Litchfield enquirer., 1881-12-01
The Wolcott Memorial.

AS the beautiful Memorial" which the sons of the late Frederic Wolcott have re- cently presented to the Wolcott Library in this village is of refsrsnce only, and will not therefore be generally read. perhaps notice of 1t in your columns, may not be without in- terest to those of your readers who recall the time when both Oliver and Frederick Wolcott, with their families, were residents here, and who still speak their names with affectionate remembrance. t < The book, which has been printed for pri- vete circulation only, is large, handsome one, beautifully Illustrated with twenty seven fine artotypes and engravings of prominent mem- churches, monuments, heir-looms, and anti qnities, among which are those of the old Wolcott House, South St., now occupied by Mrs, Harney, and the monuments of the fami- ly in our east graveyard. Altogether It forms an attractive and valuable volume, and one whlet to native of Litchfeld. cannot fail to be Of interest, as being the record of family to whose fostering care we are mainly indebt- Oo 0ut uOOiO Oiu CiuIo1 PIluC Ot Out village, and who did 50 much to make our town one of the most noted in the State
 The work opens with view of the old church in Holland, Somersetshire, the ances- tral home of the family ID England, and from which our own Holland in Connecticut was named by members who settled there.
 From that secluded English village, leaving a home of afiuence. came Henry Wolcott, during the early, oppressive reign of Charles the 1st, and. at Windsor. on the banks of the Connecticut river, then an unbroken wilder ness, founded, in 1880, the family that after Rards became an illustriouD tha an- neIs or our otat0 country. Although it was one of ancient and honorable lineage across the water, yet no effort has been made ill the volume to trace it back through the ssmusty monkish legends" of the past, but it's claims to remembrance and honor are made to rest, not upon any mark of kingly favor, but, upon the patriotism, noble virtues and sterling worth that have 80 highly distinguish ed it's New England branch.
 1 After short space in the book devoted to matters of interest connected with the early history of the family, among which is an arto- type copy of curious old deed, on embossed parchment, bearing the great Seal of England in the reign of James 1st (Stuart,) the gen. ealogical record commences and is brought down through eight successive generations. to the present time, where it ends in Oliver Vol colt. born in 1880 the great grandson of the late Frederick Wolcott of thIs town. He is 8 lineal descendent of Noah Webster, of Wm. Bradford, one of the Pilgrim Fathers and second Governor of the Plymouth Colony, of Thomas Wells John Webster, Wm. Leet, Roger Wolcott, Colonial Governors of Con- necticut, and of Oliver Wolcott and Wm. Wolcott Ellsworth, Governors of the State of Connecticut.
 2 But, as the Author says, 'this lineage is merely mentioned as coincidence, and not with any ostentation," which assertion one can we'll believe who reads the volume, for it is plainly written less to gratify family pride, than to keep in remembrance the integrity and worth of ancestors whose virtues it calls upon all thelr descendants to bear in mind and em- ulate. It seems to me a most modest, fitting and worthy tribute to the memory of one of our distinguished, and time-honored New England families. r The interest of the volume centres largely in the slight sketches of the lives of it's more noted members and in their correspondence, much of which is from persons distinguished during our Revolutionary era. and relating to events connected with that soul-stiring period and is of much historical value. One of the let ters, an artotype of which is gwen, is in the clear, round hand and bears the autograph of George Washington. Some of them are from English kinsmen, written in the quaint, for. nal, epistolary style in vogue two hundred and fifty years ago. The address of one is 80 cu- rious copy it,
 To my verie
 Lovinge Brother
 HENNoRY WoLLooTT ..
 dwelling at Winsor
 by quenattecott riever
 in Nu Englrnd give
 these pray you