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Quartermaster George Colton (say 1620–1699)

Deborah Gardner (say 1622–1689)


George Colton married first Deborah Gardner. Quartermaster George Colton died on 17 December 1699, at night, in Springfield. [1, 1:70] He married [second as her fourth husband] the widow Lydia [Wright][Bliss][Norton] Lamb on 1 March 1691/2. [1, 1:26] Lydia was the daughter of the Deacon Samuel Wright of Springfield. [2, 1]Lydia, the wife of George, died on 13 February 1699. [1, 1:70] Lydia Wright married first Lawrence Bliss on 25 (9) 1654 in Springfield. [1, 2:1681] Lawrence died in 1676 in Springfield. [1, 1:64] The widow Lydia Bliss married second John Norton on 31 October 1678 in Springfield. [1 2:1650] John died on 24 August 1687 in Springfield. [1, 1:67] The widow Lydia Norton married third the widower John Lamb on 26 Janary 1687/[8?] in Springfield. [1, 1:25] John Lamb died on 28 September 1690 in Springfield. [1, 1:68]

George's wife's name is said to be Deborah Gardner. [2] Deborah, the wife of George Colton was sick and died on 5 September 1689 in Springfield. [1, 1:68]

George Colton's origins are unknown.

George Colton made his will on 12 June 1678. He mentioned his wife Deborah; his sons Isaac, Ephraim Thomas and John; his four daugher [Mary, Sarah, Deborah, Hepzibah]. He rewrote his will on 2 April 1697. He signed his first will; the second he signed with his mark. He mentions his four sons and his three daughters. Isaac and Ephraim posted bond on his estate on 22 May 1700. Isaac signed the bond; Ephraim signed with his mark. George's substantial estate amounted to 847 pounds and 11 shillings. [3]

Children of George Colton and Deborah Gardner:

i. Isaac Colton was born on 21 (9) 1646 in Springfield. [1, 1:11] He died on 30 September 1700 in Springfield. [1, 1:71] He married Mary Cooper on 30 June 1670 in Springfield. [1, 1:22] Mary, the daughter of Thomas Cooper, was born on 15 (8) 1651 in Springfield. [1, 1:13] The widow Mary Stebbins (formerly Mary Cooper) of Springfield died on 29 August 1742 in Springfield. [1, 1:501] Mary married second as his second wife Edward Stebbins on 18 October 1701 in Springfield. [1, 1:7] Edward, the husband of Mary, died on 31 October 1712 in Springfield. [1, 1:125] Edward married first Sarah Graves in April 1679 in Springfield. [1, 1:23] She died on 12 June 1700 in Springfield. [1, 1:23]

Lieutenant Thomas Cooper and Quartermaster George Colton attested to their legal publication of Isaac and Mary's marriage. [1, 2:1648]

ii. Ephraim Colton was born on 9 (2) 1648 in Springfield. [1, 1:12] He married Mary Drake on 17 November 1670 in Springfield. [1, 1:22] She died on 19 October 1681 in Springfield. [1, 1:65] He married Esther Marshfield on 26 March 1685 in Springfield. [1, 1:24]

iii. Mary Colton was born on 12 (7) 1649 in Springfield. [1, 1:13] She married Samuel Barnard on 30 October 1678 in Springfield. [1: 1:23]

iv. Thomas Colton was born on 1 (3) 1651 in Springfield. He married Sarah Griswold.

v. Sarah Colton was born on 24 (12) 1652 in Springfield. [1, 1:14] She married Samuel Graves of Hatfield in October 1678 in Springfield. [1: 2:1683]

vi. Deborah Colton was born on 25 (11) 1654 in Springfield. [1, 1:15] Deobrah, the wife of Nathaniel, died on 25 November 1733 in Springfield. [1, 1:495] She married Nathaniel Bliss on 28 December 1676 in Springfield. [1, 1:23] Nathaniel, the son of Nathaniel Bliss, was born on 17 (1) 1653 in Springfield. [1, 1:14] He is probably the Nathaniel, Sr., who died on 12 March 1750 in Springfield. [1, 1:509]

vii. Hepzibah Colton was born on 7 (11) 1656 in Springfield. [1, 1:15] She married Jonathan Wells on 29 March 1683 in Springfield. [1, 2:1651]

viii. John Colton was born on 18 (2) 1659 in Springfield. [1, 1:16] He married first Abigail Parsons on 19 February 1684 in Springfield. [1, 1:24] She died on 27 June 1689 in Springfield. [1, 1:66] John, widower, married second the widow Joanna Wolcott on 2 September 1690 in Springfield. [1, 1:25]

ix. Benjamin Colton was born on 26 (2) 1661 in Springfield. [1, 1:17] Benjamin probably died by 12 June 1678, when he was not named in his father's will.

References

1. Vital Records of Springfield, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850, 3 vols. (Boston: NEHGS, 2003).

2. George Woodworth Colton, A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Quartermaster George Colton (Philadelphia: John Milton Colton, 1912).

3. "Hampshire County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1660-1889," database with images, AmericanAncestors > Hampshire box 35, folder 47.

Revised 20-Jul-2023