USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > Old homes in Stonington : with additional chapters and graveyard inscriptions > Part 5
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
but upon her replying that she was otherwise engaged, he responded, "Very well, Madam, I bid you good evening, I have a good horse and an extensive acquaintance," and rapidly cantered away, albeit his heart may have remainded behind. Miss Denison afterward married Dea. Charles Lewis, and went west, as New York state was called in those times, where her decendants are still living. This house is now owned by Mr. Noyes Palmer, and occupied by Mr. Horace Bromley and family.
Through the pleasant valley of Quiambaug, we see many houses old and new. Turning at the schoolhouse we cross a bridge, and climb a hill, seeing on our left a snug and sunny house, built on the site of the home of Esther Denison, who married Jonathan Wheeler in 1732. This house is now owned by Mr. Henry Baldwin.
Nearly opposite in the lots is the old brown story and a half house
---- --
DERIAS DENISON HOUSE.
occupied about the middle of 1700 by George Woodcock, an English- man, who lived here alone for years.
The records say, "He was a Sean-maker, and in 1749 he bought of Edward and Bridget Short for £235, in current money of New England, of the old tenor, two acres of land with dwelling house thereon stand- ing; this being all the land sd. Short bought of Thomas Miner, Samuel Mason and William Denison of Stonington." The heavily laden fruit trees grow close to the front door, through which have passed so many in the years that have gone. The rooms, with deep summer beams are so low that a person entering will find his head coming in contact with them, if he be not careful. The floor bears the proof of the old man's solitary housekeeping, as the burnt and blackened marks of the kettles removed from the hot fire have left their impress for centuries. Mr. Woodcock was buried only a few feet from the house, and in his will, which is a most amusing and singular one, he makes bequests to var-
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
ious friends and neighbors, of "his swarm of bees," and the rowen on his meadows to be given to a man to whom he owed a debt ,in which case if he accepted, it should cancel the bill. He also directed that a certain minister from Groton should come and preach at his funeral, in return for which service, he was to be given a good meal and have his horse fed. He gave his house and place to Darius Denison, who married Mary Billings in 1771, and lived here, and his son, Darius, after him, who married Mr. John Hyde's daughter, Nancy, and they built the old house anew in a great measure.
As we proceed on our way southward we come to a low, wood- colored gambrel roof house, quite near the roadside and looking off down the Cove, this has been for many years a home occupied by the Miner family. The west half was built in 1750, by Thomas Palmer
AMBROSE MINER HOUSE.
(who was a carpenter) for David Miner, the great-grandfather of the present owner, Mr. Ambrose Miner. The east half was built on by his son, Jesse Miner, who married Sally Hilliard in 1803; so it has pas- sed from father to son, for the last one hundred and fifty years. Within, one may find many curious and interesting documents, and Mr. Miner will tell you much that is entertaining and historic. About op- posite, just over the wall on the east side, was in 1702 the Town Clerk's office of Elnathan Miner, where the records kept by himself in those days, are now a pleasure to read, because of the fine chirography dis- played therein.
A little way beyond, as we make the bend in the road, we see a low, brown, gambrelled roof house set amid its bower of shrubbery, nearly shrouded with climbing roses and trailing vines. £ On the north side is the leanto, enclosed by lattice work, while nearby is the well with the old oaken bucket hanging from the sweep, and the water which it
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
brings up to the thirsty one leaning over the side of the curb, is cold, clear and refreshing. The large yard encircles the whole house, and in summer time the old fashioned flowers grow in sweet profusion; in the grassy spaces surrounding them grew tall dandelions and daisies, while here and there, knotty and knarled old apple trees throw their shadows over all . The house stands a little off from the bustling highway, not facing the road, but turned almost at right angles from it as if not caring to hear the rush and rattle of this twentieth century life, so absorbed it seems in its own memories. This is the old house of William Miner which was built in 1770, where he married Abigail Haley, and went to housekeeping there; it was then only a half one story house but, after a time, the large family of twelve children necessitated a larger house and then the east half was added. Their
CAVANAUGH HOUSE.
third daughter, Abigail, married Joseph McCabe, and their daughter married, and has occupied this house for years as her home, and it is now owned by licr children, Joseph Cavanaugh and sister.
Further down at the end of the road and facing the blue waters of Quiambaug Cove, where once dwelt the first Thomas Miner and wife Grace, now stands a more modern house, the third one built near the same spot, and occupied by those of the same name and also direct decendants in the 9th generation. This house will bring to mind pleasant memories to all those, who in the past, were participants of those Sunday school picnics, when Dea. Palmer, Aunt Maria, Uncle Nathan and Aunt Nancy, Uncle Alec and Aunt Delia, the Judge and wife, Esquire Moss and wife, Uucle Tom and the Major were among the chief actors upon these occasions. Ah! well do we remember the host at these times, who with his c heerful smile and genial face, walk- ing with his hands clasped behind him, was always delighted to see
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
his friends, and his energetic wife whose helping hand was needed everywhere at once. Do you not see those busy ones making ready the fish and lobster in the kitchen, while boards became tables under the drooping boughs in the shady yard before the house, where a little later all would gather and feast upon the host of good things which had been prepared, and under which these tables would seem to groan. Then afterwards would come the sail upon the water (which came nearly up to the yard about the house), making light the hearts of all the children, who especially delighted in this part of the day's enjoyment.
CHAPTER FOURTH.
"In that mansion used to be
Free hearted hospitality ;
The great fires up the chimney roared,
The stranger feasted at the board; 1
Through days of sorrow and of mirth,
Through days of death and days of birth,
Through every swift vicissitude
Of changeful time, unchanged it stood."
The old Denison house which has beconme the "Mecca" of so many pilgrimages, is still standing, brown and weather-worn by time. It is situated upon the slope of a hill and two immense elms are in front. It is a large two-story mansion house. The front door is in the center with its old iron knocker. Upon either side are large sunshiny rooms, with a feeling of warm welcome in the very atmosphere. The summer beams, cornices and panelings are in evidence. It was built about 1717, by George Denison, grandson of Captain George, who mar- ried Lucy, the daughter of Benadam Gallup, and it has been well cared for by his descendants. A new ell has been added within a few years. It was originally covered with the long, three feet shingles, which have all been removed with the exception of those on the west side, which are still quite well preservd. All about the
house are large, flat rocks, which bear peculiar indentations. Stories of their origin have been told to the children of succeeding generations, "That they were footprints;" certainly very marked are these traces, worn or made by some heavy pressure. His son, George Denison who lived here, married Jane Smith, still known as grandmother Jane to a few of Stonington's oldest people. She lived to be ninety-eight years old and left a large number of descendants, and her picture adorns our church parlors. Many kindly and benignant persons have passed the threshold of this Denison house, but none more so than his son, Uncle Oliver, whose very presence with his flowing white hair as he sat in church, with his hands resting upon the head of his long cane, or as we saw hin in the high-backed armchair in the warmest corner of his pleasant sitting-room, seemed a benediction. This house is now occupied by his daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Ford.
About a quarter of a mile northwest of this house in Pequotsepos Valley, can now be seen, standing solitary and alone, the old stone chimney of the Gallup house, inhabited in 1682 by Benadam and John son and grandson of Capt. John Gallup, of the famous swamp fight. Later, Silas Wheeler, who married Polly Thompson lived here, and his brother Nat, who married Prudence Breed; afterwards the latter moved with his wife and two sons to Vermont.
A little to the northeast, stands the new house occupied by the family of Mr. Randall Brown, who built it in the place of the old mansion which stood there more than a hundred years ago, for on March 29th, 1786, Mr. Robert Williams sold a certain tract of land of
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
107 acres, for £750 to Mr. Joshua Brown. The boundary of the deed begins "At a mear stone marked J. W.," presumably for land of the grandfather, John Williams, as this ground about here was Williams territory for many years previous to this; Mr. Thomas Williams, brother of Robert and John, who was killed at the massacre at Groton Heights, lived near here also, perhaps in the very house where now an old cellar and well are plainly visible a little to the southwest of the present dwelling house. Mr. Robert Williams was a very handsome man, educated at Dartmouth College, and travelled about the country a great deal. He was also unusually strong, for the story is told of him that he wished to try his strength with the negro giant, Venture, but when Venture held out his hand and requested him to step upon it
THE GEORGE DENISON HOMESTEAD
and easily lifted him into the air, Mr. Williams was satisfied that his strength was more than equalled.
The old house which was on this farm, was probably built about the middle of 1700, and was originally gambrel-roofed, then raised to two stories in front with the long, slanting roof in the rear, while still later it was entirely raised and became the large, commodious dwelling which many yet remember. In the early days only the east side was completed, while the west was left unfinished for a long time and the cattle kept within it during cold weather, and some of the rooms in the second story were also left in the same condition. Here for four gen- erations have lived the Brown family, direct descendants of Joshua and Joanna (Rogers) Brown, who came here to live from North Stonington; their son, Randall, who married Sally Palmer, sister of Dea. Noyes, about 1805, lived here, and later their oldest son, Randall, who married Mary Ann Holmes, began housekeeping here, and a few years later was joined by his brother Noyes, who married Martha Noyes, and they began housekeeping in the new ell which had been mere recently added. The name Randall, which has been so faithfully carried down
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
from one generation to the next in this family, came from Mr. Joshua Brown's mother, who was Elizabeth Randall, born July 4th, 1696.
A little further west is the White Hall Mansion, built by Dr. Dudley Woodbridge about 1740, who occupied it till his death. Some twenty years before, another house stood there, where dwelt Lieut. William Gallup, whose daughter Temperance, married in 1726, Rev. William Worthington, the first minister at North Stonington, and to whose wed- ding came the Indians from Indiantown, some eight miles above, with squaws and papooses, proudly displaying their feathers, paint and beads. They had been invited by the bride's uncle in a spirit of mis- chief, but when they arrived, marching in single file (as was their custom, they were escorted around to the kitchen, where plenty of hard cider and Yorky cakes were served to them, and then they were politely invited by the bride's father to call again some day, for he did
CHIMNEY, BENADAM GALLUP'S HOUSE
not intend that his daughter's wedding should be made conspicuous by an unusual or unseemly display. This farm has been owned and in- habited by many different families since the time when Mr. Woodbridge gave it to his nephew, Mr. William Rodman. At one time Mr. Jared Wilcox, who married Bridget Stanton in 1788, owned and occupied it till they sold and removed to New York state. It is now owned by Mr. Samuel Bentley.
A mile or so above, in the picturesque village of Old Mystic, much frequented by artists, stands an old wood-colored double house, which though just over the line into Groton, seems to stretch out hospitable arms, as if to take in the whole place. In the door yard grow many things sweet and green. The highway runs on all sides of the house, and a triangular green is before the door. This house was constructed by Dr. Dudley Woodbridge in 1750, and is built against a bank, so that the upper windows in the rear are on a level with the highway . A
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
long ell stretches out toward the road on the south, which has been frequently occupied by shoemakers. This house is now owned by Mrs. Lucy Stanton Wheeler, a daughter of one of the Groton Heights heroes, Edward Stanton, who was seriously wounded at the battle there in 1781. She can tell you of many an interesting event which occurred in her childhood, ninety-six years ago, and is proud to show
THE JOSHUA BROWN HOUSE.
her friends the gold spoon which was presented to her as a Real Daughter of a True Patriot, by the society of the Daughters of the Revolution of Groton and Stonington, of which she is an honorary member .. This house was once a Tavern, and is said to have sheltered many famous men on their journeys to and from New York and Boston by stage coach, as it is situated on the old Turnpike between those cities.
Three miles further east is the house of Col. Nathan Wheeler, which was built about 1790, and is still standing, well preserved. Where now grand elms and maples cast their shade on the broad green before the
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
WHITE HALL
door, could once be seen the grand change of horses on the arrival of the stage coach, which occurred twice each day, going both east and west, between New York and Providence. This was quite a novel and exciting time, and the children of the neighborhood, and even from sev- eral miles distant, were allowed as a great treat to go and see the pass- ing of the stage. The horses, four and sometimes six, were unhitched in a twinkling, and fresh ones stood ready to take their places, and pro- ceed at once on their way. About 1835 saw the last of this mode of conveyance on this road, as the railroad was opened in 1837, from Ston- ington to Providence. This house was occupied by Col. Nathan's son,
MRS. LUCY STANTON WHEELER'S HOUSE
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
Giles Wheeler, and after his death it was sold to various parties, but now belongs to Miss Bertha York.
A little above the village of Old Mystic, stands the Stephen Avery house, built by him about 1750. The small window panes and the un= usual number of windows, four in the first story at the west, three above and four in the attic, with the many outer doors, shows it to have been "Of ye olden time." Mr. Avery had a most benevolent heart, and having no children of his own till late in life, he had helped and cared for his nieces and many others, as he was one of a large family of children, and had four brothers in the Revolutionary war, one of whom died, and two others were fearfully wounded at Fort Griswold. At one time a private school was kept in the upper part of the house. He also built a grist mill west of his house, on Sicanemus brook, which was afterwards sold to the First Mystic Manufacturing
COL. NATHAN WHEELER HOUSE
Co., chartered in '1814. The number of beautiful and romantic drives and walks about this place and the nearby village, make it the natural rendevous for artists and lovers of nature, of which there are so many that every year finds the houses which will accommodate guests, full to overflowing. This place is now owned by the grandsons of Mr. Avery, Mr. Stephen and Everett Brown.
A short distance above here, stands the little whitewashed house, which was at one time used as the farm-house for the Stephen Avery place, but long before that time it was the home of a Williams family, perhaps the very first who came to Stonington from Roxbury ,Mass., in 1685, as the home of this first Ebenezer has never been located any- where else. He married Mary Wheeler, granddaughter of the first Thomas Wheeler. It has been occupied during these years by many different families. Here lived Fiddler Bill Chesebrough in the early
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
part of 1800, also later the Garside family, who are remembered by the present generation.
The son, Nathaniel Williams, lived near the junction of the Lantern
STEPHEN AVERY HOUSE
Hill road with the turnpike, where the house yet stands, looking strong and stanch for many years yet, though built in 1720. It is in good condition, a piazza has been added at the front, which destroys the plain outline of the upper part of the front porch, and somewhat de- tracts from its old style; the four feet shingles on the north side are
EBENEZER WILLIAMS HOUSE --
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
still to be seen, and within the house one's imagination can easily run riot in the low ceiled rooms, made to seem still lower by the summer beams, which seem drooping to meet you as you enter. The square front hall is quite large and similar to those built at the present time. The east room has been partitioned off, but it was originally twenty feet square. Here it was that their daughter, Anne, stood, when she married Col. William Ledyard, of Fort Griswold fame, in 1781. Little did she dream on that blissful morning of her wedding day, that so much pride and sorrow was to be mingled in her lot in life; for he it was who commanded the Fort at Groton til finding further resistance useless, and the British swarming in upon them, led by Capt. Bloom- field, who enquired, "Who commands this fort?" Col. Ledyard replied,
NATHANIEL WILLIAMS HOUSE
"I did, sir, but you do now," at the same time handing the hilt of his sword to him, when Capt. Bloomfield took it, and plunged it into the bosom of our brave officer, who fell on his face and immediately ex- pired. This historic house has been in the Williams family through succeeding generations ever since its erection, and the land joined that of Mr. Joshua Hempstead, who was a friend of Mr. Williams; in his Diary, he speaks of him many times and of being one of the bearers at Mr. Williams' funeral, with Major Israel Hewitt, Lieut. William Denison, Capt. Gallup, Revs. Mr. Rossiter and Fish; so we find in those days that the ministers acted as bearers also. A few years ago this house was sold by Mrs. Elisha Miner of Groton, she being the last of the family in possession.
Anne Ledyard's brother, Thomas Williams, lived quite near in the low gambrel-roofed house, whose chimney is built about halfway be- tween the ridgepole and the plates on the long sloping north roof, which nearly reaches the ground. This house stands almost enveloped
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
in shrubbery and trees on the road which leads up to the other old Williams house. It originally faced the west, and the double door remains on that side, which opens into an entry where the back stairs lead above. Directly in the middle of the floor of this room is a trap door, where goods or valuables were placed when danger was near. When the road was laid out on the east side of the house, it obligingly opened its front door to the east. Many interesting facts are gleaned about this old house, which rests contentedly in this shady and quiet nook, where in 1787, Thomas Williams brought his bride, Abigail Hempstead daughter of Christopher and Mary. The old Hempstead house on the plains has long since gone to ruin, but the records of the
THOMAS WILLIAMS HOUSE
Hempsteads as a family are preserved in the Hempstead Diary, which is now published by the New London County Historical Society. This house has remained in the Williams family until within a few years, and was occupied till their death by Mr. Thomas Williams' two daugh- ters, Sally and Abby, who were the aunts of everybody in the neigh- borhood, young and old.
The Richard Hempstead house is situated on the road as you go to Lantern Hill from Mystic, and still stands modest and unassuming with its gambrel roof, firm and true as though it was only fifty years old instead of nearer one hundred and fifty. This Richard was a descendant of the first Robert of New London; he resided here and his parents before him. His wife was Lucy Davis, who at his death mar- ried a Mr. Holt of New London, and afterwards Mr. Jedediah Briggs of Rhode Island. The house has since passed into other hands, and is now owned by Mr. Philetus Brown.
Situated in the northwest part of the town, is Wolf Neck, which obtained its name from the fact that in the early days an Indian killed
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
a wolf there, and hung it up by the neck on a tree near the summit of the hill, where it could be plainly seen by the passersby, and ever since "Wolf Neck" has held its name. Quite near here, Mr. Martin White owns and lives in a one-story, double house, protected from the
RICHARD HEMPSTEAD HOUSE
roadway by the fenec which encloses large apple trees, whose golden fruit, in the autumn, lies upon the ground in rich abundance. This house was built by Samuel Stanton's brother some one hundred and twenty-five years ago, and later was occupied by Mr. Amos Shaw, who married Hannah Leeds.
The David Kellogg house stands near by at the corner of the road, with trees, vines and shrubs before the door. It was built in 1793, a one-story half house, by Mr. Kellogg, who was a carpenter, and a most thorough and painstaking one. He had a family of twelve children.
THE MARTIN WHITE HOUSE
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
When they were growing up and the home nest was becoming too small for such a numerous family, he added the west half and made it into the present double house which is now well preserved and good for a century or more. It is set back from the road within an en- closure, the entrance to which is a little wooden gate, worn smooth by the generations of little fingers which have pushed it to and fro as they have passed in and out.
The Eldredge house, later called the Elisha Bennet house because owned by him, is still standing, low and brown, on the old road from head of Mystic to Wolf Neck, set back a little from the gaze of the traveller, cozily sheltered by some old apple trees, whose boughs hang shelteringly over this old landmark, with its broad stone door which have been trodden by so many feet in bygone days; for here
KELLOGG HOUSE
came Capt. Daniel Eldredge (then called Eldred) from Rhode Island in 1704, as the town records and Joshua Hempstead's Diary show, and here at the Road Church his children were baptised, and he undoubt- edly built this house. Some of his children here went back to Kings- town, and James is recorded there, but his son, Christopher, came here to this place, and lived after marrying Molly Hempstead, granddaugh- ter of Joshua Hempstead. Rev. George Whitfield came here while he was visiting Mr. Hempstead in 1747, who lived quite near by. This house is now owned by Mr. Benjamin Brown, and shelters one whose artistic mind and eye sees the beautiful in all things about her.
About Wolf Neck are many old houses, and driving down through the grand old "Witch woods" we find a schoolhouse long since closed, where in earlier days religious meetings were often held, led by the persons in the adjoining towns. who were interested to carry the Gospel to those about them. It was here that the old colored man, a native of that place, who lived in a little tumble-down house a short distance from the road, exhorted his audience, " To walk as well as talk."
A short distance below this schoolhouse stands an old wood-colored
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OLD HOMES IN STONINGTON
story and a half house, the ridge of its roof sloping inward, showing plainly that it had stood here for many a long year. It was occupied by Gen. John Gallup, who married Hannah Denison in 1782, but it was probably built long before. He was active in the war of the Revolution, and soon after its close, he removed to Knox, New York state, with his cousins, Samuel Gallup and brothers, and established a settlement there. They had a large family of children, of whom Esther married Mr. Ebenezer Denison. She was born here and years after returned on a visit to this old home of her childhood, and carried a rose-bush from here to her new home in the then far west. Their daughter, Mary, married Capt. Warren Holmes, who has been around Cape Horn more times than any other sailor.
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