USA > Connecticut > Historic houses of Connecticut open to the public > Part 3
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Among the pieces are several fash- ioned by local cabinetmakers, or the work of other Connecticut artisans, in- cluding clocks, chests, chairs, tables, highboys, desks, and a lamp collec- tion.
A fireproof wing houses exhibits of old manuscripts, glass, china, silver, pewter, musical instruments and other items associated with historic Farming- ton.
Farmington Museum, High St., Farmington; phone 677-9222; open every Sunday, 2-5; April 1 to November 30, weekdays except Mon- day, 10-12, 2-5; Dec. 1 to March 31, Fri. and Sat., 10-12, 2-5; 50c.
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PHOTO BY W. F. MILLER & CO.
No. 27 Drawing Room of Hill-Stead Museum (1900), Farmington
In sharp contrast to the architecture and furnishings of the Farmington Museum, scarcely two blocks away, Hill-Stead Museum represents the ut- most in design and accessories of a beautiful mansion, erected at the be- ginning of the twentieth century. Ar- chitecturally reminiscent of Mount Vernon, it was built for Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Atmore Pope and was designed by their daughter, Theodate, and the famous architect, Stanford White.
Miss Pope, who later became the wife of John Wallace Riddle, former American representative to Russia, Turkey and Argentina, also designed and built Avon Old Farms, a school for boys, near Farmington.
Mr. Pope, a wealthy steel magnate,
made a remarkable collection of paint- ings of the Impressionist School, when many of the artists were but lit- tle known in this country, and used his 29-room home for displaying his col- lections. Exquisitely furnished, the house was left by Mrs. Riddle to a private trust, to be maintained as Hill- Stead Museum, just as it was lived in at the time of her death in 1946.
Displayed are paintings by Manet, Monet, Degas, Mary Cassatt, Whistler and others, while the lovely furnish- ings include fine old period pieces, glass, china, prints and etchings, and many fascinating objects of art col- lected from all parts of the world. The library contains a great variety of old and modern books on many subjects.
Hill-Stead Museum, entrances on Mountain Rd. and Farmington Ave., Farmington; phone 677-9064; open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, 2-5 p.m .; 50c, children 25c.
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18
Colebrook
44
183
Sharon
7
10
Winchester 17
>202
16
8
244
Simsbury 21
9
4
15
4
202
Hart
Farmington
14 Litchfield
26
6
2202
25
Weth
Bristol
10
11
Waterbury
(67)
Woodbury
6A
12
33
Bridgewater
Meriden
133
8
69
67
15
202
10
Danbury
Pkwy
Ansonia
9
5
58
New
7
Wilbur
8
36
15
Milford
New Canaan
Bridgeport
6
Stratford
123
004
Stamford
Norwalk
1 Greenwich: Putnam Cottage 15 To
2 Cos Cob: Bush-Holley Sha
3 Stamford: Hoyt Farmhouse 17 Wi
4 New Canaan: Historical Soc. 18 Co
5 Norwalk: Lockwood-Mathews 19 Suf
6 Stratford: Judson
20 Suf
7 Milford: Eells-Stow
21 Sin
8 Milford: Ford
22 Wi
9 Ansonia: Rich. Mansfield
23 Wi.
10 Danbury: St. John
24 Ha 25 F
11 New Milford: Boardman
12 Bridgewater: Captain's House 26 Far
13 Woodbury: Glebe 27 Far
14 Litchfield: Tapping Reeve 28 We
ORK
7
New Milford
202
Mi
13
68
34 Wallin
E W
Hamden
35
Haven
8
Cross
East Haven
7
HIS
1
3
5
2
Greenwich
See pages 62, 63 and 64 for list of other places of historical interest not shown on the map.
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Torrington
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RHODE
ISLA
NC HOUSES OF CONNECTICUT Open to the public
T Hotchkiss-Fyler s Hoyt Womon Rockwell Cymour Inn se King Sank, Phelps Esha Phelps
Frworth Urk Twain s Lewis
Stanley-Whitman Hill-Stead
Buttolph-W ms.
29 Wethersfield: Webb
30 Wethersfield: Stevens
31 So. Glastonbury: Welles
32 Middletown: Gen. Mansfield 33 Meriden: Andrews
34 Wallingford: Parsons
35 Hamden: Dickerman
36 New Haven: Morris
37 Guilford: Whitfield 38 Guilford: Hyland
39 Guilford: Thos. Griswold 40 Madison: Allis
41 Clinton: Stanton
42 Deep River: Stone House
43 Essex: Pratt 44 Old Lyme: Florence Griswold
45 East Lyme: Lee
46 New London: Hempsted
47 New London: Shaw
48 New London: Deshon-Allyn
49 Mystic: Denison
50 Mystic: Buckingham
51 Norwich: Leffingwell Inn
52 Norwich: Rockwell
53 Norwich: Backus
54 Lebanon: Trumbull
55 Coventry: Hale
7
12
15
193
83
44
944
144
5
15
44A
55
and
6
12
2
Weth
Glastonbury
54
17
Lebanon
Connec
2
53
149
51
Norwich
151
85
82
East Haddam
82
9
32
Deep River
42
New
48
Essex
43
London 46 47
50
Madison
44
156
nd
Clinton
Fast 45
Zyme
Mystic Seaport
40
41
en 39
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Mystic
95
Old Lyme
49
Stonington
6A
52
32
87
31
Coventry
5
32
Filter Fyler
PHOTO BY MEYERS STUDIO
No. 28 Buttolph-Williams House (c. 1690), Wethersfield
One can scarcely picture a more characteristic late 17th century dwell- ing than that built by David Buttolph during the 1690 decade. Its outward appearance is immediately striking, but when one steps inside he at once feels the full impact of being in the center of an early American way of life.
David Buttolph lived here but a very short time and by 1711 it had become the property of Benjamin Beldon, who was licensed to keep a tavern. In 1721 it was sold to Daniel Williams and his family occupied it for many years. By 1947 it had become the property of the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society of Connecticut and in its work of res- toration, many fascinating discoveries were made. One of the first of these was to find beneath the relatively mod- ern clapboards the original thin white pine clapboards. Other interesting de- tails were brought to light, and today
the house has very much the same ap- pearance it had when constructed in the 17th century.
Here is assembled an outstanding collection of very early American an- tiques. "Ye Greate Kitchin," with it many utensils, tables, chairs and benches, wooden ware, pewter, and other accessories, is the most complete- ly furnished room of its kind in New England. Elsewhere are many other rare items-a unique 17th century fire- back, oak and pine Hartford chest, mushroom arm chairs, early delft, court cupboards, homespun linen.
An early Buttolph inventory enum- erates thirty trenchers, the number now in the house, together with a jack and weights for turning the spit before the fireplace. Also treasured is the rare 17th century half circle settle, as is the trestle-foot gate leg table, together with the rare twin high chairs.
Antiquarian & Landmarks Society of Connecticut, Broad St., Wethers- field; phone 529-0460; open May 15 to October 15, 11-4:30; 50c.
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1646886
PHOTO BY ROBERT L. NAY
No. 29 Joseph Webb House (1752), Wethersfield
Few houses in the country have greater historical significance than the Joseph Webb House. It was here in May, 1781, that General Washington spent five days in conference with Count de Rochambeau, making cam- paign plans for the American and French troops, which ultimately led to the battle of Yorktown and the estab- lishment of American independence. Arrangements for the conference were made by Samuel Webb, who was Washington's private secretary, and a brother of Joseph Webb, Jr.
Aside from its historical importance, which resulted in its designation as a National Shrine in 1961, the house is one of special interest. Its small ell was built by Major Samuel Wolcott II in 1678, while the main portion was con- structed by Joseph Webb, Sr., in 1752. Its gambrel roof, brownstone underpin- nings, columnar front entrance porch,
central hall, Georgian staircase and fine panelling about the fireplaces con- tribute to its architectural distinction.
Many important political figures, in- cluding Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth, Gen- eral Henry Knox and other visiting dignitaries were entertained here, giving it the name of "Hospitality Hall.'
The room where Washington slept still retains its original imported wall- paper and is authentically furnished, as are all of the other rooms, displaying the outstanding taste and meticulous workmanship of the early cabinetmak- ers. Chinese export porcelain, lovely English silver, early crewel work and tapestries, and many other authentic and rare items make up the particularly fine details that immediately attract the attention of the visitor with a picture of 18th century living at its best.
Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America, 211 Main St.,
Wethersfield; phone 529-0612; open Mar. thru Oct., 10-5, Sun., 1-5; Nov. thru Feb., 10-3, closed Sun .; 75c; special group rates.
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PHOTO BY ROBERT L. NAY
No. 30 Isaac Stevens House (1788-9), Wethersfield
In marked contrast to the formal el- egance of its next door neighbor, the Webb House, the Isaac Stevens House is more simple in character-a plain, but substantial and well proportioned country home. Built in 1788-9 by Stev- ens for his bride, the dwelling re- mained in the same family for a per- iod of 170 years, when it was acquired by the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames of America, to insure its pres- ervation in this historic town.
Of peaked roof construction, with a beautiful crown molding, its exter- ior has a unique and original feature in the rear, being enclosed with weath- erboarding instead of the usual clap- boards. At the door yard is a well and small herb garden, once an important adjunct of the early homes.
The interior is planned with a cen- tral hall, with four rooms on the first floor and five bedrooms on the sec-
ond. Its early panelling, kitchen fire- place, original hand-fashioned hard- ware and other features remain, in- cluding the sliding blinds, or "Indian shutters," at the first floor windows. There are still the original lights over the back door, which retains its early paint.
As it was no longer considered au- thentic, because of many alterations, an ell that was added to the house, per- haps some six to ten years after the original construction, has been re- moved.
On display are many possessions of the Stevens family, including furni- ture, glass, china and cooking utensils, but especially noteworthy is the fact that it has an emphasis on children, in- cluding a small museum, with toys, books, clothes and other items relat- ing to members of the younger genera- tion.
Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames of America, 215 Main Street, Wethersfield; open March thru October, 10-5; Sunday, 1-5; Novem- ber thru February, 10-3; closed Sunday; 50c.
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No. 31 The Welles-Shipman House (1755), South Glastonbury
Among the fine colonial homes along the Main Street of Glastonbury and South Glastonbury is the Welles- Shipman House, recently acquired by the Historical Society of Glastonbury. The Welles family was an important one in the area, beginning with the first settlers, and one of its members, Thomas Welles, an officer in the mili- tia, constructed his dwelling in 1755, a date substantiated by the initials "J .- W." and the year painted on the lintel of a fireplace, discovered during re- cent restoration work. In 1785 this house became the home of Capt. Stephen Shipman.
The fact that the house was photo- graphed and measured by the Historic American Building Survey for the Li- brary of Congress indicates the archi- tectural significance of the structure. It
is a two story frame house, with center chimney, clapboarded exterior, and twelve over twelve windows. The cor- nices over the windows, the ornamenta- tion of the main cornice across the front of the house, and the classic door- way and its decorative details are note- worthy. A small kitchen ell was prob- ably added in the latter part of the 19th century.
The interior retains much of its original fine woodwork, including ex- quisite panelling, cornices, wainscot- ing, corner cupboards, encased sum- mer beams and panelled doors. Of special interest are the inside shutters on the window tracks of one of the rooms.
The furnishings include some beau- tiful antiques, in keeping with its 18th century date.
The Historical Society of Glastonbury, Inc., 972 Main St., South Glas- tonbury. At this time restoration is incomplete. Those interested, write to Mrs. T. B. Rhines, Recorder 1855 Main St., Glastonbury; phone 633-9836.
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PHOTO BY STEKL
No. 32 The General Mansfield House (1810), Middletown
None of Connecticut's open houses has a closer association with the Civil War period than the General Joseph King Fenno Mansfield House, for it was here that this Regular Army officer made his home for a number of years. Construction of this brick town house was commenced in 1807 by Robert Robinson for Samuel and Catherine Livingston Mather and was completed in 1810. About the turn of the cen- tury alterations were made to the in- terior and a wing to the north and west was added.
In 1838 the Mathers' daughter, Louisa Maria, and Mansfield were married and, except for a brief period, this was their home through the bal- ance of their lives. A graduate of the
U. S. Military Academy, Mansfield was a member of the Corps of En- gineers and for a time was Inspector General of the Army. He saw service in the Mexican War and spent consid- erable time on the then frontier sec- tions of the country. He commanded troops at the battle of Antietam, where he was mortally wounded, September 17, 1862. He died the following day and his body was returned to Middle- town for interment.
Items relating to the General's life are on display, as well as letters from important personages, fine pieces of furniture, a chair used by George Washington, a Harland grandfather clock, and other material that is worthy of note.
Middlesex County Historical Society, 151 Main St. (So. from Rt. 6A), Middletown; phone DI 6-0746; open Wednesdays, 3 to 5, and by ap- pointment; 35c.
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PHOTO BY ALLEN E. MYERS
No. 33 The Andrews Homestead (1760), Meriden
Almost at the edge of the business center of Meriden there has fortunate- ly been preserved a fine colonial dwell- ing of excellent architectural form, typical of the Connecticut saltbox, with two lean-tos at the back. This is the Andrews Homestead, possibly con- structed in 1760 by its first owner, Moses Andrews, members of his fam- ily having been known to be carpen- ters. Moses built the house on the edge of his father's farm, the latter having taken up land in that area many years earlier.
Notwithstanding its numerous changes in ownership and the various uses to which it has been put, its char- acteristic features remain-the massive center chimney, fireplaces, fine panel- ling, delicately turned bannisters and
other details.
Moses Andrews is best known for his activities in behalf of the Episcopal Church. Like many others of his re- ligious faith, he came under suspicion during the Revolutionary War days and was ordered confined to his own property. Denied permission to attend Sunday services, he invited his neigh- bors to congregate at his home, and from this developed a formal organiza- tion of the church Society in 1789.
The Homestead is now owned by the City, but is leased to the Meriden Historical Society, which maintains it as a museum, attractively furnished and displaying many items of interest -early chests, bedsteads, tables, clocks, tableware and numerous "made in Meriden" products.
Meriden Historical Society, 424 West Main St., Meriden; phone BE 7-5079; open Sundays 2-5, and when resident custodian is at home, or by appointment; 25c, children free.
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No. 34 Parsons House (1759), Wallingford
Once a tavern and stopping point for stage coaches plying between New York and Boston, the attractive, colo- nial red, gambrel roof dwelling, now the home of the Wallingford Histori- cal Society, was built for Samuel Par- sons in 1759, and in 1855 a small ell was added. Except for recent structural improvements, few changes have been made in this house, located not too far from the stockades built in 1676 for the protection of the early settlers.
The Parsons family occupied the house until 1803, when it was deeded to Captain Caleb Thompson. This family retained it until 1919, when Mrs. Fannie Ives Schember, grand- daughter of Captain Caleb Thompson, bequeathed it to the society.
Six fireplaces, together with interest- ing cupboards, good panelling, chair rails, and other wood work provide an authentic background for the many items to be found here. Two period rooms of the 18th and 19th centuries have been carefully arranged and fur- nished. There is a library of many old volumes and documents; a pantry with old china; one room entirely devoted to Civil War relics; another to small farm tools, and still another to firearms. A large show case in the museum room exhibits linen, costumes, silver, pewter, musical instruments, school books, In- dian pieces, and old coins.
In front of the house is a Franklin milestone inscribed "VII N. H., mean- ing seven miles to New Haven.
Wallingford Historical Society, 180 South Main St., Wallingford; phone CO 9-3816, CO 9-2813 or CO9-6273; open Sundays 2-5, other days by appointment.
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PHOTO BY MICHAEL KURTZ
No. 35 Jonathan Dickerman "Old Red House," Hamden
A simple, red, story and a half house, with center chimney and a roof sweep which extends over its front, was erected almost in the shadow of Hamden's famed "Sleeping Giant," and was originally the home of Jona- than Dickerman II. He undoubtedly built the house about 1770, the year he married Miriam Bradley. The cere- mony was performed by the Rev. Na- thaniel Sherman. Jonathan was one of nineteen children, born in his father's home nearby.
The house, which at an earlier date had two ells, but since removed, was associated with the Dickerman family through an entire century. Amelia and Philas Dickerman owned it for many years and during the 1850's it was the
home of Caroline A. Dickerman, a great-granddaughter of the builder. Early in the twentieth century it was bought by Homer B. Tuttle, who mar- ried Augusta E. Dickerman, the great- great-granddaughter of Jonathan II. Mr. Tuttle sold the house to John Ed- ward Heaton and it was from him that the Sleeping Giant Park Association received it as a gift in 1924.
The Hamden Historical Society, or- ganized in 1928, has maintained the house and opened it to the public as an historic site.
The Connecticut State Park and For- est Commission, through legislative ac- tion, transferred the old house to the Hamden Historical Society in June, 1961.
The Hamden Historical Society, Mt. Carmel Ave., Mt. Carmel. As changes for the house are under way, phone 248-6884 or 248-0809 to make sure it is open. No admission fee.
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No. 36 Morris House (1685-1779), New Haven
While New Haven's historic Green, laid out about the time of the settle- ment of the town in 1638, survives, very few of its early houses still remain. Among these, however, is the Morris House. The first dwelling on the site was erected by Eleazar Morris in 1685. A massive stone end, incorporating the chimney and fireplaces, formed its north wall.
Detailed study has led to some fas- cinating theories regarding the en- largement of the house, for as the Morris family grew, rooms were added and another wall of masonry was con- structed at the south, while an ell be- came the "new" kitchen. On July 5, 1779, British troops landed nearby, and on their march toward New Haven, this mansion was burned.
As the foundations and stone walls survived the fire, Amos Morris, the owner at that time, immediately started the reconstruction of the house, al- though it took a period of nearly ten years to complete it. Further changes were made during the 19th century, in- cluding the installation of a second story ballroom.
The house was purchased in 1915 by William S. Pardee, who did some res- toration work, and in 1918 he be- queathed it to the New Haven Colony Historical Society. Under the owner- ship of this organization further res- torations have been made. Furnished appropriately, it is now the sole sur- viving structure of its period. in New Haven still retaining most of its char- acter.
New Haven Colony Historical Society, Pardee-Morris House, 325 Light- house Rd. (via Townsend Ave. from Exit 50, Conn. Tnpk), New Haven; phone 467-0764, open May 1 to Nov. 1, weekdays, except Saturday, 10-5; Sunday, 2-5.
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PHOTO BY SEDGE LE BLANG
No. 37 Henry Whitfield House (1639), Guilford
The Rev. Henry Whitfield, founder of the town of Guilford, leader of one of the earliest groups of colonists in the United States, and an important figure in the religious world of his day, built what is probably the oldest stone house in the country, at about the time of the settlement in 1639. Having come from England, the builder erected what was a representative example of an elaborate English Midlands manor house of the 16th-17th centuries, with steeply pitched roof, small windows and great hall.
The Great Hall is thirty-three feet long and fifteen feet wide, with a huge fireplace at each end. In the mid- dle of it is a partition hinged to a sec- ond floor joist, that either divides the room into two or swings up to the ceiling out of the way. The only other room on the first floor is the kitchen.
In its early days the house served not only as dwelling place for Whit- field, his wife, Dorothy, and seven of their nine children, but also as a head- quarters for the community of twenty- five families, and as garrison and meet- ing house. During its history the house served various purposes, was gutted by fire in 1865, rebuilt in 1868, and in 1902 it became a museum, owned by the state. Just prior to 1939 the house was restored, as far as is known, to its original form by the architect J. Fred- erick Kelly. About a third of the pres- ent building is original.
As a museum, there are on display rare and authentic pieces of 17th cen- tury household furnishings of all de- scriptions; exhibits of early weaving, metal working and crafts; a contem- porary herb garden, and many unusual items.
State of Connecticut, Whitfield St., Guilford, 1/2 mile due S. of Exit 58, Interstate 95; phone GL 3-2457; open Jan. 15-Dec. 15, except Mon .; April, Oct., 10-5; Nov .- March, 10-4; 50c, children under 18, free.
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thimol
No. 38 The Hyland House (1660), Guilford
A fine example of early saltbox, with added lean-to, was built by George Hyland about 1660. Original, unpainted clapboards, still to be seen in the keeping room, attest to the fact that the lean-to was probably annexed in 1720 when Ebenezer Parmelee ac- quired the house. Another unique fea- ture is the chamferred overhang on the sides of the main house-a refinement marking it as one of the finer houses of its day.
Here one has the feeling of visiting a 17th century family, for the house is completely furnished with authentic appointments of the period-the Bible box, complete array of kitchen utensils around the fireplace, a loom ready for use, the Guilford chest with its origi-
nal painted decoration. An early chair- table, a Carver chair, tavern tables and other interesting pieces of furniture are in place. A pencil-post bed, cov- ered with a resist-dyed quilt, is in one of the chambers.
Here, too, one finds an original window casement, some fascinating old panelling, as well as the butterfly and H and HL hinges which are part of the original hardware. The staircase leading to the second floor is hand- some, and the same fine work is lav- ished equally on the stairway to the at- tic.
In this house Ebenezer Parmelee made the first town clock in America, completed in 1726, for the steeple of the Congregational Church.
Dorothy Whitfield Historical Society, 84 Boston St., Guilford; open June 15 to September 30, daily except Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 50c.
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PHOTO BY RICHARD CHAPMAN
No. 39 Thomas Griswold House (1735), Guilford
"A salt box of exquisite propor- tions" is the term used by Samuel Chamberlain, noted photographer, in tersely and accurately describing the Thomas Griswold House. From its construction in 1735, the dwelling re- mained the property of the Griswold family until 1958, when it was pur- chased by the Guilford Keeping So- ciety.
Standing on a slight rise of ground above the road and separated from the highway by a fence which once served as part of the ornamentation of the bel- fry of the First Congregational Church, which stood on the Green prior to 1829, the house presents a pleasing pic- ture of antiquity. In fact, its beauty was so recognized that its picture once ap- peared on a commemorative stamp.
The purpose of the Keeping Society is to preserve the best of "old" Guil- ford-its architecture, history, records and legends, with the result that one may find here many exceptional items of the town's artifacts from 1735 to the present day, rather than a fur- nished house of any particular period. However, early wallpaper, harmoniz- ing with old paint tones, helps to ac- centuate the numerous fine pieces of furniture.
The house serves the community for meetings, special exhibits and similar purposes.
The village blacksmith shop with forge and ox sling, together with hun- dreds of early farm utensils, are lo- cated in the barn museum at the rear of the house.
Guilford Keeping Society, 161 Boston St., Guilford; phone GL 3-9910; open daily except Monday, 1 to 5 p.m .; closed in January; 50c, chil- dren under 12 free.
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No. 40 Kitchen of Nathaniel Allis House (1739), Madison
Madison was one of Connecticut's early towns, and in this community where fine colonial homes survive, the Nathaniel Allis House is one of the the landmarks. While the early history of the house is somewhat obscure, it is believed to have been built by Nathan- iel Allis II in 1739, at the time of his marriage to Hannah Scranton.
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