A TOUR OF THE PORTRAIT COLLECTION
IN THE RICHARD W. WOOLWORTH LIBRARY (PART II)

East Wall Portraits

These portraits represent a cross-section of Stonington inhabitants of the 19th century.

Beginning at the north end we see a primitive portrait of Samuel Bidwell Butler, a sparmaker who came to Stonington from the Middletown area and who became respected as a Deacon of the Congregational Church. In time he moved with his family to Fair Haven, CT, east of New Haven, where he died in 1883..

Samuel Bidwell Butler

The next pair of portraits, unidentified for a long time, are of Mrs. Joshua Stevens and her whaling captain husband, Captain Joshua T. Stevens. Mrs. Stevens was Mary Ann Starrett, 1817-1872, the stepdaughter of Captain John Barnum, whose portrait hangs next to hers. Captain John Barnum (1804-1852) had his portrait painted in China, while he was on a whaling expedition, by the Youqua Painter.

Mrs. Joshua Stevens

Captain Joshua T. Stevens

Captain John Barnum

The portraits of Samuel Chesebrough (1778-1858) and his second wife, Mrs. Harriet Haskell Pollard (1795-1855) show a prosperous merchant and his wife. They lived at 141 Water Street in the Borough, and he ran a shop in the ground floor of his house.

Samuel Chesebrough

Mrs. Harriet Haskell Pollard

Continue to the West Wall Portraits

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