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168. Henry Wolcott (bp. 1578–1655)

Henry, the son of John Wolcott, was baptised on 6 December 1578 in Lidyard St. Lawrence, Somersetshire. [1] He died on 30 May 1655 in Windsor, Connecticut. [1] He married Elizabeth Saunders on 19 January 1606 in Lidyard St. Lawrence.

169. Elizabeth Saunders (bp. 1585–1655)

Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Saunders and Anne Blake of St. Lawarence, co. Somerset. [2] She was baptised on 20 December 1585. She died on 5/17 July 1655. [2]

Henry came to New England on the Mary & John, arriving on 20 March 1630. [2] He left his two daughters, his oldest son John and his youngest son Simon in England for perhaps another ten years to be educated. [3]

Henry settled in Dorchester and was a freeman in 1630. [2] He was admitted freeman on 1 April 1634. He was an assessor on 3 November 1633. He was a fence viewr on 20 May 1634. He was a selectman on 28 October 1634. [1]

Henry moved to Windsor, Connecticut. He was the constable there on 26 April 1636. He was a tax collector on 9 February 1637/8. He was a deputy to the General Court from Windsor in April 1639. [1]

Henry went back to England in 1640 and returned to New England in 1641. [1]

Henry was an Assistant from 1643 to 1655. [1]

Henry wrote his will on 20 May 1655 and it was proved on 4 October 1655. Inventory on his estate was taken on 13 June 1655 and it amounted to £764 8 s. 10d. He left bequests to his wife, his eldest son Henry—to whom he left his land in England, his second son Christopher, his third son George and his youngest son Simon. Elizabeth wrote her will on 5 July 1655. She mentioned hers sons Christopher, George and Simon and her daughters Anne and Mary. [1]

Children of Henry Wolcott and Elizabeth Saunders:

i. John Wolcott was born on 1 October 1607 in Lidyard St. Lawrence. [1] He died without surviving issue between 1631 and 10 March 1642. [1]

ii. Henry Wolcott was born say 1616. [1] He died in 1680. [3] He married Sarah, the daughter of Thomas Newberry, on 8 November 1641 in Windsor. [1]

iii. George Wolcott was born say 1622. [1] He married by about 1649 Elizabeth Unknown. [1] She may have been the daughter of Richard Treat. [1]

iv. Anne Wolcott was born say 1624. She died in 1700. She married Matthew Griswold.

v. Mary Wolcott was born say 1626. [1] She died in 1689. [3] She married Job, the son of John Drake, on 25 June 1646. [1] He died in 1689. [3]

vi. Christopher Wolcott was born say 1628. [1] He died on 7 September 1662, unmarried in Windsor. [1]

vii. Simon Wolcott was born say 1630. [1] He died in 1687. [3] He married first Joanna, the daughter of Aaron Cooke on 19 March 1656/7 in Windsor. [1] She died on 27 April 1657 in Windsor. [1] He married second Martha Pitkin on 17 October 1661 in Windsor. [1] She was born in 1639 and died in 1719. [3]

Endnotes:

1. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I–III," database with images, AmericanAncestors, pp. 2049–52.

2. Henry A. Hudson, Jr., "Hon. Henry Matson Waite — For the People," Connecticut Nutmegger 38 (2005), 192–3.

3. "The Woolcotts of Windsor, (Conn.),"Connecticut Nutmegger, vol. 11 (1978), 3–12.

Revised 08-Apr-2023