Genealogy Report - Frances Louise Hagen
Christopher Darrow was baptized 1 Dec 1678 in First Church, Congregational in New London, New London, CT. No information was found about his young life, supposedly spent in the town of New London, CT or nearby area.
Frances Caulkins in her, "History of New London", wrote the following about this period in which Christopher was born and spent his childhood. This is from Chapter XVII of her book, page 246 and 247.
"It was remarked by the inhabitants of other towns that something bold, uncommon and startling was always going on at New London. This was the effect of its commerce, its enterprise, its trains of comers and goers, its compact, busy streets. It was easy to raise a mob here; easy to get up a feast, a frolick, or a fracas. The activity of men’s minds outstripped their learning and their reflection; and this led them into vagaries. Men who had long been rovers, and unaccustomed to restraint, gathered here, and sought their own interest and pleasure, with too little regard to the laws. The Puritan magistrates of the town were obliged to maintain a continued conflict with the corrupting influences from without. A changeful, seafaring populace can not be expected to have the stability and serenity of a quiet inland town......."
She continues a paragraph later.
…With respect to the era of which we are speaking, it may be observed
that the rigor of the law was so great, that all the impurities of the community
were made manifest by it. We see what iniquity there was, in its whole length
and breadth.
Drunkenness was perhaps more prevalent here than in other towns in the colony,
simply on account of the importation of liquors into the port. Selling liquor to
the Indians was another offense growing out of position. This, though illegal,
was not then regarded as disgraceful; some good men, and even women, were fined
for doing it. Another class of offenses heavily amerced, were those which
violated religious order; such as swearing, blasphemy, labor, traveling and
sailing on the Sabbath, and non-attendance at the customary place of worship. In
these particulars, the laws themselves were stringent; they were also rigidly
enforced and strictly interpreted. Swearing included expressions which might now
be regarded as mere vulgarity; blasphemy and profanity took a wide range, and
covered denunciations of the system of worship as established in the colony, or
its officiating organs, whether ministers or magistrates.
Cases of defamation, quarrels and sudden assaults were numerous. Violations of
modesty and purity before marriage, were but too frequent, and this in the face
of a stern magistracy and strict Puritan usage. Robbery and theft, with the
single exception of horse-stealing, was very uncommon.
On pages 250 thru 252, Ms Caulkins writes about some of the offenses that were brought before the local court. I have selected some of the more interesting cases.
1. John Lewis and Sarah Chapman presented for sitting together on the Lord's day, under an apple tree, in Goodman Chapman's orchard.
2. James Rogers, Sen. (Sr.), John, James and Jonathan, his sons, presented for profanation of the Sabbath, which is the first day of the week, and said persons boldly in the presence of this court asserting that they have not, and for the future will not refrain attending to any servile occasions on said day, they are fined 10s, each, and put under a bond of £10 each, or to continue in prison.
3. Complaint being made to this court by John Prentice against William Beebe for keeping company with his daughter Mercy, and endeavoring to gain her affections in order to a marriage without acquainting her parents, which is contrary to law, the said Wm. Beebe is ordered to pay a fine to the County Treasury of £5.
4. Elizabeth Way presented for not living with her husband. The court orders her to go to her husband or to be imprisoned.
5. New London presented for not having a grammar school, fined £10; also for not having an English school for reading and writing, £5.
6. The Court adjourned to first Tuesday in August, on account of the contagious distemper in town.
7. John Chapell, Israel Richards, John Crocker and Thomas Atwell, presented for nightwalking on the Sabbath night, Sept. 17, and committing various misdemeanors, as pulling up bridges and fences, cutting the manes and tails of horses, and setting up logs against people's doors; sentenced to pay 10s, each, and sit two hours in the stocks.
8. Widow Bradley resented for a second offence, in having a child born out of wedlock, the father of both being Christopher Christophers, a married man; sentenced to pay the usual fine of £5. and also to wear on her cap a paper whereon her offence is written, as a warning to others, or else to pay £15. Samuel Starr became her bondsmen for £15.
It is interesting to read about and compare the community living of those
days and with ours at the present time. Obviously the church was much more
involved in the community life than today and it appears that a number of people
rebelled against it.
There was infidelity just as there probably has been since time began when
little one celled creatures were swimming around in their communities. The
actions of the court and the community indicated the status of women during that
period. In most cases they were considered as property and the aid of the
community was given to them only in extraordinary circumstances.
Caulkins writes that robbery and such crimes were not normally committed with
the exception of horse stealing. During this period horses were one of the
biggest commodities. People raised horses for trade purposes not only within
their colony but for trade to other countries and other colonies. Since they did
not have fences in which to keep their stock of horses they branded them and
allowed them to run free in the woods. There were people that would catch the
horses, alter the brand, and drive them overland or ship the horses by sea to
other countries or communities. There the horses would be sold or traded for
other goods. This was referred to as "horse-coursing". Courts were set
up in all communities to try those persons suspected or accused of this
practice. The punishment for such acts were both fines and whippings. In 1700,
Caulkins writes; "an adjourned court was held at New London purposely
for the trial of horse-coursers. The penalty for a first offense was a fine of
£10 and to be whipped ten lashes; for a second, £20 and twenty lashes; for a
third, £30 and thirty lashes, and so on.
This sounds a little like the "car-jacking" that we have today. Maybe they should have had a three strikes and your out deal as we have in some parts of our judicial system. It was an interesting period but I am not sure that I would have wanted to have been a part of it.
Henry A. Baker in his "History of Montville" - states that "Christopher settled at Waterford, probably on the farm occupied by his father, called the 'Old Darrow Farm.'"
113. ELIZABETH7 PACKER (John, #226); b. 25 Mar 1679 at New London, New London, CT, although some researchers give her place of birth as Waterford, New London, CT. She was baptized 13 Mar 1681 in the Congregational denomination in New London, New London, CT. She is the daughter of John Packer 2nd and Lydia Latham Lockwood.There are two sources that confirm the marriage of Christopher and Elizabeth. One is noted in Henry A. Baker's, "History of Montville" where on page 102 he shows the children of Sgt. George Darrow and Mary Charlett Sharswood. He states: "2. Christopher, bap. 1 Dec, 1678; m. Elizabeth Packer.
Prentice Alexander, a genealogist in Connecticut, copied some Connecticut Vital Records from the Barbour Collection and it shows that Volume 1, page 26 states: "Darrow, Christopher, m. Elizabeth Packer, June 27, 1701."
Two years after being married Christopher and Elizabeth were given a grant of land that had initially been granted to the colony by the King of England. The following is written in the "History of New London, by Frances Calkins."
Quote - "By act of Assembley, May 13th, 1703, an addition was made to the
bounds of New London, of a tract between the north bounds of the town and the
southern bounds of Norwich, extending from the northeast boundary line of Lyme
to Trading Cove, and by the cove to the Great River.
This included the Indian lands or Mohegan reservation, which had long been
claimed by the town, but not legally included in their bounds.
"Patent of New London sanctioned by the Governor and Company, 14. Oct. 1704.
'To all persons to whom these presents shall come, -- The Governor and Company
of her Majesty"s Colony of Connecticut in General Court assembled send
greeting:--Whereas we the said Gov r and Company by vertue of Letters Patent to
us granted by his Royal Majesty Charles the Second of England &c., king, bearing
date the 23d day of April, in the 14th year of his reign, A. D. 1663, have
formerly by certain acts and grants passed in Gen. Assembly given and granted
to" " unquote.
After the above unquote there are 77 names listed. One of those names is "Christopher Darrow."
Note by Dean Hagen -- (Some researchers interpret this to mean that the land was given in 1663 and that the Christopher Darrow mentioned must have been from an earlier generation. I do not agree with that theory, I maintain that the first paragraph of the quote shows that this act was dealing with an additional tract of land next to the original New London. This act was a procedure of annexation much as we do today. The original patent was giving by the king in 1663, but, this annexation did not take place until 1704. Notice the 4th paragraph of the quote and the sentence "The Governor and Company of her Majesty's Colony of Connecticut". Charles II was king of England in 1663 -- Anne was queen of England from 1702-1714. Christopher Darrow was married in 1702 and I believe living on a part of this area at this time.)
"History of Reedsburg and the upper Baraboo valley" by Merton Krug states the following about Christopher Darrow on page 479 --
"Christopher, (eldest son of George Darrow), was ever a man of influence in the then thriving port of New London, and when the city received its Charter from King James I, of England, Christopher Darrow's name was one of the few mentioned thereon.
Christopher Darrow began military service on 25 Apr 1715. He was a Sgt. in the 2nd Co. of the Connecticut Militia. The military service that they are referring to here was mostly for control of the Indians.
H. Andrew Brown, a Darrow genealogist in California, contains the following miscellaneous notes about Christopher Darrow.
"The diary of Joshua Hempstead mentions that on Friday 22 Apr 1715 he divided some molasses with Christopher Darrow and that on Tuesday 26 Apr 1715 he exchanged 109 gallons of Rum with Christopher Darrow making the transaction equal."
"Christopher Darrow in 1718 bought 51 acres of land from Richard Rogers in
present day Waterford, Connecticut."
Connecticut Vital Records state: "Darrow, Christopher, s. Christopher and Elizabeth, b. Oct 22, 1702."
Christopher Darrow Jr. married Elizabeth Christophers, date unknown. It is believed that Christopher and Elizabeth first settled at Waterford and then some time later moved to the North Parish in New London County. North Parish was renamed Montville sometime later. In a document dated 30 April, 1765, Christopher Darrow, Jr., gives a lease of land in North Parish "to his father, Christopher Darrow during his natural life," and says, "Said piece of land is the same that was set out and described in a deed to Abel Shoals, and Anna, his wife, set out of their father's, John Minard's estate."
Elizabeth Christophers and Christopher Darrow Jr. had two children, although there may have been others. One was Christopher and the other, Jonathan. The son Christopher served in the military as a Lieutenant, Captain and Major with Connecticut units from 1775 until 27 August 1780. He was an Army Major during the French and Revolutionary Wars.
Apparently Elizabeth Christophers died before 1726 because in December of 1726, Christopher married Sarah Harris. Other researchers give Sarah a surname of Haines or Haynes. Research has failed to find any children for this second marriage.
Christopher Darrow Jr. died 1765.
Marriage banns for Ebenezer were published 2 Apr 1727and he married Abi Rogers, 17 Apr 1727. They were married in New London First Congregational Church by Rev Eliphalet Adams; Abi was the daughter of James Rogers and Sarah Stevens. Her father, James, was the son of Joseph Rogers. Joseph's father, James Rogers came to America in 1635 and was one of the original founders of the religious sect, "Rogerines."
The following account of these people is from Dr. Trumbull's History of Connecticut, second volume.
"About the year 1720, a sect arose in New London, called, from their leader, Rogerines. The Rogerines were a sort of Quakers, who had their origin and name from one John Rogers, of New London. He was a man of unbounded ambition, and wished to be something more than common men. One Case and one Banks, two lewd men, called singing Quakers, coming through the colony singing and dancing, accompanied with a number of women to assist them in their musical exercises; and especially to proclaim how their lips dropped with myrrh and honey, fell in company with John, and at once made a convert of him to their religion. He in a high degree imbibed their spirit, and ever retained it. Notwithstanding it was not long after, before he commenced a seventh day Baptist. After maintaining the opinion of this sect for a short time, he returned again to Quakerism. To gratify his pride, and that he might appear as the head of a peculiar sect he differed in several points from the Quakers. Particularly he maintained that there were three ordinances of religious use, baptism, the Lord’s supper and imposition of hands. To make himself more eminent, as the head of a new sect, he commenced preacher of his peculiar scheme, and without any kind of ordination, administered baptism to his followers. The madness, immodesty and tumultuous conduct of Rogers and those who followed him, at this day; is hardly conceivable. It seemed to be their study and delight to violate the sabbath, insult magistrates and ministers, and to trample on all law, anti authority, human and divine They would come, on the Lord’s day into the most public assemblies nearly or quite naked and in the time of public worship, behave in a wild and tumultuous manner, crying out, and charging the most venerable ministers with lies and false doctrine. They would labor upon the Lords day, drive carts by places of public worship, and from town to town, apparently on purpose to disturb Christians and Christian assemblies. They seemed to take pains to violate the laws in the presence of officers, that they might be complained of, and have an opportunity to insult the laws, the courts, and all civil authority." (There is more to this article but this gives us an idea of the Rogerines.)
In a letter dated 8 Jun 1936, Edmund Edwards Darrow, a g.g.g.grandson of
Ebenezer and Abigail, wrote:
"The old house on the West shore of Jordan Cove and just South of the
Highway bridge, on what is (or was) called Bruen's Neck has been pointed out to
me as Ebenezer's home -- and the birth-place of Elder Zadock (Darrow). It was later
called the Brown place -- Charles Brown married Hester a daughter of Elder
Zadock and it probably passed to his hands."
Ebenezer Darrow was living after 17 Apr 1727 at Lyme, New London, CT and in 1728, he and his family, were living at Waterford, New London, CT. Ebenezer owned a farm on the west side of Jordan Cove.
Ebenezer Darrow died 10 Oct 1756 at Waterford, New London, CT, at age 52. According to the Diary of Joshua Hempstead, for the date Sunday 10 Oct 1756, "Ebenezar Darrow Died at night aged about 50, I suppose;"
Ebenezer Darrow was buried after 10 Oct 1756 at Darrow's Cemetery on the "Old Darrow Farm", New London, New London, CT, near his mother, Elizabeth.
John Darrow married Sarah Hanford, 30 Oct 1735. She is the daughter of Eleazer Hanford and Hannah Frisbie. John and Sarah had five children. They were Hannah and Samuel, who were twins and born 29 September, 1736. John was born 22 February, 1738, Isaac was born 17 May 1741 and Paul, 17 May 1741. All of the children are listed as being born in Norwalk, Fairfield, CT.
Sarah Hanford died 11 December, 1749. John Darrow's death is unknown. John is not mentioned in his father's will but there is an entry for Joseph. This may be a wrong interpretation by the translator of the will. See death of Christopher Darrow below.
Lydia Darrow married Thomas Crittenden, 4 Oct 1726. Thomas Crittenden was born in 1698. He was the son of Lieutenant Thomas Crittenden and Margaret Hull. Lydia and Thomas were married in the Congregational Church by Eliphalet Adams. They had seven children. Some researchers state that Thomas' surname is written as Cruttenden. Also they state that Thomas married Lydia Darrow of Long Island.
Lydia Darrow died 7 Jul 1768 at age 59.
Mary Darrow married an John Gibbons, 31 Jul 1734. Further research needs to be done on Mary Darrow. Some researchers doubt that she is a daughter of Christopher Darrow and Elizabeth Packer. This may be true because she is not mentioned in Christopher Darrow's will. However, she may have died before her father. See death of Christopher Darrow below.
George Darrow married Phebe Palmer 26 Oct 1735 in Stonington, New London County, CT. Phebe was the daughter of Deacon Joseph and Mary Gershom. They were married by Daniel Palmer, J.P. George and Phebe had ten children, five sons and five daughters. Two of the sons are known to have died in infancy.
Notes from H. Andrew Brown's Darrow Database: "George Darrow may not have been living in 1776, because Dr. Asa Spaulding, who served Stonington, New London, CT, mentions only Phebe Darrow in his diary of 1774-1776. George and Phebe had been married by the Stonington CT Justice of the Peace: Daniel Palmer. He may have also joined sons in Albany, Columbia Co., NY. He was Congregational.
George Darrow died 1776 at Stonington, New London County, CT.
Samuel was baptized 31 Jan 1714. He died 18 Oct 1737 at age 24.
Some sources say that William was baptized 10 Jul 1715, however, the vital records of Connecticut state that he was born 30 August, 1715.
It is unknown who William married but he is listed as having three children, Ebenezer, William and Lucy. Both Ebenezer and William had service in the American revolution. Ebenezer's tombstone states: "Called by his country in defense of her liberties, he triumphantly vindicated the rights of humanity." William, Jr. had over two years of actual service with the Connecticut Militia. He married twice, had nine children with his first wife, Mary Lester, and four more with his second wife, Sally/Sarah Smith.
William Darrow Sr. died 1795.
Lemuel had two wives. First he married an Preserved Randall, who was the widow of Captain Jonathan Randall. Lemuel and Preserved had two children. Ichabod and Nathan. Nathan fought in the Revolutionary War with several units of the Connecticut line. He was at Ft. Griswold when it was attacked by General Benedict Arnold on 6 September 1781. He was taken prisoner on that day and carried off by Arnold's troops and later paroled. There is a web page that gives the history of "The Battle of Ft. Griswold" and "The Burning of New London." The address is http://www.revwar.com/ftgriswold/ . The page that shows Nathan as a prisoner is http://www.revwar.com/ftgriswold/deflist.shtml . After the war Nathan married Anna Perkins. Anna's father, three brothers, a cousin, and brother-in-law were killed at Ft Griswold. Two uncles and another brother were badly wounded. The following was reported:
"At the time of the Battle of Groton Heights, Anna is said to have sat on a fence and watched it at a distance. It must have been a very traumatic experience. Her future husband (Nathan Darrow) was captured by the British. Three brothers, Elisha, Asa and Luke Perkins, and her father, Elnathasn Perkins, were killed, as was Simeon Perkins, a cousin. Wounded were two uncles, Capt. Solomon Perkins, father of Simeon, and Ebenezer Perkins. Both were paroled and left at home. Another brother, Lt. Obadiah Perkins, suffered three bayonet wounds. He also was paroled and left at home. And Capt. John Williams, the husband of Amy Perkins Williams, Anna's sister, was killed."
Lemuel's second wife was Martha Palmer, whom he married 17 July, 1760 in the 2nd Church of New Haven, CT. Lemuel and Martha had five children.
Lemuel Darrow died 1795 at Stonington, New London, CT.
Elizabeth Darrow married Daniel Lester of New London, CT, September 25, 1739. He was the son of Benjamin Lester, who was deceased at the date of marriage. They were married in the Congregational Church of New London by Eliphalet Adams. They had five children all born in New London. There is no data at present as to the death of Elizabeth.
Ichabod Darrow died 1740 at the age of 17 in Waterford, New London, CT. He is buried in Darrow's Cemetery. "Old Darrow Farm", New London, New London, CT.
Christopher Darrow died about 1757 at Waterford, New London, CT. One source states he was buried in the Darrow Cemetery on the " Old Darrow Farm", however, a cemetery list was copied by John W. Blake, July 8, 1936, and it does not include the name of Christopher Darrow.
Christopher Darrow left a will dated 4 Jul 1757
and probated 13 Nov 1759, Christopher made the following bequests:
"son Christopher, Jr. -- nothing, as he had already received his share of the
estate.
sons William and George -- 76 pounds, 5 shillings, 1/2 pence each.
Joseph[?] -- 56 pounds, 2 shilling.
children Lemuel, Lydia and Elizabeth (Darrow) Lester -- 46 pounds, 5 shilling.
1/2 pence each.
son Jedediah -- 440 pounds"
This will was not probated until after the death of Elizabeth. (
Merton Krug writes in his "History of Reedsburg" - "Christopher Darrow's will shows that his wife was Elizabeth Marshall. He was a distinguished soldier of his state. He was born Dec 1, 1778, but the date of his death is unknown."
(Note by Dean Hagen -- The above information indicating that Christopher Darrow's wife was Elizabeth Marshall is an obvious error. It has been confirmed that Christopher Darrow's wife was Elizabeth Packer. Also Krug has the date of birth off by a hundred years, he should have written that he was born before Dec 1, 1678.)
Elizabeth Packer died 9 Feb 1758 at Waterford, New London, CT, at age 78. There are different dates given by different researchers for the date she died. Some say 3 Feb, 8 Feb, and 17 Feb.) The Darrow Cemetery List has the date of death for Elizabeth Packer occurring on 9 Feb, 1758 She was buried in Darrow's Cemetery on the "Old Darrow Farm", New London, New London, CT.
On page 347 of History of New London by Frances Caulkins she writes: "In a corner of a field upon the Great Neck, on what was formerly the Darrow farm, is a group of four gravestones; one of them bears the following inscription:
"In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Darrow, wife of Mr. Christopher Darrow, who died in February 1758, aged 78 years. She was mother to 8 children, 43 grand-children, 30 great grand-children. Has had 100 '(descendants?)"
On page 103 of History of Montville by Henry Baker he writes: "This stone, with the above inscription, was probably erected several years after her death by some one of her grandchildren, and the number of the children there mentioned may have been taken from the will of her husband, in which only eight children are mentioned, three having died previous to the date of the will. The will was admitted to probate in 1757."
114. JOHN7 BAILEY JR. (John, #228); b. 12 Oct 1688 at Groton, New London, CT;
John Bailey Jr. married Elizabeth Stallion (see #115), daughter of Edward Stallion and Elizabeth Miller, 25 Dec 1713.
In "History of New London" by Caulkins, on page 251 is a court record that states: "Edward Stallion for sailing his vessel from New London to Norwich on the Sabbath, fined 40s."
Children of John7 Bailey Jr. and Elizabeth Stallion (see #115) were as follows:
Elizabeth Bailey, b. 31 Jul 1715 at New London, New London, CT, married Thomas Denison.
Priscilla Bailey married a Mr. Wilbur; b. 4 Aug 1717 at New London, New London, CT.
John Bailey, b. 7 Dec 1719 at New London, New London, CT, married Anna Fitch.
Samuel Bailey, b. 25 Oct 1722 at New London, New London, CT, married Hannah Lyman.
Nathan Bailey, b. 15 Apr 1724 at New London, New London, CT, married Elizabeth Terry.
Deborah Bailey, b. before 1729 at New London, New London, CT; baptized 11 May 1729 at Groton, New London, CT, married James Houghton, 4 Jan 1748.
No information has been found or researched on this family.