History of Durham, (Middlesex County) Connecticut United States of America

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Biographies:

Daniel Lyman, jurist, was born in Durham, Conn., Jan. 27, 1756; son of Thomas and Anne (Merwin) Lyman, grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth (???) Lyman, and a descendant of Richard Lyman, a native of Essex county, England, who emigrated to America with his family in 1631, and settled first in Charlestown, Mass., and in 1635 in Hartford, Conn. Daniel was graduated at Yale, A.B., 1776, A.M., 1779, and in 1775 served as captain in the expedition against Ticonderoga, Crown Point and St. John. He returned to the army after his graduation, was appointed brigade-major, and had his horse shot under him at the battle of White Plains, N.Y. He was promoted captain under Col. W. R. Lee, in 1777; became aide to General Heath in May, 1778, and adjutant-general of the eastern department in 1779, and was stationed on the Hudson River until the end of the war. He was married, Jan. 10, 1789, to Mary, daughter of John Wanton of Newport, R.I. He practised law in Newport, R.I., 1782-1808; and was chief justice of the supreme court of Rhode Island, 1802-16. He built the Lyman cotton mill in Providence, toward the close of his life. He was a member of the Hartford convention that met Dec. 15, 1814; and was president of the state Society of the Cincinnati. He died in North Providence, R.I., Oct. 16, 1830.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Nathaniel Chauncy, clergyman, was born in Hatfield, Mass., Sept. 21, 1681; son of the Rev. Nathaniel and Abigail (Strong) Chauncy, and grandson of Charles and Catharine (Eyre) Chauncy. He was educated by his uncle, and in 1702 was graduated at Yale college an A.M. in the first class and the first man graduated, and so honored by the college. He was then placed in charge of the Hopkins grammar school in Hadley, Mass., and later taught at Springfield, Mass., studying theology meanwhile under his brother-in-law, the Rev. Daniel Brewer. He preached at the newly settled town of Durham, Conn., from about 1704, but was not ordained until Feb. 7, 1711. He continued in office until his death. In April, 1746, he was elected a fellow of Yale college, which office he resigned in September, 1752. He was married, Oct. 12, 1708, to Sarah, daughter of Capt. James and Rebecca (Wells) Judson of Stratford, Conn. He died at Durham, Conn., Feb. 1, 1756.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Phineas Lyman, soldier, was born in Durham, Conn., in 1716; son of Noah and Elizabeth Lyman and grandson of Thomas and Ruth (Holton) Baker Lyman of Northampton, Mass. He learned the trade of a weaver and was graduated from Yale, Dean's scholar, A.B., 1738, A.M., 1741; was a tutor there, 1738-41, and was admitted to the bar and settled in Suffield, Mass. In 1749 he procured the admission of the town of Suffield as part of Connecticut, and he was senior representative from Suffield in the Connecticut assembly, 1750-52, and a member of the upper house of assistants, 1752-59. He was appointed major-general, and commander-in-chief of the forces sent against Crown Point in March, 1755, and in the summer of 1756 he built Fort Lyman, afterward Fort Edward. He commanded in the battle of Lake George, Sept. 8, 1755, after Sir William Johnson was wounded, but Johnson's official report gave him no credit for the victory. In February, 1757, he commanded a regiment of 1400 men raised for service under the Earl of Loudoun, and during part of the subsequent campaign He commanded at Fort Edward. In March, 1758, with a force of 5000 men, he took part in the engagements that led to the repulse of General Abercrombie at Ticonderoga and in the defeat of Lord Howe. He commanded the Connecticut troops under General Amherst in the capture of Crown Point and Ticonderoga; in the reduction of Fort Louis at Oswego and the capture of Montreal. In March, 1762, he was placed in command of the entire provincial force engaged in the unsuccessful expedition against Havana, Cuba. He was in England, 1763-72, in the interest of the survivors of the French and Indian war, and obtained a grant of land 20 miles square, east of the Mississippi and south of the Yazoo river, and in 1772 he went with a few companions to make preparation for the removal of the survivors and their families. He was married Oct. 7, 1742, to Eleanor, daughter of Col. Timothy Dwight of Northampton, Mass. She removed to the settlement near Natchez, Miss., in 1776, where she died in April, 1777, and where General Lyman had died Sept. 10, 1774.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Elizur Goodrich, representative, was born in Durham, Conn., March 24, 1761; son of the Rev. Elizur Goodrich, fellow of Yale college. He was graduated at Yale A.B., 1779; A.M., 1782. He studied law; was a tutor in Yale, 1781-83; lawyer in New Haven, Conn., 1783-99; presidential elector in 1797, and a representative in the 6th congress, 1799-1801. He was collector of customs by appointment of President John Adams, 1801, but was removed by President Jefferson the same year and this action was the occasion for Jefferson to announce his approval of the spoils system which he denominated "removal for political opinion." He was probate judge for seventeen years, judge of the county court twelve years, professor of law in Yale college from the foundation of the chair in 1801 to 1810; mayor of New Haven, 1803-22; secretary of the corporation of Yale college, 1816-46, and received from that institution the degree of LL.D. in 1830. He died in New Haven, Conn., Nov. 1, 1849.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor