Litchfield County CT Archives History - Books .....Bridgewater, Continued 1882 *********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm *********************************************** ************************************************************************ The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification. ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 29, 2005, 5:18 pm Book Title: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882 CHAPTER XXIV. BRIDGEWATER.—(CONTINUED.) VALUABLE as are cranberries, but few places where they grow ever became noted in name through as many deeds as the one in Bridgewater. Cranberry Pond was a place to which frequent reference was made in surveying land in the northern part of Bridgewater. It is a meadow now about half a mile north of the Congregational meeting-house, the pond having entirely disappeared. Cranberries were found growing here, when the settlers first came, and hence the name. The village, called Bridgewater Centre, consists of about thirty-five dwelling houses, two church edifices, two stores, one tailor's shop, and the several buildings occupied, until a few years since, as the Sanford Hat Manufactory. The location is pleasant, but had it been established where the first Episcopal Church edifice stands it would have been very beautiful. About the year 1806, when the Baptist meeting-house was standing on the road a quarter of a mile south of Mr. Egbert B. Canfield's residence, the locality about that, meeting-house was called the "City." "Hut Hill" was so named because a man by the name of Judson built a log hut on it and resided in it some years. On the road towards Brookfield, about a mile .and a half from the Centre stood a carding machine, about forty years ago, or a little more. The Deer Park, owned by Gideon Treat, was located just east of the Daniel Minor place, about three miles south of the Centre, and -was continued some years. It contained 100 acres of land; was fenced with a rail fence, the rails being of unusual length, some of which are said to be still in existence. The park was built probably not far from the year 1780; and on one side there was a high rock, and on the edge of it no fence was -built, so as to allow the wild deer in the woods to jump into the park, but it was so high that they could not jump out. In this way Mr. Treat added to the number of his deer secured in the park. In the Indian History published in connection with this book, reference is made to the tradition that the Indians stole a boy, and buried him all but his head, intending to hold a powwow and burn him as a sacrifice; the boy's name was ______ Sturdevant, a brother of the first John Sturdevant who settled in Bridgewater about 1767. Rocky Mountain was not mentioned as one of the hills of Bridgewater; it is the rocky eminence lying west of the old burying-place on the south side of Clapboard Oak Brook, covered with woods. Andrew Minor and Peter Minor of Woodbury, bought of Gideon Treat, in August 1779, for £875, a certain piece of land a little northward of Samuel Summers' dwelling-house, bounded north by John Wilkinson's land, and in 1785 and 1789, Andrew Minor, still in Woodbury, purchased other pieces of land adjoining the above mentioned land, and soon after settled on it, it being in the northeasterly part of Bridgewater. Andrew became and continued some years a leading man in the town. Daniel Minor of Woodbury, bought of John Treat in March 1787, for £216, two pieces of land with a dwelling-house, the first piece "beginning at a heap of stones by the highway that leads from my dwelling-house to where Jesse Smith lately lived, near the south end of the Park, thence northerly by said Highway . . . . and one piece north of the above, containing ninety-three acres . . . "bounded east on Gideon Treat's land called the Deer Park . . . . north on James Jessup's land, and westward on John Clark's land." Truman Minor, son of Daniel, settled on this land about 1790, and the farm is still owned by his son Daniel, who is now in his 87th year. James Jessup, was residing on his farm spoken of in Minor's deed in 1786, but when, or how he first obtained land here is not revealed by deed. Abijah Treat, son of John, was born in 1761, and became an influential and prominent citizen. He was appointed justice of the peace before the year 1800, and was known for more than thirty years thereafter as Squire Treat; the old homestead being still known as the Abijah Treat place. He resided on his father's homestead, and died in 1837. Nathan Collins, received from his father, Daniel Collins of Milford, one half of a right of land in New Milford in February 1730, and Nathan was living in Shepaug Neck in 1735, apparently in the neighborhood, south of the John Treat place, probably further south, but of this ,we are not certain. His father bought of Joseph Tibbals of Milford a right in 1716, and 100 acres was surveyed to him in Shepaug Neck as early as 1722. Daniel Collins, son of Nathan, married Hannah Hotchkiss of New Milford and resided, probably on his father's homestead. He had a family of five children recorded in the town. Japheth Collins, son of Daniel, married Abigail Bostwick in 1734, and resided in the Neck. His son Edward sold to David Beach his homestead across the road from Zerubbabel Canfield's house—now Mr. Egbert B. Canfield's. After this sale we find nothing more of this family in the town. Amos Collins, son of Daniel, also settled in New Milford, probably in the Neck, and had five children, one of whom was Amos, who rang the bell in the Congregational meeting-house in New Milford village, and fell in the steeple and was killed. Joseph Benedict, bought a whole right of land in New Milford of Joseph Ruggles, in 1733, and his dwelling-house was standing "in Shepaug Neck by the east branch of Wawecoes Brook in 1735." He gave to his son, Jonathan Benedict, land near Cranberry swamp in 1751. He gave to his son Pitman Benedict, 16 acres of land eastward from Cranberry swamp. Ephraim Hawley was living in the Neck, southern part, in 1734, when he gave to his son Nathan land in the Neck. The last birth recorded on the town records of any of these Hawley families in this part of the town was in 1762. John Sturdevant of Danbury bought of Nathan Botsford for £55, 37 acres of land in Shepaug Neck, "at the head of Weewaukees Brook," May 20, 1767, and settled in the town soon after. He gave to his son John Sturdevant, a piece of land and one half of his shop, which land is said to have been near the "southeast corner of his milk-room." The shop was that of a wheelwright, the maker and repairer of wheels and wheel-carriages. Descendants of this family still reside in the town. Mercantile Enterprises in Bridgewater. Benjamin Mead came from Old Greenwich about the year 1800, and settled first on the farm by the river now owned by Mr. Henry Smith, where he kept a store some years, then he removed to the farm and home occupied until recently by his son, Peter Mead. Hicks and Tyler, from New York State, kept a store, at which Bridgewater people traded, on Tyler Hill, not far from the New Milford Town Farm. At this store a man of Bridgewater purchased a calico dress, for which he gave 40 acres of land lying on Rocky Mountain in Bridgewater. Mr. Egbert B. Canfield now owns a part of that 40 acres. Elijah Peck established a store on the old Jeremiah Platt place at the four corners south 9f the Old Burying-place, where Mr. William Platt now lives, and continued the store a year or two, then sold it to Platt Chamberlin who continued it two or three years. David Burr and Grandison R. Warner commenced a store soon after Elijah Peck, at the same corners, and traded a number of years, then sold the same to the firm of Beers and Sherman, who continued it a number of years. The spirit of rivalry between this Four Corners and the Centre was very strong for some years. Jeremiah Platt kept a tavern here about the year 1820, or a little later, and the spring trainings were held here, and the fall trainings at the Centre. It was also the place of residence of Doct. Reuben Warner. When Elijah Peck sold his store at the four corners, he removed to the Centre where the village now is, and built a dwelling-house and kept a store in it, where Mr. Horace Gillett now resides. Afterwards John Sanford and Lyman Smith kept the same store many years. Lyman, Smith, son of Eli Smith of Bridgewater, was born October 14, 1795, and died Feb. 8, 1873, aged 78 years. His father died when he was fourteen years of age. He received his education at the common schools and the academy at Cheshire, Conn.; after which he went to New Haven, and entered the wholesale grocery store of Elias Hotchkiss, where he remained four years. Returning to his native town, he married Susan, daughter of Peter Wooster, and purchased the house built by the Rev. Reuben Taylor, and entered into the business of farming. In 1825, he went into the mercantile business with John Sanford, where he continued some time, when he closed his interest in the above store and built a store building near his house, where it still stands, and traded in it many years. He was a director of the First National Bank of New Milford for many years, continuing thus until his decease. He represented the town of New Milford in the State Legislature. He was an active member of the Congregational Church and society, having donated to the same a fine organ and in his will bequeathed to the society a liberal sum. He had two daughters; Betsey Ann Smith who married Smith R. Weeks; and Susan Adeline Smith, who married Charles H. Sanford. Charles G. Sanford had a store building erected by his father Joel Sanford, and commenced a store, a little way south of the Elijah Peck house, where he continued to trade some years, and then sold the same to Glover Sanford, in 1845, who continued it until he removed his hat manufactory to Bridgeport. After this Mr. Minor kept this store a short time, then Henry Beardsley, who sold it to Edgar Peck and Austin Gillett. It is now owned by Austin Gillett, and Horace Gillett. Addison Stone conducted a tannery and a shoe shop some years, north of the Congregational Meeting-house, where he did quite a large business. This was about 60 years ago. He sold it to David Jaques who continued it some years later. Samuel Lockwood came from Greenwich about 1790, and commenced a store, on the road northwest of the Centre, where he continued to trade until a few years after 1800, when he removed to New Milford village and continued as a merchant. Joel Sanford bought and continued the store of Samuel Lockwood in Bridgewater, from about 1808, for many years, and was well known, highly esteemed, and a great favorite of the young men and boys. He was a great mathematician; constructed an astronomical apparatus to illustrate that science, and with it entertained the young people. He made it a custom to entertain the boys of whom he was very fond, with mathematical problems and principles, and surprising calculations, which made his store a school of learning for many years. He was a surveyor of lands and became familiar with the boundaries of nearly every farm in Bridgewater. A further account of him may be seen in the biographical sketch of his son, Judge D. C. Sanford. Hat Manufactures. Glover Stanford commenced making hats in Bridgewater, in 1823, by making a few hats a week for retail in the community, many of them being made to order of heavy wool, and some napped hats, afterwards he made wool hats exclusively. He continued the hat business, changing from one building to another, and after a time being established in the locality where the buildings now are, and then continued to enlarge the buildings—especially after his sons were engaged with him, until the buildings as they now appear were established. In 1870, the firm removed their business to Bridgeport, in order to secure larger and more advantageous facilities. At the time they began to arrange to remove they were employing about 125 hands in their shops, and were producing about $300,000 worth of goods a year. Glover Sanford died May 30, 1878, at the age of eighty-one years. Charles H. Sanford, one of the old firm, who still continues the hat business in Bridgeport, resides in Bridgewater Centre, giving his personal attention to the business at the manufactory several days of the week, but having a part of his time for comfort at home. Homer S. Stanford, one of the old firm, resides in Bridgeport, and continues actively engaged in the business. Frederick S. Sanford was with the firm when they removed to Bridgeport, but has since died. Edwin G. Sanford resides in Bridgeport and remains an active partner with his brothers in the hat business; which business is now exclusively the manufacturing of wool hats. Smith and Erwin carried on hat making in Bridgewater some years, commencing about 1834, and removed to New Milford village about 1855, and there continued the business where the Noble Brothers are engaged in the button business on Railroad street Isaac Reynolds started a hat factory in Bridgewater about 1847, and afterward removed to Lanesville, in New Milford, where he continued the same business some years. Joseph Sanford made hats a few years, beginning about 1830, but soon sold his interest in the business to Glover Sanford. Lyman B. Stone carried on the hat business in Bridgewater some few years, beginning about 1840. Francis Callahan followed Lyman B. Stone in the same business, beginning about 1850. The Union Manufacturing Company organized in 1853, for the purpose of making hats. They had a capital stock of $5,500, and the stockholders were: Peter Wooster, Henry B. Young, Robert J. Livingston, Arza C. Morris, Jerome S. Castle, Lorenzo Sanford, Cornelius W. Peck, Martin Mallory, Sherman Peck, Elijah S. Dunning, John Minor. President, R. J. Livingston; Directors, R. J. Livingston, Peter Wooster, and Henry B. Young. Mr. Smith R. Weeks has a tailor shop at Bridgewater Centre where he has been located about 38 years in the same business, only that at present he does a little work as occasion may require, for the accommodation of the community. For a time he kept ready-made clothing, but has discontinued that part of his trade. Physicians in Bridgewater. Doct. Benjamin Warner resided northeast of the Gideon Treat farm, on the line between Bridgewater and Roxbury. He was an "Indian Doctor," so called, and traveled a considerable in his practice. He is said to have been a brother to Col. Seth Warner of Revolutionary fame. Doct. Reuben Warner, son of Doct. Benjamin Warner, lived a time on a part of the old homestead of his father, and built the house where the late Charles Erwin resided. He practiced as an Indian Doctor, and had a practice extending as far as Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and was regarded as a man of ability and success. Doct. Reuben Warner, Jr., son of the above, was a regularly educated physician, and settled where Mr. Marcus Mallett now resides, at the four corners, south of the old burying-place. He had a large practice, his methods in, or use of medicine being modified very much by his father's practice as an Indian Doctor. Doct. Horace Judson married a daughter of Doct. Reuben Warner, and established himself as a physician at Bridgewater Centre, where he lived and practiced until his decease. Henry H. Dubois, M.D., was a physician in Bridgewater a number of years. Frederick E. King, M.D., practised medicine in Bridgewater from 1876 to 1881, when he removed to New Milford. Further records of the families of Bridgewater may be seen in the genealogy of families in this book. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882, BY SAMUEL ORCUTT AUTHOR OF THE HISTORIES OF TORRINGTON, WOLCOTT, AND DERBY, AND THE INDIANS OF THE HOUSATONIC AND NAUGATUCK VALLEYS, CONNECTICUT. HARTFORD, CONN.: PRESS OF THE CASE, LOCKWOOD AND BRAINARD COMPANY. File at -- http://files.usgwarchives.net/ct/litchfield/history/1882/historyo/bridgewa56gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ctfiles/ File size: 16.3 Kb