Person Page 194

Mary Bragg was born on 26 March 1687 in Bristol, Bristol County, Rhode Island.

William Bragg was born on 17 October 1684. He died on 21 February 1758 at age 73 in Bristol, Bristol County, Rhode Island.

Nicholas Bragg was born in 1615 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. He and Sarah Langbrady were married on 27 January 1639 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. He died in 1680 at age ~65 in Rhode Island.

According to Torrey, Edward Bragg, Ipswitch, 1648, m. Elizabeth Roberts or Whitbridge or Whitred...

Sarah Langbrady was born in 1619 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. Nicholas Bragg and she were married on 27 January 1639 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. She died on 26 May 1691 at age ~72 in Ipswitch, Essex, Massachusetts.

Alastair Mackmollen was born about 1631 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He died on 20 April 1679 at age ~48 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.

In 1669 Allestre Mackmallen deposed "the he heard Samuel Archer, Sr., divers times say of late that he intended to buld a huse for his son Matthew Dove." (Salem) Source; The Great Migration CD. Alastair Mackmollen had person sources.¹

Nathaniel Maxfield or Munro was born on 22 November 1752 in Bristol, Rhode Island. He and Martha Taylor were married on 1 November 1774 in Bristol, Rhode Island.¹ He died on 4 December 1838 at age 86 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was buried in Old East Burial Ground, Bristol, Rhode Island.

He was a Revolutionary War pensioner. He served in Taunton from December 8 to December 30, 1776, and several other times. He also served on the privateer "Lady of Washington" in the West Indies for several months in the late summer and fall of 1776. They captured and brought back two vessels. He returned to Taunton and a militia company. He's listed as Nathaniel Munro in the War pension records, Case no. S21393. Depositions in support of his claim were filed by Royal Sandford, Nathaniel H. West, Rev. Henry Wight, and Thomas Church. The file includes extensive descriptions of his military duty.

He was 86 years old when he died (Bristol Phenix, 8 Dec 1838, noting that he was a Revolutionary War pensioner and that he had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 45 years). His son Allen was administrator of his estate. Nathaniel and his wife were buried in the Old East Burial Ground in Bristol, just across the street to the east of the town common about 100 feet south-southeast of the gate. The name on the tombstone is Munro, and that apparently is the name he used and was known by in Bristol.

According to genealogist Dorothy Saunders, Nathaniel was somewhat of a mystery man. His origin has not been identified. "He may have been an illegitimate Munro by a female Maxfield or he may have been a Maxfield adopted by a Munro family." If he were an illegitimate child of Nathaniel, the practice in New England towns was to bring the mother to court, identify the father, and require him to provide support, since New England towns did not like having the taxpayers support these children through welfare. Government action would have been required to assign him to a caretaker if he were an orphan. A thorough search of town records may prove or disprove what happened. Or perhaps he was a Munro named after Nathaniel Maxfield. Nathaniel Maxfield, Private, Capt. Avery Parker's co., Col. John Hathaway's 2nd Bristol Co. regt., entered service August 3, 1780, discharged August 8, 1780; service, 6 days, on an alarm at Rhode Island (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Boston, 1902, p. 367).

Nathaniel's death record lists Hezekiah Munro and Sally Munro and first and second next-of-kin. This may provide a clue as to his origins. There are several Hezekiah Munro's. One was born 1717 in Bristol and died 1783 in New London, CT. He married (1) Mary Haile 1738 in Swansea and (2) Bridget Cobb 12 August 1752 in New London. They had a son, Hezekiah, b. 1754 in New London. This one seems unlikely, but he could have sired a son, Nathaniel, in 1752 by someone other than his wife. Another suspect family would be Capt. Nathan Munro b. 3 Oct 1730 in Bristol and died 12 June 1801 in Bristol, m. Sarah Kinnecutt abt. 1755 and had children Sarah Munro b. 15 April 1757 and d. 14 January 1835 in Bristol and son Hezekiah Munro b. 15 May 1770 in Bristol and d. 20 April 1826 in Warren. Capt. Nathan was a brother of Hezekiah. These two families offer several suspect Hezekiah's and Sarah's, but the second one seems more likely, given proximity in Bristol. But that Hezekiah predeceased Nathaniel.

A Nathaniel Smith, b. 29 Jun 1711, d. 26 Dec 1747 in a shipwreck returning from Surinam, m. Mrs. Phebe Manchester and had one child, born posthumously, Nathaniel, b. 5 Jan 1747/8, who could have been taken in by a Munro in the family, but dates would have to be in error for this scenario (Nathaniel was supposedly born 22 Nov 1752 according to his recollection). From what records I have found, he could have been the son of Nathaniel Maxfield, born in Bristol October 2, 1718, son of Joseph and Mary Maxfield (RIVR, Arnold Collection, 6:90) and who apparently died November 17, 1745, intestate at Boston (Arnold)(date correct?). He was only 27 when he died. In the court records of Bristol, Joseph Maxfield applied on February 5, 1753, to be the administrator of his son Nathaniel's estate, Nathaniel having died intestate (Bristol Wills and Inventories, 1746 - 1793) (why so longer after son's death? Or did his son die later than 1745?). One hypothesis is that Nathaniel, being only a few months old, was placed with a Munro family after his father died. On the other hand, there is no record of Nathaniel Maxfield marrying, so no record of a mother.

There was a Nathaniel Maxfield b. in Dartmouth September 5, 1756, son of John Maxfeld and Dinah Sherman. John and Dinah had only two childen. Other child, Abraham, married Eliz. Hathaway August 15, 1782. Another Nathaniel Maxfield b. Oct. 15, 1785, son of Abraham and Elizabeth. Did John and Dinah die young, leaving Nathaniel and Abraham orphans? Hypothesis is that John was a first or second cousin of the Nathaniels in Bristol.

Hypotheses concerning Maxfield family from here back is based upon NEHGS, "Early Settlers of Salisbury, MA," 1854-p. 159, RIVR Arnold Collection (on line, NEHGS, 2003), and court document from Bristol Wills and Inventories. Joseph Maxfield, Nathaniel's father, was born March 4, 1691-2 in Salisbury, MA and died March 6, 1768 (at age 78 years?). Joseph's wife died in Bristol March 10, 1732. A number of Maxfields in that time period belonged to the First Church of Bristol. The most likely daughters who could have borne a child to a Munro would have been Ann Maxfield, born April 17, 1736 (would have been 16 in 1752) and Catherine, born December 25, 1738 (would have been 14 in 1752, less likely), both daughters of Daniel Maxfield and Mary, Daniel born in Bristol 8 September 1712 of Ebenezer and Anne.

Martha Taylor was born about 1757 in Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island. Nathaniel Maxfield or Munro and she were married on 1 November 1774 in Bristol, Rhode Island.¹ She died on 12 July 1816 at age ~59 in Bristol, Rhode Island. She was buried in Old East Burial Ground, Bristol, Rhode Island.

She was 59 years old when she died (b. abt. 1757). Her birth and parentage needs to be proven conclusively. No record of children of Nathaniel Taylor and Elizabeth Arnold has yet been found. If her mother died in childbirth or shortly thereafter in 1757, someone must have taken in Martha.

A Martha Taylor b. March 2, 1735, in Bristol of Rev. Barnabus, b. 28 Jan 1702 in Yarmouth, and Martha Allen Taylor, b. 6 Sep 1703 in Chilmark. Their children were named Nathaniel, Rebecca, Susannah, Allen, Martha, Abigail, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Mark, and Parnel. Parnel married Nathaniel Smith and had a son, Allen Taylor Smith. Some of the children were born in Chilmark, MA, and some in Bristol, while the last two may have been born in Lyme, CT. No further info about daughter Martha Taylor, other than birth (would have been old enough to be mother of Martha Taylor b. abt. 1757). Allen died 2 May 1758, leaving son Nathaniel as the only one who could father a daughter named Taylor. Barnabus was son of Seth Taylor from Barnstable. A Mary Taylor m. Capt. Charles DeWolf 28 April 1771. She was b. Oct. 1744 and was the sister of Martha Taylor b. 1735. Her second daughter b. 8 May 1774 was named Martha.

A Martha Taylor who was daughter of Reuben Taylor and Avis Slocum, was born January 26, 1763, in Portsmouth. This Martha Taylor may have had a child, Lawton, father unknown, born January 26, 1791 (Arnold). She made a will dtd. 13 May 1800, proved 10 Feb. 1834, (p. 168), mentions son Lawton Taylor, cousin Rown Taylor.

There was a Martha Taylor born 4 Nov 1749 in Newport, no parents listed (Friend?)(of Peter and Thankful?).

A Martha Taylor, widow, d. 22 Jan 1789 in Bristol, 86 years old (that was wife of Rev. Barnabus). Rev. Barnabus' family seems to have been the only Taylors living in Bristol.

Given naming habits of families, the names of children of Nathaniel and Martha could provide clues as to her parents. Those children's names include Phebe, Martha, Benjamin, Allen, Henry, and Nathaniel, with two children born whose names are not known. Allen named his first daughter Martha Taylor Munro, presumably after his mother. His first son was named Samuel and his second son Allen. Other children were named Mary, Lucy, John, Isabella (twice) and Sanford Benton.

Josiah Dewey was born on 10 October 1641. He and Hepzibah Lyman were married on 6 November 1662 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.¹

Josiah Dewey and Hepzibah Lyman were married on 6 November 1662 in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.¹

Ensign Jedediah Dewey was born on 15 December 1647 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut. He and Sarah Orton were married before 1672. He died in May 1718 at age 70 in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

They had at least 10 children.

Sarah Orton was born before 22 August 1652 in Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. Ensign Jedediah Dewey and she were married before 1672. She died on 20 November 1711 in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. She was buried at Old Westfield Cemetery in Westfield, Massachusetts.

George Phelps was born about 1605 in Tewksbury, Gloucestershire, England. He and Philury Randall were married in 1637 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. He and Frances Randall were married on 2 November 1648 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.¹ He died on 8 May 1687 at age ~82 in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

Simsbury in parentheses after name -- believe it refers to a location, in that several different people in record have this.

He is labelled George the Emigrant in the Phelps Family section of the Genealogies and Biographies of Ancient Windsor. He emigrated to New England in 1634 and initially settled in Dorchester, MA, granted six acres next to the great lots laid out toward Neponset. He was chosen a freeman in 6 May 1635. He came to Windsor, CT, from Dorchester in the fall of 1635, locating on the second lot south of the Loomis property. He made the move to Windsor with Rev. John Warham.

George may have been related to William Phelps of Crewkerne, Gloucestershire.

See "The Great Migration," pp. 447-450, also "The Phelps Family of America," 1899.

Job Drake was born in 1626. He and Mary Wolcott were married on 25 June 1646 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.¹ He died in 1689 at age ~63.

Job was a strict Puritan. He came to Windsor in 1635 with the first group of settlers, including Henry Wolcott, William Phelps, Samuel Phelps, George Phelps, and Abraham Randall. Job Drake had person sources.²

Mary Wolcott was born about 1622 in Tolland, Somerset, England. Job Drake and she were married on 25 June 1646 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.¹ She died on 16 September 1689 at age ~67 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.

Mary Wolcott had person sources.²

Elizabeth Drake was born in 1621.

Henry Wolcott was born before 6 December 1579 in Lydiard Saint Lawrence, Somersetshire, England.¹ He and Elizabeth Saunders were married on 19 January 1606 in Lidyard Saint Lawrence, Somersetshire, England. He died on 30 May 1655 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.²

According to The Great Migration Begins..., he came in 1630 on the "Mary and John" and first resided in Dorchester. He removed to Windsor in 1636. He travelled back to England in 1640 and returned to CT in 1641. He was admitted as a freeman April 1, 1634. It appears that some of his children remained in England and some came over and settled in Windsor, CT. He had been a magistrate in England before coming to America. He was one of 19 signers of a petition to Charles II for a charter for Connecticut. Sources: Rudd, The Family of Henry Wolcott. Also Griswold Genealogy. Henry Wolcott had person sources.³

Elizabeth Saunders was born in 1582 in Lydiard Saint Lawrence, Somersetshire, England. Henry Wolcott and she were married on 19 January 1606 in Lidyard Saint Lawrence, Somersetshire, England. She died on 5 July 1655 at age ~73 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.¹

Elizabeth Saunders was baptized on 20 December 1584 in Lydiard Saint Lawrence, Somersetshire, England.

John Wolcott was born before 1 October 1607.

Henry Wolcott was born about 1616 in England. He died on 12 July 1680 at age ~64 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.¹

George Wolcott was born about 1622. He and Elizabeth Treat were married.

Anne Wolcott was born about 1624.

Christopher Wolcott was born about 1628.

Simon Wolcott was born about 1630. He and Joanna Cooke were married.

John Woolcott was born at Golden Manor, Lidyard Saint Lawrence, in Tolland, Somersetshire, England.

Deacon David Ashley was born on 10 March 1667 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He and Mary Dewey were married on 11 July 1688 in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.¹ He died on 4 August 1744 at age 77 in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.²

On 17 November 1697, liberty was granted to Thomas Root, Lt. Root, Nathaniel Bancroft and David Ashley to set up a gristmill in Westfield. David Ashley was later associated with his brother Samuel, and with Lt. James Dewey in the partnership of a grist mill, and David eventually bought out his partners' interests. He became one of the leading men of Westfield. He was elected selectman in 1712 and 1713, constable in 1707 and 1723. He was elected sealer of weights and measures in 1709 and reelected to that office annually until his death. David and his brother Samuel were chosen along with two others as a committee to build a new school house on 1 Nov 1700and was a member of the school committee on several other occasions. In 1731 he was made a deacon of the church. He was highly respected and noted for his piety.