Timothy Keeler

Resident from 1769 to 1818

It is unknown how Timothy Keeler was able to secure the 145£ needed to purchase Lott II from his uncle, David in 1769. Timothy was a shrewd and talented entrepreneur and consistently demonstrated his business acumen throughout his life. The most important example of his foresight was when he decided to open the private home to travelers – and residents desiring a drink – thereby establishing T. Keeler’s Inn in 1772 with his wife Esther. The Keelers bore twelve children, seven of whom survived to adulthood.

Artist’s rendering of T. Keeler’s Inn

Timothy and Esther renovated the property by reorienting the building in order to facilitate the loading and unloading of passengers and luggage arriving on stagecoaches. By 1790, the Keeler Tavern was a bustling and prosperous establishment. An addition was built to the south side of the home in order to create another kitchen on the ground floor and extra bedrooms above it. The new kitchen had a standalone baking oven, a major improvement for both culinary and safety reasons for the cook, who no longer had to suffer burned bread or burns to their extremities.

Print of the Battle of Ridgefield, first published April 4, 1780.

Also known at the Keeler Tavern, Timothy and Esther’s inn quickly became a landmark and a regular stop for those traveling between New York and Boston. It also became the hub for revolutionary activities within the town of Ridgefield of which Timothy was a chief and ardent supporter. It is because of his patriotism that his home and business were targeted by the British during the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777. The Keeler Tavern still sports a baseball-sized cannonball in a corner post, thus giving birth to its nickname, “The Cannonball House.”

British cannonball still lodged in a corner post.

At a critical point during the battle, Timothy’s neighbor – a Tory relative of his – convinced a British commander to spare destroying the Keeler Tavern. Later asked if he would thank his relative for his intercession, Timothy famously retorted, “No sir! I will not thank a Tory for anything! I would rather thank the Lord for the north wind.”

Certificate from the Postmaster General appointing Timothy Keeler postmaster of Ridgefield.

By the end of his life, Timothy was an importer, a ship owner, an investor in iron works, a political activist, and served as Ridgefield’s Postmaster. As such, he was considered the town’s best informed residents and further established the Keeler Tavern as the most crucial and important businesses in town for decades to come.

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