FATHER

Elihu Moulthrop

MOTHER

Mary Hotchkiss

WIFE

1st Hester Beecher

      d. 09 Mar 1795 Wolcott, CT

          The Families of Ancient New Haven by Donald Lines Jacobus pg 1239 gives as source of death "Graveyard, Wolcott"

         Ancient Burying Grounds of the town of Waterbury by Katharine Prichard, 1917 lists under Wolcott Deaths, "Moulthrop, Mrs. Hester, wife of Jerry, d. March 9, 1795, aged 21 yrs.

2nd Sarah Upson

       b. 23 Oct 1772

       Sarah is listed in the Bible Record

       d. 20 Aug 1853 Twinsburg, Summit Co., OH

CHILDREN with Hester Beecher

1. Hester B Moulthrop b. Abt. 1791

CHILDREN with Sarah Upson

1. Newell Molthrop b. 1798

2. Fanny Moulthrop b. 1801

3. Isabinda Moulthrop b. 1804

4. Jerry Truxton Molthrop b. 1806

Biography of Jerry Moulthrop

by Susan Brooke

July 2014

According to the bible record kept by his daughter Fanny, Jerry Moulthrop was born April 27, 1771 in East Haven, New Haven, CT, the oldest of five children. (1) His father, Elihu Moulthrop who had fought in the Revolution, died at sea in 1782 when Jerry was just eleven. (2)  His mother, then widowed with five young children to raise, the youngest just under two, remarried a couple of years later to Charles Upson, an influential and wealthy citizen of Wolcott. A year after her remarriage his mother, Mary Hotchkiss Moulthrop Upson, joined the church in Wolcott on July 3, 1785 and had her five children baptized July 7, 1785. (3) Jerry was fourteen. The following July he received his share of his father's estate, 90 rods of land valued at £6.12.8. (4)
He married Hester Beecher at the age of twenty-three in the Congregational Church of Wolcott and had a daughter, Hester. (5) He donated 12 shillings for the hire of a new minister and then Hester died, probably in childbirth, only a year after their marriage, leaving him with an infant daughter to raise. He married in the church a few months later to Sarah Upson, first cousin to his step-father, Charles Upson. (6) He and Sarah had four children within a ten year span, the last being born in October 1808.
Jerry and Sarah seem to have been living in Bristol, the same place of residence as Sarah's father, Asa Upson.  However, even though they were married with two young children, Jerry and Sarah are not to be found in the 1800 census records.  Nor were they living with Sarah's father.  However, Jerry signed a petition to allow Abel Lewis to open a "tavern or house of public entertainment" in Bristol on May 8, 1802. His signature can be seen on the petition below. (7)  In 1804 he was listed in the tax records for Bristol as a carpenter. (8)
Jerry was in the records, purchasing and speculating in land. (9) Four months after his marriage to Sarah he purchased land bordering "sd Moulthrop"  On March 1, 1798 he purchased an acre of land in Wolcott with a dwelling house.  They seem to have been living in Bristol even though they were purchasing land in Wolcott. He may have lost some money when Bani Fishop filed for bankruptcy in 1800.  Jerry is listed as one of the creditors. (10)
Then Sarah's father died in 1807 leaving her one 1/5th of the household furniture as mentioned in his will.  She inherited a little under $300.00. The distribution of her father's estate was made Jan 12, 1808. In March of 1808 when there was much land speculation in Wolcott due to the rumor of a potential turnpike, Jerry and Sarah together sold 1 acre of land with dwelling house for $180 to Isaac Upson with the condition that they could buy it back with interest before Jan 1, 1810.  Then, even though he had not repurchased his dwelling house and Sarah was pregnant with a fourth child, three days before the birth of that child on October 19, 1808 a Jerry Moulthrop, no age or city listed, enlisted in the 4th US Infantry under Captain Adams for 5 years. (11) The company was organized near Concord MA.  The 4th Infantry was ambushed at Maguage, fourteen miles below Detroit, by a superior force of British, Canadians, and Indians.  Even though the American regulars captured the enemy's concealed breastworks and wounded Tecumseh, General Hull surrendered his entire force on August 16, 1812 to include the Fourth led by Captain Cook.  For this General Hull was found guilty of cowardness.  The soldiers were taken to Canada as prisoners of war.  A Jerry Moulthrop was thus held as a prisoner of war in Quebec for four months.  He was returned to America from Quebec on December 20, 1812 with the 4th Regt. Infantry. (12) There was another "Jared" Moulthrop in East Haven at that time.  He married an Ann Byington on 18 Feb. 1817 in East Haven.  However all records referring to him have his name as Jared, and a Jared Moulthrop is listed as serving in the War of 1812 in the 1st Reg.t in Brainerd's Reg't., no date given. Jerry Moulthrop always used the name of Jeremiah, Jarey, Jere or Jerry and there is no record for any other Jerry Moulthrop alive at that time.
On Aug 19, 1814 a Jerry Moulthrop enlisted under Capt Boardam.  He was discharged at Burlington June 16, 1815, term expired. (13) On April 28, 1817 Jerry Moulthrop, private, aged 36, enlisted for five years at Sackett's Harbor in the 2nd Infantry under Capt H Shell.  He was born in East Haven, New Haven. He was  5' 10 1/2" tall, gray eyes, fair complected and a carpenter.  The record says he deserted June 10, 1817. (14)Nothing is known about him after that date. A land warrant for 160 acres was issued to him on March 27, 1816.  In 1840 there was a report on the issuance of those land warrants showing that the warrant was never "satisfied."  (15)
Three days after Jerry enlisted in 1808, Sarah gave birth to their fourth child, who she named Jerry, after his father. She had all four of the children baptized as "the children of Jerry Moulthrop on his wife's account" in 1816.  In 1820 she is named as Sarah Moulthrop of Burlington when purchasing land in Wolcott. Her agent was son-in-law, Joseph Neal. By 1827 she was in Southington where her step-daughter Hester, married to Joseph Neal, lived. She was dismissed from the First Congregational Church of Southington on 2 Dec 1827 as Sarah, "wife of Jeremiah Moulthrop," giving us the impression he may have still been alive.
In 1818 his brother-in-law, Saul Upson, moved to Twinsburg, Portage Co., OH .  On April 16, 1818 his daughter, Fanny, married Elijah W. Bronson and they too moved to Twinsburg.  However,  Sarah stayed on in Wolcott.  Sarah did not ask for a leave from the church there until Dec 1827.  Jerry's mother, Mary Jane Hotchkiss Upson, had died on March 30, 1826 and is buried in Wolcott.  However, there is no record of Jerry.
Sarah moved to Twinsburg Ohio in 1828.  She joined the church and there is a record there of her daughters Fanny and Isabinda.  There is also a mention of a Jeremiah Moulthrop as being an original inhabitant of Twinsburg, but that was probably referring to their son, Jerry Truxton Moulthrop who would have been over 21 when Sarah moved.  Sarah was buried in Twinsburg in 1853.

  Sources

(1) Bible Record kept by Fanny Moulthrop Bronson Elijah Bronson, Sr.              May 15, 1756 Lois Moulthrop Bronson     July 7, 1755 Jerry Moulthrop                  April 27, 1771 Sarah Moulthrop                Oct. 23, 1772

Bible of Elijah Bronson

Bible transcribed by DAR

Samuel Delaney

 (2)  History of East Haven by Sarah Eva Hughs, Stephen Dodd, 1908, pg 93  
     DEATHS "1782, Oct 27 Elihu Moulthrop, West India Fever. age 35"

(3)  July 7, 1785  Congregational Church of Wolcott "Jere, Adonijah, Mary, Elihu, Esther, children of Mary, wife of Charles Upson by her former husband."

Baptism of Jere Moulthrop

(4) Hartford, CT Probate records, file 7174 Set out to Jarey Moultrup eldest son 90 Rods of Land in the Home Lot bounded South on the heirs of Jo" Smith Dec'd. East on Highway, West on the widow Hannah Smith's thirds £6 12 8.

Distribution of estate of Elihu W Moulthrop

(5) Marriage of "Jeremiah Moulthrop to Hester Beecher" FHL film 6216 image 31 1794 First Congregational Church of Wolcott Jeremiah Molthrop to Hester Beecher

First Congregational Church of Wolcott Vol 1, pg 4

(6) Marriage of "Jere Moulthrop of Wolcott to Sarah Upson" FHL film 3791 image 241 24 Dec 1795 First Congregational Church of Bristol

Jere Mothop of Wolcott to Sarah Upson First Congregational Church of Bristol Vol 2 pg 246

(7) Petition for Tavern in Bristol Connecticut State Library Reel 198 75 Cs Travel etc. ser 2 1737-1820 VII Doc 73 a.b. Jerry signed a petition to allow Abel Lewis to open a "tavern or house of public entertainment" in Bristol on May 8, 1802.

Signature of Jerry Molthrop petitioning for tavern in Bristol

(8)  Ten generations of the Barnes family in Bristol, Connecticut by Fuller Forbes Barnes, Mrs George W Hull, 1946
pg 46. "It is somewhat puzzling to discover in the assessment list of 1804 that Asahel Barnes was assessed as a joiner and William Thorp, Jerry Moulthrop, and Elias Perkins were set down as carpenters."

(9) Moulthrop Land Records 

(10) Connecticut State Library Archives Reel 75 Cs insolvent Debtors V2 27 a.b.c.
Petition of Bani Bishop of Wolcott showing that he followed the mercantile business & also traded at sea & through payment of debts of an insolvent brother, loss of a vessel, illness & other misfortune he is now unable to pay his debts & praying for liberty to resign his property for benefit of his creditors."
"Beni Bishop of Wolcott" - "complete bankrupt unable to pay his just debts."  court "appoints commissioners to settle his debts" Beni Bishop is "to resign up his property into the hands of such commissioners."  The following people were summoned: William Stevens, Moses Todd, Capt John Hion, Walter Beecher, John Beecher, Abigail Pardee wife of Eliphlet Pardee, Eliphlet Pardee, Jerry Molthrop of Wolcott in New Haven, Elihu Cook of Branford, Rev. John Page. etc."

(12) Release of Prisoners of War A list of Commissioned officers, non commissioned officers, Musicians, Privates who arrived last month in Cartets from Quebec, and who are now guarded at Charlestown, Mass. Dec 20, 1812

( 11) & (13) US Army Register of Enlistments 1798-1914

Jerry Moulthrop, Pvt. 4th U. S. Infantry. Capt. Adams.  Oct. 19,1808 for 5 years. Roll dated 1813. "American prisoners of war paroled and furloughed (BK 666)" Jerry Moulthrop, Pvt. 26th U.S. Inft'y, 5 feet 10 1/2 inches. Gray eyes, Brown hair, Dark complection, age 39, occupation Carpenter, East Haven Conn. R R Hartford, Aug 29 R  31. 1814, at Burlington - Capt. S Boardman Co, Book 1814 - 1815. present Aug 19 R Nov. 1, 1814 to Jan'y 1, 1815 - D. R. Lieut J. Boardman's Co Feb'y 16 R J. R. Feb'y 28 R April 30, 1815. Present. M. R. _ 1815 Disch'd at Burlington, June 16, 1815. term exp'.

(14)  Fold3  Registers of Enlistments in the United States Army 1798-1914 Registers of Enlistments 1815, May 17-1821, Jun 30 I-M page 321

Jerry Moulthrop Pvt 2nd Inft'y, Capt. H. Shell, 5 feet 10 1/2 in tall, grey eyes, dark hair, fair complection, age 36, occupation Carpenter, East Haven, for 5 years. April 1817.  deserted June 10, 1817.

(15)  Google Books "Public Documents printed by order of the Senate of the United States"  Volume II pg 2

There was "information showing the number of soldiers enlisted into the army of the United States, and entitled to bounty land, during the late war with Great Britain, designating those who were entitled to 320 acres, from those who were entitled to 160 acres; also, the number of warrants which have been drawn and satisfied for each of said quantities; also, the number of warrants undrawn and unsatisfied at this time, with the names of the soldiers entitled to receive the same; and how far it may appear from the rolls of the army that they have died in service, or have been discharged honorably, or otherwise."  Under "List of warrants issued for servicer in the late war, not satisfied," we find "Warrant # 3496 Jerry Moulthrop. Discharged."

March 27, 1816 To Jerry Moulthrop, private, 26th inft'y, 160 acres "on any unlocated parts of the six millions of acres appropriated by law for the original grantees of such military warrants; and this warrant is not assignable or transferable in any manner."

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