USA > Connecticut > New London County > Montville > History of Montville, Connecticut, formerly the North parish of New London from 1640 to 1896 > Part 27
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
401
BRADFORD FAMILIES.
band. She was found guilty, and sentenced to con- finement in the State Prison during her life.
Children by Hannah.
114. Jennett, b. 10 Dec., 1803; died 16 Oct., 1827, unm.
115. John Dolbeare, b. 7 May, 1806; m. Susan Fitch.
116. William B., b. 1 Feb., 1808; living in 1896, unm.
117. Samuel P., b. 23 April, 1810; died 2 Dec., 1861, unm.
118. Benjamin Franklin, b. 1818; m. Nancy Pratt.
VI. ADONIJAH FITCH (100), b. 9 Aug., 1771, son of Perez Bradford and Betsey Rogers; married 27 April, 1794, Sarah Dolbeare, daughter of John Dolbeare and Sarah Ray- mond. He was a farmer, and settled in Montville. He rep- resented the town in the state legislature in 1800.
Children.
119. Perez Fitch, b. 23 Feb., 1795: died unm.
120. John Dolbeare, b. 28 Aug., 1797; m. twice; died in Vineland, N. J.
121. Sarah Sherwood, b. S Nov., 1799; m. Captain Gurdon Allyn of Ledyard.
122. Betsey Rogers, b. 7 July, 1802; m. 7 Ang., 1836, George Andrews of Boston, b. 31 May, 1805; died 29 May, 1877. She died 1844. Had daughter, Mary Leonard, b. at Boston 27 Sept., 1837; m. 24 Jan., 1857, Frank Robinson.
VI. THOMAS (102), b. 16 Nov., 1776, son of Benja- min Bradford and Parthenia Rogers; married 23 April, 1806, Mercy, daughter of Elisha Fox and Anna Fitch. He was a farmer, and settled first in New Salem Society, in North Par- ish (now Salem, Conn.).
Children.
123. Parthenia R., b. 13 Jan., 1807; m. George Barker of ILebron. They had one son, George M., b. 4 March, 1S45.
26
402
HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
124.
Rachel, b. 3 April, 1808; m. Elisha Bolles.
125. Anna F., b. 22 Nov., 1809; m. Aaron Bogne in 1835. 126. Elisha B., b. 22 Sept., 1811; m. Thankful T. Faunce, 30 May, 1838. He was a methodist minister and at one time was located at Uncasville. He after- wards removed to Massachusetts, and was living at Hyde Park in 1884. He had three children, Wil- liam Fish, b. 27 March, 1839; died October 4, 1839; Anetta Fannce, b. 29 Oct., 1841; m. Charles 1. House; Ella Albertine, b. 29 March, 1846; m. Wa- terman R. Burnham of Norwich, 4 Dec., 1883. He died in 1895.
127. Mary E., b. 18 June, 1815; m. Alphonse Rene.
VI. JAMES FITCH (86), b. 1 May, 1767, son of John Bradford and Mary Fitch; married 14 Dec., 1790, Mary Mer- win, daughter of of Goshen, Conn.
Ile was apprenticed at the age of fourteen to a tanner and shoemaker in Montville, and served seven years, when he re- moved to Cornwall, Conn., where his children were born, and where he died in Dec., 1837. She died 20 Dec., 1828.
Children.
129. Laura, b. 22 Dec., 1792; m. Lyman Fox, 28 Jan., 1813. 130. Mary, b. 25 Sept., 1794; m. Sherwood Williams, 14 Dee., 1813.
131. Merwin, b. 10 June, 1797; died in infancy.
132. Emeline, b. 23 Aug., 1798; m. William Marsh, M.D.
133. John, b. S July, 1801; m. Lucretia Harrison, 28 Sept., 1829.
134. Fowler, twin of John, m. Charlotte Belden, 31 May, 1831.
135. Charlotte, b. 5 Sept., 1803; m. Edwin Rngg, 29 May, 1832.
136.
James Fitch, b. 2 Sept., 1805; m. Catherine Catlin, 22 Dec .. 1830.
137. Eleanor, b. 28 March, 1809; m. John R. Harrison.
138. Tri, b. 13 Feb., 1811; m. Charlotte Hubbard.
139. Sarah M., b. 14 April, 1813; m. Edwin Rngg, 28 Nov., 1837.
403
BRADFORD FAMILIES.
140. Benjamin, b. 25 Feb., 1815; m. Rebecca Jackson; died 24 Dec., 1866.
VII. SAMUEL SHERWOOD (105), b. 11 April, 1804, son of Samuel Bradford and Abby Dolbeare; married 22 Feb., 1830, Abby Branch, daughter of Moses Branch of Preston. He was a farmer and carpenter, and settled at Montville. He died 6 Jan., 1891.
Children.
128. Samnel Denison, b. 5 Jan., 1832; m. Adelia Hyde, daughter of Harlem Hyde of Norwich; they had four children, May, b. 16 Ang., 1863; George, b. 6 May, 1868; Julia Ann, and Jennie Abby: the last two were twins, and born 29 March, 1874.
OTIS FAMILIES.
John Otis was born in Glastonbury, Somerset, England, in 1581. Hle was the son of Richard Otis of Glastonbury, County of Somerset, England, who, in his will, dated 17 of November, 1611, mentions sons, Stephen, John, and Thomas, and two daughters, leaving a wife. He came to New England and settled at Hingham, Mass., and drew house lots in the first division of lands in that town in 1635, and is the ancestor of the families by the name of Otis that first settled in New London and Colchester, Conn. He was a substantial yeoman, and probably left his country on account of the persecutions of the Puritans, accompanied by his pastor, Rev. Peter Hobert, a staunch non-conforming clergyman.
It has not been ascertained with certainty when he landed on the New England shores, or in whose company he came. The first that is known his name appears among the twenty- nine associates of Rev. Peter Hobert, who drew house lots on the 18th of September, 1635, at Hingham. He took the free- man's oath 3d of March, 1635-6. His place of residence at Ilingham was at Otis ITill, still so called. Mr. Otis was mar- ried to his first wife, Margaret, in England, and she died at IJingham June, 1653. He then removed to Weymouth and married a second wife, who survived him, but her name does not appear. Hobert's journal records the death of Mr. Otis " at Waimouth, May 31, 1657," aged 76 years. Ilis will is dated at Weymouth the day previous to his death and was proved 28th of July in the same year.
Children.
2. John, b. in England, 14 Jan., 1622; m. Mary Jacobs.
3. Margaret, b. in England, ; m. Thomas Burton.
405
OTIS FAMILIES.
4. Hannan, b. in England, ; m. Thomas Gill.
5. Ann, b. in England.
6. Alice, b.
II. JOHN (2), b. 14 January, 1622, son of John Otis and Margaret -; married in 1652-3, Mary, daughter of Nicholas Jacobs, who came over in 1633. He accompanied his parents in their emigration to New England, and settled at Hingham. In 1661 he removed to Scituate, where he re- ceived a grant of land; in 1678 he went to Barnstable. He left there his son, John, returned and died at Scituate, 16th of January, 1683. His monument is in the old burying-ground in " meeting-house lane," one mile south of the harbor.
Children.
7. Mary, bap. in 1653; m. Col. John Gorham, 1694, and had 5 sons and 4 daughters.
S. Elizabeth, b. ; m. 1st, Thomas Allen, 1688; 2d, David Loring, 1699.
9. John, b. 1657; m. Mercy Bacon, 1683.
10 Hannah, b. , 1660.
11. Stephen, b. , 1661; m. Hannah Ensign, 1685.
12. James, b. 1663; he joined the Canada expedition under Sir William Phipps; was at the taking of Port Royal, and was killed in the attack on Quebec.
13. Joseph, b. , 1665; m. Dorothy Thomas.
14. Job, b. 20 March, 1667; m. Mary Little.
III. JOHN (9), b. in 1657, son of John Otis and Mary Jacobs; m. 18 July, 1683, Mary Bacon. He settled at Barn- stable, and his talents soon made him one of the most respect- able and trustworthy men in the country. He was employed in a variety of trusts, which he discharged with fidelity and skill. For twenty years he was representative to the general court; above eighteen years commander of the militia of the county; for thirteen years chief justice of the court of com- mon pleas, and first judge of probate. In 1706 he was chosen one of the Majesty's council, and set at the honorable board
406
HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
twenty-one years, till death gave him a discharge from every labor and laid his earthly honors in the dust. He died 23d of September, 1727, aged 70 years.
Children.
15. Mary, b. 10 Dec., 1685; m. - Little.
16. John, b. 14 Jan., 1687; m. Grace Hayman.
17. Nathaniel, b. 28 May, 1690; m. Abigail Russell.
18. Merey, b. 15 Oct., 1693.
19. Solomon, b. 13 Oct., 1696; m. Jane Turner.
20. James, b. 14 June, 1702; m. Mary Allyne.
III. JOSEPHI (13), b. 1665, son of John Otis and Mary Jacobs; married 20th of November, 16SS, Dorothy, daughter of Nathaniel Thomas of Marshfield. Her ancestors succes- sively owned and resided on the estate, afterwards the home of Hon. Daniel Webster. He held many offices of responsi- bility and trust in his native place (Scituate). He held the office of judge of the court of common pleas for Plymouth county from 1703 to 1714. In 1710 he was elected, under the governor's orders, representative to the general court, and again in 1713. HIe held also offices in the town. Judge Otis is spoken of by his contemporaries " as a gentleman of great integrity, a judicious and useful citizen." It was said of him soon after his death, "He was a Christian upon principle, a public, spiritual, and useful man, distinguished by talents of the solid, judicial, and useful, rather than of the brilliant and showy kind. He was large in stature, his countenance solenm and serene, frank and open in his manners, of ready wit and sound understanding. As a private individual, he had the union of simple dignity and benevolent courtesy which mark the gentleman."
He removed to New London, North Parish (now Mont- ville), in 1721, his sons, and probably some of his daughters, having removed here in advance of their parents. In 1714 he purchased land of Capt. Samuel Gilbert, being a farm of
407
OTIS FAMILIES.
230 acres, lying in the eastern part of Colchester, now Salem, for $770. This land he afterwards conveyed by deed of gift to his son, Nathaniel. He also purchased a tract of 650 acres of James Harris, lying in the North Parish of New London, " adjoining the pond called Obplintksok," now Gardner's Lake. This land was first purchased by Thomas Stanton of Stonington of Oneco, 11th of November, 1698, and by him conveyed to Lieut. James Harris. After his removal to the North Parish he was much in public employment; moderator of town meetings and on parish and church committees almost yearly. He died at North Parish 11th of June, 1754, greatly lamented. She died 18th of February, 1755.
Children.
21. Nathaniel, b. at Scituate 30 Jan., 1689-90; m. Hannah Thacher.
22. James, b. at Seitnate 21 Jan., 1692-3: m. Saralı Tudor.
23. Deborah, b. 24 April, 1694; m. David Copp.
24. Mary, b. 20 March, 1695-6; m. John Thompson.
25. Dorothy, b. 24 April, 1698; m. 1st, Patrick McClellan; 2d, Cary Latham; 3d, John Bissel.
26. Elizabeth, b. 2 Sept., 1700; m. Luke Lincoln.
27. Ann, b. 21 Sept., 1702; m. Robert McClelland.
28. Bethia, b. 20 Nov., 1703; m. 1st, Rev. Mr. Billings; 2d, Rev. Mr. Moreley.
29. Delight, b. 19 Dec., 1706; m. Jabez Lathrop.
30. Hannah, b. 10 Dec., 1709; died in 1725.
31. Joseph, b. 1 Oct., 1712; m. Elizabeth Little.
32. Rachel, b. 1 Dec., 1713; m. Jonathan Harris.
IV. JAMES (20), b. 14 June, 1702, son of John Otis and Mary Bacon; married Mary Allen, b. in 1702, at Ply- mouth. She was connected with the founders of the old colony, who came over in the Mayflower. Judge Otis was a lawyer, colonel, and judge. He was distinguished for his knowledge of law, and rose to be a man of great distinction and influence, of superior genius and native energy of mind, to which he was more indebted than a regular education for
408
HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
the acquirements he possessed. He was elected a member of the Provincial Legislature in 1758, made speaker of the House in 1760, and continued in that office two years. In 1763 he was appointed judge of probate. Ilis name has been fre- quently mentioned in terms of highest esteem as a compeer with AAdams, Quincy, and Hancock. He settled at Barn- stable, and died there the 9th of November, 1778.
Children.
33. James, b. 5 Feb., 1724-5; m. Ruth Cunningham.
34. Joseph, b. 6 March, 1725-6; m. 1st, Rebecca Sturgis; 2d, Maria Walter. He was for many years a clerk of the court of common pleas, a member of the legis- lature, and brigadier-general. President Washing- ton appointed him collector of customs for the dis- triet of Barnstable, which office he held for many years. He had by both wives fifteen children. Ile (lied 24 September, 1810.
35. Merey, b. 14 Sept., 1728; m. Gen. James Warren of Plymonth, a lineal descendant of Richard Warren, who came over in the Mayflower.
36. Mary, b. 9 Sept., 1730; m. John Gray.
37. Hannah, b. 31 July, 1732.
38.
Nathaniel, b. 9 July, 1734; probably died young.
39. Abigail, b. 30 June, 1738; died young.
40 Elizabeth, b. 1 Sept., 1739.
41. Samuel Allyn, b. 24 Nov., 1740; m. 1st, Elizabethi Gray; 2d, Mary Gray.
42. Sarah, b. 11 April, 1742; died in infancy.
43. Nathaniel, b. 9 April, 1743; died 30 April, 1763.
IV. NATHANIEL (21), b. 30 January, 1689-90, son of Joseph Otis and Dorothy Thomas; married Hannah, daugh- ter of Col. John Thacher of Yarmouth. He removed to Colchester about 1716, and settled on land which his father purchased of Capt. Samuel Gilbert. On this land he erected a dwelling-house, which is still standing, and which has been the residence of four successive generations. He held numer- ous offices in the town of Colchester, and died there the 15th
·
409
OTIS FAMILIES.
of April, 1771, aged 81 years. She died the 6th of May, 1780, aged 90 years.
Children.
44. Lydia, b. 20 Jan., 1716-17; m. 1st, Abner Kellogg; 2d, Capt. Amos Thomas.
45. Hannah, b. 29 Feb., 1717-18; m. Benajah McCall.
46. Dorothy, b. 16 April, 1721: m. 1st, Asahel Bigelow; 2d, Isaac Day; 3d, Joseph Langrill.
47. Desire, b. 20 May, 1723; m. Dea. Ichabod Bartlett. Nathaniel, b. 20 Ang., 1725, at Colchester; and died 24 Jan., 1740-1. He was pursuing his studies pre- paratory to a collegiate course with Rev. David Jewett of Montville, when, one day, he ruptured a blood vessel, cutting wood in strife with another young man. His death soon followed, and his re- mains were taken to Colchester and interred in the · old burying-ground at that place.
49. Delight, b. ; died young.
50. John, b. 1 April, 1728; m. Prudence Taintor.
51. Mercy, b. 3 July, 1734; m. Nathaniel Bartlett.
IV. JAMES (22), b. 21 Jan., 1692, son of Joseph Otis and Dorothy Thomas; married Sarah Tudor of New York. Ile died at Saybrook, 1754. She died at Colchester, 15 Feb., 1788, aged 91 years.
Children.
52. James, b. 1714. He was accidentally killed at a military parade at New London, at the age of 21 years. He had just been elected captain of the company, and in the careless discharge of fire-arms used on such occasions, he received a musket-charge in his head, killing him instantly.
53. John, b. , 1732: m. Lucy Darrow. ; m. Jonathan Bigelow.
54. Elizabeth, b.
55. Stephen, b. 30 Sept., 1738: m., in 1762, Lncy Chandler of Duxberry. She was born in 1738, and died 4 March, 1837, at the great age of 98 years, 8 months, and 2 days. They lived at Colchester, where they had eleven children born. He was in the old French war under General Putnam, was stationed at Fort
48.
410
HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
Stanwix, and was at the taking of Montreal. He was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and saw the burning of New London. He died at Hali- fax, Vt., aged 93 years.
IV. JOSEPHI (31), b. 1 Oct., 1712, son of Joseph Otis and Dorothy Thomas; married Elizabeth, daughter of David Little of Scituate, and sister of Rev. Mr. Little, a former minister of Colchester. He settled in North Parish (now Montville); was a farmer. Hle lived on the farm afterwards owned by Nathaniel Comstock, on Raymond Hill. Hle united with the church under the pastorate of Rev. James Hillhouse, Oct. 4, 1732, and was chosen an elder of the church in Jan., 1749-50. Ile was afterwards chosen a deacon. He died in 1793.
Children.
56. Joseph, b. 11 Aug., 1739; m. 1st, Lney Haughton; 2d, Widow Carew of Norwich; 3d, Abigail Hurlburt.
57. Elizabeth, b. 11 Oct., 1740; m. Joseph Chester.
58. Nathaniel, b. 26 March, 1742; m. Amy Gardner.
59. David, b. 3 June, 1743; m. Mary Day.
60. Mabel, b. 31 Aug., 1745; m. Jesse Woodworth.
61. Marcy, b. 5 June, 1747; m. Perrin Ross.
62. Dorothy, b. , 1749; died young.
63. James, b. 26 June, 1751; m. Sarah Holmes.
64.
Jonathan, b. 1 March, 1753. He entered the service during the Revolutionary war, and was slain in the memorable massacre of Wyoming, 3 JJuly, 1778. He was ensign in the Plymouth company, com- manded by Capt. Asaph Whittlesey.
65. Dorothy, b. 24 Feb., 1755.
66. Olive, b. 14 Jan., 1757.
67. Barnabas, b. , 1759: removed to Ohio.
68. Shubael, b. 6 Dec., 1760. He entered the service dur- ing the Revolutionary war, and was killed at Rhode Island.
69. William, b. , 1762; m. and settled in the state of New York.
411
OTIS FAMILIES.
V. JAMES (33), b. 5 Feb., 1724-5, son of James Otis and Mary Allyn; married 1755, Ruth Cunningham. The life of James Otis, " The Patriot," has been given to the world in a variety of forms. Before the year 1770 no Ameri- can, Dr. Franklin, only, excepted, who was so much known throughout the colonies and England as James Otis. For ten years, in the struggle for liberty, he was looked upon as the safeguard and ornament of the cause, and the splendor of his intellect threw into the shade all the great contemporary lights. The cause of American Independence was for a long time identified abroad with the name of Otis. In the year 1761 he distinguished himself by pleading against the " Writs of Assistance." He was a member of the " Stamp Act Con- gress," held in New York in 1765.
Besides his legal and political knowledge, he was a com- plete master of classical literature. Such was the strong hatred towards him by the Royalists, that one day he was attacked by one of that party, ernelly beaten, his head cut open, and, when found, was bleeding and faint, a spectacle of ruin, and was but the wreck of what he once had been. His wounds, though not fatal, had destroyed his reason, and the great man was no longer feared by the enemies of liberty. He lived several years after this brutal attack, but a melancholy monument to his friends. The manner of his death was a singular coincidence with a wish he had often expressed to his sister, Mrs. Warren.
" My dear sister: I hope when God Almighty, in right- eous providence, shall take me out of time into eternity, that it will be by a flash of lightning."
This was a singular wish, and what is still more singular, that wish was granted. On the 23d day of May, 1783, as he was standing at the door of a house in Andover, Mass., he was instantly killed by a stroke of lightning. Mr. Adams, then minister to France, after hearing of the death of the patriot, wrote:
412
HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
" It is with very afflieting sentiments I learned the death of Mr. Otis, my worthy master. Extraordinary in death, as in life, he has left a character that will never die while the memory of the American Revolution remains; whose founda- tion he laid with an energy, and with those masterly abilities which no other man possessed."
His historian, Tudor, says: " The future historian of the United States, in considering the foundation of American inde- pendence, will find that one of the corner-stones must be in- scribed with the name of James Otis. She died 15 Nov., 1789, aged 60 years.
Children.
70. James, b. 1755. He entered at the beginning of the Revolutionary War as a volunteer midship- man, and died, it is said, on board the "Jersey Prison Ship," in 1777.
71. Elizabeth, b. ; m. C'apt. Brown, an officer in the English army. She left the country with her husband during the war. She was living a widow in England in 1821. Her alliance with the British officer deeply offended her father, and in his will he left her but five shillings.
72. Mary, b. ; m. Benjamin Lincoln, the eldest son of General Lincoln of Revolutionary notoriety. She possessed fine talents and an agreeable character, and died at Cambridge in 1806, leaving two sons, Benjamin and James Otis.
V. JOIIN (50), b. 1 April, 1728, son of Nathaniel Otis and Hannah Thacher; married 20 Dec., 1750, Prudence, daughter of Michael Taintor and Eunice Foot of Colchester, b. 9 Dec., 1729. He was a farmer and land surveyor. He resided in Colchester and held numerous offices in the town. He died 24 Oct., 1804. She died 7 JJune, 1823.
Children.
73. Hannah, b. 24 Feb., 1751-2; m. Martin Kellogg.
74. Nathaniel, b. 19 Jan., 1753-4; m. Mary Foot.
413
OTIS FAMILIES.
75. Sarah, b. 24 May, 1755; m. Isaac Foot.
76. Ann, b. 15 March, 1757; m. Daniel Wattles.
77. John Thacher, b. 31 Oct., 1758; m. Louisa Pomeroy.
78. Charles, b. 29 Oct., 1760; m. Elizabeth (Gould) Sweet- land.
79. Prudence, b. 23 Nov., 1762; m. Ambrose Dutton.
80. Mercy, b. 17 Sept .. 1764; m. 1st, Daniel Cone; 2d, Amos Skeel, M.D.
81. James, b. 6 June, 1767; m. Dorothy Foot.
82. Eunice, b. 28 Nov., 1770; m. Daniel Gardner.
.83. David, b. 20 Ang., 1773; m. Anna Fowler.
84. Amos, b. 18 April, 1776; m. Huntley.
V. JOSEPH (56), b. 11 Aug .. 1739, son of Joseph Otis and Elizabeth Little; married 1st, Lucy Haughton, 4 Feb., 1761, daughter of Sampson Haughton; 2, Widow Carew: and 3d, Abigail Hurlburt. His last wife survived him. He died at Westfield, Conn., in 1823.
Children by Lucy.
S5. Joseph, b. , 1768; m. Nancy Huntington.
86. James, b. , 1770; died in 1791.
87. Oliver, h. , 1773.
88. Shubael, b. , 1776; m. 1st, Abigail Thomas.
89. A daughter, m. Benjamin Snow of Norwich.
V. NATHANIEL (58), b. 26 March, 1742, son of Joseph Otis and Elizabeth Little; married, about 1764, Amy, daughter of David Gardner and Jemima Gustin. He settled at Montville in New Salem Society (now in the town of Salem), his farm lying on the west side of Gardner Lake. He was a member of the Congregational church in Montville, an ex- emplary, devoted Christian man, commanding well his house- hold, both by example and precept. He was very strict in his attendance upon divine worship, living, as he did, several miles from the meeting-honse; he was always found at his post in the church, whether it rained or the sun shone, unless prevented by sickness. He was chosen deacon in 1770, and continued in the office until his death. Deacon Otis died with his son,
414
HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.
David G. Otis, at Waterford, 7 March, 1832, aged 92 years. She received a stroke of lightning about the year 1795, the lightning striking the dwelling where they lived, which pros- trated her, she remaining unconscious for a time, and never fully recovered from the shock, but lived about twenty years, and died 30 Ang., 1815, aged 71 years.
Children.
90 Nathaniel, b. 25 Feb., 1765; m. Martha Gates.
91. Amos, b. 27 Aug., 1766; was drowned in Gardner Lake 27 May, 1786.
92. Asahel, b. 1 May, 1768; m. Mary Chester.
93. Elev. b. 3 July, 1770; died in 1795, umm.
94. Mabel, b. 28 April, 1772; m. 1st, Isaiah Rogers; 2d, Carpenter.
95. Isaac, b. 18 April, 1774: drowned with his brother, Amos.
96. David G., b. 1 May, 1776; m. Nancy Perry.
97. Shubael, b. 2 May, 1778; died 25 Ang., 1840, um.
98. Amy, b. 25 June, 1782; m. Oliver Baker.
99. Joseph, b. 1 May, 1784; died young.
100. Elizabeth, b. 26 May, 1787; m. John Williams.
101. Anna, b. 23 April, 1789; m. Sammel Harris.
VI. NATHANIEL (74), b. 19 Jan., 1753-4, son of John Otis and Prudence Taintor; m. 5 Nov., 1778, Mary, daughter of Israel Foot and Elizabeth Kimberly, b. 3 April, 1752. He resided at Hartford two or three years, and then removed to New London. His name appears on the records as "Sur- vevor of land for New London county." He was stationed at Horse Neck during a part of the Revolutionary war. He died in the peace of the Christian at New London, 18 March, 1834, aged 81 years. She died there 14 Nov., 1837, aged 85 years.
Children.
102. Mary, b. 25 Ang., 1779.
103. Israel, b. 28 June, 1781.
104. Asa, b. 16 Feb., 1786. He was never married. At the age of eighteen he entered upon the mercantile
415
OTIS FAMILIES.
career as a clerk in a New York wholesale house. Some years later, in Connecticut with his cousin, Joseph Otis, the founder of the Otis Library in Norwich, he established a wholesale auction and commission business in New York and Richmond, Va. The firm name was Joseph & Asa Otis. Ill- ness compelled Joseph to retire from the firm. Subsequently the firm became Otis, Dunlop Mor- com & Co. About the year 1835 Asa also retired from the firm and returned to New London, where he resided until his death. Mr. Otis did not en- gage in active business after his removal to New London, but permitted his ample fortune, which he had accumulated in business, to remain in stock and bond investment, from which his income is said to have been $60,000 per annum. He was con- nected with the First Church of Christ (Episcopal) in New London, and gave largely to the building fund. It was his custom to make an annual gift of $1,000 to the A. B. C. F. M. In his last will he gave the most of his property to that society, amount- ing to over one million of dollars. His death was as the burning out of a candle; he passed away calmly, in the full possession of his faculties, in the 94th year of his age. He was, at the time of his death, the oldest citizen of New Lon- don. as well as the wealthiest. The shining charac- teristic of this nonagenarian's life was his probity, his uncompromising integrity. This probity of personal character was the foundation and security of his great fortune. He began and continned honest. He never swerved or deviated to the frac- tion of a dollar. His truth and worth were ap- preciated by the commercial world, and that ap- preciation was constantly tributary to his increasing affluence. He was a man of sterling good sense, excellent judgment, of simple and quiet Christian enjoyment. His life had the spotlessness of marble and the simplicity of granite. He died
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.