John Birchard (1628-1702)
Thomas Birchard sailed to the New World with his wife Mary and their six children aboard the ship Truelove in September 1635. The Birchard’s first home in America was in Hartford. One of the children, John, became one of the original 40 grantees of the Saybrook township in 1650. In 1651, John owned land in Martha’s Vineyard and lived in Edgartown, where he was the Town Clerk. Later in 1660, he became one of Norwich’s first 35 proprietors.
John appears to have been a man of considerable note in his civic duties, particularly as a scribe, serving for several years as Town Clerk and Recorder. He was one of the ten inhabitants of Norwich that were accepted as freemen at Hartford in October 1663. In 1673, he was listed as Clerk of the County Court, a Justice of the Peace in 1676, and a Deputy to the General Court in 1691. His signature, shown above, assuredly appeared on many town documents.
John Birchard’s Home
Known as the old Birchard house, then later Farlane, and finally the Robert’s house, it stood on the corner of Hammer Brook Lane and Town Street in Norwich. It has been claimed that the house was fortified during King Philip’s War for use as a garrison house. The house was demolished in 1873.
Click the button below to see the location of Birchard’s home.
John Birchard later became interested in the town of Lebanon. He became one of the four original proprietors there in 1692. He assisted in laying out the land allocations and moved there in 1698. He died in Lebanon in 1702.
FAMILY
John Birchard was married to Christiana Andrews Birchard (c1630-1680). They had thirteen children, however, only seven of them survived to adulthood. The names of their children were :
1) Thomas Birchard (1654-1658) : Died at a very young child
2) Katherine Birchard (1656-1656) : Died as an infant
3) John Birchard (1657-1658) : Died as an infant
4) John Birchard II (1659-1662) : Died at a very young age
5) Sarah Birchard (1661-1664) : Died as a very young child
6) Samuel Birchard (1663-1713) : Husband of Ann Calkins Birchard, the granddaughter of Deacon Hugh Calkins
7) James Birchard Sr. (1665-1745) : Husband of Elizabeth Beckwith Birchard
8) Abigail Birchard Calkins (1667-1732) : Wife of John J. Calkins Jr., the son of John Calkins
9) Thomas Birchard (1669-?) : Husband of Sarah (maiden name is unknown)
10) John Birchard II (1671-1735) : Husband of Hannah Loomis Birchard
11) Joseph Birchard (1673-1755) : Husband of Elizabeth Lambert Birchard
12) Benjamin Birchard (1675-1675) : Died as an infant
13) Mary Birchard Hartshorn (1677-1719) : Wife of N. N. Hartshorn and then later Jonathan Hartshorn
After Christiana’s death, John married Jane Lee Hyde Birchard (1640-1722). She was the widow of Samuel Hyde who died in 1677. In addition to the children that Jane brought to their family from her previous marriage, they had two of their own. Their names were :
1) Lydia Birchard Raymond (after 1680-c1744) : Wife of Samuel Raymond
2) David Birchard (after 1680-c1740) : Husband of Lydia Backus Birchard, married May 9, 1720
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, pp 165-167, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
Geni.com
WikiTree.com
“The Connecticut Quarterly, Volume 3”, pp 296-297
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “John Birchard” in the SEARCH box.
Thomas Bliss Jr. (1618-1688)
Thomas Bliss sailed to the New World in 1635 with his father, also named Thomas. Before arriving in Norwich Thomas Bliss Jr. lived in Saybrook on his house-lot of thirty acres. It is recorded that he sold his Saybrook house-lot in 1662.
His 1659 house-lot in Norwich was located in the spot where present-day William W. Backus Hospital stands. Bliss’s original house stood on the site for seven generations.
The photo, shown on the left, is the Bliss House as seen circa 1895.
Evidently Thomas Bliss Jr. was a land developer. The early community leaders divided common lands into many small parcels. These parcels were granted to individuals based on the basis of needs for town growth and owner’s ability to clear and cultivate the land. When Thomas Bliss Jr. died, his estate included land on the Little Plain, the Great Plain, the Falls, Yantic Meadow, Beaver Brook Meadow (present-day Windham), a pasture east of town, and on Westward Hill (a.k.a. Wawekus Hill).
His real estate endeavors extended beyond the borders of Norwich. In circa 1680 he and Matthew Griswold were appointed as agents by the town of Saybrook to “lay out a lot of land to an Indian named The Giant”, near Black Point (present-day East Lyme). The area is still called “Giant’s Neck”.
FAMILY
Thomas Bliss Jr. was married to Elizabeth Birchard Bliss (1621-1699), the sister of John Birchard. They had eight children. The names of their children were :
1) Elizabeth Bliss Smith (1645-1689) : Wife of Edward Smith
2) Sarah Bliss Sluman Tracy (1647-1730) : Wife of Thomas Sluman II. After his death Sarah married Dr. Solomon Tracy, the son of Lt. Thomas Tracy
3) Mary Bliss Calkins (1649-1698) : Wife of David Calkins, the son of Deacon Hugh Calkins
4) Thomas Bliss III (1651-1681) : Record of marriage is unknown
5) Deliverance Bliss Perkins (1655-1731) : Wife of David Perkins
6) Samuel Bliss (1657-1729) : Husband of Anne Elderkin Bliss
7) Anne Bliss Rockwell (1660-1715) : Wife of Josiah Rockwell
8) Rebecca Bliss Lothrop (1663-1737) : Wife of Israel Lathrop
Thomas Bliss died in Norwich in 1688 and is buried in the Founders Cemetery in Norwich.
Acknowledgements
Geni.com
“What’s In a Name?”, by Olive Tubbs Chendali
“Old Houses of the Ancient Town of Norwich, 1600-1800”, Published 1895, pp xv and 350, by Mary Elizabeth Perkins
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Thomas Bliss” in the SEARCH box.
Morgan Bowers (16??-1701)
Very little is known of Morgan Bowers. It is known that that his Norwich home-lot was located between John Birchard’s home-lot and John Post’s home lot, adjacent to the Yantic River.
The following is a quote from Info Source 1 :
“Morgan Bowers came from that part of Saybrook which lay east of the river, and is now Lyme. His home-lot in those Lyme grants was on, or near Black Point, and had been in his possession about five years. Little is known concerning him, either before or after he removed to Norwich. He was on the jury of the county court in 1667, and again in 1680. No. trace is found of wife of children, but probably he had both. It was disreputable at that period for a man without a family to live as a householder by himself. In his old age, however, he seems to have been both lonely and infirm.
The following notice is recorded in 1701 :”
‘Morgan Bowers being unable to take care of and relieve himself, desireth, the town would please to take care of him and what estate he hath, that it should be disposed of at the discretion of some persons appointed by the town, for his maintenance.’
“The town accordingly appointed Lieut. Wm. Backus, Ensign Thomas Waterman, and Sergeant Caleb Abel, to take care of the said Morgan Bowers, and provide for him as his need requireth, by improving his own estate for that end as far as it will go, and for want of estate of his own to provide for him on the town account.”
“Nothing later has been found respecting him.”
It is believed that Morgan Bowers was probably married in 1695 to a woman name Sarah. However, no proof has been offered. There is no record of any descendants of Morgan Bowers.
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 168, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
“A Catalog of the Names of Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut, (1852)”, page 303, Royal Ralph Hinman
“Old Families of Norich Connecticut, Volume 1, Part 1, MDCLS TO MDCCC (1900)”, page 50, by Mary Elizabeth Perkins
John Bradford (c1618-1676)
John Bradford was born in Holland circa 1618. In 1620, he was the only child of William Bradford, the Pilgrim Governor of Plymouth Colony, who emigrated to the New World aboard the Mayflower. Despite being his parent’s only child at that point-in-time, John did not travel with his parents to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620. Thus, he is not considered in history as one of the Pilgrims.
He remained in Holland with his maternal grandparents and sailed to America with his grandfather in 1627. The photo shown on the left is of the Mayflower II, a replica of a ship similar to the one that John Bradford sailed to America on.
In 1645 John Bradford was listed as living in Duxbury Massachuessets. While in Duxbury, it was recorded that in 1652 he was a Deputy of the General Court and his rank was a Lieutenant. The next year, in 1653, he was living in Marshfield Massachusetts, where he also served as Deputy to the General Court..
It is unknown how or why Mr. Bradford became one of Norwich’s 35 first proprietors, but, it is known that his house-lot was recorded as one of the first lots in 1659. It was also recorded that he was one of the townsmen of Norwich in 1671, but his name seldom occurs on town records.
John Bradford’s will was read at the New London County Court in September 1676. After his death, his homestead reverted to his nephew Thomas Bradford, who sold it in 1691 to Simon Huntington Jr.
FAMILY
Father : William Bradford (before 1689-1657) : Governor of Plymouth Colony. Sailed to America on the Mayflower
Mother : Dorothy May Bradford (c1597-1620) : She was a passenger on the Mayflower, but she fell overboard and died by drowning in Cape Cod Harbor, never having set foot on American soil.
Wife : Sometime before 1650 John Bradford married Martha Bourne (c1614- between 1680-1683) of Marshfield Massachusetts.
Children : John and Martha did not have any children. After John’s death, Martha married Lt. Thomas Tracy, becoming his second wife.
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, pp 169-170, by Frances Manwaring Caulkin
Geni.com
WikiTree.com
FindAGrave.com
The News Review, 04/19/2020
Deacon Hugh Calkins (1603-1690)
Hugh Calkins was one of the first two Deacons of Rev. James Fitch’s Puritan congregation in Norwich. Deacon Thomas Adgate was the other.
According to Info Source 1, “Hugh Calkins was a radical, in religion a non-conformist, and living in the troublous times of Charles, the First, soon became satisfied that there were safer countries than England and Wales—for men who wished to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences.”
Accordingly, he with his wife, Ann, and John, their son, then four years old, joined a body of emigrants called the ‘Welch Company,’ and with their pastor, Rev. Richard Blinman, embarked and came to America, about 1638 or 1640.
He was an early settler and proprietor of Gloucester Massachusetts, New London and Norwich Connecticut. While living in Gloucester in 1650 and 1651 he was appointed as Deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts, and while in New London he was appointed as Deputy to the Connecticut Assembly twelve time.
Hugh Calkins became one of Norwich’s 35 first proprietors after moving from New London. In Norwich, between 1663 and 1671, he was appointed as Deputy to ten sessions of the Connecticut.
He was primarily employed in public business, being usually appointed to one of the committees for consultation, for drafting soldiers, for settling difficulties, for surveying lands and for determining boundaries. The offices he held imply that he possessed a considerable range of knowledge, and executive talent. Yet he seems to have had no early education, uniformly making only a bold H for his signature.
FAMILY
He married Ann Sarah Eaton in 1625. They had nine children who were all born prior to Hugh and Ann Sarah’s arrival in Norwich. Their children were :
1) Sarah Calkins Hough (1627-1683) : Wife of William Hough
2) Mary Calkins Bond (1629-1717) : Wife of Robert Bond
3) Margaret Calkins (1629-1629) : Lived for one day
4) Rebecca Calkins (Before November 1631 – 1651)
5) John Calkins (634-1702) : Husband of Sarah Royce Calkins
6) Deborah Calkins (1639-1639) : Lived for six months
7) David Calkins (1639-1717) : Husband of Mary Bliss Calkins the daughter of Thomas Bliss Jr.
8) Susan Calkins Hough (1640-?) : Wife of Samuel Hough
9) Deborah Calkins Royce Woodward (1643-1724) : Wife of Jonathan Royce and later John Woodward
Frances Manwaring Caulkins, one of Norwich’s finest historians, was a direct descendant of Deacon Hugh Calkins.
Hugh Calkins and his wife Ann are buried in the Old Norwichtown Cemetery in Norwich.
Acknowledgements
“Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, Vol. 2 (1910)”, page 919, by William Richard Cutter
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 171, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
WikiTree.com
Geni.com
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Deacon Hugh Calkins” in the SEARCH box.
John Calkins (1634-1702)
John Calkins was the oldest son of Deacon Hugh Calkins. It is recorded that John was one of the builders of the first mill dams in New London in 1651; seventeen years old at the time. Presumably, he lived with his parents in New London from 1651-1659. During that time period, his father was a New London townsman and was a Deputy to the Connecticut Assembly representing New London.
John married Jonathan Royce’s sister, Sarah, in New London in 1658. The next year he moved from New London to Norwich and became one of the original 35 proprietors. He served as selectman in 1671 and as a juror for the New London County court as late as 1691.
The John Calkins’s house-lot was located on corner of present-day West Town Street and Wawekus Street. His lot was next door to his father’s.
*Place cursor over image to magnify
STRAY ANIMALS, GATES & FENCES
There were “front” fences running along the fronts of the house-lots on West Town Street and “general” fences separating the lots side to side. A front fence had five rails and a general fence had three rails. The primary entry ways to the town were protected by the six gates shown on the left.
When settlers first arrived in Norwich the wooded area was filled with a large variety of plants and animals. Evidently, after the proprietors cleared the land and built their homes protection from stray animal and varmints was needed.
Two animal pounds were erected in 1669, one at each end of the town. It is believed that the pounds were fully populated with stray or lost cattle, goats and swine. A city ordinance, a system of fences, and gates was needed.
The next year, in 1670, the town passed an ordinance that stated, “It is ordered if any person shall pass with horse or cattle over the general fence and so come through the Little Plain, to or from the town, he shall pay a fine of 5 shillings” (about $60 in today’s $).
One of the duties of a townsman was to “secure the fields in which is our livelihood”. The townsmen made sure that the fences and gates were well maintained. It was repeatedly ordered that the front fences had to be in good working order by the first of March and the general fences had to be ready by the first of April of each year.
John Calkins became a townsman in 1671, soon after the fence ordinance went into effect. Gate #2, shown on the map, was directly in front of his property. He was surely involved in building and maintenance of the fence system.
FAMILY
John married Sarah Royce Calkins (1634-1711), Jonathan Royce’s sister, in 1658 in New London Connecticut. They had nine children. John died on January 8, 1702 and Sarah died May 1, 1711. Their children were :
1) Hugh Calkins II (1659-1722) : Husband of Sarah Sluman Calkins and later Lois Sprague Calkins. Lois Sprague was the granddaughter of Capt. Miles Standish of the Mayflower.
2) John J. Calkins Jr. ( 1661-1755) : Husband of Abigail Birchard Calkins, the daughter of John Birchard
3) Infant (1662) : Died as an infant
4) Samuel Hugh Calkins (1663-1755) : Husband of Hannah Gifford Calkins, the daughter of Stephen Gifford
5) Sarah Calkins Baldwin (1665-1748) : Wife of Thomas Baldwin, the son of John Baldwin
6) David Calkins (March 1667) : Died as an infant
7) Mary Calkins Gifford (1669-1748) : Wife of Samuel Gifford, the son of Stephen Gifford
8) Elizabeth Calkins Hyde : (1673-c1752) : Wife of Samuel Hyde Jr., the son of Samuel Hyde
9) Ann Calkins (1678-1703)
He and his wife Sarah are buried in the Old Norwichtown Cemetery in Norwich.
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, (pp 172,99) , by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
WikiTree.com
FindAGrave.com