Canterbury, Connecticut Biographies
Dwight Barstow was born in Canterbury Plains, August 8th, 1820.
He is a son of Hezekiah and Rebecca (Gager) Barstow, and grandson of
Hezekiah and Olive (Bradford) Barstow. He was educated in Canterbury, and
is about the only living person that attended Prudence Crandall's school
at the time she dismissed her white scholars and filled up her school with
colored. He held the office of highway surveyor for thirty years. He was
married to Amelia Lyon, September 18th, 1854, and their children are:
Charles, George and Frank. Mr. Barstow is a member of the Congregational
church. The family have occupied one slip in the Canterbury church for 50
years.
George L. Carey was born in Canterbury, October 12th, 1842, is a
son of Benajah and Mary Bacon Adams Carey, and grandson of James and Phebe
Carey. He was educated in the Canterbury schools. At the age of eighteen
he enlisted in the 1st Connecticut cavalry, Company A, Captain Andrew W.
Bowen. He served for three years under such generals as Grant, Sheridan,
Custer and Sigel, and is now a member of Sedgwick Post, No. 1, G. A. R.
His brother Dwight Carey, enlisted at the age of 16, and lost his life at
the battle of Antietam. His remains were brought home. His brother Asa B.
Carey, is a graduate of West Point, served all through the rebellion, and
is now paymaster in the regular army. Mr. Carey represented his town in
the legislature for two sessions. He is married to Fannie R. Fisher,
daughter of Benjamin F. and Fannie -Havens Fisher. He attends the
Congregational church.
T. G. Clarke was born in Franklin, Conn., June 16th, 1809. His
parents were Allen G. and Celinda (Darling) Clarke, and his grandparents
were Asa and Rebecca (Allen) Clarke. Mr. Clarke taught school in the
winter time from the age of 16 to 21, then prepared for the theological
seminary at East Windsor, from which he graduated and preached until
health failed. He then engaged in farming. He was a member of the
legislature four years. He married for his first -life Cressa Judson, in
September, 1844, and by her had the following children: Rebecca, Isabella.
Josephine J., Andrew T. J., Allen G. and John D. He was married in April,
1870, to Sarah Johnson. Mr. Clarke has been deacon of the Congregational
church 34 years.
J. L. Hyde, born in Canterbury, June 12th, 1826, is a son of
Nehemiah and Rebecca (Lewis) Hyde, and grandson of Jonathan and Hannah
(Bentley) Hyde. He was married March 24th, 1851, to Mary Ann Olin.- Their
children are: Hannah Adelaide and Frederick Louis.
G. T. Kendall, born in Canterbury, October 30th, 1821, is a son of
John and Sarah (Parkhurst) Kendall, and grandson of John and Lois (Palmer)
Kendall. Mr. Kendall has held numerous town offices. He attends the
Unitarian church of Brooklyn.
Rufus S. Ladd, born in Franklin, Conn., August 17th, 1824, is a son
of Festus and Ruby Ladd. His maternal grandparents were Ezekiel Ladd and
Ruth Hyde. His paternal grandparents were Abner Ladd and Abigail Perkins.
Mr. Ladd was representative in the legislature of 1875. He was married May
27th, 1857, to Jane 1I. Ladd. Their children were: Elsie D. and William E.
Elsie D. died March 14th, 1884, in the 29th year of her age. Jane M.
Ladd's grandfather on her father's side was Hazen Ladd, and her
grandmother Rhode Smith; on her mother's side Abner Ladd and Sallie Cook.
John McMurray was born in County Ayr, Scotland, September 16th,
1827, and is a son of Gilbert and Janet McMurray. He married February
11th, 1868, to Sarah, daughter of George and Miranda Lyon, and has one
daughter, Jennie Faith. Mr. McMurray is a deacon in the Congregational
church.
James B. Palmer, son of Asher and Joanna (Ames) Palmer, and
grandson of Uriah and Elizabeth (Newton) Palmer, was born in Norwich,
Conn., January 17th, 1830, and is a farmer. He represented his town in the
legislature and is at present - first selectman. He was married in 1854 to
Sarah W. Holmes. Their children are: Alice, Alida, Addie, Nellie, Mary,
Frankie, Jennie, Libby, Asher P., and William J. Mr. Palmer attends the
Congregational church.
Charles L. Ray, born in Voluntown, Conn., in 1826, is a son of
Palmer and Annie (Brewster) Ray. He is deacon of the Congregational church
of Canterbury Green. He was married January 27th, 1850, to Phebe Eaton.
Edmund Smith, born in Canterbury, November 8th, 1834, is a son of
John and grandson of Roger Smith. His mother was Emeline Williams and his
grandmother Alice Bingham. His brother John O. Smith was born in
Canterbury October 31st, 1840, and is a graduate of the New York Eclectic
College. His sister Harriet W., was born in Canterbury July 15th, 1832,
and in 1856 married Danforth C. Bugbee. Mr. Smith holds the office of
selectman. He was married March 17th, 1863, to Abbie C. Stanton and has
one son, Burr S.
Walter Smith, born in Canterbury February 12th, 1811, is a son of
Walter and Lydia (Mudge) Smith. His grandfather was John and his
great-grandfather Joseph Smith. Mr. Smith has represented his town for
three terms in the legislature. He was married in 1835 to Susan Lyon.
Their children are: Henry, Helen, Columbus, Mellen W., Elbert and Flora.
Washington Smith, born in Canterbury in January, 1833, is a son of
J. B. Smith and grandson of Roger Smith. For thirty-five years he has
successfully conducted his business of blacksmith in this place. He
married Mary A. Brown in 1856. His children are: George W., born 18;5S;
Mary E., 1860; Charles F., 1863; and Ruth K., 1867.
Additional Offsite Biographies
Source: History of Windham County, Connecticut, Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889