Daniel Benton Homestead

Built in 1720 by Daniel Benton, this house belonged to one of Tolland's wealthiest and most influential families. His grandson Elisha Benton fell in love with Jemima Barrows, a 16-year-old whose father was a working tradesman rather than a landowner, and the Bentons forbade the match. During the Revolutionary War, Elisha was captured and imprisoned on a British ship, where he contracted smallpox; he was sent home to die, and Jemima nursed him at his bedside despite the danger to herself. He died on January 21st; within days Jemima had also contracted smallpox and died. Because they were never married, the family buried them on opposite sides of the carriage path rather than together. The house is said to be haunted by the couple, by Hessian soldiers, and by an unidentified man in colonial dress — psychics Ed and Lorraine Warren reported seeing the latter in the dining room. Visitors describe a gray shadow crossing the front bedroom, rapping noises, and unexplained weeping.