^ :iMM^ ^^'^ J^^- VA :b^>^ O ^ . . s* \ \ PHEBE ELIZABETH MINER GARDNER OUR ANCESTORS MINERS-AVERYS- STRONGS-MORGANS COMPILED BY PHEBE ELIZABETH MINER GARDNER Fast as the rolling; seasons bring- The iiour of fate to those we love, Each pearl that leaves the broken string- Is set in Friendship's crown above. As narrow grows the earthly chain, The circle wideiis in the sky, These are our treasures that reniain But those our stars that beam on high. —HOLMES. north adams, mass. Advance Press lyoi Copyright, igoi By O. C. Gardner I ■7 preface A beautiful morning in mid-winter, 1 am seated in the dining room of my father's house, my dear New England home. No thought comes to me of the dead and gone ages, or of the time when the beautiful hill upon which this home is built was traversed by the red man in his wild freedom, or of the time when a worse foe stained these very grounds with the blood of our ancestors. No; 1 was not looking backwards, but simply en- joying the present, the Christmastide of I898. The simplest things of this life often turn our thoughts into unexpected channels; so it was on this particular morning that a few words from a friend, who was much interested in genealogy, awoke within me a spark of interest which was the nucleus of this little book. Only a spark at first but the more 1 studied up the subject the more interested 1 became, and the spark was soon fanned into a burning desire to perpetuate the names of these noble people. Having some knowledge of my ancestors, and knowing I had a better chance tluin many have to know more, I decided to collect all possible information of the four ancestral lines and con- dense it. 1 have not found the task an unpleasant one but have found much pleasure in visiting the different libraries of New York, Brooklyn, New Jersey and Connecticut in quest of books that might help me and in visiting and corresponding with those who could give me any information; some of these have been strangers, others dear friends, but alike have they all responded and to them is due the credit of a large share of the work. 6 PREFACE That our ancestors were a patriotic people we icnow from the fact that we fmd the Miners, Averys, Strongs, and Morgans in the history of Eng-Jand, long before they conceived the idea of coming to this country, fighting under the King, with that same bravery which they exhibited in coming to an unknown land and taking up the warfare against the savage race. A people with less courage would have faltered and turned back, but in very few instances do we read of any of the early settlers returning to the mother country. They apparently knew no such word as defeat, and trusting in that great Power from or high, they pushed on tiirough deprivations and trials of man> kinds and accomplished that for which they came. Upon landing as most of them did upon the shores of Massa- chusetts, their lives of hardship and danger commenced. Un- like the emigrant of today, no friendly hand extended to them a welcome, showing them the best places to locate and earn their daily bread, no flag unfurled its beautiful stars and stripes to give them protection and inspire them to defend it. No, far dilTerent. There were only the hills and valleys and dense forests, which in their mute grandeur could seem to say, "penetrate my deptlis and see what I can unfold to you." Nothing but wilderness everywhere, nothing but danger. The red man, little better than the wild animals that surround- ed him, incensed by the invasion of the wliite man lurked in his ire with his rude implements of warfare to strike at each noble heart. No broad roads gave the traveler a chance to look about him or a possible means of escape, only the narrow trail of the Indian through the thickest of woods. To till the soil, to establish a home and church under these difhculties required patience and courage. How often when for a time peace had reigned and there was prospect of fair hopes being realized, the devastating hand of the PREFACE 7 red man with his torch and tomahawk would obliterate home and family in one short hour, if perchance some escaped it was only to carry on with sinking heart a battle until the foe was again driven back and then to return to the ashes of home and buried hopes. Wecan hardly realize that through these trying scenes our an- cestors with a small band of people fought their way, and helped to establish for us the liberty and safety of the present time. Again we tind them in the Revolutionary conflict. They were among the tirst to buckle on the sword and rush to battle in defence of their rights, and altliough many of them lost their lives in that awful conflict, their names still live on, and the stories of how they fought and died are repeated over and over again. In the war of 1812 their names again appear showing their earnest desire that the rights of a free people should be respected. it is only just to these, our noble ancestors, that their names and deeds be handed down through the annals of time to their posterity. "Who is he?" is almost the tirst question put regarding an in- dividual who comes into prominence or notoriety and the absence of trustwortliy information often gives rise to very serious misap- prehensions. "President Gartield delighted in dwelling on the traits of his ancestors and was justly proud of his lineage. Samuel Tilden found leisure amidst the strife of politics to devote to such inves- tigations and Daniel Webster often declared that the study of an- cestry was an incumbent duty, and that we should look upon the present generation as a connecting link between the eventful past and the unknown futiu'e," 'The preservation of pedigree is therefore not the pastime of the idle and curious; it is the honorable employment of the student and historian. It has alwavs formed the basis of all true history." 8 PREFACE "Few earthly toils are more absolutely entitled to be called 'labours of love' than those spent in g-enealogical researches." "if any part of the world 's history hitherto deserves to be cherished in grateful and admiring remembrance, it is that of the country from its tirst settlement to the present hour." Realizing this 1 have put forth my feeble etforts to transfer to these pages what information 1 have been able to gather and place it before the coming generations of our family in a form that they can easily understand. Hoping that those endeared to me by these loving ties, will, as they read of our noble ancestors, be benefited by the knowledge herein contained, I dedicate this little booic to my nephews and nieces. Cbc jMincr l^incagc Edward III. going" to make war against France took a progress through Somerset, coming to Mendippe Hills lie found one Henry Bullman, whose occupation was a miner. This man had convened his domestic and menial servants, armed them with battle axes and proffered himself and them to the king's service. The king was much pleased and gave him the name "Miner," for surname with armorial bearings in acknowledgement of his loy- al service in providing an escort for him. He was thereafter known as Henry Miner. This Henry died in 1 ^59 leaving behind him four sons. One of these, Henry, married Henrietta Hicks and had two sons. William, the eldest, married a Miss Hobbs of Wiltshire, they had Thomas, who married Miss Gresleys 1399, and their son LOD- viCK who married Ann Dyer had Thomas who married Bridget Hervis, and their son William married Isabelle Harcope. It is said this William Miner, was the tlower of chivalry; he lived to avenge the death of the two young princes murdered by their inhuman uncle, Richard III., in the tower of London. He left behind him ten sons, two of whom went over to Ireland m 1541 when King Henry VIII. was proclaimed tirst king of Ireland; his oldest son, William, married and had Clement who succeeded his father in heritage. William died Feb. 23, 1585. This son Clement Miner lived at Chow Magne, England, and died there March 31, 1640. 10 OUR ANCESTORS Tbomae jMincr The second son of Clement Miner was Thomas, born at Chow Magne, county of Somerset, April 23, I6O8, and was as far 'as known the tirst and only Miner who emigrated to this country. From him have descended the various branches of the Miner family scattered throughout the United States He came on the ship "Arabella" at the same time as Chris- topher Avery and John Winthrop during the great emigration. The tlrst ship was the "Mary and John" which brought the Revs. Wareham and Maverick with many goodly families from Devonshire, Dorsetshire and Somersetshire. Thomas Miner remained with that portion of the Winthrop company which settled at Boston. Soon after the typhus fever scourge there, he went to Watertown but returned to Boston or Charlestown after a short stay. One of the tirst records we have of him is when in company with eighteen other men and eleven women they founded the f^rst Congregational church of Charlestown in October, I630. Among this number were Mr. Walter Palmer, his second wife Rebecca (Short) Palmer and the daughter of his first wife, Grace Palmer, who became the wife of Thomas Miner April 20, 16H. By the church records it appears that their first child, John, was baptized August 30, I635. This same year he bought a tract of land of Cary Latham. Thomas Miner removed with his family sometime during I636 to Hingham, Mass. That town granted him that year land for a house lot and afterwards as the town records say several grants adjoining. According to the diary of Peter Robert and records the fol- lowing children were born in Hingham: Clement, Ephraim, Thomas and Joseph. THE MINER LINEAGE I3 was one of the prime movers in organizing the tirst cliurch in New London of which he and several of his family were members. Associating himself with others they formed the town of Southertown, now Stonington. After moving to Quiambog he was elected magistrate, deputy, selectman, chief military officer and held about all the oflices his townsmen could bestow upon him. He was town clerk for a number of years and his peculiar style of writing formed some of the most interesting curiosities of Stonington records. The tlrst church of Stonington, now called the Old Road Church, was formed in 1674 and Thomas Miner and his son Ephraim were prime movers in this church enterprise. Thomas Miner was tlrst deacon, his honesty, integrity, and piety seemed never to have been questioned. Six years before his death the question arose in the family as to the correct method of spelling the name Miner. in the deeds for land it was variously spelled, even in the same deed, Minor, Miner, Mynor, Myner. Thomas Miner then wrote to Chow Magne, England, the place of his birth, to ascertain and also to obtain a true copy of the coat of arms, and such matters as could be furnished. The next year, 1685, he received a reply. This original document was not allowed to be taken out of the old family house at Quiambog until the new house was built when it was transferred, it was then sacredly kept, and a few years since was accurately copied by J. Hammond Trumbal of Hart- ford, and the original placed for safe keeping in the Connecticut Historical library. For ]6 years Thomas Miner lived in his homestead and saw his children settle around him. He died October 23, I690, aged 83 years; his wife, Grace, died the same year, and both are buried 14 , OUR ANCESTORS in the old Wequetoquock burial gTounds witiiin sight of his first Stonington home. The grave of Tliomas Miner bears the oldest inscription of any in the cemetery, it is marlced by a long unhewn slab of native granite, half imbedded in the earth, on which is roughly inscribed: "Here lyes the body of Lieutenant Thomas Miner aged S} depart- ed 1690." it is said that Mr. Miner selected this stone from his own fields and had often pointed it out to his family with the request: "Lay this on my grave." While visiting the cemetery at the unveiling of the monument erected to the memories of Thomas Miner, William Cheseborough, Walter Palmer and Theodore Stanton in August, 1899, I beheld this old stone which was called in those times a "Wolf stone," so named on account of the many wolves and other wild animals that infested these parts, and this long narrow stone was placed upon each grave to protect it from tl^em. Upon the grave of Mr. Cheseboi'ough an unusually long one was placed, as he was a very tall man, measuring 6 feet 7 inches. There was no mark visible upon it. In the recent interest which has been taken in these old stones a discussion arose, some doubting its being the right grave. To settle the question (we were told by one who was present at the time) the stone was removed and the grave opened, whereupon a black mould was found the thickness of heavy plank and the exact shape of a coftin. it measured 6 feet 7 inches which was supposed to settle tiie question. In the Thomas Miner diary, which has been alluded to before, is the following peculiar announcement of the engagement and marriage of his son: "1661, 11th day, Wednesday, April. The match was made up between Ephraim and Hanna Averie. £ i THE MINER LINEAGE 15 "I gave the two horses to Joseph and Ephraim to buy them wedding suites." "Sabbath day, 22nd, Epliraim and Hanna Averie were put over the meeting house door." Hannah and Ephraim were married June 30, 1666. I. Thomas Miner and Grace Palmer. Children 1 John, b at Boston 16^2, m Elizabetli Booth 1658. 2 Clement, babtized at Hingham, Mass., m Frances Willis, 1662. ^ Thomas, baptized at Hingham, Mass., May 1640, d 1662. 4 Ephraim, baptized at Hingham, Mass., May 1, 1642, m Hannah Avery. 5 Joseph, baptized at Hingham, Mass., Aug. 28, 1644, m Maria Avery. 6 Judah, went to Virginia. 7 Mannasah, b New London, April 28, 1647, m Lydia Moor Sep- tember 26, 1670; he lived at the old homestead at Quiam- bog. 8 Anna, b New London, April 28, 1649, died young. 9 Maria, b New London, May 1651, died young. 10 Samuel, b New London, March 4, 1652, m Maria Lord. 11 Elizabeth, b Stonington, 165^, died young. 12 Hannah, b Stonington, 1655, m Thomas Avery 1677; he was brother of Hannah who married Ephraim and Maria who married Joseph Miner. II. Ephriam (I) and Hannah (Avery) Miner. Children 1 Hannah, b April 5, 1667, died young. 2 Ephriam, b June 22, 1668. 3 Thomas, b December 17, 1669, died young. 4 Hannah, b April 20, 1671. 5 Rebecca, b September, 1672. 16 OUR ANCESTORS 6 Elizabeth, b April, 1674, died young. 7 Samuel, b December, 1676, died young. 8 Deborah, b 1677, died young. 9 Deborah, b April, 1679- 10 Samuel, b August, 1681. 11 James, b November, 1682, 12 Grace, b September, I683. 13 John, b April, 1685. Ephraim Miner (1 j was buried at Togwank in Stonington and over his grave is a beautiful and elaborately carved stone represent- ing the Miner coat of arms and other devices. III. Ephriam Miner (11) second child of Ephriam and Han- nah Miner, married May 24, 1694, Mary Stevens. He well filled the place of his noble father, both in town and private aiTairs. He was also buried at Togwank with his wife. Children. 1 Ephriam, b March 1 1, 1695, died young. 2 Thomas, b June 21, 1697. ] Mary, b August 4, 1699- 4 Henry, b August 5, 1701. 5 Rufus, b August 21, 1703. 6 Bridget, b October 7, 1705. 7 Simeon, b May 7, 1708. 8 Stephen, b December 23, 1710. 9 Hannah, b November 13, 1712. 10 Samuel, b January 1, 1716. IV. Simeon Miner ( 1), seventh child of Ephriam and Mary Miner, married March 10, 1 73 1, Hannah, daughter of William and Hannah (Gallup) Wheeler. He settled in Stonington and often represented his town at the General Court where it is said he wasn't surpassed by his compeers. THE iWINER LINEAGE 17 Children. 1 Hannah, b December 10, 1731. 2 Simeon, b December 3, 17 V5- 3 Thomas, b January 14, 17^6. 3 Keturah, b March 4, 17^s. 5 Grace, b July =;, 1740, died. 6 Eunice, b January 11, 174^. 7 Lois, b January ^0, 1745. 8 Lucy, b April 6. 1 747. 9 Grace, b February 22, 175o. 10 William, b January 15, 1752. V. Simeon Miner (II) oldest son of Simeon and Hannah Miner, born December ]. 1733. m November 15, 175^. Anna, daughter of Major Isreal and Anna Hewett. They had one child. Married secondly Mary Owen February 1, 1759, who was a daughter of Rev. John Owen and Anna Morgan. A history of her parents will be found later in the book. Children. Simeon, b October 25, 1760. 2 Dr. John Owen, b January 9, 1762. 3 Elisha. b September 6, 1765. 4 Frederick, b September 28, 4766. 5 Mary, b July 27, 1770. 6 William, b February 14, 1773. 7 Hannah, b December 14, 1776. VII. Dr. John Owen Miner, second child of Simeon and Mary ( Owen) Miner, m .January 21, 1 785. Elizabeth Avery, daughter of Lieut Ebenezer and Phebe (Denison) Avery. Dr. Miner studied his profession with Dr. Amos Prentice, who married Dr. Miner's aunt, Ann Owen, a young lady quite cele- brated for her artistic endowments; it is related of her that when means for procuring a new dress was wanting, she would wash 18 OUR ANCESTORS out her muslin frock and paint it in tlowery tigures that were the envy of lier companions. The Prentice liouse was what is now styled the "Mother Bailey house," on the corner of Broad and Thames Sts., Groton. Dr. Prentice built this house and lived there for many years. A great many of our most noted and intluential men of the present day have developed from obscure country boys, and this has also been true of the past. Dr. Miner, when a little bare- footed boy trudging along the country road of Stonington, probably not giving a thought to the future or what his choice in life would be. was met by Dr. Prentice, who asked the little fel- low to assist him m watering his horse, and while the horse was drinking the doctor engaged in conversation with him, whether from idle curiosity as to what the child's answers would be or that he was so impressed with the child that he wished really to assist him, we know not; but it is evident that the questions he asked him proved the turning point in the cliild's life. "What would you like to be when you get to be a man.?" The boy promptly replied "A doctor." "Well then, how would you like to come and live with me and learn to be one.?'' The offer was taken at once. In a few days the little boy again trudged over the road, with his small bundle of personal belongings, en- tered the home of Dr. Prentice and commenced his apprenticeship, making himself generally useful for the great privilege he was en- joying. From this humble start he became the skilful and greatly beloved and respected physician of all that section of country. He, as Dr. Prentice's assistant, was on the spot to render aid to the wounded at the time of the terrible massacre at Fort Gris- wold. He commenced practice at Stonington Point, where he remained tive years. He then had a call to North Groton, where THE MINER LINEAGE 19 there was no physician, occupying the house where the Rev. Mr. Tuttle afterward lived. He had an extensive and laborious practice, and as at this time all travel was on horseback, the roads rough and the town large, he after five years moved to Centre Groton, the better to accom IJR. .lollN (). MINER modate himself and the people. He was never known to refuse a call in the most inclement weather. After the war of 1812, Di\ Miner engaged in company with Major Elisha Avery and Noyes Barbour in the manufacture of woolen cloth, satinette, etc. The mill was located about four miles from the Groton ferry and was superintended by Mr. Averw who was grandfather of Orrin Avery of Colchester, Ct. 20 OUR ANCESTORS Dr. Miner continued his practice until he was over eighty years old. He died April 27, 1851, aged 89, and was buried in the Smith cemetery at Poquonnock. The wife of Dr. John Owen Miner was Elizabeth Avery, daughter of Lieut. Ebenezer Avery. ELIZABETH AVERY MINER He was a brother of Elder Park Avery and was killed at Fort Griswold on September 6, 1781, when the British burned the town of New London taking the forts. Ebenezer Avery's house was the house now called the old Benham house, still standing (1900). This is a part of the story of that dark day as 1 have heard it from my grandmother (Adeline Avery) wife of John Owen Miner II. THE MINER LINEAGE 21 "When the Briiish appeared in the sound early in the morn- ing' Mr. Avery, hearing the alarm from the fort, rose up in bed and saw the ships from the window. "Dressing hurriedly, he called his son Ebenezer, then aged nineteen, told him to drive up the cattle as quickly as possible and to look out for the family; he then took down his musket, buckled on his sword and bidding his family goodby he hastened to the fort prepared to do what he could for the cause so dear to the hearts of all patriots. "Meanwhile his son, who was anxious to follow his father, faithfully obeyed his orders, intending to enter the fort later, but it took so long to drive the cattle to a place of safety that he was too late to enter and so his life was saved. "The noise of the cattle was terrible, so many strange herds coming together, tern: r- stricken by the scent of battle. Mrs. Avery in the meantime had gathered her valuables, and putting them in an ox-cart she took her daughter Elizabeth ( then a little girl holding on to her in terror) and fled to a place of safety." In these days we should consider this a rather slow way of fleeing from danger; but at that time cars and carriages were un- known kixuries. Prolxibly the minds of our ancestors were not taken up with the mode of exit under these trying circumstances, — but to the story. "The oxen were driven up over the hills through lanes and fields to Ledyard about eight miles from her home. Near the spot where the little Elizabeth years afterward lived as the wife of L)r John Owen Miner, the cart broke down. While they sat by the roadside, waiting fur it to be repaired, the tiring ceased; the fort was taken and Mrs. Avery was a widow. "That same night she returned to the fort to search for the body of her husband. It was found and buried near the monu- ment of the noble Col. Ledyaid who w;;S on that same day killed with his own sword in the hand of an En^^lish otlicer.'' 22 OUR ANCESTORS • Mrs. Avery continued on the farm until her children had g-rown up and were married; she then married a Mr. Fish of Fish- town. After his death she went to live with her daughter Mrs. Miner. VIII. Dr. John Owen and Elizabeth ( Avery) Miner. Children. 1 Betsey, b June 1i r^ JOHN (). MINER, 111 GARDNER. X. Phebe Elizabeth m March 29, l-SZ^. Leander Frank Gardner. Child. XI. Addison Eeander, b September 9, 1^77, d September 12, 1.S91. 40 THE MINER LINEAGE MINER. X. John Owen m March 23, IS.Si, Amelia Avery. Children. XI. Mildred, b February 17, 1i6tory of the Hverye. The Averys originated in Brittany in the town of Auray, and were illustrious before the days of William the Conqueror. Mem- bers of the family accompanied William into England in 1066 according to Norman history, and in 1 ^64 others tootc part in the battle of Auray, which put an end to the struggle for the succes- sion to the dukedom of Brittany. They also played an important part in the history of France and have been honored with many titles. The " Auverys" as they were called in Normandy, were very numerous there and the English Averys are probably of Norman origin. The tax lists of Cornwall shows long lists of Averys. We also find their names constantly appearing in Devon in the seventeenth century. Many of this name sought the new world and as Christopher Avery is the first of whom we have any knowledge, a part of this book will be devoted to him and his descendants. Christopher Hvery. 1. Was born in England about 1590, and came to Salem, Mass., about I631. His wife did not come to this country with him, so he was tlned in 1654 for living apart from her, but as he was a poor man and it was proven it was not his fault the tine was remitted. The 18th of March, 165S, he purchased a home in what is now the business portion of Boston; it was located in what is now the center of the Post Otiice building facing Devonshire Street. The Winthrope estate was not far away, and near by in after 42 THE AVERY LINEAGE years Benjamin Franklin was born. In 166^ he sold this place and followed his son James to Connecticut. Cliristopher Avery held many otfices of trust; he was select- man at Gloucester in 1G46, 1652 and 1654. He died March 12, 1679. 11. Captain James Avery, the only child of Christopher, and probably the founder of the family of Groton Averys, was born in England about 1620. He came to America with his father and lived for several years at Gloucester, Mass. He married Johanna Greenslade of Boston November 10, 1643. Nothing- is known of her ancestry. They had nine children. Miss Caulkine in her history of New London says that on "October 19, 1650, grants were made to Mr. Blinman, Obediah Bruce, Hughe Cauken. Hughe Roberts, John Coil, Andrew Lester, James Avery and Robert Isbel." These were all from Gloucester, a town on the eastern coast of Massachusetts, situated on the peninsula of Cape Ann. Mr. Blinman had been the minister of Gloucester of years' stand- ing and now was engaged to become the minister of the Pequot plantation. The others were a party of his friends who purposed to remove with him and came on to make arrangements. In 1651 New Street was opened and called "Cape Ann Lane" (now Jetferson Avenue). About 1652 James Avery was granted a farm at South Groton. About 1656 he built the Avery house in Pequonock. In June, 1684, the old Blinman edifice in New London which stood about where the Whittlesey house now stands, on Hemp- stead Street, "the unadorned w.itch tower of the wilderness," was sold to Captain James Avery for six pounds. According to tra- dition the church was taken down and moved across the river and added to the house he had built at Pequonock, and in which he lived until his death on April 18, 1700. When his family moved into it we can easily imagine that Captain Avery speaking" for himself and family mi^ht have said: "I will dwell in the house RESIDENCE OF JAMES AVERY, ERECTED BY HIS ANCESTORS EIGHT GENERATIONS IJACK, 1656. STILL IN A GOOD STATE OF PRESERVATION. OUR ANCESTORS 4^ of the Lord forever." This house was occupied by the Avery family until it was burned July 20, 1.S94, the last occupant being- a James Avery who had been town clerk of the town of Groton for many years. Mr. Avery became active in military atfairs and is g-enerally spoken of as Captain Avery, Lieutenant or Ensign. He took a lively interest in all colonial at^'airs and his services were often sought for in settling .controversies. In June, I672, the General Court ordered that Captain John Winthrope should be chief military officer for the county of New London and Cap- tain James Avery his second. He was chosen townsman or selectman and held that otiice twenty years, and was twelve times elected to the General Court from 1658 to I6.S0. Dr. Elroy McAvery says that "in studying the records of tiiose days the careful student is strongly impressed with the fact that Captain Avery was a remarkable man." III. James Avery Il.This James, son of James Land Johanna Greenslade, m February l.S, 1609, Deborah Stallyon. He like his father was an important man of ati'airs. He was deputy to the Gen- eral Court at Hartford six times, from I690 to 1/02, lieutenant and captain of the trained band, commissioner of the peace, also a member of a committee on boundary lines between the towns. He and his wife joined the New London church in 1672. He with Mr. Crary appeared before the General Court in I696 in behalf of the inhabitants of the east side of the river to grant said people a church. This was the origin of the first Congregational church of Groton, This James Avery had thirteen children. One of the daughters, Margaret, married William Morgan, and was great- grandmother to Sabra Morgan who married Daniel Strong. IV. James Avery III. the son of James II. and Deborah Stall- yon, was born April 20, 1673, and "-^'e^i September 18, 1 754. He mar- ried about 1696, Miss Mary Griswold, daughter of John Griswold and Mary Bemis. Matthew Griswold, a brother of John, was the 44 THE AVERY LINEAGE founder of Lyme and Governor of Connecticut from 1 784 to 1 786. This James and Mary Avery had eight children. V. JAMES Avery IV, son of James 111. and Mary (Griswold) Avery, was known as Deacon James. He was b May 27, 1697, d May 2, 1759- He m December \], 1719, Elizabeth Smith. They had eight children. VI. John Avery, son of James IV. and Elizabeth, was b January 24, 1738, d January 5, 1826. He married Sarah Belton, daug:hter of James Belton, in 176^ They had six children. There is in the possession of Elisha M. Miner a cane which belonged to this John Avery, who, it will be seen, was his great- grandfather. The cane is probably more than 140 years old. VII. Captain Peter Avery, son of John and Mary (Belton ) Avery, was b May 10, 1764, d October 17, 1845. He lived where the house of George Daball now stands, near Center Gro- ton. He was one also that was in Fort Griswold on September 6, 1781. He was taken to New York as a prisoner of war, and contined there in a prison ship. He described the suiferings of the prisoners as being something terrible, from hunger, and afterwards spoke of the grateful relish of a couple of raw potatoes that he purloined when in prison from the basket of an old cook, the taste of which he said he still realized in imagination as having been the most delicious morsel he had ever eaten. The better to describe the terrible suflfering through which he passed, I will copy the words of one who stood by his side in the fort and was his companion during his imprisonment. "Narrative of Rufus Avery, a participant in the battle of Gro- ton Hights. Taken from the original manuscript still in the hands of his descendant." He says, "I had charge of the garrison the night previous to the attack. The enemy had not yet appeared near us, nor did we expect them at this time more than ever. About three o'clock in the morning as soon as daylight appeared so as I could look off, I saw the tleet in the harbor a little distance below OUR ANCESTORS 45 the li.s^ht house. It consisted of thirty-two in number, ships, brigs, schooners and sloops. A thrill of dread apprehension flashed over me. 1 immediately sent for Captain William Latham, who was captain of the fort. He came and saw the fleet and sent notice to Colonel Ledyard who was commander of the har- bor, and also of Forts Griswold and Trumbull. He ordered two large g"uns to be loaded with heavy charges of powder. Captain Wm. Latliam took charge of one and I had to attend to the other and thus we as speedily as possible prepared to give the alarm to the vicinity, as was to be expected in case of danger, two guns being the specified signal for alarm in distress. But a difficulty now arose from having our plans communicated by a traitor" (Arnold.) "The enemy understood our signal was two regular guns and they tired the third which broke our alarm, and caused it to signify good news or a prize, and thus it was understood bv our troops, and several companies which were lying back ready to come to our assistance in case of necessity were by this measure deterred from coming. The sense of our helplessness without additional su'ength and arms was dreadful, but the trying events of the coming hours we had not known. Colonel Ledyard now sent expresses from both forts, to call on every militia captain to hurry to the forts with their companies. But few came; their excuse was that it was a false alarm. The enemy's boats now approached and landed eight hundred officers and men, some horses, carriages and cannon on the Gro- ton side of the river about eight o'clock in the morning, and another division of about seven hundred on the New London side below the light house. The army on the Groton side was divided into two divisions. Col. Ayres took command of the division south-east of the fort consisting of about half of the men, which he kept sheltered behind a ledge of rocks. Major Montgomery with his division was also behind a high hill. The army on the 46 THE AVERY LINEAGE New London side had better marching-, as the land was more ac- commodating. As soon as the army had got opposite Fort Trum- bull they divided; one part proceeded to the city of New London, plundered and set tire to the shipping" and buildings, the rest marched down to Fort Trumbull. Captain Adam Sliopley, who commanded, seeing" that he was likely to be overpowered by the enemy, spiked his cannon, and embarked on the boats which had been prepared for him in case of necessity, but the enemy was so quick upon him that before he and his little handful of men could get out of reach several were badly wounded. The remaining ones reached Fort Griswold, where, poor fellows, they met a mor- tal blow. Ayres and iV\ontgomery got their army stationed about nine o'clock in the morning. When they appeared in sight we threw a number of shots among them, but they would immediately dis- appear behind their hills. About ten o'clock they sent a flag of truce to demand the surrender of the fort. When the flag was about forty rods from the fort, we sent a musket ball m front of them, and brought them to a stand. Colonel Ledyard called a council of war to ascertain the minds of his officers and friends about what was best to be done in fliis momentous hour, when every moment indicated a bloody and decisive batfle. They all agreed to send a flag to them. Tliey did so, choosing Captain Elijah Avery, Captain Amos Stanton and Captain John Williams, who went immediately to meet the British flag and receive their demand, which was to give up the fort to them. The council was then asked what was to be done, and the answer returned was: "The fort would not be given up to the British." The flag re- turned to their division commanded by Ayres, but soon returned to us again. When at a proper distance our flag met them and attended to their summons, and came back to inform Colonel Ledyard that the enemy declared that "if they were obliged to take it by storm they should put the martial law in full force" that OUR ANCESTORS 47 is "what they did not kill by ball they should put to death by sword and bayonet." Colonel Ledyard sent back the decisive answer, "we shall not give up the fort, let the consequences be what they will." About eleven o'clock in the morning- when they perceived what we were about to do they started with both their divisions, Colonel Ayres advancing with his in solid column. As soon as they were in proper range we saluted them with an eighteen pounder, loaded with two bags of grape shot. 1 was at the gun with others when it was discharged into the British ranks and it cleared a very wide space in their solid columns. It has been reported by good authority that about twenty were killed and wounded by that one discharge. Colonel Ayres was mortally wounded. Major Montgomery now advanced with his division, coming on with a quick step into the battery which was east of the fort. Here we sent among them large and repeated charges of shot which destroyed a number. Then they started for the fort, discharging their guns as they went, coming around on the east and north sides. Here Montgomery fell near the northeast part of the fort. We might suppose the loss of their commanders would have dismayed them, but they had proceeded so far and the ex- citement and their determination on slaughter was so great that they could not be prevented. As soon as their army had entirely surrounded the garrison a man attempted to open the gates, but he lost his life in the attempt. There was hard tighting and shocking slaughter, and much blood was spilt before another attempt was made to open the gates, which was this time success- ful, for our little number which was only one hundred and tifty-tlve officers and privates (the most of them volunteers) was by this time overpowered. When they had overpowered us and driven us from our station at the breastworks into the fort, and Colonel Ledyard saw how few men he had remaining to tight with, he ceased resistance. There were only six of us to a hundred of them. 48 THE AVERY LINEAGE This was a moment of indescribable misery ! We can tight with good hearts while hope and prospects of victory aid us, but after we have fought and bled and availed nothing, to yield to be mas- sacred by the boasting enemy "tries men's hearts " Our ground was drenched with human gore ; our wounded and dying could have no attendance while each man was hopeless of his own pres- ervation. Now 1 saw the enemy mount the parapets like so many madmen. They swung their hats and then discharged their guns into the fort, and those who had not fallen by ball they began to massacre with sword and bayonet. I had then a hole through my clothes by a ball and a bayonet rent in my coat to my flesh. By this time the division which had been commanded by Montgomery but now by Bloomtield unbolted the other gates and marched into the fort in solid column. Though the patriots had surrendered and thrown down their arms their brutal adversaries continued to tire upon them and hew them down. No sooner are they within the fort than the voice of a British otllcer is heard de- manding in stern tones, "Who commands this fort .'" "I did, sir, but you do now" is the reply of the American commander, at the same time presenting the sword in token of surrender. Seizing it, this military assassin, who was Major Bloomtield, without a word plunged it up to the hilt into the heart of his noble, trusting foe. 1 think no scene ever exceeded this for continued and barbar- ous massacre after surrender. There were two large doors to the magazine which made a space wide enough to admit ten men standing in one rank. There marched up a platoon of ten men just by where I stood and at once discharged their guns into the magazine among the killed and wounded ; as soon as these had tired another platoon was ready. At this moment Bloomtield came swiftly around the corner of the building, and raising his sword with exceeding quickness exclaimed : "Stop tiring, or you will send us all to hell together." I was very near to him when he said this. He knew there must be powder deposited and scattered OUR ANCESTORS 49 about the inagaziiie, and if they continued to throw in tire we must all be blown up. 1 think it must have been so before if the ^Tound had not been wet with luinian blood. We trod m blood! We trampled under foot the limbs of our countrymen, our neigh- bors and dear kindred. After this they ceased killing and went to stripping, not only the dead but the wounded and those who were not wounded. Then they ordered us all to march, and those who could walk to help tliose who were wounded so badly as not to go themselves. It was but one o'clock in the afternoon and since the hour of eight in the morning, what a scene of carnage, of anxiety and of loss we had experienced ! The enemy now began to take care of their dead and wounded. They took off six of the outer doors of the barracks and with four men at each door brought in one man at a lime. Their men were employed thus for two hours as fast as they could walk. They were deposited on the west side of the parade, where it was the most comfortable, and screened from the hot sun which was pouring down upon us, causing many to faint and die who might have lived with good care. By my side lay two otlicers, most worthy men, in the agonies of death. Their heads rested on my thighs as I sat or lay there. They had their reason well and spoke, asking for water. I could give them none, as 1 was to be thrust through if I got up. i asked the enemy who were passing by us to give us some water for my dying friends and myself. As the well was near they granted this request, but even then I feared they would put something poisonous in it that they might get rid of us the sooner, as they had said the last of us should die before the sunset. They kept us on the ground until their men had been cared for, then came the order, that every man that could walk "rise up." Sentries were placed around with guns loaded and orders given that every one who would not in a mo- ment obey commands should be shot dead or run through. I had to kave the two dying men who were resting on me, dropping 50 THE AVERY LINEAGE their heads on the cold and hard ground, giving them one last pitying look. They both died that night. We marched down to the river so as to be ready to embark on board the British vessels. There were about thirty of us surrounded by sentries. Captain Bloomfield then came and took down the names of the prisoners that were able to march down with us. Where 1 sat 1 had a fair view of their movements. They were setting fire to the buildings and bringing their plunder and laying it down near us. The sun was about half an hour high. 1 can never forget the whole appear- ance of all about me. New London was in flames. The inhabit- ants deserted their homes to save life which was more highly prized. Above and around us were our unburied dead and our dying friends. None to appeal to in our exhausted state but a maddened enemy. There were still remaining near the fort a great many of the British who M'ere getting ready to leave. They loaded our large ammunition wagon that belonged to the fort with the wounded men that could not walk and about twenty of the enemy drew it from the fort to the brow of the hill which leads down to the river. The declivity is very steep. As soon as the wagon began to move down the hill it pressed so hard against them that they found they were unable to hold it back, so jumped away from it as quickly as possible, leaving it to thrash along down the hill with great speed till the shafts struck a large apple tree stump with a violent crash, hurting the poor dying men in it in a most inhuman manner. Here a part of the company where 1 sat ran and brought the wagon along and by some means got the prisoners who were wounded badly into the house of Ensign Ebenezer Avery, who was one of the wounded in the wagon. Before the wounded were brought to the house the soldiers had set fire to it but others put it out. Captain Bloomfield paroled to be left here these wounded prisoners and took Ebenezer Ledyard as hostage for them to see them forthcoming when called for. OUR ANCESTORS 51 The boats had now come for us who could go on board the tleet. The officer spoke in a doleful and menacing' tone "Come, you rebels, go on board." This wounded my feelings in a thrilling manner. After all my sutferings and toil, to add the pang of leaving my native land, my wife, my good neighbors, and probably to suffer with cold and hunger, for 1 had already learned 1 was with a cruel enemy. But I was in the hands of a higher power over which no human being could hold superior control, and by God's preservation 1 am still alive while almost everyone about me has met either a natural or unnatural death. When we, the prisoners, went down to the shore to the boats, they would not bring them near, but kept themotf where the water was knee deep, obliging us, weak and worn as we were, to wade to them ; the officer very harshly ordered us to "get aboard imme- diately." They rowed us down to an armed sloop commanded by one Captain Thomas, a refugee Tory. As soon as we were on board they hurried us down into the hold, where were the fires for cooking. Besides being very hot, it was filled with smoke. The hatchway was closed tight so that we were nearly suffocated. We begged them to spare our lives, so they opened the hatchway and permitted us to come upon deck two or three at a time, but not without sentries to guard us. We were exhausted and faint for want of food. When we had been on the sloop twenty-four hours, they gave us a mess of hogs' brains, (the hogs they had taken on Groton bank). After being on this sloop nearly three days with nothing to eat or drink that we could swallow, we began to feel that a struggle must be made to prolong our existence. In the room where we were confined were a great many weapons of war, and some of the prisoners whispered that we might make a prize of the sloop. This in some way was overheard and got to the officers' ears, and now they were so enraged tliat I was almost sure we should share a decisive fate or suffer severely. Soon they commenced calling us one by one on deck. As I went up they 52 THE AVERV LINEAGE seized me, tied my hands behind me with a strong- rope-yarn and drew it so tight that my shoulder-blades cracked, and almost touched each other. Then a boat came from a fourteen-gun brig commanded by one Steele, into this boat we were ordered to get, without use of our hands, over the sloop's bulwarks, and from these fall or throw ourselves down into the boat. Our distress of body and agitated feelings cannot be described. They made us all lie down under the seats on which the men sat to row, and so we were conveyed to the brig. Going: on board we were ordered to stand in one rank by the gunwale and in front of us was placed a spar within about a foot of each man. Here we stood with a sentry to each man with orders to shoot us if we stirred from our places. All this time we had nothing to eat or drink, and it rained and was very cold. We were detained in this position two hours, when we had liberty to go about the main deck. Night approached and we had no supper nor anything to lie upon but the wet deck. We were removed from this brig later to a ship commanded by Captain Scott, who appeared to have the heart of a man, as he was very kind to the prisoners. I should think he was about sixty years old. We remained with him until we were exchanged. Captain Nathaniel Shaw came down to New York with the American flag after the prisoners." Thus ends the narrative of Mr. Rufus Avery, and as it shows us how much our ancestor Captain Peter Avery must have sulfered, we feel that whatever good fortune came to him afterwards was his just due. We find him a few years later a prosperous farmer and g:razier at Centre Groton. He traded extensively in stock, raising and purchasing horses and mules for the West India trade. He spent much of his time in the saddle, traveling over the states in the prosecution of his business. He owned and used the first wagon or chaise that appeared in Groton and it was regarded as much of a curiosity as the tlrst locomotive. He married Hannah OUR ANCESTORS S] Avery, daugiiter of Lieutenant Park Avery, October 1787. They had live children. VIII. 1 John Park, b October IS, 1788, d November 28, 1820, m 1812 Lncy Avery. Children and Grandchildren. IX. 1 Simeon Peter, b January 1, ISH, m tirst Hannah Carr in 18 ^S, second Samantha Dayton. Children first wife, X. 1 Charles Robert, b July 20, 18)6, d July 2, 1844. 2 Celista Phelps, b October 5, 18)8, m Lester Thyer, had three children. ^ John Hart, b December 15, 1841. 4 Harriett, b January 9, 1845, m Curtis Knigtt, had three children. 5 Hannah, b June 4, 1849, ni Charles Johnson Dayton. Children second wife. 6 Dayton, b April 9, 1854. 7 William Rose. IX. 2 Robert Thomas, b 1815. PERRY. 3 Betsey Adeline, b 1817, m Nehemiah Perry March 18H, d August \0, 1899. Children. X 1 Thomas A. Perry, b July 21, 18^8, m Ellen M. Wil- liams. Children. XI. 1 Bessie South worth, m Charles Lamb. 2 Harry Williams, m A\'ERY. X. 2 Adelaide Perry, 1^ December 11, 1841, m Prentice P. Avery April 16, 1858. Child. XI. Edward P. Avery, b July 10, 18C0. 54 THE AVERY LINEAGE X. ] Edward S. Perry, b August 16, 184i. m Helena C. Howe. Child. XI. Gertrude H. Perry. IX. 4 Lucy Ann Avery, (fourth child John P. and Lucy Avery) b 1819, ni tirst Lodwick Edwards 1845, second Albert Avery August 13, 1856. Lucy Avery and Lodwick Edwards. Children. X. Herman Edwards, Delia Edwards. Lucy Avery and *Albert F. Avery had one child, Alice, who died young. VIII. 2 Alfred Avery, d young. 3 Thomas Jet^'erson, b May 5, 1798, died November 3, 1815. 4 Adeline, b July 4, 1800, m John Owen Miner September 9, 1819. ( For children see page 35 ) 5 Hannah Ann, b August 7, 1806, m Giles Wheeler December 4, 1825, d March 9, 1882. Children and Grandchildren. IX. 1 Fheresa H. Wheeler, b 1828, d 1874, m 1847 Jedediah R. Wheeler. Children. X. 1 Ada, b in N. V., m Chauncey C. Edson, d 1876. 2 Jennie Avery, b 1854, d 1865. 3 Julia A., died in infancy. IX. 2 Charles Nathan, b I830, d 1880, m Helen Tracy. No children. IX. ) Adeline Wlieeler, m June 29, 1854, Hon. Benjamin Gage Berry. ^Albert F Avory was son of Park W. VII.. Vuungs VI., T.ieut. l^ark V., Capt. Park IV., Kb.'iie/er 111., James II., Christ.. plier .^very |. OUR ANCESTORS 55 Children. X. 1 Annie Lora, b 1.S60, d ISO 1. 2 Charles Ansel, b 1862, m 1883, -'ulia Breed Piirdy. Child. XI. Ansel Purdy, b January 25, 1886. IX. 4 Henry Trowbridge, died 5 Eunice Wheeler. ADELINE AVERY. Daughter of Peter and Hannali Avery, was born at Centre Groton July 4, 1800, only a short distance from the home of Dr. J. O. Miner, whose son, John Owen, she married at the age of nineteen, September 9, 1819. She commenced her new life in the house built for her by her father about one mile from the village of Groton. There she brought up her children to manhood and there two of them settled after marriage. The youngest, Elisha, lived not far from her in the villag:e. in this dear old home she lived her lovely Christian life, al- ways cheerful and ready to make excuses for those whom others criticised. She was never old to us who loved her so dearly. Of her ancestry she was justly proud, and having" an unusually retentive memory and being in possession of all her faculties, she could entertain old and young; alike. She particularly delighted in relating- incidents of the patriotism of her forefathers, and stories of the Revolution told her by her parents. From her lips we often heard the tales of those awful days when so many of our ancestors were struck down while striving to protect their homes and loved ones. She dearly loved her home, and this feature was strongly in- herited by her son William, who remained on the dear old farm where he and his brothers were born until his death at the age of seventy-three years. 56 THE AVERY LINEAGE The most pleasant memories of my childhood and youth are associated with this spot, for grandmother was always watching for us and never failed to meet us with a hearty welcome. It was in this dear old home, where she went a bride and was left after many years of happy married life a widow, that one May morning; with all her cliildren around her she peacefully breathed her last at the age of eighty-six years. We laid her to rest beside her husband within sight of the windows of her home. I shall now proceed to speak of her line on her mother's side, who was also a descendant of Christopher Avery. it will be remembered that James I., son of Christopher, mar- ried Johanna Greenslade, had James II., who married Deborah Stallyon; their son. Colonel Ebenezer, born May 1, 1678, mar- ried June 19. 1702, Dorothy Park, a daughter of Captain John Park. He died April 14, 1759. ELDER PARK AVERY. John Park Avery, son of Colonel Ebenezer and Dorothy Avery, was known in the town records as Captain Park, but often called Elder Park Avery because he separated from the standing order and preached every Sunday to the people of Groton in the great room of the old Avery mansion at Poquonnock. It is a matter of history that almost the entire population went to hear him and that the church of the standing order was so unfrequented that it was closed for a considerable period. The old captain or elder had great wealth for those days and was withal a man of mark. At the beginning of the Revolutionary war he was a member of the Colonial Legislature at Hartford and was decidedly in favor of lighting if necessary for our national in- dependence. He wrote his sons that he thought war would b^ declared and that he was too old and infirm to take the field him- self, but advised them to stand by their country. His sons, Park Jr., Jasper, Ebenezer and Elisha accordingly held themselves in OUR ANCESTORS 5 7 readiness. They served in the colonial ranks through the war and were all in Fort Griswold during- the terrible massacre on the 6th of September, 1 78 1 . Park, Jr., was wounded, Jasper was killed in the fort, *Ebenezer was left for dead, but recovered ; Elisha was killed, and another son, Simeon, served as adjutant the same day in New York. Elder Park was born December 9, 1710, died March 4, 1797. He married Mary Latham. Lieut. Park Avery, son of Elder Park and Mary (Latham) Avery, was forty years old at the time of the battle of Groton Heights. At that time he resided on the farm given him by his father, now occupied by Mr. Hempstead, near the mill, known as Dunbar Mills, near Centre Groton and about three miles from the fort. When he left his home on that fatal morning- he took with him his son Thomas, still in his teens, who in the engagement fell dead at his side at the very moment he was cheering- him on to do his duty. He was himself most severely wounded in the head and body, more seriously tlian any other one who survived. He was left on the tleld aniong- the slain by the enemy, but tinally recover- ed and lived forty years afterwards. He was left because the cruel enemy thought not a spark of life remained ; had they not thought him dead he would have been thrust with a bayonet or placed in the cart with the other poor wounded, dead and dying- heroes and sent tlying- down the hill towards the river. This was the last act of inhumanity which they seemed to think necessary to complete their terrible slaughter. The wound in Mr. Avery's head was inflicted by a bayonet as if thrust downward from above in a hand to hand conflict with the enemy, who had scaled the fort on the outside. It took out the eye entirely, broke in the eyebrow and left a cavity in the forehead an inch deep. *Ebenezer Avt-ry and his Ijiotlier Park were at a reception given to the veterans ot Groton Heights by President Monroe when on a visit to tlie spot in iSi;. 58 THE AVERY LINEAGE Lieut. Park Avery was born March 22, 1741, died December 20, 1821. He married Hannah Morgan. Their daughter Hannah, born September 9, 1770, married October 1787, Peter Avery, died December 7, 1806. Adeline, daughter of Peter and Hannah (Morgan) Avery, married September 9, 1819, John Owen Miner. The Record and Pension Oftlce, War Department, Washing- ton, November 4, 1898, gives the following information: "Park Avery served as second lieutenant in the 1st Company Colonel Seldon's Connecticut regiment, Revolutionary war. His name is on a return dated at Harlem Heights October 5, 1776." Again, "Park Avery served as lieutenant in Captain Thomas Wheeler's Company, of Colonel Samuel Chapman's Connecticut regiment at foot of General Tyler's brigade, under Major- General Sullivan, in an expedition to Rhode Island. He entered service August 3, 1778. and was discharged September 12, 1778." Again we tind him serving under Colonel William Ledyard in Fort Griswold, September 6, 1781. Avery Coat of Arms. There are thirteen English and Norman coats of arms, but as the place of birth and the English residence of Christopher Avery is not known there is no established claim to any coat of arms. Cbc Strong J^ineagc. That the Strongs of England, Ireland and Scotland respec- tively, are of a ditferent origin would be manifest from the variety of their family crests. The crest of Ireland is a lion rampant, of Scotland a bunch of grapes stalked and leaved, while there are three English crests. Which of these belongs to the Strongs of this country we have no means of determining; we will spend no time deciding this ques- tion, for we wish to make no boast of crests, but we may feel an honest pride in an ancestry whose wealth was wealth of character and whose patent of nobility they obtained from above, in follow- ing through storm and sunshine the footsteps of the Son of God. The Su'ong family of England was originally located in the county of Shropshire, One of the family miarried an heiress of Wales and went there to live in 1?45. Richard Strong was of this branch of the family and was born in 1561. In 1590 he removed to Taunton, Somersetshire, England, where he died in 161^, leav- ing a daughter and son, John, then eight years old. I. Elder John Strong was born in 1605 in Taunton, whence he removed to London and afterwards to Plymouth, England. Hav- ing strong Puritan sympathies he sailed from Plymouth for the new world March 20, I630, in company with 140 other persons in the ship "Mary and John," commanded by Captain Sqtiib, and ar- rived at Nantucket, Mass., Sunday, May 30, I630, after a passage of seventy-two days. After searching for a few days for a spot m which to settle and make homes for themselves, they decided upon the spot which they called Dorchester in memory of the en- deared home in England. 60 THE STRONG LINEAGE In 1635, having- assisted in developing- tlie town of Dor- cliester, John Strong removed to Hingham, Mass, His stay there was short as we find him to be an inhabitant of Taunton, Mass., on December 4, 16^8. From Taunton he went to Windsor, Conn., where he was appointed witii otiiers to superintend and bring fortli tlie settlement of that place. He removed from Windsor to North Hampton, where he lived forty years. Here John Strong carried on a prosperous business as a tanner and lived an upright, pious life. He was held in much respect by those around him and was ordained elder June \], I663. He had had up to the time of his death 160 descendants; eighteen children, fifteen of whom had families, one hundred and fourteen grandchildren and thirty-three great-grandchildren. The grandfather of Elder John Strong was, as tradition tells us, a Roman Catholic and lived to a great age. The Strong family have born out remark- ably. There are few families in the land hy the name that are not descendants of Elder John Strong. North Hampton has always been the chief home of the Strong family. A brief sketch of the early history of that place will aid us to look into the every day experience of those who took possession of it in the name of God, for themselves and their posterity. Its settlement was begun October 29, I654. by some twenty persons who came from Springfield, Mass., for that purpose and were afterwards joined by Elder John Strong, it was called by the Indians Nanotuck ; its present name was supposed to have been given it by John King, who had come from Northampton, England. These few settlers bought nine square miles of the Indians by permission of the General Court for one hundred fathoms of wampum, a few presents to the Indians, one of which was a woman, and the ploughing of sixteen acres of corn. We are not told who this woman was, where she came from or why they were so anxious to dispose of her, neither are we informed if she had any voice in the matter, so we do not understand so OUK ANCESTORS 61 siiiiiLiIar a deal ; it is quite evident she could have been no help to the small settlement. The deed for this deal was made out to one person, Colonel John Pynchon of Springfield. This small band went forth to raise corn and cattle, and to at- tend upon God in His holy ordinance without distraction. The arts that were m special favor for a long- time, because so especial- ly needful, were those of carpentry, coopering, blacksmithing, tan- ning, making and weaving. No organized public action was had until 1658, when the first town meeting was held. In June 1651 Eleazor Mather was ordained minister and a meeting-house was ordered to be built, forty-two feet square, which fell seventy-two years afterwards with a terrible crash during the Sabbath morning service of March 1;^, 17^7. There were many people injured but none killed. Indians abounded for a long time in the settlement and were often violent. Even in Windsor, Conn., there were as late as 1670 nineteen Indians to one white man. A guard of fifty soldiers was in 167? maintained day and night throughout the year; the meet- ing-house was protected by a palisade, as in fact was the whole town, in 1690. Many trying accounts are found on record of the Indians' outbreaks ; at one time twenty-one of the little settlement were killed, a part of the town destroyed by tire and t7ve grand- children of one John Stebbens captured and never returned. Mrs. Phebe Strong, who was born August 20, 1717, related this incident : One day when a child she was walking towards night- fall with a playmate. They stepped aside from the path to gather flowers, when an Indian rushed suddenly out of the bushes and seizing her companion bore her ofl", and she was never again seen by her people. They had no roads or streets for along period, but only paths from house to house. For a hundred years or more after the first settlement of the town it was a week's journey to Boston for man 62 THE STRONG LINEAGE and horse, and the path was disting-iiished by marks cut upon the trees through the long stretch of forest that lay between the tvvO places. Elder John Strong was born 1605. He married in I630 Abigail Ford, daughter of Thomas Ford, who came from England in the same ship with Elder John Strong and was one of his to- laborers at Dorchester, Windsor and Northampton, Mass. He was deputy to the General Court in 1637, I638, I639, 1640 and grand juror in 1643. His wife died in Windsor, Conn., April 18, 1643. He removed to Northampton, Mass., in 1659 and died there November 28, 1676. Elder John Strong died April 14, 1699. II. John Strong, Jr., son of Elder John and Abigail (Ford) Strong, probably moved to Bolton, Conn., early in life as his children are found to have been born there. He was a farm^^r, as were also most of his sons. He was born in I635, marr ' November 26, 1656, Mary Clark, died February 20, I698. III. David Strong, son of John Jr. and Mary (Clar; Strong, lived near his father. He was noted for his piety and w.i^- made deacon of the Congregational Church at an early age. He was very rigid in his Christian duties, and like many others of tliat period insisted upon a strict observance of the Sabbath, he brought up a large family and although a man of small means lie always found something to give to his church. He was born December 1704, married May 3, 1732, Thankful Lomis, died January 5, 1801. IV. Ebenezer Strong, son of David and Thankful (Lomis) Strong, lived near the old homestead. He was also a farmer which was then as now the principal business in that section of the country. He was twice married. The first wife had seven sons. After nursing them all through the scarlet fever, she was taken with it and died. In a few years he married again. The domestic OUR ANCESTORS 6} relations of the home not being- as pleasant as they could wish, one after another of the sons made homes elsewhere, but in near- by towns. They were mostly farmers. Daniel, the third son, re- mained at home, as he appeared to be a favorite of the step- mother. After a few years Deacon David and son Daniel went into business together, which proved unsuccessful, and he failed rapidly. He was born in 1754, married August 24, 1779, Lucy Kilborn and died 1824. His sons were : V. 1 Ebenezer, b May 20, 1780, m September \, hSOO, Mary Day of Whitestown, N. Y. (daugiiter of Daniel Day of Hartford, Conn.) She died December 12, 1857; he died March 2, 1864. 2 Solomon, b July 8, 1782, m November 27, 1800. Laura Driggs of Bolton. 3 Daniel, b November 18, l 784, m November 16, I82=i, Sabra Morgan (daughter of Nathan Morgan). She died June 15, 1874; he died March 1, 1870. 4 Edwin. 5 Eli, b October 8, l 789, m December 10, 1812, Betsey Cowles of Belchertown, Mass. (daughter of John and Elizabeth Cowles). She died October 21, 1825, and he married for second wife, Sybil Cowles, sister of first wife, March 1826. He died September 19, 1867. 6 Genubeth, b October 22, 1791, m March 7, 1815, Lucy Han- num ( daughter of Elijah and Phebe ( Paine) Hannum) of Andover. He died August H, 1856; she died August 12, 1856. 7 Samuel, b April 22, 1794, adopted by John and Cleopatra Skinner of Berkhumstead and known as Samuel Skinner, m Mallissa Humphrey of E. Hartford. Their children were Lucy, Harriet, Fanny. Fanny m J. Butler Clapp of Berlin, Conn. 64 THE STR(»NG LINEAGE The War Records of Connecticut say that "Ebenezer Strong marched from the town of Bolton to the relief of Boston in the Lexington alarm, April 1775." V. Ebenezer Jr. and Mary ( Day) Strong. Children. VI. 1 Ebenezer Elen, b September 25, 1801. 2 Infant son, b and d in 1803. 1 Mary Emeline, b December 7, 1804, d March 8, isu. 4 Wiliard P., b April 12, 1807. 5 Elmon Day, M. D., b December 12, 1809. 6 Artemus L., b July 25, I8I3, d October 12, 1865. 7 Octa, b October 14, I8I6. 14, term of service 27 days ; travel from place of discharge to residence 80 miles." The Strong" family has been one of the largest and best of New England families. Our fathers were workers. Self indul- gence was no part of the original fabric of our constitution as a people. It is pleasant to convey the records of the lives and deeds of such a sturdy and God-fearing ancestry as ours. In the history of the past we have on a scale a picture of men founding families in the fear of God and training them from generation to genera- tion to his service. They have ever been the foremost in the land to form and to favor those great bulwarks of our great civilization, the church and the school, and have been much addition to bearing off New England ideas and institutions into new settlements. Cbe jMorgfan I^ineage Barly Rietory of the jMorgans In the compilation of this book it has been the object of the writer to bring before the reader as much as possible the work of those who spent much of their lives in the study of genealogy and who substantiate their work by documentary evidence. Thus it is through the hard labor of H. D. L. Swette that we come into pos- session of the following, which shows the ancestral line through thirty-four generations, or from King Egbert to the present gener- ations of Morgans and Averys. He says: "This is a record of historic facts verified by proof so much thereof as comprises the interval of time between the reign of Egbert and the arrival of Lady Susan and her husband, General John Humfrey, in Massa- chusetts Bay, in the well authenticated record given by Burk in his "Peerage of Great Britain," a work repeatedly approved and accepted by the courts of record in England as the best evidence." The American part of the same is as fully and satisfactorily estab- lished by the original records and other documentary proofs in the state archives of Massachusetts and Connecticut. No more than a casual glance along the line of ten centuries here given is neces- sary to discover a notable array of sovereign soldiers and states- men famous in British and European history without attempting to show an exhaustive list of these historic personages. A few of the more renowned among them may here be pointed out and first are noticed sixteen of the rulers of England : Egbert, Ethelwulf, Alfred, Edward the Elder, Edmund I., Edgar the Peaceable. Ethelred the Unready, Edmund Ironside, OUR ANCESTORS 79 William the Conqueror, the tirst two Henrys, John, Henry ill., the first three Edwards, but Edward 111. was the son of Isabel, daughter of Phillip the Fair, King' of France, who descended from Hugh Capet and nine intervening French kings, among whom were Robert 11., Philip Augustus, Louis Vlil., and St. Louis. The last is not the only saint who tigured in this pedigree. The mother of Edward II. was Eleanor, daughter of Ferdinand III., King of Castile and Leon, who was canonized by Clement X. Again through Richard of Connigsbury, Earl of Cambridge, whose mother was Isabel, daughter of Peter the Cruel. The line is direct from Sancho the Great and Alphonso the Wise. Other crowned ancestors are the Emperor Frederick Barbarosa and several kings of Scotland, notably Malcolm III. and the gracious Duncan, his father. Finally, the Shakespearian gallery is m truth full of the por- traits of those found in this line of ascendents, besides those already mentioned, e. g. Lord Hastings (of the reigns of Edward IV. and Richard 111.), George, Duke of Clarence, Richard Plantagenet, the yeoman, Edward Mortimer, Earl of March, Edmund of Langiy, Duke York and Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence.* I. tEgbert VII., last King of West Saxons, first King of Eng- land, m Redberga, d February 4, S]7, buried at Winchester. II. Ethelwulf, eldest son of Egbert, King of England, m Os- burga, daughter of Olsac, of Saxon descent. III. lAlfred, King of England, b S49, m 869 Ethelbith, daughter of Marciam Earl, d October 28, 90 L IV. Edward the Elder, King of England, m 920 for third wife Edgiva, daughter of Earl Sigellen, d 924. V. Edmund, King of England, b 921, m 940 Lady Elfgiva, who bore him two sons, d May 26, 949. *NoTE— The above (preface to a line of ancestry of Lucy Walsworth 800 to iSoo A. D.) and the following line of pedigree from Kinc; Egbert to Susanna Palmer inclusive together with the notes relating thereto, are taken from tlie works entitled "Williams and Walsworth Genealogy" by Alexander Wright. tSpeed's "History of Great Britain." :JSpeed's "History of Great Britain,'' Burk's "Peerage." 80 THE MORGAN LINEAGE VI. Edgar the Peaceable, King of England, born 94^, m g6I Effrida, daughter of Ordger, Duke of Devonshire. VII. Ethelred the Unready, King of England, b 967, m 984 Eltleda, daughter of Earldorman Thored. VIII. Edmund Ironsides. King of England, b 990, m 1014 Lucy Algitha, widow of Sigsfourth the Dane. IX. Edward the Exile, King of England, b 1015, m Agatha daugliter of Henry, Emperor of Germany, d 105 7. X. Margaret, daughter of Edward the Exile, m Malcolm III., King of Scotland, son of Duncan 1. XI. Matilda, daughter of Malcolm III., King of Scotland, m November 11, 1100, Henry I., King of England, b 1070, d December 31, 1135. XII. Matilda (or Maud), daughter of King Henry of England, m April ], 1127, Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Aryon, d September 10, 1 167. XIII. Henry 1!., King of England, b ITH, m 1151, Eleanor, daughter and co-heir of William, Duke of Aquitaine. XIV. John, King of England, b at Oxford December 24, 1166, m third wife Isabella, daughter of Aymer Taillefer, Count Angouleme. XV. Henry 111., King of England, b in Winchester October 10, 1206, m January 14, 1236, Eleanor, daughter of Ray- mond, Count of Province. XVI. Edward I., King of England, b June 17, 1264, m 1284 in Spain, Eleanor, daughter of Ferdinand 111., King of Castile. XVII. Edward II., King of England, b April 25, 1284, m Isabella, daughter of Phillip IV., King of France, d 1327. XVIU. Edward III., King of England, b November 13, I312, m January 28, 1328, Phillipa, daughter of William, Count of Hainault, d June 1377. OUR ANCESTORS SI XIX. Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, m Lady Eliza- beth de Burgii, daug-hter of William, Earl of Ulster, d Oc- tober 17, 136.S. XX. Lady Phillipa Plantagenet, b August 16, 1355, ni Ed- mund Mortimer, third Earl of March, d December 27, l.SSl. XXI. Roger Mortimer, fourth Earl of March, b 1377, m Lady Eleanor Holland, daughter of Thomas, Earl of Kent. XXII. Lady Anna Mortimer, daughter of Roger, m Richard Plantag'enet, Earl of Cambridge, son of Edmund, Duke of YoYk. ' XXIII. Richard, third Duke of York, K. G., m Cicely Nevill, ■ daughter of Ralph. Earl of Westmoreland. XXIV. George Plantag'enet, Duke of Clarence. K. G., m Lady Isabella, daughter of Richard, Earl of Salisbury and Warwick, drowned in tlie Tower 1479. XXV. Margaret, Countess of Salisbury, last of the Plantag- enets, m Sir Richard Pole, beheaded on Tower hill May 25, 1541. XXVI. Henry, Baron Montague, K. G., m Lady Jane, daughter of George Nevelle, Lord of Abergavenny, beheaded on Tower hill January 9, 1539. XXVII. Lady Katherine Pole m Francis Hastings, second Earl of Hunington. XXVIII. Lady Katherine, daui^hter of second Ear! of Hun- ington, m Henry Clinton, second Earl of Lincoln. XXIX. Thomas, third Earl of Lincoln, K. B., m Lady Eliza- beth, daughter of H. Knevitt of Charlton. XXX. Lady Susan, daughter of Thomas, third Earl of Lin- coln, m about 1620 General John Humfrey of Lynn, Mass., Bay Colony. XXXI. Miss Anna Humfrey, b in England 1621, m about 1642 William Palmer, Gent of Ardtinnan, Province of Munster, Ireland. 82 THE MORGAN LINEAGE XXXII. Miss Susanna Palmer, b 1666 at Swansey, Mass., m October 25, 1686, Samuel Avery, son of Captain James Avery and Johanna Greenslade, New London, Conn. XXXI II. Humfrey Avery, fifth son of Samuel Avery and Susanna (Palmer), m Jerusha Morgan, daughter of William Morgan and Margaret (Avery.) Cbc jVcvc Bngland JMorgans "The founder of the Pelagian heresy in the fourth century CaboLit A. D. 360) was a true Welshman, a monk of Bangor. His name was Morgan, which signifies 'Of the Sea.' The name itself suggests its early Welsh origin and higli antiquity, for it is now known to be older in Wales than the advent of the Saxon race or language, and was undoubtedly Celtic. The general use of surnames was not assumed in England until A. D. 1070, and was then introduced by the Normans under William the Conqueror, though some occasional hereditary sur- name among the old Anglo-Saxon and Welsh families appears, and among them the name Morgan had existed for many centuries eirlier. In the history of Wales from the earliest times accounts are given of several Welsh princes and kings by the name of Mor- gan, famous fellows in their dav and formidable barriers against Anglo-Saxon dominations and encroachments, some of them liv- ing as far back as A. D. 400. To one of these ancient kings by the name of Morgan, about A. D. 725, is accredited the invention and adoption of the trial by jury, which is called the Apostolic Law, for, quoth our regal and pious ancestor, 'As Christ and his twelve Apostles were finally to judge the world so human tribunals should be composed of the king and twelve wise men ;' and this it Note— If the reader will look carefully through the two lines of noble ancestry it will be found that the line to the House of Charlemagne of those by the name of Miner and Gallup, is through Edgiva, granddaughter of Alfred the Great, and those by the name of Avery and Morgan, through Edmund, King of Engl.tnd, grandson of Alfred the Great, brother of Edgiva. OUR ANCESTORS S] IS seen is prior to the reig-n of Alfred the Great, who is generally accredited as the founder of this form of trial." "Burk in his 'Encyclopedia of Heraldry' describes no less than flfty-tlve coats of arms, which have belonged by grant to various persons of the Morgan name. As our ancestor James came from Monmouthshire, near the border line of Wales, a fair presumption is that the coat of arms described as a "green shield and gold lion rampant" is the legitimate inheritance of our particular family." JAMES MORGAN. "I. James Morgan 1. was born in Wales in 1607. Prior to 1636 we find him in Bristol, England, in March I636 he sailed from Bristol and arrived in Boston in April. He is found in Rox- bury near Boston before 1640. That year, August 6, he married Margery Hill of Roxbury. He removed to Pequot (New London, Conn.) in I6S0. Like others around him he had land granted him for a homestead ; this was situated on the path to New Street or Cape Ann Lane, now Jetferson Avenue. This he occupied until about March-, 1657, when he sold his homestead and removed across the river upon a large tract of land previously granted him by the town. On this spot where our tlrst American ancestor of the name of Morgan reared his humble abode in the ancient land of the Pequots, now known as the town of Groton, an unbroken succession of his line, each bearing his honored name, James Morgan, have continued to dwell even unto this generation. There on that hallowed spot repose the ashes not only of himself and his good wife Margery, but also of his children and grandchildren, the patriarchs and mothers of us all. Time has well-nigh obliterated from the little rude and crumbling headstones the date, the name and the story, but by the flickering light of tradition, of old rec- ords, and the broken inscription, we have been enabled amid the tangled thorns which enshroud them to trace out and identify every grave." 84 THE MORGAN LINEAGE "The first home of this ancestor in Groton was a rude lo^ cabin ; here he lived with his wife, three sons and one daughter. It was the prolific hive of the Morgans until a few years ago, when it was torn down by parties who bought the land and replaced by other buildings." 11. Captain James Morgan II., second son of James 1. and Margery Morg:an, m November, 1666, Mary Vine of Old England. He was an active member of the first church in Groton and one of the two deacons. He was also principal magistrate and transacted the chief part of the business around him for many years. He was chosen captain of the first train band in Groton in 1692, under an order of the Governor and council, and was captain and com- mander of the dragoon force of New London Company, under a special commission from the General Court. He lived and died on the old homestead of his father James. ill. DEAa;)N William Morgan, son of James II. and Mary (Vine) Morgan, b March 4, 1669, m July 17, 1696, Margaret Avery, daughter of James Avery 11. and Deborah (Stallyon). He d December 25, 1750. Children. 1 William, b April 7, 1697. 2 Margaret, b September 10, 1698. 3 Jerusha,b January 14, 170^. 4 Joseph, b August 10, 1706. 5 Solomon, b October 5, 1708. 6 Elizabeth, b July 10, 1710. 7 Mary, b June 5, 1714. There is a tradition that another William Morgan (son of John, b 1693, d 1780, a cousin of our William) used to say that his father had a very little old book in which was written the name of William Morgan of Landafl^^, (Wales) and dated A. D. 1600, who, he said, was the father of our ancestor James I., the emigrant. There are other circumstances which strengthen the probabilities of OUR ANCESTORS 85 this tradition. This William had also a pair of gold sleeve buttons of antique make and having "William" rudely but plainly stamped on each, which were said to have come down as an heirloom from William of Landatf. These came into the possession of Nathan Morgan, the writer of the Morgan history, through his father, Wil- liam A., and were long held as a precious relic. They were stolen from him, and no trace of them was discovered until too late to save them from the crucible of an innocent purchaser, by whom they had been melted with a common mass of old jewelry. IV. Solomon Morgan, son of Deacon William and Mar- garet (Avery) Morgan, b October 5, 1/08, m July 1, 1742, Mary Walworth. He d November 22, 1791. We tind him deacon of the Groton Congregational church during the ministry of Rev. Aaron Kinne, who married his daughter Anna May 31, 1770. His tombstone in the old family burying ground has this inscription : "Esteemed for his integrity, peaceableness and fidelity, and his Christian life and character." Jerusha Morgan, sister of Solomon, m Humfrey Avery. V. Nathan Morgan, fifth child of Solomon and Mary (Walworth) Morgan, b January 2, 1754, m first Hannah Perkins September 8, 1774; she d and hem November 27, 1788, Sabra Capron. CAPRON. Bantield Capron, the pioneer, is the only Capron of whom we have any account. He came from England and settled in New England about 1660. It is believed that all the Caprons in the United States descended from him. From the best information obtainable he came from the north of England, near Wales. His lirst recorded residence in this country is Rehoboth, Mass., where he married a Miss Collender, and settled in Barrington, Mass. He had twelve children. Walter Capron, the fourth child, a forgeman, settled in 86 THE MORGAN LINEAGE Groton, Conn. He had two wives; by first wife, Hope , had six children, by second wife four children. Giles Capron, the tenth child, married Lucy and had seven children. Sabra, the second child of Giles, m Nathan Mor- gan. Sibell Capron, another daughter, m February 15, 1795> Gurdon Gallup.* Nathan and Sabra (Capron) Morgan. Children. Vi. 1 Nathan, b September, 1789, ni Fanny Williams. ( Went to Pennsylvania. No trace.) 2 Ebenezer, b August 9, 1791. 3 Solomon, b February 7, 1793. 4 Giles, b December jO, 1794. 5 Sabra, b April 18, 1797. 6 Elijah, b March 1, 1809. VI. Ebenezer, second child of Nathan and Sabra (Capron) Morgan, m Lavina Newberry October 28, t8t4. Children— 1 Julia Ann, b April 2, l8l 5, m Osmond Ciatlin. 2 Ebenezer, b July 22, 1817, m first Elizabeth Price; second, Mary J. Strong. Children by first wife. VII. 1 Thomas Franklin, b in Groton. 2 William, b in Groton. S Lavina, b in Groton. VI. Solomon Morgan, third child of Nathan and Sabra Morg:an, m February 2, 1825, Balinda Budington. He removed to Florida where he died in 1856. Children allsettled there. VII. 1 Elisha Ozias, b November 18, 1825, m September, 1847, Adeline Wheeler. 2 Anna Bailey, b February 13, 1828, d. 3 William H., b July 20, I832, d. 4 James, b August 10, 1835, unmarried. 5 Albert Olmstead, b December 9, 18^7, d. *Taken from VViUianis and Gallup Genealogy. OUR ANCESTORS S7 VI. Giles Morgan, fourth child of Nathan and Sabra Mor- gan, m November 9. 1826, Julia Budington, settled in Groton, Conn., d November 14, 18^9. Children. VII. 1 Gilbert, b September, m October 28. 1866, Louisa Hamilton. No children. 2 Julia Adeline, b December 22, 1.S29. 3 Mary, b March 10, I832, d. 4 John, b November, IN33, d 18^5. 5 Johanna, b October 9, I83S. m Stephen Budington February 17, 1867. 6 Edwin, b September 1, IS^s. MILLER. VII. 2 Julia Adeline Mor^2:an m January 18, 1848, George R. Miller. She d August 29, 1899, he d September 20, 1899, aged 72. Children and grandchildren. VIII. 1 Ella Maria, b December 26, 1848. 2 George Ruggles, b March 11, 1850. 3 Joseph Gilbert, b December 27, 1852. 4 Edward A., b June 2, 1.S58, d September 27, 1864. 5 Loren E., b May 14, 1861, d September 15, 1862. 6 Julia A., b December 13, 186^ d March 5, 1864. 7 Laura Agnes, b February 2\, 1870, m Dr. Melvin L. Douglas. No children. POWERS. VIII. 1 Ella M. Miller m February 20, 1873, Thomas Scott Powers. Children, IX. 1 Henry G., b August 20, 1876. 2 William J., b December 25, 1879. 3 Ella Hazel, b May 23, 1886. 88 THE MORGAN LINEAGE MILLER. VIH. 2 Georg-e R. Miller, Jr., m Nellie Hanis. 3 Joseph G. Miller m Emma G. Ayres. Children. IX. 1 Cornelia Miller, b November, 1882. 2 Laurence Miller, b February 6, 1886. 1 Joseph Miller, b April, 1890. MORGAN. VII. Edwin Morgan, sixth child of Giles and Julia (Buding- ton) Morgan, m December }, 1865, Hannah Manier. Children. VIII. 1 Edwin. 2 Kate May, d young. SABRA MORGAN STRONG. VI. Sabra Morgan, fifth child of Nathan and Sabra (Cap- ron Morgan, m November 16, 1825, Daniel Strong of Bolton, Conn., d June 15, 1874. Our dear grandmother, long since gone home to join her loved ones, was respected and loved by all who knew her. Perhaps more than the ordinary share of sorrow fell to her lot, but she bore it patiently, always trying to do her duty. Even her young life was darkened by one of the saddest trials. She became engaged to a young man. Colonel Daniel Weller, who during the war of 1812 was either killed or sickened and died. Her home at that time was in what was called the old Gore house on Gore lane, Groton, later known as the Burrows house. Near it in the woods the frogs held their nightly vigils, and the sound of their incessant doleful croaking so impressed her that she could never hear them in after life without being carried back to those terrible days of gloom. In early life she joined the Baptist church and as the after years brought their weight of care and sorrow she found much OUR ANCESTORS on of James Avery IIL tSon of James Avery 11. ;:Son of Ebenezer, son of James 11. from the Hnglo-Sa^eon Chronicles, page 350 Bound Cttitb Bede's ecclesiastical Ristory of england, edited by ^. H. Giles, D. C. Jv., Bohn, Jvondon, england. Adam had Seth, who had Cainnion, who had Malalahel, who had Jared, who had Enoh, who had IWethuselean, who had Lam- ech who had Noah, who had Sceaf (born in the Ark), who had Bedwig, who had Teatwa, who had Geat, who had Godwalf, who had Finn, who had Frithenwulf, who had Frealaf, who had Frith - would, who had Woden, who had Belig, who had Brond, who had Frithoger, who had Frowin, who had Wig, who had Gewis, who had Esler, who had Elesa, who had Cerdic, who had Cynric, who had Ceawlin, who had Cuthwin, who had Cutha, who had Ceolward, who had Henrid, who had Ingild (who was brother to Ina King of the WestSaxions) he held the kingdom thirty-seven years and afterwards went to St. Peters and there resigned his life. He had Eoppa, who had TtTa, who had Elmeed, who had Egbert, who had EthelwLilf, who had Alfred the Great, King of England, born A D 849, who married Ethelbith, daughter of Earl Elhelbran, and had Edward, King of England, who married Edgiva, daughter of Earl Sigelline, had EoGiVA^a nd who married ^Me^HLJCmg of France. from the Hnglo-SajEon Cbponfclcs, page 350, Bound COlitb Bede'6 ecclesiastical Ristory of england. edited by 7. fl. Giles. O. C. Jv., Bobn, Ivondon, england. Adam had Setli, who had Cainnion, who had Malalahel, whc had Jared, who had Enoh, who had Methuselean, who had Lam- ech, who had Noah, who had Sceaf (born in the Ark), who hac Bedwig, who had Teatwa, who had Geat, who had Godwalf. whc had Finn, who had Frithenwiilf, who had Frealaf. who had Frith- would, who had Woden, who had Belig, who had Brond, who had Frithoger, who had Frowin, who had Wig, who liad Gewis, who had Esler, who had Elesa, who had Cerdic, who had Cynric, who had Ceawlin, who had Cuthwin, who had Cutha, who had Ceolward, who had Henrid, who had Ingild (who was brother to Ina, King of the WestSaxions) he held the kingdom thirty-seven years and afterwards went to St. Peters and there resigned his life. He had Eoppa, who had TfTa, who had EInieed, who had Egbert, who had Ethelwulf, who had Alfred the Great, King of England, born A. D., 849, who married Elhelbith, daughter of Earl Elhelbran, and had Kdward, King of England, who married EJgiva, daughter of Earl Sigclline, had Edgiva, and who married Charles III., Kjng_ of France. Charlemagne, Emperor of the West, born A. D. 742, m Hildegarde, third wife, and had Louis I., King of France, m Judith the Fair, and had Charles II.. King of France, m Ermentrudis, and had Louis II., King of France, m Adelheid, and had Charl es III., King of Fr ance, m Princess Eigiva. granddaughter of Alfred the Great, King of England, and had Louis IV., King of France, m A. D. 9)9, Princess Gerberga de Saxe, daugh- ter of Henry the Fowler, Emperor of Germany, and had Charles, Duke of Lorraine, eldest son, exckded from the throne of France, who m first Bonne, daughter of Godefroi d'Ardenne, and had Gerberge, Countess of Lorraine, who m Lambert I., Count of Mons and Lorraine, and had Lambert II., Count of Mons, who m OJe, daughter of Gothelon, Count of Lorraine, son of Duke Charles, son of Louis IV., and had Henry II., Duke of Brabant, m Adela of Tharingia, and had Godfred I., Dukeot Lower Lorraine, Brabant and Lotlier, m Ida, daughter of Albert, third Count de Namur; also m Sophia, daughter of Henry IV., Emperor of Germany, his daughter, Adelicia,the Fair Maid of Brabant, second wife and widow of Henry I., King of England, who m secondly William d'Albini, E.arl of Sussex and Arun- del, and had ( d 1 1 76) William, second Earl of Arun'del, who m Maud St. HiUiario, widow of Roger de Clare, third Earl of Hetford, and had (d 1222) William, third Earl of Arundel and Earl of Sussex, who m Mabill de Mes- chines, daughter of_Hucii de Cybelisk /Wales), fifth Earl of Chester, and had Lady Mabel d'Albini, who m Robert de Talteshall, and had Robert de Tatteshall, who m Jean, daughtet of Ralph Fitz, Lord of Middle- han. County York, and had Emma de Tatteshall, who m Osbert de Cailly, son of Adam de Cailly, Lord of the Court Manors, and had £■> Hugh de Cailly, Lord of Owby Manor, who m Agnes, daughter of Hamo de Hamsted, and had Sir William de Cailly, Lord of Owby Manor, who m Catherine and had John de Cailly, Lord of Owby Manor, High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, who m Maud , and had John Cayley, Lord of Normanton, who had William Cayley, Lord of Normanton, who had Jennet Cayley, sole heir, who m John Lake, Lord of Manor of Norman- ton, and had John Lake, of Normanton, who m Jane, daughter of Robert Drakes, of Yorkshire, and had John Lake, of Normanton, who had Lancelot Lake, of Normanton, who m Margaret, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Twisleton, and had John Lake, of Normanton, who m Catherine, daughter of John Pecke, of Wakefield, and had Lancelot Lake, of Normanton, who m Emma, daughter of Robert North- end, of Halifax, Yorkshire, and had John Lake, of Erby, Lincolnshire, who m Osgarby, and had Richard Lake, of Erby, who m secondly Anna Morelly, of Claxby, Lincoln- shire, by whom he had John Lake, of Erby, who m Margaret, daugtiter of Colonel Edmund Read, of Wickford, Essex, and had Hannah Lake, who m Capt. John Gallup, Jr., of Stonington, Connecticut, had Ben.adhani Bcnadham Gallup m Estha Prentice, and had Hannah Gallup, m William Wheeler, and had Hannah Wheeler, in Simeon Miner, and had Simeon Miner, m Mary Owen, and had Dr. John Owen Miner, m Elizabeth Avery, and had John Owen Miner, m Adeline Avery, and had Elisha M. Miner, m Nancy Strong, and hjd four children : Adeline A. Miner, m Erastus Gallup. Phebe Elizabeth, m Leander Gardner. John Owen, m Amelia Avery. Mettle Morgan, m Nelson Porter. Matilda, William the Conqueror, b 1027, d 1087. Henrv I. Robert de Mellent (Earl of Gloucester). Maud, Randolph de Meschines. Hugh de Meschines (surnamed de Cybelisk) m Bertred, daughter of Simon, Earl of Evereux, had Mabill de Meschines, who m William, third Earl of Arundel. Cbe Gallup J^ineagfc Cbc Royal Descent of jvire. r>annab I^ake Gallup, Olife of Capt. Tfohn Gallup, Jv, This is copied from a book recently puhlislied by Charles H. Browning of Philadelphia, and entitled "Americans of Royal de- scent", including- prominent New England families, among them the Gallup family, whose lineage is traced through various lines back to the house of "Charlemagne." The line to William the Conqueror and the extension from Alfred the Great to Adam was furnished by Mrs. Charles F. Codle of Muscatine, Iowa, a descend- ant of Martha Gallup and Eunice Williams. In the pages that follow it will be seen from what books this history is copied. The object of the writer in inserting it here is to show how far back historians have l^een able to trace these old American families. The line to Adam beyond Cerdic is mythical, but it is interesting to know that the best historians have accepted the line from Cerdic as an assured fact. Mr, Daniel Haigh, the author of the "Anglo-Saxon Conquest of Britain", carries it to Geat who he thinks may have tlourished about the end of the tirst century; and Woden, the Scandinavian Jupiter, is given as fifth de- scent from him. The tirst historical name in this pedigree is Cerdic. The only assured fact is that he invaded England in 495. From him the line is accepted as probable by the best historians. An- terior to this the names are those of mythical Scandinavian heroes and dieties not likely ever to have existed in tangible human form. In copying from genealogies great pains have been taken to find out where certain information came from, and if possible the 118 THE GALLUP LINEAGE writer of this lias found tiie source if any book was referred to, thus being' satisfied of tiie authenticity. It was after a long search that the tirst"Bede's Ecclesiastical History" was found, and as it is a very old book not easily ol'ttainable we will here give a short sketch of his life, le.iving the reader to comprehend the possibility of tracing back as far as these old Bible names. Rede was surnamed "Venerable" on account of his learning, piety and talents; his was the greatest name in tlie ancient literature of Britain, and he was probably the most distinguished scholar of his age. He was born in 672 A. D.; the place of his birth was in the territory afterwards belonging to the twin monasteries of Wear- mouth and Jarrow, near the mouth of the rivers Tyne and Wear. He was but nineteen years of age when he was made deacon, and when in his thirtieth year was ordained priest. For thirteen years he was educated under the care of the alM^ot Benedict Biscop, and his successor Ceolfrid. His religious instructor was the monk Trumberct, his music master John, chief singer in St. Paul's Church, Rome, who had been called to England by Abbot Benedict. in the shelter of his quiet and sacred retreat, while the tem- pest of barbaric strife raged without and the hearts of all England were torn bv sanguinary passion, Bede now began earnestly to con- secrate his life to such literature as was possible in those days. He wrote homilies, lives of saints, hymns, works on chronology and grammar, and comments on the books of the Bible. When la- boring under disease and near the close of his life he engaged in a translation of St. John's gospel into Anglo-Saxon and dictated his version to his pupils. His most valuable work was the ecclesiastical history of Eng- land in five books, to which we are indebted for almost all our in- formation on the ancient history of England down to 731 A, D- King Alfred translated it into Anglo-Saxon. The tirst edition was published at Strasburg about 1 Soo. English versions were published \n 1^65. Being a very old man at this time his correspondents OUR ANCESTORS 119 drew lip and communicated to him information wliile writing-; the other information was m his possession, of whicli he made lii^eral use. From a fortniglit before the resurrection of Clirist lie spent the time in prayer nigiit and day till the day of our Lord's ascen- sion. He died on the 26th of May in tlie year of our Lord 7^5. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles extend from the year 1 A. D. to the year 1 1 S4. CHARLHMAGNE Charles the Great, King- of the Franks (76S-,S14 A. D.) and Roman emperor (800-.S14 A. D.), was born April 2, 742. He was son of Pepin, the first king of the Franks and grandson of Cliarles Martel. On Pepin's death, 764, he and his brother Carloman jointly succeeded to the throne. By Carloman's death and the ex- clusion of his sons from the throne Charlemagme became king. In 111 war was declared at Worms against the Saxons, for the security of the frontier and for the extension of the Christian re- ligion. Being successful in this engagement Pope Adrian 1. called him to his aid against Desiderius, King of the Lombards. Charlemagne had married the daughter of Desiderius and as she bore him no children had sent her back to her father and had married Hildegard, daughter of the Swabian Duke Godfrey. Desi- derius b.ad soui^ht revenge by urging the Pope to crown the sons of Carloman and on the Pope's refusal had laid waste the papal territory. Charlemagne crossed the Alps from Geneva with two armies 111 n\, and over-threw the kingdom of the Lombards in 774. In 775 he was again engaged in the northerly part of his dominions reducing the Saxons to subjection. In 776 he suppressed an insur- rection in Italy. In 717 he so completed his victory over the Sax- ons tliat their nobles generally acknowledged him as their sovereign 111 an assembly at Paderborn. Being now invited to interpose in the wars of the Aral'is and Moors 111 Spain, he hastened to that country in 77^^, and added to his 120 THE GALLUP LINEAGE dominions tlie regions between the Pyrenees and tlie Ebro. In 781 he went to Italy, where the Pope crowned ins second son Pepin King of Italy, and his third son Louis, an infant of three years old, 'King- of Aquitaine. The Saxons once more rising- in arms defeated and destroyed a Franlcish army on the Suntel in 7, m Esther Prentice. He died August 2, 1727, aged 72 \ she died May 1 Gallup, was born in Ledyard July U, 1845, m November 20, 187' Adeline A. Miner. Children. X. 1 Betsey Maria, b February 28, 1874. 2 William Miner, b February 12, 1876. 3 Fanny Adeline, b January 15, 1888. Gardner J^ineage The name Gardner was spelled by all the old Engiish families both Gardner and Gardiner. David Gardiner of Gardiner's Island bore on his tomb 1751 the armor of Richard Girdiner, D. D., a canon of Christ Church Cathedral where he was buried in 1G70. This pedigree has been arranged upon the authority of several American works and from them the right of descent is assured from (_)xford, England. I. Sir Thomas Gardiner, Knight of CuJsden, captain of horse under King" Charles I. Coat-armor : Party per Pale Gules and Or, a Fess between three Hinds tripping counter changed. He was buried in the Cathedral of Christ Church 164S, under Alexander Gerrard's monument. He was knighted by His Majesty whilst he sat at dinner just on the delivery of the news of Prince Rupert's success against the rebels that had Iteseiged New- ark, March 1643 or 1644. JOSEPH GARDINER II. Born 1601, d 1679 in Rhode Island. He came to America and settled in South Kingstown about l62.S-^(3. BENONI GARDINER III. Son of Joseph, born 16_^0, d \7]\, had Stephen, b 1667; Nathaniel, b •; Isaac, b 16S7; William, b 1671. WILLIAM GARDINER William lived and died in South Kingstown, R. I. He was a landed proprietor, and there is quite an extensive history of him in Updike's "Narragansett Church." He was locally known as 126 THE GARDNER LINEAGE ''Wicked William," because he withdrew from the CongTegational church and established an Episcopal church. This led to a long- and bitter law suit for the possession of a fund given by the "pro- prietors" for the use of "some orthodox person to preach God's word." He was the founder of the Boston, and Gardiner, Me., branches of this family, among- whom are prominently mentioned Dr. Sylvester, John and Robert Hallowell Gardiner. This whole family were noted Tories, and in some cases their property was confiscated and they were banished from the country at the time of the Revolution. STEPHEN GARDNER Stephen, son of Benoni, was born in South Kingstown, R. I. He married about 1700, Amy Sherman, born October 25, 1681, daugh- ter of Benjamin and Hannah ( Mowry) Sherman of Kingstown, R. 1., and a descendant of Phillip Sherman, one of the original settlers and first secretary of the state. The first mention of Stephen on the records is in 1705, in which year his father deeded him a lot of land with dwelling house thereon. In 17U Stephen and Amy deeded to Joseph Watson for 2,300 pounds current money the above property. In this deed he signed his name Stephen Gardiner. They moved to New London county. Conn., to what is now known as Bozrah.and from 1730 to 1742 deeds are repeatedly found on Norwich and Col- chester records, recording the purchase of land for various sums from 100 to 800 pounds each at Gardner's Lake, then known as Great Pond, lying near the towns of Montville, Bozrah, Colchester and Salem. In these deeds, as well as in all official papers, after his signing the deed to Joseph Watson, he signed as Stephen Gardner. All their children were born in Rliode Island. As will be shown by some of the purchases made, some of v/hich are mentioned above, Stephen was a very wealthy man for OUR ANCESTORS 127 those days. He was a very larg-e land owner, and to this day a large portion of his original property remains in the possession of his descendants. He was buried in the old Gardner burying ground at Gardnertown, where stands his tombstone, the inscrip- tion on which is as follows: Here lyes ye body of Stephen gardner who died february ye 9 1743 and in ye 76 year of his age. Children. V. 1 Amy. b June 13, 1701. 2 Lydia, b October lo, 1702. 3 Stephen, b February 24, 1704. 4 Benjamin, b April 18, 1706. 5 Peregrene, b January 24. 1707. 6 Daniel, b December 14, 1709. 7 Sarah, b October 2 5, 1711. inette Brown, who survived him. IX. Leander F. Gardner m Phebe E. Miner, March 20, 1873- Child. X. Addison Leander, b September 9, 1877, d September 12, 1891. KEMPTON. IX. Hester A. Gardner m William M. Kempton, May 20, 1872. OUR ANCESTORS I3I Children. X. 1 Arthur William, b May 20, 1874, m Rachel Pedlow, April 19, 1899, in Hartford. 2 Hessie, b August 2, I876. 3 Sadie, b August 8, 1880. 4 Harley, b August 27, I883. GARDNER. IX. Willis Gardner m Mary Jane Whipple, September 18, 1875. Children. X. 1 Etiie Mav, b November 14, 1876. 2 Elsie Louisa, b May 12, 1879. 3 Joseph Lee, b May 31, I887. IX. Oliver Ch:ipman Gardner m September 4. 1895, Carrie M. Ingalls. b March 13, I863, daughter of Charles and Anna (Blackington) Ing-alls. Children. X. 1 Janet Ingalls, b September 13, I896. 2 Helen Chapman, b July 14, 1899. GARDNER LINE TO THE AVERYS AND MINERS. 1. Christopher Avery had IL James L, m Joanna Greenslade, had in. Thomas Avery, b 1651, m Hannah Miner 1677 (daughter of Thomas Miner and Grace Palmer) had five children. After her death he married Hannah Raymond, b August 8, 1668 (daughter of Joshua Riymond and Elizabeth Smith), by whom he had six children. He settled in the north parish of New London. His name appears the first on the list of ''The first cove- nanters" in the organization of the church there in 1722. Captain Thomas Avery was a man of noble qualities, an active Christian and respected citizen. He died January 5, 1737. 132 THE GARDNER LINEAGE SAMUEL AVERY. IV. Second son of Thomas and Hannah ( Miner) Avery, b November 15, 1680, m Elizabeth Ransford 1704. He was a farmer and settled in Montville. Both wevt members of the church there. He d February 25, 1750; she d Sep- tember 9, 1761. MARTHA AVERY. V. Second child of Samuel and Elizabeth (Ransford) Avery, b about 1 707, m first Captain Peter Comstock, b March 4, 1702 (son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Prentice) Comstock.) He was a seaman and lived in Montville, died at sea 1742. She married second, Peletiah Bliss. RANSFORD COMSTOCK. VI. Seventh child of Captain Peter and Martha (Avery) Comstock, b March 6, 1737, m first, Catherine Vibber, December 13, 176I ; second, Asubba Davis, May 2, 1782. NANCY COMSTOCK. Vli. Daughter of Ransford and Asubba (Davis) Comstock, b June 9, 1784, m David H. Gardner, b August 2, 1778, (son of D.ivid and Dennis Gardner.) He was a farmer and settled in Bozrah. He d April 14, I863 ; she d September 26, 1866. ALVIN GARDNER. VUI. Ninth child of David H. and Nancy (Comstock) Gardner, b March 2, 1819, m Sarah Chapman, b Septem- ber 15, 1821 (daughter of Joseph Lee and Phebe (Wick- wire) Chapman. He d July 12, 1875 ; she d January 25, 1894. Children. IX. Addison T. Gardner, Albert D., Leander F., Hester A., Louisa J., Willis O. and Oliver C. OUR ANCESTORS 133 Chapman Mne. There are no less than sixteen ditTerent families or branches of the great Chapman family designated by their respective coats of arms. This has led to a great deal of discussion. Sir Robert Chap- man, who was the founder of a large family, settled at Saybrook, Conn. William Chapman, of another family, settled at New London ; no proof can be found that he is any connection of Sir Robert of Saybrook. William first appears in 1657, when he bought the house and lot of Mr. Blinman, formerly owned by Captain Denison, in New London. He had children, John, William, Samuel, Jeremiah, Jasper, Sarah and Hannah. Very little is known of the sons and nothing of the daughters. John settled at Colchester and Samuel at New London. II. Samuel Chapman, son of William, was b 1675, d November 2, 1758. He lived at Cohazie, New London, and was one of the signers to the patent of New London presented to the governor and approved October 14, 1704. ill. Joseph Chapman, son of Samuel, was b 1704, was an inhabitant of the north parish of New London previous to 1755, at which time he exchanged land with the Rev. David Jewett, which he says "being land my father Samuel gave me." He matried Mary Perkins and had five children. (See page 138. Uatimer J-mc. L Captain Robert Latimer, probably from Yorkshire — a coast trader, captain and part owner of a small vessel— appeared in the colony of New London about 1661. There is no known record of his landing at any of the New England ports and it may be that he came up from the southern colonies. We have in our 134 THE GARDNER LINEAGE family a coat of arms "Gules a cross patonce, or, with three finer de lys on a bend azure, crest, - a barred visor or helmet." .This came from En,^land and is supposed to have been brought over by Captain Robert. He married— see following- record — Charlestown Marriages (Massachusetts). "Robartt Latimer and Ann Jones joyned in marriage the first day of September, 1662, before Mr. Ric. Russell magistrate." (Page 358 Charlestown marriages at City Hall, Boston). Church Record. Ann Jones admitted to the first church in Charlestown, Massa- chusetts, 25th of first month, 1638. Captain Robert Latimer and wife Ann settled in New London, Conn., and had two children, Elizabeth, who married a Prentice, and Robert, born February 5th, 1664. He, Captain Robert, ap- pears to have been lost at sea about 1671, as his wife applied to the court for settlement of his estate about 169 1, he having de- ceased some twenty years previously. The property was divided with his children and the two children of his wife Ann by former marriage. Robert Latimer, Jr., married Elizabeth, widow of Nathan and had Children. III. 1 John. 2 Robert, m June 17, 1731, Mary Huntley. 3 Jonathan, m April 6, 1721, Boradil Denison. 4 Samuel, m July 11, 1723, Elizabeth Hallam. 5 Peter, m April 23, 1732, Hannah Picket. 6 Ann. HI. Samuel Latimer m Elizabeth Hallam in 1723, (see Hal- lam) and had Children. IV. 1 Elizabeth, b August 28, 1728. 2 Nathan, b March 15, 1730, m Jane Lee. OUR ANCESTORS 135 3 Samuel, b February 11, 1733. 4 Amos, b June 28, 1737. 5 Ann, b Aug'ust 28, 1739. 6 Mary, b February 18, 1745. 7 Ricbard, b Marcb 27, 1749, m Sarab Holt. 8 . Lucy, d May 10, 1751. IV. Nathan Latimer m May 6, 1753, Jane Lee, daugiiter of Colonel Stepben Lee and Abigail Lord of Lyme and first cousin to Governor Mattbew Griswold (see Lee, etc.) and bad at Cbestertield : Cbildren. V. 1 Hallam, b September 3, 1754, m Dodge and moved to Mariette, Obio, in 1824 or 1825. 2 Natban, b July 24, 1756, m Dodge. 3 Lucy, b December 3, 1758, m Djdge. 4 Steplien, b January 18, 1761, moved to Susquebanna. 5 Abigail or Hannab, b April 13, \76], m Samuel Miner, Harlem, 6 Jane or Eliz:ibetb, b December 17, 1764, m Dodge and moved to Susquebanna. 7 Samuel, b June 16, 1 767, m Chapel, Montville. 8 Ann, b July 10, 1769, m Zebulon Chapman. 9 Edward, b July 10, 1771, m Elizabeth Latimer, daugiiter of Richard. 10 Lydia, b July 5, \77], m Strickland Beckwiib. WILLIAM HYDE. 1. William Hyde probably came over from England in 1633 with the Rev. Thomas Hooker and removed with him to Hartford in 1636. He then moved to Saybrook and thence to Norwich, where be appears as one of the original proprietors in 1660. Nothing is known about his wife. 136 THE GARDNER LINEAGE Children. II. 1 Samuel, m June 1650, Jane Lee, dauoiiter of Thomas Lee and Brown, his wife. 2 Hester, m John Post. Thomas Lee and his wife came from Eno:land in 164L Thomas died on the passage. His widow and children settled in Say- brook. Samuel Hyde and Jane Lee had Children. ill. 1 Elizabeth (tlrst white child born in Norwich), b Aug. 1660, m Lieutenant Richard Lord. 2 Phebe, b I663, m Matthew Griswold. 3 Samuel, b 1665, m Elizabeth Calkins. 4 John, b 1667, m Experience Abel. 5 William, b 1670, m Anne Bushnell. 6 Thomas, b 1672, m Mary Backus. 7 Sarah, b 1675, died the same year. 8 Jabez, b 1677, m Elizabeth Bushnell. 11. Samuel Hyde was a farmer, died at the age of forty. John Birchard became the guardian of the children. RICHARD LORD. I. Elizabeth Hyde married in 16S2, Lieutenant Richard Lord of Lyme. William Lord, father of Richard, was born in England in I623, was third son of Thomas Lord (born in 1583). He and Dorothy his wife came to Newton, Mass., in I635 and went from there to Hartford in I636, thence to Saybrook among the early settlers and died there in 1678. He had fourteen children: William, b 1643, ni Mary Shaylor and settled at East Haddam ; Thomas, b 1645, m Mary Lee, daughter of the first Thomas Lee ; Lieutenant Richard, b May, 1647. He was a justice of the peace, served in the French and Indian wars, was at the siege of Louisburg, also member of the legislature. The children of Lieutenant Richard Lord and Elizabeth Hyde were : OUR ANCESTORS 137 Children. 11. 1 Elizabeth, b about 1683, m Isaac Watrous. 2 Phebe, b about 1686, m Joseph Sill. 3 Jane, b about 1688, m Samuel Ely. 4 Richard, b about 1690, m Elizabeth Lynde. 5 Mary, b about 1692, m Peter Pearson. 6 Lydia, b about 1694, m John Reynolds. 7 Deborah, b about 1698, m Nathan Jewitt. 8 Abigail, b about 1700, m Stephen Lee. 9 John, b about 1703, m Hannah Rogers. THOMAS LEE. I, Thomas Lee of Lyme was brother to the Jane Lee who married Samuel Hyde. He married first Sarah Kirtland of Say- brook, by whom he had Children. II. 1 John, b 16/0, m 1693, Elizabeth Smith of Lyme. 2 Mary, twin of John, m Thomas Lord of Lyme. 3 Thomas, b 1672, m Elizabeth Graham of Hartford. 4 Sarah, who m Daniel Buckingham of Saybrook. Governor Buckingham was of this stock. 5 Phebe, b in 1677, (who was the first wife of Lyme's Captain Deacon Reinold Marvin). His second wife was Mary DeWolf of Lyme, by whom he had nine children: 6 Elizabeth, b 1681, m Samuel Peck of Lyme. 7 William, b 1684, m Mary Griffin of Long Island. 8 Stephen, b 1686, d I694. 9 Joseph, b 1688, died at sixteen. 10 Benjamin, b I690, d I692. 11 Hannah, b 1695, m John Griswold, father of the governor. 12 Stephen, second, b 1696, m Abigail Lord. 13 Lydia, b 1701, d unmarried. 138 THE GARDNER LINEAGE Colonel Stephen Lee was a jiis'ice of the peace, served in French and Indian wars, was at the siege of Louisburg, member of • the legislature as was also his father. II. Colonel Stephen Lee and Abigail Lord, who were married December 24, 1719, had Children. III. 1. Hannah, b 1720, m John Lee. 2 Abigail, b 1722, m Benjamin Hyde. 3 Stephen, b 1724, ni Mehitable Marvin. 4 Thomas, b 1734, m Elizabeth Gilbert. 5 Jane, b August, 1734, m Nathan Latimer. 6 Elizabeth, b 1736, m George Grlswold, brother of Lucretia. who married Colonel Jonathan Latimer. There were seven others of whom no record is made. NATHAN LATIMER. I. Nathan Latimer m May 6, 1753, J^'^ne Lee, daughter of Colonel Stephen Lee. (For children see page 135.) Richard McCurdy, father of Charles J., was a son of John McCurdy and Anne Lord, daughter of Richard Lord and niece of Abigail Lord. Richard McCurdy was therefore first cousin to Jane Lee. ZEBULON CHAPMAN. IV. Zebulon Chapman, second son of Joseph and Mary (Perkins) Chapman, b about 1765, ni March 12, 1795, Ann Latimer (daughter of Nathan and Jane (Lee) Latimer). He settled in Chesterfield, Conn. Died June 8, 1802. Children. IV. 1 Joseph Lee, b December 9, 1795, m Phebe Wick- wire. 2 Mary, b July 15,1 798. m John Latimer. 3 Oliver, b May 6, 1801, d 1802. OUR ANCESTORS 139 JOSEPH LEE CHAPMAN. V. Joseph Lee Chapman, first child of Zebulon and Ann (Latimer) Chapman, m February 5, 1.S18, Phebe Wickwire, daughter of Williard and Hannah (Chapel) Wickwire. He settled in Montville, where he owned large tracts of land, was a justice of the peace, town clerk, county commissioner and represented his native town in the state legislature in 1837, was well informed in both political and civil affairs of the town and country and was considered a man of great ability, taking an active part in all town affairs. He was widely known for his retentive memory, and considered an authority on many legal points. He was a captain in the town militia and served m war of 1812. The following from the Records War Department, Wash- ington, D. C, June 29. 1901 : "The records of this office show that one Joseph L. Chapman served as a private in Captain Enos West's company of infantry 3rd Regiment Connecticut militia, war of 1812." "His name ap- pears with remarks showing that he served from August 10 to 26, 1814, from New London, Conn. He died October 15, I876. His wife died January 18, 1879- Children. VI. 1 Oliver W. Chapman, b October 21, 1818, m Harriet Ely, d January, 1864. 2 Sarah, b .September 15, 1821, m Alvin Gardner. 3 Hannah, b June 2 7, 1824, m Artimus Gardner. 4 Frank, b June, 1827, died young. 5 Leander, b May 18, 1828, m first, Emily Lanphere ; second Hairiet Clark. 6 Mary Jane, b June 20, I836, m John Bogue. 7 Charles A., b October 29, I838, m first, Mary Edwards; second, Laura Comstock. 140 THE GARDNER LINEAGE VI. Sarah Chapman, second child of Joseph L. and Phebe (Wickwire) Chapman, m Alvin Gardner. (For children, see page ). VI. Hannah Chapman m Artimus Gardner. Had children, Joseph, Lucy and Ella. VI. Mary Jane Chapman m John Bogiie. Children. VII. t Charles, b March 24, 1859. 2 Lewis, b July 22, 1861. 3 Jennie, b July 27, 1864. 4 William, b April 25, 1866. 5 Grace, b October 5, 1873- 6 Alma, b December 6, 1878. 7 Annie, b May 12, 1881. VII. Charles Bogue m Nellie Brown. Children. Lulie, Iver, Harry, Merton. VII. Lewis Bogue m first, Helen Latimer, had Helen and Louisa. Married second, Levina Harvey, had Lewis and Levina. VII. Jennie Bogue m John Adams. Child, Florence. VII. William Bogue m Lizzie Frink, Children. Elsie, Irvin, Ruth, Harlon. VI. Charles A. Chapman m first, Mary Edwards, daughter of Perry and Sarah Edwards. She d November 5, 1874, had child, Nellie Evelyn, b November 11, 1866. Married second, Laura Comstock, daughter of Nathan and Carrie Comstock. He was a merchant at Montville, and at ditferent times filled the position of representative, postmaster, deputy sheriff, justice of the peace and selectman. Children. VII. 1 Charles E., b February 17, 1878. 2 Agnes P., b October 19, 1882, d July 28, 1885. 3 Mildred M., b May 29, 1885. 4 Florence C, b January 16, 1888. 5 Laura C, b June 13, 1900. porter J^ineage The Porters came from England about 1671-72. They bought a tract of land in East Hartford, 100 rods along the bank of the Connecticut river and running back to the Manchester line some four or f^ve miles. For over two hundred years some part of this land was held by the direct descendants of the first possessor. JOHN PORTER. I. Born in East Hartford, January 5, 1758, was in the war, present at the battle of Bunker Hill. It is shown by the war records that John Porter served in Sergeant Aaron Griswold's company, I8th regiment, Connecticut militia, commanded by Jonathan Pettibone, Esq., Revolutionary war. His name appears on a pay roll of that organization mth remarks "Arrived August 17, 1776. Discharged September 25, 1776. Time in service, including seven days marching down and six going home, one month, 20 days. Amount of wages, £} 6s. 8d. By authority of Secretary of War 1901." II. John Nelson Porter, son of John 1., was born in East Hartford, May 15, 1799, was the first male Methodist in that community and was for over sixty years a member of the M. E. Church with which he first united. He married Harriet Hastings. III. Heman Bangs Porter, son of John N. Porter and Harriet Hastings, b in East Hartford, August 11, 1847, m in Nor- wich, Conn., October 7, 1868, Sarah Elizabeth Vergason (daughter of Nelson and Betsey (Maples) Vergason) b February 15, 1847. 142 THE PORTER LINEAGE Children. IV. Nelson Vergason b November 15, 1870; Frank H., died young; Heman B., died young. jVlaplee J^im I. Stephen Maples was among the earliest settlers on land in the north parish of New London. He appears tirst at New Lon- don 1712. when he was with others selected as watchman called the "military watch." He with others was also summoned before the court of commissioners to show the titles to the lands they were occupying and improving upon complaint of the Indians to the General Court in 1 720. At the meeting of the commissioners held at the house of Joseph Bradford on February 22, 1720, the land titles which had previously been in dispute were confirmed to occupants, Stephen Maples being one of them. He resided in the north part of the parish near Norwich, and where many of his descendants after- wards lived. He married about 1718, Patience Fargo. They both united with the church at north parish on April 24, 1726. He died August 26, 1755. II. John Maples, first child of Stephen and Patience (Fargo) Maples, b September 15, 1719, m Sarah Baker, May 12, 1743, (daughter of Joshua Baker and Marion Hurlbert. He was also a farmer. He joined the church during the pastorate of Rev. David Jewett and died at Montville, July 2, 1798. She died July 29, 1797. III. Stephen Maples, son of John and Sarah (Baker) Maples, b January 3, 1749, m Ann Leftlngwell. She died Febru- ary 5, 1819, aged 72 years. He married second wife, Lydia Ver- gason. He died May 3, 1829. IV. Benjamin Maples, son of Stephen Maples and Ann Lef^lngwell, b May 3, 1785, m Belinda Hamilton. He settled in OUR ANCESTORS I43 Norwich and died tliere Auo:ust 20, 1849. She died July 28, 1851. V. Betsey Maples, fourtli child of Benjamin and Belinda Hamilton, b , m Nelson Vergason. He d ; she d . VI. Elizabeth Vergason, daughter of Nelson and Betsey (Maples) Vergason, b February 15, 1847, m Heman B. Porter, October 7, 1868. VII. Nelson Vergason Porter, son of Heman and Eliza- beth (Vergason) Porter, b November 15, 1870, m November 25, 1890, Mettie M. Miner. Children. VIII. Howard N, b March 10, 1893 ; Blanche M. b April 29, 1897. Oenison J^ineage Miner Mne WILLIAM DENISON \. William Denison, bom in Engiand 1586, came to America in 1631, settled in Roxbury, Mass., having with him his wife Mar- garet and three sons, Daniel, Edward and George (who was then thirteen years old) and John Eliot, who was tutor to these sons. John Eliot became pastor of the church in Roxbury and William Denison a deacon. II. George Denison, son of William and Margaret Denison, bin 1618, m first, Bridget Thompson, 1640. She was daug:hter of John Thompson, gent of Preston, Northamptonshire, Eng- land. George and Bridget had two children born in Roxbury. She died in 1643. He then returned to England, served under Cromwell in the army of the parliament, won distinction and was wounded at Nessby. He was nursed at the house of John Borodell, a Scotchman, having large estates in Scotland and Ire- land. The daughter Annie was his nurse whom he married ; he then returned to Roxbury, finally settling in Stonington. III. John Denison, son of George and Annie (Borodell) Denison, b July 14, 1646, m Phebe Lay of Saybrook, Conn., in 16(^7 (daughter of Robert Lay), and had for their marriage por- tion a house and farm in Saybrook, and the farm of Captain George lying near the mouth of Mystic river. He was known as Captain John Denison. IV. George Denison, son of Captain John and Phebe (Lay) Denison, b March 28, I67I, m 1694, Mrs. Mary ( Witherell) OUR ANCESTORS 145 Harris, daughter of *Daniel Witherell and Grace Brewster. He graduated at Harvard college, studied law and settled in New Lon- don, where he was town clerk, county clerk, and clerk of probate. He died January 22, 1720. His wife died August 22, 1/1 1. V. Daniel Denison, tlfth son of George and Mary (With- erell) Denison, b June 27, 1703, m November 14, 1726, Rachel Starr, lived in New London. He died previous to 1 760. His widow m in 1761 Colonel Ebenezer Avery of South Groton, whose first wife was Lucy Latham by whom he had twelve chil- dren. Rachel (Starr) had ten children by Mr. Denison; of these Daniel married Col. Ebenezer Avery's daughter Kathrine July 1, 1 756, before his mother's second marriage, and his sister Phebe Denison married Lieutenant Ebenezer, son of Colonel Ebenezer Avery. Mrs. Rachel Avery d in 1791 aged 86 years. VI. Phebe Denison, b September 1