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Lieutenant Thomas Minor (bp. 1608–1690)

Grace Palmer (bp. 1608–1690), the daughter of Walter Palmer

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Thomas Minor, the son of Clement Minor, was baptized on 23 April 1608 in Chew Magna, county Somerset, England. [1] He died on 23 October 1690 in Stonington. [2] He married Grace Palmer on 23 April 1634 in Charlestown. [3]

Grace Palmer was born about 1614. She died after 22 February 1684/5.

Thomas’s gravestone in the Ancient Burial Ground in Stonington says: [4]

HERE LYES THE BODY OF LIVTENANT
THOMAS MINER AGED 83 DEPARATED 1690.

Thomas migrated to New England in 1632 and settled in Charlestown. He was admitted to the church there as a founding member on 2 November 1632 and he was made a freeman on 4 March 1633/4. He moved to Hingham in 1636. [3]

Thomas Minor was one of the founders of Pequot, or what he called Pequit, now New London. He arrived in 1645 and received a lot and built a house on it that year. [5, 4–5] On 17 May 1649 John Winthrop was temporarily assigned to settle matters of small differences in Pequot and Thomas was assigned to be one of his two assistants.  Thomas was also appointed a military sergeant. [6, vol. 1, 186–7]

Thomas Minor and Jonathan Brewster were the first deputies from Pequot in May 1650. [7, 65] Thomas was deputy to the Connecticut court from New London in September 1650, May 1651 and September 1651. [3] In 1652 he went to Stonington, acquired a tract of land by Wequetequock Cove and that year and the next he built a house on it. [5, 4–5]

On 17 January 1652/3 he wrote a letter to John Winthrop, saying: [3]

They deal with me for living so remote that they have no society with me but as a heathen or an Indian. They see my face only there a Sabbath days and away and yet the last time I was at the sacrament Mr. Blinman professed I was such a burden unto him that he could not tell how to administer the ordinances when I am present there for there the wickedness of my wife’s heart and mine was such that he could not bear it in taking our son from him.

On 30 June 1652 New London granted 300 acres to Governor Haynes, which he sold to Thomas’s father-in-law Walter Palmer. This land contained Thomas’s house and lands. By a contract dated 15 July 1653, Walter and the governor agreed that Walter should pay Thomas 100 pounds in compensation and Mr. Haynes would select an equivalent amount of cattle out of Walter’s stock. By a deed of 4 April 1654, Cary Latham of Pequot sold to Thomas Minor of Pequot his farm—a neck of land lying upon the east side of the Mystic River and next to Captain Mason’s land, bounded to the north by Amos Richardson’s land. In December 1654 Thomas received a town grant of land joining Walter Palmer’s at Pockatuck. Thomas’s 1653 contract allowed him the right to live on the land conveyed to Walter until he could build a house at Mistuxet (later Quimbaug). [8, 9, 15]

On 8 February 1653 Thomas made his will (the first of many), leaving everything to his wife Grace. He also left her “the whole disposing of my children.” [9,7]

On 2 April Thomas wrote to John Winthrop,“I desire to acquaint you with God’s mercy to me and my wife and little one bringing us safe along through the country though very weary having not the help of any horse but came all the way fro the trading house to Poquatucke on foot.” [3]

Thomas began a diary in late autumn 1653. On 2 December 1653 he says that Mr. Haynes’ cattle were delivered and in May 1654 his brothers [in-law] came with cattle from his father-in-law. In the winter of 1653/4, Thomas recorded that he went to the mill brook, which he called Pequetequoc, to prepare timber and in the spring he began at the farm at Mistukset. In August he began to frame his house. In October he raised the roof and a barn. In November he began having a chimney and stonewalls made. [9]

Thomas was a farmer and in his diary he describes his life on his farm. In the early spring he sowed hemp, oats, parsnips, grey and white peas, wheat, corn and rye and he pruned his trees. In the summer he weeded, mowed, made hay, reaped his crops and planted turnips and, later, he sowed winter wheat. In the winter he threshed wheat, rye, oats and corn and combed flax. In the spring of 1661 he planted apple trees and after that he gathered apples and made cider in the autumn. Sometimes he mentions cabbage and, once, squashes. After 1668 he began growing hops. Thomas had cattle, swine, horses and goats. Without proper enclosures they would wander off and he recounts losing them, searching for them and bringing them home. Only the cows had names: Gentle, Brown, White and Kent.

On 5 March 1654, presumably for tax purposes, he gave a list of what he had to Captain George Denison. He owned four oxen, five cows, four yearlings, ten acres of land on the river at Pequit and the farm that he bought from Cary Latham.

Thomas had a falling out with the church at Pequot and on 28 August 1654 he was called to meet with members and be reconciled. He recorded that they all took satisfaction in his acknowledging “the height of my spirit,” and in his seeing the evil of his rash speaking to Mr. Blinman.

In the spring and summer of 1655 Thomas raised the frame on his chimney and covered his house. He bought a canoe. In the autumn and winter of 1655/6 he did the funnel of his chimney and finished the floor of the barn and raised its roof and began to thatch it. On 2 January 1656, Thomas wrote that he bought 252 acres from Cary Latham. His farm was laid out at Tagwonk. In the spring and summer of 1656 he bought wine, broke his scythe and made a trip to Boston. In the autumn and winter of 1656/7 he daubed the house and finished the sheep yard. He laid out his father[-in-law]’s land at Tagwonk and went to New Haven. [His son] John killed a deer and [his son] Thomas brought home a canoe that John had found.

George Denison, Thomas Parke, Thomas Minor, Thomas Stanton, and Samuel Chesebrough laid out the bounds of Sotherton (later Stonington) on 2 March 1659. [hst]

In the spring and summer of 1657 he finished cutting clapboards and cleaving the bolts and he opened the well. He was appointed to go the court at Hartford; he trained at Mystick; he went to Narragansett and to the seabrooke mill. He wrote, “I was ill in my throat yt weecke Ephraim had the ague.” In the winter and autumn of 1657/8 he finished cleaving the clapboards and finished the side of his house and got ribs for it. He looked for his canoe and went to Providence; he was sick on his back, [his daughter] Hannah burned her hand and [his son] Joseph had the measles. In the spring and summer of 1658 he mended the barn, dug a cellar and finished a stone wall. He went to Boston and Fisher’s Island.

On 12 October Thomas became ill and took to his bed. On 22 November he, “begun to sit up.” On 5 December he, “first went abroade but every night continued burning and weake.” On 10 December he, “was abel to bracke hempe a little.” On 7 February he had recovered enough to prune trees. 

On 21 February 1658/9 he “was questioned at my ffathers [Walter Palmer’s] for being a leader to make a division 2ly to take ye Captains [George Denison] power from him 3ly that ([he] would) deliver the Captaine if he was demanded 4ly for lightness at town.”

A wolf killed three sheep in January 1658/9. Thomas’s wife was very sick. In April Thomas finished the orchard fence and the goat yard and he planted. In May the wolf killed five sheep and 12 kids. Thomas finished his cellar. In September John had a son and the gelding threw Thomas. In November Thomas’s wife had “that fit of sickness with the Redspots” and they killed a bear.

In October 1658 Captain Denison came to his house and Thomas wrote that he, “submitted my selve to the Town of misticke & poquatucke being called southern Towne by the Court.” In early 1660 Thomas went to a meeting about the town meeting house and they began running the town line. In 1660 Thomas went to Boston to assist in Indian affairs, writing in June, “I set my hand to ye agreement between Major Alerton & the other englisg & the .3. narraganset sachems.” He paid ten shillings to have two wolves killed. He recorded an eclipse of the moon and on Christmas day he received a letter from his cousin in Cambridge, England.

In January 1660/1 Thomas’s daughter Mary died. He wrote

The leventh month is Januarie 31 days & tusday the first thursday the .3. we killed the sow Tuesday the .8. I made an end of threshing of the wheate in the north end of the barne the same day it snowed I had .20. Bushels of wheate Marie was sicke & tusday the .15. Marie continued verie sicke & I fetched nonie at starts & tusday the .22 thursday .24. Marie died about six oclocke we had .40. bushels of wheate we fetched in the pease …

In March Thomas wrote that his Indian had begun his time. In May he and Captain Denison were at Court in New London but were denied the records that they wanted until the Governor assented. In June Captain Gookin came and they “laid out walter palmer his land yt was given to Captain denson.” He went to Boston. In July he went to sebrooke and Fisher’s Island; he fetched green ginger. In August his Indian left. In October he and his wife went to Boston. In November Walter Palmer died.

On 10 December 1661 Thomas and his son Clement were two of ten men who formed a venture to build a gristmill—the first mill of any sort in Stonington—at Wequetequock. [5, 136]

In January 1661/2 Thomas wrote that he went to New Norwich and came home lame. In February he was at Mr. Stanton’s at poquatucke with his wife, mother [in-law] and brother [-in-law] Elihu. Joseph went swimming for the canoe and Clement went looking for the horses. He became very ill and his sister [in-law] Hannah was very weak.

In March, [his son] Thomas went looking for the mares at Narragansett. On 8 April he fell ill. Thomas went to Narragansett on the 17th and his son died on the 19th and was buried the 20th. Thomas came home with the mare and colt on the 22nd.

In June Thomas went to Warwick to buy a mare and he received two letters from his cousin William [in England]. Ephraim was sick and he saw Walter Palmer’s will for the first time.

On 22 July 1662 Thomas wrote cryptically about some terrible wrong done to him. At one point he says, “my Children when I am dead: let none els but your selves Thus reade but do take heed of being with your p fessed friends misled the two II nam to you . remember the time and you will finde it true . Thomas Stanton and William Chesebrough (names in cypher) wer the men.” (page 190)

In September Thomas recorded that he went to Boston and New London. In November he went to Rehoboth and found the warrant from Connecticut was left on file in Boston. He hurt his back and Clement was married. In December Ephraim was at the Avery’s. There was a court and Thomas was tried. In February there was a town meeting and they drew lots for 100-acre tracts of land, but he and his sons got none. In April his house at Tagwonk was raised. In May Thomas Sloan and his wife [Elizabeth Palmer] and [Thomas’s brother-in-law] Jonas Palmer visited. In July his sister [in-law] Hannah visited.

On 10 March 1663 the court ordered that Thomas be paid for helping to lay out the bounds of New London. On 8 October 1663 Seargent Thomas Minor asked the court (perhaps in regard to the matter with William Chesebrough and Thomas Stanton) how he should behave in “the place where he lives that doe pretend authority there.” The court advised him to behave peaceably and to be patient, even if injured; the court would see him righted for wrongs done him if he obeyed. [6, vol. 1, 411, 419]

On 8 July 1663 Thomas wrote that Samuel Chesebrough, constable of Sotherton, came to his house with an order to collect two pounds and two shillings. Thomas wrote that he ordered Samuel away and did not admit that Samuel was a constable with authority over him. In June 1664 Thomas was to go to Stratford. Mr Plaisted and “ould Cheesbrough” were going to Norwich to surrender the town to Connecticut. His brother [-in-law] William Palmer visited and they raised the barn. On 13 October 1664 Thomas was one of three people appointed to settle small causes and perform marriages. [6, vol. 1, 435]

In April 1665 he “saw the Blassing star in the Est about the rising of the day star” and his brother William left. In May he was chosen deputy to the court and set forth to Connecticut. In June he was at court. In the autumn he was involved in a controversy involving the branding of horses.

Thomas was appointed deputy to the Connecticut court six times between May 1665 and May 1667. He was appointed chief military officer of the Mystic trainband in July 1665. [3]

On 11 May 1665 he was appointed a commissioner in Stonington. On 6 July 1665, because of fears of a conflict with the Dutch, a committee was appointed that would be warned if the enemy was observed approaching and Thomas was appointed a member. On 12 October 1665 he was appointed a deputy from Stonington. [6, vol. 2, 17, 21, 248]  

On 10 May 1666 it was decided that Stonington would be extended northward and Thomas was granted 100 acres just north of the boundary. [6, vol. 2, 17, 21, 36] Thomas recorded that in May 1666 he was at Connecticut and when he came home his wife was very sick. In June he was summoned to the county court and Ephraim married Hannah Avery. In July he changed lots with John Gallop. In September he went to Boston. In October he went to New London and in November, first he and then his wife went to New London.

In the winter of 1666/7 Thomas recorded great snowstorms and that many deer were killed; in February he saw a blaze appear in the southwestern sky and it was very long and sharp at the lower end. At the end of the month was the first fair day in ten weeks, but in March it began to snow again. In May his wife was “hurt with the horse by the pond.” He finished fencing at the creek, he began to wall the cellar and Ephraim’s daughter died. In June James Avery and James Morgan laid out his land at mooapeatke. In September he went to Norwich and helped lay out the Indians’ land and he viewed the arms. The commissioners were there and Mr. Denison summoned him to give evidence about a horse. In October he went to Connecticut with Mr. Stanton and to Boston with Mr. Brewster. There was a great thunder that killed three swine and a calf at Narragansett.

On 10 October 1667 Thomas was granted 50 more acres if he would give up the land laid out for him by Ensign Avery and James Morgan. [6, vol. 2, 74] In December he went to New London for sugar and sent a letter to Barbados. In the spring of 1668 the marriage of Joseph and Mary Avery was arranged. In June Ephraim’s son was born. In July he was chosen to be a rater. In August he went to Boston, in September he was on a jury. In November he helped lay out 300 acres of ministry land.

In September 1669 Joseph had a son and in December Ephraim had a second son. In 1669 Thomas wrote

This 24th of Aprill 1669. I Thomas Minor am by my accounts sixtie one yeares ould I was by the Towne & this yeare Chosen to be a select man the Townes Treasure The Townes Recorder The brander of horses by the generale Courte Recorded the head officer of the Traine band by the same Courte one of the ffour that have the Charge of the milishcia of the whole Countie and Chossen and sworne Commissionor and one to assist in keeping the Countie Courte.

In April 1670 Thomas dug stones for his chimney. In September his brother-in-law Gershom Palmer had a son. In April 1671 Ephraim had a daughter and in July his mother-in-law Rebecca Palmer died. Thomas was laying out land with Thomas Stanton east of the Pawcatuck River—land that was subject to a dispute between Connecticut and Rhode Island— and they were opposed by group of Rhode Island men with clubs. [6, vol. 2, 537]

In August his wife and [daughter-in-law?] Hannah brought [his grandson] “Little Ephraim” to visit. In October Joseph had a daughter. On the first of June he wrote, “coming from Stratford I fayled in takeing a Cup of Sider to much to the greaving of my sons Clement Ephraim & Manaseth.” On 30 July 1672 Thomas wrote, “the .30 day of July being wensday york was surrendered to the duch.” In August there was an “Eclips.” In December Clement’s wife died and in February 1672/3 Clement remarried and Thomas picked out his fifty acres.

In March 1672/3 Thomas wrote that his wife burned her arm and was very sick. In August Joseph’s second daughter was born. In March 1673/4 Little Ephraim scalded himself. In April, Ephraim’s daughter was born. Thomas was one of the nine original members of the first church in Stonington on 3 June 1674. [10, 43]

“Mr pastor Noyse mr Stanton senior I Thomas wheeler Nathaniell Cheesebrough Nehemiah palmer Thomas stanton Junior. Ephraim minor moses palmer Tho Minor began the Church att stoneington in June 1674.” [9, 207]

Despite being in his mid-sixties, Thomas was a soldier in King Philip’s War. In July 1675 he wrote, “Tuesday the 6 day the major was heare with his Troop and Thursday ye 8 day The Troop is to set fforth Thursday the 15 wee came whome I was 8 days out myself and Two Horses.” In November he was made a lieutenant of the dragoons. He wrote that from 8 December 1675 to 8 February 1675/6 he “was Imployed in the Contries service about the Indean war besides 8 days in the sumer hors and man and my white hors Ten days being prest for John gallop.”

In August 1675 there was a “greate storme of winde and high Tide,” and much corn and hay was lost. In December, Ephraim’s third son was born. In January 1676 Thomas was appointed a member of the Court Marshall for New London County. At a meeting of the Council on 25 November 1675 and at a session of the General Court on 12 October 1676, Mr. Thomas Minor was appointed to sign bills in his plantation for what was due from the country. [6, vol. 2, 294, 386, 484]

In October [Thomas’s daughter] Hannah was married and Thomas performed the marriage of [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth [Palmer] Sloan. Thomas put his shoulder out of joint and it was set in November. In December he wrote to his cousin William Minor. In April 1678 he was taken lame, it snowed and he was 70 years old.

Mr. Thomas Minor was appointed commissioner for Stonington in May 1678, May 1680, May 1681, May 1682. [6, vol. 3, 5, 49, 76, 97]

In August of 1678 [his son Ephraim’s daughter] Deborah died. In March 1678/9 he wrote to [his cousin in] England and [his daughter] Hannah’s son was born. In December his wife was very sick. In January 1678/9 he fell down the stairs.

In May 1679 Thomas was appointed to a committee to lay out land for a New London School. Thomas was a deputy for Stonington in May 1679, October 1679 and May 1680. In May 1680 the court ordered Captain Avery, Lieutenant Mason and Mr. Minor, or any two of them, to tell the Pequot Indians under Robert’s government to return to town after weeding and planting and to return to Robert’s government as before. In October 1680 the court ordered Mr. Minor to lay out land granted to Captain Avery. [6, vol. 3, 26, 29, 36, 48, 69]

In August 1680 Ephraim’s fourth son was born. In November Hannah’s second son was born and there was a great snow. In December, Joseph’s fourth daughter was born and, continuing until mid January, there was a great blaze in the sky.

In June 1681 his wife fell out of the canoe and then she was very sick. In July Clement’s second wife died and on the 16th the sun appeared very strange and pale. In August 1681 [his brother-in-law] Benjamin Palmer brought home his wife and his [sister-in-law] Hannah [Palmer] Sterry remarried. In December [his son] Samuel was married.

In the summer of 1682 Samuel died. On 30 August 1683 Thomas was taken sick and continued so for eight weeks. In December Joseph’s third son was born.

On 26 February 1684/5, still an active farmer, Thomas wrote his last diary entry, noting a church meeting at Nehemiah Palmer’s house.

In October 1685 John Gallup and Thomas Minor were accused of deliberately running the dividing line between Captain George Denison’s land and Mrs. Hannah Gallup’s land in a manner contrary to the wishes of the court. In October 1689 Thomas was a deputy for Stonington. [6, vol. 3, 188; vol. 4, 9]

Thomas's wife Grace could understand Alogonquin. [3] She appears frequently in her husband’s diary. He writes of her going places, with and without him, and of her illnesses. She appears to have had a particularly fraught relationship with her horse. In May 1667 Thomas wrote, “my wife was hurt with the horse by the pond.” In November 1667 he wrote, “my wife fell of her mare and hurt her selfe verie much.” On December 1668 he wrote, “my wife ffell of the mare at the Cart bridge.”

Mrs. Grace Minor attended the ordination of Reverand James Noyes at the first church in Stonington on 10 September 1674. She was admitted to the church on 7 March 1675. [10, 189]

The last record of Grace was in February 1684/5 when her husband wrote, “sabath the 22 my wife was very sick.”

Children of Thomas Minor and Grace Palmer:

i. John Minor was baptized on 30 July 1635 in Charlestown. [11] He died on 17 September 1719. [5, 466–8] He married Elizabeth Booth on 21 October 1658 in Stratford. Elizabeth, the daughter of Richard Booth, died on 24 October 1732, age 98. [5, 466–8]

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “.21. of October [1658] being thursday John Minor was married at Stratford.”

John could understand Alogonquin. On 14 September 1654 the Connecticut General Court decided to send John to Hartford to learn to be an interpreter and the court would be responsible for his maintenance and schooling. [6, vol. 1, 265]

On 10 October 1667 Sergeant John Minor was appointed a deputy and was one of six men granted liberty to buy Potatuke (later Woodbury) to be used as a village or plantation. On 9 May 1672 John and his associates were given the liberty to form a planation. [6, vol. 2, 70, 75, 177]

In October 1676 Captain John Minor was a deputy from Stratford and he was appointed to a committee to talk to the Indians. [6, vol. 2, 286–7]

John moved to Fairfield. [5, 466–8]

Captain John Minor was appointed commissioner for Woodbury every year from 1679 to 1687 and from 1689 to 1697. [6, vol. 3, 27, 49, 98, 115, 140, 169, 195, 320, 252; 6, vol. 4, 24, 43, 66, 92, 121, 139, 159, 201] He was a deputy for Woodbury 25 times between November 1683 and May 1710. [6, vol. 3, 5, 134, 139, 156, 169, 181, 194, 208, 214, 230, 236, 251; vol. 4, 66, 148, 158, 197, 265, 407, 521; vol. 5, 19, 37, 40, 66, 90, 108, 142] He was appointed commissioner for Woodbury every year from 1690 to 1697. Captain John Minor was appointed Justice of the Peace for Fairfield County in 1698, 1701 to 1711 and 1714 to 1719. [6, vol. 4, 261, 347, 378, 414, 467, 500, 533; vol. 5, 20, 63, 95, 145, 219, 445, 509, 566; vol. 6, 12, 44, 125]

John was appointed to a committee to meet with some Pequots who had made an application to the court in May 1697. In May 1702 John was ordered to meet with the Indians to discuss restitution for lost guns while serving as guides in the service to Albany. Captain John Minor and Mr. John Sherman wrote to the Deputy Governor, voicing their suspicion that the Pohtatuck and Owiantonuck Indians had been invited to join the enemy. On 6 February 1706/7 the Council ordered them to move these Indians to Fairfield or Stratford. [6, vo. 4, 202; vol. 5, 15, 33, 521]

On 18 October 1719 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, “news that brother John was ded.” [8, 148]

ii. Clement Minor was baptized on 4 March 1638 in Hingham. [5, 466–8] He died in 1700 and is buried in the Ancient Cemetery in New London. [12] He married the widow Frances Willie on 26 November 1662 in Stonington. [5, 466–8][2] She died on 6 December 1672. Frances married first Isaac R. Willey, Jr. in 1662. [5, 466–8] Clement married second Martha, the daughter of William Wellman, on 20 February 1672/3. She died on 5 July 1681. He married third Joanna Unknown. [5, 466–8]

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “Clement & ffrancis willie was made Monday 29 [Sept. 1662];” “Wednesday .26. [Nov. 1662] Clement was married”; “The 6th day of December. 1672. his wife ffrancis departed this life”; “Thursday the 20th [Feb. 1672/3] Clement and Martha was maried;” “the fift day is Tusday Clements second wife died.”

On 12 September 1655 Thomas wrote that Clement had gone to Pequit alone. On 28 February 1658/9 Thomas wrote, “Clement has begun his time about the looms.” On 9 April 1660 Thomas wrote that Clement had gone to New London to work.

On 11 May 1665 the court ordered that the freeman’s oath be administered to Clement Minor in New London. Clement is on a 28 September 1669 list of freemen in New London. [6, vol. 2, 33, 523]

Clement was on a committee to make a list of estates of the town of New Haven in October 1689. He was deputy from New London in October 1692 and May 1696. [6, vol. 3, 10, 78, 158]

Clement was established ensign of the south and oldest company in New London in May 1708. He was confirmed lieutenant of the first company in New London in May 1715. [6, vol. 5, 43, 493] He served in the Indian wars. [5, 466–8]

iii. Thomas Minor was baptized on 10 May 1640 in Hingham. [5, 466­–8] He died on 19 April 1662 and was buried at Narragansett. [2]

On 15 April 1656 Thomas’s father wrote that Thomas came home. On 16 April 1657 he wrote that Thomas had begun his time with James Avery.

iv. Ephraim Minor was baptized on 1 May 1642 in Hingham. He died on 16 May 1724. He married Hannah Avery.

v. Joseph Minor was baptized on 25 August 1644 in Hingham. He died on 8 February 1739/40 in Stonington. [2] He is buried in the Old Taugwonk Cemetery in Stonington. [12] He married first Mary, the daughter of James Avery on 28 October 1668. He married second as her second husband Bridget Chesebrough on 7 December 1709. Bridget was the daughter of Nathaniel (William) Chesebrough and Hannah Denison and the granddaughter of Captain George Denison. She was born on 25 March 1669. She married first William Thompson. [5, 293, 466–8]

The inscription on Joseph's gravestone says, “Here / lyeth the / body of Joseph Minor / who departed / this life the last / day of January 17 [illegible] 68 / year of his age.” [12]

At a 10 May 1666 Court of Elections in Hartford, Mr. Thomas Stanton was asked to administer the freeman’s oath to Joseph Minor and others of Stonington. [6, vol. 2, 32]

Joseph appears in a 1668 census conducted in Stonington. [10, 40–41] He is on a 5 October 1669 list of freemen in Stonington. [6, vol. 2, 523] He and his wife Mary were admitted to the first church in Stonington on 11 April 1675. [10, 189]

Joseph was deputy for Stonington in October 1696, May 1706 and October 1713. [6, vol. 4, 174, 532; 5, 394]

On 26 September 1679, Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “manaseth was maried.”

Manasseh was the first European boy to be born in Pequot. [7 , 72]

Deacon Manasseh Minor’s gravestone in the Ancient Burial Ground in Stonington says, “Here lieth the body of/Deacon Manasseh Miner/who died April 29th [!] 1728/ in ye 82nd year of his age.” [4]

On 20 November 1665 Manasseh’s father wrote in his diary that Manassah was to be with Thomas Bell for six months. He was to be paid 18 shillings a month and to receive food and lodging.

Manasseh was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 3 October 1686. Lydia, the wife of Manasseh Minor was admitted on 15 September 1695. Manasseh was chosen deacon of the first church in Stonington on 12 March 1701. [54]

Manasseh was confirmed an ensign in February 1692/3. In May 1694 Manasseh was ordered to meet with some Pequots to discuss their search for a new leader. [6, vol. 4, 88, 123]

Like his father, Manasseh kept a diary. He began it in January 1696/7 and continued until April 1720. In his terse entries he recorded births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials and events at the church. He recorded his public life: trips to New London and Boston. He described unusual weather: “the sound was frozen to fisher’s ilan” (24 January 1697/8); “a strang wheel with four sun dogs the two next the sun very red & firy” (15 February 1697/8); “a great storme of thunder and hail that was not melted in 3 days and killed much corn and other grain and sum cattle & fouls and other birds” (4 July 1702). Occasionally he mentioned political events: “news that queen Anna was proclaimed in Boston” (3 June 1702); “dearfield cut of by french indians” (19 February 1703/4); “news that martaneko was taken” (5 October 1706). He recorded his everyday life as a farmer: “wee made a turnup yard” (1 August 1699); “we washed sheep” (26 May 1703); “mad ston wall” (15 March 1706). He recorded the alarming: “John Randalls chill bit with a ratl Snake” (17 July 1699); “2 indians Thomas Shaw owned were dround” (6 April 1700); “mr hallam came home & brot the small pox” ( 5 November 1700). At various time he mentions the killing of wolves and bears. He also records happy events: “made the last sider” (12 October 1700); “Capn prentis brote ruhm and suger” (8 January 1703/4); “straberying day” (14 June 1708). [8]

Manassah was a deputy for Stonington in May 1698, May 1700, May 1702 and May 1705. [6, vol. 4, 245, 318, 372, 395, 499]

Manasseh was a soldier in the French and Indian wars. On 30 September 1703 he recorded in his diary, “I went a Soldirin & had no will made.” On 21 June 1709, at age 62, he wrote, “I went away with the indian soldiers.” He was gone until the last of September when he wrote that he had come home. [8, 63, 117]

vii. Ann Minor was born on 28 April 1649 and died on 14 August 1652. [5, 466–8]

viii. Mary Minor was born in 1650 and died on 24 or 29 January 1660 in Stonington. [2, 169, appears to say 24 January][5, 466–8][9]

ix. Samuel Minor was born on 4 March 1652. [5, 466–8] He probably died in or shortly after July 1682. [5, 466–8] He married Mary Lord of Stonington on 15 December 1681 in Stonington. [2] Mary married second Joseph Pemberton on 19 March 1683. [9]

Thomas Minor wrtoe in his diary, “15 [Dec. 1681] samuell and marie Lord was maried.”

In November 1678 Samuel’s father wrote in his diary, “the 3d samuell was Taken Sick … the 20 our samuell was strangely taken.” On 23 December he wrote, “samuell was let blood.”

In July 1682 Samuel’s father wrote in his diary that Samuel had been sick for 14 days.  On 30 September he says that he fetched home all Marahs [Mary’s] corn, which would seem to imply that Samuel had died. On 8 January 1682/3 he wrote that Joseph Pemberton brought Marah hither. On 22 February 1682/3 Samuel’s father again wrote that Samuel was sick, but he might have been referring to Samuel Avery. On 19 March 1682/3 he wrote that Joseph Pemberton and the widow Marah Minor were married.

x. Hannah Minor was born on 15 September 1655. She was baptized on 28 October. She died in 1692. [5, 201]She married Thomas, the son of James Avery, on 22 October 1672. [5, 201]

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, "[12 Sept. 1655], my wife was delivered of hana;” “sabath day the .28. of October hanah was baptized”; “Tho Averie and Hanah Minor was maried the 22.”

Endnotes

1. John A. Miner and Robert F. Miner, “The Curious Pedigree of Lt. Thomas Minor,” New England Historical and Geneaologial Register 138 (1984), 182–4.

2. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Stonington, 164–171: Thomas, Lieut., d. Oct. 23, 1690. Thomas, s. Thomas, d. Apr. 19, 1662, buried at Narragansett; 168: Manasseh, Deac., d. Aug. 22, 1728. Clement, s. Thomas, m. Wid. Frances Willie, Nov. 26, 1662. Joseph, d. Feb. 8, 1739/40. Samuel, m. Mary Lord, b. of Stonington, Dec. 15, 1681. 2, Stonington, 170.

3. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I-III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 1262–7.

4.  J.D. Champlin, “Ancient Burial Ground at Stonington, Conn.,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 13 (1859), 23–29.

5. Richard Anson Wheeler, History of the Town of Stonington (New London: Press of the Day, 1900).

6. J. Hammond Trumble, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vol. 1 (Hartford: Brown & Parsons, 1850; vol. 2 (Hartford: F.A. Brown, 1852), vol. 3 (Case, Lockwood, & Co., 1859). Charles J. Hoadley, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, vols. 4–12 (Hartford: Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Co., 1868–1890).

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

8. Manasseh Minor, The Diary of Manasseh Minor: Stonington, Conn., 1696–1720 (n.p: published by Frank Denison Miner with the assistance of Hannah Miner, 1988).

9. Thomas Minor, Sydney H. Minor and George D. Stanton, The Diary of Thomas Minor, Stonington, Connecticut, 1653–1684(New London: Press of the Day, 1899).

10. Richard A Wheeler, History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674–1874 (Norwich, T.H. Davis and Co., 1875).

11. Editors, "Record Book of the First Church in Charlestown", New England Historical and Genealogical Register 25 (1871): 148. 1635, 6: mo: 30 day, John Minor the son of Thomas Minor and of Grace his wife was Babtized.

12. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 05 July 2023), memorial pages for

Clement Minor (4 Mar 1639–8 Oct 1700),Memorial ID 7158544, citing Ancient Cemetery, New London, New London County, Connecticut; Maintained by Ken Childers (contributor 46560872).

Dr Joseph Minor (25 Aug 1644–31 Jan 1712), Memorial ID 9528179, citing Old Taugwonk Cemetery, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut; Maintained by Cathy Creger Shelley (contributor 46534937).

Revised July 5, 2023

© 2019 A. Buiter