 This baptism basin has the names of the
seven youngest of the deacon's 11 children
and the years of their christenings engraved in
it, and the seven names of son Ezra's children.
The bowl was probably made shortly before
the first date that appears in it -- 1704.
Both Nathaniel's and Ezra's families lived in
Killingworth, Conn.
The engraved candlesticks that flank the bowl
were wedding gifts from Ezra to daughter Jemima when she married Josiah Griswold (1752-1821). Their marriage was
recorded on June 22, 1774, in the records of Killingworth's 2nd Congregational Church.
The piece is part of the family collection at Guest House Retreat & Conference Center in Chester, Conn., formerly The Inn
at Chester, which is the 1755 house built by John Parmelee.
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