USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Farmington > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 33
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 33
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 33
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CHILDREN. 1. John, b. 1716, m. Sarah -; 2. Thomas, b. June 20, 1726, m. Hannah Hart; 3. Mary, b. 1729, m. Watts Hubbard.
21. REV. WILLIAM BURNHAM, 1684-1750.
OnRev. William Burnham, son of William and Elizabeth Burnham, was born at Wethersfield about 1684. He gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1702, and married Hannah Wol- cott of Wethersfield, May 1, 1704; she died March 16, 1747, and he married (2) widow Buckingham of Hartford. He commenced preaching to the few families at Great Swamp, or Farmington village, about 1708, and was so well pleased with the people, and they with him, that a mutual arrangement was made for his settlement as pastor. He was ordained Dec. 10, 1712, the day that the church was organized, and became its settled pastor. He was a sound preacher, accus- tomed to refer frequently to the scriptures for support of his doctrines and for instruction. He was a faithful pastor, de-
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voted to his flock. He was one of the members of the Gen- eral Association of Connecticut, and was its moderator in 1738. With his pastoral duties he managed a farm and ac- quired a competency. He died September, 1750 .*
CHILDREN. 1. William, b. April 5, 1705, m. Ruth Norton; 2. Samuel, b. May 28, 1707; 3. Hannah, b. Nov. 18, 1708, m. Rev. Jeremiah Curtiss; 4. Josiah, b. Sept. 28, 1716, m. Ruth Norton; 5. Sarah, b. May 28, 1719; 6. Mary, b. Feb. 7, 1721, m. John Judd of New Britain; 7. Appleton, b. April 28, 1724, m. Mary Wolcott; 8. Lucy, m. Jacob Root; 9. Abigail, b. Sept. 14, 1713, m. Robert Wells.
22. JOHN HART, 1684-1753.
John Hart, Kensington, the eldest child of Capt. John' and Mary (Moore) Hart of Farmington, was born in 1684. He married, March 20, 1706, Esther, daughter of Samuel Gridley of Farmington. In his childhood and youth, and for several years after his marriage, he lived upon his father's place, and in 1718 was chosen deacon of the church in Farm- ington. He subsequently removed to Kensington, and was chosen deacon of the Kensington Church. His wife died July 10, 1743, and he married (2) Jan. 11, 1744, widow Hannah Hull. Deacon Hart was repeatedly appointed to public office, being town clerk for several years, and was elected to the General Court twenty-three times between 1717 and 1743. He acquired considerable property in addi- tion to what he inherited from his father. His estate was inventoried at £1,342 15s. 3d. He died Oct. 7, 1753.
CHILDREN. 1. Esther, b. Sept. 19, 1707, m. June 29, 1727, Nathaniel Newell; 2. Judah, b. Oct. 25, 1709, m. Feb. 20, 1735, Anna Norton; 3. John, b. Oct. 11, 1714, m. Anna Hall; 4. Mary, b. March 9, 1717, m. Dec. 6, 1739, Timothy Root, and (2) Rev. Samuel Newell; 5. Sarah, b. June 19, 1719, m. June 19, 1740, Stephen Root, and (2) Eldad Lewis; 6. Solomon, b. Oct. 1, 1724, m. March 3, 1750, Experience Cole; 7. Ruth,' b. Oct. 25, 1729, d. Oct. 13, 1745.
* In his will, which was dated July 15, 1748, he gives to each of his three sons then living one-third of his real estate. In the enumeration of his personal es- tate he mentions two servants, one a Spanish Indian woman and the other a mu- latto boy which his daughter Abigail was to have "at the price he shall be valued at."
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23. JONATHAN LEE, 1686-1756.
Jonathan Lee, grandson of John, the emigrant, and second son of John Lee, second, was born March 20, 1686, and he married, June 4, 1713, Mary Root. His father was a street and land surveyor, and one of the petitioners for the organization of the Great Swamp Society in 1705. Both of his grandfathers, John Lee and Deacon Stephen Hart, were owners of land in the Great Swamp Parish .* Jonathan Lee was in 1714 chosen "lister" and rate maker of the parish. In 1742, he was one of the petitioners from the south part of the parish for relief for " poor Kensington," At the time of his death, Jan. 16, 1756, he was a deacon of the Kensington Church.
CHILDREN. 1. Mary, b .. Oct. 4, 1714, m. May 22, 1735, Andrew Hooker; 2. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 10, 1716; 3. Lucy, b. Jan. 10, 1720; 4. Ruth, b. Aug. 3, 1722, m. John Gridley; 5. John, b. April 22, 1725, m. May 7, 1752, Sarah Cole; 6. Eunice, b. May 24, 1732, m. 1760, Caleb Galpin.
24. ISAAC HART, 1686-1770.
Isaac Hart, Kensington, second child of Capt. John Hart of Farmington, was born in 1686. He married, Nov. 24, 1721, Elizabeth Whaples. He moved to the Great Swamp Society and became one of the leaders of that society, being one of the petitioners for' its division in 1753. He lived on West or Hart Street, and became a deacon of the Kensington Church. It is said that while at work on his father's farm in Farmington, he killed a bear which came into the lot in which he was laboring. He died Jan. 27, 1770.
CHILDREN. 1. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 7, 1722; 2. Isaac, b. 1724, m. Ann Mather of New Britain; 3. Elizabeth, b. July 12, 1726, d. in infancy; 4. Mercy, b. April 4, 1729; 5. Job, b. Jan. 3, 1732, m. Eunice Beckley ; 6. John, b. 1734; 7. Lois, b. 1744, m. Hezekiah Judd.
* John Lee, 2d, conveyed to his son, Jonathan Lee, certain land at " Great Swamp," including a tract designated as " the Island," which was elevated above . the surrounding land.
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25. ROBERT BOOTH, 1689-1750.
Robert Booth, at first spelled " Boothe," was a descend- ant of Sir Richard Boothe. He was one of the early inhabi- tants of the Great Swamp Society, and when the first meet- ing-house was seated in 1716, he was assigned to the fourth " pue," east side, as "Robert boothe." He was one of the petitioners to the General Assembly for the division of the society. His home was at the south end of East Street. He appears to have been much respected in Great Swamp, and was for a time one of the officers of the society. He was one of the wealthiest members, his estate being inventoried at £591. He married, Nov. 27, 1712, Anna, the daughter of Capt. Stephen Hollister of Glastonbury. He was the an- cestor of most of the Booths of New Britain, among whom were some of the first settlers of the center of the place. He died Dec. 17, 1750, and was buried in the Christian Lane Cemetery.
CHILDREN. 1. Hannah, b. July 22, 1716, m. Joshua Mather; 2. Anna, b. Sept. 16, 1718, m. Joseph Mather; 3. Nathan, b. Aug. 6, 1721, m. Abi- gail Steele; 4. James, b. May 25, 1723; 5. Robert, b. Aug. 20, 1730, m. May 9, 1757, Ruth Kilbourn, and (2), May 5, 1774, Anna Bronson; 6. Elisha, b. May 20, 1732, m. Dec. 5, 1751, Esther Hollister, and (2), Nov. 19, 1778, widow Mary Gilbert.
26. DR. ISAAC LEE, 1691-1780.
Dr. Isaac, the eldest son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Royce) Lee, was born Sept. 5, 1691. He became a physi- cian of some celebrity. He commenced his practice in Farm- ington, but soon removed to Middletown, where he married, Dec. 3, 1713, Mary Hubbard. She died, and he married Susannah Wolcott, also of Middletown. While residing in Middletown, he deeded to the town of Farmington, Feb. 1, 1755, three pieces of land in the parish of New Britain - one was the north half of Smalley Street, the second con- tained the site for the meeting-house and a part of the " Parade " in front of it, and the third provided a highway to the same. Some time before 1771, Dr. Lee and his wife returned to his place on East Street, New Britain, where he
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died Aug. 6, 1780. He always took a deep interest in all that related to the parish of New Britain, and after his return he served upon committees of the society, and in other ways contributed to the prosperity of the place. His real estate in New Britain was divided between his sons, Isaac and Stephen.
CHILDREN. 1. Timothy, b. Nov. 8, 1714, d. Sept. 14, 1731; 2. Isaac, b. Jan. 7, 1717; 3. Mary, b. Aug. 6, 1718, d. Sept. 29, 1731; 4. Stephen, b. March 6, 1723; 5. Jerusha, b. March 18, 1724, d. 1725; 6. Thankful, b. Nov. 9, 1726; 7. Jerusha, b. Feb. 15, 1731; 8. Jacob, b. 1737; 9. Sarah, b. 1739; 10. Susannah, b. June 10, 1743, d. Feb. 1, 1759; 11. Josiah, b. 1745; 12. Mary, b. April 27, 1746.
27. THOMAS RICHARDS, 1694-17 -.
Thomas, son of Thomas and Mary (Parsons) Richards, was born at Hartford, April 3, 1694. He married, June 16, 1717, Abigail Turner, and (2) Dec. 28, 1738, widow Rachel Orvice. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and resided in Southington for more than twenty years, but moved to Stan- ley Quarter about 1750, and located on the west side of the street near the school-house. His blacksmith's shop, one of the first in New Britain, was the place where several young men, afterwards prominent in public affairs, learned their trade. He first took a letter from the Southington Church of which he was a member, to the Newington, then West Wetli- ersfield Church. When the First Church in New Britain was organized in 1758, he was one of the original members, his name standing next to those of Deacon Paterson and wife.
CHILDREN. 1. Susannah, b. May 12, 1718, m. June 5, 1735, Jonathan Andrews; 2. Abigail, d. young; 3. Abigail, b. Feb. 2, 1722, m. Oct. 9, 1742, Thomas Lankton; 4. John, b. 1724, d. young; 5. Samuel, b. Oct. 22, 1726, m. Dec. 8, 1747, Lydia Buck; 6. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 22, 1728, m. Dec. 24, 1750, James Horsington; 7. John, b. March 31, 1730, m. April 14, 1752, Mary French ; 8. Lydia, b. March 23, 1732; 9. Experience, b. 1736.
28. THOMAS STANLEY, 1696-1755.
Thomas, the eldest child of Thomas and Anna (Peck) Stanley of Farmington, and ancestor of the Stanleys of New
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Britain, was born Oct. 31, 1696. He married, Jan. 2, 1718, Esther, daughter of Samuel Cowles of Kensington. He lived in Stanley Quarter, in the northern part of New Britain, but at the organization of the New Britain Society in 1754, his house and farm were excluded, and he did not become a member of that society. He was a man of considerable wealth, having land in Farmington, New Britain, and New Cambridge (Bristol). He owned several negroes which were devised by will to his wife and children. He died Oct. 13, 1755. He had eight children, of whom three sons and one daughter were living at the time of his death.
CHILDREN. 1. Anna, b. Oct. 30, 1718, m. Ozias Griswold, d. Nov. 6, 1732; 2. Thomas, b. Nov. 27, 1720, m. Mary Francis; 3. Noah, b. Jan. 16, 1724, m. Ruth Norton; 4. Ruth, b. July 8, 1726, d. Aug. 3, 1776; 5. Timothy, b. Aug. 13, 1727, m. Lydia Newell; 6. Abigail, b. March 7, 1720, m. Capt. John Griswold; 7. Job, b. Aug. 4, 1732, d. July 5, 1740; 8. Gad, b. March 21, 1735, m. Mary Judd.
29. WILLIAM SMITH, 1699-1779.
William Smith, son of Jonathan, was born March 30, 1699, and married, July 22, 1725, to Rebecca Hunn. He was a conscientious farmer living on Stanley Street, at the head of Spiritual Lane. His large farm was kept in the fam- ily for several generations. He, with his brother Ebenezer of Newington, built and owned Churchill's Mills, near New- ington bounds. Though not a petitioner for the new society he was one of the original members of the First Church. His first wife died, and he married (2) July 11, 1771, widow Mary Wells of Newington. He died Jan. 9, 1779.
CHILDREN. 1. Elijah, b. May 1, 1726; 2. Sarah, b. March 2, 1727; 3. Abijah, b. Sept. 2, 1728; 4. Lydia, b. Sept. 18, 1729; 5. Samuel, b. Sept. 7, 1732, m. Dec. 6, 1759, Mary Goodrich; 6. Moses, b. Sept. 21, 1735, and died at age of 21 in French war.
30. JONATHAN LEWIS, 1699-1774 ?
Jonathan Lewis was one of the prominent members of the Kensington Society for nearly thirty years before the division and the organization of the New Britain Society ; and after
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the division he was one of the leaders of the latter society. He was married to Elizabeth Newell about 1720, and soon after had his home at the south end of East Street, near Christian Lane. His farm, after his death, passed into the hands of his son, Adonijah. He was prominent in military and civil affairs, holding various offices in the military com- pany until he was commissioned as Captain. The title was afterwards associated with his name. He was a member of the school committee of Kensington in 1730 and 1731, was one of the petitioners for relief to the north or New Britain part of the parish in 1739, and yet was appointed by the Kensington Society one of the committee to seat the new or second meeting-house in Kensington in 1743. He was a pe- titioner for a division of the society from 1745 to 1752, and strongly advocated the measure. After the New Britain So- ciety and Church were organized, he was, in 1758, chairman of the committee that as agents of the parish memorialized the town of Farmington for a grant of land to Rev. John Smalley, pastor of the church. He was much respected and esteemed.
CHILD. Adonijah Lewis, b. July 12, 1722, m. July 31, 1760, Mary Bronson.
31. JOHN HINSDALE, 1706-1792.
John, son of Barnabas and Martha (Smith) Hinsdale, of Hartford, was born Aug. 13, 1706. He married Nov. 8, 1733, Elizabeth Cole. He was a blacksmith by trade, and for some years resided in Berlin Street, having his black- smith's shop near his house. He came to New Britain about 1780, and bought of John Richards the Josiah Lee home- stead, afterwards the " Skinner Place," and owned a large portion of the Lee farm. He occupied the blacksmith's shop which Richards had built until he sold a part of the farm to Dr. Smalley. He was at first a member of the Kensington Church, and in 1766 was one of the standing committee. He made the frame for the meeting-house glass in 1738. When the Worthington Society was constituted, and the church
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organized, in 1775, he became one of the constituent mem- bers of that church and was received at the First Church, New Britain, by letter, in 1780. He died Dec. 2, 1792.
CHILDREN. 1. John, b. Aug. 19, 1734, d. young; 2. Elizabeth, b. June 29, 1736, m. April 28, 1758, David Atkins; 3. Theodore, b. Nov. 25, 1738, graduated at Yale College, was a minister of the North Windsor Church, and missionary of General Association, m. Anna Bissell; 4. Lucy, b. July 16, 1741, m. Jan. 27, 1763, Samuel Plumb; 5. Elijah, b. April 1, 1744, m. Ruth Bidwell; 6. Lydia, b. Aug. 11, 1747, m. Oct. 4, 1770, Samuel Hart of Kensington; 7. John, b. Aug. 21, 1749, m. Philomela Hurlburt.
32. JOHN KELSEY, 1706 -.
John, son of John and Mary (Buck) Kelsey, of Wethers- field, was born Nov. 22, 1706. He married, April 26, 1739, Martha Bronson. He was one of the inhabitants of the Great Swamp Society, who was set off to that society from Wethersfield West Society by act of "the Governor and Council and Representatives in General Court assembled," at New Haven, Oct. 13, 1715. The tract then set off extended from the " north side of John Kelsey's lands to Middletown bounds." When the meeting-house at Christian Lane was seated, in 1716, he was assigned to the third seat as "John Cellsie." He was one of the petitioners, both in 1739 and 1744, for a new parish or society. His home was in the South East School District, nearly opposite the old school house.
CHILD. Amos, b. April 11, 1743.
33. JOSHUA MATHER, 1706-1777.
Joshua, son of Atherton and Mary Mather of Windsor, was born Nov. 26, 1706. He married Hannah, daughter of Robert Booth of East Street, and came to the center of New Britain to live when it was unimproved. He had his home near the present corner of South Main and Park streets. His farm joined that of Nathan Booth, his brother-in-law, and extended east, occupying the site of the P. & F. Corbin man- ufactory and shops. His house, after his death, became the home of his grand-daughter, and was known as the " Sugden
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house," from Thomas Sugden, her husband, who was a deserter from the British army. Joshua Mather was one of the orig- inal members of the First Church, and sometimes preached, though his only credentials appear to have been clerical ancestors, a ministerial bearing, and a consistent Christian life. It is said that while upon a journey, he stopped at a village over Sunday, where his clerical appearance so impressed the people that he was invited to preach. He did so in the morning with such unction that he was again invited to preach in the afternoon. As he had but one sermon with him he was in a dilemma, until, opportunely, a deputation from his morning audience was sent to him with the request that he would repeat the morning sermon. He died May 16, 1777.
CHILDREN. 1. Cotton, b. Sept. 19, 1737; 2. David, b. Oct. 7, 1738, m. June 1, 1767, Hannah Dunham; 3. Thomas, b. Sept. 7, 1741, m. March 12, 1764, Huldah Bull; 4. Hannah, b. Jan. 25, 1745, m. Oct. 1, 1767, William Lewis.
34. DANIEL DEWEY, 1707-1786.
Daniel, son of Daniel and Catharine (Beckley) Dewey, was born Aug. 24, 1707. He married, Jan. 27, 1731, Rebecca Curtice. He lived near the south end of Stanley Street, where he had inherited the farm of his father. He was quite young at the time of his father's death, and his mother, who is mentioned in the society records in 1717, as " Widdow duey," appears to have resided at the homestead with him until her second marriage in 1731. He was lieutenant of the train-band before the organization of the New Britain Society, and was called Lieut. Dewey in the records. He was one of the petitioners for the division of the Kensington Society, and was prominent in the early history of New Britain. At the first meeting of the new society, in 1754, he was appointed one of the prudential committee, and was soon after appointed one of the committee on new highways, and was also on the committee that furnished material for the meeting-house. He was a member of the committee to procure a pastor, and
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was acting on such committee when Mr. Smalley was first induced to come to New Britain. He became a member of the First Church in 1760, was appointed one of the standing committee in 1761, and chosen deacon in 1772. He died Oct. 28, 1786.
CHILDREN. 1. David, b. March 16, 1732, m. Feb. 12, 1755, Esther Dunham; 2. Rhoda, b. Nov. 24, 1736, d. young; 3. Josiah, b. July 7, 1737, m. Aug. 11, 1756, Experience Smith; 4. Hannah, b. March 9, 1740, m. April 7, 1757, John Goodrich; 5. Lucy, b. Nov. 1, 1742, d. young.
35. JOHN PATERSON, 1708-1762.
John, son of James and Mary (Talcott) Paterson, was born in Wethersfield, Feb. 14,,1708. His mother died Sept. 28, 1712, and soon after he came to East Street, New Britain, then in Wethersfield, with his father. He received a liberal education, and on Jan. 28, 1731, married Ruth Bird of Farm- ington. He early evinced an inclination for military life, and when under thirty years of age was commissioned an officer of the 5th company or train-band of Farmington, and soon after lieutenant of the 2d company of Kensington. In October, 1752, he received the commission of captain of the 13th company of the 6th regiment, and was afterwards major. He had in connection with his homestead on East Street, a large farm, on which he employed some slaves. He was prominent in civil matters and in the ecclesiastical society, and was the first deacon of the First Church, New Britain, being appointed soon after the organization of the church. On the incorporation of the New Britain Society he was chosen a member of the prudential committee, and was made chairman of the first annual meeting. He was rate-maker, and one of the committee to secure preaching, being chair- man of this committee when Mr. Smalley was invited to preach in New Britain. His house on East Street was the boarding place of the first ministers of the parish, and one of the places in which the first preaching services were held.
He was in the service of the British government in its wars with France, and in the French and Indian war was given
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a command in the British army under General Wolf, and for a time did good service in the defence of the northern frontier. Later he raised a company of picked men, principally in Farmington and Wethersfield, which he commanded on the expedition under Admiral Pocock to Havana, where he died of yellow fever, Sept. 5, 1762.
CHILDREN. 1. Mary, b. Dec. 5, 1731, m. April 18, 1751, John Pierce of Litchfield; 2. Sarah, b. June 13, 1734, m. Dec. 30, 1754, James Lusk of Farmington; 3. Anna, b. Dec. 27, 1736, m. Jan. 24, 1759, Rev. Stephen Holmes of Essex; 4. Ruth, b. June 10, 1739, m. April 7, 1774, Jedediah Strong of Litchfield; 5. John, b. 1743, m. June 2, 1766, Elizabeth Lee.
36. DANIEL HART, 1708-1784 ?
Daniel, son of Stephen and Sarah (Cowles) Hart, was born March 21, 1708. He married, July 18, 1734, Abigail Thompson. She died Dec. 7, 1760, and he married, second, May 21, 1761, Comfort Stephens. He lived at the foot of Clark Hill, Stanley Quarter, at the north end of the parish. When the New Britain Society was organized, in 1754, he and his farm were excepted and left belonging to Farmington, though within the bounds of the society as described in the act of incorporation. He preferred to retain his connection with the old society, but after his death his widow united with the First Church, New Britain, and most of his descend- ants made their home in that parish.
CHILDREN. 1. Eldad, b. June 6, 1735, d. in infancy; 2. Eldad, b. March 22, 1736, m. July 8, 1761, Achsa Stevens; 3. Stephen, b. March 5, 1739, d. in infancy; 4. Stephen, b. December 8, 1744, m. Oct. 8, 1767, Rhoda Stedman.
37. JUDAH HART, 1709-1784.
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Judah, eldest son of Deacon John Hart of Kensington, and Esther (Gridley) Hart, was born Oct. 25, 1709, before his father moved from Farmington. He married, Feb. 20, 1735, Anna Norton. She died, and he married, second, Sept. 27, 1759, Sarah North, widow of James North of Kensington. Mr. Hart removed to New Britain, making his home in Hart Quarter soon after his marriage. He had a large farm, his homestead being nearly opposite the old school house in the
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Fourth District, New Britain. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, much force of character, and often employed in public affairs. He was a member of the First Ecclesiastical Society in Farmington, when, in 1752, with ten others, he petitioned the General Assembly to be set to Ken- sington. The petition was not granted, but he was one of the original members of the New Britain Ecclesiastical Soci- ety and Church. He died Sept. 14, 1784, leaving most of his property to his son, Judah.
CHILDREN. 1. Elias, b. Feb. 25, 1735, m. Oct. 17, 1753, Hope Wha- ples: 2. Judah, b. Sept. 5, 1737, d. Nov. 3, 1745; 3. Anna, b. May 22, . 1739; 4. Esther, b. April 4, 1742, m. Nov. 29, 1764, Eliphaz Alvord; 5. Lois, b. April 4, 1742, d. at birth; 6. John, b. Jan. 20, 1744, m. Oct. 1764, Anna Deming; 7. Roger, b. May 10, 1745, d. in infancy; 8. Ruth, b. Jan. 19, 1748, d. in infancy; 9. Judah, b. Sept. 10, 1750, m. Sarah North.
38. JOSEPH SMITH, JR., 1710-1792.
Joseph, son of Joseph and Mary (Royce) Smith, was born July 13, 1710. He married March, 1737, Thankful Hubbard of Middletown. She died May 21, 1764, and he married (2) Sept., 1766, widow Esther Deming. He inher- ited a portion of his father's estate and kept tavern at the homestead on East Street. He had the title of landlord, and for many years was generally known as Landlord Smith. His name appears upon the petitions for relief of New Britain and for a division of the Great Swamp Society, from 1739 to 1752, and he was one of the original members of the New Britain Society and of the First Church. He was prominent in civil affairs and in matters connected with the church. He died March 25, 1792.
CHILDREN. 1. Elnathan, b. Nov. 3, 1738; 2. Gideon, b. Dec. 1, 1740, d. at Havana in French war, one of Captain Paterson's company; 3. Jo- seph, b. Oct. 11, 1744, was in the war of the Revolution; 4. Thankful, b. Nov. 17, 1746; 5. Gurdon, b. Aug. 12, 1749, died in the army of the Revo- lution; 6. Abigail, b. April 15, 1752; 7. Rhoda, b. Sept. 15, 1753; 8. Dolly, b. 1762.
39. ELIJAH HART, 1711-1772.
Elijah, third son of Deacon Thomas and Mary (Thompson) Hart of Kensington, was born June 18, 1711. He married,
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Dec. 26, 1734, Abigail Goodrich. He came to New Britain to reside about the same time as Judah Hart, and built his house in Hart Quarter, a short distance south of the latter's home. He was one of the original members of the First Church, and was chosen deacon soon after its organization. He was a healthy, prosperous farmer, and his death resulted from an accidental fall while carrying a piece of fencing tim- ber on his shoulder. He died Aug. 3, 1772. The epitaph upon his tombstone says :
" In memory of the greatly esteemed and much lamented Deacon Elijah Hart, who provided for his own, and served his generation with great dili- gence and fidelity, even to the last day of his life, was taken suddenly to his inheritance above."
CHILDREN. 1. Elijah, b. Sept. 26, 1735, m. Sarah Gilbert; 2. Thomas, b. Jan. 12, 1738, m. Feb. 2, 1758, Mehitabel Bird; 3. Jehudab, b. Dec. 12, 1739, m. July 9, 1767, Mary Munson; 4. Josiab, b. April 28, 1742, m. 1765, Abigail Sluman; 5. Mary, b. Oct. 26, 1744, m. Jan. 7, 1765, Jonathan Eno; 6. Benjamin, b. Oct. 16, 1747, m. Aug. 19, 1772, Mary Fuller; 7. Joseph, b. Mary 17, 1750, m. Nov. 5, 1772, Huldah Smith; 8. Elizur, b. Dec. 25, 1752, m. Jan. 1, 1778, Sarah Langdon; 9. Aaron, b. Oct. 1, 1756, d. young.
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