MIDDLETOWN UPPER HOUSES

a history of the north society of Middletown, Ct.
from 1650 to 1800
with genealogical and biographical chapters
on early families.

Charles Collard Adams
New York: Grafton Press, 1908.

THE L'HOMMEDIEU FAMILY

[transcribed by Coralynn Brown ]

   

Benjamin L'Hommedieu, probably son of Pierre L'Hommedieu and Martha Person, was born, 1656, at LaRochelle, France. He married Patience Sylvester, daughter of Nathaniel Sylvester of Shelter Island, Long Island Sound, being in New York State. He died Jan. 17, 1748. Patience, his wife, died Nov. 2, 1749. 2. The oldest son, Benjamin2, was born Dec. 3, 1694, m. (1) Mary Conklin, d. June 19, 1730, dau of John; m. (2) Martha Bourne, dau of Judge Ezra Bourne and Martha Prince, who died in Upper Houses (Cromwell), Jan. 16, 1782, aged 79, according to her tombstone, as also his slaves. Their son, Ezra3, b. Aug. 30, 1734, Southold, L.I., grad. Yale, 1754, studied law with Judge Robert Hempstead of Southold; m. (1) Charity Floyd, dau of Nicholl Floyd and Tabitha Smith of Brookhaven, L.I., and sister of General William Floyd, signer of the Declaration of Independence, who died July 31, 1785, aged 47. He married (2) Mary Catherine Havens, dau of Nicholl Havens and Sarah Fosdick, dau of Deacon Thomas Fosdick of New London, Conn. Ezra L'Hommedieu was delegate, May, 1775, to the First Provincial Congress; also the Second and Third. In 1777 was member of the Assembly from Suffolk County till 1783; was delegate from New York to the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1783, though residing in the Upper Houses at the time, and again in 1787 and 1788. He assisted in forming the first State Constitution; was member of the New York Assembly, 1771-1809, except 1793, and was once appointed a member of the Council. The British having possession of Long Island, the L'Hommedieus as rebels found themselves hemmed in. The Genearl Assembly of Connecticut voted to send a vessel to bring Mr. L'Hommedieu "and his effects" to this colony. In 1780 he bought the Thomas Johnson house in Upper Houses, and resided in it till he sold it in 1784. His slaves are buried there. (At the same time Matthew Wells came and purchased the homestead of Corporal Thomas Ranney, now (1908) known as " West Cottage " of the Cromwell Sanatarium). The local historian of Southold wrote in his " History of Southold " that Ezra L'Hommedieu was the greatest man born there. His business interests are detailed in connection with Capt. Hugh White, on page 721. Sylvester3 L'Hommedieu, fifth child of Benjamin, b. Jan. 7, 1703; m. 1737, Elizabeth Booth. Grover3 L'Hommedieu (Sylvester2), removed to Norwich, Conn. He had two wives and nineteen children. Several of the daugthters married into prominent families of Essex, Conn., and several sons settled there. Joseph4 L'Hommedieu (Grover3), m. Elizabeth Gridley, dau of Isaac Gridley of Upper Houses and Elizabeth Smith (Capt. John, Ensign Joseph, Rev. Joseph, Lt. Philip, Samuel). (See the Gridley Family).