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Historical Information |  |
 Robert Hubbard Homestead |
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| This will give you a flavor for what the Robert Hubbard Homestead is all about. Thanks to Don Brock for providing me with a copy of this. Library of Congress CS71 H 875 1958 Excerpt from: Notes on the Hubbard Family and Related Families By: David Clark I Retyped it the best I could just as it appeared George Hubbard of Middletown, Connecticut was born in 1601 probably in eastern or southeastern England. No record has been found of his birthplace nor of the year of his arrival in America. But it seems highly probable that he came to Hartford considerably prior to 1639 when his name first appears on a list of settlers. He was given 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 land of James Ensign and George Graves on a road that ran parallel to the Connecticut River. Following his marriage to Elizabeth Watts, in 1640 (see WATTS), he was assigned a home lot and land upon the east side of the “Great River.” On April 24, 1649 he was fined 10 lbs “for exchanging a gunn with an Indian.” About 1650 the Hubbards and a small group of their neighbors left Hartford to establish a new plantation at a place called Mattabesett, farther down the river, which in 1653 was named Middletown. George Hubbard carried with him a commission from the Connecticut government as “Indian Agent and Trader for the Mattabesett District,” and in 1654 was admitted as a freeman. He received for this home site a lot on the east side of Main Street, next to the first meeting house, a one-story log structure with a palisade around it, of which he was one of the ten founders in 1652. Because of his proximity, he was naturally selected to perform the duties of church caretaker. On December 17, 1666 he was allowed “40 shillings for sweeping the meeting-house and keeping the [hour]-glass.” This amount also covered the services of his eldest son Joseph, who beat the drum to assemble the congregation and to give warning of the approach of Indians. He died March 18, 1684/85, leaving an estate valued at 243 lbs 10 shillings, including over one thousand acres of land. Both he and his widow, who died in 1702, were buried in the Middletown Riverside Cemetery, near the original church and practically within sight of their home. Tradition locates George Hubbard’s grave close to the burying-ground entrance, fronting west, on St. John’s Square, but neither his grave nor Elizabeth’s is marked. Joseph Hubbard, the second of their eight children, was born in Hartford December 10, 1643, and died in Middletown December 26, 1686. Among the items listed in the inventory of his estate, which was valued at 140 lbs, were 472 acres of Land, a dwelling house, barn, and shop, 3 horses, 4 cows, 11 sheep, 4 pigs, 2 spinning wheels, 1 leather suit, 1 gun, 1 sword, 1 belt and “other ammunition.” He married, December 29, 1670, Mary Porter, born in 1650, who died in Middletown, June 10, 1707. (See PORTER). They had six children, including Robert Hubbard, born in Middletown October 30, 1673, who married, March 4, 1703, Abigail Adkins Ward (see WARD). He died at Middletown June 19, 1740. The youngest of their four children, Robert Hubbard, born in Middletown July 30, 1712, settled on a farm in what is known as the Long Hill district about 1730. The house, which he built, is still standing, and is said to be the oldest in Middletown. On October 9, 1735 he married Elizabeth Sill of Lyme, Connecticut (see SILL), by whom he had ten children, though only six grew to maturity. He died January 29, 1779, nearly twenty years before his wife. Micah Hubbard, the youngest surviving child, born September 8, 1748, married Content Guernsey of Durham, Connecticut, June 10, 1784 (See Guernsey). A “very conscientious and God-fearing man,” with a reputation for “goodness, energy, and solid worth,” he succeeded to possession of his father’s farm; and he and his wife resided at Long Hill for the rest of their lives. The following nostalgic sketch of their home and manner of living was penned by a grandson Robert Hubbard, who spent several years there when a boy: Less than two miles from the tree-shaded city of Middletown, towards the west, across Pameche gulf and cause-say, up the incline of long Hill, past the stone school-house on its summit, over the brook and on a rising knoll, stands, facing the south, the old farm mansion of Green Hill. The views from here are not extensive; but around are grove and meadow lands, pasturage and uplands, some two hundred acres in all. Tall black walnut and button-ball trees and a wide-armed elm, shade the old house, which bear on its portal the date of 1765. A piassa is on the front and east side. The first story is of stone: solid walls, to defy the decay of centuries. The second story is of wood, projecting some six inches over the first story, and above, up in the long slanting roof, are two stories of garrets. It is a double house. In the center is a stone chimney, occupying at its base fully one quarter of the house. I am picturing it now somewhat modified from its original plan, but still, in the kitchen, is the wide-mouthed fireplace, where huge logs of wood formed a splendid back for the hickory fire, which on a winter night sent forth a warmth that drove dull care away. There was ample room for the family around this glowing hearth. But I would ramble wit you over the house: Here is the east room or Parlor - The “keeping” room - with the newest and brightest home-made rag carpet (abandoned in later years for a “sale” carpet) upon the floor. The wall is wainscoted on the chimney side - the fireplace modern in size - and at the side is a deep cupboard where the best Bible is kept and sundry gift books which were prized. A few engravings adorn the walls, but the room had a closedup company appearance. The west room was where we lived and cheerful and homelike it was. Here the spinning wheel turned its busy round - there were books - the lounge - rocking chairs and worktable. Quilting bees ere held here and the neighbors came to an early tea, returning home before dark. Such teas! With warm crusty rye bread, sweet delicious butter - best preserves of quince and pear, beside cider applesauce - Election cake of most marvelous excellence - pumpkin pies: they were the thing for tea then - cream and milk, cheese and a bit of cold meat for those who wished. Back of these two rooms was the Kitchen; running across the house, save for a small room at the eastern end, Grandmother’s bedroom - at the western end was a wide double window furnishing the only light to the room. The large fireplace I have spoken of was in the Kitchen, and beside it, the huge brick Oven, where the most extraordinary delicious cakes, pies and bread were baked and where apples and pears were dried after the baking. I remember the good things that came out of it. What if I have forgotten the labor of bringing in arms-full of wood and baskets of chips for heating it, and it did consume an enormous amount. At the mouth of the Oven was a stone, well worn, and here, on a winter’s night, when the children were young, Grandfather used to take them in his lap and crack nuts to their heart’s content. In the corner of the Kitchen ticked the old Clock, but its teeth grew old with time and it refused to serve another generation when those for whom it labored passed away. So time with it came to an end. In the rear of this room was the sink or work room and from this through a latticed door was the Buttry, where rows of shining pans of milk [were set out]. The churn was here, and there were dashing times when butter and cheese were made. Formerly there was a small building at the Brook, where a water wheel did duty in churning, but a spring freshet long since swept it away as an innovation on the time-honored mode of stout arm and dasher. The second floor of the House was divided into two large bedrooms over the east and west rooms and over the kitchen a large hallway with small sleeping rooms at each end. This hall had a large dark storeroom, where were cheeses left to ripen-fragrant dried fruits and herbs and sundry old pewter platters and basins beside other out of date, unused things. There was a certain large chestnut chest in the Hall, kept locked, opened to reveal many interesting things, among them the wedding garments of our Grandmother, spun and woven by herself - a rusty sword and cocked hat which did service during the Revolutionary War - pieces of Continental money - promises to pay, but never redeemed by our Government. From here we ascend to the Garret - full of rubbish - packages of old letters, stacks of books and papers of ancient date, among them the complete publication of the Hartford Courant during the period of the American Revolution, entire, save for a few leaves surreptitiously abstracted by some irresponsible enthusiast. They now form five interesting volumes. Here were old Bibles with the family records - shelves with geological specimens of minerals gathered in the vicinity - discarded spinning wheels, the great and the small - simply contrived wheels for winding off the yarn with a snap, to indicate the skeins, and cards for hatcheling the flax. The accumulation of used and unused things for four generations were here. The rude garret still further up in the roof was a mere lumber room fit only for a boy to rummage in. Out of doors and near to the House was the Shop - where the tools were kept and general tinkering done. In front of it was the well with its long sweep and “old oaken bucket.” The well was deep and the water cold and pure. The pats of butter neatly packed in wooden boxes were lowered to just above the surface of the water and kept hard and sweet until sent to Market. A large stone in the pavement near the well is lettered o’er with monograms and dates when sundry of the boys passed vacations here. The interest of exploration keeps up as we go further through the wood to the carriage house and barns and cider mill beyond. The “critters” were not blooded stock in these days, nor were the pedigrees of the Horses recorded. They ere all natives of the farm and so were their sires before them. There was always an old mare and a colt (called so without regard to age) - so long as the old mare lived. On her death “the colt” assumed by right the name of “old mare” and so on the generations of horses came and disappeared. “The one horse shay” might have been the one of which the poet sang - it certainly was old and rickety enough. I might ramble on indefinitely and to little purpose take you up in enormous hay-mows and hunt in odd corners for fresh-laid eggs; but we must not forget the Brook, just east of the House, ever sparkling an pure - the tangled woods with an uncertain path cut in the underbrush, with pleasant seats here and there in shaded dells - the beech tree, near to the road with initials cut in the bark - the Phebe rock, from which tradition says our Mother, when a girl, leaped across the bank (now more than fifteen feet) - the dense Pine grove, where the winds whistled their dreary notes - the falls and rapids between high steep rocks. All should be visited, but I will not detain you now. To the foregoing sketch an older grandson, Bela Hubbard, added these comments: The time is within my recollection, though not that of my younger brother, when almost everything in use at the old Home at Green Hill, - and not clothes and carpets alone - were of home manufacture. My Grandfather, in his prime, made his own barrels, for which he had the ordinary tools and conveniences of a cooper, although he had not learned the trade. All the boots and shoes worn in the family were made by him, in the little shop which my brother refers to, and I will warrant they were far better and more desirable than the “store” shoes of the present day. I believe he also made his own harnesses and wagons, (though I will not vouch for the fact); certainly he mended them when they needed repairs. In fine, there was but little occasion to buy anything, except a few good and pious books. I will remember my Grandfather, - a steady and grave, though affable old gentleman, with looks wearing thin and bare. He usually led the daily family devotions, reading from “The big (?) bible, ance his father’s pride,” and always standing at prayers. Just before bedtime the old couple regularly had their bowls of rusk and milk - a wholesome dish for which we substitute ice creams another clcying (?) articles. The best room was never opened, except when there was “Company,” and my Father’s family, though comprising so many children, must have been privileged guests; for it was thrown open to their use, with it’s treasures of bright brass and irons; its mysterious cupboard in the paneled wall, filled with the old silver and other valuables, and its quaint old-fashioned furniture. In autumn there was always a racy smell of fruit about the house, and there was always in the kitchen oven pans of apples, slowly baking, and oozing out their rich juices, which formed in the pan a solid cake of the most luscious character. To my brother’s picture of the charms of that ample kitchen, I will add that it’s roof shewed the heavy beams that supported the floors above, all black with age, and hung with dried fruits, pumpkins, and meats, in most appetizing view. Here the family meals were taken, at which the “help” always sat down with their employers, unless there was company. In this mansion of the olden time was kept up, even to my childhood’s days, the puritan custom of commencing the “Sabber-day” with sun-down on Saturday evenings. Fortunately it ended with sun-down of Sunday, much to the delight of the youngsters, whose spirits took a sudden exspansion after the long tension of the strictly kept Sabbath. Micah Hubbard died December 1, 1831, and his wife September 1, 1848. Children: 1. Ruth Hubbard, born May 9, 1785, died on her birthday May 9, 1866. Buried in the graveyard of the East district of Long Hill. Unmarried. 2. Elihu Hubbard, born September 1, 1786, died December 6, 1853. Buried in East Long Hill graveyard. 3. Phebe Hubbard, born in 1788 (see below). 4. Sarah Hubbard, born January 12, 1790, died December 4, 1801. 5. Elizabeth Sill Hubbard, born July 19, 1794, died March 21, 1858. Married late in life John D. Johnson of Waterbury, Connecticut. Buried in Middletown. 6. Ebenezer Guernsey Hubbard, born January 10, 1796, died February 19, 1868, Buried in East Long Hill graveyard. Married in 1840 Lucy Lyman, who died August 31, 1866, aged 69. Phebe Hubbard (known as “beautiful Phebe”), daughter of Micah and Content (Guernsey) Hubbard, born in 1788, married Thomas Hill Hubbard - of Hamilton, New York, July 12, 1812. Though the journey by stage or carriage from Hamilton to Middletown was no holiday affair with several young restless children, she used to bring her family for long visits at her parent’s home. During the years that her husband was serving as a Congressman, she spent much time there. She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Stryker, in Rome, New York, November 1, 1871, at the age of 83, and was presumably buried in Utica, where the funeral service was held in Grace Church on November 4. “Her very presence breathed of purity and peace,” said her pastor the Rev. H.L. M. Cark. “It was a rest to me to look into her peaceful face, lovelier in age than most in youth, beautiful in that ‘heart calm’ that comes of Grace, that has outgrown all personal anxieties and griefs and cares, and live only for others.” Note: the dates of death of Content (Guernsey) Hubbard, Elizabeth Sill Hubbard, and Ebenezer Guernsey Hubbard are all given incorrectly in One Thousand Years of Hubbard History. |
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