New-York tribune., 1885-01-11
An historic HOMESTEAD BURNED.
HE SMITH MANSION AT WOODBURY.,
CONN AND LES RELICS
Copyright. 1855

CONN.,, AND lis KfblCS.
fpRoM OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE
WOODBURY., Conn.,, Jan. S.-The fire which
occurred In the picturesque part OF this towwon
January destroyed the smith Mansion" one Of the
quaint quitos OF the place which has an Interesting
history IL owned by tho widow OF tho late Colonel
Nathaniel Smith and daughter OF the late Samuel q.
Goodrich. Peter Farley" Tho building and many val
liable relies entirely destroyed Three generations
Of the Smith family had lived and died In the mansion.
but 1t built long before they came in possession OF
the property No date Is recorded OF s construction,
but certain records made by tho carpenters the raf
ters Indicate that It built about 1928. Its frat
DR. Perry. The original structure was never
changed except in the adding OF protection from the
raids Of public officials There were no studs to support
the floors a. IL the custom now. bu the house was
planked UP and down from tho silts to the beams.
The estate passed from Dr. Perry into the hands OF
Robert Bovine, OF York who later sold II to David
Tallman lawyer by profession but better remembered
gambler and who lived entirely by his wits
lie paid small sum on thr estate giving mortgage
for tho remainder IIs at this time was reDued To bo
wealthy aud owned much property In New-iork and
Brooklyn Ho made many alterations In tho house Dot
ter TO him In the conduct Of his lcgtmate bus
against the raids OF public officers which hs had
to fear Largo. heavy. ronbonnd wooden shut
made for tho Windows secured by heavy Iron
bolts; the doors made stronger and heavy looks
were put upon them q concealed stairway. narrow and
winding. built In the middle OF tho h0nse, tho en-
trance being u of OF the middle rooms and
constructed IT, such way that could not be detected
unless knew Of It, r'rhe gambling parlor was on
the second floor. and hero were lost and won largo
amounts many players accusing Tallman OF cheating
thom Of their property Not only were cards nduged III
In corner OF the oak floor chippcd
and ndented evidently by the pitching OF dollars. pre-
vaing practice OF the gamblers Of that day One OF the
patrons OF this gambling parlor bore the dgnifed ap-
uella NJ ~ Dca TIilmlu freuupntlV tOlfueye
night to New York and New Haven always returning
with ron-bound full OF chinkng silver that he had
obtained In exchange for checks and BILLS lie was oc
caslonaly arrested for gainbng but having ihnuehce
with this Judges, committed, ana frequently
avoided arrest 10y Darrcang hisoi ior soVer uays In
The mortgage was finally put into the hands OF Judge
Nathaniel Smith for foreclosure. and ho bought the
property In Talinan tried many schemes to the
property but did not succeed and finally died at ROME
N. Y. Judge Smith was then young man lie had
luton; he studied law later in Ltchheld aud WAS ad-
nted To the bar In 1857 From 1883 I'LL 1913 he wasa
member OF the Legislature and in 1905 elected to
Congress. serving two and declining third term
He was also Judge OF che supreme Court, aud during
cattle and his nocks. Ills wfo tho daughter of tue
Rev Noah Benedict, and his daughter married Samuel
died about three years ago having served In tho Legis
lauro and as Probate judge In the county many years
was Colonel OF the 10Th Connecticut Volunteers IN the
late civil war; and died about Ave years ago, leaving
Perhaps the largest and most valuable collection OF
Revolutionary relies In any single house IN the state
could be found here. Among them was the costune OF
the Rev Noah Benedct-a cooked hat neck bands
aud coat these hung tho wall, and his two large
punch gobles, which played conspicuous part fnli ol
OF tho relies was original letter from Colonel John
Ely oommandant OF Fort Trumbull. New,London. ON
Juno f776 the captaine OF the ship lying at ancor
at the mouth Of the Eew.Iondon Harbour. commanding
Intelligence as shall be satisfactory to tho people,
more especially dlsagreeable to the Flagg OF
tyrant waiting TO ne wind In sd harbour" The original
0rerbook Of BrigadierGonera Clinton was also among
the relics. Ono Of the first orders bore date Aprii
$780, and referred to the court martial Of MorGenera
Arnold, on February 3 l779 He was acquitted OF swo