HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY D. Hamilton Hurd J. W. Lewis & Co., Philadelphia 1882 *********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm *********************************************** CHAPTER XC VOLUNTOWN Geographical - Topographical - The Volunteers' Grant - Original Bounds - Claimed by the Mohegans - Massushowitt's Claim - First Meeting of Proprietors - Survey of the Town - The Pioneers - Ecclesiastical - Congregational Church - The Separate Church - The Schools - Rockville - Manufacturing - Civil and Military - Organization of Town - First Town Meeting - Officers Elected - Organization of Probate Court - First Officers - Military Record - List of Representatives from 1740 to 1882. VOLUNTOWN lies in the extreme northeastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Windham County, on the east by the State of Rhode Island, on the south by North Stonington, and in the west by Griswold. The surface of the town is uneven, but the soil is generally fertile. The Volunteers' Grant. - The greater part of the tract embraced within the bounds of the present town of Voluntown was granted in 1700 to the volunteers in the Narragansett war, from which circumstances the town derived its name. From the organization of the colony it had been customary to make grants to officers and soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the service of their country. Capt. Mason and others engaged in the Pequot war were granted lands which simulated those who had performed such significant feats in the Narragansett war to ask for a grant of a town in acknowledgement of their services. The petition to the General Court for the grant was presented in 1696 by Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, of Norwich, and Sergt. John Frink, of Stonington, "that they with the rest of the English volunteers in former wars might have a plantation granted to them." The petition was formally received, and a tract six miles square was granted, "to be taken up out of some of the conquered land." A committee "of discovery" was at once sent out in search of suitable land for a plantation, but found their choice was limited, as most of the conquered land had already been appropriated by Major Fitch, the Winthrops, and others. The committee reported that the only available land remaining within the Connecticut limits was lying a short distance east of Norwich, bordering on Rhode Island. A committee consisting of Capt. Samuel Mason, Mr. John Gallup, and Lieut. James Avery was appointed to view the said tract and report whether it "would accommadate a body of people for comfortable subsistence in a plantation way." After a deliberation of three years the committee reported favorably, and in October, 1700, Lieut. Leffingwell, Richard Bushnell, Isaac Wheeler, Caleb Fobes, Samuel Bliss, Joseph Morgan, and Manasseh Minor moved that the grant be confirmed. The original bounds of the grant were nearly identical with those of the presnet township, wxcept it extended on the east to Pawcatuck River. Voluntown was a barren tract of but little value, and after the Narrangansett was was claimed by the Mohegans. The Quinnebaug sachem Massashowitt also laid claim to it. The first meeting of the proprietors or grantees was held at Stonington, July 1, 1701, to make arrangements for survey and appropriation. Richard Bushnell was chosen clerk of the company, and S. Leffingwell, James Avery, John Frink, and Richard Smith were appointed a committee "to pass all those that offer themselves as volunteers." A number of years, however, passes before the division was completed, as the teretory was still in dispute, and it was not until 1705 that the Mohegnas' claim was adjusted. In that year, the town was formally surveyed and the bounds established. But a narrow strip of land was accorded to the Mohegans under this survey, but during the same summer a considerable portion of the town was taken by Rhode Island. So greatly did it damage the grant "that they feared their intended purpose of settling a plantation so accommodable for a Christian society as the desired was frustrated." At a meeting of the volunteers, held Nov. 14, 1705, it was deceided to have the town resurveyed, computed, and laid out in as many lots as there was volunteers, and to number them, etc. April 17, 1706, a meeting was held, when it was voted "to go on and draw lots upon that part of the land laid out," and the grant was made to one hundred and sixty persons who had enrolled their names as desiring to share the benefit of the grant. These were residents of New London, Norwich, Stonington, Windham, Plainfield, and other neighboring towns. The list embraced officers, soldiers, ministers, chaplains, and others who had served the colony in a civil capacity during the war. Notwithstanding the survey of the town had been made and the various lots designated, very little progress was made for several years in its settlement. Its soil was poor and its location remote and inconvenient. "A pair of come four year old steers" was once given in exchange for eighty-six acres. The first settler in what is now Voluntown was doubtless Mr. Samuel Fish. Other pioners were John Gallup, John and Francis Smith, Robert Parke, Thomas Reynolds, Thomas Coles, John Campbell, John Safford, Obadiah Rhodes, and Samuel Whaley. The loss of so important a portion of the town as that taken by Rhode Island caused the volunteers at once to appeal to the General Assembly for an equivalent, and they petitioned that body that the vacant colony land lying on the north might be annexed. After various earnest petitions, four years later, 1719, the prayer of the petitioners was granted, and what is now the present town of Sterling, except a small strip on the north border, was annexed to Voluntown. The annexed territory was surveyed as rapidly as possible by John Plumb, surveyor for New London County. Thirty lots were laid out and assigned to nineteen persons. Congregational Church. - Voluntown, like other towns in the colony, gave its first attention to the business of securing a minister for the plantation, and in the autumn of 1720 a Rev. Mr. Wilson was employed, and the first recorded public act of the inhabitants, March 14, 1721, was the choice of Robert Park and Jacob "to go to treat with ye Reverand Mr. Wilson of ye reason of his inclining to depart from us and whether we can possibly keep him." The Rev. Mr. Billings preached to the little settlement a short time, but declined a call. Rev. Samuel Dorrance, a Scotch Presbyterian, lately arrived fromIreland, and a graduate of Glasgow University, was called in 1723, and on the 15th of October of that year Mr. Dorrance was ordained and the church organized with the following members: Samuel Dorrance, Robert Gordan, Charles Cole, John Kasson, John, Robert, and Samuel Campbell, John and Alexander Gordon, Ebenezer Dow, John Keigwin, William Hamilton, Robert Hopkin, John Smith, Daniel Dill, thomas Welch, Jacob Bacon, Daniel Cass, John and George Dorrance, Jr., Nathaniel Dean, Vincent Patterson, Robert Miller, Patrick Parke, Samuel Church, Adam Kasson, William Kasson, David Hopkins, Charles Campbell, Nathaniel French, John Gibson, James Hopkins, John and Robert Parke, William Rogers, and John Gallup. The church thus organized adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith, and was the first and log the only Presbyterian Church in Connecticut.1 Tje locationof the meeting house caused a great deal of discussion among the good people of Voluntown, and it was not until 1731 that the church edifice was completed. It was erected upon the original site agreed upon by the inhabitants and proprietors, April 27, 1722. It stands on the line between the present towns of Voluntown and Sterling. The present church was erected in 1858. The following is a list of pastors from the orgnaization of the church to the present time: Samuel Dorrance, Micajah Porter, Elijah S. Wells, Otis Lane, Jacob Allen, Charles L. Ayer. The Separate Church. - The date of the organization of a Separate Church in Voluntown is incertain, but it was doubtless about the year 1745, and among the members were Peter Miller, Thomas Thompson, Benj. Park, Robert Campbell, James and Thomas Douglas, John Kennedy, Issac Gallup, Samuel Smith, Matthew Patrick, John Gaston, Robert Hinman, Robert Gibson, and James Stranahan. After a few years the church was abandoned and united with that of Plainfield. The Catholics of Voluntown are few in number and are attended by the resident pastor at Jewett City. Services are held once a fortnight in Union Hall. Rev. Thos. J. Joynt is now building in that village a neat church, which he ecpects to have completed this fall. The Catholics number about three hundred, and are mostly of French-Canadian extraction. The Schools. - The first reference to schools found upon the old town records is under date Dec. 4, 1732, when it was voted "that there shall be a surkelating school kep and a schoolmaster hired at ye town's charge." In March, 1735, it was voted "that the school be kept in four places, three months in a place, six months in ye north end and six months in ye south end, dividing ye town by a line from Alexander Gordon's to Ebenezer Dow's house, and that the master, John Dunlap, should have thirty pounds money, and sufficient meat, drink, washing, and lodging, for keeping school eleven months and eighteen days, and in ye night when convenient." The first school-house was built in 1737. It was located "four rods from ye northwest corner of ye meeting-house, and a rente of two pence allowed for the same." Beachdale. - This is a little hamlet located in the western part of the town, on the Pachaug River, and is the seat of the cotton manufactory of Ira. G. Briggs & Co. A library association was formed in 1792, and a hundred volumes procured. Manufactures. - The Pachaug at this point furnishes an excellent water- power, and one of the earliest factories of cotton yarn in New England was established here, that of the Industry Manufacturing Company, which was formed March 12, 1814, by James Treat, of Preston, and others. This property, after various vicissitudes, passed into the hands of the present firm of Ira G. Briggs & Co. The village contains two churches, Methodist and Baptist. George Weatherhead, a Killingly manufacturer, now deceased, was also engaged in business here. Dr. Harvey Campbell, the beloved physician, who so long and faithfully administered to the medical wants of the people here, died in 1877, after a long infirmity. He was a prominent citizen and " a leader in every good wprl." The present physician in Voluntown is Dr. Ransom Young. Drs. Allan William Campbell were widely known as medical practitioners prior to Dr. Harvey Campbell. Civil and Military. - Voluntown was incorporated as a town in 1721, and in addition to its present territory embraced the present town of Sterling, which remained until 1794, when Sterling was constituted as a separate town. In 1739 the vacant mile north of Voluntown was annexed to the town by formal act of the General Assembly. Voluntown remained a portion of Windham County until 1881, when it was annexed to New London County. The Voluntown probate Court was established in 1830, with Sterry Kinnie judge, and Minor Robbins slerk. June 20, 1721, the first town-meeting was held, when the following officers were chosen: Selectmen, John Gallup, John Safford, Ebenezer Cooper, Samuel Whaley, and Nathaniel French; Town Clerk, Jacob Bacon; Constable, Thomas Cole; Toller, Francis Smith. In the following December John Tyler, Obadiah Rogers, and Ebenezer Dow were added to the selectmen. Various votes were passed. A pound was ordered. Three men were appointed "to lay out highways least to ye damage of ye owners of land and ye best advantage for the neighborhood." REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1740 TO 1881 1740 - Robert Dixon 1741 - John Kesson, John Dickson, Robert Dickson 1742 - Robert Dixon, Charles Campbell 1743-44 - Robert Dixon, Charles Campbell, John Dixson 1745 - John Dixson, John Kesson, Thomas Kesson 1746 - John Dixson, Joseph Palmer, Robert Dixson, Thomas Kesson 1747 - Capt. Robert Dixson, Capt. Issac Gallopp, Capt. Thomas Kesson. 1748 - Capt. Robert Dixon, Thomas Kesson, John Smith 1749 - Joseph Palmer, Capt. Robert Dixson, Joseph Park 1750-51 - Capt. Robert Dixson, John Smith 1752 - Capt. Robert Dixson, John Smith, Jr. 1753 - Joseph Park, Capt. Isaac Gallup, Jeremiah Keeney, John Kesson 1754 - Capt. Robert Dickson, John Smith 1755 - Capt. Robert Dickson, John Smith, Capt. Isaac Gallup 1756 - Robert Jameson, Capt. Robert Dickson, John Smith 1757 - Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith, John Gordan, Capt. Daniel Fish 1758 - Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith 1759 - Capt. Robert Dixon, Robert Jemison, John Smith 1760 - Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith 1761 - Capt. Robert Dixon, John Smith 1762 - John Gordan, Capt, Robert Dixon, John Gordan 1763 - John Gordan, Robert Jameson 1764 - Capt. Robert Dixon, John Gordon, Robert Jameson 1765 - John Gordon, Moses Kinney 1766 - John Gordon, Robert Dixon, John Smith 1767 - Capt. Robert Dixon, Samuel Stewart 1768 - John Gordon, Capt. Isaac Gallup 1769-70 - Capt. Robert Dixon, Samuel Stewart 1771 - Capt. Robert Dixon, Samuel Stewart, Capt. Isaac Gallopp, Moses Kinney 1772 - Capt. Isaac Gallop, Samuel Stewart, Samuel Gordon 1773 - Capt. Isaac Gallop, Samuel Gordon 1774-75 - James Gordon, Robert Hunter 1776 - John Gordon, Ezra Crary, James Gordon 1777 - Robert Hunter, James Gordon 1778 - Robert Dixon, Moses Campbell, James Gordon, Matthew Newton 1779 - Robert Hunter, James Gordon 1780 - Isaac Gallop, John Cole, James Gordon, Robert Dixon 1781 - Solomon Morgan, Isaac Gallup, Moses Kinne 1782 - Joseph Frink, Isaac Gllup, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley 1783 - James Gordon, Joseph Wyley, 1784 - Moses Campbell, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley 1785 - Joseph Alexander, James Gordon, Joseph Wyley 1786 - Benjamin Dowe, Benjamin Gallup, Joseph Wyley 1787 - John Wyley, Allen Campbell, Benjamin Gallup 1788 - Titus Bailey, Isaac Gallup, Joshua Frink 1789 - Robert Dixon, Samuel Robbins, Titus Bailey, John Stewart 1790 - Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Robbins, Moses Campbell, John Stewart 1791 - Robert Dixon, Joseph Wyley, Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Robbin 1792 - John Gaston, Thomas Gordon, Benjamin Dowe, Samuel Robbin 1793 - John Gaston, David Gallup, Samuel Kinney, Samuel Robbin 1794 - Lemuel Dorrance, Joseph Wyley 1795-96 Samuel Robbin 1797 - James Alexander, Samuel Robbin 1798 - Joseph Wylie, Samuel Robbin 1799 - Allen Campbell, Moses Robbins 1800 - Samuel Robbins, Moses Robbins 1801 - Nicholas Randall, Allen Campbell 1802 - Samuel Robbins, Allen Campbell 1803 - Samuel Robbins, Moses Robbins 1804 - Samuel Robbins, Nicholas Randall 1805 - Wm. Gallup 1806 - Nathaniel Sheffield, Allen Campbell 1807 - Wm. Gallup, Loring Robbins 1808 - Daniel Keigwin, Samuel Robins 1809 - Wm. Gallup, Samuel Kinne 1810 - Allen Campbell, Samuel Robbins 1811 - Wm. Gallup, Daniel Keigwin 1812 - Amos Treat, Wm. Gallup 1813 - Samuel Robbins, Sterry Kinne 1814 - Allen Campbell, James Alexander 1815 - Wm. Gallup, Daniel Keigwin 1816 - James Alexander, Daniel Keigwin 1817 - Minor Robbins, Daniel Keigwin 1818 - Wm. Gallup, Sterry Kinne 1819-20 0 James Alexander 1821 - Minor Robbins 1822 - Sterry Kinne 1823 - Minor Robbins 1824 - Sterry Kinne 1825 - Jonathon Stanton 1826 - Sterry Kinne 1827 - Kinne Gallup 1828 - Joel Kinney 1829 - Sterry Kinne 1830 - Joel Kinney 1831 - Harvey Campbell 1832 - Joel Kinne 1833 - Joseph Wylie 1834 - Elisha Patten 1835 - John C. Smith 1836 - Elisha Patten 1837 - John C. Smith 1838 - Harvey Campbell 1839 - Samuel R. Kinney 1840 - Ira K. Crandall 1841-42 - Elisha Patten 1843 - Wm. C. Stanton 1844 - Elisha Patten 1845-46 - Benj. Gallup (2) 1847 - Samuel Gates 1848 - G. D. Campbell 1849 - Benj. Gallup, Jr. 1850 - Eras D. Campbell 1851 - Elisha Patten 1852 - Stephen D. Keigwin 1853 - Kinney Gallup 1854 - Elisha Patten 1855 - N. S. Gallup 1856 - O. H. Smith 1857- Christopher Colegrove 1858 - Benj. Gallup 1859 - Martin Kinne 1860 - Caleb P. Patten 1861 - Charles E. Main 1862 - Robert H. Dixon 1863 - Charles E. Main 1864 - Ira G. Briggs 1865 - Harvey Campbell 1866 - Ira G. Briggs 1867 - Albert Campbell 1868 - Ira G. Briggs 1869 - Albert Campbell 1870 - Edmund Hall 1871 - Benj. Gallup 1872 - Ezra Briggs 1873 - Charles S. Weaver 1874 - Charles E. Main 1875 - Jared A. Gallup 1876 - E. Byron Gallup 1877 - James M. Cook 1878 - Joseph C. Tanner 1879 - Robert H. Dixon 1880 - Hiram Jencks 1881 - James M. Cook CHAPTER XCI VOLUNTOWN - (Continued). BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Ira G. Briggs & Co. - Among the early factories of cotton yarn in New England was that of the Industry Manufacturing Company of Voluntown, Conn., which was formed March 12, 1814, by James Treat, of Preston, and others. Mr. Treat was one of the most enterprising business men of that vicinity. He was largely engaged in trade, and invested in several manufacturing interests, among which was the Jewett City Cotton Manufacturing Company, organized in 1811, the germ of the present manufacturing enterprises of that place. In the Industry Manufacturing Company he owned at first five of the twenty shares, and by successive purchases from the other owners increased his interest until Nov. 4, 1823, when he became sole owner. On Aug. 9, 1824, he conveyed an interest of one-third to his son-in-law, Joseph H. Doane, and on April 18, 1828, an additinal 0ne-sixth. Mr. Doane sold his interest to James S. Treat, son of James Treat, Dec. 29, 1832. this latter also sold his interest to his son, Sept. 18, 1843. James S. Treat operated the mill until Feb. 12, 1855, when he made an assignment. On the 18th of April of the following year the property was sold to a company, one of whom was Ira G. Briggs. Ira G. Briggs was born in Coventry, R.I., April 29, 1820. His father, Wanton Briggs, was a farmer and a justice of the peace. He was the father of eight sons and four daughters. Of the sons, Ira was the eldest, except one who died in infancy. He worked on the farm until he was twelve years of age, when his father removed to the village known as Harrisville, where he was employed by Elisha Harris, the well known manufacturer, and afterwards Governor of the State. Ira entered Mr. Harris' factory, beginning in the picker-room, where he remained four years. He then worked about two years in the other parts of the factory, and became expert in all the processes of cotton manufacturing. At eighteen he entered the machine shop of Lavalle, Lamphear & Co., in the adjoining willage (Phenix), that firm being then engaged as its successor. The Lamphear Machine Company is now engaged in the manufacture of cotton machinery. He worked here three years, becoming familiar with the building of cotton machinery. Having attained his majority, he again entered the employment of Mr. Harris, and remained in it for seven years, having charge of repairs of the machinery. At the end of that period the factory of Brown & Ives, at Hope village, two miles above Harrisville, on the same stream, was being built under the supervision of David Whitman, and Mr. Briggs was employed to superintend the putting up of the shafting and setting the machinery in running order. Having finished this task, he was engaged by Brown and Ives to take charge of the machinery and repairs, and remained in that capacity at the Hope factory until 1852. He was approinted superintendent of the Rockville Mills, in Hopkinton, R.I. These mills, built in 1845, were then owned by John C. Harris, Oliver D. Wells, and Harris Lamphear, the latter, a brother-in-law of Mr. Briggs, had been superintendent. The business had not been successful, and the company was embarrassed in its finances. In the four years of Mr. Briggs agency, by his able administration, the indebtedness was materially reduced and the affairs of the company became more prosperous. Early in 1856, with other gentlemen, he purchased from the insolvent estate of James S. Treat the mills and adjacent real estate formerly belonging to the Industry Manufacturing Company, in the manufacture of cotton cloth. In the same year such changes in the ownership occured that at its end Mr. Briggs owned two-fifths and Jonathon R. Wells and Thomas R. Wells three- fifths of the whole interest, and in this proportion it was held by the same persons until Nov. 20, 1857, when the Messrs. Wells sold their interest to John L. Ross of North Providence, R.I. This partnership continued for three years. It was then dissolved, Mr. Briggs purchasing the interest of his partners and becoming sole proprietor, Nov. 17, 1860. On the 12th of December ensuing he sold an interest of two-fifths to his brother-in-law, Jonathon L. Spencer, of Hopkinton, R.I., forming with him the firm of Briggs & Spencer. On Feb. 15, 1861, Briggs & Spencer bought a mill and privilege half a mile below the Beachdale Mill, on the same stream, from Samuel Gates. Mr. Gates had, several years before, built the mill and a temporary dam, but had not operated the mill. Briggs & Spencer did not occupy it, but leased it to Hiram Jenckes for four years as a twine- mill. The partnership continued until Oct. 1, 1863, when Mr. Spencer sold his interest to John L. Ross, the style of the firm being changed to Ross & Briggs. On July 1, 1865, Mr. Briggs conveyed to his youngest living brother, Ezra, one-sixth ____ amounting to one-tenth of _____ business being afterwards ____ of Ross, Briggs & Co. ____Briggs purchased John L. Ross' interest, and conveyed to his brother Ezra an additional one-tenth of the whole business and mill property, forming with him the firm of Ira G. Briggs & Co. Their interest in it were respectively four-fifths and one- fifth. The firm-stype and the relative interest remain the same to this day. During both of the periods of the partnership of Ira G. Briggs and John L. Ross the latter had no active connection with any part of the business, his capital only being invested. On Sept. 21, 1870, Ira G. Briggs & Co. purchased, for further uses, the mill-privileges below the Gates mill, formerly belonging to Alice Branch, having a fall of twenty-four feet, and a capacity nearly double that of either of the privileges owned by them, which had been leased to supply power for a saw-mill, a grist-mill, and a shoddy-mill. The next year, 1871, they purchased the Doane mill, on the same stream, below the Branch privilege. this property had passed from the ownership of Joseph H. Doane, by the foreclosure of a mortgage, Dec. 7, 1852. During the period between that date and its purchase by the Messrs. Briggs it had been owned by diferent firms, neither of whom had been successful in operating it. Since it has come into the hands of its present proprietors it has been profitably used for the manufacture of yarns and warps. Since Mr. Briggs acquired, in 1860, the controlling interest in the Beachdle Mills, he had expended large amounts out of his profits in increasing the capacity and facilities of his mills, by erecting new buildings, introducing improved machinery, and providing a larger and more continuous supply of water-power. He has purchased the right of persons controlling the outlet and flowage of Beach Pond, - a principal means of supply of water- power to the mills in Voluntown, and below on the Pachaug River, - and has erected a new dam at the outlet of the pond, and raised the highway for half a mile. These works have enlarged the area of this natural reservoir to some twelve hundred acres, and increased the depth of the water by ten feet, thus enabling the Messrs. Briggs to run their mills throughout the year instead of nine months. The work was done under the personal supervision of Ira G. Briggs, and mainly at the expense of the firm. In 1873, Mr. Briggs became a stockholder, and the next year a director, in the Rockville Mills, at Hopkinton, R. I., in which, from 1852 to 1856, he had his first experience in mill management. He has been the general manager and agent since 1874, with the personal supervision of the purchase of material and the manufacture and sale of the goods. There are three of these mills, situated on successive privileges of the same stream, like the mills of the Messrs. Briggs at Voluntown. The Rockville Mills have been ably managed, and in a period of general depression have been kept in constant operation, paying their current expenses, together with the interest on a large debt, and heavy expenditures in improvements in mills and machinery. In the same year, 1873, Ira G. Briggs & Co. bought an interest of One-fifth in the Stillman Manufaccturing Company, at Westerly, R. I. This mill, engaged in the manufacture of cassimeres, has been in operation about six years, and operates eight sets of machinery. Ira G. Briggs has been president since October, 1876, and has devoted much personal attention to its affairs. The result is seen in the marked improvement of its condition and prospects. While Mr. Briggs has been engaged in these enterprises he has occupied many public positions of honor and trust. He was first selectmen of the town nine years in succession, a member of the lower branch of the General Assembly in 1865, 1866, and 1868, and of the Senate in 1870. In the Senate he was chairman of the Joint Committee on Banks and Banking. The junior partner of the firm, Ezra Briggs, is the youngest son but one of Wanton Briggs, and was born in Coventry, R. I., Oct. 9, 1830. He attended the district school until he was about nine years old, when he was placed at work in the factory. He was employed there, except a brief interval of labor on a farm and about six months at school, until the spring of 1846, when his father's family removed to Phenix, R. I. There Ezra went to work in the Phenix Cotton Mill, continuing in it until the spring of 1849. He next obtained employment in the machine-shop of Lavalle,Lamphear & Co., and worked at building machinery about two years. He then went to school and engaged in teaching for three years. In the spring of 1854 he became book-keeper in the Harris Lime-Rock Company, in Smithfield, R. I., and in the summer of 1856 engaged in the same capacity with James H. Read & Co., wholesale dealers in woolens in Providence, R. I. In the autumn of the same year he engaged with Brown & Ives as book- keeper in their factory at Hopeville, R. I. Here he remained nearly nine years, removing in June, 1865, at the invitation of his brother Ira, to Voluntown, Conn. On July 1, 1865, he became a member of the firm of Ross & Briggs, as above stated, the style being changed to Ross, Briggs & Co., and on Aug. 21, 1868, Mr. Ross retiring, the firm-style was changed to its present form of Ira G. Briggs & Co. The senior member of the firm has since that date retained the general management, while to his brother has been committed the details of business at the mills, with special charge of the books, accounts, and correspondence. Ezra Briggs is a man of large public spirit and influence in the community, and served the town in 1872 as its representative in the General Assembly of Connecticut. Both of the members of the firm are in the prime of mental and physical vigor, with ripe experience and ample capital, and with mills well supplied with machinery, and of a high industrial reputation.