ELLS~EELL§~EEL§ RUST AND ALLIED F AMILlE§
A GENEALOGICAL STUDY WITH BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Compiled and Pri..-ately Printetl for ESTELLE ELLS (EELLS) RUST
BY THE A~1ERICA...~ HISTORICAL CO~lPANY, Inc. NE\Y YORK
ELLS~ EELLS=EELS RUST AND ALLIED FAMILIES
To Thos~ Of This Lineage,
And To All True Americans
Everywhere,
This Record 0£ Past Generations Who Hcped, Dared, and W rouglit
Greatly
To Make Our America
Wh.ich. We Today Defend and Cherish,
Is Dedicated
Br Estelle Ells (Eells) Rust
I{
Contents
PAGE Foreword 9 Ells 17 Marvin (Line One) J.)-.... Marvin ( Line Two) 77 Benedict 87
Bouton 103
Gregory III St. John 123 Hunlock 133 Beard 139 Pettit 147 Scofield 153 Whiting 159 Collins . . . 169
Foreword HE stirring national events of recent years have awakened in most Americans an interest in our American past. There follows naturally the desire to know more of one's ancestors · and the part they played in our country's beginnings and development. The ancestral record here presented, that of Estelle Ells (Eells) Rust, has been pronounced a most unusual one, even by those specializing in the genealogy of Ne,v England's first families, and while there are many persons who may claim an equally ancient New Eng land lineage, there are very few ,vhose ancestors, in so many different lines, were persons of such extraordinary ability and distinction. It is unusual to find in any one lineage such a large number of individuals prominent as ministers, church officials, teachers, legislators and high ranking officers during Colonial and Rev olutionary wars. Major Samuel Eells ( 1640-1709), whose old home at Milford, Connecticut, is used as a home for the Historical Society of 1\1ilford, was a captain when he served in King Philip's War ( 1675-76), but from 1700 until his death he was always referred to, in official records, as major. His son, Colonel Samuel Eells, was deputy to the General Court of Connecticut from I 704 to I 7o8, Speaker, 17o6-o8, and assistant to the Governor from 1709 to 1740. He gave valuable assistance, during the formative years, to the Collegiate School, which in 1718 became Yale College. In 1739 he was appointed colonel of the New Haven Col ony Regiment. His son, Rev. John Eells, a graduate of Yale College in 17241 became a f an1ous Congregational minister and first pastor of the Congregational 9
FOREvVORD
Church at New Canaan, Connecticut. Lieutenant Jeremiah Eells, son of Rev. John Eells, was an ardent patriot, served through the American Revolution as an officer, and was an officer in Colonel Samuel Canfield's regiment at West Point in 1781. His son, Jeremiah Eells, also took up arms in defense of his country at the outbreak of the Revolution, serving through most of the war, part of the time as a prisoner of war on the notorious prison ship "Jersey." Samuel Eells, a cousin of James Adelbert Eells, attended Hamilton College and was founder of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. William Whiting, who was born in England, and died in Hartford, Connecti cut, in 1647, was a major in the Colonial forces, assistant to the Governor, and Treasurer of the Colony, 1643-47, and was commissioner to the United Colonies in 1646. His son, Rev. John Whiting, who was graduated from Harvard College in 1653, was a tutor at Harvard for a time and later became a Congregational minister and founded the Second Church at Hartford. During King Philip's Indian War he served as chaplain of the Hart£ord forces. Captain John Beard, of Milford, Connecticut, at a meeting of the Council of Connecticut, January 17, 1675, was chosen captain and as such served in King Philip's War. His wife, Anna Hawley~ was a sister of Joseph Hawley, of Strat ford. The Hawley family is of ancient and noble descent, a Lord Hawley having been a peer in the reign of King Charles I. The Hawleys were very prominent in the early history of Connecticut, were among the wealthiest f amities of New England and a familiar phrase among the people of the New Haven Colony was the saying: "As rich as the Hawleys." Lieutenant Thomas Benedict ( 1617-90), was a founder, in 1662, of Jamaica, Long Island, and the same year was a founder of the first Presbyterian Church in America. He was appointed by Governor Nichols a lieutenant of the Foot Company of Jamaica in 1665. Removing to Norwalk, Connecticut, he represented that town in the General Assembly in 1670 and again in 1675, and in 1684 he was one of four persons who laid out the town which later became Danbury, Con necticut. His mother, Ann (Hunlock) Benedict, was of an old and honored family of Derbyshire, England, where Winger\vorth Hall was the family estate for more than three hundred years. Her father, Henry Hunlock, was sheriff 11
FOREWORD of Derbyshire and attended King James I during the royal progress through Derbyshire. His grandson, Henry Hunlock, was knighted by King O1arles I on the battlefield of Edgehill in 1642. Henry Gregory, progenitor of that line in America, was prominent in early Stratford, Connecticut, and was the first owner of what is now the Stratford Court Square. His son, John Gregory, was also prominent in the early history of Stratford and served as deputy to the General Court at least fourteen times. He took a leading part in the founding of Newark, New Jersey, and in 1666, with Robert Treat, selected the site for the city of Newark. Mathew Marvin, a descendant of an old and wealthy family, owners of large estates in Ramsey, W rabness, an~ Great Bentley, England, came to America in 1635 and was one of the twelve earliest kno,vn settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, where his name appears on the Founders' Monument. In 1650 he removed to Norwalk, Connecticut, where he was one of the original settlers. His great grandson, Lieutenant John Marvin, was commissioned lieutenant of the first trainband in Norwalk, in May, 1745. He was a wealthy and influential Norwalk citizen and one of the owners of the iron works at Sharon. Captain Benjamin Marvin, son of Lieutenant John Marvin, served as a soldier in the French and Indian War. During the American Revolution he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Third Regiment of the Line, New York ( 177 5), and in 1776 he was com missioned captain of the Fourth Regiment of the Line, N e,v York. Lieutenant Reinold Marvin was one of the prominent men of early Lyme and Saybrook, Connecticut, being a large land owner in both towns. He was appointed sergeant of the trainband at Saybrook by the General Court in 1661 and was later made a lieutenant, which post he held until his death in 1676. He ,vas a representative to the General Court at Lyme at the time of his death. There are many other distinguished New England ancestors from whom Estelle Ells (Eells) Rust descends. l\Iark St. John was a leader in early Nor walk, Connecticut, having represented that town in the General Assembly at vari ous times from 1672 to 1684. Daniel Scofield was one of the early settlers of Stam£ ord~ Connecticut, and John ( 2) Bouton was very prominent in the early 13
FOREWORD history of Norwalk, a sergeant of the Norwalk trainband and a deputy to the General Assembly from Norwalk in seventeen sessions, from 166g to 1685, inclusive. Deacon Edward Collins was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in I 638 and was appointed deacon of the first church in Cambridge. He lived for many years on the plantation he had purchased from Governor Craddock. He served as representative to the General Court of the Colony from 1654 to 1670, with the exception of the year I 66 I. Idealism and mental ability of a high order seen1 to have been combined with military ability in most of the families who make up the lineage of Estelle Ells (Eells) Rust, and if, as the ancient Egyptians believed, the blood of our ancestors is the prophecy of destiny, .the following pages should give hope and confidence to those of this lineage now living, and to the generations to come. W. S. F.
15
ELLS ARMS Arms-Argent, three eels azure on a chief gules a port between two towers argent. Crest-On a wreath of the colors a dexter hand and wrist inclined to the dexter hand grasping a scimitar in bend sinister proper hilt and pomel or the blade transfixing a Boar's head erased also proper. ( Arms granted by the College of Arn1s, London, England, to Mrs. Estelle Rust, 29th day of July, 1952.
17
HE surname Ells is thought to be of very ancient Anglo Saxon origin. It was usually spelled Eells or Eels up to modern times. The name first appears at Redburn, Eng land, when a will was witnessed by Alice Eells, "mother of John Elys." ( l\I. A. Lower: Patronyniica Britannica. Myrtle NL Jillson: The Eells Faniily Association, p. 20.) I JOHN ( 1) EELLS, as he spelled the name, the first in this family of whom there is definite record, was born in England, and died there some years after returning to his native land. He came from Barnstaple, England, and is first recorded in Dorchester, Massachusetts, January 6, 1633. He was made a freeman May 14, 1634, prov ing that he ,vas a church member, as none but church members were given this rank. A majority of the members of the Dorchester congregation removed to Windsor, Connecticut, and it is believed that John ( l) Eells was one of their number, as he had a son named Samuel, and an entry of the First Church, Dor chester, reads: Samuel Eelles, his ffather being memb. of the church of Winsor was by Communio of churches baptized 3 n10. 3th anno. 1640.
~~ town vote of January 4, 1635, gave to "John Eales, 20 acres" and other grants. February 22, 1638. he sold land to l\lr. l\Iather, being about five acres
19
ELLS on Dorchester Nee~. On the 28th day of the 8th month, 1640, John Eells, of Dorchester, sold to Nathaniel Patten "all his Dwellinge houses and other out houseinge thereto belongeinge with all his Lands in p'priety or comon, and all other appurtenances thereto app'taineinge." In 1641, John Eells, an officer in Cromwell's army, returned to England accotnpanied by his son. In July, 1641, he made an agreement with Thomas Allen, of Barnstable, Massachusetts, for prop erty in Bowporte Street, Barnstaple, County Devon, England, to be used by John Eells and his heirs, etc., "provided allways that if the said John Eells dye at sea wthout heires," etc., the property would revert to Thomas Allen and heirs, etc. July 15, 1641, Thomas Allen gave John Eells power of attorney. A search of various records in England failed to disclose the later history of John Eells, unless he may be the John Eales, of Pilton, Devonshire, whose will was filed in the Archdeanery Court of Barnstaple, County Devon. This will refers to son John, son Samuel, daughter Mary Fox (wife of James Fox), daughter Eliza beth ( wife of Henry Horwood), and "r.ay now wife, Mary," and an abstract reads:
Will of John Eales of Pilton. Dated S Sept., 14 Charles II. John Eales of Pilton in the county of Devon, Joyner, being sicke and weake in body but of good and perfect memory, thanks be to Almighty God and calling to remembrance the uncertaine estate of this transitory life and that all must yield unto death when it shall please God to call, I make constitute, ordaine and declare this my last will and testament revoking and annulling by these presents all and every testament and testaments will and wills heretofore by me made and declared either by ,vord or ,vriting and this is to be taken only for my last will and testament and none other. And first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my sinnes past most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same I give and commit my soule unto almighty God my saviour and Re deemer in whom by the merrits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assur edly to be saYed and to have full remission and forgiYeness of all my sins. A.nd that my soule with my body at the general day of resurrec tion shall rise again with joy and through the merits of Christ's death and passion possess and inherit the kingdome of heaven prepared for
21
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(SJJID) (iiJJ3i)) ~la~ b'u1+!~Lij
~
~~
EEL~ I FELL~) I ELL~) .-lr111s-.-\rgent, three eels naiant azure. t Crozier: Grncral .-lrnzor_\'. \·ermont: .-lnzcrica Hcraldica. F. F. Starr: Eells Family of Dorchester. Jlassaclrnsctts.) l ·rcst-.-\ dexter arm in armor fess\\"ays. couped. holding a cutlass, enfiled with a huar·s head. couped. all proper. t Crozier: Gc11cral ~-lrmon•. \·ermont: .-fozcrica H craldica.)
\\'HITI~G ...J.rrns-Gyronny of four azure and ermine. O\·er all a lion's head erased or, in chief three beza.nts. Crest-:\ lion ·s head erased or. l ~latthews: .--fozcrican .--lnnoHr)'.)
BEXEDICT .--1nns-C;nks. a lion rampant holding in his paws the head of a hammer pierced in the center. all or. Crest-The lion issuant. \ Rietstap: .--1rnzorial c;hzh-al.J
5T. JOHX
.--lr111s-Ermin~. ()J1 a chief gules t\,·o mullets or. Crest-On a mount a falcun nsmg proper.
1 ).Ianhews: .--1111cricaH .--1rnzoun·.)
1 1 1 1 nDl .r .I.~'-·,. ·. C (. ...JL t ,,.~if UL • --11····01·,·Iii _.,_ • .J
ELLS
his elect and chosen. And 111y body to be buried in such place where it shall please my executrix hereafter nan1ed to appoint. ...A.nd for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods chattells and debts as it hath pleased God far above my deserte to bestow on me I do order give and dispose of the same in manner and form following that is to say- First I will that all those debts or duties as I owe in right or con science to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truely contented and paid within convenient time after my decease by my executrix, hereinafter named. Itn1 I give and be queath unto my son John and to my son Sanz.ztel 12d a peece. Itm I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary wife of James Fox, 12d. Itm I give and be queath unto my daughter Elizabeth wife of Henry Harwood I 2d to be paid by my executrix within twelve months and a day after my decease. Item I do will give and bequeath unto my now ·wife 1-'Iary immediately after my decease all and singular my goods chattels and debts whatso ever to have and enjoy the same during her natural life without any con tradiction to her only use and behoof e and I do make her my executrix of this my last will and testament. Item I will that my said wife shall either by her will or deede or otherwise as shee shall think fitt after my decease dispose give and bequeath unto my said sons and daughters all such my goods and chattells as she shall be possessed of to be enjoyed by them after her decease in such manner and form as she shall appoint and she shall not be unduly troubled by any of my said sons and daugh ters during her natural life for anything concerning my said estate besides their said legacies of 12d a peece. In witness ,vherof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the day and year first above written .A.. D. I 662 # JOHN EALES his n1ark John (I) Eells married (first), in England, a wife whose name is not known. He married (second) probably :rvr rs. Johnson. Children, first six baptized in Barnstaple, England, according to the parish registers:
I. John, baptized May 15, 1622. 2. Nathaniel, baptized October 3, 1624, was buried December 7, 1652. 23
ELLS
3. l\1ary, baptized February 2, 1626, was buried June 23, 1629. 4. William, baptized August 31, 1628. 5. Mary (again), baptized May 2, 1630. 6. Elizabeth, baptized November 4, 1632. 7. Samuel, of whom further. (Frank F. Starr: The Eells Fam.ily of Dorchester, Massachusetts, pp. 2R 29, 100, IOI. Myrtle M. Jillson: The Eells Family Association, p. 20. Charles C. Adams: Middletown, Upper Houses, p. 54. Anthony R. Wagner, Richmond Herald, College of Arms, London, England: Records Extracted from Barnstable, Devon, Parish Registers, 1538-1675 [inclusive].) II MAJOR SAlvIUEL (r) EELLS, son of John (1) Eells, ,vas baptized at Dorchester, Massachusetts, May 3, 1640 ( aged two days, according to a record in his family), by Rev. Richard Matthew, and died in Hingham, Massachusetts, April 21, 1709. He was but an infant when his father returned to England, and apparently did not return to America until he was at least twenty-one years of age. The next entry of his name, after the baptism at Dorchester, Massachu setts, is his marriage at Milford, Connecticut. It is supposed that Samuel Eells lived for a short time after his marriage at Lynn, Massachusetts. In 1662, he set tled in Milford~ New Haven County, Connecticut, and county records show that he served on juries at various dates from November, 1666, to A.pril, 1671. l\1ay 15, 1670, he was admitted to the church and his ·wife ·was admitted July ro, fol lowing. He served on the committee chosen by the town in 1677 to transcribe from "Old books what is necessary . . . . to ye N e,v book-as grants of land, etc.," at Milford, Connecticut. In 1668 he was appointed "Cutoms officer for Milford for Wines & Liquors," and this appointment ,vas renewed December 17, 1679, and again June 8, 1681. In May, 1681, he was chosen to deal with Indians for land purchases; in June, 1685, he was town representative for the Milford-Derby boundary; and he was deputy from Milford to the General Court during the period from 1677 to 1689 for most sessions. He served on important committees; ,vas commissioner for Milford, 1683-87; ,vas town clerk in 1681 and from 1686 to 1689; and in 1669 his name is recorded as "Sarjeant of the 25
ELLS
Traine Band of 11ilford." In October, 1676, he was lieutenant, and in 11ay, 1683, captain. He served in King Philip's War with Captain Church under Robert Treat, and commanded the garrison at Dartmouth, where he captured Indians who ,vere "carried away to Plyn1outh, there sold and transported out of the country: being about eight-score persons." The General Assembly of Con necticut granted him hvo hundred acres of land for war services, l\Iay 12, 1687. The historic Eells-Stowe House, at l\:Iiiford. \Vas built by ~Iajor Sa1nuel Eells about 1670. In 1754, it was sold by his grandson, Nathaniel Eells, to Captain Stephen Stowe, husband of Freelove Baldwin. for whom the l\filf ord Chapter, Daughters of the A.merican Revolution, was named. lviay 19, 1930, the lv1ilford, Connecticut, Historical Society \vas organized under the auspices of the Daugh ters of the American Revolution, which made possible the preservation of the homestead of this intrepid settler of the town. "The Eells Family Association," in its booklet, recently published, quotes Norman lviorrison Isham, architect and author of several volumes on early An1erican houses, as ,vriting of the Eells Stowe House as among the most interesting in New England, because of two peculiarities that make it almost unique: the covered cornice of ,vhich only one other example exists today in Connecticut; and the famous dog legged stairs, of which only one other instance, and that a much later one, has been found in Con necticut. The house is no,v a n1useun1 of antiques, containing colonial relics of rare value. Samuel (I) Eells mo,·ed to Hingham, niassachusetts, in 1689 or 1690, the last entry he made as town clerk at i\Iiliord being entered October 2, 1689, and the earliest reference to him in Hingham town accounts being dated l\Iarch 10, 1689-90. He is referred to as major in Hingham records from 1700, but the date of his appointment has not been found. He was chosen commissioner of assessment in Hingham l\Iarch 27. I 694, and a year later was chosen selectman. He was representative to the General Court from Hingham, 1'Iay 30, 1705, and ,vas reelected in r 706. He was justice of the peace at the time of his death. He must have been a man of great ability, and it is ob\·ious that he was greatly hon ored in the communities in which he li\·ed.
27
ELLS
Major Samuel ( 1) Eells married (first), in Lynn, Massachusetts, August 5, 1663, _-\nna Lenthal, daughter oi Reverend Lenthal, first n1inister of 'vVey mouth, Massachusetts. He married (second), in Hingham, 1'1assachusetts, August 22, 1689, Sarah (Bateman) North, daughter of John and Hannah Bate man, of Boston~ and widow of Edward North. It is interesting to note that among his children, five of them carry the names of his brothers and sisters recorded in the Barnstaple, Devonshire, parish registers. Children of the first marriage, born in Milford, Connecticut : I. Samuel, born June 1, 1664, died July r 6, r 66 5. 2. John, born July 3, 1665, died July 13, 1665. 3. Samuel (again) ( 2), of whom further. 4. John (again), baptized June 5, 1670, died soon after March, 1697-98; married Frances Oviatt. 5. Mary, born February 18, 1670. 6. Robert, born December 14, 1672, died January 14, 1673. 7. Ann, born in 1674. 8. Elizabeth, born in r 676. 9. Nathaniel, born November 26, 1677, died August 25, 1750; married Hannah North. ro. Patience, baptized March 7, 1680. (Frank F. Starr: The Eells Family of Dorchester, Massachusetts, pp. 102- 104, r 13, r 19, 120, 129, 135, 187, 188. Register of Massachusetts Society of Colonial Dames of An1erica, 1893-1944, p. 526. An Index of Ancestors and Roll of iv.lembers of the Society of Colonial TVi.lrs (1922), p. 162. l\!Iyrtle lvI. Jillson: The Eells Family Association, pp. 20, 21.) III COLONEL SAMUEL (2) EELLS, son of Major Samuel (r) and Anna ( Lenthall) Eells, was born in Milforcl; Connecticut, September 2, 1666, bap tized there June 5, 1670, and died between October 28, 1752, and March 20, 1753, dates of the execution and probate of his will. He was granted land in 11ilford January 13, 1695-96, and in 1696 ·was appointed constable. In r6gg he served on the school committee, and was listed as captain. From 1701 to 1708 he ,vas a to,,:nsman or selectman. In 1709 he was major of the New Haven Company, and in 1739 he was appointed a colonel of the Colonial Second Regi- 29
ELLS ment. He was justice of the peace for New Haven Colony 1702-05, justice of the peace and quorum, 170 5-09 ; deputy to the General Court 1704-08 ; Speaker at various sessions, 1706-08; assistant to the Governor from May, 1709, until May, 1740. He served again as justice of the peace, 1740-42, as Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature, 1711-39, Judge of the New Haven County Court, 1730-37, and Judge of the Probate Court, 1716. He was one of the Committee of Safety raised in 11ay, 1704, to take means for protection of New Haven Colony in time of war, and marched from New London, June 15, 1704, as captain, with one hundred troops, to reinforce Major Whiting. He was appointed naval officer for the Port of 11ilford in 1-fay, 1714. Many other records of his various services exist, and he was an extensive dealer in real estate. The three marriages of Colonel Samuel ( 2) Eells have not been recorded,
but in the opinion of the family genealogists 1 they were as follows: He married (first) Esther Oviatt, who was born Nlarch 20, 1665, and died probably April 27, 1700, daughter of Thomas and Frances Oviatt, of Milford. Her identity is disclosed by a clause in her husband's will in which he bequeathed to his son, Samuel, "all the pewter Dishes yt was his Nlothers marked with T.O." He married (second), about the latter part of December and before January 14, 1700-01, 1\1artha (Whiting) Bryan. (Whiting III.) He married (third), about 1740-41, Rebecca (vVilkinson) Baldwin. Children of the first marriage: 1. Samuel, baptized November 6, 1698; married Deborah Burwell. 2. Esther, baptized l\1ay 7, 1699. Children of the second marriage : 3. I ohn ( 2), of whom further. 4. Nathaniel. (Frank F. Starr: Tlzc Eells Family of Dorchester, .ilfassachusetts, pp. 121- 122, 133-34. Charles C ..A.dams: Middletoiun Upper Houses, p. 541. An Index of Ancestors and Roll of !.11cmbcrs of the Societ'y of Colonial Tfars [1922L p. 162.) 31
ELLS
IV REV. JOHN ( 2) EELLS, son of Colonel Samuel ( 2) and Martha (Whit ing-Bryan) Eells, was baptized at Milford, Connecticut, April I I, 1703, and died in New Canaan, Connecticut, October 15, 1785, in his eighty-third year. He was graduated from Yale College in I 724, and became a Congregational minister and the first pastor of the newly roganized Congregational Church in New Canaan, beginning his ministry there in June, 1733. His residence was on Clapboard Hill. Although he ·was noted for his "ability, learning, and piety," and the parish prospered under his charge, "certain eccentricities deemed incon sistent in a minister of the Gospel," made him the subject of criticism, as a con sequence of which he resigned in I 740. He continued to reside in New Canaan until his death, many years later. It is evident that the so-called eccentricities were of no importance, for in a memorial booklet of the New Canaan Chui'ch published in 1883, it is written: Judging from the records we should expect Mr. Eells to occupy the first pulpits in the land had he lived in our day..... Let us, today, go back into that blessed old sanctuary and drop an unfailing tribute of respect to the memory of the first of these holy men of God, who took the church on the day of its birth and watched over it until its numbers were quadrupled, and then sacrificed ability, learning and piety on the altar of his eccentricities, because the people demanded it. Then as a dead minister but a living man, he was a citizen of the town forty-four years, and has not left in the traditions of the town a single eccentricity which stains his character or scars his cherished memory. One tradi tion does remain. . . . . A couple came in a thunder storm to the house of Priest Eells to be married. It was late in the evening and the minis ter had retired. From the \vindow he asked who they were and what they wanted. The man told his errand, and l\ir. Eells said: · "Come around under this \vindow here and I'll marry you." Of course they came, and this was the formula which he used: "Under this window in stormy weather I join this man and woman together, Let none but Him who made this thunder, E'er part these married two asunder." ,,., ..:,..:,
ELLS
Rev. John (2) Eells married (first), January rr, 1727-28, Ann Beard. (Beard IV.) He married (second), in September, r737, Abigail Comstock, who was born in r 7 I 7 and died in January, r 789, daughter of l\1oses and Abigail (Brinsmaid) Comstock. Children of the first marriage, baptized in New Canaan, Connecticut: r. Anna, born at Milford, Connecticut, May 1, 1729; baptized June 24, 1733, died in r76r; married, in r75r, Captain Samuel Trowbridge, who was born in 1726, at New Haven, Connecticut, and died in Bed ford, New York, in November, 1771, son of James and Susannah ( Blakesly) Trowbridge. Children, surnamed Tro,vbridge: i. John, born in 1753, died in Roxbury, Connecticut, May 5, 1826; a sergeant. ii. James, born in Bedford, New York, in 1754, died in Ossining, N e,v York, April 30, 182 I, a captain; married Elizabeth Harris. 2. I eremiah Beard, of whom further. 3. Martha, born in 1736, baptized May 9, 1736, died in Bedford, New York, September 28, I 8 I I ; married (first) , in I 7 59, Stephen Hayt, who was born in 1730 and died in 1770, son of Zerubbebel and Doro thy (Holmes) Hayt; married (second), in r775, Nathaniel Newman. Child of the second marriage : 4. lvioses Comstock, born in 1743, baptized in Ne,v Canaan, December 16, 1744, died there November 23, 1807; married, January 4, 176g, Abigail Reed, who was born June 2, 1750, and died June 23, r820, daughter of William and Rachel (Kellogg) Reed. (William Applebie Daniel Eardeley: New Canaan, Fairfield County, Con necticut, Congregational Church Records, 1733-1850, Vol. I, p. 7; Vol. II, pp. 82-85, in Ne,v York Public Library.) V CAPTAIN JEREl\rIIAH BEARD EELLS, son of ReY. John (2) and Ann (Beard) Eells, was born in lviilford. Connecticut, December 2 I, I 732, and baptized by his father, pastor of the Congregational Church in New Canaan, Connecticut, June 24, I 733, soon after the latter took charge of the parish. He
ELLS died in New Canaan, November 12, 1815, and was buried in the Carter Street cemetery of that village, where his gravestone still stands. Jeremiah Beard Eells was an ardent patriot, who took up arms for his coun try at the beginning of the Revolution and continued in active service during most of the conflict. Connecticut records show that he was referred to as ensign January 12, 1776, in a company of Connecticut troops under Captain Matthew Mead, part of a regiment raised for the defence of Connecticut and adjoining colonies. This appointment was confirmed by the Connecticut General Assem bly, May 9, 1776. He was soon promoted, becoming lieutenant of the Coast Guard. While serving in this capacity he was captured by a band of Tories, March 14, 1777, and taken to New Lots, Long Island, a part of the present City of Brooklyn, where record of him is found under the date of August 11, 1778. His release took place January 31, 1779. In spite of this harrowing experience, he rejoined the army. In September, 1781, he was at West Point, New York, serving as lieutenant in Colonel Samuel Canfield' s regiment. Records of New Canaan, Connecticut, subsequent to the Revolution, refer to him as captain, and as "Capt. Jeremiah Beard Eells" he made his will, Novem ber 26, 1798. It was probated December 4, 1815. Captain Jeremiah Beard Eells married, November 28, 17 54, Lois Benedict. ( Benedict V.) Children: 1. John, born November 16, 1755, died at Walton, New York, May 1, 1832; served in the Revolution; married, November 21, 1782, Ann Mead, daughter of General John and Mary (Brush) Mead. 2. I eremiah, of whom further. 3. Anna, born November 12, 1759, died January 6, 1792. 4. Lois, born July 12, 1761, died April 2, 1814; married Peter Rossell or Russell. 5. Martha, born ..A.pril 14, 1763; married, November 17, 1784, John Butler. 6. Sarah, born January 18, 1765; married, September 9, 1813, Daniel Butler. 7. Dinah, born February 7, 1767; married, November 18, 1792, Daniel Butler. 37
ELLS
8. Samuel, born October 3, 1j68, died young. 9. Samuel (again), born April 13, ljjO; married, in April, 1791, Han nah Gray. 10. Nathaniel, born January 10, 17j2, died in Columbia, Ohio, in 1823; married, November 14, li93, Elizabeth Hayt, who was born August 24, 1774, and died January 13, 1866, daughter of Justus and Eliza beth (Fitch) Hayt. I I. Beard, born November i, lii3- 12. James Trowbridge, born November 6, 1775; married (first), February 22, 18o2, Nancy Comstock, who was born August 27, 1779, and died in 1819, daughter of Enoch and Anna (Weed) Comstock; married (second), August 3, 1820, Ruth Benedict, who was born February 12, 1802, daughter of Caleb and Ellis (St. John) Benedict. 13. Betsey, born May 13, 1780; married, January 9, 1800, Josiah Smith. (Ibid., Vol. I, pp. 5, 6, 10, 34, 36, 40, 43, 44, 46, 49, 53, 56, 59, 63, 71, 76; Vol. II, pp. 82-85. Cemeteries in and Near New Canaan, Connecticut, typed, in New York Genealogical and Biographical Library. Edwin Hall: Norwalk, Connecticut. Public Records of Connecticut, Vol. XV, pp. 301, 485, 582, 629.) VI JERENIIAH EELLS, son of Captain Jeremiah Beard and Lois (Benedict) Eells, was born in New Canaan, Connecticut, November 22, 1757, and baptized in the Congregational Church there, December 4, 1757. He died, probably in Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York, soon after March 4, 1826. Like his father, he took up arms for the defense of his country at the out break of the Revolution and enlisted in the first week of May, 1775, as a private in Captain Beardlee's company, Colonel Waterbury's regiment, Connecticut Line, for eight months. He enlisted, 1'fay I, 1j76, as a private in Captain Samuel Keeler' s company, Colonel Philip B. Bradley's regiment, Connecticut Lir.e. Dur ing the latter service he again paralleled his father's experience, but with prob ably greater hardship~ being taken prisoner by the enen1y while defending Fort Washington, in the present City of New York. He was confined in the notorious prison ship "Jersey," until January 20, li77, when he was paroled on account of illness. He returned home and remained on parole until exchanged. Official 39
ELLS records show that he again enlisted, marching June 27, 1779, with Captain Reuben Scofield's Ninth ::VIilitia Company in the Ninth Regiment of Connecticut, com manded by Colonel John Mead, from which he was discharged July 17, 1779. He applied for a pension for his Revolutionary service April 9, 1818, residing at that time at New Canaan, Connecticut. He subsequently removed to Schenectady County, New York, according to a schedule filed by him May 15, 1820. This described his family as follows: Jeremiah Eells, myself, aged 62 years. Thankful C., wife, aged 58 years past. Benjamin, son, aged 29 yrs. married and moved. Marinda, daughter, aged 27 yrs, " " " Sally, daughter, " 2 5 " " " " Anna, " " 23 " " " " Betsey, " " I g " " " " Jeremiah, apprentice, 18 " Aaron, 16 " Mehitable 41 " " " "
Jeremiah Eells soon after this date resided in Saratoga County, New York, as on August 22, 1882, the testimoney of Ezra Nash, of the town of Milton in that county ·was appended to his application for the trans£er of his pension from the Connecticut agency to the New York agency. March 4, 1826, he stated that he had resided in Greenfield, Saratoga County, for two weeks, and that he pre viously had resided in Milton and Saratoga, New York. This was the date of the last payment of his pension and of the last record concerning him. Jeremiah Eells married (first), at Wilton, Connecticut, April 30, 1778, Mehitable Marvin. (First Marvin Line-Family in America-VI.) He mar ried (second), probably in New Canaan, Connecticut, Thankful C., whose sur name is not kno·wn. Children of the first marriage:
I. Mehitable, born about 1779; married, but her hu!::band's name is not kno\vn. 2. Benjamin, born about 1791. 41
ELLS
3. Marinda, born about 1793. 4. Sally, born about 1795; married a Mr. Palmer. 5. Anna, born about 1797. 6. Betsey, born about 1801. 7. Jeremiah, born about 1802. 8. Aaron Gregory, of whom further. (National Archives, Washington, D. C.: Abstract of Pension Application S 44 798. General Accounting Office, Washington, D. C., Reconciliation and Clearance Division: Record RC-1925756-JC. VVilliam Daniel Applebie Eard eley: Ntr& Canaan, Fairfield County_. Connecticut, Congregational Church Rec ords, 1733-1850. Cemeteries in and Near Ne--& Canaan, Connecticut.) VII AARON GREGORY EELLS or ELLS, as he may have spelled his name, son of Jeremiah and Mehitable (J\1arvin) Eells. \vas born in Connecticut in r8o4. and died in New London, Ohio, in 1895. He was aged sixteen on May 15, 1820, according to his father's pension application. He was a shoemaker by trade. Aaron Gregory Eells or Ells married Huldah Heath, born in 1808 in Sara toga County, New York; died in Ne"'- London, Ohio, May 20, 1899. I--Ier father was a native of New York State and her mother of Vermont. Aaron Gregory and Huldah (Heath) Eells lived for many years at New London, Ohio. Some of their sons attended Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, "running away from col- lege," according to family information, to enlist as soldiers in the United States Army during the War Between the States. Daughters of this family also studied at Oberlin College and taught music in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio. One of the sons ,vas : I. James Adelbert, of \vhom further. (National Archives, \iVashington, D. C.: Abstract of Pension Application S 44 798. Family records.) VIII J_A.MES _A.DELBERT ELLS, as he spelled the name, son of Aaron Greg ory and Huldah (Heath) Eells or Ells, was born in a small town near Rochester, 43
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New York, in 1843, and died in Detroit, Michigan, June 25, 1895. He attended Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, and with his brother, Orlando, le£ t that institu tion to enlist at Cleveland, Ohio, in the Union Army. Orlando became a captain and was killed at Fort Donelson. James Adelbert Ells removed to Midland, Mich igan, later to Saginaw, and finally to Detroit, Michigan. He was for many years associated with the Rust lumber interests. James Adelbert Ells married, in Midland, Michigan, October 4, 1871, Mary Jane MacGregor, who was born in Canada in 1854 and died in Saginaw, Michi gan, July 4, 18g2. She was the daughter of John and Jane (Sproul) MacGregor, both of whom were born in Scotland, resided in Canada, and removed to Michi gan about 1870. They lived in Midland. John MacGregor, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, and came from a fine old Scottish family. Jane (Sproul) MacGregor, who was born near Glasgow, Scotland, was a member of the Sproul family that produced the famous Canadian physician and statesman, Thomas Simpson Sproul. James Adelbert and Mary Jane (MacGregor) Ells were the parents of the following children: 1. Frank Gregory, now deceased, buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan. 2. Stella Jane or Estelle, of whom further. 3. Maude Huldah, married James Cartwright, of Saginaw, Michigan. 4. James Adelbert, Jr., now deceased, buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Sagi naw, Michigan. 5. Edna May, married Arthur A. Floyd, of Flint, Michigan. 6. Zelma Evelyn, married Raymond Alexander Thorne, of Oklahoma City and Gary, Indiana. 7. Zerah Delos, of Los Angeles, California. 8. Agnes, now deceased, buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Saginaw. (Family records.) IX STELLA JANE or ESTELLE ELLS (EELLS), daughter of James Adelbert and Mary Jane (l\IacGregor) Ells, was born in ~didland, Michigan, January 10, 1875, and was confirmed in St. John's Episcopal Church in 1890. 45
~~,t n r i s \:; 1 o., n - •f} C (\-~~(l)~:; --- <0·'------= ,, . _-- r ·3 2) ·, ------~~--,,~ - · U\ , /,\D .:----So0-- o.rocLre - -- c., •u· ~~. . ,- c-J------c:LJ ~-:.1~':)¼wf~rv\n,b.i~ll<\ ~jc; \~\'~~v-ev-J'' \12nbetr,v' ·.Jci, ~~ _),~,\D - r-:• '>O"'·' Zt-.'.l ';--:'>;~\\'/,0(\'. ' ,___,;.,..---:- \\ . \-" -S:~t"_ __, ~--s -'".O:\,J:,.f\ . \ ~ p EL /'.{' /o•' · / (X)J a8 I _d "/'• \ / - ·lY'~.(t) ~d ,: ~< I\ ,. ~J ~ Q'-'d ,'-/,\/\,Cu .-' \ ~..o ·_:_-:/)1/,".,'-_ ,0 / - c:-- (J) a:i / , ) ~ C (' ·-') \./ .-<._D :j ( /,;)' _',. / 7' (T ;- :) (. . ~ _ __,.____ > L -- ' ',) l'., -' :,_.., ~ p O (1) . ' '.I_ ' - _:,.-J ---~T. l . ~<. y - 'w _\II ..q ..___.., - 1\0- / -:0 'z_ -•:) or--.vJ...() 0f (._f' , ~1 / . _.., _. ::) U D ,... --,..:; <,.,: ti , -.. l" ' •'-., · . ~-£--r:------:_,._,~v ~ ~ ~ :// · : Q.r-Rev.J h £{§ GREGORY I/ ~- ;.,IY,f'~/ . , : · f\).,\y?.,1-~70S; bap't.A;1;'//t>te/ ?, · d.Oct.lS-t7.' 703 ,1 ,,, .').5,\175; '111 I , 8 ; · (', "" v// ~ rn. 5/; 0 /, --<./, , ) ~r~v ., ;(;'~<\'),?j M/\RV\l'-l/ .::,. . r8L ~¾~~ & ~- '-'CY'Q-.:i{>< 'J. 111· O' A 1n L. , r,:i ~--:-v,( ,\ ~,'\ .>3i- u/<;,0 f, Q ' < J • 0 J~ I ' ' / < ',. & , • rl0 1 11-;0 c. ELLS She married (first), Jesse CoYcrt. who is deceased. She n1arried (second) Charles Calvert Sturtz, ,vho is deceased, of Kentucky and Illinois. She married (third), at A.nn A.rbor, ~1ichigan, A.pril 28. 1914, Ezra Rust, son of A.masa and Charlotte (Ward) Rust. He \Vas born in \iVells, Vermont, Septen1be!" 23, 1836, and died in Los A.ngeles, California, January 3, 1918. lvir. Rust ,vas of the eighth generation descending from Henry Rust, of Hingham, County X or folk, England, ,vho settled in Hingham, ?\1assachusetts, in 1633. His father came west\vard by wagon and canal across New York State, continuing until he reached Ne,vport, which later became Marine City, Mich igan, in 1837. There he established an inn, bought land and operated a farm. On the maternal side of the house, the Vv ard family was long prominent in Great Lakes shipping, operating fleets of lake boats, and Charlotte \iVard, his mother, was a daughter of the Rev. David and .A.bigail \Vard, of \Vells, \'ermont. The Wards moved to Detroit, where they became one of the city's wealthiest fam ilies. Amasa and Charlotte (Ward) Rust \Vere the parents of eight children; five sons and three daughters. The story of the five sons comprises an important chapter in American industrial history. Two of them, Aloney and David Ward Rust, early built and operated lake vessels. They settled about 1850 in Saginaw, l\fichigan, where they became engaged in the lumber and salt industries. Amasa and Ezra Rust ·were pioneers in the timber industry of the north woods. The fifth brother, John F. Rust, established a wholesale lumber business in Cleveland, Ohio, as an outlet for the mills operated by his brothers, Ezra and Amasa. Later he became a leading Cleveland banker. The three daughters of i\masa and Charlotte Rust were Esther, Laura and 1'1inerva. Ezra and A.masa Rust operated extensively in IYiichigan timber until the fores ts were cut over, then moved their activities to 1'Iinnesota, the Pacific Coast area of Washington and Oregon, and the State of Florida. Ezra Rust himself \vas a leader in developing the Saginaw Valley salt industry in Michigan and was associated \vith Henry Flagler in conducting salt mines before Mr. Flagler developed the Florida East Coast region. The two men remained close friends throughout their lives, and in later years 11r. Rust paid many visits to Henry Flagler in Florida . .A.mong his numerous industrial Yentures. ~1r. Rust distinguished himself as president of the Rust Lumber Company, the Butman & Rust Lumber Com- 47 I RI-IE.\ (CO\TRTl PEIRSO!. H.\ROLO EELLS CO\TRT ELLS pany, the Rust & Hay Lun1ber Con1pany, and the Rust & Eaton Lumber Com pany. He sen·ed on the boards oi directors of 1nany industrial enterprises banks, Great Lakes shipping companies, and others. He ,,·as also associated with the Rust & Burrows Company, in connection with which he acquired a large tract of land in Hibbing, l\Iinnesota, and bought large n1ineral rights in that area. His purchase was aftenyard deYeloped into \Yhat \Yas recognized as the largest open-pit iron mine in the ,Yorld-the Rust ~Iine, as it is called. This mine was eventually leased to the United States Steel Corporation. I\Ir. Rust was also a close friend of Andrew Carnegie, Judge Elbert H. Gary, late president of the United States Steel Corporation, as \\·ell as of other leaders of the day. Through these many acth·ities, he became a leading figure in the Saginaw Valley, one after whom important enterprises took their name, for all recognized the outstanding quality of his spirit and his thorough devotion to \vorth while principles of thinking and living. l\liaintaining his residence for many years in Sagina\v, he contributed richly to business, civic, and cultural life, and the university community, in particular, benefited from his works. He \vas one of the foremost benefactors of Saginaw. He bought considerable land around the city, near the river, most of it in swamp land and waste area, and developed this region into a beautiful park ·which was presented to Saginaw, and is known as Ezra Rust Park. i\Iany other generous gifts were forthcoming from l\Ir. Rust, who aided churches, hospitals, orphan ages, old people's homes, and other institutions. He advanced aid to the Univer sity of lviichigan in Ann Abor, helping in particular to endo\v its alumni building. Politically i\{r. Rust was a staunch Republican. He \Vas deeply interested in public affairs, although he never held governmental office. He was frequently thought of as "the power behind the throne" in 11ichigan politics, and whoever had his support was practically certain of election. He did some public speaking, and was gifted along these lines. Long fond of outdoor life, particularly of travel and fishing, he spent his winters in Florida for years. After Henry Flag ler's death, however, and the passing of other friends there, he divided his leisure times between Saginaw and California. His death in Los i\ngeles, California, January 3, 1918, \vas an occasion for profound sorrow and regret. His accom plishments earned for him \vide admiration and confidence, and he will long be affectionately remembered by acquaintances and friends in all walks and depart ments of life. 49 \l.\\T\E (Rl"ST1 \IrIRHF.\D ELLS Children of Stella Jane or Estelle Ells (Eells), by her first marriage: I. Rhea Covert, a graduate of the University of lviichigan, married Thomas Reardon Peirsol, a graduate of the same university. Children: i. lv1ary Peirsol, attended the University of Michigan; married James Dickey Kline, of Erie, Pennsyivania, a graduate of the san1e uniYersity. They have three children: a. Martha Dickey Kline. b. James Peirsol Kline. c. \Villiam Lacy Kline. ii. Martha Peirsol, a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; married Roy David Matthews, a graduate of the same university; of Owosso, Michigan. They have three children : a. David Christopher Matthews. b. John Peirsol Matthews. c. Darwin Crawford Matthews. 111. Thomas Reardon Peirsol, Jr., of Los Angeles, California; graduated from Cranbrook School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich igan; attended the University of Michigan; married Anita Alexander, of Ann Arbor, who attended the University of Michigan. They have one child: a. John 11:ark PeirsoL iv. Susanna Peirsol, attended the University of Michigan; mar ried Francis W. Rockwell. III, graduate of that university; of Andover, Massachusetts. v. John Michael Peirsol, graduated from Cranbrook School, Bloomfield Hills; served in the 297th Engineering A via tion Battalion; entered the University of Michigan. 2. Harold Eells Covert, graduated from the University of 11:ichigan; mar ried Dorothy van Deursen, also a graduate of the same university; of Dalton, Illinois. Child of the second marriage : 3. Maxine Rust, who was legally adopted by Ezra Rust, graduated f ram the University of 1fichigan; married Stanley N. Muirhead, deceased, a graduate of the same university in law, of Grosse Pointe Farms, 1fichig-an. They had four children: i. Martha 11axine 1Iuirhead, attended Bald,vin School, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. ii. Stanley N. Muirhead, Jr., a student at Trinity College, Hart £ord, Connecticut. iii. Ezra Rust lviuirhead. attended the Lawrenceville School; a student at Trinity College. iv. Mary Moffet 1Iuirhead, attending the Country Day School, Christ Church. Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. (Family records.) 51 11ERVYN (!vLi\R.VIN) AR1iS Arms-Argent, a demi-lion rampant sable. (Burke: General Armory.) 53 Marvin (LINE ONE) ARVIN, with its variants Mervin, Mirfin, and Mervyn, is a surname of baptismal origin, derived from "the son of Merfin or Mervyn." The Breton form of this famous name is lvierlin. A.ccording to one etymologist, Mervyn is still in use in Wales as a font name. The family of this name has been established in England since early in the fifteenth century, at which tin1e the name was familiar in Wiltshire, Somersetshire, Hampshire and other counties. One branch of this family resided in County Essex, England, the home of our American progenitors, Reinold and lviatthew Marvin. ( C. "'vV. Bardsley: Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. George Franklin and William T. R. Marvin : Descendants of Reinold and Matthew Marvin.) THE FAMILY IN ENGLAND I THO1L.\.S 1ifER\TYN, as the name was spelled in his time, was of Ramsey, County Essex, England, and probably died soon after _;.\ugust 23, r 503, the date of his ,vill, and before A.pril I I, 1504, \vhen it was probated. He was buried in the Church of St. 1Iichael the A.rchangel at Ramsey. He was obviously a man of considerable substance, bequeathing property at Ran1sey, at Harwich, and elsewhere in the neighborhood. 55 Thomas lVIervyn married Christian, whose surnan1e is unknown. She sur vived him and was co-executrix of his \vill. It is possible that he had married previously and that Christian was not the mother of his children. Among the children of Thomas Mervyn were : I. John, of \vhom further. 2. Thomas. 3. Robert. 4. Ann, living in I 503; married Robert Borflete. (John Insley Coddington: lv otes on the Ancestry of Reinold and Matthe--a: Marvin, in American Genealogist, D. L. Jacobus, Editor, Vol. XVIII, pp. 4, 5.) II JOHN MERVYN, son of Thomas Mervyn, died at Ramsey, County Essex, England, between September 16, 1533, and December 17, 1533, the dates when his will was signed and probated. He was buried in the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, at Ramsey. His will shows that he owned much property and was a man of wealth much above the average. In this document he bequeathed lands and tenements in the parishes of Ramsey, Great Oakley, and Little Oakley. The names of some of his lands were J anecox, W axe, Bennettes, Rolf es, Nether Lands, Gesses, Brandons and Milkes. He also had interests in the town of Har wich, ·which he left to his brother Thomas, a resident of that town. John 11:ervyn married Margaret, whose surname is unknown. She survived him and was co-executrix of his will, the wording of which indicates unmistak ably that she was the mother of all his children. Children ( order uncertain) : 1. John, eldest son. 2. Reinold, of whom further. 3. Thomas. 4. Richard. 5. John (again). 6. Margaret, married John Cooper. 7. Christian. 8. Marion, married ).fr. Swattocke. (Ibid.) 57 111AR\FIN III REINOLD 1IER\'""'fN, son of John and :\Iargaret 1Iervyn, died at Ramsey, County Essex, England, before October 14, l 561. He ,vas in very comfortable circumstances, owning various farms and estates at Ramsey, Wrabness, and the vicinity. He attended the ancient church of St. l\!Iichael the A.. rchangel in 11ichael stowe, in the eastern part of Ramsey, and in his ·will directed that he should be buried there. His will, signed '"Per me Rynald 11ervyn," dated December 22, 1554, is preserved in Somerset House, London. Reinold 1'1ervyn married Joan, ,vhose family name is not known. She sur- vived and ,vas executrix of his will. Children ( order uncertain) : I. Richard, inherited the farm "Benettes" from his father. 2. Edward, of ,vhom further. 3. John, probably died in Little Oakley, in lV!arch, 1584-85; inherited the farm "Genettes." 4. Audre. 5. Margere. 6. Barbara, married John Wade. (Ibid. George Franklin and William T. R. Marvin: Descendants of Reinold and il1attheu.' il1arl.lin, pp. 13-15, 19, 20.) I\T EDWARD l\iERVYN, son of Reinold and Joan 1Iervyn, died in Great Bentley, County Essex, England, November 13 or 14, 1615. By his father's will he inherited, at his mother's death, an estate in W rabness. He also owned several farms in Ramsey and its vicinity, and a mansion called "Edons, alles (alias) Drey brocks," in ,vhich he resided. This mansion is in Great Bentley, and is described, in 1904, as "still standing in good repair and bearing its ancient name, though sho,ving evidence of various changes inside and out. since Edward died. The large room on the main floor, with its carved beams in the ceiling. and the stair case to the chambers above, are thought to date from the period \vhen Edward 59 lived there." Ed\vard removed to Great Bentley, probably after his marriage, and \Vas a member of St. ?\Iary's Church, a venerable structure dating from the days of the early Norman kings. Four of his children were baptized there. Edward 1\1ervyn married lvfargaret, \vhose surname is unknown. She sur- vived him. Children: r. Edward. 2. Thomas. 3. Richard. 4. Robert. 5. Margaret, died at Great Bentley, buried January 28, 1595-96. 6. Mary, married (first), at Great Bentley, April 19, 1610, John Hays; married (second), December 8, I 6 I 8, Richard Wood. 7. John (twin), baptized June 7, 1593, died soon after birth. 8. Reinold (twin), baptized June 7, I 593, died soon after birth. 9. Reinold ( 1) (again), of whom further. (Second Marvin Line I.) 10. Elizabeth, married, May 22, 1618, Robert Edwards. IL Matthew (1), of whom further. (Ibid.) THE FAMILY IN AMERICA I MATTHEW (I) l\1ARVIN, as the name was spelled in America, young est son of Edward and lv1argaret Meryvn, was baptized at St. Mary's Church, Great Bentley, County Essex, England, March 26, I 6oo, and died in Norwalk, Connecticut, before July 12, 1680, the date when his \vill was proved. By his father's will he inherited the mansion house "Edons" or "Dreybrocks" in Great Bentley, and the crofts of land called "Hartles or Bracken Heddes," on condition of paying his mother six pounds yearly. He probably resided with his mother until her death in l\1ay, 1633. He sailed from London in the "Increase" about the middle of April, 1635, and reached New England near the first of June of that year, being the first of the two en1igrant brothers to arri\·e in A.n1erica. Records of St. l\Jary's Parish 61 at Great Bentley show that he was a ··sydeman" there in 1621, "overseer" in 1627, and senior ,varden in 1628. The last mention of him there is dated August 22, 1633, and concerns the burial of ''William Littleburye, the servant of 11atthew l\Ieruin." He had proved, just previous to sailing, that his party had taken the oath of "allegiance and supremacie" and were con£ ormable to the government and discipline of the Church of England. lVIatthe,v ( 1) rdarYin brought with him to America his wife, Elizabeth, aged thirty-one, and children: Elizabeth, thirteen; lviatthew, eight; Marie, six; Sarah, three; Hannah, one-half year. He was one of the t\velve earliest known settlers of Hartord, Connecticut, who formed the company known as the "Adven turers," to whom belonged ''\,. enturers' Field." He resided in Hartford, on the corner of Village, now Pleasant, and Front streets. His name is on the Founders' ~Ionument in Hartford. He apparently thought of settling in Farmington, Con necticut, where his brother Reinold had gone, for both owned land and d\velling houses there, but instead sold his Farmington property, and, in 1650, went to Norwalk, Connecticut, where he was one of the original settlers. He was assigned one of the most desirable hon1e lots, and is referred to as "l\Ir. l\Iatthew Mar vin" in the records, the title being given at that time only to those of superior social standing. "Devout, discreet, calm, sound in judgment, he gained and held the confi dence of his fellow-citizens, and discharged for them many offices of civil life." He le£ t an estate of two hundred and seventy-nine pounds, the second largest in Norwalk at that period. He served as deputy to the General Court in 1654. :Wlatthew ( 1) Marvin married (first), about 1622, Elizabeth, whose sur name is not known. She was born about 1604 and died in Hart£ord, Connecticut. He married (second), Alice, widow of John Bouton. ( Bouton I.) Children of the first marriage: I. Elizabeth, baptized at Great Bentley, September 15, 1622, died in 1708; married Dr. John Olmstead. 2. Jlllatthew (2)_. of whom further. 3. 1Iarie, baptized at Great Bentley, Dece111ber 16, 1628, died in Norwich, Connecticut, March 29, 1713; married ( first) Richard Bushnell; married (second) Deacon Thomas Adgate. 63 4. Sarah, baptized at Great Bentley, December 27, 1631, died in Stratford, Connecticut; married (first), October 4, 1648, William Goodrich; married (second) Captain \;Villiam Curtis. 5. Hannah, born in England in 1634, died in Norwalk, Connecticut; mar ried, January 5, 1653-54, Thomas Seymour. 6. Abigail, born in Hartford, Connecticut, about 1637-38; married John ( 2) Bouton. ( Bouton IL) 7. Rebecca, born in Hartford; probably married John Clark, of Farm- ington. Children of the second marriage : 8. Lydia, probably died young. 9. Samuel, baptized in Hartford, Connecticut, February 6, 1647-48, prob ably died young. 10. Rachel, baptized in Hartford, December 30, 1649, died about 1687: married Samuel Smith, of Norwalk. (George Franklin and William T. R. Marvin: Descendants of Reinold and Matthew M aruin, pp. 287-98.) II MATT HEW ( 2) MARVIN, son of l\1atthew ( 1 ) and Elizabeth Marvin, was baptized at St. l\!Iary's Church, Great Bentley, England, November 8, 1626, and died in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1712. He came to America with his father in the "Increase," and settled at Norwalk, Connecticut, certainly as early as 1651-52, his name being signed February 15, 1561-52, on the deed made with the Indian proprietors of the Norwalk lands. He owned a home lot and other lands in Nor\valk, and is styled "l\!Ir." in the records. He was accepted as a freeman, October 13, 1664, and held many town offices of importance, serving as town clerk from 166o-62, and as selectman in 1660, 1679-94, and probably other years. He was also prominent in church matters, being one of the committee to procure a minister, in 1694-95, and was given liberty to sit in the deacon's seat at the meetinghouse, in 1702-03. Matthew (2) Marvin married, probably about 1650, Mary, whose surname is unknown. 65 MARVIN Children: I. Matthew, born about 1656, died October 7, 1691; married Rhoda St. John. ( St. John II, Child 4.) 2. Mary, born about 1658; married Daniel Benjamin. 3. Mercy, born about 1660, died July 22, 1711, aged fifty-one; married, as his second wife, William Haynes. 4. Sarah, born about 1662; married, January 13, 1680, Thomas Betts. 5. Samuel, born about 1664; married Hannah Platt. 6. Elizabeth, born December 2, 1671, died April 9, 1703; married, Novem ber 6, 1700, Joseph Platt. 7. Hannah, born about 1675, died in Huntington, Long Island, about 1703; married Epenetus Platt. 8. John (1), of whom further. (Ibid., pp. 299, 301-02, 321, 322. Frederic Gregory Mather: Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut, p. 46o.) III SERGEANT JOHN (1) MARVIN, son of Matthew (2) and Mary Mar vin, was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, September 2, 1678, and died in Sharon, Connecticut, February 9, 1774. He led an active and useful life, being town collector in Norwalk in 1718, surveyor of the highways in 1711, a member of the committee appointed to obtain a school teacher in 1712, selectman in 1706, 1713, and 1719, constable in 1717, and representative from Norwalk to the General Court in 1734 and 1738. He is called sergeant in a record of 1719. January 21, 1752, he bought for £2,400 the farm previously owned by his son, John, in Sharon, Connecticut, and settled there not long afterwards. Sergeant John ( 1 ) lVIarvin married (first), lVIarch 22, 1704, Mary Beers, who was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, and died in Norwalk, April 17, 1720, aged thirty-five years, daughter of James Beers, Jr. He married (second), April 27, 1721, Rachel St. John, daughter of lvlatthias and Rachel (Bouton) St. John. Children of the first marriage: I. John ( 2), of whom further. 2. Nathan, born March 4, I 707; married Hannah Betts. 6i rvIARVIN 3. Seth, born July 13, 1709; married Phebe Lees, of Norwalk. 4. David, born August 24, 171 r, died in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1779; married Hannah Gregory. 5. Elizabeth, born October 23, 1713; married Timothy Jarvis, of Hunt ington, Long Island. 6. lviary, born December 29, 1716; married (first) Ezekiel Scudder; mar ried (second) l\i!r. Judson. 7. Elihu, born October ro, 1719, died in Blooming Grove, Orange County, New York, August 24, 1803; married Abigail Yelverton. Children of the second marriage : 8. Hannah, born December 4, r 722; married Joseph Hitchcock. 9. Joseph, born lvfay 29, 1724, died April 28, 1772; married Katherine St. John. ro. Rachel, died young. 1 I. Benjamin, died young. 12. Rachel (again), born l\Iarch 27, 1728-29; married (first) Joshua Sears; (second) Josiah Holley. 13. Sarah, died young. 14. Ann, born September 7, 1741. ( George Franklin and William T. R. Marvin: Descendants of Reinold and M attheiu 111 art.Jin, pp. 323-25, J35, 337, 338, 339. Frederic Gregory Mather: Refugees of 1776 froni Long Island to Connecticut, p. 460.) IV LIEUTENANT JOHN (2) MARVIN, son of Sergeant John (1) and Mary (Beers) l\1:arvin, was born in N or\valk, Connecticut, July 22, I 705, and died at Winthrop's Patent, near Brookhaven, Long Island, New York, August 25, 1775. He held the office of "lister" in Norwalk and was commissioned lieu tenant of the first trainband there in l\1ay, 1745. With his wife, Abigail, he sold land in Norwalk, A.pril 28, 1748, being then "of Norwalk." Soon afterward he moved to Sharon. Connecticuti where. 1Iay I9i r74R he bought land of Daniel Reed. August 22, 1748, he bought for £ r,roo the "Bates place," about a mile east of the meetinghouse, where he lived till 1753, when on January 21, 1752-53, 69 MARVIN he sold a large part of the estate to his father. He removed to Brookhaven in 1770. His residence is given as "Blew-point" in 1774, and Winthrop's Patent, South Haven, in the following December. He ,vas one of the owners of the iron works at the mouth of l\!Iudge Pond in Sharon. He was a representative from Sharon to the Connecticut Legislature, 1756-58. Lieutenant John ( 2) lviarvin married, in 1724, Abigail St. John, said by some genealogists to have been the daughter of Captain Samuel and Rebecca (Olmstead) St. John, but this appears impossible, as their daughter Abigail died in Ridgefield in 1720. Children, all but the youngest born in Wilton (Norwalk), Connecticut : I. Mary, born June 26, 1725; married, October 24, 1749, Zebulon Babcock. 2. Abigail, born November 27, 1727, died March 15, 1756; married, August 5, 1755, Rev. Cyrus lv1arsh. 3. John, born July 29, 1729; married (first), September 19, 1751, Eliza beth Dunham; (second), July 4, 17 58, Mary Case. 4. Stephen, born April 6, 1731; married Mercy Hoskins. 5. Rebecca, born November 25, 1732; married, June 26, 1750, David Hunter. 6. Sarah, born January 15, 1734-35. 7. Benjamin) of whom further. 8. Mercy, born June 8, 1739; married (perhaps first), January 14, 1753 or 1758, Nathaniel Tyler; probably married (second), March 20, 1765, Amos Adams. 9. Ebenezer, born April 6, 1741, died in Franklin, Vermont, November 3, 1820; served as captain during the Revolution; later judge, physi cian, legislator; married, October 20, I 763, Sarah Minerva Adams. 10. Lydia, born 11arch 3, 1742-43. I I. Ephraim, born December 26, 1745, died July 27, 1793; married in Frederickstown, then in Dutchess County, now Putnam County, New York, in 1765, .Abigail, ,vhose surname is unkno\vn. 12. Esther, born l\Iay 20, 1747. 13. Jedediah. baptized November 27, 1748, died at Sodus, \iVayne County, New York. 14. Susannah, married, November 8, 1764, Hezekiah Frisbee. ( George Franklin and William T. R. lviarvin: Descendants of Reinold and Matthew Jl1arvin) pp. 332-39. Orline St. John Alexander: The St. John Gene alogy) p. 58.) 71 "\l CAPTAIN BENJA11IN nIAR\7IN, son of Lieutenant John (2) and Abi gail ( St. John) Marvin, was born in \,\Tilton Parish, Norwalk, Connecticut, Sep tember 30, 1737, and died in Franklin County, Vermont, June 22, 1822. He served as a soldier during the French and Indian \vars, and \Vas commissioned, June 29, 1775, first lieutenant in Captain Griffin's company, Third Regiment of the Line, New York. The returns show that he recruited seventy-five men before April, 1776. He was commissioned captain, November 21, 1776, of the 4th Regiment, N e\v York Line, under Colonel Henry B. Livingston, and resigned April 23, 1778. He lived for a time in Sharon, Connecticut, and then settled on the south side of Long Island and ,vas in command of a military company there before the Revolution. When ...Washington evacuated Long Island, Captain Mar vin removed, according to one account, from Brookhaven to the old home, Nor walk, Connecticut. According to another account, he sent his company to Norwalk, and then placing such effects as he could take in a wagon with a single horse, conducted his family through the Brookhaven lines by night, and arrived in safety at New Canaan, Connecticut, where they remained till the close of the war. He lost all his property on Long Island, some two hundred acres of pine land, with saw and gristmills. He was one of those who signed the "Stamford Petition" protesting against Tories who had actively aided the enemy being allowed to return to their homes after the ,var. He settled in Alburgh, Franklin County, \Termont, in June, 1787, and ,vas a prominent man there, serving as justice of the peace in I 792, first town treas urer, and a representative to the Legislature, 1794-97. He was one of the signers of a petition for a Masonic Lodge in Burlington, Vermont. Captain Benjamin Marvin married, in 1758, Mehitable Marvin. (Second Marvin Line-Family in America-V.) Children: I. 111 ehitable, of whom further. 2. Benjamin, born November 17, 1762, died in Charlton, Saratoga County, New York, in 1757; married (first), November 1, 1785, Hannah Hanford; (second), {\ ovember 16, I 788, Sarah Hoyt. -, ':J 1vfARVIN 3. Esther, married Ozias Perry. 4. Lois, born October 28, 1766: married Jonathan Shepard. 5. Clarinda, born June 17, 1769, died in Alburgh, Vermont, .A.ugust 8, 1857; married Joseph ~Iott. 6. Anna, born November 29, 1771, died 11ay 24. 1808; married Reuben E. Taylor. 7. Thomas, born in Patchogue, Long Island, Kew ·York, January 31, 1774, died in Alburgh, December 27, 1869, a n1inister of the 1:Iethodist Episcopal Church; married. June 21, 1799, Cynthia Calkins. 8. Sylvia, born on Long Island, New\"ork January 26, 1776, died August 17, 1830; married, l\1arch 25, 1794, John Sowles. 9. Mary, born in Norwalk, Connecticut, January 27, 1779, died February 18, 1856; married, June 17, 1797, Hon. Leds Sowles. (George Franklin and William T. R. Marvin: Descendants of Reinold and Matthew J.lf arvin, pp. 358, 413. Frederic Gregory l\Iather: Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut, pp. 460-61.) VI MEHITABLE MARVIN, daughter of Captain Benjamin and Mehitable (Marvin) l\1Iarvin, was born August 25, 1759, and died in New Canaan, Con necticut, November 29, 1812. Her age is gh·en on her gravestone inscription as fifty-two years instead of fifty-three, but such discrepancies are not unusual in death records. l\!Iehitable l\!Iarvin married Jeremiah Eells. ( Ells Y"I.) ( George Franklin and William T. R. l\!Iarvin: Descc1ldants of Reinold and J.l1atthe--& Mar7,,•in, p. 359. \Villiam Applebie Daniel Eardeley: New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Congregational Church Records, 1733-1850.) 75 Marvin (LINE Two) OR introduction and the Family in England, see First 1'Iarvin Line. THE FAMILY IN _,\:\!ERICA I REIKOLD (1) J\tIAR\tIN, son of Edward and 1'1argaret l\fervyn, was baptized in St. Mary's Church, Great Bentley, Essex, England, October 25, 1594, and died in Lyme, Connecti cut, in the summer of 1662. He inherited from his father lands, meadows, woods and pastures, called "Moysses," near "Mose" or "Moyse Hall," but his home \Vas in Great Bentley. He was an overseer at St. Mary's Church in 1625 and 1637, and a warden in 1627 and 1634. In 1636 he was taxed two shillings and sixpence as his share of the "Essex Ship l\foney ," for fitting out a ship of eight hundred tons, appointed by his Majesty to be ready at Portsmouth, March 1, 1636-37. It is thought that this tax, which was generally resented throughout England, led him to follow his younger brother, Matthew, across the ocean. In what ship he sailed is not known. The last mention of his name in Great Bentley is in 1637; he appeared in Hartford, Connecticut, where Matthe\v already had a home, in 1638. Probably his wife and surviving children came with him; at least three had died in England, and only Reinold (2) and Mary are named in his will. He O\vned a home lot in Hartford, but moved from there and became one of the earliest proprietors of Farmington, Connecticut, in 1639 or 1640, 77 11ARVIN removing later to Saybrook, Connecticut, where he was made a freeman May 20, 1658. He held no public office, as far as is kno\vn, but ,vas styled "Mr." He finally settled in Lyme, originally a part of Saybrook, and built a house there, though retaining his home lot and considerable land at Saybrook. At his death his largest holdings were in Lyme, and much of these remain in the possession of his descendants at the present time. He made a nuncupative (verbal) will May 23, 1662, recorded July 9, 1663, signed by mark, doubtless on account of ,veak ness. The inventory of his estate amounted to more than eight hundred and twenty pounds. Reinold ( 1) l\farvin married 1farie, whose surname is unkno,vn, who died in Lyme not long before her husband. Her death was attributed to witchcraft, Nicholas Jennings and his wife lVIargaret, of Saybrook, being indicted at a Quarter Court, held at Hartford, September s~ 1661, "for having enterteined familiarity with Sathan, and by his help done works aboue ye course of nature, to ).e loss of ye liues of seueral psons, and in pticuler ye wife of Reynold Marvin . . . . with other sorceries." The jury did not agree, though a majority found them guilty, and the rest "found strong ground for suspicion." Children: 1. William, baptized at St. Mary's, Great Bentley, England, November 4, 1618. 2. Elizabeth, baptized there April 19, 1621. 3. Mary, baptized October 27, 1622, died young. 4. John, buried March 16, 1626. 5. Elisabeth, baptized at St. :Wiary's, Great Bentley, England, April 29, 1627, died in Lyme, Connecticut, before January, 1682-83; married \Villiam Waller. 6. Sarah 1-Iarie, baptized July 22, 1629. 7. Reinold ( 2), of whom further. 8. l\bigail, baptized May 4, 16 34. 9. Mary, baptized October 23, 1636, died in Middletown, Connecticut, Nlarch 5, 1713-14; married Ensign Samuel Collins. (Collins I, Child 3.) ( George Franklin and vVilliam T. R. 1Iarvin: Descendants of Reinold and Matthew J1,,f ar-,:in. pp. 29-35, 37, 38.) 79 MARVIN II LIEUTENANT REINOLD (2) MARVIN, son of Reinold (1) and Marie Marvin, was baptized at St. 11ary's Church, Great Bentley, England, December 20, 1631, and died in Lyme, Connecticut, August 4, 1676. His grave stone in the Duck River burying ground is inscribed: 1676 LEVET REYNOLD MARVIN Aged 4-2. (He was really in his forty-fifth year.) He was made a freeman at Saybrook on the same day as his father, and inherited from the latter his house and all his lands. He was appointed sergeant of the train band at Saybrook by the General Court, October 3, 1661, and was later made lieutenant, which post he held until his death. He was a large land owner, both at Lyme and Saybrook, and repre sented Lyme in the General Court in the October session in 1670, and from 1672 until his death. He also served in various town offices, as surveyor, selectman, and constable, ,vas on the committee appointed in 1666 to divide the town of Say brook, and aided Lyme in the contest with New London, concerning the boundary line between the two towns. Lieutenant Reinold ( 2) Marvin married, probably about 1662, Sarah Clark, daughter of George and Sarah Clark, who was baptized in Milford, Connecticut, February 18, 1643-44. She married (second), February 12, 1677-78, Captain Joseph Sill, the famous Indian fighter. Children: r. John, born in 1664-65, died December Ir, 171 r; married, May 7, 1691, Sarah Graham. 2. Mary, born in 1666; married Richard Ely. 3. Reinold, born in 1669, died October 18, 1737; married (first), about 16g6, Phebe Lee; married (second), June 30, I 709, Martha Waterman. 81 i\L-\RVIN 4. Samuel. of whom further. 5. Sarah, born in 1673; n1arried, February 18, 1693-94, James Beckwith. (Ibid., pp. 38, 39.) III DEACON SAl\1UEL l\1ARV"IN, son of Lieutenant Reinold (2) and Sarah (Clark) Marvin, \.Vas born in Lyme, Connecticut, in 1671, and died there May l 5, 17 43. He was buried in the Duck River burying ground. It has been said of him that "in all matters, civil and ecclesiastical/' he was "highly esteemed for his excellent judgment." He was a townsman or selectman in Lyme in 1699, 1708-12, 1718-20, town clerk for many years, to\.vn treasurer most of the time from 1725 to 1738, inclusive, constable, 1695 and 1718, surveyor in 1701, and served in other local capacities. He ,vas also a representative from Lyme to the General Court in 1711 and 1722, and served as deacon in the Congregational Church for many years. Deacon Samuel Marvin married, l\1ay 5, r 699, Susannah Graham, who sur vived him. daughter of Henry and iVIary Graham. Children: I. Samuel, born February IO, r 700. died at East Lyme, April 18, 1786; married, April 2, r 740, l\Iary vV edge. 2. Zechariah, born December I 7, I 701, died September 12, 1792 ; married, l\1arch 29, 1732, Abigail Lord. 3 Thonzas, of whom further. 4 Matthew, born November 7, 1706, died Decen1ber 25, 176o: captain of the trainband; n1arried, April 20, 1732, Mary Beckwith. 5. Abigail, born September 13, 1709, died June 4, 1786; married, Novem ber 7, 1734, Samuel Coult. t,. Elizabeth. born June 1. 1712, died May 27. 1755; married, November 8. 1733, Richard vVaite. ;;. Nathan, born November 21, 1714, died l\farch 15, 1755; married, J\i!ay 17, 1743, Lydia Le,vis. 8. Nehemiah, born February 20, 1716-17: married, January 8, 1745-46, Hester Lord. 9. l\,fary (twin), born ~A.pril 15, 172r. IO. A son (twin), born April 15, 1721, died at birth. (Ibid.,. pp. 68, 69, 73, 74, 77, 78.) 83 MARVIN IV THOMAS MARVIN, son of Deacon Samuel and Susannah (Graham) Marvin, was born in Lyme, Connecticut, March 4, 1703-04, and died about 1763. He had removed to Simsbury, Connecticut, by 1756, and in May of that year the Legislature gave him "liberty for a ferry" over the Farmington River, for ten years. He was authorized to charge "for man, horse, and load, one penny; sin gle man or single horse, one half-penny; sheep and swine per head, one farthing." He may not have found these rates remunerative, for two years later he was running a ferry between Suffield and Enfield, and in May, 1759, was permitted to raise the fares. Thomas l\1arvin married, about 1733, Mehitable Goodrich. Children ( order uncertain) : 1. Samuel, said to have been lost at sea with his vessel and crew, before the Revolution. 2. Daniel, married Mary Hoskins. 3. Susannah. 4. M ehitable, of whom further. 5. Lois. 6. Rachel, married, in Simsbury, Connecticut, Azariah Hoskins. 7. Joseph. 8. Matthew, born in Simsbury, June 7, 1754, died in Walton, Delaware County, New York, September 2, 1846; a sergeant in the Revolu tion; married, June 6, 1784 or 1785, Mary Weed. (Ibid., pp. 70-73.) V MEHITABLE lvfA.R\1IN, daughter of Thomas and Mehitable (Goodrich) Marvin, was born November 11, 1738 and died September 25, 1810. She married Captain Benjamin }Iarvin. (First lvfarvin Line-Family in America-V.) (Ibid., p. 72.) 85 BENEDICT ARMS Arrn.s-Gules, a lion rampant holding in his paws the head of a hammer pierced in the center, all or. Crest-The lion issuant. (Rietstap: Armorial General.) 87 HE surname Benedict is of baptismal origin, meaning "the son of Benedict." This personal name was a very popu lar one at the time surnames came into vogue in England, owing its favor to the Benedictines. It signified "the blessed." ·variations of the surname are Bennett, Ben son, etc. A family tradition states that the Benedicts were anciently in the silk manufacturing district of France and of Latin origin. At the time of the Huguenot persecutions they fled to Germany and then by way of Holland to England. ( C. W. Bardsley: D-ictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. H. Har rison: Surnam,es of the United Kingdoni. Henry M. Benedict: The Genealogy of the Ben-edicts in America, pp. I, 2.) THE FAMILY IN ENGLAND I WILLIAM (r) BENEDICT was of Nottingham, England, about 1500, according to a tradition handed down in the Benedict family from Mary Brid gum, wife of Thomas Benedict, the American emigrant. William ( 1) Benedict married, but the name of his wife is not known. According to the tradition, he had an only son, William ( 2), of whom further. (Edwin Hall: The Ancient Historical Records of 1Vor&alk, Connecticut, p. 308.) 89 BENEDICT II vVILLIA:t\1 (2) BENEDICT, son of \Villiam (r) Benedict, was of Not tinghamshire, England. He married, and had an only son, iVi'.llianz. ( 3), of whom further. (Ibid.) III WILLIAlvI ( 3) BE NED I CT, son of William ( 2) Benedict, ·was also of Nottinghamshire. He married (first) Ann Hunlock. ( Hunlock II.) He married (second), a widow, Mrs. Bridgum. Child of the first marriage : r. Tlwmas, of whom further. (Edwin Hall: The Ancient Historical Records of N or-&alk, Connecticut, p. 308. Waters: Genealogical, Gleanings in England, p. 1047.) THE FA1IILY IN AMERICA I LIEUTENANT THOtIAS BENEDICT, son of William (3) and Ann (Hunlock) Benedict, was born probably in Nottinghamshire, England, about 1617 and died at Norwalk, Connecticut, between February 28 and Th!Iarch 18, 1689-90. He came to New England in the same vessel with his future ·wife, 1-'Iary Bridgum. He was then in his twenty-first year. He made his home in Massachusetts Bay Colony for a time, but later removed to the Connecticut Val ley. Soon, however, he made another change, and removed to the opposite shore of Long Island, already dotted ,vith settlements. He settled at Southold, where, with three others, in 1649, he purchased a tract of land belonging to the town of Southold, called Haskamomack, and this interest he conveyed to another in 1659~ being then a resident of Huntington, Long Island. That he had been living in Huntington for some time is evidenced by the fact that his name and that of his 91 BEXEDICT wife are recorded there in June, 1657. His name is signed to the petition which resulted in the to\vn of Huntington being received into the jurisdiction of New Haven in lviay, 1658, and he \Vas prominent in all public affairs. There are traces of Thomas Benedict's presence in Jamaica, Long Island, as early as December 12, 1662, when, \vith others, he was appointed to lay out "the south meado\vs." He was one of the committee appointed to "make ye rate of ye minister's house and transporting ye minister," and March 2, 1663, his name appears as one of the twenty-four freeholders who deeded a house and lot to the minister. March 20, 1663, he \vas appointed magistrate by the Dutch Governor Stuyvesant, but September 29, 1663, he was one of those who petitioned the Gen eral Court of Connecticut for annexation, and was also one of those who carried the petition to the court at Hartford, November 3, 1663. He was appointed lieu tenant of the to\vn December 3, 1663. He was made a freeman in Jamaica May 12, 1664, and held the office of commissioner v.·hen the Dutch surrendered to the English. After the surrender, Thomas Benedict \Vas appointed by Governor Nichols lieutenant of "the Foot Company of Jamaica," his commission bearing the date of "Fort James, in Ne\v York," April 7, 1665. In 1665 he removed to Norwalk, Connecticut, and in the same year was chosen town clerk of the town. The next year he was reappointed town clerk and made a selectman of the town, retaining the first office until 167 4, and, after an interval of three years, was reappointed, holding the office of selectman until 1688. Lieutenant Thomas Benedict was one of the f arty-two freemen of Norwalk in 1669; represented Norwalk in the General Assembly in 1670 and again in 1675, and was one of the patentees when the title of Norwalk to its territory was confirmed in 1686. Meanwhile, in 1684, he and three others were appointed by the General Court to lay out a town above Nor\valk, and in the fall of that year and the spring of the following year, "Swamfield," later known as Danbury, Connecticut, was settled. Besides his official service, he served his associates in many friendly ways, his good sense and general intelligence, as well as his scien tific knowledge and his skill as a penman, causing his services to be much in demand and highly valued. It is evident that there was general respect for his judgment and trust in his integrity. He was also acth·e in church affairs. He 93 BENEDICT ,vas identified with the founding of Jamaica, ~n 1662, and the first Presbyterian Church in A.merica. In Norwalk he served as deacon, and held that office dur ing the remainder of his life. Lieutenant Thomas Benedict married, shortly after his arrival in A.merica, lv1ary Bridgum. Children, all born in Long Island : I. Thomas, died November 20, 1688-89; married, in January, 1665, lvlary Messenger. 2. John (1), of whom further. 3. Samuel, married (second), Rebecca .A.ndrews. 4- James, died after l 7 l 7 ; married, May lo, 1676, Sarah Gregory. ( Greg- ory-Family in America-II, Child 7.) 5- Lieutenant Daniel, died after February, 1722-23; married l\1ary l\1arvin. 6. Elizabeth, married, as his second ,vife, John Slauson. 7. Mary, married John Olmsted. 8. Sarah, married James Beebe. 9. Rebecca, married Dr. Samuel Wood. (Henry M. Benedict: The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America, pp. 1, 2-4, 7-9, 15, 16, 18, 24, 271, 283, 365. Edwin Hall: Th.e Ancient Historical, Records of Norwalk, Connecticut, p. 309.) II DE.A.CON JOHN (1) BENEDICT, son of Lieutenant Thomas and Mary ( Bridgum) Benedict, was born in Southold, Long Island, New York, and died in Norwalk, Connecticut, after 1727. He removed with his parents to Norwalk, Connecticut, where he was freeman in 1680; selectman in 1689, 1692-94, and 1699, and also held some minor civil offices. He was a deacon of the church, devoted a great amount of his time to church affairs and was constantly on com mittees having charge of the religious and educational interests of the commu nity. In I 705 the church honored him by voting him a sitting in "ye seat before ye pulpit." He was representative in the General Assembly in 1722 and 1725. Deacon John (I) Benedict married. Noven1ber 1 L 1670, Phebe Gregory. ( Gregory-Family in ..America-II, Child 6.) 95 BEXEDICT Children: I. Sarah. 2. Phebe, born September 21, 1673. 3. John ( 2), of whom further. 4. Jonathan. 5. Benjamin, born at Norwalk in 1678, died at Stamford, Connecticut, July 3, 1773; married l\1ary, \vhose surname is unknown. 6. Joseph, born at Norwalk; married (first) Anne, whose surname is unknown; (second), March 21, 1720, :i\11ary, \Vhose surname is not known. 7. James, born January 5, 1685, died in Ridgefield, Connecticut, November 25, 1762; married Sarah Hyatt. 8. Mary or Mercy. 9. Thomas, born in 1682, died in 1763; married Millison Hyatt. ( Henry M. Benedict: The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America, pp. 49-52. Edwin Hall: The Ancient Historical, Records of Norwalk, Connecticut, pp. 313-14.) III DEACON JOHN (2) BENEDICT, son of Deacon John (1) and Phebe (Gregory) Benedict, was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, March 3, 1675-76, and died there January 16, 1766. He was a selectman in 1705 and 1715; surveyor in 1709 and 1711; lister and fence-viewer in 1713-15; sergeant in 1717; and dea con before 1725, which office he held for many years. Deacon John ( 2) Benedict married (first) Anna St. John. ( St. John III.) He married (second), Mary, whose surname is unknown, who died June 5, 1749, aged seventy-hvo years. His gravestone and that of his second wife, Mary, are in the local cemetery. Children of the first marriage : r. John ( 3), of whom further. 2. Matthe\v, born October 2, 1703, died July 7, 1757. Children, probably of the second marriage: 3. Caleb, born in 1709, died lv1ay 19, 1761; married Niehitable Hoyt or Hyatt. 9i BENEDICT 4. Nathaniel, born in 1717, died April 2, 1808; married (first) l\fary Lock- wood; (second) Hannah Ha,vley. 5. Anna or Hannah, married lviatthe,v Gregory. 6. Phebe, married Ezra Hoyt. (Donald Lines Jacobu::: Families of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol. I, p. 63. Henry 1tI. Benedict: The Genealogy of the Benedicts in A-merica, pp. 49-50. Grant Gregory: Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory, p. 6o. Orline St. John Alexander: The St.John Genealogy_. p. 22.) 1v· DEACON JOHN (3) BENEDICT, son of Deacon John (2) and Anna ( St. John) Benedict, ,vas born at Norwalk, Connecticut, in I 70 I, and died in New Canaan, Connecticut, February 27, I 770, aged sixty-nine years. He removed to New Canaan about 1733, as shown by a letter, dated June 20, I 733, which he presented to the First Congregational Church of Canaan. He became a member of this church, of ¥:hich Rev. John Eells (Ells IV) was at that time the pastor. John ( 3) Benedict, like his father and grand£ather before him, was chosen a deacon of the church and held the office for many years. The position of deacon was one of great responsibility and honor at this period, second only to those of the pastor and elder. Deacon John (3) Benedict married (first) Dinah Bouton. (Bouton IV.) He married (second), Mary, whose surname is unknown, who survived him. Children of the first marriage : I. Daniel, died in I 777. 2. John, born September I 1, 1724, died in January, 1807. 3. J achin, died in July, 1760. 4. Joseph, born May 20, 1730, died August 24, 1785. 5. Dinah, baptized in Ne,v Canaan, Connecticut, l\1ay 12, 1734; married. November 10, 1763, Eleazer Bouton. 6. Lois, of whom further. 7. Hezekiah, baptized in New Canaan, October 23, 1737, died in 1813. 8. Rhoda, baptized in New Canaan, June 16, 1739; married, A.pril 5, 1759. Samuel Lawrence. 99 BENEDICT 9. Sarah, baptized in New Canaan, 1'1arch 22, Ii41 ; married Timothy Hoyt. (Henry M. Benedict: The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America) pp. 56, Si- Edwin Hall: The Ancient Historical Records of Norwa/,k, Connecticut, p. 316. William A pplebie Daniel Eardeley : New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Congregational Church Records, 1733-1850, pp. 7, 10, II, 13, 14.) V LOIS BENDICT, daughter of Deacon John (3) and Dinah (Bouton) Benedict, was baptized in New Canaan, Connecticut, March 14, 1735-36, and died there September 30, 1819, in her eighty-fourth year. She married Captain Jeremiah Beard Eells. (Ells V.) (Edwin Hall: The Ancient Historical Records of Nor&a/,k, Connecticut, pp. 225, 316. William Applebie Daniel Eardeley: New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Congregational Church Records, 1733-1850, Vol. II, p. 85.) 101 BOWTON (BOUTON) ARMS Arms-Sable, three crescents or. (Burke: General Armory.) 103 Bouton HIS surname was originally spelled Bowton by members of the family. Bowton, which means "the Beech-Tree Farm," is a variant of Boughton, a place name for par ishes in Kent, Norfolk, Northampton, Nottingham, and other English counties. (M. A. Lower: Patronymica Britannica. H. Har rison: Surnanies of the United Kingdo1n.) I JOHN (I) BOUTON or BOWTON, as the name was variously recorded, was born in England about I 615 and died in Connecticut at an unknown date. He came to New England in the ship "Assurance" in 1635, giving his age as twenty years at that time, and landing at Boston. He probably left very soon afterwards for the new settlement on the Connecticut River, then called New town, later Hartford, but there are few records of him in that locality. There has been considerable con£ us ion about John ( I ) Bouton, as the account of him in the Bou.ton,-Boughton Faniily is badly mixed, combining the records of his son and grandson John with his own. John (I) Bouton or Bo\vton married Alice, whose surname is not known. Some genealogists have thought her surname was Kellogg, but this is an error. She married (second) Matthew ( r) Marvin. (First Marvin Line-Family in America-I.) As "Alice 1\iarvin of N onvocke in the county of :ff airfield in the Colony of Conecticut; being aged seaventee years or thereabouts," she' made her will, December I, 1680, an interesting but confusing document, \Vhose allusions to her various children by their married names, the genealogists have only lately unravelled. 105 BOUTON Children: I. John ( 2), of whom further. 2. Richard, died in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1665; n1arried Ruth Tyrney. 3. Bridget, married, at Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1655, Daniel Kellogg. (Donald Lines Jacobus: Fa1nilies of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, p. 94. N e-w England Historical and Genealogical Register, \ 1 ol. L.) II JOHN (2) BOUTON, as he spelled his nan1e, son of John (1) and Alice Bouton or Bowton, died in Nor,valk, Connecticut, before January 27, 1706-07, when his will was probated. He was a prominent man at Norwalk, serving as deputy from that place to the General Assembly seventeen sessions from Octo ber, 166g, to October, 1685, inclusive. He was sergeant of the Norwalk Trainband. John (2) Bouton married (first), at Norwalk, January 1, 1656-57, Abigail l\farvin. (First :Wiarvin Line-Family in America-I, Child 6.) He married (secondt after 1689, Mary, whose surname is unknown. She was the widow of Jonathan Stevenson, and previously of Thomas Allen. Children of the first marriage, recorded at Norwalk, Connecticut: I. John, born September 30, 1659, died in 1704-05: probably married Mary Hayes. 2. Matthew, born December 24, 1661. 3. Hannah, married James Betts. 4. Joseph, of whom further. 5. Rachel, born December 15, 1667; married, about 16go, Matthew St. John. 6. Abigail, born April 1, 1670, died young. 7. Mary, born May 26, 1671, died young. 8. Elizabeth, married, ~)ctober 6, 1698, Edmund Waring. Children of the second marriage: 9. Thomas, died without issue. IO. Richard, married Mercy Platt. I I. 1'1ary 1 married Lemuel :rviorehouse. (Donald Lines Jacobus: Faniilies of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, pp. 95, 96. Society of Colonial Wars: First Supplement to the Index of Ancestors, 1941, p. 3 I.) 107 BOUTON III JOSEPH BOUTON, son of John (2) and Abigail (Marvin) Bouton, was born about 1665 and died at Norwalk, Connecticut, before February 23, 1747, the date when his will was probated. He made his will, December 20, 1746, men tioning his wife, Mary; daughters, Sarah Hanford and Dinah Benedict; son-in law, Deacon John Benedict, to whom he made a bequest, "in consideration of his taking ye whole cair & charge of my beloved brother Thomas Boutten boath in sickness & in health to ye end of my sd brother's day"; grandson, Joseph Bouton; sons, Jachin and John. Joseph Bouton married Mary Gregory. (Gregory-Family in America -IV.) Children: I. Sarah, married Theophilus Hanford. 2. Dinah, of ·whom further. 3. Jachin. 4 John, married Sarah Seymour. (Donald Lines Jacobus: Families of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, pp. 95, g6. Grant Gregory: Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory, 1938, p. 55.) IV DINAH BOUTON, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Gregory) Bouton, married1 as his first wife, Deacon John ( 3) Benedict. ( Benedict-Family in America-IV.) (Ibid.) 109 GREGORY ARMS Arms-Per pale argent and azure, two lions rampant endorsed, counterchanged. Crest-Two lions' heads endorsed and erased argent and azure, collared, coun terchanged. (Burke: General Armory. Samuel Gregory: Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory.) 111 Jairt\ ( gae~rJ) ~unlok-e 1!iolufon (~unlock) (,oufon) GREGOl{Y Arms-Per pale argent and azure. two lions rampant endorsed, counterchanged. Crrst-Two lions· heads endorsed and erased. argent and azure. collared, counter changed. ( Samuel Gregory: .--lnccstors aJZd Dcscc11da11ts of H cnn• Gregory. Burke: Gozcral Arnzor\'.) BAIRD ( BE.--\RD) .-lnJZs-_-\znre, on a fess argent a boar·s head couped gules between three mullets in chief and a hoar passant in base proper. \Burke: Gc11cral Armory.) SCOFIELD Anns-Gnks. a fess between three bulls· heads couped argent. Crrst-.--\ bull's head g-ules collared argent. \Burke: General .--l.n1wrs.j HCKLOKE (HCXLOCK) A rms-.--\zure. a f esse between three tigers· heads erased or. Crest-On a chapeau azure turned up ermine a cuckatrice. wings expanded proper, combed. beaked. and wattled or. 1 Burke: General .--1rmory.) BO\YTOX i BOl..-TOX l Ar111s-Sal1le. three cre~cents or. 1 Burke: General .--l.rmor\'.) Gregory HE surname Gregory is of baptisn1al origin, 1neaning "the son of Gregory." This personal nan1e was a very popular one in England in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. and the surnan1e is found on the Hundred Rolls of various English counties fron1 1273. ·variations are Gregorson, Gregg, Gregson, Griggs. lviacGregor is a Scottish form. ( C. W. Bardsley: Dictionary of English and I¥elslz Surnames.) THE FAMILY IN ENGLAND I WILLIAM GREGORY, of Highhurst, County Lancaster, England, gen tleman, is entered in the recorded pedigrees of that county, as a lineal descendant of Adam Gregorye of Highhurst, gentleman, who married a daughter and one of the heirs of Adam Ormeston, gentleman, of County Lancaster. Some t\vo hundred years elapsed between Adam and his descendant William, and the inter vening generations are not known. Highhurst was in the township of Tyldesley with-Shakerly, Lancashire. William Gregory married Dorothy Parre, daughter of l\ir. Parre, of Kemp- nough, County Lancaster. They had a son : I. Hugo, of whom further. ( Grant Gregory: Ancestors and Descendants of Henry GregoJ#y,. 1938. p. 8.) 113 GREGORY Arms-Per pale argent and azure. two lions rampant endorsed, counterchanged. Crest-Two lions· heads endorsed and erased. argent and azure. collared. coumer changed. ( Samuel Gregory: .-lnccstors and Dcscc11da11ts of H cnry Gregory. Burke: Gc11cral Ar111or_\'.) B. .\IRD ( BE.-\RD) .-lrrns-.-\znre, on a fess argent a boar's head couped gules between three mullets in chief and a hoar passant in base proper. 1 Burke: Gel!cral .-lrmory.) SCOFIELD .•-1.rl/ls-Gnles. a fess bet\Yeen three bulls' heads couped argent. Crest-.-\ bull's head gules collared argent. t Burke: Ge11cral An1zor:y.) HC~LOKE (HCXLOCK) A.n11s-.-\zure. a fesse between three tigers· heads erased or. Crest-On a chapeau azure turned up ermine a cockatrice. wings expanded proper, combed, beaked. and wattled or. t Burke: Grnac,l Armory.) BO\\'TOX I BOCTOX l Arms-Sable. three cre~cents or. 1 Burke: Grncral Armory.) GREGORY II HUGO GREGORY, son of \Villiam and Dorothy (Parre) Gregory, mar ried Mary, ,v hose surname is unknown. They had a son : I. Thomas, of ,vhom further. (Ibid., p. 20.) III THO11AS GREGORY, son of Hugh and Mary Gregory, lived at Over Broughton, now Upper Broughton, Nottinghamshire, on the borders of Leices tershire. Thomas Gregory married Dorothy Beeston. They had a son: I. John, of whom further. ( Ibid., p. 21.) I\T JOHN GREGORY, son of Thomas and Dorothy (Beeston) Gregory, was of Broughton. He married Alice, whose surname is unknown_ Children: I. (Possibly) Michael, died before July 29, 1637; married, February 24~ 16o3, Margery Marshall. 2. William, died in 1650; was alderman, sheriff, and mayor of Notting ham; made bequests in his will "to my . . . . brother Henry and his children, they being now, as I am informed, in the parts beyond the seas called New England." The will was signed June 18, 1650. He married Ann Jackson, daughter of Adam Jackson. She died March 7, 1664. 3. John. 4. Edward. 5. (Probably) Elizabeth, died in July, 1612; married, September 16, 1611J Michael Smalley. 6. Henry, of ,vhom further. ( Grant Gregory: Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregor}', 1938: pp. 21-22.) 115 GREGORY THE FAMILY IN AMERICA I HENRY GREGOR"\\ son of John and Alice Gregory, died in Stratford, Connecticut, before June 19, 1655, when the inventory of his estate was ordered. He came to America probably in 1636 (not in 1633, as some writers have stated). The first record of him is at Springfield, Massachusetts, dated January 16, 1638. In 1642 he removed to Stratford. He was the first owner of the present Court Square, which later became the property of Thon1as Stebbins. He requested, :\I arch I 4, I 642, through his son Judah, for leave to sell his land, and the town bought it. Henry Gregory married, but his wife's name is unknown. She died between February 15, 1640-41, and January 5, 1641-42. Children: r. I ohn, of whom further. 2. Judah. 3. Perry ( a daughter). 4. Elizabeth, died January 24, 1680-81; married Richard Webb. 5. Elizaphatt. 6. Anne, baptized at St. Peter's Parish, Nottingham, England, January 29, 1625. 7. Triphosa, baptized at St. Peter's, September 23, 1627, died young. 8. William, baptized June 27, 1630, died young. 9. .Abigail, baptized March 17, 1632, died young. (Grant Gregory: Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory, 1938, pp. 7; 22-24, 34-43. H. M. Burt: The First Century of the History of Spring field, Vol. I, pp. 32, 41, 42.) II JOHN GREGORY, son of Henry Gregory, was born probably in Notting ham. England, and died in Norwalk, Connecticut, before October 9. 1689, when hj~ will ,vas presented for probate. He was a shoemaker, tanner, and sealer of leather, as his father had been before him, and a very prominent n1an in the con1- lli GREGORY munities where he resided. He was a me111ber of the General Court held at New Haven, Connecticut, February 24, 1644-45, and was living at that time in New Haven, but removed, about 1651, to Norwalk, being one of the planters of that settlement, and holding town offices almost continuously. He served as deputy to the General Court at least fourteen times between 1659 and 1681, and June 26, 1672, was sent to a special meeting to consider war with Holland. He took a leading part in the movement that founded Newark, New Jersey, and was sent to New Amsterdam (New York) to negotiate with the Dutch on this mat ter, and in 1666, with Robert Treat, selected the site of Newark. He intended to remove there, but for son1e reason did not do so. John Gregory n1ade his will in Norwalk, August 15, 1689. It was acknowl- edged August 21, 1689. He married Sarah, whose surnan1e is unknown. Children: I. John. 2. J achin, of whom further. 3. Judah, married, at Danbury, Connecticut, October 20, 1664, Hannah Hoyt, daughter of Walter Hoyt. 4. Joseph, baptized in the First Church, New Haven, Connecticut, July 26, 1646, died soon after May 4, 1718, probably did not marry. 5. Thomas, baptized in New Haven, March 19, 1648-49; married, Decem ber 25, 1679, Elizabeth Pardie. 6. Phebe, married Deacon John ( I ) Benedict. ( Benedict-Family in America-II.) 7. Sarah, born December 3, 1652; married James Benedict. (Benedict Family in America-I, Child 4.) ( Grant Gregory: Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory, 1938, p. 43. Edwin Hall: The Ancient Historical Records of Norwal,k, Connecticut, p. 312.) III JACHIX GREGORY, son of John and Sarah Gregory, died in New Haven, Connecticut, before February 22, 16g7-98, when an inventory vvas taken of his 119 GREGORY estate. He was made a freeman in Ne,v Haven in 166g, served as deputy to the General Court in 1695, and held various town offices. Jachin Gregory married Mary, whose surname is not known. Children: I. Mary, of whom further. 2. John, born January 25, 1670-71, died young. 3. Thomas, born January 17, 1672-73. 4. Samuel, born March 10, 1675-76, died in September, 16gg. 5. Sarah, born September I 5, I 678, died in I 746; married Thomas Seymour. 6. Matthew, born December 17, 1680. 7. Jachin, born May 10, 1682. ( Grant Gregory: Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Gregory, 1938.) I\T MARY GREGORY, daughter of Jachin and Mary Gregory, was born December 5, 166g. She married Joseph Bouton. ( Bouton III.) (Ibid. Donald Lines Jacobus: Families of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, p. 97.) 121 ST. JOHN ARMS A rm.s-Ermine, on a chief gules two mullets or. Crest-On a mount a falcon rising proper. (Matthews: American Armoury.) 123 HE surname St. John is undoubtedly derived from St. John the Apostle, though its immediate source is local from several parishes of the name in Normandy. Members of this family came to England during or soon after the Conquest. John de St. John (temp. William II), of Stan ton St. John, County Oxford, had a son, Roger, de St. ~ John, whose daughter Muriel married Reginald de Aure val, and left an only daughter and heiress who married Adam de Port, Lord of Basing, Hampshire. This Adam de Port was a descendant of the great Baron Hugh de Port, a famous Knight of the time of William the Conqueror. Wil liam, son of Adam de Port ( temp. King John), assumed the name of St. John. His son, Robert ( tenip. Henry III), had two sons: I. John, whose son, John St. John, was summoned to Parliament as Baron St. John of Basing, in 1299. 2. William, who was the ancestor of the Lords St. John of Bletshoe, and the Vis counts and Earls of Bolinbroke. In England the pronunciation of this name was corrupted to "Sinjin," and that early members of the family in America used this pronunciation is shown by the fact that in the records the name is spelled Sension and Sention. In 17o6 the spelling Saintjohn appears, and not until 1725 was it first written St. John. ( Orline St. John Alexander : The St. I ohn Genealogy, p. 29. M. A. Lower : Patronymica Britannica. C. \V. Bardsley: D£ctionary of English and U7 elsh Surnanies. lv e--a; England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. XIV, p. 61.) 125 ST. JOHN I MATTHIAS ST. JOHN, SENSION or SENTION, was born in England and died in Norwalk, Connecticut, after October 19, 166g, and before January 31, 1670, dates of the making of his will and the inventory of his estate, after death. The first record of him is in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1631 and 1632. He was made a freeman in Dorchester, September 3, 1634, and in Janu ary of the following year received a grant of twenty acres '·at the bounds between Dorchester and Roxbury." He moved, in 1640, to Windsor, Connecticut, but was apparently living in Wethersfield by 1648. In 1654 he moved, finally, to Norwalk, Connecticut, where he spent the remainder of his life. His \vill named his youngest son, James; his wife, his mother; sons Samuel Sention and Ephraim Lockwood; son Matthias and son Mark. Matthias St. John married, but the name of his wife has not been found. Children: I. Matthias, born about 1630, died at Norwalk, Connecticut, in December, 1728; married Elizabeth, whose surname is not known. 2. Mark, of whom further. 3. Samuel, born about 1639, died in Norwalk, January 14, 1685-86 ( an error in the records gives the year as 1684-85); married, at Nor walk, in September, 1663, Elizabeth Hoyt, daughter of Walter Hoyt. 4. Mercy, died in 16g4; married, June 8, 1665, Ephraim Lockwood. 5. James, born about 1649, died at Norwalk, May 9, 1684; married, December 31, 1673, Rebecca Pickett, daughter of John Pickett, of Stratford; she married (second), in 168 5, Sergeant Andrew Messenger. (Orline St. John Alexander: The St. John Genealogy, pp. 18, 19. Donald Lines Jacobus: Old Famz~lies of Fairfield, Connecticut, \Toi. I, pp. 513-15.) II ~I.ARK ST. JOHN. son of 11atthias St. John~ \Yas born about 1634 and died at Norwalk, Connecticut, i\ugust 12, 1693. He was one of Norwalk's most ST. JOHN prominent citizens, representing the town in the General Assembly in October, 1672; October, 1676; October, 1678; May and October, 1684. "Aged about fifty-nine,'" he made his will, without giving the date, naming his son Joseph; daughters Lois and Rachel Sention, Annah, Elizabeth, Sarah, Rhoda; "Joseph Lockwood, my sister's son"; "three sons, Joseph Sention, Sam uel Galpin, and Samuel Keeler," executors. Mark St. John married (first), about 1655, Elizabeth Stanley, who was born about 1635, daughter of Timothy Stanley, of Hartford. He married ( sec ond) (marriage covenant January 21, 16g1-92), Dorothy (Smith-Blackman) Hall, daughter of Rev. Henry and Dorothy Smith, of Wethersfield, Connecticut, and widow of John Blackman and Francis Hall. Children of the first marriage : I. Elizabeth, born December 6, 1656, died at Kensington, Connecticut, in 1732; married (first) Samuel Galpin; (second) Edward Camp, of Milford. 2. Sarah, born January 18, 1659-6o, died at Ridgefield, Connecticut, April 15, 1714; married, March 10, 1681-82, Samuel Keeler. 3. Joseph, born in 1664, died September 26, 1731; married, March 5, 16g5- 16g6, Sarah Betts. 4. Rhoda, born August 12, 1666; married, about 1688, Matthew Marvin. (First Marvin Line-Family in America-II, Child 1.) 5. Lois, born in 1669, died January 12, 1752, aged eighty-two; married~ January 3, 1705-06, Samuel Carter. 6. Rachel, born in 1671; married John Judd. 7. Anna, of whom further. (Ibid.) III ANNA ST. JOHN, daughter of Mark and Elizabeth (Stanley) St. John, ,vas born August 6, 1674. She was living in 1705, as in that year, according to New London records, Anna, wife of John Benedict, and Rachel, wife of John Judd, both daughters of 1'Iark St. John, appeared at the Surrogate's Court. Her marriage to John Benedict has been overlooked by genealogists of that family, who have named only his second wife, Mary. From the number of years 129 ST. JOHN elapsing between the births of her husband's children, it seems probable that she died before 1709. Anna St. John married, as his first wife, Deacon John (2) Benedict. (Bene dict-Family in America-III.) (Donald Lines Jacobus: Families of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol. I, p. 63. Orline St. John Alexander: The St. John Geneal,ogy, pp. 18-19.) 131 HUNLOKE (HUNLOCK) ARMS Arms-Azure, a fesse between three tigers' heads erased or. Crest-On a chapeau azure turned up ermine a cockatrice, wings expanded proper, combed, beaked, and wattled or. (Burke: General Arm.ory.J 133 Hunlock HE surname Hunlock or Hunloke is not given among those explained by surname authorities, nor is it found as a place name in modern gazetteers, except in one instance, as the name of a creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. A somewhat similar surname, Huncoat, is said to have meant originally "hunter's cottage," and the word "lock" signified an enclosure. Hence the family name Hunlock was probably derived from residence near the "hunter's enclosure." The Hun locks were an old family in Derbyshire, England. ( C. W. Bardsley: Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. Waters: Genealogical Gleanings in England, p. 1047.) I HENRY HUNLOCK died in Derbyshire, England, before February 16, 1612, when his ,vill was probated. He was of an old Derbyshire family, and resided at Wingerworth, in that county. He was the sheriff of the county, and attended King James I during the royal progress through Derbyshire. His grandson and namesake, Henry Hunlock or Hunloke, was knighted by King Charles I on the battlefield of Edgehill in 1642, and was soon afterwards made a Baronet. \Vingerworth Hall is known to have been the family estate for over three hundred years. Henry Hunlock made his will, at \Vingenvorth, July 13, 1610, bequeathing "to my loving son, William Benedeke, forty shillings, to buy him a ring for 135 HUNLOCK remembrance, and to my daughter, Ann Benedeke, twenty pounds, at one-and twenty years of age." The will ,vas probated February 16, 1612. Henry Hunlock married, but his ,vife's name is not known. Child: I. Ann, of whom further. (Waters: Genealogical Gleanings in England, p. 1047.) II ANN HUNLOCK, daughter of Henry Hunlock, was named in her father's will as "Ann Benedeke." She married, as his first ,vife, William (3) Benedict. (Benedict-Family in England-III.) (Ibid.) 13i BAIRD (BEARD) ARMS Arnis-Azure, on a fesse argent a boar's head couped gules between three mul lets in chief and a boar passant in base proper. (Burke: Genera/, Armory.) 139 Beard HE surname Beard was originally a nickname, meaning "the bearded." It was written in a Latinzed form in English records of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries as "cum Barba," and in its modern form, Beard, as early as 1623. In the colonial records of New England the names Beard and Baird appear to be often interchangeable. ( C. W. Bardsley : Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. M. A. Lower: Patrowymica Britannica. Ruth Beard: Genealogy of the Descendants of Widow Martha Beard, p. 8.) I WIDOW MARTHA BEARD was born in England and died in Milford, Connecticut, June Ir, 1649. Tradition states that her husband was James Beard, and that he died during the passage to the colonies. The inference regarding his name is probably correct, since Martha's eldest son was James. Widow Martha Beard became a member of the First Congregational Church of Milford, N ovem ber I, 1640, the year following its organization. She was one of the first settlers of Milford. The house lot which was originally owned by her in Milford has never been deeded out of the family, but has passed down in the line of direct descent from generation to generation, and in 1915 was owned by George J. Smith. The old house has been removed and Mr. Smith's residence is in another house, erected near the site of the old Beard homestead. A sword of a thin, rapier type, traditionally brought from England by l\tfartha Beard or her hus band, was recently in the possession of Charles C. Beard, a descendant, of Shel ton, Connecticut. 141 BEARD Children: I. James, died in 1642, unmarried. 2. I ohn, of whom further. 3. Jeremiah, died in 1681; married, but died without children. 4. A daughter, probably Sarah; married Nicholas Camp. 5. Martha, died June 22, 17o6; married John Stream. (Ruth Beard: Genealogy of the Descendants of Widow Martha Beard, pp. 8, 9.) II CAPTAIN JOHN BEARD, son of Widow Martha Beard, was born in England and died in September, 1690. He came to America with his mother in 1639. He was made a freeman in Milford, Connecticut, in September, 166g, and at a meeting of the Council of Connecticut. January 17, 1675, he was chosen captain of a military company and took part in King Philip's War, with a New Haven group of officers sent to take charge of new companies formed. He served as deputy from Milford to the General Court for the October term, 1677, and was a member at most of the semi-annual sessions for seven years in succession except October, 1681, and 1683, and May and October, 1684- There was no session in 1688. The last session when he was a member was in May, 1690, so that he was elected twenty-two times out of twenty-six. The fre quent references to his name are always with the title of captain. John• Beard's estate was valued at £ 1,180-5s.-5od. One-third was given to the widow and the rest divided among his children. Captain John Beard married, about 1653, Anna Hawley, sister of Joseph Hawley, of Stratford, Connecticut. She had previously been the wife of John Uffoote ( modernly Oviatte) and at her desire had been divorced from him. She died in 16g8. Children: I. John_, born June 27, I 6 54, died August 24, 1708 ; married (first) Sarah, whose surname is unknown; married (second) Abigail Hollingworth. 2. Elizabeth, born September 20, 1656, died unmarried. 143 BE.A.RD 3. Mary, born November 12, 1658, died December 8, 1703; married Ser- geant Timothy Baldwin. 4. James, born December 4, 1661, died in 1709, unmarried. 5. Anna, born in 1664, died June 25, 1740; married William Fowler. 6. Joseph, born July 20, 1666, died in November, 1732; married (first) Sarah Sanford; (second) Sarah Smith. z. Samuel, born February 4, 1669, died in 1754; married Sarah Clark. 8. Jeremiah (twin), of whom further. 9. Ebenezer (twin), born April 16, 1672, died August 24, 1674. IO. Sarah, born July 22, 1675; married (first) John Buckingham; (second) George Clark. (Ibid., pp. IO, 11, 13. Society of Colonial Wars: Index of Ancestors_. p. 35.) III JEREMIAH BEARD, son of John and Anna (Hawley) Beard, was born April 16, 1672, and died in 11ilford, Connecticut, November 2, 1744. His grave stone and that of his wife are in the l\filford Cemetery. Jeremiah Beard married, May 26, 1697, Mercy or 1'Iarcy Pettit. (Pettit III.) Her name has been given wrongly as 1'1artha in some genealogies. Children: I. Sarah, born April 4, 1698; married Samuel Platt. 2. Ann, of whom further. 3. Mary, born April 9, 17o6; married John Smith. (Ruth Beard: Genealogy of the Descendants of Widow Martha Beard~ pp. 13, 16. Pond: Inscriptions on Tombstones in Milford, Connecticu,t, p. 8, No. 44.) I\T ANN BEARD, daughter of Jeremiah and Mercy or Marcy (Pettit) Beard, was born in 1'Iilford, Connecticut, June 30, 1701, and died in Ne-w Canaan, Con necticut, May 8, r 736. Ann Beard married Rev. John (2) Eells. (Ells IV.) (Ruth Beard: Genea/,ogy of the Descendants of Widow J.1,f artha Bea-rd, p. 16.) 145 Pettit HE surname Pettit is derived from the nickname, "le petit," or "the small," a very common sobriquet in England in Norman and subsequent times. It is found, in various forms, as Petyt, Le Petit, and Petet, on the Hundred Rolls of various English counties in 1273. ( C. W. Bardsley: Dictionary of English and Welsh Surna1nes. M. A. Lower: Patronymica Britannica.) I JOHN ( 1) PETTIT, the American progenitor of this family, thought to have been the son of Henry Pettit, a Huguenot refugee who had found a home in England, "\vas born in Widford, near Saffron Walden, County Essex, England, in 16o8, and died in Stan1ford, Connecticut, before April 14, 1662, when his will was probated. He emigrated to America, arriving at Ipswich, Massachusetts, between 1630 and 1632, and is recorded as a communicant of the Ipswich Church in 1631-32, and as living there in 1633. In 1634 he was in Boston, employed at the mill of Oliver Mallows, who also employed at the same time Thomas Pettit, ,vho, it is thought, was John Pettit's brother. .A..nother member of this family, in all probability, was Anne Pettit, baptized at Saffron Walden in April, 1610, as the daughter of Henry Pettit, who preceded John and Thomas to America, arriv ing at Salem, Jviassachusetts, with the Winthrop Fleet, June 6, 1630. She mar ried, after her arrival in America, Mr. Peters, and is enrolled in the Boston church records as Anne (Pettit) Peters. John Pettit removed from Boston to Roxbury, Massachusetts, joining the first church there, taught by John Eliot, the celebrated Indian m1ss1onary~ 147 PETTIT but before 1644, having sold his Roxbury lands, moved again to Stamford, Connecticut. The names of John Pettit and his wife Debrow Pettit are found among those of the first white settlers of Stamford. John ( r) Pettit married (first) Debrow, whose surname is unknown. He married ( second) Mary, whose family name is also unknown, and who died July 20, 1657. Children of the first marriage: I. I ohn ( 2), of whom further. 2. Debrow, born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, died in Stam£ ord, Connecti- cut, September 9, 1757. Children, probably of the second marriage: 3. David, born in Stamford, July 20, 1654, died August 8, 1657. 4. Jonathan, born in Stamford, February 23, 1656, died in 1720-21 in Bedford, Westchester County, New York. (Katherine L. Van Wyck: Genealogy of Pettit Families in America. Descendants of John Pett-it, 1630-1632. E. B. Huntington: History of Stam ford, Connecticut, p. 163. Charles Edward Banks: The Planters of the Com monwealth, p. 79.) II JOHN (2) PETTIT, son of John (1) and Debro,v Pettit, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1638 and died in Stamford, Connecticut, before A.pril 5, 1676. It is known that he bought a house and lands from Samuel Brown, of Stamford, and was chosen selectman in 1671, but otherwise few records per taining to him are in existence . .A. petition for the probate of his will and for the appointment of a guardian of the children was filed, April 5, 1676, by Richard Law and Francis Bell. The Court of l\!Iagistrates, the Governor being present, appointed Richard Law guardian of the three younger children, their mother having died. It is recorded that "Sarah chose as her guardian Abram A.mbler and John chose his uncle, Daniel Scofield, Jr." John ( 2) Pettit married, "13: 5 mo. 166 5/' Sarah Scofield. ( Scofield II.) 149 PETTIT Children: I. Sarah, born in Stamford, "27:6 mo. 1666"; married John Finch. 2. John, born in Stamford "26 :8 mo. 1668", died December 17, 1715; mar ried (first), in 1692-93, 11ary, whose surname is recorded by one authority as Bates; (second), January 16, 1700-07, Anna Goold. 3. Solomon, born "20 :6 mo, 1672," died before 16g5. 4. Mercy or Marcy, of whom further. 5. Bethia, born in 1676, died in Milford, Connecticut, March 21; 1714-15; married (first), about 1699, Theophilus Miles: (second), October 24, 1705, Josiah Tibbals, of Milford. (Donald Lines Jacobus: American Genealogist, \7o1. X. Donald Lines Jacobus: Fam-ilies of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, pp. 475, 522.) III 1IERCY or 1iL\RCY PETTIT, daughter of John (2) and Sarah (Sco field) Pettit, was born in Stamford, Connecticut. "9 mo.5, 1674," and died in Mil ford, Connecticut, February 21, 1761, •'in her 88th year." Her gravestone is in the 11ilford cemeterv., . Mercy or 11arcy Pettit married Jeremiah Beard. ( Beard III.) (Ibid. Ruth Beard: Genealogy of the Descendants of Widow Martha Beard, pp. 13, 16.) 151 SCOFIELD .i\Rl\1S Arnis-Gules a fess between three bulls' heads couped argent. Crest-A bull's head gules collared argent. (Burke: General Armory.) 153 Scofield HE surname Scofield is of locational ongtn, meaning "belonging to Scholefield or Scolefield." According to one authority, the precise spot so termed seems to have been within the ancient parish of Rochdale, County Lancaster, England. The place name is said not to signify "school \ field," as some authorities have supposed, but to be derived ~. from a :rvliddle English word meaning hut or shed, and should there£ ore be translated, "hut or shed-field." The surname and its variants Scofield, Scholefield, Schofield, and Scholdfield, apparently date from the latter part of the sixteenth century in England. (H. Harrison: Surnam,es of the United Kingdom. C. W. Bardsley: Dic tionary of English and Welsh Surnames.) I DANIEL SCOFIELD, first of this line of whom there is definite record, died in Stamford, Connecticut, before February 10, 1670, when the inventory of his estate was taken. He was one of the early settlers of that town. He made his will September 4, 1669, mentioning his wife, his daughter, Sarah, and her two children~ and his sons, Daniel, John, and Joseph; also his daughter, Mercy. Daniel Scofield married Sarah, whose surname is unknown. She died at Milford, March 5, 1697-98, having married (second), November 30, 1670, Miles Merwin. Children: I. Sarah, of whom further. 2. Daniel, died at Stamford, October 10, 1714; married Abigail Merwin. 155 SCOFIELD 3. John, died March 27, 1699; married, July 12, 1677, Hannah Mead. 4. Joseph, died in King Philip's War. 5. Mercy, born in November, 1657; married, January 6, 1681-82, Samuel Camp. (Donald Lines Jacobus: Faniilies of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, pp. 521-22.) II SARAH SCOFIELD, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Scofield, died about 1684. She married John (2) Pettit. (Pettit IL) (Ibid., pp. 475, 522.) 157 WHITING ARMS Arms-Gyronny of four azure and ermine, over all a lion's head erased or, in chief three bezants. Crest-A lion, s head erased or. (Matthews: A'lnerican Arnwury.) 159 Whiting HE surname Whiting may be of baptismal origin, meaning "the son of White." Some surname authorities, however, believe that it was derived from residence at or near a white meadow. ( C. W. Bardsley: Dictionary of English and Welsh Surna11ies. M. A. Lower: Patronymica Britannica.) I MAJOR WILLIAM WHITING, the first of this line of definite record, was born in England and died in Hartford, Connecticut, about 1647. He was a wealthy merchant, who, before coming to New England, had been associated with Lord Saye and Lord Brooke in patenting lands in New England. He arrived in America in 1633 and settled in Hartford. He was one of a committee that sat with the first Court of Magistrates in Connecticut in 1637, served as assistant to the Governor from 1641 until his death in 1647 and was treasurer of the Colony from 1643 until his death. In 1638 he was allowed to trade with the Indians and was appointed, with Major Mason and others, to erect fortifications in 1642 and in the same year was appointed, with Mason, to collect tribute of the Indians on Long Island and on the Main. He also had dealings with Virginia and Piscataqua~ !viaine, owned a trading house on the Dela,vare and another at Westfield, Massachusetts. He served as commissioner to the United Colonies in 1646, and ,vas a major of the Colonial forces. William Whiting's will, dated March 20, 1643, states that he was about to make a voyage at sea. He added a codicil dated July 24, 1647, and probably died 161 \VHITING not long after. His inventory showed an estate of more than £2,854. It is generally conceded by historians that he and Governor Edward Hopkins were the two leading merchants of the Colony and the many public duties which he discharged show him to have been a man of remarkable ability and usefulness. William Whiting married Susanna, ,vhose surname is unknown, who was buried at lVIiddletown, Connecticut, July 8, 1673. She married (second), in 1650, Samuel Fitch, of Hartford; (third) Alexander Bryan, of Milford. Children of William and Susanna Whiting: 1. William, died in London, England, in 1699; a merchant, he was appointed by the General Assembly in 1686 to present its petition regarding a charter to the King. 2. John, of whom further. 3. Samuel. 4. Sarah, married (first) Jacob Mygatt, of Hartford; (second), in 1683, John King, of Northampton. 5. Mary, died October 25, 1709; married, August 3, 1664, Rev. Nathaniel Collins, of Middletown. 6. Joseph, born October 2, 1640, died October 8, 1717; married (first) Mary Pyncheon; (second) Ann Allyn_ (Nathaniel Goodwin : Geneal,ogical, Notes of the First Settlers of C onnecti cut and Massachusetts, pp. 329-31. William R. Cutter: Geneal,ogical and F anz ily History of the State of Connecticut, p. 664.) II REV. JOHN WHITING, son of William and Susanna Whiting, was born in England and died at Hart£ord, Connecticut, September 8, 1689, aged eighty f our. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1653 and received his Mas ter's degree from that college in 1655. He was a tutor at Harvard for some time, until called to Salem, ~Iassachusetts, as assistant to the Rev. John Norris. In 166o he ·went to Hartford as the colleague of the Rev. Samuel Stone, pastor of the First Congregational Church there. Differing from him on matters of doc trine, he withdre,y iron1 this church \Yith his fo1lo\vers, February 12, 1672, and formed the Second Church of Hartford. He was a man of much influence, a 163 WHITING leader in religious thought. During King Philip's vVar he served as chaplain of the Hartford forces. Rev. John Whiting married (first), at Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 1654, Sibyl Collins. (Collins II.) He married (second), in 1673, Phebe Greg son, daughter of Thon1as Gregson. She married (second), in 1692, Rev. John Russell, and died Septen1ber 19, 1730. Children of the first marriage: I. Sibyl, born in 1655; married Alexander Bryan. 2. John, born in 1657, died young. 3. William, baptized at Cambridge, 1\-Iassachusetts, February 19, 1659, died in 1724; married, October 6, 1686, Mary Allyn. 4. Martha, of whom further. 5. Sarah, born in 1663; married (first), lviarch 19, 1684-85, Jonathan Bull; (second), January 2, 1722-23, John Hamlin. 6. Abigail, born in 1666; married Rev. Samuel Russell. 7. Samuel, born April 22, 1670, died September 27, 1725; a minister, resided at Windham; married, September 14, 1696, Elizabeth Adams. Children of the second marriage : 8. Thomas, baptized November 8, 1674, died young. 9. Mary, baptized November 5, 1676, died September 30, 1689. 10. Elizabeth, born in May, 1679, died in Hadley, Massachusetts, May 8, 1753; married Nathaniel Pitkin. I I. Colonel Joseph, baptized February 27, 168o, died April 4, 1748; mar- ried, January 30, 1709-10, Hannah Trowbridge. 12. Nathaniel, baptized August 15, 1683, died young. 13. Thomas (again), born May 20, 1686, died young. 14. John (again), baptized June 17, 1688, died in 1715, unmarried. (D. L. Jacobus: Families of Ancient NeuJ Haven, pp. 1971-72. C. W. Manwaring: Eg.rly Connecticut Probate Records, pp. 40-42. Society of Colo nial Wars: Supple1ne11t to Index of Ancestors, 1941, p. 284.) III I\1ARTHA WHITING, daughter of Rev. John and Sibyl (Collins) Whit ing, was born about 1661. 165 WHITING She married (first), December 25, 1683, Samuel Bryan, of Milford, Con necticut. She married (second) Colonel Samuel ( 2) Eells. ( Ells III.) (Frank F. Starr: The Eells Family of Dorchester, Massachusetts, p. 133. Charles C. Adams: Middletown Upper Houses, p. 541. D. L. Jacobus: Fami lies of Ancient New Haven, p. 1971.) 167 HE surname Collins is thought by most authorities to be of baptismal origin, meaning "the son of Colin." Colin was a popular nickname for Nicholas. It has also been suggested that the name can be traced to the French "col line," a hill, or the Gaelic "cuilein," a term of endearment. In the variations, Colin, Colyngs, etc., it is recorded as a surna111e from 1273 in various English counties. (C. W. Bardsley: Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. M. A. Lower: Patrony111ica Britannica.) I DEACON EDWARD COLLINS, the American progenitor of this family, died in Charlestown, l\1assachusetts, April 9, 1689, aged eighty-six years. He came from England, from what locality is not known, and appeared at Cam bridge, Massachusetts, in 1638, ,vith his wife, Martha, and several children. He was appointed deacon of the first church in Cambridge, and was made a freeman May 13, 1640. He lived for many years on the plantation of Governor Crad dock at Medford, and at last purchased it, selling off a considerable portion. From 1654 to 1670, inclusive, ,vith the exception of the year 1661, he ,vas a representative to the General Court of the Colony. Cotton lviather, in his lvf agnaliaJ spoke of Edward Collins as the "good old man, the deacon of the church at Cambridge, who is now gone to heaven; but before he ,vent thither, had the satisfaction to see several worthy sons become very famous persons in their generation." 169 COLLINS Deacon Edward Collins married, in England, Martha, whose surname is not known. Children: I. Daniel, born in England in 1629, a merchant, resided in Konigsberg, Prussia. 2. John, born in England in 1633, died in London, England, December 3, 1687; a celebrated non-conformist preacher in London, chaplain to General Monk, afterwards Duke of Albemarle. 3. Ensign Samuel, born in England in 1636, died at Middletown, Connecti- cut, January IO, 16g6; married Mary Marvin. (Second Marvin Line I, Child 9.) 4- Sibyl, of whom further. 5. Martha, born at Cambridge, Masaschusetts, in September, 1639; mar ried Rev. Joshua Moody. 6. Nathaniel, born in Cambridge, March 7, 1642, died in Middletown, Connecticut, December 28, 1684; married, August 3, 1664, Mary Whiting. 7. Abigail, born in Cambridge, September 20, 1644; married, in 1663, John Willett. 8. Edward, baptized in Cambridge, in June, 1664. (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. LXI, p. 304.) II SIBYL COLLINS, daughter of Deacon Edward and Martha Collins, was born in 1638 and died in June, 1672. She married Rev. John Whiting. (Whiting II.) (Ibid.) 171 INDEX OF FAMILIES Index PAGE PAGE BEARD . . 139 HUNLOCK . • . 133 BENEDICT . . . . 87 MARVIN (Line One) . 53 BOUTON . . 103 MARVIN (Line Two) . . 77 COLLINS ...... 16g PETTIT . • . . 147 ELLS . . 17 SCOFIELD • . 1 53 FOREWORD . 9 ST. JOHN • . . . 123 GREGORY . . . . III WHITING . . . . . 159 175