Person Page - 66

     Mary Ford married Peter Rice, son of Richard Rice and Elizabeth (__?__), on 29 October 1683 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Mass..

     Abigail Marret was the daughter of John Marret and Abigail Richardson. She married (1) Timothy Rice, son of Richard Rice and Elizabeth (__?__), on 27 April 1687 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Mass.. She married (2) Joseph Crackbone, son of Benjamin Crackbone, on 11 May 1698 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Mass..

     Mary Cotton was born in December 1641 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..^1,2 She was the daughter of Sergt. William Cotton and Ann (__?__). She was baptized on 16 May 1647 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..¹ She married, at age 18, John Matson, age 23, son of Sergt. Thomas Matson and Amy Chambers, on 7 March 1659/60 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass., married by Maj. Humphrey Atherton.^2,3 She died circa 1668.

     Sergt. William Cotton was born circa 1610. He married Ann (__?__). He died on 29 June 1670.¹
     
Immigration: before 1647, when he is found in Boston.
Freeman: on 26 May 1647 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..²
Religion/Church: Member of the First Church in Boston.
Occupation: Butcher.
Public Office: Highway surveyor in Boston, 1650, 1651; Clerk of the Market, 1654, 1665.
Military Service: in 1650 Sergeant on the rolls of The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, the oldest military organization in America.

     William Cotton possibly resided first at Gloucester but most records of him are found in Boston where he was a butcher by trade and practiced near what is today called Dock Square. He was made a freeman in the First Church of Boston on 15 May 1647 when he was heard by the Rev. John Cotton. In 1650 he is found on the rolls of the "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston"* and rose to the position of Sergeant by which he was addressed from such time on. Sergeant William Cotton also served in two town offices. He was chosen as highway surveyor on March 11, 1650 and again in 1651. He was also chosen Clerk of the Market on 12 March, 1654 and again 10 March 1665. Sergeant William Cotton owned property and land which he mortgaged. Included in mortgages were his dwelling house, stable yard and slaughter- house. William, at times, got into trouble with authorities possibly due to the many family deaths. Between 1650 and 1651 he lost two sons both named William. In September of 1952 Sergt. Wm Cotton was fined 5 shillings for "throwing filth and dung into the street" on 29 November 1651 in Boston. On 5 June 1664 in First Church, Boston "Our brother William Cotton for his contemptuous words to the Governor: upon his humble confession of his sinne in the Congregation was forgiven." On 15 September. 1667 in First Church, Boston "Our brother William Cotton for his profaine scoffing at religion his Lung and railing and obstinance therein was in the name of the Lord Jesus with the consent of the brethren excommunicate from the fellowship of the church on the 15 day of the 7th month 1667.
     William reportedly died in 1670. His wife, Ann, eventually remarried Reverend Morgan Jones. Reverend Jones had been in Virginia prior to his residence in Boston. In the late 1670's he was found in Newtown, Long Island, and later, in 1687, in Madnans Neck (Great Neck). Purportedly admitted to Oxford in 1636, his credentials were called into question by Cotton Mather in the 1690's as an example of "pseudo-ministers" and he asserted that "M.J." was a tanner by trade of somewhat dubious integrity. While his assertions may have had merit, it is also possible that Morgan Jones may have had differences with the Boston clerics.

     Ann (__?__) married (1) Sergt. William Cotton. She married (2) Rev. Morgan Jones, son of John Jones, before 1685.¹

     Sergt. Thomas Matson was born circa 1602 possibly in London, England.^1,2 He married Amy Chambers, daughter of Thomas Chambers, circa 1633 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..³ He died between 9 June 1676 and 26 April 1677 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..⁴
     Sergt. Thomas Matson immigrated circa 1630 Found in Boston by 1630, from London on Winthrops fleet.
Freeman: on 4 March 1633/34 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Mass..
Occupation: Gunsmith. He lived in 1637 Removed to Braintree.
Military Service: in 1644 Sergeant of the militia at Braintree.

     Thomas Matson came to Boston in 1630 from England probably with the Winthrop Fleet. He was a gunsmith by trade. Thomas was made a Freeman March 4, 1633/34. He was recorded by communion of Churches, from church in London and united with Boston Church on July 17, 1636. During the Hutchinson Rebellion he was one of the friends of Wheelwright and was "ordered to be disarmed" on November 20, 1637 and removed to Braintree, where he was later made a sergeant, and is mentioned as a selectman. In 1665 he was the owner of considerable real estate on Boston Neck.
     He married in 1632 or 1633, Amy Chambers, a daughter of Thomas Chambers, minister at Assington, and a sister of Thomas Chambers who was buried 22 Nov 1638 at St. Mary's Ab church, London. On 28 Jul 1640, Thomas and Amy Matson "receipted to their Sister in law, Mrs. Chambers, wife of Thomas Chambers, citizen and cloth worker, of London, dwelling at the Sign of the golden Key in Shelbourne Lane.". In 1673, for the sum of £450, Thomas deeds 123 acres of land and buildings in Braintree to William Penn.

     Olive (__?__) married Israel Messenger, son of Nathaniel Messenger and Eleanor Griffin. She died on 13 December 1817.

     Matilda (__?__) married Amos Messenger, son of Nathaniel Messenger and Eleanor Griffin. She died on 20 August 1848.

     Mindwell (__?__) was born in 1764. She married Daniel Messenger, son of Nathaniel Messenger and Eleanor Griffin. She died on 8 March 1831 in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn..

     Mary Day was born on 25 July 1775. She was the daughter of William Day and Abigail Woodward. She married George Landcraft, son of George Landcraft and Sarah Jocelyn, in 1794 in East Haven, New Haven Co., Conn.. She died on 10 May 1858 at age 82.

     Samuel Woodward was born on 11 December 1727 in New Haven, Conn..³ He was the son of Peter Woodward III and Hannah Edwards. He married, at age 22, Abigail Lamson, age 31, daughter of Joseph Lamson and Mary Ann (__?__), on 22 November 1750 in New Haven, Conn..^3,4 He died in September 1756 at age 28 possibly in service at Lake George New York on the Crown Point Expedition.⁵
     
Military Service: French & Indian War: 12 September 1755 Marched from New Haven under Capt. James Peck, 7'th Co, 2'nd Regt. Deserted Sept 17; Possibly died at Lake George on the Crown Point expedition in 1756.

Could it be that Samuel died as a result of Military service at Fort William Henry?

On Sept. 11, 1755 Samuel enlisted in the 7'th Co. of the 2'nd Regt. commanded by Col. Elizur Goodrich. This company, under the command of Capt. James Peck of New Haven marched from New Haven on Sept. 12'th. On September 17'th, Samuel is listed as a deserter.

1756 2nd Regt. 6th Co., Capt Israel Woodward In the expedition against Crown Point,
Samuel Woodward service from April 7 - Sept. 27
Sgt. David Woodward
Nathl Messenger (Is this our Nathan?)
Nath Pardy
Nathan Woodward
Nathll Messenger is listed as also having been in last years campaign to Crown Point.

One Israel Woodward d. Andover, CT 30 July 1797, age 89. Possibly the Capt. in 1756.

     Abigail Lamson was born on 9 March 1718/19 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn..¹ She was the daughter of Joseph Lamson and Mary Ann (__?__). She married, at age 31, Samuel Woodward, age 22, son of Peter Woodward III and Hannah Edwards, on 22 November 1750 in New Haven, Conn..^2,3 She died on 22 March 1797 in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., at age 78.^4,5 She was buried in Granby Center cemetery (no stone); probably.

     Mary Woodward was born on 15 September 1754. She was the daughter of Samuel Woodward and Abigail Lamson. She married (__?__) Goddard.

     Peter Woodward III was born on 29 December 1679 in Dedham, Norfolk Co., Mass.. He was the son of Peter Woodward Jr. and Mehitable (__?__). He married, at age 45, Hannah Edwards, age 41 (widow of Eliphalet Pardee), daughter of Samuel Edwards and Sarah Boykin, on 5 January 1724/25 in New Haven, Conn., married by Rev. Mr. Jacob Hemingway.⁴ He died on 25 September 1745 in East Haven, New Haven Co., Conn., at age 65.^5,6 He died on 25 September 1754 at age 74 A probable transcription error of Peter's death date.

     Hannah Edwards was born on 6 June 1683 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Mass..¹ She was the daughter of Samuel Edwards and Sarah Boykin. She married (1), at age 20, Eliphalet Pardee, age 24, son of George Pardee and Mercy Ball, on 2 November 1703 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Mass..¹ She married (2), at age 41, Peter Woodward III, age 45, son of Peter Woodward Jr. and Mehitable (__?__), on 5 January 1724/25 in New Haven, Conn., married by Rev. Mr. Jacob Hemingway; (widow of Eliphalet Pardee).² She died in 1761 in East Haven, New Haven Co., Conn., at age 77 years.^2,3

     George Semer married Susan Vessey, age 18, daughter of Thomas Vessey, on 2 August 1585.

     John Lamb married Lydia Wright, daughter of Deacon Samuel Wright and Margaret (__?__).

     John Norton married Lydia Wright, daughter of Deacon Samuel Wright and Margaret (__?__).

     William Porter was the son of John Porter and Sybil Vessey.

     Rose Porter was the daughter of John Porter and Sybil Vessey. She married (__?__) Wentford.

     Ellen Porter married Thomas Vessey, age 26, son of Thomas Vessey, on 21 June 1591. She died on 24 December 1618.

     Margaret Porter was baptized on 17 May 1593 in Felsted, co. Essex, England, prob. died young. She was the daughter of John Porter and Sybil Vessey.

     Ephraim Holcomb was born on 22 December 1721 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn..¹ He was the son of Capt. Nathaniel Holcomb and Thankful Hayes. He married Dorcas Hayes, daughter of Samuel Hayes and Elizabeth Wilcoxson, circa 1744.^2,3 He died on 27 June 1808 in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., at age 86.⁴ He was buried probably in Granby Center cemetery (no stone).
     
Religion/Church: in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., First Congregational Church.
Military Service: in 1779 American Revolution, Capt. Bates Company of Col. Phelps 18th Regiment in Simsbury, 1779.

The will of Ephraim Holcomb, father of Dorcas Holcomb Gillet, calls Levi Gillett "my grandson, son of my eldest daughter Dorcas Gillet wife of Nathaniel Gillet"

On the 7th of September, 1779, "Ephraim Holcomb" is present on a list of those ordered to "Aquipt them Selves with arms and aconterments and hold them Selves in Readeynes to march at ye Shortest Notis for ye Defence of this State." In Capt. Bates Company of Col. Phelps 18th Regiment in Simsbury.

     Dorcas Hayes was born on 15 March 1727/28 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn..¹ She was the daughter of Samuel Hayes and Elizabeth Wilcoxson. She married Ephraim Holcomb, son of Capt. Nathaniel Holcomb and Thankful Hayes, circa 1744.^2,3 She died on 12 May 1798 in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., at age 70 of a "lingering" illness.⁴ She was probably buried in Granby Center cemetery (no stone).
     
Religion/Church: in First Congregational Church, Granby, Hartford Co., Conn..

     Samuel Hayes was born in 1699 in Salmon Brook (now Granby), Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn..¹ He was the son of George Hayes and Abigail Dibble. He married Elizabeth Wilcoxson, age 18, daughter of Sergt. William Wilcoxson and Elizabeth Wilson, on 16 July 1719 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Conn..^2,3 He died after March 1787 in Granby, Hartford Co., Conn., when he deeds land to his son, Silas.⁴
     

     Samuel was born in that part of Simsbury called Salmon Brook in 1699. Four years after his marriage to Elizabeth Wilcoxson, he received from the town a grant of 60 acres in 1723. Samuel made his will in 1759 and names his wife, Elizabeth, and children, who were all adults by then. How long Elizabeth lived after 1759 is unknown. In 1787, Samuel deeds property to his son Silas, "in consideration of a valuable sum, Divers good causes, love and good will which I have received from my son Silas Hayes." This would indicate that Samuel lived to a great age as he was approaching 90 years of age at the time of this deed.