Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-02-25
The GrIswoId.. orLrms.


Black Hall, the seat of the Girls
woIds, is a cluster of half dozen
houses, in the midst of thick grove
of trees, on the fine segment of land
which slopes into the Sound SO far
that in winter the sun rises and sets
over the water. This large proper
ty was a fief or feudal grant to the
first Matthew Griswold in 1915.
He built a log-house-the first house
in Lyme-upon the site of the man
sion, which you see at the end of the
private entrance, and dug a well,
which is still in existence. He sent
a negro slave to occupy the premises,
as the Indians were too hostile for
him to venture to remove his family
SO far from the fort at Saybrook.
Tradition says that the loghouse
was called the "black's hail." which
is supposed to have been the origin
of the pleasant-sounding name which
the place now bears.
The old gubernatorial mansion of
Governor Roger Griswold commands
a magnificent view of the Sound and
its shipping. 1t is the home of Mr..
Matthew Griswold, one of the COVER
nor's sons. 1t is a well-preserved
specimen of antiquity, and one Of
those dwellings the geography of
which can not be read upon the face
of it. The rooms seem numberless,
and vary in size and shape until the
explorer is hopelessly confused. 1t
is full of suggestion, for Governor
Roger GriswOld was one of our
country's ablest statesmen. He was
called, at the age of thirty-tWo, from
a valuable law practice into the coun-
ellis of the nation, and was pronounc-
ed one Of the most finished scholars
in Congress, where he served ten
years-during a part of the admins
tration of Washington, the whole of
that of Adams, and porto n'of that
of Jefferson. He was a brilliant
talker, and profoundly Yersed in law.
He was the first cousin of Oliver
Wolcott, who was at the same time
Secretary of the Treasury. He was
nominated Secretary of State IN 1901
but saw fit to decline. He was sub
sequently appointed Judge of the
Superior Court, elected Lieutenant
Governor, and finally Governor of
Connecticut, in which Office he died,
in 1872. He sleeps in the Griswold
graveyard and his tomb, rising
against background of green, may
be seen as you cross Black Hall Riv-
er. He was the son of Governor
Matthew Griswold, who was con-
spicuous for the energy of his coun-
sells active measures during the Rev
olution. Governor Matthew, when
young man, was grave, shy, tall,
and somewhat awkward. He court
ed young lOdy in Durham, who
put him off, delaying to give an an
swer in the hope that doctor, whom
she preferred, would propose. He
finally tired of his long rides on
horseback, and suspecting the state
of her mind, pressed her for an i'm
mediate decision.
81 should like little more time"
reiterated the fair one.
"Madame, IaoM gjUe yoW a life
time" was the lovers response /; and
rising with dignity, he took his
leave.
The lady took her lifetime, and
died single, as the doctor never came
forward. Young Griswold return
ed to Lyme so deeply mortified with
the failure of his suit that he was
little disposed to repeat the process
of love making. In course of events
his second cousin, Ursula Wolcott,
came on a visit to Black Hall. She
was a modern edition of her grand
mother, the historical Martha Pitkin,
bright, beautiful, accomplished, and
self-reliant. She was alittle older
than Matthew. She became assured
that his affections were centred upon
herself, but he was provokingly re-
ticent. Meeting him ON the stairs
one day, she asked, "What did you
say, Cousin Matthew ?"
81 did not say any thing" he re-
piled.
A few days later, meeting him,
she asked in the same tone, "What
did you say, Cousin MATTHEW ?"
l did not say any thing, he re-
piled as before.
Finally, meeting him upon the
beach one morning, she again asked,
What did you say, Cousin Mat
thew?
l did not say any thing, he still
replied.
It's time you did, she remarked,
with emphasis.
Whereupon something was said,
the result of which was a wedding,
and the brilliant bride had a queenIy
reign at Black Hall. No lady in
American history could introduce
you to more g vernors among her
immediate relation. Her father was
Governor Roger Wolcott, her broth
er was Governor Oliver Wolcott,
her nephew was the second Govern
or Oliver Wolcott, her cousin was
Governor Pitkin, her husband was
Governor Matthew Griswold, and
her son was Governor Roger Girls
void. Harper's Magazine.