o '« :v ^^..^^ ^^ • • * ^ * '--^ • A*' V*' .•>^^^^'' \/ -i^'-. ^ ■ay ^Ci. -'*5- ILj,**^ '^ <^ .0 ^ «'i"'^i. '.Blip?" s'-^'V •'''■, • > 0*' . . : . . \' • • • >\ . . . , \ ■'■■ o< . . . .\ *^^ -^^^ ^^ '^ ■ • '■ o > .^ V'^V .. V*\/ ^"^^Z \;%-;/ %.•-■* ,,•'=?«» ' .<^ ^^-n^. '- ^ .. ,^ O r\^ * • • ;• 0,V " o . *>-, t*^ ,0^ .*'\ rO^ ./"^^ ^°-n^^ ^ .' 0' THE HOMES OF OUR FOREFATHERS BEING A SELECTION OF THE Oldest and Most Interesting Buildings, Historical Houses, and Noted Places in Rhode Island and Connecticut. From Orioinai, Drawings made on the Spot il EDWIN WHEFEFIEED. BOSTON : WIirrKFIELD Ax\I) CROCKER, ^5 HrOMKIKI.O SlRKET. 18S2. f? .'V^S-9 COI'VRIGHT I!V E. WHITEFIEL].. TO THE READER The object of this book is to preserve and hand down to all future generations repre- sentations of the Homes of their Forefathers. From a variety of causes they are rapidly disappearing; and before long the places that now know them will know them no more. It has been a labor of love to the undersigned to collect these mementoes of the past, and his efforts have been ably seconded by many gentlemen to whom his thanks are hereby returned. He has labored under many disadvantages which cannot be here enu- merated ; but he has tried to do his work faithfully, and no liberties have been taken with the old buildings represented, or with their surroundings, merely for pictorial effect. It is true that a few houses have been slightly altered from what they are to what they were originally ; and sometimes an indifferent object, such as an old barn, or it may be a tree, has been left out or pushed aside to show the building to better advantage. Thus, if not photographically correct, they are sufficiently so for all practical purposes. With these preliminary remarks he respectfully offers his book to all who are in- terested in the early history of those who laid the foundations of New England, trusting it will meet with their approval. E. WHITEFIELD. Reading. Mass., March, 1882. DATES OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. Cape Cod, so named by Capt. Gosnold and his company, ..... Settlement by Popham and Gilbert on the Kennebec River, but soon afterwards aban doned. .............. The Pilgrims landed at Cape Cod, November ii, and then and there entered into a solemn covenant, and chose John Carver as their governor, .... The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, and decided to make a settlement there, Decem ber 22, , Weston's Colony settled at Weymouth, ......... Rev. Mr. White, a minister of Dorchester, England, induced a number of persons under a Mr. Winslow, to commence a settlement at Cape Ann, . Endicott's Colony landed at Salem, ......... Boston settled; although Blackstone built a house here three or four years previously, Roger Williams ordered to leave Salem, . Connecticut settled at Windsor, by men from Dorchester, Massachusetts, . Mr. Hooker, with one hundred persons, left Cambridge, and settled Hartford, Con necticut, ..........•••• Rhode Island settled by Roger Williams, Pequot War in Connecticut broke out, ......... Massachusetts, Connecticut, Plymouth, and New Haven formed a confederacy for mutual protection, ............ The first witch trial in New England (Margaret Jones, of Charlestown), Silver money first coined by Massachusetts, ... Plymouth and Massachusetts united, Persecutions of the Quakers commenced, The King Philip War broke out, .......... The French and Indian War commenced, and lasted seven years, Witchcraft troubles at Salem, • • 1602 1607 1620 1620 1622 1624 1628 1630 1634 1635 1636 1636 1637 ^643 1648 1652 1652 1656 167s 1690 1692 L._... _._,_ — - ■ ,> - ' 'X-^-::.' -. ••'*■« ^ .",■.■,■,>' • •- _ . -^ 1 !:_»: — ": I '"1 ' " The Bull House, Newport, R. I. This is frohably the oldest house now standing in Rhode Island, having beer^. buiU in t6jo. The above view represents it as it was b-^fore the recent cnanges had been made in it; although it is probable the roof is more ^ff^\^^^\^^f rest of the house. The greater port:on is budt of stone, and tt has. been par- tially plastered over. It stands on Spring Street. r ^%x Ti •.:a,s .< r , r jyic Atkinson House, Newport, R. I. This is a very old and interesting house with an immense stone chimney, prob- ably built by one of the Boston family about 1645, ^^^ this fact cannot be estab- lished. By some it has been said to have been built by a Robinson, but it has been traced back to 1745, and it was an old house then. It stands in the rear of Thames St. , near Mary St. The stones of which the chimney is built are simi- lar to those used in the Old Mill. The Bishop Berkley House, Xe7(ut on. The Bostvorth House. Bristol, R-1. This house was built by Deacon Boswofth, i68c. It afterwards became the property of Judge Bourne, and is now owned by Mrs. Jas. Perry. This is not only a 7'ery old house, but highly interesting in many respects. /Reynold's House, Bristol. R.I. This was built by Jos. Reynolds about I'/oo, and has never passed out of the possession of his descendants. The interior decorations and fittings -up of this house are very peculiar. It is also noted for having been the head(/uarters of La Fayette when in this neighborhood. B lacks to nes Grave, Lonsi/a/e, R.I. The two stones in the foreground of the picture mark the grave oj B lacks totie, the first settler of what is now the City of Boston. This is in the outskirts of the Village of Lons- dale, in an open field, beside a little brook. It is strange that a monument has not long since been erected to his memory. The Williams House, lYovideme, R.I . This house, built by ^os. Williams, son of Roger Williams, is situated near the Roger Williams Park. It is claimed to have been erected in 1652 ; and the glass tn some of the upper windo7vs is said to have been brought from England by Roger W. on his second visit there in 1662. ^Si5S«sv '•^^■S rl||| Tillinghast Mansion^ l^ovldence^ R. L Parson Tillinghast, who came to Bhode Island 1645, built the first Baptist Ch^^jchin i»rcw. dence Philip] his second son, built this house about 1710. It must A«««.&««» «« ^^^.^ E„X.f th^UsthoSsin Providence. It is still owned by his descendants, and w 299 South Main street. Whipple or Abbott House ^ Providence., R. /. This is claimed to be the oldest building now standing in Provid^ce, ?«^_ «L,^«^*'^*;;,,'l ^^l^! been built by Roger Mowry about 1659, and he sold it to Samuel Whipple 1671. It ^f^rw<^rd^ passed into the possession 0/ the Abbott family, and is now {1881) owned by John Comb. It stands on Abbott street. The Phillips MansioH, WiUjora, K. I. pre»ent windows are mttcA largvr than the ongmal ones. Updike House, Wick/ord, R. /• 2^f, is afamou. oM house It .as ori^inaily aMock'^^^ fTJcrLlnZ and after his death, came into the possession of hia son-in-law, upaiKz. larged and considerably altered. The Eddy House, Warren^ R. 1- This is trobably the oldest brick house now standing in ^arren. It is situ- ated on WasMngton St. It has until recently belonged to the P^^dy family and t probably about 130 years old. The chimney is quite fecuuar. betng bmlt on the outside of the house. :'v- V The Hazard Houst^ Si. Kingston^ R. I. This was built by Geo. Hazard^ great-grandfather of the pretent owner, Thos, % Hazard, about 1730. It is very pleasantly situated on whai is called Boston Neck., and is a large and handsome mansion. The Paint' House, Conanicut, R.I. This is a picturesque old building ott Cotianicut Park Farm, said to have been built by Capt. Thos. Paine, who married one of Gov. Car/s daughters. It must be about l8o years old. Many silly stories have been told about this place in connection with Capt. Kidd. The Carr House, Conanicut, R.I. This is a singular old place, consisting of two buildings, one frame, and the other stone; the letter having an immense stone chimney, and doubtless the older portion. It was probably built by Gov. Carr for his son, nearly 200 years ago. CcBsar House. Providence. li. I. This toa» probably bnilt by Widoto Penelope Green. be~ t.w'"'n 1750 and 1744, and soon after bought by Wm. i Ca-^sor. a colored man, and still owned by his descendents. I It »t«-~ -^ K* .*V«— ■^•yt Kg .J^Si^^S -^* -J.v.-' .5^t^,fs"- '::o../, . e^e ^ris^o/^/.^use, ^u^;^7-a^. Sfu^A/' fy ^ ■i^ekf ..uj^id, Conn. This was built by Rev. Gurdon Saltonstall, in 1708, soon after his appointment as Governor. It passed out of the hands of his descendants in 1775, and has goni through many changes since that time. The Rosier .Sherman House, New Jl^i^j^i, This was built by Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ ence. It remains still in possession of his descendants^ and has not been materially changed from its original condition. It stands on Chapel street, nearly opposite Yale College. The Huntington House^ Norvuich Toivn. This is said to have been built by Christopher Huntington nearly 200 years ago. Five generations of the Huntingtons were born in this house but it has passed out oj" their possession. The Dr. Turner Place ^ Norivich Town. This was the residence of Dr. Philip Turner., Surgeon- General of the Eastern Department in the War of the Revolution. It was a very old building when he purchased it., ^76^,, and is probably at least 150 years old. It is now the property of two of his descendents., John Turner Wait and yonathan Turner Bull. ^< /i^i::- me ■^;:5fe£* fc ^^MS^^^S^'^^v-^^^>^--^' ■■^■^'^ 7"/!^ Denison Bouse, Stonington. Three brothers of this family came over from England, of whom one named George settled in Conn., and his son John probably built this house about 200 years ago. It is fast going to ruin. This is in the town of Stonington, near Mystic Bridge. T^^S^^M, The Mortimer Mansion, Middletown, Conn. This in its best days, was a very'fine pl^ on high ground, overlooking the Con necricut %ver, with in avenue ofsplendtd trees, but is now gOtng fast to ru,n. 1 was built by Philip Mortimer, about 1750. It The Boardman House, Rocky Hill, Conn. This is a very peculiar old house, and was probably built at least ISO years ago by one of the Boardmans, who were early settlers in the town of Wethersfield, of which Rocky Hill was formerly a part. The Rollins House, Rocky Hill. This is claimed to be the first brick house built in Conn, of bricks made in the state. It was erected by Jno. Robbins in jydy, who at the time was one of the richest men in the state. Two of his sons fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was desecnded from fno. Robbins, who came from England to Wethersfield in 1638. t% ViMy-itiW?-'-*'^ ■ I - ■( ' . £.?ir c//£ir/^n^ U- vvoJi sa/e/ to /ti^may^u. Mrtcrn-^w/io /n- /Zff8 .^e/c/ U- to iSAuiael 3r^. J^ ivas J^u/^ed. ^wn. JSSP Jf s&>ac/ a/t fAe east^ side o/" Vifi .Sfr. 'y^^'::^\l4 ■ --m Jtireii'tU- Jiff WAi^/nan'j ftTut£ yrea^ jp-ttnt^a^fr in. /73Z^ nj-i^^ h-/ij- sei^ral years i>/cl (Aen. .«•r /e/f- /n- Cctvi. Aa-v/na Ih/tdatk Scovill or Johnson House, Waterbury. This was built as early as iT 20, if not before, by John Scovill, one of the first settlers^ for his son William. In 1773 // passed into the possession of Dr. Abner Johnson, and is now owned by some of his great-grandchildren Dr. Johnson was the first apothecary in this part of the country, and he and his wife made many of their drugs. Arnold House, Xew I-iai't'fi. This was built by Benedict Arnold, the Traitor, in 1771, and he left it in 1776. In after years it was owned by Noah Webster, who lived here from t8o2 to 1812. when he sold it to Fred. Hunt for $5,450, and it is still in possession of his heirs. It stands on Water Strett, and has seen its best days. Arnold bought the land of Sheriff Mansfield, whose daughter he married Winthrop Mansion and Alill^ Nnv London. The mill was erected in 1650 by yohn Wintkrop, but the house was built by a descend- ant of his ^ yohn Still Winthrop., in 1750, and is a spacious mansion, standing on elevated ground and surrounded by fine trees. Hempstead House .^ New London. This is one of the few houses which escaped the burning of New London by Arnold in 1780. // was built about 1643 ^y Joshua Hempstead, and his descendants of the eighth generation still live in it. Jt is a very interesting old building, and is still in good repair. A "y S/i& ySec/cly ^u^ /di? y^a^^s i^ur -M starvc/s /zr'tc/a fiv^n- Sffifyn Stffyorx . r '^- f-"^&(f j^"^ f^^t ' ' ■'*S?<'v?H-v«,* Z>^e Gov. Walcott House., Litchjield. This was the residence ofthefirsl Gov. Walcott., who hiiilt it ahont 1753. It stands near the center of the village, and is a fine old house in a qood state of preservation. 1 he Gould House, Litchjieid. This was built by Hon. Elishn Sheldon, 1760. He moved from Lyme to Litchfield in 7755, and was a prominent man in both town and State. His son Elisha was a Colonel in. the Continental army, and Washington staid at this house ichen in Litchfield, In 1780 Gen. Uriah Tracy bought this h'nise and put on its present high roof; and aftencards his S'ln-in-lmi). Judge Joseph Gould, became the oicner and established the crlsbrated Litch- field lyno-School. A few years since it again changed hands, and Prof. James M. Hop- pin of Yule College purchased and still owns it. It commands a charming «ffw qfthe lake and western hills. '«!«.»*<«arta«rtWT- ■ a1 ilK^^^i^, . T/ie Kingsbury House^ Waterbury. This house stands on North Main street^ and belongs to W. C. D. Kingsbury^ and must be upxvards of lOO years old; but^ like its possessor^ it has been well preserved. J he Adams., ur Chapman /iiusL., iiV&drdury. This house., built by Luke Adams., is said to have been the first frame house built in Waterbury. It is about a mile from the city, and on the turnpike leading to Watertown. It -was originally of one story, but ivas raised about go years since by yohn Adams to its present dimensions., on the occasion of his marriage to a second wife. It now belongs to the Chip- man family. -Mi^^ Tlie Hurlhttt House^ Winchester . This is a stone-house situated in the -woods tiot far from the Reservoir^ and about one and a half miles out of Winsted. The date is uncertain, but it is said to be upward of one hundred years old. Jo /in Brown's Birthplace.^ Torrington. yohn Brown, one of the noblest victims to Southern slavery, was born here 1800. His father, Owen Brown, fvc years afterxvards moved to Ohio. This was an old house when fohn Brown's father bought it, and is probably about 120 or ijo years old. The Brown family was worthily descended from ove of that name who came to Plymouth, 162 1. Jackson Houscy Derby^ Conn. Thu w one of the oldest buildings now to be found in Derby, and vms built by Jackson, one of the original settlers, or by his immediate descendants, about the year 1730 or 1740. The views from this house are very fine. Old Academy^ Derhy^ Conn. This was for many years a famous Academy, and pupit$ came, here from the West Indies and other foreign countries. But its glory has departed, and it is noxp used as a tenement house. The situation is very fine, commanding as it does lovely views of the Housatonic and Kaugatuck valleys. It was huilt about 1770. Riywley or Lacey House, Bridgeport^ Conn. This , erably upwards «, — - «, , - family, and is tiow ovmed by Henry Blakeman. Nichols House, Bridgeport, Conn. This is believed to have been built ^V PAi"P ^V.cfco/. 5e/ore «he iJ^^oh^^^^ fathir'ere the only traders in this part of the country ^'IZttenin'te %i^^ThehZs"u gels came up to a wharf and store-houses {now gone) at the water seen in .ne vo^^6£j6,Q^/i^l/ff7'6/. ^A^ *yu'i -' j Olmstead House, East Hartford. I This was built by Samuel Olmstead in 1770, on \e site of an older house which was burnt down on a f/nd,jv. and the frame ^ of the present one was up by ( Saturday. The Seymour House, Hartford. This was owned by Ex- Governor Seymour, and is probably about I JO years old. Griswold Houu\ li'r//irr.feld. This wai buit by I^ Denning about 200 years ago It afterwards came into the possession of the Griswold family, and Miss Griswold now owns it The Lynde House, Hartford. This is on Gold Street, near Main, and was built by Dr. Jos. Lynde about WO years ago. Cluster of Old Houses, Hartford, These form a queer group at the corner of Ann anc Main Streets. The central house is said to be abou. I JO years old. .... "X" -- . - , -. u. M 1 ^ -■ ij V*' 1" f'\ i'l w ^■- W ^1 1 -:,^r^, The Butler House, VVethersfield. This was built by Dr. Porter on the site of an ol post about J 730, and was the birthplace of Chu Justice Butler. It is still owned by his descendants. J -. faiir^A^' * ■^'■■if:- ;f- TA* Seelye Hotise, Bethel^ Conn. TTiis honse was probably built abovt 1740 by President Seelye's {of Amherst College) r/reat grandfather. Samuel Taylor, a graduate of Nassau Hall, and has never passed out of the possession of his descendants until recently, and was taken down 1881. The Washington House, Stamford, Conn. This was a famous house during the lievolutionary War, having been the headquarters of General Lee, and Washing- ton teas frequently here. It was kept as a tavern by Capt. David Webb, and icas probably 160 years old lohen pulled dnirn 10 or 12 years ago. Hale's Birthplace, Coventry. This was the birthpJace of the well-known patriot Mai- ne Hale, tcho freely gave up his young life for the sake of thew his country. KRRATl'M. Matthew Hale, Coventry. Conn., should he Natluxti Hale. The Lord House, Old Lyme. This was probably built in 1730 by Gen. or Col. Sheldon It is now owned by Miss Lord, her great-grandfather, Jos Marvin, having bought it of a man named Sheldon. Thi. represents the house as it teas originally. The Hotchkiss Honse. Derby. Conn. This is believed to have been built by Elijah Hotchkiss at least as early as 1735, if not before. It is on the main street. >*?s^ ..aftS gte W i ni . WM^. The Trunibull House. Walertuicn, Conn. This teas the birthplace of Rev. John TVumbull, author of the poem "■McFingal." He was born in 1750, and the house was probably built 20 or 30 years before. It i$ not novo standing. Gov. yonathan Ttumbull's Residence, Lebanon. This was the trsidence of Gov. Triimbidi.wlio was the only one of all the Royal Governors that embraced thi enue. A'oah Webster's Biith-place, W. Hartford. Noah Webster, the Lexicographer, was born in this house in /~^8. Whether his father built it is uncertain, but he sold it 7t'ifh Si ai res of land in lygz for $j,ooo to Sam' I Hiirlburt, and it still remains in possession of his descendants. Avery House (Ac. /.), Gruton. This IS about 2^1 miles from Groton Ferry on the road to Mystic, is said to hai'c been built in 1660, by yas. Inery, and has never passed out of the family, being noio o-,(>ned and occupied by yas. /J, .-Ivery, who represents the qth generation. It is a very interesting old house. • A-oery House (AV. 2.), Groton. mother .Avery House in Gro, , for his son Fbenezer. It w .Sept. 6. ijHi. I his is another .Ivery House in Groton, not nearly so old as the other, having been built about I'JJO, by Elder Tarke .-ivery , for his son Fbenezer. It was used as a hospital for the -wounded at the battle of Groton Heights 'The H ebb Mansion, \\ ethersfeld. This house is noted for the conference which took place here May 22, tjSt, bet-ween Washington, Rochambeau, and other generals. At this conference were laid the plans, which finally resulted in the surre"d'-> ,u' 1 nrm.'.illis at Yorktown. "Jos. Webb built this house about ij§2. and it is no7o owned by W. F. Wells. The Hollister House, \\ 'ethersfeld. This is believed to have been built by a man named Rabbins, about 1^0 years since. It stands about a mile from the village on the road leading to Berlin, and it n-.i'ned by Parismus Hollister. It is in a very dilapidated condi tion. *» 18.2 /i/\/ ^p/X\ 1 -^^o^ \ ^>' ' • • » <* o > .*' "o /% •^^ ^^C^ ^/^ ./'\ ^^yi^^.' ^^^% ' r « ' . U -^ n • . ' • - * o» *'^' t ° " " . ^^'^ o"^ .>■'*» O ^'J^ c " " " « <*^ r>^ o o 4> ST. AUGUSTINE -^ viV ' '■ ^ .V^*^ - ^H^ » t'' '^ o » ,\^'^ ■ * \ ^^ c FLA. _^> %^ . . . . ^ ^32084 ><^ -^^ ^<^ • > * o " • c^ -i^