USA > Connecticut > Ye names & ages of all ye old folks in every hamlet, city and town in ye state of Connecticut > Part 3
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83 Mrs. --- Bates,
82
Henry Abbe,
100 Julia Deneen,
84 Elijah Johnson,
80
Mrs. Henry A. Abbe,
85 Annie Ervin,
80 Simeon Parsons,
82
Thomas Bostock,
93 Hart Hancock,
82 Anson K. Parsons, 82
Ebenezer Willis,
91
Arthur Damon, 90
William Hickton, 84
Elizabeth R. Cooley,
Alice Campbell,
81 Chloe Mixter, 83
Seth Thompson,
87 Amy Lord,
81 Mary A. Ronald,
HISTORY OF WALTER PEASE, OF ENFIELD.
Walter Pease was born March 29, 1784. He has always resided in Enfield on property which descended to him from his fathers, and he has rarely, during his long life, been absent from it. At an early age he began as a farmer and continued until old age demanded his re- tirement. He has enjoyed good health from the beginning, and never but once was visited by sickness-about sixty years ago.
He is now able to walk about his house, and on the farm during fair days, unassisted, and his teeth are so firm that he can bite into a hard apple equal to a boy of 14, and he never had a tooth extracted. Socially and morally he stands high in the community, and in business affairs his judgment is, and has always been, sought. Death has visited his family but once, in 1874, when his wife, at a great age, departed The home in which he was born has long since been pulled down, and he now resides in a modern structure, near the site of the old one, with two daughters, aged respectively 78 and 60 years. The goodness and self-sacrifice of these ladies-such devotion as they have shown towards their aged father, is rarely seen in these modern days.and they honor themselves in thus hon- oring him. Mr. Pease has, living in various parts of the country five children, thirteen grandchildren and ten great grand children, most of whom were present to celebrate the cen- tenial. About one hundred relations and friends were also present to greet Mr. Pease's en- trance upon his second hundred years. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and never has missed a Town, State or Presidential election. He was made a freeman in 1805, and his first vote was cast for Jonathan Trumbull (Brother Jonathan) for Governor of Connecticut. His first vote for President was cast for James Madison in 1808. He was quite a boy when Washington assumed the Presidential office in New York, and was nearly 16 years old when that great man died, in 1799, and remembers well the expressions of sorrow which the news of that event called fort;h and his narrations of the events of long ago as relating to the early history of our country are very interesting. Mr. Pease takes pleasure in speaking of the fact that he has read the Hartford Times from time immemorial, and that he had the honor of distributing the first copies of that paper on the west side of the Connecticut River in the Enfield neighborhood. He is a strict Connecticut man, and advocates the State as the best
17
NAMES OF YE OLD FOLKS OF CONNECTICUT.
one in the thirty-eight to live in, basing his opinion on an experience covering a period so ex- tensive that none of his associates can, with any show of grace, interpose a doubt as to its correctness. He reached his 100th birthday with a mind unimpaired, and a body more vig- orous than most of those who have lived so long. Mr. Pease voted for President in Enfield, November 4, 1884.
HISTORY OF HENRY ABBE, OF ENFIELD.
Mr. Abbe was born, has always resided, and is one of the foremost citizens in Enfield. He has been hotel-keeper, farmer and broker, and is the wealthiest man in town. He stands high socially, and is known for his honesty and integrity. It is a remarkable fact that all his children and grandchildren occupy high social positions. Mr. Abbe has five children, twenty- two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
ESSEX.
Obediah W. Jones, 92
Population, 1,855.
Catherine Perry,
91
Laura Sturges,
84
Fanny Hayden,
90
90 Bradley Banks,
81
Mary J. Smith,
80
George Brockway,
90 Mahali Blackman,
84
Huldah Turney,
84
Richard H. Sizer,
83
John Banks,
81 Caroline Turney, 82
Bezallel F. Smith,
85
Abigail Bulkley.
82 86
Susan Sanford,
85
Lyman Spencer,
80
Marinda Gould,
88
Population, 3,014.
Thomas Rann,
80
Susan Hull,
81
Calvin Hatch,
96
Charles Starkey,
80
Benjamin Hawkins,
81
Joseph A. Lewis, 93
91
Harriett A. Williams,
81
Laura Nichols,
84 Cephas Skinner,
82
Alanson H. Hough,
80
Orrin O. Nichols,
81
Anna Smith, 84
Horace Clark,
80
Sarahı Sherwood,
82 Matthew Adam, 83
81
Phebe Hayden,
81
Hiram Thorpe,
81 Catherine Deming,
82
Josiah M. Bartlett,
80
Charity Wheeler,
82
Oliver Bernard,
80
Eunice Pratt,
80
85 Eliza Bennett,
84 Maria Gladding,
85
Bela Comstock,
87
Eliza Brown,
81 Mary E. Hill,
83
David Andrews,
85
Mrs. Burr Clemens,
80 Barney McGee,
80
80 Richard O'Connor,
82
FAIRFIELD.
Population, 3,748.
80
Francis Newton,
85
James Bane,
95 Laura Hall,
85 Heman Northrop,
82
Sarah Merwin,
94 Mary E, Johnson,
844 Chloe M. Preston,
81
Charles Carter.
93 Marion Judd,
85 John L. Seignon,
81
Esther Sherwood,
92 Betsey Phillips,
85 Martha Upson, 84
Eliza Hull,
92 Clara Seeley,
81 George W. Way,
80
Egbert Cowles,
100
Azubah Starkey,
81
Kate Hunter,
85
William Rourk, 94
David Williams.
81
80
Mary Nichols,
86
Jeanette Steadman,
90
Alexander Hannah,
84
Charlotte Nichols,
88 John R. Smith,
82
Austin Lay,
86
80 Charity Nichols,
93 Harriet Wheeler,
80
Abby Dennison,
80
82 William Sherwood,
83
Mary Buck, 83
Lucinda Arnold,
84
Silas Wakeman,
80 Benjamin Hosford,
84
Rebecca A. Post,
80 Julia A. Brothwell,
81 Francis Freeman,
81
Ann Post,
84 Ami S. Beers,
84
Henry Hotchkiss,
84
Anson Bibbins,
85 Harry Ilill,
83
Philena Clark,
83 Mrs. Benjamin Wakeman, 83
Margaret Lapise,
84
Eliza S. Andrews,
Ilannah E. Burr,
81 Emeline. Porter,
81
Catherine M. Beers, Mary Ferry,
85
Mercy Root,
81
Gamaliel Conklin,
Alva Raymond,
86 Eli D. Preston, 80
Maria Fuller,
81 Abigail Goodsell,
81
FARMINGTON.
Abraham Denison,
80
Ellen Osborne,
81 Morris Wilson, 86
Charles C. Starkey,
84
Catherine Cook,
E. Dennison Post,
Priscilla Burr,
Harriet Williams,
94
John Anderson,
91 Susan Sturges, 87
80 Eunice Sturges, 84
Martha H. Hayden,
Caroline Banks,
82
Temperance Williams,
Mary C. Nichols,
86
Nicholas White,
81 Lucy Andruss,
Eli Sherwood,
Abby Pratt,
81 Finette Benson,
HISTORY OF MR. EGBERT COWLES. (Farmington, Conn).
Egbert Cowles was born in Farmington, Conn., April 4th, 1785. The house in which he first saw the light has long since been pulled down, but the one in which he has lived since a little child stands opposite his birth place and is one of the most attractive, and perhaps the
2
Lois J. Sherwood, 87
18
NAMES OF YE OLD FOLKS OF CONNECTICUT.
neatest dwelling in town. Mr. Cowles is to-day vigorous, and is one of the few remaining specimens of an old-time courtly gentleman. As an indication of his well preserved mental powers, he wrote and published in 1880, at the age of 95, an interesting work entitled, "Sketches of the early Settlements of the Plymouth Colony; Historical, Biograpical and Anecdotical." It is written in a clear, concise style, and presents facts, argument and narra- tive in a manner not often witnessed. Mr. Cowles' early advantages for education were lim- ited. Like many, he made his own way, and was self-taught, except a little aid from the dis- trict school. His five-score years have been spent in Farmington, except one winter at the South, where he had peddlers employed, and tinware manufactured. This, with two or three journeys West, to Ohio (which forty years ago was deemed very far west), and once to St. Louis, is about all the traveling he has done. That the home of his youth "is all the world to him," is shown by his devotion to it and farrying in it, far beyond the oldest of his associates. He has been married but once-about the beginning of the present century, to Miss Sophia S. Woodruff, of Southington, Conn., then a part of Farmington. Ten sons and one daughter were born to them, The latter is still living at Staten Island, N. Y. Four sons are also living, and eight grandchildren. Of the sons, one lives with the centenarian, one in New York City, one in Hartford, Conn., and one in Ohio.
The American Board of Foreign Missions was organized in Farmington nearly seventy- five years ago, and yet, when this venerable society was formed Mr. Cowles was a man of twenty-five, and to-day he discourses freely of the men who framed it-Governor Treadwell, Dr. Noah Porter, and others,-all of whom long since passed away. Most eloquently does he relate incidents of the Revolutionary war and the prominent actors in that fierce struggle for our national independence, which filled his youthful mind, and which seem to outlive much or most of what has since transpired. The stories heard by him in early youth, as told by his parents of Washington, Putnam, Gay, Stark, Green and Prescott, are as fresh and real to his active mind, as are the names and stories of Grant, Sherman, Meade and Sheridan to those of us who are most familiar with the great conflict in which they were such active participants.
To cold and rain Mr. Cowles has seemed almost invulnerable, and it has become a com- mon remark whenever a raw disagreable day occurs, " this is the day on which Mr. Egbert Cowles will go to Hartford," and while other men would bundle up with furs and wraps, he would quite disregard any such appliances for comfort. One of the very cold and icy days of January, 1884, he was met walking vigorously down a steep hill which was covered with ice, dressed-with the exception of a jaunty fur cap-as if it was the month of August.
Although Mr. Cowles never saw General Washington, he describes that great man's visit to Farmington, on his way to Wethersfield, to hold conference with French officers. He knew personally, many of the men of 1812 who went to war, and repeats the stories they told when they returned.
Ile reads the papers daily, and is interested in what occurs in both of the great political parties. For more than ten years he has abstained wholly from alcoholic stimulents, and his robust appearance is indicative that he may outlive his one-hundredth birthday. Mr. Cowles' son, now verging upon 80 years, is not stronger physically, if appearance may be taken as proving it, than his father. Recently the little daughter of a neighbor called at the door to speak with the centenarian, and seeing the latter asked, " Who is that?" and was told by her father, " that is Mr. Cowles' son." She exclaimed, "why papa! he is an old man;" Mr. Cowles belongs to the Congregational church. His membership covers nearly eighty years. Not long ago he urged the establishment of a Sunday school at "Scott's Swamp," one of the outer districts of his town. He is much interested in the " Morning Star," recently launched, and not only took stock in it, but has prepared a beautiful axe helve for the cabin ofthis new mission steamer, which, ere long, as its friends hope, will set sail for the Micronesian Isles. Dwelling in Mr. Cowles' family as a domestic for more than forty years, is a woman so aged in appearance as to frequently call forth the remark, "she looks old enough to be Mr. Cowles' mother." She came from Ireland; and it is intended to write to the record-keepers of her town and ascertain, if possible, her age. Mr. Cowles has a brother ninety-seven years old, a lawyer of note, residing in San Diego, Cal.
FRANKLIN.
Miss Sally Lathrop, 81
Mrs. Dolly Ayer, 81
Mrs. Maria Smith,
86 Bartholomew McCarty, 82
George Hewitt,
87 Thomas Mullen, 80
E. M. Kingsley,
92
Mrs. Eliza Bailey,
85 Mrs. Henry Otis, 81
Miss Clarissa Ladd,
86 S. T. Gavitt, 84 Albert Daniels,
Miss Amanda Lathrop,
86 Mrs. S. T. Gavitt,
80 Horatio Hyde, 80
Miss Betsey Lathrop,
84 Mrs. Mabby Huntington, 84 James Barry,
81
Miss Harriet Ladd,
90 Mrs. Mary Mason,
85 Mrs. Gurdon Pendleton, 81 80
Population, 685.
19
NAMES OF YE OLD FOLKS OF CONNECTICUT.
GLASTONBURY. Population, 3,580.
Jared G. Talcott, Mrs. Julia Wilson,
88 Mrs. Southworth,
86 Mrs. Pamela Curtis,
82 86
Mrs. Eunice Hollister,
100 Mrs. Betsey Gaines, 85 George Dart,
Mrs. Lucinda Goslee,
97 Benjamin Taylor,
84 Mrs. Hannah Chapman,
Mrs. Mehitable Dayton,
97 Jesse Ladd,
80 John Curran,
Mrs. Caroline Strong,
96 Miss Sally Babcock,
82 Julius Bidwell,
Michael Dunn,
94 Osman House,
80 Mrs. Betsey Ann Tryon,
Alfred Chapman,
94 Mrs. Achsa Dolph,
88 Ogden McLean,
Amos A. Parker,
93 Mrs. Kingsbury,
86 Jasper Buck,
Mrs. Julia E. Parker,
92 Mrs. Mary Dunham,
85 John F. Hubbard,
Mrs. Pamela Hale,
93 Dorrance Wells,
84 Mrs. Lucretia Hubbard, 83 Joshua Goodale,
Mrs. Pamela Wrisley,
86 Mrs. Polly Bartholemew,
80 Mrs. Harriet House,
Marshall Wier,
84 Miss Emily Morsely,
80 Alfred Strickland,
81
Shubael Hills,
82 Daniel Brown,
83 Mrs. Hopestill Turner, 87
Sidney Smith,
82 Horace Goodrich,
82 Narcissa Brainard,
80
HISTORY OF MRS. EUNICE HOLLISTER, OF GLASTONBURY.
Mrs. Eunice Hollister was born in Glastonbury, Conn., August 9th, 1784, and has always resided in that town. The building in which she first saw the light is still in exist- ence, and was built after the manner of farm-houses of that day, the foundations for the chimney occupying about one-third of the space inside, and the timbers of hewn oak are adequate for the frames of four houses of that size, such as are put up in this generation. It stands not far from the residence of the Misses Smith, of "cow case " notoriety, who recently attracted so much public attention by their refusal to pay taxes levied on their real estate by the town authorities, for the reason that they were not allowed the privilege of vot- ing the same as men. The centenarian's maiden name was Eunice Hale, the child of Frary Hale and Eunice Atherton, taking the name of the latter. Her early years were passed in Glastonbury, and she received a limited education, her studies being pursued in books with wooden covers, when Murray's Grammar was the only authority on the construction and use of language known in country schools. The town records do not show it, nor has her family Bible any record, but so far as her recollection goes she was married about the year 1802 to Nehemiah Hollister. At his decease, nearly half a century ago, she took up her abode with her only son, Edwin Hollister, remaining with him till his death in 1869, at the age of 67. She has six grandchildren, twice that number of great-grandchildren, and two great-great-granchildren, each of whom improve frequent opportunities to honor themselves by calling on her. Her mind is in excellent condition, and she speaks intelligently. She enjoys society and is happy, especially when in the company of young children. Her recol- lection of past events appears to be limited, but the names of early associates and social matters in which she took part are spoken of and narrated. When she was in her teens, and for years after, a conveyance on wheels for transporting people was unknown. One could not ride or walk by choice, as now, to some distant church on Sunday, or town centre on market days. There was but one means, in the absence of a horse, and that " to hoof it." Steamboats were not known till she was thirty, and as to railroads, they had been heard of but not adopted in her State till she was well along in years. She often alludes to the new- fangled things moving on rails, drawn by iron horses, as strange contrivances, likely to kill somebody yet, and never fails to counsel a return to the simpler, and what she knows to be a safer mode of travel-the real horse and chaise. She brings down from another century some of the characteristics of that far-off period when age was truly venerated, and, as if in honor of domestic impressions then made, she appears daily in the frilled cap and ample neckerchief so dear to the heart of everyone who has a great-grandmother. Her religious beliefs are of the Methodist persuasion, a member of which Church she has been for upwards of eighty years. Though somewhat bent in form she enjoys walking, and to a limited extent is able to move about unassisted except by a cane. Her 100th birthday was celebrated under a large tent pitched near the house, and descendants to the fifth generation and friends to the number of 300 took part in it.
GOSHEN.
Norman Norton, 87
Ariel R. Bragg, 88
Betsey Cook,
87 Lyman Richard,
81 Eli Brunker, 80
Allen Cobb,
80 Maria Seeley,
87 Damaris Bancroft, 85
Thomas Cahill,
86 Pheobe Wright,
82 Hosea Crandall, 84
Betsey Johnson,
86 Pheobe Wooster,
84 Alosia O. Crandall, 80
Elizabeth Lamphier,
83 Olive F. Adams,
88 Allison Palmer, 81
Clarissa Norton,
83 Miles Axley,
83 Thomas Robinson, 87
82 82 85 84 82 84 84 81 81 82 84
Halsey Buck,
91 Mrs. Adelina Holmes,
20
NAMES OF YE OLD FOLKS OF CONNECTICUT.
Alicia Reed, Thomas Stuart, Nelson Tuttle, Sterling Wooster,
GRANBY.
Population, 1,340.
Mrs. Theodocia Reed,
88 Michael Donovan,
Mrs. Nancy Edgerton,
87 Mrs. Mary H. Hunt,
81 Lucy Swan, 81 James Belden.
83
Francis Clark,
Hiram Chapin,
84
84 Mrs. -- McCann,
81 Mrs. Daniel Latham,
80
Mrs. Catharine Ilayes,
Mrs. Orrin Daniels,
Mrs. Byron Goddard,
83
Mrs. -- Trumpey,
81 John Mitchell,
84
Mrs. Electa Allen,
83
Mrs. -- Field,
81 John Benham,
80
Mrs. Candace Holcomb,
82
82 John Purdy,
80 C. G. Newbury,
84
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith,
82 Miss P. Close,
Benjamin Reynolds,
Riley Dibble,
81 81 81
GRISWOLD. Population, 2,745.
81 80
Prudence Lord,
93
Miss Prudence Burrows, 88
Mhomas Beeman,
80
Prudence Benjamin,
92
Byron Goddard,
GREENWICH
Population, 7,892.
Charles Green,
Mrs. Mary B. Husted,
53 Marilla B, Soule,
82
Caroline Perkins,
John C. Sherwood,
99 Lucy P. Young,
87
Mrs. Calvin Morgan, 83
84 John Manier, 83
David Banks,
91 Johanna Palmer,
82
Coddington Holdredge, 80
Harry Briggs,
91 Eunice Matison,
85
Martin Sherwood,
88 Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, 87
86
Elihu Spicer,
85
83 John Rathbun,
82
Mrs. Ann Ferris,
86 John Whitman,
84 Isaac Scofield, 84
86 Dea. Eben Rogers,
84
William K. Quintard,
87
Mrs. Eliza Davison,
84
Mrs. Eben Rogers,
83 90 85
Col. Thomas A. Mead,
85 Betsey Burton,
83 Mrs. Desire Chester,
84
Mrs Julia Horton,
84 Bonaparte Campbell,
82 Mary Fitch,
81
Mrs. Mary Green,
84 Joseph Leonard,
83 Sally Burrows,
87
Mrs. Amanda L. Mead,
84 Henry Saunders,
83 Silas Latham,
80
Samuel M. Todd,
Mrs. Alice Finch,
84 George D. Palmer,
81
MYSTIC RIVER.
Henry Grigg,
84 Sophia McKuskeo, 85
84 Isaiah Wilcox,
80
Daniel Edgecomb,
82
Mrs. Elester Lyon,
84 John Dolan,
84 Alice Prentice,
82
Harry Latham,
Silas Wood.
83 Lucinda Kinney,
83
83
GROTON.
82 Population, 5,127.
82 WEST GROTON.
82 Mrs. Albert Latham,
82 Betsey Avery,
82 Julia Clark,
82 Abby Young,
92 92
82 Mrs. - Mandaville,
82 Mrs. Alfred White,
82 Mrs. Giles Chester,
81 Mrs. Erastus Baldwin,
81 Mrs. John O. Miner,
81 Eunice Dart,
81 Sarah Williams,
81 Mrs. Peter Williams,
81 81
Chauncey Holcomb,
84 Jonathan Husted,
81 Mrs. James Belden, 83
81 Austin Burrows,
80
81 James Mitchell,
80
Mrs. Nancy Alderman,
83
83 Benjamin J. Knapp,
80 Mary Dodge,
83
William Peck,
80 H. D. Morgan, 80
Orrin Daniels,
Starling Elkey,
Anson Davis, 83
81
Miss Lydia Dibble,
95 Mrs. Charlotte Hempstead, 88
Mrs. Amelia Kasson,
Franklin Fanning,
80 Celia Watson,
92 82
Capt. Sanford Morgan, 86
Mrs. Sanford Morgan, 84
82 Sarah Gardner, 89
85 Mrs. Elisha Morgan, 83 80
Mrs. Cornelia G. Graham,
91 Priscilla L. Geer,
87 Hezekiah Boardman,
David Hill.
88 Andrew Davison,
Mrs. Deborah Reynolds,
86 Daniel S. Anthony,
85 Hannah Ashbey,
Mrs. Emily Lyon,
86 Louisa Brewster,
83 Betsey Chester,
Mrs. Rachel Mead,
84 Mrs. Kezia Campbell,
84 Elisha Potter,
83
Amos Slack,
84
Mrs. Hannah Lyon,
Mrs. Eliza Studwell,
Oliver Mead,
Mrs. Catherine Davis,
William A. Husted,
Mrs. Hannah Mead,
Mrs. Mary Mead,
Isaac Weed,
82 Mrs. Huldah Mead,
82 Reuben Mead,
82 William Brush, Mrs. S. C. Heusted, IIenry Mead, Allen Sutton, Mrs. Sally Burns,
86 84 83 84 83
95
84 C'ENTER GROTON .
IIenry Haley, 80
POQUONNOC.
Nathaniel Brown,
John Holmes,
85
Mrs. John Holmes, 95 Jolın Connel,
NOANK.
N. B. Dayton,
88 John Fanning,
David Lyon,
84 Prudence Cromwell, 82
80
Mason R. Packer, George B. Packer,
85 84 80 80 81
William Bray,
Simeon Cummings, William Murphy, 81
97 Reuben Bradley, 85
95 Mrs. Reuben Bradley, 83
84 Mrs. Jane MeDougal,
84 Mrs. Hannah Moshier,
Mrs. Maria Brown,
Miss Julia Holcomb,
80
Mrs. Anna Dibble,
Solomon Chapman,
80 Isaac Hancox, 81
21
NAMES OF YE OLD FOLKS OF CONNECTICUT.
Nathan Lamb,
84 Abraham Hubbard,
90
Willis Hull,
84
Mrs. Nathan Lamb,
82 Mrs. Chloe Bishop.
90 Mrs. Rachel Johnson,
85
Rebecca Read,
84 William Avery,
81 Mrs. Eliza Johnson, 81
Lucy Jones,
83 Jonathan Bishop,
87 Wealthy Kimberly,
Marinda Denison,
83 George Bartlett,
85 Samuel Landon,
Sally Sawyer,
87 Mrs. George Bartlett,
82 Beulah Landon,
Mary Williams,
80 Mrs. Mary Bishop,
86 James S. Loper,
Emeline Edwards,
82 Samuel A. Barker,
86 William C. Dudley,
Mrs. Levi Allen,
80 Mrs. Mary Ann Barker,
81 Mrs. Caroline Kelsey,
80 81
Lucy Wheeler,
81
Mrs. Betsey Crampton,
88 Mrs. Content Loper,
83 James E. Lee,
83 83
UPPER MYSTIC.
91 Mrs. Sarah Mckeon,
87
Chris. Eldridge,
85
83 Mrs. William R. Collins,
84
Horace Norton,
82 89 80 82
GUILFORD.
Mrs. Charrie Fowler,
83 Mrs. Mary C. Robinson.
83
Population, 2,782.
Amos Fowler, Ammi Fowler,
84 Enoch Stannard,
85 83 81
Mrs. Elsie Chittenden,
100 Mrs. Marina Fowler,
84 Mrs. Rachel Stevens,
80
Phineas Walker,
91 Daniel Hand,
84 Mrs. Christina Siefut, 89
Mrs. Lucinda Partridge,
91 Jacob Hall,
83 Mrs. Sarah Todd, 88
L. McQuillan,
91 Mrs. Betsey Hall,
83 Miss Eliza Talman,
80
Mrs. Anna Munson,
91 Hawley Hubbard,
86 Mrs. Phineas Walker,
85
Mrs. Betsey Crittenden. Mrs. Temperance Spencer, 97 Mrs. Eunice Chittenden, Leverett Vail,
90 Miss Lucretia Norton,
85
Mrs. Chris. Eldridge,
85
Mrs. Polly Davis,
Martha Eggleston,
Mrs. Mary Fowler,
81 Erastus Page,
Mrs. Sarah Fiske,
82 Mrs. Jonathan Parmellia,
83 Wealthy Roberts,
William R. Collins,
94 Mrs. Lucy C. Hale,
84 Charles Siefut,
HISTORY OF MRS. ELSIE CHITTENDEN, OF GUILFORD.
At the head of a list of 64 persons in Guilford who have passed their 80th year, stands Mrs. Elsie Chittenden who was born April 24, 1784, in the town of Durham, Conn. Her early education was completed in that place. Her maiden name was Reave, and long before the present century began, she was a Durham belle and sang counter in the church choir of that place, at a time when going to church meant more, oftentimes, than it seems to now. The pitch pipe was the only musical instrument permitted at the choir end of the church, the tuning fork having not yet put in an appearance. and the congregation were satisfied when Old Hundred, Mear and Dundee, or the authem "Before Jehovah's, Awful Throne, etc.," were selected from the ancient tune book with its buckwheat notes, for their edifica- tion. The days of Mrs. Chittenden's youth are often alluded to in story by her and she makes a charming narrative of them. About the year 1800, or soon after, she married Mr. Joy Meigs who had been conspicuous in all good matters in the village of Durham, and she became the mother of six children, four of whom, a son, and three daughters, are living, and with the eldest of them, Mrs. Ebenezer Evarts, herself an octogenarian, she is now residing. From this devoted daughter she receives the best of care, and her every want is anticipated. Her first husband died more than half a century ago, and marrying Mr. Charles Chittenden she removed to Guilford, which has ever since been her home. Mr. Chittenden died many years since. Of late the contenarian has kept her bed, receiving her food and talking with her friends while in a recumbent posture. For more than sixty years she has been a snuff taker, and although no disposition to relinquish the habit has ever manifested itself, she wishes it to be understood that she is not a slave to snuff. Through life, under all circum- stances she has persistently refused to partake of spirituous liquors in any form. To this, by many, is attributed her tendency to longevity. Persons and things of her early childhood she remembers and talks of very correctly, but events of the present time she does not retain. This is the case to great extent with most of those of advanced age. She has her second sight and is able to read without glasses. In a moment of brightness the other day she called Mrs. Evarts to her bedside and said, as if the utterance inspired thoughts of joy: "My daughter, I am an old woman; I shall be one hundred years of age April 24th." She com- pleted her 100th year and entered upon her 101st in as good bodily health as she had enjoyed for a long period, and as she has no physical disease, has never taken medicine and does not propose to, she seems to have a reasonable promise of continuing.
83 88 82 83 80
Hiram Middlebrook,
85 William Norton,
22
NAMES OF YE OLD FOLKS OF CONNECTICUT.
HADDAM.
Population, 2,419.
Mrs. Ezra Alling, Henry Handy, Mrs. Andrew Merrill,
84
Ann Bolan,
80
83 Eliza B. Bull, 82
80 Charles Benton, 83
80 Elizabeth Barker,
81
82 Mary Brown,
80
Mrs. Stephen Smith,
Mrs. Loyal Todd,
85
Lyman Boardman,
81
Mrs. Sylvester Scofield,
82 Mary Blackman,
82
Miss Beulah Childs,
Mrs. Walter Wakefield,
Miss Clarissa Selden,
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