Austin Eugene Pearl’s State Legislator Bio

I recently came across this short biography of Austin, my great great grandfather, in “Taylor’s Legislative History and Souvenir of Connecticut, 1901-1902; Portraits and sketches of State Officials, Senators, Representatives, etc. (Volume 3)” By William Harrison Taylor, copyright 1901, as found on Google Books.

Austin Eugene Pearl, of Hampton, is a native of the town he has the honor to represent in the General Assembly. He is the son of John P. and Maria (Jewett) Pearl and was born January 11, 1852. He received his education in the common schools of his town. He has always lived in Hampton, except three years, 1871 to 1874 in South Manchester. He is a successful carpenter and builder and is also engaged in farming. He is a staunch Democrat and has been honored many times by his townsmen. He has been a Selectman for thirteen years, Grand Juror, Justice of the Peace, School Visitor, Assessor, Constable, member of the Board of Relief, etc. He has held all these offices in a pleasing and efficient manner. He is a member of Little River Grange, has been Master two years and Overseer two years in the Grange and is a member of the United Order of Pilgrim Fathers.

On July 25, 1875 he married Mary E. daughter of Sylvanus Weeks. Seven children have blessed the union: Eva M., born June 30, 1876, died July 8, 1901; Arthur E., born May 28, 1878; William A., born May 15, 1880; Reuben E., born November 30, 1885; Mary A. born October 20, 1888, Flora B., born April 30, 1891; Evelyn M., born April 13, 1899.

Austin is just one of the many Pearls from Hampton who have served in the Connecticut State Legislature and other Statewide and local offices. His Father in Law was Sylvanus Weeks, of whom we have a portrait that can be seen in this earlier posting…

The Joining of the Jewett and Pearl Families

The Pearl and Jewett lines merged with the marriage of John Porter Pearl and Maria Jennings Jewett. Maria, the daughter of Ebenezer Jewett II and Nancy Jennings, was born in Hampton, CT on 23 January 1826. John Porter Pearl, the son of Jerome Pearl and Amaryllis Allworth, was born on 14 October 1813 in Wethersfield, CT. They were married 23 February 1847. John and Maria had 8 children, one of whom, was Austen Eugene Pearl from whom we are descended. In Marian Arlene Pearl’s genealogy, “John Porter Pearl was a farmer and a carpenter. He was a Democrat and in his early years held town offices in Hampton. He attended the Congregational Church and was held in high esteem by those who knew him.”

A cute little story is told by Marian Arlene Pearl about how Marie Jennings Pearl’s mother, Nancy Jennings, met Marie’s father, Ebenezer Jewett II, a carpenter. “Ebenezer, II raised the first frame house in town and a large crowd gathered to see it go up, among them was the young Nancy Jennings whom he had never met. Nancy’s father had jokingly promised her, should the new building go up without a hitch, she might marry the young contractor. There was never any doubt as to Ebenezer’s ability. He and Nancy were married in 1824. Ebenezer, II also built the Bell School House in Hampton, which is still standing to this day.”

A little side note about the Jewett’s of Hampton is that Ebenezer Jewett I, Maria (Jennings) (Jewett) Pearl’s grandfather, was one of the Minutemen who responded to General Gage’s call for reinforcements in 1774, and in return for military service was given homestead lands on the hills east of Hampton. Thus the Jewett’s came to Hampton.

Dot Vander Meulen, Pearl Family Historian.

Just A Short Story

Jerome Pearl 1775 – 1825 married Amaryllis Alworth in 1800. They had 9 children, one of whom was our Hampton Pearl’s direct ancestor, John Porter Pearl. Two of John Porter Pearl’s sisters were Beulah Moseley Pearl and Sarah Alworth Pearl. Sarah was baptized 12 Aug 1810 in Wethersfield, CT. She died on 23 Nov. 1876 in Hampton, CT.

Sarah and her sister Beulah were co-administrators of their mother’s estate in 1850. On their mother’s death, they received the bulk of the estate, including the home and furnishings thereof. After Beulah died in 1852, Sarah continued to live in the home. She never married, though she apparently had several offers. It is said that she confided to her last suitor, a Captain, that now that Beulah was dead, if the right man called she might accept his proposal of marriage. “And whom” asked the Captain, “might the right man be?” Sarah thought about that for a moment and answered, “He must not drink, smoke or take snuff, he must be a Democrat and belong to the Congregational Church.” “Goodbye Sarah” said the Captain, “You will never find that kind of a Democrat!”

The only relatives mentioned in Sarah’s will were John and Samuel, one received $25 and the other $50. The remainder of Sarah’s estate went to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions

….D. Vander Meulen, Pearl Historian. The information on Sarah came from Norton Lee Bretz’s History of John Pearl

The Jewetts and the Pearls

Ever since Hampton was a fledgling community, forming out of the wilderness of northeastern Connecticut, the Pearl and Jewett families have figured prominently. For years families with those last names participated in the life of the community in many capacities, their talents and hard work contributing to the well being and quality of life in the town. No longer are the Pearl and Jewett names prominent here. Families have moved away, children have married and taken on new surnames, old people have died so that gradually the names have disappeared from the consciousness of many now living in Hampton. I suggest that those who are interested take a stroll through the North and South cemetaries. There you will find many stones marking the spot where many with these names slumber beneath the sod.

There are many descendants of these families still living in this area, though their names are no longer Pearl or Jewett. Pride of family is evidenced each year as the Pearl family continues to celebrate its history and its uniqueness by coming together for their annual reunion.

The Jewett and the Pearl families joined together with the marriage of John Porter Pearl to Maria Jennings Jewett in 1847 in Hampton. John Porter Pearl was the great great grandson of John Pearl the immigrant. One of John Porter and Maria Pearl’s 8 children was my great grandfather, Austin Eugene Pearl, born in 1851. Austin and his wife, Mary Weeks Pearl owned a farm across from and a little south of where the Hampton Elementary School is now situated on present day Rte. 97. Their house still sits beside the road.

The first “Hampton” Pearl was Timothy Pearl, born in 1695 in Boxford, MA. He was the son of John Pearl the immigrant. Timothy was a tanner by trade. Sometime around the year 1716, as a bachelor, he moved to Connecticut and bought 100 acres from Ebenezer Jennings on what was then known as Appaquage Hill. That piece of land was near what is now Lewis Rd. in Hampton. His first wife, Elizabeth Stevens from Massachusetts died after giving him 6 children. His second wife, Mary Leach, also from Mass. gave him 9 more. Amazing for the time, all 15 children lived to adulthood.

Austin Pearl was not only a farmer, but also a carpenter, a home builder and a postmaster in Hampton. The Hampton Post Office during Austin Pearl’s tenure as postmaster (1913 – 1921) was located on the east side of Main St., just north of the intersection of Hammond Hill Rd. After he retired, the Post Office moved to the center of town into an addition built onto the Hampton Hill Store. The Pearls found the U.S. Post Office a good source of employment it seems. Besides Austin, his daughter, Evelyn (Pearl) Estabrooks, was the Hampton Postmaster from 1936 to 1964. His sons, Reuben and William Pearl, were mail carriers on Hampton’s rural routes; William serving for 40 years and Reuben for 45. Other family members who worked at the Hampton Post Office, in various capacities and at various times were: Eleanor (Pearl) Moon, Mary (Pearl) Stone, Mary (Pearl) Emmons, Gertrude Pearl, Stella Pearl, Helen Pearl, Will Jewett and Vincent Scarpino. These names will be familiar to many long time Hampton residents.

Austin was a staunch Democrat who served as state representative from 1901 -1902, serving under then Governor, George P. McLean. He was chairman of the Hampton Democratic Party for years and was also a town selectman for 13 years. The fact that my great granddad was a Democrat fascinated me because most of his descendants in my parent’s generation of whom I was aware were avid Republicans. I enjoyed teasing my mother about her ‘Democratic’ roots. She took refuge in denial.

Austin and his son, Arthur E. Pearl, built many structures still standing in Hampton. One was the Grange Hall. One of the ones that Arthur built was the home that my parents, Earl and Dorothy (Pearl) Overbaugh bought on Parsonage Rd. when they retired and moved to town in 1963. That house is a low, one story structure. It was originally built for the Peabodys as a summer home. The land on which it stands was called Petticoat Pastures. I was told that it was modeled after the Little White House of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Warm Springs, GA. Don’t look for a similarity today, though. The house has much changed over the years. If anybody can tell me of other structures that Austin and Arthur built in Hampton and environs, I would be most grateful.

Chester Jewett, Mrs. Allen Jewett, M. Louise Jewett were among the first officers of Hampton’s Little River Grange #36 when it was organized in 1885. Mrs. Chester (Mary) Jewett was an original charter member and was a member for over 77 years. William W. Pearl was not only Past Master of the Little River Grange and of the Quinebaug Pomona Grange, but also Past Master of the Conn. State Grange. Many Pearls and Jewetts were long time members of the Hampton Grange, holding offices and actively participating in that organization until it closed it doors in 2002.

Dorothy Vander Meulen, Family Historian