HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDHAM, CONNECTICUT

HISTORY

OF

ANCIENT WINDHAM, CT.

GENEALOGY.

CONTAINING A GENEALOGICAL RECORD OF ALL THE EARLY FAMILIES

OF ANCIENT WINDHAM, EMBRACING THE PRESENT

TOWNS OF WINDHAM, MANSFIELD, HAMPTON,

CHAPLIN AND SCOTLAND.

PART I.

A.—BIL.

BY

WILLIAM L. WEAVER.

EDITOR OF THE WILLIMANTIC JOURNAL

WILLIMANTIC:

WEAVER  &  CURTISS

1864

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TO THE READER.

     Most of the genealogies herewith published appeared in the Willimantic Journal in 1862 and 1863. They have been re-arranged, carefully revised and corrected, and contain much additional matter. They constitute a portion of the History of Windham, which the compiler has been many years in collecting and arranging. The entire work would probably have been given to the public before this, had not the times been unfavorable for such enterprises, and the writer engaged in conducting the Journal. As the publication of the History is necessarily postponed—perhaps indefinitely—it was decided to publish an abstract of the genealogies, which were commenced in the Willimantic Journal October 10th, 1862, and have been continued since. As some desired these records in a more permanent form, we concluded to publish one installment of them in pamphlet, as an experiment. Should this moderate edition be readily disposed of, other numbers will probably follow, and perhaps the entire work be published in this manner. Otherwise the genealogies will only be continued in the Journal.

     As the work progressed it was found that the families beginning with B could not all be included without so increasing the size of the pamphlet that it would be necessary to raise the price. As most persons would purchase the work on account of their own family, it was thought they would rather pay fifty cents for the portion that contained their own genealogy, than a dollar for it with the additional families in which they were not directly interested.    

     This part carries the genealogies to the Bingham family. Very extensive and valuable additions have been made to the Bingham genealogy, principally through the efforts of D. H. Bingham, Esq., of Washington, D. C. Further additions are solicited. Although we do net give all the

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families promised, we give more matter and a larger pamphlet than we can well afford for the price. As we could not include all without loss to ourselves we trust this will be satisfactory.    

     These genealogies are of course incomplete. The principal object has been to give all the records found in the town of every family named. In regard to the more numerous families we have endeavored to trace them back to their earliest ancestors in this country; and, in addition, have given much information respecting the later generations, obtained from private sources. Altogether, it is believed that these facts and records will materially aid those who desire to further trace their families, and construct more perfect genealogies.    

     We do not suppose the work is free from errors. We have examined many genealogical works, and have discovered errors in them all. Errors in copying early records, errors in deciphering manuscripts and letters, and typographical errors, with the utmost care and vigilance, will creep in. But it is hoped that they will neither be found so numerous or important as to materially lessen the value of the work. All we can say is, that we have labored hard, spent much time, and taken great pains to have the work accurate and reliable. We much regret the delay in issuing this number; but, as it has been unavoidable, we trust the subscribers will excuse it.

PLAN.

     We have arranged the genealogies on a simple plan, and, to save space, have dispensed with some of the accessories usually employed. It is not the best plan for a complete genealogy, but for these partial records’ we think it answers very well. The family names are given in alphabetical order.   

     We only number the sons whose families follow in genealogical order. For instance, take the Arnold family, on page 42. JOHN ARNOLD, the settler, is numbered 1, as we can trace the family back no farther. John, being probably the oldest son, has a family to follow, and is numbered (2). Samuel, the next son, we find no account of, and is not numbered. Bonley’s birth and marriage are given, but as he had no children recorded, and left the country, we say nothing more of him. We give all we find of Stephen, but as he early disappears he needs no number, the birth of his son being included under the head of his father’s family. Mary married

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John Angell, and that is all we say in regard to her, as it would, in most cases, be a repetition to give the records in the female line. Robert, the next son, having a family, is numbered (3), and his record follows after that of John. The names of the children are in italics, with the numbers of those numbered in parentheses, thus: (2) John. But when the family of John is to be given, the number is placed at the beginning of the paragraph with the name following in small capitals [NOTE: in BOLDFACE in this transcription], thus:

2. JOHN.

If the marriage of one of the children is given under the head of the family (as is sometimes the case), the names of his children (being of a later generation) are given in the ordinary Roman letter. By bearing in mind that the numbers are applied only to those who have families that follow in regular genealogical order, the plan will be readily understood.

ABBREVIATIONS.   

     We use b. for born, m, for married, d. for died, chil. for child or children, dau. for daughter, and other abbreviations, such as the names of the months, &c., which need no explanation.

OLD AND NEW STYLE.   

    In 1752, by act of Parliament, the New Style, so-called, was adopted. Eleven days were stricken from September, calling the 3d the 14th, and beginning the year on the 1st day of January instead of the 25th of March, as in Old Style. Some nations had changed to New Style before 1752, and this will explain double dating, often noticed in records made before that time. Thus: Feb. 8, 1720-21, for Feb. 8, 1721. The latter is the true year as we now reckon. These double dates only occur between January 1st and March 25th, before 1752. Double dating was not much practiced before the year 1700. 

     We give the records as copied from the original, and the reader will bear in mind that the dates before 1752 are in Old Style, and those since in New Style.

INDEXES.  

     Besides the Table of Contents, we give an index to the wives, and also one to the husbands of the widows and daughters. These will enable

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any one to readily trace the intermarriages and find the names of both the males and females connected with the families given. We add an index to some other names incidentally mentioned.

     To the many friends who have kindly aided us, we render our mostgrateful and hearty thanks.

     Willimantic, July 1, 1864.

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CONTENTS.

ABBE, 2, 103

     JOHN SEN., OF WENHAM, 10

     JOHN, THE WINDHAM SETTLER, 13

     SAMUEL, THE WINDHAM SETTLER, 17

     THOMAS, THE ENFIELD SETTLER, 25

ABBOTT, 26

ADAMS, 29

AGARD, 30

ALLEN, 30, 103

     JOSHUA, 30

     WILLIAM, 34

     SAMUEL OF BRAINTREE, 33

     TIMOTHY, OF NORWICH, WINDHAM AND MANSFIELD, 34

      JOSEPH. OF WINDHAM, (SCOTLAND), 36

     JAMES, 39

ALLERTON, 103

AMES, 39

ANDERSON, 41

ANDREWS, 103

ARMSTRONG, 41

ARNOLD, 42, 104

ASHLEY, 44

ASPENWALL, 47

ATWOOD, 48

AUSTIN, 49

AVERILL, 50

BABCOCK, 50, 104

     JONATHAN, 51

     JAMES, 51

BACKUS, 58, 104

     WILLIAM, 58

     JOHN, 60

BADGER, 62

BAKER, 65

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BALCAM, 68

BALCH, 70

BALDWIN, 70, 104

     DANIEL, 71

BALLARD, 73

BARKER, 73

BARROWS, 74,104

     ROBERT, 74

     ROBERT, THE MANSFIELD SETTLER, 74

     THOMAS, THE MANSFIELD SETTLER, 83

     SYLVENUS, (WINDHAM), 88

BASS, 90

BASSETT, 93

BEAUMONT, 104

BEMIS, 94

BENNETT, 94

     WILLIAM , 94

     NATHANIEL, 95

BIBBINS, 96

BIDLACK, 99

BILL, 102

BILLINGS, 102

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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDHAM.

GENEALOGY.

ABBE. 

     The name is variously written, thus: ABBA, ABBE, ABBEE, ABBEY, ABEY, ABBIE, ABIE, ABBEYE, ABBY.

     ABDY* and ALBY*, with their variations in spelling, are different names, though perhaps sometimes used interchangeably with Abbe.   

     ABBY or ABBEY is considered ‘the correct method of spelling the name, and some of the descendants of the Enfield family write it thus; but the Windham family have, from the first, written it ABBE. The name is an ancient one, and appears to be identical with that applied to monasteries It is found in English* and French* works, relating to the nobility and to heraldry. Abbe coat of arms:   

     Gules, (red) five tusils in fesse between three scallop shells. Argent (white) Crest, on a wreath of the colors of the shield, (which are red and white,) an eagle’s head, erased (torn off), col., gold.

     Motto—Confida Conquesco. 

     The fesse is a belt of honor, given for participating in a victory gained in the field; the scallop shells were given to those who had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.    

     (The above was furnished Hon. S. C Fessenden by an English friend. Of course it is not known that it belongs to the American family, or that they are authorized to use it.)  

      It is probable that the first settler or settlers in this country came from England—one tradition says Norwich— and the early names would

__________   

     *MATTHEW ABBY, Boston, came in the Abigail, 1633. from London, and was a fisherman. His son Matthew followed the same trade, and was so poor that his petty bequests were the subject of a humorous poem, by Rev. John Seccombe, entitled “Father Abby’s Will.”

     *A BENJAMIN ABBY was of Braintree, 1641. freeman. May 18, 1642, and JOHN ALBY, of Salem, 1637, freeman May 10. 1643; d. 1699. It is possible that the last was the same with John Abbe, Sen., of Wenham.  

     *Burk’s Gereral Armory, contains the coats of arms of ALBEY, ABBISS, ABEES, ABBS, (Norfolk), ABBY, ABYS, (Derbyshire). In Sims’ [—] to the Pedigrees, &c., is ABBIS. (Bedfordshire).  

     *Jouffrey, Dictionaire de la Noblesse. L’Abbe en Bretagne, du clos en Bretagne, de coursey en Lorraine; Abbe en Champagne, en Normandie; Abbey de la Roque en Normandie.

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indicate the county of Norfolk* as their place of origin; but nothing is known on the subject.   

     The Abbes (John and Samuel) were among the very early settlers of Windham,and the name has been a somewhat prominent, influential and respected one in the history of the town. Through the male and female branches, the blood has been widely [disseminated], and is diffused through almost the entire range of Windham families.

JOHN ABBE, SEN., OF WENHAM.

1. JOHN ABBE, of Wenham, was, without doubt, the common ancestor of the Windham and Enfield Abbes, as we shall endeavor to show. At what time he came over is not known. Jo: Abby, aged 22, was a passenger to Virginia in the ship Boneventura, 1635, but as Jo: in other cases is used as an abbreviation of Joseph, and not John, and as the destination was Virginia, it is not very probable that this was John Abbe, the Salem and Wenham settler.  

     JOHN ABBE was “received for an inhabitant,” of Salem, “ye second of ye 11th mo. 1636,” (Jan. 1637,) ” and is to have one acre lott for an house next beyond ye gunsmiths and 3 acres of planting ground where ye town hath appoynted beyond Castle Hill.” On the “23 of ye 11 monthe 1642, Granted to John Abby 10 acres nere to brother Kings.”  

     The above are from Salem Book of Grants. The last grant immediately follows others in Enon, now Wenham.   

     “Brother King,” named above, had his portion at the “head of Bass Riuer,” in a tract supposed to belong to Enon or Wenham, “nere by” which was John Abby’s grant. On the 13, 6 mo. 1643, “agreed that John Abby shall have all that waist ground which lyeth between ye end of ye lott which he lines upon en ye meadow which belongs to ye town. Leaving a poles bredth most convenient for a highway” [Wenham Town Rec.] This is believed to be the first mention of John Abbe in Wenham records. In 1657 and 1659, John Abby’s minister rates are stated in Wenham town records. “Granted to John Abbey, sen., and Edward Waldron,” land, &c., in Wenham, 6, 11 mo. 1661. This is the first time

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     * In An Essay toward a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk, &c, [Eng.] by Francis Blomfield. ‘[Ist ed. was in 1736.] 2d ed., London, 1805. Vol, I., p. 203. Hundred of Dickleburgh, Mantelake’s Manor, we have the following: “I know nothing more of it till the 15th century; and then THOMAS ABBES held it of the Duke of Norfolk as of his manor of Forncet.”   

     Vol. VI., p. 442. Hundred of Buxton. [Among the Vicars of Buxton is] JAMES ABBES. 1422: he resigned 1455. [footnote] “JOHN ABBES, of Buxton, senr., buried in 1595 in the church yard and gave an altar cloth to our Lady’s altar in the church, and to every saint graven in the church, a wax candle to be burned at the mass of my burial, and a legacy to St. John’s gild. The Abbes were an ancient family here.”   

     Vol. VI.. p. 445. Hundred of Buxton, Manor of Laveshagh. “About 1480, JOHN ABEYS, senior, was lord, and after him THOMAS, his son,” &c.   

     The names above at least are suggestive. Mrs S. C. Fessenden, of Rockland, Me., a descendant, says. “The family of Abbe are originally from the county of Chester, England.” This is probably family tradition.

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John Abby is called sen., and probably his son John had then become of legal age. In 1609 John Abbey, sen., was constable of “Wenham.

     In the Essex Registry of Deeds, under date of March 29, 1675, is the following : ” I John Abbey senr. of ye town of Wenham . . . do by these presents confirm unto my son Samuel Abbey, ten acres of land lying within his field bounded by ye above John Abbey, his meadow, … south by goodman Waldron, his land, … and so much land as to set his frame or house upon ouer and aboue ye ten acres above named, … in case said Samuel shall sell or lease said land, he shall lett his father or brethren have ye Refusall. Wit. Thomas X Abby. John X Abby, Mary Abby.”

     We give below “John Abbey’s Disposale of his estate,” in 1683, which in the account published in the Journal, was called a will.

     “Know all men By these presents That I John Abbey (Senjr) of wenham in the County of Essex being sensible of my owne and my wives inability to carry on my affaires So as to prouid for our Comfortable Liuelyhood by reason ofour age and weaknese of Body attending us by reason whereof Doe make choice of & Request my Son John Abbey as my ffeiofe in trust to take into his hands my house & all my Lands in wenham together with the right I have in that Land which was Sometime Richard Goldsmiths: to ocquipie & improae for myn and his muttuall Benefit So long as my wife & I or eyther of us shall liue : & for his incouriagmient to maniage my affaires as aforesaid & to reside Comfortably for my owne & my wives maintainance I doe hereby Giue & Bequeth to him my afforesaid feolite my houses & Lands forever except what I doe hereby Giue out of it to the rest of my Children viz Samuell Sarah Marah Rebeca obadia & Thomas & to each of them as followeth viz to Samuel I haveing alridy Giuen him a parcell of Land I give him one shilling more & to all the rest of my children abovementioned viz Sarah marah Rebeca of adia & Thomas ten shillings apiece or to So many of them as shall Siruiue at the decease of my Selfe & wife: & in Case God Shall take awaye my Son John abovesaid before the Decease of myselfe & wife if his Heirs shall Continue to maniag & carry on my affaires as my abouesaid ffeioffe ought to do then they Shall have the houses & Lands abouesaid as their reward & in Confirmation of what is aboue Written I have hereunto Set to my hand & Seale–

     Signd Seald & Delivered agust the 3: 1633 in the presence of

Thos ffiske Senr

Martha ffiske  

John his X marke Abbey Senj

     John Abbey senjr ded acknowledg this writing aboue writen to be his act & deed August ye 3: 1683 before me

Samuel appleton Assistant.”

     As we have been unable to find the first marriage of John Abbe, sen., or the birth or baptism of any of his children, the above document is very important, giving, as it does, the names of his children at that date. Mr. Savage says, the John Abby of Salem, 1637, was of Reading later, and freeman, May 7, 1685, when he is called sen. A careful search of the Reading records does not reveal the name of John Abbe, sen., or anyone of the name. The name is the last on the list of Reading names of those made freemen, according to the Massachusetts records, and the very next name is a Wenham one. It seems probable that John Abby, sen., should have commenced the Wenham list and not ended that of Reading*. We have supposed that it might have been John the son who

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* On expressing surprise to Mr. Savage that John Abbe, sen., should be made a freeman in 1685, some two years after he had made his will, (disposed of his estate) and was then quite aged, he replies: ” Such is the record, and to the suggestion, that two years earlier he had made his will, I must beg you to remember, that, after 1631, nobody could be admitted to the privilege, unless he were a church member; and the number was annually diminishing before the tyrany of Andros, so that when his yoke was broken off the rule was altered in 1689. and thirty or fortyfold more came in to swear the freeman’s oath in one year.” We do not find that John Abby. sen. was a member of the church at Salem or Wenham either before or after 1685; still it is possible he was a member.

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was made freeman, May 7, 1685, and that the sen., was a mistake. It does not appear that John Abby, sen., was a church member; and, if he was, it is a little singular that he should become a freeman at so late a period of his life; while his son John was a church member, and there is as good reason why he should have been made a freeman as his brother Samuel, who became one in 1680.* Still we give the record as found.

     JOHN ABBE, SEN., had certainly two wives. Mary, who was probably the mother of his children, d. Sept. 9, 1672. John Abbie m. Mary Goldsmith Nov. 25, 1674. We are inclined to believe this was John Abbe, sen., though not so designated, for he had wife, Mary, March 29, 1675, who signed with him the confirmation of grant to his son Samuel at that date. Mary, the widow of Richard Goldsmith, who was killed by lightning May 18, 1673, mentioned by Increase Mather in “Remarkable Providences,” was executrix of her husband’s will, and we think it probable she married John Abbe, sen., as above.

     JOHN ABBE, SEN., d. at Wenham about 1690, quite advanced in years. If he was 21 in 1637, (and he was probably older), he was at least 74 at his death. He died intestate, notwithstanding the “disposale,” in form and substance like a will, as will be seen by the following Inventory of his estate, which gives some additional particulars of interest and proves conclusively that Thomas Abbe, then of Enfield, was the son of John, sen.:

     “This Inuentory of the estate of John Abee senor formerly of Wenham desesed about thirteen yers since intestate we whos nams are hereunto subscribed on this twenty fourth of february in the year of our Lord 1702-3 did at the Request of thomas Abee one of the sons of the desesed and administrator of his fathers effect or by his order value and aprise the said desesed his house and land in wenham on which to our certin knowleg he lived for many yers and dyed seased of the same as his owne estat of Inheritanc as we euer understood we being his nere neighbors for many yers the sayd desesed his homestead being about twenty and three acres of upland and medow together with the housing and fences ther on the apertenances ther unto belonging together with his Rights the comon all which we valleued at ninety and two pounds £92 00s 00d we also being Informed that the sayd desesed in his lifetime did to acomodate his son obadiah acording lo his desier with afrad for his futer benifitt when the sayd obadiah was eighteen yers old give to Richard Goldsmith three yers servit of his said son obadiah and untill he was one and twenty yers ould to learn him to be a shoemaker and all the sayd time his sayd

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* Samuel Abby, of Wenham, was made freeman Oct. 13, 1680. and Samuel Abbie, of Salem Village, March 22, 1689-90. Samuel Abbe, the Windham settler, was at Wenham at the former and at Salem Village at the latter date. His son Samuel was not then of age, and as we can find no trace of any other Samuel Abbe at either place, we suggest whether the records do not refer to the same person.

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father did find his sayd son meet and drink and clothes washing and lodging which we doe judg to be worth thirtey pounds L30 00s 00d the acount was settled betwen thomas abee and his farthers estat by the children of the sayd desesed in our presents as wittnes our hands this 24th of the 12th month 1702-3

Richard his X mark Hutton

Joseph ffowler

Aprisers

     the estate debtor to his sonn thomas abee for sundrall things for which our said father John abee senor was Indebted to his son thomas abee before the death of our sayd father John abee senor the acount wher of was settled and alowed by us underwritten which debt is thirty and two pounds £32 00s 00d

     wittnes our hand this 24 february 1702-3

     Richard his X mark kimball for himself and Rebeca his wife

     Thomas his X mark abea

     Mary her X mark Killam

may, 18th: 1703

     Then ye above sd Thomas Abbe made oath to this Inuentory

     Before John Appleton”

     JOHN ABBE, SEN., of Wenham, had chil. : (2) John, who settled in Windham; (3) Samuel, who also settled in Windham ; Sarah; Marah, (Mary) m. _____ Killam; Rebecca, m. Richard Kimball, May 13, 1667; Obadiah, who probably settled in Enfield, and m. there, Sarah, wid. Of Joseph Warriner, to whom she was 2d wife; had no chil. to be named in his will, 1752, the year he d.; (4) Thomas, settled at Enfield.

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN ABBE, THE WINDIHAM SETTLER.

     2. JOHN ABBE, who settled at Windham, was, without reasonable doubt, son of John Abbe, sen., of Wenham.

     JOHN ABBE, of Wenham, yeoman, sells to Francis Wainwright, of Ipswich, for £60, “all that my land and meadow with ye houses on said land with orchard trees, Timber Trees, mines, with ye comonage lying in Wenham,” March 9, 1694-5. And, Oct. 19, 1600, John Abbe, for £130, sold to Nathaniel Waldron, of Wenham, “dwelling house, barn, 30 acres of upland and meadow, on a part of which land and upland said dwelling house and barn standeth,” &c. The deed was signed by John and Hannah Abbey. John and Hannah Abby were admitted to full communion of the Wenham church before 1692, but the date of admission is not given in Wenham church records. They were dismissed Oct. 28. 1700. By the disposal of the estate, 1683, it seems that John Abbe, sen., had a son John whom he made the trustee of his property; by the Wenham land records we find that he sold houses and lands in Wenham in 1695 and 1696; and that he had a wife Hannah, and that they were members of the church in Wenham. As we have no account of any other John Abbe of Wenham cotemporary with John, sen., we conclude he was the son of the

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latter; and the sale of land in Wenham, the name of wife, their dismissal from the church, all make it quite certain that he was the Windham settler.

     JOHN ABEE, of Wenham, for £70, in silver, purchased of Lt. Exercise Conant, of Windham, the 7th home lot at Windham Center, with house on the west side of town street, with the “thousand acre right,” belonging to the same, July 3, 1696.

     JOHN ABEE was admitted an inhabitant of Windham, Dec. 9, 1696. So it appears he settled in Windham during the latter part of that year. John and Hannah Abbe were dismissed from Wenham church to unite with others in forming a church at Windham, Oct. 28, 1700. Their names are both found in the list of original members of the Windham church, which was organized Dec. 10, 1700. John Abbe died the next day, Dec. 11, 1700. It is probable that he died suddenly. His estate was settled in Hartford Probate Court. The following is a copy of his will:

     “Windham the 19th of Dec. 1700. The will of John Abbey. That his wife should enjoy the house and homestead & the meadows that are already laid, with the moveable during her life to dispose of it to them of her children as she shall see cause, & the rest of the unlaid out land to be divided equally, to be divided amongst his children and not to be sold away from my family, not any of the land, & the 30 acres adjoining to goodman Bingham & goodman Larrabees land to be at my wifes dispose, & to give deed & to make sale of according to law.

     “Witnes our hands Robert Hebard senior & John Reed senior both of the  same town.

Proved before Josliua Ripley .April 8, 1701.

     The explanation of the will was as follows:

     “We Robert Hebard & John Reid being witnesses to the will of John Abbey of Windham. do testify that whereas tis said in the will, the lands & meadows that are already laid out shall be at his wife’s dispose, to give to them of her children as she shall have cause. That they did understand it, & are fully persuaded that said Abbey did mean the children she had by him & further that the entailment extend no further than to the lands that are yet to be laid out to the best of their judgment &c.

     “Taken on oath in Windham Nov. 6, 1701, before Joshua Ripley.”

     JOHN ABBE, the Windham settler, had certainly two wives and perhaps three, but no particulars have been found of any except his wife Hannah, who, after her husband’s death, m. Jonathan Jennings, one of the earliest settlers of Windham, Nov. 10. 1703, and d. March 8, 1724-5. Hannah, dau. of Richard Goldsmith, of Wenham, was born March 4, 1657, and as the families were connected, perhaps she was the wife of John Abbe above. That John Abbe had children by a former wife is proved by the will of Richard Abbe, 1737, who calls Joseph, Obadiah and Abigail brothers and sister “of the half blood.” The following were probably children of John Abbe the Windham settler [Wenham Records]:

     John, “son of John Abye,” b. May 5, 1665, d. May 15, 1665; Thomas, “son of John Abbey,” b. 5, 12 mo., 1667. If the latter was the son of

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our John Abbe, he died young; Joseph, b., probably, Aug. 18, 1673, m. Abigail Severance, Aug. 30, 1706, and had an only dau. Joanna, who m. Jonathan Brown, of Hampton, N. H. She is mentioned in the will of her uncle Richard Abbe, of Windham, in 1737. Joseph Abbe d. and his wid. Abigail, m. Phillip Greeley, Dec. 11, 1707, [Joseph, son of Joseph Abbe, b. Aug. 18, 1673, (Wenham List in Clerk of Court’s Office, Salem). We cannot but think that the above should be Joseph, son of John Abbe.] (5) Obadiah; Abigail, m. Daniel Sabin, of Windham, March 18, 1701: Chi!, by wife Hannah: (6) Richard, b. Feb. 1 or 9, (both dates found in Windham records) 1682-3; Mary, b. Sept. 10, 1684, m. James Pease, of Enfield, and was living in 1737; Mercy, b. March 5, 1689, m. Nathaniel Flint, of Windham, his third wife, no chil.; (7) John, b. April 20, 1691; Hannah, b. Aug. 13, 1693, m. Thomas Welch, ancestor of the Windham families of that name; Lydia, b. May 21, 1696, m. Benjamin Bidlack; Sarah, b. in Windham, March 11, 1699, m. John Welch, probably a brother of Thomas.

     5. OBADIAH ABBE, (probably this one) m. Elizabeth Wilkinson at Malden, Dec. 26, 1701. He settled at Windham; and after 1719 removed to Ashford, Ct., where he was living in 1737. Chil. b. at Windham: Mercy, b. Oct. 15, 1702; Obadiah, b. April 10, 1704, probably m. and lived in Ashford, as we find an Obadiah Abbe there, wife Zerviah, who had son John, b. Sept. 14, 1759, Hannah, b. Aug. 27, 1761, and other chil.; Elizabeth, b. April 1, 1700; Hannah, b. Dec. 5, 1707; Abigail, b. Oct. 25, 1709 ; Ruth, b. Sept. 15, 1712; Joseph, 1st, b. May 28, 1714, d. Jan. 7, 1717-18; Richard, b. May 14, 1716; Joseph, 2d, b. Jan. 16, 1718-19. We have no further information of this family. There was a Jeremiah Abbe at Ashford, who m. Ann Strong, June 18, 1760, and had chil., who may have been a grand-son of Obadiah above.

     6. RICHARD ABBE was one of the prominent, influential and substantial men of Windham in his day. He was a man of considerable property, and among his legacies, was one of £50, to the Rev. Thomas Clap, and one of £20 to the First Church of Windham. He was one of the earliest slaveholders in the town after Gates. He gave his negro girl Jenne, prized at £75, to his wife, with one-half of his estate, and liberal legacies to his brothers and sisters. He especially enjoined upon his executors to take no unjust advantage of his debtors, and to give those against whom he held mortgages reasonable time to redeem them, even if their legal right to do so had been forfeited.

     He was constable, sheriff, Justice of the Peace, Judge of the County Court, and represented Windham in the Legislature every year from 1726 to 1737, with one exception, and was influential in church affairs. He was a warm friend of the Rev. Mr. Clap, and was one of Prince’s subscribers. He m. Mary Jennings, dau. of Jonathan, Nov. 16, 1703, and d. July 10, 1737, aged 54. She d. Aug. 25, 1759, aged 77. They had no

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chil. His will is dated June 27, 1737. Her will bears date July 12, 1758. The following is the inscription on his tombstone:

     “Here lyes Buried ye body of RICHARD ABBE. ESQ.. One of his Magisties Justices of ye County of Windham. Who after he had Faithfully Served his Generation Acording to the will of GOD Fell Asleep July 10, 1737, in ye 55^th year of his Age.”

     Mary, his wife, appears to have been a pious and benevolent woman, a worthy companion of her respected husband. She Was the eldest dau. of Jonathan Jennings, the first settler in Windham after Cates. In her will she gives £4 to the First Church in Windham, “To purchase a Flagon For the Convenience of Furnishing the communion Table in said Church.” She gives “unto Ginna my Negro woman her time & Freedom From hence Forward not to be Inslaved held or Controled by me or any under me as a slave or servant For Time or Life and I do hereby give & bequeath unto sd Ginna a good Bible & the best Featherbed I have saving one with good beddiing viz. Bolster, Pillows, one pare good sheets, one pare woolen Blankets & a good coverlid & a Foot wheel and Farthermore I give unto said Ginna a good Iron Pott and Kittle with my every day clothes & a good silk crape gown & Two Pewter Platters which I give unto ye sd Ginna For the good service she hath done me.” With regard to her other slaves she says: “And I do here by order & desire that those of my negro children as shall be sold & disposed of as that they may have Christian Education and by their Maysters not be used with cruelty & hardship.” There were four negro children named in her inventory, viz.: Sampson, valued at £45, Peter, at £40, Reuben at £35, and Tamer, a girl, at £28. The following is the inscription on her tombstone:

     “In Memory of Mrs. Mary Abbe widow to Richard Abbe Esq. who died August 25th 1759 in ye 78th year of her Age, them also yt sleep in Jesus will God bring with him, 1 Thes. 4 and 14.”

     7. JOHN ABBE, m. 1st, Mary, dau. of Dea. Abel Bingham, of Windham, Nov. 7, 1717; she d. July 23, 1722; m. 2d, Mary Palmer, dau. of Samuel, March 12, 1723; she d. Nov. 30, 1750; m. 3d, Abigail Ripley, wid. of Jeremiah, and dau. of dea. Eleazer Cary, April 23, 1751; she d. Oct. 16, 176G; m, 4th, Sarah Dodge, April 8, 1767; he d. Jan. 16, 1770; she d. April 11,1776. His will is dated June 6, 1767. Inventory £1067 12s 3d. To Rev. Stephen White he gave his “silver headed cane.” His only chil. by 1st wife was: (8) John, b. July 4, 1722; chil. by 2d wife: Hannah, b. Sept. 17, 1724, m. Joshua Webb; Mary, b. Sept. 10, 1725, perhaps m. Elisha Wales; Elizabeth, b. Sept. 16, 1728, m. Jesse Ward, of Union, May 22. 1754; Richard, b. July 1, 1730, m. Mary Huntington, dau. of David, and had son Mexari, b. in Windham, Dec. 4, 1752, besides other chil., who d. in infancy. His father gave him a farm of 90 acres on Beaver Hill. He probably

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d. Feb. 17, 1794; Emma [?], b. Aug. [–], 1732, m. probably Jonathan Jennings, his 2^nd [?] Wife; [—–], b. Sept. [–], 17[–], m. Charles [—–].

     8. JOHN ABBE, jr., m. 1st, Lois Munson; m. 2d, —– Smith; he d. JuIy 4, 1788 aged 63; only child by 1st wife: John, b. Jan. 10,1755. d. some thirty or forty years since, somewhere in Windham County, (one informant says Chaplin) [—]., and with him the male line of this particular branch of the Abbes became extinct. The original homestead of John Abbe was on lot No. 7, at Windham Center.

DESCENDANTS OF SAMUEL ABBE, THE WINDHAM SETTLER.

     3. SAMUEL ABBE, the son of John Abbe, sen., was, we are fully satisfied, the Windham settler. John, sen., of Wenham, had a son Samuel, to whom he deeded ten acres of land in Wenham, March 29, 1675. In 1676, Samuel Abei was Surveyor, according to Wenham records. In 1682, Samuel Abbe, of Wenham, bought of Lot Kilham, land, &c., in Salem Village (now Danvers). Samuel Abbe and wife were dismissed from Wenham church to form church in Salem Village, Nov. 15, 1689. In 1684, SamueI Abbe, of “Salem,” bought of James Stimpson, of Reading, land within the precincts and bounds of Salem. On the 3d of April, 1697, Samuel Abbe, of Salem, sold ” all his messuage in Salem,” to Zachariah White, of Lynn. The deed was signed by Samuel and Mary Abbe. Samuel Abbe was not taxed in Salem Village after 1695. Nov. 4, 1697, Samuel Abbe, “of Salem,” bought of Benjamin Howard, of Windham, for £22 10s, current money, half an allotment of land (500 acres), being No. 2, at the “Center,” (then at or near “Bricktop,”) with half the house, &c.

     SAMUEL ABBE removed to Windham probably about the time of the above purchase, for he was admitted an inhabitant of the town, Dec. 21, 1697. He was the ancestor of the most numerous branch of the Windham Abbes, and all of the name now living in Windham or vicinity are descended from him.

     SAMUEL ABBE m. at Wenham, Mary Knowlton, Oct. 12, 1672. He d. in Windham, in March, 1697, according to the probate records, which was 1698, as we now reckon. His wid. m. Abraham Mitchell, an early Windham settler, April 27, 1699, and had by him a son Daniel, b. Dec.10, 1700, d. same day. The estate of Samuel Abbe was settled in Hartford Probate Court. The following children are all named in the records of the court. Those b. before 1682, were probably b. at Wenham, and the others at Salem Village (now Danvers,): Mary, b. about 1674, was living single in Windham after 1700; Samuel, b. about 1676, was one of the original members of the First Church of Windham. He m. Hannah Silsby, March 15, 1710, and d. Jan. 15, 1736-7, aged about 61; she d. about 1759. They had one chil.: Samuel, b. Oct. 12, 1712, d. March 15, 1714; Thomas, b. about 1679, d.at Windham, April 1, 1700, unm.; Elizabeth, b. about 1681, m. William Slate, of Windham, ancestor of the Mansfield

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Slate families. (The last name is Eleazer on probate records, but from the Windham land records we are satisfied it is a mistake, and that it should be Elizabeth.) (9) Ebenezer, b. at Salem Village, July 31, 1683; Mercy, b. March 1, 1864-5, m. Jonathan Onnsby, of Windham; Sarah, b. July 4 or 6, 1656, m. John Fowler, of Lebanon, and had family; Hepsibah, b. Feb. 14, 1688-9, m. Samuel Palmer, and was the ancestress of the largest branch of the Scotland Palmers; Abigail, b. Nov. 19, 1690, m. probably, Joseph Ormsby, of Rehoboth; John, b. June 4, 1692, is called of Hartford, 1723. It is said he settled in East Hartford and left many descendants, but we have been unable to find any records or particulars of his family. He d. in 1790, aged about 98, but according to Hinman and others, 109, which is evidently a mistake; Benjamin, b. June 4, 1694, settled in  Glastenbury’, and there m. Mary Tryon, dau. of Dr. Joseph, Jan. 4, 1716, and had chil.: Agnes, Hannah, Mary and Samuel; Jonathan, b. about 1697, probably settled in Willington, where he d. in 1760, and left chil.: Anne, Mary, Jonathan, Samuel and Rebecca.

     9. EBENEZER ABBE was “of Norwich,” Nov. 1705, when he purchased of his brother Samuel, 55 acres of land at “New Found Meadow,” in Windham. Ebenezer sold to his brother about the same time, land on Bushnell Plain and at Willimantic. He was at Windham, July 8, 1706.

     EBENEZER ABBE lived near what is now North Windham, perhaps during the latter part of his life in Mansfield. He was a member of the Hampton church in 1725. He married Mary Allen, dau. of Joshua, one of the early settlers of Mansfield, Oct. 28, 1707; he d. Dec. 5, 1758; she d. 1766. His will is dated June 3, 1750. In it he names ten of his thirteen children. His chil. were: (10) Ebenezer, b. July 27, 1708; Elizabeth, b. Sept. 11, 1709, m. Daniel Cross, of Mansfield, had family; (11) Joshua, b. Jan. 20, 1710-11; Mary, b. Sept. 21, 1712, m. Jonathan Bingham, jr.; Nathan, b. May 6, 1714, settled in Mansfield, and m. 1st, Silence Ames, dau. of William, Dec. 4. 1746; she d. Feb. 6, 1776 ; m. 2d, Lucy Hovey, dau. of Samuel, of Windham, Oct. 17, 1776; no chil. recorded; (12) Gideon, b. Feb. 13, 1715-16; Samuel, 1st, b. Oct. 30, 1717, d. March 1, 1718; Samuel, 2d, b. April 24,1719, living 1750; (A Samuel Abbe, of Mansfield, m. Temperance Lincoln, dau. of Thomas, July 8,1766, and had: Shadrach, b. March 6, 1767, Anne, b. June 13, 1769, Lucy, b. May 22, 1771, Mary, b. Feb. 9, 1774, Amelia, b. July 14,1776, Azubah, b. Dec. 21, 1778, Ebenezer, b. June 9, 1781. The above was either the son of Ebenezer Abbe, sen., or Ebenezer, jr. If the former he was about 47 at his marriage, if the latter was about 20. We are unable to determine which.) Zerriah, b. March, 17, 1720-21, m. Elihu Marsh; Jerusha, b. Oct. 22, 1722, m. Samuel Wood, of Mansfield; Abigail, b. Aug. 1, 1724, probably m. Benjamin Corey; Miriam, b. Aug. 31, 1726, m. William Cross, and d. Nov. or Dec. 2, 1823, aged 97; (13) Solomon, b. May 29, 1730.

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     10. EBENEZER ABBE, JR. m. Abigail ———, Feb. 22. 1729-30; chil.: Mary, b. March 26, 1731; (14) Isaac, b. July 25, 1733; Abner, b. Aug. 26, 1737; Ebenezer, b. June 10, 1739; Jacob, b. Aug. 23, 1741; John, b. Aug. 23, 1743, settled in Mansfield, m. Dorothy Bugbee, April 27, 1768, and had John, b. April 4, 1709; Samuel, b. June 21, 1747.

     11. JOSHUA ABBE deserves more than a brief notice—all we are able to give, His homestead was near the present village of North Windham, just within the bounds of what is now Chaplin, near the residence and on the farm of Hon. P. B. Peck. The house long since disappeared, but the cellar place still marks the location. He was at one time a large land owner, and possessed considerable property in live stock, &c. His extensive domains at North Windham and vicinity he called his ” Kingdom”; and owing to the influence he exerted, he was often called “King Abbe.” He was not without his failings, nor was he without virtues, some of a noble and redeeming character. He was a man of medium size, but of great physical and mental vigor. He was a match for any one in shrewdness and ready wit, and could make a very sharp trade. It is said he was more than a match in a bargain for Dea. Chaplin (for whom the town of Chaplin was named), who was very successful in his trades and in accumulating property. He had strong religious impulses, but his faith was not of the orthodox kind; and perhaps in those days he was considered somewhat fanatical. Among the guests at his hospitable board at one time, was “Mother” Ann Lees, the founder of the sect of “Shakers.” He appears to have been a man of strong social faculties, very hospitable, generous to his friends and kind to the poor. When one of his neighbors, a poor man, had lost his only cow, a subscription paper was started to buy him another. His neighbors put down a dollar or so each, and the man presented the paper to “King Abbe.” On showing it to him, Mr. Abbe said, “Away with your subscription paper; go into my herd and take your pick among my cows, and be sure you get a good one.”

     JOSHUA ABBE, sen., m. Mary Ripley, dau. of Joshua, jr., of Willimantic, April 14, 1736. His wife d. Oct., 1769; he d. Jan. 13 or 14, 1807, aged 96. His blood is widely diffused through many respectable and talented families. Their chil. were Zibeiah [?], b. June 11,1737, m. Jonathan Wales; Rachel, b. Feb. 6, 1733-9, m. Gen. Samuel McClellan*, of Woodstock,

__________

* Gen. Samuel McClellan, of Woodstock, was of Scotch descent, and a prominent man in that town. He served for a time in the war of the Revolution. He m. 1st, Jemima Chandler, of Woodstock, Nov. 16, 1757, who d. April 13, 1764; m. 2d, Rachel Abbe. dau. of Joshua, of Windham, March 5. 1766; she d. June 22. I795; chil. by 1st wife: Samuel, b. Feb. 11, 1760; Wiliiam, b. March 6. 1762 ; Emanuel Chandler, b. April 3, 1764; chil. by 2d wife, Rachel Abbe: John, b. Jan. 4, 1767; Nancy, b. May 7, 1768; James, b. Sept 20, 1769. He was the father of Dr. George McClellan, a distinguished surgeon and medical professor of Philadelphia, who was father of Gen. George Brinton McClellan; Nathaniel, 1st, b. Dec. 17, 1770. d. y.; Lucretia, b. May 15, 1773; Elizabeth, b. Nov. 20, 1775; Nathaniel, 2d, b. Jan. 16, 1777, d. in Norwich, Sept, 1863; Judah Alden, b. May 26, 1780.

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March 5, 1766, his 2d wife, and had chil. Among her descendants is Gen. Geo. B. McClellan. A correspondent says, she was a woman greatly respected and beloved by all who knew her; Mary, b. Dec. 21, 1740, m. Nathaniel Hebard, of Windham. Among her descendants is Hon. Learned Hebard, of Lebanon; Zerviah, b. Jan. 7, 1743, m. Capt. Nathaniel Webb, of Windham. Among her descendants were Sheriff Henry Webb and his son, the late Dr. Wm. Webb, Windham; (15) Shubael, b. Nov. 9, 1744; (16) Phineas, b. Nov. 22, 1740; Lucretia, b. March 10, 1749, m. Edmund Badger, of Windham. Among her descendants are Hon. Samuel Badger, of Philadelphia, and Hon. Geo. E. Badger, of North Carolina, formerly U. S, Senator from that State; (17) Joshua, b. Jan. 9, 1751; (18) Elisha, b. May 15, 1753; Elizaheth, b. Dec. 6, 1758, d. Jan. 20, 1759.

     12. GIDEON ABBE, settled first in Windham, but after 1745 removed to Mansfield, then to Ashford, and back to Mansfield, where he d. He m. 1st, Mary Wood, dan. of Samuel, of Mansfield, March 15, 1735; she d. Oct. 1742; m. 2d, Keziah Walker, Dec. 8, 1742; she d. Jan., 1746-7 ; m. 3d, Bathsheba Smith, dau. of William, of Ashford, March, 1747. He m. in 1784; his wife survived him. His will is dated May —, 1779, proved 1784; chil. by 1st wife: Mary, 1st, b. in Windham, March 24, 1738, d. y.; Hannah, b. in Windham, June 28, 1739, m. Josiah Hall, of Mansfield; Gideon, b. Oct. 12, 1741, not named in will, 1779; chil, by wife Keziah: Mary, 21, b. Oct. 10, 1744, m. John Hunt, jr.. of Mansfield; (19) Solomon, b. April 12, 1746; by wife Bathsheba: John, b. March 8, 1747-8, m. Dorothy Bugbee, April 27, 1768, and had John, b. April 4, 1769, probably m. Lydia Walcott, of Windham, Feb. 3, 1791, and had Timothy, b. Oct. 14, 1771; Samuel, 1st, b, Oct. 2, 1749, d. y.; Bathsheba, b. Feb. 22, 1750-51, not named in will; Elijah, b. in Ashford, July 7, 1753, m, Ruth Balch, dau. of Jonathan, Nov. 4, 1772, and had child b. Dec. 15, 1773, d. next day; Samuel, 2d, b, Jan. 7, 1755, m. probably Miriam Hall, dau. of Ephraim, April 11, 1775, and had Rachael, b. Feb. 10, 1776; Shubael, b. Feb. 20,1778, m. Polly Hartshorn, Sept. 17, 1797, (had Daniel, b. July 14, 1798, Charles, b. June 16, 1800, m. and lives in Mansfield, Emily, b. Nov. 5, 1806,) Hannah, b. Feb. 22, 1780; Nathan, b. Nov. 21, 1756; William, b. April 14, 1758, m. Lydia Hall, dau. of Thomas, June 5, 1777, and had Elijah, b. Feb. 20, 1779; Jerusha, b. Jan. 3, 1761; Eunice, b. May 12, 1765; Ezra, named in will as infirm, not able to take care of himself.

     13. SOLOMON ABBE settled first in Windham, but after 1760, removed to Mansfield, where he died. He m., 1st, Sarah Knight, June 17, 1751; she d. July 25, 1797; m., 2d, wid. Elizabeth Burnham, May 3, 1798. He d. 1799; his wife survived him. Chil. by 1st wife: Joseph, b. April 6, 1752; d. Sept. 6, 1754; Sarah, 1st, b. Jan. 26, 1754; d. Sept. 12, 1754; Sarah, 2d, b. Aug. 9, 1755, m, Andrew Hartshorn; Lydia, b. July 6, 1757, m. David Allen; male child, b. Aug. 29, 1759; d. Aug. 30, 1759; male child, b. Aug. 12, 1760, d. same day; Phebe, b. in Mansfield, Oct. 1, 1701, m.