Genealogy Report - Frances Louise Hagen
Nicholas Charlett married Catherine (unknown) in 1643. Caulkins in "History of New London, CT" states that "Nicholas's surname could have been Charlet or Chelet." She also spells the wife's name as Katherine which I will use from now on because she later had a daughter that was named Katherine. Nicholas was born about 1620 and died in 1651. He and his family probably lived around Boston, MA.
History of New London, page 299 states the following as pertains to Nicholas Charlett and Katherine: -- "The wife that Richard Haughton brought with him to New London, was Katherine, formerly wife to Nicholas Charlet or Chelet, whom he recently married. She had two daughters by her former husband, Elizabeth (born July 15th, 1645) and Mary. "
Catherine married Richard Haughton probably about 1651 and came to New London with him. The History of New London shows the following on page 75: " 'July 30 -- Richard Haughton a Boston man desires a lot.' Though here called a Boston man, the name of Richard Haughton is not found on the early records of that place, except in the conveyance of a dwelling-house and garden to Samson Shore, tailor, 27 of 8 mo. 51, which probably was about the period that he removed his family to Pequot. He had married the widow, Charlet, of Boston, and the tenement had probably belonged to her. Haughton had a house lot granted on Foxen's Hill."
Richard had at least 8 children before he married Catherine and on August 19th,
1658 he was granted by deed of the sachem, Uncas (a chief in the Mohegan Indian
tribe), an area known as Massapeag Neck. This was a fine tract of land on the
river within the bounds of the Mohegan proper. The laws of the colony prohibited
individuals from contracting with the Indians for land; nevertheless the General
Court confirmed this grant, assigning as one reason for their indulgence to Mr.
Haughton, "his charge of children". There was also Katherine's two
daughters.
Richard Haughton and Katherine Charlett had 5 more children. Sons Sampson and
James and 3 daughters -- Abigail, married Thomas Leach; Katherine, married John
Butler; and Mercy, married Samuel Bill.
Katherine died 9 Aug 1670.
After Katherine's death, Richard married. Alice (unknown), who survived him. Richard died in 1682 in Wethersfield while he was engaged at work, as a shipwright, on a vessel there.
452. JOHN9 PACKER (Robert, #904);
There is doubt as to the birth date and place of birth of John Packer. One researcher says he was born about 1635 in England; another shows 1640 in Groton, New London, CT and a third places his date and place as1622 in Alston, Gloucester, England;
John Packer was living about 1651 in New London, New London, CT. First mention of John Packer in New London is on page 70 in the History of New London. It states that: "John Packer arrived about 1651", Page 96 states that: "The earliest settlers on the west side of the Mystic, were Robert Burrows, John Packer, and Robert Parke. ......... It is not probable that houses were built and actual settlements effected before 1653."
453. ELIZABETH9 FRIEND (John, #906); b. Oct 1639 at Salem, Essex, MA;
John Packer married Elizabeth Friend (see #453), daughter of John Friend II and Mary Dexter, 1655 in New London, New London, CT. Elizabeth Friend died 4 May 1674 at New London, New London, CT, at age 34.
History of New London, page 138 --(These are some of the notes of the town meetings held in the year 1665) "24 July. John Packer desires that Leiftenant Avery and James Morgan may issue the busines yt is now in contest betwixt him and the Indians at Naiwayuncke and to compound with them in the best way they can with land to satisfaction of the Indians and Goodman Packer. Voted." (The term Goodman is language of the time. It would be similar to Mr. The notes from the town meeting are reproduced just as they were written.)
Frances Caulkins in her "History of New London", writes on the death of John Packer, (see below) on page 324. The following appears with the death date: "With this early settler in Groton only a slight acquaintance has been obtained. he fixed his habitation, about the year 1655, in close proximity to the Pequot Indians, who had congregated at Naiwayonk, (Noank.) His children can only be gathered incidentally. He had John, Samuel and Richard, probably by his first wife, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth Packer married John Stark in 1685.
Richard Packer died 1732.
Samuel Packer married Mary Williams, daughter of William Williams in 1702.
Samuel Packer died 1755.
Sarah Packer married James Dean 2 Jun 1697. She died 8 Mar 1733/34 at Stonington, New London County, Conn.
Thomasine Packer married Luke Bromley in 1691, and then married a second time to Robert Parke. She died 2 September 1764 in Voluntown, New London, CT at age 90.
Mary Packer married Ephraim Culver in 1687. She died 1730 at New London, New London, CT.
John Packer married an Rebecca (unknown maiden name) Latham. History of New London on page 324 states: "He married for his second wife, June 24th, 1676, Rebecca, widow of Thomas Latham, and had a son James, baptized September 11th, 1681. Two other sons, Joseph and Benjamin, and a daughter named Rebecca, may also be assigned to this wife, who survived him, and afterward married a Watson, of Kingston, Rhode Island." (See Thomas Latham, son of Cary Latham and Elizabeth Masters below.)
Digest of Early Conn. Probate Records, Vol II, P. C. No. 146 states:
"Latham, Thomas. We, Andrew Davis and John Bailey, being employed as
Carpenters by John Packer, sen., for the finishing of the House of Thomas
Latham, Decd, the sd. Packer marrying the Widow of the sd. Latham, And being
since desired to give the best of our judgement concerning the frame of that
house as to value & worth thereof, and alsoe sd. frame & house wch frame
shingles & Clapboards did once belong unto John Morgan and was by him sold
unto Cary Latham, we finde the length of the sd. howse to be 28 foote and the
breadth Eighteen foote, and (9*feet & 1/2 between joynts) & 9 1/2 foot
between ye Joynts; being all slitt worke, wee vallue the sd. frame to be really
worth (eng. # sign)16, & the Clapboards & Shingles to be (Eng. #
sign)6-18; all, (Eng # sign)22. So much new, doe really judge the Frame,
Clapboards & Shingles to be really worth at our Finishing of the sd. House.
And if need shall require, we shall make oath to the truth hereof; & in
Testimony wee have hereunto sett our Hands, in New London, the 9th of May, 1683
Sworn October 4th, 1683, before me, Daniel Witherell, Commissioner."
The fact of whether Rebecca's maiden name was Wells or Willey will probably be of interest only to future researchers. John and Rebecca had 4 children.
History of New London, page 324 -- "John Packer, died in 1689." Other researchers have been more specific and stated that he died 23 Oct 1689 in New London, New London, CT.
There is a Latham homepage at the URL shown below. There is a large amount of Latham history on that page. You can be fairly certain that the data given is accurate and can be backed up by an official source. A statement is made where the information has not been proven. http://hometown.aol.com/Jonnialogy/Homepage.html
Cary Latham was born 10 Nov 1613 at Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England although other researcher have come up with other information. One states he was born 30 May, 1612 and another gives a baptism date of 10 Nov 1613. Another researcher gives the pace of birth as Cambridge, England. I have no official document that gives an actual date or place of birth. His given name is written in many different ways; Cary, Carey, Carye, Kary, etc. I shall merely refer to him as Cary.
455. ELIZABETH9 MASTERS (John, #910);
Elizabeth Masters was born about 1611 in Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England. She was the daughter of John Masters and Jane Cox. Elizabeth married Edmund Lockwood and had at least one son, John Lockwood. (See Hannah Latham below in the section "Children of Cary Latham and Elizabeth Masters.) I have no official document that explains the death of Edmund Lockwood.
Cary Latham married Elizabeth Masters Lockwood, 1637 at Cambridge, Suffolk, MA.
A Bibliography: Genealogical Dictionary
of New England, - Vol. I-IV (4). Boston, 1860-1862. was compiled and is
described below.
Description: A four volume series of the
Genealogical Register of the first settlers of New England. Besides the
five classes of prominent persons mentioned: Governors, Deputy-Governors,
Assistants, ministers, and representatives down to 1692, it embraces
graduates of Harvard College to 1662, members of the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company, as also freemen admitted in Massachusetts, with many
early inhabitants of other parts of New England and Long Island from 1620
to 1675. This volume, an alphabetized list of surnames from A-C, has over
1,700 records.
This publication has the following in Volume 3, page 59:
"Latham, Cary, Cambridge, m. Eliz. d. of John Masters, and prob. wid. of Edmund
Lockwood."
Throughout this dictionary the author uses extensive and odd abbreviations. For
instance, in the sentence above some of the abbreviations are self explanatory,
such as, (m. = married; d. = daughter). In the last part of the sentence, (prob.
wid. = probable widow.)
Cary Latham was one of the first direct ancestors that lived in New London, CT, however at this time, 1645, it was known as "Pequot Plantation". "History of New London" states, "John Winthrop, Jun. was on the ground, beginning the plantation, or preparing its way in that year. Caulkins indicates on page 44 that: "Roger Williams addressed a letter: 'For his honored, kind friend, Mr. John Winthrop at Pequt -- These --'" This is the Roger Williams who later was leader of the Rhode Island colony. Cary Latham was with John Winthrop at this time. Caulkins says -- "Cary Latham was living between 1645 and 1648 at Winthrop Plantation." Winthrop Plantation was another name for Pequot Plantation. She continues: "Here then are three persons who can be named as being upon ground in the summer of 1645. ....... We learn from subsequent claims and references, that the marshes and meadows in the vicinity, were mowed that year, viz: -- ......and at Fog-plain, by Cary Latham and ...."
The following is found on page 45 of the "History of New London" as to a description of the start of the township of New London.
"THE NATAL DAY OF NEW LONDON, 6th OF MAY, 1646."
"At a General Court held at Boston, 6th of May, 1646. Whereas Mr. John Winthrop, Jun., and some others, have by allowance of this Court begoun a plantation in the Pequot country, which appertains to this jurisdiction, as part of our proportion of the conquered country, and whereas this Court is informed that some Indians who are now planted upon the place, where the said plantation is begun, are willing to remove from their planting ground for the more quiet and convenient settling of the English there, so that they may have another convenient place appointed, -- it is therefore ordered that Mr. John Winthrop may appoint unto such Indians as are willing to remove, their lands on the other side, that is, on the east side of the Great River of the Pequot country, or some other place for their convenient planting and subsistence, which may be to the good liking and satisfaction of the said Indians, and like wise to such of the Pequot Indians as shall desire to live there, submitting themselves to the English government, &c."
"The plantation authorized by the Court and started by Mr. John Winthrop was initially called "Nameeup" and all authority to run the affairs of the town were given to John Winthrop."
This apparently remained in effect for about two years because in 1648 [49] on page 58 of this same book it is written: "It will be observed that in the record of the next annual meeting the formula is varied; the name 'Nameeug' is dropped and apparently no more authority is given to Winthrop than to the other townsmen."
"22 Feb. 1648, ['49] The inhabitants of Pequit plantation have chosen by a
joynt consent Mr. John Winthroup, Robert Hempsteed, Carie Latham, John Stubens
and Thomas Minor for this yeare following to act in all towne affaires as well
in the disposing of lands as in other prudentiall occasions for the towne.
The same day the inhabitants did consent and desier that the plantation may
be called London."
Continuing on Caulkins writes: Thus early did the inhabitants select their name; fixing upon the one, which of all others should be most generally suggestive of the far-off home they had left behind. To this choice they faithfully adhered through many discouragements. The General Court demurred at their favorite name, declined to sanction it, and as we shall see suggested another, which the inhabitants refused to adopt. The Indian names therefore continued to be used in the records, though we may readily suppose that the chosen designation of the planters came into colloquial use, and that the growing settlement was soon known in the abbreviated style of the olden time, as Lon'on town or New Lon'on.
On page 59, Caulkins writes: "We turn now to the record of house-lots,
and the names of the first planters. ..... The home-lots were originally
numbered up to thirty-eight; but erasures and alterations were made, reducing
the names of grantees to thirty-six; .....
1. John Winthrop, Esq., whose home-lot was undoubtedly selected by himself
before all others: it covered the "Neck" still known by his name. The
next five were probably John Gager, Cary Latham, ..."
History of New London on page 70 reports that -- "Cary
Latham sold his brother-in-laws, Phillip Taber's house, which Taber had
commenced building on Foxen's Hill, but which was never occupied or completed.
Date of sale, 1653 at Foxen's Hill, New Lon'on.
History of New London, page 89: He was the Ferry Operator; -- Pequot river ran through the town of New
London and it was of such a size that a ferry had to be established to cross it.
On Nov 6, 1651 a lease was drawn up and given to Edward Messenger for 21 years.
After 2 or 3 years Messenger gave up his lease and moved to Windsor. In 1654 the
disposal of the ferry was left to Mr. Winthrop and the townsmen, who entered
into "articles of agreement" with Cary Latham, granting him a lease
and monopoly of "The Ferry over Pequot river, at the town of Pequot, for
fifty years -- from the twenty-fifth of March, 1655. The said Cary to take 3d.
of every passenger for his fare, 6d. for every horse or great beast, and 3d. for
a calf or swine: -- and to have liberty to keep some provisions and some strong
liquors or wine for the refreshment of Passengers. -- No English or Indian are
to pass over any near the ferry place that they take pay for, -- if they do the
said Cary may require it.
Mr. Latham, on his part, bound himself to attend the service immediately with
a good canoe and to provide, within a year's time, a sufficient boat to convey
man and beast. He also engaged to build a house on the ferry lot east of the
river before the next October, to dwell there and to keep the ferry carefully,
or cause it to be so kept, for the whole term of years."
History of New London, page 97 -- notes that Cary Latham, "as lessee of the ferry, was the first to be domiciliated upon the Groton Bank. This was accomplished between 1655 and 1660. (Groton is a town in New London County, CT).
Continuing on from the Genealogical Dictionary of New England, the author writes: Carey and Elizabeth "had Thomas, b. Nov. 1639; Joseph, 2 Dec. of a yr. to be supplied by conject. as the rec. is defic.; rem. early to New London, where he was of active serv. ep. 1664, and aft. to 70. He (the "He" refers to Carey and Elizabeth) had there Eliz. wh. m. 25 Jan. 1678, John Leeds; Jane, m. Hugh Hubbard; Lydia, m. John Packer; and Hannah, wh. m. prob. John Lockwood. He d. 1685. JOSEPH, New London, s. of the preced. took w. Mary at Newfoundland, there had Cay, b. 14 July 1668, and at New London ten more ch. at his d. in 1706 leav. seven s. one d."
Thomas Latham was born in Sep 1639 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He died on 14 Dec 1677 in New London, New London County, Connecticut. The Red Book and also the Gen. Dict. of New England lists his birth as November 1639 in Boston Massachusetts. He was married to Rebecca Welles on 15 Oct 1673 in New London, New London County, Connecticut. The Barbour Collection of Vital Records of Connecticut states: "Thomas, s. Carry, m. Rebecca, d. Hugh Willey, of Wethersfield, Oct 15, 1673."
Thomas Latham and Rebecca Welles had the following children:
1. Sarah Latham was born on 30 Oct 1674. She died on 28 Nov 1750. Based on information contained in The Red Book both Samuel and Sarah Latham were named in the will of Hugh Welles of Wethersfield and Hartford who died in 1678-79. Hugh Welles was the father of Rebecca Welles. Sarah married to John Mayhew on 26 May 1704
2. Samuel Latham was born on 14 Dec 1676. He died in Apr 1736. The Red Book lists his date of death as only 1736. Based on information contained in The Red Book both Samuel and Sarah Latham were named in the will of Hugh Welles of Wethersfield and Hartford who died in 1678-79. Hugh Welles was the father of Rebecca Welles.
Thomas Latham died 14 Dec 1677 at New London, New London, CT, at age 38.
Joseph Latham was born on 2 Dec 1642 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
In the "History of New London", page 312 Caulkins writes:
"Joseph, the second son, had a numerous family. His marriage is not recorded at New London. His first child, Cary, was born at Newfoundland, July 14th, 1668. He died in 1706, leaving seven sons, and a daughter, Lydia, the wife of Benjamin Starr."
Patent of New London; 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.
Here there are 77 names listed. One of those names is Joseph Latham.
Joseph was married to Mary (unknown) about 1667 in Newfoundland, Canada.. Joseph and Mary had twelve children, seven sons (Cary, William, John, Lt Joseph, Samuel, Joseph, Thomas) and 5 daughters (Elizabeth, Mary b. 22 Apr 1676, Mary 5 Sep. 1679, Lydia, Grace, 19 Mar. 1689/90).
Joseph Latham died on 10 Jan 1705/6 in New London, New London, Connecticut. Mary (unknown) Latham died on 23 Jun 1727.
John Latham was born about 1645 in New London, New London, Connecticut. He died in 1684 in New London, New London, Connecticut.
Elizabeth Latham was born in 1647 in New London, New London,
Connecticut. She was married to John Leeds on 25 Jan 1677/78. Mark Wooten
gives the date of marriage as 25 Jan 1677 and gives John Leeds the title of
Capt. Another researcher says Elizabeth and John were married 25 Jun 1678 at New London, New
London, CT. The Barbour Collection states that John Leeds was of Staplehews, Old England.
He ran the New London ferry for a time.
Elizabeth Latham and John Leeds had the following children:
1. Thomas Leeds
2. Elizabeth Leeds.
3. William Leeds.
4. Gideon Leeds.
John Leeds died in 1696. Elizabeth died on 7 Dec 1728. Other researchers give her date of death as 3/4 May 1739.
Jane Latham was born in 1648 in New London, New London,
Connecticut. She was married to Hugh HUBBARD in Mar 1672/73. Jane
Latham and Hugh Hubbard had the following children:
1. Mary Hubbard was born on 17 Nov 1674 in New London, New London,
Connecticut.
2. Lydia Hubbard was born on 17 Feb 1675/76 in New London, New London,
Connecticut. She died on 18 Jun 1752 in Groton, New London County,
Connecticut. She was married to John Burrows on 14 Oct 1700 in New London,
New London, Connecticut Lydia and John had nine children, five daughters and
four sons.
3. Joseph Hubbard was born in Nov 1678 in New London, New London County,
Connecticut.
4. Jane Hubbard was born before 1681 in New London, New London County,
Connecticut.
5. Margaret Hubbard was born on 14 Apr 1681 in New London, New London
County, Connecticut.
6. Ann Hubbard was born about 1685.
Apparently Hugh Hubbard died because
Jane married John Williams in 1685. John ran the Groton-New
London ferry from about the 1680s until 1705 when the Latham lease
expired.
Jane Latham died on 3 May 1739 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut.
John Williams died on 4 Dec 1741 in New London, New London County,
Connecticut
Hannah Latham was born about 1651 in New London, New London County, Connecticut. She married her half-brother, John Lockwood, who was the son of Edmund Lockwood and Elizabeth Masters. He was born in November of 1632 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Cary Latham died 1685 at New London, New London, CT; History of New London on page 312 writes about his death: "Mr. Latham served in various town offices; he was one of the townsmen or selectmen for sixteen years, and was six times deputy to the General Court, from May, 1664, to 1670. His large grants of land enriched his descendants."
Elizabeth Masters Lockwood Latham died 14 Apr 1712 at New London, New London, CT.
I can find no official information on the birth of Thomas Bailey.
457. LYDIA9 REDFIELD (William, #914).
Lydia was the daughter of William Redfield and Rebecca (unknown). She was born about 1636. Her place of birth may have been in England or Boston, MA. It is unknown when her parents actually emigrated to America. Frances Caulkins in her "History of New London" places Lydia as a daughter of James Redfield and probably a sister of William. Further research has shown that the information is wrong and it should read -- "Lydia is a daughter of William Redfield and a sister of James."
Thomas Bailey married Lydia Redfield on 10 Jan 1655/56 at New London, New London, CT.
The "History of New London" source spells the surname as "Bayley". However, Ms Caulkins, puts a footnote at the bottom of the page which states: "His descendants uniformly write the name Bailey."
Thomas received a lot grant made by Winthrop Plantation in Jan, 1655/56. The History of New London notes on page 290: "The same month (as his marriage) a grant was made to him by the townsmen, 'with the advice and consent of Mr. Winthrop,' of a lot lying north of Mr. Winthrop's land, upon the east side of the river. Relinquishing his house on the town plot, he settled on this grant, which by subsequent additions expanded into a farm."
Much of the information that concerns the family of Thomas Bailey and Lydia Redfield was obtained from the web page of Donna Beers. She is a Bailey researcher and her page can be found at:
http://www.angelfire.com/mo/BaileyInfo/index.html
Mary Bailey was born 14 Feb 1655/56 in Groton, New London, CT. and married Andrew Davis. Mary and Andrew had nine children, named Andrew, Comfort, Ralfin, Anna, Hoke, Mary, Deborah, Sarah, and Lydia.
Thomas Bailey was born March 5, 1658/59 in Groton, New London, CT. He was married three times and had one child, Thomas, with his first wife whose name is unknown. His second wife was Rachel Dodge, with whom he had four children, Andrew, Mary, Hannah, and Sarah. All of the children were born in Groton, New London, CT. The third wife of Thomas was Ruth Kineum or Rineman. Thomas and Ruth had two children, James b. Dec 7, 1706 in Groton and Jedediah b. April 3. 1708 in Groton.
William Bailey was born 23 Apr 1664 at Groton, New London, CT. He married Mary Horton and they had at least one child, William Bailey, who was born in New London, CT. This William married Mary Bayley
William Bailey Sr. (although I can find no reference that he used that title) had a second wife, (Given name unknown) Clarey.
James Bailey was born 26 September, 1666 in Groton, New London, CT. He married Susanna Perkins and they had at least one child, Joshua Bailey.
Joseph Bailey was born 19 Feb 1667/68 at Groton, New London, CT. He was married two times with his first wife being Sarah Williams. Joseph and Sarah had four daughters; Mary, married a Mr. Miner; Elizabeth, married a Mr. Austin; Lydia, married a John Sholes, Jr. born 1 October, 1714, and they had eight children; Sarah, born about 1703, married Benjamin Williams.
Joseph's second wife was Ruth (unknown), and they had one child, Hannah or Anna, who married Jedadiah Bailey. They had six children.
Lydia Bailey was born 2 Aug 1670 in Groton, New London, CT. She married Andrew Lester.
Thomas Bailey must have died sometime prior to 1676, because in that year Lydia Redfield Bailey married William Thorne. Many researchers have listed the death of Thomas Bailey as being 18 September, 1675 at "The Battle of Bloody Brook, Essex, MA". Other researchers including Donna Beers states that the Thomas Bailey killed in that battle was from Massachusetts. I have no official document as to the death of either, Thomas Bailey or Lydia Redfield Bailey Thorne.
Edward Smith was born about 1637 in England. The "History of New London" by Caulkins has the following information that pertains to Edward and his kin. "Other early settlers of New London, of the name of Smith, were Nehemiah, John and Edward. The first two were brothers, and the last named, their nephew. Nehemiah had previously live in New Haven, and the birth of his son Nehemiah, the only son that appears on record, was registered there in 1646. John Smith came from Boston, with his wife Joanna and daughter Elizabeth, who appears to have been his only child. Edward Smith arrived in 1660. He settled on a farm east of the river.
Nehemiah Smith, the elder, connected himself with the association that settled Norwich, in 1660, and removed to that plantation, where he died in 1684. .............."
459. ELIZABETH9 BLISS (Thomas, #918);
Elizabeth was born 20 Nov 1645 in Saybrook, Middlesex, CT. Most of the material that I have on the Bliss family comes from a two volume Bliss family history. The repository for the record that I researched is housed in the Genealogical Section of the Duluth Public Library. There will be more of this history when the father of Elizabeth is discussed in Generation Ten.
Edward Smith married Elizabeth Bliss (see #459), daughter of Thomas Bliss and Elizabeth Birchard, 7 Jun 1663
The following is a continuation of the "History of New London" writings shown above under EDWARD SMITH. "John Smith remained in the town plot, and after 1659, held the offices of commissioner, custom-master and grand-juryman. His residence was in New, or Cape Ann Street. He died in 1680. His will was accepted in the county court, with this notification, 'The court doth desire the widow to consider her husband's kinsman, Edward Smith.' The will had been made in favor of the wife, in violation, as was claimed, of certain promises made to his nephew. A suit of law ensued between the parties. The case was finally carried to the court of assistants, at Hartford, by whose decision the will was sustained. Joanna Smith, the widow, was noted as a doctress. ........ "
The issue of this couple was eight children, two sons and six daughters. With the exception of two of them, no real data is known except for the birth of each of them and those have not been officially confirmed.
John was born in 1674 and died of an epidemic disease July 8, 1689 at New London, New London, CT. Both parents died of the same disease just days apart. (See below).
Further research will have to be conducted to determine where Obadiah received the title of Captain.
Frances Caulkins in the "History of New London" writes: "This couple, (meaning Edward and Elizabeth), together with their son John, aged fifteen, died of the epidemic disease of 1689; the son, July 8th; the wife, July 10th, and Edward Smith, July 14th. They left a son, Obadiah, twelve years of age, and six daughters, who all went to reside at Norwich with relatives."
Here are five sets of the 6th Great Grandparents of Frances Louise Berlin, all of whom I believe originated in England, and came to this country for different reasons. None of them appear to be fanatical in their religion. In there time it was expected that Sunday was a day of rest and worship. They were punished if they did not do so. None of them appeared as debtors escaping from their responsibility, nor, criminals trying to escape punishment. I feel that most of them emigrated because they merely wanted to better themselves from what they were or could expect to be in the country that they left behind. As far as can be ascertained they spent there time working for the betterment of their communities and their families.
It is difficult to find much information on the female side of ledger. Women were the mothers, mostly used for that purpose, to bear the children, take care of them and the home. They had no position in town government, in business or even in the running of the church or schools. I don't think it would have been to the liking of Frances Louise Berlin to have lived under those circumstances.