245. Mary Skinner
Admitted to full communion on 7 Jun 1713 (Hartford First Church Records).
246. John Skinner
Owner covenant 1st Church (Hartford) 3 Feb 1694/95. Admitted 1 May 1709, Rachel, his wife, was admitted 12 Apr 1696.
Daughter of Daniel & Hannah Pratt.
1070. Benjamin Skinner
(Research):Children
1. Prudence SKINNER b: 31 DEC 1750 in East Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut
2. Theodosia SKINNER b: 22 AUG 1752 in East Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut
3. Theodosia SKINNER b: 07 JAN 1760 in East Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut
4. Benjamin SKINNER b: 20 JUN 1763 in East Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut
5. Levi SKINNER b: 1764 in East Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut
Father: Timothy EASTON b: 11 AUG 1695 in East Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Mother: Prudence BUCKLAND b: FEB 1699 in East Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
From "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. Volume III:"
Deacon John Goodwin , son of Nathaniel Goodwin (q. v.), was baptized May 19, 1672 , and was the first of the Goodwins to settle in what is now East Hartford, Connecticut . He bought of his brother Nathaniel a tract of land of about forty-two acres, January 25, 1697 , on which was situated the old Indian fort, traces of which still remain. His house stood on the west side of what is now Main street, nearly opposite the Centre cemetery. He afterwards acquired much more land, and in 1744 he and his sons deeded to the town a roadway through a part of the land which was given him by his father. Deacon John Goodwin was a weaver by trade, and was thrifty, also prominent in local affairs. He was collector of the Ecclesiastical Society in 1706 , later of the committee of the society, and for over twenty years a deacon of the church. His will was dated May 9, 1749 , proved February 13, 1758 . He died February 6, 1757-58 . He married (first) Sarah , daughter of John and Mary (Easton) Skinner , who died in May, 1735 . He married (second) Mary (Hosmer) Olmsted , who died March 2, 1760 , aged seventy-six, daughter of Stephen and Hannah (Bushnell) Hosmer , and widow of Nicholas Olmsted , of East Hartford . Children: 1. Hannah , baptized April 17, 1698 . 2. Damaris , baptized February 11, 1699-1700 , died unmarried August, 1723 . 3. Mary , baptized January 18, 1701-02 . 4. Sarah , married Samuel Smith . 5. John , baptized August 11, 1706 , mentioned below. 6. William , died unmarried February 18, 1744 , aged thirty-six. 7. Joseph , died February 28, 1737-38 , aged twenty-six, unmarried. 8. Caleb , died unmarried April 12, 1769 , aged fifty-six. 9. Susanna , married Timothy Forbes . 10. Richard , died unmarried March 3, 1745 , aged twenty-six. 11. Ruth , married John Abbe.
Nathaniel Harmon Biography
Posted by Cheryl Harmon Bean <[email protected]@ida.ner> on Fri, 26 Nov 1999
Surname: Harmon, Pynchon, Fyler, Old, Austin, Kent, Remington, Barber, Parsons, Skinner, Hanchet
NATHANIEL HARMON
Nathaniel's older brothers, Samuel and Joseph, were the first settlers of Suffield, Connecticut or Stony Brook, as it was then called. They built the first cabin there in 1670--the same year that Nathaniel located in Suffield. At that time Suffiel d was a part of Hampshire Co., MA. It was incorporated by Massachusetts (Northampton, Hampshire County, MA) in May 1674 and annexed to Connecticut in May 1749. (A Digest of Early CT Probate Records compiled by Charles Wm. Manwaring 1904.) Suffiel d was just across the river from Springfield. It was a dense forest with very heavy timber growing upon her soil. The Stony Brook Plantation of twenty-three thousand acres was purchased for thirty pounds sterling--or less than one-cent per acr e in 1670 with the title granted to Major John Pynchon and others by the General Court of Massachusetts.
Joseph and Samuel cane in 1670 and settled about one mile west of High Street. Nathaniel soon followed in 1671. Land grants were made to Samuel Harmon, a farmer; Nathaniel Harmon, a weaver; and Joseph Harmon, the town's first constable; and to Zer ubabel Fyler and Robert Old.Nathaniel and his brother, Joseph, became interested in trading with the Indians and for many years were the principal partners of that noted fur trader, Colonel John Pynchon, who was the original proprietor of the site of Springfield, MA. They ha d routes through the forest in all directions and collected large quantities of fur. Their land lay near the brook west of the village, and they also bought land at Warehouse Point where they established a storage place for furs. Their sheds in Su ffield were always covered with skins stretched for drying. (Pioneers of Massachusetts by Charles Henry Pope.)
The oubreak of King Phillip's War in 1675 put a temporary stop to their progress. Those who had taken up grants of land were obliged to remove to places of greater security for about two years. After the war, the old settlers returned to reoccup y their lands. There was a lot of tension over signing an oath of allegiance to the crown. We do not find the Harmon brothers' signatures on the oath of allegiance.SUFFIELD, CONNECTICUT:
The town of Suffield was officially organized in 1681 and eighty proprietors were present at the town meeting to choose the municipal officers and discharge the committee who had managed the affiars of the town from the time of the grant in 1670.
A board of five selectmen were elected for the new town officers. They were: Anthony Austin (who is the father of Esther Austin); Samuel Kent, Thomas Remington, John Barber, and Joseph Harmon, the constable. There were about eighty families in Suf field with a population of four or five hundred. The most numerous settlers in High Street were the Kings, Hanchetts, Remingtons, Grangers, Kents, Nortons, Spencers, and Sikes. A road leading east from High Street connected it with Feather Stree t where lived the Burbanks, Hollydays, Smiths, Trumbulls, and Palmers. In South Street were the Austins, Risings, and Millers. On the western road were the Harmons and Copleys; and in Crooked Lane the Taylors, Hitchcocks, and Coopers. (Bicentennia l Anniversary of the Town of Suffield, Connecticut and Pioneers of Massachusetts by Pope.)The streets of Suffield were rude pathways winding among stumps and trees--along which were scattered the dwellings of the settlers. Their cabins were of the rudest architecture, consisting for the most part of a single room lighted by one or tw o small windows, warmed by the huge fireplace and furnished with rude stools, tables, and shelves. Around these abodes lay a few acres of half- cleared land with charred stumps yet standing. Beyond this little clearing and surrounding it on ever y side was the dark, threatening forest. The families had nothing but their strong arms, brave hearts, and each other to depend upon.
Suffield formed a part of Hampshire County, Massachusetts until 1749. In 1660 it was called Stony River named for its principal stream. In 1670, and for many years afterward, it was called Southfield. On the 20th of May, 1674, the committee for se ttling the town petitioned that "the honored Court would please to grant this Plantation seven years freedom from Countrey Rates, as an encouragement for the planters, it being a woody place and difficult to winne;" also, "that the name of the pla ce may be Suffield, an abbreviation of Southfield, it being the southernmost town in that county. The court granted this petitiion and the place since that time has been written Suffield in all its town records.
In 1660 the Massachusetts General Court granted to six persons (none of them subsequent settlers) land for a plantation at the place called Stony River on both sides of the way to Connecticut. The attempt to settle this southeast corner of the tow n was unsuccessful and the grant became void. On 14 Jan 1669, the selectmen of Springfield "commended it to the town" that "Samuel and Joseph Harmon, John Lamb, and Benjamin Parsons have 30 acres of land and 6 acres of Wet Meadow apiece, at Ston y River.
Life was very primitive. There was no money exchanged. Commodities such as flour, corn, flax, meat, iron, etc. was priced each year and was called the "Money of the Town" and payments were made accordingly. In 1727 well-cured tobacco was legal ten der at fourpence a pound to pay Massachusetts taxes. The culture of tobacco in small patches for home use was very common. The tobacco was smoked in pipes, and when twisted and prepared for chewing was called "fudgeon." Tobacco was packed and pres sed into casks. The packer received fivepence a hundred weight. His initials, with the brand of the town were upon each.The town of Suffield had some importance on account of the manufacturing of iron and cotton and its fulling mills located on Stony Brook. The first iron works were "set up" in 1700.
The first Church of Suffield was erected about 1680. The Connecticut code taxed all persons for support of the Congregational Church and forbade the formation of new churches without consent of the general court. At a town meeting held on 6 Apri l 1685, the townsmen voted that the town purchase a ladder and a red flag. With the ladder, a man could climb upon the roof of the Church and hang the flag out as a signal to all inhabitants that a meeting was scheduled to be held. There was muc h discontent with the seating of the meetinghouseas it was definitely a status affair. The most prominent pew was reserved for the leading citizen of the town. Then, depending on one's rank or fortune, the next best seats were allotted. The bac k and side pews were left to the farmers and the laborers. The young sat either to one side or, when fimally a balcony had been added, they were placed there, the boys on one side and the girls on the other. Captain John Pynchon for many years sa t as chairman on a committee of three men who "seated the meetinghouse." The jockeying for position is well documented in the early records. This first meetinghouse sat in the center of the Common running lengthwise north and south. It was sued un til 1702 when the second meetinghouse was built "on the hill against the burying place." The first meetinghouse was a two-story building because the seating refers to "ye flank seat against ye stairs" and there is reference to a balcony.
The Sabbath morning service started at nine and ran until noon. The afternoon service began at one- thirty and ran until five. Everyone was expected to attend both meetings. It was probably in this church that Nathaniel married his sweetheart, Mar y Skinner, on 19 Nov 1685. Two years later, Nehemiah's father, Nathaniel Jr., was born--the eldest of ten children.Town meetings were held in the Church houses and were conducted with great decorum. The first board of selectmen were chosen by ballot. The constables warned the voters to attend and the clerk called their names at the opening of the meeting. Thos e not present were fined five pence. Those wholly absent without a "satisfying reason" were fined 2s. 6d. Every person presuming to speak without liberty from the moderator, or not keeping silent when ordered, forfeited five shillings for each "br each or order," one half the money to be given to the "poor of the town."
African slave labor was employed here at an early period. In 1672 Major Pynchon's negroes, Harry and Roco, helped build the first saw-mill here. Few slaves, called servants, were held here before 1740. They were chiefly owned by the ministers, th e magistrates, and the tavern-keepers.
The first "Burying Place" was laid out of the "common land" on Meeting-House Hill in 1684, "twenty rod in length and twelve rod in bredth."
In 1681, the "Committee for settling the Town" laid out forty acres on the east side of High Street, "to remain forever to ye use and support of a schoole in Suffield and yet of a Grammar Schoole when it can be obtained." The Province Law of 169 3 ordered that "every Town having 50 householders should be constantly provided of a school-master to teach children to read and write." In a town having one hundred families, there was to be a grammar school set up, "and some person well instruct ed in the tougues" procured to teach such school; and efforts were made to "set up a school" in 1682. In 1684 charges were brought against the town of Suffield because there was no school. Children for the most part, were being home-taught and wha t classes of instruction were being held were in private homes with teachers combed from the population on a casual basis. Finally, in 1696, Mr. Anthony Austin, "with great reluctancy and aversion of spirit." consented "to teach children and youth " for the sum of twenty pounds per year. His statement to those urging him to teach survives in the town records: "I have found a great reluctancy and aversion in my spirit to take such an imploy upon me; there being so many things discouragin g in the way, yet, by the earnest importunity of some friends and the consideration of what good I might possibly doe, in such a way to children and youth, hath moved me soe farr to a complyance." His salary was raised with the scholar paying 8 po unds of the twenty. In 1703, the town voted to pay the schoolmaster 24 poounds a year, five of it to be raised on the scholar. Wood for heating the building was provided by a tax on the scholar. Anthony Austin taught his classes in the early meeti nghouse until the town finally got around to building the first schoolhouse which was built next to the meetinghouse on the Common in 1704. It was twenty-feet in length, sixteen feet in breadth, and six feet stud, "made warm and comfortable, fi t to keep school in." With some repairs, this little school house stood for thirty years! Anthony served as school master for many years, probably until his death in 1708.
Nathaniel Harmon's lot in Suffield was in reality intended for Samuel Harmon, his brother. He died, unmarried, and his land was afterwards laid out to his brother, Nathaniel. In 1679, Joseph Harmon quit-claimed this land to Nathaniel Harmon "my yo unger brother" with "Love and affection." Nathaniel Harmon died in 1712 and his inventory is recorded in Northampton Probate 3-324. It included, among other things, apparel, books, and armour; feather bed, ruggs, sheets and blankets, 3 bedsteds an d cords, 2 old beds, a new bed and pillows, old bolster, pillow bears, and 2 table cloths, 2 napkins, lead, flints, bullet moulds and sword, a little pot, a great brass kettle, a little brass kettle, a great pott and 2 pair of pot hooks, an old sk illet and warming pan, pewter vessels, an iron trammel, a frying pan, earthen and tin vessels and spoons, a candlestick, a pair of stillyards, smoothing iron, wooden ware, namely bowls, dishes, and platters. Table and chairs, 2 glass bottles, 2 pa ir of cards, 2 pails; weavers loom and tackling, 4 spinning wheels, chest and box, saddle and furniture for it, a keeler of pork with the barrel, lard with the tub, soap, beer barrel, meal, Indian corn and rye, linen and woolen yarsn, cheese cloth , linsey woolsey cloth, old barrels and cheese press, sithe, sicle, baggs, knives, scissors, slice, hammer, a beetle, wedges, hoes, axes, hay fork, bridle bits, collar, ox yoke, cart, caps and plow caps, horse traces, a ring and hooks, pails, bail s, barb bands, cart boxes, sheep's wool, tow and flzx. Plow and irons, old Peck, a male slave, Indigoe, a new sled, cow bell, sithe and tackling, cheese, fatts, sheep sheers, small trunk, looking glass, 2 small cheese potts, one ox, 2 cows, 2 calv es, one mare, sheep and swine, house and 17 acres on which it stands, meadow and other lands, cros on ye land.
After the death of Nathaniel Harmon, his widow, Mary Skinner Harmon, married John Hanchet and she died in 1730.
===========================
Nathaniel Harmon Estate 1713
Posted by Cheryl Harmon Bean <[email protected]> on Fri, 26 Nov 1999
Surname: Harmon, Skinner, Ellior, Mather, Thrall, Strong, King, Huxley, Copley, Kent, Austin, Allin
Nathaniel Harmon, son of John Harmon and Elizabeth of Springfield. He married Mary Skinner, moved to Suffield and died there:
As to a settlement of ye Estate of Nathaniel Harmon of Suffield, deceased, his Inventoried Estate ammounts to 210..16..3 of which ye widow Mary, relict to the deceased her 3rd of land and housing is 37..13..4 for life and in moveable goods 32..7.. 10 for her own dispose. To the eldest son Nathaniel as his double share and although it is more yet I allow it as his in as much as his father in his lifetime and his mother now living passed said lands which is at said 157 to him and his heirs fo rever. The Remainder of said estate is 95..15..1 is divided to the eight younger children which is to Mary, daughter to the deceased 11..19.4. To Elizabeth 11..19.4, to Anne 11..19.4, To Samuel 11..19.4, to Sarah 11..19.4, to Ruth 11.19.4 to John1 1.19.4, to Benjamin 11.19.4. The reversion of ye said Widow's share of ye land to be equally divided, the value thereof to the said eight children (Nathaniel exempted in this division.) Vix to Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Samuel, Sarah, Ruth, John, an d Benjamin & any of the children now under age die before they are of age to receive their said portions the survivors to enjoy their shares or portions according to law. This is approved and allowed as a settlement of said estate this 21st da y of May 1713.
Suffield, May 18, 1713 Debts due to and from the Estate of Nathaniel Harmon deceased. Debts due of Estate, Joseph Remington
DEBTS DUE FROM SAID ESTATE
John Elliot of Windsor 9...4...
Doctor Mather 2...12...7
Timothy Thrall 2...10...6
Samuel Strong ...2...6
James King 1... ...
John Huxley ...4...
Nathaniel Harmon ...19...
Ebenzer Harmon ...4...
Samuel Copley ...5...
Thomas Kent ...3...
John Austin ...6...4
Mathew Copley ...1...8
Thomas Copley ...4...
David Allin ...5...4
Land Sold 20... ...
A Calf died cost 1... ...
2 Sheep 4/ each ...8...
Probates 1... ...
TOTAL 40...10...5
Allowance for bringing up of Young Child 10... ...
==========================
First Settlers of Suffield in order of grants
Posted by Cheryl Harmon Bean <mailto:[email protected]@ida.net> <[email protected]@ida.net> on Fri, 26 Nov 1999
Surname: Harmon, Filer, Old, Winchill, Jeffries, Watson, Millington, Taylor, Cook, Hale, Filley, Roe, Spencer, Trumble, Smith, Austin, Palmer, Holiday, Dibble, Burbank, Barber, Norton, Remington, Granger, Hodge, Kent, Parsons, Barker, Rising, Dibb le, Cakebread, Eastman, Lawton, Copley, Taylor, Huxley, Burleson, Roe, Severance, Pengilly, Allyn, Scott, King, Bush, Seager, Kent, Hanchett, Froe, Canada, Miller, Kennedy, Gowin, Pritchard, Towsley, Marshall, Wollery, Huggins, Barlow, Cheney, Sik es, Brooks, Gibbs, Lane, Mighill, Stevens, Filer, Leonard
The names of the first grantees and proprietors of Stony River (Brook), Massachusetts,--later to be named Suffield, CT, in order of their grants--which began in Jan 1669:
Samuel Harmon
Joseph Harmon
Nathaniel Harmon
Zerubbabel Filer
Robert Old
Jonathan Winchill
David Winchill
George Jeffries
Robert Watson
John Watson
John Millington
Steven Taylor
John Taylor
Nathaniel Cook
Timothy Hale
John Filley
Hugh Roe
Thomas Spencer
Judah Trumble
Joseph Trumble
Edward Smith
Anthony Austin
Timothy Palmer
Walter Holiday
Samuel Roe
Abram Dibble
John Burbank
John Barber
Thomas Barber
George Norton
Thomas Remington
Lancelot Granger
Thomas Granger
George Granger
John Hodge
Samuel Kent Sr
Thomas Parsons
James Barker
James Rising
Benjamin Dibble
Thomas Remington Jr.
Isaac Cakebread
Timothy Eastman
Joseph Eastman
John Lawton
Thomas Copley
Thomas Taylor
Sgt. Thomas Huxley
Edward Burleson
Peter Roe
John Sevrance
John Pengilly
Edward Allyn, Sr.
Edward Allyn, Jr.
John Allyn
William Allyn
John Scott
James King
Samuel Bush
Joseph Seager
John Remington
Jonathan Remington
Richard Austin
Anthony Austin, Jr.
Samuel Kent, Jr.
Dea. Thomas Hanchett
Thomas Hanchett, Jr.
John Hanchett
David Froe
Obadiah Miller
Daniel Canada (Kennedy)
Simon Gowin
John Younglove
William Pritchard
Michael Towsley
John Rising
Edmund Marshall
Richard Wollery
John Huggins
James Barlow
James Taylor
Luke Hitchcock
John Barber
Samuel Taylor
Jonathan Taylor
Nathaniel Cheny
Victory Sikes
William Brooks
Ebenezer Brooks
Gregory Gibbs
Samuel Lane
John Mighill
John Mighill, Jr.
Thomas Mighill
Thomas Stevens
Joseph Leonard
Joseph Barber
Benjamin Barber
Samuel Filer
Joseph Pynchon
====================
History of Suffield,
IN THE
COLONY AND PROVINCE
OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS BAY,
N E W E N G L A N D
COLLECTED, TRANSCRIBED AND PUBLISHED
BY HEZEKIAH SPENCER SHELDON.
FIRST PERIOD, 1660—1682
SECOND PERIOD, 1682—1715
THIRD PERIOD, 1716—1719
250 copies only, printed
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
PRINTED BY THE CLARK W. BRYAN COMPANY
MDCCCLXXIX [1879]
[p.34]
Nathaniel Harmon, born at Springfield, March 13, 1654, married Mary Skinner, November 19, 1685; had ten children. She died 1711. He died May 2, 1712. He held some town office constantly, but was not a qualified voter when the town was organized . His house lot was in High street, and his farm on the Northampton Road. His children were pioneers of West Suffield.
257. Thomas Skinner
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Wahl, Doris Seymour, Descendants of John Skinner of Hartford Connecticut and his wife Mary Loomis, Niagra Falls, NY: D.S.Wahl. LDS Film#1033513#6.RESEARCH NOTES:
Will dated Apr 17 1753. Mentions wife Sarah, eldest son Thomas, granddaughter Sarah. Son Thomas to have land, he to pay 200 pounds to the children of my only daughter Anna, dec'd. Son Noah, son Ashbell. Son Thomas executor. Codacil Nov 30 1757. Son Noah died; his share was gien to sons of said Noah and the coming child, if a son. [Ref: Wahl SKINNER p25]
John Rockwell's twins were born May ye 12th 1706 and both dyed within 3 days after (entry in Windsor Vital Records, Pt. II, p. 32)
1131. Joel Rockwell
Windsor Vital Records say "or thereabouts" regarding his date of birth.