The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-12
JONATHAN
TRUMBULL"
Essay Which Won Price OF $40
Offered by the Colonial
Danes.
(By Bruce T. Simonds.)

(By Bruce T. Simonds.)
To Bruce T. Simonds of Bridgeport,
IA years old and a pupil in the pub
lie high school of that city, has been
awarded the first prize offered each
year by the Connecticut Society of
Colonial Danes of America for the
best essay submitted on a historical
subject in the state. The prize is
known as the Ellen Terry johnson
prize, and it's value is $40. The
subject of Mr.. Simonds' essay was
Jonathan Trumbull"
In the little town of Lebanon. Con-
necticut. Jonathan Trumbull was born
on Sunday, October IL, ITO. He
was the second son of Joseph and
Hannah Higley Trumbull and came
from a good ancestry. AS child.
he was fond of study, and was placed
'uel Welles, with whom he made such
fine progress that he was ready for
Harvard when thirteen. He was a
very modest boy and probably would
not have been DISTINGUISHED there.
standing. Already familiar with
Greek and Latin, he took UP Hebrew
successfully. and also attained a high
rank in mathematics. He graduated
one of twenty-seven in the class of
1927.
After leaving college, he took up
theology with the Rev. Solomon Will
liams, and was called to preach at
Colchester, but before he had dec1d-
ed whether he would accept, sad
accident occurred. His elder broth
er, Joseph, his fathers partner in
business was lost at sea. and Mr..
Trumbull, greatly distressed. needed
someone to take his place, Jonathan
accordingly took the position and de-
clined the call to the pulpit
Though very busy as a merchant
he began to study law and to ac-
quaint himself with the affairs of the
day. His knowledge Of the cOnd1-
ton of the colonies made him so re-
nowned that he was elected delegate
was reelected several times and in
1740 he was chosen assistant in the
Council great honor for a man of
TrumbulPs age.
Five years before this he had mar
ried Faith Robinson of Duxbury, and
Joseph and Jonathan, the former des-
tined to be the first commissary gen.
eral of the Continental Army, the lat
ter a governor Of Connecticut. By
the year 1745 he had two daughters,
Faith, who married General Jedidiah
Huntington, and Mary, who married
William Williams, a signer of the
Declaration of Independence. David
whose life was also associated with
the Revolution, was born in 1850 and
John, who became a noted historical
painter, was six years younger than
David.
Between the years 1740 and 1853,
Trumbull held many prominent posi-
lions, being particularly active in the
French and Indian War. When his
father died in 1855 he became the
sole dependence of his mother. AS
a merchant he prospered until 1855.
when he lost f435; but he bore this
misfortune bravely. In this year he
became deputy-governor, and three
years later he was elected governor of
the state.
In 1875 the Revolution broke out
and Trumbull became more active
than ever Tories plotted against his
life for he was known as the Rebel
occurred in June, bringing sorrow to
him, for then the family circle was
first broken. His daughter Faith,
who had recently been married, wit
messed the battle from Boston. The
shock and anxiety for her husband
strain upon her. she became insane
and died the following autumn. Trum-
bulls grief was keen but it did not
lessen his services for the country.
The chairman of the Council of Safe
ty he held LOO meetings in the old
war Office at Lebanon where plans
were made concerning the raising of
troops and money and where officers
of the continental army were often
received. Inventors of bombs and
mines also came to the Office, among
them being Bushnell with his famous
American Turtle" Trumbull was a
warm friend of Washington, who Of
ten turned to him for advice, saying
Let US consult Brother Jonathan"
His admirable foresight could hardly
y a., <xIn = f<1
lowing instance: A call was sent out
for beeves and owing TO Trumbull
Connecticut had many to give from
her well-stocked larder, while other
states had few or none. For this
reason Connecticut was called the
Provision State.''
During the Revolution two of
Trumbull's family died at Lebanon
Joseph his oldest son and Faith his
wife, He mourned long and sincere
ly after both deaths. for his son had
just reached the prime of life and
his wife was support in his old age,
as Trumbull was IS years old at the
close of the Revolution. In October
of 1888 he resigned the governorship
having held that office for fourteen
years. Two years later he contract
ed a fever and died August IT, 1855.
When we read the life of Trumbull.
meagre as the records are, we are i'm
pressed with his piety which mani
rested ESeu as early as the Tune Wn6n
he was in college. Here he joined
a religious society which was organ
lied to keep the members loving, char
liable and virtuous. After college,
as we have stated, he studied for the
ministry and although he eventually
became a merchant he never forgot
his theology or his Hebrew, which en-
abled him to read the Bible in the
original language. AS governor his
many proclamations of fasts and
thanksgivings breathe an especially
devout spirit and he died mistaken
in his conviction of q world beyond
this.
Trumbull was always faithful and
loving husband. Although he mar
ried a wife eight years younger than
himself his love never waned ana
for forty-f1ve years, until Mrs. Trum-
bull died, they lived together, each
proud Of the other and of their chill
dren. Her death was the most Sc
we're affliction that he ever experience
ed. AS a father, he was wiser than
many. He provided each of his chill
dren with a good education. All
the boys were sent to college with the
exception of David, who because of
his fathers misfortune could not go.
Contrary to the custom of most pa
rents in those times Trumbull permit
ted John to paint, recognizing the
boys talent, although he considered
art inadequate as a means of sup