History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

No. 2. This was also built at an early date on the Bulkeley domains, and was owned by members of the family for several consecutive generations. At the time of the burning of Fairfield it belonged to Nathan Bulkeley, son of Joseph and ICsther Bulkeley, born Jan. 1(5, 1718. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Perry, Sr. (sec "Colonial," No. 9). He was active in Church and State and a prominent man, as he was deacon in the Prime .\ncienf Church and w;is town clerk for thirty-two consecutive years. His daughter Esther married David Judson. She inherited these two (houses 1 and 2) from her father. In 1786, Nathan Bulkeley resigned his deaeonship, owing to ill health, and David Judson was chosen in his place. He was also town clerk from 1791 to 1794. He was a jironiinent man, iis may be inferred from the inci- dent of his conferring with Dr. David Hull and Hon. R. M. .'^herman on the question as to whom there was in Fairfield to care for the interests of the church, the academy, and the library, which they had close to their hearts, when their declining years forbade them bearing their part of the enterprise. Mrs. Esther Judson willed this property to the second wife of the late Dr. .Jeremiah T. Denison, an excellent and worthy physician of the homroopathic .school. He died in this house in 1879 in the seventy- fourth year of his age, mourned both by the profes- sional and social circles, where he was extensively known and universally respected. He was born in 180(1, and was a son of Capt. Henry Denison, who for twenty years was the honored president of the New Haven Bank. Dr. Denison graduated from Yale College in 1824. Immediately after he pro- ceeded to Europe, and in Paris and London devoted himself to medical and surgical science. Having familiarized himself with the methods in vogue at the principal scientific institutions in Europe, he returned to his native city to complete his curric- ulum at his own Alma Mater under the preeeptor- ship of the late Prof. Knight, with whom he was an especial favorite, and into whose family he afterwards married. In 1827 he took his degree in medicine, and commenced the jiractice of his jirofession at AVareliouse Point, Conn., from whence, after two years of successful practice, he returned to New Haven, and became professionally a.ssociated with his old preceptor. Being thoroughly qualified by theory and practice, he availed himself of a favorable oi)cning for a permanent location in Fairfield, Conn., where for nearly forty years he was known as a suc- cessful physician and an honorable and honored cit- izen. About twenty-five years before his death the prin- ciples of homa'opathy were pressed upon his atten- tion, and his earnest and rigid investigation resulted in his ado]>tion of Hahnemann's system of science, for which he underwent rolentle.'<s persecution. He was one of the founders of the Connecticut Homa'- opathic Society, and was elected its first president in 18.')1. His respect for the conscientious convictions of others was most exemplary, never allowing differ- ence of opinion and belief to mar personal friendship. He was a genial gentleman, and underwent many alllictions, which he bore with Christian resignation, and his loss was sincerely mournetl by the community in which he lived, where his virtues were so conspicu- ous. (See Republican Standard, Bridgeport, Conn., May, 1879.) Dr. Denison was also judge of Probate in this town, and was a person of fine a;sthetic tastes. He remod- FAIRFIELD. 289 eled and newly covered the house, addinj; tlie veranda, and so modernized it that it has the ai>peaninee of a more recent structure. House No. 1 has beh>n<;cJ to this estate for several years. Dr. Denison willed both of these houses to his relatives, who are awaiting a disposal of the same. No. 2 has been occupied for several months by Dr. J. Dobson, who was elected to occupy the professor's chair of physiology in the United States Medical Col- lege, in New York City, to the regret of those i-itizens in Fairliehl who enjoyed tlie lienefit of his skill as a physician and the pleasure of his acquaintance as a scholar and gentleman. No. 3 was built by Justin Hobart in ITOr). Ho was a native of Hingham, Mass., and son of Kev. Nehe- miah Hobart, who died when JiLstin was eight years old, and a brother. Rev. Noah Hobart, adopted him, and on l>eing called to accept the jtastoratc of the Prime Ancient Church, brought him hither. An account of the calling is given in the church record, which is here given: " Att a meeting of yo IJrothrou yt' conumuiicants nf yo Cliiucli in ye Prime Society in Fail tielii, on WetliK-Sflay, yt- .'.th Jay of Jan'y, a. I). iT:i^;j, Duacon William Hill riiosen Mod.irator,* EluMir SilUman clmson SL-iitie.f put to voat at s'l meeting wlietlier ye eliincli make clioice of ye Rev> Mr. Noah Hobart for ye head & pastor. In ye artirmativo nom. eon. "Tnt to voat at s' meeting whether ye Onliiiatioii of ye Itev'i Mr. Ho- hart he attended on Wednesday, yo 7tli Day of Fehriiary next ; it in yo allirmalive nomne Cou<o. At s'l meeting alae And" Burr, Esur., Deacon Lothrop Lewis, & Mr. Ebeii' Sillinian were chosen a com'" to call aeon nsil to Ordain ye s"' Rev^ Mr. Hobart on 8"^ D.ay. "The Consociation of the county of Fairfield eat at Fairliehl Keli. Ctli & "til, 17;J^^, at the Desire of the Church of the Prime Society in wiid I'lace to ordain .a pastor over them." The members of the council given, it is stated that, — further " The comuiitteo of the society piodmed in council tlie doings of SJlid .Society, by which it appeared that flir. Noah Hobart, a candidate for the ministry, who for some time had been laboring among them, has a iiuaiii- nioiis call of y*' s^ Society to the work of the ministry in s'' Phu-iL A copy of the doings of the church of s'' .Society was their call to ye s'' 3Ir, IIo- liart to be their pastor. '* Mr. Hobart produced a certificate under the hands of Sundry minis- ters, who, from their personal acquaintance with the said Mr. Hobart, do signify his being one of a virtuous conversation, in full coimunnioii with their churches, and of desirable ministerial accomplishments. The Coun- cil, after u .serious ami impartial examination, are well satisfied with Mr. Hobart, both in respect to orthodoxy and ministerial ipialilicalions, and do heartily concur with the s'* society and churcli in re>lu.ct to their motion." The ordination was conducted according to the motions, and Mr. Hobart labored with them fnnn that time till his death. The recorder wrote in the record, — '■The Rov* Mr. Noali Hobart dietl in this Town on Monday, De- cember (Jtli, ITT.'l, at half.pa.st 4 o'clock. He was born at Hingham, in Vie Mtmuiclntfielts, Jan'y 2d, ITO.j-lJ, old stile, and wa.s orilained to the pas- toral charge of thischurch Veb'y Ttli, \~'->'r^i. There were baptized during his ministry 909 persons." His body rests under the slab in tin- old Imrying- ground containing the following inscription : * See Colonial, \o. t See Colonial, No. 44. '' In Memory of The Rev. Noah Ib.l.art, A.M., Orilained Pastor ..f the liret Churched' Christ In Fairfield, February Ttb. 17-'.2, III which station He aerveil Cod & his (ieneration with Fitlelity and Usefulness until December Gth. 1773, When he was taken From the approaching trouble To receive The mercy of God thro' Christ. "Remember ttielll who have spoken unto you the w.nd of Cod, whose faith fidlow." As Rev. Noah Hobart was mini.ster in this place ami introduced the Hobart family here, his history was worthy of a space. It is related that .Justin Hobart was brought up to mind the strict letter of the law, which in tliosc days contained such regulations as these : " No one «/ei// noi on the Sabbath-day, or walk in his garden or else- where, except reverently to and from meeting." " No one shall /roce/, cook victuals, make beds, sweep house, cut liair, or shave on the Sabbath-day." A neighboring minister was to officiate in Ftiirfield that Sunday, and in entering the town it seems that his horse had .assumed an unlawful gait. Mr. Hobart stopped him, telling him that he would better aecom- liany him home, which the minister did. After a while meeting wtis ctilled. Mr. Hobart asked him if he would attend church. The minister thought he would, so they walked on together into church, when Mr. Hobart turned to seat his comrade; but what Wits Mr. Hobart's surjirise to see the minister jiass on and ascend into the [lulpit and commence services, which was the first intimation he received of the mis- sion of his professional friend. Mr. Hobart's feelings may be better imagined than described. This was one of the houses saved through the inter- cession of Mrs. .Jonathan Bulkeley. The court-house, shops, barns, most of the dwell- ings, and the churches being burnt, services were held in various houses till some place of worship could be reliuilt. The court-house was first built in 1720, burnt in the genertd conflagration in 1779, and re- built in 1704. Divine services were held in Mr. Ho- bart's house for some time, and then in the house used for courts till the church was rebuilt, which was in 17S."). .Justin Hobart and his wife, Hannah Penfield Ho- bart, both died in 1X0',), having lived heyoml their "threescore years and ten;" and Justin Hobart, Jr., and his wife, Desire Rurr, became the owners of the property. He was town cl(>rk for one year, from 18],'i to l.*<14. That generation having passed iiway, their daughter Hannah is the present owner and occupant. 290 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.