James Noyes

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Reverend James Noyes (1640–1719), son of Reverend James Noyes and Sarah Browne

Dorothy Stanton (1650–1743), daughter of Thomas Stanton and Anna Lord

James Noyes was born on 11 March 1640 in Newbury, Massachusetts. [1, 92] He died on 30 December 1719 in Stonington. [2] He married Dorothy Stanton on 11 September 1674 in Stonington. [2]

Dorothy Stanton was born about 1650, based on her age and position in her family. Dorothy, the widow of James, died on 19 January 1742/3 in Stonington. [2]

Dorothy’s gravestone in the Ancient Burial Ground in Stonington says, “In Memory of/Dorothy ye wife of/ye Reverd Mr. James/Noyes Deceased/who died Janry/ye 19th 1742/3/in ye 91st year of her age.” [3]

James graduated from Harvard in 1659. [1, 92]

In the spring of 1664, the early settlers of Stonington invited Reverend James Noyes of Newbury to become the minister in Stonington. He arrived in June 1664 and began preaching as an un-ordained licentiate in July. In 1668 the settlers voted to freely contribute for a dwelling house for him and to pay him an annual salary of fifty pounds for seven years. In 1671 the town gave him several grants of lands, donations, the use of the ministry land and raised his salary to 100 pounds. The church was formally organized on 3 June 1674 and James was ordained on 10 September 1674. He continued as minister in Stonington until his death. [1, 36, 39–40]

At a 10 May 1666 Court of Elections in Hartford, Mr. Thomas Stanton was asked to administer the freeman’s oath to Mr. Noyes and others of Stonington. James appears in a 1668 census conducted in Stonington. He is on a 5 October 1669 list of freemen in Stonington. [1, 40–41][4, 2: 32, 523]

Mrs. Dorothy Noyes was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 13 June 1675. [1, 189]

On 13 May 1675, upon the petition of Mr. Thomas Stanton and Mr. James Noyes, the Court of Elections in Hartford granted the wife of Thomas Shaw 100 acres. Mr. Nehemiah Palmer and Ephraim Minor were to lay it out for her. [4, 2: 257]

James was one of the first trustees and founders of Yale College. [1, 93]

Being “in good health,” James Noyes made his will on 12 November 1716. He was extremely solicitous of his wife and mentioned his sons Thomas, Joseph, James and John. His witnesses testified on 22 January 1719/20. [5]

James’s gravestone in the Ancient Burial Ground in Stonington says, “In Expectation/of A joyful Resurrection/to Eternal Life/Here Lyeth Interred ye Body/of the Rev’d Mr. James Noyes/Age 80 years/Who after a faithful serving/of the Church of Christ/in this place/For more than 55 years/Deceased Decbr ye/ 30 1719/20.” [3]

The original Stonington church records say, “The 18th day of December 1719 the Rev. James Noyes was taken sick and so continued until the 30th day of the same month when he died. He having served in the public ministry in this place 55 years and six months. He lived much desired, and died much lamented.” [1, 92]

Dorothy was named one of the executors of her husband’s will. She accepted the position but wrote on 26 January 1719/20 that her “age & the difficulty of the season loom to forbid” her appearing in court in person. [5]

Dorothy Noyes of Stonington wrote her will on 22 April 1730. She mentioned her sons Thomas, John and Joseph, her deceased daughter Dorothy Treat, her son-in-law Salmon Treat, various grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Her witnesses, Nehemiah Palmer, Nathan Palmer and Daniel Palmer, Jr., testified on 14 February 1742/3. [5]

Children of Reverand James Noyes and Dorothy Stanton: 16. Births, as children of Rev. James, deaths of Anna, Dorothy (the year) and John (Deac.) were recorded in Stonington. [2] Baptisms of the first five, as children of Mr. James Noyes, recorded in Stonington. [1, 195–7]

i. Dorothy Noyes was born on 20 January 1675 in Stonington. She was baptized on 5 September 1675 in Stonington. She died on 8 December 1714 in Stonington or Preston. She married Reverend Salmon Treat on 12 April 1698. Samuel was the son of James and Rebecca (Lattimer) Treat of Wethersfield. He died on 5 January 1762, age 90, in Preston. He married second the widow of Captain John Parks on 6 November 1716. [6, 488–9]

On 20 March 1698 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, ''mr Salman Treat published." On 12 April 1698 he wrote, "mr Treat was maryed." [7, 28]

Dorothy was propounded for the church in Stonington on 26 June 1698. Salmon Treat of Preston was ordained on 16 November 1698.

On 26 June 1698 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, "Mrs Treap propounded." In November 1698 he wrote, "mr Salmon Treat of preson was ordained." [7, 30, 32]

Salmon Treat of Preston wrote his will on 8 August 1757. Witnesses testified on 23 February 1762. [5]

ii. Dr. James Noyes was born on 2 August 1677 in Stonington. He was baptized on 21 October 1677 in Stonington. He died shortly before 16 March 1717/8. He married Anna Sanford. Anna was the daughter of Governor Peleg Sanford (#38). [6, 488–9]

On 16 March 1717/8 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, “news that James noys death.” [7, 140]

Mr. James Noyes, Jr. was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 21 May 1704. [1, 191]

On 21 May 1704 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, " James Nois admitted." [7, 69].

James lived at Noyes’s Beach in Rhode Island on land that he purchased from Harmon Garret, a Niantic chief. [6, 488–9]

iii. Captain Thomas Noyes was born on 15 August 1679 in Stonington. He died on 26 June 1755 in Stonington. He married Elizabeth Sanford.

iv. Ann Noyes was born on 16 April 1682 in Stonington. She was baptized on 9 July 1682 in Stonington. She died on 28 June 1694 in Stonington.

v. John Noyes was born on 13 June 1685 in Stonington. He was baptized on 26 July 1685 in Stonington. He died on 17 September 1751 in Stonington. He married first Mary Gallup on 16 March 1714/5 in Stonington. Mary, the daughter of Lieutenant William and Sarah (Chesebrough) Gallup, was born on 7 April 1695. Mary died on 13 May 1736 in Stonington. John married second Elizabeth (Bradford) Whiting of New London on 13 March 1739. Elizabeth, a great-granddaughter of Governor William Bradford, was born on 15 December 1697 and died on 10 May 1777. She married first Lieutenant Charles Whiting. Charles, the son of Lieutenant Colonel William Whiting was born on 1 July 1692 and died on 7 March 1738 in Montville Connecticut. [6, 488–9]

On 6 February 1714/5 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, "John noys was published." On 16 March 1714/5 he wrote "Mohn was maryed." [7, 121–2].

John was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 29 July 1705. [1, 191] He was chosen deacon of the first church in Stonington on 11 or 19 June 1723. [1, 100]

On 29 July 1705 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, "John Noys admitd." On 11 July 1716 he wrote "John noys & James dean dekens." [7, 78, 131]

vi. Reverend Joseph Noyes was born on 16 October 1688 in Stonington. He died on 14 June 1716. He married Abigail Pierpont, the daughter of Reverend James Pierpont, on 6 November 1716. [6, 488–9]

Joseph graduated from Yale College in 1709. [6, 488–9]

In 1715 the town of Stonington invited Joseph to help his father carry out his ministry, with one of them preaching in what is now North Stonington. On 14 April 1715 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, “touns meeting voated to call mr Joseph noys.” Anticipating an offer, which he later received, from the first church in New Haven, he declined. [7, 123][1, 46]

Mr. Joseph Noyes was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 11 April 1716 and he was dismissed to the church in New Haven on 10 June 1716. [1, 192] On 10 June 1716 Manasseh Minor wrote, “mr Joseph noys dismissed to N haven.” [7, 130]

Joseph was ordained pastor of the First Church of New Haven on 4 July 1716 and he held that position until his death. [7, 131][6, 488–9]

vii. Moses Noyes was born on 19 March 1692 in Stonington. He died on 30 April 1692 in Stonington.

Endnotes

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

2. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Stonington, 176–81 (Noyes), 237 (Stanton).

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

4. 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).

5. Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609–1999," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9049) > Windham > Probate Packets, vol. 5–7, 1762–1790 > image 209 (James Noyes); path: Hartford > Probate Packets, Newbery–Palmer, Thomas, 1675–1850 > images 268–81 (Dorothy Noyes) 282–9 of 1397 (James Noyes); Hartford > Probate Packets, Tracy, Luther–Trumbull, Daniel, 1748–1880 > images 1027–34 (Salmon Treat).

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

7. 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).

Revised June 26, 2023