By Florence Goodman

We are halfway through the year, and there are still many more Farmingbury soldiers who volunteered to serve in the fight for our country's freedom. This month I will share information about the Alcott men who served our town and country well.

In 1731, John Alcock II the first of the Alcott family, in this area, purchased a 117-acre tract of land. Over time he continued to add to his land and after 47 years he had acquired over 1200 acres. John gave each of his children 100-acre tracts of land in and around his Spindle Hill farm thus the Alcott name is found throughout our town. The spelling of the name has changed throughout history from Alcock(e), Alcocks, Alcox and eventually to Alcott sometime between 1820 and 1825.

When John and his wife Deborah (Blakeslee) made residence on that farm on Spindle Hill the land was covered by a thick forest filled with wild animals. The rocky soil required great strength to till and farm, but it offered a new life for these early settlers, and especially the ideals of freedom. On April 19, 1775, when those ideals of freedom were slipping away, the Alcott men left their farms and families to fight for a cause in which they believed.

Captain John Alcox III born December 23,1731 was the eldest son of John and Deborah Alcock and the first child born on Spindle Hill. He married Mary Chatfield in 1755, and they settled on a farm east of his parents' farm. They had nine children. John and Mary were among the 41 persons who united in the formation of the first church in Farmingbury parish. John was a man of stability and honor, but he was best fit for military service, so he was chosen Ensign of the new Trainband in Farmingbury Winter Parish. In 1774 he became Captain of the Thirteenth Company or Trainband in the 15th Regiment in the Colony of Connecticut. Captain Alcox, it has been said, fought for his country in the Revolutionary War with much spirit and energy. It was said that when he heard the war had begun, he buckled on his sword and walked twenty-five miles to New Haven to see if his services as a soldier were needed. Three of his sons, Solomon, Samuel and John B. also served in the war. Captain John Alcott III died on September 27, 1808, one day shy of 77. He is buried in Edgewood Cemetery.

Solomon Alcox was the first son of Captain John and Mary Chatfield Alcox born May 8, 1759. He married Premela Roberts in 1777. They had five children. He served in the Militia regiment in 1781. After Premela's death in 1810 he married widow Abigail Goodyear. Solomon died May 21, 1818, at the age of 59 and is buried in Edgewood Cemetery.

Samuel Alcox was the second son of Captain John and Mary Chatfield Alcox born November 29, 1761. He married Lydia Warner in 1783. They had two daughters, Mary and Cleora. He was a private in Captain Beechen's 15th Regiment Militia. He died in Wolcott on June 9, 1810, at the age of 49 and is buried in Edgewood Cemetery.

John Blakeslee Alcott IV was the third son of Captain John and Mary Chatfield Alcox born June 4, 1764. He married Lois Gaylord in 1785, and they had three children. They lived on Clinton Hill not far from his parents' home. He died September 17, 1837, at the age of 73, and is buried in Edgewood Cemetery. Revolutionary War Pensioners listing indicates that his wife applied for a pension for the time he served, but records do not show where or when he served.

The last of the Alcott's to serve in the Revolution was James Alcox. He was a brother to Captain John Alcott III. His parents were John and Deborah Alcock. James was born June 1, 1735. He married Hannah Barnes and they settled a mile east of the family homestead. The James Alcox house was built in the fall of 1774. On December 5th their son, James was born there. Three weeks after the birth of their son a fire started in the house and James tried to extinguish it while Hannah broke a window to hand her baby to a relative outside and then she climbed out the window. The family was safe, but the house was destroyed. In the next nine days, the frame of the new house was raised, and the rest of the house was completed in that same year. The house is still standing today at the corner of Spindle Hill and Mad River Roads. Hannah and James had seven children. James served in the Militia in 1781. He died August 9, 1806, at the age of 72. He is buried in Edgewood Cemetery.

The Alcott family left their mark on our town in various ways. Amos Bronson through his love for education and books and for giving us Louisa May Alcott, although she did not live in our town. Obed Alcott for the building of the West Schoolhouse and his son, Dr. William Andrus for education and helping to begin a town library. Lastly, for the sons who served in the Revolution to help give us our freedom.

(Information for this article was taken from two brochures: one from the Wolcott Historical Society titled WOLCOTT In The French and Indian Wars, The Revolutionary War and The War Of The Rebellion and the second The Journal of Josiah Atkins of Waterbury Farmingbury Society In Ye State of Connecticut N. England 1781 printed by the Mattatuck Historical Society, Waterbury, Number 21, October 1954; 1986 Historic Resources Inventory by J.P.Loether Associates; History of the Town of Wolcott (Connecticut) from 1731 to 1874 by Samuel Orcutt; hours of research by Deb DuBois on Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and other online research sites; a talk given by Florence Goodman, for Patriots' Day 2017; The Journal of Judah Frisbie, A Soldier of the Revolution by Judah Frisbie and compiled by The Mattatuck Historical Society, 1943; Woodtick Cemetery records.)

Postcard of the Solomon Alcott House and barn. This house was built in 1790 and is still standing at the corner of Beach and Spindle Hill Roads. This house was built on the land where the original Alcott log cabin stood.

Solomon Alcott House and barn today. This house is still standing at the corner of Beach and Spindle Hill Roads

The James Alcott House built in 1774 is found at the corner of Spindle Hill and Mad River Roads.

The Obed Alcott House built in1802 is located on Spindle Hill Road not far from the intersection of Andrews and Clinton Hill Roads.

Tombstone of John Blakeslee Alcox who is buried in Edgewood Cemetery. This photo was taken from Find a Grave.

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