MI DD LETOWN UPPER HOUSES
This edition, puhlished under the auspices of the Society of Middletown Upper Houses, Incorporated, is limited to Si.r Hundred Copies, of which this is Number o o
b cS
D D L TOWN oVPi:.. SES
^1
MI DDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
A HISTORY OF THE NORTH SOCIETY OF MIDDLE- TOWN, CONNECTICUT, FROM 16.50 TO 1800, WITH GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL CHAPTERS ON EARLY FAMILIES AND A FULL GENEALOGY OF THE RANNEY FAMILY
By
CHARLES COLLARD ADAMS, M. A.
Secretary-Treasurer of the Society of Middletown Upper Houses, Incorporated
THE GRAFTON PRESS
GENEALOGICAL PUBLISHERS NEW YORK MCMVIII
Copyright, 1908, by THE GRAFTON PRESS
(0^ To8
This Volume is respectfully dedicated to
MRS. HARRIET SAGE WHITE HARRISON.
who hears the names of two and is de- scended from others of the Founders of Middletoion Upper Houses, in grateful recognition of her early and constant in- terest in the work for which the Society of Middletown Upper Houses e.xists.
PREFACE
In jSTovember, 1855, a young man left his college halls for the neighboring village of Cromwell where he taught a winter school. In 1860 by marriage he renewed his interest in that community. Returning in 1888 to pass the remaining years of his life in com- parative quiet he gathered up here and there threads connecting those of the day with those of the formative period of this settle- ment. Little by little the interest deepened and broadened until the desire was born to bring together those of other places to where their honored ancestors had lived and died. And with this came the thought to put into permanent form the story of the records kept here and elsewhere. With the reunion in 1903 the plan was broached to publish a volume and the later reunions strengthened and gave effect to this purpose. The sympathy and encourage- ment from many directions have made of the toil a pleasant task. At the age of seventy-two the compiler of these pages has the satis- faction of expressing appreciation of all the assistance which has been rendered by many in many ways.
The Society of Middletown Upper Houses, Incorporated, has not only erected its memorials to Founders, Fathers, Pastors and Patriots, but has given its financial and moral support to the efforts of the compiler and without this aid the preliminary work could not have been brought to the point where the material was ready to go into the hands of the printer and publisher.
It could hardly be possible to make a list of the individuals who have given special assistance in the gathering of material and in the spreading of the spirit of enthusiasm and not overlook some one fully worthy of mention. He has cast his net on all sides and the result is given herewith.
To have had the honor of suggesting the name, unanimously adopted by the town on January the sixth. 1902, for our one fine school edifice, the day it was .first used for school purposes. The Nathaniel White Public School, is more highly prized than would have been the gift of a lucrative office. On the bronze tablet and on the printed page the school children of to-day and of to-morrow will read the names and recall the deeds of those who first settled here and who long ago rested from their labors.
In 1884 a centennial celebration commemorating the first Eng- lish settlement lievond the Germans in the Mohawk vallev was
viii PREFACE
held at Whitestown, Xew York, when clue honor was paid to Captain Hugh White who, with his sons, went from here in May, 1784, and constituted the first English family to settle in Central ISTew York. The Hon. William Mansfield White, a descendant of Capt. Hugh White who was a descendant of Capt. Nathaniel White, presided, and he uttered this sentiment:
" Eoyal blood is an inheritance. Noble blood, if it begets noble deeds, is a blessing. But above all and beyond all, is the inheri- tance of a pious. God-fearing, God-serving ancestry."
To have been privileged to set forth the records of such an ancestry is its own reward.
Cromwell, Connecticut. New Tear's Day, 1908.
CONTENTS
Articles of IncorpoRxVTIon, Society of Middletown Up- per Houses .....••• Life Members of the Society ..... Charter Members of the Society History of Middletown Upper Houses The Society of Middletown Upper Houses
Eeunion of the Society, 1905, including Addresses
Eeunion of the Society, 1907, including Addresses Descendants of Thomas Ranney
First Generation
Second Generation
Third Generation
Fourth Generation
Fifth Generation
Sixth Generation
Seventh Generation
Eighth Generation
Ninth Generation
William Ranney Line
Timothy Berry Ranney Line Family Genealogies .
The Bulkeley Family .
The Butler Family .
The Clark Family
The Doolittle Family
The Edwards Family
The Eells Family
The Gaylord Family .
The Gridley Family .
The Hall Family
The Hubbard Family
xvii xviii
XX
1 63
70 97 141 141 152 162 173 193 232 302 404 482 502 504 507 509 510 524 529 534 540 559 569 572 581
|
X CONTENTS |
|
|
PAGE |
|
|
The Hurlbut Family |
. 582 |
|
The Keith Family |
. 583 |
|
The Kelsey Family |
. 589 |
|
The Kirby Family ..... |
. 594 |
|
The L'Hommedieu Family |
. 607 |
|
The Prout Family |
■ . 609 |
|
The Eiley Family |
. 614 |
|
The Sage Family ..... |
. 621 |
|
The Savage Family ..... |
. 638 |
|
The Sheparcl Family |
. 668 |
|
The Eev._ Joseph Smith Family . . . . |
. 670 |
|
The Abner Smith Family .... |
. 675 |
|
The Stocking Family .... |
. 677 |
|
The Stow Family |
. 695 |
|
The Treat Family |
. 703 |
|
The Warner Family .... |
. 711 |
|
The White Family |
. 713 |
|
The Wilcox Family |
. 740 |
|
The Williams Family .... |
. 766 |
|
Appendix |
|
|
William Francis Joseph Boardman |
. 775 |
|
Eanney Addenda ..... |
. 777 |
|
Pardee Addenda ..... |
. 782 |
|
Index ....... |
. 785 |
ILLUSTRATIONS
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PORTRAITS
FACING PAGE
Adams, Arthur Ranney 300
Charles Collard 300
Charles Samuel Grldley 300
Mrs. Elizabeth Gridley 300
Miss Elizabeth Vix-ginia 300
James Mortimer 300
Baisden. Mrs. Martha (Ranney ) 393
Boardman, Arthur '''60
AVm. Francis Joseph 9<3
Bingham, Norton W 186
Brooks, Mrs. Jeannette (Ranney) 260
Lester Ranney 260
Brown, Henry Bascom 79
Butler, Capt. Daniel 517
Cameron, Mrs. Mabel Ward i09
Ward Griswold 108
Chamberlain, Mrs. Mary (Ranney) 261
Chase. Miss Ellen 665
Henry Savage 665
William Leverett 665
Clark, Samuel Wilson and Wife 472
Cummings, Mx-s. Sarah (Chase) 665
Donahoe, Daniel J 96
Doolittle, Charles Ranney ; 532
Rev. Edgar Jared 533
Edgar Jared 533
Eckels, Ransom , 186
Eells. Daniel 727
Dau Parmelee 554
Group at 1738 well 5.55
Rev. Edwards 516
Major Edwax'd 550
Rev. Edwards and Sons 548
Rev. Edwards and Daughters 549
Ralph Smith 551
SamueJ ." 550
Samuel Robert ' 551
Walter Gibbs 5.54
Faxon, Walter Collyer 96
Fisk-Forester, Mrs. Stella 355
Galpin. Henx'y Norris 754
Gaylord, Group 565
Gridley. Dr. Timothy Jones 516
Hall, David Augustus 576
xi
xii ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE
Hart, Ives William 229
John Jay 186
Samuel Ives and Wife 473
Hawes, Mrs. Polly ( Ranuey ) 355
Hough, Mrs. Mary ( Ranney ) 388
Johnson, Rev. James Riley, D. D 617
Jones, Mrs. Zenana Amelia (Ranuey) 228
Kingman, Mrs. Eliza Ann (Rauuey) 354
Mrs. Sarah Amelia (Rauney) 354
Knox, Mrs. Hannah (Ranney) 218
Latimer, Mrs. Anna ( Stocking) 690
Miss Mary Anu 690
L'Hommedieu, Mrs. Elizabeth (Gridley) 301
Lowe, Mrs. Abbie De Ette (Ranuey) 214
Macdonald, James H 761
Meigs, Col. Return Jonathan 56
Merrill, Mrs. Cornelia (Ranney) 300
Morgan, J. Pierpont 547
Parker, Mrs. Clarissa (Rauuey) 355
Porkess, Rev. William 96
Putnam, Gen. Israel 57
Ranney, 11 children of Elijah" 247
13 children of Dr. Waitstill Randolph 251
Abuer* 187
Abuers 215
Alfred Gardner 297
Ambrose Arnold 250
Amos Moore 490
Andrew Jackson and Family 306
Austin Sherman 229
Cassius Wells 215
Cecil J 358
Charles Thomas 450
Clifford Ira 296
Daniel Holland 358
Rev. Darwin Harlow 214
David Gardner 297
David Stocking • 389
Earl Eugene and children 187
Ebeuezer Goodhue 246
Rev. Edwin Hiram 389
Eli 218
Eliiah Crawford 246
Mrs. Elizabeth Gilchrist 388
Mrs. Elizabeth Gridley (L'Hommedieu) ,... 300
Franklin Eli 450
Dr. George Emery 358
George Henry 297
Miss Harriet Augusta 219
Harris Guernsev 186
Henrv Clav 271
Golden Wedding Group 3fiS
Henry Eugene 246
ILLUSTRATIONS xiii
FACING PAGE
Ranney, Henry Joseph 388
Mrs. Ida Louise ( luiiiau ) 219
James <^00
James K. P. aud grandson 494
James Mortimer 300
James Sumner 350
Jesse 350
John 2G1
John Goodhue 187
John Hathorne 194
Rev. Joseph Addison 296
Joseph Addison 296
Miss Julia Isabel 219
Lafayette 358
Lulve 351
Luke Frank 229
Luther Boardman 270
Lvman '■ ■ 218
Dr. Lyman Wells 215
Madison 359
IMoses 388
Nathan Cornelius 292
Oliver 187
Oliver 194
Oliver Franklin 187
Robert Burton 215
Robert Gibonev and Family 307
Royal Gilbert 292
Rufus Percival 271
Salvator Otis 491
Samuel Allen 354
Stei)hen 194
Sullivan 270
Thomas Stow 195
Dr. Waitstill Randolph 250
Walter Roy 296
Willett Phineas and Wife 451
William, artist 293
William Caton 194
William Keith 389
William Ostrander 494
William W 293
William and Wife 347
Willis 297
Willis Madison 359
Zenas Edwards 393
Rattle, Mrs. Elizabeth and Granddaughtoi- .")r.4
Reunion. Group in 1903 64
Group in 1904 65
G. A. R. in 1904 67
Children in 1904 66
Group in 1907 97
Richardson. Dr. John Henry and Wife 214
xiv ILLUSTRATIONS
Eichardson, Mrs. Sabra Ranney 354
Riley, Capt. James and Wife 616
James Watson 617
William Willshire 617
Roome. Mrs. Virginia ( Stocking) 691
Rossman, Mrs. Nettie ( Ranney ) 219
Sage. Col. Comfort and Wife 628
Capt. Nathan and Wife 630
Orrin 631
Savage, Henry Russell 51G
Capt. Timothy and Wife 664
Timothy, Jr.. and Wife 6(54
Stanton, Charles Henry 546
Stocking, Rev. C. H. W.. D. D 229
George Byrd 691
George Washburn and Wife 691
Capt. Horace 690
Justus 690
Philo Waslil)urn and Wife 691
Swenson, Mrs. Eliza Susan (Ranney) 346
Treat. Mrs. Julia (Ranney) 218
Miss Mila Hakes 711
Milo Clinton 710
Ward. Austin Merrels 108
Mrs. Delia Bidwell 108
Walden, Mrs. Josephine Idella (Ranney) 3-55
Walkley, Weebster Rogers 78
Wheeler. Frederick Benjamin and Family 495
Mrs. Mabel (Ranney) 495
White. Canvass 725
Charles Merrow 726
Chauncev Howard 732
Edward ' Luther 7.32
Henrv 733
Hugh 725
Mrs. Rebecca (Rannev) 389
William Mansfield 724
William Roland 7.33
Wightman. Mrs. Clarissa (Butler) 517
Rev. Frederick 517
Stillman King 517
Wilcox, Frank Langdon 763
Frederick William 516
Col. .Tonathan Samuel 755
Samuel Curtis 763
William Walter. Sr 762
William Walter. Jr. 762
Williams. Rev. .Joshua Lewis 769
Woodard, James Madison 3.59
Twins 3.59
ILLUSTBATIONS xv ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MISCELLANEOUS PICTURES
FACING PAGE
Atherton. Susan Clark, House of :Mrs 396
Bloomfield— Hall. Deed of 1642 577
Boardman, Jonathan, House of 29
Bronze Tablet 71
Crocker. Zebulon. Monument of Rev 768
Cromwell, 1900, Map of 99
Edwards, David, House of 537
Nathan, Hoiise of 537
Eells, Daniel, House of 588
Edward. Account with Capt. John Warner 548
Edward, Headstone of Major 543
Edward, House of Major 542
Edward, Tablestone of Rev 543
Evangeline, Unveiling of Bronze Tablet, July 19, 1905 70
Nathaniel, Headstone of 542
Gay lord. Samuel. Autograph of 28
Gridley, Samuel, Family Reeoord of 569
Timothy Jones, House of 568
Kelsey, Israel, House of 588
Kirby, Amos, Tavern of 61
Charles, House of 601
Elisha, Hotel of 600
Samuel, House of 601
Prospect Hill, 1835, View from 582
Prout. William, 1720, Drawing by 610
Ranney, Daniel s. Account with Capt. John Warner 149
Ebenezer -. Account with Capt. John Warner 149
Ephraim, Old Tavern of 397
Fletcher. House of 611
George, House of 350
George*, Tombstone of 536
Hannah -, Autographs of heirs of 155
John -. Autograpli of 154
Joseph -. Autograph of 154
Joseph -, Tombstone of 168
Joseph 3, Tombstone of 168
Joseph 3, Trees of 1725 169
Nathaniel, W^ooden Bottle of 589
Dr. Stephen. Commission of 369
Thomas i. Account with Capt. John Warner 148
Thomas -, Account with Capt. John Warner 674
Thomas -, Autograph of ". 154
Thomas i. House of 144
Thomas i. Tombstone of 145
Willett, House of .589
William, Family Monument 392
Sage, Comfort, Family Vault 629
David 1, Tombstone of 749
Ebenezer, Account with Capt. John Warner 148
Elisha, House of 628
William, House of 631
Savage, Abijah, House of 658
xvi ILLUSTRATION'S
FACING PAGE
Savage, Amos, Powder Horn of 658
Josiah, House of 659
Timothy, House of 659
Shepard, Jared, Great Oak 583
Smith, Abner, House of 675
Isabella, House of Mrs 396
Joseph. Autograph of Rev 28
Society Middletown Upper Houses, Life Certificate 98
Spencer, Samuel, House of 675
Family, Tombstones of 536
Stoughton Coat of Arms 582
House of 1635 582
St. Machar's Cathedral and Cemetery 583
Upper Houses, Group of old 670
Group of old 671
Old views 718
Warner. John, Family record of Capt 169
White, Aaron, House, Hotel Sign and Tombstone of 719
Nathaniel. Facsimile of Will 26
Nathaniel. Tombstone of 749
Nathaniel. Public School 27
Wilcox. Thomas. House of 748
Thomas, Tombstone of 749
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
SOCIETY OF MTDDLETOWN UPPEE HOUSES, IN- COEPOEATED.
BE IT KNOWN, That we, the subscribers, do hereby associate ourselves as a body politic and corporate, pursuant to the statute laws of the State of Connecticut regulating the formation and organization of corporations without capital stock, and the follow- ing are our articles of association:
Article 1. The name of said corporation shall be The Society of Middletown Upper Houses, Incorporated.
Article 2. The purposes for which said corporation is formed are the following, to wit:
To obtain title to and to hold the plot of land on which our memorials do and are to stand; to foster the spirit of reverence' for our ancestors; to hold reunions of our members and of other descendants of families of Middletown Upper Houses; and to gather and to disseminate information historical, genealogical, and biographical concerning Middletown Upper Houses and its families.
Article 3. The said corporation is located in the Town of Crom- well, County of Middlesex, and State of Connecticut.
Dated at Cromwell this 19th day of July, 1905.
S. 0. Eanney, * Charles H. Stanton,
Frank L. Wilcox, Charles Collard Adams, Wm. Eoland White, M. C. Treat.
Names of Subscribers.
xviii LIFE MEMBEES
State of Connecticut, \ ,^ County of Middlesex, i'^'
Then and there personally appeared S. 0. Eanney, Charles H. Stanton, Frank L. AVilcox, Charles Collard Adams, William Eoland White, and M. C. Treat, signers of the foregoing instrument and acknowledged the same to be their free act and deed, before me,
Arthur Boardman, Approved, July 27, 1905. Notary Public.
Theodore Bodenwein,, Secretary, per A. E. Parsons. State of Connecticut, \ Office of the Secretary. ^
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of record in this office, and of the endorsement of approval thereon.
IN TESTIMONY WHEEEOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said State, at Hartford, this 27th dav of July, A. D., 1905.
Theodore Bodenwein, Secretary. [seal] ■
LIFE MEMBERS*
SOCIETY OF MIDDLETOWN UPPEE HOUSES, INCOE^
POEATED.
Mrs. Elizabeth Eells Abbott, Clinton, New York.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gridley Adams, Cromwell, Conn.
Mrs. Eli Melville Ashley, Denver, Col.
William Francis Joseph Boardman. Hartford. Conn.
Miss Abby Anna Bradley, Hingham. Mass.
Anson Strong Brooks, Minneapolis, Minn.
Philip Ranney Brooks. Minneapolis, Minn.
Mrs. Mabel Ward Cameron, Allston, Mass.
Miss Ellen Chase, Brookline, Mass.
Mrs. Julia Jones Crary. Hooperston, 111.
Ferris Edward Davis. Delhi. N. Y.
Mrs. Mary Eliza Horton Davis, Albany, N. Y.
Edgar Jared Doolittle, Meriden, Conn.
t Melatiah Everett Dwight, D. D.
Ransom Eckels, Arlington, Wash.
Howard Parmelee Eells. Cleveland. O.
Walter Gibbs Eells. Philadelphia. Pa.
Mrs. Walter Collyer Faxon, Hartford, Conn.
Mrs. Stella Fisk-Forester. Taplin, Ida.
* Being those who have contributed ten dollars or more for the work of the Society. t Dead.
LIFE MEMBERS xix
Mrs. Lawrence Bertram Flint. Needham, Mass.
Miss Clara Cornelia Fuller, Ossining, N. Y.
Miss Ruth Galpin, Berlin, Conn.
Francis Goodwin, D. D., Hartford, Conn.
James Junius Goodwin, Hartford. Conn.
Mrs. Albert Stevens Hall, Winchester, Mass.
David Augustus Hall, Portland, Conn.
Mrs. Harriet Sage Harrison, Leete's Island, Conn.
Newman Hungerford. Hartford, Conn.
William Latimer. Wilmington, N. C.
Russell W. Lowe. M. D., Ridgefield, Conn.
*Mrs. William McPherson, Jr.
John Pierpont Morgan, New York City.
Jesse Homan Pardee, Meadville, Pa.
Andrew Jackson Ranney, Osawotamie. Kan.
Cornelius John Ranney. Cleveland, O.
Charles Percival Ranney, Cleveland, O.
Charles Thomas Ranney, Greenville, Mich.
Ebenezer Goodhue Ranney, Homer, N. Y.
Fletcher Ranney, Boston. Mass.
Frederick Eli Ranney, Greenville, Mich.
George Emery Ranney, M. D., Lansing, Mich.
George Henry Ranney, St. Paul, Minn.
Henry Clay Ranney, Cleveland, O.
Henry Eugene Ranney. Cortland. N. Y.
James Knox Polk Ranney, Osawotamie. Kan.
John Goodhue Ranney, Syracuse, N. Y.
Joseph Pope Ranney, New York City.
Lemuel Sears Ranney, Hillsdale, Mich.
Luther Kelsey Ranney, Peninsula, O.
Maria Serena Ranney, Austin, Minn.
♦Nathan Cornelius Ranney.
Robert Burton Ranney, New Castle, Pa.
Robert Giboney Ranney, Cape Girardeau. Mo.
Royal Gilbert Ranney. Little York, 111.
Salvador Otis Ranney, Windsor Locks, Conn.
Miss Sarah Maria Ranney, Peninsula. O.
Walter Roy Ranney, Arkansas City, Kan.
Willett George Ranney. Cleveland O.
William Ostrander Ranney, Osawotamie, Kan.
Zenas Edwards Ranney, Middletown, Conn.
William James Rattle, Cleveland, O.
John INIack Richardson. Medfield, Mass.
Frederick H. Sage, M. D., Middletown, Conn.
William H. Sage, Albany, N. Y.
Albert Russell Savage, Portland, Me.
Charles Henry Stanton, Clinton. N. Y.
Edgar Blood Stocking, Washington. D. C.
George Washburn, Stocking, Sisterville. W. Va.
Mrs. Ole S. Swenson. Soux Falls. So. Dak.
Milo Clinton Treat, Washington, Pa.
Mrs. Flora Alice Wilcox Turney, Chicago, 111.
Mrs. Hattie Baldwin Wellman. Friendship. N. Y.
Mrs. Mabel Ranney Wheeler. Pittsburg, Kan.
*Dead.
XX CHAETER MEMBERS
George Luther White, Waterbury, Conn. Mrs. Mary Elizabeth White, Springfield, Mass. Frank Langdon Wilcox, Berlin, Conn. Frederick Peck Wilcox, New York City. George Horace Wilcox, Meriden, Conn. John Keyes Williams, Hartford, Cann. James Madison Woodard. Greenfield. Mass.
CHARTER MEMBERS*
SOCIETY OF MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES, INCOR- PORATED.
William Pratt Abbott Lake Charles, La.
Arthur Ranney Adams, Hartford, Conn.
Artina Marguerite Adams. Hartford, Conn.
Charles Collard Adams, Cromwell, Conn.
Elizabeth Virginia Adams, Cromwell. Conn.
Gridley Adams, New Rochelle, N. Y.
Harriet Boyington Adams, Hartford, Conn.
James Mortimer Adams, Hartford, Conn.
Josephine Janice Adams. New Rochelle, N. Y.
Mrs. Leola Sarah Adams, Howard, R. I.
Mrs. Henry Clay Aldrich, Minneapolis, Minn.
George Allen, Adams, N. Y.
Theodore Anderson, Cromwell, Conn.
Reese Gates Applegate, Sikeston, Mo.
Eli Melville Ashley, Denvei', Col.
Frank Riley Ashley, Denver, Col.
Ralph E. Ashley, Denver, Col.
Andrew Jackson Atherton. Livermore. Ky.
Romeo Atherton, Livermore, Ky.
Mrs. Harriet E. Bailey, Dunkirk, N. Y.
Mrs. Martha Gaylord Bailey, Cleveland, O. • Theodore Orson Bailey, Cleveland, O.
*Rev. William Ranney Baldwin.
Mrs. Louise Bestor Barbour, Hartford, Conn.
Charles M. Beardslee. Blodgett. Mo.
John M. Beardslee, Blodgett. Mo.
*Mi's. Marie Louise Bestor.
Mrs. Jennie S. Bewick, Madison, Wis.
George Herbert Blanden, Springfield, Mass.
Arthur Boardman, Cromwell, Conn.
Charles E. Booth. New York City.
Emily Stocking Brandegee. Berlin, Conn.
Florence Stocking Brandegee, Berlin, Conn.
Katherine Brandegee, Berlin, Conn.
t John E. Brandegee.
Mrs. William H. Bridge, Spokane, Wash.
Mrs. Heni-y Bascom Brown, East Hampton, Conn.
Mrs. Margaret Drake Buckingham, Minneiska, Minn.
Mrs. Frederick Burckhardt, Cincinnati, O.
* Being those who have contributed one dollar or more, but less than ten dollars, for the work of the Society.
t Dead.
CHARTER MEMBERS xxi
Lucy P. Bush, New Haven, Conn.
Charles A. Butler, Utica, N. Y.
Mrs. E. L. Campbell, Comstock, N. Y.
James Willett Chamberlain, Akron, Ohio.
Marian Gertrude Chamberlain, Akron, Ohio.
Robert Savage Chase, Brookline, Mass.
Mrs. G. G. Chauncey, Fulton, N. Y.
Henry Chauncey, New York City.
Mrs. Alexander B. Clark, Ox Bow, N. Y.
Mrs. George Clark, Ames, Kan.
Samuel Wilson Clark, New Britain, Conn.
Mrs. J. A. Cochran, Cincinnati, O.
Mrs. A. L. Conger, Akron. O.
Mrs Martha Ranney Cooper, Great Kills, S. I.
Mrs. Horace Bassett Corner. Cleveland, O.
E. E. Cornwall, M. D., Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mrs. A. S. Cotton, Clifton Springs. N. Y.
William Ranney Crary, Willoughby, O.
Henry Savage Chase Cummings, Brookline, Mass.
Lincoln Clifford Cummings, Brookline, Mass.
Rosamond Cummings, Brookline, Mass.
William Leverett Cummings, Brookline, Mass.
Mary Ranney Cutting, Westminster West, Vt.
Mrs. Grace Ranney Diamond, Gaithersburg, Md.
Mrs. Julia B. Dillaby, Somersville, Mass.
Mrs. P. H. Dudley, New York City,
Mrs. Georgia L. Durley, New Haven, Conn.
*Benjamin M. Dyer.
Erastus Ranney Ellis, M. D., Detroit, Mich.
Rev. Edward Eells, Fall River, Mass.
Mrs. H. B. Eells, Unadilla, N. Y.
Herbert Eells, Philadelphia, Pa.
John H. Eells, Pittsfield, Mass.
Mrs. Carrie M. Evans, Akron. O.
William H. Evans, Sr., Akron, O.
William H. Evans, Jr., Akron, O.
Anna L. Francis, Glenbrook, Conn.
Mrs. Amasa A. Fuller, Warren, Vt.
*Fred E. Garrett.
Ethel G. Gaylord. Cleveland, O.
John A. Gaylord, Cuyahoga Falls, O.
Mrs. James A. Grantier. Forestville, N. Y.
Mrs. H. L. Gregory, Vincennes, Ind.
Mrs. Mary Ranney Hadcock, Watertown, N. Y.
Mrs. Maria Carr Hale, Winterset, la.
Harriet Wells Hale, Winterset," la.
*0. W. Hale.
Lizzie M. Harrison. West Winfield, N. Y.
C. R. Hart, M. D., New Hartford, N. Y
*Edmund Benjamin Hart.
Ellen Delia Hart, Meriden, Conn.
James Riley Hodder. Brookline, Mass.
Mrs. Mahala Riley Hodder, Brookline, Mass.
Sylvester AV. Hoffman, Zanesville, O.
*Dead.
xxii CHARTER MEMBERS
Jonathan J. Holland, New Hartford, la.
Mrs. A. L. Holman, Chicago, 111.
Winslow Holmes, Shellrock, la.
John Hough, Spartansburg, Ind.
Herbert Housel, Noblesville, Ind.
E. Kent Hubbard, Jr., Middletown, Conn.
Mrs. Amanda A. Hull, Warren, Vt.
Mrs. Zldana Humphrey, Nuchols, Ky.
Mrs. H. M. Hurd, Baltimore, Md.
Mrs. H. B. Hurlbut, Cleveland, O.
Mrs. John Ives, jNIeriden, Conn.
L. Howard Ives, Meriden, Conn.
Charles Eben Jackson, Middletown, Conn.
Robert Nesmith Jackson. Middletown, Conn.
Alice Cary Johnson, Nyack, N. Y.
James Riley Johnson. D. D., Nyack, N. Y.
Mrs. Ora Storm King. Livermore. Ky.
Augusta F. Kingmau, Northampton, Mass.
Edward Paysou Kirby, Jacksonville, 111.
Samuel Hubbard Kirby, New Haven, Conn.
John Klingelhofer, Turlock, Cal.
Mrs. Harriet Jane Knight, Kingston, Wis.
Abbie Knox, Cuyahoga Falls, O.
Mrs. Theodore R. Lake, Central City, Col.
INIrs. Maria Olivia Le Brun, Montelair, N. J.
Mrs. Aucetta Lewis. Middletown, Conn.
H. Wales Lines, Meriden. Conn.
Mrs. William H. Lockie. Rossie, N. Y.
Mrs. Almira Ranney Lunnie, North Troy, Vt.
Mrs. Frances Raiuiey Lybrand, Washington. D. C.
Caroline Hamilton Macniel, Buffalo, N. Y.
Mrs. Harriet Cornelia Macniel. Buffalo, N. Y.
E. A. Markham, M. D., Durham, Conn.
Mrs. Viva Martin, Greenville, Ky.
Mrs. H. McBurney, Phelps. N. Y.
Sarah Stowe Merwiu. Hartford, Conn.
A. E. Merritt, "Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Helen M. Munroe, Cortland, N. Y.
Mrs. A. J. Muzzy. Bristol, Conn.
p:]lizabeth Todd Nash. Madison, Conn.
Mrs. Lydia B. Newcomb. New Haven, Conn.
Catherine ^I. North. Berlin. Conn.
New York Historical Society, 170 2d Ave., New York City.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hamlin Olmstead, Pasadena. Cal.
Mrs. Vesta C. Owen. Utica. Kentucky.
Seth Paddock. Cromwell. Conn.
Mrs. D. E. Penfield, Warren, Mass.
Mrs. A. N. Pierson, Cromwell, Conn.
Frederick Solomon Pinney. West Haven. Conn.
Mrs. James P. Piatt. Meriden, Conn.
Margery Piatt. Meriden. Conn.
Mrs. Cornelia Pomeroy, Graham. N. C.
Mrs. Mary Butler Price. Utica. N. Y.
D. B. Prout. Ashland, N. Y.
*Mrs. Emma Snow Puffer.
CHAETER MEMBERS
Alvor M. Ranney, Hudsouville, Mich.
Alice M. Ranney, Groton, N. Y.
Alfred Patterson Ranney, Westminster West, Vt.
Anne Ranney, Pittsburg, Kan.
Arthur Edwin Ranney, Springfield, Mass.
Barzillai Frank Ranney, Taberg, N. Y.
Charles A. Ranney, Hartfoi'd, Conn.
Charles F. Ranney, Newport, Vt.
Charles Garfield Ranney, Mohawk, N. Y.
Charles Henry Ranney, Boston, Mass.
Comfort Ranney, De Witt, Mich.
Crawford Ranney, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
David S. Ranney, Moodus, Conn.
Earl Eugene Ranney, Cleveland, O.
Rev. Edwin H. Ranney, Philadelphia, Pa.
Elizabeth Ranney. Jackson, Mo.
Eli W. Ranney, Greenville, Mich.
*Eli.iah Crawford Ranney.
Fayette Silas Ranney, Storm Lake, la.
Franc M. Ranney. New Yoi'k City.
Francis Leroy Ranney, Algona. la.
Frank George Ranney, Rochester, N. Y.
Frederick Dean Ranney, No. Bennington. Vt.
George A. Ranney, Cannonsburg, Mich.
George F. Ranney, Anaconda, Mont.
George G. Ranney, Chicago, 111.
Harriet A. Ranney, Chicago. 111.
Harris Guernsey Ranney, Pittsfield, Vt.
Herbert Hawthorne Ranney, Cape Girardeau. Mo.
Hiram H. Ranney, Mohawk, N. Y.
*Harrison Jackson Ranney.
Henry Charles Ranney. Willliamsburg. Mass.
Henry Porteus Ranney. Putney, Vt.
Mrs. Hiram Mason Ranney, Northfield, Minn.
Howard A. Ranney. South Hadley, Mass.
James Parham Ranney. McMullen. Mo.
Jennie P. Ranney, Concord, Vt.
Joel Cyrus Ranney, Ames, Kan.
Joseph Addison Ranney, Arkansas City. Kan.
Julia I. Ranney, Chicago, 111.
Keith I. Ranney. Cleveland, O.
Laura Ranney, Jackson, Mo.
*Luke Frank Ranney.
Lynn A. Ranney, Cleveland, O.
Mabel Ranney, Los Angeles. Cal.
Mary Eliza Ranney, Penfield. N. Y.
Mary Gayle Ranney, Jackson. Mo.
Matthias Guy Ranney, San Antonio, Texas.
Nathan Huse Ranney, Marlboro, Mass.
Nellie M. Ranney, Concord, Vt.
Orlando B. Ranney. M. D., Kalamazoo, Mich.
Perry C. Ranney, Elkhorn, Wis.
*Philip M. Ranney.
R. L. Ranney. Chicago. 111.
Raymond Ralph Ranney, Springfield, Mass.
CHAKTEE MEMBERS
*Keuben W. Raiiney.
Robert B. Ranney, Cleveland, O.
Sarah Kinney Ranney, Cleveland. O.
Willis Edward Ranney, Springfield, Mass.
William Stillwell Ranney, Cleveland, O.
Susan E. Ranney, Cleveland, O.
William Henry Ranney, Derry, N. H.
W. L. Ranney, Orange, Mass.
*W. S. Ranney.
William W. Ranney, Austin, Minn.
Willis Leland Ranney, Springfield, Mass.
Mrs. Frances Elizabeth Risley, Hartford, Conn.
William M. Risley, Hartford, Conn.
Cyrus Root, Laurel, Md.
Mrs. Nettie Ranney Rossman, Paola, Kan.
A. B. Sage, Shefiield, Mass.
George H. Sage, Hartford, Conn.
Ira Yale Sage, Sr., Atlanta. Ga.
John Hall Sage, Portland, Conn.
Mrs. F. E. Sanford, La Grange, 111.
E. A. Savage, Southampton, Pa. Charles C. Savage, Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Emma D. Schenk, ^Nlaywood. 111. Chloe Savage Seymour, Kenwood, N. Y.
F. A. Short, Grove City, Pa.
Mrs. Frederick Simmons, Sanquoit, N. Y.
Mrs. Isabelle Sage Sloan. Hartford, Conn.
H. N. Snow, Durham, N. C.
A. C. Smith, Livermore, Ky.
George Richmond Smith, Cromwell. Conn.
Mrs. Howard Smith, Watertown, Conn.
Jackson Wolcot Sparrow, Cincinnati, O.
Mrs. Maud Ranney Starkweather, Ash Fork. Arizona.
Mrs. Spencer Solomon Steele, Beloit, Wis.
W. H. Stephens, Lowville, N. Y.
C. A. Stephens, Cincinnati, O.
Mrs. Charles H. Stevens, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Rev. Charles Elliott St. John, Brookline, Mass.
Rev. Amer M. Stocking, Onarga, 111.
Charles H. Stocking, New York City.
Mrs. R. S. Taft, Burlington, Vt.
Mary Kingsbury Talcott, Hartford, Conn.
Mrs. Laura Butler Taylor, Louisville. Ky.
Mrs. I. N. Terry, Utica, N. Y.
*Mrs. Priscilla E. Throne.
*John D. Tibbits.
Mrs. John Henry Trent, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mrs. Joseph R. Walden, Spruce Corner, Mass.
Mrs. William A. Waterbury,, New Haven, Conn.
Mrs. Caroline A. Wheeler, Northport, L. I.
Aaron Johnson White. Hammond. La.
A. L. White. Peirce City, Mo.
Anna M. White, Utica. N. Y.
Anna S. White, Waterbury, Conn.
Charles Carroll White, Utica, N. Y.
CHARTEE MEMBEES xxv
Cornelia B. White, Utica, N. Y.
Delancey P. White, Utica, N. Y.
Florilla M. White, Utica, N. Y.
Henry Hobart White. St. Paul, Minn.
Hugh White, Utica. N. Y.
H. Lawrence White, Utica, N. Y.
Isabel White, Utica, N. Y.
John Dolbear White, Utica. N. Y.
Mary P. White, Utica. N. Y.
Richard Allyn White. Greenwich, Conn.
William Pierrepout White. Utica. N. Y.
William Roland White, Westfield, Mass.
Mrs. H. K. Wight. Indian Orchard. Mass.
F. B. Wightman. New Rochelle, N. Y.
Henry White Wilcox. Winsted. Conn.
jNIarius W. Wilcox. Middletown, Conn.
F. H. Williams, M. D., Bristol. Conn.
Frances Hart Williams, Bristol. Conn.
Mrs. Idella M. Williams, Winsted, Conn.
J. G. Williams. Holland Patent. N. Y.
Anna F. Willis. Canon City, Col.
Mrs. Frances M. Willis, Colorado Springs, Col.
Stanley J. Willis, Cripple Creek. Col.
James P. Wilson. Youngstown. O.
Mrs. James S. Wilson. Concord. Mass.
Mrs. Martha E. Wood. Shelburne Falls, Mass.
Mrs. L. Jerome Woolsey, Rochester. N. Y.
Rodney P. Wright, Cambridge, Mass.
HISTORY OF MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
HISTORY OF MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
The Settlement
Hardly had the Puritans been settled in and around Boston than there was a disposition to swarm, after the manner of bees. The Connecticut River had been discovered both by the Dutch and the English. The former established themselves at Saybrook on the west bank of the river at its mouth, and at Hartford on the west bank at a place still called "Dutch Point." In 1633 William Holmes, with a party of colonists, sailed up the river, bringing with them the frame and other materials which they had prepared for erecting a house. When they reached Dutch Point he found that the Dutch had built a light fort and planted two pieces of artillery. Notwithstanding their threats to fire upon him, he passed this fort, proceeded up the river six miles, landed on the west side near the mouth of what is the Farmington River, and erected and fortified his house there. This, it is said, was the first house erected in Connecticut.
During the summer of 1635 others came and planted settlements at Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield. In 1636 the population was increased by the arrival at Hartford of the Rev. Thomas Hooker and his congregation from Cambridge, 100 in all. A con- gregation came from Dorchester to Windsor and another from Watertown to Wethersfield. Courts were early established, the first being held at Hartford, April 26, 1636 ; the second at Wind- sor, June 7, and the third, September 1. These courts consisted of two principal men from each town, and were invested with all the legislative and judicial powers and functions of the colony. The population of the three towns on the river and the garrison at Saybrook had reached about 800 persons.
In 1635 John Winthrop, " Governor of the River Connecticut," had reached Saybrook and built a fort. The Pequot Indians in 1636 laid siege to the fort and killed some of the inhabitants. Thereupon a court was held at Hartford and steps were taken for self-defense which meant the extermination of the Pequot tribe. An expedition of ninety men from the three towns, joined by friendly Mohegans under Uncas, descended the river to Saybrook in 1637, attacked the Pequots at Groton and captured their fort. Those who escaped fled to the westward but were pursued to what is the southwest corner of 'the State and were captured.
4 MIDDLETOWN UPPEE HOUSES
In 1638 a settlement was made at New Haven. On the 14th of January, 1639, the free planters of Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield convened at Hartford and adopted a written con- stitution, the preamble of which stated it was to preserve " the libberty and purity of the Gospell and the regulation of civil af- fairs." On the 4th of June, 1639, the free planters of Quinnipiack, or New Haven, met and formed a civil and religious organization. The former was a democracy under the guiding mind of the Eev. Thomas Hooker; the latter was a theocracy under the Eev. John Davenport. In 1639 Milford and Guilford were founded in the colony of New Haven, the one on the east and the other on the west of, and both adjacent to, New Haven. In the same year Fairfield and Stratford were founded under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. In 1639 the commonwealth of Saybrook was founded by Colonel George Fenwick. In 1644 the colony of Connecticut purchased from Colonel Fenwick for £1600 the jurisdictional right in the colony of Saybrook. In 1643 the colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven formed a confederacy for mutual safety under the name of the " United Colonies of New England." IBetween 1640 and 1650 other settlements were made on Long Island Sound.
As a consequence of travel by land and by water between Hart- ford, Windsor and Wethersfield on the north and the settlements on the Sound to the southward a knowledge was obtained of the conditions of the land along the west bank of the Connecticut Eiver. Mattabesett stood on high ground, at the parting of the ways, fourteen miles south of the center of Hartford. To the southeast the Connecticut Eiver made a sharp bend, reaching thirty miles to Saybrook, and along its bank was the primitive road to Saybrook. To the southwest, and through a valley, stretched the primitive roadway to New Haven. In 1639 the General Court of Connecticut made record as follows:
" The menifold insolencyes that have beene offered of late by the Indians, putt the Court in mind of that w'ch hath beene too long neglected, viz. : the execution of justice upon the former murtherers of the English and it was uppon serious consideracon and debate thought necessary and accordingly determine^, that some speedy course be taken herein, and for effecting hereof it was concluded that 100 men be levyed and sent down to Mat- tabesecke, where severall guilty persons reside and have beene harbored by Soheage, notwithstanding all means by way of persuation have beene formerly used to him for surrendering them upp into or hands; and it is thought fit that these coun-
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 5
sells be imparted to or friends at Quiunipi [ocke] that prvition may be made for the safety of the new plantaeons, and upon their joynt consent to precede or desist."
Sowheag had resided at Wethersfield, and after selling that tract to the settlers there had removed to " Mattabesecke." Pequots had gone up to Wethersfield, killed six men and three women, had carried away two girls, and had taken refuge with Sowheag at Mattabesett. This tended to increase the trouble, but the New Haven colony did not accept the invitation. In consequence of these disturbances no effort had been made to effect a settlement at Mattabeseck.
October 30, 1646, " Mr. Phelps is appoynted w"^ the Com°^ittee for the planting Matabezeke," a name written in various ways.
''Mar. 20, 1649-50 And Sammuell Smith senior, of Wethers- field, to the Comittee about the lands at Mattabeseck, in the roome of Jeames Boosy." This committee reported that these lands might support fifteen families. From the lower part of Wethers- field, first known as Stepney and now as Rocky Hill, to Middletown proper there was but one place where the land on the bank of the river was suitable for a settlement. This one favorable location had high land from north to south of about one hundred rods, ending in a swamp at the north end, while on the south the land was too low for habitation for a distance of a stretch of two miles to the Sebethe, or Little River, Westward there was .a swamp, making a ridge of one hundred rods in length and eighty rods in width. South of the Sebethe the land is elevated and was most favorably situated for a settlement. Half a mile back from the river rose " Indian Hill " where Sowheag had his wigwams.
In 1650 settlements were begun " north of the riverett," some- times written " riverlet," and also " south of the riverett." The former in the records is termed "the north side." In 1707 SamueP Wilcox bought of George^ Stocking the homestead of the deceased SamueP Stocking, situated in " uper houses."
The general court of 1651 stated:
" It is ordered sentenced and decreed that Mattabeseck shall bee a Towne, and that they shall make choyce of one of theire inhabitants according to order in that case, that so hee may take the oath of a Constable, the next convenient season,
" It is ordered that Mattabeseck and Norwaulk shall be rated this present year in their proporcon, according to the rule of rating in the Country, for theire cattle, and other visible estate, and that ISTorwaakk shall present to Mr. Ludlow, and Mattabe-
6 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
seek to Mr. Wells, in each Towne one inhabitant, to bee sworne by them Constables in theire severall Townes."
In 1652 the General Court authorized Thomas Lord of Hart- ford to act in all the towns " both for setting of bones and other- wise, as at all times, occasions and necessityes may or shal require." His fees were fixed. " To any house in Mattabeseck, eight shil- lings."
oP.-^^
PLAH OF
MIDDLETOWN
"/^ORTH Of THE RIVERET^
^0T£ ne names o/ Permct77cd6-
;JOHn-Savage| |4 %
From September, 1652, to September, 1653, and in May and October, 1655, William Smith represented the town in the Gen- eral Court; John Hall, Jr., in May, 1653; William Cornwell in May and October, 1654; Thomas Wetmore in September, 1654; Robert Webster from September, 1653, to May, 1655, in May, and October, 1656, in October, 1657, in October, 1658, and in May, 1695; George Grave from October. 1657, to October, 1658; Samuel Stocking, ten sessions from May, 1658, to October, 1681. Xathan-
HISTORY OF THE UPPEE HOUSES 7
iel White was almost continually a member from October, 1659, to October, 1710, his death at 82 occurring in August, 1711. William Smith was the first land recorder and the first page of volume one is a fair sample of his style of penmanship. His home lot was the property now occupied by the Catholic church in Middletown. Eobert Webster was appointed recorder in 165i.
Nov. 23, 1653, " This Court approueves that the name of the Plantatyon commonly caled Mattabesick shall for time to come bee Middelltowne."
In 1652 a log church was erected, by the side of the home lot of Thomas Allyn, where now stands the huge boulder with its bronze tablet erected at the time of the celebration in 1900. of the 250th anniversary of the settlement of the town. But this " set- tlement " included the " north side " as well as the " south side," and these twins were not disjoined till 1851, when the " north of the riverett " became the town of Cromwell.
The settlement " north of the riverett " bordered on the river as far as high land extended. The street running north and south, now known as Pleasant Street, was 38 rods back from, and parallel to, the river and 78 rods in length. There being a swamp north of Nathaniel White's, a low meadow south of Savage's, Bloom- field's, and Martin's, and a swamp west of Pleasant Street, an engineer must have located Pleasant Street; for during the times of high fioods this settlement became an island. Five three-acre lots were set off on the east side of Pleasant Street, and the same quantity to White, Savage, Martin and Bloomfield. Later ' a two-acre lot on the west side of Pleasant Street was granted to each of the five residing on the east side of that street and the same kindness was shown to the others by enlarging their " home lots." Such was the extent of the provision for the settlers.
Lands in various directions were recorded as " grants " to the settlers and almost from the first " Pistol Point, Little Meadow, Dead Swamp, Pound Meadow, Goose's Delight, Timber Hill, Wolf Pit Hill, Boggy Meadow, Fur Neck, Hither Neck " were and jtill are familiar names.
sxiii are laminar names. ^
yctoe
By 1659 Webster and Grave had returned to Hartford, and Smith and Treat to Wethersfield, the two latter on March 10, 1657, having transferred their combined homesteads to John Wilcox, who soon transferred it to Samuel Hall and removed to Dor- chester, Mass., but returned a few years later. In 1653 the General
8 ^MIDDLETOWX UPPEK HOUSES
Court had ordered John- Wilcox to occupy his grant or find a suitable substitute. John Kirby had purchased George Grave's 2-acre lot on the west side of the highway. In 1G55 a pound, 50 X 66 feet, had been located south of this lot in which stray cattle were to be impounded. For several years no one came to occupy the west side 3-acre lots of Webster, Smith, and Treat, while Thomas Eany and John Warner had been granted the home- steads of Grave and Webster, respectively, on the east side of the highway. The next arrival was David Sage. On May 10, 1663, the town meeting voted to him a " house lott on the other side the riveret on the other side the Highway beyond the corner of Goodman White his fence on the west side of the Highway to Hartford, siding by Goodman Stockins lott soe much as may not prejudice the Highway or outlett of the cattel which the Inhabi- tants on that side shall determine and Bound According to their discretion." Instead of building on this grant David, who had looked with longing eyes on Mary Kirby, preferred to locate next to his prospective father-in-law. On May 9, 1665, there was recorded to him twelve square rods " whereon his house standeth,'^ a very limited area for a " house lott " in that day. Just before that the town had " ordered that Eobert Warner shall forthwith see what the town hath suffered by David Sage's pulling down
the and so to get the town rited for soon as may be in that
case." The trouble seems to have been settled, for soon David is given five acres from his " father," John Kirby, adjoining his small " home lot " in exchange for that first granted to Mr. Sage " for a home lot." John Kirby in time established his son Joseph thereon. In 1695 Joseph sold it to Kathaniel W^iite for his son Jacob and it remained in the White family till a few years ago. David Sage had. pre-empted the town pound of " twelve square rods " and had to settle for so doing.
On Dec. 23, 1663, the town granted to Thomas Hubbard "five acres for a home lot and five acres additional where will be most convenient for him and not inconvenient for the town, he ingaging to build upon it and not to make sale of it till he hath inhabited upon it 4 years." The committee. White, Warner and Stocking, located it on the three 2-acre lots which had ])een granted to Web- ster, Smith and Treat. He built his house on the southeast cor- ner. Wilcox, in 1657, had sold his Smith-Treat purchase to Samuel- Hall (John), and, it is said, had removed to Dorchester, Mass., but had returned, for on Nov. 1, 1665 Hubbard deeded to him three acres and one house " where J. Wilcox occupieth." While Hubbard did not observe the four-year limit, it may be that as he had built his own house near the southeast corner of
HISTOEY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 9
his lot, it was considered that he had not violated the spirit of the grant. His 1663-4 well-curb now adorns " Stocking Triangle."
On Nov. 6, 1666, the settlement seems to have reached its limit, for it extended Samnel Stocking's 2-acre west side lot to be
9 acres, John Kirby's to 8 acres, and Thomas Hubbard's to 2-4 acres, " first given to Joseph Smith, Eobert Webster and Matthias Treat."
In March, 1666, there was granted to " Thomas Wetmore a
house lot for himself or son on the north side the riverlet next
' to John Savage's swamp, abutting on the highway which comes
straight up to John Savage's between him and Thomas Hubbard,
abutting on John Warner's south and the highway west, to be
10 or 12 acres." Similar grants were given to Obadiah Allen and Samuel Egelstone. But all sold out these rights without building and it was scores of years before any houses were erected on these grants.
The next addition of an inhabitant was Thomas Stow, Jr., to whom on March 17, 1678-79 there was granted " a piece of land at the rear of David Sage's and Deacon Stocking's and Joseph Kirbie's on the north of ,that which was granted to John Wil- cock's as the land will alow not prejudicing highways." The com- mittee to lay it out was " Lieut. White, Deacon Stocking and Samuel Hall." But as Mr. Stow's father-in-law. Deacon Stock- ing, chose to build for his daughter, Mrs. Stow, on a tract on the road to Hartford next north of jSTathaniel White's, Mr. Stow never " improved " this grant. He sold it to John Caton, who failed to improve it. The south part was sold by them to Samuel Gipson and the north part became the cemetery of 1713. In 1687 Edward Shepherd came for a bride in the person of Abigail - Savage and he received a grant on the west side of the road to Hartford and on the site of the present Congregational church. John Clark of Haddam found a bride in the person of Elizabeth White, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel White, and purchased the south half of the original Thomas Hubbard place. He was son of William Clarke of Haddam, who is recorded as having been servant to John Crow of Hartford. He occupied till 1731 the house built in 1663-4 by Thomas Hubbard, and gave the property to his son John, who became, 1737, the first settler in East Hampton on what is known as Clark's Hill, where he lived to an advanced age, giving each son a farm.
On April 29, 1669, it was "voted and agreed that on the north side the river these lands shall lye comon forever. This land l)uteth on Thomas Hubbards home lot which the town voted him for a home lot and David Sages and Samuel Stockings and John
10 MIDDLETOW?^ UPPER HOUSES
Kirbys and Thomas Hubbards east and on Thomas Wetmores and Obadiah Allins and Samuel Egelstones land south and the Stony brook [now Chestnut Brook] west, John Savage's wood lot north." There had been great trouble in deciding as to how much land each " inhabitant " was entitled and for some years the discussion had waxed warm. Finally on —
" March the on and twentieth 1670 or 71. The towne voted and agreed to present there request and seek the help of Cap- tayne John Talcot and Leif tenant John Alin in these pertieque- lers, following
" first, conserning the true proprietours of the plantation whether the present accepted inhabitants are not for to be ac- counted who are or shal be esteemed inhabitants to whom the propriaty_ of undivided lands belong unto.
" secondly, conserning the rule of the devision of undevided lands, whither by poll or persons and estats, or by the contry [country tax] list only, or some other way/' and much more to the same effect. " The Comity is Ensign White William Cheney William Ward, John Wilcocke."
Captain Talleott and Lieut. Allyn made an extended report to which the inhabitants had in advance promised obedience, and they repo-rted " The nams of the proprioters of Middletown with their estats, taken March 22'i^ 1670." Those residing " north of the riverett " were :
|
Anthony Martine |
£ 60-10 |
|
David Sage |
068-10 |
|
Ensig-n AVhite |
159-10 |
|
Samuell Stockin |
113-10 |
|
Thomas Eany |
105-00 |
|
John Warner |
096-10 |
|
John Wilcocke |
140-00 |
|
Samuell Halle |
130-00 |
|
John Savedg |
129-00 |
|
Thomas Hubard |
061-00 |
|
John Cerbys |
088-10 |
The families of the children soon called for homesteads, so on " Jan. 28, 169^ the inhabitants on north side shall have liberty to lay out eight house lots not exceeding four acres apiece in the comon, on that side, as they among themselves shall see best."
On the 12th of the same month the town '' confirmed their grant to [Eev.] .Mr. Eussell to a piece of swamp land of ten
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 11
acres against hornet bay at the east end of that swamp and south of the river, and that the remainder of that swamp land to lye for a parsnage for the town til our neighbors on the north side doe stand in need of it on that side for the use of their ministry." This fine meadow lot of 27 acres is to-day the property of the Cromwell Congregational Society, and in the days of the early pastors it was a source of much annoyance, as may be seen later. It adjoins " Goose's Delight." In 1673 and as late as 1750 very extensive distributions were recorded. The " northwest quarter," now a part of Berlin, was to be divided among the " north side " proprietors and their descendants, who also received extensive al- lotments on the east side the great river. In 1721 there was a great distribution of the Wonguuk meadows on the east side of the great river and lot number 200 was set off to " old Cap White," who had died in 1711. By his will of August, 1711, one-fourth of his undivided lands was to be for the " schools already established," and in 1745 this one-quarter of lot 200 was sold to his grandson Hugh and the proceeds constitute to-day a part of the " local school funds" of Middletown, Cromwell and Portland. To show the slow progress of this distribution of outlying lands it is here stated that while Thomas ^ Ranney had located a mile north of the center of Cromwell on what is now known as the S. V. Hubbard place and had raised a large family thereon, it was not till 1742 that to Thomas * Ranney there was allotted the land since known as Prospect Hill and which is nearer to the center than the place on which Thomas * was born.
The Ferry Question
Traveling between Hartford and the settlements on Long Island Sound made the ferry over Sebethe River at Middletown a matter "of great importance. The Sebethe (Little) River, the "riverett" of the early records, empties into the " Great River " nearly two miles south of the Upper Houses settlement and is of the width of an ordinary road. The crossing of it in those early days required a ferry boat, and as early as 1658 it was voted "to make a new ferry canoe 30 feet long 5 broad, inside to be made of the nut trees and for which the town agrees to give John Hall 4 pds in coyne " ; and a committee was authorized " to agree about keeping the ferry with Thomas Allyn or any other man." Thomas was the nearest settler to the ferry on the south side. When Thomas Hubbard came to the Upper Houses a few years later, though he lived nearly two miles from the ferry and the low meadow intervening rendered it inconvenient to erect any house thereon, he seems to have coveted
12 MIDDLETOWN UPPEK HOUSES
the job. As every person from Hartford or the Upper Houses had to pass his residence in going southward to Middletown it was easy to give him notice of needing his services; but if he expected to remain all day at the ferry to accommodate those from the south bound northward he must have expected a lonely time. The record reads: "Dec. ye-26-1667, Ensign White & Samuell Stock- ing to present ye agreement with Thomas Hubbard concerning ye keeping of ye ferry according to ye terms he gave in to ye town
meeting in writing."
S"'
As the sons of the founders had crossed the " great river " in 1709 and made a settlement, starting a " Society," which meant the opening of a school and the erection of a church, it was im- portant that there should be convenient ferry privileges, but the first record is May, 1759. " On memorial of Daniel Brewer and sundry other inhabitants of Middletown showing that there is a need of a ferry across the Connecticut river from the building yard in the north society called Upper Houses as appears by memorial on file," etc., liberty is granted to Mr. Brewer and rates are estab- lished. This ferry was established from a point some distance above the building yard (ship yard) to what is now known as " Indian Avenue " on the east side of the river, this " avenue " being a road laid out where the first settlement was made on the east side, and on it to-day are some very ancient houses.
On Feb. 5, 1682-3, it was voted to build a " cart bridge over the fery river," and in 1693 a contract was made with Francis Whit- more " to erect and build a substantial stone bridge over the fery river for carting over and ganging under itt." A dispute arose as to the meaning of this vote and " Jan. 3 1699 or 1700 " the town interpreted the meaning to be that he must depend on volun- tary contributions and that it should be a free bridge. He did build, but litigation arose over it with his widow and on June 5, 1721, the town appointed a committee " to protect the town's in- terest as to the towns bridge over the ferry river or Riverett with the Whitmores or any other person or persons . . . and to proceed from court to court " and much more like it.
In 1710 John Clark's boat at the ferry was allowed " 2^ a week in country pay " ; voted, Jan. 15, 1711-12 " to build a new boat to be carryed on by the present townsmen." "Jan. 13-1712-13 voted a pence and half pence on the £ for town charges and to purchase the fery hous and to procure a fery rope."
On Dec. 17, 1798, a committee was appointed to " view and
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 13
examine the bridge built over Little River by Mr. Elisha Stow and agree with him." This was an open bridge which stood till about 1840, when a covered bridge was erected and which stood till 1783, when the present iron bridge took its place.
The Early Highways
On January 6, 1656, it was voted to lay out a highway " through the West field," and White, Webster, Grave and Stocking were the committee to do it within fourteen days. This was an extension, westward from the river, of the highway between what were the Savage-Martin-Bloomfield lots on the south side and what became the Hubbard lot on the north side. It was to enable the settlers to reach their outlying lands at Hither Neck, Fur Neck, Round Meadow, Boggy Meadow, Goose's Delight and Timber Hill. It was on the south side of this extended roadway that the allotments heretofore named were made to Allyn, Eggelstone and Wetmore, who never built on them, preferring to remain on the south side. On April 29, 1669, this road was a subject' of contention between John Savage, who had bought the Bloomfield place,- and Thomas Hubbard who lived opposite, for on this day the town appointed a committee " to settle the highway on the rivulett between John Savage's land and Thomas Hubbards and to measure the street at those houses to see if there be no incroachments and make re- port."
The traveled track to Hartford could not have been much better than a blazed pathway till Wethersfield was reached. On March 8, 1670, voted " the land lying on the north side the river between the lots going to Hartford near the plains [upper Cromwell and still known as " The Plains "] being laid for a highway shall lye comon forever." Jan. 15, 1700 a committee, Hamlin, White and Clark, are appointed to lay out a highway of 20 rods wide for a country road across the plains to Wethersfield bounds as they shall find most convenient.
On June 19, 1719, a committee was appointed to lay out and state (stake?) the highway or country road across the plains to Wethersfield bounds. The layout of the highway could hardly have been satisfactory, as the granting of extensive tracts were being made on unoccupied territory. In 1695 a tract of five hun- dred acres in this section was granted to Nathaniel White, and a stone marked " N. W. 1698 " still stands at its northwest corner, while on the opposite side "J B " means that Joseph Butler was given the land adjoining on the north.
April 23, 1725, a committee including Capt. William Savage
14 MIDDLETOWN UPPEE HOUSES
and Serg. John Sage was appointed " to see that all highways were laid out as the record requires." On Oct. 1, 1725 this committee reported they had laid out " a necessary highway on the north side the fery river in Middletown where the present fery place is now used, and hath been for many years, the S. W. corner being a large elm marked to which tree the fery rope hath been usually fastened too, in flood times and from sd tree northward two rods wide where was pitched a stake and so to continue two rods wide so far eastward towards the great river eight rods and then one rod by the highway by the great river, 30^ to be pd the owners of land taken." This was the original traveled path along the river bank to the John Savage corner.
In 1725 there was laid out a road ten rods wide from the " n. w. quarter," now East Berlin, to connect at the plains with the road leading to Hartford. All that is now left of that 20 rod highway to Hartford is the lane from north to south, just east of the August David homestead. In 1770 and again in 1794 the town bought strips four rods wide to extend the roadway of 1725 to connect with the new road to Hartford. In 1802 a turnpike was laid out by the Great and General Court from Hartford to Saybrook, to be four rods wide except as otherwise named. It went generally over the established highways, but from the north end of the North Society, at a point near the house of Gershom Butler, it left the old road and went through the fields for a distance of a mile, when it met and followed the old road till it reached
" on the old road or street to a point 40 links in front of the front door of the meeting house in Middletown Upper Houses; thence S. 11° 10' W. 73 chains (292 rods) 33 links crossing the fields in the meadows to a point in the old road at 59 links from the river bank being 36 links of the center of the path of travel."
On Dec. 4, 1727 there was laid out " a country road from new- field fery river on to the plains into the old road that leads to Hartford eight rods wide." Capt. Jared Shepherd was the first to build on this road near " fery " river. This property is now owned by Mr. Seth Paddock. The Shepherd house and oak tree are given herewith. This road became the dividing line between the west and the northwest school districts of the present town. What had been known as the " n. w. quarter" had been taken, 1772, from" the Middletown North Society to become a part of the Worth- ington Society, now in the town of Berlin, but the land had been alloted to North Society people who had settled thereon.
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 15
April 26, 1737, a committee including Isaac White, John Kirby and Daniel Sage, was appointed to remove encroachments on high- ways, and many times to 1800 similar committees were ordered.
In 1795 on the petition of forty-two persons a road two and a half rods wide was laid out along the river bank from the corner of the John Savage home lot to the corner of jSTathaniel White's home lot. The record gives the frontage of each piece of prop- erty and the amount paid each owner for land taken. The river bank thereafter was used for wharves and shipbuilding. In 1803 a narrow street was thrown out from Pleasant Street to River Street through the original Joseph Smith home lot, and in 1807 a schoolhouse known as the " Bell " schoolhouse, two stories high, was erected and used till the Nathaniel White schoolhouse was opened on Jan. 6, 1902. The reproduction of the U. S. Coast Survey map shows these later village streets.
The First Mills
Beyond the original settlement and to the northwest is a small stream which flows in a southwesterly direction to Little River and was early known as Chestnut Brook. Near its mouth it passes over a brownstone ledge and then through a deep ravine, making a natural dam site and a favorable location for a mill. To Thomas Miller, son of the Thomas Miller to whom in lower Mid- dletown a mill site was granted in 1655, there was granted " Jan. 25, 1714 — 15 the right to set a grist mill on Chestnut Brook by the falls on the north side the fery and also 3 A of land above the falls for the mill plot with the privilege of digging and dam- ming so far as the brook rims in the towns comons, not to pond the highway — and must do this in 3 yrs. or pay 20^ a year to the town till he does." On Jan. 17, 1715-16, this land was recorded and bounded " N. stream; S. Highway; W. Common fence; E. town commons." This mill privilege at the base and on the west side of Timber Hill has been used as a mill privilege to very recent years. The ancient wheel and the old mill are to be seen in the illustration. On Jan. 13, 1718 Thomas Miller, Jr., paid a fine of 20^ for not building on time. ^On Dec. 21, 1721 the town voted half an acre northerly of his grist mill and on Dec. 26, 1721 Capt. John Savage and Capt. William Savage were appointed a committee to lay out a small parcel of land " n. w. side the Brook for Thomas Miller, Jr. to build on."
Northward of the settlement and easterly of the highway to Hartford is a valley with numerous springs, in early days known as Cold Spring, which was the property of Thomas Ranney whose
16 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
distribution of it to his heirs is recorded in' his will of 1711. Eastward of this highway was a high ridge, " Sideling Hill," ex- tending a mile to the river, covered now, as then, with forest trees. South of and under this ridge and along to the river is a road called the " Nuiks " road, and John Sage resided on this road near the Cold Spring reservoir outlet. On Dec. 25th, 1732 the town gave authority to John- Sage " to erect a grist mill on the stream that runs across the highway near to sd Sages dwelling house & the liberty to erect a dam so as to flow the highway provided he make and forever maintain a good sufficient bridge or causeway across sd water for hors cart foot and team at all times, provided sd Sage grind the corn of the town inhabitants before any stranger."
On Dec. 20, 1712 the town released John Sage from the obli- Jj ^ gation to maintain the bridge near the
\0^'vri r<7^^ .^^jy "^^^^ ^^ ^^^ erected, and granted him a \J Af ^^y privilege to erect a warehouse " near the
C-/ landing place by Mr. Samuel Frary's [John Savage on map], not exceeding 30 ft. sq. and a place for a wharf to answer the same." The committee to locate this was Capt. Thomas Johnson and Hugh White, and Mr. Sage was to have "the produce [toll rates], of sd warehouse and wharf place as a recompense for building sd bridge." In 1780 Giles Sage was per- mitted to add a sawmill in the public highway near his dwelling house in connection with the grist mill.
The commercial spirit of trade with the West Indies and the southern ports had reached Middletown proper and the Upper Houses, for, on Dec. 24, 1744. Joseph Stocking and John Stock- ing (the latter died at " Statia" in 1750) petitioned for " 4 Roods of land Southard of Samuel Frary's warehouse, for a warehouse plot and to build a wharf in the river there." A committee was appoiuted to " view the sd place and lay it out provided they pay what it is worth."
On Dec. 31, 1781 Capt. John Smith was given a quitclaim right to erect a store " at the foot of his wharf near Capt. Stocking's store." He died in 1784 and his widow Mary sold his interest in the wharf. A map of 1796 shows the two wharves then existing.
In 1776 Middletown had a larger population than New Haven of Hartford and the shipbuilding, West India and coast trade made many rich. The Upper Houses people were thoroughly followers of the sea, having several shipyards, wharves and storage or freight houses. The trade consisted in carrying out mules, horses and hay, and bringing back rum, sugar, molasses and fine woods. " Pipe Stave" swamp indicated the thrifty business of making and ear-
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 17
rying out staves in bundles to be put into shape and brought back filled with rum, molasses or sugar. Nearly everyone was or became a Captain, and the records sadly tell the story of those who " never came back." The remains of the wharves are still visi- ble, and the last storehouse, the old " Brick Store," has just fallen. Its representation here reminds us of those who " go down to the sea in ships."
Churches and Schools
Near where the Middletown memorial of granite and bronze stands was a large elm, beneath which, it is said, the first religious services were held. On "February the 10th, 1G52. It was agreed at a meeting at John Halls hous to build a meeting hous and to make it twenty fot square and ten fot between sill and plat, the heygt of it." It was erected of logs in the middle of the street and in front of " Riverside " cemetery, and was surrounded by a palisade to protect against the Indians in case of need. This is the first high ground after crossing Little River from the Upper Houses, and the location was as convenient as possible to those who must travel from the Upper Houses two miles and then cross a river to reach the church and the cemetery. The Rev. Samuel Stow, a graduate of " Cambridge College," was the preacher for some years, but dissatisfaction arose, and by the Great and General Court it was decided, Oct. 4, 1660, that he should cease to officiate as soon as there could be found an " able, orthodox and pious minister to be approved by Mr. Warham, Mr. Stone, Mr. Whiting takeing in ye help of ye Wor'll Gournr and Mr. Willis w'ch being done Mr. Stow is to lay down his preaching there, the said Towne glueing Mr. Stow Testimonial Lrs such as the Gent forenamed judge fit. In ye meantime the Towne to allow Mr. Stow his vsual stipend he continuing the exercise of his ministery as for- merly." In those days " Mr." was the title of the pastor without the prefix " Rev." Attention was already directed towards the Rev. Nathaniel Collins, son of Deacon Collins of Cambridge, and grad- uate of Harvard College, and the Great and General Court, Mav 25, 1661, "doe advise both Mr. Stowe & all the inhabitants of Midletown to a loving X carriage to Mr. Collins & friendly com- pliance with each other," etc. On the 4th of Nov., 1662, "the town did agre that the hous for mr Collins should be 36 foot long 18 foot wid, ten foot hy betwean joints and stone chimneys in the middle, with silleradg by leantowing or otherwise as may be most convenient." The work of building a meeting house pro- ceeded, and though there were but 31 heads of families in the
18 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
settlement they voted, Feb. 14, 1665, to have " a galery for the meeting house from the east end to the middle beam," A form of letter was drawn up and approved Dec. 11, 1665 and forwarded.
" Mr. Nathanill Collins, Sir. you may be pleased to Ee- member wee wrote to you, a few linnes bearing date the 11th of December, '63, wharein we gave you an invitation unanimusly under our hands to the worke of the minestry amongst us, in order to farther and more sollem ingagements, when god in his providenc shall make way theirto, the Acceptance whereof you have hitherto manifested by your long continuatyon among us, in that wgrke, our present state you now know, namly that God by his providenc hath brought us hopefully nerere gathering into an ekclyasticall body, then formerly though some of our neigh- boures and brethren are wee would hope conscienciusly differing from us, respecting the maner of it, namely as you loiow some judging we are a church allredy, others that wee are not, how- ever wee that thinke wee are allredy a church and wee allso that thinke we are not but in some short time may be one both sen- cibile of the essentiall need of an officer to despence the sealles as well as the word amongst us. to such as shall be regularly fitt. doe therefore by these presenc give you to know that our eyes are upon and our desires towards yourself for that worke as soon as we shall be in such a capasety and request your answer to this our motion as god shall direct and incline so desiering god to guide you in this great motion we rest waiting your an- swer your loving frinds and neighbours, the inhabitants of
MiDDLETOWN."
On Feb. 19, 1667, it was voted to organize a church and call Mr. Collins, and Ensign White and Samuel Stocking were chosen on the committee.
Here are some extracts from the church records : —The Eev. Mr. Collins was ordained the " 4^'^— 9^^—1668 " «15th_9th_igg8" William Savage was baptized. " 30^^— 1^'— 1668 Ensign White, Goodman Kirby, Saml Hall, the wife of our Brother Stocking, the wife of Goodman Kirby, the wife of Goodman Eany," were admitted as members in full com- munion. They made public profession of faith " and also what had been the matter of public offense in any of them publicly owned."
" 10*'^ — 11*^ — 68 children of Brother Kirby, namely John, Joseph, Easter, Sarah, the child of our sister Eany, Elizabeth, re- ceived ye iniatory scale."
HISTOEY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 19
"igth — iith g3 Dethia, Susanna, Abigail, children of our Brother and Sister Kirby rec'd in ye initiatory seale.
" March 18 — 1669 [evidently a new clerk] ye wife of our Brother Ensign White, the wife of our Brother Savage rec'd into full com- munion."
" May 2 — 1669 Joseph, son of our Brother and Sister Stocking in^ seale."
"May 23 — 1669 Goodman John Warner & his yoake fellow Anna Warner & the wife of David Sage in full communion."
"May 30, 1669 child'^ of Brother John Warner; viz: Hannah, John, Jonathan, Mary, Elizabeth, our Sister Sage herself like- wise and her 3 children, namely, David, John, Elizabeth in^ seale."
On March 16, 1670, Thomas Allen, Samuel Stocking and John Hall, Jr., were elected deacons "desiring Ensign White to join n j^ with the pastor in prayer
^(oKn ' ^Ji/)QX7^^'^' ^^^ imposition of hands on
Yj ^>'-''<>' ^j^g j^gx^ Lord's Day to con-
*^ summate " ; which was done
on Sunday, March 20, 1670; the signal honor bestowed on "En- sign " White of the Upper Houses showing his pre-eminence in the church which was the community, and vice versa. A separate record shows that Samuel Stocking and John Savage were among the nine original members of Nov. 1688. David Sage was received June, 1670, and Thomas Stow, Jr., on April 29, 1676. Deacon Samuel Stocking in his will " give unto our Pastor Mr. Nathaniell Collins (as an expression of my affectionate Respect to him) three pounds to be payd within a year after my decease." Captain Nathaniel White gave £4 money to Rev. Noadiah Russell in his will.
The Rev. Nathaniel Collins died in 1684, after a very happy experience of many years. His li-
brary was valued at £72-12-09. The Jj ^)^^^ Ml^T^ - inventory of his household goods Vsj7 ' ' ** " ^
included
" One tancord & dramcup & spoons 9 ounces & \ valued at £2-16-00. The parler firnituer^ As follows
One fetherbed boulster & pillows
6 : wrought cusshons, one carpet
& one yallo cussions
one grate table and one small table
all the earthon ware in the glas case
one payor of bras coboyarns & a
fiershoffol & tongs
one tin scollupt candlestick & 3 wicker baskets."
20 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
On Feb. 24, 1686-7 " Lieut." Nath. White was on the committee to finish the " parsonage house."
On Oct. 24, 1688, the Rev. Noadiah Russell was ordained. He was a native of New Haven, and a graduate of Harvard College. During his pastorate of tM^enty-five 3^ears, 180 persons were ad- raited to the church, a fair proportion of whom were from the Upper Houses. He outlived the last survivor of the early settlers, Thomas Ranney, but died later in the same year. The relation of the " Upper Houses " families to the church ceased with the estab- lishment of the church in the North Society.
While the matter of schooling the children is not mentioned in the town records till " 14 of ye 4, 1675 " it does not follow that nothing had been done on the subject, for by that time children born in Middletown had been reared, married, and were parents of young children. The privilege of voting had been accorded in 1666 to "all which are above 20 years old which are children of inhabitants and cary orderly in there conversation have liberty of voating for al town oficers and town afairs."
" 14 of ye 4, 1675. At ye same meeting ye town granted ten pounds for ye year ensuing towards ye incourigm't of a schoole- master to teach o'r children to read & write and made choice of goodman Wilcock, William Harriss and Seargt Ward to en- quire after and agree with a meet person for that work, and to levy ye remainder of his higher upon ye children schooled to ye summ of ten pounds more."
The number of householders at this time was between 50 and 60, and probably the schoolmaster's salary, small as it was, was not easily raised, for on November 29th, 1676, is found the follow- ing vote:
"November 29, 1676. The town voated to entertayn Mr. Thomas Webe as a scoUmaster to teach childeren to wright and read at least for tryall for the winter season, abought halfe a yeare, finding him meat & drinke or sum other small incoredge- ment; at the same time was voated that the watchhous shall be forthwith fitted up for a schollhous.
It seems that Mr. Webb's " tryall " was satisfactory, because in the following March the town passed this vote :
"At a town meeting ye 12th of March 1676-7 the town granted Mr. Thomas Web as schoolemaster to ye town twenty-
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 21
five pounds for his sallery for one year beginning ye twentyeighth day of December past; this sum above said to be levyed as fol- loweth, ten pound to be paid by the town according to former grant for ye incouragement of a schoolemaster, fifteen pound to be levyed on the children that have gone, shall goe, or ought to goe to school in equall proportion."
In 1679 a rate of £1 for a schoolmaster " within or without the town " was voted.
" September 7, 1680. The towne voated to a shool hous of twenty six foot long & seaventeen or eightene foot wide & six foot & a hallfe betweene joints in bight & secondly that the townsmen shall use the best means they can to get it done if it may be before winter. & thirdly that tjiis hous shall be sett up in some place neare the watch hous.
In 1681 John Richards of Hartford was schoolmaster, and a schoolhouse had been erected. Feb. 5, 1682-83 " The inhabitants on the south side Middletown fery granted to their neighbors on the north side the rivulet their proportions of the school rate granted by the town toward the maintaining of the scool on the north side for this year/' though there were but few families with young children to call for a school. In 1690 Ensign Samuel Collins the schoolmaster, brother of Rev. Nathaniel Collins, agreed to let those on the north side the liberty to school their children on their own charge, not paying to the school on the south side " if they keep a scholl on that side not els," a not very generous offer. On May 5, 1690, the town " granted the north part of the town by reason of distance that if they provide a sufficient master there then they to have their part of the rate which shall be raised for that purpose and if they do not provide in that caus, then to pay their whole proportion to the scoall of the town that is for the six months."
Jan. 6, 1695, on motion of the Rev. Mr. Russell it was voted " that if at any time there should be made any lands by way of Island upon or in the great river within the bounds of this town- ship that all such lands shall be improved for the benefit & en- couragement of the public schools of this town." An island of small dimensions then may have been existing in the Connecticut River between the two settlements, as such an island in 1801 was taken by three persons and improved for a fishing bank and a claim for ownership filed by them. It has been greatly enlarged since 1801, and now consists of 33 acres and belongs to the Brain-
22 MIDDLETOWN UPPEE HOUSES
erd, Shailer & Hall Quarry Co. As early as 1658 Deer Island, later known as Indian Island and now as Gildersleeve Island, was granted to Robert Webster.
Jan. 14, 1696-7 it was voted that " a yearly scoal be kept and maintained in this town, the neighbors on the north side the fery shall have the benefit of their part of half the year's scoal rate for the future provided it be improved for the benefit of scoaling their children." Jan. 15, 1700, the town agreed " to pay £5 in pay to^wards a yearly scoalls maintenance which is to be paid out of the next town rate."
It may well be thought that an energetic but so far fruitless effort had been made to secure the proper share of the rate or general taxes for the maintenance of a school on the north side. Yet this did not divert the people from planning to have a Society with a church and a pastor of their own. And it may be imagined that it was thought that this independence, being organized into a Society with authority to manage their own church and school matters, would be mutually helpful. Accordingly on Jan. 18, 1702-3 " at the same meeting it was proposed by the Inhabitants on the north side the riverlet for a liberty to provide a minister and a meeting hous separate from this side, and maintain it upon their own charge, which proposition was granted on these condi- tions, that they doe in half a year or one whole year at farthest, procure and settle, an autherdox and aproved minister orderly amongst, them, that being accomplished, then to be free from the charge, of the ministry on this side the riuerlet. they paying equally with us here untill. that be accomplished, but if this be not accom- plished within sd time all. the above is to be null and void." At the May session of the Great and General Court of the Colony this action was confirmed as follows :
" Be it therefore enacted by this Court and the authoritie thereof, and it is enacted :
" That all those persons that now are and hereafter at any time shall be dwellers and inhabitants on the north side of the said riverett in the said towne of Middletown, are and hereafter shall be one intire societie and parish by and of themselves, and shall have and enjoy all such powers, liberties and priviledges, as other societies and congregations in this Colonie generally have, or by lawe may have, enjoy and use, for the choosing collectors and levying of rates and money for the charge, settlement and main- tenance of their minister, and upholding the publick worship of God among them, from time to time as need shall require."
Thus encouraged, arrangements were made, March 9, 1704-5,
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 23
with the Rev. David Deming of Wethersfield, Conn., who came and occupied the property which was the original Robert Webster home lot and which became, 1664, the property of his successor, John Warner. Mr. Warner died in 1700, and on Feb. 4, 1704-5 the heirs sold it to the to\vn of Middletown. The account book of Capt. John Warner shows that he paid for himself and for others in 1707-1708-1709 a "rate for Mr. Deming." In 1708 Samuel Hall, preparing to cross the river, sold the east half of his homestead to Samuel Frary. The bound on the north reads " supposed to be Mr. Deming's." In 1709 Mr. Hall sold " David Deming, Jr.," a strip " by estimate 25 rods or something better " bounded on the north by the " sd Deming's lott." This strip was but one rod and six links wide and gave ]\Ir. Deming a greater frontage of lot on the south side of his house.
^^ Jan. 30, 1709-10 Mr. Hall
(^"*V f^Gy) ' ) sold the west half of his home-
^ OAJJ O ^.e^'^rx^UPX^at^ stead and it was bounded on the // north by " Mr. Deming." The
Rev. David Deming who was born in Wethersfield, Conn., July 20, 1681, being the son of David Deming who was the son of John Deming and a daughter of Richard Treat. Another daughter had married Robert Webster. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1700. He occupied the John Warner homestead and remained here from the time the Society was incorporated, probably holding services in the schoolhouse. His purchase of a narrow strip to increase the frontage of his lot indi- cated that he expected to remain till a church was organized when he would be installed as pastor. But he remained only till 1710 when the Rev. Joseph Smith came. Mr. Deming while here married Miss Marcy Bridgeman of Boston on Nov. 18, 1708. Their child, David, was born here on Aug. 24, 1709.
The town of Medway, Mass., was incorporated October 25. 1713, and on September 22, 1714, there was appointed "A comitty to provide a minister for the Town until the aniwall metting in March next following and it is voted that ye town are to meet at the house of peter Adamses to attend the public worship of God on the sabbathdays and he haws ^iven his consent to the same." The first public service was held in this house October 7, 1714, by the Rev. David Deming, who continued to hold services there for several months and till the church was completed. He re- ceipted for 26 pounds sterling for " preaching to the town " from October 7, 1714, to April 9, 1715. On September 12, 1715, they called him as pastor on a salary of 60 pounds and he accepted the same day. The church was used for the annual meeting on March
24 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
7, 1715. They gave him 30 acres of land. In 1722, after repeated requests they yielded and gave him a dismission. A son, Jon- athan, was born to him in 1719. Nothing more is known of the Rev. David Deming except that he died, 1746, in Lyme, Conn.
The Rev. Joseph Smith was preaching to the " Hors Neck " inchoate church (Greenwich, Conn.) while the Rev. Mr. Deming was similarly engaged here. The time of his arrival is not decided by the record found in Captain John Warner's account book, as he had kept another record book.
18 00
Mr Smith Debttor lb s d
for 1 bushel of wheat and 4 bushels of Indian corn for weaving 5 yds of chek 5
for w.eaving 48 yds of cloth 01 4
for weaving 44 4-2 yds of cloth 01 12 06 for weaving 13 4-2 yds ticking 01
1715 for weaving 40 4-2 yds of crap 01 16
1715 for weaving 38 yds of cloth 19
1716 for weaving 43 yds of cloth 01 06
Mr Smith credit
for 3 pound of sugar
for 1 quart of rum
for my rates in 1713
by part of Isaac Cornish rate
for 1 yd of Rollon
for my rates 1714
by Isaac Cornell
by my rates 1715
The account was continued on another page to the death of Rev. Mr. Smith in 1736. including a charge for digging his grave.
Mr. Smith had had experience as a teacher, and one result of this l^^as that Samuel Johnson, son of Deacon William Johnson of Guilford and Mary Sage, daughter of David Sage, came here, probably to be in the family of his uncle, Timothy Sage, while he studied across the street under the Rev. Mr. Smith. Samuel John- son went from here to Yale College in Saybrook, wliere he gradu- ated in 1714. After being a tutor he became the first pastor of
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 25
the Congregational church in West Haven. Having with others access to the boolvs given to Yale by Dean Berkeley, afterwards Bishop of Cloyne, he with them became imbued witli the convic- tion that Congregational ordination was invalid. Governor Sal- tonstall convened the General Assembly and for a whole day the effort continued to convince Rector Cutler, Tutor Brown, Mr. Wet- more, a native of Middletown and then pastor at North Haven, and several others that they were properly ordained clergymen.' It was of no effect and four of the seven went to England and were Episcopally ordained. Mr. Johnson had used in his West Haven pulpit the prayers of the Episcopal service without his congregation suspecting it. Later they recalled their admiration of iiis style of praying. He was a missionary while settled in Stratford and led over tliirty Congregational ministers to go to England for Episcopal ordination. He was the first president of King's College, now Columbia University. His son, William Samuel Johnson, was a distinguished son of Connecticut, its representative to England, in the Constitutional Convention, and was United States Senator. Dr. Samuel Johnson was known as " The father of Episcopacy in New England."
Dr. Johnson's intimacy with Dean Berkeley led to Yale College receiving a valuable library from him. A book presented by Dean Berkeley to Dr. Johnson, now in the library of the Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, contains the following in Dr. Johnson's hand- writing :
&K4
It would seem as though the " South side," having the more nu- merous body of voters, was unwilling to part with the north side, for at the October session, 1709, of the General Assembly, it was voted :
"Upon the consideration of the petition of the inhabitants of
26 MIDDLETOWN" UPPER HOUSES
the north side the riverlet in Middletown, now presented to this Assembly, praying that so much of the school money arising by law as shall be levyed on their part of the list of that town, may be ordered to be improved for a school amongst them on the north side the said river: This Assembly grants and allows the same, providing they shall maintain a school for reading and writing, for one half of the year, annually; and do order that on default thereof, the said money shall be paid toward the maintenance of the town school as formerly."
At a town meeting held Jan. 18, 1710-11 " the order of court respecting the school on the north side the rivulet was then pub- lished in the meeting." A number of the children of the founders of the north side had lately made a settlement on the east side of the Connecticut river and were already clamoring for their share of the school money. A very important town meeting was held Feb. 15, 1710-11, at which a committee which had been appointed previously " to managing the town schole in Middletown do unan- imously agre to make the following proposells to the town for their concurence and confermation."
These proposals were, 1st, to build a new schoolhouse " at the charge only of those that inhabbit on the south of the ferry, and the west of the great river: 2nd for the encouragement of learn- ing and the supporting of the said town* schole the sum of £25 was to be raised by local taxation until with the rate of 40 shillings upon the thousand pounds, with the incomes of other donations, the sum should amount to £40 : 3d to give " to the north side what part of this is levyed on their estates to enter them in learning, provided they keep a half year schole amongst themselves: and upon their default it shall be paid to the town schole, on the south side the ferry." The same proposition was made for the benefit of those on the east side with this special favor, " and if any of their children being well entered in their spelling want to be par- fected in reading wrighting an sifering and their parents or masters will allow them, they may come over and be further instructed at the town schole upon free cost." This committee was to be au- thorized to employ a teacher;
" also to demand, receive and improve all such gifts and dona- tions as are or shall be made to the said schole for the best use and bennifit thereof.
" that no a. b. c. darians be allowed to come to be taught at the said town schole, unless it be when there is not a compitancy
* The first " High " School.
M*'';/^ , ■^'I'i'rj'fJ^^L
'mWM^
7 „j/-~,i/*«rj*'»"''^'*-f'=-'^' ""= ^'-
^4,'t^^^ /,.Va^/i,- f«'«->-.^'
|
?./ w, fcj j^/-y7)» t/i-^.f »»«■»» |
.«■ ^ d^.^Utt^, |
|
.-. h"- ■-•' "'■'^ ^ • • ' •(■''^'"O" |
«>w/«.^ ..•<■/- |
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?.»,«^5"5. -^ i<'- |
k,- a.^.-j /■'..'^ A - V> I- .y- -
?r--ii»tii».«^i;)ii^^i^^a?A??',f?'. "C:";^ -^ "
W ij.i. OF Nai iiA.Mii, White (See page 714)
rf-'
HISTOEY OF THE UPPEE HOUSES 27
of others to keepe the scholemaster imployed, and it be with the said master's concent."
There is no record of what action, if any, was taken on these rec- ommendations which involved the institution of a " town schole " or high schooL
Still the " north side " was not satisfied, according to the record of a town meeting held " March 13th, 1710-11. There being a controversy between the neighborhood of the North Society in Middletown and the South Society of the said town about the part of the fourty shillings upon the thousand pounds that the countrey doth alow for the upholding a town scool. the North Society hav- ing obtained a liberty in October 1709 for their part of it to be to themselves so long as they improve it for that use it is enacted and declared that the mater of controversy is left with the wor- shipfull M"" John John hains and M"" Nath' hooker both of hartford to say how much of the scoal money that did arise upon the fourty shillings on the thousand pounds for the subsistance of the town scoal paid by the treasurer in the year 1709 to the selectmen of Middletown did of right belong to our neighbors of the North society by vertue of the liberty granted them from the court as is above exprest and if it be found that the selectmen belonging to the South Society have unjustly detained from them their due of the said money then they in behalf of the said society to bear the charge arising thereupon but if it be found they have not with- holden from the North Society their due then the selectmen of tfiat society to pay the charge as above said or in behalf of the said societie noted and excepted by the town March 13, 1710-11 and at the same meeting Capt. John Hall and Thomas Stow, sen"", were chosen by voat and apointed to lay this matter before the gentlemen above specified."
The Eev. Samuel Stow and Mr. Jasper Clement had by their wills left lands to be sold for the benefit of the school of Middle- town and Capt. Nathaniel White may have indicated his intention to do likewise, for in the August following, and in his will made two weeks before his death, he made this bequest ; " and four pound money to the Eeverend M"" Noadiah Eussell and what of my right of undivided lands may be dmed ftiy wright; my will is that; one fourth part thereof be and remains for the use of the publique scholes Already Agreed upon In the town of Midletown for ever : "
In a great division of Wongunk meadow lands made in 1721 lot number 200 was set off to "old cap White" and in 1745 this one fourth was sold for the benefit of the school fund of the town ; and as there was a division of the school fund when Cromwell in 1851
28
MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
became a separate town, his money to-day is helping to maintain the Nathaniel White Public School, named in his honor on Feb. 6, 1902 in accordance with the suggestion of the compiler of this history, made in the Penny Press of 'Middletown when it was decided to erect a town schoolhouse to take the place of the dis- trict schoolhouses.
On the last leaves of the North Society's record book an account was kept of the school moneys, as indicated below. And as Capt. Nathaniel White had died in August, 1711, and a school in the North Society was then " already established," it is concluded that the first entry refers to a school kept while Capt Nathaniel White was alive. The treasurer was Capt. John Warner who " filled many public offices," says his tombstone. His acount is here given.
From the Eecord Book of the North Society of Middletown
An account of ye charge of the school in the north Society
in mideltown in the year under writen 1712 — o capt.
White and ed shepard and : harris and for harrises bord, f 10-01-2 In the year 1715 paid to charls goodrigdg for 3 months
Iveeping school, 3-15-0
In the year 171G paid to Mrs. Smith for 3 months keeping
school 5-0-0
In the year 1717 paid to Mrs. Smith and william prout 10-10-0
To Joseph white for hording charls goodridg and prout .... 05-12-6
to John Warner juner for liis trouble about the school.... 00-06-1
for jonthan bordman for keeping school six months 09-10-0
to Joseph white for hording jonthan bordman six months.. 05-17-0
to John warner for his trouble about the school according ft
to the society's voat, 02-02-4
to mr bordman for keeping school in 1720 08-0-0
♦ to ensign white for hording mr bordman, 5-0-0
to mrs Stow for keeping school, 03-00-0
An account of what contrey money was received to defray the charge of the school in the respective years men- tioned on the other side in the year 1712 received, 03-03-0
in the yeare 1715 05-0-4
in the year 1716 05-0-7
in the year 1717 05-5-0
An account of town money ordered to defray the charg of the school in the respective years mentioned on the other
side, in the year 1712 there was : ordered 04-0-0
in the year 1715 03-17-0
in the year 1716 03-10-0
in the year 1717, 05-08-0
Contry money 1718 was 05-16-10
town money 1718 was . 03-14-1
for money received of Joseph raney 02-00-1
* Ensign Daniel White.
Six
The Mouse of Jonathan Boardman, Schoolmaster (See page 29)
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 29
mon received of Jacob white 5s-9d and of Serg Sage
4s-6d on tlie account of Thomas stow colector, . . 00-10-3
mon Joseph White's rate, 00-05-5
contrey money received 1719 was 06-02-6
town money ordered 1719 was 03-17-8
contrey money received 1720 06-12-0
town money ordered 1720 3-19-6
68-14-00
The treasurer, Capt. John ^^ yO p a ^
Warner, commissioned cap- ^/^o/iyX yyCfOCTX.tr/^
tain in 1725, was a nephew /^/ of the John Warner who ^-^
took the Robert Webster place and died there in 1700. " John Warner juner," the treasurer's first cousin, had been settled on what is now known as the " Edward Savage place " and which re- mained a Warner homestead till sold in 1771 to Jacob Gibson, who in 1806 removed to Gt. Barrington, Mass. Edward Shepard was son of Edward Shepard and Abigail Savage. Ed. Harris came from lower Middletown. Charles Goodrich * was from Wethers-
field. Jonathan Bordman was born and died in the same house in Stepney part of Rocky Hill. (See Boardman Genealogy.) William Prout is spoken of in the genealogical part of this volume. Mrs. Smith was the wife of Rev. Joseph Smith. Mrs. Stow was the wife of Thomas Stow and daughter of Deacon Samuel Stocking.
" Jan 13 : 1712-13 Whereas at a town meeting March 22*^ : 1708-9 the town by voat Granted to Mr David Deming about twenty acres of land provided he settled there, w*** our neighbors on the north side riuerlet In the work of the ministry but Mr Deming failing, by the request of the neighbours on the north side the riverlet, at this town meeting Janey 13**" : 1712 : 13 the town by voat grant the same privilidge or quantity of land to Mr Joseph Smith upon the same terrns provided he settle there in the work of the ministry, and doe Impower the same com"® formerly
* Charles Goodrich must have been a brother to William* who mar- ried Rachels Savage (John2, Johni) and David* wlio married Sarah Edwards, and Sarah* who married Richard Butler. His autograph is copied from a 1736 deed from Richard Butler to David Edwards which was witnessed by David and Charles Goodrich, though the name of the latter is not given in the Goodrich Genealogy.
30
MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
es 111 Liie
3h to such /y I /
chosen to lay it out on the same terms as before specified." They
laid out sixteen acres in the
region of Timber Hill,
butting all round,'
sold in 1725 to Willi?
age, and his autograph
deed of sale is given herewith.
They laid out four acres between John Sage's and John Ran- ney's which made much trouble between him and Mr. Sage as to the correct dividing line. Perhaps in consequence he ex- changed it for a large tract in the N'ooks, which in time became the homesteads of his grandsons, Joseph, John and ISTathaniel. The house built thereon by Capt. Joseph Smith is owned and occupied by Charles Bowers.
The record book of the North Society contain^ in the handwriting of Capt. John "Warner this
" grand levie for the north society in Middletowu 1714 As followeth :
£ s
James Brown 22-00
Widow Butler 6-00
Joseph Butler 13-10
Nathi Clark 46-14
Daniel Clark 65-10
Serg John Clark 71-17
John Clark 46-00
Isaac Cornell 24-00
Joseph Crofoot 18-00
Samuel Frary 69-00
Roger Gibson 45-00
Samuel Gibson 72-00
David Ilurlbut 37-00
John Kirby 30-00
Samuel Lucas 85-00
William Mark 25-00
Margaret Ranney 3-10
Ebenezer Ranney 48-10
Joseph Ranney 61-05
John Ranney 30-05
Thomas Ranney 120-15
Widow Ranney 6-10
Widow Sage 24-10
Timothy Sage 79-05
John Sage 150-00
Total
Capt. John Savage
Thomas Savage
William Savage
Hannah Scovil
Mary Scovil
John Shepherd......... i
Edward Shepherd /
Samuel Shepherd
Daniel Stocking
Samuel Stow
Thomas Stow, Sr
Thomas Stow, Jr ." . .
John Warner, Sr
John Warner, Jr
Joseph White
Ensign White
John White
Hugh White
Daniel White -
Jacob White
Israel Wilcox
John Wilcox
Francis Wilcox
Samuel Wilcox
Joseph Whitmore
£2
f s 89-02 41-10 73-00 27-10 15-00
79-00
21-00 59-05 39-05 42-00 43-00 77-19 75-11 85-10 85-10 18-10 42-00 49-17 88-00
148-05 57-05 59-05 77-00 44-10
,586.03
" Serg. Clark " was the John Clark who came from Haddam and married Elizabeth White. Thomas Stow, Sr., came from
HISTOEY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 31
lower Middletown and married Bethia Stocking. These two then were " old residents " ; Brown, Butler, Cornell, Crof oot, Frary, Gibson, Hurlbut, Lucas, Mark, Scovil and Joseph Whitmore were " recent " comers. A number born here had recently removed to the east side of the Connecticut River.
The first meeting recorded in the book of the North Society, now duly empowered to manage church and school affairs, was held " Feb. 18 : 1713-14. The return of the committy was that provided the society give mr smith a comfortable maintenance he will settle with us." It would seem that the committee retired and interviewed Mr. Smith, for " the committee returned and re- ported and it was then voted to settle Mr Smith at £60 per year for the present and more as his necessity calls for it and our ability enables." '^ Voted a rate of 2 pence upon the pound towards finishing the meeting house half of sd rate to be gathered by May 1 next the other half by Nov. 1." Joseph Whitmore was to be collector. Samuel Wilcox, Sr., Samuel Gibson and John War- ner, Jr., were a committee to hire workmen to finish the meeting house. Samuel Frary was ordered to gather the rate that he was chosen to collect " forthwith without any further delay."
On March 14, 1714, it was voted to finish the meeting house '^ after the same manner the meeting house in South Society that is the two ends of itt." Serg. Clark was to make the body of seats for 8s. each seat.
March 24, 1714, Ensign (Daniel) Wliite, Samuel Gibson and John Warner to " carry on sd finishing of ye meeting house as it was formerly voted. Joseph Eanney was a committee " to carry on ye school house with Serg. [William] Savage and John Sage." The "clerk of this society shall transcribe all ye voats that have been pased by this society since he was chosen clerk into a book with a parchment cover." And this parchment-covered book waa used until 1772 and is the authority of the compiler of this his- tory. A committee of five was appointed to " carry on ye needful in preparing for settlement of mr Smith." The meeting then repeated the vote passed Jan. 17, 1710-11, " relating to ye 40^ annually to be paid by ye society to schools, excepting the first year."
The church was duly organized on Jan. 5, 1714-15, and Mr. Smith was installed pastor on the same day. The original mem- bers were:
Capt. John Savage Widow Nathaniel White
Mrs. John Savage Joseph White
Serg. Wm. Savage Mrs. Joseph White
32 MIDDLETOWN" UPPEE HOUSES
Mrs. Wm. Savage Mrs. Daniel White, Sr.
Thomas Ranney Mrs. Jonathan Warner
Mrs. Thomas Eanney Widow Shepard
John Eanney Samuel Gibson
Mrs. John Eanney Mrs. Thomas Stow, Sr.
Joseph Eanney Mrs. Daniel Clark
Mrs. Joseph Eanney Mrs. Nathaniel Savage
Samuel Stow Samuel Hall Mrs. Samuel Stow
On Feb. 10, 1715-16, Sergeant William Savage and Sergeant Samuel Hall were elected deacons, though Samuel Hall had re- moved to the east side of the river, where he was elected the first deacon on the organization of the church there in 1721.
Feb. 1, 1714-15, Daniel Stocking was a committee " to collect ye glass rate," Samuel Stow to " collect ye rate " for " ye trans- porting mr Smith and his goods and family from hors neck." Horse Neck, in Greenwich, Conn, is famous as the place where Gen- eral Putnam galloped his horse down stone steps to escape the Brit- ish. John Sage and John Warner were a committee " for ye schoole and to hire a schoolmaster." "What the 40^ on the £1000 and ye town money doth not reach to maintain the half year school what is wanting shall be levied on the poles of the children from five yere old to ten farmers only excepted."
Feb: 14, 1714-15, Samuel Stow was " to beat the drum and sweep the meeting house for the yeare ensuing and to look after the doors for £l-5^^" Allowed Jacob White " 5 shillings for cider." Made the collector^ responsible for collecting the rates, and the clerk to give them a " clearing " when they have done so.
Feb. 14, 1715-16, "granted ebyneser Eaney ten shilings for sweeping the meeting house for ye year ensuing." Saml Gibson and Samuel Stow were a " commity with John Warner to look after the schoole and to hire a school master or school dame as they shal think fit and most for ye Society's advantage." It will be seen that Mrs. Smith with a husband and three children to care for kept school three months in this year for £5. In what house the school was kept is not known, but they voted a rate of two pence upon the pound to carry on the building of the school- house, " said rate to be paid in wheat at 4^ per bushel, rye at 3* per bushel, and Indian corn at 2^ 6*^. Carpenters for work to receive 3^ per day, other laborers 2^ 6** and for man and team of 4 cattell 5^ per day." The former committee of the school was or- dered to pay over what is in his hands to the present committee " to be laid out for ye benefit of the society in schooling."
HISTORY OF THE UPPEE HOUSES 33
Jan. 14, 1716-17, a committee of seven was appointed "to treat with the south society in Middletown respecting the old meeting house in ye above s*^ society and to secure what part belongs to ye north society." The former collector was so slow in passing over the money due the society, according to the auditors' report filed Feb. 29, 1715-16, that Samuel Gibson, Samuel Stow and John Warner were specially charged " y* ye com" now to take care of the school shall have full power to demand the above said money in the hands of ye former com" and to use all lawful means for ye recovery of ye same for the benefit of the society in schooling."
Dec. 17, 1717, it was agreed that the society should have a " wood bee," and a time was to be set for the same and the " inhabitants warned " of the same.
Daniel Stocking and John Warner were appointed a committee to give Mr. Joseph Smith " a deed of the house and lot upon his paying for the glas and the nails." This deed is dated Jan. 3, 1717 (1718) and is recorded on page 369, vol. 3, Middle- town Land Eecords. He was to furnish the " glass and the nails " for the house now occupied by Mr. William E. Greaves.
On May 5, 1718, the society appointed Lieut. William Savage to act in behalf of the society at the General Assembly " to be held in Hartford the 8th instant " with respect to the petition of the " great swamp men or northwest quarter respecting the minis- terial charg and parrish charge mentioned in s^ petition." The families who had settled in the extreme northwest part of the town desired to attend the Great Swamp Church (Kensington now) and to help support that church and so be relieved of contributing to the Worth Society Church. The General Court granted the request of those living within one and a half miles of the north- west corner of the town.
Dec. 4, 1718, " The society then by a unanimous voat agrees to burn the proposals that m"" Joseph Smith sent to ye meeting March the 26: 1714 with respect to his settlement" and increased his salary to £70 and firewood.
Dec. 28, 1719, it was voted to elect officers by " raising hands " and John Warner, Jr., was elected clerk. May 13, 1720, " agreed to hire a school dame two months to make up their half years schoole for this present year," lest^ they would forfeit their town rate,
Kov. 15, 1720. It was voted to have a " 1. pence rate to defray the charge of getting Mr. Smiths fire wood which rate is to be paid in wood at 3^ pr load and to be carryed to m'" Smiths at or before the 15th of Jan. next, or to pay in cash to the committee."
Dec. 27, 1720. The minister is to be paid in " contry rate "
34 MIDDLETOWN UPPEE HOUSES
as stated by the General Court in money or grain, and to receive £70 a year since he settled.
Dec. 11, 1721. The annual meeting is to begin at 8 in the morning. The minister's salary goes to £75 for the year past, and those who failed last year to bring in their wood are to be warned. Salary is to be paid before the last day of March in money or grain as it generally passes at the time or as they can agree with Mr. Smith. Nathaniel Clark and Daniel White, Jr., are " to look after the children and youth on the Sabath in the time of publick worship." Thomas Kanney is to have 26s for beating the drum and sweeping the meeting house, and " the society agreed to seat their meeting hous."
March 14, 1723. Thomas Stow (Jr.), must have been a supe- rior workman, for he is to have 3s. 6d. per day for work, and the others 2s. 9d. And a division of labor is made, for Nathaniel Eanney is to beat the drum for 15s. and Thomas Eanney is to have 15s. for sweeping the house and shutting the windows and doors after the public worship is ended.
Dec. 14, 1724, the minister's salary goes up to £80 and Widow Scovil has her rate abated. The land where her house stood on the bank of the great river at the end of the Nuiks road has long since been washed away.
Dec. 13, 1725. Joseph Eanney gets 14s for sweeping the meeting house the year coming, and Nathaniel Eanney is to have 16s for beating the drum " if he can be obtained," otherwise the committee is to hire one as cheap as they can. The demand for better schooling facilities seems to have arisen, for it was voted " to any person or persons in this society to improve the school house for schooling their children at any time when the Society hath not need to make use of it for to keep their half years schoolin."
Dec. 12, 1726, the salary goes up to £85. The term " deacon " is first used in the records in referring to Deacon Samuel Gipson. Mr. Smith is to have £15 more and get his own wood.
The next matter of interest for the north side was in a town meeting held only a week later, Dec. 19, 1726, when John Shep- herd and Thomas Savage were appointed tything men " for the north side." Their authority and duty was " When they discover any of the youth disorderly on the Sabath especially in the time of divine worship they shall bring every such youth on the space at or near the foot of the galery stayers in view and cans s^ youth there to stand untill divine worship be over in publick."
The meeting of Dec. 12, 1726, had another very important matter for consideration.
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 35
" Voted that the present committee of the Society shall make demand of what money deacon Samuel Stow hath in his hands and what is yet to gather of the half penny rate that he was to collect for the finishing of the meeting hous and to use all lawful means for the recovery of the same and to lay it out for the re- pairing the meeting house and the school house."
At a town meeting held Dec. 1, 1739, there was quite a dispute about the tax rate and it was decided by an aye and nay : " 43 for itt. 33 against it."
Feb. 2, 1729-30. The school is to be kept 3°^ by a school- mater and 3"^ by a " school mistris " and the money allowed by the town and country shall be divided among them " according to their ways and when necessary to raise money on poles to defray the charge of s*^ half years school it shall be raised upon the pools of all that go to any part of the half years school equally and that this shall be a standing rule."
It was voted on .Feb. 2, 1729-30, that the annual meeting should be held the first Monday in November and the hour was " to begin at noon." But on Nov. 2, 1730, the annual meeting was " very thin, thought fit to aiourn and it was aiourned until Monday the ninth of this instant at one of the clock in the afternoon." At this adjourned meeting John Warner, he of the account book, the gravedigger, the public officer, was continued as " dark." The salary goes up to £95 and " to allow 5^ pr load for wood."
Still the wood question is a burning one, even before the wood is delivered, for on Nov. 16, 1731, Joseph Frary is to be collector of firewood, " and if any person shall neglect or refuse to get and carry to Mr. Smith his or their part of wood " the collector shall have " full power to make destraint on such person for his part of said wood."
On Nov. 24, 1731, the schoolmaster is to get two-thirds and the school mistris one-third and Mr. Smith's salary goes up to :fill2, " of which sum 1^ on £ is to be paid in wood at 5^ per load."
Dec. 1, 1732, a half pence rate is voted to repair the school house. (There does not seem to be any complaint that the school is not supplied with wood.) Deacon Wilcock and two others are to call the former collectors to account for what they are behind to use in repairing the schoolhouse. Nov. 21, 1734, " Deacon John Wilcock was chose Moderator : f of the inhabitants of the North Society declared that it was of necessity to build a new meeting house in said society." Adjourned to " Wednesday, Nov. 28 at sun down," at which adjourned meeting
36 MIDDLETOWN UPPEE HOUSES
"Voted to build their meeting house fifty foot long and thirty foot in width " and " to begin to get timber last of January or 1^' of February next.
" to cover their meeting house with 18 inch shingles that is the roff of it.
" whoever should disburse any towards the build of said meet- ing house shall bring in his account to the clerk once in 14 days on the Monday evening att his dwelling house." On June 6, 1735, Deacon John Wilcock, Deacon Samuel Gipson and Thomas John- son were the committee to build, but Deacon Wilcock declined to serve and Samuel Shepard was appointed in his stead.
At the May session, 1735, of the Great and General Court, " on memorial of the north society two-thirds had voted to build a new meeting house and asked for a committee to view said society and pitch upon a proper place to set up said house. The Assembly appointed Messrs. Jabez Hamlin, Joseph Southmayd and John Gaynes. Said committee reported that they had staked out the place for sd house to be set on, which is about 10 feet northward of the present meeting house. Wherefore this Assembly do enact and order, that the said inhabitants shall set up their meeting house at said place staked out as aforesaid."
The church as then erected stood out in the main highway. Later it was moved back some distance, so that it did not inter- fere with the present west side sidewalk.
Nov. 3, 1735, it was decided to build 55x30 feet and " 23 be- tween ioynts " and Thomas Savage, Francis Wilcock and John Sage, Jr., were added to the building committee.
March 22, 1735 (1736), a committee was fully empowered to use all lawful means to recover what money is in Deacon Stow's hands and Thomas Tillotson's hands.
" Voted that what drink is expended in raising their meeting house shall be born by the Society excepting what shall be drunk with their victuals."
The Society is " divided into three parts to provide a dinner for the raisers of the meeting hous, each part to provid the day they are ordered to provid."
While the work of building this church occupies their attention their pastor is called to his rest. Nov. 1, 1736, Deacon Samuel Gipson was chosen moderator, but declined, and Joseph Ranney, Sr., was " chosen in his roome." Mr. Ranney was then 73 years of age and had resided on what is now the Frisbie place since his marriage 50 years before. No notice is taken by the meeting in the way of passing resolutions of regret, but " the society granted to the Reverend Mr. Joseph Smith, deceased, £100, it being his due
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 37
at the time of his decease." And a committee was appointed " to take the advice of the ministers in order to looking out for a minister for this society." " Candidating," even then, was in vogue, as arrangements were made for " any of them to come and preach to us in this Society."
The Rev. Mr. Brainerd preached for five Sabbaths and received £10 19s. " for his preach to us." Mrs. Smith was in need of wood and a committee was appointed " to agree with Mrs. Smith about the wood in contest between Mrs. Smith and Hhe society."
The Rev. Edward Eells, brother to the Rev. Nathaniel Eells of Stonington, and son of the Rev. Nathaniel Eells of Scituate, Mass., came as a candidate, and on July 7, 1737, the meeting agreed " to voat by holding up hands " to " improve M"" ealls in the work of the ministry further upon triall " ; and a committee was " Em- powered to treat with M'" ealls to know what he must have for preaching amongst us already and what further trial and to treat with M"" eals upon terms of settlement." A rate of 2d. for " ex- penses of triall already " was voted.
When Oct. 5, 1737, arrived the effort to bring Deacon Samuel Stow to terms was successful, for " the Society quited deacon Stow of 7^ 9^ of ye half penny rate he was chosen to colect Dec. 11:1721," and the other collectors had the same courteous let- off. A rate of 12d. on pound was ordered, the levy being £1737, so that £87 was to be raised. It was decided to finish the meeting house before winter as far as possible. The Society agreed to pay Mrs. Smith for five or six Sabbaths she claimed her husband was never paid, but as to the claim for wood, the clerk was chosen with the committee to
" 1 — treat with Mrs. Smith about the wood
2 — and agree with her
3 — or leave it to arbitration
4 — or to defend it in law if they cannot agree any other way."
It was decided to pull down the old meeting house and see what timber that they think profitable for further finishing their new meeting house.
At the same meeting they " made choice of the reverend M"" edward eales " to be their minister, and voted £400 for his encour- agement to settle, and a salary of £100. Note the style of the clerk, who was Capt. John Warner, gravedigger, weaver, and who " filled many public offices."
In 1695 a meadow had been set off near Goose's Delight for a " parsonage " — or land for the use of the parson. It now con- sists of 27 acres of fine meadow, on the north bank of Sebethe River. On Dec. 29, 1737, a committee was appointed " to take care of the
38 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
parsnage belonging to the north society in Middletown and to settle the fence between the parsonage and the neighbors aioyning to it. and it was agreed upon by the society that all male per- sons of 12 years old and upward shall work one day att clearing the parsonag when it is a convenient season."
A salary of £120 per year for three years and his firewood yearly — after three years to rise £10 yearly, till it comes to £140 yearly, and his firewood annually and more if his circumstances call for it, " provided that the money holds its present currency but if the valyation of the money rises or falls then to rise or fall accord- ingly " — a wise precaution in the light of later fluctuations.
On July 20, 1738, three deacons were appointed "to discours with m"" eales as to his settlement with us and to apoint the time for his ordination and all other things that are proper and cus- tomary anticedien to ordination." He was ordained on Sept. 6, 1738 ; the sermon preached by his father was printed and a copy is in the Conn. Historical Society's Library in Hartford.
" Nov. ye 6"^ 1738 " John Shepard was chosen clerk. And on Dec. 18, 1738, " Then John Shepard was sworn," and " sam Peck's rate was abated for the first year to ye Eev. Mr. Edward Ealls."
A yearly school is now to be kept and the year is to be divided into four quarters. The third quarter is to be kept by a school " mistris." In addition to town and country money what is needed to be raised each quarter on the " pooles." If a child go only one day in a month he shall pay for that month. Each month to begin the 1st day of the month, and the " old school house " is to be repaired.
On Dec. 18, 1738, the petition of Joseph Ranney, Jr., Thomas Johnson and others of the North Society was laid before a town meeting, " praying the town to release all the title it may have to a piece of common land, lying between Malachi Lewis dwelling house and Thomas Stows, Jr., bounded South on com- mon field or highway containing 6 or 7 acres, in order to pur- chase the same for the Rev. Mr. Edward Eells." The request was granted and the deed, Vol. 6, p. 81, Middletown Land Records, says it contains eleven acres. This was on the west side of the street from the cemetery. The well exists to-day. On the south part of this homestead the Rev. Mr. Eells built a mansion for his son, Major Edward Eells, and then deeded it to him. It was for many years known as the Deacon William Ranney house, whose tan vats on the premises have left their impression to this day.
About this time the town was much interested in promoting the increase of cattle for themselves, being farmers, as well as in
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 39
looking out for the instruction of their children. At times the same special tax for schools and for bulls was levied. But on Dec. 22, 1740, £30 was voted for schools and £40 for bulls.
On July 4, 1740, the pew at the right hand of the front door was assigned for the family use of Mr. " Eells," who had prob- ably instructed the clerk how to write his name. Mrs. Smith was released from paying her rate " for ye time past."
A number of townships had been laid out in the western part of the colony and the proceeds were to be devoted to the support of schools. On Dec. 11, 1741, a committee was appointed to re- ceive the bonds belonging to this Society and to lease out the same again for the use of this" Society.
At a town meeting held Dec. 23, 1740, John Kirby and Samuel Shepard were permitted " to sett a house 30x40 on the west side of the north society school house in the highway for their conveni- ence on Sabbath days." John Kirby lived four miles west, and as there was no fire in the church they were thus privileged to erect " Sabbath Day houses " where the comforts of a fireplace gave them coals for use in getting dinner and in their foot-pans for the afternoon service in the meeting house.
On Nov. 1, 1742, Thomas Johnson is chosen "dark" for said Society, and Francis Wilcock, Hugh White and Ensign John Sage were elected to " order the prodentials in said Society." This Mr. Johnson was a son of the man who in 1737 had cut the stone for the Boston house of Thomas Handcock, he being the uncle of John Hancock who lived in this house when he put his famous signature to the Declaration of Independence. Young Thomas Johnson may have helped to carve " Thomas and Lydia Hand- cock" into the corner stone of the mansion which stood a short distance west of the Capitol, where Ginn & Co. have their book headquarters. When this house was torn down in 1863 the corner stone became the property of Henry Savage Chase and is now a part of the gateway . at the entrance to the Chase grounds in Brookline, Mass. Mr. Chase was grandson of Capt. Timothy Savage. (See Savage Family.)
" Voted to record in the society's book at all times coming all the Receipts Procured or Given by the Committee of s^ society." The committee was empowered to settle with Mr. Joseph Smith if anything is due his father. A committee was appointed to " clear- ing the Personage." Wood has gone up to lis. per load. A com- mittee was duly appointed to apprize the loads " and if said com- mittee shall judge any pretended to be under an Honest Load it shall pass at the price that the committee shall prize it at. A rate of 3** for clearing the personage."
40 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
On Nov. 7, 1743, it was decided to keep school a whole year, half the time by a schoolmaster, half the time by a school- mistress, she to receive only half the compensation he was to re- ceive. A committee was named and empowered " to hire a house or houses, to keep the schoole in," and another committee " to inspect our covenant with ye Eev. Mr Edward Eells and make report," and the meeting adjourned " until the next Monday come seven night at 12 of the clock."
The need of a new schoolhouse was fully recognized on Nov. 21, 1743.
It was voted to build a school house.
A committee was appointed to build it.
The schoolhouse is to be 24 ft. x 18 ft.
Also to go on and finish the meeting house.
A rate of 12d for building the schoolhouse and finishing the meeting house.
To add £10 10s to the Eev. Mr. Edward Eells' " sallery " the year ensuing to make up for the fall of money.
The £10 10s in committee's hands to be used in purchasing a " grave cloath."
To take up three seats in each of the two square bodies in the meeting house and make pews in their room.
On Nov. 5, 1744, £23 old tenor was added to the " sallery " this year upon the consideration of the fall of money. And Jonathan Ranney was allowed something more than the £100 already agreed on for finishing the meeting house as the committee may decide. He soon removed to Guilford, where he had found a wife years before.
The town had become disposed to " improve sundry donations " made to the school or schools in Middletown by Messrs. Jasper Clemence, Samuel Stow and Nathaniel White, "whether the s^ donations may (agreeable to the wills of the donors) be now divided unto the several schools now agreed upon to be kept in the town or whether they are (according to said wills) belong to one school or schools." So on Dec. 21, 1741, the matter was referred to a committee. The properties were sold and the proceeds put into two funds, and in 1851 Cromwell received its share.
Nov. 19, 1745, the salary goes up to £202 "old tenor." "If any are hindered from coming to school by unavoydable providence it shall be left in the Brest of the Schoole committee to consider them." The farmers in the northwest part of the Society, now East Berlin, were privileged to have a school and share the school money, if they lived over 1^ miles from the schoolhouse.
On Nov. 3, 1746, the salary is £360, "to make good our cove-
HISTOEY OF THE UPPER HOUSES
41
nant with him." How many clergymen of to-day would be de- lighted if their salaries were based on the purchasing power of the dollar !
Nov. 7, 1748, the salary is £440, and a school is to be kept the whole year, ten months in the society's schoolhouse and two months in the northwest quarter at the dwelling house of John Savage, now East Berlin. In 1750 stone steps are to be procured for the meeting house at discretion of the committee.
Like tlie wood for Parson Smith, the "parsnage" meadow, out of sight from a house in 1907, became the occasion of much trouble for some years. So on April 2, 1753, the Society offered Mr. Eells £100 annually, old tenor, reckoning it according to silver at
Second Church and Sabbath Day. Houses
£3 per ounce, if he would "give this society an aquitance of his right in the personage during the time of his continuing to be our minister.^' ^
Nov. 4, 1751, Nathaniel Chauncey, graduate of Yale, and son of the Eev. Nathaniel Chauncey, the first graduate of Yale as also the first pastor at Durham, descendant of President Chauncy of Harvard College, had Just come to town, having married Mary (Hall) Stocking, widow of Johil Stocking, who had died at " Statia." He was an important addition to the community and was added to the committee " to let out the donation money to the best advantage."
" The First Monday after the Thanksgiving " is set as the day "to bring in wood." In 1754 the salary goes up to £470 and a committee is appointed " to search records " to see if any injus- tice had been done Mr. Eells as to " sallery." Wood is £4 per
42 MIDDLETOWN" UPPER HOUSES
cord. The committee's report led the Society to add £50 to the salary " in order to make good the damage he has sustained by bad pay in time past." When the reader turns to the Eells fam- ily record it will be seen that his efforts to educate a family de- served the fullest liberal recognition.
By this time the grandchildren of the settlers had so well pop- ulated the " road to Hartford " that a school was needed only half a mile north of the church green, and it was thought best to " have it as near the dwelling house of Capt. Joseph Eanney as the school committee can procure a suitable place." Five months a school was to be kept in the schoolhouse and four months in the " north part."
In 1755 the Society had. tired of paying Mr. Eells £100 in lieu of the " personage," and after much controversy he " agreed to take it back." A committee had made a report and the Society had " voated it out." " Now we acknowledge that we are to blame and have not treated Mr. Eells well in not sending a committee again." They then appointed a committee " to repare and to make Ditches " and to " set a quick according to Mr. Eells Proposals in order to taking the parsonage into his hands again and also to lay out money in subduing the parsonage." Mr. Eells' " proposals " are then recorded, showing he owned land adjoining the " parsonage " meadow. The " quick " referred to a creek. The salary goes up to £640 " old tenor " on Nov. 10, 1755 ; but on Nov. 10, 1756, it goes down to £6Q " lawful money." On the same day it was voted to " build a new school house fourteen feet one way and seventeen feet the other way to be set up a little northward from Captain Joseph Eanney's house." This schoolhouse was built, but of dif- ferent dimensions. About fifty years ago it traveled one mile to become the ell of a house located near Chestnut Brook. It was covered with oak plank 2| inches thick, which are still there, put on perpendicular-wise, and its appearance is given herewith.
Still the salary question remains a burning one. Nov. 8, 1760. it is made £70, with £15 for last year's deficiency. But on Nov. 1, 1761, Mr. Eells handed in a proposal which he himself entered on the Society's book, in which he proposed a salary of £80 "to avoid yearly disputes." He was willing " after the extraordinary charges of the war are over " to begin at £70 and work up to £80, referring to the French-Indian War, in which many from here were engaged and he was a chaplain. That this was '* accepted bv a clear vote." is the clerk's record. " Nov. 2, 1761, Daniel Stocking, known as " The Schoolmaster," and a graduate of Yale, was chosen clerk and " sworn according to law." It was voted to put a " window on the back side of the
HISTOEY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 43
meeting house against the pulpit for the benefit of the Eev. Mr. Eells." Luke Stebbins and several others are to " tune the Psalms in the meeting house in this Society for the year insuing," " The West part of this Society was permitted to build them a school house and to raise 1^ on the £ to help them."
"Voted that the limits of the Western School in this Society should be bounded Eastwardly by the highway running north from the house of Mr, Jared Shepherd to the Short Hills, so called." This constituted the " northwest district " of the present town. What was formerly " n. w. quarter " had become a part of the Worthington Society, and later the East Berlin part of the town of Berlin. It was settled by Upper Houses families. Its cemetery was givn by Daniel Wilcox and is well kept.
" Voted that the Instructions for the Seaters of the meeting
house should proceed in the seating according to age, honor and
Interest."
Capt. Samuel Ga3'-lord had been absent for six seasons engaged in the French-Indian War, and when he returned he for some reason asked to have his rate abated. This request was refused Nov. 8, 1762. John Clark was chosen to be gravedigger. Th*e meeting adjourned to the day after Thanksgiving, but when they met Nov. 19 their dinner must have left them unfit to do business for they " adjourned without date." In 1764 they decided " to agree with a mason to build a stone chimney in the south schoolhouse." In 1765 they met " by special warning to consider and vote relat- ing to school money that is in the hands of Mr. Lawrence of Canaan and other matters that may occur," and instructed the " committee on donations to this Society " to act in the affairs of the monies that were left in the hands of Mr. Lawrence of Canaan for this school. In 1766 they decided to alter both the pews under the stairs, and in 1767 the " seaters are to seat the galleries so far as they think proper."
Winter in those days without a fire in the church was winter at the best, but the society's committee was instructed to repair the meeting house " to make it comfortable in winter."
The growth of the population had been such, notwithstanding that many had gone to Vermont, Western Massachusetts, and the western part of the colony^ that provision must be made for more school accommodations ; so there is issued a " Special Warning," and on Christmas Day, 1770, the record as prepared by the clerk reads :
Voted, That the schools in this society for the future shall be divided into four destricts.
44 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
L Voted. The North School is to include southward Mr. Com- fort Butler and Mr. Nathaniel Riley. The Butler house is now known as the " Wightman " house and Nathaniel Riley's house stood where the Connecticut Home for aged veterans and their wives stands.
2 Voted. The South School is from Mr. Rileys southward to the ferry bridge and westward to the brook called Wilcox Brook. This is the brook which runs into the old quarry pond.
3 Voted. The West School is from Wilcox Brook excluding Jerod Shepherd north to Wethersfield.
4 Taking in Jerod Shepherd running west to the (Little) River and north to Wethersfield line.
Voted. " That a school house should be built in the 3rd destrict Dimensions 16 feet one way and 18 the other." Solomon Sage to be the committee to build it. Capt. Plumb and Mr. Ozias Wilcox were to locate it.
On the third Monday in November, 1771, Mr. Daniel Stocking serves for the last time as " dark."
School committees and collectors were elected as follows:
SolomcJn Savage (an M. D., too) for the North District.
Edward Eells, Jr., for the 3rd District.
Aaron White for the 4th District.
And none named for the South or original district.
The committee was empowered to hire a room for the 3rd dis- trict and the children of that district were permitted to attend the South School district. The sum of £20 was to be raised for building the schoolhouse in the 3rd district. Edward Eells, Jr., was elected clerk. He enlisted in 1774 in the special emergency troops, started for the seat of war the day after word came of the battle of Lexington, served all through the war, being at Bunker Hill and Yorktown; was one of the Founders of the So- ciety of the Cincinnati, and sleeps beside his honored father. His grave is marked with the bronze marker of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, as are thirty graves of other patriots, whose bones rest within the limits of the North Society, while the memorial, of boulder, shells and cannon is in memory of more than fifty others born here, who served in the Revolution and found graves elsewhere. Here is the style of Edward Eells, Jr., as clerk:
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 45
" Meeting of April 3 : 1772
1 Vote
That the South and neighboring West school Districts should come into one District and that there should be built one new school house to accommodate the Districts and that the new school house should be placed over the brook called Wilcox brook near Mr. Fletcher Ranneys (his house is given herewith) and that other votes that are passed respecting the school which interferes with this vote are repealed.
2 Vote
The Dementhons of the above voted house should be 26 feet one way and 20 feet the other.
3 Vote
Solomon Sage and John Sage are appointed a committee to build it.
4 Vote
That the above house should be Built with brick.
5 Vote
That the twenty pounds that was voted in the 1771 to build the West school house should be put to the use of the above voted house with the two pound rearges."
On Sept. 21, 1772. The Society reconsidered "ye 1 vote con- cerning joyning ye South District with ye dist.
" Granted to ye South Destrict in order to help them to a school house in ye Room of ye old school house Destroyed by fire £20 to be raysed by ye levy of this Society."
On Monday, Nov. 9, 1772:
"3 Vote
Mr. Joseph Frary and Mr. Abijah Savage are chosen for a committee to see into the afair of the South Destrict consarning there school house to build it.
4 Vote
That the South Destrict school house should stand where it now stands."
James Smith for the South, William Sage for the Third and Jarod Shepherd for the fourth, were elected district committees, and Doctor "Hollaburds" (Hurlbiit) rate was abated. These three men soon were actively engaged in the War of the Revolution.
On Nov. 1, 1773:
Joseph Frary for the South, Hezekiah Ranney for the North and Wm. Savage for the West District are district committees. Joseph Frary was epiinent as a surveyor, Hezekiah Ranney as a schoolmaster will be written of elsewhere, as also Wm. Savage,
46 MIDDLETOWN" UPPER HOUSES
who married Abiah Eells, daughter of John Eells and the widow of Mordecai Lincoln, whose name on his tombstone is Linkton. They came here from Taunton, she being a niece of the Rev. Edward Eells.
And here ends the volume with a parchment cover. The next volume of the Society's records is missing. The arrangement by which a " Society " governed schools and the financial part of a church continued till 1795, when the General Assembly relegated to each school district the management of its own affairs and the " Society " was restricted to managing the church's finances. In 1786 Hezekiah Ranney made a report showing he had taught the combined South and West districts, giving the number of days' attendance on the part of the children of each head of a family, and the quantity of wood furnished by each head. This report has lately disappeared.
The brick schoolhouse in the third or West District stood on the open ground in front of the present Catholic parsonage, and was also in front of the home of Elisha Sage, the Revolutionary patriot, who in 1795 built the exterior walls of the old State House in Hartford and which was designed by Bulfinch, who designed the original Capitol at Washington and the old State House in Bos- ton. There is no record known of any contract or workers on the old Connecticut State House, except that in 1802 his widow, Martha Sage, demurred to the General Assembly against being called on to pay damages because of her husband's failure to com- plete his contract in time, on the ground that the materials were not promptly furnished. In this brick schoolhouse Elisha Sage, Jr., attended school, he being the father of the late Russell Sage. The compiler of this volume taught in this brick schoolhouse in the winter of 1855-56.
About 1795 the General Assembly took the matter of schools out of the hands of the societies. Abijah Savage appeared before the General Assembly and had the Society divided into five dis- tricts by dividing the North District into two so that the south line of the Center District was brought down to a line running between the present Congregational and Baptist churches. The town map in the County Atlas published in 1884 gives these lines in colors.
But the desire of a separate school of a higher grade had earlier taken root in this community, and the town received the follow- ing petition:
" Sept. 9, 1782, To the inhabitants of Middletown, to be assembled in town meeting this day. Gentlemen. The educa- tion of children we look upon as a matter of great importance
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 4?
& which in many places too very much neglected, & in order that our children may no longer share in the common calamity, we the subscribers have entered into a written agreement to set up, support, & maintain at our own private expense, a school to be steadily kept, both winter & summer, & having no place on our land convenient as that spot on which one was formerly built a few rods west of the meeting house, we there- fore earnestly request the favor of this town, to grant us liberty to build a house, on that spot of ground and as it cant possibly, in any degree discommode the public nor any private person, and as our design in its own nature is laudable & cant but meet the approbation of every generous mind, so we flatter ourselves, you will so far countenance our design, as cheerfully to comply with our request.
" N'athi Eells ^ Com'ee " Wm Sage I in behalf
" Timo Gibson i of the J whole. "Voted, That the memorialists have liberty to erect a School house as mentioned above, during the town's pleasure."
The Rev. Gershom Bulkeley, graduate of Yale, was then minis- ter of the North Society. Isaac Gridley, a graduate of Yale in the class of 1773, where he was roommate of Nathan Hale, the martyr spy, had been teaching here for some time. Other col- lege graduates resided here. The author of the petition was a master of good English. The schoolhouse was erected and maintained as a private school within the memory of the most aged persons residing here.
The village south of the church green and near the river was very thickly settled, owing to the multiplication of ship yards, and wharves and warehouses, the "West India and other sea trade having become the principal source of revenue. In 1808 a lot was purchased for $105 and a two-story schoolhouse was erected thereon which was in use till 1902. The name of "Bell School House '* had been given to it because of its having a bell. This bell bears the inscription, " Jean Bazin, 1776." On one side is a scene of the Crucifixion and on the other is a representation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was probably brought by some one of the dozens of sea captains from a French West India port. It
48 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
is about twelve inches in height and is kept at the Nathaniel White School. At the 1903 celebration it rested on the boulder then dedicated to the more than fifty Eevolutionary patriots born here and buried elsewhere. When the census of 1814 was tak6n the following showed the number of children in each school district: South, 120 ; North, 51 ; Nooks or Center, 16 ; Brick, 45 ; North West, 45.
The spirit that had prompted the erection in 1782 of a private school found further exercise in the formation of a debating society. This society in 1810 became The Friendly Association. Its first president was the Rev. Joshua Lewis Williams, who was elected Feb. 20, 1810, He was frequently elected, as each president was elected for only a short term. His last election was on March 2, 1830. Among its early presidents were William Walter Woodworth, afterwards a clergyman; Dr. William Tully, later of Yale Medical Faculty; Wm. C. Redfield, the father of the American Society of Science and author of many works. The first volume of records shows that 422 meetings had been held previous to March 29, 1831. Then the second volume was opened showing that the 940th meet- ing was held Jan. 10, 1860. The Rev, Zebulon Crocker, who suc- ceeded Mr. Williams as pastor, was an active member till death removed him. The most influential residents were active mem- bers. They had a valuable library, and their frequent meetings were not merely for debate, but for the presentation of original essays and stories, for recitations and dialogues, and Mrs. Silas Sage frequently regaled the audiences with her original poetry. The annual exercises were as elaborate as those of a high school of the present day, and were held in the meeting house. The result was the following agreement :
"Whereas on the 15 day of August A. D. 1834 the under- signed subscribed to a paper the object of which was to erect in Middletown North Society a suitable two Story Building foi literary and religious purposes, the upper story or room to be exclusively for the use of the Second Congregational Church & Societv in Middletown unless wanted as well as the lower room for literary purposes — and whereas in accomplishing said object land situated easterly of sd Society Meeting House has been purchased of Israel Russell (the conveyance not yet having been made) and a Building thereon erected — Now in order to au- thorize the manner & form of the conveyance from said Russell & thereafter the manner in which the Building & premises shall be held we direct as follows — That the said Russell convey the
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 49
premises to Eben Wilcox Isaac Sage & Joseph Williams & the persons who shall succeed them in the manner hereinafter speci- fied forever in trust for the uses & purposes above expressed, the places of the said Wilcox Sage & Williams in the execution of said trust, in case of decease, or inability to act, to be sup- plied by such person or persons as Richard Warner Stephen Mil- drum & John Parmalee the com^^ of said Society or their suc- cessors as such Committee forever, from time to time may ap- point any & all stipulations in the original writing not herein express'^ or implied are recalled, dated at Middletown May 26, 1836."
This was signd by 44 persons, of whom the Rev. Zebulon Crocker was one, and Dr. Richard Warner, Nath^ Bushnell, Wm. C. Redfield as com*« & in behalf of 2*^ Ecc Society, and Wm. R. Stocking in behalf of the Friendly Association.
" In pursuance of the object expressed in the foregoing paper dated May 26, 1836, by Joseph Williams & others executed & especially for one hundred & forty dollars received to my full satisfaction of the signers thereof I Israel Russell — grant, etc — for the uses & purposes in said paper Specified forever in trust "
This was signed by Israel Russell on Dec. 1, 1836.
The friendly Association took two shares of the stock. The prop- erty cost $1700. The Academy prospered for many years. The teachers were:
Rev. Sylvester Judd, Yale 1835, 6 months.
Rev. John Lord Taylor, Yale 1836, 6 months
Rev. Richard F. Searle, Wesleyan 1835, 1 year.
Rev. Edgar J. Doolittle, Yale 1836, 1^ years, married dau. of Deacon Israel Sage.
Rev. Isaac P. Warren, D. D., Yale 1838, 1^ years, married dau. of Capt. Thomas Stow.
James Hanmer Francis, Yale 1826, 1 year.
Rev. George Thatcher, Yale 1840, 1 year. *
Rev. Jared 0. Knapp, Yale 1840, 3 years.
Rev. R. D. H. Allen, Middlebury, 1841, 1 year.
Rev. Wm. S. Wright, Yale 1839, 5 years.
Joseph Bardwell Lyman, Yale 1850, 6 months.
Julius Y. Leonard, Yale 1851.
The Rev. Edward Eells died Oct. 12, 1776, and the Rev. Ger- shom Bulkeley was installed June 17, 1778. He built, or his father built for him, the house standing opposite the corner of the old
50
MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
cemetery, now known as the Joseph Edwards place. He resigned July 7, 1808, at which time he purchased the house built by Dea- con Samuel Stocking for his daughter Bethia, who had married Thomas Stow. The Stow 'heirs in 1808 sold it to Mr. Bulkeley. It stood about opposite the Methodist church.
The Eev. Joshua Lewis Williams was installed June 14, 1809, and his pastorate ended with his death Dec. 29, 1832. He was known as " Priest Williams." His great work was as President of the Friendly Association. The Rev. Zebulon Crocker was in- stalled May 2, 1833, and his pastorate ended with his death Nov. 14, 1847. In this short time he secured the building of the Acad- emy, the present (brick) church, and the present (brick) par- sonage. He maintained his interest in the Friendly Association to the last. He left no children. The Academy, the Brick Church and the Brick parsonage and the granite obelisk speak his worth.
In 1880 the Rev. Myron S. Dudley published the History of Cromwell, which had its origin in his centennial, 1876, sermon to which he made additions and issued it as a " Sketch," showing much research. He died in 1906, having been an active member of the New England Genealogical Society. From this " Sketch " the fol- lowing tables are taken :
The following is the roll of deacons who have served this church since its organization:
Names. Appointed. Ceased to Act. Remarks. Sam'l Hall, Feb. 10, 1716
W. Savage, " " " Jan. 25, 1727
S. Stow, Sept. 28, 1741
J. Wilcox May 13, 1751 Died, M 68
S. Gipson, March 18, 1748 " " 76
S. Shepherd, Dec. 3, 1745 April 9, 1750 Drowned
I. White, Jan. 15, 1749 June 27, 1769 Died, M 71
W. Savage, 1774 " " 74
T. Johnson, Jan. 9, 1766 Dec. 26, 1774 " " 56
J. Kirby, Nov. 29, 1770 Sept. 12, 1783 " " 64
S. Sage, Jan.. 26, 1775 June 7, 1795 " " 74
T. Gipson, Jan. 14, 1784 March 23, 1810 Resigned
A. Sage, Feb. 22, 1790 March 23, 1810
J. Hubbard, Dec. 14, 1807 Aug. 23, 1808 Died, M 63
B. Parmelee, Mar. 23, 1810 April 6, 1822 Resigned. R. Sage, July, 1817 Mar. 13, 1826 Died, M 49 J. R. Wilcox, Nov. 11, 1822 Jan. 4, 1839 Resigned
I. Sage, Oct. 29, 1826, Sept. 30, 1861 Died, M 75
R. Warner, Jan. 4, 1839 Sept. 1, 1843 Resigned.
HISTOEY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 51
MEMBERS ADDED UNDER JOSEPH SMITH's PASTORATE.
1715-1736. 21 years. By Profession, 53
" Letter, 21
Total, 74
Average 3. 5.
EDWARD EELLS'S PASTORATE.
1738-1776. 38 years. By Profession, 116
" Eenewal, 227
" Letter, 17
Total, 360
Average, 9.5 nearly.
GERSHOM BULKELEY's PASTORATE.
1778-1808. 28 years. By Profession 69
" Eenewal, 176
" Letter, H
Total, 256
Average, 9.
J. L. Williams's pastorate!
1809-1832. 23 years. By Profession, 210
" Letter, 21
Total, 231
Average, 10.
z. Crocker's pastorate.
1833-1847. 14 years. By Profession, 95
" Letter, 49
Total, 144
Average, 10.
52 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
The Baptist Church
Luther Savage, a soldier in the War of the Revolution, having removed to Hartford, became a Baptist. Josiah Savage, his brother, also a patriot, had married Mary Roberts, b. Dec. 9, 1763, daughter of Dr. Aaron Roberts and Hepzibah (Johnson) Shepard, widow of Edward Shepard who was son of Lieut, and Deacon Samuel Shep- ard and Mary Ranney. Dr. Roberts had bought the Mathias Treat house, which had been the home of Edward and Mrs. Shepard. Josiah Savage had bought the easterly part of the Treat homestead including the Jonathan Frary "mantion" of 1760. Mrs. Mary (Roberts) Savage, visiting Luther Savage in Hartford, became im- bued with Baptist principles and was immersed there in Park River. She began an active campaign among her friends and neighbors, holding meetings in her own home and elsewhere. It was at a time when there was a revolt against the rigid rules of the " established order," the Congregational Church. As a result a number became members of the Hartford Baptist Church. On January 19, 1802, a meeting was held at the house of Comfort Ranney and his wife, Ruth Treat, at which steps were taken to- wards the organization of a church. Elder Eber Moffatt of Stephentown, New York, had evidently been laboring here. He and Capt. Timothy Savage, a younger brother of Luther and Josiah, were chosen to write a letter to the Hartford church. It was dated January 29, 1802. As a result the Hartford church gave letters dismissory to Comfort Ranney and wife Ruth Treat; Timothy Savage and wife Sarah Collins; Eleazar Savage, Stephen and John Treat; Sarah Savage, later wife of Col. Josiah Sage and sister of Timothy; Percy Savage, another sister; Mary Roberts Savage; Mary Savage, later wife of Simeon Ranney; Ruth (White) Ranney, wife of Joseph Ranney; and Willard Ranney, brother of Comfort.
Deacon John Bolles, Samuel Beckwith and Luther Savage were delegated to sit in council with the members from Upper Houses on Saturday, Feb. 6, 1902. Elder Moffatt, Elder Nehemiah Dodge of New London, and brother Enoch Green of the Middletown Bap- tist church were members of the council.
March 30, 1803, at the home of Capt. Timothy Savage, they adopted the " New Hampshire Confession of Faith." A committee applied to the town for a location on which to build a church. The town's committee reported in favor of a location on the West Green, nine rods northwest of the " Brick " schoolhouse. The town meeting gave permission to build two rods further north.
HISTOKY OF THE UPPEE HOUSES 53
The size of the church is to be seen from the marks indicating the foundation. The corner stone, a rough boulder, is still to be seen there. Elder Moffatt died in 1804, and his grave in the old cemetery is marked with a headstone.
Soon after the organization of the church, William Ranney, brother to the Joseph named above, and wife Olive Hamlin, a descendant of the Rev. Joseph Smith, the first pastor of the Con- gregational Church, became members. He was a tanner occupying the house built by Rev. Edward Eells for his son, IMajor Edward Eells. His zeal in the church led to his house being termed " The Minister's Tavern." He was a deacon for many years. His grand- son, Rev, Edwin H. Ranney, licensed by this church March 29 1852, delivered an address on his " Early Reminiscences " on July 19, 1905, before the Society of Middlettown Upper Houses, and which is to be found in this volume.
Late in his life, 1826, Josiah Savage was received into the church. His son, Jesse, removed to Hartford, became a prominent member of the First Baptist Church, and was very successful in business. His daughter, Mrs. Cornelia Savage Chase, in her lifetime gave $100,000 to various Baptist enterprises and by her will left $500 to the Cromwell Baptist Church and $500 to care for the Savage and Gridley lots in the old cemetery.
In 1833 the old church was brought to the village and located just north of the present bank building. In 1853 the present edifice was erected. The pastors and people of this church have been very courteous to the Society of Middletown Upper Houses in assisting at the various reunions and in voting to give the use of the church for its reunions.
The Cemeteries
Previous to the laying out of a cemetery in Upper Houses, Janu- ary, 1713, new style, all burials were in Riverside Cemetery, " South side," The railroad has encroached from time to time upon this old cemetery until the greater half of it lying next to the river has disappeared. In the remaining part are the headstones and footstones of Capt. Nathaniel White and his first wife, and of David Sage,
As Thomas Ranney died in June, 1713, it is presumed that he may have been the first buried in the Upper Houses. The town record says he died June 25. His tombstone says he died June 21, the " 1 " being reversed. Later the cemetery was enlarged on the north end where marble headstones show the later fashion.
54 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
There is a cemetery fund of twelve hundred dollars conveyed to the town in 1885, of which a thousand dollars came from the estate of Miss Mary Ann Latimer. Under the leadership of the Rev. Myron L. Dudley, ]\Ir. Ralph B. Savage, Mr. Elisha T. Sage, and Mr. Bulkeley Edwards, the citizens were aroused to put the ceme- tery in proper condition, which was done in 1880. Miss Fanny Gridley of Northampton, Mass., contributed $20 to cover the cost of renewing the inscription on the table stone of her ances- tor, the Rev. Joseph Smith, the Church having previously voted to renew the inscription, the leaden insert having been appropriated at some time, probably for the making of bullets, as was done with the leaden one to John- Sage and his wife Hannah Starr. The annual town meeting, on Oct. 3, 1881, had solemnly pledged itself to accept any gifts for the cemetery and to use the interest thereof to. "protect, clean and beautify" the burying yard. In 1903 an iron fence was erected in place of the picket one erected in 1880. By the will of Mrs. Cornelia Savage Chase the town received $500, less the State tax, netting $476, the interest of which is to be used to care for the Savage and Gridley lots. The growth of the northwest section of the town calling for a cemetery, Israel Kelsey sold to the town on January 20, 1802, " for a burying ground " ten rods front and rear and seven rods deep, etc., " reserving to myself and my heirs the grazing of sd piece of land yearly for small stock only such as sheep and calves." The first burial in this lot was of Aaron White, who had served in the French-Indian War and in the War of the Revolution.
In Time of War
He who " came to bring a sword " knew that human rights must be maintained " by the sword." Hardly had Windsor, Hart- ford and Wethersfield been settled than the Pequots determined to exterminate the settlers. Under Capt. Mason, in 1637, a force was successfully sent against them. Among those who went from Hartford was William Bloomfield who soon after helped to settle the Upper Houses.
In 1746 a regiment of Connecticut troops was organized to co- operate with other forces to attack Canada. This regiment was to have proceeded against Louisburg but got only as far as New London. The muster roll found in England a few years ago shows that several enlisted in this regiment from the Upper Houses, and from East Middletown settled in 1710 from the Upper Houses.
The French-Indian War, 1755-64, had its scene of action in Northern New York, and the Upper Houses with its limited
HISTOEY OF THE UPPER* HOUSES
55
population seems to have generously contributed of its men and means. The Connecticut Historical Society has issued two vol- umes giving a record of those who served in this war. Among these was Amos Savage who lost his powder horn there. A century later an Indian presented that powder horn to a member of the Savage family and it is now the property of Mr. James Francis Savage of Lowell, Mass. The illustration of this horn was done by the daughter of Mr. Savage in her fifteenth year. Amos Sav- age served also in the War of the Eevolution and is buried here. Some others who were in the French-Indian War served also in the Eevolutionary War, as will be seen by a comparison of the lists given. East Middletown, across the river from the Upper Houses, was so intimately allied that the names here given include those from that settlement.
Capt. Joseph Savage, Quartermaster Comfort Sage, Capt. Sam- uel Gaylord and Lieut. Samuel Stow were the chief officers. Capt. Gajdord served six years. The following additional names will be found in the volumes referred to:
William Banks
John Gibson
John Gibson, Jr.
Churchill Edwards
John Collins, died Nov. 3,
1762 Josiah Savage, corporal. Jonathan, Stow, trumpeter Simeon Stow Giles Stow Solomon Sage Samuel Lewis Sage Jonathan Sage Giles Sage Gideon Sage Jedediah Sage Amos Savage Samuel Stow Savage Nathaniel Savage Solomon Savage Daniel Savage Thomas Savage Stephen Savage Ebenezer Savage Lamberton Stocking
Stephen Eanney, East Mid- dletown
Stephen Eanney, Upper Houses
John Eanney, died Sept. 18, 1760, in his Majestie's Hospital, Oswegatchie
John Eanney, Jr.
Nathaniel Eanney
Hezekiah Eanney
Jeremiah Eanney, died Oct. 23, 1762
Eichard Eanney
Thomas Eanney
Timothy Eanney
Willett Eanney
John Eobinson
Aaron Eoberts Jared Shepard Joseph Smith Joseph Smith, Jr. John Treat
Nathaniel Wilcox, died Nov. 17, 1762
56 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
Amos Stocking John Wilcox
Jonathan Stocking Joseph White
Zebulon Stocking Thomas White
Marshall Stocking Ebenezer White
George Stocking , Moses White Elijah Stocking Stephen White
Jabez Ranney Wm. White
Edward Ranney Wm. White, Jr.
Samuel Ranney, died in army Samuel White
Aug, 31, 1758 Waitstill Wilcox
Ozias Ranney
THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
The many who had served in the French-Indian War and had survived served as a rallying center when there was prospect of a conflict with the Mother Country. The Great and General Assembly strengthened the militia and many enlisted in it in 1774. In Middletown sixty aged gentlemen organized to " practice the military art."
At " near ten o'clock " a. m. of April 19, 1775, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety started Israel Bessel to Connecticut with the news that a battle had been commenced. The news reached Hart- ford and Middletown on the 20th, and on the 21st a company of militia under Capt. Return Jonathan Meigs and a troop of horse under Capt. Comfort Sage started, being ferried over the river at Hartford, and were gone eight days on what is known as the expedition " for the relief of Boston." No rolls were preserved, but of Capt. Comfort Sage's company the names of Lieut. Charles Bulkeley who later married a Ranney, Quartermaster Eli Butler, and Corporal Edward Eells are given.
On April 20, Governor Trumbull summoned the General Assem- bly to convene on April 26. This session, lasting ten days, autho- rized the enlistment of six regiments, with officers' commissions to date from May 1. The Second Regiment was raised in Middle- town and vicinity. Part of them were in the Battle of Bunker Hill. In September part were detailed in the attempt to capture Quebec. This battle on Dec. 31 was a disastrous failure. Many were captured, including Lieut. Abijah Savage who was held a prisoner for 14 months. On his release he raised a company and served three years.
Late in 1775 the army was reorganized as the " Continental Army " and this constituted the " regulars " of the war. Early in 1776 many militia regiments were raised for 7 months' service,
Colonel Return Jonathan ^Ieigs (See page 56)
General Israel Putnam
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 57
and just after the disastrous battle of Long Island on Aug. 27, 1776, many more troops were rushed to the front. And so the long war went on.
The census of the colony by school districts was taken on the first Monday in September, 1776. Middletown, after losing in 1767 all its territory east of the river to form the town of Chat- ham, remained larger in population than either Hartford or New Haven. The census of Middletown as a whole, and that part of it constituting the Upper Houses, showed the following:
U. HO. MIDDLETOWN
Males under ten 129 736
Females under ten 113 736
Males between ten and twenty, married 0 0
Males between ten and twenty, single 87 576
Females between ten and twenty,married 0 11
Females between ten and twenty, single 75 600
Males between twenty and seventy, married 106 679
Males between twenty and seventy, single 32 268
Females between twenty and seventy, married.. 106 706
Females between twenty and seventy, single. . 58 390
Males above seventy, married 6 38
Males above seventy, single 3 7
Females above seventy, married 6 23
Females above seventy, single 12 39
Negro males under twenty 2 47
Negro females under twenty 7 49
Negro males above twenty 5 62
Negro females above twenty 7 43
Total 754 5037
Officers and soldiers in Militia rolls 69 588
Able bodied men between 16 and 45, not in
Militia rolls , 30 104
Men in Continental Army 28 202
Men raised for defense of the Colony and now
in the Colony 1 5
It is not the province here to give even a local history of the contest, save to say that many volunteered to care for the fami- lies of oflBcers. "William White, who had served in the French- Indian war, cared for four families of oflBcers. The smallpox in the days of the war was a dreadful and a dreaded disease. The town voted that any who wished could be inoculated. The fol- lowing was addressed " To the Civil Authority and Selectmen of Middletown," and the autograph of the petitioner is copied from the original document which is endorsed, " N. Chauncey's motion negatived."
58 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
" Middletown upper houses, Feb^ 4^*^ 1778 Gent".
I am desired to inform you that M"" William Sage and all those who have lately been Inoculated at his House are extremely desirous that they may be allow'd to go through with the whole opperation without removing from that place not only on ace of y® Difficulty, Danger and Expens such a movement; but also and principally on acct of y^ peculiar Situation of that place for such a Purpose; it being so Distant from Neighbours, and public Eoads and there being a large Joyner's shop well fin- ished and Warm with a good fire place in it about (1) Eods from y® Dwelling House, excellently calculated for y^ Purpose of cleaning up in. I must beg leave Gent" to give it as my Opinion that the place is indeed very convenient and y® forego- ing plan much prefferable to any that has yet been thought of to avoid y® Danger of spreading the Infection I am Gent'^ y"" most obed'
In 1889 the State published a " Eecord of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service during the War of the Revolu- tion, 1775 — 1783." So many rolls have been discovered since then that the Connecticut Historical Society has published one volume and has material for another volume. The church records say,
" Heard of the death of " on such a date. Town records
give such as this : " Daniel Wilcox died in ye camp at Roxbury, April 10, 1776." In 1876 a committee of the town, consisting of David Edwards, who was 25 years of age when his patriot father died; Ralph B. Savage, grandson of patriot Nathaniel Sav- age, and Elisha T. Sage, grandson of patriot Elisha Sage, all aged men, reported a list of those known to have served in the war. This book contains the portrait of Daniel Eells, who was a prisoner in Bermuda, yet no known roll contains his name. The Colonial records give the names of those commissioned. The printed rec- ords end with 1780. The manuscript records of 1781-82 show that Josiah Savage was commissioned captain in the 23d Regiment, which was composed of Middletown and Chatham men and give a number of others commissioned. From these various sources, with the records of Massachusetts and Vermont, the compiler has made out the list, given here, of those who served in the war, having been born here or, having removed away after the war, are buried
HISTORY OF THE UPPER HOUSES
59
here. There has been an effort to omit the names of any not coming imder one of these heads.
OFFICERS
Colonel Comfort Sage.
Brev. Major Edward Eells.*
Captain Solomon Sage.*
Captain Josiah Savage.*
Captain Jared Shepard.
flaptain Jairus Wilcox.
Captain Ephraim Ranney.
Captain Abner Smith.*
Lieutenant Jeremiah Hubbard.*
Lieutenant Jedediah Sage.
Lieutenant Ephraim Ranney.
John S. Chauncey, killed Dec. 14, 1777, after surrendering.
Francis Clark.
Benj. Butler.
Oliver Clark.
John Hamlin.*
David Edwards.*
Churchill Edwards.*
Nathan Edwards, died in pris- on, July 22, 1782.
John Gibson.
Jacob Gibson.
Hosea Miller.*
Daniel Pardee.*
Justus Riley.
Joseph Riley.
Nathaniel Riley.
Aaron Roberts.
John Robinson, killed at Nor- walk, July 11, 1779.
Evan Thomas.*
Amos Treat.
Stephen Treat.
John Treat.
John Smith, prisoner, died Feb. 20, 1780.
Surgeon Stephen Ranney. Captain Eli Butler. Captain Nathaniel Gilbert. Captain Abijah Savage.* Captain Hugh White. Captain Samuel Eells. Captain Nathan Sage. Lieutenant Jacob White.* Lieutenant Elisha Savage. Lieutenant Samuel Smith, died
in prison July 2, 1782. Daniel Eells. John Eells. John Hands.* Seth Kirby. John Kirby. Elijah Kirby, prisoner, died
July 7, 1782. Samuel Gaylord. Jonathan Gaylord. Comfort Ranney. Nathaniel Ranney.* William Ranney. Thomas Ranney, Corporal. Daniel Ranney. Amos Ranney. Ebenezer Ranney.* Willett Ranney. Joseph Ranney, prisoner, died,
July 22, 1780. Simeon Ranney.* SolQmon Sage, Jr.* Simeon Sage. Giles Sage, Corporal.* Abraham Sage. Willett Ranny Sage, died of
smallpox in army.
* Buried here.
60
MIDDLETOWN" UPPER HOUSES
James Smith.*
Joseph Smith.*
Stephen Savage.
Josiah Savage, Jr.*
Luther Savage.
Levi Savage.
Jacob Savage, Sergeant.
Seth Savage.
Gideon Savage.
Simeon Savage.
Nathan Savage.
Elisha Savage.
Nathaniel Savage.*
Samuel Savage.*
Amos Savage, Ensign.*
Joseph Savage, Ensign.
Solomon Savage.
Selah Savage.
Thomas Savage.
Hiel Savage.
Francis W. Savage.
Samuel Stow Savage.
Joel Savage.
Daniel Savage.*
Hugh White, Jr.. Ensign.
Justus Wilcox.
Amos Wilcox.*
Daniel Wilcox, died in ye camp
at Eoxbury, Apr. 10,^1776. Reuben Wilcox.
John Smith.*
Epaphras Sage,*
Elisha Sage.*
Stephen Sage.
William Sage, Ensign.*
Daniel Sage.
Benj. Sage.
Abner Sage.
Gideon Sage.
Miles Sage.
Elisha Stocking.*
John Stocking.
William Stocking.*
Joseph Shepard.
Samuel Stow, killed on ship,
Apr. 12, 1780. William Stow, died Oct. 2, 1782. Jonathan Stow.* Samuel White. Daniel White. Daniel Clark White. Aaron White, Corporal. Reuben White, died Jan. 2,
1780. Asa Wilcox, heard of his death
at West Point, Sept. 30, 1781. Lemuel Wilcox. Eliphalet Wilcox.* Elisha Wilcox, Ensign.
After the war the great majority of these patriots went to Massachusetts, Vermont, New York or Ohio to found new settle- ments and are there buried.
WASHINGTON PASSES THROUGH THE UPPER HOUSES
From the diary of General George Washington, in the posses- sion of the James F. Joy Estate of Detroit, the following extracts were made for use in this volume. As he passed through the streets of 1650 and on to Hartford, he passed the house in which Gideon Savage was born and then lived, and in so doing may have
* Buried here.
^ o
*J o
^ 2
'A ^
HISTOEY OF THE UPPER HOUSES 61
shaken hands with the " artificer," whose diary, printed herein, confirms the family tradition that he built the log cabin in which " Lady Washington " took her meals at Valley Forge.
" Monday, October 19th, 1789.— About 10 o'clock, we left this place, and at the distance of eight miles passed through Durham. At 1, we arrived at Middletown on Connecticut river, being met two or three miles from it by the respectable citizens of the place, and escorted in by them. While dinner was getting ready, I took a walk around the town, from the heights of which the prospect is beautiful. Belonging to this place, I was informed (by a General Sage) that there were about 20 sea vessels, and to Weth- ersfield, higher up, 22, and to Hartford the like number; other places on the river have their proportion, the whole amounting to about 10,000 tons. The country hereabouts is beautiful, and the lands good. An average crop of wheat from an acre of fallowed land is estimated at 15 bushels; sometimes they get as high as 25 and 30 bushels to the acre from the best lands. Indian corn from 20 to 40 bushels per acre. Their exports are the same as from other places, together with potash. Having dined we set out with the same escort (who conducted us into town) about 3 o'clock for Hartford, and passing through a parish of Middletown and Weathersfield, we arrived at Hartford about sundown. . . .
" Hartford is more compactly built than Middletown, and con- tains more souls ; the computed number of which amount to about double. The number of houses in Middletown is said to be 250 or 260, these reckoning eight persons to a house would raise two thousand at least. The depth of water which vessels can bring to the last place is about ten feet; and is as much as there is over Saybrook bar. From Middletown to Hartford there is not more than 6 feet of water. At Middeltown there is one Episcopal and two Congregational churches."
On his return he passed through Berlin, formerly the northwest quarter of the Upper' Houses. Fuller's Tavern in after years was kept by Amos Kirby, and is seen in this, volume.
" Left Hartford about seven o'clock and took the middle road (instead of the one through Middletown which I went) breakfasted at Worthington, in the township of Berlin, at the house of one Fuller, bated at Smith's on the plain of Wallingford, thirteen from Fuller's, which is the distance Fuller's is from Hartford, and got into New Haven, which is thirteen miles more, about half an hour before sundown. At this place I met Mr. Geary in the stage
63 MIDDLETOWN UPPEK HOUSES
from Kew York, and he gave me the first certain account of the health of Mrs. Washington/'
WAR OP 1812.
Captain Isaac Webber, a shipbuilder here, raised a company and proceeded to Saybrook at the mouth of the river. In his company were Harvey and Martin Eanney, both of whom died young and are buried here.
THE SOCIETY OF MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
THE SOCIETY OF MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
For some years the compiler of this volume had been gathering material concerning the early families of this place, and with special reference to the Ranney family. When it had been decided by the town to erect a fine town school edifice to supplant the district system he suggested that the school should be named after Captain Nathaniel White, who, by his will of 1711, had given one-fourth of his share of the as yet undivided common lands for schools. This was done by a unanimous vote passed at a special town meeting held on Jan. 6, 1902, the day on which the school edifice was first used. A plan to have a reunion of descendants of the old families in the month of June was broached, but the compiler decided to defer it for a year. In 1903, a reunion was held on Bunker Hill Day, June 17, and a boulder was dedicated to the memory of the patriots of the War of the Eevolution who were born here, but found a grave elsewhere, some on the battle field, some from the hospitals, others from the prison ships, and the greater number in the newer settlements they had made in other states. Bronze markers had been donated by the Connec- ticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. A number of members of Mansfield Post, No. 53, G. A. R., of Middletown,. honored us with their presence and sympathy. A Ranney Asso- ciation was formed with R. B. Ranney of New Castle, Pa., as President, S. 0. Ranney of Windsor Locks, and Charles K. Ranney of Hartford as Vice Presidents, and C. Collard Adams as Secre- tary-Treasurer. Among those present was the Rev. Edward Eells, descended from Major Edward Eells, who had served from the 21st of April, 1775, to the close of the war, and who, with his father. Rev. Edward Eells, the second pastor of the church, are buried here.
On Bunker Hill Day, 1904. a much larger gathering was held, with an exhibit of relics brought from far and near, a pilgrimage through the original streets, and ' a sumptuous repast provided by sympathetic villagers. A procession was formed, headed by the drum corps of Mansfield Post, G. A. R., with nearly one hundred members of the Post and of the W. R. C, together with a hundred children, each carrying a flag, followed by the descend- ants. The march was to the cemetery, where recitations were
65
66 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
delivered by Miss Anna Pease and Master John ISTeal. Thirty girls and boys placed silk flags at the graves of that many pa- triots, some of whom had fought at Bunker Hill. The mortar and shells were unveiled by the Misses Florence Taylor and Julia Mosher, descendants of patriots. The graves of the first five pastors of the Congregational Church and of the first pastor of the Baptist Church had been previously marked with flags. Ex- ercises were then held in the Baptist Church.
The Hon. Walter C. Faxon, Governor of the Connecticut So- ciety of Founders and Patriots, read a letter of congratulation from Admiral Dewey, Governor General of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, which was as follows :
NAVY DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE ADMIRAL OF THE NAVY MILLS BUILDING
Washington, June 4, 1904. Dear Sir:
It gives me great pleasure, as Governor General of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, to extend hearty greet- ings to the Eanney Memorial and Historical Association, which is to have a celebration in honor of the Founders, Fathers and Patriots of Middletown Upper Houses. I believe that historical and patriotic societies such as these are doing a great work, and one that future generations cannot fail to appreciate.
Very truly yours.
He then delivered an address on the functions of the Society, of which he was the Connecticut presiding officer.
The Eev. D. B. Hubbard, pastor of the Westfield Congrega- tional Church, the Rev. Edward Eells, the Rev. James Eells, both descendants of the second pastor, the Hon. James H. Macdonald,
m
HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY 67
State Highway Commissioner, the Eev. C. H. Hands, pastor of the Baptist Church, and Miss Clara C. Fuller, descendant of Aaron White, patriot, delivered addresses. Miss Fuller spoke as follows on
The Daughters of the American Eevolution
Mr. President, Members of the Association of Founders and Patriots, Citizens of Middletown Upper Houses. We are not in Cromwell to-day. Involuntarily I go back many, many years, when as a little child I sat by my grandfather's side and listened to the stories of the good old times. I think it must have been then that the love of ancestry, the seeds of patriotism, were im- planted in my heart. All those early associations clustered around Lanesboro, Pittsfield, Bolton, but above all and beyond all — Mid- dletown Upper Houses.
I am here to-day — so I am scheduled to speak for the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution — but now that I am on the spot of my childhood's dreams I cannot easily get away from those early days when the Whites and the Savages lived in the most harmonious relation, from those sturdy men and women — New England born and bred — who moved once and then staid where they stopped. They were not a migratory race. They made — what to-day is the stronghold of America — they made homes. My uncle, Charles Merrow White, now in his 87th year, lives in the same house where his father and mother began their young lives together ninety years ago. My mother, in her 81st year, lives on the spot where Samuel White and his family settled when they first came to Central New York. Near by lived and died only a few years since, in her 104th year, Nancy White Guiteau. There is not money enough in America to buy these homes. I wish we possessed one more — Aaron White's old hotel, and then we should cling to that, too.
Is it foolish, is it sentimental, is it un-American to climb our family tree, to feel a very pardonable pride as we perch ourselves up in the branches, picking the fruit of past generations, enjoy- ing the fragrance of the " old-fashioned roses," never minding if occasionally we do run up against a thorn? Love of ancestry is akin to love of country, and love of country is next to love of God. And have we not God's sanction when in the Great Book is traced with reverent simplicity the earthly genealogy of the Master? Is it too much to claim that an honored ancestry shall result in a clean posterity? Who wants to be the first one to sully a proud name ? Let us go on founding our patriotic societies, our Founder's Associations. Let us cherish our Old Home Weeks,
68 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
our Commemorative Days, and we shall grow the nobler and the sweeter for it. Money will count for less and character for more.
This, Mr. President, is what our great society of 40,000 women — the Daughters of the American Revolution — stands for.
There are just three points I want to make.
1. We are democratic. We stand for the masses — the rank and file — the bone and sinew of the country — the working forces. I^o idea can be more erroneous than the notion that the Daughters of the American Revolution is an exclusive and aristocratic body. If we have an aristocracy, it is that of courage, of high ideals founded on the Battle of Bunker Hill and the sufferings of Valley Forge. We are working, indeed, to establish caste, but a caste in which the brotherhood of man takes rank. There is a great danger confronting America. Enormous fortunes are being amassed by the few; great corporations are wielding a tremendous power; a social caste — not of brains nor of breeding — but of money is being formed. As a balance-wheel, as a leveler, comes this great society of 40,000 women from every State in the Union, and representing all grades of society, the only requisite being a reputable life and two or three generations of American blood. A chapter is formed in a town, and women begin to discover each other; talents are revealed that were never suspected, barren lives are enriched, and the whole community is leavened. The town may be divided by its politics, by its churches, but this one thing is open to all.
2. We stand for civic education and for local improvement. Our chapters are presenting flags to the public schools, are offer- ing prizes for the best prepared work on American History, and are studying and practicing parliamentary law. As we feel the necessity for being what we are trying to encourage, we are taking up courses of historical study, making historical pilgrimages, and reclaiming from oblivion places of almost sacred interest. Believ- ing that the best American is the intelligent American, we are encouraging historical research, recording family traditions, mark- ing the graves of Revolutionary heroes, supplying our soldiers and sailors with literature, reaching out to our new possessions, and assisting in making into Americans the great horde that pours into our harbors from every land under the sun. What a cause for regret that all this awakening and organizing had not come half a century — even quarter of a century earlier ! What a wealth of unwritten history lies buried forever in our cemeteries ! How we now long to know the things that could have been had for the asking a few years ago !
HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY 69
You happy people of New England have reached one vantage ground at least from which you can look down upon the rest of us with a great deal of satisfaction, an uncommon amount of civic pride. Your villages are the most beautifully kept in Amer- ica. Horatio Seymour once said, " I consider it as great an honor to be path master in Deerfield, as to be Governor of the State of New York." Emulating the spirit of this great man, the Daugh- ters of the American Eevolution are taking up the work of village improvement and we hope in time to approach your point of perfection.
3. We stand for a pure and enlightened patriotism. It would be impossible among so many women to eliminate all selfish ambition, but the great mass are moved by the highest impulses and the one great desire to make America the better for their ex- istence. Ours is the first and the largest body of women ever organized for patriotic purposes. It would never have been called into existence except that it had a mission to perform. I believe that God wants us, and so we are here. We are here not only to reclaim and honor the past, but also to form and ennoble the future. Our greatest opportunity, and therefore our greatest responsibility, lies with the children of the public schools. The boys of to-day are the men of to-morrow. From all nations they are coming to us for life and for light. They are coming faster than we are ready for them. If we do not form their public senti- ment, they will form ours.
And so — Mr. President and members of the Society of Founders and Patriots of Middletown Upper Houses — we are all working together for the betterment of the race.
Let us gather reverently around the hearthstones and graves of those heroic men and women who gave birth to our nation, that our souls may be aroused to greater effort. Let us be reminiscent, but let us also be dynamic. Let us prove our inheritance, not only in name, but also in the possession of a sturdy, uncompromis- ing courage that shall fight the battles of peace and win the vic- tories as valiantly as did the heroes of '76, that shall solve the problems of living as wisely as did those pioneers who went out from Middletown Upper Houses a century ago.
Clara Cornelia Fuller, Great-great-granddaughter of Aaron White, patriot.
During the exercises at the church several hundred children were feasted, and at 5 p. m. the members of Mansfield Post, G. A. E., and the W. R. Corps were entertained at luncheon.
REUNION OF THE SOCIETY June 19, 1905
The enthusiasm of all present was such that there was a general call for another reunion, and this was held on July 19, 1905, the thermometer being at 94°. A procession of several four-horse omnibuses, with hacks, automobiles, and other conveyances, made a pilgrimage, not only through the original streets, but up Main Street where the sons of the founders had built their habitations, out " New Lane," opened in 1788, past the houses built by William Sage and Elisha Sage, patriots, in sight of the Nathaniel White Public School, and to the house of Thomas Stow and his wife, Martha White, built 1713-1720, where a halt was made and the house inspected. There was then a procession to the old cemetery, where an hour was spent in inspecting the headstones. A business meeting was then held in Temple of Honor Hall, where the Society of Middletown Upper Houses was duly incorporated and all previ- ous contributors were admitted to membership. A dinner was then served in Briggs Hall. After dinner the granite and bronze memorial to Founders, Fathers, and Patriots was dedicated, prayer being offered by the Eev. Edward Eells, the address of dedication being delivered by the newly elected President, and the memorial unveiled by little Miss Evangeline Eells. The flag was then raised to the top of the flagstaff.
Addkess of Dedication The Hon. Frank Langdon Wilcox
This earth is a wonderful footstool — beautiful by nature, and peculiarly adapted to the uses of man. And man has used this round world as a free gift for the performance of his part in life's history. Day by day, and night by night, and year by year deeds are enacted of love, sacrifice, heroism, patriotism, and from religious convictions, so that the surface of all lands has been dotted with memorials to commemorate the events. Beautiful buildings, tower- ing monuments, enduring granite, bronze tablets, and simple markers are the usual tokens that record these worthy deeds— they perpetuate memories, and incite all beholders to emulation.
We are met here to-day to accept and dedicate this granite boulder with its bronze tablet, erected to commemorate the lives
• 70
R HOUSES
*E L HAL I SAMUEL- ilGGKINC I GER
I KiRBY -rwOMAS STOW MAT.
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-■'1 MOUSES
Bronze Taiu-et on Memorial Boilder
HISTOEY OF THE SOCIETY 71
of the Fathers, Patriots, and Pastors of Middletown Upper Houses. With reverence and love we here commit our testimonial to the sight of all passers-by in this most public spot at the meeting of the ways. Northward is the original highway blazed through the wilderness and traversed by our forefathers. Eastward is " Pleas- ant Street," laid out by that first generation as the principal street of Cromwell, and the main line of travel between Hartford and Middletown, while hard by pass the trains of the Valley Division of The New York, New Haven & Hartford E. E. There could be no more fitting place to connect the silent past with the busy present.
The sun may shine, the rains may fall, and the storms beat upon this rock, and generations of men may come and go, but this monument will always remain here, symlsolic of the sturdy, endur- ing character of these early settlers, whom we claim as a distin- guished honor for our ancestors.
Exercises were then held in the Baptist Church, prayer being offered by the Eev. D. B. Hubbard. The Eev. William S. Middle- mass, pastor of the Baptist Church, extended a welcome to the Society, when the President, the Hon, Frank Langdon Wilcox, delivered the following address.
The President's Address
Kinsmen and Friends: Words of welcome have been extended to us by this town, which has changed its name from that given by our forbears of " Middletown Upper Houses." Greetings have been exchanged with those we have known and loved so long. Eelationships have been discovered with near neighbors, or with those living in far distant environments who have returned here to-day to link the present with the past in honoring memories. The experience is a pleasant one, for, though " all the world is akin," blood relationship awakens a heart-throb of responsiveness that is as precious as it is delightful.
Our purpose here is sacred, patriotic, and altogether worthy. We came to honor the founders of our several family houses; to gather inspiration from their simple lives that may guide us in the more complex existence of the present day; to pay our tribute of respect to the town they established in the savage, inhospitable, but beautiful New England wilderness; to renew and make the acquaintance of those whose friendship tried and adopted we can confidently " grapple to our hearts with hooks of steel " ; for, chil- dren of a common ancestry, we have that sturdy parentage whose
72 MIDDLETOWN UPPEE HOUSES
lives were lived for God and Country, and we are told that their rirtues do last to the third or fourth generation.
To-day our eyes have looked out upon the shining river whose waters flowing from the Canadian border and the White Moun- tains pass through the heart of this New England country with its wealth of history and busy industry, to lose itself in the restless and endless sea. It reminds us of the quiet, beneficent influence of the goodly lives of our virtuous fathers and mothers flowing through generations of posterity. We have viewed the homes in which they lived, loved, labored and bore their children, and whence they were carried to their last resting place in God's Acre. To this " Old Burying Ground " we have also made a pilgrimage. Our Forefathers, we salute you! We thank you for the lives you lived, the towns you founded, the country you made, and for the precious heritage you left us in fee simple that cannot be destroyed or taken away.
Once the trees of the forest primeval decked these hills and val- leys with a beautiful mantle of green and yielded a gentle shel- tering shade, the birds of the air builded their nests therein, and the beasts of the forest roamed beneath. Under the ax of the pioneer and following the plow of the husbandman, the forests gave way to the home and the welcome cry of little children. The wilderness was made to blossom like the rose, and the song of increase went up throughout the land. The darksome, impene- trable forests with their fearsome denizens have disappeared, but our forefathers planted a better growth. Family trees were planted, and took root in the rich soil of religious and civic liberty. They flourished, stretching out lusty branches, bearing fruit of boys and girls, men and women that were world-builders. Shoots, scions, and graftings were transplanted in many a varying soil. The parent stock was so sturdy that they flourished and grew mighty in the land. I know of none of stunted or malignant growth, and dare not single out those of such magniflcent propor- tions that they stand up like sentinels among the family trees of this great nation. Our efficient Secretary should be given an op- portunity to tell the story, for his mind is stored with an exhaustless supply of facts and fancy, fables and figures which he holds in reserve, but ready for discharge like the shot of a rapid-fire gun. In fact, in this campaign of love and loyalty, he is the "man behind the gun " in that he has furnished all the push and enter- prise, happily seasoned with a love of labor.
I take this opportunity to express this well-deserved apprecia- tion. I bespeak for him from this time forth, from all my hearers, their hearty support and sympathy in his efforts to produce a full
HISTORY OP THE SOCIETY 73
and accurate history of the families that are entitled to belong to "The Society of "Middletown Upper Houses." We are not the only ones who would enjoy and appreciate a complete work of this nature, for our children and our children's children will read, study, and take pride in the lines of ancestry which started from the ground we have traversed to-day.
Wonderful is the power of man when electrically charged with character founded on religion, industry, and love of family and country. In 1620 there was given to the world a marvelous prop- osition. Given a continent peopled by bloodthirsty savages, and a few shiploads of religious refugees, what would be the result? A little less tRan three hundred years has shown the savage confined in a few reservations in the far West; the forests replaced by prosperous farms and homes, the vantage spots occupied by count- less cities constantly increasing in population, wealth, intelli- gence and happiness. Throughout the land goes up the deep un- derlying murmur of myriad manufacturing corporations; across the surface of the land and in the bowels of the earth flash electric cars and steam trains, like shuttles in the woof and warp of the vast fabric of life, carrying more people and freight than were dreamed of by the Pilgrim Fathers. The rivers and seas of the world have been dotted by the sails and flag of a new country that has bcome a first power in the council of nations. Everywhere are churches, schools, and colleges, and vast humane institutions founded out of love for fellow-men. The most productive country of the world in men and women, products of the soil, of the brain of the shop, and of the mind. A free country loved by its citizens, sought by emigrants from all lands, discovered for the freedom of the nations. A veritable land of the free and home of the brave. A country that three hundred years ago could be bought for some strings of wampum now has in the United States alone an esti- mated national wealth of $100,000,000,000. In 1620 peopled only by the American Indians, it now has a population of white men of about 88,000,000. Then giving nothing to the world, now the world's chief benefactor in too many ways to mention upon an occasion like this. Who started and laid the foundations of such a record and such a country ? God gave the country, wild and free, but man developed it and wrought these mighty achievements. What men? Why, our forefathers' right here in Middletown Upper Houses were the founders and patriots who bore their willing and mighty part. The builders of the Pyramids, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Chinese Wall, and the other wonders of the world were but pigmy laborers compared with these architects of a Nation. Are we not justified in lauding their lives and honoring their
74 MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES
memories in public gatherings like this? Nay, would we not be ingrates and degenerates if we did not proclaim their deeds, and call upon our fathers to keep us steadfast in the path they have blazed so broad and deep.
The world has just seen the little Brown Man in the Flowery Kingdom beyond the Yellow Sea, through the worship of his ancestors, humble the mighty Bear that frightened all Europe with his roar. We do not sound any call to worship, but I do believe that we can respect, love, and honor our fathers and mothers that our days may be long in the land which the Lord our God gave us.
" Born into life ! . . . man grows Forth from his parents' stem, Blends their bloods, as these
Of theirs are blent in them ; So each new man strikes root into a far foretime."
— Empedocles on Etna.
The Hon. Henry B. Brown delivered an oration on " The Sig- nificance of This Memorial Service," when, after referring to his college days of 1855-59 with Mr. Adams, he spoke as follows:
Oration of the Hon. Henry Bascom Brown
This occasion, as I apprehend it, is for the dedication of a noble and fitting memorial to the Founders, Fathers, Pastors, and Pa- triots of Middletown Upper Houses, as this portion of the town of Middletown was called from the year 1680 to a late date in the last century. And so our topic naturally takes form as " The Significance of This Memorial Service." A glacial boulder, duly and appropriately marked by an inscription upon a bronze tablet, is placed as an enduring and fitting memorial to the honored ancestors of the members of this Society, to remain as long as time shall last, in sunshine or in storm, through summer's heat and winter's cold, the mute but eloquent and impressive testimonial of the appreciation of this later generation of the sacrifices, the virtues, the patriotism, and the piety, by which those venerated men built themselves, as lasting and effective factors, into the very life of the community, the church, the State, the nation.
The erection of monumental memorials for the perpetuation of the memories and achievements of nations is a fact as old as the oldest records of human history. We pause to make only the briefest mention of the first recorded illustration of this fact in human his- tory— the story told in Holy Writ, of that wonderful tide of human
HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY 75
life, that " journeyed from the East," till they " found a plain in the land of Shinar," where they proposed " to build a city and a tower, whose top should reach unto heaven," by which, they said, " let us make us a name " ; wherefore, says the sacred writer, "the name of it is called Babel" (Gen. xi. 1-10).
Next, we may consider the erection of the vast pile of the Egyptian Pyramids, and the rough sculpture of the inexplicable Sphinx, " a figure sixty-fi-ve feet high, cut from the solid rock," and probably older than the great pyramid itself, which stand sur- rounded by the other innumerable stone monuments of that most ancient of ancient kingdoms. The stupendous pyramid of Ghizeh is incomparably the most remarkable monument built by man. It has witnessed the rise, the culmination, the decay of empires whose sway was almost world-wide; it was a patriarch when the human race was yet young, and before literature was born; its builder is still the riddle of history; it was gray with the wear and tear of centuries when Moses wrote the Pentateuch; it was as ancient to Moses, as the Norman conquest is to us to-day; it was built to defy the wrath of storms, the wear of ages, and the hunger of fire. It cost an untold outlay of life, and blood, and treasure to build it; it would be the financial ruin of the richest nation to destroy it. And yet, the man whose name and honor it was erected to commemorate is as unknown to-day as the humblest slave who contributed his labor and life to build it !
It stands the incomparable monument of a dead civilization, and it looks complacently down on a land whose dynasties, history, and traditions are lost in the abyss of the vanished centuries !
As the Old World had its great national memorials in the pyra- mids and lesser monuments we have mentioned, so the New World had its great memorials in the vast mounds left by the strange, nameless, and unknown mound-builders, and the wonderful build- ings and stone monuments of Central and South America, whose builders have plunged into the gulf of oblivion and left not a line of historical record behind them to tell that they ever existed, or for what purposes their magnificent structures were designed and used.
Time forbids that we should speak further on this occasion of these two great examples of national memorials, the names of whose builders are lost to the record of history.
We