USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > Old homes in Stonington : with additional chapters and graveyard inscriptions > Part 13
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Dea. John Noyes, brother of Capt. Thomas, built the house near Westerly, now known as the Moss house, in 1714. Dea. John's second
THE OLD HOME OF DEA. JOHN NOYES
wife was great-granddaughter of Gov. William Bradford, second Gov. of Plymouth Colony. This house is large with a square roof, and spa- cious rooms are on both floors. It has no cellar underneath, being built upon a ledge, though the cellar stairs go down from the front hall and end upon a flat rock. This farm was included in the grant of land from the State of Connecticut to Thomas Stanton, the Interpreter Gen- eral of New England, and by his will it was given to his son-in-law, Rev. James Noyes, and from him to his son, Dea. John, and to his son, Joseph Noyes, who lived there; but later he sold it to Nathaniel Palmer and from him it descended to his son Luke, who lived here.
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
At that time there were two race courses, 80 rods long, on the farm, where hundreds of people used to assemble to witness the races often held there. Still later Mr. Jesse Moss owned and renovated the house so that it is now in good repair and looks as if it would remain habita- ble a century more. Some of the land about the house has been sold, within the last few years, so that now the farm is reduced in size, but the new and commodious houses which have sprung up all about here, show that many homes have taken the place where used to be but one, which at the time that this house was built was without neighbors. Mr. Moss was interested in making the land upon this place beautiful to the eye, as well as productive, and the broad and beautiful fields lying before the door will probably soon find a dividing line between them, where now the acres are without fence or wall, or even a stone upon their smooth surface. Mr. Moss was a great benefactor to the village of Westerly, which has now become almost a city.
SAMUEL STANTON HOUSE
But a little way to the north, on the other road stands the old Stan- ton house, located a little off from the main highway and occupied about 1785 by Samuel Stanton, who married Hannah, daughter of Col. Giles Russell. Whether he built the house is not certainly known, but after a time his daughter Hannah married Denison Noyes and lived there a few years, before they moved to Auburn, New York. Mr. Sam- uel Stanton married second, Mary Noyes, and she lived here till about the middle of 1800, when she sold the place to Mrs. Emily, the widow of Mr. Frank Pendleton. Here, also, were held the first Catholic ser- vices before their church was built in Westerly.
At the very summit of Hinckley Hill, where now stands a grand old elm tree, once stood the first Hinckley house in Stonington, on land bought before 1717 of Benjamin Palmer, for this Samuel Hinckley was a member of the Road Church in 1708. This first house, after a time, was removed and a new one took its place, built about sixty years ago,
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
which stands here now, large and square, and having a magnificent view of the surrounding country, even looking into four states, viz .: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. At the south and east the grand old Atlantic can be seen, also Block Island, Watch Hill and all the islands near and far, along the coast. Near here also stood the old school house, built in 1799, long since gone, with the high stone post or mile stone near by.
On the left is the Rev. Nathaniel Eells house, built by him about 1735 and he lived there when he preached at the Center Meeting-house, the Road and the Old Academy at the Borough. Mr. Eells was patriotic as well as religious, for he left his pulpit to go to the battle of Lexington. It will be remembered that Mr. Eells preached at the East and West
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REV. NATHANIEL EELLS HOUSE
church, alternately during the year, for a long time, and his salary was to be the interest of the ministry land money, and one penny on the pound of the polls and ratable estate of the society, with firewood, cut and delivered to him, but troubles arose on account of various society meetings, to decide upon the location of a new meeting-house and society limits, which soon extended to other matters, and many became so ex- asperated that they refused to pay their minister's rates, while others refused to pay either principal or interest on the ministry land money. The result was, that the society became in debt to Mr. Eells for his sal- ary, which of course embarassed him and led his creditors to try and collect their claims, so he commenced a suit to recover his money and the society laid a tax to pay him, but this did not weaken his attach- ment for them or alienate the people from him, for during the whole of his stay here, a most friendly feeling existed between them all.
After a time the farm was sold and Mr. Eells went to live with his sons at the Borough. While Mr. Eells lived at this farm he owned a
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horse, which became very refractory and obdurate and he was unable to ride him, unless the equine wished to go, so after vainly trying, he sold him to a man in New London who let horses to travellers. One day, sometime after, Dr. Benjamin Franklin came to New London and wished to get a horse to ride to Newport, and it chanced that Rev. Mr. Eells' horse was led out for him to use, so on they came, till' Mr. Eells' house on Hinckley Hill was reached, when the horse refused to go any further; the Doctor urged and argued, but the horse stood firm.
ADAM STATES OR WENTWORTH PLACE
After a while Mr. Eells came out and accosted the stranger, saying, "Sir, I do not know you, but I know your horse, for I have owned him and am well acquainted with him, and it is useless for you to try to ride him further tonight." So Dr. Franklin alighted and spent the night with Mr. Eells and the next morning, Mr. Eells lent him his own horse and he proceeded on his way to Newport. Upon his return, he again stoped at Mr. Eells and exchanged horses, expecting to ride speedily back to New London, but the horse refused to go in either direction until Dr. Franklin mounted him and then hired a lad, to lead him the whole way back to the Ferry. This Eells house has been recently made over and looks like a new house and belongs now to the Campbell fam- ily.
Down the hill, set back from the road and almost surrounded by a garden, where the vines and trellises nearly cover the whole front of the mansion, is the house long known as the States home, as Mr. Alden States, a Hollander, came here and married Mr. James Noyes' daughter
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
Esther; she died in a few years leaving children, and Mr. States mar- ried her sister Mary who was the widow of John Pendleton; later he married Cynthia Brown and still continued to live here. This land was part of the farm of Mr. Noyes, which extended over to the farm now known as the Adam States, Jr. place, but it is quite probable that Mr. Noyes built this house for his daughter Esther, upon her marriage with Mr. States, in 1778, so it has been known as the States place for a hun- dren and twenty-five years. Mr. Erastus Wentworth of Norwich, Connecticut, married Cynthia, who was then living at this place alone with her brother Ichabod. Here was once a brick kiln, where all kinds of earthern ware was made by the States's; this one was managed by the father, and another was carried on at Stonington village by his sons;
SAMUEL PALMER HOUSE
it was located at Kiln Wharf, or Shin Bone Alley, below the Capt. Wil- liams house. Later the kiln at the States place was carried on by "Un- cle Wentworth" as he was familiarly called. One of his sons was the Rev. Erastus who was Missionary to China.
A story is told of Uncle Wentworth as follows: they attended the church at Pawcatuck, after it was formed in 1843, and were always present in good season with one exception, when it is said that one Sunday morning, he drove up to his door a trifle late to start for meet- ing, and helped his good wife into the two-seated wagon, which was made to serve the purpose of pleasure and utility, by removing the back seat at will. After Mrs. Wentworth was comfortably seated on the back seat, her husband sprang in upon the front one, and feeling that they were a few moments behind the usual time, whipped up his horse, which started off at a quick gallop, and drove hurriedly along, up hill and down, till he drew rein before the meeting-house door and got out to assist his wife from the vehicle, when lo! and behold! neither wife
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
nor seat were to be found; so springing back into the wagon, if possible quicker than when he started from home, he drove furiously back to find Mrs. Wentworth standing at their door, patiently waiting for him to return. It is needless to say that the seat had tipped over backwards and Mrs. Wentworth with it, but fortunately she was not hurt, though they were late at church, a thing never heard of before. In after years they cared for a little girl, who grew up, married, and now is the own- er of this old homestead.
At the very foot of Hinckley Hill, we see the little white-washed house set behind a low fence and showing the old stone chimney on the west side, clear to the ground. This was built by James Palmer long before the Revolution, and occupied in 1780 by his son Samuel who
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THE RHODES MANSION
married Hannah Eells, the minister's daughter, who lived on top of the hill; here they lived and brought up their large family of children. Their daughter Emily married Mr. Benj. F. Pendleton of Groton, and later she owned and lived at the Stanton house near Westerly.
Her brother Frank was drowned in Pawcatuck River in May, 1807, a lad of fifteen years. He is said to have run up to Samuel Hobart Hinckley's (who lived at the house on the hill), to see the new baby, who was born that morning, and asked Mrs. Hinckley to name the child for him, Frank, and then run on to overtake his people, who were go- ing down the river fishing, where he met his death; the baby was named Frank Palmer Hinckley, and lived till 1833 when he died un- married. Another son, J. Hobart, was in the war of 1812 in the Priv- ateer brig "General Armstrong," at Fayal near the close of the war. The daughter Betsey lies buried beside her cousin Eunice in Evergreen Cemetary near Stonington, as there was always between them a friend- ship and loving companionship seldom witnessed. At this house lived
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Mr. Gilbert States' family at one time, and after them many others have lived there as tenants and owners.
Around the bend of the road and past the old Noyes Burying ground, stands the Rhodes mansion house, built about 1760, a large, white, two- story, gambrel-roof house quite shaded by tall trees and borders of heavy fragrant green box. Capt. Simon Rhodes, who built this house and lived here, came from Newport and married Anne Babcock, and it has been in the family name till recently.
Within the memory of the present generation it was occupied by two sisters, born in the latter part of 1700. who in their early life were engaged to be married to two brothers, whose home was only a short distance east of here; preparations were being made for their marriage; even the two wedding gowns were made and laid aside to await the happy day, when alas! one of the brothers was taken sick and after a short but severe illness, died. This caused great grief in both families and the bereaved sister felt that she could not endure the thought of the marriage of the other, so her wedding was given up, and joyous thoughts were laid aside, and these two sisters lived here together for many ycars, till death gathered them almost in one embrace, only a month apart, one aged eighty and the other seventy-seven years. The bereaved lover lived unmarried all his life. Scarcely is such tender de- votion seen in this world.
The house which stands a few rods to the west was built almost on the site of an old one which was occupied by the brother of Anne Bab- cock, Jonathan who married Esther Hazard. This land east of Angu- illa Brook was originally owned by one James York, whose grandson sold a part to this James Babcock, whose daughter married Capt. Si- mon Rhodes, and whose son married Miss Hazard and lived where Dea. Erastus Miner now dwells, in an old house which Dea. Miner removed when he erected the present one. Up the road to the north we come in sight of a hill, upon the top of which stands a large elm tree, near where was formerly a house occupied by Esquire Paul Wheeler's sister Mary, who married Charles Miner in 1741. This has long since gone and a little farther to the west stands the new Randall house, built in the place of the old one which was burned some twenty years ago, be- longing to Mr. Dudley Randall.
CHAPTER NINTH
"The hills are dearest which our childish feet Have climbed the earliest, and the streams most sweet Are ever those at which our young lips drank,'
Stooped to their waters o'er the grassy bank."
But a short distance almost directly north, stands another well pre- served house, with a hip roof and an old style portico over the front door, which is found after passing the while length of the east side, which is nearly seventy feet in length. The front hall is panelled and the rooms are unusually large, and in the great east one is the old style cupboard. In the long low lean-to is found the kitchen and rooms be- yond for milk and cheese, with all the necessary utensils. This house was purchased by Mr. John Randall, about 1750, of the descendants of Dea. Gershom Palmer, one of whom, it is supposed, was the builder. His son, Judge William Randall, whose home it was for many years, was Colonel of the 30th Regiment of Connecticut Militia during the war of 1812, and he had command of this regiment during the defense of Stonington.
From Col. Randall's house could be seen the tar barrel on Grant's hill, which by previous arrangement was to be lighted at night to let the people know when the enemy was approaching, so towards the even- ing on the 11th of August, 1814, when the British ships were seen out- side the harbor, Mr. Nathan Smith left Stonnigton, to notify Col. Ran- dall of their approach, and also proceded to Westerly, to inform his fa- ther and four brothers, Joseph, Henry, Charles and Giles, who were at work there putting the wood-work into the old stone factory, and so at eight o'clock the next morning, the whole regiment, having seen the blaze of the tar barrel, had assembled at Stonington, ready and eager to defend the place, which was so well done that the British were re- pulsed, this being the only place along the line of battle which was not surrendered.
This house of Col. Randall's was renovated by his son, Mr. Elias Ran- dall, during his life, new windows being put in and other improvements made. It is yet in the Randall name, but inhabited by Mr. Frank Mer- rill and family, which is a double reminder of ye olden time, for here can be found not only the old style house but the old time large family of children, twelve in number, keeping the old house alive with light and joy.
But a short distance west of the house of Col. Randall is Mr. Elias Miner's dwelling, where formerly stood the old Niles house. This was the original home of Walter Palmer's son Dea. Gershom, built by him in 1687. By the doorstep of Mr. Miner's house is a stone taken from the chimney of this old house which bears the following inscription :
16 $7
P
G A
Turning back upon the main road and driving on through a road shaded by elms, maples, wild cherry trees, and bordered with golden
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
rod and wild carrot, we came in sight of Merrick's Hill, rising much a- bove the surrounding land, and intersected by stone walls and meadows. Here used to stand two old houses occupied by the ancestors of Isaac and Latham Miner, but both of these have long since fallen to decay. One of these, cosily nestled on the southeast side, was of the two-story front, and one in the rear order, and here lived Mrs. Elias Miner for many years. It was known as the Seabury house, where once lived the grandfather of the first bishop in America.
COL. WILLIAM RANDALL HOUSE
Scattered about this part of our town were the homes of many of the Breed family and it is still called Breedtown . The Jesse Breed house probably built by his father, Mr. Amos Breed, stood where Mr. Herman Brown's house now stands and a hundred years ago was an old house, built in the regular mansion style, large, square, and later painted white. The rooms were very large, one of them taking 51 yards of car- pet to cover the floor. Mr. Breed moved to Pawcatuck in the early part of 1800, and invented a ring spinner for spinning cotton, and after- wards sold his right to Mr. John Brown for $100. This successful pat- ent is still used in this and other countries. The stone near the side door of Mr. Henry Breed's house was one of the stones which Mr. John Breed had in his mill for tanning leather, when he lived a few rods west of this house, with his wife, who was the daughter of Dea. Ger- shom Palmer, whom he married in 1690.
His first wife, Mary Kirtland, had died in Lynn, where he was born and lived until he came to Stonington and bought land of Dea. Gershom
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
Palmer and married his daughter Mercy. At their graves in Wequete- quock, we read, "In memory of a pious pair, this carved stone was erected here, viz., of Mr. John Breed and his wife Mercy, who lived to- gether in ye marriage state in a most religious manner about 64 years and then deceased leaving a numerous offspring. He in 1751 about ninety years of age and she in 1752 about eighty-three years. Erect- ed in the year 1772 by six of their children then living.
"Behold the righteous live long on earth,
And in old age resign their breath,
They and their offspring here are blessed;
When done with life they go to rest."
The old house of his grandson, Capt. John Breed Jr., was built in the early part of 1700, and was afterwards owned by Samuel Breed and his son John. At his death it became the property of Mr. Henry Breed, who built the new house now standing and removed the old one which had stood here so many years. Mrs. Emily Breed Cleveland describes
KENYON HOUSE
it as surrounded by pink and white rose bushes and large clusters of lilacs, which gave forth in the spring such an odiferous perfume. At the back of the house stood the tall pear tree and the old pippin apple tree, long since fallen, which yielded much delicious fruit. The long row of currant bushes by the wall near the old well, with its sweep and moss-covered bucket; the bed of sage in the garden kept free from weeds and cut at intervals, to be dried for the family medicine chest, and in the summer the long tables covered with sweet corn, drying out of doors for winter's use, all remain in the memory of those who dwelt there long ago. The Roswell Breed house still stands near the resi- dence of Mr. Elias Miner, and it was for a long while painted yellow. This story and a half house has been now for a time uninhabited, but has been the home at different times of a number of families in our town.
Nearly a mile northeast of Col. Randall's farm, stands a little back from the road, the Kenyon place, or what was once known as the Bald- win house, as it was from here that Mr. Asa Baldwin moved when he bought the Nehemiah Palmer place at Wequetequock, now called the Baldwin house. The home of the first Baldwin of Stonington was a short
.
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
distance from the Yellow house farm, between there and the Col. Amos Chesebrough's place. At this second Baldwin house lived Mr. Asa Baldwin who married Dolly Brown, with their family of seven children, none of whom ever married but the youngest, Betsey, who married Perry Kenyon and lived here till her death in 1874.
The house now occupied by Mr. Charles Champlin, was the home of Mr. Stephen Babcock some seventy years ago, but many years before that, Mr. George Bentley lived in the old house, which stood a ilttle south of this and was burned one day just at noon, and as they had no ladders long enough to reach the roof the fire could not be extinguished. Now, a large butternut tree stands in the very cellar near the barn that wil long mark the spot. Mr. Bentley, who married Lucy Gard-
STEPHEN BABCOCK PLACE
ner, built the present one-story white house, which stands by the road- side, about one hundred and twenty-five years ago, but having been kept in such, good condition, it does not have the appearance of an old house. After the house was burned, Mr. Bentley was the miller for a time when the power of the river here was used for grinding grain.
Further on turning at the right and over-looking White Rock, a thriving village in the near-by state of Rhode Island, we pass through a gate and climb a hill, on the summit of which stands the old Abiel Gardner homestead built in the middle of 1700; although now rebuilt, still some of the old beams and timbers are in the north side of this house which is occupied by Mr. John Gardner and family, his great- grandson. It is a large double wood-colored house; the front and in- side doors have the old-fashioned iron handles and latch, and within is found a deal of old-time furniture. Stands of all sizes, from the very small one, just large enough to hold the one tallow candle, with its tray for snuffers, to the large one with its polished mahogany surface,
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
which can be turned up at will against the wall. The large cherry ta- ble, chests of drawers, large chairs, smaller fiddle-back ones, corner ones, little rockers, lowboys, high-boys and peculiar old style wash stands are all found there, while the old clock still ticking away the hours, with the date 1794 and "bought of William Stillman, Price £10," written on the inside of the long door, which shuts away the pendulum and ponderous weights, stands in the east room. Old-style bureaus, mahogany bedsteads, looking glasses with the painted pictures in the upper section, wheels of all descriptions, from the large wool wheel to the quill and the little linen wheel can there be seen.
Could you but look within the closed wooden door of the high cup- board in the upper chamber, you would find such a quantity of glass pewter and woden ware, as we seldom see together. A half dozen bowls
JOSHUA GARDNER HOUSE
of different designs, pink blue and pencil ware, plates, cups and saucers tall pitchers, tea pots and tea caddys. The wooden plates, oldest of all quite rough on the surface, from hard wear, glass decanters and mugs, pewter plates, poringer and molasses cup, fill the shelves.
Even the third story has its quota of olden days, for there we find several hogsheads which never were put in through the doors but are so huge that they must have been placed there before the outside was covered and boarded up, and presumably built for the safe keeping of grain. In another apartment are the "quilting frames" set up with a patchwork quilt on ready to be tied. In the large stone chimney near the roof, is the smoke house, where pork and beef hams are even yet dried. This house holds much that is modern in furniture and many collections of minerals and books in their seperate cases. Here also is found another proof of John Denisons being a shop keeper, for in a little old brown book is written "Abiel Gardner's account book, bought of John Denison in 1746." Within this house lives the fifth generation, bearing the same name, and here the sweet "Thee and Thou" is heard,
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
and most fair and gracious are the faces which look out from within their quaint drab bonnets.
Very near the gate through which you return to the road, stood, till a short time ago, a very old house, built in the early part of 1700, by Briggs Jeffords. One of the very first dams thrown across the Pawca- tuck River, a little below the pleasant village of White Rock, was named for this man, and he lost his life here; while opening the fish gap, he slipped into the water and was soon drowned. After Mr. Jefford's death this house and farm was sold to Caleb Gardner, brother to Joshua Gardner, Sr., who, when he moved to Ohio, sold it in 1796 to his brother Joshua. who owned it for a time. Then it was purchased by William Vincent Sr., before 1800, who moved from there in 1802, and his son William afterwards lived here for a time, when he sold it to Thomas Hinckley and again it was sold by him to Mr. John Pendleton, who
BRIGGS JEFFORDS HOUSE
owned it until his death. It was then bought by Rebecca Scott, more familiarly known as Becky Scott; she married Joseph Herrington, and was quite noted about here as a fortune teller, consequently her house was often frequented by those eager to peer into their future destiny. After their death, the house was not again used as a dwelling; being so dilapidated, it was torn down and the last of it was burned in the spring of 1902.
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