SAMUEL HUNTINGTON was born July 3, 1731 in Scotland Society, Windham, Connecticut. His early boyhood was spent upon the farm, in the shop, and in such common schools a the parish of Scotland in that day could afford. At sixteen years of age, he was, as was customary then, apprenticed to a cooper living near his father, to learn his trade. Here he spent the most of the time until he was of age. But, though an industrious boy, he was also noted very early for his serious and thoughtful air, and yet more for his studious habits. Whatever books he could get possession of, he seemed determined to make his own; and the playtime of ordinary boys became the most busily employed moments of his youth. "His mind," says the historian of Norwich, in a very truthful sketch of his life which appears in her Norwich History, "was naturally acute and investigating, and his thirst for mental improvement so great as to surmount all obstacles."
When ready to commence business for himself, as a cooper, he found himself with a well stored head and an excited and working brain. Though contrary to his father's wishes, he gradually extended his reading, and even took his regular hours daily, for studying by himself the Latin language, which, without a teacher, he learned to read with facility and profit; and, by the time he had entered on his twenty-second year, he had deliberately laid bold of the legal profession as the calling into which he had grown. With few books, and those mainly borrowed, yet with a zeal and perseverance which no discouragement could repress, he urged his way to the bar, and before his thirtieth year had ended, lie was not simply an established lawyer, but one who had already won distinction. As early as his twenty-eighth year, he had been drawn from his native town to Norwich, as a better field for his professional career. He found among the fair maidens of his native town, the dauugter of his pastor, Rev. Ebenezer Devotion, one who for her comely looks and serious and intelligent ways had early won his regard, and moved his affections. She, too, inherited the same spirit which from his Puritan ancestors had descended upon himself. Her grandfather had taken for his wife, a daughter of that Edward Taylor who had been expatriated from Coventry, England, because, after the restoration of Charles he was found too good a man to endure so insufferable corruption; and her father drew his spirit and blood from the purest and most heroic of even Huguenot veins; so that Martha Devotion was fitted by birth and by training, to join her fortunes with that of the now aspiring civilian. Their marriage took place April 17, 1761.
Few marriages have brought together two more congenial spirits. Each was the other's helpmeet. Blessed with no children of their own, they were the more a care and joy to each other. Their home was felt to be a home to all who had the good fortune to enjoy its hospitalities. Nor did their cheerful fireside long or often want the joyous gladness, which a well filled quiver of happy children gives. Two of the gifted children of his brother, Joseph, knew no other home. They found this all ready for them. They were early in it, as if born to it; and to the last, they showed an affection and dutifulness towards their parents by adoption, which would do honor to any child, if witnessed towards his own parents. Their home was also the resort of a large circle of relatives and friends, made welcome with a cheer as bountiful as it was spontaneous. The following picture drawn by the pen of the historian of Norwich, is too truthful and too fall of the very soul of that early day, to be omitted here.
"After the war, he built a new house and lived in quiet dignity. A lively and happy circle of young people used frequently to assemble in this house, as visitors to the Governor's adopted children, or attracted by the beautiful Betsey Devotion, Mrs. Huntington's niece, and the belle of Windham, who spent much of her time here. After the social chat and merry game of the parlor had taken their turn, they would frequently repair to the kitchen, and dance away till the oak floor shone under their feet, and the pewter quivered upon the dressers. These pastimes, however, had little in them of the nature of a ball; there were no expensive dresses, no collations, no late hours. They seldom lasted beyond nine o'clock. According to the good old custom of Norwich, the ring of the bell at that hour broke up all meetings, dispersed all parties, put an end to all discussions, and sent all visitors quietly to their homes and their beds."
"Mrs. Huntington was an affable but very plain lady. It is still remembered, that in a white short-gown and stiff petticoat, and clean muslin apron, with a nicely starched cap on her head, she would take her knitting and go out by two o'clock in the afternoon, to take tea unceremoniously with some respectable neighbor, the butcher's or blacksmith's wife perhaps. But this was in earlier days, before Mr. Huntington was President of Congress or Governor of Connecticut."
But there was a still higher charm which adorned and hallowed that home; and one which is much nearer the secret of that great eminence to which it was so soon destined. Religion had set her holy seal upon its united head. Born of pious parents and descended from ancestors marked for their faith, they both had early yielded to the redeeming grace. Both had enrolled themselves among God's people--the husband before going to Norwich, and the wife soon after; and both were charactized by a piety, as unpretending as it was sincere, and as uniform as it was deep and fervent. For nothing was Mr. Huntington more marked through his entire public life than for his conscientious discharge of religious duties. In his family, in the prayer meeting, in the public services of the sanctuary, be was always found at his post and always ready for whatever duty the hour called him to perform. Old men who have died in our times, have recalled the fervor of his prayers and the unction of his exhortations in the social meetings; and the testimony of all who knew him, is uniform as to the steadfastness of his Christian principle, and the purity of his Christian character.
Last updated 22 Aug 1998 by Sara (Huntington) Abbott
abbott@magicnet.net
