Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

January 3, 1834, in the same locality as
himself. On his death the widow was
left with three sons to rear and care for,
the eldest being seven years old and the
youngest a babe. With limited means,
she performed her task well, lived to see
her sons well established in business, and
able to bless her last years with every
comfort. In 1890 she moved from Hartford
to Middletown, where she died Feb-
ruary ID, 1899.
Isaac Spear, second son of Aaron, was
born December 25, 1858, in Hartford, and
there attended school until twelve years
of age, when he started out to earn his
livelihood, with such aids as his natural
ambition, energy and industry. His first
employment was in the store of Bernhard
Levy in Hartford, as utility boy, at the
salary of two and one-half dollars per
week. Here he continued eight years,
in that period acquiring a thorough knowl-
edge of the business, becoming buyer for
the store and enjoying a salary of eighteen
dollars per week. That was long before
the World War had established the present
ruling wages and prices. He became
very proficient as a sign-writer, and now
determined to engage in business on his
own account. His savings had gathered a
little capital, but his employer gave such
material aid as to prove the integrity of
the young man, as well as to testify to his
business ability. Mr. Levy introduced
him to wholesale dealers in New York
and guaranteed his bills, which was a
wonderful aid to one about to launch in
business. After looking about Mr. Spear
decided to establish a store in Middle-
town, and the result justified his judgment,
for he was immediately successful.
His first location was on the east side of
Main Street, in the building where his
sons are now conducting business. In
1880 his brother, Jacob Spear, joined him.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
219
and since that date the business has been
conducted under the name of Spear
Brothers. In 1886 the store was moved
to Nos. 400 to 402 Main Street, and there
continued until after the death of both
proprietors. Two enlargements of the
building were made in their time and the
scope of the business was extended. In
1890 Jacob Spear retired and the younger
brother, Simon Spear, took his place. He
died May 29, 1921. Isaac Spear was a
member of the Middletown Board of
Trade from its organization. He died
June 19, 1921. Mr. Spear married, April
15, 1891, in New Bedford, Massachusetts,
Caroline Elizabeth Pitman, a native of
that city, born March i, 1864, daughter of
George W. and Elizabeth (Perkins) Pitman.
George W. Pitman, born in Fall
River, was a carpenter and builder, and
married (recorded in Newport, Rhode
Island), April i, 1850, Elizabeth Perkins,
of New Bedford, whose paternal grand-
father, Henry Perkins, was a member of
the famous "Boston Tea Party," which
demonstrated the determination of the
colonists to resist the tax on tea, one of
the movements which precipitated the
American Revolution. Later, Henry
Perkins was a soldier of the Revolution.
The Pitman family had several repre-
sentatives early in New England. At the
comparatively recent date when Englishmen
took surnames the founder of this
family, probably, dwelt near a pit or was
employed in one. In the Hundred Rolls
of 1273 Johannes Piteman is mentioned.
A family of the name was seated at Dunchideock-house.
County Devon, for sev-
eral generations, and appears in the
parish registers from 1552, Geoflfrey Pitman
was sheriflf of SufTolk County in
1625, and the name appears in Yorkshire
pedigrees. The arms of the Suffolk fam-
ily are :
Gules two poleaxes in saltire or.