Norwich bulletin., 1913-09-20
OLD HAMPTON PAPERS
THE BENNETT HOMESTEAD


 l four straight backed colonial chairs and three cushioned colonial rockers, also 8 quaintly carved footed round table, high old desk and book cases; Fire dogs are in the iron fire frames, l while beside them hang the bellows and fire tongS as of yore. The foot stove warming pan, candle sticks, ex- tlngu1shers and snufTers are on the mantel. While on the wall draped with the stars and stripes he fought to win, hangs the old canteen that Isaac Ben I nett carried when he answered to the 1 call of the Minute men, and also the 1 powder horn he took with him, which is carved with his name and a floral design. Above them hangs a lantern of the style of 1776. There are also other old relics of the past, among which is Colonial teapot of the earli- I est style. It is nothing more than | round black quart jug, with a tiny spout about one inch below the open ing on the top which would be easily closed with an ordinary gallon Jug cork; this tea pot has no handle and the good danes must have been obliged to grasp the steaming pot with both hands to pour out their fragrant tea. ] This quaint teapot reminds me of a story told me when a child by my grandmother regarding one of her aunts, who in pre- Revolutionary days, 1 who went to the store to sell her socks and mittens. The merchant showed her some tea telling her that it was finding great favor in the country. Ac l cordingly she purchased a pound but on returning home was perpleXed to know how it was to be cooked, but l finally decided that as it was greens, l it should be boiled. So she hung on 1 the dinner pot. filled 1t with vegetables a generous piece of pork and her whole pound of tea. Adding the water she swung the crane over the fire and let | the kettle boil
 But what was her horror when the dinner was done, she found that the l greens had eaten up the pork. So ! the first pot of tea brewed in the desirable flavor.
 1 Probably the last building erected on the place was the shop and wagon house which bears carved on the door upstairs the date Aug 25, 1S13." i Isaac Bennett was succeeded by his l son Isaac Jr, who was born in 17S2 and i died in 1861. He was blind the last twenty years of his life. He had four sons Lyman, William, Samuel and Isaac. Samuel and Isaac remained on the old homestead Like their pre- decessors they were painstaking and frugal, It is said that they made the farm support them and that they would go months without paying out a cent. selling their pork, cheese and eggs for what they needed. Samuel Benentt was a school teach CT, having taught many months in the South district when there were eighty scholars in the school. He was a quiet God-fearing man, beloved by all and these lines engraved upon his simple headstone. expresses his charaee ter.
 An honest man is the noblest work
 of God"
 The stone which marks the last resting uIace of Isaac Bennett ST. bears these lines. Born 17S2, died 1861 No pain or grief or anxious fears,
 Disturbs thy bounds;
 No mortal woes can reach thy peaceful
 Slumbers here
 And angels watch thy soft repose.'
 Samuel Bennett left one son William Henry Bennett An earnest scoIarly lad, he studied at the Foster High School in Hampton later entering Yale. As teacher and lawyer he made a great success of his life. In 1864 he opened a High School in Scot land. There is a circular still in the house which he put out at that time which reads:
 "A High School for a term of eleven weeks will be opened in Scotland. on Monday Aug 18th 1864, by William H. Bennett of the Junor class of Yale College.
 Careful attention will be given to the improvement of pupils in both English and Classics; and every en- deayor will be made to render the term pleasant and profitable to all.'' Tuition,
 Common English $50
 Higher English $4.50 Languages,
 Latin and Greek $550