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A LYME BENEFAOtOn,A Story of Love Defying Parental 0|i|n*l-llou, Sncceaa auil Generosity.Under the above heading the New London Day published anartiele written by W. H. H. Comstock, well-known In Niantic, and it is reproduced here in full because of its interest to Kast Lyme people as a bit of the town's history.There lived in Lyme more than 100 years ago a poor boy by the mime of Miller, who when a young man courted and married a young lady by the name of Lee very much against the wishes of her parents, who disinherited her. This young couple instead of branching out with expensive furniture commenced keeping house with rude furniture made of slabs from a saw mill and consisting of tables and benches. They were industrious and frugal and commenced laying up money very fast and soon were able to purchase a farm of their own.He was popular and was a captain of the militia. He lived in that part of Lyme which is now East Lyme uud was in the Ancient Second Bociety of Lyme, there being at that time two societies, the first society embracing that portion of Lyme west of the Greathill woods and bounded on the west by the Connecticut river. His farm was situated on the hill leading from the Luncapog road to tile Old Stone church and in sight of Long Island Sound and Bride lake. A portion of this farm was afterwards leased^for 999 years to Collins Gorton, and a portion of it lying on the south side of this road was purchased by Seth Smith, and afterwards became the property of Dr. John S. Smith and latter the property of Mrs. W. H. H. Comstock and her brother, the late Dr. Seth Smith of this city.This farm of Capt. Elisha Miller wased to the proper officials at Washington asking lor legislation authorising the construction of the breakwater. This petition will undoubtedly be sent to Congressman llusseil. The town of East Lyme, should interest itself in this plan and use every endeavor to make it a success.KAIL ROAD WRECK AT WATERFORD.At 5 :30 last Tuesday evening an extra freight train on the Shore Line division was wrecked at Waterford. The train was eastward bound and broke iu two or parted, making two sections. The engine with its several cars attached, slowed down on the curve and the rear portion collided with it with great force. Pour cars were rolled down the twenty foot embankment and the track was tom up a distance or about 200 feet. A broken axle is thought to he the primary cause of the accident. Travel was delayed for several hours, it being midnight before it was possible to get a train through. No one was injured.Iu one of the box ears that went down the embankment were four tramps This particular car rolled over and over sideways and finally landed on end. The tramps shouted for help and were hauled out by the trainmen. They were not in the least injured.given by will to the Ancient Second ofly«»ctety Of Lyme, forever for school purposes and the income derived theretrom for the rental was to be divided among the children in the several districts between the ages of 4 and IC years respectively.Capt. Elisha Miller died on the 24th of February, 1779, in the 62nd year of bis age and was buried in the old burying ground near the Old Stone church in East Lyme and the following inscription appears on hiB tombstone.“In memory of Capt. Elisha Miller, a worthy benefactor of this society, and in particular to the youth in that he gave a great part of his estate to the support of schools.“Who died February 24th, 1779, iu the C2 year of his age, a friend to all, a fath er to the poor and needy.”Also another stone of marble erected to his memory by the Inhabitants of the Ancient Second society of Lyme, now East Lyme, has the following inscription :Oct. 1st, 1825, this stone is erected bj the inhabitants of the Ancient Second society of Lyme, as a token of respect to Capt. Elisha Miller, who died February 24, 1779, in the 02 year of his age.”This farm was rented to different tenants and was running to waste and the society had trouble in collecting the rents. Finally to remedy this evil they made application to the legislature for liberty to aell the same but the legislature refused to grant the requestand the Bociety then concluded to lease the farm for s long term of years.The society committee at that time consisted of Joel Lewist Titus Beckwith and Richard Huntley and they gave lease to CollinB Gorton, his heirs and assignees, etc., for 999 years from April 1st, 1828. The avails of this lease were invested permanently in the stock of the New I-iondon bank. Twenty-nine shares were bought untransferable, and afterwards one share was bought with the interest from the original shares, so that this bank hd thirty ahares of its stock held by the Ancient Second society of Lyme, twenty-nine shares being untransferable and one share transferable.This stock was held by this society until about 1865, when the bank went Into a national bank and they made the society take the money for the untransferable stock and the question was raised how much ought the bank to pay the society for the stock; the state of Connecticut had money in this bank similarly invested and this society accepted the same pay that the state accepted.The claim made by the bank was that the bank was bolden for this stock at its face value under any circumstances and therefore ought not to be obliged to pay a premium.I was treasurer of this Bociety for many years and was in the habit of drawing the dividends from this bank, which amounted to #75 semi-annually or •ISO per annum, which was divided among the scholars in the several school districts in the society the same as the money from the school fund.This money paid back by the bank was then held by the town of East Lyme, for which the society held the selectmen’s order on Interest. Subsequently the money to conform to the state law wsa removed from the custody of the selectmen and placed in the hands of the Judge of probate, where It nowOil) hTME.Capt. R. K. Miner spent Saturday at his home.Chas Childs of Montclair, N. J., spent Sunday in town.Mrs. Perkins and daughter spent Thursday in New Haven.D. O. Maynard received the new show windows for his market Monday.Union Temperance meeting was held at the Congregational church Sunday evening.Depot Agent Gile spent Thursday in New Haven. John Condon took this place.Robert Rowland returned home Saturday, after spending a week in New York.Reuben Beckwith has closed his labors with Mrs. E. E. Salisbury for the winter.Champion Caulklns received a se-cond shipment of holiday goods Monday.Fred Gates and son lined up their new engine and lowered it into their launch Thursday.Mrs. Anna Bradbury left for New London Friday where Bhe expects to spend the winter.W. N. Austin built a new sled for his launch Wednesday and will haul her out at the first Bnow storm.W. S. Hart, who has been spending a few weeks with Mrs. S. Sill, left for Brooklyn Thursday.Chas. Morley has been engaged to paint J. G. Perkins house. He commenced the work Thursday.James Maher and wife of Brooklyn, are the guestsjofJMr. and Mrs. William Bates for a few weeks.Bradbury A Co. received a large shipment of wool last week. This accounts for the broad smile on their faces.Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Manning and Miss Avery left for Syracuse Thursday, where they will spend the winter.Mr. Joslah Wheaton has purchased the Hopper mansion at Black Hall. He will move into hiB new residence in the spring.Rev. Mr. Hubbard of the Huntington street Baptist chtrch, in New London, preached at the Congregational church Sunday.Many persons of this place would like to see the jolly face of Landlord Chapin, of the Pierripont House, in town once more.Fred Gates is known to be the leading blacksmith of the town and by his good work, from four to six horses can be seen at his Bhop every day waiting to be shod.Lon Rowland left for New York Thursday where he has been engaged to do office work. His many friends wIbIi him luck in his new business.The committee of the Lyme Cornet band have decided to give the band room a coat of paint. Henry NoyeB and sou are handling the brushes.. Jerry Daniels, the fur dealer, has shipped a large quantity of furs to Boston this week. He is around once a week and gives high prices for all kinds of fur.Tt e Polo ten of Laysviile, and the ten of this place will play a game at Lee’s pond CbriBtmas day, if the ice is good, at 10 o’clock. No money has been wagered yet.Jerry Murphy of Black Hail, has re signed his position as coachman for Mrs. Matthew Griswold, and accepted position as janitor of one of the Yale buildings at New Haven.Capt. C. D. Morgan has been in the woods the past two weeks, learning the art of wood cutting. He now announcee that he is ready for all jobs in this line The captain is a competent man In all respects and we would advise people having these'jobs to give him a trial.The Si Sunday a: conferenc minister present.Don’t f der” out I and YYedi per scrvelt; ing. Adi Gurdoi the (imti from wor cently, is soon to b The Stt warden o put n stO| tci of wll the river, guns are The La dist chut and sale Thursda; pairs iu i Miner . at rock are Beilin place to and figs. 25 cents, per bottl Any pi any of formerly confer a oorrespo Bitby, O Blllard.Capt. ’ of the la family tl is a ship’ of the v when th during tl Foliov the annt No. 29 1w. w. ss. w; H. field, tr tary; Hi Pratt, j. Gladdini ler; Rev Johnson Capt.. the sou much at on his | which tl ity. Mi himself, his frlen posted,! differenc shootinghis grot gun at h though ] he thou) valor, ai hunter’s invoked are look the outr given tbAn u post-offi Some ing the Mrs.: home w Read ent th ter.David rear of street.Chapielectioning.Dee I two sm ties.HarrjvisitingMorganMissvisitinghome.Chas. Cook, i Middtet AFre Siney tf the toi Post.W.K to havi laid in I tage. -News Harvey is very Vermor Janie from th part of M. G. J The 1 bail at i mas nl are for Deaci Mrs. Bi where t Mr. Bri Chris this we elsewhf line of Quntlt Clark.
Newspaper Details
Connecticut Eastern News
Niantic, Connecticut, US
Tue, Dec 18, 1894
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Connecticut S.
CT, USA 17 Oct 2023
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Connecticut Eastern News
