USA > Connecticut > Genealogical notes, or Contributions to the family history of some of the first settlers of Connecticut and Massachusetts > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical notes, or Contributions to the family history of some of the first settlers of Connecticut and Massachusetts > Part 1
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GENEALOGICAL NOTES,
OR
Contributions to the Family History
OF SOME OF THE
FIRST SETTLERS OF CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS.
BY THE LATE
NATHANIEL GOODWIN.
HARTFORD: F. A. BROWN. 1856.
F93 G-65
PRESS OF CASE, TIFFANY AND COMPANY, HARTFORD, CONN.
PREFACE.
THE following pages contain a selection from the Gene- alogical Notes made by my uncle, NATHANIEL GOODWIN, from time to time after his appointment to the office of Judge of Probate for the district of Hartford, in 1833, and prepared for publication by him during the last three or four of the latter years of his life. They were not designed by him to be complete genealogies even of the families which are treated of, but, as the title indicates, genealogical notes to assist others in tracing out their family histories. Mr. Goodwin had begun to print the work, making his final cor- rections as the proof-sheets were brought to him, and had proceeded as far as page 68, when the printing was suspend- ed, as he hoped temporarily, by a severe attack of disease, but as the event proved, finally, so far as he was concerned, by his death. At his request, made a few days before his death, and the desire of his executors, the manuscripts were placed in the hands of HENRY BARNARD, LL. D., President of the Connecticut Historical Society, who had rendered my uncle similar aid in his former publications, to sce through the press; but the pressure of his engagements obliged him, after the supervision of some fifty pages, to relinquish all further care of the work, beyond preparing a
iv
PREFACE.
memoir of the author's life, and the immediate charge of the publication devolved on CHARLES J. HOADLY, Esq., late Librarian of Trinity College, and now State Librarian.
It is difficult for one man to enter into the labors of another in matters of this kind, and to harmonize memo- randa differing sometimes in date and substance with regard to the same facts, particularly when the original sources whence the information was gathered are not indi- cated. Probably many of the blanks in the following genealogies would have been filled out, had Mr. Goodwin lived to finish the work himself, but no pains have been spared, to supply missing dates from the large mass of mamiscript notes left by my uncle, and to add some from other reliable sources.
The undersigned would, in conclusion, express his thanks, and the thanks, he doubts not, of many others interested in inquiries of this sort, to both of the gentlemen above named, for their cooperation in carrying this work through the press, as another, although imperfect, contribution to this department of literature, from one who had devoted many years to its preparation.
DANIEL GOODWIN.
HARTFORD, CONN., May 15th, 1856.
CONTENTS.
MEMOIR OF NATHANIEL GOODWIN, vii GENEALOGY OF THE GOODWIN FAMILY, xV
ADAM BLAKEMAN, OF STRATFORD, CONN., 1 LEONARD CHESTER, OF WETHERSFIELD, CONN., 8
DANIEL CLARK, OF WINDSOR, CONN., 23
JOIIN DWIGHIT, OF DEDIIAM, MASS., 40
WILLIAM EDWARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONN., 48
WILLIAM GOODRICHI, OF WETHERSFIELD, CONN., 69
JOIIN GOODRICHI, OF WETHERSFIELD, CONN., 84
WILLIAM GURLEY, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASS., 86
JOIIN HOLLISTER, OF WETHERSFIELD, CONN., 97
JOIIN HOPKINS, OF HARTFORD, CONN., 107
JOHN INGERSOLL, OF HARTFORD, CONN., AND OF NORTHAMP- TON, MASS., 119
LEWIS JONES, OF WATERTOWN, MASS., . 129
WILLIAM JUDSON, OF CONCORD, MASS., AND OF STRATFORD,
AND NEW HAVEN, CONN., 137
JOIIN KENT, OF SUFFIELD, CONN., 145
RICHARD MATHER, OF DORCHESTER, MASS., 150
MICHAEL METCALF, OF DEDHAM, MASS., 157
JOSEPHI MYGATT, OF HARTFORD, CONN., .
163
JOHN NOTT, OF WETHERSFIELD, CONN., 165
JOIIN PORTER, OF WINDSOR, CONN., . 170
ROBERT SEDGWICK, OF CHARLESTOWN, MASS., 175
REV. HENRY SMITH, OF WETHERSFIELD, CONN., 190
JARED SPENCER, OF CAMBRIDGE AND LYNN, MASS., AND OF HADDAM, CONN., . 197
THOMAS SPENCER, OF HARTFORD, CONN., 205
vi
CONTENTS.
REV. SAMUEL STONE, OF HARTFORD, CONN., 211 SAMUEL STORRS, OF MANSFIELD, CONN., 215
SAMUEL TERRY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS., AND OF ENFIELD, CONN., . 221
STEPHEN TERRY, OF WINDSOR, CONN., 223
MATTHIAS TREAT, OF WETHERSFIELD, CONN., 224
RICHARD TREAT, OF WETHERSFIELD, CONN., . 227
ANDREW WARD, OF WETHERSFIELD, STAMFORD, AND FAIR FIELD, CONN., 237
GOVERNOR JOHN WEBSTER, OF HARTFORD, CONN., AND HAD- LEY, MASS., 242
GOVERNOR THOMAS WELLES, OF HARTFORD, CONN., . 250
NICHOLAS WORTHINGTON, OF HATFIELD, MASS., 264
APPENDIX.
JOHN CASE, OF WINDSOR, AND SIMSBURY, CONN., 275
EDWARDS FAMILY, 301
GOODRICH FAMILY, 308
WILLIAM SPENCER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASS., AND HARTFORD,
CONN., 310
FAMILY OF RICHARD TREAT, 328
WILLIAM WHITING, OF HARTFORD, CONN., 329 JOHN LORD, OF HARTFORD, CONN., 347 ERRATA, . 356
INDEX, 357
The Editors would acknowledge their obligations to JAMES SAVAGE, LL. D., President of the Massachusetts Historical Society, for many valuable suggestions.
MEMOIR
OF
NATHANIEL GOODWIN.
NATHANIEL GOODWIN,-whose accurate contributions to the genealogieal literature of New England entitle him to an honor- able remembrance, not only among professed antiquarians, but by all who desire to see the restless habits of our people corrected by a stronger infusion of family and local attachments, which gene- alogical studies are calculated to foster-was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on the 5th of March, 1782; the youngest child of Nathaniel Goodwin, and Anna [Sheldon ] Goodwin, the daughter of Deacon Isaac Sheldon.
His ancestor on the father's side, was of the old New England Puritan stock-the names of the brothers William and Ozias Goodwin, being inscribed* on the stone monument erected to the memory of the early settlers of Hartford, in the ancient burying-ground of the First Church in Connecticut, where Mr. Thomas Hooker, "the light of the Western Churches," first ministered ; Ozias Goodwin, and his ekler brother William Goodwin, were of that "goodly company " of men, women, and children, who in June, 1635 or 1636, left Newtown, New Cam- bridge, and other settlements in the seaboard of Massachusetts, to plant a new colony on the " delightful banks" of the Connecticut. Mr. William Goodwin was a man of mark in his day. Ile was admitted a freeman of Massachusetts, at Cambridge, in November, 1632, and was a member of the first General Court in that
*See list of names in Goodwin's " Descendants of Thomas Olcott." p. XII.
viii
MEMOIR OF
province at which delegates attended, held in May, 1634. Gov. Winthrop in his journal speaks of him as "a very reverend and godly man, being an elder in the congregation of Newtown"-in Cambridge. In 1636, he was commissioned with Mr. Samuel Stone, to negotiate for the grant of the land where Hartford now stands, from Sunckquasson, Sachem of Suekiauge, and grand pro- prietor of the lands of this region. He was one of the trustees of Gov. Hopkins' will-and in the dissensions about church membership, baptism, and discipline which convulsed the church of Hartford and Wethersfield, in 1659, he sided with the Rev. Mr. Russell, of the church at the latter place; and with Gov. Webster, Mr. Whiting, Mr. Culick, Mr. Barnard and others, removed to Hadley, and founded there a church of which he be- came ruling elder, as he had previously been in the church at Hartford. Hle subsequently removed to Farmington, where he died in 1673, leaving one daughter who married John Crow, of Hartford. Mr. Goodwin's homestead, in the original distribution of the town of Hartford among the settlers, in 1639, embraced three acres-" abutting on the highway, lying at the North side of the Riveret, leading from the palisado to Sentinel Hill" -- and included the site on which Wadsworth Atheneum, with the Library of the Connecticut Historical Society, now stands.
Mr. Ozias Goodwin did not sympathize with his brother in his peculiar views as to church membership, and discipline, so far as to feel constrained to go out from his brethren in the church at Hartford, but continued to reside there, where he became the progenitor* of most of the name now in this section of the State. His home-lot was located on the west side of what is now Trum- bull street, and on both sides of Church street as since laid out.
Nathaniel Goodwin, the father of the subject of this memoir, was a merchant in Hartford, and died in 1782, a few weeks before this son was born. The children were placed under the guardian- ship of Capt. Ebenezer Barnard, at that time a resident of Berlin, but who afterwards removed to Hartford, where he died in 1827. The guardian appears to have aimed to secure a good education for his wards-both Nathaniel and his older brother James, having
* See Genealogical Notes of Ozias Goodwin, page xv. These Notes were not intended by Judge Goodwin to form a part of this volume, and are therefore, not so complete as he would have made them, had he lived.
ix
NATHANIEL GOODWIN.
been sent to the Academy at Plainfield, at that time second to none other in Connecticut. From a specimen copy, executed by young Goodwin, and dated April 30, 1792, we should judge that the scholars of that school made one valuable acquisition-that of a handwriting, which has even now, the rare merit of legibility.
After leaving school, Nathaniel served an apprenticeship in the art of printing ; for two years with Mr. Obrient, in New Haven, and for three in the office of Charles R. and George Webster, in Albany. From a letter written by E. W. Skinner, Esq., Libra- rian of the New York State Library, dated Albany, April 17, 1856, and who was an apprentice in the same office at the time, it appears that Mr. Goodwin exhibited early in youth those traits of character and manners which distinguished him in after life. " During his residence in this city, he was diligent, exemplary and faithful in the discharge of all his duties ; kind and affectionate to his associates, and respectful and obedient to his instructors. His habits were good, and seemed based upon fixed moral principle. Practical good sense was predominant in his character, assisted and aided by study and observation. He was plain and unosten- tatious, and somewhat antiquated in manner and habit ; so much so, indeed, was this peculiarity observable, as to give to him the appearance of more mature age. Yet there were times in which he would indulge in mirthful sports and playfulness of mind ; and particularly in manly adventure and ingenious strategy."
On leaving the Messrs. Webster in 1803, they addressed to his guardian a kind letter, from which the following passages are taken.
" Your ward Nathaniel Goodwin, had previously given us notice, that his apprenticeship would expire on the 5th day of the present month ; and that he had been requested by Mr. Barber, to enter into his employment as foreman or superintendent of his printing office, at very handsome wages. To this we most cheerfully give our approbation, as we have no urgent business, and Mr. Barber is very much pressed in getting forward the journal of the legis- lature and other publie printing.
" We embrace this occasion, Sir, to acquaint you how perfectly satisfied we have been with the general good conduct and de- meanor of N. Goodwin while with us, and that in our opinion this conduet is indieative of intrinsic goodness of heart, and evidences in a perspicuous manner how anxious he has been, by a suitable
B
X
MEMOIR OF
and becoming behavior toward us, to render his amiable mother happy and give entire satisfaction to his respected guardian.
" Permit us to add, (and we feel a pleasure in doing it,) that he leaves us a master of the art of printing-acquired by assiduous attention to business during his apprenticeship-a young man of handsome talent, pleasing manners, and correct morality. That his future life may be happy and prosperous is our most sincere prayer."
For this gratifying exhibition of conduct and character, much is due to the watchful interest taken by his guardian, Capt. Barnard, in the moral and intellectual improvement of his ward. His letters addressed to him while at Plainfield and Albany, are full of urgent and judicious advice as to the employment of his time and the formation of good habits.
"So important do I deem a right improvement of your time and talents, that you must accept from me a frequent repetition of ad- vice on these points. Let my years and experience, as well as duty and inclination advise you, not to be deterred by rain, nor snow, nor hail, nor wind, nor frown, nor flattery, nor false amusements, nor ideal pleasures, for a day, from laying a virtuous foundation in youth on a rock which can not be shaken." "Yours is the seed-time of life, if you sleep now, you can have no harvest." " Practice beneficence, resolution, perseverance, and self-denial. Fly from the vices you are inclined to, and hold fast to the virtues you would make your own."
Mr. Goodwin did not pursue the business of printing, for which he had served an apprenticeship, but devoted himself to teaching and occasionally to commerce, in connection with his brother James. In 1814 he was appointed deputy collector of the revenue for the fourth collection district of Connecticut; and in 1833 received a commission from the Surveyor General of Connecticut, as deputy surveyor for Hartford county. He had been for years a practical land surveyor, which he had mastered by himself; and had assisted Mr. Daniel St. John in making a survey and map of the city of Hartford, which was published in 1824.
Mr. Goodwin held many important public trusts, which he dis- charged with exemplary fidelity and to the universal acceptance of his fellow-citizens. He was elected Treasurer of the City of Hartford, in March, 1818, and annually thereafter for thirty-five
NATHANIEL GOODWIN.
years, till April, 1853, when he declined a re-election. In 1835 he was elected Town Treasurer, and held the office till he declined a re-nomination in 1854; and in 1833 he was appointed County Treasurer, and held the office till 1854, when he resigned the place, and declined all further appointments. From 1832 to 1833, he held the office of Judge of Probate for the probate district of Hartford, and for several years afterwards served as clerk ; and in addition to the regular duties of the office, he performed a great public service in arranging, and classifying the papers of the office, in making out full alphabetical indexes, and in copying out par- tially obliterated pages, and other ways contributing to the pres- ervation and convenient consultation of these important documents. In the mean time and from a very early period, he had been em- ployed as administrator in settling intestate estates, umtil probably no individual in the community had had so much to do with the business of the probate office, and with the city, town and county records. He was thus prepared for the proseention of genealogi- cal inquiries, and it is to be regretted that he did not at an earlier day, determine on preparing his memoranda of individual and family histories for publication.
In 1845 he published in pamphlet form his first contribution to genealogical literature, under the title of the " Descendants of Thomas Olcott, one of the first settlers of Hartford," which he dedicated to the Connecticut Historical Society. In 1849, he pub- lished "The Foote Family : or the Descendants of Nathaniel Foote, one of the first settlers of Wethersfield." And from the date of the last publication projected the plan of a series of works of a similar character, in connection with a history of the towns of Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor, in the preparation of which the author of this memoir was to be associated, as he had pre- vionsly been in preparing the introduction and notes to the above mentioned genealogies. Warned by some premonitory symptoms of a serious malady, which might terminate his labors before the history could be prepared, he determined on making a selection from his memoranda, and publishing them under the title of " GENEALOGICAL NOTES, or CONTRIBUTIONS to the Family His- tory of some of the First Settlers of Connecticut and Massachu- setts." He accordingly selected enough as he thought to make a volume of four or five hundred pages, and after a thorough revis-
xii
MEMOIR OF
ion commeneed their publication, but had not proceeded far when he was obliged to suspend his labors, by an attack of sickness from which he never recovered.
After lingering for many months in his sick-room, with periods of great suffering, which he bore with exemplary patience, and with intervals too of assured hope that he might again resume his favorite studies, he died on the 29th of May, 1855, in the 74th year of his age. His funeral was attended by a large concourse of his fellow citizens, who entertained for him the highest respect for the exemplary diligence and fidelity with which he had dis- charged important public trusts, and for his industrious, useful and upright life.
In an article published in the Connecticut Courant on the day following his funeral, Mrs. Sigourney presents the following dis- criminating estimate of the character of Mr. Goodwin :
" All his services for the public were discharged with incorrupt- ible fidelity, and a diligence and punctuality seldom equalled. Neither is it slight praise that in the intercourse growing out of them, with people of varying rank and occupation, he should have been enabled to ever preserve his self-command, and steadfastly to regard the rights of the humblest, and to treat with respect the opinions of those from whom he differed.
" Antiquarian tastes had the predominance in his mind, and the genealogical works he has been induced to give to the press, are models of persevering research and accurate arrangement. Even his chirography might seem correctly to symbolize his character- plain, neat, upright, perfect in punctuation, rejecting all factitious flourish, and as legible as the clearest typography.
" In his household, as well as in the community, his judgment was revered, and the authority of his example invariably upheld useful employment, and solid comfort, as opposed to vain ostenta- tion or the sway of fickle fashion. His whole life was marked by that avoidance of display ; that freedom from the pride of wealth; that regard for honest industry, which ought to take high rank among the virtues of a republic, interwoven as they are with its stability and health. He was conspicuous for " a sound mind in a sound body ;" for the love of order and the spirit of peace.
" Venerable neighbor and friend, we lay thee in thy grave at this last vernal sunset, not without sorrow. Thou wert one of the few
xiii
NATHANIEL GOODWIN.
representatives of a race rapidly vanishing away, who illustrated the virtues and the maners of the olden time: Peace to thy stainless memory. We think of thee now, as with that Saviour, to whom in truth and humility thou didst commit thine everlasting trust."
Mr. Goodwin was one of the original incorporators of the Con- necticut Historical Society, although he seldom met with its men- bers. He was at the time of his death a Vice-President of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society-whose appreciation of the deceased was expressed in the following preamble and resolutions.
"At a meeting of the New England Historic-Genealogical Soci- ety, held August Ist, 1855, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted.
"WHEREAS we have heard of the decease of Hon. NATHANIEL GOODWIN, of Hartford, Conn., one of the Vice-Presidents of the Society. Therefore,
" Resolved, That we deeply regret the loss the Society has sus- tained in the death of a most useful, active and valuable member, and we heartily sympathise with the family and relatives in their severe affliction.
" Resolved, That the Corresponding Sceretary request the family to furnish for the use of the Society, or for publication in the Genealogical Register, the leading facts and incidents of his life.
" Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to forward a copy of these proceedings to the family of the departed.
"CHARLES MAYO, "Recording Secretary."
Mr. Goodwin, from his habits of patient and persevering indus- try, from his official familiarity with early records, and from his grateful admiration of the character and services of the early settlers of Connecticut, was admirably fitted for his work. In the introduction to his genealogy of the " Foote Family," he thus expresses himself as to the rewards and ultimate aims of his labors.
"To the author, the labor of looking through the dusty and fast
xiv
MEMOIR OF NATHANIEL GOODWIN.
perishing records of the past, has carried along with it, its own sweet reward. Every step in his investigations, has been on some fragment of reverend history which has exalted his admira- tion of the sufferings and services,-of the far-sighted policy, the religious devotion and public spirit of the founders of our own little State: and he will feel amply honored, if his labors shall prove in any measure successful in chiseling deeper the inscriptions on their tombstones-in renewing the memory of their virtues from oblivion, and in brightening the links which connect the pres- ent generation with the first generation of New England, and thereby infusing a larger spirit of patriotism into the life of to-day.
"Our researches into the past will fail of their true import, unless the living are instructed by its experience, warned by its trials, and quickened by its example."
OZIAS GOODWIN.
OZIAS GOODWIN, one of the first settlers of Hartford, Conn., was born about 1596, as in 1674, in a deposition, Ozias Goodwin calls himself aged 78 years. Ile was a brother of elder William Goodwin, also one of the first settlers of IIartford.
Ozias Goodwin died about April, 1683.
Children. 1629.
I. William,
born
II. Nathaniel, born about 1637.
III. Ilannah, born
Married William Pitkin, Esq., of Hartford. He died December, 1694, aged 59. His widow survived him, and died at a great age.
DESCENDANTS IN THE LINE OF WILLIAM GOODWIN, SON OF OZIAS GOODWIN, THE SETTLER.
SECOND GENERATION.
I.
WILLIAM GOODWIN married Susanna - , who after the death of Mr. Goodwin, married - - Shepard. William Goodwin died in 1689. (His will is dated June 25, 1689, and his inventory, October 15, 1689.)
Children.
4 William,
born about
1658.
5 Nathaniel, born
Married Mehitabel, daughter of Samuel Porter, of IIadley. He was a deacon in the church, and died in November, 1747. Ilis wife was born September 15, 1673, and died February 6, 1726, aged 52. Chil- dren,-Hezekiah, died Jannary 14, 1776, aged 87; Isaac, died December 28, 1773, aged 82; Abraham ; Stephen ; Eleazer, married Hannah, daughter of Jonathan Easton ; Mehitabel, married Joseph Good- rieh, December 23, 1714; Benedict, mar- ried Jacob Goodrich, September 12, 1717 ; Joanna ; Ruth, married - Bird; Alice, married - Cadwell.
6 Susanna, born
Married John Pratt, Jun. She died July 22, 1718.
THIRD GENERATION. 4.
WILLIAM GOODWIN married
xvi
NOTES OF THE
Children.
7 Elizabeth, born April
24, 1681. Died August 21, 1702.
8 Sarah,
born April
1, 1683. Married May 9, 1710.
9 Mary,
born December
8, 1685. Married March 21, 1711.
10 Susanna,
born February
24, 1689. Died November 12, 1703.
11 Rebecea,
born January
15, 1691.
12 Hannah,
born April
10, 1695. Died May 12, 1695.
13 Violetta,
born Oetober
18, 1696. Died October, 1776.
14 William,
born July
9, 1699.
15 Rachel,
born January
18, 1702. Died January 25, 1702.
16 Susanna,
born August
12, 1704. Died February, 1793.
FOURTH GENERATION.
14.
WILLIAM GOODWIN married Elizabeth Collyer, who was born August 9, 1707.
William Goodwin died May 19, 1774. IIis widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Goodwin, died October 11, 1776.
Children.
17 William,
born November 10, 1733.
18 Thankful,
bap. Mareh
21, 1736.
19 John, boru August
26, 1739. Married Martha Spencer, December 14, 1769.
FIFTH GENERATION.
17.
WILLIAM GOODWIN married Margaret Cook, daughter of Jolin Cook, August 5, 1756.
William Goodwin died May 26, 1805.
Children.
20 Allyn,
born December, 1756.
21 Moses,
born March 5, 1759.
DESCENDANTS IN THE LINE OF NATHANIEL GOODWIN SON OF OZIAS GOODWIN, THE SETTLER.
SECOND GENERATION. II.
NATHANIEL GOODWIN married 1. about 1664, Sarah, daughter of Jolın Cowles, of Farmington, Conn., afterwards of Hadley, Mass. She was born in 1646, and died May 8, 1676. 2. Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Pratt.
Nathaniel Goodwin died 1714.
His widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Goodwin, died
-.
Children,-by his first wife.
22 Nathaniel, born July,
1665.
23 Saralı,
born April,
1668.
24 John, bap. May
19,1672.
Children,-by his second wife.
25 Samuel,
bap. August 22, 1682.
bap. December 6, 1685.
Died January, 1693.
26 llannah,
27 Ozias, bap. June 26, 1689. Married Martha Williamson, June 6, 1723 ; WAS a deaeon in the church, and died Jan- uary 14, 1776, aged 87. Ilis wife died February 9, 1777, aged 75.
28 Mary,
bap. October 14, 1691.
GOODWIN FAMILY. xvii
29 Elizabeth, born
1691. Married John Cole, of Hartford, and raised a family of children ; she died December 28, 1773, aged 82. Mr. Cole died Septen- ber 8, 1760.
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