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The Cono-regational Church and Soldiers' Monument, Meeting House Hill.

HISTORY

OF THE

TOWN OF LED YARD

1 650 -- 1900.

BY

Rev. JOHN AVERY.

NOYES & DAVIS :

PRESS OF THE BULLETIN CO.,

NORWICH, CONN.

I901.

^i*j 1

UMvV

f

A '^-i^(rv:^

Entered according to Act of Congress

with the Librarian at Washington,

by Lcdyard Bill,

1901.

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 — rduring 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 difficulties and discourage- ments of the work. -

J. A.

Norwich, Conn.,

1 901.

Table of Contents.

CHAPTER I. Early History of the Town, etc.

CHAPTER n. History of the Congregational Church and Society.

CHAPTER IH.

History of the St. James' Episcopal Church.

CHAPTER JV. History of the Separatist Church.

CHAPTER V. History of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CHAPTER VI. Plistory of the Baptist Church.

CHAPTER Vn. History of the Rogerene Quakers.

CHAPTER VHI. The Revolutionary War — 1775-1783.

CHAPTER IX- The Second War with England — 1 812-15.

CHAPTER X. The Civil War of 186 1-5.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. C

CHAPTER XL

Family Histories and Genealogies.

CHAPTER XH. Biographical Sketches.

CHAPTER xnr.

Plistory of the Bill Library.

CHAPTER XIV. The Pequot Indians.

CHAPTER XV. The Norwich & Worcester Railroad.

APPENDIX.

Memorial df Separatists of Pteston, 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 frotn Cenitre Groton to Preston Town Line in 1723.

Names of School Teachers, Sixth School District.

Letter of Siamuel Capron to Col. Benadam Gallup.

Letter of John Quincy Adams to Norman B. Brown.

Committee Appointed to Perambulate Line Between Groton and Prestoo.

List of Probate Judges.

Roll of the Fallen., on Soldiers' Monument.

Catalogue of Deaths — ^1713-1854.

List of Illustrations.

Page.

Allyn, Israel 171

Allyn, Lt. Stanton 165

Avery, Rev. Frederick D i77

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

Bpiscoipal 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.

Page.

Gallup, Rev. James A 205

Gallup, Maj. Jacob L 196

Gallup, Dea. Russell 204

Gallup, Dea. N. Sands 206

Gale's Ferry R. R. Depot, 266

Geer, Capt. Nathaniel B 209

Geer, James L 129

Hurlburt, Rev. Ralph 55

Kinmouth, Rev. Albert E. 43

Latham, Thomas 141

Larrabee, Capt. Adam 214

Larrabee, Hon. Henry 219

Larrabee, Capt. Nathan F 218

Larrabee, Gov. William 215

Library, The Bill 243

Methodist Episcopal Church, The 53

Norman, Stephen H 223

Parsonage, The Bill 40

Peckham, Rev. Stephen H 58

Plan of Fort Griswold, 76

Spicer, Capt. Edmund 227

Spicer, John S 228

Stoddard, Ebenezer 160

Stoddard, Guy C 229

Tuttle, Rev. Timothy 35

Williams, Denison B 161

Williams, Hon. Elias Hewitt 239

Winthrop, Gov. John, Jr 18

CHAPTER I. 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 subdued, 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 reso^rt 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 sufficient

lO 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 sufficient 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 b)- 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 LED YARD. 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, many 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, oh 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 be 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 LED YARD. 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 gr&k't 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 wolvfrs in Nov., or the latter part of Oct. George, son of John Richards, had a bounty of £11 for

14 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. ,

wolves killed in the year 171 7. 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 sirftilar 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 have been in recent years — some industries which called them intO' use being no longer prosecuted. The carding machines, the fujling mills, the cloth dressing es- tablishments— so common a hundred years ago — are no longer

THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 1 5

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 shbe-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 arid 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 Eastern 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 JDrocesses 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 tOW^f OF LEDVARD. 17

lies, 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 the town of Ledyard, 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 groiind, 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 Allyn'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 Allyn's Point. Win- throp brought with him quite a number of the original settlers,

2

l8 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.

and came with the authority of the Bay Colony at Boston. He gave the name of Groton to the territory in honor oi 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 OP LEDYARD. 119

The Ecclesiastical Society was formed in 1725 — the center of the territory covered by it was found by actual measurement — and upon it the erectio'Ui 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 teii 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.

Thovigh 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 m 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 whoi remained were drawn into closer sympathv with each other than they had been, the matter was laid aside. In after years it carrie 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 in the

20 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.

County of New London, lying North of the hne 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. Noah 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 fro-m which they are elected. The number of representatives frO'm 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 ot 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 Tliomas, Democrat.

1846 Col. Elias W. Brown, Democrat.

1847 Capt. John Brewster, Whig.

1848 Capt. Jacob Gallup, Democrat.

1849 Capt. Edmund Spacer, 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 Nehemiali 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, Republican. 1898 Jacob Gallup, Democrat. 1900 Daniel Lamb, Republican.

The town oi Ledyard contains fourteen school districts. For several years past a niiuibcv 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 former 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, thoug'h 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 arid 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 drawbridge over Poquetanuck Cove. The 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 — rsome 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' tO' 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 arid 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 unau,thorized.

There have been times in the history of each of these districts

*Forrnerly Ayer'g 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 1848 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

THE TOWN OF LEDYARD. 2$

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 Larhb 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 Plainlield 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 ofifers ; 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 O'f manufacturing establishments. . 12

Number of persons, deaf amd dumb or blind . 1 1

Number of persons, 70 yekrs 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 (/. c. 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 from 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 ^lorgans 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. Young 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. Betvifeen 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 vig'orously 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 yoimg men living here have been from tim^ 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 boso-m 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 closed, will be considered, by historians, the most important and infltiential, 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 railwa^-s, jMaxim 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 world's history, perhaps ! Out of these things, however, the races of men have been uplifted, libert>- and equality more firmlyestablishedand civilization greatly advanced, Manymillions

THE TOWN OF LEDVARD. 2g

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 whoi 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 hcaveii 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 rheasures 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 grormd, 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- cimistances 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 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 31

The first resident preacher, of whom we 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. Plmderson 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 FoTeign 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.

The second pastor of the Church was

Rev. Andrew Croswell.

He was a native of Charlestown, Mass., and was graduated at Harvard College in 1728. He was ordained here, Oct. 14, 1736. "The settlement ofifered 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 neighboTing 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 regularly ordained by council as pastor of this Church, he was dismissed without the intervention of a coiuncil — 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 CttURCH. 3,5

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 ho-use that stands on the top of the hill out east of the Church. On Oct. 5,

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 oi 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 o-f 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 storms. In this state of things, religion, of course, did not pros- per— the Church as an org-anized body of Qiristian 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 th-ere 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 CttURCH.

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 aon- 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 sound in doctrine, sincere and earnest in pressing the truths of the Gospel upon the heart and the con-

Rev. Timothy Tuttdb.

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 with, 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 18 14, 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. ■'^''- 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 afifections 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, 1781. 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 him in carrying forward the minis- terial work of the parish. Mr. Cook was born in Southhamp- ton, L. I., Sept. 20th, 1793. In his . youth he worked on the farm, 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

Rev, N, B. Cook,

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 born 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 religion. 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 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, oi 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. Chabx.es 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 Whitneyyille, 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 livino-. The widow, with her children, are at the present time in New Haven, Conn,

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 4 1

Tlie 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 foT college at the Norwich Town High School and Bacon Academy, Colchester. He was graduated from Yale College in 1843 ^^'^ Yale Divinity 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 pastoTate — 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 oi the Connecticut Bible Society. One result oi 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 wais 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 during Mr. Avery's ministry were the painting of the parsonage and barn in i883^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 d 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, 1851, 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-English 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 than two years was As- sistant Secretary of the British Home and Foreign Missionary Societies. He came fro^m London to this country in 1873, with th-j view of going as a mission- ary to Japan ; but, deciding to remain here, he was or- dained at Carthage, N. Y., in 1874. He has had pas- torates at Seneca Falls, Oswegoi Falls, Pulaski and West Newfield, N. Y.— also Greenwich and Mont- 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 Simday-school is a comparatively recent institu- tion the ends which it aims to secure were previously sought in

Rev. a. E. Kinmouth.

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 nearly all the members of the coiigregation, 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, Henrv 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, authoTized 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 un 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 AUyn, $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 III. The Episcopal Church.

An Episcopal organization, bearing th-e name of St. James' Church, was started here in the latter part of the year 1734. 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 Math it stood on the lane that leads westward from the present Bill parsonage, and was pulled down by Rev. Chas. Cutting. "It was the first Church parsonage in America." Tlie

THE EPISCOPAL CtlURCH. 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 i8, 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 two or three years, though the precise date has not come down to its. 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 twoi 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 OP" THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.

Crouch, Forsee (Forsyth), Hillam, Lee, Turner, Wilkinson and Willo'Ughby. The single names were Allyn, Ashcraft, Barker, Lassett, Liarnard, Bennett, Bordish, Button, Qeveland, Cramer, Davis, Dean, Dickinson, Dood, Downing, Doyle, Fanning, Fountain, Frink, Gray, Grist, Hancock, Holdridge, Holly, Houghton, Hutchinson, Larkin, Lancasta, Leeds, Malason, Mc- Cloiughton, Meach, Norton, Nuton (Newton), Parish, Randal, Ranger, Raynolds, Rouse, Samson, Thiton, Utley, Welsh, Wick- wire and Weeks."

[See Re\'. 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 so^me churches, to partake of the communion, had been wide- ly adopted. 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 m'aintained 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-

4

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 Reformers, 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 Qeveland 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 ofiScials — 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. 51

tistns 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 pky for the support of its stated religious worship. Refusing to pay, his goiods 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 Quakers, 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 cootending 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 l:he present Methodist Church in 1857.

CHAPTER V.

The Methodist Episcopal Church

At Gale's Ferry.

Methodism seems to have gained little, if any, focrthold in

New England, until after the close of the Revolutionary War

in 1783.

The descendants of the Pilgrims were Orthodox Congrega-

tionalists, and f O' r 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 Metho'dist 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 Episcopal, Church, Gale's Ferrt.

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 LorenzO' 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," . ■ -i

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

55

Being industrious, frugal, temperate and intelligent he 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 Hurlbutt'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

Rev. Ralph Hurlbutt.

^6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.

family, previously mentioned, the first $ioo of which was by Phillis Daniels, a colored woman, whose mother was a slave, by dififerent 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. ^^ has a seating capacity for 250 people, is nicely frescoed, carpeted and cushioned, and with necessary repairs, as occasion demands, ought to be a co^mfortable place of worship for many future ye'ars.

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, Tliomas 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 L 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 Cliurch 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, a 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, Ellas Brown, Daniel Brown,

Elder Peckham.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH. 59

Avery W. 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. The cost 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 Almira 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. Gofif, 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 toi 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. * * * They 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 LEdVArD.

those from whom they differed. But they were not content to do this. On the contrary, they felt themselves called upon to interfere with, 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 Fox, 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 toi marriage in this way. After his first wife, Elisabeth Griswold, had been divorced from him and he had lived withotit 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 honse of the Governor, and repeating the same performance there. So^me time after this, as Mr. Rogers and his soi-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 yon 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 you 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 witli 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 sufferings 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 old-time 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 o>wn meeting-house ; their own modes of worship ; their own Sabbath-school ; and their own ways of doing things generally. They are in the main industrious, 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 with politics; re'fused to go to the polls to vote ; refused to pay taxes ; refused toiaear 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. Quite 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 off 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 efforts 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 an'd 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 hav€ 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 ; arid 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 5

66 HISTORV OF THE TOWN OF LEDYA^D.

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 freedom, 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 VIIl. 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 the 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 inhabitants. 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.-Col. 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 opposition, 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 position 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 cO'm- mand of this position as the best place from which to protect the country.

"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 fort 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- formed 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. 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 fro'm 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' coimtermand 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 successfully that they were in a demoralized condition, when the flag was shot from the pole, which caused the enemy to make a desperate assault.' 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 within six feet, Bromfield called out : 'Who commands this fort?' T 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 body 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 Montgomery'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 bayo'-

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 177S-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 Daboll, who had been already disabled, was knocked senseless by a ruffian who was in the act of bayoneting him when a British Oifficer 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. Som,e 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 to^ 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 toi 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 brofther 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. These 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 alloiw 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 177S'^7^3- 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 the aching body, or bear a last message from those upon whom the day wO'Uld dawn in eternity. But the morn brought relief. None of the friends or neighbors dared to come to 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 called 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 it. I would be willing, if possible, to suffer it again.'

"The American dead were left unburied, mostly within the fort walls. The British had all 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 and one or twO' other officers were buried in the fort, under the embrasure where Montgomery fell. 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 Warner 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 niessage 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 to- mourn for his wife and children. Hastening back to the lonely home, 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 will you get back?' asked the wife. 'Gooid-by ! God knows !' On the morrow the son rode back the horse for the body of his 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 till 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 1775-1783. 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 Williams fell at the age of 15 ; James Comstock

at 75-

"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 whoi had left their hearth stones not a day befoTe. As the lantern gl^am showed the lifeless features of one, and another, and then another of neighbors whom they had known for years, they came at last upon 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, toi 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. The 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 co^mmand 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 doior 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 patterii, 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

6caU s^SoVards

Plan op Fort Griswold, 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 its covered way outside. In front of the gate is what was left of the breast-work after the enemy had shoveled it into the ditch to bury their slain ; just within is the marble slab* marking the spot where Ledyard fell.

*This was erected by E'rederic Bill, of Groton.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR — 1775-1783. JJ

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 moiming as a volunteer. He was an experienced soldier, and far superior in military ■ aibility to any man present at the council of war held early ni 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 could 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 ait Concord, 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 co^ast 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 suchhavoc 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 O'Ut 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.

y8 HISTORY or* THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.

"In New London was a fabulous amount of accumulated stofe; 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 o-f danger. The foTts 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 Clinton supposed was the real objective point of the expedition tO' Virginia; but suggest that Clinton 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, William Forsyth, Joshua Bill, John P'acker, Andrew Gallup, Thomas Smith, Zebanah Williams,

William Noyes, William Latham, Nehemiah Gallup, Thomas Roach, Ralph Stoddard, Vine Stoddard, Asa Lester, Nathan Lester, Phineas Bill.

Killed in Fort Griswold.

Capt. Samuel Allyn, Capt. Simeon Allyn, Belton Allyn, Benadam Allyn, Corporal Andrew Billings, 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. Amois Stanton,

Sergeant John Stedman,

Corporal Nathan Sholes,

David Seabury,

Lieut. Flenry 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' our 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 oiur 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, 1815, 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 generally 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 "{he seamen, ships and merchandise of the United 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. Tliough noi man was killed, there were two' at 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 teaching school, and while not a member of the military company, yet was summoned by the officer above-named to the duty assigned as above. Shortly after the incident referred to a boat-load of British troops started for the shore, with a view, doubtless, to reconnodter 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 within a few miles of Noirwich, the British ships remaining off the month 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 built a fortification on the top of a high hill just north of Gale's Ferry, and mounted 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 dilapidated 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 From 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 emancipatioin 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 coist 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 o-f 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. Bill 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. Buclcingham, 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, William 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.

Bolles, 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.

Tivelfth Infantry.

Avery, Horace, Private, Co., D.

Ball, Cephas, Private, Co. D.

Turner, Henry, Private, Co. D.

All^n, Stanton, First Lieutenant, Co. K.

Avery, Alexander W., Sergeant, Co- K.

•Enlisted in other 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, Thomas J., Wagoner, Co. K. Ball, Grosvenor, Private, Co. K.* Clark, Edwin, Private, Co. K. Comstock, Charles 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, William PL, 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.

*EnJi§ted in- other towns, aocording to Ceitaylogue,

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.

Tuttlc, Erastus R., Sergeant, Co. D.

Chapman, Ephraim A., Corporal, Co. D.

Lee, Denison P., Corporal, Co. D.

Miller, George, Corporal, Co. D.

Allyn, 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.

*Bnlisted in other towns, according to Catalo^e.

THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-5. 87

Mitchell, John N., Private, Co. D. Murfit, Ray, Private, Cd. 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 Regidar Army. SpiceF, Allen, Third Artillery. 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. Brown, 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 Allyns of Ledyard are undoubtedly of English descent. A coat of arms, at present in possession of Gurdon F. Allyn, of Salem, Gonn., 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 William 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 toi the stake untied, where he was chained and stood quietly without shrinking, until he died, one year after John Rogers suffered martyrdom at Smithfield.

L

Robert Allyn, 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 was one of the company wliO' first purchased the Town of Norwich, and he obtained a grant of a large tract of land on the Thames River, including "Allyn's Point," where he died, in 1683, aged 75 years.

His children were

John, m. Elizabeth Gager. Sarah, 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 born about 1640, married Elizabeth Gager, daughter of John Gager, of "New Noiridge," 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 efiEects werel a silver tankard, cup, tumbler and whistle, a g'old 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

1. 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. Abigail 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.

11. Deborah, b. , m. Jonathan Lester.

IV.

Ebenezer Allyn, born Feb. 29, 1699, married Mary Thurber, April 2J, 1726. He died April 21, 1760. She died Nov. 16, 1780.

Their children were

1. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 25, 1727, died same date,

2. Mary, b. Nov. 26, 1727-, died young.

go HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYAED.

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. Priscilla, 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.

11. Rufus, b. Aug. 17, 1745, m. Hannab Billings, 1766.

12. Amos, b. Feb. 21, 1748, m. Elizabeth Morgan.

V.

Thomas Allyn married Lucy Avery, Nov. 30, 1762. Their children were

1. 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 Susannali 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. 9I

vir.

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 : —

1. 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. Theophilus 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, killed Nov. 16, 1881.

11. Jeannette Dwight, b. April 2, 1834, died Aug. 22, 1875.

12. Prudence, b. March 20, 1836.

VIIL

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 farm at Allyn's Point, which has been owned by nine succeeding generations of AUyns. The names of the owners, in the direct line of succession, is as follows :

1. Robert, original grantee, who died in 1683.

2. John, who died in 1709.

3. Robert, 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 with Gov. Winthrop's Company in 1630. They Hved 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 Avery 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 family, 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, 1894, 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 Averv families were very large — from ten to fifteen children generally in each of them. While a goodly number, bearing the name, still 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, Illinois, 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 oi 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 fro^m 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 farmirig land, all under cultivation, 300 head of Hereford cattle and 30 horses.

Several Averys, of the Groto-n stock, have developed a good deal of mechanical skill ; and some of this class have acquired distinction as inventors. 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 HISTORY OP* THE TOWN OP LEDYARD.

He was a printer by trade, and for many years was a member of the firm of Rand & Avery, whose pubHcations, including "Uncle Tom's Cabin," went — 'thousands npcm 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 Colleges. 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 oi 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. Daniel 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 following: 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 6f the Separate Church

FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. 95

in North Stonington. David Avery (1746-1818), a cliaplain in the ami)' of the Revohition, and pastor of Congregational Churches in New .Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. David Avery (1801-1875), pastor of Baptist Churches in Moodus, Ashford and other places in Connecticut. Charles Eldridge Avery (1794-1854), 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. Wihiam Pitt Avery (1816-1885), pastor of Congrega- tional Churches in Bozrah, Conn., and Chapin, Iowa. Frederick

Denison Avery (1818 ), 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, P'h. 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.

g6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.

Tlie 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 Philip's War, the Connecticut authorities gave him command of a company of English from New London, 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 had represented the town of Groton in the General Assembly of Connecticut, between the years 1704 and 1871, inclusive. The whole number was 545. He closed the article with 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 government. 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-

FAMILY 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 Hill, in Ledyard, married William Morgan, and became the grandmother of Hon. Edwin D. Morgan, governor of the State of New York. Lucy Avery, second daughter of Col. Ebenezer, of Groton, married Geoi-ge Colfax, and became the great-grandmother of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, who was a member of Congress foiurteen 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, through his son, Samuel, and his grandson, Humphrey (who lived and died at Poquetanuck), married Go'dfrey Rockefeller, and is the mother of John D. Rockefeller, the famous millionaire.

The Averys, like most of the people 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 frO'm 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."

98 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 Tliankfnl 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 1814, 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 Lowell. 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 bo^m 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. QQ

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 child, Elizabeth, boim 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 married May 9, 1655, Mary Wood, of Marlborough, and settled in 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. 27, 1699. He married Nov. 15, 1704, Dorcas Rose, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Allyn) Rose, of New London. 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 Bellows. Their chil- dren were

John Bellows, bom Sept. 13, 1705.

Danuris Bellows, born Sept. 17, 1707.

Zerviah Bellows, born Oct. 30, 1709.

Johariah Bellows, born March 24, 171 1.

Ithamar 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 Will- 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 Bellows, born Sept. 2, 1763, married Jan. i, 1784, Daniel Stoddard, who was born Nov. 6, 1761. They had eight children— Lucretia, Daniel, Lucy, Phebe, Clarissa, Maria, Sidney and Edward.

Another daughter of John and Elizabeth Bellows, Cynthia Bellows, born April 12, 1771, married Shubael Morgan, and had eleven children.

Ithamar Bellows, who was bom Feb. 24, 1713, married Dor- cas , born 1728, died July 22, 181 1. Tlieir children were

Thomas Bellows, born May 2, 1755.

Hannah Bellows, born Dec. 6, 1756.

David Bellows, born ^'lay 8, 1760.

Asa Bellows, born June 15, 1762.

Anna Bellows, bora July 7, 1764, married Richard Bushnell of Norwich.

Ephraim Bellows, born July 14, 1766.

Lydia Bellows, bora jMay 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 children, among them Will- iam, Joseph and Lydia. It is uncertain whether these children 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. lOI

stock. Their children were Ann, Ebenezer, James, Zipporah, Margaret, Jemima and Increase.

Their son. Increase Billings, 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 1726 to Hannah Hewitt. Their children 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 Billings, son of Increase B. and Hannah Hewitt, of the fourth 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 Billings, 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 militia. He was married, in 1809, to Martha Allyn. Their children were Cynthia, Hannah, Adelia, Anna, Patty or Martha, Stephen, James Allyn, Henrietta. James Allyn Billings, 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 Bill, LL. D., a brother, bom 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 "learned and honest man, plentifully en- dowed A\-ith 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-chancelloir of the University, 1548-9. In 1551 he was appointed master of Trinity College. 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 tomb has been visited by Frederic Bill, On diiiferent occasions, when in London.)

Charles Bill, born in London about 1550, a son of the pre- ceding, was a celebrated Latin scholar and was made the suc- cessor of Sir Thoinas Smith as Latin secretary to the King.

John Bill, son of the above, was borti: in 1576, and appears in London, in 1613, as a "Publisher to His most excellent Majestic King James the 1st." One of the earliest books, printed 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 editions 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 Boston. 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. ^^'inthrop, Sr. The old boinid 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 Maj. 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. Bill was a pros- perous merchant, doing business on Gornhill, near the post- office in Boston. He was a noted citizen of his day and genera- tion and widely known to all the people 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 military organizations. In 1714 he was a member of the Commission 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 copy from a painting by John Singleton Copley, a celebrated artist of those days. A duplicate of said painting, presented by Led- yard Bill in i8g8 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.

Philip Bill was living in Ipswich, where John Winthrop, Jr., had also lived before going to' New London. Philip returned with Winthrop to occupy a portion of the grant of land which Winthrop had obtained from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The latter held a Commission tO' begin a plantation which was bo'unded "Easterly from the Thames river four miles and North- erly from the sea six miles."*

Passing rapidly, Joshua was the son of Philip, Phineas was the son of Joshua, and Joshua, 2d, was the soin 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 woiunds. He received a pension from the Government, but not till many years after the battle. He died on 20th Dec, 1841.

Gurdon Bill, Sr., the son of the above Joshua, was born 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 British f^eet lay off the town and made an attack. A boatload

c^.

^:^€y?zi!^^yp^

of liritish 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 they dropped several guns and acco-utrements ; one of the guns captured he had as a trophy and it is still kept in the family as a souvenir of that affair in the \A'ar of 1812. He. however, was never mustered into the government service and did duty only during the at- tack on Stomington. He was engaged for a time in the whole- sale fish trade at the old "Fly Market" in New York Citv.

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 mills at Jewett City, engaged the attention of many, families, and he procured every two weeks from those factories a supply which was dis- tributed among the people in North Groton for spinning. Tliis product he returned to the mills regularly and this grew tO' quite a large business in itself. He finally bought a part of twoi 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' do' the work. In the second story he had made a large hall for the accommoda- tion of the M'asomic . Lxjdge, 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 metn'ber 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 wais 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 village of Mystic where it now flourishes; He left a large family of children, threfe of whom died early and eight arrived at maturity. Two daug'hters, 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 while was located in Norwich and then travelled West, where he married and settled in Iowa, rais-

I08 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LED YARD.

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 Bill, Jr., was boni June 7, 1827, and remained on the farm until the age of eighteen, after which he engaged in the sale of books for several years, travelling in many of the Western 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 until 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 A'alley 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 igoo 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. D^nison, 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. Button, 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.

Charles G., b. Feb. 13, 1870, m, Susan P, Marsh, and lives in Unionville, Conn,

FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. lOQ

Frederic Bill was born in 1833. His early life was spent upon the home 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 Gurdo-n, 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 Civil 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 O'Ut his partner and continued the business alone, until 1873, when he disposed of his entire interest and retired fro^m 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, oi 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 director in the Chelsea Savings Bank, of Norwich, and in other institutions. He has always declined political preferment.

no HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.

Ledyard Bill, born in 1836. He was brought up on the farm with 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 Sufifield Academy for a brief period, and then naturally drifted into the business of travelling and selling books. This was fol- lowed for a number of years in about all portions of the country. Finally he was encouraged to settle in Louisville, Ky., with a branch publishing office at that place. He remained there till the Civil War broke out, but, before leaving, he with several other Union men in that city, established the first Union League Club 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 about twent}- years chairman of the se- lectmen and chairman of the school board, saying nothing of the other lo'cal 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 committees. 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 oleomargerin 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 roiads. Mr. Bill defeated the tuberculin act which was abont to sweep the State before much was known as to its merits. Instead of being mandatory the statute is now permissive. Mr. Bill 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-Genealo'gical 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.

Charles Bill, Ph. B., the youngest of the children of Gurdon Bill, Sr,, wais born June 7th, 1840 and lived at home till 1856,

Charles Bill, Ph. B.

when he entered the State NoiTnal School at New Britain, Conn., where he remained one year when he entered the Norwich Free Acajdemy, ait 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 studies,

FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES. II3

one for declamation, one for the best examination in the naitural 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 outdoor occupation and cO'mmenced 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, he, 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 returned 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 Connecticut 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-do'or 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 April 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 Wellesley College, Wellesley, 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 Hdblbut).

Robinson Bolles, oldest child of Amos and Abigail (Smith) Bolles, was bom in New London County, Jan. 25, 1766. vWhen a small boy he went to live with 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. Bolles, with nine children, 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. Bolles 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. Bolles, in "The Bolles' Genealogy," says : "In the spring of i860 I visited Fairdale and the vicinity, in which reside the children of Robin- son and Hannah (Stoddard) Bolles ; 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 spirits or tobacco. I felt proud of this branch of our tribe."

Mr. Bolles 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 Bolles, second child of Amos and Abigail (Smith) BoUes, married Benjamin Bill May 9, 1791. They lived near the present residence of Mr. Moses Baily. They had two children — ^Fanny Bolles and Sarah. Mr. Bill was lost at sea in the month of January, 1795. Mrs. Bill was married in 1803, toi 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 arid adjacent towns in the east part of England. They had spent a dozen year's 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 thait they left their homes in the father-land on for a good many years they experienced great privations and hardships, but at length suc- ceeded in establishing upon thiis continent a colony that has been instrumental of unspeakable good to our own land and to the world.

Brewster was pre-eminently^ leader, not only in spiritual, but teinpoml things in this exceedingly difficult undertaking.

Il6 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.

ThoLigh 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, some of the accomplished re- sults which he had 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 with 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 William 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 : —

1. 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. (proibably in Holland), m. May 15, 1634, Sarah Collier; had four children; 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. Fear, 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 William B. (1560-1644), 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.

Children of Jonathan and Lucretia Brewster : —

1. William, 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 Charles Hill.

Children of Benjamin and Ann (Dart) Brewster, who prob- ably resided at Brewster's Neck : —

1. Ann, b. 1662.

2. Jonathan, b. 1664.

3. Daniel, b. 1667, m. 1686, Hannah Gager.

4. William, b. 1669.

5. Ruth, b. 1671.

6. Benjamin, b. 1673.

7. Elizabeth, b. 1676.

Benjamin Brewster died 1710, aged T].

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 LED YARD.

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 in Ledyard.

Children of Daniel (b. 1667) and Hannah (Gager) Brewster: —

1. 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. 171 1.

9. Ebenezer, b. 1713. Daniel Brewster died 1737.

Children of John (b. 1695), and Dorothy (Treat) Brewster, who lived some two miles south-west of Preston City : —

1. 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. Sybil, 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 d'aughter 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 Dorothy (treat) Brewster, married Oliver Crary. .Tlieir children-— Oliver, m. Desire Ayer, had three sons and one daughter Ehsha, m. Nabby Avery, had five so«s 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 children.

[E. G.]

THE FANNING FAMILY.

About the year 1635-40, Edniond 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 PZdmond had a son William, and he a son George.

George Fanning was the first of this family settling in North Groton, near Lantern 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 James 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 born tO'