Gillett, Dolbair, Skinner, Taintor
Mary Gillett, wife of Nathaniel Skinner
Compiled by Judy & Gary Griffin, 2007 - email address
Direct Line
Mary Gillett + Nathaniel Skinner
..... 2 Cynthia Skinner + Oliver Eggleston
........ 3 Zalmon Eggleston + Polly Bundy
............ 4 Charles H. L. Eggleston + Alwilda M. Edwards
…............ 5 Goldie Ellen Eggleston + Bruce Griffin
Proposed Ancestors of Mary Gillett
William Gyllett ca 1574 – 1641 + Habiatha Pye ca 1578 – 1681
… 2 Habiah Gylett ca 1602 –
… 2 Mary Gylett ca 1604 –
… 2 Jonathan Gillett ca
1609 – 1677 + Mary Dolbair 1607 – 1685
…… 3 Jonathan Gillett
1634 – 1697 + Mary Kelsey ca 1634 – 1676
…… 3 Cornelius Gillett ca
1636 – 1711 + Priscilla Kelsey ca 1632 – 1722
…… 3 Mary Gillett ca 1638
– 1719 + Peter Brown/Browne 1632 – 1692
…… 3 Anna/Hannah Gillett
1639 – 1711 + Samuel Filley 1643 – 1711
…… 3 Joseph Gillett bef.
1641 – 1675 + Elizabeth Hawkes 1646 – 1681
…… 3 Samuel Gillett
1642/43 – 1676 + Hannah Dickinson 1648 – aft 1687
…… 3 John Gillett 1644 –
1682 + Mary Barber 1651 – 1725
…… 3 Abigail Gillett ca
1646 – 1648
…… 3 Jeremiah Gillett
1647 – 1692 + Deborah Bartlett 1666 – 1753
…… 3 Josiah Gillett
ca 1650 – 1736 + Joanna Tainter 1657 – 1734/35
………4 Josiah
Gillett 1768 – 1742
………4 Joanna
Gillett 1680 –
………4 Elizabeth
Gillett 1681/82 – 1756
………4 Jonathan
Gillett 1685 – 1775
………4 Mary
Gillett 1686/87 – 1740 + Nathaniel Skinner 1685/86
– 1750
………4 Dorothy
Gillett 1689 –
………4 Samuel
Gillett 1690 – 1771
………4 Joseph
Gillett 1694/95 –
………4 Mindwell
Gillett 1695 – 1785
………4 Aaron 1698/99
–
………4 Noah Gillett
1701 –
… 2 William Gylett ca 1610 –
… 2 Elias Gylett 1611 –
… 2 Nathan Gillett ca 1613 –
1689
…… 3 Elizabeth Gillett
1639 – aft 1692 + Nicholas Gozzard – 1692
…… 3 Abiah Gillett 1641 –
1716 + (1) Isiah Bartlett 1641 – 1665, (2) John Slater –
1713
…… 3 Child Gillett –
1646
…… 3 Elias Gillett 1649 –
+ (1) Sarah Griffin 1654 – bet 1685-1700, (2) Rebecca (Kelsey) Messenger 1659
– 1731
…… 3 Sarah Gillett 1651 –
+ Eleazer Hill – 1724
…… 3 Benjamin Gillett
1653 – 1655
…… 3 Nathan Gillett 1655
– 1657 + Rebecca Owen 1666 – bef 1702
…… 3 Rebecca Gillett 1657
– bef 1698 + Thomas Whaples ca 1656 – ca 1712
… 2 Jeremiah ca 1616 –
… 2 Thomas 1623 –
… 2 Andrew ca 1623 –
William Gyllett
Most of the information on the Gillett family is from researchers Beverly J. Schonewolf and Bill Barton that appears to be well documented.
Rev. William Gyllett, father of Jonathan and Nathan, was a rector of Chaffcombe, Somerset, England. (1) Chaffcombe is five miles west of Crewkerne. (2) He was made rector on February 4, 1609/10, and died early in 1641. The Chaffcombe parish records begin only in 1678, but the Bishop’s Transcripts survive for the years 1611, 1621, 1623, 1634, 1638 & 1639, and they were all signed by Rev. William Gylett. (3) The baptisms of some of his children were recorded here. He had a brother Richard and a kinsman Henry Hutchins.
William was born circa 1574 in Chaffcombe, Somerset, England, christened January 25, 1579 in N. Petherton, Somerset. (4) He married Habiathia Pye on September 18, 1609 in Donytt, Somerset. William died April 2/4, 1641 in Chaffcombe, buried April 16, 1641 in Chaffcombe. Habiathia was born circa 1578 in Chaffcombe, died May 14, 1681 in Chaffcombe. William wrote his will in 1641 and it was proved April 16, 1641. (5) The April 2, 1641 inventory showed the estate to be worth £259/14/8, which included £13/6/8 for silver plate and an equal sum for books. In his will William referred to land which his son Nathan had made over to him by letter of attorney (see Nathan below). To all his children in England he gave two silver spoones apiece. Beneficiaries were his children William, Thomas, Jeremiah, Habiah and Mary. Overseers were Joseph Greenfield, Mr. Luffe, brother Richard (see Richard above) and kinsman Henry Hutchins. (6) After his bequests his will states, “The rest of my goods I give to my son William, whom I make my executor.” His inventory listed 259 pounds, 14s, 6 pence, which included 13 pounds of silver plate and an equal sum of books. To each of his children, “in England,” he left two silver spoons apiece and one “chayre” and one frame stool. He left his son William land on condition he pay one annuity, 12 pounds to his sister Hebiah, 4 pounds to his sister Mary, and to his brother Jeremiah, 40 s. Jonathan and Nathan probably received their share when they left for New England.
In Dorset Pilgrims, Thistlethwaite suggests that Rev. Gillett influenced a John Hill of his own parish and the people of nearby Combe St. Nicholas, Ilminster and Broadway to emigrate to New England. (7) He also states that Rev. Gyllett held Puritan beliefs.
The children of William & Habiathia were: (8)
Habiah (Abiah) Gylett, possibly born circa 1602 in England, living in England in 1641.
Mary Gylett, possibly born circa 1604 in England, living in England in 1641.
Jonathan Gillett (see below).
William Gylett, born circa 1610(?) in Chaffcombe Parish, Somerset, living in England in 1641. He was executor of his father’s will.
Elias Gylet, baptized February 11, 1611/12 in Chaffcombe Parish. According to Joseph Forster, ed., Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714, (9) “Gillett Elias, son of William of Chaffcombe, Somerset, sacred (i.e., priest, clergyman) New Hal Inn, matriculated 7 May 1632, aged 20; B.A. 7 June 1632; M.A. 23 April 1635.” (10)
Nathan Gillet, see below.
Jeremiah Gyllett, born circa 1616(?) in Chaffcombe Parish, Somerset. Jeremiah also emigrated to New England since he was granted land for his service in the Pequot War of 1637, but by 1641 he returned to England. Son Sgt. Jeremiah Gillett received a grant of land in Simsbury in 1678. On March 9, 1679/80 the committee appointed by the General Court “for settling of ye plantation of Simsbury” determined that proprietor Jermiah Gillyt’s land should be on the “east side.” On December 13, 1678, “giuen to Jeremiah Gylitt” 12 acres. There was a difference concerning the place for the meeting house, and among the signers was “Jere Gillyt.” On May 28, 1685 (1683?), Jeremiah Gillit was chosen Sergeant. “Jere Gillyt was a signer of the agreement with the minister, Mr. Edward Thompson, 27 June 1687, and Jeremiah Gillit signed the agreement about the mills. On 28 Apr. 1702, Jeremiah Gyllit of Simsbury, for £5, conveyed to John Humphris: the acknowledgement was entered as made by “Sergt Jeremiah. (11)
Thomas Gyllet, baptized March 27, 1623 in Chaffcombe Parish, Somerset, living in England in 1641.
Andrew Gyllet, baptized in April 1623 in Chaffcombe Parish, Somerset.
Jonathan Gillett
Jonathan Gillett (12) and his brother Nathan possibly came to New England on the ship Mary & John in 1630 (but see below). Jonathan Gillett returned to England and married Mary Dolbiar, (see Dolbair section in Skinner history) in Colyton, Devon on March 29, 1634. He remained in England one year after their marriage and then they sailed to New England on the ship Recovery of London, which sailed from Weymouth, England on March 31, 1635. How he met Mary from Colyton is not known. However, the Mary and John passenger, George Hull of Crewkerne, had two brothers who were ministers at Colyton.
Jonathan Gillett and his brother Nathan are frequently included in passenger lists of the Mary & John. They were both from the West Country, and both settled first in Dorchester. The first record of Nathan is his admission to freemanship in 1634, which implies that he arrived by 1633. From the statement of Jonathan’s son Benjamin in the copy of the “Breeches Bible” [Bear Bible] that “My father Gille[tt] came into new-inglan .the sec-ond time in June in the year 1634 . . . ,” we know that Jonathan arrived for the second time in 1634, and he does appear on the 1634 passenger list of the Recovery. (13) He could have come for the first time in 1633, turned around immediately to return to England to marry early in 1634 and board ship in time to sail back to New England. There was a ship from the West Country in 1633 that could have brought the Gillett brothers to New England, and at this time it is not justified to place them on the Mary & John that arrived in 1630.
Jonathan Gillet’s name appears in the list of all grantees of Dorchester lands whose names were in the Town Records prior to Jan. 1636. Five years later many of the families moved to Windsor, Connecticut, under the leadership of Rev. John Warham. (14) Jonathan settled near Mr. Warham in Windsor. But earlier Jonathan returned to England and married Mary Dolbiar on March 29, 1634 in Colyton, Devonshire. They soon boarded the Recovery of London, departing on March 31, 1634 from Weymouth, Dorset, for New England. On board were 26 passengers, most from Dorset, Somerset and Devon. (15)
Both Jonathan and his wife were members of the original Dorchester and Windsor churches. Jonathan brought with him a copy of the 1599 Geneva edition of the Bible. In the family it was known as the “Bear Bible” because it had been clawed by a bear when it lay on a window-sill holding up a window sash. In this bible is written “My father Gille[tt] came into new-inglan the secon[d] time in June in the yeare 1634 and Jonathan his sonne was born about half a yeare aftur he cam to land.” (16)
Jonathan was born circa 1609 (based on estimated age at marriage), another source states he was born on December 29, 1605 in Chaffcombe, Somerst, England. Jonathan died on August 23, 1677 (from inventory), probably buried in Old Burying Ground. (17) He married Mary Dolbair/Dolbere on March 29, 1634, possibly at St. Andrew’s Church at Colyton, Devonshire. Mary was born on June 7, 1607 or baptized on June 17, 1607 at Colyton, Devonshire, (18) and died at Windsor on January 5, 1685/86. (19) She was a daughter of Rawkey & Mary (Michell) Dolbere. (20) The register of St. Andrew’s Church at Colyton, Devonshire, reads “29 March 1634 Jonathan Gillet, sonne of Rev. William Gillet, and Mary Dolbere of Colyton, County Devonshire, England.” (21)
Jonathan became a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on May 6, 1635, as M Jonathan “Jellett,” second in a sequence of five Dorchester men. (22) That year he was granted permission to fence in a half acre about his house, leaving sufficient highway and four more acres of marsh against Fox Point (Dorchester). “Jonathan Gillet’s house” was mentioned, April 17, 1635; (23) “Jellets” to have two acres of marsh, June 27, 1636 (no first name is given, so this grant may be to both Jonathan and Nathan). (24) The grant of meadows beyond Neponset, Lot #32, marked only J. M. may have belonged to Jonathan Gillet, since it was immediately next to the lot of N[athan] Gillet. (25) In Thomas Treadwell’s deed of land to Edward Breck, dated June 20, 1638, one of the abutters to a parcel of land was “Mr. Parker on the other side which was once Jonathan Gillete’s.” (26) On June 9, 1662 Jonathan Gillett Sen. was granted two parcels of swampland totalling five or six acres by the court-appointed committee to dispose of land without the west bounds of Windsor. (27) Other “Jonathan Gillett” land entries appear to be Jonathan Jr.
Jonathan served in the Pequot War in 1637, was granted, in 1671, land in Simsbury, Connecticut for his service. Jonathan moved to Windsor, Connecticut in 1639. In Windsor Jonathan was granted in 1639 a lot 17 rods wide. It contained over 4 acres and was near Mr. Warham’s. His brother Nathan’s lot was on the west side and paralleled Jonathan’s. (28) He served on the Connecticut jury, December 1653, 7 June 1655, 26 August 1657, 3 March 1658/9, 15 May 1660, 6 December 1660, 5 September 1661, 9 October 1661, 13 May 1662, 20 January 1662/63. (29) He was a constable of Windsor in 1665. (30) He was taxed 4-0 on February 10, 1673 in Windsor.
Jona Gillet (April 6, 1662), Jonath. Gillett’s wife and Cornelus Gillet (16 June 1665) were admitted to the Windsor Church per Matthew Grant’s church record “(A list of those members of the church that) were so in Dorchester, and came up here with Mr. Warham and still are of us.” (31)
On June 9, 1662 Jonathan Gillett Sen. was granted 2 parcels of swampland totaling 5 or 6 acres by the court-appointed committee to dispose of land without the west bounds of Windsor. On April 28, 1665, Nassahegan, sachem of Poquonock, sold to Jonathan Gillet, Sen., of Windsor a piece of land, swamp or marsh, containing 12 acres called by the Indians Matacomacok. This was situated without the west bounds of Windsor, southerly of the swamp belonging to John Moore & Edward Griswold.
On October 11, 1669 “Jonathan Gillet, Senr.” was listed as a freeman of Windsor. In 1671 Jonathan was granted 40 acres in Simsbury, Connecticut, for his 1637 service in the Pequot War. In 1675 both Jon. Gillet and Jon. Gillet, Jr., were taxed in Windsor in the “Family and horse” category. (32) Voluntary contributors for the poor on June 11, 1676 included: Jonathan Gillet, Senr. 4s. 6d.; Nathan Gillet 2s. 6d.; Cornelius Gillet 2s. 6d. (33) On July 10, 1676 Jonath Gillet, Senr, Deacon Jno Moore, John Loomys & Jacob Drake of Windsor were credited by the Connecticut “Council” for distributing supplies to “our brethren in distress in our neighboring Colonyes” and requested them to distribute the remainder to Springfield and those upper towns according to their good discretion. (34)
Jonathan’s will was dated August 8, 1677, proved September 6, 1677, inventory taken by Matthew Grant (ancestor of Ulysses S. Grant). His Last Will and Testament: (35) I Jonathan Gillett Sr., of Windsor, do make this my Last Will and Testament: Imprimis: My will is that my wife shall be my sole Executrix, and my son Josiah Gillett to take the care for ye improvement of his mother’s estate for her use and benefit that I shall leave her whilst she lives, which she shall have ye use and benefit that may be made of the houseing and lands of both my houselotts, my one and that which was my brother Nathan Gillett’s, which are both 9 acres, also at ye upper end of ye 1st meadow, or that which is Timothy Phelps. All that remains of yt to me, I set out 3 acres to my son John. My will is that after my decease, as I have expressed, that my son Josias shall take ye care on him, to be an help and ayde to his mother in what shee needs his labor to manage her ocasions, and after her decease he shall injoy for his owne, for himselfe and his heirs forever, my now dwelling house and all the appurtenances with it, with 5 acres of house lands and all other parcels of land, as are expressed to be his mother’s for her use whilst she lives, only excepting the house and 4 acres of ye houseland to it, which my sonn Jeremy shall posses for his owne after my wifes decease; ye 6 acres in ye 2nd meadow I set out to him, he is to possess for his one at present. Thirdly, my will is that if the Lord should take me and my wife both of us away by death within this 4 years after ye date hereof, my son Josiah shall pay some legacies, as to his brother Jonathan Gillett L4 and a gunn, and to his brother Cornelius Gillett L4, and to my daughter, Peter Browne’s wife, L2, and to my daughter, Samuel Fyllyes wife, L2, and to ye two children which I have taken that ware my son Joseph’s, Dec’d, as ye little son Jonathan L5, and ye garle L5. My son Jonathan is to have the other 20 acres of Woodland joining to ye 20 acres expressed to my wife. He is to have his 20 acres next to Thomas Barber, 10 acres of it I give him, ye other 10 he hath bought. Also Jonathan and Cornelius my sons are to have my 11 acres without ye west bounds of Windsor, betwixt them, after my decease. And my son John Gillett to have six acres of ye other parcel without ye bounds at present, and Jeremie to have the remainder of it. Signed: Jonathan Gillett. Witness: Nathaniel Chauncey, Matthew Grant. Court Record, p. 164, 6 September 1677: Will exhibited.
The inventory of “Jonathan Gillett Senior who died the 23 day of this August” was taken August 31, 1677 and totaled £273 10s., including real estate valued at £188. “His dwelling & barn house land five acres” £70; “his dwelling house that was his brother Nathan’s & four acres of houseland” £40; “the first meadow, near four acres,” £20; “the second meadow eight acres,” £30; “twenty acres of woodland,” £10; “six acres of upland,” £12; and “without the west bounds of Windsor common land fifteen acres,” £6. (36)
In the will Jonathan wrote “my will is that if the Lord should take me and my wife both of us away by death within four years after the date hereof, my son Josiah shall pay some legacie, as to his brother Jonathan Gillett £4 and a gun, and to his brother Cornelius Gillett £4, & to my daughter, Peter Browne’s wife £2, and to my daughter Samuel Fylle’s wife, £2, and to the two children which I have taken that were my son Joseph’s, deceased, as the little son Johnathan £5, and the girl £5. Since Jonathan’s wife, Mary, did not die until 1685 this part of his will did not take effect. Widow Mary was named sole executrix of Jonathan’s will. She inherited “both of my houselots, my one and that which was my brother Nathan Gillett’s, which are both nine acres, also at the upper end of the first meadow, or that which is Timothy Phelpes.
More than a generation later, on August 25, 1719, Jonathan Filley, Josiah Filly, John Filly, Thomas Gillett and Joseph Gillett petitioned the probate court that their “grandfather Jonathan Gillit late of Windsor” had left unadministered estate and they requested that someone be appointed to administer the property. (37) 6 October, 1719: (38) “Upon the Complaint made by Jonathan Filley, Josiah Filley, John Filley and Thomas Gillett of Windsor, and Joseph Gillett of Hartford, a Sumons was Issued to cite Jonathan Gillett, John Graham and his wife Priscilla, Cornelius Brown of Windsor, and Josiah Gillett of Colchester, to show reasons, if any they have, why Adms. should not be granted on some part of the Estate of said complainants’ grand Father, Jonathan Gillett, sometime of Windsor, Deceased. Not granted.”
The children of Jonathan and Mary were:
Jonathan Gillett was born in 1634 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, “about half a years after coming to land” (circa December?). (39) Jonathan died on February 27, 1697/98 (another source has September 5, 1708). He married Mary Kelsey, daughter of William Kelsey of Hartford, on April 22 or 23, 1661. (40) Mary was born circa 1634, died April 18, 1676 in Windsor. The children of Jonathan and Mary were: Mary, died young; Mary; Jonathan, William. Jonathan married, second, Miriam Dibble on December 14, 1676, daughter of Thomas Dibble. (41) Miriam was born February 19, 1644/45 in Windsor, baptized there on December 7, 1645, died after May 1703. The children of Jonathan and Miriam were: Thomas, Ebenezer, died young, Samuel, Hannah, Jonathan, Miriam. See Dibble family history.
On October 11, 1669 Jonathan Gillet, Jr., was listed as a freeman of Windsor. Jonathan inherited from his father 20 acres of woodland joining on to the 20 acres expressed to his mother. He also inherited 10 acres next to Thomas Barber. It adjoined 10 acres he already owned. Jonathan also co-inherited with his brother Cornelius from their father 11 acres without the west bounds of Windsor. On December 24, 1679 Jonathan Gillett was one of four who took the inventory of the estate of James Egleston of Windsor who had died December 1, 1679. On March 4, 1679/80 Jonathan and Cornelius (see below) were appointed to assist Mr. John Loomis, administrator to the above widow. (42)
Jonathan’s will and probate: (43) Jonathan Gillett, Windsor, Died 27 February, 1697-8. Invt. œ360-13-00. Taken by Capt. Timothy Phelps & James Enno. The children: William, age 24 years, Mary Bissell 31, Hannah 16, Jonathan 13, & Miriam Gillett, 10 years of age. Will dated 25 August, 1694.
I Jonathan Gillett of Windsor doe make this my last Will & Testament: I give to my son William all my Houseing & Lands lying in the Township of Simsbury, except 5 acres of Marsh lying under the Mountains. I give to my sd. son William half my Marsh lying in the Township of Windsor at Wash Brooke which adjoins Simon Drake. I give him 10 acres of Woodland which my Father gave me that abutts south on the Land of Thomas Barbour. I give him a Gunn and a Sword. I give to my wife Miriam the benefit of all my Houseing and Lands in Windsor (except what is befor given to my son William) until my son Jonathan is 21 years of age, and then 1/2 of my Houseing and Lands during her natural life. And if she see Cause to marry again, I give her œ3-10 per Annum, to be paid by my son Jonathan, and 1-3 of my Moveable Estate. I give to my son Jonathan all my Houseing and Lands at Windsor (except those given to son William), and also the Land I bought and am to have of Father Dibble, he to enter upon 1/2 of sd. houseing and Lands at 21 years of age, and the other half after the decease of my wife. I give to my daughter Mary 10 Shillings besides what I have already given her. I give to my daughters Hannah & Miriam, to each of them, 1-3 part of my Moveable Estate except 10 Shillings, to be taken out of their part. I appoint my wife Miriam to be sole Executrix. Jonathan Gillett, Ls. Witness: Henry Wolcott sen., Nathaniel Gillett.
The will was proven on April 5, 1698. (44) On May 17, 1700: (45) Miriam Gillett, the Relict of Jonathan Gillett, request this Court that 1/2 acre of Land not disposed of by the Will be allotted to her to aid in the Payment of Debts. There being no provision in the Will for the payment of Debts, she, being Executrix, is necessitated to pay them out of her own particular Legacy. (The Court gave her the Land.) The inventory totaled £360/13/00. Jonathan had 10 children.
Cornelius Gillett, born circa 1636 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, died June 26, 1711 at Windsor. He was named for his uncle Cornelius Dolbiar. Cornelius married Priscilla Kelsey by 1659 or January 16, 1658, daughter of William Kelsey. (46) Priscilla was born circa 1632, died January 7, 1722/23. Their children were: Priscilla, died young; Priscilla, Abigail, Cornelius, Mary, Esther, Sarah, Joanna, Daniel. In 1658 Cornelius Gillett bought from Josiah Ellsworth a lot of length 60 rods & width 18 rods. This lot had been granted to Alexander Alford (Alvord) in 1645. (47) On May 20, 1658 “Cornel Gillet” was among 70 Windsor men “made free before the court.” Cornelius was admitted to the Windsor Church January 16, 1665. On October 11, 1669 “Cornelius Gillet” was listed as a freeman of Windsor. Priscilla was admitted in February 1671. She was a sister of Miriam Kelsey (see above). On July 2, 1687 Priscilla Gillett witnessed with her “X” the will of Mary Randolph of Hartford. (48) Cornelius co-inherited with his brother Jonathan from their father 11 acres without the west bounds of Windsor. On March 23, 1691 Cornelius Gillett and two others took inventory of the estate of Peter Browne, Sr., of Windsor. It amounted to £408-15-06. (49) Cornelius wrote his will on June 2, 1711 in Windsor. It was proved September 3, 1711. The inventory of £44-07-06 was taken July 27, 1711. Cornelius and Mary may have been twins.
Mary Gillett, born circa 1638, Dorchester, died August 27, 1719 at Windsor. She married Peter Brown/Browne on July 15, 1658 at Windsor. (50) Because of the tight chronology between the date of marriage of the parents and the known birthdate of the fourth child, it is thought that Cornelius and Mary may have been twins.
“Peter Brown, a miller who first appears in Windsor records in 1658, purchased several parcels of land in Windsor and built two homes. The first of these was near the mill he operated and the second, a few years later, about one mile north of Windsor Center on Poquonock Avenue. He and his wife Mary (Gillette) had 15 children, eleven daughters and four sons. His youngest son Cornelius and his family settled in Simsbury and later immigrated to Norfolk Connecticut being the founders of that northwestern Connecticut Community. Grandchildren of the other three sons, (Peter, John, and Jonathan) settled in western sections of Windsor, three of them being original petitioners for the establishment of Wintonbury parish, which later became Bloomfield. . . . the Wintonbury Browns of the 18th and early 19th centuries are descendants of (Windsor) Peter who lived near and worked at the Warham Mill off Poquonock Avenue in Windsor. Peter and some of his 15 children were granted “proprietors” lands extending from a highway (later Brown Street) to the Simsbury town line (which at that time was east of Duncaster Road). . . .” (51)
The children of Mary and Peter, all born in Windsor, are said to have been: Mary, born on May 2, 1659; Hannah, baptism September 30, 1660; Abigail, born on August 8, 1662; Hepzibah, baptized November 20, 1664; Peter, born on January 8, 1668; John, born January 8, 1668; Jonathan, born March 30, 1670; Cornelius, born July 30, 1672; Hester, born July 30, 1673; Isabel, June 9, 1676; Deborah, born February 12, 1678; Sarah, born August 20, 1681.
According to the Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut this is the family of Peter Brown: (52) Peter Brown was born in 1632, settled at Windsor, Connecticut, and lived to be nearly sixty years old. He died at Windsor on March 9, 1692, leaving an estate of four hundred and nine pounds to be divided among his thirteen children.
Peter’s son John was born at Windsor on January 8, 1668 and died on February 4, 1728. He married, February 4, 1691, Elizabeth Loomis, who died December 11, 1723. Their children, born at Windsor, were: Elizabeth, born February 11, 1692; Mary, born September 11, 1694; Ann, born September 1, 1696; Hannah, born August 24, 1697; John, born March 11, 1699-1700 (below); Ann, born August 1, 1702; Sarah, born January 22, 1704; Isaac, born March 17, 1706-07; Daniel, born January 29, 1708-09; Mary, born March 8, 1711; Esther, born March 17, 1712-13.
John was born in Windsor on March 11, 1699-1700, died September 3, 1790. He married, on March 14, 1725, Mary Eggleston, who died August 25, 1789, aged eighty-seven years. He resided at Bloomfield, Connecticut. His children were: Mary, died 1827, aged nearly one hundred years; Captain John, born November 4, 1728 (below); Margery, born June 3, 1731; Esther, born September 5, 1733; Ezra, born July 25, 1738; Hannah, born July 1, 1739; Azubah, born March 20, 1740; Hannah, born August 17, 1743; Sarah, born March 28, 1746 .
Captain John Brown was born at Windsor on November 4, 1728. He removed to what is now Bloomfield, Connecticut, and then to West Simsbury. He was captain of the Eighth Company, Eighteenth Connecticut Regiment in 1776 during the Revolution and was in the campaign in New York in 1776. He died in the service on September 3, 1776. He married, March 2, 1758 , Hannah, daughter of Elijah and Hannah (Higley) Owen. She died May 18, 1831, aged ninety-one. She was descended from John Owen, of Windsor. Their children, born in Simsbury, were: Hannah, born December 24, 1758; Azubah, born May 7, 1760; Esther, born March 4, 1762; Margery, born January 25, 1764; Lucinda, born November 18, 1765; John, born August 31, 1769; Owen, born February 16, 1771 (below); Thede, born January 5, 1773; Roxy, born May 29, 1775; Abiel, born November 18, 1776 (posthumous).
Owen , son of Captain John Brown, was born on February 16, 1771. His father died during the revolution leaving the mother with a large family of young children in great poverty, but the mother lived to see most of her children well established in life. Owen Brown learned the trade of tanner and settled first at Norfolk, Connecticut, afterward at Torrington in 1799. His farm at Torrington was later called the “John Brown” place, from the fact that the famous Abolitionist was born there. The dwelling house was built in 1776, located in the western part of the town. The farm was pleasantly located, but not up to the standard of this section, and Mr. Brown doubtless bought it because it was cheap and adapted to his purpose for a tannery. On a brook, west of the house, on the north side of the east and west road he built his tannery and shoe shop and for six years worked at his trade. He was a man of keen perception, good humor and wit. His brother John was deacon of the church at New Hartford; Frederick, another brother, was a judge of the court at Hudson, Ohio. Owen Brown was strongly religious and was never absent from church. In 1805 he removed to Hudson, Ohio. He came back a year or two later on business, but returned to Hudson soon. He was a trustee of Oberlin College from 1835 to 1844 and then resigned in consequence of growing infirmities. He was much esteemed by his associates for his practical wisdom and staunch integrity. He was a man of few words, because a painful habit of stammering made it almost impossible for him to speak, but every word was valued. His home was at the seat of the Western Reserve College. During the war of 1812 he furnished cattle to the government for the use of troops. He died May 8, 1856. He married, at Simsbury, on February 11, 1793, Ruth Mills, born 1771, daughter of Gideon and Ruth (Humphrey) Mills, who died at Hudson in 1808. He married (second) Sarah Root. He married (third) Abi (Abigail) Hinsdale (or Lucy (Drake) Hinsdale, widow of Harmon). Children of his first wife were: Anna Ruth, born July 5, 1798 in Norfolk; Captain John, the Abolitionist; Salmon, born April 30, 1802; Oliver Owen, born October 26, 1804; Frederick, born 1806.
Anna (Hannah) Gillett, born December 29, 1639 in Windsor, Connecticut, died November 18, 1711, Windsor, Connecticut, married Samuel Filley on October 29, 1663 at Windsor. (53) Samuel was born September 24, 1643 at Windsor, died there January 1711-1712. He was a son of William & Margaret Filley of Windsor. In December 1665 Anna was admitted a member of the Windsor Church. In 1669 Samuel & Anna removed to Massaco (now Simsbury), Connecticut, but subsequently removed back to Windsor. Samuel’s estate was valued at £327 plus. They had 10 children. Will of Samuel Filley, 12 December 1711: (54) “I, Samuel Filley of Windsor, do make this my last will and testament: I give to my son Jonathan Filley all my land that adjoins to his land on which his house now standeth, be it 3 acres mor or less; also 1 full third of my lot in the Great Meadow that I bought of Mr. Gardner. To my son Josiah Filley I give half of my lot in the 1st meadow; also 5 acres of land in Filley’s swamp, that was brother William Filley’s and fell to me by agreement; also 20 acres of woodland that I bought of brother Josiah Gillettt. I give to my son John Filley half my lot in the 1st meadow; also half my lot in the 2nd meadow; also my dwelling house, barn and homestead, with the land adjoining that I bought of Job Drake; and also one full half of my lot at Nowell Swamp, that was George Alexander’s; and 1/3 part of my lot in the Great Meadow bought of Mr. Gardner. I give to my granddaughter, Sarah Skinner, £5. I give to my daughter, Abigail Loomis, 1/3 part of my lot in the Great Meadow; also half the lot at Horsford’s meadow, that was brother William Filley’s; and also half of all my personal estate. I give to my daughter Mary Barber half my lot at second meadow; also 1/2 of all my personal estate. I give to my grandson Samuel Filley, son of Josiah Filley, 1 full half of my lot at Nowell Swamp, that was George Alexander’s. I give to Deborah Sackett, that now liveth with me, a cow when she comes to be of age. I appoint my two sons, Jonathan Filley and John Filley, executors. Samuel Filley, LS. Witnesses: John Hoskins, Cornelius Browne, Matthew Allyn.
Joseph Gillett, baptized July 25, 1641, (55) died at age 34, killed at the Bloody Brook Indian massacre at Deerfield, Massachusetts on September 18, 1675. Joseph married Elizabeth Hawkes on November 24, 1664 at Windsor, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Browne) Hawkes. (56) Elizabeth was baptized January 10, 1646/47 in Windsor, Connecticut, died October 11, 1681, possibly in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Elizabeth married (2) Nathaniel Dickinson on December 16, 1680 in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Nathaniel died October, 11, 1710. Elizabeth’s father, John Hawkes, died intestate in June 1662 in Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. In the estate settlement: “Elizabeth shall have the sum of twenty pounds at her day of marriage in such pay as the estate will afford.” (57) Their children were: Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary, Jonathan, John, Nathaniel, Hannah.
In 1666 Joseph bought Windsor land from his widowed mother-in-law. No doubt this was the “homelot with the addition eight acres” (annotated “sold to Joseph Gylitt”) in John Hawkes’ Windsor, Connecticut, estate settlement. Joseph and his young family probably lived on this land until their removal to Deerfield, Massachusetts. Joseph was listed as a freeman in Windsor on October 8, 1668 and on October 11, 1669. (58) The first record of Joseph in Deerfield is November, 7, 1673 when he was present at a plantation meeting there. Deerfield lot numbers 31 & 32 had been drawn in 1671 by Robert Hinsdale and Nathaniel Colburne. In 1673 these 2 lots were owned by “Joseph Gillett, son of Jonathan (1), born 1641.” (Note that Robert Hindsdale had married (2) widow Elizabeth (Brown) Hawkes in 1668.) When the lots were sold in 1694 they were described as “Sometime two town lots, 16½ by 72 rods with a house on it.”
In September 1675, during King Philip’s War, Deerfield was attacked several times by the Indians. It was decided to evacuate Deerfield. Capt. Thomas Lathrop’s company of soldiers were bringing loaded carts toward Northampton when they were ambushed at a spot since known as Bloody Brook, about 5 or 6 miles due south of Deerfield. The men were taken completely by surprise. Joseph Gillett and Capt. Lathrop were among the 64 English killed on September 18. (59) Reoccupation of Deerfield did not occur until the spring of 1682.
The 1676 inventory of Joseph Gillit’s estate was presented to the Court by John Hawks (possibly Joseph’s mother’s father or brother). The inventory totaled £010-09-00. Also belonging to the estate “Land at Deerfield, viz. two homelotts & Land in ye meadows vallued at 8 Commons. Debts due ye estate: £02-12-00.”
As noted above, Joseph’s widow, Elizabeth, married (2) Nathaniel Dickinson December 16, 1680. Elizabeth then died October 11, 1681. On April 18, 1682 Nathaniel Dickinson of Hatfield requested power of administration of Jos. Gillett’s estate. In 1686 the estate was finally settled with Joseph Gillett’s 4 sons and 2 daughters. The oldest son, Joseph Gillett, received a double part. (60)
All of the children of Joseph & Elizabeth were born in Windsor, Connecticut: (61)
Lt. Joseph Gillett was born November 2 or 20, 1664, died February 13, 1745/46 in Hartford, Connecticut. He married (1) Hester/Ester Gull on November 2 or 3, 1687 in Hatfield, Massachusetts, (2) Mary Griswold on May 17, 1692 in Hartford, Connecticut, (3) Elizabeth _?_ after 1719. Esther was born 21 November 21, 1665 in Hadley, Massachusetts, died in 1691 in Deerfield. She was a daughter of William & Elizabeth (Smith/Foote) Gull of Hatfield. Mary was born March 16, 1670/71 in Windsor, died December 19, 1719 in Hartford. She was a daughter of Joseph & Mary (Gaylord) Griswold. (62) Following the conclusion of the probation of his father’s estate in 1686 Joseph received several grants of land in Deerfield. In 1690 Joseph Gillett bought lot #41 on Town Street in Deerfield from John & Benoni Stebbins. In 1691 Joseph sold back to John & Benoni Stebbins 20 acres in Deerfield Boggy meadow. (63)
In 1690 Joseph Gillett & Hesther (X) Gillitt signed an agreement regarding the estate of Hesther’s mother. In his April 12, 1701 will William Gull (Hesther’s father) bequeathed “to my Loveing Grandchild Elizabeth the daughter of my Loving daughter Hesther deceased sometime wife to Joseph Gillet my Lot in ye Meadow commonly called the great meadow in Hatfield con by estm. Five [Six?] acres.”
In 1696 Joseph was corporal in the Deerfield garrison. On July 16, 1698 “Corporal gillit” participated in the Promroy Pursuit of Indians that resulted in the rescue of two boys who had been captured by the Indians. But note that Joseph was apparently removing on to Hartford, via Windsor. By 1694 Joseph was buying land in Hartford. On December 8, 1700 he was received into the Second Church of Hartford, Conn. (64) In 1713 he became an original member of the Third Church of Hartford.
On 16 July 1700 Joseph Jillet of Hartford bought from Samuel Carer of Deerfield the following “Two Certain pieces, or parcels of land Scituate In the Township of Deerfield: Seven ackers and One Rood, 10 acres lying in the Great Meadow.
In May 1714 Mr. Joseph Gillet of Hartford was confirmed “to be Ensign of the company or trainband at the west division in the town of Hartford, aforesaid, and that he be commissioned accordingly.” In May 1720 he was promoted to Lieutenant.
In 1716 Joseph’s wife Mary received from the estate of her father, Joseph Griswold, £25 of moveables. Mary’s daughter Sarah Gillett received £5 of moveables. (65)
On March 4, 1745 the will of Joseph Gillet, Gentleman, Hartford, was probated. Named in his will were his wife Elizabeth, son Joseph (and his 2 sons Stephen & Asa), son Jonathan, deceased (and his children Jonathan, Mehetabel and Mary), daughter Sarah Goodwin, daughter Abigail Smith, deceased, daughter Dorothy Bewell, son Matthew, granddaughter Rhoda Andrews, daughter Elizabeth Marsh, daughter Mary Andrews, daughter Esther Bancroft, daughter Hannah Burr and the heirs of Abigail Smith, deceased. Sons Joseph and Matthew were the executors. The inventory amounted to £2,246 plus.
The only child of Joseph & Esther was Elizabeth, born April 12, 1689 in Deerfield, died after March 16, 1753 in Sunderland, Massachusetts, married Ebenezer Marsh of Hatfield. (66) Ebenezer and Elizabeth had eleven children. The nine children of Joseph and Mary were: Joseph, Jonathan, Mary, Esther, Hannah, Sarah, Abigail, Matthew, and Dorothy.
Elizabeth Gillett, born June 12, 1666.
Mary Gillett, born September 1 or 10, 1667.
Jonathan Gillett, born August 11, 1669, died June 3, 1686 in Windsor, Connecticut.
John Gillett, born June 10, 1671, died April 1775 in Lebanon, Connecticut. He married Experience Dewey on January 3, 1699/1700 in Lebanon. Experience was born April 9, 1682 in Westfield (Northampton?), Massachusetts, died 1755 in Lebanon. She was a daughter of Josiah & Hepzibah (Lyman) Dewey. John became associated with the Deerfield garrison, along with his older brother Joseph and probably his younger brother Nathaniel. On September 16, 1696 “John Smead and John Gillett being in the woods, looking or tracking Bees, were beset by a company of French Mohawks. John Gillett was taken prisoner and John Smead escaped.” The Indians took John to Canada, arriving there October 9th. He was given to the French and “worked as a servt to ye Nuns at their farm.” After peace was declared John got back to Deerfield “by way of France & so to England, having received great kindness in England.” Col. Samuel Partridge reported to the Massachusetts General Court: “Wheras John Gillet who hath been very active and willing souldr within the County of Hampshire & Being on the 16th day of Sept. 1696 out upon service & together with some others was that day taken by the Enemy & suffering hardship was carried to Canada Captive & there Remayned till Septer Last & then was sent from thence Prisoner unto old ffrance & thence (by the later Articles of Peace) the sd Gillet together with other Captives was Released & carried into England: Since his Arrivall there hath Lived & obtained pay for his Passage by the Charities of some English Marchets there; & now being arrived here Destetute of Money or Cloaths for his P’sent Reliefe Humbly propose it to ye Honoble Genll Corte to allow him something wt this Corte judge meet for his P’sent Reliefe. – Samuel Patrigg – June 17 1698 – In the House of Representatives – Ordered that there be allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury the sum of six pounds to the above named John Gillet for the consideration above mentioned (Sgd) Nathl Byfield, Speaker.” But on October 23, 1696 he had been assumed dead and administration had been granted his estate! (67)
For more than 30 years after the 1675 King Philip’s War the inhabitants of the Northampton area had lived in fear of attacks from the Indians and many decided to move to safer locations, such as Lebanon, Connecticut. The Lebanon tract had been sold by the Indians in 1692 and settlement had begun in 1695. John was one of the 51 original proprietors of Lebanon in 1695. (68) In December 1697 he obtained homelot No. 19. Experience’s brother Deacon Josiah Dewey lived nearby at homelot No. 9. (69) The children of John & Experience were all born in Lebanon: Experience, John Jr., Ebenezer, Gershom.
Nathaniel Gillett was born May 4, 1673 in Windsor, Connecticut or Deerfield, Massachusetts, died intestate on July 10, 1714 in Lebanon, New London County, Connecticut. He married Sarah Colver circa 1701. Sarah was born March 17, 1681/2 in New London, Connecticut, (70) died January 6, 1716/17 in Enfield, Massachusetts (now Connecticut). She was a daughter of John & Mercy (Clark) Colver. (71) (Note: Frederick L. Colver points out that John Colver had moved from New Haven to New London in 1679).
By 1682 both of Nathaniel’s parents were dead. Nathaniel was brought up by his step-father Nathaniel Dickinson. They lived in Hadley and/or Hatfield, Massachusetts. Along with his brothers Joseph and John, Nathaniel probably became connected with the Deerfield garrison. (72) On July 14 or 16, 1698, Corporal gillit was one of the Garrison Soldiers at Deerfield who, under Benjamin Wright, marched up the Connecticut River to Vernon, Vermont, to rescue Indian captives. Then Joseph Hawley and Joseph Parsons were sent to Albany, New York, to give a particular account of the affair. Nath’l Gillet (along with Benj. Wright, William King, Benj. Stebbins & Jona. Taylor) guarded the two men being sent from Deerfield to Albany. For his effort, Nathaniel was awarded £1. (73)
When Nathaniel removed to Lebanon, and where he married Sarah Colver are not known. We do know that Nathaniel’s brother John was in Lebanon by 1695 and that Nathaniel had been working on a farm in Lebanon before 16 Jan. 1710/11. Sarah’s uncle Lt. Edward Culver had moved from Norwich, Connecticut, to Lebanon. (74) He was one of the 51 original proprietors of Lebanon in 1695. (75) Sarah’s eldest brother John Colver (Sr.) was also in Lebanon for a time. On 31 May 1732 John Collver Senr of Lebanon sold for £60 to John Watrus of Groton, Connecticut, land in Groton. (76) Apparently by 1699 Sarah’s parents had split up and Mercy was living in Lebanon as late as March 13, 1732. (77) This Colver family were Rogerenes. They were very unpopular because they denounced as unscriptural all interference by the civil authorities in the worship of God. (78) The Rogerenes, also known as the Rogerene Baptists and the Rogerene Quakers, was a sect formed in southeast Connecticut about 1675. (79) This was a strict fundamentalist sect, believing in a literal reading of the Bible, non-violence, no sabbath, adult baptism, and separation of church and state. On July 26, (Aug?) 1725 Sarah’s brother John Colver and his wife Sarah were members of a party of Rogerenes that went from Groton to Lebanon on Sunday to baptize converts. They were arrested in Norwich for traveling on the Sabbath and were, in default of money to pay their fine, whipped and afterwards released and continued their journey to Lebanon. (80) In 1734 John Colver, his wife and 10 children with their families, making a party of 21 in all, removed to New Jersey and settled for a time on the east side of Schooley’s Mountain, Morris County. (81) Note that Doc Elijah Gillet first shows up in Newark, NJ, in 1732. Probably this is just a coincidence since the Rogerenes believed that “Any resort in sickness to physicians or the use of medicine was sinful.” (82)
On January 16, 1710/11 Capt John Mason of ye Town of Stonington in New London County for & upon Good Consideration of Labour upon another farm by Nathanl Gillet of Lebanon, 100 acres in the presence of John Poaxson(?) and John Huchisson. (83) John Mason was one of the 51 original proprietors of Lebanon in 1695. Note: Gillette Creek is near the southern corner of the town. When Nathaniel’s son Elijah sold on September 21, 1722 the land he had inherited from his father the land description identified “the Easternmost branch of the Deep Brook.” (84) Both Gillette Brook and Deep Brook (River) flow into the Yantic River.
The inventory of the estate of Nathanniel Gillet Late of Lebanon, Deceasced was taken by Eduerd Coluer and John Sprague on 19 July 1714. (85) The total valuation was £142-19-04 of which £100-00-00 was for house and land. Sarah Gillit widow and Relick of Nathll Gillitt late of Lebanon decd made oath in a Court of Probate that she gave in a true Accot of her _____ husbands Estate to the appraisers, and that if anything more appeared she would add it to the Inventory. The names and ages of ye Children: Nathaniel aged twelve years, Joseph aged ten years, Elijah aged eight years, Jonathan aged six years. Also included in the estate papers on file were an Account of Administration, a bond for £300 by Sarah Gillett and her surety Edward Coluer. The children of Nathaniel & Sarah were all born in Lebanon: Nathaniel, Joseph, Elijah, Jonathan, Joshua. Their son Nathaniel married Mercy Smith in 1727 in Litchfield, Connecticut; and when he died in Salisbury, Sharon District, Connecticut, the bond to the Court of Probate was signed by Mercy and Thomas Skinner.
Hannah Gillett, born January 30, 1674/75, died August 11, 1683 in Windsor.
Samuel Gillett was baptized on January 22, 1642/43 at Windsor, (86) died at age 33, killed at the Turner’s Falls, Massachusetts on May 19, 1676 in a battle with the Indians. He married Hannah Dickinson on September 23, 1668 in Hadley or Hatfield, Massachusetts. Samuel and Hannah settled on the frontier at Hatfield. Hannah was born on December 6, 1648 in Wethersfield, and died after 1687. She was a daughter of Sgt. John & Frances Dickinson. She married (2) Stephen Jennings in Hatfield on May 15, 1677 and they removed to Brookfield, Massachusetts. Samuel and Hannah had 4 children. Samuel was with Capt. Turner at the Falls Fight at Peskeompsinson, (87) in which 37 English were lost including Samuel and Capt. Turner. (88) Hannah had been remarried only a few months when on September 19, 1677 she and her 5-year old daughter Mary and her 4-year old son Samuel were captured during an Indian attack on Hatfield. Hannah was pregnant at the time. When the authorities refused to pursue the Indians in fear of ambush, her husband and Benjamin Wait set out together to recover the captives who were headed for Canada. After a journey that lasted all winter they reached Canada in January and negotiated a ransom with the French. There Hannah had a daughter she named Captivity Jennings on January 22, 1678. Hannah returned to home with her children in June 1678. (89) On July 22, 1710 Stephen Jennings while engaged in making hay was ambushed and killed by Indians at Brookfield. Captivity Jennings married Abigah Bartlett. He too was killed by Indians in October 1708. (90) Samuel Gillett, son of Samuel and Hannah, was born circa 1673, married Hannah Hastings on January 9, 1697/98.
John Gillett, born October 4, 1644, (91) at Windsor, and died at age 38 in November 1682. He married Mary Barber (“Mercy”) at Windsor on July 8, 1669, (92) daughter of Thomas and Jane (Coggin) Barber. Mercy and John purchased the Joseph Phelps place at Windsor from William Phelps, where they probably resided. John died circa December 1682. (93) Mercy was baptized on October 12, 1651 in Windsor, died March 29 (31 December?), 1725 in Suffield, Connecticut. Their children were: John, Thomas, Samuel, Nathaniel, Mary. After John’s death, Mary/Mercy married Capt. George Norton, son of George Norton, on June 14 or 20, 1683 in Windsor. (94) John inherited from his father 6 acres of land without the west bounds of Windsor. The inventory of the estate of John Gillett of Windsor was taken December 5, 1682 by John Loomis, Sen. It was valued at £140-14-06. John’s probate: (95) John Gillett, Windsor, Invt. œ140-14-06. Taken 5 December, 1682, by John Loomis sen., John Moore. Legatees: The Widow Mercy Gillett, John age 9 years, Thomas 6, Samuel 5, Benjamin 2, and Mercy born 30 January last. Court Record, Page 69 - 4 April, 1683: Adms. to the Widow, Mercy Gillett, with Jonathan Gillett, Peter Browne, John Barber & Samuel Barber to be Overseers. (96) Mercy Gillett was married for the second time on June 14, 1683, to Capt. George Norton of Suffield, Conn. George and Mercy had six children during their marriage (in addition to the six children Mercy had with John Gillett).
John and Mercy had seven children all born in Windsor, one of whom, Samuel Gillett, was born February 16, 1677/8, married Rebecca Bancroft on January 22, 1701/12 in Suffield, Connecticut. Samuel died in 1739 in Granville, Massachusetts, buried in Suffield. Rebecca was born February 23, 1680 in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was a daughter of Thomas & Margaret (Wright) Bancroft of the Springfield, Massachusetts, region with residence at the “lower wharf” now Enfield, Connecticut. Another son of John & Mercy was Thomas Gillet, the great-great-grandfather of William Hooker Gillette, actor and playwright, who had Gillette Castle built on the Connecticut River near East Haddam. (97)
Abigail Gillett, baptized on June 28, 1646 at Windsor and died on March 1, 1648/49 at Windsor. (98)
Jeremiah Gillett was born February 12, 1647/48, baptized February 20, at Windsor, (99) married Deborah Bartlett, daughter of Benjamin and Deborah (Barnard) Bartlett on October 15, 1685 at Windsor. (100) Deborah was born April 3, 1666 in Windsor, died there on September 29, 1753. Jeremiah inherited from his father the remainder of his father’s land without the west bounds of Windsor which had not been willed to Jonathan, Cornelius and John. In 1680 Jeremiah had the place in Windsor previously occupied by his uncle Nathan Gillett who had removed to Simsbury in 1670. Jeremiah and Deborah had eleven children all born in Windsor. Jeremiah died March 1, 1692/93, from Jeremiah’s probate. His will was dated December 17, 1692, but was not proved. After Jeremiah died, Deborah married Samuel Adams of Windsor on April 23, 1694. Jeremiah’s will and probate: (101) Jeremiah Gillett, Windsor, Invt. œ56-12-00. Taken 19 March, 1692-3, by Job Drake Jr., James Enno and Joseph Phelps Jr. Will dated 17 December, 1692.
I Jeremiah Gillett of Windsor doe make this my last Will & Testament: I give to my wife all my whole Estate for her Use & Improvement during the time of her natural life, as also my house & Homested, the Land being 3 acres more or less, bounding East on Josiah Gillet, north the Highway, West Jonathan Gillett, South against the Mill Brooke. I give my Marsh Land at Simsbury (the sd. Land given me by his last Will) I give to my wife as her proper Right, to sell or dispose of to whom she will. I give my daughter Deborah, at the day of her marriage, my Woodland, which is 10 acres more or less. I give my Homested, that Land being 5 acres more or less, to my daughter Deborah after her Mother’s Decease. My Will is my wife shall give my daughter, after her marriage, 20 shillings per year, to be paid in Apples or Syder, or in Both, I constitute my wife to be sole Executrix. Jeremiah Gillett. Ls. Witness: John Fyler, Benjamin Bartlett. Court Record, Page 56 - 12 April, 1693: A Will was exhibited in Court and was not allowed. Some Testimony was offered by Timothy Phelps sen., age 54 years, Joseph Loomis, age 41 years, son of John Loomis, Peter Brown, age 25 years, & Joseph Skiner. Order to Dist. the Estate to the Widow Deborah and the daughter. Adms. was granted to James Eno & Deborah the Relict. Page 62 - 7 September, 1693: It appears the daughter had died. This Court now Order her part of Jeremiah Gillett’s Estate to be divided among the uncles and aunts, her father’s brothers and sisters. Lt. Return Strong and Mr. John Porter appointed Distributors.
Page 36 - (Vol. VI) 13 April, 1698: Whereas, there have been differences between Jonathan Gillett of Windsor in behalf of himself and his brothers & sisters on the one part, and Samuel Adams of the same Windsor on behalf of his wife Deborah, as she was Adms. to the Estate of Jeremiah Gillett, her late Husband, on the other part, respecting the division of the estate of the sd. Jeremiah Gillett, which was ordered by the Court to him sd. Jonathan Gillett, and set out to him and them, his brothers and sisters, by Lt. Returne Strong and Mr. John Porter, by the Order of sd. Court, as by the Records of the Court may fully appear. And that the sd. Difference may be put to an End and fully issued, they the sd. Gillett and the sd. Adams have mutually and full agreed, and do by these presents fully and absolutely agree in manner and form following: (--) And for Confirmation hereof, and every part of this Agreement, we have hereunto set our Hands this 30th day of April, 1695. Jonathan Gillett, Cornelius Gillett, Josiah Gillett, Samuel X ffilley, Peter Brown, Samuel X Adams, Deborah X Adams. Witness: Daniel Clarke sen., Joseph Mygatt.
Josiah Gillett, baptized on July 14 or 15, 1650 in Windsor, Connecticut, (102) was one of the first settlers of Colchester, Connecticut in 1702. Josiah died on October 29, 1736 in Colchester, Connecticut. Josiah married Joanna/Hannah Tainter on June 30, 1676 in Windsor by Mr. John Allyn. (103) Joanna was born on April 29, 1657, and died on January 23, 1734/35 or 1735/36 in Colchester, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Rose) Tainter of Bradford, Connecticut. (104) (See Taintor history) In his father’s will Josiah was instructed “to take care for the improvement of his mother’s estate” and after her death “he shall enjoy for his own . . . my now dwelling house and all the appurtenances with it, with five acres of houselands & all other parcels of land, as are expressed to be his mother’s for her use whilst she lives, only excepting the house & four acres of the household land to it, which my son Jeremy shall possess for his own after my wife’s decease” and “the six acres in the second meadow I set out to him, he is to possess for his own at the present.” About 1702 Josiah and his large family moved to Colchester where he became a prominent man of affairs. (105) Josiah & Hannah had eleven children, all born in Windsor. (106) Ten of the children of Josiah and Joanna were: (107)
Josiah Gillett was born on November 24, 1678 at Windsor, Connecticut. He married Sarah Pellett on Mary 7, 1711 at Colchester. He died on October 14, 1742.
Joanna Gillett was born on October 28, 1680 at Windsor. She married Josiah Strong on January 5, 1698 at Colchester. Josiah Strong was the son of John and Elizabeth (Warriner) Strong, born January 11, 1678, died April 6, 1758 at Colchester.
Elizabeth Gillett, born January 16, 1681/82, 1682, died May 10, 1756.
Jonathan Gillett, born June 28, 1685. Starr Taintor has: Jonathan Gillett was born on October 15, 1685 (July 28, 1685, Ely Genealogy), died on January 3, 1775 at Colchester, Connecticut. He married Sarah Ely/Eley at Colchester on January 3, 1717. Sarah Ely (1695-August 4, 1759, age 65) was the daughter of Richard and Mary (Marvin) Ely of Lyme, Connecticut. This record is probably this Jonathan: Richard Skinner late of Colchester now of East Haddam in the County of Hartford to Jonathan Gillet of Colchester 100£ right in the undivided lands in Colchester 3 March 1715. (108) Richard was the brother of Jonathan’s sister’s husband, Nathaniel Skinner.
Their children were: (109) Sarah Gillett, born January 1, 1718; Jonathan Gillett, born March 22, 1720; Mary Gillett, born December 13, 1723; Joseph Gillett, born December 30, 1725, died December 4, 1814, age 90, probably married Abigail _?_ (possibly Abigail Kellogg, born October 29, 1736); Nehemiah Gillett, born March 1, 1727/28, died August 25, 1814, age 87; Jonah Gillett, born April 10, 1730, died April 10, 1731; Aaron Gillett, born May 23, 1732, died June 14, 1786, age 54, probably married Anne _?_; Mary Gillett, born May 23, 1734.
The children of Joseph and Abigail Gillett may have been: Jospeh Gillett, born August 29, 1758; Abigail Gillett, born December 28, 1759, died November 10, 1835, age 75; Ezra Gillett, died September 15, 1769, age 23 days; a son, died August 22, 1761, age 2 days; Sarah Gillett, born August 28, 1762; Lucy Gillett, born April 12, 1764; Eunice Gillett, born January 24, 1766; Jonathan Gillett, born March 21, 1768; Ezra Gillett, born December 11, 1772, died January 16, 1792, age 20; Miss Seviah/Zerviah Gillett, born Mary 18, 1775, died May 6, 1814, age 38; Ralph Gillett, born June 4, 1777; Samuel Gillett, born August 25, 1779.
Some of the children of Aaron and Anne Gillett were: Juhannah [sic?] Gillett, died April 24, 1765, age 9; Aaron, died August 17, 1758, age 7 mo. 15d; Hannah, died March 23, 1773, age 9.
Mary Gillett, born March 8, 1686/87 at Windsor. She married Nathaniel Skinner. Mary Gillett was born on March 8, 1687 at Windsor. She married Nathaniel Skinner, born January 27, 1686 at Malden, son of Thomas and Mary (Pratt) Skinner of Charlestown, Massachusetts. She died October 11, 1740 at Colchester, Connecticut. See Skinner history.
Samuel Gillett, born October 1, 1690. He married (1) Mary or Sarah Chappell on January 30, 1718/19 at Colchester, (2) Abigail Kellogg circa 1733. He died on October 8, 1771 at Colchester. Their children were: (110) Samuel Gillett, born April 20, 1719; Israel Gillett, born February 10, 1721/22; Adonijah Gillett, born May 30, 1724; Eliphalet Gillett, born November 1, 1726, died August 22, 1728; Mary Gillett, born April 11, 1729; Ruth Gillett, born December 17, 1731. By his wife Abigail, daughter of Ebenezer and Mabel (Butler) Kellogg, born June 25, 1707?, child Eliphalet Gillet, born April 29, 1734, died May 2, 1790, age 57. Abigail Kellogg, born was born on June 25, 1707. The will of Ebenezer Kellogg, dated September 19, 1745, mentioned granddaughter Abigail Gillett. Eliphalet Gillett (born 1734) married Lydia _?_. Lydia died December 10, 1804, age 64. A child was: Betsey, died November 30, 1807, age 27.
Joseph Gillett, born March 3, 1694/95.
Mindwell Gillett, born February 4, 1695/96, died on May 9, 1785. She married John Clark, son of Dan'l and Hannah (Pratt) Clark, born Windsor circa 1686, died at Colchester on October 27, 1749.
Aaron Gillett, born March 8, 1698/99, died circa 1730, married Hannah Clark (possibly Hannah Clark on July 10, 1728 (111)). Hannah is said to have been the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Butter) Clark of Colchester. She was born June 30, 1706 at Colchester. Aaron’s probate information is confusing. (112) He apparently had one daughter, Hannah, who may have married a Lemuel Storrs. (113) The record below did list Hannah Gillett as Aaron’s widow, but then later indicated she may have been Mrs. Hannah Chamberlin. There is an undocumented record that Hannah Clark Gillett married the Joseph Chamberlin mentioned below (documentation not found). Joseph’s first wife, Mercy, died at Colchester on June 30, 1735, in the 67th year; Joseph died August 7, 1752 (gravestones).
Aaron Gillett, Colchester, Invt. œ1171-16-01. Taken 2 January, 1731-2, by John Skinner, William Worthington and John Bulkeley, Jr. Court Record:
Page 33 - 5 January, 1730-31: Adms. to Hannah Gillett, widow. Page 62 - 7 March, 1731-2: The Adms. shows this Court that there is not sufficient moveables to pay the debts. Then was set out to her œ13-13-10 (for) necessaries to keep house. Page 66 - 2 May, 1732: Adms. account accepted. Page 92 - 5 June, 1733: Upon motion of Hannah Gillett and Jonathan Gillett, liberty is given to sell lands to the value of œ723-04-00, with directions for advertising the sale.
Page 1 (Probate Side): Know all men by these presents: That we, Lemuel Stores [sic Storrs] and Hannah Stores, both of Colchester, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut, (which sd. Hannah was the daughter and only heir of Aaron Gillett, late of Colchester deceased), have received of our honoured mother, Mrs. Hannah Chamberlin of sd. Colchester, administratrix on the estate of the sd. Aaron Gillett, all the estate of the sd. deceased that did belong to the sd. Hannah Stores or that ought to be set out to her, with all the rents and profits of sd. estate, whether arising out of the real or personal estate, to our full content and satisfaction. And we do therefore hereby, for ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, forever acquit, exonerate and discharge our father, Mr. Joseph Chamberlin, and his wife, the sd. Adms., and all other persons concerned with or for the sd. Adms. in the management of that affair, from any claim, challenge or demand to be made by us or our heirs for any part of the estate abovesd. more than what we have recd. as above said, and do hereby ratify, confirm and establish any disposition or conveyance or conveyances that have been made by the sd. Adms. of the sd. Aaron Gillett’s lands pursuant to ye trust reposed in her. And for confirmation of what is above written they have hereunto set their hands and seals, the 18th day of October, 1749. Lemuel Stores, ls. Hannah Stores, ls. Signed and sealed Dc. in presence of Jno. Bulkeley, Alexr. Clark. Colchester, October 18th, 1749: Personally appeared Lemuel Stores and Hannah his wife, and acknowledged this instrument to be their free act and deed. Coram: John Bulkeley, Assistant. Received Febry.
Noah Gillett, born December 5, 1701, died March 2, 1739. May have married Abigail _?_.
Nathan Gillett
Nathan Gillett, (114) son of William Gyllett, was born circa 1613, based on the date of his freemanship in 1669, (115) died on September 15, 1689. (116) He married by 1639, his wife’s name is unknown, but she was “above fifty years” old on May 30, 1667, (117) and died at Windsor on February 21, 1670/71. (118) The first record of Nathan in America is his admission to the Massachusetts Bay Colony on May 14, 1634 which implies arrival by 1633 and admission to the Dorchester, Massachusetts, Church. Nathan served in the Pequot War in 1637. (119) In the grant of meadows beyond Neponset in Dorchester, “N. Gillet” held Lot #33, four acres. (120) A grant of two acres of marsh on June 27, 1636 to “Jellets” may have been to Nathan as well as to Jonathan. (121) Sometime before his father’s death in 1641 Nathaniel by power of attorney conveyed some land in England to his father. He was granted fifty acres by the Connecticut court for his service in the Pequot War on October 12, 1671. (122)
In the Windsor land inventory in January 1640 Nathan Gillett held five parcels: a homestead of five acres (annotated “sold to his brother Jonathan,” later to his nephew Jeremiah); three and a half acres in the Little Neck (annotated “sold to Mr. Warham”); “in meadow and upland adjoining in the second meadow twenty[?] acres more or less” (annotated “sold to Robart Hayward”); “in Long Meadow three acres more or less and adjoining to it two acres” (annotated “sold to J. Enows”); and “over the Great River begins one hundred sixty rods back & then is in breadth eleven rods, in length two miles and half” (annotated “this is now Owen Tudor’s”). This list was amended June 5, 1660 to include “fifteen acres of land” granted to Nathan Gillet. (123) On October 11, 1669 Nathan Gillet was listed as a freeman of Windsor.
On May 31, 1678 Nathan “Gillit” and John Moses came to an agreement allowing John Moses three rods of Gillett’s land. “Elias Gillit and John Mosses Junior, both sons to the aged men above written, to perfect and settle the line,” also agreed to the line as it was run. (124) In an undated deed “Nathan Gillit of Windsor who is deceased did give unto his son Elias Gillit his heirs and assigns forever and ordered me so to record it to him and them . . . as attest Jno Slater, Register.”. (125) The same John Slater noted that the record of “Nathan Gillit Senior’s” land laid out in 1672 or 1673, being approximately eighty-six acres, was re-recorded in the town records, the original “being burnt.” (126)
Nathan bought land in the new settlement of Simsbury, Connecticut. On March 9, 1679/80 the committee appointed by the General Court “for settling of ye plantation of Simsbury” determined that proprietor Nathan Gillit’s land should be on the “eastside.” (127) [Donald L. Jacobus “Gillett Addenda” (TAG, 1950), 26:52.] “In the year 1687 or 88 Nathan Gillit of Windsor . . . being disposed before his death to dispose of his land did in his lifetime make distribution to his children of said meadow lot in the township of Simsbury to each his proportion being personally himself present. . . . and is as followeth: ‘First to his son Elias being the eldest son living’ three acres and three rood at Weatoug; to ‘Nathan Gillit Junior’ one part of ‘Nathan Gillit Senior’s’ meadow in Simsbury; and to ‘Thomas Wapples of Hartford’ Nathan being ‘his wife’s father’s meadow in Weatoug being approximately eleven acres and three roods.” (128) Thomas Wapples was his son-in-law. He also made separate deeds to his three daughters.
On April 18, 1688 “Nathan Gillyt senor of Windsor” deeded to “Nicholas Gozard of the town of Simsbury . . . my son-in-law . . . and husband to my daughter Elizabeth” fourteen acres of meadow. But Nathan died before signing the deed and “Elyas Gillit being the eldest son to my father that is now living” honored the deed to Gozzard on May 26, 1692. (129) On April 19, 1688 “Nathan Gillit Senr of Windsor” deeded to “Eliez[e]r Hill of the town of Simsbury . . . husband to my daughter Sarah” a parcel of land, part upland, part meadow in Simsbury on the east side of the river. Elias confirmed this under the same conditions as the Gozzard deed. (130)
Although Nathan Gillett was an original grantee of land at Simsbury, and several of his children resided there, Nathan himself apparently never moved to Simsbury. There is an article on the family of Nathan Gillett by George E. McCracken, “Nathan Gillett’s Earlier Descendants,” American Genealogist, 56:129-40. The children of Nathan, all born or baptized in Windsor, (131) were:
Elizabeth was born on October 6, 1639, married, in Salisbury, by circa 1672 Nicholas Gozzard (eldest child aged twenty-one in 1693). (132) Nicholas died intestate on August 3, 1692 at Simsbury. He was a son of Daniel Gozzard of Hartford. On April 18, 1688 Elizabeth’s father deeded to Nicholas Gozard of Simsbury 14 acres of meadow but Nicholas died before signing the deed. Elyas Gillet honored the deed to Nicholas on May 26, 1692. (133) Administration of Nicholas’ estate was granted to his widow Elizabeth. The inventory amounted to £206/10/-. The heirs were widow Elizabeth, son Nathaniel Gozzard (age 16), son John Gozzard (age 11) and daughter Elizabeth Gozzard (age 21). On November 10, 1697 Elizabeth signed as Elizabeth Gozzard, Sr., the covenant on the occasion of the ordination of the Rev. Dudley Woodbridge as pastor at Simsbury.
Abiah, born August 22, 1641, died November 21, 1716. She married (1) Isaiah Barlett, December 3, 1663 at Windsor, (134) married (2) John Slater, July 15, 1669 at Windsor. (135) Isaiah was born on June 13 1641 in Windsor, died July 13, 1665. He was the eldest son of John Bartlett. John Slater died May 13, 1713 at Simsbury. John Slater signed his will on August 15, 1712 with his mark. It was probated July 6, 1713 naming his wife Abiah, sons John Slater, Samuel Slater, Elias Slater and daughter Elizabeth Slater. The inventory taken on May 13, 1713 came to £128 15s.
Child, died in Windsor in 1646 (136) (probably a son since Elias is often called “the eldest son now living”).
Rebecca, born June 14, 1646, died July 13, 1655 at Windsor. (137)
Elias, baptized on July 1, 1649 in Windsor. Elias married (1) Sarah Griffin on October 29, 1676 at Simsbury. Sarah was born on December 25, 1654 (Feb. 10, 1654/5?) in Windsor, died between February 1, 1685/6 and June 2, 1700. She was a daughter of John & Hannah (Bancroft) Griffin.( (138) He married (2) between 1694 and 1699 Rebecca (Kelsey) Messenger, widow of Nathaniel Messenger. Rebecca died on February 15, 1731/2 in Windsor. Rebecca Kelsey was born January 2, 1659/60 in Windsor, a daughter of Mark and Rebecca (Hoskins) Kelsey. The inventory of Elias Gillett’s estate amounted to only £18 5s.
Sarah, born on July 13, 1651, married Eleazer Hill on December 29, 1679 at Simsbury. (139) Eleazer died on March 3, 1724/5 at Windsor. On April 19, 1688 Sarah’s father deeded to Eliezr Hill of Simsbury, “husband to my daughter Sarah,” a parcel of land, part upland, part meadow in Simsbury on the east side of the river.
Benjamin, born August 29, 1653, died on July 13, 1655 at Windsor. (140) He died on the same day as his sister Rebecca.
Nathan, born August 17, 1655, died January 30, 1757/58 (1751/52?) in Windsor. He married Rebecca Owen on June 30, 1692 at Windsor, (141) daughter of John Owen. (Stiles erred in giving him his nephew’s wife in a second marriage. (142) Rebecca was born March 28, 1666 in Windsor, died before 1702/03. She was a daughter of John & Rebecca (Wade) Owen. Nathan had a Simsbury grant on January 25, 1691/2 but it was revoked on December 18, 1695. In 1696 Nathan sold the land his father had conveyed to him in March 1687/78. Nathan was a tailor. He stated that he was formerly of Windsor, late of St. Thomas in East on the Island of Jamaica, West Indies, now of Lebanon, County, Windham. Their son Nathan Gillett was born circa1698/99, wife unknown, died in 1745 in Lebanon, Connecticut. (143) In his will he left £50 to his honored father Nathan Gillett of Windsor.
Rebecca, born December 8, 1657, married by 1684 or before March 1687/78 Thomas Whaples. (144) Rebecca died before August 28, 1698. Thomas was born circa 1656, died at Hartford between February 10, 1712/13 and April 3, 1713. He was a son of Thomas & Margery Whaples of Hartford. Rebecca’s father deeded to his son-in-law Thomas Wapples of Hartford approximately 11 acres & 3 roods of meadow in Weatong. The inventory of Thomas Whaples’ estate amounted to £203 01s 01p.
Endnotes
1 Genealogies of CT Families; familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/c/h/Beverly-J-Schonewolf/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0302.html.
2 Plummer, John, “Identifying George P~?~ of the Recovery, 1633 [1634],” National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 1989, 252.
3 Coddington, John I., “Jonathan Gillett of Dorchester, Mass., & Windsor, Conn., & Mary Dolbere or Dolbiar, His Wife,” The American Genealogist, 15:208-209.
4 www.pcez.com/~bigshoe/du/Holc/culver.html.
5 Taunton wills, 1641, file 13.
6 Anderson, Robert C., “The Great Migration Begins” (1995), 2: 769-772; Lea, J. Henry & J. R. Hutchinson, “Clues from English Archives Contributory to American Genealogy,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 1910, 41:282-283; McCracken, George E., “New Gillett Information from England,” The American Genealogist, 1979, 55:171.
7 Frank Thistlethwaite, Dorset Pilgrims, London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1989, p. 52.
8 McCracken, George E., “New Gillett Information from England,” The American Genealogist, 1979, 55:171; Susan L. Bayton, “Descendants of William Gylett” (http://familytreemaker.com/users/b/a/y/Susan-L-Bayton/GENE2-0001.html).
9 Joseph Forster, ed., Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714, Oxford, 1891, Vol. WP. 569.
10 Aldridge, Bertha B., “Gillette Family Including some of the Descendants of the Immigrants Jonathan & Nathan Gillet” (1955), 12.
11 Jacobus, Donald L., “Gillett Addenda,” The American Genealogist, 1950, 26:52.
12 Aldridge, Bertha B., “Gillette Family Including some of the Descendants of the Immigrants Jonathan & Nathan Gillet” (1955), 13-20; Anderson, Robert C., “The Great Migration Begins” ( ), 2:766-770; Coddington, John I., “Jonathan Gillett of Dorchester, MA, & Windsor, CT, & Mary Dolbere or Dollar, his Wife,” The American Genealogist, 1938/9, 15:208-212; Priest, Alice L., “The Brothers Jonathan & Nathan Gillett & Some of their Descendants,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1946-1947, 100:272-277, 101:43-47 & 289; Spear, Burton W., “Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John, 1630,” 5:49-67;Stiles, Henry R., “History & Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, CT, 1635-1891” (1892), 2:289-290; Thomas, Wilma G., “Joseph Gillet-Gillett-Gillette Family of CT, Ohio & Kansas” (1970), 3-21.
13 The American Genealogist, 15:210; National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 71:171, 77:250.
14 Banks, Charles E., “The Winthrop Fleet of 1630” (1930/1980), 100-103.
15 Coldham, Peter W., “Genealogical Gleanings in England Passengers & Ships to America, 1618-1668,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 1983, 71:171; Plummer, John, “Identifying George P___ ? ___ of the Recovery 1633[1634],” National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 1989, 77:251-253.
16 Aldridge, Bertha B., “Gillette Families Including some of the Descendants of the Immigrants Jonathan & Nathaniel Gillet” (1955), 13-14.
17 Spear, Burton W., “Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John, 1630” (1989), 12:98.
18 The American Genealogist, 15:208-17.
19 Births Marriages and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut..., Edwin Stanley Welles, ed. (Hartford 1898), 56; The American Genealogist, 15:210.
20 Kuhns, Maude P., “The Mary & John: A Story of the Founding of Dorchester, MA” (1971), 35.
21 Latham, Esther Gillett, “Our Family Tree: Gillet-Gillett-Gillette, Descendants of Jonathan, Nathan & Jeremiah Gillett” (1953).
22 Massachusetts Bay Colony Records 1:370.
23 Dorchester Town Records (Boston 1883) 11.
24 Dorchester Town Records (Boston 1883) 17.
25 Dorchester Town Records (Boston 1883) 321.
26 Dorchester Town Records (Boston 1883) 35.
27 Windsor, Connecticut, Deeds (microfilm of original at Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut) 1:41.
28 Thomas, Wilma Gillet, “The Joseph Gillet/Gillett/Gillette Family of CT, Ohio & Kansas” (1970), 9; Stiles, Henry R., “The History & Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, CT, 1635-1891” (1891), 1:157.
29 Records of the Particular Court of Connecticut, 1639-1663. Connecticut Historical Society Collections, 119, 143, 181, 197, 211,219, 238, 240, 246, 261.
30 Records of the Particular Court of Connecticut, 1639-1663. Connecticut Historical Society Collections, 161.
31 Stiles, Henry R., “The History & Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, CT, 1635-1891” (1891), 1:872-3.
32 Stiles, Henry R., “The History & Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, CT, 1635-1891” (1891), 1:88.
33 Stiles, Henry R., “The History & Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, CT, 1635-1891” (1891), 1:88.
34 Priest, Alice L., “The Brothers Jonathan & Nathan Gillett & Some of their Descendants,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1946, 100:274.
35 Hartford PD Case #2202; Manwaring 1:200-01.
36 Hartford PD Case #2202.
37 Hartford PD Case #2202.
38 Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1635-50 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1635-1700, Vol IX, p. 112.
39 The American Genealogist, 15:210.
40 Matthew Grant 39; TAG 68:209, 210, 215.
41 Matthew Grant 39. Matthew Grant, or “Old Church,” Record, 1639-1681. The Matthew Grant Record consists of several thousand births, marriages, and deaths for Windsor families throughout much of the 17th century. Though not an official record of the town, it nonetheless is one of the most important sources of Windsor ‘vital records’ in existence.
42 Manwaring, Charles W., “A Digest of Early CT Probate Records, 1677-1687,” 22-24 & 34.
43 Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1635-50 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1635-1700. Vol. I. n.p., 1906, pp. 49-50.
44 Court Record, Page 21.
45 Court Record, p. 140.
46 The American Genealogist, 68:214; Grant 39.
47 Stiles, Henry R., “History & Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, CT, 1635-1891” (1891), 1:149.
48 Manwaring, Charles W., “A Digest of Early CT Probate Records, 1667-1687,” 57.
49 Manwaring, Charles W., “A Digest of Early CT Probate Records, 1687-1695,” 127-8.
50 Matthew Grant 33-34; The American Genealogist, 33:215.
51 Summary from The Browns of Wintonbury, Makers of Brown Drums, Wintonbury Historical Society, 1999.
52 Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. Volume I.
53 Matthew Grant 37, 39.
54 www.angelfire.com/music2/greggwager/wager2018.html.
55 Matthew Grant 39.
56 Windsor Vital Records, Barbour Collection, Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; Priest, Alice L., “The Brothers Jonathan & Nathan Gillett & Some of their Descendants,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1947, 101:43 & 288-289.
57 Anderson, Robert C., “The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England 1634-1635” (2003), 3:257-259.
58 Anderson, Robert C., “The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England 1634-1635” (2003), 3:257-259.
59 Leach, Douglas A., “Flintlock & Tomahawk: New England in King Philip’s War” (1958), 87-88.
60 Priest, Alice L., “The Brothers Jonathan & Nathan Gillett & Some of their Descendants,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1947, 101:43-46.
61 “Some Early Records & Documents of and Relating to the Town of Windsor, CT, 1639 – 1703” (1930), 66.
62 “Some Early Records & Documents of and Relating to the Town of Windsor, CT, 1639 – 1703” (1930), 101. Data kindly supplied by Richard Field ([email protected]).
63 Deed Book D:151.
64 Barbour, Lucius B., “Families of Early Hartford, CT” (1977), 263.
65 Manwaring, Charles W., “A Digest of the Early CT Probate Records, Hartford District” (1904), 2:393.
66 Ward, Daniel C., “Descendants of Jacques De Gylette,” #96 (www.familytreemaker.com/users/w/a/r/Daniel-C-Ward/GENE5-0008.html).
67 Sheldon, George, “A History of Deerfield, Massachusetts,” (1895), 2:173.
68 Milne, George McLean, “Lebanon, 3 Centuries in a CT Hilltop Town” (1996), 270.
69 Priest, Alice L., “The Brothers Jonathan & Nathan Gillett & Some of their Descendants,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1947, 101:240.
70 “Vital Records of New Haven, 1649-1850” (1917), :52.
71 Wood, W. Herbert & Donald L. Jacobus, “Additions & Corrections to the Colver-Culver Genealogy,” The American Genealogist, 1955, 31:133.
72 Priest, Alice L., “The Brothers Jonathan & Nathan Gillett & Some of their Descendants,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1948, 101:49.
73 Priest, Alice L., “The Brothers Jonathan & Nathan Gillett & Some of their Descendants,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1947, :290; Sheldon, George, “A History of Deerfield, Massachusetts” (1895/1972 1:260-261.
74 Wood, W. Herbert & Donald L. Jacobus, “Additions & Corrections to the Colver/Culver Genealogy,” The American Genealogist, 1955, 31:138.
75 Rev. Orlo D. Hine, “Early Lebanon, An Historical Address” (1880), 151-152; Milne, George McClean, “Lebanon, 3 Centuries in a CT Hilltop Town” (1986), 270.
76 Wood, W. Herbert & Donald L. Jacobus, “Additions & Corrections to the Colver/Culver Genealogy,” The American Genealogist, 1955, 31:141.
77 Wood, W. Herbert & Donald L. Jacobus, “Additions & Corrections to the Colver/Culver Genealogy,” The American Genealogist, 1955, 31:130-132.
78 Giorgi, Valerie D. “Colver-Culver Family Genealogy” (1984), 17.
79 Connecticut's Heritage Gateway, www.ctheritage.org/biography/topical_religion/quakers.htm, accessed 2007.
80 “Registration of Pedigrees.” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1920, 51:91; David Benedict “A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America” (1813), 2:425; “The Rogerenes: Some Hitherto Unpublished Annals Belonging to the Colonial History of CT” (1904), 34; Frederic L. Colver “Colver-Culver Genealogy “ (1910), 59.
81 “Registration of Pedigrees,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1920, 51:91; Giorgi, Valerie D., “Colver-Culver Family Genealogy” (1984), 37-38; David Benedict “A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America” (1813), 2:425.
82 Chambers, Theodore F., “The Early Germans of New Jersey” (1895), 179.
83 “Land Records – Town of Lebanon, Conn, Deeds,” 2:489.
84 Lebanon Deed Book 4:56-57.
85 Probate #2231, 1714, Lebanon, District of New London, Book B:91.
86 Matthew Grant 39.
87 Sheldon, George, “A History of Deerfield, Massachusetts” (1895), 2:173.
88 Williams, John, “The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion” (1795/1966), 110.
89 Spear, Burton W., “Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John, 1630,” 5:59.
90 Stiles, Henry R., “The History of Ancient Wethersfield, CT” (1904), 328.
91 Matthew Grant 39.
92 Births Marriages and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut..., Edwin Stanley Welles, ed. (Hartford 1898), 12; Matthew Grant 40.
93 Charles William Manwaring, A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1995, Manwaring 1:307.
94 Births Marriages and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut..., Edwin Stanley Welles, ed. (Hartford 1898), 52.
95 Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1635-50 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1635-1700. Vol. I. n.p., 1906, p. 121.
96 Manwaring, Charles W., “A Digest of Early CT Probate Records, 1677-1687,” 121.
97 Mrs. William C. Clark, “William Hooker Gillette, Actor and Playwright,” The American Genealogist (1968), 45:225-228.
98 Matthew Grant 39, 81.
99 Matthew Grant 39.
100 Windsor Vital Records, Barbour Collection, Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut, 117.
101 Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1635-50 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1635-1700. Vol. I. n.p., 1906, p. 159.
102 Matthew Grant 39.
103 Matthew Grant 42, 76.
104 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1893, vol 47, p 168-177. “Descendants of Jonathan Gillet, of Dorchester, Mass. and Windsor, Conn.”
105 Jones, Nathan H., “The Ancestors of my Daughters” (1914), 120.
106 Gillette, Salmon C. & Rev. Henry C. Alvord, “Descendants of Jonathan Gillet of Dorchester, MA, & Windsor, CT,” New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1893, 47:168-169.
107 Most of this information is from Starr Taintor, “Genealogy of the Taintor Family of Connecticut. Descendants of Charles Taintor of Wethersfield and Fairfield, Connecticut. Compiled from Town and Church Records, Histories and Various Family Genealogies,” Unpublished, n.d.
108 Colchester, Connecticut land records, Vol. 2, p. 121.
109 Transcription of “Memoranda of All the Inscriptions in the Old Burying Ground at Colchester, Conn. With some notes from the Town Records,” by Frank E. Randall, 1886. Reprinted from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, January 1883.
110 Transcription of “Memoranda of All the Inscriptions in the Old Burying Ground at Colchester, Conn. With some notes from the Town Records,” by Frank E. Randall, 1886. Reprinted from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, January 1883.
111 Extracts from the Records of Colchester, With Some Transcripts From the Recording of Machaell Taintor, of “Brainford,” Conn.; Transcribed by Charles M. Taintor; Hartford, 1864.
112 Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1729-50 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1729-1750. Vol. III. n.p., 1906, pp. 164-185.
113 Manwaring:3:52-3 (18 Oct 1749) Lemuel Storrs and Hannah hw both of Colchester, she dau and only heir of Aaron Gillett of Colechester . . . her mother Hannah Chamberlain of Colchester.
114 Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins Immigrants to New England 1620 – 1633, Boston 1995.
115 In list of Windsor freemen, 11 October 1669, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776, 15 volumes (Hartford 1850-1890) 2:519.
116 Births Marriages and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut..., Edwin Stanley Welles, ed. (Hartford 1898), 57.
117 The American Genealogist 23:126, citing WMJ 730.
118 Windsor Vital Records, Barbour Collection, Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; McCracken, George E., “Nathan Gillett’s Earlier Descendants” The American Genealogist, 1980), 56:129-139; Anderson, Robert C., “The Great Migration Begins” (1995), 2:770-772.
119 The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776, 15 volumes (Hartford 1850-1890) 2:161.
120 Dorchester Town Records (Boston 1883) 321.
121 Dorchester Town Records (Boston 1883) 17.
122 The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776, 15 volumes (Hartford 1850-1890) 2:161, 251, 288.
123 Windsor, Connecticut, Deeds (microfilm of original at Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut) 1:36.
124 SimsLR 1:109 (Sims Land Records).
125 SimsLR 1:142 (Sims Land Records).
126 SimsLR 1:142 (Sims Land Records).
127 Donald L. Jacobus “Gillett Addenda,” The American Genealogist, 1950, 26:52.
128 SimsLR 1:143 (Sims Land Records).
129 SimsLR 1:96-97 (Sims Land Records).
130 SimsLR 1:125 (Sims Land Records).
131 Matthew Grant 40.
132 Manwaring 1:453; The American Genealogist, 56:130.
133 Simsbury Deed 1½:96-97
134 Matthew Grant 28.
135 Births Marriages and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut..., Edwin Stanley Welles, ed. (Hartford 1898), 12.
136 Matthew Grant 81.
137 Matthew Grant 81; Births Marriages and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut..., Edwin Stanley Welles, ed. (Hartford 1898), 43.
138 SimsVR Barbour 60.
139 SimsVR Barbour 61.
140 Matthew Grant 81; Births Marriages and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut..., Edwin Stanley Welles, ed. (Hartford 1898), 43.
141 Windsor Vital Records, Barbour Collection, Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut, 119.
142 The American Genealogist, 56:133.
143 Clark, Mrs. William C., “Which Nathan Gillett Married Hannah Buckland?,” The American Genealogist, 1971, 47:79.
144 The American Genealogist, 56:134, citing SimsLR 1:109.