Ralph Ensign (T-1210) TERRY

GEDCOM Note

-,,, and list Ralph Ensign Terry's date of birth as 3/4/1804. lists his date of death as being 3/4/1802.

- and list Ralph Ensign Terry's burial place as being in the Lake Avenue Cemetery, Bristol, CT. An unidentified source lists his burial place as being in Lake Avenue Cemetery, Bristol, CT, lot 79. ,, and list his date of death as 8/10/1892.

AGE AT DEATH: 88 years.

OCCUPATION: A partner in the brass clockmaking firms of R. & J. B. Terry (1835-36), Terry, Downs, Burwell & Co. (1851-1852), and Terry, Downs & Co. (1853-1855). He went bankrupt in 1855. He went to Winsted for about ten years and had charge of the movement shop of the Gilbert clock shops. Thereafter, he went to farming.

RESIDENCE: 54 Middle Street, "Middle n Pine" Street, Bristol, CT Two years after his son, Franklin Ensign Terry was born Raloh Terry and Ruth Lewis (Hubbell) Terry moved to a litter house on Preston Street, Forestville, CT 1847 They
moved back to the Terry Homestead in 1850 (Three years after Anna Maria (Terry) Chase was born (1847) on Preton Street.

PICTURES:
"Ralph, Franklin, & Isabelle Terry, 1888":
Picture taken in 1888 of the Terry Homestead, 54 Middle Street, Bristol, CT with Ralph Ensign Terry (B-3/4/1804, D-8/10/1892) at the far right with his son, Franklin Ensign Terry (B-7/7/1845, D-7/7/1926) and Franklin's oldest daughter Isabelle Webster Terry (B-1/6/1878, D-10/11/1972) , later Mrs. Fred Stanton Fletcher, on horseback. Picture was reprinted by Terry Bradley Fletcher (B-11/23/1934), grandson of Isabelle Webster (Terry) Fletcher on January 1998 in Bristol, CT.

"Isabelle (Terry) Fletcher & Ralph Ensign Terry":
This picture in an enlargment of a picture taken in 1888 of the Terry Homestead, 54 Middle Street, Bristol, CT. The original print pictured Ralph Ensign Terry (B-3/4/1804, D-8/10/1892) with his son, Franklin Ensign Terry (B-7/7/1845, D-7/7/1926) and Franklin's oldest daughter Isabelle Webster Terry (B-1/8/1878, D-10/11/1934), later Mrs. Fred Stanton Fletcher, on horseback. Picture was reprinted by Terry Bradley Fletcher (B-11/23/1934), grandson of Isabelle Webster (Terry) Fletcher on January 1998 in Bristol, CT.

OTHER PROPERTY OWNED:
On February 2, 1832, Grantor Henry Tompkins of Bristol executed a warrantee deed to Grantees Samuel S. Terry, Ralph Terry, John B. Terry, Theodore Terry, and Edward Terry all of Bristol for sixty three dollars for land described as follows:
“[A] certain piece of land situate in said Bristol, containing thirty five rods more or less, bounding northeasterly by the River as it passes the house of Philo Pierce, southerly on land of Ashabel Mix and westerly on highway.”

Source: Henry Tompkins to Samuel S. Terry, Ralph Terry, John B. Terry, Theodore Terry, Edward Terry, Vol. 16, Page 311, February 2, 1832, Land Records, Bristol, Connecticut Town Clerk’s Office.

On November 21, 1836, Grantors Ralph Terry and John B. Terry both of Bristol executed a quitclaim deed to Grantee Samuel Terry of Bristol for seventy five dollars for land described as follows:
“[A] certain building standing situate in the 2nd tier of lots in said Bristol and on the south side of the River, between the Factory and Forgeing Shop of the said Samuel Terry. The said building has been used by us as a finishing and baseing shop -- also in and to all our common and undivided right in a certain piece of land situate in said Bristol - Bounding westerly on a highway, south on the land of Ashabel Mix and easterly and northerly on the river and contains one rood more or less.”

Source: Ralph Terry to John B. Terry, Vol. 17, Page 544, November 21, 1836, Land Records, Bristol, Connecticut Town Clerk’s Office.

On October 9, 1865, Grantors Ralph E. Terry and Ruth L. Terry, husband and wife, of Bristol, executed a quitclaim deed to Grantee Johanna Blackburn of Bristol for “a valuable sum of money” for land described as follows:
“[A] certain piece of land situated in said Bristol containing half an acre more or less and bounded North on land of Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Rail-Road Company or the assigns of said Company, East on land of said Johanna Blackburn, South on Highway, and West on land of Jonas Wolfe.”
(Pine Street, Bristol, Connecticut 06010)(Lot #1A/2)(Accurate Forging-Emerson Gillett Terry Home)

Source: Ralph E. Terry to Johanna Blackburn, Vol. 29, Page 554, October 9, 1865, Land Records, Bristol, Connecticut Town Clerk’s Office. (Pine Street, Bristol, Connecticut 06010)(Lot #1A/2)(Accurate Forging-Emerson Gillett Terry Home)

The line of Ralph Ensign Terry has been well documented. However, research into the life of John Burnham Terry, serendipitously disclosed that Ralph Ensign Terry represented the town of Bristol in the Connecticut General Assembly during 1855.

"Clockmaking and Other Enterprises of Samuel Terry's Descendants
Ralph Ensign Terry (1804-1892), the third son, was a partner in the brass clockmaking firms of R. & J. B. Terry, Terry, Downs, Burwell & Co. and Terry, Downs & Co."

The Political Career of Ralph Ensign Terry (1804-1872)

Recent research into John Burnham Terry brought attention to an entry in the 1855 edition of "Geer's Hartford City Directory" that indicated that Ralph Ensign Terry, the third son of Samuel Terry of Bristol, Connecticut, represented Bristol in the Connecticut General Assembly that year. Further research into Ralph Ensign Terry's political career yielded the following information.
Terry served a single one year term in the legislature. A member of the Bristol Board of Relief in 1854, he was elected in April 1855, and the session met the following month. Membership in the legislature in that period was not viewed as a job, but rather a public service. Lawmakers still had to earn a living in other pursuits. Hence, the entire legislative session usually lasted no more than a few days. During his term in the legislature, Terry served on the House Committee on Railroads, an important committee in the decade when a large part of Connecticut's rail system was constructed.
State records indicate Ralph Ensign Terry's political affiliation as "American Whig." The Whigs and Americans were actually two separate parties, who, in the early 1850's, often crossed endorsed each other's candidates. The Whigs, the party favored by the nation's manufacturing interest, supported an economy through a national bank system, a high protective tariff, and federal expenditures for internal improvements. The isssue of slavery caused the Whig party to disintegrate in the early 1850's. By 1856, its influence was on the wane in nationally, though it continued to have adherents in some quarters until the Civil War. With the demise of the Whigs as the major opposition to the Democrats, two new parties began attracting former Whigs: the Republicans who opposed the extension of slavery into the territories, and the nativist American Party which opposed the influx of (mostly Irish Catholic) immigrants that, at that time, were flooding the country. While it was the Republicans who eventually replaced the Whigs in the country's two-party system, in the mid-1850's the American Party (also called the "Know Nothings" for their refusal to comment on their political views to outsiders) appeared perched to become a major force in American politics. The April 3, 1855 edition of the "Hartford Courant" lists Terry's political affiliation as simply a "Know Nothing".
It is unknown who Terry beat in the 1855 election, or by what margin. While both the 1855 "Connecticut Register and Manual" and the "Hartford Courant" listed the election results in state senate contests, neither listed the results, other than giving the names of the winners, for state assembly races. Apparently, Terry did not seek re-election in 1856, as that year Bristol was represented by a legislator named Elijah Darrow, who "The Hartford Courant" listed as being a member of the "Opposition" party, a coalition of Know-Nothings and Republicans.

Samuel Terry of Bristol purchased the house that was to become known as the Terry Homestead, with 16 acres of land and "other buildings" from Col. Thomas Botsford in 1828. Botsford's granddaughter, Ruth Lewis Hubbell married Samuel's son Ralph Ensign, and thus the two families are linked in blood as well as in real estate.

Following are excerpts from reminiscences written in 1934 by Isabelle Webster (Terry) Fletcher (1878-1971) daughter of Franklin Ensign Terry.
Franklin Ensign Terry was born 1845 in this house (the Samuel Terry homestead). In two years his parents moved to the little house on Preston Street, Forestville (where the Prestons lived when I was a girl. Auntie Anna was born there and when she was three years old they moved back to this house again, where Papa lived until he died in 1926 on his birthday July 7. They always said he was a tall and slim lad, at times almost delicate looking, but I never heard that he had any serious illness...
My great grandfather (Samuel Terry) bought this house in 1828, and they made some alterations just what I do not know as the Botsfords changed it some too. I think he tore out the big chimney and did away with the old fireplaces which were in each front room and in the old long dining room. The chimney went up in the front hall. After this was taken out the chimney only came up in to the garret and stove pipes had to go through the bedrooms to the attic chimney. This had some advantages as they warmed the rooms they passed through.
Samuel Terry was a brother of Eli Terry the clock maker. He worked with his brother at one time and later made clocks in his own factory also. At one time he made clocks down here near the river in what we called the old red shop (although I never saw the original building which burned down before I was born). He made the first clock in the Congregational Church tower. Grandpa Terry (Ralph) [was] also down in what was once the old Andrews shop near the river just off Preston St., Forestville. At one time Samuel Terry's children lived around here in various houses. Samuel Terry Jr. lived in the Beach Lumber Company's house - Edward in Daly's - John in the Hume place - Theodore in the old Mitchel place with the pillars and one over on Pine St. where the Garey's lived...
Papa worked in the old Welch Clock shop which stood near the railroad tracks near the Forestville station. He turned pinions for a long while and thoroughly understood a clock movement. Mr. Henry Bancroft and also his father...
At the time I was married June 2, 1897 Papa was working in Winsted, [sic] Connecticut in the clock shop. His father had worked there years before and had been foreman of the movements department. Emerson (Terry) also worked there at the same time as his father at the age of sixteen. Papa had been out of work here in Forestville for a long time. There was a great depression...
Grandpa Terry could always fix most anything that got out of order and also make new things and he always had the tools to do it. If he did not have them he could make them. There have been many tools here in the place that were homemade. Papa was the same way, he could do almost anything and was very particular...
Papa and Mamma were married Aug. 2, 1870 eight years later Jan. 6, 1878 I came to town...
In 1893 March Fred [Fletcher, Isabella's future husband] came East stopping at the World's Fair Grounds. The Fair had not yet opened. He came to work for his Uncle Samuel Monce who owned a business conducted in the old shop which stood near the river where the Bell shop formerly stood. The Bell shop was dismantled last year (1933). He was twenty years old...It was not until 1895 or so that I began to keep company with Fred...After graduating I became formally engaged and after a year I was married, June 2, 1897, here at home in the South Parlor, the same room in which my Great Grandmother Hubbell had been married...
The factory [old shop near the river noted above] had burned down in Bristol and his uncle had moved the business to his own factory in Unionville. We lived in Unionville three years. Arthur was born there on April 15, 1898 in the house on Farmington Ave. owned by Mr. Freeborn Alger, I have pleasant recollections of my home there and I made many friends...
In 1900 Mamma was hurt by our horse and that year I came back to Bristol to take care of her eventually we moved here for Fred was dissatisfied in the way his uncle treated him in the business. He was only getting two dollars a day when we were married and he had only one raise after that of twenty-five cents.
Fred had been inventing a new glass cutter with interchangeable wheels. This he offered to his Uncle but got no encouragement in regard to his adopting it. Fred wanted to go into business for himself and after coming back home to live Papa got Fred a position in the clock shop in Forestville. In the fall of 1901 and into 1901 Fred started a business in the upper barn here on the place. He worked nights here and held his place at the clock shop. Then he had to get someone to work here all the time. These were bad years for him and he had to work hard chores and all made him busy.
Papa was working at the Clock Shop too and it was about this time or a little later that Mr. Sessions gave Papa a good position. Superintendent of the Movement Department. At last Papa was working so many years at the bench (all at clock work) had a good position and one he was perfectly capable of filling efficiently. He thoroughly understood clock movements both how to make them and making them run. He could always fix a clock.
He held his position until several years later when he resigned and gave all his time to our own business which had been organized and run under the name "The Fletcher-Terry Co." It was a long hard pull in those years and Fred had to work very hard.

"'Samuel Terry Builds Three Shops'
Samuel Terry built three shops on the south side of the Pequabuck River, in Bristol, near the site of the present Rolling Mill dam, and carried on clock-making quite extensively for those days. He retired in 1834, but he evidently did not lose sight, for, when the railroad was planned, he sold the company a piece of land. This is shown in the Bristol Land Records.
After Samuel, fifth, retired, the business was carried on by two sons, under name of Ralph E. and John B. Terry, through 1935 and 1936. At that time, John withdrew to take up the study of medicine.
The business went on under the name of Terry & Andrews from 1842 to 1850.
In 1851, it became another firm, comprised of Ralph E. Terry, George and Franklin Downs, and Elias Burwell, manufacturing a marine clock invented by Ralph Terry, and an eight-day clock designed by Ralph Terry and Howard Camp, of New Haven. In 1853, the other partners bought out Elias Bruwell and continued to operate under the name of the Terry Downs Company. The firm was discontnued in 1856.
Ralph E. Terry was foreman in the Gilbert Clock Company, of Winsted, around 1869, having carge of work for ten years. He retired in 1877, after more than 50 years of clock-making.
Like his forebears, Ralph Terry served in various public capacities, including constable and Representative to the Legislature. He died in 1892."

"Ralph Terry went first to work for his Uncle Eli, in Plymouth, in September, 1819. He worked with his father, who went to Plymouth in 1818. In 1825, his father established him in business in Bristol."

"Samuel Terry built three shops on the south side of the Pequabuck River, in Bristol, near the site of the present Rolling Mill dam, and carried on quite extemsively for those days. He retired in 1834, but he evidently did not lose sight of the future of Bristol, for, when the railroad was planned, he sold the company a piece of land. This is shown in the Bristol Land Records.
After Samuel, fifth, retired, the business was carried on by two of his sons, under name of Ralph E. and John B. Terry through 1935 and 1936. At that time, John withdrew to take up the study of medicine.
The business went on under the name of Terry & Andrews from 1842 to 1850.
In 1851, it became another firm, comprised of Ralph E. Terry, George and Franklin Downs, and Elias Burwell, manufacturing a marine clock invented by Ralph Terry, and an eight-day clock designed by Ralph Terry and Howard Camp, of New Haven. In 1853, the other partners bought out Elias Burwell and continued to operate under the name of the Terry Downs Company. The firm was discontinued in 1856.
Ralph E. Terry was foreman in the Gilbert Clock Company of Winsted, around 1869, having charge of the work for ten years.
He retired in 1877 after more than 50 years of clock-making.
Like his forebears, Ralph Terry served in various public capacities, including constable and Representative to the Legislature. He died in 1892."
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