Bcw 3U YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY (SLft Of Gen. Joseph C Jackson 1913 1.1 ¦: Urtttfilf anb Ammmn H0lmtt0 Shropshire, Middlesex, Somerset — England Massachusetts, G>nnecticut, New York — United States 3arka0tt-ll0lr0tt 05?tt?ral 30j3?iJlj (B* Sutkmn Of the New York and United States Bar J9J2 cr- l^^ 2j^i /^% 4 ,<^nf7Urp/iMj V^/^l/^^^/l '/Zt / ^l4AlUU^i^t '^/A^'T^ ^.^./^^^.^ ^4^/^ Sntiali anh Am^man Jamtlij OK Walton ORIGIN, LINEAGE, SERVICE By a Direct American Descendant tbrough Henry Wokott of Windsor, Connecticut, Governors, Major - Generals Roger Wokott and Oliver Wokott — The Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Lieutenant-Governor, Judge Frederick Wokott of Litchfield ®l|f Jarkann- Unnirkfrijoff- Han htt StnJ»^- MntUuBt- ^rljfngbr- l^nnttngton- ai0kott0 Waltatt 3arksott COPYRIGHT All Tights reserved ty JOSEPH C. JACKSOM 138 East 34th Street, New York, May 22nd, 1912 'Bcw 31+- rO K.r o % Tbe Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, Hartford, Conn;, '';.U^^ c of his son Simon and Martha (Pitkin) Wolcott; of the Colonial Governors, Major Generals Roger Wolcott and Oliver Wolcott — the signer of the Declaration of Independence; of Governor Oliver Wolcott (2d), Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Washington and John Adams; and of Hon. Frederick Wolcott, of Litchfield. It indicates the pedigrees established of the American Wolcotts, and brings many lines down to the present time of publication. The author, General Joseph C. Jackson, of New York, U. S. A., 1861-1865, Counsellor-at-law, N. Y. and U. S. Supreme Courts, 1864, (Yale, A. B., 1857, A. M., i860, N. Y. Univ., LL. B., 1859, Harvard, LL. B., i860) early possessed and has originally, latterly acquired some exceptional knowledge hitherto not collected, formulated or combined in print; having ample facilities for compiling this work, and being the eldest living, and the latest, direct lineal descendant of both the British-American Wolcott family, and the allied Joshua Hunt ington family, of Norfolkshire, Eng., A. D. 1237, and Norwich, Conn. ; as well as the eldest living Jackson of the United European- American-New York family of the Schuyler-Brinckerhoff-Jacksons. The thirty-five Chronicles include also, twelve sketches of loyal Wolcott personages, with some friends, comrades, and col leagues: an Essay on British Names and Surnames: a Chapter on Great Britain, Holland and Netherlands Civilization: an opinion on genuine Genealogy and History: Important, National, Civic Influences: Mention of numerous representatives of other prominent constituent social forces, both earlier in Western Europe, and within the Colonial, Revoludonary, Consritutional, and International periods. The price, Three Dollars net, is not the equivalent cost in time, labor, or expense in compiling the original material of this limited, copyright edition, 8 mo. pp. 96. Misprint is corrected on page — no other errata. All descendants, others interested, libraries, established booksellers, publishing houses and bookstores, including those confining sales mostly to their stock, can now obtain one or more copies, delivered immediately by mail, postage paid, or consigned by express, on applying and remitting, under cover, directly to the author and pubttrher, Joseph C. Jackson, 138 East 34th Street, New York, in currency, money order, or check, $3 net a copy, stating the number and addresses desired. Copies can also be procured through Stuyvesant Company, Town and Country office, 389 Fifth Avenue, cor. 36th St., New York, W. B. Clarke Co., 26-28 Tremont St., between King's Chapel and Scollay Sq., Boston, and established booksellers else where. On a limited number of copies, a commission, or discount will be given to booksellers, to be taken from their remittances advanced in accommodating and executing their purchasing orders. The SrtttBlj anh Attiertran iFamily nf Wnlrotts so purchased will be delivered postpaid, when ordered by booksellers in New York, Boston, Hartford, Newark, New Haven, Philadelphia, Washington, D. C, Chicago, San Francisco, and other centers, and to Messrs. Hatchards, 187, and Henry Sotheran & Co., 43 Picca dilly, London, on receipt of $2.50 net a copy, by cheque or money order. The book is published in complying with the desire of many naturally interested, and at the request of others more generally interested in British-American life and characteristics. The value of this comprehensive genealogy and history is enhanced by group ing much fresh, ancient, and modern material, applicable to pres ent popular conditions, personal afEairs, and individual well-being. Over fifty years ago, Rev^ Dr. Stiles, in his " Ancient Windsor " declared; such Wolcott history should be fully and generally pub lished, because " it is most interesting to thousands of New England families." 4 The Mayor of Hartford, Hon. Edward L. Smith, August 24, 19 10, at a public reception tendered at the State House, in welcoming to the city and State 200 visitors representing several thousand Wolcott descendants, in emphasizing the interest in the records of eight Wolcott Governors and other serviceable and distinguished associates, felt " by the people of all New England," said: "There was no more honored name, and no family ex hibited finer traits of New England character." Mr. Roger Wilmot Griswold, in his last edition of " The Republican Court" pp. 204-205, D. Appleton and Co., New York: 1887 — a volume now out of print — closes his remarkable encomium on the first Wolcott immigrant and settler (1582-1655) and three illustrious descendants, by affirming that " of New England families, perhaps not one was more trusted or more hon ored ; and no family in the continent, for generations preserved a purer fame." This condensed work is auxiliary to the classic Memorial, and an Additional, Prior, and Supplemental Wolcott history. While it portrays important stages in the progress and renown of the British Kingdom, and exalts the courage, power, and glorious deeds of numerous other worthy Loyalists, Colonists, and Union ists, it aids in perpetuating the distinctive principles and recognized characteristics of a race now, perhaps, longest continuously existing in harmonious accord with all known authentic records and truly good names, fairly preserved in the English language. The appropriate binding admits adding heavier covers for permanent uses, with blank leaves inserted for individual future notes. The Congressional Library, in explaining its request for another copy of IrtttBlj anil Ammran Jfamtlg nf Makatt, Nov. 25, 19 1 2, some weeks after publication and copyright certificate, said: " It was due to our keen desire to keep up to date our large genea logical collection." " Our records indicated that General Jackson has recently given valuable material to the Library of Congress." Joseph C. Jackson, 138 East 34th Street, New York City. £uro)ifmt mtb Am^riran J^amU^ of WoUatt. A Record and Chronicle containing origin, lineage and some history, by the eldest direct lineal descendant of Henry Wolcott of Tolland, Somersetshire, England, the American progenitor and colonial founder, through his youngest son, Simon, and Martha (Pitkin) Wolcott of Windsor, Con necticut, through the Governors and Major-Generals Roger Wolcott and Oliver Wolcott, First, — the signer of the Declaration of Independence — and through the son of the signer, the Honorable Judge and Lieutenant-Governor Frederick Wolcott of Litchfield, Connecticut. By ^aaspli Oloohr Jarksnn, Newark, N. J., Academy, 1 847 ; Col. Z. Kingsley's West Point School, 1 848 ; Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., 1853; Yale College, Conn., A. B. 1857, A.M. i860; New York University, LL.B., 1859; Harvard University, LL.B., i860. Aide-de-Camp to Brig.-Gen. Robert Anderson, U. S. A., April, 1861 ; 2d Lt. ist N. J. Volunteers; Aide-de-Camp to Maj.-Gen. Philip Kearny, U. S. V.; Capt. and Aide-de- Camp, Sixth Corps, A. O. P. to Maj.-Gen. W. B. Franklin, U. S. A.; Lt.-Col. 26th N. J. Volunteers, Col. U. S. V., Dec. 13, 1862; Brig.-Gen. U. S. (V.) A., March 13, 1865; Attorney and Counsellor, N. Y. and U. S. Courts, i860; U S. Supreme Court, 1864. Designed expressly for those interested in the Life and Record of Henry Wolcott, the American Colonial founder, and that of his ancestry and that of his direct descendants, whether living prior to, or subsequent to the date of the Wolcott Memorial, published in New York, of which this is an immediate, limited sequence. It also points to fuller research, and presents additional, important historical material of interest to all those maintaining the National principles which the Wolcott name represents. PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, New York : 1912. SritiBly-Amfmatt Wotottie CONTENTS Wolcott Family Outlines . . . Jackson-Wolcott Pedigree and Lines Fuller Records Required An Editor's Omissions: some Corrections A Main Line of the American Family Jackson-Wolcotts, and Kindred Jackson-Wolcott lines .... Wolcott Memorial, its Authors and Projectors Origin of Wolcott Name, Family History Recent Representatives .... Three Illustrious Personages Major-General Roger: Wolcott . Oliver Wolcott, Governor, and Signer of The Declaration of Independence Oliver Wolcott, Governor, and Secretary U. S Treasury ..... Taunton, Somersetshire Bath — Somerset: Ancient and Modern . Characteristics: some popularly ascribed Creation — Inheritance, Environment, Per sonallty ..... Hold fast to what is Good Jackson-Huntington-Wolcotts Conclusions In History . Shropshire ..... Middlesex ..... Somersetshire .... British English Names : Surnames . PAGE 4-20 5-20, 26-36 20 21-2424-2627-28 5-28-37 37-41 41-45,78-82 4549 4950 49-52 52-54 54-5757-63 57-65 65-68 63-65, 68-70 70-75 75-77 75-76 77-78 78-82 Ec^^^ 'i\4» PAGE European Civilization ..... 82-84 Genuine Genealogy and History . . . 84-86 England, Netherlands, United States . . 86 National Civic Forces and Groups . . 87-91 Thomas Jefferson ..... 89 Alexander Hamilton ..... 91 Abraham Lincoln ..... 92 George Washington ..... 92 Centers and Types of National Civilizing Influences ...... 94-95 Continuous Lineage of British- American Wolcotts 95-96 Mi^t Ammran mh Mtxtmii Wttkona. io0p)itf (Eook? 3fark0on 0 Wokott IFamtlg Vlintn^t. This introduction is made in a direct form and serves as an Index to the Contents. The entire publication is originally compiled, comprehensively developed and edited by the author, who is the oldest lineal descendant living of Henry, Simon, and Governors Roger, Oliver, and Lt.- Govemor Frederick Wolcott, as recorded and presented in the Wolcott Memorial, compiled by Messrs. George Gibbs and Samuel Wolcott. This publication conceming the British- American Wolcotts is independent of, additional to, and may be taken with the Wolcott Memorial, published in New York, 1880. It precedes and supplements Wolcott Records. Name (General) Joseph Cooke Jackson, bom August 5th, 1835, at Newark, N. J.; present P. O. address, 138 E. 34th St., New York City, Attorney and Counsellor-at- Law. I. I am the son of Hon. John P. Jackson (Counsellor- at-Law and Railroad President) and Elizabeth Wolcott Jackson, of Newark, N. J. I am the oldest living descendant of Govemor Oliver Wolcott, First, of Litchfield, Conn., the signer of the Declaration of Independence ; also of same blood as or kinsman of two other Connecticut signers, Gover nor Samuel Huntington and General William Williams. Upon October 12th, 18^4, I married Katharine Perkins Day, of Hartford, Conn., who was the youngest child of Hon. Calvin Day and Catherine Seymour Day, of Hartford, Conn., ceremony at the homestead, cor. Spring and Myrtle Streets, Rev. Joel Hawes, D.D., officiating. Our children are: Joseph Cooke Jackson, Jr., of New York City, b. Hartford, Conn., Aug. 20th, 1865. 6 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. John Day Jackson of New Haven, Conn., b. Hartford Conn., Sept. 23, 1868. Mrs. Katharine Seymour Jackson Goodsell, wife of Percy Hamilton Goodsell of New York City, b. New York, N. Y., October 21, 187 1. Mrs. Elizabeth Huntington Wolcott Jackson Watts, wife of Martin Sheeler Watts of New York City, b. Quogue, N. Y., Sept. ist, 1875. ( I ) Joseph Cooke Jackson, Jr., Yale, S. S. S., 1887, married, June 14, 1900, Mabel Goodsell in Christ Church, at East Orange, New Jersey, the daughter of James H. and Leila A. Goodsell of East Orange, N. J. The Rev. Drs. Davis and Caskey officiated. Both they and their parents are now living. Their child, my grandson, Joseph Hamilton Jackson, was born June 15, 1 90 1, at East Orange, New Jersey. His pursuit has been banking and insurance. (2) John Day Jackson, Yale, 1890, married July 28, 1909, at Elgin, Illinois, Rose Marie Herrick, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. (Anne Taylor) Herrick of Elgin, Illinois. The ceremony was performed by Rev. John Herrick, D.D., the bride's grandfather, assisted by Rev. C. L. Morgan, D.D. Both they and their parents are now living. He is editor and proprietor of the New Haven Evening Register. Their child, my grandson, Richard Seymour Jackson, was bom August 28, 1910, at New Haven, Conn. Their second child, John Herrick Jackson, was born in New Haven, Jan uary 8, 1912. (3) Katharine Seymour Jackson was married in the Calvin Day homestead at Hartford, Conn., Decem ber 4, 1909, to Percy Hamilton Goodsell, Christ Church, Oxford, of East Orange, N. J., who was born and now resides in New York City, and is the son of James H. and Lelia A. Goodsell of East Orange, N. J. Both they and their parents are now living. The ceremony was BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 7 performed by Rev. Francis Goodwin, D.D. Their child, my grandson, Percy Hamilton Goodsell, Jr., was born September 24, 19 10, at Hartford, Conn., in my summer home, the Day Homestead, corner Spring and Myrtle Streets. Mr. Goodsell's occupation is in shrubbery, horticulture and forestry. (4) Elizabeth Huntington Wolcott Jackson was married In the Church of the Epiphany, New York City, by Bishop David H. Greer, LL.D., assisted by Rev. William T. Crocker, October 20, 1909, to Martin Sheeler Watts, Bachelor of Law, University of Virginia, of New York City, who was born in Baltimore, Md., and is the son of Mr. ^nd Mrs. James H. (Mary Sheeler) Watts of Baltimore, Md. Both they and their parents are now living. Their child, my grandson, Martin Seymour Huntington Watts, was bom December 26, 19 10, in New York City, In my family's home, now for over forty years. No. 138 East Thirty- fourth Street. Their second child, Schuyler Wolcott Jackson Watts, was born in my New York home, January 25, 1912. 2. My mother was the (4th) child of Hon. Judge Frederick Wolcott and Betsey (Huntington) Wolcott of Litchfield, Conn. She was bom March 6th, 1806, at Wol cott Homestead, South Street, Litchfield, Conn., and died October 15th, 1875, at Newark, N. J. Upon May 22d, 1827, at Litchfield, Conn., she married John P. Jackson, of Newark, N. J., who was born June 8th, 1805, at Acquackanonck, now Passaic, N. J., and was the child of Peter Jackson and Hester Schuyler Van der Linde (Brinckerhoff) Jackson. My parents died — John P. Jack son, December loth, 1861; Elizabeth Wolcott Jackson, October 15 th, 1875. 3. Her father was the (5th) child of the Governor and Maj.-General Oliver Wolcott and Lorraine (Collins) Wol cott, of Litchfield, Conn., viz., Lieut.-Governor and Judge 8 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. Frederick Wolcott. He, the Lieut-Governor, and Judge Frederick Wolcott, was bom November 2, 1767, at Litch field, Conn., and died May 26, 1837, at Litchfield, Conn., at the Homestead.Upon October 12th, 1800, Lieut.-Governor and Judge Frederick Wolcott married Betsey Huntington, who was the child of Colonel Joshua Huntington, and Hannah Hunting ton, of Norwich, Conn. They died — Frederick Wolcott, May 28, 1837, and Betsey, April 2, 18 12, at Litchfield, Conn. 4. His father, Governor and Major-General Oliver Wokott (ist), was the (9th) child and youngest son of Governor and Major-General Roger Wolcott and Sarah Drake, of East, now South Windsor, Conn. He, Oliver Wolcott ( ist) , was born November 20th, 1726, at East, now South Windsor, Conn., and died December ist, 1797, at Litchfield, Conn., homestead, built by him. Upon January 21, 1755, at Guilford, Conn., he married Lorraine (Laura) Collins, who was the child of Captain Daniel Collins and Lois Collins, who was born January I, 1732; all of Guilford, Conn. Lorraine died April 19, 1794. They (parents) died — Captain Daniel Collins be fore his wife, Lois, who died January 4, 1780. Lorraine and Lois, her mother, are buried in Litchfield, Conn. 5. His (Oliver's) father. Governor and Major-General Roger Wolcott, was the ninth child and youngest son of Simon Wolcott and Martha Pitkin. He was bom January 4, 1679, at Windsor, Conn. Upon December 3, 1702, he married at South Windsor, Conn., Sarah Drake, the daughter of Job Drake and Sarah Drake, and granddaughter of Job Drake and Mary (Wolcott) Drake. Sarah Drake was bom May ID, 1685, and died In South Windsor, 1747. They, her grand parents. Job Drake and Mary (Wolcott) his wife, were married June 24, 1646, at Windsor, Conn.; both died on the same one day. Roger Wolcott died at South Windsor, May 17, 1767. His (Roger's) children and their BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 9 lineal descendants are of the direct, fullest, latest descendants and blood representatives of the original English-American Henry Wolcott stock. 6. The father of Gov. Maj.-Gen. Roger Wolcott was Simon Wolcott, who was the seventh child and youngest son of Henry Wolcott of Tolland, Somersetshire, England, the progenitor of my American Wolcott family. Simon was born In the home of his parents, Henry and Elizabeth Wolcott, at the family homestead, Galdon Manor, in Tolland, Somer setshire, England, between September nth, 1624 and Sep tember nth, 1625. He remained there at home when his father, Henry Wolcott first came to America, in 1628, to learn the nature of this country. Simon's father, Henry, returning to Tolland, took his wife and three elder sons, Henry, George and Christopher, back with him to America, May 30th, 1630, landing at Nantasket and settling at Dor chester and Boston, where Henry, the father, was enrolled on the first list of freemen, Oct. 19, 1630. After removing to Windsor, and settling among the first, individual, freemen, founders of the Connecticut Colony, Henry, the father, again retumed to Tolland, England, and brought over to Windsor, between 1635 and 1641, his youngest son, Simon, and his daughters Anna and Mary; and thus terminated his Tolland Estate residence — though he for some time afterwards owned Galdon Manor, devised to him by his elder brother Christopher — transplanting his entire family to Windsor, Conn., save John, his eldest son, who died without issue. In Tolland, after his father had left. Simon, thus, from 1630, when about five years old, lived at home in Tolland, and later In Windsor, Conn., with his father and mother, Henry and Elizabeth Wolcott, until after his own marriage. He married, first, March 19, 1656, Joanna. Cook, who was born August 5, 1638, daughter of Aaron Cook, of Windsor. She was then in her eighteenth year, and died April 27, 1656, less than two months after her marriage. Simon, married, second, October 17, 1661, IO BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. Martha Pitkin, of London, England, a finely educated young lady, who came to the Connecticut Colony, it was said, to induce her brother, William Pitkin, the Attorney-General and Treasurer of the Connecticut Colony, to return to Eng land. Martha Pitkin was born In Mary-le-bone parish, Lon don, in 1639, and was married to Simon Wolcott, "the handsomest, most eligible gentleman in the colony," with the approval of her brother, and to the delight of the Connecticut Colony. Simon and his wife removed to, and founded, Sims- bury, Conn. ; then retumed and later settled In South Wind sor. Martha died October 13, 1 7 19. Simon died before her; she married, second, David Clarke, but they died without issue. Simon and Martha (Pitkin) Wolcott lived many years in South Windsor, and were the parents of nine children, born there, of whom their youngest son was Governor Major- General Roger Wolcott. Simon Wolcott died in South Windsor, Conn., September 11, 1687. He lies buried in Old Windsor, Conn., by the side of his parents, Henry and Eliza beth Wolcott, where Is also Inscribed on their sarcophagus originally carved by Governor Mathew Griswold, 2d, son- in-law of Simon Wolcott, the name and death of his wife, Martha (Pitkin) Wolcott. 7. The father of Simon Wolcott, was Henry Wolcott, the progenitor of the American family of Wolcott. He was born In Galdon Manor, Tolland, Somersetshire, England, A. D. 1578, the exact date of the month not here stated, since the parish register containing some of the family records prior to 1 606, and locally known to have been long existing In the small, symmetrical, granite, Norman, Tolland parish church St. John, the family had maintained for cen turies, somehow disappeared; probably stolen by vandals, as happened in a large number of British parishes for a con siderable period. The day of his birth, in 1578, it is known was soon followed, according to the custom of that parish, by his baptism in the neighboring, larger parish Church of Lydlard, St. Lawrence, December 6, 1578, as is there re- BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. II corded. Henry Wolcott was the son of John Wolcott of Tolland, Somersetshire, England. Elizabeth Saunders, daughter of Thomas Saunders of Lydiard, St. Lawrence, whom he married January 19, 1606, was bom in 1582 and was there baptized, December 20, 1584. He died May 30, 1655, aged 77; Elizabeth (Saunders) Wolcott died July 7, 1655, aged 73. Both are buried in Windsor, Conn. After reaching Nantasket, Mass., May 30, 1630, Henry Wolcott enrolled on the first list of freemen of Boston, Oct. 19, 1630, where he lived several years; then removed, and finally settled, about 1635, at Windsor, Conn., and with individual freemen, founded and established the Connecticut Colony. Rev. John Warham, of Exeter, who had come from Plymouth, England, with him on his second trip, and some others from Dorchester, then the most important part of the Massachusetts Colony, and Boston, came to Windsor, a little later. Henry Wolcott and Rev. Mr. Warham, who Is an ancestor of my wife, born Katharine Perkins Day, of Hartford, had organized in England what became the First Church in Windsor, Conn., after they had engaged their passage from Plymouth, In 1630, In the " Mary and John." This is the oldest English speaking church of its faith, next to that of Southwark. Henry Wolcott was thus an essential founder of both the two Colonies, Massachusetts and Con necticut. In introducing into those American colonies the ancient British custom of electing their rulers, his voice was influential In selecting John Haynes as Govemor, first of the Massachusetts and afterwards of the Connecticut Colony. Governor Haynes is an ancestor of my beloved wife. Galdon Manor, of Tudor architecture, the Mill and other old stone buildings which eventually passed from the family, were, as late as 1903, standing quite substantially — particu larly the house — in the still sequestered, picturesque, agricul tural region, and occupied by the present owner, whose agent permitted our inspection; a courtesy which had been shown some other relatives, though the mere curiosity of anti- 12 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. quarians has annoyed him. The homestead estate, as a whole, because of the neglected farm-houses, appears now in a somewhat dilapidated condition, relatively, considering its vast area, charming situation, natural resources, and gener ally inviting, historic territory — Inconsistent with the singu larly beautiful country, so remote from the prosperous neigh boring towns in Somerset and Devon ; but the sweet little Tol land parish church, long ago erected by the Wolcotts, sur mounting an attractive hill and near a substantial forest, as well as the fine rectory, are kept In excellent and appropriate condition, as are the church grounds and the graves of our an cestors, which are now permanently well maintained through provision made by the sons of the late Hon. Frederick Wol cott, viz., Messrs. Joshua Huntington Wolcott, of Boston, Frederick Henry Wolcott, of New York, and Charles Mose ley Wolcott, of Fishkill, N. Y. They are pronounced the most venerable, best-preserved, private tombs in England. Mr. H. G. Somerby, the antiquarian, wrote, summarily, in 1 849, that the Manor house and buildings were originally built as a spacious home mansion, which even now, if cared for, would last ages; "they were then at least over three hundred years old," and that " Wolcotts were dwelling in Tolland In 1525." The estate Is quite extensive and included besides the grist mill, several houses, tenements, woods, and fertile fields, well-watered. Even now, the condition and face of the region indicate that It was an early dwelling place of substantial freeholders, and the mansion, as built both for comfort and defence; the Wolcotts' last settlement in England, after migrating from farther north. The ancient coat-of-arms with the Roman Horatian motto, NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI, remains inscribed on the walls of the square dining hall. The retiring farmer resident does not favor the intmsion of strangers. We were shown recently, the interior, and adjacent premises. My daughter was permitted to photograph the buildings, which, remote from any town, have not for years been fully BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 13 rehabilitated. A friend of the present owner, himself descended from an ancient Somerset family, and knowing Wolcott history, tendered his service in securing a painting of them. One view of the Manor house was lately given by a person unknown to mle, to the Connecticut magazine. An Oxford friend, who is a kinsman of Archbishop Benson, now occupies the delightful, well-preserved Saunders estate, the homestead of Mrs. Henry Wolcott, at Lydiard, St. Law rence. Galdon is the abbreviation name of the Manor. Tolland struck me. In 1903 and 1907, as clearly both the century dwelling place, and the stepping stone, of the Wol cott race, from their ancient British homes, to primitive. Colonial Connecticut. The records of Lydiard, St. Law rence, Subsidy Rolls, wills deposited in Wells Cathedral and elsewhere, the Wolcott terrace, Wolcott strand and Wolcott chapel in Bath, the park, castle, village of Wolcott (some times spelt "Walcot") Wolcott terrace near Lambeth Palace, London, and other reminders In Somerset, Shrop shire, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, and counties composing London, form the permanent chain of muniments and asso ciations indicating the origin and progressive establishment of the Wolcott family, from time immemorial, resident in chosen localtles, continuously. In England and America. Probably no British-American, English-speaking family, has longer maintained its continuous line. Burke's " Landed Gentry," Hare's " Shropshire," Sir Walter Besant's and other English and United States works, confirm this. Like the dates of the erection and disappearance of the N. W. tower of Ely Ca thedral, that of a single, minor item, may be, here or there, or for a while, obscure; but the vast cathedral itself, stands, not impaired by time, but rather strengthened in Its hold and influence on progressive British and American civilization. Henfy Wolcott was an original member also, of the first legislative bodies, or General Court, of both the Massachu setts and Connecticut Colonies; and as the selected freemen. 14 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. he, and several descendants, were entmsted with special civil, and some church authority. 8. The father of Henry Wolcott, was John Wolcott, of Tolland. The parish record of his birth similarly disap peared ; but the faint inscription on his venerable sarcophagus next Tolland church, shows that he died March 21, 161 8. His mother's — "Johne's — (Joanna), tomb, next his, records her death April 5, 1637 — the grandmother of Henry Wolcott. John Wolcott's will is dated, " Nov. 10, 16 — ," proved, " Jan. 16, ." Myself, my wife, children, three Wolcott uncles, my mother, sisters and brothers have, at times, visited Tolland; many of us, also, Lydiard, St. Lawrence, Wells, Bath, London and parts of Shropshire in the vicinity of Wolcott, Wellington and Shrewsbury. The Manor and its surroundings, with all the other evidence exist ing, furnish proof that the family Is very ancient, and indicate that the beautiful Tolland region, retired and quite sparsely settled, was, at first, almost exclusively inhabited by Wol cotts, who located and long dwelt there, also coming from the north, by the way of Bath, Wells and the Severn. While living, inimitably earlier. In Shropshire, as Hare, in his ancient Shropshlrp history which is based on many authorities cited therein, states, " the family pedigree " was there kept for centuries in Wolcott Hall, a British border settlement, flourishing much before the arrival of William, the Norman, who, thereabouts, located some of his favorites. Lords of the land and sanctified personages, often combined, or pre ceded the merely civil powers. Roger de Wolcott, a famous Crusader, was a special friend of the Bishop of Hereford in 1227. It was about his time that Richard I placed the fleur-de-lis on the Wolcott coat of arms. The illegibility of certain inscriptions and documents, by reason of age, old landmarks, legendary lore, and distinct traditions in known localities, all strengthen and confirm the evidence shown by ancient records and immemorable, though substantial, monu ments. BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. I 5 9. John Wolcott, the grandfather of Henry, the Ameri can progenitor, was the son of John Wolcott, of Tolland, Somersetshire. The Subsidy Rolls and Wills supply some evidence not minutely preserved in the family diaries or parish records, though specific pedigrees, also, may possibly exist, as that record reported by Hare, which " was kept for centu ries," in the Wolcott neighborhood, Shropshire. One could not affirm, or deny this, as to this period of destroyed parish records. The Wolcotts, like the Jacksons, steadfastly, plainly lived — neighborly demonstrating — their public-spirited, honorable genealogy. Each took their bold, dignified family motto from the same ( ist) canto of the spirited Latin author, before the lines began of several English sovereigns. Mrs. John Wolcott's (the grandmother of Henry) tomb. Is marked by an enduring monument near the Tolland church ; and the very old tomb next hers, may be her husband's, this elder John Wolcott's, though the inscription is rendered illegible by time and weather. Time wrought changes in the exterior of burial places; besides, a single tomb or vault marked the resting places of several persons of a family. His will is dated Feb. 9, 1571 ; proved April 1 1, 1572. The spelling of the family name (Wolcot) as in the will of his son, John, father of Henry, furnishes proof of Identity, though branches might be located, at times, elsewhere throughout England, as were the well-known lines of Jeran, Sir John, and Sir William Wolcott, in Wolcott village, which probably took its name from the family. The uniform spelling and pronunciation of our English- American family — Wolcott — seems the only perfect and proper one, as its elements are in harmony with, and compre hend all other longer, shorter, varied forms ; while no other one form, save perhaps, Wolcot, combines each distinctive element. The spelling even of the shortest — one-syllable — names, often varies, and is easily accounted for. Any other forms, met or heard of, can readily be explained as arising from error, mistake or oversight of the populace, un- 1 6 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. schooled neighbors, careless writers, or, possibly, youthful or intelligent persons, misled in the absence, for the moment, of visible printing, or written material. Like error becomes the casual result of mispronunciation, and of trivial phonetic spelling; just as the distinct words — afect and effect — are, today, occasionally confounded, even In the issues of the ablest metropolitan newspapers. The unimportance of unnecessary variations and changes in spelling and pronouncing English surnames. Is aptly shown by Mr. Arthur A. Humphreys' " Historic Material of the Parish of WfeUington, Somerset," published. Part I on Wills, London, 1908, Part II, Manorial Court Rolls, 19 10. The "Wills between 1372 and 181 1," show the Wolcotts devising in Wellington, between 1635 and 1730. Their names, spelled In five forms, are reduced to one, in the index — Woolcott. In Part II, " Manorial Court Rolls, between 1277 and 1908," the good name does not appear in any form whatever. These facts and dates point to a settled spelling of the name in England and America; Woolcott, also, long ago, there, but Wolcott prevailing there now, and in the United States ever since Henry Wolcott's family left the mother country. The reader will notice Wolsey In England, Woolsey here. The historian of Wellington amply explains this by his " Introduction, Part I, page IX " : " Although the Wool cott family came originally from Tolland near Bishops Lydeard, many of the family lived and flourished at Welling ton, and from Wellington many went out to Connecticut and founded a family distinguished in politics and public life. I shall probably In later parts of this work allude again to this family." Nothing, however, of importance later ap pears; nothing whatever in Part II. Wolcott prevails with European and American modern authors and writers. The British, Saxon Wol, as in Wolf, appears in Wolver hampton, Wolfert, etc. Burke and American authors spell BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 1 7 the name, exactly as we do. He also recalls, as local, indi vidual variations — Wolcot, Woolcot, Woolcotte, WooU- cotte — even other forms ; but you never find any one of them permanently attached to a family. In investigations of the far more important matter of their spiritual, moral. Intellectual qualities, their physical features, and loyal ser vices to country, king, crown, army, courts, and God, there is ample evidence of the original name, characteristics, and personality. Certain Christian names and worthy associations have been specifically maintained by the Wolcotts, the same occurring in several generations, though separated by cen turies, and are consistently recognized by intelligent scholars and the general public of England and the United States. Roger, Elizabeth, Oliver, John, Alice, Henry very frequently recur. The penultimate syllable Wai, in some other proper names, may of course, have its own origin and signification, as in Walbeck, Waldron, Walworth, Walsingham; there appears, however, nothing to justify, nor do I find any instance where a member of the Wolcott family admits full identification with " Walcot," In any way, person or place, though possibly it might arise, or occur, inadvertently. Those who use Wai, double the t; those who use one t, use Wol. In view of the one prevailing form, with open penult, Wolcott, there is no need, however Interesting, to conjecture what might be the origin or derivation of either syllable in any of the corrupt, or imperfect forms. There does not seem basis enough for saying Wai means a wall, nor for adopting the suggestions or Imagining, only, of such learned works as Skeet's Etymological Derivations of the English Language. Wol — the syllable — is pronounced as in wolf ( or woolfe) ; and may have so originated, naturally, in the now extinct British wolf, Latin lupus, Greek \vko<;, French loup. Although It sounds like, it is probably not of kin with wool or "woole," though possibly; and while wolf is spelled in 1 8 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. one language wulf, it never is waif nor woolf. Cot — hut — explains itself; cot, cote, is strengthened or enlarged Into cott (compare West-cott, Pres-cott, Wains-cott, Taps-cott, Tal- cott) not unlike the variation, or progressive development from a hut, a hovel or a peasant's cabin, to a farmer's cottage, and from the farmer's, to the summer, or seashore cottage. There appears nothing to justify printers spelling the village " Walcot ", except lethargy, the confusion of Items by the populace In dull periods, or the occasional Ignorance of exact facts — such as the date of the erection of Armagh Cathedral; the existence of Armagh Seminary, which long preceded even the founding, and chartering, of Oxford University ; or the establishment of Cambridge Abbey — said to have been by a Spanish priest, Cantaber, about A. D. 300. On the other hand, it is certain that the Wolcotts, like other Britons, had a castle, park, etc., early located near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, not far from the Wales border, to keep off the Welsh. One worthy, Intrepid Welsh king, how ever, won, and was accepted in marriage by Elizabeth Wol cott, daughter of Sir William. A Wolcott carried a fine landed estate to Plowden, whose descendant, Plowden, ances tor of the law-writer, appears in the knight's bronze armored effigy preserved in the Temple, London. Wolcott of Wol cott, Plowden of Plowden, Oakey of Oakey, were three gentlemen Cmsaders decorated by Richard I Coeur-de-Lion. The later Incident of Sir John Wolcott beating King Henry V at chess, and that King's altering into rooks his fleur-de-lis previously placed by King Richard I on the Wol cott escutcheon. Is well known. Henry V was an abler and better sovereign than either his father, Henry IV, or his son, Henry VI. But from long before the reigns of Kings Richard I and the Henrys, or the arrival. In Kent, of the Norman William, the Wolcott family flourished; and the pedigree, for centuries, was continuously preserved in Wolcott Hall BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 1 9 — as were, also, for a long time the family christening robes — where there was a Roman-Briton settlement. Roger de Wolcott was a close friend of the Bishop of Hereford, about 1227. In modem times, a courtier of the Wolcott name is said to have shared with another, some royal robes, as mementoes of the unfortunate King, Charles I. The dominant baptismal names in the ancient Wolcott family, have also, since, prevailed here, noticeably during the last three centuries, particularly, Elizabeth, Roger, John, Alice, Henry. The persons, likewise, of themselves, spontaneously perpetuated the names of their villages, coun ties, streets, towns, etc., in England and the United States, e. g., Wolcott, Wolcottville, Windsor, Old, East, South, and New Windsor, (Orange Co., N. Y.) — Tolland, Somerset, Wellington. Besides the many Wolcott wills, deposited in " Welles Cathedral," Taunton, and other places near where those of the name resided, it is interesting to note the beauti ful Wolcott terrace, strand, and chapel in the ancient Roman, popular, fashionable, cultured city of Bath, where Mr. John Wolcott ("Peter Pindar") penned part of his humorous writing. Wolcott terrace, near Lambeth palace, awakens inquiry. When, and wherefore, this name is given, I do not know. Sir John Wolcott is said to be one of the latest of the name resident in London. He now lies buried in a little church near St. Paul's Cathedral. A fresh publication in England of Wolcott wills, speaks of several Wolcotts, resi dents of Wellington, Somerset, between 1635 and 1730. Sir Walter Besant briefly mentions the Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Wolcott, about 1410, contemporary with Whitting- ton. Whyttington, the village, is near Wolcott. Elizabeth Wolcott Jackson, my mother, the daughter of Judge Frederick and Betsey Huntington Wolcott, of Litch field, Conn., after whom she was named, embodied numerous lineal characteristics and associations, and possessed, to a remarkable degree, the graces, attractions and attributes of her ancestors in both the Wolcott and Huntington families, 20 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. on both sides the Atlantic. Through her, myself and brother, the Hon. Schuyler Brinckerhoff Jackson, of Newark — the third Speaker of our name In the New Jersey Legis lature — are two, of the only four, living great-great-grand sons of both Major General Roger Wolcott, and Major General Jabez Huntington, of Connecticut. The Hunt ington family, about 1200, was represented by Robert de Huntington, of Norwich, the sheriff of Norfolkshire, who lived near the Huntingdon Road, which mns to Cambridge. An ancient village of Huntington also exists in Shropshire, contiguous to Wolcott village. The Countess, Lady Hunt ingdon, resided in Bath, less than a section from the quite modern Wolcott church, there. FULLER RECORD REQUIRED. In his justifiable pleasure perhaps not only in being him self descended from Henry Wolcott of Tolland, but also on finding incidentally that he sprung from this long, prior British family line of Wolcotts — the same as, though now only collateral with the later, distinguished Litchfield-Wind sor- Wolcotts — the Reverend Samuel Wolcott, D.D., in his compiling and rearranging the valuable private manuscripts and material of others, and tabulating their lines of descent for the Wolcott Memorial — which work had been so ably begun and prosecuted by, but was left unfinished through the death of our co-descendant, George Gibbs, Esq., of New York — sometimes, by his authoritative form of speech, and by introducing his own likeness, opinions, successors and methods, while excluding the likenesses and strictly relevant historical material of the public-spirited, genuine authors and owners themselves, of the Wolcott Memorial — which are, and would, of course, prove to be of greater and special interest to their descendants — the Reverend Doctor not unlikely, though perhaps unconsciously, produces some apparent confusion as to the scope of that magnificent volume. BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 21 According to the knowledge of one who is the closest, eldest, living relative to all the estimable owners, the private, limited Wolcott Memorial, originally, was modestly, nat urally and most properly designed to be a comprehensive, duly proportioned history of the American Windsor, Litch field Wolcotts, mostly genealogical In character, so far as that preceding the first American, Henry Wolcott ; and then to be historical, and more biographical In treating specifically of Simon, the youngest son of Henry, and of his youngest son. Governor Roger, and of his youngest son, Govemor Oliver Wolcott, the Signer of the Declaration of Indepen dence, and of all the latter's lineal blood descendants, male and female, born before the time of its publication. This purpose should have constrained the industrious compiler and leamed official editor, to make some mention, treat of, or amply enlarge upon all the living descendants of Oliver Wolcott, second, — the distinguished Secretary of the Treas ury In the Administrations of Presidents George Washing ton and John Adams, of Lieut.-Governor Judge Frederick Wolcott, and of their brilliant sisters, Mrs. Laura Wolcott Moseley and Mrs. Mary Ann Wolcott Goodrich. AN editor's OMISSIONS, WITH SOME CORRECTIONS. Instead of doing this, Mr. Samuel Wolcott seems to recognize and catch something of the spirit, essential qualities and features, and portray some deeds of our great Wolcott race, as it had existed in England, prior to the time of Henry Wolcott, of Tolland, to whom, however, he mainly and theoretically, confines himself, as the family starting point; but he does not proceed to investigate, compile and present in the Memorial, the substance of a vast amount of Import ant, valued, particular, established American Wolcott indi vidual history, which concerns all the descendants, and English speaking people, generally ; nor collect and designate all varied, legitimate evidences of lineage and pedigree, written, traditional, monumental, moral, actually existing 2 2 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. outside of, and additional to, his formal, technical notes.. A narrow view does not comprehend'and accept the broad reality, that all truth is harmonious. The three great Gov ernors — Roger, Oliver, and Oliver Wolcott, Jr., — intro duced the family to the modern world. Exact history demon strates that, under Providence, the career of Henry Wolcott punctuated and shaped the most Important inter-continental relations between Europe and America — particularly those between Great Britain and the United States. Besides this, mutations, additions, and discoveries In ancient, historic knowledge, as well as unquestioned circumstances, frequently appear or constantly occur, which are admitted by all tri bunals to be of very high authority, in revealing, elucidating and confirming extraneous, patent and latent facts and tmths. While the able compiler is scmpulously and generally ac curate, as he understands and plans his work, up to the date of its publication, he enlarges, combines and terminates this generous, independent volume in the wrong direction, by his remote ramifications, and observations ; yet he excludes, omits and stops short of valuable, existing and interesting matter naturally belonging to this Memorial, as originally contem plated, much to the surprise of many for whom the work was, especially designed. For example: he gives an erroneous date, at one place in his table, of the birth of the most promi nent American sketched; he fails to comprehend or fully state, in their relations to their kinsmen and other people, all the specially Important services and characteristics of the three most remarkable personages named; to wit: Governor and Major-Generals Roger and Oliver Wokott, and the un rivalled, versatile statesman, financier, manufacturer, founder, Governor, Judge, and most continuously eminent, effective civic force closing the Revolutionary period, Oliver Wolcott, the Second. Nor does he properly, pro portionately, develop the lines, careers, the political, social and national influence of the Wolcotts — especially of Lleut.- Govemor Judge Frederck Wolcott's branches In their long,. BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 23 previous, noticeable, co-operative services. Important associa tions, later descent, and felicitous alliances by marriage, with the eminently distinguished Huntington family of Norfolk shire, England, and Norwich, Conn. Nor is enough said of the joint good influence of the connections of Mrs. Laura (Wolcott) Moseley and Mrs. Mary Ann (Wolcott) Good rich, who, through their relationship, accomplished so much for American society, education, letters, the Church, the army, the bench, the bar, and govemments — state and national. Thus, seemingly, however unintentionally, it is the second editor — certainly not the magnanimous authors and generous publishers — who may, negatively, do an injus tice to some other distinguished descendants of Henry Wolcott, collateral to the descendants of Govemor Oliver Wolcott; and he, also, works a positive injustice to the large body of Oliver Wolcott's immediate descendants, old and young, male and female. There was a grave suppression, a marked deviation — an oversight, almost a careless impro priety on the part of a clerical cousin — committed ; since Mr, Samuel Wolcott, who was employed to edit a certain limited, specific, unfinished work, makes the beautiful Wolcott Memorial neither fully general, nor wholly special, but pur sues his own method, and humors his own taste, by omitting or stopping short of defining all the several living families comprising the blood representatives of Govemor Oliver Wolcott, the first, in both male and female lines. But he then brings in, most conspicuously and exclusively himself and his personal representatives, while silent as to his numer ous associates and co-descendants who, like himself, proceed wholly from other and different members of Henry Wol cott's illustrious family, some of whom had not, as circum stances happened, either by acquaintance, residence, sym pathy, co-operation, or otherwise, maintained any association with, or full knowledge of the numerous scattered, united and only descendants of Govemor Roger Wolcott, in the 24 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. great Signer's and Secretary's lines of the Windsor-Litchfield Wolcotts. The compiler, by inconsistently departing, at the same time, from both the ordinary and the especially desired, methods of strict genealogy, and of limited biography, also, errs materially, in his summary, by intimating that " the heir of all the ages " centers In Henry Goodrich Wolcott, the son of Charles Moseley Wolcott, a son, by the second wife, of Judge Frederick Wolcott. Whereas, the salient historic facts are, there were, at that very time, many living, and since that time there have been more — some living now — full- blooded, foremost descendants of Henry Wokott, the earliest American ancestor, through Simon and Governors Roger and Oliver Wolcott, first, prior and antecedent to the one named, who, at that time, was not an " heir," in esse, as his good father, my endeared uncle, was then happily, living. A MAIN LINE OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY. Those now In most ancient, direct, absolutely British and American Wolcott lineage, through the elder sons and daugh ters of Judge Frederick Wolcott, by his first wife, Betsey Huntington Wolcott, naming here, chiefly, those living when the error was made, some now succeeding, by their respec tive family heads, are: Joshua Huntington Wolcott, Esq., the eldest son, and his younger son (who survived Hunt ington Frothingham Wolcott), Governor Roger Wolcott, second, of Massachusetts, and the latter's children — Hunt ington F., ^Prescott, Samuel Huntington, Cornelia and Oliver Wolcott, third, all of Boston, Mass.; Huntington Wolcott Freeman, son of Rev. Dr. Freeman and Mrs. Han nah (Wolcott) Freeman, born in Sandwich, Mass.; Fred erick Wolcott Whitehead, son of Mrs. Mary Ann (Wolcott) Whitehead and Hon. Asa Whitehead, of Newark, N. J.; and nine children (two others dying in infancy) , many grand children, and several great-grandchildren of my noble be loved mother, the wife of Hon. John P. Jackson, the late BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 25 Mrs. Elizabeth Huntington (Wolcott) Jackson, of Newark, N. J., whose line, alone has constituted and perpetuated nearly fifty of the numerous existing families, exclusively possessing both the original Wolcott, and lineal. Judge Fred erick Wolcott, blood; also the numerous descendants of Mrs. Laura (Wolcott) Rankin, wife of Hon. Robert G. Rankin, of Newburg, N. Y., and those of Frederick Henry Wol cott, Esq., of New York. As the memorial shows, Charles Moseley Wokott, Esq., of Fishkill, N. Y., and Mrs. Mary (Wolcott) Frothingham, wife of Theodore Frothingham, Esq., of Philadelphia, were respectively the youngest married son and daughter of Judge Frederick Wolcott, by his second wife, Mrs. Sally W. (Goodrich) Wolcott. The former left surviving, besides his son Henry Goodrich Wolcott, Esq., and family, two daughters unmarried; the elder is now Mrs. Samuel Ver Planck, of Fishkill, N. Y. The children and grandchildren of Mrs. Frothingham should also appear In a full Wolcott record. There is also the omission, or curtailment of the proper records of some beloved, widely-known, accomplished, direct lineal descendants of the Secretary and Governor, Oliver Wolcott, second, viz. : the daughters of Mrs. Laura Wol cott Gibbs, Mrs. Laura Wolcott Tuckerman, and Mrs. D'Oremieulx, and their descendants, and of her sons, the distinguished author, George Gibbs, Esq., Professor Oliver Wolcott Gibbs, LL.D., and Major General Alfred Gibbs, U. S. A. No adverse criticism, however, can possibly be passed upon the Wolcott Memorial as the one private and grand tribute paid to our original and continuous English and American ancestors, by the sons of Judge, Lt.-Gov. Fred erick Wolcott, or as their generous, timely contribution to their descendants, precisely according as they inherit and represent, in strictly direct lines, the distinctive Wolcott 26 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. blood. Our lines, as recorded there, are now greatly extended. A complete Wolcott Family Memorial should Include all its members, male and female, and their descendants, though bearing other names — as the Jackson-Wolcotts. Wolcott blood, In the female lines, has produced and per petuated some greatly distinguished and talented representa tives, having other sumames, who reflect honor on that race ; as similarly seen among descendants of Reverend Jonathan Edwards — for five months, the fifth President of Prince ton College. Some children may die young, live compara tively obscure, or without issue ; while matrons of that blood have reproduced and prolonged Edwards' characteristics, under such names as Woolsey, Park, Dwight. When con sidering special branches of the great human family, it Is their personality, peculiar traits of character, useful services, loving nature and honorable careers that commend individual members to our particular esteem, admiration and emulation. One matron of Wolcott stock, was severally, the daughter, the sister, the wife, and the grandmother of four worthy Connecticut Governors — Mrs. Abigail (Wolcott) Ells worth. Hence, in any new Wolcott family Record, such as first contemplated by The Society of Descendants of Henry Wol cott, to constitute a full, correct, complete and valuable outline alone, limited to all tracing their descent, would make quite a volume; while to properly collate the universally prized historic data, and proportionately develop, in a Gen eral Memorial, all the existing desirable records, might require a large, compact, perhaps more than one, volume. The proposed " Record of all branches," might well be a complete, succinct, scientifically edited work, clearly defin ing, in consistent proportions, individual family lineage, originating of course only at their eariiest, established and accredited sources, utilizing moderate space in the printing, and for inserting essentially important data; but terminat- BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 27 ing the publication abruptly, at a distinct, fixed date. Special valuable material could be incorporated, annotated, or printed as distinct chapters as Addenda; or published sepa rately by the Society, or by an author, Independently, ever consistent with trathful evidence. This leaves individuals free to supply, in their records, any technical omission, and to develop and present independently, biographlcally and more fully, those characters generally recognized as specially interesting or important. Unity, fullness and accuracy, can be secured, while valuing, philosophically, both character and service. Posterity can do its part in making technical additions, and original or special contributions. Under no pretensions or circumstances should a Wolcott Family Record be undertaken, compiled or encouraged which de tracts from, or in any way, undervalues the facts or prin ciples of truthful, honorable, ancestral history. JACKSON-WOLCOTTS AND KINDRED. The definiteness, as well as the consistent, happy blend ing of valued, marked family characteristics, is strikingly seen in the union of Griswolds, Ellsworths, Huntlngtons, Goodriches, Ranklns and others, with Wolcotts. The Jack- sons of New York and Nev/ Jersey, dwelling In several Middle, Eastern States and Europe, consanguineous with certain Netherlands, Holland, and Huguenot, Schuyler, Brinckerhoff, and Van der Linde New York families, furnish another — and perhaps the most interesting and strongest — illustration of consanguinity, relationship, alliance and association with the Wolcotts of Litchfield, Windsor, and through them, with both numerous New England, and Dutch or " Knickerbocker " families. Blood is, indeed, thicker than water ; each is indispensable — the best water and the best blood — for water predominates in every human being; but the body, will and soul make the man. As the Roman historian declares: " Idem desidera tum atque idem sententia, ea firma amicltia est " : An identity 28 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. of desires and purposes, or sentiments — tastes, aims and convictions — constitute strong, or lasting friendship. Their lineal and collateral descendants were vitally associated, and have intimately commingled for over six generations. The Jacksons and Wolcotts originally took their similar family mottoes; from the same canto of the Roman Horace; " Malo mori quam foedarl " I prefer death to dishonor — breathes the same resolute reliant spirit as " NuUius addictus jurare in verba magistrl " — I acknowledge no master. Almost ninety years ago, my father, John P. Jackson, was voted the leading student at the first American-LItch- field-Law School ; at the same time, in the same village, three of his four sisters, Elizabeth Van der Linde, Julia, and Jane, were friends of Elizabeth, Hannah, Mary Ann and Laura Wolcott, in the best American school for young ladies. In 1827, my grandparents, Peter and Hester Schuyler, Van der Linde (Brinckerhoff) Jackson, sailed In their own vessel, and drove in their own carriage in crossing country from Acquackanonck, N. J., to which they had removed from New York State, to Litchfield Hill, in order to attend my parents' wedding; and they sojourned during their stay, at the house of Secretary Oliver Wokott, on South Street, now standing opposite my maternal grandfather's, Frederick Wolcott's. The elementary principles, convictions, tastes and affec tions, which unite in sympathies, services and lives the good of all climes and ages, thus brought theml closer still, when several members of each old family were contemporaneously scholars at schools in Litchfield ; my father, a Princeton first- honor man, and his father being friends of the earliest American Law school, when three Jackson sisters and my mother and her three sisters, were residents, or attending Miss Pierce's seminary, founded in part by Hon. Frederick Wolcott. JACKSON-WOLCOTT. As this publication is not designed to tabulate all the descendants of Henry Wokott, through Major-Generals BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 29 Roger and Oliver Wokott, nor even to delineate fully the character of any one, suffice it to briefly mention the names of certain family groups to illustrate the good influences attend ing but a single marriage. In a comparatively small circle, one can count, besides several Divines, at least thirty able Counsellors-at-law and Irreproachable magistrates of highest rank, including three Chief Justices, In six original and two old States. The children of John P. and Elizabeth Huntington Wol cott Jackson are: I. Laura Wolcott (Jackson) Parker, wife of Charles H. Parker, Harvard, 1835, of Boston, Mass. The results of this union are Col. Samuel Dunn Parker, Gertmde Greenough Parker, Mrs. Harriet Wolcott Reynolds and her family, and Charles H. Parker, Jr., of Boston. 2. Mary Elizabeth (Jackson) Henry, wife of Thomas Charlton Henry, Esq., of Philadelphia. The results of this union are. Rev. Dr. Alexander Henry and fam ily, Charles Wolcott Henry, Esq., and family. Bayard Henry, Esq., and family, John Jackson Henry, Esq., and family, Mrs. Elizabeth Wolcott (Henry) Wistar and family, all long residents of Philadelphia, Penn. 3. Their third child was Miss Julia Huntington Jackson, who never married. She pursued studies at Mr. Emer son's School, Boston, was an exceptional reader and a devoted daughter. 4. Frederick Wolcott Jackson, late President United N. J. Railroads & Canal Co., and a member of the Cincinnati Society, married Nannie Jane Nye (b. Aug. 5th, 1835, the same day as this writer), who was the youngest daughter of Capf. Ezra and Nancy Jane (Fessenden) Nye of Sandwich, Mass. The results of this marriage are: ( I ) Philip Nye Jackson, Esq., and his family of six children, three sons and three daughters, the latter three, all being, quite recently, married. Mr. P. N. 30 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. Jackson died but a few months ago, March, 191 1. He graduated at Princeton ; was a member of the Cincinnati. His wife, who was Miss Margaret Atlee of Philadelphia, also survives him. (2) Hon. John Brinckerhoff Jackson married Florence Baird of Philadelphia. He has just been trans ferred, as U. S. Minister, from Cuba to the Balkan States. He acquired a legal and naval education. (3) William Fessenden Jackson, a Princeton College graduate, unmarried, resides In Newark, N. J. (4) Rev. Frederick Wolcott Jackson, 2d, married Louisa Screven Arnold, of Savannah, Ga. They have one son and three daughters. He is Pro fessor of English In the German Theological Seminary, Bloomfield, N. J. He graduated at Princeton College and Seminary. (5) Charles Huntington Jackson, a graduate of Princeton and a promising lawyer, died suddenly of heart failure In the high altitude of Denver, Colorado, May, 191 1. He was not married. He had recently located there, for health and law practice. (6) Elizabeth Wolcott Jackson is the eldest daughter, an accomplished lady, devoted to the welfare of her relatives and family friends. (7) Nina Fessenden Jackson married Nellson Abeel, Esq., a successful, rising lawyer, who was cut off amidst the blessings of a happy home — the father of a son and two daughters. His family continue their residence in Newark, N. J. (8) Oliver Wolcott Jackson, the youngest son graduated at Princeton University. He married Adele Carpenter. They reside in New Jersey, and have three beautiful young daughters. BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 3 I (9) Martha Nye Jackson married Lewis Stewart, a Massachusetts Polytechnic graduate, also of r Ecole des Beaux Arts and a descendant of a distinguished Senator from New Jersey, and the Secretary U. S. Navy. Mr. Stewart was a suc cessful architect. He died at Newark, N. J., leaving a wife and infant daughter, who continue their home In New Jersey. Joseph Cooke Jackson's marriage, the name of his wife, the names of their two sons, and two daughters, two sons and two daughters-in-law, and of their six grand sons, have appeared herein : pp. 6 and 7. John P. Jackson, 2d, married Clara Gregory, of New York. He was born Feb. 6, 1837, was first- honor man, Princeton, 1856, and studied law at Yale and Harvard Law Schools. He had declined nominations as Member of Congress, and Governor of New Jersey, and his law firm at the time of his death was the oldest and one of the most prominent and successful in that State. The fruits of their union are all living. Like his father, he was Speaker of the N. J. Legislature. Princeton received in his honor the A. M. ^ Oration. ( I ) Elsie Gregory Jackson, married Mr. Deming Jarves, formerly of New York City. They reside at Dinard, France. (2) Laura Wolcott Jackson, married Mr. W. A. F. Ekengren, of the Swedish Legation. They re side in Washington, D. C, and have one daughter. Mr. Ekengren has recently been ap pointed Charge d' Affaires. (3) Eliot Gregory Jackson is married and living in San Francisco, California. (4) Huntington Wolcott Jackson is a Princeton grad uate. He married a daughter of Admiral Con- 32 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. verse, U. S. N. They reside In Maryland, near Baltimore, and have a daughter. (5) John P. Jackson, 3d, is a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy: served In the Spanish-Cuban War, and is a Commander U. S. Navy. His ad dress is Washington, D. C. 7. Hannah Wolcott Jackson, was born at Newark In the Broad Street homestead, studied at Newark, Albany,. N. Y., and in Professor Louis Agassiz's School, Cam bridge, Mass. She inherited the intellect, characteristics and attractive graces of her Jackson-Schuyler-Hunting ton- Wolcott ancestry, and superadded Innate sweetness and personal accomplishments. She always resided in Newark, and never married. She died at the High Street homestead. 8. Lt. Col. Huntington Wolcott Jackson, U. S. Vols., was a graduate of Princeton College, Harvard Law School. He was distinguished in the Civil War, was a lawyer having large and successful practice In Chicago. Was president of the Chicago Bar Association, and of John Crerar Library, a member of the Loyal Legion, and filled many posts of honor and Importance. He never married. He is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark. An exceUent bas-relief Memorial is in Chicago; also a replica, at Princeton University. 9. Charles Henry Jackson, died at the age of two years, at Newark, N. J. An uncommonly fine child. 10. Henry Griswold Jackson, also died in infancy at the Newark homestead. Broad Street. A beautiful boy. 1 1 . Hon. Schuyler Brinckerhoff Jackson, the youngest child, was born in Newark, graduated at Phillips Andover Academy, Yale College, and Columbia Law School. He was Speaker of the New Jersey Legislature, the third of his father's family holding that position. He married Miss Angela Forbes, formerly of San Fran-- BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 33 cIsco. They reside in Newark and Bernardsville, N. J. He is a Counsellor at the New Jersey bar, and identi fied with many local and public interests. A revised second edition of the History of the Hunt ington family, is soon to be published. It is not within my province to enlarge upon — only to indicate to those interested, some genealogical lines, and re lationship of Parkers, Henrys, Frothlnghams, Goodriches, Goodsell, Perkins, Herrick, Watts, Reynolds, Wistar, Stevens, Adams, Ranklns, Whitehead, Freeman, Nye, Gregory, Forbes, Paton, and other families, with Jackson and Wolcott. My readers are doubtless already well informed of their pursuits, pleasant homes and social lives. The late Mr. Charles Henry Parker, grandson of the first Bishop of Massachusetts, and son of the State's Attorney, I have always regarded as a most favorable type of the edu cated gentleman in domestic, business, financial, literary, social, and religious affairs. The hospitable abodes of his family, in Boston and Readville, are widely known. Just before his death he was the oldest living graduate of Har vard College, being of the class of 1835, having as former school, or college mates, in Massachusetts, W. M. Evarts, E. R. Hoar, Robert Treat Paine, the Lawrences, Generals Eustis and Devens. He was an important factor in Trinity Church Parish. His accomplished wife, whose patriotic ser vices in the Sanitary Commission during the Civil War are known, encouraged all his excellent purposes. Their long lives contributed to the happiness of a large circle. Both are buried in Mount Auburn. Their son, Mr. Charles H. Parker, recently married Miss Winifred Perkins of Boston. Mr. T. Charlton Henry was similarly influential and honorable in the social and business affairs of Philadelphia. The Bayards and Henrys were old stock In that city's prog ress; Hon. Alexander Henry was the last Whig Mayor. 34 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. His wife, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth (Jackson) Henry, like all her three sisters, was a singer and a musician by nature and practice, whose gifts always contributed pleasure to friends. While studying in Philadelphia, where she went after she, and her sister, Laura Wolcott Jackson, had graduated from Dr. Abbott's New York school, she resided at the home of an uncle, Mr. Charles Moseley Wolcott. This step it seems determined her subsequent lovely home in Germantown. Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Henry are burled in Laurel HIU. Frederick Wolcott Jackson, though prepared for college, preferred an active business career. At an interim, he at tended a course of studies at Yale (1852), where he was honored by the degree of A.M. After association in the firms of Lambert and Wolcott, Wolcott and Slade, and George B. Morewood & Co., in New York City, he was in vited by the last named, to assist at their English house, Liverpool, England. It was while there, that he was called to the Secretaryship of the N. J. R. R. & T. Co., which led to his promotion as Superintendent, and President of the United New Jersey R. Rs. & Canal Co., now the most important division of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. He continued so, after the latter Company leased; and thus was, at the time of his death, after upwards of forty years' service, one of the ablest and most experienced Railroad Executives, in this country. Miss Julia Huntington Jackson, while completing studies at the school of Mr. George Emerson, a brother of Ralph Waldo Emerson, at Boston, resided with her uncle, Mr. J. Huntington Wolcott, who, besides sending his sons, was a benefactor to Harvard College. Miss Hannah Wolcott Jackson, besides attending Prof. Agassiz's school, studied under Madame Molinard, the teacher at Albany. We know of no English or American parents who, in proportion to the number of their children, so liberally patronized upwards of twenty of the countrys finest insti tutions of learning as Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Jackson. This, of BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 35 itself, furnished the most desirable instmction, as well as cherished their acquaintance with the cultivated ladies and gentlemen of our best cities and villages. Both families fa vored the widest proper extension of the wisest educational facilities for all ; and in church affairs were sound, liberal and freely charitable. Mr. J. Huntngton Wolcott and Mr. John P. Jackson jointly assumed the thorough education of several young men and established in permanent business, after pro viding them a home, their kinsmen, deprived of parental assistance. As one consequence of their providential privileges, and this absolute, loving unity enjoyed by the many members of these allied families, while each Individual — and all — have cherished their personal convictions and preferences, there has been perfect harmony and love pervading their social and religious intercourse and business affairs, whatever might be their more formial connections with Congregationalism, Unitarianism, Episcopacy, or Presbyterianism. Principles and people, form the basis and summary of pleasurable life. Hence they have never shared in radical, acrimonious, social or denominational controversy, but have studiously kept aloof from the worries and contentions of people, parties and factions. By standing in their lot and serving with their fellow-men and women, the Wolcotts and Jacksons have presented for many years, almost unconsciously, to the world, the broadest, most contented, happy types of comfortable European and American character and personality. The ties of kindred faith and life were permanently pre served. Contemporaneous sons and daughters were brought happily together, having similar sentiments, convictions, ideals, sympathies and pursuits — leading congenial lives at homes, firesides, select schools, enjoying advantageous com panionship In travel, and by enlarged friendships in business, sharing partnerships, special interests and general social in tercourse, they espoused like state and national measures and filled similar public stations. 36 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. Two great-uncles. Major William and Lieut. James Jackson, were Revolutionary officers. Their much younger brother, my grandfather, was a shipping merchant, and for twenty-six years also a postmaster in the administrations of Presidents Madison, Monroe, Adams, and Jackson, and a friend of the federalists Wolcotts. Their family names conjointly appear in New York, Litchfield, Newark, Phila delphia, Boston, Washington, Hartford, Readville, Fish kill, Cambridge, Saratoga, New Haven as relatives, neighbors and friends, and as comrades in Colonial, Con tinental, Revolutionary and Federal Armies and Wars. The Colonial home of my great-grandfather, Oliver Wolcott, at Litchfield, and the Colonial home of my great-great-great grandfather. Col. John Brinckerhoff, at Fishkill, Dutchess Co., N. Y. — built a trifle later, of stone and imported brick, in 1738* — each, at times, entertained General Washington as a welcome guest; and they long have stood as substantial memorials. The Brinckerhoff mansion had a " Washington room." Our resident American Jackson ancestry, on the maternal side, antedates even the Huntlngtons and Wol cotts. The first white child born in New Netherlands, was in Albany, on June 9, 1625. She sprang from Brinckerhoff, Martense, Rapalje stock — ancestors of both my Jackson grandparents. The writer, Joseph C. Jackson, is the eldest of the only four persons living, who are the great-great grandsons of both Maj.-Gen. Roger Wolcott and of Maj,-Gen, Jabez Huntington, successively the Chief Continental Commanders in the Colonial French wars. He is also, a lineal blood kins man with Maj.-Gen. Philip Schuyler, and the elder surviv ing of the two great-great-great-great-great-grandsons of the Colonial Governor, the father of the first Mayor of Albany — Philip Pieterse Van Schuyler — through both the Brinck- erhoff-Schuyler, and Van der Linde-Schuyler families. *This date is worked in the north wall of the house. The neighboring home nf Col. Dirok Brinckerhoff, entertained Lafayette, Washington and, later President John Adams. During the war, it for a time held, under parole, Rev. Mr. ( Bishool Seabury. '^' BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 37 The joint Jackson-Wolcott descendants reside, for the most part, in New York City, Essex and Somerset Counties, New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D. C, New Haven, and San Francisco. They wei-e represented in the Civil War for the preservation of the Union, by Maj.-Gen. Alfred Gibbs, U. S. A., Brig.-Gen. Joseph Cooke Jackson U. S. V. A., Lieut.-Col. Huntington Wolcott Jackson, and Lieut. Huntington Frothingham Wolcott. In the Span ish-Cuban War, John P. Jackson, third, served as ensign in the U. S. Navy. Death, hardship, wound, slacrlfice, and service attest to their similar fortitude, with their soldier ancestry. A bronze bas-relief in memory of Col. H. W. Jackson (who quickly rallied from a wOund re ceived at Kenesaw Mountain) , has recently been placed to his memory as Its president, in the John Crerar Public Library, Chicago. Maj.-Gen. Alfred Gibbs and Lieut. H. F. Wol cott, died in the Union Army service. WOLCOTT MEMORIAL : ITS AUTHORS. It Is appropriate here to express the high appreciation of the Wolcott Memorial, since the writer has enjoyed life long knowledge of much of Its contents and of its projectors. Is the oldest living grandson of their father, Hon. Frederick Wolcott, whom, in 1837, he visited in the Litchfield home, has played with his valued watch-seal and treasured bullet mold, and there listened to family history. I have taken pleasure in giving some germane facts to Inquiring writers. I have lived constantly intimate with Wolcott relatives. Great were the services of the editors, our learned blood cousins Mr. George Gibbs and later. Dr. Samuel Wolcott, in presenting a comprehensive, but a limited Family Record, of which all worthy posterity may be justly proud. The pro posed enterprise of the Historical Committee of the Society of Descendants of Henry Wolcott, of the Genealogical Record, at Rochester, N. Y., would be lightened, and is 38 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. already generously aided, by the Wolcott Memorial. Fresh students should therein find much inspiration, in preparing a full, seentfie General Record of the several branches of. the Wolcott family. Their labors are arduous, since they concem large numbers, remote from the most widely known lines of American Wolcotts. So far as their acquisitions are cumula tive, authentic and historically valuable, they should be facili tated in every reasonable way by persons naturally interested ; and should also be considered by observers of the underlying principles in history and patriotic progress, affecting mankind. An important element of the original Wolcott Memo rial will be generally recognized and appreciated — its calm, dignified, natural, healthful and elevating influence on tme manhood and womanhood. It Is noticeable that the generous projectors and patrons of this graceful Memorial Record remain, themselves, quite In the background, serene, almost unobserved; yet are pleasurably contemplated by the editor, and respected, admired and beloved by the thoughtful reader. For those gentlemen-brothers constituted in their day, a singularly felicitous, popular, social force; which Is a permanent, necessary, and regulating element or factor. In every enlightened community, in every golden age, and is particularly Indispensable in a variable, prosperous repub lic. They rendered one just as Important, though less con spicuous and strenuous a service, as had their heroic sires. Their genial temperament, naturally attractive personality, courteous bearing and exemplary lives were exceptionally, ubiquitously impressive, formative and inspiring. They promulgated and perpetuated the lofty, delightful, charm ing, sincere, domestic and conventional traits, tastes and usages, with the dignified, cordial manners of cultivated and well-rounded gentlemen, in their best estate. The purely social, ennobling Influence, and gracious de meanor of gently bred men and women, are not, perhaps, in these days, sufficiently observed, or properly prized. Mr. BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 39 John Jay was first president of the Union League Club, which, in the Nation's crisis, was founded by Professor Oliver Wolcott Gibbs, LL. D. Henry W. Bellows, D.D., a mem ber, declared : " No better source for the Union League could have been found, than the heart and head of a grandson of Oliver Wolcott." Speaking of, and pointing to the fine painting entitled " The Republican Court " or " Lady Wash ington's Reception," Mr. Jay said to me : " When I asked the artist, Daniel Huntington, to portray that subject, he put two of my ancestors into that picture; but he placed there three of yours." As a matter of fact, the painter presents seven ancestors of mine, besides Alexander Hamilton, a kins man by marriage. As resident social factors In Boston, New York and Philadelphia, and hospitably occupying their country homes, the Wolcott brothers stood well in the severally happy lots Providence assigned to them. Living at a sensible period, when it was not deemed essential that all born amid great social advantages should pursue a dry, scholastic, collegiate course, or necessarily follow a learned profession, though their father, grandfather and a great-grandfather all grad uated with honors at Yale, and many ancestors had helped the Massachusetts and Connecticut institutions, their father. Judge Frederick Wolcott, preferred the definite, dignified duties of the bench, to the stir of the gubernatorial office twice tendered him ; and his four sons preferred the activities of commercial enterprises, and the refinements and amenities of home life and cultivated, congenial society, to the unceas ing strife of politics and camps. The late Mr. Joshua Huntington Wolcott, of Boston, was not only for many years regarded as the handsomest man of the city, but long as partner and ultimately as the head of the old, established mercantile house of Messrs. Amos and Abbott Lawrence and Company, he stood in the first rank of New England merchants, and was widely known as a gentle man of uniform liberality, great public spirit, highest in- 40 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. tegrity, sound judgment, executive ability, the friend of learn ing, science and the arts, with cultivated tastes and as ever fostering firmest friendships. His marriage to a lovely, ac complished member of the Samuel Frothingham family, doubly strengthened the tie formed by the marriage of his youngest sister. Miss Mary Wolcott — then regarded as the most beautiful young lady in Boston — to Mr. Theodore Frothingham, also a typical, energetic Boston, Philadelphia commission merchant. Messrs. Charles Moseley Wokott and Henry Griswold Wolcott, the brothers, were among the first enterprising American shipping tea merchants, having a resident partner in China. Both are mentioned In the Memorial. They were men of commanding presence, and of almost heroic stature. Mr. Henry G. Wolcott died in early manhood, from fever contracted in Shanghai, on returning home after a long voy age. Mr. Frederick Henry Wolcott, the youngest child of Hon. Frederick and Mrs. Betsey Huntington Wolcott, and his partners, Mr. Lambert and Mr. Slade, were the New York correspondents and representatives of the Boston mer cantile house named, which controlled certain Lawrence and Lowell mills; and his early marriage to Miss Abby Woolsey Howland, daughter of Mr. Gardiner G. Howland, and his numerous social, financial and philanthropic affiUations placed him in the foremost rank of New York's princely merchants. A venerable citizen, some years ago. In extolling his useful and honorable career, said to me, that Mr. F. H. Wolcott was the only instance he knew of, where a merchant suffering in the great business panic of 1837, caused by the failure of others, had individually assumed the entire indebtedness of his firm; and though himself was not morally, or legally liable, fully discharged all its obligations, principal and in terest, and continued In his successful course. The elegant, unostentatious hospitality reigning in the childhood home life of the four sons and five daughters of BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 4 1 Hon. Frederick Wolcott, of Litchfield, which had been wit nessed and enjoyed for over three generations by those enter tained there, coming from several points of the United States and Europe, in connection with social, state and national affairs, and, also, with the famous, superior schools of law and female education, and which had made the hom|e of their birth a charming center, was, subsequently, habitually main tained, in full degree, in their own attractive homes, and by their descendants in New York, Philadelphia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and Chicago, where they sojourned or resided. Home and family ties are an organic factor In happy, contented, individual and national life. Our laws and usages may not favor primogeniture, as essential or tending to pre serve the existence of the homestead and the maintenance of separate, cultivated homes; but other equally strong principles or ideal influences, must exist and operate. The modern, American Wolcotts we have known, like their predecessors, during all their lives,^ so far as the vicissitudes of life and providential dispensations permitted, have everywhere in dulged in the practice, and have thrown their influence con sistently In favor of independent, family, home life, as the true unit and controlling center of the pleasures, comforts, possessions, honors and happiness of all good citizens. They are found mingling in social and business matters only with those of unblemished lives, and whose characters are above reproach. The highest service one can render his family, his country and mankind, is to properly maintain a family home. ORIGIN OF WOLCOTT NAME. The roots or germs of tribal names, primitive qualities and attributes, such as W0I-, Jack-, Hunt-, are generic, often genuine English. The letter J is itself elemental, generic. It assimilates, coalesces with, is substituted for or repre sented by, about ten other letters. In several Ian- 42 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS, guages; and is so applied, to natural objects, and things, as well as to personal beings. These roots are, therefore, found widely distributed, and sometimes grouped. Jackson, Jacquesson (Norman), Jac-son, Jack-son (Sax on), Jason, Jacob, Jacobson, Greek laKd^wv Latin Jacobus, Jac, Jack, Union-Jack, occur aU over Christendom, and are as positive an element as the German " Ja." Ij is a Holland river. Jackfield Is found in Shropshire, where, too, alongside Wol-cott, Is Hunting-to(w)n. This observation possibly applies to Id or Ed, the name of a British-Saxon chieftain, also early found in Shropshire, near Wol-cott. There is said to be Id's-port or Id's-town in England, but I have not visited it. It may be identical, or akin with Ed, as the origin of Ed-ward, a British name given some Kings. Even those who trace Edward to Edou ard, may find a connection; and, through either or both of them, possibly with Edwards and Edwardes ; which American family, of Timothy and Jonathan Edwards, was, also, located near the Wolcott settlers. In South Windsor. English surnames are analyzed agreeably with the knowl edge of the scholar. Wolcott means an estate with a cottage ; and Is susceptible of derivation from wold, weald, cot, cote. Compare, e, g,, Cotswold, Northcote, Griswold. The roots mean power, cover, protection ; a cot, den, fold — home for shelter and comfort. Both elements are used in forming this strong, natural name. Syllables are reversed, some times. Men favor and adopt the facts and forces of nature. The Good Shepherd provides. In this presentation of the Origin, Lineage and Outlines of Service of British and American Wolcotts, it is not Incum bent on the author to traverse the ground so satisfactorily covered by the now classical Memorial, to essay the full history of the fam'Ily resident throughout the Kingdom, prior to 1525, much less to record all the knowledge and material at command, conceming the entire body, or even of many of the very illustrious descendants of Henry Wolcott, the BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 43 eariiest immigrant. Researches prosecuted among records and muniments both in England and the United States, should result advantageously to those tmly interested, and may add many agreeable incidents and pleasurable details concerning the lives of our ancestors, particularly those dwell ing in Salop or Shropshire, Somerset, Lincolnshire, London and other counties. The works of Hare, Besant, Mackenzie Wolcott, and other authorities, some included by them, relating to ancestry, lineage, residences and services — to Wolcott Park, the streets and localities in Bath, Surrey and London, as well as the wills deposited in Wells Cathedral and elsewhere, give in formation contained neither in the Memorial, nor in the mass of manuscripts since filed in the New England Historical Genealogical Society. A direct descendant of Judge Fred erick Wolcott — Mrs. Elizabeth Wolcott Merchant — pos sesses valuable unpublished papers. The Homestead and the Museum in Litchfield, and the homes of male and female descendants, preserve much historic material of individual and popular interest. William Cullen Bryant, the poet and editor, wrote me that he greatly regretted he had not had access to certain manuscripts before completing, with Mr. Gay, their History of the United States. The family's grander features and the measures of gen eral importance, have mostly been adequately presented, and knowledge thereof is available. Incidents and items of spe cial, more private concem, are sufficiently referred to; all the pleasures of life's experience are not to be conveyed to others, for each enjoys peculiarly his own privileges. The origin of every race, special line, family or person is comprehended and absorbed in the primal creation of man kind — the brotherhood of humanity. We reverently praise and obey the decrees of our Creator, whose omnipotent grace and love alone calls every soul into being, and prolongs its existence. While heredity has a vast influence In individual 44 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. life, and " Ipse ejus est suae fortunae magister " — each (in- a measure) is the master of his own fate ; and though circum stances, or environment, also have a large share — sometimes unconscionably and Incomprehensibly — in fixing choice, giving direction and purpose to the will, shaping character and determining the personality or making the man, all must admit ultimate dependence upon, gratefully welcome, and absolutely submit to the control of the Almighty Father. Therefore there Is no false or unjust pride in strictly trac ing ancestry, and tmthfuUy asserting one's honorable lineage. Nor is it weak, but rather strong and wise, to extol, emulate^ and perpetuate those virtues and services which are the rea sonable fmits, rewards and glory of joyous. Divine Creation, and of confident obedience to divine and natural laws. Conversely, it Is weak, wicked, and unjust to one's fellows and to humanity, to belittle or undervalue mighty, historic facts and responsibilities — to assert what is untrae, to make mere pretensions, to assume false colors, to exact arbitrary demlands or exercise despotic authority, whether In things private or public, ancestral, personal, industrial, commercial,. governmental, historical, or now, practical. Those prac tices are to be guarded against, especially in a republic. Neither just criticism, ridicule, nor indifference wIU wholly stop some, from " clambering through meanness to fame," or suppress the folly of those whose delight it is to appro priate the prizes, and acquire the discarded omaments or possessions of conspicuous strangers, or boast of inhabiting '* the home of (their) ancestors "— explained as meaning " the home of — somebody else^s ancestors " ! In Wolcott genealogy, in the connections of Jackson with Wolcott, and in treating of kindred or similar lines of descent services and alliances, facts are found at their sources, and statements are founded on the recognized proofs of history and muniments of title, joined with living knowkdge and felicitous experience. When information is derived from traditions or legends it should be so stated; conjecture how~ BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 45 ever probable or valid, needs be indicated as such, or as only a matter of opinion. There has been no occasion herein, to surmise anything, or Invoke anything other than positive, authentic history, and revive our actual observation. It would be gratifying should a qualified scholar prepare the biographies of several colonial, contemporary, promi nent, and able, though less popularly known Wolcotts, and of some direct descendants of Henry Wolcott having col lateral surnames, and greatly honoring that name. Some now Uving, and some of their successors, may, seemingly, through the lack of full enlightenment, neglect or overlook; but there are others who now do, and heartily will, appre ciate, respect, emulate and perpetuate the honor of all worthy connections, according as their intelligent judgment prompts, and themselves estimate noble characteristics and pronounced usefulness. Suffice it to say, I know of, and have most thor oughly known a considerable number of ancestors, predeces sors, and contemporaries of Wokott blood and name, and of that blood with other, marital names, who have filled their respective stations and spheres as fully, faithfully, magnani mously, admirably — if not equally gloriously, as those who have been panegyrized. RECENT REPRESENTATIVES. A few years ago, there was sent to me from a western city, a printed sketch, ably and beautifully drawn, by an authoress still unknown, of the life of Hon. Frederick Wol cott, which reveals his lasting, far-reaching influence. The vivid, accurate picture portrays him as the patriotic boy at nine, making ammunition, as the ingenuous, young " first- honor " Salutatorian, returning home, from Yale College, horseback, conveniently, on the one his father, the Govemor, just rode to New Haven; and who became " the handsomest man in Connecticut," was a reliable friend, the " exemplary " father and " consistent Christian." It recalled what I saw. 46 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. when a little boy visiting him on South Street — his affection ate nature and ways, his gracious bearing and impressive, almost majestic, manner as judge; what I have known and felt of his genial, beautiful home life, and have heard and read of him as a Corporate Member of the second New England college; his dignified deportment as Lieutenant Governor and when twice tendered highest honors in his State; as an assisting founder of a select school, a patron of education and a leader in industry, a foremost manufacturer and consummate gentleman : " None knew him, but to love him, None named him, but to praise." Due regard for perspective, proportionate and continu ous History, induces me to present at least some one indi vidual representing many direct, later descendants of Henry Wolcott. My selection Is from the generation second suc ceeding that of the Magistrate last named — Frederick Wol cott Jackson, Esq., of Newark, N. J., who died within this decade. He is remembered on a previous page. Eminent, as well as some anonymous, speakers and writers pronounced or penned eulogistic tributes to the memory of their fellow citizen, associate and friend. A fortnight ago, when absent on a visit, I first saw and read an encomium so just, profound and significant, that I fain would reproduce its striking thoughts and expressive words; but not knowing who is the author, nor possessing the print, they cannot here be quoted, though the impartial tribute is probably preserved in more than one library and collection. Mr. F. Wolcott Jackson, in form, appearance, manner, temperament, origi nahty, poise, conscientious religious convictions, social, finan cial, non-partisan, political and ethical judgments and senti ments more fully and distinctly, and within a few recent years, better personified the representative, American Wol cott, than perhaps any one other individual I know, whether of that name, or of the many of other names, having direct, original Wolcott blood. BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 47 In these United States, it is not name, prominence, nor office, alone that stamps the tme man. But as the father of a numerous, eamest family, the loving, companionable son and brother, a Presbyterian Church tmstee and elder. Trustee of Princeton University, member of the Union League Club of New York, Chamber of Commerce, Society of the Cincinnati, American Bible, and Tract Societies, and as a spotless private and public citizen, he was widely, socially, and somewhat nationally, known. Nor was he less personally, intimately identified with the important Railroad and Commercial business interests. For, leaming at home while a boy, from his father, who was a foremost Railroad authority, pioneer organizer. Superintendent, Chief Execu tive, Legislator and Counsellor, and growing up amidst such opportunities and interests as Shareholder, Secretary, Super intendent and ultimately President of the United New Jersey Railroads, Canal and Ferry Companies, his theoretical and practical experience of over forty years, placed him early far in advance of both many managers or operators, and those popularly termed " Railroad Magnates " or administrators. Had he desired or accepted the higher rank offered, and removed his residence Into Pennsylvania, Mr. F. Wolcott Jackson would, years ago, have been advanced to the head of the Pennsylvania system. In personality he resembled greatly the upright gentleman after whom he was named. He may be regarded as a fair specimen of the Jackson, Huntington, Freeman, Rankin, Whitehead, Frothingham, Goodrich, Stoughton, and Gibbs Wolcotts. About A. D. I IOO, the first known, registered Roger Wolcott married Edith Downes, the daughter of Sir William, a Shropshire Knight; even as In the last third of the 19th century, my first cousin. Governor Roger Wolcott, of Massa chusetts — the second Governor Roger in the American line, — married Edith, the accomplished great-great-great-grand daughter of the knightly Colonel William Prescott, of Bunker Hill fame. 48 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. Many hundreds of years ago, lived Alice (Bereford) Wolcott," in Shropshire, the wife of John Wolcott; a later John Wolcott also married an Alice; and Miss Alice Wol cott, my first cousin, is, in this 20th century — despite the moumful tone of Rev. Samuel Wolcott — the proper, fortu nate possessor of the fine homestead of Governor Oliver Wolcott, where his wife, two daughters, and a son nine years old, who becamte our grandfather, with three lady neighbors, in 1776, melted the gilded statue of King George III into 42,088 bullets, which Connecticut troops fired bodily into His Majesty's British soldiery. That home was, for many years, the shrine, refuge, headquarters and society center of thinking patriotic men and women, and some Euro pean allies — Washington, Hamilton, Trumbull, Hunting ton, Steuben, Lafayette, Kosciusko, and Count de Rocham beau. English tribunals and authorities justly honor the Wolcott name, as similarly do discerning scholars in the United States. Bancroft, Lossing, Bushnell, Sparks, George Gibbs, Maj.- Gen. Alfred Gibbs, U. S. A., Rev. Dr. H. W. Bellows and Bishop Lawrence, of Massachusetts, are of those who record their high estimate of the family's services and char acteristics. Stiles' " Ancient Windsor " states that its his tory " Is most interesting to thousands of New England fam ilies." It Is also Interwoven with many. At the Reunion in Hartford, Conn., August 24th, 19 10, the prevailing public sentiment in this regard was gracefully and magnanimously expressed In his speech of welcome, by his Honor, Mayor Smith, who found at hand in the Libra ries, Court Buildings and in principal Public, Municipal and State Houses, ample material in the form of Colonial and Legislative documents, diversified records, manuscripts, judi cial proceedings, the charter of King Charles, autographic signatures and gubematorial portraits, to justify his remark able encomium. BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 49 THREE ILLUSTRIOUS PERSONAGES. The portraits of the two Governors, Oliver Wolcott — the Signer, and his son Oliver Wolcott, the Secretary, — were originally presented to the State, in New Haven. They remained in that Capital, until Hartford was constituted the one seat of government, and now hang in the State Library. No portrait of the illustrious Govemor Roger Wolcott is known, but abundant accurate knowledge, memories and interesting traditions of his life, deeds and official services are fortunately preserved. We would gladly possess fuller reports of his pioneer generalship in the all-Important French and Indian Colonial Wars. Considerable parts of his family letters, his private, public and heroic writings — but no engraved likeness — appear, favorably, in The Wolcott Memorial. Governor Roger, the Major-General, was the first governor, and the earliest of the three most distinguished personages, of the Wolcott name. Unquestionably he was the most influential and successful colonial leader of his times. Colleges, the clergy, librarians, scholars, leading government officers, and the political, fashionable, modern, social world, clearly understand the Important facts, the better they are informed, and more fuUy they are Interested and enlightened in the agencies and measures of progressive English and American civilization. On pages 204-205 of Appleton's last edition of The Re publican Court, or "A History of American Society In the Days of Washington," its author, Mr. Roger Wilmot Gris wold, significantly remarks: "Henry Wolcott emigrated from the mother country in 1630, to escape religious persecu tion. His grandson, Roger Wolcott, was distinguished for military and court services, and occupied in succession the most important offices In the colony, ending with that of Gov emor. . . . Oliver Wolcott (his great-grandson) entered the army at twenty-one years of age, as a Captain of New York forces, and served on the frontier until the peace of Aix- la-Chapelle. He also became Governor of Connecticut, and 50 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. . . The second Oliver Wokott (his great-great-grandson) was, in 1789, appointed auditor of the Treasury, and we possess in his memoirs not only a mine of the richest material for public history, but very many glimpses of society and circumstances of common life in the memorable period of the court, or most eminent circle, about the seat of govemment." " Of New England famUies, perhaps not one had been more honored and trusted than that of Wolcott, and certainly no family in all the continent had preserved through its American generations a purer fame." No one American statesman, soldier or scholar combined such broad, profound, wise knowledge and sentiments, and such varied and enlarged practical insight, InteUigent ex perience and influence in and upon the most vital problems and affairs, within the Colonial period just prior to, and dur ing the War of the Revolution, equally with Oliver Wolcott. He was for ten years Lieutenant-Governor and two years Governor of the State of Connecticut, adjuster of the boun daries of New York, he defeated the French and Indians, was a Member of the Continental Congress, a contributor to, and a Signer of the Declaration of Independence; more over, as Major-General of Continental troops, in 1777, by despatching fourteen regiments, and by raising and leading In person the fifteenth to the battlefield of Saratoga, he enabled Major-Generals Gates and Schuyler to whip the British army and force the surrender of General Burgoyne. No citizen, patriot, the Influential head of an ancient family, and the founder of his own branch, of any era, was better qualified by birth, acquaintance and liberal education, or more fully equipped for civic, social, and military council. Influence and conclusive performance, among able leaders and important forces, than he; and no one in American history possessed, displayed or employed more sound com mon sense, higher attainments, greater talents or larger ag gregate powers moral and Intellectual, devoted to the good BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 5 I alike of each and all individuals, and, at the same time, conse crated to national and universal well being, co-operation, and independent, rational advancement. He cherished and per sonified the wise, tme, ultimate, principles of democratic, republican, representative, constitutional self-government. The same may be said — barring only military Influence — of his son, the Secretary and Govemor, Oliver Wokott, Second. With the advantages of remarkably intimate as sociation and co-operation with older statesmen and his con temporaries, the Second Oliver Wolcott's national services began in his Yale College doings, under President Daggett and with Captain Noah Webster, and extended until the day of his death, in 1833, at No. i Broadway, New York. His long, great career was unparalleled in the range, diversity and grave importance of his manifold public duties and popu lar responsible measures, which, of Itself, comprehends, com bines and constitutes distinct chapters of military, financial, governmental, judicial, industrial, commercial, gubernatorial, political and social activities and histories, beginning within the Revolutionary era, and reaching through it, and years subsequent to his father's career. After his services in Connecticut, he was, severally. Comp troller, Treasurer and Secretary of the United States Treas ury during the Presidency of Washington and John Adams ; was then appointed by Adams, the first United States Judge, in the most important Circuit ; next, while living in New York, was the founder and first president of the Merchants' Bank and Bank of America, adapted for local and national pur poses ; was an importer of Merino sheep and Durham cattle, a mill owner and manufacturer, the chief promoter of Eli Whitney's cotton-gin — which developed the South ; and he was, finally, the accomplished, conservative, dignified Gover nor of Connecticut, by choice of the people, for the term of ten consecutive years. During his early residence in Philadelphia and Washing ton, he assisted Secretary Alexander Hamilton in his im- 52 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. portant financial measures, and was his chief adviser, friend and immediate successor. He conducted the federal govern ment in the occasional absence of President Adams. He con tributed in locating the seat of the government, and, also, in selecting the present site of the Capitol, at Washington's desire; and was not only the latter's m'ost Intimate, civic friend, but, also, the warm friend, intimate associate, or cor respondent of very many other vigorous patriots, of that pregnant period. Lieut.-Col. Hamilton might well write to President Adams that Secretary Wolcott's services, as jurist and financier, " were indispensable to the welfare of the United States Government." No American was more courageous, untiring and efficient in resuscitating and establishing the State of Connecticut, in achieving for the Union of the States the full fmits of the Revolutionary War, and in developing our country's material interests. No statesman of that patriotic era was so close a personal friend, sagacious adviser and supporter of the meas ures of Washington, Adams, the Livingstons, Hamilton, Jay, Morris, Ames, Pinckney; and as the steadfast, public leader, judicious counsellor, father of a family, and omament to gen eral society; and being the almost sole survivor of so many lUustrious forces and personages, his own life forms the in destructible link connecting and combining the matchless glories of the Colonial and Revolutionary periods, with its succeeding era of commercial, financial and political progress in municipal, state and national affairs of the Union period, up to the War for its Preservation. Had the counsels of such men prevailed, there probably would have arisen no Secession or Civil War. The national, state and city govern ments, and an unlimited host of private citizens have volun tarily, uniformly and gladly ascribed to him these imperish able honors. TAUNTON. In 1903, when I was sitting In the old castle at Taunton, Somerset, England, which dates from 1 100 — now the Pub- BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 53 lie Library and Museum — examining books and antiquities, on my making a casual remark to a member of our group after our return from a drive to Tolland, suddenly a gentle man standing near, who was diligently searching some records, and who proved to be a weU-known archeologist and eminent London barrister, thinking my remark was ad dressed to him, turned towards us and exclaimed: " Whatl Wolcotts? Why if those gentlemen had remained here in England, instead of going to America, they would have been our Dukes and Lords ! " The incident led to an interview in which it transpired that the gentleman visitor had a scholarly familiarity with affairs of the Kingdom, knew well the estate and the present, exclusive owner of Galdon Manor; and Oxford-Taunton residents said that the lawyer was their highest authority in Somersetshire history. What the gentle man declared, meant that they were natural, proper, legal, constitutional leaders of men; noblemen under England's monarchical system, independent, sovereign citizens in a rep resentative, republican nation. Within the last month, I have noticed in Humphrey's History of Wellington parish, Som erset, that members of the gentleman's family, resided in Somerset, several centuries ago. Wolcott is certainly one of, if not the very oldest, contin uous, honored, EngUsh family names in British and American chronicles. It represents people ever loyal to principles, friends, govemments, crown, with profound reverence for the Omnipotent Creator. They are ever ready to furnish their quota of horse, men, money and means, and unlimited service in support of their government, while courageously and dignifiedly independent in their individual aspirations, judgments and convictions. Love for mankind, chivalry to wards woman, respect for personal liberty, order and law, and tmst in Almighty God, are born in them, and cherished as natural. There is good reason why the full, tmthful histories of those men and women best improving their fortunate oppor- 54 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. tunities for usefulness, should be acquired, possessed and per manently and memorially preserved, as contributions to de sirable civil and social progress, thereby furnishing safe guides inciting to steadfast, generous emulation, and noble, lofty ambition. While there is ever room for the fresh crea tion of that real history, which is " philosophy teaching by examples," It must not be forgotten that past history can never either be repeated or expunged ; that it is already estab lished and is imperishable. Least of all should humanity ever permit that the records of the lives and doings of the benefactors and leaders of our race ; shall be at all eliminated, disparaged, overlooked, or obscured. Their benign Influence shall be maintained as steadily as the sun In the heavens. Virtuous principles are eternal — rare personal character istics are Immortal. BATH. The philosophical, penetrating student, fond of research, has a recondite subject in the inquiry how It happens that the Wolcott name became so early, permanently, diversifiedly and conspicuously identified within the venerable bishopric of Bath and Wells, particularly with the ancient city of Bath. This mythological, unique, substantial, central town is said to have existed In the time of the prophet Elijah, and of Ptolemy; also to have been founded B. C. 890 or 863. It is known to be flourishing, A. D. 50; and after an obscure interval, to have been abandoned by the Romans to the Britons, about A. D. 411. After a remarkable existence, including the sixth century when the Saxon Heptarchy con quered and ruled aU England, and when the British Kings were elected, annually, at Bath, by popular vote, the city seems, for a long time, to have subsided. Again It rose to be of fresh national and European importance, elegance and briUiance as a social, healthful, artistic, literary, pleasure,. royal and fashionable residence and watering place. BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 55 One of its best histories, particularly of the city in the eighteenth century, was printed in 1904, and is based upon several hundred scholarly and miscellaneous publications con ceming the town and its people. It contains an old map of the place, as rebuilt and flourishing, A. D. 1783. Only its remarkable situation In an amphitheater of beautiful hills, the fine old Abbey — styled " the lantern of (West) England " — its salubrious waters, climate, history and the Immemorial Roman Baths, now remain to indicate its singular origin and grand culmination as a British watering place. Though at present, an exceptionally Interesting and more than ordinarily attractive shire-town, the modern city then combined, as the cosmopolitan resort of the English people, many features of Rome, Paris and Baiae, and also retained diversified elements of native civilization. Among the features the old map shows are, through the center, the main thoroughfare, designated " Wolcott Street " or " Strand " prolonged into the London Road, " Wolcott parade," and at the conflux of the three important highways " Wolcott Church." This, by the way, stands In the section of blocks of the town, quite near the Countess, Lady Hunt ingdon's home, and her Wesleyan Chapel. Sir George and Lady Jackson are among those there producing literary work — " Archives of Bath." In 1903, the first time I really went about and knew Bath, while driving on one of the city's hills, I exclaimed, " What a splendid view of open, rolling, unoccupied country ! You can almost believe that Robin Hood, Little John or other bowmen are now in those woods ! " " Yes," briskly retorted the local coachman, " this is that beautiful view from Wol cott Terrace! " I remarked how roundly he pronounced his words. I had not before known so fully of the family interest centered there, though aware that John Wolcot, under the nom de plume " Peter Pindar," had sounded its praises in verse. The comprehensive history mentions the humorous writings of John Wolcot, his " Pump Room at Bath, 1818," 56 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. and shows that there, at that comparatively late day, though now nearly a century ago, with many monuments of antiquity and traditions about them, the local, bright poet, the pub lisher of his time, and the author and publishers of today, of those vivid, critical chronicles derived from numerous biblio graphical sources, though the map, made in 1783, used " Walcot " — aU held to " Wolcot " with the open, strong, proper pronunciation "Wolcott." This last, usual form and correct spelling, appUed by Ashton, Sotheran, Hatch ards, is the one now generally employed by native and foreign authorities. Wolcott Is the name of a race identified with noble thought, legitimate sovereignty, exalted virtues, pure purpose, British and American dauntless courage, and the unfettered spirit of Divine liberty. It certainly is a remarkable, coincident, almost prophetic, and suggestive fact, that the ancient, brilliant and resourceful city of Bath — whose inhabitants once elected their Sover eign rulers, yearly, by votes, and which, later, became the selected residence of Royalty and Nobility, the British cos mopolitan resort of the clergy, army, scholars, playwrights, and leaders of taste, fashions and society — should so long ago have named its central, commercial avenue, its choice, gay parade, a beautiful terrace, and a consecrated modem church, all after a representative Briton family, which, in ages before, embraced supporters of the crown, pious crusa ders, valiant soldiers, the Intimates and counsellors of Kings, and the Chief Magistrate of London — the Empire's one capital and sovereign city; and in the first centuries of this free Union, yet contains many brave asserters and defenders of hopeful, aspiring freemen, whose descendants, in America, were destined to become founders of New England and Con necticut Colonies, Governors of States, establishers of boun daries, patrons of learning, organizers of financial, industrial interests, of patriotic, heroic, civic institutions, and conserva tors of human rights, whose broad republicanism ceaselessly BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 57 declares for National Independence, Constitutional citizen ship and rational, personal Liberty. CHARACTERISTICS. Since this book from its nature is designed mostly for younger relatives and future readers, who may be interested in human power, as such, it may be expected that I specify Wolcott characteristics. This, some have done. There are organizations and persons who apply for such Information, and make a study of transmitted traits ; with these we have no mission. It is rather my privilege to call attention to earlier special lives, and doings within the periods, and circles, I well know, leaving to discriminating observers further considera tion from their own advantageous points of view. Private citizenship and domestic life retain Innumerable charms into which neither general history, nor ambitious romance, needs, or has right, to intmde. A certain moderation, or reserve, attending attractive or fascinating manners, bespeaks not conceit, but sincerity, defer ence, magnanimity. I have occasionally heard discerning, friendly outsiders, dwelling in select circles of Cambridge, Boston, or elsewhere — admiringly, thoughtfully, graphi cally — usually good-naturedly — remark of the eastern American Wolcotts, that they were a particularly joyful, lovely, brilliant, accompUshed, " sanctified," " holy," race of people, having uncommon elegance of style, with spark ling, " dancing " eyes, and of most refined tastes; and though such were tributes ejaculated from ardent, enthusiastic sym pathizers, they plainly showed the popular opinion. Providence creates and commands tribes, kinds and per sons to effect His special, lesser purposes, even as He regulates His entire universe ; and though man, however closely, cheer fully he may walk, interprets the mysteries of life and In finity but imperfectly, he may yet peacefully dwell in com fort, contentment, serene and happy contemplation, provided 58 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. he habitually exercises reason, faith and love. That Is the secret of the Wolcott sway. It will be discovered that personages of Wolcott name have been summoned to the front, often in affairs of Church militant and of State triumphant, if not before the invasion of British soil by Picts and Scots, certainly in repelling from borderland the Welsh. During the Cmsades, the War of the White and Red Roses, the Hundred Years War, the con tests between legitimate sovereignty and daring usurpation, between Royalists and Insurgents, in minor British stmggles, and in the more pregnant differences between oppressive kings and queens and their regular Colonies, reasonable American Provinces, our Independent, Federal Unions, and the established United States, the Wolcotts have invariably, judiciously arrayed themselves on the side of legality and loyalty, with firm devotion to the wise, correct, paramount principles, permanent Interests and lofty destinies, involved. Therefore is their record spotless and honorable, alike in English and in American history. In France, In England and In the United States, they have uniformly stood for legalized governmental rule, universal law, order, the public welfare, absolute personal rights, and individual well-being. With their bold, adventurous spirit, whether as Judges, counsellors, warriors or merchants, bankers or Govemors, they have inspired confidence and engendered progress, while promoting tranquillity; and though they have not been so meek as to inherit the earth, they have been, what is far better, " peace-makers " — for such shall be called the children of God. They have not been merely supplanters, like the glorified Hebrew Jacob, prophe sied by Malachi; rather have they been foremost advisers, original supporters, contributors, pioneer promoters and con- sitmctlve agencies under Divine guidance, entmsted with power. The best attributes that Macaulay has ascribed to the Puritans, the best thoughts and epithets which cluster around BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 59 his " Milton," are none too strong, or grand, to fit magnani mous, unselfish, devoted, valiant, progressive, colonial foun ders, continental generals, patriotic Governors. They em bodied and represented the highest virtues and rarest intelli gence, which are the best fmits of growth and development of England and America, in the zenith of their vigor and renown ; and as they exhibited more breadth, power and per spicacity, with equally tender sensibilities, than most Pil grims, and equal force and faith, together with better enlightened conscience, more liberality, kindly nature and exalted soul, than most zealous Puritans, they kept aloof from unnecessary and unprofitable controversies, raised high standards of character and mlanhood, and calmly, habitually established and encouraged our noblest civilization. Everywhere they utilized common sense with comity and courtesy. Their Religious faith was based on that divine Inspiration pervading the entire Holy Scriptures, which imparts and enforces Reverence, Righteousness and Retri bution — or justice, tempered with mercy and love. While staunch believers in the tme Church, themselves shunned mere denominationalism! and dogmatism; thoroughly toler ant of all sincere convictions, they " dared do all that well becomes a man." The beUef Is entertained in weU informed circles that had Colonel Alexander Hamilton — who married my col lateral codescendant. Miss Elizabeth Schuyler, the charming daughter of General Philip Schuyler — promptly consulted his steadfast friend and judicious adviser. Secretary Oliver Wolcott, as he frequently before had done in Important matters — both Hamilton and the country would have been spared his lamentable, fatal embroilment with Colonel Aaron Burr. Less than ten years ago, a Member of the British Parliament, who was also of King's Counsel, and the London City Chief Law Magistrate, said: " Were aU Americans as weU Informed and disposed in our British- American inter national interests and relations, as are the members of your 6o BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. family, there would be no further trouble between Great Britain and the United States." It is not fancied, nor implied, that there is any monopoly — simply a share, in the good thoughts and good doings of good men and women, the world over. It is as idle as impossible, to claim exclusive superiority, or entire equality under a common Father. For though Mr. John C. Calhoun tmthfuUy declared that nearly one-half of an able Congress was composed of graduates from Yale College, or natives of Connecticut, and a large fraction of the famous New York Constitutional Convention of 1848, comprised similar ele ments, and though the original factor of Natural Selection generally works well — in almost every age, fresh races or rare bodies of men arise, and gallantly stand for certain rights and spiritual freedom. Fine traits characterized the Howards, the Brinckerhoffs, Stuarts, Huntingtons, Wil- liamses, Winthrops, Sallsburys, Jacksons and countless other strong men and fair women throughout Christendom. Of necessity, the intensely vital subject — the Improve ment of the human race — will always claim attention, des pite the ridiculous way some have approached it. Apparently, the natural, tme method Is, by the appropriate home care and training in Infancy; the symmetrical physical, spiritual, practical, intellectual education of each child, continued so as to fit everyone thoroughly for ordinaiy usefulness; bearing love towards feUows, and being in harmony with the Great Maker. The purpose is God's glory and man's endless happiness. Increased interest In fuU development and perpetuation of individual and national traits, is not confined to the labora tories of scientists, nor to the libraries and labors of Eugenic Societies. Polished gentlemen and most educated, cultured persons, however, are indisposed to gratify, by dis cussion, the mere curiosity of strangers, or to encourage self-constituted sociologists, but would leave those to make their own proper investigations, and draw their own rational BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 6 1 conclusions. We have in the United States no reigning fam ilies, no assumed hierarchies, no hereditary houses arbitrarily prolonged into decades and centuries. Caesars, Pharaohs, Mahomets, Czars, even political " bosses " in unbroken, arti ficial lines, have not secured solid footing or acquired pres tige here. Their scope and Influence, by the example of this Republic, has been curtailed In modem Europe. But fine character and genuine qualities may be perpetuated, eter nally. The best, indispensable truths are already known to the world. Posterity must depend on and hark back to Christian families and Christian principles. It is as astonishing as it is humiliating that the offspring of so many reputable and meritorious citizens are so limited in number, and that so few, even of them, inherit or exhibit the peculiar virtues that marked their sires. Either the selec tions of incumbents for high political and industrial offices and leaderships in current affairs are often faulty and ex tremely unfortunate, else there is vast deterioration and syncope transpiring In the white, or Caucasian, race. One can readily name fifty men recently known as meritorious or " great," who have left but a single, or no, heir to their mental and moral attainments and gifts. The aggregate, proportionate number of sharp attor neys, dwarfish statesmen, mistaken educators, unqualified phy sicians, heretic or skeptical inventors, mercenary or venal editors, greedy money-changers and industrial operators, whose easy promises are not redeemed, but who deceive, mislead and defraud the earnest, faithful, worthy men and women who constitute the most desirable part of American society, has, apparently, vastly increased of late years. They seem to be the degenerate posterity of somewhat pious but bigoted and selfish folks, native and foreign bom, who were ever envious of excellent, dutiful, fortunate, satisfied and blissful characters; but themselves were too fickle, covetous, avaricious and cowardly to tender good services to others, or benedictions to their common country, now so confused 62 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. after the evil secession and rebellion, which their vicious radi calism, vagrancy, and poverty of resources, hastened and pro longed into ill-advised, destmctive, inconclusive Civil War. "Bonum est discere causas rerum." Besides considering the causes, it is better that all sen sible men and women patiently shun. Ignore, resist, repel, refute, fmstrate, conquer, subdue, pity, commiserate, edu cate and elevate the wayward, theoretical, impracticable dogmatists ; but fraternize with them only so far as is neces sary, wise and safe. Strong forces and features are brought into higher activity and prominence, through happy association or com bination with others; just as material forms in sculpture, painting, tapestry and Instmmental music retain, preserve, amplify and decorate, the subtler sublime thoughts and con ceptions of an artist or composer. One star differs from another star in glory. The potter has power over the clay, turning some vessels into honor, others into dishonor : Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you: The Kingdom of God Is within you — are favorite texts, which explain things, im mensely. Distinct manifestations of personal, and of national character, appear, in the large numbers of descend ants, often from an original pair. Though all members of the several branches of one family cannot constantly meet, when some do meet any others, they mutually recognize — positive traits, speak out for themselves. One discovers that he has been sitting for years, per chance, at the same directors' table, unconscious that far back, himself and neighbor, had a direct ancestor. From old college mates, there is much to learn. A retiring matron may prove to be not only the honored source of numerous, powerful progeny bearing the allied namie, but also the dis tinct, divine influence — the balance wheel of her consort's enginery, as weU as the mainspring of the propitious com bination. Men are caUed to heed and concern themselves BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 63 about the business, frailties and misfortunes of strangers, just so far only as they can tmly relieve and assist them; but whatever pertains to humanity at large, affects the in terests of everyone. JACKSON-HUNTINGTON-WOLCOTTS. The voice of Mr. J. Huntington Wolcott of Boston added to his manly bearing, was singularly clear, musical, almost orchestral; and so naturally modulated, that it arrested attention In any cultivated group. The self-educated, heroic General Roger Wolcott, of Windsor, according to traditions heard, read and still current, presented a striking appear ance as he rode horseback to Hartford on public or Guber natorial business, dressed In royal scarlet : he was so stately and popular on such errands, that men on the highways paused, and the residents on the post road left their dwell ings, to catch a look at him. Several kinsmen, in Harvard College generations, were marked gentlemen — so were those graduates from Columbia, Williams, Princeton and Yale. Upwards of seventy Huntingtons have graduated at Yale alone. The late Roger Wolcott, of Massachusetts — my last male Wolcott, first cousin — would, perhaps, have become President of the oldest, continuous college, for his person ality favorably aided and impressed the instmction he had imparted there. When attending, as Governor of the Bay State, the consecration of General Grant's tomb In New York, spectators rose en masse to cheer in welcoming his appearance, though probably not a hundred present had known him before. The accomplished manners, attainments and brilliant conversational powers of many ladies of the family have been especially admilred by such observers as President Chauncy, Mr. Everett, Secretary Henry Clay, Josiah Quincy, General Leslie Coombs and other representatives of respective periods; and they appear to have been equally 5 64 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. esteemed by all their lady associates and friends. In recall ing the impressive looks of some Wolcott public servants, scriptural words have been appUed: "The king sitteth on the throne of judgment, and scattereth all evil with his eyes." In colonial days, when the men one Sunday were absent at church, the lady remaining at home, frightened off Indians approaching the house, by boldly assuming a masculine tone, and exclaiming: "Tom! Jack! Hand me that gun! " Hon. John P. Jackson, the second, twice Speaker of New Jersey, possessed, besides large legal attainments, force of character, and courtly manners, a voice of unusual compass, richness, and resonance; so that anywhere — say on entering a car between New York and Philadelphia — on his politely speaking, all near, or half the passengers, would tum to see who the agreeable arrival was. The families of Judge Frederick Wolcott, In their habits of invoking grace, or in conducting household prayers, witnessed simplicity, rever ence, sincerity, whether the felt service consisted of selec tions from the Bible and the use of our Prayer Book, the Unitarian, Dr. Albert Barnes', or other collection, or of spontaneous, extemporaneous, original forms of supplication and praise. It was ever a peaceful, comforting Incident. SimUar was the way, my grandmother Jackson has told, in the home of our Netherlands ancestor. Colonel John Brinckerhoff, of Fishkill, N. Y., friend and " elder brother " of President Washington. At an important juncture in the Revolutionary War, being desirous of learning the situation of affairs, the Colonel inquired of the General, who fre quently visited him. After some silence. General Washing ton shrewdly responded " Colonel Brinckerhoff, can you keep a secret?" "Yes," said Grandfather Brinckerhoff. " So can I," replied the General — and remained silent. At evening, before retiring, Brinckerhoff said to Washington: " I believe. General, you are the Commander of the Army of the United States." " I beUeve I am," said the Chief. " Well," said the venerable Colonel, " You, sir, are my BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 65 guest, and I command this household. It is customary for us to close the day with family prayers, in which you are expected to join." " Certainly," said Washington, and they bowed in prayer. HOLD FAST TO WHAT IS GOOD. What I have seen of the direct and indirect influence of woman in American, British, Holland, Huguenot, French, ItaUan, German and Russian families, confirms the opinion that nothing should be permitted to distort or materially change the ordained, orderly, personal relations and estab lished Ideal privileges of husband, father, wife, mother, sons and daughters in the Christian family, as justly legalized in the most conservative of the thirteen original States of our Union. The letter, but hardly the spirit of the law, could be improved, perhaps, as to property, under certain conditions. Changes, however, are apt to introduce or substitute a fresh evil. Through the devices of pernicious or conflicting statutes, hitherto enacted or now proposed, unsettled legislation, unfounded " faith " cure, peculiar " science," " bread pills of Dr. Flood," female, or Amazo nian suffrage, " experimental marriage," Utah duplicity and constrained celibacy, many suffer — many more may be mis led. With considerable acquaintance in this broad land, we know of no one educated, captured by any such delusion. If any reasoning individual seems to accept an illogical phase of philosophy for the moment, his knowledge on all other subjects overcomes his weakness; so he becomes the wiser, the farther he dismisses his hobby. In university towns, we have seen so many matrons, despite their widowhood, throw open their doors and estab lish hospitable homes for students, that the man must be blind indeed, who does not recognize in woman the counter part — the centripetal and centrifugal forces, counterbal ancing; and the longer he lives, the better he finds that there is a time and place for everything, that order Is heaven's first 66 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. law, and that the Creator, who " setteth the solitary in fami lies," knows more than himself. One need not refer to popular characters, ancient or modern; for the few excep tionally superior writers, singers, dramatists, painters, actresses, sculptors, and unclassified Instructors only prove the mle that where you find one heretic, the rest — tme .vvomen — grace attractive homes. Who has not recalled the painstaking Martha or other dame, who strengthened life — at Oxford, Winchester, Andover, Cambridge, or New Haven? Mesdames C, U., and W., e. g., have benefitted hundreds of scholars, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose public services justify the mention of her name, possibly the most correct in judgment and gifted of Dr. Lyman Beecher's talented family, never In my eyes appeared to greater advantage, than when she was revising her magazine notes of " Uncle Tom's Cabin " with one or both twin baby daughters on her lap or by her side, as she sat in the Andover gymnasium just reconstmcted Into their spacious stone cottage. Her hymns beginning " Still, still with Thee," and " When winds are raging o'er the troubled ocean," as heard sung almost weekly in Appleton Chapel, Cambridge, are replete with faultless thought and sentiment. No one, per contra, can demon strate the large effect, for good or for evil, of " Uncle Tom's Cabin." Tme women, possess their rights; they wield their appointed power, in shaping character. It is difficult, in fact impossible in most instances, to definitely trace, or separate, the three several influences on personality, viz., creation, inheritance, and environment. I have been awakened and aroused into action in camp, on the battlefield, and at home amid peaceful pursuits, to pre pare for ordinary service, for carnage, for efforts in the lowest and the highest courts of justice. In my day, I have earned satisfactory daily compensation in three arduous pur suits — teaching boys for coUege or business, fighting the battles of my country, and waging legal contests. The BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 67 clarion bugle may sound the reveille, dmms may beat, the clatter of musketry, the roar of cannon will each, promptly, summon to duty. So may the chimes of Westminster or Trinity, the sunrise gun or morning salute, college chapel beU, Christmas carols. Independence Day, the forces and voices of nature as seen or heard In morning dawn. In thun der, lightning, the crowing of cocks, lowing of cattle, sweet warbUng of birds, the steady footstep of the watchman, the neighing of horses, the " good morning " salutation of work men responding to factory bell or whistle; but, reverting to childhood, surpassing all these in quick awakening for duties and pleasurable life, were the sweeter tones of my loving mother, appealing, too, with sparkling, heaven-blue eyes: " Up! my boys, this bright, fine morning! " " Children are what their mothers are. No fondest father's kindest art Can fashion so tlie infant heart, As those creative beams that dart With all their hopes and fears upon The cradle of an infant son." Environment or circumstances may effect changes; but natal and inherited — or indigenous — qualities and features, last through life. Love is the divine, formative power. An impartial, cultured Austrian remarked in a house hold, years before I saw Europe, that he had just heard here, purer English, better spoken and more properly pro nounced, than In all England, or elsewhere. The speaker graced New England strength, with New York good taste. An old New York banker, returning from far west, on forming a new acquaintance burst out: "Where do you suppose I first saw you — over fifty years ago? " I could not imagine. " You were visiting, from Yale, your brother in Princeton; and the general remark was that you and he were the two best-dressed boys in the town. I fix the date by the fact that I was in the class before him." 68 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. The natal, inherited, individual, creative spirit which had induced my father, a first-honor man, to introduce Web ster's dictionary, spelling book and other school books into his native State, may, perhaps, explain an observation of President Felton. It, also, probably, did have to do with the remark of a bright, dispassionate lawyer, my school-boy friend — a native of a different section, a graduate of a very different college, with quite opposite church, but with the same club and political affiliations; and, later, each having a family and residing near neighbors, in New York, on the same street. " How is it," he asked, " that you always have the best of everything — best church, best club, best law practice, and best friends? " Was it not a quandary, yet quite unlike that raised by the ready answer of the Paternoster Row book publisher, who, when asked for a first-rate English dictionary, exclaimed: " Why do you ask me for that, when your own countryman has produced the best In the world, and his name is better known than that of any Englishman save, perhaps, Shake speare? " Americans, In most modern matters, are not called upon to look abroad, backward or forward, when, under Providence equally good or better possessions spring up, or exist, at their very doors. JACKSON-HUNTINGTON-WOLCOTTS. This monogram of British- American Wolcotts was ren dered desirable by reasons apparent herein: the Wolcott Memorial terminating at so distant a date; and a Society of Descendants of Henry Wolcott, organized chiefly of those descending from other lines than of Henry, Simon, and the Governors Roger and Oliver Wolcott, proposing a total, at tbe same time, a partial and imperfect record. Large num bers of the latter lines desire that the treasured Memorial be brought down, fully, to their own times. In complying with requests, the writer may prepare a like monogram on the Origin, Lineage and Service of the BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 69 British-American, New York-New Jersey, Jacksons — mem bers' lines — the record of which resembles, and in some fea tures, mns parallel with that of the Wolcotts. The Hunt ington Family Record is invaluable. The Descendants of Jackson-Wolcott parents now con stitute thirty-seven settlements, or families transplanting Jackson-Wolcott blood; three into Massachusetts, one Into Connecticut, six into the Jackson native state — New York, eight into New Jersey, ten into the city of Philadelphia, two into Washington, D. C, one each into Chicago and San Francisco, three now residing In Europe, one in Baltimore, while three others, by their attachment to the United States Navy, or to the Diplomatic service of the United States or Sweden, are found In remoter quarters. Hon. John P. Jackson, of New Jersey, cut off in the plenitude of his powers, at a time when the two national parties were uiilting to send him to the Senate, was endowed with blessings which rendered him a foremost scholar, law yer, educator, railroad and commercial executive, and a patriotic, philanthropic citizen certainly unsurpassed in ener getic usefulness in the comprehensive spheres of his activities. Competent contemporaries declared " he had no superior in the land." His associates and successors fain would in scribe on his monument, and quarter on the Jackson armor to reveal his spirit and declare his sentiments, these lines he often quoted from Bishop Berkeley, and other sources : " Westward the Course of Empire takes its way ! " ' Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again ! Th' eternal realm of years is hers; While error writhes amidst her pain, And dies, among her worshippers." " There is a land of pure delight." No connection is pursued here, with the many good branches of American Jacksons, or with the British. Very 70 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. many of the latter, and one of the former, bear the same, or similar heraldic escutcheon. My mother, Elizabeth Wolcott, represents the last Wolcott generation, in direct line. She was christened after her mother, Betsy Huntington; and after her, several living descendants are happily named. The name is also identical with that of the first Wolcott woman of record — Elizabeth — the daughter of Sir William, of Shropshire, who married a Welsh king. Their royal off spring, as was customary In England, preferably retained the leading, British Wolcott, name. It Is Interesting to believers In the inspired records, prom ises and prophecies, that we possess clear Information of some kinsfolk dwelling In the first millennium; happy should all be who Uve within this, or a subsequent millennium of the world's high advance under Christianity. A stanza of Addi son's finest hymn — a favorite, often repeated by my mother and sung in our homes, felicitously expresses the Jackson- Wolcott and Wokott-Jackson belief. " Come, sound His praise abroad ! And h3rmns of glory sing; Jehovah is the Sovereign Lord, The Universal King." The Roman motto, Nullius addictus jurare in verba mag- istri, centuries ago appropriated by the Wolcotts as evincing their armor and faith, was adopted in recent years by the authorities of Yale College Corporation, for the seal of its School of Divinity. CONCLUSIONS IN HISTORY. In treating Wolcott Origin, Lineage and Service, dis tinctive outUnes and features are given, and authorities cited. I have brought down the direct genealogical line from the grandparents of Henry the American founder, through his youngest son Simon, and wife Martha (Pitkin) Wolcott, their youngest son Governor Roger, his youngest son, Gov- BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 7 1 ernor Oliver the Signer and through the latter's youngest son. Lieutenant Governor Frederick and Betsey (Hunting ton) Wolcott his wife, till this day. Considerable additional information Is thus furnished, and much also concerning the fifteen or more generations including those of Jeram and Sir William — mentioned by Burke and Stiles as just preced ing Henry, who was born A. D. 1578 — which run back to unrecorded date. The Wolcotts were native Britons, many dwelUng In Shropshire, some in Wolcott village near Shrewsbury, indefi nitely early. We do not read that the Angles, Danes, Welsh, or Normans appropriated their castle or other possessions. Several were personages of great consideration, all evinced high personal and loyal civic characters, and close study of their lives, with their connections, rewards investigation. This comprehensive Outline, with many fresh details was contemplated as additional and supplemental to the Wolcott Memorial. A complete compilation with full narratives of this direct line alone, showing the family antiquity and con tinuity, would require unusual space. There is little pros pect that a single, general record of the entire family will appear. Such broad fields are better reviewed separately, by different ways, and the admirable Memorial, though limited, covers and includes satisfactorily, so long a period, and such interesting portions of Wolcott history. A recent organization, called The Society of Descend ants of Henry Wolcott, has changed its purpose, and instead of its proposed " General Record of all Wolcotts tracing to Henry of Tolland ," It now announces it " may publish the pedigrees of nearly three thousand descendants." Who can now produce proper evidence for such, stating the entire number, with proofs showing the descent of all and each, from the one ancestor? For the circular also states that " it is decided to include, at the end of the volume, the lines of those Wolcotts who are not able to trace their descent back to our ancestor " ; 72 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. but " the lines of persons not born Wolcotts, and not now bearing the surname Wolcott, wiU not appear unless sufficient interest be manifested In the ordering of at least one volume " — whether or not they are members of the " Society," de scendants, tracing back to Henry, through all the later dis tinguished lines of Wolcott. This seems to those strktly tracing direct descent, to render the proposed volume indefinite, incomplete and defec tive; for there is no satisfactory proof presented that those named in the end of the volume as " unable to trace their descent " are not the scions of some other than Henry; and they certainly are not of the proven Governors — Roger's or the Olivers' lines — since all such trace absolutely, directly, to the earliest Windsor Wolcott. Nor is there guarantee, or any proof that the large number of unquestioned descend ants of the American founder through the four governors, including the Signer, nor those descending in direct female lines, and now also constituting other historic families — such as the Griswolds, Ellsworths, Newberrys, Goodriches, Gibbses, Ranklns, Jacksons and others — will take sufficient interest to furnish data, subscribe for, or purchase the pro posed volume, with its list of unestablished lines, and pub lished, chiefly, for the benefit of more remote and different collateral connections, from what they might appear. An accurate, reliable record, showing the relations of all Ameri can Wolcott descendants, if practicable, might have a use to some. But the united human family is so created and con stituted, that primitive, perfect, total pedigree is impossible, of course, undesirable. There may be the perfect genea logical record of a person, or of a single family, within a definite, limited period. The best lessons for man's ordinary purposes are those derived from revelation, inspiration, authentic history and biography. Knowledge is gained by learning the lives of good men. Genealogy is profitable when It truthfully exhibits the real authors, sources, causes and results of wise and beneficent deeds. The Greeks rightly BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 73 rated heroic spirit and action. Persons with cultured prin ciples, are the richest possession of nations. The earUest documentary Shropshire Wolcott history, preceding parish records, the much earlier Memorial Court Rolls, and the pedigrees kept for centuries in Wolcott Hall, may or may not have preserved the date of the settlement of Wolcott village, or the names of the first Wolcott inhabit ants. When inheritance was simple or by primogeniture, noncupative wills serving, and both real and personal prop erty passed by delivery, by word, or symbol — as by hand ing a twig grown on the premises — pedigrees were less necessary or interesting. Shropshire is a West-Middle England county renowned for ancient folk-lore and customs, local, independent activities and spirited history. Salop is only its later Norman name, given by the Invaders, and is a corruption of Sloppesbury, which in turn is a Norman abbreviation from Shrobbesbury or Shrewsbury, w^ich means the town of shrubs — where willows and alders grow. Like other counties of West England, Shropshire was inhabited by native Britons, many of them Wolcotts, who, surviving the invasions of Picts, Scots, Romans, Angles, and Danes, though at times restricted to the highlands and moun tainous regions, by the valiant use of castles, horse and yeomanry, resisted intrusion and repelled the incursions of "strangers" — (wealsas) — the Welsh, especially, as that word means. It does not appear that either the Welsh or Normans, succeeded in appropriating any possessions of Brit ish Wolcotts. The former were confined further west among higher mountains, hence they retained longer their peculiar primitive customs. Sketches, descriptions and portions or original Shropshire castles remain, as we have seen. Their dates have faded into the far past; as defenses they became no longer necessary. The one remaining, early Welsh border castle, is that built by Chief Montgomery, in Montgomery, about 1093. 74 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. At what date Shropshire was first peopled by Britons, subsequent to the visitation of the most ancient eastern races, I do not know. The beautiful Severn, rising In the Welsh counties, flows circultously, almost semi-circularly, through Shrewsbury, past Wellington, where its shallowness is overcome by a canal, so connecting It with the Thames ; but it courses in Gloucester towards Lincolnshire, through Hereford and. empties into the channel at Bristol, once the seat of govemment, from which point, by the River Teme, one could reach Tolland, the very heart of Somerset. By following the Sevem, Wol cotts could come to Bath and WeUs, and maintain easy com munication between Shropshire and Somerset. That Wolcotts early and permanently prospered in Shropshire and West Middle England, is shown by lands, churches, castles, dwellings, Wolcott village, the Hall where family records and property were long kept, and Wolcott Park, near Shrewsbury. There Is near by, the village Wel lington — of same name as the Somerset parish, after which Ellington, Connecticut, " is named by Wolcotts." The dates, by years, of some estates, are not given by all authors. Stiles' " Ancient Windsor," mentions the many generations — some residing in Wolcott — as stated in Burke's Landed Gentry. The local books named in Hare's history, and appearing elsewhere, afford much of interest. The Memorial is authority for Wolcotts " dwelling in Tolland 1525 " — over fifty years bef ore the birth of Henry ; therefore those were born and settled, considerably earlier, 'either in Somerset, or some other shire, north or east. Of generations preceding Jeran and William Wolcott, I make no effort to trace the dates of individuals, not having in view special persons, or distinctive colonies. The original United States were created, jointly and severally, by the life work of the great body of well-informed, individual, colonists — Europeans — strong, rational, en lightened, sanguine men and women, who, with abundant BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 75 faith in God, themselves and mankind, gladly, sometimes joyfully, seized and embraced the exceptional and wonderful opportunities of exercising in a favorable zone and salu brious climate, on attractive, virgin territory, their natural and acquired powers, rights and aspirations, with absolute freedom; rather than indifferently submit to enjoy privileges necessarily limited and curtailed, under old, somewhat in evitably conservative, arbitrary, hereditary and artificial forms of government. SHROPSHIRE. Shropshire, or Salop, was indeed a strong region, favor able for protection and comfort, yet later its somewhat barren soil might well have been exchanged for the fertile hiUs of Somerset, and other attractive interior counties. For probably a long period, prior to the arrival of William the Norman — who parceled estates in some distant localities among his followers — and during times within certain centuries afterwards, the Wolcotts either remained in Shrop shire, or occupied places east and south. Roger de Wolcott, a friend of the Bishop, lived in Hereford, circa 1227. Others of the name dwelt in Lincolnshire near Lincoln Wolds, and possibly in York. I have not looked for par ticulars conceming those mentioned by several writers, not knowing clearly of their settlements. Sir John Wolcott was Mayor of London In, Besant says, 1410; the historian's interrupted work did not enter fully into details, perhaps because, at that time, popular interest was so centered beyond. Sir John Wolcott accompanied King Henry V, and aided him In the battle of Agincourt, October, 141 5. It was apparently he who beat the King in a game of chess by a pawn; on which the King, it is said, then decorated him by changing les fleur de lis on the Wolcott arms placed there by King Richard I, into rooks. The family was prominent in Middlesex. 76 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. The terrace, strand and chapel, in Bath, indicate more than the ordinary concern in the name of but one resident — Sir John Wolcott. Inquiries Into the origin, may discover matters of Interest. The " WiUs filed by papists in WeUes Cathedral " afford a line for study, as the Somerset " Well ington Wills " are those of later Wolcotts. Students may seek the ancient records in Canterbury and Somerset House, and also find after what Wolcott Lambeth terrace Is named. Wolcott men were leaders in affairs, loyal subjects, royal associates, advisers and friends. Hence we meet among them few professional courtiers, antiquarians, or authors, but various magistrates. Knights, and Kings' Companions. Their services have some special monuments — however unneces sary, when patriots perform their duties — quite unlike the monstrosities used to flatter demagogues. Their memo rabilia are circumstantially connected with the careers of bishops, cmsaders and warriors, and are suggested by the armor, helmet, army life and the honored tomb of Henry, in Westminster Abbey, and by the College of All Souls, Oxford, built by him, where chapel prayers are offered for all who fell in the Hundred Years War. The London Temple contains the bronze of Plowden — relative of the law writer, and descendant of Plowden of Plowden, the comrade of " Wolcott de Wolcott " — who married a Wolcott heiress. Shropshire, the birthplace of Britons and Saxons, by the Severn and Thames, had easy routes of transit through the Kingdom. The oldest existing Somerset documentary history, and that of the local Archeological and Historical Society may, or may not record fully all earliest facts of the origin and residence of Somerset Wolcotts. No one can affirm or deny such knowledge, for the reason that the Investigations could not be prosecuted exhaustively of the whole county, particu larly of Tolland, where their ancestors resided early, be cause valuable family parish records were, as is weU known, Inexplicably destroyed or stolen from St. John's Church BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 77 indefinitely long before Henry Wolcott emigrated. Some general history besides our knowledge, was acquired sixty- two years ago, in 1849; ^ P^^ appears in the Memorial, 1880. SOMERSETSHIRE. Mr. A. A. Humphreys says in the introduction to his recent history of the adjoining parish of WeUington (a copy of which I possess), in speaking of Wellington Wolcotts: " the Wolcotts originated in Tolland " — without stating what persons, or when — " and left It for Connecticut, where they founded a family prominent in pubUc affairs." It em braces Henry Wolcott's co-descendants, some of whom, in our line, have fuller possessions conceming the origin, resi dences and lineage, and better access to their current history, than any others. The Somerset family, consisting of Henry the American progenitor, Elizabeth his wife, his sons Henry, George, Christopher and Simon, and his daughters Mary and Anna, by their consecutive voyages was entirely trans planted, bringing hither its knowledge of by-gone years and all movable possessions; and ever since Henry migrated, some descendants have continued in more or less communi cation with English people, and their intimacy with family interests, both there and here. The " Wellington " Wolcotts, living there only since just before 1635, apparently are a different branch, or fam ily ; they have invariably spelt both syllables, differently, and in at least five various forms. In America was completed the best, limited, accurate Genealogical and Historical Wol cott family Memorial yet compiled — New York, 1880. Forty years ago a gentleman in London politely sug gested to Mr. Roger Wolcott, the younger son of Mr. J. Huntington Wolcott of Boston, that history might connect him with some distinguished people; but was soon satisfied that the information was already possessed. 78 BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. The earliest documentary history preserved, may or may not show, explicitly, the first Wolcotts inhabiting a part of Somerset, though they might have originated there, or have been attracted very early to this beautiful part of South West- Middle England. Some early parish records being lost, and the much earlier Memorial Court Rolls, of the adjoining Wellington parish dating only from 1 246, and the Wolcotts, not being of those likely to be brought into such courts or so mentioned, the old Tolland church and grounds, the tombs where some ancestors slumber, and the large, substantial estate of Galdon (said to be a contraction of Garmllden or Garweldon) Manor, with several crumbling stone farm buildings, may furnish the oldest remaining secondary, or unrecorded, material evidence. Some oldest documentary history of Somerset does, how ever, explicitly state that A. D. 904 King Edward III the Elder — one of the sixteen or seventeen Saxon Monarchs who preceded the Norman line — gave several parishes, in cluding WeUington, Buckland, and Bishops Lydeard, adjoin ing ToUand, to Assur, Bishop of Sherborne. Tolland, the smaU parish, if then existing, may have also been included. It had early ecclesiastical connection with the more Important Lydiard St. Lawrence. Somerset, especially, had chosen natural advantages of soil, climate and scenery that suited the Wolcotts, and with which they have been favored. Pedigrees and other records may or may not have been kept, when the methods of trans ferring property less required them. The standard of civili zation In Somerset and Devon has been high — as In Taun ton, Dorchester and Exeter. A fine large castle stands in Taunton, now used as a Library and Museum, which was bulk about 1 100. Somerset is relatively modem English, for Somer-saetas — the seat of Somer, a West-Saxon tribe. NAMES AND SURNAMES. Surnames are, originally, assumed, asserted or assigned; then Inherited, accepted and adopted. They sometimes are,' BRITISH-AMERICAN WOLCOTTS. 79 changed, enlarged, or abbreviated, and, seldom, dropped. Historical material and genealogical records, to a degree, are productive of, and derivablextymologically, from sumames; such as Forrester, Thatcher, Falconer, Porter, Smith, Mercer, Stokes, Tinker, Chalker — which point to occu pations. Self-asserted and assigned surnames may originate with one's surroundings, pursuits, and station among his fellows. Occasionally, a given name or even a surname, is altered or