Pahke’s Cave, Hartland, Connecticut – Also known as Wright’s Cave

In the December issue of the Lure the story of “Pahke’s Cave, the Home of Orrin Wright,” was related as told by the late David Gaines of East Hartland.

Since that time Harold Thorne reports a number of groups have visited the ancient and historic cave.
On October 24, 1941, the Clearview School from Harwinton with their teacher, Florene B. Smith, visited the cave and with them was Mrs. Elnora Snow of West Hartland. Mrs. Snow is the daughter of John Hoadley Miller who was first selectman in Hartland in 1854 when he took the children from Pahke’s Cave. Mrs. Snow related the story of the taking of the children of Orrin Wright from Pahke’s Cave as it had been told her.

“On the very day my father was elected first selectman as per final count of the votes late in the evening, the other two selectmen urged my father to get Orrin Wright’s children from the Cave at once. My father hesitated, but they finally persuaded him that he should act immediately, so, without going to his own home, he drove with his horse and business wagon over to West Hartland and as near the Cave as possible, though almost a half a mile away. He then followed the narrow trail to the Cave and as First Selectman informed Mr. and Mrs. Wright that the children must go with him as they were receiving no schooling and were receiving very poor care in such a hole. Mr. and Mrs. Wright very sorrowfully gave up the ten children and Mr. Miller took them to his home.

Now Mr. Miller had but recently been married and in addition he had not consulted his wife before he went after the children, so when he arrived with the ten, long after dark, he had two very serious problems on his hands – his wife and the ten children. Finally the children were quartered in the attic for the night. What to feed them was another problem but mush and milk solved this. In the morning John, one of the children, was gone and Mr. Miller was not to be found. After breakfast of mush and milk, Mrs. Miller decided, with her mother, to take the horse and wagon and spend the day at Hartland Fair, for Hartland had a fair of its own each year in those days. The day passed very pleasantly, but when they were ready to go home, their horse and wagon was missing.

After a very long wait Mr. Miller appeared with the horse and wagon saying he had spent the day finding homes for the children and that all but one was placed out.” Some of these children are still living as successful as others who had better opportunities when children. The water, as storms sweep the lonely hillside, has washed dirt and rubbish into the Cave so the room inside is not as large as it was one hundred years ago when Pahke and her tribe his in its depths from the hungry wolves.

Orrin Wright and his wife found the cave a lonely home with the children gone and were soon persuaded to move into a house “made with hands.”

Donated by Ruth Vela – Lewis Mill’s Granddaughter

From The Connecticut Guide, 1935

From Torrington we enter the town of Winchester, which was laid out by Hartford in 1732. The name was taken from Winchester in England. The region was remote, and the first settler did not arrive until 1750; town privileges were granted in 1771. Winchester is a broken hill country, the elevations ranging from 700 to over 1500 feet. It is in the Greenwoods section of the State, with abundant hemlock and pine. The town is noted for its laurel display, and an annual Laurel Drive is marked out in June.

Winsted was chartered as a borough in 1856 and as a city in 1915, and in 1930 had a population of 7,883. The name was a combination of Winchester and the neighboring town of Barkhamsted. It lies in a pocket of the hills, at the junction of the Mad and Still Rivers, which supply good waterpower. The Winsted Mfg. Co. has been making scythes since 1792, probably the oldest manufacturing concern in the State. The forerunner of the Wm. L. Gilbert Clock Co. started in 1807, making it the oldest of the present clock-making establishments in Connecticut. Among other important products are electric appliances, hardware, edge tools, silk thread, hosiery and underwear

The Gilbert School, an endowed high school, lies to our right as we enter the city, at North Main St. and Park Place. Wm. L. Gilbert, who ran $300 in debt to start business, at his death left to the town over $1,000,000 in well-planned philanthropies. He was identified with Winsted from 1841 to 1890. Turning west on Main St., we pass the County Court House, Town Hall, and four fine modern churches. An old Mile Stone lies in the yard of the Methodist Church on our right. This was on the route of the old stage road from Hartford to Albany. A block west, on Lake St. at the corner of Meadow St., is the imposing Solomon Rockwell House, built in 1813, now headquarters of the Winchester Historical Society, with an exhibit of antiques. A projecting pediment is supported by 4 columns. The Barn in the rear is one of the gems of late Colonial architecture: a pediment-ed gable with semi-elliptical window, and heavy molding below the pediment and around the entire roof. There is also a small Cabin with somewhat similar treatment, except for square pillars on the corners, with Corinthian capitals. The Old Mill House, on the east side of Lake St., was built originally in 1771. The Beardsley Library, founded in 1874, stands at Main and Munro Sts., on our right.

ANNALS OF WINCHESTER, AND FAMILY RECORDS by JOHN BOYD
Pg 230-231: Isaac Jacklyn came into the town this year, and resided until his death (May 13, 1834, aged 90), on a farm in Danbury Quarter, still owned by his descendants, and now occupied in part by Noah Barber.
He is said to have been a servant of Secretary Wyllys of Hartford, from whom he ran away before the Revolutionary War, and took refuge in the Ragged Mountain region of Barkhamsted. Here he won the heart of a daughter of Chaugum, the head or chief of the Narragansett Indians, who held their council fire at the ” Light House,” but could not get Chaugum to sanction their marriage ; so they ran away, got married, settled down in Danbury Quarter, made baskets, and raised children, of whom John was the oldest, and lived and died (November 21, 1850, aged 58), on the paternal farm, leaving several children, among whom were Isaac of Colebrook and Samuel of Pennsylvania, or elsewhere. A daughter of Mrs. (Chaugum) Jacklyn married into the family of Elwells, who in conjunction with the Wilsons, still linger around the Light House, occasionally lighting up the old council fires.

Geographic Reference Library for Dunham Millpond Lake
County:   Litchfield  State:   CT
Variant Names: Dunbar Pond, Dunham Mill Pond, Jacklin Lake

To view my Research Book on Mercy & Isaac Jacklin – Click Here

Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 – Isaac Jacklin – Part 1 of 3

Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 – Isaac Jacklin – Part 2 of 3

Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 – Isaac Jacklin – Part 3 of 3

Isaac Jacklin in the Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999
Name: Isaac Jacklin Probate Date: 25 Mar 1830 Inferred Death Place: Connecticut, USA
Probate Place: Litchfield, Connecticut, USA Inferred Death Year: Abt 1830
Item Description: Probate Records, Vol 3-4, 1827-1845

Pg 120: (left side)
Isaac Jacklin’s Estate late of Winchester deceased
As a Court of Probate holder at Norfolk within & for the district of Norfolk on the 9th day of June A.D. 1835. The executor of the last Will & Testament of Isaac Jacklin late of Winchester in said district deceased presented the last Will & Testament of the said Isaac Jacklin which is in words & figured following –
I Isaac Jacklin of Winchester being of sound & disposing mind and memory do make & declare this my last Will & Testament —- After the Payment of all of my just debts I give devise, & bequeath all of my estate both real & personal to Erastus Woodford of said Winchester upon the special trust following that is to say, that under the care of superintendance of said Woodford my wife Mercy shall have the whole & complete use, the rents & the profits of all of my estate both real, & personal, during her natural life. And in case the use, rents, & profits of (her, the said Mercy (crossed out)) my estate is not sufficient for the support of her the, said Mercy, then she said Woodford shall take from said estate sufficient to give the said Mercy a comfortable support.
That after (my (crossed out)) the decease of my wife Mercy, the said Woodford shall pay from said property to Hannah Combs Thirty dollars, he shall also give to Sally Ellwell eight dollars & also Rhoda Collins eight dollars. —– After the decease of my wife Mercy, & after the payment of the aboved mentioned legacies to Hannah Combs, Sally Ellwell & Rhoda Collins, should there be any of my estate remaining in the hands of the said Woodford the use of the same shall be applied at the discretion of the said Woodford to the support & for the benefit of my son John Jacklin & his children. In case the said Woodford should die before the execution of the trust herein contained, then the judge of Probate for the district of Norfold shall appoint some suitable person to be trustee in his place, who shall have full power to perform the aforesaid trust.
I hereby constitute & appoint the said Erastus Woodford my sole Executor to pay & discharge all of my debts, Signed, sealed, published, declared & delivered as my Last Will & Testament in the presence of each & all of the witnesses whose names are hereunto subscribed this
25th day of March A.D. 1830
Luman(?) Wakefield )                                 his
Andrew Walters        }                       Isaac (X) Jacklin
Samuel D. Gilbert     )                               mark

Litchfield County __ Winchester (June Winchester (crossed out)) 8th A.D. 1835
Personally appeared before me Luman Wakefield & made solemn oath that he attested the within Will of Isaac Jacklin & subscribed the same in presence of the testator & in the presence of the other two subscribing witnesses to said will, & that they also subscribed & attested said Will in the presence of said testator, & that sd deponent, & in presence of said testator, & that said testator at the time of said will was of sound mind & memory & signed & published

pg 121: (right side)
said Will in the presence of said deponent & the other subscribing witness thereto.
Gideon Hall In(?) Justice of Peace

Litchfield County _ _ June 13, 1835
Personally appeared Samuel D. Gilbert before the subscribed & made oath that he attested the within Will of Isaac Jacklin, & subscribed the same in presence of the hearing of the testator, & in the presence of the other two subscribing witnesses to sd will, & that they also subscribed & attested sd Will in the presence of said deponent, & in the presence of sd testator, & that sd testor, at the time of the execution of sd will was of sound mind & memory & signed & published sd Will in the presence of sd deponent & the other subscribing witness thereto.
Before me
                                    Gideon Hall In(?) Justice of Peace

And now this Court having examined said Will as written Testament, & heard the evidence adduced – doth find that said Will was duly executed by the said Isaac Jacklin while in full life in the presence of three distin____ & credible Witnesses & that said Witnesses subscribed the same in the presence of said Isaac Jacklin & in the presence of each other.
And this Court doth find that the said Isaac Jacklin at the time of said Will & Testament was of sound & disposing mind & memory & that he was more than twenty years of age & that he declared the same to be his last will & testament. This Court doth therefore find said Will to be fully proved & doth approve of x adjudge the same to be the last Will & Testament of the said Isaac Jacklin deceased, & the same is ordered to be recorded. And at the same Court the said Erastus Woodford appeared, accepted the Trust of Executor of said estate & gave bonds in due form of Law.

I Isaac Jacklin of Winchester in Litchfield County being of sound disposing mind & memory – in addition & as a codicil to my former Will give & bequeath to Francis Daniels son of Rhoda Collins, wife of Thomas Collins, the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars, to be paid by the Trustee named in my former Will in the following manner to wit, fifty dollars to be paid by said Trustee, at his discretion for the schooling of said Francis Daniels – & one hundred dollars to be paid by said Trustee to said Francis when he arrives at the age of twenty one years –  & it is my will that neither of said sums nor any part of the same are to be paid during the life of my wife Mercy Jacklin.
And I do hereby _____ so much of my former will as is inconsistent with this codicil – but it is my will that the said sum of one hundred & fifty Dollars be paid out of my estate after payment of the Specific legacies therein made to my daughters. In witness whereof I have

pg 122: (left side)
Hereunto affixed my and & seal this day of March 1834
Signed sealed & declared
in presence of       }                         Isaac (X) Jacklin
Wm. S. Holabind }
John Boyd              }

Litchfield Country __ June 13, 1835 – Personally appeared before me, John Boyd of of the scribed witnesses to the foregoing will on codicil & made solemn oath that he subscribed the same in the presence of the said deceased (crossed out) Isaac Jacklin, the testator & in the presence of William S Holanbind the other subscribing witness thereto & that the said WIlliam S. Holabind also subscribed said will or codicil in the presence of said Jacklin & of said Deponent & that said Jacklin the testor affixed his mark on crop to his name in the presence of said Holabind & of said deponent & that said Jacklin at the time of executing said will on codicil was of sound mind & memory & published the same in presence of said Holabind & said deponent as this his last will Testament
       Elijah P. Grant Justice of Peace

Norfolk June 4, 1835. The within will & codicil was presented to the Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk this day by the executor & was proved & ordered to be recorded.
  Michael F Mills Judge.

At a Court of Probate holden at Norfolk within & for the district of Norfolk on the 15th day of June A.D. 1835. Present Michael F. Mill Esq. Judge On motion of the executors of the Last ill & Testament of Isaac Jacklin late of Winchester within said district deceased. This Court doth appoint Florance Higley & Jonathan Coe free holders to appraise under oath all the estate of said deceased, & make a correct Inventory thereof.
  Michael F Mills Judge.

At a Court of Probate holden at Norfolk within & for the district of Norfolk on the 6th day of July A.D. 1835. Present Michael F. Mills Esq. Judge
This Court doth direct the Executor of the last Will & Testament of Isaac Jacklin late of Winchester in said district, deaceased, represented to be Insol___, to give notice to all persons interested in the estate said deceased to appear (if they see cause) before this Court of Probate, to be holden at the Probate Office in said district on the 28th day of July A.D. 1835 at 10 o’clock forenoon to be heard relative to the appointment of Commission on said Estate, by posting said order of notice on a public sign post in said Wincester & by advertising the same in a newspaper published in Hartford.
    Michael F Mills Judge.

pg 123: (right side)
To Wheelock Thayer & Samuel W. Coe of Winchester. Gentleman Greeting.
Whereas, the executors of the law Will & Testament of Isaac Jacklin late of Winchester now deceased, hath his day represented unto me Michael F. Mills Judge of the Probate of Wills & granting of Administration in the district aforesaid, the Estate of the said deceased is insol___ & insufficient to pay the Debts due therefrom, —
I do therefore, in Pursuance of the Law in that Case provided, appoint, _____ & fully empower the said Wheelock Thayer & Samuel W. Coe Comissioners to recieve, examine, adjust & settle the Claims of the several Creditors to the Estate of the said deceased. And you are hereby specially directed to appoint the times & places of your meeting on that affair, & make public the same by giving such notice thereof as the Law directs, & make report to the Court of Probate in the District aforesaid, & present a list of the several Creditors to said Estate & annex to their respective names the sums you shall find on your aforesaid examination & settlement due to them severally, at the end of six months from the date thereof. Given under my hand, & the Seal of said Court, this 28 day of July Anno Domini, 1835.
At the same Court – This Court doth decree that six months be allowed the creditors of said estate to exhibit their claim against the same to the Commissioned on said Estate & shall give public notice of this order, by advertising the same in a newspaper published in Hartford & by posting the same on a public sign post in said town of Winchester

We the subscribed being appointed by the Hon. Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk appraisers of the estate of Isaac Jacklin late of Winchester within said District deceased having taken the Oath required law, make the following inventory. July 9, 1835
1 Horse $34. – 1 Cow 23,, – Yearling heifer 6. – Mo. articles of clothing 1.50 – 1 Cow Chester .50 – 1 table .50 – 1 Chest of drawers 1. – 1 Churn ,,25 – 1 pail ,,30 – 1 Iron kettle 1,, – 1 spider Pot & old kettle .55 – 4 Old chains ,,12 – 1 hat ,,31 1 pair of mens shock .75 – I fine shovel ,,12 – 2 stone pots ,,50 – 1 glass bottle ,,15 1 jug ,,12 – 2 Iron axletrees(?) 1.50 – 1 bed & bedding 3,, – 3 cotton sheets ,,34 – 83 lbs of old Iron 1,,24 – 7 old drag teeth 1,,25 – 1 Crow bar ,,75 – Homestead – 38 acres $13 per acre 494. – Hungerford lot so called 25 Acres $7 pr. 175,, – 1 plow share(?) ,,51 –
Horace Higley
Jonathan Coe.
The above Inventory was received at the Probate Office July 28, 1835 accepted & approved & ordered to be recorded.

Repost of Commissioners received April 30th 1838
We the subscribed being appointed by the Hon Court of Probate for the District of Norfolk Commissioners on the estate of Isaac Jacklin, deceased of Winchester in said District, having made public our appointed by publishing the same in the Patriot & Democrat, a paper published in

pg 124: (left side)
Hartford, & also on the sign post in Winsted that we would attend to the business of our appointment at the store of Coe, Hubbell & Co. on the fourth Monday of August 1835. & on the fourth Monday of January 1836 at one o’clock P.M. on each of said days, having taken the oath necessary by law, do find the following sums due to the respective persons opposite of their several names —
Lewis Allen $4.14                                John Benedict $3.19
Doct. Geo. O. Jarvis 3.92                  Town of Winchester __.00
Doct. Truman S. Wetmore 10.25    Hannah Jacklin 75.00
Coe, Hubbell & Co. 4.41                     James Humphrey}
Doct. L Wakefield 6.54                                      Balance of ___ } 93.93
Platt Andrews 2.09                       Advertising    75
Samuel D. Gilbert 1.75                                fees 600 ____6.75
Charles Humphrey 1.10                                                         $245.39
Anson Platt 1.08
Doct. Benj Welch In 19.26                                               Wheelock Thayer}
Adjourned(?) from the fourth Monday                      Samuel W. Coe } Commissioners
of Aug 1836 to meet on Monday Feb 1st 1836. Present Michael F. Mills Judge. On application of the Executor of the last Will & Testament of Isaac Jacklin late of Wincester in said District deceased showing at this Court that the debts & expense of settling the Estate of the said Isaac Jacklin deceased, exceeds the amount of the personal property to the amount of One hundred & forty dollars & praying this Court to authorize & empower them to sell real Estate sufficient to raise that sum with incidental charges of Sale, & this Court having inquired into the truth of the same do find them true, Whereupon this Court doth authorize & empower the said Executor, to sell at public sale, so much of the real estate as will raise the said sum of One hundred & forty dollars together with incidental charges of sale, & said Executor will cause notice to be given of the time & place of Sale by advertising the same in a paper printed in Hartford & make return to whom sold with charges of sale.

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