5. Joel Chatfield & Ruth Stoddard

Like many wealthy farmers’ sons in this period, Oliver Stoddard had opted for an academic career. After graduating from Yale, he was the publisher of the New England Journal of Education in Boston. Returning to Woodbridge to take up the rural life, he married Abigail Tuttle, had seven children, and became quite wealthy running the family lumber mill on Bladen’s Brook. It supplied timber for the old statehouse, buildings at Yale, and the First Methodist Church, all in New Haven. Although a member of the Episcopal church in Seymour for 67 years, Oliver lived out his life on his Woodbridge farm, which the 1870 census indicates he ran with the help of his wife, several laborers and servants. Only Ruth (30), his youngest child, was still at home.

Bladens Brook was one of these favored localities, due in part to the water power. The Beach paper mill marks the location of one of the first fulling mills in the region. In 1799 Titus Beach bought the land and built a fulling mill. Johnson, French, and Chatfield were among the first to settle along Bladens Brook and north on Skokorat. The homestead of the Chatfields was on the south side of this brook, more than a mile eastward from the Falls, and one-fourth of a mile from the Milford, or Woodbridge line. The land was purchased from the proprietors of the town of Derby March 24, 1762, by Elnathan Chatfield and Hannah his wife. He built a saw mill and a corn mill very soon after the purchase. From Elnathan it passed to his oldest son, Joel Chatfield, 1778, who built a much larger mill on the west side, two stories in height, the first mill being only one story and a half. There was a bridge from the flume leading to the second floor of the first mill, and two steps enabling one to pass to the second floor of the new mill. In the new mill there was machinery for grinding wheat and rye for flour. The stones were from France, and were among the earliest imported into this country. In 1782 he built the double house now standing and married Ruth Stoddard of Woodbury, Conn., the next year. Among their seven children were Leman who lived on the old homestead, and Joel R. who lived on the Skokorat road to be mentioned later, and lived to be 90 years of age.

The old Chatfield house was large and roomy, with a two story ell on the northeast corner, facing the south and highway. Its appearance is very old looking, especially when shaded by a large spruce tree. Mrs. Chatfield was a progressive woman, who wanted something better than pewter or heavy yellow dishes, so she made an engagement with a sea-captain to get her a set of genuine china-ware direct from China, paying for the same in advance with the product of the farm. After many months the coveted crockery came, to her satisfaction. Though doing good service for many years there are now but two or three pieces remaining, being in the possession of Miss Mary Chatfield.

The original tract of land, or the first purchase made by Elnathan Chatfield, contained four and one half acres, located between the brook and highway, beginning one eighth of a mile from the Milford or Woodbridge line. The old mill stood north of the house, but nothing now remains except the stone foundation and the embankments of the canals.

He was a member of the Morning Star Lodge, F. & A.M. of Seymour, New Haven, CT and a Royal Arch Mason. At his death he was one of the oldest Masons in CT.

He purchased on Apr 6, 1826, from Stiles Johnson and others, several tracts of land bordering on land of Joel Chatfield and others, and on Apr 5, 1832, he purchased from Agur and Polly Tomlinson a smaller tract of land on the north side of the highway “about one mile eastwardly of Humphreysville,” the land being bounded westerly, northerly and easterly on land of said O.S. Chatfield. A memorandum on the deed designates the dwelling house as the “Dick House”. He owned five farms and worked them for a number of years.

He was a hospitable and genial host, a lover of his family and always glad to have his children and his grandchildren about him. His Father was one of the wealthy men of his time. He had a set of china made for his Wife with the initials of her name, R.C. on each piece, and some of the pieces are still preserved by the descendants.

Non-Residents, take care!

FOR Notice is hereby given by us the Subscribers, that the Lands belonging to Non-Resident Proprietors, that lies within Town of Derby, will be sold at public auction, at the Dwelling-House of Mr. Oliver Curtics Inn-holder in said Derby, on the 21st Day of July next, at two of the Clock Afternoon, to pay the County Taxes due on said Lands on the List 1780, and 1781; the Owners of the Lands are …, Daniel Chatfield, …, Joel Chatfield, …, Isaac Tomlinson, …, Samuel Chatfield, …
Thomas Yale}

David Hitchcock} Collectors.

Derby, June 2, 1783.

Bethany, (in Milford) January 10, 1784.

JOEL CHATFIELD.

Bethany, in Woodbridge, June 12, 1785.

NEWTON PRUDDEN, Collector.

Milford, October 11, 1785.

Derby, Sept. 2, 1793.

TWO-PENCE REWARD.

Runaway from the subscriber living in Derby, and indented servant boy named Josiah Coger, about nineteen years of age. All persons are forbid harboring him on the penalty of the law. The above reward, (but no charges) will be paid, on returning him to JOEL CHATFIELD.

Derby, August 26, 1796.

Derby, Dec. 1, 1806.

…, Joel Chatfield, …

☞Where the name of the town is omitted, the direction is for New-Haven. All Letters not called for in three months, will be sent to the General Post-Office. Any person having advertised Letters, will please mention it when they call for them.

JESSE ATWATER, P.M.

New-Haven Post-Office, Jan. 1, 1810.

April 1, 1815.

***Persons calling for these letters are requested to mention that they are advertised.
Woodbridge—…, Isaac Chatfield, …,

All letters not called for within 3 months will be sent to the General Post Offices.

WM. H. JONES, P.M.

Rimden, Ellen: age 28, female, Domestic Servant, born Ireland, cannot read, cannot write