Howell-Baldwin House

The house at 79 Elm Street in Ansonia was built in 1754 by Joseph Howell. It was later the home of Dr. Silas Baldwin (1729-1813), Derby’s third physician (Ansonia was at that time part of the town of Derby). He married Mary Plumb of Ridgefield in 1755. According to the Sixth Report of the National Society of the Daughter of the American Revolution (1904):

Dr. Silas Baldwin, Revolutionary patriot […] Assisted in establishing American independence while acting in the capacity of a patriot. He accepted the oath of fidelity to the United States April 13, 1778. Dr. Silas Baldwin enlisted June, 1776, in Captain Johnson’s company Fifth Battalion, Wadsworth’s brigade, Colonel Douglas’s regiment to reenforce Washington’s army at New York; August 29-30, 1776, engaged in the retreat to New York; was at the battle of White Plains October 28. Term expired December 26. (History of Derby, p. 187.)

No. 24 on muster roll of Capt. Elijah Humphrey’s company, Connecticut Regiment of Foot, commanded by Col. Return Jonathan Meigs, was Silas Baldwin, enlisting March 27,1777, “on command,” which maybe received in explanation of the record on page 208, Connecticut Men in the Revolution, which says: “Silas Baldwin in Humphrey’s company, Connecticut Line, enlisted March 27,1777; deserted August, 1779.” (Connecticut Men in the Revolution, pp. 208, 407; muster roll of Capt. Elijah Humphrey’s company. Copy deposited.)

Dr. Silas Baldwin was born in Waterbury and died in Ridgefield, but generally resided in the section of Derby that is now Ansonia. He is buried in Ansonia’s Colonial Cemetery.

Front

Buy my books: “A Guide to Historic Hartford, Connecticut” and “Vanished Downtown Hartford.” As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Howell-Baldwin House (1757)
Tagged on:

27 thoughts on “Howell-Baldwin House (1757)

  • July 18, 2013 at 12:09 pm
    Permalink

    I’m curious about the bit that says “deserted August, 1779.” I guess he didn’t get in trouble for that!

  • November 25, 2013 at 12:57 pm
    Permalink

    I thought Ansonia had many more houses of the colonial period than listed. I lived there from the age of 3 till I was 20 and it was common knowledge in our nieghborhood that houses were much older than they looked.

  • January 24, 2019 at 9:43 pm
    Permalink

    It’s a historic site, to be sure. Jebediah Springfield once said that a noble spirit embiggened Drz Silas Baldwin.

  • January 24, 2019 at 10:13 pm
    Permalink

    Such a silver tongue did have Jebediah Springfield. Thank goodness for historical preservation.

  • January 24, 2019 at 10:19 pm
    Permalink

    A silver tongue did Jedediah Springfield have indeed. Historical preservation is great. Keep up the good work. Historical preservation at all costs.

  • January 24, 2019 at 10:33 pm
    Permalink

    There hasn’t been much mention of Asa Phelps. Scuttlebutt tends to infer there’s a curse surroubding the last of the Flying Hellfish. To this day, Abe and Monty are vying for that treasure.

  • January 24, 2019 at 10:55 pm
    Permalink

    Nulie,
    If by treasure you mean the paintings discovered by 64 tugs of the dive rope, they were returned to their proper heir. A one Baron von Wörtzenburger.

    It does remind me of the great parade float accident of 1979. Springfield lost a few good men that day.

    -Hollis

  • January 24, 2019 at 11:22 pm
    Permalink

    Hollis, I would be remiss if I didn’t note that this hometown history rivals that of Shelbyville and the subsequent Lemon Tree debacle over at the tow yard. More to follow. I’ll contact my friend Flanders, he’s very knowledgeable about this area of the country.

  • January 24, 2019 at 11:36 pm
    Permalink

    Shelbyville. Such a great town. Perhaps my project would have gone over better there.

  • January 24, 2019 at 11:58 pm
    Permalink

    Lyle you coward. Show yourself!

  • January 25, 2019 at 1:24 pm
    Permalink

    Sebastian you poser.

  • January 25, 2019 at 2:12 pm
    Permalink

    Anyone familiar with the schoolhouse? I’m from nearby Capital City, spent five years in a POW camp, then worked in a Chinese sweatshop for two decades until it was shut down by the United Nations. Started working as Principal nearby Ogdenville.

  • January 25, 2019 at 4:06 pm
    Permalink

    Schoolhouse? I’m familiar. I’m also a maniac, maniac, maniac, that’s for sure.

  • January 25, 2019 at 4:12 pm
    Permalink

    Aye, lad. Like ye ne’er did before.

  • January 25, 2019 at 6:30 pm
    Permalink

    It’s a beautiful area. You’ve never been? Above one bowling alley, below another bowling alley.

  • January 25, 2019 at 7:53 pm
    Permalink

    Charles Darwin once helped try to elect Montgomery Burns to office, explaining the theory for a three-eyed fish caught in the local fishing hole. He stated lively, ‘Every now and then Mother Nature experiments with her creatures, giving them longer legs, sharper claws, or in this case, a third eye. If she finds the changes favorable the creatures will multiply and a new race of superfish will be created. I would not mind having a third eye, would you?’ The Community as a whole agreed that of course they wouldn’t mind.

  • January 25, 2019 at 8:35 pm
    Permalink

    Blindly changed the election. This is why freedom of the press is so important. It also helps save boys trapped in wells.

  • January 25, 2019 at 8:37 pm
    Permalink

    You can’t even spell Blinky you hack!

  • January 25, 2019 at 8:58 pm
    Permalink

    I remember reading a historical account of an attempted murder, also by that spot, Frank. The old anecdote was that an elderly man was accidentally gunned down by a child, who had somehow gotten into her grandpa’s gun box. The old town compass monument has a plaque to commemorate the cleanup of the scene, after a whole summer of inquiry as to who had done it!

    Man, I miss this town!

  • January 25, 2019 at 9:28 pm
    Permalink

    I could have helped that old man, but I’m an attractive rebel who plays by my own rules. See this vest Montgomery.

  • January 25, 2019 at 10:01 pm
    Permalink

    There’s a sushi bar down the street from that now, Charlie – they even serve Fugu on Friday nights!

    Don’t stroll down the back alley unless you’re looking for an eyeful tho, nomasayin? I didn’t know so much of us still cared about this old town!

  • January 25, 2019 at 11:30 pm
    Permalink

    It’s a shame this town lost the Leftorium. There’s a been a large demand for left-handed shot glasses and a left-handed computer keyboard with the arrow keys on the left side. Damn the infernal right-handed gizmo required to open a certain nuclear power plant owner’s cat food.

  • January 27, 2019 at 8:39 pm
    Permalink

    I work at historical society, we have great benefits. Like a dental plan, which is great because my daughter, Lisa, needs braces.

  • January 27, 2019 at 9:27 pm
    Permalink

    I’m not a dentist but I do have some medical
    knowledge. My brother also had some issues with his gums. Any assistance with braces is a god send.

  • January 28, 2019 at 10:53 am
    Permalink

    @Julius Hubbard – I have the album! “Sax on the Beach” is the best album ever. $500.

  • January 28, 2019 at 10:54 am
    Permalink

    Julius Hubbard – I have the album! “Sax on the Beach” is the best album ever. $500.

  • January 28, 2019 at 11:21 am
    Permalink

    Nice double comment Jeff. Worst post ever. Still think you should be part of Mensa?

Comments are closed.