USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Vol. I > Part 34
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
DR. JOHN OLMSTED, nephew of James, came to New England in 1632, with his uncle ; one of the proprietors "by courtesie of the town," in 1639, when his - home-lot was on the west side of the "road from.George Steel's to the Great
1 Savage says " by ano. acct. 12 Dec."
254
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Swamp ; " he removed from Hartford to Saybrook, and from there, about 1660, to Norwich. He served in King Philip's War as surgeon, and was the first physician at Norwich ; he m. Elizabeth, dau. of Matthew Marvin, and widow of Thomas Gregory, of Norwalk ; d. Aug. 2, 1686, s. p. His widow d. in 1689.
CAPT. RICHARD OLMSTED, came with his uncle James in the "Lion ;" one of the original proprietors of Hartford ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the west side of Main St., about where the Centre Ch. now stands, and the buildings north of it. This lot was taken by the town, Jan. 11, 1640-1, for the burying place, and Olmsted received instead an acre and a half of ground "lying at the north meadow gate," and part of the lot of John Skinner, which adjoined his on the west, and the town agreed to remove his house on to Skinner's lot, Skinner having another portion given him. He served in the Pequot War, and was in the Sasco fight ; constable, 1647 ; fence-viewer, 1650. One of the signers of the agreement for planting Norwalk, June 19, 1650 ; he removed in 1651, and was the leading man there ; was authorized "to ex- ercise the soldiers," May, 1653 ; Lieut., 1659 ; muster-master for Fairfield Co., 1673 ; deputy, May, 1653, and many times after, until May, 1671 ; was one of the petitioners, in 1672, for a new plantation "neare the back side of Norwalk." Aged about 76, Sept., 1683, according to his testimony in the Trumbull Papers, vol. xxii. p. 142. He d. about 1684 ; will signed Sept. 5.
WILLIAM PANTRY (PEYNTRE), Cambridge, 1634; came to New England in the same ship with Sam'l Greenhill, Timo. Stanley, Simon Willard, etc. ; a lot was granted to him in Newtown, Aug. 4, 1634 ; freed from training, Nov. 7, 1634 ; freeman, Mass., March 4, 1635 ; removed next year to Hartford, where he was one of the wealthiest of the original proprietors. His home-lot in 1639 was on the street now Front St., James Olmsted's lot being on the south, and Thomas Scott's on the north ; townsman, 1641, 1645 ; constable, 1649 ; hed. Nov., 1649 ; inv., Nov. 29, £1,011. 10. (debts, £160). William's wife, Margaret, survived him, and in her will, dated Sept. 12, 1651, she men- tions dau. Mary Bryan, sister Brunson, and " two children of Richard Brun- son, that he had by my sister, viz., John and Abigail Brunson ;" son John Pantry. - Ch. : i. Mary, m. before Nov. 29, 1649, Richard Bryan, of Mil- ford. ii. John ; freeman, 1650 ; m. Hannah, dau. of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, of New Haven ; d. in 1653; will dated Sept. 1; inv. Nov. 25, £1,242. 1. His widow m. (2) June 23, 1654, Thomas Welles, son of Gov. Welles ; d. Aug. 9, 1683, æ. 50. By her first marriage to John Pantry she had one son, John, bapt. March 17, 1649-50; and two daughters, Hannah, d. unm., and Mary, m. Nathaniel Mix. John m. Abigail, dau. of Thomas Mix, of New Haven ; he was one of the richest men in Hartford, left to his children and grandchildren a large estate, including a pasture of 25 acres, on the east side of Front St. He d. April 4, 1736, æ. 86, very feeble, his estate having been placed under the care of a conservator. His only son, John, d. in 1713, and was the last of the name, but the blood was transmitted through female lines in the Goodman, Goodwin, Jones, and Whitman families, and descendants bore the name, John Pantry Goodwin, John Pantry Jones, John Pantry Whitman, into the present century.
WILLIAM PARKER, an original proprietor of Hartford, 1636; his home-lot in 1639 was on the west side of the "road from Seth Grant's to Centinel Hill," now Trumbull St. He removed to Saybrook, probably within ten years ; was deputy, 1672 ; his wife, Margery, d. Dec. 6, 1680. He d. Dec. 21, 1686. DEACON PAUL PECK, b. about 1622 (depos. on will of Widow Barding). A pro- prietor "by courtesie of the town " in 1639 ; his home-lot was on " the road from George Steel's to the Great Swamp." He was surveyor of highways, 1658, 1665; townsman, 1661, 1668 ; chimney-viewer, 1667; deacon of the
255
THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS.
First Ch., April, 1691. He d. Dec. 23, 1695, a. 87; inv. £536. 5. ; named wife Martha in his will. Ch. : i. Paul, b. 1639 ; m. Elizabeth, dau. of John Baysey ; lived in the West Division ; d. 1725. ii. Martha, b. 1641 ; m. June 8, 1665, John Cornwell, of Middletown ; d. March 1, 1708-9. iii. Elizabeth, b. 1643 ; m. - Howe, of Wallingford. iv. John, b. Dec. 22, 1645 ; Hartford, West Division ; m. and had children. v. Samuel, b. 1647 ; lived in the West Division ; m. Elizabeth -; d. Jan. 10, 1696. vi. Joseph, bapt. Dec. 22, 1650 ; m. Ruth -; settled in Windsor, where he d. June 26, 1698. vii. Sarah, b. 1653 ; m. Thomas Clark, of Hartford. viii. Hannah, b. 1656 ; m. May 12, 1680, John Shepherd, of Hartford. ix. Mary, h. 1662 ; m. John Andrews, of Hartford; d. 1752. x. Another dau., m. Joseph Benton, of Hartford. xi. Another dau., m. - Beach, of Wallingford.
JOHN PIERCE was a landholder in 1639 "by courtesie of the town." His home-lot was on the east side of the road to the Cow Pasture, but it was given to Robert Wade, before Feb. 1639-40. He evidently did not remain long in Hartford, but where he settled is unknown. It is thought that he may have served in the Pequot War, as he owned a lot in the Soldier's Field, which he sold to Richard Goodman. Dec. 1642, " It was agreed by the town that William Clarke shall hafe John Pearces allotment."
WILLIAM PHILLIPS, Hartford, 1639, one of the inhabitants to whom land was granted " by courtesie of the town." He served in the Pequot War ; towns- man, 1650; surveyor of highways, 1653; chimney-viewer, 1643. He d. in 1655 ; inv. Dec. 4, 1655, £314. 4. 6. His widow and executrix, Ann Phil- lips, d. at Hadley, 1669 ; inv. Nov. 13. She left a legacy to her brother, which was receipted by him, in 1671, as "Samuel Young, of Staplehurst, Co. Kent, husbandman." She also left legacies to her brother, John Rogers, in England, to Mr. John Hooker, living in Old England, £10, if he come to live in New England, to Mr. Samuel Hooker, £10, and to his sister, wife of Rev. John Wilson, of Medfield (all children of Rev. Thos. Hooker), £10.
THOMAS PORTER was not one of the original proprietors of Hartford, but a lot was granted to him conditionally, in Jan. 1639-40, and his name appears on W. S. Porter's map of Hartford, 1640, when his lot was on what is now Albany Ave. He m. Nov. 20, 1644, Sarah, dau. of Stephen Hart ; removed to Farmington, where he and his wife joined the church, July 19, 1653 ; d. 1697.
STEPHEN POST, Cambridge, 1634 ; removed, 1636, to Hartford, where he was an original proprietor ; his home-lot in the distribution of 1639 was on the south side of "the road from George Steel's to the South Meadow ;" he sold this lot to Thomas Gridley, ab. 1649, and removed to Saybrook ; he was constable, 1642 ; d. in Saybrook, Aug. 16, 1659; inv. £442. 3. 6.
JOHN PRATT, an original proprietor of Hartford ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the west side of Main St., and he purchased a lot belonging to Gov. Haynes, adjoining his own, so that his possessions extended from what is now the north corner of Asylum St. to the Melodeon building, and Pratt St. received its name because it was opened through land belonging to his descendants ; townsman, 1654. He d. 1655 ; will, dated Oct. 20, 1654, names wife Eliza- beth, and sons John and Daniel ; inv. July 15, 1655, £515. 2. 6. - Ch. : i. John, m. Hannah, dau. of James Boosy, of Wethersfield ; freeman, 1657 ; constable, 1670 ; he had a second wife, Hepzibah, who m. (2) John Sadd, of Hartford. His will is dated April 9, 1687 ; d. Nov. 23, 1687 ; names wife, . sons Joseph and Jonathan, and 5 dau'rs. ii. Daniel, Hartford ; freeman, 1656-7 ; m. and had 8 children ; will, dated April 19, 1690, names 7 dau'rs and son Daniel. He was buried April 24, 1691.
WILLIAM PRATT, an original proprietor and settler, supposed to have been brother of John ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the east side of the road to the Cow
256
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Pasture. Served in the Pequot War ; in 1645 sold his land to Matthew Beekwith, and removed to Saybrook ; he was deputy from there 1666-1676; Lieut. in 1661. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of John Clark, of Saybrook.
JOHN PURCHAS (PURKAS), Hartford, 1639, one of the inhabitants to whom the land was granted " by courtesie of the town ; " his home-lot was on the west side of the road to the Cow Pasture, near the Pound. He probably served in the Pequot War, as he owned land in the Soldier's Field, in 1639. He d. in Oct. 1645; will dated Oct. 15 ; inv. £30. 15. His widow, Jane, or Joan, m. (2) Oct. 29, 1646, Nicholas Palmer, of Windsor ; d. Apr. 16, 1683. - Ch. : i. Mary, m. Gerard Speck, or Spicke (q. v.), before Nov. 26, 1663. ii. Elizabeth, m. before Dec. 17, 1663, Richard Case (q. v.), who calls him- self of Windsor, Dec. 17, 1663, afterward of East Hartford.
NATHANIEL RICHARDS came in the "Lion," Sept. 16, 1632 ; freeman, Mass., Nov. 6, 1632 ; one of the proprietors at Cambridge, 1633 ; removed to Hart- ford, 1636 ; an original proprietor ; his home-lot in 1639 was near the north bank of the Little River, about where the west part of Pearl St. now is. He was constable, 1642, 1650; townsman, 1645 ; one of the signers of the agreement for planting Norwalk, June 19, 1650, and removed there soon after ; sold his dwelling-house and land in Hartford, to William Phillips, May 29, 1651. He was deputy from Norwalk, Oct., 1658; seleetman, 1670 ; third in the list of estates, in 1673; £268. He d. Jan. 22, 1681-2.1 Savage says (vol. iii. p. 584) that he left all his estate to the husbands of four dau'rs of his wife, Rosamond, by her former husband, Henry Lindall. " Rozimon Richards, the Rellique of Nathaniel Richards, deceased Nov. 25, 1683." 2
THOMAS RICHARDS, Hartford, 1639, a proprietor " by the town's courtesie ; " his lot in 1639 was west of the present Lafayette St. He d. before Feb. 1639- 40 ; when the distribution was made to "ye widow Richards, ye late wife of Thomas Richards, deceased." She d. in 1671 ; inv. June 12. - Ch. : i. John, b. 1631; m. Lydia, dau. of George Stocking; freeman, 1669 ; chimney- looker, 1657 ; living in 1712. ii. Mary, m. Peck, of Milford ; - Savage says that Joseph Peck, of Milford, m. Mary, dau. of a widow Richards, in 1669. iii. Thomas was one of a company from Conn., who purchased, July 11, 1667, a tract on the Passaic River, in New Jersey, including the present site of Newark. He was a deacon in the church, and a prominent citizen ; will dated Oct. 2, 1708, proved Apr. 20, 1715 ; names wife, Hannah ; leaves most of his property to his nephew John, son of his brother John. iv. Obadiah, an early settler of Farmington ; freeman, May, 1669 ; signed the agreement for planting Mattatuck, 1674, and joined the settlement early ; m. (1) Hannah, dau. of John Andrews, of Farmington ; (2) Esther ; he d. Nov. 11, 1702. v. Samuel; freeman, May, 1658; settled in New Haven as a cordwainer, where he d. 1662, unm.
RICHARD RISLEY (WRISLEY), an original proprietor of Hartford ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the west side of the road from George Steel's to the Great Swamp. He afterward went to Hockanum, and settled near Willow Brook. He d. about 1648 ; inv. £135. 5. 10. His widow m. William Hills, who agreed to bring up the children to read and write, and to give them their sev- eral portions .- Ch .: i. Sarah, b. about 1641. ii. Samuel, bapt. Nov. 1, 1646 ; freeman, May 20, 1668; d. July 8, 1670, æ. 23 yrs. 8 mos. iii. Richard, bapt. Aug. 21, 1648 ; freeman, 1669; lived in Hockanum, married and had seven children, and through them had numerous descendants in East Hartford.
THOMAS ROOT, 3 Salem, 1637, was an original proprietor at Hartford, in 1639, when his home-lot was on the east side of the road to the Cow Pasture (North
1 Norwalk Records, ii. fol. 74.
2 Ibid.
8 Believed to be the son of John Root and Ann Russell, his wife, of Badby, Co. North- ampton ; b. Jan. 16, 1605. Root Genealogy, 93-107.
257
THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS.
Main St.). He was a weaver ; served in the Pequot War ; removed, May, 1654, to Northampton, where he was one of the founders of the church ; he d. there, July 17, 1694, at a great age.
WILLIAM RUSCOE (RESKOE, RESCUE), Cambridge, came in the " Increase," April, 1635, aged 51, with wife Rebecca, aged 40, ch. Sarah (9), Marie (7), Sam- uel (6), and William (1), bringing a certificate from the parish minister of Billerica, Co. Essex ; his wife died early, perhaps on the voyage, and he m. (2) in Feb. or March, 1635-6, Hester Musse or Must, widow, of Cambridge. He was appointed to "make a pound " at Newtown, April 23, 1636. An original proprietor at Hartford ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the west side of the road from Seth Grant's to Centinel Hill. Chosen surveyor of highways, 1641 ; employed by the General Court to keep the house of correction at a salary of £10 per year, Feb., 1649-50. May 1, 1667, by a writing he " past over " to Nathaniel Ruscoe, and his son, all his lands in Hartford that were undisposed of. Before that date, March 27, 1665, Will. Ruscoe's home-lot is mentioned on the Norwalk records, so he prob. removed there. - Ch. : i. Na- thaniel (q. v.). ii. Sarah, b. ab. 1626 ; m. (1) Dec. 10, 1646, Henry Cole, who removed to Middletown ; (2) Nov. 1679, - - Bull, of Saybrook ; d. Jan., 1688. iii. Mary, b. ab. 1628 ; m. Aug. 19, 1647, Hugh Wells, of Wethersfield. iv. Samuel, b. ab. 1629; d. young. v. William, b. 1634. vi. John ; m. Jan. 2, 1650-51, Rebecca, sister of Nathaniel Beebe, of Ston- ington ; signed the agreement for planting Norwalk, June 19, 1650 ; freeman there, 1669 ; had an estate of £250 in 1687. vii. Samuel, b. in H. March 12, 1648-9.
NATHANIEL RUSCOE, an original proprietor in 1639-40 ; his home-lot was appar- ently the lot he bought of Josua Ginnings, on the highway, now Trumbull St. ; m. Nov. 11, 1645, Johanna Corlet ; signed the agreement for planting Norwalk, June 19, 1650, but no lot there was assigned to him, and he did not go ; chosen chimney-viewer in H. 1652; surveyor of highways, 1661; townsman, 1665, 1669 ; d. at HIaddam, 1673 (while away from home) ; inv. Aug. 18, £304; he names his wife Joanna, and son Nathaniel, kinswoman, Mary Browne, and gives to Benjamin or Benoni Newton, a young heifer and a sucking pig. - Ch. : i. Nathaniel, of Southampton, L. I., in 1698.
JOHN SABLE (SAVELL, SABLES), a proprietor "by courtesie of the town ;" his home- lot in 1639 was west of what is now Lafayette St. The use of half his home-lot, and planting lot, was granted to Thomas Bliss, Dec., 1642. He was made free- man May, 1658, and prob. before that date had settled in some other place. THOMAS SCOTT, embarked about " the last of April," 1634, in the " Elizabeth," of (and at) Ipswich, a. 40, with wife Elizabeth (40), ch., Elizabeth (a. 9), Abigail (a. 7), Thomas (a. 6) ; with him were Thomas Kilbourne, Robert Day, etc. He was admitted freeman, Mass., March 4, 1634-5. Removed to Hartford with the first settlers, and was an original proprietor ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the road from the Meeting House to the Landing, now State St., and also extended some distance on Front St. Hinman says that in 1635-6 he kept a bridge over brick-hill brook, at five shillings per annum. He was one of those appointed by the General Court, Jan. 16, 1639, "to view those parts by ' Vnxis Sepus' (Farmington), which may be suitable for a plan- tation." He d. Nov. 6, 1643, by accident, "John Ewe by misadventure was the cause," and he was sentenced to pay £10 to the widow, and £5 to the county. Inv. £174. 12. 4. His widow, Ann, m. Nov. 7, 1644, Thomas Ford, of Windsor, and d. at Northampton, May 5, 1675. - Ch .: i. Elizabeth, b. about 1625 ; m. Feb. 6, 1648, Dea. John Loomis, of Windsor ; d. May 7, 1696. ii. Abigail, b. about 1627. iii. Thomas, b. about 1628; settled at Stamford ; m. at Ipswich, Mass., Margaret, dau. of William Hubbard ; d. 1657. iv. Mary, m. Nov. 7, 1644, Robert Porter, of Farmington. v. Sarah, m. Dec. 15, 1645, John Stanley (q. v.), of Farmington ; d. June 26, 1661.
VOL. I .- 17.
258
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
THOMAS SELDEN, Hartford, 1639, an original proprietor ; his home-lot was near the present junction of Washington and Lafayette Sts. ; freeman, April, 1640; constable, 1650 ; he d. in 1655 ; will dated Aug. 14; inv. Dec. 19, £292. 3. 4. He names in his will his wife, Hester, his " brother, Mr. John Wakeman," and his " cousin Thomas Hosmer." His wife, who was probably Hester Wake- man, m. (2) Andrew Warner, who went from Hartford to Hadley, where she d. in 1693. - Ch. : i. Thomas, bapt. in Hartford, Aug. 30, 1645 ; m. Felix, dau. of Capt. William Lewis, of Farmington ; removed to Hadley ; d. there, Nov. 24, 1734. ii. John, bapt. March 3, 1649-50; d. May, 1650. iii. Mary, bapt. March 26, 1648-9. iv. Esther, bapt. March 3, 1649-50 ; d. May, 1651. v. Joseph, bapt. Nov. 2, 1651; he m. Feb. 11, 1677, Rebecca, dau. of Dea- con Edward Church, of Hatfield ; settled in Hadley about 1678 ; moved from there to Deerfield, in 1684, and prior to 1700 he removed to Lyme, Ct., where he d. July 14, 1724.
RICHARD SEYMOUR, Hartford, 1639 ; one of those settlers who received land " by the courtesie of the town ; " his home-lot was on the east side of the road to the Cow Pasture (North Main St.), and was bounded on the north by the Cow Pasture itself ; chosen chimney-viewer, 1647 ; he was one of the signers of the agreement for planting Norwalk, June 19, 1650, and was there soon after, with the first planters ; townsman at Norwalk, 1655; d. in 1655 ; will dated July 29, proved Oct. 25, 1655 ; inv., Oct. 10, 1655, £225. 9. He mentions his wife, Mercy, eldest son, Thomas, " three other sons," John, Zachary, and Richard, the latter three being under age, and left to their mother's guardianship. She m. (2) Nov. 25, 1655, John Steele, of Farmington. - Ch. : i. Thomas, one of the early settlers of THOMAS SEYMOUR'S SEAL. Norwalk ; m. (1) Jan., 1653-4, Hannah, dau. of Matthew Marvin, of Norwalk ; freeman, 1668 ; deputy from Norwalk, 1690 ; one of the patentees of 1686; and in 1687 had an es- tate of £184. He m. (2) Elizabeth, named in his will. He d. in 1712; will dated Sept. 22 ; proved Nov. 7, 1712, sealed with the above coat of arms.1 ii. John, was in Hartford as early as 1664, and m., probably not long after, Mary, dau. of John Watson, of Hartford ; freeman, 1667. He was a member, though not in full communion, of the South Church, when it was formed, Feb. 12, 1670. He d. 1713; will dated Dec. 10, 1712; proved, Aug. 3, 1713; inv. £1158. 14. 01. iii. Zachariah, b. 1642 ; freeman, Farmington, 1669 ; from the record of law-suits in the County Court proceedings it is evident that he was engaged in trade with Barbadoes ; he removed to Wethersfield and m. there, Feb. 9, 1688, Mary, dau. of widow Mary Gritt ; d. in Wethersfield, Aug. 1702, a. 60; inv. £200. 4. 3. iv. Richard, freeman, Farmington, 1669 ; one of the 84 proprie- tors of 1672; the leader of the Great Swamp settlement in 1686 (Kensing- ton), and captain of the fort. He m. Hannah, dau. of Matthew Woodruff, of Farmington.2 He was killed by the fall of a tree in 1710; inv. presented Nov. 29, 1710, £416. 15. 3. - Ex-Gov. Horatio Seymour, of New York, the Hon. Origen S. Seymour, of Litchfield, and Gov. Thomas H. Seymour, of Hartford, were descendants of John Seymour, of H., who is the ancestor of nearly all of the name in this vicinity.
JOHN SKINNER, an original proprietor ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the west side of Main St., a little below the present corner of Pearl St. ; but this was given to Richard Olmsted (q. v.), he receiving in exchange a lot on the highway,
1 A "Bishop's Bible," printed in 1584, now in the possession of one of Richard Seymour's descendants, has on one of the fly-leaves a drawing of the arms of the Seymours of Berry Pomeroy, the same as those given above with the quarterings granted by Henry VIII., and his name written below, "Richard Seymor, Bery Pomery, heytor hund., in ye com. Devon. his Book. Hartford ye collony of Conecticot in New England. Annoque Domini, 1640."
2 Savage says (iv. 58) that he m. Hannah, dau. of Anthony Hawkins, but I have found no other authority for his statement as yet.
259
THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS.
now Trumbull St. ; juror, 1639 ; m. Mary, dau. of Joseph Loomis, of Wind- sor ; d. in 1650, and his widow m. (2) Nov. 13, 1651, Owen Tudor, of Windsor. - Ch. : i. Mary, b. 1637 ; m. Robert Reeve, of Hartford. ii. Ann, b. 1639 ; m. John Colt. iii. John, b. 1641; m. Mary, dau. of Joseph Easton ; d. in Hartford, Sept. 15, 1690. John Talcott, in his will, Aug. 12, 1659, mentions his kinsman, John Skinner, as "living in his service," and as John Talcott's mother was Anne, dau. of William Skinner, it is probable that John Skinner, Sr., came from Braintree, Co. Essex. iv. Joseph, b. 1643 ; m. April 5, 1666, Mary Filley, of Windsor ; settled in Windsor. v. Richard, b. 1646 ; in. and lived in Hartford, but his descendants removed to Colchester.
ARTHUR SMITH, an original proprietor ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the highway now Elm St. ; fence-viewer, 1639 ; constable, 1642. He was allowed, Feb. 16, 1639-40, to have half of Thomas Alcock's lot, which had been forfeited. Appointed with Thomas Woodford to attend upon the townsmen, and to do any special services required by them, Feb. 1639-40. He d. 1655 ; inv. Nov. 29, £380. 2. 6. His widow, Margaret, m. (2) Sergt. Joseph Nash, of Hartford ; (3) Stephen Hart ; d. in Farmington, March 1, 1693. - Ch .: i. John, b. ab. 1643. ii. Mary, b. Feb., 1644-5. iii. Hannah, b. 1649. iv. Arthur, bapt. April 20, 1651 ; m. Sarah, dau. of Thomas Newell, of Farmington; d. in Hartford about 1712. v. Elizabeth, b. ab. 1653; m. Thomas Thomson, of Farmington. Hinman says (p. 73) that Arthur Smith was a soldier in the bloody battle with the Pequots at Mystic Fort, in 1637, where he was severely wounded, and was rescued from the flames of the fort by his brother soldiers.
GILES SMITH, an inhabitant who received land "by the courtesie of the town ;" his home-lot in 1639 was on Main St., on the corner of what is now Charter Oak St., a small lot cut off from the square occupied by George Wyllys. He sold 20 acres to Thomas Hosmer, March 6, 1642; Philip Davis bought his land and tenement. He was one of the earliest settlers at New London, but removed from there to Fairfield, where he was in 1651; d. there, 1669 ; he left a second wife, Eunice, not the mother of his children, who had been widow of Jonathan Porter, of Huntington, L. I.
SERGEANT THOMAS SPENCER, Cambridge; freeman, May 14, 1634 ; removed in 1637 to Hartford, where he was one of the original proprietors ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the east side of Main St., near what is now the junction of Main and Windsor Sts. ; he served in the Pequot War; chimney-viewer, 1650; constable, north side, 1658; surveyor of highways, 1672; he was sergeant of the trainband in 1650, and received in 1671 a grant of 60 acres, " for his good service in the country." He m. (1) -; (2) Sept. 11, 1645, Sarah, only child of Nathaniel Bearding, of Hartford. He d. Sept. 11, 1687. - Ch. of Ist wife : i. Obadiah, Hartford; freeman, 1658 ; m. Mary, dau. of Nicholas Disborough ; d. 1712. ii. Thomas; freeman, 1658 ; m. Esther, dau. of William Andrews, of Hartford; removed to Suffield. iii. Samuel. Ch. of 2d wife : iv. Gerard, Hartford ; m. Dec. 22, 1680, Hannah, dau. of John Pratt, Jr., of Hartford ; d. 1712. v. Sarah, m. Thomas Huxley, of Suffield ; d. Oct. 24, 1712. vi. Elizabeth, bapt. March 26, 1648; m. Samuel Andrews, of Hartford. vii. Hannah, b. April 15, 1653. viii. Mary, b. May 18, 1655. ix. Martha, b. March 19, 1657-8 ; m. - Benton. WILLIAM SPENCER, Cambridge, 1631, brother of Thomas ; freeman, Mass., March 4, 1632-3 ; deputy for Newtown, May, 1632; May, 1634; March, 1634-5; March, 1635-6 ; Sept., 1636; May, 1637; Sept., 1637; March, 1637-8 ; chosen Lieut. for Newtown, March, 1636-7 ; one of the founders of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co., and had other evidences of the public favor bestowed on him. Removed to Hartford, 1639, where his home-lot was about where the Union depot now stands. He was deputy in August and September, 1639, and appointed with Wyllys and Webster to revise the
260
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
laws of the colony ; townsman, 1640 ; d. in 1640, leaving a widow, Agnes, whom he m. about 1633, who became afterward the wife of William Edwards ; inv. £291. 12. 2. He appoints " my cosin Matthew Allyn, my brother John Pratt," and John Talcott to be overseers of this estate. Will dated March 4, 1640, presented May 4. - Ch. : i. Elizabeth, m. (1) William Wellman, of Gloucester, New London, and Killingworth. (2) May 23, 1672, Jacob Joy, of Killingworth. ii. Sarah, b. 1636; m. about 1657, John Case, of Windsor, afterward of Simsbury; d. Nov. 3, 1691. iii. Samuel, b. about 1639; m. Sarah, prob. dau. of John Meakins. (John M. names dau. Sarah Spencer in his will, Nov. 22, 1702.) He d. about 1716, in Hartford.
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.