John Marsh of Hartford and His

JOHN MARSH OF HARTFORD AND HIS[1]

DESCENDANTS.

"Honor thy father and thy mother."

I. JOHN1 MARSH,

Of England, Hartford, Ct. and Hadley, Mass., b. prob. 1618? in England, m. (1) abt. 1642, at

Hartford, Ct., No. 2.

2. Anne, dau. Gov. John Webster. They had eight children, all born at Hartford. The family removed

to Hadley in 1660, and, shortly after, Anne d. June 9, 1662, and he m. (2) Oct. 7, 1664, No. 3.

3. Hepzibah (Ford) Lyman, wid. Richard, dau. Thos. Ford of Hartford. She d. April 11, 1683, and

John Marsh d. 28, Sept. 1688, ?? 70, at Windsor, Ct., prob. while on a visit to his daughter Hannah

Loomis living there. Children, by first wife:

4. John, b. abt. 1643; m. Sarah Lyman, 45.

5. Samuel, b. abt. 1645; m. Mary Allison, 2821.

6. Joseph, bap. Jan. 24, 1617.

7. Isaac, bap. July 15, 1649; d. y.

8. Jonathan, b. Sept., 1649; m. Wid. Dorcas Dickinson, 3721.

9. Daniel, b. abt. 1653; m. Hannah Lewis, 3987.

10. Hannah, b. prob. 1655; m. Joseph Loomis, 14.

11. Grace, b. prob. 1657; m. Timothy Baker, 22.

By second wife:

12. Lydia, b. Oct. 9, 1667; m. David Loomis, 25.

John1 Marah had an adopted daughter.

13. Grace (Martin) Marsh; m. Nathaniel Phelp??, 34. She was the daughter of his sister Lydia (Marsh)

Martin. (Other Children Listed by his second wife).

3987 = 9. DANIEL2 MARSH

b. at Hartford, Ct., about 1653, son of John1 Marsh of Hartford and Hadley, and Anne Webster,

dau. of Gov. John Webster of Connecticut, came with his father and family when seven years of age

to Hadley, Mass. He must have remembered all his life the breaking up at Hartford below and the

journey up the beautiful river and the founding of the new town, Norwottock, in the broad valley

where red men had wandered for ages in sight of Mt. Holyoke and Mt. Tom, and the higher Green

mountain ranges east and west. He must have always remembered the death of his mother's father,

Gov. Webster, whose home was with them, coming as that blow did to the new coloay within a year

of the settlement; and his burial April 5, 1661, he could not forget, nor the death of his mother June

6, 1662. In 1675 and 1676 there was serious trouble with the Indians and his brother and he were

led to marry young widows whose first husbands had been not long slain. He m. Nov. 5, 1676, No.

3987.

3987. Widow Hannah (Lewis) Crow, whose husband Samuel "was slain at Fallsfight, May 18,

1676," less than six months before. Hannah3 Lewis was dau. of William2 and Mary (Hopkins)

Lewis, who lived and died at Farmington, Ct. William2 was son of William1 and Felix Lewis who

came to America in 1632. This earliest William Lewis was a resident of Braintree and Cambridge,

Mass., then of Hartford's first settlers in 1636 and in 1660 a founder of Hadley. He represented

Hadley in 1662 and Northampton in 1664. He removed to Farmington, Ct. before Nov. 29, 1677.

The Lewis home lot in Hadley was bought by Daniel Marsh and occupied later by two of Daniel's

sons. But Daniel himself never resided there. Shortly after marriage we find him and his brother

Jonathan at the lot which had belonged to John Crow. John Crow removed to Hartford and

Jonathan and Daniel Marsh bought his lot. On or before the death of his father, Daniel removed to

the home lot and remained there for life. In 1669 we first find his name signed to a public

document. He became one of the principal landowners in the town, in 1701 standing second as to

quantity and in 1720, fourth in valuation. In 1699 he was assigned a lot on Pine Plain 16 rods by 80,

eight acres, which included the tract where now stand the town house and meeting house and his

son Capt. Job Marsh lived for a while at that corner of Middle street. For 13 different years between

his 29th and 62d year, 1682 and 1715, he was chosen one of the selectmen. He was sent

representative to Boston in 1692 and often afterward. In 1689 he was on an important committee

as to the grammar school. He sent his third son to Harvard college 1701-1705. He d. Feb. 24, 1725,

‘. 72. After 168 years his gravestone may be seen with those of 22 of his children and their

descendants, in his burial lot in Hadley graveyard.

Children:

3988. Daniel2, b. Oct. 29, 1677; d. unm. Feb. 15, 1770, ‘. 92. He

lived on the original John1 Marsh place where his

father had lived before him and where his brother Ebenezer3

and Ebenezer4, Jr., succeeded him.

3989. John, b. March 9, 1679; m. (1) Joanna Porter, 3996.

3990. Joseph, b. Jan. 16, 1685; m. Anne Fiske, 4026.

3991. Ebenezer, b. April 22, 1688; m. (1) Mary Parsons, 4041.

3992. Job, b. June 11, 1690; m. (1) Mehitable Porter, 4049.

3993. A daughter, b. and d. 1692.

3994. Hannah, b. May 17, 1694; m. Daniel? Kent, 4057.

3995. William, b. Jan. 3, 1697; m. Hannah Porter, 4059.

Hannah Lewis had eleven children. The three young Crows,

born before her marriage to Daniel Marsh, were of

course brought into his family and brought up with his

children. They married well. See History of Hadley.

4049 = 3992. CAPT. JOB3 MARSH

b. at Hadley, Mass., June 11, 1690, son of Daniel2 and Hannah (Lewis) Marsh, (John1); m. (1)

Sept. 24, 1713. No. 4049.

4049. Mehitable4 Porter, b. Sept. 12, 1694. dau. of Hon. Samuel3 and Joanna (Cooke) Porter.

(Samuel2, John1) of Windsor.?? Ct. He built a house, in 1715 as tradition says, on the south east

corner of Pine Plain street and the middle highway to the woods where the town hall and First

church now (1895) stand. That land, eight acres, 80 by 16 rods, was given to Daniel2 Marsh. April

5, 1699, in a division by the town. At the same time a similar lot immediately south was allotted to

Experience2 Porter whose dau. Hannah m. 1722, William2 Marsh and lived there next to Capt. Job4

his brother.

Town records mention Capt. Job3 Marsh, first 1719, fence viewer, 1724, committee on cutting

staddles (the town made persistent efforts to save young trees) 1725 fence viewer, 1727 till death in

1746, 19 years, town clerk, also both town clerk and treasurer, except one year, from 1738 till

death, and in 1738 also selectman and assessor, 1744 committee on highway to Pelham, 1745 to

prosecute trespassers.

Pierce's diary calls him Capt. and also his monument gives him that title. Hon. Samuel Porter,

importer, representative, judge and county sheriff, d. July 29, 1722, leaving to his family an estate

of over œ10,000, œ196 in goods were on way from London; 1642 acres of land in Brookfield were to

be equally divided among his seven children. He left in his will œ700 to his dau. Mehitable Marsh.

He had lived on the Stanley lot which came into possession of Capt. Job Marsh; just when does not

appear nor how soon he moved there from Pine Plain street, where he was recorded in 1720.

(History Hadley, p. 286.) In 1731 he is recorded at the Stanley lot. (See History Hadley, p. 291.)

June 9, 1733 he bought of Joseph3 Smith a home lot of five acres with its buildings next north from

his own Stanley lot for œ190 in bills of credit. He evidently sold the lot where the town hall and

First church now (1895) stand in 1742. The deed says "3d Nov., 1742, Job Marsh of Hadley sells to

Josiah Pierce, Gentleman a certain Homelot containing eight acres more or less bounded north on a

highway, south William Marsh deceased or his heir William Marsh a minor, west on the Pine Plain

street and east on Isaac Selden, with a Dwelling House, Well, Barn, Hovelling, Orcharding,

Fencing, etc." And J. Pierce's diary reads, "Feb. 28, 1743, This day I receive deed of homelot of Mr.

Marsh at 330 pounds." "May 17, 1743, Mr. Marsh moves out of my house." These two extracts will

interest descendants of Judge Perez4 Marsh of Berkshire Co., son of Capt. Job3. "Sept. 9, 1741.

Received of Mr. Job Marsh œ1, 48, in or for buying several books." "Aug. 15, 1744. Go to

Cambridge and offer Perez Marsh to college. (Accepted.)" Mr. Job Marsh must have had tenants in

one or more of his houses. Mehitable (Porter) Marsh d. July 13, 1739, ‘. 44. He m. (2) Sept. 19,

1742, No. 4050.

4050. Rebecca Pratt of Hartford, Ct. He d. Aug. 29, 1746. His will, dated Aug. 15, 1746, gives to

his beloved wife Rebecca "one hundred pounds old tenor out of my personal estate and my negro

man Robin to be at her own disposal forever, and the improvement of the third part of my real

estate during the time of her remaining my widow." After special gifts to Moses, Perez and Joseph

he adds, "To my sons Samuel and Daniel the remainder of my Real and Personal estate." In the

division Samuel had the five acre home lot and buildings north side and Daniel the five acre lot and

buildings south. Before 1770 Capt. Moses4, son of Job?? had the five acre home lot next north (the

original Andrew Bacon lot) and the families of these three brothers were side by side. Mrs. Rebecca

Marsh soon removed to Hartford, Ct. and was buried there in the old church yard Sept. 29, 1768.

4049 = 3992. CAPT. JOB3 MARSH – MEHITABLE4 PORTER

Children:

4051. A daughter4, b. and d. Oct. 18, 1714.

4052. Moses, b. March 20, 1718; m. Hannah Cook, 4501.

4053. Samuel, b. April 19, 1721; m. Phebe Porter, 4565.

4054. Daniel. b. Jan. 28, 1725; m. Hannah Parsons, 4594.

4055. Perez, b. Oct. 25, 1729; m. Sarah Williams, 4680.

By second wife.

4056. Joseph, b. Nov. 6, 1743; d. Sept. 22, 1746.

THE BERKSHIRE LINE. JUDGE PEREZ MARSH AND HIS

DESCENDANTS OF DALTON AND PITTSFIELD,

BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MASS.

4680 = 4055. DR. AND JUDGE PEREZ4 MARSH

b. at Hadley, Mass., Oct. 25, 1729, son of Capt. Job3 and Me??hitable (Porter) Marsh, (Daniel2,

John1.) J. Pierce's diary gives hints as to early education of Perez: "Sept. 9, 1841. Received of Mr.

Job Marsh œ1,?? 48??, in order for buying of several books." "Aug. 15, 1744. Go to Cambridge

and offer Perez Marsh to college (acc??pted)." Josiah Pierce was a graduate of Harvard college

1735 and a notable man. (See No. 3746.) Perez graduated at Harvard college, 1748, was A. M.

1754 at both Harvard and Yale. He probably studied with Dr. Thomas Williams, at any rate he was

his surgeon's mate in the French and Indian war of 1755, and made report of the entire loss,

American and English, in the different regiments at the battle of Lake George, Sept. 8, 1755, when

Col. Ephraim Williams, the founder of Williams college, was killed. The following paragraph is

from the account of that battle in the History of the Williams Family.

"According to a return made by Dr. Perez?? Marsh, surgeon's mate in Col. Williams' regiment, the

loss on the part of the English and Americans in both the engagements, was 216 killed and 96

wounded, making a total of 312 and a few missing. Col. Williams' regiment suffered the most, 46

were killed, 20 wounded and several missing." Dr. Perez is also spoken of as "attending to divers

sick men at Fort Lyman."

He had been brought into contact with the Williams family by the fact that his uncle John?? Marsh

No. 3996 had married Sarah Williams No. 3998, who was sister of Rev. William Williams of

Hatfield and aunt of his surgeon, Dr. Thomas Williams and of Col. Ephraim in whose regiment he

was surgeon's mate. This also led on to his relation to Sarah Williams, who was dau. of Col. Israel,

son of Rev. William Williams.

The tradition in the Marsh family, handed down from the fair Sarah3, is that the gallant Colonel

Ephraim4 who was over 40, desired to marry Sarah5 who was 19 and dau. of his half cousin Col.

Israel4. Isaac2 Williams (son of Robert1) had, by first wife, Martha Park, a son, Rev. William3 and

by second wife Judith Cooper, had children Sarah3 (who m. John3 Marsh) and Ephraim3 of

Stockbridge, Mass., father of Col. Ephraim4 and Dr. Thomas4. Col. Ephraim4 sought Sarah3.

Sarah declined. He offered to make his will giving all his property to her before starting for Lake

George.

She still preferred the surgeon's mate aged 25, to the Colonel of 40 and at Albany the will was

made which gave his property to Williams college.

We find, soon after the battle of Lake George, that Dr. Perez Marsh settled on the eastern edge of

Pittsfield, the date is uncertain although said to be 1755. He is always spoken of as first of the

settlers in what is now Dalton. It was called the Ash??lot Equivalent being given in exchange for

lands in New Hampshire. This led the Hadley book to state p. 534, that Perez Marsh "was a

physician in Pittsfield," and p. 603, "Sarah (Williams) m. (???) Marsh and resided in Ashuelot, N.

H.," which was not the case. Dr. Perez Marsh m. about 1759, No. 4680.

4680. Sarah Williams, b. 1736, he aged 30 and she 23, dau. of Col. Israel Williams and Sarah

Chester. The children of these parents will be interested in the parentage of their foremother Sarah

Williams. Through her mother, Sarah Chester, we all are descended from:

1. William1 Chester of London and of Bornet, Hertford Co.

2. Leonard2 Chester and Bridget2 Sharpe, dau. John1.

3. John3 Chester and Dorothy2 Hooker of Hartford, sister of the

famous Rev. Thomas3 and dau. Thomas1 of England.

4. Leonard4 Chester of England, b. 1609, of Watertown 1633,

of Wethersfield later, d. 1648, ‘. 39, and his wife Mary

Wade Sharpe, dau. Nicholas.

5. Capt. John5 Chester, lived 1635-1697 and Sarah Welles 1631-1698,

dau. Hon. Thomas Welles, Colonial Governor Connecticut

and Elizabeth Hunt.

6. Major John6 Chester, 1656-1711, Judge and Speaker and Hannah

Talcott, 1666-1741, dau. Capt. Samuel Talcott and

Hannah Holyoke, b. 1644, dau. Elizur Holyoke and

Mary Pynchon, dau. William Pynchon founder of Springfield.

Elizur was son of Edward Holyoke at Lynn,

1639 who m. 1612 our ancestor, Prudence Stockton, dau.

Rev. John of Kinholt, England.

7. Sarah7 Chester, 1707-1770, m. Col. Israel Williams, 1709-1789.

Through Sarah (Williams) Marsh's father, Col. Israel, we all come from his mother, Christian

Stoddard, who lived 1676-1764, and her ancestry. She was dau. of Rev. Solomon, 1643-1729,

Harvard college 1662, minister at Northampton 56 years and the remarkable Esther Warham who

lived 92 years, 1644-1736, dau. of Rev. John Warham, first minister of Windsor, Ct. and Jane,

widow of Thomas Newbury. Rev. Solomon was son of Hon. Anthony Stoddard, 1618-1686, to

Boston 1639, and Mary Downing (sister Sir George afterwards Lord Downing) dau. Hon. Emanuel

and Lucy3 Winthrop, b. Jan. 9, 1600, (they both joined Salem church Nov. 1, 1638) sister Gov.

John and dau. Adam3 Winthrop, b. London, Aug. 10, 1548, m. 1579, Anne Brown, who had a

French Bible, d. 1629, dau. of Henry of Edwardston, clothier and Agnes Brown, d. Dec. 17, 1590,

son of Adam2 Winthrop, 1498-1562, Lord of the Manor Groton and Patron of the living, (m. 1534

Agnes Sharpe, 1616-1665, dau. of Robert,) son of Adam1 Winthrop and Joanna Burton. (Those

who wish can trace in the Stoddard book their ancestry back from Hon. Anthony b. 1618 to William

Stoddard, Knight who came, 1066, with his cousin William the Conqueror from Normandy to

England.)

The Williams descent is from Robert1, d. Sept. 1, 1693?? and Elizabeth Stratton d. July 28, 1674.

(They came over 1638.) Capt. Isaac??, 1638-1708 and Martha Park, Rev. William3 Williams 1665

to 1741, a minister 56 years at Hatfield, Mass., called by his nephew, Jonathan Edwards, son of

Esther Stoddard, "a great divine of very comprehensive knowledge;" "Christ was the great subject

of his preaching;" and Dr. Chauncey in his sketch of eminent men in New England calls him "a

greater man" than his father-in-law, Rev. Solomon Stoddard, who, Elliott says, "has always been

considered one of the greatest divines in New England",?? Chauncey also thinks him greater than

any of his sons who were all men of mark. His son Col. Israel4 Williams, living 1709-1789,

Harvard college 1729, active in French and Indian wars 1744 and 1755, commissary under Col.

John Stoddard of Northampton (one of the three so called "river gods" who m. Prudence Chester

sister of Col. Israel's wife) and upon Col. Stoddard's death, succeeded him and was charged with

the plan of the entire system of works to protect all Western Massachusetts and Western New

Hampshire. He had command of all the forces and garrisons from the Connecticut to the

Housatonic and the Hudson. "Probably no man in the country during the war of 1755 rendered

more efficient aid than Col. Williams." That was a school for the revolution. It makes us sad to say

that his very loyalty to King and old England and the flag he had served under, made him a tory.

"While confined in the jail at Northampton for his political sentiments, his dau. a girl of 17, (about

1770) carried him his daily food from Hatfield, submitting to the greatest indignities

from suspicious opposers." To day of her death in Pittsfield, ‘. 81, Dec. 11, 1834, she spoke of the

revolutionary war as rebellion and of herself as a subject of the English crown. She was a woman of

great wit and brilliancy, became wife of John Chandler Williams and in her dying room, taking the

communion bread with the rector's words "Take and ??at this in remembrance that Christ died for

thee," irrepressibly replied, "That I will!" The people of Hatfield after the revolution grew more

lenient, and being cured of their hostility to Col. Williams they were accustomed as for the minister

when he entered or left church, so also to rise and continue standing while Col. Israel passed to his

seat or the open air.

On the way to and from French and Indian battle fields, men of Hampshire found out the beauty

and promise of the Housatonic valley and Berkshire Hills. There four of Col. Israel Williams' eight

children settled, two at Pittsfield Center, and two, three miles c??ast, in Ashuelot Equivalent,

afterwards Dalton. At the center were Eunice, wife of Maj. Israel Stoddard, and Lucretia, who had

c??ared for her father in Northampton jail, now the wife of John Chandler Williams, Esq., Harvard

college 1778, whose three children m. one, Hon. Edward Newton; another, Moses Hayden, member

of congress; a third, Harris Seymour of Canandaigua, N. Y.

Dea. William Williams and Dr. Perez and Sarah (Williams) Marsh settled as neighbors close by the

eastern Pittsfield border, in full sight of Pittsfield, on the slope whose ridge a little higher up

commands a view of Greylock on the north and westward all the Housatonic valley, and the

scalloped Taconic range toward wonderful sunsets, and through the gap where the Boston &

Albany railway passes out of New England into New York, a glorious view of the mighty Catskill

mountains.

At the age of 35 in 1764 Dr. Perez Marsh was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for

Berkshire county and held the office for 16 years until 1781. Judge Perez and Sarah (Williams)

Marsh joined the Pittsfield church in 1765, the next year after it was formed. Rev. Thomas Allen

was their pastor and their daughter m. the famous parson's son. Five daughters married very