Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

II. Thomas Boylston, only child of Henry, married and had a son Thomas. HI. Thomas Boylston, son of Thomas II, embarked for Amer- ica at London in 1635, on the ship "Defiance," and on his arrival settled at Watertown, Mass. IV. Dr. Thomas Boylston, son of Thomas HI, was a noted phyfeician in his day, and became one of the first settlers at Brookline, Mass., lo- cating there in 1665. Among his children were three sons: Dudley, Zabdiel, and Peter, whose daughter, Susanna, married John Adams, of Braintree, Mass., and became the mother of John Adams, President of the United States. Dr. Zabdiel Boylston took a notable part, about 1 72 I, in the introduction of inoculation as a pre- ventive of smallpox. V. Dudley Boylston re- sided in Brookline, Mass. He had five sons and five daughters, the names of the sons being: Joshua, Caleb, Richard, Dudley and Edward. VI. Edward Boylston served an apprentice- ship to the wheelwright's trade in his youth, and later went to sea. During the Revolutionary war he enlisted in the Continental army, and for some time was stationed at Newton, Mass., and Peekskill, N. Y. While on his way to visit his family at Elizabethtown, N. J., he was captured by the British, by whom he was most cruelly treated, and for a time he was incarcerated in the notorious Jersey prison ship. His name ap- pears with the rank of captain of Wheelwrights in the Continental forces on the pay rolls of Major Eayr's company. Colonel Flower's regi- ment (artillery), where credit is given for services from January I, 1777, to December i, 1779. [See Massachusetts State Records Vol. XX, pages I and 28.] His name also appears on the ac- count of Captain Howe's company, as captain of Wheelwrights Corps, at Springfield, pay being allowed for services from January i, 1780, to December 31, 1780. [See Massachusetts State Records Vol. XXI, part 4, page 69] In 1781 he married Lydia Worthington, and his death oc- curred in December, 18 14. He had four child- ren: Richard, Zabdiel (who died in 1810), Samuel, and Catherine. VIII. Samuel Boylston, our subject's grand- father, was born in March, 1789, and died in August, 1863. He was a resident of Springfield, Mass., and was connected with the United States Armory there. His wife, Clarissa Chapin, was born February 27, 1793, died June 19, 1872, and they had four sons and four daughters. IX. Richard H. Boylston, our subject's father, was born in Springfield, Mass., August 3, 1828, and for many years was engaged in the manufacture of baby carriages, having head- quarters at No. 102 William street. New York City, with factory at Green River, Vt. , and later at Rowayton, Conn. He married Miss Emeline Grant, of Windsor, Conn., and Charles W. Boylston was the only issue of this marriage. Rev. Charles W. Boylston was born Decem- ber 17, 1854, at Springfield, Mass., but his boy- hood was mainly spent in New York City, where he attended public and private schools for sev- eral years. His preparation for his collegiate course was completed at the school in Burling- ton, N. J., and he then entered Trinity College, at Hartford, Conn., where he was graduated in 1878. He had long cherished the intention of entering the ministry, and in 1881 he finished a course in Berkley Divinity School, at Middletown, Conn. , being ordained deacon in the same year. His ordination as priest followed, and his first charge was the parish of St. James, at Glaston- bury, Conn. In 18S3 he became rector of St. Andrew's Church, at Norwich, Conn., and on May I, 1885, he took charge of the parishes of Grace Church, Long Hill, and Trinity Church, Nichols, where his devoted labors have brought gratifying results. Among the qualities which have contributed to Mr. Boylston's success in his chosen calling is an unfailing courtesy, and he is i COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 63 deservedly popular in social life. In 1881 he united with the Masonic Fraternity at Glaston- bury, and at present he is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 3, Jerusalem Chapter, No. 13, and Jerusalem Council, No. 16, at Bridge- port, and Hamilton Commandery, No. 5, Knights Templar; in 1897 he was grand chaplain of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M., of Connecticut. While at Trinity College he became a charter member of Beta Beta Chapter of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity, in which he still retains membership. In 1881 Mr. Boyiston was married at Glaston- bury to Miss Eliza Bates Smith, a descendant of Thomas Wells, one of the early Colonial Gov- ernors of Connecticut, and two children have blessed this union: Clarence A. and Christine. On January 1, 1899, Mr. Boyiston removed to the town of Greenwich, Conn., and became the rector of St. Paul's Church, Riverside, in that town. JOHN WATSON BACON, president of the Savir^s Bank of Uanbury, Conn., has been so intimately identified with some of the most important movements for the development of this and other sections of the country, that the omission of his name and history from this work would leave a noticeable blank. His successful career emphasizes the fact, too often overlooked in these days, that wealth and position may be obtained by judicious efforts on lines which are helpful to the community at large, and strength- ens the hope that some day our great generals of finance and commerce may unite their forces to develop the resources of this land that there may be no man lacking profitable employment, and no helpless children suffering for the neces- sities of life. Mr. Bacon's kindly but dignified countenance furnishes a true index to his character, and be- neath his quiet and unassuming manner one in- stinctively feels the presence of a sympathetic nature. Yet one sees also the stamp of a firm will, ready to carry out inflexibly any plan or purpose once resolved upon, and realizes that kindness and consideration for others is not in- compatible with manly decision and force of char- acter? Mr. Bacon was born June 9, 1827, at Hart- ford, Conn. , a son of Leverett W. and Sarah ( Wat- sonj Bacon, and was educated in that city, gradu- ating from Trinity College in 1846. He received the first appointment in his class, and for one year had charge of an Academy at Essex, Conn. He then began the study of law under the direc- 'tion of Hon. Isaac Toucey, of Hartford, but in 1848 he adopted the profession of civil engineer- ing, his first work being the laying out and con- struction of the New York & New England rail- road from Hartford to Willimantic. This work included the building of the Union Depot and the bridge at Hartford, and the making of the heavy rock cut at Bolton Notch. On completing this enterprise he spent two years in the survey and construction of the Danbury & Norwalk railroad, and later he was recalled to Hartford to take a position as superintendent of the Hart- ford, Providence & Fishkill railroad between Providence and Waterbury, now the New Eng- land railroad. He remained five years, and then went to West Virginia to develop and operate some extensive coal mines and salt works at West Columbia, on the Ohio river. Two years later he returned to Connecticut, locating at Dan- bury, and in July, 1859, he was appointed su- perintendent and chief engineer of the Danbury & Norwalk railroad. This position beheld until January i, 1877, building the Kidgefield branch in 1869, and the Shepaug branch in 1872. In the fall of 1877 he was appointed by Gov. Hubbard on the board of railroad commissioners, arid served for ten years under the administra- tions of both political parties. In 1877 he was elected a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and for some years past he has been one of the commissioners appointed to make a topographical survey of this State, the results of their labors being now embodied in a large atlas, recently published. About thirty years ago Mr. Bacon became a director in the Savings Bank of Danbury, which was incorporated in 1849, ^I'lJ for some years past he has been its president. He is also a director of the Danbury National Bank, and president of the Danbury Mutual Fire Insurance Company. During his residence in Danbury he has given active support to all projects for pub- lic improvement, and in i860 he constructed the water works, of which he had charge for sixteen years. In i860 he also organized a joint-stock company known as the Danbury Public Hall Company, and purchased the old Congregational church, which stood on the site now occupied by the soldiers' monument. The building was re- fitted, and served as a public hall until the open- ing of the present Opera House in 1S73. In 1 87 I the Agricultural Society of the town seemed likely to die of inanition, and Mr. Bacon reor- ganized it, forming a stock company of which he was president for several years, and still is its treasurer. Under the new and energetic manage- ment the annual fairs have been very largely at- tended, and taken front rank among the fairs of 64 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. New England. Mr. Bacon is also the president of the Danbury Cemetery Association, one of the trustees of the Public Library, and in fact it would be difficult to mention any public enter- prise of importance in that locality in which he is not or has been more or less directly con- nected. Educational affairs formerly received his especial care, and for many years he was a a member of the board of education, He was also for about twenty years chairman of the so- ciety committee of the First Congregational Church. On December 20, 1852, Mr. Bacon married Miss Caroline E. Botsford, daughter of Dr. Rus- sell B. Botsford, who was for many years a lead- ing physician of Danbury. Her mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Whittlesey, was a daugh- ter of Matthew B. Whittlesey, a prominent law- yer of Danbury. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have three children: Sarah W. ; Eliza W., wife of Hon. G. M. Rundle, mayor of Danbury; and John R. , now a well-known physician of the same city.