Stephen Clayson or McClay and Elizabeth Periment

My father's seventh great grandparents are Stephen Clayson and Elizabeth Periment of Stamford, Connecticut. Tradition says that Stephen was Scots and his original name was McClay. He and his brother Williams fled to France because of Cromwell, perhaps survivors of the battle of Worcester. There they changed their name to Clayson (the meaning of McClay and Clayson is both the son of Clay). William eventually returned to Scotland, but Stephen came to Stamford and settled there. He married Elizabeth Periment 11 Nov 1654. Her originals are unknown. There are possible links to the Pennoyer family, but this has not been proven.

Stephen died sometime after 1699/1700. He left a will where he left his estate to son Samuel, his wife while a widow, sons Stephen and David, daughter Elizabeth, wife of Francis Dann, grandson Stephen, son of Jonathan and sister Sarah. My dad descends from his son David and his wife Mary Hardy.

Elizabeth Periment Clayson is more well known because she was accused of witchcraft. Sgt Daniel Westcott said she had bewitched his servant girl and a bill was found by the Grand Jury. The water test was applied and she floated like a cork when put in water bound hand and foot. A lot of stupid testimony was taken but her neighbors gave testimony in her favor and the Petit Jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. She was tried with Mercy Hollingsworth Disbrow who is the stepdaughter of my tenth great grandfather on my mother's side. Apparently, she also survived the trial, unlike those in Salem where a witch hunt was also going on in Sept 1692.

General Benjamin Mooers

Although my son, Ben, was not named after this ancestor and our last name is not quite the same, I've always felt an affinity to General Benjamin Mooers. He is the fifth great uncle of my mother-in-law, Connie. His brother Jonathan Mooers married Elizabeth Gage and Connie is descended from this line.

 General Ben was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on 1 Apr 1758, son of Benjamin Mooers and Abigail Hazen. He entered the Revolutionary Army in June, 1776 as a private in the militia. In March, 1778 he was promoted to Ensign and by 1780 he was Lieutenant and Adjutant of the Regiment. He had participated in most of the important battles of the Revolution including Ticonderoga, Saratoga, White Plains, and he was at Yorktown when General Cornwallis surrendered.

After the war he moved to Clinton County, New York and settled in Plattsburg. He was elected to the state legislature and was appointed an Elector to choose the President and Vice-President. He stayed in the state militia and was eventually promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1811 he was promoted to Major General and commanded the state militia at the battle of Plattsburg on Sept. 11, 1814 in the War of 1812 against the British. He commanded a total of six brigades extending from Franklin to Albany counties.

He died 20 Jan 1838 and is buried in Plattsburgh, New York. His house still stands in Plattsburgh and a cannonball that came in through an open door and lodged in the wall still shows today.

John Meigs and wife Thomazine Frye Meigs of New Haven

On my Grandfather Fairchild's side, my 10th great grandfather is John Meigs or Meggs of Guilford and New Haven, Connecticut. He is the son of Vincent Meigs who came with his family from Dorset/Devon, England in 1639 to Connecticut and settled in the New Haven area. John married Thomasine Frye.

John is famous because on the night of May 12, 1661 he rode from Guilford to New Haven to warn the regicides Whalley and Goffe who were hiding at Rev. Davenport's that agents of the King were on the way to arrest them. Whalley and Goffe had been among Cromwell's men who sentenced King Charles I to death. Once Charles II ascended the throne, he planned revenge on the men who had had his father beheaded.

John Meigs supposedly helped them hid in Judges Cave on West Rock where they escaped justice. There is a plaque there to commemorate the occasion.

His daughter Elizabeth married Richard Hubbell through which the line descends to the Glover family in Newtown, then to the Fairchilds.

Edward Gove of Gove's Rebellion

On my son's paternal side through his mother's Fitz/Dearborn side we have Edward Gove. He was born in London, England but came to New England as part of the Great Migration. He came to Salisbury, Massachusetts where he married Hannah Partridge and became a large land owner.

He moved to the new Province of New Hampshire (Hampton) where eventually he, along with many others, came into dispute with Edward Cranfield, the new Governor of the province. Cranfield was greedy and corrupt.

From the Lane Memorial Library website - By 1683 Gove was a person of considerable property, lieutenant of the military company and somewhat popular, and as Randolph, an English devotee of Mason, affirmed, "a leading-man and a great stickler in the late proceedings of the assembly." He resolved, almost singlehanded, to redress his own and others grievances. "He makes it his business," said Randolph, "to stir the people up to rebellion, by giving out that the governor as vice-admiral acted under the commission of his royal highness, the Duke of York, afterwards James II, who was a Papist and would bring Popery among them; that the governor was a pretender and his commission was signed in Scotland. He endeavored, with a great deal of pains to make a party, solicited many of the considerable persons in each town to join with him to secure their liberties. Gove declared "that his sword was drawn, and the he would not lay it down till he knew who should hold the government." The governor, having received information of his movements, immediately sent messengers to Hampton and Exeter with warrants for the constables, requesting them to arrest Gove, but fearing this show of opposition and that Gove's party might become too strong for the civil power, he forthwith ordered the militia of the whole province to be in readiness.

Gove undoubtedly expected that when his arrest was attempted, there would be resistance and then a general uprising. At first he eluded and repulsed the marshall (who was a local man) and others who attempted to arrest him in Hampton, and hastened to his men at Exeter. He suddenly returned to Hampton Jan. 27, 1683, with twelve men, all being mounted, and nearly all being of Hampton, armed with swords, pistols and guns, a trumpet sounding, and with his sword drawn, riding at their head. They entered the town and Gove, seeing no demonstration in his favor at his appearance, lay down his arms and gave himself up to the authorities of the town, as did the others. They were taken into custody by the militia, except the trumpeter, who escaped. They were imprisoned and heavily ironed. When Governor Cranfield was informed of the arrests, he was mounting his horse to lead a part of the troops in pursuit of Gove and his party.

Edward Gove was the only one who's arrest for high treason was permanent. He was eventually sent to the Tower of London in England to be hanged, drawn and quartered. He stayed there for about 3 years but was eventually pardoned by King James II and sent back to New England. He died in Hampton in 1691.

William Hamilton, first whale killer

William Hamilton is my 8th great grandfather on my Grandma Fairchild's side. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland and came to Massachusetts around 1668. He is famous for being the first person to kill a whale while living on Cape Cod. Being persecuted for killing the whale, by the inhabitants of the Cape, as one who dealt with evil spirits.'" In a slightly different rendition of the story, told by historian Gertrude Wickham, William's family was "driven away as witches." He moved to Rhode Island where he married Mercy or Lucy Berry. In their old age they came to Danbury, Connecticut where he died in 1749 at the advanced age of 103. Supposedly he died in his chair at the home of his son-in-law, Thomas Benedict.

Ragnor Lodbrok - a fun but not necessarily accurate ancestry

This week was the Season 2 finale of History Channel's The Vikings. An interesting take is http://www.academieduello.com/news-blog/facts-foibles-history-channels-series-vikings/  There is a descent through the Chellis family (my mother-in-law's maternal side) that has Ragnor Lodbrok as my boys 34th great grandfather through his son Sigurd Snogoje or Snake-in-the-Eye, as the show calls him. He is named this because his iris has the image of a snake encircling his pupil.

While Ragnor may be a composite of various Nordic rulers, Sigurd was a real person, along with the other sons, as told in Ragnarssona battr, The Tale of Ragnor's sons, After Ragnor's death, his sons took revenge but I don't want to give away any spoilers for the show. Ragnarssona þáttr informs that when his father died, he inherited Zealand, Scania, Halland, the Danish islands, and Viken. He married Blaeja, the daughter of king Ælla of Northumbria and they had the children Harthacanute and Aslaug, who was named after her grandmother Aslaug.

Could Viking blood explain the red hair on the Chellis side?

An 1857 painting by August Malmström depicting
King Aella's messenger before Ragnar Lodbrok's sons.

 I've been watching the new TV show, Turn, on AMC that tells the story of the Culver Spy Ring. This was a group of spies based out of Fairfield, Connecticut and run by Benjamin Tallmadge that worked with others, Abraham Woodhull (played by Jamie Bell on the show) that were based in Long Island and passed information about troop movements, etc. The show is beautifully filmed (though in Virginia, not New England) and I've found it really interesting.

My family has tenuous links to the Culver Spy Ring through my mother's grandfather, Frank Garfield Beers, who was descended  from Andrew Eliot, D.D. through his daughter Sarah, who married Joseph Squires of Fairfield. The Squire descendents eventually married into the Beers family.
Andrew Eliot D.D. was the pastor of the New North Church in Boston and was one of the few ministers who remained in the city during the Revolutionary War (the letters shown were sent to his son describing the seige).

His son and Sarah's brother, also named Andrew, was minister of the Congregational Church in Fairfield, Connecticut. There are a series of letters written from the younger Andrew to his father that refer to the spy activities going on in Fairfield at the time. A book called Missing Links to the Culper Spy Ring by Bernadette Fawcett details the letters and shows how involved the Eliots were in the spy ring.

As I said, the TV show is excellent and I heartily recommend it to lovers of American history.

James Maxwell and Susan Austin of Nova Scotia

A brick wall on the Moore side is James Maxwell, husband of Susan Austin and father of Susan Maxwell who married Charles Henry Howe. I just found James and Susan's marriage certificate in the Nova Scotia Archives. Witnesses were James Maxwell (father?) and Alexander Wallace. It's just a tiny step closer to finding more about James. He died before 1846 when his wife and children migrated to Braintree, Massachusetts.

Susan Austen Maxwell was the daughter of Thomas Austen, a Nova Scotia merchant and his wife, Elizabeth Letson. The Austen's originally came from Cork, Ireland. Elizabeth's father, Robert, was a Loyalist emigre who came to Nova Scotia from New York during the Revolutionary War.

Charles Henry Howe

Charles Henry Howe was employed by the B&M Railroad as a machinist. When his two sons, Charles Herbert and Frank Emmons were aged 3 and 1, their mother, Susan passed away. Their father remarried in 1867 to Lucy Sarah Brown, but apparently the new family didn't have room for Susan's two sons.  In 1870 the  two boys were living with their Howe grandparents in Ipswich.

Susan Maxwell

I've always love this picture of Susan Maxwell. She is so sweet and I find it so sad that she died so young, only 24 years old. I think she would have been sad to leave her babies. The younger son, Frank, became a farmer in Ipswich. The older son, Charles Henry, the Moore line ancestor went to Dartmouth College and became the principal of Wakefield High School in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

Abram Williams,

Abram Williams is the farthest back I've gotten on my Williams line. However, thanks to a cousin Pauline who contacted me with handwritten notes from her great-grandmother, I've gotten some new information. Abram was married to Sarah Cronk or Cronkhite and he had a brother, Thomas, who married Sarah's sister Rachel. To make it very Lannister-like, Thomas's son, Solomon, married his cousin, Abram's daughter, Rachel. Whew!
Our line actually comes down from Abram and Sarah (Cronk) Williams thru their son Squire (he's mentioned in the document that Minnie (Solomon and Rachel's daughter) wrote and passed down to Pauline.
The Williams line still ends with Abram and Thomas, but there's a Francis mixed in there also who moved to Indiana (DNA matches with our line).
Sarah Cronk or Cronkhite's line goes much further back to the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam and on her great-great-grandmother's side to Captain John Conklin who came from New Haven and settled the town of Southold, Long Island. He was originally from Nottingham, England and his line can be traced back even further.

John Concklyne's heavy flat-topped tomb at Southold is in an excellent state of preservation. It's inscription reads: "Here Lyeth the Body of Captain John Conkelyne borne in Nottinghamshire in England who departed this life the Sext Day of April att Southold on Long Island in the Sixty fourth year of his age. Anno Dom 1694."

Sophia Cowling Bailey, wife of John Bailey

Sophia Cowling has long been one of my brickwalls. She is the mother of Calista Bailey, who was the wife of Richard Williams, my father's great-grandparents. All I knew was that her mother's name was Peggy and that she is buried with most of her family in the Methodist Cemetery in Brewster. There was a David Cowling and a G.W.Cowling buried near John Bailey's parents, but I couldn't find a connection.

Recently, I was able to find out that David Cowling's wife's name was Margeret (or Peggy). Using this information I was able to determine that David was Sophia Cowling's father. I still don't know who G.W. Cowling is, but I'm working on it.

Apparently, only in Putnam county is the name spelled Cowling. David was probably born in Barnstable, Mass. as David Cowen or MacCowen, the son of James MacCowen and Priscilla Robbins. James MacCowen was Scottish and married Priscilla, from an old Barnstable family, in 1736. 

Priscilla was the daughter of Samuel Robbins and Desire Chase. On her father's side she goes back to the early settlers of Cape Cod. On her mother's side she goes back to illustrious Quakers, including the Rev Francis Marbury. Priscilla is descended from his daughter, Katherine, who married Richard Scott, who were adherents of Roger Williams and settled Rhode Island. Katherine's sister, Anne Hutchinson, is more famous as she was put on trial as a Quaker by the Massachusetts Colony. Eventually, she moved to New Amsterdam with her family where she and most of her family were killed by Indians. The Hutchinson Parkway is named after her.

The Marbury family tree is well documented and goes back to William the Conqueror.

William Henry Chellis - updated with new son

HENRY WILLIAM CHELLIS was born on 15 Mar 1838 in Goshen, Sullivan, New Hampshire. He was the son of William and Nancy (Bartlett) Chellis. By 1860

he was living in Windham, New Hampshire and working as a shoemaker.

He married HELEN E FREEMAN, daughter of Daniel H Freeman and Pamelia on 14 Dec 1863 in Lawrence, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He married (1) FRANCES ABIGAIL GUBTAL, daughter of Amos Currier Gubtal and Harriet N Davis on 29 Mar 1871 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States of America. She was born about 1853 in Massachusetts. She died on 18 Nov 1942 in Wakefield, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of America. He married HELEN E FREEMAN, daughter of Daniel H Freeman and Pamelia on 14 Dec 1863 in Lawrence, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of America.

He fought in the Civil War and enlisted in Company I, New Hampshire 13th Infantry Regiment on 20 Sep 1862. He was promoted to Full Corporal on 24 May 1864. He mustered out on 21 Jun 1865 at Richmond, VA.

On his return he and his wife Helen had a son, Arthur F, born about 1866 who died on 5 Mar 1867 of lung congestion, age 9 months. Helen was next pregnant with twin boys who were born 7 Sept 1867 and died on 10th and 13th respectively. Helen died on 12 Sep 1867 in Lawrence, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of America.

By 1870 he was living in Haverhill, Massachusetts and boarding at the home of Harriet Gubtal. Fannie's daughter apparently caught his eye and they married on 29 Mar 1871 in Haverhill. Their daughter Maude Gubtal Chellis was born on 26 Oct 1873 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts. Her sister Bertha Davis Chellis was born 28 Jul 1875 in Haverhill. The youngest sister, Edith Ann, was born on 6 Jun 1884 in Groton, Grafton, New Hampshire where the family had moved.

By 1900 the Chellis family was living in the Greenwood section of Wakefield, Middlesex, Massachusetts where the girls grew up and lived for the rest of their lives.

Henry was respected in town and served as a past commander of the Carleton Post of GAR of Farmington, N.H. He was an attendant at the Congregational Church.

He died on 26 Oct 1925 in 6 Francis Ave, Greenwood, Wakefield, Middlesex, Massachusetts, aged 88 years. He was buried in Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Thomas Betts of Norwalk, Connecticut

Thomas Betts, the son of John and Mary (Bigge) Betts, was born in 1618 at  West Peckham, Kent, England.  He emigrated in 1639 and came to New England.  He married Mary, possibly Mary Raymond, daughter of George Raymond and Jane Aylett.  He was one of the founders of Guilford, Connecticut and given a home lot of an acre and a half in the first division of land, one of the most desirable lots in the town, being situated next to that of the minister. He had also seven other tracts of land containing about fifty acres in 1640 at Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut. He took the freeman's oath on 14 Aug 1645. He sold his "out lands" to Henry Kingsnorth, and three days later he sold his home lot to George Highland on 17 Nov 1657.

  

He lived at Milford, New Haven, Connecticut until 1660. Thomas Betts bought "house and home lot of Ralph Keeler" and Nathaniel Eli on the east side of

the Norwalk river, later selling half of it. He is called a planter circa

1660 at Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut.  He was admitted a freeman and received 

a grant of land on 13 Oct 1664 at Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut.  He was one

of the petitioners for the town pf Wilton, but may have never lived there in 1672.  

He appears in the census as having the largest family in the town in Feb 1672 at Norwalk,

Fairfield, Connecticut. He occupied the "Round seat" in the meeting house. 

  

His name is prominent in certain church controversies. Appealing to the general 

court to decide for them on the location of the new meeting house, they being unable to

settle the matter, the court recommended that they "solemnly commit the

decision of this controversy to the wise dispose of the Most High, by a

lott" in 1678. 

  

He left a will on 4 May 1688; "To all Christian people To

whom these prsents shall come Greetings. I Thomas Betts of ye Towne of

Norwalke: aged seventy years or thereabout beinge by ye hands of God at

prsent infirme and weake of body, yet thro the mercy of ye most High: of

prfect understandinge & memory Doe make appoint manifest & declare this to

bee my last will & Testament. Imprimis I doe Comit my soule into ye hands

of God my Creator that hath made it And my Deare Redeemer Jesus Christ that

hath brought it; And my body I bequeath unto ye Dust from whence it was to

be Decently Interred & buried In hopes of a happy & glorious Resurrection

At ye Last Day, And as for ye Temporall Estate which God hath pleased to

bless mee withall I will & dispose as followeth, vizt. I doe will &

bequeath unto Mary Betts my Dearly beloved wife my now dwelling house (viz)

ye south end thereof, halfe my home lott both plowinge Land & pasture Land

And halfe my orchard with all the Immunities as fences & ye like, And also

half my household goods & at her decease to dispose of all her estate unto

her owne Children & her grandchilde Hannah Camp, also I doe give unto her

one Cow & five pound pr Annum, Dureinge ye terme of her Life, which I doe

appoint my Sons to pay equally, unto her Annually, Also I doe give &

bequeath unto my Son Thomas Betts Besides what I have heretofore given him,

my meadow which lies at Charles Creeke, Also all yt my meadow which I have

Lyinge at Sacatock River, also a third pte of my Land at [primpawalke?], As

also pte of my Lot at Calfe pasture from ye Lott of John Beldin, on ye west

side of ye Cart path, to ye narrow of ye Lands betweene ye path & ye

Creeke. Also I doe give & bequeath unto my Son John Betts my second

homelott which lyeth upon Dryhill, Allso my pine hill Lott, which Lyeth

betweene two Lotts of John Bouton Senr. Also my Cove Lott Lyinge betweene

Richard Holmes & Christopher Comstock And my meadow at Rocky Springe. Allso

I doe give and bequeath unto my son Daniell Betts ye rest of my Calfe

pasture Lot not Given to Thomas Betts, also one third pte of my Land at

primpawalke, also my second division of meadow on ye other side of norwalke

river. Allso I doe give and bequeath unto my Sonn Samuel Betts one halfe

halfe of my Gratuety Lott, also my second Division of Six Acres to ye

hundred: also my pasture Lott, also my meadow which Lyeth betweene ye home

lott of Samuel Reeber & ye Cove also a third pte of my Land at primpawalke.

Allso I give & bequeath unto my Son James Betts ye other halfe of my now

dwellinge house & halfe my homelott arrable & pasture Land, also halfe my

orchard not given to my wife also my first Division of meadow on ye other

side of Norwalke river, also all my Land neare Strong Brooke, also halfe my

gratuity Lott, also my Lotts at Sacetock Brooke Lyinge on both ends of

mathias Sention Senr Lott, also one acre & halfe of my Land Lying neare ye

boggy meadow brooke. Also I doe appoint my five sons Thomas John Daniell

Samuel & James to pay to my dearly beloved wife twenty shillings a peice pr

Annum dureinge her widdowhood And also I doe appoint my sons all of them to

provide for & winter my wives Cow & any young Cattle yt shee may have. Also

I doe give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary ye wife of John Raymond ten

pounds besides what I have given her: which I doe give to her children,

Shee to have ye improvement of it dureinge her life, & at her decease to

returne to her Children. Also I doe will & bequeath unto my daughter Sarah

Betts yt other halfe of my household goods, & ten pounds to bee paid her in

Currant Country pay. Also I doe will & bequeath unto my five sons all my

twenty acres to ye hundred & estate of commonadge equally to bee divided.

Allso I doe make & appoint my dearly beloved wife my whole & sole Executrix

& [administratrix?] of this my last will & Testament and I doe Request my

friends James olmsted & John olmstead to be ye overseers of this my will to

assist & advise in ye distributing. In Confirmation of ye prmises I have

set to my hand & seale this tenth day of may in ye yeare of our Lord one

thousand six hundred eighty & eight And in ye fourth yeare of our Soverain

Lord ye King James ye Second."

  

He died in 1688; aged seventy years.  His estate was inventoried on

4 Dec 1688; The inventory of the estate, dated 4 December 1688, included: 

"Impprimus one pre of oxen, one Cow & 2 heifers, 2

Calfs one horse, two swine 5 pigs, four Beds with ye Coveringe, 3 Boulsters

pillows & pillow Cases, five pre of sheets & other Linen, wearinge Clothes,

one great brass kettle & 2 kettles & one skillet, two iron potts & one Iron

[Betle?], one warminge pan 2 frying pans, pewter & Spoons, woollen yarne &

flax, Cart Irons Hows [?] [Luispins?] [?] & pin, plow irons & chaines,

wedges & [Betle?] rings & one Ax 3 Augres hand saw, one Tramell Tongs

[fireshise?] bellows, Six bags 3 Candlesticks, one Table one Chest 3 boxes

& Books, 30 bushell of wheate 60 bush of Indian, 12 bushell of pease 8

bushells of oates, Hows Lumber Barrellls & Casks." The total was £45.05.06.

  

Thomas Betts is my 8th great grandfather on my grandmother Martha Fairchild's 

side throught his son James who married Hannah Bouton.

John Blunt, Revolutionary War soldier

Battle of Bunker Hill

John Blunt was born on 31 Jan 1756 at Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, the son of Isaac Blunt and his wife, Mary Abbott.  He was at the battle of Bunker Hill on 17 Jun 1775.  He enlisted in military service on 30 Sep 1777 in Capt John Abbott's company that went to Ticonderoga. He was at the surrender of Burgoyne.  He ended military service on 6 Nov 1777.  He married Sarah Eames, daughter of Caleb Eames and Mary Harvey, on 26 Oct 1780 at Wilmington, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

 He and Sarah Eames moved circa 1789 to Amherst, Hillsborough, New Hampshire. He died on 27 Nov 1836 at Amherst, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, at age 80.  From a letter for Sarah's pension application, signed by citizens of Amherst, "we have never heard their characters impeached but know that they were honest, respectable persons esteemed by all their neighbors and acquaintances, and that entire truth may be placed in their truth and veracity" on 6 Apr 1854.

Their son Ainsworth Emery Blunt was a Congregational missionary who moved to Dalton, Georgia to preach to the Cherokee. He went with them on the Trail of Tears. My mother-in-law,

Connie, is descended from John Blunt through his oldest daughter, Sally, who married Daniel Howe.

letter from pension file

Pension Application

Rhoda Glover Fairchild

Rhoda Glover was born on 25 Feb 1769 at Newtown, Fairfield,

Connecticut, the daughter of Henry Glover and Ann Sanford. The family home was

across from what is now old Town Hall on Main Street.

She married Joseph Fairchild Jr,

son of Joseph Fairchild and Mary Botsford, on 8 Sep 1793 at

Huntington Congregational Church, Huntington, Fairfield, Connecticut.

She and Joseph Fairchild Jr appeared on the census of 1800

at Huntington, Fairfield, Connecticut. They appeared on the census of 1810 at Sherman,

Fairfield, Connecticut.

They received a receipt of heirs for Rhoda and Joseph Fairchild from her father's

bequest on 8 Mar 1815. They are identified in the codicil to Henry Glover's will.

They appeared on the census of 1820 at Roxbury, Litchfield, Connecticut. Joseph died

30 Sep 1829 at Roxbury.

They had four children together: Sally baptized 8 Sep 1793, Glover (our ancestor) baptized 31 Jul 1796

in Huntington, Anna baptized 26 Jul 1801 in Huntington, and Mary Ann.

Rhoda moved west with her daughter Anna who had married Samuel Weller. The last we know of her

is that she appeared on the census of 1850 in the household of Samuel

Sherman Weller at Orange, Cuyahoga, Ohio.

Her son Glover is my 4th great grandfather. He settled in Roxbury and Sherman and married Anna Beardsley.

Richest 20 people of all time

Henry, Duke of Lancaster; John of Gaunt; Richard FitzAlan; William de Warenne; and William the Conqueror are all our ancestors. Shouldn't some of their wealth have trickled down?

http://www.businessinsider.com/richest-people-of-all-time-2011-1?op=1

(Pictures are Carrie's home on Woodcreek Rd, Carrie and her third husband, Alonzo, and Carrie and her mother, Clarinda Wildman Durga).

Carrie Jane Durgy was born on 5 Apr 1865 at New Fairfield, Fairfield,

Connecticut, the daughter of John J Durgy (or Durga) and Clarinda L Wildman.

She married Elmer E Pearce, son of Alvah and Anna B Pearce, before 1883. They had

a daughter, Anna Clarinda Pearce. He died 20 Jul 1898 when he drowned in Ball's Pond, New Fairfield.

She married Ezra Norris Ballard, son of Ezra N Ballard and Mary Corbin, before 1900. She and Ezra appeared on the census of 1900 at New Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut. They had a son, Norris Ezra Ballard. Ezra died before 1905.

She married Alonzo Merritt Fairchild, son of George

Joseph Fairchild and Mary Ann Stevens, on 29 Jul 1905 at

Patterson, Putnam, New York. They had a son, John Alpheus Fairchild (my grandfather).

She and Alonzo appeared on the census of 1910 at New Fairfield,

Fairfield, Connecticut. He died 13 April 1916.

She purchased around 9 Oct 1918 the farmhouse at Woodcreek Road, New Fairfield.

She and her son, John, Henry Wildman, accompanied by Walter Knapp and family of

Danbury recently returned from a long motor trip on 11 Sep 1925.

In March 1926 Mrs Carrie Fairchild who had the misfortune

to fracture her wrist recently when she slipped on the ice is still unable

to do her work. Miss Mamie Rowley is assisting her.

She witnessed the marriage of John Alpheus Fairchild and Martha Post on 9 Oct

1927 at New Fairfield. Soon after Mr. and Mrs. John Fairchild, who were but recently

married were given a surprise variety shower at the home of Mrs. Carrie

Fairchild, Wednesday evening by over 20 relatives and friends. The evening

was spent in playing cards after which delicious refreshments were served.

The bride received many beautiful and useful gifts. The guests included Mr.

and Mrs. Walter Knapp, Miss Frances Knapp, Mr and Mrs. Rudolph Baker and

Aiken Lee of Danbury, Mr and Mrs Harry Gardner and family, Mrs Hannah

Rowley, Miss Mamie Rowley, Mss Ada Benedict, Mr and Mrs Norris Ballard,

Miss Jennie Post and Eugene Post.

She appeared on the census of 1930 at New Fairfield. She died on

12 Feb 1934 at New Fairfield at age 68. She was buried at Mountain View Cemetery, New

Fairfield with her third husband, Alonzo Fairchild.

Luther and Elizabeth Hazelton Fitz

Luther Fitz was born on 13 Jan 1819 at Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire, the son of Captain Benjamin Fitts (or Fitz) and Susannah Dearborn. He taught school for a

time in Chester. He married Elizabeth French Hazelton, daughter of Josiah Hazelton

and Sarah Emerson, on 22 May 1845 at Chester, Rockingham, New

Hampshire.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, appeared on the census of 1850 at Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, where he was teaching school, as well as his daughters Elizabeth and Helen (who died young).

He and Elizabeth appeared on the census of 1860 at Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire,

with his daughters, Elizabeth, Ella, Mary and Josephine (another daughter, Henrietta, also died young).

He was a successful farmer. He was taxed for a carriage in 1866 at Chester. He and Elizabeth

appeared on the census of 1870 at Chester, with their daughters Ella, Mary, Josie, and the youngest, Isabelle.

Luther's barn was hit by lightning on 18 Aug 1875 at Chester. He

died on 13 Mar 1877 at Chester at age 58. His wife, Elizabeth, died in Faribault, Minnesota, where she was visiting

her daughter, Ella.

They are both buried at Chester Village Cemetery, Chester,

Rockingham, New Hampshire.

They are my mother-in-law Connie's great grandparents.

On Memorial Day I'd like to remember my great uncle, George Fairchild. He was the first soldier

from Danbury to die in World War I.

George Alonzo Fairchild was born circa 1895, the son of Alonzo Merritt Fairchild and Elizabeth R Meeker.

He appeared on the census of 1910 in the household of Alonzo

Merritt Fairchild and Carrie Jane Durgy, Alonzo's second wife at New Fairfield,

Fairfield, Connecticut, United States of America. George Fairchild, son

of Alonzo Fairchild, has entered the United States navy and later enlisted in the United States Army.

His military record follows:

Fairchild, George A.

Ind NA Danbury, Conn. Sept 7/17. Br Bridgeport, Conn. 23 2/12 yrs. Co M 304

Inf to Sept 19/17; Co E 102 Inf to death. Pvt Sept 7/17; Pvt lcl Feb 1/18.

Chanegnow; Seicheprey. AEF Sept 22/17 to death. KIA Ar 20/18. Notified Mrs.

Alpheus B. Durgy, Aunt, RFD 6, Danbury, Conn on 20 Apr 1918. He was buried

at Cypress Hills National Cemetery, 625 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, Kings,

New York, United States of America.

From the Danbury NewsTimes

Geo. Fairchild First to Die

New Fairfield Man loses life in Battle on French Front

May 2, 1918 - George C. Fairchild of New Fairfield, one of the first

selective service men from this district to enter the army, was killed in

action on the western front of France, on April 20, 1918. A telegram from

the war department at Washington, received by his relatives in this city

last evening, brought first news of the young soldier's death.

Mr. Fairchild, who was a private in the 102d infantry, was the first man

from this exemption district to lose his life in battle. While not actually

a Danburian, a portion of his boyhood was spent in this city, and he had

many friends and acquaintances here.

George C. Fairchild was twenty four years old and was born in Bridgeport.

He came to Danbury with his parents when about ten years old and attended

New Street School. After the death of his mother his father re-married and

the family moved to New Fairfield. When he was seventeen years old he

joined the navy, serving an enlistment of four years, and receiving

honorable discharge. He is highly spoken of by his friends and

acquaintances.

The message from the war department was addressed to Mrs. Alpheus Durgy a

sister of the young man's step-mother whom he had looked up as his guilding

hand. It was signed by M. C. Cain adjutant general and read as follows:

"Deeply regret to inform you that Private George Fairchild, infantry, is

officially reported as killed in action, April 20."

While there is no present means of obtaining further information in regard

to the death of Private George Fairchild, it is assumed that he was killed

in the vicinity of Seichepry, where the 102d is understood to have taken

part in a furious battle that Captain Locke of Hartford, commander of

Company M. of the same regiment whose death was reported on Wednesday, was

killed.

The 102d infantry is the former First Connecticut infantry, in which there

are several Danbury men and scores who have relatives or acquaintances

here.

Private Fairchild went from this city to Camp Devens, at Ayer Mass. After

he was selected for service and with Cornelius J. Culhane and Arthur Crest

of this city, was transferred to New Haven with a detachment of men to

become members of the 102d. They started for Europe last fall but a mishap

to the boat on which they sailed made it necessary for them to return to

the port at which they embarked. They were sent to Fort Totten where they

remained two weeks, sailed for France at the expiration of that time.

During the time of his stay at Fort Totten Private Fairchild was given a

nine day leave of absence, which he spent at the home of his sister, Mrs.

R.F.Baker, of 37 Stevens St. of the city.

A brother of Private Fairchild, Eli K. Fairchild, has served eight years in

the navy and is now an instructor in the nautical school in Brooklyn. Mr.

Fairchild is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Baker of this city and Mrs.

Benjamin Segur of Kent and a half brother, John Fairchild of New Fairfield.

Mrs. Joseph Hamilton of George St. and Mrs. John Sherman of 74 Balmforth

Ave. are the aunts of the young man. John Fairchild of Branchville and

William Fairchild of New Fairfield are uncles.

An interesting letter written by Private Fairchild to his sister, Mrs.

Baker, under the date of April 18 was received by the News yesterday before

news of the young man's death arrived and was prepared for publication

today. This letter which now has unusual interest was written only two days

before Private Fairchild's death.

Dated "Somewhere in France," the letter reads as follows:

"I am writing to let you know that I feel o.k. as well as the rest of the

boys who left Camp Ayers with me. That is, the Danbury boys, Connie Culhane

and Artur Cresci. We have been here almost six months and during that time

have seen some lively times.

"I have heard that in an article in the Danbury News they stated that the

Danbury boys were in a very heated argument with Fritz, mentioning the

names of Connie Culhane and others, but not Cresci and myself. Now I want

to say that we three have been together since leaving Ayer. Cresci and I

are in the same company, "Galloping" Company E. and Culhane is in Company

F. You can just bet that this war is not all gravy for the allies. But

before it is over, Heinie will have to turn over the whole of Germany to

the allies in payment for the damages he has done.

"But he still insists upon keeping us just so uneasy. We are in back of the

firing line, on reserve, after having done our third bit in the front

lines. Only last night just as we had nicely settled, Heinie had to start

in shelling us to disturb our slumber and believe me he came very near

doing so. But the old reliable American artillery just opened upon on him

and he shut up like a clam.

"I have not seen a Danbury newspaper since I have been here, so I do not

know very much about what is going on in the old Hat Town. When a fellow is

in the front line trench and he is expecting something to happen every

minute, no, every second, for it takes the short end of a second for the

fireworks to commence, he doesn't fee any too good.

"I am writing this in the Y.M.C.A. which is our only place of amusement. A

great deal of praise is due them for their good work but tobacco is our

greatest need at this stage of the game. Well, anyhow, I expect to see all

the folks once more very soon, perhaps a year and a half.

"Culhane, Cresci and myself would be tickled to death to receive the

Danbury News, even if you can only send the weekly. It can be sent to any

one of us and we can pass it around. You know on the 15th of March it will

be six months that we are in the world's war and we want to know something

about our home town.

"Will close now with love to all and my regards to good old Danbury. Also,

tell the Danbury people that her boys over here are among the best and I

will tell the kaiser that he had better watch out as there are more Danbury

boys coming.

"P.S. Watech the papers for news about the New England troops and you can

tell when we are in the fight" on 2 May 1918 at Danbury, Fairfield,

Connecticut, United States of America.

The family received the following letter:

In Memory Of

Private 1st Class George A. Fairchild Co E 102nd Infantry who was killed in

battle April 20th 1918. He bravely laid down his life for the cause of his

country. His name wll ever remain fresh in the hearts of his friends and

comrades. The record of his honorable service will be preserved in the

archives of the American Expeditionary Forces.

John J Pershing

Commander-in-chief on 20 Apr 1918.

Nancy Williams Moore