The Woodbridge family bonds of builders who left a mark on New Haven

A recent request for information about a man named Wyllys Sperry who lived in Woodbridge at the turn of the 19^th century inspired a deeper dive into bits and pieces of the historic record. In a search for clues about this man, tracing some of his family connections revealed a fascinating story of industry, civic life, and military service in Civil War-era Connecticut.

Wyllys Sperry (1794 – 1869) was a son of Daniel Lines Sperry (1764-1841) and Chloe Alling Sperry (1766-1856), who raised their family in Woodbridge where both of Daniel’s parents traced their family back to Richard and Dennis Sperry (making Daniel a 2nd and 3rd great-grandson of this couple). 

In 1815, Daniel’s son Wyllys married Catherine Ramsdell (1797-1881) and the couple had nine children, at least six of whom survived into adulthood. According to page 106 of That Great Sperry Family, they were:

Harvey Webster Sperry, born 1816
Harvey Webster Sperry, born 1818
Amelia Catherine Sperry, born 1822
Mary Elizabeth Sperry, born 1824
Harriet Eliza Sperry, born 1828
Sarah Ann Sperry, born 1830
Wyllys Sperry Jr., born 1832
Augusta Gertrude Sperry, born 1839
Elbert Cleveland Sperry, born 1841

By the time of the 1850 census, Wyllys, then 55 years-old, is living near the home of Captain Daniel C. Augur (who lived at the corner of Ansonia and Johnson roads), along with Catherine and three of their youngest children Sarah, Augusta, and Elbert. By the time of the 1880 census the widowed Catherine is living with her son Elbert in the household of daughter Mary in New Haven. The next year when Catherine passed away, she was laid to rest beside Wyllys at the Westville Cemetery. But beyond census records and Find-A-Grave memorials, a deeper story lies in Catherine and Wyllys Sperry’s daughters and how their lives would provide connections between families that would go on to impact the wider world around Woodbridge.

Three of Wyllys and Catherine Sperry’s daughters — Amelia, Eliza, and Mary — would celebrate marriages in Woodbridge in the decade of the 1840s, beginning in June 1841, when at age 19 Amelia Catherine Sperry (1822-1906) married the 24 year-old Edwin Beach Munson (1817-1879). According to the Historic Woodbridge book in which the family’s home at 120 Rimmon Road is featured, Edwin was one of four sons of Charles Munson (1792-1879), a shoemaker and farmer, and his wife Mabel Beach (1792-1878), who built their home about the time of their marriage in 1815.

The next of the sisters to marry, in November 1844, was 20 year-old Mary Elizabeth Sperry (1824-1917) who married Willis Miner Smith (1819-1896), age 25. He was a son of Daniel Treat Smith (1778-1834) and Rebecca Sperry Smith (1780-1867) who lived in Woodbridge and are also buried at Eastside Cemetery as are Edwin Munson’s parents. Rebecca's Sperry line also went back to Richard and Dennis through both her parents — this also made her, like Wyllys Sperry's father, both a 2nd and 3rd great-grandchild of this couple.

This branch of the Smith family in Woodbridge also went back many generations and played a role in assisting the family of Reverend Benjamin Woodbridge, for whom the town was named. According to the Papers of the New Haven Colony Historical Society:

“Daniel Smith united with the Woodbridge church, Dec. 26, 1742. From him descended Daniel Smith, 2nd, and a grandson of his was Daniel Treat Smith. He was an influential member of the church and society. The house and farm which belonged to Mr. Woodbridge was given to him on condition that he would support and care for Molly Woodbridge during her life. It was his custom to go to New Haven every Saturday, and before he started, he would say to Miss Woodbridge, to whom tradition says he was honorable and attentive to her wants, "Molly, what shall I get for you today?" Her reply would be, "Half a pint for Sunday." He was a man of large influence in the town, and greatly respected for his moral worth. He was a blacksmith by trade, and at four o'clock Saturday afternoon his hands laid aside all work in his shop, and were called into the house, to wash and prepare for the Sabbath. The calling in his workmen at four o'clock to get ready for the Sabbath, not only illustrates the strict Puritan character of Mr. Smith, but also, the old Puritan custom of keeping Saturday night.”

The third Sperry sister to marry, in May of 1847, was Eliza Harriet Sperry (1828-1873) who was wedded at age 18 to Nehemiah Day Sperry (1827-1911), who was 19. We’ve profiled Nehemiah — who went on to become U.S. Congressman Sperry — in previous essays, but will note here that he was also raised in Woodbridge, later moving to New Haven with Eliza, as all three of the sisters did after marrying. (The couple and their home are pictured at the top of this essay.)

By marrying sisters, Edwin Beach Munson, Willis Miner Smith, and Nehemiah Day Sperry would form bonds that led to them working together as builders. And their hard work and success led to the influence of these three brothers-in-law extending far beyond their family ties, shaping the architectural and civic landscape of New Haven. A recent article in the New Haven Independent, New Book Illuminates How New Haven Builders Constructed City, Society, explores the broader impact of builders like Smith, Sperry, and Munson during this transformative period in Connecticut’s history.

The news article describes The Builder Book: Carpenters, Masons, and Contractors in Historic New Haven, a publication by the New Haven Preservation Trust that delves into the lives of 23 individuals — 22 men and one woman — who significantly contributed to New Haven's architectural landscape between 1810 and 1930. Authored by Susan Godshall and Jack Tripp, the book can be read online and offers detailed biographies accompanied by full-color illustrations and maps of 55 featured buildings. This work sheds light on the often-overlooked artisans whose craftsmanship has shaped the city's historic structures — a fascinating look back at how New Haven was developed in the 1800s.

Willis Smith spent his early years working on his family's farm in Woodbridge until, at sixteen, he moved to New Haven to apprentice with the masonry firm of Hine, Peck & Perkins. After completing his apprenticeship, he spent several years working as a journeyman mason, including time in New York City before returning to Connecticut. He partnered with Mary’s sister Eliza’s husband, Nehemiah Sperry, soon after that couple married, to form the construction firm Smith & Sperry in 1847. The firm grew into one of the most successful building enterprises in New Haven, lasting well into the 20th century.

Nehemiah Sperry had a keen interest in architecture and building from an early age and by combining forces with his brother-in-law their firm became known for its craftsmanship and influence in shaping New Haven’s cityscape. The firm was responsible for several key structures, including Farman and Durfee Halls on Yale’s Old Campus, elegant Italianate-style homes along Orange Street, and townhouses on Trumbull Street. They also constructed the Academy Street house for Edward Rowland, a prominent lumber dealer and railroad official, which featured a distinctive double-height front porch. Over time, Smith & Sperry evolved into Smith, Sperry & Treat and later became Sperry & Treat Co., which played a major role in Yale University’s expansion, constructing buildings such as the Sterling Law School in 1929 and the Divinity School in 1931.

Perhaps Smith & Sperry's most ambitious and well-known project was the construction of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument atop East Rock, which commemorates those who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War (also mentioned in a previous essay). This towering granite structure, standing 110 feet high, was the subject of intense civic debate and lawsuits before the final design was chosen. Willis Smith was responsible for overseeing its construction, which took place between 1886 and 1887. The work required the invention of an adjustable derrick system that allowed workers to carefully position the massive stone blocks, as well as a specially designed hoist that enabled them to close the monument’s top without the need for high-risk climbing. Remarkably, despite the scale of the project and the dangers of working at such heights, no fatal accidents occurred.

Edwin Munson, followed a similar trajectory as a builder but later transitioned into railroad construction. He began his career as a mason and worked closely with his brothers-in-law Smith and Sperry in their early years before focusing on infrastructure projects. Edwin was highly regarded for his expertise in masonry and materials procurement. He played a key role in the construction of several railroads, including the Providence & Stonington Railroad and the New Haven, New London & Stonington Railroad. In the late 1850s, he took over and successfully completed the Derby Railroad after the original contractor defaulted. His ability to manage large-scale construction projects led him to become superintendent of the Fair Haven & Westville Horse Railway, one of Connecticut’s first streetcar systems.

All told, these three brothers-in-law left a lasting impact on Connecticut’s architectural and transportation history. The firm they founded adapted to the changing demands of the 19th and early 20th centuries, remaining in operation for nearly 90 years. Many of the buildings they constructed are still standing today, offering a tangible link to their craftsmanship and vision.

As the Civil War began, according to the entry for his parents house in Historic Woodbridge, Edwin also played a key role in recruitment of area soldiers:

Edwin was a builder in Woodbridge with his brothers-in-law Willis Smith and Nehemiah Day Sperry, until he removed to New Haven. He was a mason and railroad superintendent there, and in 1860, after serving as a New Haven Councilman, he was put in charge of raising Company K of the 10th Connecticut Volunteers, and was made chief officer of the company at the start of the Civil War.

Edwin was commissioned as Captain on September 25, 1861 and was mustered into service on October 3, 1861. But his military career was short-lived as he had to resign his commission on December 14, 1861, due to physical disability. While his time in active service was brief, his leadership in recruiting and organizing soldiers helped shape the regiment’s early history.

In a future essay, we’ll delve deeper into the story of the 10th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry — where they served, the battles they fought, and the men from Woodbridge and Bethany who answered the call to defend the Union. But for now, it’s worth pausing to recognize how a simple question about Wyllys Sperry has revealed a much larger narrative — one of family, duty, and the interconnected stories of those who shaped our greater New Haven community in the not too distant past.