Isaac Abbey Sr.
Isaac Abbey Sr. was born July 25, 1733, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, and died April, 1788, in North Windham, Windham Co., CT, at age 54. He is the son of Ebenezer Abbey Jr. of at or near the locality known later as Bricktop, Windham Centre, near Willimantic, First Society, Town of Windham, Ancient Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, and Abigail Goodell of Salem Village, Essex Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Eunice Church was born August 8, 1729, in Groton, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut, and died about 1802 in Connecticut, at about age 71. She is the daughter of Daniel Church of Stonington, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut, and Susannah Bennett of Stonington, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut. Daniel Church is the son of Samuel Church of Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA, and Elizabeth Davis of Charleston, Middlesex Co., MA. Susannah Bennett is the daughter of William Bennett Jr. of Stonington, New London Co., CT, and Elizabeth Chapman of Stonington, New London Co., CT.
Isaac Abbey Sr. and Eunice Church were married April 6, 1752, in Ashford, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut.
Isaac Abbey Sr. and Eunice (Church) Abbey had ten children:
Eunice (Church) Abbey then married Joseph Stone.
Joseph Stone was born August 23, 1729, in Killingly, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, and died April 22, 1818, in Union City, Tolland Co., CT, at age 88. He is the son of John Stone of Watertown, MA, and Mary Barsham of New Hampshire.
Lydia Webster was born Unknown, and died July 1, 1790, in Union, Tolland Co., CT, at age Unknown.
Joseph Stone and Lydia Webster were married December 5, 1751, in Dudley, Worcester Co., MA.
Joseph Stone and Lydia (Webster) Stone had at least two children:
Joseph Stone and Eunice (Church) Abbey were married November 16, 1797, in Windham Co., CT.
Joseph Stone and Eunice (Church) (Abbey) Stone had no children.
TIMELINE
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abbefamily/
The Crown Colony of Connecticut was ratified as the State of Connecticut on January 9, 1788.
https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/146592-historic-gleanings-in-windham-county-connecticut
Hither Place, a settlement in Ancient Windham Co.: Windham Green, a settlement in Ancient Windham Co.:
Ponde Place, a settlement in Ancient Windham Co.:, a settlement:
Windham Village, a settlement in Ancient Windham Co.: a settlement in Canada Parish:
Historic map of Tolland Co., CT, which shows the locations of Windham, North Windham, Chaplin, and Ashford communities in Windham Co., CT. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating this record.
Contemporary map of Windham Co., CT, which shows the locations of Windham, North Windham, Chaplin, and Ashford communities in Windham Co., CT. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating this record.
2024-10-27. Kay writes: I was curious where Chaplin was as this is where the Neff cemetery was located. It may also tell us where the Abbey's land was, too. Notice where N. Windham is in relationship to Windham Center, Ashford, and Mansfield Center. And since it appears like Isaac Abbey Jr. lived almost on the border, this gives an idea that it would be a little closer to North Windham. In any case, all of these locations were very close to each other:
N. Windham to Windham Center: 3.8 miles
Eastford to N. Windham: 12 miles
Ashford to N. Windham: 9.5 miles
Mansfield Center to N. Windham: 4 miles
Chaplin to N. Windham: 3.8 miles
The Province of New York (1664-1783) (Dutch: Provincie Nieuw-Nederland or Provincie New York) was a British colony which included most of the present U. S. State of New York. The province originally included the current states of New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Massachusetts and Maine. The province was named for James, Duke of York and brother to Charles II in 1664, when the colony was won from the Dutch.
The Barbour collection of Windham Town birth records, pre. 1870, Connecticut.
The Abbe Country, from the Abbe - Abbey Genealogy, Cleveland Abbe and Josephine Genung Nichols, 1916.
Map of the Town of Windham, Windham Co., CT, 1855, from the Abbe - Abbey Genealogy, Cleveland Abbe and Josephine Genung Nichols, 1916.
Connecticut historic maps: left to right, 1755, and 1768.
March 3, 1636: Connecticut Colony was established.
1662: Colony of Connecticut was established.
Connecticut Colony, known as the River Colony, was organized on March 3, 1636, as a place for Puritan nobleman. Early on, the English settlers under John Winthrop Jr. struggled with the Dutch for possession of the land, but the English eventually gained control of the colony and set up a permanent settlement there. After the era of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell had passed, Charles II took the throne. John Winthrop Jr., the governor of the Connecticut Colony went to England to secure a charter for the colony. Charles II granted his request in 1662. The charter of the colony covered both the Connecticut Colony and the New Haven Colony and they were permitted to choose their own assembly, their own governor, and rule themselves with minimal interference. New Haven was reluctant to give up their independence and deliberated for some time before coming to a decision to merge with the Connecticut Colony. Once merged the colony was called the Colony of Connecticut.
Ebenezer Abbey Jr. was born July 27, 1708, at or near the locality known later as Bricktop, Windham Centre, near Willimantic, First Society, Town of Windham, Ancient Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut.
Abigail Goodell was born about 1714, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay.
The deed of Clement's first purchase of land in Windham is preserved in silk at the Windham County Court House, Willimantic, Conn. It is dated 28 June 1715, and says in part, "To all people to whom this deed of sale shall come greeting. Know ye that I Joseph Dingley of Windham in the County of Hartford in the Colony of Conn. for in consideration of the full sum of forty-two pounds current money of New England to me in hand" received from "Clement Neff late of Westerly in the Colony of Rhode Island in New England before but now resident in Canterbury in ye County of New London" etc... do fully freely and absolutely give grant bargain and confirm unto the sd Clement Neff his heirs and assigns forever all that my hundred acre lot situat lying and being in the northeasterly part of sd Windham and is the fourth lot in the second tear and the first bound begins at a walnut tree which is the east corner from thence runs westerly by the highway a hundred rod to a white oak stake from thence northerly by a hundred acre lot of Mr. Webb's and sixty rod to a sassifax from thence easterly by a hundred acre lot of Mr Sam Whitings a hundred rod to a stake from thence southerly by Christopher Bidlakes land a hundred and sixty rod to the first mentioned bounds," etc. The deed was witnessed by John Fitch and Joshua Ripley (Windham L.R. Vol. E, p. 147). Record of a second purchase of 100 acres for Pounds 34 from William More appears in Book E, p. 195.
Eunice Church was born August 8, 1729, in Groton, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut.
Eunice Church birth record. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating this document.
Joseph Stone was born August 23, 1729, in Killingly, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut.
Ebenezer Abbey Jr. and Abigail Goodell were married February 7, 1730, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Isaac Abbey Sr. was born July 25, 1733, near Windham Village, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut.
Abner Abbey was born November 5, 1758, in North Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut.
Abner Abbey and Sarah Lindsey Swetland intention to be married was posted November 9, 1782, in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA.
Abner Abbey and Sarah Lindsey Swetland intention to be married.
On August 28, 1784, Isaac Abbey Sr. borrows 2 Pounds 6 Shillings, with interest, from Nehemiah Dodge.
On December 2, 1784, Isaac Abbey Sr. sells some of his land in the First Society of Windham Co., CT, to his daughter-in-law, Anne (Carter) Abbey, using money paid to him by his son Isaac Abbey Jr., of Windham and also the regard love & good will which I have & I do bear unto Anne the wife of sd. Isaac Junr.
The land containing by Estimation Twenty Acres be the same more or less and being in the First Society of sd Windham to be taken off att the North End of my farm Where I now dwell bounded as follows beginning att a stake and stones which is Clement Neffs South East Corner from thence Eastward by Millards line about 100 rods to a stake & stones from Thence Southwestwardly about 120 rods to a stake & stones and from Thence Northerly to the first mentioned bounds With a house Thereon standing.
Vol R; P.248; FHL5913; Image 180 of 690; Signed Dec. 2, 1784; Recorded Aug 3, 1785
248
To all People to whom these Presents shall come: Greeting.
KNOW YE, That I Isaac Abbe of Windham in the County of Windham and State of Connecticutt, for the Consideration of five shillings Lawfl money received of my Son Isaac Abbe Junr of sd Windham and also the regard love & good will which I have & do bear unto Anne the wife of sd Isaac Junr my Daughter -
Do give, grant, bargain, sell, and confirm unto the said Anne and to her heirs & assigns forever a certain piece of Land containing by Estimation Twenty Acres be the same more or less and being in the First Society of sd Windham to be taken off att the North End of my farm Where I now dwell bounded as follows beginning att a stake and stones which is Clement Neffs South East Corner from thence Eastward by Millards line about 100 rods to a stake & stones from Thence Southwestwardly about 120 rods to a stake & stones and from Thence Northerly to the first mentioned bounds With a house Thereon standing and the appurtenances thereto belonging -
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the above granted and bargained Premises with the Appurtenances thereof,
Unto her the said Anne Abbe and her Heirs and Assigns forever, to her and their own proper Use and Behoof. And also, I, the said Isaac Abbe Do for my self & my Heirs, Executors and Administrators, covenant with the said Anne Abbe & her Heirs and Assigns; that at and until the ensealing of these Presents I am well seized of the Premises, as a good indefeasible Estate, Fee-simple, and have good Right to bargain and sell the same, in the Manner and form as is above written, and that the same is free of all Incumbrances whatsoever AND FURTHERMORE, I the said Isaac Abbe do by these Presents, bind My Selfe, my Heirs and Assigns, forever to Warrant and Defend the above granted and bargained Premises to her the said Anne Abbe and her Heirs and Assigns Against all Claims and Demands whatsoever.
IN WITNESS whereof, I have here unto my Hand and Seal this 2nd Day of Decembr in the Year of our Lord 1784 -
Isaac Abbe & Seal
Signed, Sealed and Delivered,
In Presence of
Jacob Simons
Ephriam Deans
Windham sd December 2nd AD 1784
Personally appeared, Isaac Abbe witnessed Signer and Sealer of the within witnessed instrument, and acknowledged the same to be his Voluntary Act and Deed, before me.
Jacob Simons, Justc of the Peace
The Above is a True Record of a deed I received to Record August 3rd 1785.
To sd Samel Gray Town Clerk.
On September 3, 1785, Isaac Abbey Sr. signed his Last Will and Testament , in Windham Co., CT.
In the Name of God Amen, this 3d day of Sept. I Isaac Abbe of Windham in the State of Connecticut being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, for which I would give thanks to God, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, Do make and ordain this my last will and testament, - that is to say my immortal soul I commit into the hands of God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named, nothing doubting but to receive the same at the general resurrection. As for the good things of this life which God in his providence hath bestowed on me it is my will that they be disposed of in manner and form following, that is to say -
I give to my beloved son, Isaac Abbe junr the sum of five shillings lawful money to be paid out of my lawful estate by my Executrix.
I give and bequeath to my beloved son Abner the sum of five shillings to be paid out of my lawful estate within two full years after my decease by my Executrix.
As for the other good things which God in his providence hath given to me; First, I order all my lawful debts to be paid by my Executrix out of my Estate, and as for all the rest of my lands, goods, chattels, Securities or moneys whatever, I give to my beloved wife Eunice Abbe to be for her use so long as she shall remain my widow, and then to be equally divided among all the rest of my children except Isaac and Abner; - and I do also constitute and appoint my beloved wife Eunice Abbe to be the sole Executrix of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 3rd day of Septr, A.D. 1785.
Isaac Abbe
Signed, sealed & declared by the testator in the presence of -
Wm. Ames
her
Haviminia ( X ) Gennings
mark
On September 16, 1785, Isaac Abbey Sr. borrows 2 Pounds one Shilling, with interest, from Shubael Abbey.
On October 6, 1785, Isaac Abbey Sr. borrows 9 Shillings 4 Pence, with interest, from Jabez Clark.
On October 7, 1785, Isaac Abbey Sr. purchased Eleven Acres and 66 Rods of land from Ishiel Spafford. The land lying & being in Windham afforesd at a place called ye Bare hill Southerly of Manoah Ginings' dwelling house on the west side of the road leading to Simeon Robinson dwelling house bounded as follows viz beginning at N.E. corner of the granted premises at a black oak tree of stones about it by sd road thence S. 11° W 27 rods and 19 links by sd road to a white oak Staddle & Stones the W 13° N66 rods & 19 links buting Southerly Westerly upon Jonth Chesters land then N 11° E 27 rods & 19 links buting Westerly upon att formerly belonging Benjm Millard thence E 11° S 66 rods to the first mentioned bounds a black oak tree by the Highway buting N on Manoah Ginnings land and is the same that I bought of Menoah Ginings
At a place called Bare Hill, southerly of Manoah Ginings dwelling house Beginning at N. E. Corner of the Granted premisis at a black oak tree of stones about it by sd road to a white oak staddle & stones then W13 degrees
259
KNOW YE, That I Jehiel Spafford of Windham in the County of Windham and State of Connecticut for the Consideration of five pounds Lawfull money Received to my full Satisfaction of Isaac Abbe of sd Windham
Do give, grant, bargain, sell, and confirm unto the said Isaac Abbe Eleven Acres & 66 rods of land lying & being in Windham afforesd at a place called ye aaner hill Southerly of Manoah Ginings' dwelling house on the west side of the road leading to Simeon Robinson dwelling house bounded as follows viz beginning at N.E. corner of the granted premises at a black oak tree of stones about it by sd road thence S. 11° W 27 rods and 19 links by sd road to a white oak Staddle & Stones the W 13° N66 rods & 19 links buting Southerly Westerly upon Jonth Chesters land then N 11° E 27 rods & 19 links buting Westerly upon att formerly belonging Benjm Millard thence E 11° S 66 rods to the first mentioned bounds a black oak tree by the Highway buting N on Manoah Ginnings land and is the same that I bought of Menoah Ginings -
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the above granted and bargained Premises with the Appurtenances thereof, unto him the said Isaac Abbe his Heirs and Assigns forever, to his and their own proper Use and Behoof.
And also, I - the said Jehial Spafford Do for my self & my Heirs, Executors and Administrators, covenant with the said Isaac Abbe his Heirs and Assigns; that at and until the ensealing of these Presents I am well seized of the Premises, as a good indefeasible Estate, in Fee-Simple, and have good Right to bargain and sell the same, in Manner and form as is above written, and that the same is free of all Incumbrances whatsoever
AND FURTHERMORE, I the said Jehiel Spafford do by these Presents, bind My Self & my Heirs forever to Warrant and Defend the above granted and bargained Premises to him the said Isaac Abbe his Heirs and Assigns Against all Claims and Demands whatsoever.
IN WITNESS whereof, I have here unto set my Hand and Seal this 7th Day of Octor in the Year of our Lord 1785
Ishiel Spafford & Seal
Signed, Sealed and Delivered, in Presence of
Samell Gray
Elipht Martin
Windham fr Windham Octor 7th 1785
Personally appeared, W Jehiel Spafford Signer and Sealer of the above Instrument, and acknowledged the same to be his free Act and Deed, before me,
Coram Samll Grey Just of sd Peace
Above is a true record of a deed I Recvd to Record Octor 7th 1785
On October 10, 1785, Isaac Abbey Sr. borrows six Shillings six Pence, with interest, from the administrators of the estate of Jabez Huntington Esq., deceased.
Isaac Abbey Sr. died April, 1788, in North Windham, Windham Co., CT, at age 54.
The deposition of Joseph Sessions of Windham for proving the last will and testament of Isaac Abbe late of Windham decd - the same Sessions being unable by bodily infirmity to attend the Honble Court of Probate.
Joseph Sessions of Windham in the County of Windham of lawful age testifies and says that the testator on the day of the date of said last will & testament was of sound mild and memory. I called upon him to witness his executing the same, and the testator did subscribe seal, & declare the same to be his last will and testament in his presence, at which time he the said Sessions subscribed his name to sd last will and testament as a witness thereunto.
Joseph Sessions
Testified and sworn to Goram Benjr Chaplin jur Just. of Peace
Windham April 30th 1788
The deposition of William Ames of Windham in Windham County for proving the last will and testament of Isaac Abbe late of sd Windham decd - This deposition taken by the widows request, she being desirous to same the expense of this witness to the honble Court. - the estate of the testator being but very small.
William Ames of lawful age testifies & says that he has no remembrance that the testator ever signed sealed or delivered the same in his presence, or that he subscribed his name as a witness hereto, but his name which is written thereon he knows to be his own handwriting and does not doubt of his being a witness to the signing, sealing and publishing of the same -
William Ames
Windham April 30th A. D. 1788
Eunice (Church) Abbey was the Executrix of her late husband's estate, and was charged with paying his various notes and loans. Examples of some of these notes are shown above, which show that Isaac Abbey Jr. could barely write his name. Eunice (Church) Abbey could not read or write, and all documents show her with an "X" indicating it is her mark.
On June 3, 1788, the District Court for the District of Windham, held at Lebanon, Eunice (Church) Abbey, executrix of her late husband's estate, represented that the Isaac Abbey Sr. estate is insolvent.
Isaac Abbey Sr. Estate Probate Files. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating this record.
On September 30, 1791, Anne Abbe of Windham, the daughter of Peter Carter of Susquehanna purchased land from Capt. Jeremiah Clark Jr. of Hampton, Windham Co., CT. Capt. Jeremiah Clark Jr. was born March 14, 1751, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, and died August 28, 1820, in Brookfield, Orange Co., VT, at age 69.
Ann (Carter) Abbe, daughter of Peter Carter of Susquehanna, buys 46 Acres from Captain Jeremiah Clark.
Vol U; P.219; FHL5914; Image 369 of 551; Signed Sep 3, 1791; Recorded Apr 21, 1792
219
To all People to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
KNOW YE, That I Jeremiah Clark Junr of Hampton in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut in New England -
For the Consideration of 46 Pounds, L My
Received to my Full Satisfaction, of Anne Abbe of Windham aforsd the Daughter of Peter Carter of Susquehanna
Do give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said Anne & to her Heirs & assigns forever One Piece of Land in sd Windham containing by Estimation 48 Acres be the same more or less bounded as follows (Viz) beginning at a Stake & heap of Stones being the Southeast Corner and is the Southwest Corner of Simeon Robinson Land and Stands about 2 Rods southwesterly of a large White Oak Tree from thence N 31 degrees W about 121 Rods & ½ to a Stake & heap of Stones from the Sd Line runs N 49 degrees E about 101 ½ Rods to a Stake & Stones a little south of a tract Road from thence South 31 E 30 Rods to a Stake & Stones standing on a Ridge Hill being a Corner of Land belonging to Manoah Ginnings & from thence the Line runs S 12 degrees W about 148 rods to the Bounds first mentioned bounding southerly on Land formerly belonging to Isaac Abbe decd westerly on my own Land northerly on sd Ginnings Land and the above described Piece of Land in the easterly part of Lot No. 10 in the 2nd Tier of Lots from Mansfield Line. -
To have and To hold the above granted and bargained premises. with the Appurtenances thereof, unto her the said Anne Abbe & to her Heirs and Assigns for ever, to her and their own proper Use and Behoof. That at and until forever, to her and their own proper Use and Behoof. AND ALSO, I the said Jeremiah Clark Junr Do for my self, my Heirs, Executors and Administrators, Covenant with the said Anne Abbe her Heirs and Assigns, That at and until the Ensealing of these Presents, I am well seized of the Premises, as a good indefeasible Estate in Fee Simple; and have good Right to Bargain and Sell the same in Manner and Form as is above Written; and that the same is free of all Incumbrances whatsoever.
AND FURTHERMORE, I the said Jeremiah Clar Junr do by these Presents, bind my self and Heirs for ever to WARRANT and defend the above granted and bargained Premisses to her the said Anne Abbe & to her Heirs and Assigns, against all Claims and Demands whatsoever.
In WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the 30th Day of Septr Anno Domini. 1791
Jeremiah Clark Junr & Seal
Signed, sealed and delivered in Presence of
Simeon Smith
Jonth Fisk
Windham County of Hampton 30 Septr Anno Domini. 1791
PERSONALLY appeared Jeremiah Clark Junr Signer and Sealer of the foregoing instrument and acknowledged the same to be his free Act and Deed
Before Simeon Smith, Justc Peace
The above is a true Record of a Deed received to record. Apr 21st 1792
Test. Hez Ripley Town Clerk
On November 1, 1791, Anne (Carter) Abbey, wife of Isaac Abbey Jr., buys from Robert Coburn for 6 Shillings, one half of a certain Turning Mill built by the sd Robert Coburn on a Brook known by the Name of Mores Brook on the land belonging to Anne (Carter) Abbey near the House where the Anne (Carter) Abbey now lives with one half the Priviledges and appurtenances thereunto belonging to Robert Coburn.
Page 611
This Indenture made this first Day of November 1791 between Anne Abbe the Daughter of Peter Carter of Susquehanna now of Windham and State of Connecticut in New England on sd one part and Robert Coburn of sd Windham & County aforsd on the other part witnessth that the sd Anna & her heirs for and in consideration of the sum of Six Shillings lawful Money and to my full Satisfaction of Robert Coburn aforsd I do give grant bargain sell and acquit one half of a certain Turning Mill built by the sd Robert Coburn on a Brook known by the Name of Mores Brook on the land belonging to sd Anna near the House where the sd Anna now lives with one half the Priviledges and appurtenances thereunto belonging I the sd Robert Coburn do jointly and severally covenant with the sd Anna to maintain one half sd works and the sd Anna the other half and furthermore each party to find their own Tools the Spindle the sd Coburn now has in the mill there to remain the sd Anna being at one half the Cost of maintaining the same said Mill to be improved one Week by sd Coburn and the next by the sd Anna during the sd Coburn natural Life after his decease to be void and of no Effect as witness our hands & Seals in the presence of us -
Oliver Rogers Anna Abbe & Seal
John Kennedy Robert Coburn & Seal
The above is a true Record of an Instrument aforesd to record Octor 30th 1792 Fest
Hezekiah Ripley Town Clerk
On July 9, 1794, Isaac Abbey Jr. & & Anne (Carter) Abbey; Jonah Linkon & Eunice Linkon, Quit Claimed "gifted" to their mother Eunice (Church) Abbey for 5 shillings, 80 acres of land with buildings, a “Beast to ride” to the Mill, ½ Dwelling House (which Eunice (Church) (Abbey) Linkon, wife of Jonah, purchased from Isaac Abbey Jr. and Anne Abbe, ability to have a variety of vegetables, Meat, Wool, Flax , Wood. This is the house that Eunice Church Abbe and Isaac Abbe, Sr lived in and their land.
From Kay Koslan:
In this deed Isaac Abbe, Jr.; Anne (Carter) Abbe; Jonah Linkon; and Eunice Linkon give to their mother Eunice (Church) Abbe 5 shillings, 80 Acres of land with buildings, a “Beast to ride” to the Mill, ½ Dwelling House, which Eunice (Church) (Abbe) Linkon, wife of Jonah, purchased from Isaac Abbe Jr. and Anne (Carter) Abbe), with the ability to have a variety of vegetables, Meat, 5 pounds of good Shanks Wool, Flax , Wood. This is the house that Eunice Church Abbe and Isaac Abbe, Sr lived in and their land. This is also the ½ dwelling house that Isaac Abbe Sr. gave to Anne (Carter) Abbe along with 20 acres. This is basically a probate record, although there are actual probate records listed in the will. The children are all contributing to the welfare of their mother Eunice (Church) Abbe, wife of Isaac Abbe Sr.
It is my opinion that the Turning Mill that Robert Coburn was to work was located near this 20 Acres gifted to Anne (Carter) Abbe because Eunice (Church) Abbe is to have a "Beast to ride" to the "Mill." There is also mention of Eunice (Church) Abbe having 5 pounds of good Shanks Wool. Eunice was born in 1729 and may not travel as far as she would be 65 years old.
656 and 657
From Kay Koslan: In this deed, Isaac Abbe Jr. and Anne (Carter) Abbe; Jonah Linkon & Eunice Linkon give to their mother Eunice Church Abbe 5 shillings, 80 Acres of land with buildings, a “Beast to ride” to the Mill, ½ Dwelling House (which Eunice Abbe Linkon, wife of Jonah, purchased from Isaac Abbe Jr. and Anne Abbe, ability to have a variety of vegetables, Meat, Wool, Flax , Wood. This is the house that Eunice Church Abbe and Isaac Abbe, Sr. lived in and their land. This is also the ½ Dwelling house that Isaac Abbe Sr. gave to Anne (Carter) Abbe along with 20 acres. It is my opinion that this is where the Turning Mill that Robert Coburn was indentured to work was located - on the 20 Acres gifted to Anne (Carter) Abbe.
656
Vol S; P. 656-657; FHL5913; Image 684 of 690; Signed Jul 9, 1794; Recorded Jul 12, 1794
To all People to whom these Presents shall come Greeting
Know ye that we Isaac Abbe Anne Abbe Jonah Linkon and Eunice Linkon all of Windham in the County of Windham do for and in Consideration of the Love & goodwill which we bear our Hond Mother Eunice Abbe of Windham aforsd and more especially a quit-Claim Deed of even date with there presents which she hath executed to the sd Isaac Abbe & Eunice Linkon therein acquitting to them all Right Title & Interest she had in and unto a certain Farm of Lands lately the Property of Isaac Abbe late of sd Windham decsd as by sd Deed may appear and five Shillings Lawfull Money by us recd to our full Satisfaction of her the sd Eunice Abbe Give Grant bargain sell & convey to her the sd Eunice Abbe and to Heirs & Assigns all that Farm of Land lying and being in sd Windham on which Isaac Abbe late of sd Windham now deceasd last dwelt herewith the same may be butted & bounded containing by Estimation about 80 Acres with all the Privileges & Appurtenances thereunto belonging and buildings thereon standing. To have & to hold the granted and bargained Premises with the Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging & buildings thereunto standing to her the sd Eunice Abbe her heirs and Assigns forever and we the sd Isaac Abbe Anne Abbe Jonah Linkon & Eunice Linkon do for ourselves and our heirs Executors & administrators covenant to & with the sd Eunice Abbe her heirs and Assigns that at & until the ensealing of these Presents we are well seized of the Premises as a good indefeasible Estate in Fee Simple and that we have good right to bargain sell & convey the same in Manner aforesd and that the same is free of all Incumbrances whatsoever & furthermore we the sd Isaac Abbe Anne Abbe Jonah Linkon & Eunice Linkon do by these presents bind ourselves & each of our Heirs Executors & administrators covenant by there presents bind ourselves & each of our Heirs Executor and Administrator, to warrant & defend the above granted & bargained Premises with the Appurtenances thereof to her the sd Eunice Abbe her Heirs and Assigns against all claims & demands whatsoever. Always provided & it is the true meaning of Grantors & Grantee that wherever the above Eunice Abbe hath this day executed a quit claim Deed to the aforesd Isaac Abbe & Eunice Linkon of all her Right of Improvement of the aforsd Lands and it is agreed by & between the aforesd Isaac Abbe and Eunice Linkon by the appreciation and Consent of the sd Jonah Linkon who is her husband that the sd Isaac & Eunice will well & truly pay all the Debts now due from the Estate of sd Isaac decsd & in particular a Debt of the Dyer and annually and in every year during the time that she the sd Eunice Abbe shall be & remain the Widow of her late husband the sd Isaac paid & provide for her and deliver the same at the dwelling House standing on sd Premises 10 Bushels of Indian Corn 5 Bushels of Rye 160 pounds of good Pork 60 pounds of good Beef 8 Bushels of good Potatoes four Bushels of Turnips 15 pounds of of good well dressed flax 5 pounds of good Shanks Wool Twenty Loads of Wood and also she shall have hold occupy & improve the one half of the dwelling House standing on sd Premises half the Cellar (viz) the east part of sd House & Cellar with free Liberty to half repass from sd House to the publick highway and also the sd Isaac & Eunice Linkon shall keep find & provide one Cow for her sd Eunice Abbe for her to use & improve both Summer & Winter She knowing sd Cow and and also shall find her with a good riding Beast for her Use to ride to Mill & Meeting & visit her Neighbours when she shall desire it the sd Grain Meat Potatoes Turnips Wool & Flax shall for the first Time be delivered by the 1t day of December 1795 and so to proceed annually during sd Term that she shall remain a Widow as aforsd and the other Articles Cow keeping & shall commence instantaneously & so to continue from year to year so long as the sd Eunice Abbe shall be & remain the Widow of Isaac Abbe to be done & she performed & she performed by the first day of December annually as aforsd without Coven Fraud or delay so that the sd Eunice Abbe shall not be put to threat or Expense in or about sd sd Matter then the forgiving Deed in every Part and Clause therof shall cease & become void but of ?Munosne and in default thereof the same shall be & remain in full Force & Value in the Law
In Witness of all which the Grantors have hereunto set their Hands & Seals this 9th Day of July 1794
Anne Abbe & Seal
Eunice X Linkon & Seal
Jonah Linkon & Seal
Windham County fr Windham 9t Day of July 1794
Personally appeared Isaac Abbe Anne Abbe Jonah Linkon & Eunice Linkon the Signers & Sealers to the foregoing & written Instrument and acknowledged the same to be their Free Act & Deed
Before Tim Larabee Jus Peace
The foregoing is a true Record of a Deed I received to record Sep 12th 1794
Test Hezekiah Ripley Town Clerk
On December 23, 1794, Isaac Abbey Jr. and Anne (Carter) Abbey sell 10 acres of land for 16 pounds to Joseph Moon of Windham.
Vol U; P.426; FHL5914; Image 479 of 551; Signed Dec 23, 1794; Recorded Dec 23, 1794
In this deed, Isaac Abbe Jr. and his wife, Anne (Carter) Abbe, sell 10 Acres for 16 pounds to Joseph Moon of Windham.
Kay Koslan comments: I don't know if this is Isaac Abbe Sr.'s land or what... I think they are selling land to help Eunice here as well. Once again we have land description in degrees.
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Vol U; P.426; FHL5914; Image 479 of 551; Recorded Dec 23, 1794; Signed Dec 23, 1794
426
KNOW YE, That We Isaac Abbe & Anne Abbe his wife both of Windham in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut in New England
For the Consideration of Sixteen Pounds L Mo
Received to our full Satisfaction, of Joseph Moon of the Town & County aforsd
Do give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said Moon and to his heirs & assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of Land in sd Windham containing about ten acres to the same more or less bounded or follows viz beginning at the northeasterly Corner at the northeasterly corner at a Stake & heap of Stones being the northeasterly Corner of a piece of Land Jeremiah Clark, Junr sold to Oliver Rogers from thenc the Line runs S 31 degrees E about 31 Rods to Stake & heap of Stones to Jeremiah Clark, Junrs Land abutting easterly on Manoah Gennings Land from thence running S 12 degrees W about 45 Rods by sd Clarks Land to a Stake and Stones by a Brook from thence running westerly a Strait Line 25 Rods or thereabouts to a small rock maple tree from thence crossing sd Brook northerly toward 20 Rods to a large black birch Tree heap of Stones by sd Tree thence crossing the brook northerly then down said Brook toward 20 Rods to Oliver Rogers Line to Stake and Stones from thence easterly to the first mentiond Corner.
To have and to hold the above granted and bargained Premises. with the Appurtenances thereof, Unto him the said Joseph Moon & to his Heirs and Assigns for ever, to his and their own proper Use and Behoof. AND ALSO, WE the said Isaac and Anne Abbe Do for ourselves our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, Covenant with the said Joseph his Heirs and Assigns, That at and until the Ensealing of these Presents, We are well seized of the Premises as a good indefeasible Estate in Fee Simple; and have good Right to Bargain and Sell the same in Manner and Form as it is above Written; and that the same is free of all Incumbrances whatsoever.
AND FURTHERMORE We the said Isaac and Anne Abbe do by these Presents, bind our selves and our Heirs for ever, to WARRANT and defend the above granted and bargained Premisses to him the said Joseph Moon his Heirs and Assigns Against all Claims and Demands whatsoever.
In WITNESS WHEREOF, We have hereunto set our Hands and Seals the 22d Day of December Anno Domini. 1794
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Oliver Neff
Oliver Moon
Windham County fr Windham Dec 23rd 1794
PERSONALLY appeared Isaac Abbe & Anne Abbe the Signers and Sealers of the foregoing Instrument, and acknowledged the same to be their free Act and Deed
Before Sam Gray, Jus Peace
The Above is a true Record of a Deed received to record. Decr 23d 1794
On June 11, 1795, Isaac Abbey Jr. and Anne (Carter) Abbey sell 13 acres of land with ½ a well, near the Clement Neff house, for 28 pounds, to John Jennings Jr. of Windham.
Vol X; P.19; FHL5915; Image 302 of 572; Recorded Jun 11, 1795; Signed Feb 10, 1795
19
KNOW YE, That We Isaac Abbe & Anne Abbe of Windham both of Windham in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut
For the Consideration of 28 Pounds, L My received to our full Satisfaction, of John Jennings Junr of sd Windham
DO give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said John Jennings his heirs & assigns a certain piece or tract of land situate lying and being in sd Windham Town in the northerly part thereof butting and bounding as follows (viz), beginning at a white oak Staddle with Stones about it being the northeast Corner Bounds of the following described premises within about 15 Rods of Joseph Moons southeast Corner then runs Southerly bounding easterly on Ebenezer Gennings and Mores Walcotts land about 60 Rods to a white oak Bush with Stones about it in sd Walcotts sd line & thence westerly 43 Rods to the Corner of sd Abbes Wall now standing about 15 Rods Southwesterly of an House landing on the described premises thence northerly from sd Corner the Corner of sd Wall about 14 Rods to the high Way then leaving the Road the line runs northerly butting westerly on sd Abbes Land about 54 Rods to a white oak Stump with Stones on it within about 4 Rods of a Ridge Hill from thence a Strait line easterly to the first mentioned bounds about 14 Rods containing about 13 Acres within said Bounds be the same more or less with an House standing thereon together with one half the Well of water near the House of Clement Neff with the privilege of giving to it for Water for himself and Cattle running, sd Road going through sd Land.
To have and to hold the above granted and bargained Premises, with the Appurtenances hereof, unto him the said John Jennings his Heirs and Assigns forever, to his and their own proper Use and Behoof. AND ALSO, We, the said Isaac and Anne
Do for ourselves our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, covenant with the said John Jennings his Heirs and Assigns, That at and until the Ensealing of these Presents we are well seized of the Premises, as a good indefeasible Estate in Fee Simple; and have good Right to Bargain and Sell the same in Manner and Form as is above written; and that the same is free of all Incumbrances whatsoever.
AND FURTHERMORE, We the said Isaac and Anne do by these Presents, bind our selves
and our Heirs, for to WARRANT and defend the above granted and bargained Premises to him the said John Jennnings his Heirs and Assigns, against all Claims and Demands whatsoever.
In WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our Hands and Seals the tenth Day of February Anno Domini, 1795 Isaac Abbe & Seal
Anne X her Mark Abbe & Seal
Signed, sealed and delivered,
in Presence of
Zebulon Dumont
Hezekiah Ripley
Windham County (Viz) Windham Febry 10th 1795
PERSONALLY appeared Isaac Abbe one of the Signer and Sealer, of the foregoing Instrument, and on the 10th day of June 1795 appeared Anne Abbe and acknowledged the same to be their free Act & Deed.
Before Hezekiah Ripley, Justice of Peace
THE above is a True Record of a Deed, received to record June 11th 1795
Attest. Hez Ripley Town Clerk
Signed May 31, 1797; Recorded May 31, 1797
On May 31, 1797, Isaac Abbey Jr., now temporarily living in Union, Tolland Co., CT, buys 84 acres of land for 500 dollars, from Joseph Cross & Calvin Backus in the northerly part of Windham on westerly side of the road leading from Windham to Mansfield.
Vol X; P.120; FHL5915; Image 120 of 572; Signed May 31, 1797; Recorded May 31, 1797
120
To all People to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting
KNOW YE, That we Joseph Cross & Calvin Backus both of Windham in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut
For the Consideration of five hundred Dollars received to our full Satisfaction, of Isaac Abbe now of Union in the County of Tolland & State of Connecticut DO give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said Isaac Abbe a certain piece or tract of land situate & being in the Northerly part of sd Windham laying on the westerly side of the road leading from sd Windham to Mansfield & butts & bounds as follows viz beginning on the Southeast Corner of sd tract of sd Land being corner of sd Mansfield road & the highway that leads to the neck land (so Called) then the line runs on the sd Mansfield road about 120 rods till it comes to the southeast Corner of Albel Linkolns Land then the line runs westerly about 110 rods to Calvin Backus’s Land and the southwest sd Abel Linkolns Land then southerly by Calvin Backus Land about 30 Rods to a stake & stones made by Capt Bingham and Abel Linkolns then the line runs easterly by about 24 rods to a stake & stones the east side of the pond north of sd Backus’s barn then the line runs about 12 rods to a stake & stones about 2 rods northeast of the little house then the line runs about Southerly about 8 rods to a heap of stones then the line runs westerly about 40 rods to a stake & stones made by Capt Bingham & Abel Lincoln then the line runs southerly to stake & stones on the highway that leads to the neck (so called) Joining on sd Calvin Backus Land west then Easterly by the highway that Leads to the neck to the first mentioned bounds Containing about 84 acres be the same more or less -
To have and to hold the above granted and bargained Premises, with the Appurtenances thereof, unto him the said Isaac Abbe his Heirs and Assigns forever, to his and their own proper Use and Behoof. AND ALSO, we the said Joseph Cross & Calvin Backus Do for ourselves & our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, covenant with the said Isaac Abbe his Heirs and Assigns, That until the Ensealing of these Presents, We are well seized of the Premises as a good indefeasible Estate in Fee Simple; and have good Right to Bargain and Sell the same in Manner and Form as is above written; and that the same is free of all Incumbrances whatsoever.
AND FURTHERMORE, we the said Joseph Cross & Calvin Backus do by these Presents bind ourselves & our Heirs forever, to WARRANT and defend the above granted and bargained Premises to him the said Isaac Abbe his Heirs and Assigns, against all Claims and Demands whatsoever.
In WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our Hands and Seals the 31st Day of May Anno Domini 1797
Joseph Cross & Seal
Calvin Backus
Samuel Gray
Sam Lee Junr
State of Connecticut viz Windham May 31st 1797
PERSONALLY appeared Joseph Cross & Calvin Backus Signers and Sealers to the foregoing Instrument, and acknowledged the same to be their free Act and Deed.
Before me Sam Gray Juste of ye Peace
Above is a true Record of a Deed, received to record, May 31st 1797
Attest. Hezh Ripley Town Clerk
Joseph Stone and Eunice (Church) Abbey Marriage Record provided for Isaac Abbey Sr. estate purposes.
It is surmised that siblings Isaac Abbey III (age 28) and his wife Anne (King) Abbey; Nathaniel Abbey (age 27) and his wife Mary "Polly" (Winters) Abbey and children Isaac Abbey and Nathaniel Abner Abbey; Dorcas Abbey (age 26); and their infant nephew Clement Edmond Neff Sr. (about age 1), came from Windham Co., CT, to Northumberland Co., Upper Canada, from Connecticut about 1798. They were some of the pioneering settlers of Durham Co., Upper Canada. If this connection is accurate, the Abbey ancestry can be connected through their father Isaac Abbey Jr. all the way back to John Abbey, born about 1587 in West Halton, Lincolnshire, England. His son, John Abbey Jr. of Norwich, Norfolk Co., England emigrated to the United States about 1635 and married Mary Loring in 1635 at Wenham, Essex Co., MA.
In 1798, the Parliament of Upper Canada passed a statute defining the boundaries of the counties. Durham was then defined to include that the townships of Hope, Clarke and Darlington, with all the tract of land hereafter to be laid out into townships, which lies to the southward of the small lakes above the Rice Lake, and the communication between them and between the eastern boundary of the township of Hope, and the western boundary of the township of Darlington, produced north, sixteen degrees west, until they intersect either of the said lakes, or the communication between them, shall constitute and form the County of Durham.
Recorded December 24, 1798; Signed December 24, 1798
Vol W; P.96; FHL5915; Image 53 of 572; Recorded Dec 24, 1798; Signed Dec 24, 1798
In this deed, Ephraim Deans sells a certain piece of Messuage land for $100 to Isaac Abbey Jr., for Ephraim Dean’s house, land and caretaking/defending of Ephraims’s daughter Patience Deans' and bastard child.
96
Know Ye that I Ephraim Deans of Windham in the County in the County of Windham for in Consideration of One Hundred Dollars received to my full Satisfaction of Isaac Abbe of Windham aforesaid do give grant bargain sell and convey to him the sd Isaac Abbe of Windham aforesaid do give grant bargain sell and convey to him the sd Isaac Abbe and to heirs one certain Messuage piece of land situate in sd Windham bounded viz on highway East west and South of David Canadas land north on highway it being the lands on which I now dwell with a dwelling house thereon standing.
To have and to hold the above granted Premises with the Appurtenances thereof to him the sd Isaac Abbe and to his Heirs and Assigns forever to his and their own proper Benefit and Purpose. And I the sd Ephraim Deans do for myself my Heirs Executors and Administrators covenant to and with the sd Isaac Abbe his Heirs and Assigns that at and untill the ensealing thereof I am the true and lawfull Owner thereof and have good Right to bargain and sell the same in Manner and that it is free and clear of all Incumbrances whatsoever and furthermore I the sd Ephraim Deans do bind myself and heirs forever to warrant and defend the aforesaid granted and bargained Premises to him the sd Isaac his heirs and Assigns against all Claims and demands whatsoever. Always provided this Deed is upon express Condition that whereas at and before the County Court for Windham County at their Sessions at Windham in August last there was an Action for the Maintenance of a Bastard Child brought forward by Patience Deans daughter to the sd Ephraim against Jude Back Junr and it did become necessary for sd Patience to have Bonds for the Prosecution of sd Suit and that at the special Instance and Request of the sd Ephraim the aforesaid Isaac Abbe did become bound before said Court in a large Sum conditioned sd Patience should promote sd Action to Effect or Answer all damages in Case aforesed she the said Patience make not the plea good, now knows ye that in Case she the said Patience or the sd Ephraim shall in all Things utterly save the sd Isaac Abbe his Heirs Executors and Administrators harmless for and on Account that he hath become bound on aforesaid then and in such Case the forgoing deed in every Part & Clause then shall cease and become void but if otherwise and in default thereof the same shall be and remain in full Force & Nature in the Law.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal this this 24th day of December AD 1798
Ephraim Deans & Seal,
Signed, Sealed and deliverd In the presence of
Lebbeas Larabe
Timo Larabe
Windham County for Windham Dec 24th 1798
Personally appeared Ephraim Deans the Signer & Sealer to the above & foregoing Instrument and acknowledged the same to be his free act & deed
Before Timo Larabe Jus Peace
Above is a true Record of a Deed recd to record Dec 24th 1798
Attest Hez Ripley Town Clerk
On January 6, 1800, in Windham Co., CT, Isaac Abbey Jr. and his mother, Eunice (Church) (Abbey) Stone, are asking the Probate Court for permission to settle the Isaac Abbey Sr. debts by means of a land sale. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating and transcribing this original record.
Ancestry; Connecticut. Probate Court (Windham District); Probate Place: Windham, Connecticut; Probate Records, Vol 11-12, 1782-1790; Page 262-263, 348-349; Images 433 and 477 of 597; Image 276 of 1092;
Isaac Abbe Jr wrote this to the Judge in Response to the debts of his father, Isaac Abbe Sr. as he saw he had paid the debts, including to the heirs whereby Eunice (Church) (Abbe) Stone, executor of Isaac Abbe Sr. and Joseph sign of on all of Isaac Abbe Sr.’s estate.
Windham January the 6 day 1800
Mr Wilams of Labnon judge of Probats I Pray you to gave Isaac Abbe Liberty to sal the Land of Isaac Abbe Lait of Windham, Decest to Pay his Diats which presents Isaac Abbe son to the decest Isaac Abbe has Paid all most the Diats & has satled with the heirs about the Diats must be paid up & I Pray you to gave Liberty to Begin to the North end of the farm to sal if it takes the hool farm to pay the Decest Daits the Subscriber Isaac Abbe has satled all my Demans fore Pounds Lawful money that I have aganst the Decest astate I have received it in Clothes & Provishen as I am Concern I Pray you to gave Isaac Abbe Liberty Satel the State and I Bleve that At wil Be satled thoust and trouble or grait Espence about Sd Land and the Sd Payment. Isaac Abbe must pay the Judge for debt for all his trouble from me Son to the Decest
Eunice X the widow, and Now married to Josiph Stone of Union in th County of toland
Witness Isaac Abbe
The 1800 U. S. Census taken in 1800, shows Isaac Abbe is the Head of Household, and is living in Windham Twp., Windham Co., CT. There are a total of 1 Male 45 and older; 1 Female 10 - 15; and 1 Female 45 and older. Leigh Larson note: This would be Isaac Abbey Jr.
The 1800 U. S. Census taken in 1800, shows Isaac Abbe is the Head of Household, and is living in Ashford Twp., Windham Co., CT. There are a total of 1 Male under 10; 1 Male 16 - 25; 1 Male 45 and older; and 1 Female 45 and older. Leigh Larson note: This would be Isaac Abbey Jr.
It is likely that the two census records above were taken during the time that Isaac Abbey Jr. was transitioning from one marriage to another.
On December 22, 1800, David Canada releases by Quit Claim from Isaac Abbey Sr., deceased, in the amount of 30 Pounds Legal Money received from Isaac Abbey Jr. to pay the obligation for land originally part of the northern section of Isaac Abbey Sr.'s land. This action cleared the claim he had on Isaac Abbey Sr., deceased.
Transcribed K. Koslan (edited) 5 December 2024
Vol W; P. 134; FHL5915; Image 72 of 572; Signed Dec 22, 1800; Recorded Feb 3, 1801
134
To all People to whom these presents shall come Greeting.
Know Ye that I David Kennedy of Windham in the County of Windham & State of Connecticut for diverse good Causes and Consideration moving me thereunto especially for the Sum of Thirty Pounds L. M. having released and forever quit-claimed and by these presents for myself and my heirs defend clearly and absolutely remise release and forever quit-claim unto sd Isaac Abbe of Windham Town County and State aforesaid in the full and peacable possession and Seizen and to the sd Abbe his heirs and assigns forever all such Right Estate Title Interest & demand whatsoever and I the said David Kennedy now have or ought to have in or unto one certain Tract of land lying and being in said Town of Windham at the northerly part of said Town being the same tract of Land which lately belonged to the Heirs of Isaac Abbe late of sd Windham deceased butted and bounded southerly on Zenas Cleavlands land westerly on Joshua Abbe Jr land northerly on the Road leading to Howards Mill easterly on Wm Ames & Eliphaz Robinson Protruding his heirs Land.
To Have and To hold, the above granted and bargained premises unto the said Isaac Abbe his Heirs and assigns to the only Use and behoof of the said Isaac Abbe his Heirs and Assigns forever so that neither I the said David Cannady nor my Heirs nor any other person or Persons for me or in my or their Names nor in the Name right or Stead of any of them shall or in any Way or Means hereafter have claim challenge or demand any Estate Right Title or Interest of in or to the premises nor to any part thereof but from all and every Action Right Title Title or Interest of in or to the premises or any part thereof but from all and every Action Right Title Interest and demand of or to the premises or any part thereof they and every of the heirs shall be utterly excluded and barred & forever by these presents.
In Witness whereof I have herewith set my Hand and Seal the 22d Day of December AD 1800
David Cannada & Seal
Signed Sealed & delivered
In presence of
Edmund Badgerg
Elijah Simons
Windham Febry 2d AD 1801
Personally appeared David Cannada Signer & Sealer to the above written Instrument and acknowledged the same to be his free Act and deed
Before me Jabez Clark Justice of Peace
The above is a True Record of a deed recd to record Feby 3d 1801
Test Hez Ripley Town Clerk
In 1801, Eunice (Church) (Abbey) Stone and Joseph Stone settling the deceased Isaac Abbey Sr. land sales.
Aaron & Zeruiah Stebbins of Springfield, MA; Joseph & Lucy Button of Longmeadows, Hampshire the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Quit-Claim Deed of Isaac Abbe Estate.
Vol W; P.133; FHL5915; Image 71 of 572; Recorded Mar 16, 1801; Signed Feb 24, 1801
In this Quit Claim deed, Aaron & Zeruiah Stebbins of Springfield, MA; Joseph & Lucy Button of Longmeadows, Hampshire the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sell to Isaac Abbe for 40 dollars, the 40 acres land Isaac Abbe, Sr gave to Lucy Abbe Button and Zeruiah Abbe Stebbins
133
To all People to whom these presents shall come Greeting
Know ye that We, Aaron Stebbins of Springfield in the County of Hampshire the Commonwealth of Massachusetts & Zeruiah his Wife said Zeruiah Abbe and Joseph Button & Lucy his Wife said Lucy Abbe of Longmeadow in said County of Hampshire for the Consideration of Forty dollars to be paid before the sealing hereof by sd Isaac Abbe of Windham in the County of Windham in the State of Connecticut have and do by these presents bargain sell release and forever quit-claim unto him The said Isaac Abbe his heirs and assigns forever all our right title Interest or Estate in and unto a certain Tract plain of Land lying and being in said Windham in northerly part thereof near Beaver Hill so called on the plain containing about Forty Acres be the same more or less being the South part of the Estate of Isaac Abbe late of said Windham deceasd bounding east sd Land belonging to the Heir of Elipham Robinson deceasd William Ames and Jonathan Sibley south on Land of Zena Cleveland west on land of Joshua Abbe Junr north on the said Isaacs own Land or hence otherwise bounded being the Zerviah & Lucy. Share in the said Isaac Abbe deceasd Estate given them by his Will. To have and to hold the said bargained premises with the Appurtenances to him the said Isaac Abbe first named his heirs and assigns forever to his and their own Use forevermore so that neither we nor our heirs shall ever have any Claim or demand to the Same or any part thereof shall be forever debarred
In Witness Whereof we have hereunto set our Hands & Seals this this 24th day of February AD 1801
Aaron Stebbins & Seal
Zeruiah Stebbins & Seal
Joseph Button & Seal
Lucy Button & Seal
Signed Sealed and delivered, in the presence of
Moses Bliss
Moses Bliss Junr
Common Wealth of Massachusetts Hampshire fr Febry 26th 1801
Then Aaron Stebbins & Zeruia his Wife Joseph Button & Lucy his Wife all in their names I personally appeared and acknowledged the written Instrument to be their deed
Before Moses Bliss Justice of Peace
The above is a true Record of a Deed received to record March 16th 1801
Eunice (Church) (Abbey) Stone died about 1802 in Connecticut, at about age 71.
The 1810 U. S. Census taken in 1810 shows Isaac Abbee is the Head of Household, and is living in Ashford Twp., Windham Co., CT. There are a total of 1 Male 10 - 15; 1 Male 45 and older; and 1 Female 45 and older.
Joseph Stone died April 22, 1818, in Union City, Tolland Co., CT, at age 88.
10. CLEMENT3 NEFF, JR. (Clement 2 , William1), born 17 May 1711, at Westerly, R.I.; married 12 Dec. 1735, at the North Stoning ton, Conn. Congregational Church, PATIENCE BROWN (Ch. Rec.), daughter of Eleazer and Ann (Pendleton) Brown, born 28 Dec. 1707, Stonington, Conn. (V.R. Vol. 2, p. 2). The birth and marriage of Clement Neff Jr. are recorded in the Vital Records of Windham, Conn., Vol. 1, p. 3ll.
Clement Neff Jr. was a child of four when his parents moved from Westerly, R.I., to Windham, Conn. He was in his early twenties when he moved to Stonington with his father, mother and sisters Mary and Ann in 1735. In less than a year he had wooed and won the hand of Patience, daughter of their wealthy neighbor, Eleazer Brown. Clement and Patience lived in Stonington until his father's death in 1746, presumably running the farm for his father in his old age. After his father's death, he and his sister sold the land their father had given them in his will, to Eleazer Brown, his brother-in-law. The deed in the Stonington Land Records Vol. 16-17, states that "Clement Neff, Mary Neff and Anna Button, all of Stonington• sold for the sum of three hundred and forty-three pounds a parcel of land containing ninety-eight acres. One of the boundaries passed through the Cedar Swamp, one of the old (North) Stonington land marks, All three signed the deed.. The 1;1.ppearance of the name of "Anna Button• is of interest here, showing that Clement's youngest daughter, had married her cousin Daniel Button (s. of Daniel & Anna (Bell) Button, gr.a. of Mathias & Mary (Neff) Button), whose signature is affixed, as a witness, to Clement Neff' s w111.· Ann was not mentioned in her father's will, e,s he had probably provided for her when she married, but her name on the land deed cleared the title for Eleazer Brown, the purchaser.
Clement and his family, his mother and sister Mary then returned to Windham, Here Mary Neff and Mary Neff Jr., bought a tract of land for ~500 in the part of Windham now known as the town of Chaplin, Conn. On JO June, 1747, Mary Neff and Mary Neff Jr. deeded 50 acres to Clement •in consideration of ye Love, Good will and affection that we have and do bear unto Clement Neff" etc. (Book I, p. 77). On the same day, the two Marys bought an unspecified tract of land "on Beaver Brook Hi1111 for 1,126. The two purchases of land must have had considerable acreage as shown by subsequent sales of land without further purchases. It is interesting to note, also, how the value of land increased rapidly in the next few years. On 23 April' 1751, Mary Neff and Clement Neff Jr. sold 115 acres to Aaron Geer for 1500 pounds. On 8 June 1752, Mary Neff and Clement Neff Jr. sold 141 acres to Henry Farnum for 1300 pounds. In July 1758, Clement Jr. sold 70 acres for 70 pounds to Samuel Andrus, in two pieces of 24¼ acres exclusive of a burying place, and 45 J/4 acres, Clement Neff of Windham, yeoman; for ~12 paid by John Bond, sold land 1n Windham 1st Soc. on JO May 1777 although deed was not entered until 21 July 1785. In a final deed dated 3 Nov, 1792, he sold to his son, John Neff, for "one hundred pounds and parental love" a tract of land beginning at a corner of the land now belonging to David Canada Jr., eastward on Joshua Abbe Jr. to Ephraim Deans corner with the highway excepted,• etc. Mr. Clement Neff personally appeared" to enter the deed 10 July 1793. (Book U, p. 459). At this time Clement was 82 years old, so it is presumed he was turning over all his remaining property to his son John for enough cash to make him reasonably independent for the remainder of his life. These deeds show that 326 acres were sold while still retaining a considerable amount for this final sale to son John.
Clement Neff served in the French and Indian War. He is first listed in May 1755 in Capt. Slapp1s Co., "in ye pay of New York in building Forts & removing Encroachments on his Majesties Lands to ye northward of Albany" (Conn. Hist. Soc. Coll. Vol. 9, p. 16), and again in Capt. Slapp1s Co. Oct. 31 to Dec., 1755 (p. 71) and again in Capt. Slapp1 s 4th Co. Apr. 5 to Dec. 2, 1756 (p. 132). In the Campaign of 1757, he enlisted March 7th as a drummer, in Col. Lyman's Reg1t., under Capt. Slapp. In the Campaign of 1758-61 (Vol. 10, p. 67) he again enlisted as a drummer in the Tenth Co. under Capt. Jedediah Fay.
On 12 Oct. 1757, Clement Neff deeded a piece of his farm to the Town of Windham to be used as a Burying Ground and the following deed is of interest. Windham Town Records Book L, pages 455, 456.
"To all People to Whom this deed of Gift Shall come know ye that I Clement Neff of Windham in the County of Windham in the Colony of Connecticutt in New England for sundry causes and good reasons me moving thereunto have therefore granted and do by these presents Be'queath unto Ebenezer Abbee, John Bond, and Oxenbridge Davis, Inhabitanae of 5d,town of Windham and to the Rest of the Inhabitance of S town forever a certain Peice of Parcea of Land Being and Lying within the Town Ship of Windham afore S and contains about one Hundred and Twelve Rods of Land and is part of the Farm I now dwell on and is abutted and bounded as Followeth. The north west corner is a stake and a heap of stones about it which Stake and heap of atones stands in the line Between my own Land and the Land of Aaron Geer then the Line runs South by sa Geers Land Seven Rode to a white oake Stake with Stones about it then the Line turns easterly and runs fifteen Rods to a Black oake stake with atones about it then the l4ne turns northerly and Runs eight Rods to a white oake Stake with Stones about it then the Line turns and Rune Westerly thirteen rods to the first Mentionea Bounds Which given granted and Bargained Promises to give to the S Ebenezer Abbee, John Bond. and Oxenbridge Davis and the Rest of the Inhabitance of the Town of Windham forever for the use of a Burying Place to Bury their dead In and for no other use it Being a Place where there is Several persons Buried all Rea~ To have and To hold all the above granted premises to them the S Ebenz Abbee, John Bond end Oxenbridge Davis and their Successors Inhabitance of B Town. forever for the use of a Burying Place and also free Liberty to go to S Burying Place to Bury the Dead when there shall be occasion I sd Clement Neff Do by these Presents Bind myself and my heirs to warrant and Defend the above granted Premises from the Lawful Claims whereof I have here unto sett my hand and Seal this 12th Day of October 1757.
Stephen Fuller
Ezra Kingsley
his mark Clement x Neff and seal
Stephen Fuller Justice of the Peace"
Thanks to this deed it has been possible to locate the farm lends of Clement Neff Jr. Anyone wishing to visit the place, should take the road to the Chewink Cemetery which turns off of the main road from Williamantic, Conn. to Providence, R.I., at the State Forest in Chaplin. Shortly before coming to the Cemetery, one comes to a large barn on the left side or the roil. Just before coming to the barn there is what looks to be an entrance road to a house well back from the road, on the right, but it is really the beginning or an old abandoned road which curves back thru the country. The road's outlines are still visible although the area is overgrown with grass and is now part of a pasture. After passing the house, the road curves to the left and slightly downhill with Beaver Brook on the left. In Clement's day, a church stood at the bend of the road, the Town Clerk tells me, and the home of Clement Neff Jr. was the first house beyond the church. Further along this road is the Burying Ground described in the foregoing deed, and next beyond that, was the farm where Clement's mother and sister lived when they first moved back from Stonington. But today, all the houses are gone and the Church and its records are gone. All but one or two or the gravestones are weathered down to stumps or have been carried off, so that the graves of Clement Neff Jr., his wife Patience, his mother Mary Neff and his children Hannah and Matthew are impossible to determine.
The burying ground info begins on Image 34 of 212, after deed (L-455-456
"Thanks to this deed it has been possible to locate the farm lands of Clement Neff Jr.
Anyone wishing to visit the place, should take the road to the Chewink Cemetery which turns off of the main road from Willimantic, Conn. to Providence, R.I., at the State Forest in Chaplin. Shortly before coming to the Cemetery, one comes to a large barn on the left side of the road. Just before coming to the barn there is what looks to be an entrance road to a house well back from the road, on the right, but it is really the beginning of an old abandoned road which curves back thru the country. The road's outlines are still visible although the area is overgrown with grass and is now part of a pasture. After passing the house, the road curves to the left and slightly downhill with Beaver Brook on the left. In Clement's day, a church stood at the bend of the road, the Town Clerk tells me, and the home or Clement Neff Jr. was the first house beyond the church. Further along this road is the Burying Ground described in the foregoing deed, and next beyond that, was the farm where Clement's mother and sister lived when they first moved back from Stonington.
But by 1958, all the houses are gone and the Church and its records are gone. All but one or two or the gravestones are weathered down to stumps or have been carried off, so that the graves of Clement Neff Jr., his wife Patience, his mother Mary Neff and his children Hannah and Matthew are impossible to determine."
In the following year, June 1733, this son William was married to Grace Webster and in May 1734 their first child was born, creating the age-old problem of two families under one roof. So on 24 Sept 1734, William deeded his father's 100 acre farm back to him, referring to him as 11my Honored Father Clement Neff" and on the same date Clement gave his son William the 86¼ acre farm he had bought in 172J. The deed reads in part, "Clement Neff deed of gift to dutiful son William of Windham, land near Merrick's Brook... to my son William as hie full portion of my estate." (Windham Land Rec. Bk, G, p. 304). A few months later, on 25 Jan. 1735, Clement sold his 100 acre farm which he lived on, to Benjamin Bidlake for ~oo. Thia gave Clement a net profit on his purchases and sales of land in Windham of ~61 plus the 86½ acre farm which he gave to his son William. Clement then moved his family to Stonington, Conn., where on 10 Feb 1735, he purchased 11for a consideration of lo600," a parcel of 300 acres of land from John Potter of South Kingston & Christopher Champlin of-Westerly, both of the Colony of Rhode Island, & John William of Stonington, Conn. (Stonington Lend Rec. Vol. 4, p. 499/ 500), Thanks to the mention of "Breakneck Hill" in Clement's will, the farm has been located on an old map. On current road maps, the farm is to be found on route 84 from New London, Conn., to Providence, R.I., just beyond where route 2 from Westerly to Norwich intersects it, and in that part of Stonington which is now the town of North Stonington, Conn. Apparently a large number of people lived in the northern part of the town in those early days; it led to the organization of the Congregational Church of North Stonington Society and eventually to its separation into a new town.
https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G004857.pdf
Here are using the following GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) for the Chewink Cemetery:
Lat: 41.7568° (41° 45' 24")
Lon: -72.1215° (-72° 7' 17")
Town of South Hadley:
Isaac Abbey was an early settler of Enfield. His son Abner bought a farm in Wilbraham, but afterwards moved to Granby, where he died. Abner, Jr., lived in Boston, for a time, and then moved to South Hadley. His son Abner was born in this town, November 5, 1812, married Chloe A. Root, and has had born to him a large family of children, five of whom are living, namely, Emma, Arthur L., Charles C., Silas B., and Sibyl. Mrs. Abby died in February, 1874.
ABBE BIOGRAPHY
AS RECORDED IN:
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES.
PUBLISHER: J. H. BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE BIOGRAPHY OF CHARLES SMITH
…..Charles Smith was born Sept. 14, 1807, in Windham….
Mr. Smith was married at North Windham, Nov. 3,1835, to Mary Abbe, who was born Aug. 14, 1816, in Windham, and died April 10, 1901. She was a descendant of a family long noted in Colonial annals, and was the mother of two children: Guilford, mentioned elsewhere; and Mary, who became the wife of P. H. Woodward, of Hartford, and has two children, Helen and Charles Guilford, the former now the wife of Rev. Stephen Henry Granberry, rector of St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church at Newark, N.J. Mrs. Granberry is the mother of two children, Helen and Mary Emeline.
The Abbe genealogy is traced to Mrs. Smith as follows: John Abbe a resident of Salem, Mass., as early as 1637, had two wives, both of whom bore the name Mary. The first died in 1672, and he was married to the second in 1674. He died at Wendham, Mass., about 1690.
Samuel Abbe, son of John Abbe, married Mary Knowlton in 1672, and died in 1698, having made his home at Wendham.
Ebenezer Abbe, son of Samuel Abbe, was born in Salem, Mass., in 1683, and was at Norwich, Conn., in 1705, and at Windham the following year. His home was near North Windham, in the town of Mansfield. In 1725, he united with the Hampton Church. He married Mary, a daughter of Joshua Allen, in 1707, and she died in 1766.
Joshua Abbe, born in 1710, married Mary Ripley in 1736. She was a daughter of Joshua Ripley, of Willimantic. Mr. Abbe had an extensive farm near the Chaplin line, which he called his “kingdom,” and owing to the influence which he exercised in the community, was often called “King Abbe.” He died in 1807, and his wife in 1769.
Phineas Abbe, son of Joshua Abbe, was born Nov. 22, 1746, and in 1767, married Mary, daughter of Gideon Bingham, Sr. She died, and in 1778 he married Susannah Brown. Mr. Abbe was a prosperous farmer in Windham, his homestead being south of Windham Center, where he died in 1800, his widow, who was born in Windham May 15, 1752, surviving until April 26, 1804.
Moses Cleveland Abbe, son of Phineas, was born Nov. 16, 1785, and married Feb. 1, 1809, Talitha Waldo, daughter of Zaccheus Waldo, of Windham. Mr. Abbe lived two miles south of Windham Center. His daughter, Mary, became the wife of Charles Smith, as above related. The other children are thus briefly noted: Susan married Andrew Frink, of Windham, and was the mother of a son, Edwin; George went to New York City, where he married Charlotte Colgate; Eliza Taintor is the widow of Henry S. Walcott, who was at one time president of the Windham bank, and died in Windham; Mary was fourth; Joshua G., now deceased, married Sarah Fuller, of Windham, who bore him a son and two daughters, Jessie, Waldo and Susan; and John Randolph, who was twice married, first to Lucy Avery, of South Windham, and, second, to Josephine Robbins, resides in Providence, R.I. (Lucy A. Abbe was the mother of Charles S. Abbe, now a citizen of Pittsburg, Pa.).
ABBY, ABBEY, or ABBEE, JOHN, Salem 1637, when gr. of ld. was made to him, of Reading later, and freem. 1685, then call. sen. so that perhaps he had s. of the same name, and very prob. is it, that he had others. JOHN, Wenham, an early sett. d. late in life, 1700, leav. wid. Hannah, and ch. Richard, b. 9 Feb. 1683; prob. others. OBADIAH Enfield, 1682, m. Sarah, wid. of Joseph Warriner, to wh. she was sec. w. had no ch. to be nam. in his will, 1752, the yr. he d. SAMUEL, Wenham, perhaps br. of John of the same, d. 1698. leav. wid. Mary, and ch. Mary, aged 25; Samuel, 23; Thomas, 20; Eleazer, 18; Ebenezer, 16; Mercy, 14; Sarah, 13; Hepzibah, 10; Abigail, 8; John, 7; Benjamin, 6; and Jonathan, 2. His wid. m. Abraham Mitchell. He was of Salem vill. now Danvers, when adm. freem. 1690. Only the youngest ch. was b. at W. and some discrepance. from the pro. rec. as to the ages of most of the ch. is furnish. me (by Mr. Felt) in the rec. of b. as that Ebenezer was b. 31 July 1683 ; Mary, 1 Mar. 1685 ; Sarah, 6 July 1686; Hepzibah, 14 Feb. 1689; Abigail, 19 Nov. 1690; John, 4 June 1692; and Benjamin, 4 June 1694. THOMAS, Enfield, perhaps br. of Obadiah, had Sarah, b. 31 Mar. 1684; Thomas, 1686; Mary, 3 Feb. 1689, wh. d. bef. her f. and John 1692; beside Tabitha. He d. 1728, leav. w. Sarah, and in his will of Dec. 1720, she and the two s. are nam. as also two ds. call. Sarah Geer and Abigail Warner. His s. Thomas had s. Obadiah, and Thomas; and John had John, Thomas, Daniel, and Richard; but prob. no gr.ch. ought here to be ins.
From Jeromey Ward's Web Site:
Isaac Abbe, born in Windham, Conn., July 25, 1733; died April, 1788, He resided in North Windham. His will, made September 3, 1785, probated April 30, 1788, mentions his wife Eunice, and sons Isaac, Jr., and Abner. (Windham Probate Records, Vol. 12, pages 262, 348.) Married, as recorded at Ashford, Conn., by Ebenezer Wales, Justice of the Peace, April 5, 1753, EUNICE CHURCH, who died after 1788. In this marriage record both are described as of Ashford. Abbe Abbey Genealogy Page 70
Isaac married Eunice Church, daughter of David Church and Susannah Bennett, on Apr 6 1752 in Connecticut. Eunice was born on Aug 8, 1729, in Groton, Connecticut. She died about 1800 in Connecticut.
Nathaniel's child: Joseph Abbey: Born May 7, 1796, in Dutchess Co., NY; Died November 15, 1869, in Burdette, Hector, Schuyler Co., NY (age 73). Buried in Jones Cemetery, Hector, NY. Married Sarah Mulford.
Birth: Nov. 5, 1758 North Windham Windham County Connecticut, USA Death: Dec. 3, 1803 Granby Hampshire County Massachusetts, USA son of Isaac & Eunice (Church) Abbe ---- md. Spring. (Int. 9 Nov. 1782) Sarah Sweetland ---- He served during The Revolution in Capt. Nathaniel Wales Co. (Windham, CT.) 22 Aug - 22 Oct 1777. Resided Longmeadow (1790) and in Granby by 28 Nov 1796. ---- After his death, his widow Sarah md. Solomon Wright and soon afterward removed to Ohio where she died.
Abner Abbey is buried in West Street Cemetery, Granby, Hampshire Co., MA. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.
Nathaniel Abbe and Nancy Moon Records, Connecticut.
David Church and Susannah Bennett Church Records, Connecticut.
The township of Scotland, lying in the southwestern part of the county, is about six miles long from north to south, and about three miles wide. It lies on the southern border of the county, being bounded on the north by Hampton and a small part of Chaplin, on the east by Canterbury, on the south by Lisbon and Franklin, in the county of New London, and on the west by Windham. It comprehends about eighteen square miles of territory, much of which is hilly and in a wild condition. This is particularly true of the northern part of the town. In the central and southern parts there is a great deal of good farming land, and the improved farms and residences give a very attractive and home like appearance to the country. The surface is sufficiently rolling to make the rural landscape fascinatingly picturesque. Merrick’s brook runs down through the middle of the town, joining the Shetucket in the southwest corner of the town. The Providence Division of the New York & New England railroad also runs with the Shetucket river across the southwest corner of the town.. Here is Waldo’s station, a locality surrounded by swamps and woods, an ancient saw mill having once been in operation near by on the stream already mentioned. Scotland presents to the passer-by one of those ripened communities in which the people are quietly and peacefully enjoying the fruits of labor performed in former years, rather than living on the sweat of present activities. The surrounding forest growth affords considerable timber, which is utilized in railroad ties. Scotland in 1870 had a population of 648; in 1880 the population was reduced to 590. As the history of the town is but little more than the history of the ecclesiastical society out of which it grew, we shall address ourselves at once to the consideration of that subject.
The territory of this town was originally a part of the extensive domain of ancient Windham, being the southeast section of that town. Settlement began here about the year 1700. The first settler was Isaac Magoon, a Scotchman, who gave to his adopted home the name of his native country. He was admitted an inhabitant of Windham in 1698, and chose to establish himself east of Merrick’s brook, in a remote and uninhabited part of the town. The brook of which we have spoken is supposed to have been named in honor of an early Norwich land owner. In 1700 Magoon purchased of Mr. Whiting several hundred acres, in the southern extremity of Clark & Buckingham’s tract. The first rude hut built by him in this locality is said to have been destroyed by fire, whereupon his Windham neighbors helped him to rebuild it. He afterward bought sixty acres on both sides of Merrick’s brook, and . crossed by the road from Windham to Plainfield, of Joshua Ripley, and this is supposed to have been his homestead. This road becoming a great thoroughfare between more important points, and the good quality of the soil here, as well as the natural beauty of location, soon attracted other settlers to the spot. In 1701 Magoon sold farms to Samuel Palmer, John Ormsbee, and Daniel and Nathaniel Fuller, all of whom came hither from Rehoboth. In 1702 Josiah Kingsley, John Waldo, Nathaniel Rudd, Josiah Palmer and Ralph Wheelock purchased land of Crane and Whiting and removed to this new settlement. Waldo’s land, in the south of this settlement, is still held by his descendants. Many Mohegans frequented this part of the town, clinging to it by virtue of Owaneco’s claim to it as Mamosqueage. A hut on the high hills near Waldo’s was long the residence of the Mooch family, kindred of Uncas and the royal line of the Mohegans. The settlement made quite rapid progress. Among others who soon followed were Josiah Luce, Thomas Laselle, Robert Hebard and John Burnap. Luce and Laselle were of old Huguenot stock. Burnap came from Reading, Mass., purchasing a tract of land of Solomon Abbe, by Merrick’s brook, April 13th, 1708.
The demand thus incited here caused valuations of real estate to rise considerably. A saw mill was already in operation on the brook, and in 1706 a highway was ordered to be laid out for the farmers of Scotland, above the mill-dam, for the convenience of getting on and off the bridge which was then about to be constructed, and thence it was to run to John Ormsbee’s land. With the destruction of the forests and the accompanying decadence of the streams this mill site has long since been powerless for the purposes to which it was once appropriated. And the same may be said in regard to Wolf Pit brook, the privilege of which was granted to Josiah Palmer in 1706, ” to set up a grist mill-he building the same within three years and ditching and damming there as he thinks needful on the commons, not to damnify particular men’s rights.
The Scotland settlers still maintained their connection with the church at Windham Green, though their number was constantly increasing. George Lilly, in 1710, purchased land on both sides of Little river, which runs down along the eastern border but just outside the present limits of the town, and in 1714, John Robinson, a descendant of Elder John Robinson, of Leyden, removed to Scotland. The old Puritan stock was well represented in this locality. Descendants of Robinson, Brewster and Bradford, with French Huguenots and Scotch Presbyterians, were among its inhabitants. A pound had been erected and a school house was built, at what date we have not learned, and about these public institutions a straggling village grew up. Many sons of the first settlers of Windham established themselves here. Joseph and John Cary settled on Merrick’s brook, on land given them by their father, Deacon Cary. Deacon Bingham’s son Samuel settled on Merrick’s brook, and Nathaniel on Beaver brook. Nathaniel, son of Joseph Huntington, occupied a farm on Merrick’s brook, near the center of the settlement and became one of its most prominent citizens. The population was gathered mainly on the road to Canterbury and on Merrick’s brook. Many of the Scotland settlers were members of the Windham church and some were active and prominent men in the affairs of the town.
But the Scotland settlers soon began to feel a desire for church privileges nearer their homes than away over the hills several miles to Windham Green. At what time this feeling began to develop into open agitation we do not know, but it had gone so far in that direction that in February, 1726, the town took action so far as to consent by vote that when the public list of that section should reach in amount £12,000 the town would build a meeting house in that section, and when they should desire to settle a minister the town would join with them in supporting two ministers and keeping the two meeting houses in order. In December, 1727, the Scotland people were allowed to employ a suitable person to preach to them during the winter, and this permission was kept up for several winters. But the Scotland people could not see the advantage to them of paying their proportionate part of supporting the ministry at Windham Green and then hiring a minister additional during a part of the year, at so much extra expense. Hence the question of society privileges was agitated, and after a spirited contest before the general assembly the petition was granted and a charter for a distinct society was given by the legislature in May, 1732. The bounds of the society were substantially the bounds of the present town. They began at the junction of Merrick’s brook with the Shetucket, thence northerly to the southwest corner of the land of John Kingsley ; thence to Beaver brook at John Fitch’s dam ; thence a straight line to Merrick’s brook, at the crossing of the road from Windham Green to the Burnt Cedar swamp ; thence north on the brook to the southwest corner of Canada Society ; thence easterly by the south bound of that society, and southerly along the Canterbury line to the dividing line between Windham and Norwich, and westerly along the Norwich line to the mouth of Merrick’s brook. This bound probably included less than one-third of the territory of Windham. The petitioners, in answer to whom the charter was granted, were Nathaniel Bingham, Jacob Burnap, Eleazer and Samuel Palmer, Joshua Luce, Daniel Meacham, Isaac Bingham, Samuel Hebard, Seth Palmer, Timothy Allen, Charles Mudie, Benjamin Case, John Waldo, David Ripley, Caleb Woodward, John Cary, Jonathan Silsby, Elisha Lilly, Jacob Lilly, Joshua Lasell, Nathaniel Huntington, Nathaniel Brewster, Nathaniel Rudd, Wilkinson Cook, Carpenter Cook and Samuel Cook. The number of families in the society was about eighty, and the number of persons probably about four hundred. The list of estates reported amounted to £3,945.
Merrick Brook, also known as: Merets Brook, Merits Brook, Merrick's Brook, Spencer Merrick Brook, or Wolf Pit Brook.