Lafayette was welcomed into Stratford with bells, cannons, and crowds. He met distinguished members of the town at Marshall’s Inn and briefly stopped the carriage in front of Judge Samuel W. Johnson’s house—son of William Samuel Johnson, a signer of the US Constitution.

Commemorative earthenware plate with a portrait of Lafayette, circa 1824-1830. – By James & Ralph Crews, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Used through Public Domain.

There are no surviving newspaper accounts of Lafayette’s visit to Milford, but there is an account from Hagar Merriman in her 1861 autobiography. Merriman was a formerly enslaved woman who describes Lafayette passing through the town and shaking hands with many people. She remembered all the commemorative souvenirs and all the babies named in the General’s honor.

John Warner Barber, Public square or green, in New Haven, 1825, wood engraving. 1950.575.3 – By John Warner Barber, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Used through Public Domain.

New Haven expected Lafayette to arrive on the evening of the 20th, so they made elaborate preparations, including illuminations of the city. The next morning, the Company of Horse Guards escorted Lafayette’s group into New Haven to a three-gun salute and crowds of hundreds of people.

At Morse’s Hotel, Lafayette met the Common Council, aldermen, mayor, Governor Oliver Wolcott Jr., and Revolutionary War veterans—including Col. Benjamin Tallmadge. After being introduced to clergy members, college faculty, and civil and military authorities, Lafayette addressed the crowd, and troops and college students paraded in front of the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, Lafayette reviewed troops at the New Haven Green and briefly visited the residences of Nathan Smith, David Dagget, and David C. DeForest. He toured the Mineralogical Cabinet and Library at Yale College before paying his respects at the graves of comrades at the New Burying Ground (now Grove Street Cemetery).

At the home of Benjamin Silliman, Lafayette met with Silliman’s wife Harriet Trumbull Silliman and her mother, Eunice Backus Trumbull, the widow of former Governor Jonathan Trumbull Jr. As Lafayette left New Haven in the afternoon, a long parade followed him out of town.

Lafayette stopped at the East Haven Green where he had camped for several days in 1778 with his troops during the Revolutionary War. He met the sons of Reverend Nicholas Street whose parsonage he stayed at 46 years earlier and received refreshments at the home of Captain Daniel Bradley. The town erected a liberty pole in Lafayette’s honor.

Lafayette passed through Branford, but there is little written about what occurred other than The New York Commercial Advertiser reporting that “his reception was very gratifying, the people being assembled from all quarters to receive him.”

Militia met Lafayette’s carriage at the town border and he rode into town to greet people in the public square. Lafayette met with veterans and residents at Miner Bradley’s Tavern.

Lafayette briefly passed through East Guilford (now Madison), but reports indicate that he was anxious to continue on his journey. Ichabod Scranton gathered residents to salute Lafayette outside the home of the postmaster, Curtis Wilcox.

Due to vague newspaper reports, it is unclear exactly where Lafayette stopped in Killingworth (now Clinton). Most likely there was a military display in a central location like the village green.

In the late evening, Lafayette passed through Westbrook and residents cheered as he went by.

Lafayette arrived in Saybrook (now Old Saybrook) at around 10pm and spent the night, but there are different accounts of what he did. The New York Commercial Advertiser reported that Lafayette retired to bed soon after arriving due to the late hour. Local lore, however, insists that Lafayette attended a reception and dance in his honor at Humphrey Pratt’s Tavern.

After leaving Saybrook, Lafayette crossed the Connecticut River by ferry to Lyme (now Old Lyme) to have breakfast with Richard McCurdy, the son of an old acquaintance, John McCurdy.

Lafayette addressed a crowd outside of Calkin’s Tavern in Lyme (now East Lyme).

Clipping from the Connecticut Courant, August 31, 1824 about Lafayette’s tour. – Connecticut Courant. Used through the Public Domain.

After a 24-gun salute, Lafayette addressed a crowd outside of the mansion of Judge Perkins. According to 19th century historian Frances Caulkins, when shown the room George Washington had slept in 1776, Lafayette is said to have “knelt reverently by the side of the bed, and remained a few minutes in silent prayer.” Lafayette attended church services at both the Congregational and Episcopal churches.

Lafayette was welcomed by Norwich’s mayor at the Kinney (or Kenney) Hotel, addressed the crowd, and met with individuals. He dined with the city’s leaders, occasionally acknowledging the outside crowds from the window.

Lafayette briefly stopped in Jewett City (now Griswold) to greet residents and meet veterans.

Lafayette spent the night at Eaton’s Tavern in Plainfield, the same establishment that hosted some of comte de Rochambeau’s officers during their encampment in Plainfield during the Revolutionary War in 1781.

After touring Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, Lafayette passed through Connecticut on his way back south. Due to heavy rain and bad roads, Lafayette’s entourage was late, but a delegation met them at the border with a new carriage and accompanied them to Stafford. Lafayette was reunited with Daniel Wadsworth and met residents in Hyde’s Tavern. The group spent the night at the Stafford Springs Hotel.

Figured flask from Coventry Glass Works, located not far from Tolland and Vernon. There is a raised profile bust and text “LAFAYETTE.” – Coventry Glass Works, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Used through the Public Domain.

Lafayette arrived in Tolland around 7am and supposedly stopped briefly to meet with veterans at Elijah Smith’s Tavern.

Lafayette may have stopped at the King’s Stage House for breakfast after failing to stay there the night before. Supposedly, the tavern acquired special French wallpaper for Lafayette’s visit.

Broadside dedicated to General Lafayette in Hartford, circa 1825. – By Lydia Howard Sigourney, Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Used through Public Domain.

Hartford made elaborate preparations in anticipation of Lafayette’s visit including illuminations, decorations, and fireworks. When Lafayette finally arrived (half a day late), he was welcomed with a parade and received by Mayor Jonathan Brace and Governor Oliver Wolcott Jr. at Bennett’s Hotel.

As Lafayette arrived at the State House (now the Old State House), he was greeted by approximately eight hundred children, who strewn flowers in his path and presented him with a gold medal and a poem by Lydia Huntley Sigourney.

At the State House, Lafayette greeted hundreds of people before observing a parade of Revolutionary War veterans. At the home of Daniel Wadsworth, the deceased family of Heman Swift presented Lafayette with the sash and epaulettes he wore when wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. Around 4pm, Lafayette boarded the steamboat Oliver Ellsworth and traveled down the Connecticut River towards Middletown.

The Oliver Ellsworth docked at the Upper Houses (now Cromwell) to throngs of crowds. Lafayette and his son, George Washington Lafayette, traveled in barouches into the city of Middletown, which was decorated in his honor.

There was a reception at the Mansion House Hotel where Lafayette met the Common Council, clergy members, and veterans. Lafayette was paraded through the town and stopped at the home of Commodore Thomas Macdonough, a famous naval hero of the War of 1812. While Lafayette was supposed to dine at the hotel, he declined the invitation and departed on the steamship.