JOHN SEDGWICK
THE FIRST GENERAL

B2.
John Sedgwick, 2d child and eldest son of Deacon Benjamin Sedgwick (B) and Ann (Thompson) Sedgwick, was born at West Hartford, Conn., and baptized there March 7, 1742. The family moved to Cornwall Hollow in 1748. He was left an orphan at the age of fourteen and duties devolved upon him largely as the oldest son in raising a family of six. He became one of the most prominent citizens and largest landowners of that section of the state and employed a large number of laborers who lived on his estate in ten log houses contiguous to the home of the owner. He died at the Hollow August 28, 1820, aged 78.

He was twice married, 1st to Abigail Andrews, daughter of Stephen Andrews of Wallingford, Conn., February 3, 1763. She died April 26, 1811. He married, 2d, Mrs. Sarah Lewis of Farmington, Conn., who died May 18, 1854, at Simsbury, Conn., aged 96. Mr. Sedgwick and his first wife are buried in the "New Cemetery" at Cornwall Hollow. He had 13 children, all by his first wife.

Mr. Sedgwick inherited much of the paternal estate and spent his long life upon it. He was a Major in the Revolutionary Army and was at the battle of Germantown. He received his title as "General" from the state militia. In stature and physical strength he excelled his fellows and in moral qualities he was equally unrivalled, a man of strict religious principles and of undaunted moral courage, never fearing to express his opinion before any audience and his efforts of natural, unpretending eloquence were effective. He was a member of the Connecticut General Assembly, or Legislature, for 28 years and was once a candidate for Congress. In his own town he was a school visitor and his stalwart form, shaggy eyebrows with the frank, familiar and kind manner in which he addressed the pupils attracted their attention and won their confidence and esteem.

As a magistrate he was remarkable in leading contending parties to an amicable settlement.

Anecdotes are related of him showing his great strength. Once when one of his oxen, slipping the yoke, left the half loaded cart in the mire, he took the place of the ox in the yoke saying, "I will have it go; whip up the other ox," and it went. Again, while hunting on Cream Hill, it was told of him that a bear came