Son of Reverend Anthony and Prudence (Welles) Stoddard of Woodbury, Connecticut
Grandson of Reverend Solomon and Esther (Warham) Stoddard of Northampton, Massachusetts
Great-grandson of Anthony Stoddard of Boston...the first Stoddard to arrive in America in 1639.
————————————————————————————————————————————
Notes: See the bottom of this biography for the transcripts of the Last Will and Testament of Anthony Stoddard of Boston, his son Rev. Solomon Stoddard of Northampton, and his son Rev. Anthony Stoddard of Woodbury.

Phonetic Pronunciation of Eliakim: ee-LAI-uh-kihm

Joannah's given name is spelled as it appears on her headstone. Her mother used the spelling Johanna. Therefore, Joanna, Johanna and Joannah are used interchangeably. Her surname, Curtiss, is commonly spelled as Curtis.
————————————————————————————————————————————
Eliakim Stoddard married Joannah Curtiss, daughter of John and Johanna (Burr) Curtiss, on December 4, 1729 in Woodbury, Connecticut. Joannah Curtiss was born September 5, 1708 in Woodbury, Connecticut. She was the eighth child born to "Ensign" John and Joannah (Burr) Curtiss. Their daughter, Olive Curtiss, married Eliakim’s brother Gideon in 1733, and their daughter Eunice married Eliakim’s brother Abijah in 1739. John Curtiss served as an ensign in a train band for Woodbury. A train band is a volunteer militia. The term train band can be traced back to the reign of England’s Edward I, when parliament enacted legislation decreeing that every freeman between the ages of 15 and 60 years was to be available to preserve the peace within his own county or shire. John Curtiss died on April 14, 1754. Johanna Curtiss (the mother) died September 1, 1749 — during the same month as her daughter’s son Eliakim, Jr. and her husband Eliakim (Sr.). Her sister Olive, who was married to her husband’s brother, Gideon Stoddard, and the daughter of her sister Eunice, married to Abijah Stoddard, also died in September 1749. There must have been an epidemic in Woodbury in the fall of 1749 and these related families were perhaps hit the hardest.

Eliakim's mother, Prudence Welles (sometimes spelled Wells) Stoddard, died April 16, 1715 when Eliakim was only ten years old. His father, Reverend Anthony Stoddard, married a second time to Mary Sherman on January 3, 1716. Mary Sherman Stoddard died on January 12, 1721 leaving the children motherless. Needing a mother for his children, Reverend Anthony married a third time sometime after 1721. He married a woman named Hannah whom some believe was Mary Sherman's sister Hannah Sherman. However, according to the book, "Sherman Genealogy...," Hannah Sherman married Josiah Chittenden and died on July 30, 1744. So Reverend Anthony's third wife could not have been Hannah Sherman. Her death and burial record only refer to her as, "Mrs. Hannah, wife of Rev. Anthony Stoddard." Hannah died on November 26, 1747.

It is highly likely that Reverend Anthony Stoddard married a fourth time —as his wife Hannah died 13 years before him. At an increasing age, and with his ministerial prestige, he would probably not have lived alone for that long. There is a headstone lying near his tomb in the Woodbury South Cemetery, apparently broken, and what can be seen today (without disturbing the stone) says, “In Memory of Mrs. Thankfull the wife of Mr. Anthony Stoddard.” If Reverend Anthony indeed married a fourth time, her name was Thankfull Stoddard. There is also a list of "Inscriptions Upon Monuments" in William Cothren's "History of Ancient Woodbury...Volume III." On page 308 of that genealogical statistics edition, it states, "Widow of Rev. Anthony Stoddard" with the date "July 29, 1783." Perhaps this refers to the same Thankfull Stoddard headstone before it was damaged?

Little is known about Eliakim Stoddard, the fourth child and second male son born to Reverend Anthony Stoddard and Prudence Welles. He devoted himself to life as a simple farmer working the extensive lands owned by his busy father. He apparently showed no aptitude or interest in a book education which otherwise certainly would have been afforded him. He married Joannah Curtiss (1708–1768) on December 4, 1729. They had ten children together. There were two sons named Eliakim: the first Eliakim, born 1742, died September 13, 1749, just 17 days before his father’s death on September 30; the second Eliakim was born December 11, 1749, and after his father’s death. This Eliakim Stoddard died in Vermont in 1802. Obviously his name was chosen after the loss of his namesake father and brother just prior to his birth.

Our subject, Eliakim Stoddard, died young and unexpectedly in 1749. He signed his Last Will and Testament, dated September 25, 1749, just five days before he died. It was written by his father, Reverend Anthony Stoddard, who was experienced in such legal matters as the clerk of Probate in Woodbury for forty years. He also signed the Will as a witness. He was also appointed the guardian for Elaikim's daughter, Prudence, and son, Seth, for the purpose of settling the estate of his deceased son. Eliakim’s widow, Joannah, was appointed the sole executor and was appointed guardian for her children Abigail and Eliakim. Eliakim's son, Abiram, chose Preserved Strong as his guardian, and his daughter, Joanna, chose Nathan Curtiss, her uncle (brother of her mother), as her guardian. The three eldest boys, John, Israel, and Anthony, had no guardians representing their interests as they were of sufficient age. The Last Will and Testament of Eliakim Stoddard only states that his real property be divided equally among his sons with his widow Joannah having 1/3 share of each during her lifetime.

Joannah initially continued to live in the house and raise her children after the sudden death of her husband. She gave birth to a son, Eliakim, on December 11, 1749. As a matter of necessity, she quickly remarried. Joannah married Samuel Waller early in 1750 and removed to Kent, Connecticut where she gave birth to a child, Comfort Waller, on November 15, 1750. A second child, Love Waller, was born to the couple on October 24, 1853. Joannah (Curtiss) Stoddard Waller died in Kent, Connecticut on November 15, 1768.

In order to properly tell the story of the house and home in Woodbury which Eliakim Stoddard lived, we had to go back 13 years before his death. His father, Reverend Anthony Stoddard gifted and deeded one acre of land with a dwelling on it (as well as other lands) that was part of his own home lot to his oldest son, Eliakim, on March 22, 1736. I am in possession of a copy of this recorded deed. The deed, in transferring the land from Reverend Anthony Stoddard to his son, states:

"...to my duty full And Beloved son Eliakim Stoddard of Woodbury & so his heirs & assigns for Ever, those parcels of land situated within ye Township of Woodbury...about one acre of my homlott ye North end share of with ye Mansion thereon butted on Highway, or Common, on East west & north, & South of my own land at ye northend of ye hallow share being known boundaries at Either Highway, as also my Lott as it is Enclosed with fence at ye southwest corner of ye Cranberry Pond Land..."

The importance of this description is that it demonstrates that the land gifted to Eliakim Stoddard included an existing dwelling ("ye mansion") upon it and that the dwelling, "ye mansion," had previously been built for Reverend Anthony Stoddard and had been owned and likely occupied by him. Therefore, the house of Eliakim Stoddard was a separate house on his home lot, across from the original parsonage house built for Reverend Anthony Stoddard back in 1701. The “ye mansion” was likely built for Reverend Anthony Stoddard as a matter of necessity: He fathered nine children with his first wife Prudence who died after the birth of his son Gideon in 1714. He fathered three more children with his second wife Mary Sherman between 1716 and her death in 1721. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume the larger, dwelling house was built for Reverend Anthony Stoddard and that it dates back to between 1715 and 1720.

Three sons of Reverend Anthony Stoddard died in an epidemic in 1727. The other older children came of age and married. Reverend Anthony Stoddard no longer had a need for the "ye mansion" by 1736, and since his son Eliakim's family was growing in size, he likely decided it was time to give the house to his eldest son and return to living at the old parsonage house. So he deeded the land with the house as a "gift" to his son.

One of the most remarkable facts of the Reverend Anthony Stoddard legacy is that his second house, built between 1715 and 1720, is still standing today (2021) in Woodbury, Connecticut and is operated as an inn.

The house was originally two stories with an attic. The second floor originally had a large room (often referred to as a "ball-room") with an arched ceiling and fireplaces at each end. Even today, the two chimneys that protrude from the roof give an indication as to the dimension of the second story ballroom. This ballroom was used as the meeting place of King Solomon's Lodge #7 of Woodbury from at least 1775 until 1822.

In 1900, Levi Curtis (owner from 1882 until 1902) raised the roof and added a third floor. The house was purchased by Jeremiah A. Sullivan in March 1902. In 1916 the roof caught fire which nearly destroyed the house. The huge wood beams of the original structure (likely axe hewn) and the prompt action by the fire department (which had begun using automobiles to move their hose carts to the scene of the fire by that time) probably saved the house from total destruction. After 34 years ownership, Jeremiah Sullivan sold the premises to I. Marion Weise in March 1936. After a succession of short-term owners, Chet Hardistry purchased the premises in 1954 and it remained in the ownership of the Hardistry family for the next 55 years — the longest period of ownership of any owner since the Stoddard family.

The commonly accepted historical account of the house, known for at least 115 years as the Curtis House Inn, is that it has been operated as an inn "since 1754." This is a advertising slogan and marketing gimmick. The idea of marketing the house as having been continually in operation as an inn "since 1754” was concocted by owner Jeremiah Sullivan around 1905. It is unknown whether Sullivan ever researched the house's past ownership (and therefore use) through the recorded deeds...or whether he simply and arbitrarily selected this year out of thin air. The latter is most likely. This myth and legend has been adopted by all succeeding owners and continues today in spite of overwhelming proof to the contrary.

The current owners (2019) of the inn, in responding to inquiries challenging the long held marketing claim, stated that Israel Stoddard, who inherited the house and an acre of land as his part of the distribution of the real property of his father's estate on March 31, 1752, was appointed a guardian, and it was the guardian who leased the house to a an unknown person, who then began operating it as an inn in 1754. This is poppycock! Israel never had a guardian and never had a guardian appointed to represent his interests in probate: as the second oldest son, he was of sufficient age to represent his own interests. Nor was his younger brother Anthony appointed a guardian. Only the youngest children were appointed guardians.

This claim about Israel's guardian came from "someone on the (Woodbury) Historic Committee" who compiled the information "after reading some Town History on the Curtis House." I also have a copy of this sheet of information compiled by this person. While it has some good information about the fire in 1916 (which is included in this biography) it also states many incorrect facts — the worse error being the fabrication that Israel had a guardian who leased the house to someone who operated the house as an inn in 1754.

In 2020, the premises were leased by an experienced New England chef turned aspiring entrepreneur. He then rebranded the inn as the "1754 House." Although the business website no longer claims to be the oldest inn in Connecticut and now includes the cavaet and disclaimer, that " the house is believed to have opened in 1754 as an inn," the operator decided to put the emphasis in attracting customers on the old "since 1754" marketing slogan when he decided on a name change. Perhaps it would have been better to embrace the truth rather than the legend in making his branding choice. Maybe someday the truth will win the contest over the legend.

After the distribution of the estate, Israel continued to live in the house with his brothers. His grandfather, Reverend Anthony Stoddard, who lived across the field in his parsonage house, was able to keep a close eye on his grandsons. Reverend Anthony Stoddard would never have consented to his former home, then his son's house, built on his parsonage home lot land, to be used as an inn or tavern. That would have been sacrilegious to him! So the idea that the house was ever used as an inn or tavern during his lifetime (Reverend Antony Stoddard died September 6, 1760) is ludicrous. Further, Joanna Waller, Israel’s mother, also owned 1/3 of the house during her lifetime. She died at Kent on November 15, 1768. She would never have consented to the house being operated as an inn or tavern. Therefore, the house could never have been leased to anyone.

=======================================================================
Note: On the old website of the Curtis House Inn (while it was under the ownership of the Hardistry family), they made the claim that, "The house was first operated as an inn in 1754 by Anthony, Reverend Anthony’s grandson, but he does not appear as an owner of record." Anthony, the son of Eliakim, was 15 years old at the time of his father's death in 1749. He was never the owner of the property. Anthony, like his father, became a simple farmer. He never operated an inn or tavern. The house of Eliakim Stoddard and one acre of land were provided to Anthony’s brother Israel Stoddard at the distribution of their father’s estate on March 31, 1752. Israel Stoddard prepared himself for a career as a doctor. He was never an innkeeper. Israel and his brothers, John, Anthony and Abiram continued to live in the house while their mother Joanna remarried Samuel Waller and took the girls and younger boys Seth and Eliakim and relocated to Kent, Connecticut in 1750. Their brother, John Stoddard, from whom the writer of this biography descends, married Mary Atwood in 1751 and relocated to Watertown (Harwinton). Abiram soon relocated to Albany, New York where he died at age 19 in 1755. Therefore, in 1754, only Israel and Anthony continued to live together in the house. They were not innkeepers.
=======================================================================

Israel and Anthony married sisters, Elizabeth and Phebe Reed, in 1759 and 1760 respectively. Both couples continued to live in the house. Israel studied to become a doctor while Anthony farmed the lands of his father and grandfather. In 1760, Israel and Elizabeth had a daughter they named Phebe after Elizabeth’s sister. In September 1762, Israel and Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Asa. The next month, Anthony and Phebe gave birth to their first child, a son, Amos Stoddard, on October 26, 1762.

The next spring of 1763, Anthony and Phebe and baby Amos relocated to Framington (later named Lanesborough), Massachusetts. Israel and Elizabeth stayed living in the house until after the birth of their daughter Elizabeth in 1769. This daughter, Elizabeth, later became the grandmother of Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.

Sometime between 1770 and 1775 Israel and Elizabeth relocated to Washington, Connecticut (then named Judea) where Israel practiced medicine. It was at this point that the house changed ownership outside the Stoddard family.

About 1774, Israel’s house in Woodbury, the “ye mansion” house, came into the possession of Israel's relative, Peter Gilchrist (see memorial 45316594). Peter Gilchrist was related to Israel Stoddard through the marriage of his wife's sister to his cousin: Esther Judson, the sister of Peter Gilchrist’s wife, Damaris (Judson) Gilchrist, married Israel’s cousin, Nathan Curtiss (see memorial 10386073). Concerning evidence of the transfer of ownership of the house from Israel Stoddard to Peter Gilchrist: there is none. While there was likely a deed, no deed was ever recorded. This is probably due to interruptions of civil society during the Revolutionary War period. The evidence of Peter Gilchrist occupying the home of Israel Stoddard comes from William Cothren in his books on the history of “ancient Woodbury.” He tells us of the association of the house and the ownership of Peter and Damaris Gilchrist (and later, others) in various passages in two different volumes of his historical series. This evidence is shared below.

After Peter Gilchrist died in 1783, there was not a one acre parcel of land with a house, barn and a shop located in Woodbury included in the inventory of the real property of his estate, indicating that the deed was simply tucked away and never recorded, or that the property may have been deeded by Israel Stoddard into the name of his wife Damaris Gilchrist....but no deed was recorded in her name either.

After Peter Gilchrist’s death, his widow, Damaris Gilchrist, continued to occupy the house. William Cothren, in his seminal works, “History of Ancient Woodbury...,” made it abundantly clear for us that the house continued to be occupied by Damaris Gilchrist. She lived in the house another 23 years after her husband’s death —until the property was sold in 1806. On October 14, 1806, Damaris Gilchrist deeded one acre of land with a house, a barn and a shop for $1,000 to Abijah S. Hatch. This is the first time in 70 years (since 1736) that a deed for the property was duly recorded. It was sometime after 1806 that the house started to be operated as some type of public house —eventually evolving into an inn and later a hotel. Abijah Hatch is known to have operated a guest house and served liquor on the promises circa 1814. Since he was a member and past officer of King Solomon’s Lodge #7, use of the premises was probably restricted to Lodge members and their friends and family.

=======================================================================
Note: In 2017, a plan was presented to the city of Woodbury to convert the house and inn into a 46-bed sober house for area drug addicts...but the plan met strong objection in the community. In 2018, the Curtis House Inn entered into escrow to be sold to a Las Vegas couple wanting to restore it to its 18th century grandeur...but the deal fell through in January 2019. The Inn had been poorly run (and was sadly featured on a episode of Gordon Ramsey’s “Hotel Hell” in August 2014) and the building was in desperate need of expensive repairs. Fortunately, in April 2019, Brian and Jennifer Cascone of Southbury, Connecticut purchased the premises, repaired the house and revamped the inn. I appreciate and respect their investment towards saving the house. They then reopened the inn as “Evergreen Inn and Tavern” in August 2019. However, in spite of having been informed of the documented history of the house and its Stoddard owners, and provided proof of the real identity of the subject of the portrait painting in their lobby (that it was a portrait of Judge Anthony Stoddard of Boston, and not Reverend Anthony Stoddard of Woodbury), the portrait painting still hung in the lobby of their inn, and was still erroneously identified as Reverend Anthony Stoddard, and they continued to promote the legend and myth that the house has been continually operated as an inn “since 1754.” However, the Evergreen Inn and Tavern did not exist for long. In the summer of 2020, the premises were leased to an operator who rebranded the premises as the "1754 House." In late 2020, they took down the reproduction portrait painting of Judge Anthony Stoddard hanging in the lobby. At least that's progress!
=======================================================================

While the beginning of this next section is somewhat redundant, it is useful to summarize the history of this famous house and its connection to Eliakim’s son Anthony Stoddard and Major Amos Stoddard, the grandson of Eliakim Stoddard.

The “ye mansion” house of Reverend Anthony Stoddard and one acre of land was gifted and deeded by Reverend Anthony Stoddard to his son Eliakim Stoddard in March 1736. The “ye mansion” house and one acre of land was then bequeathed to Israel Stoddard upon the division and distribution of Eliakim Stoddard's estate on May 31, 1752. Brothers John, Anthony and Abiram continued to live in the house with Israel after their mother's remarriage and her relocation to Kent in 1750. John, the eldest son, probably only stayed at the house for a short while. He married Mary Atwood in 1751 and relocated to Watertown (Harwinton). Younger brother Abiram apparently left the house for Albany, New York where he died on at age 19 on October 31, 1755 (a copy of the inventory of his estate providing the place and date of his death is uploaded to this memorial).

On July 4, 1759, Israel married Elizabeth Reed. They had a child, Phebe, born November 26, 1760, and then a son, Asa, born September 4, 1762. The couple went on to have two more children: a son, James, born May 14, 1765, and a daughter, Elizabeth, born June 14, 1769. All these children’s births were recorded in Woodbury. Therefore, Israel was certainly residing at his house in Woodbury all during this time. At some point after the birth of his daughter Elizabeth, Israel relocated the family to Washington (also known as Judea) where he practiced medicine. Their daughter Phebe died young at Woodbury on December 5, 1778. Upon his father’s death in 1794, Asa was given his grandfather’s parsonage house and land from his father. He sold that land and the parsonage house to William Moseley in 1799 and removed himself and his mother to Ohio circa 1800. He died at Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio in 1842. His mother, Elizabeth, died at Huron County, Ohio in 1824. Israel and Elizabeth’s son James became a doctor and practiced medicine in Washington like his father where he died in 1847. The couple’s youngest child, Elizabeth, married Taylor Sherman and became the grandmother of famed Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman. Elizabeth died at Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio in 1848.

Anthony soon married Phebe Reed, the sister of his brother’s wife, about 1760. No marriage was recorded —probably due to the death of his grandfather, Reverend Anthony Stoddard, on September 6, 1760, and the transition to the new minister. Anthony and Phebe soon had a son, Amos, born at Woodbury on October 26, 1762. Anthony and Phebe were living in the house with Israel and Elizabeth at the time of Amos’ birth. Evidence that Israel’s wife Elizabeth was present at the time of Amos’ birth can be found in Amos Stoddard’s own words, from his autobiography, penned in the first half of 1812, in which he wrote, “My father, Anthony Stoddard, was born about the year 1737 —He was also a farmer —and married Phebe Read, whose father was a captain of the provincial troops in the war of 1758. I was the first fruit of that marriage —and was born at Woodbury on the 26 Octbr. 1762. I was so cross as to vix and even to tire the patience of my mother —and so extremely small as to weigh but six pounds at seven weeks old —and hence an old Aunt of mine, still living, used to say to her —“Let him die; He is not worth raising!” Thus you perceive that my stars at my birth were unpropitious; —nothing but parental care preserved me.”

Only the sister of the mother could say such a thing...so it is clear (at least to me) that this quote was from his aunt Elizabeth and that it confirms that the two sibling families were sharing the house in Woodbury at the time. Elizabeth (Reed) Stoddard died at age 87 at Huron County, Ohio on March 1, 1824.

Elizabeth Stoddard was at this time the mother of two children herself —her son Asa being born just weeks before Amos. It was Asa's son, Henry Stoddard, who found Major Amos Stoddard's military trunk with his valuable and historical papers inside — including the autobiography manuscript — at Boardman, Ohio in 1850.

There are no other births for Anthony and Phebe recorded in Woodbury. A daughter Phebe was born in 1764 and a son Philo was born in 1765. The place of their births is unverifiable but they must have been born in Framington (or Lanesborough), Massachusetts. Their births were apparently not recorded.

Amos Stoddard further stated in his autobiography, “When I was about six or eight months old, my father removed to Lanesborough in Massachusetts, where he purchased a farm.” His father Anthony purchased a farm in Framington, Massachusetts on June 7, 1765 from Edward Hinman of Woodbury, who was the administrator of an estate. The recorded deed states, “Anthony Stoddard of Framington” so it appears Anthony was already living in Framington at the time he purchased the farm there in 1765. The name of the town of Framington was later changed to Lanesborough, Massachusetts. Therefore, since neither the birth of their daughter Phebe in 1764 nor Philo in 1765 was recorded in Woodbury, it is clear the family left for Massachusetts in the spring or summer of 1763 —just as Amos recorded.

In 1773, Anthony Stoddard purchased a 100-acre farm land and moved his family 10 miles south to Lenox, Massachusetts. The family lived in Lenox until Anthony's death from smallpox in 1785. Anthony was buried north of his home on an adjacent farm belonging to Thomas Tracy who also died of smallpox in 1776 after serving in the American Revolution and who is also buried on his farm. A search is underway (in 2019) for their burial sites. See the memorials of Anthony Stoddard (son of Eliakim) and Major Amos Stoddard (grandson of Eliakim) for more information.

An amazing thing occurred during a recent visit to Lenox in search of the Anthony Stoddard grave site: The farm home of Anthony Stoddard, and the childhood home of Major Amos Stoddard and his siblings, with its four stone fireplaces, was discovered still standing on East Dugway Road in Lenox in 2019. It was saved and restored to its original condition by the late David Kantor and his widow Rori Kantor. The small but sturdy farm house is a beautiful example of colonial-era craftsmanship.

=======================================================================
While the following is again somewhat redundant, it is important information that details the relationship between the aforementioned “ye mansion” house and its use by King Solomon’s Lodge #7 of Woodbury, Connecticut.
=======================================================================

The facts surrounding the Gilchrist’s ownership of the house and the use of the “ball-room” by King Solomon’s Lodge #7 as a meeting place are well-documented by William Cothren in his “The History of Ancient Woodbury...” book editions in 1854 and 1872.

The actual record of the first meeting of King Solomon’s Lodge #7 in Woodbury was discovered in 1857 and presented in the book, "History of Ancient Woodbury..., Volume II" published in 1872:

“Att a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons held att the house of Br. Peter Gilchrist in Woodbury, December 27, 1775,

Present:
R.W. Bro. Joseph Perry, Master
Peter Gilchrist, Senior Warden
Mitchell Lampson, Junior
Delucena Backus, Treasurer
Aaron Mallory
Zimry Moody"

“Brother Peter Gilchrist” was born in 1740 and died in Woodbury at the age of 43 on March 23, 1783. He arrived in Woodbury from Scotland in 1761. He married Damaris Judson, the daughter of Nathan Judson and Damaris Sherman, about 1773. Their first child, Flora, was born June 7, 1774. Nathan Curtiss (Jr.), the son of Nathan Curtiss (Sr.) and Martha Preston and the nephew of Joannah Curtiss Stoddard, the wife of our subject, Eliakim Stoddard, married Damaris’ sister, Esther Judson. Therefore, Peter Gilchrist became related to the Stoddards through marriage. When Abijah Stoddard (the son of Reverend Anthony Stoddard and Mary Stoddard, born February 28, 1718) died in 1776 during the American Revolution, Israel Stoddard was appointed administrator of his uncle's estate. Israel then appointed Woodbury lawyer Hezekiah Thompson and Peter Gilchrist to record the personal property inventory of Abiram's estate. This is clearly an indication of the close relationship between Peter Gilchrist and the Stoddard family. It is also probably more than just a coincidence that Hezekiah Thompson and Peter Gilchrist were also Masonic brethren: Thompson later serving as the grand worshipful master and Gilchrist serving as senior warden of King Solomon’s Lodge #7.

It is clear Peter Gilchrist was occupying the house of Eliakim and Israel Stoddard when the first meeting of King Solomon’s Lodge #7 was held there on December 27, 1775. However, there are no recorded deeds transferring the property from Israel Stoddard to Peter Gilchrist. This may have been a result of the beginning of the war for independence around the time the transfer took place. The alarm at Boston in 1775 and the call to arms that followed caused a disruption of normal civil life activities in the colonies. This is at least one explanation for why the deed was not recorded.

Another reference regarding the association of the house to the Freemasons can also be found in "History of Ancient Woodbury..., Volume I" published earlier in 1854:

“In 1796….In October of this year, David Tallman agreed to prepare a room in Widow Gilchrist’s house, and furnish the same for the lodge for twenty–five years, from the first of March 1797, for £114. This was the house now occupied by Lucius H. Foote, as a hotel. Accordingly the lodge convened in this place during the length of time agreed upon, when its meetings were held in Alvah Merriman’s building, about 15 years, from which place it removed to the old lodge room for some two years, till the dedication of the present hall in 1839.”

Lucius H. Foote was the owner and operator of an inn located in the former home of Eliakim and Israel Stoddard between 1852 and 1857. On March 4, 1856, Lucius Foote, a “Taverner,” was found brutally murdered in the horse shed of the nearby Episcopal Church —a crime that had nothing to do with the house or the Lodge.

William Cothren, the author, was redundant on the subject of the location of Lodge meetings in his Volume II book published in 1872, but provided some additional information connecting the house with the subsequent string of ownership and its becoming known as “Kelly’s Hotel:”

“From 1775 to 1797, a period of twenty–two years, the lodge met in an “upper room” or ball–room of Peter Gilchrist’s house, now the residence of Geo. B. Lewis, Esq. Bro. Gilchrist seems to have been a prominent mason, and for many years, was Secretary of the Lodge. In Oct., 1796, the lodge voted to remove to a room to be prepared for their use by Bro. David Tallman, in the house of Widow Damaris Gilchrist, now the ball– room of Kelly’s Hotel. This room was finished in due time, with ‘suitable pews for the master and wardens,’ and the Lodge voted Bros. Tallman and Fabrique a further allowance of 18 and 12 dollars respectively for ‘stock extraordinarily furnished.’ Masonic tradition informs us that this hall was fitted up in magnificent style: Upon the ceiling overhead, were delineated the ‘starry decked heavens,’ with the ‘All Seeing Eye,’ and other emblems well known to the craft.”

These separate statements appear to relate to different homes and to different owners. However, the home of Peter Gilchrist; the home of “Widow Damaris Gilchrist;” the residence of George B. Lewis; the site of Kelly’s Hotel; and the house with the room prepared by David Tallman were all the same premises: it was the former house of Reverend Anthony Stoddard, his son Eliakim and his grandson Israel Stoddard.

George B. Lewis was a local Woodbury banker and an owner with Elijah Smith of the property between 1841 and 1852. It is possible he had taken residence in this “hotel” when Cothren’s Volume II was published in 1872 —although he was not the owner of the property at that time.

“Kelly’s Hotel” and “Hotel of F. Kelly’s” are names known to have been associated with the property of Eliakim and Israel Stoddard. There was praise made at a Masonic celebration in Woodbury in 1865 to “Mr. Kelly’s good roasts” and “dear Mrs. Kelly’s good dishes.” These culinary reviews from Lodge members must refer to Frederick Kelly (and his wife) who was the owner of the former home of Eliakim and Israel Stoddard in 1865–66.

It is necessary to conclude and repudiate the commonly accepted story about the house at this time: there is no evidence that the former Curtis House Inn of Woodbury, the original home of Reverend Anthony Stoddard, and then his son, Eliakim Stoddard, and then his grandson, Israel Stoddard, was ever operated as a hotel or public inn or tavern while the house was owned and occupied by the Stoddards or the Gilchrists.

Peter Gilchrist died in 1783. Hence, the description of the home as “the house of Widow Damaris Gilchrist” in 1796 indicates she remained in the house after her husband’s passing and while the “upper room” of the house was being used by the Lodge for its meetings. Therefore, it is impossible that the house was ever operated as a public inn or hotel during any of the time Peter Gilchrist or his widow Damaris occupied it. Damaris Gilchrist sold her one-acre property, consisting of a dwelling house, a barn and a shop, to Abijah S. Hatch for one thousand dollars on October 14, 1806. The recorded deed provided an exemption respecting the rights of David Tallman and the Lodge to the use of the upper room ballroom. There is no mention oin the deed of the premises being an inn: it states that the one acre of land includes a "dwelling house." This is clear supporting evidence of the narrative provided by William Cothren that the home was the personal residence of Peter and Damaris Gilchrist and was used as a meeting place for King Solomon’s Lodge #7 between 1775 and 1822.

The first mention of the house ever being used as a public hotel was by William Cothren in 1854, when he mentioned it as being operated as hotel by Lucius H. Foote. It was next seen identified on Clark’s Map of Litchfield County, Connecticut in 1859 as “B. Perkin’s Hotel” (although the property was owned by Vincent Judson at the time). The house then became known as “Kelly’s Hotel” around 1865, while under the ownership of Frederick Kelly, and was celebrated by members of the Masonic Lodge at a celebration in that year. Finally, it became known as “Curtis House Inn” at the turn of the 20th century after the twenty–year ownership of Levi Curtis from 1882 until 1902, and the acquisition by Jeremiah A. Sullivan, the owner from 1902 until 1936.

=======================================================================
Eliakim Stoddard lived a short life —just 44 years —and he didn’t leave us a wealth of information and knowledge about his life. The emphasis of his biography was therefore placed on the property and house that he received from his father in 1736. He left his posterity this ancestral home with an interesting and historical past that still stands today (2021) after 300 years of sturdy service. That is simply amazing! This gives proof to the adage, “They don’t build ‘em like they used to!”
=======================================================================

The Children of Eliakim and Joannah (Curtiss) Stoddard:

1. John (Sept. 26, 1730 - January 22, 1795) was born in Woodbury, Connecticut and died at Harwinton, Connecticut. He married Mary Atwood April 15, 1751 in Woodbury, Connecticut. They had eleven children. John was appointed an ensign of a train band for Woodbury in 1764. He later served in the local militia, rising to the rank of lieutenant, during the American Revolution. Both Lieut. John and Mary (Atwood) Stoddard are buried at Old Watertown Cemetery in Watertown, Connecticut.

2. Israel (January 18, 1732 - August 9, 1794) married Elizabeth Reed on July 4, 1759 at Woodbury, Connecticut. Elizabeth was the sister of his brother’s wife, Phebe (or Pheobe) Reed (or Read). Israel studied medicine and became a doctor. He died at Woodbury inn 1794 and is buried there at South Cemetery. Elizabeth died in 1824 and is buried at Huron County, Ohio.

3. Anthony (October 21, 1734 - November 16, 1785) was born October 21, 1734 in Woodbury, Connecticut and made his living as a farmer like his father. He married Phebe Reed circa 1760 and removed to Lanesborough, Massachussetts in 1763. Anthony later sold this farm and removed the family to Lenox, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Anthony died at home in Lenox from small pox on November 16, 1785. He was buried on the land of an adjoining farm. Note: Anthony and Phebe's first born child was Amos Stoddard who was born at Woodbury, Connecticut on October 26, 1762. The family then removed to Lanesborough, Massachusetts in early 1763. Amos served with distinction in the American Revolution, enlisting at Lenox at the age of 16 in the spring of 1779. He studied law and became a lawyer in Massachusetts in 1796 but then was commissioned a captain of artillery in the U.S. Army by John Adams in 1798. He became the First Civil Commandant of the upper Louisiana in December 1803 and presided over the transfer of the upper Louisiana from Spain to France to the United States over May 9-10, 1804. Major Amos Stoddard died heroically at Fort Meigs in Ohio during the War of 1812. A biography/autobiography of Amos Stoddard can be found in the book, "The Autobiography Manuscript of Major Amos Stoddard."

4. Abiram (July 31, 1736-1755) born July 31, 1736 in Woodbury, Connecticut. Abiram died at Albany, Albany County, New York at age 19 on October 31, 1755. A Probate record, the inventory of his estate, the only record found, is uploaded to this memorial. It confirms his date and place of death.

5. Joanna (July 10, 1738 - ) born Woodbury, Connecticut on July 10, 1738. Joanna married Reuben Squier (the spelling was later changed to Squire) on February 16, 1758 in Woodbury. After the birth of their children, Joanna and Reuben supposedly removed to Manchester, Vermont. No graves or additional information has been discovered for any of this family...although a Memorial 22440630 for Truman Squier (1763-1845) was found at Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont. He was born in Woodbury, Connecticut although there is no birth registration listed for him in Cothren's volume III. He could well be the son of Reuben and Joanna (Stoddard) Squire (or Squier).

6. Prudence (1740-1829) born September 24, 1740 in Woodbury, Connecticut. Prudence married John Merchant on June 3, 1756. Prudence died March 1829 in Amenia, Duchess County, New York.

7. Eliakim (1742-1749) was born July 25, 1742 and died September 13, 1749 and just 17 days before his father.

8. Seth (1744-1828) born in Woodbury, Connecticut on December 2, 1744. He married a second time to Hannah Noyes from Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut. They had eight children together. The name of Seth's first wife is not known. Seth died at Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut on April 30, 1828.

9. Abigail (1747-1803) born in Woodbury, Connecticut on August 2, 1747. Abigail married Israel Woodward on October 26, 1765. Abigail died December 17, 1803 at Watertown, Connecticut.

10. Eliakim (1749-1802) born December 11, 1749 at Woodbury, Connecticut. He was born just more than a month after his father's death on September 30, 1749. Eiakim's mother Joanna remarried in 1850 to Samuel Waller and the family removed to Kent, Connecticut. It is said Eliakim (presumably as a youth) removed for a period to Canada but returned. Eliakim then married Mary Hawley at Roxbury, Litchfield County, Connecicut on May 2, 1771. Elaikim died of paralytic infection at Arlington, Vermont on June 13, 1802.

Note: Eliakim Sr. and Eliakim Jr. are likely buried together somewhere in Woodbury and possibly on land belonging to Eliakim Stoddard at the time of his death. Since his son died just 17 days before him, they were probably buried together.

=======================================================================
The information for this biography of Eliakim Stoddard comes from the research of the author; excerpts of the book, "The Autobiography Manuscript of Major Amos Stoddard" by Robert A. Stoddard; and from information derived from the book, "Family of Wells and Eunice Stoddard," by Sharlene Ida Stoddard.
=======================================================================

TRANSCRIPTS:
(Note: The punctuation and spelling in these transcripts are intended to be the exact same as the original transcriptions from the source. While there is always the possibility of errors in the transcription to this webpage, the spelling and punctuation are intended)
————————————————————————————————————————————

Last Will and Testament of Reverend Anthony Stoddard:

ESTATE OF REV. ANTHONY STODDARD

At a Court of Probate held at Woodbury, November ye 4th 1760. Elisha Stoddard, Esq., one of the Executors on the last Will of Rev. Mr. Stoddard, appeared in court and exhibited such Will, which being read and considered, was allowed and accepted to be recorded and is as follows:

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN

The last Will or Testament of me, Anthony Stoddard, of Woodbury in the County of Litchfield and Colony of Connecticut, in New England, being advanced in years and expecting in a little time to put off this Tabernacle, do therefore make and ordain this my last Will: and first of all, I give my immortal soul to God, in hopes of seeing God when I leave the body, in God's intimate mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ.; and my body to the earth in a decent burial, believing the Doctrine of the Resurrection, that when Christ shall appear, I shall apear with Him in glory; and as to such worldly Estate as God has blessed me with, I give, demise, and dispose of in manner following, my just debts and funeral expenses being first answered.

Imprimis, unto my loving son, Abijah Stoddard. (besides what I have already given him in Real and personal Estate) I give and bequeath all of my land at a place called Horsepound, that lyeth on the Westside of the High-way that goes by his door to Bethlem: as also that piece of land on the East side of said highway and West of Joseph Judson's horsepound lott, to be to him, his heirs and assigns forever: and also ten pounds in or as lawfull money.

As for the residue of my land at Horsepound, my Will is, that it be divided into three equal parts, and that my son, Elisha, shall have the Eastward-most part and son Gideon, the middle part, and the male heirs of my son Eliakim, deceased, (Israel excluded), have the Westwardmost part; the partition lines to run North to South; and that part to the aforesaid heirs (viz.) John, Anthony, Seth, and Eliakim Stoddard to be equally divided between them. All said land to be to my two said sons and said four grandsons above mentioned and to their heirs and assigns forever.

Again, it is my will that my loving son, Elisha Stoddard, have my clock and such books of mine as he hath in his custody.

And unto my loving son, Gideon Stoddard, I give and bequeath (besides what I have already and above) my Plumb Brook Lott, he paying unto his brother, Abijah Stoddard, ten pounds in lawfull money within the space of one year of my decease. I give also unto said son Gideon, my little lott, called the Nook, as also my new cane.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandson, Israel Stoddard, my Messauge or dwelling house, with all the land adjoining thereto with all the benefits and appurtenances therof.

As also my Pasture, so called by Doct. Munns, all of it save what lyeth on the North side of a line drawn from the Southeast corner of Richard Jenner's land and running East to Whitewood Swamp. What lyes on North side of said line, I give to four grandsons above named, (viz.) John, Anthony, Seth and Eliakim Stoddard, to each an equal part.

Moreover, I give and bequeath Israel foresaid, all my land at Ash Swamp, Rockwood land Swamp, Swamp, Plowland and Meadow: saving one acre of lowland at the North end, which I give to his brother Eliakim Stoddard: Israel to have use of it during his said brother's minority, free.

As also, I give to said Israel such part of my East meadow as remains when three acres is took off on the south side, running through from the East to the West end of said land.

All the aforesaid land to be to said Israel and to his heirs and assigns forever.

Also I give to said Israel a pair of oxen (if I have any) with all my tools, tackling, and implements of husbandry: as also my bed, which is known by that name, with its appurtenances for Winter and well as for Summer; and likewise my old gunn and twenty of my books and forty pamphlets of unbound books such as he shall chuse of each sort.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grandson, Anthony Stoddard, my silver Tankard and my Bible and one acre and a half of my East meadow on the South side, to run thro' from the lane to the hill; to be to him his heirs and assigns forever. The acre and a half, reserved as above, I give to my Grandson Seth Stoddard, his brother Anthony to have use of it free until Seth is of age.

Likewise, I give said Seth my new gunn, if it not otherwise disposed of in my lifetime.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grandson, Simeon Stoddard, the whole of my library not above disposed of.

Item. it is my will that my apparel of all sorts be equally divided between my son Abijah and my Grandsons Anthony and Seth. My books and apparel not to be prized.

Item. I give to my daughter Elizabeth Munn, one third part of my household stuff, not above disposed of.

The other two parts, my will is, that the same be equally divided between my daughters, Prudence Glover, Esther Strong, and the children of my daughter, Mary Curtiss, deceased.

Farther, as to the remainder of my personal Estate, my will is that it be equally divided between my grand children (viz.) Anthony and Seth Stoddard and Prudence Marchant.

And as to any of my land not disposed of and Rights in Common, my will is that my grandson, Anthony Stoddard, have the full domination thereof.

And I appoint my sons, Elisha and Gideon Stoddard, Executors of the foregoing Testament, to see it is duly fullfilled. For confirmation hereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this 29th day of March A.D. 1758

Anthony Stoddard (L.S.)

Signed, sealed, and declared by the aforesaid Testator, to be his last Will in presence and hearing of witnesses.

Peter Walker
Joseph Perry
Gideon Walker

————————————————————————————————————————————

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF SOLOMON
STODDARD OF NORTHAMPTON

Whereas I, Solomon Stoddard, having attained to a great age and cannot reasonably expect to continue long in this world, but I am daily waiting for my change, I do constitute and appoint this my last Will and Testament, having the perfect use of my understanding.

Imprimis. ― I do commit my Soul into the hands of God who made rejoicing in the hope that He will accept of me through the righteousness of my blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who hath redeemed me by His blood, and has revealed his glory to my Soul, with whom I have had joint communion and has kept me many years in a way of dependence upon Him.

And I do commit my body to the grave to be decently interred, in a comfortable hope of a blessed resurrection at the last day.

And I make the following disposition of those temporal blessings which God has graciously bestowed upon me, after the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses.

In the first place, I give to my beloved wife, Ester, the use of the one half of my dwelling house and homestead, and the use of half my land in the meadow of Northampton and the income of all my money that is let out at interest during her natural life. I likewise give her my servant man during the remainder of the term of his service, and Sixty Pounds which she shall choose to be at her free disposal. I likewise give her twelve pound of meat and meal and other provision for the present supply of the family.

I give to my eldest son Anthony, pastor of Church of Christ at Woodbury, taking in what he has received already the full sum of Two hundred and twenty pound, and besides that all my books and my wearing clothes.

To my six daughters. Mary, Ester, Christan, Sarah, Rebecca and Hannah. I give including what they have received already an one hundred and sixty pounds apiece.

The portions of my sons and daughters shall be paid within six months after mine and my wives decease. But so much as may conveniently shall be paid immediately after my death.

To my other son, Major John Stoddard, I give one half my meadow land in Northampton, with a proportional interest in my lands in the common, and use of half my dwelling house and homestead during the life of his mother, and it is my will that after the death of his mother, he shall have my whole house and homestead to him and his heirs forever, on condition that he lives in Northampton four years next after my decease, or until he die, in case he not live so long. Moreover, I give to my son John Twenty pound. I likewise give him all the rest my land in Northampton and elsewhere to him and his heirs forever on condition that he pays to his brother and sisters towards their portions the sum of Two hundred pound. likewise I give him all my right in common lands not yet divided.

And in case there remains any more estate after the aforementioned sums are paid, my will is that it be equally distributed among my children.

And I constitute that my son John sole executor, committing likewise to him the care of his mother, and the gathering in of her dues.

And I disannull and make utterly void all former wills.

In testimony whereof I do hereto affix my hand and seal this third day of May An : Dom seventeen hundred and seventeen and Georgy Magn : Britt : Frane : & Hebern : Regis Testio.

Solomon Stoddard. Seal

Signed and sealed in the presence of us,

Ebenezer Wright
Samuel Phelps
Timothy Dwight
William Sanderson

————————————————————————————————————————————

Last Will and Testament of Anthony Stoddard of Boston:

ANTHONY STODDARD OF BOSTON

I, Anthony Stoddard Senior of Boston, New England. Shop-keeper: being in some measure of good health of body and of sound, disposeing minde and memory, praysed be God for the same, yet having lived to be full of dayes and senceable of some the intirmities attending old age, which put me in remembrance of my approaching dissolution, not knowing how soon my change may come. Do hereby revoke all other wills by me at any time heretofore made, and declare or ordain this my last will and Testament concerning the disposall of my temporal Estate in manner and forme following. Videlt.

Im'prs. my just debts and funeral expense (omitting those usual & costly ceremonies of scarves and gloves. other than what my Executors shall see meet to bestow upon my bearers, and in the mourning Apparrell for themselves and their children) being in the first place paid and discharged and my engagement made to my present wife upon marriage with her being performed or duely provided for. I will that all my whole remaining Estate be kept intire and improved for the maintenance and education of my children who are undisposed of until my youngest Childe come of full age or be married (if she live so long) and to that end, I will that my son Anthony remain in my house and Shop and have the management of my Estate: onely as any of my children y't are undisposed of arrival to full age or be married I will that such Child and Children shall have the sum of Two hundred pounds apiece advanced and delivered to them out of my Estate in such Species as the Estate doth affoard, and that they be charged debitor for the same as I have already done by my other Children, to be abated out of their division.

Item. I will that the debt oweing to me from my Son Simeon by my Booke be demanded of him and gathered in.

Item. I remit and forgive unto my daughter Grace, whatsoever she is indebted unto me.

Item. My will is, That when my Children are all come of full age or be married that then my whole Estate both real and personal be equally divided amongst these my Eight Children Viz't. Solomon, Sampson, Anthony, Christian, Lydia, Dorothy, Mary and Jane, and if any of my s'd Eight Children be departed this life before the s'd time of division, leaving lawful issue of their body's behind them, the Childe or Children of such deceased parents shall receive their parents part in equall divison among them as they come to age to be secured for them in meane time: And that none of my said Children may be deprived of their equal proportion of my Estate. my will is that all my Shopgoods (except such as be brayed and old Shop-keepers) be apprized as I sell them for money.

It. I do hereby nominate, make and Ordein my above named Eight children, Solomon, Sampson, Anthony, Christian, Lydia, Dorothy, Mary and Jane, the joint Executors of this my last will and Testament.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto put my hand and affixed my Seale this twenty ninth day of December Ann'o. Dom'i. One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Four.

Anthony Stoddard. Seal

Signed, Sealed and published by mr. Anthony Stoddard to be his last will in the presence of

Ben'ja. Davis. Penn. Townsend. Isa Addington

Capt. Benj'a Davis, Capt. Penn Townsend, and Mr. Asa Addington made Oath that they were Present and Saw Mr. Anthony Stoddard Signe, Seale, and publish this Instrumt as his Last Will and Testament, and that when he so did, he was of Sound mind and memory to their best understanding.

J. Dudley, Esq.

Jurat Corum, Boston, 19 May, 1687.
Attest, Tho. Dudley, Cler.

————————————————————————————————————————————
These transcripts were sourced from the appendix of "Some of the Ancestors of Rodman Stoddard of Woodbury, Conn. and Detroit, Michigan" by Edward Deacon, 1893. The spelling and punctuation are as they are found printed in the book by Edward Deacon.
————————————————————————————————————————————