USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. II > Part 141
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
4. Samuel, b. 22 June, 1737. FAM. 5.
5. Mary, b. abn 1740; m. James Smith of Midd. Upper Houses, and d. 23 Apl., 1935, So. W .. . 95. IxQue :
1. Samuel (Smith), h. 5 Aug .. 1;13: d. Rey, War.
2. Sarah (Smith), b. 20 Dec., 1765; m. Dea. Sam'l Talcott of Ver .. (1. 8 Sept .. 1791; d. 26 May, 1813: shed. 16 Feb., 1823; had (1) Samuel Smith (Talcott), b. 13 Dec., 1993; m.(1) Harriet (dan. Reswell) Smith, 6.Jan., 1818, who d, 28 Sept., 1×60; i. (2 sophia E. Keeney, 5 Dec., 1-60; (2) Sarah (Talcott), b. 27 Feb., d. D Mcb., 1796; (3) Sarah (Talcott), b. 4 May, 1997; m. Harry Landfear; d. 1837; he d. 7 Jan., 1850; (1) Juliana (Talcott), b. 21 Apl., 1709; (5) Marthu (Talcott), h. 9July, 1801; m. Lathrop B. Glea- son, 3 Mch., 1832: (6) Elihu (Talcott), b. 6 Apl .. 1801; in. Chloe (dan. Warner) McKin- ney: (7) Phil nada (Talcott), b. 29 May. 1806;
m. Erastus Barber, 3 Feb., 1-29: (8) James Tudor (Talcott), b. 7 July, d. 2 Or1 .. 1-11: (9) James Tudor (Talcott), b. 26 Apl., 1-13; m. Sarnh HI. Parker, 10 Dic., 1835.
3. Oliver (Smith), b. 16 Sept., 1767; m. Patty Hanmer of Wethersfield, Conn.
4. Mary (Smith), b. 25 Nov., 150; m. Ebenezer Hunt of Vernon, Conn. ; had (11 Mary (Hinnt). m. Ogden Grant of V .; (2) Uranle (Hunt); (3) Horace (Hunt); ( D) Sylrester (Hunt); (5) Ruben ( Hunt). Mis. Ogden Grant of V.
5. James (Smith), b 12 May. 1774; d. unmarried.
6. Thomas ( Smith), b. 16 Aug., 1776; m. Kate of New York.
7. Reuben (Smith), b. 6 June, 1779; d. unmarried. 8. U'ranla (Smith), h. 4 June. 1282: d unmarried.
6. Martha, b. abt. 1:16: m. Nathaniel Porter of K. W .; rem. to Augusta, N. Y., where she d. 16 May. 1833.
7. I'reala, b. 1741; d. & Sept., 1757, of camp fever, contracted from her bro. Theophilus (E. H. (.), who bad accompanied his bro. Elibu to Canada.
8. Oliver, d. young.
9. Oliver, d. young.
10. Alpheus, d. young.
FAM. 4. Elihu+ (Dr.) (Rer. Sum't,3 Samt'l,? Oiren 1), was a Surgeon's Mate in Fr. War, at the taking of Quebec, 1759, and of Havana, 1762 (see Chapter on W. Physicians); grad. Y. C. 1450; llon. M D. at Dart. Coll. 1700; m. 4 Feb., 1769, Lucretia (dau. Elisha) Brewster of Middletown Upper Houses, Conn., who d. 13 Sept., 1801, æ. 54 (22. I. C. R.); he d. 6 Mch., 1826, 2. 93. Children :
1. Ch., d. 12 Jan., 1770. -- E. W. C. R.
2. Edward ( Dr.), b. 16 Jan .. 1771. FAM. G.
3. Lucy, b. 3 Aug., 1772; m. C'ol. Andrew Hillyer of E. Granby, who grad. Y. C. 1270, and who d. 182%. Shed. 7 Jan., 1864. XxxH+ :
1. Charles Tudor (Hillyer), b. 8 May, 1800; m. ('ath. Robbins; was Pres. Char. O'k Bk .. II.
2. Harriet Lonisa (Hillyer), b. 23 .Inly, 1803: m. W'm. Ilenry Hoadley of Hartford, f Dec., 1824, who d. 8 Ang., 1849, at HI. They had (1) Mary Robbing (Hondley), h. 22 Dec .. 1825: 12) Charles Jeremy (hoadley), b. 1 Ang .. 1824; grad. Tr Coll .. 1:51; 1Ion. M A. Tr. Coll. 18;9. memb, of many hist. societies; State Librarian of town. 1855 to present time; has edited Vom Haven Col. Rec., 1638-65, 2 vols. in 1857 %; Conn. Col. Rec , 1689 1775. vols. | 14 of the series, 11 vols., 1868-S2; received the degree of LL. D. from Trin. Coll. 1890; (3) Frederick William (Hondley), b. 2 Dec., 1831, Maj. C. S.
Army; killed at siege of Vicksburg. June, 1963; unmarried; ( D) James Heary (Hoadiry ). b. 6 Dec .. 1533; (5) George Edward (Hoadley), b. 25 June, 1837; () Francis Indre (Hoadley), b. 12 0ct., 1811; (7) Harriet Louise (Hoadley), b. 22 May, 1846; in. Wm. A. Corwin, Surgeon U. S. N. He d. : 2 daus.
4. Henry, b. 15 Feb., 1221: d. Jan., 1860, Nowb., N. Y.
5. Owen (Capt. U. S. N.), b. 23 Mch., 1247: m. 25 ·fan .. 1803. Theodosia Bancroft; he il. in 1818 or '19: she d. 1 Mch . l&H.
6. Sophia, b. 2; Jan., 1679; hp. 29 Mich . 1801: called Mary Sophia ( F' W. C. B.); d. unm'il. ~ Der., 1800. ". Elizab'h, b. 10 Sept., 1780; 0. 15 May, 1803; onm'd. 4. William Franklin, b. 26 Feb., 1752. FAM. 2. 9. Charles, b. 13. d. 19 Feb., 1is1.
10. Fanny, b. 13 Ang., 1785: d. 29 Oct., 17-5.
11. Incretin, b. 24 Nov., 1786: d 26 Jan., 1-21.
12. Frances, h. S Nov., 1;88; d. 1% Ort., 145). [ Eliun had ch. d. 26 Nov., 1;15.]
FAM. 5. Samuel 4 (Rer. Sam'l,3 Sam'l? Otten 1), m. 30 June, 1763, Naomi Diggens, b. 8 Aug., 1711, and who d. 30 Oct., 1816, æ. 75. He d. much respected at South W ... 19 Nov., 1822, w. 85. Children :
1. Naomi, b. 22, bp. 28 Apl., 1761: m. Capt. Aaron Bissell; sett. on E. W. Hill; hed. 5 Nov., 1831, 2. 73: she d. 24 Nov., 1947.
2. Ursula, b. 1, bp. 9 June, 1,67 ( E. H. C.R.); m. 10
July, 1791, birl Wolcott; she d. So. W., 24 Det .. 1-51. 3. Samuel. b. 15 Ang, bp. 10 Sept. 1700. FAM. S. 1 Oliver, b. 4, bp. 6 Sept., 1722. FAM. 9.
FAM. G. Edwards (Dr.) (Dr. Elihn Rec. Sam1,3 Samt,2 Oren '), grad. M.D. Dart. Coll., 1803; m. (1) Mary Sarah Morey, who d. 19 June. 151 ;; (2) 1518, Wid. Hart Bissell, who d. Apl., 1821; (3) 23 June, 1822. al E. W., Elizabeth (dau, John and Abigail Pal) Dabney of Salem, Mass .; Dr. Edward T. d. 8 May, 1858; res. Mid- dlebury, Conn. Children (from Lamis Gen., i. Si1) :
1. Edward Morey, b. 10 Jan., 1801: 1. 1816, num'd, St. Louis, Mo
2. Martha, b. 5 May, 1503; d. unm'd, 25 Oct .. 1852, Philadelphia, Pa.
3. Emeline, b. 1 JInn., 1805; m. JJoseph Tobias, 25 Der., 1831; she d. 4 Mch., 1869, Ticonderoga,
4 William Brewster, b. 3. d. 8 May. 1s0 ;.
5. Sarah M., b. 13 Inly, 180%; m. Hon. John W. Strong. 16 Sept., 1431, who d. 2 Ang., 1869, R. 5. West Addison, Vt.
6. Alfred Brewster, b. 19 Apl .. 1811; married Sarah Ford, 10 May, 1536, New port, Ky.
7. Benjamin Rush. b. 10 Mch .. 1513: m. Elizabeth -, 15Hi, In d. 1852. New Orleans, La
S. Abigail M., b. 27 Mich., 1×23; d. May, 1943.
FAM. 7. William Franklin (Dr. Elihu, Her. Sanil,3 Samt, Oren1), so named after his father's friend, the Royalist Governor of New Jersey (see p. 660, Vol. 1); in. Jerusha Welch of W. ; he d. 20 June, 1857. Children :
769
THE TUDOR FAMILY.
1. Caroline. m. Dr. Gideon L. Platt of Waterb'y, 3. Walter (Platt). 4 Charles ( Platt). Conn., where she res. 1921. Isatte : 2. William Franklin, m. Elizabeth (din. of Alex.) Fenton of W .. where he res. 1974.
1. L. Tudor ( P'latt).
2. Medora (Platt), m. Walter Hamlin of Ver- non, Conn.
3. Albert, rem. to Oregon.
4. Charles Arthur, m. and ros, Turkey Hills; &. p.
FAM. 8. Samuel 5 (Samt'l,4 Rer. Sam'l,3 Sum'l? Ohren 1), m. Mary (dau. John, Sen., and Anna Blixs) Watson of E. W .. b. 8 Dec., 1775, who d. 22 Dec., 1847; sett. in HItrd., where he d. 29 Jan., 1862, æ. 92 yrs., 5 mos. Children :
1. William Watson, b. 19 Mcb., 1801. FAM. 10. | 2. Henry Samnel, b. 3 Sept., 140I. FAM. 11.
FAM. 9. Olivers (Sim'l, ' Rer. Sam'l,3 Sum'l,? Ouren1), m. 22 Dec., 1801, Abigail Wheel- ock (dan. Rev. David) McClure of E. W., who d. 15 Sept., 1853, w. 72; he d. 6 Feb., 1845, æ. 73. Children :
1. Mary Ann, b. 25 Sept., 1802: bp. 15 May, 1803; m. (1) Parmenio P. Whelpley, N. Y. city; (9) 16 June, 1834, Abner Brush of Ridgefield, Conn .; she d. 23 June, 1864, and both d. Wash'n, D. (., leaving a dan., Mary Sophia, b. 2 Meh., 1837: m. 2 Mch., 1857, John Thos. Clemens of Wash'n, D. C. Issue :
1. Abner Brush (Clemens). b. 6 Dec., 1852; grad. No. 3 at Naval Acad., Annapolis, Md .; made important impr. in binocular glasses, wh. have been adopted by Gov't: m. Julia Hunt of Macon, Ga .. I May, 1881.
2. Mary Eliza (Clemens), b. 12 June, 1859; m. George Mcclelland Smith, 9 dan .. 1888.
Lizzie Barclay of Macon, Ga., 20 Dec., 1942. 4. Cora Tudor (Clemens), b. 2 Jan., 1863.
5. Lonisa Henderson (Clemens). b. 29 July. 1866.
6. Emma Eunice (Clemens), b. 26 Sept., 1864; d. 28 Dec., 1869, æ. 15 mos.
7. Jennie (Clemens), b. 6 Sept., 18,3. [12.
2. David Met Ture. b. 17 Jan .. bp. ? AApl., 1805. FAM.
3. Abigail, b. 22 Mch., bp. 5 July, 1807; m. Abner L. (s. of Dea. Abner) Reed of E. W .; she d. at Con- neant, Ohio, 11 Sept., 1853. (See Reed.)
4. Sophia Haskell, b. 1 Nov., 1817, bp. 19 Apl., 1818; m. 16 Dec .. 1840, Charles (s. Col. Sam'D) Creen; d. 19 May, 1888. (See Green.)
5. Panlina, b. 8 July, bp. 5 Nov., 1820; d. unm'd, 30 Nov., 1891.
3. Edward Bates (Clemens), b. 10 May, 1861; m. FAM. 10. William Watson 6 (Sam'l,5 Sam'l,4 Rer. Sum'l,8 Sam'l,2 Ouen 1), m. 1 Sept.,
1824, Mary Dalrymple) Bruce of Htfd., b. 12 Dec., 1800, who d. 22 Mch., 1878, a.
78, in Brooklyn, N. Y. Ile d. B .; 26 June, 1872; res. for a time in E. W. Ch. :
1. Mary Watson, b. 7 July, 1825; m. 3 June, 1846, John M. Pratt; she d. 29 Mch., 1855, :r. aht.30. INAute :
1. Win. Tudor (Pratt), b. 2.July, 1817. [Oct., 1857. 2. Edw. Cleveland (Prati), b. 22 Apl .. 1850; d. 22
3. Mary Tudor (Pratt), b. 18 Feb., 1553.
4. Alice Cleveland (Prait), b. 7 Apl., 1855.
2. Jane Bruce (acc. to J. M. S.), unm'd; res. Brook- Jvn. N. Y.
3. William Hall, d. 27 Oct., 1839.
4. George, m .: res. N. Y. city.
5. llenry Edwin, b. 23 JJan., 1838. FAM. 13.
FAM. 11. Henry Samuel 6 (Sunt, Sam'), Rer. Sam',' Sam'1,2 Orin ), m. 26 June, 1828, Mary Rowe (dau. ex-U. S. Sen. S. R.) Bradley of Walpole, N. Il., who d. 23 Oct., 1882, at Htfdl .; he d. 26 Oct., 1861, in N. Y. city; sett. at Iltfd. Ch. :
1. Ilenry Bradley, b. 23July. 1829; d. 23 Feb., 1860; unmarried.
2. Sain'l, b. 5 Dec., 1830; d. 13 July, 1865: num'd.
3. Charles Carroll, b. 5 June, 1832: m. (1) 22 Apl., 1864, Mary Kelsey of Iltfd., whod. 6 Feb .. 1850; (2) Addie Alziria Page, wid. of Wm. S. Starr, 3 July, 1884; res. N. Y.
4 Mary Louise, b. 15 Jan., 1835; m. 3 Ang .. 1859, Albert Moltje, professor of music; res. Stam- ford, Conn. Issue :
1. Mary Louise, b. 6 Ang., 1462; d. 10 May. 1863. 5. Edward Augustus, b. 2 Oct .. 1837; m. 17 Oct., 1858, Mary Bradbury. Ied 6 July, 1864, in serv. of his country; apoth., B'klyn. N. Y. Issue : 1. Mary Rowe, b. 26 June, 1861; m. Wellington S. Rogers; had 1 ch.
6. Elizabeth, b. 3 Sept., 1839; m. 29 Oct., 1868, Wil- liam (. Waters of New York, and d. 26 Feb., 1.869, at Hartford.
7. Frederic, b. 8 Feb .. 1841; d. 10 Mch. 1867, at Coba.
Fax. 12. David McClure 6 (Oliver,& Sam',' Rer. Samt,3 Samt,2 Oren' ), m. 12 Dec., 1839, Sarah Elizabeth (dau. Col. Sam'l) Green, b. New London, Conn., 10 Dec., 1806. Her father rem, to No. W. into the Dr. Elihu Tudor house. She d. S Nov., 1881; he d. 20 Apl., 1880. Children :
1. Mary Starr ( M.D.), b. 19 Sept .. 1810: grad. from the Woman's Med. Coll. at Phila., 1892.
2. Sarah Elizabeth, b. 30 Dec .. 18 12.
3. Lonisa Green. b 5 .Inly. 1841; m. 28 May, 1868, l'eter Sythoff Starr. M.D., of New London, l'onn., grad. Yale C'ofl., 1-60; served ass't surg.
in Civil War, 3 yrs .: prac. med. in Chiengo 4 yrs. ; rem. to Hartford, 1971. Issue :
1. Mary Seabury (Starr), b. 11 June. 1870.
2. Louis Tudor (Starr). b. 17 July, d. 5 Sept., 1872. 3. Robert Sythoff, b. 5 Dec., 1876.
4. Tudor Mcclure, b. 5 Apl., d. 27 July, 1850.
FAM. 13. Henry Edwin ( Wm., Samt, Rer. Samil,3 Sam'1,2 Oren'). m. 16 Feb., 1865. Lucy Ann (dan. of Richard and Martha Wolek) Buck, of Township of West. Farnham, Province of Quebec, b. 26 Feb., 1841; he d. 20 May, 1884 Children :
1. George Dalrymple Bruce, b. 4 Dec., 1865.
2. Henry Iwin, b. 5 Ang., 1867.
1 3. Richard Beresford, b. 10 Nov., 1ss1.
Miscellaneous .- Henry, had Mary Sophia, bp. 29 Mch .. 1801 .- E. W. C. R. Theo- dosia (Mrs.), d. 20 Feb., 1816, 2. 36. - R. D. Eliza (dan, of Elizabeth), bp, 29 May, 1803 .- E. W. C. R. Eliza (same as above), m John S. Horton of Provi- dence, R. L., 3 Dec., 1820,-D. R. William, d. 26 Oct., 1839, a. S .- S. B. I., or J., m. Caroline J. Johnson, 10 Jan., 1531. VOL. II. - 97
770
GENEALOGIES AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
TURPIN, Joseph W., d. 21 Sept., IsBs, æ. 14. Parthenia B., his wife, d. 17 Sept., 1833, æ. 38. Lydia R., his wife, d. 9 Aug., 1991, . 74. - W. It. Gruregard.
TYLER, Charles, m. Lydia Lathrop, 24 Nov., 1830 .- S. B.
UFFORD, Nancy, m. ('lester Pitkin of E. W., 24 Sept., 1812 .- S. B.
VAN HORNE, Sylvester, ch. of, d. 3 May, 1546. S. B.
VERSTILLE. [Contributed by Miss RUTH T. SPERRY of E. W. Hill.] " PETER VERSTILLE was Born 11 July, 1734, in ye Parish St. Luke, County of Middlesex, London, son to William Verstille, of said Parash, &c., &c."
The earliest date found among his papers is that of July 29, 1752, at which time begins a short ace't betw. Peter Verstille and John Head, both of whom appear to be then resident in Boston, Mass. There is no evidence extant that any other of the name of Verstille was in New England at this time, or that young Peter had any relative in this country. From a memorandum book containing the record of a visit to London, 1768-69, it would seem that his only relatives then living in Eng- land were (1) a sister Aun, married to one John Oks, hosier, at No. 55 Shoreditch; (2) " Uncle William Ginger, Attorney, residing in Homstead, or Bark Hemstead, and who had 3 sons, viz., William, Jr., Wittshir, and Richard "; (3) a " Cousin," Robert Field, cardmaker, at No. 33 Tooley St., below London Bridge, Southwark. In a letter addressed to William Henry Verstille, dated August, 1803, Ann Olds speaks of hearing once more the " Dear name of Verstille," and advises her nephew to make every inquiry for one Robert Field of Philadelphia, "a relation of mine and yours."
After the account of July, 1252, we find this minute: "Mr. John Bowdoin gave me his Desk, 27th Sepr, 1752, which day he set out for Va." In 1753, Peter Verstille was in the employment of Mr. Samuel Hughes of Boston. In 1754 he was sent by that gentleman as a factor, or agent, to Portsmouth, N. IL., where he exchanged almost every kind of manufactured article for the produce of the country, notice- ably fish, barrel staves, and wood. He disposed of his goods much too readily, and, in consequence, was sharply reprimanded by Mr. II., who repeated his order that he should sell for cash and cash only. Whereupon Peter closed up his accounts with Mr. Hughes, not, however, until the latter had reminded him that he (11.) had been Verstille's " best friend and greatest benefactor " Mr. V. then traveled along the coast of Maine, selling goods on commission for a number of Boston merchants, especially for Benjamin Carnes.
November 30, 1756, he married Naomi Gedney (wid. of Bartholomew Ged- ney, who d Apl., or May, 651), dau. of Samuel Ridgeway, a tailor in Boston. She was a woman of business talent and training. In those days, shops were gen- erally connected with the dwellings of the tradesmen, and woman's duties were by no means confined to the kitchen. Mrs. Verstille was not, then, the only woman in Boston who tended shop, bought goods, paid bills, and even traveled to distant cities, on business rather than pleasure hent. As Mrs. Gedney, Mrs. Verstille, and Mrs. Perry-as wife and widow-Samuel Ridgeway's daughter kept her shop, and. in due course, served as administratrix on the estates of each of her three consorts .*
* We have said that she was the daughter of Samuel Ridgeway, and Naomi, his wife. Mr and Mrs. Edward Marion of Boston are referred to tin family letters) as uncle and aunt. Her brothers were Samuel, Ebenezer, and Philip, and her sisters, Nancy, who m. Nath'I Warner, a picture dealer in Boston and " a pour stick," as we are informed by letter; he left two s. (Lient ) Nath'} and Dan'l Warner; and a dan. Betary. b. 25 Nov., 1762, who was adopted by her aunt, Mrs. Verstille, and, alt. 1-1, m. one of two bros. (either dosiah or Wm. Gibbs) Willard, who rem from Htfd. and became nichts, in Phila. Sam'i Ridgeway, Jr., m. (1) : dan. of Col. Phillips of Boston; (2) ; of hisch , John m. (proh.) Catharine -; settled N. Y. civ. and left wid. and several ch., 2 dans, at least. viz., Catharine, who m Chark- Buck (related to, if not an- cestor of. Dudley Back, the musical composer), formerly of Wethersfield, 17 Mich., 1913; and " Sace, " who m. twice, and was last heard of as a rich wid .. Mr -. Patten.
771
TILE VERSTILLE FAMILY.
In the spring of 1761 Peter Verstille removed his family from Boston and opened a shop in Wethersfield, Conn. He was aided in this undertaking by Thos. Bromfield of Boston, who suggested that Mr. V. settle at Hartford, he having been informed that the country back of HI. "is vastly larger." Why Mr. V. decided in favor of Wethersfield, we do not know; but we find this paper which lacks a signa- ture: "These may Certify whom it may concern, That, whereas M' Peter Verstille, late of Boston, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, bath now informed us that on or about the 20th of April. last past, [he] set out from said Boston with his wife, Family, and Effects, and came into this Town with design to Settle and be an in- habitant - here on or about the 27th of said April, and has hired him a Dwelling and a sbop for the Carrying On his business, and, whereas it appears to ns that he behaves well and is of an honest conversation, we do therefore approve of his Com- ing and Settling in this Town, and Consent that he be an Inhabitant among- Given under Our hands in Wethersfield, this 4th Day of June, 1761."
At this time Mr. Verstille sold dry goods, hardware, groceries, boots and shoes, musical instruments, pictures, furniture, and jewelry, accepting in return much country produce, notably onions and pork. He was also engaged in trade with the W. Indies, and exptd. onions, horses, rum, and flour. At first he met, as he thought, with ill success, not knowing, as he said, the nature of the people and their way of trading, which he conceived to be 'vastly different to that of Boston people. lle overcame his early losses and discouragements, and in Oct., 1768, set sail for London to purchase and bring home a large bill of dry goods. During his absence Mrs. Verstille was left to conduct her husband's business "in a small way," which she did much to his satisfaction, and in six months sold, mostly for cash, upwards of 0700 worth of merchandise.
While Mr. Verstille was in London negotiating for the purchase of goods "on credit," a resolution was entered into by many of the colonists, beginning at Bos- ton, not to import, buy, or sell, and not to allow to be exposed for sale any British woolen goods. Therefore, when Mr. Verstille returned to Wethersfield and had re- ceived his invoice of goods, which he began to unpack on Christmas Day, 1769, a body of men, to the number of about 300, with sticks, staves, etc., assembled before his house, and the leaders demanded that the obnoxions goods be given up to be " stored by the Committee," Mr. Verstille was obliged to comply with this imperative request, although he believed the demand was caused mainly by the jealousy of other shopkeepers who had no such goods as his in their shops. "By which" he was enabled to "see how far Selfish and Sinister Views will extend, especially when private Interest is like to Suffer." Whatever his feelings, the good man - so he writes - "behaved with all the Calmness and Stedy- ness of mind as was possible, without the least sort of Revenge or Malignantey of Spirit." The affair was brought before the Honorable County Court, and Mr. Peter Verstille humbly petitioned for the return of his goods. It was agreed that he should be treated on the Boston plan, and much correspondence passed be- tween the Boston committee and the Hartford committee as to the exact steps to be taken. In a letter from Gilbert Dublois, himself one of the most prominent mer- chants in Boston, advising his friend, Peter Verstille, how to conduct his suit for the recovery of his " stored" goods. it is given as a reason why the Hartford com- mittee should take this case into especial consideration, that his (Verstille's) "Sale far exceeds anything among us [i. e , merchants of Boston], or in any other prov- ince." Not until the following June, six months after they were first seized, were the obnoxious goods returned to Mr. Verstille, and he was permitted to expose them for sale at a season most unfavorable for the profitable disposal of goods " which were principally of the Woolin and Winter kind."
Mr. Verstille was, undoubtedly, (as is shown in his letters and private " Memo- randum Book,") quite as patriotic as the best of his neighbors; but, to use his own words, "it was my Misfortune to Purchase a Number of Goods in London and to
772
GENEALOGIES AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
direet the Importation of the same into this Colony before I knew of, or there Aet- ually was any Combination or Agreement among the Merchants here to the Con- trary." Nor did he ever recover from the great " wrong and injury " done to both his business and his feelings by his jealous townsmen under the cloak of Patriot- ism. Therefore, in the spring of 1772, Mr. Verstille returned with his family and effects to Boston, and carried on business at his old stand "at ye South East Corner of winter Street, Opposite Seven Star Lane, Near the governor's." Ilis letters were often directed " at the sign of the fan." Ile still kept two shops in Connecti- cut -one at Hartford, under the care of Stephen Mears, opposite the North Meet- ing-honse; the other at Enfield, in charge of one John Raynolds, who, in writing a letter to Mrs. Verstille, signs himself " your kinsman." In Apl., 175, at the begin ning of the war of the Rev., Peter Verstille fled from Boston and songht refuge in Iltfd., and was congratulated by all his friends on his good fortune in having thus early escaped, with his family and effects, " from the prison of Boston." He "opened shop in the house of the Widow Sarah Edwards, lately occupied by Mr. Sam'l West- cote at Hartford." We farther learn that his address was " North Side of the State house, In Hartford." Mr. Samuel Ridgeway, Sen., the father of Mrs. Verstille, died in Boston in the fall of 1773. His wid. and an unmarried dan., Ruth, accompanied Mr. Verstille to Hifd. Here Mrs. Naomi Ridgeway died, 17 July, 1775, aged 68, and was buried in the old cemetery back of the Center church. The Hartford Comment, published Tuesd'y, July 5, 1778, contains the following notice: " Yesterday fe'n-night departed this life, in the 45th year of his age, Mr. Peter Verstille of this town, Mer- chant." The estate was not settled until after the close of the war, and then little or nothing remained for the heirs. Mrs. Naomi Verstille m. (3) Rev. Joseph Perry pastor of the First ch. in E. W., 3 Moh., 1781. After his death, and in his old res. Mrs. Perry kept a small shop until her denth, 30 Apl., 1785. The only child of Mr. Peter Verstille and Naomi Ridgeway (Gedney) Verstille was
FAM. 2. William, b. in Boston, Sept., 1957. While he resided in Connecticut his instructors were Mr. Oliver Wells of Windsor, Rev. Elnathan Whitman of Weth- erstield, Mr. Lockwood and Rev. Mr. Strong of Hartford. His desire was to become an artist, and his taste was evidently not disapproved by his father, whose accounts make frequent mention of articles needed in drawing, purchased " for Billy." In a letter addressed to his brother-in-law, John Olds, London, he says: " You have a small minute for Sundrys for a Young beginner in Limning from whose Performances has discovered a Genious for that Polite Science, which if approved of you may send, the Person is your Kinsman William Verstille."
" Billy " returned with his father to Hifd., in 1975, and in Jan., 1727. as Ensign William Verstille, he was paying bounty to the American soldiers. On the 9th of April, 1778, at headquarters at West Point, he took the oath of Allegiance before Samuel II. Parsons, B. G. At Fort Arnold, 16 May, ETS, he received his commis- sion as Second Lieutenant in Col. Webb's regiment, from William Livingston, Lieut. Col. "Feb. 23. 1779, Lieut. Verstille, of Col. Sanmel B. Webb's regiment, was discharged the Service of the United States, with General Sullivan's Thanks and at his own request."
Lieut. William Verstille m. 3 Feb , 1780, Eliza Sheldon, who lived either at Iltfd., Conn., or Rhinebeck, N Y. Her mother, Mrs. Lydia (Riker) Sheldon, d. in N. Y. in the winter of 1806-7, prior to I4 Jan., 1807 .* Ilis family resided in
* Mrs. Eliza Sheldon Verstille had two sisters: (1) May, whom, a vea captain named O. (this, or Olin) Liscombe, and res, at Taunton, Muss, He was lost at sea, and his wid. and young children rem. to Now York. where a dan .. Lydia. m. John W. Jarvis, " Fch . 1>10. Mrs Jarvis afterwards res. ut Richmond, Va. (2) Lydia. m. C'apt. Thomas (> Gen. David and Mary, dan Pros. (lapp of Vale l'ol.) Wooster: had issue, (1) Maria, 12) Charles. (3) Is it. Mrs. Wooster d. June, 125; her son Kaard 1599, her dan. Maria m. Francois Turner, French futur at Yale, 1-30, and she d. & p. at New Haven, July or Ang., Is39; ber son Charles m. Fanny -of X. Y : had a son, Charles Francis, b. 7 June, 1516, who became an admiral is the Chilian Navy, and d. Calif. 1218, having an only child, Charies F. Wooster, grad. West Point, and d Capt. In 4th U. S. Artillery, at Fort Brown, Texas, 14 Feb., 1-56.
773
VIBBERT - VINING - VINTON.
E. W. in house of Rer. Mr. Perry. He himself traveled wherever his profession of miniature painter called him. He d. in Boston 6 (E. W. (. R., 20) Dee., 1803; Mrs. Eliza (Sheldon) Verstille d. E. W. 29 Jan., 1816, a. 51 yrs lacking 2 days, being the first victim to the typhoid fever epidemic which raged in E. W. in that year. Ch .:
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.