Gurdon Trumbull (1790 - 1875)

Born 21 Jan 1790 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Ann (Swan) Trumbull — married 2 May 1817 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Oct 1875 at age 85 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States

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Biography

Gurdon Trumbull was a businessman who developed the sealing and whaling industries in Stonington, Connecticut. He was postmaster there from 1832-1842.^[1] He was one of the townsmen who defended the town during the British bombardment of 1814. He built a Greek Revival home on Main Street in 1837.^[2]

Gurdon was born on 21 Jan 1790 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut to parents John Trumbull and Lucy Springer.^[3]

He married Sarah (Sally) Ann Swan on 2 May 1817 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut.^[4]

Children:

1. Gurdon Swan 1818-1819^[5]
2. Frances Swan 1820-1821^[6]
3. James Hammond 1821-1897
4. William Palmer 1825-1826^[7]
5. Mary Hollister Trumbull 1827-1872
6. Rev. Henry Clay 1830-1903^[8]
7. Charles Edward 1831-1856^[9]
8. Thomas Swan 1835-1865^[10]
9. Anna 1838-1926^[11]
10. Gurdon Jr. 1841-1903^[12]

In 1820 he was living in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.^[13]

In 1830 he was living in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.^[14]

In 1840 he was living in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.^[15]

In 1850 he was age 60 and living in Stonington, New London, Connecticut with his wife and children. He was listed as a merchant, real estate value $12,000.^[16]

In 1860 he was age 70 and living in Hartford, Connecticut with his wife and children.^[17]

In 1870 he was age 79 and living in Hartford, Connecticut with his wife and son Gurdon age 30, and two servants. He was listed as retired from business.^[18][19]

He died on 8 Oct 1875 in Hartford, Connecticut, and was buried in the Spring Grove Cemetery, Hartford, Connecticut.^[20]

Letter to his wife 1819

My Dear Sarah Ann

New York 19 April 1819 Monday Noon

I wrote you this morning by the steamboat for New London. But determined to improve every opportunity i add a few lines by this  ?

Although I can say no more o my business in or of the time of my return than I ? in my last. My presence i fear may be longer a few days by the delay of cotton goods, which are a bad article here. However, you may expect me home at any date by the return of the James Monroe. If I leave by business undone. By this vessel I found you a shawl which I found packed to forward on my arrival. Knowing you must be suffering with pain I am more anxious for you than on account of my business and assure you that nothing I see here can afford me any relief under the extreme valcilitude I feel on your account, although sure that your complaint will terminate favorably. If you have fortitude to bear with the pain for a few days. I wish I had stayed at home but it is probably far for the best that I did not. Confident that you with our little boy will have good attention from your kind mother. I shall hope for the best. I reflected after leaving home that I made no provisions for the families substances during my absence. My reason for not doing this was that I left cash in the stone? which you will of course always consider at your disposal in my absence and furnish such things as you may require.

I mentioned yesterday that Mr. Swan would probably soon be in Stonington. I find this morning by conversation with ? that it is doubtful whether she will leave Norwalk to soon as no settlement of the state affairs is yet commenced. Frank leaves the city for Norwalk this day.

Goods will be affordable very low generally this season. I shall purchase very few. Give my regards to Ma and kiss the boy often for me. Keep up your spirits and recollect that the hope of your comfort and happiness can alone afford any satisfaction to your affectionate husband. (see image of original on this page)

Sources

1. ↑ Appointments of US Postmasters, 1832-1971
2. ↑ Historic Buildings of Connecticut, Gurdon Trumbull House 1837
3. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74W-YPT : 7 January 2020), Gurdon Trumbull, 1790.
4. ↑ "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7LV-XXH : 11 January 2020), Gurdon Trumbull, 1817, Norwich, New London, Connecticut.
5. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NR-FL4 : 16 September 2020), Gurton in entry for Gurton Swan Trumbull, 1819.
6. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NR-FLZ : 16 September 2020), Gurton in entry for Swan Frances Trumbull, 1821.
7. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NR-FL6 : 16 September 2020), Gurton in entry for William Palmer Trumbull, 1826.
8. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JK9K-8F8 : 18 February 2021), Henry Clay Trumbull, 08 Dec 1903; citing cn 12101, Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; FHL microfilm 1,854,795.
9. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NR-N94 : 16 September 2020), Charles Edward Trumbull, 1856.
10. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7XX-L2V : 16 September 2020), Thomas S. Trumbull, 1865.
11. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W1X-844 : 3 June 2020), Gurdon Trumbull in entry for Annie Trumbull Slosson, 1926.
12. ↑ "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLM7-GBWP : 22 July 2021), Gurdon Trumbell, 1903.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:XHL6-5FX : Sat Mar 11 10:09:14 UTC 2023), Entry for Gurdon Trumbull, 1820, Stonington, New London, page 560.
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:XHGY-RSD : Fri Mar 10 23:06:11 UTC 2023), Entry for Gurdon Trumbull, 1830, Stonington, New London, page 73.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBC-SKW : 10 June 2022), Gurdon Trumbull, 1840, Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States; citing p. 147, NARA microfilm publication, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:M68T-882 : Sat Mar 11 22:46:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Anna Kerwin and Mary Trumball, 1850.
17. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHR7-4YH : 18 February 2021), Gurdon Trumbull, 1860.
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN74-KBY : 28 May 2021), Gurdon Trumbull, 1870.
19. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7XX-22R : 16 September 2020), Gurton Trumbull, 1875.
20. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151033452/gurdon-trumbull: accessed 26 March 2023), memorial page for Gurdon Trumbull (21 Jan 1790–8 Oct 1875), Find A Grave: Memorial #151033452, citing Spring Grove Cemetery, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut.

See also:

• Wikipedia Biography of daughter Annie Trumbull Slosson "He was a merchant and local politician and became wealthy in the whale and seal fishery industries..."
• Volume II Brown Genealogy, Part 1 Many of the Descendants of Thomas, John, & Eleazer Brown, By Cyrus Henry Brown, 1915, pg. 337
• History of Stonington Henry Brown, 1915, p 615, no 152
• Attached copy of will