Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-09-24
REMARKS OF DIR. CATLIN

other part OF the name OF our ancient grand |
parent, the wife of William Buel, which the
Hon. Mr.. Buel could not make out from the
records Of the early period of our family.
1t was, think, Mary Strong. l derive it
in part from tradition, and in part from this
fact: l have had in my possession, until
within two years past, singular carved
Box, made in England of rift oak, dated
1919, and marked M, S. 1tappears to have
been the top of piece of furniture like
Bureau. 1t was given to me by my mother,
and was handed down from the above date
in the family line. Doubling whether any
one who would take it from me, would retain
the same attachment l had 10 it, and also
believing that objects Of great curiosity and
interest ought, after certain time, to cease
to be private property, and should escheat
to the public, gave it to the Connecticut
Historical Society,"" with whom hope it
may remain in safety for centuries 70 come.
Mr.. President, now am up I will take
the liberty to say few words relative to the
Cane hold in my hand, as having boen in
the line of one Of the sons of John Marsh.
Yes, sir, il is an hundred years old, or more
remember it for seventy years with the
dislinctness Of yesterdays occurrence
When small boy, and sitting in the front
gallery of our good old meeting house, used
to see venerable couple, coming up South
street on hcrses as fat as ever Quakers rode
to their yearly meetings. You might see
them dismount at a shed near where the
Mansion House now stands, and walk to
the meeting house and up the broad aisle,
and take their seats in the second pew on
left Of the pulpit-the gentleman OF olden
time, with fine gray hair, bearing this
same cane in his hand, which had been his
military Staff when he commanded a COM
pany, as early as l745; yes, and when
Captains commission was different from
what it is al present This couple were
Gait. William Marsh and his wife.
II not before, you might soon after, see
another venerable couple enter the same rev
the man tall, and with fine dress, tail
wig, and double curls; that man was Maj
David WEIGH, and his wife the daughter of
this same William Marsh. They were tho
rough-going "meeting folks" his sleigh
was :he first and last out, and it used to be
said he never failed coming 10 meeting in
his sleigh, while there was a rod of ice or
snow on Brush Hill" This goodly couple
lived in Blue Swamp, six miles from town
Sir, you must look far before you can find
in these modern days four such persons as
were on each Sabbath seated in that pew.
At noon you might see them all on their
way down South street to father Marsh'sl,"
where presume they had a good old fash
toned dinner. AT the proper time you might
see them return in regular order, and enter
that house and pew. But time in its un-
staying course at length broke in upon this
company. William Marsh died at the age
of SO or "a, and left this same Staff for his
widow to lean on in the decripilude of age.
At great age she died. 1t then passed to
William Marsh, their son, and during his
ownership, which was till he passed his 93d
year, witnessed The support it yielded to
the pious mother of his wife, Mrs. Rowe, Of
Pennington. At length it came into my
possession, and you may imagine how much
prize it. 1t has been my support under
successive and severe injuries. l have
crossed the Alleghanies two or three times
with it, and lately leaned upon it while
lettering back from my reprieve from the
grave. And now, as am an antiquity my
self, | wish l knew the individual who
would prize it half as much as do; I think
l would make him the device oft.
But, Mr.. President, ! must stop, sensible
that age is inclined to be gurrilous. could
talk for hours upon incidents and charac-
tiers connected with this occasion such as
the rare wisdom and prudence of William
Marsh-his maxims, his course of life, the !
improved quality of his stock, his fine, well
regulated estate, &C.; of his brother, Isaac
Marsh, who lived in the triumphs of faith;
of our grandfather, Deac. Peter Ruel, who
never was absen. on the Sabbath from the |
deacon's seat'' for forty years, except once
from severe sickness.
And now, in conclusion, permit me to ex.
press my pleasure in attending this large and
respectable meeting under such rare COM
Olnatiou Of circumstauces-he day, the
place. and the apparent enjoyment of all, both
friends and spectators. have seen large
collections of people-camp-meelings which
this grove could not contain mass-mee.ings
in great numbers. But in this, there is no
'ectarian or uukind feelings-no party po.