In 1749 Jeremiah Griswold bought 100 acres of Joseph Gilette of Dover NY, This is the main track where the house and barn stand. (Town Records)* Other notes from Walter E. Vail indicate that David Welch owned part of the property along with Jeremiah Griswold as of 1764,
In 1769 Griswold sold the remainder of this tract to Lieutenant Jehiel Parmelee of Farmington with a dwelling house and barn there on (Town Records)
In 1774, Jehiel Parmelee built (or purchased) the present house*. Most likely on the site of the original house noted before. In 2007, it was determined that the house itself may be the origianl house noted in hte 1769 deed. The construction techniques pre-date 1774. Also the new kitchen-behind house, may have been part of hte original structure determined by the age of the beams, and the marriage marks in the attic rafters, matching those of the main house rafters. According to the Milton Historical Society Group report dated July 15, 1974- The Griswold-Welch- Hart house ca 1765. Milton Road, (is) a full 2 story center chimney dwelling with hewn overhand, a panelled double front door and windows of 12 over 12 quarrells of glass, original. the Ell was added in 1823 as were the shed extintions and a shop where tin skimmers were made in the 19th century.
Jeremiah Griswold, a dam builder and first settler, owned this land in 1759. He deeded 90 acres, house and barn to Jeheil Parmele in 1765 therefore the house was raised sometime between these dates. Parmele died in 1776 and in 1784 Major David Welch purchased the place as his retirment home. it is situated in the 4th lot in the east tier of the west 100 acres and has remianed in the same family ownership since the 18th Century. Home of Mrs. Reeves Hart Sr.
In Jan 1776, Parmelee died of small pox and the estate was distributed among his various heirs. (Litchfield Public Records)
Somewhere after 1785, David Welch bought the property from the Parmelee heirs. (Probate Records) He moved into the house from his original house (aka. Raymonds) due to the fact that he gave the older house to his son John (and Rosanna) as a wedding present.
In 1815 David Welch died in the house, leaving his son John Welch (only child) sole heir.
About (1823)1841? John Welch deeded this property to his son Gerrit P. Welch (Town Records)* Garrit, P Welch added the wood shed, which was formerly the shearing pens, and the Ell at the north end of the house for his invalid mother (Rosanna Peeples Welch) Rosanna died in this house in 1830. Changes in the construction technique and materials (sawn versus hewn beams, lack of marriage marks on rafters etc.) confirm this.
In 1847 Gerrit Welch died in testate and this property was given to his widow Clarissa Welch for her life use. (Town Records)
1888 Clarissa Welch died and the heirs of Garrit P. Welch become owners.
David T Welch of West Haven (son) (1/3)
Rosa P. (Welch) Vail of Milton& Waterbury (1/3)
Mary Clarissa ( Dickinson) Hart of Stamford- Daughter of Delia Welch who was daughter of Garrit P. Welch and married William E. Dickinson. She died in 1855 leaving one child. The above Mary Clarissa Dickinson. (1/3)
In 1897 David T. Welch died, leaving his sister Rosa P. Vail his 1/3 interest in the property (Rosa = 2/3) (Litchfield Public Record)
Rosa P. Vail died October 1, 1915 leaving her 2/3 interest to her only child Walter E. Vail of Milton. (Litchfield Public Record).
The Chestnut ceiling in the old Kitchen (then living room) was designed and installed by Walter Vail around 1916/17
When Mary Clarissa Hart died 1937 leaving her 1/3 share to be divided among her heirs,(Litchfield Public Records)
William D. Hart of Stamford CT (son) (1/12)
Reeves Welch Hart of Stamford CT (son) (1/12)
Carol (Hart) Howie of New Rochelle NY (daughter) (1/12)
Dr. Carl B. Smith of Syracuse NY (Grandson by Irene Hart Smith - Daughter) (1/12)
In 1941, Walter Vail gifted his 2/3 interest in the property to Reeves Welch Hart
In 1947-48, the three heirs of Mary C. Hart gift their 1/12 interest(s) to Reeves W. Hart.
Effective 1948- Reeves Welch Hart has 100% ownership-interest in the property
Over the years- Portions of the non-connected property have been sold or given to others, reducing the property to ~ 88 Acres*
In 1967, Reeves W. Hart gives the remaining property and house to his heirs as gift:
Katherine Curtis (Hart) McIntyre (1/2)
Reeves Welch Hart Jr, (1/2)
In 1977, Katherine McIntyre died, transferring her interest to Dr. Frederick P. McIntyre (Spouse)
Beginning in 1992, Reeves Hart begins Gifting his ½ interest in the property to his heirs:
Nancy (Hart) Moore (1/4)
David Welch Hart; (1/4)
Beginning in 1992, Frederick P. McIntyre begins gifting his ½ interest in the property to his heirs:
Lynda Reeves McIntyre Battan (1/8)
Katherine Curtiss McIntyre (1/8)
Frederick P. McIntyre Jr. (1/8)
Susan Underwood McIntyre (1/8)
* The Tamerack Swamp lot was set to Gerrit P. Welch in the settlement of John Welch estate 1845.; The Side Hill Property across from the Congregational Parsonage was set to G.P. Welch in Settlement of John Welch estate 1845. This was originally the Dr. Joseph W. West property bought by John Welch about 1835, and had dwelling house, barn and brewery thereon. At that time it covered the Worthington Place and the lot across from our house -Walter E. Vail