USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour, past and present > Part 3
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THE HOME OF REV. RICHARD MANSFIELD
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 1747, which may have been the date of building. From this time up to the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Mansfield received 40 pounds sterling from the S. P. G., England, to aid him in his work, besides Bibles and other books.
A little time since there stood a massive elm tree in front of
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
this ancient dwelling, overshadowing it with its wide spreading branches, adding both beauty and dignity to the old manse of more than one hundred and fifty years standing. But like many other homesteads, in the period of decline and decay, this is given up to obscure and less worthy occu- pants.
In wandering about the old homes, or roaming through de- serted rooms of the vine clad dwellings of earlier days, some of which are now falling into de- cay and are overshadowed by aged and neglected trees, or partly hid- den by the ancient lilacs, -one may recall the period reaching back over two centuries. and the people living in them through many vicissitudes and glories. REV. RICHARD MANSFIELD. Sharing the experience of the past awakens a new thought, which is so well expressed by I. P. Warren.
"Ah, it is sad to see those household shrines, consecrated by the joys, the tears, the loves, the aspirations, of successive gener- ations, falling into decay, and soon, like those who dwelt there, to be known no more forever."
Besides a new thought, there is also awakened a new feeling, in visiting some of the old homes with their unwritten histories ; and this feeling finds expression in many ways, through the sensitive spirit and strong imagination, like that of Thackeray's, concerning many of the ancient dwellings. This is the feeling ; some homes, though silent and deserted by man, they are still inhabited, for about them linger spirits, mysteries, some invisible presence, impressing the visitor with their existence, though representing events, deeds, and actors of the distant past. And similar will be the thought and feeling of any one who becomes interested in the old-home landmarks.
The Henry Wooster place is located on the east side of the river, in Seymour, about a mile below the falls and is the finest of our ancient mansions. The Woosters owned land in this region
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
previous to 1694, when a tract belonging to Edward Wooster was divided among four of his sons. They may have settled here more than 200 years ago, and the residence is supposed to have been built as early as 1700. Before this date the name of Henry Woos- ter appears in the records, and whenever there was difficulty with the Indians, he was one to be chosen to confer with them to settle the matter.
This representative of that famous family selected a beautiful place for his homestead to be handed down to the five Henrys who followed him in as many generations.
FRONT VIEW OF THE HENRY WOOSTER PLACE.
On the southwest corner of his grounds was a little brook, known through these years as the Henry Wooster brook, and the old ford-road crosses the present highway at the bridge, clearly to be seen today. The place is now located on the south corner of the main road and one extending east, the house facing the west. Around this corner is a row of fine elms and maples fifteen in num- ber, contributing much to the beauty of the place. Just within the row of trees there is a terrace wall made of smooth stones, about
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
four and a half feet high, giving the grounds the appearance of ex- clusiveness.
A large iron gate guards the entrance of the roadway on the north side, and on the west another small iron gate and steps of stone lead to the front door. On either side rise noble poplars. and scattered about are a large variety of trees including thorn, spruce, hemlock, black walnut and maples, all of which give a charm and beauty, most inviting.
THE HENRY WOOSTER-MOSS PLACE.
Standing within these spacious bounds is the house itself, two stories, covering a space nearly 40 feet square, including the lean-to, and on the southeast corner is an ell. The windows are small. having from twelve to twentyfour lights according to the location.
The front door with the side windows were set back into the hallway two and a half feet. The house is lined with two inch plank and the lath of split boards. The material used for frame-
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
work, floors, and covering was of oak, now seasoned through the centuries. As to the rooms they are small, about eight feet in height ; the hallways large in proportion. Two chimneys one of which is eight feet on one side, afford the luxury of eight fire places. After wandering through the labyrinth of rooms, one is surprised to find sixteen rooms besides the many closets and halls. In the attic there are four rooms, and above these is the upper-attic entered by a narrow stairway.
Truly this house was built to endure, for the rafters are of hewn oak 5 by 6 inches, and 39 inches apart.
Imagination would suggest many a secret corner beneath the roof and stairways. Many a choice relic has been found in secluded corners, and the attic of the kitchen recently plastered up, may conceal relics, to be discovered by another generation.
There is much to interest in the surroundings, as in the little burial lot on the rising knoll northeast of the house, beneath thick overhanging trees, and evergreens that suggest teachings of the life that never dies. Here is the little iron fence about the monument raised in memory of Capt. Henry Wooster, who died Nov. 18, 1842; on the other side were the names of the five children ; Harriet, Henry, Olive, Cecilia, and Leslie B. This last Henry was lost at sea, being with Capt. Leslie Bryson, when he fell overboard, and before he could be rescued a large albatross flew down, lighting upon his head, and Henry was seen no more.
The widow of Capt. Henry married Capt. Daniel Moss, and since that time the place has been known far and near as the Moss place by the large circle of distinguished friends. Capt. Moss went to Youngstown, N. Y., and died there. The last occupant of the Wooster family was Harriet, who died Feb., 1891, and was the only one among the children buried in the family lot on the place.
Capt. Henry was a man of affairs, being engaged in trade between New Haven and the West Indies. His wife was Harriet, daughter of Joseph Riggs of Oxford and Lydia Allen.
A little east of the burial lot, there is a cliff of rocks 15 feet in height, crowned by a thrifty oak, and over the smooth rocks there grows a luxuriant trumpet vine ; and in the crevices the cactus grows, the plants being three feet in length. At the foot of this ledge is the garden, and meadow of twenty acres.
Towards the brook there stands an old stone building with iron bars at the narrow windows in the ends, once used as a blacksmith
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
shop, the eaves scarcely five feet from the ground. All about are trees and orchards, with a hundred fruit trees, completing the circle and surroundings, showing neglect and approaching ruin. On the terrace overlooking the brook south of the house is the ruin of a cellar wall, what is left of an old fashioned ice-house, near a clump of evergreens, and close at hand is a little building, once used as a hot house. Across the brook is the cranberry meadow and the little Spring-water lake, which furnished ice for Mr. Emery for the towns people. The present owner of this estate of 150 acres is Mr. S. G. Warrin, of New Jersey, who is to repair, improve and occupy for a summer residence, 1901.
Well it is, for this place is beautiful in situation and surround- ings, once the pride of the valley and community, high above the river, overlooking the valley and broken hills in their natural beauty.
Now one would hardly know this fine old family mansion of the olden time, and of the style of near two centuries ago, large and roomy, because of the improvements made by S. G. Warrin. A two story addition has been built on the north end, a spacious ver- anda ten feet wide has been added along the whole front and south sides, new doors and windows cased with cypress, and the fire- places with antique oak. The house has been piped for running water from the brook. The small pond will be stocked with fish, and supplied with boats.
A little distance from the bridge over the Henry Wooster brook, up the old ford road, there can be seen on the crown of the hill the ruin of an old cellar, where was the home of a family by the name of Bryson, three generations, Maxwell, Leslie and Leslie J. Capt. Leslie of this family followed the sea. Mr. John Bassett tells the story of this seaman, transporting a company of China- men. Moved by some philanthropic spirit or desire to civilize these Orientals, he cut off their queues. Not counting what might fol- low, he was surprised and overtaken by the spirit of revenge, which appeared in mutiny, to meet with the loss of life. Thus Bryson was killed, and the Chinamen were heathen still.
Because of Derby being the port of entry, nearly half a cen- tury before New Haven and Bridgeport were developed, there were many sea captains and seamen who brought wealth to many homes in this vicinity. For many miles around the trade centered at Derby port.
Only a few rods from the Henry Wooster place across the
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
road to the north, there stood near the sharp point of rocks the home of the noted Dr. Abiram Stoddard, who came to town in 1804 as the second local physician. At first he lived on the west side of the river near the Episcopal church, but in this house he spent his last days. This old house was built in 1774 by Levi Hotchkiss.
It was two stories, the second story overhanging a few inches facing the east. It had two chimneys, the north one being very large. The timbers were large and squared with a broadaxe; the nails were hand made. The hall extended through the house east and west, containing two stairways meeting on the same landing. There were four good sized rooms on the first floor, with the ad- (litional summer rooms on the west side, a kitchen, pantry, milk- room, another room with a set-kettle and well.
The large front door was on the east side, the smaller one on the south, which was the one mostly used.
This house was burned in Oct., 1894, revealing to the public for the first time the sub-cellar 12x15 ft., and 7 ft. deep. Many came to see the ruins and the sub-cellar which was used for house- hold purposes, there being nothing superior for a cooler. If this had been connected with a public house, one might think of it being used as a hiding place, and a station of the "underground railway" when the fugitive slaves fled to the north. It may be stated here that runaway slaves were aided in this valley by the good people in sympathy with them.
Levi Tomlinson lived in this house as early us 1789 and became one of the first deacons of the Congregational church. He sold the house and farm to Dr. Stoddard who had a common rail fence in front of it. The more recent owners were Harvey Hotchkiss 1857, Judge S. L. Bronson 1872 and L. G. Weaver the present owner since 1886.
The location is one of remarkable beauty situated on the high bluff overlooking the river and valley ; the river winding in curves of beauty fringed by the rich growth of timber; the valley made narrow by the bluff on the east, and on the west guarded by the sharp rugged Castle Rock that rises more than 340 ft. in height standing like a sentinel watching over the march of progress up this narrow valley, the gateway to the "City of Brass," a way of more consequence than the entrance to the "Garden of the Gods."
If this aged doctor loved the beauty of nature, there was no
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
better place to study the changing shadows of the declining day, the frescoes of the skies, the pictures of rocks and hills, at the same time listening for the faint music of the Falls.
Dr. Stoddard was a representative to the General Assembly in 1814, besides holding offices of public trust in Derby for many years. His practice was extensive and lucrative.
His family has been noted for the many names that have won distinction in the legal profession.
Dr. Stoddard was born in Watertown, January 27, 1777, came to this place in 1804 and died Dec. 23, 1855, aged 79 years.
Full of eccentricities, Dr. Stoddard once was called to see a hysterical woman in Watertown, and ordered a jacket of raccoon skins to be made for the woman to wear and in the meantime to amuse her with the music of the fiddle, no medicine. After two weeks the jacket became very unpleasant, and the disconsolate hus- band sent his boy to report. Meeting the doctor he said, "Mother is no better," "Did you make the jacket?" "Yes." "Has she worn it?" "Yes." "And is no better?" "None." "Did you cut the tails off?" "Yes." "There it is; I didn't tell you to do that ; the whole curative virtue was in the tails."
About a quarter of a mile below the Falls on the east side of the river there are three houses of historical interest on the borders of Indian Hill, overlooking the valley westward. This was the center. As already said the Indian Chuse came from the Falls to be neighbor to the white people soon after 1740, building his home in the fork of the roads, known as the Dr. Thos. Stoddard place. His white neighbor must have lived across the road where Mr. M. R. Castle now lives, the house standing near the year 1740. Some years after Chuse left, Mr. Nathan Stiles had business at the Falls, and built his spacious house in 1795 on the spot where Chuse had so long lived. He married Phebe, the daughter of Capt. Ebenezer Dayton. He died in 1804. The Methodists had their meetings in this house as they also did in the Dayton house across the road to the south. In 1812 Phebe Stiles bought another portion of Indian Hill, and because of her holding it, the name of the hill was changed. The story is this : Newcomers desired to buy land of "Phebe," as she was called, and received a promise. These promises to sell land were so many times repeated, without selling, that the name "Promised Land" was given to the hill property, -a name which it still bears.
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
WHITTEMORE TAVERN. STILES AND STODDARD PLACE. A STREET IN SEYMOUR.
DAYTON TAVERN.
In the course of years, Dr. Thomas Stoddard received the Stiles homestead as a gift from his father, to enjoy many years of happy life, his home being a gathering place for the social people.
STILES AND DR. T. STODDARD PLACE.
The Stiles-Stoddard house was large and square with a lean-to and ell on the north. Standing in the fork of the roads, it faced the south, being overshadowed by large handsome elm trees. Its location was above the road, the spacious grounds on the west side being sup- ported by a terrace wall crowned with a low fence. At the front door, there was
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
a square porch with side seats, the door itself having a large brass knocker. Besides the rooms in the attic, there was an upper attic with a small window. Close by the chimney there was a little room used for a smoke-house for hams, etc. There were several fireplaces, and the home was one of comfort amid beautiful sur- roundings. The west upper room was used for a ball room during its tavern days. But now the old brass knocker is gone to be heard no more ; the old look is swept away; the name is also changed. The present owner, C. H. Lounsbury, raised and repaired the house is 1898 making it suitable for two families.
This house and the other two referred to form a triangle, each standing on the opposite side of the three roads that meet at this point. These houses have an interesting history because of the exciting incident which occurred in the time of the Revolution dur- ing March 1780. Probably this house, known as the Dayton tavern, and later as the William Hull place, was standing before the war, located on the east side of the highway facing the west. In 1806 Gen Humphreys had rooms here during the time of building the woolen mills at the Falls. When used as a tavern, Mrs. Dayton had a noted reputation for her skill in mixing drinks to the satisfac- tion of the "old appetites."
The house was large having two stories, with an ell on the east side. The two great chimneys are very noticeable. The general surroundings together with the great weeping willow at the south corner gave the place a gloomy appearance. So are some of the rooms, one of which is cut diagonal, destroying all natural propor- tions. Even the neglect is of the nature of exclusiveness, and the once white is becoming brown.
The third house standing on the west side of the main road on the high bluff above the river had a fine location, occupied since about 1740. Abraham Pierson sold this land south of the Falls on the east side of the river to Joseph Johnson and his wife Elizabeth, who again sold it to Turel Whittemore Dec. 4, 1778. The first name associated with this place is E. Turel Whittemore, who kept tavern for many years, probably the principal tavern for the region.
The Turel Whittemore house was then a low one story house, very much like the red house directly east, next to L. T. Wooster's. In 1867 Mr. Castle made it into a two story house, taking the stone from the old chimney to make the terrace wall in front, caused by the
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
lowering of the road. The barroom where the robbery was planned was on the northwest corner.
Other names associated with the place in later years are Castle, Roth and Lees, who kept the house in 1822 and John H. DeForest had rooms here while building his house opposite the railroad station, later the home of Raymond French.
The Whittemore tavern was the place where the great robbery was planned by a British officer in March, 1780.
At that time two strangers came to remain over night, and soon they were in conversation with a company of young men who frequented the place during the long winter evenings. The name of one stranger was Alexander Graham, who had a commission from Gen. Howe to enlist soldiers for the British army. He was the leader in the robbery of the house of Capt. Ebenezer Dayton, a brave American patriot who had carried on privateering against the enemy on Long Island Sound. At this time Dayton lived in Beth- any six miles away from the tavern mentioned. He had taken quarters in Bethany to escape just such a robbery as was then being planned. Capt. Dayton belonged so a good family in Brook- haven, L. I., where he carried on the mercantile business. Because of his zeal for the patriot cause, on one occasion in East Hampton, L. I., he was mobbed and carried out of town, at which time he was ill and gave the measles to nearly a hundred people some of whom died. Capt. Dayton fled with his family, money and goods to Bethany. Graham succeeded in snaring several young men into the plan to rob the captain, on the ground that it would be paying him in his own coin ; he robbed the British, and the British officer Graham was going to return the compliment.
But it was a sad beginning for all concerned as will be seen. The young men had relatives in Gunntown, a district west of Naug- atuck, who were also drawn into the scheme, making a company of about eight.
On a bright moonlight night they went to Bethany, and as it happened, Capt. Dayton was in Boston, and other occupants of the house had moved out the day before, leaving only Mrs. Dayton, the children and servants, which made the task more simple and free from bloodshed. After ransacking the house, they carried off $450 in gold and silver, and large bundles of silk goods.
Making all secure, and leaving the family and servants bound, they hastened away to their acquaintances in Gunntown, meeting
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
on the way a young man about 16 years of age who had been home with a young lady, the night before, though the hour of meeting was 3 o'clock in the morning. This was Chauncey Judd, who knew the party.
This meeting was another sad incident in the affair, and Graham sought several times to kill the innocent youth, that he might not betray them. But his friends each time succeeded in deferring the deed. After hiding, undergoing many vicissitudes and having many narrow escapes from the pursuing officers and vigilance committee, they hid in a barn in the meadow opposite the present Staples Washburn place, about a mile and a half from town, on the
DAYTON TAVERN OR WILLIAM HULL PLACE.
Oxford road, to wait for the passing of a severe snow storm. Almost famishing they failed to get provisions at Capt. John Wooster's, then keeping a large tavern where now lives Mr. David Riggs, they started through the deep snow in the night over Great Hill with the view to go to Derby, and from thence escaped in a boat to Long Island, Capt Bradford Steele pursued on horseback, but the robbers avoided the road and escaped in a whale boat a little in advance of them.
Hoping to overtake them before they got into the Sound, they followed them, but failed in this on account of the width of the river
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OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
near its mouth at Stratford. However, an old sea captain went into the belfry of the church in Stratford and watched their course to Brookhaven, where lived a noted tory. This being ascertained, a party of thirty patriots gathered at Derby in two whaleboats, and being well armed rowed down the river and across the Sound, captured all the robbers but one, all being found in deep sleep. Graham knew he would have no mercy. Being handed over to the army after returning to Derby, he was tried, found guilty of treason, hav- ing deserted the American cause, and was executed in Morristown. Chauncey Judd, broken down and exhausted, was found in the company with the robbers, and was tenderly cared for by his brother. The other young men and their helpers were yet to suffer.
Two were allowed to turn state's evidence ; the others suffered fines, or imprisonment, or both. Three were sentenced to four years' imprisonment in the Newgate state prison. Those persons who aided them also were fined. Besides, Capt. Dayton received large sums for damages amounting to several thousand pounds. Chauncey Judd received $4,000 for injuries, his hands being frozen and the young man made a cripple for life. However, when the war was over, there was some modification of the court's decision.
Some time after this incident, Capt. Dayton came to Seymour, and occupied the house opposite where the plot was made to rob him, and there he kept tavern for some years ; in the meantime planned and made the Dug Road to Naugatuck along the river, that his house might have the benefit of the extra travel.
This cluster of historic houses is at the extreme southwest of Indian Hill.
On leaving the Dayton Tavern or William Hull place, the first house east is the old Sheldon Tucker homestead of long standing. Being painted dark red, the ancient look is well preserved. Being a low lying one story house with long back roof, and, together with the ell on the southwest corner, it makes a fine illustration of that type of a house. Long ago the cellar contained a sub-cellar.
Great are the contrasts between the ancient and the modern, between the comforts of the past and those of the present, the po- sessions of long ago and those now at hand, as are suggested by this little red house, under the shadow of the fine residence, the home of L. T. Wooster,
Across the road towards the corner of Maple and Pearl streets,
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
there stands the little Kinney house, which was once the home of Mrs. Lydia Kinney, who lived there during years previous and fol- lowing 1800. From her estate, in 1802, she sold land sufficient to make the road from the blacksmith shop direct to the Falls bridge. During the time of her living alone in this house, she raised silk
THE SHELDON TUCKER HOMESTEAD.
worms and spun and wove silk enough for a dress for herself. One of her young friends, now Mrs. E. A. Lum, often went there to see the silk worms feed upon the mulberry leaves, and to see and hear her wonderful parrot. The mulberry trees grew eastward from her home. Lydia was the daughter of Abram Ronnay and the wife of Medad Kinney, (son of Ebenezer I. d. 1794, aged 35.) Mrs. Lydia Kinney was the grandmother of Mr. Medad Tucker, also of Miss Ann Tucker, who was Mr. Isaac Davis' first wife.
Leaving the little house known as the Kinney place, we come to the four corners, the crossing of Pearl and Maple streets. Here was a store on the south-east corner, built in 1820, and occupied by Mr. Sanford, "Pitchfork Sanford," so called for killing a man many years before with a pitchfork, when he was a blacksmith on the
OLD LANDMARKS, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
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OLD TAVERN SIGN.
place between New Ha- ven and the towns north, the travel being over the Oxford turnpike. In the ball-room the Methodists held services. This old tavern was last occupied by a Mr. Harrison, and was moved in 1853 to the land north of Frank Beech- er's house, leaving the old cellar still surrounded with maples.
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