Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-04
OLD HAMPTON PAPERS

time husking bee. woolpicking bee; quilting and apple paring bees came into vogue. Then there were Train ing Days, General Muster Days Fourth of July BarbecueS, Masonic celebra- tions, dedications, ordinations, dona- tion parties and funerals of great men; all of which never failed to call the crowds together. There was eating, drinking and merry making even on the latter occasions.
 Religion at this time had lost some of its hold on the people, yet the great mass were steady church goers Their poverty and lack of clothing did not keep them at home. A Sunday suit often lasted a life time. It was cus tomary never to dress for church until the horse was harnessed and all ready to start. Immediately on their return home the precious suit was carefully removed and brushed and put away while the faithful horse re- mained waiting to be unharnessed Quaint figures entering the meeting houses could be identified as far as they could be seen by their old cock ed hats, many -caped over coats and other garments relics of the past Young girls, for the lack of shoes and stockings in those days often went barefoot much of the year. They would carry their precious shoes with them and put them on before enter ing church as a matter of respect.
 Families were large and it was i'm possible for parents to do better by their families. In the record of the Mott family of Ashford we have a good record of the struggles of that time. Samuel Mott, D. D. of Franklin, Ct, and Eliphalet NotL D. D. IL. D. who for many years was president of Union college came from this family. Their home was one story building in the toughest part of Ashford. They had but little cleared land. kept one COW and a few sheep. The COW was their only beast of burden doing all the work as well as furnishing milk for the family while the sheep furnished clothing. Their general fare was all produced nthe farm. Corn bread bean porridge and milk was their diet year in and year out. MT. Mott was in i'll health so the hard work indoors and out was mainly done by his wife and sons. She possessed a beautiful character and every Sunday she and her sons walked the four miles to Ash ford church. With the other boys Of that day her sons had the advantages of the District School, but they gained a higher education by persistent home study; Eliphalet passed his entrance examinations into Union college by having studied by himself.
 At one time when one Of her sons needed a new suit of clothes and there was no means of getting it. she shear ed a sheep in dead of winter and in | one weeks time had the garments ready The sheep she provided with blankets sewed on him, until his | fleece should grow again.
 1 This son was destined to be one of | the most successful college presidents | of his day. and the other son, Sam | uel, spent 61 years in the same church
 in Franklin, molding the lives Of two | generations, for the better.
 | In the old Ashford cemetery there is | A gray granite stone which bears this inscription: Tn Memory of Debor-
 ah Mott who died May 12, 17SS. aged
 5S." That is all but this simple in-
 scription tells the tale of a noble
 mother whose life was cut short by | constant devotion to those she loved
 At that time those who had inherit