Reverend Samuel Nott (1754-1852) was born in Saybrook, Connecticut and did not have an easy beginning. When he was young, the family home burned, destroying all family possessions. Some years later on a business trip, he was beaten and robbed. At twelve years old, he began working for his father, later becoming a blacksmith by 16. For a while, young Nott lived with a Rev. Dr. Welsh of Mansfield. The older man had a profound religious influence on the young lad. At age 23, Nott entered Yale, but the college closed when British troops entered New Haven. In 1782, he married Lucretia Taylor and passed his examination for the ministry. A year before his marriage, he was invited to serve a parish in West Farms, now Franklin. He was apparently anxious to accept the position at the rural village, as the farmers attending the congregational church had fired their previous two pastors, he accepted the call regardless. During his tenure, he prepared more than 40 young men for college and schooled as many as 300 boys and girls in his home, some as boarding students. He was regarded as one of the most successful educators of the day. Education ran in his family as Samuel’s brother, Eliphalet Nott, would become President of Union College in Schenectady, NY for 62 years, from 1804-1866. Towards the end of Samuel’s life, in his 70s, his wife Lucretia, became an invalid, requiring care and finally passed in 1834. Three of his children also died. Nott passed away at 98 years old in this house, as a result of burns sustained from his own fireplace.
Buildings of New England 
Hi – another great post – I really enjoy them all. You may want to double check the math here though “…Eliphalet Nott, would become President of Union College in Schenectady, NY for 62 years, from 1802-1866.” Just a friendly heads-up.
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Great catch! He was President from 1804*-1866, that part was wrong! the 62 years was correct. Thanks!
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Being a former proof-reader comes in handy sometimes. Glad to help.
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Your work is excellent for my purposes. I have so many questions each time I learn from your cataloguing and photography. In this instance, perhaps because I am in a rush – where is your description and architectural tag?
Respectfully,
David Loring, Framingham, MA and York, PA
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It is a center chimney with an end gable jetty. I’m wondering if it isn’t older than Federal?
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From all the research, it appears to have been built upon his arrival to town. It definitely reads more late-Georgian, but falls within the Federal period. Styles were slow to get to more rural parts of the region, especially in the 18th century.
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Your background info is always really interesting. Just enough to read when going through emails and usually piques my curiosity to delve further. Thank you.
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Thank you so much!! Comments like that are so great to read, they make the work worth it! Have a great remainder of your week. 🙂
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