on the standing committee of the ecclesiastical society. He was married Nov. 16, 1836, to Bethia W. Avery, daugh ter of John Sands and Bethia (WUliams) Avery, of Groton. Their children were M'ary Abby, born Sept. 23, 1837, married George Fanning, AprU 16, 1862. John Sands, born Sept. 20, 1842, married Anna M. WiUiams, May 27, 1873. Joseph Latham, born March 4, 1845, died Sept. 3. 1847. Sarah Elizabeth, born Aug. 3, 1847, married Nathan L. Lester, May 24, 1871. Carrie Gallup, born May 28, 1850, married Amos Lester, May 28, 1868. Cecelia Williams, born Sept. 30, 1852, married Jonathan F. Lester, May 28, 1873. Edward Eugene, born July 25, 1856, married Sarah A. Griswold, Dec. 22, 1878. George Walter, born Dec. 25, 1858. At the close of the last century, twenty-nine grand-children had been born to Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Spicer, six of whom had John S. Spicer. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 229 died. Mrs. Spicer, after a very active and useful life, died March 7, 1886, aged 59. Mr. Spicer survived her a little over four years, when his busy and prosperous life was terminated by death. May i, 1890, at the age of 78. John S. Spicer succeeded to his father's business, and was the postmaster, and kept the store at the Centre for a number of years. He removed to Norwich about 1893, and is there engaged in the grocery trade on Water street. He has several children. Guy Carlton Stoddard was born May 11, 1790, in Groton, Conn., and was the son of Vine Stoddard and Abigail Avery, his wife. He came from good old Revolutionary stock, his father being lieutenant and his grandfather, Ralph Stoddard. captain in the Revo- lutio'na,ry service, both appointed by Gov. Jonathan Trum bull. He had twO' sis ters and two- broth ers. The following is a copy of an article which appeared in a Norwich, Conn., p'aper, at the time of his death, March 31, 1882, and expresses the sentiments of the writer of this, per haps better than anything else co'Uld : "An ancient landmark was swept away in the death, last week, of Guy C. Stoddard, of old age, after a few days of painful illness. Mr. Stoddard was almost a centenarian and was one of the most widely known and respected of our citizens. He was a life-long Democrat, Gut C. Stoddard, Esq. 230 history of the town OF ledyard. and an influential man. All but the last years of his life were spent at the Stoddard homestead here. Mr. Stoddard was a Master Mason, though long since retired from active working with that order. As early as 1819, he was elected constable, and subsequently during all the years of his business life he fi'lled various offices in the gift of the tO'wn, Groton, and later, Led yard. Previous to the setting off of Ledyard from Groton he was elected a member of the Connecticut House of Representa tives for several terms. In 1842 he was a successful candidate for Senatoi-, from what was then the Seventh d'istrict. He early retired from the political field, however, although a brilliant future was opened before him, preferring the quiet of his coun try home and surroundings to the greed and wiles of a political life. In 1846 he was appointed a notary public by Gov. Isaac Toucey. All his public positions and duties were filled with dignity and honor to his constituents. Mr. Stoddard was a soldier in the War of 181 2, and used to relate interesting details of his participation in the memorable battle of Stonington Point. He early identified himself with the interest of his tO'wn and was foremost in many of the leading reforms of his time. He joined the M. E. Church here Sept. 27, 1868. He died at the resi dence of his daughter, Mrs. Julia A. Adams, where the last years of his life were spent, and his funeral was largely attended. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchUdren followed his body to the grave. He was a perfect sample of the gentleman of the old school, and although he had attained so great an age, and outlived so many of his relatives, yet he will be long held in grateful remembrance by many. He has gone down to his grave full of years and honors. 'Two sons and four daughters survive him. The Nezv Haven Register and the Neiv London Day have published appropriate and graceful comments on the death of this aged man." Sanford Billings Stoddard, eldest son of Sanford Stod dard, was bo-rn in North. Groton (Ledyard), Dec 4, 1813. His father was a sea captain. Having received a common school education young Stoddard went on the water with his father biographical sketches. 231 while yet a boy. At the age of twenty-one he went before the mast. Two years later he became mate; and serving in that capacity for two years he was again promoted to the position of captain. In 1842 he married Miss Mary, daughter of Hibbard Stoddard, of Ledyard. Their children were Mary Elizabeth, Sanford B. and Jane F. 'Mr. StO'ddard left the sea soon after he was married, and spent the remainder of his life in farming, occupying the place which had been in the possession of the faniily since 1700. He died in 1892, and Mrs. Stoddard in 1895. Their daughter, Mary E., and their son, Sanford B., died young. Their daughter, Jane F., was married to S. A. Crandall. After becoming the mother of two children, a daughter and a son, she died in 1885, aged 34. The family were members and liberal supporters of the Congregational Church in Ledyard. Orlando Smith was the ninth child and sixth son of Shubael Smith, and his wife, Sarah Raymond, and was born in Ledyard, Feb. 14, 1814. Shubael Smith was a direct descendant of Rev. Nehemiah Smith, one of the first settlers of Norwich, Conn. Sarah Raymond was a descendant of Dea. Joshua Raymond, of New London. In Ledyard were born all, save the eldest, of the family of eleven children and they lived at the "Smith homestead." In addition to the managing of his farm, Mr. Smith carried on quite an extensive business in buying and shipping mules to the South and the West Indies. He died in 1823 at the age of 48, leaving a widow and nine children, several of them of quite tender years. LTpon Mrs. Smith rested the burden of great responsibUities. Orlando received a sound and excellent training, develo'ping principles of honesty and integrity and acquiring habits of in dustry, econotay and self-reliance which remained with him through life. He received such educational advantages as the schools of his native to-wn afforded, and was a good scholar, with a special aptitude for mathematics. He supplemented his somewhat hmited education by studious habits and well-chosen reading 232 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. and was always a lover of good books. In his youth, he leamed the trade of a stone mason, an occupation which he foUowed for several years. In his early manhood, a great wave of enthusiasm for Western emigration swept over New England. In this movement the State of Connecticut has always borne a con spicuous part and the town of Ledyard has contributed some of her most promising sons to the making of the West. With a company of young men from his native town, Orlando Smith went to Joliet, 111. He was much impressed with the new coun try; but fell a victim to malaria and returned home soi shattered in health that it took many months for him to recuperate. He then resumed his trade of stone masonry and with care and good management developed a fair business. In 1839, Mr. Smith decided to locate in the enterprising vUlage of Westerly, R. I. Though then in their infancy, the m'anufacturing interests of the town were developing and the place was growing, thus affording good opportunities for the buUding contracts which he wished to secure. Being constantly on the lookout for good building material, Mr. Smith discovered, on the farm formerly owned by Dr. Joshua Babcock, the stone which proved to be the celebrated Westerly granite. That year was a fortunate O'ne for Mr. Smfth in another re spect as it witnessed his marriage to an estimaible young woman, also born in Ledyard, Emeline, daughter of Isaac Gallup, Esq., of Preston. Three years later the purchase of the farm on Quarry Hill was completed, the famUy was established in the old Babcock home stead, and Mr. Smith prepared to develop the granite business which was destined to become one of the most important in dustries of his adopted town. Although the quarry was opened and O'riginally worked chiefly for the purpose of supplying building material, the possi- bilfties of the fine, enduring granfte for monumental purposes, soon became apparent and the develo-pment of the business along that hne has been of marked importance, fully keeping in touch BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 233 with the wants of a people constantly advancing in wealth, culture and artistic taste. Mr. Smith died after a short Ulness, at the age of 45, May 30, 1859, leaving a widow and four children to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father. Mr. Smith was a director of the National Phenix Bank and one of the founders and original members of the Pawcatuck Con gregational Church, of Westerly. Mrs. Emeline (Gallup) Smith survived her husband twenty- seven years, beingspared to be the comfort and stay of her family. The children of the marriage were Orlando Raymond, born June i, 1851, died Oct. 19, 1898. Sarah Almira, now Mrs. Otis P. Chapman, born June 16, 1853. Julia Emeline, born Feb. 16, 1855. Isaac Gallup, born June 5, 1857, died July 12, 1888. [J- E. S.] Rev. Robert E. Turner, son of Erastus H. and Betsey (Wilcoix) Turner, was born in Ledyard, May 17, 1852. He ob tained his early education in the district and select schools of Ledyard. He taught in the public schools of Ledyard and vicinity six years. He then worked at the carpenter's trade in Norwich, contracting and building for about seven years. Dur ing a large part of this time as lay preacher he occupied the pulpit of the chapel at Brewster's Neck. He was ordained to the gospel ministry, Oct. 8, 1890, in the Central Baptist Church, Nor wich. He soon became pastor of the Baptist Church at Fitch- ville. Meantime he entered the Newton Theological Semina,ry, and pursuing a regular course of study there, was graduated in 1892. Before his graduation, in addition to his FitchvUle charge. he became pastor of the Baptist Church in Lebanon, and has served these two churches up to the present time. Large num bers have been added to both of the churches since he began to supply them' fifty to the FitchvUle Church, and about as many to the church in Lebanon. Mr. Turner has been president of the Jonathan Trumbull Library Association from its organization to the present time. 'He has for eig'ht years been chairman of the 234 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD, Lebanon board of education. He was one of the representatives from the town of Lebanon in our State Legislature in 1895, and was chairman of the committee on education in that body. He was married March 24, 1873, to Mary Emily, daughter of TheophUus and Mary L. Avery, of Ledyard. This wife died May 27, 1874; and on Aug. 15, 1875, he was married to Mary A., daughter of Simeon and Lucy A. Stoddard, of Ledyard. [R. E. T.] Samuel Whipple. The marriage of Samuel Whipple, Jr., of PrO'vidence,to EUzabeth Eddy, of Swansey, M'ass., is recorded at PrO'vidence, Feb. 26, 1690. The births of seven children are also recorded there. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1718, leaving nine chUdren. He appears in Groton as early as 171 1 where he owned large tracts of land at Poquetanuck. In his will, dated April 18, 1728, he speaks of his wife, Deborah, who' is to be provided for by his son, Daniel. To Daniel he gives all his land on the west side of the saw-miU brook, his saw-mill and iron works on said brook and his dweUing house and barn ; he also mentions sons, Samuel, Zachariah, Zepheniah, arid daughters, Alice Whipple and Hope Caprin. His inventory amounted to £4,796, and in cluded 780 acres of land. He, with other members of his family, was buried on his own farm, and their headstones are still in a fair state of preservation. A portion of his land is still in the l^ossession of his descendants. [M. E. G.] Samuel S. Whipple, the grandson of Mr. Henry Watrotis, enlisted from Ledyard in Company C, First Connecticut Cavalry, Nov. 25, 1861, and was given the position of farrier, and acted in that capacfty till sometime in 1863. During the faU of 1863 he had a talk wfth the lieutenant commanding his company, to whom, in the course of conversation, he said, "Many of the boys who enlisted first are being promoted, and I do not want to re main at the bottom of the heap. My people at ho-me have not the disposftion, as you know, to assist me, and I can only be helped by some one like you who knows me." The officer re plied, "I will take the first opportunity that offers itself, to aid BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 235 you." A few days later there came a call from another company for a sergeant. Tears of thankfulness came to Whipple's eyes as he was informed that he had been recommended for the posi tion. The transfer to Company G was made, and eventually he became regimental color bearer, and it was while gallantly carry ing the flag during the battle at As'hland, June i, 1864, that a rebel bullet passed completely through his body. Turning to a comrade by his side, he had strength to say, "I'm shot ; take my horse and the colors." He fell from his horse, but ere his body touched the ground, his soul had winged its flight to Him who gave it. 'His comrades endeavored to secure his body, but that was impossible, and he was buried by the Confederates. [W. T. C] Asa Whitney, son of Shubael Whitney, was boirn about 1800. The family lived in the no'rth-east part of the town, near Lantem Hill. The father was a farmer and carpenter. The son leamed the trade of a cabinet-maker ; and when .a young man carried on "the business for a time at Jewett City. About 1830-40, he was very prosperous as a grocery merchant in New York City, his famUy residing meantime at New RocheUe. During this period he used to spend portions of almost every year at the home of his youth in Ledyard. At length Mr. Whitney, Sen., sold the home stead, and with his wife and daughters went to live with his son at New RocheUe. From this place Mr. W. and his family moved to Sing Sing, N. Y., and at a subsequent date to a place near Washington, D. C, where he was last heard from about 1875. He had two wives; the first, a Motiroe; the second, a Pellettc. They had no children. WhUe he was carrying on business in New York, Mr. Whitney acquired considerable celebrity by call ing the attention of Congress to the idea of a railroad across the Continent, a thing which at that time seertied to many visionary and impracticable. He early foresaw t'he great possibilities of America. Jemima Wilkinson. 'Sometime between 1770 and 1790, while the farm now owned by Amos Hurlbut was in possession of the second James Smith, it was the home of Jemima WUkinson. 236 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. This eccentric woman in eariy life resided in Waterford, Conn. At one time her relatives supposed that she was dead, and prepa rations were made for the funeral. When the coffin was opened to allow the sorrowing friends to take a last look at the remains, Jemima startled the congregation by sftting up, and remarking that she would do the preaching herself that day. She claimed to have passed through the gates of death, but that she had been sent back to earth, to be the second Redeemer, and that from her resurrection was to date the regeneradon of the world. She preached for some time in North Groton (Ledyard), at tracting large congregations, and making some converts. But, finding the "Land of Steady Habfts" rather sterile soU for the propagation of her peculiar doctrines, she removed with her fol lowers to Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Here some accessions were made to the Jemimakins, a-s they were called, but beheving that they could prosper still better in New York State, the whole colony removed thither. Tradition says that Jemima was car-_ ried through the woods, in a gorgeous chariot, drawn by her proselytes. They settled in Yates County, New York, where they estab lished 'the "City of the New Jerusalem," and presently their num bers so increased that they required a posto-ffice. At a meeting called to choose a name for the new postoffice, it became evident that the regeneration of the Jemimakins was not so complete as to entirely eliminate a spirit of jealousy be tween the first of the faith, who were caUed Yankees, because they came from Connecticut, and the later proselytes who- came from Pennsylvania. Every suggestion of one faction was laughed to scorn by the other. At length some peace-loving brother proposed a compromise. He suggested that the name be divided between the two parties, with Penn for the Penna- mites, and Yan for the ^^ankees. Although the meeting adjourned without formeriy ratifying the suggestion, it was adopted the next day by general cO'Usent, and to this day Penn- Yan remains the name of the city. [F. R. H.] BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 237 Hon. Henry Warren Williams, LL.D., oldest son of Warren and Elisabeth Stanton (Gallup) Williams, was born in North Groton, Jan. 20, 1816. He was one of ten children — four sons and six daughters. He fitted for college at Bacon Academy, Colchester, and Plainfield Academy. He was grad uated at Amherst College in 1837. Among the honors won by him in college was that of class orator, being chosen by his class mates. He received the degree of M. A. froim his alma mater in 1850, and that of LL.D. in i860. He spent his first year after graduation teaching an academic school in Southwick, Mass. Removing to Pittsburgh, Pa., he studied law in the office of Judge Lowrie, and was at the same time engaged in teaching. He was admitted to the bar in 1841, and continued in legal prac tice tUl 185 1, when he was elected associate justice of the Dis trict Court for ten years, and re-elected in 1861. He was ten dered the office of judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Judicial District, comprising Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, by President Grant, through United States Sena tor John Scott, but declined it. In August, 1868, Gov. Geary appointed him to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court bench of Pennsylvania, and he took his seat, Oct. 26, 1868. The follow ing year he was elected for a full term of fifteen years, and took his seat on the first Monday of December, 1869. He joined the Third Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, on profession of his faith, in March, 1840, was chosen elder of the church in 1858, and held the office for sixteen years. He was a member of the Gen eral Assembly of the New School Presbyterian Church in 1859, 1865, 1866 and 1867. He was elected a corporate member of the A. B. C. F. M. in 1869. He took an active part in securing a re-union of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church, Old School and New School, in 1870. He was married May 20, 1846, to Lucy J. Stone, of Petersburgh, N. Y. They had six children — ¦ three sons and three daughters. Judge Williams died Feb. 19, 1877. Mrs. Williams and five children survived him. At a meeting of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a few days after his death. Judge Agnew said the following among 238 history of the town of- ledyard. other things of his late associate. Chief Justice WiUiams : "His mind was peculiarly receptive and retentive of facts, and his memory one of the most tenacious. He seemed never to forget a case he had once heard. * * * He seized the leading points of a case quickly and with a strong grasp. His oral arguments and his charges were always clear, pointed, discrim inating and forcible. * * * Our brother WiUiams was a man of great probity and firmness of character, of conscientious con victions and strict notions of duty. * * * i^ purity and sin gleness his mind was especially conspicuous, swerving neither to the right nor to the left, so far as he knew himself. This was eminently so in the performance of his judicial duties. * * * His was a genial and kindly nature, filled with wit and good humor, poured out often in a sonorous voice, and with a liberalfty which made his intercourse enjoyable." Hon. Elias Hewitt Williams, son of Erastus and Nancy (Hewitt) Williams, was bom in North Groton (now Ledyard), July 23, 1819. He was graduated at Yale College in 1840. The first year after he left college he spent in New Hampshire, acting as principal of Goshen Academy, in Sullivan County, in that State. The next year he went South, and became tutor in a private school near Columbia, S. C. This school was largely devoted to the fitting of boys for Yale College. His duties not occupying all of his time, he commenced the study of law, and continued it for five successive years. The sickness and deatli of his father called him home in 1846. Soon after his father's death he went to Iowa, and settled at Garnavillo. Upon the breaking out of the Mexican War he enlisted, and was chosen sergeant in a regiment of Dragoons, stationed at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, the officers and men who had previously been there being ordered to Mexico. At the end of the war he returu'ed to Gar navillo, commenced the practice of law, and also' opened up a farm near by. In 1851, under the new code system of county govemment, he was elected the first county judge of Clayton county. He held the office two terms ; and accomplished a work which called forth much praise from men every way qualified to BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 239 judge. About this time "he sold his Garnavillo farm, and pur chased of the United States Government a tract of 2,200 acres of land in Grand Meadow, and employed his brother-in-law, WUl iam Larrabee, to superintend the opening of a farm on his new purchase. The crops of wheat raised the first two years on the part brought under culti vation, being about 320 acres, paid the cost of rais ing, all the improvements made, and the price paid for the whole tract of land." In 1858 he was elected judge of the Tenth Judicial District of Iowa; and re elected in 1862. His work in this office was highly commended by those who were familiar with it and capable of appreciating its merits. "In 1870 he was appointed by Gov. Samuel Merrill to fill a vacancy on the bench of the Supreme Court of the State, and served only till his successor, elected at the next following elec tion, had qualified. The published opinions written by him are models of clearness and brevity." He next turned his attention to the construction of railways in different parts of Iowa and adjacent States. Some of the enterprises in which he engaged were very successful ; but one was quite the reverse. "Financial disaster overtook the eastern capitalists who had undertaken to supply the necessary funds, and the enterprise was thrown into an embarrassment from which it never recovered." Judge Will iams kept up his habits of reading and study through life. "He had a retentive memory and his knowledge was extensive and minute. He was untiring in his efforts to benefit his friends,, his Hon. Elias Hewitt Williams. 240 HISTORY OE THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. neighbors, and the county, state and nation in which he lived. To the young he was an especial friend, and in conferring bene fits upon them would present them with such delicacy as to make himself appear the recipient of the favors." In the recorded action of the Clayton County bar, taken soon after his death, are the foUowing, among other appreciative words : "Resolved, that in the death of Judge Williams, we feel that Iowa has lost one of its brightest inteUects, a mind of high culture, an able jurist, a man of strict integrity and of kindly heart." Judge Williams was married, in 1849, to Hannah, daughter of Capt. Adam Larra bee, of Ledyard, Conn. They had two sons and two daughters. He died at his home in Grand Meadow, lo'wa, Aug. 20, 1891, aged 72. Mrs. Williams and the four children survived him. [See Iowa Historical Record for January, 1892.] William Henry Willi.a.ms, son of Seth and Lucy Ann (Noyes) WUliams, was born in Ledyard, Oct. 22, 1838. He at tended the district school and worked on his father's farm in his boyhood. He fitted for college in Providence, R. I., and received his collegiate education in Brown University, being a member of the class of 1865. He studied law in the Columbia Law School, New York, and was graduated in 1868. He engaged in the practice of law in New York City. He was married Sept. 3, 1895, to Susanna H. Hunter, of Hagarstown, Md. Mr. WiUiams died March 11, 1901. Orrin Merwin Williams, son of Seth and Lucy Ann (Noyes) Williams, was born in Ledyard, Nov. 17, 1845. His youth was divided between attendance upon the district school and labor upon the farm on which he was born. He fitted for college at PhUips Academy, Andover, Mass., and was graduated from Yale in 1869. He studied law with Judge Thomas WUson, of Winona, Minn., and being admitted to the bar, served as city attorney in that place for several years. He died in 1876, at the age. of 31 years. biographical sketches. 241 CoL. Samuel W. Wood was born in New London, Conn., Feb. 13, 1802. He was a direct descendant of John Wood, a native of Warwick, England, who died Dec. 20, 1738, aged 90. Mary Wood, widow of John, died May 3, 1744, aged TJ. Col. S. W. Wood was son of Capt. Samuel Wood, who died Aug. 13, 1812, aged 48. Diadaima, widow of Capt. S. Wood, died June 13, 1829, aged '57. When about twelve years of age the subject of this sketch lived in the family of Rev. Timothy Tuttle; and from their first ac quaintance with each other a warm friendship ever existed be tween the Tuttle family and the Wood family. Col. Wood's principal business in life was that of a farmer. As he ripened into manhood and advanced in years he developed a good deal of talent for public business ; and a large amount of such business was entrusted to his hands. When quite a young man he was colonel of the regiment to which he belonged. At one time he held the office of judge of probate. He settled a large number of estates. He often acted for retired soldiers in procuring their pensions. He was for many years superintendent of the Congregational Sunday-school. While holding the office he secured the attendance of the whole congregation, and of some also who were not members of the congregation, so that at one time it was jocosely, but in a sense truthfully said, that the Sun day-school included eleven tenths of the congregation. In the matter of attendance it was the banner school of the State. In every official position which he was called to fill. Col. Wood performed his vvO'rk in a very orderly and systematic manner; and in this way usually won the approbation and esteem of all interested. The natural workings of his mind seemed to be of such a character that he was seldom vrilling to accept conclusions that rested upon anything short of positive demonstration. It was probably this peculiar quality of his mind Which prevented him from attaining to satisfying convictions in the things of re ligion sufficient to warrant his making a public profession of his fafth. He could not demonstrate moral and religious truths as 16 242 history of the town of ledyard. he could mathematical propositions. And because he could not demonstrate them he was reluctant to affirm that he believed them, and so by profession number himself openly with church members. Such at least was the view which his pastor, the Rev. Mr. Tuttle, was wont to entertain of him. Col. Wood married Miss Julia Ann Witter, of Preston. Three daughters were the fruits of this marriage. He died Oct. 29, 1863, aged 61. Mrs. Wood died Feb. 19, 1882, aged 78. THE BILL LIBRARY. CHAPTER XIII. History of the Bill Library. In the month of January, 1867, the following letters were re ceived from Hon. Henry Bill : — "Norwich, Conn., Jan'y 12th, 1867. "My Dear Sir :— "Playing a desire to leave a permanent testimonial of my great regard for my native town, I propose to give the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) to trustees, the income from the above sum to be paid annually for boO'ks, for the use of all the inhabi tants of the town. I have no definite plan, and would like the advice of yourself. Judge E. Spicer, B. F. Lewis, N. B. Geer, Isaac Avery, Maj. J. L. Gallup, John Brewster, Israel AUyn, James A. Billings, Henry Larrabee, Frank Brewster and Palmer AUyn. "I would like to have you and the above-named gentlemen act as trustees. I hold myself responsible for the interest of the above sum from the ist day of January, 1867, until the said sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.) is paid. "Respy. Yours, "Henry Bill. "To "Rev. N; B. Cook, "Ledyard, "Conn." "Norwich, Conn., Jan'y 15th, 1867. "My Dear Sir:— "As you are the first named, and consequently chairman of the board of trustees for establishing a free library in Ledyard, you will please notify the members of said trust to meet together 244 history of the town of ledyard. at such time and place as you may think best, and I will meet the gentlemen and explain my plan, etc., to them, and pay over in cash for the establishing of said library. Please let me know the time and place. I have added, as you wUl see, to the list of names first sent to you, and herewith you will find a com plete list. "Respy. Yours, "Henry Bill. "Rev. N. B. Cook, "Ledyard, Conn." Mr. Bill's letter of January 15th named the following addi tional trustees, viz. : Sanford B. Stoddard, Ralph Hurlbutt, Leonard C. Smith, Rufus M. Gallup, N. Sands Gallup and George Fanning. It seems to have been Mr. Bill's- intention in naming the ad ditional trustees, to have all parts of the town represented, and in this manner create an increased interest in the library. Upon the receipt of the fo'regoing letters, a meeting of the gentlemen named therein was called to consider the matter, and the follow ing resolutions were presented by Rev. N. B. Co'ok and signed by the trustees present. "Whereas, Our friend and former townsman, the Hon. Henry Bill, of Norwich, has, in a letter communicated to the under signed, made known his determination to give to the town of Ledyard the generous sum of One Thousand Dollars, the income thereof, to be used and applied for the purpose of establishing a town library for all the inhabitants of said town, and has re quested us to take in trust the charge and management of the same ; therefore, "Resolved, That the undersigned, being the tmstees assem bled at the vestry of the Congregational 'Churcii in said town, and being sensible of the duties imposed by a trust of such im portance and responsibility, do hereby accept the office of trustees of the same, and promise our best endeavors in its behalf. "Resolved, That we hereby express to Mr. BUl our grateful appreciation for his noble gift. history of the BILL LIBRARY. 245 "Resolved, That we express, in behalf of Mr. Bill, our earnest prayer, that in the gracious providen'ce of God, his life may be long spared to witness the success of his benevolent contribution to the happiness of his beloved native town. "Resolved, That this library be called the 'BiU Library.' "Signed by the Trustees." At the session of the Legislature, held in 1867, the "Bill Library Association" was incorporated, and the document sealed and signed on the eighth day of June, 1867, by L. E. Pease, Secretary of State. At a meeting of the Trustees, held June 15th, 1867, Rev. N. B. Cook was elected President of the Association, and Edmund Spicer, Esq., Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian. At the first regular meeting held Nov. 9th, 1867, Rev. N. B. Cook resigned as President, and Christopher Newton, Esq., was elected to succeed him. Mr. Newton died in 1875, and in 1876, Mr. Franklin Brewster was elected, who held the office till his decease in 1885. Hon. John Brewster succeeded him, and re signed the position in 1894. He was followed by Lt. William T. CoO'k, who, on account of ill health, resigned in 1897. George Fanning, Esq., was then elected President, and has continued to hold the office since that time. In 1885, William T. Cook, George Fanning and Isaac G. Geer were elected Vice-Presidents, and were re-elected annually till 1894, at which time George Fanning, Isaac G. Geer and Rev. A. E. Kinmouth were chosen. At -the annual meeting of 1897, William T. Cook, Isaac G. Geer and Rev. A. E. Kinmouth were chosen Vice-Presidents. Edmund Spicer, Esq., who' was elected the first Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian, retained these of fices until 1885, at which date William T. Cook was chosen Secretary, Mr. Spicer retaining the treasurership and Librarian until he died in 1890. His son, John S. Spicer, was then chosen Treasurer and Librarian, and is still retained as Treasurer. In 1894, Miss Hattie J. Gray was elected Librarian, and held the 246 history of the town of ledyard. position till her marriage in May, 1899, when Miss Marian I. Gray was chosen her successor. WUliam T. Cook remained as Secretary from 1885 to 1894. George Fanning was then chosen Secretary, holding the office till 1897, at which time RusseU Gallup was elected. The first annual meeting, followed by the "Library Dinner," was held at the house of Mr. George H. O'Brien. About this time, Hon. Henry Bill donated to the Congregational Society, his old homestead, to be used as a parsonage, and thereafter the an nual meetings and dinner took place at the "Bill Parsonage." Here the trustees and invited guests, numbering half a hun dred or more, gathered each year, the trustees first transacting in the pastor's study the business necessary, then adjourning to the large hall — a hall originally built in the house for the Masonic Lodge established in North Groton — up stairs, to partake of the banquet so faithfully served by the ladies interested in the happi ness of the occasioiii. Having finished the repast, then came the "P"east of reaso-n and flow of soul." At the close of these exer cises, the company arose and all present joined in singing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," and this manner of closing the meetings with the doxology has continued to this date. It is a fortunate circumstance that the founder of the library was enabled each year to attend these meetings as long as he lived. Those who attended our gatherings in the earlier years of our institution will recall with much pleasure, the presence of Edward Bill, Esq., of New York City, an honorary member, who met wfth us every year till his decease. He always produced an essay, sometimes in poetry, sometimes in prose, to which his hearers ever listened with interest. Among our guests, at dif ferent occasions, were John L. Dennison, Esq., Richard A. Wheeler, Esq., Rev. Dr. Pratt, S. T. Holbrook, Esq., Chas. W. Garter, Esq., Hon. PI. H. Starkweather, John W. Stedman, Esq., Rev. James A. Gallup, Rev. Robert Allyn, Rev. Charles Cutting, Hon. John T. Waft, Jeremiah Halsey, Esq., Gov. Wm. A. Buckingham and Rev. John Avery, all of whom delivered essays history of the bill library. 247 or addresses, befitting the occasion, as indeed did many others of the guests. The number of O'Ur invited guests grew larger and larger as time went on, until we lacked for room at the parsonage, and it was finally suggested that our annual meetings be held at the Congregational Church, and that the exercises be open to the public. So in August, 1893, our first regular meeting was held in the church at Ledyard Centre, and the following was the order of exercises given at that time : Organ voluntary by Miss Hattie E. Fanning, followed with prayer by Rev. John Avery — then an anthem — then the oration by Rev. A. E. Kinmouth — a solo by Miss Chrissie Whipple — a Poem by Mrs. Ida Whipple Benham- — Ten-minute speeches by Mr. Warren Lee Goss, Richard A. Wheeler, Esq. — Poem written by Mrs. R. Maria AUyn — Short addresses by Rev. E. M. Will iams, of Groton, Rev. John Avery, and remarks by others. Tables were placed on the lawn east of the church edifice where dinner was served, after the literary entertainment. Be tween four and five hundred people were in attendance. The succeeding year's orations have been delivered as foUows : In 1894, Rev. James A. GaUup. In 1895, Hon. Charles A. RusseU. In 1896, Rev. Mr. Barrows, pastor of the Road Church in Stonington. In 1897, Rev. Mr. Pitner, of Norwich. In 1898, Rev. Lewellyn Pratt, pastor of Broadway Church, Norwich. In 1899, Rev. W. C. Stiles, of Stonington. The same year. Rev. John Avery read an article on "The Pequot Indians." On one occasion. Rev. Frederic Denison de livered an original poem, and at another time Rev. John Avery gave us an "Anniversary Poem." When the library was first organized, Hon. Henry Bill, be sides giving $1,000, the income from which to be spent in furnish ing books, also donated at different times, more than twoi thou sand volumes, making the value of his gift over three thousand 248 history of the town of ledyard. dollars. Frederic Bill, Ledyard Bill and Charies BUl, as well as others, have contributed many volumes. In the year 1897, Mr. Charles BiU (deceased), who with all the Bill brothers, had been made hono-raay members of the Asso ciation, left by his will $500, one hundred of the sum to be spent each year for books for the library, in the meanwhile allowing the original fund of $1,000 to accumulate and which now amounts to over $3,000 of itself. In 1898, Messrs. Gurdon and Frederic BiU donated to the As sociation for its own use pieces of crockery consisting of a dinner set, complete, appropriately marked, to be used whenever occa sion required. In 1899, Mr. Gurdon Bill gave to the Association $500, the interest on which was to be applied towards defraying the ex penses incurred at the dinner served at our annual meetings. As a New Year's gift, the Associatio'U received from Miss Eliza Geer, to be used at our banquets, a set of silverware con sisting in all of 480 pieces. When the library was first created, book-cases were made and placed in the gallery of the Congregational Church. Here the bo-oks were kept for nearly twenty-six years, but in later years, the Bill brothers, seeing the necessity of a sep'arate an'd permanent home for the growing library, secured a location on the "Com mon" near the church at the centre, and contributed the sum of three thousand dollars for the construction of a suitable edi fice, and under the supervision of Mr. Frederic Bill, there was erected, for library purposes, an appropriate building, that will remain a monument to the generosity of the family for m'any years to come. This building was suitably dedicated on the day of our annual meeting in 1893. It contains a hail, room for the meeting of the trustees, and a spacious apartment where the library is located. The walls are adorned with pictures of the trustees, many of the citizens of the town, also many natives of the town of Ledyard, who have gone out from' among these rocks and hills and become eminent in other states. history of the bill library. 249 Of the trustees appointed originally, two have removed from town, four yet reside here, and thirteen have died, also the Rev. Charles Cutting, a more recent appointee. Trustees now of record are : N. M. Gallup, Rev. A. E. Kinmouth, J. B. Beckwith, Erasmus Avery, Wm. I. AUyn, Isaac G. Geer, John S. Spicer, John Brewster, N. Sands GaUup, George Fanning, Joseph A. Gallup, Palmer Allyn, Jacob Gallup, Isaac W. Geer, RusseU GaUup, Henry Hurlbutt, Wm. T. Cook, Charles A. Satterlee. John M. Gray, The honorary trustees have been : *Henry BiU, *Charies BUl, Benj. F. Lewis, Henry Larrabee, *Edward BUl, I. Edwin Avery, Gurdon Bill, *Charles Cutting, Frederic BiU, Rev. John Avery, Ledyard BUl, Frederic A. Bill. The officers tOr-day are: — President, George Fanning; Vice-Presidents, Wm. T. Cook, Isaac G. Geer, Rev. A. E. Kinmouth ; Secretary, RusseU Gallup ; Treasurer, John S. Spicer; Librarian, Miss Marian I. Gray. During the past year 922 books have been drawn, and 391 magazines, and there have been 125 persons taking books regu larly. The books are absolutely free. To draw one, it is only necessary to be a resident of the town. There are now in the library 3,099 volumes, and the' fund, the income fro-m which additional books can be supplied, is $3,134.27. Thus, by the beneficence of Hon. Henry BUl, and later years "Deceased. 250 HISTORY OF the TOWN OF LEDYARD. by the assistance of the Bill brothers — all of whom were natives of our town — we are provided with a fine library and substantial building for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the town. As we meet each year to celebrate the anniversary of the foundation of the library, our hearts gO' out in grateful thanks to the donors. [W. T. C] CHAPTER XIV. The Pequot Indians. Two hundred and sixty-five years ago all the south-eastern portion of New London County was occupied by a powe il tribe of Aborigines known as the Pequot Indians. Their dc minions extended from the Niantic river on the west to the Pawcatuck river on the east, and from Long Island Sound on the south up a dozen or more miles intoi the interior; and in cluded the territory now covered by the towns of New London, Waterford, Groton, Ledyard, Stonington and North Stoning ton. The territory to the east of them was occupied by the Narragansetts ; that to the west by the Nehantics ; that to the north ai^d north-west by the Mohegans. The Mohegans were originaUy Pequots, and had revolted and set up for themselves, under the leadership of Uncas, who subsequently acted a very important part as the friend of the early English settlers in their conflicts with the hostile Indian tribes. The Pequots were alto gether the most powerful native tribe in Connecticut, and one of the most powerful in New England. Hence, as soon as they became unfriendly, they presented one of the most formidable obstacles to the peaceful settlement of the English in this por tion of the country. They numbered altogether about four thousand souls. Sassacus, their chief, had twenty-six sachems under him, and some seven hundred warriors. In the year 1637, June 5, the strength of this tribe was broken in the memorable battle near the site of the present vil lage of Mystic, in which seventy-seven English soldiers, under Capt. John Mason, accompanied by about sixty Indians under the famous Uncas as their leader, surprised, in the early morn ing, the camp of the Pequots, and slew some four hundred or five hundred of their number. By this single blow their pres- 252 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. tige and power as a warlike tribe was destroyed. Yet they have existed as a conquered and powerless people right here among us for more than two and a half centuries and a smaU remnant of them exists to-day. The home of my boyhood was within two miles of their reservation, which was in the north part of the present town of Ledyard. Through my entire life I have been acquainted with this people. I have known their chUdren who are now upon the stage, their parents, their grand parents, their great-grandparents, and their great-great-grand parents. Hence, among the historic statements of this paper, I shall take the liberty to weave in a good many personal remi niscences. In speaking of this Indian tribe it may be well perhaps to say, at the outset, that they have been classed by ethnologists with the great Algonquin race, which was found occupying aU the south-eastern portion of North America at the time that the European nations began to take possession of it. According to a tradition, which our ancestors found preva lent among them, the Pequots had not been living very long in this part of the country when the English people came to dwell among them. Some time, not long before 1600, they migrated hither from Eastern New York. Having broken off from the Mohegans there, they were long known as Mohegans here. The earher intercourse of our ancestors with the Indian tribes of New England was of a friendly character. The In dians invited the English people to settle among them, and opened the way for them to do so. A fact or two, Ulustrative of this point, may be properly mentioned in this place. Early in the history of the Plymouth colony, Mass., Massasoit, a prominent Indian chief, sought an interview with the colonists and entered into a friendly agreement with them. The terms of the agreement, consisting of half a dozen particulars, were specificaUy stated in wrfting. "This treaty of Peace," says a historian of Plymouth, "made under the influence of upright intentions by both of the parties concerned, proved mutually advantageous, and continued without any serious disturbance for more than fifty years," And if all the men who were promi- THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 253 nent actors in the early history of our Massachusetts and Con necticut colonies had been like those who treated with Massa soit, or hke WiUiam Penn, of Pennsylvania, or Theophilus Eaton, of New Haven, it is possible, indeed very probable, that much bloodshed might have been prevented, and some of our most terrible wars with these savage tribes might never have been fought. After their defeat at Mystic the Pequots were scattered. Some sought refuge with neighboring tribes, that were not altogether hostile to them. Some wandered south ward and found temporary or permanent homes as far away as North Carolina. Some lingered stiU here in the reigions where they were born and where most of their lives had been spent, having attachments here which were hard to be severed. Sassacus, their sachem, who no longer wielded the influence among them that he previously had done, with a remnant of his recently powerful tribe, fled westward. They were pursued and overtaken by the English, and, in the furious battle of Fairfield swamp, their numbers were again largely reduced. Sassacus, at length, sought refuge among the Mohawks of Eastern New York, and among them he ended his career, a victim of the treachery of those in whom he had confided. The remnants of the tribe, which lingered about here in the regions which they had previously occupied, for a considerable time, were not allowed to organize and live together as a tribe, lest they might again assume hostUe relations, and become an an noyance to the EngUsh settlers. The way in which some of them were disposed of is described in the following extract from Holhster's History of Connecticut : "On the twenty-first of September, 1637, only about three months after the battle of Fairfield swamp, Uncas, the sachem of the Mohegans, Mian tinomoh, the sachem of the Narragansetts, with representatives of the Pequots, met the magistrates of Connecticut at Hartford. About two hundred of the vanquished tribes were to be disposed of in some way. A treaty was then entered into between Con necticut, the Mohegans, and the Narragansetts. By its terms there was to be perpetual peace between these two tribes and the English. If the subjects of either tribe did wrong, the in- 254 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. jured party promised not to take summary justice into fts own hands, but to appeal to the Enghsh. Then, with imposing cer emonies, the magistrates divided the remnant of the Pequots among the chiefs of the other tribes. To Uncas, their favorfte, they gave one hundred; to Miantinomoh eighty; to Ninigret, sachem of the eastern Nehantics, twenty. These poor crea tures, thus given over to their enemies and subjected to the bitterest taunts, were to be called Pequots (powerful ones) no more, nor were ever to dweU in their old haunts or pay their wonted visfts to the burial places of their dead, or meet on festal days to revive the tradftions of their people around the embers of the councU fire." (I. 71, 72.) Of course they were not at all satisfied with the arrangement ; and as the years went by it became more and more irksome to them. They could iU endure the treatment received from the chiefs in whose hands they had been placed. They were frequently at variance with them and as frequently appealing to the English people for re dress of grievances. At length, in the year 1655, seventeen years after their defeat at Mystic, they were permitted again to settle on their old territory, and to maintain tribal existence in two separate bands, one located in Groton, the other in Stonington. Cassacinamon became the successor of Sassacus, as the head of the Groton band (which was the larger of the two), and Hermon Garret the head of the Stonington band. Their privUeges were at first a good deal restricted, but were at length gradually enlarged, and more definitely defined, untU after a whUe they assumed pretty nearly the form in which they exist to-day. The Groton Pequots in due time had a reserva tion of two thousand acres set apart for them, in the north part of the town, to which the name of Mushantuxet was given. The Stonington Pequots had a reservation of two hundred and eighty acres given them on the east side of Lantern HiU. The reservation in Groton (now Ledyard) has from time to time been reduced in size, until at present it contains only about one- tenth as much as it did at first. The permanent fund, created by the sale of their land, amounts at the present time to about six THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 255 thousand dollars. Tlie annual income of it is expended for the benefit of the Indians. Though the Pequots were so signally and thoroughly de feated in their first decisive conflict with the English, they did not remain in permianent antagonism to their conquerors. On the contrary, they entered, in the course of a few years, into alliances with them and rendered important assistance in several difficult and trying emergencies, e. g., in the King PhUip War, and later, in the French and Indian Wars ; and at length in the Revolution. In the great swamp fight of King Philip's War, which o'ccurred in 1675, it has been stated that "they performed prodigies of valor under the leadership of Gallup and Avery." (R. A. Wheeler.) When the French and Indian War broke out not a few of them enlisted in the service of the English and Americans and fought against the French, and the Indian tribes that were assisting them. And in the Revolutionary War a con siderable number of them fought in the ranks of the Colonists against o-ur British oppressors, and several of them laid down their lives in the service. In the record of deaths that occurred in North Groton (now Ledyard), in the year 1776, I find nine Indian names, and it is stated upon the record that "These nine natives all died in the army this year." The same record for 1778 contains the names of six Indians, who died in the army. From the time of their memorable defeats at Mystic and at Fairfield, the number of the Pequots had been constantly diminishing. Immediately after those defeats, in the year 1637, two hundred, as already remarked, were apportioned to neighboring chiefs. This of course did not by any means include all whoi were still living, as they had scattered in all directions, and taken up their abodes in a great many different places. Almost a hundred years later, in 1731, the tribe, according-to one account, numbered one hundred and sixty-four persons, and the number of wigwams on the reservation was thirteen. Some eighteen or twenty in dividuals were living in English famUies outside of the reserva tion. The reservation at this date contained one thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven acres. During the next thirty years, if we may credit the reports that have come down to us, their 256 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 1 numbers remained about the same that they had been. For in 1762 there were twenty or thirty families containing one hun dred and sixty-seven persons. In the year 1766 a committee, appointed by the State to ex amine and report on their condition, stated that they found one hundred and fifty-one Indians living on the lands at Mushantuxet, of whom about half were under sixteen years of age. All were in poverty-stricken circumstances, and many were widows whose husbands had died or been killed in the colonial armies during the late wars in Canada. Their houses were chiefly within a mile square ; their land was by no means the best ; yet so'me of it was good and cultivated after the English fashion. 'There was a small school-house in which one Hugh Sweetingham was now teaching, having been hired for that purpose at twelve pounds a year by the Missionary Society in England. From the same source Rev. Mr. Johnson (pastor of the Co'ngregational Church near by) received six shillings and eight-pence for every sermon which he preached to the Indians. 'A considerable number of the Pequots were wUling to hear the Gospel and send their children to school, but were generally so poor that they could not provide them with decent clothing for that purpose. The co-mmittee ex pended the twenty pounds which they had been authorized to draw from the colonial treasury in buying clothing and school- books for these children, and they stated in their report to the Asserably that further appropriatioins would be needed in the winter. The compensation of the teacher, Mr. Sweetingham, was, in their opinion, insufficient, and so also was that of Mr. Johnson who preached tO' them, es-peciaUy as he attended the Indians in sickness and at funerals. Accordingly twenty pounds additional were appropriated in October, 1766, for the benefit of the Pequot children, five pounds to Rev. Mr. Jo'hnson, and four pounds to increase the salary of Mr. S'weetingham the teacher. (De Forest 438.) In 'the year 1786 a large number of Pequots, with a few Mohegans, accompanied by Indians from other parts of Connecticut, from Rhode Island, and from Long Island, re moved to Oneida County, N. Y. ; and, by invitation of the Six Nations, settling on some of their unoccupied lands, formed the THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 257 nucleus of what has since been known as the Brothertown Tribe. A prominent actor in this movement was Samson Occum, a native of Mohegan, who had been educated and regularly in ducted into the gospel ministry. As we come down into the present century we find the numbers of this ever-diminishing tribe very much smaller than they had been reported previously. In 1820, e. g., only fifty are reported as belonging to them. In 1832, the number has fallen to about.forty. In 1848, their over seer,* Col William Morgan, gave their numbers as twenty-eight, of whom twenty lived in Ledyard 'and the remaining eight in other places. At the present time there are eighteen persons. In my boyhood the wigwams of earlier years had all disap peared. There were, I think, about half-a-dozen houses, rather small, but fairly comfortable, standing in what we then and ever since have called "Indian Town." In these houses were living some twenty or thirty persons. Some of them were full-blooded Pequots. A large portion, however, had more or less white or negro blood in them. And some had scarcely any Indian blood whatever. Evidently they were not very particular as to the race with which' they commingled and amalgamated. One pure- blooded Indian man, I remember, who had a pure-blooded white wife. And one man, who was abO'Ut half Indian and half white, had at one time a white womian (for, I believe, he was never married), after . that a full-blooded squaw, and finally, a full- blooded negress. Marriage, in the proper sense of the word, was not very strictly observed among them, neither was it en tirely ignored. As a general thing one man and one woman would, by mutual consent, take each other for better or for worse. And they would live together as long as they conveniently could ; then they would quarrel and separate. After a while they would come together again; or each would look out a mate for himself or herself elsewhere. Some, however, who wished to be some what like white folks, would be married in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth ; and frequently would keep their marriage vows as- sacredly as any of their white neighbors. 'Previous overseers were Henry Hallett and Gurdon Bill. 258 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. One of the leaders in this remnant of the Pequots at "Indian Town," was Mark Daniels. He lived at the northerly end of the reservation near Capt. Henry Hallett's farm. He occupied the most pretentious of the dwellings and was very friendly with the English residents. He was a convert to the Christian church and it was at his house that "meetings" of local preachers and exhorters were held. Pie frequently led such meetings himself and was a man quite generally respected. He was of mixed blood, though recognized as a mdmlber of the tribe, and as prev iously stated, pure-blooded members were few. An amusing anecdote relating to this man occurred years ago. A certain medical student and practitioner embarked in the patent medi cine business, and among his printed recommendations was one from "Rev. Mark Daniels." The people who knew the parties smUed rather broadly, but its value as an indorsement increased in proportion to the distance from the particular locality. Poor Mark was innocent, doubtless, but the medicine-man flourished and became both famous and wealthy and from this slender foundation, in part. The decline of the tribe, which has already proceeded so- far as to threaten its entire extinction at no distant day, is parallel with what has occurred to many other tribes in different parts of the country. Even in places where there has been no serious collision between them and the whites, as was the case at New Haven and Philadelphia, the same thing has happened. This decline has resulted from various causes. Prominent among them has been the fact that they were a conquered people, and all the ends for which they had been accustomed to live were utterly defeated. More than this, "civUization': brought among them temptations to which they easily gave place, and this, in many cases, was the utter ruin of them. The use of intoxicating liquors soon became a besetting sin with them.^ And further, the diseases of dissolute whfte people, when introduced among them, were often terribly destmctive. They did not have the medical skill at hand to resist them and hence became easy victims. THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 259 But a few words about the employments of these people, after they were conquered by the English. Of course they hunted and fished as they had done. But I do not remember many of them who were specially fond of these pursufts. They tilled the soil to a limited extent, but in all the cases that I can recall it was very limited ; the work was very imperfectly done and with the most indifferent results. An Indian's corn-field was to me a thing unknown; and an Indian's garden was anything but a model for others to go by. But, while they did not like very much to work for themselves, they were often excellent help when employed to work for others. Some of them I recall as good farm-hands, especially When employed for a few days at a time. If engaged for a month or for several months the quality of their services would often deteriorate before the close of the time, and, likely as not, they would break their engagement by leaving in the very midst of some piece of work to- which they did not happen to take a liking, thus causing their employers great inconvenience, perhaps considerable pecuniary loss. The women, too, were often excellent servants in the household, and were more or less frequently employed by families living in the neighborhood. Occasionally an Indian boy or girl was brought up in a white family, and sometimes with good results to all con cerned. In such cases the Indian children often took the names of the families with which they lived. And this accounts, in part at least, for the fact that so many have borne the names of white people, their Indian names having been practically forgotten. One employment and a source of revenue to which many of them were accustomed was basket-making. In this employment they often developed a good deal of skill, and in some instances a fair degree of industry. They made baskets of all shapes and sizes, from tiny ornamental ones holding only a pint or even less up to strong oaken baskets for farm use, holding one or two bushels apiece. I remember, when I was quite a small boy, one Ann Wampy used to make an annual trip in the early spring past my home up through Preston City, Griswold and Jewett City, selling the baskets she had made during the previous winter. When she started from her holme she carried upon her shoulders a 26o HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. bundle of baskets so large as almost to hide her from view. In the bundle would be baskets varying in size froni a half-pint up to five or six quarts, some made of very fine splints, some of coarse, and many skilfully ornamerfted in vario'Us colors. Her baskets were so good that she would find custO'mers at almost every house. And after traveling a dozen or twenty miles and spending two or three days in doing it her load would all be gone. Then she would start on her homeward journey, and, sad to relate, before she had reached her home a large part of what she had received for her baskets would have been expended for strong drink. Akin to basket-making was the making of wooden trays, bowls, ladles and spoons which they carried about and sold fro-m ho-use to hoiise as they could find buyers. Many of the young men enlisted in the whding business which was then carried on very vigorously from the port of New London. Sev^ eral, whom I knew, became boat-steerers and harpooners on whale ships, and as such their services were highly prized by their employers. Sometimes one of them would return from a long voyage with several hundred dollars in his pocket, and frequently, instead of laying it away for future needs or investing it in a comfortable home, would spend it all in a few weeks in lavish generosfty or gross dissipatio'n. From the time that the Pequots were settled upon their reservation in 1655 on to 1740, a period of eighty-five years, they had leaders from their own number invested with a sort of govemmental power over them. Each of these leaders had one or mo're assistants. And then, too, at length, there was a white man, sometimes two whfte men, appointed in each of the two bands, to give advice and assistance to these native rulers. As the years went by, and those who had filled these official positions passed away, and others were called to take their places, the governmental power seemed gradually to slip away from the hands of the Indian leaders and slip into the hands of the white leaders, until, in the year 1740, S-cadaub, the last of the Groton band, who held the office of governor or sachem, died. Since then the ruling power has bfeen for the most part in the hands of a white overseer, who is appointed by the Superior Court. THE PEQUOT INDIANS. 26 1 A few words in regard to the religion of the Pequots, or rather of the great Algonquin race to which they belonged ; for what was trae of one tribe was true of another in this matter throughout all this part of North America, at the time that the European nations began to settle among them. Generally speaking they were a very superstitious people. But they were not idolaters. They believed in one Great and Good Spirit, who ruled over the world and who dealth with men according to their deserts, bestowing good upon the upright and inflicting evil upon the wicked. They believed also in a Spirit of Evil, or rather in a considerable number of such Spirits, standing closely con nected with the various calamities which are wont to come upon the children of men. Practically, they interested themselves much more in the doings of these numerous EvU Spirits than in the doings of the one Great and Good Spirit. The former must be propitiated that the evils of which they were the authors might be averted; but the latter was so good, so averse to evil of every sort that he would deal kindly with them whether they took special pains to please him or not. They believed in a future life, which wo'uld be a life of happiness to the good, of wretchedness to the bad ; though they conceived of happiness in the one case and wretchedness in the other as consisting in just about the same things that they enjoyed and suffered in the present life. An anecdote, which I have met with in my reading, will Ulustrate this point. A yO'ung Indian of the Ojibwa tribe, while sleeping one night in the open air, had a dream. He dreamed he saw a very beautiful female come down from the clouds and stand by his side. Calling him by name, she said, "I am come for you, step in my tracks." The young man did so, and presently felt himself ascending above the tops of the trees ; he mounted up, step by step, in the air and through the clouds. His guide at length passed through an orifice and he following her found himself standing on a beautiful plain. A path led to a splendid lodge. He followed her into it. This was her home and the only occupants of it were herself and her brother, who just then was absent. Upon his retum the young visitor was united in marriage to the beautiful damsel and became exceed- 262 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. ingly happy in this relationship. Every thing in his situation and surroundings was eminently congenial to him. There were flowers on the plains. There were bright streams. There were green vaUeys and pleasant trees. There were gay birds and beautiful animals, but they were not such as he had been accus tomed to see. This was indeed but a dream, and from it the dreamer presently awoke; but it was a dream which accorded very nearly with the general belief of the Aborigines in regard to the future life of those who are upright and good. When our ancestors came here it was very natural that they should present to the natives the Christian religion and recom mend it as much superior to that which they possessed. Their efforts were often attended with a good deal of success. The labors of Elliot, the Mayhewis, and others, who preached the gospel to these natives and gathered thdm in scho'ols where they were instructed in the rudiments of human learning, and into churches where the gospel was preached and the oridinances ad ministered, these labors, with the happy results of them, form a bright page in our early New England history. But when, at length, alienations sprang up between the Whites and the In dians, and especially after war had broken out and a number of battles had been fought, with the moist disastrous results to the Indians, they became mOre or less averse to the religion which was offered by those who had brought such disasters upon them. As a rule those who embraced the Christian religion were not very stable. Too often was ft trae that their goodness was as the morning cloud and as the dew that go-eth early away. There were, however, some very bright and beautiful exceptions to this remark, examples of piety which were exceptionally excellent. In the Great Awakening of 1740 and adjacent years the Indians as well as others were specially interested and considerable num bers of them were gathered into the churches. (De Forest.) The history which we have thus outlined is indeed a sad history. Still we may, if I mistake not, recognize in it an over ruling Providence, "From seeming evil still educing good. And better thence again, and better still, In infinite progression," THE PEQUOT. INDIANS. 263 In the events which we have reviewed, many of which it is exceedingly painful to contemplate, we see how He who doeth according to his will, in the army of heaven and among the in habitants of the earth, causes the wrath of man to praise him and restrains the remainder thereof, Ulustrating most forcibly the truth of a declaration of the famous Indian chief, Tecumseh, of the Shawnee tribe, who, in the early part of the nineteenth cen tury, contended long and earnestly for the permanent establish ment of his people against the encroachments of the Whites, but was at last convinced of the folly of his efforts. Some of the words which he uttered, not long before his death, were: "All dreams of perpetuating savage life in opposition to civili zation are futile. Civilization produces a dense population. It is not desirable that a savage race, which spreads itself thinly in squalid hunting bands, should possess a fertile country capable of supporting one hundred times as many people in the comfort and enlightment of civilization." ORDER FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PEQUOT RESERVATION, 1720-1. Whereas at town meeting holden in Groton february the 13 Day 1720-r, there was a Committee chosen to perambulate with ye proprietors ye . . . . to ye common or undivided Land in said Groton & also to set out to the Pequot Indians a suffi- cencie of Land for there use &c pursuent to said vote we whose names are 'here under written a Committee as aforesaid do set out to ye Pequot Indians their Heirs and Successors all the west part of ye Land w^h is Scituate in Groton and Northward from Capt. John Morgans new dwelling house in said Groton & ad joining on ye North of said Morgans and in part with Saml Packers Land and in West partly with said Morgans Land and so Running according to ye fortner surveigh to ye Northwest comer bounds as well as all ye Lanid that Butts upon Capt. Morgans and Saml Packers is set out accOrdinig tO' ye ancient surveigh . . . and from s 174' 17s. 177; 179 326 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Page. Avery, I. Edwin 249 Avery, Rev. John 1,41,178,181,246,247,249 Avery, Janies Jr. 172 Avery, Jacob 172 Avery, Mary A. 25, 42 Avery, Rev. Nathan 54, 172, 174 Avery, Rev. Park 52, 70 Avery, Rev. Frederick D. 177, 1.78, 181 Avery, Henry W. Jr. 179, 180 Avery, Sidney 180 Avery, Rufus 71 Avery, Lydia G. 180 Avery, Mary 180 Avery, Theophilus 186 Avery, WUliam 81 Avery, Nathan 182 Avery, Experience 208 Avery, Dea. John 211 Avery, Abigail 211 Avery Family, 92 Ayer Family, 98 Backus, Rev. Isaac 51 Babcock, Ichabod 79 BaUey, Thomas 148 Baker, Andrew 79 Barber, Phoebe Esther 59 Barnes, Laura Anna 59 Beckwfth, Dea. J. B. 43, 44, 249 Bellows, Miss 43 Page. BeUows Family, 98 Benham, Ida Whipple 247 Bennett, John 60 Bentley, Elder L. D. 56 BiUings, Corp. Andrew 79 BiUings, Anna 44 BUlings, Cynthia 222 BUlings, Capt. James A. 186 Billings, Stephen 186, 222 BiUings Family, 100 BiU, Charles 45, 112, 113, 248, 249 Bill, Edward M. 107 BiU, Frederic 76, 103, 109, 248, 249 BiU, Frederic A. 81,185,249 BiU, Gurdon 81, 105, 106, 183, 257 BUl, Gurdon Jr. 108, 248, 249 BUl, Henry 38, 39, 108, 183, 184, 185 243, 244, 246, 247, 249 Bill, James 183 BUl, John 103 BiU, Nathan D. 108 BUl, Joshua 79, 105 BiU, Lucy Y. 107, 183 Bill, Ledyard 3,83, 105,110, 111,248,249 Bill, Richard 104 Bill, Edward 246, 249 Bill, Phineas 79 BUl, Rev. Dr. WUliam 102 BUl, Philip 18, 105 Bill, Joshua 264 Bill, John'W. 185 INDEX. 327 Page. Page. BiU, Sarah 196 Brown, Rev. Nathaniel Jr. 52 BiU, Richard 103 Brown', Mary L. 189 BUl, Phineas 211 Buckingham, Gov. Wm. A. BUl FamUy, 102 83, 246 Boynton, Elder G. D. S6 BoUes Family, 114 Bradford, Gov. WiUiam 169 Bradbury, Elder David 56 Breed, John 265 Brewster, Frankhn 186, 187 Brewster, Elder William 175 Brewster, Jonathan 18 Brewster, Capt. John 83, 187, 188, 190 Brewster, James 265 Brewster, Benjamin 181 Brewster, Nathan 186 Brewster, WUliam F. ¦ 187 Brewster, John D. 190 Brewster, Jabez 187 Brewster, John 187, 245, 249 Brewster, Frank W. 189 Brewster Family, 115 Bromfield, Capt. 72 Brown, Amos 59 Brown, Avery W. 59 Brown, Aaron 58 Brown, Albert 58 Brown, Avery W. 190 Brown, C. A. 57 Brown, Daniel 58 Brown, Col. Elias W.24, 44, 58 Brown, Hattie 57 Brown, Ehas S. 19° Brown, Mercy 59 Brown, Mary 59 Capron, Letter of Saml. 274 CampbeU, Dea. Wm. 40 CarroU, L. W. 189 Carter, Charles W. 246 Case, Elder J. W. 56 Catalogue of Deaths, 276 Champion, Susan 42 Chapman, C. H. 57 Chapman, Courtland 56 Chapman, Nelson 60 Chapman, Ichabod 45 Chapman, William 18 Chapman, Hannah I. 57 Chester, Norman L. 44 Church, The Congrega tional 30 Church, The Episcopal 46 Church, The Methodist S3 Church, The Separatist 49 Church, The Baptist 58 Church, The Rogerene Quakers 61 Cleveland, John 50 Clinton, General 67, 78 Colver, Courtland 57 Colver, Kate B. 57 Colver, C. E. 57 Comstock, James 75 Cook, Rev. N. B. 37, 19I' 243, 244, 245 328 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Page. Cook, Mrs. N. B. 25, 191 Cook, Lt. Wm. T. 43, 191, 192, 193 245, 246, 249, 250 CrandaU, Hon. Stiles A. 191 CrandaU, BiUings F. T. 191 Crandall, StUes 191 Crary, Elisha A. 187 CrosweU, Rev. Andrew 32 Culver, Edward 18 Cutting, Rev. Charles 38, 46, 83, 196, 246, 249 Cutting, Horace 38 DaboU, David A. 195 DaboU, Nathan 194 Daboll, John 71 Dalrymple, Elder C. H. 57 Daniels, Mark 257, 258 Daniels, PhiUis 56 Davis, Maria T. 202 Davis, Maj. Benj. loi Davis, Sarah loi Davis, Jefferson 170 Davis, Capt. Noah 20 Deane, Hon. Silas 18, 193 Denison, Elder Eustus 58 Denison, Nathan F. 108, 109 Denison, Elder Jesse 56 Denison, Emeline 171 Denison, Betsey 175, 179 Denison, Frederick 175 Denison, John L. 246 Denison, Martha 186 Denison, Rev. Frederick 247 Denman, Elder Thos. 57 Page. Dewey, Elder Timothy 54 Dickenson, Elder 56 Dorchester, Elder Daniel 56 Dow, Rev. Lorenzo 54 Dunham, Elder 56 Eldridge, Charles 71 Eldridge, Mary 174 Emerson, Rev. Warren 56 Eyre, Lt. Col. 68 Fanning, Hattie E. 247 Fanning, Edmund 18, 119 Fanning, George 25, 44, 120, 243, 244 245, 246, 249 Fanning Family, 119 Fish, Capt. Wm. S. 192 Fish, Hannah 175 Fox, Bathsheba 62 Gallup, Andrew 79 Gallup, Benadam 31, 123 Gallup, Capt. Jacob 195 Gallup, Palmer 221 GaUup, Dea. Erastus 43, 203 GaUup, Nehemiah M. 249 Gallup, Capt. Isaac 197, 204, 205 GaUup, Isaac 103, 197, 198, 199, 20O; ,201 Gallup, Rev. James A. 122, 181,205,220 ,247 Gallup, Joseph H. 24, 165, 221 Gallup, Joseph A, 124, 249 INDEX. 329 Page. Gallup, Dea. Nathan Sands 43, 44, 206, 244, 249 GaUup, Maj. Jacob L. 196 GaUup, Nelson 56 GaUup, Dea. RusseU 204 Gallup, Nehemiah 79 GaUup, Sarah Ann 196 Gallup, Wm. M. 25 Gallup, Jacob 249 Gallup, Dea. Russell 43, 135, 249 GaUup, Rufus M. 244 Gallup, Isaac Jr. 202 Gallup, Avery 205 Gallup, Eliza 222 Gallup Family, 121 Gates, Phoebe F. 59 Geer, Amos 207 Geer, Ellen 130, 154 Geer, Eliza B. 45 Geer, George 18, 208 Geer, Dea. Isaac G. 43, 206, 207, 245, 249 Geer, James L. 129 Geer, Thomas A. 188 Geer, Joseph 81 Geer, Robert 31, 130, 207 Geer, M. Adaliza . 188 Geer, Jacob A. 44, 207 Geer, David 207, 208 Geer, Isaac W. 208 Geer, Col. Isaac W. 208 Geer, David 208 Geer, Delia 208 Geer, Louise 208 Geer, Thomas H, sio Page. Geer, Capt. Nathaniel B. 209, 243 Geer, Albert D. 210 Geer, Juliette 210 Geer, Mary A. 210 Geer Family, 125 Gilman, Wm. C. 266 Goddard, Calvin 265 Goodrich, Elder Nelson 57 Goof, A. E. 60 Gray, Hattie J. 245 Gray, Amandar W. 132, 166, 169 Gray, John M. 44, 249 Gray, Thomas B. 132 Gray, Marian I. 246, 249 Gray Family, 130 Granger, Mary 36 Griswold, Elizabeth 63 Green, Caroline L. 191 Groton Selectmen, 273 Haley, Hon. Elisha 164 Hallett, Capt. Henry 20 HaUet, Henry 257, 258 Halsey, Capt. 69 Plalsey, Jeremiah 246 Hancock, John 102 Hamilton, Alexander y2 Hammond, Mrs. Esther 173 Harvey, Paul 104 Hayden, B. F. 58 Heald, Rev. Jesse E. 56 Heath, Dorothy I74 Hempstead, Stephen 71, 72 Plenderson, David B, 216 330 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Page. HiU, Samuel 71, 73 Plinks, Elder E. F. 56 Holbrook, S. T. 246 Holdridge, Almira 59 Holdridge, Emeline 59 Holdridge, Randall 59 Ploward, William O. 182 HoweU, Rev. S. N. 191 Hoyt, Col. 83 Hurlburt, Amos 114, 139 Hurlburt, Lucy 54 Hurlburt, Hannah 54 Hurlburt, Fanny R: 57 Hurlburt, John 18 Hurlburt, Ralph 213, 244 Hurlburt, Henry 57 Hurlburt, Rev. Ralph 52, 54, 55, 211 Hurlburt, Rufus 54, 212 Hurlburt, Henry 249 Hurlburt, Thomas 211 Hurlburt, Lt. Thomas 212 Hurlburt, Stephen 212 Hurlburt, Dea. John 211 Hurlburt, Stephen 211 Hurlburt FamUy, 135 Huse, Elder O. 56 Hutchinson, Samuel 172 Hyde, Mary 162 Jackes, Samuel W. 71 Jackson, Genl. Andrew 83 Jennings, Isaac 177 Johnson, Rev. Jacob 33 Jones, Moses 79 Johnson, Obediah 50 Page. Johnson, Caroline A. 182 Kinney, P 60 Kinmouth, Rev. A. E. 42, 43, 245, 246, 249 Lamb, Samuel 25 Lamb, Samuel S. 220 Lamb, Isaac 18 Lamb, Tabithy 44 Lamb Family, 139 Larned, Miss 5° Larrabee, Capt. Adam 213, 214, 215 Larrabee, Henry 83, 249 Larrabee, Frederick 213 Larrabee, Ex-Gov. Wm. 215,-216, 217 Larrabee, Capt. Nathan F. 217, 218 Larrabee, Hon. Henry 218, 219 Latham, William 79 Latham, Thomas 57, 141, 142 Latham, Sarah E. 57, 169 Latham FamUy, 140 Ledyard, Fanny 73 Ledyard, Gurdon 76 Led.vard, Youngs 70 Ledyard, Capt. Ebenezer 72 Ledyard, Col. William 19,68,69,70,71,75,76,211 Lee, Jesse ^ _ 53 Lee, Gen. Robert E. 170 Lester, Asa 79 INDEX. Page. Lester, Hannah 167 Lester, John 70 Lester, Hannah G. 214 Lester, Samuel 264 Lester Family, 142 Lewis, Lt. Joseph 79 Lewis, Benjamin F. Jr. 189 Lewis, Benjamin F. 249 Main, Daniel 59 Main, John 60 Main, Lois 59 Main Family 148 Mansy, Benjamin 179 Mansy, Charlotte 179 Mason, Capt. John 251 Maynard, Bertha 57 Maynard, Lydia 57 Maynard, William 18 McCord, Robert 181 McCord, Rachel P. 181 Middleton, Mrs. Jose phine 163 Miner, Thomas 79 Minot, Miss M. loi MftcheU, Colby C. 177 Montgomery, Maj. 68, 74 Morgan, Henrietta 164 Morgan, Parthenia 195 Morgan, Capt. John 19, 264 Morgan, Capt. Israel 187 Morgan, WiUiam 19, 187, 222, 257 Morgan, Capt. Simeon 79 Morgan Family, 149 Moxley, Joseph Myers, Dea. John 331 Page. 79 60 Newell, Elder F. C. 56 Newton, Christopher 245 Newton, Elijah 55 Newton, John J. 55 Norton, Mary 37 Norman, Hannah 42 Norman, Moses 44 Norman, Sarah 45 Noirman, Stephen H. 223 Norman, Charity 55 Noirman, Hibbard R. 224 Norman, Thomias 223 Norwich & Worcester R. R. The 265 Noyes, William. 79 O'Brien, George H. 31, 246 Ostrander, Elder Daniel 54 Otis, James , 102 Packer, John 79 Paine, Elisha 50 Palmer, Harriet 164 Palmer, Lucy 57 Park, Abigail 173 Park, Robert 18 Park, H. K. 104 Park, Martha 162 Park, Capt. John 173 Pease, L. E. 245 Peckham, Elder Stephen H. 58, 59 Peckham, Stephen H. Jr. 60 332 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Page. Peckham, Benjamin 59 Peckham, Esther 59 Penn, WiUiam 253 Pequot Indians, The 251 Perkins, Geo. L. 2^6 Perkins, John E. 56 Perkins, D. C. 57 Perkins, Sarah 57 Perkins, Laura A. 57 Perkins, Elisha 79 Perkins, Luke 79 Perkins, Luke Jr. 79 Perkins, Asa 79 Perkins, Elnathan 79 Perkins, Simeon 79 Pierce, Mrs. Thankful 53 Prentice, John 74 Prentice, Mrs. Esther 173 Prosser, Dea. Thomas 59, 60 Prosser, Anna 59 Punderson, Rev. Ebenezer 31, 46 Quincy, Josiah 66 Representatives in Leg islature 20, 21, 22 Revere, Paul 102 Roach, Sidney A. 45 Roach, Thomas 79 Roach FamUy, 152 Robbins, Elder Frank S. 60 Roberts, Elder George 54 Roberts, Richard A. 188 Rockwell, Charles 265 Rogers, Mrs, Frances 57 Page. Rogers, .John 61, 62, 63 Rose, Joanna 172 Rose, Thomas 172 Russell, Charles A. 247 Saltonstall, Rev. Gurdon 63 Saltonstall, Gurdon 172 Satterlee, C. A. 57, 249 Satterlee, Alice 57 Satterlee, Elmer 57 Satterlee, Susan 57 School Teachers, List of 273 Seabury, Dea. John 19 Seabury, Samuel 19 Seabury, Samuel Jr. 31, 224 Seabury, John 31 Seabury, Rev. Samuel 31,224 Seabury, David 79 Selden, Rev. J. Henry 185 Selden, Henry BUl 185 Separatists' Memorial, 269 Separatists' Petition, 271 Shapley, Capt. 68 Sholes, Capt. Nathaniel 79 Smith, Rev. David 35 Smith, Thomas 79 Smith, Leonard 37, 244 Smfth, M. G. 60 Smith, Julia Sophia 179 Smith, Nehemiah 197, 264 Smith, RosweU 179 Smith FamUy, 153 Spicer, Peter 18 Spicer, Capt. Edmund 83, 243, 245 Spicer, John S. 245, 249 INDEX. 333 Page. Sprague, Ella " 185 Stanton, Capt. Amos 79 Stanton, Edward 71 Stanton, Anna 164 Stanton, Harriet 59 Stanton, Lydia 54 Stanton Family, 155 Starkweather, H. H. 246 Starr, Vine A. 60 Stedman, Sergt. John 79 Stedman, John W. 246 Sterry, Sally 44 Stewart, Alexander 164 Stiles, Rev. W. C. 247 Stoddard, Stephen M. 164 Stoddard, Jonathan 54 Stoddard, Ralph S. 18, 56 Stoddard, Sanford B. 244 Stoddard, Daniel 79 Stoddard, Robert 79 Stoddard, Ralph 79 Stoddard, Vine 79 Stoddard, Ebenezer 159, 160 Stoddard, Stephen M. 164 Stoddard, Jane F. 191 Stoddard Family, 158 Stoneman, Elder Jesse 54 Stratton, Elizabeth 162 Street, Nicholas 264 Strong, Rev. Edward 179 Swain, Elder R. 54 Swan, Lucy 188 Taylor, Elder Wm. A. 57 Thomas, Seabury 207 Thompson, Edward A. 181 Page. Thompson, John C. 181 Thompson, Henry S. 181 Thurston, Edwin L. 188 Tillinghast, Lorenzo W. 60 Tourjee, Eben 179 Tracy, David 104 TrumbuU, Mary 162 Tubbs, Elmer 57 Turkington, Elder Wm. 56, 57 Turner, Ezekiel 18 Tuttle, Anna Maria 25, 37 Tuttle, Harriet Newell 37 Tuttle, Joseph 36 Tuttle, Rev. Timothy 24, 30 35, 43, 52, 175, 180, 192 \''anderpool. Dr. S. O. 182 Volunteers in Civil War, 84, 85, 86, 87 Vrooman, Adelbert 182 Waft, Col. John T. 83, 162 Walworth, Reuben H. 214 Warren, Gen. Joseph 162 Washington, Gen. George 78 Webster, Noah 195 Wedger, Joseph 79 Wefton, Rev. H. A. 48 Wheeler, Hon. Richard A. 96, 246, 247, 255 Wheeler, Richard 173 Wheeler, Prudence 173 Whipple, Chrissie 247 Whipple, Jonathan 176 334 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. Page. Wilcox, Robert 59 Williams, Henry Warren 237, 238 Williams, Daniel 75 Williams, Elias Hewitt 238, 239 Wilhams, WiUiam 18, 19, 44' Williams, Cecelia H. 161 Williams, Warren 43 Williams, Youngs 162 WiUiams, William H. 240 Williams, Orrin M. 240 Williams, Rev. E. M. 247 WUliams, Lt. Henry 79 Williams, Eleazer 162, 163 Williams, Zebaniah 79 Williams, Denison B. 161, 162, 188 Page. Williams, Mary Ann 171 Williams, Eunice A. 161 WiUiams, Park A. 161 Williams, B. Frank 161 WUliams, Mary Esther 188 WUliams, Asenath 208 Williams FamUy, 160 Winthrop, Gov. John Jr. 17, 18, 103 Witter, Julia Ann 242 Wood, John 241 Wood, Col. Samuel W. 44, 241, 242 Woodbridge, Wm. H. 44 Woodmancy, Caroline 59 Worcester, Elder J. M. 56 Yerrington, Lucy 107 3 9002 01486 1( YALE .'ir.'..&'SJcS SfV — ^-^imlW mij* f ¦<*¦¦*>¦•¦ nm ¦¦¦*¦ ¦¦^Hfc • ¦^^ ¦-¦¦ — — fc>gJI<*^prflFl*'».v* '^.^isiaa: •jagiiaaaas ¦ ¦ J » »• ^¦^»!**iS25"