Connecticut Historical Collections

It is said to be contrary to the tenets of the Rogerenes to employ physicians, or to use medicines in case of sickness. The following method of preserving a clear conscience in this respect, is related upon good authority. " A number of these people were afllicted with a cer- tain cutaneous disorder, and their principles forbidding liiem the use of medicines, they were at a loss what to do. After deliberating tipon the subject, they came to the conclusion tliat this disorder, (or wliatevcr else it might be called,) could not come under the head of bodily in- firmity. It was determined that the Itch might be considered as a noxious animal, which they might imioeently destroy. They accort^ ingly made use of the usual remedies foutid eflicacious for this disoider." A considerable number of the descendants of the Rogerenes still reside in Groton, New London and its vicinity. ]\Iany years since, a person by the narne of Watrous, one of this sect, wrote and published a book, called " The Battle Axx.'^ Such was the nature of tliis publi- cation, that he could find no printer who was willing to i)rint it. De- termined however that his book should be published, Watrous procured a printing press and types, and printed the work himself. This book is said to be a curiosity, from the nature of the work, and from the typographical execution. So little faith have this people in other de- nominations of Christians around them, that quite recently they would not suiTer any of their people to assist, as carpenters, or otherwise, in the construction of a new church, lately erected in New London. Jedcdiah Tluntinf(ton, a general in the army of the Revolution, al- though a native of Norwich, was long a resident of Now London. He N K W LONDON. 281 died in 1818, in his 76tl) year, having survived every general of]lcer of the Revolution, except Gen. Stark, the hero of Beunini^ton. He was educated at Harvard University, where lie was gradiiaied"in 1763. He settled in liis native town as a merciiant, but at tlie commencement of the Revohition he entered the American army as colonel of a regiment. His inteihgencc, bravery and fjdehty as an officer, secured lo liim the respect and gratitude of his country, and the attachment and lasting confidence of Washington. He continued in the service through the war, and attained to the rank of a general officer. In 1788, he was appointed treasurer of Connecticut, and was a member of the convention of the state which ratified the federal constitution. On the organization of the general government, he was appointed by Washington" collector of the port of New London, the duties of which office he discharged to the entire satisfaction of the public and the government, during a period embracing four successive administrations. General Huntington be- came a professor of religion when yomig, and was distinguished for the excellence of his private character. He was one of the first members of the American Board of Connnissioners for Foreign Missions, and held the office till his death. Judge BralnanVs Monument. The Hon. Jeremiah G. lirainard, a judge of the superior court, was a resident of this town. He was born at East Haddam, educated at Yale College, and connncnced the practice of law in i\ew London in early life. He was esteemed an able and faithful lawyer, a worthy man, and good judge. He died at New Loudon, January 14th, 1830, in the 70th year of his age. His son, John G. C. IJrainord, was dis- tinguished for his poetic genius. He was educated for the bar, but not finding the success he wislicd, he went to Haitford in 1622, and took the editorial charge of the Connecticut Mirror; he was tiius occupied until about a year before his death, when marked by evident symptoms as a victim to the consumption, he returned to the paternal roof, where, sensible of his approaching dissolution, he embraced the Christian hope, and died September 26th, 1828, aged 32 years. The above is a representation ol' the monument of Judge Bralnard and his son John G. C. Brainaid. Judge Brainard's monument is con- 36 282 NEW 1. O N I) O N . structed of granite, and is perhaps one of the best models for a monu- ment that could be devised, combining- sirnplieity with durability. It is situated in the new burying ground, wliicli is on elevated ground, de- scending towards the city, the central part of which is but a few rods distant. It commands a fine view of tlie harbor and the surrounding scenery. Biihop Stdbiiri/'b Monnuitnt. The following is the inscription on IJishop Seabury's monument. Hi'ie lyeih llie boily of Samltj, Si.u!liiy, D. D. Bi.>liop of ConiiuLlicut aiul Rhode Island, who depuried Iroin iliis ir:ui-ii(Jiy scene, Filjriiaiy -Jaili, Anno Domini iV.)6, in the (J8lh year of his agi', antl ihe I'Jih o( his Epi>copal consecration. InjjL'ni'oiiN withoui piule, I'-anicd u iihoiit poflanuy, good wiilioiit severity, he was duly qualified to di>charge ihe ituiiesof liie Chii>iian and the Bishop. In the pulpit he enforced Religion ; in his conducl he exeinjililied it. The poor he as>isic(l with his charily; the ignorant he blessed with his instruction. The triend of men, heever designed their good; the enemy of vice, he ever opposed it. Cluistian! dost thou as- pire to happiness 1 Seabury has shown the way that leads to it. The ancient bitrying ground in New London is situated in the north part of the city, a short distance from the river, on elevated ground, immediately back of the hotises. The first meeting house and court house erected in New London were near this spot. Among the inscrip- tions on the ancient monutnenls is the following. rd l.o^ di i Alav 17, IG(3-2. yElatis .sva- 51. " Aa epitaph on Captaine R .... uniGUT KTAiiHK or OVR cniVAi.r.itii-: lyes hkre To THE STATE A COVNSILLOVn EVI.L IJEAIiE And to ye trvth a friend ot" sweete conte.nt To Harteoud to\v.ne a silver ornament Who can deny to poore he was ueleiee And in comhosing pauoxyies he was ciieiee To marciiantes as a patterns he micuit stand anvenrring dancers new uy sea am) land." This inscription is on a slab of red sandstone upwards of five feet long and three wide, probably obtained near INIiddletown and transported here by water ; it is now broken in two and nearly imbedded in the earth, in the northern part of the burying ground, near the tomb of the ♦ In Dr. Trumbull's History of Connecticut, Vol. i. the name of Richard Lord ap- pears as one ol the body corp(irale, to whom king Charles granted the charter of Con- necticut. The charter was given April liO, lG{J-2, about a month pievious to the death of Capt. Lord. "At a general court in Hartlurd, Maich llth, lb58, a troop of thirty horsemen was established in Connecticut, ami Richard Lord was appointed captain. This was the first in the colony." \ „ NEW LONDON. 283 Winthrops. The letterint; on this stone has suffered so much from the hand of time, tljat it is wiih difficulty that some parts of it can now be deciphered. Mf^Pll^B- South view of the JItmysttad House, New London. This house is 48 feet in front by iiO, It is one of the three ancient houses which slil! remain. It was built and first occupied by Sir Rob- ert Hempstead, and being entailed property has ever remained in pos- session of his descendants : it is now in possession of Mr. Joshua Hemp- stead, the seventh genei'ation from Sir Ivobert. This house was for- merly fortified for defense against the Indians. It is about forty rods west of the present court house. The first vessel that sailed for the West Indies fiom New London, sailed from the cove within twenty rods of this house. The first settlement of the town appears to have been oemmenced on what was called Cape Ann street. 'I'be last house built by tlie first settlers stood on this street; it was taken down about twudve years since : it was about half a mile west of the present court house. The first meeting house in New London was erected very near the present alms house. Gov. Wiuthrop's residence was at the head of the cove, at the north end of the city. The first printing press in Connecticut was established in New Lon- don, forty Cwo years before printing was executed in any other place in the colony. The first printer was Thomas Short, who came to New London about the year 1709. He printed the Say brook I^latform (which is said to be the first book printed in Connecticut) in 1710, and soon after died. In 1713, there was no printer in the colony; and a great proportion of the laws were' only in manuscript. The Assembly determined on revising and printing the laws, and desired the governor and council to procure a piinter to settle in the colony. The council ob- tained Mr. Timothy Green, a descendant of Mr. Sairiuel Green of Cam- bridge in Massachusetts, the first printer in North America. The Assem- bly, for his encuuragemerit, agreed that he should be printer to the gov- ernorand company, and lliat he should have fifty pounds, the salary of 284 N K AV I, I) N n O N . the deputy governor, annually, lie was obliged to print tlie election sermon, tlie proclamations for fasis and thanksgivings, and the laws which were enacted at the seveial sessions of the assembly. In 1714, he came into Connecticut, and fixed his residence at New London. He and his descendants were printers to the state till after the Revolution- ary war. The second newspaper printed in Connecticut, the " New London Summary," was commenced at New London, on the 8th of August, 1758, by Timothy Gieen, and discontinued in consequence of the death of Mr. Green, in 1763. The "Summary" was succeeded Nov. 1st, 1763, by the " New London Gazette," (altered in 1773, to the " Con- necticut Gazette,") which is still continued, and is the oldest newspaper in the stale. The Gazette is printed and published at the present time by Col. Samuel Green, a descendant from the ancient printers of the colony. The following copy of a letter from the Hon. John Winthrnp, Esq. of New London, to the Rev. Dr. Mather of Boston, is taken fro]n the second \'olume of ^lassachusells Historical Collections. Xcir London, S,j'lr,ii/jcr lii, 1717.