YALE UNIVERSITY ART AND ARCHITECTURE LIBRARY AN EARLY Connecticut Engraver AND HIS WORK By ALBERT C. BATES Librarian Connecticut Historical Society ILLUSTRATED HARTFORD i 906 (M 'N--x Viv as- ril -*J m . PS pef% % 1% % Il-.OTt3rH'i,0W: .SC-ULT *SfP '«¦: ¦•'.¦U_.,JJ& detail from the nickelson plate. AN EARLY Connecticut Engraver AND HIS WORK By ALBERT C. BATES Librarian Connecticut Historical Society ILLUSTRATED HARTFORD 1906 Copyright, 1906, By ALBERT C. BATES The Case, Lackwood &• Brainard Company, Hartford, Conn. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Angus Nickelson's (detail) John Allen Elijah Backus Abijah Brooks Israel Butler Harry Case Sam1 Cooley ForwardFrederick Frye L. Gay and L. G. Timothy Hall Maj1, Reuben Humphreys Lydia Griswold Phelps Humphreys Laura G. Humphreys and Nancy Humphreys Solomon Ingraham Jonathan Knight's "Larrabee Watch" " Larrabee Watch " Cap* Gideon Leavenworth "Masonic Plate" Sam1 Mather Nabby C. Moore Newgate (reduced) Newgate (detail) Angus Nickelson's (reduced) Josiah Olcott Peter Osgood Oliver Pease Register (reduced) Gad Rose Jacob Sargeant John Sargeant Rev4 Philo Shelton Peter Sherman John Tyler D. Waldo's George Washington (reduced) Noah Wells W. Wheeler "Amos White" John Williams Erastus Worthington W The work of the engraver on metal is always a fas cinating study, and the interest is not lessened if the study and comparison be confined to the limited area of one state and to the limited period of the latter part of the eighteenth century. In Connecticut there were perhaps but three engravers on metal working before the close of the revolutionary war, although there were a number of others before the end of the century. The earliest Connecticut engraver was Amos Doo- little. He was born May 8, 1754, and died Jan. 31, 1832, in New Haven, where almost his whole life had been passed. When young he was placed with a jeweler and learned the trade of a silversmith. As an engraver he was entirely self taught. His earliest and perhaps his most interesting engravings are a series of four views de picting the engagement at Lexington and Concord, Mass., on April 19, 1775. Amos was at that time a member of the recently organized Second Company of Governor's Foot Guard and marched with his company on receiving news of the engagement, and during his twenty-eight days' service around Boston had opportunity to visit Lexington and vicinity. It is said that Ralph Earle, later a portrait painter, was with him and made drawings! on which his engravings were based. The series was advertised Dec. 13, 1775, as " this day published," and the price stated as " six shillings per set for the plain ones or eight shillings colored." Each engraving measures a little more than 14 by 18 inches. Their titles are (1) The Battle of Lex- [5] ington, April 19th, 1775, (2) A View of the Town of Concord, (3) The Engagement at the North Bridge in Concord, (4) A View of the South Part of Lexington. Perhaps his largest engraving, aside from maps, was A Display of the United States of America, the central figure of which is a portrait of Washington. It measures upwards of 20 by 16 inches, was first issued probably in 1788, and later four times reissued with considerable changes. He engraved maps of Connecticut and of Ver mont, one of the latter state measuring 45 by 30 inches. Portraits by him of Washington, Jonathan Trumbull and John Adams are found in The Connecticut Magazine pub lished in 1 80 1. Five book-plates signed by him are known, all Connecticut plates, and several others unsigned, also of Connecticut, are attributed to him. In addition to the few examples mentioned he engraved many por traits, figures, views, descriptive plates and title pages. His work was well executed and he certainly deserves his fame as the first Connecticut engraver. The second Connecticut engraver was Joel Allen, who was born in Farmington, now Southington, Conn., in 1755, the son of Daniel Allen, a store and tavern keeper of that town. Joel assisted his father in the store and kept the books, which he wrote in a beautiful " copper plate " hand. Later he seems to have lived in Middletown, where he owned property, as much of his engraving was done there. He was very versatile and did many things of interest be sides engraving, such as regulating and repairing clocks and watches, making " tooth instruments," repairing the pipe organ for Christ Church Society in Middletown and " making a reed for a hautboy." The earliest dated work of his that has been noted by the writer is the elaborately engraved title of " Select Harmony " by Andrew Law which is signed " Farmington 1779. J. Allen Sculpsit." [6] ¦««>g==a| — =1 "m— ^=-r ~"BB y,"^ . rMtte y>- YL^v&J&Mt W He also engraved other music books. His most ambitious work was a map of Connecticut bearing the following title and imprint, " A New and Correct Map of the State of Connecticut one of the United States of North Amer ica from actual survey — Humbly Dedicated by permis sion, to His Excellency Samuel Huntington Esquire Gov ernor and Commander in Chief of said state. Joel Allen Scrip*, et Sculp*. Printed in Middletown for the Publisher March 1792." It measures 28 by 36 inches. An other map of Connecticut engraved by him of the same size and probably printed from the same plate has a slightly different title, being dedicated to the governor by William Blodget and undated. He printed 301 impres sions of the map of Connecticut for William Blodget in March to July, 1792. Whether this number included im pressions of one or both varieties of the map it is impos sible to say, but probably it was only of the dated variety. He also engraved book-plates ; one for Joseph Perry, one for Maj. George Phillips, both armorial, and others are said to be known to collectors. Akin to these was the " advertisement to put on snuff bottles " which he en graved for Nathaniel Shaler. In 1790 he charges " Boardman " for " 2 Miniatures £3 — 12," from which it would seem that he tried his hand at portrait work. His engraving was done with bold free strokes. He was of an artistic temperament, idealistic and sensitive, traits which he transmitted to his descendants. During the Revolution he served as a fifer in the company of Noah- diah Hooker of Farmington. His death occurred in 1825. And now of the third Connecticut engraver, around whom our interest more particularly centers at this time. Toward the close of the eighteenth century there re sided in the town of Suffield, Conn., a short distance west [7] from the village of West Suffield, the family of Gad Rose. With this family there lived soon after 1790 one Richard Brunton. He is remembered under the familiar cog nomen of " old Brunton." It is probable that the osten sible business of this lodger and boarder in the Rose family Was that of an engraver on metal, and we know that he en graved a book-plate for Mr. Rose during his sojourn of a year or more in the family. His real business was without doubt that of a counterfeiter of paper money printed from plates cut by himself. It is related that officers once searched his room at Mr. Rose's house in search of counterfeit bills or plates for their manufacture, but with out success. It is also said that Mr. Brunton remarked after the search that the officers came too soon, as he had completed only the plate for cine side of some bills. In spite of this bravado, it is possible that his departure from Mr. Rose's was a sudden one aided by the strong arm of the law; else why should he leave numerous of his en graved plates at Mr. Rose's house ? That he was confined in Newgate, Connecticut's state prison, but a few miles from West Suffield, for the two years from 1799 to 1801 we now have positive proof. His largest known engraving is a view of the prison yard and buildings, and his best known portrait work is an engraving of Maj. Reuben Humphreys, keeper of the prison about 1796-1801. The engraved plate of this portrait was about twenty years since in possession of a granddaughter of Maj. Hum phreys. She stated that it was " engraved by one Mr. Stiles, a convict in the Newgate prison." The engraver's initials, R. B., which appear on a lower corner of the plate plainly show that it was not the work of " one Mr. Stiles," but the statement that it was done by a convict is doubtless correct. There is also a tradition that the view of New gate was engraved by a prisoner. [8] v^^ar^j^S ^imwriuhead, t/ieXfatE of CAfeli V^W-r^W-e^A'. if J The records of the Superior Court in Windham County, Conn., for the March term of 1799, contain the following judgment : " State vs. Richard Brunton, a Transient Person. Timothy Larrabee, Esq., Attorney to the State of Con necticut in & for the County of Windham, complaint makes and information gives that one Richard Brunton, a tran sient person, now in the custody of the Sheriff of Wind ham County, did, on or about the first day of February last past, in Woodstock in the County of Windham, wit tingly & feloniously with force and arms, make sundry in struments called Types & dies for the purpose of counter feiting the True Silver Coin which are passing within this State, & was then and there assisting therein — which do ings of the sd Richard Brunton were & are against the pub- lick peace & contrary to the Statute Laws of sd State in such case made & provided as p. information on file dated March 20, 1799. Now the said Richard Brunton being arraigned for tryal before the bar of this Court, and on such his arraignment being asked whether he was guilty of the Crime in sd information charged against him, or not Guilty, he answered & plead that he is not guilty of said Crime, and for trial put himself on the Court. " Now the said Richard Brunton was fully heard with his evidences and his counsel thereon, together with the evidences and counsel for the State. And this Court hav ing duly considered thereof, are of opinion and do find that the said Richard Brunton, the prisoner at the bar, is guilty of the Crime in sd information charged against him. "Whereupon it is considered by this Court and this Court do sentence & against him the sd Richard Brunton give judgement that he shall suffer imprisonment in New gate Prison or workhouse in the Town of Granby in the County of Hartford, there to be kept to hard labor for the full term of Two years and pay Cost of this prosecu- [9] tion, Taxed at $48.72 & to stand committed until sd sen tence & judgment be fulfilled — and that Execution go forth accordingly." The Superior Court was at this time a circuit court, four judges constituting a quorum, and a court of original jurisdiction for cases of this character. It convened in Windham on March 5, and on the second week following, March 18 to 23, this trial occurred, as is shown by the fol lowing item in the Windham Herald of March 28 : " Last week before the hon. superior court then sitting in this town, Joel White, of Woodstock, was convicted of counterfeiting Spanish milled dollars, and Richard Brun ton of making tools for counterfeiting, and both were sen tenced to two years imprisonment in Newgate." Possibly Brunton and White were partners in crime, but they were tried and convicted separately, as the court records show. The record of prisoners confined in New gate states that Brunton was sentenced March 28, doubt less meaning that he began his term of imprisonment on that day, as we know that he was convicted and sentenced before that date. The term of the penalty may seem today to be a short one for the crime of which Brunton was convicted, yet an examination of the records will show that it was fully up to the average sentence at that period for that crime. Counterfeiting, apparently, was not frowned upon as sternly then as it is today. The Newgate prison buildings were built around the shaft of an abandoned copper mine. In this mine, thirty feet or more below the surface, surrounded by ever drip ping walls of rock, huts and bunks had been built and pro vided with straw and blankets. In this place, always wear ing their shackles, most of the prisoners were confined each night. In the morning they climbed the ladder to the sur- [10] TlMO THY M. C 0 OLE Y face and were placed for the day in the workshops. Here, in addition to the shackles, many of the prisoners were chained to their anvils or to rings in the walls or ceiling of the shop. The principal industry in the prison at this time was the making of nails. Each one had to be separately hammered out on the anvil by hand labor. Each prisoner was obliged to make a certain number per day, the number varying with the size of the nails. Newgate bore the repu tation of being a place that was dreaded by even the most hardened criminal. Much of the information regarding Richard Brunton was gleaned by the writer in 1903 from the lips of James B. Rose of West Suffield, then eighty-seven years of age, grandson of the Gad Rose already mentioned. Gad Rose died in 1837 when this grandson was twenty-one years of age ; so that his information was received direct from one with whom Brunton had lived. In this family the story of " old Brunton " has been handed down. Mr. Rose re members that in his younger days there were about fifteen of Brunton's engraved metal plates lying about the house and outbuildings at his and his grandfather's home. The largest that he recalls was about one foot square and bore a cut of the arms of Great Britain. It is perhaps from this fact that the belief has grown up in his mind that Brunton was an Englishman. But, alas, these fifteen plates have gone the way of all the world, — perhaps by the tin peddler's route, in exchange for shiny tin pans. But one has escaped, the " Rose" book-plate, and this has recently passed out of the possession of the family. Mr. D. McN. Stauffer of New York and Mr. Clarence S. Brigham of Providence, R. I., have each called the writer's attention to the "American Journal and Daily Advertiser," printed in Providence, where in January, 1781, Richard Brunton advertises as an "Engraver and [»] dye-sinker." This is the earliest mention of him that has been found. Brunton appears to have had five centers of work, doubtless indicative of as many residences. Their prob able order of time is, first, Providence, R. I., then coming into Connecticut, second, Norwich, third, the southwest part of the state, Stratford and vicinity, fourth, the north ern central part of the state, Suffield, Hartford, and vicinity, fifth, the town of Andover, Mass., where he may have gone after his release from Newgate in 1801. The name Brunton is not uncommon in England, but is rarely found in the United States. There are families of the name in Boston and Springfield, Mass., Springfield, Ohio, and Denver, Col., but from none of these can any in formation of the engraver be had, and most of them are of recent English origin. His name appears on but two examples of his work, the Nickelson family record-plate, which is signed " R. Brunton Sculp.," and the portrait of Washington which is signed " Brunton Sculp* " ; his initials, " R. B.," appear on the Major Reuben Humphreys plate; and the "Rose" book-plate we know on the authority of James B. Rose was engraved by him. These three examples bear such strongly defined characteristics that other engravings can by com parison with them be identified as Brunton's work with hardly a shadow of doubt. The strongest marked characteristic in his engraving is the crossed or "hatched" lines which are found on nearly all of the examples to be described. The spaces formed by the crossing lines are usually of an upright lozenge form, with in a number of instances a dot in the center of each lozenge, and often with a background of closely drawn horizontal lines. The one occurring next in frequency is the scroll or " shell " work which appears on [12] FORWARD. J \ROBJJ MAT Lo,lj -I * a majority of his engravings and is oftenest found in the book-plates at the sides of the shield, forming a part of the mantling. The style of his lettering, particularly upon the motto ribbon of the book-plates, is almost always the same, a small square open letter; and it is noticeable that on about one-third of the book-plates the owner's name is engraved on the motto ribbon. The birds which appear on some fifteen of the engravings have, with one or two exceptions, a strikingly similar appearance. Seven plates bear a lion rampant, each very like its fellows. The horses, dogs, unicorn, and catamounts all have peculiar round, barrel shaped bodies. The twigs or vines with their leaves and small flowers found on a number of the engravings are all of the same shape and appearance. Other noticeable points of interest for comparison are the shapes of the various shields, the helmet above the shields, the open book, the unicorn and mortar, the towers, the mailed arm displayed as a crest, the shells, the convention alized fleur de lys. A careful noting of these points and study of the accompanying reproductions cannot fail to convince one that they are all the work of the same artist. The heraldry displayed on the coats of arms is original and novel in design and would scarcely prove acceptable to that dignified and precise English body known as the Her ald's College. The engraver of them was evidently en tirely unfamiliar with the marshaling of arms, and as drawn by him they would be impossible of blazonry. Probably he did not understand the significance of the bend sinister which he uses in one plate. In only two instances are the arms as engraved by him to be found in Burke's Encyclopedia of Heraldry; and it is not certain that any of the arms were previously used by the persons or families to whom he has assigned them. As nearly all of the engravings are reproduced by photographic half tone process it has not seemed neces- M sary to give a close description of each in the individual reference to that engraving. A considerable proportion of the metal plates en graved by Brunton for printing still exist ; and it is notice able that such of these as the writer has seen or secured de scriptions of, as well as the Nickelson plate, are all en graved upon brass. Rolled sheet metal was doubtless not easy to be obtained at that period and probably the brass that he used was such as was used at the time in making clock faces ; perhaps the new metal before it had been used, or possibly the old faces from disused clocks. The ap parent intimacy between Brunton and Jacob Sargeant may thus be accounted for, Brunton needing the metal he could obtain from the clockmaker, and Sargeant needing the engraver's work on his spoons and watches. The owner of the John Allen book-plate was born in Great Barrington, Mass., in 1763. He removed to Litchfield, Conn., where he read law with Judge Tapping Reeve, and where he began its practice about 1785. He represented his town in the General Assembly from 1793 to 1796, was Representative in Congress from 1797 to 1799, and for the next six years was an Assistant in the Connecticut Legislature and so a member of the state's Supreme Court. He died in Litchfield in 18 12. It is said that he was about six feet six inches tall and weighed nearly three hundred pounds. His only sister married Elizur Goodrich of New Haven, who was also a Repre sentative in Congress from Connecticut. In the library of the Connecticut Historical Society is a volume contain ing this plate and containing also the autographs of John Allen and of his brother-in-law " E. Goodrich." The book is Thomas Lloyd's Congressional Register, volume 3, printed at New York in 1790. In a work on book-plates printed a few years since it is stated that " this is believed to be the plate used by John M & ^js^^^^j^ Allen an early bookseller of Boston " ; and a well known collector and authority on book-plates has recently stated with much positiveness that this plate belonged to a brother of Gen. Ethan Allen. The volume above de scribed would seem to show that both of these identifica tions are incorrect. The Elijah Backus who is believed to have been the owner of the book-plate of that name was born in Nor wich, Conn., May 2, 1759, the son of Capt. Elijah and Lucy (Griswold) Backus. He was graduated from Yale College in 1777 and settled in New London, where he was Naval Officer of the port from 1785 to 1789. His diary for 1777 while at College is printed in the Connecti cut Quarterly for October, 1895. Near the end of the century he removed to what was then " the west " and be came the owner and probably the occupant of an island in the Ohio river. In 1798 he sold a part of the island to Harman Blennerhassett whose name it has since retained, and through whom and his connection with Aaron Burr it soon became famous. Backus was admitted to the bar in Connecticut in 1800 and removed the same year to Mari etta, Ohio, where he engaged in practice, was Receiver of Public Moneys of the United States and established and edited a newspaper. In 1803 he was a member of the State Senate. He removed in 1808 to Kaskaskia, 111., where he was Land-Commissioner and where he died in 181 1. He was twice married, first to Lucretia (Hub bard) Tracy and second to Hannah Richards, both of New London, and was the father of three children. The "copper" (or brass) of this plate appears to have been in existence as late as 1889, as a reprint of the plate appears in the Genealogical Memoir of the Backus Family published that year by William W. Backus of Nor wich. After Mr. Backus' death a few years later his [15] effects were sold at auction and the writer has been unable to discover the plate. It may not have belonged to Mr. Backus at the time of its use by him. An original impres sion of this plate marked No. 14 is in the collection of Mr. William E. Baillie. A few years since a dealer purchased from a grand daughter, then nearly ninety years of age, several original impressions of the Abijah Brooks book-plate. She stated that the plate was made for her grandfather when he was a young man, perhaps around 1780; that the metal plate was used as a plaything by the children and was battered and lost many years ago, probably before its owner's death. The only impression seen is in the collec tion of Mr. William E. Baillie of Bridgeport, who secured it from the dealer. The owner of the plate was a resident of Stratford, Conn., where he was born April 29, 1752, the son of John and Ann (Sherwood) Brooks. He married December 19, 1778, Sarah Salina Wetmore, who was the mother of his four children, and who died in 18 13. Six years later he married Elizabeth Sherman, who died in 1826. He died April 4, 1829. The only example known of the plate of Israel But ler is one in a copy of the Acts and Laws of the State of Connecticut printed in 1784 and purchased by the writer a few years since from a dealer in second hand books in Middletown, Conn., who probably secured it from the library of Jonathan Barnes of that city. An autograph written across the lower part of the plate shows a former owner to have been Elijah Hubbard. This without ques tion is the Yale graduate of that name of 1795 who set tled in Middletown as a lawyer in 1808. " Sam1 D. Hub bard's " autograph appears on the title page. He was a son of Elijah. [16] lWHAW*Jir Boork.. He may have studied at Harvard, but the statement printed some years ago that he was graduated there is cer tainly an error. " Cooley's Pills " which were celebrated for many years were originated by him, and were later successfully prepared by his son, Dr. A. A. Cooley. He was a surgeon in the United States Army during the early part of the War of 1 8 1 2. Tradition says that the reason Dr. Cooley gave why he did not have as much business as Dr. Warner had was that Dr. Warner had the best " How do you do." He had five sons and one daughter, among whom were two physicians. Dr. William Cooley studied with his father and practiced in Manchester principally. Dr. Abial Abbot Cooley also studied medicine with his father in Bolton, but never practiced. He removed to Hartford where for about forty years he kept a drug store and where he died in 1858 at the age of seventy-six. Colonel Samuel Abbot Cooley, son of Dr. A. A., was for many years a resi dent of Hartford. In 1896 he presented to the Connecti cut Historical Society a volume in which was pasted a label bearing wood cut representations of the Charter Oak tree and of the book-plate of " Sam1 Cooley." The volume had been presented to Colonel Cooley by I. W. Stuart, who owned the property where the Charter Oak stood in 1856, the year of the tree's fall, which may account for the use of the cut of the tree with the plate. In 1902, which was not long after the death of Col. Cooley, a Hartford book- dealer is said to have offered for sale an old impression of this book-plate printed from a metal plate. The wood cut representation of the plate is probably a comparatively re cent engraving after the earlier metal. The Forward plate may be called a family plate, as it bears only the surname and so cannot be positively identi fied as belonging to any particular person. It is believed M by the present members of the family to have been en graved for Justus Forward, "esquire Justus" as he was called, a resident of Belchertown, Mass., where he was born Feb. 23, 1774. But it seems to the writer more probable that the plate was engraved for his father, Rev. Justus Forward, the second pastor of the Congregational church in Belchertown, where he ministered from 1755 until his death, March 8, 1814. Justus was born May n, 1730,* in Suffield, Conn., the eldest child of Joseph and Mary Forward. His parents removed soon after to that part of Simsbury, which is now East Granby, Conn., where his father was a tanner, saddler, and farmer. He entered Yale College and was graduated in 1754, then taught school and studied theology in Hatfield, Mass., and was licensed to preach in 1755. Belchertown was his only pas torate. His preaching is described as clear and simple, his theology as of the strict orthodox New England type. During the Revolution he was a thorough patriot. His wife, Violet Dickinson, survived him for twenty years, dying at the age of ninety-six. Of his eleven children, only Justus and a daughter survived him. He published one sermon, which was printed at Hartford in 177 1, and other sermons by him are found in a volume of sermons printed in Northampton, Mass., in 1799. A journal kept fay him in 1767 is in the library of Harvard College, and one for 1808 is preserved by his descendants. Parson Forward's old home in Simsbury was almost midway between Mr. Rose's house and Newgate prison, less than three miles from either, and what more likely than that he should have had this plate engraved some time when visiting his boyhood home. The brass plate has descended in the family and is now in the possession of the parson's great-great-grandson, Francis Forward of * Family record says born in Suffield, Conn., May 4, 1732. [20] LARRABEE WATCH. LARRABEE WATCH. Belchertown, Mass. Four impressions from the plate have come to the writer's notice. All are printed on a very smooth surfaced paper; two on paper of a light yellow color, one on a dark green, and one on a dull brick-red. Three of the four are loose and have never been in a book. One is in a Bible that has descended in the family to John F. Forward, Esq., of Hartford, and may have belonged to the parson, as it was printed in 1766. The volume is not in its original binding but was rebound many years ago. The other three with the original brass are wrapped in a paper bearing the business card of a firm of Boston en gravers and plate printers. This paper is probably about eighty years old. From the fact of the brass and the three impressions being wrapped together in this paper, it may be presumed that the younger Justus soon after 1820 sent the plate to Boston and had some impressions struck off on the colored papers. A few impressions were printed on white paper in 1905 for the owner of the brass. It is believed by the family that the design of the arms appearing on the plate was taken from an old seal in the family's possession. The book-plate of Frederick Frye, Andover, is that of a Massachusetts man who comes of fighting stock. The records of the family, who have been residents of An dover since 1645, show numerous soldiers and military officers. This Frederick, born June 9, 1760, was the son of Col. James Frye, a hero of Bunker Hill, and his wife, Elizabeth (Osgood) , who may have been a relative of the Peter Osgood who will be mentioned later. Frederick served in the Massachusetts troops during the Revolution, engaging himself Jan. 24, 178 1, for three years. The original metal of this plate still exists, and in 1896 six impressions were taken from it. This reproduction is from one of the six now in the collection of Mr. William E. Baillie. [2 1] The two metal ornaments marked respectively L. Gay and L. G. are supposed to- have both belonged to Lucina Gay, the date of whose birth is correctly given on the larger one. It is, however, quite possible that the smaller, marked L. G., may have belonged to her younger sister Lydia, born Sept. 4, 1790. Both are now the property of Miss Lilian Gay, the granddaughter of Apollos Gay. Lucina, Apollos, and Lydia were children of Richard and Lucina (Granger) Gay of Granby, now East Granby, Conn. His home was scarcely three miles by direct road from the home of Gad Rose, where Brunton resided in West Suffield, and as the crow flies but little more than a mile from Newgate prison. Lucina married first Rev. John Younglove of Suffield, who died in 1827. She mar ried second Orra Bush of East Nassau, N. Y. She died Sept. 20, 1850. Lydia married Roswell H. Phelps of Granby, now East Granby. She died October 27, 1826. The two ornaments are engraved on silver, probably silver coins rubbed smooth and shaped for the purpose. The hatched lines and shell work, so distinctive of Brunton's work, are wanting in these two ornaments; but scarcely less distinctive are the forms of the letters, the birds and the flowers and sprigs which they bear. The plate of Timothy Hall belonged to the physi cian of that name living in East Hartford, Conn. He was born probably in Hartford, now East Hart ford, June 4, 1758, the son of Timothy and Alice (Smith) Hall. He served as a Surgeon in the army during the Revolution, and witnessed the execution of Major Andre. After the war he was Surgeon of the nineteenth regiment of militia. He settled in the parish of Hockanum and there resided until his death Aug. 6, 1844, " beloved and esteemed by all who knew him." At the beginning of his practice he had no horse and visited his patients on foot; [22] w SIT T.UX ET X/CX TUFT later he owned a chaise. Soon after the town of East Hartford was set off from Hartford in 1783, Dr. Hall and Dr. Samuel Flagg petitioned to be allowed " to set up inoculation for the small-pox," but were refused. But in 179 1 they were given liberty " to set up and carry on inocu lation for the small-pox in this town during the term of time the civil authority and selectmen shall judge it consis tent with the welfare of the inhabitants of the town : the petitioners allowing the town the benefit of the said hos pital, gratis, for the poor of the town that may have taken the small-pox the natural way." He was prominent in the proceedings of the Connecticut Medical Society, was its treasurer and vice-president and received its honorary degree of M.D. in 1812. His first wife was Eunice, daughter of Nathaniel Hills, after whose death in 1797 he married Mary, daughter of Dea. John Goodwin. Of his four children, Samuel the eldest, born in 1785, fol lowed the profession of his father in his native town. The accompanying reproduction of Timothy Hall's book-plate is from an original in the collection of Dr. Henry C. Eno of New York city. Reuben Humphreys, the son of Oliver, was born in West Simsbury, now Canton, Conn., Sept. 2, 1757. He served as a private in the war of the Revolution and was in the battle of Long Island. Later he was successively Captain, Major, and Brigade Major and Inspector of the First Division in the State Militia. As he was about to emigrate to New York state he was appointed Superintend ent of Newgate Prison in Simsbury, now East Granby, a position he held for five years about 1796-1801. During this period in 1 800, his portrait and that of his wife " were painted by a convict in the old Simsbury prison" and are still extant. After finishing his term as Superintendent of the prison he removed to Onondaga county, N. Y. In M 1804 he was appointed the first judge of the county and held the position until his election as Representative in Congress in 1807. After serving one term he declined a re-election. Later he was a member of the Senate of the State of New York from 1 8 1 1 to 1 8 1 5. He died at Mar- cellus, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1832. Almost his whole life had been spent in public service and in positions of trust and influence. The Humphreys Family genealogy, from which the above is taken, reprints from the original copper the plate bearing Maj. Humphreys' portrait and arms which col lectors assume to have been used by him as a book-plate. The then (1884) ownership of this copper is not clearly disclosed, but apparently it was, like his portrait, in the possession of Mrs. Peter L. Perine of Omaha, Neb., whose mother was a Humphreys of Marcellus, N. Y. The following note appears concerning the plate: " We give the original copper plate engraving sur mounted by the picture of the Judge. It is the more re markable from having been engraved by one Mr. Stiles who was a convict in the Newgate prison. It is engraved upon copper taken from the pit over which the prison Was built, and is probably one of the earliest efforts of the kind in this country." The note also apparently intends to say, although it does not actually make the statement, that the plate was engraved in 1800. In spite of the statement that it was engraved by " one Mr. Stiles " it bears Brunton's initials, R. B., in a lower corner — sufficient proof that he was its engraver. No original impression from this plate is known to exist. A most interesting series of three silver ornaments engraved for one family are those bearing the names of Mrs. Jonathan Humphreys and her daughters Laura and Nancy. The one belonging to Mrs. Humphreys, nee Miss I fJA M? ~h 1 ATH E R -0-*$ ¦ ¦ !fW«a kern apriVs;* i7M/// //T /v/.av/j i/Ala S////x ^Aiu,->/Ji''y i ScoTT}j&n.a/uy-//i/n//r ISlonui -J*"! AitKRICA. Aug'sB." 1762 A kl/u/d/u. I'tpr ]'llll,AI)l''.l.l'lj|,\0(.'l' l.l'7/V /tllllC \k l/uir nuh/iJ ii/ f/ic.O//// ^/Nr.^Yor.k-, j,;.v1 //W //few; tmr-miint M§> ei/inc in Nov.h]7bS /o NkwMii.r«o Lacmw;i.iht'ov\ZiXUlv:-nCo. ,'-; / Shelton '"™~^%i3iBjJJ# and a" counterfeiter. Gad Rose for whom the plate was engraved was a farmer. He was born in 1756 and died Sept. 24, 1837, when his grandson, James B., was twenty- one years old. Gad's wife was Annora Hale. They had ten children. The plate of Jacob Sargeant is not only a good ex ample of Brunton's work with the graver; but it is typical of his style of workmanship, having most of the peculiari ties that serve to identify his work. Its owner was born in Mansfield, Conn., Feb. 28, 1761, the son of Samuel and Hannah (Baldwin) Sargeant. On Jan. 30, 1785, he married Olive Paine. Nine children were born to them. Sargeant's business life was passed in Hartford, where he kept what would perhaps today be called a jewelry store on State street. He was called a " clockmaker," by which was probably meant that he manufactured the cases, " set up " the works in them and then sold the tall clocks. One of these clocks, probably purchased from him in January, 18 14, with his name painted across its face, stands in the library of the Connecticut Historical Society. He also sold Watches and bead bags, and probably repaired both clocks and watches. His newspaper advertisement states that he had for sale silver and plated tea spoons, plated and brass candlesticks, plated castors, military goods, swords, epau lets, hat tassels, cords, stars, and fowling pieces. At the time of his death, April 11, 1843, he was one of the few who still wore the knee breeches in the style of former days. His home was on Main street where the Cheney building now stands. The only contemporary print of this plate that is known to exist is one in a copy of " The New Complete Letter Writer," printed at Worcester, Mass., in 1791, owned by Mrs. Julia (Pierson) Allen of Hartford, a daughter of William S. and Nancy (Sargeant) Pierson and" granddaughter of Jacob Sargeant. 137} The engraved " brass " of this plate is now owned by Mr. Charles Dexter Allen of Brooklyn, N. Y., author of "American Book-Plates," and a great-great-grandson of Jacob Sargeant. It has come down in the several genera tions of the family, but not by direct descent to Mr. Allen. Modern prints from this plate are in the hands of collec tors, and occasionally copies appear in sales which are printed on old paper and have the stained and time-worn appearance of old plates. Do not be deceived and accept them as original. Some fifteen or twenty years ago this " brass " was al tered from its original condition by having engraved on it below the name the date 1789 and at the lower right hand corner "J. S. sculp," it being then believed that the plate was engraved by Sargeant himself, and the upper right hand side of the design was made to correspond with the opposite side by the insertion of a dot in the center of the lozenge shaped openings formed by the crossing of the hatched lines. A few copies struck from the plate after these additions had been made are in the hands of col lectors. Mr. Allen has had the added letters and date removed from the " brass," but the inserted dots cannot of course be removed. John Sargeant, a younger brother of Jacob, born Oct. 5, 1770, married in 1799 Fanny Newberry of Wind sor, resided in that town and died there Jan. 23, 1829. He used book-plates printed from his brother's plate. This was done by covering the letters acob of the given name, or perhaps by not inking them on the plate, while the print was being made, and writing with ink the letters ohn in their stead. The only example known of this plate was in a volume purchased several years since by the writer at a second hand book store in Hartford. Besides the changed name the plate also bears the date 1796 written in [38] JoHNiYLEB.. AM <=X ~~ /Ja/t&u ^< L ' ink following the name. A fly leaf of the book also bore the autograph and date "John Sargeant 1796." One of the smallest in size of the Brunton plates is that of "Rev'4 Philo Shelton," measuring only one and three-fourths by two and one-fourth inches. The heraldic shield which it carries is less than one inch in length. The reproduction is from an example owned by Mr. Charles T. Martin of Hartford. Philo Shelton was born in Ripton parish, now the town of Huntington, Conn., in May, 1754. He was gradu ated from Yale College in 1775. After studying theol ogy he officiated for some time as lay reader in several parishes in the vicinity of Stratfield, now Bridgeport. On Aug. 3, 1785, he received Deacon's orders at the hands of Bishop Seabury, and " enjoyed the distinction of being the first clergyman episcopally ordained in the United States." The same year he took charge of the three churches in Fairfield, Stratfield, and Weston, all in the town of Fair field. The Stratfield church became later St. John's church of Bridgeport, and here Mr. Shelton continued his ministry until his resignation in 1824, after which he con tinued to serve at Fairfield until his death February 27, 1825. In the History of Woodbury, Conn., by William Coth- ren, issued in 1854, the book-plate of Peter Sherman appears, printed from an engraved plate. No mention is made in the text of the volume of the print or of any Peter Sherman. The Shermans were a numerous family in the southwestern part of the state. The only Peter that the writer has been able to discover is mentioned in the history of Stratford, and may have lived in Bridgewater, Conn., the son of an Ephraim Sherman. No immediate dates concerning him are given, but the marriage of his grandfather in 17 12 would indicate that he might have been of a suitable age to have had a book-plate engraved by [39] Brunton. The only impression seen of this plate, con cerning which there can be no question of its age arid authenticity, is in the collection of Mr. William E. Baillie. It is believed that a counterfeit of this plate has recently been made by one who has acquired a reputation for doing that kind of work, and that some collectors have been de ceived by impressions from this counterfeit, mistaking them for early impressions from the original plate. The original metal plate cannot now be located. The plate of "Rev. Henry B. Sherman, M.A.," of Esopus, N. Y., now deceased, who may have been a descendant of Peter, bears a strong resemblance to the Peter Sherman plate and was doubtless copied from it. The plate of John Tyler, A.M., is undoubtedly Brunton's work, although it differs from other book-plates engraved by him in the absence of both the hatched lines and the shell or scroll work. But the book, the helmet, the lettering of the motto and the form of the supporting " catamounts " are precisely in the style of his work as it appears on other plates. John Tyler was the only son of John and Mary ( Doo- little) Tyler and was born in Wallingford, Conn., Aug. 15, 1742. He was graduated from Yale College in 1765, and received the Bachelor's and Master's degrees from King's College in 1767 arid 1769 respectively. He em braced the faith of the church of England, was lay reader for a short time iri Guilford, and in May, 1768, set sail for England to receive orders. The next month he was or dained a Priest at Fulham Palace, London, arid the follow ing month' was appointed to the Mission at Norwich. Ar riving at Norwich on November first he continued in charge there for more than fifty-four years until his death, Jan. 20, 1823, " having survived all the rest of the Connec ticut clergy who had received orders in Englarid." At the time of the Revolution' he was unwilling to oriiit the prayers for the King and in consequence his church was closed from April, 1776, to November, 1778, service be ing held in private houses. He was very mild in manner and temperament, not strong on points of doctrine, and for a time bore the reputation of being a Universalist. The metal plate is now owned by Mr. W. T. Olcott of Norwich, a great-grandson of John Tyler, to whom it has come by inheritance. No original impressions from this plate are known. In 1896 Mr. Olcott permitted Mr. James Terry to have some impressions made which he used to accompany his " Ex Libris Leaflets, number 2," upon Rev. John Tyler. The example of " D. Waldo's " book-plate here repro duced belonged without question to the Rev. Daniel Waldo who was graduated from Yale College in 1788. He was born in Windham, Conn., Sept. 10, 1762, and died in Syracuse, N. Y., at the age of 101 years, 10 months, and 20 days. When a young man he served in the Revolution about ten months and was for two months a prisoner in the " Sugar House " at New York. After graduation he studied theology under Rev. Levi Hart of Preston, and then preached for short periods at South Mansfield, Bristol, Cornwall, Torrington, and West Hartford, Conn. On May 24, 1792, he was ordained over the Congrega tional church in West Suffield, where he remained eighteen years. Later he was settled for twelve years at Exeter parish, Lebanon, Conn., and also preached for short times in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and in 1835 removed to the state of New York. On the 2 2d of December, 1856, when ninety-six years of age, he was chosen chaplain of the United States House of Representatives, and was re-elected the next year. His wife was Nancy Hanchett of Suffield, and they were the parents of five children. This plate was doubtless engraved while Brunton and Waldo were living as neighbors in the village of West 6 [40 Suffield after the latter's ordination there in 1792. The original of this reproduction is owned by Mr. Charles T. Martin of Hartford. The most important example of Brunton's engraving is his portrait of George Washington. This was pub lished as frontispiece to an anonymous pamphlet by Charles Henry Wharton bearing the following title and imprint: A Poetical Epistle to his Excellency George Washing ton, Esq; Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States of America. From An Inhabitant of the State of Maryland. To which is annexed, A Short Sketch of Gen. Washington's Life and Character. . . . London, Printed ; Providence ( Rhode Island) Re-printed and Sold by Bennett Wheeler, at his Office on the West Side of the Great Bridge. M,DCC,LXXXI. The pamphlet was advertised in the issue of March 17 of the American Journal and Daily Advertiser, published in Providence. The London edition of the Poetical Epistle, printed in 1780, from which this edition was reprinted, has as front ispiece a portrait of Washington engraved by William Sharpe. From this Brunton engraved his portrait, but he did not make an exact copy as various accessories were added, which are fully described in Charles Henry Hart's Catalogue of the Engraved Portraits of Washington, No. 93 ; and probably because it is a copy from another por trait it has very few of the characteristics of Brunton's work. It is the only example of his work printed from a metal plate engraved by him which bears his name — " Brunton Sculp*," the Humphreys portrait having only his initials, and the Nickelson plate not being engraved for printing. The full legend below the portrait is as follows: " George Washington Commander in Chief of ye Armies of y* United States of America. Brunton ScupV The [42] AMOS WHITE. accompanying reproduction is from a copy of the pamphlet in the library of the Rhode Island Historical Society, from a photograph procured through the courtesy of Clarence S. Brigham, the society's librarian. Another copy of the pamphlet with the engraving has been for some years in the collection of Mr. Z. T. Hollingsworth of Boston, Mass. A third copy of the engraving, No. 1535 in the catalogue of the Dr. Charles E. Clark collection, sold at Libbie's in Jan. 1901, brought $107.50 and is said to have gone to New York. The Noah Wells who possessed a book-plate cannot be identified with certainty. The only person found bear ing the name at the period when Brunton was engraving was a resident of East Windsor, Conn., a town situated near to both Hartford and Suffield. This Noah's wife was Elizabeth Moore, born in East Windsor, Nov. 15, 1757. The baptisms of their six children are recorded on the East Windsor church records from June, 1792, to April, 1795. The only copy seen of this plate is a modern impression in the collection of Mr. William E. Baillie. The little silver coin marked with the name, date of death, and age of W. Wheeler is engraved in Brunton's style and is probably his work. Unfortunately, the name has been badly scratched. The letters on the other side of the coin, which may refer to President George Washing ton, have the characteristics of the initials seen on silver spoons that were probably engraved by Brunton. W. Wheeler may have been the Whittelsey Wheeler, son of Joseph, born in Derby or Stratford, Conn., Sept. 19, 1784, although this would make his age at the date given only ten years and two months instead of eleven years. The coin is owned by the Connecticut Historical Society. In i860, while his " Memorials of Elder John White " was in the press, the late Allyn Stanley Kellogg discovered a single impression of a book-plate bearing the name Amos [43] White. This Amos, the son of Capt. Elijah White, was born in Chatham, Conn., Nov. 20, 1745, and died in Mer- iden Aug. 21, 1825. He settled in East Haddam and was there engaged in foreign trade. His wife was Sarah Gris wold of East Haddam, and they were the parents of ten children. The plate discovered by Mr. Kellogg cannot now be found, but it has been reengraved with the substitu tion of a Latin motto for the name Amos White upon the ribbon, and as here reproduced is now used by Rev. Ers- kine N. White of New York. The arms as blazoned on this plate agree very closely with the arms borne by John White, Lord Mayor of Lon don in 1563. It is known that he had a son Robert, and it is also known that the father of Elder John White, who came to this country in 1632, was named Robert. These circumstances make this coat of arms of unusual interest. John Williams, Esq., was a native and life-long resi dent of Wethersfield, Conn. Born September 11, 1762, he was twice married, was the father of ten children, and died December 19, 1840. He was graduated from Yale College in 178 1, studied law and practiced in Wethersfield. His interest, however, was not in law but in literature; and to literature, philanthropy and society, his life was de voted, his means permitting him to thus gratify his taste. " In the great benevolent objects of the day, he was munifi cent, in private charities unceasing. To uncommon per sonal beauty, were added courtliness of dress and manners of the Revolutionary age." Although his book-plate differs in some respects from most of those engraved by Brunton, yet the hatched lines at either side of the shield, the form of the helmet above it, and of the lion upon it, are precisely in his style. The metal plate is stated on good authority to have been about a dozen years ago in the possession of " Squire " Williams' grand-nephew, Maj. John C. Parsons of Hartford. Yet [44] roHN"WJI,LIA2£S at this time Maj. Parsons' son, Col. Francis Parsons, is unable to find it among his late father's effects and does not recall ever having seen it. An original impression of the book-plate is in Col. Parsons' possession. Erastus Worthington was born in Colchester, Conn., a town about midway between Hartford and New London, on May 8, 1761. There he married Ann Taintor. In later life he removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he was engaged in the book business and where he died, perhaps on Jan. 8, 1831. His widow died about 1836. Their children were Erastus, Alfred, and William. They were the great-grandparents of Charles Battell Loomis, the author. The only impression of this plate known to the writer is in a volume now deposited in the Norfolk Library, Nor folk, Conn. The volume is the property of Miss Isabella Eldridge of Norfolk, a cousin of Mr. Loomis. In addition to the engravings which have been partic ularly mentioned it is probable that Brunton did consider able work in engraving initials or monograms, and perhaps other designs, upon spoons and other household silverware. Col. Frederick W. Prince of Hartford has a silver spoon which was purchased from the store of Jacob Sargeant in Hartford about 1793, bearing initials and other or namental marks engraved at the time of purchase which follow very closely the style of Brunton's work. And the writer has seen other spoons of about the same period, owned in the vicinity of Hartford, bearing initials and ornamental lines of similar style. The little silver memo rial with the letters G. W. shows the general characteristics of the letters seen on silver spoons believed to have been engraved by him. There is reason for believing that other examples of Brunton's work exist, and that they will be identified and become known when opportunity for comparison occurs. [45] The writer will esteem it a favor to be informed of any such that may be discovered. A good proportion of the owners of the book-plates were men of prominence. Six of them were graduates of Yale College, four were ministers, five were physicians, one was a member of Congress, at least four were lawyers, and at least six were prominent in mercantile or business pursuits. The proportion of the thirty-two metal plates engraved for printing which have survived the vicissitudes of more than a century and are in existence today is remarkable. Nine of them can now be located and six others are known to have been in existence within a few years, and with one exception (the Newgate) probably still exist. The writer has learned of the existence of original impressions of but seventeen, possibly eighteen (the Osgood), of the thirty-two printed plates; and a number of these are represented by but one or two impressions. And now a general summarizing of the engravings executed by Brunton may be of interest. Two are signed with his name, and one with his initials. Seven small silver pieces may be classed as medals, ornaments, or memorial engravings; and with these might be classed the designs on the Larrabee watch. The Nickelson family record plate does not group with any of the others. All of the above are metal plates which were not intended for use in printing, as the lettering or design upon them is not reversed. The engravings which follow are recognized by their printed impressions, the lettering or design being reversed in cutting it upon the metal plate. One of these, the Washington, is a portrait designed to accompany a printed work; three, the Newgate, the family register, and the Masonic plate, may be called miscellaneous. The others, twenty-eight in number if we include the assumed Cannon plate and the redrawn Ingraham and Olcott [46] plates and omit the John Sargeant plate, are book-plates. This includes the Reuben Humphreys and Samuel Mather portraits which are assumed to have been intended for use as book-plates, although no instance of such use is known. The writer wishes to return a grateful acknowledgment to the numerous friends whose names appear in this article for the assistance they have given in its preparation. With a single exception, every person whose aid was solicited has given generous assistance ; and particular mention must be made of two, but for whom this article could scarcely have been prepared — Mr. Charles Dexter Allen of Brooklyn, for many helpful suggestions and the knowledge of nu merous plates, and Mr. William E. Baillie of Bridgeport for access to and the use of numerous plates from his superb collection. While this pamphlet is in press the " Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly," in its April number, publishes a cut of the " Cooley arms," evidently reproduced from an engraving by Brunton. Through correspondence with the editor of the magazine it is learned that the cut is from an impression of the book-plate of Rev. Timothy Mather Cooley, owned now by Mrs. Marshall Smith of Colum bus, Ohio, and formerly by Mrs. Hattie C. Stevenson of Pittsfield, Mass., a granddaughter of Mr. Cooley. Timothy Mather Cooley was born in Granville, Mass., March 13, 1772, and died there Dec. 14, 1859. He was graduated from Yale in 1792 and delivered an oration in Hebrew at that time. In February, 1796, he was ordained pastor of the East Granville church in his native town, and continued in that office until his death, although dur ing the last five years a colleague relieved him from active duties. A "Jubilee " was held in Granville in 1845, upon the fiftieth anniversary of his first sermon in that place, [47] During most of his life he maintained a classical school in his house, at which above eight hundred pupils received tuition from him. He was a man of great influence and of strong convictions. [48]