To the Planning and Zoning Board
Middletown, CT
May 22, 2002

My name is Carolyn Laban, Chair for the Robert Hubbard Homestead Preservation Committee (RHHP). I live at 57 Westwood Lane, Middletown, CT 06457

I m speaking tonight on behalf of the RHHP Committee to try to help the Commission and those here, to understand how important it is to save The Robert Hubbard Homestead on the corner of Randolph Road & Pine St here in Middletown and to let you know there are people world-wide who are interested in this project.

I am also speaking on behalf of my ancestors, the Hubbards. Other descendants of George and Elizabeth Hubbard s have contacted me and have expressed their sorrow at the possible demise of what is the oldest complete farm that was built by a Hubbard. Sure, there are other Hubbard homes in Middletown, preserved. But none are better examples of what it took to live here in the 16oos and 1700s. It represents the hard work that was demanded of the Hubbards to survive in the early years of Middletown and surrounding towns. Each building, every inch of land was used to it s fullest to assure the bare essentials of life for it s occupants.

It is so apparent that Middletown has respect for the Hubbard s legacy by the way they have honored them by naming streets, parks and a room in the library after them.
********
Robert Hubbard was the Great Grandson of George Hubbard & Elizabeth Watts.

No one is sure of the date George came to America but he is noted to be one of the settlers of Hartford, CT in 1639.
He and his future father-in-law, Richard Watts had come from the Boston area with others during the years of 1635 and 1639 and located the towns of Springfield, Mass Windsor, Hartford and Wethersville, CT.,, now known as Wethersfield.

He was granted six acres of land by courtesy of the town, with privileges of wood and keeping cows on the common, and apparently resided for a time on a lot adjacent to the Connecticut River in Hartford.

George married Elizabeth Watts daughter of Richard & Elizabeth Watts of Hartford, CT. in 1640. George and Elizabeth were assigned a home lot and land upon the east side of the Great River. (known today as East Hartford). His land is listed as #41 in the Original dispositions of land in Hartford.


In 1650 George and Elizabeth disposed of their land in Hartford and with about fifteen other families removed to Mattabesett. When he left Hartford he was commissioned by the Colonial Government to be their Indian Agent and Trader for the Massabesett District. I suspect he was assigned this position as he obviously had acquaintances with the Indians already. While still in Hartford, George was fined 10 pounds for exchanging a gunn with an Indian on April 24, 1649.

George and Elizabeth s courage were very instrumental and influential in the founding of Middletown and the present day surrounding towns. He traded with the Mattabasett Indians and acquired their land as a new settlement for the white/English Puritans.

Middletown was named in 1653. George was noted as a freeman in 1654. He separated himself from the England s control and founded the First Congregational Church on Court St. in Middletown, CT.

Later Middletown broke into new sections: Portland, Cromwell, Westfield, Middlefield.

In addition to their contributions to what we know today as Middletown, George and Elizabeth s children and great grandchildren were influential with the settling of Haddam, CT. So much so, Hubbard descendants and Hubbard Historians have told me Haddam should have been named Hubbardville.

Obviously it was not all that copasetic in the 1600 and 1700 s between George, his fellow-residence of Middletown and the Indians as it is noted in 1666. George maintained the first meetinghouse and Joseph, George s eldest son, the second child of eight, was in charge of beating the drum to assemble the congregation and to give warning of approaching Indians.

In spite of the fear and the hard work that laid ahead, the town prospered and the Hubbard family did also. When George died he had over one thousand acres of land.

Joseph Hubbard his eldest son - was born in Hartford on December 10, 1643
Joseph was married to Mary Porter on 12/29/1670. They had six children:
Joseph, Robert, George, John, Mary and Elizabeth
Joseph, Sr died in Middletown December 26, 1686. Two years after his father s death in 1684. Joseph s estate included 472 acres of land.

Robert was born in Middletown October 30, 1673. He married Abigail Adkins Ward on March 4, 1703. They had four children:
Hepzibah, Phebe, Mary and Robert.

It was Robert & Abigail s son,***Robert Hubbard II who built the house on Ranolph Rd as we know it today. He was born July 30, 1712 in Middletown, CT***

In 1730 Robert acquired farmland in the Long Hill District. He built his home to a preexisting brownstone fortress believed to be one of 3 fortresses the people of Middletown erected in 1675 for the protection of women and children on farms on the outskirts of downtown during a terrifying period of Indian attacks led by Metacom. A Pokunoket (Po-kun-o-ket), Indian chief (aka King Phillip). His goal was to drive all English settlers out of New England. Today the address of this farm is the site we are here to talk about: 1340 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT 06457.

In 1735. Robert married Elizabeth Sill of Old Lyme, CT on October 9, 1735. They had eleven children on this farm. Five of which died as infants or in their early childhood.

Phebe (died 2 mo old), Elihu, Abigail, Phebe (2nd), Robert (died 5 mo old), Robert (2nd) (who grew up to attend Yale, as other Hubbards strived for), Elijah (who died while at a General Assembly in Hartford CT in 1808), Micah (infant death), Micah (2nd) (who inherited the farm from his father), Elizabeth and Samuel (died and the age of 5).

Micah Hubbard born 9/8/1748 married Content Guernsey on June 10, 1784. They had six children: Ruth, Elihu, Phebe, Sarah, Elizabeth and Ebenezer Guernsey.

Phebe Hubbard born 1788 married Thomas Hill Hubbard of Hamilton, NY on 7/12/1812.
Her husband was a Congressman in Hamilton, NY and his position in life was demanding of him and had left Phebe alone much of the time, so she d take long uncomfortable rides on a carriage or a stage coach with several restless children to Middletown, CT for long visits with her parents on the farm she loved.

Two of her son s, Bela and Robert remembered the farm and wrote about it. (See attached) Today, those memories of Bela s and Robert s are in a book called Notes on the Hubbard Family and related Families by David Clark and this book is in the Library of Congress

If you'd like to make a donation: Make check out to
The Robert Hubbard Homestead Preservation Committee or
RHHP
Mail to:

Shirley Harris, Treasurer
The Robert Hubbard Homestead Preservation Committee
135 Brown Street
Middletown, CT 06457


The RHHP Committee is a for non-profit organization
Donations are not tax-deductible

If you'd like a financial report you can call or email Shirley at:
860-347-9040 or harrisshir@aol.com


Thank you all for your help!!!

FOR MORE UPDATES please click on the next TAB.