CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CELEBRATION AT WALLINGFORD IN 1858.
the ceremonies connected with the erection of a monument at Wallingford to the memory of Hon. Lyman Hall, took place Monday, July 5, 1858, the day after the Aniversary of our National birthday. The ceremonies attracted a large number of visitors to Wallingford, mostly from New Haven and Meriden, though nearly all the surrounding towns were well represented. The day was an unusally fine one; a pleasant breeze contributed to render the temperature endurable, and although the sky was cloudless, and the sun poured down its fiercest rays, there were none of the usual complaints of oppressive heat.
At sunrise the ringing of bells and a national salute, announced the coming ceremonies of the day. The arrival of the cars, from 9 to 1-2 past 9 o'clock, brought in a large number of visitors from abroad, who were received at Masonic Hall and the Town Hall, where was a bountiful supply of fruit, cake, confectionery, &c., prepared by the ladies of Wallingford.
The following gentlemen were the officers of the day: President, Roderick Curtiss, of Wallingford. Vice Presidents, Ira Tuttle, Wm. Francis, of Wallingford; Charles Parker, of Meriden; E. A. Cornwall,
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of Cheshire, and David M. Hotchkiss, of Prospect. Tablet Bearers; Wallingford, Col. Ward Johnson, Calvin Harrison, Joel Hall, Jesse Tattle, Sam'l C. Ford. Meriden, Gen. Walter Booth, Ira Twiss, Almeron Miles. Cheshire, Benjaman Ives, Dr. Wm. T. Peters, T. H. Brooks. Prospect, David M. Hotchkiss, Capt. Wm. Mix. Each of the above named Bearers wore the three cornered hat of Revolutionary times, and their antique appearance commanded much attention.
The line formed in front of the Town Hall, under the direction of ex Sheriff Parmelee, the Marshal of the Day, assisted by the following Aids-de-camps: Col. Dwight Hall, Col. Hezekiah Hall, Major O. I. Martin, Turhan Cooke and Samuel Cooke, Esqs.
The procession, under the escort of the National Blues, with the New Haven and Wallingford Bands, proceeded on its march to the Congregational church. The procession passed into the church in due form, the Orator of the day, Thomas Yeatman, Esq., the officiating Pastor of the Church, Rev. Mr. Gilbert, and the President ascending to the Pulpit. The choir then sung with excellent effect, accompanied by the organ, the words: "My country-'tis of thee," &c.
The Rev. Mr. Gilbert then read the looth Psalm, and offered an appropriate prayer, after which the President announced the Orator, Thomas Yeatman, Esq., of New Haven. Mr. Yeatman, in the course of his oration which was compact and brilliant, gave some details of the life and character of Mr. Hall, and of his service to his country at a period when the possibility of her national independence was surrounded with doubts and difficulties which required unwearying effort and perseverance to overcome. At the conclusion of the oration
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the procession was again formed, and after a march through the principal avenues of the town, reached the Depot, where the marble tablet was received and was conveyed in the line to the Burying Ground, near the centre of which was the monument on which the slab was to be placed. Around it the military formed a square, within which Gov. Holley took his position, and delivered an eloquent address. Three guns were then fired in honor of lyman hall, and his associate signers of the Declaration in Georgia.
The Declaration of Independence was then read from the monument by Henry Lyman Hall, a grand-nephew of Dr. Lyman Hall. The band then played a dirge and the procession took up its line of march for dinner. Before leaving the cemetery we will describe the monument. Upon a mound of earth, handsomely turfed, is a large flat freestone, which is nearly nine feet long by six feet wide. Upon this rests a very large block of freestone, nearly three feet high, with rounded corners and handsome mouldings, on the fourth side of which is this inscription:
"The State of Georgia having removed to Augusta the remains of lyman hall, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and there erected a monument to his memory, the tablet originally covering his grave was in 1857 presented by Wm. D'Antignac to this State, by whose order it is deposited in his native town."
Upon the tablet, which is of white marble of nearly three inches thickness, is the following inscription:
"Beneath this stone rest the remains of the Hon. lyman hall, formerly Governor of this State, who departed this life the 19th of October, 1790, in the 67th year of his age. In the cause of America, he was uniformly a Patriot. In the
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incumbent duties of a husband and a father, he acquitted himself with affection and tenderness.
"But reader, above all, know, from this inscription, that he left this probationary scene as a true Christian and an honest man.
"To those so mourned in death, so loved in life, The childless parent, and the widowed wife, With tears inscribes this monumental stone, That holds his ashes, and expects her own." Arriving at the pavilion, the company were soon seated at the tables, which were spread for a thousand persons, and every seat was occupied. These tables were protected from the sun by the shade of the trees and a cloth awning. They were bountifully spread and carefully attended by the ladies of Wallingford. The President called the company to order, after which the divine blessing was invoked by the Rev. David Root. The wants of the appetite having been satisfied, patriotic toasts and speeches followed. The following were among the sentiments offered:
1st. The clay we celebrate - the glorious birthday of a nation. It was immortalized in 1776 by the act of delegates from 13 States; it is celebrated to-day by thirty millions of freemen.
2nd. The memory of Washington. It is enshrined in the hearts of a grateful people.
3d. The memory of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence. They inscribed their names with their own hands on the tablet of immortality.
4th. Lyman Hall, the friend of human rights, the advocate of freedom - a signer of the immortal Declaration. His fame is embalmed in the hearts of the people who commemorate this occasion by placing his tomb-stone among the graves of his ancestors.
5th. The President of the United States.
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6th. The Governor of Connecticut.
7th. The heroes and statesmen of the Revolution. The fruits of their glorious deeds increased with each returning year.
8th. The press - a pioneer in the cause of American freedom. May it be as true to the principles our Fathers established, as it was quick to give the signal to strike down the oppressor.
9th. Connecticut as she is now. She now exports men to every State in the Union.
10th. State courtesies. To Georgia Connecticut sends grateful thanks, for honor paid the memory of a patriotic son; his monument in his adopted State, and his tomb-stone in his native State are memorials of lasting friendships between sister states.
11nth. North, South, East and West. "What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
12th. Our free schools. The index of the enlarged and intellectual views of the citizens of our commonwealth-the foundation for permanancy and prosperity in our civil institutions.
13th. The fair, the mother, sister, wife and daughter. The tenderest ties which bind us to life. Our salvation and hope in youth - our bliss in manhood-our solace in old age. How unfortunate the man destitute of her influence in either relation.
The company dispersed in season for an early tea, after which the festivities were further continued by a splendid display of fireworks. The day and its associations will be long remembered by those who participated in them. The whole arrangements were highly creditable to the citizens of Wallingford, and none deserve more praise than the ladies, who spared no pains to make the occasion one of happy memories.