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Dr. John Redfield of Guilford, who was living in an earlier home built in 1768, constructed a new mansion house on the Green in 1780. The property where the new house was built had previously belonged to David Naughty, a merchant. After Naughty’s death in 1739, his wife Ruth Naughty was co-executor of his will, along with nephew David Naughty II. Ruth Naughty successfully managed her husband’s affairs, paying his debts in Boston. When she died in 1773, she named Dr. Redfield as executor of her will, but he was soon caught up in a lawsuit with David II. Dr. Redfield won the case and, as owner of the entire property, tore down the Naughty House in order to build his own. The outraged Naughty later stipulated in his will that he be buried across the Green from Redfield’s house with his head sticking out above ground to stare at his enemy’s home. These wishes were never carried out. Since 1945, the Redfield House has been owned by the Guilford Savings Bank and serves as the bank’s main office.

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Second Dr. John Redfield House (1780)