The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-01-14
Fairfield County News.
BETHEL.
MRS PECK PASSES HER NINETIETH BIRTH
DAY.

MRS PECK PASSES HER NINETIETH BIRTH
DAY.
Mrs Hannah X. Peck, the wido of the
late Charles Peck, passed her Goth birth
day at her pleasant home on Elm street,
last Thursday, January 6. On Friday,
the next day, her children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren gathered at her
home in remembrance of the event.
Near the close OF the day most enioya-
BILE dinner was served which none can
appreciate better than those who have a
gandmOther's home to visit and grand
mothers table full of good things to eat.
The occasion was enjoyed by Mr. and Mrs
Horace Peck, Mr. and Mrs Charles Peck
and son, Mr. and Mrs Frank Starr and
children, Bertha, Marion and George, of
DanburY, also Mr. and Mrs Gideon a.
Peck of Yonkers, N. Y, Mr. and Mr.
Gideon s. PECK and Samuel T. Peck of
this place. Mrs Peck retains her mental
faculties remarkably we'll, and appears
to take her share of the enioyments of
life. She lives in the old homestead with
her son, Samuel Peck, and is able to do
the greater part of the homework, and
makes daily calls at her sons, Gldeon's,
nearb and in pleasant weather often
enjoys a stroll out and around the barn
and home lot. Mrs Peck has, with the
GAGCpblOu III u ACW YEARS III curly ndTEIbu
life, spent her days on the street she now
lives on. She was born on Elm street,
January 6, 1908. Her father, Samuel
Taylor, was also born and spent his days
on the street. Mrs Peck's grandfather,
Thomas Taylor, also spent most of his
days on Elm street. His old we'll Is in
use at the present date. He was prom
inent public man in the old town of DAN
bury. He held various offices of trust
in colonial days and held the Office of
Justice of the peace until his last days.
Thomas Taylor was large landed pro-
prietor. Most OF the land lay south of
the street, and was valuable property.
He was the third or fourth heaviest tax
payer on the list of the town and his son,
Samuel, an only son, inherited the great.
er part of the landed estate, of which Mrs
Peck still holds part, which has been
handed down in the family since the first
settlement OF the town. Mrs Peck's
Grandfather Taylor took no active part
as soldier in the Revolutionary war.
Perhaps it will not be out of place at
this time to relate a circumstance that
did happen during the war. 1t was said
that at the time OF the invasion and burn
ing of Danbury by the British soldiers
under the command of Tryon, the British
passed through Bethel Ia the for anOon Of
April &c, IVY. About IL O'Clock in the
evening on the same day, about 300 in
all Of the Continental soldiers, under the
command OF Gems Wooster, Arnold, and
Slllimap, marched down Hoyt's Hill,
stopping at the foot of the hill, where
the officers thought best to rest until
morning. Thomas Taylor opened his
farm house and other buildings to as
many as could lie down side by side,
from cellar to garrett. About 500 old men
and boys under the leadership OF Gen
Silllman, had made q hurried march
from Fairfield since early morning. The
weather was cold and wet and all were
thankful for a dry place in which to
sleep and rest for few hours. Others
in the command found q resting place
farther down the street. The result of
the next days battle in RidQefield may
be found in history. Mrs Peck remem-
bers her Grandfather Taylor and his old
house which stood west of the old well,
on the south side of the street. A great
many changes have taken place In 90
years, but few persons remain in town
that remember the school days OF Han.
nah Knapp Taylor.
DEATH or MRS JULIETTE s. HICKoK.
Mrs JuiIette s widow Of the late Lac
rem NJ. HickOk, died nc her home on Main