JONATHAN HATCH

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 581

JONATHAN HATCH. It is recorded that the first representatives of the name of Hatch in America were three brothers who came from England and settled in New London, Conn., Boston, Mass., and Nova Scotia, respectively.

Samuel Hatch, who located at New London, was a baker by trade. He had the following children: Samuel, Elijah, Peter, Joshua, Joseph, Daniel, Stephen, John, and three daughters.

Samuel Hatch, the son of Samuel the settler, was born Sept. 26, 1738, and grew up in New London, where he learned shoemaking. Several of his brothers served in the war of the Revolution, and had he not been lame he, too, would have given his services to his country. He married Naomi Phelps, a native of Lebanon, Conn., who bore him ten children: Eleazer; Samuel; Asel; Joseph; Tryphenia and Salena, who died unmarried; David; Jonathan; Naomi, who married Eleazer Fitch; and Elijah. The father died April 30, 1815. The mother died when her grandson, our subject, was seventeen of eighteen years of age. She was a devout Presbyterian, holding membership in Rev. Ezra Ely’s Church.

Jonathan Hatch, son of Samuel (2) was born Jan. 6, 1777, and died Oct. 5, 1833. He married Betsy Payne, and to this union came: (1) Samuel Orville, born in Lebanon, Conn., June 2, 1809, died June 13, 1877. He married Eunice T. Armstrong, and their children were, E. Eliza; John O., born March 4, 1840, who died Sept. 25, 1885; Jonathan A., who died at the age of thirty; Mary A., who died at the age of eighteen; Henry C., born Dec. 2, 1846; Hattie A., wife of William C. Backus, of South Windham; Adelia B., wife of Eugene Kinne, of South Windham; Charles P.; Carrie L.; and Lillie L. (2) Naomi Eliza died at the age of thirteen. (3) Chester Payne (deceased) went to California where he accumulated a fortune as a manufacturer of agricultural machinery at Petaluma. (4) Jonathan, our subject, was the fourth. By his second marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth (Giant) Phillips, there were (5) Elijah Phelps, who lived for the greater part of his life at South Windham, and died in 1900, at Haverhill, Mass.; he was a machinist by trade. He married Lucy Young, and had a family. (6) James Chandler is a farmer of Avon, Conn. (7) Caroline Eliza (deceased) married Amos Babcock, of Lebanon, Conn. (8) Nelson, who never married, moved to Oregon, where he died.

Jonathan Hatch, the father of these, was a lifetime resident of Lebanon, Conn. His wife, Betsy Payne, was a daughter of Capt. Stephen Payne, who was twice married, the second time to a widow, a resident of Bolton, Conn. Mr. Hatch engaged in farming, and also learned shoemaking of his father, but only followed that calling sufficiently to supply the needs of his family. The home farm was a large one, and he carried on farming extensively, having a team of horses and two yoke of oxen, besides about ten head of other stock, which was a large number for his day. In politics he was a Whig, and he was very highly respected throughout the community.

Jonathan Hatch, whose name introduces these lines, was born Oct. 21, 1817, in Lebanon, where he was educated in the public schools. He was apprenticed to learn the trade of machinist when but sixteen, and continued in that line until he was twenty-two, at South Windham. Subsequently he was engaged in setting up machinery in St. Louis, Cairo, Ill., and Little Rock, and was at those places some two years, in all. He then contracted fever and returned home, re-entering the employ of Smith, Winchester & Co. For a short time he was employed in the Springfield Armory, but later located at South Windham, and was for years foreman of the paper machine factory at that place. For thirty years he was a partner in the company, at first for ten years, at the end of which time he withdrew; three years later he again purchased an interest, which he retained for twenty years.

Having always had a taste for mechanics, Mr. Hatch early displayed a genius for inventions, and has secured various patents for inventions, all of which have proved very valuable, and some of which have been transferred to the firm with which he has been connected for so many years. In August, 1889, he patented a machine for the manufacture of paper by a new process, which is especially valuable. His attention is still given to mechanical work and almost daily he can be found in his shop, busily employed.

Mr. Hatch was married in the town of Franklin, New London Co., Conn., to Alma W. Armstrong, a daughter of John and Lucinda (Tinney) Armstrong, of Franklin, Conn., and to this union were born: Charles Winchester, who died young; Helen, wife of George Stiles, one of the leading merchants of Willimantic; Mary, unmarried, at home; George, for so many years superintendent for Smith, Winchester & Co., now postmaster at South Windham (he is unmarried); Walter, who was accidentally shot at the age of seventeen; and Clara, who died at the age of twenty.

In politics, Mr. Hatch is a staunch Republican, although he did not endorse its first candidate, John C. Fremont, but voted for James Buchanan. He recollects very well when Andrew Jackson was elected, and his coming to Norwich to lay the corner stone of the Uncas monument. In addition to holding various local offices, Mr. Hatch has represented the town of Windham in the Legislature; he served as selectman five years, and as justice of the peace.

Having lived a life of industry and uprightness, which has been crowned with well deserved prosperity, Mr. Hatch enjoys the respect of a large circle of friends as well as the affection of his family, and none stands higher in the community, where for so many years he has made his home, than does this most excellent man.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel

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