Connecticut Historical Collections

In hoc Sepulcliro ileposiia-! sunt Rcliquia- Viri vere Reverendi D. Jacodi Fitch; na- tus fuit apiui Boking:, in Comiialu Essexia;, in Anj,'lia, Anno Domini 1<)'J2, Decern. ii4. Q.ui, postquam Linguis literaiis opiiine instrucius luissei, in Nov-Angliam venit, jEtale l(j; el deinde Vitain degrit, Ha it lord in?, per Septennium, sub Insiniclione Viiornm celeberriinoruni D. ILkiklu Ot D. Stonk. Postea Mnnere paslurali i'liiicliis esl apud Say-Brook per Anno.s 14. Jllinc cum Ecclesiae majon Parte Norvictini migravit; el ibi caMeros Vila3 Annos iransegit in Opere Evangelico. In Seneciuie, vero piaj Toi- poris infirmitate necessarie tes^abit ab Opere publico; landemque reccssit Liberis, apud Lebanon; ubi Seinianno lere exacio obdormivjt in Jesu, Anno 1702, Novembris 18, /Elat. HI). Vir Ingenii Acnmine, Pondere Judicii, Prudentia, Chariiate, Sanctis Laboribus, et omni moda Vitae .sanclilate, Peritia quoque et Vi concionandi nulii secundus. Which may be rendered into English in the following manner. In this grave are deposited the remains of that trul}- reverend man, Mr. James FiTcn. He was born at Buking, in the connly of Essex, in England, the 21lh of December, in liie year of our Lonrj IG22. Who, after he had been most cxcelleniiy taught the learned languages, came into New England, at the age of sixteen ; and then spent seven years under the instruction of those very famous men, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone. Afterwanls, he discharged tlie pastoral oilice, I'ourtccn years at Say- brook. Thence he removed, witli the major part of his church, to Norwich; where he spent the other years of his liie in the work of the gospel. In his old age, indeed, he was obliged to cease from his public labors, by rea.son of bodily indisposition ; and at length retired to his children at Lebanon ; where, after spending neaily half a year, Jie slept in Jesus, in the year 1702, on the iBtli day of November, in the SOih year of liis age. He was a man, as to the smartness of his genius, the soliililv of his judgment, his charity, holy labors, and every kind of jnuity ol life, and also as lo hi- sl<ill and energy of preaching, inferior tu none. Tomb of the Trumbull famihj, Lebanon. It is believed that no cemetery in this country contains the ashes of moi'e Revolutionary worthies tlian the above. The reinains of two governors, one commissary general, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, are deposited within its walls. The following inscrip- tions are on the pedestal standing on the tomb. Sacred to the memory of Jonathan Trumbull, Esq. who unaided by birth or power- ful connexions, but blessed with a noble and virtuous mind, armed lo the highest sta- tion in government. His pairioiism and firmness during 50 years employment in L E D y A R D . 023 public life, and particularly in the very imoprtant part he acted in the American Rev- olution, as Governor of Connecticut; the faithful page of History will recoid. Full of years and honors, rich in benevolence, and hrni in the luith and hopes of Christianity, he died August 9th, 1785, iEiatis 75. Sacred to the memory of Madam Faith Trumbull, the amiable lady of Gov. Trum- bull, born at Duxbury, Mass. A. D. 1718. Happy and beloved in her connubial stale, she lived a virtuous, charitable, and Christian lile at Lebanon, in Connecticut; and died lamented Liy numeious friends, A. D. 17siO, aged G'2 years. Sacred to the memory of Joseph Trumbull, eldest son of Governor Trumbull, and first Commissary Geiil. of the United States of America. A service to whose jierpet- iial cares and fatigues he fell a sacrifice, A. D. 177H, All. 42. Full soon iiidecd may his person, his virtues, and even his extensive Benevolence be forgotten by his friends and fellow men. But blessed be God! lor the Hope that in his presence lie shall be remembered forever. To the memory of Jonathan Trumbull, Esq. late Governor o1 the State of Connec- ticut. He was born March QOlh, ITIO, and died Aug. 7ili, lb09, aged til) years. His remains were deposited with those of his Father. This in.scriptioii i.s on a mai'ble nionument, standing in front of llie tomb. The remains of the Hoiio. William Williams are deposited in this Tomb: b(jrn April 8th, 1731: died the 2(1 of Aug. iHii, in the Hist year of his age, a man eminent lor his virtues ami Piety, — for more tlian 50 years he was constantly employed in Public Life, and served in many ol' the most important offices in the gift ol liis fellow citizens. During the whole period of the Revolutionary war, he was a linn, steady, and ardent liicnd of his countiy, and in the darkest times risked his lile and wealth in her ilefense. In 177(j and 1777, he was a member of the American Congress, and as such signed the Declaration of Iniiepenileiice. His public ami private' virtues, his piety and benevolence, will long eiideai his memory to his surviving liiends, — above all, he was a sincere Chiisiian, and in his lust momcijts placed his hojic with humble confidence in hi^ Redeemer. He had the inexpressible saiislactiun to look Lack- ujiuii a long, honoiable, and well spent lile. nea.ler, as thou iias.spv.l, drop a tear to the memory of the once eminent Academic Instructor yiUhaa Tisilalc, a lover of Science. He mai kcd the road to useful knou ledge. A friend to his country, he inspired the llamc of Palri(<lism. A lover of lib.ityand Religion, he tnuLdii others lo love Liberty and aspire to a happy immorialii}'. f laving tievotcil his whole lile fr*iin the KSih year of his ag<', lo llie duties of hisjuoli'ssmn, u hicli he lollowed with lll.^tillgulshed Usefulness lo Society, he died Jan'y 5th, 17^7, in the 5tJih year of Ins age. LEDYARD. IjEdyard, formerly North Groton, the north part of Groton, was in- corporated as a town in 1836. .It is about six miles square, bomided N. by Preston, e. by North Stonington and Stonington, s. by Groton, and w. by Thames river, separating it from JMontville. The central part of the town is 7^ miles from New London, and 7i from Norwich. It is estimated that the population is about 2,000. The inhabitants are principally farmers. The principal village in the town, is at Gale's ferry, which may consist of about thirty dwelling houses, and is about 7 miles from New London. Aremnant of the Pequot tribe, consisting of about twenty persons, still remain in the northeast section of the town. This town derived its name from Col. Lcdyard,and his relative, John Ledyard, the celebrated traveler, who was a native of Groton, which at 326 L E D Y A R r> . that time included this town witliin its limits. The following account of his life is from Allen's American Biographical Dictionary. " John Ledijard, a distinguished traveler, was a native of Groton in Connecticut. His father died while he was yet a child, and he was left under the care of a relative in Hartford. Here he enjoyed the ad- vantages of a grammar school. After the death of his patron, when he was eighteen years of age, he was left to follow his own inclinations. With a view to the study of divinity he now passed a short lime in Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he had an opportunity of learning the manners of the Indians, as there was a number of Indian pupils in the seminary. His acquaintance with the savage character gained in this place, was of no little advantage to him in the future pe- riods of his life. His poverty obliging him to withdraw fiom the Col- lege before he had completed his education, and not having a shilling in his pocket to defray the expense of a journey to Hartford, he built him a canoe, fifty feet in length, and three in breadth, and being gen- erously supplied with some dried venison for his sea stores, he em- barked upon the Connecticut, and going down that river, which is in many places rapid, and with which he was totally unacquainted, he ar- rived safely at Hartford, at the distance of one hundred and forty miles.