The New York herald., 1878-10-23
THE OLDEST House IN AMERICA.

A PLEASANT GATHERING IN THE HOMESTEAD
OF THE HORTON FAMILY-oLD TINE cos
TUNES AND scENEs-REMINIscENcEs OF CO.
LoSIAL TIMES.
DY TELEGRAPH TO THE herald.
SorrHoLD, L. L.. Oct. %, 1878.
benefit for the Presoy terian Church OF this vii.
laae-Dr. Whitaker, pastoT-was held this evening In
the old horton mansion, and tho occasion seized
upon by nearly all tho inhabitants OF tho enjoy
a good oid-iashioned house warming in the ancient
manson. Tho house tho Oldest in America, and
from the date Of It's building in 1889 dow TO the pros
ont day, has been IN continuous occupation, and
until within nve years was the homestead OF the
Horton family, descendants of the original settler oil
the town.
SKETCH HOUSE,
In tho year 1889 colony OF thirteen persons from
England landed In the harbor, among whom was
Barnabas Horton, the builder OF tho house. Captain
Wells, one OF tho oldest inhabitants OF the town.
whose memory back seven nty-eight years,
detailed tho history OF the place correspon
dent this evening. portion OF tho house used
Tor the Court OF Sessions in the East Riding York
shire. and the JUDGES bench remained in the house
till within iew years The house. as It at present
stands consist OF three parts tho oldest built IN 1639
the next ~ 1861 and wing finished III 1885. The
oder portion Is small hut, tnlrty-ons Dy twenty
four feet, with rooms the ground floor, and an
attic. A large, sioping chimney. nine ieet square,
was built ON The outside.
EXERCISES
In tho largest room on the ground floor
sem bcd last evening most OF Southoids farcst daa.
sells and ladies TO welcome the visitors TO house,
Tney were dressed in costumes IN tho early
colonial days, and their bright eyes and ruddy
cheeks formed strange contrast TO their and
tadsd garmcnta Among those dressed IN char
acser costume wsre Mra D. Conkiing. IN a
at tho shoulders, as seen tho oldcn pictures our
grandtatncrs' days; MISS Addis Horton picu-
pinned one OF the old fashioned pockets hun
dred years ago. and an old handkerchief tho sze OF
the Ladies' society, also wore dress that bad
handed down AS AN heirloom through many genera.
!ioas; Mrs N. r. Carpenter Mrs. Dr. Sweet and
Misses Meta Horton, Mattie and EttIo w ellis, Mrs.
Carpenter and Mrs. George W. Young were also at
tired IN old-iashionsd garments Mr.. Conkiing and
Master Frank 7. Wells wore Ihc traditional Knee
breechcs and irilled shirts. Tnsre
hunarcd guests at tho mansion. which was prolty
good gathering, considering that the population VI
the llIllc town Is only 700.
scENE.
The rooms OF the old house were arranged as nearly
| q possible limitation OF the oden style. Wood
nres were burning brightly iE all tho hropiaces
and over the hre and along tho rough unhewn bcams
that supported The ceinng were strung pumpkin
rhnds, dried apples peppers and otner articles Oi
dried iood, while IN ono corner stood = spinning
jenny, in another tho old bedstead, low with
hcavy muslin drapefy OF antQuatcd pattern. Near ny
| in handy place. was the old warming pan. with IT'S
comior, able the beds oftne Horton iamiilss cold
| winter nighn.
1 L.
An old sword tnat mad been carried by Of Wash
ingt0ns men in the Revolution hung from OF the
| beams aud on the od centre table were tho family
| Bible and book oi prayer. Tho nrst was imprinted
IN LONDON in l599 ana was brought over by the hrs
settlers. The family record In these books very
Interesting Parts mad been torn out, but there
almost iliegibe iuscrp recording the death
| one Jonathan Tuthill on February 8, l74a The
marriage oil Jonathan Horton Mary Goldsmith, on
November IL, 1856, also iound, and the record
| births contained the following without comment:-
Lymas. black boy, born of Bloom. Fsbrusry2. l79a
Among other curiosities snanbox over two
| hundred years old, with the motto:-
The wish nglishman's hear: trade OF
America open and tree.
In tho wing OF the building were the slaves
quarters OF Oden time, with fireplace and large
Standing chimney What might DO called the kitchen
the old house was In little room about tour Ieet
wide, which mostly all fireplace. Hero two
| negro girls were busiiy engaged cooking potatoes,
pork and beans pumpkin Pics and other goodies Tor
the repast. THIS was very informal meal owing to
tho grcat crewd in tho house, but none The loss
| hearty ana enjoyable.
| The young people amused themselves IN ruJnagiug
| tho old house and looking ut the curiosi;ies,
while their elders quietly enjoyed toe
| the lower rooms
| THE COMING vANDAL
Probably never before had such large number of
people been gathered together IN Tho place. and
lany thero never viii be many again, Tho pace
viii be torn down by It's recent purchaser, DR..
Amos l. Sweet, and modern dwelling erected on ts