Mr. Grant was also a large ship-owner, and even built several vessels, at the mouth of the Scantic. One of these, Peggy, was a brigantine built by Charles Gaylord, during 1747 and 1748, at a cost of £212 12s. She was owned by a company of East Windsor men in the following proportion: Ebenezer Grant,; Mr. Lawrence, ; Nathl. Day, ; Ebenezer Bliss,; John and Charles Gaylord,; Samuel Watson, ; Ebenezer Watson (who worked on her), ; Ammi Trumble,; David Bissell, In 1757, Mr. Grant purchased of Nathl. Hooker of Hartford, merchant, of the sloop Sarah, "being a square stern vessel of about 65 tons burden;" and in 1755, he purchased from Thomas Elmer, Joseph Rockwell, Jr., and Jerijah Olcott, part of the sloop Susannah, 50 tons. The schooner Ann, was also built at East Windsor.

MR. NATHANIEL PORTER, before referred to as tavern-keeper, was also a merchant. His store was an addition to the northeast end of his house, beyond which it projected some 15 feet, and by a slight excavation of earth was high enough to form a cellar below, for liquors, etc., and a room above for dry goods, with steps leading it, running up by the side of the house. Similar to this was another store kept by Mr. AUGUSTUS MILLS, and Mr. JOHN WATSON'S (now standing) was an exact copy of the same.

Ship-Building.

Timothy Loomis's common-place book records that, "The first sloop raised in Windsor was on the 19th day of December, 1723. Mr. Ja Wd, Master Workman. Said sloop was lancht May 7, 1724. The boat belonging to said sloop was launched May 28, 1724."

Hayden's Ship Yard, owned by Master John Hayden, who came from Essex, Ct., about the close of the last century, was situated at the present Old Red House, half a mile from Hayden Station. There was also a ship-yard at the Rivulet ferry. These, together with three yards on the east side of the river, at Warehouse Point, the mouth of Scantic River, and at Higley's Ferry, were used for ship-building until 1820, or thereabouts. The launching of vessels from any of these yards

was always quite a matter of interest to the townsfolk, who repaired in large numbers to witness the scene. One old gentleman, however, was wont to exclaim that he couldn't see what there was so wonderful in a ship launch, as for his part he would just as lief see a turtle slip off an old log, into the water.

Old Houses.

The dwellings of the first settlers were undoubtedly mere log houses, or cabins, such as the emigrant of the present day erects on the prairies of the west. These were succeeded, as the circumstances of their owners improved, by a better class of houses, two stories high, containing two large square rooms above and below, with a chimney in the centre, and steep roofs. Some of these houses had a porch in front, about ten feet square, of the same height as the main part of the building. This porch formed a room overhead, and the lower part was either enclosed or left open and supported by pillars, according to the fancy of the occupant. Of this description was the house of the Rev. Mr. Hooker, at Hartford, and also that of the Rev. Timothy Edwards, of (East) Windsor. At a later period, as the necessities of growing families increased, and they needed more room, the scants or lean-to was added to the rear of the house, leaning towards the upright part, and continuing the roof down to the height of the first story. This afforded a kitchen, buttery and bed-room. This, with an addition to the chimney of a fire-place, for a kitchen, became the established order of domestic architecture. Examples of this kind of house will be found in the old MOORE and ALLYN houses, which stand nearly opposite to each other on Broad Street Green. The former, of which we present a likeness, on the next page, taken from a drawing made some years since, was built by old Deacon John Moore, and presented — so says tradition - to his son John as a set out on his marriage day, A. D. 1690. It was in its day, and even within the recollection of some now living, a fine house, but is now degraded to the humble office of a kitchen to a more modern house which occupies its original site. Still some of its ornaments remain sufficient to hint of its former glory. The lady to whom we are indebted for its portrait, and who is herself a descendant of the old

1

house, writes us as follows. "I have pointed out the door for the cat, for, at that early day, it was considered a very necessary accommodation to so important and privileged a member of the household. The old song, you know, sings of him, who, when 'He made a great hole for the great cat to go thro',

A little hole made, for the little cat too.'

My ancestor was not quite so provident; but be it known that in every door of the old mansion was a passage for puss, that she might pursue her vocation from garret to cellar without let or hindrance." We may remark, also, that the old elm which overshadows the house, always possessed as much interest as the dwelling in the hearts of the occupants-being one of the oldest and most beautiful trees in the town.

The old Allyn House was built by the first Squire Allyn, and afterwards occupied by his son the second squire. In its day it was considered the grandest house in town, if not in the "universal Yankee nation." It was painted red, and the old 1 Mrs. Fanny L. Bissell.

people yet relate the anecdote of a certain child, who, having gone down to witness the training on Broad Street Green, saw, for the first time in his life, the Allyn House. In narrating the day's adventures to his parents, on his return home, he asserted, with all the naïveté and innocence of childhood, that he had seen "Heaven, the big house where the angels lived!" Here was the centre of the best society of the times, and here, also, was justice dispensed by the squire. "How changed the scene!"now the old building is rapidly sinking to decay, and when we went over it in the spring of 1859, we found naught but empty rooms; garrets filled with broken spinning wheels and antique furniture; and in the "best room," a party of negro wenches, preparing pies and cookies to be peddled off at an approaching 'Lection day.

Next to this old house stands the elegant modern dwelling of one of Windsor's wealthiest and most liberal-minded citizens, to whom, as well as all the other members of his family, we are indebted for many acts of personal kindness, and for much of the value and interest which these pages may possess for those who read them.

But to return to our synopsis of the orders of New England architecture; the next step was the carrying of the same form of house up to the second story, making what is called an upright house.

The form of roof was also often changed to that peculiar humpback form, known as the gambrel-roof, of which many specimens are yet remaining. The old brick house south of Deacon Woodford's, formerly known as the Chaffee House, is a fine specimen of this style of roof. These were succeeded by houses with two chimneys, and a large hall in the centre. These were more elegant in form and arrangement than their predecessors, but have sometimes been objected to, because the rooms are apt to be small and the house cold. Since then the orders of architecture have become sadly confused, and all sorts of dwellings have arisen varying according to the whim, the convenience, the means and the tastes of the occupants. Yet taken as a whole, the architectural effect of Windsor is pleasing, and its dwellings evince prosperity, as well as taste.

In the olden time it was the custom for young men who were about to be married to first build "a nest for their bird." The raising of a new house, was always, to a greater extent than now, an occasion of general hilarity. All the neighbors and friends were invited, and work was succeeded by frolics, games and feasting. It was a custom, also, for the bride elect, to drive one of the pins in the frame of her future home. It is related, that about 1671, a certain young man residing in Pink Street, who was about to be married, had a raising, and during the joyous occasion, become somewhat more elevated than his affianced thought proper. So, although she had already complied with the custom of driving the pin, she soon after took occasion to break off her engagement. She afterwards, however, married a young man of the same name, who purchased the house from her former lover · and so" they lived and died

in peace," in the house which was built for her.

Slaves.

In every New England village church, the darkies have a corner in the gallery and another corner in the village grave-yard, where ant-hills and tangled vines and weeds struggle for the honor of bedecking their humble and unhonored graves. So we, also, must give a passing notice to the sable inhabitants of Ancient Windsor.

When slavery was first introduced into Connecticut we do not know1- nor does it seem ever to have been directly established by law, although indirectly sanctioned by legislative enactments, and frequently recognized by the courts. In May, 1660, the court decreed "that neither Indian nor negar servants shall be required to train, watch or ward."2

Henry Wolcott Jr's inventory, in 1680, names CYRUS, valued at £30. This is the first slave in Windsor (and probably in Connecticut) of which we have any record. We have also

1 Matthew Grant's Old Church Records mentions among the deaths in 1644,

one Hager." If, as is probable, this was meant to be the same as Hagar,

it would seem to have been a negro woman, possibly an Indian.

2 Col. Rec., 1, 349.