Genealogy of the Russell Family
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GENEALOGY OF THE RUSSELL FAMILY Compiled and written by Lewis Clark Russell State of Illinois. ( /1 . J (Jf(:f.J ~' _, ·-.. , {'!',.• ~ .;....._ -...,.~~ ... •-•'' Aj, '• ...... , . ~ . ~ _... - . ,r...'., • • - _-• I - _,,._ ''._ • • ,~ ~ ,- • ~ - ~~~~- . -~ ~ - - -.:, ~·.: :(.,. , , WEST SIDE BUNGALOW WARREN, ILL. DEDICATION I dedicate this Genealogy to all of the living great grandchildren of John Russell the Soldier; also to all of my own nieces and nephews, gratis. LEWIS CLARK RUSSELL. RUSSELL GENEALOGY The growing interest in ancestry indicates that Americans are fast coming to believe that it is of some consequence tc:, know from whom they are descended. Long lines of ancestry are revealed in each person, and this ancestry if understood will assist materially in various directions. It is a pride which deserves encouragement. One cannot know too much about one's self, and in acqu1nng knowledge of his· ancestors he is learning the most important facts about his personality. Biography is the most fascinating branch of history. And it may well be since it is the one branch which has life. Everything else may be a n1ere catalog of dates, but genealogy introduces the student to the actual personage and offers him the most compl~te means of obtaining an accurate understanding of the occurrences of the past. If every member of the Russell family knew more of the early history of our forefathers, they certainly would consider it a rich legacy to hand down to their Posterity. In our own time of zealous reforms and great advances, the means of pursuing such a study seems comparatively limited. The demand for such a biography to fill this span, has led the author to the preparation of this volume to place in each Library in the Russell family, without remuneration. Sincere!y yours, LEWIS CLARK RUSSELL. THE RUSSELLS IN ENGLAND The House of Russell figures more extensively than any other of the British aristocracy in history of the past four centuries. It derives its origin f1·om the De Rozels of N orm.andy and in a record of the times of Edward 1st they are mentioned as having held Kingston Russell in Dorset from the time of the Norman Conquest. 1 The fortune of the family dates from the reigrr of Henry VII, when Archduke Philip of Austria was ship,vreeked near Weymouth while on a voyage from France to Spain. When the Archduke proceeded to London and Windsor on the invitation of Henry VII, he took with him John Russell as interpreter and the young fellow became so great a favorite first of Henry VII and then with Henry VIII, that the latter King raised him to the peerage besides bestowing upon him an immense amount of property in the shape of confiscated monastaries. "All things come to him who waits, But here's a rule that's slicker; The man who goes for what he wants Will get it all the quicker." GENEALOGY OF THE RUSSELL FAMILY Compiled and written by Lewis Clark Russell, Warren, Jo Daviess County, State of Illinois. For forty-five years we have been gathering facts and ir:format;on of the Russell family which could be obtained from reliable sources. So far as could be ascertained and determined with any degre~ of c~rtainty, our first ancestor on the Paternal side ever residing in this country was John Russell the Emigrant, who is believed to be the original progenitor of the Russells in America. Dr. Gurdon W. Russell of Hartford, after living more than four score and ten years in Connecticut, being well posted in the record of the family, decided on being more positive in regard to his progenitors from the time they left E _rope down to Stephen Russell, .born Oct. 10, 1710. I:aving access to all papers relating to the estates of Deceased persons, as Wills, Inventories of Estates, Deeds, Mortgages, and other papers, he found in the office of the Secretary of State in Hartford and Boston, aided by some dccu.ments procured from his agent in England and with thrse records before him he sifted out these facts that, John Russell, the Emigrant, was a great grandfather to Stephen, the farmer, and from my father, Dr. George W. Russell's memoirs of the family, Stephen Russell was his grandfather. We have at different times come in possession of records of the Russell family, beginning with John Russell, the Emi gr .int, and running through different individuals in the 2nd and 3rd generati~ns, to Stephen Russell, the farmer, born 10 RUSSELLS AT HADLEY Oct. 30, 1710. So we have become quite skeptical in regard to the early settlement of the Russells in America, but on receiving a statement from Albert B. Russell of New York, which corroborates with this record, I am well satisfied that this Genealogy, so far as our lineage is concerned between John Russell, the Emigrant, to Stephen Russell, the farmer, is absolutely correct. While Albert B. Russell of Ilian, N. Y ., is a descendant of Rev. John, the founder of Hadley, we are descendants of Philip Russell, the younger brother of Rev. John Russell. JOHN RUSSELL, THE EMIGRANT .CHAPTER I Was born at Ipswic, England, in 1597 and came to America on the ship Defence in company with Rev. Thomas Shepherd and brought his two sons with him, John and Philip, and landed in Boston, Oct. 3, 1635. They settled in Cambridge, Mass., and soon made arrangements to have his son John attend Harvard College. In England he was a follower of Cromwell and a Freeman, in America a prominent citizen of Cambridge. It is supposed that his wife died in England as there is no mention of her death in Cambridge or Wethersfield. He was made Freeman March 3, 1636, Surveyor of Arms in 1638, Selectman in 1642 and in 1643 Clerk of the writs and Constable in 1648. His son John graduated at Harvard in 1645 as the seventeenth graduate of that college. After graduating John remained at home three or four years, filling many positions of trust. As his son John got married and received a call to preach and moved to Wethersfield, Connecticut, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Rev. Henry Smith who died in 1648, lea-ving a wife. Dorotha and one daughter, Joanna, born Dec. 25, 1641, he also moved to Wethersfield and soon married for his second wife ( 2) Mrs. Dorotha Smith, widow of the late Rev. Smith. Russell, the Emigrant, and his son Philip moved to the homestead of the deceased clergyman, with Dorotha and her daughter, Joanna Smith. About the year 1660 he and his wife and their children removed to Hadley, Mass., where the son, Rev. John Russell was preaching. He was made Freeman March 26, 1661, and May 22nd of the same year the General Court of Massa chusetts appointed him Clerk of the writs of Hadley. He was a glazier by occupation, a trade that required some skill in the _days of diamond glass. 12 RUSSELLS AT HADLEY In his comments, Mr. Judge says, "The early settlers were generally thrifty and substantial men. They all have lands and derive the greater part of their support from their crops. From all appearance he lived an enjoyable life in Cambridge, Wethersfield and Hadley, and was always a leader among men. He was chosen on a committee of five to examine the old records to the cow commons and copy and complete the same. Henry Dinston, President of Harvard College, was President of the committee. His children were Rev. John Russell, born at Ipswic in 1626 and Philip Russell, born in Ipswic perhaps about 1629. John the Emigrant, died May 8, 1680, his wife Dorotha, probably 1694. His will was probated December, 1694. Thus ends the life of the progenitor of the Russell family in America. REV. JOHN RUSSELL Of Cambridge, Harvard College, Wethersfield and Hadley, eldest son of John the Emigrant, was born at Ipswic, Eng land, about 1626. When nine years of age he emigrated with his father and brother Philip to America and landed at Boston, Oct. 3, 1635 and settled at Cambridge, Mass. He attended Harvard College and graduated there in 1645 as the 17th graduate of that Institution and remained at home, filling many positions of trust until he married June 28th, 1649, M~_~y Tal~ot, born in England, the only child of Wor shipful John and Dorotha. (Mott) Talcot of Hartford, Conn. This might have brought him to the notice of the church at Wethersfield, Conn., and led to his settlement there, but at all events he received a. call to come and succeed the late Rev. ~enry Smith in the ministry at that place in 1649. He was an able preacher but unfortunately for him, as had been the case with his predecessor, dissension arose in his RUSSELLS AT HADLEY 13 flock, which compelled him with a considerable part of his congregation to leave the Wethersfield Church, to form a new one at Hadley, Mass. The dissension existed before l\'.Ir. Russell went to Wethersfield, and very likely so worried the Rev. Mr. Smith that he died in 1648 from the effects of it. Like trouble existed in the other chu:rches where there was d~fference arising in religious matters where both parties were very certain that they were wholly in the right, and just as positive that their opponents were wholly in the wrong. One of their differences was some opinion in regard to the John Hopkins School, which was too trifling to mention. For th~ purpose of living in peace a party in Hartford and a majority of the church members in Wethersfield with Mr.