The Newtown bee., 1891-05-01
WEsTPORT.
EARLY "REMINISCENCES READ BY HORACE STAPLES BEFORE THE HIsTORI-
 

CAL SOCIETY.
 The most interesting matter to me at present is what occurred in my early days. My uncle, Hezekiah Banks, told me many things about his Grandfather Banks, who was born in 17OO and died in 1902. He was fond of gunning and own ed a large tract of land on Crissis Brook (the west branch of Mill river) 1-2 miles southeast of Easton center. The Crissis tribe of Indians was located here and on one of Great Grandfather Banks's gun ming excursions, he stopped to talk with the tribe awhile and, after crossing the stream, he turned around and saw the chief and his followers in full chase after him. My great grandfather raised his gun and told them that, if they crossed They had lost their knife for shaving basket splints and thought he had it. He told them he had not and the chief was so overcome that he cried. My Great Grandfather Banks had one daughter, Aunt Molly Ogden, who lived one mile from Greenfield meeting house and, when she was 100 years old, she said she was going to walk to the meeting house; and she did. My mother and her sister Sar- ah visited me in Westport nearly 50 years ago and said they called to see Aunt Molly and asked her if she knew them. She replied, "Yes, you are Kier's child ren,' meaning my grandfather, Hezekiah Banks. The greater part of Westport having formerly been included in the town of Fairfield leads me to relate what Capt Robinson told me about his begin ming life. He said that when he got married, he borrowed part of his we'd ding outfit and, next morning, after his marriage, took his saw and broad axe and went to work at ship carpentering as a day laborer. He worked in this way for number of years and often, when ship timber was brought down, some of which was condemned by the builders because it was not large enough, he bought it and finally had sufficient to set up the frame of a small vessel of 50 tons burden. When finished, he commenced coasting between Boston and Philadel- phia. While in Philadelphia, the last war with England broke out and he load ed for Boston, buying part of the cargo on hls own account. When ready to sail the vessel and cargo comprised every cent he had in the world. After being out few days, he was seized by an En- glish cruiser and his crew taken from him and put on board of the captor's yes sel. He was kept on his own vessel un- der the command of prize master and two marines. They kept a colored boy on board The prize master stood at the helm most of the time and kept his pistol lying on deck within reach. He and the prize master became quite sociable, when suddenly, one day, the prize master was overheard and missing. Capt Robinson had instructed the colored boy to instant ly hide the two guns belonging to the marines, should anything occur when they were below. This being done, Capt Robinson called the marines on deck and ordered them to trim the sails. At first they stood still, but he gave them two or three minutes to obey orders. One of them went to work immediately, but the other refused until Capt Robinson was about to fire upon him and then he also went to work. Capt Robinson was sev- eral days getting into Salem. He had been without sleep so long that he drop ped his pistol on the deck while walking; but he at length became more accustom- ed to the loss of sleep and finally made the port of Salem, where he received much attention. He became quite dis tinguished and wealthy and lived to good old age. William Williams of Greenfield married his sister, who became the mother of nine boys and two or three daughters. Rev John Williams, who pre- sided so long over Christ church, Vest port, was son of Timothy, son of Will liam Williams and grand nephew of Capt Robinson. Byron A. Williams is anoth- CT grand nephew and the son and daugh- ters of our citizen, Edward H. Nash, are the great grand nieces of Capt William Robinson. E. A. Williams, recently de- ceased, was the youngest son of William Williams. Austin, the next youngest. was judge of probate in Norwalk and was grandfather of Edward H. Nash's child ren. Mrs William Williams, mother of the nine boys, was lady of great enter prise, and her husband was constant worker in his shoe shop, with from 8 to 10 apprentices.
 Miss Agnes Hyde of Boston has been in town.
 Miss Emma, who died at the home of her mother, Mrs Henrietta Wheeler of Norwalk. was buried at Willow Brook, last week.
 W. L. Coley has entertained Mir and Mrs Harrington and daughter of Salt Lake City.
 The Westport Sanitarium has already established itself at the Alden property.
 Rev W. B. Morrow of Carlisle. Penn, at Trinity, Sunday morning; Rev Mir Selleck in the evening.
 COLEYTOWN.
 A young COW owned by William J. Sherwood gave birth to a fiye-leooed calf