Middletown Upper Houses; a history of the north society of Middletown Connecticut from 1650 to 1800 with genealogical and biographical chapters on early families and a full genealogy of the Ranney family

Middletown Upper Houses; a history of the north society of Middletown Connecticut from 1650 to 1800 with genealogical and biographical chapters on early families and a full genealogy of the Ranney family (1908). PREFACE . In November 1855 a young man left his college halls for the neighboring village of Cromwell where he taught a winter school. In 1860 by marriage he renewed his interest in that community. Returning in 1888 to pass the remaining years of his life in com- parative quiet he gathered up here and there threads connecting those of the day with those of the formative period of this settle- ment. Little by little the interest deepened and broadened until the desire was born to bring together those of other places to where their honored ancestors had lived and died. And with this came the thought to put into permanent form the story of the records kept here and elsewhere. With the reunion in 1903 the plan was broached to publish a volume and the later reunions strengthened and gave effect to this purpose. The sympathy and encourage- ment from many directions have made of the toil a pleasant task. At the age of seventy-two the compiler of these pages has the satis- faction of expressing appreciation of all the assistance which has been rendered by many in many ways. . The Society of Middletown Upper Houses Incorporated has not only erected its memorials to Founders Fathers Pastors and Patriots but has given its financial and moral support to the efforts of the compiler and without this aid the preliminary work could not have been brought to the point where the material was ready to go into the hands of the printer and publisher. . It could hardly be possible to make a list of the individuals who have given special assistance in the gathering of material and in the spreading of the spirit of enthusiasm and not overlook some one fully worthy of mention. He has cast his net on all sides and the result is given herewith. . To have had the honor of suggesting the name unanimously adopted by the town on January the sixth. 1902 for our one fine school edifice the day it was first used for school purposes. The Nathaniel White Public School is more highly prized than would have been the gift of a lucrative office. On the bronze tablet and on the printed page the school children of to-day and of to-morrow will read the names and recall the deeds of those who first settled here and who long ago rested from their labors. . In 1884 a centennial celebration commemorating the firsi Eng- lish settlement bevond the Germans in the Mohawk valley was held at Whitestown. New York when due honor was paid to Captain Hugh White who with his sons wont from here in May L784 and constituted the first English family to settle in Central New York. The Hon. William Mansfield White a descendant of Capt. Hugh White who was a descendant of ('apt. Nathaniel White presided and he uttered this sentiment: . Royal blood is an inheritance. Noble blood if it begets aoble deeds is a blessing. But above all and beyond all. is the inheri- tance of a pious God-fearing God-serving ancestry. . To have been privileged to set forth the records of such an ancestry is its own reward. . Cromwell. Connecticut. New Tear's Day 1908.