Samuel Abbey Sr.
Samuel Abbey Sr. was born December 15, 1646, in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony, and died March 8, 1698, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at age 51. Buried in Windham Center Cemetery, Windham, Windham Co., CT. He is the son of John Abbey Sr. of Staverton, Northampton Co., England, and Mary Loring of Alderholt, North Dorset District, Dorset Co., England.
Mary Knowlton was born about 1649, in Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony, and died 1716 in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at about age 67. She is the daughter of Captain William Knowlton Jr. of Knowlton Manor, Canterbury, Kent Co., England, and Elizabeth Ann Bachelor of Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Samuel Abbey Sr. and Mary Knowlton were married October 12, 1672, in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Samuel Abbey Sr. and Mary (Knowlton) Abbey had twelve children:
After Samuel Abbey Sr. died, Mary (Knowlton) Abbey married Abraham Mitchell.
Abraham Mitchell was born 1657 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Colony of Connecticut, and died 1713 in Colony of Connecticut, at about age 56. He is the son of David Mitchell of South Ouram, Halifax, England, and Sara Wheeler of Cranefield, Bedford Co., England.
Abraham Mitchell and Mary (Knowlton) Abbey were married April 27, 1699, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut.
Abraham Mitchell and Mary (Knowlton) (Abbey) Mitchell had one child:
TIMELINE
Molly Shannon's website: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/58047097/person/290247563407/facts
Wendy Mulligan's The TreeDR website: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/89316435/person/430025106130/facts
British Currencey: 1 Pound = 20 Shillings; and 1 Shilling = 20 Pence.
European Americans first migrated into the eastern Connecticut uplands in the late 1670s, following a fierce struggle known as Metacom’s Rebellion or King Philip’s War (1675-76), when the decisive defeat of the Wampanoags, Nipmucks, and their allies opened the area to Anglo-American settlement.
the second permanent settler of that portion of Windham which is now included in the village of Willimantic.
The home lot was number seven, at Windham Centre. It was in the center of the present village of Windham.
Hither Place (Windham Green) (Windham), Ponde Place (Mansfield Centre), and Willimantic.
The Indian grantor of this tract of land died while his father Uncas was still alive and the grantees who were sixteen Norwich men came into posession in 1776 on May 27th. The sixteen original grantees i!1(3Il‘(I Capt. John Mason, Daniel and Samuel Mason, sons of Maj. John Mason, who settled Norwich, Rev. James Fitch and his son, Maj. James Fitch, John Birchard, Lieut. Thomas Tracy, Thomas Ad gate, Simon Huntington, Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, Dr. John Olmsted, William Hyde, William Backus, Hugh Calkins, Capt. George Danison, Daniel Wetherell. Subsequently, by the death of John Mason, the disposal of his personal interest by Samuel Mason and the purchase of John Olmsted’s part by John Post, only thirteen of the original grantees were left. These fourteen speculators of olden times formed a sort of trust company, and, none of them wish ing to settle the country himself, an agreement was signed February 17, 1682, whereby each owner obtained his tract according to lot—God’s providence and agreed to admit only such matters as the company should deem advisable. At the time of actual settlement the far-seeing Masons and Fitches owned over half of the 60,000 acres named in the grant. Lieut. Thomas Leflingwell, Sergt. Richard Bushnell and Simon Huntington surveyed the land, camping, according to tradition, on .1 clearing opposite what is now the Willimantic Fair Grounds. Three lots of land were plotted out, one at Hither Place, one at the Pondes, the present Mansfield Center, and one at Willimantuck.
The inhabitants of Canada Parish secured the vote of one more than a majority at the town meeting “not to oppose the memorial for said town,” and the Assembly in 1786 made the second society of Windham into a town, and named it Hampton. It was comprised of Canada Parish, small parts of Canterbury and Pomfret, 1,200 acres taken from Brooklyn and a sizable area from Mansfield.
The 1869 Windham County atlas showed that Windham had one borough (the industrial center of Willimantic) and three villages (Windham, South Windham, and North Windham). These “urban central places” were relatively new (colonial villages had been fewer in number and much smaller in size), and were the creations of the industrial and market revolutions of the early 1800s.
Windham Center, 1832-33 (above): The 1833 wall map of Windham and New London Counties depicts Hither Place (now called Windham Village, Windham Center, Windham Centre, or Windham Green) as a full fledged village.
Joshua's Tract.
In 1675, the Mohegan sachem Attawanhood (also known as Joshua, son of Uncas, d. 1676), an ally of the English during Metacom’s Rebellion, left a large tract of land in eastern Connecticut in his will to a group of land speculators (known as the “legatees”) from Norwich, Stonington, and New London, three of the four original tidewater English towns in eastern Connecticut. The legatees had gotten Joshua drunk, the story goes, and in all likelihood he had not intended to surrender the land. Indeed, under Mohegan law, he probably did not have the authority to do so. Nevertheless, the colonial courts ruled that the will was valid. The area became known as Joshua’s Tract, and it became the basis for the original town of Windham. In 1686 the legatees divided some of Joshua’s Tract into lots to sell to settlers (although two settlers, the English political refugee and suspected regicide Jonathan Cates and his African slave Joe Ginne, had already moved there). The legatees never lived in Windham themselves, although several of their relatives were among the settlers who purchased lots from them. Settlement in Joshua’s Tract picked up after the English Glorious Revolution of 1689, which (coupled with the end of Metacom’s Rebellion in 1676) ended a long period of tumult and uncertainty in both the mother country and its New England colonies. The resulting peace ushered in a prolonged period of peace that encouraged growth and settlement throughout the Connecticut uplands.
Thus it was in 1692, only a few years after the first Anglo-American colonists had moved into Joshua’s Tract, that the Connecticut General Court (the colonial assembly) chartered the Town of Windham. Originally, the new town encompassed all of Joshua’s Tract, along with a smaller tract called Mamasqueeg that Joshua had left to his own family. The new town was bounded by Norwich on the south, the Nipmuck Path on the east, a wetland known as Appaquage at the northeast corner, a line running due west until from Appaquage to the Willimantic River on the north, and the Willimantic and Shetucket Rivers on the west. This large tract of land today comprises (more or less) the towns of Windham, Mansfield, Chaplin, Hampton, and Scotland. Like most seventeenth-century New England towns, the original Windham was geographically large, to ensure that there were sufficient natural resources for the settlers and their families.
John Abbe Jr. and Samuel Abbe Sr. were among the very early settlers of this town, and the name has been a prominent, influential and respected one in the subsequent history of the town. Through the male and female branches the blood has been widely disseminated, and is diffused through almost the entire range of Windham families. It is supposed that they came from Wenham, Mass., their ancestors having come from the county of Norfolk, England.
John Abbe Jr. purchased of Lieutenant Exercise Conant the seventh home-lot at Windham Centre with a house on the west side of the town street and the thousand-acre right belonging to it, July 3d, 1696, all for seventy pounds in silver. John Abbe Jr. was admitted an inhabitant December 9th of the same year, and was one of the original members of the Windham church, organized in 1700. He died suddenly December 11th of the same year.
Samuel Abbe Sr., a brother of John Abbe Jr., bought of Benjamin Howard of Windham, for £22, 10s, one half an allotment of land, a five hundred-acre right, being number two at Windham Centre, with half the house, etc. Samuel Abbe Sr. was admitted an inhabitant December 21st, 1697, and became the ancestor of the most numerous branch of the Windham Abbes, and all of the name now living in Windham or vicinity are descended from him. Samuel Abbe Sr. died at Windham in March, 1698.
Samuel Abbey was admitted freeman of Salem Village, March 22, 1689-90. He and his wife were dismissed from the Salem Church September 15, 1689, to unite informing one at Salem Village; the date of its formation being November 15, 1689. Salem Village is now Danvers. On July 1, 1690, he was taxed at Salem Village, and again, January 18, 1694-5, he and his son were taxed there. Samuel Abbey of Salem bought of Benjamin Howard of Windham, Conn., for £22 10s current money, half an allotment of land (500 acres), being number 2 at the Center, at or near the locality known later as Bricktop. He probably removed to Windham about that time as he was admitted an inhabitant of that town December 21, 1697, and died there March of the following year.
The settlement of Scotland made quite rapid progress. Among others who soon followed were Josiah Luce, Thomas Laselle, Robert Hebard and John Burnap. Luce and Lasalle 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.
Obadiah Abbey, a brother of John Abbe Jr. and Samuel Abbe Sr., bought land in Windham, too.
Early Settlers of Windham, Connecticut – Connecticut Genealogy
Source: History of Windham County, Connecticut, Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W. W. Preston, 1889
John Abbe Jr. and Samuel Abbe Sr. were among the very early settlers of this town, and the name has been a prominent, influential and respected one in the subsequent history of the town. Through the male and female branches the blood has been widely disseminated, and is diffused through almost the entire range of Windham families. It is supposed that they came from Wenham, Mass., their ancestors having come from the county of Norfolk, England. John Abbe Jr. purchased of Lieutenant Exercise Conant the seventh home-lot at Windham Centre with a house on the west side of the town street and the thousand-acre right belonging to it, July 3d, 1696, all for seventy pounds in silver. John Abbe Jr. was admitted an inhabitant December 9th of the same year, and was one of the original members of the Windham church, organized in 1700. He died suddenly December 11th of the same year. Samuel Abbe Sr., brother of the last mentioned, bought of Benjamin Howard of Windham, for £22, 10s, one half an allotment of land - a five hundred acre right - being number two at the Centre, with half the house, etc. Samuel Abbe Sr. was admitted an inhabitant December 21st, 1697, and became the ancestor of the most numerous branch of the Windham Abbes, and all of the name now living in Windham or vicinity are descended from him. Samuel Abbe Sr. died at Windham in March, 1698. One of his female descendants, Rachel Abbe in 1738-9 married General Samuel McClellan, and so became the great-grandmother of the late General George B. McClellan, of national renown.
Paul and Phillip; Abbot came from Andover, Mass., and settled here, in the section of the town now Hampton, about 1722. Their descendants have been largely involved in the history of this town. Joseph Allen, the ancestor of representatives of the same name still living in this town and Scotland, bought land in this town, now Scotland, January 13th, 1731. Samuel Ashley in April, 1717, purchased two hundred acres of John Fitch in the northeast part of Windham, on both sides of Little river. This homestead farm is in the North Bigelow district in Hampton, and has remained in the family ever since. Jonathan Babcock was probably the second permanent settler of that portion of Windham which is now included in the village of Willimantic. He was the common ancestor of most of the Coventry and Mansfield Babcocks. He bought the thousand-acre right which had been laid out by Captain John Mason and had passed through several hands previous to his purchase in 1709. The home farm, containing 1.54 acres, had been laid out on this right, April 17th, 1706. It lay just beyond the western limits of the borough of Willimantic, near the village cemetery, and the first house erected upon it was probably the second one built in Willimantic. Babcock was admitted as an inhabitant in 1711. William Backus settled in Windham as early as 1693. His father, Lieutenant William Backus, was one of the original Norwich legatees of Joshua, and had three of the thousand-acre shares, one of which he gave to his son William, of whom we are speaking. The home lot was number seven, at Windham Centre. It was in the center of the present village of Windham. One acre of it was purchased, January 30th, 1700, by Reverend Samuel Whiting and Ensign Jonathan Crane, and presented by them to the town for a “Meeting Plot or Common.” This was the original ”Windham Green.” Many of the descendants of this settler still remain. Deacon John Baker, probably son of Samuel Baker of Hull and Barnstable, came to Windham with his sons Samuel and John (as is supposed), at some time before 1746, and located in that part of Windham now the south part of Scotland. When the descendants had become somewhat numerous the place where the families settled was called ” Baker Town.
Let us now turn for a moment to notice some of the individual members that were swelling, the body corporate. William and Joseph Hall, Joshua and John Allen, Nathaniel Bassett, Benjamin Armstrong, Samuel Gifford and Robert Smith were now settled at the Ponde; the Halls having come from Plymouth, Bassett from Yarmouth, and the others probably from Norwich. Joseph Dingley now occupied the allotment purchased by Captain Standish. William Backus exchanged his house and accommodations at the Hither-place for Ensign Crane’s grist mill. Crane sold the house and lot to Exercise Conant in 1695, and Conant conveyed it to John Abbe, of Wenham, July 3d, 1696, for £70 in silver. Samuel Abbe, probably a brother of John, purchased half an allotment and half a house at the Centre, of Benjamin Howard, in 1697. John Waldo, of Boston, a reported descendant of Peter Waldo, of Lyons, purchased an allotment laid out to Reverend James Fitch, and was admitted an inhabitant here in 1698. William Hide, William Moulton, Philip Paine, John Ashby, Josiah Kingsley, Samuel Storrs, Samuel Storrs, Jr., Robert and Joseph Hebard, Isaac Magoon, John Howard and Thomas Denham, were also admitted inhabitants in the year 1698, or before; Shubael Dimmock in 1699, and Abraham Mitchell in 1700. James Birchard sold his right to Philip Paine in 1696, and removed to the West Farms of Norwich. Samuel Abbe died a few months after his arrival here, his son Samuel succeeded to his estate at the Centre, and his widow married Abraham Mitchell. John Cates, the first Windham settler, died in the summer of 1697. He left a service of plate for the communion service of the church, two hundred acres of land in trust for the poor, and two hundred acres to be applied to schools.
The Massachusetts Bay Colony (more formally The Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1628–1691) was an English settlement on the east coast of America in the 17th century around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Essex County was created by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on May 10, 1643, when it was ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires." Named after the county in England, Essex then comprised the towns of Salem, Lynn, Wenham, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Gloucester, and Andover.
Massachusetts Bay Colony reverted to rule under the revoked charter until 1691, when a new charter was issued for the Province of Massachusetts Bay. This province combined the Massachusetts Bay territories with those of the Plymouth Colony and proprietary holdings on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Sir William Phips arrived in 1692 bearing the charter and formally took charge of the new province.
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in British America which became one of the thirteen original states of the United States from 1776 onward. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William III and Mary II, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The charter took effect on May 14, 1692 and included the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, the Province of Maine, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick; the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the direct successor.
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.
Samuel Abbey was born December 15, 1646, in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Mary Knowlton was born January, 1654, in Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Abraham Mitchell was born 1657 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Colony of Connecticut.
SAMUEL2 ABBE, son of John1 Abbe, born probably at Wenham, Mass., about1646, or soon after his father's settlement there; died in Windham, Conn., March, 1697-8. His name first appears in the Wenham records at the time of his marriage. "Samuel Abby and Mary Knowlton Married the 12th October 1672." He received a grant of ten acres of land in Wenham, and land to set his house upon, from his father, John Abbey, and wife, Mary, April 3, 1675, his brethren to have the refusal of the place if he should sell (Essex Deeds, 15:150). Samuel and his wife, Mary, were communicants of the church in Wenham in 1674. He was a land surveyor in 1676 and appears upon the town records as a husbandman, made freeman, October 3,1680 (Massachusetts Records, 5:540). He was named in his father's will, 1683. A map of Salem dwellings in 1692, published in Volume I of Upham's Salem Witchcraft, shows the location of Samuel Abbey's house, number 114 on a plot in the south-west part, east of Bald Hill, within the 500 acres laid out to Robert Goodell in 1652 and its subsequent additions.
Samuel Abbey married Mary Knowlton, daughter of William Jr. Knowlton and Elizabeth, on October 12, 1672, in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony. Mary was born in 1653 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. She died about 1710 in Wenham, Massachusetts.
Samuel Abbey and Mary Knowlton were married October 12, 1672, in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Samuel Abbey Sr. and Mary Knowlton Marriage Record. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating the original marriage record.
Samuel Abbey Sr. was admitted as a Freeman on October 13, 1680, in Wenham.
List of freemen of Massachusetts, 1630-1691, Lucius R. Paige, Elizabeth Petty Bentley (1849); P. 32; Image 32 of 66. Originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register II, January, April, July, October 1849, as List of Freemen. Record of Samuel Abby as Freeman.
Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/listoffreemenofm00paig/page/2/mode/1up Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating the record.
On November 1, 1682, Samuel Abbey bought of Lott Killam and wife, Hannah, of Salem, he being then of Wenham, 6 acres in Salem on Norrice's Brook (12:112), and also bought of James Stimpson and wife, Priscilla, who had been the widow of Isaac Goodell, at the same place, some land in1684 (2:113). On April 3, 1697, he and his wife, Mary, sold those lands described as a dwelling house, two orchards, and seventeen acres in Salem, bounding Anthony Needham, John Walcott, Isaac Goodale, Samuel Goodale, Abraham Smith, Abel Gardner, Joseph Flint, and also six acres on Norrice's Brook, and two acres bought of James Stimpson, to Zachariah White of Lynn, all for £130 (12:147). The above James Stimpson was of Reading and had married the widow of the elder Isaac Goodell. At the time of Goodell's death in 1680, the widow was administrated and Samuel Abbey was one of her sureties. He was then probably of Salem or possibly Topsfield.
Samuel Abbey was admitted freeman of Salem Village, March 22, 1689-90. He and his wife were dismissed from the Salem Church September 15, 1689, to unite informing one at Salem Village; the date of its formation being November 15, 1689. Salem Village is now Danvers. On July 1, 1690, he was taxed at Salem Village, and again, January 18, 1694-5, he and his son were taxed there.
Samuel Abbey of Salem bought of Benjamin Howard of Windham, Conn., for £22 10s current money, half an allotment of land (500 acres), being number 2 at the Center, at or near the locality known later as Bricktop. He probably removed to Windham about that time as he was admitted an inhabitant of that town December 21, 1697, and died there March of the following year.
His estate was settled in 1699. The inventory, taken May 9, 1698, gives as legatees, the following: wife, Mary; daughter, Mary, aged 25; son, Samuel, aged 23; son, Thomas, aged 20; Eleazer, aged 16 (the land records prove that this is a mistake for Elizabeth); Ebenezer, aged 16; Mercy, aged 14; Sarah, aged 13; Hepsibah, aged 10; Abigail, aged 8; John, aged 7; Benjamin, aged 6; Jonathan, aged 2. One record says he left a son, Eleazer, and a daughter, Abigail, each 8 years old at his death. This is doubtless an attempt to rectify the error noted above.
Inventory of the Estate of Samuell Abby late of Windham who died in March 1697, apprized and ordered to be recorded. Administration granted unto Abra. Mitchell who hath married Mary the Relict of the said Abby. July 5,1699. (Hartford Probate Office, Volume 6,page 93.) An inventory of the Estate of Samuell Abby late of Windham deed as money. His wearing Cloths £2 a feathr bed bolster 2 pillows wth beirs £3 £05-00-00 a bedsted curtaines wth a rug and blanket £02-10-d00 3 pr Cotten and lining sheets 02-10-11 more beds wth 2 coverlids & blankets 02-00-00 2 pillow beires 3 pr lining sheets 02-00-00 3 table cloths 2 doz napkins £2 -10s a great Iron pott 20s-03-10-10 a little Iron pott 10s/2 iron kettles 10s/ tramell pot hooks and tongs 15s 01-15-00 pewter and earthen ware 22s a frying pan 5s 01-07-00 dishes spoons and trenchers 5s/ box and irons 6s00 chest, box, tubs, and payles 20s a gun 15s 3 knives 3s two axes 10s hoes 6s beetle, rings and wedges 10s two pitchforks wth 3 hooks and old Iron 00-05-00 Horse tackling, cart, wheels, boxes, & hoops 02-05-00 a plough and Irons 6s an old spade shovell & mattock 3s a syth and tackling 6s 2 horses & a mare wth bridle & sadle 05-12-00 a little quantity of wool wth Old bags 6s 00-06-00 Lands £25-00-00 two Swine 12s
Total £58-08-00 This Inventory taken May the 9th 1698 Pr us Joseph Cary Jeremiah Ripley Townsmen. (Hartford Probate Office, Volume 6, pages 125, 126.)
Mary the Relict appeared in Windham the 2d of May 1699 and gave oath that she had made present men of the estate of her decd husband, and if more comes to her knowledge she will cause it to be added to the Inventory, before me Willm Pitkin, Assistant.
Debts due from the estate is £5- 0-0 Cash Debts due to the estate is £l-10-0 Cash The children's names and age: Mary 25 years Samll 23 Thomas 20 Eleazr 18 Ebenezr 16 Mary 14 Sarah 13 Hipzibah 10 Abigaile 8 John 7 Benj 6 and Jonathan 2 years of age. (The names appear as here given but it is apparent that Eleazr is a mistake of the copyist for Elizabeth and that the second Mary should be Mercy.)
Samuel Abbe was living in Salem during the days of witchcraft and was one of those opposed to its fanaticisms. One Rebecca Nourse, on trial as a witch, produced a paper signed by several "respectable inhabitants" of Salem, among whom was Samuel Abbe. This document as to her good character caused her to be set at liberty but the sentence was later changed for some reason and she was put to death as a witch. Only a few years ago a monument to her memory was erected by her descendants. Samuel Abbey testifies as to Mercy Lewis, May 20, 1692, she being at the house of her neighbor, John Putnam, jr., and accused of witchcraft. Samuel Abbe and his wife, Mary, were witnesses in a witch trial in Salem in 1692 against Sarah Snow, a woman of vicious temper who had lived in their home for a time but was dismissed on account of her disagree able ways. She vowed vengeance upon them and when several of their cows and hogs were taken sick, the blame was laid to her as a witch. The following are taken from Records of Salem Witchcraft, copied from the original documents, Volume 1, pages 24 and 25.
Map of Salem Village as it existed in 1692. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating the original records.
Click on the above image for the source book about Salem Witchcraft, Charles W. Upham, 1867. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating the original publication.
John and Samuel Abbe were among the very early settlers of this town, and the name has been a prominent, influential and respected one in the subsequent history of the town. Through the male and female branches the blood has been widely disseminated, and is diffused through almost the entire range of Windham families. It is supposed that they came from Wenham, Mass., their ancestors having come from the county of Norfolk, England. John Abbe purchased of Lieutenant Exercise Conant the seventh home-lot at Windham Centre with a house on the west side of the town street and the thousand-acre right belonging to it, July 3d, 1696, all for seventy pounds in silver. He was admitted an inhabitant December 9th of the same year, and was one of the original members of the Windham church, organized in 1700. He died suddenly December 11th of the same year.
William Backus exchanged his house and accommodations at the Hither-place for Ensign Crane’s grist mill. Crane sold the house and lot to Exercise Conant in 1695, and Conant conveyed it to John Abbe, of Wenham, July 3d, 1696, for £70 in silver.
Samuel Abbe, brother of the last mentioned, bought of Benjamin Howard of Windham, for £22, 10s, one half an allotment of land -a five hundred acre right -being number two at the Centre, with half the house, etc. He was admitted an inhabitant December 21st, 1697, and became the ancestor of the most numerous branch of the Windham Abbes, and all of the name now living in Windham or vicinity are descended from him. He died at Windham in March, 1698. One of his female descendants, Rachel Abbe in 1738-9 married General Samuel McClellan, and so became the great-grandmother of the late General George B. McClellan, of national renown.
Samuel Abbe, probably a brother of John, purchased half an allotment and half a house at the Centre, of Benjamin Howard, in 1697. Samuel Abbe died a few months after his arrival here, his son Samuel succeeded to his estate at the Centre, and his widow married Abraham Mitchell. John Waldo, of Boston, a reported descendant of Peter Waldo, of Lyons, purchased an allotment laid out to Reverend James Fitch, and was admitted an inhabitant here in 1698. William Hide, William Moulton, Philip Paine, John Ashby, Josiah Kingsley, Samuel Storrs, Samuel Storrs, Jr., Robert and Joseph Hebard, Isaac Magoon, John Howard and Thomas Denham, were also admitted inhabitants in the year 1698, or before; Shubael Dimmock in 1699, and Abraham Mitchell in 1700. James Birchard sold his right to Philip Paine in 1696, and removed to the West Farms of Norwich.
Samuel Abbey died March 8, 1698, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at age 51.
Probate Records for Samuel Abbey. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating these records.
Abraham Mitchell and Mary (Knowlton) Abbey Marriage Record. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating the original marriage record.
Thomas Abbey died April 1, 1700, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at about age 21. Never married.
Thomas Abbey Death Record. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating this record.
William Slate and Elizabeth Abbey were married September 23, 1702, in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.
William Slate and Elizabeth Abbey Marriage Record. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating the original marriage record.
On November 7, 1705 Samuel Abbey traded land of the same value to Ebenezer Abbey. Page 288. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating this record.
Vol BB P288 Ebenezer Abbe, Sr and brother Samuel Abbe, Jr, who received the land from their father Samuel Abbe Sr. (d. 1698)
7 Nov 1705
To all People to whom this deed of sale shall Come greeting know ye that Samuell Abbe of Windham in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England for & in consideration of land of the same vallue to him in hand deliverd by Ebenezer Abbe of norwich In the County of new London and Colony afforesd the recipt wherof he doth hereby acknowledg and himself therewith fully satisfied and thereof doth acquit Exonerat and discharg the sd Ebenezer Abbe his heirs and assigns forever hath given granted bargained sold aliented perffected and Confirmed and by the sd prescence doth fully freely and absolutely give grant bargain sell alienat perfected and Confirmed unto the sd Ebenezer Abbe his heirs and assignes forever the moiety or one half of the twelve hundred acre lot in Windham lying northeasterly from newfound meadow Containing fifty five acres bounded as followeth: abutting East on the Land of Edward Waldo Seventy six rod & half: abutting west on the Land of mercnt Seffing west Seventy Six rod & half: abutting north on the Land of Mr Riply a hundred and thirty two rod: abutting south on the land of mercnt Seffing west a hundred & ten rod to have & to hold the sd Land with all his right title & Intrest in & unto the Same unto the sd Ebenezer and assignes and to the onely prosper ye benifit & behoove of the sd Ebenezer Abbe his heirs & assignes forever a good perfit and absolute Estate of inheritance in ffee simple without any condition recrimination or Limitation whatsoever so as to alter Chaing defeat or make void the same and that the sd Samuell Abbe his heirs shall and will warrant & defend this deed of sale unto the sd Ebenezer Abbe his heirs & assignes forever against all Just and Lawfull Claimes declareing him Self to be the true and Lawful owner of sd Land att the day of the date hereof wittness his hand & Seal:
Novr: - 7. :1705
his
Samuell Abbe Seal
mark
Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us
John Fitch
John Backus
Samuell Abbe appeared and freely acknowledged this instrument to be his act & deed before me
Joshua Ripley, Justice
Entered here novemr 8: 1705
John Fitch Clerk
Ebenezer Abbey Sr. received land deeded from his brother, Samuel Abbey Jr., on December 8, 1707, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut. Thanks to Kay Koslan for locating this record.
Abraham Mitchell died 1713 in the Colony of Connecticut, at about age 56.
Mary (Knowlton) (Abbey) Mitchell died after 1715 in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at age Unknown.
From Kay Koslan, July 30, 2024
Leigh and Sarah,
You have on your website the following information from Jeromey Ward. It is also on Samuel's Findagrave. I found all of the land records for Samuel, including what was deeded from his father John Abbe. It's difficult to know what date to use as there's the date an agreement was reached and the date of probably final payment for the land.
Anyway, what is also interesting is the record on Apr 3 1697, mentioning the bounding of land on Isaac Goodale's land. Just what I suspected, Ebenezer Abbe, Jr. somehow met Abigail Goodale through Samuel or another family member as they lived next to each other.
I may have to check John Abbe further!
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Here's the text you have:
On November 1, 1682, Samuel Abbey bought of Lott Killam and wife, Hannah, of Salem, he being then of Wenham, 6 acres in Salem on Norrice's Brook (12:112), and also bought of James Stimpson and wife, Priscilla, who had been the widow of Isaac Goodell, at the same place, some land in 1684 (12:113).
On April 3, 1697, he and his wife, Mary, sold those lands described as a dwelling house, two orchards, and seventeen acres in Salem, bounding Anthony Needham, John Walcott, Isaac Goodale, Samuel Goodale, Abraham Smith, Abel Gardner, Joseph Flint, and also six acres on Norrice's Brook, and two acres bought of James Stimpson, to Zachariah White of Lynn, all for £130 (12:147), The above James Stimpson was of Reading and had married the widow of the elder Isaac Goodell. At the time of Goodell 's death in 1680, the widow was administratrix and Samuel Abbey was one of her sureties. He was then probably of Salem or possibly Topsfield.
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Record of Samuel Abbe purchasing land from Lot Kilham, with final settlement of deed payment on Dec 22, 1697
V12; P. 112; FHL866020 Image 118-119 of 538 - 6 Acres
Record of Samuel Abbe purchasing land from James Stimson, with final settlement of deed payment on Dec 23, 1697
V12; P. 113; FHL866020 Image 120 of 538
Record of John Abbe deeding land to son, Samuel Abbe, with final settlement of deed on May 23, 1703
V15; P. 150; FHL866020 Image 492 of 665 (Both Mary and John give their mark).
Record of Samuel Abbe and wife Mary deeding land to Zechariah White, with final settlement of deed on Apr 3, 1697
V12; P. 147; FHL866020; Image 155 of 538
From Jeromey Ward's Web Site:
SAMUEL2 ABBE, son of John1 Abbe, born probably at Wenham, Mass., about1646, or soon after his father's settlement there; died in Windham, Conn., March, 1697-8. His name first appears in the Wenham records at the time of his marriage. "Samuel Abby and Mary Knowlton Married the 12th October 1672." He received a grant of ten acres of land in Wenham, and land to set his house upon, from his father, John Abbey, and wife, Mary, April 3, 1675, his brethren to have the refusal of the place if he should sell (Essex Deeds, 15:150). Samuel and his wife, Mary, were communicants of the church in Wenham in 1674. He was a land surveyor in 1676 and appears upon the town records as a husbandman, made freeman, October 3,1680 (Massachusetts Records, 5:540). He was named in his father's will, 1683.
A map of Salem dwellings in 1692, published in Volume I of Upham's Salem Witchcraft, shows the location of Samuel Abbey's house, number 114on a plot in the south-west part, east of Bald Hill, within the 500 acres laid out to Robert Goodell in 1652 and its subsequent additions.
On November 1, 1682, Samuel Abbey bought of Lott Killam and wife, Hannah, of Salem, he being then of Wenham, 6 acres in Salem on Norrice's Brook (12:112), and also bought of James Stimpson and wife, Priscilla, who had been the widow of Isaac Goodell, at the same place, some land in1684 (2:113). On April 3, 1697, he and his wife, Mary, sold those lands described as a dwelling house, two orchards, and seventeen acres in Salem, bounding Anthony Needham, John Walcott, Isaac Goodale, Samuel Goodale, Abraham Smith, Abel Gardner, Joseph Flint, and also six acres on Norrice's Brook, and two acres bought of James Stimpson, to Zachariah White of Lynn, all for £130 (12:147). The above James Stimpson was of Reading and had married the widow of the elder Issac Goodell. At the time of Goodell's death in 1680, the widow was administrated and Samuel Abbey was one of her sureties. He was then probably of Salem or possibly Topsfield.
He was admitted freeman of Salem Village, March 22, 1689-90. He and his wife were dismissed from the Salem Church September 15, 1689, to unite informing one at Salem Village; the date of its formation being November 15, 1689. Salem Village is now Danvers. On July 1, 1690, he was taxed at Salem Village, and again, January 18, 1694-5, he and his son were taxed there. Samuel Abbey of Salem bought of Benjamin Howard of Windham, Conn., for£22. 10s. current money, half an allotment of land (500 acres), being number 2 at the Center, at or near the locality known later as Bricktop. He probably removed to Windham about that time as he was admitted an inhabitant of that town December 21, 1697, and died there March of the following year.
Samuel Abbe was living in Salem during the days of witchcraft and was one of those opposed to its fanaticisms. One Rebecca Nourse, on trial as a witch, produced a paper signed by several "respectable inhabitants" of Salem, among whom was Samuel Abbe. This document as to her good character caused her to be set at liberty but the sentence was later changed for some reason and she was put to death as a witch. Only a few years ago a monument to her memory was erected by her descendants. Samuel Abbey testifies as to Mercy Lewis, May 20, 1692, she being at the house of her neighbor, John Putnam, jr., and accused of witchcraft. Samuel Abbe and his wife, Mary, were witnesses in a witch trial in Salem in 1692 against Sarah Snow, a woman of vicious temper who had lived in their home for a time but was dismissed on account of her disagree able ways. She vowed vengeance upon them and when several of their cows and hogs were taken sick, the blame was laid to her as a witch.
The following are taken from Records of Salem Witchcraft, copied from the original documents, Volume 1, pages 24 and 25.
Samuel Abbey Et ux vs. Sarah Good Samuel Abbey of Salem Village aged 45 years or thereabouts and Mary Abbey his wife aged 38 years or thereabouts, Deposeth and saith.
That about this Time Three Years past Wm Good and his wife Sarah Good being destitute of a house to dwell in these Deponents out of Charity; they being Poor lett them live in theirs some time untill that the said Sarah Good was of so Turbulant a Sperritt, Spitefull and so Mallitiously bent, that these Deponents could not suffer her to Live in their howse any Longer and was forced for Quiettness sake to turne she yesaid Sarah with her husband out of their howse ever since, which is about two years 1/2 agone, the said Sarah Good hath carried it very Spitefully and Mallitiously, towards them, the winter following after the said Sarah was gone from our house we began to Loose Cattle and Lost several after an vnvsall manner, in a drupeing condition (sic) Condition and yett they would Eate: and your Deponents have Lost after that manner 17 head of Cattle within this two years besides Sheep and Hoggs, and both doe believe they Dyed by witchcraft, the said William Good on the last of May was twelve months went home to his wife the sd Sarah Good and told her, what a sad Accident had fallen out, she asked what, he answered that his neighbovr Abbey had lost two Cowes, both dyeing within halfe an hower of one another, the sd Sarah good said she did not care if he the said Abbey had Lost all the Cattle he had as ye said Jno Good told vs. Just that very Day that the said Sarah Good was taken up, we yr Deponents had a Cow that could not rise alone, but since presently after she was taken up, the said Cow was well and could rise so well as if she had ailed nothing. She the said Sarah good ever since these Deponents turned her out of their howse she hath behaved herself every crossely and mallitiously to them and their Children calling their Children vile names and hath threatened them often. Jurnt in Curio. Warrant for Sarah Good was given at Salem, February 29, 1691-2, inresponse to complaints of Sarah Vibber, Abigail Williams, ElizabethHubbard, Ann Putnam, and Jno. Vibber. Among the many depositions inwitness to her malign practices were those of Samuel Abbey and wife. Records of Salem Witchcraft, copied from the original documents, Vol.2, pp. 41-2, old series.
Samuel Abby v. Mary Easty The Deposition of Samuel Abby aged about 45 years who testifieth andsaith that on the 2Oth of May 1692 I went to the house of Constable Jno Putnam about 9 a clock in the morning and when J came there: Mircy lewes lay on the bed in a sad condition and continuing speachless for about an hour: the man not being at whom: the woman desired me to goe to Tho:putnams to bring Ann putnam to se if she could se who it was that hurt Mercy lewes: accordingly J went: and found Abigail williams along with Ann putnam and brought them both to se mercy lewes: and as they ware agoeing along the way both of them said that they saw the Apperishtion of Goody Estick and said it was the same woman that was sent whom the other day: and said also that they saw the Apperishtion of the other woman that appered with gooddy Estick the Other day, and both of them allso said that the Apperishtion of gooddy Estick tould them that now she was afflecting of mircy lewes and when they came to Mircy lewes both of them said that they saw the Apperishtion of gooddy Estick and Jno willard and Mary witheridge afflecting the body of mircy lewes: and continueing along with mircy who contineued in a sad condition the greatest part of the day being in such tortors as no toungue can express; but not able to spake: but at last said Deare lord Received my soule and againe said lord let them not kill me quitt, but at last she came to hirself for a little whille and was very sensable and then she said that goody estick said she would kill hir before midnight because she did notcleare hir so as the Rest did, then againe presently she fell very bad and cried out pray for the salvation of my soule for they will kill me. Jurat in Curia Sepr 9th 92.
Inventory of the Estate of Samuell Abby late of Windham who died in March 1697, apprized and ordered to be recorded. Administration granted unto Abra. Mitchell who hath married Mary the Relict of the said Abby. July 5,1699. (Hartford Probate Office, Volume 6,page 93.) An inventory of the Estate of Samuell Abby late of Windham deed as money. His wearing Cloths£2 a feathr bed bolster 2 pillows wth beirs£3 £05-00-00 a bedsted curtaines wth a rug and blanket£02-10-d00 3 pr Cotten and lining sheets02-10-11 more beds wth 2 coverlids & blankets02-00-00 2 pillow beires 3 pr lining sheets02-00-00 3 table cloths 2 doz napkins£2 -10s a great Iron pott20s-03-10-10 a little Iron pott 10s/2 iron kettles 10s/ tramell pot hooks and tongs 15s01-15-00 pewter and earthen ware22s a frying pan 5s01-07-00 dishes spoons and trenchers 5s/ box and irons6s00 chest, box, tubs, and payles20s a gun15s 3 knives3s two axes10s hoes 6s beetle, rings and wedges10s two pitchforks wth 3 hooks and old Iron00-05-00 Horse tackling, cart, wheels, boxes, & hoops02-05-00 a plough and Irons6s an old spade shovell & mattock3s a syth and tackling6s 2 horses & a mare wth bridle & sadle05-12-00 a little quantity of wool wth Old bags 6s00-06-00 Lands£25-00-00 two Swine12s
Debts due from the estate is £5-0-0 Cash Debts due to the estate is £l-10-0 Cash The children's names and age: Mary 25 years Samll 23 Thomas 20 Eleazr 18 Ebenezr 16 Mary 14Sarah 13 Hipzibah 10 Abigaile 8 John 7 Benj 6 and Jonathan 2 years ofage. (The names appear as here given but it is apparent that Eleazr is a mistake of the copyist for Elizabeth and that the second Mary should be Mercy.)
Samuel2 Abbe married in Wenham, Mass., October 12, 1672, MARY KNOWLTON, born 1653, daughter of William and Elizabeth ( ) Knowlton. She married(2), April 27, 1699, Abraham Mitchell and had by him a son, Daniel, who was born and died December 10, 1700. Mary Mitchell, formerly Mary Abby, was dismissed from the Salem Village Church to Windham, Conn., September14, 1701.
The following notes are from the Knowlton Ancestry," compiled by Rev, C. H. W. Stocking of Freehold, N, J., published 1897: The name Knowlton reaches back traditionally to the time of William the Conqueror,1066-87. Richard Knowlton was born 1553, probably at Knowlton Manor, which is situated about six miles from the great cathedral at Canterbury, Kent County, England. He married, July 17, 1577, Elizabeth Cantize. The last of their four children was William, commonly called Captain William, born 1584, married Ann Elizabeth Smith. They had six children, two of whom died young. Captain William with his remaining family sailed for America about 1632. He died on the passage and was probably buried at Nova Scotia, as an ancient grave stone bearing the name of William Knowlton, 1632, was discovered there by a land-surveyor in 1839. The family appear to have moved to Massachusetts the next year, probably to Hingham, later to Ipswich. William, second son of Captain William, born in England, 1615, was a member of the first church in Ipswich and a freeman, 1641-2. He was a brick-layer by trade, married Elisabeth -, and died l655. The youngest of their seven children was Mary, born 1649, who married Samuel Abbe.
Samuel married Mary Knowlton daughter of William Jr. Knowlton and Elizabeth in 1673 in Massachusetts. Mary was born in 1653 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. She died about 1710 in Wenham, Massachusetts.