USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818. Vol. I > Part 47
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Ebenezer Gilbert, above referred to, on the death of his wife, married Miss P. Burr, and had three children, Burr, John, and Huldah. On the death of his second wife he married, Sept. 23rd 1766, Miss Hannah Bennet who bore him, among other children, Ezra, March 8th 1772. The latter married Miss Rebecca Minor, and became the father of a large family, including Jerusha Emily, born Nov. 5th 1809 who married the Rev. Wm R. Stocking, with whom she became a Missionary of the American Board in Persia, and Rev. Wm H. Gilbert who is now Secretary of the Connecticut Bible Society.
. It is interesting to note that the Gilberts, many years ago intermarried with a Fairfield family, no less distinguished, by the name of Gold, or Gould, as it is now generally written.
He died Oct 3d 1723 aged 60 years, leaving among other sons Onesimus, whose home was in the vicinity of Greenfield. There was born to him a son, David, whose daughter Charity Gould married Northrop Gilbert, and bore Clara, who became the wife of Daniel Mallery, named above.
GOLD
GOLD, GOULD-NATHAN GOLD came from St. Edmundsbury in South Britain. He pur. land at Milford Ct. in 1647 (Milford T. Rec. Vol. I. p. IOI.) On the 12. Dec. 1649 he " pur. George Hubbard's dwelling-house & home-lot at Milford, & all his upland & meadow, with all the appurtenances thereto belonging." On the 31. of Dec. following, he sold the above purchase to John Streame, & re-moved to Fairfield. Here he first pur. John Foster's homestead on the Frost Square, which he sold to Thomas Sherwood 15. Dec. 1653. He next pur. of Alex- ander Bryan, Richard Perry's homestead on the Newton Square 8. Dec. 1653 ; & also Edmund Harvey's homestead on the n. e. of sd Newton's lot. On the 30. Nov. 1653, he pur. Thomas New- ton's homestead, lying between Richard Perry's & the parsonage land ; & through Alexander Bryan sold it to Dr. Thomas Pell 9. Feb 16534. He next pur. II. May 1654, Rodger Ludlow's homestead & home-lot of six acres on the n. e. corner of the Ludlow Square ; & also Ludlow's pasture lot, at the present time occupied by Mrs. Abraham Benson, the widow of a Revolutionary officer. The name of his first wife is not known. His second wife was Martha wid. of Edmund Harvey of F. His name is mentioned in the Connecticut Royal Charter of 1662. He died 4. March 1694, greatly revered & beloved by the people of the town ; & honored throughout Conn. New England, & in fact throughout the country for his christian character, sterling worth, & great
usefulness. His will is dated I. March 16934, in which he gave to his " only & well beloved son Nathan " his home lot & new house, buildings & fences, bd. s. w. by the home stead of Nathaniel Burr, & on all other sides with highways ; also the opposite pasture-lot with buildings & accom- modations, & the house he built for him on this land, with 2} acres adjoining ; } of his building lot in the woods ; 34 of his long-lot, & $4 of his interest in the Perpetual Common, & other lands ; one horse, a yoke of oxen, cart, plow, & carpenter's tools, & all stock & other estate, which he had previously given him ; also his Bible, wearing-apparel, arms, ammunition & staff, & his farm in the woods, lying on both sides of the Saugatuck River. To his four ds. viz : Sarah wife of John Thompson of F., Deborah w. of George Clark of Milford, Abigail w. of Jonathan Selleck of Stamford & d Martha widow of John Selleck, he gave the remainder of his estate, to be equally divided among them. Dr. Josiah Harvey of F. m. an elder d. of Major Nathan Gold, who died childless before her father. Martha was the widow of John Selleck, another s. of Jonathan Selleck I," who died before Major Nathan Gold. Martha next m. 16 April 1695, the Rev. John
* The will of Jonathan Selleck I. of Stamford, who m. Abaigail d. of Richard Law of the same place, is dated 21. Dec. 1713, & mentions his grand-son Gold Selleck s. of his s. John; a d. of Abigail who m. Jacob Moore of New York & her s. Jacob ; gives his books to the Rev. John Davenport of Stamford ; & the remainder of his estate to his grandson Nathan Selleck. Jonathan Selleck I. survived his wife & sons.
.
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Davenport of Stamford who " was born in Boston 23. Feb. 1669, & was the s. of John Davenport Esqr. the only s. of Rev. John Davenport, the ecclesiastical founder of New Haven. He grad. at II. C. in 1687, & commenced preaching in 1690. By Martha Gold Selleck he had seven children viz: " Abigail who m. Rev. Stephen Williams D.D. of Springfield, & became the mother of an illustrious family ; John of New Canaan ; Martha who m. Rev. Thomas Goodsell of Brandford ; Sarah who first m. Capt. William Maltbie of New Haven, & second Rev. Eleazer Wheelock D.D., the founder & first president of Dartmouth College; and thus became the ancestress of a talented & noble lineage ; Theodore who d. early ; Deacon Deodate of East Haven ; & Elizabeth who m. the Rev. William Gaylord of Wilton, Conn. Mrs. Martha Davenport d. I. Dec. 1712." Her death was deemed no ordinary event, as attested by the extraordinary record of it found in Book I. p. IIO of Stamford T. Rec. as follows : "That eminently Pious & virtuous, Grave & whorthily much Lamented Matron Mrs. Martha Davenport, Late wife of the Reverend Mr. John Davenport, Pastor of ye Church of Christ in Stamford, Laid down or exchanged Her mortal or temporall Life, to putt on Immortality & to be crowned with Immortal Glory ; on ye Ist Day of Decemb. 1712." Mr. Davenport next m. Mrs. Elizabeth Maltby d. of John Morris, by whom he had two children ; Hon. Abraham & Rev. James Huntington's Hist. Stamford, p. 270.
LIEUT. Gov. NATHAN GOLD 2. s. of Major Nathan Gold I. m. Hannah d. of Col. John Tal- cott 2. of Hartford, & sister of the great lawyer, John Read of Boston. His children were Abi- gail b. 14. Feb. 1687, who m. Rev. Thomas Hawley of Ridgefield, Conn. 8. Nov. 1738 ; John b. 25. April 1688, who m. Hannah Slawson ; Hezekiah (birth not recorded) grad. at H. C. in 1719, m. Mary Ruggles, & became a minister at Stratford, where he d. 22. April 1761 ; Nathan 6. April 1690 ; Samuel 27. Dec. 1692 (F. T. Rec.) ; Sarah bapt. 23. July 1696 ; Sarah again bapt. 3. March 16991722 ; Onesimus bapt. 19. Oct. 1701 ; David bapt. 3. Dec. 1704 ; Martha bapt. 8 Feb. 17078 (at which time the father is called the Worshipful Nathan Gold), & Joseph, b. 21. Oct. 17II. Lieut Gov. Nathan Gold died the 31. Oct. 1723, when but sixty years of age. His tomb-stone, well pre- served, is in the Burial Hill Cemetery. His will is dated 13. Sept 1723. (Superior Court Rec. Hart- ford, Vol. 3} p. 545-6) in which he gives his eldest s. John a double portion of his estate ; to s. Samuel one single share, including what he had already given him ; to s. Hezekiah " 50% over & above what he had expended upon his learning ; " to son-in-law Rev. Thomas Hawley, of Ridgefield, who had m. his d. Abigail 100g. besides her mar. dower : to d. Martha (who m Samuel Sherman) 200£ ; to sons Onesimus, David & Joseph one single portion of his estate.
JOHN I. s. of Lieut : Gov : Nathan Gold m. Hannah Slawson. Their children were Hannah b. 20. Sept. 1716 ; Sarah bapt. I. June 1718 ; John bapt. 29. May 1720; Nathan bapt. 2. Feb 17234 ; Elizabeth bapt. 24. April 1726 ; Talcott bapt. I. Sept. 1728 ; Mary bapt. 6. June 1731 ; Jemima bapt. 18. June 1738. F. Par. Rec. John Gold lived in the Frost Homestead. He died the 23. Sept. 1766, in the 79th year of his age. His tomb-stone is in the Burial Hill Cemetery. He probably m. twice the second wife, perhaps, a d. of Rev. Thomas Hawley of Ridgefield.
NATHAN 3 s. of Nathan Gold 2. m. - - d. of Their children were Catee bapt. 25. Sept. 1726, (who m. Jacob Levitt 18. Oct. 1742) ; Ann 4. Feb. 17278 ; Nathan ; & Martha 24. May 1730. Martha m. David Hubbell 5. Feb. 1753. F. Par. Rec. Through this m. of David Hubbell & Martha Gold, the homestead of Roger Ludlow & Major Nathan Gold, passed into the Hubbell family.
SAMUEL s. of Nathan Gold 2. m. Esther d. of - Bradley. Their children were Hester bapt. 8. Nov. 1719 ; Abigail 24. May 1724; Abel 17. Sept. 1727; Abraham 18. Oct. 1730 ; Abraham again 14. May 1732. F. Par. Rec. Samuel Gold pr. the present Gould Homestead at F. now occupied, (1888.) by the three d's of the late Hon. John Gould. Samuel Gould died II. Oct. 1769.
ONESIMUS s. of Nathan Gold 2 m. Eunice d. of & settled at Greenfield. Their children were Rebecca bapt. 4. Oct. 1724, at F .; Nathan 17 Sept. 1726; David 22. Oct 1728 ; Luther
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Io. Oct. 1631 ; Eunice, Aug 1733 ; Stephen, May 1736 ; Sarah, 21. Aug. 1737 ; Aaron, 25. Jan 1740. G. H. Par. Rec.
JOSEPH s. of Nathan Gold 2. m. Abigail d. of - Their children were Hannah bapt. 22. June 1740 ; John 21. Aug. 1755. F. Par. Rec.
The Golds did not add the u. to their name until about 1806 ; when Jason Gold introduced it.
THE GODFREE OR GODFREY FAMILY
According to a tradition in the Godfrey family of Green's Farms, the original settlers of that branch of the family in New England were from Normandy ; that from their native country they first went to Greenwich England, & from there to the United States. Christopher Godfree first purchased land at Compo in 1686, one year after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which leads to the conclusion that perhaps he was one of the French or Norman Refugees.
The late Hon. Jonathan Godfrey, his sister Mrs. Elsey Parker, & Joseph & Abraham Godfrey, sons of the late Edward Godfrey of Ridgefield, Ct. all give the same tradition. They have also often spoken about their connection with the Taunton & Cape Cod branches of the Godfrey family, & said that they early called each other cousins. As yet no record has been found making the connecting link between these families. Once only is the name of Richard Godfrey found in the Green's Farm's Parish Records, where it is recorded by the Rev. Dr. Ripley, that " Capt. Richard Godfrey died of appoplexy 19. Dec. 1809 in the 61st year of his age." As the name of Richard is not among the christian names of the Green's Farm's Godfreys, the conclude is that Capt. Richard Godfrey was one of the Taunton branch, & was visiting his cousins at Green's Farms when he died.
A very interesting account of the Taunton Godfreys, is to be found in Contributions Biograph- ical, Genealogical & Historical, by E. W. Pierce. He traces a highly honorable descent from Richard Godfrey, who settled in Taunton as early, if not before 1652. Many of this family dis- tinguished themselves in the French & Indian Wars & in the Revolution. General George God- frey of Taunton "retained the command of the Bristol Co. Brigade until 1781, for a term of about five years." There were also several distinguished physicians in the family. They all appear to have been men of influence & spirit.
The name of Godfrey is an historical one. The Latin motto " Deus et Libertas," which we find under one of the Godfrey coat of arms, is one which indicates that the family fought the battles of God & freedom. In Saxon the name signifies at peace with God, in which alone is true freedom. The name is early spelled in the F. T. R. Godfree.
The first name of this family at Green's Farms or Compo, was that of Christopher Godfree. His name appears in Letter A. of F. T. D., where it is recorded, that Christopher Godfree on the 29. Dec 1686 purchased Seargt. Richard Hubbells' dividends of Compo lands. He also after- wards improved town lands, which were eventually granted him. On the 31. July 1695 he purchased of James Newton, about twenty-five acres of land at Green's Farms, in the woods at Benjamins' hill, which commanded a magnificent view of the surrounding country, Long Island Sound & the Norwalk Islands, "being the whole of a pasture & building lot laid out to Robert Beacham dec."
The next we find of his family is in the Parish Record of Christ's Church, Fairfield, where it is recorded by the Rev. Joseph Webb, that on the 17. July 1697 Anne Godfrey (wife of Christo- pher Godfrey), renewed her Covenant with the Church.
On the 17. July 1698 Christopher & Samuel, sons of Christopher Godfrey, & Elizabeth, Mary & Abigail, daughters of Christopher Godfrey, were baptized.
John son of Christopher Godfrey I. was baptz. 23, April 1699.
Isaac, son of the above Christopher, was baptz. 14. Feb 1703. - all by the Rev. Joseph Webb.
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These same names appear in the settlement of the estate of Christopher Godfrey, who died in the year 1715. Having died intestate, his widow Anne, which, on the town records is spelled Ann, was appointed by the Court to administer with his son Samuel on his estate, "in the recogni- zance of one hundred pounds cash for the faithful discharge of their duty." In the final settlement of the estate 5. June 17IS, it amounted to £273. 2s. Id.
CHRISTOPHER 2. s. of Christopher Godfrey I. m. II Feb. 1711, Margery d. of John Sturges 2, s. of John Sturges I. of F. Their children were David b. 20. Feb. 1713 ; Stephen 8. Sept. 1715 ; Nathan 25. Sept. 1719 ; Eleazer 15. March 1721 ; Isaac 25. Dec. 1724 ; Ebenezer 27. June 1727.
CHRISTOPHER GODFREY d. 20. Aug. 1758. Margery Godfrey d. 20 Aug. 1759. F. T. Rec. of Births', Deaths' & Marriages'.
DEACON DAVID I., s. of Christopher Godfrey 2. m. 24. June 1738, Mary d. of Daniel Silli- man. Their children were : Daniel b. 20. March 1739 ; Ann 16. May 1740 ; David I. Sept 1743 ; Silliman I. May 1750, & was a Lieut. in the Revolution. Mary 24. Feb. 1752 ; Jonathan I. 23, Dec. 1754; Sarah 12. Feb. 1757.
David Godfrey I. was one of the Deacons of the Green's Farms' church.
ELEAZER I. s of Christopher Godfrey 2. m. Rachel d. of - Bennet 21. Jan. 1749. Their children were : Isaac bapt. 29. Nov. 1749 ; & m. 8. Feb. 1798, Abigail Couch of Northfield, Ct. Moses b. 10. June 1750 ; Eleazer 31. Oct 1756.
STEPHEN s. of Christopher Godfrey 2. m. Elizabeth d. of - Lewis, II. June 1739. Their children were : Sarah b. 17, May 1741, & m. 7. Feb. 1759, John Hurlburt of Westport, Ct. Nathan 30. April 1743 ; Stephen 4. Oct. 1745 ; Betty 16. Feb. 1747, & m. 3. March 1763 Eben Lewis.
LIEUT. NATHAN I. s. of Christopher 2. & Margery Sturgis Godfrey m. Martha d. of - - Couch II. June 1747. Their children were : Abraham b. 13. March 1748 ; Martha 24. May 1752; & m. John Burr 18. Oct. 1772. Nathan 19. Aug. 1754; Benjamin b -, & d. in the army at Albany, N. Y. in 1776. Molly bapt. 20. Aug. 1758 ; & m. Seymour Lockwood of Norwalk 14. Sept. 1795 ; who was the grand-father of the late Le Grand Lockwood of Norwalk, Ct.
Martha wife of Lieut. Nathan Godfrey d. 31 May 1761.
2nd wife of Lieut. Nathan Godfrey, whom he m. 9. Nov. 1764, was Sarah * d. of Jonathan Andrews, & wid. of Jonathan Nash 2. Their children were : Rhoda bapt. 18. Aug. 1765 ; m. -- - Morris & moved to Ohio. Jonathan 2. bapt. - 1766. Esther 17. Sept. 1769 ; Ebenezer 17. March 1772 ; Andrews 14. April 1776.
LIEUT. NATHAN GODFREY was commissioned a Lieutenant of Capt. Whiting's company, in the first attack made on Ticonderoga in 1756. He was one of the most influential & wealthy men of Green's Farms. His homestead, which stood near the summit of Clapboard-hill was burned by the British in 1779-See Centennial Commemoration of the Burning of Fairfield in 1879.
JONATHAN 2. s. of Lieut. Nathan Godfrey m. Esther d. of - Whitehead 30. Nov. 1788. Their children were : Nathan bapt. I. Oct. 1789, m. Catharine Brown of Norwalk, Ct., Abel 27. Nov. 179I. d. 18II unmarried ; Ebenezer 7. July 1793, & d. 30. Sept. 1807 ; Elsey b. 30. Oct. 1796. m. Samuel Parker, & d. 27. July 1882 ; Jonathan 3. b. 2. June 1798, d. 3. Aug. 1882 ; Seth bapt. 24. March 1802. m. Eliza Cox of New York.
Esther wife of Jonathan Godfrey 2. d. 24 March 1803. 2. wife of Jonathan Godfrey 2. was Huldah Parsons, whom he m. 26. Oct. 1803. Their children were: Esther, Eliza, Mary, Ebenezer, Simon, Ann, & Frederick.
* Sarah the wife of Lieut. Nathan Godfrey had the following children by her first husband Jonathan Nash 2. Sarah b. 17. Jan. 1755 ; m. Thomas Couch of Reading, Ct. Elizabeth 3. Oct. 1756; d. I. March 1775 ; Eleanor 14. Jan. 1758 ; m. Simon Couch of Reading, Ct. a brother of the above Thomas C.
Sarah Nash Godfrey was also the great grand-mother of Gen. D. N. Couch of Norwalk, Ct.
Jonathan Nash 2. was the grand-father of the late, distinguished Dr. Nash of Bridgeport, Ct.
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JONATHAN 3. s. of Jonathan Godfrey 2. & grandson of Lieut. Nathan Godfrey, b. 2. June 1798, m. Elizabeth d. of Aaron & Elizabeth Hubbell of Southport, Ct. 19. Jan. 1823. Their children were, Elizabeth, Harriet, both of whom d. young. Jonathan 4 (a clergyman, in the Episcopal church); Elizabeth Hubbell, (the author of the History of Fairfield), who m. Adrian V. S. Schenck, s. of the late Dr. Ferdinand S Schenck of New Jersey ; Samuel H. who m. Harriet A. Godfrey, d. of Edward Godfrey Esqr. of Ridgefield, Ct., and Mary Catherine, who m. Calvin G. Child of Norwich, Ct.
The above Jonathan Godfrey 3. was a man of influence both in church & state. He d. 3. Aug. 1882, esteemed & beloved by all who knew him, for his honorable name & many charities.
GRAY
JOHN GRAY, who first settled at Lynn, Mass. & m. before May 1639 Elizabeth d. of William Frost I., & widow of John Watson of Boston, sold his home-lot at Lynn in Aug. of the same year, & probably accompanied his father-in-law to Uncoway, before the 28. of Sept. following. He was granted 2} acres on the s. w. of the Frost Square, which he sold a few years after to Alexander Bryan, who re-sold it to Henry Rowland I. 18. March 1649. He probably moved to Long Island, as his name is mentioned there, in Thompson's Hist. of L. I. He no doubt had other children, besides the two mentioned without christian names, in William Frost's will : but of him I find no more.
HENRY GRAY 2., found in the F. Par. Rec., was probably a son of John I. He m. - d. of Their children were : Isaac, Henry, William & David, all bapt. 30. April 1699 ; also Deborah & Mary bapt. 25. June 1704; Samuel & Martha bapt. 6. March 1714-15. F. Par. Rec.
HENRY GRAY I, a brother of the above John I. settled, at Boston, where he had a house-lot granted 12. Feb. 1639. In an instrument executed 7. Sept. 1639, he is described as "now of Boston, hitherto citizen & merchant of London." [Lechford's manuscript Journal. ] Soon after Sept. 1639, he m. Lydia d. of William Frost I., & joined his father-in-law at F. in 1640, lived with him, & received the use of his homestead after his death, which was entailed to his son Jacob Gray. He appears to have been rather wild for a time, but soon settled down, & became a useful member of society. He, with John Green, became security for Thomas Newton, in his troubles at F. in 1648 ; & was fined 20$ in 1650, for speaking his mind to the Court. He afterwards became a deputy to the Gen. Ct. in 1656 & 57. from F. He was one of the Bankside planters & died in 1658. He probably had other children besides Jacob, which I do not find.
JACOB s. of Henry Gray I., lived for a while in his grand-father Frost's homestead. In 1662, there is a record of a pledge, entered in A. of F. T. D., which he gave to his uncle Daniel Frost & Cornelius Hull, that he would not sell his grand-father Frost's homestead. He did sell this place to the Rev. Samuel Wakeman a few years after ; & on 21. Dec. 1683 pur. of said Wakeman I3 acres on the s. w. end of the home-lot that was formerly Ephraim Wheeler's, bounded s. e. by John Thompson's, s. w. & n. w. highways, & s. e. by said Wakeman's land. On the 21. Aug 1685, he sold a rood & 3} rods in breadth of this lot to Peter Bulkley. In Feb. 1707-8 he is found at Greenfield, or in the Mile of Common, where he lived on two acres next adjoin- ing to his s. Jacob's homestead. He m. Sarah - d. of Their children were Mehitable; Rebecca b. I. Jan. 1670 ; Sarah 9. Oct. 1677 ; & Jacob. He died early in I712 & his s. Jacob & widow Sarah administered upon his estate, which was distributed 3. March of that year. He had already given to his d. Mehitable as her marriage portion, II acres of the front of his long-lot 17. April 1690. The distribution of his estate is made by his widow Sarah & his s. Jacob Feb. 1707-8. His d. Sarah m. Samuel Umberfield of New Haven, & had children Sarah b. 2. April 1695 ; Ann 28. April 1700 ; John 15. March 1702; Thomas 8. Feb. 1705 ; Eliza 27. Oct. 1708 ; Esther 12. Sept 1710; Mary 28. Aug. 1714 ; David 16. Aug. 1716. Savage's Gen. Dic.
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JACOB 2. s. of Jacob Gray I. entered into covenant with the G. H. P. 5. June 1712. He m. Hannah - d. of -- Their children were : + Nathaniel, Sarah, John, James, Jacob, Rebecca & Eunice, all bapt. by the Rev. John Goodsell 12. June 1726; & Mary bapt. March 1728-9. G. H. Par. Rec.
A branch of the Gray family settled at Westport, where the name is still to be found. In the Parish Records, the name is sometimes spelled Grey. It is highly probable that the first- John & Henry Gray were the sons of John Gray of London, mentioned in George Ludlow's will. The T. & Par. Rec's. of F. & G. H., furnish the earliest records of this family.
GREEN
JOHN GREEN, who was made a freeman 9. Oct. 1662, was an early settler at F. where he was granted a home-lot from the town, of three acres on the n. w. of the Frost Square, lying between Daniel Frost's & Henry Whelpley's. He with Henry Gray gave 200g. security in 1648 for Thomas Newton, in an action between said Newton & Jonas Wood. He ran a grist mill for the town, a little above Thomas Sherwood's on Mill River. He sold his homestead at F. in 1648 to Simon Hoyt, & removed to Bankside, where he took up a home-lot of ten acres, lying west of Francis Andrews. He also owned seven acres between Sherwood's Island & the Little Islands, & other parcels of land, which were given the name of Greens farms, which name in the course of time superseded that of Bankside. He was a man of remarkable energy & enterprise ; one of those sterling characters, specially adapted to a pioneer life. He was a large land holder in the town, sharing in all the land dividends. His long-lot lay east of Francis Andrews, which formed the west boundary of the town, near the Saugatuck river. His testimony before witnesses as to the early settlers of F. is of great value. In a deed dated 24. June 1699, he gave his negro Harry his free- dom after his decease ; provided said Harry served five years to any master of his own choosing for 20%, which 20g. was to be added to his estate, as part pay for his sons' education & for board to his father-in-law Hobbey. One half of this 20g. was to be paid, when half of the five years had expired, & the other half at the expiration of the five years, & then " ye said negro which is now my negro shall be a free negro, & his own man for himself." He gave said Harry a horse & the violin " he calleth his."
He died intestate about 1703, leaving widow Hannah ; but the T. Rec. are silent as to his family. His son John appears to have inherited the most of his estate at F.
JOHN 2. s. of John Green I. m. - - d. of - Their children were John & Hannah bapt. at F., 16 Sept. 1705. F. Par. Rec. He probably removed to Long Island, as I find no more of him, or of his father's descendants.
GRUMMAN
JOHN GRUMMAN was made a freeman of F. in 1664. He m. Sarah d. of Michael Try. In his will dated 2. June 1685, he mentions the following children John ; Samuel ; Thomas ; Michael ; & Sarah who m. Samuel Jennings ; & was granted a home-lot n w of John Bank's first home-lot near Hyde's Pond. & Abigail b. in 1685. He left 4, { to Thomas Oliver of F.
John 2. s. of John Grumman I. m. Esther d. of Richard Lyon. Their children were Thomas & Samuel bapt. 16. Sept 1694; Esther, Silenne, Thankful & John bapt. 5, July 1713 ; Eliza- beth 4. Aug. 1717. F. T. & Par. Rec.
HALL
FRANCIS HALL was in the list of those who subscribed to the fundamental agreement 4. June 1639, at the gathering of the church at New Haven. He is represented to have been a son of Gilbert Hall of Kent, England, & was himself of Milford, Surry Co. He came to America with his brother William who settled at Guilford. In 1641 the Gen. Ct of New Haven ordered, "that
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he should have liberty to dispose of the children which he brought out with him, until the Court had light to dispose otherwise of them, provided that they were well looked unto & well used." He took the oath of fidelity before Governor Eaton on the I. July 1644. In 1647, having been warned with Thomas Pell, John Thompson & others to appear at Court, which he failed to do, "though the Court sat a good space of time," orders were given that he with the others should be warned to the next court for neglect. The children referred to above, were, John & Thomas Whitehead, who had been sent out from England under the care of Francis Hall, to their Uncle Thomas Allcote of Roxbury " in the Bay." The Uncle died before their arrival, & Hall excused himself before the Court for any blame attached to him, he having been at the expense of their voyage &c., & that upon making an effort he failed to find their Uncle, & had submitted the case to the Court, which had placed Thomas Whitehead with Mathias Hitchcock, but he had kept John himself " until they might have further light to dispose of them." The Court " having pity upon them, seeing they were so small," & being desirous that they should have no wrong done them debated long upon the subject. Mathias Hitchcock, having put Thomas Whitehead out to David Atwater, which he had no right to do, it was decided that the boy, at his own request, should, remain with Mr. Atwater, until he should hear from his Uncle. Mr Atwater & the Court agreed that he should have three pounds a year, meat, drink & clothes & finally set him free. N. H. Col. Rec. Savage says he was at Stratford after 1648. He was admitted a freeman of the Connecticut Colony 21. May 1657, but was at Fairfield earlier, where he owned a farm, called Hall's farm lying s. e. of the Newton Square. He owned land at Greenlea, & shared in the land dividends of the town. His first wife Elizabeth accompanied him from England, & died 6. July 1665, leaving sons Francis (who died 5. March 1690) & Samuel ; & dau's. Mary ; Eliza ; Rebecca (who died 5. March 1690) ; & Hannah who m. Joseph Blackman of Stratford. He next m. Dorothy d. of Rev. Henry Smith of Weathersfield, & wid. of John Blackman of Stratford 3. Oct. 1665, who, Savage says, bore off a prize against the counter claim of John Thomas, whom she had previously encouraged. His last days were greatly embittered by the quarrel of his sons, over lands he had deeded his older son at Pequonnock, at which time Samuel acted as attorney for his father. He died at Stratford, where he appears to have resided after his last marriage. His will is dated 3. Oct. 1690, in which month he died. His wid. m. Mark St. John of Norwalk, who died 1693 ; & she m. for her fourth husband, Deacon Isaac Moore of Farmington. (Savage Gen. Dic.)
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