Two Centuries of New Milford Connecticut: An Account of the Bi-Centennial Celebration of the Founding of the Town Held June 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1907, With a Number of Historical Articles and ReminiscencesVarious
History
Two Centuries of New Milford Connecticut: An Account of the Bi-Centennial Celebration of the Founding of the Town Held June 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1907, With a Number of Historical Articles and Reminiscences
Various
New Milford (Conn. : Town) -- History
Caleb Terrill, eldest son of Daniel and Zorvia (Canfield) Terrell, was
born in Milford, Connecticut, December 3, 1717. Nearing his majority, he
was given the right of land in New Milford of which his grandfather,
Daniel, Sr., was the original proprietor. The first allotment to this
right was made April 14, 1729, and consisted of about forty-two acres of
land on Second Hill, fronting the old Bostwick place. Here, in the
spring of 1738, Caleb built his house, cleared a little part of his land
and planted a small garden. Late in the summer he returned to Milford.
In September he married, in Stratford, Abigail, daughter of Josiah and
Alice (Canfield) Bassett, his first cousin, and, in a few days, returned
with his bride to the little home on Second Hill. On this spot he lived
until his death, February 29, 1796.
This house was the home of his youngest son, Major Turrill, until his
death in 1847. Among my very earliest recollections, is a visit to this
old place. It was in 1846. I had just passed my fourth birthday, and
spent my first day at school. So I, as the youngest of my name, was
taken by my father to pay my respects to the oldest living member of my
family. I think that this visit produced one of the most lasting
impressions of my childhood. I can recall it now, sixty years after. At
that time Major Turrill was seventy-eight years old. The large
splint-bottomed chair in which he was seated had four enormous legs,
seemingly six inches in diameter at least, the two in front continuing
up to support the broad arms on which his hands reposed, the two behind
extending far above his head. As he rested his head against the broad
splint back, he produced the effect of a grand old gentleman in a
rustic frame. Major Turrill was a broad-shouldered man of medium
height, very upright even in his seventy-eighth year. He had a large,
well-formed head and a strong face of a rather stern cast of
countenance, while his hair, which was abundant, was steel gray rather
than white. My father presented me to him as the youngest of the race,
who had just commenced his life work by his first day at school. He
called me to him and, placing a broad hand upon my head, said to my
father, “A fine little lad,” then turning to me he said, “You must grow
up as fine a man as your grandfather, and stand for your country as he
stood for it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account