Putnam patriot., 1911-09-01
Tales of Ny Grandmother
No. 3. nHANNAH HRIANT'l


 This second great-great grandmother
 preceded my first in cate of birth and marriage, but her life was less pro
 longed. She was the oldest of the seven daughters Of Simon Briant, who came from Braintree, Mass to Killini- ly, 17l3. This large tract of land lay east of the road to Boston between Put nam Heights and the road to Provi- dence and is now in the heart of Put on the site of the present residence of William Holland. The road passing by this dwelling represents "the way on which Simon Briant traveleth from his own door to Thompson meeting house, We cannot think Of his daughter Hannah travelling on this way because she was married before Thompson Parish or meeting-ho were in existence. In fact, hers was the first marriage recorded by Killing ly's first minister, Rev. John Fisk, Nov. "A, 1715. The first to win the hand of one of the seven fair daughters Of Simon Briant was one who might be called an adventurer, William Lar ned of Birmingham, Mass, one of three brothers who started out to seek their fortune. Two found homes in Oxford, but the third one, William, pushed on into Connecticut, lighting on land south of Briant.
 After his marriage he purchased the Daniel Cady farm, on the corner west of the old Cady house and here after few years he built the house still stand ing at the base of Parks hill. It was a most eligible situation for those days with the trod-out way leading to Howe's Mill at the Quinebaug High Falls a good bridge, allowing them to enjoy intercourse with the Perrins and Sabins of Pomfret and Peter Aspin- walls Providence road taking them to Killingly meeting-hoase. And after the erection of Thompson Parish and church establishment q road was laid out over Park hill to accommodate the Cadys, Deacons, Eatons and Larneds with a suitable way to it. At the foot of the hill they passed the house of en- kept by Widow Mary Lee wherein my great grandmother enjoy ed that memorable puppet show.
 Whether Hannah Briant herself took her boys to that show may be doubtful but think some of the seven found their way there, for seven sons were given William and Hannah Lar ned. Of the busy mother all those years we see nothing and the single utterance coming down to us pertains to later period of her life. We know that she brought up her boys to do her credit, and have no doubt that she per formed all duties required by her as wife and mother and mem- Der of society, while her husband served the town as surveyor, select man and treasurer, in which latter off, flee he was honored by extra payment In l742 he was made deacon of Thomp. son church, but didsnot attain to the days and years of his predecessors, dy- ing in 1747. In 1756 the widow, Han nah Larned, married Justice Joseph Leavens, thus becoming the wife of rhe leading citizen of Killingly, a po- sition which she filled to public satis- faction.
 Where Mrs. Hannah Briant Larned Leavens passed the ten years of second widowhood has mot been handed down but we meet her as "Odd Granny Lea vens" at the house of her grandson Daniel. It is the day of that famous 'oPory alarmu when South Neighoor- hood Is thrown into a panic by ru- mor of "Injun and Niggerh invasion The terrified neighbors tied to swamp. wife built roaring fires and heated water and irons for defence Cady would have joined the fugitives or helped Becky pile com- bustibles but the more self-possessed Hannah Briant when urged to flight calmly resting in her chair left that one word that has come down to usr 'sif ! am to be killed by the Tories to- night, why, then shall be, so I'll cen stay with Becky" She survived this fate, dying in 1871. The oldest son served in French and Indian war as lieutenant in Dyer's regiment, I Israel Putnam, Col, David Holmes, Capt. Simon inherited the simon Bri- ant homestead and lived till lSO1, many years justice of peace, deacon of the church, moderator and first citizen at Thompson's first town meeting, June q, 17S2, greatly respected for in- tegrity and sound Judgment.
 Ebenezer, third son of William, lived east of killingly hill, ruling elder i'm obnrQb His Snu. AmaSa settled IQ