Person Page 1,854

Elizabeth Edwards was born on 11 February 1623 in Drayton, Warwick, England. John Goodrich and she were married about 1645. She died on 5 July 1670 at age 47 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut.

Thomas Edwards died on 27 July 1683 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut.

John Goodrich was born in 1587 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England. He and Margerie Howe were married in 1615 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England. He died on 19 April 1632 at age ~45 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England.

Margerie Howe was born on 1 September 1588 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England. John Goodrich and she were married in 1615 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England. She died on 21 April 1632 at age 43 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England.

William Goodrich was born in 1555 in Hegessett, Suffolk, England. He and Margaret Richardson were married on 24 October 1568 in Feisham, Suffolk, England. He died on 24 October 1631 at age ~76 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England.

Margaret Richardson was born about 1549 in Hessett, Suffolk, England. William Goodrich and she were married on 24 October 1568 in Feisham, Suffolk, England. She died on 22 March 1630 at age ~81 in Hessett, Suffolk, England.

John Howes was born in 1554 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England.

Margery Lonsdale was born in 1558 in Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England.

Robert Rose was born in 1594 in Elmswell, Suffolk, England. He died on 4 April 1665 at age ~71 in Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut.

Robert Rose

Robert Rose was born circa 1594, possibly in England where he sailed from Ipswich on the ship Francis in 1634. He died at Branford, Connecticut, between August 25, 1664 (date of will) and April 4, 1665 (will presented in court of New Haven). Robert married, first, before he emigrated, to Margery _?_, born circa 1594. Her surname is not known, or her date of death, but she came in 1634 with her husband, eight children, and had two children after their arrival. It is said that she died before 1644, though no socumentation has been found. Nothing further is known about Margery.

In 1644 the Branford (also called Brainford) settlement was created on land purchased from the New Haven Colony, mostly settled by people from Wethersfield. The first settlers included Jasper Crane, Richard Harrison, Robert Rose
, William Swaine, and George and Lawrence Ward.

After Margery died, Robert Rose married Elizabeth Potter Parker in 1664. (2) Elizabeth died on July 28, 1677. She first married John Potter, (3) by whom she had John, Hanna and Samuel Potter. She next married Edward Parker by whom she had John, Hope and Lydia Parker. The second marriage of Robert Rose was soon after June 7, 1664, when the widow Parker was about to leave New Haven “to change her condition” and desired to know the “mind of the Court” concerning her children’s portions. (4) They were married only a few months, Robert died soon after.


Robert Rose aged 40
Margery his wife aged 40
John Rose aged 15
Robert Rose aged 15
Eliz Rose aged 13
Mary Rose aged 11
Samuell Rose aged 9
Sarah Rose aged 7
Danyell Rose aged 3
Darcas Rose aged 2



In an article “Robert Rose of Wethersfield, Connecticut,” (8) John Insley Coddington writes that Col. Charles E. Banks evidently erred in his The Planters of the Commonwealth (pp. 122- 124), in stating that Robert Rose came from Elmswell, County Suffolk, England. Coddington had a search conducted in England in 1939-40 by Miss Lilian J. Redstone who made extensive searches, particularly in the records of Ashfield Magna (Great Ashfield), Bacton, Cotton, Elmswell, Fornham St. Genevieve, Fornham St. Martin, and Hemingston, all in Suffolk. Though she found Roses in each of these parishes, she did not locate the marriage of Robert to Margery. Mr. Coddington also stated it appears that the Robert Rose of Elmswell was probably the eldest son of William Rose of Cotton, yeoman, who was buried at Elmswell 26 Feb. 1620/21 leaving a will dated 18 May 1618, proved 12 Mar. 1620/1 (Archdeacons.’ Court of Sudbury, Book 48, folio 175). Because of the appearance of a Robert ‘Roose’ who was taxed 17 shillings in Elmswell Parish in the Ship-Money Tax of 1639-40 (Vincent B. Redstone, The Ship-Money Returns for Co. Suffolk, transcribed from Harleian MSS. 7540-7542 [Ipswich, 1904], p. 59), we must proceed with caution in determining the ancestry. Robert Rose who embarked for the colonies in 1634 on the Francis could not have been taxed in Elmswell in 1639-40. It is possible that there were two Robert Rose in that parish, one who left for the Colonies and the other who remained, but it is also possible that Robert of Elmswell with wife Margery remained, and that another Robert with a wife by the same named sailed on the Francis. Thus the ancestors of Robert is unknown.

It is not known if Robert Rose first settled in Watertown, Massachusetts and moved to Wethersfield about 1635, or if he went directly to Wethersfield in 1634. Dr. Bond in his History of Watertownsays that it is not clearly ascertained that this family settled in Watertown, but that “it is probable, as they came over in the same ship with several other Watertown families and belonged to the colony that went thence to plant Wethersfield.” (10) Wethersfield, the oldest town in Connecticut, received from Watertown, Massachusetts its first considerable immigrations in 1634. Pvquag, its Indian name, was changed in 1635 to Watertown (named for the Massachusetts settlement), and on May 29, 1635 was again changed to Wethersfield (Weathersfield).

Some researchers state that the immigrant Robert Rose was a soldier in the Pequot War in 1637, but this may be his son Robert whose service is proved. Robert Sr. is listed in Judge Sherman W. Adams’ list of first settlers of ancient Wethersfield. (11) He was on a committee January 16, 1639, to view lands for a settlement at Unxus Sepus (Farmington); (12) was sworn Constable at Wethersfield February 6, 1639; (13) and was also a committeeman there February 8, 1640 “to take into serious consideration” how the ground may be improved and the cattle kept. (14) Stiles states he was one of the largest owners of “adventurers lands;” his homestead was on the southeast side of Broad Street, between Lieut. Rob’t Seeley and John Clarke (later John Robbins). He sold this homestead to his son John Rose (who in turn sold it to John Latimer March 11, 1650). He bought 20 acres in 1640 from Andrew Ward, and already “held the same amount in his own right” at the time. (15) “He also exch. 20 acs. of Plain Id. for a like quantity there, with John Robbins, 1641.” (16)

Robert represented the town at general court as Deputy, September 1641, August 1642, and March and April 1643. (17) Robert Rose was active in the affairs of the town, and served on many committees. He also served as fence viewer, helped collect taxes, appraised, and served the town in many other capacities. He is mentioned often in the town records. There is a plaque marking the homesite of the “adventurer” Robert Rose, Wethersfield, Connecticut. It states “Home Site of Robert Rose One of the Adventurer 1634 Born in England 1594 Died in Branford, Conn. 1664.”

A letter written by Samuel Smith, son of the Rev. Henry Smith who was in Wethersfield by 1639, (18) gives a glimpse into life during those years in early Wethersfield: “Ye firste Meeting - House was solid mayde to withstande ye wicked onsaults of ye Red Skins. Its Foundations was laide in ye feare of Lord, buts its Walls was truly laide in ye feare of ye Indians for many & grate was ye Terrors of em. I do minde me yt alle ye able-bodyed Men did work thereat & olde & feeble did watch in turns to espie if any Salvages was in hidinge neare & every Man keept his Musket nighe to his hande. I do not myself remember any of yt Attacks mayde by large bodeys of Indians whilst we did remayne in Weathersfield, but did oftimes hear of em. Several Amiles Wch did live hack a ways from ye River was either Murderdt or Captivated in my Boyhood & we all did live in constant feare of ye like . . .”

There was a controversy among the previously mentioned Rev. Henry Smith, who moved into Wethersfield with his wife and several children in 1639, and members of his congregation. So much difference existed that in 1643 the General Court appointed a committee to take the matter “into sadde and serious consideration,” and their report, submitted April 13th of that year, found the difference to be “exceeding great.” (19) In November 1643 the General Court cleared Mr. Smith from the accusations against him, and proceeded to impose penalties upon the signers of the “declaration” against him. Among the list of those fined was 40s on Robert Rose. Probably as a result of this dissension, he removed about 1644 with others to Totoket (Branford) and the name of “Ro Rosse” appeared in the first division of meadow lands there on July 7, 1646. (20) The move of those from Wethersfield to Branford is described in Rockey, History of New Haven County, vol. II, pp. 2-3, (21) quoted in that source from an account of Rev. Elijah C. Baldwin: “In the month of December, 1638, the New Haven settlers bought an additional tract of land of the Indians. It was ten miles in length. north and south. and extended eight miles east of the Quinnipiac riyer. It was bought of Montowese, son of Sowheog, the sachem of Mattabeseck Indians . . . this territory was then called Totoket, from the Indian name of a range of hills in the northern part . . . September 3d, 1640, the general court at New Hayen made a grant of Totoket to Mr. Samuel Eaton . . . [however], he went to England to procure settlers, but never returned. In 1643 Totoket was granted to Mr. William Swaine and others of Wethersfield . . . the remoyal from Wethersfield was the result of diyisions in the church there . . . the men who had bought Totoket for a settlement ame to occupy their purchase early in 1644.”

Robert Rose had three acres in his house-lot in Branford, beside meadow lands, and a dwelling house appraised at forty pounds in May 1663, (22) one of the highest in town. In a list from the same town records for 1663, (23) his acreage was equaled only by Mr. Plum and Tho. Muliner.

He appeared in the Particular Court records on August 1, 1644, in an action Nath. Foote agst Robert Rose. (24) The jury awarded plaintiff damages and costs of court. In an action on June 5, 1646, Robert Rose plaintiff agst Robins defendant, the jury found for the plaintiff ten pounds damages and cost of court. (25) In another record, (26) court of March 1, 1648, Robert Rose was fined 20s for a misdeamor (nature not stated), and in the same court Enoch Buck was fined 10s for irregular speeches in court against Robert Rose “when hee spake vppon his oath.” In the Town Records of Branford,(27) Mr. Crane entered action May 16, 1655 agst Robert Rose and Josiah Ward for “pulling down his fence which they acknowledged they to pay court costs and make the fence good.”

From the History of New Haven County, (28) quoted from the records of Rev. Elijah C. Baldwin: “[Robert Rose] was one of the Branford original proprietors. There is a tradition ‘that Robert Rose owned ten cows and sixty horses;’ also, that the Sunday ‘milking’ was always given to the poor. The Bible he bought with him from England, printed in 1599 . . . has been in its time the property of three or four deacons of the Rose family.” Rose researcher Margo Tilton states that when Robert died he owned ten horses, and there were less than twenty in the town. (29) Tilton provided information on Robert’s will and estate: Will, dated August 25, 1664, Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut, in his will, he left 6 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence to the church. An unprecendented thing, as the church was supported by taxes on the whole town and no one had ever done such a thing there before.

After the death of Robert Rose, there appeared in the Branford Town Records for December 12, 1665 a matter in which “Frances Linsley Defendant in a case about a Calfe that hee had in his home lot and went through goodman Roses fence into his home lot . . . and there by being lost hee entered an action against Samuel Rose being administrator of his father Robert Rose deceased.” (30) The mention of “Goodman” Rose in this record gives some proof that the various records in the Town Records of Branford do indeed refer to the immigrant Robert Rose. There has been speculation on this, since some of the early records refer to Robert Rose (or Rosse) and others refer to “goodman Rose.” Donald L. Jacobus in his “Rose Notes” (31) believed that “Goodman Rose” was the Robert Rose of Long Island. However, a careful study of the Long Island family of Robert Rose was made and found that various historians erred in an identification of this man. Robert Rose of Long Island left a widow named Dorothy, and though both he and the Branford Robert had sons named John, the court records prove that the Long Island John was born about 1638 for he testified in 1655 that he was about 17, (32) while the John who came on the Francis was born circa 1619 according to his age as stated on the ship passenger list. Further, “goodman Rose” of Branford was still living after the death of Robert Rose of Long Island. There remains the possibility that Robert Rose of Long Island may have been for a time in Branford, or even that some of Branford family may have been on Long Island, but clearly there are two Robert Rose and each left families.

Miss Nora G. Frisbee of Glendale, California prepared the following account in 1966: “One of the most delightful and unintentionally comic episodes in which Robert Rose was involved was that of the bull which was hired to ‘go with’ the Branford cows. In November 1653, according to the New Haven Town Records: Mr Linge, attorney for Mr Robins of Wethersfeild, entered an action against Thomas Blachly of Brandford for fetching away a bull of the said Mr Robins from Guilford wihout order, wch bull was left at the said Towne of Brandford or Totoket and therefore desires, satisfaction. Mr. Linge does not add in his complaint that the bull was dead, the Branford people having carelessly allowed him to mire himself in a mudhole. This had apparently transpired before the bull could perform the function for which he had been hired, and the Branford people were apparently refusing to pay the agreed-upon fee. Thomas Blatchely appeared to answer the complaint, and testified that: he and Goodman Roses sonn fetched the bull for the Townes vse, Goodman Rose haueing hired him of Mr Robins for that purpose.

“Goodman Rose was Robert Rose, but it is impossible to be certain which of his five sons fetched the bull from Guilford . . . Goodman Rose, being present in the Court, affirmed Blatchely’s statement and added in explanation that: Mr Swaine and Mr Sherman wrott to him to Wethersfeild to hire a bull for the Towne to goe wt their cokes, and hearing Mr Robins had one, hee went w one Goodman Edwards and hired the bull and vpon that ground sent tor him. It appeared, however, that Goodman Edwards was in Wethersfield and could not appear at New Haven to verify his testimony. Rose said that ‘they sent a weeke agoe’ for his statement, but that ‘the messenger is not returned.’ He asked that the case be ‘respited till next Court,’ and this request was granted. The next Court was held the 6th of December. Goodman Rose appeared and said that their affidavits had not vet come from Wethersfield . . . he asked for another extension and the request was rather grudgingly allowed, he being warned that: if ye next Court he cleare it not. the case will goe against him. At the January Court Rose appeared a third time with ‘sundrie testimonies to prove that the bull was hired of Mr Robins’ and not borrowed without permission. John Edwards’ statement was to the effect that Mr. Robins: was loath to let him (i. e., to hire the bull out), but would haue them buy a steere for him of John Roote.

“The steer was, presumably, to be given to Robins by way of fee for the service of the bull, but Rose and Edwards could not come to an agreement with Root. They ‘came againe to Mr Robins’ and he finally: let them ye bull for twenty shillings, and they should summer him a steere into the bargaine, that is, the Branford people were to agree to feed and pasture one of Robins’ steers during the summer as a part of the fee for the use of the bull. Rose also presented other testimony, including that of Phillip Goff taken December 17, 1653, and that of William Boarman taken December 5, 1653, none of which advanced their case to any extent, but at least made it clear that Robins had agreed to hire out the bull. Up to this point nothing at all had been said about the eventual loss of the bull. The point makes its first appearance in testimony of one John Russell, ‘aboute the age of 21 yeares,’ who was probably a servant of Mr. Robins. He testified that: he heard Mr Robins say he let a bull to Goodman Rose of Totoket, but because the bull was carelessly lost, he would make the said Goodman Rose pay for him. Attorney Linge then took the floor and pleaded that the testimony of Edwards was inadmissible, inasmuch as he was a party to the action. The Court challenged him to prove his statement, which he could not do so, and so Edwards’ testimony was allowed to stand. Linge then raised another objection: if they did hire the bull, why did they leaue a steere wch they should haue fetched away wth him and summered for Mr Robins? The Court then intervened and informed Linge: that it doth cleerly appeare by these testimonies that Mr Robins did lett the bull to them of Totoket. Linge was not going to be satisfied with this decision, however, and he now brought up the question of the death of the bull. He claimed that the animal had been lost through the carelessness of ‘them of Totoket,’ but, challenged to prove it, said ‘he was not fitted at present to cleere by proofe.’ He declared that he could get the proof, however, and the case was again set forward to a future sitting of the Court. By the time of the March court, Linge had secured his affidavits, and the case came up once again. He presented a statement from John Norton, one of the original Branford planters, who testified that: he saw the bull stick fast in a litle salt pond He thought it would have been several days before the bull died, and he: apprehends it was negligenee in the Towne that the bull was not looked after. Linge’s second statement was from Thomas Blatchley, against whom the action had been brought in the first instance, so that Blatchley was in the position of testifying against himself. Linge had objected to accepting the testimony of John Edwards for the defense, on the ground that he was an interested party, but no protest is shown by the Branford people, and his testimony went into the record unchallenged. Blatchley added very little to the sum of the evidence, however; he said merely that if they had had any idea that the bull would mire himself, they would have watched him more carefully and so might have saved him alive.

“Robert Abbott, still another of Branford’s original settlers, appeared on behalf of the town and testified that the bull ‘was well the dry cattel,’ and, since it ‘was not a time of swamping,’ they had not foreseen that he would fall into a mudhole. Linge took this up immediately and demanded to know why, if the bull was hired for the cows, they had allowed him to run with the dry cattle. Abbott retorted that, on the contrary, the bull was hired for the town’’s use, and that ‘they were not lvmitted to any place or heard.’ Furthermore, the record states that the testimonies: did but speake their apprehensions and sweare nothing possitively. Linge, balked at every turn, now had nothing more to say. The Court declared their minds: that they see not such negleet in ye Town of Brand-ford as to ast the loss of ye bull upon them; “moreoyer, the action had been entered only for the recovery of the hire of the bull and the summering of the steer, and this had already been settled in favor of Mr. Robins. They were now heartily sick of Mr. Robins and his bull, and they advised the Branford ‘people to pave Mr Linge for Mr Robins twenty shillings for the hire of the bull and ten shillings for their not summering of ye steere (for so much it is said Mr Robins saith it stood him in) and 3s 4d for ye Court charges, and so make an end of it. The Branford people ‘at first . . . were loath to veild,’ although they were out only the court costs whereas Mr. Robins had lost the value of his bull, but afterward they said, ‘to avoyde further trouble, they would doe it,’ “and so the matter ended.” (33)

From the Town Records of Branford, the will of Robert Rose was presented at a court for Branford April 4, 1665. (34) In New Haven Probate Records, the will is recorded with some slight variations, but it is essentially the same: (35) “The last will & testament of Robert Rose of Brandford made August 25th 1664: Item First I give to my son Jonathan a hundred pounds. 2I when all my debts are pavd then I give to my wife one third part of my whole estate. 3Y I giye to my son Jonathan five pounds more. 4ly I give to my Daughter Hanna ten pounds more. 5Y It is my will that all ye rest of my estate shal be equally divided into eight parts Amongst my other eight children as followeth: That is to each of them alike part, but my son John & Daughter Mary & my Daughter Elizabeth shall have but twenty pounds of that part that falls to them, but the rest of that part which falls to them shall be given to their children. Item I give unto the church of Brandford six pounds thirteene shillings foure pence. The marke M of Robart Rose. Witness Laurance Ward, Samuel Swaine. This writeing was proved in Court at Brandford the 4th day of ye 2d month 1665 to be ye last will & testament of Robert Rose Deceased, by ye testimonies upon oath Laurance Ward & Samuell Swaine . [Lawrence Ward, John Wilford & Richard Harrison were appointed to settle any difficulties or differences that might arise among the legatees.] Note Robert mentioned Jonathan and Hannah, and eight other children, but only naming three of these – John, Mary, and Elizabeth. The inventory was taken by Laurance Ward, John Wilford and Richard Harrison. (36) It included £260.00.00 For house and land, two bulls, a number of other stock, and household Furniture. Total inventory, £826.09.07. His son Samuel was administrator of his estate, as shown in a recorded deed. (37)

A few years after the death of Robert Rose, on December 26, 1670, Elizabeth Rose of Newhaven deeded to Jonathan Rose of Branford 1/2 of house, barne, gardens, yards, orchards, pasture, ground or meadow lying in the town of Branford which came to her by “gift or will” of “my late husband Robert Rose of Branford.” It was witnessed by Nicholas Auger and John Parker. (38.)

Margery Evered was born in 1584 in Elmswell, Suffolk, England.

There is doubt that her surname was Evered. Mary Evered was married to another Robert Rose, according to these allegations.

Capt. Robert Welles was born in 1651 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He and Elizabeth Goodridge were married on 9 June 1675 in Connecticut. He died on 22 June 1714 at age ~63 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut.

Captain Robert Welles of Wethersfield, Connecticut

by Mark H. Welchley, Sept 2010

Captain Robert Welles
: born 1651, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut. He died 22 Jun 1714, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He married, 9 Jun 1675, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, Elizabeth Goodrich
, daughter of Ensign William Goodrich
and Sarah Marvin
. She was born 1658 Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. She died 17 Feb 1697/98, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. Robert Welles married (second), 13 Oct 1698, in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, Mary Symmes, the widow of both Major Thomas Savage and Anthony Stoddard of Boston, daughter of Rev. Zachariah Symmes of Charlestown, Massachusetts. She died at Boston 18 July 1710.
Children:


1. Captain Thomas Welles: born May 1676, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He died 21 Sep 1741, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He married Hannah Warner 28 Sep 1699 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. She was the daughter of William Warner and Hannah Robbins. She was born 28 Sep 1678 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut and died 18 Sep 1738 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. Thomas Welles married (second) Sarah Bidwell, daughter of John Bidwell and Sarah Welles, 3 May 1739 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. She was born 19 Aug 1681, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut and died 3 Dec 1744 in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

2. John Welles: born 16 Jun 1678, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He died 1714, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut.

3. Joseph Welles: born Sep 1680, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He died 1744, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. He married 6 Jan 1708/09, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, Hannah Robbins. She was born 10 Jun 1688 in Wethersfield, Connecticut and died 1726, Wethersfield, Connecticut. She was the daughter of Joshua Robbins and Elizabeth Rose.

4. Prudence Welles:
born 1682, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. She died May 1714, Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut. She married Rev. Anthony Stoddard
, 20 Oct 1700, the son of Rev. Solomon Stoddard
at Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. (See Anthony Stoddard Profile.)

5. Captain Robert Welles: born 1684, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He died Sep 1738, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. He married 12 Dec 1706, Wethersfield, Connecticut. Sarah Wolcott. She was born 14 Aug 1686 in Wethersfield, Connecticut and died 1738 in the same place. She was the daughter of Samuel Wolcott and Judith Appleston.

6. Captain Gideon Welles: born 1686, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He died 28 Mar 1740, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He married 30 Nov 1716, Wethersfield, Connecticut, Hannah Chester. She was born 15 May 1696, Wethersfield, Connecticut. She died 26 May 1749, Glastonbury, Hartford, Connecticut.

Robert Welles was the son of John Welles of Stratford, Connecticut and was born in 1651. He was about 8 years old when his father died. His grandfather, Governor Thomas Welles, took him to Wethersfield, Connecticut in late 1659 and arranged for his education there. His grandfather died only 5 months later. He willed Robert the Swayne Homestead in Wethersfield. It is likely that his grandfather’s 2nd wife, Elizabeth Deming Foote Welles., then became his guardian.
In 1676 he apparently quarreled with his step-grandmother. According to court records he “both dammyfied her Barne, by parting with the other part of the Barne that did adjoin to itt.” Exactly what he did to the barn is not clear, but he was ordered to repair it, and “Make up the annuity of 12 pounds per annum,” which by his grandfather’s will he was to pay her.
Robert Welles married Elizabeth Goodrich in 1675. He was admitted as freeman in May 1681. He would have been 30 years old at the time, a bit older than you would expect a man of his pedigree to be granted the status of freeman. On 17 Feb 1685/86, a patent for all the territory then embraced in Wethersfield was granted by Connecticut Governor Robert Treat to the proprietors of the Township of Wethersfield. Among those proprietors was Mr. Robert Welles. He was not an actual founder of the town, but gained the position through inheritance from his grandfather.
Whatever the nature of the problems of his early life, Robert Welles became a model citizen later in his life. In 1689 he was elected captain of the Wethersfield Train Band North or High Street Company of militia in September 1689 (The other company was the South or Broad Street Company). He continued as Captain of this company in 1698 when Wethersfield was officially divided into two military precincts corresponding to the previous boundaries of the two military companies. In 1701 he was “released” as captain in favor of his son Captain Thomas Welles. In Jun 1704, because of the hostility of Indians in central and eastern Massachusetts, Wethersfield proceeded to fortify six houses in the town. Among those fortified was the house of Captain Robert Welles.
He was deputy to the General Court in 1691-1694 and 1697-1701, 1705, 1707, 1712-1714. His first wife, Elizabeth Goodrich died in 1698. In the same year he married Mary Symmes Savage Stoddard, the widow of both Captain Thomas Savage and Anthony Stoddard of Boston. He served as commissioner for Wethersfield from 1692 to 1694. He was also Justice of the Peace for several years and member of the council in 1697-98.
Robert Welles of Wethersfield wrote his will 4 Jan 1711-1712. It reflected the degree to which he had acquired considerable land and property. He gave his wife Mary the “remaining part of the household goods which they had together. She also received 1/6 part of his silver, bills and plate and two cows. While she remained his widow, she would also receive eight pounds annually, paid by his four sons and the improvement of two or three acres of mowing land in the parcel of land that he previously bought from his “brother John Hollister”. Robert also required that his son Gideon pasture the two cows for his mother. Mary also received the “improvement of my parlour and parlour chamber, half my garden, and liberty of my back room to wash, bake and brew in, with part of the cellar; only the punch bowl, given afterward to my grandson Robert, is excepted from my wife and children.”
His son Thomas, in addition to previous gifts of deed, received “several parcels of land, a third part of the three fifty-acre lots which lye together, also half the island I bought of Mr. Nathaniel Foot, and a third part of my last division lot; also land in Fairfield Swamp.”
His son Robert received the house and lands that had been purchased from Ensign John Wyatt, six acres of his lower plowing lot in the meadow four acres in the upper meadow, “and the rest of Fairfield Swamp not given to Thomas and reserved for Gideon, and the lot lying in the west swamp, bought of old Mr. Stephen Chester, and one 50-acre lot lying by Jabez Whittlesey, and the third part of the division lot and half the island bought of Nathaniel Foot.” His son Robert also received his father’s “negro Phebe, and he to take good care of her.”
His son Joseph received the Westfield lot that had been purchased from Mr. John Hollister, along with house, barn, orchard and all associated belongings. He also received “the land I had by exchange of Isaac Boreman and Jacob Griswold, Jr., and two acres of my upper lot in the meadow, and four acres in Fairfield Swamp which I bought of John Deming Jr., and a third of my 3 fifty-acre lotts, and a third of my division lot.”
His son Gideon Welles received the house, barn and lot that his father lived on containing 3 acres, plus 4 acres of his upper meadow lot, and 3 acres on the north side of Fairfield Swamp and 4 acres in Beaver Meadow, and the lot “upon the west swamp hill, bought of Joseph Churchill, Thomas Wright, John Nott and Isaac Curtis.” Gideon also received a piece of land bought from George Wolcott and John Durrant, with a highway leading through Henry Buck’s lot, and also “the third of the three 50 acre lots.”
He bequeathed to his grandson Robert Welles the house and land he bought from Sergeant Jonathan Hollister and formerly owned by Capt. Stephen Hollister, deceased, plus 10 adjacent acres bought from his cousin Stephen Chester. His grandson also received his silver punch bowl.
Robert Welles’ son Gideon also received a considerable number of items from his father’s movable estate, including one yoke of oxen, two cows, two horses, a mare and colt, ten sheep and all of his swine. He also received his carts, plows, chains, plow irons, harrows, saddles, bridle, mowing and reaping instruments, hods, hammers, nails, gun, sword, shingles and clapboards and half of his father’s grain. He also received one bedstead with a bed and a great table and furniture associated with the bed, two chairs and two books of his choice. He also received one silver tankard, a large looking glass and an “iron back”.
His sons Thomas, Joseph, Robert and Gideon were appointed executors of the will. He also directed that he wanted his wife to live with some of his children and that they should take care of her. The will was witnessed by Thomas Chester, David Goodrich and John Coleman. It was proved 5 Jul 1714. The estate inventory, taken 20 Jul 1714 by Joshua Robbins, Edward Bulkeley and Ephraim Goodrich, provided a total value of 3667 pounds, 11 shillings and 3 pence.
Two of Robert Welles’ children were not named in his will, John and Prudence. Both had died in the same year as their father, presumably before his will was written. Robert Welles is buried in Wethersfield Village Cemetery. His memorial is table-shaped with a slab above and below. At last viewing, the marker was intact, but weathered and lichen-covered.

Bibliography



Connecticut State Library, “Thomas Welles, Governor of the Colony of Connecticut, 1655, 1658, www.cslib.org/gov/wellest.htm, 2002

Cutter, William Richard, New England Families, Genealogical and memorial: A Record of the Achievements of her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, volume 2, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915, pp. 1085-1086

Cutter, William Richard and William Frederick Adams, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, volume 1, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1910, pp. 68-70

Fisher, Gordon, Ancestors of Gordon McCrea Fisher, www.familyorigins.com/users/f/i/s/Gordon-M-Fisher/FAM01-001/index.htm, 2000

Manwaring, Charles William, A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records: Hartford District, 1700-1792, volume 2 of A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Peck & Co., 1904, pp. 323-324

Morgan, Terry, Family Tree, “John Tomes/Ellen Gunne,” www.angelfire.com/folk,morgan/fam/fam02485.htm, 2006

Siemiatkoski, Donna Holt, The Descendants of Gov. Thomas Welles of Connecticut, 1590-1658, www.langeonline.com/welles.htm, Gateway Press, Inc, Baltimore, MD, 1990

Trumbull, J. Hammond, The Memorial History of Hartford County Connecticut, 1633-1884, reprint, BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2009, pp. 427, 435, 466-467,

Wells Family Association, “Errors in Earlier Literature” from The Descendants of Governor Thomas Welles 1590-1658,” www.rootsweb.com/`wellsfam/genealogy/govwels2.html.

John Welles was born in 1621.

Hannah Warner was born on 28 September 1678 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut. Thomas Welles and she were married on 28 September 1699 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut. She died on 18 September 1738 at age 59 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut.

Robert Welles was born in 1624.

Joseph Welles was born in 1637.

Sarah Griswold was born in 1650.

Anna Griswold was born in 1655.

John Griswold was born in 1655.