Chapter Three
John Scovell and His Descendants in America
1. John Scovell was (it is believed) born in the parish of Shapwick, County Dorset, England, about 1635. He died at Haddam, Connecticut, between Dec 4, 1696, and Nov 18, 1700, probably at a time nearer to the latter date than to the earlier; married March 29, 1666, at Farmington Connecticut, Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Mary Barnes, early settlers of Hartford and Farmington. The dates of the birth and death of Mrs. Sarah Scovell are unknown, but she survived her husband and probably died at Haddam.
How John Scovell was induced to emigrate to New England, and in what manner he reached there, and how he came to arrive in Farmington Connecticut, are all alike unknown. No paper, letter, or personal account of the voyage or journey is known to exist. If he ever informed his sons, all tradition of the matter has been lost. It may be considered certain that he was not a Puritan, and did not emigrate for religious or political reasons. The probable cause, as shown in Chapter 1 of this volume, was the decline in estate of the family and the loss of the little farm of �Whole Place� in consequence of the death of his father, Richard Scovell. His widowed mother and himself are found a few miles away from his native parish, and after her death in 1654 he had almost nothing to tie him to the home land. Yet it required courage to emigrate, and thereby he showed that he was a young man of vigor and action, perhaps of some means.
The first mention of him in New England is his marriage record, and he at once thereafter is found living at Farmington, where he acquired land and the right of a proprietor. The early records of the town are defective, and it is now impossible to say when and how he obtained those rights.
Farmington Town Acts, vol 1, page 15. �This 18 Janua. 1670 Land given to severall men on these conditions hereafter expressed. the particular persons are . . .Moses Ventrus 18 acres. . . .George Orvis heirs 14 acres. . . .John Scovel 15 acres.�
Farmington Records of Deeds, Vol 1, page 41. �Lands in Farmington belonging to John Coale and his heirs forever. Jan 14, 1674. . . . One parsell which he bought of John Scovell as appeareth by a deed bearing date 1683, 4 acres, bounded south on John Coales own houselot, north on Thomas Butts, east on John Hart, west on the Highway. Item. Psell more bought of John Scovell also as abovesaid, being a devetion of land granted to said Scovell by the town, Lying on ye east side of ye mountayne towards ye south or south corner of our bounds, 24 � acres.�
Farmington Records of Deeds, vol 2, page 105. �William and Benjamin Scovil of Haddam to Benjamin Judd of Farmington two-thirds of all those out divisions of lands in the bounds of Farmington which our honored father John Scovel stood possessed of when he dyed except two divisions which are already disposed of: to wit a southerly division to Ebenezer Barns and a division near Wethersfield bounds. Dated March 22, 1709.�
Farmington Records, vol 1, page 109. �Benjamin Judd�s land. One parcel bough of William Scoffill by deed of May 15, 1720, 12 acres. Recorded March 15, 1702-3.�
Ensign Samuel Woodruff in will of Feb 8, 1730-1, gives to his daughter Mary �my lott against Hartford bounds, that lot that was firstly John Scovell�s.�
On May 30, 1674, articles were signed by men chiefly of Farmington for the planting of a settlement at Mattatuck, now Waterbury. Actual occupation and building were delayed by the Indian war prevailing in 1675-6, and by the consequent danger of so exposed a location, Mattatuck being about twenty miles distant from any other settlement. After these dangers were past, renewed efforts were made to bring in settlers. At a meeting of the Committee for Mattatuck, Jan 15, 1677-8. it was agreed and concluded �That wee do accept of Johne Rotte Senr subscribing to the Articles for settling Mattatuck in the behalfe of one of his sonnes, and we accept of John Scovel on Acct of Abraham Bronson.� (Records of the Proprietors of Waterbury, page 2.) Grants of land in Waterbury were made to John Scovell on March 11, 1678-9, and again later in 1679. The settlers were very slow in arriving and building. At a meeting of Feb 6, 1682-3, ten of the subscribers �for their not building and some of the fore syd not cohabiting according to the Articles� had their allotments declared forfeited, �yet notwithstanding upon their submission and reformation with their cohabitation upon the place one compleat year, as addissionall to the four years injoined in the Article made to that purpose in May 30, 1674, [the allotments were to remain theirs] otherwise this present condemnation to stand in full force.� At this time John Scovell was complained of for �noe chimney.� As a house without a chimney would hardly have been habitable, we may conclude that Scovell had not on Feb 6, 1682-3, brought his family to Waterbury, and that they were still at Farmington. This proves also that all the children were born at Farmington and not at Waterbury as has been supposed. That the men complained of, including Scovell, �submitted and reformed,� and soon took up their residence in Waterbury is clear from the records there. John Scovell certainly retained liberal allotments of land in Waterbury, as the deed of gift to his son John Scovell, Jr. clearly shows.
However the total length of residence of John Scovell, Senior at Waterbury was short. For some reason he was not satisfied or contented. In 1686, he acquired the rights of a proprietor in the town of Haddam, purchasing the rights there of John Hannison, the home lot being situated in the locality known as Shailerville, about two miles south from the Court House. The deed is recorded in Vol 3, page 80, of Haddam Land Records, and an abstract is here given:
�April 30, 1686. This writing between John Hanneson of Hartford and John Scovil of Mattetuck. In consideration of �90 to me in hand well and truly paid, I the said John Hanneson do sell, convey and grant to the said John Scovil my now dwelling house and homelot in Haddam, eleven acres more or less, partly on the east and partly on the west side of the highway leading through the town of Haddam, abutting on the Great River east, on land of Mr. Bates north, on land of Goodman Parents south, common lands west, eight acres on the east and three acres on the west of the highway. Also a parcel in the Cove meadow, six acres, and another of one and one half acres in the same meadow.�
This deed was executed in Hartford, March 3, 1686-7, but not recorded at Haddam until Feb 19, 1733-4.
There can be no doubt that John Scovell was a farmer. He held no public offices, and as far as records show was never a member of the churches in the towns where he lived. Mrs. Scovell was in �full communion� with the church in Farmington on March 1, 1679-80, and may have remained on its rolls until her death.
An autograph signature, �John Scovell� well formed and very legible, may be seen upon the original inventory of the estate of Nicholas Ackley of Haddam who died April 29, 1695. This shows that John Scovell was fairly well educated for the times.
No will or other settlement of the estate of John Scovell has been preserved and no record of the births or baptisms of his children is known to exist. For this reason the following document is very important, for it gives the only known list of his heirs.
A Release
�November 18th, anno Domini 1700. Know all persons by these presents That we who shall hereunto subscribe being the relikt or widow & Children of John Scovell of hadam sometime decease, Do for and in Consideration of a Certain Sum of six pounds in Current pay allredy payd to ye abovesd Parent and husband which was due by Bill from Samuel Orvis of Farmington for a certain percell of Land now Joyning to his house which or honoured Husband and father gave him ye aforesaid Orvis an assurance of ye Bill which was given for ye aforesd mony being lost we ye above mentioned widow & children of ye abovesd deceased Living in ye County of Hartford & Colony of Conecticott in New England Do for the promoting of peace and honesty & for ye above sd Considerations for our deceased Husband and father aforesd and for orselves & heirs forever acquit and release ye before mentioned Samll Orvis of & from ye sd Bill of six pounds due for ye Land before exprest & by these presents we ye beforesd widow and children of ye beforementioned deceased do for our honoured father & for orselves & or heirs forever acquit release clear and sett free ye beforesd Samuel Orvis from any trouble concerning ye Bill aforesd under any Culler or pretense whatsoever and also by these presents we do for orselves and or heirs Covenant and promis that we will not disturb or molest him ye beforementioned Orvis nor his heirs forever In ye possession of ye sd Land either by wills, Dowries or in any Law suits upon any Culler or pretence whatsoever, and for ye Due Performance of ye above sd premises we do sett or hands.�
Sarah Scovel her � a � mark
William Scovel Benjamin Scovel
Edward Scovel his � V � mark
John Scovel
�Witness: - A true Coppy of a writing I recd to be recorded May 8th, 1731. John Hooker Registr.� Farmington Records, vol 5, page 204. (end page 137).
Children of John & Sarah Barnes Scovell, born at Farmington, Connecticut: *
2 i. John, born about 1669; married Hannah Richards
3. ii. William, born about 1671; married Martha
4. iii. Edward, born about 1675; married Hannah Benton
5. iv. Benjamin, born about 1677; married Amy
John Scovell�s Deed of Gift To His Son John Scovell, Jr.
This wrighting made ye eighteenth day of July in the year one thousand six hundred ninety and six witnesseth yt I John Scovell sen of haddam in ye county of Hartford and colonie of Connecticut in New England for divers valuable good and lawful causes and considerations me ye said John Scovell hereunto especially moving have given, granted, bequeathed, alienated, enfeofed, assigned, set over and confirmed and do by these presents fully, clearly and absolutely give, grant, bequeath, alinate, enfeof, assign, set over and confirm to my well beloved soon John Scovell and unto his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever all ye estate, right, title, use, possession, property, claim and demand whatsoever yt I, yed sd John Scovell Sen, have, had, or in time to come might, ought or should have by allotment or purchas in ye township of Waterbury in ye County of Hartford and colonie fore mentioned, yt is, - all my housing and lands already laid out or not layd out, belonging to me by proprietary, the particular parselss are, vis: my hous and hom lot containing too acres more or less as it lys buted and bounded, buting east on ye highway; north and west on Deak Judds land and south on highway; viz: one peic at Juds meadows on ye west side ye river containing four acres buting east on ye river, south on land belonging to ye heirs of edman Scott deceased, north on joseph gaylord�s land, west on ye hill; viz: on peic on ye west sid ye river against bever meadows by estimation too acres, buted north on thomas judd�s land, south on land belonging to ye heirs of john Nuell deceased, east on ye river, west on ye hill; viz: one peic in Manhan neck by estimation three roods, buting east on a cove, west on a pasage, north on land belong to ye heirs of Philip judd dec�d, south on land belonging to ye heirs of john carrinton; viz: one peic in manhan meadow of too acres & a half as it lys buted and bounded, buting north on beni barns land, sout on land belonging to ye heirs of John Newell deceased, east on a hill, west on ye river; viz: on peic of Steels meadow
*Throughout the genealogy of Chapter III names of places not followed by the name of a state are understood to be in the State of Connecticut.
of three acres and a half as it lys, buted north on Joseph hikcox land, south part on Tho Richason, part on Tho warner�s land, east on John Newell�s land, west on ye hill; viz: on peic in hancox meadow by estimation too acres and a half at it lys buted and bounded, buting north on john Welton�s land, south on john brunsons land, east on Daniel porter, west on ye river; viz: on peic on ye west sd yeriver against hancox meadow, containing one acres and three roods, buting north on edman Scott�s land, east on ye river, west on ye hill; viz: one peic on ye west sd ye river south of the road yt goes to Woodbury, containing by estimation eight acres as it lys buted and bounded south on Joseph Gaylord�s land, north on ye road that leads to Woodbury, east & west on ye commons; viz: one peic north from the town, by estimation three acre as it lys buted and bounded north on ye commons, south on Deak judds land, east on ye common fence, west on ye commons: this with all my right divided or undivided, al ye above mentioned lands with their natural or artificial bounds and butsments, with all ye profits, privileges and appurtenances to ye same belonging, an ye said John Scovell Sr for him self, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns covenanteth as follows: that he hath good right and lawful authority to give, grant bequeath, alinate, assign, set over and confirm al ye abovesd premises in every part there of until his well beloved soon John Scovell, his heirs and assigns, as by these presents I have done and yt it is free & cleare and fully and clearly acquitted from all and all maner of other and former gifts, grants, bargains, dowerys, incumbrances whatsoever and yt my beloved soon John Scovell his heirs executors, administrators, and assigns on ye day of ye dated hereof and from time to time and forever hereafter shall & may quietly and peaceably have, hold, use, occupy, possess and injoy all ye sd bargained or bequeathed premises in every part thereof, without any suit, trouble, molestation, disturbance or denyall of me ye sd John Scovell Sen., my heirs, executors, administrators, assigns or any other person or persons by my means, default, consent or procurement, without any other condition, limitation, use or other thing to alter, change or make void ye same, forever warrinting and defending ye same, giving to my soon John by these presents full pour to enrole and record all ye said purchases of land to himself, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns in ye public records in Waterbury or any other public notary where the same may & ought to be recorded in, only I ye sd John Scovell Snr do notwithstanding this deed given to my soon John do reserve the use of ten pounds worth of this living for my loveing wef to have ye income as in case yt it should please God to take me away before hur, yt is for hur to have during hur natural lif and then to return to my soon John according to this deed. In witness hereof I ye sd John Scovell senr have signed, sealed and delivered this instrument in the presence of
| Witness Thomas Judd sr. | | JOHN SCOVELL Sr |
| Thomas Judd jur | | hand |
John Scovell sen. personally appeared this twentieth July in ye year one thousand six hundred ninety & six
Justice of the Peace
Recorded in vol 1, page 105, of Waterbury records on Feb 11, 1703.
Thomas Barnes
Thomas Barnes, father of Sarah Barnes, wife of John Scovell, was an early settler at Hartford, and one of the soldiers in the Pequot War in 1637. For that service he received a grant of land in the Soldier�s Field in Hartford. He seems to have had a house lot on the �highway from Centinel Hill to the cowpasture,� now North Main Street. His name is among those �Inhabitance as were Granted lotts to have onely at the Townes Courtesie with liberty to fetch wood & keepe Swine or Cowes By proportion on the Common.� He had disposed of his Hartford lands before 1649, and removed to Farmington, perhaps in 1646. The surname of his first wife Mary has never been found. She was tried on an accusation for witchcraft and on Feb 6, 1662-3, was convicted. There can hardly be any doubt that she was executed. Thomas Barnes married second in 1663 or 1664 Mary, daughter of John Andrews, Senior, of Farmington. His children were Sarah, Benjamin, and Joseph by the first marriage; Thomas and Ebenezer by the second. Thomas Barnes died shortly before Feb 7, 1689-90. His will (in the form of a deed of gift) is dated June 9, 1688. In it he mentions his wife Mary, and sons Thomas and Ebenezer, and goes on to say� �To my children which are already gone from me and disposed in marriage I have formerly given according to my Ability, with which I expect they shall acquiesse.�
2. JOHN2 SCOVILL (John1), born about 1669 at Farmington Connecticut; died Jan 26, 1726-7, at Waterbury, Connecticut, aged 58 years; married Feb 6, 1693-4, Hannah Richards, born about Nov. 1671, at Farmington; died at Waterbury, March 5, 1720; daughter of Obadiah and Hannah (Andrews) Richards of Farmington and Waterbury.
On the town records of Waterbury this John Scovill is called �Ye son of John of Haddam and sometime of Waterbury.� He received from his father after the latter�s removal to Haddam a deed of gift of all his lands in Waterbury. The house lot was at the present northwest corner of West Main and Willow streets, running northward up to the line of Willow Street. John Scovill occupied this estate and house during his life. After his death it passed on to his son William, and after William�s removal to Nova Scotia Hill in Westbury Society (now Watertown) in 1733 it was occupied by William�s brother, Lieut. John Scovill. In 1760 a half interest in the house and home lot was distributed to Lieut. John�s son, Obadiah Scovill, and Mrs. Tabitha Scovill, Obadiah�s mother, held an interest therein until her death in 1788. At Obadiah�s death in 1768 he was in possession of a fraction of the old house and home lot, and it would seem that his heirs, or those of his brothers, may have held it until the removal of several emigrants to Ohio. John Scovill, Jr., was a man of influence in Waterbury and was chosen by his fellow townsmen to the office of sergeant in the town military company, then a position of honor and responsibility. He was also a member of the school committee, for many years one of the selectmen, collector of the minister�s rates, and in 1706 and 1715 constable. He was chosen deputy to the General Assembly in May, 1714, and at the time of his death was one of a committee to build a new meeting house.
He made a will by word of mouth on the day of his death, which was as follows: ----
�We the subscribers being present with Ser: John Scovill upon the day of his death which was in January the 26th day 1726/7 he then being in his right reason manifested and desired and accordingly did declare how he would have his estate disposed of which is as followeth first his will was that his oldest son John should not have a double portion because he has a bachelders lot, and next I give to my daughter Sarah sixty pounds with what she has already had, and nexte I have to my daughter Hannah sixty pounds, and then my three sons, John, William and Edward to have equally alike in the distribution of my estate. In witnes where of we have heare unto set our hand this tenth day of February 1726/7.�
Isaac Brounsonn
William Judd
(On the same paper) �Whereas our Honored Father John Scovill Late of Waterbury Deceased Did on his Deathbed (not having opportunity to Make and Exicute a will according to Legal form) but being of perfect mind and Memory signify how he willed and Desired that his Estate might be disposed and distributed among his Children as is above set forth and witnessed. Therefore know ye that we the Children of the Deceased are willing and free to comply with the will and pleasure of our Honoured Father in that Matter and are willing the Estate he hath Left us should be so settled, only advancing ten pounds to Each of the Daughters portions, so as to make them seventy pounds each and then the Remainder of the Estate to be devided equally among the three sons. In this Method we are willing the Estate should be settled and accordingly we pray and desire the Honoured Court of Probates to order and settle the same and to make this Covenant and agreement binding and oblidging to us and our sucessors. We have each of us hereunto set our hans and seals In presence of Witnesses this 21st of February 1726/7.
| John Scovill |
| William Scovill |
| Edward Scovill |
| Witnesses | | Hannah Scovill |
|
John Southmayd | Noah Hinman |
|
William Judd | Sarah Hinman |
Eleazer Hinman
Samuell Hinman
(The agreement is in the handwriting of John Southmayd, the pastor of the First Church of Christ in Waterbury.)
Sergeant John Scovill left a good estate in personal property and lands, but no books, not even a Bible, are mentioned in the inventory. The list of the lands is as follows: ------
�It. the House and Homelott and provision to set up another end to the House all already provided and Considered in the appr. �120,00,00. It. five acres of pasture Land 40,00,00; It. Half the three acre lott with the addition �16,00,00. It. To four acres and a half on Richard Welton�s Hill �06,15,00. It. Eight acres up the Little Brook �14,00,00. It. A Lott upon the old Town Plott �09,00,00. It. A lott at the Lower End of Steals meadow �50. A Lott at Steals Brook 30 sh �51,10,00. It. A Lott at Steals meadow formerly Richards Lott 10,10,00. It. A Lott at the upper End of Steals meadow 07,10,00. It. A Lott at Handcox meadow �12. A Lott at popple Meadow �6, 18,00,00. It. Thirteen acres of upland against Scovill�s island 13, 17, 06. It. One hundred and thirty three acres of Land at Nonawoog Hill 130,00,00. It. A part in Richards home Lott 03,00,00. It. forty acres of land att Scott�s Mountain 40,00,00. It. Sixty two acres of Land near Weltons meadow 60,00,00. It. fourteen acres and half of Land at Richard�s Hill 14,15,00. It. Twelve acres of Land in and about Scovill�s meadow 06,00,00. It. Seventy one acres of Land on the East side of Scott�s Mountain 105,00,00. It. Sixty six acres of Land in partnership with Ensign Brounson 66,00,00. It. sixty four acres of Land in the Northwest division 48,00,00. It. 10 acres of Land on the West branch 20,00,00. It. twenty four acres of Land to Lay out Drawn for 1727 at 5sh per acre 43,00,00. It. To the Popriety In the Town of Waterbury �172, 21,00,00.
Children born at Waterbury:
6. i. John, born Jan 12, 1694-5, married Tabitha Upson
ii. Obadiah, born April 23, 1697; died Feb 23, 1718-9; unmarried
7. iii. Sarah, born Oct 24, 1700, married Noah Hinman
8. iv. William, born Sept 7, 1703, married Hannah Richards
9. v. Hannah, born March 19, 1706-7, married Eleazer Hinman
10. vi. Edward, born Feb 12, 1710-11, married Martha Baldwin
3. William Scoville (John1), born about 1671 in Farmington, Connecticut; died Nov 10, 1712, in Haddam, Connecticut; married at Haddam, Jan 20, 1701-2, Martha ------, born at date not found; died at Haddam, May 2, 1753. That her name was Bailey is not capable of proof. She married second Nov 16, 1715, Sergt. Timothy Shailer of Haddam, son of Thomas and Marah (Spencer) (Brooks) Shailer. This is proved by a deed of William Scovill (11) of Haddam, dated July 4, 1729, wherein he conveys land to Nathaniel Tyler and refers to �my honored father, Timothy Shailer deceased.� This must refer to William�s step-father, because his wife�s father was Thomas Shailer, brother of Timothy Shailer.
William Scovill is first mentioned in 1697 as serving in the campaign against the Indians, �eastward,� by which is meant somewhere on the coast of Maine. In this service he was wounded, and returning to Boston, he somehow attracted the attention of Judge Samuel Sewall, who twice refers to him: ------
�Wm Scovil with his broken arm from Hadham, Saml Stockin of Middleton, Ebenzer Smith of Saybrook, sick and mortified broken shins, etc.� (Letterbook under date of Oct 5, 1697.)
�Wm. Scovil being well and having on his new Coat, I fitted him with my Musket, Rapier, Amunition &c. and he served in the South Company.� (Diary, Feb 9, 1697-8) from Sewall Papers, published in Mass. Hist. Soc. Collections, series 5, vol 5; series 6, vol 1.
The occasion referred to by Sewall was the military funeral of Col. Samuel Shrimpton. Scovil must have been again wounded, or else have had further trouble with the injured arm, for in May, 1698, the General Court of Connecticut voted as follows: -----
�Ordered by this Court that William Scovil that was wounded in the late expedition to the eastward, shall be placed with some able surgeon and be maintained at the countrey charge until he is cured, and Captn George Gates and Mr Daniell Brainard are appointed to take effectual care that this order be attended.� Colonial Records of Connecticut, vol 4, page 252.
William Scovill left no will and the administration of his estate was granted to Martha Scovill, widow, on April 6, 1713. The inventory take December 8, 1712, (page 145) by Benjamin Smith, Thomas Shaylor, and Joseph Arnold amounted to �168.05.08, an amount below the average even for those times. On May 2, 1715, Mrs. Martha Scovill exhibited an account of her administration and was appointed guardian to the two children. The Court then ordered a distribution to Martha Scovell, widow, to William Scovell, eldest son, and to John Scovell.� At this time Mrs. Scovill signed with her mark, apparently a �C.�
Children born at Haddam:
11 i. William, born June 13, 1706; married Hannah Shailer
12. ii. John, born June 20, 1712, married Rhoda Arnold.
4. Edward Scovell (John1), born about 1675, or perhaps a few years later at Farmington Connecticut; died April 21, 1703, at Haddam; married February 21, 1699-1700, at Hartford, Hannah Benton, born about 1676 at Hartford; died at Haddam 1771; daughter of Andrew and Anne (Cole) Benton of Hartford.
Little is known of Edward Scovell. He is called yeoman and was doubtless a farmer. The inventory of his estate amounted to �111.10.06. Mrs. Scovell married second, at date not found, but before 1706, Deacon Benjamin Smith of Haddam, and attained the great age of 95 years.
Children born at Haddam:
13. i. Susannah, born May 29, 1701, married Thomas Barnes
14. ii. Hannah, born January 25, 1702-1703, married Noah Cone
5. Benjamin Scovell (John1), born about 1677 in Farmington Connecticut; died August 13, 1729, at East Haddam Connecticut; married about 1703 Amy ________, about whom nothing has been found, except that she was living 1738, still a widow.
Benjamin Scovell is first mentioned in a deed (Haddam records, Vol. 1), dated March 31, 1698-9, whereby he acquired three acres of land which had been the home lot of John Parents, and had passed to his daughter Mary, wife of Abel Shailer. This land was in the Lower Town Plot, now called Shailersville, in Haddam. In this deed Benjamin Scoville is called �saller,� that is, a sailer, although the work has also been read tailor. If he lived on this land, it was but for a short time, for he sold the land in 1704 to John Bates, and acquired more on the east side of the river, and soon settled there. In April, 1715, Benjamin Scovell and wife Amy were dismissed by letter from the church in Haddam to the church in East Haddam. Why they delayed this transfer of their church relations so long is not apparent, for there had been an organized church in East Haddam from 1704.
The estate of Benjamin Scovell which inventoried �432.13.06 was not finally divided until November 7, 1738, and was so divided by agreement of his heirs, no will having been made.
�7 of November 1738. Know all men by these presents That we the subscribers being the sole and only surviving heirs to the estate of Benjamin Schovell of East Haddam in the County of Hartford being the widow and children of the said deceased do by these presents jointly and severally agree that the following disposition of the estate of the said deceased shall be a final settlement of said estate: -
�First � we agree that our brother Edward shall have and hold all the land that did or doth belong to the estate of our honored father, Benjamin Schovell, and shall be and remain our sd brother Edward�s, to be at his dispose forever, provided he pay to the other heirs and widow aforesd the following sums hereafter in this instrument particularly described:
� s d
�First to Benjamin Schovell, 100 00 00
To Lemuel Schovell 62 10 00
To Nathan Schovell 62 10 00
To Sarah (Schovell) Spencer 52 10 00
To Amy Schovell 52 10 00
To Kezia Schovell Steward 52 10 00
�And we mutually agree and covenant, for ourselves and our heirs, and our mother Amy Schovell, that we will each of us pay our sd mother the sum of 10 shilling apiece yearly during her widowhood. Then the widow quitclaims any right of hers to the real estate.
(Signed: ) Edward Schovell LS Sarah Spencer LS
Amy X Schovell LS Hezekiah Spencer LS
Amy X Schovell 2nd James Steward LS
Benjamin X Schovell Kezia X Steward LS
Test: Jos. Talcott, Jr. Clerk�
Children born in East Haddam:
15 i. Edward, born 4/9/1704; married Deborah Ackley
16 ii. Sarah, born 10/9/1706; married Hezekiah Spencer
17 iii. Amy, born March 14, 1708/09; married Adam Rogers
18 iv. Benjamin, born about 1711; married Abigail Chapman
19. v. Keziah, bapt 9/9/1716; married James Stewart
vi. Lemuel, bapt 8/23/1719. He was living November 7, 1738, then aged 19 years, when he
chose his brother Edward Scovell as his guardian. No later mention of him has been found.
20 vii. Nathan, bap 1725; married Elizabeth Gates
6. John Scovill (John2, John1), born January 12, 1694-5, at Waterbury, Connecticut; died there April 28, 1759; married January 16, 1723-4, Tabitha Upson, born March 11, 1698, at Farmington Connecticut; died before December 8, 1788, at Waterbury; daughter of Stephen and Mary (Lee) Upson of Farmington and Waterbury.
This John Scovill occupied the old Scovill homestead at West Main and Willow streets in Waterbury, which had been his father�s and grandfather�s. He was commissioned in October 1737, lieutenant of the Waterbury military company, and was known thereafter as Lieutenant John, as his father had been known as Sergeant John Scovill. Lieut. Scovill also served on the school committee in 1742 and was chosen deputy to the General Assembly in May, July, and August, 1745. These were special sessions held owning to the war with France, wherein the aid of the colonies to the mother country resulted in the siege and capture of Louisburg.
John Scovill died intestate, leaving a large estate. His son Obadiah and Mrs. Tabitha Scovill were appointed administrators. The estate inventoried �1317.01.02 of which �1128.17.00 was in real estate, and the debts were only �65.14.06 which shows that Lieut. John Scovill was a prudent manager and a good business man. All his property is listed with great detain in the Woodbury Probate records, and will be given in part here: -
�Bible, another ditto, Sermon book by Janeway, another sermon book by Watts, Book Boston Platform, Family Well Ordered, one book (of) Tennants�, Penetential Cry, old spelling book, old Testament, one book upon the Lords Super, Watts Hymns old, one small book blue cover, Mr. Leavenworth�s sermons.� (Rev. Mark Leavenworth, minister of the First Church of Waterbury.)
�3 cowes & 3 calves, 1 bull, 1 yoke of oxen, 1 yoke of steers, one black stallion, Brown Horse, old bay mare and colt, swine, sow and pigs, old sorril horse, Bay year old colt, a brown year old colt. �House and home lot �120,00,00; 50 acres at South part of Steels Meadow at �5 per acre, house upon it �295 ; North part of Steels Meadow 40 acres �156,00,00; 21 acres on Steels Plain �47,05,00; A piece of land 14 acres �32,00,00; 14 acres and � adjoining upon Thomas Barns �51,12,06; nine acres adjoining above �27,00,00; eight acres at a place called upper end of Manhan Meadow �32,00,00; Ten acres adjoining upon Manhan Meadow called Meadow pasture �27,10,00; 5 acres of Land the West side of the Great Hill �07,10,00; 74 acres called Doctor�s orchard �166,10,00; 17 acres the west side of Manhan Meadow hill as contained in a Deed of James Nichols at �25,10,00; Lands to Lay out in the undevided Lands 44 acres �13,04,00; 3 acres in the sequestered land �0,18,00; 20 acres at Richards hill �25,00,00; a piece of land adjoining on Richardson�s meadow 42 acres �85,15,06; 5 acres Richardson meadow, 2 of English grain �12,05,00; a piece of Rye �2,16,00; a proprietary in the undevided lands at 3 d on ye pound �1,02,00.� A grand total of 377 acres beside the home lot.
An elaborate distribution of this property to the widow and all the children was made February 5, 1760, by Capt. George Nichols, John Judd, and Stephen Upson Jr. On April 12, 1760, for a money consideration, Mary and Andrew Bronson, Hannah and Jabez Tuttle, Annis Scovill and her guardian, Tabitha Scovill, agreed to the division and assigned �over all the Remaining Parts of each of our Portions to Asa Scovill, John Scovill, Stephen Scovill and Timothy Scovill, equally to be divided.�
Mrs. Tabitha Scovill married second Mr. Trowbridge, and was again left a widow in the space of three years after. There is no other record of this marriage than deed on record at Waterbury, or probate papers on file at Woodbury.
�Tabitha Scovill of Waterbury for 20 shillings conveyed to Dan Welton all my right in that part of my thirds which were sett off to me in a piece of land which did belong to my late husband, John Scovill of Waterbury, deceased.� Dated April, 1770. Signed by Tabitha (her mark X) Scovill. Waterbury Deeds, vol 14, p. 306.
On May 11, 1773, Abner Johnson �granted, leased, etc unto Tabathy Trobridge of Waterbury aforesaid, widow, an apothecary shop now in my possession situated in Waterbury on the south east corner of Esq. Hopkins Scovill Lot, for the term of 7 years if she so long lie, to her own proper use & behoof.� Waterbury Deeds, vol 15, page 368.
On May 11, 1773, �Tabathy Trowbridge of Waterbury� in consideration of the lease of one shop made by Abner Johnson of Waterbury of equal date and 10 shillings to me paid, do grand, lease, bargain and release unto him the said Abner Johnson all my Right, and title to a certain dwelling house and 10 acres of land in Waterbury adjoining that which I now possess, being an estate for my natural life, in and to one half of said house and land.� Waterbury Deeds, vol 15, page 360.
Paper on file at Woodbury, date May 8, 1780. Application to set out in severalty to the widow Tabitha Scovill now Tabitha Trowbridge one third of 50 acres of land at the lower end of Steels meadow.
Mrs. Trowbridge certainly lived out the term of her lease of the apothecary shop, and probably conducted the business during that period. Her dower (end page 150) was distributed to her children December 8, 1788, and she was deceased before that date, but the exact time has not been found.
On April 29, 1768, Moses Bristol of Woodbury sold to Isaac Trowbridge of Waterbury for �3 one acre of land in the southwest part of the First Society in Waterbury, and on Sept. 11, 1770, sixty-two rods adjoining his home lot was laid out to Isaac Trowbridge by James Porter, measurer. On July 13, 1772, Isaac Trowbridge sold all this land to David Wooster for �15. A dwelling house stood upon the land. There can hardly be any doubt that this was the Mr. Trowbridge who became Mrs. Scovill�s second husband. He was born in Stratford about 1694, the son of James and Hester (Howe) Trowbridge. His first wife�s name was Ruth, and he had children born at Stratford: Joseph, born June 12, 1718; Rachel, born November 18, 1719; Isaac born March 11, 1721-22. Joseph Trowbridge was physician and lived at Danbury and Southbury; Isaac Trowbridge Jr. lived at Danbury, married Rebecca Peck and was still living there in 1790.
Children born at Waterbury:
21. i. Obadiah, born Oct 9, 1725, married Hannah Hull
22. ii. Mary, born March 31, 1727, married Andrew Bronson
iii. John, born Nov. 24, 1729; died Dec. 6, 1736
23. iv. Asa, born April 4, 1732, married Lois Warner
24. v. Hannah, born Jan 30, 1734-5, married Jabez Tuttle
25. vi. John, born Oct 27, 1738, married Ann Barnes
26. vii. Stephen, born Aug 19, 1740, married _______________
27. viii. Timothy, born June 27, 1742, married Jemima Porter
28 ix. Annis, born May 23, 1744, married Nathaniel Selkrigg
7. Sarah Scovill (John2, John1), born Oct 1700, at Waterbury, Connecticut; died April 23, 1741 at Woodbury Connecticut; married at date not found Noah Hinman, born about 1690 at Woodbury; died there Nov 14, 1760 or 1766, in 76th year; son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Lum) Hinman.
Noah Hinman was for several years judge of the Superior Court of Litchfield County and his home was in the Southbury parish of Woodbury. Sarah Scovill was his second wife.
Children born at Woodbury:
i. Gideon, born June, 1725, married Hannah Curtiss
ii. Noah, born Jan 1728, died before 1740
iii. Edward, born April 2, 1730, married Ann Curtiss
iv. Abijah, born about 1733, married Rebecca Minor
v. Reuben, baptized Sept 7, 1735, married Sarah Porter
vi. Simeon, baptized Dec 4, 1737, died at Southbury May 5, 1767, unmarried; was a graduate of Yale College.
vii. Noah, baptized June, 1740, married Phoebe Minor
8. William Scovil (John2, John1), born Sept 7, 1703, at Waterbury, Connecticut; died March 5, 1755, in the Westbury parish of Waterbury, now Watertown; married first April 17, 1729, Hannah Richards, born June 26, 1702, at Waterbury; died April 1, 1741 at Westbury; daughter of John and Mary (Welton) Richards of Waterbury; married second June 16, 1742, at Stratford, Conn., Elizabeth Brown, born in New Haven, Conn.; died May 6, 1752 at Westbury; daughter of James and Elizabeth (Kirby) Brown of West Haven and Waterbury; married third Mrs. Desire (Sanford) Cooper, widow of Caleb Cooper of New Haven. Mrs. Desire Scovill married third Deacon Jonathan Guernsey and died January 2, 1795, at Watertown, Connecticut.
William Scovill lived in a house built by his father and given to him by will in 1725. This was probably the house on Willow Street in Waterbury, long known at the old Johnson house, which was taken down in 1889, being at that time by far the oldest house in the town. About 1733 he exchanged places with Abram Utter and removed to that part of Westbury known as Nova Scotia hill. William Scovill was a member of the Congregational Society of Westbury, founded in 1739, but he afterwards changed his views and became an Episcopalian. The exact date of his becoming such is not known; he was not counted as a churchman in 1744 but his name occurs in a �rate bill� or tax list of churchmen in Waterbury in 1748. His second wife was a daughter of James Brown, the earliest known Episcopalian in Waterbury, and it was doubtless due to her that William Scovill and all his children became Episcopalians. The statement that he was one of the founders of Christ Church and parish in Watertown must be an error, since nothing was done toward the foundation of this parish until 1764, nine years after the death of Lieut. Scovill. He must have been connected with the mission parish of St. James, founded about 1744, which later became the present parish and Church of St. John at Waterbury, over which his son, Rev. James Scovill, presided as rector from 1759 to 1787.
William Scovill was commissioned lieutenant of the Westbury militia company in May, 1746.
Children born at Waterbury:
29. i. Anna, born March 25, 1731, married Eleazer Prindle
30. ii. James, born Jan 27, 1732-3, married Amy Nichols
31. iii. Samuel, born Nov 4, 1735, married Ruth Bronson
32. iv. Abijah, born Dec 27, 1738, married Elizabeth --------
By second marriage:
33. v. William, born Feb 9, 1744-5, married Sarah Brown
34. vi. Darius, born May 15, 1746, married Lydia Grannis
9. Hannah Scovill (John2, John1), born March 19, 1706-7, at Waterbury; died at Woodbury; married about 1730 Lieut. Eleazer Hinman, born April 1705, at Woodbury; died there Dec 27, 1757; son of Capt. Titus and Mary (Hawkins) Hinman. They lived in the Southbury parish of Woodbury. He was a man of respect in the colony and in 1749 a member of the General Assembly. (end page 153)
Children born at Woodbury
i. Jonas, born February 21, 1731, married Sarah Downs
ii. John, born August 1, 1732, married (1) Abigail Graham; (2) Mrs. Mary Wenthworth. He
died at Bethlehem, Connecticut, Oct, 17, 1801.
iii. Eleazer, born Sept 24, 1734, married Rhoda Mitchell; removed to Herkimer Co., NY
iv. Dorcas, born November 1736; married November 1757, Phineas Porter or Potter
v. Hannah, born March 27, 1739, married David Hinman; went west
vi. Peter, bapt. Aug 1, 1742; married Mary, widow of Garwood Cunningham
vii. Molly, bapt. 1744; married Benjamin Bassett of Derby
viii. Miriam, bapt May, 1748; married Benjamin Richards
ix. Patience, bapt ----------
10. Edward Scoville (John2, John1), born Feb 12, 171-11, at Waterbury, Connecticut; died Sept 5, 1779, at Westbury, now Watertown, Connecticut; married Jan 31, 1739, Martha Baldwin, born March 23, 1713, at Milford, Connecticut; died Nov 29, 1798, at Watertown; daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Tibbals) Baldwin of Milford and Waterbury.
Edward Scovill was prominent in the affairs of Waterbury, being one of the selectmen and reaching the position of captain of the First Militia Company in 1761. He resided in Westbury parish, now Watertown. He was taxed as a churchman about 1760 and he was in 1764 one of twenty men who agreed "to hold public worship in Westbury on those Sundays when there was no preaching in Waterbury," and to make arrangements to build an Episcopal church. By October, 1765, they had through the efficient management of Capt. Edward Scoville a building fit to occupy, although not completed. This building had by 1773 pulpit, chancel and canopy and was used until the Revolution. Reopened for services in 1786-88, it was succeeded by a new edifice in 1793.
Captain Scovill is thus rightly considered the founder of Christ Church, Watertown. In his will he bequeathed to the church and parish seventeen acres of land, "Out of sincere regard to the religion of the Gospel and in testimony of my love and veneration for the doctrine and worship of the Episcopal Church of which I am now a member, for the use and benefit of that Church in the parish of Westbury,". . . . ."and the annual profits to be applied toward the support of an Episcopal clergyman officiating in said Church." This land was afterward sold and a fund established which still exists.
Children born at Waterbury
35 i. Sarah, born Feb 25, 1740-1; married Isaac Merriam
36 ii. Edward, born Feb 5, 1744-5, married Ruth Norton
11. William Scovil (William2, John1), born June 13, 1706, in Haddam, Connecticut; died there Nov 27, 1788; married April 4, 1734, Hannah Shailer, born Aug 17, 1715, at Haddam; died there Aug 23, 1802; daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Clark?) Shailer of Haddam.
Little is known of this William Scovil. He left his father's home, the Hannison farm in Shailerville, about 1734 and settled at Candlewood Hill in the northwestern part of the town. Here between high hills lies a narrow but fertile valley, traversed by streams bordered by grassy meadows, the source of hay for the farmer of that time.
In 1756 and doubtless for some years previously William Scovil and his wife Hannah were members of the First Church of Haddam.
On Nov 14, 1788, William Scovil conveyed to his son, William Scovil, jr., a dwelling house and three acres of land in return for "services in my infirmity." He made a will, which by agreement of his heirs with William Scovil, the executor thereof, dated Feb 22, 1790, was not to be settled "until after the decease of their mother, Mrs. Hannah Scovil, and also as long as their sisters, Sarah and Catherine remain unmarried."
Children
37. i. Samuel, born Feb 27, 1734-5; married (1) Ruth Chapman; (2) Mrs. Mary Ventres;
(3) Bathsheba --------
ii. Martha, born Sept 26, 1736; died Feb 8, 1765, unmarried. She joined the First
Church of Christ at Haddam, April 1757.
38. iii. Hannah, born April 11 or 15, 1739; married Oliver Bailey
iv. Sarah, born April 10, 1741; died Sept 14, 1744
v. William, born Sept 28, 1742; died Sept 2, 1744
vi. William, born Oct 25, 1744, died March 5, 1806, at Haddam, unmarried
vii. Sarah, born Aug 2, 1746, died Feb 14, 1807, at Haddam, unmarried
viii. Catherine, born Jan 16, 1747-8; died Jan 1829, at Haddam, unmarried. She joined
the church at Haddam in 1791.
39. ix. John, born Oct 14, 1749; married Elizabeth Spencer
x. Thomas, born July 8, 1751; died Aug 13, 1752
xi. Thomas, born Jan 20, 1753-4; died Feb 1, 1755
40. xii. Dorothy, born July 14, 1755; married John Parmalee
41. xiii. Joseph, born March 31, 1757; married Sarah Spencer
xiv. Timothy, born Nov 2, 1759; died Mar 29, 1777
12. John Scovil (William2, John1), born June 20, 1712, at Haddam, Connecticut; died there shortly before July 20, 1748, or perhaps before April 7, 1748; married about 1739 Rhoda Arnold, born------ at Haddam; died at New Haven Connecticut, before 1767 (?); only child of Josiah and Abigail Arnold of Haddam. Mrs. Rhoda Scovil married second Thomas Alling of New Haven, but her children appear to have remained at Haddam. The parentage and both the marriages of Rhoda are proved by deed on record at Haddam, but the dates are not on record.
John Scovil lived on the land granted to his father at Turkey Hill in 1710, or at least near it. This was in the southern part of Haddam, near the Saybrook (now Chester) line, and it is possible that his church relations, if any, were with the North Parish of Saybrook, now Chester, rather than with the church at Hadda, but we cannot be sure of this owing to the loss of the records of the latter church previous to 1756. The following is from Haddam Town Records, Vol 3, page M: "John Scovil his mark for his Dumb Creatures is a halfpenny out of the underside of the Left or near ear and a slit in the under side of the off Ear crossways of sd Ear." Recorded May 15,1741.
The inventory of John Scovil's estate, taken July 20, 1748, by William Scovil, Abraham Tyler, and Cornelius Higgins, amounted to �467.18.3. This was at a time when the currency of the colony was depreciated, but the list of property inventoried shows that John Scovil was comfortably situated. Besides 26 acres of improved land with a dwelling there were 10 acres of other land, a small barn, mare and colt, cow and calf, saddle and pillion. In the house the supply of clothing and bedding seems to have been ample, and there were also knives and forks, tablecloths, looking glass, chests, a great chair, other chairs, Dutch wheel, great wheel, wooden and pewter platters, trenchers, warmingpan, two drinking glasses, a Bible, sermon book and a psalm book.
Children born at Haddam
42. i. Josiah, born June 12, 1740, married Frances --------
ii. Susannah, born Aug 13, 1742, married Abner Evarts; Proof in Haddam deeds,
book 7, page 196
iii. Irene, born Nov 1, 1745, married Samuel Russell; proof in Haddam deeds, vol 12,
page 6.
end page 157
|
This page is still a work in progress. Chapter 3 is being transcribed by Tricia, and then formatted into HTML for posting on this site. Please be patient and realize that neither the transcription nor the formatting is complete.
Special thanks to Snogirl and Graphics by Carla
for linkware graphics used on this page.
Last update:
Sun. 1 Jan. 2006.
Page created 29 Nov. 2005.
Copyright 2005,2006. All rights reserved.
You may link to this site, however, please do not create a mirror site.
|
