Norwalk

his relaxation hours from the exactions of business life. During the earlier part of the present century, Mrs. Rogers was at times an invalid and resorted to Stafford Springs for treatment. Her husband here met a young citizen of Stafford, whose intelligence and high sense of honor so won Mr. Rogers' esteem as to cause him to propose to the same (Royal L. Gay) association in the management of the Shippan estate.1 Mr. Gay assented and was established upon the Point, a neighbor to Mr. Rogers. The character and business worth of their adopted resident told to such a degree upon the Stamford people that Mr. Gay was called to the highest civil offices which he filled for many years, and until the close of a stainless career, when he who had been universally lauded in life was as widely lament- ed in death. The two friends passed hence, Mr. Rogers on Nov. 30, 1825, and Mr. Gay June 21, 1857. Mr. Gay brought with him to Stamford his bride, whom he had that same year mar- ried in Tolland, Conn. The two had several children, one of whom, William, has proven a most enterprising and useful Stamford denizen. He married a daughter of Henry F. Waring and had only one son who died away from home at school, and one daughter who married Major William W., son of the late Capt. William Skiddy of Stamford. A daugh- ter of Maj. Wm. W. Skiddy married Willard 3dt, son of Dr. Willard 2tl- and Margaret (Ketchum)2 Parker of New York, and a grandson of the late Willard Parker, M. D., Sr., of New York, whose genius and generosity have largely contributed to make of old Norwalk's historic Haynes' Ridge a handsome park. 'Shippan is historic ground from the fact that the original Stamford proprietors selected it (as did the Norwalk settlers the territory now lying below the "Benedict's tide mill pond'!), for corn and other planting. Moses Rogers' purchase covered three hundred acres. Upon a portion of this site, his grandson, Col. Woolsey R. Hopkins, has erected an elegant home where himself and his accomplished lady dispense the Rogers hospitality of years agone. Col. Hopkins has taken a substantial interest in the Rogers' father's plot in the Norwalk cemetery and largely redeemed the ancient tombs. There are seve- ral Hopkins brothers and sisters. AVillard Parker 3d. is a son of Dr. Willard ^- and Margaret (Ketchum) Parker whose own and father's New Canaan lawns of living green at the southmost limits of Haynes Ridge are magic-like transforma- tions of "Mr. William I Iayr.es' " Michaelmas-daisy meadows. Mrs, Dr. Parker2d- is a daughter of the late Mor- ris Ketchum of " Hokanum,'' Westport. This des- ignation (see notes page 73,) a contraction of " llaw- kenhome" (call the men home) once applied to a territory extending as far south as the present West- port W illow Brook Cemetery, the old name of which sleeping place (singularly appropriate in view of its present use) was " llockanuui Hats." The mother of Mrs. Dr. Parker***- was the third wife of Morris Ketch- um and a daughter of the astute Judge Miller of New York. Mr. Ketehum's first two wives were sisters, the daughters of Silas Burr of "Burr Plain" on the ancient northwestern borders of Fairfield. He (see Ketchum lineage) appears to have been a lineal de- scendant, in the fifth generation, of Joseph lst and Mercy (Lindall) Ketchum of early Norwalk. Mercy, youngest daughter of Deacon Henry and Rosa- mond Lindall of New Haven, and a step daughter, after her mother's second marriage, of Nathaniel Richards of Norwalk, was baptized by the New Haven pioneer, Rev. John Davenport, Jan. 30, 1658, and not far from twenty-one years afterward (April 3, 1679) was married to Norwalk's first Joseph Ketchum. The two chose a coveted site for a home lot, and had a son born, who in due time became a father, and named his own son for the lad's Ketchum grandfather. This grandson of Joseph Ketchum married, in Greens Farms, March 8, 1749-50, Elizabeth, daughter of Gid- eon Ilurlbutt, and had born for him, April ir, 1765, Amos, who married in Dutchess County, first, Ara- bella, daughter of Jonathan Landon, and second, Elizabeth Hunter. Amos Ketchum lived in the old town of Waterford, above Troy, in New York. Here was born, in 1796, his son Morris, afterward proprie- tor of " Hokanum." 170 NORWALK. CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN OF NEHEMIAH AND ELIZABETH (FITCH) ROGERS. Fitch, oldest son of Nehemiah and Elizabeth Rogers, having reached majority, mar- ried Hannah, daughter of Isaac and Jemima (Holly) Bell of Stamford, and had : Fitch 2d-; married Mary, daughter of Rev. Daniel Smith of Stamford. Catharine; married Rev. Reuben Sherwood.1 Henry; died unmarried. Harriet; married John Winthrop. Charles; died unmarried. William ; died unmarried at sea. Emily Sophia; married Henry F. Rogers (son of Henry131) her cousin. There are grounds for believing that after the de- ceit st- of Joseph Ketchum 3°- his widow (Elizabeth Hurlbutt) may have married Capt. Phineas Chapman of her former home vicinity. It is certain that Mor- ris Ketchum claimed Chapman kinship and the sec- ond marriage theory will solve the problem. Mr. Kt'tchum, when a lad, visited Westport where he seems to have attended school. The bright Saratoga Count v boy soon after obtained a position in one of the metropolitan commercial houses, the heads of which had achieved enviable fame, and he, who in the dew of industrious youth made himself rurally use- ful, ripened anon into one of the business princes of the land. Norwalk,to the end of its history-chapter, wili probably furnish a no more remarkable finance- trio than that composed of her descended three pros- perous sons, Muses Rogers, Morris Ketchum and Le- grand Lqckwood. Two of Mr. Ketchum's sons, Charles J. and Landon, married sisters, Phrebe and Augusta, daughters of Francis Burritt. Mr. Bur- ritt's home at the father s "Rocky Neck" (Sauga- tuck), was a lovely spot. Mr. Burritt was an invalid for sMine time and his son Frank (now " Com- modwre'') was likely to be out in his boat or off with his gun, hut Mrs. Burritt's cordial pres- ence and the agreeable manner of her cousin, Mrs. Anna P. Ketchum, who was a visitor at the Burritts, added to the charming spontaniety of the daughters, Phoebe and Augusta, made this water side chatteau truly inviting. Katharine, oldest child of Munis Ketchum. mar- ried Israel Corse. Her brother, Grosvernor, died young. There was no iVsue by Mr. Ketchum's second marriage. The children by the last marriage were Franklin, Charles J., Landon, Edward, Morris, (died young at "Hokanum"), Miller and Margaret (Mrs Dr. Willard Parker**) ♦Benj. Adair, brought ,ip by the Ketchum.. wm a useful ami respected m-waitiug attache of the family. In due time he married - Modoc India,, from the south of Long Kland who rU» proved a domestic acquisition and wa„ an earnest chris- tian w,>man. These two were valuable acce,-ories to the After the improvements upon the lower Norwalk and Saugatuck highway the Ketchum carriage and the Burritt landau were seen along its picturesque route. Mr. Ketchum, (waited upon, often, by his faithful, gray haired and heart! ed colored service-man)* on his way to take an express train at South Norwalk and the Burritt's establishment with occupants on health and pleasure bent, arrested attention and com- manded admiration. A touching tribute to the excel- lence of Morris Ketchum and Francis Burritt was paid, a little before his decease, by the late Horace Staples of Westport. The venerable citizen, after a prolonged interview, was weary, but he desired to add his testimony to the worth of his departed friends, which he warmly did, relating, substantially, at the close the following incident : On the day that Francis Burritt's obsequies were attended Hiram Ketchum (brother of Morris) and himself met in the city. Either a little before or after the service the wires suddenly flashed to the city the intelligence of a Union and Confederate engagement. Falling into the embrace of Mr. Staples, Mr. Ketchum, with much feeling, burst forth " We are one." It would be amiss, if not unjust, to bring this Parker- Ketchum note to a period before referring to the great work accomplished in the ancient Norwalk parish of Canaan through the interest and influence of Dr. Willard Parker, Sr. None knew better than he the potentiality of elevation, and the distinguished physician had by masterly sagacity, enterprise and activity and by liberal decreeing and doing, proven a benefactor to that healthful and desirable and delight- ful summer haunt. It is far from rash to affirm tltt* his memory merits exalted praise. 'Reuben Sherwood, D.D., belonged to the old Sherwood family of Fairfield, and was a Yale man, class of 1813. He was ordained by Bishop Hobart of " Hokanum " establishment. Many summers and winters attes- ted to the liveried Benjamin's fidelity and he never grew to be- come au age-disenchanted Westport and Norwalk form. His wife survives him and dwells with a daughter, graduate of the New York Normal School. NOR WALK. 171 Moses, second son of Nehemiah and Elizabeth Rogers, married Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Esther (Isaacs) Woolsey of Long Island, and had : Sarah Elizabeth; married Hon. Samuel M. Hopkins.' Benjamin Woolsey; married Susan, daughter of William Bayard. Archibald; married Anna, daughter of Judge Nathaniel Pendleton. Julia Ann; married Francis Bayard Winthrop, Jr. Susannah, oldest daughter of Nehemiah and Elizabeth Rogers, and named for her iaiirel "dressed" the sanctuary, the rector found as he entered the octagonal pulpit to deliver his Christ- mas message that the young people's zeal had 10 such an extent bough-filled the same as that it was difficult for him therein to speak. At a glance, one of his members, a general favorite, comprehended the situ- ation and promptly mounted the pulpit stairs to re- move what, most likely, her own hands had there planted. This practical maiden, the mother after- ward, of several New York city and state daughters, presided beautifully, and until advanced life, at one of the admirable hearthstones of Troy, N. Y