march 2010 - New London County Historical Society

NEW LONDON
COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2010
John Winthrop, Jr., Alchemy,
and the Creation of New England Culture, 1606-1676
W
alter Woodward, Connecticut’s
State Historian, spoke to us
about his Winthrop research at our Annual Meeting in 2004. He has just published the book based on that research:
Prospero’s America: John Winthrop, Jr., Alchemy, and the Creation of New England Culture, 1606-1676. He will be speaking
about this ground-breaking work at our
April Second Sunday program on 11
April at 2pm at Connecticut College.
reader with how those elements intertwine. “Saltmaking, which Winthrop
pursued on several occasions, was simultaneously a commercial venture, a metaphysical exploration, and a source of
scriptural exegesis, as were many of the
utilitarian ventures of early alchemical
projectors.” Winthrop’s efforts to found
a NEW London was an attempt to create an outpost of scientific research in
the wilderness.
The book is full of provocative insights.
While some are familiar with alchemy,
the common knowledge is usually limited to the idea that alchemy was a magical quest to turn lead into gold. Woodward leads us to understand how alchemy was much more than that, “an
important contributing factor in the development of modern chemistry and
experimental science.” In this work
Woodward shows how Winthrop’s alchemical knowledge, and connections
emanating from his participation in the
Royal Society, empowered him locally,
as a favored Connecticut governor, and
at the Royal Court in England.
Winthrop’s knowledge and authority as
a political leader gave him the power to
put a brake on witchcraft trials in Connecticut — while he was in the colony.
Combining religion, metallurgy, healing,
an entrepreneurial spirit and political
will, Woodward is able to enlighten the
Too frequently our view of colonial
New England culture is limited to puritans as religious zealots locked in a battle
with the wilderness. This book jostles
that outlook placing a proto-scientific
lens on that world and placing Connecticut’s early history within the framework
of an Atlantic World Economy. All too
often, historians have assumed Connecticut was just like Massachusetts; this
work challenges that concept giving us
new insight to the past, our local past.
This book shines a bright light on southeastern Connecticut.
The book is available for sale now at
the Shaw Mansion for $45.
March Second Sunday
14 March; 2pm. Jara Burnett, President of the Connecticut League of
Women Voters. At the Shaw Mansion
April Second Sunday
11 April; 2pm. Walter Woodward.
At Blaustein Hall Room 210 on the
Connecticut College Campus
May 8 Vintage Base Ball
Home Opening Games 10-4 at Fort
Trumbull State Park
(No 2nd Sunday on Mother’s Day)
NEW LONDON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
1
“Ye Towne’s Antientest Buriall Place”
T
he Coits were among
the earliest settlers of New
London. John Coit died in
1659, leaving a wife Mary and three
children who lived in New London.
Other children were left a small legacy
in his will, “in case they be living.” John
and Mary’s youngest son was Joseph,
whom Caulkins describes as “the ancestor of all the Connecticut stock of
Coits, and perhaps of all who bear the
name in the United States.” (p.275)
Joseph, who died in 1704, and his wife
Martha had several sons who also had
several sons, so the Coit family rapidly
became numerous and, with the usual
eighteenth century habit of naming sons
for fathers and uncles, confusing.
There are many Coit gravestones in the
old burying ground. There are also
some surprising omissions of stones for
people that we know were buried there.
In this newsletter we will look at one of
the family lines whose members are
buried in the burying ground, and continue with some of the others in the
next newsletter. Most, and possibly all,
of the stones listed in the 1899 Ye Antient Buriall Place of New London, Conn. are
still visible, although more worn and
damaged.
Coits, Part 1
“Point of Rocks,” a projecting ledge
with deep water anchorage. It was
roughly opposite where the Shaw Mansion is today. In the nineteenth century
the point was blasted away, and some of
the stone used for the building on Bank
Street that faces the end of Tilley Street.
Hempstead has numerous references to
working with Coit on vessels in the early
years of the diary when Hempstead was
a shipwright.
John married Mehitable Chandler June
25, 1693. They had six children, several
of whom either have gravestones themselves in the burying ground, or are represented by wives and children. Life
must have been very busy between work
and childrearing, but there was time for
some fun. On July 30, 1713, Hempstead
notes that he and John and their wives
went visiting in the Neck. At the end of
August of the same year he says he went
to “Tho Dowglass’s with Jno & Sol Coit
and our wives to eat watermilions.”
John Coit died October 22, 1744.
Hempstead says that he “Died aged 74
or thereabouts in less than a Weeks Illness. . . Wednsd 24 fair & prety Cold. .
. toward night at ye funeral of my good
old friend and Neighbor Mr Coit & was
one of the Pall bearers with Mr adam
Since Joshua Hempstead is very helpful Mr Miller, Deacon Green. . .” On Noin providing information about most of vember 3, 1758, Hempstead made the
last entry in his diary, saying, “fair. I
the Coits, we will start with his “old
friend & near Neighbor mr John Coit,” keep house Still. . . & old Ms Mehitable
Coit the widow of Mr Jno Coit decd
and some of his family who are buried
in the old burying ground. John was the Died ys morning.” She was 85. Mehitable had kept a diary in the early 1700s,
oldest son of Deacon Joseph and his
wife Martha, and was born December 1, which was published as a pamphlet by
1670. He was a shipbuilder, and in 1699 one of her descendants.
was given a new building yard by the
John and Mehitable had seen their son
town. This was by the site known as
Thomas, aged 22, die during an epi-
2
NEW LONDON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
demic of an unspecified disease in
March of 1725. On Friday, March 5,
Hempstead notes “fair warm & pleasant wether over head. but the Most
Sorrowfull time yt Ever was Seen in N.
London. for Mortality their Lyes now
this morning. 6 persons dead & 1 negro Woman of Gortons.” He records
another 12 deaths by the 21st. Thomas
died on March 10th. Hempstead went
to “Deacon Douglass’s funeral & att
Thomas Coits” the next day. Thomas
left a widow, Mary (Prentiss), who
married Eleazar Gray in 1728.
Thomas also left an unborn son, Thomas, who was born the following August 15th. He married Abigail Richards
May 23, 1756. This Thomas was a doctor, whom Hempstead consulted on
occasion. In July of 1756 Thomas
“gave me a Potion of Phisick.” Unfortunately, being a doctor did not make
(Continued on page 4)
New London County Historical Society
Incorporated 1870
Officers
Deborah Donovan, President
Nancy Steenburg, Vice President
Denis O’Brien, Treasurer
Joe Selinger, Secretary
Board of Directors
2010
Marilyn Davis, Dean Macris
2011
Kevin Doyle, Roy Grimm, William Peterson
2012
Barun Basu, Jim Metcalf, Richard Sigal
Staff
Edward Baker, Executive Director
Tricia Royston, Librarian
11 Blinman Street
New London, Connecticut 06320
860.443.1209
www.newlondonhistory.org
info@newlondonhistory.org
ISSN 1940-2074
E ve r y D a y i s Wom e n ’s Hi s t o r y D a y
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
B
eginning with International Women’s Day in 1911, progressing to Women’s
History Week in 1981, and expanding to an entire month in 1987, Women’s
History Month, celebrated every March, has come quite a ways over the last century.
In his official declaration President Obama writes, “With passion and courage,
women have taught us that when we band together to advocate for our highest ideals, we can advance our common well-being and strengthen the fabric of our Nation. Each year during Women's History Month, we remember and celebrate women
from all walks of life who have shaped this great Nation.” For our March Second
Sunday program we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the
League of Women Voters; President of the Connecticut League, Jara Burnett, joins
us as a speaker. We hope that you will join us too!
Following along that theme Jennifer Emerson’s article features a young woman
from the past that we have become familiar with, Miss Jane Perkins. The Shaw Mansion has many stories to tell that makes it a women’s history site. I’m thinking of
Lucretia Shaw, patron patriot for the local chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution, and of course Frances Caulkins. Caulkins (1795-1869), was the only female historian to be honored as an “elected” member of the Massachusetts Historical Society prior to 1969, she was elected in 1849. Her brother, Henry Haven, was
one of the founders of our historical society in 1870 and he made sure that his sister’s documents and books became a basis of our collection. Those documents are
still bringing new stories to light.
The renovations to the 1845 wing of the Mansion are also “bringing things to light.”
The classroom has literally been transformed to a bright and large space. The accessible bathroom is very commodious. We will celebrate the completion of the project
with a ribbon-cutting on Friday 30 April beginning at 4pm. I hope you’ll put this on
your calendar today so that you can join us. Only the kitchen has not been renovated
as part of the project – we would love for you to see an updated kitchen at the Shaw
Mansion as a project you would support with your donations.
Annual Fund Update: We have almost reached $19,000, close to 60% of our
$33,000 goal. Won’t you consider a gift today? Perhaps in honor of Women’s History Month you might like to make a gift in honor of a woman who has been a role
model, teacher, helper or friend to you? Consider too a gift to the future of the historical society by remembering us with a bequest in your will. Please contact us if
you need help with planned giving. Your gift can help us share the history of our
community every day!
~ Deborah Donovan
Volunteers needed:
We are looking for some assistance with research projects leading to books that we
plan to publish. We are looking for people who might be interested in supporting
“Team Perkins” and our living history programming. We are looking for help with
spring cleaning on clean-up day, Saturday 24 April. Call or email Edward.
New and
Renewed
Members
Contributing
Mary Jane Moore
Douglas Bjorn
Annapolis, MD
Stonington
Friend
Marilyn Davis
Gerald & Linda Stefon
Carol & Carl Sommer
Edgar C. Forest
Waterford
Baltic
Waterford
New London
Family & Individual
E. C. Murphy & D. N. Edmond New London
John Geary
Uncasville
George & Olga Manos
East Lyme
John & Nancy Pendleton
Groton
Dr. & Mrs. Frederic P. Anderson Noank
Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Anderson, Jr. Noank
Dr. Martin J. Butler
New Bedford, MA
Marian Shilstone
New London
Cynthia M. Ellison
Glastonbury
Tara L. Nasse
Bradford, RI
Pamela J. Mitchell
Montville
Ronald G. Prellwitz
Westerly, RI
Grant Ogren
Westbrook
Daniel M. Edwards
Groton
Jacob P. Doolittle
Gales Ferry
James L. Dixon
Foster, RI
John J. Keeney
Canterbury
Edward G. Fedorshak
Griswold
Steven E. Featherson
Preston
Delilia S. Delmaro
West Haven
Annmarie C. Blanda
Pawcatuck
Jamel A. Hamlin
Waterford
Charles O. Graves
Groton
Stephen M. Stott
Ashaway, RI
Doris M. Sellen
N. Stonington
Lorraine A. Logan
Mystic
Sara J. Howard
Baltic
Geoffrey Walker
Groton
Allen F. Gager
Stonington
Stephen J. Wisniewski
Groton
Sarah Levassear
Holliston, MA
Patrick J. Cordello
Old Saybrook
Alex Mizger
Clinton
Michelle Pittore
Monson, MA
Patricia Enoch
East Lyme
Heather G. Collier
Old Saybrook
Joshua Hill
Groton
Ann Ledger
Groton
James D. Wherry
Gales Ferry
Rose C. Longo
Niantic
Mrs. Alma Peterson
New London
Emily Higgins
Waterford
Ned Hammond
New London
Vincentia Belbruno
New London
Bettye Noyes
Noank
Gloria Fowler
Noank
Joan W. Prentice
Waterford
Roberta & Charles Levandoski Ledyard
Tara King
Mystic
Kelly & Gary Milton
Groton
Edward J. Bigelow
Leominster, MA
William Bender
Wakefield, RI
Grace J. Lewis
N. Stonington
(continued on page 6)
NEW LONDON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
3
Coits Part 1 (continued)
(Continued from page 2)
one immune to the high death rates for
infants and childbearing women. Hempstead records “Doctr Thos Coit an Infant buryed. died yesterday.” in June of
1757. There is no stone for that infant
(Abigail), but there is one for “Thomas
Coit, son of Mr. Thomas & Mrs. Abigail Coit, who died Septemb’r the 16th,
1758, aged 6 weeks.” The Coits had two
more children. The last one was born
August 10, 1761, and also named Abigail. The mother Abigail “died Augst the
19th A. D. 1761, in the 28th year of her
age.” The younger Abigail lived to grow
up and marry. Dr. Thomas Coit remarried in 1764, to Mary Gardiner, and they
had nine more children. He lived the
rest of his life in New London, “holding
nearly the whole medical practice of the
place for about 40 years, and dying June
5, 1811, aged 86.” He is buried in Cedar
Grove Cemetery.
There were several deaths in the John
and Mehitable branch of the Coit family
in 1745. The first, on March 28th, was of
John, the grandson of John and Mehitable, born April 7, 1720. He
“Drownded at midletown. Struck over
with the Boom & not found
yet.” (Hempstead) He left a daughter,
Grace, and a widow who married James
Colver several years later. This John
does not have a stone in the old burying
ground. His brother, Richard, does. He
died October 3, 1745, aged 23, “with the
Longfever Sick 33 days.” Hempstead
also describes the funeral, which was
fancier than most: “fryd 4 fair. I was. . .
at ye funeral of Richd Coit. 16 pr of
mournrs followed the Corps. Mingo &
Peter & their wives brot up ye Rear.”
He left a daughter, Martha. His widow,
Abigail (Braddick), married James
Chapman twenty years later.
To cap that terrible year, Grace
(Christophers) Coit, the mother of the
family, died on November 9th, aged 47.
Her widower, John, married Hannah
(Gardiner) Potter, the widow of Thomas Potter, in 1748. The Coit family
genealogy assumes that John moved
away from New London in 1760, and
does not have any further information
on him.
References:
Caulkins, Frances Manwaring, The History of New London, Connecticut to 1860.
New London, CT: New London
County Historical Society, 2007.
Chapman, Rev. F.W., A.M. The Coit
Family: or the Descendants of John Coit,
Who Appears Among the Settlers of Salem,
Mass, in 1638, at Gloucester in 1644, and
at New London, Conn., in 1650. Compiled
at the Request of Samuel Coit of Hartford, Conn. Hartford, 1874.
Hempstead, Joshua, The Diary of Joshua
Hempstead, 1711-1758. New London,
CT: New London County Historical
Society, 1999.
Another son of John and Mehitable,
Joseph, was a sea captain and merchant, with a store on the Bank. He
lived to the age of 88, dying and being
Prentis, Edward, Ye Antient Buriall Place
buried in Norwich, where he had
of New London, Conn. New London:
moved with his second wife. His first
Press of the Day Publishing Co., 1899.
wife and two of his ten children have
stones in the old burying ground. Mary
(Hunting) died March 29, 1733, aged
19. Her son Jonathan died March 31,
aged ten days. Interestingly, both gravestones say 1733/4, but according to
Hempstead’s diary it was 1733. Joseph
married Lydia Lathrop in 1740, and had
nine more children. The third of those,
Lucretia, died October 16, 1751, aged 3
years and 4 months. Hempstead notes
six deaths of children in that week, including “the 3d Child that [Jeddiah
Cheapels] hath Lost with this destemper out of six.” This was a very long
lasting epidemic of “canker,” or strep
throat, which began in late July and
continued until December.
~Patricia M. Schaefer
Become a fan of the New London
County Historical Society on Facebook.
4
NEW LONDON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
90 Years for the 19th Amendment ~ Women’s Right to Vote
MARCH SECOND SUNDAY
T
he March Second Sunday program celebrates the 90th Anniversary of the League of Women
Voters. Connecticut LWV President, Jara Burnett, will share the
story of the effort to pass the 19th
Amendment, approved in 1920, and
the story of the organization that
pushed for that change: the National American Womens Sufferage
Association, which became the
League of Women Voters in 1920.
understanding of public policy issues, efforts to achieve
an open governmental system that is representative,
accountable and responsive
to the people, and has
hosted local and national
candidates debates.
The program will take place
at the Shaw Mansion beginning at 2pm on Sunday 14
March. The program is free for
In its 90 years the non-partisan
members of the New London
league has campaigned for increased County Historical Society and for
members of the League of Women
Voters, $5 for others. Refreshments
will be served following the program.
“Whatever Happened to…”
…Jane, the 14th baby born to Dr. and
Mrs. Nathaniel Shaw Perkins, Sr., called
the Shaw Mansion home. In a life that
spanned 86 years, she witnessed the
horror of Civil War, the inventions of
the telephone and the automobile, the
sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic, the First
World War, and Women’s Suffrage.
Her life, spurred by the twin passions
of family and history, culminated in
1907 with the decision to sell her ancestral home to the 37 year-old New
London County Historical Society.
In the Summer of 2008, Miss Perkins
came home again to the house she
loved so dearly in the guise of (well,
yours truly) with the formation of our
First-Person Interpretation Program.
The research had begun a year before,
and with Edward Baker’s enthusiasm
and direction, we are now about to embark upon our third year of Living History at the Shaw Mansion - the only
program of its kind in New London!
Within the long silent walls of the Shaw
Mansion can now once more be heard
the rustle of flowing gowns and the
clinking of tea cups on china saucers.
Our first foray into the 19th-century
world of the Mansion was “Tea With
Miss Perkins.” In this program, visitors
stepped back into 1876 and listened as
Miss Jane related some of the best family stories. On the heels of this success,
we decided to offer a fall production.
Entitled, “Spirits of the Shaw Mansion,” this 1860’s piece focused on the
death of Jane’s brother, Lt. William
Perkins, who died a hero’s death during
the War Between the States. Meeting
Jane’s brother Benjamin as well as her
mother, Mrs. Ellen Perkins, our guests
came to understand the unshakable
spirit of this family, in spite of the
hardships that they faced. On our part,
it was a fascinating way to present one
of the darkest times that the Mansion
had ever witnessed.
The framework of our original “Tea”
evolved into “Tea & Tales” this past
summer. Miss Perkins was joined by her
mother to greet their guests. Visitors
were treated to first rate service from the
family maid and entertained with more
family stories from the Perkins ladies,
who also shared their personal views on
1876 life and issues relevant to the day.
The effect of all of this has been the
steady filling of Miss Perkins’ social calendar. Word has it that she enjoyed a
lovely afternoon of croquet with visitors
last Spring on the back lawn, and was
thrilled to see our gallant Boys In Blue
this summer at Fort Trumbull when
President Lincoln visited! Miss Jane is
also fond of welcoming weary wanderers
of the Spring and Fall Food Strolls on
the porch of her home with a nice cup
of tea. Here she is sometimes joined by
Mother or Benjamin. She also marched
in last year’s Jibboom Club Parade with
(Continued on page 6)
NEW LONDON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
5
Recent donations improve our 20th century collection
T
he NLCHS is fortunate to have
received a large number of interesting donations from both members
and non-members in the past few
months. We are always especially happy
to have items that strengthen our 20th
century collections. Among the highlights were:
Papers concerning the Columbus
Statue Committee, kept by Nicola
Salegna, Committee President, were
donated by his grandson, John Scussel.
The collection includes a lengthy list of
the Italian community donors to the
fund, correspondence with the sculptor, and a program for the 1928
Columbus Day Parade including
speeches and a poem by Salegna.
Souvenir Programs for the Garde
Theater Premiere in August 1926, donated by Alfred Restino. The program
contains the usual ads, endorsements,
photographs and an insert, the “Garde
Newsette.”
The Ronan Lacey photo album of the
1938 Hurricane. You may think you
have seen enough photographs of 1938
hurricane, but this album of photographs taken by Ronan Lacey, photographer for The Day, is really exceptional. The prints are crisp and fresh
looking and contain a large number
Google News Alert –
Search The Day!
Many back issues of The Day
are now available online
through Google News Archive. Look for the Archive
under Google News and you
will be happily distracted for
hours.
showing the important clean up efforts
after the storm. The gift was donated by
Ronan Lacey, son of the photographer.
Miss Perkins (Continued)
(Continued from page 5)
ladies from the American Seamen’s
Friend Society of Greenmanville (1876
Role Players from Mystic Seaport). It is
even rumored that she has been seen
observing 1861-style Base Ball at Fort
Trumbull.
The list of people who have supported
this effort is long: Kevin Doyle and
Rebecca Bayreuther-Donohue, Heather
Tichenor and Gianna Iannucci, and
lastly Penny Havard, who has donned
the mantle of Family Matriarch, has
created the clothes we wear!
We look forward to bringing you more
of a look at the 19th Century world of
the Perkins Family and their undeniable
connection to New London.
~Jennifer Emerson
New and Renewed Members Continued
Raymond & Sally Mulligan
East Hampton
Dorothy E. Gentile
Westerly, RI
Gerald Sullivan
Glastonbury
Gordon J. Corlies
Waterford
David Ely
Groton
Heather Flynn
New London
Linda L. Salovitz
Pawcatuck
Jay K. Sawicki
Worcester, MA
Ronald L. Bellino
Bolton
Michael E. Messmer
Groton
Richard & Heather Grigsby
Uncasville
Frank & Lynda McLaughlin
New London
Vickie V. Videll
New London
Carol & Wilson Veal
Quaker Hill
David & Marie Engelman
Ledyard
RAdm. Arnold & Joan L. Danielson
Niantic
James M. Avery
New London
Christopher Collier
Orange
Karl P. Stofko
East Haddam
Susan Munger
New London
Samuel G. Morrison
East Lyme
William & Susan Blaisdell
Groton
R. Hauschild & M. Palmer
New London
Robert P. Hobron
Perris, CA
6
Nickolas A. Londak
Edward Nichols
James R. & Jean Way
Mrs. Flora R. Storrs
Frederick C. Shakir
Joseph Morneault
Frank Caraccia
Zechariah Anderson
Jamie Ward
Spencer L. Dickinson
Sally J. Sorenson
Susan D. Quirk
Shannon Grinde
Jennifer Stillman
Steven Davis
James G. Phillips
Conrad Luck
Russell Ripley
Wendie Blair
Rensheng Yad
James M. Westervelt
Jack Ashcraft
Bonnie Raymo
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Conroy
NEW LONDON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NEWSLETTER
Norwich
Groton
Haddam Neck
Niantic
Quaker Hill
Old Saybrook
Hope Valley, RI
Norwich
Bozrah
Coventry, RI
Westerly, RI
Simsbury
Woodstock Valley
Groton
Groton
Ledyard
Amston
Oakdale
Westerly, RI
Pawcatuck
Westerly, RI
Sarasota, FL
Lisbon, MD
Madison
Susan Zucker
Seekonk, MA
Mariea Spencer
Quaker Hill
Mac Turner
N. Stonington
Margaret & Edwin Seder
Mystic
Marion E. McNiece
Mashpee, MA
Judith A. & John J. Wood
Oakdale
Beverly W. Thomas
Ledyard
William J. Smallman
Niantic
Denise L. James
Westerly, RI
Curtis N. Lutyen
Uncasville
Aimee L. Burns
Ledyard
Brian D. Turley
Noank
John L. Sutcliffe
Westerly, RI
Mary E. Maranell
Stonington
David Sebastiao
Old Lyme
Cheryl DeFosche Cox
Clinton
Daniel Volovski
Canton
Derek A. Hillyer
Waterford
Wendy A. Fellicano
Westerly, RI
Steven A. Briggs
Colchester
Darryl S. Sawtelle
Wood River Jct., RI
Robert D. Wall
Catonsville, MD