Through Their Eyes...
Middletown, Middlesex County, CT Justice of the Peace Summonses
1817 - 1821
Alexander Wolcott
(September 15, 1758 - June 26, 1828)
Alexander Wolcott (1758–1828) was a United States customs inspector and a nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States. A leader of the Democratic-Republican Party in Connecticut, he holds the dubious distinction of being defeated by the widest margin of any Supreme Court nominee in American history: 9–24. Nominated by President James Madison to the late William Cushing's seat in February 1811, he was unpopular because, while a United States customs inspector, he had robustly enforced the Embargo and Non-Intercourse Acts. He was also faulted as lacking legal and judicial experience
From Wikipedia here:
Captain John Pratt
(October 12, 1753 – December 27, 1824)
Captain Pratt joined the forth regiment, Pennsylvania Line as an ensign in July 1779 and was promoted to lieutenant the following May and ended his Revolutionary War service as Regimental
Quartermaster of the Third Pennsylvania.
Served as acting Adjutant General of the US Army, 1790 - 1791
See a famous painting of the Captain here:
The above information from Wikipedia here:
Isaac Gridley
(Jul. 7, 1754 - Nov. 18, 1836)
Isaac Gridley was the roommate of Nathan Hale in Yale and was in a small boat with him when a storm came up. When there was danger Hale said, " I will never be drowned, I am to be hung," as he pointed to a wart on his neck. Mr. Gridley came to the Upper Houses as a teacher and lived a long life here. He purchased the Riley homestead, including the house built by Joseph, son of Nathaniel. The two daughters of Nathaniel were privileged by the contract to occupy the old Riley house and both did so till their deaths at the age of one hundred years. Mr. Gridley dealt largely in real estate and as justice of the peace he was for more than a generation the writer of, and witness to, deeds. He never left off wearing short clothes, and till the time of his death he was a noted figure on the streets. As a tything man he would go into the street on Sunday to stop a traveller, but instead of arresting him would invite him to spend the night as his guest. He was considered " the gentleman " of the community. His account books show his methodical methods and his moderate charges, many an item being six and one-fourth cents for a signature. He left a will in which he stated he had expended $4,000 in the education of his only son. He married Sept. 26, 1784, Elizabeth' Smith, dau. of Capt. John Smith. His arm-chair is in the possession of Mrs. C. Collard Adams, a descendant. He d. Nov. 18, 1836. The widow was blind for eight years, being cared for for some years in the old homestead by her widowed daughter, Elizabeth (Gridley) L'Hommedieu. She d. Aug. 27, 1851.
From:
Levi H. Clark
(1783 - 1840)
Levi H. CLARK, a native of Sunderland, Mass., and graduate of Yale, 1802, studied law with the Hon. Charles CHAUNCEY of New Haven, and with Asa BACON, Esq., in Canterbury. He commenced practice in Haddam in the Spring of 1805. Levi H. CLARK removed from Haddam to Middletown in 1807 or 8. In both towns he had considerable paractice. About 1816, he removed to Carthage, N.Y., invested property in that village and engaged in the building of the famous "Carthage Bridge," which was the wonder of western tourists. In the fall of that bridge he lost much property, and resorted afterwards mainly to the use of his pen for support. In 1821, he was appointed an associate judge of the County Court for the new county of Munroe, and that year he reported the proceedings of the Convention which formed a constitution for the Empire State. His reports were subsequently published in an octavo volume, styled "Clarke's Reports." From that time until 1835, he was generally connected in some way with papers and publications in New York city, as owner, partner, editor or correspondent, and from 1835 until Jun 1839, was a justice of the 7th, 10th & 15th wards. He died a Feeding Hills in West Springfield, 6 Feb 1840, aged 57. There is much evidence that before his death he became a sincere christian.
From:
Daniel Judd Griswold
(1783 - 1847)
(I have not been able to learn much about him. If you have any information on him please use the contact page to drop me an email. Thanks, Blair)