Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-03-24
The GriswOlds of Lyme.

Ihe GrlSWOIuS OF Lyme.
Black Hall, the seat of the Griswolds,
is 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
property was fief or feudal grant to
the first Matthew Griswold in 1645. He
built log house the first house in
Lyme-upon the site of the mansion,
which you see at the end of the private
entrance, and dug well, which is still
in existence. He sent 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 Say
brook. Tradition saysthat the log g-house
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
magnificent view of the Sound and its
shipping. 1t is the house of Mr.. Mat
thew Griswold, one of the Governors
sons. 1t is well preserved specimen of
antiquity, and one of those dwellings
the geography of which cannot 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 suggestions, for Gov. Roger
Griswold was one of our country's ablest
statesmen. He was called, at the age of
thirty-two, from valuable law practice
into the councils of the nation, and was
pronounced one of the most finished
scholars in Congress, where he served
ten years-during part of the admin
istration of Washington, the whole of
that of Adams, and portion of that of
Jefferson. He was brilliant talker,
and profoundly versed 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 the State in 1901, but saw fit to de-
cline. He was subsequently appointed
judge Of the Superior Court, elected
Lieutenant-Governor, and finally Gov
ernor of Connecticut, in which office he
died, in 1872. He sleeps in the Gris-
void graveyard and his tomb, rising
against background of green, may be
seen as you cross Black Hall River. He
was the son of Governor Matthew Girls
void, who was conspicuous for the ener-
gy of his counsels and active measures
during the Revolution. Governor Mat
thew, when young man, was grave, shy,
tall and somewhat awkward. He court
ed young lady in Durham, who put
him of, delaying to give an answer in
the hope that a doctor, whom she pre-
ferred, would propose. He finally tired
of his long rides on horseback, and sus-
pecting the state of her mind, pressed
her for an immediate decision.
should like little more time" re-
iterated the fair one.
" Madame, IaoiH give you 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 returned 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, Ursula Wolcott,
came ON visit to Black Hall. She was
a modern edition of her grandmother,
the historical Martha Pitkin, bright,
beautiful, accomplished and selfreliant.
She was a little older than Matthew.
She became assured that his affections
were eentered upon herself, but he was
provokingly reticent. Meeting him on
the stairs one day, she asked, "What
did you say, Cousin Matthew"
:" did not say anything" he replied.
A few days later, meeting him, she
asked in the same tone, What did you
say, cousin Matthew"
:" did not say anything" he replied
as before.
Finally, meeting him upon the beach
one morning, she again asked, What
did you say, cousin Matthew"
II did not say anything" he still re-
piled.
1t is time you did," she remarked,
with emphasis.
Whereupon something was said, the
result of which was wedding, and the
brilliant bride had a.queenly reign a:
Black Hall. No lady in American his
.ory could introduce you to more COVER