This was done with the help of my cousin, Larry Chesebro' - Thank you again Larry!!!!!!
Descendants of William CHESEBROUGH III
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM1 CHESEBROUGH III1,2,3,4,5 was born Bef. 22 Jun 1594 in Tattershall, near Boston, Lincolnshire, England, and died 09 Jun 1667 in Wequetequock, Stonington, New London County, CT. He married ANNA STEVENSON6,7,8,9,10 15 Dec 1620 in St. Botolph's Church, Boston, Lincolnshire, England by the "blessed John Cotton". She was born Bef. 23 Aug 1597 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, and died 24 Aug 1673 in Wequetequock, Stonington, New London County, CT.
Notes for WILLIAM CHESEBROUGH III:
1. Biographical sketch of William and a letter from Rev. Amos Chesebrough about the sketch from Anna Chesebrough Wildey's book:
"William (Cheesbrough) Chesebrough, the first settler of English lineage in the town of Stonington, Connecticut, was born in England in the year of our Lord, 1594. The place of his nativity and the names of his parents cannot with certainty be determined. The probabilities are, that he was born in or near Boston, Lincolnshire, where he is known to have had his residence some eleven or twelve years prior to his emigration to America in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and where he and his wife were communicants in St. Botolph's Church. The home of the Cheesbrough family was in the eastern counties of England, and the name occurs in the public registries of Wills in the County of Norfolk, which adjoins Lincolnshire. Sarah Chesebrough, whose name stands No. 78 on the roll of the First Church of Boston, Mass., was a passenger with William on the ship, Arbella, and was thought to have been his mother but is recorded as a daughter in the Winthrop Fleet records. His wife, Anna and three surviving children of the eight that had been born to him, - the youngest, Nathaniel, an infant in arms, - came with him in the same company. The Arbella, a ship of three hundred and fifty tons, whereof Captain Peter Milborne was master, received its name 'in honour of the Lady Arbella' spouse of Isaac Johnson, Esq., one of the more prominent personages among the passengers. This ship was one of a fleet of fourteen vessels with eight hundred and forty passengers, comprising the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It set sail from Cowes, Isle of Wight, on Tuesday, March 30, 1630, and was termed the 'Admiral' of the fleet, for the reason partly, that it was the staunchest and best furnished of the vessels, and partly perhaps, as Savage in his notes in Winthrop's Journal suggests, that it was owned by and carried 'the principal people' of the Colony, including Johnson, Winthrop, Coddington, Dudley, Bradstreet and Saltonstall with their respective families among others.
The first thirty-six years of William Chesebrough's life were closing when he set foot upon American soil. They covered the last nine years of Queen Elizabeth's reign, the entire reign of James I, and the first five years of the reign of the ill-fated Charles I, and they were among the most eventful years in the history of England. Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded only seven years before Chesebrough's birth; and only six years before, occurred the issue of the first English newspaper, and also the destruction of the Spanish Armada. It was the period in which Edmund Spencer, William Shakespeare and Lord Bacon won their undying fame; in which the first telescopes were invented, and in which also the authorized version of the Bible was prepared by order of King James. He was eleven years old at the time of the Gunpowder Plot; thirteen when Jamestown (now New York) was settled by the Dutch, and twenty-six when the Pilgrim Fathers landed upon Plymouth Rock.
The corruption in both Church and State in England, the high-handed and cruel measures of the Courts of High Commission and of the Star Chamber to crush out all freedom of thought and speech and worship, the insecurity of life and property, and the civil and religious disintegration which threatened ruin to the nation, prompted many of the better class of the clergy and of the people to sacrifice their homes and seek an asylum where they could enjoy a rational liberty. The immigrants who came to New England with the illustrious Winthrop, organized their churches on the simple polity of a self-governing brotherhood. Such an organization was effected in their new settlement which they named Charlestown, on the 30th of July, 1630, with Rev. John Wilson as teacher, but in the course of three months it was transferred to the south side of the Charles River to Boston, which the majority preferred on the score of healthiness, as the place for a permanent settlement. The names of William and Anna Chesebrough appear as Nos. 44 and 45, on the roll of the original members of this, the First Church of Boston. When Rev. John Cotton, their former Minister at St. Botolph's in England, came over some three years later, he took the place of Mr. Wilson as teacher of the church, and Mr. Wilson was chosen as the pastor.
The government of the new colony was administered under a charter granted by Charles I to 'The Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay in New England,' bearing date March 4, 1629. On the emigration to America of the leading members of this Corporation, the Corporation itself with all its powers and privileges was transferred to them and the other freemen of the company who should inhabit the new plantation. Thus the administrative officers of the company became 'The General Court of Massachusetts,' which took charge of the civil government, and John Winthrop was chosen governor. Under this government, William Chesebrough was made a freeman in May, 1631. It soon became necessary to order the several towns which had been organized by the colonists, to choose each two deputies to appear at the Court, for the purpose of concerting a plan for a public treasury and for levying taxes for the support of the government. William Colburn, who was the deacon of the Church, and William Chesebrough, were appointed upon this service as the first deputies or representatives of Boston. This was the entering wedge to the yearly representation of the towns in the legislative body. Mr. Chesebrough filled other responsible positions in the young municipality. He was chosen constable, an office equivalent to what would now be called an 'high sheriff', and subsequently an assessor from rates, and again one of a committee to allot to 'the able bodied men and youth' grounds for planting.
For the purpose of attaining more arable land and pasture than was assigned to them within the limits of Boston, Mr. Chesebrough, with many others, removed their residences a few miles southward, near to a promontory called Mount Wollaston, in 1637 or 1638. A church was organized for the growing community, September 17, 1639, to which he and his wife brought letters of dismission and recommendations from the Boston church on the 6th of the ensuing February. This Mount Wollaston section was set off the same year as a distinct town and named Braintree, and Mr. Chesebrough, with Stephen Kinsley, was chosen to represent the new municipality in the General Court. He was appointed commissioner or local judge to try certain classes of cases which came up for adjudication, and held also other responsible positions. The grounds he occupied are those which have constituted for more than two and a half centuries the old homestead of the Adams family, and are now included within the limits of the city of Quincy. The late Ex-President, John Quincy Adams, informed the writer that the deed of transfer given by William Chesebrough to his ancestor was still in his possession.
In the course of two or three years the subject of this sketch joined a company which settled at 'Seekonk', in the vicinity of the Plymouth Colony. Early in July, 1644, he with twenty-nine others of the resident planters there, entered into a civil compact, agreeing to be governed by nine persons, 'according to law and equity, until we shall subject ourselves jointly to some other government.' It appears that this compact and agreement was drawn up and carried through by Mr. Chesebrough's efforts, for on the 12th of July following, at a public meeting, his efficient services in setting up the new government were gratefully acknowledged by the enactment of a provision, 'that he shall have division in all lands of Seekonk, for one hundred and fifty-three pounds, besides what he is to have for his own proportion, and that in the way of consideration for the pains and charges he hath been at in setting off this plantation.' (Our note - this land is located in and around Rumford, near East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island. William's land is now part of the Wanamoisett Country Club golf course and Walter Palmer's original land is part of the Agawam Hunt golf course. Both families are eligible for the First Families of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.)
The question of jurisdiction was settled by the plantation submitting itself to the government of the Plymouth Colony, rather than that of Massachusetts Bay, and it was incorporated by the scriptural name of Rehoboth. This decision was arrived at contrary to Chesebrough's wishes and judgment, and the Plymouth authorities took his opposition as an affront, and treated him harshly. Feeling deeply the prejudice awakened against him, he mounted his horse, and in company with one of his sons, turned his face westward with a view of finding a place of settlement where he could escape unjust treatment and live in peace. On this tour of about seventy miles along the coast, he carefully noted the different localities on the route until he reached Pequot, now New London. John Winthrop, Jr., an old acquaintance, under commission of the General Court of Massachusetts, had charge of a new settlement at Pequot, and he was strongly urged to make this place his permanent abode. But the location did not suit him, although a town-lot was offered him as an inducement. After successive explorations he made choice of the head of Wequetequock cove, in what was called Pawcatuck, on the bordering lands of which he found arable lands for planting, with an abundance of pasture ground for stock raising, to which he had largely turned his attention. To this place after having built a dwelling house on the west side of the cove, he removed with his wife and four sons, assisted by his friend, Roger Williams, in the summer of 1649. At this time he was fifty-five years old, his wife fifty-one, his son Samuel twenty-two, Nathaniel nineteen, John seventeen, and Elisha twelve. John died from a wound by a scythe in 1650, at the age of eighteen, and was the first white person whose remains were buried in Stonington.
Singularly enough, he had hardly become domiciled in his new home, when a trouble came upon him similar to that from which he had just fled. Connecticut was about as jealous of Massachusetts as was Plymouth, and unfriendly persons belonging to Plymouth, took advantage of this fact to awaken the suspicions of the Connecticut authorities against him. The trumped-up charge was that he had taken up his present residence with a view of carrying on an unlawful trade with the Indians, furnishing them with and repairing their firearms. The General Court of Connecticut thereupon issued a warrant to the constable of Pequot to require him to give an account of himself in answer to this charge. Supposing that he was within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, he refused for a year or more to pay any attention to the order of the Court; but afterwards on the advice of Mr. Winthrop and his friends at Pequot, he voluntarily presented himself before the Court at Hartford and refuted the slanderous charge, in support of which not a particle of evidence was presented. Ostensibly as a measure of precaution, he was required to give a bond not to engage in any trade with the Indians forbidden by the Laws of the Colony, and before the succeeding winter to furnish the Court with the names of such persons as he could persuade to settle in his neighborhood. On these conditions permission was given him to remain unmolested where he was. This action of the Court was largely prompted by a jealousy of all settlers in that section who were supposed to be favorable to the Massachusetts claims, lest that colony should get the control of the Pawcatuck territory. It now became a burning question to which Colony this territory belonged, - whether to Connecticut or Massachusetts. Connecticut attempted to steal the march on the sister Colony by a public act making the Pawcatuck River the eastern boundary of Pequot, so that Chesebrough's place of settlement came within the boundaries of that town. On this basis the town not only voted him a house-lot within the Pequot settlement itself, but also confirmed his title to three hundred aces of land at Wequetequock, which were subsequently increased to twenty-three hundred and sixty-two acres.
The first man who joined Mr. Chesebrough in the new plantation was Thomas Stanton, the famous Indian interpreter, who in 1650 built a trading-house on the west side of the Pawcatuck River, though he did not remove his family thither until 1657. In the year 1653, Walter Palmer, one of the settlers at Rehoboth, dissatisfied for some reasons with his residence within the Colony of Plymouth, located himself near to his old friend and neighbor Chesebrough, erecting his dwelling-house on the east side of Wequetequock Cove. Thomas Minor moved into the neighborhood in 1654, and built his house at Mistuxet, now Quiambog. These four men: Chesebrough, Stanton, Palmer and Minor, were the founders of Stonington, in honor from whom the monument in the ancient cemetery at Wequetequock was erected in 1899, that being the two hundred and fiftieth year from the first settlement by Mr. Chesebrough.
The action of the General Court of Connecticut in pushing its claims eastward to the Pawcatuck River, was by no means acquiesced in by Massachusetts, and the seriously controverted question of jurisdiction was referred to the Commissioners of the United Colonies for decision. Meanwhile, or until the matter could be amicably decided, the planters were advised 'to carry themselves & order their affaires peaceably, and by common agreement.' Acting on this advise, the original settlers and a few others who had joined them, met together on the 30th of June, 1658, and organized a local government with what may be termed a constitution, entitled 'The Asotiation of Poquatuck people,' which was signed by eleven persons, viz.: William Chesebrough, and his three sons, Samuel, Nathaniel and Elisha, Thomas Stanton and his son Thomas, Walter Palmer and his two sons, Elihu and Moses, George Denison, and Thomas Shaw. This compact is in the handwriting of William Chesebrough and pledged the signers 'to maintain and deffend the peac of the plac & to aid and asist one another according to law & rules of righteousnes, till such other provition be maide ffor us as may atain our end above written.' After affixing their names to the document, the signers chose Capt. George Denison and William Chesebrough to be 'comytioners' to carry out the provisions of the contract. Three months later the Commissioners of the United Colonies decided that the territory in dispute belonged to Massachusetts, and the General Court of that Colony named it Southertown and annexed it to the county of Suffolk. Southertown remained a township of Massachusetts until the issue of the Charter of Connecticut by King Charles II, dated April 25, 1662, which fixed the eastern boundary of Connecticut at Pawcatuck River, thereupon this territory which for three and a half years had been subject to the control of Massachusetts, reverted back to the sister Colony. Through this period Mr. Chesebrough held the office of selectman.
During the time in which the plantation was included in the town of Pequot, Mr. Chesebrough had been elected its deputy to the General Court of Connecticut at Hartford in 1653, 1654, 1655, and 1656; he held also the offices of assessor and commissioner. On its reversion to Connecticut under the charter, some of the planters manifested an almost defiant unwillingness to acknowledge the jurisdiction of this Colony, at which the authorities at Hartford took offense. In 1664, however, they united in choosing William Chesebrough as their first representative to the General Court. With much effort and considerable delay, he was successful in adjusting the disturbed relations between them and the court (see Petition note below). In 1665, the name of Southertown was changed to that of Mystic, and in the year following to Stonington. During the last three years of his life, which closed on Sunday, the 9th day of June, 1667, he being then seventy-three years old, Mr. Chesebrough was selectman of the town. His wife, Mrs. Anna Chesebrough, died on the 24th day of August, 1673, at the age of seventy-five. Their remains rest side by side in the old cemetery, a short distance from their dwelling-house."
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"This brief sketch of the life of William Chesebrough makes it clearly evident that he was a strong character, - a man well fitted in capacity and high purpose to be a pioneer in laying the foundations of a well-ordered, civil and religious community. Mature in years, of a well-balanced mind, wise in counsel, a man of positive convictions, and withal of uncompromising uprightness, he naturally drew to himself the confidence of his associates, as to one whose lead it would be safe to follow. He was a man of deeds rather than of words; and yet, when the occasion called for it, he could give utterance to his views in language that needed no interpreter, or he could put them in to proper written form.
His organizing capacity was very marked. He took a prominent part in bringing in to associated and orderly form the scattered and diverse population of Braintree, Rehoboth and Stonington; and his versatility was wonderful. On all occasions we find him possessed of large resources, and capable of turning his hand without difficulty to almost any business or branch of employment that offered itself. He could frame a building or sit as a judge in a case at law. He forge a chain, or draw up a plan for the organization of a municipal government. He could survey a tract of land, or worthily represent a town in the General Court.
One fact which marks him as a man who commanded great respect, is that after gathering around him such men of superior ability as Thomas Stanton, Walter Palmer and Capt. George Denison, they worked so harmoniously with him in the organization and ordering of the new community.
And further, it needs only to be added, that he was a man of decided Christian principal, and that wherever he planted himself he was an earnest supporter of religious worship, and religious institutions. When he emigrated to America he brought his religion with him, and both he and his wife were enrolled among the first members of the church in Boston, Mass., and on his removal to Braintree and Rehoboth, he took his church relations with him; and although he died prior to the organization of the First Church in Stonington, the tradition is that prior to the establishment of religious worship in his neighborhood, he was accustomed, in all suitable weather, to attend Sunday services at Pequot, starting a little after midnight that he might in good time accomplish the fifteen miles of travel over rough roads and the crossing of two rivers. There can be no doubt that he took an active part in the measures which were initiated in 1657 for establishing regular religious services within the limits of the plantation, and which issued after the employment of several preachers for short seasons, in an invitation to Rev. James Noyes to serve the people as their permanent pastor. Mr. Noyes entered upon his labors here in 1664, about three years before Mr. Chesebrough's death; but he was not ordained, nor was the church organized until 1674. In his last will and testament Mr. Chesebrough speaks of Rev. James Noyes and Mr. Amos Richardson, as 'my truly and well-beloved friends,' - thus showing that one of the persons to whom he was strongly attached was a Christian minister."
Rev. Amos S. Chesebrough, D.D.
New Hartford, Conn.
March 5, 1901
2. Boston, Lincolnshire, England record of payment for William's services (from the Wildey book);
"From the 'Boston Corporation Records' in England:
1626, Allsoe at this Assembly there is xviij s. taken out of the treasury & paid to Wm Cheesbrough for keeping of Geo. Melton xviij weeks w/ch is allsoe prcell of the money for Smith digills house."
3. Massachusetts land record of William before removing to the part of Massachusetts later to become Connecticut (from the Wildey book):
"Suffolk County, Massachusetts Deeds, Lib. I, page 26:
Will Chesebrough of Mount Wollaston, in consideration of fower hundred pounds of current money of England, to him payed, granted unto Rich Wright & his heirs, six hundred acres of Land more or less lyinge in Mount Wollaston aforsayde bounded ptly wth Mount Wollaston Rive & p'tly wth the salt water shore towards the north & otherwise diversly bounded, mentioned in the deed with all the Appurtenances & Priviledges that doe or shall thereto belonge, & this was by deed of sale dated 15 day 8 mo 1639.
In behalf of William Coddington of Aquidnecke gent and further beinge all the wood & Timber reserved to Will Coddington growinge upon the sayd land of Will Tinge.
Will Chesebrough of Mount Wollaston alis Braintrye for & in consideration of one hundred twenty and seaven pounds current money of England. ---Con----ninge wh he acknowledged himselfe satisfyed granted unto Willm Tynge of Boston mercht two hundred acres of land more or less lynge & beinge in Braintrye aforesd (only reservinge fivteene acres & a halfe of waist to himselfe) the bounds whereof are expressed in the deed, wth all the appurtenances and privilidges thereto belonginge & this was by deed of Sale---dated the tenth day of the ninth month, anno domini, 1641---this was ye land yt Will Chesbrowe purchased of Richard Wright.
hand & seal,"
4. Petition of William Chesebrough trying to soothe the Connecticut General Court when residents of Southertown (later Mystic) objected to Massachusetts relinquishing the area to Connecticut (from the Wildey book):
"The petition of William Chesebrough, to the General Court of Connecticut, in behalf of the planters of Southerton for pardon for their refusal to submit to its jurisdiction on the issue of the Royal Charter:
To the Hono'ble General Court now assembled at Hartford in the Colony of Conectyecott.
Honnorable may it please you, we your poore petitioners being summoned by the Honnered counsel of this jurisdiction to yield our obedience & subjection to this jurisdiction according to his majestyes' letters patent gratiously granted to this colonie & to make choice of a person to be a comishoner & to attend the servis of this present court in obedience to this summons we have yielded ourselves & sent up one to be comishoner to atend the servis of the court.
We humbly beseech you thearfor that you will pardon all such mistaike or miscariges wch through human frailty hath been offencive or grevious unto you & receave us with a loving aspect & renue your your former favor unto us that we may be remembered with equall priviledges of other towns according to our capacitie that we make be preserved in truth & peac & that scandal may be removed, for the former we may not be so bould as to prescrib knowing the wisdom and prudence of the Honnered court, hose wisdom & favor we do commit ourselves unto.
We humbly do beseech also that the bounds of our plantation may be confirmed wch was granted unto us by the Bay., thus being loath to trespass upon your patienc we humbly taik our leave & rest your pore petichoners.
Willm Chesebrough in the name of the rest
October 13, 64."
5. From The NEHGR, 1992, Volume 146, page 237 titled "Gentlemen's Companies":
"Gentle Leaders of East Anglian companies were most common at the beginning of the 1630s. The 1630 Lincolnshire company looked to the wealthy Isaac Johnson, brother-in-law of the Earl of Lincoln, as their leader and focal point. Apart from his own relatives, like the Lady Arbella and Charles Fiennes, his party was made up of the earl's clients, such as Thomas Dudley and his son-in-law Simon Bradstreet, William Coddington, William Cheseborough, and their families and servants. Johnson's early death may have contributed tothe subsequent disperal of the company*
"*The Johnson Company numbered 17; it included Isaac and the Lady Arbella, the Thomas Dudley family of
seven, William Coddington and wife, the William Cheseborough family of four, and Simon Bradstreet and wife."
6. The Last Will and Testament and subsequent actions relating to the will of William Chesebrough, aged 73 years (from the Wildey book with paragraph punctuation added for clarity):
Stonington, May23rd, 1667
First: I give unto my son Samuel, all Lands formerly granted to him and taken in by his fence.
Nextly: I give unto my sons Nathaniel and Elisha ye neck of land called Waddwonnet wch was formerly granted to them, bounded by ye fence yt crosses ye aforesd neck called Waddawonnet, with their broken up lands wch they now have in possession, all other lands wch is in my manageing, broken up or meadow, and two or three acres my son Elisha improveth this year.
I give to my loving wife wch commons answering to it during ye time of her life, and after her decease, I give unto my son Samuel, two acres next ye sd Samuel's, now dwelling house, and ye remainder of my broken up lands and meadow, to be divided equally between my two sons, Nathaniel and Elisha: The little island I give to my son Nathaniel, and ye piece of meadow land by Goodman Yorks.
I give to my son Elisha, and all other lands that I had from New London.
I give to my three sons, every one of them an equal share. And if these do want advice about ye dividing of it, I do ordain my trusty and well beloved friends Mr. James Noyes, and Mr. Amos Richardson, to be helpful to them about ye dividing of it.
And ye farm of land and meadow three hundred and fifty acres, more or less, near to a place called Cowsatuck, I give to my son William (Note: This "son William" apparently is William's grandson, son of Samuel, as no records exist for William having a son so named.).
For all my housing, I give to my loving wife to be wholly at her disposing, to keep, or sell, or dispose of, as she shall please, and likewise ye house joineth to mine through out ye pasture to ye stone wall next to the highway, and for my son Samuel's eldest son, Samuel and his youngest daughter Sarah and yt his wife is now with child with I give five pounds a piece, and likewise my son Nathaniel's three children five pounds a piece which is to be paid them within six years.
All ye rest of my goods and chattels, my debts being paid I give to my loving wife whom I make full and lawful executrix.
William Chesebrough
Witness:
Gershom Palmer
Thomas Bell
This Will was attested to upon oath before me by the witnesses: that Mr. Chesebrough dec'd, was in his right senses when he signed this his last will to the best of their understanding this 17 of September 1667
Thomas Stanton, Commissioner.
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At a county court holden in New London Sept. 19. 1667 The last Will and Inventory of William Chesebrough was exhibited in court, proved, and ordered to be entered upon Record May 6, 1693 extracted out of the original and court records and recorded by Daniel Wetherell county clerk. A true copy of record examined per Rich'd Christopher's Clerk Probate.
The Inventory of William's estate was "prized by whose names are underwritten:" (Thomas Stanton, Thomas Minor and Amos Richardson) included:
The housing and home lot; 35 acres of broken upland and meadow; 2,000 acres of land lying in common; 12 acres wheat,
pease, and Indian Corn; Brass, Pewter, and Iron Pots; Tubs and other milk vessels; Chains, stools, and table; One gunn;
Feather beds and their furniture; Wearing cloaths, and books; Linen and chests; A quarter part of the mill; Debts due;
Grind stone, cast chains and other lumber; Four mares, Two horses; One mare more; Two mares more of 3 years old;
Three (?) of two years old; Three horses kind of one year old and two colts; Eight cows; Two oxen; Four cattle of three
years old; Two cattle of two years old; Five yearlings; Seven calves; Swine
The total, errors excepted in casting, is 672-10 (672 Pounds, 10 Schillings) this day of August, 1667
Thomas Stanton
Thomas Minor
Amos Richardson
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At a county court holden at New London Sepage19 1667, the last will and Inventory of Mr. William Chesebrough was exhibited in Court, proved and ordered to be entered on Record. Extracted out of ye original and court records for me.
June 6, 1693
Daniel Wetherell
County Clerk
7. William and his wife were buried in the Wequetequock Cemetery. Vandals stole or destroyed their gravestone which was engraved with the Chesebrough crest mentioned above and which William used throughout his life. This crest and variations of the motto were also used by King David Chesebrough and others.
More About WILLIAM CHESEBROUGH III:
Baptism: 22 Jun 1594, Tattershall, near Boston, Lincolnshire, England
Burial: Jun 1667, Wequetequock Burial Ground, Stonington, New London County, CT
Elected or appointed: 04 Jun 1645, propounded for Plymouth Colony and admitted June 7, 1648
Freeman: 18 May 1631, Boston, Suffolk County, MA
Immigration: 12 Jun 1630, in the Arbella of the Winthrop Fleet from Boston, Lincolnshire, England
Occupation: blacksmith, gunsmith and planter (farmer)
Religion: 1630, admitted to the Boston Church as member 44, recommended to Braintree Church February 16, 1640, dismissed from the Boston Church to Rehoboth Church April 9, 1648
Will: 23 May 1667, inventoried August 30, 1667, proved September 17, 1667 at Stonington, New London County, CT
Notes for ANNA STEVENSON:
1. Anna's will (from the Wildey book with paragraph punctuation added for clarity):
The Last Will & Testament of Anna Chesebrough, Aged 75 Years or Thereabouts.
Imp! I give to my two sons Samuel and Nathaniel yt land which was give to me by my husband upon his will,
yt my son Elisha should have had if he had outlived me.
I give to my son Nathaniel my barn.
I give to my son Samuel my yard between my barn and his orchard.
I give to William Chesebrough my son, Samuel's second son, my dwelling house, with ye pastor to ye yard.
I give to my son Samuel my fifteen acres of land on ye east side of Pautucket river.
I give to my son Nathaniel one of ye mares yt my son Elisha leased or hired of me, and ye other mare I give
to my son Samuel's son William. My bay horse I give to my son Nathaniel. My black, I give to my son Samuel.
I give my son Samuel a feather bed.
I give my daughters Abigail and Hannah my cloaths and linnin.
The rest of my estate, (mydebts being paid) I give to my two sons an equal share, whom I make my full and
lawful executors.
dated in Stonington this 19 of March 1672/3.
Anna Chesebrough
(her mark and seal)
Signed sealed d and D D
in presence of us
Thomas Stanton, Sr.
James Noyes.
Mr. James Noyes appearing before me this fifth of September 1673 made oath yt ys was ye will of Anna
Chesebrough deceased and yt his hand is twice to it as a witness.
Thomas Stanton
Commissioner
More About ANNA STEVENSON:
Baptism: 23 Aug 1597, Boston, Lincolnshire, England
Burial: Aug 1673, Wequetequock Burial Ground, Stonington, New London County, CT
Immigration: 12 Jun 1630, in the Arbella of the Winthrop Fleet from Boston, Lincolnshire, England
Religion: 1630, admitted to the Boston Church as member 45, recommended to Braintree Church February 16, 1640, dismissed from the Boston Church to Rehoboth Church April 9, 1648
Will: 19 Mar 1673, did not agree with terms of her husband's previous will and caused some controversy. On October 7, 1673 the Court of Assistants negotiated an agreement the results were not returned to the probate file
Marriage Notes for WILLIAM CHESEBROUGH and ANNA STEVENSON:
1. A CONCISE STONINGTON CHRONOLOGY (From Historical Footnotes, February 1999):
In reaching an age of 350, the history of Stonington has extended over five of the Biblical spans of threescore years and ten. The
dates here, drawn from Williams Haynes's Stonington Chronology (1949, 1976), are divided, for intelligibility, into those five
lifespans, or generations:
First Era, 1649-1719
1649: William Chesebrough and family settled at head of Wequetequock Cove.
1650: Thomas Stanton built trading post at The Rock on west bank of Pawcatuck River.
1651: Connecticut granted Chippachaug (Mason's Island) to Major John Mason, who defeated the Pequots.
1658: On June 30, settlers, stranded between Massachusetts and Connecticut governments, drew up "Asociation of Poquatuck
Peple," a commitment to conduct their own affairs, in effect a declaration of independence. Later in the year, most of the
area was handed to Massachusetts, which named it Southertown.
1661: First meetinghouse built on what is now Montauk Avenue.
1662: Town restored to Connecticut.
1665: Connecticut General Court changed name of Southertown to Mystic.
1666: In May, General Court changed town name to Stonington but did not explain why.
1675: Outbreak in May 1675 of King Philip's War; Stonington houses fortified; Stonington troops participate in the climactic battle,
the Great Swamp Fight in Rhode Island. War ended in August 1676 with the death of the Indian leader, Metacomet or King
Philip.
1680: Davis homestead, oldest surviving house in Stonington, built at Osbrook Point.
1682: Samuel Richardson became first settler in area of North Stonington village.
Second Era, 1720-1789
1720: Connecticut Assembly separated North Stonington from Stonington, May 12.
1752 First house built in Stonington Borough.
1774: As Revolution approached, town meeting named Committee of Correspondence to support patriot agitation in Boston.
1775: British frigate Rose bombarded Stonington but volunteer militia prevented troops from landing, August 30.
1781: Stonington men killed in Benedict Arnold's slaughter of captured American troops at Fort Griswold, Groton.
Third Era, 1790-1859
1798: Samuel Trumbull issued first Stonington newspaper, Journal of the Times, October 2.
1801: Stonington Borough incorporated, January 7.
1814: During the War of 1812, Stonington bombarded by a British squadron; landing barges repulsed, August 9-10.
1815: The Great Hurricane hit Stonington, September 23-24.
1818. First Stonington sealing ship, brig Frederick, sailed to Antarctic grounds; took 28,000 sealskins.
(Last sealing ship sailed in 1892.)
1820: Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer, on the sealing sloop Hero, discovered the Antarctic Continent, 1820.
1822: Stonington's first whaling ship, Hydaspe, built on the Mystic River, sailed for South Atlantic. (Last whaler sailed about 1855.)
1823: First Stonington lighthouse built; replaced, 1841.
1825: First steamboat trip on New York-Stonington run. 1837: Largest fire in Stonington Borough history destroyed stores on south
Water Street, April 2.
1837: Stonington-Providence Railroad and the Stonington Steamship Line (Stonington to New York) inaugurated, November 10;
Wadawanuck Hotel built for patrons.
1840: S.S. Lexington of Stonington Line burned, with loss of 250, January 13.
1840s: First Portuguese immigrants arrive, primarily from the Azores.
1861-1865: Several hundred Stonington volunteers served in the Civil War.
Fourth Era, 1860-1929
1876: Atwood Machine Company moved to Stonington Borough from Willimantic.
1880: Steamers Narragansett and Stonington collided in fog; Narragansett lost with heavy loss of life, June 11.
1890: North village officially named Old Mystic, May 29; Mystic Bridge, to the south, became Mystic a month later.
1895: Stonington Historical and Genealogical Society held its first meeting, February 4.
1914: Portuguese Holy Ghost Society organized, February 8.
1917: Five hundred or more Stonington men enlisted or were drafted for service in World War I, April 1917-November 1918.
1928: New town hall opened, June 14.
1929: Marine Historical Association, creator of Mystic Seaport, organized, December 31.
Fifth Era, 1930-1999
1938: Hurricane struck New England, causing immense damage in Stonington, September 21.
