Putnam patriot., 1914-10-23
HISTORIC ADDRESS
The Women of Pomfret
Delivered by Mss Ellen E. 0sgood

A professor in one of our colleges was asked to address a club on "Women in Science She began by saying that her mothers colored cook would report in this way deficiency in the larder. "Missus Carr, you know that coffee, thar!, "Yes, Ghloe.n "Weli ,missus, there ain't none.n One may search in many, do not say all, State and local histories, without finding any mention of women and be tempted to eSelaim after the manner of Chloe, Women in history Well, there ain't none D
 Very little of what the early women of Pomfret were and did has been re- corded in history or handed down by tradition. They were so busy helping to lay the foundation of the prosperity and comfort we enjoy, they had no time to write diaries or chronicle events. They regarded themselves, and their husbands did also, as silent part ners in the household corporation, and | were content If their names would be inscribed on tombstones and they known to posterity as "Ye amiabie consort of ye zeohariah Brown, nor"Ye relicta of ye Rev. Ebenezer White" Yet they were women of decision. of strength of character, patient, brave women. Most of them had left their homes in the earlier settled portions of l New England to stand side by side with the pioneers Of Pomfret, bearing l their share, sometimes more, of the privations and toll incident to life in new country. IT, as Tennyson says, "The women make us most,p then how much credit and glory should be accorded them for the stalwart, sterling men, that gave Pomfret its honored place in the State of Connecticut.
 Of the first generations of women in Pomfret, with one or two exceptions, we have merely the dates of their births and deaths. Previous speakers of both days have told you about Es- ther Grosvenor. According to tradi. ton, Thomas Goodel was one of first white settlers ia the Mashmoquet Pu.- chase. A while later Mrs. Goodell came. She walked from Roxbury, Mass, bringing her spinning wheel with her. It was late in the afternoon when she reached the N oodstock set tiement where she was urged to re- main over night, but she was anxious to find her husband and trudged on through the woods to his cabin.
 In the earliest records of Abingdon Parish are found the names of two widows, Hannah and Sarah lngalIs, who with their children made the long and wearlsome journey from Andover, Massachusetts, the parent town Of sew eral Pomfret families. James, the son of Mary, brought with,him his young wife. Hard, unremitting labor under adverse circumstances so discouraged him that he left his work in the field one day intending to return to Ando- yer. As he drew near the house he heard his wife singing so cheerily at her task that he said, II guess if she can stand it l can," and went back to lhis work.
 
 iant service Pomfret men rendered during the Resolution. While they were defending their country's rights, the women, no less loyal, were defend- ing their tiresides, struggling, and in many instances il was a genuine strug- gle, to provide for as well As to conduct their large households. At times, as when the militia was called out, only iniirm men and young boys were ieft on the farms. One of our townsmen has in his possession letter written by Pomfret man to q Pomfret soldier fIe says, "Our militia is gone to New York, and the women are obliged to carry on the out door business, and in- deed 1 mast say they do it very well. It k Il very busy time with them now they are harvesting"
 or all the companies that marched 10 Bunker Hill, only one other was as well equipped. as well clothed as that from pomfret, showing that our fore mothers ''looked we'll to the ways of their household,' and kspt the men amply provided with homespun gar- ments.
 I Dr. Albigence Waldo, native of | Pomfret, gained high reputation as . surgeon during his four years service l in lhe Continental army, but his fami- | iy being as Is stated, ton the point of famishing with mere want of food and every other necessary, he resigned his position in the army in l779, and re- snmed practice in Pamffet. He made discoveries along the line of magnetic and electric currents. How valuable his researches, or whether their results were identical with those of later sei- entists will never De known, Our chief interest today Is in ithe lfruitless endeavor of his devoted wife. She was the daughter of Captain Cargili, name formerly associated with the picturesque falls iii Putnam. Dr. Waldo died at the age of A..
 | Mrs. Waldo was anxious to have his manuscripts published as fitting me morial to her distinguished husband, and also for the benefit Of the scientific world. To this end she bent her tire less energy, faithful, persistent, she Sourneyed up and down The land in