The first Conants' of England were French Huguenot refugees. The name Conant was anglicized from Conan of Normandy after the French Revolution.
John Conant with whom the authentic geneology begins lived in the parish of East Budleigh, Devonshire, England but was probably born about the year 1520 at Gittisham, some ten to twelve miles north-east. . John was descended from ingenuous parents of Giittisham, near Honiton, whose ancestors for many generations had been fixed here but were originally of French extraction, according to The Life of Dr. John Conant, written in 1700.
In 1577 John Conant and Edmond ffowler were church wardens of East Budleigh. In those days the office of church warden was of considerable importance and only members of the leading families and such as were of recognized ability were elected to this important office.
John Conant was buried at East Budleigh March 30, 1596. It is most unfortunate that many early Conant wills are missing which might throw light on the ancestry of John Conant. Although no legal evidence of the fact has been found, it seems likely that he was the son of John Conant who was buried at Gittisham September 4, 1559.
Histoiy and Genealogy qf the Conant Family in England and America, by Frederick O. Conant, Portland, Maine, 1887. John Conant was assessed a tax on goods in the year 13 Elizabeth (1571). He was churchwarden in East Budleigh in 1577. He was taxed again there in 1581, but not in 1588.
There is no definite proof that Marie was the wife of Dr. John Conant.
Richard Conant was the third generation after the French refugees. Richard married Agnes Clark in 1578. They had eight children; the last two of their children were Christopher and Roger. It is believed that most of all of the Conants' living in the United States are descendants of Roger and Christopher Conant. These two brothers helped to settle the colony of Salem, Massachusetts in the early 1600's.
Will of Richard Conant: "In the name of God, Amen, on the twentieth day of Novemher, in the year of our Lord God 1629. I, Richard Conant, of East Budleigh, in the countie of Devon, yeoman, knowing the certenty of death, but of the time and hour most uncertain, and therefore preparing my selfe ready whensoever it shall please the Lord to call mee out of this transitorie life into his celestialI kingdome, whereunto pswaded by faith I shall aspire in and by the death, meritts and previous bload sheding of Christ Jesus my onlie Lord and Saviour and Redeemer, doe by this my testament containing therin my last will in manner and forme as followeth: first I bequeath my soule into the hands of Almightie God and my body for Christian buriall, and as touching my worldlie goods: first I give and bequeth unto my grandchild, Richard Conant, sonne of Richard Conant, of East Budleigh, my silver Bowle, only reserving the use thereof to my wife dureinge her life tyme: Item, I give and bequeath unto my sonne, John Conant, my siIke grogren dublet and turkie grogren hose: Item, unto my sonne, Robert Conant, I give and bequeath my second best clokes and myne other other apparell (except the worst) and the other before mencioned. Item, I give the poor of the parish of East Budleigh the sume of twentie shillings to bee disposed according to the discretion of myne executrix: Item, I give and bequeath further unto my sonne, John Conant, my gold ringe with a Turkies in it: Item, I give and bequeath unto Jane Knowles and Susan Knowles, children unto my daughter, Jane Knowles [Knowles erased and Wotton written over it] namely to each of them five pounds to bee paid unto them at their day of marriage if soe they marrie with the consent and Iikeing of their friends, particularlie of the fatherinlawe, Phillippe Wotton, of their mother, and onkle, John Conant. lf they marry not: to be paid Untoe them they being of the age of thrity yeares. And if in the meantyme, before their said age or marriage. it happen that all of them dye, then that her portion of five pounds bee likewise paid to the sister sirviveing: Item, I give and bequeath unto all my childrens children (vizt. to every of them in p'ticular except such as have a larger portion given them) five shillings: All the residue of my goods, as well moveable as immovable, or chattels whatsoever is myne or in me for to give in Budleigh or elsewhere, my deb's being paid funeralls discharged and respect had to my promise made to Phillip Wotton, my sonneinlawe, and my daughter Jane, his wife, I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Jane Wotton (onelie reserving the use thereof unto my wife, Agnes Conant, during her life tyme), and doe make my said daughter whole and sole executrix: And I doe also ordaine my sonne, John Conant, of Lymington, in Somersetshire, to be this my over-seer to see this my will and testamint to be fullfiled. In witness whereof, I. the aforsaid Richard Conant, have hereunto put my hand, scale, even the day and yeare first above written. (Signed) Richard Conant Witness: John Conant Robert Conant The inventory was taken on September 30, 1631 by John Richards, Robert Conant, and John Leye: the total amount was £129 14s. 4d.
Birth Source: FHL Number 775836+ " Civil Records for Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts"
3rd wife Rebackah Johnson daugter of William Johnson of mansfield.
Source for marriages and children: Original Vital records of Mansfield, Tolland, CT. page 221
Sources: Tolland and Winham Counties, Connecticut- Biographies - 1903; Freeman Genealogy in Three Parts by Frederick Freeman; Sandwich MA Vital Records; Mansfield CT vital records
Daughter of William Johnson late of Mansfield Deceased. Source: Original vital records of Mansfield CT.
Birth source: FHL film #859998 births p. 77
May have married Martha Freeman of Eastham on Feb. 25th, 1768
DEATH: 86 years, 4 months, 19 days.
DEATH: 70 years, 9 months, wife of Elijah Freeman.
Birth from "Vermont Gazateer" for Caledonia and Essex Couties, 1764-1887.
DEATH: 79 years, 10 months, 12 days, cemetery; Lower Waterford.
DEATH: 81 years and wife of Aaron Freeman, cemetery; Lower Waterford.