Connecticut Historical Collections

A lovinj;; wife, and tender mother, Lett this base world to enjoy the other. Sacred to the memory of Com. Thtniins MaoJonoviih, of the U. S. Nav}'. He was born iu<he State of Delaware, Dec. 178:?, and died at sea, of pulmonary consumption, while on his return I'loin the command of the American squadron in the Medilerra- iieaii, on the 10th of Nov. 18i25. He was distinguished in the woild as the Hero of Lake (Miamplain; in the Church of Christ, as a failhl'ul, zealous and consilient Chris- tian characler; in the community in which he resided when absent iVoiii professional duty, an amiable, upright and valuable citizen. ^ Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Lucy Ann, wife of Com. Thomas l\raodonongh, and daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy Ann Shaler. The richest gills of Nature and Grace ■ adorned her mind and heart; and at her death, Genius, Friendship and Piely, mourn- ed their common loss. She preceded her husband to the realms of glory only a few short months, having departed this li.'e Aug. 'Jth 18-J5, M. .15. They were lovely and pleasant iu their lives, and in their deatli they were not divi- ded. To commemorate the piely and virtues of Mrs. Louisa, wife of Lieut Horace Saw- yer, U. S. Navy, daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy Ann Shaler, who departed this life on Monday, 15th Dec. 1828, aged 21. This stone is erected by her husband. Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee, Since God was thy refuge, thy ransom, thy guide ; He gave thee, he took thee, aiid he will restore thee. And Death has no sling since the Savior has died. 65 514 II A D n A M Here is interred the mortal remains of Doctor John Osborn. — Ask nothinj» further, traveler; nothing beitt- r can be saitl, nor nothing shorter. Ob. 31st May, 1753, ^E. '10. Life how short, Eternity how lonj^. The monutnent on which this is engraved had formerly a very pom- pous inscription, furnished by the executors. When his son, of the same nanio, came of age, he had tlie whole effaced, and inserted tlie above. It is to be regretted that tliis record is lost, as the father, Dr. Osborn, besides being a very distinguished physician, was one of the first scholars and poets of the day : the following AVhaling Song of his lias obtained some celebrity. When sprini; returns with wes Anil ye rule Ijreezes sweeii The rullllnii .sen^. we sihimJ our K.iils 'ri( [ilijiigh Ihu wat'ry deip. For lilllini; northern whiilos prcparcil, Our iiiinliji; bo;ils on boani, Willi cr.ill nml rum, (our chief rei;;ird,> Anil g I provisions slon-il. C'upi- foil, our UeiiresI, niitive l.intl, W.; lr,-,vi-Msli>ru, unci lose Its RiukiuK clllls :uul Icss.'iiing sunds, While Zipliyr yenlly blows. Bold, liiirdy men, with blooiuiuji age, Our sandy shores produci; ; With monstrous llsh tlicy il.ire engage, And dangerous tailings tlioosc. Now towanis the early dawning east We speed our course awiiy, With eager minds, and joyful lienrls, To meet the rising day. Then ns we turn our wondering eyes, We view cue constant show ; Above, arounil, the cireling skies, The rolling seas below. When eastward, clear of Newfoundland, Western the frozen jiole, We see the icy islands stand. The iionlii'rn billows roll. As to the north we maki> our nay, hurpn.-;ing scem-s we lind ; We lei.gilirii out lb.: i.di.^i.- d.u. And leave the night brhmd Now see the noBlhern regions, where Eternal winter reigns; One day and iiiglil tills up the yi'nr, And endless cold muiutaius. A WHALING PONG. gales. We view the monsters of the deep, (Vreat whales in numerous swarms; When in our station we are placed, And whales around us lilay, We launch our boats into the mam, And swiftly chase our prey. In haste we plv our nimble oars, For an a.ssaiilt drsign'd ; The sea bent-alh us foams and roars, And leaves a wake beliiiid. A mighty whale we rush upon, .\nd ill our irons throw; istrous body down A I the Uid w hen she rirn-s out again, Wc soon renevv the tight; I'lirust our sharp lances iu ania And all her rage e.\cilo. r.nra 'fh The lakes a mighty boiin the whitened sea ; And widi ning rollawuy. She thrashes with hiT tail around, And blows her ledd'niiig breath; ylie breaks the air, a ikaf'ning sound, While oci an groans beneath. Froi: minds, with i l.s till nd '^A -jp , .Old Mow s her latest blood, U loir iiuivrring life deejiys. i'ith joyful hearts we see lier die, .\iid oil the surface lay ; k'hile all with e;iger haste apply, i'o save our dealhful prey. H A I) D A M The lands in this town, with those in East Iladdam, were long de- nominated the lands at Thirty Mile Island, from the island in Connect- icut river, which was calculated to be thirty miles from its mouth. The Indian title to the lands was purchased in 1662, for thirty coats, which may have been worth one hundred dollars. The deed obtained from the Indians, comprehended all the lands from the Straits, si.x: miles east and west from the river, down to the lower side of Chester ]\Iea- dow ; excepting Thirty IMile Island, and 40 acres at raitaqnimk, (Ches- ter,) Twenty Mile Island, and on the adjacent shore eastward, running H A D n A M. 515 up lo Salmon River cove. The lands thus purchased were taken up by twenty eight young men, mostly from Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor, who in the summer of 16G2, or soon after, settled upon tliem. Their names were Ackley, Arnold, Bailey, Brainard, Brooks, Clarke, Cone, Gates, Shayler, two Spencers, two Smiths, Venires, Wells, Bates, Butler, Corhe, Dibble, Ganes, Hannison, Jones, Luxford, Pa- rents, Piper, Slannarcl, Webb, and Wiat. These proprietors settled at first within the limits of Iladdam society. They settled generally on the rising ground, back from the town meadow, beginning at the eastern point of Walkley hill, and so extending down to the grave yard, where some of their cellars are still visible. Bates, Dibble, Ganes, Hannison, Jones, Parents, and Ventres, settled on the plain below iMlll creek, and were called the Lower Plantation. The Indians remained on their res- ervations for many years. They had a place of resort, in a deep hollow on Haddam Neck, to the northeast, which is still known by the name of Indian hollow, as the brook running through it is liy the name of Jn- dian brook. They had no iiaiDC for the township of Iladdam at laige, but called the northern jjart of Iladdam society lIiggano7itpos, which the English have changed to Higganum, and now ajjply it to a stream of water, and to the neighborhood about its mouth. The western part' of this society they called Coclcaponsct, which the English have chan- ged to Punset. Haddam was incoi'poratcd as a town in 166S. At this time it be- longed to the county of Hartford, and so continued till the formation of Middlesex County, in 1785. On account of its central situation, it was constituted the semi-seat of justice for this county, and has so contin- ued ever since. The town lies on both sides of Connecticut river. Haddam society is on the west side of the river, and is by far the lar- gest division of the town : it is about 7 miles long, and from 4 to 6 broad; bounded n. by Middletown, w. by Durham, and s. by Killing- worth and Qhcster. The part of the town lying on the cast side of the river is called Haddam Neck, which is a jioint of land, 4 miles in length, 4 miles across on the north, and coming to a point at the mouth of Sal- mon river. This river bounds Haddam Neck on the east. This town- ship is the commencement of the granitic district, extending to the mouth of Connecticut river. It is considerably rough and broken, be- ing hilly and stony. There is but little alluvial soil upon Connecticut river, but the lands upon its borders are more smooth, and better adapted for cultivation. The prevailing soil is a gravelly loam, hard and dry. The forests are considerably extensive, and considerable quantities of wood are annu- ally sent to market. There are 4 houses of worship in the town, 1 Congregational, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist on the west side, and 1 JMeth- odist church on Haddam Neck. The following view was taken at a point on a hill upwards of half a mile northwest from the court house, a few rods east from the main road. Connecticut river is seen on the left ; also the mouth of Salmon river, and the southern extremity of Haddam Neck, on the east side of Connecticut river. East Haddam Landing is faintly seen in the dis- A6 II A n 1) A ^r i\(irt/itcii,[ view of llnihUi tance, near the iiu.utli of Salmon river, just lisin;,^ al.ove llic lower ex- iro.i.ity of ^ l„l| on the west side of the river. The court house ap- pears nearly in the eenier of the engravin^r. h is eonstrueted of -ran- iie, and was creeled in l8vJ9: it has a small spire attached to it," and iionts the south. 'Hie lurye building seen on the ri-ht is the Conrrre- gational church ; it is about half a n.iie, in a western direction, fronulie court house. On the lull which rises in the distance, between and be- yond the church and court house, is seen the situation of part of the granite quarries, about 100 rods from the river. In the limits of this town are several valuable granite .uiarries, on ■ both sides of the river. The first opening was made at Quarry hill on 1 addan, ^eck, about 170-2. Since that time several other open- ings have been made,,,, this hill. These are houi 50 to 70 rods from the nver. I h,s stone is usually a little below the surface, and is ex- Inbited in nearly jierpendicular strata; it is valuable for building pav- nig, i^c. On a hill below lladdam street, several quarries are imw im- proved, the first of which was opened about 1791: besides these, there are others ulnch are worked in the western part of the town This stone is sold from 10 to L>0 cents by the foot, and is carried as far south as Savannah and New Orleans. At this time about 150 men are em- ployed at the quarries in this town, and from 00 to 70,000 dollars worth ol stone are annually exported. Ship building is also carried on to some extent in this town. A sloop was launched at ITlgL-anum Landin- in 1 <54; and for most of the time since, ship building has been a re-ndar business at this place. °