USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v.2 > Part 47
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ticular court and his electors in the town of Wethersfield were fined five pounds. In a subsequent order the court remitted Mitchell's fine, at the same time acknowl- edging his former public service. Mr. Mitchell held the full confidence and re- spect of his fellow citizens in Wethers- field and Stamford. His staunch upright- ness commanded respect and his unswerv- ing integrity invited confidence in times when trials demonstrated character. His name appears second on the list (the min- ister's name being first) of those who signed the compact in 1640-41 to settle in what is now Stamford. He became the largest landowner there. His name appears second on the list of five men chosen as the provisional governors of the settlement-"to order the common affairs or intended plans of the people, and to determine the differences that shall arise; and 'settle them according to equity. peace, law and convenience'." He was nominated by his townsmen and ap- pointed by the General Court "as a magis- trate with senatorial rank in the legisla- tive body." He was subsequently a repre- sentative and also held the position of associate judge in the "Plantation Court." Matthew Mitchell died in Stamford in 1645. He married, April 16. 1616, Susan Butterfield, of Ovenden, in same parish.
(II) His son. David Mitchell, was bap- tized in England, November 14, 1619. He came to America with his father. He owned land in Stamford and removed thence to Stratford, probably in 1656. On February 26, 1659, he bought a house lot of Jonathan Reader. He married Sarah, daughter of Thomas Wheeler, probably of Milford.
(III) His son, Deacon Matthew (2) Mitchell, born at Stratford, Connecticut, about 1653. died at Woodbury, Connecti- cut, September II, 1736. He settled in Southbury Society prior to 1682. He
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married Mary, daughter of John Thomp- son. She died January 18, 1711.
(IV) His son, Jonathan Mitchell, was baptized at Woodbury, Connecticut, in July, 1683, and died there, May 5, 1744. He married, January 25, 1705, for his first wife, Hannah Jenners, born at Woodbury, in March, 1687-88, and died there, Novem- ber 3, 1732.
(V) His son, Captain Eleazer Mitchell, was born November 2, 1732, and died at Woodbury, February 3, 1819. He was one of the volunteers who marched to the relief of Fort William Henry in 1757. In May, 1771, the General Assembly ap- pointed him lieutenant of the train band of the Thirteenth Regiment in South Britain, and in October, 1772, he was appointed captain of the same. His name also ap- pears as captain in the list of those who marched to New York from Woodbury and vicinity by order of General Wash- ington, but it is probable that owing to lameness caused by sickness, it was neces- sary for him to leave the active service in the army for no less necessary service at home in providing and collecting sup- plies for the soldiers and in other public affairs which the records of the times show to have called for men of sterling principles and patriotism. He married, at South Britain, October 5. 1758, Olive Hi- cock, of Southbury.
· (VI) His son, Benjamin Mitchell, was born in South Britain, April 22, 1777. and died September 3, 1842. He married. March 1, 1801, Hannah Pierce, born Sep- tember II, 1780, and died December 3. 1847, daughter of Justus Amos Pierce, who was born May 29. 1734. and married for his first wife Hannah Platt, daughter of Stephen Platt, of Milford, and for his second wife, June 21. 1770. Mary Norton. Sergeant Jonathan Pierce, father of Justus Amos Pierce, was baptized in September. 1683, and died November 3, 1757. He
married, March 21, 1717, Comfort Jenners, who died August 23, 1757, aged sixty years. Deacon Jonathan Pierce, father of Sergeant Jonathan Pierce, married Ann Huthwitt.
(VII ) His son, Amos Pierce Mitchell, was born at South Britain, AAugust 3, 1807, and died there. August 25. 1887 Hle married, at Southbury, in 1837, for his first wife, Thalia M. Painter, born at Roxbury, Connecticut, in 1868, and died at South Britain, August 14, 1849
(VIII) Hisson, Henry Painter Mitchell. was born at Southbury, January 25. 1842 He has lived there all his lifetime, and his active career has been devoted to agricul- tural pursuits. He married. November 14. 1865. Phebe Stoddard, born at Southbury, April 25. 1847, daughter of Samuel John Stoddard (see Stoddard). Mrs. Mitchell is a member of New Haven Chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members of the Congregational church of South Britain.
(IX) Amos Pierce (2) Mitchell, son of Henry Painter and Phebe (Stoddard) Mitchell. was born in Southbury, Con- necticut. January 16, 1871. His early years were spent on the home farm, and he received a practical education by st- tending the public schools of Southbury. In 1893 he entered the Alling Rubber Company. Hartford, Connecticut, as a partner, the business being established at that time, and is now ( 1917) serving in the capacities of secretary and treasurer of the same. The business was incorpo- rated in 1001, the largest incorporated retail rubber business in New England They sell a general line of rubber pro- ducts, and they have for their slogan : "If it's made of rubber, we have it" In addition to the duties of the above named offices, he is a director of the City Bank and Trust Company. He is a member of
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the Hartford Club, the Chamber of Com- merce, and the Society of Founders and Patriots, being eligible to membership in patriotic societies through the services of liis ancestors, his four grandfathers hav- ing served in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Mitchell married, November 22, 1893, Bertha, daughter of Henry and Lucinda Cook, of Newton. They are the parents of one son, Henry Cook Mitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members of the Windsor Avenue Congregational Church. They are prominent in the social life of the city, and take an active part in every measure intended for the betterment and advancement of their adopted city.
(The Stoddard Line).
The ancestry of the Stoddard family has been traced back in England through William Stoddard, father of Anthony Stoddard, the immigrant, Anthony, Gide- on, Anthony, all the foregoing of London ; Jonathan, of Royston ; William, of Roys- ton; Jonathan, of Grindon; Thomas, of Royston, who was a descendant of Wil- liam Stoddard, a knight, who accompanied William the Conqueror to England. The Stoddard coat-of-arms is as follows: Sable three estoiles and a border gules. Crest : Out of a ducal coronet a demi- horse salient ermine. Motto: Festma Lente, i. e., "Be in haste, but not in a hurry."
(I) Anthony Stoddard, the immigrant ancestor, emigrated from England to Bos- ton, Massachusetts, about 1639. He was admitted freeman in 1640; was repre- sentative in 1650-59-60, and during twenty successive years from 1665 to 1684. He married (first) Mary, daughter of Hon. Emanuel Downing, of Salem. She was a sister of Sir George, afterward Lord George Downing.
(II) His son, Solomon Stoddard, was born October 4, 1643, and died February
II, 1729. He graduated at Harvard in 1662; was afterwards elected "Fellow of the House," and was the first librarian of the college, holding that position from 1667 to 1674. About this time, on account of his health, he accompanied the Gov- ernor of Massachusetts to Barbadoes as chaplain and preached to the Dissenters there for nearly two years. On Septem- ber II, 1672, he settled over the church at Northampton, Massachusetts. On March 8, 1670, he married Mrs. Esther Mather, widow of Rev. Eleazer Mather, and daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Warham, the first minister at Windsor. She was baptized December 8, 1644, and died Feb- ruary 10, 1736, aged ninety-two. In 1726 their grandson, the Rev. Jonathan Ed- wards, was elected as colleague of the Rev. Solomon Stoddard. Many of the latter's sermons were published and he also wrote some controversial literature, etc.
(III) His son, the Rev. Anthony (2) Stoddard, was born August 9, 1678, and died September 6, 1760. He was gradu- ated at Harvard in 1697. In 1700 he be- gan preaching at Woodbury, and in 1702 was ordained. Of him a historical writer has said: "The ministry of Mr. Stoddard was remarkable for its duration and the prosperity which attended it. * He numbered more than sixty years in his holy calling, and great peace and har- mony prevailed under his administration. The number of communicants was always large, notwithstanding four large societies were taken from his limits during his ministry. * To his ministerial * labors he joined those of lawyer and phy- sician. Like many of the early ministers, he prepared himself for the practice of medicine that he might administer to the wants of the body as well as those of the mind." He was clerk of probate for forty years, during which time he drew most of
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the wills of his townsmen. He was also one of the largest farmers in the town. He married for his first wife. October 20. 1700, Prudence Wells, of Wethersfield. She died in May, 1714. He married for his second wife Mary Sherman.
(IV) His son, Eliakim Stoddard, was born April 3, 1705, and died in 1750. He resided in Woodbury. He married, in 1729, Joanna Curtis.
(V) His son, John Stoddard, was born January 26, 1730. and died January 22, 1795. He married. April 15. 1751, Mary Atwood, who died in Charleston, New York. January 16. 1802. They resided in Watertown, Connecticut.
(VI) His son, Samson Stoddard, was born October 25, 1752, and died Novem- ber II, 1809. after twelve years of afflic. tion with palsy. He married for his sec- ond wife Amy Goodwin, born July 10. 1753. and died September 16, 1827. Her father, Thomas Goodwin, was born June 30, 1729. He received from his father fifty acres in what is now the town of Morris. In October, 1763, he was appointed ensign of the Fifteenth Company, Sixth Regi- ment, and in October, 1767. ensign of the Litchfield Third Company. He was a farmer in South Farms and died Novem- ber 6, 1807. He married, November 23. 1752, Anna, born March 7, 1731. died Au- gust 19, 1813, daughter of Captain Joseph and Abigail (Stockwell) Kilbourn. Cap- tain Joseph Kilbourn was born in Wethers- field, July 9. 1700. Emigrated to Litch- field with his parents in 1721. He was frequently elected surveyor. lister, grand juror and collector. In 1740, 1750 and 1752 he was elected selectman. In May, 1750, he was commissioned as captain of the first military company in Litchfield. He was deputy to the General Court in October, 1752. and May. 1753. He was chosen to perform other important and responsible services for his fellow-citizens. He was one of the founders of the Episco-
pal church in Litchfield; he gave the parish one-third of a one hundred-acre lot in South Farms, and in 1747 was ap- pointed a trustee of the Episcopal Society. He died in 1756. He married, November 12, 1723. Abigail Stockwell, who died May 20, 1748. Joseph Kilbourn, father of Cap- tain Kilbourn, was born in Wethersfield about 1672. He married, June 4, 1995. Dorothy, daughter of Deacon Samuel Butler. She died August 19, 1709 Her father was born about 1639: settled in Wethersfield where in 1668 he was chosen town school master ; was selectman in 10No. "Ensign Samuel Butler, deacon at Wethers- field." died December 31, 1692 He married Elizabeth -. who died October 17. 1681. His father. Deacon Richard Butler. the immigrant ancestor of the family . came to America from Braintree, County Essex. England, in 1633. He became a freeman at Cambridge. May 14. 1634, and a mem- ber of Rev. Thomas Hooker's church at Hartford in 1642, of which he became deacon. His name appears on the monu- ment to the "Founders of Hartford" in Center Church burying ground. He re- ceived sixteen acres of land in the first division. He served as juror and grand juror a number of times: selectman in 1649. 1650, 1658; deputy to the General Court from 1656 to 1660: appointed clerk of the General Court, May 20. 1658, He died August 6. 1684. Joseph Kilbourn was one of the first settlers of Litchfield : was admitted an inhabitant of the town. December 12, 1721 ; was chosen select- man. December 17, 1722: also served as lister, moderator of town meetings. sealer of weights and measures, and in 1728 and 1742 was moderator of Proprietor's meet - ings. His father. Sergeant John Kilbourn, was baptized at Wood Ditton. England. September 29. 1624: came to America on the ship "Increase." with his parents in 1635 : came to Wethersfield. Connecticut, with them : was appointed collector, Sep-
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tember 24, 1647; constable, 1651; drew lands in 1670 and in 1694 allotments ; served on many important. committees, especially on town lines; selectman for eleven years between 1657 and 1681; was deputy to the General Court, 1660-61-62. In October, 1675, after King Philip's War had begun, John Kilbourn petitioned the council of war to be released from the office of sergeant which he had held for eighteen years. He married for his sec- ond wife Sarah, daughter of John Bron- son, of Farmington. John Kilbourn died April 9, 1703, and his widow died Decem- ber 4, 1711. His father, Thomas Kil- borne, was born in Wood Ditton, County Cambridge, England, in 1578. He was a member of the Church of England, and warden of the church in his native parish in 1632. The Kilborne family was an old and prominent one in England, several branches of it being entitled to coats-of- arms. Thomas Kilborne married Frances -, and came with her and eight chil- dren to America in 1635. He settled in Wethersfield. Connecticut, where he died prior to 1639; his widow died in 1650. Thomas Goodwin, aforementioned, was the son of Abraham Goodwin, who was baptized in Hartford, July 30, 1699. He was one of the first settlers of Litchfield. He became one of the prominent men of the town, served as lister, grand juror, constable, was selectman in 1747-48-49; and ensign of the train band, and ac- quired considerable land. He married. April 13, 1726, Mary Bird, of Farming- ton, who died June 7, 1788, aged seventy- seven years. He died January 6, 1771. His father, Nathaniel Goodwin, followed
shoemaking as a vocation ; held the office of deacon of the First Church of Hart- ford from March, 1734, until his death in November, 1747. He married Mehetable, born September 15, 1673, died February 6, 1726, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Stanley) Porter, of Hadley, Massachu-
setts. Samuel Porter was born in Eng- land in 1626; he was a merchant ; he died September 6, 1689. He married, 1659, Hannah, born in England, died Decem- ber 18, 1702, daughter of Thomas Stanley, who came from England in the ship "Planter," to Lyman, Massachusetts, in 1635; was freeman of the Colony of Massachusetts, March 4, 1635; removed to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1636, and thence to Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1659, where he died September 6, 1689. John Porter, father of Samuel Porter, came to Massachusetts in 1628. For a detailed ac- count of the origin of the Porter family, see sketches under head of Porter else- where in this work. He removed to Windsor, Connecticut, where his name first appears on record about 1639. He was a man of considerable means. He died at Windsor, April 22, 1648. His wife Rose died in July, 1647. William Good- win, father of Nathaniel Goodwin. was born about 1629, the eldest son of Ozias Goodwin. a detailed account of whom appears elsewhere in this work in con- nection with Goodwin families. William Goodwin was made a freeman, May 21, 1657; held various town offices ; married Sarah Fruen : died October 15, 1689.
(VII) Samuel Goodwin Stoddard, son of Samson Stoddard, was born August 6. 1791, and died August 4, 1828. He mar- ried Phebe Minor, who died September 5, 1836, daughter of Asa and Betsy (Bas- sett) Minor.
(VIII) Samuel John Stoddard, son of Samuel Goodwin Stoddard, was born in Woodbury. Connecticut, February 8, 1820, and died March 10, 1891. He married Ester Ann Platt, born May 16, 1823, died October 28, 1890, daughter of Joseph Platt, born January 24, 1786.
(IX) Phebe Stoddard, only daughter of Samuel John and Ester Ann (Platt) Stoddard, married, November 14, 1865, Henry Painter Mitchell, aforementioned.
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SLAVIN, Dennis Joseph,
Lawyer, Jurist.
Three generations of Slavins have re- sided in Waterbury, Judge Dennis J. Slavin, his father ; James (2) Slavin, and his grandfather, James (1) Slavin. James Slavin, father and son, were both of Irish birth as were their wives, and while both died and are buried in Waterbury they did not come here together, the coming of the son in 1853 antedating the coming of the father by two years. Dennis Duggan. maternal grandfather of Judge Slavin, was also of Irish birth, coming to Waterbury earlier than the Slavins and there died at the age of sixty-five years. He came to Waterbury about 1845 and was one of the pioneer workers in the East Mill Brass Works. Dennis Duggan married Mary Fitzpatrick, who died at the age of eighty- eight years. Their children were: Mary, married James Slavin : Michael, Andrew, all deceased ; Catherine, Julia and John. Dennis Duggan died in Waterbury in 1858, aged about sixty-eight. Like the Slavins, he was born in Queens county, Ireland.
James Slavin was a man fifty-seven years of age when he joined his son James in Waterbury, and during his fifteen years of residence lived a quiet retired life. free from business cares, living to be seventy- two years of age. He was a devoted Catholic, faithful to all his duties. He rejoiced in the prosperity of his son in his adopted land, but he was transplanted to a new home too late in life to take root and was never reconciled to being com- pelled to go to final rest in a strange land and ever longed for the "ould sod." He was a genial, lovable old man and a favor- ite with all who knew him. He was born in Queens county. Ireland, in 1798, came to Waterbury, Connecticut. in 1855. and there died in 1870. His wife, Mary ( Bren-
nan ) Slavin, born in Queens county, Ire- land, died in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1871, aged seventy years. Their children were: Sarah; John; William : James, of further mention : Mary. Margaret. Joseph and Dennis. None of this large family are now living and all are buried in Waterbury save Margaret, who is buried in New Haven, Connecticut.
James (2) Slavin, son of James (1) and Mary (Brennan) Slavin, was born at Balnakill, county of Queens, Ireland, in 1832, and died in Waterbury, Connecticut. January 26, 1800. He remained in his native land until he attained legal age. but as soon thereafter as possible carried out a long formed plan, and on April 13. 1853. arrived in the United States, locat- ing at once in Waterbury. He was not long in Waterbury before he became a con- tractor for the firm of Rogers & Brother He had built up a good trade and con- tinued in the employ of the above firm until his death. He was industrious and resourceful, thoroughly understocel his business and was held in high esteem Ile was a devout Catholic and reared his family in that faith. Politically he was a Democrat and wielded a strong in- fluence in his party. He was married in 1866 to Mary Duggan, born in Abbey- leigh. Queens county, Ireland. in 1847. died April 13, 1803. daughter of Dennis and Mary ( Fitzpatrick) Duggan, her father the old brass mill worker previ- ously mentioned. Fight children were born to James and Mary Slavin, six of whom are living : Andrew, died in Water- bury: Dennis Joseph, of further men- tion : James, died in Waterbury : John. a pressman of Waterbury : Michael F .. assistant registrar of Waterbury : Frances. a Sister of Charity in Jersey City, New Jersey : Edward Joseph, a practicing phy- sician of New York City: William. an electrical engineer of New York City.
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Dennis Joseph Slavin, second son of James (2) and Mary (Duggan) Slavin, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, March 10, 1872. He attended the public schools, completing full courses of grade study and finishing with graduation from the high school at sixteen years of age. He began the study of law in the office of Burpee & Carmody, passed the required examinations and was admitted to the bar in 1901. He at once began practice in Waterbury, continuing very success- fully until 1911, when he was elected judge of the Probate Court. During the interval prior to being admitted to the bar, he was cashier of the American Pin Company and was also clerk of the Com- mon Council of the city of Waterbury until that office was discontinued. He became probate judge in 1911 and held said office for two terms. In the election for 1916 he was reelected for another term. He is learned in the law and at the bar was uniformly successful in his cases. As probate judge he has shown a clear- ness of vision and a wide knowledge of the law of property and inheritance, has expedited the business of his court and given general satisfaction. In politics he is a Democrat, in religious faith a Catho- lic, and since the organization of the Church of the Sacred Heart has been an active and influential member of that parish. He is a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, member of the Independent Order of Foresters, the Holy Name Society, the Concordia Singing So- ciety, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Sarsfield Club and the Vorwaerts.
Judge Slavin married, in Waterbury, November 26, 1896, Mary Agnes Dwyer, born in Hartford, Connecticut, daughter of John Dwyer, now living in Waterbury, and his wife, Mary (Gorman) Dwyer, who died when her daughter was an in- fant. Five children have been born to
Judge Dennis Joseph and Mary Agnes (Dwyer) Slavin: Helen Marie, born Oc- tober 14, 1897, a graduate of Notre Dame Convent, class of 1916; James, born June 20, 1905; Edward Joseph, born Decem- ber 23, 1907; Maureen, born February 14, 1909; and Frances Barbara, born July 20, 1914.
ROBERTS, Henry,
Ex-Governor and Man of Affairs.
Although born in a neighboring State, the life of Henry Roberts from infancy has been spent in Connecticut and the strength of his devotion to the best inter- ests of his adopted State is not second to that of even the most devoted "native son." He is in all but birth a true product of the State; a graduate of her public schools and of her great university; his business life has been spent with one of her leading manufacturing concerns, and his public service, extending through leg- islative bodies of City and State, culmi- nated in the executive chair. It was said of him when nominated for Governor in 1904: "Being of highest character, ex- perienced in all public affairs, loyal to all that relates to Connecticut's best welfare and ambitious only to perform every pub- lic duty for the greatest good of the State, he is a candidate who commands the respect of all and the better you know him the better you will like him. He will be the next Governor of Connec- ticut and he will be one of the best Gov- ernors Connecticut has ever had." This was true prophecy and at the close of his two years' term in the executive chair, the prophet had but to reiterate the prophecy to become the historian.
With the exception of the few years spent by his father in business in New York City, Mr. Roberts' ancestors were continuous residents of Hartford from the
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coming of his great-great-great-grand- father, William Roberts. His great- grandfather, George Roberts, son of Ben- jamin Roberts, son of William Roberts, was a Revolutionary soldier ; his grand- father, Captain Ozias Roberts, served on the privateer "Blockade" during the War of 1812, later was a sea captain, abandon- ing the sea for the farm and later serving his State as assemblyman and senator, his town as treasurer. He was a Demo- crat with strong Abolition tendencies, becoming a Republican with the birth of that party, a party supported by his son George and his grandson Henry, the last named carrying the family name to the Governor's chair.
George Roberts, son of Captain Ozias Roberts and his first wife, Martha (Treat) Roberts, was born in East Hartford, Con- necticut, in 1810, died in 1878. His busi- ness life was spent in Hartford and New York, he being a partner in important firms of both cities. He was one of the organizers of the Metropolitan Bank of New York, and in Hartford was state director of the Phoenix Bank, treasurer of the Hartford Carpet Company, later and for twenty-two years its president, presi- dent of the Woven Wire Mattress Com- pany, director of the Phoenix National Bank, director of the Aetna Fire Insur- ance Company, director of the Connec- ticut Trust and Safe Deposit Company and the Hartford Gas Company.
He married (second) Elvira Evans. born July 27, 1812, daughter of Jason and Thankful (Taylor) Evans, a maternal descendant of John Taylor, a first settler of Windsor, Connecticut, and of John Taylor, the Indian fighter, whose deeds of bravery are commemorated in the monu- ment erected at Deerfield Cross Roads. Deerfield, Massachusetts. John Taylor was captured by the Indians in the Deer- field raid and carried to Canada. The
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