The Congdon Chronicle. G.E.Condgon Grafton, VT 1921-1934 ~be <to,n9bon <tbroniclt -NUMBER J JANUARY. 1921 PRICE, 25 CENTS Foreword With the publication of this, the first number of the Congdon Chronicle, begins the realization of one of the hopes of my later years. Away back as early as 1893 I began writing to Congdons gathering information from various families. Soon I had the opportunity of visiting a large library, the Newberry Library of Chicago rich in genealogical material, and from various books culled all references to Congdons. ·while the field now is far from covered, I have a large amount of material. It consists of vital statistics from town records, cemetery records, wills and probate records, copies of old letters and other papers, biographical sketches, newspaper clippings and the like. Now that I have passed my fiftieth birthday I feel that something ought to be done to put this matter in print-if not all of it at least the essential and more valuable parts. By the·publication of this paper I hope to accomplish other objects also. There are several large groups of Congdons whose earliest known ancestor is not as yet definitely placed in the large Congdon family. Through the paper I hope to procure united effort on the part of these groups to dig into old records and establish the descent. But beyond this two chief purposes were in mind: (1) the organization of a vigorous Congdon Family Association to carry on the work of completing the genealogy if 1 should not live to do it, "nd (z) the bringing about of a Congdon. F;.i.mily .\Jeeting, which s11ould gather annually, biennially, or trien­ nially as might be seen fit. Each of these schemes will be discussed in_ later numbers of the paper. And finally let the members of the family remember that the continued existence of the Congdon Chronicle depends upon them. I give my time and work but I expect them to pay my bills for printing and postage. Whether I print 8, 12, or 16 pages will depend on the size of the subscription list as also whether it shall be continued after the publication of the first: four numbers. Copies of this and later numbers may be obtained as long as the edition lasts by addressing the publisher. G. E. CoNGDOK, Grafton, Vermont. 2 THE CONGDON CHROKICLE CONGDON GENEALOGY The leading authority on the first two generations of the Congdon family as well as on the early generations of all other old Rhode Island families is J. 0. Austin's Genea­ logical Dictionary of Rhode Island. The following material is copied from that volume with a few additions, duly credited, from ocher sources. As near as can be it is pre­ sented in the form in which it appears in that volume. It should be noted, however; that the pages of Austin's book are large and the Congdon material appears in three parallel columns. FIRST GEKERATION BENJAMIK b. 1650+ m. { d. 1718, Jun. 19 ELIZABETH ALBRO f b. \ d. 1720, Nov. 15. of John and Dorothy ( ) Albro Portsmouth, Kings Town, R. I. Sep. 20. He bought of William Brenton, ~enedict Arnold, &c., 230 acres in Narragansett, near Pettacomscott, but he did not move thence for some years. Oct. 18. He was sued by Samuel Reape, for slander, defa­ mation, &c., and the case was left to arbitration. 1677, Freeman. 1677, Apr. 27. He witnessed a deed for George Sisson, of Ports- mouth. 1679, He was ordered to move his shop at Newport, to ano.ther lot, and if he disobeyed, ic was to be pulled down. 1679, Dec. 5. He had a deed of 200 acres, in Narragansett, being part of 7,630 acres laid out by Samuel "\v-ilbur, to Jireh Bull and twentv-four others. -1683, Oct. 20, Kings Town. He, calling himself "late of Ports­ mouth, Planter," sold John Sheldon 230 acres in Narragansett, near Pettacomscott, for £7, being the land "granted to me by William Brenton, Benfdict Arnold, "&c. 1687, Sep. 6. Taxed 3 s. ½ d. 1710, May 17. He and seventeen others, bought 7,000 acres of the vacant lands in Narragansett, ordered sold by Assembly. His signature was made to deeds, &c., by mark Z, while his son Benjamin, signed by mark 0. 1715, Jul. 2, Will-proved 1718, Dec. IO. Exs. wife Elizabeth and son John. To sons William, John, Benjamin and James 5s. each, they having had their portions. To daughters Elizabeth Wells and Susanna Northup, three cows each, and to grand­ daughter Elizabeth \Vells, a cow, at decease of wife. To wife, household goods at her disposal, and the farm, orchard and housing, for life. To son John, two cows and a heifer. lnventory £38, viz: cows, sheep, 4 silver spoons, wine glasses, earthen and pewter ware, iron pots, skillet, warming pan, napkins, towels, wearing apparel, bed, &c. He aria his wife were buried in the Congdon Burial Ground, at Congdon Hill, near "\Vickford. THE CONGDON CHRONICLE 3 The following addrtional items and variations are copied from the "Newport Historical ,\fagazine, Vol. IV, No. 4, April 1884"-Article: "Ancestors of Jeremiah Austin", by J. 0. Austin, Providence, R. I., pages 236-7. Only items giving new in formation were copied. "1671, Sept. 20, Portsmouth, R. I., he received a deed" etc., "but lived some years at Portsmouth before moving to the other side of the bay, where ultimately he made his home." "1683, Oct. 20, Kings Town had now become his home as is seen by deed of this date." "1687, Sept. 6, taxed at Kings Town under Sir Edmund Andros. Estate 2s, ½ d, Poll Is." "1714, June 15, his wife Elizabeth signed receipt with him for legacy from her father, John Albro's estate (viz. 50 s, I bolster case, 2 pewter platters, I pair sheets.)" "The Old Congdon burying ground at Congdon Hill, near Wick­ ford, contains the grave of this ancestor of the race in America, and the graves of his wife and many descendants. There is a tradition with some of Benjamin Congdon's descendants, that he came to this country with a brother John who settled in New Jersey; and that their father's name was John, and that he married a daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. In support of this, it is claimed that Benjamin's birthplace was in Pembrokeshire, Wales, near St. David's. There seems, however, nothing clear nor definite in this tradition; and the coat-of-arms claimed for the family bears the following inscription: The ancient family of Congdon of Willerby in Yorkshire, descended out of Wales, now of Rhode Island, Anno Domini 18u,' thus imply­ ing a departure from Wales into Yorkshire of a branch of the family." SECOND GENERATION Again from Austin's "Genealogical Dictionary." Nothing is as yet known of the order of birth of the six children of the first Benjamin Congdon. The order here given is that adopted by Austin. WILLIAM b. South Kingston, R. I. m. (r) { d. 1761 I. MARY b. m. (2) { d. of l'vfARGARET { b. l d. 1754+ of 1754, June 1, Will-proved 1761 Feb. 9. Ex. son Joseph. To wife Margaret while widow, the use of three cows, riding horse, two hogs, two feather beds, and also use of largest room, &c., with thirty bushels of corn and ten cords of firewood, yearly. To daughter Margaret Congdon, two feather beds and £150, with house room and keep of horse while single. To daughter Elizabeth, £roo. To daugh­ ter Abigail Reynolds, £150 and feather bed. To granddaughter Susanna Congdon £roo and feather bed at eighteen. To son William £700, and to each of his children £20. To wife and three daughters, rest of household goods1 and to daughters rest of money. To wifo 4 THE CONGDOI\ CHRONICLE and daughters, rest of personal estate. To son Joseph all my lands and estate. Inventory £3,433. ros. I 1d., viz: wearing apparel £80, z woolen wheels, a bay horse, 3 cows, hog, fowls, warming pan, negro man Bristow, &c. (Same Source. Page 439.) CONGDON. zd column. I. William, m. (1) 1693 Mar. 3 Mary Brownell, of Robert & Mary ( ) Brownell. She d. 1718 (~). 1718, Jan. z9. In Robert Brownell's will of this date he gives legacies of £5 each to" daughter Mary's three children," she evidently having died. (Former page-3rd column.) I. Joseph. z. William, 1698, Jan. z5. 3. Margaret. 4. Elizabeth. 5. Abigail. (Second Column) BENJAMIN { ~: North Kings­ 1756 town, R. I. 11. m. 1701, Dec. I of Joseph and FRANCES STAFFORD { ~-· Sarah (Holden) l Stafford r71z, Feb. 1:4-. He bought of Abel Potter and his mother Rachel 57 acres m Mashantatack (Providence), for £zoo, and the next year bought 3 acres more, for £3. 1713, Feb. I I. He sold his brother, James Congdon, 60 acres and mansion house, at Mashantatack for £308. (Same Source. Page 439.) [CONGDON. zd column.] II. Benjamin. 17z1, Town Council. 17z3 Town Sergeant. 1756. Jan. 15. Will~proved 1756, Oct. 11. To son John, land in Boston neck where testator now dwells, he paying £500 to my son Benjamin, and £400 to, second son Joseph. To nine daughters of son William deceased, £40. To grandson John Congdon son of James, deceased, land in Exeter. To grandson Stukely Cong­ don, land. To daughters Frances Gardner and Mary Brown, and to eight children of daughter Mary Brown, certain legacies. To daugh­ ter, Elizabeth Sweet, for life, certain land. Change list of children. I. Benjamin, z. Joseph, 3. William, 4. James, 5.