Zi&t of Old Colonial ®Siises Still Standing in the State of

1903

Compiled by the Connecticut Society of . the Colonial Dames of America.

List of Old Colonial Houses Still Standing in the State of Connecticut Compiled by the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America

rHE Society greatly desires to receive the names of any houses not already on the list which can be contributed by any one competent to answer for their antiquity. It is further desired, wherever possible, not only to secure the names, but also the histories of all houses still standing in Connecticut, built before the Revolu- tion. Any information bearing upon the history of any such houses, or any additions to the histories of houses already received, would be gratefully welcomed by the Society. The Committee on Old Houses will furnish blanks to any one wishing them, which provide a con- venient form for recording all such information. These blanks, when collected, will be bound and deposited in the keeping of the Connecticut Historical Society. Address any member of the Committee. MRS. HENRY FERGUSON, 123 Vernon St., Hartford, Conn. Miss M. K. TALCOTT, 133 Sigourney St., Hartford, Conn. Miss MARY BEACH, Vine Hill, West Hartford, Conn. COMMITTEE ON OLD HOUSES. ERRATA.

GUILFORD. All information in regard to the Henry Whitfield House was obtained from " Henry Whitfield House " by Rev. William G. Andrews.

NEW HAVEN. See "Colonial Houses in New Haven" by Miss Susan C. Gower, from which all the names and dates of New Haven houses mentioned in this list were taken. LIST OF OLD COLONIAL HOUSES.

ANSONIA. DR. MANSFIELD HOUSE—History being written.

BERLIN. PATTERSON HOUSE. Built before 1700. East of the little stream. — See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M.

BRANFORD. HARRISON HOUSE. Built before 1700. —See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. BALDWIN HOUSE. Built before 1675. On the road to New Haven. — See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. CANAAN. LAWRENCE HOUSE. Built before 1739. CORNWALL. DOUGLAS HOUSE. Built before 1750. This house has remained since 1750, continuously in the possession of the family of the builders, although not always of the same name. The present owner, Mr. Gold, is a direct descendant and re- ceived it by inheritance from his forefathers. He remembers his great grandmother, Sarah (Douglas) 3 Wadsworth, who died in 1821. He gives much en- tertaining matter in the history of the house relating to the property and reports, '* we own more land here than did my Douglas ancestry, and I am sorry to say that some of it is less valu- able than it was 100 years ago." Photograph ac- companies the description.— History furnished by T. S. Gold.

COVENTRY. FOMEROY TAVERN. Built sometime after 1750. —History being- written by Mrs. J. H. Holcombe.

DERBY. "BROWNIE CASTLE." Built about 1686. This house was formerly known as the Jonathan Jack- son place. This house stands on the high road through the town of Derby, betweenWoodbridge and New Haven, and is the oldest house in that vicinity. The present owneris Mrs. William S. Browne. The south parlor has paneling around the mantel, with cup- boards on right side. The lower cupboard ran back under the stairs and one of the Jackson boys said, "he always supposed the devil lived in it, as when naughty the boys were shut into it." Picture accompanies the history. History furnished by Mrs. William S. Browne. See history of the house printed in the Ansonia Evening Sentinel for August 9,1902. See Dr. Beardsley's History of Derby.

EAST GUILFORD. DANIEL, HAND HOUSE. Built about 1757. History furnished by I. LeeScranton.—A description can be found in Fifty Colonial Ancestors, by Elizabeth Todd Nash. 4 EAST HARTFORD. WILLIAMS HOUSE. Built 1750. This house was built by Benjamin Roberts for Parson Eliphalet Williams, of the Congrega- tional Church. In many places it would be cared for and regarded as a sacred relic. Many have visited it to study the old-time architecture. Good- win's history of the town graphically alludes to it as having a " spacious hall and low, easy stairway, with unpainted, hand-wrought banisters. There is much wainscoting and elaborate moulding, even the ' escalop shell' closets in the parlor being minutely trimmed and moulded. The ceilings are low and traversed by large beams, and there are endless cup- boards and closets. The back rooms are finished in yellow pine, and are unpainted. The house is gam- brel-roofed and over the chambers is an immense attic. A low, unceiled chamber under the rafters, called the meal-room, is the ' black hole ' where the negresses used to sleep — a complete sweat-box in summer"—and, it might be added, ice-box in winter. "The first paper hangings used in this town were really hung in the parlors of this house, hav- ing been tacked loosely to the walls. They have a large brown velvet figure upon a green ground. This paper was sent from expressly for Dr. Williams. Afterwards, paper was pasted on the walls here, and the border, uncut, was put around under the windows, in a broad strip, the use of it not being understood." The inside white painted panel shutters are still hanging, each having the round look-out hole near the top.—From Hartford Times of Jan. 28. 1892. This place is associated with the memory of many connected with our early history. Dr. Williams and his four brothers, his father and his son, were all Yale men. One of his brothers, William Williams, who married a daughter of Gov- ernor Trumbull, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 5 The Rev. Eliphalet Williams married his cousin, a daughter of Rector Williams of Yale, so that the old mansion has a double interest to the Williams family. The Rev. Eliphalet Williams, his father, the Rev. Solomon Williams of Lebanon, his grandfather, the Rev. William Williams of Hatfield, and his son, the Rev. Solomon Williams of Northampton, all had a pastorate of half a century or longer over these churches, so that the preaching of father, son, grand- son and great-grandson covered a very long period of our country's history. There is a good picture of this parsonage in the History of Hartford County, but as these old col- onial houses are so fast disappearing, we fear that in a quarter of a century more there will be none left to show the coming generation the interesting old dwellings in which their ancestors lived. Could not this picturesque old brown house, with its moss-covered gambrel roof be preserved as a sacred and historic relic, and used as a museum for antiques and anything connected with the history of Hart- ford and Hartford County ? We think the pride of East Hartford people in their magnificent elm trees (which some say Parson Williams helped to plant) ought to extend to his old homestead, which has stood so long under their shade on this most beau- tiful of all streets. Picture furnished from a sketch by Miss Mary K. Talcott.—Mrs. S. W. Trambull, Green Grove, Venn.,in Hartford Times of April 12, 1892.

PITKIN HOUSE. Built 1725. This house was moved in 1884, 100 feet north and 50 feet back from old location and some alterations made. In 1780-2 it was occupied by some French officers who were temporarily in the vicinity, and whose troops were in camp in Silver Lane, south of the Hockanum River. Rude landscape paintings on the panels of the chambers were said to have been the work of these officers. Judge Stoughton furnishes 6 a large amount of interesting architectural details in additional pages.—History furnished by Judge John A. Stoughton.

FAIRFIELD. GERSHOM HDBBELL HOUSE—History being written by Anna Law Hubbell. EDWARD BURR HOUSE. JOHN BURR HOUSE.

FARMINGTON. GEE A SON HOUSE. Built before 1675. Rear of Mr. Porter's house. — See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. LEWIS HOUSE, (Elm Tree Inn). Built before 1675. Hartford road.—See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. COWLES HOUSE. Built before 1675. Western side of Main Street.—See " Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. JOHN CLARK HOUSE. Built before 1700. Cor- ner High Street and Hartford road.—See " Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. WHITMAN HOUSE. Built before 1700. High Street.—See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. GOSHEN. HALE HOUSE—History being written by B. W. Pettibone.

GREENS FARMS. BANKS HOUSE. 7 GREENWICH. GENERAL PUTNAM'S HEADQUARTERS. (Putnam Hill Chapter, D. A. R.) GROTON. ENSIGN EBENEZER AYERY HOUSE. Built probably shortly before 1775. The history gives an interesting account of Ensign Avery, who was by trade a tailor and commonly known as "Tailor'Nezer," and who served in the Bat- tle of Groton, Sept. 6,1781. The wounded and dying Americans were left by the British in this house. A picture accompanies the history.—History furnished by Miss Copp. THE BARBER HOUSE. Built by Rev. Ephraim Woodbridge in 1727. In 1763, Whitefield was entertained in this house by the Rev. Jonathan Barber (who was its owner at that time). A platform was erected outside on a level with the second story on which Mr. Whitefield stepped from one of the windows and preached to an immense concourse of people, many of whom had travelled all the night before in order to be present. See Miss Caulkins' History of New . A pho- tograph accompanies the history.—History fur- nished by Miss Copp. BAPTIST PARSONAGE. Built in 1700. This house is the oldest Baptist parsonage in Amer- ica. It was presented, together with twenty acres of land, to the Rev. Valentine Wightman, who came from Rhode Island to become the pastor of the first Baptist church in Connecticut. It is the place where Baptists, from 1705 to 1718, were accus- tomed to meet in council to secure soul liberty and maintain the integrity and purity of religious life as they believed it to be represented by Baptist princi- ples. It was the home of the Wightmans for many 8 generations. The pastorate of Rev. Valentine Wightman extended over forty-two years and was followed by that of his son Timothy, who served the church nea rly forty-three years and was succeeded by his son John Gano Wightman, who at the age of thirty-one years, was called by the church to be- come its pastor and continued until his death in 1841, having served the church forty-one years. His death closed a remarkable series of pastorates with one church by father, son and grandson, covering a period of one hundred and twenty-five years. This same Valentine Wightman who established the first Baptist church in Connecticut assisted in the ordi- nation of the Rev. Mr. Ayers as the first pastor of first Baptist church in New York City. From Hart- ford Times of December 30, 1901, and a letter from Sev. P. G. Wightman, Maiden, Mass. Picture ac- companies the history.—History furnished by John L. Denison.

GUILFORD. HENRY WHITFIELD HOUSE. Built 1639. South of the Green on Whitfield Street. " The Old Stone House," as it was called, was built by Henry Whitfield, the first minister of the town, in 1639 or 1640. It was used as a fort. Here wor- ship was conducted until a meeting house could be built, while folding partitions, like Venetian blinds, divided the apartment when it was not needed for public uses. This would have left but three rooms for Mr. Whitfield's family, which apparently included nine children, besides the servants. But not long before this period the older daughters even of coun- try squires in England slept in the same room with the maids,and the older sons in thecommon "hall" with the serving-men. On the 28th of September, 1900, the Whitfield House, with about eight acres of land, became the 9 property of the State of Connecticut. The price paid ($8,500) included $3,500 from the state, $3,000 from the town of Guilford, between $500 and $1,000 from residents of Guilford, and as much from mem- bers of the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Individuals interested in vari- ous ways contributed the rest. The state has since appropriated $2,000 for "support and mainte- nance," and one or two hundred dollars has been obtained from gifts and sales. The property is held by nine trustees, legally known as "The Trustees of the Henry Whitfield House." Their chief function is to establish and maintain in the building a State Historical Museum, and it is desired to make the institution embody in various forms the history of this commonwealth and the story of its people. To fit the house for its new uses the long, high room of Whitfield's time should be reproduced with the appearance which Whitfield could, had he wished, have given it. This will involve the loss of nothing which remains to us of that period, in ma- terial or arrangement, and while providing a con- venient place for the principal collections the apart- ment will itself be an attractive and instructive part of the exhibition. More than half the cost will be met by the Colonial Dames. On the 6th of October, 1902, the whole number of articles, com- prising gifts and loans, was two hundred and fortv- one. The collection is considered a very interesting one already. — History being written by Mr. Isham.—See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M.

FHILO BISHOP HOUSE. Built 1675. State Street. GRACE STARR HOUSE. Built 1687. State Street. TITUS HALL HOUSE. Built 1696. State Street. COLLINS HOUSE. Built 1700. Union Street. 10 HENRY R. SPENCER HOUSE. Built 1700. West side. FISKE WILD MAN HOUSE. Built before 1750. Boston Street, one-fourth mile from the Green.— See " Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. CALDWELL HOUSE. Built before 1750. South side of Boston Street.—See " Early Coneecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M.

HARTFORD. JOSEPH WHITING HOUSE. Built before 1675. East side Main Street, north of Charter Oak Ave- nue. SHELDON WOODBRIDGE HOUSE. Built be fore 1750. East side of Governor Street, near Sheldon Street.—See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. IV. Isham, A. M.

HEBRON. PETERS HOUSE. Built about 1740. The home of the Rev. Samuel Peters the historian, and of Col. John Peters of the Queen's Rangers, and his brother, George Absolom Peters of the Conti- nental Army (1780). An interesting feature of the house isaballroomon the second floor, built by Capt. Samuel Peters. This room has curious panelling and wood-work, painted ornamentations, etc. The house was used by Capt. Peters as a Tavern.— History furnished by Annis A. E. Horton.

HUNTINGTON. PERRY HOUSE. Built about 1767. OTHNIEL DeFOREST HOUSE.—History being written by Miss Gertrude Shelton Buckingham. 11 KENT. BRIDEWATER HOUSE. SLOSSON HOMESTEAD. Histories being written by Mrs. John Slosson. MADISON. GRAVES HOUSE. Built probably between 1680 and 1700. The old house was used as a tavern by the second John Graves, from whose account book are given curious items. Miss Bushnell mentions a curious feature of the house—a small secret room on the ground floor which can be reached only by concealed stairway running down back of the chimney from the garret. Mrs. Annie Kelsey Maher of Toledo, Ohio, a descendant of the original owner, also supplies 19 MS. pages of interesting history written primarily for her children, but kindly copied for this collection. Photograph supplied by John Graves —History furnished by Miss Bushnell. NATHAN BRADLEY HOUSE. Built before 1700. Hammonassett. BASSETT HOUSE. Built before 1700. Neck dis- trict. RETURN JONATHAN WILCOX. Built before 1700. Woods district. NELSON R. TAYLOR. Built before 1700. North Madison. OLD MEIGS HOUSE. Built before 1700. Boston Street district. MILFORD. BENJAMIN HOUSE. Built before 1750. One-hali" mile north of Main Street, on road by railroad station.—See " Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. CLARK HOUSE. 12 MIDDLETOWN. WRIGHT HOUSE. Built before 1750. On Main Street. GAYLORD HOUSE. Built before 1750. Washing- ton Street. HUBBARD HOUSE. Built before 1750. Farm Hill. WETMORE HOMESTEAD. Built before 1750. Meriden Turnpike.—History being written by Mrs. Elizabeth H. Curtis. MONROE. BEARDSLEY HOUSE. HOUSE WITH THE "TORY CELLAR." Histories being written by Miss Gertrude Beardsley.

MYSTIC. DENISON HOUSE. Built about 1717. A photo- graph accompanies the history. History furnished by Miss G. D. Wheeler. For de- scription see Denison Genealogy, Connecticut Quar- terly and History of Stonington, Conn.

NEW HAVEN. TROWBRIDGE HOUSE. Built before 1700. Rear of 175 Meadow Street. PARSONAGE of the BLUE MEETING HOUSE. Built before 1700. PINTO HOUSE. Built before 1750. 535 State Street. JONES HOUSE. Built 1750. On the site of the Governor Eaton House. BROOK YALE HOUSE, 12 miles from New Haven. History being written by Mrs. J. V. B. Thayer. 13 NEW LONDON. OLD MILL. Built before 1675. DART HOUSE. Built before 1675. Colchester road, near New London. History being written by Mrs. Elizabeth H. Curtis. HEMPSTEAD HOUSE. Built before 1675. See pamphlet on "Hempstead House" in library of Connecticut Historical Society. See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. History being written by Mrs. Elizabeth H. Curtis. NORWICH. JOHN REYNOLDS HOUSE. Built before 1675. Lafayette Street. THOMAS BLISS HOUSE. Built before 1675. "Just beyond highway to great plain." LIEUTENANT THOMAS LEFFINGWELL HOUSE. Built before 1675. Opposite Bliss House. JOSEPH BUSHNELL HOUSE. Built before 1750. Site of old Pearce House.

0R0N0QUE. GEN. DAVID WOOSTER HO USE.—History being written by Mrs. Rufus Bunnell.

PUTNAM. CADY HOUSE.—History being written by Mrs. Elizabeth H. Curtis.—See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M.

SAYBR00K. GEN. HART HOUSE. Built 1767. History furnished by Miss Sarah Grannis. 14 BURR HOUSE. Built 1702. The builder and first occupant, the Rev. Azariah Mather, (Yale 1705), was pastor of the Church in Saybrook, 1710-1732. He was of the same Mather family that produced the famous puritan divines, Cotton and Increase Mather. History furnished by Miss Sarah Grannis.

FREDERICK KIRTLAND HOUSE. Built 1702. History furnished by Miss Sarah Grannis.

LORD HOUSE. Built 1665. History furnished by Miss Sarah Grannis.

THE NEWELL HOUSE. Built 1740. Appended to the history is a copy of a very pretty love letter and a pathetic little story of which the letter and the old house are the surviving records. This letter, dated Newport, 1740, was written by the builder and owner, Dr. Samuel Eliot, who, instead of marrying his Molly and taking her to the home made for her, died the following year in Africa to which he had made a voyage in the vain hope of recruiting his failing health. The lady of his love, Mary Blague, afterward married the Rev. William Hart, of Saybrook, and became the ancestress of several of the Connecticut Colonial Dames and of a number of other Hart descendants still living in the State.—History furnished by Miss Sarah Grannis.

THE TERRY POTTER HOUSE. (Clark Tavern) Built by John Clark in 1700. This house was the first Inn in Saybrook. The original swinging sign is in the possession of the present owner. In the east front room is a circular fire-place 9 feet 6 inches in diameter. —History fur- nished by Miss Sarah Grannis.

15 SIMSBURY. BACON HOUSE. Built before 1675. ("Old Fort George.")—History being written by Mrs. Crofut. CAPTAIN WILLIAM ADAMS TAVERN. Built before 1675.

SCOTLAND. WALDO HOUSE. Built about 1715. South of Scot- land Station. This house is still in the family of the Waldos who built it and have lived in it ever since. They have owned the farm 200 years. Several mem- bers of the family are remarkable for their long lives. Daniel Waldo, (borti 1762) Chaplain of Congress (1856-8), died, aged 101 years, 10 months and 20 days. Here also was born, in 1783, Samuel Waldo, one of "the best artists of his day." Mr. John Waldo, the late owner, who was nearly 100 years old at his death, supplied Mr. Parkhurst with much valuable information which has been added to the history. Photo- graph accompanies description.—History furnished by Mr. Waldo. HUNTINGTON HOUSE. Built about 1700. Birthplace of Samuel Huntington, born 1731, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Connecticut, etc. Mrs. George Hunt- ington-Hulbert and Mr. A. W. Parkhurst supply a number of additional pages of interesting family history in connection with life in the old homestead. History furnished by A. W. Parkhurst.

SHARON. SMITH HOUSE.—History being writtenby•Malcolm Day Rudd. 16 SOUTH GLASTONBURY. HOLLISTER HOUSE. Built 1675. This house was built by John Hollister. Date in iron letters on chimney. Just below Roaring Brook, west side of street. See Memorial history of Hart- ford County, Vol. II, page 208. See " Early Con- necticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M.

SOUTH WINDSOR. EBENEZER GRANT HOUSE. Built 1757. This house is especially remarkable for its fine mahogany staircase with twisted posts of three kinds on each stair. Interesting papers and relics relating to the building of the house and the history of the occupants are preserved in it by the family. History furnished by Roswell Grant. (See "Early Connecticut Houses" by N.W. Isham, A. M.) STONINGTON. THE DAVIS HOMESTEAD. Built about 1700. Remarkable for its fine woodwork. The staircase is of hand-carved mahogany, hallway and principal rooms are wainscoted and panelled, the corner cupboard has a shell-carved top. The fireplace in dining-room is nearly 8 feet in length. The house is still lived in by the family of the 7th generation. Photograph accompanies the history.—History fur- nished by Miss E. W. Palmer. THE NEHEMIAH PALMER HOUSE. The oldest and best preserved house in the town. It is mentioned in Dwight's " Travels Through New England" as one of the hospitable houses in which he stayed over night. The farm was part of the grant made by the townsmen to Governor Haynes in 1652, and sold by him to John Palmer, 1653. Photograph accompanies the history.—History fur- nished by Miss E. W. Palmer. 17 THE NATHANIEL WILLIAMS HOUSE. Built about 1685. Annie Williams, granddaughter of the builder, was born and married in this house to Colonel William Ledyard. It has always been in the possession of the Williams family. Photograph accompanies the history.—History furnished by Miss Grace D. Wheel- er.

STRATFORD. CAPT. DAVID JUDSON HOUSE. Built 1723. This house has interesting wood-work, an oak stair- case and a stone chimney of curious construction, a fine corner cupboard with glass door, arched top; and in basement (above ground, in rear)the "slaves-quar- ters" still having big fire-place (8 feet, 4 inches, by 4 feet, 9 inches) and mantel-beam 15 inches square. There are two brick ovens and five other fire-places in the house. In Dr. Lyon's Colonial Furniture, mention is made of "the finest specimen of a Court- Cupboard" he had ever seen in this country or in England. This carved oak cupboard was brought from England in 1634, by William Judson and stood in this house until removed by a member of the family a few years ago to another house in the town. This house is still occupied by the descend- ants of the builder. Photographs accompany the description.—History furnished by Miss Celia Curtis.

VERSAILLES. KINSMAN HOUSE. Near station. History being written by N. W. Isham.

WINDSOR. MOORE HOUSE. Built before 1675. West side of - Green on Broad Street.—See " Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. 18 ALLYN HOUSE. On Hartford road, near trolley station 12.—History being written by Miss Jane Tattle. See Dodd's History of Windsor, first edition.

ELLSWORTH HOUSE. (The Ellsworth heirs have given this house to the Daughters of the American Revolution who will occupy it, refurnish it and pre- serve it as much as possible in its original state.)

WEST HAVEN. THOMAS PAINTER HOUSE. Built before 1700. North side of Main Street, east side of the Green. See " Earlv Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. STOWE HOUSE. Built before 1700. West side of Wharf Street, near the water.—See " Early Con- necticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M.

WETHERSFIELD.

BARRETT HOUSE. Built before 1750. Broad Street, close to street railway, south from Green. See " Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A. M. MEGGATT HOUSE. Built before 1750. Main Street, below the church, west of Broad Street. See "Early Connecticut Houses" bv N. W. Isham,. A. M. WEBB HOUSE. West side of Main Street, south of old church. See " Early Connecticut Houses" by N. W. Isham, A.M. MARSH HOUSE. History being written by N. W. Isham. 19 "WINCHESTER.

BEACH IIOUSH.—History being written by B. W. Pettibone.

WILTON.

THE LAMBERT HOUSE. Built about 1725. This house has always been in the possession of descendants of the name and is still owned by the family. History relates that the lady of the house, in 1777, took the bread from the oven to satisfy the hunger of the British soldiers in their hurried march to their shipping at Compo Beach, Westport, after the battle of Ridgefield. Photograph accompanies the description.— History furnished by Mrs. Ed ward Olmstead. Mention of it is found in Sellick's History of Norwalk, and Mrs. Olmstead's Wilton Parish. PARISH HOUSE. DANIEL CHURCH HOUSE. GAYLOED HOUSE. Built 1733. GREGORY HOUSE. Built 1740..

Names and dates given by Mrs. Edward Olm- stead, and printed in her paper delivered before the D. A. E.

WEST HARTFORD.

SEYMOUR HOUSE. Known as Mills Place, West Hartford.—History being written by Miss Tal- cott and Miss Beach. 20 WESTPORT.

HOME OF MRS. SUSAN GREEN. HOME OF WILLIAM BELDEN. HOME OF SAMUEL KEELER. HOME OF MAJOR SAMUEL COMSTOCK. HOME OF MRS. L. D. BENEDICT. GREGORY HOUSE. JOHN PLATT HOUSE. OZIAS MARYIN HOUSE. BARNABAS MARYIN HOUSE. DENNIS WRIGHT HOUSE. GEORGE NASH HOUSE. TAYLOR FINCH HOUSE. HANFORD HOUSE. COLEY HOUSE. (Coleytown). MRS. GRUMMAN HOUSE. (Coleytown). See " Wilton Parish" by Mrs. Edward Olmstead.

WATERBURY. (Union Cjty).

THE PORTER HOUSE. Built about 1750. House marked with historical tablet and date by the D. A. R. COIT BELDEN HOUSE. Main Street, foot of Federal.

21 Statistical Summary.

The Committee of the Society now has a list of:

144 Houses still standing in Connecticut with authentic records showing them to have been built prior to the Revolution.

37 Of these houses have had their histories undertaken by volunteers interested in ascertaining and preserving their history, and blanks have been sent to them by the Committee for this purpose.

24 Blanks have been returned with informa- tion desired and are now in charge of the Society's Committee.

83 Houses chiefly belonging to the two oldest periods are still lacking a friend to chronicle their past.

22

GRANT HOMESTEAD, EAST WINDSOR HILL The Grant Homestead, East Windsor Hill, was built in 1757, by Ebenezer Grant, who married Widow Ellsworth (mother of the Chief Justice), and who served as Captain in the French and Indian war. Their son, Roswell Grant, was a Captain in the Revolutionary war, and married Fluvia, daughter of General Erastus VVolcott and grand- daughter of Governor Roger Wolcott. The old house was the centre of hospitality to many of the leading men of Colonial times, and in it also were confined General Prescott, the Tory Governor Franklin of New Jersey, and other prisoners of state. It still contains papers and mementos relating to the public events and family interests of those times. Mrs. Roswell Grant, wife of the present owner, has kindly offered to show the house and interesting matter connected with its history to any members of the Society of Colonial Dames who may care to visit the house. Mrs. Grant will be at home Tuesday after- noons in June. The South Windsor or Springfield trolley, Station 54, will take the visitor to the door.