At this time it may be thought that the little town of Davenport's Eastwood Farms has no place in history, because of its diminutive size.
Let it be remembered that each little town is a world unto itself, with an individual empire of its own in associations, customs and habits of thought.
Two thousand years ago, the most precious title was to be a Roman citizen.
St. Paul exclaims:
"I am a man which am a Jew."
"A citizen of no mean city."
"Taught according to the perfect manner, of the law of the fathers."
If St. Paul was proud of his citizenship, should those not be proud that they are of Puritan origin?
He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews.
His parents were both Jews of the tribe of Benjamin.
Hence the similarity, for we are Puritans of the Puritans, brought up as he was, "after the manner of the law of the fathers."
In all the histories of colonial times "The New Haven Colony", under Rev. John DAVENPORT and Theophilus Eaton, is called one of the most learned, refined, pious and wealthy of all the companies coming to New England.
Owing to its personnel, this company was urged to locate in Massachusetts, when they first landed from England.
Large concessions were made to them if they would remain, but John DAVENPORT would not consent.
He wished to found a distinct colony, and we shall soon see what was wrapped in his brain.
John Davenport was the head and face of the company.
Although Teofilo Eaton was chosen and styled Governor, yet John Davenport was the man behind the throne.
John Davenport was an ordained priest in the established C. of E., preached and administered according to its rules and customs and never entirely seceded from it while in England, although he was under censure and persecution for Puritan views.
John Davenport was a learned minister, celebrated for piety, and distinguished for purity of life, and esteemed by his congregation for his love of the truth, which was in contradistinction to many of his time and profession.
John Davenport's whole life and works may be summed up in two words, a godly man.
Like many other dissenting ministers, John Davenport's people followed him to the wilds of America.
John Davenport and they exemplified the same spirit of justice here that they had professed at their home.
They did not take up the land of the Indian by any grant or power from England, but considered the Indians the rightful owners of the soil and treated with them accordingly.
This company arrived in Boston July 26, 1637.
Owing to the Pequot war, which had just taken place before their arrival, between the Massachusetts Colony and the Indians, the southern part of Connecticut had been explored and such a flattering report made of the country that Teofilo Eaton and others made a journey to the land of the Quinnipiacs, which they decided should be their future abode.
They erected a hut on what is now the corner of Church and George streets, leaving seven men to winter there.
On the 30th of March, 1638, John Davenport and company sailed from Boston for Quinnipiac, arriving about two weeks after.
The 18th of April, the first Lord's day after their arrival, the people attended public worship under a large oak, and John Davenport preached from Matthew vi. 1.
Soon after their arrival they held a day of fasting and prayer, at the covenant, binding themselves,
"that as in matters that concern the gathering andordering of a Church, so also in all publick offices which concern civil order; as choice of Magistrates and officers, making and repealing laws,dividing allotments of inheritance, and all things of like nature, they would all of them be ordered by the rules which the scripture held forth tothem." (Trumbull.)
By this covenant they were regulated the first year.
On the 24th of November, 1638, John Davenport and others made their first purchase of land in an open, fair and Christian spirit, with MOMAUGUIN
Momauguin and his sister Shaumpishuh, called in the agreement Squaw Sachem, who had some interest in the lands.
Probably her part was in Guilford, as the purchasers of that place agreed with the Indians that they should move off the lands, which they did, and she and others came to live with Momauguin in East Haven.
Momauguin's tribe now numbered only 40 men, having been greatly depleted by the cruel attacks of the Pequots and Mohawks.
The English agreed to protect Momauguin and his Indians from other tribes when unreasonably assaulted and terrified.
They should always have sufficient land to plant in summer, and to hunt and fish between Quinnipiac harbour and Saybrook fort.
The latter was situated at the mouth of Connecticut river." (Trumbull.)
Quite a field for hunting and planting.
They also covenanted
"that by way of free and thankful retribution, they gave to this sachem and his council and company 12 coats of English cloth, 12 alchemy spoons, 12 hatchets, 12 hoes, two dozens of knives, 12 porringers and 4 cases of French knives and scissors." (Trumbull.)
This treaty was signed and legally executed by Momauguin and his council on his part, and Teofilo Eaton and John Davenport on the part of the English.
Thomas Stanton was interpreter.
On the nth of December, 1638, they purchased another large tract, which lay principally north of the first purchase.
This was bought of Montowese, son of the great sachem at Mattabeseck (now Middletown).
It was ten miles long, from north to south, and thirteen miles in breadth.
It extended eight miles east of Quinnipiac river and five miles west of it.
They had the same privileges of hunting, planting and fishing as the Quinnipiacs.
For this tract they gave thirteen coats.
This tribe or company consisted of but ten men with their women and children.
These purchases included all the lands of the ancient limits of:
(a) New Haven
(b) Branford and
(c) Wallingford
-- from which the towns of East Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Hamden, Cheshire, Meriden, Bethany and Woodbridge, with a part of Orange have been made.
Guilford lands were bought by Henry Whitfield and his company.
Milford lands were bought in 1639 by members of Mr. Davenport's company and both settlements, Guilford and Milford, were under the jurisdiction of New Haven.
Their form of government was a pure aristocracy, yet planned and executed in a manner peculiar to themselves.
The two colonies in Massachusetts, the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, like the New Haven Colony, allowed none but church members to vote.
Connecticut was first settled at Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield.
Tese river towns were "The Connecticut River Colony."
Church membership was never required in "The Connecticut River Colony" as a qualification for the elective franchise.
Herein was the distinguishing difference between it and the New Haven Colony, which led to so much opposition to the union of the two, which finally took place after much controversy, in 1665.
The lands of the colony were purchased of the Indians by the principal men in trust for all the inhabitants of the several plantations or towns.
Every planter, after paying his proportionate part of the expenses arising from laying out and settling the plantation, drew a lot or lots of land, in proportion to the money or estate which he had expended in the general purchase, and to the number of heads numbered in his family, called polls.
In the first division of land in East Haven, in 1639, several enterprising farmers turned their attention to the lands on the EAST SIDE of the Quinnipiac and began to settle there.
Among the members who subscribed to the covenant in Newman's barn, June 4, 1639, were
-- Thomas Gregson
-- Jasper Crayne
-- William Tuttle
-- Benjamin Linge
-- William Andrews
-- Jarvis Boykim
-- John Potter
-- Matthew Moulthrop
-- Matthias Hitchcock
-- Edward Patterson
-- Thomas Morris and
-- John Thompson
-- who settled in East Haven, or were concerned in that settlement.
As these were the founders, we shall try to give some idea of the men, and their relative position and character in the colony.
Thomas Gregson, 1639.
In 1639 Thomas Gregson petitioned for his second division at "Solitary Cove", and on the 5th of August, 1644, 133 acres were allotted to him at that place.
There Thomas Gregson is said to have placed his family: the first in East Haven.
One account expresses doubt about his living there with his family.
Thomas Gregson had a spacious house in New Haven opposite the Green, where the Insurance building now stands on Chapel street.
Stiles, in his "History of the Judges," gives as a tradition "that Davenport, Teofilo Eaton, Allerton and Gregson owned the grandest houses in town.
Gregson was a principal man in the colony at New Haven, and the first settler in East Haven.
Gregson was elected to several important offices, such as deputy governor, a commissioner with Governor Eaton, and provisioner of meats for the colony, and was rated the third wealthiest man in the colony.
In 1645 Gregson was appointed agent for the colony to the parliament in England to obtain a patent, sometimes called a "charter", which was a parchment given with the sanction of the British government, securing to the colonies the right to make their own laws and to appoint their own magistrates and governors, conforming to the laws of England.
Although Gregson was not one of the seven pillars of the New Haven church, he was a zealous member of it and an ardent believer of Rev. John Davenport's views.
Gregson's family consisted of one son and five daughters.
The son and eldest daughter returned and lived in England.
One of his descendants, William Gregson, of London, England, gave to Trinity Church, New Haven, his homestead at the corner of Chapel and Church Streets.
After many difficulties, they secured this property and built their first church upon it.
Gregson was lost at sea in 1647.
As the loss of Gregson was a calamity to the early settlement of East Haven, we conclude that the following account may be introduced into this work with propriety.
It is a singular affair and will be amusing to many readers.
We insert it here without any comment, leaving every reader to form their own judgment concerning it.
As Gregson was the first settler, it may not be inappropriate to give this account in connection with his biography.
It is from the pen of James Pierpont, pastor of the church at New Haven, settled there July 2, 1685, to Dr. Mather, who requested him to sent the account.
In compliance with your desires, I now give you the relation of that apparition of a ship in the air, which I have received from the most credible, judicious, and curious surviving observers of it.
In the year 1647, besides much other lading, a far more rich treasure of passengers (five or six of which were persons of chief note and worth in New Haven) put themselves on board a new ship, built at Rhode-Island, of about 150 tons; but so walty crank that the master, Lamberton, often said she would prove their grave.
In the month of January, cutting their way through much ice, on which they were accompanied with the Rev. Mr. Davenport, besides many other friends, with many fears, as well as prayers and tears, they set sail. Mr. Davenport, in prayer, with an observable emphasis, used these words, Lord, if it be thy pleasure, to bury these dear friends in the bottom of the sea, they are thine, save them! The spring following, no tidings of these friends arrived with the ships from England; New Haven's heart began to fail her; this put the godly people on much prayer, both public and private, that the Lord would (if it was his pleasure) let them hear what he had done with these our friends, and prepare them with a suitable submission to his Holy Will. In June next ensuing, a great thunder storm arose out of the north-west; after which, (the hemisphere being serene) about an hour before sun-set, a SHIP, of like dimensions with the aforesaid, with her canvass and colours abroad, (though the wind northerly,) appeared in the air, coming up from our harbour's mouth, which lyes southward of the towne, seemingly with her sails filled under a fresh gale, holding her course north, and continuing under observation, sailing against the wind, for the space of half an hour.
"Many were drawn to behold this great work of God; yea, the very children cryed out, There's a brave ship!—At length, crowding up as far as there is usually water sufficient for such a vessel and so near some of the spectators as that they imagined a man might hurl a stone on board her, her main top seemed to be blown off, but left hanging in the shrouds; then her missen top; then all her masting seemed to be blown away by the board; quickly after the hulk brought into a careen, she overset, and so vanished into a smoky cloud, which in sometime dissipated, leaving as everywhere else, a clear air. The admiring spectators could distinguish the several colours of each part, the principal rigging and such proportions, as caused not only the generality of persons to say, This was the mould of their ship, and thus was her tragic end; but Mr. Davenport also in public declared to this effect That God had condescended, for the quieting of their afflicted spirits, this extraordinary account of the sovereign disposal of those for whom so many fervent prayers were made continually.
"Thus I am, Sir, Your humble servant,
'JAMES PIERPONT.
As people of the present day are not at all given to the supernatural, it may not be amiss to say that this might have been a case of mirage, an optical illusion arising from an unequal refraction in the lower strata of the atmosphere, which causes objects at a distance to appear as in the air floating over the sea.
On the Straits of Messina in Italy it is said to often occur.
Jasper Crayne, 1639.
Jasper Crayne had his lot and house on the east side of the Green.
Jasper Crayne sold his farm of 16 acres to Matthew Moulthrop September 7, 1652, but he had removed to Totoket (now Branford) in 1644.
There is a tradition that he built on the site now occupied by H. Walter Chidsey; that he said, "he would build the best house on the east side, which would surprise them all." A corner cupboard of good workmanship now stands in Mrs. Chidsey's dining room, which was taken out of the old house by her father, the late Edwin S. Bradley.
Jasper Crayne was one of the wealthy men of the colony.
If he built this house, he failed to finish off the second story, which was never done through all the succeeding ownerships.
He seems to have been an energetic, active man, but of a restless turn, somewhat captious withal. At one time he was interested in the Iron Works, as overseer or agent. His house in New Haven was on Elm street, where St. Thomas's Church now stands. He was prominent in the councils of New Haven, one of its magistrates, and deputy to the General Court. He was surveyor, and laid out much of the town plot, located grants and settled disputed titles. In 1666 he signed the compact to move from Branford to Newark, New Jersey. At the time of the union of New Haven Colony with that of Connecticut all the towns under the jurisdiction of New Haven were satisfied, except Branford. Rev. Mr. Pierson and almost his whole church and congregation were so displeased that they soon removed to Newark, where Mr. Crayne became very active and influential in state and church till his death in October, 1681. His sons, like their father, were honored and useful, and nearly all the Craynes in that state can trace their pedigree to Jasper Crayne.
The two colonies in Massachusetts, the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, like the New Haven Colony, allowed none but church members to vote.
Connecticut was first settled at Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield.
Tese river towns were "The Connecticut River Colony."
Church membership was never required in "The Connecticut River Colony" as a qualification for the elective franchise.
Herein was the distinguishing difference between it and the New Haven Colony, which led to so much opposition to the union of the two, which finally took place after much controversy, in 1665.
The lands of the colony were purchased of the Indians by the principal men in trust for all the inhabitants of the several plantations or towns.
Every planter, after paying his proportionate part of the expenses arising from laying out and settling the plantation, drew a lot or lots of land, in proportion to the money or estate which he had expended in the general purchase, and to the number of heads numbered in his family, called polls.
In the first division of land in East Haven, in 1639, several enterprising farmers turned their attention to the lands on the EAST SIDE of the Quinnipiac and began to settle there.
Among the members who subscribed to the covenant in Newman's barn, June 4, 1639, were
-- Thomas Gregson
-- Jasper Crayne
-- William Tuttle
-- Benjamin Linge
-- William Andrews
-- Jarvis Boykim
-- John Potter
-- Matthew Moulthrop
-- Matthias Hitchcock
-- Edward Patterson
-- Thomas Morris and
-- John Thompson
-- who settled in East Haven, or were concerned in that settlement.
As these were the founders, we shall try to give some idea of the men, and their relative position and character in the colony.
Thomas Gregson, 1639.
In 1639 Thomas Gregson petitioned for his second division at "Solitary Cove", and on the 5th of August, 1644, 133 acres were allotted to him at that place.
There Thomas Gregson is said to have placed his family: the first in East Haven.
One account expresses doubt about his living there with his family.
Thomas Gregson had a spacious house in New Haven opposite the Green, where the Insurance building now stands on Chapel street.
Stiles, in his "History of the Judges," gives as a tradition "that Davenport, Teofilo Eaton, Allerton and Gregson owned the grandest houses in town.
Gregson was a principal man in the colony at New Haven, and the first settler in East Haven.
Gregson was elected to several important offices, such as deputy governor, a commissioner with Governor Eaton, and provisioner of meats for the colony, and was rated the third wealthiest man in the colony.
In 1645 Gregson was appointed agent for the colony to the parliament in England to obtain a patent, sometimes called a "charter", which was a parchment given with the sanction of the British government, securing to the colonies the right to make their own laws and to appoint their own magistrates and governors, conforming to the laws of England.
Although Gregson was not one of the seven pillars of the New Haven church, he was a zealous member of it and an ardent believer of Rev. John Davenport's views.
Gregson's family consisted of one son and five daughters.
The son and eldest daughter returned and lived in England.
One of his descendants, William Gregson, of London, England, gave to Trinity Church, New Haven, his homestead at the corner of Chapel and Church Streets.
After many difficulties, they secured this property and built their first church upon it.
Gregson was lost at sea in 1647.
As the loss of Gregson was a calamity to the early settlement of East Haven, we conclude that the following account may be introduced into this work with propriety.
It is a singular affair and will be amusing to many readers.
We insert it here without any comment, leaving every reader to form their own judgment concerning it.
As Gregson was the first settler, it may not be inappropriate to give this account in connection with his biography.
It is from the pen of James Pierpont, pastor of the church at New Haven, settled there July 2, 1685, to Dr. Mather, who requested him to sent the account.
In compliance with your desires, I now give you the relation of that apparition of a ship in the air, which I have received from the most credible, judicious, and curious surviving observers of it.
In the year 1647, besides much other lading, a far more rich treasure of passengers (five or six of which were persons of chief note and worth in New Haven) put themselves on board a new ship, built at Rhode-Island, of about 150 tons; but so walty crank that the master, Lamberton, often said she would prove their grave.
In the month of January, cutting their way through much ice, on which they were accompanied with the Rev. Mr. Davenport, besides many other friends, with many fears, as well as prayers and tears, they set sail. Mr. Davenport, in prayer, with an observable emphasis, used these words, Lord, if it be thy pleasure, to bury these dear friends in the bottom of the sea, they are thine, save them! The spring following, no tidings of these friends arrived with the ships from England; New Haven's heart began to fail her; this put the godly people on much prayer, both public and private, that the Lord would (if it was his pleasure) let them hear what he had done with these our friends, and prepare them with a suitable submission to his Holy Will. In June next ensuing, a great thunder storm arose out of the north-west; after which, (the hemisphere being serene) about an hour before sun-set, a SHIP, of like dimensions with the aforesaid, with her canvass and colours abroad, (though the wind northerly,) appeared in the air, coming up from our harbour's mouth, which lyes southward of the towne, seemingly with her sails filled under a fresh gale, holding her course north, and continuing under observation, sailing against the wind, for the space of half an hour.
"Many were drawn to behold this great work of God; yea, the very children cryed out, There's a brave ship!—At length, crowding up as far as there is usually water sufficient for such a vessel and so near some of the spectators as that they imagined a man might hurl a stone on board her, her main top seemed to be blown off, but left hanging in the shrouds; then her missen top; then all her masting seemed to be blown away by the board; quickly after the hulk brought into a careen, she overset, and so vanished into a smoky cloud, which in sometime dissipated, leaving as everywhere else, a clear air. The admiring spectators could distinguish the several colours of each part, the principal rigging and such proportions, as caused not only the generality of persons to say, This was the mould of their ship, and thus was her tragic end; but Mr. Davenport also in public declared to this effect That God had condescended, for the quieting of their afflicted spirits, this extraordinary account of the sovereign disposal of those for whom so many fervent prayers were made continually.
"Thus I am, Sir, Your humble servant,
'JAMES PIERPONT.
As people of the present day are not at all given to the supernatural, it may not be amiss to say that this might have been a case of mirage, an optical illusion arising from an unequal refraction in the lower strata of the atmosphere, which causes objects at a distance to appear as in the air floating over the sea.
On the Straits of Messina in Italy it is said to often occur.
Jasper Crayne, 1639.
Jasper Crayne had his lot and house on the east side of the Green.
Jasper Crayne sold his farm of 16 acres to Matthew Moulthrop September 7, 1652, but he had removed to Totoket (now Branford) in 1644.
There is a tradition that he built on the site now occupied by H. Walter Chidsey; that he said, "he would build the best house on the east side, which would surprise them all." A corner cupboard of good workmanship now stands in Mrs. Chidsey's dining room, which was taken out of the old house by her father, the late Edwin S. Bradley.
Jasper Crayne was one of the wealthy men of the colony.
If he built this house, he failed to finish off the second story, which was never done through all the succeeding ownerships.
He seems to have been an energetic, active man, but of a restless turn, somewhat captious withal. At one time he was interested in the Iron Works, as overseer or agent. His house in New Haven was on Elm street, where St. Thomas's Church now stands. He was prominent in the councils of New Haven, one of its magistrates, and deputy to the General Court. He was surveyor, and laid out much of the town plot, located grants and settled disputed titles. In 1666 he signed the compact to move from Branford to Newark, New Jersey. At the time of the union of New Haven Colony with that of Connecticut all the towns under the jurisdiction of New Haven were satisfied, except Branford. Rev. Mr. Pierson and almost his whole church and congregation were so displeased that they soon removed to Newark, where Mr. Crayne became very active and influential in state and church till his death in October, 1681. His sons, like their father, were honored and useful, and nearly all the Craynes in that state can trace their pedigree to Jasper Crayne.
William Tuttle (1639) was another of the most important of the first settlers.
It appears from the passenger list of the ship Planter that three distinct Tuttle families came over together.
John settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, Richard Tuttle in Boston, and William Tuttle in New Haven.
There is some discrepancy about spelling the name, as "Touttle or Tuttle".
Then again his sons are called "Tuthill."
This latter spelling, "Tuthill", has led many to suppose the Tuthills of Southold, Long Island, and other places, were of William Tuttle's family, which is an error.
The Long-Island Tuthills were a separate and distinct family, descended from Henry Tuthill of Tharston, Norfolk, England.
While it was Devonshire that was the source of the New England Tuttles, and ever since the settlement in America the name has been spelled Tuttle.
According to the Tuttle coat of arms granted to William Tuttle, October 24, 1591, the name was originally "Tothill", and the crest, which was always added after the shield was granted and was commemorative of some special act or office of the family, shows the last part of the name by the hill, upon which the dove with the olive branch in its beak stands. It is considered one of the most beautiful crests in heraldry.
In 1640 we find Tuttle everywhere called and described by the title of "Mr." Palfrey in his "History of New England" says as follows.
There was great exactness in the application of both official and conventional titles.
Only a small number of persons of the best condition (always including ministers and their wives) had "Mister" prefixed to their names; others being called Goodman, and sometimes Brother or Neighbor, for a man, and Goodwife, or Goody, for a woman."
Hollister's "History of Connecticut" says as follows.
To be called "mister" or have one's name recorded by the Secretary with that prefix 200 years ago was a certain index of the rank of the individual as respects birth, education and good moral character.
There were scores of men of good family, and in honorable stations, who still did not possess all the requisite qualities of "mister".
College graduates were sometimes called "sir".
In 1640 we find his first official act was in the capacity of commissioner, to decide an equivalent to those who had received inferior meadow lands.
In this brief sketch we could not follow him in all his different transactions and offices from year to year till his death; suffice it to say that in all his different offices and numerous public duties, of watchings, trainings, arbitrations between contending settlers, disputed boundaries of farms and towns, adjusting differences of contending neighbors, road commissioner, constable, and juror, he was a man of courage, enterprise, intelligence, probity and piety, a just man whose counsels were sought and judgments respected. He was largely engaged in buying and selling lands and we know not what besides. The colonial records give us an idea of the diversity of his activities and occupations, and also that he was equal socially to any of the colonists, that he lived in a manner befitting his condition, and carefully provided for his children the means of starting in life.
Tuttle was the father of eight sons and four daughters.
Two sons died unmarried; the ten other children married and, with their descendants, furnish material for a genealogy of seven hundred and fiftyfour pages. His numerous descendants are found in all the various professions and occupations of life. At this time of writing, October, 1907, one of his descendants, the Rt. Rev. Daniel Sylvester Tuttle, who was consecrated bishop May 1, 1867, when only thirty years of age, is the senior and presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in its triennial convention in session at Richmond, Virginia. Scores of ministers and all other professions bear the name. Only one son settled in East Haven, and now the name is very sparingly represented; but there are many bearing other names through whose veins courses the Tuttle blood. Perhaps the Hughes family, particularly one branch, has more than any others not bearing the name, as the Tuttles and Hughes married and intermarried.
Benjamin Linge (1639) is recorded as a first settler at Stoney river.
It is doubtful if he ever built in East Haven, as he had no family excepting his wife.
His house was at the corner of College and Grove streets.
Stiles, in his "History of the Judges," gives an account of John Dixwell, one of the regicides, who condemned to death King Charles I of England and, on the restoration of the crown to his son, Charles II, fled to America.
Dixwell put up with two sedate old people who had no children.
Linge at his death requested Dixwell to assist his wife, and his wife to be kind to Dixwell.
Linge left all his property, which was inventoried at £900, to his wife, and Dixwell assisted in settling the estate, and afterwards, not knowing any better way of assisting, married her.
Dixwell, to avoid detection, passed under the name of James Davids.
Another record of Stiles says:
"James Davids and Joanna Linge, widow of Benjamin, were married Nov. 3d, 1673.
She died between Nov. 15th and 26th, same year, leaving her homestead to him.
Dixwell, alias James Davids, married Bathsheba Howe, October 23, 1677.
A son by this marriage settled as a goldsmith in Boston, whose descendants erected the monument, enclosed with an iron fence, back of Center Church, New Haven.
This account of Dixwell may seem foreign to the subject of East-Haven history, which it is.
But as this rehash of its early times is written by request, bits of history connected with the biography of persons and events, although not directly connected with the subject, will be introduced, with the desire of furnishing something instructive and interesting.
Therefore the digression is considered pardonable.
The first of this name to come to America was William Andrews (1639) a native of Hampshire, England, and a carpenter by occupation.
He was one of the fifty-three persons who shipped with Capt. William Cooper, on the James, of London, from Hampton, England, in April, 1635, and landed in Boston, where he was made a freeman the same year. He came to New Haven with Rev. Mr. Davenport in 1638, and in 1639 was chosen one of the twelve men to form the first church, which was constituted August 22, 1639; although he was not elected out of that number as one of the seven pillars, he was received as one of the members into fellowship as a member of other approved churches.
Andrews was a carpenter, and seems to have been a master builder, as he contracted in 1639 to build the first meetinghouse. He let out some parts of the work to others, who sublet to still other parties, who failed to make the roof of the tower and turret to keep out wet, whereupon a question arose, which the court advised them to consult together for settlement.
Military discipline was very early established in New Haven Colony, and only church members could become military officers, and when once appointed the mention of the title was never omitted, either in writing or speaking to or of the person, as it was considered a high honor. In 1642 the number of persons subject to military duty was two hundred seventeen, divided into four squadrons, each commanded by a sergeant, and William Andrews was appointed a sergeant. In 1644 a bridge was built over Stoney river, on the road to Totoket, by William Andrews, for which he charged the town of New Haven £3. 8s. gd., and it was commented upon as being a fine piece of work. In 1651 it was finally agreed and ordered that William Andrews and others "shall have the neck of land by the sea-side, beyond the Cove, and all the meadows belonging to it below the Island with a rock upon it." In 1660 New Haven Colony, wishing to set out the bounds between itself and Connecticut Colony with lasting marks, appointed a committee for this work of which William Andrews was a member. In seating the meetinghouse he occupied the fifth seat from the pulpit, an honorable position.
His sons died young, except Nathan, who was born in Boston in 1638, and removed to Wallingford in 1670. His house and home were on Main Street, where he owned land. William Andrews died March 4, 1676. His son Nathan had two sons, Daniel and Jonathan, and it is inferred that the present East Haven Andrews family descended from one of them. There was a Timothy who married Rachel Adkins. They came from Wallingford. As the name of Nathan has been kept up in successive generations to the present day, there is no doubt but that he was their ancestor. There was another Andrews family that came from Woodbridge. There were also two Nathans in this branch; the elder one died in 1776 in the prison ship, in the war of the Revolution, aged 21; the younger one fell from a mast in 1798 and died, aged 19.
Matthias Hitchcock (1639) signed the plantation covenant in 1639.
Estate, £50; land in first division, 10 acres; 2 in the neck; 5 meadow, 20 in 2d division. All that I find recorded of him is the above (from Atwater's "New Haven Colony"). December 3, 1651, Matthias Hitchcock's name appears on the list of those who "shall have the neck of land by the sea-side beyond the Cove," etc. The Hitchcock family sold their part, and all died or removed from East Haven. There is, however, quite a long line of descendants down to 1760, and record of the death of Deacon Daniel Hitchcock in 1761, also that of his widow in the same year.
Edward Patterson (1639) was also a plantation signer in 1639. Estate £40.
Atwater says:
"The name does not occur after 1646."
Thomas Smith married the daughter and only child of Edward Patterson, so he became possessor of his share, which introduces Thomas Smith to East Haven in 1662. From him all the Smiths of the town are descended. Edward Patterson died October 31, 1669.
John Cooper was also one of the founders in 1639.
He seems to have been a man of affairs, as he was employed as agent and sent to Massachusetts for securing recruits from that colony to settle in Delaware, a scheme and plan of the New Haven Colony which ended disastrously; also in 1660 he was appointed a committee "to provide a house for the schoolmaster and a schoolhouse, and therein to use their best endeavors and discretion, whether to buy or build, so as may answer the end, yet with good husbandry for the town as may be." (Atwater.) In 1645 he, with others, petitioned for land at Solitary Cove, which was not granted. He was one of the overseers and agents for the Iron Works in East Haven. He died November 23, 1689.
John Potter (1639) seems to have been a busy man in the colony.
His occupation seems to have been a blacksmith, as he is first recorded in 1651 as obtaining 20 acres in the fresh meadows, then in 1662 as obtaining a piece of land on which to build his blacksmith shop. In 1680 he became interested in the Iron Works, but did not carry it on as was contemplated when he bought the farm [which eventually was owned by Jared Bradley], but in the year 1692 he and Thomas Pinion petitioned New Haven for liberty to build a Bloomary on the first spring or brook towards Foxon. We find him of a committee to treat with Branford as to land and line and finish it in 1682. Next year he was appointed one of the number to revise the village records; in 1683 he was chosen to assist in laying out the lots in the 3d division of lands; in 1686 one of three to buy Stable Point, at the lower ferry, to build housing for their horses when they went to New Haven. He died in December, 1707, and left quite a line of descendants, all of whom were worthy citizens, but the name has been extinct for many years in East Haven.
Atwater and Savage spell Richard Berkley (1939)'s name "Beckley".
Sergt. Richard Berkley, with others, petitioned for land beyond Solitary Cove in 1645, but their petition was not granted.
In 1651 Richard Berkley renewed the application for himself, but the town refused to grant him the land because other men had applied for it.
On December 3, 1651, the application was again renewed and it was finally "agreed and ordered that William Andrews, Richard Berkley, Matthias Hitchcock, Edward Patterson and Edward Hitchcock shall have the neck of land by the sea-side, beyond the Cove, and all the meadows belonging to it below the Island with a rock upon it.
They are to have the neck entirely to themselves by paying to the Town one penny an acre for 500 acres for every rate, and for their meadows as other men do."
This was the settlement at South End.
It has been stated that the Rev. Nicholas Street often called it "the garden of his parish." By 1689 these men had sold their lands, so that nearly the whole of South End was owned by James Dennison, John Thompson and Thomas Smith, the latter inheriting his through his wife, who was the only child of Edward Patterson. The Thompsons and Smiths have held possession of the land until the passing generation. Richard Berkley moved to Wethersfield in 1668.
Jarvis Boykim (1639) a carpenter by trade, who first came to Charlestown with one servant in 1635-6 from Charrington, in Kent, England, and removed to New Haven with the Davenport company, was one of the signers of the colony constitution in 1639.
He had resided in Charlestown, Massachusetts, some time before coming to New Haven, but no further account is recorded of him.
We now have given all the information available, at the present time of the very early settlers of East Haven, which we will style "Thirty-niners," because they signed the colony constitution at that time. Some others signed in 1639, but did not come to East Haven till a later date than the above mentioned.
On the 7th of March, 1644, the colony constitution was revised and enlarged, and then were added the names of Matthew Rowe and John Tuthill; and in July following, Alling Ball, Edmund Tooly, Thomas Robinson, Sr. and Jr., William Holt, Thomas Barnes, and Edward Hitchcock; and in August, Peter Mallory and Nicholas Augur. On the 4th of April, 1654, George Pardee, John Potter, Jr., and in May, Matthew Moulthrop, Jr., were added. February 7, 1657, John Davenport, Jr., Jonathan Tuthill and John Thompson subscribed; May 1, 1660, Nathaniel Boykim and Thomas Tuttle.
Matthew Rowe (1644)'s death is the first one recorded of the early settlers.
He left two sons, John and Stephen. From them have descended quite a long line. Next to the Brown farm, Matthew Rowe, Jr., had his farm. This Matthew was a grandson of the settler. The lots about Dragon Point between the Davenport and Ferry farms were laid out, but lay dormant several years. The transaction relative to that subject stands thus on record: February 13, 1670, "the town by vote granted that those that have land on the east side, about Dragon point, shall have liberty to lay their lots together, and to begin at which end they please. And the townsmen are hereby appointed to settle it with them both in respect to convenient highway, and also how far their lots shall run in length from the river." In 1703 these lots were occupied, and Matthew Rowe, Jr., had his farm there. This may be called the settlement of Fair Haven.
Matthias Hitchcock (1639) signed the plantation covenant in 1639.
Estate, £50; land in first division, 10 acres; 2 in the neck; 5 meadow, 20 in 2d division. All that I find recorded of him is the above (from Atwater's "New Haven Colony"). December 3, 1651, Matthias Hitchcock's name appears on the list of those who "shall have the neck of land by the sea-side beyond the Cove," etc. The Hitchcock family sold their part, and all died or removed from East Haven. There is, however, quite a long line of descendants down to 1760, and record of the death of Deacon Daniel Hitchcock in 1761, also that of his widow in the same year.
Edward Patterson (1639) was also a plantation signer in 1639. Estate £40.
Atwater says:
"The name does not occur after 1646."
Thomas Smith married the daughter and only child of Edward Patterson, so he became possessor of his share, which introduces Thomas Smith to East Haven in 1662. From him all the Smiths of the town are descended. Edward Patterson died October 31, 1669.
John Cooper was also one of the founders in 1639.
He seems to have been a man of affairs, as he was employed as agent and sent to Massachusetts for securing recruits from that colony to settle in Delaware, a scheme and plan of the New Haven Colony which ended disastrously; also in 1660 he was appointed a committee "to provide a house for the schoolmaster and a schoolhouse, and therein to use their best endeavors and discretion, whether to buy or build, so as may answer the end, yet with good husbandry for the town as may be." (Atwater.) In 1645 he, with others, petitioned for land at Solitary Cove, which was not granted. He was one of the overseers and agents for the Iron Works in East Haven. He died November 23, 1689.
John Potter (1639) seems to have been a busy man in the colony.
His occupation seems to have been a blacksmith, as he is first recorded in 1651 as obtaining 20 acres in the fresh meadows, then in 1662 as obtaining a piece of land on which to build his blacksmith shop. In 1680 he became interested in the Iron Works, but did not carry it on as was contemplated when he bought the farm [which eventually was owned by Jared Bradley], but in the year 1692 he and Thomas Pinion petitioned New Haven for liberty to build a Bloomary on the first spring or brook towards Foxon. We find him of a committee to treat with Branford as to land and line and finish it in 1682. Next year he was appointed one of the number to revise the village records; in 1683 he was chosen to assist in laying out the lots in the 3d division of lands; in 1686 one of three to buy Stable Point, at the lower ferry, to build housing for their horses when they went to New Haven. He died in December, 1707, and left quite a line of descendants, all of whom were worthy citizens, but the name has been extinct for many years in East Haven.
Atwater and Savage spell Richard Berkley (1939)'s name "Beckley".
Sergt. Richard Berkley, with others, petitioned for land beyond Solitary Cove in 1645, but their petition was not granted.
In 1651 Richard Berkley renewed the application for himself, but the town refused to grant him the land because other men had applied for it.
On December 3, 1651, the application was again renewed and it was finally "agreed and ordered that William Andrews, Richard Berkley, Matthias Hitchcock, Edward Patterson and Edward Hitchcock shall have the neck of land by the sea-side, beyond the Cove, and all the meadows belonging to it below the Island with a rock upon it.
They are to have the neck entirely to themselves by paying to the Town one penny an acre for 500 acres for every rate, and for their meadows as other men do."
This was the settlement at South End.
It has been stated that the Rev. Nicholas Street often called it "the garden of his parish." By 1689 these men had sold their lands, so that nearly the whole of South End was owned by James Dennison, John Thompson and Thomas Smith, the latter inheriting his through his wife, who was the only child of Edward Patterson. The Thompsons and Smiths have held possession of the land until the passing generation. Richard Berkley moved to Wethersfield in 1668.
Jarvis Boykim (1639) a carpenter by trade, who first came to Charlestown with one servant in 1635-6 from Charrington, in Kent, England, and removed to New Haven with the Davenport company, was one of the signers of the colony constitution in 1639.
He had resided in Charlestown, Massachusetts, some time before coming to New Haven, but no further account is recorded of him.
We now have given all the information available, at the present time of the very early settlers of East Haven, which we will style "Thirty-niners," because they signed the colony constitution at that time. Some others signed in 1639, but did not come to East Haven till a later date than the above mentioned.
On the 7th of March, 1644, the colony constitution was revised and enlarged, and then were added the names of Matthew Rowe and John Tuthill; and in July following, Alling Ball, Edmund Tooly, Thomas Robinson, Sr. and Jr., William Holt, Thomas Barnes, and Edward Hitchcock; and in August, Peter Mallory and Nicholas Augur. On the 4th of April, 1654, George Pardee, John Potter, Jr., and in May, Matthew Moulthrop, Jr., were added. February 7, 1657, John Davenport, Jr., Jonathan Tuthill and John Thompson subscribed; May 1, 1660, Nathaniel Boykim and Thomas Tuttle.
Matthew Rowe (1644)'s death is the first one recorded of the early settlers.
He left two sons, John and Stephen. From them have descended quite a long line. Next to the Brown farm, Matthew Rowe, Jr., had his farm. This Matthew was a grandson of the settler. The lots about Dragon Point between the Davenport and Ferry farms were laid out, but lay dormant several years. The transaction relative to that subject stands thus on record: February 13, 1670, "the town by vote granted that those that have land on the east side, about Dragon point, shall have liberty to lay their lots together, and to begin at which end they please. And the townsmen are hereby appointed to settle it with them both in respect to convenient highway, and also how far their lots shall run in length from the river." In 1703 these lots were occupied, and Matthew Rowe, Jr., had his farm there. This may be called the settlement of Fair Haven.
The term Dragon (which will hereafter be called Fair Haven) was so called from a sandy point of that name about forty rods below the bridge, on the eastern side of the river.
The tradition is that at the time of the first settlement of New Haven this point was a place of resort for seals, who lay here and basked themselves in the sun. At that early period these animals were called dragons, hence the name Dragon Point.
The Rowe family has always been characterized for its enterprise, activity and intelligence, and has generally led in business matters and mercantile pursuits of the place. One line produced a succession of deacons for several generations.
In 1649, "It was ordered that John Davenport, pastor of the Church, shall have his meadow, and the upland for his second division, both together on the East side of the East-River, where himself shall choose, with all the conveniency the place can afford for a farme, together with the natural bounds of the place, whether by creeks or otherwise."
He accordingly laid out a tract of land about a mile square and containing about 600 acres above the point. In 1650 Alling Ball (1644) became his farmer, and was exempted from military service while he continued in John Davenport's employment. Probably those of the name of Ball descended from this early settler.
William Holt (1644) born in England in 1610, came to New Haven as early as 1644, where he signed the constitution of the colony in that year, but removed to Wallingford about 1675.
His death occurred in 1683. His line of descent seems to be John, Joseph, Daniel, who apparently was the first Holt born in East Haven in 1711.
Holt was one of the prominent men of the town and took much interest in public affairs.
He died June I1, 1756.
Dan Holt, son of Daniel, born in East Haven in 1744, was a lieutenant in a company that went to the assistance of New York during its occupancy by the British in 1776.
Holt died in 1829.
Philemon Holt, son of Daniel, born in 1775, was a very prominent man, of rare business capacity and integrity.
He filled all of the various town offices, from time to time, and represented his town in the state legislature four terms. The name is now extinct in East Haven.
Thomas Barnes (1644) signed the colony constitution in 1644.
He and his brother Daniel settled on the plain south of Muddy river.
His son Thomas seems to have been the founder of the Barnes family in North Haven.
The name is now nearly, if not quite, extinct on East Haven soil, but all the different branches of the Barnes family trace their origin to Thomas of New Haven, 1644.
Peter Mallory (1644) signed the plantation covenant in 1644.
It is a matter of regret that no record of this family has been found, but it is presumed all the New Haven and Fair Haven families descended from this follower of Rev. Mr. Davenport.
George Pardee (1654) was apprenticed to Francis Brown, tailor, 1644, to stay five years, and was married to Martha Miles by the governor, October 20, 1650.
Marriages were not solemnized by a minister of religion, but, according to the Puritan view of propriety, by a magistrate. The requirement that marriage should be contracted before an officer of the civil authority was a protest against the position that marriage is a sacrament of the Church, which the Church of England believes; and at this early date a minister had no legal authority to pronounce a couple husband and wife, though the bride be his own daughter." (Hollister.) This Francis Brown is recorded as being one of the seven men who remained in Quinnipiac the winter after Mr. Eaton had explored the country and decided to return and settle there the next spring.
The ferry at Red Rock had been operated by Francis Brown, but in 1650 George Pardee took it. Francis Brown, the first of that family, died in 1668.
George Pardee was afterwards allowed to build a house there at his own expense, and in 1670 the Ferry farm was granted to him, which was left by him to his son George, and it continued in the line of his descendants until about 1870, when the name was extinct and the property was divided and streets cut through and lots sold for residences.
We must conclude George Pardee made good use of his time while an apprentice, besides using the thimble and goose.
A colony school was established in the autumn of 1660, but it was hard work to keep it up and it was thought best to discontinue it, so "the town of New Haven negotiated with Geo. Pardee, one of their own people, to teach the children English and to carry them on in Latin so far as he could. £20 were allowed this year out of the town treasury, and the rest to be paid by patrons of the school."
(Atwater.)
When the time for which he was engaged had expired, the colony of New Haven had been absorbed into the colony of Connecticut and thus lost its jurisdiction. July 18, 1678, Mr. Pardee bought 33 acres at the Cove of the Gregson estate, and in 1716 his son George, Jr., bought the remainder of the farm, which remained in the name until after 1824. George Pardee died in 1700.
The name of "Pardee" has always been an honorable one in East Haven, and its members have filled various offices of church and state down to the passing generation.
Isaac Pardee was one of the staunch men of his time, firm and sound in principle, a worthy example. He was succeeded by two sons. Mr. Joseph Pardee was town treasurer for many years, and Mr. Bradley Pardee was selectman and held other offices for years.
The first mention that is recorded of William Luddington (1662) in colonial records is that he died at the Iron Works in East Haven in 1662.
Luddington was the first of this name and family.
He left a son William from whom a long line has descended, many of whom have filled various offices of church and state all through these succeeding generations. Thomas (son of the first William) removed to Newark, New Jersey.
His eldest son was John.
Matthew Moulthrop (1662) is named among the planters of New Haven, but for some reasons unknown, in the list of persons numbered, estates and land division, a blank is registered against his name. In 1651 14 acres were granted him in East Haven in the fresh meadow. In 1667 he bought land of the widow of William Andrews at South End. He died December 22, 1668, and was succeeded by his son, Matthew, who appears in various offices of the town. The name is now nearly, if not quite, extinct on East Haven soil.
Atwater's "Colonial History" says: "In consequence of the decision of Thomas Nash, who was a gunsmith, to settle in New Haven, serious inconvenience was experienced for want of a smith till 1652. Thomas Smith (1662) came from Fairfield on the invitation of the planters, who gave him a considerable tract of land on condition of serving the town in the trade of a smith upon just and moderate terms for the space of five years." He married the daughter and only child of Edward Patterson, one of the South End men, and so became possessor of his share. Capt. Thomas Smith, the father of the Smith family, died November 16, 1724, aged about 90.
The tradition is that at the time of the first settlement of New Haven this point was a place of resort for seals, who lay here and basked themselves in the sun. At that early period these animals were called dragons, hence the name Dragon Point.
The Rowe family has always been characterized for its enterprise, activity and intelligence, and has generally led in business matters and mercantile pursuits of the place. One line produced a succession of deacons for several generations.
In 1649, "It was ordered that John Davenport, pastor of the Church, shall have his meadow, and the upland for his second division, both together on the East side of the East-River, where himself shall choose, with all the conveniency the place can afford for a farme, together with the natural bounds of the place, whether by creeks or otherwise."
He accordingly laid out a tract of land about a mile square and containing about 600 acres above the point. In 1650 Alling Ball (1644) became his farmer, and was exempted from military service while he continued in John Davenport's employment. Probably those of the name of Ball descended from this early settler.
William Holt (1644) born in England in 1610, came to New Haven as early as 1644, where he signed the constitution of the colony in that year, but removed to Wallingford about 1675.
His death occurred in 1683. His line of descent seems to be John, Joseph, Daniel, who apparently was the first Holt born in East Haven in 1711.
Holt was one of the prominent men of the town and took much interest in public affairs.
He died June I1, 1756.
Dan Holt, son of Daniel, born in East Haven in 1744, was a lieutenant in a company that went to the assistance of New York during its occupancy by the British in 1776.
Holt died in 1829.
Philemon Holt, son of Daniel, born in 1775, was a very prominent man, of rare business capacity and integrity.
He filled all of the various town offices, from time to time, and represented his town in the state legislature four terms. The name is now extinct in East Haven.
Thomas Barnes (1644) signed the colony constitution in 1644.
He and his brother Daniel settled on the plain south of Muddy river.
His son Thomas seems to have been the founder of the Barnes family in North Haven.
The name is now nearly, if not quite, extinct on East Haven soil, but all the different branches of the Barnes family trace their origin to Thomas of New Haven, 1644.
Peter Mallory (1644) signed the plantation covenant in 1644.
It is a matter of regret that no record of this family has been found, but it is presumed all the New Haven and Fair Haven families descended from this follower of Rev. Mr. Davenport.
George Pardee (1654) was apprenticed to Francis Brown, tailor, 1644, to stay five years, and was married to Martha Miles by the governor, October 20, 1650.
Marriages were not solemnized by a minister of religion, but, according to the Puritan view of propriety, by a magistrate. The requirement that marriage should be contracted before an officer of the civil authority was a protest against the position that marriage is a sacrament of the Church, which the Church of England believes; and at this early date a minister had no legal authority to pronounce a couple husband and wife, though the bride be his own daughter." (Hollister.) This Francis Brown is recorded as being one of the seven men who remained in Quinnipiac the winter after Mr. Eaton had explored the country and decided to return and settle there the next spring.
The ferry at Red Rock had been operated by Francis Brown, but in 1650 George Pardee took it. Francis Brown, the first of that family, died in 1668.
George Pardee was afterwards allowed to build a house there at his own expense, and in 1670 the Ferry farm was granted to him, which was left by him to his son George, and it continued in the line of his descendants until about 1870, when the name was extinct and the property was divided and streets cut through and lots sold for residences.
We must conclude George Pardee made good use of his time while an apprentice, besides using the thimble and goose.
A colony school was established in the autumn of 1660, but it was hard work to keep it up and it was thought best to discontinue it, so "the town of New Haven negotiated with Geo. Pardee, one of their own people, to teach the children English and to carry them on in Latin so far as he could. £20 were allowed this year out of the town treasury, and the rest to be paid by patrons of the school."
(Atwater.)
When the time for which he was engaged had expired, the colony of New Haven had been absorbed into the colony of Connecticut and thus lost its jurisdiction. July 18, 1678, Mr. Pardee bought 33 acres at the Cove of the Gregson estate, and in 1716 his son George, Jr., bought the remainder of the farm, which remained in the name until after 1824. George Pardee died in 1700.
The name of "Pardee" has always been an honorable one in East Haven, and its members have filled various offices of church and state down to the passing generation.
Isaac Pardee was one of the staunch men of his time, firm and sound in principle, a worthy example. He was succeeded by two sons. Mr. Joseph Pardee was town treasurer for many years, and Mr. Bradley Pardee was selectman and held other offices for years.
The first mention that is recorded of William Luddington (1662) in colonial records is that he died at the Iron Works in East Haven in 1662.
Luddington was the first of this name and family.
He left a son William from whom a long line has descended, many of whom have filled various offices of church and state all through these succeeding generations. Thomas (son of the first William) removed to Newark, New Jersey.
His eldest son was John.
Matthew Moulthrop (1662) is named among the planters of New Haven, but for some reasons unknown, in the list of persons numbered, estates and land division, a blank is registered against his name. In 1651 14 acres were granted him in East Haven in the fresh meadow. In 1667 he bought land of the widow of William Andrews at South End. He died December 22, 1668, and was succeeded by his son, Matthew, who appears in various offices of the town. The name is now nearly, if not quite, extinct on East Haven soil.
Atwater's "Colonial History" says: "In consequence of the decision of Thomas Nash, who was a gunsmith, to settle in New Haven, serious inconvenience was experienced for want of a smith till 1652. Thomas Smith (1662) came from Fairfield on the invitation of the planters, who gave him a considerable tract of land on condition of serving the town in the trade of a smith upon just and moderate terms for the space of five years." He married the daughter and only child of Edward Patterson, one of the South End men, and so became possessor of his share. Capt. Thomas Smith, the father of the Smith family, died November 16, 1724, aged about 90.
The three Thompson brothers, Anthony Thompson, John Thompson (1662) and William Thompson, came from Lenham, county of Kent, England.
In 1887 Rev. E. E. Atwater, while searching out the Atwater genealogy in England, came across the baptism of Anthony Thompson, August 30, 1612, in Lenham, in Kent. This discovery led him, through his own connection and descent from the Thompson family, to prepare a paper on the birthplace of Anthony Thompson, one of the planters of New Haven, which was read before the New Haven Colony Historical Society October 6, 1887, and which stated that the house of his birth was still standing.
Anthony Thompson signed the colony constitution at New Haven in June, 1639. February 7, 1657, John Thompson subscribed. Thomas Harrison, one of the proprietors who bought land at South End, sold his share at South End and land at Muddy river to John Thompson. From this ancestor has descended a large family, influential in the town since its settlement.
The first settler, John Thompson, father of the East Haven Thompsons, died December 11, 1674, twelve years after coming to East Haven.
He was succeeded by his son John, whom we find active in settling boundary questions, in the division of land, revising village records, as selectman, collector of rates, and various other duties, up to the time of his death, February 13, 1693. The Thompson family has, in all its different branches, held offices of trust and confidence down to the present time.
Stephen Thompson, born December 25, 1723, who was one of the building committee of the "Stone Church," and was badly injured (as told elsewhere), was the father of four sons. He built a house for each one, which are all standing to-day (1907), two of which have never been out of the name and descent. His son Amos' house is on the east side of the Green, Moses' house was built on the southeast corner of the Green on the site of Rev. Jacob Hemingway's house, which was burned. This house now stands on Hemingway avenue, having been moved there in 1898. Stephen's house stands on the corner of Main street, and Hemingway avenue. The fourth house he built on the corner of Main street and Thompson avenue, where he died, and his youngest son, James, came into possession of it, in which he reared a family of ten children, nine of whom were boys. This son, Capt. James Thompson, filled all the different offices of the town, and among others was elected to the state legislature as representative of his town ten terms, always serving with ability and distinction. He was succeeded in this offioe by his son James, and three grandsons, the late John Woodward Thompson, James S. Thompson and Edward Foote Thompson, who is now serving his second term as county commissioner.
His residence is that of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, where five successive generations have lived.
Samuel Hemingway (1662), son of Ralph and Elizabeth (Hewes) Hemingway, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in June, 1636.
Ralph Hemingway was active in town affairs and a member of Roxbury Church.
He brought a large property with him, and in 1638 was one of the largest taxpayers and land owners in Roxbury. His wife was also wealthy.
His eldest son, Samuel, settled in New Haven and later moved to East Haven, in 1662, where he married Sarah Cooper, a daughter of John Cooper, the agent of the Iron Works in East Haven.
We find him a very busy and influential man, serving the town in many and some difficult capacities, such as settling boundary questions, securing mill grants, revising village records, selectman, looking after village grants and privileges, town clerk and other minor duties.
He was a neat and handsome penman.
His house was not far from the furnace, and as he was interested in the milling business, probably never changed it.
He was the first man to send a son to Yale.
He was rated the third richest man in the town, which was only a few pounds less than the highest.
Hemingway died September 20, 1711, aged 75 years, and was succeeded by his two sons, John and Abraham, who took the stand and place of their father in public affairs.
We have only to look over the town records of East Haven to see the frequency of the Hemingway name in all the varied policies and happenings of the place.
The name of John Hemingway has been continued by generations succeeding each other to the present day.
John Hemingway, IV, was widely known and justly popular throughout the state, while the name of his son Merit of Watertown, Connecticut, is daily carried into and read in nearly every household in the Union, on the spools and silks bearing the name of "M. Heminway & Sons, silk manufacturers, Watertown, Conn." The house where Merit Heminway (as he holds to the old spelling) was born in 1800 is still standing, in a good state of preservation, on Main street, near the Branford line.
The descendants of Abraham and Enos settled in the north part of the town, near the North Haven line, and have displayed the same characteristics of family down to the present day. "Enos Hemingway served in the state legislature of Connecticut from 1797 to 1809, the longest term in its history." His twin son, Willis Hemingway, was legal eye and ear for Fair Haven for forty years or more. No man ever lived who enjoyed the love and confidence of his townsmen more than his eldest son, Samuel Hemingway, particularly those of small means. If they had anything to invest Samuel Hemingway was the man to whom it was intrusted, and this confidence always returned them a good percentage. The reputation of his financial ability, and the strictest integrity, elected him to the presidency of the Second National Bank of New Haven, long years before his sudden and widely lamented death. His mantle has fallen upon his two sons, Samuel Hemingway and James Smith Hemingway. The former is now president of the Second National Bank, and the latter treasurer of the New Haven Savings Bank. The sons of Col. Willet Hemingway, the twin brother of Esquire Willis, are all noted financiers and successful business men of the highest integrity and social standing.
Ralph Russell (1664) came to East Haven about 1664, at the establishment of the Iron Works. John Russell, his brother, was a potter in the furnace.
In 1664 a piece of land was granted to Ralph Russell by the advice of the town, probably to induce him to become a settler, as all trades were considered benefits to the young colony.
Ralph Russell died in 1679 and in the same year the Iron Works were given up. It is a tradition in the Russell family that the death of the principal workmen produced this change. Some authorties say the ore in North Haven was exhausted. His descendants became large landholders in the vicinity of what is now called Russell street, and the land is still (1907) in the possession of his line of descent. The East Haven Russells seem to be in no way connected with the Branford and North Branford Russells. The latter descended from Rev. Samuel Russell, who was pastor of Branford Church forty-three years and in whose study Yale College was founded, of which he was librarian thirty years.
John Russell, eldest son of Ralph, was one of the committee chosen April 25, 1706, to attend to church matters. When the first meetinghouse was built in 1706, John Russell was one of the overseers; when the second wood house was built, Capt. John Russell was one of the building committee. In "seating the meeting house,"
Capt. John Russell was one of the six chosen to perform that honorable duty. Capt. John Russell died February 13, 1724, aged 59 years. Lieut. John Russell succeeded his father in public affairs. He is called ensign in 1703, when he was chosen, with others, to manage the concerns of the village. April 24, 1707, the village voted to sell 600 acres on the lower end of the half-mile, and John Russell was one of the six men who bought this land and divided it among themselves. He was active in surveying and laying out roads. Lieut. John Russell died October 18, 1774, aged 80 years.
The name of Russell has been historic in England ever since Henry VIII created the first Lord Russell, whose title was transformed to Earl of Bedford, and from that to Duke of Bedford, which title stands next to royalty. The Duke of Bedford is the acknowledged chief of the house of Russell. Not that there is any connection between this house and the American Russells, but stranger things than this have happened.
In 1887 Rev. E. E. Atwater, while searching out the Atwater genealogy in England, came across the baptism of Anthony Thompson, August 30, 1612, in Lenham, in Kent. This discovery led him, through his own connection and descent from the Thompson family, to prepare a paper on the birthplace of Anthony Thompson, one of the planters of New Haven, which was read before the New Haven Colony Historical Society October 6, 1887, and which stated that the house of his birth was still standing.
Anthony Thompson signed the colony constitution at New Haven in June, 1639. February 7, 1657, John Thompson subscribed. Thomas Harrison, one of the proprietors who bought land at South End, sold his share at South End and land at Muddy river to John Thompson. From this ancestor has descended a large family, influential in the town since its settlement.
The first settler, John Thompson, father of the East Haven Thompsons, died December 11, 1674, twelve years after coming to East Haven.
He was succeeded by his son John, whom we find active in settling boundary questions, in the division of land, revising village records, as selectman, collector of rates, and various other duties, up to the time of his death, February 13, 1693. The Thompson family has, in all its different branches, held offices of trust and confidence down to the present time.
Stephen Thompson, born December 25, 1723, who was one of the building committee of the "Stone Church," and was badly injured (as told elsewhere), was the father of four sons. He built a house for each one, which are all standing to-day (1907), two of which have never been out of the name and descent. His son Amos' house is on the east side of the Green, Moses' house was built on the southeast corner of the Green on the site of Rev. Jacob Hemingway's house, which was burned. This house now stands on Hemingway avenue, having been moved there in 1898. Stephen's house stands on the corner of Main street, and Hemingway avenue. The fourth house he built on the corner of Main street and Thompson avenue, where he died, and his youngest son, James, came into possession of it, in which he reared a family of ten children, nine of whom were boys. This son, Capt. James Thompson, filled all the different offices of the town, and among others was elected to the state legislature as representative of his town ten terms, always serving with ability and distinction. He was succeeded in this offioe by his son James, and three grandsons, the late John Woodward Thompson, James S. Thompson and Edward Foote Thompson, who is now serving his second term as county commissioner.
His residence is that of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, where five successive generations have lived.
Samuel Hemingway (1662), son of Ralph and Elizabeth (Hewes) Hemingway, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in June, 1636.
Ralph Hemingway was active in town affairs and a member of Roxbury Church.
He brought a large property with him, and in 1638 was one of the largest taxpayers and land owners in Roxbury. His wife was also wealthy.
His eldest son, Samuel, settled in New Haven and later moved to East Haven, in 1662, where he married Sarah Cooper, a daughter of John Cooper, the agent of the Iron Works in East Haven.
We find him a very busy and influential man, serving the town in many and some difficult capacities, such as settling boundary questions, securing mill grants, revising village records, selectman, looking after village grants and privileges, town clerk and other minor duties.
He was a neat and handsome penman.
His house was not far from the furnace, and as he was interested in the milling business, probably never changed it.
He was the first man to send a son to Yale.
He was rated the third richest man in the town, which was only a few pounds less than the highest.
Hemingway died September 20, 1711, aged 75 years, and was succeeded by his two sons, John and Abraham, who took the stand and place of their father in public affairs.
We have only to look over the town records of East Haven to see the frequency of the Hemingway name in all the varied policies and happenings of the place.
The name of John Hemingway has been continued by generations succeeding each other to the present day.
John Hemingway, IV, was widely known and justly popular throughout the state, while the name of his son Merit of Watertown, Connecticut, is daily carried into and read in nearly every household in the Union, on the spools and silks bearing the name of "M. Heminway & Sons, silk manufacturers, Watertown, Conn." The house where Merit Heminway (as he holds to the old spelling) was born in 1800 is still standing, in a good state of preservation, on Main street, near the Branford line.
The descendants of Abraham and Enos settled in the north part of the town, near the North Haven line, and have displayed the same characteristics of family down to the present day. "Enos Hemingway served in the state legislature of Connecticut from 1797 to 1809, the longest term in its history." His twin son, Willis Hemingway, was legal eye and ear for Fair Haven for forty years or more. No man ever lived who enjoyed the love and confidence of his townsmen more than his eldest son, Samuel Hemingway, particularly those of small means. If they had anything to invest Samuel Hemingway was the man to whom it was intrusted, and this confidence always returned them a good percentage. The reputation of his financial ability, and the strictest integrity, elected him to the presidency of the Second National Bank of New Haven, long years before his sudden and widely lamented death. His mantle has fallen upon his two sons, Samuel Hemingway and James Smith Hemingway. The former is now president of the Second National Bank, and the latter treasurer of the New Haven Savings Bank. The sons of Col. Willet Hemingway, the twin brother of Esquire Willis, are all noted financiers and successful business men of the highest integrity and social standing.
Ralph Russell (1664) came to East Haven about 1664, at the establishment of the Iron Works. John Russell, his brother, was a potter in the furnace.
In 1664 a piece of land was granted to Ralph Russell by the advice of the town, probably to induce him to become a settler, as all trades were considered benefits to the young colony.
Ralph Russell died in 1679 and in the same year the Iron Works were given up. It is a tradition in the Russell family that the death of the principal workmen produced this change. Some authorties say the ore in North Haven was exhausted. His descendants became large landholders in the vicinity of what is now called Russell street, and the land is still (1907) in the possession of his line of descent. The East Haven Russells seem to be in no way connected with the Branford and North Branford Russells. The latter descended from Rev. Samuel Russell, who was pastor of Branford Church forty-three years and in whose study Yale College was founded, of which he was librarian thirty years.
John Russell, eldest son of Ralph, was one of the committee chosen April 25, 1706, to attend to church matters. When the first meetinghouse was built in 1706, John Russell was one of the overseers; when the second wood house was built, Capt. John Russell was one of the building committee. In "seating the meeting house,"
Capt. John Russell was one of the six chosen to perform that honorable duty. Capt. John Russell died February 13, 1724, aged 59 years. Lieut. John Russell succeeded his father in public affairs. He is called ensign in 1703, when he was chosen, with others, to manage the concerns of the village. April 24, 1707, the village voted to sell 600 acres on the lower end of the half-mile, and John Russell was one of the six men who bought this land and divided it among themselves. He was active in surveying and laying out roads. Lieut. John Russell died October 18, 1774, aged 80 years.
The name of Russell has been historic in England ever since Henry VIII created the first Lord Russell, whose title was transformed to Earl of Bedford, and from that to Duke of Bedford, which title stands next to royalty. The Duke of Bedford is the acknowledged chief of the house of Russell. Not that there is any connection between this house and the American Russells, but stranger things than this have happened.
Thomas Morris (1671) signed the plantation covenant at New Haven in 1639, and was admitted a free inhabitant July 3, 1648.
That is why he is not mentioned in the first division of lands, having no right of commonage in the order in which they were drawn, but living on one of the small lots which had been freely given to thirty-two householders. Atwater says:
"Thomas Morris dwelt on the bank side (that is on East Water street) and east of the four proprietors, whose land extended from Union to Chestnut streets (New Haven)."
When the first meetinghouse in New Haven needed repairs Thomas Morris was one of the committee to decide "how it may be done, for most safety to the town and least charge."
Doubtless these men composing the committee were master workmen having under them journeymen and apprentices. Mr. Morris wrought as a shipbuilder, but his appointment on this committee indicates he did not confine himself to shipbuilding alone.
On March 16, 1671, he bought the little neck having Gregson's farm on the north and the meadows along Fowler's creek on the east. His design was to carry on shipbuilding, the timber there being very suitable for that purpose, but two years afterwards death put an end to all his purposes. The date of the deed of the land is on the house, 1671.
Extracts From The Morr1s Tree.
"Tradition in the family affairs affirm that a singular incident made Mr. Morris acquainted with the value of the soil, and the excellence of the timber for ship building on the tract of land now known as Morris Point.
It seems he once left his cart, with a load of wood on it, standing near the edge of the bank where he lived, the base of which met the water of the harbor.
A company of young people who were visiting at his house coveted the sport of seeing the cart roll down the bank, and put it in motion. They did not calculate the velocity it would acquire in the descent, nor the distance to which it would move. They soon beheld it floating at too great a distance to be reached and drifting in the direction of the Cove, on the East Haven side, where it was fortunately driven ashore and recovered. It was his excursion to obtain the cart that brought the quality of the timber and the land to his notice.
"His negotiations for the purchase of the Point were in 1688, but he did not receive the deed from the court till 1671. From him it passed into the hands of his son Eleazer, by whom it was inherited by his son John. John had no children and gave it to Amos, one of the sons of his brother James. This Amos was the first proprietor who resided upon the farm, and it has never ceased to be in the hands of his descendants.
He was a man of extraordinary enterprise, and of undoubted piety, a Puritan of the best type, a deacon in the East Haven Church.
He had in his own possession the means of carrying on commerce abroad, and his papers show that he trafficed with some of the West Indian ports. His wharf accommodated vessels of considerable size and his warehouse often contained large quantities of goods. He also carried on the manufacture of salt, and had a building with five boilers for that purpose. His enterprise and public spirit are still further seen in the fact that he bought the land and constructed at his own expense the causeway across the salt march that leads from the Cove to the road by which the meetinghouse is approached (now Thompson avenue) from all that section of the town."
It was a gigantic work to be undertaken by a single man in those days, yet when the town assumed the road they voted to allow him nothing for it. However, after much altercation and the appointment of several committees, the town voted to allow him $40. His history reaches the Revolution and affords much interesting matter.
A petition dated October 6, 1656, was presented to the New Haven government by the inhabitants of Greenwich to be received under their care, John Austin (1673) being one of the signers.
In 1676 he bought land of William Fowler on the east side.
He seems to have had his house on the north side of the Green, and to have been a man of considerable means, from his list. He, with others, obtained a deed from the Indians for Stable Point, for housing for their horses when they went to New- Haven, which is the point just north of Tomlinson Bridge. He died February 22, 1690, the father of the East and New Haven Austins. He was succeeded by his son Joshua, who seems to have been quite a man of affairs.
The first mention of this good man, John Chidsey (1681), in New Haven is in 1656, when an honorable seat in the meetinghouse is assigned him.
In 1681 Deacon John Chidsey, a tanner and shoemaker, settled on the north side of the Green, on a three square lot of about three acres, between John Potter and John Austin. Afterwards ten acres were granted him by the village on the west side of the fresh meadows, which ever since has been known as Chidsey's field and Chidsey's hill. Mr. Havens, in his centennial sermon, credits Chidsey's hill as the one on Main street now opposite Forbes place, which is an error. Chidsey's hill commenced at the corner of Peat Meadow road and Main street, and ran west to nearly the Four Corners. The field was later bought by the Woodwards. In March, 1683, he "proposed to the village to have a third division of land among us equal to ten heads, and £100 estate, which he doth apprehend to be 60 acres; and for the future he will be engaged to pay towards the expenses of the village after the rate of £200 rateable estate, until his estate shall amount to £200, and then to rise as his estate shall rise."
He was deacon of the church in New Haven, residing only seven years in East Haven and dying December 31, 1688. He was succeeded by his two sons, Caleb and Ebenezer. The North Guilford branch of Chidseys descended from his son Joseph. His son Caleb succeeded him in the deaconship, but he filled this office in East Haven, being one of the church's first deacons. He died February 20, 1713. At a village meeting December 23, 1703, the inhabitants voted that they would take up their village grant. In April, 1704, Caleb Chidsey was chosen moderator, and Ebenezer Chidsey clerk. Caleb Chidsey was one of the committee chosen to go to New Haven and discourse about the differences they speak of between them and us. He was treasurer of the money coming from the sale of the "half-mile." Ebenezer Chidsey was clerk of the village from 1702 to time of his death, September 26, 1726.
The two brothers were chosen with John Potter to treat with Mr. Hemingway to become their first minister, also respecting forming the church in 1710, and so we may continue to trace the good offices of the Chidsey name through the town records all along down to the present day. The late Mr. Samuel Chidsey was one of the active men of the town up to his death, and his son, Samuel R. Chidsey, is following in the footsteps of his father; besides many others of the name are to be found doing their duty as interested and capable citizens, descendants of a worthy ancestor.
The first mention made of Isaac Bradley (1683) is on Branford records in 1674.
He is then noticed as a "sojourner at New Haven," and the town granted him a home lot of two acres at Canoe Brook.
The term "sojourner" would imply that he did not intend to make New Haven his permanent abode, and the subsequent grant of land to him in Branford, that he was a man desirable for the colony; otherwise he could not have obtained two acres at Canoe Brook.
At that period no man could obtain land, which had not been previously taken up, without the consent of the town, and, in many instances, could not sell it to another, even if it had been granted to him. This was done in order to keep out undesirable inhabitants.
Bradley being a carpenter, the town no doubt considered him a valuable acquisition. After nine years he removed to East Haven.
That is why he is not mentioned in the first division of lands, having no right of commonage in the order in which they were drawn, but living on one of the small lots which had been freely given to thirty-two householders. Atwater says:
"Thomas Morris dwelt on the bank side (that is on East Water street) and east of the four proprietors, whose land extended from Union to Chestnut streets (New Haven)."
When the first meetinghouse in New Haven needed repairs Thomas Morris was one of the committee to decide "how it may be done, for most safety to the town and least charge."
Doubtless these men composing the committee were master workmen having under them journeymen and apprentices. Mr. Morris wrought as a shipbuilder, but his appointment on this committee indicates he did not confine himself to shipbuilding alone.
On March 16, 1671, he bought the little neck having Gregson's farm on the north and the meadows along Fowler's creek on the east. His design was to carry on shipbuilding, the timber there being very suitable for that purpose, but two years afterwards death put an end to all his purposes. The date of the deed of the land is on the house, 1671.
Extracts From The Morr1s Tree.
"Tradition in the family affairs affirm that a singular incident made Mr. Morris acquainted with the value of the soil, and the excellence of the timber for ship building on the tract of land now known as Morris Point.
It seems he once left his cart, with a load of wood on it, standing near the edge of the bank where he lived, the base of which met the water of the harbor.
A company of young people who were visiting at his house coveted the sport of seeing the cart roll down the bank, and put it in motion. They did not calculate the velocity it would acquire in the descent, nor the distance to which it would move. They soon beheld it floating at too great a distance to be reached and drifting in the direction of the Cove, on the East Haven side, where it was fortunately driven ashore and recovered. It was his excursion to obtain the cart that brought the quality of the timber and the land to his notice.
"His negotiations for the purchase of the Point were in 1688, but he did not receive the deed from the court till 1671. From him it passed into the hands of his son Eleazer, by whom it was inherited by his son John. John had no children and gave it to Amos, one of the sons of his brother James. This Amos was the first proprietor who resided upon the farm, and it has never ceased to be in the hands of his descendants.
He was a man of extraordinary enterprise, and of undoubted piety, a Puritan of the best type, a deacon in the East Haven Church.
He had in his own possession the means of carrying on commerce abroad, and his papers show that he trafficed with some of the West Indian ports. His wharf accommodated vessels of considerable size and his warehouse often contained large quantities of goods. He also carried on the manufacture of salt, and had a building with five boilers for that purpose. His enterprise and public spirit are still further seen in the fact that he bought the land and constructed at his own expense the causeway across the salt march that leads from the Cove to the road by which the meetinghouse is approached (now Thompson avenue) from all that section of the town."
It was a gigantic work to be undertaken by a single man in those days, yet when the town assumed the road they voted to allow him nothing for it. However, after much altercation and the appointment of several committees, the town voted to allow him $40. His history reaches the Revolution and affords much interesting matter.
A petition dated October 6, 1656, was presented to the New Haven government by the inhabitants of Greenwich to be received under their care, John Austin (1673) being one of the signers.
In 1676 he bought land of William Fowler on the east side.
He seems to have had his house on the north side of the Green, and to have been a man of considerable means, from his list. He, with others, obtained a deed from the Indians for Stable Point, for housing for their horses when they went to New- Haven, which is the point just north of Tomlinson Bridge. He died February 22, 1690, the father of the East and New Haven Austins. He was succeeded by his son Joshua, who seems to have been quite a man of affairs.
The first mention of this good man, John Chidsey (1681), in New Haven is in 1656, when an honorable seat in the meetinghouse is assigned him.
In 1681 Deacon John Chidsey, a tanner and shoemaker, settled on the north side of the Green, on a three square lot of about three acres, between John Potter and John Austin. Afterwards ten acres were granted him by the village on the west side of the fresh meadows, which ever since has been known as Chidsey's field and Chidsey's hill. Mr. Havens, in his centennial sermon, credits Chidsey's hill as the one on Main street now opposite Forbes place, which is an error. Chidsey's hill commenced at the corner of Peat Meadow road and Main street, and ran west to nearly the Four Corners. The field was later bought by the Woodwards. In March, 1683, he "proposed to the village to have a third division of land among us equal to ten heads, and £100 estate, which he doth apprehend to be 60 acres; and for the future he will be engaged to pay towards the expenses of the village after the rate of £200 rateable estate, until his estate shall amount to £200, and then to rise as his estate shall rise."
He was deacon of the church in New Haven, residing only seven years in East Haven and dying December 31, 1688. He was succeeded by his two sons, Caleb and Ebenezer. The North Guilford branch of Chidseys descended from his son Joseph. His son Caleb succeeded him in the deaconship, but he filled this office in East Haven, being one of the church's first deacons. He died February 20, 1713. At a village meeting December 23, 1703, the inhabitants voted that they would take up their village grant. In April, 1704, Caleb Chidsey was chosen moderator, and Ebenezer Chidsey clerk. Caleb Chidsey was one of the committee chosen to go to New Haven and discourse about the differences they speak of between them and us. He was treasurer of the money coming from the sale of the "half-mile." Ebenezer Chidsey was clerk of the village from 1702 to time of his death, September 26, 1726.
The two brothers were chosen with John Potter to treat with Mr. Hemingway to become their first minister, also respecting forming the church in 1710, and so we may continue to trace the good offices of the Chidsey name through the town records all along down to the present day. The late Mr. Samuel Chidsey was one of the active men of the town up to his death, and his son, Samuel R. Chidsey, is following in the footsteps of his father; besides many others of the name are to be found doing their duty as interested and capable citizens, descendants of a worthy ancestor.
The first mention made of Isaac Bradley (1683) is on Branford records in 1674.
He is then noticed as a "sojourner at New Haven," and the town granted him a home lot of two acres at Canoe Brook.
The term "sojourner" would imply that he did not intend to make New Haven his permanent abode, and the subsequent grant of land to him in Branford, that he was a man desirable for the colony; otherwise he could not have obtained two acres at Canoe Brook.
At that period no man could obtain land, which had not been previously taken up, without the consent of the town, and, in many instances, could not sell it to another, even if it had been granted to him. This was done in order to keep out undesirable inhabitants.
Bradley being a carpenter, the town no doubt considered him a valuable acquisition. After nine years he removed to East Haven.
The village had granted one acre of land to Joseph, son of Ralph Russell, west to Stoney river, which he soon sold to John Potter, and John Potter the same day conveyed it to Isaac Bradley, on which he built his house. On the post road near Stoney river were Daniel Bradley and his sons, Stephen, Timothy and Jacob. Ebenezer Chidsey bought Isaac Bradley's house north of Daniel Bradley. Isaac Bradley, father of the East Haven Bradleys, died January 12, 1713. Isaac Bradley, Jr., died, unmarried, July 10, 1716.
From his three sons, William, Samuel and Daniel, descended one of the largest number of families of one name in the town (excepting the Smith family, which is an exception everywhere). In influence, social position and wealth, they took a high rank, and the town records are plentifully sprinkled with the name of Bradley in every capacity. Josiah Bradley was the squire of the town from 1787 to 1806. At one time the name was so numerous that it was a synonym for East Haven, as it was often remarked in other towns, "to say Bradley was to name the whole of East Haven." Like many other old colonial families, the name has been greatly depleted by death, removals and the usual decline in the number of children, in families, until at present there are comparatively few families left; but those few still retain the characteristics of the family and are valued citizens. Among the younger members is Mr. Henry H. Bradley.
Thomas Goodsell (1692) appears on Branford records in 1679.
He married Sarah Hemingway, daughter of Samuel, June 4, 1684, and moved to East Haven in April, 1692. Little is recorded of him, although what is signifies he was a man of note in the community. His home was where the present Bailey house stands, and the small rise of ground just west has always been called Goodsell's hill. His estate is rated among the highest in town, therefore we must take it for granted that, with the high social position of his wife and his own good name and character, coupled with his wealth, he was a man of influence. He died May 16, 1713, and left three sons, two of whom, Thomas and John, graduated from Yale College in the same class, in 1724, John being only nineteen. The name has long been extinct in East Haven. Rt. Rev. Daniel Goodsell, Methodist Episcopal bishop, whose summer home is at Granite Bay, is a descendant of this Goodsell family of East Haven.
All the information obtainable of the first settlers up to 1700 has now been given. There are three others after that date of which mention will be made. Doubtless many moved into the town, remaining only a short time. Emigration was as rife then as at any subsequent period, much more so than one hundred and fifty years afterwards.
Rev. John Woodward (`716) was graduated at Cambridge College, England, in 1693, was ordained pastor of the church at Norwich, Connecticut, December 6, 1699, assisted in the council that compiled the Saybrook Platform in 1708, was dismissed from his pastoral charge September 13, 1716, and was admitted an inhabitant of New Haven, December 24, of the same year.
He obtained liberty of the town to buy of the Indians one acre of land to accommodate his house and bought various pieces of land around him, thus becoming possessed of a convenient farm. In 1738 he was chosen moderator of the society meeting. This is his first appearance on the village records. He seems to have lived a retired life after coming to East Haven, not taking any very active part in the affairs of the day, but devoting his attention to agriculture. No record is found of acting in his professional calling after coming to East Haven. He died February 14, 1746, and was succeeded by four sons, all of whom married and settled in East Haven. Their families being mostly daughters, the name did not become numerous, but those who did retain it became among the largest landed proprietors of the town, and in point of wealth, popularity and influence took high rank, which, with their ancestral domains, they hold to the present time.
Samuel Forbes is mentioned in 1728 and was employed in shipbuilding on the point below the mill. This is all the early record that was given of him. It has always been a tradition in the family that he was a Scotchman. Certainly the thrifty, cautious, skillful and successful habits of his descendants, male and female, display the acknowledged traits of the "canny Scot." As a people, they rather avoid participation in public affairs; but when once enlisted they always show the same fidelity of purpose and exact observance of duty that they manifest in their own concerns. At the present time, Mr. Frederic Forbes is one of the successful business men of the town. Mr. Albert Forbes, who so lately has been called from us, filled many offices of public trust for many years, and was one of the solid men of the town.
Deodate Davenport came from Stamford and appears first on record, 1729. He was the great-grandson of Rev. John Davenport of New Haven, 1639. Mr. Davenport's grant of six hundred or more acres on the east side of the Quinnipiac had lain dormant till this great-grandson came to New Haven, and had the land which the Davenport family owned surveyed and located. He was the son of John Davenport, 3d, who was the third pastor of the church in Stamford. The farm, or tract of land, was in the northwest part of the town, what has since been called "Hemingway town," Dana Bradley's farm and vicinity. He was one of the early deacons of the church and a publicspirited man. The name has been extinct for many years.
Joseph Bishop (1751) came from Guilford. Only one son, Ichabod, is accounted to East Haven. His sons were men of great activity and enterprise. His son Elias was known in several states as an extensive dealer and shipper of horses and mules; his son John was a lifelong resident of East Haven on the old homestead in South End, a very worthy and reliable man, warden of St. James Episcopal Church for a long period. One grandson is Professor William H. Bishop, formerly professor at Yale, author, and now consul general at Palermo, Italy; another grandson is J. Halsted Bishop of Chicago. None of the family is in town now.
All the early settlers have been sought out and recorded as far as possible; facts have been looked up from different reliable sources, and if any have been overlooked, who seem entitled to notice, it is because nothing could be found of them. That there are many names of families who are not mentioned is very true. In every community there are scores and scores of good men, capable in every way, men of family, wealth and social position, who never drift into public affairs,— they do not like the notoriety, they shrink from the responsibility, they cannot bear public criticism, by nature not being adapted to it. It is not their fault; we see this difference between brothers in the same family. On the other hand, others without any apparent effort float along on the stream of public activities, as easily as a duck takes to water, the more they are buffeted the better they like it, and it seems to stimulate them to greater action. We have now seen that East Haven was settled by the very best people of the New Haven Colony. They were all men of principle, not only that, but of piety as well. They walked as they believed. They had left country, home and relatives to found a new government on new principles founded upon the law of the Scriptures, as they saw the right. Besides, they were a class of intelligent, religious, heroic men. "God sifted a whole nation that he might send choice grain over into this wilderness."
From his three sons, William, Samuel and Daniel, descended one of the largest number of families of one name in the town (excepting the Smith family, which is an exception everywhere). In influence, social position and wealth, they took a high rank, and the town records are plentifully sprinkled with the name of Bradley in every capacity. Josiah Bradley was the squire of the town from 1787 to 1806. At one time the name was so numerous that it was a synonym for East Haven, as it was often remarked in other towns, "to say Bradley was to name the whole of East Haven." Like many other old colonial families, the name has been greatly depleted by death, removals and the usual decline in the number of children, in families, until at present there are comparatively few families left; but those few still retain the characteristics of the family and are valued citizens. Among the younger members is Mr. Henry H. Bradley.
Thomas Goodsell (1692) appears on Branford records in 1679.
He married Sarah Hemingway, daughter of Samuel, June 4, 1684, and moved to East Haven in April, 1692. Little is recorded of him, although what is signifies he was a man of note in the community. His home was where the present Bailey house stands, and the small rise of ground just west has always been called Goodsell's hill. His estate is rated among the highest in town, therefore we must take it for granted that, with the high social position of his wife and his own good name and character, coupled with his wealth, he was a man of influence. He died May 16, 1713, and left three sons, two of whom, Thomas and John, graduated from Yale College in the same class, in 1724, John being only nineteen. The name has long been extinct in East Haven. Rt. Rev. Daniel Goodsell, Methodist Episcopal bishop, whose summer home is at Granite Bay, is a descendant of this Goodsell family of East Haven.
All the information obtainable of the first settlers up to 1700 has now been given. There are three others after that date of which mention will be made. Doubtless many moved into the town, remaining only a short time. Emigration was as rife then as at any subsequent period, much more so than one hundred and fifty years afterwards.
Rev. John Woodward (`716) was graduated at Cambridge College, England, in 1693, was ordained pastor of the church at Norwich, Connecticut, December 6, 1699, assisted in the council that compiled the Saybrook Platform in 1708, was dismissed from his pastoral charge September 13, 1716, and was admitted an inhabitant of New Haven, December 24, of the same year.
He obtained liberty of the town to buy of the Indians one acre of land to accommodate his house and bought various pieces of land around him, thus becoming possessed of a convenient farm. In 1738 he was chosen moderator of the society meeting. This is his first appearance on the village records. He seems to have lived a retired life after coming to East Haven, not taking any very active part in the affairs of the day, but devoting his attention to agriculture. No record is found of acting in his professional calling after coming to East Haven. He died February 14, 1746, and was succeeded by four sons, all of whom married and settled in East Haven. Their families being mostly daughters, the name did not become numerous, but those who did retain it became among the largest landed proprietors of the town, and in point of wealth, popularity and influence took high rank, which, with their ancestral domains, they hold to the present time.
Samuel Forbes is mentioned in 1728 and was employed in shipbuilding on the point below the mill. This is all the early record that was given of him. It has always been a tradition in the family that he was a Scotchman. Certainly the thrifty, cautious, skillful and successful habits of his descendants, male and female, display the acknowledged traits of the "canny Scot." As a people, they rather avoid participation in public affairs; but when once enlisted they always show the same fidelity of purpose and exact observance of duty that they manifest in their own concerns. At the present time, Mr. Frederic Forbes is one of the successful business men of the town. Mr. Albert Forbes, who so lately has been called from us, filled many offices of public trust for many years, and was one of the solid men of the town.
Deodate Davenport came from Stamford and appears first on record, 1729. He was the great-grandson of Rev. John Davenport of New Haven, 1639. Mr. Davenport's grant of six hundred or more acres on the east side of the Quinnipiac had lain dormant till this great-grandson came to New Haven, and had the land which the Davenport family owned surveyed and located. He was the son of John Davenport, 3d, who was the third pastor of the church in Stamford. The farm, or tract of land, was in the northwest part of the town, what has since been called "Hemingway town," Dana Bradley's farm and vicinity. He was one of the early deacons of the church and a publicspirited man. The name has been extinct for many years.
Joseph Bishop (1751) came from Guilford. Only one son, Ichabod, is accounted to East Haven. His sons were men of great activity and enterprise. His son Elias was known in several states as an extensive dealer and shipper of horses and mules; his son John was a lifelong resident of East Haven on the old homestead in South End, a very worthy and reliable man, warden of St. James Episcopal Church for a long period. One grandson is Professor William H. Bishop, formerly professor at Yale, author, and now consul general at Palermo, Italy; another grandson is J. Halsted Bishop of Chicago. None of the family is in town now.
All the early settlers have been sought out and recorded as far as possible; facts have been looked up from different reliable sources, and if any have been overlooked, who seem entitled to notice, it is because nothing could be found of them. That there are many names of families who are not mentioned is very true. In every community there are scores and scores of good men, capable in every way, men of family, wealth and social position, who never drift into public affairs,— they do not like the notoriety, they shrink from the responsibility, they cannot bear public criticism, by nature not being adapted to it. It is not their fault; we see this difference between brothers in the same family. On the other hand, others without any apparent effort float along on the stream of public activities, as easily as a duck takes to water, the more they are buffeted the better they like it, and it seems to stimulate them to greater action. We have now seen that East Haven was settled by the very best people of the New Haven Colony. They were all men of principle, not only that, but of piety as well. They walked as they believed. They had left country, home and relatives to found a new government on new principles founded upon the law of the Scriptures, as they saw the right. Besides, they were a class of intelligent, religious, heroic men. "God sifted a whole nation that he might send choice grain over into this wilderness."
There are some expressions which it may be well to explain.
One is "granting land" to individuals. At the present time it has the smack of pauperism; not at all so in early times. It was not receiving anything from the town; it was giving title to land bought. It must be remembered that all the land bought of the Indians was in trust for all the people, and no sale could be made without the consent of the town, or court as it was sometimes called. The expression freeholder, or inhabitant, may not be understood. No person could be an inhabitant till he was the possessor of real estate; that made him a freeholder, but he could not be a freeholder unless he was a church member; and if he was a church member, then by a vote of the town he could be granted real estate, or land. Thus he had a voice in both church and state.
This was the pet idea of Rev. John Davenport, which he formulated in Holland while an exile before coming to America. The New Haven Colony consisted of New Haven, Branford, Guilford, Stamford and Southold on Long Island. This church member rule was in use in the Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies. Some dissatisfied with this law came to Connecticut and settled at Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield, and other towns, which became the Connecticut Colony, where church membership was not required.
In 1639 the first constitution for the Connecticut Colony was made, permitting all men to vote who had taken the oath of allegiance to the commonwealth. All men were equal before the law and each man had a voice in the government. This is why Connecticut is called the "Constitution State," and upon which principle the United States constitution is founded.
It has often been a source of inquiry why Rev. Mr. Davenport left his people in New Haven, after many of them had followed him to Holland, and then with many more had crossed the ocean to New Haven. When New Haven Colony submitted to the union with Connecticut, it gave Mr. Davenport a shock of disappointment which fell upon him like a blow. He could not bear to see the extinction of the little sovereignty whose foundation he had laid, and for which he had so strenuously contended. He lost interest in his dearly loved colony. His cherished idea of church membership government was sacrificed and New Haven no longer was attractive to him. It was rather the monument of a great defeat and sorrow. In a letter to a friend he writes, "Christ's interest in New Haven Colony is miserably lost."
Just at this time he received a call to the First Church in Boston to champion the cause of orthodoxy against the "half-way covenant." His church was loth to give him up and never did give a full consent. He determined to accept the invitation, contrary to the wishes of his church and congregation, and arrived in Boston May 2, 1668, but his ministry was of short duration. He died in Boston, of apoplexy, March 15, 1670, in the 73d year of his age.
Thus passed away East Haven's first minister. He was as much theirs as New Haven's, as he was the only minister and East Haven was New Haven.
Davenport was succeeded by the Rev. Nicholas Street, who was the great-grandfather of Rev. Nicholas Street of East Haven.
He was born in Bridgewater,
England, a graduate of Oxford in 1624, came to New England between 1630 and 1638, and was a colleague of Mr. Hooker in Taunton, Massachusetts, and afterwards had sole charge of the church there till he came to New Haven, November 23, 1659, when he was installed teacher. Dr. Bacon says,
"The distinction between pastor and teacher was theoretical, rather than of any practical importance. Both were in the highest sense ministers of the gospel; as colleagues they preached by turns on all public occasions and had an equal share in discipline. The pastor's special work was to attend to exhortation, and therein to administer a word of wisdom. The teacher was to attend to doctrine, and therein to administer a word of knowledge.
The pastor and teacher gave themselves wholly to the ministry and their studies, and accordingly received their support from the people. They might properly be called clergymen at the present day, pastor and assistant." [Bacon's Hist. Dis.] This custom was a relic from the Church of England, where three grades of ministers are often found in one parish, viz.: rector, vicar and curate.
After the first ministers in New England died, only one person officiated as minister of the parish, and was generally called pastor. Properly speaking, Mr. Street was the second minister of Center Church, New Haven, from 1668 to the time of his death, April 22, 1674.
One is "granting land" to individuals. At the present time it has the smack of pauperism; not at all so in early times. It was not receiving anything from the town; it was giving title to land bought. It must be remembered that all the land bought of the Indians was in trust for all the people, and no sale could be made without the consent of the town, or court as it was sometimes called. The expression freeholder, or inhabitant, may not be understood. No person could be an inhabitant till he was the possessor of real estate; that made him a freeholder, but he could not be a freeholder unless he was a church member; and if he was a church member, then by a vote of the town he could be granted real estate, or land. Thus he had a voice in both church and state.
This was the pet idea of Rev. John Davenport, which he formulated in Holland while an exile before coming to America. The New Haven Colony consisted of New Haven, Branford, Guilford, Stamford and Southold on Long Island. This church member rule was in use in the Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies. Some dissatisfied with this law came to Connecticut and settled at Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield, and other towns, which became the Connecticut Colony, where church membership was not required.
In 1639 the first constitution for the Connecticut Colony was made, permitting all men to vote who had taken the oath of allegiance to the commonwealth. All men were equal before the law and each man had a voice in the government. This is why Connecticut is called the "Constitution State," and upon which principle the United States constitution is founded.
It has often been a source of inquiry why Rev. Mr. Davenport left his people in New Haven, after many of them had followed him to Holland, and then with many more had crossed the ocean to New Haven. When New Haven Colony submitted to the union with Connecticut, it gave Mr. Davenport a shock of disappointment which fell upon him like a blow. He could not bear to see the extinction of the little sovereignty whose foundation he had laid, and for which he had so strenuously contended. He lost interest in his dearly loved colony. His cherished idea of church membership government was sacrificed and New Haven no longer was attractive to him. It was rather the monument of a great defeat and sorrow. In a letter to a friend he writes, "Christ's interest in New Haven Colony is miserably lost."
Just at this time he received a call to the First Church in Boston to champion the cause of orthodoxy against the "half-way covenant." His church was loth to give him up and never did give a full consent. He determined to accept the invitation, contrary to the wishes of his church and congregation, and arrived in Boston May 2, 1668, but his ministry was of short duration. He died in Boston, of apoplexy, March 15, 1670, in the 73d year of his age.
Thus passed away East Haven's first minister. He was as much theirs as New Haven's, as he was the only minister and East Haven was New Haven.
Davenport was succeeded by the Rev. Nicholas Street, who was the great-grandfather of Rev. Nicholas Street of East Haven.
He was born in Bridgewater,
England, a graduate of Oxford in 1624, came to New England between 1630 and 1638, and was a colleague of Mr. Hooker in Taunton, Massachusetts, and afterwards had sole charge of the church there till he came to New Haven, November 23, 1659, when he was installed teacher. Dr. Bacon says,
"The distinction between pastor and teacher was theoretical, rather than of any practical importance. Both were in the highest sense ministers of the gospel; as colleagues they preached by turns on all public occasions and had an equal share in discipline. The pastor's special work was to attend to exhortation, and therein to administer a word of wisdom. The teacher was to attend to doctrine, and therein to administer a word of knowledge.
The pastor and teacher gave themselves wholly to the ministry and their studies, and accordingly received their support from the people. They might properly be called clergymen at the present day, pastor and assistant." [Bacon's Hist. Dis.] This custom was a relic from the Church of England, where three grades of ministers are often found in one parish, viz.: rector, vicar and curate.
After the first ministers in New England died, only one person officiated as minister of the parish, and was generally called pastor. Properly speaking, Mr. Street was the second minister of Center Church, New Haven, from 1668 to the time of his death, April 22, 1674.
This family has always been a noted one in the annals of New Haven Colony, and to his great-grandson, Nicholas Street of East Haven, stands one of the grandest monuments of his labors which can be found in the whole of Connecticut, if not in the whole of New England, "The Old Stone Church," erected in 1774. Typical of the Puritan by its solidity, strength and endurance; of the times by its refined absence of ornament.
Nicholas Street left four sons, two of whom had no sons to perpetuate the name.
The sons of Nicholas Street were Philip, Edwin and Owen.
The former died in early life, leaving no family.
The latter, Owen Street, graduated from Yale in 1837 and was a successful pastor of several churches, finally settling in Lowell, Massachusetts.
He was present at the "Centennial Celebration" of his grandfather's church in East Haven, 1874, gave the invocation prayer, and contributed two original hymns, which were sung at the time.
Also an after-dinner address of much historical interest.
Four of the sons of Elnathan Street settled in East Haven.
Benjamin Street answered the call of his country in the trying times of the Civil war.
After 1850, Augustus Street settled in East Haven, was chosen town clerk in 1894, serving in that capacity till his death, April 30, 1902.
Previous to that time he was town treasurer for many years, also treasurer of the East Haven Congregational Church.
He was a popular town officer, his name sometimes appearing on both political tickets.
He left an only child, Miss Lottie E. Street, who was appointed assistant town clerk previous to her father's decease.
Taddeo Street was a very successful farmer and dairyman in East Haven, where he spent his whole life.
Taddeo Street was elected deacon of the Congregational Church August 30, 1872, and died January 16, 1882.
Taddeo Street left three sons: Samuel H. Street, Frederick B. Street, and Clifford Street, all active business men.
Nicholas Street left four sons, two of whom had no sons to perpetuate the name.
The sons of Nicholas Street were Philip, Edwin and Owen.
The former died in early life, leaving no family.
The latter, Owen Street, graduated from Yale in 1837 and was a successful pastor of several churches, finally settling in Lowell, Massachusetts.
He was present at the "Centennial Celebration" of his grandfather's church in East Haven, 1874, gave the invocation prayer, and contributed two original hymns, which were sung at the time.
Also an after-dinner address of much historical interest.
Four of the sons of Elnathan Street settled in East Haven.
Benjamin Street answered the call of his country in the trying times of the Civil war.
After 1850, Augustus Street settled in East Haven, was chosen town clerk in 1894, serving in that capacity till his death, April 30, 1902.
Previous to that time he was town treasurer for many years, also treasurer of the East Haven Congregational Church.
He was a popular town officer, his name sometimes appearing on both political tickets.
He left an only child, Miss Lottie E. Street, who was appointed assistant town clerk previous to her father's decease.
Taddeo Street was a very successful farmer and dairyman in East Haven, where he spent his whole life.
Taddeo Street was elected deacon of the Congregational Church August 30, 1872, and died January 16, 1882.
Taddeo Street left three sons: Samuel H. Street, Frederick B. Street, and Clifford Street, all active business men.
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