| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, p. 41:
"Thomas Bancroft (son of John), at Springfield, Mass., 8 Dec 1653; in 1654 res. there at 'lower wharf,' now Thompsonville (Enfield), Conn., as see 'S. Rec. of Possessions.' His cattle-mark was 'ye top of both ears cut off and a little piece cut out of ye off eare.' He m. (1) Margaret (dau. Samuel) Wright of S., 8 Dec 1653; m. (2) ___ (John M. Bancroft [the author's source for much on the Bancrofts] thinks that the Hannah (dau. Samuel) Gardner of Hadley, who (acc. to Boltwood's 'History Hadley,' p. 497) m. Nathaniel Bancroft, 1675, really m. this Thomas Bancroft, and was the 2d wife, who m. (2) John Barber.) He was a farmer; while at Westfield a selectman; (see his affidavit in regard to his bro.-in-law, John Griffen, p. 477, Vol. I.); in 1668 he was at Westfield; sold farm there in 1680, Mar 20; returned to Enfield, where he d. 14 Dec 1684; will dated in Nov. of that year and upon rec. at S.; gave son Thomas, Jr., 15 acres of land on S. side of Woxonoak river, belonging to Springfield; to sons Samuel, John, and Nath'l, equal shares at Enfield; ₤7 each to daughters Anne and Rebecca; house, etc. to his loving wife. The will, being unsigned, could not be estab., and estate was not settled until 3 Feb 1703/4, before which time the widow had m. (2) John Barber of S.
Children (b. probably at Enfield), the first seven by 1st wife:
A. Lydia, b. 6, 2d mo., 1655.
B. Margaret, b. 16, 8 mo. 1656; d. probably unmarried 3 Feb 1703/4.
C. Anna, b. 1, 7 mo., 1658; bu. 30, 6 mo., 1659.
D. Thomas, b. 21, 11 mo., 1659; was living at time of father's death, and (presumably) at the sett. of his estate, 1703-4, when he is thus mentioned; to the eld. s., Thomas B., Jr., or to his issue, a double portion, ₤10.12.4.' From 'North. Rec.': 'Nath'l Edwards and Thos. Shelding of N., for securing (Thos. Bancroft) an offender, a day and a night, was allowed 3d, apiece, and Isiah Shelding one shilling on sd. allowance, as Sam'll Strong for his mare to Westfield to apprehend ye sd. Bancroft, as also pd. to John Taylor, who went to Windsor after said Bancroft - to be pd. as aforesaid.' Among others, he was an early settler at Cape May, N.J., and had located or purchased a lot there prior to 1700 - Beasley's 'Early History Cape May Co., N.J.' Samuel B. (presumably his son) m. Margaret Miller at Easthampton, Long Island, 1717; had one or more ch. there; soon after, was at Cape May; and abt. 1750 d., leaving wid. Margaret and numerous ch., from whom desc. can be traced to present day. Prob. Thomas Jr. was a seafaring man.
E. Anna, b. 5 May 1663; m. James Sexton; was living 1703-4.
F. Lydia, b. 6, 2 mo., 1665.
G. Julia, 'dau. Thos. and Marg't B.,' d. 30 Jul 1666. - 'Springfield Rec.'
H. Samuel (Lieut.), b. 25 Jan 1667.
I. Ruth, b. 29 Aug 1670, at Westfield; m. John Stiles of W., and, after being a mother 13 times (twice with twins), d. in childbirth, 1714. 'Pres. Stiles's MS,' says, 'being left an orphan at an early age, was given to Mr. Fowler of Westfield, to bring up; when of age she lived with Rev. Mr. Glover of Springfield, and was in the fortified house when it was besieged by Indians, 1675.' This does not say she was of age when living in the fort-house. Rev. Peletiah Glover sett. as S. 1661, and d. there 29 Mar 1692.
J. John, d. Enfield, 26 Feb 1684; mentioned in father's will.
K. Rebecca, b. Enf., 23 Feb 1680; m. ___ Gillett.
L. Nathaniel, b. 24 Oct 1683; m. Ruth Haile; res. W. Springfield; desc. in Granville, Mass., and Ohio."
[Note: Stiles's book from which the above was taken does not have entires for Gardner, Miller, Haile (or Heald), or Gilbert.]
2. "New England History and Genealogy Register," v. 101, p. 285, Article: "Jonathan and Nathan Gillett Descendants":
"Samuel Gillett (son of John, grandson of Jonathan), of Suffield, Conn., and Granville, Mass., born in Windsor, Conn., 16 Feb 1677/8. He was five years old when his mother married secondly, Captain George Norton of Suffield, the town that became the boy's home for most of his life. In the later years of his life he lived in Granville, across the line in southwest Mass., and died there 'in 1739, aged 60', but was buried in Suffield. (Northampton Probate Records give administration of estate 1934[typo?]) He married in Suffield, 22 Jan 1701/2 (int. 20 Dec 1701), Rebecca Bancroft (dau. of Thomas, g.dau. of John), born in Springfield, Mass. (part later Enfield, Conn.), 23 Feb 1680...
[Her mother] Widow Jane Bancroft received 100 acres in Lynn in 1638. Her daughter Anna married 13 May 1647 Sergt. John Griffin, settled in Simsbury, Conn., had ten children and one of them, Sarah Griffin, married Elias Gillett (son of Nathan). Son Thomas Bancroft of Springfield, Mass. region, residence at the 'lower wharf,' now Enfield, Conn., was a selectman of Westfield; 8 Dec 1653 married Margaret Wright (dau. of Samuel) and their daughter Ruth Bancroft married John Stiles and had many Children; and daughter Rebecca married Samuel Gillett; and son Nathaniel had descendants in Granville, Mass. (and Ohio) and it was probably this connection that took Samuel Gillett from Suffield to Granville.
Rev. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale from 1772 to 1795 was the son of Rev. Isaac and the grandson of John and Ruth (Bancroft) Stiles, and he wrote of his grandmother's family: 'The Family of Bancroft are a brisk, smart, quick, sensible and lively cast. Grandmother communicated her family spirit to all (her) Children', etc. (Stiles Gens. 1892 and 1895).
Children, born in Suffield:
A. Samuel, b. 13 Sep 1702.
B. John, b. 16 Jan 1704/5. Perhaps the 1724 John Gillett of his uncle Thomas Gillett's 1726 probate record?
C. Nathaniel, 10 May 1707; m. Phebe ___...
D. Hannah, b. 19 Jun 1709; d. in Suffield 2 Nov 1746, age 37; m. there, 26 Feb 1728/9 (int. Jan. 10) Joseph Kent (1898 Kent Gen.).
E. Thomas, b. 16 Apr 1711.
F. Gardner, b. 23 Jun 1715.
G. Rebecca, b. 21 Sep 1718."
3. The book "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Connecticut Family, etc.," by Henry Reed Stiles, 1895, p. 83:
"Mr. John Stiles, (son of John, grandson of John) born 10 Dec 1665; settled at Windsor, Conn. He married (1) Ruth Bancroft, dau. of Samuel, of Westfield, Mass., who died in Childbed, 1714; m. (2) Widow Sarah Rumrill, who died about 1743, by whom he had no children. After her death, he left Windsor, and lived the greater part of his remaining years with his son, Rev. Isaac Stiles, at North Haven, where he died, 20 May 1753, age 88 years.
The church records of Rev. Timothy Edwards, first pastor of the First Church of East Windsor, Conn., give evidence that John Stiles was an actual settler (and the first of the name) on the east side of the Great River - then known as "Windsor Farmes" - probably in 1699 or 1700.
Pres. Stiles ('MS. Itinerary,' vol. v., Yale College Library says: 'Osborn, Bissell, Fitch, three first settlers of East Windsor. Osborn owned three miles long and a half (mile) in width on Connecticut River. Grandfather Jno. Stiles among first and with Osborn. Osborn first above Scantic River, Bissell below, and Fitch at South end.'
His grandson, the President, thus describes him: 'my Grandfather was small man short of stature and rather lean than fat; an honest man, tho' of an ordinary capacity and understanding - a plain Farmer, naturally rather dull and cloudy make; his passions quick tho' not often disturbed - at time melancholy tho' often social. Tho' he had little evil about him, yet he had nothing extraordinary good. Had no ambition to be distinguished beyond a very small sphere. And least of all had he anything Enterprising in his Make. Not very active nor very Indolent; if he could in Summer lay up for Winter so as to feed his numerous Family, he sought no more. He took no pains to acquire an Estate, having land eno' to raise provision for the support of his Family.
The Family of Bancroft (his wife's) are of a brisk, smart, quick, sensible ane lively cast. Grandmother communicated her family spirit to all his children, but to none in so high a degree as to her son my Father, the Rev. Isaac Stile, and perhaps her daughter Ruth. In general in all the children there was a manifest Superiority of Mind to Grandfather's. They were all possessed of Sensibility, Spirit, Quickness and Judgement far superior to their Father. One common Infirmity inseparably attended the whole Family, Violence of Passions; not one but was quick and passionate to a high degree, which was a great Disadvantage especially to the two, viz. my Father and Uncle Abel who were concerned in public Life. Boisteriousness, Impetuosity and Ungovernableness of their passions, involved them in many Trials, wh. Men of more Meekness and Condescension had avoided.
With all these Infirmities of Passions about them, the Family was not addicted to Vices, but were honest, upright and faithful and had in their Dispositions a natural Hospitality and Generosity which would have appeared more had not Indigence, or at least a want of Affluence, prevented it.
Not only my Grandfather, but the Family of Stiles in other Branches, in general, were a small Breed, low of Stature' (excepting Jonathan Stiles, known as 'Long Jonathan.')
[Article lists Children.]"
Footnotes:
1. [Ruth Bancroft]: 'Being left an orphan at an early age, was given to Mr. Fowler, of Westfield to bring up. When of age she lived at Rev. Mr. Glover's, in Springfield, and was in the fortified house when it was besieged by the Indians in 1675' - 'Pres. Stiles MS, Genealogy.' She was among the members in full communion belonging to 'ye 2d Church of Christ in Windsor,' (i.e. the first Church in East Windsor), under date of 1700, - Stiles 'Hist. Ancient Windsor,' p. 870. [Note: Pres. Stiles would be the grandson of John through Isaac and the President of Yale College in the late 1700s.]
2. Memorandum by Pres. Stiles, made when a boy, 'Feb. 11, 1743-4, Grandfather Stiles came down,' i.e. to North Haven. Age of death also by memorandum of Pres. Stiles."
4. Today's Hampden County of Massachusetts was originally Middlesex County until it was split off in 1662 and named Hampshire County. Hampden County was formed from Hampshire County in 1812. At the time of these early Bancrofts, Enfield, now in Conn., was then part of Springfield, Mass. The border between Massachusetts and Connecticut fluctuated.
5. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, pp. 704-705: "John Stiles (Mr.) (son of John, g.son of John), settled at Windsor, was an actual settler, and the first of the name on the east side of the Conn. [river], prob. about 1699 or 1700. A very interesting pen portrait of him, and of his brothers and sisters and his wife, by Pres. Stiles, is still extant (see 'S. Genealogy'); he was a farmer; m. (1) Ruth (dau. Samuel) Bancroft of Westfield, Mass., who d. in Child-bed, 1714; (2) Wid. Rumrill, who d. 5 Apr 1743 (East Windsor Church Record); his later years were spent at the residence of his son, Rev. Isaac Stiles at North Haven, Conn., where he d. 20 May 1753, age 88. Children (first 6 prob. b. at Old Windsor; the remainder at 'Windsor Farmes,' East Windsor.):
A. Ruth, b. 5 Feb 1691; m. 31 May 1711 Nath'l Taylor of Windsor, Conn., who d. 6 May 1736; she d. 11 Dec 1760 at Torrington, Conn., age 70; 10 children.
B. John, b. 17 Dec 1692.
C. Margaret, b. 23 Feb 1694/5; m. 23 Feb 1714/15, Joseph Peck of Windsor, afterwards of Tolland, Conn.; he d. Litchfield Co.; 6 ch.
D. Isaac (Rev.), b. 30 Jul 1697.
E. ___, son, d. inf.
F. ___, dau., d. inf.
G. Ebenezer, b. 7 Apr 1701.
H. Noah, b. 31 Jan 1702/3.
I. Abel, d. inf.
J. Hannah, twin, d. age 4.
K. ___, d. inf.
L. Abel (Rev), b. 10 Mar 1708/9.
M. Hannah, b. 9 Oct 1711; m. Isaac Hayden of Windsor, 19 Nov 1736; she d. 27 Aug 1750, age 39; 7 ch.
N. Benoni, b. 1714; d. age 3 mos."
6. "A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England...," by James Savage, 4 vols., (Boston, 1862), p. 195:
"Stiles, John, Windsor, eldest s. of the preced. m. Ruth Bancroft, had Ruth, b. 5 Feb. 1691; John, 17 Dec. 1692; Margaret, 23 Feb. 1695; Isaac, 30 July 1697; Ebenezer, 7 Apr. 1701; Noah, 31 Jan. 1703; Abel, d. soon; Hannah, and arm. tw. both d. soon, as had a pair tw. some yrs. bef.; Abel, again, 5 or 10 Mar. 1709 Hannah, again, 9 Oct. 1711; and Benoni, 1714, d. soon. He was gr.f. of Rev. Ezra, disting. equal. for his extensive erudit. and amiable credulity, wh. was b. 29 Dec. 1727, eldest ch. of Isaac, and only one by w. Kezia, d. of Rev. Edward Taylor of Westfield, wh. d. five days aft. The chronology of too many of the fourteen ch. belong. to John, is so strangely confus. in Cothren, 697, that it defies restorat."
BIRTH:
1. "New England History and Genealogy Register," v. 6, p. 266: "A Record of Marriages, Births, and Deaths in Westfield, Mass., Prior to the year 1700," communicated by the Rev. Emerson Davis of that town, corresponding member of the New England Historical Society: "Thomas Bancroft m. ___ ___, had Ruth, b. Aug. 29, 1670."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1670 - 1714 (43 years)