SWAMP YANKEE OF MYSTIC, by James H. Allyn, page 30.
Edward Stallyon came with his wife Margaret to New London with the others in 1651. Unlike many of them he stayed in town for over thirty years. He must have done well with his trading sloop from the beginning, for in 1660 he had one of the few stone houses in town. Very much the businessman, in 1673, he was fined 30 shillings for sailing his vessel from New London to Norwich on the Sabbath. In 1680 he had a new 30 ton sloop "Edward & Margaret" built by Hugh Mould.
About 1684 he built a house on the Pleasant Valley Road in Groton. It is still standing, and believed to be the oldest house in town. His daughter Deborah married James Avery, Jr. Edward died as he had lived, on the water. In May of 1703 he drowned while crossing the river to New London in his dugout canoe. Although he married three times, his daughter was his only heir.
Sources: Gen. and Fam. Hist. of State of Conn., Vol. III; Genealogical and
Biographical Records of American Families Representative Citizens; History of
New London, CT, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins; New London Vitals; Genealogical
Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England; Daughters of American
Colonists lineage book; Topographical Dictionary of 2885 England Emigrants to
New England; Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service; Montville;
Fifty Great Migration Colonists to N.E.
Dictionary: Edward Stallion, from Missenden Great Parish, Buckinghamshire,
England; went to New London (cites the Banks Mss.). There were eight other men
from the same parish, all going to Massachusetts: 2 to Dorchester, 2 to
Weymouth and one each to Lynn, Watertown, Boston and Salem.
Vol. III: Edward's third wife, Christian (Bell) Chapell, was the widow of
William Chapell, who died 1689/90. They had two children. Christian and William
were the parents of Mary Chapell, who married John Wood, first known member of
the Wood line from which Caroline M. Wood descended.
Edward drowned when he fell out of his canoe, May 14, 1703, near Groton
Shore. Above from Gen. and Fam. Hist. of State of Conn., Vol. III.
NL Vitals: Edward Stallyon.
Genealogical and Biographical Records of American Families...Citizens:
The surname Stallion, or Stallyon, originated from Stalham Parish in County
Norfolk. The Hundred Rolls of County Norfolk, A.D. 1273, records the names of
Nicholas de Stalun, showing the great antiquation of the name. Edward Stallion
was of Town Street, New London, Conn., in 1650, his occupation being first
that of coasting trader. Later he became a farmer in North Groton, now
Ledyard. His first wife, Margaret, died after 1680. He married (2), Elizabeth
Miller, daughter of George Miller, in 1685. Christian Chapell, whom he
married in 1693, was his third wife.
History of New London, Conn., by Frances Manwaring Caulkins:
"The last vessel built by Hugh Mould, that can be mentioned by names, was
the Edward and Margaret, a sloop of thirty tons burden, constructed for Edward
Stallion, in 1681." Also, minutes of cases, chiefly before th County Court,
included this entry for 1673: "Edward Stallion for sailing his vessel from New
London to Norwich on the Sabbath, 40s." In 1664 a list evaluating taxable
property included James Morgan, 252 pounds; James Avery, 236 pounds, and Edward
Stallion, 169 pounds. All lived at one time on Town Street, also known as Cape
Ann Street, in New London. "It must be remembered that land at this period was
of little value, and estimated low." A house built by Edward before 1660 was
constructed of stone, although it is not known if that house was located on the
street above. Edward was at first a coasting trader but later in life
became a resident farmer in North Groton (now Ledyard).
Caulkins also writes: "The master of a vessel was generally part owner of
both craft and cargo, and not unfrequently was his own factor, agent and
tradesman. In the small coasters, especially, the master or skipper was
entirely independent of orders. He went from place to place, chaffering and
bartering, often changing his course, and prolonging his stay on his own
responsibility. His boy was under his command; but his man if he had one,
frequently brought a venture with him and might trade on his own account. New
London before 1700 was...much noted for these coasting vessels and skippers..."
"Among the early planters...Edward Stallion (was) of this class."
His New London property was valued at 169 pounds in 1664.
Genealogical Dictionary of First Settlers of New England: "This name has
singular mutations. It first appears as Stanley, changes to Stallon, Stolion,
or Stallion, and subsides, as Caulkins Shows, into Sterling."
Daughters of Am. Colonists Lineage Book: He was an original landowner,
1664, of New London.
Three Hundred: Edward Stallion, died 14 May 1703. "When this person made his
first appearance in the plantation, Mr. Bruen, the clerk, recorded his name as
Stanley. It was soon altered to Stallion or Stallon. In later times it has been
identified with Sterling, which may have been the true name." His house on
Town Street (probably referring to North Groton, now Ledyard) was built of
Stone. He had 169 pounds taxable property in 1664.
Montville: William Swaddle of Groton "was impaneled on a jury of inquest May
31, 1703, to view the body of Edward Stallion, who was drowned by falling out
of his canoe on the 14th day of the same month."
History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield says a Mrs. Stolion
was in New Haven by August 1641. She had at that time an adult son,
"inferentially the Abraham who took the oath of allegiance in 1644. She was
quite a trader, and involved in several law-suits. On 25 May 1646, she was
lying dangerrously ill and about to die.
"The name being uncommon, we have small scruple in identifying her with the
Mrs.* Stolion who had a dwelling house in Fairfield....Perhaps she was a very
early settler in Fairfield, before she appeared in New Haven.
"The name also appears early at New London. Fairfield records enter the
gift, 7 April 1683, by Edward Stollyon of New London, mariner, to Pascoe Foot
of New London, who had married his daughter Margaret, of one-half of the
brigantine (30 tones) Edward & Margaret, towards her `portion.`"
* The prefix was written with a capital `M' followed by a small raised uirk,
and may have been intended for `Mr.' instead of `Mrs.' It has been read both
ways. So it may have been Mrs. Stolion's husband who early owned the Fairfield
lot.
[So...did Edward Stallion have a brother who also settled in Connecticut? Or
did he possibly bring his sister-in-law to New England?]
50 Great Migration Colonists: A Thomas Stallon (sic), alias Butler, of
Essex, had a son William, baptized 31 Aug. 1580, and was alive in 1604.
Relative of Edward Stallion??
NEHGR, v49, p247, notes two wills: (1) Jane Stolion, London, widow, 9 April
1640, gave New England "personal estate" to her son Abraham. (2) Thomas Stolyon,
gentleman, of Warbleton, Sussex, England, 10 Oct. 1679.
