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The Ogden House Appendix 1
The Ogden House Exploring Colonial Life – Docent Guide APPENDIX
The Ogden House Page 2
The Ogden Family Page 2
David and Jane Ogden’s Children Page 4
David Ogden’s Probate Inventory Page 5
Jane Ogden’s Distribution of Property Page 8
Ogden Family Papers
Manuscripts Scanned from the Original:
David Ogden gives land to son David, 1750
Miscellaneous Account of Sturges Ogden
Page 9
Perry’s Mill Page 10
David Ogden Property Map
Modern Drawing
Page 12
David Ogden Property Map
Scan of Original from April, 1769
Page 13
Dannenberg Cargoes
Fairfield District’s Imports and Exports Researcher Elsie Dannenberg compiled this research
about ship cargoes in the Fairfield District. The lists
show the importance of farming and trade in Fairfield.
From the Fairfield Historical Society library collections.
Page 14
A List of Colonial Trades Page 18
The Flax Process: A Chart Page 19
The Wool Process: A Chart Page 20
Textiles found in the Ogden House Page 21
Modern Ogden House History – 20th
Century Page 22
Westport 3rd
Grade Program: Tracing
Technology Guide
Page 23 & 24
Fairfield Museum & History Center | Fairfield Historical Society 370 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 | www.fairfieldhistory.org | 203-259-1598
2
The Ogden House
During the spring of 1750, newlyweds David and Jane Sturges Ogden moved into their new
home on the road to Greenfield. They had reason to look forward to their future. Both came from
established families who could afford to start
them out well in life. Jane brought a
reasonable dowry and David’s family provided
the house and land. For the next 125 years it
was home for the Ogden family in the farming
and coastal shipping town of Fairfield.
Today, the Ogden House is an exceptional
survivor of a typical mid-18th
century
farmhouse. The house is called a saltbox style,
originated in New England in the 1600s. The
house is a similar shape to the wooden box that
people kept salt in. Although no longer
surrounded by its original farmland or outbuildings, the Ogden House retains its beautiful
situation overlooking Brown's Brook in the fertile Mill River Valley.
An eighteenth-century style kitchen garden behind the house is laid out symmetrically with
raised beds. The garden features herbs typical of those used at the time, and is generously
maintained by the Fairfield Garden Club. A bridge across the brook leads to a trail planted with
native Connecticut wild flowers and shrubs. Ogden House is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
The Ogden Family
David and Jane Ogden descended from 17th
century Puritan settlers of Fairfield. Both of their
families lived not more than 2 miles apart; it was a typical 18th
century Fairfield marriage
between neighbors. Jane’s parents lived in Mill Plain and David’s brother in the next lot. They
kept the faith of their ancestors; David, Jane and their children were baptized in the
Congregational Church.
Jane had her first child within a year of marriage, which was the norm. Colonial women had an
average of 8 children. David and Jane had 10 children born between 1751 and 1770; two died
immediately and one “died young.” Jane bore children until she was 41. Colonial parents could
expect the death of at least one child; the practice of using a name twice (Sturges) reflects this
acceptance. Two sons, Sturges and David IV fought in the Revolution for the Patriots.
All of the children married, typically to others in Fairfield, sometimes “the person next door.”
The females married significantly younger (17-20) than the males (22-29). The males had to be
established with a house and land before they could undertake marriage. Each child received
land from David’s estate to help set them up in life.
Status
Fairfield was an important farming and agricultural community. Eight out of ten residents were
farmers, and the Ogden’s were no exception. The house sat on roughly 79 acres and David may
have owned other land elsewhere. Over the years the couple worked together with their seven
children to produce most of their food and textiles. Everyone worked hard, but also enjoyed a
few luxuries. On special occasions they dined with silver and imported china. To 20th
century
3
eyes the Ogden House seems small and bare of comforts. However, only the wealthiest colonists
had carpeting, paintings and upholstered furniture. Owning window curtains, quantities of linens
and pewter marked the Ogden’s as comfortable.
In 1770, David’s estate value in the Greenfield Hill tax list was 18th
out of 189 (in the top 11%).
David’s estate ranked his family as well-to-do, between the average and the wealthy. In the
1770s, middle class colonists held total property averaging in worth between 400 and 500
pounds. People in the 18th
century had a strong sense of rank in Society; people sat in pews
according to social standing and rank in the colleges was determined not by grades, but by
standing in society.
Jane a Widow
David Ogden died unexpectedly at the age of 48 in 1775. He left his house to his sons Sturges
(1762-1835) and Abel (1770-1851). At the time of David’s death, the family in the Ogden House
consisted of 46 year old widow Jane, 15 year old David, 14 year old Ellen, 13 year old Sturges, 8
year old Elizabeth, and 5 year old Abel. Abigail and Eunice, the eldest, were married.
Following the death of her husband, Jane Ogden was given the customary 1/3 usage of the house.
Jane also received several parcels of land, which she may have rented to other farmers or
managed herself. We know Jane did nursing as a widow; a bill dated 1792 from brother-in-law
John Hide for 46 days of care is in the Society’s archives. See BELOW for more information
about the probate inventory.
Jane died in 1807. Four years earlier Sturges had bought Abel’s half of the house. Presumably
Sturges had married Zoa Thorpe by 1787 when their first child Nabby (1787-1810) was born.
Nabby was probably the owner of the glass tumblers in the Ogden House incised with her name.
The youngest child of Zoa and Sturges, Ellen (c.1795-1870), was the next occupant of the Ogden
House with her sea captain husband Ebenezer Silliman. They had no children and were
supposedly frugal to the point of eccentricity (Hurd, p. 300). In 1872, the Ogden House left the
Ogden family forever and was sold to Henry Banks.
Probate
David Ogden was a dying man when he made out his will on August 21, 1775. Fifteen days later
the 48 year old farmer was dead. No letters, diaries, or paintings exist today from the family. Yet
David’s will, estate inventory and other family documents have been carefully examined to
furnish the house appropriately with objects, including textiles and fine pieces of furniture with
Fairfield provenance. There are many issues surrounding probate in the 18th
century; it may not
show everything, items given to widow are not shown, etc., however it is one of the few
documents that give a glimpse into what was in the Ogden House.
The 1776 inventory of David Ogden reveals the amount of wealth and type of wealth in the
family. He left a total estate worth 1515 pounds. Debts from the estate were found to be 445
pounds. The bulk of the Ogden wealth was in land, as was true for most farmers.
4
David and Jane Ogden’s Children
David and Jane Ogden produced the following offspring:
1. Abigail: b. 2/2/1750-51* d. 1813 at age of 62
m. at age 17 on 12/20/1769 to David Sherwood
Abigail was named after both grandmothers and an aunt.
2. Eunice: b. 1/5/1753 d. age unknown
m. at age 17 on 11/1/1770 to John Penfield
3. Sturges: b. 4/9/1757 d. on the 1st day
He was given Jane’s maiden name, a common custom.
4. Mary: baptized 8/27/1758, died young
5. David: b. 10/14/1760 d. in 1828 at age of 67
m. at age 22 on 1/8/1783 to Sally Perry
6. Ellen: b. 1761 d. in 1835 at age 73
m. at age 18 on 11/10/1780 to Jesse Burr
7. Sturges: b. 7/26/1762 d. in 1835 at age 72
m. at age 23 on 3/30/1786 to Zoa Thorpe
8. Joseph: baptized 12/11/1764 (no birth date) d. in two days
9. Elizabeth: b. 6/24/1767 d. in 1826 at age 59
m. at age 20 on 1/24/1788 to Edward Sturges
10. Abel: baptized 11/25/1770 d. in 1851 at age 80
m. at age 29 on 11/28/1799 to Betsy Sherwood
*Until the 1750s, the year began in March. Under the present system, Abigail would have been
born in 1751.
5
David Ogden’s Probate Inventory
A breakdown of some of his estate includes:
Land = 1068 pounds
2 houses, barn & milk house = 138 pounds
(the barn was 18 pounds, one of the houses
belonged to the grandfather, David Ogden, also deceased)
animals = 81 pounds
money owed David (notes) = 55 pounds
household furnishings = 79 pounds
INVENTORY OF ESTATE OF DAVID OGDEN June 11, 1776
pounds shillings pence
Clothing / Linens, Etc.
1 blue coat vest & breeches, 1 old cloth colored coat 2 1 0
1 pernell coat, 1 jacket, 1 black breeches 1 3 0
1 old breeches, 1 leather breeches, flannel vest 0 10 0
1 vest, 2 old vests, 1 holland shirt 0 6 6
1 holland jacket, 2 holland caps, 1 hornbuckle 0 4 6
2 checked flannel shirts, 2 linen shirts, 1 checked trousers 0 10 0
2 trousers, 13 silver buttons, 1 great coat 0 12 0
1 hat, 2 pr. worsted stockings, 2 pr yarn 0 16 0
1 pr. shoes, 1 pr. knee buckles 0 5 6
gold buttons, 1 gun, silver hilted sword 4 8 0
1 bed bolster, pillows, bed bolster & 2 pillows 3 17 6
1 bed bolster & 2 pillows new, 1 bed bolster & pillows 3 17 0
1 bedstead & bottom, 3 other bedsteads, saddle, bridle 1 16 0
1 old briddle, side saddle, 1 full bed blanket 1 10 9
3 new bed blankets, 2 old blankets, 1 blue bedquilt, 1 old
bedquilt
1 15 0
1 coverlet, 1 checked blanket, 1 callico bed quilt 0 17 0
1 red, blue & white coverlet, 1 pr. bed blankets, 1 checked 1 3 0
1 birdseye coverlet, 2 coverlets, 1 bed blanket 0 11 6
callico curtains, 2 pr. fine sheets, 2 pr. sheets, 1 other sheet 2 10 0
5 pr. sheets
6 pr. sheets
6 pr. sheets
5 pr. sheets
2
2
2
1
14
17
12
17
0
0
0
0
2 huckerback window curtains, pr. Irish stitched window
curtains
0 9 0
13 pillowcases, 1 lg. tablecloth, 1 fringed, 6 others 0
0
0
19
13
18
0
0
0
5 napkins, 1 fringed towel 0 14 3
6 towels, 6 sm. towels, pewter, old pewter 3 4 3
1 qt. pot, 1 steelyard, 10 spoons, 5 teaspoons 0 15 9
2 lg. silver spoons, silver creampot, tea tongs 2 4 0
1 silver tankard, large brass kettle, 1 old kettle, 1 small kettle 11 12 0
1 small & 1 large skimmer, 1 brass ladle 0 7 0
1 warming pan, 2 brass candlestick, brass snuffer 0 10 6
iron pot, 1 other, old & new tongs 0 11 6
2 iron candlesticks, small tongs & peel, small andirons 0 6 6
6
1 lg. andirons, frying pan, 2 trammels, gridiron 0 16 0
1 toasting iron, flesh fork, 1 pr. small shears, 1 pr. sheep shears 0 12 10
1 box iron & 2 heaters, 2 flat irons, iron grate 0 4 6
1 teakettle, 4 knives, 10 forks, tin cullender, tin funnel 0 6 6
6 lg. pepper box, 3 small pepper box, candle box, tin roaster 0 2 9
1 pr.bellows, lg. punch bowl, 1 china bowl, q small china bowl 0 6 0
1 small bowl, decanter, glass can, mustard pot 0 4 0
6 wineglasses, beaker glass, 1 salt, 4 tumbler, ea (earthenware)
pepperbox
0 3 3
12 china plates, 7 ea (earthenware) plates blue and white, 2 white
plates 0 11 10
1 teapot, 5 teacups & 6 saucers, wooden bowl, tea cannister 0 3 9
3 milk pans, 2 platters, 4 earthenware plates, ea (earthenware)
cup, 4 qt. bottles
0 5 5
1 case & bottles lg. stone jug, small stone jug, 2 stone pots 0 9 3
1 wooden bottle, small stone pot, 3 pails 0 4 3
1 handpail, 5 wooden dippers, cedar can, 1 churn 0 6 3
1 bread tray, cheese press, great wheel, dutch wheel 0 10 0
Furniture
1 clock reel, 3 looking glass 1 10 6
1 desk, case drawers, large round table, small table 5 15 0
chest drawers, 1 trunk, old chest, child’s cradle 0 15 0
1 greatchair, 12 black chairs, 6 crook back chairs 2 6 0
5 old chairs, 1 great bible, all other books 0 16 6
Farm Equipment, Etc.
1 stand, dyepot, small gun, bullets & pouch 0 18 6
1 bags, crowbar, 1 iron shovel, dung fork 1 3 0
staple & hook, 3 augers, 3 hoes, beetle & 3 wedges 0 13 0
iron fetters, 1 pr. horsegear & harness, horsegear 0 6 6
1 narrow axe, 2 rakes, lg. pitchfork, smaller pitchfork 0 6 0
1 small pitchfork, hives, 1 pr. horsegear, collar & harness 1 3 9
1 ox yoke & irons, ox plowshare, horse plowshare 0 8 0
half a hetchel, clevis & pin, ox yoke and irons 0 13 0
1 timberchain, 1 chain, 1 small chain, cartweel and gears 3 10 6
1 hetchel; crackle, 2 coltars, & plow collar 0 7 6
1 lg. square table, small table, cradle & scythe 0 9 6
1 scythe, half bushel, 1 hammer, 1 note 49 11 4
boot straps & clasp, 2 razors, 1 pr. boots, 6 note 2 5 2
1 cake soap, small clevis & pin, 2 plowbolt 0 2 6
Animals
1 pr. oxen, 1 ox, 1 bull, 1 pr. 3 yr. old steers 29 0 0
1 pr. 2 yr. old steers, 1 pr. yearling steers 6 10 0
1 branded 2 yr. old heifer, 2 brown heifers, 1 cow & calf 10 7 0
1 black cow, 1 old brown cow, 1 young brown cow 8 15 0
1 old red horse, 1 brown mare, 1 gray yearling colt 16 10 0
1 sow, 6 young swine, 16 sheep
10 10 0
Food
2 old hogsheads, 2 barrel casks, 1 barrel 0 7 3
4 half barrels, 4 meat barrels, cedar tub, fat tub 0 10 6
cyder in cellar, grindstone, salt pork 5 5 0
hogsfat, tallow 0 11 6
12 bushels of good wheat, 20 bushels of poorer wheat 6 3 0
18 bushels of meslin, 11 bushels of oats 3 3 7
7
indian corn in ear, 100 of flax, flax seed 3 16 0
Houses / Property
the dwelling house & mill house, barn 108 0 0
the old dwelling house & barn where David Ogden senior lately
lived
30 0 0
5 Acres & 64 Rods of land in old homestead 75 12 0
28 Acres of Land the House and Barn stand is on the West side
of Mill River
347 0 0
23 Acres of Land in East Side of Mill River Adjoining to River
to (?) Easterly to Banks plain
161 0 0
25 Acres of Land on Banks plain 100 0 0
1 half of piece of Land near Sherwoodbrook the whole being 5
acres and a quarter
25 5 0
15 Acres of Land in the Mile Common so called 150 0 0
three quarters of an Acre of Salt Meadow in Sasco Neck 6 0 0
1 Acre & 3 quarters of Salt Meadow at New Bridge 10 10 0
48 Acres of Land on the back side of Mill Hill 192 0 0
TOTAL 1515 8 10
The above and foregoing work completed by us June 11, 1776.
Nathan Bulkley & Ebenezer Banks – Appraisers
Probate Records
District of Fairfield
pp. 467-470
Vol. 19
1775 – 1783
8
Jane Ogden’s Distribution of Property
Following the death of her husband, Jane Ogden was given the customary 1/3 usage of the house.
The copy of the distribution of property in 1778 describes her apportionment:
“The Lower Room, the chamber and garret in the Southerly End of The Dwelling House; one
third part of the cellar in the Southwesterly End thereof and one third part of the barn in the
Westerly End with Liberty to use the floorway for carting and thrashing and Liberty to use the
Kitchen to do necessary baking, washing, etc. . . .”
The remaining 2/3 of the house was give to Jane and David’s son, Sturges.
Jane also received several parcels of land, which she may have rented to other farmers or
managed herself.
The following list, transcribed from an original document from 1778 with the original spellings,
shows what items were allotted to Jane Ogden after her husband’s death.
“A list of articles set off to Jane Ogden widow and relict of David Ogden late of Fairfield
Deceased, as necessary for keeping house –
pounds shillings pence
One bed, bolsters and Pillows weight 42 lb 1 11 6
One bedstead and bottom 12/ one foald [fulled] bed
blankets
0 17 0
One blue bed Quilt 12/ 2 pair Sheets at 80 1 12 0
2 pair pillow cases at 4/ one fringed Table cloaths 5/ 0 13 0
3 Towels 1/3 Ditto at 6 one fringed Ditto 2/ 0 6 6
5 tea Spoons 10/2 large Silver Spoons 18/ 1 8 0
Silver Cream pot 20/ one Silver Tankard L10 11 0 0
Small brass kittle 3/ small brass Simmer [skimmer] 1/ 0 4 0
Warming pan 8/ one brass Candle Stick 1 0 9 0
One Iron pot 2/ Small Tong and peel 2/6 0 4 6
Small andirons 3/6 frying pan 2/ Tramel 3/ 0 8 6
Tosting Iron 1 2 flat Irons 2/ Tea kittle 3 0 6 0
Old brass kittle 8/ Large Punch bole 1/ 0 9 0
One Chinia bole 3/ Small Ditto 1/ Glass 0 5 0
One Salt 4/9 China Plates 6/9 one Tea pot 2/ 0 9 1
Tea canister 6 2 Stonepots 2/ one Churn 2/6 0 5 0
Looking Glass 18/ Case Drawers 35/ one Trunk 2/ 2 15 0
4 black Chairs 8/ one Stand 2/ one Clock reel 1/6 0 11 6
Dye Pot 6 Small Table Square 1/6 0 2 0
Total L23 16 7
9
IV. David Ogden gives land to son David, 1750. Ogden Family Papers. Fairfield Historical
Society.
10
Miscellaneous Account of Sturges Ogden. Ogden Family Papers. Fairfield Historical Society.
11
Perry’s Mill
As the town grew, tradesmen were encouraged to settle here. Among the first to be invited were
millers. It was important for the farmers to have a mill, where their wheat and corn were ground
into flour and cornmeal. Fairfield’s first mill was built in 1648.
Mill River got its name from all of the mills that once lined its banks. The first was built by
Richard Ogden in 1662. Other grist mills, sawmills and fulling mills followed later. Below is an
example of an account book from the Perry Mill. An Ogden is mentioned in the lower left.
Perry Family Papers. MS17, Box 4. Fairfield Historical Society.
The Ogden House Appendix 12
13
The Ogden House Appendix 14
Dannenberg Cargoes
Items Shipped FROM the Fairfield District – 1790 TOTAL CARGO from 17 vessels that made 27 trips to the West Indies
Livestock Dairy 364 Horses 1,330 Pounds of Cheese
579 Sheep 5 “ceggs” of eggs
333 Oxen 2,054 Pounds of Butter
415 Hogs 25 Kegs of Butter
66 Cattle 11 Bags of Lard
5,232 Poultry
414 Turkeys
Meat & Fish Products Wood / Misc.
1,594 Barrels of Beef (whole and half barrels) 18,860 Shingles
122 Barrels of Pork (whole and half barrels) 35,780 Hoops for Barrels
303 Barrels of Fish
(dried, salted & pickled – whole & half barrels) 79,150 Staves for Barrels
5,000 Pounds of Fish (herring, codfish, shad & sturgeon)
13,000 Bricks
3 Barrels of Ham 190 Ship Planks
600 Pounds of Bacon 1,770 Feet of White Oak Planks
1 ½ Barrels of “Tungs” 39,600 Feet of “fine boards” Pine, etc.
11 Barrels of Tar
Produce 200 Gallons of Oil
248 Barrels of Potatoes 7 Kegs of Tallow
573 Bushels of Potatoes 8 Boxes of Candles
13 Barrels of Apples 9 Barrels of Tobacco
16 Barrels of Carrots 10 Tons of Ground Bark
185 Barrels of Corn 58 Pairs of “shammy” shoes (made from chamois & dressed with fish oil / soft leather)
8,740 Bushels of Corn
14 Barrels of Onions Grains 320 Bushels of Onions 376 Barrels of Indian meal (barrels
and hogsheads) 45 Barrels of Peas 63 Barrels of Rye Flour
121 ½ Barrels of Wheat Flour
32 Barrels of Corn Meal
20 Barrels of Bread
8,408 ½ Bushels of Oats
29 Barrels of Buckwheat
5 Tons of Hay
15
Livestock Dairy 364 Horses 1,330 Pounds of Cheese
579 Sheep 5 “ceggs” of eggs
333 Oxen 2,054 Pounds of Butter
415 Hogs 25 Kegs of Butter
66 Cattle 11 Bags of Lard
5,232 Poultry
414 Turkeys
Meat & Fish Products Wood / Misc.
1,594 Barrels of Beef (whole and half barrels) 18,860 Shingles
122 Barrels of Pork (whole and half barrels) 35,780 Hoops for Barrels
303 Barrels of Fish
(dried, salted & pickled – whole & half barrels) 79,150 Staves for Barrels
5,000 Pounds of Fish (herring, codfish, shad & sturgeon)
13,000 Bricks
3 Barrels of Ham 190 Ship Planks
600 Pounds of Bacon 1,770 Feet of White Oak Planks
1 ½ Barrels of “Tungs” 39,600 Feet of “fine boards” Pine, etc.
11 Barrels of Tar
Produce 200 Gallons of Oil
248 Barrels of Potatoes 7 Kegs of Tallow
573 Bushels of Potatoes 8 Boxes of Candles
13 Barrels of Apples 9 Barrels of Tobacco
16 Barrels of Carrots 10 Tons of Ground Bark
185 Barrels of Corn 58 Pairs of “shammy” shoes (made from chamois & dressed
with fish oil / soft leather) 8,740 Bushels of Corn
14 Barrels of Onions Grains 320 Bushels of Onions 376 Barrels of Indian meal (barrels
and hogsheads) 45 Barrels of Peas 63 Barrels of Rye Flour
121 ½ Barrels of Wheat Flour
32 Barrels of Corn Meal
20 Barrels of Bread
8,408 ½ Bushels of Oats
29 Barrels of Buckwheat
5 Tons of Hay
16
Items Shipped TO the Fairfield District – 1790 TOTAL CARGO:
Food 39,029 Gallons of Molasses
51,241 Pounds of Sugar (brown)
115 Pounds of Sugar (lumps and potts)
3,177 Pounds of Coffee
8 ½ Pounds of Tea
42 Gallons of Vinegar
8 ½ Barrels of Limes
3 Boxes of Limes
18,716 ½ Bushels of Salt
2 Barrels of Fruit
32 Pots of Tamarinds
2 Kegs of Tamarinds
2 ½ Barrels of Tamarinds
42,984 Gallons of Rum
762 Gallons of Brandy
588 Gallons of Geneva (gin)
4 Gallons of Cordials
Misc.
2 Boxes of Glassware
2 Boxes of Glass & China
10 “Looking Glasses” (mirrors)
58 “straws” of glassware
9 Dozen Hosiery
18 Horn Lanterns
3 Hatts
3 Dozen Tin Quart Pots
1 Piece Muslin $15
21 Raw Hides
1 Bag of Cotton Wool
1 Bale of Cotton Wool
400 Pounds of Cotton Wool
100 Buttons
8 ½ ? Buttons
445 Yards Lais
52 ½ Yards of Silk
17
What About Flax? Flax, the source of linen textiles and linseed oil, was a major export in the 18
th century. Both the seeds
and processed flax fibers were shipped to England. The cargo lists below, from the Dannenberg
Collection, indicate that flax was also an important shipment to other parts of the United States. The
first step in processing flax involved breaking the woody outer core of the plants, which had been
soaked or “retted” in streams for weeks after harvesting.
1794 Exported to:
Massachusetts / Boston Maine New York North Carolina & Maryland
165,300 lbs. of Flax 3,920 lbs. of Feathers 22,000 Quills
1795 Exported to:
Norfolk, Virginia Snow Hill Maryland Frenchman’s Bay & Kennebuck, Maine Newbern, North Carolina Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey Rochester, Plymouth & Nantucket, Mass.
203,100 lbs. of Flax 4,300 lbs. of Feathers 71,500 Quills
1800
96,100 lbs. of Flax 10,400 lbs. of Feathers 15,000 Quills
1801 135,800 lbs. of Flax 19,300 lbs. of Feathers 500 Quills
© Fairfield Museum and History Center Library and Special Collections, Elsie Dannenberg
Collection.
18
A List of Colonial Trades
Apothecary – acted as pharmacist, doctor, dentist
and general storekeeper
Baker
Barber – The barber didn’t just cut hair! Men had
their faces shaved, but the barber also conducted
“drawing teeth,”or pulling teeth. The Barber
would also treat people for illness by “bleeding”
them. Bleeding or bloodletting was a common
medical practice and people thought that it would
cure or prevent illness and disease.
Blacksmith
Bookbinder
Cabinetmaker
Carpenter
Clockmaker
Cooper – The cooper makes casks and barrels by
bending strips of wood.
Farmer
Fisherman
Gunsmith
Hatter – The hatter makes hats!
Lawyer
Merchant
Miller – Many mills were located in Southport,
Black Rock and along the rivers. People brought
grains that they grew in their fields to the miller.
The mills used waterpower and huge stones to
grind wheat and corn into flour and cornmeal.
Papermaker
Physician
Potters
Saddler – made saddles, harnesses, and other
leather items
Sailor
Shipwright – shipbuilders
Shoemaker
Silversmith
Tanner
Tavern Keeper
Weaver
Wheelwright – made wheels and carts
Whitesmith – made things from tin and other
materials
The Ogden House Appendix 19
20
21
The Ogden House Appendix 22
Modern Ogden House History – 20th
Century
Mary Allis (b. 1899; d. 1987), a well-known antiques dealer, first saw the Ogden House while on a
trip to visit a friend. Realtors referred to the house as a tumble-down shack surrounded by a sand pit
operation, but the house captured Mary Allis’s heart. She resolved to save it from destruction, restore
and occupy it. She purchased the property in 1931 from Annie B. Jennings, who had intended to
restore it but decided within a year to sell it.
First, Mary Allis had to chase out the rats which were “big as footballs.” Then, with the help of
friends, she started pulling out the roots and vines that had grown up from the cellar, and replacing
steps in order to get from one floor to the next. For almost ten years Mary Allis used the house only in
the summer since it lacked “the essentials” - heat and indoor plumbing. Gradually, she restored the
entire Ogden House and furnished it with fine antiques, reflecting the prevailing “Colonial” taste in
interior design, though not what the Ogden Family would have owned.
In 1944 Mary Allis sold the property to Lillian Wadsworth, retaining the right to life tenancy. She
lived there for another thirty years, after which Ogden House was given to the Fairfield Historical
Society.
Mary Allis established herself as a force in the antiques business in the early 1930s when she
opened her store in Southport. Over the years she worked with many museums including Winterthur,
Shelburne, Cooperstown, Williamsburg, Sturbridge, and the Museum of American Folk Art. Under
her guidance, the American Museum in Bath, England was created. Mary Allis was also instrumental
in forming many private collections.
Visitors came from afar to see the impressive restoration and furnishings, and the home was
featured in magazines and books, including an article from Antiques magazine in December, 1949.
Prior to Mary Allis, Henry W. Banks’ family owned the house between 1872 and 1927. During this
time, it was lived in by tenants and summer residents.
23
Fairfield Museum & History Center
Westport 3rd
Grade Program at the Ogden House – Tracing Technology
Essential Question: How has technology changed life in the Westport/Fairfield area from the 18
th and 19
th centuries until
present day?
FOOD, CLOTHING and SHELTER
Students compare technology across different time periods in a series of field trips that cover:
o Native Americans (students visit the Pequot Museum)
o Colonial times and the 18th
century (students visit the Ogden House, interpreted about
1776),
o The 19th
century (students visit the Wheeler House in Westport, late 1800s),
o The present
The purpose of visiting the Ogden House is to deepen student understanding of how technology has
changed how people have adapted to their environment over time. These adaptations have influenced
their culture (way of life) and how they met their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter.
Prior Knowledge
The students’ are studying Native American culture, so they will have little background about the
1700s and the Ogden House.
Teachers utilize Artifact Boxes and Picture Stations before students visit the Ogden House.
The Artifact Boxes are objects that relate to food, clothing and shelter and include:
FOOD:
Cornmeal
Lavender
Clam Shells
CLOTHING:
Hand-sewn pocket
Wool
SHELTER:
Candle
Lavender - also used to scent
colonial homes
Hand – hewn nail
Technology refers to inventions including tools, techniques, and processes that people make and use
for the purpose of survival; as individuals, families and communities.
The roles of docent, teacher and student are defined below:
DOCENT What you should know:
1. The teachers utilize inquiry-based learning techniques in the classroom by asking students three
questions:
What do you notice? What do you wonder? What do you hypothesize?
Remember to use this language when conducting the tour.
At the Ogden House:
As docents lead students into each room, docents will ask them to "silently look" and think about what
they notice about the tools/technology in the room. Give all students a chance to look around before
asking them to share what they notice.
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Noticing: Ask students to raise their hands to share what they notice. Please encourage all students to
participate, rather than only calling on the more outgoing students. If children ask a question instead
of sharing, tell them that they will have a chance to ask questions after they share what they noticed.
Questioning: Ask students to think about questions they have about the tools/technology they see.
Choose different volunteers to ask their questions, but rather than answering them right away, ask
students to hypothesize:
Hypothesizing: ...ask students to hypothesize or make predictions about what they think the answer to
their question could be. Ask them to support their thinking with evidence:
What do you think it was used for?
What makes you think that?
Does anyone think differently?
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Prove or Disprove Hypotheses:
After a child has had a chance to hypothesize about his/her question, prove or disprove his/her
hypothesis by explaining the actual fact. If the hypothesis is correct, elaborate by providing students
with additional information about this tool. Continue this process by calling on other children to ask
their questions.
Other possible prompts to ask after children have shared (if these questions were not already
asked by the children):
What do you notice (or what hypotheses) can you make about the technology /tools used at this
time that helped people get their: food? clothing? shelter?
Can you make any connections to the way Native American tribes lived in the 1500s?
What other technology was used at the Ogden House that helped them survive?
TEACHER
Will help support docents with:
Managing the process of noticing, questioning, hypothesizing, confirming or disproving
hypotheses
Prompt student thinking
STUDENT Will silently and actively look around for technology that meets the basic needs of food, clothing, and
shelter. Students will be expected to participate by:
Share what they notice
Ask questions
Make hypotheses about their questions based on evidence
Engage in student discourse about whether they agree or disagree with their peers,
supporting their opinions with reasons
