Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-15
1arrnd xrA Guluier.
Thursday, November 15, 1883.
A Revolutionary Tradition.

The Old Bennett House in Shelton.
 From Dr. Ambrose Beardsley the Naugs- tuck Valley Sentinel obtains the following interesting account of the history of the old Bennett house in Shelton:
 Near the center of that hourishing village named after one of it's most enterprising founders, Shelton, there stands an ancient dwelling long known in the legends of the town as the 'tBennett House, Low and solid fin it's dimensions, in front two stories high sides shingled to the ground, small windows, sharp gabled roof and massive stone chimney, all indicate a structure of the olden times, that was, in fact, built more than one hundred and fifty years ago, and was in the memory of our oldest residents of the same color as now, having never yet been adorned with paint. Its builder and owner, Daniel Bennett was the pious dea con of his church in his day. and was tower of strength and of influence and pop ularity. He was the son of Nathan, the son of Isaac of Stratford, whose father was Jas. Bennett, and who came from Concord, Mass in 1889, settling in Fairfield. This humble domicile of the deacon was once the tempora-
  the gloomy period of the Revolution. Wash ipgton had yielded Long Island to the Brit ish, and the savage Tryon, with torch in hand, had ruthlessly burned city, church and hamlet, destroying vast military stores in Connecticut belonging to the struggling colonists. Derby, like New Haven and other places along the shore, was 8 seaport town, and had secreted from the enemy pork and other stores, valuable to the oolonists, of which the invading loyalists were appraised
 Early on one Sunday morning 8 picket messenger drove up to 'the Bennett House" and called out to the inmates. The deacon coming to the door was told that Lafayette was coming and would require some refresh ments. The deacon's horse was standing at the post ready for mounting to attend church at his little meeting house, which then stood on Fanton Hill, about eighty rods northeast of what has since been called Ripton Center. Marks of the old burying ground are still wis., ible. Bennett was no Tory, and when Lafay- cite came in sight with a convoy of forty men he hesitated, but when the general approach ed with uncovered head his fears were calm. ed into grateful joy as the former said to him by way of salutation, ''Sir, am the friend of Washington and to the freedom of the Amer ican colonies. I am Marquis De Lafayette; can you prepare substantial breakfast for these hungry soldiers?"
 The good deacon with a reverential bow
 
 sheep at your disposal" Without delay 8 sufficient number of the innocents were slaughtered while Lafayette repaired to the east room of the Bennett house to adjust his toilet. Mrs Bennett, wife of Daniel, ''sound ln mind and memory, "has often related to her children and grandchildren the story of the fascinating look and appearance of young Lafayette, then about 20 years of age-how exquisite the ruff1e bosom to his shirt, how every way attractive in his personal appearance, the1 old and young alike being charmed in his presence.
 For what particular mission Lafayette passed through Derby and Huntington was crossed the Ousatonic at the old ferry be- low the Mills pIacs, now occupied by Rev. Mir. Brewster, and after surveying closely 'the situetion,' and asking many questions, and his entertainment at the Bennett house was over, hs took up his line of march west ward late on that Sunday evening. This is no fabled narration, but is founded on record and reliable tradition. The looking glass 50 highly prized used by Lafayette is still in the family of Dr. Rowland, long since dead, and who married one of Deacon Bennett's grand daughters.
 It is more than probable that when General Lafayette passed through Derby and Hunt ington he was on a accommodating tour of in- spection, destined to join the American forces
 
 Highlands on the Hudson.
 It is proper here to say that ''the Bennett House. is intimately associated, not only with the stormy times of the Revolution, but with the early history of the Congregational soci- ety in Huntington. The first minister or dained in that society was the Rev. Jedediah Mills, which occurred in private houss on Long Hill in 1724, where it was originally designed the centre of the place should be; but the first meeting house" of the town, by very few, was erected on Fanton Hill, as previously stated in this article. Deacon Bennett, Christian and shreWd leader of this church, became conspicuous in all the live issues of the day. He was the prime mover in getting Huntington incorporated in 1789, setting off New Stratford, leaving the present town of Huntington in name as Ripton. Why this change the writer has never learned. Bennett, it is said, was a sort of magic wand among the people in all he attempted to do; ever commanding the re- spect and confidence of the conscientious loyalists themselves. Many are the worthy descendants of his branch of the family who still finger among us to perpetuate his good name and deeds.
 To return to our narrative: there is no good foundation for the story consistently told that Lafayette shared the deacon's hos pitalities, rather a lunch on the back stoop of an old house still standing lower down at the landing; for his only residence was "the Bennett House" up to the time of his death. We search in vain to make the story alluded to authentic history. Lieuten- ant Joseph Hull Derby boy born in 175O, and father of Commodore Isaac Hull, of i'm perishable naval fame married Sarah, She elder daughter of Deacon Bennett, and thus became owner and occupant, in the lat ter part of his life, of the Bennett farm, 8 large tract of land lying on the west side of the Ousatonic, now mostly covered by the village of Shelton and it's enVirons. He moved from the Bennett House. lower down to the "Ufford," long known as the ''old Hull place. which is still standing, having undergone many modern improve ments. Lieutenant Hull's military exploits down our river, over the Sound and on Long Island, with the British in the Revolu- ton, the writer has already recorded in Der by history, and this plucky soldier often boasted that he gave his son Isaac his first lesson in seamanship. It has been truly said that bravery ran in the blood of the Hulls Lieutenant Hull for long time carried on ex- tensive trade with foreign ports, during the balmy days of Derby's commercial prosper ty; but the war of 1912 brought untold ruin and disaster to many, and which paralyzed for awhile the energies of some of the most citizens of Derby.
 The Court Record.