Tolland County Connecticut
USGenWeb Project

Family Outlines

Family History Records - Tolland County Records

Return to Family Outlines Main Page

Moses Hyde and his Wife Sarah Dana

Transcribed by Elaine Merrell from Several Ancesteral Lines of Moses Hyde and his Wife Sarah Dana, Married at Ashford, CT., June 5, 1757, by Harriette Hyde Wells, published Albany, N.Y.: by Joel Munsell's Sons Publishers, 1904

ANCESTRAL LINES OF SARAH DANA,

GRISWOLD LINE.

EDWARD and Mathew Griswold were b. at Kenilworth, in Warwickshire, England. According to a deposition in the State records of Hartford, Edward was b. in 1607. They emigrated to this country about 1640. Edward brought with him a wife, Margaret, and four children. He settled at Windsor and was Representative from that place 1658-61. In 1664 he removed to Killingsworth as one of the leaders in the settlement of that place and was its first Representative, and, no doubt, gave name to the place, Killings-
worth, answering to the popular pronunciation of his native place in England. In 1678. when the County Court took the conditions of the schools into consideration, he represented Killingswortb in a committee
of six " to see what could be done towards establising a Latin school at New Haven." His son, Francis, brother, Matthew, and himself were Representatives in one court. He d. in 1691. Nothing can be learned of his wife, except that her name was Margaret.

(1) EDWARD.

2 FRANCIS, b. in England, 1632. It does not appear who he married. Not even the Christian name of his wife is mentioned, but she had four children b. at Saybrook. In 1660 he removed to Norwich and there were b. five other children. Francis' home lot consisted of seven acres, and extended from the street to the river. There was but little fluctuation in the higher public offices of that period. A candidate once chosen and found to be competent and faithful, was generally continued in office. The election of deputies was semi-annual, but for the first eleven years the choice, with only two exceptions, was restricted to four persons, Francis Griswold, Thomas Leffingwell, Thomas Tracy and Hugh Calkins. In 1662 Thomas Tracy, Thomas Adgate and Francis Griswold were chosen, with the "Townsman," to try all cases to the value of 40s. These formed a "Court of Commission." Francis Griswold must also have been active in military affairs, for he was styled Lieut." He d. Oct., 167J, from an acute disease, leaving seven children, between the ages of a few days and eighteen years. Thomas Adgate and John Post acted as guardians of the minor children.
3 John, b. 1634, d. 1642.
4 Sarah, b. 1636, m. Samuel Phelps.
5 George, b. 1638. (These four in England.)
6 Anne, b. at Windsor, 1642.
7 Mary, hap. Oct., 1644, m. Timothy Phelps.
8 Deborah, b. June 28, 1646, m. Samuel Buell.
9 Joseph, b. March 12, 1648.
10 Samuel, hap. Nov. 18, 1649, d. 1673.
11 John, b. Aug., 1652.
These children were the progenitors of many distinguished people, who are to be found in all parts of the United States.

(2) FRANCIS.
12 Sarah, b. March 28, 1653, m. Robert Chapman, of Saybrook, June 27, 1671.
13 Joseph, b. June 4, 1655, d. in infancy.
14 Mary, b. Aug. 26, 1656, m. (I) Jonathan Tracy, (2) Eleazer Jewett.
15 Hannah, b. Dec. 11, 1658, m. William Clark.
16 Deborah, b. May, 1661, m. Jonathan Crane, of Killingsworth, a very wealthy and influential man.
17 Lydia, b. 1663, 4. in infancy.
18 SAMUEL, b. Sept., 1665, m. Susannak, dau. of the first Christopher Huntington, Dec. 10, 1685.
Miss Calkins says: "Samuel Griswold became a married man at the age of twenty, following his sisters in the flowing stream of youthful connections. Young people in those days, scarcely waiting to reach maturity, chose their partners and marched on with rapid and joyous steps to the temple of Hymen." The
wedding of Samuel and Susannah took place on her 17th birthday. He d. Dec. 9, 1740. His gravestone bears the following epitaph:
Here lies interred ye remains of Capt Samuel Griswold the first Captain of the 2nd Company of train bands in Norwich. He was born in Norwich Septr 1665 and died on ye 9th day of Decembr 1740 in the 76th year of his age."
19 Margaret, b. Oct., 1668, m. Thomas Buckingham Dec. 16, 1691.
20 Lydia, b. Oct., 1671.

"Twenty-three Griswolds had, in 1834, been graduated at Yale, and seven at other New England Colleges."
(18) SAMUEL.
21 Francis, b. Sept. 9, 1691.
22 Samuel, b. Feb. 8, 1693.
23 LYDIA, b. May 28, 1696, m. Caleb Huntington, her second cousin, a grandson of Simon, the Deacon, Jan.28, 1720.
24 Hannah, b. April 13, 1699.
25 Sarah, b. Jan.19, 1701.
26 John, b. Dec. i6, 1703.
27 Joseph, b. Oct.17, 1706.
28 Daniel, b. April 25, 1709, d. 1724.
ANCESTRAL LINES OF SARAH DANA,


HUNTINGTON LINES.

SIMON.
29 Simon Huntington was b. in Norwich, England, and m. there Margaret Baret, dau. of Christopher
Baret, Mayor of Norwich 1634 and 1648. He d. while on the voyage to this. country in 1633 of smallpox and was buried at sea. His removal to this country is ascribed to the persecutions which Non-conformists were subjected to during the high-handed adminis tration of Laud and the 1st Charles. (All of our Ancestors came over during that period.) The family of Simon consisted of his wife, four sons and one daughter, William, Thomas, Christopher, Simon and Ann. The first record of this family is found in the church records of Roxbury, Mass., and in the handwriting of John Eliot himself, the pastor of that ancient church. It is a " Record of such as adjoined themselves unto the fellowship of the church of Christ at Roxbury, as also such children as were born to them under the covenant of this church who are most properly the seed of the church." Of Margaret Baret, it is recorded: " Margaret Huntington, widow, came in 1633. Her husband died of smallpox by the way. She brought ______ children with her." It is a pity the number is not given, but subsequent events establish them beyond dis pute as above. She subsequently married Thomas Stoughton, of Dorchester, Mass., and moved to Windsor.
(29) SIMON.
30 William appears in Salisbury, Mass., as early as 1640. He m. Joannaa, dau. of John Bayley. He
was a religious man and a man of enterprise. He is recorded as drawing lands "by lot" and he received several grants of land. He d. about 1681.

31Thomas resided at Windsor, Coun., where he purchased land in 1656. He m. first a dau. of
William Swain, of Wethersfield, and second, Hannah, dan. of Jasper Crane. The fathers of both of these wives were leading men, both in civil and religious affairs. On account of dissensions with regard to the union of the New Haven and Connecticut Colonies, he, with a number of others, removed to the banks of the Passaic and there laid the foundation of the city of Newark, N.J., where Thomas became a prominent man, filling several offices of trust faithfully and successfully.

32CHRISTOPHER accompanied his mother toWindsor, Coun., where he must have passed his youth. He m. Oct. 7, 1652, Ruth, dau. of William Rockwell "a prominent and highly respected member of the community." He removed in the spring of 1654 to Saybrook. In the spring of 1660 he joined the colony who had organized themselves into a church, under the Rev. James Fitch, and removed to the valley of the Yantic, and, with his brother, Simon, aided in laying the foundation of the new town of Norwich. "He had now reached the prime of his manhood and proved himself one of the most efficient and useful of those hardy pioneers. His name occurs often in the earlier records of this enterprising town and always in honorable relations." His home lot was one of the prominent localities in the settlement. In 1668 the "General Court" granted him "100 acres of land, not more than 20 acres of it to be meadows." In 1678 he was appointed town clerk. In 1681 he was one of the twelve patentees of the new town of Norwich. In 1686 his name appears as one of the committee "to make provision for maintaining the Rev. Minister." He d. in 1691, as appears from the probate of his will. "He sleeps, doubtless, not far from the banks of the pleasant Yantic, in the meadow, where rest, unmarked, the mortal remains of so many of the pioneers and early settlers of Norwich."

33 Simon, "the Deacon," like his brother, Chnstopher, spent his youth with his mother in Windsor. He was b. at Norwich, England, and was, therefore, about four years old when the family came to this country. He seems to have possessed the spirit and shared the fortunes of his brother, Christopher. They appear together in Saybrook, where, in Oct., 1653, he m. Sarah, dau. of Joseph Clark, of Windsor, and later of Saybrook. In 1660 he joined the colonists who settled Norwich and "thenceforward stands among the first of that important settlement, both in church and State." He was the first deacon chosen in Norwich. His home lot occupied a prominent position on the public square a short distance from his brother, Christopher's, and a portion of it was, in 1863, still in the possession of his descendants of the same name. The records show him to have been a large landholder, and in worldly matters an enterprising and successful man. He was first "Townsman," then the highest mayoralty known, and in 1674, with Thomas Leffingwell, represented Norwich in the General Court. He was again a member in 1685. In 1686 the town granted him and his sons thirty acres of pasture "westward of goodman Sherman." Again, in 1690 and 1696, he was the Townsman. In 1694 he was appointed a committee to treat with Jabez Fitch, with respect to his helping and succeeding his father in the work of the ministry. In the same year he was also appointed to search out and report on the deficiencies of the records. In 1696 he was one of a committee "to seat the meeting-house." (People were "seated" according to their rank and position,. the highest and most important nearest the minister and in the square pews.) In 1700 he was appointed on a commission to deed anew lands upon whose titles disputes had arisen or were likely to arise. On Jan. 4, 1692, he deeded to his son, Joseph, "My whole right, title and interest in and unto one thousand acre interest; on one allotment in the new plantation above Norwich, that was willed by Joshua, son of Uncas, being in the South West quarter of said plantation." Other deeds are recorded, proving him to have been a large landholder. Deacon Huntington d. at Norwich June 28, 1706. His wife d. 1721, aged 88 years. There seems to have been no public burying ground in Norwich until 1715. People buried their dead on their own private grounds. But at last the town secured an acre and a half from Samuel Huntington for "a common burial place." The first persons known to have been interred here were Deacon Simon Huntington and his grandson, of the same name, who was killed by the bite of a rattlesnake. Headstones of rough granite have their inscriptions still legible (1863), and, with one other, are the oldest gravestones in the town. Deacon Simon's is as follows:


DEACON SI
MON HUNT
INGTON DY
ED JVNE ye
28, 1706
AE 77.

Deacon Simon left an estate appraised at 275 pounds. The inventory of his books may be worth quoting as a specimen of what was doubtless a fair library for a layman in 1706: "A great Bible, 10s. Another great bible, 8s. Rogers his seven treatises, 5s. A practical Catecise, 1s. 6d. William Dyer, 1s. Mr. Moody's Book, 8d. Thomas Hooker's Doubting Christian, 9d. New England Psalm Book, 1s Mr. Adams' Sarmon. The bound book of Mr. Fitch and John Rogers, 2s. The same unbound, 8d. The Day of Doom, 10d.''

34 Ann. Of this only daughter of Simon and Margaret Huntington no further record has been found. She probably died young.
(32) Christopher
.
35 Christopher, b. 1656, d. in infancy.
36 Ruth, b. 1656, d. in infancy.
37 Ruth, b. April, 1658, m. Sarnuell Pratt, of Norwich, 1j681.
38 Christopher, b. at Norwich, 1660, being "the first born of males in the town." He became a
man of note.
39 Thomas, b. March 18, 1664, m. Elizabeth Backus.
40 John, b. March 15, 1666, m. Abigail Lathrop.
41 SUSANNAH, b. at Norwich, Dec., 1668, m. Dec. 10, 1685, Capt. Samuel Griswold, son of Lieut.
Francis Griswold. She d. at Norwich, March 6, 1727.
42 Lydia, b. Aug., 1672.
43 Ann, b. Oct., 1675, m. Oct., 1689, Jonathan Bingham.

(33) SIMON THE DEACON.
44 Sarah, b. at Saybrook, Aug., 1654, m. Dr. Solomon Tracy, son of Lieut. Thomas Tracy.
45 Mary, b. at Saybrook, Aug., 1657, m. Mr. Forbes.
46 Simon, b. at Saybrook, Feb., 1659, m. Lydia Gager Oct. 8, 1683. Simon inherited his father's
piety and gifts and succeeded him in the deaconship, and was also much engaged in the civil affairs of the town with marked ability.
47 Joseph, b. at Norwich, Sept., 1661, m. Rebecca, dau. of Deacon Thomas Adgate, and went the same
year with its founders to Windham, where he became prominent in religious and secular affairs. He d. there in 1749.
48 Elizabeth, b. 1664, d. in infancy.
49 SAMUEL, b. at Norwich, March I, 1665, m. Oct.29, 1686, Mary Clark, of Wethersfield. In 1700 he sold his home lot and moved to Lebanon. He was a large landholder, both in Norwich and Lebanon, and was active in all public affairs, and for his services as military manager he was entered on the records as " Lieutenant," "a title in those days won only by a true martial bearing, and intended as a most honorable distinction." In 1687, Feb. 13, the town of Norwich granted him a parcel of land at Trading Cove Brook, by his father's, "to be laid out by measure 30 or 40 rods wide, the length of his father's land." He d. at Lebanon, May 10, 1717.
50 Elizabeth, b. Oct. 6, 1669, m. April 9, 1690, Joseph Backus.
51 Nathaniel, b. 1672, d. young.

52 Daniel, b. March 13,. 1675, m. (I) Abigail Bingham, (2) Rachel Wolcott, d. Sept. 13, 1741.
53 James, b. May 18, 1680, m. Priscilla Miller. He was one of that trio of Huntingtons of whom Miss Calkins says: "In the early part of the 18th century there were perhaps no more distinguished men in the town."

(49) SAMUEL.


54 Elizabeth, b. at Norwich, April 24, 1688, m. Moses Clark, of Lebanon. Their son, James Clark, was a captain in the Revolution and fought at Bunker Hill.
55 Samuel, b. Aug. 28, 1691, m. Hannah Metcalf, d. 1787, aged 96.
56 CALEB, b. at Norwich, Feb., 1693, m. Jan.28, 1720, Lydia Griswold, his second cousin, granddau.
Christopher Huntington 1st.
57 Mary, b. Oct.1, 1696, d. 1712.
58 Rebecca, b. 1698, m. Joseph Clark.
59 Sarah, b. Oct.22, 1701.
60 John, b. at Lebanon, May 17, 1706, m Mehitable Metcalf.
61 Simon, b. Aug.15, 1708, m. Sarah Huntington, 1735, d. Aug.22, 1753.

(56) CALEB

62 Caleb, b. June 9, 1721, m. Feb. 6, 1747, Zerviah Case.
63 Lydia, b. Dec. 3, 1722.
64 Elisha, b. April 25, 1724.
65 Elijah, b. April 25, 1724.
Elisha, m. Elizabeth Denison, 1749.
Elijah, m. Abigail Dana, d. 1816.
66 Abner, b. March 6, 1726, m. Mary Whitman, of Norwich, d. at New Haven, 1816.
67 James, b. April 25, 1728, m. Hannah Marsh. "He was several summers the 'town shepherd,' and was so consciencious that he refused to take care of the sheep on Sunday, and a boy was employed by the town to attend to that duty." He d. at Orange, Vt.
68 SUSANNAH, b. June 23, 1730, m. Anderson Dana, June 5, 1757. Although this woman rendered such heroic service at the massacre of Wyoming as to cause her name to appear in the front rank of the brave women of that period, no record can be found of when or where she died.
69 Ezekiel, b. Aug. 2, 1732.
70 Daniel, b. Feb. 3, 1737.

These children were second cousins to Samuel Huntington, signer of "The Declaration of Independence." Very many other distinguished men have descended from Christopher and Simon Huntington.

DANA LINE..

The Danas are supposed to be of Itahan origin. They are traced from Italy to France, among the Huguenots with whose religious views they were in sympathy. They did not remain long in France, but pushed on to England, from whence one Richard soon came to America. We learn of only one besides Richard in England. William, who seems without doubt to have been Richard's father, and that Richard was his only son. Rufus W. Griswold says, in his "Poets and Poetry of America," that "William Dana, Esquire, was sheriff of Middlesex during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Their only descendant at that time living, Richard Dana, came to America about the middle of the seventeenth century, and settled at Cambridge, then called Newtown, near Boston." Another authority says he settled at what is now the town of Brighton, Mass., in 1640. The only Danas in England now are the few descendants of Rev. Edmund Dana, who went from this country about the time of the Revolution, probably because of his Tory proclivities. There are still Danas in Italy, as ascertained by Charles A. Dana, editor New York Sun. He says they possess the same characteristics of the family in this country, being of a literary and scientific turn of mind. One whom he met is a professor of some eminence in one of the Italian colleges.
71 RICHARD, the progenitor of the many celebrated men of that name in America, came, probably, in 1640, to Massachusetts. He m. Ann Bullard, of whose history nothing further can be ascertained. They had twelve children. He d. from a fall in his barn, April 2, 1690. Thirteen of his descendants had been graduated at Harvard, and thirteen at other New England colleges in 1839.

(71) RICHARD.

72 John, b. Dec.15, 1649, d. in infancy.
73 Hannah, b. March 8, 165 I, m. Samuel Oldham.
74 Samuel, b. Aug.13, 1653, d. next month.
75 JACOB, b. Dec. 2, 1654, at Cambridge, m. Patience d. 1699. No date of marriage or full name of wife can be found.
76 Joseph, b. March 21, 1656, m. Mary Gobell.
77 Abiah, b. March 21, d. young.
78 Benjamin, b. Feb. 20, 1660, m. Mary Buckmaster, May 24, 1688. Among the descendants of Benjamin were Rev. Joseph Dana, minister of Ipswich for sixty years, and who followed nine hundred of his parishioners to their graves. Judge Judah Dana, U. S. Senator from Maine, and his son, John Winchester Dana, Gov. of Maine, 1847-50. Capt. James Dana, who was wounded at Bunker Hill, and others active in the Revolution.
79 Elizabeth, b. Feb.20, 1662, m. Daniel Woodward.
8o Daniel, b. March 20, 1663, at Cambridge, m. Naomi Croswell.
In the line of Daniel we find one Richard, who was one of the "Sons of Liberty." He was an eminent jurist, and it was before him that Andrew Oliver made oath that he would take no measures to enforce the Stamp Act, and by affixing his name to the oath Richard rendered himself liable to the penalty of treason. Richard's son, Francis Dana, was our first minister to Russia, and he rendered many other valuable services to his country. He m. Elizabeth, dan. of William Ellery, signer of the Declaration of Independence. One of their daughters m. the celebrated painter, Washington Allston. Their son, Richard Henry Dana, was the founder of the North American Review, and a writer of note. His son, Richard H. Dana, Jr., was the author of "Two Years before the Mast." His son, the third Richard H., a well known Boston lawyer, m. a dau. of Longfellow.
81 Dellverance, b. May 8, 1667.
82 Sarah, b. Jan. I, 1669, d. Jan.11, 1670.
83 Sarah, 2d, b. Jan. I, 1671, m. Samuel Hyde.

(75) JAC0B.

84 Jacob, b. Oct.12, 1679, d. young.
85 Elizabeth, b. 1682, m. John Reed.
86 Hannah, b. Oct.25, 1685, m. Jonathan Hyde.
87 Expenence, b. Nov. 1, 1687.
88 Samuel, b. Sept. 7, 1694, m. (1) Abigail Gay, (2) Susannah Starr, (3) Mary Summer.
89 Abigail, no dates found.
90 JACOB, b. 1698, m. Abigail _______, about 1722. Like his father name of wife not known. They lived at Pomfret, Conn. They afterwards moved to Ashford, Coun., where he d. This Jacob Dana was one of a committee to propound to a clergyman, suspected of heresy, the tremendous question, " Sir, don't you think a child brings sin enough into the world to condemn it forever?" To which the suspected clergyman replied frankly, " I do not," whence followed his immediate deposition.

(90) JACOB.

91 Experience, b. April 20, 1723, d. Nov.30, 1781.
92 Mary, b. May 29, 1725.
93 Abigail, b. April 16, 1727.
94 Jacob, b. 1729.
95 Zerviah, b. 1731, d. same year.
96 Zerviah, 2d, b. March 19, 1733, m. Samuel Green.
97 ANDERSON, b. Oct.26, 1735, m. Susannah Huntington, June 5, 1757, was killed at the battle of
Wyoming, July 3, 1778.
98 Experience, b. Oct. 6, 1737, m. Jonathan Hyde.
99 Rebecca, b. 1739.
100 Sarah, b. 1741, m. Samuel Hyde.
101 Priscilla, b. 1743.
102 Eleanor, b. 1745.

The following thrilling story of Anderson Dana and his family is taken from Charles Miner's " History of Wyoming," published in 1845. He spent several years collecting material, and much of his information was obtained from those who participated in or witnessed the events he recorded. The story of this Dana family was told him by Anderson Dana, Jr., who was thirteen at the time these events occurred, and in his seventies when he related them to Mr. Miner. There can be no doubt that this is the correct account. Grandchildren of Sarah are still living (1904), who will remember her telling the same story. "Anderson Dana was a lawyer of handsome attainments." He had a pleasant home and fine prospects in Ashford, Coun. But in 1772, he determined to join the colony that had formed a settlement at Wilkesbarre, Westmoreland town (now in Penn., but then it belonged to Conn. tho' so far away). This Wyoming Valley stretched along the banks of the beautiful Susquehannah. "With her eighth child in her arms, not yet two months old, and a little boy of only three summers holding on, as they journeyed on horseback, the mother rode the whole distance, some three hundred miles into the wilderness, the last fifty miles having only marked trees for a guide." Immediately on his arrival at Wilkesbarre, Mr. Dana took a prominent lead in matters of education and religion. " It is a pleasure to trace in the old records, the noble impress of his Puritan zeal on both subjects." His oldest son Daniel was soon returned to Connecticut to prepare for Yale.
There for six years the Dana family prospered. The young schoolmaster, Stephen Whiton, became a favorite visitor in the home, "because to a fine person he united pleasing manners, pure morals, and he was a scholar." He wooed and won the oldest daughter, Eunice. Mr. Dana was much engaged in public affairs, and was elected to represent Westmoreland in the Connecticut Assembly at the trying period of the Revolution. Returning from Hartford near the end of June, 1778, and realizing the danger that was threatening the valley, although exempt from military duty, he mounted his horse and rode from place to place warning and arousing the men to come to the rescue. Troops that had been called for and started to aid the small force already there under Zebulon Butler, did not reach the valley in time, and on that fatal day, July 3, 1778, Anderson Dana went onto the field, fought valiantly, but fell, together with his young son-in-law, Stephen Whiton, whose marriage had occurred a few short months before. "A band of British troops and tories, led by Col. John Butler, cousin of Zebulon, with seven hundred savage auxiliaries, attacked and utterly destroyed the settlement. Most of the men were slain, their houses burned and their property destroyed or carried away, and fortunate were the women and children who escaped to the wilderness and succeeded in eluding the vile grasp of the savages." Among these were Susannah Dana and her children. They went first to old "Forty Fort," where many others gathered, but finally decided to seek greater safety in the forest, as there was no force to protect them if the fort were attacked. Mrs. Dana started her children on with other fugitives, then returned to her house, and "with wonderful forethought, knowing that her husband had in his possession valuable papers of others, as well as his own, gathered those papers into a pillow case, and with such provisions and clothing as she could take, with the aid of an old family horse, she made her way as fast as possible, and soon overtook her children. But not until they had reached Bullock's, on the mountain, ten miles away, did they learn the fate that had befallen the two husbands. There other flying fugitives brought them the horrible story, and alone, with unfaltering steps they were compelled to continue their perilous journey, amid the howling of wolves, and suffering almost unbearable discomforts, often hungry and without shelter at night, and in storms and worst of all the constant dread of being overtaken by the Indians." But for an occasional little hamlet where they invariably received cheer and comfort, some of them must have succumbed to the weariness of that long journey. But they finally reached their old home in Ashford, a tramp of three hundred miles. We are not told how long a time it took them. The incidents by the way, many of which are live traditions in the families of those children, would fill a volume and be of thrilling interest. Few incidents in the lives of illustrious women exceed this in all the elements of true greatness." The pillow case of papers proved immensely helpful in the readjustment of affairs, when the settlers ventured to return to their devastated fields. A few months after their arrival at Ashford, Mrs. Whiton gave birth to a daughter, who in time m. Capt. Hezekiah Parsons, who was for many years " one of the most estimable citizens of Wilkesbarre." The family, as a whole, never returned to Wyoming, and no further record can be obtained of this most heroic mother.

(97) ANDERSON.

103 Eunice, b. May 10, 1758, m. Stephen Whiton, 1778. He was killed at the battle of Wyoming a few months later. She m. (2) Josiah Gillett, and had six children.
104Daniel, b. Sept. i6, 1760, m. Dolly Kibbe. He completed his studies at Yale, as designed by his father, graduating in 1782. He was a man of learning and fine intelligence, reticent, reserved, imparting his fund of knowledge only to his most intimate friends. He lived many years in Vermont and New York, going rather late in life to Ohio, where he died, in 1841, aged 80, " having lived a life of usefulness and leaving a memory without a stain or reproach." Charles A. Dana, Assistant Secretary of War under Lincoln, but best known as Editor of the New York Sun, was a grandson of Daniel. Another grandson, Junius Dana, and family still live at Warren, Ohio, where they conduct a fine musical institute.
105Susannah, b. Jan. 16, 1762, m. Jabez Fitch, had four children.
106SARAH, b. Sept.30, 1763, m. Moses Hyde Dec. 6, 1787, d. at Alexander, N. Y., 1856, aged 93. Sarah was given charge of what money they had and some specially valuable articles, which she carried in a little casket about ten inches long, which she never let out of her reach all the miles of that long journey, and she always kept possession of the casket until she visited her children in Mich. in 1836-9, when she gave it to her son, Milton, to pass it on down. It is now in the possession of one of his daughters.
107Anderson, b. Aug. II, 1765, m. Sarah Stevens. Anderson took care of himself as best he could, improving all of his opportunities for education until he was twenty-one, when he returned to Wyoming to recover his share of his father's estate, eventually buying out his younger brothers. Their land was so centrally located that a canal and a railroad both passed through it, and a main avenue ran on one side of it, so that much was sold in building lots and for manufacturing enterprises, bringing wealth and prosperity to the family, to which the subsequent development of coal added not a little. Anderson lived to a ripe old age, and had several children, and many of his descendants are still residents of that vicinity. He was active in causing the erection of a monument in memory of those who fell at the Battle of Wyoming.
108Azael, b. March 17, 1767, m. Rebecca Carey; had eight children. The oldest, Amasa, lived at Ithaca, N. Y., was a lawyer of prominence and member of Congress.
109Sylvester, b. July 4, 1767, m. Anne Kimball. Imbued with his father's zeal for religion and a love of learning, he sold his patrimonial right and obtained a liberal education, graduating at Yale, in 1797, in the class with Lyman Beecher and Horatio Seymour. He settled at Concord, N. H., and became a noted Presbyterian Divine. He d. in 1848, in his 80th year. His two sons, Charles H. and Sylvester, both graduated at Andover. Charles became an Episcopal minister and was rector of the church at Alexandria when the Civil War broke out. The church was turned into a hospital, and Charles ultimately drifted to the South, married and died there. Sylvester was a lawyer and judge, was living at Concord, N. H., in 1900. One dau. m. Rev. Dr. Barrows, the other d. unmarried.
110 Eleazer, b. Aug. 12, 1772, m. Polly Stevens, had eight children.

Probably no other name in the United States is attached to so many celebrated men as that of Dana. They are to be found conspicuous for activity and ability in every department of State, church, literature, sci-
ence, art, law, and in every generation since the first Richard. They get to the front in everything they undertake, and there seems to be no great undertaking in which they do not appear. There are also many descendants of Richard, men and women, of other names who have greatly distinguished themselves. As travelers, the Danas have for many years held a prominent place. "They have gone out into all the world intelligently and brought much of valuable information home to the people. What intelligent traveler has not met a Dana somewhere in his travels away from home and native land?"

ANCESTRAL LINES OF MOSES HYDE.

BUSHNELL LINE.

111Richard Bushnellm. Mary Marvin, dau. of Matthew Marvin, at Hartford, Oct. II, 1648. This is
the first record we find of him. His name also appears in 1656 among the owners of home lots in Norwalk, but he is not afterwards found in the list of early settlers, and it is supposed that he became a resident of Saybrook, and d. about the year 1658. His relict appears, in 1660, at Norwich, as the wife of Thomas Adgate. Her Bushnell children were brought with her to the new settlement, and their births are found registered with those of her Adgate children.

(111) RICHARD.

112 Joseph, b. May, 1651, m. Mary Leffingwell, Nov.28, 1673. They had eleven children. He lived to
his 96th year and his wife to her 92d.
113 Richard, b. Sept., 1652, m. Elizabeth Adgate, dau. of his stepfather by his first wife. He had
two sons, Caleb and Benajah, and two daus., Anne and Elizabeth, who m. the brothers,
William and John Hyde, sons of Samuel, the proprietor. Richard Bushnell was one of the most
active and noted men in Norwich. He performed successively, if not contemporaneously, the duties of townsman, constable, schoolmaster, poet, deacon, sergeant, lieutenant and captain, town agent, town deputy,court clerk and justice of the peace. He saw actual service in scouting against the Indians and was useful in exercising the train bands. As a clerk Mr. Bushnell exhibited an improvement upon the old forms of writing and spelling, and as a justice he decided numerous cases of debt and trespass, both for Norwich and the neighboring towns. He left quite an estate. He bequeaths to one son certain heirlooms, viz., his "double barreled gun, silver-hilted sword and belts, ivory-headed cane and silver whistle." His epitaph is unique, and closes as follows:
" As you are,
So was we.
But as we are
You shall be."
114 Mary, b. Jan., 1654, m. Thomas Leffingwell, Jr., Sept., 1672, brother to her brother Joseph's wife. She lived to be over 90.

LEFFINGWELL LINE.

115 Thomas Leffingwell was a native of Croxhall, England. The exact date of his immigration has not been ascertained. In his testimony before the Court of Commissioners at Stonington, in 1705, he says he was acquainted with Uncas in the year 1637, and was knowing to the assistance rendered by the sachem to the English then and ever after during his life. Thomas Leffingwell relieved the sachem of the Mohegans with provisions when he was besieged by the Narragansetts in his fort on Shattuck Point, and which probably led to the subsequent grant by Uncas and his associates of nine miles square, in 1659, for the original township of Norwich. According to his age, as given in depositions, he must have been born about 1622: therefore, at the time of the Pequot War was not more than fifteen or sixteen years of age. It appears that he came from Yorkshire at fourteen and returned to England at twenty- one, and m. there Alary White. When he returned to America he brought a younger brother, Stephen, aged fifteen, leaving several other brothers in the old country. The earliest notice of his name contiects him with Saybrook. From the Colonial Records we learn that in March, 1650, a petition presented "from the inhabitants of Saybrook by Matthew Griswold and Thomas Leffingwell." The births of his children are recorded at Saybrook. Following Mr. Leffingwell to his new home in Norwich, 1660, we find him active and influential in the new town. He was one of the first two deputies of the town to the General Court, in Oct., 1662, an officer of the first train band, and during Philip's War he was lieutenant under Captain Denison in his "famous band of marauders that swept so many time through Narragansett and scoured the country to the sources of the Quinnebang." He lived to old age, hut the record of his death does not give his years, and no memorial stone marks his grave. He d. about 1710. His wife, Mary, d. Feb. 6, 1711.
(115) THOMAS.
116 Rachel, b. March 17, 1648.
117 THOMAS, b. Aug.27, 1649, m. Mary Bushnell, Sept., 1672, d. March 5, 1723. Thomas seems to have been a man of good ability and successful in business. The inventory of his estate, in 1724, shows that he was richly furnished with the household comforts and conveniences of that period, also with articles of luxury and elegance. He had furniture and linen in abundance, wooden ware and utensils of iron, tin, pewter and silver." "Wearing apparel valued at 27 lbs., wig 20S., walking staff with silver head 20s., rapier with silver hilt and belt, œ6, French gun 3 lbs, silver watch 5 lbs, 3 tankards, 2 dram cups, one with two handles, copper pennies and surabians (a small gold coin), 6 lbs., 18s. 7d. "Total valuation of estate, 9793lbs. 9s. 11d." It is doubtful whether at that time any other estate in the town equaled this in value." Thomas and Mary lived together fifty-one years. They had three sons and five daughters, the latter all married to Bushnells and Tracys. Mrs. Mary Leffingwell survived her husband, as the following epitaph shows:
IN
MEMORY
of an aged nursing
Mother of GOD'S New-
english Israel, viz. Mrs.
Mary Leffingwell, wife
to Ensign Thomas Lef-
fingwell, Gent who died
Sept. ye 2d A. D.
1745. Aged 91 years.
118 Jonathan, b. Dec. 6, 1650.
119 Joseph, b. Dec.24, 1652.
120 Mary, b. Dec. 16, 1654, m. Joseph Bushnell.
121 Nathaniel, b. Dec.11, 1656.
122 Samuel, b. 1658, m. Anna Dickinson.

(117) THOMAS.


123 Thomas, b. 1674, m. Lydia, dau. of Solomon Tracy.
124 John, known as "Capt. John," m. (1) Sarah Abell, (2) Mary Hart. The first wife is commemorated in the following most curious epitaph:
Here lyes ye body of
that Worthy, Virtuous
and most injeneous and
jenteel Woman, Mrs.
Sara Leffingwell,
who Dyed May ye
9th, 1730, aged
39 years.
125 Benajah, m. Joanna Christopher.
126 ELIZABETH, m. John Tracy, and had several children.

TRACY LINE.


127 Thomas Tracy came from Tewksbury, in Gloucestershire, England, to America in April, 1636. His name was enrolled at Salem, Feb. 3, 1637, "Thomas Tracy, ship carpenter, received an inhabitant upon certificate of divers Watermen, and is to have five acres of land." He left the Bay for the new colony of Connecticut about 1640, and settled at Wethersfield, where he m. the widow of Edward Mann, 1641. A few years later he removed to Saybrook, from whence to Norwich, with six sons and one daughter, 1660. Mr. Tracy was evidently a man of ability and activity, skilful in the management of various kinds of business, upright and discreet. The confidence placed in him by his associates is manifested in the great number of appointments he received. His name is on the roll of the Legislature, from Norwich, at twenty-seven sessions. The elections were semi-annual. In Oct., 1666, he was chosen ensign of the first train band organized in Norwich, and in Aug., 1673, lieutenant of the New London County Dragoons, enlisted to fight the Dutch and Indians. In 1678 he was appointed justice of the peace.
No record is found of the death of his wife, but he m. twice afterwards, Martha, widow of John Bradford, in 1676, and Mary, dau. of Nathaniel Foote, also a widow. Lieut. Thomas Tracy d. Nov. 7, 1685. His estate was appraised at 560 lbs. He had about 5,000 acres of land. Late researches into the history of the Tracy family furnish evidence that Thomas Tracy was of honorable descent, and that his immediate ancestors for three generations had been distinguished for fidelity to the Reformed religion. The line running back from Thomas gives Nathaniel, of Tewksbury; Richard, of Stanway, and Sir William the Ninth, of Toddington.

(127) THOMAS.

128 JOHN, b. not earlier than 1642, nor later than 1644, m. Mary Winslow, June 10, 1670, dau. of Josiah Winslow, who was brother to Gov. Edward Winslow, of Plymouth. John Tracy so soon took his place among the inhabitants at Norwich that he acquired the rank, influence and all the privileges of a first proprietor. He d. Aug. 16, 1702, Mary, his wife, d. July 30, 1721. His inventory specifies the homestead valued at 130 lbs., and seventeen other parcels of land, comprising between 3,000 and 4,000 acres. "He had land at Yantic, Bradford's Brook, Beaver Brook, Lebanon, Little Lebanon, Wawecas Hill, Potapaug, Wamengatuck, Tadmuck Hill and Mashamagwatuck, in the Nipmuck Country." The land at Wamengwatuck was part of a large tract purchased of Owaneco, Sachem of Mohegans.
129 Thomas, b. 1646, not known who he married.
130 Jonathan, b. 1648, m. Mary, dau. of Francis Griswold. These two brothers settled upon wild land, unclaimed, on the east side of the Shetucket, then belonging to Norwich. Both had large families.
131 Miriam, b. 1650, m. Thomas Waterman, Nov., 1668.
132 Solomon, b. 1651, m. (1) Sarah, dau. of Deacon Simon Huntington, Nov.23, 1676, (2) Sarah, dau. of Thomas Bliss and widow of Thomas Shuman. He was a physician, the second in Norwich.
133 Daniel, b. 1652, in. (I) Abigail Adgate, (2) Hannah, widow of Thomas Bingham. He inhabited the paternal homestead in the town plot. He was killed by a fall from the frame work of a bridge over the Shetucket, 1728.
134 Samuel, b. Jan.11, 1653, unm.
(128) JOHN.

135 Josiah, b. 1671, d. in infancy.
136 JOHN, b. 1673, m. Elizabeth Leffingwell (126).
137 Winslow, m. and had a family.
138 Elizabeth, m. Nathaniel Bachus.
There were six John Tracys in the line of primogeniture, and all natives of Norwich, except the first. Their wives in regular succession were Mary Winslow, Elizabeth Leffingwell, Margaret Hyde, Margaret Huntington, Esther Pride and Susannah Hyde. The sixth John Tracy was for six years Lieutenant- Governor of New York. He d. in 1864, leaving no son to continue the line. Many distinguished men have descended from the three sons of the first John Tracy - United States Senators, Members of Congress, eminent physicians, lawyers, divines. Uriah Tracy was United States Senator from Litchfield, Conn., from 1796 until his death. He was the first person interred in the Congressional Cemetery.
(136) JOHN.

139 RUTH, b. at Norwich, Sept. 13, 1711, m. Elijah Hyde, Nov.13, 1730. There were also several other

CALKINS LINE (Also spelled CAULKINS.)

140 Hugh Calkins was one of a body of emigrants called "The Welsh Company," that came to New England in 1640 from Cheapside, in Monmouthshire, on the border of Wales, with their minister, the Rev. Mr. Blinman. The larger portion of this company settled first at Marshfield, Mass., but some removed to Gloucester, upon the rough promontory of Cape Ann. From there, after eight years of experiment, most of them removed to New London, no doubt hoping to find more arable and productive land, and also allured by affectionate attachment to Mr. Blinman, whom Mr. Winthrop had invited to his plantation. Hugh Calkins was, in 1650, deputy from Gloucester to the General Court of Massachusetts and chosen again in 1651, but removing early that year to New London, the vacancy was filled by another election. While living at New London he was chosen twelve times deputy to the Connecticut Assembly (the election being semi-annual), and was one of the "townsmen," or selectmen, from 1652-60, when he removed to Norwich, one of the "original proprietors." From Norwich he was deputy to ten ses- sions of the Legislature, between March, 1663, and Oct., 1671, and was one of the first deacons of the Norwich church. At each of the three towns in which he was an early settler and proprietor he was largely engaged in public affairs, being usually appointed one of committee for consultation, for fortifying, for drafting soldiers, settling controversies and difficulties and particularly for surveying lands and determining boundaries. These offices imply a considerable range of information, as well as activity and executive ability, yet his early advantages for education had been very limited. He was b. in 1600. Of his wife it is. only known that her name was Ann. They had six children, four of whom were probably b. before they came to America. No record of his death was found.

(140) HUGH.
141 Sarah, b. in England, m. William Hough, of Gloucester, Oct.28, 1645.
142 Mary, m. Hugh Roberts, Nov. 8, 1649.
143 Rebecca, d. at Gloucester, March 14, 1657.
144 JOHN, b. about 1634, the fourth and apparently youngest child who came with the parents to
America. He was certainly the oldest son, and was old enough to be summoned to work
with other settlers on a mill dam at New London in 1652. He m. at New London Sarah, dau. of
Robert Royce. He was one of the selectmen at Norwich in 1671, and on the jury of the County Court as late as 1691. He d. Jan. 8, 1702. His widow d. May I, 1711, aged 77.

(144) JOHN.

147 Hugh, b. at New London, June, 1659, m. (I) Sarah, dau. of Thomas Shuman and stepdau. of Solomon Tracy, (2) Lois, dau. of Josiah Standish, of Preston, and granddau. of Miles
Standish. He amassed considerable wealth. "The inventory of his estate mentions the articles
of honey, beeswax, butter, cider and metheglin, a favorite beverage of the old inhabitants,
which shows the variety of the produce of the day."
148 John, b. July, 1661, at Norwich, m. Abigail Burchard, 1690. He was the first constable of Lebanon,
where he had removed, 1698, and corporal of the first militia. His youngest son, James, is
on the list of Yale graduates as " Mr. Jacobus Calking."
149 Samuel, settled at Lebanon.
150 Sarah, m. Thomas Baldwin. Their descendants have greatly distinguished themselves in many
walks of life.
151 Mary, rn. Samuel Gifford.
152 ELIZABETH, m. Samuel Hyde, at Norwich, Dec. 16, 1690.

LINES IN WHICH THE NAME WAS LOST IN

Other Lines in the Second Generation.

ROCKWELL.

William Rockwell was a "highly respected and prominent member of the community" at Windsor. His dau., Ruth, m. Christopher Huntington (32).

CLARK.

Joseph Clark was a man of note and ability at Windsor and later at Saybrook. His dau., Sarah, m. Simon Huntington (33), Simon's son, Samuel (49), m. Mary Clark, of Wethersfield. The name of Clark is conspicuous in several towns and in positions of trust and responsibility, but statistics were not clear enough to enable me to be positive as to which line we belong. The fact that two of them m. into the Huntington family warrants us in the conclusion that they were Ancestors of whom we have a right to be proud.
MARVIN.

Matthew Marvin was one of the early settlers of Hartford, where he is found before 1648, where his dau., Mary, m. Richard Bushnell (III).

WINSLOW.

Josiah Winslow was a brother of Governer Edward Winslow, of Plymouth, who came in the Mayflower. He is found at Plymouth at the trying time of King Philip's War, and it was under his leadership that that bloody war was brought to a close. The Indians had strongly entrenched themselves on a rise of ground in the midst of a swamp, surrounded it by a palisade, from whence they could make raids upon the scattered settlements and so kept the whole border in constant terror. But finally the colonists determined to strike a decisive blow. They succeeded in raising a thousand men and appointed Josiah Winslow "Commander- in-Chief." On the 18th of Dec. the troops formed a junction and after a long march and a night spent in the woods approached the stronghold of the Indians. The battle was furious and bloody, but after a fierce struggle for two hours the colonists burst into the fort. No quarter was given, as they felt that the fate of the colonies depended upon the annihilation of this band. The fort was fired and hundreds of men, women and children perished, provisions were consumed, wigwams destroyed, but few escaped. "This was the most desperate battle recorded in the early annals of the country." It was at fearful cost to the whites, as well as the Indians, but the power of the Indians was broken, and Philip's War was ended. Josiah Winslow's dau., Mary, m. John Tracy (128).

ROYCE.

We find Robert Royce first at New London, where nothing is said of his wife, but he had five sons and at least two daus. His oldest son, Jonathan, was one of the "original proprietors" of Norwich, and m. Deborah, dau. of Hugh Calkins, and his dau., Sarah, m. Deborah's brother, John Calkins (144). We afterwards find Robert Royce at Wallingford, where he d. 1676, leaving a small gratuity to each of the churches of New London, Norwich and Wallingford as a memorial of his "great affection and good-will" for the ministry and churches with which he and his family had been connected.

LEE.

Thomas Lee emigrated from England with his family, but d. on the passage. His wife, whose maiden name was Phoebe Brown, with her three children, Thomas, Sarah and Jane, completed the voyage and are afterwards found at Saybrook, where the widow m. Greenfield Larrabee. The youngest dau., Jane, m. Samuel Hyde (155).

HYDE LINE.

First Generation.

153 Wi1liam Hyde came to this county from England about 1633, with the Rev. Thomas Hooker, first minister of Hartford. He first settled at Newton, Mass., but soon 'moved to Hartford, where he is found before 1640, a resident and proprietor. His name appears on a monument lately erected to the " Founders of Hartford." He removed to Saybrook about 1648, and finally went to Norwich 1660, where his name and that of his son Samuel appear among the "35 original proprietors," and they appear together and active in affairs concerning the welfare of the town. They formed but one family at first, and their allotments of land were contiguous. The name of his wife does not appear, but he had two children. He outlived his son by many years, and d. Jan. 6, 1681 or 2. His age is not known, but he was styled "Old Goodman Hyde," in 1697, a title of affection quite common in those days. William Hyde was contemporary with, and there has always been a live tradition in the family that he was nearly allied to, Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, whose dau. Anne Hyde m. James 2d of England, and became the mother of Mary of Orange and Anne of Denmark, both queens of England

Second Generation.

(153) WILLIAM
154 Hester, b. in England, m. at Saybrook John Post, son of Stephen Post, March, 1652. They had two sons and seven daus. John Post was also one of the "35", and his home was across the street from his wife's father's. He was an active, influential man in the town. Hester Post, d. Nov.13, 1703. John Post, d. Nov. 27, 1710, aged 84. Many distinguished people are among their descendants. 155 SAMUEL, b. 1636, probably at Hartford, m. Jane Lee, June, 1659, of Saybrook, "In Aug., 1660, was b. to Samuel and Jane Hyde, a dau. Elizabeth, the first white child b. at Norwich." (Christopher Huntington was the first male child.) "The home where this first child of Norwich opened her eyes to the world, stood on a declivity sloping to the town street, with higher land in the background, bristling with massive rocks and heavily shadowed with chestnut and oak." This homestead remained in the Hyde family for five generations, the last occupant of the name being Elisha Hyde, Esq., mayor of the city. Samuel Hyde, d. in 1677. His widow afterward m. John Burchard. She lived to be 90.

Third Generation.

(155) SAMUEL.

156 Elizabeth, b. Aug., 1600, m. Richard Lord of Saybrook.
157 Phoebe, b. June, 1663, m. Matthew Griswold of Lyme, grandson of the first Matthew, brother of Edward. The first Gov. Matthew Griswold was their grandson. Maj.-Gen. Pope and many other distinguished men were among their descendants.
158 SAMUEL, Jr., b. May, 166', m. Elizabeth Calkins (152), Dec. 16, 1690. He lived first at West Farms, now Franklin, but removed to Windham and afterwards to Lebanon. At the first town meeting held at Windham, June 11, 1692, Samuel was chosen as one of the town officers. He d. Nov. 6, 1742.
159 John, b. Dec. 1667, m. Experience Abell. They had a large family, most of whom lived to be very old. President Grover Cleveland is a lineal descendant of John Hyde, and also of Hester Hyde and John Post.
160 William, b. Jan., 1670, m. Ann dau. of Richard Bushnell. He inherited the homestead of his grandfather in the town plot. He lived to be nearly 90, and d. Aug. 8, 1759. He had ten children, nine of whom left descendants. His oldest son, William, was the first Hyde to receive a college education. He graduated at Yale, 1721.
161 Sarah, b. Feb., 1675.
162 Thomas, b. July, 1672.
163 Jabez, b. May, 1677, the year his father died.

The five sons of Samuel, Sr., had forty children, of whom twenty-five were sons and reared families. This accounts for the rapidity with which the name spread through the county. In 1779, there were upwards of twenty families of Hydes, numbering over one hundred and fifty members, in the town plot and western part of Norwich, and notwithstanding the removals to other parts of the country, the census in 1791 records thirteen families of the name in Franklin and eight others in Norwich. The Hydes have been pioneers in every generation. As soon as civilization overtook them, some would "move on," until they were distributed from Maine to California, and from Florida to Puget Sound. No doubt some have made their way to Alaska, not that they avoid civilization, for wherever they settle there is soon seen a church and a school. The pioneer spirit is as much an inheritance as a love of travel. It is the spirit of progress working out in different ways.

Fourth Generation.

(158) SAMUEL, JR.
164 Samuel, b. at Windham, Sept.10, 1691, m. Priscilla Bradford, Jan. 14, 1725, great granddaughter of Gov. William Bradford, who came in the Mayflower. She was also, on her mother's side, granddaughter of Maj. John Mason, who was a leader of the Pequot war, which gained him a high standing among the military commanders of the time. " He became renowned as an Indian fighter and stood forth a buckler of defense to the exposed colonists, and a terror to the wild people of the wilderness." They settled at Lebanon, where he d. Feb. 14, 1776. She d. May 14, 1778. They had nine children.
165 Daniel, b. at Windham, Aug. 16, 1694, m. Abigail Wattles, settled at West Farms, where he was a distinguished and active member of the church and community. He d. Dec.26, 1770. They had eleven children.
166 Sarah, b. Dec.20, 1696, m. Ebenezer Brown, Feb. 25, 1714, a grandson of Maj. John Mason. She lived to be one hundred years and two months old.
167 Caleb, b. April 19, 1699, m. Mary Blackman, Sept.17, 1724. He d. March, 1765.
168 Ebenezer, b. 1701, m. (i) Dorothy Throop, Feb. 25, 1729, (2) Elizabeth Graves. He d. Aug. 21, 1742 
169 Elizabeth, b. Dec. 12, 1703, m. Jan. 16, 1723, Rev. Timothy Collins. He graduated at Yale 1718; studied medicine and surgery as well as theology. He was ordained as the first minister of Litchfield, Conn., June 19, 1723, and by the terms of the town grant became entitled to a large tract of land which subsequently gave wealth to him and his children. In 1752, he withdrew from that position, and in 1755 he went as surgeon with the troops sent to the relief and protection of Crown Point. He returned to Litchfield and was appointed justice of the peace and devoted the rest of his life to that office, and to the practice of medicine. His wife, Elizabeth Hyde, was a woman of marked and varied ability. She was quite a famous nurse and survived her husband many years. The date of her death is not known, but she was living in Jan., 1780, the "cold winter," when she was sent for and drawn on a hand sled four miles to Goshen to attend upon a lady who needed her services. Timothy and Elizabeth Collins had nine children. Two m. Hydes and one a Huntington. One went a missionary among the Indians and never returned. Three granddaughters, sisters, Rhoda, Elizabeth and Lois Collins, rn. three brothers, Evelyn, James and Robert Pierrepont, sons of Rev. James Pierrepont. Rev. John Pierrepont, the poet, was a son of James and Elizabeth. Another grandson, Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, a graduate of Yale, then an officer in the Revolution, and an Episcopal clergyman, was one of the first two to be ordained in the Episcopal form in the United States. The other was Rev. Philo Shelton, a brother of Ashbel, was an officer in Col. Zebulon Butler's regiment at the massacre of Wyoming, and was one of the few who escaped. Many other distinguished people are proud descendants of Timothy Collins and Elizabeth Hyde.
170 ELIJAH, b. at Lebanon 1705, m. Ruth Tracy (139), dau. of John Tracy (136) and Elizabeth Leffingwell (126) of Norwich. They settled at West Farms where they resided until 1742, when they moved to Lebanon. She d. Oct. 15, 1773. He m. (2) Mercy Coleman, 1774.
171 Ann, b. 1708, m. (I) Simon Gray, (2) Capt. Adoinjah Fitch, great grandson of Maj. John Mason.
172 Lydia, b. 1710, m. Jonathan Metcalf. They had thirteen children. She d. 1793.
This closes the record of the ancestry of Moses Hyde and Sarah Dana, and brings us to the period of the Revolution. No doubt there were many individuals along the way who had their tempers, peculiarities, idiosyncrasies, but after diligent search through records and histories, reading very many biographies and personal sketches, following them into their home as well as public and official life, I have failed to find one single instance of any kind of meanness. They seem all and always to have been active, useful, thoughtful, helpful men and women. All were imbued with a deeply religious spirit and endeavored to live up to that spirit at all times. In all cases where no other occupation is mentioned, they were farmers, legitimately, but were, especially in the early days, obliged to do much mechanical work, and so they helped themselves and each other. In the earlier times they owned large tracts of land but built their houses in groups for the better protection against the Indians, and also for the convenience of church and school and social privileges, for, if somewhat austere in their religious ideas, they were a social people and had their festivals, chief of which were Thanksgiving and Training Days. Sleighrides and other gatherings were not uncommon. In the middle period, between the strict Puritan times and the Revolution, dancing was a common diversion of young people. Balls and midnight revels were interdicted, but neighborly dances, either with or without a fiddler, often a part of the company singing for the others to dance were frequent. At a great wedding dance, which took place at New London, we read that: "92 gentlemen and ladies attended and danced 92 jigs, 52 contra dances, 45 minuets and 17 hompipes and retired at 45 minutes past midnight." They began in the morning. At this period there were many half-way houses between Norwich and other towns, which were often the terminus of sleighing parties. One kept by a Hyde seems to have been especially popular.
"What pleasure is greatest my fancy decides,
A party select and a sleighride to Hydes."

Although punctilious in their manners and customs, no little attention was paid to the fashions, as they received new ideas from time to time. They grew wealthy and lived well, even elegantly as time went on, approaching the verge of extravagance just previous to the Revolution. But they were none the less ready to do and die for their country, as we shall see in the next generation.

GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF MOSES HYDE AND SARAH DANA

Fifth Gcneration.

(170) ELIJAH.
173Andrew, b. Sept.10, 1732, at Norwich, m. Hannah Thomas, Aug.21, 1755. They settled at Nor- wich, but about 1760 moved to Mass. They had two sons and four daus.
174 Elijah, b. Jan.17, 1735, m. Mary Clark of Lebanon, Feb.24, 1757. He was a confidential friend of the first Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, of Conn. He commanded a regiment of light horse during the Revolution, and was on duty with the northern army at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. At the close of the war he returned to his home at Lebanon, where he d. Dec.31, 1810. His wife d. April 30, I831. They had twelve children, including two pairs of twins.
175 Eliphalet, b. May 4, 1737, d. Nov. 4, 1743.
176 Caleb, b. July 29, 1739, at Norwich, m. Elizabeth Sackett, 1761, dau. of Capt. John Sackett, a physician of Oblong, N. Y., and niece of Admiral Richard Sackett. They settled at Lenox, Mass., in 1769. He was a captain and saw much active service in the Revolution. He was subsequently sheriff of the county of Berkshire, Mass. He afterwards moved to Lisle, N. Y., at what is called "The Hyde Settlement," and became a leading man in that part of the State. He was Maj.-Gen. of Militia and was elected Senator from the western district of New York in 1803, and in 1804 was chosen by the Assembly as one of the "Council of Appointment." They had fifteen children; one pair of twins. He d. Dec.25, 1820. She d. June 6, 1806.
177Zina, b. at Lebanon, April 2, 1741, m. (i) Sarah Goodwin, 1769, (2) Lois Bosworth, 1785. He d. Jan.13, 1796. He had six children by first wife and three by second, but only three lived to grow up and marry. (There is a tradition in the family that Zina also served in the Revolution, was taken prisoner and escaped by a very ingenious strategy, but I was unable to entirely verify it.)
178Eliphalet, 2d, b. May 9, 1744, m. (I) Norma Flint of Farmington, May 20, 1766, (2) Abigail Washburn. He also was an officer in the Revolution. He subsequently settled at Whitingham, Vermont. He was the first town clerk of that town. In 1780 they moved to Pittstown, N. Y. He d. March, 1825. He had eight children, one pair of twins.
179Ruth, b. May 5, 1746, m. April 17, 1768, Capt. Andrew Huntington, a descendant of Simon the Deacon. He also was active in the Revolution. They lived at Lebanon, where he d. July 15, 1811. She d. 1825. They had eleven children.
180 Moses, b. at Lebanon, Sept. 11, 1751, m. Sarah Dana (106), Dec. 6, 1787. They settled at Lebanon, but eventually moved to Middleburg, N. Y., where he purchased a large tract of land. After having erected buildings and made extensive improvements, a prior claim to the land all through that district was put in - an old land grant that had been over looked. The claimant offered to sell the land over again, but at such exorbitant prices that most of the settlers preferred to abandon the situation. Among them was Mr. Hyde, who took his family to Livonia, in western New York in 1812, where he d. in 1828. His wife survived him many years and d. in 1856, aged 93. Moses Hyde did not enter into field service like so many of his brothers, but he is recorded as being "active in opposition to British aggression" at Lenox in 1774.
181Ebenezer, b. Nov.26, 1753, at Lebanon, m. Lucy Huntington, cousin of Capt. Andrew, his sister's husband, Nov.17, 1776. They settled at Lebanon, but like his brothers he eventually went into active service in the Revolution, was taken prisoner and died on the "Jersey" prison ship, the horrors of which are beyond description. He left a young wife and two very young daus., Elizabeth and Eunice. His wife survived him more than fifty years, but never married again. She d. May, 1833.

Sixth Generation.

(180) Moses.

182 Lewis, b. at Lebanon, Conn., Sept. 14, 1790, m. Lucy Hatch of New Lisbon, N. Y., Dec.19, 1816. She was b. Feb. 6, 1797. They settled at Livonia, N. Y., on a farm, where they resided until 1832, when they moved to Oakland county, Mich., where he d. July 16, 1838. She d. May 31, 1860.
Lewis Hyde received a good education, supplementing the usual school work with special studies with a lawyer. He taught school several years in addition to the management of his farm. He served in the war of 1812, and his widow drew a pension for his services. His wife also was a teacher before her marriage. In May, 1832, he moved to Michigan with his family, wife and six children. They traveled with household furniture and provisions to Rochester, twenty-five miles, in wagons, then by Erie canal to Buffalo and through Lake Erie and Detroit river on the Superior," the second passenger steamer built to ply on that lake to Detroit, then in wagons again to Auburn, Oakland county, twenty-five miles, where his younger brother had located three years before. The journey occupied five days. They remained a year at Auburn, then Mr. Hyde took up eighty acres of land from the government in Southfield, same county, and built a comfortable log house and moved his family there. The next year a log school house was built, and Mr. Hyde was the first teacher, his six children attending. He was a Presbyterian and brought up his family religiously.
183Melissa, b. at Lebanon, Feb. 1, 1794, m. William Sprague, at Middleburg, N. Y., April 1, 1810, moved to Livonia, N. Y., in 1811, and to Covington, 1830, then to Alexander, 1848, where she d. July 30, 1867, from a fall down stairs. She was a true Christian and a woman of energy, good common sense and of sterling integrity, and bravely met the hardships of pioneer life. To Mrs. Sprague fell the care of her parents. The father d. of a painful, lingering illness and the mother lived to be 93, becoming very childish and a great care for several years, all of which was met with the utmost patience and tenderness.
184Milton, b. at Middleburg, N. Y., May 21, 1797, m. Harriette Albina Edson of Aurelius, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1821. She was b. at Randolph, Vermont, April 13, 1797, dan. of Col. Josiah Edson, a soldier of the Revolution. They took up their residence at Geneseo, N. Y., but soon removed to Livonia, and in Aug., 1829. they emigrated to Michigan, with a family of six children, the eldest barely seven years old, the youngest twin girls of eight months. They settled on a farm in Oakland county, near the little village of Auburn (now Amy), twenty-five miles from Detroit. They made the journey in the same manner as that already described of his brother three years later. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hyde received the best education to be obtained in the schools of their time. Mr. Hyde soon became a leader in village affairs and was, as long as he lived there, justice of the peace, the highest office in the town, there being no village incorporation, and he was always known as "Squire Hyde." He was also director of all educational and most of the religious matters of the village. He and his wife were Presbyterians, with somewhat of the old Puritan spirit. Mrs. Hyde bore her part in this new world life with great ability and unfailing patience and cheerfulness. She learned to card the wool, spin the yarn, color and weave it into pretty stripes and plaids for her children's clothes, and to cut and make them up. Also she could make clothes for her husband and boys. She was a fearless woman, going about nights after her own little ones were in bed, looking after the sick poor, though there were wolves and sometimes other wild animals in the woods. She was a woman of splendid physique, perfect health, strong character and varied ability. As the boys grew up and chose other business than that of farming, Mr. Hyde sold his farm and in Jan., 1849, moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., where there were better opportunities and good schools. In 1850, Mr. Hyde's health began to fail and he became a confirmed invalid. In 1863, the children having all married but one, the house was given up and they went to live with a married dau. at Grosse Ile, near Detroit, where Mr. Hyde d. June 9, 1866. Mrs. Hyde d. also at Grosse Ile, Aug.30, 1879, from the effects of a fall, aged 82. She retained full possession of all her senses and faculties to the hour of her death, giving words of cheer and comfort to her daughters as long as she could speak to them.
185 Fanny, b. July 23, 1799, at Middleburg, m. Warren Kneeland in 1823. He was b. in Steuben county, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1798. They moved to Southfleld, Mich., April, 1835, and to Howell, Mich., in 1840, where he bought a large farm. He d. June 24, 1848. She d. Nov. 16, 1876. Mrs. Kneeland was a most amiable, gentle, lovable woman. She was afflicted, soon after the death of her husband, by some affection of her eyes, which resulted, mostly from the effects of unskillful treatment, in total blindness, while she was still comparatively a young woman. She bore her affliction with the utmost patience and resignation, occupying herself in such ways as she could, and accepting gratefully the devoted attention and care of her children. She always lived at the old home farm, with her oldest son, visiting her other children as suited her pleasure and convenience. Her gentle presence was a blessing and a benediction wherever she was. While these four children of Moses Hyde never accumulated much wealth, they led active, useful lives and left an influence for good in the respective communities where they lived. They all had large families and reared them in the spirit of love to God and charity to their fellow men. Their chief object, next to their spiritual welfare, was the education of their children. Schools in those early days and this new country, were not much in advance of those of their colonial ancestors, but both Lewis and Milton did all in their power to improve them and to give their children the best they could. Husbands and wives were all readers, and their children inherited the love of books which had come down to them through many generations. None of their children acquired a college education, though some of them greatly desired it. All that was left to the grandchildren, many of whom have enjoyed the privilege. If the pioneer life of these four children of Moses Hyde, more especially the three who moved to Michigan, were written out in full, it would show about as much hardship and endurance, as much need of contrivance and ingenuity, indeed a life not much different from that of the "Thirty-five original proprietors " of Norwich, except that the Indians in Michigan were not savage.

Return to Tolland County Home Page