Daniel Babcock was the son of Oliver, of North Stonington, Conn., and was born in that town August 31st, 1762. His father died when he was nine years of age and he was left to the care of his eldest brother, Joshua. At the age of fourteen, a century ago this Centennial year, he was apprenticed for seven years, then the shortest time allowed for that purpose, to Elder, also called Dr. Henry Clarke, then operating Ferry's Iron Works, now Woodville. During his apprenticeship, the war of the revolution broke out, and at the age of fourteen he enlisted as a recruit to serve when wanted. ...
At the age of nineteen, he commenced a Christian life and connected himself with the First Seventh day Baptist Church, in Hopkinton. When in his twenty-second year, he courted and married Constant Potter, daughter of George, of Potter Hill. Early in 1784, he established a shop where the Potter Hill stone mill now stands. Here he worked at his trade for about five years, living in the house now occupied by Gen. William Potter. In 1790, he bought the "Polly" Thomas Wells place; the red house corner, where now is the residence of Horace Crandall, and moved there. In 1793, he hired Spaulding's Iron Works, and operated them about two years. In 1795, he returned to his home in Hopkinton and worked his farm in connection with his trade. In that red house on the corner, known as Babcock's corner, he continued to reside until his death in September, 1846, aged eighty-four years. ...
