The Press., 1893-04-20
LOCAL TOPICS.
Penned and soissored. ,


 Penned and Scissored.
 Two communications were received last week descriptive of the golden we'd ding of MT. and Mrs. Gilbert Chaffee at Stafford Hollow. The first one received was the one put in print. From the sec pnd we extract the following:
 Mr. Chaffee, now past 70, one of fam tly of five children, was born in Monsoon. One brother was among the company. Mrs. Chaffee, two years younger than her husband, was also born in Monson, and was one of family of twelve. Since their marriage they have never been far from Stafford, living in Palmer, Monson and Staffordville, having taken up their sast residence in Stafford eleven years go. They have had five child1 en, of whom one, Charles, of Windsor Locks, survives, and, of course, was present. The others died very young. The neigh bors present were very glad to testify by their presence the esteem in which this couple are held as good friends and help ful neighbors, and all hoped they would live to celebrate their diamond wedding. Among the gifts were: Portraits of his father and mother, presented by their son: towels, by Carrie E. Chaffee; silver fruit spoon, Mrs. s. F. Chaffee; fifty dol lars in gold contributedin in varying amounts by relatives and friends.
 -The postmaster-general has appoint ed W. W. Sheldon postmaster at South Woodstock, vice s. H. Phillips, resigned.
 -Col. Thomas Knowlton of Ashford, the Connecticut man who really saved the day at Bunker Hill, is to have memorial in the capitol or on the capitol grounds, If the legislature grants the petition to that effect.
 P. H. Woodward of Hartford, secre- tary of the board of trade, and who has all the Knowlton papers, made a strong plea in support of the petition before the committee on. capitol, furniture and grounds Tuesday afternoon. MT. Wood wards ancestors were intimate friends of Col. Knowlton, and some of the colonel's descendants are blood relatives of his.
 There is cenotaph to him in Warren renville, Ashford. over the colonel's wifes grave, few miles from the grave in East. ford, of his great nephew, Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, whose patriotism was nurtured on Knowlton facts and traditions. But his bones repose in New York city.
 Col. KnowIton was buried with mil itary honors near the road to Kings bridge, said MT. Woodward. "0ver his unknown grave throb the pulses Of rich and mighty city, utnot evena slab marks the resting place or recalls the service oi one who answered to the first cry Of a anssf try vet nTsh0rn and who tfenceforth in crises of supreme peril was ever found where courage and capacity were most needed"
 The Knowlton family is found in Ips. wieh, Mass, as early as 1641. A century later 8 branch moved to Ashford, Conn Thomas Knowlton was born in 1740 and dIlO bO fASulOIu AS q lad he served in the old French and In. dian wars.
 He shared in the successful, but some what ill-fated expedition to Havana under General Lyman. At the close of tht French Indian wars he was about 21 years old and a second lieutenant At the news from Lexington, though not connected with the local militia, he was elected cap tain of the Ashford company and started at once for Cambridge. It was on the field but a few days and returned. It was reorganized and assigned to regiment No, 3, Israel Putnam, colonel, and he was again chosen captain. On the night O June 16, 1775, in command of detach ment of 200 Connecticut men from six diff ferent companias he accompanied Pres colt to Breeds Hill and threw up re doubt. Shortly after noon on the 17th ht was sent to oppose Howe's landing, and divining Howe's flank movement, met ant