USA > Connecticut > A catalogue of the names of the early Puritan settlers of the colony of Connecticut, with the time of their arrival in the country and colony, their standing in society, place of residence, condition in life, where from, business, &c., as far as is found on record, No. 5 > Part 10
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CULVER, EDWARD, sen'r, is found at Dedham, Mass., first, where he and his wife Ann, had three children recorded, viz. :
1. John, April 15, 1640.
2. Joshua, Jan. 12, 1643.
3. Samuel, Jan. 9, 1644-5.
Edward, sen'r, was next at Roxbury, where two of his children were baptized, viz. :
4. Gershom, Dec. 3, 1648, and Joseph.
5. Hannah, April 11, 1651 ; m. John Burrows, Dec. 14, 1670, and had issue.
Edward, sen'r, appears to have removed to Pequot soon after, as he had a grant of land in Pequot, in 1653, and purchased the house-lot of Robert Burrows, and became baker and brewer for New London. In 1652 or 3, Nov. 20, he had a grant of a farm at Mystic, and a house-lot in the town ; the Indians called this farm Chepadaso ; he had removed and was at Mystic, in 1664; as early as May 5, 1662. GOODMAN, Culver, was chosen and allowed by the town of Pequet, to make bread and brew beer, for the public good. In 1664, Edward, sen'r, " wheel-right of Mystic," released his homestead to his son John, and removed to near the head of Mystic River, in New Lon-
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don, at Chepadaso. In Feb., 1661-2, a small grant of a portion of the water side, next south of the fort land was made to John Culver, May 7, 1663. John, was elected to drum on Sabbath days for the meetings, as formerly,-(drums used instead of bells to call the peo- ple to church.) Goodman Culver, was allowed by the town to sell liquors, if he should brew also, "else not : " and would engage always to have good beer, good diet and lodging for man and horse, and keep good order. John, son of Edward, resided some time in New Haven, where his dau'r Abigail is recorded as b. in 1676, and son James, in 1679. After which he returned to Mystic, and in 1695, confirmed to Thomas, son of Jolm Lamb, land sold by Edward and Ann Culver, to John Lamb. In 1734, a colony of Rogerenes, at New London, removed to New Jersey, and settled on the west side of Schooly's mountain, in Morris County, consisting of John Culver, his wife and ten children with their families, being twenty-one in all. Edward, sen'r, was a noted soldier in Philip's war (at Hartford.) In 1675, the Council " ordered John Stedman and Edward Culver, with som of the Indians, to goe forth upon the scout betwixt this and Springfield, to make what discovery they could upon the enemie to the eastward of the river." Culver had great influence with the friendly Indians.
CULVER, EDWARD, of Norwich, in 1680, from his name is supposed to have been a son of Edward, sen'r, and b. at New Lon- don, after his father removed there, though not recorded, with his wife Sarah and children, and their births ranging from 1681, to 94 : in 1700, he became an inhabitant of Lebanon. (See Caulk. His. New London.)
CULVER, JOSHUA, (son of Edward, sen'r,) b. 1642-3, was for a time at New Haven, where he m. Elizabeth Ford, Dec. 23, 1676. He settled at Wallingford ; his dau'r Elizabeth, d. at New Haven, May 2, 1676, and his dau'r Ann, d. there Sept. 8, 1677.
CULVER, SAMUEL, son of Edward, sen'r, eloped with the wife of John Fish, about 1674, and nothing farther was known of him. She was a woman of bad character.
CULVER, JOSEPH, son of Edward, settled on his father's farm in Groton.
Samuel, Hezekiah and Daniel Culver, removed from Lebanon to Litchfield, and were original proprietors and settlers there, about 1722 or 3. Mr. John Culver, of Lyme, N. Hampshire, served in the war of the revolution, d. April 15, 1852, aged 91 years. (Hist. Reg.)
CULVER, SAMUEL, of Farmington, m. Elizabeth Spencer,
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Dec. 23, 1663 ; issue, Sylvia, b. Oct. 10, 1664; Shalor, b. April 13, 1666 ; Elizabeth, b. Dec. 28, 1673, &c.
CULVER, ANDREW, had children, Philolopa, b. June 4, '66 ; Mary, b. Feb. 5, '68 ; Ruth, b. Jan. 28, '70.
In July, 1726, six Rogerenes were apprehended at Norwich, for traveling on the Sabbath, and imprisoned ; one of them was Sarah Culver, called by them the singing sister. In defence they stated they were on their way from Groton to Lebanon, to baptize a person or see him baptized. One of their party named Davis, they declared had apostolic commission and authority to preach and baptize. Some of the Rogerenes, had before been arrested and fined 5s. 6d., for Sabbath-breaking, and in this case traveled in defiance of the law, and boasted they could buy the idolator's Sabbath, for five shil- lings each. (See His. Nor., p. 149.)
CUMMING, CUMMINS, COMINS, JAMES, a first settler at Stafford, Conn.
CUMMINS, STEPHEN, had a son Thomas, Jr., who m. Polly Mumford, of Ashford, Dec. 31, 1797 ; Stephen, Jr., had sisters, Anna, b. 1778, and Betsey, b. 1781, &c. He and Polly, had chil- dren, Charles, Edmund, William, Eliza, Stephen, John, Mary Ann, George, Maria and Sophia. Stephen, Jr., the father, d. Jan. 2, 1844 ; Polly, his wife, d. Dec. 28, 1843, aged 65.
CUMIN, has 2 coats of arms ; Cuming, has 1; Cuming, or Cum- ming, 1; Cummin, 3 ; Cumming, 3.
CUMINGS, JANE or JOAN, will, 1644 ; Sarah, (Cumings,) dau'r of Thomas Howlet, and wife, 1666 ; John, (Cummens,) of Salem, d. 1663 ; Isaac, sen'r, aged 65, of Topsfield, 1666. Isaac, sen'rs will, 1676, son Isaac, son-in-law, John Jewett and John Pease. Cummings, Joanna, made her will, May 31, 1644, grand-children, Mary and Joanna Bourne. Thomas, aged 60, in 1665 ; Thomas, sen'r, aged 60, in 1666 ; Cummins, Dr. William, surgeon, on board ship, was taken prisoner and transported from Canada, in 1648, to Louisburg, and from thence in the Brittania. (See Hist. Reg.)
COMINS, EDWARD, aged 28, shipped for Virginia, in the Assur- ance, in 1635.
CUMMINS; this name is early found at Killingly, Conn. Jacob Cummings, went from this place to what is now Ware, in Mass., near " the Elbows," about 1731. Soon after, Jabez Olmsted went there, from Brookfield, Mass., and was the moderator of the first Precinct meeting in March, 1742-3, and appointed one of the Pre- cinct committee, at the meeting. In Sept., 1750, he was made one
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of the committee to build a meeting-house there. 1 Cummins and 7 Cummings, graduated at Dartmouth College, before 1834 ; 6 Cum- mings and 1 Cummins, graduated at Harvard, before 1849 ; 1 Cum- ings, graduated at Yale College, in 1847 ; 1 Cumming at Williams College, in 1806 ; 1 Cummins, at Amherst College, in 1847 ; 2 Cummings, at Brown University, in 1776 and 1822. This is neither a familiar or early name in Connecticut.
CUNNINGHAM, THOMAS, of Windham, m. Martha Ginnings, Nov. 3, 1747; issue, Robert, b. July 8, 1748 ; Anna Cana, b. May 17, 1750. The father d. March, 1751.
CUNNINGHAM, ROBERT, son of Thomas, of Windham, m. Hannah Sawyer, Sept. 10, 1783. Issue, Lucy, b. April 8, 1784 ; Thomas, b. Feb. 2, 1786, d. 1796 ; Joel, b. Aug. 15, 1788, d. 1796 ; Isaac Sawyer, b. March 28, -; Hannah, b. Oct. 2, 1795, d. 1825; Thomas Wilson, b. Dec. 18, 1797; Robert, d. April 10, 1825. Robert Cunningham, taken prisoner at the expedition against Que- bec, 1775. (See Henry Asc.)
William Cunningham, aged 21, embarked in the Speedwell, for Virginia, examined at Gravesend, &c., May 28, 1635. Conyng- ham, has 3 coats of arms ; Cuningham, 1; Cuninghame, 4; Cun- ningham, '4; Cunninghame, 18.
CUNNINGHAM, GARWOOD, a Scotch Irish gentleman, came to Woodbury, Conn., before 1750, where he m. Mary Ilinman, b. March, 1720, dau'r of Capt. Andrew, of said Woodbury, Dec., 1751, by whom he had one child, Garwood H. Cunningham. Soon after which, the father d., and his widow m. Peter Hinman, son of Eleazer, by whom she had several children. (See Peter Hinman.) After the death of Peter, her second husband, she m. Mr. Munn, of Wood- bury, by whom she had no issue.
CUNNINGHAM, GARWOOD H., son of Garwood and Mary, became a man of considerable importance in Woodbury, as a mili- tary officer, and Major of the 13th Regiment of Infantry. Repre- sentative to the General Assembly from Woodbury, three sessions ; twice in 1799, and once in 1801 ; also a seleetman, &c., and sheriff's deputy many years in Litchfield County. He m. Sarah Ilawkins, of Derby, Conn., a sister of Joseph Hawkins. He removed early in the 18th century, to Poughkeepsie, New York, where he remained several years as keeper of the principal hotel there. In the war of 1812, he was connected with the American army, near Canada, where he was taken sick and died; his wife d. some years previous. They had children b. at Woodbury, viz. :
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GENEALOGY OF THE PURITANS.
1. Garwood, m. Miss Myers, of Poughkeepsie, and had one child ; Garwood, d. young.
2. Joseph H., m. L. Robinson, of Durham, Conn.
3. George, d. single during the Creek war ; private secretary to Gen. Jackson.
4. Walter, m. Miss Davis, dau'r of Henry, of Poughkeepsie.
5. Sarah Augusta, m. Mr. Thompson, son of Judge Thompson, of Goshen, Orange County, New York.
6. Horace, d. single at Mobile, Alabama.
7. Maria, d. single at Poughkeepsie.
S. Frederiek, d. single, on his way home from Georgia.
This family are now all deceased except Joseph H.
CUNNINGHAM, JOSEPH H., son of Major Garwood, of Wood- bury and Poughkeepsie, m. Louisa Robinson, of Durham, Conn., and had children ; Prisse, Marietta, Sarah, Jane, Joseph and Charles Tilton. Joseph H., was Lieutenant of the Poughkeepsie Fusileers. He volunteered his company consisting of about 80 men, to Gov. Tompkins, immediately after the declaration of war by Great Britain, in 1812, and served three months on Staten Island. He now resides in the City of New York, with his pleasant wife and family, and is himself a broker in Wall street.
CUNNINGHAM, GEN. WALTER, son of Major Garwood, of Poughkeepsie, m. a dau'r of Henry Davis, Esq., of Poughkeepsie, and had ten children, viz., Sarah, Henry, Hannah, Wilkin, Augusta, and five others. Gen. Walter d. some few years since. Two of this name graduated at Yale College, in 1806 and 1844 ; also 2 by the name of Conyngham, in 1846 and 1850 ; 1 at Dartmouth, 1848; 6 at Harvard College, before 1847.
CURRIE, CURRY, WILLIAM, of Long Island, in 1643. Curry, has 5 coats of arms ; Currie, has 4.
CURTIS, CURTISS, COURTIS, CURTIES, CURTICE, COUR. TISS .- This name is found spelled as above upon the various records in Conn., but more generally spelled "Curtice." There appears to have been several distinct families of this name upon the different Connecticut records, at an early period of the settlement of that Colony. Each of which will be noticed in this schedule. The name has been one of high standing in England, even previous to the settlement of New England. William was made a freeman in Mass., March 2, 1632. (Hist. Reg.) It is also stated that " Rich- ard, Thomas, John and William Curtis, four brothers, came early to New England, and probably from Kent County, in England," and that " John left no family." If so, there were others, who came to this country in the first settlement. This name has long been found
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in England, and in great numbers in London and Liverpool, if we ean judge by the city directories of those places.
" There was an ancient family of the name of Curteis, resident in Appledore, county of Kent. Stephen Curteis, of that shire, was great- grandfather of Thomas Curteis, of Appledore, living in 1527, who wedded Joane, daughter and co-heir of Edward Twaights. Warden of the Cinque Ports, and was succeeded by his son William Curteis, Bailiff of Tenterden, in 1591, who had issue. Thomas, another son, Mayor of Tenterden, in 1606, married Joan Pattenden, and left sons, George and Stephen." Arg. a chev. sa. betw. three bulls' heads, caboosed, gul. Crest .- A unicorn pass., or. between four trees ppr. In an ancient pedigree of the family, under the sign and seal of Segar, Garter, transcribed by John Phillipot, Blanch, Lion, and also in several MSS. in the Harleian Collection, the above arms are recorded. They were remaining on a glass in a window on the south side of Romney Church, in 1612, and are to be scen in the roof of the cloisters of Christ Church, Canterbury. (Burke's Heraldry.)
CURTISE, SAMUEL, was an early settler at Hebron, Conn., from Southold, Long Island, and is described in a deed from John Parker, sen'r, of Saybrook, (one of the Legatees of Joshua,) as of Southold, Long Island, May 3, 1703, in the County of Suffolk, New York ; weaver; deed dated May 3, 1703. Samuel Curtice and Obadiah Hosford, at a town meeting held at the house of said Curtice, Dec. 21, 1709, were chosen in Hebron, to run the bounds twixt Col- chester and us, (Hebron.) In 1712,- Samuel Curtice was elected town-clerk of Hebron. The Curtis's, of Windham, are supposed to have been the descendants of Samuel, the weaver, of Hebron. Samuel appears to have had a brother, who came from Barbadoes, to Long Island, and thence to Saybrook with him. Samuel went to Hebron and settled, (not known what became of his brother.) Caleb Curtis, who was an original proprietor and settler of Sharon, Conn., removed from Hebron to Sharon, where he d. Nov. 20, 1777, aged 74, and probably a son of Samuel of Hebron. Caleb's sons were, Caleb, Jr., Jeremiah, Daniel and Nathaniel.
SETH CURTIS, who removed to Sharon, in 1782, from Dan- bury, was a descendant of the Stratford Curtis's, as was Daniel who removed from Stratford to Danbury, and from thence to Woodbury.
CURTIS, THOMAS, was the first of the name in Wethersfield, and one of the first in the Colony, where he settled and became a man of reputation, with a large estate. He left on his decease, an 68
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GENEALOGY OF THE PURITANS.
estate of £717, 13s. 9d., a much larger estate than most individuals left at that time. Administration was granted on his estate at Hart- ford, in 1681-2 ; and to his sons John, Joseph, James and Isaac Cur- tice. Ruth, the wife of Hon. Eleazer Kimberly, (Secretary of the Colony,) and Elizabeth Staddar, were his daughters ; his son Samuel, received his portion by deed, before his father's death. His children agreed upon a division of his estate, and the Court appointed distributors to set it out to the heirs. Elizabeth, was the wife of Thomas, sen'r. His son Joseph, and his wife, received of their father's estate, more than the other children, for services performed for his father, being £140. Ruth, wife of Hon. Eleazer Kimberly, and Elizabeth, wife of John Staddar, were not recorded in the births with his other children. Thomas, sen'r, had several lots of land in Wethersfield, in 1650. He purchased a home-lot, of Richard Mon- tague, Feb. 20, 1659. They had children b. in Wethersfield, viz. : John, b. Jan. 1, 1639.
James, b. Sept. 15, 1641.
Joseph, b. March 31, 1644.
Samuel, b. April, 1645.
Isaac, b. (no date ; dau'rs Ruth and Elizabethi, not given.)
In another part of the record it is said Thomas, d. Nov. 13, 1681, aged 83 years. Thomas, was freed from training, watching and warding by the General Court of Conn., May 21, 1657; as was Jasper Gunn, " during his practise of phissicke."
CURTIS, JOHN, b. 1639, son of Thomas and Elizabeth, m. Lydia, Nov. 20, 1666 ; lived in Wethersfield, and had issue, viz. :
1. John, b. Dec. 10, 1667, d. 1712, aged 45.
2. Thomas, b. Sept. 15, 1670.
3. Lidialı, b. March 1, 1673.
1. Dorothy, b. May 15, 1674.
5. William, b. Oct. 12, 1677.
6. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 13, 1681.
7. Jonathan, b. Aug. 13, 1682; m. Hepzibalı Hastings, of. Hatfield, June 5, 1705.
John, was made free 1658. He drew 16 acres of land, and Thomas 216, in the land division in Wethersfield, in 1670.
CURTIS, JOSEPH, b. 1644, son of Thomas, sen'r, mn. Mercy, Feb. 8, 1674, and had children, to wit,
1. Meribah, b. March 10, 1674-5, d. Jan. 15, 1684.
2. Joseph, Jr., b. Jan. 10, 1675-6.
3. Mary, b. Sept., 2, 1677.
4. Sarah, b. Sept. 29, 1679.
5. Thomas, b. Dec. 24, 1680.
6. David, b. Nov. 29, 1682.
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GENEALOGY OF THE PURITANS.
The father d. Dec. 31, 1683, inventory of his estate offered in court at Hartford, in 1684, and Mercy, his widow administratrix. The children here named, are Joseph, Henry, Sarah, Thomas and David. Inventory, £271, 9s. There was a Joseph Curtis, m. Bethia Booth, of Stratford, Nov. 9, 1676. Distributed to his widow Mercy £20, personal estate forever, and one-third of the real estate for life. Eldest son, £77 ; two other sons, £39 each. To his two daughters, £38 each. Inventory £271, 9s .; children named on the inventory, are Joseph, aged 9; Henry, 7; Sarah, about 5; Thomas, 3, and David one year old. (Henry is substituted for Mary.) Mercy made oath before Samuel Talcott, commissioner, 1683, as truly pre- sented.
CURTIS, JAMES, b. 1641, son of Thomas and Elizabeth, m. Abigail, July 8, 1686, no children are found, and perhaps he left Wethersfield.
CURTIS, SAMUEL, b. 1645, son of Thomas, sen'r, m. Sarah; Feb. 20, 1683, and had children b. in Wethersfield, viz. :
Samuel, Jr., b. Nov. 23, 1684-5.
Elizabeth, ?
Ruth,
twins, b. May 17, 1657 ; Elizabeth, d. in infancy.
Samuel Curtis, the father, d. Nov. 26, 1688, aged about 43. His estate distributed in 1706, by Phillip Allcock and Nathaniel Bow- man, and agreed to by Samuel his son, by Ruth Hale, wife of Ebenezer Hale, and by Saralı Curtis, his widow.
CURTIS, ISAAC, son of Thomas, sen'r, of Wethersfield, the youngest son of Thomas, is not found as a settler at Wethersfield ; he perhaps went to Woodbury and settled, where (Cothren says) an Isaac Curtis, a late settler had a house-lot in 1682.
CURTICE, JOHN, JR., son of Sergeant John, of Wethersfield, m. Elizabeth, dau'r of Joseph Wright, April 3, 1690, and had issue :
1. Martha, b. Jan. 17, 1691.
2. Lidia, b. Nov. 15, 1694, d.
3. Mary, b. July 5, 1696.
4. Rachel, b. Oct. 25, 1695.
5. John, b. Feb. S, 1701.
6. Josiah, b. Nov. 17, 1703.
7. Elizabeth, b. March 18, 1707.
S. Hannah, b. Dec. 12, 1711.
John, Jr., d. Nov. 8, 1712; his negro Jacob, he gave to his wife Elizabeth.
CURTICE, THOMAS, son of Serg't John, m. Mary Goodrich, dau'r of John, Dec. 30, 1703, and had children :
1. Rebecca, b. April 28, 1705.
.
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GENEALOGY OF THE PURITANS.
His wife Mary, d. and he m. second, Rachel Morgan, dau'r of John, of Groton, March 17, 1715, and had issue :
2. Ambrose, b. March 23, 1716.
3, James, b. Sept. 11, 1718.
4. Experience, b. Nov. 12, 1720.
5. Waitstill, b. July 22, 1723.
6. Rachel, b. Feb. 5, 1727.
Thomas, the father, d. at Wethersfield, Feb. 5, 1730.
CURTICE, JONATHAN, son of Serg't John, m. Hepzibah Has- tings, of Hatfield, Mass., June 5, 1705, and had issue :
1. Anna, b. March 31, 1706-7.
2. Abigail, b. Oct. 11, 170S.
3. Thomas, b. Oct. 8, 1710.
4. Eleazer, b. Sept. 16, 1712.
5. Jonathan, Jr., b. Dec. 26, 1714.
6. John, b. Jan. 5, 1721,
JOHN CURTIS, of Wethersfield, son of John, and grandson of Serg't John, was elected treasurer of the "New London Society of Trade and Commerce," in 1730, to which place he removed to exe- cute his office.
ZACHARIAH CURTICE, of Wethersfield, son of Joseph and Dorothy (Edwards) Curtis, b. Sept. 13, 1719, removed and settled in Goshen, in Litchfield Co., about 1748. His brother Joseph, pur. chased a farm in Goshen, April 18, 1740, and removed there, where he remained about ten years ; May 17, 1750, he sold his farm and removed to Dutchess County, New York. He had children, viz. :
1. Mary, b. May, 173 -.
2. Hezekiah, b. May, 1735.
3. Hannah, b. Dec., 1736, d.
4. John, b. May 17, 1738.
5. Honour, b. Sept. 12, 1740.
6. James, b. Feb. 10, 1743.
7. Dorothy, b. Jan. 12, 1745.
8. Joseph, b. Jan. 24, 1747.
Perhaps others b. in Dutchess County, New York. Joseph, father of Zachariah, d. at Wethersfield, Dec. 31, 1765, aged 92, and Dorothy, his wife, d. April 18, 1760, very aged.
CURTICE, JOSEPH and JAMES, of Wethersfield, about 1671, with Thomas Holybutt, Jr., (Hurlbut,) and Thomas Wickham, for agreeing to rob Richard Smith of his " water-millions and stealing five of them," and then in a boasting way, bragging of it, were sen- tenced by the Court to imprisonment, and there to remain in dur- ance, at the pleasure of the Court. The above were descendants of Thomas Curtice, of Wethersfield.
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GENEALOGY OF THE PURITANS.
CURTIS, ELIZABETH, widow, and sons John and William Curtis, came from Mass., to Stratford, Conn., at an early period of the settlement at Stratford ; widow Elizabeth, d. there about 1657 or 8, as her will was proved Nov. 4, 1658, and names her sons John and William, and grandsons John, son of John, and Jonathan, son of her son William. The exact time this family came to Stratford, is uncertain, but it was quite early in the settlement, as John's son John, was b. in 1642. Elizabeth, could not have been the widow of William, of Roxbury, Mass. ; he did not d. until Dec. 8, 1672, and she was a widow at Stratford, as early as 1642.
NOTE .- John and William Curtis, sen'r, of Stratford, became useful and important men in the Colony of Conn. Mr. Curtis was exalted to the office of a Captain of a military company in Stratford, an office to which no ordinary man could then aspire. And was often a Representa- tive from Stratford, to the General Assembly of the Colony. Lieut. Wm. Curtis, was a member of the General Court, 1671. Lieut. Joseph, (probably an error,) in May, 1671. Lieut. Wm. Curtis, was appointed a commissioner for Stratford, in May, 1671, with Samuel Sherman ; deputy, May, 1672, also commissioner. At the General Court, held May 9, 1672, liberty was granted to Mr. Samuel Sherman, Lieut. Wm. Curtice, Ensign Joseph Judson and John Minor, themselves and associates, to erect a plantation at " Pomperoage," provided "it doth not prejudice any former grant, to any other plantation or person ; also, that any other honest inhabitant of Stratford, should have liberty to join them in settling tliere, &c., and " that they settle there within the space of three years. (Col. Record.) Ile was deputy, June 26, 1672, a special session called by Gov. Winthrop, on his receiving a letter from the king, announcing a declaration of war against the states. General, that New England should make speedy provision for a defence against the Dutch, (at New York.) The letter had been sent by the Governor of Massachusetts, to Governor Winthrop. He was again a Representative, Oct., 1672; Capt. Win. Curtice, was again elected in May, 1673, and comm'r of Stratford, and at a special session of the Leg. islature called by Gov. Winthrop, Aug. 7, 1673 ; also, Oct. 9, 1673 ; at this session, Capt. William Curtice and Lieut. Richard Olinsted, were appointed to lay out a grant of land to Thomas Blach- ley ; also, Representative to a General Court " by special order " from the Governor, Nov. 26. 1673, at which General Court, Capt. Wm. Curtice was appointed Captain of such forces as should be sent from the County of Fairfield, against the Dutch nation of New York, under Major John Tallcot, who was appointed commander-in-chief of " such military forces as should be raysed in this Colony, and sent against New Yorke." Major Robert Treat, second in command Lieut. Thomas Bull, Capt. of the forces raised in Hartford County. Capt. John Nash, for New llaven County. Capt. Wm. Curtice, for Fairfield County. Lieut. James Avery, chosen Captain for such forces as should be sent from New London County, and Mr. Thomas Trowbridge, ap- pointed commissary for the expedition. The General Assembly considered the " Dutch nation, at New York, " not only open and professed enemies " to our nation," but that they, in a hostile manner, had invaded a part of "his Majesties Dominions in New England," and continuing in their hostile acts, and threatening to do more, as they should be enabled, seizing our vessels and shedding English blood. The Legislature found themselves necessitated forthwith to raise and send such forces by sea and land " (in conjunction with the rest of the Vnited Colonyes) " as should defend their persons and property, "both on the mayne and on the east end of Long Island," against the outrages of the Dutch, and repress the power and violence of so dangerous an enciny. And accordingly resolved with all expedition " to attend the same, trusting in Almighty God that he will bless and prosper us in this our righteous cause, being necessitated there unto in our just defence." The management of which required speed and secrecy. The Assembly therefore appointed a " standing councill of warr," in the Colony, with full power to manage the affairs,
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GENEALOGY OF THE PURITANS.
CURTIS, JOHN, son of widow Elizabeth, of Stratford, was twice m., Ist, m. Elizabeth ; she d. March 9, 1681-2; 2d, Margaret ; she d. 1714. His children were
1. John, b. Oct. 14, 1642.
2. Israel, b. April 3, 1644.
3. Elizabeth, b. May 2, 1647.
4. Thomas, b. Jan. 14, 1648.
5. Joseph, Nov. 12, 1650.
6. Benjamin, b. Sept. 30, 1652.
7. Hannah, b. Feb. 2, 1654.
John, the father, d. Dec. 6, 1707, aged about 96 years. These children are recorded at Stratford, and were by his first wife.
consisting of the " Governor or Deputy Governor and assistants, viz., Capt. Benjamin Newbury ; Ensign John Wadsworth; Capt. Thomas Topping, Lieut. Wm. Fowler, and Lieut. Thomas Munson," who by special order (on all occasions) from the Governor, or Deputy Governor, or Secretary, by their. or either of their appointment, to convene, giving time and place to convene, and when assembled or a major part of them, that any five or seven of them concurring, the Gov. or Deputy Gov. always being one, to have full power to act as a council of war, and their acts to be as valid as if done by the General Court of the Colony. (See Conn. Col. Rec., 1673.) Capt. Wm. Curtice again elected Representative, in May, 1674 ; this session changed the name of " Paumperaug," to Woodbury, and freed it from country rates four years. Capt. WVm. Curtice, Deputy, Oct., 1674 ; also Deputy to May, 1675 ; at this session, Capt. John Nash, Capt. William Curtice and Lieut. Thomas Munson, were appointed to lay out the highway from Woodbury to " Pawgasuck," to the most convenient place for a ferry, and to lay out a parcel of land for a ferry-place. And the town of Stratford, appointed to lay out a county highway from Stratford, to "Pagasuck," to the place where the above committee should establish the ferry aforesaid. (See Col. Ree., 1675.) In July 1675, the Governor called another meeting of the General Court, of which Capt. Wm. Curtice, was a meniber. The cause of which meeting was the "trouble of the Indians now risen against the English, spoyleing and distroying of them by fire and sword;" " also some motions of Major Andross," and particularly as to a letter sent said Andross, from the Governor, Deputy Governor and assistants, in answer to a letter received from him &c., &c. Capt. Wm. Curtice, was also a Representative, Oct., 1675, at which session he received a fur- ther command of troops raised, and he also was put in nomination for an assistant, the next May, (1676.) In May, 1676, Capt. Wm. Curtice and Mr. Samuel Sherman, were appointed commis- sioners for Stratford and Woodbury. Capt. Wm. Curtice, Representative, Oct., 1676, and again nominated to stand for election the next May ; also, deputy in May, 1677 ; also, Oct., 1677, with Mr. Francis Ilall, of Stratford. Capt. WVin. Curtis, nominated for an assistant for the next May, and so continued to hold the various offices conferred upon him by the town or Colony, during his life. He and his brother John Curtice, are both found in the list of freemen at Stratford, in 1669. Capt. Wm. Curtice, though he was one of the committee to lay out the town of Wood- bury, never removed there with his family, but his sons Israel and Joshua Curtice, were among the first settlers of Woodbury, where the name has to this time been respectable. Capt. William, appears to have been the most important, prominent and useful settler of the name in Connecti- cut, and while he was much of his time devoted to public business, his brother John, was retired upon his farm in Stratford, and a man of less importance in the public business of the Colony. There was also Joseph Curtis, who went from Stratford, to Danbury, and from thence to Wood- bury, as early as 1700.
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