Mary Stoddard

Mary married Hezekiah Porter about 1727 in Woodbury, Litchfield Co, Connecticut. Hezekiah (son of Joseph Porter and Hannah Buell) was born about 1706 in Windsor, Hartford Co, Connecticut; died on 24 Mar 1759. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mehitable Porter was born about 1730 in Windsor, Hartford Co, Connecticut Colony; died on 8 Feb 1811 in Wethersfield, Windsor Co, Vermont; was buried about Feb 1811 in Ascutneyville Cem, Windsor Co, Vermont.

Notes:

Issue of Solomon Stoddard, seventh child, Anthony Stoddard, b. 9 Aug 1678, d. 6 Sep 1760; graduated at Harvard 1697; settled as minister in Woodbury, Conn., where he continued sixty years. He married first by Rev Stephen Mix 20 Oct 1700, Prudence Wells, of Wethersfield who died May 1714. Married second 31 Jan 1715 Mary Sherman, who died 12 Jan 1720.
Rev. Anthony Stoddard of Woodbury, Connecticut, Colonial Clergyman
by Mark H. Welchley June 2010
(Extracted in part) Anthony Stoddard was one of the many children of Rev. Solomon Stoddard, pastor at Northampton, Massachusetts church. Anthony graduated at Harvard in 1697 with an A.B. degree. In 1715 he obtained his A.M. Degree, also from Harvard. He acted as a supply minister at Woodbury, Connecticut, beginning in 1700. He was ordained 27 May 1702 as the minister of the First Congregational Church in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut, where he continued sixty years. His first wife was Prudence Welles of Wethersfield, Connecticut, great granddaughter of Governor Thomas Welles of Connecticut. She was a member of the church at Wethersfield in 1696. Rev. Stephen Mix, Anthony Stoddard's brother-in-law conducted the wedding 20 Oct 1700. Anthony and Prudence Stoddard had eight children. Rev. Stoddard's wife Prudence Welles Stoddard died in1714, aged 32, after giving birth to her son Gideon. Soon afterwards 31 Jan 1715/16 he married Mary Sherman of Woodbury. Anthony Stoddard and his second wife Mary Sherman had three additional children. She died at the age of 29 in 1721, reportedly during childbirth. If so, the child did not live. His third wife was named Hannah. In those times widowers with young children usually quickly remarried in order to provide a mother for their children.

(Research):Curtis House Inn / Anthony Stoddard Home
Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA Anthony Stoddard built what is now the Curtis House in 1735 as a home for his eldest son, Eliakim. The original structure included a second story ballroom, which served as a meeting hall and may have been known as the "tea room". In 1749 Eliakim willed the home to his son, Israel. In 1754 ownership transferred to Elizabeth and Asa, Israel's wife and son. Asa sold the property to the first owner outside of the Stoddard family in 1799. The house was first operated as an inn in 1754 by Anthony, Rev Anthony's grandson, but he does not appear as an owner of record. Over the years the inn has had a number of structural additions and name changes. Ironically, Rev Anthony's sons, Eliakim and Gideon, married two sisters whose maiden name was Curtis (spelled Curtiss in other records), but they were apparently not related to later Curtis/Curtiss owners. A Curtiss owned the property beginning in 1836, and, as five owners named Curtiss or Curtis are recorded, with possession as late as 1909, the inn has since been known as the Curtis House. In October of 1954 Estella & Chester C. Hardisty purchased the Curtis House. Estella Hardisty came to work for Sterling Dunn in 1947. She was hired as a waitress, while having 5 children at home ages 2-17. Her oldest son left for the service, and when he returned, Sterling Dunn was ready to retire, and offered the inn to Estella. She approached her oldest son Chester about purchasing the inn with her; he was a little hesitant, as he knew nothing of the restaurant business. He later told this story to his children. "I was driving down the road, and as I approached the Curtis House, I realized my initials were there on the sign. I decided then that I should purchase the business with my mother!" Chester and his mother took over the inn on Oct. 1, 1954. Chester's brothers all pitched in and did various jobs at the inn. His brother Raymond dug out the foundation for the "newer section", his brother Gary ran the inn from 1972-1983, while his brother John was the bartender, and assistant to Gary. Chester's wife Gertrude, "Trudy", worked along side Chester and Estella. Eventually, all 6 of their children would work at various times at the inn while they were growing up. There was always something for the children to do, and two remained to take over the business in 1991. Chet and Trudy's daughter, T J Hardisty-Brennan came to work at the inn in 1981, while attending Post Junior College. Feeling she could learn more from the family directly she came to work at the inn full time in 1983. She took over as innkeeper in 1991. Son Christopher, after graduating from Northeastern College in 1991 also returned to the inn, and went to work in the kitchen. He has attended many workshops at the CIA in Hyde Park, N.Y. Many of the staff working at the inn today are direct relatives of Estella and Chester. Whether it be cousin or in-law, it remains a family business.

Anthony married Prudence Wells on 20 Oct 1700 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co, Connecticut Colony. Prudence was born about 1682 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co, Connecticut; died on 16 Apr 1715 in Woodbury, Litchfield Co, Connecticut; was buried about Apr 1715 in Wethersfield Village Cem, Hartford Co, Connecticut Colony. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]