Christopher Darrow

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Christopher Darrow (bp. 1678–1757/9), son of George Darrow and Mary Unknown

Elizabeth Packer (1679––1758), daughter of John Packer and Lydia Latham

Christopher, the son of George Darrow, was baptized on 1 December 1678 in New London. [1] He died between 4 March 1757 and 11 December 1759. He married Elizabeth Packer on 27 June 1701 in New London. [2]

Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Packer, was born on 25 March 1679 in New London. [2] She died in February 1758.

Elizabeth’s gravestone on what was once a Darrow farm in New London says, "In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Darrow, wife of Mr. Christopher Darrow, who died in February 1758, aged 78 years. She was a mother to 8 children, 43 grand-children, 30 great grand-children. Has had 100 [3escendants?]" [3]

Elizabeth was a granddaughter of Cary Latham. [3]

Christopher and his wife owned the covenant on 8 August 1703 in New London, the same day that their son Christopher was baptized. [1]

Elizabeth, the wife of Christopher, was admitted to the church in New London on 9 September 1711. [1]

Christopher Darrow of New London made his will on 4 March 1757. His heirs were his wife Elizabeth; his sons Jedidiah, George, John, William and Lemuel; his daughters Lydia and Elizabeth. Witnesses testified on 11 December 1759. Inventory, amounting to about 250 pounds, was taken on 8 January 1760. The estate was divided on 5 March 1761; at that time Lydia is referred to as Lydia Crittenden. [4]

Children of Christopher Darrow and Elizabeth Packer: Baptisms of the children recorded in New London, as children of Christopher; births recorded in New London as children of Christopher and Elizabeth. [1][2]

i. Christopher Darrow was born on 22 October 1702. He was baptized on 8 August 1703. He probably died after 5 March 1761. He married Sarah Haines of New London on 22 December 1726 in New London. [1] She may be the Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Haines, born on 8 August 1708 in New London. [2]

ii. Ebenezer Darrow was born on 12 August 1704. He died on 10 October 1756. [5] He was baptized on 13 August 1704. He married Abiah (or Abi) Rogers of New London on 17 April 1727 in New London or Lyme. [1][2] Abiah might be the Abby, daughter of James (Joseph) Rogers and Sarah Stevens, born on 28 March 1708 in New London. [2] Ebenezer and Abiah are buried on the Old Darrow Farm Cemetery in Waterford. [6]

Ebenezer moved to Lyme. [5]

Ebenezer wrote his will on 6 July 1755. He mentioned his wife Abi and his children. Witnesses testified on 10 October 1756. [4]

iii. John Darrow was born on 11 August 1706. He was baptized on 18 August 1706. He probably died after 5 March 1761. He might be the John Darrow, late of New London, who married Sarah, the daughter of Eleazer Hanford, on 30 October 1735 in Norwalk. [7]

iv. Lydia Darrow was born on 3 August 1708. She died after 5 March 1761. She married Thomas Cruttenden, Jr., of Guilford on 4 September or October 1726 in New London. [1] Thomas was probably the son of Thomas and Abigail (Hull) Cruttenden. [2]

v. George Darrow was born on 17 March 1711/2. He died between 4 March 1757 and 5 March 1761. He married Phebe Palmer.

vi. Samuel Darrow was born on 29 January 1713/4. He was baptized on 31 January 1713/4. He died before 18 October 1737 when Christopher Darrow, Jr. and Benjamin Billing of New London posted a bond of 100 pounds for the administration of the estate of Samuel Darrow, late of New London, deceased. [4]

vii. William Darrow was born on 30 August 1715. He was baptized on 4 September 1715. He died on 12 March 1795, age 79, in New London. [8]

viii. Lemuel Darrow was born on 9 or 10 April 1717. He was baptized on 14 April 1717. He married first as her second husband Preserved (Pelton) Randall on 19 September 1751 in Groton. [2][9] Preserved, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Rose) Pelton, was born on 24 June 1722 in Groton. She married first Captain Jonathan Randall. Lemuel probably married second Martha Palmer on 17 July 1760 in North Stonington. [10] Martha was probably the daughter of William Palmer .

Lemuel Darrow of Stonington, “being in a low state of health,” probably made his will in 1809, although it is dated 1709. He mentioned his wife Martha and his children. It was witnessed by Capt. Sanford Palmer [the son of #4] and [his wife] Wealthy Palmer, who testified on 29 March 1809. Inventory was taken on 28 April 1809 and amounted to $130.85. [4]

ix. Elizabeth Darrow was born on 27 June 1719. She was baptized on 11 October 1719. She probably died after 5 March 1761. Elizabeth, the daughter of Christopher, married Daniel, the son of Benjamin Lester, deceased, of New London, on 25 September or 27 October 1739 in New London. [1][2]

x. Jedidiah Darrow was born on 10 August 1721. He was baptized on 8 October 1721. He probably died after 5 March 1761. Jedidiah, the son of Christopher, married Prudence, the daughter of John Bailey of Groton, on 27 March 1752 in New London or Groton, New York. [2][11]

Jedidiah was received into the covenant at the church in New London on 5 October 1760. [1]

xi. Ichabod Darrow was born on 20 June 1723. He was baptized on 14 July 1723. He probably died before 4 March 1757, when he was not mentioned in his father’s will.

Endnotes

1. "Connecticut, U.S., Church Record Abstracts, 1630–1920, database with images, Ancestry > (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3032) > vol. 79 New London: Christopher's baptism , Christopher and Elizabeth own the covenant, Elizabeth and Jedidiah admitted to the church, baptisms of the children, marriages of Christopher Jr., Ebenezer, and Lydia. John's name is not given in his baptism record (125–8)

2. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org >

New London: Christopher and Elizabeth's marriage, births of children, Elizabeth Jr.'s marriage (87–89), Elizabeth's birth (226), birth of Sarah Haines (113),Abby Rogers’s birth record and James Roger’s marriage (252, 257).

Lyme: Ebenezer’s marriage (51)

Guilford: Lydia's marriage, Thomas's marriage (61)

Groton: Lemuel’s marriage , Preserved’s birth (49).

3. Frances Mainwaring Caulkins, History of New London, Connecticut (New London: H.T. Utley, 1895), 347.

4. Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609–1999," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9049) > Hartford >

Probate Packets, Copp, D–Dart, Edmund, 1675–1850 > images 1012–29, Christopher Darrow

Probate Packets, Copp, D.–Dart, Edmund, 1675–1850, images 1036–56, Ebenezer Darrow

Probate Packets, Copp, C.–Dart, Edmund, 1675–1850 > images 1182–4, Samuel Darrow

Probate Packets, Covil–Dean, 1766–1875 > images 860–5, Lemuel Darrow.

5. Donald Lines Jacobus, "Notes on Connecticut Families: Zadock Darrow of Waterford," The American Genealogist 39 (1963), 191.

6. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 24 June 2023), memorial pages for

Ebenezer Darrow (12 Aug 1704–10 Oct 1756), Memorial ID 25466986, citing Darrow Farm Cemetery, Waterford, New London County, Connecticut; Maintained by 47117651 (contributor 47117651).

Abiah Rogers Darrow (28 Mar 1708–11 Mar 1779), Memorial ID 25467022, citing Darrow Farm Cemetery; Maintained by Sherry Templin (Hicks Giese) (contributor 47303031).

7. Edwin Hall, Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn. (Norwalk: James Mallory & Co., 1847), 219.

8. "Connecticut, U.S., Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934,"database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2900) > Connecticut Newspaper Notices vol. 53 > image 106.

9. Janis K. Arnold, “James Adams, of Westerly, Rhode Island,” Connecticut Nutmegger 17 (1984).

10. Alfred L. Holman, Blackman and Allied Families (n.p., privately printed for N.L. Blackman, 1928), 153.

11. William J. Doty, Charles E. Congdon and Lewis H. Thornton, Historic Annals of Southwestern New York, vol. 3 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Col, 1940), 398.

Revised June 26, 2023