T. PALMER BINDLOSS, a well-known
and respected citizen of New London, Conn., who now lives retired after
an active and honorable career of some forty-six years, was born December
19, 1829, in Kendal, Westmoreland, England, son of William and Margaret
(Palmer) Bindloss.
He traces his descent from Sir Christopher
Bindloss, who was Mayor and head of the corporation of the town of Kendal
in 1579-80 under the charter of Queen Elizabeth. Sir Christopher, with
his son Robert, established a regular express service between Kendal and
London for the conveyance of their noted woollens. Robert was created a
Baronet by Charles I. in 1641, and is believed to have been the builder
of Borwick Hall, Yorkshire. Sir Robert Bindloss was member of Parliament
for Lancaster in 1613. His son Francis, born 1603, married for his second
wife Cecilia, daughter of Thomas West, Lord de la Ware. He also was member
for Lancaster. He died in the lifetime of his father, and was succeeded
by his son Robert, the last male Bindloss of Borwick Hall. It is a matter
of history that King Charles II., on his southward march with his Scottish
army, reached Kendal on August 16, 1651, and spent the following night
at Borwick Hall. The line of T. Palmer Bindloss comes from Sir Christopher's
son Christopher, born 1570, continuing through his son Peter, baptized
1607, Peter's son Robert, baptized 1630, Robert's son Christopher, baptized
1666, to Robert, son of Christopher, baptized 1696, who was a farmer and
dealer in cattle in Rowel, Westmoreland County, and was a man of considerable
means, the typical representative of an English yeoman. The next ancestor,
Robert (third) of Greenside Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, the eldest son of
a large family of children, inherited his father's fine estate, and succeeded
to the business. His son Philip, of Park House, Heversham, Westmoreland,
married Jane Watson, a sister of Richard Watson, D.D., who was for years
the honored Bishop of Llandaff.
The subject of this sketch has an excellent
portrait of Bishop Watson, a fine steel engraving taken from a painting
by George Romney, the celebrated historical artist and portrait painter;
and he has also a full-length steel engraving of the artist.
William, son of Philip and father of T. Palmer
Bindloss, engaged in mercantile business. He was a popular man and held
office, and his brother Thompson was twice Mayor of Kendal. William Bindloss
came to this country in 1848, and bought a farm just outside of New London,
that is now owned and occupied by his youngest son. His wife was a native
of Liverpool, and it was in that city that their marriage took place. Of
their children, three sons and four daughters are still living, all American
residents, the youngest being now sixty-four and the eldest seventy-four
years old. The first one to immigrate was Jane P. Bindloss, who came over
in 1843, and was followed a year later by Margaret. Both settled in New
London, their present home, Jane P. being the widow of Leander U. Knight,
and Margaret the widow of George Elliott. They each have children. The
other brothers and sisters living are: Ellen, widow of Henry Hilliar, aged
seventy-four; William, aged seventy-three; Mary, widow of Joseph Scroggie,
aged sixty-six; and Philip George, aged sixty-four. The two deceased are
a son who died in England, aged two years and nine months; and Esther B.,
who married Daniel Collins, and died April 28, 1897, aged sixty-eight.
The mother, Margaret Palmer Bindloss, died in 1858, at sixty-two years
of age; and the father, William Bindloss, died in 1864, aged sixty-eight.
Their mortal remains rest in Cedar Grove Cemetery. In their native land
they were both members of the Church of England, and after coming to this
country both they and their children identified themselves with the Episcopal
church.
T. Palmer Bindloss received his education
in Kendal and Liverpool. When twelve years old he was apprenticed to the
tailor's trade for seven years in Liverpool, but when he had served five
years his employer died. In 1851, with his widowed sister Ellen and her
two children, he came to New London. He subsequently worked eight years
as a cutter in Elizabeth, N.J., and four years in New York City at the
same occupation. Since then he has been a resident of New London. About
three years ago his cousin, William Bindloss, Mayor of Kendal, died leaving
a large estate and a will in which there were many public bequests, a residue
of three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars being set apart for heirs
in America. These heirs selected T. Palmer Bindloss as their attorney,
to go to England and look after their interests, a task that he accomplished
in a manner satisfactory to all. His stay in England exceeded a year; and
during that time he availed himself of the opportunity to gain information
of an historical and genealogical character relating to the Bindloss family,
searching the records of many generations. He also secured a large number
of portraits and landscape views, among them being views of Castle Green,
the residence, garden, and grounds of the late Mayor, who, with his noble
wife, was much loved and esteemed by both high and lowly, schools having
been special objects of their interest and recipients of their bounty.
Mr. Bindloss has a beautiful testimonial in colors which was presented
to them by the school children in honor of their silver wedding anniversary,
and another testimonial with their portraits, the size of a newspaper folio,
speaking in the highest terms of their work. Mention should also be made
of the views of Levens Hall and gardens of Captain Bagot, which show the
stone castle and gardens, now some eight hundred years old; also the Bindloss
room in Sizergh Castle, with the family coat of arms, which is a combination
of those of the Bindloss and West families, who intermarried, as before
noted.
Mr. Bindloss is a Republican voter, but has
never sought or held office. He belongs to the Masonic order, and is a
member of Palestine Commandery of Knights Templars, in which he has passed
the chairs. Of genial manners and a true gentleman in all that the word
implies, he has many friends in New London and vicinity.
(Photo attached)
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 38 - 42
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