History of Groton, (New London County) Connecticut United States of America

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Biographies:

William Ledyard, soldier, was born in Groton, Conn., in 1750. He was in command of the state troops defending Fort Griswold and Fort Trumbull in 1781 against the advance of Arnold, and he had hastily gathered 157 of his militia in Fort Griswold when it was surrounded by nearly 800 trained British soldiers under Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre. In the assault Colonel Eyre was mortally wounded, Major Montgomery, second in command, killed, and Major Brownfield, third in command, who effected the entrance to the fort, partially disabled, forty-eight of his men having been killed by the fire of Colonel Ledyard's militia. To save the lives of his neighbors and friends, who formed his little force, after twelve of their number had been killed or wounded, Colonel Ledyard ordered them to lay down their arms and he handed his sword to his wounded captor. On taking the sword (as tradition hands down the story), Major Brownfield turned its point on the breast of his unarmed captive and plunged it through his body. His waistcoat pierced by the sword is preserved by the Connecticut Historical society. Not content with a single victim, the British soldiers turned upon their unarmed captives and killed eighty-five and wounded sixty. Many of the wounded, who were cared for by the women of Groton, including Fanny, niece of Colonel Ledyard, died from their wounds. His nephew, John Ledyard (1750-1789) was a navigator, explorer, witness of the death of Captain Cook and author of Narrative of the Third and Last Expedition of Capt. James Cook (1798). Col. William Ledyard died in Fort Griswold, Conn., Sept. 7, 1781.

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

Asa Packer, representative, was born in Groton, Conn., Dec. 29, 1805; son of Elisha and Desire (Packer) Packer, and grandson (maternally) of Joseph and Rebecca (Welles) Packer. His father and mother were cousins. Elisha Packer failed in business and the son had few educational advantages, working as a farmer and a carpenter. He was married Jan. 23, 1828, to Sarah M., daughter of Joseph Blakeslee of Springfield, Pa. In 1833 he removed to Mauch Chunk, Pa., and engaged with his brother, Robert W., in transporting coal to Philadelphia, and in mining, merchandising, boat building and canal construction. He was a representative in the Pennsylvania legislature, 1842-43 and thereafter irregularly for several terms; and associate judge of Carbon county, which county he was instrumental in forming, 1843-48. He owned a controlling interest in the Lehigh Valley railroad, was its president, 1851-79, and greatly extended its lines. He also owned the Bethlehem Iron Company works and was said to be the wealthiest man in Pennsylvania. He was a Democratic representative in the 33d and 34th congresses, 1853-57; a delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1868 and received the vote of the Pennsylvania delegates for President of the United States. He was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor of Pennsylvania in 1868. In 1865, after consulting with Bishop W. B. Stevens, he carried out a long cherished plan to found and endow Lehigh university at South Bethlehem, Pa., with 115 acres of land and $500,000. At this time no sum so large had been proposed by a single individual for such a purpose. The buildings the institution was incorporated Feb. 9, 1866, formally opening Sept. 1, 1866, with Bishop Stevens as the president of the board of trustees. At his death he left the university $1,500,000 for a permanent endowment and $500,000 to the library which made the institution self-sustaining. He built St. Luke's hospital, South Bethlehem, and in his will endowed it with $300,000 with the single provision that the employees of the Lehigh Valley railroad should thereafter be cared for without charge. He also built and endowed several churches of various denominations, and his daughter and only surviving child, Mrs. Mary Packer Cummings, built a memorial church on the campus of Lehigh university to the memory of her family, which was dedicated Oct. 13, 1887. He was prominent in encouraging the commercial interests of Pennsylvania, and in 1876 was a commissioner to the Centennial exposition. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., May 17, 1879.

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

Nathan Daboll, educator, was born in Groton, Conn., April 24, 1750; son of Nathan Daboll. He is said to have instructed upwards of fifteen hundred men in the science of navigation. He published the "Schoolmaster's Assistant" in New London, Conn., in 1799, and it was for many years the accepted textbook on arithmetic in all the New England schools. He also published about the same time the "Practical Navigator." He originated and issued, in 1773, one number of the Connecticut Almanac, which he continued as the New England Almanac up to the time of his death, after which it was continued by his grandson, David Austin, up to 1896. He died at Groton, Conn., March 9, 1818.

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

David Austin Daboll, publisher, was born in Groton, Conn., May 13, 1813; son of Nathan and Elizabeth, and grandson of Nathan Daboll, originator of the Connecticut Almanac and of Daboll's arithmetic. He was educated chiefly by his father, whom he aided in his literary work. He was a representative in the Connecticut legislature, 1846-71, and a state senator, 1871-72. He assisted his father in the preparation of "Daboll's New Arithmetic" and continued the publication of the New England Almanac and Farmer' s Friend, 1863-95. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Wesleyan university in 1872. He died in Groton, Conn., July 8, 1895.

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