Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 163

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1568


USA > Connecticut > New London County > Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families > Part 163


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215


Henry Noyes married, in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 19, 1861, Mary J., daughter of John Noyes and Eliza (Baker) Ely, and they have one son, John Ely, born in Baltimore, Sept. 29, 1862. Mr. Noyes has always been a Republican in politics, and since returning to Lyme has served as constable, tax col- lector and selectman.


RANSOM SANFORD SHOLES was born in Lisbon, Feb. 16, 1839, son of Francis Jeremiah and Hannah (Stanton) Sholes, sketch of whom appears elsewhere. He was brought by his parents in his in- fancy to Preston, the district schools of which town afforded him a substantial education. At the age of sixteen he began work on the home farm, becoming while yet in his youth a thorough and practical farmer. By the careful husbanding of his earnings he has been enabled to purchase land of his own, and now has 275 acres of the home farm, where he resides, and about twenty-five acres outlying. With his farming he has also carried on, for about twenty years, a milk route in Norwich, supplying customers from about forty cows. He has made a careful study of up-to-date methods, and has one of the best places in the town.


Like all his family, Mr. Sholes is an uncompro- mising Democrat, and as a member of the board of assessors, board of relief, and as tax collector, he has given good service to his town.


On March 30, 1864, Mr. Sholes was married to Armida Sweet, daughter of Dr. Stephen Sweet, the famous bone-setter of Lebanon, Conn. Eight chil- dren have blessed their union : Evelyn, who died young ; Ada, who died young; Ransom, a plumber in Norwich, who married Mira Crouch; Ebenezer, born 1871, who married Lulu Bentley, of Norwich, and died in Preston in1 1897, at the age of twenty-six years ; Idelia, who married Guy H. Melvin, of New Britain, and has one daughter, Clarice L .; Everett, of Hartford, who married Jeannette Griffin, and has one daughter ; and Mildred and Clarence, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sholes hold a prominent social posi- tion in the town, and are regarded as among the substantial good citizens of the place.


GEORGE SHARPE BYLES, member of the firm of J. P. Barstow & Co., Norwich, dealers ir stoves, agricultural implements, tinware, plumbing etc., is a well known business man of that city, where his upright methods and progressive enterprising spirit have made him universally esteemed. He i a native of Ashford, Windham Co., Conn., son o, Deacon Andrew H. and Martha H. (Sharpe) Byle: The Byles family is an old one in Ashford, wher five generations have occupied the same farm.


(I) Josias Byles, the American ancestor of th family, came from London to Gravesend, Mass., i the ship "Edward and Mary," the vessel arrivin on the American coast in May, 1692. Josias Byl had married in England Sarah Hartwell, in 168, and their seven children were: Josias (2), bor


721


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Dec. 30, 1681; Sarah, born Sept. 31, 1683: John, born Feb. 18, 1684; Thomas, born April 29, 1636; William, born Sept. 5, 1687; Mary, born May 23, 1689 ; and a daughter that died at the same time as the mother, Dec. 16, 1691. For his second wife Josias Byles married Sarah Davis, who was born in Oxford, England. Five children were born of this union : A son that lived only two days ; Samuel, born Oct. 4, 1696; James, born Oct. 7, 1699: Sarah born Sept. 24, 1701; and Samuel. born Jan. 31, 1702. The third wife of Josias Byles was Elizabeth Mather, and the one child born to this union was Mather, born March 15, 1706.


(II) Josias Byles (2) was born Dec. 30, 1681, in Staffordshire, England, and accompanied his father to America. On June 5, 1705, he married Abigail Callender, who was born in Boston March 18, 1682. Their children were: One that died unnamed, born March 29. 1706; Mary, born Nov. 3. 1707 ; James, born Jan. 14, 1709; Abigail, born Nov. 17, 1712; Sarah, born Jan. 16, 1715 ; Rebecca, born Feb. 21, 1717: Elisha, born Feb. 25, 1719; and Ebenezer, born March 26, 1723.


(III) Ebenezer Byles was born in Boston March 26, 1723, and in March, 1743, he removed to Ash- ford, Conn., where he spent the remainder of his life. He died Nov. 12, 1805. On Nov. 28, 1745, he married Anna Bushnell, who was born Oct. I, 1726, and who died April 25, 1776. Their children


were : Anna, born May 17. 1749: Abigail, born March 26, 1751 : Mary, born March 26, 1753 : Josias, born Nov. 13, 1756: Sarah, born Nov. 10, 1758; and Mary. born Nov. 19, 1762.


(IV) Josias Byles, born Nov. 13, 1756, married on Nov. 18, 1779, Abigail Clark, who died Jan. 5. 1820. He died June 25, 1834. Their children were : Ebenezer, born July 4, 1780; Nancy, born Dec. 16. 1781 ; Sallie, born Sept. 30, 1785, died in infancy : Elisha, born Jan. 28, 1788; Roxanna, born April 5. 1789, died in infancy ; Patty, born March 27. 1702 : Sarah (or Sallie), born Nov. 27. 1793; Roxanna (2), born Aug. 25, 1796; and Abigail, born Jan. 14, 1799.


(V) Elisha Byles, born Jan. 28, 1788, became a prominent resident of Ashford, being active in the affairs of the town, where he held a mumber of offices. For many years before his death he was a deacon in the Congregational Church. He died May 23. 1860, at the age of eighty-one years, and was buried then in a private cemetery near his farm. Elisha Byles was twice married. On Jan. 28, 1813, he wedded Sophia Huntington, who be- came the mother of all his children, and who died Nov. 7. 1849. He married (second) on Oct. 16, 1850, at Chaplin, Conn., Anna Holt Kendall Work. She died Sept. 28, 1883. His children were: Josias, born March 31, 1814, married Olive Averill. and was a successful physician in Clinton, Com,, where he died : Abigail, born Nov. 1, 1816, married Stephen Whiton, and resided in Westford, Coun. : Lucy, born Sept. 15, 8810, married Amos Wood.


and lived in Worcester, Mass., where he died. after which she returned to Ashford, and there died ; An- drew Huntington, born Oct. 3. 1820. is mentioned below ; Zerviah, born Dec. 31, 1831. married Charles D. Eager, and lived in Worcester, and later in Hartford and Ashford, dying at the latter place.


(VI) Deacon Andrew Huntington Byles was born Oct. 3. 1820, on the old home farm in Ashford. which is located on the turnpike between Ashford Centre and Warrenville. He was brought up to a very practical knowledge of farm work, which, however, in his younger days did not appeal to him, as he had a great desire to enter the medical pro- fession. This boon was denied him as his assistance was needed by his father at home. His education was acquired in the common schools, and for several years he taught school in Ashford and surrounding towns. The old farm continued to be his home, and he assisted very materially in its management until after the death of his father, when it became his by inheritance. He resided there until 1888, when he removed to Willimantic and made that city his home until his death May 17. 1894. His remains rest in the family burying ground near the old farm in Ashford. Mr. Byles was active in public affairs, first as a Whig and later as a Republican. He served as town clerk, and also held other offices in Ashford, giving the utmost satisfaction in whatever public position he was called upon to fill. In his carly man- hood he united with the Congregational Church in Ashford, and never lost his interest in religious matters. He succeeded his father as deacon of the Church, and continued to serve in that capacity until his removal to Willimantic, when he resigned. For many years he was clerk and treasurer of the Church. He was a man of fine character with lofts ideals, and being possessed of good judgment and rare fact, he was a power in the community in which he lived, and he was greatly respected. In Pomfret. Conn., on Feb. 18. 1852, he was married to Martha 11. Sharpe, a native of Abington Society. Pomiret, born Dec. 20, 1831, daughter of Judge George and Lucretia ( Robinson) Sharpe, and granddaughter of Robert Sharpe, who enlisted from Pomfret for sers - ice in the Revolutionary army. A sister of Mrs. Byles, Abigail, is the widow of John P. Barstow. of Norwich. Mrs. Byles now makes her home in Willimantic. To Deacon Andrew 11. Rales and wife were born the following family: George Sharpe, born March 1. 18533 ; Emma Lucretia, born Sept. 10, 1850, married, Oct. 20, 1888, Limeis ti. Carpenter, of Wethersfield, born Sept. 10. 1955, au1 1 has had four children : George Francis thom Ang. 23, 1887, died the same day ). Harriet Louise ( born Jan, 3, 1880, died July 20, 18901, Frederick Star- borough (born March 1, 8800) and Merink Bikes (born Nov. 23, 1802) : Abigail H., born 1ch. 20. 1800, married, Dec. 20. 8886. Frederick R. Brown. of Bridgeport, Conn., born Feb 18, 1857, and has (wo ch len: Ruth Morris thern Nov 24, 188;1 and Richard Huntington (born July 1. 1800), Les


46


1


722


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


S., born Feb. 3, 1862, married, Dec. 20, 1894, Frank M. Wilson, born March 20, 1849, a prominent drug- gist at Willimantic, where he died May 1, 1900, leaving two children : Dorotha (born Aug. 3, 1896) and Milton Andrew (born Dec. 10, 1897).


(VII) George Sharpe Byles was born at the old family home in Ashford March 1, 1853, and he passed his boyhood and youth amid scenes familiar in like periods of life to his father and grandfather, and endeared by long association. His education -was acquired in the district school, and as needed, "he lent his assistance in the work of the homestead tintil in December, 1873, when he first came to Nor- ·wich, where he accepted a clerkship in the store of -his uncle John P. Barstow, with whom he made his Thome. For three years he applied himself indus- triously to learn the details of the business and as «well to master the ways of the commercial world. In March, 1876, he and Frank H. Smith were taken into partnership, and the firm became J. P. Barstow & Co., and although Mr. Barstow joined the silent majority in 1893 the firm name remains unchanged, and is the second oldest on Water street. The estab- Bishment is one of the best known business houses in the city, and it has a high commercial rating, 'being the most extensive of its kind in eastern Con- mecticut. Its business principles are sound, based on courtesy and integrity, and through the long years of its existence the firm has borne a most enviable reputation.


In Mansfield, Conn., Mr. Byles was married to Mary Eva Hooker, who was born in that town Jan. 15, 1854, daughter of Lothrop and Rachel (Sholes) Hooker, the former of whom was a leading citizen and manufacturer at Mt. Hope. Three children blessed this union: (1) Robert Hooker, born in September, 1878, received his education in the Nor- wich Free Academy, and in Norwich learned the business of an undertaker. He is now located in Lewiston, Maine. Fraternally he is a Mason, affil- iated with Somerset Lodge, F. & A. M., Franklin Chapter and Franklin Council. (2) Harold Hun- tington, born March 30, 1883, died April 5, 1893. (3) Everette Barstow, born Feb. 28, 1890, is attend- ing high school.


In his political principles Mr. Byles is a Repub- lican, but he has always declined to assume the responsibilities entailed by office holding. He is a 32d degree Mason, belonging to Somerset Lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M., and to Sphinx Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Hartford. He also belongs to Norwich Lodge, No. 284, New England Order of Protection, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Socially he is enrolled in the Arcanum Club. The religious connection of the family is with the Broadway Congregational Church. In 1887 Mr. Byles erected his handsome residence at No. 21 Hamlin street, Norwich, which was one of the first built in that vicinity, and there he and his family dispense abundant hospitality to their many friends, with whom they are justly popular.


JOHNSON. The Johnson family is one of the oldest in New London county, where its representa- tives have been known for generations as quiet, frugal and exemplary Christian people. The branch here followed out is that to which belonged the late Dr. Samuel Johnson, who was one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Bozrah, and his two sons now living there, Drs. Samuel Gager and Nathan John- Son1. Col. Jehiel Johnson and family also belong to this branch.


(I) The first of this name in New England of whom there is any authentic mention was John Johnson, who, in 1663, was granted a portion of land in Norwich West Farms, now Franklin, near Blue Hill, part of his land extending into New Con- cord (now Bozrah), Conn .. His will, made in 1716, divided his property between his wife, Susan- nah, and numerous children.


(II) Ebenezer Johnson, son of John, born in 1693, died April 13, 1770, aged eighty-six years. On Oct. 29, 1717, he married Deborah Champion, who was born in 1696, and died Aug. 27, 1778, at the age of eighty-two. Their children were: Deborah, born Sept. 15, 1718; Hannah, Dec. 31, 1720; Su- sannah, July 7, 1723 ; Isaac, Feb. 9, 1728 (who died May 3, 1728) ; Deacon Isaac; Ebenezer, Feb. 25, 1731 ; Bethiah, April 16, 1734 ; and Mary, April 7, 1738.


(III) Ebenezer Johnson, born Feb. 25, 1731, was married Nov. 7, 1759, to Anna Willes. He was a farmer and resided on the farm occupied by Charles A. Johnson, in Bozrah. He died Dec. II, 1804, aged nearly seventy-four, and his wife died Dec. 31, 1809, aged seventy-five. They had the fol- lowing children : (1) Susanna, born Sept. 22, 1760, married Col. Hough, of Bozrah, and died Nov. 15, 184I. (2) Col. Jehiel, born Sept. 16, 1762, married Jerusha Lathrop, resided on the homestead in Boz- rah, and died Jan. 28, 1825. (3) Anna, born Feb. 15, 1765, married Ebenezer Tillotson, and died Oct. 22, 1822. (4) Ebenezer, born June 24, 1767, mar- ried Experience Gifford, and died July 23, 1850. (5) Hannah, born Oct. 4, 1770, married Capt. Ben- jamin Tracy, and died Oct. 9, 1822. (6) Isaac was born July 24, 1773.


(IV) Isaac Johnson, youngest of the above fam- ily, was a farmer, and resided on what was then known as the Burchard homestead. He later moved to a house on the opposite side of the road, and there resided the rest of his life, dying there April 10, 1822. The house in which he resided the latter years of his life was burned in June, 1870; the cel- lar yet marks the site. He married Phebe Burch- ard, whom he survived. Their children were ast follows : (1) Orimel, born Feb. 8, 1796, married Artimisa Armstrong, and resided on the homestead where he died May 16, 1869. (2) Susan, born June 18, 1798, married Ebenezer Tillotson, a farmer, and removed to Canajoharie, N. Y., where she diec Sept. 18, 1863. (3) Jerusha, born May 16, 1800 died May 29, 1801. (4) Jehiel, born March 19


---


723


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


1802, died July 29, 1861. He married Jerusha Whiting, and a sketch of him and his family is found elsewhere. (5) Samuel was born July I, 1805. (6) Ebenezer Tracy, born Aug. 9, 1807, a farmer, married Sophronia Barnes, and removed to Canajoharie, N. Y., where he died March 4, 1880. (7) Hannah, born Dec. 22, 1810, married Nathan Bingham, and went to Canajoharie, N. Y. She died Feb. 18, 1875, at Oneonta. (8) Jerusha L., born Dec. 16, 1812, married Cyprian L. Whit- ing, and resided in Bozrah, later moving to Wis- consin, where she died, in Warsaw, Dec. 14, 1888. (9) A son, born Oct. 20, 1815, died in infancy.


DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON was born July 1, 1805, in the old homestead at Bozrah, and attended the district school and a select school at Norwich kept by a Mr. Foster. He became a cripple in boyhood as a result of a fever sore, and therefore could do but little manual labor. Later in life this affliction almost entirely disappeared. After leaving the select school he taught school in the towns of Leb- anon and Franklin for several terms, in this way earning money to enable him to begin the study of medicine, and with the financial assistance of an aunt, the wife of Col. Jehiel Johnson, he was en- abled to complete his course. He first began study with Dr. Joseph Peabody, of Montville, with whom he remained three years. He then entered the med- ical department at Yale, from which he was gradu- ated March 4, 1829, the day Gen. Andrew Jackson was inaugurated President of the United States. When he left school he was in debt, but this he soon paid off. He settled in Bozrah, in the imme- diate neighborhood of his birthplace, and in a short time had built up a flourishing practice. He compounded many of his own medicines, was a man not afraid of hard work, and, being conservative in his business dealings, became a man of wealth. After his marriage he purchased the Gurdon Meech farm, and there resided the rest of his life. He was engaged in the practice of medicine for fifty years, his death occurring Feb. 12, 1879. Hle was a man much beloved and esteemed, and is held in loving remembrance by all who knew him. Almost his last words were these: "Give my love to all my friends."


Until the day before his death, which occurred suddenly, Dr. Samuel Johnson was actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession. While never a robust man, he possessed such energy and endurance as overcame all physical obstacles. He was particularly successful in fever cases, and had a large practice that extended into many neighbor- ing towns. His cheery good nature, which he often succeeded in imparting to his patients, was an im- portant factor in many cures. He was a well known member of the New London County Medical So- ciety. In early life he was a Whig. and later joined the Republican party. In 1856 he was sent to the Legislature, and he held many of the minor town


offices, declining the proffer of many others. Dr. Johnson was a constant reader, and a man well in- formed upon all subjects of general interest. He was especially well versed in Scriptural subjects, and enjoyed nothing so much as a lively and intelli- gent discussion of such topics. He was one of the most active members and liberal supporters of the Bozrah Congregational Church.


Dr. Samuel Johnson married. in Bozrah. Cyn- thia Maria Gager, who was born in that town Feb. 3. 1816, daughter of Samuel and Cynthia Maria (Meech) Gager. Mrs. Johnson survived her hus- band, living until May 19. 1900, and is buried be- side him in the cemetery near her old home. They had the following children: (1) Samuel Gager, born Feb. 8, 1845, died Aug. 28. 1845. (2) Jane Maria, born March 1, 1846, died Feb. 5. 1872. (3) Samuel Gager, born Nov. 15. 1848, is mentioned below. (4) Nathan, born April 19, 1851. is men- tioned below. (5) Edward, born Jan. 9. 1854, was educated at Wilbraham Academy and the Connecti- cut Literary Institute, at Suffield, became a farmer. and lived on the homestead farm, where he died. unmarried, Nov. 1I, 1897. (6) Charles A., born Feb. 22. 1857. died April 10. 1858. (7) Delia E., born in December, 1860, died Aug. 5. 1861.


(VI) SAMUEL GAGER JOHNSON, M. D .. was born in the same house in which he now lives, and at- tended the district school, Wilbraham Academy, and the academy at Durham, Conn., then in charge of George H. Tracey. Previous to this and later he taught school, in all four terms. in Bozrah and Franklin. He began the study of medicine with his father, and then entered the University of New York, from which he was gradnated, with the de- gree of M. D., in June. 1877. He returned to his home, and there has resided ever since. engaged in the practice of medicine. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and he has been active in town affairs, hold- ing the office of judge of probate, and that of town clerk, for several years. For several years he served as member of the board of school visitors. and for one term was first selectman. He is a notary public, and has done much in the way of settling estates, as tristee and as administrator. In 1888 he represented his town in the State Legisla- ture, serving on the committee on Canvass of Votes for Justice of the Peace.


NATHAN JOHNSON, M. D., was born at the homestead, and attended the district school and Durham Academy. Like his brother he began the study of medicine in his father's office, interrupting his studies by one term of school teaching at Boz- rahville, after which he entered the medical depart- ment of the University of New York, and was graduated Feb. 11, 1828 Hle settled first at Col- chester, after a short time removing to College Point, Long Island, where he practiced until obliged by climatic trouble to give up work for a time. He returned home, where he has since con-


1


724


GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


tinued to reside. Since 1893, when the office was created, he has been town health officer. In politics he is a Republican.


Drs. Samuel Gager and Nathan Johnson are men of wealth and position, and continue the prac- tice of medicine rather from choice than of neces- sity. They are careful and conservative business men, and have added largely to the fine estate left them by their father. As the wealthiest citizens of the town, and as successful business men, their ad- vice in business affairs is largely sought. Neither of the doctors has married, and they are unassum- ing men of quiet habits, fair and prompt in all their dealings, as they expect others to be with them.


THE GAGER FAMILY, of which Mrs. Cynthia Maria (Gager) Johnson, mother of Dr. Samuel Gager and Dr. Nathan Johnson, was a member, goes back, in America, to (I) Dr. William Gager. He came to this country in 1630, with Gov. Win- throp, and died the same year, from disease con- tracted at sea from poor diet, many of the emigrants dying from the same malady. Contemporary rec- ords speak of Dr. Gager as a skillful surgeon, a right godly man and one of the deacons of the church.


(II) John Gager, son of Dr. William, the only child that has been traced, was one of the company that settled at New Lon- don with John Winthrop, the younger, and his name is there found on the earliest list of inhabitants extant. John Gager had a grant from the town of New London of a farm of 200 acres, east of the river, near the straits, now in Ledyard, Conn., to which he removed soon after 1650, and there dwelt until he joined in the set- tlement of Norwich, removing thither. His house lot in the new town bears the date of the oldest sur- veys, viz., November, 1659. In 1674 and 1688 he was constable of Norwich, and died Dec. 10, 1703, at an old age, leaving two sons and one daughter, one of the sons being Samuel Gager.


(III) Samuel Gager, in 1695, married Mrs. Re- becca (Lay) Raymond, widow of Daniel Raymond. Samuel Gager was a man of good repute and con- siderable estate, a resident of the parish of New Concord (now Bozrah), Conn., but was interred at his own request in the old neglected graveyard in the town of New London. His children were : Elizabeth ; John ; Samuel; William, who graduated from Yale College in 1721, and was pastor at Leb- anon, Conn., until his death, in 1739; Sarah ; Simon, and Rebecca.


(IV) John Gager, the eldest son of Samuel, lo- cated at what is now North Franklin (called Ga- gertown), and his descendants were quite numerous in that section.


(IV) Samuel Gager, son of Samuel, was born in December, 1702, and never married until he reached the age of seventy-two years. He followed the occupation of farmer all his life, his home be- ing the farm now occupied by his great-grandson,


Charles A. Gager. He died Aug. 1I, 1783. His wife was Hannah Caulkins, who died in November, 1817. They had two children, Samuel, born Aug. 3, 1775, and William, May 25, 1777.


(V) Capt. Samuel Gager, son of Samuel (2), was put out to work when a small boy, in the family of Deacon Johnson, of Franklin, where he remained until he became of age. He then returned to Boz- rah and located on the homestead until 1816, when he completed and removed to the house now occu- pied by John J. Gager, and there resided until his death, Oct. 4, 1855. He was a captain in the local militia. He held a number of town offices, and was a member of the Bozrah Congregational Church. He was married April 12, 1798, to Cynthia Maria Meech, a native of Preston, Conn., who was born Oct. 4, 1777, daughter of Thomas and Lucretia (Kimball). Meech, granddaughter of Daniel and Amy (Wilcox) Meech, and great-granddaughter of Stephen Meech (or Walbridge), who was the an- cestor of the Meech family in America. See fur- ther account of the family elsewhere. Mrs. Cynthia Maria (Meech ) Gager died Jan. 13, 1864.


The children of Capt. Gager were : ( I) Hannalı, born April 13, 1799, married Rev. Jedediah L. Stark, a Congregational minister, and resided in Herkimer county, N. Y. (2) Charles, born March 8, 1801, died March II, 1806. (3) Samuel Austin, born May 18, 1803, married Wealthy Ann Hunt- ington, and resided in Bozrah. (4) Cynthia Maria, born Oct. 12, 1807, died Dec. 10, 1814. (5) Charles Alonzo, born March 15, 1814, graduated from Yale, became a Congregational minister, and was a man of much ability. He was traveling in Egypt and died at Cairo, Nov. 16, 1841, unmarried. (6) Cyn- thia Maria, born Feb. 3, 1816, married Dr. Samuel Johnson. (7) John Jay, born June 8, 1818, died Dec. 21, 1821.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.