Rev. Thomas Hooker, Center Church, Hartford, by Louis Comfort Tiffany, ca. 1900s. “The foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people.”
William Kelsey, my 9th great paternal grandfather, arrived in New England in 1632 and was one of the original founders (proprietors) of Hartford, Connecticut. He was a member of the Braintree Company (Congregation) and a follower of Reverend Thomas Hooker.
White Monkey: A Journey Upstream by R. Thomas Collins p.139
Note: William Goodwin, mentioned above, is the brother of my 9th great-grandfather Ozias Goodwin (1595-1683). Ozias was also a Hartford founder.
Bits and Pieces about William Kelsey:
Granted one rood for a cowyard in Cambridge, 5 August 1633
Listed as a freeman in 1634.
Sold a meadow at Cambridge in 1635
William was among the “Adventurers Party” of twenty-five men who set out to from Massachusetts to explore the area that would become Hartford, in October 1635.
His daughter Hester is said to be the first female (European) born in Hartford. Hester is my 8th great-grandmother and was married to James Eggleston.
In March 1663, William and 26 others migrated to the “Hammonossit Plantation” and founded the town of Killingworth, Connecticut.
He was one of the original members of the First Congregation Church in Hartford, Ct. (presently known as Center Church)
Great Resources for information on William Kelsey and Rev. Hooker:
Bigod (Beget/Begatt/Beggett/Baggett) Eggleston was a man with a mysterious name, mysterious origins, and a mysterious marital history… One estimate suggests that Bigod Eggleston is the ancestor of more than 12 million Americans. Founders Series: Bigod Eggleston – Windsor Historical Society
Bigod Eggelston (Egelston), my paternal 9th great-grandfather, was one of the residents of ancient Windsor, Connecticut who took shelter in the Palasado (Palisades) during the Pequot War.
St. Gabriel’s Church, later renamed Grace Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Parish of St. Gabriel was organized December 14 1842. Its original members were Isaac Underhill, George Spalding, Fitch Bissell, John Spencer (my 2nd great-grandfather), Alonzo M. Smith, Quarles Bedorthy, Samuel Loomis and Henry A. Bliss. The corner stone for the church edifice was laid on the 6th of November 1843 and it was consecrated January 15, 1845. The building is about 48 feet long by 28 feet wide with transepts on each side. The posts are 20 feet high and the body of the church is entirely free from any cross timbers except short hammer beams the roof is very steep and high and its internal finish corresponds therewith being lathed and plastered so as to bow the plates principal rafters arches curves etc., which are of a mahogany color in bold relief and with a very pleasing effect. The cost of the church exclusive of the organ was about $2000 and is said to be unsurpassed for ease of speaking and singing. Source: (p.58) The History of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut: including East Windsor, South Windsor: By Henry Reed Stiles.
Eight U.S. Presidents (Barack Obama. George W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, John Quincy Adams and John Adams) walked through this yard to attend classes at Harvard University. The oldest part, and center of the Harvard University campus, is Harvard Yard.
In 1669, my 9th great paternal grandfather, Richard Champney, referred to as Elder Richard Champney, bequeathed 40 acres of land in Cambridge, near the Falls of Charles River, “as an expression of his willingness to further the education of youth in all godly literature.” A History of Harvard University (1833)
These lands were part of what was called “Cow-yard Row”, where the residents of the Newe Town (renamed Cambridge) kept their cattle at night. Cow-yard Row became known as College Yard and are located in the southern half of present-day Harvard Yard.
It is ascribed that Richard was descended from Sir Henry Champney, “one of the thirty brave warriors who fought at the battle of Hastings, October 14, 1066, under William the Conqueror.” Despite definitive statements that Richard has this important historical credence, there are no sources noted for this assertion. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial (1913)
Coming as he did in the first decade of the settlement of Massachusetts Bay Colony there is no room to doubt that the first of the Champneys in New England was a sturdy strong willed man whose love of personal liberty far outweighed his regard for personal comforts and sent him across the ocean to worship God as he chose in spite of the hardships his act entailed.
Elder Richard Champney came from Lincolnshire England in 1634 or 1635 (research identifies that he arrived in 1635 on the Ship Defense), and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and in 1636 was made a freeman. He was a man of “good understanding and great piety,” and was made a ruling elder in the church, which was organized there. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (1906)
This post is best described as a bit-and-pieces story. It was pieced together from the history of Harvard University, New England family histories and Cambridge church histories. Therefore, I apologize, in advance, for any inaccuracies and welcome corrections.
Comments, corrections and and suggestions appreciated.
This post highlights a few aspects of the remarkable life of my 8th great paternal grandfather, Rev. Increase Mather (1639-1723). Increase is considered an influential representative of American Puritanism in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in seventeenth-century New England. (Increase is the English literal translation of the name Joseph, which originates from the Hebrew language. Wikipedia)
Increase was married to Maria Cotton, the daughter of John Cotton, who was a prominent minister and founder of the Congregational Church in New England. (Post about John Cotton: Dear John from Oliver Cromwell).
Increase Mather (as was not the case with his son, Cotton Mather) is remembered as a voice of reason during the hysteria over the Salem Witch trials. As a clerical leader, he sought to lend caution to the direction of the trials.
In Cases of Conscience, Increase Mather forcefully related his distrust of spectral evidence to convict witches. He argued that it would be better that ten witches go free than the blood of a single innocent be shed. One Mather biographer wrote that, “No zeal to stamp out crimes ever drove him from his belief that, whatever the fate of the guilty, the innocent must never be in peril.” His strong words of disapproval for spectral evidence so prominently used by the Court of Oyer and Terminer ended the trials after the directive from Governor Phips at the end of October, recently returned from his expedition in Maine. (Salem Witch Trials in History and Literature – An Undergraduate Course, University of Virginia – Spring Semester 2001)
Increase served as President of Harvard College (1692 to 1702) during which he often commuted by ferry to Cambridge from his home in Boston’s North End, where he continued to serve his congregation.
March. 14. 1688/9. My Lord Wharton introduced me to the King unto whom I sayd, I congratulate your Majesties happy accession to the Crown, and I implore your Royal favor to New England. (William III “of Orange”)
April. 9. 1691. Madame Lockart this morning about 9h introduced me to the Queen, and then left me alone that so I might the more freely represent before her Majesty the case of New England. (Queen Mary II)
January. 1 1708/9. Is this the first day of that year in which I am to dye and to go into the eternal world ! Oh, blessed be God if it be so! If I dye quickly some few will Lament my death. Whereas if I live awhile longer, age will make me useless. It is a great mercy for a minister not to outlive his work.
June. 21. 1709. This is my sinfull birth day. I am this day 70 years old. I set it apart before the Lord.
On April 4. 1714, the Lord saw meet to take from me my wife, who had bin the dear companion of my pilgrimage for more than 52 years. God made her a great blessing to me. By her hee gave me ten children, 3 sons and Seven daughters.
When he died on August 23, 1723, his will stated, “I do hereby signify to my Executor, That it is my Mind & Will that my Negro Servant called Spaniard shall not be sold after my Decease; but I do then give Him his Liberty: Let him then be esteemed a Free Negro. Jun 4, 1719.”
In 2017, Harvard held an exhibition focusing on the life of Increase Mather and his historic legacy. The exhibit’s introduction reads, “In a time when universities are grappling with the historical legacy of the names and symbols that describe their campuses, Increase has become one of the more controversial namesakes of the undergraduate Houses and on Harvard’s campus more broadly.” After review, there was no action taken to remove the Mather name from the undergraduate (Mather House) residential house.
First sail upon returning home from Korean War – Long Island Sound This photograph was in a box of slides that contained photographs he took while serving during the Korean War. I found it amazing that someone in the dinghy, being towed behind sailboat, took the photo with no one paying the least bit of attention. My father (on right) is hand-line fishing in his white t-shirt and khaki’s. (1954)
In researching my family history, I have encountered brick walls, bits and pieces, and on occasion a wealth of material. The richest vein of information that I uncovered has been material on Horace and Abram French.
Horace E. French, son of Abram and Elizabeth (Simonds), was born in 1843 in Lowell, Mass. and died in 1903 in Malden, Mass. Horace, my 2nd great (paternal) grandfather, owned a clothing/tailoring shop in Lowell. In 1871, he married Laura Foster. The photographs (of Horace and Maria) were found in his grandson George‘s (my grandfather) personal belongings.
Laura Maria Foster (French) was born in 1850 in Lawrence, MA and died in 1896. Laura was the daughter of Levi T. Foster and Mariah Richardson. Levi’s 3rd great grandfather, Reginald, of Little Badow in Essex England, landed at Ipswich MA in 1638. The Foster family is linked to the Hilton family.
Horace and Laura’s records included the following information:
Horace’s death and location of his grave
U.S. and Massachusetts census records (1850/60/65/80/1900)
Marriage record
City directory listings for Lowell, Medford and Malden, MA
“The inhabitants are largely agriculturalists, and remarkably free from the evils of litigation.” Thus is the description of the residents of Bloomfield, Connecticut, including my ancestors, in 1836. Below are my posts on the Spencer/Eggleston family:
The following post highlights the skill and longevity of the work done by carvers of gravestones in New England. Below are gravestones of direct ancestors (French, Simonds, Eggleston, Goodwin, Shed, Davis, and Thompson) from my paternal line and Butler from my maternal line.
Must See! The Farber Gravestone Collection includes over 13,500 images documenting the sculpture on more than 9,000 gravestones, most of which were made prior to 1800. This amazing resource for early New England gravestones, sponsored by the American Antiquarian Society, also has a FAQ on the history of gravestones during this period.
Jefse/Jesse French
Jesse French is my 5th great paternal grandfather
(p. 61) Jesse French came from Billerica in 1763, and owned and occupied the estate on Pearl Street, above referred to as the “Upton place.” He was born April 6, 1739. Little is known of him. His name does not appear on the Lunenburg or the Fitchburg records as occupying any official position. He married, April 14, 1761, Abigail Jaquith. The births of eight children are recorded as follows:
Jesse, born at Billerica, October 11, 1762. Samuel, born at Fitchburg, March 14, 1763. Thomas, born at Fitchburg, May 8, 1765. Luther, born at Fitchburg, September 25, 1767. Abraham, born at Fitchburg, January 22, 1770. Ebenezer, born at Fitchburg, June 19, 1772. Abigail, born at Fitchburg, September 11, 1774. (died 1776) Abigail, born at Fitchburg, June 6, 1777.
Some of his descendants lived here as late as
the middle of this century. Edmund, a grandson, (son of Thomas), now holds a
position in the office of the Pullman Palace Car Works, Pullman, 111.; and his
brother, Joseph C, is a retired druggist, at Indianapolis, Ind. A grandson of Jesse French, —Josiah B., —settled in Lowell, where he
was a prominent citizen, was president of a bank, manufacturer, railroad
manager, and in 1849 and 1850 mayor of the city.
(Page 38.) The roads across the territory were few in number and are indicated on the map. The principal and oldest ones were—the road entering the town from Lunenburg near Jonathan Holt’s place, and by Pearl and Blossom streets, turning west at a point now the corner of Main and Blossom streets, running over about the same location of the present Main and Prospect streets, over Flat Rock and Dean hill to Ashburnham; another entered the town near Ephraim Whitney’s place, running westerly and passing the garrisons of Joseph Spafford and Isaac Gibson, continuing over Pearl hill and northwesterly to the garrison of John Fitch. Another road started from a point near Jesse French’s place, on the first named road, running westerly to Jonathan Woods’ near the river, thence on about the location of the present Intervale Road, Bemis road, Wanoosnoc road and Turnpike road, near the garrison of Samuel Poole, and on to Westminster line.
