Landmarks of New Canaan, Part 8

Author:
Publication date: 1951
Publisher: New Canaan, Connecticut : The New Canaan Historical Society
Number of Pages: 522

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THE WARREN-FLADD-ESTY HOUSE

MRS. ELIZABETH B. OSBORNE and MISS ALICE BRISTOW, Authors

EDWIN EBERMAN, Artist

[April 24, 1947]

The Esty house, located close to the road at the northernmost end of Oenoke Ridge and distinguished by its simplicity and dignity, was built in 1823 by Solomon Warren (sometimes spelled "Wairing" or "Waring") on land which

had belonged to his family for many years. When Mrs. William C. Esty, wife of the pres- ent owner, wrote of its history in her interest- ing "Story of School District No. 7," published in the "New Canaan Historical Society Annu-

Edwin Eberman 1947

The Warren-Fladd-Esty House

al," of June, 1946, she pointed out that this was probably the third house to have been built on their property.

The two earlier dwellings, which were both mentioned in the Drummond Visitation Jour- nal" in 1772, are no longer standing, but at that date they were owned and occupied by mem- bers of the Waring family. One was probably in the pasture lot at the foot of Mount Misery, now called, less grimly, Michigan Road. The other is thought to have been on the land where the Esty's barn now stands. In the first house lived the Widow Waring and her daugh-

ter, Elizabeth; in the second lived Daniel, his wife, his son Solomon, and his four daughters, Anne, Hannah, Sarah and Lydia. Two unmar- ried daughters of Daniel were still living there after 1823, the year in which their brother Solomon built the last of the three houses, the one in which the Esty family now lives.

Solomon Warren (Waring), son of Daniel was born in 1766. He must have been a versa- tile man, for he carried on two quite different trades, the making of shoes and the building of carriages. When he died in 1853, he willed his property to his three children, Temperance,

Daniel and Julia, but it was Julia who inherited the homestead itself. Here she stayed till the end of her life, and though she never married, she helped to bring up her nephew George's two children, Herbert and Almira, who lived with her for a number of years after the death of their parents.

When Julia died in 1890, the house was sold to Jefferson Barlow Ogden, who was at one time owner of a sawmill on the pond at the foot of the hill. This mill belonged originally to Thomas Anthony Comstock, who had dammed the east branch of the Ripowam River to form a pond on which to build his mill. This body of water, first known as Lake Anthony, was later called Lake Siscowit or Mud Pond, and eventually became the Stamford Reservoir. Anthony Comstock, one of the ten children born to Thomas Anthony Comstock and his wife, Polly Lockwood Comstock, was destined to become famous for his lifelong fight against mud of a very different kind from that to be found in his father's pond. This truculent guardian of public morals made many en- emies, but he never swerved from his deter- mination to protect the public against obscen- ity and to see that the purveyors of filth were punished. Though most of his life was spent away from his native town of New Canaan, his roots were here and his early religious training no doubt helped to start him on his extraordi- nary career. His views on the subject of what was fit for the public eye and the public ear may have been narrow, his methods of obtain- ing convictions sometimes lamentable, but his sincerity, his ardor and his energy were bound- less and, according to his own peculiar stand- ards, his achievements were substantial. From the murky depths of Mud Pond to the purity of the Stamford Reservoir! Surely there is an anal- ogy to be found here that would have pleased the highly moral character of Anthony, son of Thomas.

The Comstock mill on Mud Pond in time became the property of Jefferson Barlow Og- den, who turned it over to two of his six sons, Stanley and Arthur. In 1893 they built a new sawmill and had the old one torn down. Jef- ferson Ogden lived in the Warren house from

1890 until his death in 1901. In 1903 the place was acquired by Mrs. Grace A. Fladd, whose husband, an inventor, farmed the land and at the same time continued active participation in his business affairs in New York. Mr. William C. Esty, purchased the property from Mrs. Fladd, then a widow, in 1925.

In the course of the 124 years of its history, the house has undergone many changes, both internal and external, reflecting the needs and the taste of its several owners. For a while it bore its share of the ornamentation considered aesthetically essential to Victorian eyes, but this has been removed, restoring it to its earlier and more pleasing architectural lines.

The present living-room with its spacious fireplace, was the original kitchen, and the only stairway in the house at one end of it. When a part of the house was rented by Miss Julia to a shoemaker named DeForest, and his family, the kitchen was divided into two parts, the tenants having the fireplace and Miss Julia the stairs. To reach their upstairs rooms the DeForests had to pass through Miss Julia's kitchen, but it is reported that they usually did it on tiptoes.

The Warren living-room, a small room on the southeast corner, is now a library. The plaster of the original walls downstairs has been cov- ered with handsome panelling, and the fire- places, which were closed for a time, have been restored to usefulness. The front "parlor" where Miss Julia received the clergyman and other distinguished guests has disappeared in the course of remodeling, but its loss has been more than compensated for by the addition of the dining-room wing, beautifully designed to conform to the old section of the house.

Solomon Warren would certainly still rec- ognize his home and be gratified that the years have used it well.

Mr. Esty is the head of the New York ad- vertising firm "William Esty Co., Inc." Mrs. Alice Esty is well-known as a professional singer, and has contributed most generously of her time and ability in many civic benefits. The lovely old house and grounds are also en- joyed by the numerous friends of the four Esty children, William, Jane, Judy and Edward.

THE CAPTAIN REUBEN SCOFIELD- COMSTOCK-THOMPSON HOUSE

FLORENCE N. MILLER, Author

EDWIN EBERMAN, Artist

[May 1, 1947]

Just off Ponus Ridge and to the left on Daven- port Ridge, is one of New Canaan's interesting old landmarks now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Thompson.

In Revolutionary times it was probably known as the Scofield place as for a hundred years members of that family resided there. In 1746, Abigail and Reuben Scofield, sr., are known to have been the owners. After the death of Reuben, his widow, Abigail, was granted permission to sell the dwelling and also their salt meadows of approximately six acres on the shore. In 1775, she sold it to her son, Elnathan, for 20 pounds, relinquishing all dower rights in her dwelling house. This pro- perty was bounded on the north by the high- way, on the south and east by land of Gideon Leeds, and on the west by land of Hezekiah Davenport. Also in 1775 Elnathan sold to his brother, Reuben, jr., the same piece of pro- perty for 35 pounds. And Benjamin, Jacob and Mercy Scofield deeded their rights as heirs in this piece of property to Reuben, jr.

Reuben, jr., is mentioned frequently in the early historical notes of Canaan Parish as Capt. Reuben Scofield. In Drummond's Visita- tion Journal he is listed as living here with "Lydda, his wife; Lydda, Betsy, Abigail and Anne, children; Benjamin Scofield, and Syl- vanus Seally, jr., residenters; and Mercy Sco- field, his sister." Sylvanus Seally is noted else- where later on as having been one of the foun- ders of the Episcopal Society of New Canaan.

Capt. Reuben Scofield is registered as be- longing to the Train Band, first formed in 1733, as was required of every able-bodied man in the colony. This was continued right up to the Revolutionary period.

The following notes that have been collected show that in 1775 Capt. Reuben Scofield was Sergeant in the Fourth Co. under Capt. Joseph Hait (Hoyt) of Stamford, commanded by Col. Charles Webb, Stamford. On July 6, 1775, the Seventh Regiment of which the Fourth Co. was a part was stationed at various points along the Sound until September 14, when on requisition of Gen. Washington, the regiment was ordered to the Boston camp. There it was assigned to Gen. Sullivan's Brigade on Winter Hill at the left of the besieging line and remained until the expiration of the term of service in December, 1775.

In June, 1779, Capt. Reuben Scofield is ca- talogued as Captain of the Ninth Reg. com- manded by Col. John Mead.

February 9, 1808, Capt. Reuben Scofield is mentioned as being a deacon of North Stam- ford and acting as messenger at the ordination of Rev. William Bonney in New Canaan.

Later, his wife Lydda having died, he mar- ried for a second time, Mary (Weed) widow of Capt. Hezekiah St. John. Mary was born De- cember 25, 1757, the daughter of Josiah and Abigail (Bouton) Weed. While married to Capt. St. John she bore him ten children. She died, the widow of Reuben Scofield, September 15, 1839, age 84.

In these early years, Ponus Ridge was known as Ponasses Path. Travel was very difficult as it was before the time of carriages.

During the next few years the property changed hands several times, passing to Han- nah Scofield who sold to Henry R. Weed in 1845. In the same year William Crissey be- came the owner, then in 1853, Lucretia Towne.

Lucretia and her husband, Benjamin, were

Edwin Everman

The Captain Reuben Scofield-Comstock-Thompson House

shoemakers. They walked to New Canaan every other week to the Benedict Shoe Factory to take and collect more work. A "Real Daugh- ter" marker was placed on the grave of Mrs. Towne (Lucretia Holly) by the Stamford Chapter, D.A.R.

In 1889, another change took place, this

time James Rossborough became owner. Mrs. George Gardiner (Harriet A.) acquired it in 1891, then Levi Weed, 1899, Katherine Com- stock and Jack Dunn in 1922, Victoria Lind in 1928 and now the present owners in 1946.

The house itself is very interesting as it re- tains some of the old features. Originally be-

lieved to be a small house of two or three rooms with the west side the oldest, it has been remodeled and enlarged several times.

Addition by BEATRICE GUENGERICH

Since the publication of the above article, Mrs. Katherine Crissey Weed Comstock wrote delight- ful recollections of her earlier life on Ponus Ridge and Davenport Ridge for the New Canaan Histori- cal Society Annual. Many additional interesting facts, therefore, have come to light.

It seems Mrs. Comstock moved into the house when it was still owned by Mrs. George Gardiner in 1892. Her father, Levi Weed owned a farm on Ponus Ridge where she had spent her childhood. She is a direct descendant of Jonas Weed and on her mother's side of Nathaniel Crissey. Her hus- band, Mr. Frank A. Comstock was a descendant of Watts Comstock who was the first president of the First National Bank and Trust Co. of New Canaan.

There were six Comstock children, five girls and a boy, three of them were born in this little house. At that time it consisted of three rooms down- stairs and two rooms upstairs. They were a lively brood and with all of their friends and relatives up and down Ponus Ridge coming to the little house it was always full and running over. Their plea- sures were simple in those days but they enjoyed them-ice skating in the pond across the road and cutting ice in the winter to store in the ice-house for summer use.

The magnificent elm tree to the West, which Mrs. Comstock broke off when it was a very small tree, trying to discourage its growth because she felt it was too close to the house, now completely

covers the house and seems to shelter it with its branches coming down on three sides.

In 1899 Mr. Levi Weed bought the property and when he died in 1917, he left it to Mrs. Com- stock. Her daughter, Mrs. John Dunn and Mr. Dunn bought the house from her in 1922. They made some changes at that time and took out the front door and the little winding stairs that were in the center of the house.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had lived in New Ca- naan on South Ave. for three years before buying this house in 1946. They both love the history back of it and have visited the cemetery where "Auntie Towne" is buried. They also take an active interest in the Chapel services held frequently on Ponus Ridge. They feed the large elm tree and cherish it as a member of the family.

Mrs. Thompson, although born in Janesville, Wisconsin, is a descendant of the Sayles who were one of the original settlers of Cooperstown, New York. Her father, a jeweler, left Cooperstown and went to Janesville. Mr. Thompson was born in Brooklyn, New York but he too went to Wisconsin. He is with S. W. Dodge Corp. in New York City.

They have two children, a daughter, Elizabeth Lou and a son, Howard Sayles. Elizabeth Lou is a graduate of Beloit College in Wisconsin and is Music Librarian at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, where she is studying voice. Howard Sayles is a sophomore at Middlebury, Vermont.

The Thompsons have charmingly combined the old with the new. The old kitchen fireplace in the living room is the center of interest and with braided rugs on the floor it gives a feeling of the old charm while a large window to the South with a beautiful view brings in the new.

Again newcomers to New Canaan are treasuring the history of an old house while bringing some- thing of their own to add to its charm.

Edwin Oberman 1947

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

ANNE L. O'SHAUGHNESSY, Author

EDWIN EBERMAN, Artist

[May 8, 1947]

It is interesting to note that, while today there are four crowded services every Sunday at St. Aloysius, less than 100 years ago there was no

Catholic church in New Canaan. The small group in the community who were of the Catholic faith made, what was in those days,

the long, tedious journey to Norwalk to at- tend services. If they did not own horses, they walked.

About the year 1850 St. Mary's Parish in Norwalk sent priests to the village to read Mass in private homes. One of the parishioners who offered his home for services was Cornelius Burns of Locust Street.

At that time the house which is today the home of Dr. George C. Ludlow, next to St. Mark's, was known as the Town House, cen- ter of all community activities. As the little Catholic congregation grew larger, services were held at Town House and, later on, at St. John's Hall which stood where Scofield's store is today.

In 1862 Captain Ogden, whose residence was the house now known as The Cottage on the Town Hall grounds, donated property on Forest Street. That same year the Rev. Peter Smith, pastor of St. Mary's, supervised the building of the first Catholic church, a white clapboard structure with slender, frosted win- dows. This is today a shingled dwelling almost opposite the Blue Arrow Garage. Behind the carriage sheds, in back of the church, was a little cementery for babies. Mrs. Bridgit Fitz- patrick, who lived nearby, served breakfast to the priests and informed them if any sick calls were to be made. With Westport and George- town also as missions, the Norwalk fathers must have been very active.

The parish remained a mission of St. Mary's until 1896 when the Rev. John McMahon was appointed the first resident pastor.

Shortly after Fr. McMahon built the rectory, the Rev. Thomas Kelley became pastor and re- mained for two years, being succeeded by the Rev. P. J. Byrne who was here until 1902. The parish was then served by Fr. Murray who is today the Most Rev. R. M. Murray, Archbishop of St. Paul, Minnesota. He was followed by the Rev. P. J. McGivney who officiated for one year. Fr. P. J. O'Leary, who had given up the

study of law for the priesthood, was appointed successor to Fr. McGivney. He bought the acreage upon which the present church and rectory now stand on South Avenue.

In 1914 came a most gifted scholar, the Rev. John H. Stapleton. While a student of theo- logy in Paris, he had become an authority on the French language and literature. Fr. Stap- leton's weekly contributions to the Catholic Transcript were later published in book form. Under his guidance, the building of the new church and rectory was begun. Fr. Stapleton was a proud man as he assisted at the laying of the cornerstone June 25, 1916. Unfortunate- ly he did not live to see the buildings finished.

His plans were carried to completion by the Rev. John Moore, for many years a professor at St. Thomas' Seminary, who began his pas- torate here in April, 1917, and officiated at the dedication the following July. During Fr. Moore's eleven years here he labored unceas- ingly to reduce the church debt and gave per- sonal attention to the religious education of the children. An enthusiastic gardener, much credit is due him for the attractive landscap- ing of the extensive grounds. In November, 1928, Fr. Moore was called to the Sacred Heart Parish in Bridgeport. That same month the Rev. Pliny Cooney came here from Green- wich. His sudden death the following January saddened the many friends he had made in the brief time he was here.

Fr. Cooney was succeeded by our esteemed pastor, the Rev. William J. Fox, who had left the Sacred Heart Church in Groton to come to New Canaan. Fr. Fox has made many im- provements and contributed substantially to the splendid development of the parish. As an investment for the future, he purchased in 1938 the Hale property at the corner of South Avenue and Cherry Street and in 1944 the adjacent property on Cherry Street, formerly the home of Mr. and Mrs. George F. Lock- wood.

OLD CHURCH BURYING GROUND

JOHN R. MILLIGAN, Author

EDWIN EBERMAN, Artist

[May 15, 1947]

"The Old Church Burying Ground" on West Road, crosses the lives of only a few presently living New Canaan residents. Rather it re- presents a phase of life in Canaan parish exist- ing in the middle and late 1700's. It was some- time in the late 1730's that the members of the Old Church of England chose this spot for their own burial ground.

Any reference made to this old cemetery automatically reflects its historical connection and identification with the present St. Mark's Church because it was on this site that the professors of the Church of England in Canaan Parish first erected a building for worship in 1762, later to be replaced by St. Mark's Church in 1834. The history of St. Mark's Parish begins with the founding of St. Paul's in Norwalk in 1737 and St. John's in Stamford in 1742. In reality Canaan parish was an original part of the purchase project of Norwalk from the In- dians by Roger Ludlow in 1640 for the con- sideration of 8 fathoms of wampum, 6 coats, 10 hatchets, 10 hoes, 10 knives, 10 scissors, 10 jewsharps, 10 fathoms of tobacco, 3 kettles and 10 looking glasses.

The families who constituted the original recipients of the deeded property contain names which have long been familiar to us, such as the Haits (Hoyts), Carters, Keelers, Hanfords, Davenports, Weeds and Sentions (St. John's). In 1762 these families sought to avoid the ten or twelve mile jaunt on Sundays to Norwalk or Stamford by building their own church. Until 1791, however, there was no parochial organization and they continued to pay a rate for the support of the older churches. Sometimes a special committee was chosen "to collect arrears in Canaan Parish." It was during these difficult years that the well known Tories, the Rev. Jeremiah Leaming and the Rev. Ebenezer Dibble officiated in Norwalk

and Stamford, respectively. In fact, Dr. Leam- ing left with the British after the burning of Norwalk.

The original building was erected in the cen- tral portion of the present old burying ground bordered by West Road and Sunset Hill Road, and represents the first property held by an Episcopal society in Canaan Parish. The deed, dated July 18, 1764, constitutes one of the real treasures of St. Mark's. This building re- mained for many years in an unfinished state and since there was no settled minister for this first church, services were held only about one- fourth of the time.

Records of events between 1764 and 1791 are meager, but one should remember that the Revolutionary War took place during this pe- riod and the "Professors" were not held in high esteem. It is important to remember that funds for the support of the church in the colonies came from England (from the Society for the propagation of the Faith ) under author- ity from the Bishop of London. In fact, the ministers themselves were regarded as mis- sionaries but many of them were loyal patriots of the Colonial cause. It was during this period that the vigor and importance as military leaders of the colonial forces created the do- minant personalities of Captain Stephen Betts and Captain Isaac Keeler, both of whom were leaders in the formation of an independent "Episcopal Society" in Canaan Parish. No one can question their patriotism in 1776 nor their churchmanship in 1791 when the Episcopal Society in Canaan Parish was organized and when the 79 family heads living in Canaan Parish ceased to pay to and support the old churches in Norwalk and Stamford. In fact, the records show that a vote occurred "Passcd by a vote of a majority at the annual meeting of the Episcopal Society at the Church in

Extra Eberman

1947.

Old Church Burying Ground

Canaan that if any member or members of this Society should be attached to the old so- cieties of Stamford or Norwalk for any rate raised after the first day of December A.D.

1791 they shall apply to the committee of this Society for relief and they are to direct matters for his or her relief."

Many of the earliest worshippers in Canaan

Parish are buried in this old cemetery. One sees the tombstones of the Raymond family, the Tuttle family, the Boutons, the Hanfords, the Ruscos, the Dixons, the Pennoyers, the Lockwoods and the Warrens, and tombstones exist there placed as early as 1764. Any mem- ber of the Episcopal Church presently con- stituted in New Canaan should take occasion to pay homage at the grave of Captain Stephen Betts, his wife, Harriet Betts, and his colored slave, Jesse Betts, whose graves are all side by side. It is well known that the slaves took the names of their masters and the tombstone of this old slave is labeled Jesse Betts-coloured.

A record exists of the first wardens elected on January 2, 1792, by a committee of seven, consisting of Dunlap Coggshall, Samuel Han- ford, Jr., Abijah Seeley, Seymour Talmadge, John Raymond, Captain Stephen Betts and Luke Raymond. From this group the first war- dens were chosen.

We have also noted the names of the first choir which led the worship with Venite, Te Deum and Magnificat and consisted of the Misses Abbie and Laurie Pennoyer (sisters), Sarah Tuttle, John Jarvis, Jared Seymour, Samuel Raymond, Alfred Raymond, Luke Keeler and Reuben Allen as leader. Many of these founders lived on sites presently fami- liar to us. The Betts house, standing during the Revolution on Oenoke Ridge, was on the site of the old Augustus Houghton home and that of John Raymond was opposite the present

residence of Mrs. Gerhard Smith. Solomon Warren's home was on the site of the Esty residence on Upper Oenoke. The late Samuel Tuttle so fondly remembered by this gener- ation, lived near the site of former members of his family. Ebenezer Hanford lived where Louis H. Hall lives now and Dr. Selinger built his home where formerly stood the Henry R. Weed residence. The memory of Captain Isaac Keeler dignifies the property owned by Mason Wadsworth and Harold B. Clark owns the former Jonathan Abbott home.

Present residents of our very favored com- munity when passing this old burying ground may well pause and read this sign:

1762 May 13th in this church yard was erected the first building of the Professors of the Church of England in Canaan Parish. Replaced by the consecration of St. Mark's Church May 6th 1834

They may picture that small group of hardy pioneers gathered many Sundays on this spot to worship with their slaves and the few In- dians who were frequently present, listening to the all-day preaching of the minister who was hired "at five dollars a Sunday or more if he cannot be had for less."

THE COMSTOCK-BURNHAM HOUSE

JOHN G. PENNYPACKER, Author

EDWIN EBERMAN, Artist

[May 22, 1947]

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Addison C. Burn- ham, jr., stands on the west side of the Smith Ridge Road, just south of the New York State

line. It is an old as well as attractive house, having been for over a hundred and fifty years the home of one of New Canaan's most inter-

hmm

Eduru Eberman

1947

The Comstock-Burnham House

esting families, the Smith Ridge Comstocks. It was in this house that the Rev. William Drummond spent the first night in New Ca- naan and it was here, in December, 1772, that he commenced his famous "Visitation" census. He listed Abijah Comstock and "Children- Hannah, Dinah, Deborah and Samuel. Dover and Belinda, niggers. This family regular and religious." Among the Smith Ridge settler

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Landmarks of New Canaan, Part 8

Author: Publication date: 1951 Publisher: New Canaan, Connecticut : The New Canaan Historical Society Number of Pages: 522

Author:
Publication date: 1951
Publisher: New Canaan, Connecticut : The New Canaan Historical Society
Number of Pages: 522