History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 121

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 121

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John Bouton was married when he came to Nor- walk, and was the father of Richard and Bridget Bou- ton. His wife died soon after his arrival here. His second wife was Abigail Marvin, daughter of Ma- thew, by whom he had at least five children,-viz. : John, Mathew, Rachel, Abigail, and Mary. His third wife was the Widow Stevens, whose first husband was killed in the "direful swamp-fight." By her he had two sons,-Richard and Thomas, Richard by the second wife being dead.

John Bouton was made freeman in 1664. He was selectman in 1671, 1674, 1675, and 1679, and surveyor also in 1669. In 1686 he was elected one of a commit- tec to settle all differences between Fairfield and Nor- walk about the " head-lynes," and elected to repre- sent the town in the General Assembly from 1671 to 1683, and also in 1685. He was living in 1703 or 1704. He died at the age of about ninety.

Thomas Betts' name first appears in the records of Norwalk in 1656. Probably he arrived here about 1651 or 1652. He was living in Guilford in 1650. Without doubt he was a brother of John, whose name is also in the records of Guilford in 1648. At the date of settlement in this town the brothers had been in the colonies about twenty years, having arrived about 1636 or 1637. There is a family tradition that they came from Buckingham, England. The late G. W. Betts had a Bible said to have been owned by the family in England, brought here by Thomas or John. Thomas Betts was a representative from Norwalk to the General Assembly in 1692, 1694, 1704, 1705, and 1707. He was an efficient member of the First Church, and his descendants have always been noted for their puritanical proclivities. His cstate was set in the list of 1687 at one hundred and ninety-six pounds.

Benedict,-the order of the Benedicts, or benedic- tion, a blessing. Thomas Benedict, Sr., was a lincal descendant of William Benedict, who resided in Not- tingham, England, in the year 1500. Thomas Bene- dict, of Norwalk, of the fourth generation, from Wil- liam, was also born in Nottingham in 1617. He emigrated to New England at the age of twenty-one, and settled in Massachusetts. From thence he re- moved to Southhold, L. I. In 1665, Thomas Bene- dict and family crossed Long Island Sound and settled in Norwalk. He was thrice chosen town clerk, and for several years selectman. He represented his adopted town in the colonial Legislature in 1670 and 1675. He was elected deacon of "ye Prime Society" of Norwalk. Thomas Benedict, Sr., of Norwalk, is the progenitor of the numerous family of that name in this country. He died in 1690, aged seventy-three; his widow lived to the age of one hundred and six.

Francis Bushnell was a carpenter. At the age of twenty-six he left England in the ship " Planter," for New England with his wife, aged twenty-six, and one child, aged one year, April 4, 1635. He carried with him to the port from whence he sailed a certificate that he was no "subsedy man." In 1653 he arrived in Norwalk. Oct. 12, 1675, he married Hannah Ley- man, daughter of Thomas, for his second wife, by whom he had at least two children,-viz., Hannah and Mary. His estate in 1693 was nominal. Hc seems not to have been a member of the church, and never held office.

Matthew Canfield, or Campfield, was in New Haven in 1646. His name is not in the history of emigrants, nor is it known at what date he came to North Amer- ica. Probably he did not arrive until 1643 or 1644. He was a magistrate and judge in Hartford, and a prominent man in all official business. He was one of the signers of a petition to King Charles II. of England for the colony. In 1662 he was appointed one of three to hold courts in Fairfield. He was made a citizen of Norwalk in 1654, and clected a deputy in 1654-56, assistant in 1658-63, deputy in 1664, and deputy commissioner. IIe removed from Norwalk to New Jersey in 1669.

Christopher Comstock was a resident of Fairfield, about ten years after the settlement of Norwalk. Probably he came from Hartford to Fairfield, though it is evident that he was not one of the colony who founded that settlement. It is not now known when he arrived in America, or where he resided in old England. He probably, on his way from Boston or its vicinity, tarried a short time in the Hartford colony to prospect. From thence he proceeded to Fairfield, and after spending a few years in that town removed to Norwalk, for on Jan. 27, 1661, Christopher Comstock, then living in the former place, bought of "Thomas Betts land laid out to said Betts or belong- ing to the accommodation of Nathaniel Ely." Later. in 1663, he married Hannah, daughter of Richard Platt, of the town of Milford, by whom he had six

* He advanced the honors of his house, and was created Marquis of Chamilly and, 1703, marshal of France. See Dictionnaire dés Genereaux Français, in the Astor Library, city of New York.

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

children. In 1673 his estate was rated at one hundred and forty-six pounds and in 1690 at two hundred and one pounds. He was approved of to " kepe an ordi- nary for the entertaining of strangers." He was a sergeant of the town militia, was of puritanic stock, and his descendants have ever been noted for their attachment to the religious principles of their ances- tors. He died Dec. 28, 1702.

John Crompton was also one of those who came to Norwalk after the settlement of the town. He came to America from England between 1623 and 1638. He came here about 1655 or 1656, and married Sarah Rockwell, of Stamford, Oct. 8, 1676, by whom he had three children, viz., Sarah, Abigail, and John, born Jan. 7, 1682. In 1679 he was voted three acres of land "because he was a souldier in the late Indian war." He was the owner of but a small property. He never held office in the town.

Joseph Fenn came to Norwalk probably in 1654 or 1655. March 27, 1665, in "town-meeting it was voted unto Mstr Ffenn that home-lot lyine by Will Rascoc's home-lot, which Thomas Betts hath resigned up." Joseph probably was a brother of Richard, who was living "over the river at ye Plantacion ag't James Cittie," Virginia.

Several emigrants named Ely came to the British colonies as early as 1622. In the parish record of "St. Michael's, Barbadoes," appear the names of James Ely and wife, with three children and thirteen slaves. February, 1623, Walter Ely was living in Vir- ginia. The parish muster shows that he and wife settled there in 1622. One Eelie, aged fourteen, came to Virginia, which then included New England, in the "Primrose," having been examined as to his " conformitie to the Church of England." The name in the records is also spelt Ella, Eeles. All of them embarked at Gravesend, England, and were doubtless all branches of the same family. It has been thought that Nathaniel Ely was an offspring of one of the families named, and that he was born in America. But this is a mistake, for Nathaniel did not emigrate to this country until 1635, while the other persons of the name arrived in the colonies from ten to fifteen years prior to the latter date.

Nathaniel Ely's name first appears in the colonial records of New England as a resident of Hartford in 1635. Hc landed in Boston, probably late in the fall of that year, and went directly to Hartford, where he remained about sixteen years, and was constable in 1639. From thence he removed to Norwalk in 1650, having been one of the fourteen persons who agreed with Rodger Ludlow for the "settlement and plan- tinge" of the town, the agreement being dated June 19, 1650. He removed from Norwalk to Springfield, Mass., about 1660. His estate was set in the tax-list at two hundred and ninety-three pounds,-no mean sum for those times.

Thomas Fitch probably came to America with his brothers Joseph and James, who crossed the ocean in

the ship "Defense," which sailed from the port of London, England, in July, 1635. Although his name does not appear in the list of emigrants with those of Joseph and James, it is conjectured that he came to the colonies, as others did, under an assumed name. He was a follower of Cromwell in the civil war against Charles I., and after the accession of Charles II. was proscribed for his disloyalty towards his government. Dr. Nathaniel Bouton says Thomas was a younger brother of Joseph and James, but it is a mistake. Joseph was the youngest of the three brothers. His name is set in the register as being only fourteen when he embarked for North America. Joseph set- tled in Widson, and James (the minister) was pastor of the church in Saybrook, and afterwards was settled over the church in Norwich.

There were a numerous family of the Fitches, or Fittz, in Buching and vicinity, Essex Co., England. Five or six of the name emigrated to James City, Va., as early as 1618 or 1620.

Thomas Fitch was not among the first settlers of Norwalk. He was made freeman in 1657, in 1659 selectman, and town-clerk or recorder of lands in 1656. He represented the town in the General As- sembly but once before he was seventy, after which age he served in 1726, 1727, 1729, and 1730. He was the largest tax-payer in the town in 1673. His estate was assessed at three hundred and fourteen pounds.

Three brothers by the name of Gregory, or Greg- gorie, sailed from London for Virginia,-viz., Ben- jamin, Alexander, and Thomas. The latter two are recorded as being respectively twenty-four years of age. They may have been cousins, but it is more probable that they were twin-brothers. Benjamin was but fifteen when he left Gravesend, England, in the ship "Globe," in August, 1635. Alexander em- barked from the same port in October, 1631, and Ben- jamin in 1635. Others of the name are found in the colonial records. John was a brother, if I am not mistaken, of the above named. It is not known when he left the mother-country. His name first appears in the annals of this town as one of the original in- habitants. He represented Norwalk nine times in the Legislature at its May sessions, and eight times at its October sessions.

Nathaniel Haise, of Norwalk, of whom the records are almost silent, was among the original settlers of the town. His origin, or from whence he came to this country heretofore, was unknown to the historians of Norwalk. The record of emigrants shows that " Anto" Haies, aged twenty-four, embarked from England, August, 1635, in the ship "Safety," for the British colonies in North America. James, aged twenty-eight, left the same place, October, 1635, in the "Constance." John, aged thirty, sailed in the "Hopewell," June, 1634; and Robert, aged nineteen, March, 1635. William Haise, aged twenty-four, who left Gravesend in April, 1635, in the ship "Paul," of London, probably was a cousin of the above named,

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all of whom were inhabitants of St. Katherine and vieinity.

Nathaniel Haise was a man of good cstate. In 1687 he was taxed on two hundred and fifteen pounds. He held no publie office, but Samuel, his oldest son, represented the town in the General Assembly from 1686 to 1703,-in all fifteen times.

Walter Hoyt, or Hait, was descended from a not very numerous family of that name in " Ihninster or Curry-Rivel, county of Somerset, England." The family history elaims that he was a son of Simon, whose name first appeared in this country in 1629, as being in Salem, Mas3. It is also found in the records of Dorchester of 1630, in those of Seituate of 1634, and in those of Windsor of 1639, where it is recorded as deaeon of the church in that place. Walter eould not have been the son of Simon; he must have been his younger brother. It cannot be shown that Walter eame to America before 1639 or 1640, at which date Simon had been in the Massachusetts colony ten years or more. Walter was living in Windsor with his wife and three children in 1640, at which date he could not have been more than twenty-two years of age. Simon came here quite young; so it is eon- eluded that he could not have had a son at that date old enough to be the father of three children.

Walter Hoyt removed from Windsor to Hartford, thenee to Fairfield, and settled in this town in 1652 or 1653. He was deputy from Norwalk to the Gen- eral Assembly of Connecticut twelve times, and held various offices in the gift of the people of the town. He was, in 1690, the possessor of an estate taxed at two hundred and forty pounds. IIe died in Norwalk, aged about seventy-seven.

Samuel and Thomas Hales, brothers, left England for this country in 1633. Samuel, before he removed to Norwalk, resided for a period in Roxbury, Mass. He went thenee to Hartford, Conn., thenee to Nor- walk. He represented the town in the General As- sembly in 1650, 1657, and 1660. Thomas left no offi- eial record whatever. The brothers were owners of considerable real estate in 1655. In 1673 they are not mentioned as having any estate. Probably they re- moved from the town some time before the assessment of 1673 was laid.

Between 1623 and 1635 eighteen of the name of Homes, or Holmes, emigrated from England to the British colonies in America. Of this number was Richard Holmes, who left the port of London in Feb- ruary, 1734, in the ship "Hopewell," Thomas Wood, master, and in the year 1657 settled in Norwalk. Oeto- ber 12th of this year Hohnes eame from Stratford to this town, and bought of Alexander Bryan, of Mil- ford, the home-lot formerly owned by Thomas Smith. In March, 1663, Holmes bought all the property of Stephen Beekwith in Norwalk. His estate was taxed in 1673 at one hundred and fifty pounds. In 1676 he was the father of two children. In 1678 the town granted him liberty to ereet a saw-mill upon Five-

Mile River. He never held any official position in the town.

Heretofore it has been uneertain from what part of England the Rev. Mr. Hanford cmigrated. In April, 1635, a person named Eglin Hanford, aged forty-six, with two daughters, embarked on the ship " Planter" for New England. He carried with him to the port of departure a "certificate of the minister of Ludbu- rie, in Suffolk County, of his conformitie to the or- ders and disciplin of the Church of England, and that he is no subsedy man, and that he hath taken the oath of Alleganee supreme." It is very proba- ble that Rev. Mr. Hanford was the son of Eglin. As there were no educational institutions of learning of a higher order in this country at the date of his cini- gration, may he not have left his son Thomas in Old England to finish his education, or until they were provided here? Cotton Mather says Rev. Mr. Han- ford was one of the elass of ministers who, not having finished their education at home, came over here to perfeet it before our college was come to maturity to bestow its laurels. Probably he did not arrive in America until 1638-39.

Mr. Hanford completed his course under Rev. Mr. Charles Chauneey, of Scituate, second president of Harvard College, about 1643. The same year his naine stands in the list of all those persons able to bear arms in the Plymouth colony, and this year also he witnessed the will of Edward Foster, of Seituate. He was made freeman in Massachusetts, May 22, 1650. Two years later he eommeneed to preach in .this town. In 1653 the seleetmen contraeted for the building of his house, and in 1656 the inhabitants voted to pay him as their minister "threeseore pounds,- viz., thirty pounds in wheat, peas, and barley, at four shillings per bushel, eight pounds in -, and the other twenty-two pounds in beefe and pork." In 1670 the town voted. to "hire a man to make a comely eover for Mr. Hanford's desk in the meeting-house at the town's expense." In his advanced age (1686) the people voted that they " desire Mr. Hanford to pro- eeed, though grown old in the work of the ministry, until the Lord shall dispose of him." "Winnepauk, an Indian, of Norwalk, in 1697 deeded to his friend Thomas Hanford, minister, his island against Rower- ton." The name of his wife is now unknown. He married the second time in New Haven, Oet. 22, 1661. Mr. Hanford had the largest estate of any of the in- habitants of the town. He died in Norwalk in 1693, aged about seventy-three or seventy-four.

Daniel Kellogg was one of the first inhabitants of this town, though he may not have arrived until the spring of 1651. His home-lot adjoined Matthew Marvin's, Thomas Fitehe's, and Joseph Fenn's. In 1655, lie "took to wiffe Bridget Bouton," daughter of John Bouton, Sr., by his first wife, by whom he had four daughters and two sons at least, David and Samuel. He was chosen townsman several times, and represented Norwalk eight years in the General

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Assembly, between 1670 and 1683. His estate in 1673 was listed at one hundred and twenty-five pounds. It is more than probable that Daniel Kellogg was a brother of Nathaniel Kellock and Joseph Kcldy, both of whom were living in Farm- ington in 1649 and 1654.

Thomas Lupton was assigned a home-lot with the first emigrants of Norwalk, but did not arrive until a year later. It is not known whom he married. He was the father of two children, and probably had others. He was selected in 1668 to "look after the young people in the meeting-house" on the Sabbath. Doubtless he was a brother of Davie, who left Eng- land, October, 1635, and Joseph, who sailed July, 1635. His estate was listed in 1687 at one hundred and fifty pounds.

Ephraim Lockwood was without doubt a brother or other relative of Capt. Nicholas, who made several trips to Virginia. It is not impossible that Ephraim came to America as a hand on the ship commanded by the captain. He married, June 8, 1665, Mercie Sention, daughter of Mathias Sr., of Norwalk, by whom he had five sons, viz., John, Daniel, Ephraim, Joseph, and Eliphalet. His estatc was set in the list of 1687 at one hundred and twenty pounds.

Ralph Kecler and his brother Walter came from the port of London, England, to the colonies in 1635 or 1636. Ralph was in Hartford in 1639, and a viewer of chimneys there in 1645. In September, 1665, Thomas Hand sold him his "dwelling-house and houses, reserving the workshop for the abodc of his wife till the 27th of September, 1666, also reserv- ing the locks upon the dwelling-house doares, and the younger nursery trees, and two boards lying upon the coller beams." Dec. 18, 1653, he was one of the contractors to build Rev. Mr. Hanford's house. He was to " fell all the timber and hewe what is to be hewe." His estate in 1673 was set in the list at fifty- three pounds.

Mr. Savage doubts if there was such a person as Walter, but the name occurs in the list of the first emigrants to Norwalk. If Mr. Savage had been the possessor of the records of this and other towns, he would not have had so many doubts about those whom it was his business to have known.

Mathew Marvin, Marvyn, or Marvynn, came to New England with his family in the fall of 1635, having left Gravesend in April of that year. The record of his family is given by Hutton, viz., Mathew, aged thirty-five, Elizabeth, aged thirty-one, husband and wife; children, Elizabeth, aged thirteen; Mathew, eight; Maria, six ; Sarah, three; Hannah, six months.

All of them came in the ship "Increase," Lea, master, the husband having taken the oath of " Allgeanse and Supremacic" "conformable to the government aud disciplin of the Church of England." Mathcw Marvin was in Hartford in 1639, and seems to have been one of the early proprietors. He had other children born in Hartford,-viz., Abigail, Samuel,

Rachel. While a resident of that placc he was plaintiff in a case against Mathew Beckwith for defamation of character, and recovered damages in the sum of fifty pounds. The same was remitted by the court and plaintiff on Beckwith's making a public retraction of the slander.

Marvin and family, it seems, came to Norwalk in 1651, having followed the first emigrants, and may be said to have been of the original number. His home- lot joined the meeting-house yard and Danicl Kel- logg's and Thomas Fitche's. He was deputy from Norwalk in 1654, and assistant magistrate in 1659. He was the possessor of a large estate in 1673, which had doubled in 1687.

Isaac More sailed from Gravesend, England, at the age of thirteen, in the "Increase," Lea, master, under the guardianship of Mathew Marvin, with whom he went to Hartford, and from thence removed to Norwalk. In 1660 he sold his home-lot to Mark Sention. April, 1654, Goodman More was chosen townsman for the ensuing year. In 1657, Isaac More, with three others, provided a good and suffi- cient "wolfe-pit." Whom he married and when he died are not now known. Hc owned and resided on property on what is known as Marshall Street, in this city, and was a lineal descendant of Danver, who settled in this town in 1651.

Isaac More was living in Farmington in 1649, and was presented to the court "for sergeant by the souldgers," and was approved. In 1665 the court " frees More from training, he having been formerly chief-officer of the Train Band" of that place.

Widow Morgan's name is in the list of the first emi- grants, and this is all that is known of her, if the state- ments of others are to be taken. Savage, in his history of cmigrants, says she was a myth. She may have been to him, for hc doubts if her name is to be found anywhere in the records of Norwalk. But it is there, and Mr. Savage or anybody else may read, if he be disposed to. Widow Morgan probably married after her settlement here, but whom is not known, as the old church records were destroyed in the Revolution- ary war. Or she may have died in the town soon after its settlement.

Jonathan Marsh,-or as it is in list of emigrants, Jno .- aged twenty-six, embarked in the "Plain Joan," Bucham master, for Virginia in May, 1635. Hc was probably from the parish of Benendon, county of Kent. He brought " Attestacon of his con- formitie to the order and disciplin of the Church of England." No trace of him is to be found after his arrival here until he appears in Norwalk. In 1657 he owned real estate here, situated and bounded by the river; and engaged to build a corn-mill; and he was to have upland adjoining the mill. In 1658, Good- man Marsh "agreed to attend the town 3 days in the week. These days he is to attend that he may fetch and carry corn to the mill." This is all that is known of his history in England and America at present.

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NORWALK.

Richard and John Olmstedd were the brother and nephew of James. James eame to New England "Plantacon there p Cert: from Capten Mason, have tendred and taken the oath of allegeance according to the Statute." Both emigrated from Braintree, county of Essex, England, June, 1632. Richard and his brother John probably came to the eolonies under assumed names, as the name of neither is found in the catalogue of emigrants in which that of James ap- pears. After the death of James his executors, desir- ous to carry out that which they conceived to be his wish, gave to his "kynsman," Richard and John Olni- stedd, five pounds each.

Richard was one of the petitioners for the planting of Norwalk. He was prominent in all the publie af- fairs, and was the first representative of the town in the General Assembly, having been fourteen times elected to that position. He was a sergeant of the mi- litia in 1653, and licutenant of the company in 1659. He was in Hartford in 1640, constable in 1646, and deputy in 1662 and 1663. He removed to this plan- tation in 1650, and was one of three appointed by the court to run the lines between Stamford and Strat- ford. His home-lot was bounded by land of Thomas Hale and Nathaniel Ely. He was appointed, Feb. 21, 1670, selectman of the town. In 1673 he was the pos- sessor of a moderate estate taxed one hundred and nineteen pounds.

Joseph Platt was a French refugee. He did not settle in Norwalk until about 1699, at which date he received a grant of sixteen acres lying at West Rocks. Feb. 21, 1698, the town "Granted unto Joseplı Platt, as he was a souldier out in the service against the common enemie, the town, as a gratification for his good service, do give and grant unto him ten acres of ' land, to take it up a mile from the town, and wheare it lyes free nor yet pitcht upon by any other persons." Dee. 16, 1713, "Capt. Joseph Platt was one of a com- mittee to make a settlement of a highway or road to Ridgefield. He had only one son,-viz., Jolın.

Joseph Platt represented Norwalk in the General Assembly a period of sixty-five years, or from 1705 to 1790. He has no list of property, either in 1673 or 1687. As he was styled the " Worshipful," the infer- ence might be drawn that he was exempt from taxa- tion, in view of services rendered to his constituents.

Nathaniel Richards sailed from the mother-country for New England in the same ship in which James and Richard Olmstead crossed the Atlantie, June, 1632, he also having a certificate from "Capten Ma- son" that he had taken the oath according to the stat- ute. He was of Mr. Hooker's company at Newtown, Cambridge, 1632. He was one of the proprietors of the Hartford company, as his name appears in the records of that town in 1635. He was juryman there in 1643, 1644, and 1646, and constable in 1641 and 1649, orderer of the town in 1644, and a deputy to the General Assembly in 1643 .. He probably came to the Norwalk colony some time during 1651. In 1664,

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 121

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572