|
a.
|
Note: HISTORY: Isaiah Tuttle, built the first house in the N.E. corner of Torrington, and in 1803 built a new house near the first, in one or other of which his descendants for several generations were born and lived. He kept tavern in both houses. After planting his orchard, he burned the field over, first turning down the trees and covering them with earth. This orchard is still standing. In his early days, that part of the country was a wilderness, and fires were necessary to keep away bears and wolves. "The old Major," as he was called, was considered a very remarkable man, and his sayings and doings are often quoted in that region. It is remembered that he used to back his grain four miles to mill. He was one of a trio who first voted the Democratic ticket in the town of Torringford, and on one occasion at a public meeting they were asked by members of the opposing party to stand up that they might be seen. The character of the Major was little understood by his opponents if they thought he was ashamed of his opinions, or lacked courage to avow and defend them. Hon. JOHN BODY, in his History of Winchester, says; "A hardy race were these South state pioneers, from Still River bridge down to Isaiah Tuttle's, who sifted their corn meal for hasty pudding through a ladder. The Major remarked that by working bare footed in the stubble fields, that their heels became so hard that if they happened to tread on the feet of their cattle it would make them bellow. Apropos of the Major." continues Boyd, "the horse tamer who could ride anything but chain lightning. He had in a lot with other cattle, a ten year old bull which he ordered his son and hired man to drive out and put elsewhere; they went in, and after chasing the animal a long time around the field, they gave it up, and reported to the Major that they could not get him out. He said he was very sorry he had a son and hired man who could not get a bull out of a lot; he would try what he could do with the critter. He provided himself with a dish of salt, and on his way to the lot, cut two stout clubs; letting down the bars he approached the cows with the salt; as the bull came up to get his share, the Major, watching for an opportunity, suddenly sprang on his back; away went the startled bull, scared and bellowing hideously, and as he sped over the ground, his rider, by blows of the clubs on one side or the other of his head, as he desired him to veer this way or that, guided him across the field and through the bars out into the highway under full sail. This, says Dr. Boyd, " somewhat indicates the spirit and energy of the Major and also of his descendants. They were prompt, energetic, spirited and courageous; and the end is not yet. With his boys he was felling timber on top of the same ridge of mountains. They felled a tall tree so that one third of its length extended over a precipice some 20 or 30 feet. The Major ordered his eldest boy to go out on the trunk and cut away the top. Uriel went out, and after striking a few blows, came back with a swimming head. Daniel was sent out to finish the job, but soon came back equally dizzy. After blazing away, in his characteristic manner, at his boys for their want of pluck, the Major took up his axe, and went out himself, and chopped away until the top of the tree unexpectedly yielded. His feet were one on each side of the chopping, and as the one on the top section of the tree yielded he lost his presence of mind and instead of gaping the main body, threw his arms around the falling section and went down with it. The boys hastening round the precipice came down to the landing place and found the Major bruised and wounded, but on his feet, wiping away with green leaves the blood that was flowing into his eyes and mouth from a wound in his forehead. Father, said on of the boys, you've had a terrible fall. Yes! Yes! said the Major, a terrible fall. Adam's fall was nothing to it. -------------------- BIRTH/DEATH: Connecticut, Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934 Name: Major Isaiah Tuttle Birth: abt 1751 Death: 28 Dec 1831 - Torrington, Connecticut
|