History of Milford, (New Haven County) Connecticut United States of America

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Biographies:

Ebenezer Prime, clergyman, was born in Milford, Conn., July 21, 1700; grandson of James Prime of Huguenot descent, who emigrated from Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, with his brother Mark, and settled in Milford, Conn., in 1644. He was graduated at Yale, A.B., 1718, A.M., 1721; studied for the ministry under the Rev. Samuel Andrew, A.M., president pro tempore of Yale, 1707-19; was assistant to the Rev. Eliphalet Jones at Huntington, L.I., N.Y., 1719-23; was ordained to the Congregational ministry, June 5, 1723, and was pastor at Huntington, 1723-79, organizing the presbytery of Long Island in 1747. He was a staunch patriot during the Revolution, although he suffered much. He was driven from his home and church in his old age, both buildings being occupied by British troops who destroyed his library, and after his death Count Rumford tore down the church and used the materials in building barracks and block-houses in the grave yard. He was married first, Oct. 2, 1723, to Margaret, daughter of Nathaniel Sylvester of Shelter Island; secondly, Nov. 12, 1730, to Experience, daughter of Benjamin Youngs of Southold, L.I., N.Y., and thirdly, March 10, 1751, to Hannah Carll of Huntington, L.I., N.Y. He published: Ordination to the Gospel Ministry, sermon (1754); The Pastor at Large Vindicated (1758); The Divine Institution of Preaching the Gospel Considered (1758), and The Importance of the Divine Presence with the Armies of God's People in their Martial Enterprises (1759). He died in Huntington, L.I., N.Y., Sept. 25, 1779.

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

Jared Ingersoll, colonial agent, was born in Milford, Conn., June 3, 1722; son of Jonathan Ingersoll, and grandson of John Ingersoll, who was born in England in 1615 and came to America. John Ingersoll lived in Salem, Mass., for a time, but was in Hartford, Conn., in 1644, in Northampton, Mass., in 1655, and settled about 1665 in Westfield, Mass., and probably lived there until his death, on Sept. 3, 1684. Jared Ingersoll was graduated at Yale college in 1742, and became a distinguished lawyer in Connecticut. He was married to Hannah Whiting. In 1759 he was sent to England as agent for the colony of Connecticut, and to him is due the preservation of Colonel Barre's famous burst of eloquence in reply to Charles Townshend. He opposed the passage of the stamp act, but accepted, with Franklin's advice, the appointment of stamp-master-general for the New England colonies. Upon his return to America with his commission, he was compelled by a mob to resign the office and to cheer three times for "Liberty and Property." The story is that he said, "The cause is not worth dying for." After this he moved to Philadelphia, and was appointed admiralty judge of the middle district. He returned to New Haven, and died there in August, 1781.

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

Richard Law, delegate, was born in Milford, Conn., March 17, 1738; son of Gov. Jonathan and Anna (Eliot) Law. He was graduated from Yale A.B., 1751, A.M., 1754; studied law in the office of Jared Ingersoll, was admitted to the bar at New Haven, Conn., in 1754, and practised in Milford, 1754-57, and in New London, Conn., after 1757. He was married to Ann, daughter of John Prentiss of New London. He was judge of the county court, a member of the general assembly, and one of a committee of fifteen who on Dec. 28, 1767, drew up a form of subscription, by which the use of certain enumerated articles subject to tax was condemned and relinquished by the people of New London. He was made a member and moderator of the committee of correspondence at the meeting held at New London, June 27, 1774; was a member of the governor's council, and was nominated as a delegate to the Continental congress in 1776; but in June, 1776, at the period of appointment he was confined in a hospital with the smallpox, and tires was deprived of becoming a signer of the Declaration of Independence.. He was a delegate to the Continental congress in 1778, when he was excused from further service in the governor's council. He was again a delegate, 1781-84; was mayor of New London, 1784-1806; judge of the supreme court of Connecticut, 1784-89, and chief justice of the superior court in 1789. With the help of Roger Sherman, he revised and codified the statute laws of Connecticut. He was appointed by President Washington judge of the United States District Court of Connecticut in 1789, and he held the office until his death. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Yale college in 1802. He died in New London, Conn., Jan. 26, 1806.

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

Edward Benton Coe, clergyman, was born in Milford, Conn., June 11, 1842; son of the Rev. David Benton and Rebecca (Phoenix) Coe. He was prepared for college in a private school in New York city and was graduated at Yale in 1862. He studied at Union theological seminary, 1862-63, was a private tutor, 1863-64, and studied in France and Germany, 1864-67. In 1864 he accepted the newly established Street professorship of modern languages in Yale college, and held the chair until 1879. He was licensed to preach by the Manhattan Congregational association in 1877, and on Oct. 2, 1879, was ordained by the Classis of New York (Reformed church in America) and installed pastor of the (Collegiate) Reformed Protestant Dutch church on the corner of 5th Avenue and 48th street, New York city. He became senior minister of the Collegiate churches, Feb. 3, 1896. He was elected a trustee of Rutgers college in 1887; of Robert college at Constantinople in 1894; of Leake and Watts orphan house in 1896; of Columbia university in 1896, and manager of the Presbyterian hospital in 1896. On June 1l, 1874, he was married to Mary Jenks, daughter of the Rev. Richard S. and Mary (Elwell) Storrs. He received from Yale the degree of S.T.D. in 1885, and from Rutgers that of D.D. in 1881, and that of LL. D. in 1893. His published writings consist chiefly of sermons and addresses, and include: The Dignity of Human Nature (1882); Church Unity (1891); Washington, the Man (1893); Discourse Commemorative of the Rev. Talbot Wilson Chambers, S.T.D., LL. D. (1896); The Church and the Popular Discontent (1896).

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