Col. Amos Clift, III

The Honorable Colonel Amos Clift III, son of Capt. Amos Clift, was born in Groton, 7 Aug 1805; became a distinguished master builder. He built many homes in Mystic and Stonington, CT. His g-granddaughter, Alla Lynne Perkins Alltyn, writes in her memoirs:

"I remember his farmhouse at the top of Clift Street, which was torn down and Mrs. Helen Turner built her home there on the ledges. Aunt Sarah, Col. Amos Clift's daughter, told me her father went to see George Greenman about building his house, and it was a Saturday, and Mr. Greenman said, "I can't talk business today as it is my Sabbath Day." So Amos Clift departed. The next day George Greenman came up to see him and he (Amos Clift) said, "Today is Sunday and my Sabbath Day , and I can't talk business." So - that was that! But in the end he built all three Greenman Houses and dozens of others on both sides of the river. The Greenmans were 7th Day Baptists. There were three brothers, George, Clark, and Thomas. Their families had started a shipyard where the Mystic Seaport is now. They had Grampa Clift build a church for them there as well. It has been moved since to the Seaport and is called "The Aloha Meeting House", which I think is awful! It should still be called the ASeventh Day Baptist Church. Apparently a rich man had bought it and had it moved to the Seaport as a gift, and had it named after his yacht, and as he had paid for it they had no choice."

In military life, Amos Clift rose to be colonel of the 8th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers. Served in many offices of the Town as well as a representative in the General Assembly of the State. He became a Judge of the Probate Court. He was baptized at age sixteen as member of the Second Baptist Church in Groton, and late in the Third Church.