Morning journal and courier., 1890-04-01
Nonra HAVEN ANNALS.

NOHkTH HAVEN ANNAASs
The Early History OF Manufacturing
In tho Parish-Pioneer Farmer Brad.
ley-The Bradley Homestead - Mill
Building Ono Hundred and Twenty
Years Ago Tho old "Tide miif''-
sketch OF It's History-Captaan Time
oshy Andrews-His Business Record
--Other Early MIL Buildcrs-Medi-
cine and Music.
NUMBER Al.
From all indications James Bradley sp-
pears to have been the pioneer of manufac-
turing operations In the parish. This gen.
tleman came within our lines about ITO and
settled In the Fifth district. His homestead
comprised 1913 acres and was said to have
been one mile in length. Near the center OF
Il he built log house and there lived many
years. The site of the present dwelling on
the Fri Bradley estate marks the exact loca.
ton and the old we'll, probably the very
Oldest In the town, still yields its water,
sweet and pure, to whoever would psrtake.
Besides the homestead, Mr.. Bradley owned
other real estate farther east, and, tradition
asserts, built "fulling mill' on Muddy
river near the location of the old Smith saw
mill at Clintonville. Nothing is known Of
the extent of the works or their success or
failure Certainly the country must have
been very thinly settled at that early period
and the volume of business could not have
been large.
Between the years 1850 and 1850 there was
| a decided impetus given to mill building and
manufacturing operations. Muddy river af-
forded about the only water power In the
parish, and from a memorandum made by
DR., Ezra Stiles in 1851 we learn on this
stream were 1.-TWO corn mills, two fulling
| mills and three saw mills"
To Aaron Day we are indebted for the
"Tide mill" ct Mansfeld's bridge. Mr.. Day
| was merchant of New Haven. His father
was Samuel and his grandfather Thomas Day
rotary OF the board of education in New Ha-
ven, is a direct descendant. Aaron Day
graduated at Yale in 1888 and mar
ried fret Sybil Munson of New Hvven and
second Susanna Stanley. He was the
senior partner of Day and Wooster, dealers
in liquors, molasses and other products, ana
concerned in the West India trade. The
house eventually became financially involved
and retired from business. While living in
New Haven Mr.. Day was much honored for
his uprightness, thoroughness, and general
business ability. In 1854 he was concerned
in the lottery venture for the building of
Long wharf, and the next year was sent IA
special commissioner by the state governs
ment to relieve the wants of our forces at
Lake George. He was also the recipient OF
| other marks of public trust.
On the breaking up of his business In New
| haven he removed with his family to this
parish. It ia uncertain where he lived. In
| 1854 he served ON the school COMMITTEES
and in 176S himself and wife united with
| DR.. Trumbull's church. From the bonnd.
aries given In certain deed 1t would seem
as il he was west of East river and not fa1
| from the bridge.
| Mr.. Day had not long been in the parish
when he appeared before the "Proprietors'
| of New Haven with q petition which is no.
ticed as follows in their journal:
"Dec. Is, 1762.
| to build grist mill in North Haven near the Pine
| Bridge across the East river. Whereupon this
meeting do appoint Messrs. Thomas Darling, Dan
| lei Lyman and William Greenough committee te
view the place and report their opinion thereon te
| the next meeting"
The next meeting was held on the last Mon
| day In December. 1862, and the following
| minute was entered on the records:
and Moses Tharp al Ra
ven, have made a motion to thi. meeting for them
East River in North Haven in order to ersct sris
mill north Of the Pine Bridge SO called up to the
dividing line between the proprletors land and tht
land belonging to the heirs of Ebenezer Bassstt de
| ceased
| Votsd-That If the said Aaron Day--Thoma'
Mansfeld-Ephraim Humaston and Moses Tharp Of
their heirs shall build dam across said East Rlyel
-viz-north of the Pine Bridge called up to the
e o
ceased and erect good and suaicient grst mill up
'a aste ''% hereto S'n then the privilege
said stream one mile above where he as, sa j.
be to them and their heirs SO long as they shall
keep said dam and mill in good repair fit TOR scr
vice provided that the aforesaid persons save y" tn
by reason Of building said DAM"
| Having secured this concession the part
ners went forward with their enterprise.
dam was thrown across tho river few fee
south of the present bridge (she old bridg
being then still farther south). Its construc
tors were compelled to leave gap fftee
feet in the middle for "shadway." Dur
ing April, May and June this fshway wa
required to be kept open for the free passag
of shsd. While this regulation was In fore
OF course 1t suspended all operations in tn
mill and proved at length serious embar
rassment; with the dam open there was n
accumulation of water to speak of, and henc
no power; in the other months of the yea
they were allowed the full strength of tn
stream.
The mill was built on the east bank jus
below the present bridge. 1t was fitted n
with two "runn Of. stones, one for grindin
corn meal and one for rye or wheat houl
The machinery, 1t is rumored, was "secon
hand" and somewhat inferior; the stoht
were not of the best burr and the results nj
Just what the settlers expected. Ono LeaveI
worth Is said to have been the first miller
charge, but If all reports are correct concern
ing him he was considerably more infcri'
tn," n hi 'rrn sLs The complaints OF the poop
of the owners and Leavenworth was oil
charged.
Benjamin Bishop succeeded to the manag
ment, but he was scarcely more compete
than his predecessor. mhs sports OF the ne
and river, combined with certs
West India product hampered his Attenti
TO the wants of his customers. There we
others who tried their skill In this directio
but somehow none ever attained success. 1
mill shares changed hands repeatedly; Sal
lawsuits with the proprietors over certs
water privileges; the mill gradually fell In
decay and in the end proved complete ia
ure. Mr.. Day removed to Southingte
Conn. where he died September 8, II
His son William married Mary Ives Of Il
parish and went to Great Darlington, Mass
On the opposite eide Of the river h n:iws
sswmiil was set up, using the g sae nNs =
Tor motive power. Benjamin Bishop
eLove-was owner and proprietor, having
moved it from the brook which now suppl
J George w. Smiths mill pond. At that u
and 7ianYsfd1 just below was in full o assnA
dustry proved a success. The entire area
y, and down the street, where now stand
y many dwellings, was once the "log yard
Cd this mill, but after time, like Its Wis. q.
N across the stream, 1t too fell into ruin Q
u was torn away.
Nc At the same meeting of the New Ha,
~ proprietors, to whom Aaron Day present
n his petition In 1762, was another person, "
sil also left his mark upon the parish. T
60 gentleman was Captain Timothy Andrev
Id Originally New Haven family, 1t see
reasonable in the absence of anything to
contrary, to associate him with those of
II name in 1888. William Andrews was
planter of means, church going man an,
q member of the court from the first. ny.
| sides this he was at the head of his prof
sion as carpenter and contracted to bu
the first meeting house In New Haven
1889, and In addition to this he was I
first innkeepsr (2) in New Haven, as Y
Captain Timothy in North Haven.
The latter gentleman came to this parl
=. on or about the time of the building of
q mill. From an old account book kept wh
= In hts tavern stand, IL would seem that
4 was proprietor of this famous hostelry
i early as ITO, but as this inn is to recei
| special attention later further alIuaion Ia