Jabez HUNTINGTON

Notes:

Name:
"Huntington Family Memoir": Graduated at Yale College, 1741. He was elected, in 1759, a member of the general assembly of his native state, for many years represented his native town to the universal acceptance of his fellow citizens, presiding, often, over the deliberations of the lower house. Early after his graduation he entered into the West India trade, and by an honorable and efficient business career, laid the foundations of one of the amplest fortunes of that age. At the commencement of our revolution he was the owner of a large amount of shipping, which of course was a very greatly endangered by the rupture with the mother land. but his patriotism prevailed over his commercial and pecuniary ambition. He cheerfully sacrificed his property and consecrated himself and his family to the cause of independence. He was one of the most active of the committee of safety during the war; and in the September session of the assembly for the year 1776, he was appointed one of the two major generals from Connecticut, for the militia of the sate, David Wooster being the other; and on the death of Wooster, from a wound received in the skirmish with the British, retreating from Danbury, in april of the next year, he was appointed major general over the entire Connecticut militia.

His great exertions, made for his country's cause, during those trying years of our national history, together with the great pecuniary losses which, in such a struggle, were inevitable, were too much even for his strong mind and vigorous frame. As the pressure of the early excitement and indispensable action passed away, it was soon seen how greatly they had impaired his physical and mental powers. "On finding himself disabled from public service, he resigned all his offices, and spent the remainder of his life in retirement, at his seat in Norwich. He was seized with a fatal complaint, in Feb. 1779, and after a gradual decline of more than seven years, he died, Oct. 5, 1786."

Gen. Huntington was a man of religious principle, having united with the church in 1741. It was very justly said in the funeral sermon delivered over his remains," he sustained an amiable and worthy character in the domestic relations and private walks of life." One other passage from that sermon, deserves transcribing for this notice: "As the train of melancholy distress which brought him to his end, probably originated from his painful and unremitted exertions for his country, in the time of danger; his country, surely, will not withhold the tear of grateful sorrow, but pay deserved respect to his memory, and teach succeeding generations to revere his dust; and as they pass his urn, to say, 'there lies the man who devoted his all to the public good; who sacrificed his ease, his health, and eventually his life, to serve and save his country."......

Jabez married Elizabeth BACKUS on 20 Jan 1741/42. Elizabeth was born on 21 Feb 1721; died on 1 Jul 1745. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jabez married Hannah WILLIAMS on 10 Jul 1746. Hannah was born on 23 Jul 1726; died on 25 Mar 1807. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
"Huntington Family Memoir":...He and his first wife united with the first Congregational church of Norwich in 1775, and eminently honored their Christian profession. His second wife, who lived until July 30, 1838, was a noble woman in all personal and social qualities. Mrs. Sigourney says of her, " she possessed an elegance of form and address, which would have been conspicuous at any foreign court. She was especially fascinating to the children who visited her, by her liberal presentations of cake and other pleasant eatables, or, what was to some equally alluring, a readiness to lend fine books with pictures."

Of Mr. Huntington the same authority says: he "was a man of plain manners and incorruptible integrity. His few words were always those of good sense and truth, and the weight of his influence given to the best interests of society." He engaged in commercial pursuits, and in 1795 embarked in the manufacture of paper at the Falls in Norwich. He was a judge of probate in his districts, as late as 1813. During the war of the revolution he was a commissary of brigade, and was untiring in his exertions to secure prompt supplies for the army. upon his services. Gov. Trumbull put great reliance, and it is on record that such reliance was not misplaced. He died April 7 1824.

Andrew married Lucy COIT on 26 Nov 1766. Lucy was born on 2 Jul 1746; died on 9 May 1776. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Andrew married Hannah PHELPS on 1 May 1777. Hannah (daughter of Dr. Charles PHELPS and Hannah DENISON) was born on 15 May 1760 in Stonington, New London County, Connecticut; died on 30 Jul 1838. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]