Norwich bulletin., 1912-10-18

CWritten Specially for The Bulletin.) Having passed his 85th milestone on September 24, Ebenezer Jewett, the oldest resident of the town of Hamp- ton looks back over the slightly. pleas ant village, and lives again in retro- spect the days and scenes of yore. 1 Perhaps the tales he tells of Priest Mosely, one of the oldest pastors or the Congregational church. vii! be or interest to others besides members or his own family.
 In the middle of the eighteenth cen tury, Priest Mosely owned the prop erty on the Hill now owned by William Phillips. The house stands at the north end of the street on the forks of the road: the turn to the east lead ing down the long hill and past the North cemetery; the west turn lead ing to Hampton station; and from its slightly position the Phillips residence dominates the whole south stretch or the long street on Hampton Hill.
 The house has been greatly renod- elled since the days when Priest Nose ly occupied it. For many years prior to its purchase by William Phillips It was owned and occupied by Addison Greenslit. One of his family says that when a little girl she once be- came lost in trying to find her way out of the many small rooms and railways into which the chambers had been di- yided before the house was purchased by MT. Greenslit. The house is shaded by majestic elms, which have undoubt- edlv taken the place of the same elms which shaded the premises when Priest Mosely directed the affairs of the par ish and preached in the old church which stands out, white and Snapely, in the center of the village, linking with it's memories the past and present together.
 Priest Mosely was interested in farming, as well as in "the spiritual welfare of the good people of Hamp-
 ton" In those days slaves were kept
 in Connecticut, and the good man owned a number of them, who suc-
 cessfully carried on his farming in- terests. Of one slave, Cuff, Priest Mosely was very fond. Cuff was his body servant, and was a famous pe-
 destrian; wherever his master went
 Cuff went also, the minister riding his
 horse and Cuff travelling on foot. Ii
 Is said that Cuff could walk to Boston
 and be there on time to take care of ! the horse when his master arrived . by starting a few hours earlier; and !. ! started the same time and Cuff reach i, ed Boston first.
 The old Priest was careful of ths { religious training of his slaves; all o1 = them were baptized members of hi: , church and were gathered daily abou
 the family altar for prayers. One , cool evening, when the household wal , gathered about the open fireplace fol I worship, Cuff. who was more inten . upon watching the flames leaping iron 2 the huge logs which had been rolled : into the fireplace than he was on thu v prayer which the old minister witt closed eyes and uplifted hands wa!
 uttering, saw a long black snake craw
 from the hollow log and stretch itsel t upon the hearth.
 Filled with horror, for he had beer l taught that the devil was a snake (ye
 he dared not speak or move, for h. p had been taught better than to mak y a disturbance in prayer time) he wait :, ed with fear and trembling, until S second snake appeared. Then his fea
 overcame him. Stop praying, Mas = Mosely," he shouted, "stop prayin' O
 de debbil will come and carry us al f off,
 s Cuff possessed a wife who had a vii
 temper. She became angry with tn = old Priest and threatened to kill him