it impracticable at that time even for those most competent to the undertaking, to manufacture muskets here in the English method. And doubtless Mr. Whitney would have shared the fate of his enterprising but unsuccessful competitors, had he adopted the course which they pursued; but his genius struck out for him a course entirely new. "In maturing his system he had many obstacles to combat, and a much longer time was occupied, than he had anticipated; but with his characteristic firmness he pursued his object, in the face of the obloquy and ridicule of his competitors, the evil predictions of his enemies, and the still more discouraging and disheartening misgivings, doubts, and apprehensions of his friends. His efforts were at last crowned with success, and he had the satisfaction to find, that the business which had proved so ruinous to others, was likely to prove not altogether unprofitable to himself. "Our limits do not permit us to give a minute and detailed account of the system; and we shall only glance at two or three of its more prominent features, for the purpose of illustrating its general character. "The several parts of the musket were, under this system, carried along through the various processes of manufacture, in lots of some hundreds or thousands of each. In their various stages of progress, they were made to undergo successive operations by machinery, which not only vastly abridged the labor, but at the same time so fixed and determined their form and dimensions, as to make comparatively little skill necessary in the manual operations. Such was the construction and arrangement of this machinery, that it could be worked by persons of little or no experience; and yet it performed the work with so much precision, that when, in the later stages of the process, the several parts of the musket came to be put together, they were as readily adapted to each other, as if each had been made for its respective fellow. A lot of these parts passed through the hands of several different workmen successively, (and in some cases several times returned, at intervals more or less remote, to the hands of the same workman,) each performing upon them every time some single and simple operation, by machinery or by hand, until they were completed. Thus Mr. Whitney reduced a complex business, embracing many ramifications, almost to a mere succession of simple processes, and was thereby enabled to make a division of the labor among his workmen, on a principle which was not only more extensive, but altogether more philosophical, than that pursued in the English method. In England, the labor of making a musket was divided by making the different workmen the manufacturers of different limbs, while in Mr. Whitney's system the work was divided with reference to its nature, and several workmen performed different operations on the same limb. "It will be readily seen that under such an arrangement any person of ordinary capacity would soon acquire sufficient dexterity to perform a branch of the work. Indeed, so easy did Mr. Whitney find it to instruct new and inexperienced workmen, that he uniformly preferred to do so, rather than to attempt to combat the prejudices of those who had learned the business under a different system. "When Mr. Whitney's mode of conducting the business was brought into successful operation, and the utility of his machinery was fully demonstrated, the clouds of prejudice which lowered over his first efforts, were soon dissipated, and he had the satisfaction of seeing not only his system, but most of his machinery, introduced into every other considerable establishment for the manufacture of arms, both public and private, in the United States." The following is from the muster roll of the first company organized in the East Plains society, in Hamden. It is stated to be "A true Roll of the 17th company, or train band, of the second regiment in the colony of Connecticut, under the command of Colonel Edward Alling, Esq. Test, Charles Alling, clerk of said company." This roll was previous to the Revolution, and from some entries thereon, it is believed that the company was formed about the year 1770. The names of the five sergeants were torn off. Stephen Ford, Captain; John Gillis, Lieutenant; Elisha Booth, Ensign; Charles Alling, Clerk; Samuel Cooper, Hezekiah Tuttle, Drummers; Caleb Alling, Moses Gilbert, Joseph Gilbert, Moses Ford, Corporals. Zadock Alling, Amos Alling, Medad Atwater, Abraham Alling, Ebenezer A. Bassett, Ball, - Bradley, Bassett, Timothy Cooper, Dan Carrington, Hezekiah Dickerman, Jonathan * Silliman's Journal of Science, Vol. xxi.-Memoir of Whitney. Ford, Stephen Ford, Nathaniel Ford, Daniel Ford, Michael Gilbert, Gregson (?) Gilbert, Lemuel Gilbert, Daniel Gilbert, Ebenezer M. Gilbert, John Gorham, Amos Gilbert, Sackit Gilbert, Nathaniel Heaton, jr. John Hubbard, jr. Homberston, John Munson, David Munson, Nathaniel Munson, John Manser, Jabez Munson, John Munson, jr. Job Potter, Abel Potter, Timothy Potter, Levi Potter, Stephen Potter, Thomas Potter, Amos Potter, jr. John Roe, Abel Stockwell, Thos. Wm. Talmage, Daniel Talimage, jr. Gordain Turner, Japhet Tuttle, Josiah Tallmage, Israel Woodin, Silas Woodin, Privates. Mr. John Gilbert, it is believed, was one of the sergeants whose names were lost; he was afterwards a captain, and was killed, with five others of the Hamden company, at the time the British entered New Haven, July 5th, 1779: their names were Michael Gilbert, Samuel Woodin, Silas Woodin, Joseph Dorman, and Asa Todd. Most of these were killed outright, at the west end of Broadway, by a discharge of grape shot from the enemy. Capt. Stephen Ford, who was a member of the Hamden company, and from whom the foregoing roll was obtained, is still living in Hamden. He states that Capt. Gilbert was wounded in the leg at the discharge mentioned above: he fled for his horse, which was tied near the College, and as he was not able to go very fast, he was overtaken by Capt. Parker: Capt. Gilbert offered to surrender, if his life could be spared. Parker, calling him a dd rebel, ordered a soldier to shoot him down. Upon this, Capt. Gilbert discharged his gun at Parker, who fell from his horse, badly wounded; of course Capt. Gilbert was immediately killed. Connecticut Gazette, (New London,) July 12, 1782. No. 974. New Haven, June 26, 1782. Last Monday morning about 9 o'clock, Mrs. Mary Edwards, the consort of the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Edwards of this town, was drowned in Mr. Sabine's mill pond.* She rode out in a chair, with a view to transact some domestic affairs with a family about two miles from town, and coming to the pond, appeared to have turned the horse with a view to water him at a place which appeared smooth and convenient for the purpose; but the shore a few feet from the edge of the pond was uncommonly steep, descending at once, and the horse, probably eager to drink, and pressing forward too far, plunged instantly into eight or ten feet water. No person saw Mrs. Edwards when she was drowning, but a lad on horseback just behind her, hearing a person scream, rode forward, and seeing the horse and chair in the pond, immediately alarmed the neighborhood. The waters were so deep and muddy, that it was an hour and a half before she was found, though the utmost exertions were made. The physician tried every probable expedient for more than an hour to recover her, but in vain. The jury gave their verdict that she was accidentally drowned. * * Her funeral was attended yesterday, when an animated and exceedingly tender sermon was preached from Phil. i. 21, to a very numerous and solemn audience, by the Rev. Dr. Stiles. Her remains were followed to the grave by the most numerous procession ever seen in this town; which gave an ocular demonstration, that as she lived desired, so she departed universally lamented. The following inscription is copied from a monument in a small yard in this town. grave In memory of Mr. John Potter, who died Nov. 10, 1784, Æ. 78. Also Mrs. Esther, his wife, who died Dec. 21st, 1773, Æ. 64; and of Maj. Thomas Potter and family, who are removed to Meadville, Pennsylvania. * This was about 60 rods north of the bridge at Whitneyville. Lee's Academy and Congregational Church in Madison. THIS town was incorporated in 1826. Its limits embrace what was formerly the second and fourth ecclesiastical societies in Guilford. There are now two parishes; Madison, formerly called East Guilford, and North Madison, formerly North Bristol. The town is about nine miles in length, and may average perhaps about four in breadth. The lands in Madison, the south parish, by the use of white fish as a manure, have become quite productive. These fish were first used here for this purpose in the summer of 1798. It is believed they were first used as a manure in this country on Long Island. This fishery commences about the first of June, and continues for three or four months. From 10 to 15,000 fish are considered as a sufficient dressing for an acre of ground. The best method of using them is thought to be to plow them in a great proportion are left on the top of the ground,-a fish thrown on a hill of corn or potatoes makes a material difference in the produce. These fish are now extensively used in the maritime towns in the state. Madison produces considerable quantities of potatoes for exportation, rye, Indian corn, &c. There are a number of quarries near the shore, from which considerable quantities of paving stone are taken for exportation. Ship building is the leading mechanical business done in the place. North Madison is rocky and hilly, and it is believed that full one half of the land is unfit for cultivation, and is left for the growth of wood. Great quantities of excellent charcoal are made in this parish, which is carried to New Haven and Middletown for a market. The above is a western view of Lee's Academy and the Congregational church in Madison. The Academy, which is a respectable institution, derived its name from the late Capt. Frederick Lee, com mander of a revenue cutter, who was one of its benefactors. This place is five miles from Guilford, and twenty one from New Haven. The principal part of the buildings in this society are situated on one street, passing through the town, and running a short distance from and parallel with the sea coast. The Rev. John Hart was the first minister in Madison. In May, 1703, the General Assembly formed the society of East Guilford. Mr. Hart was ordained the first pastor of the newly gathered church, in November, 1707. He was from Farmington, and was a preacher of the first eminence in his day. He died March 4th, 1732, aged 49. Their next minister was the Rev. Jonathan Todd, from New Haven, who was ordained in 1733. The first minister in North Madison, was the Rev. Richard Ely, from Lyme, who was ordained here June 8th, 1757. Mr. Nathan Bradley* was one of the first settlers of this town. He built his house about two and a half miles eastward of Madison church, and near the Killingworth line. He was but a lad when he came from England. He intended to have landed at New Haven, but was obliged to land at Saybrook, and come across the wilderness to New Haven, there being no settlement at that time between that place and Saybrook. Mr. Bradley, who was quite a hunter, was the first white person who discovered the source of Hammonasset river, which originates in a pond still called Nathan's pond. Mr. B. lived to an advanced age, and it is said that he killed several hundred deer while he resided in this town. In the winter season, bears, wolves, and other wild animals, would resort to the sea coast in considerable numbers. Mr. B. in his old age went to see a friend who lived about a mile northerly from the present meeting house in Madison. On his way he was met by a bear and her cubs. He endeavored to ride round her, but as he moved, the bear moved; when he stopped, she stopped, and sitting on her haunches, presented an undaunted front, and seemed determined to oppose his farther progress. Mr. B. was obliged to turn back, and being somewhat childish in his old age, shed tears, that he who had killed so many of these creatures, should be obliged at last to turn his back upon one of them. Some of the inhabitants of Madison follow the sea-faring business. In accordance with this occupation, some of the inscriptions on the monuments in the grave yard west of the Academy, correspond. The following is from a tabular monument in memory of Capt. E. Griffin. Though Boreas' blasts and Neptune's waves Have toss'd me to and fro, In spite of both by God's decree I harbor here below, Where I do at anchor ride With many of our fleet; The Hon. Thomas Chittenden, for many years governor of the state of Vermont, was a native, of this town. He was born 6th January, Mr. Zebul Bradley of New Haven, now 56 years of age, is his great grandson. Mr. Bradley had five or six brothers, who came over about the period he arrived. They were all Cromwell's men, and staunch dissenters. 1730; and at the age of twenty one years (1751) he removed to Salisbury in this state, where he continued until 1773, when he the second time encountered the privations and hardships of a new country, by emigrating into the state of Verinont. But he was amply rewarded for his enterprise, having made a valuable location of land, upon the beautiful alluvial of the Onion river, which soon became valuable, and enabled him to leave a large estate to his posterity. He was also honored with the confidence of the public, and attained to distinguished public employments, having been elected the first governor of that state, in March, 1778. He died August 25th, 1797.* Ebenezer Chittenden, brother to the preceding, was possessed of a great mechanical genius, and was the inventor of a machine for cutting and bending card teeth. This was before the Revolution. Being of an open and communicative disposition, some person, taking advantage of this trait in his character, obtained a knowledge of his invention, went to England and took out a patent, claiming himself to have been the original inventor. MERIDEN. MERIDEN was originally a society in the town of Wallingford, and was incorporated as a town in 1806. The society was formed in 1725, "It consisted at first of between 30 and 40 families. They had preaching only in the winter season, for the first three years, and met in a private house two winters. Their first meeting house was built in 1727. The Rev. Theophilus Hall went to preach to them in December, 1728. The next year a church was gathered, and Mr. Hall was ordained their pastor. Their second meeting house was built in 1755. Mr. Hall died in 1767, in the 60th year of his age and 38th of his ministry. He was much esteemed as a preacher of great firmness and stability, and a zealous advocate for civil and religious liberty."+ The following view is rather east of south; the first building on the left, before which a stage is passing, is the Episcopal, the next the Baptist, the other is the Congregational church, which is the largest of the three. The building in the distance, on the right, has been long known as an excellent tavern, and is the half-way house from Hartford to New Haven, it being seventeen miles from each place. The elevated peak seen in the distance above the half-way house is Mount Lamentation, about 3 miles distant, and is by far the most elevated point of the Middletown and Wallingford range of mountains. It is the most prominent object which meets the eye for many miles, as you pass either north or south from Meriden. Meriden is bounded N. by Berlin, E. by Middletown, s. by Wallingford, and w. by Cheshire and Southington. Its average length from east to west is 5 miles, and its average breadth 43 miles. The township is hilly, and some sections of it are mountainous. The Middle * Pease and Niles' Gazetteer. + Dr. Dana's Century Sermon. |