When Charles Spencer Goodyear married Clarissa Beecher in 1824, they were bringing together several long-time New Haven families. Both of his parents, Amasa Goodyear (1772) and Cynthia Bateman (1776), were born in the town of New Haven. Both of Amasa's parents, Theophilus Goodyear and Sarah Munson, and Theophilus' parents were born in New Haven. Cynthia's parents, Stephen Bateman and Eunice Curtis, were married in New Haven.

Clarissa Beecher's ancestors had also lived in New Haven County for many generations. While her parents, Daniel Beecher and Clarissa Porter, were born in Naugatuck, New Haven County (Clarissa Porter was Daniel's 3rd wife), they married in the town of New Haven. Daniel's parents and grandparents were born and raised in the town as well.

It is interesting to note that the father of Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lyman Beecher, was born in the town of New Haven, as were his parents and grandparents. Apparently the relationship between the two Beecher families was distant, yet they would no doubt have known each other.

Today we can look at the 1860-61 City Directory of New Haven, CT, and see how many Goodyear, Beecher and Bateman families still remained in New Haven. Charles had a brother Henry Bateman Goodyear who, according to the 1860 census of New Haven, worked in India Rubber Manufacturing and who appears in the city directory living at 84 Orange St. Charles and Clarissa had 4 daughters but only one son, Charles Jr. The 1860 city directory shows a Charles J Goodyear, inventor, living at 113 Chapel.

Charles S. Goodyear became famous as the inventor of the vulcanizing process to make rubber usable. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was founded and named in his honor some 38 years after his death in 1860 in New York City.

When using the city directories on Footnote, only the first name at the top of each page is given. Look for the surname prior to the one you are looking for, click on that page, then scroll down until you find the name of interest. Please note that some surnames may extend over 2 (or more) pages.

Charles Goodyear and Clarissa Beecher

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