The Newtown bee., 1889-12-13
The NeWtown Booths.

uns written their virtues abroad on the sod
 Among the historic names of Newtown is that of Booth. Jonathan Booth, one of Newtown's first settlers, could trace his ancestry through his father John and grandfather Richard of Stratford to Eng land, where three generations more car ricd it back to Sir John Booth of Kent. Jonathan was married at Stratford and he brought to Newtown his good wife Esther and their son Daniel, who became prominent here as at one time the largest lnndholder in town. Jonathan Booth To- cated in the Street at spot back of the house now occupied by S. C. Glover, where he owned a lot of four acres, with his larger fields outside the village. Jon athan was on friendly terms with the Pohtatuck Indians then here and would blow out corn for them, in return for which they would hoe his corn. The young Daniel rode the horse while his father held the blow and the tradition is preserved that the Indians would sur round Daniel, stroke his hair, pat him on the head and call him n young "Mucca- chuck"
 - Lieut. Daniel, as he is called to distin- Sguish him from his son of the same name, married Eunice, daughter of Thomas and Mary Bennett, Rev John Beach perform ing the ceremony before he went to Eng land for Episcopal ordination. Thomas Bennett was justice of the peace and prominent in the early settlement and married the widow of Ephraim Booth of Stratford for his second wife. Daniel and Eunice made their home at the Is- land, on the corner where cX-Deputy Collector NJ. J. Bradley lives. His faith CT Jonathan built the house and gave him T deed of the place, which mention ed an orchard of young apple trees: one of the trees, now about lG0 years old, is still standing. Daniel and Eunice pros pered and raised a family of three sons and five daughters, all of whom settled about the ancestral home and raised fam [ flies of their own. Daniel was Il lieuten- ant in the military company of that time, when training day was one of the events of the year.
 Lieut. Daniel Booth, the largest land holder in town, was prominent in the Presbyterian society, us it was then call- ed, assisting in furnishing and repairing the meeting house, one of the standing committee to calm the uneasiness with Rev Mir Judson, representing the New town church at the annual convocation and, finally, in company with Benjamin Northrop, being made deacon of the church. It is recorded of the lieutenant deacon that "he was a faithful and hon ored member of the society to which he belonged, was Il man of extensive read ing, well versed in the Bible and held the office of deacon for l3 years.' Like Rev John Beach, Dea Booth finally became convinced of the superior validity of Episcopal ordination and resigned his of- flee of deacon and his membership in the society. Rev Mir .Iudson, his pastor, and his fellow members tried to dissuade him from his course and day was set in September on which the subject should be publicly discussed. Dea Daniel eX- pressed his views, Rev Mir Judson fol- lowed with his, but, after long reason ing, neither could convince the other and Lieut. Daniel became member of Rev John Beach's congregation. Rev Rob crt Sandeman of Danbury, founder of the Sandcmanians, who once had church In the Street, was present at this public discussion and occupied q seat by Rev Mir Judson.
 As an instance of Lieut. Daniels be- nevolence, it Is related that poor neigh Dor with large family, who had no COW, wished to buy one of his rich neighbor {; he refused to sell the COW to him, but, afterward, made him a present oft. He could afford this, for he could walk from his home Ut the Island over Walnut Tree hill to the Housatonic and up the river to the 'riding place" mile below South vile, without going off his own land. He also owned land across the river in what Is now Bridgewater. Lieut. Daniel lived till l777, when he Is said to have met his death at the age of 73 years by getting heated while splitting rails, on a warm day in early Spring, on Walnut Tree hill. He got cold and pneumonia set in.
 His son Daniel was born in l730 and lived In Bridgewater, where, one day, he shot two wild turkeys with which to en- certain guests who came to visit him He was Tory, but was impressed into the Continental army, from which Inc was released on account of his health and returned to Newtown to work the big farm his father had left him. He could do more good, he said, raising crops than lighting. Newtown was in tensely Tory during the Revolution and one Tory named Thompson was hung here. Josiah Booth relates that one o1 Che Newtown Tories, Elias Glover, n car penter and brother of Solomon Glover yersalist minister, captured Gen SillhnaI at Fairfield and turned him over to thu British at Long Island. There wer many Wings here, of course and Gel Washington stopped here, where tn Grand Central now stands.
 The French also eneamped here, par of them near the depot and part on Iaun ton hill near Castle Ronald. Rocham beau and his officers were quartered wit Abiei Booth, Whlg neighbor of the sec ond Daniel at the Island. Squire Lam son Birch told Philo Clarke, years ago that the French, while camped on Taun ton hill, used to catch black snake among the alders and eat them as bush. eels. It Is narrated that they woul