CAPTAIN WILLIAM TROTTER

Captain William Trotter was born in Broughton, Lancashire, England, June 29,1769, but his subsequent home, during his residence in his native land, was in Workington, Cumberland County. From this port, in the vicinity of coal mines, great quantities of coal have for a long time been yearly shipped to Ireland and the Isle of Man.  At the age of nine years he was bound to a ship-master, engaged in this trade, to be taught the business of a mariner. His first employment was that of a cabin boy.  Finding his master, as he thought, unreasonably severe, and the business disagreeable, he made complaint to his step-father, Matheson, and desired him, if possible, to procure his release and obtain for him a situation under some other captain, who would treat him better, but was silenced by the following laconic and singular reply:

"Bill, it is better for thee to remain in the power of a devil whose ways thou knowest. than to fall into the hands of another whose ways thou dost not know." In this business he continued for about ten years, when, at the age of nineteen, he emigrated to this country, seeking employment. He soon found favor with Clark & Nightingale, of Providence, R.L, who were engaged in foreign commerce.  From the rank of a boatswain he rose in a few years to that of captain, and by his ability, activity, and faithfulness in their service gained the high esteem and full confidence of his employers. He made some distant voyages, in one of which he visited the Sandwich Islands, long before the light and manifold blessings of Christianity were imparted to them, and many were the anecdotes which he could tell respecting the manners and customs of the people. By his kind treatment of them, and the respect which he paid to their king, Tomahamaha the 1st, he became a favorite with the people. A spear made of very hard, heavy wood, curiously wrought, presented to him by that proud savage monarch may probably still be seen at the house of Col. Barron, of Hartford, Ct. His principal business, however, was to carry articles of commerce from this country to Europe, to exchange for other articles better adapted to the South American markets, and sell them there at high prices, taking pay not merely in hides, and other commodities of lawful traffic, but as far as possible in gold and silver, which at that time the Spanish colonists were not allowed to dispose of to the citizens of any foreign country but their own. It is said the first United States flag ever seen in the harbor of Buenos Ayres was raised by Capt. Trotter.

The trade in which he was there engaged was hazardous, and could be conducted only with great caution. On this account his employers allowed him a liberal percentage on all the profits accruing from his management of their business. While trading with the South Americans, he formed intimate friendships with some of the officials and merchants, who for their own interests were ready to aid him in the prosecution of his purposes. At times they would invite him, with his wife and some of the officers, to private entertainments at their houses, and then he would invite them to dine on board of his ship. These seasons were faithfully improved in carrying specie on board in a clandestine manner, generally in belts beneath their clothes. On one occasion Mrs. Trotter had got her pocket so heavily laden that, as she was about to go on board, her pocket string broke, and she instantly fell, appearing to have fainted away, when the Captain, with some of his men, who understood the case, immediately gathered her up, taking care to keep her skirts closely wrap-ped about her, and carried her onboard without exciting suspicion. Had hoops then been in fashion, they might have proved a sad annoyance. In this contraband trade the Captain was so successful that in the course of a few years he accumulated the means of a handsome support during the remnant of his days. Mr. Clark remained during life his fast friend ; and, many years after these transactions, died at his house in Bradford.  Capt. Trotter on leaving the sea purchased a beautiful situation in Attleborough, Mass., where he resided a few years, when, traveling through this part of the country, he was much pleased with the valley of the Connecticut river, and purchased for himself a situation in Bradford village, with a large farm adjoining. When he settled down here, February 2, 1804, he was worth about forty thousand dollars, which was at that time esteemed by the people a great fortune. He built a commodious house in the central part of the village, which has been much enlarged, and for years occupied as a hotel, styled the "Trotter House." He also built and put in operation a cotton factory, just above the lowest bridge for ordinary travel across Waits river, on the south side of the stream, where the scythe stone and kit factories now stand. This business proving unprofitable, was in the course of a few years abandoned. He also set up an extensive distillery for converting grain into whiskey, and prosecuted that business for several years. The long row of buildings for this purpose stood a little south of his house, on the border of the meadow at the foot of the hill. This under taking proved in various respects worse than the other, and for a long time the old, deserted and decaying buildings stood as a warning to every beholder. The Captain for some time had a store on the west side of the street, a little north of where "Prichard's store" now stands, and afterwards traded on the .opposite side. But so far as his estate in Bradford was concerned, his principal income must have been derived from his farm and grist-mill.  Probably from his coming into this town to the time of his decease, a period of eighteen years, his property was gradually diminishing. By the inhabitants of the town he was highly respected, and occasionally elected to offices of trust and importance. For a time he officiated as one of the selectmen, and again had command as captain of a military company.

Captain Trotter was a man of great natural kindness and liberality. Some few instances in proof of this I will mention.

On a certain occasion an Irish boy came along, poorly clad, selling needles and pins, while diligently seeking for his father, whom he hoped to find in this part of the country. The Captain was pleased with the smartness of the boy, and on learning his condition and business, generously detained him for several days in his house. In the meantime he sent the little fellow with a good bundle of materials to a tailor, who made for him a new suit of clothes, greatly to his delight. In a few days the father came along inquiring for his boy, and was over-whelmed with joy and gratitude, when he found how generously he had been cared for. The name of the boy was Francis Kelley. He and his father were from Ireland, seeking, I believe, a home in Canada.  On another occasion a great fire in Newburyport, Mass., reduced many persons to distress for food and other necessaries of life. Captain Trotter, on learning the fact, immediately dispatched a two-horse team, heavily loaded with flour and meal, entirely at his own expense, for the relief of the sufferers.   Joseph Jenkins was the man he sent.  A Mr. Ford, a poor man in Bradford, had the misfortune to lose his only cow, and on the morning of a town meeting day came to Captain Trotter with his sorrowful story, asking if he would be so kind as to draw up a subscription, and give it a start to help him buy another cow.  The Captain, always ready for such an emergency, took his pencil and wrote:   " Fellow Townsmen:

Charity never knocked louder than now, A poor old couple have lost their cow, The cow belonged to Deacon Ford, Give to the poor, and lend to the Lord." This he publicly read, to the great amusement of the men assembled, and signing his name, with a liberal sum annexed, handed round the paper, when to the great joy of the poor man enough was shortly subscribed to buy another cow, and hay to keep her through the winter.  Captain Trotter, though not a professor of religion, was ever ready to give liberally towards its support. His regular subscription towards his minister's salary was fifty dollars a year. He also gave the minister the use of a house, barn, and garden, and the privilege of having all grinding at the Captain's mill, toll free. He made many other presents besides. The first time the Association of ministers met in Bradford after my settlement, Captain Trotter and his lady furnished gratuitously the entertainment in a very handsome manner. Being at church one communion day, and observing how poorly the table was pro-vided with furniture, glass vessels being used, and one of them having got broken on the way, he immediately sent to Boston an order for silver furniture for the Lord's table, which he presented to the Congregational church. It cost him about two hundred dollars.   An inscription on the large tankard indicates that the donation was made as a testimonial of gratitude to God for his goodness in the preservation of the life of the giver in the four quarters of the globe. May these precious articles of solid silver long remain a pleasing memorial of his liberality.  He seemed to have a great respect for religion, and for those whom he esteemed truly pious people, but did not like to be very closely approached on the subject of personal piety. When his young pastor, at a certain time, tried to be faithful to him in that respect, he was evidently much disturbed, and in effect said, " What right have you to ask me such questions? " A storm seemed to be gathering, when, taking my hat and silently bowing him good bye, I turned toward the door, to leave him alone to his reflections.   Just as I reached the door, I felt some one gently pull the skirts of my coat. I turned to see what was wanted, when he said to me, with a smile, " Mr. McKeen, if at any time you should want any favor of me, be assured I will esteem it a pleasure to oblige you." My obligations to him on the score of benefits received, during the course of some eight years were many and great.  Captain Trotter was in person tall and erect, of light complexion, blue eyes, and reddish hair, gentlemanly in his manners, and much given to hospitality, having an intolerable dislike of all meanness. He was in the habit of reading extensively the current news, had been about the world a great deal, possessed much general intelligence, and delighted in conversation. He was in most respects an admirable man.

He died June 11, 1822, lacking but eighteen days of being fifty-three years of age. His remains repose by the side of those of his first wife, the lady who voyaged with him to foreign lands, and assisted him in the acquisition of his wealth. For some years before her decease she manifested a deep interest in religion, and died enjoying its consolations, November 9, 1813, aged forty-four years and ten months.

The widow of Captain Trotter, whose maiden name was Hannah D. Brooks, a very estimable lady, married Colonel William Barron, of Bradford. They continued to reside here for several years, but finally disposed of their estate, and purchased a very eligible situation a little West of the University in Norwich, Vt., for their home. They finally removed to Hartford, Conn., where she died October 25, 1873, aged eighty-three years. See the account of the Barrons.

At the time of Captain Trotter's decease there was a statute in existence in Vermont to the effect that if a person died intestate, leaving no heirs, or a man thus died leaving no heirs but his widow, his estate, after the payment of all debts, should escheat to the town to which he belonged, for the support of schools, allowing in the latter case the widow the use of one-third of the property during her life time.

These conditions were all found to exist in the case of Captain Trotter, as he had left no will, no issue, and no relatives having legal right to claim any portion of his estate. All was left in the hands of the widow. In this state of affairs the town of Bradford preferred a claim to what the law above named allowed them. The claim was resisted as unjust. A suit, involving serious expense on both sides, ensued, which was finally settled by compromise ; the town of Bradford agreeing to take the sum of $4,355.99 as satisfactory. This sum was duly invested for the benefit of schools, and the interest is annually applied towards their support. The law was soon after repealed, and this is said to be the only case decided under it.   The town have caused the burial place of Captain Trotter and his first wife to be handsomely enclosed, and otherwise improved. Biographie Index

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