Putnam patriot., 1922-08-18
CHILD HOMES ARE MONUMENTS
 TO BUILDERS OF 200 YEARS AGO
STRUCTURES ERECTED IN NORTH AND EAST WOOD STOCK AS EARLY AS 171o STANDING TODAY
 NOT so WORSE FOR WEAR
Ezra May Occupies House Built By His Direct
 and Mrs. Henry Child Write Historical Sketch

Family homesteads in East and
 North Woodstock. built more than aot years ago and still standing. in mos
 instance. cited. are written about il
 historical sketch by Mr and Mrs Henry L. Child of Woodstock. Then article IS rich in local history. for the builders of those houses and thefF oc. ,apaass in the years that have since elapsed. have mad i5s to do with tHe history of their communities and then town.
 The article has to do with houses erected by Benjamin and EBhfaim Child, brothers who emigratea from Roxbury in ITO and settled in the Woodstoeks. and their descendants. The history sketch was read last Wed. nesday at the biennial reunion of the Child Family Association. and proved of absorbing interest l. will doubt less have like interest for others not members of this noted family. and so The Patriot herewith presents the art iele in full by Mr and Mrs Child
 History tells Us that Benjamin Child of Roxbury had eight sons, of these seven emigfated to Woodstock. but we nave an authentic story of only two of them, Ephraim and Benjamin, from whom most of the elan in this vicinity are descended They were not among the first "Goers" as they were called. but ir ITO they left RoN- bury, Mass. for the new country both having previously married.
 They journeyed over the old Conn ecticut Path coming to Worcester then to Oxford and Dudley on over the hills to the Wabbaquasset Country Knowing that Plain Fill and the surrounding country was already set tied they stopped in the vale of Mud dibrook."
 Oldest Brother Has First Choice
 Ephraim being the eldest brother had the first choice and selected a large tract of land upon the east side of the brook where he built his mod est cabin. adding to it's capacity until in f735 it was commodious frame house, still keeping some of the orig inal structure. This was occupied by the Child descendants for ITO years.
 A part of this large farm with house and buildings is now occupied by By ron Eddy Tradition tells us that the seven brothers. though widely seat tered. owned one COW together; each had the COW week for the needs of their families. At Thanksgiving time the COW remained longer time with Ephraim that there might be milk enough for the pudding and milk which was usually part of their feast for here the seven households gather ed for their annual Thanksgiving.
 Ephraim had a family of ten chil- dren. The eldest, Ephraim, Jr.. went into the wilderness beyond North Woodstock, which will be best recalled as the Peleg Child farm. now in pos session of Allison Potter. The tirst house was on the west side of the road but the permanent dwelling was upon the opposite side of the road and was burned a number of years ago. Il was almost identical in appearance with the Henry Child house in English Neighborhood.
 Daniel. second son Of Ephraim. To- cated about two miles to the north Of the home farm tand might have been a part of itl upon what is now known as the William Chandler farm. The first dwelling was upon the west side of the road opposite the present house. It was occupied by the descendants of Daniel until the fifth generation, when it passed out of the hands of any ot the family by the death of Mrs. Allee Chandler Potter, wife of Hon. Henry J. Potter.
 Brothers Journey Into New Country
 Henry. the third son. with his younger brother. Peter, with true pIo- neer spirit, journeyed into new country to what Is now known as the English Neighborhood The country was mostly forest and had been the hunting ground of the Indians and the habitation of bears and other wild beasts. and continued to be frequent ed by Indians. Henry and Peter To- cated upon adjoining tracts of eoun- try. After spending several years ID log cabin. Henry built eommodi- ous house in 1760. which Is still m good repair. standing upon nearly the original site
 This house was occupied eontinu- ously by his descendants for loo D, wears It was kept by Henry Child for many years as an Inn. Il stood mon the great thoroughfare from the Western Settlements of the Colony to