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HISTORY

OF THE

BILL FAMILY.

EDITED BY

LEDYARD BILL

75 FULTON STREET, NEW YORK.

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Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1867,

Bt ledyaed bill,

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern Districf of New Tork.

YORK 3RARY

and Ti-lden

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7

I

PEEFACE.

In 1638, John and Dorothie Bill, our earliest ancestors in America, appear in Boston, which continued to be the cen- tral and chief point of residence up to about 1700, when New London [Groton], in Connecticut, began to rival and soon succeeded it as the ancient home of the Bill family. In 1667 or '68, Philip Bill, of Ipswich, Mass., at the urgent soli- citation, as is believed, of John "Winthrop, Jr. (afterwards Governor of Connecticut), who was his neighbor in Ipswich, removed to New London, settling on the east side of the Thames River, in what was after 1705 known as Groton. The exact location is thought to have been near Allyn's 3/ Point, which in the division of Groton, in 18^56, was included in the present town of Ledyard. In this locality, for a period of nearly two hundred years, some representative of the family has lived.*

Excepting the families residing in Saxonville and Wal- tham, Mass., and those in Decatur and Geneseo, 111., and Troy, N. Y. — scarce a score of people — all have descended from the above Philip. His blood courses to-day in the veins of near a thousand who bear his name, and these are now scattered over a continent which, in his lifetime, was an unknown wilderness, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Then but a mere fringe of feeble civilization had effected lodgments along the seaboard ; this, time has proved, how-

* Not more than six months is needed to complete the two centuries.

[y PREFACE.

ever, to have been the seed of the most powerful empire on the globe.

In the early settlement of the New England colonies two families by the name of Bills appear ; what relation they may have been to our family in England, the country from which it is supposed they also came, is not known ; certainly they were distinct from the Bill family in this country, though (mite likely their ancestors in England, and those of John and Dorpthie Bill, may have been the same. We have not at- tempted to trace the descendants of these two families; the reader is referred to the Appendix for further particulars.

Again, there are several families who do belong to ours who have within, perhaps fifty years, added the letter s to their names ; in all such cases we have omitted this additional letter, always mentioning the fact, however, in the accounts given of those families. It seems desirable to preserve the name in its purity, and in that view of the subject have believed it our duty to pursue the course adopted.

In the summer of 1862, the late Andrew Henshaw Ward, Esquire, of West Newton, Mass., in reply to a letter of in- quiry, stated he had himself been gathering all possible facts relating to the family, intending their publication at some future time. These papers, for which we were exceedingly grateful, proved both voluminous and valuable. He was found dead in his room, with them opened and lying on his writing-table, from which he had apparently just risen, lie was by marriage a relative of the Henshaw family, from whom he had received the portraits of Richard Bill and his daughter, Elizabeth (Henshaw).*

* These portraits are now in the possession of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Miles Washburn, of Newton Corner, Mass. For particulars the reader is referred to pages 110, 111, and 142.

V

PREFACE. v

It is now more than six years since we penned the first letter on the subject of which this volume treats. Since then, about two thousand letters have been addressed to various persons on questions involved in the compilation, and" nearly all of our spare time during this period, from our regular business, has been given.

It is quite possible for a single individual to write a booJc, but it is utterly impossible for a single individual to begin and complete a family history, at least such as is now in the hands of the reader. His sources of information are multiform, and wide-spread, co-extensive, in fact, with the family itself, and on whom he is largely dependent.

We have, however, personally examined several hundred volumes of Family, Town, State, and National histories, to- gether with many miscellaneous publications, for fragments of information wherewith we might enrich this publication, or add something of interest to its pages. Town, Probate, and Church records have had to be thoroughly scrutinized — these furnishino- the lamer mass of facts and dates embodied in this volume. In brief, we have gleaned everywhere with diligence and patience among the musty records of the past, not omitting old nooks and corners, lest perchance some val- uable record should remain unknown.

Though this work doubtless lacks the finish and elegance of style of other and similar publications, yet we have en- deavored to make it at least a true and faithful history of the family ; also something more than a mere ghostly genealogy, possessing by itself no life and little interest. Hence history and biography occupy the most of the volume, and surely we have not miscalculated as to the additional value this work will have over the majority of family publications.

All criticism might be barred, so far as things ques-

vi PREFACE.

tionable in our plan are concerned, when it is considered that this is a work for purely private circulation, of a very limited edition, and is only published for the edification of the family into whose hands it is com- mitted,— trusting they will look kindly upon all defects and faults ; and for whatever of merit there may be, we would claim little for our share, cheerfully according it to those who have co-operated with us.

We are especially indebted to Mr. Edward Bill, of New York, whither we had removed in 1863,* for a large amount of voluntary research ; for numerous and kindly rendered services in the way of encouragement, of valuable suggestions and assistance, all of which has been most welcome. The family, too, owe much to him for many of the more interesting historical facts and incidents related. His recompense must be the pleasure he will take in seeing this memorial volume in their hands.

To Rev. John A. Vinton, for valuable assistance in an arrangement of the ancestral lines and other labors ; and to Mr. T. B. Wyman, Jr., who spent much time in laborious research ; also to Hon. Earl Bill, of Ohio, and Capt. Carlos Pitkin Bill, of Vermont, and finally to Robert Chambers Vaugn, W. M. Bill, and John Bill, Esquires, of England, our acknowledgments and thanks are severally due.

Undoubtedly errors of dates and names will appear ; it is extremely difficult in a work of this character to wholly avoid them, owing partly to conflicting statements received, partly to indistinct ehirography, and partly to the printer, and also to a lack of vigilance in the supervision. An invitation is extended to all the family, who, seeing, will* correct them in

* Prior to the war we were in business at Louisville. Ky. ; in 1862 we removed to Cleveland, O. ; thence to New York in 1803.

V

PREFACE. vii

their own volumes and send a minute of the same to the undersigned, by whom a copy will be kept in which these errors will .be noted, that, should any future edition be pub- lished, more perfect copies might result. New York, October, 1867.

<^^y^^K^e,

EXPLANATIONS.

Commencing with John Bill, we have consecutively numbered each member of the family to the close of the volume. These numbers we •will call the Consecutive numbers or figures. They appear in bold type, on the left of each name.

Whenever a t is placed between any consecutive figures and the name, it indicates a further notice of the individual ; and to find the place where such notice is given, the reader has only to look at the consecutive number, which we will assume now becomes an Index number — then look- ing forward to the place where it appears, in the center of the page, where will be found a further account of the party sought.

This works as easily backward as forward, for you have only to take the index number, in the center of the page, and follow it backward to the place where it is a consecutive number. We will give one illustration each way. Take the consecutive number 182, on page 122 ; turn forward to page 144:, and we there find the same figures, or the index number. Then suppose we take the index number 413, on page 213, we turn back- ward till we come to the same figures among the consecutive numbers, on page 166.

Where there is no t between the consecutive number and the names, no further account is given of that individual.

Finally, any member of the family can trace their paternal ancestral line, without turning either forwrard or back, by looking at the Christian names included in parenthesis, opposite the name of the head of the family to which he or she belongs. This shows at a glance the number of genera- tions, and the names of the paternal ancestors from whom they have de- scended. For example, take Phineas Bill,4 page 137. Opposite his name we have (Joshua,' Philip,2 John1), who were his ancestors. The small superior figures at the end, and just above the name, denote the genera- tion of each to whom it is attached.

In mentioning any locality, if no Statejs given, Connecticut is intended, except otherwise indicated in some preceding paragraph.

ABBREVIATIONS.

b. born ; m. married ; b. baptized ; d. deceased ; P. or p. page ; and others which will be understood by the reader.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

OUR ENGLISH ANCESTORS.

The data from which to compile a thorough know- ledge of our English ancestors can only be obtained by a visit to that country ; such material, however, as we have received will doubtless be very welcome to the family here. First, perhaps, we should bring the proof of our descent from English stock. It is not an uncommon im- pression that our name may be a corruption of Williams, and a branch of that family ; but it is known that that name is of Welsh extraction, and as a surname is proved by records to be a more modern one than Bill ; hence ours could not have sprung from it, since it antedates it. Again, it might not be unreasonable to suppose the origin to have been accidental, or drawn from some surround- ing object in nature, art, or from among the various trades or professions ; these being prolific sources of surnames, as we may see from the following : — Bowditch, in his work on surnames, classifies great numbers as being from the sources above referred to, namely : Mr. Rivers, Flood, Waters, Brooks, Pond ; then Mr. Hill, Rock, Peak ; then Mr. Forrest, Wood, Hedge, Oaks, Beecher, Ches- nut, Hawthorne ; then Mr. Appleton, Plum, Quincy ; then Mr. Wheat, Rice, Oatman ; then Mr. Fortune, Flush, Bill, Go(u)ld, Sterling ; then Mr. Iron, Marble, Stone ; then Mr. Gushing, Couch, Curtain ; then Mr. Coates, Vail, Gear, Stocking, and so on, almost indefinitely, in their variations. We should feel bound to accept some such

10 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

derivation could we not trace the origin to its real source. Bill is plainly an English word, having a Norman origin. In the time of the conquest of England, the Nor- man soldiers were divided into several distinct classes or grades, as are our own, namely : we have artillery, cav- alry, and infantry ; they had knights, who were all clad in full armor and mounted, then battle-axe or bill-men, then the archers ; ranking in the order in which they are named. The middle grade of soldiers above mentioned were known, when they became incorporated with the inhabitants of Britain, as bill-men. All had some general name, applicable to tribes and races, by which they were known to other persons and races ; as the Jews, the Ro- mans, the Normans, the Britons, &c. True, it is very probable each individual had some given name by which he was personally identified among his own people — as Isaac, Jacob, Saul of Tarsus, &c. ; but surnames were not in use much before a. d. 1300. Indeed, it was full fifty years later that they came into general use. The pre- sumption is, then, that at the time of the introduction of surnames into English records our English ances- tors received their name of Bill, from the general cognomen that for many years prior to 1300 had been applied to them, and applied, as we have already ob- served, originally to a class of soldiery. It was but natural to give this class— these bill-men — the name of Bill.

We are further sustained in this opinion by the history of those times. Worcester says bit is of Anglo- Saxon origin ; also German, beil ; Danish, bile ; Swedish, bila ; and gives the definition of the word as being a hatchet with a crooked point, sometimes called a hedge- bill. Milton uses the word as meaning a sword, or a battle-axe. Hall says : There were sent into France hun- dreds, and some not able to draw a bow or carry a bill (axe). As confirmatory of the descent of our English ancestors from the Normans, we find an eminent family

OUR ENGLISH ANCESTORS. -q

in Denmark bearing the name of Bill. One of the most noted admirals in Danish history was of this name. The recent Danish minister at Washington also bore the name of Bille, and he expressed it as his opinion that the name of Bill in this country was identical with his own.

Thus much as to the origin and application of the family name.

The writer, early in the summer of 1866, arranged to obtain what information was possible of the family in England. The result has been most gratifying, though, of course, not all that could be desired. During the past year a correspondence lias been opened with over fifty different persons, bearing the name of Bill, in that country.

It is found that our name is among the oldest in all England, being directly traceable, in a single county— that of Shropshire — for a period of about 500 years. Families may be found in the counties of Wiltshire, Kent, Herefordshire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire ; also- in the cities of London, Birmingham, Manchester, and other towns. The first of whom we have any special account is

Dr. Thomas Bill,* born about 1490, in Bedfordshire, was a physician, and an attendant of the Princess Elizabeth in 1549. This Thomas was a B. A. in 1524, after- wards elected Fellow of Pembroke Hall, and in 1558 the degree of M. A. was conferred. Being a medical student, he had leave from his college, in 1530, to travel for three years and a quarter on the Continent ; and again, in 1531, two additional years were voted him ; this was that he might be the better fitted for his profession, by visiting the medical schools and attending the lectures of the most eminent physicians of Europe. He took the degree of M. D. at the celebrated university founded by the Emperor Charlemagne, at Pavia, in Italy, during this

* See Athense Cantabrigienses, vol. i. pp. 98-539.

12 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

time. He was one of the physicians to Henry VIII. and Edward VI., and from the latter he received, on 2Gth March, 1546-7, a grant of £100 per annum. The Princess Elizabeth wrote, a. d., 1549, the following letter of thanks to the Duke of Somerset, in which she mentions Dr. Bill :—

* My very good Loed,

Many lines will not serve to render the least part of the thanks that your grace hath deserved of me, most especially for that you have been careful for my health ; and sending unto me not only your comfortable letters but also physicians, as Doctor Bill, whose diligence and pains has been a great part of my recovery : for whom I do most heartily thank your grace, desiring you to give him thanks for me, who can ascertain you of mine estate of health, wherefore I will not write it. And although I be most bounden to you in this time of my sickness, yet I may not be unthankful for that your grace hath made [such] expedition for my patent ; with my most hearty thanks and commendations to you and to my good lady your wife, most heartily fare you well. Yo\ir assured friend to my power,

ELIZABETH.

From Cheshunt the present Friday — To my Lord Protector's Grace.

DOCTOE BILL received, on 2d March, 1550, from St. lohn's College, a lease of its estates of Heigham during the Mastership (Presidency) of Dr. William Bill. The king granted him and Agnes his wife, and to his heirs, the Chantry House of Rowney, also estates in Surry. Dr. Bill's will bears date June 1, 1551.

The next in order, and perhaps the most conspicuous of all our family in English annals, certainly a very learned and eminent man, was

WILLIAM BILL, LL. D., born at Ashwell, in Hertfordshire,

* In Wood's Letters of Royal and Illustrious Ladies, vol. iii p. 218, who quotes from Domestic Records. Temp. Edward VI. No. 118 B. Stute Paper Office.

OUR ENGLISH ANCESTORS. 13

about 1505, who was probably a brother of John Bill,* of Ashwell, and also a near relative of the preceding, cer- tainly as near as first cousin, and it is not unlikely may have been a brother. He received his education at St. John's College, under Mr. (afterward Sir) John Chekes. He took the degree of B. A. in 1532-3, and was elected Fellow of his college 7th Nov., 1535. About this period he was introduced by letter of Sir John's to Queen Anne Boleyn, in which he is characterized as a "learned and honest man, plentifully endowed with knowledge and of exemplary morals." He attained the degree of M. A. in 1536, and in 1544 the degree of B. D. was conferred. On 10th March, 1546-7, he was (on the recommendation of the Lord Protector Somerset) elected Masterf of St. John's College, being at that time "reader [lecturer] of Lynacre's Physic Lecture ;" which post he retained with his Mas- tership for two years.

In 1547 he received the degree of D. D., and became Vice-Chancellor of the University 1548-9, his year of office being rendered memorable by the visitation of the University under the authority of a royal commis- sion.

In 1551 he was appointed Master of Trinity College, and about the same time became one of the King's six Chaplains in Ordinary.

Shortly after the accession of Queen Mary he was ejected from the Mastership of Trinity in a rude and inso- lent manner ; this was in consequence of his decided faith in Protestantism. He now went into retirement, chiefly from compulsion, during the reign of Mary, remaining quite secluded lest his life should be the forfeit. This was

* This John Bill gave bonds for Dr. William Bill in 1535. This, together with the fact that Ashwell was the native place of one and the residence of the other, confirms to our mind the supposed relationship.

f This term is synonymous with the modern word President.

14 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

a period of great and marvellous events. At this period William Tindall* was driven into exile, and af- terward martyred, and all the copies of his New Testament that could be found were ordered burned. Many other eminent men of that period forfeited their lives on account of their religious opinions. From this dire confusion in theology emerged Protestant England, full orbed, with Queen Elizabeth as its champion. Out of the darkness and chaos of struggling ideas came Bun- yan' s inspired Pilgrim, and Milton' s Paradise Regained. Dr. Bill was not allowed to remain in his retirement, for those who were persecuted had now all the power of the Throne behind them. On the 20th November, 1558, being the Sunday immediately following Queen Elizabeth's accession, Dr. Bill preached at St. Paul's Cross, and soon thereafter was made Her Majesty's Chief Almoner, and was also restored to the Mastership of Trinity. In June 25, 1559, he became Fellow of Etonf College, whereof he was elected Provost 5th July follow- ing ; his election being confirmed on the 29th, by the Chapter of Canterbury ; the Sees of Canterbury and Lincoln being both then vacant.

, On the 20th September in the same year he was insti- tuted to the Prebend of Milton Ecclesia in the church of Lincoln. He was also appointed a member of the royal ecclesiastical commission, consisting of the famed Bishop Cranmer and others, empowered to revise the calendar of Lessons or Homilies to be used in the church

* William Tindall was born near Wales, and became a very learned man and greatly versed in a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He was compelled on account of his enmity to Romanism, and its minions in Eng- land, to leave that country. He went to Antiverp, and an English spy was set upon him, and he was arrested and imprisoned, and finally burnt at the stake in Tilford, a. d. 153G. (Fox's Book of Martyrs, pp. 258, 264,)

t One of the most noted schools in England even in this day.

OUR ENGLISH ANCESTORS. 15

service throughout the year ; and was otherwise much occupied in divers matters relating to the settlement of the Church. On the 30th June, 1560, he was installed Dean of Westminster, being the first incumbent of that office. He died on the 15th July, 1561, and was interred on the 20th of that month, in the Chapel of St. Benedict, in Westminster Abbey, where there is an altar-tomb having thereon a brass with an outline portrait [effigy] of the deceased, and also the following inscription around the verge : —

Hie jacet Gualiel Bill Theologise Doctor Deanus Westmonast Primarius Collegii iEtonae Collegii Trinitatis apud Cantabrigiam Prsefectus et serenissamse Resjinae Elizabethai Summus Eleemosynaris Obiit 15 Julii Anno Salutis 1561.

Under the effigy are other lines in Latin, setting forth the character of the man, his moral worth, and his great wisdom. By his will, dated May 6, 1561, and proved December 17 in the same year, he constituted Sir William Cecil and Sir Robert Catlyn his executors, and be- queathed to Trinity College 100 marks for the fabric of the new chapel ; also £10 for poor students, and to the poor of Ashwell, his native town, £30. He also gave his plate to the College of Westminster, with furniture for the college ; and he and Matthew Page were the donors of the coverlets in the long chamber at Eton.

Dr. Bill drew the statutes of the College of West- minster, but they did not receive the royal sanction until after his decease, when, at the instance of Dean Goodman, Dr. Bill's successor, they were submitted to the Queen's learned counsellors, and were approved and adopted.* " He was also associated with others in reviewing the old Common Prayer Book, and weighing all things to render

Stow's Survey of London. Book vi. p. 12.

16 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

it fit to be presented to Parliament to confirm it by an act." This labor " was performed at Sir Thomas Smith's house in Westminster."*

No other person ever held, at the same lime, the three important positions of Master of Trinity, Provost of Eton,' and Dean of Westminster. His portrait in brass, on the tomb before referred to, was sketched in 1820 by Hard- ing, and engraved on steel by a Mr. Grave of London. For what publication this steel engraving was made is at present unknown to the writer, but it gives us great pleasure to state that in the fall of 1866, after diligent inquiry, a proof-copy, on india-paper, was found in the interior of England, and is now in our possession. It is from this that we are enabled to furnish a likeness of this distinguished member of the family for the present vol- ume. Undoubtedly it is a very imperfect representation of the man ; yet, if we remember that the portrait in brass — of which this is a perfect copy — was cut when the art was in its infancy, no apology will be required for its short-comings as a likeness. It is probably by far the oldest portrait of any of the family, in either England or America, extant, being over three hundred years since it was first engraved and placed on his monument in that ancient abbey, sacred in the memory of Englishmen as the burial-place of the learned and great of their country.

His daughter Mary married Francis Samwell, Auditor to King Henry VII. Their son and heir, Sir William Samwell, f received the honor of Knighthood at the coro- nation of King James I. Sir William wedded Jane, daughter of Sir Henry Skipworth, Knight of Keythorpe.

CHARLES BILL,* born in London about 1550, and, as believed, a son of the preceding, was educated at Eton,

•f See Strype's Annals of Queen Elizabeth, London: 1719. Vol. I.

* This ancient family of Samwells were seated at Restornial Castle. His estates were the Manor and Lordship of Upton. Had also estates in Middlesex and Surry, and in the city of Londun. Seat, Upton Hall.

OUR ENGLISH ANCESTORS. 17

and elected thence to King's College, whereof he was admitted a scholar August 16, 1568, and Fellow in Au- gust 17, 1571.

He took the degree of B. A. 1572, and in 1576 had the degree of M. A. conferred.

During the time Dr. Bridgewater held the office of public orator, he was chosen as his deputy. On the 21st of February, 1580, he was enjoined at the instance of the royal authority, and by the special request of the Provost of the college, " to divert to the study of the Civil Law ;" subsequently he became secretary to Lord Cobham. In 1609 he is "the Mr. Bill, an excellent scholar," who was recommended by Sir Vincent Skinner to Sir Michael Hicks to succeed, on Sir Thomas Smith's decease, to his office of Latin secretary to the King.

He was the author of several important Latin letters ; also one in English, published in the name of the Uni- versity ; also of Latin verses on the " Death of Sir Philip Sidney," now in the University Collection. No account of his death has been found.

JOHN BILL, born in the parish of Much Wenlock,+ and baptized 1576 ; he appears in London in 1613 X as a " Publisher to King James I. Most Excellent Majestic" One of the earliest volumes showing the imprint of this Mr. Bill is that written by King James I., bearing the following title: "The workes of the Most High and Mighty Prince James, by the Grace of God Kinge of Great Brittain, France and Ireland ; Defender of the Faith, 1616." This volume comprises a collection of the works written by the king himself ; and it is believed that only one copy exists in this country, and that is

* Athens Cantabrigienses, vol. i. t This town is in Shropshire [Salop], England.

\ See description of ancient editions of the Bible, by Francis Fry, London. (Privately printed.;

18 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

held to be of great value from its antiquity and conse- quent rarity. It may be seen at the New York Society Library, situated in University Place.

From the year 1607* to 1700, the names, first of John, and then that of his son Charles, as his successor, ap- pear as publishers. The chief publications issued by them were Bibles, Prayer-Books, for the use of churches, and copies of the New Testament Scriptures ; though copies of sermons preached in London in 1619 and 1620, also volumes in Latin, are found that bear the imprint of the former, showing their business to have been that of general publishing, f

The printing of the Scriptures at this period was sub- ject to the special control of the crown, and none were allowed to print the same except by royal permission ; great care being exercised as to who had the royal license, lest changes in the text should occur.

In 1639 we find the name of John Bill used as pub- lisher by his assignees, whether the business of publish- ing had proved unprofitable, or his other enterprises involved him in financial difficulty, we know not ; the fact that the business being still carried on in his name, and continued by his son, would lead us to infer the business in itself was not, perhaps, unprofitable. Their style of imprint after this shows a partnership, but prior to 1700 the son Charles's name appears, and continues to that period, when it is no longer found.

AVe find at the American Bible House in New York, on Fourth Avenue, a number of these Bibles above men- tioned. They are very carefully preserved, with other valuable books, in a private room, under lock and key, into which no stranger is allowed to enter without an

* See Wood's Atbense Oxonienses: London. Vol. ii.

t W. A Jones, Esq., of New York, the husband of Mary Elizabeth Bill, daughter ofOapt. Gordon Bill, has a copy of the Church Homilies published by this John Hill in 1023.

OUR ENGLISH ANCESTORS.

19

attendant. This society have thirteen copies, twelve of which are of different editions, and they range in size from large folios down to 18m o. On the same shelves with the Bibles named stand the famous Thomas Matthews* Bible ; also, near by is the supposed pocket Bible of John Milton, a very beautiful miniature copy of the Holy Scriptures.

A partner of John Bill, Christopher Barker, is re- puted to have published the first news-sheet, called the English Mercurie,\ issued to contradict false reports concerning the descent of the Spanish Armada upon the coast of England. There is some doubt whether Barker was or was not the publisher of this news-sheet, and the query is, if he was not, who was % There can be only one other person who can rightly claim this distinction, and he is John Bill. We know that he printed the first London Gazette %% in the time of Charles II. Bill & Barker was the name of the firm for some years carrying on the business of publishing. §

This John Bill was the first King's printer, says Cunningham, and the name of Printing-House Square was given to his place of business after the royal license was granted him. The King' s printers continued to do business in this locality until 1770, when a removal oc- curred, but it still continues to be known as Printing- House Square, and may be said to deserve it, for here

* Thomas Matthews was the assumed name of the Rev. John Rogers, the Martyr. See Dr. Kitto, p. 34.

t Harleian Miscellany, vol. iii. p. 17 : London, 1745. Copies of this paper may be seen in the British Museum.

I Cunningham's Hand-Book of London, vol. ii. Article : Printing- Ilouse Square, Blackfriars.

§ Repertorium Bibliographium, London, 1819, states that at the .sale of the library of the Rev. S. Palmer there was an elegant 4to Bible sold, with the names of Bill & Barker as publishers, which had been the companion of John Bunyan during his confinement of twelve yeai-fl in Bedford jail. This Bible brought, in 1814, £21.

20 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

the London Times — the celebrated newspaper — estab- lished January 1, 1787, is printed and published.

We have an account of an edition of the Bible in the Welsh tongue, pronounced one of the purest translations ever made, and issued between 16fi0 and 1700. Two re- ports reach us relating to it : one, that it was translated by Charles Bill, said to be of Llundain, Wales ; the other, that it was published by him. Of course we credit the latter statement, though some color is given to the pos- sible truth of the first report, since we find families of Bills now, in 1866, at both Flint and Mold, in Wales, where they have long resided. It is not impossible for both to be correct.

Outside of the Bible Society Rooms, in New York, we know of but two copies — one is owned by Griirdon Bill, of Springfield, Mass. ; this bears the imprint of Charles Bill : London, 1698 ; the othei is in the hands of a family living in the eastern part of the same State.

John Bill married for his first wife Anne, daughter of Thomas Mountford, D. D., born about the year 15 — . She was the author of a work entitled, ;i Mirror of Modes- tie ''* [8vo], which was published in London, 1621. In a subsequent edition, published in 1719, long after her death, by the well-known printer Bindley, of London, — whose works are highly esteemed as models of the typographic art — was an additional poem, dedicated to her memory, together with an engraved plate on steel of a "Monument of Mortalitie." This work is very rare. There are copies to be had in England oc- casionally, but only at fabulous prices. At the time of its publication, in 1719, even, it was sold at £3 16s. per copy, sterling. She was a lady of some celebrit}', greatly skilled in music, possessing eminent virtues, and was held in high esteem.

* See Biographers' Manual, by Win. Tlios. Lowndes. Pub. by Wm. Pickering, London : 1834.

OUR ENGLISH ANCESTORS. 21

She died May 3d, 1621, aged 33 years, and was buried at St. Faith's, under St. Paul's.

He married for his second wife Joan, daughter of Henry Franklin, of Throwley, in Kent. Her death is not given. His will bears date 1630 ; it may have been proved at a subsequent period — further than this we have no data of his death. He was buried at St. Anne's, Blackfriars, in London. By his will he left the sum of £15 to the parish of Much Wenlock, where he was born. The Parish Register's office of that town was burned some years since, and a portion of the records were destroyed.*

The children we give below :— By first wife :

John. By second wife : Anne, Charles, Henry, Mary. All these are mentioned in their father's will, as are also one William Bill, a supposed brother, and Thomas and John, supposed nephews.

The families at present residing in England are be- lieved to have descended, chiefly, from Charles and Henry, named above.

We find that Henry Bill, Esquire, a grandson of John Bill (King's printer), and probably a son of the son Henry above, was settled at Seaford in 1680. He married Letitia, a daughter of Sir James Colbrond, Bart. He died in 1696. A cousin of the last named, as is supposed, John

* This and other facts were communicatee! by Mr. John Bill, who resides in the same town where his ancestor and namesake was born. He writes under date of February 25, 1867, that his is the only family bearing the name in the parish of Much Wenlock, the ancient homo of the Bills.

22 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

Bill, Esquire, whose name appears in Bloome's Britannia, 1672, as one of the Middlesex gentry, married Lady Diana, a daughter of Mildmay Fane, second Earl of Westmore- land, and widow of John Pelham, Esquire, of Brokelsby, County of Lincoln.

* There is, in a rare volume of poems, published in London, some verses dedicated to Mrs. Diana Bill, in which a wish is expressed that " the noble race of West- moreland might spread," &c.

We have come now to the period when our first ances- tors appeared in America ; these, as will be shown in the next chapter, were John and Dorothy Bill. If we turn back, and look again at the list of the children of John Bill (King's printer), we find his eldest son, bearing his name, to be a man grown in 1630. What became of him % I am unable to find any thing relating to him after the date of his father's will [1630], If it be reasonable to suppose that his father died at or about the time of the date of his will, then it will be seen he had no nearer relatives living in England than half-brothers and sisters. It is not probable his father left any great estate, for he had made an assignment some time prior to his decease, as has been stated. Then several other causes, all tending to induce emigration, may be men- tioned, namely : the fact of the loss of both his father and mother, and his being left in humble circumstances through unfortunate enter p rises of his late father, and, added to this, the possible unsatisfactory treatment by his stepmother, and probably, above all, the intolerant spirit that pervaded all England in religious affairs — these, quite likely, proved a sufficient sum of grievances to cause his exit from the country of his birth to the then new western world, where he might be free from both civil and religious despotism.

* This we have from Mr. W. M. Bill, Bournemouth, Hants, England.

OUR ENGLISH ANCESTORS.

23

We do not wish to assert as a positive and ascer- tained fact that this John is the John Bill whom we claim as our paternal ancestor in America, but, neverthe- less, it is our belief, and many minor matters contribute to confirm our opinion. We might name one of the minor considerations ; that is, the perpetuation of the same family names by John and Dorothy as were common to the family at that very period in England, and had been, for many years prior, old family names.

Nothing further remains for us but to give here the coat-of-arms * as worn by Charles Horsfall Bill, Esquire, of Dauntsey House, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England.

Arms : Ei-m. two wood-bills [battle-axes] sa. with long handles ppr. in saltier, on a chief az. a pale or, charged with a rose gu. betw. two pelicans' heads erased at the neck ar.

* We find in the various works on heraldry five different eoats-of- arms belonging to the Bills, but the one above given is believed to be the correct one, though no crest is mentioned; yet for the full coat-of-arms see title-page, to which the reader is referred. It may be worn, however, without the crest.

THE BILL FAMILY

IN AMERICA.

FIEST GENERATION.

1. JOHN AND DOROTHY BILL.

This country bad long been known to Europeans prior to tbe embarkation of tbe Pilgrims at Delft Haven for New England. The coast-line had been roughly sketched by the Dutch and other adventurers who had sailed up and- down the line of the continent, making lodgments here and there for purposes of trade and colonization ; but it was not until 1620 that the Pilgrims, previously driven from England, left Holland for a home in America.

Many thoughts come crowding for expression as we reflect on the mysterious causes that for centuries had been at work preparing, as it were, a people of simple yet of pure faith as seed with which to populate a new world.

The history of Europe and contiguous countries prior to this time forms little else than a series of hideous chapters relating to the conquests of States and races, of wars and des- potisms, both civil and religious, ever culminating in martyr- doms, and turmoils, and strifes among neighboring popula- tions, intolerance meanwhile everywhere prevailing, even as late as the sixteenth century.

Such, in brief, were the elemental causes inducing emi- gration ; and it is from this point that we proceed to the task of collecting the history of our family in America.

The earliest mention of any of the name of Bill is found in the ancient records of the " Town of Boston," where we read : s

26 TIIE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

" John Bill died 10 mo., 163S." A month later, January 21, 1638-9, Richard Tuttell [Tuttle] became responsible to the town of Boston for " one Dorothie Bill, widdowe, a sojourm r in his house" and "for any thing about her."*

Before proceeding further, we will state, for the benefit of the general reader, that prior to 1752 two methods of com- mencing the year prevailed in England. The Ecclesiastical, as also the Legal year, commenced on the 25th March, but the Historical year on the first of January. This custom pre- vailed in the colonies until by an act of Parliament, in 1751, the first of January was also made the beginning of the legal year. We may add, also, that the Arabic numbers were fre- quently written in place of the names of the month ; hence the tenth month, as expressed above, was December, while 1038 refers to the legal vear, and the addition of the figure 9, in the last quotation above, denotes the historical year.

The ancient phraseology used above, pertaining to Dorothie Bill, means that she had lately become a widow, and Mr. Tuttle, who was probably her brother, engaged to meet any expense that might arise on account of her and her children. "Anything about her " undoubtedly refers to children con- nected with said Dorothy, who might possibly occasion ex- pense. Dorothy Bill had at this time at least one son, James Bill, who was a full-grown man, aged 23. We also feel quite certain she had two other sons, namely, Thomas, near 20 years of age, and Philip, who was still younger. These sons, if not living with their mother, would be likely to visit her from time to time. A year later, we find Dorothy and her son James living together.

We find no record of the arrival in this country of John and Dorothy Bill, whom we believe to have been husband and wife, although no record makes it certain ; but when we consider the record of the death of John Bill,f as heretofore

* Drake's History of Boston, p. 245.

f Savage's Genealogical Dictionary infers that, this John v.-a- the hoy

John that came in the ship ••Hopewell.'' This is hardly possible.

FIRST GENERATION. 27

given, we are impressed with the belief that it is the death of an adult, and not of a child. Had it been a child, the parents' names would have formed part of the record, as in other cases.

It is assumed that John and Dorothy must have arrived in the colony p rior to 1635, for we find that a boy named John Bill, aged 13, came in the ship " Hopewell," in 1635 ; also, that one Mary Bill, aged 11, came in the ship "Planter" about the same time. There is little reason to doubt these two children were also the children of John and Dorothy, for we find the girl Mary Bill in company with the Tuttles, and apparently one of their family, as her name immediately fol- lows their names in the list of passengers.

It is probable that John and Dorothy Bill, induced by the same reasons that drove the earlier Pilgrims to seek a home in America, and by other reasons mentioned in the pre- vious chapter, came hither, with their three eldest children, as pioneers ; and made a settlement, and otherwise provided for the reception of their remaining family and friends, who came, as we have seen, in 1635, in the vessels above. The fact that after the death of the husband of Dorothy, Richard Tuttle became responsible for her and her children ; and the other fact, that Mary Bill came in company with the Tuttles, on board of the " Planter," leaves the impression on our minds, indeed, there seems to be no question, that Richard Tuttle was a brother of Dorothy Bill, and consequently an uncle of the children. This in part explains how the parents came to leave their two youngest children behind them in England; also, how it came that Richard Tuttle should volunteer to become responsible for the widow and children of John Bill, and that the widow should " sojourn in his house."

It is not remarkable that neither the names of John or Dorothy Bill, or their three eldest children, appear in any of the volumes in the Rolls Office, London, containing names of the early emigrants, and made by order of the Home Govern- ment. They must be incomplete, or else they do not cover the entire period. Drake, in his " Founders of New England,"

28 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

speaks of these volumes as being somewhat damaged by water, and it will be noticed he gives no list of emigrants for New England in 1633. Widow Dorothy Bill did not long remain in the house of her (supposed) brother, Richard Tuttle, for on the 27th of January, 1639-40, Robert Mears sold to Dorothy Bill and her son James Bill his house a,nd garden, " where they now live.'7*

Richard Tuttle, above named, soon became a man of note in Boston. He was made a freeman March 3, 1635-6, and, during the same month, was chosen, with Thomas Oliver, Thomas Leverett, William Hutchinson, Thomas Colbarne, and others, one of a committee to oversee and regulate the internal concerns of the town. In 1638 he had an allotment of land at Rumney Marsh and Pullen Point, which may have led the wTay to James Bill, his supposed nephew, settling there. In November 5, 1638, Richard Tuttle was chosen constable of Boston. He died May 8, 1640. His autograph is in Drake's History of Boston, p. 243.

There is no record of the death of Dorothy Bill. We assume, and feel justified in the assumption, that John Bill was the husband of Dorothy (Tuttle) Bill, and that they had the following children :

2 f James,2 b. in England 1615 ; m. Mary

3 f Thomas,' b. in do. about 1618; m. (1) Elizabeth

Nichols ; (2) Abigail Willis.

4 f Philip,2 b. in England about 1620; m. Hannah

5 John,' b. in do. 1622.

6 Mary,' b. in do. 1624.

Of the above children, we know that James was the son of Dorothy. Of John and Mary, we only know that they came in 1635. We do not hear of them again. Of James, Thomas, and Philip, and their descendants, we have now to trace ; and it will be interesting to see how so small a family as this of John and Dorothy's has expanded and widened, until, in 1867, a period of over two centuries and a quarter, their

* Boston Record of Deeds in Drake's History of Boston, p. 260.

SECOND GENERATION. 29

name should come to embrace, in its geographical limits — a continent.

SECOND GENEEATIOS". 2.

JAMES BILL, son of John and Dorothy Bill, was born in England, in 1615, as we learn from the inscription on his gravestone, still standing in Copp's Hill burying-ground, Boston. lie came to this country in company with his parents, as has been assumed, prior to 1635, at the age of

20 years. He married Mary , who was also born in

England, in 1613. She died August 9, 1688, aged 75, seven months after her husband, and was buried by his side. Being - two years older than her husband, it is probable that she was his first and only wife.

James Bill is first made known to us by his purchase, con- jointly with his mother, Dorothy Bill, of a house and garden from Kobert Mears, January 27, 1639-40. James and his mother lived there at the time. This property must have been on or near what is now Sudbury Street.

He must, soon after this, have bought property at Pullen Point, for we find him selling six acres of land at that place, which implies a previous purchase. The date of the said sale is in April, 1645 : how long he had owned this piece of property is not known to the writer, but it is probable he came into possession of it between the date of the first pur- chase of a house and garden in Boston, in 1639-40, and the date of his sale, which was, as we have said, in 1645. He, however, must soon after have made other and extensive pur- chases at Pullen Point, at which place we find him residing shortly after, and where he continued during the remainder of his life. Our knowledge of the transaction of the sale above named is derived from the following document : —

" James Bill of Boston, in New England, for the summe of

3() THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Ten pounds doth sell and deliver up to Bernard En-

gle [Ingalls] all my land at Pulling Point wch I pur- chased of Mr. "Wentwortli Daye, there inhabiting, with all the

housing* upon it the s'1 land being six acres more or

lesse, bounded North and South with the land of the s'1 Mr. "Wentworth Daye, with the land of Serg. Major Gibbons to- wards the West, with the land of John Evered [Webb] of Boston, towards the East. Morover I do hereby warrant the house and land now sold, &c. I have hereunto set my hand this tenth of the second moneth [April] 1645." Subscribed by James Bill. (Suff. Deeds, 5 : 45, 4(5).

The foregoing is an indorsement on a confirmatory deed, dated February, 1664-5, but " signed, sealed, and delivered," July, 1666; acknowledged before Richard Bellingham, Gov- ernor, and signed by James Bill and Mary his wife. In explanation of this confirmatory deed, we may say that no registry of deeds for the county of Suffolk existed till 1653. There had been some litigation and much confusion about landed estates, from the want of a proper system of transfers and method in their record. (See Drake's History of Boston, p. 785.) The document quoted above is of great import- ance. It shows that James Bill bought land at Pulling- Point as early as 1645, if not before; and that he probably resided there at that time. Pulling [Pullen] Point was then a part of the territory of Boston, though afterwards included in the town of Chelsea [1738]. and now in the town of Winthrop.

The earliest conveyance of landed property in this country to any of the name of Bill, except as already noted, is the fol- lowing. Of the two already mentioned there is no copy. We give an exact copy of this deed ; not only as a matter of antiquarian curiosity, but chiefly in view of the interest all the family will take in its perusal. It will be seen to be a deed of a house and lot situate in Boston, given by Evan Thomas to James Bill : —

* Housing or Ilouaen was the plural of house.

SECOND GENERATION. 31

To all Christian People to wliome these prsents shall come Evan Thomas of Boston Newe England inholder sendeth greeting in our Lord God everlasting. Know yee that I said Evan Thomas for and in consideration of the some of ffoure- score poundes sterl to me in hand paid by James Bill of Pul- lin Poynt planter wherewth I do acknowledge my self to be fully satisfied contented and paid & thereof & of every pt & prcell thereof do exonerate aqnitt & discharge the said James Bill his heires exexutors & administrators & every of them forever, by theis prsts, have given graunted bargained sold enfeoffed and confirmed And by theis prsts do freely and absolutely give graunt bargaine sell enfeoff & confirm unto the said James Bill his heires & as>ignes for ever All that my dwelling house & celler & what soever building doth thereunto belong or appertain togeither with the land & garden or backside thereunto belonging & adjoining as it is nowe fenced & Enclosed lying standing and being in Boston aforesaid, on the westerly side of a lane or streete leading from the signe of the Castel, Northerly and containing in breadth to the streeteward Easterly three score & four foote and towards ye lands of Mr. Will'" Tinge Westterly fifty and five foote and a half or thereabouts and in leno-th one hundred & twenty foote on each side (be it more or lesse) & lying betwixt the lands of Will1" Courser on the Southerly side and francis Dowse on the Northerly side and abutting vpon the streete Easterly and the lands of the said Mr. Will™ Tinge westerly together with all & singlar the apptences there vnto belonging And all my right title & Interest of & into the said p'misses wth their apptences and every pt & pcell thereof To have and to hold all the said dwelling house and cellar garden place or backside fences & bounded as aforesaid wth all and Every of their appurtenances vnto the said James Bill, & his heires & assignes forever. And to the only prop vse & behoofe of the said James Bill & his heires & assignes forever. To be holden in & free & common Soccage & not in cappitie nor by Knight

32 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Service. And the said Evan Thomas doth coven'nt & grant by tlieis pnts to <fe wtt the said James Bill his heires & assignes that hee the said Evan Thomas is the true sole & prop owner of the said bargained prmises wth their apprtences at the tyme of the bargaine and sell the same, And that the said bargained p'misses w,h their appurtences & every pt & psell of them are free & eleare of for & from all former bar- gaines sales guifts grants titles mortgages & engagem'8 and freely and clearly acquitted exonerated & discharged of for & from all former suits Actions Arrests atachm'5 Judgem" Exe- cutions and incumbrances whatsoever from the world's begin- ning untill the day of the date hereof and shall & will delivr or cause to be delivered all deeds writeings grants evi- dences and scripts concerning the said prmises or any pt or prcell of them that are in his hands or may lawfully be & coruse vnto the said James Bill or his assignes wthin Six monthes next after the date hereoNaire & uncancelled. And the said Evan Thomas doth covenant and sraunt bv theis pnts a pt of the said house called the re are Roome or building forthwith to cover or cause to be couved over w,h newe Clap- board at his own pp cost and charges. And the said Evan Thomas for himself his heires execto" & administrate" doth Covenant & grant by theis pnts to & wth the said James Bill his heires and assignes all & sing? the said prmisses wth their apptennses & Every pt & prcell of them to warrant acquitt and defend against all psons from by or under him or them claymeing any right tittle or interest of or into the said prmisses or any pt or pcell thereof for Ever by theis pnts And that it shall & mav be lawfull to & for the said James Bill his heires & assignes to Enrole and record or Cause to be enrolled <Sz recorded the title and tenor of theis pnts according to the true intent & meaning thereof & according to the vsual order & maner of Enroleing Recording deeds and Evidences in such case made & provided. In witness whereof the said Evan Thomas hath here vnto sett his hand and Scale the foureteenth day of the fifth month comonly called July in

SECOND GENERATION. 33

* the yere of our Lord One thousand Six hundred fifty and

one. Evan Thomas (L. S.)

Sealed & delivered in the pnse of Win. Ludken, John Wakfield, Nathaniel Sowthev, Edmund Jackson.

Memorand that quiet and peaceable possession of the w'hin written prmisses was acknowledged by the wth in written pties to be given and received accordingly before the Sealing & delivery of theis pnts in the prnce of the same witnesses to the delivry & Ensealing hereof. This deede of Sale by Evan Thomas to the vse of James Bill was acknowledged this 30th of the 9th m°. 1652, before me, Wm. Ilibbins Entred & Recorded the 13 february 52 Edward Rawson Recorder.

The foregoing deed may be found in the Suffolk Registry of Deeds, Lib. I. fols. 277, 278, 279.

1666, June 6. The Executors of the Estate of John Oliver, late of Boston, sell, for £330, in money and other current pay in New England, to James" Bill of Pulling Point within the bounds of the Towne of Boston, their messuage tenement or farme at Pulling Point, late in the occupation of the afore- named John Oliver, and all Edifices, buildings, &c.

which farm is bounded East on land of William Burnell, de- ceased : North by the marsh of Edward Hutchinson : West on land of said James Bill, formerly the land of Wentworth Dave : South by the Creek coming out of the Cove, northerly. Acknowledged June 5, 1666, before Ri. Bellingham, Gov. — (Suffolk Deeds, 5, 43.)

As early as 1-666, James Bill was the proprietor of three lots of land on Spectacle Island, in the harbor of Boston, which he sells to his (supposed) brother, Thomas, as follows :

1666, Dec. 13. James Bill of Pulling Point, for a val- uable consideration sells to Thomas Bill of Boston, Lighter- man, all his right, title, and interest to three lots of land on Spectacle Island, within the bounds of Boston : two of the said lots being on the southeasterly end of Spectacle, furthest from Boston, and are the lots which were granted by the selectmen of Boston, the one to Capt. Johnson, the other to Benjamin

34 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Negus, containing seven acres; and one lot being on the Spectacle nearest to Boston, formerly in possession of William Beamsley, deceased, containing two acres. — (Ibid. 9 : 195.)

Spectacle Island, we find hereafter, continued in the pos- session of the family, either in whole or in part, for about eightv rears. We defer further notice of this island until we come to speak of the above-named Thomas Bill and his son Samuel Bill.

Air. Vinton savs : " We cannot but regard the transfer of these rights of James to Thomas Bill, as tending to corrobo- rate the supposition that these two men were brothers; and," he adds, " that, since it was transferred 'for a valuable consideration,' not specifically stated, it was doubtless on terms quite favorable to his less prosperous brother."

There can be no doubt of the great prosperity of James Bill, and especially at this period, for we find him the owner of large estates, and these were chiefly located at Pulling Point — the home of many of the most distinguished families of those times.

The next purchase of landed property was that of a house lot on the North end of Boston.

1667-8, Feb. 6. John Paine of Boston, merchant, for £50, sells to James Bill of Pulling Point, within the bounds of Boston, a parcell of land at the north end of Boston, contain- ing in breadth 46 feet on the brow of the Banck, and below the Banck, on the flats above high water 50 feet in breadth, and is, in length from the northerly side of the highway [Fleet Street] between the burying-place [Copps Hill] and the said land down northerly to the low water : bounded S. E. by land of John Dacon, N. W. on land of Capt. Samuel Scarlett, "N. E. on the sea or mouth of Charles River, S. W. on the afore- said highway [Fleet Street] : the foote-path on the bank Ex- cepted.— (Suff. Deeds, vol. vi. 305.)

This piece of land, says Vinton, is easily identified. Part of it was " below the bank," just where is now the western terminus of the East Boston Ferrv ; there it was 50 feet wide.

SECOND GENERATION. 35

Tlie breadth elsewhere was 46 feet. The length is not stated. The price paid may or may not determine that it extended all the way from Copps Hill burying-ground to the water. There is deep water in that vicinity, and this land now and has long been esteemed of great value. The reason, undoubtedly, of the purchase of this " parcel of land " fronting and joining to the water was the dockage privilege. It is quite likely he erected thereon a wharf, and held it for his and his sons' uses. That he was engaged in commercial pursuits we have evidence of in the inventory of his estate, to which the reader is referred. It is true that we find, in 1671-2, Feb. 28, James Bill, Senior, selling to his son, James Bill, Junior, both of Pudden Point,* for £20, the above lot, purchased of John Paine; also one negro, Jack, is included for this sum. The price named above would lead us to infer that this conveyance did not probably include the wharfage.

AVe now come to a very important document, dated 1671-2, February 28. It is an Indenture between James Bill, Senior, and his wife Mary, of Pudden [Pulling] Point, of the one part, and James Bill, Junior, Jonathan Bill, Joseph Bill, and Joshua Bill, who are declared to be their surviving sons, of the other part.

This Indenture made the Eight & twenty day of Feb- rua An0 Do one thousand Six hundred Seventy & one, Be- tween James Bill of Pudden-point within the precincts of Boston in the Massachusetts Colonv of New England Sen' of the one part & James Bill Junr Jonathan Bill, Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill within the same precincts of the same Boston aforesd the Sonns apparent of the s'1 James Bill sen. & Mary his wife of the other part.

Wittneseth. That I the sd James Bill Senr cheefly in re- spect of my deare Affection & Love that I bare unto my sd sonns haveing not yet given them any thing considerable

* This word is spelt Pullen, Pulling, and Pudden Point, all referring to the same locality in Boston Harbor.

36 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

for theire SuLsistance & Livelihoode, And otherwise for & in eonsideraco of the Summe of four hundred pounds money currant of New England at severall times & upon all de- mands (& not otherwise) according to the Tenor <fe purport of these psents to bee paide, each Grantee to pay one quarter part of the sd Summe aforesaid & Enjoy one quarter part of the pmisses hereby to bee bargained & sould &c have given, granted, Sould, aliend Enfeoffed & confirmed And by these psents Doe fully clearely & absolutely give, grant, Bargaine, Sell, alien Enfeoffe & confirme unto the sd James Bill Ju. Jonathan Bill, Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill (copartners viz) one fourth part to each of them theire heires & Assignes for Ever as is heerafter exprest, all that his farme & farme houses wth all the severall pcells of Land, Medows, Marshes Woods, Underwoods, Coves, Creeks Rivers privilages & Appurte- nances unto the same belonging or in any measure Appertain- ing lying & being within the pscincts at Pudden point aforesaid Bounded wth the Land of Capt. Edward Ilutchirson towards the South in part & a great Cove towards the South & East & a creecke called ffishers creecke towards the East running Northward, & a Little creecke running out of that sa ffishers creecke still Northward & by Land of onr Dane Wintrop still Northward & by the Lands of Sam Burnells towards the North & East & by the medow of s'1 Capt. JIutcherson towards North & East & the westerly part thereof bounded by a great Cove & a great Salt Creecke running Northward Eastward & "Westward (Excepting onely a small parcell of land of about fourteene rods over viz fourteene Acres belonging to the sd pcell of Capt Ilutcherson wch runeth between the sd Lands abovesaide & alsoe a pcell of Land at hodg Island denominated to bee ten acres more or less) wlh all privilages & Appurte- nances thereto belonging. And alsoe with the s1 Lands afore- saide is hereby bargained & sould unto the s'1 James Bill Ju Jonathan Bill, Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill as copartners as aforesd all the cattle, viz horses, neate kinde, small cattle swine &c & all the house hold stuffe & vtensills for husbandtree as

SECOND GENERATION. 37

*

now are or hereafter shall or may bee upon the sd farme or Lands hereby bargained & Sould at the time yesRide James Bill Se n shall demand require & receive three hundred pounds money as part of the four hundred pounds wch is the consid- eraco" of the saicle bargained premises abovesaide the wch is at his Liberty wn to doe it during the time & terme of his natu- ral Life. And in the meane time it is hereby Excepted & full power by the saide James Bill Sen retained that notwith- standing; what is in this saide Indenture Exprest the saide James Bill sen hath full power to keeps possess improve & enjoy to his one Yse & Benefitt during the time & terme of his naterall Life the saide bargained pmises except hee shall demand & require the saide three hundred pounds before wch is a part of the four hundred pounds consideraco- as is afore- saide & none other shall ever receive the saide three hundred or nv part or parcell thereof but hee the saide James Bill sen or such other as hee shall Authorize by a writing under hand & Seale. But the other hundred pounds shall bee paid unto the s'1 Mary my Loving wife after my decease Viz in five yeares that is to say twenty pounds a yeere untill the whole be paid provided it bee Satisfactory to her & she make noe further claime to any other part of my Estate neither by thirds nor right of Dower &c. Only it is hereby further to be unde rstood concluded & agreed that if any of my saide Sonns shall depart this Life leaving noe children behind him then those that shall survive shall haue & injoy that sd part equally devided between them : To haue & to hold the sd farm, farm- house & houses & all the severall parcells of Land wth all the Cattle viz horses cow-kinde small cattle Swine &c : & all the household stuffe & vtensills for husbandtree with their & every of their rights privilages & Appurtenances thereto belonging or in any measure appertaining them & every of them unto the sd James Bill Jona Bill Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill as coepart- ners (Except before Excepted) to the Sole onely & proper Use behoof & benefit of them the sd James Bill Jonathan Bill, Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill theire heires & Assignes for Ever

3S THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

wth the conditions Limitations & provisos as aforesaide. And the s'1 James Bill for liimselfe his heires Executors & Admin- istrator" doth covenant & grant & by these psents affirme to & wth the sa James Bill Jim Jonathan Bill Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill theire heires Executors & Assignes in mann' & form following.

That hee the saide James Bill Sen' at the time of the grant bargain & Sale of the prmises & untill the confirmaco" hereof unto the s(i partners as aforesaide to the Vse of them theire heires Executor3 & Assignes as is afore exprest was Law- fully seized to his one Vse of in & to the pmiises in a good prfct & absolute Esstate of inheritance in fee-simple And hath in himselfe full power good right & lawfnll Authority the prmises to giue grant Bargaine Sell & Assure as aforesaide And that the s'1 James Bill Junr Jonathan Bill Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill as coepartners theire heires Execnto" & Assignes as aforesaide & every of them for their one part shall & may at the proper time afore Exprest & from thence forth for Ever Lawfully, peaceably & quietly haue hold occupy possess & enjoy the sd Bargained prmises wth the privilages & appurte- nances free & cleere & cleerely acquitted exonerated & dis- charged & otherwise by the s'1 James Bill senr his heires Executo™ & Administrators from time to time & at all times heerafter sufficiently saved defended & keepe harmless the sd pmiises of & from all & Singular other charges gifts grants Bargaines Sales Leases Assignements intailes Seizures dowers & all other Acts & incumbrance whatsoever had made done or Suffered to bee done by mee the sd James Bill sen. his heires Executor3 Administrators or Assignes or any other pson or psons whatsoever claiming or pretending to claime or de- mand any Estate right litle or Interest of in or to the p'mises or any part thereof whereby the s'1 James Bill Jun Jonathan Bill Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill theire heires Executors or Assignes shall or may be Evicted or Ejected out of the pos- session thereof or any part or pcell thereof at any time here- after With a sufficient warranty of the s1 p'mises to them the

SECOND GENERATION. 39

sd James Bill, Jr. Jonathan Bill, Joseph Bill & Joshua Bill theire heires Executors or Assignes in manner & form as is aforesaide.

In witnes whereof the sd Granter & Grantees to these prsent Indentures interchangably their hands & seales haue set the day & yeere first above written. Annoq Regni Regis Caroli secunde XXIII.

Jamks Bill Sen, [L. S.] Signed Sealed & delivered in p'sents of vs & the words (sonns yt) enterlined be- fore Sealing Tho. Bill. William Howard Scr.

This Instrument was acknowledged by James Bill Senr as his Act & Deede ffeb 28th 1671 before

Enw Ting Assist Entered & Recorded & Compared this 15th 4"10 1672

As Attests. Issac Addington (Suff. Deeds, VI. 309, 310, 311.)

The design of this paper was evidently to place his worldly affairs in such a condition, that, should he be suddenly re- moved, his estate should take the direction and manner here indicated. This course was, we think, a wise one ; it possesses balances and checks not unworthy the attention of any person similarly situated. The wife and mother was provided for, as we see, and he also reserved to himself supreme control du- ring his life. This paper covered only a portion of his real estate, and not any of his personal property.

We cannot pass without calling attention to the fact that Thomas Bill was a witness. This is significant of the relation- ship heretofore assumed as existing between him and James Bill, the signer of the following instrument : —

1674, Dec. 31, Samuel Burnell of Boston, cooper, and Anne his wife, for £180, sell to James Bill, Senior, of Pulling

40 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Point, their farm at Pulling Point, containing 36 acres, with all the houseing, &c, hounded E. and IN". E. by land of Deane Winthrop, and on every other side by land of said James Bill. (Ibid. 9 ; 146.)

1677, April 25, James Bill purchased of Daniel Turrell a lot of land at the north end of Boston. (Ibid. 16 ; 57.)

James Bill must have been a man of some note, it would be but reasonable to suppose. We find him living at one of the most attractive points in the vicinity of Boston, and having for neighbors gentlemen of distinction and culture. We find some evidence of the confidence reposed in him from the fol- lowing, taken from the Genealogical Beg. 10 ; 270, namely : William Burnell, the father of Samuel Burnell, above, made a will, dated 5th of 1st month, 1660, and another will 16th of 2d mo., 1660. Of both of these wills he appointed James Bill of Pulling Point, and John Doolittle of Bumney Marsh, " to see this my will fulfilled."

The following, taken from the Tax List for 1687, still ex- isting in the State House in Boston, may the better serve to show the extent of his interests in and around Boston.

Arable land, 80 acres.

Pasture land, 170 acres.

Housing, Mills and Wharves, 8.

Oxen, 4 ; bulls and cows of four years old and upwards, 5 ; heifers and steers between three and four years old, 9 ; heifers and steers between two and three years old, 4 ; heifers and steers between one and two years old, 1 ; horses and mares of three years old and upwards, 1 ; Ewe sheep and wethers above one year old, 200 ; swine above one year old, 4.

Amount of Tax, £1 3s. lOd.

The property in Boston, the Sloop Trial, and the negroes are not included, it will be seen.

James Bill attended public worship at the second church in Boston, where the Rev'ds. Increase and Cotton Mather, father and son, preached. This church then stood in North

SECOND GENERATION. 41

Square, but hi time of the Revolution it was pulled down and used for fuel by the British troops.

He died February 1, 16S7-S. and was buried on Copps Hill, Boston. The following is the inscription on his grave-, stone, which is still standing : " Here Lyeth Buried ye Body of James Bill, aged 73 years, Departed This Life ye First of February 16S7-8." This stone stands in the northwest part of the cemetery, facing the northeast, and near the path which leads from the north to the south gate. Near by is the grave-stone of his wife, bearing this inscription : " Here lyeth buried ye body of Mary Bill wife to James Bill, aged about 75 years died ye 29 of August, 1688."

We now append the action of the Probate Court relating to the will of James Bill, Sr., and also give an exact copy of the will itself, as made by Mr. T. B. Wyman, Jr., taken from Suff. Prob. vol. x. pp. 222, 223, 224.

The Probate of the will of James Bill Senr ; and Adminis- tration granted thereon to his Three Sonns Executo™

Sr Edmond x\ndros Kir*. Captaine Generall and Governor in Cheife of his Majesties Territory and Dominion of New England To all to whome this shall come or may Concerne Greeting Know yee That on the Two and Twentieth day of ffebry In the yeare of Our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and Seaven Before me att Boston in the County of Suffolke in the Dominion aforesaid the Will of James Bill Senr. Late of Pudden Point within the Precincts of Boston aforesaid to these psents annexed was proved approved and allowed who haveing wdiile hee Lived att the time of his Death Goods rights or Creditts in Diverse parts of the said Dominion The administration of all and Singular the goods rights and Creditts the said Deceased and his will in any manner Concerning was comitted vnto James Bill Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill Sonns of the Deceased Executo" In the same will named well and truly to Administer the same And to make a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the

42 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

goods rights and Creditts of the said Deceased and the same to exhibite into the Secretaire's Office of the said Dominion according to Law And alsoe to render a true and plaine ac- count thereof upon Oath In Testimony whereof I have here- vnto sett the Seale of the Office for Probate of Wills and granting Administrations Dated the Three and Twentieth day of ffebruary Anno Dm- 1687

The Will of James Bill Senr.

In the nanie of God Amen I James Bill Sen\ of

Pudden Point within the Precincts of Boston in New

England yeoman Being weake in body Bat sound in

my Vnderstanding and memory And being conscious of

my Mortallity Itt being appointed for all men once to Dye

And being willing to sett my house in Order before my

Decease have and hereby Doe Constitute, Ordaine and make

this to bee my Last will and Testament ; 'nulling and revoak-

ing all other wills by me formerly made of what kind soever

In manner following Impris I Committ my Soule into the

hands of God my Creator : hopeing & believing to Obtaine the

Pardon of all my Sinns and the Acceptance of my person

vnto Eternall Life through the alone Merritts and Media-

tion of my Onely Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And my

body to the Grave Descently to be Interred att the charge

and, according to the Descretion of my Exec" hereinafter

named And as for what worldly Estate God of his goodnesse

hath Lent vnto mee and bestowed upon mee my minde and

will is that it should be disposed of as follow eth First I give

and bequeath vnto my Three sonns James Bill Junr Jonathan

Bill and Joseph Bill All that farme wch I bought of Sam-1

Burnell Lyeing and next adjoyning to Mr Deane Winthrops

farme Item I give and bequeath vnto my said Three Sonns

James Jonathan and Joseph all that peece or parcel of Land

Lyeing att the North end of Boston and is Scituate att the

Southerly side of Mr William Do/res his Dwelling house

The wch farme and peece of Land are equally to be Divided

SECOND GENERATION". 43

among my said Three Sonns Item I give and bequeath vnto my said Three -Sonns All that my halfe part of my Sloope called Triall Burthen Thirty and five Tuns or there abouts with all the appurtenances there vnto belonging equally to be Divided betwixt them Also I give vnto my said three Sonns my two Negroes James and Jack equally to be Divided amongst them Item I give and bequeath vnto my Daughter Mary Smith as a token of my Love the sume of flfourty pounds in money to be paid vnto her within Three yeares next after my Decease by my Executors and the reason why I give her noe more now is because I have given Largoly to her already Item I give and bequeath vnto my Daughter Hannah Kent as a token of my Love Twenty shillings in money to be paid her wthin two Months next after my Decease by my said Executors I haveing given her for- merly very considerably Item I give vnto my Daughter Sarah Olivers [Cheever] the sume of One Hundred Pounds in money to be paid vnto her by my Executor8 wth in Three yeares next after my Decease and is to bee at her Sole Disposall thereof And as for all other of my estate whether itt be in Bonds Bills Household stuffe Debts goods or any other kind whatsoever I give and bequeath the same vnto my said Three Sons James Bill Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill equally to be divided be- tweene them whome I Doe make and Constitute to be the Executors of this my Last will and Testament And in Testi- mony that this is my Last will I have herevnto sett my hand and Seale the Last day of January Anno Dm 1687* Annoq H. E. Jas Secdi Augt tertio 1687.

Signed by |=| the marke of James Bill wth his Seale.

Signed Sealed and Declared by James Bill Senr : to be his will & Last Testam' In the prsence of vs Deane Winthrop John Henry Burchstead & by the marke of Roben Rannells

The Witnesses Sworn 22 Feb 1687 Before the Governor [Sir Edmond Andros], that Testator was of sound mind &c.

* In the third year of the reign of King James the Second, King of England. .

44 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

The inventor}' of James Bill's estate, taken by Deane Winthrop, Aaron Way, and William Ireland, was as follows : Land at Pulling Point .... £1-10.

House-lot in Boston ..... 80.

One half of sloop Trial and boat . . 119.

Two negroes ...... 40.

Wearing Apparel ..... 15.

Two barrels Beef 54. S. Indian Corne, Barley and

Eye 36. 18. 4.

Desperate Debts owing to the Estate . . GQ. 14. Total . £420. 6. 4. (Suff. Prob. 10 : 226.) Had he not deeded, as we have seen, to his sons, nearly all his landed property at Pulling Point prior to March 1, 1671-2, amounting in value to £400 (that was likely far below its real value, being only what he required his sons to pay under certain circumstances), this would have swollen the amount of his inventory far beyond what is now shown.

The children of James and Mary ( ) Bill were : —

about 1645 ; m. Johu Smith. " 1647 ; m. John Kent.

Nov. 23, 1651 ; m. Mehitable -.

about 1654; m. Frances .

" 1658 ; m. Rev. Thomas Cheever.

" 1660; m. (1) Lydia , (2)

Deliverance Wakefield. 1 3 Joshua,' b. about 1 66-. This was the youngest

of the family of whom we have any account. His name a] pears in the conveyance of land by his father to his sons, dated February 28, 1671-2, given on a previous page. No account of him is found after that, and it is quite probable he died before his father, and, we presume, was never married.

3.

THOMAS BILL2 (John1), a supposed brother of the pre- ceding, was born in England, about the year 1618. Mr. Yiuton

7	t Mary,3	b.
8	f Hannah,3	b.
9	f James,3	b.
10	f Jonathan,	3b.
11	f Sarah,3	b.
12	f Joseph,3	b.

SECOND GENERATION. 45

gives us the following as additional reasons why it was proba- ble Thomas and James were brothers, viz. : That they both resided in Boston (Pulling Point was then a part of Boston), and they attended the same place of worship, and seem to have both been members of the same church [Second Church] ; they were nearly the same age, and that Thomas was a wit- ness to that Indenture made February 28, 1671-2 ; also, that James transfers to Thomas his interest in Spectacle Island without naming the price ; probably for a sum far below its actual value ; and, too, that Thomas gave the name of James to his eldest son by his second wife.

Thomas Bill married, for his first wife, Elizabeth Sak- gent Nichols, widow of David Nichols, on the 14th of 11th m°. 1652 [Jan. 11, 1653, N. S.]. She was the dau. of William and Sarah Sargent and wras b. in England, and came with her parents, in 1638 (See Sargent Genealogy). She died in Boston, March 5, 1657-8, just one week after the birth of her son Sargent Bill.

Thomas Bill married, for his second wife, Abigal Willis, b. about 1633 ; dau. of Michael and Mildred Willis. The date of the marriage is not known. In the will of her mother, Mildred Willis, dated September 20, 1680, mention is made of her dau. Abigal Bill.

Abigal, second wife of Thomas, died in Boston, November 7, 1696, aged 63, about a week after the death of her hus- band, and was buried on Copps Hill, in Boston. The follow- ing inscription may still be read on her gravestone : " Here Lyeth Buried ye Body of Abigal Bill wife to Thomas Bill, Aged 63 years. Died Novem. ye 7th 1696."

Thomas Bill was known in 1666 as a " lighterman," and, in 16S6, as " innholder," and, in 1688, as " mariner ;" in 1696, as *• planter." These several titles given him in the various records indicate the business that he probably followed at those periods. He lived in " Black-Horse Lane," now a part of Prince Street. He was admitted a member of the Second Church (in the time of Rev. Increase Mather) in 1670, and

46 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

his wife Abigal in Dec. 6, 1673. We find bis name enrolled as- a member of tbe Artillery Company in 1674. He was admitted a freeman May 31, 1671.

Tbe first grant of land to bim was tbat of Spectacle Island, by James Bill, in December 13, 1666, mentioned in tbe account given of James in tbe preceding pages. The next is in 1666-7, Feb. 21, wben Nathaniel Reynolds, of Boston, cordwainer, and Priscilla bis wife, for a valuable conside- ration, sell to Thomas Bill of Boston, lighterman, two lots of land on the northwesterly bead of Spectacle Island, within the bounds of Boston, containing in each lot three acres or thereabouts, one of which lots was granted and given by the Selectmen of Boston unto Jonathan and Thomas Negus ; the other lot, containing three acres, was granted by tbe said Selectmen unto Thomas "Wheeler; and is bounded, east by land of widow Davis, west on land of the said Thomas Bill, and butteth north and south on tbe sea. Tbe possession thereof is warranted against all claims and demands, " except the head rents of the said two lots respectively to be paid to the Selectmen of Boston, according to the custom thereof." — (Suff. Deeds, 5 : 536, 537).

164&, April ID, tbe selectmen of Boston made a grant of Spectacle Island forever to fifteen individuals, on the sole condition of the payment by tbe grantees of sixpence per acre annually for the use of the town school. It seems that if this rent was not paid to the town treasurer by the first of Feb- ruary in each year, the land was forfeited. This rent, after 1709, is believed to have become obsolete through forfeiture or otherwise.

The above deed is followed by three others, as given in the records.

1666-7. Feb. 26. Josias Cobham, Junior, of Boston, clothier, for £6, sells to Thomas Bill of Boston, lighterman, a piece or parcell on the southerly bend of Spectacle Island, containing three acres, or thereabouts, bounded E. by the sea, "W. by land of Daniel Turell and of Thomas Bill, N. by the

SECOND GENERATION. 47

Cove, S. by land of Ralph Mason, &c. — (Suff. Deeds, 8 : 315).

1667-8. March 3. Daniel Turrell of Boston and Mary his wife for £6 sell to Thomas Bill of Boston, 2-J- acres on the southerly bend of Spectacle Island. — [Ibid., 8 : 217.] Then, in 1678, Aug. 31, Ralph Mason and Anne his wife sell to Thomas Bill 8 acres of land on Spectacle Island. — (Ibid., 9 : 418.)

Thomas Bill had by these several purchases acquired title to full half of this island, and in 1681, Jan. 25, transfers the same to his eldest son, Samuel.

We append a copy of this deed, as was made by A. H. Ward, Esq.

Copy of Deed of Thomas Bill and Abigail his wife to son, Samuel Bill, Jan. 25, 1680. • To all people to whom this present deed of sale shall come. Thomas Bill of Boston in New England and Abigail his wife send Greeting, — Know yee that for and in consideration of the full and just sum of one hundred and twenty pounds current money of New England to them the said Thomas Bill and Abigail his wife in hand at and before the sealing and delivery hereof well and truly paid by Samuel Bill of Boston in New England aforesaid the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge and themselves therewith fully satisfied, con- tented, and paid, and thereof and every part thereof do for themselves, their heirs Executors and Administrators fully ac- quit and discharge the said Samuel Bill his heirs and assigns forever the said Thomas Bill and Abigail his wrife have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfeoffed and con- firmed and by these presents for themselves their heirs Execu- tors, Administrators and assigns do fully and absolutely give and grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeotfe and confirm unto him the said Samuel Bill, his heirs and assigns all that their right, title, interest, use, property, possession, claim and demand of, in, unto sundry parcells or lots of land to the quantity of thirty-five acres, be the same more or less, lying and being in

48 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

and upon Spectacle Island within the township of Boston aforesaid and all other lands whatsoever lying in or upon the said Island whatsoever the same shall be or appear to be to- gether with all and all manner of trees, woods, fences, pastures, feedings, waterings and all other profits, priviledges and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or apper- taining and all deeds, sales, writings and evidences whatso- ever which concern the premises only, with all their right, title, interest and possession thereof or thereby unto and in the premises be the same more or less : TO HAVE and to hold all and singular the aforementioned premises and every part thereof with their appurtenances unto him the said Samuel Bill his heirs and assigns and to the only proper and absolute benefit and behoof of him the said Samuel Bill his heirs and assigns forever more. And the said Thomas Bill and Abigail his wife for themselves, their heirs Executors Administrators and assigns, do by these presents covenant and grant to and with him the said Samuel Bill his heirs and assigns, that at and before the ensealing and delivery hereof they are the true and lawful owners and possessed of all and singular the premises with their appurtenances and have in themselves full power good right and lawful authority the same to grant, assure and confirm as aforesaid and that the same and every part thereof is free and clear and freely and clearly acquitted exonerated and discharged of and from all and all manner of former and other gifts, grants, bargains, sales, leases, mortgages, dower, power of thirds, extents, seizures, forfeitures, wills, Judgments, Executions and of and from all other titles, troubles and incumbrances whatsoever. And that it shall and may be lawful and free to and for the said Samuel Bill, his heirs and assigns from henceforth the premises and every part thereof lawfully, peaceably and quietly to have, hold, use occupy, and enjoy without molesta- tion, eviction, or ejection of or from the said Thomas Bill and Abigail his wife, their or either of their heirs, Executors Administrators or Assigns ; or of or from any other person or

SECOND GENERATION. 49

persons from or under them ; and that the premises unto him the said Samuel Bill his heirs and assigns against themselves, and all other persons whatsoever lawfully claiming the same they will well and sufficiently warrant and defend ; and that they shall and will at all times hereafter do and perforin such further lawful and reasonable acts and things for the better sure making the premises according to the true intent and meaning hereof as in law or equity can be devised or required. In witness whereof the said Thomas Bill and Abigail his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals this five and twentieth day of January in the two and thirtieth year of the reign of Our Sovereign Lord Charles the second of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King &c, annoque Dom!. 1680-1.

Thomas Bill, and his, Abigail Bill, [L. S.]

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us

Richard Davis. Mary "Warren.

Thomas Bill and Abigail his wife freely acknowledge this instrument to be their act and deed this 1st day of February 1680-1 before me

John Richards, Assist.

Liber 12 : p : 17. Entered with the Records of Deeds for the County of Suffolk 23d Febry 1680

Per Jsa Addington, Clerk.

The early history of this island and that of the Bill family being more or less intertwined, we feel sure it will be interest- ing to many to learn some particulars relating to it ; and we here transcribe the whole of the first part of an article, form- ing one of a series written by Dr. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, of Boston, and published in the " Sunday Times " of that city,

/

50 | THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

on the 23d December, 13G6, under the head of " Boston Harbor and its Islands."

He says : " Returning from Thompson's Island about a mile in a northeasterly direction towards President Roads, and passing an half a mile in an easterly course, the reader will come to a peculiarly shaped island, called Spectacle Island from its remarkable resemblance to a pair of spectacles, it being formed of two peninsular portions connected together by a short bar, which is covered with water at high tides. It lies between Thompson's Island west, and Long Island east, being distant about three-quarters of a mile from the former, and about one mile from the latter. Between it and the southeasterly point of Long Island lies Sculpin Ledge, the easterly part of which has a red buoy^No. 2) to warn the boatmen of its dangerous hidden rocks. Between this island and ledge on the northeast and Thompson's and Moon Islands on the southwest, is the back way, or western passage, through which the course from Boston is south southeast. The bluff on the northerly part of Spectacle Island and the high land upon its southerly portion are designated generally as its north and south heads. Each of these parts can be approached on their westerly side, where small wharves have been built by the owners of the island, for their own use and for the accommodation of the numerous visitors to its hos- pitable shores. By the old deeds of conveyance, and by estimation, it is supposed to contain about sixty acres of land, equally divided into two parts for the two peninsulas.

" The first mention of this noted location, in the records, is on the fourth of March, 1634-5, when, together with Deer Island, Hog Island, and Long Island, it was granted to the town of Boston, for the yearly rent of four shillings for the four islands ; which may be called one shilling apiece for each of them. Very soon after it came into the possession of the town, it was allotted to the different inhabitants, who paid a small annual rent, to inure to the benefit of the free school. At this time the island was well covered with wood ; for

SECOND GENERATION. 51

Governor Winthrop relates, that on the 13th of January, 1637-8, about thirty persons of Boston went out on a fair day to Spectacle Island to cut wood, the town being in great want thereof. The next night the wind rose very high at the northeast, with snow, and afterwards at the northwest for two days, and it was so cold that the harbor was frozen over, except a small channel. These thirty adventurers met with hard luck, for of their number twelve could get no farther home than the Governor's Island, seven were carried in the ice in a small skiff through Broad Sound to the Brewsters, where they had to stay two days without food and fire, and get home by the way of Pulling Point, and many of the others, after detention, had their limbs frozen, and one of them died."

" In 1619 the town began to take measures for granting the land at the island to planters for perpetuity, reserving the exaction of a small annual rent of about sixpence an acre for the benefit of the free school ; and on the 19th of April of that year, ' ten persons ' bind themselves and their successors to pay sixpence an acre p' yeare for their land at Spectacle Hand, forever to ye use of the schole, y' soe it may be proprietye to them for euer, and they are to bring in their pay to the townes treasurer the first day of February for eu'r or else there land is forfeit into the townes dispossing.' These persons did not pay their rent as promptly as they should, and some of them conveyed their rights to others, insomuch that there were large arrearages due ; therefore an order was passed in town meeting, in 1655, of a compulsory character, and the treasurer was authorized to levy and collect by help of the constable. It was not, however, until the 11th of March, 1666-7, that the town relinquished all its right in the island to the planters. This it did at that time, and made void the agreement about the annual rent of sixpence an acre for the benefit of the school, on condition that the back rent should be paid up in full to that date. This was undoubtedly done ; for just previous to this last date, Mr. Thomas Bill, a lighterman, began to purchase up the rights of the several

52 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

owners ; and when lie had acquired nearly the whole island he sold his thirty-five acres of it, on the 25th of January, 1680-1, to his son Samuel Bill, a butcher, who had previously pur- chased five acres of Mr. John Salter (part of his inheritance from his father William, a mariner), and also other parts of several persons."

It will be seen hereafter, when we come to speak of this Samuel, the son of Thomas Bill, that he by subsequent purchases acquired the whole of this island, and that it remained for more than three-quarters of a century in the possession of the Bill family.

The fears of an invasion of the colony by the Dutch, in consequence of a war with England, says Drake, may have given rise to the stupendous project for fortifying the town of Boston. A circular wall was ordered to be erected, extending from one extremity of the cove to the other ; or, its termina- tions were the Sconce, at the point now occupied by India wharf on the south, and Captain Scarlett's wharf, at the foot of Fleet Street, on the north. Its length was considered to be about 2,200 feet.

It was at first proposed that the work should be done at the expense of the town ; but at a town meeting held on the 5th September, 1672, a vote could not be obtained to autho- rize it. The town, however, instructed the Selectmen, that if they could dispose of the Flats to be included by the con- templated wall or wharf, so as to meet the expense of it, they had liberty to proceed with the work. It was to be twenty- two feet wide at the bottom, and twenty at the top, " to be convenient for a breastwork to play guns on," and was to be about fifteen feet in height. The circular line to be built upon was to touch the channel at the nearest point before the town, and between the wall and the seaward extremities of the wharves built and to be built, with one hundred feet space left for vessels.

As great as this undertaking was in its dav, it was com- menced with spirit, and successfully completed in due time.

SECOND GENERATION. 53

Forty-one persons undertook the work, which was let out in lots of from twenty to one hundred and twenty feet. Thomas Bill was one of the parties who contracted to build a portion of this sea-wall, having engaged to construct twenty -two and a half feet of it.*

1685. Dec. 14. Thomas Bill of Boston, Innholder, and Abigal his wife, for £15 lis. 6d., mortgage to Joseph Lynde of Charlestown, malster, his house and land in Boston, measuring in front 40 feet on the N. E. side of the street [Prince Street] that leadeth from the North Meeting House [in North Square] to centre Haven, and thence backward N. E. and by E. 60 feet.— (Suff. Deeds, Lib. 13 : 406.)

1686. April 13. This Thomas and his wife sell to John Goffe of Boston a house and lot at the northerly end of Boston ; size, 54 by 60 feet.— (Ibid., 13 : 476.)

Thomas Bill died in Boston, October 29, 1696. He is presumed to have been buried on Copps Hill, though his gravestone is not found by Wyman, who made a thorough search.

His will is dated October 2, 1696, and was proved January 27, 1696-7. In it he calls himself " planter,'* and appoints his eldest son, Samuel, executor. After his debts are paid, he gives to his wife Abigal (she died on November 7, following) all his housing and land in Boston, and all other of his estate whatsoever, during her natural life, with full power to sell and dispose of the same, if she have need. To sons Samuel and Benjamin, and daughter Susanna Crawford, wife of Mungo Crawford, he gives, after his wife's decease, all the front part of the house he, the testator, dwells in, with the land thereto belonging. To his son Jacob he gives the back end of said house, being the northerly part, now occupied by Richard Barnard; but not till after his wife's decease. Thomas Bill, the testator, affixes his mark to the will ; which

is witnessed by F d Martyn, John M. Barbor, and Richard

Barnard.— (Suff. Prob. 11 : 250.)

* Drake's Hist. Boston, pp. 394-395.

54 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

The inventory of his estate is dated March 7, 1097-8. The total amount of which was £193 2s. 6d.

His children were — by first wife, Elizabeth —

14: f Samuel,' b. 165-; m. Elizabeth ( )

15 Sargent,3 b. Feb. 26, 1657-8: probably d. young.

By second wife, Abigal :

16 Sarah,3 b. Sept. 28, 1659. Not mentioned in the will.

17 Mary,3 b. Aug. 15, 1661. " " "

18 James,3 b. Dec. 24, 1662-3. " "

19 Thomas,3 b. Dec. 24, 1664; m. Mary and had

Thomas,4 Oct. 4, 1686.

20 Susanna,3 b. March 18, 1665-6; m. Mungo Crawford, a

Scotsman. They had Mary (Crawford), m. Stephen Paine, also James (Crawford), b. April 26, 1690 ; d. young. She d. near 1713.

21 Michael,3 b. Dec. 27, 1667. Not named in will.

22 t Jacob,3 b. Oct, 21, 1669 ; Theodosia

23 t Benjamin,3 b. near 1674; m.

Those not named in the will of the father are supposed to have died prior to his death. The son Thomas, above, is questioned whether he was or was not a son of this Thomas Bill.

We now come to Philip, the first of the family who moved to Connecticut ; settling in that portion of the town of New London that lay east of the Thames River, and which, in 1705, was set off, receiving the name of Groton. It is chiefly with the descendants of this Philip that we shall have to deal when we reach the fourth generation. More than nine-tenths of all those now living have descended from him. It is remarkable to note the " current of events," as relating to our family. While the descendants of Philip have become nume- rous and widespread, being found in most of the States of the Union, and all the British Provinces in North. America (we even find one of his descendants comfortably settled in far-off Australia — Edward Manning Bill); the descendants of the preceding James and Thomas, his brothers, have become nearly extinct.

SECOND GENERATION. 55

4.

PHILIP BILL,' (John1) as stated in the preceding pages, is believed to be a son of John and Dorothy Bill and brother of James2 and Thomas2 of Boston. He was born in England about 1620, and is a supposed grandson of the King's Printer mentioned in the last portion of the chapter on our English ancestors. There is no record at the Rolls Office in Chancery Lane, London, of his departure in any of the vessels bound to America, nor do we find there, either, any record of the emi- gration of his father and mother, or of James2 and Thomas2 ; yet all these persons were born in England, and did emigrate to New England, as their names and the names of their de- scendants are found all along the pages of municipal and legislative history of those early years, forming no small por- tion of the honorable record of that population which had been driven by persecution and stress of circumstances to buffet " the wild waste of waters," and seek a home in this then wilderness, of stern and desolate character, where naught but great physical energy arid endurance could fight off famine, and unceasing watchfulness protect them from midnight assassination and slaughter at the hands of those brutal and treacherous red men, who were ever flitting along the out- skirts of the opening forest, waiting and watching their oppor- tunity. These privations and hardships were his, and he was taught them in the impressive period of his youth — for though he was born in England, yet he was but a lad at the time of his arrival in America, and we can truly claim him as one having been educated in this country, and moulded to en-; counter the trials attendant on a pioneer life, and such a pioneer life too as we, who now bear a part on the stage of action, have little conception of.

But to return : we first find Philip at Pulling Point, then forming a portion of Boston, though it is more than likely he for the first few years was with his mother Dorothy in Boston proper ; and lie must have been referred to when Hie-hard Tuttle (his presumed uncle) became responsible to

56 TIIE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

the town for the widow Dorothy, and " for any thing about her." After his brother James,2 who was several years his senior, and a man grown, made his first purchase of land at Pulling Point, and settled there, Philip must have followed, for we find him in 1600 a debtor to the estate of William Burnell of that place, a friend and neighbor of James,2 and probably of Philip.2 He must have removed to Ipswich soon after, for we have from the Court files of that place ample evidence in the succeeding documents appended below.

1663. May 11. Philip Fowler, Sen., of Ipswich, puts into the hands of Philip Bill two young heifers for seven years. Philip Bill is ***** * * and at the end of the time he is to deliver up to Fowler one-half the profit of the calves. He is to be as careful of said heifers and of their in- crease as if they wTere his own. If through God's providence any accident happen to said heifers or their increase, he is to deliver half the stock alive.

(Signed) By the mark of Philip Bill.

Present —

Will" White, Deborah Jackson.

After a residence of a few years in Ipswich he must have for some reason become dissatisfied, as he left there about the last of the year 1667 or early in 1668. Miss Caulkins, in her history of New London, places him among the arrivals in that town at " about 1668."* The next document we append would, from its date, indicate the time of his departure from Ipswich.

Mr. Fowler, who had placed cattle in his keeping, learning of his proposed removal to Connecticut, and feeling insecure, had this attachment issued, a true copy of which is here given :

To the Marshall of Ipswich or his Deputy.

You are required in his maiestyes name to attach the goods

* Miss Caulkins's Hist. New London, p. 146.

SECOND GENERATION. 57

or body of Philip Bill & take bond of him to the value of Twenty pounds with sufficient suretyes for his appearance the next court to be holden at Salem the last teusday of this month then and there to answer the complaint of Phillip ffowler Senr. in an action of the case of security for a pcell of cattell he hath of his in his hands (he being goeing out of this jurisdic- tion) that they may be delivered unto the sayd ffowler accord- ing to contract & soe make a true return thereof under your hand. Dated the 3 of November 1668.

Robert Lord, By the Court marshall.

Philip Bill meanwhile left Ipswich with his family, and went to Pulling Point, where he remained some months, visiting Ms brother Jame3, and making needful arrangement's before leaving for New London. This fact is ascertained from a paper "dated November 3, 1668, in the Court Files, which paper is a power of attorney from Philip Fowler to his " Grandchild Phillip ffowler " of Pulling Point, empowering him to effect a settlement with Philip Bill, who was, as we have said, sojourning there at about this date.

John Winthrop, the younger, a resident of Ipswich, who had had a grant of land confirmed to him in the Pequot coun- try (New London) of several miles in extent, removed thence and made it his home. This land was granted him with the view and hope that a settlement might be established there under his auspices, and trade opened up along that portion of the coast ; having this in view, he made several visits to Ips- wich and Boston, and was undoubtedly instrumental in the removal of Philip Bill and his family to " Pequot, on the Little Fresh River.'1'* They certainly were well acquainted, as they had been neighbors at Ipswich.

Philip Bill settled on the east side of the Thames River, in that portion of the township of New London that in 1705

* The name first given to the Thames River by Capt. Adrian Block. See Hist. New London, p. 21, 22. 5

58 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

was incorporated as the town of Groton. This name had been previously given by Winthrop, in honor of his birthplace in England, to his tract or "plantation" — lying east of the Thames, and between it and the Poqunnoc River — extending from the seashore back about three miles northward, being all included in the present town of Groton.

Miss Caulkins says : Philip Bill settled near Robert Allyn and George Geer, which is believed by the writer to have been at or near Allyn's Point, the present terminus of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad. It is presumed that Robert Allyn's house was not far distant, and that this point of land on the Thames formed a portion of his farm, hence its name.

At the May session of the State Legislature, in 183G, the town of Groton, on the petition of the inhabitants of the North Society, so called, was, after a somewhat protracted contest, divided, the South half retaining the old name, while the North half received the name of Ledyard, in perpetuation of the name of Col. William Ledyard, who made so gallant a defense at Fort Griswold, on Groton Heights, and who, after having been overpowered by superior forces and surrendered, was brutally murdered, with others of his command, on the 6th September, 1781. These forces of Great Britain were under the supervisory command of the traitor Arnold.

Philip Bill became possessed of considerable real estate, prior to his decease. This we learn from an agreement of boundaries, dated July 14, 1676. (New London Deeds, 4 : 64.)

1677. Oct. 20, he sells to Richard Lord 100 acres of land. (Ibid., 5 : 32.) He also, by will, devised landed property to his children, as we learn from a mortgage given by his son, Joshua, in 1707.

A large portion of the old records of New London was burnt, with the town, by Arnold, in 1781. But for this, we should undoubtedly be able to greatly enlarge this interesting period in the family history.

No will of Philip has been found, though diligent searches have been made by the writer and others. He died July 8,

SECOND GENERATION. 59

1689, of a fatal throat distemper, which prevailed that sum- mer.""* His daughter, Margaret, died the same day, of the same disease. His widow, Hannah, afterwards married Samuel Bucknall or Buckland, of New London, and died in 1709.

The children of* Philip and Hannah Bill were : Born in Massachusetts :

24 Philip,3 b. near 1658 ; m. (1) Elizabeth Lester ; (2) Mary •

25 Mary,3 b. abt. 1661 ; see note below.f

26 Margaret,3 b. abt, 1663 ; d. in July 8, 1689.

27 Samuel,3 b. abt. 1665 ; m. (1) Mercy Haughton. (2) Eliza-

beth

28 John,3 b. abt 1667 ; m. (1) Mercy Fowler. (2) Hannah Rist

[Hurst].

29 Elizabeth* ; admitted to the church in N. L. 1694,

and may have m. James Avery. See acct. of Joshua, her brother. Born in New London :

30 Jonathan,3 b. bap. Nov. 5, 1671 : was living in 1708.

31 Joshua,3 b. Oct. 16, 1675; bap. March 29, 1675; m.

(1) Joanna Potts. (2) Hannah Swodel.

* Miss Caulkins's Hist. New London, p. 198.

f In the Mass. Hist. Coll., published in 1865, a memorandum of Gov. John Winthrop, of Conn., is published as having been made by him in 1670, while in Boston, on the back of a letter, as follows : " Mary Bill, 14 y. at red lyon, 4 gs. & 2 gs. ddd." Mr. Vinton says this must mean she was 14 years old, and that Winthrop had deliv- ered her four guineas and two guineas, with which to buy goods or pay expenses, and gives this solution, that this girl, Mary Bill, was his neigh- bor, Philip Bill's daughter, of Groton. We might add that this money was undoubtedly delivered at the request of her father, and not unlikely he sent this money for her, per the hands of Governor Winthrop.

CO THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

THIED GEXERATIOX.

7.

MARY BILL3 (James,5 John1), eldest child of James and Mary Bill, of Pulling Point : b. about 1645 : m. John Smith of Boston. He died September 21, 1700, aged 85, and was buried in North Chelsea. He was considerably her senior* and it mav be that she was his second wife.

They had children in 1676, as a deed dated August 4 of that year shows : in which, for the love of and affection he bears to his wife Mary Smith and his children, by her he conveys to his father-in-law, James Bill, Sen., of Pulling Point, his house, &c, &c. (Suff. Deeds, 16: 230.) The name of only one child is learned, viz. : 3.2 Jeremiah (Smith), b. May 29, 1665.

8.

HANNAH BILL3 (James,2 John'), second child of James and Mary Bill, and a sister of the above : b. near 1647 : m. John Kent of Charlestown. She died Januarv 9, 1690-1. He m. for second wife Sarah Smith of same place, December 22, 1692.

The children of Hannah Bill and John Kent were :

33 Hannah (Kent), b. July 2, 1667.

34 Mary (Kent), b. February 3, 1669-70. Must have d.

young.

35 Joshua (Kent), b. June 15, 1672. Must have d. young.

36 Joshua (Kent), b. July 5, 1674.

37 Joseph (Kent), b. October, 8, 1675. m. Rebeca Chittenden.

38 Samuel (Kent), b. March 23, 1678.

39 Ebenezer'(Kent), b. August 18, 1680.

40 Lydia (Kent), b. July 5, 1683.

41 Mary (Kent), b. May 12, 1686.

42 Susanna (Kent), b. August 13, 1689.

9. •

' JAMES BILL' (James,' John1), eldest son of James and

THIRD GENERATION. 61

Mary Bill, of Pulling Point, b. November 23, 1651 : m. Herit- able .

We find the following public records relating to him : the first is the indenture, dated February 28, 1671-2, which has been given. The next bears date 1685, April 27, in which Samuel Sewall,* Esquire, of Boston, and Hannah, his wife, for £.100, sell to James Bill, Junior, Jonathan Bill, and Joseph Bill, of Pulling Point, yeomen, their farm at Rumney Marsh, f containing 130 acres. (Suff. Deeds, 13 : 307, 308.)

The next is his father's will.

1689. Oct. 22. James Bill and Mehitable, his wife, Jona- than Bill and Frances, his wife, Joseph Bill and Deliverance, his wife, all of Pullen Point, for £357, sell to Thomas Cheever, of Rumney Marsh (their brother-in-law), all their farme, messuage, or tenement, in Rumney Marsh, containing 120 acres, at present occupied by said Thomas Cheever, being the same that was conveyed to said James, Jonathan, and Joseph, by Samuel Sewall, of Boston, as per the date above. — (Ibid. 15 : 2, 3, 4.)

There are several other deeds showing purchases and sales of real estate, both of Boston proper, and at Pullen Point, where James and his brothers acquired the estate of Hutchin- son, for £440.

The following is a document that shows an equal division of all the lands owned jointly by these brothers. It will be found quite an interesting paper, and we give it in full :

To all Christian People, James Bill, Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill, Sendeth Greeting. Know yee, That wee the Bd James Bill, Jonathan Bill & Joseph Bill all of Boston in the Massachusets Colony in New England sons to James Bill our honoured flather of Boston aforesaid Deceased wee haveing purchased all the Lands our sd ifather was possessed of in the bounds of Boston at a place comonly called Pullin

Point.

* This was the Judge Sewall who condemned the witches in 1693. t A name applied to locality lying between Winnissemet and Pulling

62 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

point, except a piece of Land of about Thirty Acres the which our father gave us and also have purchased all the Lands and houseing with the Marsh belonging to Major Elisha Hutchin- son, Esqr. adjoyning to our owne land aforesd. Now we the said James Jonathan and Joseph Bill aforesaid being joynt purchasers in all the said lands and equall in the lands given Do by these presents jointly agree and have Determined That William Johnson Esqr of the Towne of AVobourn shall have full power to Divide the sd parcells of Land with Marsh belonging to it, into three equal parts which is accordingly done as will appeare by a plat given under the sd Johnsons hand and the Land so divided we by these presents owne to be our owne act and Deed and do hereby confirm the same to us and either of us wee and our heir* forever.

Namely to James Bill we conh'rme & make over to him ana his heires forever all those housings buildings yards orchards Inclosures meadows marshs woods timber all other appur- tenances and priviledges belonging or in any waves apper- taining to the South end of said land bounded by a line drawne from a heap of stones on the east side sd ifarme between the Marsh and upland beginning at the Creeke by a straight line to the sd heap of Stones and through the farme by marked trees to another heap of Stones in the line that was formerly Cap Hutchinsons where Jonathan Bills land corners and then by Joseph Bills line of his highway to a heap of stones and stake standing in the old line and from thence by a straight line to the sea side or salt water and also two parcels of Marsh land lying in the Marsh on the North of the farme the one lying next Mr Winthrops Marsh the othei between Jonathan and Joseph Bills Marsh being well bounded the whole containing two hundred Acres be the same more or less To have and to hold the said Housing and lands as above bounded to the said James Bill to him and his heires for ever with liberty to fetch his hay from his marsh Also to Jonathan Bill we confirme a Tract of land lying

THIRD GENERATION. 63

on the prest side the said ffarme with all the wood and timber lying or growing thereon swamps orchards fields fences and all other appurtenances or priviledges to to the same belonging or in any waves appertaining being bounded as folio weth namely its bounds begin at a great Rock neer the Marsh fences and from thence runneth southward between his brother Joseph's land and his to a walnut tree on which their names all stand marked and is the south corner in James Bills line from thence it runneth to a heap of Stones in Cap Hutchinsons South and north line and from thence by a straight line to the sea or salt water on the West. Also two parcells of Marsh the one adjoyning to his owne upland the other bounded by the marsh of James and Joseph Bill all of it containing two hundred acres be the same more or less and will more plainly appeare by a plat drawne of the same To have and to hold the said Tract of Land and Marsh as above bounded with all its priviledges and appurtenances rights and Improvements to the said Jonathan Bill to him and his heires for ever with liberty to fetch his hay from his Marsh.

Also to Joseph Bill we do confirm all that Tract of Land lying Eastward of Jonathan Bills land and bounded by the line from the Rock to the Walnut Tree before mentioned and is his west bounds and Easterly bounded by the land of Mr. Winthrop and North by the Marsh South by the line of James Bill meeting at Jonathan Bills corner at the Wallnut Tree and from said Tree by a pine tree marked to a heap of stones in Capt Hutchinsons line takeing in two angels of land for a Highway and then being twenty polo wide is an angel of land between his Brother James Bill and Jonathan Bill taking in the house and orchard also two parcells of Marsh the one lying against the Northwest corner of his owne land and the other adjoyning to it all which house and land (excepting Six Acres of land on which stands a little house on the South Easterly corner) with its rights priviledges and appurtenances is confirmed to the said Joseph Bill To him and his heires for ever the whole containing; Two hundred Acres be it more or

64 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

less Also by these presents wee the said James Bill Jonathan Bill Joseph Bill do give grant make over to each other wee and our lieires for ever all and every the parcells of land abovesaid as they are bounded both here and in the platt and upon the ground according to the true Intent and meaning thereof with liberty to fetch his hay from his marsh and that the same may remain and continue a good, perfect proper and absolute title of Inheritance in ffee simple to us and our lieires for ever according to this Division, we the said James Bill Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill have hereunto set our hands and seales this tenth day of July sixteen hundred ninety one

James Bill (L. S.) Signed Sealed and possession given Jonathan Bill (L. S.) before us Joseph Bill (L. S.)

Richard Knight & Edward Skiving

James Bill Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill personally ap- peared the tenth of July 1691 and acknowledged this Instru- ment to be their volentary act and deed

Joseph Webb cler. Entered April 15. 1603.

Before William Johnson Assist. (Suff. Deeds, vol. xvi. 50, 60.)

In the tax-list for 1687, we find that James Bill, Junior, is assessed for 30 acres arable land, 120 acres of pasture land, 2 oxen, 4 bulls and cows of four years old, 5 heifers and steers between three and four vears old : 3 likewise between two and three years, also 2 between one and two years, 2 horses or mares of three years old and upwards, 3 swine above one year, 5 buildings. His tax was 10s. 6d.

In 1693 and 1694 we find records of sale, also the purchase of real estate, in Boston, of considerable value, by this James.' He was admitted a member of the Second Church, in Boston, Dr. Increase Mather's, January 16, 1676-7. His wife was admitted February 23, 1676-7.

THIRD GENERATION. 65

James Bill (Junior) died in the winter of 1717-18, aged 66. His widow was living in April, 1721. — (Suff. Deeds, 37: 17.)

An abstract of las will is appended below. It bears date Jan. 6, 1717-18 ; and was proved Feb. 25 of the same year.

- - I give to my wife Mehitable, the thirds of my

personal and real estate during her natural life. I give to my daughters, Mehitable Bill and Rebecca Saunders, all my real and personal estate after my wife's thirds are taken out ; and they are to pay my debts and the legacies hereinafter men- tioned. To my daughter Hannah Essex I give iive pounds, to be paid her at my decease, which with £61, formerly given her, shall be her portion ; and this I do for good reasons best known to myself. To my granddaughter, Mary Hurst, I give £150, to be paid within one year after my decease, if she be then eighteen years of age ; if she die before eighteen her legacy shall go to my said daughters Mehitable Bill and Rebecca Saunders, whom I make my executors of this my will. I request my brothers, Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill, also Deacon Baker, Joseph Belcher and Joshua Cheever, to be overseers of this my will, to see it executed. (Suff. Prob., 20 : 135.)

Joseph Belcher was the husband of Hannah Bill, daughter of Jonathan Bill ; and Joshua Cheever, also named in the will was the son of the testator's sister, Sarah Bill, who married the Rev. Thomas Cheever.

The children of James and Mehitable Bill were :

43 James,4 b. Nov. 23, 1672.

44 t Mehitable,4 b. - - 167- ; m. (1) Thomas Selby. (2) Wil-

liam Burgis.

45 f Rebecca,4 b. near 1679 ; m. (l) Samuel Saunders. (2) John

Tenny.

46 t Mary,4 b. Oct. 10, 1682 ; m. Henry Hirst— [Hurst.]

47 Bethiah,4 b. May 6, 1684.

48 t Hannah,4 b. Sept, 27, 1687 ; m. (1) Joseph Essex. (2) Fer-

diuando Bood.

49 f Abigal,4 b. near 1690; m. (1) Thomas Badaley. (2) Xortb

Ingham.

i : » 8

.

64

THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

less Also by these presents wee the said James Bill Jonathan Bill Joseph Bill do give grant make over to eacli other wee and our heires for ever all and every the parcells of land abovesaid as they are bounded both here and in the platt and upon the ground according to the true Intent and meaning thereof with liberty to fetch his hay from his marsh and that the same may remain and continue a good, perfect proper and absolute title of Inheritance infFee simple to us and our heires for ever according' to this Division, we the said James Bill Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill have hereunto set our hands and seales this tenth day of July sixteen hundred ninety one

James Bill (L. S.) Signed Sealed and possession given Jonathan Bill (L. S.) before us Joseph Bill (L. S.)

Richard Knight & Edward Shiying

James Bill Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill personally ap- peared the tenth of July 1691 and acknowledged this Instru- ment to be their volentary act and deed

Joseph Webb cler. Entered April 15. 1603.

Before William Johnson Assist. (Suff. Deeds, vol. xvi. 59, 60.)

In the tax-list for 1687, we find that James Bill, Junior, is assessed for 30 acres arable land, 120 acres of pasture land, 2 oxen, 4 bulls and cows of four years old, 5 heifers and steers between three and four Years old : 3 likewise between two and three years, also 2 between one and two years, 2 horses or mares of three years old and upwards, 3 swine above one year, 5 buildings. His tax was 10s. 6d.

In 1693 and 1694 we find records of sale, also the purchase of real estate, in Boston, of considerable value, by this James.' He was admitted a member of the Second Church, in Boston, Dr. Increase Mather's, January 16, 1676-7. His wife was admitted February 23, 1676-7.

the 1

43 44'

45'

4? 45-

«

.

;

THIRD GENERATION.

65

James Bill (Junior) died in the winter of 1717-18, aged QG. His widow was living in April, 1721. — (Stiff. Deeds, 37: 17.)

An abstract of his will is appended below. It bears date Jan. 6, 1717-18 ; and was proved Feb. 25 of the same year.

I give to my wife Mehitable, the thirds of my

personal and real estate during her natural life. I give to my daughters, Mehitable Bill and Rebecca Saunders, all my real and personal estate after my wife's thirds are taken out ; and they are to pay my debts and the legacies hereinafter men- tioned. To my daughter Hannah Essex I give five pounds, to be paid her at my decease, which with £61, formerly given her, shall be her portion ; and this I do for good reasons best known to myself. To my granddaughter, Mary Hurst, I give £150, to be paid within one year after my decease, if she be then eighteen years of age ; if she die before eighteen her legacy shall go to my said daughters Mehitable Bill and Rebecca Saunders, whom I make my executors of this my will. I request my brothers, Jonathan Bill and Joseph Bill, also Deacon Baker, Joseph Belcher and Joshua Cheever, to be overseers of this my will, to see it executed. (Suff. Prob., 20 : 135.)

Joseph Belcher was the husband of Hannah Bill, daughter of Jonathan Bill ; and Joshua Cheever, also named in the will was the son of the testator's sister, Sarah Bill, who married the Rev. Thomas Cheever.

The children of James and Mehitable Bill were :

43 James,4 b. Nov. 23, 1672.

44 f Mehitable,4 b. - - 1G7-; m. (1) Thomas Selby. (2) Wil-

liam Burgis.

45 f Rebecca,4 b. near 1679 ; m. (1) Samuel Saunders. (2) John

Tenm\

46 f Mary,4 b. Oct. 10, 1682 ; m. Henry Hirst— [Hurst.]

47 Bethiah,4 b. May 6, 1684.

48 t Hannah,4 b. Sept, 27, 1687; m. (1) Joseph Essex. (2) Fer-

dinando Bood.

49 f Abigal,4 b. near 1690 ; m. (l) Thomas Badaley. (2) North

Ingham.

QQ THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

10

Lieut. JONATHAN BILL3 (James,2 John'), a brother of the foregoing : born near 1654, at Pulling Point ; m. Frances ■ , who was b. 1G52.

He resided at the North End of Boston, where he carried on the business of a butcher, but prior to his father's death removed to Pulling Point, where it has been shown, in a divi- sion of property among himself and brothers, he had 200 acres. In addition to this real estate he owned house-lots in Boston, and, indeed, erected a house on a piece of property he bought of John Paine, merchant, at the North End, fronting on the street leading from the North Meeting towards Merries' Point and adjoining lands of Samuel Burn ell, being 28 feet in front and running back 33 feet. The price paid was £82 10. This was in 16 74-5, Feb. 4. (Siiff. Deeds, 9 : 312.)

1682, Dec. 19. Wait Still Winthrop, of Boston, and his wife Mary, for £60, sell to Jonathan Bill a piece of land adjoining the house and lot of said Jonathan Bill, described above. This Mr. Winthrop was a son of Gov. John Winthrop of Conn., and a direct ancestor of the present Bob. C. Winthrop, of Boston. ■' Lieut. Jonathan Bill is called a " yeoman " of Boston in 1692-3, in a deed of land given by him. His removal, as we have named, to Pulling Point, severed his interests at Boston greatly, for we find him disposing of most of his real estate at that place. In 1720 he and his wife sell to Joshua Bill 30 acres of land at Pullen Point (within the precincts of Boston), receiving therefor £300.

1720. " Lieut, Jonathan Bill, of Pullen Point," and wife, sell 15 acres of land, at Pullen Point, to their son Jonathan Bill, Junior, of the same place, for the sum of £105.

1728, Sept. 29. He sells to the same son two pieces of land for £100, "in current bills of Public Credit, of the Province of Massach'8 Bay." They are described as follows in Suff. Deeds, 42 : 291, namely : These " two pieces of land — one of upland, the other of marsh — the upland piece lying in

THIRD GENERATION. 67

my farm on Pullen Point, contains six acres and lies on the southerly side of the 19 acres that I sold to my said son before and southeasterly on the land that was my brother Joseph

Bill's land, &c. The marsh piece is four acres, that

lieth by hog Island* over against Olivia's Cove, it being that four acres that was my father Bill's about seventy years agone and hath been enjoyed by my father and myself ever since.

It is bounded by two creeks.'' (Suff. Deeds,

42 : 291.) This document bears date Sept. 29, 1728.

His will is dated Sept. 30 : 1728, and proved May 5, 1729.

Being sound in mind but weak in body. - I give

to my loving wife Frances, one third of my estate, or in lieu thereof £26 yearly, during the term of her natural life. My wife to have a room in the house at Boston, or at Pullen Point, to live in, as she shall choose. After her decease, the household furniture to be divided among my three daugh- ters, Martha, Hannah, and Mary. I give to my son Jonathan and his heirs the northerly half of my farm at Pullen Point, with all the buildings thereon. To my son Joshua and his heirs, I give the other half, except 25 acres formerly sold to pay Joshua's debts. To my daughters, Martha Giles and Mary Waite, I give my house and land in Boston, to be equally divided between them.f These two daughters shall pay fifteen pounds apiece to the daughter of my son William when she comes to the age of eighteen, or is married, which [ever] shall first happen. To my daughter Hannah Belcher, six score pounds shall be paid by my sons Jonathan and Joshua ; the first to pay £80 the other £10. To my grandchildren, Jona- than Belcher and Sarah Belcher, I give five pounds each, when they come to full age. There shall be a way for each of my sons through the land of the others, to the Boat-place. I give my negro men to my sons. If they be discontented, they shall have liberty to choose their master. My wife

* An island in Boston harbor, opposite Pulling Point. t This had been his former residence while in Boston, and was on Fish Street, now north of North Street.

68 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Frances, and sons Jonathan and Joshua, to be my Execu- tors.

Witnesses — John Center, Jonah Nutting, Jacob Cole and [Rev.] Thomas Cheever. (Sufi*. Prob. 27 : 82.)

He died April 18, 1729, aged 76, and was buried in Chel- sea. His widow Frances died Feb. 26, 1736-7, aged 86. She was buried in the King's Chapel Burying-ground, in the city of Boston, adjoining the church of that name that stands near the " Common." It is presumed from the fact of her being buried there, away from her husband, that she removed from Pulling Point and lived with her daughters in the house given them by the will of their father.

The children of Jonathan and Frances were :

50 t Hannah,4 b. about 1676 ; m. Joseph Belcher.

51 t Martha,4 b. about 1678 ; m. Thomas Giles.

52 t Jonathan,4 b. 1680 ; m. Ann Allen.

53 f Mary,4 b. 168- ; m. (1) Samuel Worden. (2)

Thomas Waite. 54: t Joshua,4 b. 168- ; m. Sarah Burnham.

55 William,4 b. May 17, 1687 ; d. young.

56 t William,4 b. Apr. 7, 1690 ; in. Susanna Whitteredge. SARAH BILL3 (James, John1), sister of the preceding

Jonathan ; b. 1658 ; m. 168-, Rev. Thomas Cheever of [Boston]. He was born in Ipswich, August 26, 1658, a son of the famous Ezehiel Cheever. rv/W

Rev. Thomas Cheever* graduated at Howard College in 1677 ; began to preach at Maiden, February 14, 1679-80 ; was ordained pastor there, July 27, 1681. Some charges, in reference to some imprudent acts or expressions, and not affecting his moral character, an Ecclesiastical Council, of which Dr. Increase Mather was moderator, was called in 1685 to examine them, and he was dismissed April 8, 1686. His dis- mission, however, was less in pursuance of these charges, than from a desire on the part of the people of Maiden to be again under the pastoral care of their former minister, Rev. Michael Wigglesworth — author of the poem entitled " The Day of

* We are indebted to Mr. Vinton for the facts relating to Mr. Cheever.

THIRD GENERATION. 69

Doom," and father of the first Professor of Divinity at Harvard College. Mr. Wigglesworth accordingly resumed his labors therein 16S6, and continued them till his death, which occurred June 10, 1705. Mr. Cheever appears not to have lost the confidence of the community. He retired to Rumney Marsh, now part of Chelsea, near the residence of his wife's father, purchased a farm there of his wife's brothers, October 22, 1689, and resided there till his death. He appears to have been engaged in the labors of the ministry to a greater or less extent for many years previous to his installation there. He was installed pastor of the First Church in Chelsea, October 19, 1715 ; on which occasion he himself preached from 1 Cor. iii. 7 — as was then often, if not commonly done. Rev. Richard Brown of [South] Reading prayed, Dr. Cotton Mather, oi Boston, gave the charge., Rev. Jeremiah Shepard, of Lynn, gave the Right Hand of Fellowship, Mr. Cheever pronounced the Benediction. He continued pastor of the church in Chel- sea 34 years, viz. : till his death, which occurred November 27, 1749, aged 91. Seventy years wanting only three months elapsed between the beginning and close of his ministry. His marriage with Sarah Bill, his first wife, and the mother of all his children, as believed, occurred prior to 1685. She died January 30, 170-4-5, aged 47.

He married for his second wife Elizabeth Warren, July 30, 1707 : after her decease he married Abigal Jarvis.

The children of Rev. Thomas and Sarah (Bill) Cheever were :

57 Thomas4 (Cheever), b. ; hem. (1) Mary Boardman. (2)

Mary Baker.

58 Sarah4 (Cheever), b. ; m. Thomas Kendall.

59 Joshua4 (Cheever), b. January 6, 1687; m. (l) Sarah War-

ren. (2) Widow Sarah Jenkins.

60 Abigal4 (Cheever), b. May 20, 1690 ; m. John Burt.

61 Ezekiel4 (Cheever), b. March 7, 1691-2 ; m. Elizabeth Jenner.

62 Nathan4 (Cheever), b. March 16,1694-5; ra. (1) Hannah

Brooks. (2) Anna Fuller.

70 TIIE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

12.

JOSEPH BILL3 (James2, John1), son of James and Mary Bill, and a brother of the foregoing Sarah Cheever, was born near 1660, and m. (1) Lydia . (2) Deliverance Wake- field, of Boston, between the years 1687 and 1689.

This Joseph resided at Pulling Point, which, as we have seen, was the central settlement of the Bill family at this period. He continued there during life.

He was the owner of considerable real estate, and by occu- pation was a farmer. His name has appeared in some of the previous documents given, and we tind him in 1698 buying a " brick house " in Boston, on the street leading to Scarlett's wharf [now East Boston Ferry], for which he paid £520.

Nearly all of these brothers, sons of James" and Mary Bill, not only had noble farms, but each seemed to have had at least one or more pieces of property in Boston proper. This seems to us evidence of their general thrift and prosperity.

His will bears date the 31st of January, 1717— IS ; proved February 25, 1717-18. In it he names his four sons, Joseph, John, Josiah, and Jeremiah, to whom he gives all his real estate at Pulling Point and at Boston, also all his farming implements, &c, to be equally divided. " My son Hezekiah is to be brought up out of the estate till fit to be put to a trade, and is to be taught to write and cypher." I give him £o00 to be paid him at 21. Anna is to receive six score pounds within three years, thirty of which is to be paid at her mar- riage. To his daughter Esther, £100, one-fourth at once and the balance in three years. To his daughter Sarah, six score pounds, one-half at her marriage, balance in three years. To my grandchildren, Joseph Rouse and William House. £5 each, wl they come out of their apprenticeship. To my son Joseph Bill Igive my Silver tankard and my cane. My house- hold furniture, including my silver cups, spoons, and my rings, to be divided among my children. My negroes to have the liberty of choosing their masters, tom's master shall allow

THIRD GENERATION. 71

for him £40 ; Titus' master shall allow for him £50, and for the negro woman £20. My son Hezekiah and my three daughters to be put, in mourning out of my estate. His four eldest sons were made his Executors. (SufF. Prob. 20 : 134.)

For the Inventory of his estate, see SufF. Prob. 21 : 251.

We give the following as a relict of " yc olden time :"

We Jeremiah Bill of Pullen Point, husbandman, Thomas Smith of Boston, sawyer, and Anna [Bill] his wife, Esther [Bill] Goodwin and Sarah [Bill] Ingram, widows, and Heze- kiah Bill of Boston, boat-builder, the only [surviving] children and heirs of Joseph Bill, late of Pullen Point, deceased, in consideration that Titus, negro man, and late servant of said deceased, hath faithfully served him all such time as he was his servant, and that he hath desired to be manumitted, do by these presents the said Titus manumit and set at liberty and free from all and every claim, matter, or thing, that we or either of us, our heirs, &c, have on said Titus from the beginning of the world unto the date hereof, the 17th day of January, 1720.

This " free paper " of Titus was signed by the several parties named, and in the presence of six witnesses.

The Tax List for 1687 (thirty years prior to his decease) shows a list of the taxable property of Joseph Bill. It may be found at the State House, Boston.

He died Februarv — , 1717-18. His wife Deliverance died 10th March, 1712-13.

The children by first wife were :

63 f Lydia,4 b. 168- ; m. William Rouse.

64 f Joseph,4 b. Aug. 26, 1687; m. (1) Mary Kilemp. (2) Re-

becca Pepper. By second wife :

65 f John,4 b. 169- ; m. Mary Warren.

66 t Anna,4 b. 169- ; m. Thomas Smith.

67' t Josiah,4 b. near 1696 ; m. his cousin Mary Hirst [Hurst].

68 Esther,4 b. ; m. John Goodwin.

69 t Jeremiah,4 b. ; m. Hannah Foote.

72 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

70 Sarah/ ; m. Henry Ingram, Oct. 10, 1718.

71 t Hezekiab,4 b. ' 170-; m. Hannah Brown.

14.

Samuel Bill3 (Thomas,2 John1), son of Thomas and Eliza- beth (Sargent) Bill, of Boston; b. near 1054; and married Elizabeth (Welsted ?).

He resided in Boston proper, and followed the business of a " butcher." He lived in Black Horse Lane, in the house that was his father's.

We have seen in the account of his father, Thomas,2 that he disposed to Samuel of a large part of Spectacle Island, situate in the harbor of Boston.

The records show that in 16S0, Samuel Bill commenced to buy up all the remaining interests held in this island, and by 1681, having expended £177, he had acquired a title to the whole.

This island now took the name of " Samuel Bill's Island," and was so called in 1693 (Drake's Hist. Boston, p. 817). It was at this period covered with heavy timber, and was valu- able for its nearness to market. Whether it was ever used by the then owner as a place to herd and fatten cattle for market we know not, yet it may have been, since his trade would give color to such a supposition.

There arose, prior to the last above-named period, great uneasiness among the people of the colony as to their titles ; whether from any action on the part of the mother-country, or from new colonists coming forward, we know not; but certain it is that in 1684-5 Mr. Samuel Bill saw fit to clinch his title by securing from a big Indian (so called !) a confirmatory one. This course was pursued by others, whether absolutely neces- sary or not, with a view doubtless to prevent any further J/acA'-mailing by these wandering claimants, whether white, black, or red. We herewith append a copy of said deed.

i

To all Christian People to whom these presents shall come. Josiah, son and Ileyer of Josiah otherwise called Wamputuck,

THIRD GENERATION. 73

late Sachem of the Massachusets Country in New England Sendeth Greeting : —

Know ye that I the said Josiah, son of Josiah, for diverse causes and good considerations me thereunto moving and in particular for and in consideration of a valuable consideration of money to me in hand payd before the ensealing of this deed by Samuel Bill of Boston Butcher, Have with know- ledge and consent of my wise men and Councellors William Ahoton, Sen, William Ahoton, Jun, and Robert Mamentaug, Given, granted, sold, enfeoffed, and confirmed, and by these presents Do fully freely and absolutely give grant, sell, en- feoffe, convey and confirme unto the sayed Samuel Bill his hey res and Assignes forever one certain Island Scituate in the Massachusetts Bay commonly known and called by the name of Spectacle Island in the present possession the same Bill with all rights priveledges and appurtenances, thereunto in any wise appertaining and belonging. To have and to hold the same and every part and parcel thereof unto him the said Samuel Bill his Heyers and Assigns to his and their sole use and benefit in firm and indefeasible estate of inheritance in fee simple forever. — And the said Josiah for himself his heyers Executors Administrators and successors doth hereby covenant and promise to and with the said Samuel Bill his heyers and Assigns that at the time of the ensealing and delivery of these presents that (according to Indian right and title) he is the sole owner and proprietor of the said Island and hath full power and authority to sell and convey the same as abovesayd and that the sayd bargained Island with all its priveledges, rights, and appurtenances belonging, will and doth unto the sayd Samuel Bill his heyers and Assigns forever sufficiently warrant and defend against himself his heyers and successors and against all and every other person whomsoever having, claiming or pretending to have or claim any Indian right, title or interest in or to the same or any part or parcel thereof.

In witnesse whereof the said Josiah and his councellors

6

74 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

above sayd have hereunto put their hands and seals this thirtieth day of April in the year one thousand six hundred eighty-four.

Josiaii his mark =o [Seal] William hahaton [Seal]

his

Old William a Ahaton [Seal]

mtirke

Hi

Robert Momentong Z [Seal] Signed sealed and delivered in presence ot

George Meriott Experience Ffishee Josiah, Indian Sachem, and his Councellors acknowledged this to be their Act and Deed, May 1st 1684 before me

William Stougiiton (Suff. Deeds, 13: 172, 173.)

How long before the next red or white Indian came along willing, for a "valuable consideration," to "give grant and enfeoffe " unto Samuel Bill or " any other man," is not recorded, and we presume that the above was the end of that business. We at this day can but faintly imagine the con- stant hot water the early settlers were kept in from various causes, and not among the least of these was that satrap of English impertinence and power — Andros, who early won and constantly maintained the hearty disgust of all upright and right-thinking citizens.

Dr. N. B. Shurtlitf, of Boston, says, in his article on the Islands of Boston Harbor, before referred to, that Mr. Samuel Bill remained in full possession" of Spectacle Island until his decease, on the 18th of August, 1705, when it fell to his widow Elizabeth, by a provision of his will, which pro- vided that she should enjoy the benefits of it during her widowhood, and at her decease it should go to his son Samuel. Mr. Bill also provided that, in case of the marriage of his widow, she should retain only her thirds in the real estate left by him. Mrs. Bill chose the latter alternative, and on the

THIRD GENERATION". 75

22d of March, 1705-6, married Mr. Eleazer Phillips of Charles- town. In consequence of this marriage, the estate of Mr. Bill was amicably divided, and two-thirds of Spectacle Island, as well as two-thirds of the seventy-six sheep and two cows, and the whole of two negro men, a boat, one old mare, and the family hog, together with sundry tools, were apportioned to Mr. Samuel Bill, the heir apparent, the whole value of his portion, amounting to £444: 18*. $d. In the course of events, Mr. Phillips and his wife died, and the title became vested in Mr. Samuel Bill, his son, in accordance with the will of his father.

Samuel Bill's will bears date Aug. 13, 1705, and was proved Sept. 20, 1705.

Below is given an abstract of his will.

He gives to his wife Elizabeth the use of all his real estate as long as she shall remain his widow, but should she marry, then the use of only one-third part. To my son Samuel Bill, &c, I give all my island known as Spectacle Island (in the various deeds), and all my stock of cattle upon it, he paying to my son Richard Bill six pounds a year out of the income thereof, during his natural life. To Samuel he also gives two negro men. To Richard he gives his house and garden in Black Horse Lane, in Boston, " which was my father's," and also £-200 current money, when he finishes his apprenticeship.

After the payments of debts, &c, the remainder shall be equally divided between his two sons, Samuel and Richard.

The Executors were his son Samuel and William Welstead, to the latter of whom he gave five pounds.

The witnesses were [Doctor] Oliver Noyes, Robert Staples, and John Yallentine. (Sufi". Prob. 16 : 46.)

7G THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

INVENTORY.

S. d.

Household furniture £9S 6. 6.

Silver ware £42 8. 6.

Two Negro men £60

Spectacle Island £500

76 Sheep and 2 Cows on the island £35 S.

House and garden in Black Horse Lane [Boston] £80

Other property . . . £27 6.

Total £843 9. 2.

(Suff. Prob. 16: 134.)

After the marriage of the widow to Eleazer Phillips, which occurred before the settlement of the estate, we find that, at the adjustment of the same as provided for in the will, there appears in addition to the amount of the above inventory the sum of £194 29s., as being due said estate from one Capt. Thomas Savage.

The children of Samuel and Elizabeth Bill were :

72 t Samuel4, b. Sept. 22, 1683 ; m. Sarah Shapley.

73 f Richard4, b. March 25, 1685 ; m. (l) Sarah Davis. (2) Mehi-

table Minot.

22.

JACOB BILL3 (Thomas,5 John1), son of Thomas and Abigal (Willis) Bill, b. in Boston, Oct. 3, 1669, and married Theodosia — ■ .

He resided in Black Horse Lane, Boston ; was a mariner by profession. His wife was member of the Second Church, where he also attended. There is very little found relating to him in any of the public records, and that is not much more than we could expect, since his life was a seafaring one. His inventory, to be found in the Probate Records, shows the fol- lowing :

House and land in Boston £70

A negro man, " Cuflee " £35

Other property £36 9.

Total £141 9.

THIRD GENERATION. Y7

lie died about 1705, and left no will. His widow after- wards married one " John Ellett [Eliot] of Gt. Brittaine." Children of Jacob and Theodosia Bill were :

74 f Thomas4, b. March 30, 1693 ; m. Ruth Belcher.

75 Abigal4, b. April 11, 1697.

*7Q Susanna4, b. Aug. 7, 1700 ; m. (1) Thomas Mellen. (2) James Peraway.

23.

BENJAMIN BILL3 (Thomas,2 John1), youngest son of Thomas and Abigal (Willis) Bill, b. in Boston about 1674 and

married .

He was early apprenticed to a Dea. Robert Cumbery, a cooper, of Boston, and it is supposed that in consequence of dissatisfaction he left the colony, removing to New York. His father's will, dated 1690, mentions him, and after this he disappears ; but in our investigations we find a Benjamin Bill residing in New York City in 1695, and that he was also there in 1703, and at that period his family is represented as consisting of " one male, one female, two children, and one negress." After this we find, in the records of the Dutch Church, the names of his children, as baptized, viz. :

77 Abigal4, b. Nov. 13, 1695.

78 Benjamin4, bap. June 27, 170.5.

79 Susanna4, bap. Oct. 31, 1705.

80 Mary4, bap. Jan. 3, 1711 ; m. James Jarvis, 1753.

81 Penelope4, bap. May 25, 1712; died in infancy.

82 Penelope4, bap. April 17, 1715 ; m. Collin Bussey, 1737.

83 John4, bap. Jan. 1, 1718 ; m. Mary Sleigh, 1743.

We learn the above facts from Valentine's N. Y. City Manual for 1863, and from a volume of Provincial marriage licenses issued by the Secretary of the Province of New York, and published under the patronage of the State, in 1865. There is also given in tbis latter work the following :

Lydia Bill; m. Henry Brookman, Nov. 22, 1760.

Benjamin Bill ; m. Ann Smith, May 21, 1768.

Ann Bill; m. James Minott, Mch. 29, 1773.

78 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

These three persons must be of a later generation, and it is supposed they are the children of either Benjamin4 or John4 Bill, sons of Benjamin Bill3.

This entire family are lost to us, yet it can hardly be possible that they became extinct. The writer believes that the last named Benjamin Bill is the grandfather of Lydia (Bill) Syl- vester, of Albia, Iowa, the mother of Esther Alice (Sylvester), the present wife of Edward Mitchell Bill7. The dates make it possible, and the circumstances, probable. First, Benjamin Bill, who married Ann Smith in 1768, we will suppose, had a son (Joshua is the name claimed by Mrs. Lydia (Bill) Sylves- ter as being her father's name) born in 1770 ; and that this son was Joshua, and settled after reaching manhood in or near Ontario County, New York (the place claimed as his resi- dence). That he was married at about the age of 25, which would bring us to 1795. This is certainly reasonable. Now, Mrs. Sylvester gives the date of her own birth as being April 8, 1796. True, she claims to be the fourth child of her parents. That will not shake the conclusions arrived at in the least ; for we might assume that her father, instead of being born in 1770, was born in 1769, and that instead of waiting till he was 25 before marriage, he was but 21 or 22, which is as likely as that he was 25 ; this would make it possible for her to have been the fourth child, but it may be she is mistaken on this point, as her parents died while she was but a child, and the family records have, in consequence of fire, become destroyed.

24. Sekgt. PHILIP BILL3 (Philip,2 John'), eldest son of

Philip Bill of New London [Grot on], born about 1658, at

Pulling Point, in the " Town of Boston," as is supposed. He

came with his father, Philip Bill, from Ipswich to Groton

[New London], Ct., " about 1668." He married (1) Elizabeth

Lester, daughter of Andrew Lester, of Groton. (2) Maky — .

We constantly experience the great loss of the ancient

records of New London : in our sketches of the earlier members

THIRD GENERATION. 79

of the family in Connecticut, nothing scarce remains to us except disjointed and fragmentary scraps of dates and memo- randa. If Arnold, cold-hearted and traitorous as he was, could have dreamed of the additional countless anathemas that were to be heaped upon his name for this wanton piece of incendiarism, by the children of that inhabitance, he surely would have hesitated before giving the order to destroy the town !

The place of residence in Groton is stated as being " near the Long Hill."

1698, November 24. Philip Bill conveys by deed to his brother Samuel Bill, lands. (Groton Town Record 2., p. 67.)

1727, June 1. He gives a deed to his son Joseph Bill of Groton. This deed is witnessed by Thos. Bill. (Ibid. 2 : 327.)

1733, December 24. Philip Bill, " in love and affection " for his son Samuel Lester, gives deed of land. (Ibid. 3 : — )

1739, January 22. He deeds land to his son Thomas Bill. (Ibid. 4 : 192.)

The following is a very curious and certainly a very inter- esting paper. It is a relict of considerable antiquarian interest, and we subjoin it as found on the Groton Records.

To all people to whom these presents shall come Greeting. Know ye that I Philip Bill of Groton in the County of New London within the Colony of Connecticut Yeoman for divers good causes and consideration we thereunto moving Especially for the regard and good will I have to my beloved son Samuel Lester of the town County & Colony aforesaid have given granted confirmed & Delivered and by these present according to Due form of Law do give grant confirm & Deliver unto the sd Samuel Lester a Spanish Indian Girl of about Ten years of age called Dinah the sd Indian Girl to have & to hold to the proper use and behoof of him the sd Samuel his heirs Execu- tors Admrs and assigns forever and I the sd Phillip Bill for myself & Executors & Admrs the sd bargained premises unto the s' Samuel Lester his Executors & Admrs & Assigns

SO THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

against all & all manner of persons shall Warrant & forever Defend by these presents In Witness whereof with the Delivery of sd Indian Girl I have hereunto set my hand <fc seal this 24 day of December one thousand seven hundred and thirty -three

Philip Bill. In presence of

Chris Avry

Robert Allyn Rec. Feb. 27 1733-4

Philip Bill must have been a man of good reputation, and possessing considerable influence. He held the office of constable, and was a Sergeant in the first company of train- bands formed in Groton. He was also ensign in 1722, and was familiarly known by his neighbors as " Sergeant Bill," and as "Ensign Bill." He was licensed February 23, 1719-20, to keep a house of public entertainment.

We find in the Patent of New London granted by the Colony, the name of Philip Bill ; the date of said Patent is 1663, April 23, but it was not sanctioned until October 14, 1704. There is some reason for supposing this Philip was the elder Philip, but as he never came to New London till 166S, which was after the date of the petition, which, as we have said, was in 1663, and as the elder Philip died in 1689, before the Patent was sanctioned, we are persuaded that it is Philip the younger whose name appears in this document.

In either case, the name had to be inserted after the first date of the instrument, a copy of which we append.

Patent of New London sanctioned by the Governor and Com- pany, \Mh October, 1704.

To all persons to whom these presents shall come. The Govenor and Company of Her Majesty's Colony of Connecticut in General Court assembled send greeting : — Whereas we the said Govr and Compy by virtue of Letters Patent to us granted by his Royal Majy Charles the Second of England &c. King,

THIRD GENERATION. gl

bearing the 23d day of April, in the 14th year of his reign, a. d. 1663, have formerly by certain acts and grants passed in Gen. Assembly given and granted to John Winthrop Esq. (Governor of Ct.) and forty-nine others — among whom ap- pears the name of Philip Bill.

He continued to reside in Groton from 1668-9, till the close of his life. He died July 10, 1739, aged over eighty years. " The church bell (says Hempstead in his diary) tolled twice on that occasion." " We infer from this," says Miss Caulkins, " that it was customary at that day to have only a death-bell to announce decease, but no passing-bell to sol- emnize the funeral."

His will is dated June 22, 1739, and was proved August 2, of the same year. In the name of God, Amen.

I Philip Bill of Groton in the County of New London, being weak of body but of sound mind and memory, and calling to remembrance my mortality, have thought fit to make this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby make and ordain this my last will and testament revoking all others.

Imp9 : — I resign my soul into the hands of God who gave it, beseeching him of his mercy to receive it for the merits sake of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer, and my body to the ground to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter to be mentioned : and as for the temporal Estate wherewith it -has pleased God to bless me (after my just debts are paid which it is my will may be done with all convenient speed) I give and bequeath as follows : —

I give and bequeath to my loveing Wife Mary Bill as and in lieu of her right of Dower in my Estate the profits of the one-third part of my Real Estate during her natural life, and also the use of my Great Bible during her natural life, and I do hereby also order and enjoin my son Benjamin Bill that he find, procure and provide to and for my said loveing Wife during her natural life whatever is proper, suitable and

82 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

necessary for lier comfortable subsistence and well being in this world, and further it is my will that this be the whole that rny ?aid loveing Wife shall have or possess of my Estate.

Item — I give and bequeatli to my son Philip Bill (if ever he return to this Town) Five acres of land below the steep hill to be set off near the Damm there to him and his heirs forever ; but if my said son Philip nor any of his heirs (law- fully begotten of his body) never return or come to this Town of Groton, then and in such case I give and bequeath said five acres of land to my son Benjamin Bill his Heirs &c forever.

Item — I give to my son Joseph Bill all my wearing apparel, which is the whole of what I give him by Will he having had a portion of my Estate already given him by deed of Gift.

Item — I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Bill one Draft chain, and at my Wife's decease my Great Bible, which is all I give him by Will, he also having already had his portion of my Estate by deed of Gift.

Item — I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Bill, his Heirs and assigns for ever the House and land where I now dwell in said Groton, together with the Barn & orchard thereon and appurtenances thereunto belonging and all other my lands in the Township of Groton, aforesaid and elsewhere not hereby otherwise disposed of together with all my move- able estate (not already hereby otherwise bequeathed) as my liveing Stock of Horse kind, cattle sheep and swine, together with all my farming utensils and Household goods of what name or denomination soever, and also all my stock of grain and Hay, and the crop that may be on mjT land at my decease, He paying the Legacies that I shall herein bequeath to my Daughters, and performing what I have hereby ordered and enjoined him in behalf of my loving wife as is above mentioned.

Item — I do give and bequeath to my loveing daughters Elizabeth Avery, Hannah Lester, and Sarah Leflingwell that is to each of them Three Pounds in money, to be paid to them by my son Benjamin Bill at my decease, this with a

THIRD GENERATION. 83

considerable portion already given them is their full portion in my Estate.

Lastly — I do hereby ordain and appoint my said son Benjamin Bill to be the sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal this 22d dav of June Anno Domini 1739.

Signed Sealed pronounced and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and Testa- ment in presence of John Ledyard John Wills Joseph Stare /-n His children by first wife Elizabeth were :

84 Elizabeth4, bap. Deo. 27, 1691; m. Jonathan Avery, of

Groton.

85 Hannah4, bap. Dec. 27, 1691 ; m. Samuel Lester of Groton.

86 Sarah4, ; m. Leffingwell.

87 " A child4," bap. July 14, 1692; died young. ,

88 Philip4, bap. Jan. 13, 1694-5 ; lost at sea.

89 t Joseph4, b. near 1695 ; m. Bethia Packer. Children by second wife Mary were :

90 t Thomas4, b. Sept. 26, 1705 ; m. Abigal .

91 f Benjamin4, b. Aug. 6, 1708 ; m. Sarah Davis.

27.

SAMUEL BILL3 (Philip,2 John1), second son of Philip Bill, of New London, born about 1665, in or near Boston, Mass., came with his father to Groton, Conn., then a part of New London, in 1669. He married for his first wife Mercy Haughton, daughter of Richard Haughton, of New London. He married for his second wife Elizabeth .

Samuel Bill and his first wife Mercy were admitted to the

84. THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

church in New London, Sept. 3, 1693. He was one of five members that composed the church in New London, who in 1700 signed the paper entitled " Complaint Against The Elder of the Church of Christ in New London." The Elder was Pev. Gurdon Saltonstall, who was pastor of the church at that time, and afterwards Governor of Connecticut. For this action all of the complaining members were suspended from the privileges of the church.

We find on the records several deeds of purchases, and of sale of land in Groton, made by this Samuel BilJ ; beside these there is very little left on the records relating to him, and we have found but few papers that give us any knowledge of him or his family, except his will, which was proved Jan. 27 1729-30, in which he gives to his wife Elizabeth his house &c. ; to his son Samuel twenty shillings; to his son Ebenezer house, &c. ; to his children, Philip, James, Joseph, John Hannah, Mercy, and Abigal, five shillings each.

His inventory amounted to about £'90. [Wind. Prob. Eecords, Vol. 27 : 159.]

His children were :

92 Hannah4, b. .

93 f Samuel4, b. about 1690; m. (l) Hannah . (2)

Joanna Atwell.

94 f Philip4, b. about 1692 ; m. (1) Jane . (2)

Elizabeth . (3) Ruth .

95 f James4, b. about 1694 ; m. Mary Swodel.

96 A child4, baptized Dec. 14, 1695.

9 7 f Ebenezer4, b. 1 69- ; m. Patience Ingiaham.

98 t Joshua4, bap. June 5, 1698.

99 Jonathan4, bap. Sept. 8, 1700.

100 Mercy4, bap. Sept. 27, 1 702 ; m. Joseph Marsh, of Lebanon, Sept. 25, 1722. Their son, Joseph Marsh, b. Jan. 12, 1727; m. Jan. 10, 1750, Dorothy Mason, who was a descendant from Maj. John Mason, the conqueror of the Pequots. Joseph and Dorothy Marsh settled in Lebanon, but in 1774, or there- abouts, they removed to Hartford, Vt. He was

THIRD GENERATION. 85

the first Lieut.-Governor of that State, and was also several years Judge of the County Court where he lived. He died Sept. 9, 1811. This family are the ancestors of the Hon. John P. Marsh, the distinguished scholar, and the present Minister of the U. S. at one of the European Courts.

101 f John4, b. 170-.

102AbigalM>. .

27.

JOHN BILL3 (Philip,2 John'), third son of Philip Bill, of New London ; b. 1667 ; came with his father in 1669 to New London. He married, first, Mercy Fowler. Second, Hannah Rist [Rust], March 30, 1726. He early removed from Groton to the town of Lebanon, situated about 20 miles distant, where he seems to have spent the remainder of his

life.

We find in the records of the old town of Norwich, a deed of a hundred acres of land, purchased of Joseph Elderkin of New London, being land bought by him of Captain John Mason, and forming a part of what was known as " Mason's Mile," situated in what is now the town of Lebanon.

We give herewith a copy of this deed : —

Whereas I Joseph Elderkin of Norwich in the County of New London in the Collony of Connecticut in New England, Weaver, have formerly sold one hundred acres of land which Land I have a deed for signed by Capt. John Mason of Leb- anon, which land is lyeing in that (year) * * * called Masons mile, within the Township of Lebanon afforesaid, which land I sold to John Bill then of New London in the County and Colony afforesaid, and have received of sd Bill full satisfaction for the same.

Wherefore to all people to whom these presents shall Come Greeting. Know yea that I the sd Joseph Elderkin for & in consideration of thirty pounds, current money or as many before the signing & sealing of these presents by the sd John

8G THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Bill to me in hand well & truly payed, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and herewith am fully satisfied con- sidered wherefore I the sd Joseph Elderkin do by these pres- ents acquit exonerate & discharge him the sd John Bill his heirs Executors Administrators and assimies and every of them for ever. I have therefore & by these presents do fully freely & absolutely giye grant Alliened Enfeoffed, convey demise, confirm & Deliver unto him the srt John Bill and to his heirs & assigns forever, The above s'1 one hundred acres of land be the same more or less within the following boundaries which Tract of land is lying and being within the above s'1 tract called the Masons mile & within the Township of s'1 Lebanon, and is lyeincr on both sides of Pooses brook and is in length eight score rodds from the Northwest to the Southeast and one hundred rods in width from the Northeast to the Southwest, bounded by trees of the four corners marked I E G the South- east corner bounded by the land of John Baldwin & otherwise bounded inland of Capt John Mason with a highway thrug the Northwestward part of the s'1 hundred acres or however otherwise bounded orsuposed to be bounded Together with all the timber trees woods undermined mines minerals stones woods motive runs profits priviledges accommodations & appur- tenances, thereon therein standing or being on thereunto in anywise belonging as also all the esen right title as properly claim & demand of me the sd Joseph Elderkin of in and unto the same or any part thereof To have & to hold all the 6d one hundred acres of land be the same more or less abutted & bounded as afforsaid, or however otherwise bounded or reported to be bounded with all the proffitts priviledges ac- commodations & appurtenances as aforesaid and the s' bar- gained premises in anywise belonging; unto him the s'1 John Bill his heirs & assigns & to his or their only proper use proiitt and behoof forever & the s'1 Joseph Elderkin for my self my heirs Executors Administrators do covenant promise grant & agree to and with the s'1 John 1 3 1 11 his heirs & assigns in mode following (that is to say) that att the time of

THIRD GENERATION. 87

this sale and untill the ensealing and recording of these presents I the sd Joseph Elderkin am the true sole Lawful owner and stand Lawfully seized to my own proper use in a good and perfect state of Inheritance in fee simple, of and in the premi- ses above mentioned to be bargained and sold, without any more of consideration Remuneration or limitation and that I have in & of myself full power good right and Lawful authority to sell and dispose thereof, and that the above granted premises are free and clear and freely and clearly acquitted and discharged of & from all manner of action gifts grants bargains sales mortgages wills entails & from all other conveyances & incumbrances whatsoever & furthermore 1 the sd Joseph Elderkin for myself my heirs Executors do Covenant promise & grant to warrant and defend the within Granted premises with the appurtenances att all times hereafter unto him the sd John Bill his heirs & assigns against the Lawful

*

Claims and demands of any person or persons whatsoever Laying any claim or challenging any title in or unto the same or any part thereof. In witness & for Confirmation of every & singular which premises Covenants Giants & agree- ment. I the sd Joseph Elderkin by these presents have with my hand & seale this 28th day of June in the fourth yeare of her Majesties reigne anoque domini 1705-6

Joseph Eldeekin

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us Witnesses. Daniel Tracy Elizabeth Bushnell Joseph Elderkin the publisher personally appeared & ac- knowledged the within written instrument to be his free & voluntary act & before me.

Richard Bushnell Junior Entered Feb 2 1705-6

P K Blshnell, Recorder. This deed was a confirmatory deed of a previous one given by Mr. Elderkin.

8S THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

" Mason's Mile " was a tract of land in Lebanon, five miles in length and one in breadth, which was bestowed in 1695, by Owaneco, son and successor of Uncas, chief of the Mohegan Indians, on Rev. James Fitch, first minister of Norwich, and on his wife's brother, Capt. John Mason of Norwich, son of the famous Maj. John Mason, the conqueror of the Pcquots. In Mr. Fitch's share of this tract was a large cedar swamp, which by the principle of association suggested to its owner the name of Lebanon for the whole township. (See Miss Caulkins' History of Norwich, page 86.)

We find Mr. John Bill was in 1712 a surveyor of high- ways, though we presume his ordinary occupation was that of husbandman.

There also appears several deeds of real estate granted by him and unto him from various parties, and at various dates.

He died in the early part of 1739. We find his will bears date April 21, 1736, and was proved January 28, 1739. [Wind. Frob. Yol. 2 : 206,208.]

The children born in Groton of John and Merer Bill were :

103 t John, baptized Dec. 16, 1696 ; m. Mary .

104 Abigal, do Nov. 1, 1702 ; m. Nathaniel House. The children born in Lebanon were :

105 t James, b. Sept. 20, 1703; m. Keziah French.

106 Laurana, b. ; m. Feb. 1, 1726-7, David Lambert

of Norwich, Ct.

107 t Benajah, b. ; m. Mary .

30.

JOSHUA BILL' (Philip,2 John1), the youngest son of Philip Bill', and a brother of the preceding, was born October 6, 1675, in that part of New London which was, in 1705, known as Groton, and which, in 1836, formed a part of what is now the town of Ledyard. He was baptized March 29, 1675-6.

Joshua Bill married for his first wife Joanna Potts, a daughter of William Potts of New London, on November 1, 1699. She was born in May, 1679, was admitted a member of

THIRD GENERATION. §9

the church at New London on May 9, 1701. She died No- vember 3, 1718. For his second wife he married Hannah Swodel, a daughter of William Swodel of Groton, on 4th of October, 1719. She was born in December, 1697.

In our examinations of the Groton town records we were surprised at finding so frequent the name of this Joshua Bill ; scarce a single public transaction can be found in which he is not a prominent actor, nor can a half dozen pages be turned in the earlier records of Groton without his name appearing. This would seem to testify that he was held in high esteem, and had the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. We are inclined to believe also that he was possessed of a superior edu- cation compared with others of those times. What his facilities were, or where he obtained his education, we cannot say ; probably by laborious study at home, and the perusal of such text-books as came in his way, having a natural taste for these things.

As tending to prove the relationship of this family in Con- necticut with the families at Pulling Point [in town of Bos- ton], we subjoin the heads of the following document :

1706-7. Feb. 11. Joshua Bill of Groton, in the County of New London, in the Colon v of Connecticut, in New England, blacksmith, for divers good considerations do grant, convey, &c. (by a mortgage deed), to Jonathan Bill, of Bos- ton, in the County of Suffolk, &c his heirs &c all that mes- suage or tenement, with all the lands tfcc situate in Groton aforesaid, measuring by estimation forty acres, more or less, and is the same which Philip Bill, deceased, father of the said Joshua Bill, devLsed to him by will, being bounded northerly and southerly upon land of Samuel Bill, westerly upon the Long lots that come from the Great River [Thames], and easterly upon the Common. Also, forty acres more of land in

said Groton, - - and is the same the said Joshua Bill

purchased from his brother Philip Bill, bounded northerly upon land of Samuel Bill, westerly by the long lots that come 7

90 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

from the Great River, easterly by the Creek, southerly by a bound mark-stone, with all the barns and houses, orchards, &c, appertaining unto both and each of the granted premises, &c. Then follows a declaration that if said Joshua Bill shall dis- charge a debt due from him to one Jane Kind of Boston, which Jonathan Bill had become surety for, then the above mortgage deed of lands in Groton should be null and void, &c, &c.

It is clear that the Bills of Boston and those of Connecti- cut were well acquainted and near related.

The trade or occupation of Joshua Bill is shown by the foregoing instrument to have been that of a " blacksmith ;" vet though that may have been nominally and probably actually in early life his business, still we know that the middle and later part of his life was spent as a public officer, his various positions requiring, necessarily, the chief portion of his time and attention.

"We find him in 1719, April 16, acting as the Moderator of a town meeting holden on that day, to consider the propriety of the division of the " town Commons." A committee was appointed, of which he was one, to take such action as was deemed best. It seems a division of these lands was decided upon, for we find, on February 15, 1720, John Winthrop, Samuel Bill, John Seabury, and other Patentees of said town of Groton, protested against said division. But at a subse- quent meeting of the town it was, after considerable discus- sion, decided that the lands be divided and disposed of, and the said committee were authorized to grant deeds of the same on behalf of the town.

The following document relating to the Pequot Indians is of considerable historical interest, and we give it entire: —

Whereas at town meeting holden in Groton february the 13 Day 1720-1, there was a Committee chosen to perambulate

with ye proprietors ye to y* common or undivided Land

in said Groton & also to set out to the Pequot Indians a suf-

THIRD GENERATION. 91

ficienc/<3 of Land for there use &c pursuant to said vote we whose names are here under written a Committee as aforesaid do set out to ye Pequot Indians their Heirs and Successors all the west part of ye Land wch is Scituate in Groton and North- ward from Capt. John Morgans now dwelling house in said Groton & adjoining on ye North of said Morgans and in part with Saml Packers Land and in West partly with said Morgans Land and so Punning according to ye former surveigh to ye Northwest corner bounds as well as all ye Land that Butts upon Capt. Morgans and Saml Packers is

set out according to ye ancient surveigh and from

sd Norwest Corner tree to run according to ye former sur- veigh on ye North Easterly to a tree standing near ye Cedar Swamp sometimes called a side line tree and from said tree Southwardly by said Swamp till it comes to ye Southward- stermost part of sd Swamp and from thence South Eastwardst till it comes to a Pock wth stone Laid on't and a Chesnut bush or stoddle standing by sd Pock marked and also two springs of water arising out of ye Earth under sd Pock and running East and ye other west said Pock being about ninety Rods Eastward of Samuel Packer Junr his now dwelling house in said Groton said Land by Estimation being one Thousand acres ye Peqmt Indians shall have full Liberty of Farming & planting or Living upon said Land and of their Orchards. They bearing ye Damage yl shall or may be done them by the English Creatures by means of ye Insufficiency of their fence the summer feed of ye above said Land which said Indians do not see - - - feed to belong to said Town of Groton and of their fields after Indian harvest and y° above said Indians are to have & shall have the use of their Orchards wch stands on ye Eastward part of the Land which they had formerly Liberty of planting of near Lanthorn hill till they or any of them see cause to sell said trees or said trees shall Dye and further we do agree and order y' there shall be Six hundred acres of Land part on ye hills Eastwardly from Pine Swamps and part on Walnut hill which when it is Layed out shall be for ye use of

92 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

j" Pequot Indians to plant and Live on if they see cause and ye herbage thereof for ye use of ye Town of Groton as above said in Conformation whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 20 Day of March in ye Seventh year of his Majesties Reighn Anno Dommin 1720-1.

Kehemiah Smith Junr (l.s.) JosnuA Bill (l.s.)

Nicholas Street (l.s.)

Saml Lester (l.s.)

Committee. Signed Scaled in Presence of Saml Avery ^y John Morgan (Copied from Book I. of the Groton Records.)

To the descendants of this Joshua Bill the following paper will also be of peculiar interest, and especially to the family ot the writer, who are so familiar with the localities named.

"Wee the Subscribers being Select men for this year Anno Dom 1723 we do appoint Mr. Ralph Stoder to Assist Mr. Joshua Bill to lay a particular highway fore Rod wide from the meeting house to the pine swampe Road for the North people of the Town to come to meeting and also to make satisfaction to all the proprietors which the said way is laid out through their land which satisfaction is to be made in Common or undivided land we the sd Select men having suf- ficient power to lay out any particular ways when it is want- ing in our town.

Groton October y° 21 : 1723 ; Joshua Bill

Saml Lester JonN Avery JSTich" Street t Entered for Reed Oct ye 24, 1723. Selectmen.

The road laid out under this order is that now running from Meeting-house Hill — so called from the early location of a house of worship in North Groton — to the Great Pine

THIRD GENERATION. 93

Swamp near the Preston town line, and included in the Pequot reservation. This road is now the main traveled highway leading from Groton to Preston, and divides the town of Ledyard nearly in the center.

Meeting-House Hill, in North Groton, was located on a considerable of an eminence, and was the center of a people known as the North Society. This Society was a branch of, and for a long period was presided over by the pastor of, the church in the South Society. This connection continued until near the time of the pastorate of the Rev. Timothy Tuttle, when a church was established.

About one mile and a quarter north from Meeting-house Hill, on this highway, was the birthplace and early home of the writer. The church above named was where, on Sabbath days, we were wont to visit, and of its pleasant Sabbath School we were a member. The aged pastor whom we heard preach his fiftieth anniversary sermon was apparently as ven- erable to us when we first knew him as when we last saw him, which was but a few days prior to his decease.

The Eev. Timothy Tuttle was a native of New Haven County, Ct., and a graduate of Yale College. He is believed to be a descendant of Richard Tuttle, of Boston, who was a brother to Dorothy Bil^ the wife -QiLJohn Bill T the first settler of our family in America.

1721, Jan. IT. John Pelton deeds 300 acres of land to Joshua Bill. (Groton Records, Book I. p. 726.)

We find several deeds and conveyances of real estate, in which the name of this Joshua Bill appears. He was a Select- man for many years, and was also one of the Town Com- mittee from 1719 to 1730.

1729, Dec. 27. Joshua Bill witnessed the will of Robert Allyn. They probably lived near each other, and must have been not only neighbors but intimate friends, for the records show various transactions between them, all confirming these suppositions.

During our researches in connection with the history of

94 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

this Joshua Bill, we obtained traces of an old family Bible, which was reported to have belonged to him. By diligent inquiry among his descendants, we at last, to our great sur- prise and joy, located it, and obtained the leaves of the said Bible, containing the family record of Joshua Bill, written in his own hand. "We have said it was to our " great joy," and so it was, for up to that we had been utterly unable to make out our ancestral line, but with it all was clear as noondav. The Bible itself is an ancient one, and was printed by Charles Bill, of London, about 1690. It is suggestive to our minds, and we query whether our early ancestors in Connecticut and in Massachusetts were not in frequent communication with their relatives in England. This Charles Bill, of London, could have been as near as second cousin to Joshua Bill, of Groton. But now for that old Bible record, an exact copy of which we append, as it appears, in the hand- writing of Joshua Bill :

The aCount of my self and my wifes and children age.

I my self was born the 16 day of October in the year 16T5. I was maryed to my fust wife Joanna the fust day of Novem- ber in the year 1699 and my fust son was born the 29 day of July in the year 1700 and died the 28 day of September my son Joshua was born the 28 day of September in the year 1707 my son Edward was born the fust day of December in the year 1710 my son Benaih was born the 3 day of March in the year 1713 my Daughter Mary was born the 6 day of Aprel in the year 1716 my fust wife was born in May in the year 1679 and died the 3 day of November in the year 1718.

I was mariyed to my second wife Octobr 4 1719 Hannah who was born in december in the year 1697. Our son Phinehas was born the 3 day of September in the year 1720 our Daughter Naomi was born the 10 day of March in the year 1722. Our Daughter Orpah was born the 20 day ot October in the year 1723 our daughther Hannah was born the Last day September in the year 1725.

Sarah Bill was boren in the year 1727 in September the

THIRD GENERATION. 95

12 day Esther Bill was born in the year 1729 July the 9 day Our dafter Jonaan Bill was boren the seventh day of May in the year 1731 and dyed the fift of Juen our daufter Phebe was born October the 26 day 1733.

The latter part of the above record, commencing with Sarah Bill, was evidently written by some other person than Joshua Bill, but all of the prior portion bears evidence of his own hand, and also that it was written at one time.

The Bible from which the above was taken must have fallen to the possession of his son Phineas, and then to Phineas his grandson, born in 1751, September 8, who married Mercy Allyn, and in 1818 removed to Palmyra, New York. This family Bible passed next into the keeping of his daughter Mercy Bill, who married Capt. Park Allyn. By this connection there were twins, Park Carlos and Sarah Caroline Allyn, born September 8, 1809. This Sarah Caroline Allyn married Charles Allyn, of Palmyra, who subsequently removed to Clarkston, Oakland County, Michigan, and it was in her keeping that this sacred relict was found.

He died in the year 1735.

His widow, Hannah, appeared before the Probate Court at New London, September 26, 1735, and was qualified to act as administratrix on the estate of her late husband, Joshua Bill, deceased.

The Inventory amounted to but £15 lis. Id.

The children of Joshua and Joanna (Potts) Bill, his first wife, were :

108 A son,4 b. July 29, 1700 ; d. Sept. 28, 1700.

109 t Joshua,4 b. Sept. 28, 1707. (See Joshua, No. 98.) HOt Edward,4 b. Dec. 1, 1710; m. Zeruah , and lived in

Colchester. lllf Benajah,4 b. March 3, 1713 ; m. Judith Waterman.

112 Mary,4 b. April 6, 1 716.

Children by second wife, Hannah (Swodel) Bill, were :

1 13 t Phineas,4 b. Sept. 3, 1720 ; m. Mehitable Woodworth.

1 14 Naomi,4 b. March 10, 1 722.

115 Orpah,4b. Oct. 20, 1723. She, as a minor, was placed

96 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

under the guardianship of Samuel Allyn, June 4, 173G.

116 Hannan,4 b. Sept, 30, ] 725.

117 Sarah,4 b. Sept. 12, 1727.

118 Esther,4 b. July 9, 1 729.

119 Joanna,4 b. May 7, 1731 ; d. June 5, 1731.

120 Phebe,4 b. Oct. 26, 1733.

FOURTH GENERATION.

44.

MEHITABLE BILL4 (James,3 James,2 John1), the eldest daughter of James and Mary Bill, of Pulling Point [Boston], was born there about 1675 ; married first Thomas Selby, September 6, 1719 ; for her second husband she married Wil- liam Burgess, about 1729-30. She was the second wife of Thomas Selby, and was, as we see, about 45 years of age when first married.

We find no record of any children by this connection.

After marriage she resided in Boston proper.

Her first husband died near 1727.

Administration was granted to the widow on the estate of her late husband. It is found from the records that a large sum was left to the widow, amounting to £4,463 3s. Id. The inventory of her late husband's estate is quite curious and interesting, so much so that we take the liberty of transcri- bing a portion of the same.

Among the several articles we find : —

12 pipes of Madeira Wine, valued at £27 10s. per pipe. 10 pipes of Madeira Wine, valued at £23 per pipe. 10 pipes of Madeira Wine, valued at £18 per pipe.

We are at a loss to know how to account for the differing values attached to them, but it is not unlikely that the town pump, then as now, had something to do with such matters !

The amount of plate inventoried was £211 19s. 6d., of which were 8 silver Punch Bowls, valued atlSs. 6d. per ounce, amounting to £58 & 2d.

We have no knowledge of this family after this period.

FOURTH GENERATION". 97

45. EEBECCA BILL4 (James,3 James,2 John1), sister of the preceding, born about 1680 ; married first, October 20, 1715, by Rev. Thomas Cheever, to Samuel Saunders, of Boston ; second, to John Tenny. Her first husband followed the sea for a living, as did his father before him. He died in 1717. His inventory amounted to £200 6s. and 6d. Her second husband was also a mariner, and no account of his death is given, nor have we any account of children by either mar- riage.

46. MARY BILL4 (James,3 James,2 John1), a sister of the

preceding, born October 10, 1682 ; married August 31, 1704, by Rev. Thomas Cheever (her uncle), to Henry Hirst [Hurst?] of Boston. Very little is known of this family. From the will of her husband, dated in 1717-18, mention is made of their children. Mrs. Mary (Bill) Hurst died Novem- ber 23, 1717, aged 35. She died before her husband, and before her father, and was buried on Copps Hill, Boston.

The following is the inscription on her gravestone. " Here lyes ye body of Mary Hirsst, wife to Hindreth Hirsst, dau of James Bill & Mehitab1 his wife died Novr ye 23, 1717 in y° 37 year of her age." This stone is near those of her grand- parents, James & Mary Bill.

Their children were :

121 Mary Hirst5 (Hurst), b. Oct. 10, 1705 ; m. (l) her mother's

cousin, Josiah Bill. (2) Richard Clan.

122 Mehitable,5 b. Aug. 30, 1707 ; died young.

123 Mehitable,5 b. May 26, 1709 ; also died in infancy.

48. HANNAH BLLL4 (James,3 James, John1), sister of the preceding; born Sept. 27, 1687; m. first, arch 30, 1713, by her uncle, Rev. Thomas Cheever, to Joseph Essex ; second, April 27, 1720, to Ferdinando Bowd [Boad]. Eer first hus- band must have died prior to Oct. 12, 1719, for we find her appointed administratrix on his estate. Of the second bus-

98 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

band there is no information. It is evident, however, from the amount of the inventory of their estate, that they were in very humble circumstances, and must have lived in con- siderable obscurity.

This Hannah, and her sister Abigal, must have undoubtedly displeased their father at some period, and for some cause. What that cause was we are unable to say, unless it should be that they married unadvisedly, and without the approbation of their father. The reader will remember that in the will of their father, James Bill, he bequeathed them the trifling gratuity of £5 each, and adds : " This I do for good reasons, which are best known to myself."

It is believed there was a son, Ferdinando, by the second marriage, but we cannot speak positively on this point.

49.

ABIGAL BILL4 (James,3 James,2 John1), also a sister of the preceding ; born about 1690 ; m. first, October 15, 1713, to Thomas Badaly, of Great Britain. For her second husband she married Nokth Ingham. Her first husband died about 1719.

There was one son by the first marriage. He was baptized in the Second Church, July 24, 1715, and died soon afterwards.

Very little is known of the second husband, and nothing at all of the family beyond this period.

50.

HANNAH BILL,4 (Jonathan,3 James,2 John1), daughter of Lieut. Jonathan & Frances Bill, of Boston, born about 1676, and was married Jan. 7, 1697-8, by her uncle, Kev. Thomas Cheever, to Joseph Belchek, of Rummey Marsh. They were both baptized, and admitted to full communion with the church in Chelsea, April, 1716, and three of their children, Nathaniel, James, and Hannah, were baptized May 6, 1716.

Mr. Cheever was at this time pastor of this church.

FOURTH GENERATION. 99

They had children :

124 Joseph5 (Belcher), h. Oct. 25, 1698.

125 Nathaniel5 (Belcher).

126 James5 (Belcher), b. Oct. 30, 1707 ; died Dec. 1, 1723.

127 Hannah5 (Belcher), b. Feb. 20, 1712-13.

128 Jonathan5 (Belcher), b. Feb. 27, 1717-18.

129 Sarah5 (Belcher), b. July 6, 1721.

51.

MABTHA BILL4 (Jonathan,3 James,2 John1), a sister of the foregoing; b. in Boston, about 1678 ; m. Jan. 18, 1699- 1700, by Rev. Thomas Oheever, to Thomas Gyles, a native of Topsham, Maine, and a son of Thomas Gyles, Esq., of that place. Thomas Gyles the younger, the husband of. Martha Bill, was a ferryman in 1727, and was probably employed on the ferry between Charlestown and Boston. After the death of his father he was put in possession of a small property, and was thereafter known as a u retailer." He lived in Fish Street, a section of the present North Street, Boston, in the house which had been given bv Jonathan Bill to his daugh- ters, Martha Gyles and Mary Waite.

The children of Thomas and Martha (Bill) Gyles were :

130 . Hannah5 (Gyles), b. Feb. 4, 1701-2.

131 Martha5 (Gyles), b. July 9, 1704; m. Charles Warham.

132 Thomas5 (Gyles), b. Sept. 29, 1709 ; died Feb. 1, 1713-14.

133 Mary5 (Gyles), b. Dec. 6, 1714; m. Samuel Tolman.

134 James5 [Gyles], b. June 15, 1717.

52.

JONATHAN BILL4 (Jonathan,3 James,2 John1), eldest son of Jonathan and Frances Bill ; born at the North end ot Boston, in 1680 ; married, at Salisbury, Jan. 2, 1700-1, for his first wife, Ann Allen, born May 3, 1678, daughter of William Allen, of Salisbury.

1729, June 13. Jonathan Bill and his brother Joshua Bill agreed on a division of land left them by their father. (See Suff. Deeds, 48 : 136.)

1729, June 16. Samuel Tuttle, of Kumney Marsh, for £60,

100 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

sells to Jonathan Bill, of Pnllen Point, 5 acres of land in Buinney Marsh.

We also find records of other purchases and sales of real estate in which the name of Jonathan Bill appears.

Jonathan Bill died at Pulling Point, December 16, 1731.

We find among the papers that were formerly in the pos- session of Andrew Ilenshaw Ward, a docummt in which Ann Bill, widow, appears as the administratrix upon the estate of this Jonathan Bill. We quote from this paper as follows :

" Ann Bill, widow, in consideration of £30 to be paid her yearly, and every year during her natural life, by her two sons, Jonathan Bill and Charles Bill, of Pullen Point, yeo- men, for the security of which payment she held a bond under their hands and seals, bearing even date with these presents, and for divers other good causes her moving thereto, hereby gives and sells unto her said two sons, and released to them in their full, quiet, and peaceable possession, now being in equal parts, and to their heirs and assigns, all her right to dower or thirds in the housing and lands of her late husband Jonathan

Bill provided always that she, the said Ann Bill,

reserves unto herself the use and improvement of the westerly chamber in the dwelling-house of her late husband, so long as she shall have necessity for the same.

" Witnesses —

§

" JosEPn Belcher, " James Blake."

The foregoing deed was never acknowledged or recorded.

Jonathan Bill was buried in North Chelsea. The follow- ing inscription was taken from his tombstone. " Here lyes buried the body of Mr. Jonathan Bill, aged 51 years, died Decern' y" 16, 1731."

The children by this connection, whose names we have ascertained, are :

135 Jonathan,5 b. Nov. 27, 1701 ; in. Hannah Bellamy.

136 Charles,6 b. March 22, 1710-11 ; m. Ruth Fuller.

FOURTH GENERATION. 101

53. -

MARY BILL4 (Jonathan,3 James,2 John1), a sister of the preceding; born in Boston about 168-. She married for her first husband Samuel Worden, on July 25, 1706. She was again married to Thomas Waite on June 4, 1718.

1741-2. Jan. 27. Thomas Waite of Boston, shopkeeper, and Mary his wife, for £300, sell to Jonathan Bill of Chelsea, Yeoman, a dwelling-house and land situated in Fish Street bounded east on said street, measuring 18 feet, south on an alley passage 22 feet ; west on land now or late of Thomas and Martha Giles, 27 feet, north on land of Jonathan Burnal, 35 feet 9 inches. (Sutf. Deeds, 62 : 203.)

There is no knowledge of any children, though not unlikely there may have been.

54.

JOSHUA BILL4 (Jonathan,3 James,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; born in Boston 168- ; married in 170S, to Sarah Burnham, of Ipswich. She was born 1688, and died in 1731.

He inherited by will the southerly half of his father's farm at Pulling Point, his brother Jonathan having the other half. He seems to have spent his life there, though he owned lands in several other places in the Colony of Massachusetts. His daughter Anne was baptized at the Second Church in Boston, May 24, 1713, where, it is presumed, the parents attended public worship.

We find some fifteen different conveyances of land, in the records of Suffolk County, in which Joshua Bill is either grantor or grantee. The last of tbese bears date February 26, 1732, in which Joshua Bill, of Pulling Point, for £833, mortgages to James Pitts, merchant of Boston, for one year, 61^ acres of land in Pulling Point, bounded as follows : E. on land of Jonathan Bill, S. on land of Joseph Bill, 1ST. and W. on the sea or harbor. (Suff. Deeds, Yol. 47, p. 126.)

We again hear of Joshua Bill in the year 1735, where his

102 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

name appears in a deed of land granted to James Pitts, a merchant of Boston. After this we have no trace of him. It is evident that after a period of prosperity he lost all his property ; accordingly we find no will of his, or settlement of estate, nor is it known when or where he died.

In the graveyard at North Chelsea is the following inscrip- tion on a tombstone.

"Here Ives Buried ve bodv of Mrs. Sarah Bill, wife to Mr. Joshua Bill Who Died April ye 24th 1731 aged 43."

The names of but two children of theirs are known, viz. :

137 Sarah,5 b. November 11, 1709; m. John Tewskbury,

Nov. 5, 1733.

138 Anne,5 b. March 6, 1712-13; m. Jacob Cole, Jan. 30,

1729-30.

56-

WILLIAM BILL4 (Jonathan,3 James,2 John1), youngest son of Jonathan and Frances Bill, born April 7, 1690 ; married to Susanna Whittkedge, February 23, 1711-12. She was born March 3, 1696, and was the daughter of Richard and Phebe Whittredge, of Boston. Very little is known of this family, except he must have died when near 30 years of age.

In his father's will, September 30, 1728, a legacy of £30 is left to his daughter Susanna, then 12 years of age. She ap- pears to have been the only child of William Bill then living. His widow married John Hopkins, December 22, 1719.

The children of William and Susanna Bill were:

139 William,5 b. Nov. 8, 1712 ; died Feb. 12, 1812-13. 1-40 William,5 b. March 27, 1714; prpbably died young. 141 Susanna,5 b. May 8, 171G ; m. Seth Foster, of Stoughton,

Au<r. 1, 1732.

a*

63.

LYDIA BILL4 (Joseph,3 James,8 John'), the daughter of Joseph and Lydia Bill, of Pulling Point; born near 1685, and married William Bocse, November 15, 1705. This Lydia, Bill is not mentioned in her father's will, dated January 31,

FOURTH GENERATION. 103

1717-18, and no doubt died previously to that time. Her children, Joseph and William, are named in that instrument ; and a legacy of £5 each is left to them, to be paid " when they come out of their apprenticeship." Their children were :

142 Joseph5 (Rouse), b. July 14, 1706 ; m. Abigail Prior.

143 William5 (Rouse), b. Nov. 8, 1707 ; m. Rebecca Ingalls.

64.

JOSEPH BILL4 (Joseph,3 James,5 John'), a son of Joseph and Lydia Bill, of Pulling Point, born August 26, 1687; married for his first wife, Mary Kilcup, of Boston, November 22, 1722. He married for his second wife, Rkbecca Pepper, as believed, of Roxbury, August 5, 1736. He was the owner of lands at Pulling Point for many years, being en- gaged in the business of a husbandman.

We find quite a large number of sales and purchases of land, together with records of mortgages, quit-claims, &c, in which his name appears, but it is evident that, from some cause unknown to us, these large possessions at Pulling Point must have passed from his hands prior to his death.

There is no trace of the family after the death of Mr. Joseph Bill, the date of which is established by a gravestone in the Copp's Hill Burying-ground, having the following inscription : " Here Lyes Buried the Body of Mr. Joseph Bill, Aged 55 years. Died Feb". Ye 3d 1747-8."

65.

JOHN BILL4 (Joseph,3 James,2 John1), a son of Joseph and Deliverance (Wakefield) Bill, of Pulling Point ; born near 1690, and married Mary Warren, May 9, 1718, by the pastor of the New North Church. He lived in Boston, and was a "mariner."

1720, Nov. 30. John Bill, of Boston, mariner, and Mary, his wife, for £130 in Bills of Credit, sold to his brothers, Joseph and Josiah Bill, one-quarter of the farm of which his

104 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

father died seized of, the whole containing 20(3 acres. (See Suff. Deeds, 35, p. 52.)

He inherited one-quarter of his father's estate, but he was not living at the final settlement of said estate, October 11, 1731, and must have died before July 21, 1731, when his brothers and sisters sold their house in Boston. His widow was again married. There is no record of any children of his, and no further traces of this family are found.

66.

AJNTNA BILL' (Joseph,3 James," John1), a sister of the preceding ; born about 1695, and was published October 17, 1716, to Thomas Barnard, of "Great Britain," but the bans were forbidden by her father, April 10, 1717, and the marriage did not take place. After the death of her father she was married to Thomas Smith, June 23, 1718, by the then rector of King's chapel, Boston. Nothing further is known of this family.

67.

JOSIAII BILL4 (Joseph,3 James,5 John1), a brother of the preceding Anna Bill; born about 1697, and was married December 16, 1720, to Maey Hirst, daughter of Henry and Mary (Bill) Hirst.

His wife's grandfather, James Bill, gave her in his will a legacy of £150.

He died January 3, 1721-2, aged 25. His widow was afterwards married.

Nothing further is known of this family.

69.

JEREMIAH BILL4 (Joseph,3 James,2 John1), a brother of the preceding, born near 1700; married Hannah Foot, of Boston, March 7, 1726-7, by Rev. Peter Thatcher.

He resided at Pulling Point, and appears to have followed various employments, as we find him called " yeoman," " jack- maker," " husbandman," " brightsmith or tanner."

FOURTH GENERATION. 105

A half dozen conveyances of land, in which his name ap- pears, are of too trifling importance to bear quotation, and we have nothing further to give of this family except the list of children, which were :

144 Hannah,5 b. Sept. 23, 1728.

145 John,5b. Oct. 25, 1729. -

146 Jeremiah,0 b. Sept. 14, 1732.

147 Susanna,6 b. April 27, 1736; m. John Riorden, Jan.

1754.

71.

HEZEKIAH BILL4 (Joseph,3 James,5 John1) was the youngest son of Joseph and Deliverance (Wakefield) Bill ; born about 1708, married Hannah Beown, June 8, 1730. His occupation appears to have been a boat-builder, and his residence was in Boston. It is thought his death must have occurred between 1730 and 1710. His widow, Hannah, sur- vived him many years, and died in Boston, May, 1790, aged 85.

But two children are found on record, viz. :

148 Benjamin,5 b. July 20, 1732 ; m. Martha Cotton, Nov. 11,

1762.

149 Hannah,5 baptized Jan. 19, 1735-6.

72.

SAMUEL BILL4 (Samuel,3 Thomas,2 John1), the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Bill, of Boston, born there, September 28, 16S3, and was married to Sarah Shaplet, daughter ot John and Sarah Shapley, March 19, 1701-2. He was a large provision dealer in the city of Boston, where he spent the most of his life. We should judge him to have been an active, industrious, and for the most part a prosperous man. This we gather from the various records we have had inspected relating to him.

His residence in the city of Boston was on what is now the north corner of State and Washino-ton Streets.

The great fire which occurred October 2, 1711, destroyed his dwelling and turned him out of doors, together with 110

8

106 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

other families. This was a most lamentable and destructive conflagration.

We find several purchases and sales of important pieces of property, situated in Boston, in which his name appears, but perhaps his most important real estate, it will be remembered, was Spectacle Island, situated m Boston Harbor, and to which previous reference has been made in the account given of his father, Samuel Bill. It will be exceedingly interesting to trace the further history of this Island.

In 1714 an Indenture was made, whereby Samuel Bill, of Boston, victualer, and Sarah his wife, for £200, to be at 5 per cent, interest, mortgaged to Andrew Fletcher, Addington Davenport, Thomas Hutchinson, John Wood, and Edward Hutchinsou, all his Island, commonly called and known by the name of Spectacle Island, containing 60 acres on two heads. This mortgage was discharged May 4, 1720. (Surf. Deeds, 29 : 25.)

Samuel Bill was a resident of the town of Boston, as we have seen, as was his father and grandfather before him.

Dr. N. B. Sliurtliff, in his article in the Boston Sunday Times, from which we have before quoted, says : —

" Early in the last century, our wise and considerate rulers began to think earnestly of establishing a quarantine in Boston Harbor; and 'for that purpose the General Court of the Province, on the 11th of June, 1716, appointed a committee ' to investigate a suitable place for the erecting a hospital for infectious, persons, with minutes for an Act for that purpose.' The committee attended to the duty assigned them, and on the 20th of the ensuing November reported on the subject, recom- mending, among other things, that an acre of land, with the necessary privileges, should be purchased at Squantum Neck. This part of the report was accepted, and an appropriation was made of one hundred and fifty pounds for the object, and for the erection of the necessary buildings, Samuel Thaxter and William Payne, Esquires, being the committee to carry the order into effect. But on the 11th of April, 1717, one

FOURTH GENERATION. 107

hundred and five inhabitants of Dorchester, fearing the effects of having a pest-house so near them, remonstrated against the same, and another committee, with the same powers and in- structions, and consisting of Adam Winthrop, William Payne, Samuel Thaxter, and Jonathan Dowse, Escpiires, was appointed, and directed to use all convenient speed in selecting another place for the object. It was undoubtedly in consequence of this remonstrance, that, on the 15th of the following May, the philanthropic townsmen of Boston passed the following vote : — ' That the Selectmen be impowered to Lease ©ut a piece of Land on Dere Island not Exceeding one acre, for a Term not Exceeding ninety-nine years, to be improved for the Erecting an Hospital or Pest House there for the reception & entertainmt of sick persons coming from beyond the Sea and in order to prevent the spreading of Infection.' It does not appear that Deer Island was taken at that time for the purpose ; but it is certain, that on the 30th of July of the same year (1717) Samuel Bill and his wife Sarah, for £100 in bills of credit, did convev to the Treasurer of the Province, Jeremiah Allen', Esq., a portion of land, 'being part of the southerly end of Spectacle Island, so called, and is bounded northerly by said Bills land, ten feet to the northward of the cellar wall lately built there, to erect a house on for the Province to enter- tain the sick, and is on the cleft or brow of the southerly head or highland of sd island forty-four feet wide, and from thence to run on a line about south-southwest ninety feet, where it is also forty-four feet wide, and thence to continue the line on the easterly side streight down to the sea, and from sd ninety feet on the westerly side to widen gradually on a streight line to the sea or salt water, where it is to be sixty feet wide, together with the liberty of landing on the southerly beach point, and thence to pass and repass to and from the said granted land.' "

The Province continued to hold this portion of Spectacle Island for the purpose for which it was originally acquired until about 1735, when the General Court appointed a com-

108 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

mittee for the purchase of a more suitable place to which the Hospital might be removed, and the result of their delibera- tions was the selection of Rainsford Island.

Prior to this, however, in the year 1729-30, March 18, Samuel Bill, by an Indenture made between him and Richard Bill, Esquire (his brother), in consideration of £705, and also in consideration that the said Richard Bill hath undertaken to discharge the mortgage money with which the premises hereinafter granted stand chargeable, sells to said Richard Bill all that his said Samuel Bill's certain Island called Spectacle Island, containing by estimation 60 acres, more or less, with the dwelling-house, bam, <fec, standing thereon, saving and reserving from this grant and sale, that part of said Island which the said Samuel Bill conveyed to Jeremiah Allen, Esquire, Treasurer of the Province, July 30, 1717, subject nevertheless to the payment of the principl money and inter- est now due and to become due upon two mortgage deeds on the granted premises, one of them given by the said Samuel Bill to John Clark Esquire and others commissioners of the one hundred thousand pound loan dated February 13,- 1719, and recorded with Suffolk Deeds, vol. 31: p. 170. The other (mortgage) given by said Samuel Bill to Samuel Appleton, late of Boston, merchant, deceased, dated April 12, 1728, and re- corded in vol. 42 : p. 89. (Suff. Deeds, 11, 115.)

The original of the above-named Indenture between Samuel Bill and Richard Bill (brothers), came into the hands of the writer with the papers of the late Andrew llenshaw Ward, Esq., and is now in our possession. I herewith give a fac-simile of the signature of the said Samuel Bill, as written by him, and attached to the said document.

cfc^n^cA^L

Samuel Bill had now parted with all his landed estates, both in and out of Boston. The date of his deatli is unknown, but it must have occurred prior to February 13, 1738-9, when,

FOURTH GENERATION. 109

iii the conveyance of the Province interest in Spectacle Island to Richard Bill, of Boston, it is stated, " Samuel Bill and Sarah his wife " were both deceased.

Sarah, the wife of Samuel Bill, was buried July 15, 1720.

The children of Samuel and Sarah (Shapley) Bill were : —

150 Samuel5, b. May 21, 1702; died young.

151 Joseph5, b. June 26, 1704; died July 22, 1705.

152 Joseph5, b. February 8, 1705-6.

153 Richard5, b. Dec. 2, 1708.

154 Benjamin5, b. Nov. 1, 1709.

155 Sarah5, b. Feb. 12, 1710-11 ; published to James Fawar,

Oct. 29, 1729.

156 Ruth5, b. March 18,1711-12; published to Thomas Price,

June 20, 1732.

157 Elizabeth5, b. June 2, 1713-14.

158 Mary5, b. June 7, 1714-15 ; m. John Litten.

159 f Samuel5, b. — 1720; m. (1) Mary Davis. (2) Grace

Crawley.

75.

Hon. RICHARD BILL4, Esquire (Samuel3, Thomas2, John1), the second son of Samuel and Elizabeth Bill ; born in Boston, March 25, 1685, and was married, first, on June 30, 1709, to Sakaii Davis, daughter of Major Benjamin and Sarah (Richards) Davis, of Boston. They were married by Rev. Benjamin Coleman, D. D., first pastor of Brattle Street Church.

Sarah, his wife, was horn in 1683, and died April 24, 1727, aged 44.

His second wife was Mehitable Minot, whom he married October 1, 1733. She was born December 6, 1692, and was the daughter of Stephen and Mary (Clark) Minot, of Boston.

Richard Bill was a prosperous merchant, doing business on old Cornhill, near the post-office, in the city of Boston. He was a noted citizen of his time, and must have been well known through the entire colony of Massachusetts Bay. He was certainly the most conspicuous, as well as the most dis-

HO THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

tinguished member of the family at this period. We find his name among the list of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1707 : in 1716 he was Ensign, and in 1720 a Lieutenant. He was afterwards Captain in another military organization. That he was a man greatly esteemed and much honored, we infer from the fact of his election as a member of the Colonial Council of the Province. This fact is established rom MS. records found in the office of the Secretary of the Com- monwealth, at Boston, of a meeting held May. 31, 1737. He must have continued a member of this Council Board as late as February 5, 1741-2, for we find his name in the records of the various frequent meetings of the Board up to the latter date, after which it no longer appears. It was a custom of the Council to meet every few days, at this time. Mas- sachusetts still preserves this relic of her early history, and is the only State that has to our knowledge an Executive Council.

In a volume recently published, relating to the Abenaki Indians of Maine and New Hampshire, a copy of a treaty is found, dated at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, July 28, 1714, in which the names of the various commissioners on the part of the Province are attached, and among the several wit- nesses we find a fac-simile of the signature of Richard Bill, from which we infer he must have been present, and not unlikely bore an active part in the negotiations, if not as com- missioner, at least as an agent of the Province.

Report says of him, that he was a very pious and devout man, upright in all his dealings with his fellow-men, and highly honorable, and esteemed among them.

The writer, in 1861, while visiting Boston and vicinity, learned of the existence of a portrait of this Richard Bill, and, by diligent inquiry and search therefor, was at last re- warded by tracing the same to the family of Andrew Iien- shaw Ward, Esq., of Newton, the gentleman to whom special reference is made in the preface of this volume. It was several years after this, however, before we were enabled to

FOURTH GENERATION. HI

view it ; meanwhile it passed, in consequence of the death of Mr. Ward and his wife, into the hands of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Miles Washburn, of Newton Corner (near Boston). We were greatly sm*prised to find the portrait in such a perfect state of preservation, it having been carefully and choicely kept as a family relic for the last hundred years. It is a " three-quarter " portrait in length, and is believed to have been painted by the celebrated Copely. It certainly bears many distinguishing marks of his pencil.

The drapery consists of a large antique coat and long under jacket, both of red velvet, with ruffled shirt-front and an im- mense floAving wig, and otherwise arrayed in the costume of the notable men of his time. Throuo-h the kindness of Mrs. Washburn (the present possessor of this portrait, to whom we would here express our thanks), a loan was made us of the original, and, having commissioned the well-known artist, Mr. E. H. Emmons, of Norwich, Ct., to copy the same, have now in our possession a faithful transcript, and it is from this copy of ours that the photograph which adorns this volume was taken. It gives, however, but a very imper- fect idea of the magnificent painting itself.

The times in which Richard Bill lived were stirring ones. The colonies, after having spent several generations under the government of England, had come to be jealous of their rights and liberties. The early records furnish many documents, in the shape of petitions and other papers, asking for redress for the many grievances to which the people of the colonies were subject. This not being granted, a spirit of rebellion grew, which finally culminated in the sundering of the ties with the mother country.

He had for compeers and for neighbors such men as Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Andrew Oliver, the Hutchinsons and the Winthrops, and others of lesser note, wmose names appear all along the pages of the colonial and legislative his- tory of Massachusetts. There are a large number of deeds or conveyances of land, in which he appears as an interested

U2 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

party. He became possessed of large landed estates, both in the city and harbor of Boston.

We again have occasion to refer to Spe ctacle Island, which, in 1738-9, February 17, William Foye, Province Treasurer, by virtue of a resolve of the General Court, passed at the session in Nov., 1736, for £130, conveys to Kichard Bill, of Boston, all the interest of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in and to Spectacle Island,* including the buildings where the Hospital now is, being the same premises which were conveyed to Jeremiah Allen, Treasurer, by Samuel Bill and Sarah his wife, both deceased, by their deed of July 30, 1717. (Suff. Deeds, 57: 162.)

By the above-mentioned conveyance, Richard Bill came in full and absolute possession of the whole island, he having acquired the title of the remaining portion on the 18th of March, 1729-30, from his brother, Samuel Bill.

On the 16th of January, 1741-2, Richard Bill, Esq., of Boston, in full for the good-will and affection which I bear toward my son-in-law, Joshua Henshaw, Junior, of Boston, merchant, and Elizabeth his wife, my daughter, conveys to said Joshua Henshaw and Elizabeth the house and land in Sudbury Street, Boston, now in the tenure and occupation of the said HeDshaw, fronting to Sudbury Street on the S. S. E., there measuring forty feet ; * * * * on the South West, on land of Thomas Cooper, late deceased, there measuring 99 feet ; N. W. on Bartholomew, three-needles nineteen and a half feet, &c. (Suff. Deeds, 62 : 256.)

On the 18th of February, 1712-3, Richard Bill sells the whole of Spectacle Island to Joshua Henshaw, Jr. Thus this island passed out of the hands of the Bill family, which, for more than three-quarters of a century, had been in their possession. Since this transfer in 1712, above named, Spec- tacle Island has been given up to agricultural uses, though, for quite a period, it was a frequent resort of pleasure parties,

* We have in our possession this original deed.

FOURTH GENERATION. 113

It is from this deed, last named, that we have had made, on wood a facsimile of the signature of Richard Bill, which we herewith append. This bold signature of his is signifi- cant of the uprightness of his character, which was a marked trait through all his life.

^JiidLaA^ ~J&'<M:

As a matter of curiosity, and at the same time to justify the use of the titles given this eminent member of our family, we copy the acknowledgment attached to an indenture in favor of Andrew Oliver. It appears as follows :

Suffolk ss. : Boston, Nov'r 30th, 1741.

The Hon. Richard Bill, Esqr., Personally appeared and acknowledged the aforewritten Instrument to be his free Act and Deed. Before me,

Sam'l Sewall, Just. Pacis.

We find him selling his house and land where he lived, on Sudbury Street, measuring 83|- by 111^ feet; also, his two- thirds of a house on the corner of Water and Devonshire Streets ; also, the house on Prince Street that was bequeathed to the said Richard Bill by his father, Samuel Bill, deceased. (Suff. Deeds, 62 : 255.)

It is exceedingly manifest that, from some cause, the finan- cial affairs of Richard Bill had fallen into a state of hopeless confusion. It appears that he was compelled to part with all his real estate, and that the proceeds arising from its sale was wholly inadequate to meet the demands of his creditors.

About the end of the year 1741, he and his partner, Sam- uel Sewall, made an assignment for the benefit of theii creditors. On the 1st of March, 1742, the assignees declared that, to that date, they had received of Richard Bill the sum of £2,869 8s. 2d.

114 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

At .his death, his estate was able to pay but 13s. and 8d. on the pound.

Kichard Bill and Jacob Holyoake, of Boston, were execu- tors of the will of Lewis Vassall, of Braintree, who died Sep- tember 15, 1713. He was also appointed guardian of Anna Yassall, eldest child of Lewis Yassall, November 20, 1751.

He and Joshua Henshaw were also executors of the will of Col. John Yassal, Nov. 7, 1752. Concerning the first wife of Kichard Bill we haTre the following account, copied from the Boston News Letter of Thursday, April 27, 1727 : —

" On Monday last [24th inst.], Mrs. Sarah Bill, the consort of Mr. Richard Bill, merchant, and only surviving daughter of the late Maj. Benjamin (and Mrs. Sarah) Davis, died in the sorrows, or rather sickness, of child-bed. She was visibly adorned with those ornaments which are in the sight of God of great price, which made her much valued in her life, and lamented in her death, by all that knew her." 1 Tim. ii. 9, 10. (Genealogical Beg. vol. xiv. p. 233.)

His second wife, Mehitable, died Aug. 7, 1741. "We have not the exact date of Richard Bill's death. Administration on his estate was granted Nov. 25, 1757, to his son-in-law, Joshua Henshaw, Esq., of Boston.

The inventory was taken Oct. 26, 1757, by Jeremiah Green, William Coffin, and William Story. The amount was £440 13s. 2d, old tenor. (Suff. Prob. 52, 386, 387.)

1759, April 20. Joshua Henshaw, Esq., Administrator of the estate of the Hon. Richard Bill, Esq., late of Boston, ren- ders his first account of administration. In his list of ex- penses appears the item of £3 10 9|-, as the charge for the coffin.

The children of Richard and Sarah (Davis) Bill, were :

160 Elizabeth, b. Sept. 8, 1710 ; died Aug. 12, 1712.

161 t Elizabeth, b. Sept. 9, 1712 ; m. Joshua Henshaw.

162 William, b. Aug. 31, 1715 ; died May 3, 1718.

163 Sarah, .b. April 15, 1727; m. Edmund Grice Dolbeare,

March 13, 1755.

FOURTH GENERATION. 115

73.

THOMAS BILL4 (Jacob,3 Thomas,2 John'), son of Jacob and Theodosia Bill ; born in Boston, March 30, 1693, and was married June 6, 1723, to Ruth Belchek.

He was a resident of Boston, and was known as a " boat- builder." His name appears in several real-estate transactions, as is found in the records of the town of Boston, but they are not apparently of sufficient importance to warrant their being reproduced in this connection. After 1730 we find no further notice of Thomas Bill. Ruth, his widow, died April 15, 1775, as per her grave-stone found in the Granary Burying-ground.

Their children were :

1 64 Abigail,5 b. Dec. 10, 1 723.

165 Jacob,5 b. May 24, 1725; mi Dorcas Brown of Charles-

town, Jan. 3, 1747-8. This Jacob with his family appeared at Concord in 1752, but after this they are lost to us.

166 Thomas,5 b. Dec. 29, 1729.

167 Sarah,5 b. Dec. 11, 1731.

168 John,5 b. March 27, 1734.

89.

JOSEPH BILL4 (Philip,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Philip and Elizabeth Bill of Groton, Conn. ; born near 1695, and was married in Nov. 1716, to Bethia Packer, a daughter of John Packer, of Groton. This family resided for a time in Groton. After this we hear of them in the northern portion of the town of Preston, in what is now known as Griswold, where his father owned lands, and where he also made several purchases. How long he resided in this section of Preston we do not know, but we conclude many years, since, after a second search of the town records of both Preston and Norwich, we are unable to learn any thing of him after 1745. Little is

116 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

known concerning this family beyond the record of their three children, which are as follows :

169 Philip,6 b. in Groton, Oct. 22, 1717.

170 Joseph,6 b. in do. Aug. 26, 1720.

171 Jacob,5 b. in do. Feb. 8, 1723.

90.

THOMAS BILL4 (Philip,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Philip and Mary Bill of Groton, Conn. ; born Sept. 26, 1705 ; married Abigail .

We find this family living in Groton as late as 1745, after- wards in New London, or that part of New London called Montville.

1730-1, Feb. 13. Thomas Bill of Groton for £20 buys of Daniel Leffingwell of Norwich fifty rods of land on the east side of Shetucket River, the boundary beginning on the

at Simon Tracey's corner and extending N. 22 rods.

Then running by land of Nathaniel Giddings two rods and 12 feet with a house on the lot. (See Norwich Deeds, vol. 6, p. 280.)

1741-2, Feb. 6. Daniel Leffingwell of Norwich for £650 sells to Thomas Bill of Groton 30 acres of land on the east side of the Shetucket River. (Groton Records, vol. 8, p. 385.)

We append herewith the will of Thomas Bill in full, as taken from New London Prob. Records : —

In the name of God, amen. I Thomas Bill of New London in the county of New London in the Colony of Con- necticut in New England being sick but of sound disposing mind and memory thanks be given to God therefor but call- ing to mind my mortality and knowing that it is appointed unto man once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in the manner following :

First of all I commit my immortal soul into the hand of him who gave it hoping thro the burdens and Death of his

FOURTH GENERATION". 1p7

only begotton son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to receive the free and full pardon of all my sin and an inheritance among the Blessed ; my body I commit to the grave to be decently buried at the discretion of my executrix hereinafter named hoping in the resurrection of the just.

And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to prosper me I give and dispose of the same as follows : viz — imprimis, I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be in time convenient after my decease fully paid by my Executrix hereinafter named — Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Abigail all my personal Estate to be disposed of as she shall think fit ; Moreover I give to her the improvement of all my real estate until my sons Jabez, Charles, and William come to the age of 21 years, they to receive their portion when and^as ffiey come of age. All this I do for my wife upon condition of her bringing up the children which are not yet of age and of paying the legacies which I herein order her to pay and with this view that she may do for her daughters what she shall think equal and just between them.

Item, I give to my daughter, Anna, 10 shillings, to be payd her at my decease which together with what I have given her already is the full of her portion —

Item, I give to my daughter, Lucretia, 10. s. to be payd her at my decease which together with what I have given her already is the full of her portion —

Item, I give to my daughter, Priscilla, £50 money, old Tenor, to be payd her by my Executrix in two years after my decease which together with what I have already given her is the full of her portion —

Item, I give to my daughter, Abigail, Fifty Pounds money Old Tenor to be payd her by my Executrix in two years after my decease which together with what I have already given her is in full of her portion —

Item, I give to my daughter Bethshua One hundred Pounds money Old Tenor to be payd her by my son Jabez

118 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

in one year after lie comes of age which together with what I have already given her is in full of her portion —

Item, I give to my daughter, Philena, One hundred Pounds money, Old Tenor, to be payd her by my son Charles in one year after he comes of age which together with what I have already given her is in full of her portion —

Item, I give to my daughter, Susanna, One hundred Pounds money Old Tenor to be payd her by my son "William in one year after he comes of age which together with what I have already given her is in full of her portion —

Item, I give to my sons Jabez, Charles, and William all my Real-Estate Houses and Lots to them and their heirs for- ever, to be equally divided between them when and as they come to the age of 21 years : this upon condition of their com- plying with my Will in paying their sisters the Legacies which I have ordered them to pay as above expressed —

Item, I do hereby constitute and appoint my Dearly Beloved Wife, Abigail, sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament nothing doubting of her faithfulness in fullfiling the same. Moreover I do hereby revoke disannul and make void all other or former wills at any other time heretofore by me made declaring this and this only to be my last will and Testament.

In confirmation of which I hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of November, Anno Domini, One thousand seven hundred and fifty three.

[L.S.]

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and

declared by the above named Thomas

Bill the Testator to be his last Will and

Testament in presence of us as witnesses

Caleb Leffixgwell Sam1- Leffingwell, Junr. Daved JEwnr.

FOURTH GENERATION. 119

New London North Parish Dec. 10, 1754 the above named witnesses appeared and testify to the correctness of the above Will.

The children of Thomas and Abigail Bill were :

172 t Jabez,5

173 t Charles,5 1 74 f William,5

175 Anna,5

176 Lucretia,5

177 Priscilla,5 y

178 Abigail,5 -^

1 79 Bethshua,5

180 Philena,5

181 Susanna.5

91.

BENJAMIN BILL4 (Philip,3 Philip,3 John1), a son of Philip and Mary Bill. Born in Groton, Aug. 6, 1708. Married Sarah Davis. This family were residents of Groton, and it is supposed they lived near Allyn's Point, in what is now known as the town of Ledyard. We find his name appended as a witness to the will of Kobert Allyn, Esq., of Groton, in the year 1729.

In 1744-5, March 9, Benjamin Bill, of Groton, sells land to Ensign Thomas Bill of Groton, his brother. (See Groton Eecords, vol. 4, p. 192.) He was also a witness to a deed given by Thomas Bill to his brother-in-law Samuel Lester in 1733.

We give herewith his Will in full.

In the name of God, amen.

I, Benjamin Bill" of Groton, in the county of New London, Colony of Connecticut in New England being weak and much indisposed in body yet of sound disposing mind and memory thanks be given to God therefor and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make & ordain this my last Will and Testa-

120 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

merit. That is to say first and principally I recommend mv soul into the hands of the God who gave it and my body in the earth to be buried in a decent manner, at the discretion of my Executor, hereinafter named; and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I dispose of in the following manner and form.

Imprim8 — After all my just debts and funeral charges are first met out of my Estate I will and bequeath unto my true and loving Wife Sarah Bill the whole use and improvement of all my housing and lands in the manner following, that is to say, the use of the improvement of one-third during her natural life and the use of all the rest until my son Benjamin shall arrive at the full age of 21 years and then to one-half of the remainder until my son Christopher shall arrive at the full age of 21 years.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Bill and to his heirs and assigns forever the one-half of all my housing and lands upon condition that my said son Benjamin pay to my daughter Abigail Bill, my wife's eldest daughter, one hundred Pounds old Tenor Bills within one year after my said son shall arrive to the age of 21 years.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Christopher Bill and to his heirs and assigns forever the other half of my hous- ings and lands to be divided among my said sons according to quantity and quality and use of one-third of the whole ex- cepted, to my Wife as above given to her upon condition that my said son Christopher pay to my Daughter Catherine Bill one hundred Pounds Old tenor Bills within one year after he shall arrive at the full age of 21 years. And I further order my two said sons Benjamin and Christopher to pay my said daughters Prudence Tabitha and Deborah Three hundred Pounds Old tenor bills that is to say One hundred Pounds old tenor bills to each of them : That is to say; my son Benjamin to pay to my Daughter Prudence One hundred Pounds old tenor bills and Fifty Pounds old tenor Bills to my Daughter

FOURTH GENERATION. 121

Tabitha Bill within one year after my said son Benjamin sliall arrive at the fall age of 21 years and my son Christopher to pay to my Daughter Tabitha Bill Fifty Pounds old tenor Bills and one hundred Pounds Old tenor Bills to my Daughter Deborah Bill within one year after my said son Christopher shall arrive to the age of 21 years.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid Daughter Abigail Bill one hundred Pounds old tenor Bills to be paid to her as herein before ordered.

Item, I give to my Daughter Prudence one hundred Pounds old tenor Bills to be paid to her as before ordered.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Catherine Bill one hundred Pounds old tenor bills to be paid to her as above ordered.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Tabitha Bill one hundred [Pounds] old tenor Bills to be paid to her as above ordered.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Deborah one hundred Pounds Old tenor bills to be paid to her as above ordered ; and I do appoint my said Wife Sarah Bill my sole Executrix to this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby disallow of all other former wills by me made and allow this and this only to be my last Will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. Groton June the 17th day 1754.

3^j

«, KM Wj/ffl [L.S.]

Signed, sealed, published pronounced and declared by the said Benjamin Bill to be his last will and testa- ment in presence of

Luke Perkins Samll Lester Asa Woodwortii.

9

122 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

The above will was proved Jan. 10, 1758, before Gurdon Saltonstall, Judge of Probate.

Mr. Lester, one of the witnesses to the above Will, was a brother-in-law of the testator, and is one of the ancestors of that numerous family that for so long a period have resided in both the towns of Ledyard and of Groton. The names of Perkins and of Woodworth still abound in New London County.

The inventory of Benjamin Bill's estate amounted to the sum of £745 10s. 6d. (New London Prob. vol. 6 : 62, 89.)

The children of Benjamin and Sarah (Davis) Bill, as named in the will, were :

182 t Benjamin, b. 1740; m. Sarah He[o]lmes

183 Christopher, b. lived in Stonington. Administra-

tion on his estate was granted to Walter Burdick June 5, 1798. (Stonington Prob. 6: 87.)

184 Abigail, b.

185 Catherine, b.

186 Prudence, b.

187 Tabitha, b. ) Mr. Giles Bailey, the present town

188 Deborah, b. f clerk of New London, informs us

that he personally knew these two maiden ladies, and has visited their house, near Groton Bank, on various occasions. He represents them as being estimable old ladies, very in- dustrious and of good character, and also informs us that he believes they died unmarried.

93.

SAMUEL BILL4 (Samuel,3 Philip/ John1), the eldest son of Samuel and Mercy (IJaughton) Bill, was born in New Lon- don, about 1690. lie married for his first wife Hannah , who died May 7, 1740, aged 4S.

FOURTH GENERATION. 123

For his second wife he married Joanna Atwell, on the 27. of Nov. 1740.

We experience the same difficulty with regard to this family that we have with every other for whose history we have had to depend on what remains of the New London records.

From an expression in his will, and from an incident related to us by his great-grandson, Mr. Edward Bill of New York, we infer that his life was a sea-faring one.

Mr. Edward Bill relates the following, as told him by his father, of this Samuel Bill, viz. :

He was the owner and master of a small sloop which was employed in the trade between the towns near the mouth of the Connecticut River. In one of his cruises he fell in with a brig of considerable size, and on boarding her found that she was fully armed, and with more than the usual complement of men. He expressed surprise, and in answer to his questions was told : " We never know whom we are to meet; and it is best to be prepared both for friend and foe. We like to be independent. Now, sir, as you are a sailor, and profess to be well acquainted with the coast and islands hereabouts, we will state our business. We wish you to pilot us into some cosy nook or sheltered place, free from observation, where we can clean the bottom of our vessel, make some necessary repairs, and get a supply of fresh water."

He piloted the vessel into a small harbor, not far from the mouth of the Connecticut River, supposed to be what was then known as Thimble Island, where they drew his small vessel up on the beach, and took off his rudder and sails, to prevent his too speedy departure. They kept him there a prisoner for some days, until they were ready to depart, when, after paying him handsomely for his trouble and detention, they bade him good-by, and, with a fair wind, left for sea. He [Samuel Bill] supposed her to be a pirate, as at this time vessels of this character infested our coast.

In 1738 and 1742, respectively, Samuel Bill gives to his sons,

124 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Samuel Bill, Jr. and Ephraim Bill, land which he had bought of the First Society in New London, to be equally divided between them. (See New London Deeds, vol. 12, p. 141.)

As a matter of considerable interest to his descendants, we transcribe in full his will, as it appears in the Probate Records of New London : —

I ye Name of God amen :

Saml Bill of New London in ye County of New London sends Greeting : and know ye, that I y" sd Sam" Bill being in Perfic helth and sound mind & memmory, & being bound to Sea, & considering the Dangers thereof, ye Sartaintye of Death & unsartaintye of this Life think it my Duty to dispose of what Estate I have in this Life and as to my body I give it to ye Earth from whence it was Taken, to be Decently buried at ye discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned & my Sole I bequeth to God who gave me being, not Douting but that at ye End of ye world my Sole and body by ye Power of God will be Reunited and by ye medeation of Christ made

Parfitly Blesed for Euer

and as to my warly Goods, I Despose of as follows, first that my house and Land be sold by my Executrix hereafter mentioned, & my just Debts all first to be paid, and then out of y" Product of sci house my wife shall have paid her fifty Pounds old Tener bills, and also I Give my Loueing Wife all my moueable Estate of what sort or Denomination whatever

2ly. What Euer Remains of ye Produce of my sd house and Land after my Debts being paid as aforesd & y" fifty Pound Giuen to my wife, that then all ye Residue thereof I Despose of and giue to my Daughter, Marcy Smith

3,y. As to my other Three Children viz Sam," Ephraim, and Sarah, I have alredy Giuen them there full Portion

4lv. I appiont my Loueing Wife my sole Exectrix of this my Last will and Testament and I do Revoake all former or Other Wills by me made or Suffered to be made aloweding

FOURTH GENERATION. 125

Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last will and Testement.

And in confirmation I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal this fust day of July a. d. 1747.

Signed Seal1 Pronounced and Declared to be the Last Will and Testament of ye aboue named Sam11 Bill on ye day of ye date aboue mentioned.

J^^#£^

[L.S.]

In Presence of Us

Geo : Richards Junr

Guy Richards

Nath" Richards At a Court of Prob* holden March 1, 1753, appd George Richd Junr. & Guy Richd, and made Solem oath that they saw Sam1 Bill testar to ye above Inst, sign & seal & heard him pronounce & Declare it to be his Last Will and Testa- ment, and that lie was then as they Judgd, of sound mind & memory & yl they with N. R. signd as Evidence to it in presence of sd Testf.

The above will was proved at a Court of Probate, holden March 1, 1753.

The inventory of his estate was sworn to by Joanna Bill, September 10, 1753. (K L. Prob., vol. 5 : 124, 127.)

1754, August 1. Joanna Bill, relict of Samuel Bill, and Executrix of his will, for £475, sells to Benjamin and Eliza Appleton his house and land, lately belonging to the said Samuel Bill, deceased, having a front of three rods. The boundary line begins at the northwesterly corner of Samuel Latimer, bounded west on the Town street, east on land of John Bolles, thence to Latimer's corner, the place of begin- ning. (N. L. Deeds, vol. 16 : 70.)

The children of Samuel and Hannah Bill were :

189 f Samuel,5 b. 171- ; m. Martha Wheeler.

190 Sarah,5 b. ; in. William Newport, July 7, 1737. ;

12 G THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

191 t Ephraim,5 b. Aug. 15, 1719; in. Lydia Huntington.

192 Mercy5, b. 17 — ; m. Smith, and was admitted to

the church at N. L. in 1741.

94.

PHILIP BILL4 (Samuel/ Philip,1 John'), a brother of the preceding ; born in New London about 1692, and was married

in 1714 to Jane , who died in child-bed, July 21,

1731. His second wife was Elizabeth ; his third

wife, Ruth .

Soon after his marriage he settled in Lebanon, near his uncle, John Bill, who had emigrated thither some twenty years prior. He continued to reside in Lebanon the remainder of his life. His brothers, James and Ebenezer, and his father also, went to Lebanon not far from the same time.

Philip Bill was the owner of lands in Groton, which had been deeded to him by his father. He also made purchases of considerable extent in the town of Lebanon — in that portion known as the New Parish.

His will was dated June 24, 1754, and was proved Decem- ber 24, 1762. He calls himself Philip Bill of Lebanon, and gives to his wife Ruth one-third of his estate, during her natural life. To his son Elisha, whom he appoints executor, he gives all the real estate, except the reserve already men- tioned, on condition of his paying the debts and pecuniary legacies.

His inventory, on December 22, 1762, amounts to £171 lis. 9d.

The children of Philip Bill were, by his first wife :

193 Zipporah,5 b. in Groton, Feb. 16, 1715; m. Jabez

Chappell.

194 Lucy,5 b. in Groton, Dae. 25,1717; m. Rood

[or Rude].

195 f Elisha,5 b. in Groton, Feb. 7, 1719; m. Lydia Wood-

ward.

196 t Philip,6 b. in Lebanon, Dec. 21, 1723 ; m. Mary Tihlen.

FOURTH GENERATION. 127

197 f Solomon,5 b. in Lebanon, April 25, 1726; m. Sarah

Sizer.

198 Mercy,5 b. in Lebanon, Jan. 6, 1729; m. Joseph Sim-

mons.

199 Elijah,5 b. in Lebanon, July 17, 1731 ; died young. The children by his second wife were :

200 t Jonathan,5 b. in Lebanon, Sept. 15, 1735; m. Elizabeth

Dunham.

201 Sybil,5 b. in Lebanon, March t6, 1740; m.

Hutchinson.

202 t Samuel,5 b. in Lebanon, July 4, 1744; m. (1) Martha

Goodwin. (2) Sarah Mills.

95.

JAMES BILL4 (Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Samuel and Mercy Bill ; born in New London, about 1694, and mar- ried Mary Swodel, daughter of William Swodel, of Groton, and sister of Hannah Swodel, who was the second wife of Joshua Bill, an uncle of this James.

It is supposed that, soon after his marriage, he removed to Lebanon, where his uncle, John Bill, and his brothers, Philip and Ebenezer, his sister Mercy, and his father, had already settled. In 1719, however, James Bill bought a farm in Hebron, an adjoining town, and resided there at least twelve or fourteen years. In 1713 we find him again in Lebanon, where he remained till at least 1751.

The children of James and Mary Bill were — born in Lebanon :

203 f James,5 b. Dec. 31, 1717 ; m. Mary .

204 t Jedediah,5 b. July 18, 1719; m. Hannah Foster. Children born in Hebron are :

205 Mary,5 b. July 2, 1721. She or her sister, Experience,

m. Joshua Eells.

206 Nathan,5 b. June 27, 1723.

207 Experience,5 b. Oct. 10, 1724.

208 t Jonathan,6 b. Aug. 3, 1731 ; m. Esther Owen.

128 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

About 1755, his son James5 removed to New Jersey, and it is not impossible that the father went with him.

This fact of the removal to New Jersey is established by deed, dated December 14, 1756, wherein these words occur: " James Bill, late of Lebanon, now of Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey, for £100, quit-claims to Hezekiah New- comb, of Lebanon, one hundred acres of land in the village of Lebanon, formerly belonging to my father, James Bill."

This deed was recorded May 10, 1801. (Lebanon Deeds, vol. 19 : 338.)

The removal of James Bill5 (b. 1717) to New Jersey, about the time above named, is certain ; and it is quite probable that his brother Jedediah5 also removed thither at the same period. Whether their father died in Lebanon, or joined his sons in New Jersey, we are unable to determine, though dili- gent efforts have been made to procure reliable information.

The history of this New Jersey branch of the family is wrapped in something of uncertainty, but yet enough is known to trace them for several generations. •

During their residence in New Jersey they became mem- bers of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, in that region, and we find that Daniel Bill, a son of the aforesaid James or Jede- diah, during the Revolution, refused to take up arms in conse- quence of his peculiar religious faith, though he consented to serve his country in the capacity of a commissary in the army. About this time he removed to Surrey County, in North Caro- lina, in the neighborhood of a large settlement of those pecu- liar people. From North Carolina he removed to Marshall County, Tennessee, taking his family with him, where he died in 1820. We find that the above-named Daniel left a son, Isaac Bill, who was born in North Carolina, and, after the death of his father, removed from Marshall to Maury County, Ten- nessee, where he also died, leaving four sons and three daughters. His occupation was that of a planter. Lie left several chil- dren, but the name of one only is known to us, that of

FOURTH GENERATION. 129

John H. Bill, who was born in Tennessee, and now resides at Bolivar in that State.

He is a man of learning and liberal culture, has traveled extensively both in this country and in Europe, and, prior to the late war, possessed large wealth ; and notwithstanding the heavy losses he has sustained during the late contest, he is still in comfortable circumstances.

97-

EBENEZER BILL4 (Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; born in Groton [New London], about 1695; was married September 8, 1726, in Lebanon, to Patience Ingeaham. He removed to Lebanon in 1722, and remained there for upwards of a score of years. We find his wife, Patience, was admitted to the church there February 29, 1736, and that he was a surveyor of highways in that town in 1741.

By his father's will, he inherited his father's house and land in Lebanon. It appears that about the year 1751 he sold a house and farm, containing one hundred acres, to his eldest.^ brother, James Bill. After this period this family is lost to us in the Lebanon records, and the next we hear of them is in the Province of Nova Scotia, whither, it is supposed, he must have removed prior to the Eevolution, or about 1755-'60, as the removal of the "French Neutrals," so called, from said province occurred about this time, and their places were partly filled by emigrants from Great Britain and from the New England Colonies.

The descendants of this family in Nova Scotia have attained considerable eminence and distinction, as will be seen hereafter.

The children of Ebenezer and Patience (Ingraham) Bill were :

209 t Samuel,5 b. in Groton, Sept. 25, 1719 ; tn. Sarah Bond.

210 Bridget,5 b. in Lebanon, Dec. 14, 1727; removed to

Nova Scotia.

130 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

211 Beulah,5 b. in Lebanon, April 30, 1730.

212 Hannah,5 b. in Lebanon, August 10, 1732.

213 Jonathan,5 b. in Lebanon, , 1734; died Aug. 24,

1734.

214 Ebenezer,5 b. in Lebanon, July 11, 1737.

215 t Thomas,5 b. in Lebanon, Feb. 28, 1741-2; m. (1) Anna

Phelps. (2) Elizabeth Gager.

216 t Asahel,5 b. in Lebanon, April 7, 1748; in. Mary Rand,

of Nova Scotia.

217 Eunice,5 b. in Lebanon, July 7, 1751.

98.

JOSHUA BILL4 (Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; was born in New London [Groton] ; baptized June 5, 1698. We have no exact knowledge of this Joshua Bill, further than that he was living at the date of his father's will, Oct. 28, 1728. What became of him we are unable to determine, except it is he whom we find living at Jamestown, Rhode Island, in May, 1741, at which time he was admitted a Freeman.

Again, in 1750, we find a Joshua Bill, of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, was plaintiff in an action of debt, at Norwich, Connecticut, against N. Lathrop of that place.

March 6, 1755, a Joshua Bill was ensign in the first com- pany formed in a regiment raised in Rhode Island, to march to Crown Point, to resist French invasion. Whether any or all of these items refer to this Joshua, or to his cousin Joshua, the son of Joshua Bill of Groton, who was a direct ancestor of the writer, we cannot positively determine, since but faint traces remain to us of either of them. We have spent hours, and almost days, in cogitating and pursuing these two Joshuas, with a view to determine, if it were possible, their where- abouts and history, but, up to this, all attempts have proved abortive.

101.

JOHN BILL4 (Samuel,3 Philip,8 John'), a brother of the

FOURTH GENERATION. 131

preceding ; born in New London [Groton], about 1705. He was living at the date of his father's will, Oct. 28, 1728. Who he married is unknown. It is supposed that he settled in the town of Norwich, not far from the landing.

We have no account of any children, or of his decease.

103.

JOHN BILL4 (John,3 Philip,2 John'), the eldest son of John and Mercy (Fowler) Bill ; was born in New London [Groton], 1696 ; baptized December 16, 1696, and married Mary .

He removed to Lebanon with his father in 1703, and there resided during the remainder of his life.

He was admitted to the church in Lebanon, June 6, 1725.

His wife was admitted July 1, 1733.

All their children were baptized in Lebanon.

His will is dated Feb. 10, 1715-6 : proved June 25, 1746.

We append a copy of said will, as taken from the Windham Prob. Kecords, vol. 3, p. 272 :

In the name of God, Amen, I, John Bill, being on a bed of sickness, and apprehensive that my departure is at hand, but of sound mind and memory, do recommend my soul to God, who gave it, and my body to burial in decent christian burial at the discretion of my Executors, and as to my worldly substance I do dispose of it in the manner following, (viz.) After my honest debts and funeral charges are paid out of my moveable estate, I do give and becpieath as follows :

Impr. To my loving wife, Mary Bill, all my household goods, and also the improvement of my whole estate for the space of four years after my death, in consideration of her bringing up the children, and after the said term of four years, I give to her the improvement of one-third part of my whole estate, personal and real, so long as she continues my widow.

Item. I give and bequeath to my loving son, Simeon Bill, a double part or portion of my estate, viz. two-eighth parts, excepting as hereafter.

132 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Item. I give and bequeath to my loving sons, Jonathan Bill, Judeth Bill, John Bill, Elijah Bill, equal parts of the remainder of my estate, excepting as hereinafter mentioned.

Item. I give and bequeath to my loving daughters, Mercy Bill, Mary Bill, and Martha Bill, to each of them fifty pounds per ye old tenor, as money now goes, to be paid to my daughter Mercy at the expiration of four years after my death, with the lawful interest, and to each of the others, Mary and Martha, when they arrive at the age of eighteen years, and it is my will that this be paid by my five sons, each one paying his proportion according to what I have given them, and I do hereby appoint my brother, Benajah Bill, and Mr. James Vinno, my neighbour, Executors of this my last will and testa- ment. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of Feb., 1745-6.

JOHN M BILL, (l.s.)

In presence of

John Newcomb, James Bill, of Goshen. Eleazar Whelock.

He was buried in the cemetery in the town of Columbia, where is a gravestone with the following inscription : " Here lies yfl body of the Well beloved Mr. John Bill, who died Feby. ye 4,h, 1746, aged about Fifty years." His widow sur- vived him nearly half a century. Her will was proved Sept. 27, 1795. The witnesses to her will were Benajah Bill, Eli- phalet Bill, and Mary Bill.

The children of John and Mary Bill, all born in Lebanon, were :

218 t Simeon,5 b. Nov. 8, 1V23 ; m. Martha .

219 f Jonathan,5 b. Feb. 6, 1725-6; m. (1) Mary .

(2) Phebe .

220 Mercy,5 b. May 25, 172S ; d. young.

221 t Judah,5 b. Feb. 6, 1730-1.

222 t John,5 b. June 6, 1733.

FOURTH GENERATION. 133

223 Jonathan,5 b. Aug. 18, 1734-5.

224 Mercy,5 b. Sept. 17, 1735; m. (1) Stephen Harding

Williams. (2) Corbet.

225 t Elijah,5 b. May 1, 1736 ; m. Patience Barbor.

226 Joseph,5 b. June 1, 1738.

227 Mary,5 b. Dec. 16, 1741 ; unmarried, living 1795.

228 Martha,5 b. Oct. 23, 1743 ; unmarried, and living in 1795.

105.

Lieut. JAMES BILL4 (John,3 Philip,2 John1), second son of John and Mercy (Fowler) Bill; was born in Lebanon, Sept. 20, 1703, and married in 1727, to Kezia French, a daughter of John French. He resided in the south part of Lebanon, in what is known as " Goshen Society," where he spent his whole life. He seems to have been, from all we learn, a highly respectable and worthy man. He was ad- mitted to the First Church in Lebanon, April 25, 1725. He was of the thirty persons who united in organizing the church in Goshen Society, Nov. 26, 1729, to which church his wife was admitted in 1730.

His name appears very frequent among the various records of the town, from which we learn that he was a Surveyor of Highways for many years ; also a Grand Juror.

1735, Aug. 25. James Bill and Kezia Bill, his wife, sign" a quit-claim or release, dated at Norwich, of a certain por- tion of John French's estate, wherein occurs these words : "Our honored father, John French." In 1745-6, Feb. 10, as we have already seen, he was a witness, together with John Newcomb and Itev.Eleazar Wheelock,to the will of his brother, John Bill of Lebanon.

In 1750, Nov. 14, his name appears in the Lebanon deeds, as having sold a piece of land in Goshen [Lebanon], to Noah "Webster.

The Lebanon town record says, " Lieut. James Bill died Nov. 9, 1781, aged 78 years, on the 20th of Sept. last." His will is dated March 20, 1781, proved Nov. 27, 1781. By

134 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

this will lie gives to his wife Kezia one-third of his real estate during her natural life, and her personal estate forever. To his eldest son, Amos, he gives £80. To my grandson, Abiel, the only surviving son of my son Peleg, deceased, he gives £5. To his son James £5, and lands in Chatham. lie appoints his son Oliver, Executor, and gives him land in Goshen. To his daughters, Lurana Woodruff, Lucy Abel, Kezia Pratt, and Betty Williams, I give lands which I bought of P. Marsh, and E. Carpenter.

The inventory of his estate amounted to £583 lis. lOd. (Wind. Prob. Pec. 10 : 448.)

Kezia Bill, widow of Lieut. Joshua Bill, made her will May 20, 1783 : proved March 13, 1786. She describes her- self as residing in Exeter Society [Lebanon], and she gives to her eldest daughter, Lurana, a gold necklace; and to her daughters Luc}r, Kezia, and the heirs of Betty, each, three- quarters of the residue. The witnesses to her will were Mrs. Patty Bill, and Mary Bill. (Ibid. 12 : 24.)

In the cemetery in Exeter Society, in the town of Lebanon, half way down the inclosure, at the right hand of the path under an apple-tree, is a gravestone with this inscription : "In memory of Lieut. James Bill, Who Died Nov. 9tji, 1781, in the 79th year of his age.

" My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's joyful sound : Then burst the chains with sweet surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise."

At the right hand of this gravestone is another with this inscription :

" In memory of Mrs. Kezia, Relict of Lieut. James Bill, Decest, who departed this life, Feb. 12, 1786, in the 83d year of her age. Our rest together is in the dust."

The children of Lieut. James and Kezia Bill were :

2 29 Lurana,5 b. Aug. 29, 1728 ; m. James Woodruff.

230 tAmos>6b-

231 t Peleg,6 b. Jan. 8, 1733 ; m. Jerusha

FOURTH GENERATION. 135

232 t James,5 b. Feb. 20, 1736; m. Asenath Norton.

233 t Oliver,5 b. Oct. 27, 1737 ; m. Martha Skinner.

334 Lucy,5 b. ; m. Dea. Daniel Abel [1] ; she died aged

90.

235 Kezia,5 b. March 14,1741-2; m. Col. David Pratt, of

Spencertown, N. Y.

236 Betty,5 b. Sept. 5, 1746; m. Isaiah Williams. She died

prior to 1783.

107.

BENAJAH BILL,4 Esq. (John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of John and Mercy (Fowler) Bill, was born in Lebanon, about

1715 ; married Mary . There is no record of his

birth, or baptism, or marriage, so far as known. That he was a son of John Bill, of Lebanon, is established by the will of the latter. He inherited the greater part of his father's estate. His name occurs frequently in the town records, from which we judge he was an active, intelligent, and highly capable man. "We find him filling the office of Surveyor of Highways in 1714: ; constable and collector of taxes, from 1750 to 1760 ; and selectman for an equal number of years. He was also Justice of the Peace in 1772. We append below his signature at this period, found on a document bearing date 25th of Aug. 1772.

(tfzAx4y^'\s dVMfafi^ ]*fv<!ja~ej^

For this original signature we are indebted to Mr. John Newcomb, of Elgin, Illinois.

Benajah Bill, in exchange of lands, sells to S. Thomas four acres of land at Ten Mile Run, by the bridge, near Webster's grist-mill, reserving the brook that runs through said Bill's land to Ten Mile Brook, which water now turns said Bill's Spinning-mill wheel ; bounded E. by the Hartford road, &c. (Lebanon Deeds, 10 : 80.)

He, and his wife Mary, were members of the church at ''Lebanon Crank" [Columbia], and, according to the records of that church, both died in 1776.

136 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

No will is found, but a division of his estate to the heirs was made April 21, 1778.

The heirs were: Eliphalet Bill of Lebanon; John Howell Wells of Hebron, and wife Mary ; and Ruby Bill of Lebanon. (Wind. Prob. 10: 445-9.)

Their children were :

237 Lucretia,6 b. July 26, 1743; d. same year.

238 Mary,5 b. Nov. 27, 1744 ; m. John Howell Wells.

239 Eleazar,5 b. March 16, 1746-7 ; d. Aug. 22, 1747.

240 Benajah,5 b. June 11, 1749 ; d. Sept. 4, 1749.

241 t Eliphalet,* b. Aug. 25, 1750; m. Dorothy Mason.

242 Ruby,5b. ■

109.

JOSHUA BILL4 (Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Joshua and Joanna (Potts) Bill, of Groton ; born Sept. 28, 1707. He gave a deed to John Ledyard, April 8, 1732, of lands originally granted to his grandfather, William Potts, by the town of New London, Feb. 23, 1701-2. (Groton Town Re- cords, Book 3, p. 63.)

The remarks applied to Joshua4 Bill, son of Samuel,3 and a cousin of this Joshua, are also applicable to this Joshua Bill, to which the reader is referred.

110.

EDWARD BILL4 (Joshua,3 Philip,5 John1), son of Joshua and Joanna (Potts) Bill, of Groton; born Dec. 1, 1710;

married Zeruiah . He settled first in Colchester, about

1732. In 1740, he appears in East Hampton, which was a portion of Chatham.

Edward Bill was one of 26 petitioners, north of the Neck in Chatham, who in Oct. 173S, petitioned for an act of incor- poration as a parish.

We know of but one child of Edward Bill : 243 Jonathan,5 b. in Colchester, May 5, 1733 ; m.

111.

BENAJAH BILL4 (Joshua,3 Philip,5 John1), a son of

FOUETH GENERATION. 137

Joshua and Joanna (Potts) Bill, of Groton ; was born March 3, 1713, and married, March 18, 1762, Judith Waterman, daughter of William and Margaret [Tracey] Waterman. It is said that she was a cousin of Benedict Arnold, though whether this is a fact we are unable to determine. She died July 5, 1783, aged 48.

Chancellor Walworth, in his Hyde Genealogy, gives the name of this Benajah as Beriah, which undoubtedly is an error. This family resided at Norwich.

Their children were :

244 Judith,5 b. March 13, 1763 ; m. Tinker.

245 Uriah,5 b. March 1, 1765; m. Elizabeth Shroud, Oct. 10,

1790.

113.

PHINEAS BILL4 (Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Joshua and Hannah Bill; was born in that part of Groton which is now included within the town of Ledyard, Sept. 3, 1720. He married Merttabel Wood worth. At the age of 15 years his father died, when he was placed under the guardianship of B. Davis, March 14, 1737-8.

1745, May 2. John Allyn gives a deed to Phineas Bill of Groton. (Groton Town Becords, 5 : 38.)

He resided in the southwestern portion of the now town of Ledyard, about equidistant from the village of IJnionville, so called, and Allyn's Point, in said town. Indeed the exact place of residence has been established, and must have been in what is now, and has been for the last century, known to the neighboring inhabitants as the " Phineas Bill House." He was a cooper by trade, and an industrious and honorable man, and, though in humble circumstances, enjoyed the respect and confidence of his neighbors. He died of cancer, in the family of his eldest son, Phineas, in Feb. 1780, at the age of 60 years.

At a Prob. Court held at Stonington, Dec. 25, 1784, his widow Mehitabel was allowed £18 out of his estate. She

10

138 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

survived him many years, dying in Groton [Ledyard], July, 1813, aged 90, and was buried by the side of her husband. With a view to determine their place of burial, we have caused searches to be made in the various burial-places in that locality, without success. We feel confident however that a renewal of the search might prove entirely satisfactory. The children of Phineas and Mehitabel Bill were :

246 f Phineas,6 b. Sept. 8, 1751 ; m. Mercy Allyn.

247 Mehitabel,5 b. ; m. William Spink, of Colchester.

248 Mary,5 b. ; m. (1) Richard Dayton, of New London.

(2) Alpheus Chapman, of Montville. She left no children by either husband.

249 f Benajah,5 b. June 29, 1760 ; m. Content Park.

250 t Joshua,5 b. May 14, 1762 ; m. Abigail Miner.

251 Gurdon,5 b. 1766 ; d. Sept. 1781, aged 15.

252 A daughter, name unknown ; m. Emanuel Simons.

FIFTH GEI^EEATIOX. 135.

JONATHAN BILL5 (Jonathan,4 Jonathan,3 James,8 John1), the eldest son of Jonathan and Ann (Allyn) Bill, of Pulling Point ; was born there, Nov. 27, 1701 ; married Han- nah Bellamy, April 16, 1730. He was, as were his ancestors before him, who resided in this vicinity, a farmer.

In 1738-9, Jan. 10, the town of Chelsea was incorporated, embracing in its boundaries Pulling Point. He attended and was admitted a member of the New North Church, in Boston, March 17, 1710-1. His three children, Mary, Han- nah, and Ann, were baptized there, May 20, 1711. Jonathan Bill died Oct. 19, 1761, aged 60 ; and was buried in North Chelsea. He left no will. John Tewksbury, of Chelsea, the husband of his daughter Ann, was appointed administrator

FIFTH GENERATION. 139

on his estate, Oct. 30, 1761, with Jonathan Belcher and John Sergeant as sureties. (Suff, Prob.- 59 : 176.)

The inventory of his personal property was as follows: Two wiggs, 20s. ; beaver hat, 26s. 8d. ; hilted sword, 40s. ; great Bible, 12s. ; books, 30s. ; 100 bushels of corn, at 3s. = £15 ; negro man, £13 6s. Sd. ; 32 ounces silver [plate], £10 3s. 4d. ; 100 best sheep, at 8s. = £40 ; 76 other sheep, 5s. 4d. = £20 5s. 4d. A schooner, tackle, and appurtenances = £50. Total, £276 18s. 5d. (Suff. Prob. 59 : 226.)

The appraisal of his real estate, made May 9, 1763, is as fol- lows :

£ s. d. Half a dwelling house in Chelsea . . 21 Half a barn and half a shop .... 11 118 acres of Upland at £6 8s. per acre 691 4 13 acres of Marsh at £112 per acre . 20 16 2 acres of Marsh at the bank ... 34 2-|- acres of Marsh above the dam . 7 10 2 acres and 60 rods at Cherry Island 12 13 4 4 acres and 100 rods at Hog Island . 24 13 4 A dwelling house in Boston .... 73 6 8 Half a pew in Mr. Eliots meeting house

in Boston 3 6 8

Total £S68 14 0

(Suff. Prob. 62 : 60, 61.)

The children of Jonathan Bill were:

253 Mary,6 b. June 4, 1730 ; d. in Chelsea, July 1, 1790, un-

married.

254 Hannah,6 b. Nov. 3, 1735; m. James Floyd, March 3,

1757.

255 Ann,6 b. Sept. 3, 1739 ; m. John Tewksbury.

256 Jonathan,6 b. Feb. 24, 1747. He was mentally infirm. Hannah Bill, the widow of Jonathan Bill, was married to

John Floyd, Aug. 24, 1763.

136.

CHAKLES BILL5 (Jonathan,4 Jonathan,3 James,2 John1)

140 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

a son of Jonathan and Ann (Allen) Bill, of Pulling Point ; born there, March 22, 1710-11 ; married Ruth Fuller, of Lynn, May 18, 1782. lie also resided at Pulling Point [Chelsea], where he possessed a handsome property, which had been left him by his father, but which, probably from careless management, must soon have passed from his hands. It is supposed he died prior to May 12, 1755, and that his widow, Ruth, with a portion of her children, removed to Woburn, near Boston. Their children were :

257 Charles,6 b. April 14, 1734.

258 Ann,6 b. July 10, 1736.

259 Jonathan,6 b. July 17, 1738 ; m. Mary Bentley, in Boston,

Nov. 11, 1762 ; he died Nov. 23, 1822.

260 f Benjamin,6 b. Nov. 17, 174] ; m. Elizabeth Watts.

261 Hannah,6 b. 174(3); m. Aug. 21, 1767, to

Joseph Hasey.

262 Susanna,6 b. Nov. 29, 1746; m. Seth Wood, March 7,

1769.

159.

SAMUEL BILL5 (Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Thomas,2 John1), presumed to be youngest son of Samuel and Sarah (Shapley) Bill, of Boston, was born July, 1720, and married first, Mary Davis, published June 18, 174.0. He married for his second wife Grace (Norcross) Crawley, July 12, 1769. She was born March 27,1724, and was the eldest of ten children of Philip and Sarah (Jackson) Norcross, of Newton. Her first husband, whom she married in 1744, was Gershom Hyde, of Newton. He died prior to April 5, 1756, and his widow, Grace, admin- istered on his estate. She had five children by this connection. In 1756-7, the widow, Grace Hyde, became the wife of Abraham Crawley, of Watertown. He died about 1768, having had by Grace also five children. [Bond's Watertown, pp. 188, 378.] The widow, Grace, was also appointed admin- istratrix on his estate, Sept. 6, 1768. Soon after this, as we

FIFTH GENERATION. 141

have seen, Samuel Bill married widow Grace Crawley, and he is now called " Samuel Bill of Dedham."

The names of Ebenezer Bill and Hannah (Bullard) his

wife, also Nathaniel Bill and Ruth his wife, appear as

residents of Dedham, between- the years of 1775 and 1839. It is supposed that these families were near relatives of the above Samuel Bill.

The children of Samuel Bill, known to us, are :

263 t Richard,6 b. .

263i f Nathaniel,6 b. in Roxbury; m. Jane (Damon?), of

Chelsea. They moved to Dedham, where they

died about 1837.

161.

ELIZABETH BILL6 (Richard,4 Samuel,3 Thomas,2 John1),

the daughter of the Honorable Richard and Sarah (Davis) Bill. She was born in Boston, Sept. 9, 1712, and was married Dec. 27, 1733, to Joshua Henshaw, Junior, by the Rev. Ben- jamin Coleman, of the Brattle Street Church, Boston.

Joshua Henshaw, Jr., her husband, was born in Boston, Aug. 3, 1703, and was the son of Joshua* and Maryf (Web- ster) Henshaw. He was a merchant of Boston, as was his father, and attained considerable eminence in public life. He was a Selectman of the town of Boston, also a representative to the General Court, and one of a committee to distribute a public fund of £3,000 among the sufferers by the Great Fire, in 1760-1. He was one of the Committee, in 1766, that waited on Governor Bernard in reference to the seizure of John Hancock's Sloop Liberty ; also one of a committee to instruct the representatives of the town in regard to the oppressive measures of the British Government, in 1769.

In 1768 he was chosen a member of the Executive Council, and at a later period took an active part with the many distin- guished patriots of those times in behalf of the rights of the people.

* This Joshua was the son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Sumner) Henshaw. t A daughter of James and Mary Webster.

142 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

He removed from Boston in 1771 to Leicester, and from thence to Dedham, and resided witli the family of Hon. Samuel Dexter, where he died, Aug. 5, 1777.

His wife, Elizabeth [Bill] Henshaw, was a noted lady of her time. Tradition informs us of her great beauty and grace of manners, of her gentle disposition and benevolent character, sharing with her distinguished husband the respect and confi- dence of all who knew them.

She inherited many of her father's nobler traits, and her life was an example to all. She died at Boston, whither she had removed after the decease of her husband, Sept. 2, 1782, aged 70 years.

It is related that at her marriage there were many of the most distinguished citizens present to do honor to the occasion ; also, that her bridal outfit had been imported from Europe, as well as her bridal presents, which were by no means insig- nificant or unimportant in those times, the chief of them being a complete and solid silver tea-service. One of these pieces is still in existence, and is, as believed, in -the possession of one of the Henshaw family living at or near Boston. Her portrait was painted, as is supposed from its appearance, prior to her marriage, and is in the possession of Mrs. Miles Wash- burn, who also has, as we have before stated, the original portrait of Hon. Richard Bill, the father of this Elizabeth.

The children of Joshua and Elizabeth (Bill) Henshaw were:

264 Sarah (Henshaw), b. Jan. 16, 1736.

265 Richard Bill (Henshaw), b. June 10, 1737.

266 Andrew (Henshaw), b. , 1751. He died in Boston,

Dec. 1782, without issue. At the special request of Sarah Henshaw, above, of Shrewsbury, Andrew Henshaw Ward, who was born there, May 26, 1789, received his name in memory of her deceased brother, Andrew Henshaw, and this accounts in part how he (Ward) came in possession of the two portraits of Richard Bill and that of his daugh- ter. Though it is true Mr. Ward married a Miss

o

FIFTH GENERATION. 143

Henshaw, what relation, if any, she was to the family of Joshua Henshaw we have not learned.

172.

JABEZ BILL5 (Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,2 John1), son of

Thomas Bill of Groton ; born about 1745. He was a Lieut, in the army of the Revolution, and at the close of the war he settled in the town of Hancock, Berkshire Co., Mass. He died in Yerona, N. Y.

His descendants, if any, are unknown to us.

173.

CHARLES BILL5 (Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,2 John'), a

brother of the preceding ; was born in Groton, in 1746, and married Rhoda Leffingwell, of Norwich, Ct. 1761, April 14, Charles Bill, son of Thomas Bill, being more than fourteen years of age, chose William French to be his guardian (New London Prob. Records, vol. 6, p. 132). We find him in 1773 selling lands in the town of New London. In 1801, he re- moved with his family to Meredith, Delaware Co., N. Y., where he continued to reside for a considerable length of time, but about 1825 he returned to Norwich, Ct., where he died soon afterwards. He had quite a large family of children, who were raised chiefly in Delaware Co., N. Y., at which place they remained after the removal of their father.

Their names were : 2 6 7 t Charles,6 b. ; m. Lydia Pratt.

268 t Andrew,6 b. March 6, 1775 ; m. Susan Smith.

269 Partl.enia,6 b.

270 Rhoda,6 b.

271 Eunice,6 b.

272 Clarissa,6 b.

273 Nancy,6 b.

174. WILLIAM BILL5 (Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,2 John'), a son of Thomas Bill of New London ; born 1748, in that portion of New London which is now known as Montville. He mar- ried Sarah Ashley, of Westfield, Mass.

144 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

In 1769 lie sells to Amos Bowles, of New London, two lots of land near the lands of Thomas Bill, for the sum of £153 2s. 6d. (New London Deeds, 19 : 269.) Soon after this date he removed to Washing-ton, Berkshire Co., Mass., where he spent the remainder of his life. In the "Documentary History of the State of N. Y.," Yol. 4 : p. 670, is a petition signed by William Bill and others, and dated December 3, 1770, entitled a Petition of the Inhabitants on the West side of the Connecticut River, in the Province of New York, to John, Earl of Dunmore, Governor of the said Province of New York.

He is said to have possessed a remarkable memory, and could repeat entire chapters from the Bible. He died Sept. 1832[4].

Their children were :

274 Sarah,6 b. about 1773; m. Thomas Kagwin, of Mont-

gomery, Mass.

275 Louisa,6 b. near 1775 ; m. Amos Haskin, of Washington,

Mass., where they lived and died.

276 fBeUV b. about 1779; m. Lydia Horton.

277 Anne,6 b. Aug. 5, 1781 ; m. Elisha Sibley, of Hinsdale,

Mass. They lived in Rush, Genesee Co., N. Y.

278 t Charles,6 b. April 11, 1783 ; m. Anna Grant.

279 t Jere,6 b. Feb. 2, 178g; m. Sophia Milliken.

280 Sophia,6 b. June 11, 1788; m. Dea. Henry Pitt, of Hins-

dale, Mass. She is living at this date, and has children : Charles, William, Cynthia, and Beulah.

. 182.

Capt. BENJAMIN BILL5 (Benjamin,4 Philip,3 Philip,0 John1), a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Davis) Bill ; born in Groton, about 1740, and married Sarah He[o]lmes.

We find on the Groton Town Records, vol. 10, p. -14, the following sale of land, viz.: Benjamin Bill, and Christopher Bill, his brother, of Groton, Aug. 13, 177S, sells to Daniel Knowles, of Charlestown, Rhode Island, lands in Groton, re- ceiving therefor the sum of £1,500.

FIFTH GENERATION. 1-45

This family lived in Groton, where he died March 17, 1813. Their children were :

281 t Benjamin,6 b. about 1705 ; m. Amy Ball.

282 t Philip,6 b. about 1767 ; in. Hannah Abell.

283 Richard,6 b. June 28, 1776 ; m. . He lived in what

is now known as Mystic, subsequently he removed to Pennsylvania, where he left but one daughter, who also died at about the age of 22 : unmarried.

284: Catherine,6 b. ; m. James Packer, of Stonington ;

they had several children, who are cousins of the well-known Hon. Asa Packer, of Pa.

285 Sabra,6 b. ; m. Joshua Smith, of Groton. This

family also removed to Pa., where they died.

286 Eunice,6 b. ; m. Hezekiah Abell, of Bozrah, Ct.

He was a grandson of Simeon and Lydia (Gifford) Abell, of Norwich. He died at Colchester, Sept. 30, 1854. They had two sons and five daughters. One of these, Hezekiah, m. May 8, 1834, Mary Ann Bill, of Franklin, and settled at Colchester, where they were living in 1859.

189.

SAMUEL BILL5 (Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Samuel and Hannah Bill, of New London ; born about 1715, and on May 10, 1737, was married to Martha Wheeler, a daughter of John Wheeler, of Long Island, New York. He received from his father, July 10, 1738, one-half of a piece of land that he had purchased of the First Society of New London. We find him selling, in 1744, to his brother Ephraim Bill, for £310, a house near Col. Salstonstal's land. Samuel Bill owned the " Covenant," and had his infant son Samuel bap- tized April 29, 1739. This family resided in New London. He died March 5, 1779. His widow, Martha, died July 21, 1785. Her wrill is dated New London, Aug. 11, 1780, in which she gives all her estate to her son Daniel, and daughter Mary Hempstead. (N. L. Prob. vol. 1, p. 179.)

The children of Samuel and Martha (Wheeler) Bill were :

146 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

287 Samuel,6 b. April 12, 1*739.

288 John,6 b. April 7, 1741 ; d. Nov. 27, 1 747.

289 Mary,6 b. Aug. 5, 1742 ; m. Capt. John Hempstead, Nov.

1, 1767.

290 John,6 b. March 13, 1747-8 ; d. June 19, 1756.

291 Elizabeth,6 b. Oct. 17, 1749 ; d. April 3, 1756.

292 t David,6 b. Oct. 2, 1751 ; m. Temperance Harris, 1776.

293 t Daniel,6 b. Dec 1, 1755 ; m. Joanna .

294 John,6 b. Sept. 14, 1757.

191.

Capt. EPHKAIM BILL5 (Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), youngest son of Samuel and Hannah Bill : born in New London, Aug. 15, 1719, and was married April 3, 1746, to Ltdia Huntington (born March 15, 1727), a daughter of Capt. Joshua and Hannah (Perkins) Huntington, of Norwich. She was of a very distinguished family, and for her pedigree we refer the reader to the " Huntingdon Family Memoir."

Ephraim Bill lived, when married, in a small one and a half story frame house on Shetucket Street, near the old bridge leading to Preston, where now is located the new iron free bridge, leading to Laurel Hill, formerly a portion of Preston, but now constitutes a part of the town of Norwich, having been set off from the town of Preston about 1860. This house where Ephraim Bill lived was afterward removed across the street. This building was for many years one of the old land-marks of Norwich. Before the Revolution it was occupied by Gen. Jedediah Huntington, and in 17S5 Jabez Huntington, his son, commenced business there, and since that period it has been used as a store by various mer- cantile firms until 1865, when it was demolished to make room for a more modern structure.

Capt. Ephraim Bill, having married the only daughter of Capt. Joshua Lluntington, inherited, through her, a piece of property at the " Point," the buildings on which have been leveled and the present steamboat freight depot takes their place.

During the war of the Revolution he was active and zealous

FIFTH GENERATION. 147

in the cause of his country and its defense, and was appoint- ed to the responsible office of military and marine agent of the colony of Connecticut, and in that capacity displayed great industry, integrity, and perseverance. Among many transactions reported in the history of that period are the following : —

In August, 1775, he was appointed, with Benjamin Hunt- ington, to oversee and direct the building of a Battery at Waterman's Point. In February, 1776, he was ordered to Saybrook, to superintend the ship-of-war "Defense," of 14 guns, that was being built there by the Colony ; orders were drawn in his favor, by the colonial authorities, to the amount of £550, to enable him to purchase and complete her rigging and outfit ; also a draft for £300, in his favor, to be expended on the ship " Oliver Cromwell."

He was also directed to take charge of the prize-ship " Sally " and schooner Hannah and Elizabeth, and distribute the proceeds. In his charge as military storekeeper he had large supplies of various stores belonging to the Colony.

His father-in -law, Joshua Huntington, conducted a large and successful mercantile business, as did his son-in-law, Ephraim Bill. They had a warehouse at Norwich Landing, and both were distinguished for their liberality and enterprise ; and doubtless the town of Norwich owes more to these two men than any others that business was made to center in that place, now so flourishing.

His name appears, in 1782, with a list of merchants who protest " against illicit traffic with the enemy."

A church, 37x40 feet, was erected at Norwich Landing in 1766, and Pew No. 12 was occupied by Ephraim Bill and Hugh Ledlie.

Among the interesting reminiscences of the town, he often related that, when he was a boy, he accompanied his father in a boat from New London to Norwich, on their way to Lebanon, to visit their relatives ; and at that time there were only two houses and one warehouse at the Landing.

148 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

As regards that branch of the family at Boston and vicinity, it was related by Capt. Ephraiin Bill, that during one of his annual visits to Boston, for the purpose of purchasing a suppl}r of stores, a fine-looking gentleman, dressed in red velvet and ruffled shirt, the fashion among the more noted people of those times who lived in the cities, came into a store where he was trading, and after a brief interview with the proprietor left. After his departure the storekeeper remarked : " I wished I had thought to have introduced you to the gentleman who has just gone out — it wras Mr. Richard Bill, one of our most influential merchants."* This must have been the Richard Bill whose portrait illustrates this volume.

We have seen from an account of his father, that he re- ceived a piece of land in New London as a gift, in connection with his brother Samuel, who also received a similar portion ; but after his removal to Norwich he sold, on July 12, 1748, this property to Joshua and Jane Appleton. (N. L. Deeds, vol. 11, p. 38; vol. 15, p. 111.)

1753, April 20. Ephraim Bill and wife Lydia sold to Elipha- let Dyer, of Windham, land wharfage at Norwich Point, west of Capt. Bushnell's wharf and warehouse, formerly belonging to Joshua Huntington, receiving therefor the sum of £150 : again, he and his wife sells for £1,961 lis., to Jabez Hunt, 75 acres on Hucklebery Plain ; also 30 acres at Salt Rock ; also land on Sawpit Hill ; and lands at New Hartford. (See Norwich Deeds, vol. 9, pp. 379, 172.)

His children married into some of the first families of the town, and their descendants are widespread and numerous.

He died Nov. 21, 1802, aged 83 years ; and was followed to his grave by a large number of mourning relatives and friends. His wife, Lydia (Huntington) Bill, died Sept. 23, 1798, aged 71 years.

We append a copy of his will.

In the name of God, Amen. I Ephraiin Bill of Norwich

* Mr. Edward Bill, of New York City, gave us this fact, as told him by his father.

FIFTH GENERATION". 149

in the County of New London state of Connecticut in New England, being well in health and perfect mind and memory, knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do think it convenient to make this my last will and testament which I do in manner following.

First and principally I give my soul to God its author, humbly beseeching his acceptance of it through the alone merits of my redeemer and my body to the earth for decent burial at the discretion of my friends.

And as to what worldly substance it has pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath in the following manner, after all my just debts and funeral charges are paid.

Item. I give and bequeath to my eldest son Gurdon Bill one half of my lott of land on the little plain, between the house of the Rev. Walter King and the house of Capt. Solomon Ingraham being the Northerly side of said lott to be divided from the rest of said lott by a line running from the road to the rear of said lott in such manner as to give him one half of the front and one half of the rear as nearly as may be to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my youngest son Silvester Bill one half of my lot on the little plain above described being the northerly side of said lot and to be divided from the other side of said lot by a line drawn in such a manner as to give him one half of the front and one half of the rear as nearly as may be to him and his heirs forever.

Item. To each of my children, viz. Gurdon Bill, Silvester Bill, Lydia Iiowland, Elizabeth Coit and Hannah Lathrop, I give and bequeath one fifth part of all my estate both real and personal save what is herein otherwise disposed of to them and their heirs forever, provided nevertheless they be all living at that time or in the case of the death of any or either of them that they leave children, in that case are to be con- sidered as the representative or representatives of their father or mother and to receive such part of my estate as their father or mother would have done if living but should any of

150 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

my children aforesaid die without children, then that part of

my estate bequeathed to him, her or them so dying without

natural heirs to go to my surviving children equally among

them or to their heirs in case of 'the death of any such of my

children who shall leave heirs.

Finally — I hereby constitute and appoint my loving sons

Gurdon Bill and Silvester Bill executors of this my last will

and testament, and do hereby revoke and make null and void

all other wills, heretofore made by me and confirm this to be

my last will and testament, in confirmation whereof I have

hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this seventh day of

October, One Thousand Eight Hundred.

Ephraim Bill. (l. s.) Signed, sealed and published

in presence of

Daniel Mix.

David Kevins, Junior.

The children of Ephraim and Lydia Bill were:

295 Silvester, b. Jan. 15, 1747; d. July 30, 1753.*

296 Lynde, b. Sept. 3, 1749 ; d. Aug. 6, 1753.*

297 Gurdon, b. Sept. 29, 1751 ; d. Aug. 6, 1753'.*

298 t Lydia, b. July 7, 1753 ; m. Joseph Howland.

299 Hannah, b. April 6, 1755 ; d. April 23, 1756.

300 t Gurdon, b. Aug. 26, 1757 ; m. Betsey B. Tracy.

301 Ephraim, b. May 31, 1759 ; d. at sea, Nov. 1780.

302 Abigail, b. June 18, 1761 ; d. Oct. 2, 1775.

303 t Zachariah Huntington, b. June 10, 1763; d. at sea, June

8, 1788.

304 William, b. April 19, 1765 ; d. at sea, Sept. 25, 1784.

305 t Elizabeth, b. May 11, 1767; m. Daniel L. Coit.

306 t Hannah, b. Sept. 21, 1769 ; in. Thomas Lathrop.

307 t Silvester, b. Aug. 1, 1771; m. (1) Mary King. (2) Mrs.

Mary Ferris.

195. ELISHA BILL6 (Philip,4 Samuel,' Philip,2 John1), the

* These children died of a malignant fever.

f. FIFTH GENERATION. 151

eldest son of Philip and Jane Bill, of Lebanon ; born in Groton, Feb. 7, 1719; married Ltdia "Woodward, June 25, 1741.

Pie removed with bis father to Lebanon in 1723, where it is supposed he spent his life.

1751, June 21, Philip Bill, for £S00, conveys to his son Elisha a tract of land " on the northeast side of my farm." (Lebanon Deeds, vol. 9 : 521.)

There are various records of purchases and sales of real estate, in which his name appears as either grantor or grantee. The date of his death is unknown. That of his widow oc- curred May 24, 1786.

Their children were :

308 t Calvin,6 b. May 8, 1745 ; m. Lois Gibbs.

309 Rachel,6 b. July 2, 1747.

310t Elisha,6 b. April 7, 1749; m. Christiana Baxter.

311 t Azariah,6 b. April 27, 1751 ; ru Elizabeth Daggett.

312 t Reuben,6 b. June 21, 1753; m. Amy Fuller.

313 Lydia,6 b. April 26, 1756.

314 Aaron,6 b. Sept. 10, 1759 ; d. Oct. 27, 1769.

196.

PHILIP BILL* (Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; born in Lebanon, Dec. 31, 1723; married at Hebron, March 4, 1747, to Mary Tildes. In the Hebron records there are various transfers of property with which his name is connected ; very little is however known of this family, except the fact of one child, whose name was :

315 Joel,6 b. in Hebron, April 14, 1748.

197. SOLOMON BILL6 (Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Philip and Jane Bill ; born in Lebanon, April 25, 1726 ; married Sarah Lizer, Jan. 19, 1761. We find him a resi- dent of Middletown, Ct., about 1788. He was put under arrest, and confined to the limits of the town. The exact reason of his arrest is unknown to us, but it is supposed to

152 THE BTLL FAMILY MEMOIR.

have some connection with the fact of his being a member of ■what at that time was known as the " Strict Congregational Church,"' the members of which had become more or less obnoxious to the inhabitants. His children were :

316 Asa,6 b. Aug. 2, 1761 ; d. March 22, 1780.

317 Sarah,6 b. Feb. 10, 1763; ra. Tristram Hall, of Rhode

Island.

-318 Mary,6 b. Nov. 8, 1764 ; m. (l) Joshua Buffum. (2)

Lane ; both of Salem, Mass.

319 Martha,6 b. Feb. 15, 1766 ; m. Obadiah Johnson, and lived

in Mexico, N. Y.

320 t John,6 b. March 28, 1769; m. (1) Fanny Rogers. (2)

Anna Star.

321 Lois,6 b. April 14, 1771 ; d. Sept., 1822.

200.

JONATHAN BILL5 (Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John'), a son of Philip and Elizabeth Bill ; born in Lebanon, Sept. 15, 1735 ; m. March 3, 1756, to Elizabeth Dunham. He was called Jonathan Bill, Jr., to distinguish him from his second cousin, Jonathan Bill, born Feb. 6, 1725-6, and son of John Bill.

After 1786, this family entirely disappear.

202.

SAMUEL BILL5 (Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; born in Lebanon, July 1, 1741 ; married tor his first wife Martha Goodwin, Sept. 25, 1756. For his second wife he married Sarah Mills (?), March 29, 1789. This family lived in Middletown, Ct.

His children were, by his first wife, Martha :

322 Jonathan, b. Aug. 15, 1767; m. Lucy Paddock, July 3,

1797.

323 Samuel,b. Dec. 25, 1786.

His children by second wile, Sarah, were :

FIFTH GENERATION. 153

324 Sally, b. June 5, 1789.

325 Polly, b. June 20, 1791.

326 Harriet, b. April 22, 1793.

203

JAMES BILL5 (James,4 Samuel,' Philip,3 John'), eldest son of Samuel and Mary Bill ; born in Lebanon, Ct., Dec. 31, 1717 ; m. Mary .

This family resided in Lebanon until about 1755, when they removed to Wantage, New Jersey, as would appear from the following deed, to which reference has heretofore been made. (See account of his father.)

1750, Dec. 14. James Bill, late of Lebanon, now of "Wan- tage, Sussex Co., N. J., for £400, quit-claims to Hezekiah Neweomb 100 acres of land in the village of Lebanon, for- merly belonging to my father, James Bill. (See Lebanon Deeds, 19 : 33S.)

He had the following children :

327 Anna,6 b. Nov. 23, 1744.

328 Azariah,6 b. April 15, 1748 ; baptized July 17, same year.

204.

JEDIDIAH BILL5 (James,4 Samuel,5 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; born in Lebanon, July 18, 1719: married Hannah Foster, April 10, 1740. It is supposed he removed with his brother James, above, to New Jersey.

His children, born in Lebanon, were :

329 Israel,6 b. Nov. 4, 1740.

330 Sarah,6 b. Jan. 81, 1743.

331 Dan,6 b. May 5, 1744.

332 Jedidiah,6 b. March 1, 1746.

333 Esther,6 b. Dec. 29, 1747.

208.

JONATHAN BILL6 (James,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of James and Mary Bill ; born in Hebron, Ct., August 3, li

154 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

1731 ; married Esther Owen, Aug. 1, 1749. After a brief residence in Lebanon, lie removed to Salisbury, Ct., where he died.

Their children were :

334 Mary,6 b. in Lebanon, May 6, 1750 ; m. Hezekiah

Colburn.

335 t Roswell,6 b. in Salisbury, Dec. 29, 1753; m. Rebecca

Burgess.

209.

SAMUEL BILL5 (Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son, as is supposed, of Ebenezer and Patience (Ingraham) Bill, of Lebanon, Ct. ; born in Groton, Sept. 25, 1719 ; was married Sept. 16, 1712, to Sarah Bond, at Hebron, a town adjoining Lebanon. She was born May 28, 1719. It is supposed that he removed with his father and his brothers to Nova Scotia, and afterwards returned to Connecticut, though we are not certain upon this point ; but we are certain that a few years prior to the Revolution he removed from the town of Hebron (where he had first settled after marriage), with all his children, to Gilsum, ~R. H., where he died.

1718, Jan. 28. Samuel Bill quit-claims 15 acres of land in Hebron, in exchange for other lands. (Hebron Deeds, vol. 3, p. 212.)

Their children were :

336 Samuel,6 b. in Hebron, Aug. 7, 1744 ; died young.

337 f Sarah,6 b. in Hebron, Jan. 30, 1746-7; m. Ebenezer

Kilburn.

338 t Elizabeth,6 b. in Hebron, Feb. 5, 1748-9; m. John

Rowe.

339 f Ebenezer,6 b. in Hebron, Jan. 19, 1750-1; m. Rachel

Root.

340 t David,6 b. March 2, 1753; in. (1) . (2) Susan

Locke.

341 t Patience,6 b. July 26, 1757; m. Gen. Daniel Wright.

342 Rachel,6 b. Jan. 7, 1760; m. Jonathan Church. They

lived in Gilsum, where he died April, 1826. She

FIFTH GENERATION. 155

died, same place, Jan. 3, 1841. They had children : Olive, Rachel, and Betsey. 343 t Samuel,6 b. Feb. 27, 1763 ; m. Lydia Mack.

215.

Lieut, THOMAS BILL5 (Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,1 John1), a son of Ebenezer and Patience (Ingraham) Bill ; born in Lebanon, Feb, 28, 1741-2 ; married for his first wife, Anna Phelps, Dec. 19, 1765. She died July 4, 1773. For his second wife, lie married Elizabeth Gagek, widow of William Gager.

He resided in the north part of Lebanon, which was then called " The Crank," now in the town of Columbia. It is reported that he removed with his parents to Nova Scotia ; if so, he could not have remained there long; indeed, there is some doubt as to his ever having gone there.

He was an Ensign in the Connecticut company at the battle of Bunker Hill, under the command of Gen. Israel Putnam. He was in " General Orders " commended for his great courage, and bravery in battle.

1779 Abijah Lincoln, for £2,000, sells to Thomas Bill lands he bought of S. Gary. His name appears very often in the Lebanon town records, but we have no space for them, as in themselves they seem unimportant.

He died in 1805, and of his family we have no account.

216.

ASAHEL BILL5 (Ebenezer4, Samuel3, Philip2, John1), a son of Ebenezer and Patience (Ingraham) Bill ; born in Lebanon, Ct., April 7, 1748.

He removed with his father to Nova Scotia about 1755, where he was married to one Mary Rand, a supposed native of that Province, though this is not certain.

Asahel Bill, soon after his marriage, settled on a magni- ficent tract of land in central Cornwallis, afterwards called Billtown. He was highly respected for his integrity of char-

156 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

acter and for Lis truly Christian life. By his industry and frugality he accumulated what was then considered a large property. His influence was always on the side of virtue and of truth. As such he was much beloved and honored in his life, and in death deeply lamented. His wife was a truly Christian woman, and trained her household in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Their children were :

344: Meltiah,6 b. ; died in infancy.

34:5 Asahel,6 b. ; died in infancy.

346 f Jonn Mahen,6 b. ; m. (1) Sarah De Wolf. (2) Jane

Bentley.

347 t Caleb Rand,6 b. ; m. Rebecca Cogswell.

34:8 t Sarah,6 b. — ; in. James Calkins.

349 Charlotte,6 b. ; d. in infancy.

350 Rebecca,6 b. ; m. Samuel Rockwell, and had eight

children.

351 t Mary,6 b. Nov. 25, 1794; m. Stephen Eaton.

352 Lavinia,6 b. ; m. Thomas Hemming.

353 t Ingram Ebenezer,6 b. Feb. 19, 1805 ; m. Isabella Lyons.

218.

SIMEON BILL5 (John4, John3, Philip2, John'), eldest son of John and Mary Bill; was born in Lebanon, November 8, 1723 ; married Maetha .

His father gave him by will a tract of land in Lebanon, which he afterwards sold to his brother Jonathan. (Lebanon Deeds, 7: 110.)

After his marriage he removed to Sheffield, Mass.

They had children :

354: Lucretia,6 b. Aug. 7, 1755 ; d. young.

355 Zilpah,6b. Sept. 3, 1757; m. Foskett, and removed

to Vt.

356 t Rosea,6 b. Aug. 22, 1759 ; m. Sarah Kellogg.

357 Zeruiah,6 b. May 13, 1763 ; m. David Ferry.

358 Adonijah,6 b. July 15, 17G5 ; died unmarried.

FIFTH GENERATION. 157

219.

JONATHAN BILL5 (John4, John3, Philip2, John'), a brother of the preceding; born in Lebanon, February 6,

1725-6, and was married, first, to Maky ; second, to

Phebe .

He was a large and prosperous farmer in Exeter Society, Lebanon.

There are eight transactions in real estate on record in which he figures, and which afford ample evidence of his prosperity, above referred to.

He died April 29, 1796. He was buried in the Exeter Society Cemetery, where his gravestone may now be found, with the following inscription : " In memory of Mr. Jonathan Bill, who departed this life April 29, 1796, in the 71st year of his age."

His children were :

359 Lucy,6 b. Feb. 25, 1752 ; m. Thomas Clark.

360 Joseph,6 b. Feb. 8, 1754 ; was a soldier in the Revolution,

and died on or near Lake Champlain.

361 f Jonathan,6 b. April 21, 1756 ; m. his cousin, Asenath Bill.

362 t Eleazer,6 b. Feb. 24, 1758; m. (1) Elizabeth Cole. (2)

Betsey Fitch.

221

JUDAH BILL,5 (John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John ), a brother of the preceding ; born in Lebanon, Feb. 6, 1730-1.

This son is called Judith in his father's will.

He was living in 1795, the date of his mother's will. He removed from Lebanon and is lost to us.

222.

JOHN BILL5 (John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; born in Lebanon, June 6, 1733.

He was living in 1795, though he had removed from Lebanon prior to that date, and his family are unknown.

1

158 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

225.

ELIJAH BILL6 (John,4 John,3 Philip,3 John'), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Lebanon, May 1, 1736, and married Patience Barber.

After selling his real estate left to him by his father, he was married and removed to Harwinton, Ct.

His children were :

363 t Ehjah,6 b. December, 1762 ; m. Nancy Scott.

364 Eliphalet,* b.

365 Comfort,6 b. ; m. Hezekiah Hubbard.

366 Mehitable,6 b.

367 Roswell,6b.

368 Mary,6b.

369 Sarah,6 b.

230.

AMOS BILL6 (James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Lieut. James and Keziah (French) Bill ; was born in Lebanon, about 1730, and married — - .

It is supposed, from the fact that Amos Bill and Jernsha Bill being witnesses to the execution of a deed of land given by Dea. John Newcomb to Jonathan Trumbull, that she was the wife of Amos Bill. Of course it is mere conjecture, yet it is quite probable that his wife's name was Jerusha.

He removed from Lebanon to the adjoining town of Colchester somewhere about 1760.

His children, as known from the Lebanon records, were .

370 Jerusha,6 bap. Dec. 17, 1758.- 1

371 Bethiah,6 bap. May 20, 1759.

It is quite likely he had other children, born in Colchester.

231.

PELEG BILL6 (James,4 John,3 Philip,3 John1), a brother of the preceding, Amos Bill ; was born in Lebanon, Jan. 8, 1733, and married Jkrusiia .

He lived in Colchester, where he owned a small tract of land, and was a soldier in the old French War, and was stationed

FIFTH GENERATION 159

near Lake George. No record of his death is found, but it is presumed he never returned from his campaign.

His widow, Jerusha Bill, was married to Lemuel Clark, of Mansfield, Ct., March 9, 1763. By this connection there were several children who stand related to " President Edwards," " Grace Greenwood," and others of note.

The children of Peleg and Jerusha Bill were :

372 Jerusha,6 bap. July 25, 1756.

373 f Abiel,6bap. June 18, 1758.

232.

Deacon JAMES BILL5 (James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John'), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Lebanon, Feb. 20, 1736, and married Asenath Norton, July 13, 1758. She was born Dec. 1, 1738, and was the daughter of the Kev. John Norton, of Middletown, of which Chatham formed at that time a part.

He lived in East Hampton, a parish in the town of Chatham, where he removed in 1763, to lands given him by his father in that year, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Dea. James was highly respected among his neighbors, and was a man of no little character. He was a Justice of the Peace for a considerable length of time, and was chosen a representative to the State Legislature twelve consecutive sittings of that body, commencing with the fall session of 1782. There were at that period two annual sessions.

He died July 25, 1823, aged 87. His wife died Jan. 2, 1810, aged 71.

Their children were :

374 Asenath,6 b. Nov. 13, 1759 ; m. Jonathan Bill (No. 361).

375 Lucy,6 b. Dec. 3, 1761 ; in. Apollos Arnold.

376 James,6 b. Feb. 4, 1764. He removed, it is supposed, to

New York, and represented Albany in the State Legislature, was afterwards County Clerk of Greene County in that State, and again he appears

1(30 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

as a Judge in Oswego County. We have been unable to get any trace of his descendants.

377 Elvira,6 b. Feb. 22, 1766; m. Eleazer Skinner. Died

in Steuben, N. Y.

378 Erastus,6 b. July 6, 1768; m. (l) Charlotte . (2)

Sally Hall. This family lived in Southwick, Mass. They had. a son Erastus,7 b. 180/, who m. L_ (2) Eliza Miller, and. lived in Westfield, Mass.

379 Norton,6 b. July 14, 1770; m. Sally Buell. He was a

young physician of great promise. Died Jan. 6, 1798, in Chatham, aged 27 years. She died April 17, 1794, aged 26 years. They had two children, Sally7 and Julius.7 He removed to Ohio, where he died.

380 Clarissa,6 b. Aug. 18, 1772 ; m. her cousin, Oliver Bill.

381 Achsah,6b. Nov. 1, 1774; d. July 8, 1775.

382 Achsah,6 b. Aug. 26, 1776; d. May 3, 1812.

383 Amos,6 b. June 9, 1779; m. Hannah Ingham. They

lived and died in Poland, N. Y.

384 Abner,6 b. Aug. 11, 1781 ; d. Dec. 27, 1809, at Canandai-

gua, N. Y.

The descendants of this large family of children are quite lost to us, and it seems incomprehensible that it should be so. We are informed by the town clerk of Chatham, that the " sons of James Bill have not resided in Chatham for about sixty-six years," or not since in 1S00. It must be that in the State of New York there are lineal descendants of some of these sons. Every effort was put forth to find them out, but without success. Perhaps of all the families we have traced, this is left in the most obscurity. "

233.

OLIYEK BILL6 (James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Lieut. James and Keziah Bill, and a brother of the preceding Dea. James Bill ; was born in Lebanon, Oct. 27, 1737, and was married to Martha Skinner, Sept. 3, 1763.

FIFTH GENERATION. 161

He lived in Goshen Society, Lebanon, where he spent a long and useful life, enjoying the respect and confidence of his townsmen.

He held many public offices, which we judge he must have filled with honor to his town and credit to himself. He held the position of Ti thing-man, Assessor, Highway Surveyor, Constable (for five years), Grand Juror, &c.

1707, April 13. Oliver Bill and others were allowed by the town to build a dam on the Great Brook coming out of the Great Meadow.

His father, in 1759 and 1763, conveys to his son Oliver parcels of land in Groton. (Lebanon Deeds, 10 : 91, 92.)

1773. Daniel Webster, for £50, sells to Oliver Bill 15 acres and 72 rods in Lebanon : also 5 acres on the road to Colchester. (Ibid., 12: 185).

He was buried in the cemetery, in Exeter Parish, Leb- anon, near the grave of his father and mother. His grave- stone has the following inscription : "In affectionate remem- brance of Mr. Oliver Bill, who died May 23, 1828, in the 91st year of his age." Close by is the grave of his wife, with this inscription on her gravestone : " In affectionate remem- brance of Mrs. Martha, wife of Oliver Bill, who died March 22, 1805, in the 63d year of her age."

The children of Oliver and Martha (Skinner) Bill were :

385 Martha,6 b. Jap. 10, 1765; m. Moses Clark. Died at

Grand Rapids, Mich.

386 Apama,6 b. Oct. 22, 17(36; m. Frederic Clark. Died at

Madrid, N". Y., 1857.

387 Betty,6 b. Feb. 27, 1768; m. Abner Clark. Died at

Madrid, N". Y., 1843.

388 t Earl,6 b. Nov. 5, 1770; m. (1) Sarah Jackson. (2) Olive

Baker. (3) Susan Johnson.

389 t Cyrus,6 b. Oct. 17, 1772 ; m. Eunice Taintor.

390 t Oliver,6 b. Oct. 29, 1774; m. Clarissa Bill, his cousin.

391 Jerusha,6 b. July 29, 1776; m. Dea. Nathaniel Johnson,

and resided at Trenton, N. Y.

162 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

392 t Amos,6 b. June 10, 1779; m. Clarinda Porter.

393 Lucy,6 b. May 30, 1 7S5 ; m. Joseph Ingham. She diet! at

Danbury, Ohio, 1818.

241.

ELIPHALET BILL5 (Benajali,4 John3, Philip,2 John'), the son of Benajah and Mary Bill ; born at " Lebanon Crank " [Columbia], August 25, 1750. He married Dorothy Marsh about 1772. She was born April 20, 1752, and was the daughter of Joseph [who was the son of Joseph and Mercy (Bill) Marsh] and Dorothy (Mason) Marsh, of Lebanon ; after- ward he removed to Hartford, Yt., the place of residence of Hon. Joseph Marsh, his father-in-law.

It is said that many families in Lebanon sold their farms and removed to Vermont about the time the Bev. Eleazer Wheelock founded Dartmouth College, at Hanover, N. H. This divine was for many years the pastor of the people living in the northern portion of Lebanon.

Mr. Bill was a farmer and a man of considerable note, and occupied several public stations of importance.

1778. He sells to Asa Aspinwall a farm of 70 acres near Dr. Lathrop and Dr. Story. (Lebanon Deeds, 13 : 58.)

There are several transactions in real estate on record in which he was an interested party.

Eliphalet Bill died at Cabot, Vermont, whither he had removed, September, 1825, aged 75. His widow, Dorothy, died at Orange, Vt., March, 1835, aged 83.

The children of Eliphalet and Dorothy (Mason) Bill, born in Lebanon, were :

394 t Benajah,6 b. near 1773 ; m. Hannah Udall.

395 f Eliphalet Mason,6 b. Sept. 6, 1775; m. Rhoda Pitkin.

396 t Mary,6 b. about 1777; m. Thomas White Pitkin.

397 Dorothy,6 b. about 1779; m. Olmstead Gates. This family

removed to Canada West; they had one son, Ogden' (Gates), who resides at Longueil, C. W. Children born at Hartford, Vt. :

398 Roswell,6 b. about 178- He studied medicine, and be-

FIFTH GENERATION". 163

came a practising physician in New Chester, 'N. H. He died in 1812, at his father's, deeply lamented.

399 Betsey,6 b. Dec. 8, 1791; m. (1) Josiah Fifield, Nov. 14,

1816. She was his second wife. He died at Albany, Vt., Oct 1, 1850. They had no children. She m. (2) Zenas Smith, May 9, 1858, and was also his second wife. They now live at West Topsham, Vt., having no children.

400 t Dyer>6 D- April 7, 1794; m. (1) Ruth Richardson. (2)

Ruth P. Coburn.

401 f Almira,6 b. Sept. 23, 1799; m. (1) Samuel Smith. (2)

[Amos Sanborn.

243.

JONATHAN BILL5 (Edward,4 Joshua,3 Philip/ John1), the son of Edward and Zervia Bill ; was born in Colchester, May 5, 1733 ; was married to .

He lived in either Chatham or Haddam.

He had at least one son —

402 t Daniel,6 b. March 9, 1758 ;Jm. Mindwell Brainard.

24 3.

PHINEAS BILL5 (Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Phineas and Mehitable (Woodworth) Bill, was born in that portion of Groton which is now Led}7ard, on September 8, 1751. He married Mercy Allyn, the grand- daughter, as is believed, of Robert Allyn, Esquire, one of the early settlers on the east side of the Thames River. She was born November 16, 1751.

He was by trade a cooper, and lived in what is now known as the ''Phineas Bill House," situate in the town of Ledyard. He inherited this property at the death of his father, in 1780. His occupation was, in those days, far more remunerative than that of husbandry, from the fact that the city of New London was largely engaged in the whale fisheries, thus creating an extensive demand for casks. The whaling business was for

104 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR

many years so profitable, that it absorbed, in various ways, the attention and labors of the surrounding population.

In 1818 he removed with his family to Palmyra, New York, where he afterwards lived upwards of twenty years.

In the account given of his grandfather, Joshua Bill,3 we related how we traced and obtained a knowledge of his old Family Bible, &c. We may properly add a word here rela- ting to it. This valuable and interesting relic was naturally left to the possession of this Phineas Bill5 by his father, Phineas Bill,4 since he continued to live where his father had lived and died, thus not only becoming the possessor of the homestead, but also of all the family papers and household relics, and it is not improbable that this Bible was left to him especially, since he was the eldest son. On his removal to Pal- myra he carried this treasure with him, and, dying before his wife, it came under her control, since he left no will. At her death, which occurred some four years subsequently, she placed it in the keeping of her grand-daughter, Sarah Caroline Allyn, the daughter of Park and Mercy (Bill) Allyn, in whose family she lived after the death of her husband, Phineas Bill.5 Thus we see how this ancient relic of the Bill family has passed from out the keeping of any bearing the family name. It is a precious relic, and the* writer hopes that, at some future period, it may be restored to the family, and ever kept among the male descendants as long as time shall last, for the reason that these things serve to connect the latest with the earlier generations, and link them together in memory. Nothing scarce serves so much among earthly things to hold the living to truth and virtue as some precious memento of dear ones departed, and this ancient relic above named is thrice hal- lowed in view of the birth and death of at least three genera- tions, unto whose lives it proved ever a joy and a consolation.

Phineas Bill died at Palmyra, January 25, 1839, aged 87 years, 4 months, and 17 days. His wife, Mercy (Allyn) Bill, died at same place, on April 11, 1843, aged 91 years, 4 months, and 25 days.

FIFTH GENERATION. 165

They had fourteen children, all born in Groton, but we have learned only the names of the following : 403 f Richard Dayton,6 b. Nov. 25, 1772; m. Tabitha Allyn.

4-0-4 Avery,6 b. , 1774 ; m. in Wilmington, N. C, which

place he made his residence. His occupation was a sailing-master. He died at Wilmington, Nov., 1811, aged 37. It is believed he left several chil- dren, the descendants of whom are scattered in various sections of the South. There was, during the war, a Lieut. Bill, taken %as a rebel prisoner, and for a time confined at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor ; at least, such was the published report, though we were unable to prove the fact, since the officers of the said fort refused to give any information.

It is known to the writer that, during his travels several years since in the eastern portion of Tennessee, he learned of a family of Bills living in the southwestern portion of Virginia. It is also known to us that, prior to the war, and while we were living at Louisville, Ky., we met there a Mr. Bill, who resided in Florida. We took his name and address, but in our removal from that city, in 18G1, the memorandum was lost, and the name cannot be given, but, possibly, this Avery Bill may have been the ancestor of the several families indicated above.

405 f Mercy,' b. Oct. 7, 1776; m. (1) Allyn Turner. (2) Park

Allyn.

406 Lucy Maria,6 b. 1779 ; d. in Groton, April 22, 1801.

407 Isaac,6 b. ; m. a widow, whose name is unknown.

He lived for a Avhile in Troy, N. Y., became very intemperate, and finally died at Hartford, Ct., about 1835.

408 t Nancy,6 b. Jan. 17, 1785 ; m. Eldridge Havens.

409 Benjamin Franklin,6 b. ; m. a western lady; re-

moved to Louisiana, as is supposed, where he died about 1840, leaving several children.

ICG THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

410 Tabitha,6 b. 1 7"90 ; d. May, 1794.

41 1 f David,6 b. ; m. Hannah Babcock.

249.

BENAJAH BILL5 (Phineas,4 Joshua,' Philip,2 John1), the second son of Phineas and Mehitable (Woodworth) Bill ; was born in Groton, June 29, 17G0, and was married in 1782, Jan. 17, to Content Park. She was born Feb. 4, 1761.

In the earlier part of his life he lived on what is now known as "Meeting-House Hill," in the present town of Ledyard, though formerly a part of Groton. He followed the trade of a cooper, as did his father and brothers. Later in life he removed to Lyme, Ct., about 20 miles west from his pre- vious residence, and there he engaged in husbandry.

He died at Lyme, May 22, 1812, in his eighty-second year. Content, his wife, died May 27, 1845, aged 84.

Their children, born in old Gi "*r,on, were:

412 Polly,6 b. Dec. 29, 1782 ; m. Nov. 3, 1803, Samuel Newton,

of N. H. had one son, Isaac Sherman

(Newton), b. Nov. 14, 1804. He is now living in or near Akron, Ohio.

413 t Lodowiek,6 b. Oct. 9, 1784; m. Betsey Geer.

414 Eunice Park,6 b. Jan. 27, 178S; m. S. Newton, widower.

415 t Alexander Tullius Franklin,6 b. Nov. 27, 1790 : unmarried.

416 t Sarah,6 b. May 7, 1793 ; m. (1) Amos Williams. (2) Jacob

Gallup.

417 f Elisha Satterlee,6 b. March 1, 179G; m. (1) Olivet Geer.

(2) C. L. A. W. Barber.

418 t Nelson Horatius,6 b. Sept. 24, 1798; m. Betsey Stark.

419 Park Allyn,6 b. July 1, 1801 ; m. Maria Barrows, of South

Mansfield, Ct. She was born April 17, 1798. They removed to Saquoit, Oneida County, N. Y., where they now live. No children.

420 Lyman Edgecomb,6 b. April 13, 1805; m. Nov. 5, 1828,

Maria Hugh, of Bozrah, Ct. They removed to Tennessee, where they still reside. They have had three children, one of whom is reported as

FIFTH GENERATION". 167

killed while fighting for the rebellion ; another lives in Memphis, who, during the war, visited the North, and foolishly boasted that his next visit would only be after the South should be recog- nized as an independent power. It is thought by some he will not be this way very soon ! The other is a daughter of brilliant mental powers, and a pleasing person. We learn she was recently married. Our letters of inquiry have never been answered by this family. 42 1 An infant, that died soon after its birth.

250.

JOSHUA BILL6 (Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,^ John1), the third son of Phineas and Mehitable (Woodworth) Bill ; was born in that part of the old town of Groton which is now Ledyard, on the 14th of May, 1762. He married Abigail Miner, who was born Dec. 15, 1759.

The life of Joshua Bill was not an eventful one, yet it can be truthfully said to have embraced many estimable traits of character. As a man, he was of a quiet and unobtrusive disposition, though not lacking in the elements of energy or force on occasion. His occupation and the demands of a large family on his time quite absorbed his labors and attention. In early life he learned the trade which was his father's, and this gave him and his family, together with agri- cultural pursuits, a good living. He settled not far from the place of his birth, about equidistant between it and "Meet- ing-House Hill " — a place before referred to — in the town of Groton [Ledyard].

He was a man of strictly temperate habits, and possessed fine social qualities and exhibited eminent Christian virtues. His home wras ever a cheerful and a happy one.

He was a soldier of the Kevolution, and was wrounded in the leg, while serving his country, by means of a cannon- shot, which caused him much suffering and trouble. In the later part of his life, through the exertions of his son, Gurdon

168 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Bill, a pension was granted him by the Government of ei^lit dollars per month.

He died on the 20th of December, 1S41, in the 80th year of his age, at the house of his son Gnrdon, in Ledyard, and was buried in the family burying-ground, on the farm belong- ing to his son above named. His wife Abigail died Feb. 14, 1839, aged 79.

Their children were :

422 t Guidon,6 b. Jan. 18, 1784 ; m. Lucy Yerrington.

423 t Sabrina,6 b. Jan. 14, 1786 ; m. Samuel Taylor.

424 t Sarah,6 b. Sept. 16, 1787 ; m. Robert Chapman.

425 t Phineas,6 b. Sept. 16, 1789; m. Fanny Gallup.

426 t Abigail,6 b. Aug. 29, 1791 ; m. Samuel Taylor.

427 f Betsey,6 b. Aug. 24, 1793; m. John Darrow.

428 Fanny,6 b. March 9, 1795; m. Jesse Bedent, of Poque-

• tonnock, a village situate on the northwest boundary line separating the towns of Ledyard and Preston. She died in about three months after her marriage, and was buried near her birthplace.

429 t Avery,' b. Oct. 1, 1796; m. Betsey Barnes.

430 Nancy,6 b. June 2, 1798; d. Oct. , 1799.

SIXTH GENERATION. 260.

BENJAMIN BILL6 (Charles,6 Jonathan,4 Jonathan, James,2 John1), a son of Charles and Ruth (Fuller) Bill, of Chelsea, Mass. ; wast born there, Nov. 17, 1741, and married 17G1, April 16, Elizabeth Watts, who was born March 9, 1742, the daughter of Richard and Sarah Watts, of Chelsea.

He was a resident of Chelsea, and died there prior to Aug# 14, 1774, at which time his widow, Elizabeth, w&a published to John Watts, to whom she was aftewards married. This John

SIXTH GENERATION. 169

Watts was lost at sea, and Elizabeth, the now widow of both Benjamin Bill and John Watts, died in Boston about 1828.

The only child of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Watts) Bill, so far as known, was :

431 t Benjamin,7 b. Jan. 19, 1762; m. Tabitha Nichols.

263.

RICHARD BILL6 (Samuel,5 Samuel,1 Samuel,' Thomas,2 John1), the supposed son of Samuel Bill,6 yet an unusual cloud of doubt rests on this supposition. There are one or two reasons for giving this person a place here. The contradictory statements and the faint recollection of his descendants, even with the grandchildren, with whom we have corresponded, tend to give great uncertainty as to the place of this Richard, yet it is our belief he belongs here.*

He married Abigail Kenney, the daughter of Dea. Moses Kenney, March 31, 1768.

Their children were :

432 t Gardner,7 b. near Boston, Sept. 19, 1773; m. Arpatia

Church.

433 f Davis,7 b. about 1775.

263L

NATHANIEL BILL* (Samuel,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,' Thomas,2 John1), the son of Samuel Bill ;5 born .

He married Jane (Damon ?), near Boston, and resided for a time in Chelsea ; they afterwards moved to Dedham, where they both died, about 1837.

They had three children, of whom we have the name of but one :

434 Jonathan Damon,7 b. June 22, 1790; m. Eliza Colburn,

Sept. 12, 1822, of Dedham, which was his place of residence. She died Nov. 21, 1851. He died

* Subsequent information leaves no doubt that this is the proper place for this Richard. 12

170 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

at Waltham, June 7, 1S64, and was buried at Dedham, by the side of his wife. They had six children viz. :

Lewis Augustus,8 b. July 3, 1824 ; m. Fanny Louise Hatching, of Hanover, N. IT., on Jan. 12, 1851. She died Nov. 14, 1863. They had children :

George Lewis," b. at Dedham, Oct. 17, 1851.

Mary Louise,9 b. at Dedham, April 27, 1854.

Fanny Eliza,9 b. at Dedham, March 27, 1856.

Charles Augustus,9 b. at Dedham, Dec. 24, 1857.

Henry Bradford,9 b. at Dedham, April 7, 1861.

Willis Abner,9 b. at Dedham, Sept. 4, 1863. On the 7th June, 1865, he married for his second wife Isabell Dawson, of Ste- wlack, N. S. By this marriage they have a pair of twins, viz : Edwin Lewis,10 b.

. July 4, 1866. Grace Gertrude,10 b. ) J

Mary Ann,8 b. at Dedham, Sept. 2, 1826; m. Feb. 1854, John "Warren, of Boston.

George Damon,8 b. at Dedham, Sept. 30, 1829 ; d. Oct. 11, 1840.

Charles Colburn,8 b. at Dover, Mass., April 28, 1833 ; m. July 27, 1854,VestaRyerson,of Paris, Me. They have two children, viz : Ella Gertrude,9 b. Nov. 27, 1856. Ida Estella,9 b. April 16, 1861.

This family resides at Waltham, Mass. He is a merchant at 87 Pearl St., in Boston.

Sarah Eliza,8 b. at Dover, Mass., Nov. 16, 1836 ; m. Jan. 18, 185S, Levitt Kingsbury Bon- ney, of Walpole, Mass. They reside at Waltham, Mass., and have one child.

Susan Bradford,8 b. at Dedham, Oct. 20, 1841. Resides at Boston.

SIXTH GENERATION. 171

267.

CHAELES BILL6 (Charles,6 Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,5 John1), the son of Charles and Rhoda (Leffingwell) Bill.

He married for his first wife Lydia Pratt, of Meredith, Delaware County, N. Y. ; his second wife was Cynthia French. He died in the city of Philadelphia.

The children by first wife were :

435 t Charles,7 b. June 26, 1803 ; m. Lois S. Woodworth.

436 t David,7 b. March IT, 1811 ; m. Louisa Kimball.

Children by second wife:

437 Charlotte,7 b. ; m. A. F. Mathewson, of Fort

Plain, K Y.

268.

ANDREW BILL6 (Charles,6 Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip.2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; born March 6, 1775, and married Susan Smith, born Sept. 4, 1780, and died March 5, 1847.

He died April 20, 1848. They lived in Delaware County, N. Y. Their children were :

438 Sally,7 b. Aug. 1, 1801 ; m. George Gilbert.

439 Susan,7 b. , 1804 ; ra. Mason Gilbert.

4-40 Juna C.,7 b. April 20, 1806 ; m. Leonard Avery.

441 Harriet M.,7 b. Sept. 17, 1808; m. L. Turrell. She died

1839.

442 Warren,7 b. March 27, 1810; m. July 4, 1839, Betsey

Pearsall. They reside near Bainbridge, N". Y.,

and have children :

Harriet M.,8 b. April 5, 1840; m. William B.

Main, of Galesburg, 111. George Herman,8 b. May 27, 1858.

443 Clarissa,7 b. March — , 1812 ; m. Thomas Burns, of Pa.

444 Marvin,7 b. | T„i„ * ^o^^ f He died young. She m.

», h. T , (

' \ July 7, 1814. \

ra,7 b. J ' (

445 Minerva,7 b. ) J ( Edmunds.

446 Mary,7 b. June 23, 1817.

172 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

276.

BELA BILL6 (William,6 Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of William and Sarah (Ashley) Bill, of Wash- ington, Mass. ; born in 1779, and married Lydia Hoeton, of Pittstown, N. Y.

They for a time resided at the latter place.

lie died at the place of his birth, May 2, 1865, and was buried in Hinsdale, the adjoining town.

Their children were :

447 f Alson,7 b. Dec. 16, 1800.

448 An infant, who died without name.

449 Clarissa,7 b. , 1805 ; d. Aug. 2, 1857.

450 Cyrus,7 b. May, 1808; unmarried; d. Nov., 1843, at

Washington, Mass.

451 t Lucinda,7 b. Dec. 25, 1811 ; m. Edward Cheeseman.

452 Charles,7 b. June 6, 1813; m. Almena Kent. They live

in Middlefield, Mass. 4:53 Orsemus,7 b. Sept. 7, 1815 ; m. Laura Nicholson, Dec. 27,

1847. They reside in Hinsdale, Mass. 454: f Marshall,7 b. Jan., 1818 ; ni. Susan Johnson. 4:55 Palmyra,7 b. July, 1822. Resides at Laona, HI. 4:56 f Charlotte,7 b. Nov. 8, 1824 ; m. Cyrus Messenger.

278.

CHAELES BILL6 (William,5 Thomas,4 Philip,' Philip,3 John1), the second son of William and Sarah (Ashley) Bill ; was born in Washington, Mass., April 11, 1783, and married Anna Grant, of Montgomery, Mass., Sept. 8, 1815.

He was a man of some poetic talent, as we learn. He wrote poetry with great ease, and had his advantages been more than what is picked up at country schools, he might have turned his attention wholly to literature with credit to himself. He certainly possessed fine natural talents, and for a while taught school.

He was a resident of his native town up to the time of his

SIXTH GENERATION. 173

death, which event was caused by the fall of a tree, in 1823, which he was cutting down.

The children of Charles and Anna (Grant) Bill were :

457 John,7b.

458 Charles,1 b.

459 William,7 b.

460 Sabrina,7 b.

46 1 Juliette,7 b.

279.

JEKE BILL6 (William,5 Thomas," Philip,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the above Charles Bill ; born Feb. 2, 1785, at Washington, Mass. ; was married May 19, 1814, to Sophia Milliken, of the same town.

He was famed as a school-teacher, having taught thirty terms, to the entire satisfaction of the public. There is evi- dence in the various members of this family of a high degree of literary culture.

His residence was in the town of his birth, where he died on 29th May, 1844. His widow died July 2, 1863, aged 71.

Their children were :

462 William Ashley,7 b. March 12, 1815; m. June 1, 1840,

C. Maria Clark, of Vt. He resides in Chicago ; where for many years he has prosecuted an exten- sive wholesale boot and shoe trade, under the firm name of Fargo & Bill. His firm was the first to introduce in the Northwest the manufacture of heavy boots and shoes. Since the war he has withdrawn from said firm and entered into the manufacture of leather; a large stock company having been formed for that purpose, of which he was chosen President. He has one -child only : Edwin Layton,8 b. June 20, 1847.

463 Henrietta Sophia,7 b. Aug. 12, 1820 ; m. Oct. 23, 1849, to

William Avery Wright, of Montgomery, Mass.

They have only one child :

Jere Bill (Wright), b. Sept. 24, 1851.

464 Polly Maria,7 b. Sept. 21, 1822 ; d. Oct. 17, 1842, aged 20.

174 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

281.

BENJAMIN BILL6 (Benjamin,5 Benjamin/ Philip,1 Philip2, John1), the eldest son of Capt. Benjamin and Sarah (He[o]lmes) Bill, of Groton ; born about 1765 ; married to Amy Ball, May 8, 1791.

It is supposed this family lived in Groton. They had one child, named —

465 Fanny,7 b. ; m. Feb. 3, 1822, Peter L. Hurlburt, of

Groton. They lived at Gale's Ferry, Groton, which, in the division of that town, in 1836, was included in Ledyard. They both died there. She died in 1866, having survived her husband several years. They had several children.

282.

PHILIP BILL" (Benjamin,5 Benjamin,4 Philip,3 Philip,1 John1), a brother of the preceding; was born in Groton, in 1767, and was married to Hannah Abell ; she was born April 15, 1773, daughter of Simeon and Lydia (Gifford) Bill, of Bozrah, Ct.

He lived for a while in Bozrah, afterwards in Franklin, an adjoining town. His occupation is supposed to have been that of a husbandman.

He died March 11, 1813, aged 46, and was buried in Boz- rah. His inventory, dated April 1, 1813, amounted to $3,048.30, including 68 acres of land. It is from this inven- tory that we learn he was a resident of Franklin. (Norwich Probate Records.)

His widow survived him 46 years, and died April 15, 1859, aged 86. They had children :

466 Benjamin,7 b. , 1798. Never married. He was a

merchant in Franklin many years, and acquired a handsome property. He died March 17, 1855, aged 57.

467 Martha Abell,7 b.

SIXTH GENERATION. 175

468 Mary Ann,' b. ; d. young,

469 t Elijah Abell,7 b. Aug. 18, 1804; m. Angeline Margaret

Hazard.

470 Mary Ann,7 b. ; ra. May 8, 1834, her cousin, Heze-

kiah Abell. They settled in Colchester, and had one daughter :

Hannah Bill8 (Abell), unmarried.

292.

DAVID BILL6 (Samuel,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,5 John '), son of Samuel and Martha (Wheeler) Bill, of New- London ; was born October 2, 1751 ; married Temperance Harris, in 1776.

This David Bill removed to Boston, where he was living in 1776, June 25. He removed from there, as is supposed, but to what place is unknown, except it be New London, where, it is believed, he had children :

471 Mary,7 b. about 1777.

472 f David,7 b. about 1779; m. Mary P. Gallagher.

293.

DANIEL BILL6 (Samuel,5 Samuel," Samuel,3 Philip,1 John1), a brother of the preceding; born in New London, December 1, 1755 ; m. Joanna .

He lived in Groton. He must have died prior to 1823, as at that time his estate was distributed to his heirs. His chil- dren were:

473 Patty,7 b. ; m. Orlando Hedden.

474 Jemima.7

475 Mary,7 ; m. Edgecomb. Had a daughter :

Mary Adelia8 (Edgecomb). (Groton Probate Records.)

298.

LYDIA BILL6 (Ephraim,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,5 John '), daughter of Capt. Ephraim and Lydia (Huntington)

176 TnE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Bill, of Norwich. She was born July 7, 1753 ; married Joseph Howland, of Norwich, May 26, 1772. He was born October 11, 1750.

Joseph Howland was for forty years one of the most enter- prising merchants of Norwich, and his name is identified with many of the early enterprises of that town. He finally removed to New York with his family, where his descendants have become eminent in the commercial circles of that me- tropolis. The names of " Howland and Aspinwall " are widely known in both hemispheres among business men.

He died at New York, March 11, 1836. She died there, May 1, 1838.

The children of Joseph and Lydia (Bill) Howland were :

476 Lydia7 (Howland), b. Oct, 3, 1773 ; m. Levi Coit, of Nor-

wich, Feb. 5, 1794. He was for many years a merchant of New York. He died Jan. 5, 1851. She died Jan. 7, 1852.

477 Abigail7 (Howland), b. Aug. 17,1776; m. George M.

Woolsey, Sept. 26, 1797. She died March 4, 1833. He resided in England the latter part of his life, and was interested in mercantile affairs.

478 Susan7 (Howland), b. May 20, 1779; m. John Aspinwall.

He died Oct. 6, 1847. She died Dec. 23, 1832. They were the parents of William H. Aspinwall,the present distinguished and benevolent merchant of New York. A brief outline of the career of this eminent descendant of Lydia (Bill) Howland will surely be welcome. He was, at an early age, placed in the counting-room of his uncles, G. G. and S. S. Howland, who were extensively engaged in a foreign commission business. His opportu- nity to become a thorough merchant was improved, and, in the retirement of his uncles, a new firm was formed, consisting of William Edgar Howland and William II. Aspinwall, under the firm-name of Howland & Aspinwall. They soon became a leading, prominent house, and were largely

SIXTH GENERATION. 177

engaged in the Pacific coast trade ; and on the opening of the California markets, and at the com- mencement of the gold excitement, they were among the first to enter this new field, and during the years that followed, fortunes were rolled in upon them. In 1848, Wm. H. Aspinwall retired from business, giving place to his son and cousin, who still continue the firm-name and business. His efforts and time, after withdrawal from the firm, were given to the Panama Railroad and Pacific Mail Steamship Companies, which companies were largely indebted to his perseve- rance, character, and firmness, in carrying them forward to a successful completion. The name of Aspinwall was given to the terminus of this railroad, on the Isthmus, in his honor.

At his New York residence he has a large and extensive gallery of paintings, to which, with his usual liberality, the public often have free access.

479 Joseph7 (Howland), b. Dec. 23, 17S0 ; never married ; died

Sept. 5, 1827.

480 Elizabeth Burt7 (Howland), b. Aug. IV, 1782 ; m. George

Brinkerhoff, Oct. 25, 1804. He was an eminent lawyer at the New York bar. He d. April 2, 1848. She d. March 4, 1857.

48 1 Harriet7 (Howland), b. Sept. 4, 1784 ; m. James Roosevelt,

Jan. 29, 1821. He died Feb. 6, 1847. She died April 18, 1856.

482 William Bill7 (Howland), b. July 28, 1786; d. Aug. 21,

1786.

483 Gardiner Greene7 (Howland), b. Sept. 4,1787 ; m. (1) Louisa

Edgar, Dec. 14, 1812. She died Aug. 26, 1826. (2) Louisa Meredith, July 7, 1829. He died Nov. 11, 1851.

484 Nathaniel7 (Howland), b. June 6, 1789; d. June 9, 1789.

485 Samuel Shaw7 (Howland), b. Aug. 15, 1790; m. Joanna

Hoj&e, Dec. 16, 1818. He died Feb. 9, 1853. She died Sept. 29, 1848.

1 78 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

486 Mary Ann* (Howland), b. March 13,1792; m. Ezra C.

Wooclhull, May 12, 1817. He died March 17, 18—. She died March 16, 1806. Mr. Woodhull was a lawyer of considerable repute, and was, at the time of the Astor Place riot, Mayor of New York.

487 Edward7 (Ifowland), b. Oct, 20, 1794; died Dec. 8, 1794.

488 Frances7 (Hovvland), b. Oct. 2, 1790; died Oct. 11, 1796.

300.

Capt. GURDON BILL*6 (Ephraim,6 Samuel,4 Samuel,' Philip,2 John'), son of Capt. Ephraim and Lydia (Huntington) Bill, was born in Norwich, Aug. 26, 1757; and married Betsey Backus Tkacy, Dec. 24, 1797. She was born March 20, 1781, and died July 31, 1847.

His early days were spent at Norwich, in procuring the elements of an education such as those times afforded, but as he grew up a spirit of adventure and the prospect of gain held out by a seafaring life tempted him to select that as his future occupation. Among the many voyages, we find re- corded the following. In November, 1784, he commanded the "strong built double brierantine Little Joe" — owned bv Howland and Coit, and named after Mr. Howland's son. In her he made a voyage to London. In 1785 he made two voyages to different ports in Europe in the ship " Centurion." In December, 1798, he sailed for the West Indies in the schooner " Hannah." She was seized by the French, carried into Guadaloupe, and there confiscated. He was an enterpri- sing and successful shipmaster, and contributed much to the revival of commerce, after the prostration caused by the Rev- olution, at the ports of Norwich and New London. He was an officer, a lieutenant of marines, in 1798, in the U. S. Navy,

* We give here a fac-simile of his autograph.

SIXTH GENERATION. 179

and the particular favorite of Commodore Truxton. Capt. Bill gave the name of this gallant officer to his eldest son.

In 1801, at the earnest solicitation of his wife, he abandoned his dangerous life on the sea.

His residence was in a house standing on the " Point ;" has since been taken down to give place to railroad uses.

An incident of his life is related by his family, that whilst at sea, during the troublesome times about 1798, he was taken prisoner by the French. On entering his place of confinement, the first person he met was Jesse Breed, his townsman and near neighbor in Norwich. They managed to escape, and met again under very peculiar circumstances ; — going to Paris, they were relieved and sent home by the American Minister.

He took an active and leading part in all matters tending to the education of the young.

The Chelsea Grammar School, organized in 1806, and incorporated in 1821, situate in Norwich, was chiefly indebted to his exertions that it had an existence. The original pro- prietors of this school, who purchased the land and built the house, were: Gurdon Bill, Jabez Huntington, Dwight Ripley, Charles Rockwell, James Lanman, and ten others. He was a member of the Society of Cincinnati, of which Gen. Wash- ington was President and Gen. Knox Secretary.* He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

His course of life was exemplary, and he left a good name as an inheritance to his children. He lived at a time when men worked hard, and were satisfied with gaining the neces- saries of life, and did not waste their gains on luxuries. He was a devoted husband and father, and his loss was much felt by all.

He died at Norwich, March 6, 1815. After his death his widow married Jonathan Little.

The children of Gurdon and Betsey Bill were :

* Dr. Joseph Howland Bill, of Philadelphia, of the U. S. Regular Army, has the original certificate of his membership in his possession.

180 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

439 William Truxton,7 b. March 10, 1799; d. at sea, Nov., 1825.

490 George Washington,7 b. Dec. 9, 1801; d. at sea, Nov.,

1825.

491 t Henry,7 b. June 10, 1804; m. Letitia H. Smith.

492 t Lydia Huntington,7 b. March 18, 1806 ; m. Rev. Samuel

Seabury.

493 t Mary Elizabeth,7 b. Jan. 18, 1808 ; m. William A. Jones.

494 t Joseph Howland,7 b. March 18, 1810; m. Caroline Day.

495 Abby Woolsey,7 b. March 27, 1812; d. April 9, 1812.

496 Leonard Tracy,7 b. Sept. 4, 1814; d. at San Francisco,

Nov. 17, 1856.

303.

Capt. ZACHAEIAH HUNTINGTON BILL6 (Ephraim/

Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing; born June 10, 1763, and was never married.

" In August, 1785, the sloop Lydia, Zachariah Bill, master, was wrecked in a gale near St. Martin's; vessel and cargo lost, and one man drowned. Aug. 22, 1788, the brig Narcissa arrived at Norwich from the coast of Africa, Zachariah Bill late master. Four days from the African coast, Capt. Bill died." (Miss Caulkins' Hist, of Norwich, 1866, p. 493.)

He died at sea, June 8, 1788, aged 25.

305.

ELIZABETH BILL6 (Ephraim,6 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,' John1), a daughter of Capt. Ephraim and Lydia (Huntington) Bill, of Norwich, was born May 14, 1767, and married Daniel Lathrop Coit, of Norwich, Nov. 23, 1786. He was born Sept. 20, 1754, at New London.

In earlv life Daniel L. Coit went to Norwich to reside, and was placed in a drug-store with his uncle.

After a few years he was admitted a partner, under the firm name of "Lathrop & Coit." He continued to do busi- ness for many years there. After his retirement from business he devoted himself to the education of his children, to the

SIXTH GENERATION. 181

employments of agriculture, and the pursuits of science, for which he had a natural taste. He was a man of large infor- mation and distinguished intelligence. He was indeed one of the sterling men of his time.

His residence in the upper part of Norwich was adorned by two beautiful elms in its front, planted by Capt. Erastus Perkins, in 1754, and long reckoned among the old land-marks of the town. These venerable elms are now standing, in 1867.

He died at Norwich, Nov. 27, 1833. His widow, Eliza- beth, died there, March 7, 1846.

The daughters of this family were uncommonly fortunate in their marriage connections.

Their children were:

497 Daniel Wadsworth7 (Coit), b. Nov. 29, 1787 ; m. Hannah

F. Coit.

498 Lydia7 (Coit), b. Aug. 25, ]789; m. in 1811, James L.

Kingsley, Professor in Yale College. She died 1861.

499 Henry H.7 (Coit), b. June 17, 1791 ; m. Mary Breed, of

Norwich, in 1819.

500 Maria7 (Coit), b. June 13, 1793 ; m. in 1823, Pelatiah Perrit,

long an eminent merchant in New York, and for many years was the President of the Chamber of Commerce of that city. . He was a very distin- guished man, and was well known for his large benevolence and great kindness of heart. During one of the visitations of cholera in New York, he voluntarily placed himself on the committee to visit the sick, and care for their wants and relieve their necessities. He died in New Haven, Ct., in 1865.

501 Eliza7 (Coit), b. Aug. 23, 1796 ; m. in 1820, William Coit

Gilman, of Norwich, well known for his many virtues and eminent Christian character. He has a grandson, Daniel Coit Gilman, a Professor in Yale College, and well known in the world of letters.

502 Joshua7 (Coit), b. Aug. 25, 1800; never married.

1S2 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

306.

HANNAH BILL*8 (Ephraim,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,' John1), a sister of the foregoing ; was born Sept. 21, 1769, and married Sept. 21, 1791, to Thomas Lathrop, of Norwich.

He was an old resident of Norwich. His agreeable man- ners and social qualities emphatically pointed him out as one of the " gentlemen of ye olden time." He resided in one of the finest situations in the town, was blessed with affluence, and did much to relieve the destitute. He spent a quiet and

peaceful life, and died . She died a widow, at

Norwich, Jan. 27, 1862, aged 92 years, having survived her husband many years.

The children of Thomas and Hannah (Bill) Lathrop were :

503 Lydia Austin' (Lathrop), b. Sept. 21,1792 ; m.May7,1816,

Aaron Porter Cleveland, of the firm of Salisbury & Cleveland, importers of Boston. He is believed to have been a native of Ct. They had one son, Tliomas Lathrop8 (Cleveland) ; he is m. and resides at Batavia, 111.

504 Mary7 (Lathrop), b. Oct. 14, 1795; d. at Bethlehem, Pa.,

July 31, 1809, while attending school.

505 Emily7 (Lathrop), b. July 30, 1798; m. George Lathrop

Perkins, June 1, 1819. They had children : Mary Lathrop8 (Perkins), b. Aug. 30, 1820, d.

March 14, 1842. George Perit8 (Perkins), b. Oct. 14, 1S22; d.

Aug. 10, 1849. Thomas Hezekiah8 (Perkins), b. Aug. 14, 1834;

m. Elizabeth S. Lusk, July 14, 1802. Emily Newton' (Perkins), b. Oct. 11, 1836.

* We attach an exact copy of the autograph of Mrs. Hannah (Bill) Lathrop.

A*ie*4l^lZ^fe,4^

SIXTH GENERATION. 183

506 William7 (Lathrop), b. June 1, 1801; m. Jerusha Gil-

christ. He died Sept. 13, 1825 ; leaving three children.

507 Hannah Gardner7 (Lathrop), b. March 9, 1806; m. Oct.

19, 1825, to George B. Ripley. He was a promi- nent citizen of Norwich, where he died in 185 — . They had children :

William Lathrop8 (Ripley), b. April 30, 1827. Dwight8 (Ripley), b. June 8, 1829. Hannah Lathrop8 (Ripley), b. Nov. 14, 1830. Harriet8 (Ripley), b. Sept. 6, 1832. James Dickinson8 (Ripley), b. Nov. 14, 1837. George Coit8 (Ripley), b. Aug. 24, 1839. Emily Lathrop8 (Ripley), b. June 15, 1841.

307.

Capt. SILVESTER BILL8 (Ephraim,* Samuel,4 Samuel,' Philip," John1), the youngest son and child of Capt. Epliraim and Lydia (Huntington) Bill ; was born at Norwich Landing [Norwich], Aug. 1, 1771, and married for his first wife, Mary Kino, Oct. 29, 1797. She was born Dec. 27, 1776 ; daughter of Capt. Thomas and Susanna King, of Norwich.

At an early age, he was for a short time a clerk with Mr. Thomas Fanning, in a store somewhere between the town and the " landing." His employer induced him to remove to Charleston, S. C, and from there he went to the interior of the State and took charge of a plantation.

After remaining there a while, he found that the business and the people with whom he had to associate were neither suited to his tastes or habits, and he returned to his native place. At that period a large trade was carried on by the merchants of Norwich and New London with the West India Islands ; and, following the example of his father and brothers, he commenced a seafaring life. As soon as he became capable he was placed in command of different vessels, at different times. As mate of a ship he was in France during the great excitement of the French Revolution, when the

184 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

news arrived from Paris of the death of Robespierre ; and again, as captain of the armed ship "Hope," it was his fortune to be at Jeremie, St. Domingo, when the blacks revolted, and massacred a large portion of the white inhabitants on the island. He was instrumental in saving many persons and their effects. In 1804 he removed to Troy, IN". Y., where he resided several years. On the 23d January, 1809, his wife, Mary, died, and in the succeeding winter the hotel in which he was interested was burnt : this changed his plans of life, and induced him to again seek his fortune on the ocean. At the breaking out of the war in 1812 he was at Bahias, in Portugal, anxious to return home. The sloop-of-war "Hornet" came off that port, and being in want of a sailing-master, the situation was offered him and accepted. His knowledge of the coast was important, and a prize was made shortly after. He was detailed to take command of her, and endeavor to take her safely home. In this he was successful, and soon after joined his ship, while on her return voyage. The " Hornet " attempted, after her arrival, to go to sea with the frigate " Macedonian " and other vessels, through Long Island Sound, but, meeting a superior British fleet, were driven into New London harbor, and up the river Thames to Allyn's Point, where, on the east side of the river, on a commanding hill, a defensive batter v was erected.*

After the war was over he settled in New York, and was married to the widow Mary Ferris.

In 1814 he went south, and located at Blakely, Ala., and at Pensacola and Mobile. About 1S30 he returned to New York. His second wife died on the 16th March, 1839, and he soon after removed to New Brunswick, N. J. There he spent the remainder of his life. Old age with its attendant evils came quietly upon him, and his system gradually gave way, till he died on the 16th Jan., 1862, in the full possession of his mental faculties, and in the 91st year of his age. His remains rest in Greenwood Cemetery.

* Miss Caulkius' History Norwich, pp. 482, 499.

SIXTH GENERATION. 185

His life was one of persevering industry and integrity, and although not marked by any great event, yet was he blessed with the assurance of having at all times acted from a sense of duty, ever keeping in mind the golden rule, of doing unto others as he would have them do to him.*

His first wife, and the mother of his children, Mary (King) Bill, was a lady of pleasing address and affable manners — an exemplary and warm-hearted friend, a devoted daughter and mother, and a loving, affectionate wife. In the prime of life and in the midst of her usefulness she was suddenly taken from her young family, to their irreparable loss. The follow- ing are extracts from a touching obituary notice which ap- peared in one of the Troy papers, shortly after her death : —

" Few instances of mortality excite more sympathetic sorrow than the late sudden death of Mrs. Bill. Her character was such as friendship delights to contemplate — 'it is like the recollections of the days that are past, sweet, yet mournful to the soul ' — and the loss society sustains in her death will long be remembered.

"To her personal attractions and native elegance of man- ners were united a mind cultivated by education, and an unaffected sensibility and benevolence of heart which embel- lished rather than fascinated society, and gave her the true friendship of a numerous acquaintance. Her attention was ever called to the complaints and necessities of the wretched. Few have ever lived who held higher claims to their blessing.

" Blessed spirit, thou art at rest. — ' No angel arm could save thee from the grave ; legions of angels can't confine thee there.' No more shall we hear thy voice, no more awake at thy call. Farewell ! future time shall hear of thee."

The children of Silvester and Mary (King) Bill, born at Norwich, were :

* We attach herewith an exact copy of his autograph, at middle life.

13

186 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

508 Thomas King,7 b. July 18, 1799 ; d. Nov. 30, 1799.

509 Thomas King,7 b. Oct. 29, 1800; d. Aug. 2, 1801.

510 t Edward,7 b. Nov. 5, 1801 ; m. Margaret Everingham.

511 f Alfred,7 b. Dec. 25, 1803; m. (1) Camilla Livingstone. (2)

Gertrude L. Farmer.

512 Harriet,7 b. Oct. 6, 1805 ; d. Sept. 24, 180G.

513 Harriet,7 b. March 22, 1807 ; d. Oct. 13, 1808.

335.

Capt. ROSWELL BILL8 (Jonathan,6 James,4 Samuel,8 Philip,2 John1), the son of Jonathan and Esther (Owen) Bill ; born in Salisbury, Ct,, Dec. 29, 1 753 ; was married Nov. 20, 1777, to Rebecca Burgess, born Aug. 11, 1758, daughter of William and Eunice (Putnam) Burgess, of Windham, Ct.

He removed to Hampton, Ct., in early life, in that part now included in Chaplin. He enlisted in the war of the Revolution, was honorably discharged, and was afterwards commissioned a Captain in the State Militia of Ct.

His family were, with two exceptions, all baptized, Sept. 25, 1799.

He spent his life at the above place, where he died, Oct. 13, 1830, aged 77. His w7idow, Rebecca, died in Braintree, Yt., Jan. 17, 1834.

■

Their children were :

514 Eunice,7 b. Jan. 17, 1779; m. Rev. Ammi Nichols, Oct.

15,1 807. They removed to Braintree, Yt., where she died in 1860. He is still living, 1866 ; and is

perhaps the oldest, or one of the oldest clergymen

in New England.

515 f Elisha,' b. Jan. 31, 1782 ; m. Betsey Trowbridge.

516 Hannah,7 b. July 26, 1784; m. Perley Wilson, Oct, 23,

1806. They removed to Williamstown, Yt, ■where she died, Oct. 21, 1826. They had four children.

517 Amanda,7 b. Jan. 21, 1788; m. Samuel Belcher, Jan. 12,

SIXTH GENERATION. 187

1812. She d. in Brookfield, Vt., April 24, 1822. Left three children.

518 Esther,7 b. March 24, 1791; m. (1) Ezra Clark. They

lived in Chaplin. They had five children, one of whom was Rev. Allen Clark, who died in Windham, Ct., about 1850. The youngest son, Dr. Rufus B. Clark, is a physician of note in Racine, Wis. She m. (2) Samuel Freeman ; they had one child. She d. in Vt., Jan. 7, 1842.

519 f Rufus,7 b. Feb. 26, 1794 ; m. Betsey Fisk.

520 t Roswelh7 b. May 25, 1797 ; m. Olive Ross.

308.

. CALVIN BILL6 (Elisha,5 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John'), the eldest son of Elisha and Lydia Woodward Bill, of Lebanon, was born there, May 19, 1745 (N. S.), and married, in 1769, Lois Gibbs, who was born on Cape Cod, April 22, 1748.

They removed to Wilmington, Vt., about 1771, settling •there on a farm, where they resided to the time of their death. He died Oct. 10, 1817. She died Nov. 8, 1830. They had one child born at Lebanon :

521 t Aaron,7 b. Nov. 16, 1770; m. Silence Davis. Children born at Wilmington :

522 t Hiram,7 b. June 12, 1773 ; m. Virtue Ball.

523 t Isaac,' b. March 19, 1776 ; m. Lucy Dix.

524 t Artemus,7 b. Aug. 31, 1778; m. Mary Crocker. 525tLois>7b- ^Pt- 17> 1781 ; m. (1) Apolios Lincoln. (2)

Joseph Snow.

526 Mercy,7 b. Aug. 6, 1784 ; m. John Envin. They lived in

Pittsfield, Mass., where she died, Dec. 17, 1825. They had 7 children.

527 Phebe,7 b. Oct. 24, 1788 ; d. March 17, 1810, unmarried.

310.

ELISHA BILL 6 (Elisha,6 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Elisha and Lydia (Woodward) Bill, of Lebanon, was

18S THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

born there, April IS, 1749 (K S.), and married Christiana Baxter, born June 1, 1752.

This family lived, up to 1801, in Hebron ; after this they removed to Hartwick, Otsego County, 1ST. Y., -where he died, Dec. 4, 1S44, aged 95.* His wife, Christiana, died June 18, 1841, aged 89.

Their children were :

528 t Alanson,7 b. April 13, 1774 ; m. Electa Hill.

529 Reuben,7 b. Oct. 1, 1775 ; d. in infancy.

530 Persis,7 b. Aug. 18, 1777 ; m. (1) Solomon Curtis. (2) Isaac

Edson. She d. Dec. 22, 1822. They had : Van Rensaleers (Curtis), Solomon8 (Curtis), Isaac8 (Curtis).

The children by Edson were :

Alonzo8 (Edson). Also, two twin sons, names unknown.

531 Elisha,7b. March 30, 1780.

532 Zelotes,7 b. Oct. 5, 1782.

533 Polly,' b. April 13, 1786 ; d. Nov. 25, 1859.

534 Harvey,7 b. May 16, 1789 ; m. Lucy French. He d. April

25, 1856. They had : Zelotes,8 b.

George Washington,8 b. Harvey,8 b. Douglas,8 b Matilda,8 b.

535 Electa,7 b. May 14, 1792 ; m. Moses Luther, and lived in

Otsego County, N. Y. She d. Jan. 15, 1865.

They had :

Martha8 (Luther), deceased.

* This Elisha Bill and his brother Azariah Bill added the letter s to their names, and this has been continued by their descendants, for the most part. Their brother, Calvin Bill, continued the original name in his family, and so instructed his children, considering the use of the « as unwarrantable.

SIXTH GENERATION. 189

Polly Juliet3 (Luther), deceased.

Thirza Deidamia8 (Luther,) deceased.

Rachel Ann8 (Luther), deceased.

Harriet Eliza8 (Luther), hl and lives in Milford,

N. Y. Cynthia Amanda8 (Luther), m. and lives in

Oneonta, N. Y.

311.

AZARIAH BILL6 (Elisha,5 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding, was born in Lebanon, April 27, 1751, and married on Feb. 16, 1775, to Elizabeth Daggett. She was born in 1750.

His life was chiefly spent in Lebanon, his native town, though for a number of years he lived in Hebron, but finally removed to Columbia, north of Lebanon. He was a man much respected, and for several years filled the offices of grand juror, collector, &c. He died Jan. 31, 1829, aged 78. His widow died Dec. 3, 1844, aged 94. Her mother is said to have lived to be one hundred years old and over.

The children of this family were :

536 Cynthia,7 b. May 22, 1776 ; d. Aug. 1, 1780.

537 Betsey,7 b. March 8, 1779.

538 Aaron,7 b. March 22, 1781 ; m. Sally S . They had :

Sally,8 Lydia,8 and Caroline.8

539 Cynthia,7 b. May 1, 1783 ; m. Dudley Williams.

540 t Eleazer,7 b. Sept. 14, 1785; m. Nancy Richardson.

541 Lydia,7 b. May 11, 1788 ; m. William Hazard.

542 Horace,7 b. May 10, 1791 ; d. April 23, 1793.

312.

REUBEN BILL6 (Elisha,6 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding, was born in Lebanon, June 21,1753 ; married for his first wife Amy Fuller. His second wife's name is unknown to us.

His children by first wife were :

190 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

543 Delilah,7 b.

544 Cynthia,' b.

545 Aaron,1 b.

546 Amy,7b.

547 Lydia,1 b.

Children by the second wife :

548 "Reuben,7 b.

549 Lucinda,7 b.

320.

JOHN BILL6 (Solomon,5 Philip,4 Samuel,' Philip,2 John'). a son of Solomon and Sarah Bill, of Middletown, was born there, March 28, 1769 ; was married to his first wife, Fanny Rogers, in June, 1794. She was born in 1778, and died Aug. 24, 1822. His second wife, Anna Stakr, he married Oct. 1828.

He resided at the place of his birth till late in life, when he removed to Ohio, where he died in 1844, aged 75.

His children, by first wife, were :

550 Hannah,7 b. March 9, 1795 ; m. Stebbins Johnson, in 1813.

They moved to Ohio and finally to Mo., where they died. They had William B.8 (Johnson), a phy- sician ; Sarah Wells3 (Johnson), and three others.

551 f John,7 b. Nov. 15, 1796; m. Clarissa Gilman.

552 Fanny,7 b. Oct. 3, 1798 ; d. in infancy.

553 Maria,7 b. , 1800 ; burned to death in 1811.

554 f Fanny,7 b. June 4, 1802; m, Ezra L. H. Chamberlain.

555 t Asa Gilbert,7 1>. June — , 1804 ; m. (1) Julia A. Bailey.

(2) Ada Crowell.

556 f Martha,7 b. Dec. 22, 1806; m. Jacob R. Chamberlain.

557 t Joseph Rodgers,7 b. Aug. 17, 1808; m. (1) Sophia L.

Austin. (2) Mary Taylor.

558 Almira,7 b. Feb. — , 1811 ; d. iu childhood.

559 f Henry W.,7 b. , 1813 ; m. Harriet Eliza Butler.

560 Maria,7 b. , 1815 ; d. in infancy.

561 t Frederic,7 b. Oct. — , 1810; m. Charlotte Baden.

562 f Mary Ann,7 b. Feb. 6, 1819 ; m. Ezra L. H. Chamberlain.

563 Sarah Jane,7 b. Feb. — , 1821 ; d. in infancy.

SIXTH GENERATION. 191

Children by second wife :

564 Alinira,7 b. , 1829 ; d. in infancy.

565 Almira,7 b. , 1833 ; d. in childhood.

337.

SAKAH BILL* 6 (Samuel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,8 Philip,2 John1), the eldest daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Bond) Bill, of Hebron, where she was born, Jan. 30, 1746-7. She married Capt. Ebenezer Kilbourn, of Hebron.

He was a captain in the Revolution and was in the battle of Bennington, where he acquired considerable character for bravery and coolness in confronting danger. He was a large and powerful man, and noted especially for his great strength.

Sarah Bill was his second wife, and the mother of all his children, as is supposed. His home was in Gilsum, N. II., where all his children were born.

The children of Ebenezer and Sarah (Bill) Kilbourn were :

566 Ebenezer7 (Kilbourn), m. Eunice White, of Keene, N. H.

567 Lydia7 (Kilbourn), m. Nathan Nye, of Randolph, Vt.

568 t Jehiel7 (Kilbourn), m. Zilpah Wright, of Keene, N. H.

569 David7 (Kilbourn). He was for over 50 years a Meth-

odist Minister; d. in 1864, at Hartland, Vt.

570 Abigail7 (Kilbourn), m. Daniel Day, of Keene.

571 Sarah7 (Kilbourn), m. J. Randall; d. in Gilsum.

572 Iddo7 (Kilbourn), m. A. Sampson, of Ashburnham, Mass.

573 Mary7 (Kilbourn), m. Rufus Day, of Keene.

574 Clarissa7 (Kilbourn), m. N. Ellis, of Plattsburgh, N. Y.

338. .

ELIZABETH BILL6 (Samuel,5 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,5 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the foregoing ; born in Hebron, Feb. 5, 1748-9 ; married John Rowe, of Sullivan, N/. H.

He served in the Revolutionary War, and it is reported he

* Her great-grandson, Edward Everett Sturtevant, was the first vol- unteer in the late war from New Hampshire.

192 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

had a hand to hand encounter, by agreement, with a Hes- sian soldier, and came off victor.

They had several daughters, but we have no knowledge of them.

339.

EBENEZER BILL 6 (Samuel,5 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding, born in Hebron, Jan. 19, 1750-1, and married Rachel Root.

Prior to the war of the Revolution they removed from Hebron to Gilsum, N. H., where they both died. He died in 1815.

The children of Ebenezer and Rachel (Root) Bill were :

575 f Ebenezer,7 b. March 30, 1776 ; m. Elsey Adams.

576 Rachel,7 b. ; m. William Baxter, of Surry, N. H.

577 Mehitable,7 b. -; m. Josiah Hammond, of Gilsum,

Avhere they lived and died. He d. Aug. 15, 1851. She d. June 8, 1857. They had one son : George W. Hammond,8 a physician, living at Bennett's Corner, Stockbridge, N. Y.

578 Anna,7b. Oct. 16, 1779; m. Doct. Messer Cannon, Nov.

29, 1796. He d. Feb. 3, 1829. She is still living, 1866, in Surry, N. II. They had children : Eliza8 (Cannon), Nancy8 (Cannon), Laura8 (Cannon), Mary Ann8 (Cannon).

340. DAVID BILL6 (Samuel/ Ebenezer,4 Samuel,' Philip,* John1), a brother of the preceding, was born in Hebron, March 2, 1753. He had two wives : the name of the first is unknown ; that of the second was the widow Susan Locke. This family resided in Gilsum, where he died, Nov. 18, 1827. His children were, by first wife :

579 Prudence,7 b. ; m. (1) Thomas Reading. (2) Capt.

Thompson.

SIXTH GENERATION. 193

Children by second wife :

580 Susan,7 b. , 1S00; d. at Clinton, Mass., June 2, 1866.

341.

PATIENCE BILL6 (Samuel,5 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Bond) Bill, was born in Hebron, July 26, 1757, and married Gen. Daniel Wright. They moved from Hebron, Ct., to Gilsum, N. H., and later to Westport, Essex County, 1ST. Y.

He was in command of the American land forces at the battle of Plattsburg, being a General in the N. Y. State Militia at that time. He won an enviable reputation as an officer.

Little is known of his personal history and private life, and we are compelled to be brief where it would be a pleasure to write at length. He died at Westport, in 1822, aged 66. She died at the same place, April 15, 1829.

Genl. Daniel and Patience (Bill) Wright had one child :

581 Jerusha8 (Wright) ; m. Elias Sturtevant, of Keene, N. H.

343.

SAMUEL BILL6 (Samuel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; born Feb. 27, 1763 ; was married to Lydia Mack, of Gilsum, N. H.

He was a husbandman, and before the Revolution he removed with his father's family to Gilsum, from Hebron, Ct., where he died, Aug. 13, 1845. His wife died Jan. 8, 1826.

The children of Samuel and Lydia (Mack) Bill were :

582 f Lydia,7 b. Jan. 30, 1787 ; m. Truman Miller.

583 Samuel,7 b. Sept. 1, 1788; d. April 12, 1827.

584 t David,7 b. Nov. 2, 1795 ; m. Lucy Dort.

585 t Lucy,7 b. Jan. 8, 1798 ; m. Amasa Miller.

346.

JOHN MAHEN BILL6 (Asahel,5 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the third son of Asahel and Mary (Rand)

194: THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Bill, was Lorn in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, and married for his first wife, Sarah De Wolf. His second wife was Mrs. Jane Bentley.

He is a resident of Cornwallis, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is a man of integrity, and possesses good natural abilities. Like his brother, is situated in the very heart and center of the Province.

His children by first wife were:

586 Gurdon,7 b. .

587 Charles,7 b. .

588 Rebecca,' b. .

589 Mary Ann,7 b. .

Children by his second wife were :

590 Henry,7 b. .

591 John,7b. .

347.

Hon. CALEB RAND BILL 6(Asahel,6Ebenezer,4 Samuel,' Philip,2 John1), a son of Asahel and Mary (Rand) Bill, and brother of the preceding ; was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, and married Rebecca Cogswell.

He is a resident of Billtown, Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, and is a farmer, though the most of his life has been spent in public office. He is a sedate, thoughtful person, of good sound practical judgment, has a superior capacity for business, in which he has been greatly prospered, having amassed a vast property in the very heart of his native province, where he exercises a generous hospitality. He has long been one of the Queen's justices, and during the last few years has been honored by his constituents with a seat in the Provincial Parliament, at Halifax.

A few years since, a brother of the writer was traveling through Nova Scotia and called on this Mr. Bill, and was his guest for several da}Ts, and has given me a very interesting account of the surrounding people and country.

Cornwallis is, for the most part, a level section of country, situate in a beautiful valley, possessing a rich alluvial soil; and

SIXTH GENERATION. 195

though the spring does not advance as rapidly as in New England, perhaps, yet the sheltering coast-line range of hills or mountains, bordering the Bay of Fnndy, breaks off the winds, and gives this whole valley, of many miles in extent, a warm and genial climate, favorable to the growth of all grains and roots to great perfection ; probably no locality on the continent can surpass this for the great excellence of many of its crops.

While we write, the Province of Nova Scotia has by royal Proclamation been incorporated, together with the Provinces of New Brunswick and the two Canadas, into one general government, styled " The Dominion of Canada," the act to take effect, by the terms of the Queen's Proclamation, on the first of July, 1S67. By the terms of the act of the British Parlia- ment, the Queen was authorized to appoint to the first Senate such persons as she should choose, and M-e find that among the twelve Senators nominated by the Queen on behalf of Nova Scotia is the name of Caleb Rand Bill. This is no small compliment, and is confirmation from a high quarter of oiir estimate of his general character. We are proud to note this high mark of approbation from the most eminent crowned head of the earth to one of our kinsmen.*

The children of Caleb Rand and Rebecca (Cogswell) Bill were :

592 William C. ,7 b. .

593 Nancy, 7 b. ; married and lives in Nova Scotia.

594 Eunice,7 b. ; married and lives in Nova Scotia.

* The following is an exact fac-shnile of his autograph :

^XC?

19G THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

348.

SARAII BILL0 (Asahel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,8 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding ; was born in Cornwallis, N. S., and was married to James Caulkins, in 1803.

In 1823 this family removed to the United States, settling in Niagara County, New York. After a few years they again changed their residence, and this time to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where they still live.

Mr. Caulkins was an industrious man and the father of a numerous family ; he died Feb. 3, 18-44-.

The children of James and Sarah (Bill) Caulkins, born in Nova Scotia, were :

595 Asahel7 (Caulkins), b. Aug. 12, 1804; m. ; lives at

New London, Ohio.

596 John7 (Caulkins), b. Sept. 7, 1806,; d. July 5, 1840.

597 Mary7 (Caulkins), b. Aug. 27, 1808; m. Job Rush. They

live at Mount Vernon, O.

598 William L.7 (Caulkins), b. Nov. 28, 1810; m. (1) Eliza

Cook. (2) Cynihia Bill. They live at McGregor, Iowa.

599 Edward7 (Caulkins), b. Jan. 24, 1813; d. April 6,*1864.

600 Rebecca7 (Caulkins), b. April 20, 1815 ; m. Ira Remington,

of Grand Lake, Mich.

601 James Ingersoll 7 (Caulkins), b. May 8, 1817; lives at

Adrian, Mich.

602 Lavinia7 (Caulkins), b. Nov. 5, 1819 ; m. Josiah Streeter,

of Oconomowoc, Wis.

603 Leonard Caleb7 (Caulkins), b. Aug. 19, 1822; d. Jan. 28,

1830.

Children born in the United States were :

604 Caroline7 (Caulkins), b. July 4, 1825; m. Martin T.

Draper, of Oconomowoc, Wis.

605 Elias A7 (Caulkins), b. Feb. 7, 1828; m. Helen Eliza

Keyes, Sept. 30, 1857. They reside in Madison, Wis. He enlisted in the war for the Union,

SIXTH GENERATION. 197

Sept. 7, 1861, in a regiment of volunteers from Wisconsin, was commissioned as Major of the Third Wis. Cavalry, on Nov. 28, 1861, and for bravery in the field he won the rank of Lieut. Col. of that regiment in Dec. the 26th, 1863.

He served in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory. They have children : Hetty Lilley8 (Caulkins), lx Aug. 30, 1S58. John St. John8 (Caulkins), b. March 5, 1865.

351.

MARY BILL5 (Asahel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the foregoing; born in Cornwallis, 1ST. S., Nov. 25, 1794, and married to Stephen Eaton, on June 20, 1815.

This family came to the United States in company with Mr. Caulkins's family, above named, in 1823, and settled in the same county with them, in the State of New York. Mrs. Eaton is remembered by those who knew her as a most noble woman and much beloved. The section where they settled was not perhaps at that time as free as many others from a debilitating climate, owing chiefly to the uncleared condi- tion of the country, and its naturally low, wet character. Then too the duties of both men and women in a frontier life are far more arduous and trying to their constitutions, and these things proved too much for one of her delicate struc- ture, and on the 7th of May, 1842, at Porter, Niagara Co., N. Y., her gentle spirit took its flight to its everlasting home beyond the skies.

Their children born in Nova Scotia were :

606 t Douglas W.7 (Eaton), b. Aug. 23, 1816; m. (l) Rhoda

Hopkins. (2) Wealthy M. Moss.

607 Asahel Bill7 (Eaton), b. May 12, 1818; m. Maria B.

Palmer, and resides at Wilson, N. Y.

608 Ingraham Ebenezer7 (Eaton), b. Jan. 30, 1821 ; m. Susan

Hopkins, and lives at Wilson, N. Y.

198 TTIE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Children born in the United States were:

609 t Stephen7 (Eaton), b. Aug. 27, 1823. Resides in Cali-

fornia. He has several children.

610 Jacob7 (Eaton), b. March 27, 1826; d. June 3, 1842.

611 Mary E.' (Eaton), b. March 24, 1829; m. Rev. Allen

R. McDougall, April 13, 1853. They reside in Canada West.

612 Edward Manning7 (Eaton), b. Oct. 3, 1831 ; m. Harriet

Hopkins, and lives at Wilson, X. Y.

613 Adoniram Judson7 (Eaton), b. July 20, 1835 ; m. Henrietta

E. Peet, of Porter, N. Y., Oct. 23, 18G0. They reside at Porter, N. Y.

353.

Rev. INGRAM EBENEZER BILL6 (Asahel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the youngest child of Asahel and Mary (Rand) Bill, and a brother of the foregoing; was born in Cornwallis, N. S., on 19 Feb. 1805, and married, April 20, 1826, Isabella Lyons, born Jan. 28, 1806.

He entered the ministerial office at the earlv a<re of 23, and for a period of twenty -three years was the pastor over the Baptist Church at Nictaux, in Nova Scotia, a congrega- tion numbering between five and six hundred members. He presided with great acceptance to that people, between whom and himself there still remain tenderest chords of respect and affection. Subserviently he was called to the pastorate of the Germain Street Baptist Church in the city of St. John, in the adjoining province of New Brunswick.

In both of these spheres of labor, his ministry was emi- nently successful in winning souls to Christ. In addition to these pastoral labors he has preached the Gospel extensively throughout the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Island of Prince Edward, also in most of the principal cities of the United States, from Maine to Alabama.

Many years since he visited England, and while there occupied pulpits in Liverpool, Manchester, and London.

SIXTH GENERATION. 199

lie has taken a very active part in originating and carry- ing forward the educational and missionary interests of the Baptist denomination in all the maritime Provinces.

Daring the last twelve years he has conducted, as editor, the " Christian Visitor," the organ of the associated Baptist churches of New Brunswick, and a highly influential journal.

His health ultimately gave way under the pressure of severe physical and mental exertion, and for eight months he was unable to preach, and he resigned the pastorate of the Ger- main Street Church, and has so far regained his health by this course as to still be able to continue his connection with the before-mentioned paper, and, of late, preaches occasionally. His autograph is given below.*

The children of Rev. I. E. and Isabella (Lyons) Bill were :

614 Asahel,7 b. May 14, 1827. He was a youth of great

promise, but while a student in Acadia College contracted a lung disease, and was cut down by death, July 20, 1848, at the age of 21.

615 Mary Ann,7 b. April 27, 1829 ; m. Thomas McHenry,

Esquire, Sept. 14, 1851. Mrs. McHenry was truly a woman of exalted attainments and diversified talents; commanding the respect and calling forth the admiration of all who knew her. Her life was an unceasing unfolding of Christian and womanly virtues ; and her death, which occurred on the 17th Nov., 1865, was a practical and power- ful testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus. She left six daughters and one infant son, which has since died.

616 Edward Manning,7 b. March 27, 18-31; m. , and

* Autograph of Rev. I. E. Bill :

200 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

is engaged in mercantile pursuits in Australia. He has no children.

617 Caleb Rand,7 b. May 30, 1833 ; m. Annie Bolraan, June 7,

1855. He resides at Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick ; is a music teacher, and is gifted with superior musical talents.

618 Ingram Ebenezer,7 b. April 8, 1836. He is unmarried,

and lives in New Zealand, where he is preparing to enter the Christian ministry.

356.

HOSE A BILL" (Simeon,6 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Simeon and Martha Bill, of Sheffield, Mass. ; was born August 22, 1759, and married Dec. 29, 1790, to Sarah Kellogg, of Sheffield, born July 25, 1772.

He was a farmer and a resident of Sheffield. He died July 4, 1829, in his seventieth year. His widow survived him many years, dying July 4, 1847.

It is noticeable that both of their deaths occurred on the 4th of July.

Their children were :

619 t Orrin [C.],7 b. Nov. 8, 1791 ; m. Sarah F. Dubois.

620 Eveline,7 b. March 31, 1794; m. Chauncy Lathrop. She

is now a widow, and lives in the South.

621 t Norman Kellogg,7 b. Sept, 25, 1796 ; m. Huldah Clark.

622 Eli,7b. Dec. 17, 1799.

623 Bona,7 b. Aug. 15, 1802 ; m. Piatt Whitney. She is now

a widow, and resides in South Egremont, Mass.

624 Sarah Ann,7 b. March 4, 1805 ; m. John Curtis, and lives

in Huron, N. Y.

625 Fanny E.,7 b. Sept. 29, 1809; m. William Clark. She is a

widow, and lives in Sheffield, Mass.

361.

JONATHAN BILL6 (Jonathan,6 John,4 John,' Philip,2 John1), the son of Jonathan and Mary Bill, of Lebanon ; born April 21, 1756. lie married his second cousin, Asenatii Bill,

SIXTH GENERATION'. 201

who was born Nov. 13, 1759, the daughter of James Bill, of Chatham. [See No. 232.]

He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and with Arnold in that remarkable expedition to Quebec, and he also suffered the hardships of Valley Forge.

After the close of the war he was married and removed to Soutlnvick, Mass., where he remained till after 1800, about which time lie removed to the vicinity of Poland, Chautauque County, New York, where he died about 1845. His wife died there in 1836, July 31.

Their children were :

626 Polly,7 b. Aug. 25, 1782 ; m.(l) Elihu Burrington. (2) James

Merwin. She d. at Poland, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1841.

627 Asenath,7 b. May 17, 1784; m. (1) Archer Reed. (2)

Obadiah Wheelock. She d. in Vienna, N. Y., Sept. 2, 1850.

628 Joseph,7 b. March 27, 1787; m. Ruth Damon, of St.

Johnsbury, Vt. He d. near or in Poland, N. Y., March 4, 1865.

629 Betsey,7 b. June 13, 1791 ; m. Josiah Talmadge, of South-

wick, Mass. She d. in Perry, N. Y., May 23, 1845.

630 t Norton Buell,7 b. Dec. 26, 1794; m. Semantha Ransom.

631 t Jonathan,7 b. May 2, 1797 ; m. Almira Carver.

362.

ELEAZER BILL6 (Jonathan,6 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing; was born in Lebanon, Feb. 24, 1758, and on May 27, 1790, married for his first wife Elizabeth Cole, of same town. His second wife was Betsey Fitch, of Lebanon, whom he married March 31, 1808.

He was a farmer, and resided in the town of his birth, where he died April 4, 1851, at the advanced age of 93 years. He served as a soldier in the Revolution, and, being wounded, received from the Government a pension.

202 TnK BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

He had children :

632 t Chester,7 b. July 4, 1791 ; m. Phebe Williams.

633 t Josiah Bissell,' b. May 13, 1793; m. Harriet Tracy

Hough.

634 David,7 b. Feb. 27, 1797 ; d. Oct. 20, 1820.

363.

ELIJAH BILL6 (Elijah,6 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the son of Elijah and Patience (Barber) Bill, of Harwinton, Ct. ; was born about 1762, and married Nancy Scott.

This Mr. Bill added the final letter s to his name.

He died Nov. 15, 1833. His widow died in 1819, Aug. 29, aged 91.

This family lived both in the towns of Waterbury and Harwinton, Ct.

They had children :

635 Jesse,7 b. Jan. 3, 1783 ; m. Alvira Cooke.

636 t Elijah,7 b. March 4, 1785 ; m. Betsey Griswold.

637 Hannah,7 b. Oct. 7, 1796 ; m. June 8, 1846, to Titus Foote,

widower, and late husband to her sister. He died in 1850. She still survives him.

638 Patience,7 b. July 30, 1799; m. Feb. 21, 1845, to Titus

Foote. He was three times married. There were no children by this or the succeeding mar- riage with Hannah, above.

373.

ABIEL BILL6 (Peleg,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John'), a son of Peleg and Jerusha Bill, of Colchester, was baptized June 18, 1758. He was married, but to whom is unknown. He owned lands in Lebanon, and must have lived in that or in some one of the adjoining towns, probably.

The supposed names of his children were :

639 t Chester.7

640 Peleg.7 This son gave a deed of land to W. Bliss in 1820.

(Lebanon Deeds, vol. 26.)

SIXTH GENERATION. 203

388.

Dr. EAEL BILL6 (Oliver,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Oliver and Martha (Skinner) Bill, of Lebanon. He was born there, Nov. 5, 1770, and married, for his first wife, Sarah Jackson, in 1804; she was the daughter of a Lieut. Jackson of the Revolution. She died in 1818. His second wife was Olive Baker, a widow, who died in 1823, only two years his companion. His third wife was Susan Johnson, whom he married in 1824. She died in Feb- ruary, 1864.

He was a graduate of the Berkshire Medical School, Mass. After finishing his course there, he pushed for what was at that time " the West." He settled in the town of Steuben, Oneida County, New York. This town had received its name in honor of Baron Steuben, of Revolutionary fame. The country was of course new, and the habits of the people rude and independent, and for the young physician to have cast his lot in that then distant settlement, was at least evidence of enterprise and courage in commencing his professional life.

In 1814 he removed to the village of Remsen, situate about eight miles from his former residence, which was now known as "Starr's Hill." Here he remained for many years practicing his profession, always enjoying the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens of all classes. Not till he had obtained the advanced age of 86 years did he relincpiish the profession which he had adorned for more than half a century, and in the discharge of the duties of which he had endeared himself to at least two generations, by his kindness, self- denial, and medical skill. He died in the family of his son Gen. Horace Newton Bill, at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 16th May, 1864, aged 94 years.

His body reposes in the burial-ground of a son, at Oak land Cemetery, Sandusky, Ohio.

Doctor Bill was in some respects a peculiar character. He was a practical philosopher, never borrowing trouble,

201 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

always bearing himself with an habitual calmness and cheerful resignation to the will of Heaven. He was a true and sincere Christian, as well in deportment as in profession ; naturally of a quiet and forgiving spirit, he seldom had differences with his fellow-men.

His son writes of him, that his recollection of his father extended over near half a century, and yet he never saw him angered but once, and then the provocation was very great. Truly this is saying much, and yet the life of this good man testifies to its truthfulness. Attached herewith is a fac-simile of his autograph, at an advanced age.

y? coy £ ^ <^C

The children of Dr. Earl and Sarah (Jackson) Bill were : Bom at Steuben, New York.

641 Henry Jackson,7 b. 1805 ; d. at Unionville, ST. Y., 1833.

642 t Cyrus Skinner,7 b. Oct. 16, 1807; m. Pamela Hubbard.

643 t Charles Oliver,7 b. , 1809 ; was drowned at Trenton

Falls, in 1830.

644 f Chauney Clark,7 b. June 16, 1811; m. Anna Everett

Case.

645 f Earl,7 b. Aug. 16, 1813 ; m. (1) R. Ann Allyn. (2) Susan

Eliza Johnson. Born at Remsen, New York.

646 t Horace Newton,7 b. Aug. 1, 1815 ; m. Rhoda Sylvania

Mitchell.

647 Sarah Mariah,7 b. , 1818 ; m. George Putnam, Esq.

They reside at Waterville, N. Y. By the third wife, Susan (Johnson) Bill —

648 Susan Jerusha,7 b. , 1825; m. Orlo Damon, of

Waterville, N. Y. She died there, in 1849.

389.

CYRUS BILL6 (Oliver,5 James,4 John,3 Philip,5 John1), son of Oliver and Martha (Skinner) Bill ; was born at Lebanon, October 17, 1772 ; married December 19, 1799, Eunice

SIXTH GENERATION. 205

Taintor, of Colchester, who was born in 1770, and was the daughter of Charles and Mary (Skinner) Taintor, of that place.

This family resided at Middle Haddam, a parish in the town of Chatham, till 1815, at which time they removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where, up to 1845, he was engaged in the dry-goods trade. He died in 1852, and was buried in Green- wood Cemetery.

Their children were:

649 Sophia Maria,7 b. May 27, 1801 ; d. in 1819.

650 Charles Edward,7 b. March 6, 1803. He was married

and has had several children, but, it is believed, no son. This family reside in Brooklyn, N. Y.r and he has been called upon by the writer several times for facts and information pertinent to this volume, but in each case a promise was made to furnish them, and yet no material has been given us. Why this, we are utterly unable to compre- hend. Charles Edward Bill is probably the wealthiest member of the Bill family in America, being reputed as worth from one to two millions of dollars !

651 Caroline,7 b. March 7, 1805; m. in 1822, George A.

Hicks. She d. in 1853. They had children: George A.8 (Hicks), resides in Brooklyn, X. Y. Eunice8 (Hicks), m. H. P. Morgan, and resides in Brooklyn.

652 George Richard,7 b. June 9, 1807 ; d. 1825.

653 Charlotte,7 b. , 1809; d. 1834.

390.

OLIVER BILL6 (Oliver,5 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Lebanon, Oct. 29, 1774, and married Nov. 16, 1797, his cousin, Clarissa Bill, born Aug. 18, 1772, the daughter of Dea. James and Asenath (Norton) Bill, of Chatham, Ct.

This family removed from Lebanon to Steuben, Oneida County, New York, about 1800.

200 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

He died in Westmoreland, Oneida County, X. Y., Oct. 1, 1852. His widow died April 28, 1854. They had children :

654 f Apamn,7 b. at Lebanon, Dec. 11, 1798; m. James II.

Pratt.

655 t Clarissa,7 b. at Steuben, June 5, 1801 ; m. Mavor Brig-

bam. Q5Q Oliver Augustus,7 b. at Steuben, July 6, 1812 ; d. June 13, 1816.

392.

AMOS BILL6 (Oliver,5 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John'), brother of the foregoing ; was born at Lebanon, June 10, 1779, according to the records of that town, but the family record has it, June 10, 1780. He married on May 20, 1805, Cla- kestda Porter; she was born May 26, 1786.

They resided for a while in Lebanon, when they removed to the west end of Long Island ; after this he returned to Lebanon, where he died March 4, 1861, aged 80 years. His widow is still living at this date.

They had children :

657 Lucius Carlo,7 b. Aug. 16, 1810. He lived for a time

in Brooklyn, N. Y., but removing from there he has become lost to his family, and it is supposed he cannot be living.

658 f Harriet Porter,7 b. Nov. 20, 1812; m. Jarvis Porter

Lord.

659 t Marcius Edward,7 b. Dec. 12, 1814; m Harriet A. Carl.

660 t Oliver Augustus,7 b. Dec. 10, 1816; m. (1) Julia A.

Abell. (2) M. A. Jewell.

661 t Caroline Maria,7 b. June 10, 1821 ; m. Elias L. Williams.

662 t George Richard,7 b. Sept. 12, 1825; m. (1) Lois A.

Robinson. (2) E. D. Blodgett.

663 Amos Bassett,7 b. Sept. 16, 1828 ; d. Sept. 20, 1831.

394. BENAJAH BILL (Eliphalet,5 Benajah,-1 John,3 Philip,1

SIXTH GENERATION. 207

John1), the eldest son of Eliphalet and Dorothy (Marsh) Bill; was horn at Lebanon, about 1773. He married Hannah Udall [Woodhull], of Hartford, Yt.

He removed from the latter place to Compton, in Canada East, where he died, December 22, 1851. His wife Hannah died there December 15, 1830.

They had children :

664 t Erastus,7 b. ; m. (1) Betsey Hill. (2) Hill.

6 6 5 t Horace,7 b. ; m. Achsah Fisk.

QQQ Hannah,7 b. ; ra. (l) George Huntington. (2)

Johnson. By Johnson she had : —

Abbott8 (Johnson),

Abigail8 (Johnson).

She is now a widow at Longueil, C. W.

667 Laura,7 b. ; m. Asaph Shurtleff. This family

resided in Canada, where they had four children born to them ; afterwards they removed to the northeastern part of New York.

668 Malvina A.,7 b. June 6, 1816 ; m. (1) Julius Burpee. (2)

Frebig. She is a widow, and lives in By-

town, C. W.

395.

Dr. ELIPHALET MASON BILL6 (Eliphalet,5 Bena- jah,4 John, Philip,2 John1), the second son of Eliphalet and Dorothy (Marsh) Bill ; was born at Lebanon, Sept. 6, 1775, and married, in 1803, at Hartford, Yt,, his cousin, Hhoda Pitkin, born at Bolton, Ct., Oct. 26, 1774, the daughter of Thomas White and Khoda (Marsh) Pitkin. His mother and his wife's mother were sisters, and daughters of the Hon. Joseph and Dorothy (Mason) Marsh, of Hartford, Yt, of whom we have before spoken.

Doct. Bill studied medicine in Hartford, Yt., and in 1804 he removed from there to Orange, Yt,, where he built up a large and extensive practice as a physician in that and the surrounding towns. At this time the country was so new

908 T[IE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

that public roads in that section had little or no existence ; — the chief travel was necessarily on horseback or on foot, and for twenty odd years he pursued his profession under these trying circumstances.

In the spring of 1839 he removed from Orange to the town of West Topsham, Vt., where he continued in the practice of medicine to the time of his decease, which occurred on 21st Sept., 1854, having spent nearly half a century in the public service. He died suddenly, of heart disease.

His wife Khoda died at Barre, Vt., April 8, 1859, aged 85 vears.

He had so much business of his own that he never sought political preferment, yet in 1815 he consented to be placed in nomination for the office of representative, and was duly elected. He held the post of surgeon's mate over ten years in the State militia.

The children of Doctor Bill are all living, Jan. 1, 1867. The eldest was born in Hartford, and the others in Orange, Vt. They are as follows :

669 t Carlos Pitkin,7 b. Xov. 20, 1803 ; m. Mary Ann Jenness.

670 Daniel Marsh,7 b. June 15, 1805; m. Louisa Ball, at

Topsham, Aug. 25, 1861. They reside at West Topsham, Vt.

671 t Frances Maria,7 b. '( twins; born ) m. Carlos Carpenter.

672 t Julia Emily,7 b. ) Aug. 9, 1808; f m. (1) Jonathan

Houghton. (2) Chauncy Goodrich.

673 f Roswell Mason,7 b. April 19, 1810; m. Merinda Nelson.

396.

MARY BILL6 (Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the foregoing, Doct. E. M. Bill; was born in Lebanon, near 1777, and was married at Hartford, Vt., to her cousin, Col. Thomas White Pitkin, a son of Thomas White and Rhoda (Marsh) Pitkin, of that place.

He was a farmer, and lived and died in the place of his nativitv.

They had children :

SIXTH GENERATION. 209

674 Thomns White7 (Pitkin). He lives in Hartford, Vt.

675 Mary1 (Pitkin), ; m. Oro Wood, at Hartford, Vt., and

resides there.

676 Eliza7 (Pitkin). Resides at Hartford, Vt.

677 Lucius7 (Pitkin); m. Ellen Wood. He is a lawyer, and

resides in the city of New York.

400.

Doct. DYER BILL6 (Eliplialet,5 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the youngest son of Eliplialet and Dorothy (Marsh) Bill ; was born at Hartford, Vt., April 7, 1793 or 4, and in Sept. 14, 1814, he married Ruth Richardson, of Strafford. She was born Oct. 9, 1792, and died Aug. 13, 1829. His second wife was Ruth P. Coburn, whom he married on 7th January, 1830. She was born at Cabot, Vt., Jan. 30, 1803.

He studied medicine with his brother, Doct. Eliplialet Mason Bill, at Orange, Vt., where he entered the practice of his profession ; from there he removed to Cabot, in the same State, and in 1S19 removed to Albany, Vt., where he now lives. He has acquired an enviable reputation as a physician, and in consequence has had an extensive practice.

He has on various occasions held offices of trust and honor, whenever the people called and he found it not incon- sistent with his professional employment. He has been a Justice of the Peace a number of years, and has several times represented the town of Albany in the State Legislature. In 1866 he was a member of said legislative body.

The children by first wife were :

678 t Louisa M.,7 b. in Orange, Dec. 15, 1815; m. Win thro p

Howard.

679 t Josephine,7 b. in Albany, April 4, 1820; m. (1) Joseph

T. Howard. (2) Charles C. Doty.

680 t Eraeline,7 b. Aug. 3, 1822; m. (l) Dwight S. Strong. (2)

Warren White.

681 t Lucinda,7 b. June 6, 1824; m. Charles Howard.

682 f Mary,7 b. May 13, 1826: ra. Joshua C. Rowell.

210 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

683 t Dye** Richardson,7 b. July 23, 1829; m. Amanda Milner. Children by second wife were :

684 f Frank Coburn,1 b. May 20, 1832 ; in. Elizabeth Harvey.

685 t Curtis Harvey,7 b. July 2, 1835 ; m. Mary Worcester.

686 James RaAvson,7 b. Nov. 16, 1836. He resides at Ply-

mouth, N. H., and is unmarried.

687 D wight Strong,7 b. Aug. 3, 1839. Resides in Maryland.

688 George Augustus,7 b. Jan. 1, 1841. Is a clerk in Boston.

401.

ALMIRA BILL6 (Eliphalet,8 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding, Dr. Dyer Bill, was born at Hartford, Yt., Sept. 23, 1799. She was married in 1821, at Hartford, to Samuel Smith, of Cabot, Vt., who was born in 1791:. He died there, in June, 1838. She married for her second husband Amos Sanborn, in Sept., 1849. He died at Topsham, Yt., Oct., 1858.

She died at the same place, in Jan. 26, 1866.

Her children (all by first husband) were:

689 Rosaline D.7 (Smith), b. 1822; m. William Bradford, of

Barre, Yt. She d. at that place on Sept. 30, 1852. He d. Sept. 5, 1855.

690 Arabella M.7 (Smith), b. June 2, 1825 ; m. Lionel L. Goff,

Sept. 5, 1849. They have one child, Ada B.s (Goff). This family reside in Barre, Yt.

691 Amanda E.7 (Smith), b. Jan. 5, 1829 ; m. October, 1851, at

Bradford, Yt., to Chester M. Huckins. They live at Topsham, Yt. They have children : Gertrude A.8 (Huckins), b. Aug. 4, 1857. Corra Ella8 (Huckins), b. Sept. 2, 1863.

692 Malvina7 (Smith), b. ; m. Mark Fuller, of Barre, Yt.

Their residence is supposed to be St. Louis, Mo.

693 William P.7 (Smith), b. ; m. . Resides at

Spuyten Duyvel, on the East River, near New York City, N. Y.

694 Azro N.7 (Smith), m. . Resides in or near Chi-

cago, 111.

695 Almira7 (Smith), b. Oct., 1836 ; d. at Barre, Oct. 26, 1853.

SIXTH GENERATION. 211

402.

DANIEL BILL6 (Jonathan,5 Edward,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John'), a son of Jonathan Bill, of Chatham, as is supposed ; was born March 9, 1758, and married May 1, 1782, Mindwell Brainard, of Haddam, Ct.

He died May 4, 1845. She died May 28, 1843, aged 86.

Their children were :

696 t Daniel,7 b. June 20, 1784; m. Hannah Waldron.

697 Orpah,7 b. Aug. 10, 1786.

698 Ruth,7 b. April 19, 1789; m. Elisha Hubbard. She died

Sept. 1, 1851.

699 Mindwell,7 b. March 20, 1793.

700 Lathrop,7 b. Jan. 2, 1797 ; d. in early manhood.

701 Sherman,7 b. Feb. 5, 1792.

702 f Elijah,7 b. May 10, 1800; m. Mary Howard.

703 Celestia,7 b. Dec 9, 1803.

403.

RICHARD DAYTON BILL6 (Phineas,5 Phineas,4 Josh- ua,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Phineas and Mercy (Allyn) Bill, of Groton ; was born there, Nov. 25, 1772 ; and on the 27th March, 1803, married Tabitha Allyn, of Groton, who was born April 24, 1772, a grand-daughter of Esquire Robert Allyn, of that place.

This family resided in Groton, where all of their children were born, up to 1818, or near that time, when they removed to Palmyra, New York, whither Phineas Bill, the father of Richard Dayton Bill, had moved.

The children of this family were :

704 Joseph Allyn,7 b. June 6, 1804.

705 Richard Carlton,7-b. May 13, 1806; d. in Groton, April

3, 1810.

706 Lucy Ann,7 b. April 26, 1809.

707 Emeline Sheffield,7 b. May 7, 1811.

708 Robert Allyn,7 b. March 23, 1813 ; d. July 30, 1816.

212 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

709 Paul Frederic,7 b. June 29, 1815. Resides at Hall's Cor-

ners, near Geneva, New York.

405.

MERCY BILL6 (Phineas,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John'), a sister of the preceding; was born in Groton, Oct. 7, 1776, and married first to Capt. Alltn Turner, who died at sea, leaving no children. Her second husband was Park Allyn, whom she married Jan. 3, 1807; he was bora April 15, 1776, a son of Elder Park Allyn, of Groton.

The last husband was also a seafaring man, and he attained to the command of a vessel, and was known as Capt. Allyn. He likewise died at sea, in the month of November, 1815, and was buried in the ocean.

She removed with her father's family, about 1818, to Palmyra, K Y., and died there, Aug. 29, 182k

The children of Capt. Park and Mercy (Bill) Allyn, bom in Groton, were :

710 Park Carlos7 (Allyn), b. Sept. 3, 1809. He was a jeweler

by trade ; d. in Genesee, N. Y., about 1856, leav- ing a widow and three children.

711 Sarah Caroline7 (Allyn), b. Sept. 3, 1809. She m. Charles

Allyn, of Palmyra. They now reside in Clarks- ton, Oakland County, Mich. These two children, Park Carlos and Sarah Caroline, were twins. The latter was brought up in the family of her grandfather, Phineas Bill, and his old family Bible came into her possession. See account of Phineas Bill,4 her grandfather, !NTo. 113.

408.

NANCY BILL6 (Phineas, 5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,3 John1), a sister of the foregoing ; was bom in Groton, Jan. 17, 1785, and married Eldridge Havens, of' Groton, Dec. 11, 1808.

This family resided in Groton up to about ISIS, when they removed to Palmyra, N. Y. All their children were

SIXTH GENERATION". 21

born in Groton. She died April 8, 1830. He died Feb. 17, 1859.

They had children :

712 Avery Eldridge7 (Havens), b. Sept. 26, 1809; m. July 6,

1836, Susan S. Power, of Woodstock, Vt. He d. July 28, 1837. No children.

713 Ann Maria7 (Havens), b. Dec. 27, 1811 ; m. Jan. 9, 1S32,

Henry P. Allyn, of Groton. They reside in Palmyra, X. Y. Children : Charles Alexander8 (Allyn), b. 1833 ; living. Eldridge Havens8 (Allyn), b. 1834; d. July

22, 1838.

Eldridge Turner Havens8 (Allyn), b. — ; living.

714 Allyn Turner7 (Havens), b. Jan. 22, 1818; m. Aurelia

Smith, of Palmyra, May 6, 1846. He d. Feb. 29, 1852, leaving one child, now deceased.

411.

DAVID BILL* (Phineas,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Groton, about 1787, as is supposed.

It is said he married Hannah BxVbcock, of Mystic, a village on the eastern boundaries of the town of Groton.

Very little is known as to the residence of this family ; it is thought they removed to Central York State.

The children born in Groton belonging to this family were :

715 James Henry,7 b. ; d. in Palmyra, N. Y., June 27,

1837.

716 Frances Maria,7 b. ; d. in Albany, N. Y, in 1841.

717 t David,7 b. Nov. 2, 1817; m. Elizabeth Logan.

718 Ann Maria,7 b. ; d. at New London, Ct.

413. Judge LODO WICK BILL6 (Benajah,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip2, John'), the eldest son of Benajah and Content (Park) Bill, of Groton ; was born in the north portion of that town,

214: THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR,

which is now included in the town of Ledyard, Oct. 9, 17*4. He married Oct. 20, 1805, Betsey Geer, of the same town ; a descendant of the Rev. John Wight, a clergyman of some distinction.

After he was married he removed to Lyme, a town west of the Thames River from Groton, where he still continues to reside.

He is a man of marked traits of character. His upright- ness and fidelity in all business transactions, his unusual social qualities, added to an eminently practical mind, form some of these traits referred too. His frugal life and industrious habits have brought together an ample fortune ; and in view of his having commenced life under adverse circumstances, it fur- nishes encouragement to those who, similarly situated, go forward with hesitancy.

His life has been somewhat a public one, having borne the offices of constable, deputy sheriff, justice of the peace, and judge of probate, which latter office he held until disqualified by age. He has also represented his town in the State Legislature. His occupation is nominally that of a farmer, yet for many years he has been an extensive dealer in the purchase of wool.

It is over half a century since his marriage, and still this hale and cheerful couple of octogenarians have to all appear- ances a considerable lease of life remaining unto them. He is the father of a large family, and has more than forty grand- children and great-grandchildren living within half a mile of his own residence.

A portrait of Judge Lodowick Bill accompanies this sketch. A fac-simile of his autograph, as taken from a letter addressed to the writer when in his 83d year, is appended.

_____ -X?s&>-u?x^£; n ^J-^6L.

The children of Lodowick and Betsey (Geer) Bill were : 719 Eliza,7 b. March 25, 1806; d. in Groton, Dec, 1809, and was buried in the old churchyard just east of the residence of Gurdou Bill.

SIXTH GENERATION. 215

720 t Julia Ann-,? ]>- Sept- 255 180?5 m- Jolin G- Hughes.

721 Polly,7 b. Sept. 25, 1809; m. Asa P. Edgecomb, of.

Groton, June 25, 1827. She d. June 10, 1829, and left one son, David8 (Edgecomb), who d. in 1863, leaving one daughter, Nina9 (Edgecomb), now living in Brooklyn, N. Y.

722 Hiram Geer,7 b. Nov. 13, 1810 ; d. in Montville, Dec. 26,

1830.

723 t John Wight,7 b. Jan. 4, 1813 ; m. Prudence Gallup.

724 t Benajah Park,7 b. Dec. 5, 1814 ; m. (1) Mary B. Pitcher.

(2) Louisa M. Peck.

725 t James Alexander,7 b. March 30, 1817 ; m. Ann L. Lord.

726 Ellen Jane,7 b. March 18, 1819.

727 t Lucy Stark,7 b. March 23, 1822; m. Ebenezer E. Brock-

way.

728 Gilbert La Fayette,7 b. Oct. 7, 1824 ; d. Oct. 14, 1838.

415.

ALEXANDER T. F. BILL6 (Benajah,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), the second son of Benajah and Content (Park) Bill ; was bora in Groton [Ledyard], Nov. 27, 1790, and was never married.

His residence was for a while in New London.

At the breaking out of the war in 1812 with Great Britain, he engaged with great earnestness in the contest. He was appointed recruiting officer, and stationed at New London. His energy and impulsive character, aided by the general stagnation in business consequent on the war, enabled him in a brief space of time to enlist a company of soldiers. He was assigned to the U. S. Twenty-third Regiment, under the command of Col. Cutting. He was, prior to this con- solidation, commissioned ensign, July 6, 1812, and as first lieutenant, Aug. 13, 1812. He received high encomiums from his superiors for the zeal and ability with which he served the Government, and especially was he thus complimented by a Col. (or Mr.) Washington, a descendant of Gen. George Washington, who held at that time some important office

216 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

under the Government, and visited New London during or near the close of said war. Mr. Bill was afterwards appointed Deputy United States Marshal for the District of Columbia.

At the commencement of the Florida war, in 1835, he again rallied to the defense of his countrv, and ere it ended he died, in Pensacola, May 22, 1837.

lie was a man noted for some eccentricities of manner, but yet was greatly honored for his patriotic and noble qualities. To say that he was ardent, impulsive, and energetic would be saying nothing that his character would contradict ; had he lived in this age of steam and electric forces, he would have been more in his true time and place.

416.

SAEAII BILL6 (Benajah,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding ; was born in Groton [Led- yard], May 7, 1793 ; and married, first, Amos Williams, junior, Feb. 4, 1816. They lived in the first house south of Gurdon Bill's residence, in what was then Xorth Groton.

They had no children. lie died June 21, 1828. Her second husband was Capt. Jacob Gallup, whom she married Oct. 15, 1830; he died Nov. 11, 1S52. They lived in the town of Ledyard, and his occupation was that of a farmer. Capt. Jacob Gallup was a worthy representative of the olden time ; a man of unsullied honor, of great energy and firmness, possess- ing an inflexible will, yet, withal, in his family relations he was kind and tender-hearted and overflowing with good-humor ; in his intercourse with his fellow-men he was often stern and punc- tilious. He gave to the writer, who knew him very well, always an idea of Andrew Jackson, in his mental composition, and we may add, what was quite true, that his personal appearance and stature were not unlike.

He represented his town in the lower branch of the State Legislature just about as often as he would consent to serve iu that capacity !

Mrs. Gallup was distinguished for many charming traits of

SIXTH GENERATION. 217

character. Her personal beauty and elegance of manners, with great gentleness of spirit, combined with rare social qualities and her never-failing good sense, were not among the least of these. Visitors at that hospitable mansion never departed but with blessings on her, and on her generous and courteous husband.

After the death of her second husband and the marriage of her only daughter, she removed to Montville, Ct., and resided with this daughter, to whom she was now more than ever most devotedly attached. Since the death of this only child, her ambition and spirits have become much chastened. She now lives at the old homestead in Ledyard, quite advanced in years, and is much honored for her many womanly virtues.

By her second husband, Capt. Jacob Gallup, she had one child, a daughter, viz. :

729 Sarah7 (Gallup), who m. Calvin Allyn,' of Montville, Ct.

She d. in 1864, leaving one. child.

417.

ELISHA SATTERLEE BILL6 (Benajah,5 Phmeas," Joshua,3 Philip,2 John'), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Groton [Ledyard], March 1, 1796, and married on the first of Nov., 1817, Olivet Geer, of Preston, Ct., the daughter of Jephthah Geer. She was born Jan. 24, 1800, and died in Griswold, March 19, 1837. His second wife was Mrs. Celes- tina Lucy Ann Wolcott (Shaw) Barber, whom he married on July 23, 1837 (one day being sufficient to complete the ceremony, notwithstanding the length of the lady's name !) She died Feb. 9, 1866.

This family resided in Griswold, Ct. ; we can note nothing else remarkable of them except we were to call attention to the fact that this is the most numerous family of children embraced in this volume.

The children by the first wife were :

730 f Sarah Maria,7 b. Feb. 18, 1819; m. (1) Silas Fitch. (2)

Roswell Turner. 15

218 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

731 f James Leonard,7 b. Aug. 10, 1821; m. (1) Lucy A.

Main. (2) Juliett Chapman.

732 t Jephthah Geer,7 b. Sept. 7, 1823 ; m. Prudence P. Benjamin.

733 Ann Elizabeth,7 b. , 1825 ; d. Aug. 26, 1827.

734 f Amos Williams,7 b. Jan. 26, 1828; m. (l) Mary E. How-

land. (2) O. A. Latham.

735 t Sidney Worthington,7 b. Oct. 23, 1830 ; m. Emeline Hyde.

736 t Elisha,7 b. June 29, 1833 ; m. Frances M. Richmond.

737 f Ezra Gardner,7 b. Oct. 3,1836; m. (1) Lauretta Hyde.

(2) Sarah Elizabeth (Masters) Champlain.

The children by second wife were :

738 Celestina Ann Elizabeth,7 b. March 27, 1839 ; d. July 23,

1857.

739 Benjamin Shaw,7 b. May 23, 1840; m. Maria Lyon. He

was a soldier in the late war ; was attached to the First Ct. Cavalry, and during the war was captured and imprisoned at Andersonville, where he, with thousands of other gallant men, misera- bly perished !

740 George Washington,7 b. Sept. 14, 1841; m. . Lives

in Preston. 74:1 Lucy Angeline,7 b. Jan. 4, 1844; d. June, 1850.

742 William Francis,7 b. March 7, 1845 ; d. April 7, 1845.

743 Hibbard Denison,7 b. March 7, 1847. Resides in Provi-

dence, R. I.

744 Henry Edgar,7 b. April 14, 1848.

745 Nelson Alexander,7 b. April 17, 1849.

746 Edna Alberta,7 b. July 3, 1853 ; d. April 12, 1857.

747 Nancy Angenette,7 b. Sept. 2, 1855.

418.

NELSON IIORATIUS BILL6 (Benajah,5 Phineas/ Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; was born in Groton [Ledyard], Sept. 24, 1798. He married on Nov. 27, 1822, Betsey Stark, who was horn July 11, 1798, a daughter of Caleb Stark, of Lebanon.

This family were residents of Lebanon, and one of his sous resides near there.

SIXTH GENERATION. 219

He leased, according to the Lebanon Record of Deeds, vol. 27, p. 298, a farm of 250 acres to the State of Connecti- cut, from Sept. 8, 1832, to 1836, for the sum of $900, and in 1837 sells to the town of Lebanon 40 acres, situated in Goshen Society.

He died Sept. 22, 1837. His widow is still living.

Their children were :

748 f Horatio Nelson,7 b. March 25, 1824; m. Julia Ann

Branch.

749 Edward Lyman,7 b. Nov. 28, 1825 ; d. July 27, 1841.

750 f Jeremiah Canning,7 b. Sept. 21, 1827; m. Julia Hurlbut

Corey.

422.

GTIRDON BILL6 (Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Joshua and Abigail Bill ; was born in Groton [Ledyard], Jan. 18, 1784. He married Nov. 18, 1821, Lucy Yerrington.* She was born Jan. 6, 1795, and was the

* Joseph Yerrington, the father of the wife of Gurdon Bill, was born 1742, and was twice married — first, about 1770, to Lucy Leffingwell— second, to Anna (Witter) Park, the daughter of Ezra Witter, of Preston, and the widow of Jonathan Park.

The children by the first wife, Lucy Leffingwell, were : Amos (Yerrington). He died at sea.

Polly (Yerrington). She married William Grant, a supposed de- scendant of Mattlie Grant, who was also the ancestor of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. They had children :

Amos Yerrington (Grant), m. (1) Eebecca Fish. (2)

Anna Gore, daughter of Asa Gore. Lucy (Grant), in. John H. Shelly. Joseph (Grant), m. Susan Youngs. Betsey (Grant), m. Reuben Brooks. William (Grant), m. Nancy Hardenburgh. Polly (Grant), m. Randal Wilmot, the father of Judge David Wilmot, of Towanda, Pa., who is famous as the author of the "Wilmot Proviso." Nathan (Grant), m. Jemima Gillett.

220 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

daughter of Joseph and Anna ("Witter Park) Yerrington, of Preston, Ct.

It is very difficult at any time for a child to speak of a

Betsey (Yerrington), in. Peleg Brown. They had five children, viz. :

Polly,

Betsey,

Lucy,

Edwin,

Almira, Ezekiel (Yerrington), m. Eunice Starkweather, and had thirteen children :

Caroline,

Harriet,

William,

Sophia,

Louisa,

John,

Sidney,

Horace,

Hiram,

Austin,

Edwin,

Franklin,

Lucius. Lucy (Yerrington). She m. Gurdon Chapman. They had one child, Gurdon Chapman, Junior. He was a well-known citizen of Norwich, and was at one time its Mayor. He in. first, Betsey Phillips; second, Mary Ann Moore: died about 1864, leaving no children. He was eminently a self- made man. Kuth (Yerrington). She married Asa A. Gore. They lived in Preston and had children :

Hannah (Gore), m. Jesse Bedent, of Ledyard, Ct.

Eliza (Gore), m. Amos L. Latham, of Ledyard.

Amos A. (Gore), m. Orra Geer.

Anna (Gore), m. Amos Yerrington Grant, of N. Y.

Asa (Gore), m. Christa Cook, of Preston, Ct.

Lucy O. (Gore), m. Charles S. Williams.

Lydia M. (Gore), m. Daniel Wright.

SIXTH GENERATION. 221

parent without bias, but especially is it so when that parent has been removed by death ; yet the writer feels it to be no flattery to the memory of the subject of this sketch— Mr.

Clarinda (Gore), m. Amos A. Standish.

John P. (Gore), m. (1) Hannah Hallett. (2) .

Joseph Albert (Gore), m. Nancy Fitch.

Polly (Gore), m. Joseph Berger, of Germany. Nancy (Yerrington), m. Barstow Bromley. They had : —

Joseph (Bromley), m. Miner.

Maria (Bromley), m. Daniel Lovett.

Calvin (Bromley), m. .

J. Duane (Bromley). Drowned.

Sanford (Bromley), m. Rose.

Eliza (Bromley), m. Browning.

Ezekiel (Bromley), m. .

Lucy Anna (Bromley), m. John Gager.

Gurdon Chapman (Bromley), m. .

Charles (Bromley), m. .

Lucretia (Yerrington), m. Justin Brooks, of New York. They had children :

Nancy (Brooks),

Randall (Brooks).

Children by the second wife, Anna "Witter (Park), were :

Sally (Yerrington), m. Caleb Woodward, of Preston. They had children :

Caleb Nelson (Woodward), m. Amanda D. Scott. Joseph M. (Woodward).

Shubael Park (Woodward), m. Martha J. Brewster. Gideon P. (Woodward). Sarah Avery (Woodward). Unmarried. Joseph Avery (Yerrington), b. March 6, 1793 ; m. Mary Park Meech, of Preston; b. Aug. 22, 1792. They had children: Mary Emeline (Yerrington), b. Sept. 20, 1814; m.

Morgan Safford, and lives in Norwich. Luther Smith (Yerrington), b. April 29, 1816. Has had two wives. Died Oct. 4, 1851.

Lucretia (Yerrington), b. March 11, 1818; m.

Tarbox. Lives in Norwich. Lucy Ann (Yerrington), b. Feb. 17, 1820; m. Albert Ray. She d. Aug. 31, 1844.

222 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Gnrdon Bill — to say that nature had endowed him with mental faculties of no common order. It is true, his earlier life afforded but slender opportunity for acquiring knowledge. His home was far removed from the public school, which in those early days was holden but for very brief periods, and then always in the most inclement season of the year. We have heard him say, that, up to the time when he was twenty- one years old, he had not attended school as many days as he had attained years. But at this period, feeling greatly the want of an education, he resolved to make an effort to obtain it. After a summer's work for wages, he repaired, to the Plainfield Academy, where he was admitted as a student to one of the lower classes ; and though his pride was greatly mortified at this necessity, still his purpose remained unshaken. He rapidly rose from class to class, till he was ranked with those of his own age. As a student thus situated is always sure to appreciate his opportunities, it may be believed that his progress was rapid, and entirely satisfactory both to teachers and pupil. On leaving this institution he was foremost of his class in all those branches to which he had devoted his attention. That he excelled in spelling, reading, writing, also in grammar, and in mathematics and surveying, is well known to us. His aim had been to fit him- self as a teacher, and on returning to his native town he at

Charles Alonzo (Yerrington;, b. Feb. 14, 1822; m.

Sarah "Weeks. Stephen Noyes (Yerrington), b. Jan. 9, 1825 ; in.

Morse. Ezra Witter (Yerrington), b. Aug. 17, 1828; m. Mary

Huntington, and resides in Norwich. Henry Warren (Yerrington), b. March 29, 1831. Sarah Brewer (Yerrington), b. June 16, 183-4; in.

Lucius Fenton.

Noyes (Yerrington), b. .

Lucy (Yerrington), b. Jan. C, 1795 ; m. Gurdon Bill, of Groton, in the text, Nov. 18, 1821.

SIXTH GENERATION. 223

once engaged in that calling. This employment he pursued for seven successive winters. The intervening summers he spent in farming, receiving therefor the customary compen- sation of those times. He taught the first grammar school ever held in the town of Groton. Long ere the close of the period above named, he had" acquired a wide and honorable reputation as a teacher and citizen, and was the ever welcome guest of the people in the adjacent region.

During the war of 1812 he was temporarily stationed on picket duty, at Stonington, while the British fleet were cruising off that port.

He was for a brief period in the wholesale fish trade, at the old Fly Market in New York City ; leaving there, he em- barked in mercantile business with Mr. Philip Grey, in his native town, Groton [Ledyard], where afterwards he pur- chased lands and resided. After a few years of successful mercantile life, he bought out his partner and conducted the business on his own account. He continued thus till his family had considerably increased in numbers. His family being mostly boys, he thought it his duty to rear them in habits of industry and economy, and to this end he changed his busi- ness to the pursuit of agriculture.

He had already purchased what had constituted the chief part of two small farms, on which were three dwelling-houses, three barns, and one store, situate on three of the four corners made by the main roads, one leading from Norwich to Ston- ington, and the other from New London, through Groton, to Preston City.

This place was a central point, rough in its externals, still quite characteristic of a country home in New England. There was much of severe labor to be performed to make this home on the hillside blossom, yet it was cheerfully done, and the now comparatively smooth fields, bounded on nearly all sides by its giant walls, attest somewhat of the character of the man. His voice and influence as a citizen was always on the side of truth and justice ; he despised a mean action, and

221 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

was the friend of the defenseless and charitable everywhere. " Do unto others as you would have them to do to you " was his rule in life.

In 1828 he represented his native town [Groton] in the State Legislature. His acquaintance with public men was extensive for one situated as he was, away from public centers. Few men in Eastern Connecticut have led so quiet a life, and yet impressed society as much as he. In the division of the old town of Groton he was chiefly instrumental ; it was a protracted political contest of a very determined character, and but for the aid of such persevering and reso- lute men as Capt. Jacob Gallup, Capt. Anson Avery, Col. Eoswell Allyn, and Capt. John Spicer, the town of Groton might to-day boast its ancient boundaries ; but at the spring session of the State Legislature, in 1836, their efforts were crowned with success, and a committee appointed to arrange the details of the division. This Committee met at the house of Gurdon Bill and performed its duties.

An incident occurred at this time and place which is of considerable interest to the writer, and possibly merits mentionino- here. A son was born to Mr. Bill, and the above-named committee proposed to christen the said son, who was the first-born in the new town, after the town, and this was accordingly done, accompanied by a slight token from the chairman of the committee, Capt. Anson Avery. Thus the name of Ledyard, which had been given to the town, in honor of Col. William Ledyard, was given to this son.

Mr Gurdon Bill* died Sept. 10, 1856, aged 72 years ; and

* We are unable to procure an original autograph that does his pen- manship justice, and have been obliged to accept the following: —

6C<7756?77/

SIXTH GENERATION. 225

was buried with ceremony by the Masonic fraternity, in his family burying-ground, located on his farm. The following lines were selected by him prior to his decease, and, at his request, were placed on his tombstone.

"In hope of future bliss, Content I lie, Though pleased to live, Yet not displeased to die.

" Life hath its charms and its sorrows too,

For both to all- wise Heaven our thanks are due. How far my hope is vain, or founded well, God only knows Eternity will tell."

Lucy (Yerrington) Bill, wife of Gurdon Bill, died of a fever, October 1st, 1846, aged fifty-one years, after an illness of seven days. Taken in perfect health, as supposed, she was in the brief space of a single week reduced to a lifeless corpse. This was a sad blow to that family, and especially so to the five young children thus suddenly bereft of the tender affection and constant care of a most exemplary mother, who so much needed a mother's watchfulness to mold and guide them. The gloom which filled and crowded those never-to-be-forgotten days, comes so vividly up before us as we write, that it is with great reluctance we go forward, so sacred and so solemn is the task. A loving father was still left us, yet his cup of bitterness was full, and that only added to the general bereavement. Death was to us so strange a visitor, and he seemed to have touched our sainted mother so lightly, that we were awed by its presence, and fascinated by the remarkable likeness of the dead to the living !

It is right and proper that all children should regard their mothers as the " best of mothers," yet we have only to look around us and note the wide difference in all that goes to make

22 6 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

up a perfected character in the mothers of the race, to make us feel that ours was a truly noble woman and model mother and housewife. Her character, as her person, was one of great loveliness. She expressed but one wish for which she desired to live, and that was that she might see her children grown to man's estate.

She was a member of the Baptist church at Preston City, and her life ever exemplified that of the true Christian.

Ever blessed is her name and memory in the recollection of her children, and may the recollection of her gentle and exem- plary spirit be in death, as in life, a guide to their ever-erring footsteps.

The children of Gurdon and Lucy (Yerringtun) Bill were :

751 f Edward Mitchell,7 b. April 24, 1822 ; m. Esther Alice

Sylvester.

752 t Henry,7 ) twins, born ) m. Julia Octavia Chapman.

753 Joshua,7 ) May 18,1824; ) d. May 19, 1824. 54 Joseph,7 b. Feb. 12, 1826 ; d. March 8, 1826.

755 t Gurdon,7 b. June 7, 1827 ; in. Emily Alice Denison.

756 Frederic,7 b. April 6, 1829; d. April 9, 1830.

757 Eliza,7 b. May 27, 1831; d. July 31, 1847, of typhoid

fever.

758 f Frederic,7 b. Sept. 7, 1833; m. Lucy Glover Denison.

759 t Ledyard,7 b. May 14, 1836.

760 Harriet,7 b. April 28, 1838 ; d. Nov. 17, 1857.

761 t Charles,7 b. June 7, 1840.

423.

SABEINA BILL6 (Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua3, Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding; was bom in Groton [Led- yard], Jan. 14, 1786, and married Sept. 15, 1805, Samuel Taylor, born Feb. 26, 1781.

In girlhood she was the pet and pride of her father's house- hold, and among the neighboring circles was an ever welcome guest. In maturer years her life was that of an exemplary Christian ; possessed of a noble nature, and adorned by all of those gentle qualities that attract and cement true friendship.

SIXTH GENERATION. 227

Her memory is cherished in the recollections of her kindred. She died July 29, 1817, at Roxbury, Delaware County, New York, where her husband at that time resided. Mr. Taylor afterwards married her sister Abigail.

The children of Samuel and Sabrina (Bill) Taylor were :

762 t Samuel Bill7 (Taylor), b. July 20, 1806; m. Eunice G. Miner,

of Mystic, Ct.

763 Rodman7 (Taylor), b. Jan. 19, 1808 ; m. Cynthia Mudgett.

They reside in Michigan and have children : Lorain,8 Levi,3 Elvira,8 and Macy.8

764 t Alfred H.7 (Taylor), b. Jan. 4, 1812; in. Phebe Eliza

Taylor.

765 Maria7 (Taylor), b. March 19, 1814; m. Edwin St. John.

She died Jan. 11, 1848. They had, Urban,8 who d. Sept. 6, 1864. Elizabeth8 is living near Lindenville, N. Y., and is unmarried, 1867.

766 f Mary Ann7 (Taylor), b. Feb. 16, 1816; m. Horatio K

Parker.

424.

SAEAH BILL6 (Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John'), a sister of the preceding; was bom in Groton [Ledyard], Sept. 16, 1787, and was married about 1810, to Robert Chapman, of Groton.

This family resided in Groton, where they both died. She died Jan. 9, 1845, and was buried in the family burying- ground of her brother, Gurdon Bill, in Ledyard.

The children of Robert and Sarah (Bill) Chapman were :

767 Robert7 (Chapman), b. Aug. 9, 1812 ; m. Sept. 15, 1838,

Ann Miller, who was born April 11, 1821. This family reside in Groton, nearly opposite the city of New London, on a large and beautiful farm which overlooks both the city and harbor, and also commands an extended view of Long Island Sound. In summer, the writer, from this rare point for observation, has witnessed, especially during

22S THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

the sojourn of the New York yacht fleet, views at once picturesque and beautiful. Mr. Chapman is one of the most industrious farmers" we ever met, and he is possessed of greater physical endurance than that of any man we ever knew ; but time is rapidly telling on his overtaxed system. His amiable wife seems, notwithstanding the multi- tudinous demands of her numerous family on her time and attention, to grow more ponderous in person and cheerful in spirit as the years roll along.

With years of prosperous toil they have secured this pleasant home, and naught now remains for them but to enjoy it. The children of Robert Chapman are:

Ann Elizabeth8 (Chapman), b. March 2, 1844.

John8 (Chapman), b. July 11, 1846.

Charlotte Starrs (Chapman), b. Feb. 2, 1848.

George Henry8 (Chapman), b. Nov. 7, 1850.

Charles Hempstead8 (Chapman), b. Oct. 7, 1854.

Frank8 (Chapman), b. May 3, 1S56.

"Walter Eugene8 (Chapman), b. Oct. 31, 1859.

Florence Marion8 (Chapman), b. Nov. 11, 1861 ; d. May 1, 1S62.

768 Sarah7 (Chapman) b. ; m. Allyn Avery. They

resided in Greenville, Ct. She died , and left

children :

George8 (Avery),

Robert8 (Avery),

Elizabeth8 (Avery).

769 William7 (Chapman), b. ; died at sea.

425. PHINEAS BILL6 (Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding, was born in Groton (Led- yard), on 16th Sept., 1789. He married Fanny Gallup, Nov. 23, 1817. She was born Dec. 10, 1787, daughter of Jesse Gallup, of Groton.

SIXTH GENERATION. 099

Phineas Bill, in the war of 1812, was sergeant of volun- teers called out for the defense of the seaboard. He was stationed at New London, and then at Stonino;ton.

His trade was that of a cooper, as was that of his father and grandfather before him. He worked at this employment for a number of years in Groton, but finally removed to Norwich about 1830, taking his family with him ; from there he embarked on two whaling voyages as a cooper. After his return from sea he removed to Sag Harbor, Long Island, and at the end of a year, having settled his family here, he went South to work at his trade, and while at the parish of Assump- tion, Louisiana, he was brutally murdered by a fellow-work- man, Dec. 19, 1839, aged 50 years 3 months. He was buried at that place.

The following statement, copied from a Norwich, Ct., paper, gives the particulars of this terrible affair.

Mr. Dunham: — By the following melancholy intelligence, it will be learned that a husband and a father has been relentlessly torn from amidst his family and a large circle of relatives and friends, to whom he was attached by the strongest ties of friendship and esteem. The de- ceased was naturally a very inoffensive and quiet citizen — so much so, that the guilt of the unfeeling inebriate, who imbrued his hands with in- nocent blood, is aggravated tenfold. He was a native of Groton, in this State, but removed his family to this town some years since, where they have resided until within a few months past, when they removed to Sag Harbor, L. I. He was a cooper by trade, and had performed a whaling voyage in that capacity :

IIOEPJBLE MUBDER.

New Orleans, Dec. 26, 1839.

A most atrocious murder was committed on the 20th inst., in the parish of Assumption, La., on the person of a man named Phineas Bill, about 50 years of age, and but lately arrived from Boston. The perpetrator of this diabolical deed is named Robeson, who, as well as the deceased, is a cooper. It appears that this Robeson is a drunkard, and, jealous of the old man taking his situation, in a fit of desperation, after a few words he struck him with a cooper's axe immediately below the throat, on the

230 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

left side, commencing from the first rib to the fifth, dividing the breast- bone, from the first rib to the third, exposing the thorax from the point opposite the first to the fourth rib, causing instant death. The murderer gave himself up to the authorities, saying he was satisfied that lie had killed him, for he had lived quite long enough. A coroner's inquest was held on the body, and a verdict of murder rendered against the prisoner. We are sorry to say that the deceased has left a wife and several children to lament his untimely end. — New York Sun.

The widow, Mrs. Fanny (Gallup) Bill, is still living, and for ten years has resided with her son, Erastus Denison Bill, first at Sheffield, 111., then at Plymouth, Indiana. She is in almost perfect health, and retains her physical and mental faculties quite unimpaired, though she verges on her eightieth birthday. We have to acknowledge the receipt of several autograph letters from her, which show an unusually retentive memory and sprightliness of spirit.

The children of Phineas and Fanny Bill are :

770 Sabrina Taylor,7 b. Sept. 19, 1818; m. John Chester, at

Sag Harbor, Jan. 28, 1849. She died Sept, 25, 1849. No children.

771 f Frank Wesley,7 b. June 4, 1820 ; m. Rowena Cleveland.

772 Abby,7b. Sept. 13, 1822; m. Sept. 19, 1841, to Frederic

A. Glover, of Sag Harbor, a carpenter. They removed to Minnesota about 1856-7. They have three children living.

773 f Edwin,7 b. July 17, 1824 ; in. Eleanor A. Miller.

774 f Erastus Denison,7 b. May 13, 1826 ; m. (1) Eliza J. Phil-

lips. (2) A. M. West.

775 Adelia A.,7 b. April 5, 1828; m. to William L. Heath,

April 18, 1849. He was a sailor, of Fall River, Mass. They removed in 1855 to Illinois, and engaged in farming. In 1858, June 22, they re- moved to Minnesota. They have six children.

776 Mary F.,7 b. Aug. 26, 1829 ; m. June 8, 1847, George M.

Tallmage, a ship-carpenter. They reside at Sag Harbor, L. I., and have live children.

777 Phineas,7 b. Aug. 1, 1833 ; died Sept, 29, 1833.

SIXTH GENERATION". 231

The two first children of this family were born in Groton, the third in Stonington, and the others in Groton, except the youngest, which was born in the town of Norwich.

426.

ABIGAIL BILL6 (Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,5 John1), a sister of the foregoing, Phineas Bill ; was born in Groton [Ledyard], Aug. 29, 1791. She married, on the 11th Dec, 1818, Dea. Samuel Taylor, who had been the husband of her sister Sabrina. She was known as " Abby," and is so spoken of by her relatives and descendants.

Mr. Taylor was a truly good man, and well known for his uprightness in all the affairs of life ; if he erred it was on the side of kindness of heart. He lived an honorable and exemplary life, abounding in piety and good deeds. He was at one time prosperous and independent in circumstances, owning a large and valuable farm in what was and still is the garden of the Genesee Valley, but in consequence of the prodigality and reckless habits of some of his boys, he was eventually reduced, prior to his decease, to very humble circumstances. They resided in the town of Yates, Orleans County, New York, where all his children by this his second wife were born.

He died at Lindenville, K Y., Dec. 14, 1858, of cancer, aged 78. She died April 19, 1863, aged 72 years.

Their children were :

778 t Gurdon Bill7 (Taylor), b. Sept. 21, 1819; m. (1) Mary

Morris. (2) Amanda Johnson.

779 Henry' (Taylor), b. Dec. 12, 1820; m. Helen Laura

Chamberlain, Dec, 1843. He died Aug. 11, 1846,

leaving one son :

Henry Selden8 (Taylor), of Lockport, N. Y.

780 James Hervey7 (Taylor), b. Aug. 1, 1822; m. his cousin,

Mary E. Taylor, the daughter of Henry Taylor, of Trumansburg, N. Y. He was a man of fine

232 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

business talents, but became insane. He died Feb. 11, 1863, leaving one child : Laura8 (Taylor).

781 Julius7 (Taylor), b. Aug. 1, 1824; m. Frances Ewing,

July 1G, 1848, at New London, Ct. She was b. Feb. 17, 1828. He was for a while engaged as a writer on the New York News, but latterly has been engaged in other business. They have no children.

782 Elizabeth7 (Taylor), b. Sept. 7, 1826 ; d. Sept. 3, 1831.

427.

BETSEY BILL6 (Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip.2 John1), a sister of the preceding ; was born in Groton [Led- yard], August 24, 1793. She married John Darrow, a widower, and a native of Preston, Ct., October, 1825. He was by trade a cooper, and resided at this time in western Massa- chusetts, near the southwest corner of that State, where they remained only one year, when they removed to Meeting- House Hill, in North Groton [Ledyard], and took up their residence in the first or second house east of the residence of Esquire John Spicer, on the road leading from said meeting-house toward Stonington. Here their daughter Lucy was born. It is not known exactly how long they remained at that place. Mr. Darrow found it very unre- munerative in the prosecution of his trade there, and as Xew London offered many advantages, he determined on a removal thither, which was accordingly done. They still reside in that city, both having attained to a comfortable old age. Though life's toil has borne heavily upon him till now, lie is on what might be termed the "retired list.'' His chief traits of character are his quiet and unobtrusive habits, united to a most gentle and tender heart.

AVe should do neither justice to Mrs. Darrow — ""Aunt Betsey," as she is familiarly known among her near relatives

SIXTH GENERATION. 933

— nor justice to her friends or ourselves, if we failed to give here nothing but a mere genealogical record of this notable member of the family, leaving her many pleasing and marked characteristics entirely out of view.

In the western and central part of the old town of Groton, about six miles from New London, and some two miles south- west from Meeting-Iiouse Hill, on a gently sloping hillside, amid the usual scenery of New England, stands a story-and-a- half unpainted cottage, where the subject of this sketch — " Aunt Betsey " — was born, as were all the children of her father's family. This house, then the homestead of the family, is of that old-fashioned type, having large fireplaces, friendly old hearthstones, and projecting timbers of a century gone — ven- erable and strong in the impressions they leave upon the mind, not unlike our ideas of the character of the early popu- lation of our country — simple, strong, and bold in truth and manhood. This home and its surroundings, originally plea- sant, is now much changed, from the sad neglect of later occupants.

It was in this plain and unpretending home, like so many others in New England from which have gone sturdy and patriotic men and women, that the subject of this reference was reared and educated ; of course, her advantages were small, as at this time the country had but just emerged from the Revolutionary War, in which her father had been wounded, in the defense of New London ; while habits of simplicity and economy characterized the people, especially all the agricultural communities, and the opportunities for an education were small indeed compared with the present. This lack of early advan- tages was in a great measure counterbalanced and overcome by that rare jewel, good sense ; then too she was gifted with many cpialities and traits of character of more value than the mere learning of schools, which, even in early life, made her an engaging companion, and in womanhood a valued and en- tertaining friend. A shrewd observation of life and its events gave a keenness to her native wit, that flowed as fresh and

16

234: THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

sparkling as a living fountain ; and her vivacity of spirit was equal to her humor, and, as may be inferred, the posses- sion of these qualities rendered her an attractive conversation- alist, and an hour in her company was a sure medicine for depression and the " blues."

For several years she kept house for her brother Gurdon, who was then a merchant in North Groton, now Ledyard, until his marriage.

In early life she united with the Baptist Church, and has continued a consistent and worthy member.

The only surviving member of a family of nine children, and herself already past the allotted threescore and ten, she still retains much of the vigor and freshness of youth, both physically and mentally, and one may still note the unladed color in her cheek ; and her unbended form gives proof of how well she has endured the flight of time, which has whitened the heads and palsied the hands of so many of her earlier companions. There is every promise of many years yet to her, and however long her life shall be prolonged, sad indeed will be the day when her cheering voice is hushed midst the silence of the tomb.

They had two children, namely :

An infant, that died at birth.

783 Lucy,7 b. Feb. 3, 1829, at "Meeting-House Hill," in Led- yard, then Groton. She married, first, Francis Smith Hunter, on 21st June, 1845. He died at sea, as is supposed. Her second husband is Charles Henry Mills, whom she married Sept. 15, 1858. He is a jeweller, and is in business at 126 Atlantic Street, Brooklyn, New York, in which city this family reside. There are no children by either marriage.

SIXTH GENERATION. 235

429.

AVERY BILL6 (Joshua,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,5 John1), a brother of the foregoing, and youngest son and child of Joshua and Abigail Bill ; was born in Groton [Led- yard], Oct. 1, 1796. He married, on the 10th December, 1820, Betsky Barnes, of Preston, born March 20, 1797. She was a true Christian woman, possessing very many estimable traits of character, and died much lamented by her relatives and friends, July 7, 1861, and was buried at Norwich, in the new cemetery near Norwich Falls.

He was an industrious and hard working man. His oc- cupation was ostensibly that of a farmer, though the cutting and hauling of timber and wood to market received his chief attention. In a brief period he stripped several farms in Ledyard, Preston, and Griswold of their growth of wood, accumulating in this way some property ; he finally settled in Southington, Ct., where he died March 12, 1866. His remains were placed by the side of those of his late wife, in the cemetery at Norwich.

He reared a large family of children, and had lived to see them inducted up to manhood and each comfortably settled. This, to a parent, must be supreme satisfaction. It may be noted as remarkable, that in this family of ten children death has never broken as yet a single link ; their united lives amount to the number of over three hundred and fifty years, and, further, all are married except the youngest.

The names of these, their children, are :

784 t Avery,7 b. Dec. 5, 1821 ; m. Hannah Ray.

785 t Punier,7 b. April 20, 1823 ; m. Sarah Ann Brown.

786 t Maria Elizabeth,7 b. Dee, 3, 1824 ; m. Horatio Barden.

787 f Roswell,7 b. Jan. 14, 1827; m. Anna L. Kuhn.

788 t Nancy,7 b. Dec. 4, 1829 ; m. Cyrus Chapman.

789 Fanny,7 b. Dec. 6, 18jl ; m. Julius Chapman, Oct 15,

1850. They reside in Griswold, and have no children.

236 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

790 Joshua,7 b. Nov. 20, 1833; m. Angeline 1ST. Neal, Nov.

11, 1856. They reside in Southington, Ct., and have no children.

791 f Emeline,1 b. Dec. 20, 1 835 ; m. William O. Brooks.

792 Abby,7 b. March 20, 1838; m. Henry D. Frost, of South-

ington, Oct. 18, 1864. They reside at Plainville, Ct., and have one child.

793 Mary Ann,7 b. June 14, 1840. She is teaching school in

Illinois.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 237

SEVENTH GEKEBATIOK

As we pass from the sixth to the seventh generation, we leave the dead and have to deal with the living. Whatever terms of praise we may have indulged in when speaking of the departed, and of their life and character, so far as known to us, we have felt has been merited, and it has been no more than their just deserts; but it is always safer, if not easier, to pronounce on the lives of the dead than to indulge in eulogistic terms of the living, and, as we proceed, we shall be more guarded ; yet we hope to speak justly of all.

Among all of those of the six preceding generations there scarce remains to us a living soul, at least they can all be counted on one's hands. We do not now recall to mind any except the families in the British Provinces, and our affectionate aunt, Mrs. Betsey (Bill) Darrow, of New London, also several children of Benajah Bill.5 These of the past only remain, and their sojourn among the living can at longest be but brief.

Mingled feelings of sadness and of pleasure take posses- sion of us as we pass this landmark in the family history — feelings of sadness as we turn from the contemplation of the memorials of the dead, and feelings of pleasure as we advance to the consideration of those now living; active and busy with the affairs of life, establishing their characters, and all forming, as we trust, good names, which will be the chiefest inheritance to their children.

431.

BENJAMIN BILL7 (Benjamin,6 Charles/ Jonathan,4 Jona- than,8 James,2 John1), the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Watts) Bill, of Chelsea, Mass. ; was born on Jan. 19, 1762, and

23S THE BTLL FAMILY MEMOIR.

on the 6th of May, 1787, married Tabitha Nichols, horn April 7, 1761, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Burditt) Nichols, of Maiden, Mass.

This family resided in Chelsea, where he died July 22, 1790, leaving two children. His widow married, March 11, 1801, Winslow Sargent, of Maiden. She died on the 28th of May of the succeeding year, and was the second wife of Sar- gent, who wTas married twice afterwards. He died Sept. 8, 1819, at Maiden.

The children of Benjamin Bill were :

794 Betsey,8 b. May 14, 1788 ; unmarried, and living in 18GG.

795 f Benjamin,8 b. March 5, 1790 ; m. Elizabeth Cutter.

432.

GARDNER BILL7 (Richard,6 Samuel,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Thomas,2 John1), a son of Richard and Abigail (Kenney) Bill ; was born in Roxbury, Mass., Sept. 19, 1773, and married Arpatia Church, of Guilford, Vt.

The records of this family and their recollections of their ancestors have been very conflicting, and consequently un- certain ; but we have, we think, so nearly established the ancestry, that we feel little hesitation in pronouncing our conclusions correct.

Gardner was brought up in Chesterfield, N. H. At the age of twenty-one he settled in Wardsborough, Vt., and soon thereafter married and removed to Jamaica, in the same State, where he died June 30, 1844. His wife died there, Aug. 7, 1816. For near forty years prior to his decease, he had by accident been rendered quite infirm.

Their children were :

796 America Church,8 b. Aug. 18, 1797; d. in infancy.

797 t Alanson,8 b. Nov. 14, 1798 ; m. Clarissa Howard.

798 t John Alonzo,8 b. Dec. 26, 1800; m. (1) . (2) Doro-

thy Gleason.

799 f Lorenzo,8 b. Nov. 16, 1802 ; m. Pamela Maynard

800 t Lewis,8 b. Sept. 3, 1804; m. .

SEVENTH GENERATION. 239

801 Cotton Brown,8 b. June 4, 1807 ; d. young.

802 Celestia C.,s b. Feb. 13, 1809; m. Nathan Howard, of

Jamaica, Yt., where they still live, having had many children.

803 Joseph,8 b. Oct. 7, 1812 ; d. young.

804 Alfonzo,8 b. July 9, 1815; m. , and lives in Troy,

N. Y.

And two others who died without names. The

children of this family have adopted the final s.

433.

DAYIS BILL7 (Richard,6 Samuel,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Thomas,2 John'), a brother of the foregoing ; was born in 1775, and was never married, so far as known.

The report of this Davis is, that he was a noted traveler, and had a natural fondness for adventure, and his gift at story- telling was very remarkable. We hear of him in London and in many other places. It is also reported that he published a small volume containing an account of his travels, and that but very few of them were ever published, wdiich Ave can readily accredit, since we have sought in some of the largest public libraries for a copy without success. Nothing has been heard of him since 1815, when lie was living in London.

435.

CHARLES BILL7 (Charles,6 Charles,5 Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Charles and Lydia (Pratt) Bill, was born June 26, 1803. He married Lois Story Woodwokth, of Norwich, Ct, b. Nov. 6, 1806, and died Feb. 16, 1848. This family reside in Delhi, N. Y.

They had children :

805 Ann Eliza,8 b. Feb. 2, 1831.

806 George W.,8 b. Sept. 28, 1832.

807 Susan M.,8 b. June 28, 1835.

808 Charles W.,8 b. Oct. 28, 1838.

809 t William R.,8 b. Nov. 15, 1840.

240 TIIE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

436.

DAVID BILL7 (Charles,6 Charles,5 Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Franklin, N. Y., March 17, 1811, and was married June 21, 1835, to Louisa Kimball, who was born in Pennsylvania, March 15, 1815. This family reside in Franklin, K. Y.

They have had children: *Kj* L"», PSf'

810 Charles Abell,8 b. May 20, 1836; resides at San Jose,

Cal.

811 Lydia Maria,8 b. Feb. 17, 1838; m. in 1858, to William

H. Colburn, of Franklin, N. Y.

812 Julia Anne,8 b. May 1 1 , 1 840 ; m. Clark S. Clydenville.

813 Eunice A.,8 b. May 29, 1843 ; d. May 6, 1852.

447.

ALSON BILL7 (Bela,6 William,5 Thomas,4 Philip,' Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Bela and Lydia (Horton) Bill ; was born Dec. 16, 1800, and married .

This family is living at Laona, Winnebago County, Illinois. There are several daughters, whose names are unknown to us, but we have the name of a son :

814 James Hervey,8 b. , 1832. He was a conductor on

the Western Railroad in Mass., and was killed by the explosion of an engine, in Oct., 1864.

451.

LUCmDA BILL7 (Bela,6 William,5 Thomas,4 Philip, Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding; was born Dec. 25, 1811, and married to Edward Cheeseman, of Hinsdale, Mass., Nov. 30, 1S35.

They had children :

815 John Mack8 (Cheeseman), b. June 12,1838; m. Cynthia

Ann Foster, Jan., 1864.

SEVENTH GENERATION". 241

816 Mary Ann8 (Cheeseman), b. July 3, 1S40; d. Sept. 17,

1843.

817 Sidney Horton8 (Cheeseman), b. Aug. 11, 1843 ; m. Emily

L. Foster, March 6, 1866.

818 Edward8 (Cheeseman), }

o-i ^ T7.T •« /At. n f twins; born May 12, 1847.

819 Edwin8 (Cheeseman), J J

454.

MARSHALL BILL7 (Bela,6 William,5 Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; was born Jan., 1818, and in 1843 was married to Susan Johnson, of Sand Lake, K Y.

lie died in Washington, Mass., June 2, 1865, and was buried at Hinsdale, of the same State.

The children were :

820 Charles Arthur,8 b. Nov. 18, 1844.

821 George Archibald,8 b. Feb. 12, 1847.

822 Cyrus Edward,8 b. Nov. 14, 1850.

823 Inez Estella,8 b. Aug. 10, 1859.

456. CHARLOTTE BILL7 (Bela,6 William,5 Thomas,4 Philip,3

Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding ; was born ISTov. 8, 1824, and on April 29, 1845, married Cyeus Messenger, of Peru, Mass.

They have had children :

824 Emily Palmyra8 (Messenger), b. June 30, 1846.

825 Milan8 (Messenger), b. July 7, 1848; d. March 15, 1860.

826 Ehna Janette8 (Messenger), b. Feb. 19, 1851.

827 Willard Bela8 (Messenger), b. Dec. 16, 1852.

828 George Alson8 (Messenger), b. June 5, 1855.

829 Elmer Byron8 (Messenger), b. Sept. 22, 1857.

830 Lena Jane8 (Messenger), b. May 12, 1861.

469. ELIJAH ABELL BILL7 (Philip,6 Benjamin,6 Benjamin,4

242 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Philip,3 Philip,2 John'), the second son of Philip and Hannah (Abell) Bill, of Bozrah, Ct. ; was burn there, Aug. 18, 1804, and on May 27, 1831, married Angeline MakCxAket Hazard, of Phode Island.

Mr. Bill is a self-made man, and has risen by dint of his untiring industry and strict integrity to a position of indepen- dence and honorable station among hi:- fellow-men. He is widely known as an active and successful merchant of Nor- wich, Ct., where he has been in business during a period of forty years, ever maintaining habits of unwavering kindness and marked urbanity toward all classes ; and he enjoys to an eminent degree the confidence of the community in which he lives. He belongs, properly, to that older class of mer- chants whose word was always esteemed as good as their bond, fidelity and promptness ever characterizing all their eno-ao'ements.

He in Oct., 1860, relinquished his mercantile pursuits to his son-in-law, James S. Lewis, wlio continues the business of Mr. Bill in company with' a partner.

He is now engaged on a Government contract to deepen the channel of the Thames River, the thirty-ninth Congress having appropriated a large sum of money for this purpose.

For many years he has been President of the New London County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and has held other responsible positions which we are unable to recall. We give here a fac-simile of his autograph.

The children of Elijah Abell and A. M. (Hazard) Bill have been :

831 Elizabeth Dwight,8 b. Dec. 29, 1832; m. James Stiles

Lewis, b. Nov. 3, 1 836, son of Horace Lewis, Esq., of Stonington, Ct.

832 Sarah Hazard,8 b. April 17, 1837.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 243

833 Julia Almira,8 b. Oct. 31, 1840.

834 Mary Hannah,8 b.

835 Benjamin Leighton,8 b. April — , 1852 ; d. in June, 1855.

472.

DAVID BILL7 (David,6 Samuel,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the supposed son of David and Temperance (Harris) Bill ; was born at New London, in 1779, and married Mary P. Gallagher, March 11, 1819.

He was a hatter by trade, and was employed first in Boston, then in New York and Philadelphia. He died in the latter city, Oct. 13, J 8-13. His widow is living in New York with her son, Richard Shippen Bill.

We have been obliged to rely on the statements of the children of this family for the facts as we have given them. They are probably correct. It is supposed the wife of David Bill6 was the widow Temperance (Chappel) Harris ; if so, this would confirm the recollection of the grandchildren, that their grandmother's maiden name was Chappel.

The children of David Bill are :

836 Jane,8 b. in Boston, April 13, 1820; d. young.

837 t Richard Shippen,8 b. in Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 1821; m.

Sarah Ann Sutton.

838 David,8 b. in New York city, Feb. 8, 1824; d. in Brook-

lyn, Aug., 1826.

839 Anna M.,s b. in Brooklyn, Nov. 3, 1832 ; unmarried.

840 Frederic,8 b. in Brooklyn, Oct. 19, 1834; resides in the

city of New York.

491.

HENRY BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Ephraim,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Capt. Gurdon and Betsey B. (Tracy) Bill ; was born at Norwich, June 10, 1804, and married Nov., 1835, Letitia Henry Smith, of Philadelphia.

We regret not being able to furnish something of a sketch

244 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

of tliis member of the family. He died at Piscataway, N. J., July 1, 1850.

The children of this family were :

841 f Joseph Rowland,8 b. Feb. 9, 1837; m. Elinor Randolph

Wallen.

842 Anna Maria Henry,8 b. Jan. 18, 1839.

843 Alexander Henry,8 b. Sept. 16,1841.

844 Henry Weir,8 b. March 11, 1843. Is a clerk in N. Y.

City.

845 Mary Elizabeth,8 b. March 8, 1845 ; d. March 22, 1845.

492.

LYD1A HUNTINGTON BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Ephraim,'

Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest daughter of Oapt. Gurdon Bill ; was born at Norwich, March 18, 1806, and married, May, 1829, Rev. Samuel Seabury, a grandson of Bishop Seabury, the first Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.

This family reside in the city of New York.

The children are :

846 Anna Saltonstall8 (Seabury), b. April 14, 1830; d. young.

847 Lydia Huntington8 (Seabury), b. Nov. 27, 1833. She is

living, 1867.

493.

MARY ELIZABETH BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Ephraim,6 Sam- uel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the second daughter of Capt. Gurdon Bill, and sister of the preceding ; was born Jan. 18, 1808, and on December 15, 1841, married William Alfred Jones, the Librarian of Columbia College, in New York City, where this family reside. They have in their possession a volume entitled — " Sermons and Homilies, appointed to be read in Churches in the time of the late Queen Elizabeth, of famous memory, and now thought fit to be reprinted, by authority from the King's Most Excellent Majesty, London.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 245

Printed by John Bill, 1623." This John Bill is referred to in the English Chapter at the commencement of this Memoir. This family also have a pencil portrait of Capt. Gurdon Bill, Mrs. Jones's father. It is from this portrait that photographs have been procured, which illustrate quite a number of these volumes.

Mr. Jones comes of a distinguished family of that name, quite prominent in the early history of New York and vicinity. The noted David Flo}rd Jones, of the Revolution, and Judge Jones, of a more recent date, are among his ances- tors ; — he himself is quite well known to the eitzens of New York, as a man of considerable literary attainments and of cultivated manners. He is the author of several minor works whose titles just now escape our recollection. For further particulars we refer the reader to volume ten of Appleton's Cyclopedia.

They have no children.

494.

JOSEPH HOWLAND BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Ephraim,6 Sam- uel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Norwich, March 18, 1810, and in 1838 was married to Caroline Dey, the daughter of Anthony Dey, a distin- guished lawyer of New York.

He for a time resided in London, and was interested in mercantile pursuits with the house of Ilowland & Aspinwall, of New York City. He was afterwards in the employ of this firm in different portions of Mexico and the Central American States. During the first years of the late civil war, he was an Assistant Paymaster in the U. S. Navy.

He died at Aeapulco, in Mexico, May 15, 1S65, at which time he was acting as a^ent for the well-known house of Wells, Fargo & Co., between Panama and San Francisco.

Their children were :

848 Caroline Richard Dey,- b. April 3, 1839.

246 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

849 Mary,8 b. Feb. 22, 1840.

850 Joseph Howland,8 b April 10, 1842; d. at siege of Vieks-

burg, in 1863.

851 Alice,' b. Oct. 26, 1843.

852 Lillian,8 b. April 26, 1845 ; d. July 9, 1846.

853 Edward Woolsey,8 b. Nov. 4, 1846.

854 Archibald Herbert; b. July 2, 1850.

510.

EDWAED BILL7 (Silvester,8 Ephraim,6 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip/ John1), the son of Silvester and Mary (King) Bill ; was born in Norwich, Nov. 5, 1801, and on April 4, 1833, was married to Margaret Everixghim, the daughter of Joseph D. Everinghim.

He removed with his parents to Troy, N. Y., in 1803 — remaining there until the spring of 1810, when, the death of his mother breaking up the family, he was, with his brother Alfred, placed in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Coit, at Canterbury, Ct. Here, under the influence of this most exem- plary family, were inculcated those moral precepts and prin- ciples that undoubtedly helped to form his future character.

The advantages of a college education were denied him, but with perseverance and study in after life that want was measurably remedied. In the fall of 1814, while the war with England was still going on, he arrived in Xew York, to commence a mercantile career. These were stirring times. The city was then, as he well remembers, full of moving troops, and great excitement prevailed. All classes of citizens, and of nearly all ages, including the subject of this notice, volun- teered daily to handle the "shovel and the hoe" in erecting fortifications on the Heights of Brooklyn. In the following month of February, in 1815, of a cold winter night, there arrived the armed vessel " Bramble," bringing the news that there was '• Peace," " Peace," which was taken up and shouted through the streets, and thus over the land, conveying joy to many an anxious heart. Business after this at once revived,

SEVENTH GENERATION. 217

and in the spring of that year Mr. Bill entered the hardware store of his uncle, Henry King, of the firm of King & Hill- house, where he remained till the year 1S20, when a dissolu- tion of the firm occurred. New York City at the time of his arrival contained but about 100,000 inhabitants, two-thirds of whom were living below Canal Street, in which at that time not a single house had been built, and the larger portion of the wealthy merchants resided in the lower part of the city.

His father, meanwhile, ha'd removed to Blakely, Alabama, his son following him in 1820, but the climate not being favorable to his health, he returned to New York in 1822, and two years afterward was engaged with Messrs. R. M. & I. Russell. This firm failing in 1826, he resolved to commence business on his own account, and has continued to do business near the same neighborhood ever since — a period of forty yea^rs. Living in the metropolis of the country for a period of over half a century, he lias been the witness of many of the exciting scenes, as well as of the great changes that have marked the growth of the city.

He relates a very gloomy account of the Yellow Fever pestilence in 1822, when a board fence was placed across Broadway at the corner of Chambers, as also at the other cross streets leading to the infected district, from which all of the inhabitants were ordered, the streets strewn with lime, and the gutters whitewashed ; — nothing living was to be seen. in the infected neighborhood except an occasional stray cat or rat in quest of food. Then again, in 1832, the cholera raged, producing a panic among the citizens. Though Mr. Bill remained in the city, yet he did not escape an attack ; early remedies saved him ; but his partner, Mr. Robert M. Russell, being taken, died after an illness of only four hours.

He remembers the old colored burying-ground on Chambers Street, back of the City Hall, and its being leveled, and the remains, for the most part, removed. At this time John Jacob Astor lived where the Astor House now stands. This was for many years a row of private dwellings, occupied

24.g THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

by the more wealthy citizens, a kind of Fifth-Avenue neigh- borhood. Scarce a public person of note, whose debut has been made in the musical, domestic, or literary world during the last fifty years in the great metropolis, that he has not witnessed ; indeed, his mind is richly stored with valuable and interesting reminiscences of the Port of New York and its remarkable population.

Mr. Bill had the misfortune to lose all the accumulations of his previous life in the eventful year of 1837, when so many fortunes were carried away by the financial whirlwind that swept the country. Since then he has conducted a flour and grain brokerage business exclusively, and being greatly prospered, his previous severe losses have been made up to him " tenfold." He has been, and still deservedly stands, at the head of his profession or business. His energy, perseve- rance, and integrity, coupled with untiring industry and an amiable disposition, have secured him a large business and surrounded him with very many friends.

His flour and grain circular, regularly issued for the last thirty years, has obtained for him a wide reputation both at home and abroad, and is not unfrequently quoted in the markets of both New York and London as good authority. His ample fortune, the result of an industrious and frugal life, has enabled him to scatter around him many a blessing. He is still, in 1867, in active business and in the enjoyment of perfect health, with the promise apparently of yet many years of usefulness. We append herewith a copy of his autograph.

1/~<ZC£

He has but one child, viz. :

855 Susan Randolph,8 b. Aug. 15, 1834; m. Eli Hasbrouck, of Ncwburgh, N. Y., where they reside.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 249

511,

ALFRED BILL7 (Silvester,6 Ephraim,6 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; was born at Nor- wich, Dec. 25, 1803. He first married, Sept. 30, 1828, Camilla Livingston, at Tuscaloosa, Ala. She was born March 10, 1813, and died January 19, 1833, at Mobile. His second wife was Gertrude L. Farmer, to whom he was married Sept. 3, 1831, at New Brunswick, N. J. She was born July 18, 1804, and is still living, 1867.

The subject of this sketch removed to Troy with his parents, and after the decease of his mother, in 1809, spent the five succeeding years at Canterbury, Ct., in company with his brother Edward, in the family of Mr. Thomas Coit. Here it was that he took on that character which in after life gave tone in all his intercourse with family and friends. He ac- companied his father to Alabama, and there secured a clerk- ship under Mr. John Stocking, whose good opinion he soon gained by his energy and industry. In 1823 or 4, through the kindness of Mr. Stocking, he procured a stock of goods and located at Tallahassee, Fla., which at that time had just been laid out. Building- him a house in the woods, almost, he commenced business ; his goods were soon disposed of, and he at once removed to Mobile, and went into business there with a Mr. Ticknor, under the name of " Ticknor & Bill." Here he continued several years, meeting meanwhile with a severe loss by a fire, which destroyed a large quantity of goods. About this time his health became precarious, and under the advice of his physician he returned North, but his days were not many. In 1839, October 18th, he was suddenly stricken down with apoplexy, and died in his 36th year. Thus passed away one in the prime of life, and full enjoyment of much that was calculated to make life happy, surrounded as he was by a loving wife and affectionate children and friends.

He was of a genial disposition, and with his warm heart 17

250 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

and his peculiarly large, speaking eye, he won the good-will of those who came in contact with him, and left as an inheri- tance an honorable name.

His children, all born in Mobile except the youngest,

were :

By first wife :

856 Edward Livingston,8 b. Sept. 30, 1829. He commenced

a mercantile life at New York in the store of his uncle, Edward Bill, but left to seek his fortune on the Pacific coast. He at present resides in West Virginia ; and he has one child, a daughter, Maggie Randolph ;9 — d. 1867.

857 Silvester King,8 b. March 17, 1831 ; d. April 19, 1830.

858 Alfred,8 b. Jan. 12, 1833; d. Feb. 19, 1835.

By second wife :

859 George Farmer,8 b. April 21, 1836 ; d. May 21, 1842.

860 t Charles King,8 b. in New York, April 2, 1839.

515.

ELISHA BILL7 (Koswell,6 Jonathan,5 James,4 Samuel,8 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Capt. Koswell and Rebecca (Burgess) Bill ; was born in Hampton, Ct, what is now the town of Chaplain, Jan. 31, 17S2, and on Dec. 22, 1801, mar- ried Betsey Trowbridge, who died April 22, 1843.

He inherited the old homestead in Chaplain, where he spent his life, dying Dec. 17, 1858.

His children were :

861 Almira,8 b. Dec. , 1803 ; m. Eliab Hunt, Jan. 1, 1822.

They reside in Chaplain.

862 Elisha,8 b. Feb. 4, 1805 ; m. Mary Ann Eastman, Oct. 13,

1831. They reside also in Chaplain, Ct.

863 t Lester,8 b. Oct. 7, 1807 ; m. Mary Goodell.

864 Betsey,8 b. Dec. 11, 1809; m. (1) David Keyes, in Oct.

1831. He died in Ohio, leaving no children. (2) Mason S. Kendall. They reside in Ashford, Ct., and have two children.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 251

519.

KUFTJS BILL7 (Eos well,6 Jonathan,5' James,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing, Elisha Bill ; was born in Chaplain (Hampton), Feb. 26, 1794, and was married to Betsey Fisk, Sept. 20, 1818.

He died in Woodstock, Yt., Aug. 28, 1841.

Their children were :

865 Orin W.,8 b. April 13, 1823; m. . Lives in Prince-

ton, 111., and has children.

866 Charles B.,8 b. June 15, 1825 ; m. . Lives at Frank-

lin Grove, 111.

867 Sarepta G.,8 b. Oct. 7, 1827 ; d. young.

868 William H.,8 b. Sept. 13, 1829 ; d. in infancy.

869 Joseph N.,8 b. Aug. 16, 1831. Resides in Minnesota,

870 Edward S.,8 b. Dec. 2, 1832. Resides in Minnesota.

871 Martha J.,8 b. Aug. 10, 1834 ; m. . Lives in Prince-

ton, 111.

872 David Keyes,8 b. Feb. 24, 1836. Lives in Minnesota.

520.

ROSWELL BILL7 (Roswell,6 Jonathan,5 James,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the youngest brother of the foregoing, Rufus Bill ; was born in what is now Chaplain, May 25, 1797, and married Olive Ross, Dec. 31, 1820.

He resides near the place of his birth in Chaplain.

Their children were :

873 Adeline Amelia,8 b. Dec. 20, 1821 ; m. James Arnold.

They reside in Illinois.

874 Francis Putnam,8 b. April 15, 1823; m. Sarah Ann North,

March 28, 1854. They live in Hartford, Ct., and have children.

875 Elnathan Ross,8 b. July 23, 1825 ; d. March 25, 1831.

876 Edwin Storrs,8 b. June 3,1827; m. Lydia M. Downing,

Oct. 9, 1854. This family also reside in Hartford.

252 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

877 Charles Carroll,8 b. July 9, 1829 ; in. Julia A. Emerson,

Oct. 17, 1855. They reside in Hartford also.

878 George Wyman,8 b. Sept. 23, 1831 ; m. Mary E. Down-

ing, Nov. 25, 1859. They too reside in Hartford.

879 Caroline Rebecca,8 b. Dec. 5, 1834 ; m. Martin S. Preston,

May 1, 1860. This family live in Chaplain, Ct.

880 Roswell Clark,8 b. Sept. 1, 1838; m. Celia L. Robinson,

Sept. 2, 1860. They reside in Illinois.

881 Alvin Herbert,8 b. March 21, 1841 ; m. Mary Jane Burn-

ham, Jan. 1, 1862. Lives in Hartford, Ct.

521.

AARON BILL7 (Calvin,6 Elisha,6 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Calvin and Lois (Gibbs) Bill ; was born in Lebanon, Ct., Nov. 16, 1770, and married, Dec. 1, 1796, Silence Davis, born April 9, 1766, and died July 11, 1820.

When an infant he was taken by his parents to Wilming- ton, Vt. After he was married he settled in Canaan, New York, where he remained till after 1820, when, his wife having died, he was quite desponding, and in 1821 joined the com- munity of Shakers, in the adjoining town of New Lebanon, N. Y., where he remained near the close of his life. He died in Canaan, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1813.

His advantages in early life were quite limited, yet, by the force of application and a natural thirst for knowledge, he had, at the age of twenty, so far advanced as to teach a town school in Wilmington, and was not unfrequ en tly employed by the people of that section in the capacity of a field surveyor, of which he had a very thorough knowledge. A man of quiet demeanor, of strictest personal habits, a sound counselor and firm friend he ever proved himself. By his frugality he ac- quired some little property, which was, however, for the most part, turned over to those peculiar but kind people among whom he had chosen to dwell. That he was a man careful in his habits, is manifest from the fact, stated by his son, that

SEVENTH GENERATION. 253

he never owned but one pocket-knife, and this he carried over fifty years !

He had but one child — a son :

882 Aaron Davis,8 b. Aug. 15, 1805. He is unmarried, and resides at Smyrna, N. Y. At the age of fifteen he went with his father to live in the Shaker settlement at New Lebanon. He continued with them twenty-eight years, holding to their faith and enjoying their esteem and confidence, having sustained many important offices of honor and trust among them. At the age of forty-three he withdrew from them, and settled, as named above, at Smyrna, N. Y., keeping house with an aged relative, and is still unmarried. He is quite advanced in years, and of late has been son: e what afflicted by the attendant ills of age, yet his spirit is buoyant ; and we cannot close this brief outline of this most worthy man without expressing our thanks for the earnest interest and active co- operating labor given us, in gathering up the scattered records of his branch of the family. We are also indebted very largely to him for many important items, as well as to the cheer he has given us in our protracted labors. We herewith append a fac-simile of his autograph.

k4<*/u>*i~ ££,

'eH/tfw

522.

HIRAM BILL7 (Calvin,6 Elisha,6 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing; was born in Wilmington, Vt., June 12, 1773. He married Viktue Ball, from New Bedford, Mass.

His children adopted the final letter s to their names, and it is continued among all, or nearly all, of their descendants.

Hiram Bill was a hard-working yet withal an enter- prising man. He found his life cast on the borders of civiliza-

254 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

tion, and went resolutely at work to hew himself out a home and the means of livelihood for himself and family. He purchased a tract of timber land, which he cleared up into a fine farm ; also constructed a fine saw-mill on his premises, and thus made the timber profitable to him as he removed it ; the market for lumber increasing, he was induced to erect a second saw-mill, and at the end of life he could say with truth that he had not lived wholly in vain. He died in Wilmington, Yt., Aug. 19, 1840, leaving a good name. His wife died at same place, on the 4th of the following October. They had children :

883 Hiram,8 b. July 19, 1806; d. unmarried, Sept. 1830.

884 Virtue,8 b. July 17, 1808; m. (1) Dec. 3, 1829, William

Stearns, who in a fit of derangement took his own life, May 10, 1848. (2) Feb. 14, 1849, she mar- ried Rev. Phineas Howe. No children.

885 t Perley,8 b. June 10, 1810 ; m. Caroline Brown.

886 David,8 b. June 9, 1812; m. Sept. 10, 1834, to Harriet

Eliza Parmenter, b. March 9, 1814. He is a farmer, in Wilmington, and is considerable of a public man and is much esteemed. They had one child, viz : Julia Eliza,9 b. April 5, 1838 ; d. May 17, 1839.

523.

ISAAC BILL7 (Calvin,6 Elisha,5 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John'), a brother of the preceding ; born in Wilmington, Yt., March 19, 1776 ; was married May 27, 1804, to Lucy Dix.

He settled in Smyrna, N. York, in 1805, where he died, Feb. 26, 1865. He was a most estimable man, of a kind and tender heart, and was much beloved bv all who knew

7 t/

him. His nephew, Aaron Davis Bill, with whom his widow now resides, has, out of his love and affection for his Uncle Isaac, placed in many of these volumes his portrait, as a mark of remembrance and respect. This family refused to adopt the final letter s, as many of their near relatives had done. The children of Isaac and Lucy (Dix) Bill were :

SEVENTH GENERATION. 255

887 Miranda,8 b. June 2, 1805.

888 Alvira,8 b. Sept. 27, 1807 ; m. Allen Mies. They live at

Lebanon, N. Y.

889 Lucy,8 b. March 14, 1810 ; m. Rowland Tefft. They live

at Smyrna, N. Y.

890 Arethnsa,8 b. Dec. 24, 1813; m. George Ames. This

family live in Mendota, 111.

891 Emily,8 b. June 23, 1816 ; m. Nathan Niles, and lives at

Georgetown, N. Y.

524.

ARTEMAS BILL7 (Calvin,6 Elisha,B Philip,4 Samuel,8 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; born in Wilming- ton, Vt., Aug. 31, 1778 ; married Mart Crocker.

This family added the final s to their names, notwithstand- ing it had never been used by any of their ancestors.

He died March 29, 1847, at Pittsfield, Mass.

His children were :

892 George,8 b. April , 1815; m. Mary Bigelow. This

family reside in Dover, 111., and have children :

Josephine,9

Artemas,9

Abby Maria.9

893 Jarius,s b. , 1811 ; is unmarried, and lives in Pitts-

field, Mass.

894 Sidney,8 b. Dec. , 1820 ; m. Virtue Barber; they re-

side in Lebanon, Madison County, 1ST. Y., and

have children :

Charles,9 b. Oct. 28, 1845.

Record,9 b. Oct, 26, 1847.

Chester Perley,9 b. April 9, 1856.

895 Jane Esther,8 b. March 4, 1824; na. William Henry

Reynolds. They live at Pittsfield, Mass., and

have children :

Ida May9 (Reynolds),

Percy Eugene9 (Reynolds), died in infancy.

Mary Jane9 (Reynolds),

256 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Percy Eugene9 (Reynolds), Lewis Andrew9 (Reynolds), Alanson9 (Reynolds), deceased. Chester9 (Reynolds).

525.

LOIS BILL7 (Calvin,6 Elisha,5 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,3 John1), a sister of the preceding ; was born in Wilmington, Vt., Sept. 17, 1781. She first married Apollos Lincoln, who died near 1810 ; her second husband was Joseph Snow.

They resided at Wilmington, where she died, Sept. 26, 1821.

The children by first husband were

896 Calvin (Lincoln),

897 Arethusa (Lincoln),

898 Clarissa (Lincoln).

Children by the second husband were :

899 Laurinda (Snow),

900 Stephen (Snow),

901 Zebina (Snow),

902 Lucinda (Snow),

903 L"cy (Snow),

904 Belinda (Snow), )

905 Harlow (Snow), )

twins, twins.

528.

ALANSON BILL7 (Elisha,6 Elisha,6 Philip,4 Samuel, Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Elisha Bill ; was born in Hebron, Ct, April 13, 1774 ; married Electa Hill.

The children of Alanson aud Electa Bill were :

906 Ensign,8

907 Elijah,8

908 John,8

909 Cyrus,8

910 Sarah,8

911 Electa.8

SEVENTH GENERATION. 257

540.

ELEAZER BILL7 (Azariah,8 Elisha,5 Philip,4 Samuel,8 Philip,2 John1), a son of Azariah and Elizabeth (Daggett) Bill ; was born in Lebanon, Ct., Sept. 14, 1785, and on the 19th of April, 1805, was married to Nancy Richardson, born Feb. 10, 1788, a daughter of Ephraim and Lois (Porter) Richardson.

His father adopted the final s in the spelling of his name, and this he continued, as do his children. This family have lived many years in Lebanon and Columbia, but within a few years removed to Norwich, where they live with their son, George Clinton Bills.

Mr. Eleazer Bill is an old man, yet he still retains his mental faculties unimpaired and enjoys fine health, the result of careful habits in life. He has kept the records of his branch of the family very perfect, and extending back a further period, perhaps, than any other with whom we have become acquainted.

Their children have been :

912 Cynthia Porter,8 b. Nov. 27, 1805 ; m. Aaron Yeonians,

March 21, 1827, and died March 15, 1836.

913 Horace Bradley,8 b. March 19, 1807; m. Lucy Edwards

Porter, May 31, 1832, a daughter of Dr. Alanson Porter, of Wilmington, Mass. They have one child : Mortimer Irving,9 b. July 9, 1833.

914 William Carver,8 b. Aug. 15, 1816 ; d. March 31, 1838.

915 George Clinton,8 b. Sept. 18, 1818; m. Feb. 7, 1844,

Mary Grant Munger, born April 23, 1823. They reside in Norwich, and have children : William Leroy,9 b. May 29, 1848. Nancy Leroy,9 b. Sept. 23, 1856.

551.

JOHN BILL' (John,6 Solomon,6 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of John and Fanny (Rogers) Bill ; was

258 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

born in Middletown, Ct., Nov. 15, 1796, and in 1823 married Clarissa Gilman, who died in March, 1864.

He for a time resided in Middletown, but finally removed to Oharlestown, Portage County, Ohio, in 1831, where he died in March, 1S64.

Their children were :

916 Nelson,8 b. in 1825. He was a member of an Illinois

regiment during the late war.

917 Jane,8b. in 1827.

918 Sophia,8 b. in 1830, and died in 1837.

919 t Charles H.,8 b. in 1840. Captain of cavalry in late war.

554.

FANNY BILL7 (John,6 Solomon,5 Philip,4 Samuel,* Philip,2 John1), a sister of the foregoing ; was born in Middle- town, Ct., June 4, 1802, where she married, Nov. 2, 1825, Ezra L'Hommedieu Chamberlain, born at Redfield, N. Y., Sept. 7, 1798.

This family resided at Middletown, Ct. She died Nov. 4, 1810.

They had children :

920 Ezra Bill8 (Chamberlain), b. Aug. 18, 1826 ; m. Fanny S.

Burr, at New Haven, Ct., May 18, 1853. They reside at Cleveland, Ohio, and have children : Frank B.9 (Chamberlain), b. March 12, 1854. Willie M.9 (Chamberlain), b. Oct. 23, 1855 ; d. July 26, 1862.

Howard B.9 (Chamberlain), b. July 14, 1859. Winthrop B.9 (Chamberlain), b. Jan. 5, 1864. Edwin A. J.9 (Chamberlain), b. Oct. 21, 1865.

QPP } Twin sons,8 b. June 23, 1S27; died day of birth.

923 Henry Augustus8 (Chamberlain), b. Feb. 1, 1831; m. at

Portland, Ct., in 1853, Emily R. Hopkins. They live at Middletown, Ct, and have two children.

924 Frances Rogers8 (Chamberlain), b. April 15, 1835; d.

Jan. 26, 1856.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 259

925 Mary Ann8 (Chamberlain), b. Jan. 28, 1837.

926 William Card8 (Chamberlain), b. Nov. 11, 1838 ; d. Nov.

10, 1857.

927 Jane Bill8 (Chamberlain), b. Sept. 7, 1840; d. May 12,

1860.

555.

ASA GILBERT BILL7 (John,6 Solomon,5 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the second son of John and Fanny (Rogers) Bill ; was born at Middletown, Ct., June, 1804. He first married at that place, in 1831, Julia Ann Bailey ; she died the same year. He married, second, in 1833, to Ada Ceowell, born June 11, 1808. She is still living.

This family reside at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

They had children :

928 Julia Ann,8 b. May 25, 1834 ; m. October 23, 1856, Giles

L'Hommedieu, of Cuyahoga Falls. Their children

are :

Helen Louise9 (L'Hommedieu), b. Aug. 2, 1858.

Henry Gridley9 (L'Hommedieu), b. March 23,

1864.

929 Helen Frances,8 b. Dec. 30, 1835 ; is unmarried.

930 Mary Crowell,8 b. June 4, 1843; m. July 5, 1866, to

Julian H. Pitkin, of Akron, Ohio.

556.

MARTHA BILL7 (John,6 Solomon,5 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the foregoing; was born at Middle- town, Ct., Dec. 22, 1806, and married, in 1833, Jacob Randall Chamberlain, born in 1811.

This family also reside at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

They have children :

931 Almira8 (Chamberlain), b. July 26, 1834.

932 Emma8 (Chamberlain), b. Oct. 15, 1835 ; d. in Sept., 1837.

933 Emma8 (Chamberlain), b. Oct. 24, 1839.

934 Fanny8 (Chamberlain), b. Sept. 28, 1842.

935 Ernest Henry8 (Chamberlain), b. March 28, 1848.

260 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

i 557.

JOSEPH ROGERS BILL7 (John/ Solomon,6 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,0 John1), son of John and Fanny (Rogers) Bill ; was born at Middletown, Ct., Aug. 17, 1808. He married on Jan. 1, 1836, Sophia L. Austin, born in Charlestown, O., April, 1S19, and died in Aug., 1814. His second wife was Mary Tayloe, whom he married at Edinburg, O., Oct. 22, 1816.

This family reside at Greenfield, Mercer County, Pa.

The children by first wife were :

936 Emilia M.,8 b. Dec. 2, 1839 ; m. April 14, 1856, to Frank

L. Seeley, who lived and died at Ravenna, Ohio, May 28, 1865. She is living there, and they had one child : Clara F.9 (Seeley), b. April 5, 1862.

937 t George Austin,8 b. Oct. 11, 1842. He was a soldier

during the late war.

Children by the second wife :

938 Thomas Francis,8 b. Feb. 20, 1848. He was also a volun-

teer soldier during a part of the civil war.

939 Sarah,8 b. Oct. 12, 1851.

940 Ada L.,8 b. May 18, 1854.

941 John E.,8 b. March 31, 1856.

942 Charles T.,8 b. March 18, 1860.

559.

HENRY TV. BILL7 (John,8 Solomon,5 Philip,4 Samuel,9 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born at Mid- dletown, Ct., in 1813, and married at Atwater, Ohio, Oct. 3, 1812, Harriet Eliza Butler, born in Bran ford, Ct., March 21, 1828, a daughter of David and Betsey (Foote) Butler, of that place. The following year this family of Butlers, to- gether with the subject of this sketch, removed to Ohio; the former settled at Atwater, Portage County, and the latter at Cuyahoga Falls, near Cleveland, where they still reside.

Their children are :

SEVENTH GENERATION. 261

943 Alice,8 b. Oct. , 1845.

944 Albert,8 b. Jan. , 1851.

561.

FREDERIC BILL7 (John,8 Solomon,6 Philip,4 Samuel,1 Philip,* John'), a brother of the foregoing ; was born in Mid- dletown, Ct., Oct., 1816, and married Charlotte Baden, of Lee, Mass.

This family removed to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where he was engaged at his trade of a machinist, but in consequence of a disease of the kidneys, his health failed him, and on the 22d Feb., 1860, he died.

His widow still resides at Cuyahoga Falls, O.

Their children, all born there except the eldest, who was born at Auburn, N. Y., are :

945 Herbert Weston,8 b. May 16, 1847. He is a student at

the present in the Western Reserve College.

946 Frances Rogers,8 b. Dec. 4, 1851.

947 Frederic,8 b. Feb. 26, 1854.

948 Frank,8 b. Oct. 4, 1858.

562.

MARY ANN BILL7 (John,6 Solomon,6 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding ; was born at Middle- town, Ct., Feb. 6, 1819. She married there, Nov. 8, 1842, Ezra L'Hommedieu Chamberlain, the late husband of her deceased sister, Fanny.

This family reside in Middletown, Ct., and have children :

949 t George Frederic8 (Chamberlain), b. April 21, 1844. He enlisted as a private in the 14th Ct. Vol. Infantry but a few weeks prior to the battle of Antietam.* He took part in the battle of South Mountain and

* The battle of Antietam was fought on the 17th September, 1862. For particulars of that battle, see, Pen-Pictures of the War, compiled by the writer, page 245.

262 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

was severely wounded in the knee at Antietam, in consequence of which he became a cripple and was discharged in about six months thereafter.

950 Joseph Solomon8 (Chamberlain), b. Jan. 6, 1847; d. Oct,

6, 1848.

951 Joseph Gurney8 (Chamberlain), b. Oct. 14, 1848; was

drowned June 10, 1859.

952 Ellen Josephine8 (Chamberlain), b. Dec. 27, 1850.

953 Alice8 (Chamberlain), b. Jan. 12, 185:3 ; d. same day.

954 Alice Starr8 (Chamberlain), b. Dec. 14, 1853; d. Dec. 8,

1855.

955 Grace8 (Chamberlain), | born March ( d. Jan. 20, 1865.

956 Ada8 (Chamberlain), ) 14,1856; ( d. June 4, 1856.

575.

EBENEZER BILL7 (Ebenezer,6 Samuel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the only son of Ebenezer and Rachel (Root) Bill, of Gilsum, N. H., where he was born, March 30, 1776. He married, Nov. 7, 1802, Elsy Adams, who was born Oct. 25, 1781. They lived in Gilsum.

He died . The widow is now living with her

daughter, Mrs. Samuel Woodward.

Their children were :

957 t Willard,8 b. Dec. 8, 1803; m. (1) Clarissa Esty. (2)

Betsey Isham.

958 t Harvey Adams,8 ) twins, born j m. Susan B. Keyes.

959 Emily,8 J April 30, 1808; (

960 1 Mary,8 b. April 19, 1813 ; m. Samuel Woodward.

961 Hiram,8 b. ; died in infancy.

582.

LYDIA BILL7 (Samuel,6 Samuel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), 'the daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Mack) Bill, of Gilsum, N. II. ; born there, Jan. 30, 1787, and mar- ried Truman Miller. She died in Marlow, X. H., March 1, 1S65.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 263

Their children were :

962 Zilpah8 (Miller), b. ; m. and living in Marlow,

N. H.

963 Polly8 (Miller), b. ; m. and living in Marlow, a

widow.

964 Ezra8 (Miller), b. — ; lives in Stow, Mass.

965 Emily8 (Miller), b. ; died Aug., 1815.

966 Elmira8 (Miller), b. ; died in Marlow, N. H.

584.

Capt. DAVID BILL7 (Samuel,6 Samuel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), the son of Samuel and Lydia (Mack) Bill, of Gilsum, N. H. ; was born in that place, Nov. 2, 1795, and on Jan. 11, 181S, married Lucy Dokt, born April 4, 1797.

This family resided in the town of Gilsum, and followed the business of farming. In the war of 1812 he was a soldier, and was for a time stationed at Portsmouth. He was after- ward a captain in the State militia. For three years he re- presented his native town in the Legislature of K. H., and has for eight years served as a Selectman.

His wife died June 29, 1861. He is at present living on the old homestead, with his son Daniel.

We append here a fac-simile of his autograph.

Their children are :

967 f David Wilder,8 b. Dec. 20, 1818 ; m. Lucretia Tenney.

968 t Daniel Wright,8 b. July 10, 1822 ; in. Fanny H. Butler.

969 t Samuel Dennis,8 b. Sept. 9, 1824; m. Susan P. Knight.

970 t Louisa Dort,8 b. April 5, 1827 ; m. Martin L. Goddard.

585. LUCY BILL' (Samuel,6 Samuel,5 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding; was born in Gilsum, 1ST. H., Jan. 8, 1798, and in Oct., 1S16, married Amasa Miller, of Marlow, N. H. He died at the latter place in March, 1818. She died at Reading, Vt, Nov. 5, 1816.

204 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

They had children :

971 David8 (Miller), b. in Gilsum, March, 1817 ; d. in 1824.

972 Clarinda8 (Miller), b. in Surry, N. H., Oct., 1818; is m.

and lives in Windsor, Vt.

973 Lucius8 (Miller), b. in Sullivan, N. H. ; d. in Reading, Vt.,

in 1846.

974 Harvey8 (Miller), b. in Keene, N. IT. Lives in Gilsum.

975 Lydia E.8 (Miller), b. in Sullivan, N. H. ; d. in Westfield,

N. Y., Dec. 9, 1847.

976 David8 (Miller), b. in Reading, Vt.; d. in Cavendish, Vt.

977 Louisa Maria8 (Miller), b. in Reading, Vt. She m. S. A.

Wright, of Troy, N. H., where they now live.

606.

DOUGLAS W. EATON7 (Mary,6 Asahel,5 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip," John1), a son of Stephen and Mary (Bill) Eaton; born at Cornwallis, N. S., Aug. 23, 1816. He m. first Rhoda Hopkins, April 6, 1842 ; she d. July 9, 1849 : Second, Wealthy M. Moss, May 29, 1850. He resides at Ransomville, N. Y.

Children by first wife were :

978 Ingraham D.8 (Eaton) b. Jan. 1, 1843 ; d. July 11, 1866.

979 James E.8 (Eaton), b. July 5, 1849 ; d. Jan. 7, 1850. ,

Children by second wife, born at Porter, IN". Y. :

980 George M.8 (Eaton), b. May 3, 1851.

981 Elmer D.8 (Eaton), b. Oct. 8, 1852.

982 Charles M.8 (Eaton), b. Jan. 1, 1862.

983 Mary8 (Eaton), b. March 23, 1864.

609.

STEPHEN EATON7 (Mary,6 Asahel5, Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; born Aug. 27, 1823 ; married Hester A. Black, Jan. 1, 1852.

This family resides at Nicolaus, Sutter County, Cal.

Children :

984 Ida8 (Eaton), b. March 27, 1853 ; d. June 11, 1854.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 265

985 Edward A.8 (Eaton), b. Feb. 11, 1855.

986 Mary E.8 (Eaton), b. June 30, 1856.

987 Francis H.8 (Eaton), b. Sept, 27, 1858.

988 Charles S.8 (Eaton), b. April 4, 1861.

989 Harry B.s (Eaton), b. April 5, 1863.

619.

ORPJN [C] BILL7 (Hosea,6 Simeon,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the oldest son of Hosea and Sarah (Kellogg) Bill, of Sheffield, Mass. ; born in that town, on Nov. 8, 1791. He married, Nov. 3, 1825, Sarah F. Dubois. She was born March 4, 1805, at Granby, Ct.

This family have always resided in Sheffield, Mass., where he died, Aug. 25, 1S54, after a brief illness. We experienced no little difficulty in gathering sufficient data relating to the ancestors of this family, that they might take their proper place in this memoir ; but, after many perplexities and con- siderable assistance, their ancestral line is quite satisfactorily and properly established.

Mr. Bill was an industrious citizen, of an upright character, and his life had been marked wTith success, having accumu- lated considerable property. He has left a couple of very enterprising sons, who are at this time in a wholesale cloth house in New York City, one as a partner, the other as salesman.

We append a fac-simile of his autograph :

yfrw^

His daughter Catherine, a most accomplished and beau- tiful woman, who had been married but little more than a year at the time of her father's decease, and had recently become

18

266 TIIE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

a mother, was also prostrated at and during the time of her father's illness, and by the same disease, which was a species of cholera ; her weakened frame was in no condition to with- stand this attack, and she too was borne away in death on the same day as her father, surrounded by this doubly afflicted, terror-stricken family. It was a memorable day to that household !

This family have adopted the use of the final 6-.

The widow, Sarah, still resides in Sheffield, though fre- quently visiting her sons in New York during the winter seasons.

The children of this family have been :

990 George S.,8 b. July 24, 1826 ; d. April 8, 1828.

991 Emma Elizabeth,8 b. Sept. 3, 1828; d. Feb. 16, 1834.

992 Catherine Hillyer,8 b. April 25, 1831; m. Rev. Edward

S. Skinner, July 12, 1853. She died Aug. 25, 1854; leaving one child, a daughter.

993 James Freeland,8 b. Dec. 3, 1834. Resides in New York

City.

994 Franklin,8 b. Sept. 25, 1839. Resides in New York City.

621.

NORMAN KELLOGG BILL7 (Hosea,6 Simeon,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,5 John1), a brother of the preceding; was born in Sheffield, Mass., Sept. 25, 1796. He married, in Nov., 1830, Huldah Clark, of same place; born July 15, 1S09.

This family live in South Egremont, Mass., whither he had moved soon after his marriage. Here he has been for over twenty years engaged in the mercantile business. For seventeen years he has filled the office of Postmaster, with satisfaction to the citizens, and having the confidence of the several administrations under whom he served.

They still live in the enjoyment of fair health ; having no children of their own, they adopted a son, who bore the name of John G. Bill. He was killed May 17, 1S64, by the explosion of a great gun on board of one of the United States

SEVENTH GENERATION". 267

iron-clad vessels lying in Hampton Roads, near Fortress Monroe, while in the performance of his duties as an officer.

630.

NORTON BUELL BILL7 (Jonathan,6 Jonathan,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Jonathan and Asenath (Bill) Bill ; born at Southwiek, Mass., Dec. 26, 1794, and married Semantha Ransom.

This family have resided at Vienna, Perry, and lastly at Poland, New York.

They have had children :

995 Emily Asenath,3 b. at Vienna, Dec 6, 1819; m. James

Forbes, Jan. 17, 1844, and d. at Poland, June 12, 1846.

996 Amanda Malvina,8 b. at Perry, May 22, 1824; m. Aaron

Fuller, March 4, 1846.

997 Ruth,8 b. at Poland, N. Y., May 13, 1830; m. Darius

Wyman.

998 Amos,8 b. at do., July 9, 1834; m. Arlemetia Smith.

999 Julia,8 b. at do., April 26, 1838 ; m. Emory Woodward,

of Poland, N. Y. 1000 Mary,8 b. at do., March 19, 1840; m. Miles Ferry, of Poland, N. Y.

631.

JONATHAN BILL7 (Jonathan,6 Jonathan,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; was born May 2, 1797, and married, in 1830, Almiea Caevee, of Hebron, Ct., who was born in 1800.

This family settled in Perry, N. Y., where they have lived for upward of forty years. All of the children were born in the same house.

He died there, in July, 1864. The widow now lives in Warsaw, N. Y., which is not very distant from the old home- stead in Perry.

Their children have been :

268 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

1001 t James Earl,8 b. Aug. 3, 1832; m. Mary A. Gilbert.

1002 t John Carver,8 b. Nov. 7, 1833; m. Clara B. Bliss.

1003 t Jared Milton,8 b. May 4, 1835 ; m. Emily E. Darling.

1004 Jane Almira,8 b. Dec. 10, 1837. She is the Preceptress

of Perry Academy, at Perry, N. Y.

1005 Emma Adeline,8 b. April 17, 1839; d. July 11, 1856.

1006 t Charles Wesley,8 b. Feb. 17, 1841 ; d. Oct. 4, 1862.

1007 Henry Harrison,8 b. April 30, 1845.

1008 Walter Harvey,8 b. March 24, 1847.

632.

CHESTER BILL7 (Eleazar,6 Jonathan,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,' John1), the eldest son of Eleazar and Elizabeth (Cole) Bill ; was born in Lebanon, Ct., July 4, 1791, and on the 25th March, 1812, married Phebe Williams, of Columbia, an ad- joining town, where they subsequently settled.

His occupation was that of a farmer in earlier life, and later he kept an inn. He died March 15, 1853. His wife died Nov. 15, 1853.

They had children :

1009 t George William,8 b. May 18, 1813; m. (l) Anna Wil-

liams. (2) Harriet P. Fisher.

1010 t David Bissell,8 b. Feb. 9, 1820; m. Harriet M. Snow.

1011 Lucy Ann,8 b. June 3, 1830; m. Charles A. Post, of

Columbia, Oct. 24, 1850. They now live in Hart- ford, Ct. They have children : Rosella A.9 (Post), b. Feb. 15, 1855. Lizzie A.9 (Post), b. Oct. 25, 1862.

633.

JOSIAH BISSELL BILL7 (Eleazar,6 Jonathan,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; was born in Lebanon, May 13, 1793, and married, March 27, 1816, Harriet Tracy Hough, of Bozrali, born May 3, 1794.

He removed immediately after his marriage to New Mil- ford, Pa., where, for twenty years, he followed the business of teaching ; at the end of this time he returned to Connec-

SEVENTH GENERATION'. 269

ticut, settling in Vernon ; from there he moved to Lebanon, in which town he was engaged in trade up to the time of his death, which occurred on Nov. 16, 1846. "We learn he was a man of very correct and abstemious habits. His widow died at Rockville, Ct, April 1, 1S52. They were both buried at Lebanon.

They had children :

1012 Joseph Clement,8 b. Feb. 7, 1817. He died at Vernon,

Sept. 11, 1839, aged 22, while prosecuting a course of liberal study at Norwich.

1013 Mary Elizabeth,8 b. in Pa., Feb. 14, 1822. She married,

Nov. 26, 1848, Hon. Dwight Loomis, a son of Elam and Mary Loomis, of Columbia, Ct. ; born July 27, 1821. He is a lawyer by profession, has been a member of both branches of the State Legislature, also a member of Congress two terms, and is now a Judge of the Superior Court of Con- necticut. This family reside in Rockville, Ct., where she died, June 1, 1864.

1014 t Edwin,8 b. in Pa., July 2, 1827 ; m. Susan Corey. 1015tBenezet Hough,8 b. in Pa., Feb. 26, 1829; m. Kate

Griera-s.

'too1-

636.

ELIJAH BILL7 (Elijah,6 Elijah,6 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of Elijah and Nancy (Scott) Bill; was born in Waterbury, Ct., March 4, 1785, and in 1811 married Betsey Gkiswold, of Harwinton, Ct.

Their children were :

1016 Eliza,8 b. May 23, 1814. She m. in 1837, Horace Hin-

man, of Plymouth, Ct. He was b. Jan. 12, 1815, and d. March 27, 1865. They had children : Charles9 (Hinman), b. July 14, 1838. Ralph9 (Hinman), b. July 13, 1842.

1017 t Henry A.,8 b. May 26, 1820; m. Aug. 3, 1845, Jane H.

Mills, of Colebrook, Ct. He resides in Winsted, Ct., and has no children.

270 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

639.

CHESTER BILL7 (Abiel,6 Peleg,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,* John1), the son of Abiel Bill, of Lebanon ; born there in

1788, and married Mika , who was born Jan. 23,

1792. This family is little known to us, though it is quite certain they lived in Lebanon. He died at Norwich, August 29, 1867, where his wife and son are buried. He owned lands in Lebanon, as there are records of the fact. His wife died Dec. 13, 1863, as per record on the gravestone at Nor- wich, old town.

They had but one child known to us :

1018 Orrin H.,8 b. , 18] 5, and died Sept. 5, 1840. He is

buried by the side of his mother. His will was proved Dec. 15, 1840.

642.

CYKUS SKINNER BILL' (Earl,6 Oliver,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John'), son of Earl and Sarah (Jackson) Bill ; born at Steuben, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1807. He married, April 2, 1829, Pamela Hubbakd, who was born Sept. 13, 1806.

He is by occupation a tanner, and lives at Turin, Lewis County, N. Y.

His children have been :

1019 Susan Maria,8 b. Jan. 5, 1 830.

1020 Nancy Charlotte,8 b. Oct. 2, 1831 ; d. March 25, 1841.

1021 Charles Earl,8 b. July 29, 1833.

1022 Horace Newton,8 b. May 4, 1837.

1023 Mary Estella,8 b. June 20, 1 849.

643.

CHARLES OLIVER BILL7 (Earl,6 Oliver,* James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Dr. Earl Bill ; was born at Steu- ben, N. Y., August 1, 1809, and was drowned at Trenton Palis, Trenton, N. Y., August 2, 1830.

The circumstances attending the death of Charles Oliver

SEVENTH GENERATION. 271

possess sufficient interest to warrant a narration. On the occasion of a visit to his father's family by the late Cyrus Bill, Esq., and daughter, accompanied by a young lady friend, the four formed a party to visit the romantic scenery of the Falls of the Canada Creek, known as Trenton Falls, only five miles distant. While escorting his young cousin along a narrow ledge almost washed by the waters of the creek, find- ing there was only room for one person in the path, he step- ped down into the stream, holding his cousin by the hand to steady her pace, until the sharp projection in the overhanging cliff could be passed. At the critical point, the rocks being slippery, he fell. Disengaging his hand so as not to involve the lady in his own danger, he partially recovered himself, but in the mean time he had slipped farther into the stream, owing to the shelving character of the rock. In his second attempt to rise he was more successful ; but by this time he was in the rapids, and was carried by the remorseless stream over a fall of thirty-six feet in depth, and plunged into the terrible abyss. His agonized companions were powerless to aid him, and they asserted that, having recovered his erect position, he was swept away with his back to the Falls, and with his eyes fixed upon the loved ones from whom he was so suddenly torn ! His death was a very heavy affliction to his father, and all the more so from the fact that Charles had been educated to succeed him in the profession of medicine, and he was looking to this promising son to share with him the burdens of his arduous vocation, and eventually succeed him in his business.

644.

CHAUNCY CLAKK BILL7 (Earl,6 Oliver,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the fourth son of Dr. Earl Bill ; was born at Steuben, X. Y., June 16, 1811, and on the 31st. Dec, 1840, was married to Anna Everett Case, of Yernon, IST. Y.

A printer by trade, he commenced, when in the 21st year of his age, the publication of the " Northern Telegraph," a

272 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

weekly newspaper, in the village of Canton, the shire town of St. Lawrence County, X. Y., then the residence of the Hon.

*/ 7 7

Silas Wright. Under a leader so competent as Mr. Wright, it was not to be wondered at that the Democratic party had at that time an overwhelming majority in the comity.

But one other newspaper was published in the county, and that was conducted by the late lamented Preston King, and in the interest of the Jackson party. At the time the " Tele- graph " was started, the political contest which ended in the defeat of Henry Clay was about to commence, and its columns were devoted to the interests of the Clay party.

The campaign, as is well known, was a failure, and Gen. Jackson was re-elected by a largely increased majority.

In 1834 he removed to the city of New York, where he remained about a year, working at his trade.

Returning to Oneida County in 1835, he commenced publishing a newspaper called the "Vernon Courier," at Vernon, N". Y., which was subsequently sold to his brother Horace, and removed to Rome, N. Y. He remained in Vernon nearly twenty years, filling the office of Postmaster under President Taylor, and in 1855 he removed to Sandusky, O.

In the summer of 1857, he purchased an interest in the Sandusky Daily Commercial Register, and assumed the finan- cial management of the paper, Mr. Henry D. Cooke, his part- ner, having charge of its editorial department. Subsequently, Mr. Cooke, in connection with a Mr. Miller, purchased the Ohio State Journal, published at Columbus, in which Mr. Bill also took an interest, which he retained, however, but a short time. ,

The Register was a thoroughgoing Republican paper, and the only daily newspaper in the Ninth Congressional District — a district which had the honor of sending the Hon. John Sherman to Congress.

The Register printing-office was burned in the spring ot 1862. The firm by which it had been carried on was then reorganized, Dr. Agaid and Mr. Cooke retiring from the con-

SEVENTH GENERATION. 273

cern, and Mr. Bill and Mr. H. C. Johnson, editor of the paper, and one of its former proprietors, assuming its manage- ment, under the firm name of Bill c& Johnson. In about six weeks from the time of the fire they had a new office started, and continued to publish the paper until the fall of 1864, when, in consequence of Mr. Johnson's failing health, they sold the Register office to other parties.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill, with their two surviving children, are now (1867) living at Sandusky, Ohio.

Their children have been :

1024 Everett Case,8 b. Nov. 1, 1841; d. Feb. 9, 1847.

1025 Caroline Curtis,8 b. July 16, 1843 ; d. Feb. 1, 1S47.

1026 Eva Caroline,8 b. Jan. 27, 1847; d. Sept, 13, 1859.

1027 Anna Everett,8 b. July 1, 1849.

1028 Chauncy Earl,8 b. Sept. 9, 1851 ; d. Aug. 25 , 1852.

1029 Chauncy Clark,8 b. Aug. 31, 1853.

1030 Henry,8 b. Sept. 1, 1856 ; d. Aug. 8, 1859.

645.

EAEL BILL7 (Earl,6 Oliver,5 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the fifth son of Dr. Earl and Sarah (Jackson) Bill, and brother of the preceding ; was born in Steuben, N. Y., Aug. 16, 1813. He first married, Sept. 30, 1838, Koxy Ann Alltn, a native of Connecticut, who died Jan. 18, 1817. His second wife was Susan Eliza Johnson, whom he married Sept. 4, 1848.

At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to a house carpenter and joiner until the age of twenty. In his twenty- second year he left the place of his boyhood and emigrated to Ohio, settling at Sandusky in the fall of 1835, and pursu- ing his vocation until the winter of 1840-1, when he entered upon the duties of Sheriff of the County (Erie). At the expiration of his term, and failing of an election for another, his neighbors constituted him one of the arbiters of their petty disputes by electing him a Justice of the Peace. This position was resigned in 1843, to enter upon the duties of Assistant Clerk of the County Courts. In 1845 and 1847,

274 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

respectively, he was chosen County Treasurer, and the par- tiality of his neighbors culminated in 1850, in an election to represent the counties of Erie and Huron in the Senate of Ohio. In 1851, he, in company with Clark Waggoner, Esq., purchased the printing establishment known as the Sandusky Clarion, and became the editors and publishers of the San- dusky Register, published daily, tri-weeklv, and weekly : the daily edition being known as the Daily Commercial Register.

In 1852, Henry D. Cooke, Esq., now of the firm of Jay Cooke & Co., Bankers, at Washington, D. C, was associated with them, under the firm name of Bill, Cooke <& Co., and this connection was maintained until 1856, when Mr. Bill disposed of his interest to Mr. Cooke, and dissolved his con- nection with the paper. This paper was known as the advocate of the principles of the party designated as " Whig," and was generally regarded as not among the least influential of Whig papers in the State. When that party committed hari-kari on the Kansas-Nebraska issue, the Register was one of the first newspapers of that faith to declare for the new organization afterward known as the Republican party.

In 1857, Mr. Bill removed from Sandusky to the city of Tiffin, Ohio, and engaged in the purchase and sale of grain and other produce, where he remained until April, 1S61, when he removed to Cleveland, to assume the duties of United States Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio ; Cleveland being the place of holding the Courts of the United States. The appointment was made by the late President Lincoln, whose nomination had been promoted by Mr. Bill, in his capacity of delegate in the Chicago Convention of 1860, in preference to Hon. W. H. Seward.

At the expiration of his official term of four years, Presi- dent Johnson saw fit to bestow a reappointment for an addi- tional term of four years ; but in the summer of 1866 sought and found one more in accord with his peculiar "policy," in whose favor he was compelled to vacate the office, after an

SEVENTH GENERATION. 275

incumbency of five years and six months. Owing to the condition of civil war, in which the country was involved nearly the whole of his term of office, the position was more arduous and responsible than lucrative.

In a letter from Mr. Bill, received by us, referring to his retirement from the office of marshal, he writes :

"Conscious of many failings of judgment in the admin- istration of the office, as I truly am, I hope it may not be deemed a trespass upon the bounds of modesty to refer to the fact, that neither by friends or foes has any charge of venality or official wrong been preferred ; and my retirement was the occasion of the expression of regrets by those of both political parties."*

We most cordially add our testimony to the general acceptability with which he performed the duties of his posi- tion, and indeed it is bnt an act of justice to the high char- acter of the man that we do this, and we speak advisedly, since a year's residence in Cleveland, during his term of office, gave ns ample opportunity to learn these facts, as it did also to form the acquaintance both of him and his family.

His house was, indeed, our only real home during our brief residence there, and we may not refrain from saying that pleasing reminiscences of those days yet linger with us, and we would never forget them.

Mr. Bill is a man of some marked traits of character, which wre feel will be of interest to note here. Few men on a slight acquaintance so readily impress us with their earnestness, candor, and integrity as he : these qualities are inherent, or they would not produce on us the conviction they do. His mind is of a reflective turn, thoughtful, yet ever prompt on all occasions in which he is expected to bear a part. We apprehend he has devoted much of time to the careful read-

* Since his dismissal by the President, Judge Sherman, U. S. District Judge for Northern Ohio (a brother of Gen. W. T. Sherman and Senator John Sherman), has appointed him Clerk of the U. S. District Court.

276 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

ing of general literature, and thus largely stored his mind with those things which usually come of an early and liberal course of study only. "With him, as with most of us, our parents possessed limited means, and were unable to give a college education to their children : their benefactions consisted mainly in conferring the benefits of a common-school educa- tion and leaving the example of their blameless lives : these constitute, an invaluable inheritance, and they were his.

His unusual natural intelligence, aided by his varied experience in life, lead him in most cases to correct iudsments. Possessed of unobtrusive manners and habits, arid great sreni- ality and kindness of heart, with a pleasant vein of humor pervading his Avhole composition, giving tone and variety to his social qualities, renders him an agreeable conversationalist.

We append herewith a copy of his autograph.

The children by first wife were :

1031 Charles Earl,8 b. Nov. 21, 1839 ; died July, 1840.

1032 t Horace Harper,8 b. April 4, 1842 ; was killed at Antie-

tam, Sept. 17, 1862.

1033 Mary Rose,8 b. Oct. 20, 1845.

Children by second wife:

1034 Charles Henry,8 b. July 19, 1849.

1035 Eva Caroline,8 b. Nov. 10, 1852.

1036 George Putnam,8 b. Aug. 2, 1855 ; died June 22, 1S59.

1037 Gertrude,8 b. Sept. 9, 1857.

1038 Florence,8 b. July 31, 1863 ; died Feb. 21, 1866.

646.

Gen. HORACE NEWTON BILL7 (Earl,6 Oliver,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the youngest son of Dr. Earl and Sarah (Jackson) Bill ; was born at Bemsen, Oneida County, N. Y.,

SEVENTH GENERATION. 277

Aug. 1, 1815, and was married June 28, 1838, to Rhoda Sylvania Mitchell, of Vernon, N. Y.

He purchased of his brother Chauncv the " Vernon Courier" somewhere about 1840, which it is supposed he published for several years. After this he removed to Rome, N. Y., where he lived for a number of years, and for three terms was collector of the canal tolls. In 1851 he had a posi- tion in the Comptroller's Office of the State of New York. In the winter of 1851-2, he was Librarian to the New York House of Representatives. In the latter part of the year 1852 he removed to Sandusky, Ohio. From 1853 to 1859 he was Clerk of the County of Erie, O. In 1860 he was commissioned by Governor William Denison as Brig. -General of militia. In 1861 he was placed in charge of Camp Jefferson, near the Virginia State line, and he continued in command up to the time of its discontinuance. On the first of Jan., 1862, he was appointed U. S. Deputy Marshal of the Northern District of Ohio, by his brother, Earl Bill. He continued in this office upward of four years, and during this time he with his family resided at Cleveland, O., where they now are. At a recent municipal election he was chosen a Justice of the Peace, which office he now holds. In 1862 or 3, at Cleveland, while return- ing to his home late at night, he was most brutally assaulted by one or more ruffians, armed with some merciless weapon. He was knocked down and severely cut about his head, and was left sweltering in pools of blood. He so far recovered as to be able to reach his home, where for many weeks he was confined, his life at times quite despaired of. He is, however, now in fair health, but careful of dark corners and suspicious- looking people !

His children have been :

1039 Sarah Sylvania,8 b. April 4, 1S41 ; m. J. Eugene Jones,

now deceased.

1040 Horace Earl,8 b. Jan. 28, 1849 ; d. in infancy.

278 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

654.

APAMA BILL7 (Oliver,8 Oliver,6 James,4 John,8 Philip,* John1), a daughter of Oliver and Clarissa (Bill) Bill ; was born in Lebanon, Dec. 11, 1798, and married, on the 18th of Sept., 1822, James Hempstead Pratt, born Jan. 16, 1797.

Their children were :

1041 William R.8 (Pratt), b. Nov. 29, 1823; m. Sarah W.

Blackraan, Feb. 7, 1849.

1042 Augustus M.e (Pratt), b. April 10, 1825; m. Anna M.

Cane, Feb. 23, 1852.

1043 Nancy E.8 (Pratt), b. Aug. 23, 1826; m. Caleb W.

Goodrich, April 8, 1849.

1044 Mary C.8 (Pratt), b. June 3, 1828 ; m. Elijah Goodrich,

Jan. 25, 1865.

1045 Delia A.8 (Pratt), b. May 18, 1830; d. Nov. 29, 1830.

1046 Morris B.8 (Pratt), b. Oct. 10, 1832.

1047 Joel B.8 (Pratt), b. Feb. 17, 1835 ; d. April 11, 1861.

1048 Sylvia C.8 (Pratt), b. Feb. 21, 1837.

1049 George O.8 (Pratt), b. Dec. 24, 1838; d. Jan. 13, 1839.

1050 Charles S.8 (Pratt), b. May 10, 1841 ; d. May 13, 1841.

655.

CLARISSA BILL7 (Oliver,6 Oliver,5 James,4 John,* Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding ; born at Steuben, N. York, June 5, 1801, and married, Sept. 30, 1830, Dea. Mavok Bkigham.

She died March 9, 1S42. Mr. Brigham married again, July 27, 1843, Melinda P. Merrill, of New York. He resides at Toledo, O.

The children by first wife, Clarissa Bill, were :

1051 Harriet Eliza8 (Brigham), b. July 4, 1831; m. W. A.

Beach, May 28, 1851, and lives in Toledo, O.

1052 Celina Emily8 (Brigham), b. March 19, 1833 ; d. Dec. 19,

1834.

1053 Sylvania Emeliue8 (Brigham), b. Sept. 1 7, 1835 ; d. Aug.

8, 1838.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 279

1054 Charles Oliver8 (Brigham), b. Sept. 9, 1838; ra. Sarah

M. Graham, Oct. 11, 1860, and lives in Toledo, O.

1055 Franklin Sullivan8 (Brigham), b. Feb. 9, 1842 ; d. June

29, 1842.

658.

HARRIET PORTER BILL7 (Amos,6 Oliver,5 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), daughter of Amos and Clarinda (Por- ter) Bill ; was born in Lebanon, 'Nov. 20, 1812, and married Jarvis Porter Lord, May 25, 1826, a presumed cousin.

She bears off the honor of being the earliest married of any of whom we have given any account. We were led to question the truthfulness of the statement, but have been as- sured of its entire reliability. She was married at the age of 13^ years, and became a mother at a little rising of 15. This is, to say the least, not a common incident. This family reside in Lebanon.

They have had children :

1056 Harvey Porter8 (Lord), b. March 6, 1828; d. Sept. 28,

1830.

1057 Nelson Porter8 (Lord), b. June 30, 1831.

1058 Clarinda Bill8 (Lord), b. Sept. 3, 1833.

1059 Lydia Maria8 (Lord), b. Feb. 11, 1836.

1060 Osca Frederica8 (Lord), b. Nov. 17, 183S; d. March 11,

1841.

1061 Frederic Washington8 (Lord),b. April 9, 1845 ; d. July

15, 1854.

659.

*

MARCIUS EDWARD BILL7 (Amos,8 Oliver,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; born in Lebanon, Dec. 12, 1814, and married, Dec. 19, 1847, Harriet Adeune Card, born July 11, 1823.

This family reside at Sodorus, Champaign County, 111.

They have had children :

1062 Francis Edward,8 b. June 16, 1854.

280 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

1063 Mary Clarinda,8 b. July 19, 1856.

1064 Arthur Jay,6 b. April 4, 1862.

660.

Capt, OLIVER AUGUSTUS BILL7 (Amos,6 Oliver,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born at Lebanon, Dec. 10, 1816; married first, Feb. 7, 1843, Julia Ann Abell, of same place ; b. Nov. 27, 1818, and died Nov. 14, 1S64. His second wife, M. Augusta Jewell, widow, he married June 30, 1865.

This family reside in New Haven, Ct., where he is engaged in business, having given up the coasting trade, that for many years prior had occupied his time, sailing as master of his vessel.

His children, all by first wTife, were :

1065 Mary Frances,6 b. May 9, 1844.

1066 Martha Sophronia,8 b. Oct. 28, 1846 ; d. Jan. 24, 1847.

1067 Martha Julia,8 b. Aug. 15, 1848.

1068 Rollin Ilibbard,8 b. May 21, 1852.

1069 Carrie Webster,8 b. Feb. 9, 1857.

1070 Hattie Porter,8 b. Sept. 24, 1860.

661.

CAROLINE MARIA BILL7 (Amos,6 Oliver.5 James,4 John,3 Philip,5 John1), a sister of the foregoing ; was born at Lebanon, June 10, 1821, and married, March 17, 1846, Elias Loomis Williams, born March 25, 1815. He died Aug. 13, 1860, at New Haven, where the family now live.

They had children :

1071 Charles Allen8 (Williams), b. Dec. 22, 1846; d. May

20, 1858.

1072 Henry Elias8 (Williams), b. Aug. 23, 1848 ; d. Jan. 30,

1864.

1073 George Bill8 (Williams), b. Oct. 30, 1853.

1074 Eunice Loomis8 (Williams), b. July 8, 1856.

1075 Arthur Clark8 (Williams), b. Sept. 6, 1859; d. Aug. 2,

1860.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 281

662.

GEOEGE RICHARD BILL7 (Amos,6 Oliver,5 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; was born in Lebanon, Sept. 12, 1825 ; married first, Lois Amelia Roblnsok, May 29, 1850. She died Feb. 25, 1856. His second wife was Emellne D. Blodgett, whom he married June 4, 1857. He is a farmer, and resides at Lebanon. During the late war he enlisted in the service of his country, and since his return home has been elected to represent his town in the State Legislature.

His children by first wife were :

1076 Charles Edwin,8 b. March 17, 1851.

1077 Harriet Amelia,8 b. Nov. 10, 1855; d. July 6, 1858.

Children by second wife :

1078 Frederic Blodgett,8 b. Feb. 10, 18C1 ; d. Feb. 14, 1861.

1079 George Lincoln,8 b. July 27, 1862.

664.

ERASTUS BILL1 (Benajah,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Benajah and Hannah ( Udall) Bill, was born about 1800, and married first, Betsey Hall. His second wife was her sister.

He resided in Compton, Canada East, up to 1836, when he removed to New Ireland, where his second wife died ; subsequently he removed to Fox Lake, Wis., where, it is believed, he now lives with his son Sanford. One of his daughters married a Mr. Frazier, of Bytown, C. W.

His children were, by first wife :

1080 A son.

1081 A daughter.

1082 A daughter. By second wife :

1083 Sanford.8 Resides near Fox Lake, Wis. 19

282 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

665.

HORACE BILL7 (Benajah,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,3

Philip,2 John'), a brother of the preceding ; was born ;

married Achsah Fisk, of Temple, Me.

He died in 1840. His widow resides at Compton, C. E., or Compton, in the " Province of Quebec."

His children were :

1084 Armorica,8 b. Dec. 11, 1826; m. June 28, 1848, War-

ren Loomis, Jr. They have five children.

1085 Xenophon,8 b. Jan. 19, 182-; d. Jan. 11, 1854.

1086 Amanda M.,8b. April 13, 1831 ; m. Oct. 3, 1854, James

Osgood; she d. Nov. 24, 1863, leaving one child, James* (Osgood).

1087 Horace A.,8 b. Sept. 2, 1834 ; m. June 30, 1859, Martha

Russell. He d. April 29, 1864.

669.

Capt. CARLOS PITKIN BILL7 (Eliphalet Mason,6 Eli- phalet,5 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), the eldest son of Doctor Eliphalet Mason Bill ; was born in Hartford, Vt., Nov. 20, 1803, and married, Dec. 1, 1S29, at Topsham, Vt., Mary Anx Jenness, born in that place, Nov. 20, 1812.

Capt. Bill is one of the few who has lent us his invaluable aid and active co-operation in gathering material and search- ing the family records of ancestors, thereby laying us under many obligations for these voluntary acts of kindness. His labors, it is true, have embraced only his own branch of the family, yet they have not been inconsiderable, and have in- volved, as we can readily understand, no little pains or expense. No material received by us from any member of the family came in such readiness for the press as did his. We mention this in justice to his patience, and the lively interest taken in the compilation of this volume. His re- ward is the satisfaction he will have in knowing, and in due time seeing, when this volume shall reach his hands, that his labors have not been thrown away.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 283

For a period of over thirty years, Capt. Bill lias been a merchant, commencing business in 1826, at Orange, Yt., the residence of his father. Here he remained but three years, when he removed to West Topsham, Yt., the place of his present residence. He was commissioned captain in the State militia in 1829. He has filled various offices in the town, from 1 835 to the present time. He has held the office of justice of the peace from 1S37 till now, and during the years of 1845 and 1846 he represented the town of Topsham in the State Legislature.

We append a copy of his autograph :

V — 7

The children of Carlos Pitkin and Mary Ann (Jenness) Bill have been :

1088 Eveline Pitkin,8 b. May 17, 1831; m. June 14, 1865,

Calvin H. Blodgett, b. April 7, 1827, son of Hon. Calvin Blodgett. They reside at Burlington, Yt.

1089 Emily M.,8 b. Oct. 9, 1835 ; d. May 6, 1842.

671.

FPvANCES MAKIA BILL7 (Eliphalet Mason,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,5 John1), a sister of the preceding, and twin sister of the succeeding ; was born in Orange, Yt., Aug. 9, 1808, and on Dec. 8, 1830, married Col. Carlos Carpen- ter, of the same place ; born Sept. 30, 1S04.

Col. Carpenter is a man of some public note in the State of Yermont. His occupation is that of a farmer, yet a con- siderable portion of his life has been devoted to the interests of his fellow-citizens in some official capacity. He resided with his family in the town of Orange up to 1854, at which time he removed to Barre, Yt., where he lives at the present time. He represented the town of Orange in the State Legis-

284 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

lature several years between 1837 and 1845, and at one time was High Sheriff of Orange County, and has been State Auditor, besides holding all the grades in the State militia, from adjutant to colonel, as well as the various minor yet important civil offices in both the towns of Orange and Barre. They have had children, all born in Orange :

1090 Flora M.8 (Carpenter), b. May 27, 1837; m. Jan. 1,

1862, Isaac Newton Camp, a school-teacher, at Burlington, Vt.

1091 Clara8 (Carpenter), b. Sept. 6, 1839; unmarried.

1092 Delia8 (Carpenter), b. Aug. 7, 1842; d. April 4, 1848.

1093 Mason Bill8 (Carpenter), b. Oct. 7, 1845 ; a student in

the University of Vermont, at Burlington.

1094 Solon Eugene8 (Carpenter), b. Nov. 17, 1849.

672.

JULIA EMILY BILL7 (Eliphalet Mason,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a twin sister of the preceding ; was born in Orange, Vt., Aug. 9, 180S. She married first, June 17, 1828, Jonathan Houghton, Jr., a tanner; born April 6, 1806, and died at Peoria, 111., July 27, 1838. Her second husband, Chauncy Goodrich, she married Dec. 8, 1840. He died Oct. 3, 1854.

Mrs. Goodrich and her daughter Alice reside in Barre, Vt., 1867.

Her children, by her first husband, were :

1095 Jonathan Augustus8 (Houghton), b. at Craftsbury, Vt.,

Sept. 16, 1834; was drowned in the Connecticut River, at Newbury, Sept, 1, 1852.

1096 Eliza Maria8 (Houghton), b. at Orange, Aug. 29, 1837 ;

m. George W. I. Carpenter, Aug. 20, 1862. They live in Elkhart City, III. Children by her second husband were :

1097 Alice Bill" (Goodrich), b. Oct. 7, 1841.

1098 Mary Pitkin8 (Goodrich), b. Dec. 24, 1845 ; d. at Barre,

Mav 18, 1862.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 285.

673.

Maj. EOS WELL MASON BILL7 (Eliphalet Mason,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,8 Philip,2 John1), brother of the preceding ; was born in Orange, Yt., April 19, 1810, and on 14th Nov., 1838, married Merinda Nelson ; born at Orange, Oct. 8, 1813.

Maj. Bill, the year following his marriage, removed to "West Topsham, Yt., where for six years he was employed in his brother Carlos P. Bill's store, at the same time holding the office of Deputy Sheriff. In 1845 he opened a store on his own account at that place, and continued in the mercantile business till 1851. Subsequently, his time and attention have been divided between his own affairs and public duties.

He represented the town of Topsham in the State Legisla- ture during the years of 1851, 1855, and 1857. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1S56, and was elected State Senator for Orange County in the years 1858 and 1859. He has held the offices of Captain and Major in the State militia. For several years prior to 1865, was a director of the Bradford Bank, and has had much to do with the settlement of estates of deceased persons.

Maj. Bill is an energetic, upright, and faithful citizen, exerting a wide and salutary influence in the section of country where he resides.

The children of Boswell M. and Merinda (Nelson) Bill have been :

1099 Adela M.,8b. Sept. 1, 1839 ; m. Ferdinand Sherwin, Jau.

1, 1866. They reside at Wells River, Yt.

1100 Roselle M.,8 b. July 8, 1841.

1101 Emma F.,8 b. Sept. 9, 1846.

1102 Cora I.,8 b. Oct. 22, 1848.

678. LOUISA M. BILL7 (Dyer,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,8

286 TIIE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Pliilip,2 John1), daughter of Dr. Dyer and Ruth (Richardson) Bill ; born in Orange, Yt., Dec. 15, 1815, and married, Sept., 1838, Winthrop Howard, born in Sturbridge, Mass., May 13, 1811.

This family reside at Albany, Yt., and have had children :

1 103 Charles8 (Howard), b. March 18, 1840.

1104 Julia8 (Howard), b. Sept. 18, 1844; m. Oct, 1, 1861, to

George Nye. They live in Montpelier, Yt, and have children :

Jennie Louise9 (Nye), b. June 20, 1862. Charles9 (Nye), b. April 8, 1865.

679.

JOSEPHINE BILL7 (Dyer,6 Eliphalet,6 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John'), a sister of the preceding ; was born at Albany, Yt., April 1, 1820, and married, first, Joseph T. Howard, May 10, 1840. He died June 15, 1849, at Albany, Yt. ; second, Sept. 24, 1851, Charles C. Doty.

Her first husband was a merchant, and her second is a blacksmith. They reside in Craftsbury, Yt., at the present time, 1867.

Her children have been :

1105 George8 (Howard), b. Nov. 4, 1848.

1106 Emily A.8 (Doty), b. July 24, 1852.

680.

EMELINE BILL7 (Dyer,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the foregoing; was born in Albany, Yt., Aug. 3, 1822. She married, first, on June 5, 1839, Dwight S. Strong, who died at Manlius, N. Y. ; second, in Nov., 1852, Warren White. This family reside at Manlius, N. Y.

Her children have been, by first husband :

1107 Dyer* (Strong), b. Aug. 23, 1842.

1108 Frederic8 (Strong), b. April 11, 1845.

1109 George8 (Strong), b. Jan. — , 1848.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 287

By second husband :

1110 Emeline L.e (White), b. Oct. 23, 1853.

1111 Frank8 (White), b. Oct. 30, 1855. A***

681.

LTTCINDA BILL7 (Dyer,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the foregoing ; was born at Albany,

Yt,, June 6, 1824, where she married, Oct. 13, 1810, .

They reside in Irasburg, Yt., where she died in Jan., 1851.

Their children were :

1112 Wallace8 (Howard), b. Feb. 12, 1841.

1113 Josephine8 (Howard), b. July 25, 1842.

1114 Augusta8 (Howard), b. Feb. 2, 1847.

682.

MARY BILL7 (Dyer,6 Eliphalet,6 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a sister of the preceding ; was born at Albany, Yt., May 13, 1826, where she married, Jan. 16, 1845, Joshua C. Rowell ; born June 5, 1819.

They reside at Albany, Yt., and follow farming.

Their children have been :

1115 Ladora8 (Rowell), b. Nov. 8, 1847.

1116 Ella8 (Rowell), b. Sept. 8, 1852.

1117 Ida8 (Rowell), b. Sept. 23, 1854.

683.

DYER RICHARDSON BILL7 (Dyer,6 Eliphalet,5 Bena- jah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; was born at Albany, Yt., July 23, 1829, and married, at Manlius, N. Y., Amanda Milner, of that place.

This family reside in the West, and are farmers.

His children are :

1118 Frank D.,8 b. June 1 7, 1 853.

1119 Edward H.,8 b. June 5, 1857.

1120 Frederic I.,8 b. Aug. 11, 1859.

1121 James W.,s b. Aug. 2 7, 1 86 1 .

1122 Kate M.,8 b. June 2 7, 1 864.

28S THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

684.

FRANK COBURN BILL7 (Dyer,6 Eliphalet,5 Benajal.,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Dr. Dyer and Ruth (Coburn) Bill, and a half brother of the preceding ; was born at Albany, Yt., May 20, 1832, and married, in May, 1860, Elizabeth Harvey, of Barnet, Yt.

This family reside at Boston, Mass., where he is a mer- chant, though they were formerly of East Saint Johnsburg, Yt.

They have had children :

1 123 Harvey,8 b. May 23, 1861.

1 124 Carrie,8 b. May — , 18G2.

685.

Doct. CURTIS HARVEY BILL7 (Dyer", Eliphalet,6 Benajah,4 John,3 Philip,2 John'), a brother of the foregoing ; was born at Albany, Yt., July 2, 1835, and on Sept. 20, 1865, married Mary J. Worcester, of Hollis, N. H.

In 1854, he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Charles B. Chandler, of Montpelier, Yt. After this he at- tended two courses of medical lectures at Dartmouth Col- lege, one at the University of Yermont, and one in the Uni- versity of New York City, at the last of which he received the degree of M. D., in the spring of 1859. At his final ex- amination in anatomy and surgery, he was highly commended by the Faculty. He soon settled in Tennessee, and entered upon the practice of his profession, which he continued up to the time of the breaking out of the late civil war, in 1861. The condition of public sentiment in Tennessee was at that time more or less chaotic, and it being well known that he was by birth a Northern man, he felt it to be the course of prudence to withdraw fur the time from public duties. He was, however, soon offered a commission in the Rebel army : this he very resjiectfully declined, and the result of this de- clination was, that he found himself obliged to leave that sec- tion of the country. He proceeded northward by the way of

SEVENTH GENERATION. 289

Louisville, Ky. ; while here he met and was introduced to Gen. W. T. Sherman, who had command of that Department, and through his influence he obtained a commission as Sur- geon in the United States Army. He was assigned to the Fifteenth Kegiment U. S. Infantry, and continued in the ser- vice of this regiment during 1861, 1862, and 1863, and re- ceived, during all this period, the respect and confidence of both officers and men.

The General under whom he served paid him this high compliment, namely : — " Dr. Bill could always be found on the field, and conducted himself the most bravely of any surgeon in my command." The regiment presented him with a beau- tiful and expensive case of surgical instruments, in token of their appreciation of his valuable services rendered to them. He was in the battles of Shiloh,*Murfreesboro', Nashville, and many other minor engagements, doing active duty on those fields.

He was, at his own request, relieved from active duties and assigned to the Department Head-Quarters, as examining surgeon for discharges, forming one of a board of three surgeons. This medical board, we are informed, had passed upon more than 7,000 applications for discharge in the space of three months !

He was afterwards detailed as Surgeon-in-Chief of " How- ard Hospital," at Nashville, which post he held for nearly one year, having during this time the care of many wounded, and disabled soldiers ; he here performed many capital opera- tions in surgery with marked success. His health failing him, he was compelled to resign, but after a brief respite among his relatives he returned to Nashville, and at the solicitation of Andrew Johnson, then military governor of Tennessee, he accepted an appointment as surgeon of the Fifth Regiment of Tenn. Cavalry, and he continued to act in that capacity till the close of the war, in 1865, being mustered out of the service in August of that year. The subsequent month he

* This is sometimes known as Pittsburg Lauding.

290 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

was married to Miss Worcester, as stated. He is now living in Fayetteville, Tenn., practicing his profession and attending to the cultivation of a cotton plantation.

699.

DANIEL BILL7 (Daniel,6 Jonathan,5 Edward,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Daniel and Mindwell (Brainerd) Bill ; was born in Hartford, Ct, June 20, 1781. He married, on Oct. 11, 1810, Hannah "Waldron.

He removed to Ohio about the time of his marriage, and settled at or near New London, in that State, as is believed, where he died, Oct. 2, 1862.

Their children were :

1125 Lathrop,8b. Nov. 18, 1811.

1126 Hortense,8 b. March 29, 1813.

1127 Perry H.,8 b. June 8, 1815.

1128 Roby P.,8 b. Feb. 10, 1817.

1129 Daniel,8 b. Oct. 22, 1820.

1130 Sherman,8 b. Dec. 1, 1822.

1131 Mindwell,8 b. Dec. 21, 1824.

1132 Hannah,8 b. April 22, 1827.

1 133 Myron,8 b. March 8, 1829.

1 134 Roxana,8 b. June 7, 1831.

1135 Spencer,8 b. Dec. 18, 1833.

702.

ELIJAH BILL7 (Daniel,6 Jonathan,5 Edward,4 Joshua,3 Philip,'2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born May 10, 1800, in Hartford, Ct., and in 1822 married Mary Howard.

He removed about a half century since to Ohio, and set- tled in Hartland, Huron County, of that State, where he still resides, though when last heard from he was dangerously ill, and may not now be living. He was a man of great size, weighing between three and four hundred pounds.

Their children have been:

1136 Sion E.,8 b. June 10, 1 823.

SEVENTH GENERATION.

291

1137	Harriet,8 b. Feb. 7, 1825.
1138	Stephen,8 b. Oct. 11, 1828.
1139	Amanda M.,8 b. June 1, 1834
1140	John Elijah,8 b. Nov. 2, 1841
1141	Charles,8 b. Feb. 11, 1847.

717.

DAVID BILL7 (David,6 Phineas,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a son of David and Hannah (Babcock) Bill ; was born in Groton, Nov. 2, 1817, and married, Feb. 8, 1852, Elizabeth Logan, daughter of John A. Logan, of New York, and an own cousin of Maj.-Gen. John A. Logan, of 111.

This family reside at Palmyra, N. Y.

Their children are :

1 142 Benjamin Franklin,8 b. Nov. 13, 1852.

1 143 David Turner,8 b. Oct. 9, 1854.

1 144 George Washington,8 b. Sept. 6, 1856.

1 145 Daniel Webster,8 b. Dec. 28, 1858.

1146 Caroline Adelia,8 b. Aug. 31, 1861.

1 147 William Wirt,8 b. Nov. 14, 1863.

720.

JULIA ANN BILL7 (Lodowick,8 ' Benajah,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a daughter of Lodowick and Betsey (Geer) Bill ; was born in Groton [Ledyard], Ct., Oct. 20, 1S07, and, on Jan. 20, 1824, married John G. Hughes, of Lyme, Ct.

His occupation is that of a farmer and fisherman.

Their children have been :

1 148 Mary Sedley 8 (Hughes), b. March 19, 1825.

1 149 Charles Gordon8 (Hughes), b. Dec. 11, 1826.

1150 Alfred Smith8 (Hughes), b. Feb. 19, 1829 ; d. in 1854.

1151 Hiram Geer 8 (Hughes), b. April 21, 1832.

1152 John Wight8 (Hughes), b. May 23, 1834.

1153 Ann Louisa 8 (Hughes), b. March 22, 1 838 ; m. James H.

Bliss, of Springfield, Mass. They have one child, a daughter. He died Sept. 6, 1867.

292 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

1 1 54 Jennie Eliza 8 (Hughes), b. Feb. 22, 1 841.

1155 Elizabeth Maria8 (Hughes), b. Sept. 2, 1843.

1156 Fannie Emeline8 (Hughes), b. June 10, 1847.

1157 Ellen Burnham8 (Hughes), b. Nov. 21, 1849.

1158 Julia Emma8 (Hughes), b. April 19, 1852.

723.

Judge JOHN WIGHT BILL7 (Lodowick,6 Benajah,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John '), son of'Lodowiek and Betsey (Geer) Bill, and brother of the preceding ; was born in Groton [Ledvard], Jan. 4, 1813, and on Aug. 4, 1836, married Pru- dence Gallup, a daughter of Capt. Jacob Gallup, of Ledyard.

This family reside in Lyme, Ct., on what is now known as " Bill Hill," a title given to this elevated tract of land in consequence of its being the residence of several families of the name. Judge Lodowick Bill and his three sun.-, John Wight, Benajah Park, and James A., live there, and their several dwellings are clustered within speaking distance of each other.

Mr. Bill is an enterprising and well-to-do farmer, taking an intelligent interest in all matters relating to agriculture, and finds abundant leisure to keep well informed on all local and national concerns.

He has taken an active part in party politics, though never to our knowledge as a candidate for his own preferment, until the present year, when, at the annual State election, he ran for the office of Judge of Probate on the Democratic ticket, and was duly elected, thus succeeding to the position once held by his father.

The children of John Wight and Prudence (Gallup) Bill have been :

1159 John Oscar,8 b. Nov. 13, 1837. In 1861, April 21, he

enlisted in the first company and first regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, as a " three-months' man." This regiment was mustered out at the expiration of three months, and he was honorably discharged, July 21, 1861.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 293

1160 Prudence Parthenia,8 b. March 27, 1839; d. Feb. 21,

1842.

1161 Gilbert La Fayette,8 b. Jan. 15, 1842; d. Feb. 17, 1863,

having just entered manhood. He was a young man of unusual promise, and had been carefully educated, with the expectation of his eventually entering on the study of the law.

He was the idol of his parents — on him they built their fondest hopes, and his death was a most crushing affliction to them, as well as a great loss to all his relatives and friends, who were numerous, and by whom he was much be- loved and deeply lamented. He was educated at Fort Edward Institute, New York, where he won many honors, and where the tidings of his decease were received with deep sorrow.*

1162 Ellen Loraine,8 b. July 30, 1844; was married March

17, 1864, to William H. Fowler, of Williamsburg, L. I., 1ST. Y. They now reside in Brooklyn, N. Y. They have a daughter, Susan Wight9 (Fowler), b. April 13, 1865.

1163 Lodowick,8 b. March 30, 1 847.

1 1 64 Emma Gallup,8 b. Aug. 8, 1840.

* The following lines, composed by his Aunt Louisa, the wife of Benajah P. Bill, now deceased, are worthy of preservation, as showing the esteem in which he was held :

Alas! those hours of pleasing hope were all too bright to last ; With blinding tears we think of them, as records of the past : Each well-remembered look, each sweet and pleasant tone. In memory's store are garnered up, as treasures all our own.

When the ''golden bowl" was broken, affection's lavish care Could not retain the loved one, of gifts and talents rare ; Yet, why mourn the early dead, all joyous in their way, While further on we toiling tread, where shadows thickly lay ?

O Life! mysterious, transient gift, and when we pass it through, The mystery deepens still in death, beyond all mortal view. Yet we know our heavenly Father, who rules in love o'er all, Will gather up His children true, as one by one they fall.

294 TIIE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

1165 Jacob Gallup,8 b. June 10, 1 851.

1166 Nelson Horatio,8 b. March 10, 1853.

1167 Robert Allyn,8 b. Jan. 12, 1855 ; d. March 22, 1855.

1 1 68 Prudence Morgan,8 b. April 28, 1856.

1169 Arthur L. Wight,8 b. March 29, 1858.

1170 Edward Lyman,8 b. June 5, 1862.

724.

BENAJAH PARK BILL7 (Lodowick,8 Benajah,6 Phine- as,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; was barn Dec. 5, 1814, and married Sept. 20, 1843, Mary B. Pitcher, born Jan. 6, 1810. She died April 8, 1850, five days after the birth of her first-born, which also died April 8, 1850. His second wife was Louisa M. Peck, daughter of Dea. Timo- thy Peck, whom he married Sept. 17, 1S50. She was born Jan. 9, 1822, and died in the winter of 1866 and 7.

He resides in Lyme, Ct., and is an intelligent, hard-work- ing, thrifty farmer. A slight acquaintance is not sufficient to impart a correct idea of the mental activity and quick wit which for a time may slumber under that storm-worn beaver which he usually wears. It cannot be said that he was ever neutral in respect to any one of the numberless questions which are continually challenging the attention of a free people. An anecdote will illustrate his fondness for discus- sion ; a trait in his character almost irrepressible.

Traveling in a Western steamer, he observed in the rear saloon a small company of gentlemen earnestly discussing some political or theological question : drawing near, he listened in silence till he had obtained the thread of the dis- cussion ; perceiving that the party whose views were in accordance with his own had the advantage in the contro- versy, while the opposing party, a clergyman, seemed to be greatly crowded, he took a fancy to help the weaker side, and at once "put in his oar," presenting arguments which turned the tide against the just now exultant disputant, quite dis- comfiting him. While receiving the congratulations of his clerical friend, a fellow-traveler joined the circle who happened

SEVENTH GENERATION. 295

to know Mr. Bill, and, learning the particulars, also knew the views Mr. B. had just been advocating were exactly opposite to his real opinions ; thinking it too good a juke to be passed over, he stated the facts, to the great amusement of the company, excepting, probably, the aforesaid clergyman. The children of Benajah P. Bill have been, by first wife :

1171 Mary Pitcher,8 b. April 3, 1850. By second wife :

1172 David Pitcher,8 b. Aug. 24, 1851.

1 1 73 Mary Jane,8 b. Dec. 8, 1852.

1 1 74 Thomas Peck,6 b. Aug. 23, 1854.

1175 Ann Louisa,8 b. July 22, 1856.

1176 Frank Pierce,8 b. April 15, 1858.

1177 Benajah Park,8 b. March 19, 1800.

1178 Caroline Park,8 b. Dec. 3, 1861.

725.

Capt. JAMES ALEXANDER BILL7 (Lodowick,6 Bena- jah,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Lodowick and Betsey (Geer) Bill, and brother of the preceding ; was born at Lyme, March 30, 1817, and on Aug. 26, 1839, married Ann S. Lord, who was born April 7, 1820 ; daughter of Joseph and Phebe (Burnham) Lord, of Lyme.

Mr. Bill was reared and has always resided in the same town. His educational advantages were confined to district schools of his native town. At the age of 20 years he en- gaged in the book business, and traveled extensively through the Western States for the space of five years, with great success. In 1842 he established himself in Philadelphia as a book publisher, and remained in this business for twenty years. A large part of this time, however, he was heavily engaged in agricultural pursuits. Into his profession as a farmer he carried the same zeal and enthusiasm that had distinguished him as a publisher, and by which he had acquired a competence. He was early an officer of the State Board of Agriculture, and a heavy competitor

29G THE B1LL FAMILY MEMOIR.

at the State Fairs in the stock department. His large droves of elegant Devon cattle, and flocks of Spanish Merino and South Down sheep, always attracted great admi- ration at both the State and County Fairs, and gave him a wide reputation throughout the country. At the New Lon- don County Fairs he has often exhibited 100 head of cattle and 75 sheep. A leading officer in the County Society from its organization, he has been twice its President, and by his intelligent zeal has made himself one of the most influential agriculturists in the State.

In 1849 he entered warmly into politics, and was returned to the Legislature from his native town by the Democrats. In 1852 and 1853 he represented his senatorial district in the State Senate, and in 1867 was again elected a member of the House. In every case he ran against heavy odds, and never was a candidate but to win. In fact, in this as in every thing else, he early in life appears to have adopted the sentiment of the French Cardinal —

uIn the bright lexicon of youth, Which fate reserves for brighter manhood, There's no such word as fail.''''

In early life he was commissioned captain in the State militia, and had the command of a local military organization.

He is now leading an agricultural life exclusively, and in the independence of his rural home dispenses a generous hos- pitality to all who come beneath his roof. We append a fac- simile of his autograph :

^T^^

They have had eleven children, seven of whom are still living.

They are as follows :

1 1 79 Elizabeth Geer,8 b. April 27, 1841.

1180 Phebe Burnham,8 b. June 15, 1843 ; d.

1181 Mary Jane,8 b. May 5, 1845 ; d. Oct. 6, 1851.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 297

1182 Prudence Ann,8 b. June 15, 1847.

1 1 83 Rebecca Lord,8 b. Sept. 29, 1848 ; d. Dec. 9, 1856.

1 184 Lodowick,8 b. July 31, 1850..

1185 James Alexander,8 b. Api'il 16, 1852.

1186 Kansas Nebraska,8 b. July 20, 1856.

1187 Lecompton Constitution,8 b. Oct. 16, 1857.

1188 William Warren,8 b. Oct. 16, 1859 ; d. Feb. 16, 1860.

1189 Jefferson Davis,8 b. Feb. 7, 1862.

727. LUCY STARK BILL7 (Lodowick,6 Benajah,5 Phfneas,4

Joshua,' Philip,'2 John1), a sister of the preceding ; was born in Lyme, March 23, 1822, and married Ebenezek E. Brock- way, of same place, who was born Dec. 4, 1819.

This family reside in Lyme. He is a farmer, and a man of estimable character.

They have had children :

1190 Lodowick Bill8 (Brockway), b. Oct. 8, 1845.

1191 James Monroe8 (Brockway), b. July 31, 1848.

1192 Mary Elizabeth8 (Brockway), b.May 15, 1850 ; d. June

29, 1851.

1 193 Mary Elizabeth8 (Brockway), b. April 20, 1852.

1194 Charles Loveland8 (Brockway), b, Sept. 15, 1855.

1195 Ellen Griffin8 (Brockway), b. Aug. 12, 1858.

1196 Fannie Louise8 (Brockway), b. Sept. 7, 1861.

730.

SARAH MARIA BILL7 (Elisha Satterlee,6 Benajah,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,' Philip,2 John1), a daughter of Elisha Sat- terlee Bill, of Griswold, Ct. ; was born Feb. 18, 1819. She married first, on Feb. 4, 1838, Capt. Silas Fitch, of Westerly, R. I. He was born Aug. 15, 1817, and died Feb. 14, 1865 ; second, she married Roswell Tanner.

This family resided in Westerly, R. I.

She had children :

1197 Sarah Maria8 (Fitch), b. June 30, 1840; m. John B.

Tanner. 20

298 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

1198 Julia Frances8 (Fitch), b. Dee. 28, 1844.

1199 Otis Barker8 (Fitch), b. April 9, 1855 ; d. Sept. 1, 1855.

1200 Horace Mann8 (Fitch), b. July 14, 1856.

731.

JAMES LEONAKD BILL7 (Elisha Satterlee,6 Benajah,6

Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing; was born in Griswold, Aug. 16, 1821 ; married, first, on March 12, 18-13, Lucy Angeline Maine, of North Stonington. She died Jan. 29, 1845, leaving no children ; married, second, Aug. 22, 1818, Juliet Chapman, of North Stonington. She died Dec. 23, 1857; married, third, on June 23, 1861, Bar- bara Adeline Howland, of Killingly, born Sept. 1, 1833. This family reside in North Stonington. His children by second wife were :

1201 Leonard Eugene,8 b. Aug. 7, 1852.

1202 Julia Olivet,8 b. June 3, 1856.

By third wife :

1203 Joli11 Dexter,8 b. Aug. 11, 1S65.

732.

JEPIITIIAH GEER BILL7 (Elisha Satterlee,6 Benajab,' Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,'2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Griswold, Sept. 7, 1S23, and married, Feb. 15, 1848, Prudence Powers Benjamin, born June 8, 1821.

He resides in Griswold, and is a fanner there.

Their children are:

1204 Benjamin Jephthah,8 b. Aug. 24, 1850.

1205 Harriet Prudence,8 b. Oct. 2, 1855.

1206 Ann Isabella,8 b. Sept. 8, 1 859.

733.

AMOS WILLIAMS BILL7 (Elisha Satterlee,6 Benajah,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John'), a brother of the foregoing ; born in Griswold, Jan. 26, 1828; married, first, on Nov. 28, 1850, Mary Elizabeth Howland, born May 1, 1831, and

SEVENTH GENERATION. 299

died Sept. 5, 1865, leaving no children. His second wife, Oea Angeline Latham, he married at Providence, R. I., Sept. 13, 1860. She was a native of Ledj'ard, Ct., where she was born Oct. 22, 1850.

This family live, we believe, in Norwich or Montville, Ct.

735.

SIDNEY WORTHINGTON BILL7 (Elisha Satterlee,6 Benajah,5 Phineas,4 Joshna,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing; born in Griswold, Oct. 23, 1830. He married Emeline Hyde, of Lisbon, July 4, 1853.

This family reside at Norwich, on the west side, and are highly respectable.

They have bat one child, a very promising son :

1207 Charles Sidney,8 b. May 26, 1860.

736.

ELISHA BILL7 (Elisha Satterlee,6 Benajah,6 Phineas/ Joshua,5 Philip,'2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; born in Griswold, Jnne 29, 1833 ; married, Sept. 5, 1855, Frances Maria Richmond, born Ang. 2, 1810. They reside in Scot- land, Ct., and have children :

1208 Anna Maria Frances,8 b. June 8, 1858.

1209 Charles Gardner,8 b. Aug. 25, 1860; d. Sept. S, 1860.

737.

EZRA GARDNER BILL7 (Elisha Satterlee,6 Benajah,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), brother of the precedini: ; born in Griswold, Oct. 3, 1836 ; married, first, March 27, 1860, Lauretta Hyde, who died March 21, 1801, leaving no children. His second wife was Sarah Elizabeth (Masters) Ciiamplain, whom he married 13th March, 1861. The}7, live in Montville.

The children are :

1210 Mary Elizabeth,8 b. Sept. 20, 1865 ; d. March 2, 1866.

300 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

748.

HORATIO NELSON BILL'(NelsonHoratius,6Benajah,s Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John'), eldest son of Nelson Hora- tius Bill ; was born in Lebanon, March 25, 1824, and Sept. 4, 1850, married Julia Ann Branch, of Springfield, N. Y.

This family reside at "Williinantic, and have children :

1211 Edward Nelson,8 b. Jan. 13, 1852,

1212 Ida Maria,8 b. Dec. 7, 1 853.

1213 Arthur Irving,3 b. June 27, 1856.

1214 Charles Oliver,8 b.Dec. 22, 1858,

750.

JEREMIAH CANNING BILL7 (Nelson Horatins,' Benajah,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), brother of the preceding ; was born in Lebanon, Sept. 21, 1827, and married, Nov. 29, 1855, Julia Hurlburt Corey, daughter of Joseph Corey, of Lebanon.

This family resided at Lebanon, where Mrs. Bill died Aug. 14, 1864. Her decease left him quite alone, since his two children had been removed by death but a few weeks prior.

Mr. Bill has considerable talent as a draughtsman, and was for some time employed in making patterns for the first wood tjrpe made in this country. He is now living tempora- rily in New York, but considers his residence to be at "WilH- mantic, Ct., we believe.

His children have been :

1215 Leroy Canning,8 b. April 7, 1857 ; d. Sept. 6, 1857.

1216 Eugene Howard,8 b. May 31, 1858; d. July 25, 1864.

1217 Frederic Corey,8 b. June 29r 1863 ; d. April 28, 1864.

751.

EDWARD MITCHELL BILL7 (Gnrdon,6 Joshua,* Phineas,4 Joshua,' Philip,2 John1), son of Gordon and Lucy (Yerrington) Bill ; was born in Groton [Ledyard], April 24, 1822, and married, June 1, 1847, Esther Alice Sylvester,

SEVENTH GENERATION. 301

daughter of Levi P. and Lydia (Bill) Sylvester, of Greens- burg, Indiana. We have in the sketch of Benjamin* Bill, No. 23, given something relating to the ancestry of Lydia Bill, above named, the mother of the wife of Edward Mitchell Bill. Since penning that account nothing has come to light to cause us to change our views as there expressed ; to which the reader is referred.

Edward M. Bill was reared a farmer, but, before attaining his majority, learned the trade of a house-carpenter. This latter occupation he has never followed. For quite a period he was an officer in the New London County prison, situated at Norwich. He afterwards traveled in several of the Western States, engaged in the sale of books. For several years prior to 1854, lie was located in business at Worcester, Mass., after which he removed to Albia, Iowa, where he now resides, being engaged in farming.

He is at present the Superintendent of Schools for Monroe County, Iowa.

His children have been :

1218 Ira Edward,8 b. June 3, 1849; d. Dec. 19, 1851.

1219 Lucy Yerrington,8 b. Oct. 1, 1853 ; d. Aug. V, 1855.

1220 Lydia Silvester,8 b. June 26, 1856.

1221 Edward Henry,8 b. Dec. 19, 1859; d. April 30, 1862.

1222 Gurdon Frederic,8 b. June 17, 1861.

1223 Clara Maria,8 b. Sept. 13, 1863.

1224 Edward Charles,8 b. March 1, 1866.

752.

HENBY BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,5 Philip,2 John1), son of Gurdon and Lucy (Yerrington) Bill; was born in Groton [Ledyard], May 18, 1824, and was on Feb. 10, 1847, married to Julia Octavia Chapman, born in Groton, Dec. 14, 1824, daughter of Simeon Chapman.

At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to John J. Hyde, in the office of the old New London Gazette, but remained only four months, when he went back to assist his father on the

302 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

farm. lie returned to New London in a few months, and engaged for a short time as a clerk for Robert Chapman, in a confectionery store. The following winter he engaged as a teacher in the Broadbrook district, Preston, at the wages of $9 a month. He was so well pleased with this occupa- tion, and so highly commended by the district committee for his success, that he resolved to adopt it for a profession, and to this end he attended in the succeeding fall a teachers' preparatory school in Plainfield. The following winter he taught school in Plainfield, and the winter after at Groton. In 1842, at the age of eighteen, after the fashion of enterprising boys of that day, he purchased his time till he should arrive at the age of manhood. At this time a business opened to him which turned the course of his life. His cousin, James A. Bill, of Lyme, then a successful book publisher, induced him to embark as a traveling agent in the sale of his publi- cations. He traveled extensively through several of the West- ern and some of the Eastern States. In the fall of 1847, by the encouragement of Messrs. Harper & Brothers, of New York, he engaged in the publication and sale of books by sub- scription, and located permanently at Norwich, Ct. Here he has since resided, actively engaged in the publishing business, and uniformly successful in his undertakings. Chief among the works which he has published may be mentioned Stephens's Travels in Yucatan ; History of the World (2 vols.), by Maun- der ; The Encyclopedia of all Nations, by Murray ; Illustrated History of the Bible, by Kitto ; and, in connection with his brothers, Gurdon and Ledyard, The Civil War in America, by Abbott.

In the dissemination of about half a million of these books he has employed about two thousand agents. He is now one of the oldest subscription book publishers in the country, and one of the most successful, and still continues to push his business into all parts of the Union.

He has not confined his attention solely to book pub- lishing. In 1S50, he engaged, in company with two other

SEVENTH GENERATION. 303

gentlemen, in developing a large tract of land on the south bank of the Shetucket, at its junction with the River Thames, now called Laurel Hill. He was the active partner in this enterprise, and has now the satisfaction of seeing what was a rugged and apparently worthless tract of land, when he put his hand to it, one of the most flourishing villages in the State, connected with Norwich by a substantial iron bridge. Here he has his residence, and enjoys all the comforts and luxuries of a New England home.

He has also devoted much time to politics. In 1853, he was nominated by the Democrats to represent the eighth senatorial district in the State Senate. This district had the previous year returned an opposition member, but such were the issues and such his popularity that he received a large majority of votes over his opponent. He has never run for any office since, but has been an earnest worker in the Repub- lican ranks since the organization of that party. During the Southern Rebellion lie was actively engaged in raising troops, and, as one of the patriotic committee of Norwich, contributed largely of his time and means to raise and equip troops for the national defense.

His last act for the benefit of the public was the endow- ment of a public library in his native town. For this purpose the Legislature of the State have chartered a corporation under the title of "The Bill Library Association," which will take control of the fund of $1,000, and the librae of one thousand volumes, contributed by Mr. Bill for the permanent establishment of a free public library in Ledyard. In this he has only acted out the promptings of his life — to do good to all as far as his ability will permit, and to make the world permanently better for his having lived in it.

A fac-simile of his autograph is herewith appended :

>vMr/c5^

304 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

The children of Henry and Julia O. (Chapman) Bill have been :

1225 Henry Gustavus,8 b. Nov. 18, 1847 ; d. Nov. 3, 1853.

1226 John Harper,8 b. June 21, 1851.

1227 Henry Sumner,8 b. June 19, 1856 ; d. .

1228 Julia Florence,8 b. April 29, 1858.

1229 Jennie Eliza,8 b. April 8, 1860.

1230 Frederic Abbott,8 b. March 12,1 864.

755.

GURDON BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Joshua,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,* Philip,'2 John'), son of Gurdon and Lucy (Yerrington) Bill, and brother of the preceding ; was born in Groton [Ledyard], June 7, 1827. He married, May 12, 1853, Emily A. Den- ison, daughter of Nathan Fish Denison, Esq., of Groton, a descendant of Gen. Daniel Denison, well known in colonial history.

It had been for some years the intention of his father to give each of his sons a taste of his own protracted ex- perience of seven summers' " working out " on a farm, that they might learn the value of labor and the economic use of money. Consequently, all of his sons, excepting the youngest, had one summer's labor assigned them away from the home- stead while in their minority. About 1845 the subject of this sketch, and in accordance with this purpose, entered the employ of Joseph Geer, a farmer living in Ledyard. Here he was duly inducted into the arts of a farm life away from the paternal roof-tree. At the close of this engagement he was induced, at the urgent solicitations of James A. Bill, at that time a book publisher, to undertake an agency for the sale of his publications in parts of the Western States. After a few years of travel there, and having acquired a capital sufficient to engage in business with advantage, he, in 1854, established himself in the flourishing city of Springfield, Mass., as a publisher of books by subscription. In 1856 his

SEVENTH GENERATION". 305

brother Frederic became his partner. They continued the business till 1861, when his brother retired. His career as a publisher has been an eminently successful one, bringing with it an ample fortune. His publications have had an exten- sive sale, reaching the enormous number oT about a half mil- lion copies, which has given, both in the manufacture and sale, profitable employment to very many people.

Among his chief publications are : Life of Washington, by Headley ; The Gallery of the Bible (2 vols.), by Griswold & Weld ; Life of Abraham Lincoln, by Holland ; and in connection with his brothers, Henry and Ledyard, The Civil War in America, by Abbott.

His life has been comparatively a quiet one, never tread- ing in the whirlpool of politics, yet by no means an indifferent observer of questions that affect the welfare of the State or nation, aiming always to perform his duty as a citizen con- scientiously and uprightly. His elegant home, on the outskirts of the city, overlooks one of the loveliest landscapes in all the valley of that beautiful river — the Connecticut. We attach herewith a fac-simile of his autograph. ,

W*&

His children are :

1231 Nathan Denison,8 b. Oct. 12, 1855.

1232 Hattie Eliza,8 b. Aug. 21, 1857.

1233 Mary Avery,8 b. Sept. 15, 1S59.

1234 Edward Everett,8 b. Feb. 22, 1862.

758.

FEEDERIC BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,' Philip,2 John1), son of Gurdon and Lucy (Yerrington) Bill, and brother of the preceding; was born in Groton [Ledyard], Sept. 7, 1833, and on May 19, 1858, married Lucy G. Denison, daughter of Nathan F. Denison, Esq., of Groton.

306 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

In earl}7 life, and after having attended the ordinary public schools, he continued his studies at the Suffield Literary Institute, at Suffield, Ct., in company with his next younger brother. At the age of 16 he taught the Lestertown district school, in Ledyard, with unusual satisfaction to its patrons, since which time he has traveled extensively in the States, also over most of the British American Provinces.

In 1856 he became his brother Gurdon's partner in the publishing business at Springfield, Mass.

Desiring to see something of foreign life, and at the same time view a tropical clime, he visited during the winter of 1857-8 the Island of Cuba, taking passage on the somewhat famous " Black Warrior," at New York. After a few days of delight- ful sail he reached Havana, where after a brief sojourn in hat city proceeded to Matanzas, and from thence to a planta- tion where, having letters of introduction, he spent a few weeks most agreeably in observing the customs and sys- tems of that country, as well as regaling himself with the luxuriant fruits and the charming landscapes of that remark- able island.

I On the breaking out of the war, in 1861, he decided to retire from trade, and disposed of his interest to his brother. He soon after, in company with his wife, traveled by his own private conveyance over a large portion of the State of New York and in New England, freed from the perplexities of busi- ness and the strife of trade, which he so much needed and enjoyed. In 1865, after the close of the war, he embarked with a partner, under the firm name of Tracy & Bill, in the manufacturing business, at Newark, N. J., with an office and sales-room at 101 Chambers Street, New York City. We attach a fac-simile of his signature :

They have no children.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 307

759.

LEDYAED BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,' Philip," John1), son of Gurdon and Lucy (Yerrington) Bill, and brother of the preceding; was born in Ledyard, May 11, 1836, and remains, up to 1867, unmarried. For obvious reasons, we forbear to outline a sketch of our own life.

761.

CHABLES BILL7 (Gurdon,6 Joshua,6 Phineas,4 Joshua,' Philip,'' John1), youngest son of Gurdon and Lucy (Yerring- ton) Bill, and brother of the foregoing ; was born in Ledyard, June 7, 1840 ; and is unmarried.

His advantages for an education have exceeded those of any if not all of his brothers. Up to his 16th year he had at- tended no other than the common school during the winter months. The death of his father occurring at this time released him from farm duties, and on December 3, 1856, he entered the junior class of the State Normal School, at New Britain, where he remained nearly two years, after which he entered the Norwich Free Academy, at Norwich, then under the charge of Prof. Elbridge Smith. Lie remained there several years, finishing his course of study, and in July, 1861, graduated as valedictorian of his class. Desiring to pursue his studies yet further, he entered the Scientific Department of Yale Col- lege in the fall of 1861, where he also remained till the com- pletion of his course, occupying several years, and ranking at graduation as second in proficiency. He has taken the degree of B. P. at Yale, and three prize medals in the course of his studies: — one for "Select Declamation" — one for the best examination in the "Natural Sciences," and one for a prize " Essay."

He is now in business at Chicago, 111.

762. SAMUEL BILL T A YLOE 7 (Sabrina,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4

30S THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Joshua,3 Philip,2 John'), son of Sabrina (Bill) and Samuel Taylor ; was born at Roxbury, Delaware County, N. Y., July 20, 1806, and, on 29th June, 1834, married Eunice Grant Miner, who was born December 28, 1S10, at Ston- ington, Connecticut.

This family reside in Brooklyn, N. Y. He is in the employ of the Atlantic Fire & Marine Insurance Company, at their office on Wall Street, New York.

They have had children :

1235 George8 (Taylor), b. July 29, 1835 ; d. Aug. 22, 1835.

1236 Elizabeth8 (Taylor), b. June 29, 1837; d. July 26,

1837.

1237 Eugene Miner8 (Taylor), b. Sept. 24, 1838.

1238 Elizabeth8 (Taylor), b. April 22, 1840; d. March 21,

1847.

1239 Winfield .Scott 8 (Taylor), b. Nov. 1 9, 1 84 7.

764. .

Rev. ALFRED II. TAYLOR' (Sabrina,6 Joshua,5 Phin- eas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John !), a brother of the foregoing ; was born in Roxbury, N. Y., January 4, 1812, and married, April 1, 1840, Phebe Eliza Taylor.

For many years this family resided in Connecticut, where he was pastor at different times of several churches. He was last located, as a, preacher, in Indiana County, Penn. Here his health became critical, and, resigning his charge, removed to Ilollidaysburg, Penn., a place where he had formerly labored in the ministry. He died there, September 23, 1866, of a cancer.

They had children :

1240 Alfred Kincaid8 (Taylor), b. Feb. 23, 1841.

1241 Anna Louise8 (Taylor), b. Sept. 8, 1842.

1242 Edward Mason8 (Taylor), b. Dec. 8, 1843.

1243 Samuel Judson8 (Taylor), b. July 15, 1845.

1244 William Yerkes8 (Taylor), b. Feb. 1, 1847.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 309

1245 John Follansbee8 (Taylor), b. June 14, 1849.

1246 George Tillinghast 8 (Taylor), b. Feb. 21, 1852.

766.

MAEY ANN TAYLOR7 (Sabrina,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John '), sister of the preceding ; was born in Roxbury, N. Y., February 16, 1816. She married Horatio Nelson Parker, October 9, 1835.

This family lives near Lindenville, N. Y., and have children :

1 247 Hollis Maynard 8 (Parker), b. April 2, 1838.

1248 Ellen Mary8 (Parker), b. Aug. 30, 1840.

1249 Franklin Henry8 (Parker), b. July 17, 1842.

1250 Orrin Horatio8 (Parker), b. Oct. 10, 1844. He was

killed at Ream's Station, in Virginia, June 26, 1864.

1251 Laura Amanda8 (Parker), b. Dec. 15, 1847 ; d, in 1852.

1252 Everett Lavonia8 (Parker), b. Dec. 12, 1858.

771.

Rev. FRANK WESLEY RILL7 (Phineas-,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,' John '), son of Phineas and Fanny (Gallup) Bill ; was born in Groton, June 4, 1820, and married, March 14, 1843, Rowena Cleveland.

He first attended school at Meeting-House Hill, in Groton, now Ledyard. At ten years of age he moved with his parents to Norwich, where all of the children engaged as " raw hands " in a cotton factory, of which he once said, " We all had there our ' bitter full.' " Here he worked two or three years^ dur- ing which time his father went to sea, as a cooper. During this period he was converted, and became a believer in the Christian's hope. He was soon after apprenticed to a Mr. Ross, a tailor ; he remained with him between one and two years. His mind was greatly agitated on religious sub- jects, and, after many inward struggles, he resolved to become

310 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

a minister of the Gospel. Upon application to Mr. Robs, he was relieved from serving the remainder of his time, and, having secured aid from some of his friends, he entered the academy at Norwich, where, for a year, he prosecuted his studies. At this time, his father having returned home, he felt he was at liberty to leave and attend a higher school, the advantages of which were apparent to him. Again aided by friends, he packed his entire wardrobe and library in a pocket-handkerchief, and, in company with a friend, walked from Norwich to "Wilbraham, Mass., a distance of some sixty miles by the common road, and entered the Wesleyan Theological School at that place. During his stay there, his father was killed by a fell ow- workman, at the Parish of As- sumption, in Louisiana.

After finishing his first course at this college, and with a view to furnish himself with necessary means, he taught select schools at Enfield and North Somers, in Connecticut, and in Long Meadow and Ludlow, in Massachusetts. He afterwards graduated at the above college, in his 18th year.

During his college course he preached his first sermon in the old Methodist Episcopal Church at Norwich Falls, Con- necticut, and was ordained to the work of the ministry August 16, 1841.

Having faithfully performed the labors of a preacher of the Gospel in the Methodist connection in Norwich and else- where, for the space of ten years, he was, on account of ill health, compelled, in September, 1851, to withdraw for a year from the service. During this time he traveled in portions of the New England States and in Canada, preaching occa- sionally, and contributing articles to newspapers.

On the 11th of October, 1852, he was appointed to the charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church in South Fifth Street, Williamsburg, Long Island. He remained there nearly two years, preaching with great acceptance to that people; and his labors seemed here to have more than a usual harvest.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 311

But, having received an appointment from the American Sea- men's Friend Society, as chaplain to seamen at Callao, the port of Lima, in Peru, South America, including also the Chincha Islands, after much and prayerful thought, he felt it to be his duty to accept the post, his people parting with great reluctance from him, he having greatly endeared himself to them during the period of his ministration. On June 20, 1854, he embarked on one of the Aspinwall line of steamers, and arrived at the Isthmus on the 29th of the same month. Here he remained for several weeks, at the urgent request of the Rev. Mr. Rowell, and occupied his place at that point. This was a fatal mistake, as the season was the sickly one, and had he been acquainted with that deadly climate, he would have made his sojourn very brief. Fresh from the invigorating air of the North, in less than ten days set down in a tropical cli- mate, dangerous at all times, and markedly so at mid-summer, unacclimated as he was, it needed but a few trifling exposures to the evening airs to sow the seeds of a fatal fever, which prevails in that locality every summer season. He was, for a time, prostrated, yet not wholly confined ; and while there he kept up his customary correspondence with some of the leading public journals of New York, his letters being chiefly, however, found in the New York Sun and Times. During his stay, a most daring robbery was perpetrated on him at the house where he made it his home. We subjoin an account of the affair, taken from a paper published at the time at Panama, New Granada.

i

DARING ROBBERY.

We learn that a most daring robbery was committed at the residence of the Missionary Minister in this city on Friday. The Rev. Mr. Bill, who is acting for Mr. Rowell, left the house about 3 o'clock p. m., having secured the doors, and taken the key with him. On his return he found that the house had been entered by the back window, and on further ex- amination discovered that his gold watch, pencil-case, gold pens, a quan- tity of valuable clothing and boots had been stolen. He immediately

312 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

lodged a complaint at the police office, and after a good deal of searching the boots and pencil-case were found, in a house outside the walls. The thief, who is a native, was seen offering the watch for sale for $00.

He was afterwards pointed out to Mr. Bill and the police, but effected his escape. The police are still on the lookout for the scoundrel, and we should think, knowing where he hid his plunder, they will have no diffi- culty in securing him.

On the 6th of October following, Mr. Powell having re- turned, he at once left for Callao. He was sick on hoard of the steamer, yet able to sit up and move slowly about. On his arrival at Guayaquil, he, with two companions, went ashore, and remained till after night-fall. This most impru- dent step resulted in his immediate prostration, and his life was the sacrifice. lie died at Callao, October 25, 1854, in his thirty-fifth year.

Frank W. Bill was a man of decided talent. Gifted with eloquent utterance, and having the love of his fellow-men at heart, he was the instrument in God's Providence for doing great good in the cause of Christianity. The church militant everywhere had in his death cause of sincere regret.

The power of personal magnetism in him was very great, and the influence, he exerted over his people was unusual. They were devotedly attached to hiin for his many noble and manly qualities. It is in our power to testify to this ; for on Various occasions, and in widely separated communities, we have related to his friends his death, and the sad intelligence has brought floods of blinding tears. To be thus enshrined in the hearts of men is a monument indeed !

By his native energy he rose from humble life and circum- stances to a position of high respect and commanding influ- ence. Several of his sermons have been published, and take high rank for the soundness of their theology and clearness of statement.

It was a mysterious Providence by which he was cut down when just entering, as it were, on what promised to be a career of distinguished usefulness.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 313

We append a fac-simile of bis autograph.

His children were :

1253 t Arminius Wesley,8 b. in Glastenbury, Ct., June 5, 1845.

1254 Mary Irene,8 b. in Colchester, Ct., June 12,1848. She

resides near Sag Harbor, Long Island.

1255 Lorinda E.,8 b. in Colchester, Oct. 1, 1850. She was

adopted by Capt. Charles Hodge, of Portland, Ct., under the name of Laura Hall Hodge.

•ov

773.

EDWIN" BILL' (Phineas,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding ; was born in Gro- ton, July 17, 1824, and married, April 1, 1852, Eleanok A. Miller, of East Hampton, L. I., born July 12, 1833.

This family reside at Sag Harbor, L. I.

They have had children :

1256 Frederic,8 b. May 28, 1856.

1257 Eva W.,8 b. Nov. 1 0, 1 85 7.

1258 Frank Wesley,8 b. Nov. 25, 1858.

1259 Helen E.,8 b. March 10, 1800.

1260 Willie F.,8 b. Nov. 23, 1821 ; d. Sept. 28, 1862.

774.

ERASTUS DENISON BILL' (Phineas,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,* Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the foregoing ; born in Groton, May 13, 1826, and married, first, in June 15, 1854, Eliza Jane Phillips, daughter of Stanton Phillips, of Lisbon, Ct. She died at Sheffield, Illinois, August 1, 1857. He married his second wife, Adah M. West, September 2, 1857 ; daughter of Dr. Charles West, of Plymouth, Indiana.

At the age of sixteen he entered on a sea-faring life, and

went two voyages in the whaling-ship Citizen, of Sag Harbor.

Prior to this voyage he was engaged farming, in the employ of 21

314 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Henry W. Avery, of Ledyard, Ct. After completing Lis first whaling trip, lie went again. This time his vessel reached New York, after a two years' cruise, with a cargo of 3,700 casks of oil. He sailed in May, 1S49, from New York for California by way of Rio de Janeiro and Talcahuano as second officer of the barque Hannah Speague, a merchant vessel. From San Francisco, in April, 1851, he sailed as first officer of barque Saeah Sheafe, and arrived at New York via Cape Horn on the 20th of September following. In the fall of the following year he sailed from New York, on board the clipper ship As- cutney, for Australia, to engage in trade there, but not finding things to his satisfaction, left in May, 1S53, on board of the same vessel that brought him, for Boston, taking in his way Manilla, Calcutta, and the Cape of Good Hope; arriving May 12, 1854. He was married the succeeding month after his arrival, and soon thereafter removed to Sheffield, Illinois, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. From there he moved, in 1866, to Plymouth, Indiana, where he now resides, and where he is engaged in trade, having erected a store for that purpose. His aged mother lias for several years made her home in his family. Since his residence in the West, he has adopted the final s.

His children, all by second wife, have been :

1261 Emma Frances,8 b. Nov. 10, 1858.

1262 Harriet Ada,s b. Nov. 8, 1860.

1263 Charles Denison,8 b. Dec. 1, 1862.

1264 Laura E. K.,b b. Aug. 12, 1865.

778.

GUPJDON BILL TAYLOR7 (Abigail,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Abigail (Bill) and Samuel Taylor ; born at Yates, Orleans County, N. Y., Sept. 21, 1819, and married, first, Maey Moeeis, March 4, 1S41, who died Feb. 7, 1S49 ; second, Amanda Johnson, March 12, 1S52.

This family reside at or near Linden ville, N. Y.

SEVENTH GENERATION. 315

He has children — by first wife :

1265 Orville8 (Taylor), b. Dec. 17, 1841. He enlisted in the

8th Regiment of N. Y. Artillery, under Colonel Porter, in the late war. His position was that of commissai'y sergeant of the regiment, and after" wards of the brigade,

1266 Herbert A.8 (Taylor), b. Oct. 1, 1845. He was also a

soldier in the same regiment with his brother above.

1267 Albert T.8 (Taylor), b. Dec. 9, 1847.

Children by second wife :

1268 Gurdon Boardman 8 (Taylor), b, July 28, 1 854.

1269 Leonard L8 (Taylor), b. April 6, 1800.

1270 Ulysses Grant8 (Taylor), b. Aug. 10, 1864.

784.

AVERY BILL7 (Avery,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip/ John '), eldest son of Avery and Betsey (Barnes) Bill ; born Dec. 5, 1821, and married, Oct. 25, 1818, Hannah Ray.

He was reared a farmer's son, but, belonging to the class of enterprising boys, left the farm and engaged in the sale of books in portions of the Western States. After a few years' experience at this business he settled in New York City, em- barking in the wholesale fish trade, at 41 Front Street, under the firm name of Woodwortk & Bill. He has continued in this line of trade for more than ten years at that point, but in*the winter of 1866 and 1867 he withdrew, and soon thereafter entered business on the west side of the city, near North River, and has a couple of partners, doing a wholesale fish and commission business. His residence is in Brooklyn, near the Hanson Street Baptist Church, of wdiich he is a consistent and worthy member.

Their children are :

1271 Herbert Edward,8 b. April 21, 1850,

1272 Lucy Byram,8 o. March 19, 1852.

316 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

1273 Clarence Everett,8 b. Dec. 6, 1853 ; d. Oct. 14, 1855.

1274 Howard Irving,8 b. Jan. 1, 1856.

1275 Emma Louise,8 b. Nov. 24, 1859.

1276 Lizzie Ray,8 b. March 16, 1861.

785.

PALMER BILL7 (Avery,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,8 Philip,2 John '), brother of the preceding ; was born in Groton, April 20, 1823, and married, Jan. 15, 1849, Sarah Ann- Brown, born Dec. 20, 1826, in Bozrah.

This family reside in the town of Norwich, and are farmers.

Their children have been :

1277 Herbert Arthur,8 b. July 18, 1852.

1278 Frances Maria,8 b. April 21, 1856.

1279 Sarah Tracy,8 b. May 3, 1858.

1280 Frank Avery,8 b, Jan. 1 7, 1 862.

1281 HeDry Everett,8 b. March 25, 1864 ; d. June 12, 1865.

786.

MARIA ELIZABETH BILL' (Avery,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John '), a sister of the foregoing ; was born Dec. 3, 1824, and married Horatio Barden, Sept. 6, 1842.

This family reside in Jacksonville, 111.

They have one child :

1282 James Monroe8 (Barden), b. July 19, 1844.

787.

ROSWELL BILL' (Avery,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John '), a brother of the preceding; was born, Jan. 14, 1827, in Groton, and married, Nov. 14, 1851,. Anna Louisa Kuiin, born in Gettysburg, Pa., Nov. 21, 1831.

In the early part of his life he taught school with good success, afterwards traveled as an agent for the sale of books in many of the Western States, but, finally abandoning this, he

SEVENTH GENERATION.

317

settled in Peoria, Illinois, as a local agent of several Fire Insu- rance Companies. He is believed to be doing a large and re- munerative business. He possesses good business talents, is master of a pleasing address, and is much respected bj the community in which he lives. He has since his residence in the West adopted the final *. We append a copy of his auto- graph, minus the s I

His children are :

1283 Fannie E.,8 b. in Peoria, July 14, 1852.

1284 Mary E.,8 b. in Peoria, June 20, 1856.

788.

NANCY BILL7 (Avery,* Joshua,4 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,* John1), sister of the preceding ; was bom in Groton, December 4, 1829, and married, October 15, 1850, Cyrus Chapman.

This family reside in Griswold.

Their children have been :

1285 Mary Olive8 (Chapman), b. Nov. 21, 1860; d. Nov. 14,

1861.

1286 Willis Oscar8 (Chapman), b. Aug. 17, 1863.

791.

EMELINE BILL7 (Avery,6 Joshua,6 Phineas," Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), sister of the foregoing ; born December 20, 1835 ; married at Peoria, 111., William O. Brooks, November 9, 1856. They reside at Galena, 111.

Their children are :

1287 Carrie Augusta8 (Brooks), b. July 12, 1859.

1288 William Everett8 (Brooks), b. March 5, 1863.

313 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

EIGHTH GE^ERATIOX.

795.

BENJAMIN BILL8 (Benjamin,7 Benjamin,6 Charles,6 Jonathan,4 Jonathan,3 James,2 John1), son of Benjamin and Tabitha (Nichols) Bill, of Chelsea, Mass. ; was born March 5, 1790, and married, May 20, 1814, Elizabeth Cutter, who was born October 14, 1791, daughter of Joseph and Prudence (Thompson) Cutter, of Sudbury, same State.

This family resided in Boston up to 1834, at which time they removed to Saxonville, Mass., where he died September 2, 1853.

Their children were, born in Boston :

1289 Benjamin Joseph,9 b. Oct. 10, 1816; m. May 18, 1842,

Josephine Elizabeth Bailey, of Framingham, Mass. This family reside in Saxonville, Mass. They have one child. Elizabeth Almira,10 b. May 28, 1843.

1290 Charles Henry,9 b. Dec. 23, 1818; m. Sept. 24, 1844,

Caroline Malvina Richardson, of South Barre, Vt* This family reside at Waltham, Mass., where he keeps a hardware store, in Rum ford Hall, doing a handsome business. He is a practical mechanic, and a few years since manufactured rifles of a su- perior quality at Waltham. He has but one child? a son. Charles Richardson,10 b. Jan. 29, 1847.

1291 Elizabeth Caroline,9 b. Sept. 10, 1821 ; m. Jan. 29, 1845,

James Lloyd Colby. This family reside in Walt- ham, Mass. She has had children : Ann Elizabeth10 (Colby), b. May 4, 1846; m.

Dec. 7, 1865, Edward M. Lincoln. They

live in Waltham, Mass. Emily J.10 (Colby), b. June 16, 1855 ; d. young. Emily J.10 (Colby), b. June 16, 1859.

EIGHTH GENERATION. 319

1292 Edwin Rathbun,9 b. Oct. 29, 1825; ra. May 25, 1848,

Alice Susan Searle, of Belfast, Me. This family reside at Saxonville, Mass., and have children : Alice E.,10 b. Jan. 10, 1849. Elizabeth S.,10 b. May 12, 1851. George E.,10 b. Feb. 24, 1855. Hattie P.,10 b. Nov. 2, 1856.

1293 Marshall Dana,9 b. Feb. 21, 1830; d. at Saxonville,

Jan. 9, 1859. Born in Saxonville :

1294 George Dana,9 b. Aug. 29, 1835; resides in Waltham,

Mass., and is unmarried.

1295 Emily Richardson,9 b. May 19, 1838; m. April 15, 1860,

Charles S. Lincoln. She d. in Waltham, Dec. 28, 1866, leaving two children : George Edward10 (Lincoln), b. March, 1861. Charles Greenough10 (Lincoln), b. Jan., 1864.

797.

ALANSON BILL8 (Gardner,7 Richard,8 Samuel,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Thomas/ John1), eldest son of Gardner Bill, of Jamaica, Yt. He married Clarissa Howard, of that place, and soon thereafter settled in Troy, 1ST. Y., where his children were born. He removed afterwards to near New York City, doing business in that place. He died of apoplexy, while in a railroad car on his way home, Feb. 26, 1857, aged 68. The lineage of this family may not be correctly given as we have it, and we feel bound to state the doubt. This doubt applies also to the three succeeding families. This family adopted the letter s.

He had children :

1296 Alonzo,9 b. . Lives in N. Y. City.

1297 Abner,9

1298 James A.9 Was at one time a policeman in N. Y.

1299 Stephen.9 Lives at Jamaica, Vt., with his aunt, Celestia

(Bill) Howard.

1300 Sarah,9

1301 Clarissa.9

320 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

798.

JOHN ALONZO BILL8 (Gardner,7 Richard/ Samuel,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Thomas,2 John1), brother of the preceding ;

born Dec. 20, 1800, at Jamaica, Vt., and married, first, ;

second, Dorothy Gleason, of Jamaica. This family have also added the letter s.

He resided for a time in Troy, N. Y., then removed to Illinois, where he died, Dec. 17, 1857. His children, all by second wife, were :

1302 John Newton,9 b. 1830 ; m. A. A. Fuller, of Troy, N. Y.

In 1857 he settled in Decatur, 111., practicing dentistry.

1303 Benjamin Gardner,9 b. about 1832 ; m. Sarah E. Ander-

son, of 111. She is not living. He resides at Decatur, 111., and has three children.

1304 Celinda,9 b. . She died at Troy, N. Y.

1305 Charles Henry,9 b. . Died at Troy, N. Y.

1306 George Henry,9 b. June 11, 1842. Resides in Chicago,

111., and is a dentist. He is unmarried.

799.

LORENZO BILL8 (Gardner,1 Richard,6 Samuel,5 Samuel, Samuel,3 Thomas,8 John1), a brother of the foregoing; born in Jamaica, Yt., and married there, on June 26, 1828, Pamela Maynard.

This family resided for a while at Jamaica, Vt., and then removed to Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois, where they now live. He is a farmer by occupation. This family write their names with the additional letters.

His children have been :

1307 Oliver Augustine,9 b. Sept. 18, 1829 ; d. Oct. 22, 1854.

1308 Ora Austin,9 b. in 1 830.

1309 Oscar A.,9 b. in 1 832.

1310 James Adams,9 b. 1 834.

1311 William Henry Harrison,9 b. 1 836.

EIGHTH GENERATION. 321

1312 Martin Asher,9 b. 1838.

1313 Marshall Ashley,9 b. 1 840.

1314 Maria Ann Laurilla,' b. 1842.

1315 Royal John,' b. 1 848.

800,

LEWIS BILL8 (Gardner,7 Richard,9 Samuel,5 Samuel/ Samuel,' Thomas,2 John1), brother of the foregoing; was born in Jamaica, Yt., where he now resides. He is married. This family add the final s to their names. His children are :

1316 Lewis G.,«

1317 Emery*

1318 Ormando,9

1319 Catharine.9 — — . She m. Augustus Bogle, of N. York.

1320 Clarissa.8 . She m. Sylvester Cushman, and resides

in Illinois.

809.

WILLIAM R. BILL8 (Charles,7 Charles,8 Charles,' Thomas,4 Philip,3 Philip,2 John'), son of Charles and Lois Story (Woodworth) Bill ; born Nov. 15, 1840, and resides in Delhi, New York. Has children — names unknown.

837.

RICHARD SHIPPED BILL8 (David,7 David/ Samuel,' Samuel,4 Samuel,5 Philip,5 John1), son of David and Mary P. (Gallagher) Bill ; born in Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 1821 ; mar- ried Sarah Ann Sutton, of that place, July 27, 1843.

His occupation is that of a hatter. He resides in the city of New York.

His children are:

1321 Kate Frances,9 b. June 11, 1844.

1322 Richard Montresor,9 b. Oct. 28, 1845.

1323 David Wilfred,9 b. Oct. 2, 1848.

322 TnE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

841.

Dr. JOSEPH IIOWLAKD BILL8 (Henry,' Gordon,6 Ephraim,5 jSamuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John'), son of Henry and Letitia H. (Smith) Bill ; was born February 9, 1837, and married, November 26, 1864, Elinor Randolph Wallen.

Doctor Bill is a man of considerable distinction in the United States Regular Army, as a skillful surgeon ; is also well known as a chemist of eminent abilities. By his studi- ousness and persevering industry, he has risen from humble life to distinction and honors, lie graduated at Princeton College, in 1855 ; and, becoming attached to the army, was appointed Superintendent of the United States Chemical Laboratory, first on Long Island, now at the corner of North Sixth and Oxford Streets, Philadelphia, in which city he at present resides. During the recent civil war this was the most extensive chemical establishment in the country. Medi- cines for a million of men were prepared there, not counting the immense losses and surplus stores of this material necessitated in times of war. It is a signal mark of his ability and honesty that no charge of venality has been preferred against him during those five years. The Government has seen fit to bestow an additional rank, that of Lieutenant-Colonel in the regular service, as a mark of its confidence, and also of his superior capacities. He still remains in charge of the said laboratory.

Dr. Bill has taken a lively interest in the completion of the family memoir, and has furnished some valuable facts. His grandfather, Gurdon Bill, was a member of the Society of Cincinnati, and the original certificate of membership is now in his possession. We append a fac-simile of his autograph :

^r^O

EIGHTH GENERATION. 323

He has one child : 1324 Edmund Wallen,9 b. Dec. 6, 1865..

860.

CHAELES KING BILL8 (Alfred,7 Silvester,6 Ephraira,5 Samuel,4 Samuel,3 Philip,8 John '), son of Alfred and Gertrude L. (Farmer) Bill ; was born in New York, April 2, 1839.

Mr. Bill is a gentleman of fine address, and possesses a quick, discerning mind, coupled with promptness of action ; inherits his father^ habits of persevering industry and strict integrity. He resides in the city of New York, where he has built up a business in photography, which is likely to give him a reputation and a fortune., He was recently married to a most amiable lady, Miss Virginia A. Bensel. We attach a fac-simile of his autograph :

863.

Judge LESTEE BILL8 (Elisha,7 Eoswell,6 Jonathan/ James,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John '), son of Elisha and Betsey (Trowbridge) Bill ; born October 7, 1807, and married, in Chaplain, Ct., August 27, 1839, Mary Goodell.

He was raised a farmer, and lived with his parents till he was nearly twenty-one. Prior to this, however, he taught school during the winter months 'r this occupation he fol- lowed for over ten years, having fitted himself as a teacher by attending the academy at Ashford, Connecticut. In 1835 he went to Ohio, and thence to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, teaching several years in that place. He returned to Chaplain early in 1838, and the two succeeding years clerked it at that place and Pomfret. During the summer of the latter year he was married, since which he has been a farmer, though at times he deals largely in stock.

He has a pleasant home, near the center of the town of Chaplain, on a farm of about three hundred acres, with good

324: THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

buildings, and has the satisfaction of being free from debt. He has been honored with numerous civil offices, namely : Constable, Selectman, Assessor, Justice of the Peace, and lastly, Judge of Probate. He is a man of strong common sense, and an active, honorable citizen. We append a fae-simile of his autograph :

The children of Lester and Mary (G-oodell) Bill have been : ,

1325 Helen Amelia,9 b. Aug. 10, 1840.

1326 William Wood,9 b. April 28, 1843.

1327 John Goodell," b. July 23, 1845.

1328 Samuel Houston,9 b. July 11, 184S. This bright and

promising youth was instantly kilted by a cart- wheel passing over his shoulders, on May 30, 1862.*

1329 Arthur Gordon,* b. May 29, 1856.

885.

PERLEY BILL8 (Hiram,7 Calvin,* Elisha,5 Philip," Sam- uel,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Hiram and Virtue (Ball) Bill; was born in Wilmington, Vt., June 5, 1810, and married, November 8, 1838, Caroline Brown, of Charlemont, Mass., born April 17, 1817.

This family reside at Tecumseh, Michigan, where, since 1839, he has been engaged in the successful practice of the law, having acquired considerable property. He and his children have adopted the letter s to the name of Bill — a practice not uncommon with many members of the Bill family living in the West His grandfather, Calvin Bill, was

* His funeral was attended by a multitude of people from the Con- gregational Church in the neighborhood, and at his tomb his fellow - pupils of the Sabbath School strewed flowers on his early grave, in affec- tionate rememhranee of him who was their favorite companion and 1'riencL

EIGHTH GENERATION", 325

careful to instruct his children to discard the use of this addi- tional letter, which, at that time, had been adopted by his brothers' (Elisha and Azariah) families, — insisting against its use as not belonging to the name, in which, of course, he was perfectly correct,

Mr. Bill has several times been elected to the State Senate of Michigan, besides holding other posts of confidence and trust.

His children have been :

1330 Frederic Hiram,9 b. July 8, 1841 ; d. April 7, 185&.

1331 Oscar Perley,9 b. June 22, 1843. He is a graduate of

Michigan University, and is now preparing to enter the practice of the law,

1332 Caroline Matilda,9 b. Sept. 8, 1845; m. Col. Lemuel

Lainers, Dec. 25, 1866.

1333 Mary Helen,9 b. May 17, 1848; m, Lt.-Col. Nathan

Church, Dec. 25, 1866.

1334 Harriet Virtue,9 b. Jan. 1, 1851.

1335 Chandler David,9 b. Sept, 8, 1857,

920,

Capt. CHAKLES II. BILL8 (John,T John,*' Solomon,' Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), son of John and Clarissa (Gilman) Bill ; was born at Charlestown, Portage County, Ohio, in 1840.

He enlisted in the military service of the General Govern- ment in 1861, on the breaking out of the late Civil War, as Sergeant in the Second Regiment of Ohio Cavalry, and was regularly promoted to the rank of captain in that regiment. This regiment was assigned to duty on the western frontier, near the Kansas border,, and experienced hard service against the hostile Indians and rebel troops and guerrillas. In 1863, this command was transferred to Tennessee, under General A. E. Burnside, and took part in the battle of Knoxville, Nov. 29, 1863, and in other engagements. He for a time was the

326 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

quartermaster of the regiment, and afterward held the same relation to the brigade with which he was connected. Sub- sequently, this regiment formed a part of Gen. George A. Cus- ter's division of cavalry, under General Philip II. Sheridan, and took an active part in the closing scenes of the war in Vir- ginia. He was at this time in command of his company, and so continued, being mustered out with his regiment. During his service of about four years he was never seriously wounded. He for a time since the war resided at St. Louis, Mo., hut has removed, we believe, to Bement, Illinois,

• 937.

GEORGE AUSTIN BILL* (Joseph R.,1 John,6 Solomon,4 Philip,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Joseph R. and Sophia L. (Austin) Bill ; was born Oct. 11, 1842, and married, Oct. IT, 1866, Harriet L. Hall.

In November, 1861, he entered the 67th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and continued in active service till the close of the rebellion. He was in the battles of Winchester, Port Republic, and Blackwater, also the Seven Days battles on the peninsula, and at the siege of Charleston in 1S63, and other minor engagements, having, through them all, the good fortune to escape with his life and even without wounds. He served on board the iron-clad steamer Roanoke, as Assistant Engineer, for one year. He was mustered out of service June 29, 1865, and at present resides at Ravenna, Ohio.

957.

AVILLARD BILL* {Ebenezer,7 Ebenezer,6 Samuel,6 Ebene- zer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Ebenezer and El>y (Adams) Bill; was born in Gilsum, X. EL, Dec. 8, 1803, and married first, Clarissa Esty, May 1, 1834, who died in 1857; second, Betsey [shah, Nov. 18, 1857.

His occupation in early and middle life was that of a

EIGHTH GENERATION. 397

farmer, living for twenty-three years in "Westmoreland, N. II., but is now in Gilsum, his native town, where he is engaged in no particular business.

Hi* children by first wife were :

1336 A child that died in infancy.

1337 Willard,9 b. Oct. 14, 1839.

958.

HARVEY ADAMS BILL8 (Ebenezer,7 Ebenezer,0 Sam- uel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), a brother of the preceding; was born in Gilsum, 1ST. H., April 30, 1808, and married, Dec. 31, 1846, Susan Butterfield Keyes, of Keene, born Aug. 8, 1816.

The early life of Mr. Bill was such as is experienced by most of farmers' sons in New England, but he, having a taste for something higher than mere manual labor, strove to fit himself by reading and study for an intelligent and useful citizenship. Pie rose from his humble life to the editorship of a newspaper, the Cheshire Republican, published at Keene, N. H. — a paper of large influence among the people of New Hampshire. His editorial labors extended over a period of ten years, during which time the paper maintained a high' reputation for truth and honesty. His health becoming precarious, he relinquished his editorial charge, and gradually failing, died six years thereafter, namely, April 21, 1858, aged 50 years. He left a widow, but no children. She is still living at Keene, X. H.

The following tribute to his memory appeared in the Cheshire. Repuhlitxm of April 28, 1858:

THE DEATH OF MR. BILL.

Many an eye will moisten and many a heart feel sad at the announcement under our obituary head this week, of the sudden demise of one who has for many years been personally known to so many of the readers of this paper, — first as the gentlemanly business manager of the office, and latterly, for the eight years preceding 1852, the able and discreet editor of the Republican.

32S THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

There are very few men in our midst who command the universal respect that was awarded to Mr. Bill. In his dealings with his fellow-men he was guided by the strictest integrity ; in his capacity of a public officer, no one ever had reason to com- plain of any unfaithfulness; as an editor, his ability and discretion were acknowledged as well by his patrons as by the editorial fraternity who labored contemporaneous^ with him.

Indeed, few editors have labored more faithfully than he, and fewer still are they who have written so little that upon a death-bed they might desire to blot out. Unswerving in his principles, a mind peculiarly disciplined to investigation and rigid criticism, his labors for the cause in which his heart was enlisted were acknowledged by all with whom he was engaged.

And while we remember the more public virtues of our friend, we would not be forgetful of

" That best portion of a good man's life — His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love," that were only witnessed and felt by those who were his most intimate acquaintance. Kind, affectionate, and genial in his dis- position, it was in the inmost recesses of private life that his true nature was unfolded, and it is there that his loss will meet with the most heartfelt sorrow.

But yesterday he was here, giving promise of increasing usefulness with the advance of years. To-day we offer this last tribute to his cherished memory. It is all we cau do. To those whose hearts are broken by the sad bereavement, we can offer no more. In this their hour of deepest anguish, condolence must be unavailing. It is pleasant, however, to know that wounds in the hearts of mere transitory friends will not always bleed; that they may learn and love forgetfulness. But there is one to whom no human effort can bring happiness or peace ; she whose earliest love "made ambition virtue " — whose sympathy cheered him on in every struggle, and shared his many triumphs ; — she it is who must ever be a mourner, with no consolation but the Christian's hope.

Mr. Bill was the last one on earth of our predecessors in the editorship of this paper — all of whom have in their turn gone

EIGHTH GENERATION. 329

to solve the great problem of eternity. This circumstance is not without its suggestions.

960.

MARY BILL8 (Ebenezer,7 Ebenezer,6 Samuel,5 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John '), sister of the preceding; was born in Gilsum, N. H., April 19, 1813, and married, April 2, 1833, Samuel Woodward, born March 25, 1803.

This family resides at Keene, N. H., and have had chil- dren :

1338 George Samuel9 (Woodward), b. May l, 1834.

1339 Mary Lizzie9 (Woodward), b. May 27, 1838.

1340 Harvey9 (Woodward), b. July 18, 1841.

1341 Elsie Amanda9 (Woodward), b. May 29, 1844.

1342 Louisa Ann9 (Woodward), b. Feb. 1, 1848 ; d. Oct. 11,

1851.

967.

DAYID WILDER BILL8 (David,7 Samuel,6 Samuel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John1), eldest son of David and Lucy (Dorf) Bill ; was born in Gilsum, N. H., December 20, 1818, and married, June 4, 1845, Luceetia Tenney, born in Marlboro', N. IL, March 19, 1827.

This family reside at North Orange, Massachusetts, and have, ever since his marriage. His business is that of a manu- facturer of wooden-ware, supplying large quantities of these useful articles to the trade in the cities of New York and Bos- ton ; latterly, he has been engaged in the manufacture of fur- niture. He is a man of good business tact and habits.

They have had but one child :

1343 Emma L.,9 b. June 24, 1848 ; d. Sept. 16, 1848.

968. Gen. DANIEL WRIGHT BILL8 (David,7 Samuel,' Samuel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,2 John'), brother of the foregoing ; was born in Gilsum, N. H., July 10, 1822, and married, Nov. 11, 1846, Fanny Hammond Butler, of Gilsum, born Dec. 24, 1823.

22

330 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Gen. Bill is one of the enterprising, active men of our day ; of sterling character, prompt and upright in all his dealings with his fellow-men, he maintains the good name of his father and that of the family unimpaired.

He resides at the old family homestead in Gilsum, which belonged to his father and grandfather before him. He has been honored not imfreqnently by his fellow-citizens with positions where integrity and business capacity were de- manded, all of which he has filled to their satisfaction and approval. Besides minor offices, he has represented his town several times in the State Legislature, and has held the com- missions of Captain, Major, Lt.-Colonel, Colonel^ and Brigadier- General in the State Militia.

We attach herewith a fac-simile of his autograph :

They have had but one child : 1344 Lucy Mahala,9 b. Dec. 17, 1851.

969.

SAMUEL DENNIS BILL8 (David,7 Samuel,6 Samuel,6 Ebenezer,4 Samuel,3 Philip,5 John1), a brother of the preced- ing ; born in Gilsum, N. H., Sept. 9, 1824 ; married, June 15, 1853, Susan Pratt Knight, born Sept. 5, 1856.

This family resided for a time at Gilsum, but now in Marlow, N. H.

They have had children :

134:5 David Dennis,9 b. in Gilsum, May 15, 1854 ; d. Sept. 1,

1858. 1346 Freddie Wilder,9 b. in Marlow, Dec. 29, 1859.

970.

LOUISA DOET BILL8 (David,7 Samuel," Samuel,6 Ebe- nezer/ Samuel,3 Philip," John1), sister of the foregoing ; was

EIGHTH GENERATION. 331

born in Gilsum, N. H., April 5, 1S27, and married, June 1, 1847, Martin Luther Goddard.

This family reside at Blakesville, N. H., and have had children :

1347 David Martin9 (Goddard), b. Jan. 4, 1850; d. March 15,

1854.

1348 Elmer Daniel9 (Goddard), b. Oct. 20, 1852.

1349 Leslie Martin9 (Goddard), b. July 8, 1855.

1350 Eva Louisa9 (Goddard), b. March 26, 1857; d. April 9,

1858.

1351 Luthera Louisa9 (Goddard), b. Feb. 12, 1859.

1352 Mary Forbush9 (Goddard), b. June 9, 1865.

1001.

Rev. JAMES EARL BILL8 (Jonathan,7 Jonathan,' Jona- than,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Jonathan and Almira (Carver) Bill ; was born at Perry, N. Y., Aug. 3,1832, and married, Sept. 18, 1853, Mart A. Gilbert, of Covington, N.Yi

It is not common that we find a whole family of children that possess superior mental qualities, or that of a whole family of sons and daughters occupying professional positions. The subject of this notice is one of such a family. Lie gave early in life promise of large usefulness, and having availed himself of the advantages afforded by several academies situated near his home, and having become a believer in the Gospel of Christ, began to preach in connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1862 he felt it his duty, as had many another, to serve his country against the rebellion, and enlisted in Com- pany A, First Regiment of New York Dragoons, and was immediately chosen captain. While at the front, he was, on a hot summer's day, disabled by sun-stroke during a most fatiguing exposure. He was for a long time incapacitated from further duty, but on his final recovery, some two years thereafter, was elected chaplain of the same regiment. lie is now preaching in the village of Perry, N. Y.

332 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIS.

The children of James E. and Mary A. (Gilbert) Bill are:

1353 George Weed,9 b. Dec. 21, 1857.

1354 Jessie Wentworth,9 b. June 19, 1865.

1002.

JOHN" CARVER BILL8 (Jonathan,7 Jonathan,6 Jona- than,6 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), brother of the foregoing; was born in Perry, 1ST. Y., Nov. 7, 1833, aud married, July, 1861, Clara B. Bliss.

He graduated at the Law School at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and is now established in the practice of his profession at Davenport, Iowa. He has already won considerable distinc- tion, and is yet scarce in the prime of life.

They have no children :

1003.

JARED MILTON BILL8 (Jonathan,7 Jonathan," Jona- than,6 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), brother of the foregoing; was born in Perry, N. Y., May 4, 1835, and on Jan. 1, 1861, married Emily E. Darling, daughter of J. H. Darling, a banker in Warsaw, N. Y.

In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, First N. Y. Dragoons, the same regiment, and at the same time, his elder brother enlisted. He rose to a lieutenancy. In consequence of injuries received, was compelled to resign. After this he entered the Albany Law School, at Albany, N. Y., from which he has graduated, and entered on the practice of the law at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he now resides.

1006.

CHARLES WESLEY BILL8 (Jonathan,1 Jonathan,8 Jonathan,6 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), brother of the preced- ing ; was born at Perry, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1811.

He enlisted as a private, May, 1861, at the first call for volunteers, in Company K, Seventeenth Regiment New York

EIGHTH GENERATION. 333

Volunteers. He was a brave soldier, and, at the second dis- astrous battle of Bull Run, fought August 29, 1862, under General Pope, he was mortally wounded, and died at Armory Square Hospital, Washington City, October 4, 1862.

1009.

GEORGE WILLIAM BILL8 (Chester,' Eleazer,6 Jona- than,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Chester and Phebe (Williams) Bill ; was born May 18, 1813, and first married, November 26, 1834, Anna Williams, of Lebanon. She died there, January 18, 1842; second, Harriet R. Ticknor, of Co- lumbia, Ct., March 24, 1844, where she died, October 11, 1853.

This family resided first at Lebanon, then in Columbia, an adjoining town, where he died, April 29, 1853.

His children by first wife were :

1355 Charles William,9 b. Sept. 29, 1835. He enlisted early

in the war, and has never been heard from.

1356 Mary Jane,9 b. Jan. 31, 1838. She resides in Hartford,

Connecticut. By second wife :

1357 Adalena Gertrude,9 b. April 18, 1845; m. John O.

Walker, of Vernon, Ct.

1358 Julia Annette,9 b. November 28, 1849. Lives in Pratts-

ville, Ala.

1359 Sarah Rebecca,9 b. July 21,1852. Lives in Snowville,

Pulaski County, Va.

1010.

DAVID BISSELL BILL 8 (Chester,7 Eleazer,6 Jonathan,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,'2 John1), brother of the preceding ; was born February 9, 1820, and married, in 1840, Harriet M. Snow, of Snowville, Virginia.

For several years he was in trade at Columbia, Ct., and also in Upton, Mass. ; from thence he removed to Virginia in 1853. There he was engaged in planting, and also in manufacturing. He became the owner of slaves ; but,

334 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOTR.

of course, these, together with the most of his other property, which was considerable, were swept away by the late war. He resides at Snowville, Virginia. He had children, as follows :

1360 Clement D.,9 b. in Connecticut, Feb. 28, 1841; d. in

infancy.

1361 Chester C.,9 b. in Massachusetts, Oct. 12, 1846; d.

May 1, 1853.

1362 Castilla S.,9 b. in Virginia, March 18, 1854.

1363 Earnest Lin wood,9 b. in Virginia, Aug. 21, 1857.

1014.

EDWIN BILL3 (Josiah Bissell,7 Eleazer,6 Jonathan,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Josiah Bissell and Har- riet Tracy (Hough) Bill ; was born at New Milford, Pa., July 2, 1827, and married, December 31, 1851, Susan Corey, of Lebanon.

He lives in Pockville, Connecticut.

He has children :

1364 Hattie,9 b. Nov. 16, 1855.

1365 Clement E.,9 b. Oct. 21,1865.

1015.

BENEZET HOUGH BILL8 (Josiah Bissell,1 Eleazer,6 Jonathan,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John '), brother of the pre- ceding; was born at New Milford, Pa., February 26, 1829, and married, November 2, 1859, Kate Griggs, daughter of Rev. Leverett Griggs, of Bristol, Ct.

Mr. Bill resides at Rockville, Ct., where he is engaged in the practice of the law, in partnership with Judge D wight Loomis, who married his sister. He is a graduate of the Yale Law School, at New Haven, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws, in 1854. Possessed of line natural talent, and qualifications every way adapted to the successful prac- tice of his profession, we venture to predict for him a career of

EIGHTH GENERATION. 335

distinguished usefulness. We are indebted to hiin for many facts relating to his ancestors. We append his autograph :

J^ir\^^^4

CrVv>A-^ ?

a. K ftUL

The children of B. H. and Kate (Griggs) Bill are :

1366 Lelia Loomis,9 b. Aug. 16, 1861.

1367 Katie Elizabeth,9 b. Dec. 3, 1864.

1017.

HENRY A. BILL8 (Elijah,' Elijah,6 Elijah,5 John,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Elijah and Betsey (Griswold) Bill ; was born May 26, 1820, and married, August 3, 1845, Jane H. Mills, of Colebrook, Ct., born July, 1828, and died May 21, 1861, leaving no children.

He resides at Winsted, Ct., and is an agent to one or more life insurance companies.

We are without reliable data from which to draft a sketch of this highly respectable member of the family. He makes use of the additional letter s. A copy of his autograph is appended :

£^J~^ ^ /€^^

1032.

Lieut. HORACE HARPER BILL8 (Earl,7 Earl,6 Oliver,6 James,4 John,3 Philip,2 John1), son of Earl and Roxy Ann (Allen) Bill ; was born April 4, 1842, and was killed in battle at Antietam, September 17, 1862.

When the Great Rebellion opened, and the President of the United States called for 75,000 volunteers to subdue it by force of arms, his father being absent, he desired the permission of. his mother to join the first company of volun- teers formed in the vicinity, and could hardly be restrained

336 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

from enrolling himself at once, being impatient of delay. On the return of his father, the subject was brought to his notice without a moment's delay, and in the most urgent terms. Be- ing reminded that the occupation of a soldier involved very great hardships, ghastly wounds upon the field, imprisonment, and even an untimely death, his reply was to the effect that all those considerations had been taken into the account, and that duty to the Government and country of his birth out- weighed them all. With a hearty, though sad, " God bless you, go !" from his father, scarce an hour and he had strapped his blanket and was gone !

The term of three months (that of the original enlistment) soou expired, and without material results, and when the call for "three years or during the war " came, Harper was among the first to re-enlist under it. During the campaign of 1861, the field of his service was in Western Virginia. He was in

CD

the first battle of Winchester, when our brave volunteers drove Jackson from his Stonewall cover, and when that rebel general acquired his sobriquet. In numerous other fights, as well as that at Winchester, the young sergeant-major proved himself a true American soldier, and gained the respect of his superior officers and comrades in arms. Indeed, so often had he been exposed in the leaden hail of battle, and so often had he escaped its perils, that he had acquired a feeling of im- munity, and confidently hoped to survive all the dangers and vicissitudes incident to war. Yet he was not insensible to those dangers. He was, however, more solicitous respecting his own reputation for courage and gallantry in the bloody breach, than for the physical result to himself. Some ex- tracts from a small diary of his soldier life, written up, doubt- less, in the silent watches of the hours devoted to sleep and re- cuperation from the fatigues of action, will prove and illustrate the condition of his mind. The following entry in his diary was made in 1862, while on the Peninsula, during MeClellan's great campaign against Richmond, and after he had been compelled to " change his base."

EIGHTH GENERATION. 337

" July 3d. On the march. Woke up at daybreak. Had to, in fact, since it had rained so hard I couldn't sleep, being thoroughly wet. Marched half a mile and camped ; await developments. * * * The Army of the Potomac is between us and Fortress Monroe. We are the extreme advance, and the enemy's skirmishers are within four miles of us. No one knows what may be the channel through which our destinies may flow to-day and to-morrow. That the events of these days will be long remembered by the sur- vivors, I cannot doubt, and who those survivors may be — whether it has pleased Providence to place me among them, the future must determine. I await my fate with resignation — I may truly say with a cheerful resignation, prepared to struggle against the dark future even to the uttermost, and praying for strength to guard against disgrace, rather than for the boon of life. Life is sweet; perhaps as sweet to me as any of God's creatures ; but honor, bright honor, is far dearer. That I may do my duty is my sincere wish, and I shall meet the enemy with a bold and cheerful front, and endeavor to make my life — be it short or long — of value to my country. If my strength survives the shock, as by the blessing of Provi- dence it has heretofore — 'My Country and my May!' (his sister Mary) shall be my watchword and battle-cry. If these be my last written words, and dark forebodings which crowd my mind indicate it, I leave behind me a name which will, I trust, be remembered," &a.

But his forebodings were not destined to be prophetic. After the anticipated battle was over, he writes in his diary as follows: "The fighting is over. * * I am safe and sound, and did not have even a ' narrow escape.' "

Here is another extract in a pleasanter vein, and with a most eloquent expression :

" On picket to-night, and have charge of four posts. It is my first night on picket, and I enjoy it. All is silent in the forest except the lonely cry of the whippowil and the quail's 'Bob White,' and the bang-whir-r-r of the Secesh

338 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

bullet as it whistles past our heads. It is dangerous but pleasant business, and I like it very much. The grand Poem, the magnificent Epic — Nature — here displays its many beau- ties to the naked eye. You do not look through the opaque glasses of books — you do not hear her praise rehearsed by other pens and tongues, but you hold communion with her

face to face, and you

"'feel

What you can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.'

" Ah ! old Nature ! how I love thee ! Whether thou art calm and pleasant, or angry and terrible in thy mood, I do love thee. From shrub to forest, — from fountain to ocean, — from calm to storm, — from mite to Leviathan, — from worm to man, I love thee ! I love thy forms of simplicity and grandeur, thy broad plains and thy rugged rocky mountains, — the clumsy turtle and the peerless form of beautiful woman, — grand old Nature ! Art is the product of man's mind and hands, — Nature the Creation of Almightv God t"

Originally enlisting in Capt. Gregg's Company of the 8th Ohio Regiment of Infantry, Harper was soon appointed ser- geant-major. He also served as orderly sergeant of his company. It was while holding these positions that much of his severest experience in marching and fight- ing was acquired. In August, 1862, his commission as second Lieutenant was transmitted to him while with the Grand Army of McClellan on the Peninsula. The army soon after returned to Washington, and pushed into Maryland to confront Lee at South Mountain and Antietam. Having been assigned to the command of Co. K, Harper participated in both those battles in his capacity of Company Commandant, and distinguished himself by his coolness and bravery. He fell at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, while leading his company, pierced with three bullets, one taking effect in the head, one passing through his body, cutting his sword-belt, and one through his ankle. It was a source of great comfort to his friends that he was not left to linger in anguish upon the

EIGHTH GENERATION. 339

battle-field. Doubtless, from the nature of his wounds, his brave soul went instantly to that God whom he so truly reverenced, and whose work had afforded him so much delight in life. His body was recovered from the battle-field and taken to his parents in Ohio, and has a resting-place in Oak- land Cemetery, Sandusky. Though dead, yet he still lives in the affectionate remembrance of his friends, who were many, and his heroic example is his legacy to his country. Surely he did not die in vain, and his oft expressed aspiration to leave a bright untarnished name is realized.

Jfc5'

1251.

Lieut. ARMINIUS WESLEY BILL' (Frank Wesley,7 Phineas,6 Joshua,5 Phineas,4 Joshua,3 Philip,2 John1), only son of the Rev. Frank W. Bill ; was born in Glastenbury, Ct., June 5, 1845*

At the age of ten years, and after the death of his father, he went to live with his uncle, Erastus D. Bill, at Sheffield, Illinois. He continued to live with his uncle, who was also his guardian, up to the time of the breaking out of the Rebel- lion, when, in September, 1861, he enlisted in a regiment known as Birge's Sharp-Shooters, at that time forming in St. Louis, Mo. This regiment was afterward known as the 60th Illinois Sharp-Shooters. He was at the siege and capture of Fort Donelson, Ky., Feb. 16, 1862 ; also at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and at Corinth. He shared the fatigues and honors of that wonderful "Atlanta Campaign," first under the immediate command of Gen. J. B. McPherson, then of Gen. John A. Logan. During these marches and battles he had his full share of danger and of glory. His regiment, for driving a brigade of the enemy at Resacca, Ga., who were favorably posted, was complimented on the field by their

* He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., June 9, 1865, and in 1866-7 entered the New York Medical College, with the view to the practice of medicine. lie is now at his uncle's, E. D. Bill, at Plymouth, Ind.

340 TnE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

commander, the brave and skillful McPherson. At the end of his three years he re-enlisted for another term of service, but the war happily ended, and Sherman's Grand Army made the circuit of the enemy's territory, everywhere victorious, and finally entered the capital of the country, with eagles and banners flying, heroes of a thousand conflicts, and with a history grander than that of any army in the world of which time has left us any record !

APPENDIX.

In the early records of New England we have found one or more families bearing the name of Bills. These have spread to a small extent, and their descendants may still be found in some sections of the country \, but they seem for the most part in nowise related with the descendants of John and Dorothy Bill, though it is not at all unlikely they sprang, several centuries ago, in England, from a common ancestry— for in our researches there we have discovered quite a number of families who add the final s to the name, though not more than one-third of the several scores with whom we have corresponded in England use this additional letter ; while all of the older families, and those whose lineage is Undoubted, and those too whose wealth and social standing give us evidence of the pureness of pedigree, write their names without the s, and have for several hundred years, or since the first use of surnames in England.

We propose to place these "odd sheep" here, just without the fold ; also, all stray members of the family whose lineage we have been unable to trace, together with those from whom information was re- ceived too late to be arranged in their rightful places.

Robert Bills, aged 32, husbandman, embarked July 23, 1635, for Boston, in the ship "Pied Cow," Ashley, master, and died in or near Boston, Dec. 15, 1635.

William Bills was one of the first settlers of Barnstable, 1640.

Thomas Bills, who might have been a son of the above William Bills, m. Anna Twining, of Barnstable, Oct. 3, 1672. They had two children, daughters, Anna and Elizabeth. He was again married on May 2, 1676, to Joanna Twining, a probable sister of his first wife,

34:2 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

and by her he had children — Nathaniel, Mercy, Mehitable, Thomas, Gershom, and Joanna. This family resided at Eastham, Mass., where may be found the records of the births of their children.

It is presumed that these sons of Thomas were married, and also had sons, for we find a

Richard Bills is reputed to have been in the " Great Swamp Fight," Dec. 19, 1675, and to these soldiers,, or their descendants or legal representatives, lands were granted, and his son, Richard Bills, appeared in 1735 and claimed a lot of land in consequence of his father (Richard Bills) having participated in that battle.

Thomas Bills and Agnes Batchelder were m. in Boston, Nov. 23, 1699.

Mary Bill was m. to Peter Hopkins, Nov. 26, 1722. Hannah Bill m. James Marston, Nov. 10, 1757. Richard Bill m. Mary Dorty, in Boston, July 31, 1758. Joseph Bill d. in Boston about 1768. Joseph Bill d. in Boston about 1786.

Otis Bills, of Union, Me., in 1815, a supposed descendant of Richard Bills, already named, 1735. He had children: Harriet, m. 1838, W. S. Butler. Maria, m. William Stewart.

Abner. He wras a soldier in the 9th New England Reoi- ment, in the Mexican War. Thomas Bills, of N. J., m. Cynthia Walker, ofMacedon, N. Y. Israel Bill, son of Jedediah Bill, of Lebanon, b. Nov. 4, 1740.

—Bill, of East Haddam, Ct., in. Hannah Hall, about 1790.

They had a son —

Israel Bill, b. about 1792 ; m. Anna Smith in .1814. They had children : Lucy S. Bill, Daniel Hall Bill, who d. at Vicksburg, in U. S. Hospital, in 1863. William Augustus ttill, d. at Willoughby, O., in 1840. Epaphras Chapman Bill, lives at East Trumbull, O. George Bill, m. Nancy Chase in 1850, and lives at Lodi, Wis. In 1845 he enlisted in Company C, 2d U. S. Regular Infantry, and served in the Mexican War. In April, 1861, he raised a company, was chosen captain, and consolidated with the 7th Regt. Wis. Volunteers. He was in 1862 promoted to be Major, and in 1863 was discharged, in consequence of disabling wounds.

APPENDIX. 343

Maj. George Bill, above, had children :

William Augustus, b. Dec., 1851 ; d. April 7, 1855. Arthur Clement, b. July, 1853. Mary Anna, b. Dec, 1854. George Walter, b. Dec., 1858. Lanierie C, b. Jan., 1860. Nancy B., b. Sept., 1861.

Mary Bill, sister of this Maj. George Bill, and daughter of Israel Bill, above, in. N. Burbank, at Hartsgrove, O., in 1855. Joseph- Nelson Bill, m. 1855 , and has two sons, Daniel and Israel.

John Lyman, b. Sept., 1840, resides at Hartsgrove, 0.

John Bills, of Jackson's Mills, N. J. He has children : John, Peter, Johnson, Richard, Henry, Ellen, Catherine, Elizabeth. The most of these are grown up and married.

Then the names of Samuel Bills, Mary Elizabeth Bills, Ellen Bills, Robert Rushmore Bills, John Oscar Bills, Daniel Lafoge Bills, Isaac JElwood Bills, Catharine Bills, Margaret Ann Bills, all of New Jersey, who are as near as first cousins to the children of John Bills, above.

An account received by us says : —

Thomas Bills, b. somewhere in N. J., moved to New Haven, Ct., and m. Mary Thomas, and had children :

Thomas, m. Huldah Bradley, and had — James, Mary, Henry, and three others, names unknown.

William, m. Betsey Thompson, had children — William, Mary, and two others.

Sylvanus, b. Nov. 15, 1765, m. Feb. 27, 1793, Lydia Bradley, b. Jan. 19, 1775, daughter of Erastus and Lydia (Beecher) Bradley. Lydia Beecher, her mother, was the daughter of Nathaniel Beecher, of New Haven, and aunt to Dr. Lyman Beecher, of Litchfield, Ct. They had children : Erastus B., d. aged 28 ; James, d. in West Indies ; Samuel, d. unmarried. Then there were six daughters of Thomas and Mary (Thomas)

Bills, viz : —

Content, m. Capt. John Throop.

344 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

Mary, m. Capt. John Miles.

Susanna, m. Capt. John Throop.

Elizabeth, m. Capt. John Miles.

Sarah, m. Capt. John Miles. Thaddeus Bill, supposed to have been born in New London County, Ct,, either at Groton or Lebanon. He certainly m. Mary Leeds, of Groton, and was related to the families of Bill in that town, but we have been unable to say just what that relation is. He resided at Stamtord, Fairfield County, Ct.

Thomas Bill, of Norwich, Ct., had children : Lydia, b. Jan. 9, 1V49-50. John, b. March, 1751-2.

James, b. .

r

Mercy Bill, m. Jonathan Brooks, Dec. 2, 1766.

Hannah Bill, m. Samuel Lester, in Groton, Nov. 5, 1807.

Desire Bill, m. Charles Eldridge, in Groton, July 16, 1820.

Daniel Bill, died prior to 1823, in Groton. He left children: Patty, Jemima, and Mary, who ni. Albert Edgecomb, in Groton, Aug. 29, 1819.

Eunice Bill, m. IT. S. Gardner ; who was born Sept. 16, 1815.

Bill, m. Mary Anne Treadway.

Charlotte Bill, b. March 17, 1836; m. Simeon Thomas Hyde.

Elizabeth Bill, b. Sept. 30, 1800; m. "William S. Richards, of Princeton, 111., Jan. 20, 1848.

Elvira Bill, dau. of Erastus Bill, the son of James5 and Asenath (Norton) Bill ; m. Shubael Stiles, of Westfield, Mass.

Celina Bills, dau. of John and Celina (Allen) Bills, of Westfield, Mass.; b. Oct. 10, 1819; m. Daniel H. White, of Agawam, Mass. She d. April 30, 1856.

Ann Eliza Bills, b. June 25, 1827 ; m. John Henry Elliot. She was a daughter of Dr. Alvin "Wilson Bills and Mary Nelson (Sims) Bills, of Flat Rock, Bourbon County, Ky.

Edmund B. Bill, of III., was captain in the 16th Regt. of U. S. Infantry, Feb. 23, 1847, in Mexican War. He d. at sea, near Brazos, Oct. 12, 1847.

"Wilbur H. Bills, of Great Barrington, Mass., was in 1861 a soldier in Co. C, 24th Rcgt. Mass. Vols.

APPENDIX. 345

Clarence H. Bill, was a member of Co. D. 13th Mass. Regt. Vols., and was mustered out Aug. 1, 1864.

F. Bill, of Tenn. 5 Co. I. ; d. in Andersonsville Prison, Sept. 17, 186-. Head-board No. 9023.

B. S. Bill, of Kentucky, 1 Cavalry Co. K, d. Oct. 7, at Anderson- ville Prison. Head-board, No. 10451.

Oliver Bills, of Iowa, m. Lorena Cragin, of LaGrange, Ohio. They have had children: Henry, Charles and others. He d. Jan. 12, 1848.

Abner D. Bill, resides in Boston, Mass. William H. Bill, of Hebron, Ct. Edward Bill, of Hebron, Ct.

Chloe Bill, d. in Lebanon, April 14, 1849, aged 95 There are families of Bills, in Roxbury.

* Erastus Bill,7 son of Erastus Bill,6 (see page 160) and grand- son of Dea. James Bill of East Hampton, Ct., was born Sept. 28, 1804, instead of 1805 as given on page 160; married, Oct. 29, 1822, Phebe Rood. They had children.

Frances Hall,8 b. March 10, 1824 ; d. Feb. 4, 1839. Wells, R,8 b. Nov. 19, 1825 ; m. Melvin Felton, Nov. 16, 1848, and had children : Ida,9 Henry,9 Annie,9 Nellie.9 Eliza Ann8 b. Feb. 21, 1827; m. Milo Hunt, May 7, 1852, and has children :

Ada,9 (Hunt), Hattie,9 (Hunt). James A.8 b. Feb. 13, 1829; m. (1) Fannie La Noir, Feb. 14,

1852. (2) Jennie Triss. Nancy Jane8 b. April 21, 1832 ; m. Owen Coyle, Jnne 1, 1858, and have children :

Mary Eliza9 (Coyle), Ella Hunt9 (Coyle), Clara Melvina9 (Coyle). Solomon E.8 b. Nov. 8, 1834.

* If this family record had been received in time it would have been incorpo- rated in its proper place in the body of the book. 23

346 THE BILL FAMILY MEMOIR.

George F.* b. June 5, 1837; m. Nov. 20, 1859, Jane Louisa Cook, and have children : Edward,9

Fannie9; deceased. Frances If oil," b. July 31, 1839; m. Harrison B. Freeman, June 1, 1864, and have children : Bertha9 (Freeman),

Fannie9 (Freeman).

i . t L-

/

FAMILY INDEX.

This index is arranged chronologically, and also according to generations, and excepting those of the first generation, only tioo references are made in any individual case ; first, when a child ; second, when head of a family.

FIRST GENERATION. 1634.

Bill, John, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 55. | Bill, Dorothie, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 55, 56.

SECOND GENERATION.

Bill, James, 28, 29. Bill, Thomas, 28, 44.

Bill, Philip, 28, 55. Bill, John, 28.

Bill, Mary, 28.

BUI, Abigail, 45, 47, 49.

THIRD GENERATION.

Bill, Mary, 44, 60. Bill, James, 44, 60. Bill, Hannah, 44, 60. Bill, Jonathan, 44, 66. Bill, Sarah, 44, 68. Bill, Joseph, 44, 70. Bill, Joshua, 44. Bill, Samuel, 54. 72. Bill, Sargeant, 54.

Bill, Sarah, 54. Bill, Mary, 54. Bill, James. 54. Bill, Thomas, 54. Bill. Susanna, 54. Bill, Michael, 54. Bill, Jacob, 54, 76. Bill, Benjamin, 54, 77. Bill, Philip, 59, 78.

Bill, Mary, 59. Bill, Margaret, 59. Bill, Samuel, 59, 83. Bill, John, 59, 85. Bill, Elizabeth, 59. Bill, Jonathan, 59. Bill, Joshua,' 59, 88.

FOURTH GENERATION.

Bill, James, 65. Bill, Mehitable, 65. 96. Bill, Rebecca, 65, 97. Bill, Mary, 65, 97. Bill, Bethiah, 65. Bill, Hannah, 65, 97. Bill, Abigail, 65, 98.-— Bill, Hannah, 68, 98. Bill, Martha, 68, 99. Bill, Jonathan, 68, 99. Bill, Mary, 68, 101. Bill, Joshua, 68, 101. Bill, "William, 68. Bill, William, 68, 102. Bill, Lydia, 71, 102. Bill, Joseph, 71, 103.

Bill, John, 71, 103. Bill, Anna, 71, 104. Bill, Josiah, 7 1, 104. Bill, Esther, 71. Bill, Jeremiah, 71, 104. Bill, Sarah, 72.

1700.

Bill, Hezekiah, 72, 105. Bill, Samuel, 76, 105. Bill, Richard, 76, 109. Bill, Thomas, 77. 115.«= Bill, Abigail, 77.r Bill, Susanna, 77. Bill, Abigail, 77.

Bill, Benjamin, 77. Bill, Susanna, 77. Bill, Mary, 77. Bill, Penelope, 77. Bill, Penelope, 77. Bill, John, 77. Bill, Lydia, 77. Bill, Benjamin, 77. Bill, Ann, 77. Bill, Elizabeth, 83. Bill, Hannah, 83. Bill, Sarah, 83. Bill, Philip, 83. .Bill, Joseph, 83, 1 1 5. Bill, Thomas, 83, 116. Bill, Benjamin, 83, 119.

348

FAMILY INDEX.

FIFTH GENERATION.

Bill, Hannah, 84.	Bill, Mary, 109.
Bill. Samuel, 84, 122.	Bill, Samuel, 109, 140.
Bill, Philip, 84, 126.	Bill, Elizabeth, 114.
Bill, James, 84, 127.	Bill, Elizabeth, 114, 141
Bill, Ebenezer, 84, 120.	Bill, William, 114.
Bill, Joshua, 84, 130.	Bill, Sarah, 114.
Bill, Jonathan, 84.	Bill, Abigail. 115. -^
Bill, Mercy, 84.	Bill, Jacob, 115.
Bill, John, 85, 130.	Bill, Thomas, 115.
Bill, Abigail, 85.— -^"	Bill, Sarah, 115.
Bill, John, 88, 131.	Bill, John, 115.
Bill, Abigail, 88.	Bill, Philip, 116.
Bill, James, 88, 133.	Bill, Joseph, 116.
Bill, Laurana, 88.	Bill, Jacob, 116.
Bill, Beuajah, 88, 135.	Bill, Jabez 119, 143.
Bill, Joshua, 95, 136.	Bill, Charles, 119, 143.
Bill, Edward, 95, 136.	Bill, William, 119, 143.
Bill, Benajah, 95, 136.	Bill, Ann, 119.
Bill, Mary, 95.	Bill, Lucretia, 119.
Bill, Phineas, 95, 137.	Bill, Priscella, 119. /
Bill, Naomi, 95.	Bill, Abigail, 119. J
Bill. Orpah, 95.	Bill, Bethshua, 119.
Bill, Hannah, 96.	Bill, Philena, 119.
Bill, Sarah, 96.	Bill, Susanna, 119.
Bill, Esther, 96.	Bill, Benjamin, 122,144.
Bill, Joanna, 96.	Bill, Christopher, 122..
Bill Phebe, 96.	Bill, Abigail, 122.-
Bill, Jonathan, 100, 138.	Bill. Catherine, 122.
Bill, Charles, 100, 139.	Bill, Prudence, 122.
Bill, Sarah, 102.	Bill, Tabitha, 122.
Bill, Anne, 102.	Bill, Deborah, 122.
Bill, William, 102.	Bill, Samuel, 125, 145.
Bill, William, 102.	Bill, Sarah, 125.
Bill, Susanna, 102.	Bill, Ephraim, 126, 146.
Bill, Hannah, 105.	Bill, Mercy, 126.
Bill, John, 105.	Bill, Zipporah, 126.
Bill, Jeremiah, 105.	Bill, Lucy, 126.
Bill, Susanna, 105.	Bill, Elisha. 126, 150.
Bill, Benjamin, 105.	Bill, Philip,' 126, 151.
Bill, Hannah, 105.	Bill, Solomon, 127, 151.
Bill, Samuel, 109.	Bill, Mercy, 127.
Bill, Joseph, 109.	Bill, Elijah, 127.
Bill, Joseph, 109.	Bill, Jonathan, 127,152.
Bill, Richard, 109.	Bill. Sybil, 127.
Bill, Benjamin, 109.	Bill, Samuel, 127, 152.
Bill, Sarah, 109.	Bill, James, 127, 153.
Bill, Ruth, 109.	Bill, Jedediah, 127, 153
Bill, Elizabeth, 109.	Bill, Mary, 127.

Bill, Nathan, 127. Bill, Experience, 127. Bill, Jonathan. 127, 153. Bill, Samuel, 129, 154. Bill, Bridget, 129. Bill, Beulah, 130. Bill, Hannah, 130. Bill, Jonathan, 130. Bill, Ebenezer, 130. Bill, Thomas, 130, 155. Bill, Asahel, 130, 155. Bill, Eunice, 130. Bill, Simeon, 132, 156. Bill, Jonathan, 132,157 Bill, Mercy, 132, 157. Bill, Judah, 132, 157. Bill, John, 132, 157. Bill, Jonathan, 133. Biil, Mercy, 133. Bill, Elijah, 133, 158. Bill, Joseph, 133. Bill, Mary, 133. Bill, Martha, 133. Bill, Lurana, 134. Bill, Amos, 134, 158. Bill, Peleg, 134, 158. Bill, James, 135, 159. Bill, Oliver, 135, 160. Bill, Lucy, 135. Bill, Kezia, 135. Bill, Betty, 135. Bill, Lucretia, 136. Bill, Mary, 136. Bill, Eleazer, 136. Bill, Benajah, 136.

1750.

Bill, Eliphalet, 136, 162. Bill, Rubv, 136. Bill, Jonathan, 136, 163. Bill, Judith, 137. Bill, Uriah, 137. Bill, Phineas, 138, 163. Bill, Mehitable, 138. Bill, Mary, 138. Bill,Benajah,138, 166. Bill, Joshua, 138, 167. Bill, Gurdon, 138. "

SIXTH GENERATION.

Bill, Marv, 139. Bill, Hannah, 139. Bill, Ann, 139. Bill, Jonathan, 139. Bill, Charles, 140.

Bill, Ann, 140. Bill, Jonathan, 140. Bill, Benjamin, 140, 168. Bill, Hannah, 140. Bill, Susanna, 140.

I Bill, Richard, 141, 169. Bill, Nathaniel, 141, 169. Bill, Charles, 143, 171. Bill, Andrew, 143, 171. BUI, Parthenia, 143.

FAMILY INDEX.

349

Bill, Rhoda, 143.

Bill, Eunice, 143.

Bill, Clarissa, 143.

Bill, Nancy, 143.

Bill, Sarah, 144.

Bill, Louisa, 144.

Bill, Bela, 144, 172.

Bill, Anne, 144.

Bill, Charles, 144, 172.

Bill, Jere, 144, 173.

Bill, Sophia, 144.

Bill, Benjamin, 145, 174.

Bill, Philip, 145, 174.

Bill, Richard, 145.

Bill, Catherine, 145.

Bill, Sabra. 145.'

Bill, Eunice, 145.

Bill, Samuel, 146.

Bill, John, 146.

Bill, Mary, 146.

Bill, John, 146.

Bill, Elizabeth, 146. -

Bill, David, 146, 175.

Bill, Daniel, 146, 175.

Bill, John, 146.

Bill, Silvester, 150.

Bill, Lynde, 150.

Bill, Gurdon, 150.

Bill, Lvdia, 150, 175.

Bill, Hannah, 150.

Bill, Gurdon, 150, 178.

Bill, Ephraim, 150.

Bill, Abigail, 150.

Bill, Z. Huntington, 150,

180. Bill, William, 150. Bill, Elizabeth, 150, 180. Bill Hannah, 150, 182. Bill, Silvester, 150, 183. Bill Calvin, 151, 187. Bill, Rachel, 151. Bill, Elisha, 151, 187. Bill, Azariah, 151, 189. Bill. Reuben, 151, 189. Bill, Lydia, 151. Bill, Aaron, 151. Bill, Joel 151. Bill, Asa, 152. Bill, Sarah, 152. Bill, Mary, 152. Bill, Martha, 152. Bill, John, 152, 190. Bill, Lois, 152. Bill, Jonathan, 152. Bill, Samuel, 152. Bill, Sally, 153.

Bill, Polly, 153.

Bill, Harriet, 153.

Bill, Anna, 153.

Bill, Azariah, 153.

Bill, Israel, 153.

Bill, Sarah, 153.

Bill, Dan, 153.

Bill, Jedediah, 153.

Bill, Esther, 153.

Bill, Mary, 154.

Bill, Roswell,

Bill, Samuel, 154.

Bill, Sarah, 154, 191.

Bill, Elizabeth, 154, 191.

Bill, Ebenezer, 154, 192.

Bill, David, 154, 192.

Bill, Patience, 154, 193.

Bill, Rachel, 154.

Bill, Samuel, 155. 193.

Bill, Meltiah, 156.

Bill, Asahel. 156.

Bill, John Maher, 156, 193.

Bill, Caleb Rand, 156, 194.

Bill. Sarah, 156, 196.

Bill, Charlotte, 156.

Bill, Rebecca, 156.

Bill, Mary, 156, 197.

Bill, Lavinia, 156. Bill, In graham E., 156, 198.

Bill, Lucretia, 156. Bill, Zilpah, 156. Bill, Hosea, 156, 200. Bill, Zeruiah, 156. Bill, Adonijah, 156. Bill, Lucy, 157. Bill, Joseph, 157. Bill, Jonathan, 157, 200. Bill, Eleazer. 157, 201. Bill, Elijah, 158, 202.- Bill, Eliphalet, 158. Bill, Comfort, 158. Bill, Mehitable, 158. Bill. Roswell, 158. Bill, Mary, 158. Bill, Sarah, 158. Bill, Jerusha, 158. Bill, Bethia, 158. Bill, Jerusha, 159. Bill, Abiel, 159, 202. Bill, Asenath, 159. Bill, Lucy, 159. Bill, James, 159. Bill, Elvira, 160. Bill, Erastus, 160.

Bill, Norton, 160. Bill, Clarissa, 160. Bill, Achsah, 160. Bill, Achsah, 160. Bill, Amos, 160. Bill, Abner, 160. Bill, Martha, 161. Bill, Apama, 161. Bill, Betty, 161. Bill, Earl, 161, 203. Bill, Cyrus, 161, 204. Bill, Oliver, 161, 205. Bill, Jerusha, 161. Bill, Amos, 162, 206. Bill, Lucy, 162. Bill, Benajah, 162, 206. Bill, Eliphalet Mason,

162, 207. Bill, Mary, 162, 208. Bill, Dorothy, 162. Bill, Roswell, 162. Bill, Betsey, 163. Bill, Dver, 163, 209. Bill, Almira, 163, 210. Bill, Daniel, 163, 211. Bill, Richard Dayton,

165, 211. Bill, Avery, 166. Bill, Mercy, 165, 212. Bill, Lucy Maria, 165. Bill, Isaac, 165

Bill, Nancy, 165, 212. Bill, Benjamin Franklin,

165. Bill, Tabitha, 166. Bill, David, 166, 213. Bill, Pollv, 166. Bill, Lodowick.166,213. Bill, Eunice Park, 166. Bill, Alexander T. F.,

166, 215.

Bill, Sarah, 166, 216. Bill, Elisha S., 167,217. Bill, Nelson TL, 16 6. 2 13. Bill, Park AU.yn, 166. Bill, Lyman Edgecomb,

166. Bill, Gurdon, 168, 219. Bill, Sabrina, 168, 226. Bill, Sarah, 108, 227. Bill, Phnieas, 168, 223. Bill, Abigail, 168, 231. Bill, Betsey, 168, 252. Bill Fanny, 168. Bill, Averyl68, 235. Bill, Nancy, 16S.

350

FAMILY INDEX.

SEVENTH GENERATION.

1800.

Bill, Benjamin, 1G9, 237. Bill, Gardner, 169, 238. Bill, Davis, 169, 239. Bill, Jonathan Damon,

169. Bill, Charles, 171, 239. Bill. David, 171, 240. Bill, Charlotte, 171. Bill, Sally, 171. Bill, Susan, 171. Bill, Julia C, 171. Bill, Harriet M., 171. Bill, Warren, 171. Bill, Clarissa, 171. Bill, Marvin, 171. Bill, Minerva. 171. Bill, Mary, 171. Bill, Alson, 172, 240. Bill, Clarissa, 172. Bill, Cyrus 172. Bill, Lucinda, 172, 240. Bill, Charles, 172. Bill, Orsemus, 172. Bill, Marshall, 172, 241. Bill, Palmyra. 172. Bill, Charlotte, 172, 241. Bill, John. 173. Bill, Charles, 173. Bill, William, 173. Bill, Sabrina, 173. Bill, Juliette, 173. Bill, William Ashley, 173. Bill, Henrietta Sophia,

173. Bill, Pollv Maria, 173. Bill, Fanny, 174. Bill, Benjamin, 174. Bill, Martha Abell, 174. Bill, Mary Ann, 175. Bill, Elijah Abell, 175,

241. Bill, Mary Ann, 175. Bill, Mary, 175. Bill, David, 17,"), 243. Bill, Patty, 175. Bill, Jemima, 175. Bill, Mary. 175. Bill, William Truxton,

180. Bill. George Washington,

180. Bill, Henry, 180, 243. Bill, Lvdia Huntington,

180, 211. Bill, Mary Elizabeth, 180,

21 I.

Bill, Joseph Howland, ISO

245. Bill, Abby Woolsey, 180. Bill, Leonard Tracy, 180. Bill, Thomas King, 186. Bill, Thomas King, 186. Bill, Edward. 186, 2 16. Bill, Alfred, 186, 249. Bill, Harriet, 186. Bill, Harriet, 186. Bill, Eunice, 186. Bill, Elisha, 186, 250. Bill, Hannah, 186. Bill, Amanda, 186. Bill, Esther, 187. Bill, Rufus, 187, 251. Bill, Roswell, 187, 251. Bill, Aaron. 187, 252. Bill, Hiram, 187, 253. Bill, Isaac, 187. 254. Bill, Artemus, 187, 255. Bill, Louis, 187, 256. Bill, Mercv, 187. Bill, Phebe, 187.- Bill, Alanson, 188, 256. Bill, Reuben, 188. Bill, Persis, 188. Bill, Elisha, 188. Bill, Zelotes. 188. Bill, Polly, 188. Bill, Harvev, 188. Bill, Electa! 188. Bill. Cynthia, 189. BiU, Betsey, 189. Bill, Aaron, 189. Bill, Cynthia, 189. Bill, Eleazar, 189. 257. Bill, Lydia, 189. Bill, Horace, 189. Bill, Delilah, 190. Bill, Cynthia. 190. Bill, Aaron, 190. Bill, Amy 190. Bill, Lydia, 190. Bill, Reuben, 190. Bill, Lucinda, 190. Bill, Hannah, 190. Bill. John, 190, 257. BiU, Fanny, 190, 258. bill, Maria, 190. Bill, Fanny, 190. 258. Bill, Asa Gilbert, 190, 259. Bill, Martha, 190, 259. Bill, Joseph Rodgers, 190,

260. Bill, Almira, 190. Hill, Henry W., 190, 260. Bill, Maria, 190.

Bill, Frederic, 190. 261. Hill, Mary Ann, 190, 261. Hill, Sarah Jane, 190. Bill, Almira, 191. Bill, Almira, 191. Bill, Ebenezer. 192, 262. Hill. Rachel. 192. Hill, Mehitable. 192. Bill, Anna, 192. Bill, Prudence, 192. Bill, Susan, 193. Bill, Lvdia, 193, 262. Bill, Samuel, 19:;. Bill, David 193, 263. Bill, Lucv, 193, 263. Bill, Gurdon, 194. Bill, Charles, 194. Bill, Rebecca, 194. Bill, Mary Ann, 194. Bill, Henry, 194. Bill, John, 194. Bill, William C, 195. Bill, Nancy, 195. Bill, Eunice, 195. Bill, Asahel, 199. Bill, Mary Ann, 199. Bill, Edw'd Manning, 199. Hill, Caleb Rand, 200. Bill, Ingram Ebenezer,

199. Hill. Orrin [C], 200, 265. Hill, Eveline, 200. Bill, Norman Kellogg, 200,

266. Bill, Eli, 200. Bill, Rona, 200. Bill, Sarah Ann, 200. Bill, Fanny E., 200. Bill, Polly, 201. Bill, Asenath, 201. Bill. Joseph, 201. Bill, Betsey, 201. Bill, Norton Buell, 201,

267. Bill, Jonathan, 201, 267. Bill, Chester, 202, 268. Bill, Josiah Bissell, 202,

268. Bill, David, 202. Bill, Jesse, 202. Hill. Elijah, 202, 269. Bill, Hannah, 202. Bill, Patience, 202. Bill, Chester,' 202. 270. Hill, Peleg, 202. Hill. Henry Jackson, 201. Bill, Cyrus Skinner, 201,

270.

FAMILY INDEX.

351

Bill, Charles Oliver, 204,

270. Bill, Chauncey Clark, 204,

271. Bill, Earl, 204, 273. Bill, Horace Newton, 204,

27G. Bill, Sarah Maria, 204. Bill, Susan Jerusha, 204. Bill, Sophia Maria, 205. Bill, Charles Edward, 205. Bill, Caroline, 205. Bill, George Richard, 205. Bill, Charlotte, 205. Bill, Apama, 206, 278. Bill, Clarissa, 206, 278. Bill, Oliver Augustus,

206. Bill, Lucius Carlo, 206. Bill, Harriet Porter, 206,

279. Bill, Marcius Edward, 206,

279. Bill, Oliver Augustus, 206,

280. Bill, Caroline Maria, 206,

280. Bill, George Richard, 206,

281. Bill, Amos Bassett, 206. Bill, Erastus, 207, 281. Bill, Horace, 207, 232. Bill, Hannah, 207. Bill, Laura, 207. Bill, Malvina A., 207. Bill, Carlos Pitkin, 208,

282. Bill, Daniel Marsh, 208. Bill, Frances Maria, 208,

283. Bill, Julia Emily, 208,284. Bill, Roswell Mason, 208,

285. Bill, Louisa M., 209, 285. Bill, Josephine, 209, 286. Bill, Emeline, 209, 286. Bill, Lucinda, 209, 287. Bill, Mary, 209, 287. Bill Dyer Richardson, 210,

287.

Bill, Frank Coburn. 210,

288. Bill, Curtis Harvey, 210,

288. -£^v $0 V Bill, James Ransom, 210. Bill, Dwight Strong, 210. Bill. George Augustus,

210. Bill. Daniel, 211, 290. Bill, Orpah, 211. Bill, Ruth, 211. Bill, Mindwell, 211. Bill, Lathrop, 211. Bill, Sherman, 211. Bill, Elijah, 211, 290. Bill, Celestia, 211. Bill, Joseph Allyn, 211. Bill, Richard Carlton, 211. Bill, Lucy Ann, 211. Bill, Emeline Sheffield,

211. Bill, Robert Allyn, 211. Bill, Paul Frederic, 212. Bill, James Henry, 213. Bill, Frances Maria, 213. Bill, David, 213, 291. Bill Ann Maria, 213. Bill, Eliza, 214. Bill, Julia Ann, 215, 291. Bill, Polly, 215. Bill, Hiram Geer, 215. Bill, John Wight, 215, 292. Bill, Bcnajah Park, 215,

294. Bill, James A., 215, 295. Bill, Ellen Jane, 215. Bill, Lucy Stark, 215,297. Bill, Gilbert La Fayette,

215. Bill, Sarah Maria, 217, 297. Bill, James Leonard, 218,

298. Bill, Jeptha Geer, 218,

298. Bill, Ann Elizabeth, 218. Bill, Amos Williams, 218,

298. Bill, Sidney Worthington,

218, 299. Bill, Elisha, 218, 299.

EIGHTH GENERATION.

Bill, Ezra Gardner, 218,

299. Bill, Celestina A. E., 218. Bill, Benjamin S., 218. Bill, George Washington,

218. Bill, Lucy Angeline, 218. Bill, William Francis, 218. Bill, Hibbard Denison,218. Bill, Henry Edgar, 218. Bill, Nelson Alexander,

218. Bill, Edna. Alberta, 218. Bill, Nancy Agenette, 218. Bill, Horatio Nelson, 219,

300. Bill, Edward Lyman, 219. Bill, Jeremiah Canning,

219, 300. Bill, Edward M., 226, 300. Bill, Henry, 226, 301. Bill, Joshua, 226. Bill, Joseph, 226. Bill, Gurdon, 226, 304. Bill, Frederic, 220. Bill, Eliza, 226. Bill, Frederic, 226, 305. Bill, Ledyard, 226, 307. Bill, Harriet, 226. Bill, Charles, 226, 307. BUI, Sabrina Taylor, 230. Bill, Frank W., 230, 309. Bill, Abby, 230. Bill, Edwin, 230, 313. Bill, Erastus D., 230, 313. Bill, Adelia A., 230. Bill, Mary ¥., 230. Bill, Phineas, 230. Bill, Avery, 235, 315. Bill, Palmer, 235, 316. Bill, Maria Elizabeth, 235,

316. Bill, Roswell, 235, 316. Bill, Nancy, 235, 317. Bill, Fanny, 235. Bill, Joshua, 236. Bill, Emeline. 236, 317. Bill, Abby, 236. Bill, Mary Ann, 236.

Bill, Lewis Augustus, 170. Bill, Mary Ann, 170. Bill, George Damon, 170. Bill, Charles Colburn, 170. Bill, Sarah Eliza, 170. Bill, Susan Bradford, 170. Bill, George II., 171.

Bill, Betsey, 238. Bill, Benjamin, 238, 318. Bill, America C, 238. Bill, Alanson, 238, 319. Bill, John Alonzo, 238

320. Bill, Lorenzo, 238, 320.

Bill, Lewis, 238, 321. Bill, Cotton Brown, 239. Bill, Celestia C, 239. Bill, Joseph, 239. Bill, Alfonzo, 239. Bill, Ann Eliza, 239. Bill, George W., 239.

352

FAMILY INDEX.

Bill, Susan M., 239.	Bill,	Francis P., 251.	Bill,
Bill, Charles W., 239.	Bill,	Elnathan R., 251.
Bill, Wm. R., 239, 321.	Bill,	Edwin Storrs, 251.	Bill,
Bill, Charles Abell, 2-10.	Bill,	Charles Carroll, 252.
Bill. Lydia Maria, 240.	Bill,	George Wyman, 252.	Bill,
Bill, Julia Anne, 240.	Bill,	Caroline R., 252.	Bill,
Bill, Eunice A., 240.	Bill,	Roswell Clark, 252.	Bill,
Bill, James Hervy, 240.	Bill,	Alvin IL, 252.	Bill,
Bill, Charles Arthur, 241.	Bill,	Aaron Davis, 253.
Bill, George Acrhibald,	Bill,	Hiram, 254.	Bill,
241.	Bill,	Virtue, 254.	Bill,
Bill, Cyrus Edward, 241.	Bill,	Perley, 254, 324.	Bill,
Bill, Inez Estelle, 241.	Bill,	David, 254.	Bill,
Bill, Elizabeth Dwight,	Bill,	Miranda, 255.
242.	Bill,	Alvira, 255.	Bill,
Bill, Sarah Hazard, 242.	Bill,	Lucy, 255.	Bill,
Bill, Julia Almira, 243.	Bill,	Arethusa, 255.	Bill,
Bill, Mary Hannah, 243.	Bill,	Emily, 255.	Bill,
Bill, Benj. Leighton, 243.	Bill,	George, 255.	Bill,
Bill, Jane, 243.	Bill,	Jarius, 255.	Bill,
Bill, Richard Shippen, 243,	Bill,	Sidney, 255.
321.	Bill,	Jane Esther, 255.	Bill,
Bill, David, 243.	Bill,	Ensign, 256.
Bill, Anna M., 243.	Bill,	Elijah, 256.	Bill,
Bill, Frederic, 243.	Bill,	John, 256.	Bill,
Bill, Joseph Rowland, 244,	Bill.	Cvrus, 256.	Bill,
322.	Bill,	Sarah, 256.
Bill, Anna Maria H., 244.	Bill,	Electa, 256.	Bill,
Bill, Alexander H., 244.	Bill,	Cynthia Portia, 257.	Bill,
Bill, Henry Wier, 244.	Bill,	Horace Bradley, 257.	Bill,
Bill, Mary Elizabeth, 244.	Bill,	William Carver, 257.
Bill, Caroline R. Dey, 245.	Bill George Clinton, 257.	Bill,
Bill, Mary, 246.	Bill,	Nelson, 258.
Bill, Joseph Howland,	Bill,	Jane, 258.	Bill,
246.	Bill,	Sophia, 258.	Bill,
Bill, Alice, 246.	Bill,	Charles H., 258, 325.	Bill,
Bill, Lillian, 246.	Bill,	Julia Ann, 259.	Bill,
Bill, Edward "Woolsey,	Bill,	Helen Francis, 259.	Bill,
246.	Bill,	Mary Crowell, 259.
Bill, Archibald H., 246.	Bill,	Emilia M., 260.	Bill,
Bill, Susan Randolph, 248.	Bill,	George Austin, 260,	Bill,
Bill, Edward Livingston,		326.	Bill,
250.	Bill,	Thomas F., 260.	Bill,
Bill, Silvester King, 250.	Bill,	Sarah, 260.	Bill,
Bill, Alfred, 250.	Bill,	Ada L., 260.	Bill,
Bill, George Farmer, 250.	Bill,	John E.. 260.	Bill,
Bill, Charles King, 250,	Bill,	Charles T., 260.	Bill,
323.	Bill,	Alice, 261.	Bill,
Bill, Almira, 250.	Bill,	Albert, 261.	Bill,
Bill, Elisha, 250.	Bill, Herbert Weston, 261.	Bill,
Bill, Lester, 250. 323.	Bill,	Francis Rogers, 261.	Bill,
Bill, Betsey, 250.	Bill,	Frederic, 261.	Bill,
Bill, Orin W., 251.	Bill,	Frank, 261.	Bill,
Bill, Charles B., 251.	Bill,	Willard, 262, 326.	Bill.
Bill, Sarepta G., 251.	Bill,	Harvey Adams, 262,	Bill,
Bill, William H., 251.		327.	Bill,
Bill, Joseph N., 251.	Bill,	Emily, 262.
Bill, Edward S., 251.	Bill,	Mary, 262, 329.	Bill,
Bill, Martha J., 251.	Bill,	Hiram, 262.	Bill,
Bill. David Keyes, 251.	Bill,	David Wilder, 2G3,	Bill,
Bill, Adeline A., 251.		329.	Bill,

Daniel Wright, 263 329.

Samuel Dennis, 263, 330.

Louis Dart, 263, 330. George S., 266. , Emma Elizabeth. 266.

Catherine Hillyer, 266.

James Freeland, 266. Franklin, 266. Emily Asenath, 267.

Amanda Malvina, 267.

Ruth, 267. Amos, 267. Julia, 267. Mary, 267. James Earl, 268, 331. John Carver, 268, 332.

Jared Milton, 268, 332.

Jane Almira, 268. Emma A., 268. Charles Weslev, 268, 332.

Henry Harrison, 268. Walter Harvey, 268. George William, 268' 333.

David Bissell, 268, 333.

Lucy Ann, 268. Joseph Clement, 269. Marv Elizabeth, 269. Edwin, 269, 334. Benezet Hough, 269, 334.

Eliza, 269. Henry A., 269, 335. Orrin H., 270. Susan Maria, 270. Nancv Charlotte, 270. Charles Earl, 270. Horace Newton, 270. Mary Estella, 270. Everett Case, 273. Caroline Curtis, 273. Eva Caroline, 273. Anna Everett, 273. Chauncy Earl, 273. ChauncV Clark, 273. Henry, *2 7 3. Charles Earl, 276. Horace Harper, 276, 335.

Mary Rose, 276. Charles Henry, 276. Eva Caroline, 276. George Putinan, 276.

FAMILY INDEX.

353

Bill, Gertrude, 2*76. Bill, Florence, 276. Bill, Sarah Sylvania, 277. Bill, Horace Earl, 277. Bill, Francis Edward, 279. Bill. Mary Clarinda, 280. Bill! Arthur Jay, 280. Bill, Mary Frances, 280. Bill, Martha S., 280. Bill, Martha Julia, 280. Bill, Rollin Hibbard, 280. Bill, Carrie Webster, 280. Bill, Hattie Porter. 280. Bill, Charles Edwin, 281. Bill, Harriet Amelia, 281. Bill, Frederic B., 281. Bill, George Lincoln, 281. Bill, Sanford, 281. Bill, Armorica, 282. Bill, Xenophon. 282. Bill, Armanda M., 282. Bill, Horace A., 282. Bill, Eveline Pitkin, 283. Bill. Emily M., 283. Bill, Adela M., 285. Bill, Roselle M., 285. Bill, Emma F, 285. Bill, Cora I., 285. Bill, Frank D., 287. Bill, Edward H., 287. Bill, Frederic J., 287. Bill, James W., 287. Bill, Kate M., 287. Bill, Harvey, 288. Bill, Carrie, 288. Bill, Lathrop, 290. Bill, Hortense, 290. Bill, Perry H., 290. Bill, Roby P., 290. Bill, Daniel, 290. Bill, Sherman, 290. Bill, Mindwell, 290. Bill, Hannah, 290. Bill, Myron, 290. Bill, Roxana, 290. Bill, Spencer, 290. Bill, Sion E., 290. Bill, Harriet, 291. Bill, Stephen, 291. Bill, Amanda M., 291. Bill, John Elijah, 291. Bill, Charles, 291.

Bill, Benjamin Franklin,

291. Bill, David Turner, 291. Bill, George W., 291. Bill, Daniel W., 291. Bill, Caroline A., 291. Bill, William Wirt, 291. Bill, John Oscar, 292. Bill, Prudence P., 293. Bill, Gilbert La Fayette,

293. Bill, Ellen Loraine, 993. Bill, Lodowick, 293. Bill, Emma Gallup, 293. Bill, Jacob Gallup, 294. Bill, Nelson Horatio. 294. Bill, Robert Allyn, 294. Prudence Morgan,

294.

Arthur L.Wight, 294.

Pklward Lyman. 294.

Marv Pitcher, 295.

David Pitcher, 295.

Mary Jane, 295.

Thomas Peck, 295.

Ann Louisa, 295. Bill, Frank Pierce, 295. Bill, Benajah Park, 295.

Caroline Park, 295.

Elizabeth Geer, 296.

Phebe Burnham, 296.

Mary Jane, 296.

Prudence Ann, 297.

Rebecca Lord, 297.

Lodowick, 297. James Alexander,

297.

Kansas N., 297.

Lecompton G, 297. Bill, William Warner, 297. Bill, Jefferson Davis, 297. Bill. Leonard Eguene, 298. Bill! Julia Olivet, 298. Bill, John Dexter, 298. Bill, Benjamin Jeptha,

298. Bill, Harriet Prudence,

298. Bill, Ann Isabella, 298. Bill, Charles Sidney, 299. Bill, Anna Maria F., 299. Bill, Charles Gardner, 299.

Bill,

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill,

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill,

Bill, Bill,

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill,

Mary Elizabeth, 299-

Edward Nelson, 300.

Ida Maria, 300.

Arthur Irving, 300.

Charles Oliver, 300.

Leroy Canning, 300. Bill, Eugene Howard, 300. Bill, Frederic Corey, 300. Bill, Ira Edward, 301. Bill, Lucy Yerrington, 301. Bill, Lydia Sylvester, 301. Bill, Edward Henry, 301. Bill, Gurdon Frederic, 301. Bill, Clara Maria, 301. Bill, Edward Charles, 301. Bill, Henry Gustavus, 304. Bill, John Harper, 304. Bill, Henry Sumner, 304. Bill, Julia Florence, 304. Bill, Jennie Eliza/304. Bill, Frederic Abbott, 304. Bill, Nathan Denison, 305. Bill, Hattie Eliza, 305. Bill, Mary Avery, 305. Bill, Edward Everett, 305. Bill, Arminius Wesley,

313, 339. Bill, Mary Irene, 313. Bill, Lorinda E., 313. Bill, Frederic, 313. Bill, Eva W., 313. Bill, Frank Wesley, 313. Bill, Helen E., 313. Bill, Willie F., 313. Bill, Emma Frances, 314.

Harriet Ada, 314.

Charles Denison, 314.

Laura E. K., 314.

Herbert Edward, 315.

Lucy Byram, 315.

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill,

Howard Irving,

Bill, Clarence Everett, 3 1 6.

Bill,

Bill

Bill

Bill

Bill

„ 316.

Emma Louise, 316.

Lizzie Ray, 316.

Herbert Arthur, 316.

Frances Maria, 316. Bill, Sarah Tracy, 316. Bill, Frank Avery, 316. Bill, Henry Everett, 316. Bill, Fannie E., 317. Bill, Mary E., 317.

NINTH GENERATION.

Bill, George Lewis, 170. Bill, Mary Louise, 170. Bill, Fanny Eliza, 170. Bill, Charles Augustus, 170.

Bill, Henry Bradford, 170. Bill, Willis Abner, 170. Bill, Ella Gertrude, 170. Bill, Ida Estella, 170. Bill, Benj'n Joseph,.318.

Bill, Charles Henry, 318. Bill, Elizabeth Caroline,

318. Bill, Edwin Rathbun, 319. Bill, Marshall Dana, 319.

354

FAMILY INDEX.

Bill, George Dana, 319. Bill, Emily Richardson.

319. Bill, Alonzo, 319. Bill, Abner, 319. Bill, James A., 319. Bill, Stephen, 319. Bill, Sarah, 319. Bill, Clarissa, 319. Bill, John Newton, 320. Bill, Benjamin G., 320. Bill, Celinda, 320. Bill, Charles Henry, 320. Bill. George Henry, 320. Bill, Oliver Augustine,

320. Bill, Ora Austin. 320. Bill, Oscar A., 320. Bill, James Adams, 320. Bill, William H. H., 320. Bill, Martin Asher, 321. Bill, Marshall Ashley, 321.

Bill, Maria Ann L.. 321. Bill, Royal John, 321. Bill, Lewis ().. 321. Bill, Emerv. 321. Bill, Ormanda, 321. Bill, Catherine, 321. Bill. Clarissa, 321. Bill, Kate Francis, 321. Bill. Richard M., 321. Bill. David Wilfred. 321. Bill, Edmund Wallen. 323. Bill, Helen Amelia, 324. Bill, William Wood, 324. Bill. John Goddell, 324. Bill, Samuel Houston, 324. Bill, Arthur Gordon, 324. Bill. Frederic Hiram, 325. Bill. Oscar Perley, 325. Bill. Caroline Matilda, 325. Bill. Mary Helen, 325. Bill, Harriet? Virtue. 325. Bill, Chandler David, 325.

Bill. Willard. 327. Bill, Emma L. 329. Bill. Lucy Mahala, 330. Bill, Dsvid Dennis. 330. Bill, Freddie Wilder, 330. Bill, George Weed, 332. Bill, Jessie Wentworth,

332. Bill. Charles William, 333 Bill, Marv Jane, 333. Bill, A. Gertrude, 333. Bill] Julia Annette, 333. Bill, Sarah Rebecca, 333. Bill, Clement D., 3:;4. Bill. Chester C, 334. Bill. Castilla S., 334. Bill, Ernest Linwood, 334 Bill. Hattie, 334. Bill, Clement E., 334. Bill, Lelia Loomis, 335. Bill, Katie Elizabeth, 335

TENTH GENERATION.

Bill, Edwin Lewis, 170. Bill, Grace Gertrude, 170. Bill, Elizabeth Almira, 318. Bill, Alice E., 319. Bill, Elizabeth S., 319.

Bill, George E.. 319. Bill, Hattie P., 319. Bill, Josephine, 255. Bill, Artemus, 255. Bill, Abby Maria, 255.

Bill. Charles, 255. Bill, Record, 255. Bill. Chester Perley, 255. Bill, William Loroy, 257. Bill, Nancy Leroy, 257.

MISCELLANEOUS INDEX.

Bill, Thomas, 1490, 11.	Bill. Daniel. 343.	Bills, Mercy, 342. "
Bill, William. 1505, 12, 13.	Bill, Nelson, 343.	Bills, Mehitable, 342.
Bill, John. 1535, 13.	Bill John Lyman. 343.	Bills, Thomas, 342.
Bill, Charles, 1550, 16.	Bill, Thaddeus, 344.	Bills, Gersham, 342.
Bill, John, 1576, 17, 18,	Bill, Thomas. 344.	Bdls, Joanna, 342.
19, 20, 21, 22, 245.	Bill, Lvdia, 344.	Bills, Richard, 342.
Bill, Charles, 1650 to 1690,	Bill. John, 344.	Bills, Thomas, 342.
20, 94.	Bill, James, 344.	Bills, Thomas, 342.
Bill, John, 1620, 21.	Bill, Mercy, 344.	Bills, John, 343.
BUI, Anne, 1620, 21.	Bill, Hannah, 344.	Bills. John, 343.
Bill, Charles, 1620, 21.	Bill, Desire, 344.	Billsi Peter, 343.
Bill, Henry, 1620, 21.	Bill, Daniel, 344.	Bills, Johnson, 343.
Bill, Mary, 1620, 21.	Bill, Patty, 344.	Bills, Richard, 343.
Bill, Wm, 1620, 21.	Bill, Jemima, 344.	Bills. Henry, 343.
Bill, Thomas, 1620, 21.	Bill, Mary, 344.	Bills, Ellen, 343.
Bill, John, 1620, 21.	Bill, Eunice, 344.	Bills, Catherine, 343.
Bill, John, 1672, 21, 22.	Bill, Charlotte, 344.	Bills, Elizabeth, 343.
Bill. Henry, 16S0, 21.	Bill. Elizabeth, 344.	Bills, Samuel, 343.
Bill, John, 1867, 21.	Bill, Elvira, 344.	Bills, Mary E., 343.
Bill, W. M., 1867, 22.	Bill, Erastus. 344.	Bills, Ellen, 343.
Bill, Charles Horsford,	Bill, Edmund B., 344.	Bills, Robert R., 343.
1867, 23.	Bill, Clarence H., 345.	Bills, John O., 343.
Bill, John G., 266.	Bill, P., 345.	Bills, Daniel L., 343.
Bill, Mary, 342.	Bill. B. S., 345.	Bills, Isaac E., 343.
Bill, Hannah, 342.	Bill, Abner D., 345.	Bills, Catherine, 343.
Bill, Richard, 342.	Bill, William N, 345.	Bills, Margaret A., 343.
Bill, Joseph, 342.	Bill, Edward, 345.	Bills, Thomas, 343.
Bill, Otis, 342.	Bid, Chloe, 345.	Bills, Thomas, 343.
Bill, Harriet, 342.	Bill, Erastus, 345.	Bills, William, 343.
Bill, Maria, 342.	Bill, Wells R., 345.	Bills, William, 343.
Bill, Aimer, 342.	Bill, Ida, 345.	Bills. Mary. 343.
Bill, Israel, 342.	Bill, Henry, 345.	Bills' Svlvanus, 343.
Bill, Jedediah, 342.	Bill, Annie, 345.	Bills, Erastus B., 343.
Bill, Israel. 342.	Bill, Nellie, 345.	Bills, James, 343.
Bill, Lucy S., 342.	Bill, Eliza Ann, 345.	Bills, James, 343.
Bill, Daniel H., 342.	Bill, James A., 345.	Bills, Samuel, 343.
Bill, William A., 342.	Bill, Nancy Jane, 345.	Bills, Content, 343.
Bill, E. Chapman, 342.	Bill, Solomon, E. 345.	Bills, Mary, 343.
Bill, Maj. George, 342, 343.	Bill, George E., 346.	Bills, Susanna, 343.
Bill, William A., 343.	Bill, Edward, 346.	Bills, Elizabeth, 349.
Bill, Arthur C, 343.	Bill, Fannie, 346.	Bills, Sarah, 349.
Bill, Mary Anna, 343.	Bill, Francis Hall, 346.	Bills, Celina, 349.
Bill, George Walter, 343.		Bills, John, 349.
Bill, Lanierie C, 343.	Bills, Robert, 341.	Bills, Ann E., 349.
Bill, Nancy B., 343.	Bills, William, 341.	Bills, De Alvin W., 349
Bill, Mary, 343.	Bills, Thomas, 341.	Bills, Wilbur H., 349.
Bill, Joseph Nelson, 343.	Bills, Nathaniel, 342. INDIANS.	Bills, Oliver, 345.
Josiah, 72, 73, 74.	Owoneco, 88.	1 Uncas, 88. .

INDEX,

Of names of persons allied by marriage, and their descendants, together with the names of all others, except where whole families occur, when reference is made to the heads of those families only.

A.

Abbott, John S. O, 302, 305.

Abel, Daniel, 135.

Abel, Lucy, 134.

Abell, Julia A., 206, 280.

Abell, Hannah, 145, 174.

Abell, Hezekiah, 145.

Abell, Simeon, 145.

Abell, Lydia, 145.

Addington, Isaac, 39, 49.

Adams, Elsey, 192, 262.

Adams, Samuel, 111.

Ahaton, William, 74. '

Allen, Jeremiah, 107, 112.

Allen, William, 99.

Allyn, Ann, 68, 99.

Allyn, Charles, 95.

Allyn, Calvin, 217.

Allyn, Charles A., 213.

Allyn, Charles, 212.

Allyn, Eldridge Havens, 213.

Allvn, Eldridge Turner H., 213.

Allyn, Henry P., 213.

Allvn. Mercy, 138, 163.

Allvn, Park, 95.

Allvn, Park Carlos, 95, 112.

Allyn, Park, 165, 212.

Allyn, Robert, 58, 80, 93, 119, 103, 211.

Allvn, Col. Roswell, 224.

Allyn, Roxy Ann, 204, 273.

Allyn, Sarah Caroline, 95, 1C4, 212.

Allvn, Samuel, 96.

Allyn, Tabitha, 165, 211.

Ames. George, 255.

Andros, Edmund, 41, 43.

Anderson, Sarah E., 320.

Appleton, Benjamin, 125.

Appleton, Eliza, 125.

Appleton, Jane, 148.

Appleton, Joshua, 148.

Appleton, Samuel, 108.

Arnold, Apollos, 159.

Arnold, Benedict. 58, 78, 137.

Arnold, James, 251.

Ashley, Sarah, 143.

As pin wall, Asa, 162.

Aspinwall, William H. 176, 177.

Astor, John Jacob, 247.

Atwell, Joanna, 84, 123.

Austin, Sophia L., 190, 260.

Avery, Allyn, 228.

Avery, Capt. Anson, 224.

Avery, Christopher, SO. — " —

Avery, Elizabeth, 82.

Avery Henry W., 314.

Avery, Jonathan, 83.

Avery, Leonard, 171.

Avery, Samuel, 92.

B.

Babcock, Hannah, 166, 213. Badaley, Thomas, 65, 98. Baden, Charlotte, 190, 261. Bailey, Giles, 122. Bailey, Julia A., 190, 259. Bailey Josephine E., 318. Ball, Amy, 145, 174. BaD, Louisa, 208. Ball, Virtue, 187, 253. Baldwin, John, 86.

Baker, Mary, 69. Baker, Olive, 161, 203. Barden, Horatio, 235, 316. Barnes, Betsey, 168, 235. Barbor, Patience, 133, 158. Barber, C. L. A. W., 166, 217. Barber, John M., 53. Barber, Virtue, 255. Barker, Christopher, 19. Barnard, Thomas, 104.

INDEX.

357

Barnard, Richard, 53. Barrows, Maria, 166. Batchelder, Agnes, 342. Baxter, Christiana, 151, 188. Baxter, William. 192. Beach, W. A., 278. Beamsley, William, 34. Bedeut, Jesse, 168, 220. Beecher, Dr. Lyman, 343. Beecher, Lydia, 343. Beecher, Nathaniel, 343. Belcher, Hannah, 67. Belcher, Jonathan, 67, 139. Belcher, Joseph, 65, 68, 98, 100. Belcher, Ruth, 77, 115. Belcher, Samuel, 186. Belcher, Sarah, 67. Bellamy, Hannah, 100, 138. Bellingham, Richard, 30, 33. Bentley, Jane, 156, 194. Bentley, Mary, 140. Benjamin, Prudence R, 218, 29S. Bernard, Govenor, 141. Berger, Joseph, 221. Bigelow, Mary, 255. Blackman, Sarah W., 278. Black, Hester A., 264. Blake, James, 100. Bliss, Clara B., 232, 268. Bliss, W., 202. Bliss, James H., 291. Block, Capt. Adrian, 57. Blodgett, Calvin H., 128. Blodgett, Emeline D., 206, 281. Boardman, Mary, 69. Bood, Ferdinando, 65, 97. Bolles, John, 125. Bend, Sarah, 129, 154. Bolman, Annie, 200. Boyle, Augustus, 321. Bonney, Levitt K., 170. Bowles, Amos, 144. Bradley, Holder, 343. Bradley, Lydia, 343. Bradley, Erastus, 343. Bradford, William, 210.

Brairiard, Mindwell, 163, 211.

Branch, Julia Ann, 219, 300.

Breed, Jessie, 179.

Breed, Mary, 181.

Brigham, Mavor, 206, 278.

Brockway, Ebenezer E., 215, 297.

Brinkerhoff, George, 177.

Bromley, Barstow, 221.

Brooks, Jonathan, 344.

Brooks, Hannah, 69.

Brooks, Reuben, 219.

Brooks, William O., 236, 317.

Brooks, Justin, 221.

Brookman, Henry, 77.

Brown, Caroline, 254, 324.

Brown, Dorcas, 115.

Brown, Hannah, 72, 105.

Brown, Peleg, 220.

Brown, Sarah Ann, 235, 316.

Bucknall, Samuel, 59. ,

Buell, Sally, 160.

Buffum, Joshua, 152.

Bunyan, John, 19.

Burchstead, John Henry, 43.

Burbank, N., 343.

Burdick, Walter, 122. ^

Burrell, William, 33, 40, 56. '

Burnell, Samuel, 36, 39, 40, 42, 66.

Burnham, Sarah, 68, 101.

Burnham, Mary Jane, 252.

Burgis, William, 65, 96.

Burgis, William, 186.

Burgis, Rebecca, 154, 186.

Burrington, Elihu, 201.

Burpee, Julius, 207.

Burns, Thomas, 171.

Burt, John, 69.

Bushnell, Elizabeth. 87.

Bushnell, P. N., 87.'

Bushnell, Richard, Jr., 87.

Bussey, Collin, 77.

Butler, Betsey, 260.

Butler, David, 260.

Butler, Harriet E., 190, 260.

Butler, William S., 342.

c.

Camp, Isaac N., 283. Cannon, Dr. Messer, 182. Card, Harriet A., 206, 279. Carpenter, Col. Carlos, 108, 283. Carpenter, E., 134. Carpenter, George W. I., 284. Carver, Almira, 201, 267. Case, Anna Everett, 204, 271. Catlin, Sir Robert, 15. Caulkins, Frances Manwaring, 56, 58, 59, 88, 98, 99, 180, 184.

Caulkins, James, 156, 196. Caulkins, Sarah, 196. Cecil, Sir William, 15. Center, John, 68.

Chamberlain, Jacob R., 190, 259. ' Chamberlain, Ezra L. H., 190, 258. Chamberlain, Ezra Bill, 258. Chamberlain, George P., 261. Chamberlain, Helen L., 231. Champlain, Sarah E., 218, 299. Chapman, Alpheus, 138.

358

INDEX.

Chapman, Cyrus, 235. 317. Chapman, Gurdon, 220. Chapman, Juliett, 218, 298. Chapman, Julia Octavia, 226, 301. Chapman, Julius, 235. Chapman, Bobert, 168, 227. Chapman, Robert, Jr., 227, 302. Cliappel, Jabez, 126. Chase, Nancy, 342. Cheeseman, Edward, 172, 240. Cheever, Sarah, 43, 69, 70. Cheever, Rev. Thomas, 44, 61, 65, 68,

97. Cheever, Joshua, 65, 69. Chester, John, 230. Chittenden, Rebecca, 60. Church, Aspatia, 169, 238. Church Jonathan, 154. Church, Col. Nathan, 325. Clan, Richard, 97. Clark, Abner, 161. Clark, Rev. Allen, 187. Clark, C. Maria, 173. Clark, Ezra, 187. Clark, Frederic, 161. Clark, Huldah, 200, 266. Clark, John, 108. Clark, Samuel, 1 59. Clark, Moses, 161. Clark, Dr. Rufus B., 187. Clark, Thomas, 157. Clark, William, 200. Cleveland, Aaron Porter, 182. Cleveland, Rowena, 230, 309. Cleveland, Thomas L., 182. Clydenville, Clark S., 240. Cobham, Josias, 46. Coburn, Ruth P., 163, 209. Coffin, William, 114. Cogswell, Rebecca, 156, 194.

Coit, Elizabeth, 149, 181. Coit, Daniel L., 150, 180. Coit, Hannah F., 181. Coit, Thomas, 246, 249. Colbrond, Sir James, 21. Colborne, Thomas, 28. Colburne, Hezekiah, 154. Colburn, William H., 240. Colburn, Eliza, 169. Colby, James L., 318. Cole, Elizabeth, 157, 201. Cole, Jacob, 68, 102. Coleman, Rev. Benj., 141. Cone, Anna M., 278. Cooke, Jay, 274. Cooke, Henry D., 272, 274. Cooke, Alvira, 202. Cook, Jane Louisa, 345. Cook, Christa, 220. Cooper, Thomas, 112. Coney, Susan, 269, 334. Cotten, Martha, 105. Coyle, Owen, 345. Courser, William, 31. Corey, Julia Hurlburt, 219, 300. Cranmer, Archbishop, 14. Crawley, Abraham, 140. Crawley, Grace, 109, 140, 141. Cfagin, Lorena, 345. Crawford, Mungo, 53. Crawford, Susanna, 53. Crocker, Mary, 187, 255. Crowell, Ada, 190, 259. Cumbery, Robert, 77. Curtis, Solomon, 188. Cushman, Sylvester, 3*21. Cutter, Elizabeth, 238, 318. Cutter, Joseph, 318. Cutting, Col. , 215.

D.

Dacon, John, 34. Daggett, Elizabeth, 151, 189. Daman (?), Jane, 141, 169. Daman, Orlo, 204. Daman, Ruth, 201. Darling, Emily E., 268, 332. Darling, J. H., 332. Darrow, Betsey, 232, 237. Darrow, John, 168, 232. Darrow, Lucy, 234. Davenport, Addington, 106. Davis, B., 137.

Davis, Maj. Benjamin, 109, 114. Davis, Mary, 109, 140. Davis, Richard, 49. Davis, Silence, 187, 252. Davis, Sarah, 76, 109. .

Davis, Sarah, 83, 119. Davison, Isabella, 170. Day, Daniel. 191. Day, Rufus, 191. Day, Wentworth, 30, 33. Dayton, R., 137. Dey, Anthony, 245. Dey, Caroline, 180, 245. Denison, Gen. Daniel, 304. Denison, Emily A., 226, 304. Denison, Lucy G., 226, 305. Denisou, Nathan E>, 304, 305. Denison, George William, 277. Dexter. Samuel, 142. DeWolf, Sarah, 156, 194. Dix, Lucy, 187, 254. Dolbear, E. G., 114.

INDEX.

359

Doolittle, John, 40. Dort, Lucy, 193, 263. Dotty, Mary, 342. Dorcas, William, 42. Doty, Charles C, 209, 286. Douse, Francis, 31. Downing, Lydia M., 251. Downing, Mary B., 252.

Dowse, Jonathan, 107.

Drake, S. G., 26, 27, 28, 30, 52, 53, 72.

Draper, Martin T., 196.

Dubois, Sarah F., 200.

Dunham, John (?), 229. '

Dunham, Elizabeth, 127, 152.

Dunmore, Earl of, 144.

Dyer, Eliaphalet, 148.

E.

Eastman, Mary A., 250. Eaton, Douglas W., 197, 264. Eaton, Stephen, 156, 197, 264. Edgar, Louisa, 177. Edgecomb, Albeit, 344. Edgecomb, Asa P., 215. Edgecomb, Mary A., 175. Edson Isaac, 188. Edson, Alonzo, 188. Edwards, Prest. Jonathan, 159i Eells, Joshua, 127. Eldridge, Charles, 244. Elliott, John, 77.

Elliott, John H., 344.

Ellis, N., 191.

Elderkin, Joseph, 85, 86, 87.

Emerson, Julia A., 252.

Emmons, E. H., 111.

Erwin, John, 187.

Essex, Hannah, 65.

Essex, Joseph, 65, 97.

Esty, Caroline, 262, 326.

Ewing, Frances, 232.

Evernghim, Joseph D., 246.

Evernghim, Margaret, 186, 246.

F.

Fane, Diana, 22.

Fane, Earl Mildmay, 22.

Fanning, Thomas, 183.

Farmer, Gertrude L., 186, 249.

Farmer, James, 109.

Felton, Melvin, 345.

Ferris, Mary, 150, 184.

Ferry, David, 156.

Ferry, Miles, 267.

Fifield, Josiah, 163.

Fisk, Achsah, 207, 282.

Fisk, Betsey, 187, 251.

Fisk, Rebecca, 219.

Fisher, Experience, 74.

Fitch, Betsey, 157, 201.

Fitch, Rev. Jonas, 88.

Fitch, Nancy, 221.

Fitch, Capt. Silas, 217, 297.

Fletcher, Andrew, 106.

Floyd, James, 139.

Floyd, John, 139.

Foote, Titus. 202.

Foote, Hannah, 71, 104.

Forbes, James, 267.

Fosket, , 156.

Foster, Cynthia Ann, 240. Foster, Hannah, 127, 153. Foster, Seth, 102. Fowler, Mercy, 59, 85. Fowler, Wm. H, 293. Fowler, Philip, 56, 57. Foye, William, 112. Franklin, Henry, 21. Franklin, Joan, 21. Freeman, Henry B., 345. Freeman, Samuel, 187. French, Cynthia, 171. French, John, 133. French, Keziah, 88, 133. French, Lucy, 188. French, William, 143. Frost, Henry D., 236. Fry, Francis, 17. Fuller, A. A., 320. Fuller, Aaron, 267. Fuller, Anna, 69. Fuller, Amy, 151, 189. Fuller, Mark, 210. Fuller, Ruth, 100, 140.

Gager, Elizabeth, 130, 155. Gager, John, 221. Gager, William, 155. Gallagher, Mary P., 175, 243.

G.

Gallup, Fanny, 168, 228.

Gallup, Capt. Jacob, 166, 216, 217, 224,

292. Gallup, Jesse, 228.

300

INDEX.

Gallup, Prudence, 215, 292. Gallup, Sarah, 217. Gardner, U. S., 344. Gary, S., 155. Gates, Olmstead, 102. Geer, Betsey, 166, 214. Geer, George, 58. Geer, Joseph, 304. Geer, Olivet, 1 66, 217. Geer, Onra, 220.

Gibbons, , 30.

Gibbs, Lois, 151, 187. Giddings, Nathaniel, 116. Gilbert, Mary A., 268, 331. Gilbert, George, 171. Gilbert, Mason, 171. Gilchrist, Jerusha, 183. Gillett, Jemima, 219. Gillman, Clarissa, 190, 258. Giles, Martha, 67, 99. Giles, Thomas, 68, 99. Gilman, Daniel Coit, 181. Gilman, William C, 181. Gleason, Dorothy, 238, 320. Glover, Frederic A., 230. Goft; Ada B., 210. Goffer, John, 53. Goff, Lionel L., 210.

Goddard, Martin L., 263, 331. Goodell, Mary, 250, 323.

Goodman, Dean, , 15.

Goodrich, Chauncy. 208, 284.

Goodrich, Caleb W, 278.

Goodrich, Eliza, 278.

Goodwin, Esther, 71.

Goodwin, John, 71.

Goodwin, Martha, 127, 152.

Gore, Asa A., 219, 220.

Gore, Anna, 219.

Graham, Sarah M., 279.

Grant, Anna, 144, 172.

Grant, Amos Yerrington, 219, 220.

Grant, Betsey, 219.

Grant, Joseph, 219, 220.

Grant, Lucy, 219.

Grant, Matthew, 219.

Grant, Nathan, 219.

Grant, Polly, 219.

Grant, Gen" Ulysses S., 219.

Grant, William, 219.

Grave, Robert, 15. '

Green, Jeremiah, 114.

Grey, Philip, 223.

Griggs, Rev. Leverett, 334.

Griggs, Kate, 269, 334.

H.

Hall, Betsev, 207, 281. Hall, Hannah, 342. Hall, Harriet L., 326. Hall, Tristram, 152. Halle tt, Hannah, 221. Hammond, Josiah, 192. Hammond, George W., 192. Hancock, John, 111, 141. Hardenburg, Mercy, 219. Harris, Temperance, 146, 175, 243. Harvey, Elizabeth, 210, 288. Hasbrouck, Eli, 248.; Haughton, Mercy, 83. Hasey, Joseph, 140. Haskin, Amos, 144. Havens, Eldridge, 165, 212. Hazard, Angeline M., 175, 242. Hazard, William, 189. Headly, John T., 305. Heath William L., 230. Hedden, Orlando, 175. Hemmingway, Thomas, 156. Hempstead, Mary, 145. Hempstead, John, 146. Henshaw, Andrew, 142. 4 Henshaw, Elizabeth, 112, 141, 142. Henshaw, Joshua, Jr., 112, 114,

143. Henshaw, Joshua, Sr., 141.

141,

Henshaw, Mary, 141. Henshaw, Sarah, 141. Hibbins, William, 33. Hicks, George A., 205. Hicks, Sir Michael, 17. Hicks, Eunice, 205. Hill, Electa, 188, 256. Hiuman, Horace, 269. Holyoke, Jacob, 114. Ho(e)lmes, Sarah, 122, 144. Hommedieu, Giles L., 259. Hoge, Capt. Charles, 313. Hoge, Laura Hall, 313. Holland, Dr. J. G., 305. Hone, Joanna, 177. Hopkins, Emily R., 258. Hopkins, Harriet, 198. Hopkins, John, 102. Hopkins, Peter, 342. Hopkins, Rhoda, 197, 264. Hopkins, Susan, 197. Horton, Lydia, 144, 172. Houghton, Jonathan, 208, 284. Hough, Harriet Tracy, 202, 26S. Hough, Maria. 166. House, Nathaniel, 88. Howard, Clarissa, 238, 319. Howard, Celestia, 319. Howard, Mary, 211, 290.

INDEX.

361

Howard,

287.

Howard, Nathan, 239. Howard, Wiethrop, 209, 286. Howard, Joseph T., 209, 286. Howard, Charles, 209. Howard, William, 39. Howland, B. A., 298. Howland, Mary E., 218, 298. Howland. Lydia. 149. 176. Howland, G. G., 176. Howland, S. S., 176. Howland, William L., 176. Howland, Joseph, 150, 176. Hubhard, Elisha, 211. Hubbard, Pamelia, 204, 270. Hubbard, Hezekiah, 158. Huntington, Gen. Jedediah, 144. Huntington, Lydia. 126, 146. Huntington, Capt. Joshua, 146, 147, 148. Huntington, Hannah, 146. Huntington, Jabez., 146, 148, 179. Huntington, George, 207.

Huntington, Benjamin, 147. Hunt, Milo, 345. Hunt, Eliab, 250. Hunter, Francis S., 234. Hurst, Hindreth, 97. Hurst, Mehitable, 97. Hurst, Hannah, 59. Hurst, Mary, 65, 71, 97, 104. Hurst, Henry, 65, 97. Hutchinson, Thomas, 106. Hutchinson, Elisha, 62. Hutchinson, Edward, 33, 36, 106. Hutchinson, William, 28. Hutchins, Fanny Louise, 170. Hurlburt, Peter L., 174. Huckins, Chester M., 210. Hughes, John G, 215, 291. Hyde, Emeline, 218, 299. Hyde Lauretta, 218, 299. Hyde, Grace, 140. Hyde, Gersham, 140. Hyde, Simeon T., 344.

I.

Ingalls, Bernard, 30. Ingalls, Rebecca. 103. Ingham, Betsey, 262, 326. Ingham, Joseph, 1 62. Ingham, Henry, 72. Ingham, Sarah, 71.

Ingham, North, 65, 98. Ingham, Hannah, 160. Ingraham, Patience, 84, 129. Ingraham, Solomon, 149. Ireland, William, 44.

J.

Jackson, Deborah, 56.

Jackson, Edmund, 33.

Jackson, Sarah, 161, 203.

Jarvis, Abigail, 69.

Jarvis, James, 77.

Jenkins, Sarah, 69.

Jenner, Elizabeth, 69.

Jenness, Mary Ann, 208, 282.

Jewell, M. A., 206, 280.

Jewett, David, 1 18.

Johnson, Abbott, 207.

Johnson, Abigail, 207.

Johnson, Pres't Andrew, 274, 289.

Johnson. Amanda, 231, 314. Johnson, H. C. 273. Johnson, Nathaniel, 161. Johnson, Obadiah, 152.

Johnson, Captain, , 33.

Johnson, Susan, 161, 203. Johnson, Stebbins, 190. Johnson, Susan Eliza, 204, 273. Johnson, Susan, 172, 141. Johnson, William, 62, 64. Jones, David Floyd, 245. Jones, J. Eugene, 277. Jones, William Alfred, 18, 180, 244.

K.

Kagwin, Thomas, 144. Kellogg, Sarah, 156, 200. Kendall, Thomas, 69. Kendall, Mason S., 262, 327. Kenney, Abigail, 169. Kenney, Moses, 169. Kent, Ahnena, 172. Kent, John, 44, 60. Keyes, Helen E., 196. 24

Keves, David, 250.

Keyes, Susan B., 262, 327.

Kilbourn, Captain Ebenezer, 154, 191.

Kilcup, Mary, 71, 103.

Kimball, Louisa, 171, 240.

Kine, Jane, 89.

King, Henry, 247.

King, Mary, 150. 183.

King, Rev. Walter, 149.

362

INDEX.

King, Preston, 272. Kingsley, Prof. James L., 181. Kitto, Rev. Doctor, 19, 302. Knight, Susan P., 263, 330.

Knight, Richard, Knox, General,

64.

179.

Knowles, Daniel, 144. Kuhn, Anna L., 235. 316.

L.

Lambert, David, 88. Lanman, James, 179. Laniers, Col. Lemuel, 325. La Noir, Fannie, 345. Lathrop, Chauncy, 200. Lathrop, Hannah, 149, 182.

Lathrop, Dr. , 162.

Latham, 0. A., 218, 299. Latham, Amos L., 220. Lathrop, Thomas, 150, 182. Lathrop, N., 130. Ledyard, John, 83, 136. Ledyard. Col. William, 58, 224. Leeds, Mary, 344. Leffingwell^ Lucy, 219. Leffingwell, Daniel, 116. Leffingwell, Rhoda, 143. Leffingwell, Caleb, 119. Leffingwell, Samuel, 119.

Leffingwell, , 83.

Leffingwell, Sarah, 82.

Lester, Andrew, 78.

Lester, Elizabeth, 59, 78.

Lester, Hannah, 82.

Lester, Samuel, 79, 83, 92, 119, 121,

122, 344. Lewis, James S., 242. Lewis, Horace, 242. Leverett, Thomas, 28.

Lincoln, Abijah, 1.55.

Lincoln, Apollos, 187, 256.

Lincoln, Prest. Abraham, 274.

Lincoln, Charles S., 319.

Lincoln, Edward M., 318.

Lincoln, Calvin, 256.

Lincoln, Arethusa, 256.

Lincoln, Clarissa, 256.

Little, Jonathan, 179.

Litten, John, 109.

Livingstone, Camilla, 186, 249.

Locke, Susan, 154, 192.

Logan, Elizabeth, 213, 291.

Logan, John A., 291.

Logan, Gen. John A., 291, 339.

Loomis, Judge D wight, 269, 334.

Loomis, Elam, 269.

Loomis, Mary, 269.

Lord, Ann S., 215, 295.

Lord, Robert, 57.

Lord, Richard, 58.

Lord, Jarvis Porter, 206, 279.

Lowndes, "Win. Thomas, 20.

Ludkin, William, 33.

Luther, Moses, 188.

Lynde, Joseph, 53.

Lynn, Maria, 218.

Lyons, Isabella, 156, 198.

M.

Mack, Lydia, 155.

Main, Lucy A., 218, 298.

Main, William B., 171.

Mamentang Robert, 74.

Marsh, Dorothy, 136, 162, 207.

Marsh, Joseph, 84.

Marsh, Joseph, 84, 162, 207.

Marsh, John P., 85.

Marsh, P., 134.

Marston. James, 342.

Martyn, F., 53.

Mason, Anne, 47.

Mason, Capt. John, 85, 86, 88.

Mason, Ralph, 46, 47.

Mason, Dorothy, 84.

Mason, Maj. John, 84, 88.

Mather, Rev. Cotton, 40, 69.

Mather, Rev. Increase, 45, 64, 68.

Mathewson, A. P., 171.

Matthews, Thomas, 1 9.

Maynard^Pamela, 238, 320.

Mears. Robert, 2S, 29. McDougal, Rev. Allen R„ 198. McHenry, Thomas, 199. McPherson, Gen. J. B., 339. McClellan, Gen. George B., 338. Menvin, James, 201. Meredith, Louisa, 177. Meech, Mary Park, 221. Meriott, George. 74. Mellen, Thomas, 77. Merwin, James, 201. Messenger, Cyrus, 172, 241. Miller, Harvee, 264. Miller, Eleanor A., 230, 313. Miller, Truman, 193, 262. Miller, Amasa, 193, 263. Miller, Eliza, 160. Milner, Amanda, 210, 287. Miner. Abigail, 138, 167. Mills, Sarah, 127, 152. Millikeu, Sophia, 144,^173.

INDEX.

363

Mills, Jane H., 235, 269. Mills, Charles H., 234. Miles, Captain John, 343. Milton, John, 19.

Miner, , 221.

Miner, Eunice G., 227, 308. Minot, Mehitable, 76, 109. Minot, Mary, 109. Minot, Stephen, 109. Minott, James, 77.

Mix, Daniel, 150. Mitchell, Rhoda S., 204, 271?. Morgan, John, 91, 92. Morgan, H. P., 205. Morris, Mary, 231, 314. Moore, Mary Ann, 220. Moss, Wealthy M., 197, 264. Mountford, Anne, 20. Mountford, Thomas, 20.

N.

Neal, Angeline N., 236. Nelson, Merinda, 208, 285. Negus, Jonathan, 46. Negus, Thomas, 46. Negus, Benjamin, 33, 34. Newcomb, Hezekiah, 128, 153. Newcomb, John, 132, 135, 138. Newton, Samuel, 166. Nevens, David, Jr., 150. Newport, William, 125. Niles, Allen, 255. Niles, Nathan, 255.

Nichols, Rev. Ami, 186. Nichols, David, 45. Nichols, Elizabeth S., 45. Nichols, Tabitha, 169, 238. Nicholson, Laura, 172. Norcross, Philip, 140. Norcross, Sarah, 140. Norton, Rev. John, 159. Norton, Asenath, 135, 159. Noyes, Oliver, 75. Nutting, John, 68. Nye, Nathan, 191.

0.

Oliver, Andrew, 111. Oliver, John, 33. Oliver, Thomas, 28.

Osgood, James, 282. Owen, Esther, 127, 154.

Packer, Asa, 145. Packer, Bethia, 83, 115. Packer, John, 115. Packer, James, 145. Packer. Samuel, 91. Paddock, Lucy, 152. Page, Matthew, 15. Paine, John, 34, 35, 66. Palmer, Rev. S., 16. Palmer, Maria P., 197. Parmenter, Harriet E., 254. Park, Anna, 219. Park, Content, 138, 166. Park, Jonathan, 219. Parker, Harriet N., 227, 309. Payne, William, 106, 107. Peck, Louisa M., 215. 294. Peck, Timothy, 294. ' Peet, Henrietta F., 198. Pelton, John, 93. Pearsall, Betsey, 171. Pepper, Rebecca, 71, 103. Pear way, James, 77. Perkins, Luke, 121.

Perkins, Capt. Erastus, 181.

Perking, George L., 182.

Perrit, Pelatiah, 181.

Phillips, Eleazer, 74, 76.

Phillips, Betsey, 220.

Phillips Eliza J., 230, 313.

Phelps Anna, 130, 155.

Phillips, Stanton, 313.

Pickering, William, 20.

Pitcher, Mary B., 215.

Pitt, Henry, 144.

Pitkin, Rhoda, 162, 207, 208.

Pitkin, Col. Thomas White, 162, 207,

208. Pitkin, Julian H., 259. Porter, Dr. Alanson, 257. Porter, Lucy Edward, 257. Porter, Clarinda, 162, 206. Pope, Gen. John A., 333. Post, Charles A., 268. Potts, Joanna, 59, 88. Potts, William, 88, 136. Power, Susan S., 213. Preston, Martin S., 252.

364

INDEX

Pratt, Kezia, 134. Pratt, David, 135. Pratt, Lvdia, 143, 171. Pratt James H., 206, 278.

Prior, Abigail, 103. Price, Thomas, 109. Putnam, George, 204.

R.

Randall, J., 191. Rand, Mary, 130, 155. Ransom, Semantha, 201, 267. Ray, Albert, 221. Ray, Hannah, 235, 315. Rawson, Edward, 33. Reading, Thomas, 192. Remington, Ira, 196. Reed, Archer, 201. Reynolds, W. H., 255. Reynolds, Robert, 43. Reynolds, Nathaniel, 46. Reynolds, Chester, 256. Richardson, Ruth, 162, 209. Richardson, Ephraim, 257. Richards, George, 125. Richards, Guy, 125. Richards, Nathaniel, 125. Richards, John, 44. Richardson, Malvina, 318. Richard, William S., 344. Richardson, Nancy, 189, 257. Richmond, Frances M., 218, 299. Ripley, Dwight, 179.

Ripley, George B.. 1 83. Rist Hannah, 59, 85. Riorden, John, 105. Robinson, Celia L., 252. Robinson, Louis A., 206, 281.

Robeson, , 229.

Rockwell, Charles, 179. Rockwell, Samuel, 156. Roosevelt, James, 177. Root, Rachel, 154, 192. Rogers, Fanny, 152, 190. Rogers. Rev. John, 19.

Rose, , 221.

Ross, Olive, 187, 251. Rouse, Joseph, 70, 102. Rouse, William, 70, 71, 102. Rowell, Joshua C. 209, 287. Rowell, Rev. M., 311, 312. Rowe, John, 154, 191. Rush, Job, 196. Russell, I., 247. Russell, Robert M., 247. Russell, Martha, 282. Ryerson, Vesta, 170.

S-

Salter, William, 52. Salter, John, 52. Saltonstall, Rev. Gurdon, 84.

Saltonstall, Col. , 145.

Safford, Morgan, 221. Sampson, A., 191. Samwell, Francis, 16. Samwell, Sir William, 16. Sanborn, Amos, 163, 210. Sargent, Winslow, 238. Sargent, William, 45. Sargent, Sarah, 45. Saunders, Samuel, 65, 97. Saunders, Rebecca, 65. Savasre, . 26.

Scarlett, Samuel, 34, 52. Scott, Nancy, 158, 202. Seabury, Rev. Samuel, 180, 244. Seabury, John, 90. Searle, Susan A., 319. . Seeley, Frank L., 260. Selby, Thomas, 65, 96. Sewell, Samuel, 61, 113. Sewall, Hannah, 61. Seward, Hon. William H., 274.

Sergeant, John, 139. Shaplev, Sarah, 76, 105 Shapley, John, 105. Shelby, John H., 219 Sherman, Lieut. Gen. Sherman, Hon. John, Sherman, Judge -

W. T., 275, 289. 272, 275. 275.

Sherwin, Ferdinand, 285.

Shepard, Jeremiah, 69.

Shurtlift*, Asaph, 207.

Shurtliff, Dr. Nathaniel B., 49, 74, 106.

Shriving, Edward, 64.

Shroud, Elizabeth, 137.

Sibley, Elisha, 144.

Sidney, Sir Philip, 17.

Sims, Mary N., 344.

Simmons, Emanuel, 138.

Simmons, , 127.

Sizer, Sarah, 127, 151. Skinner, Sir Vincent, 17. Skinner, Eleazer, 160. Skinner, Martha, 135, 160. Skinner, Rev. Edward S., 266. Skipworth, Sir Henry, 16. Sleigh, Mary, 77.

INDEX.

365

Smith, Anna, 342. Smith, Ann, 77, 88. Smith, Mary, 43. Smith, Alemertia, 267. Smith, Prof. Elflridge, 307. Smith, Jeremiah, 60. Smith, Anna, 76. Smith, Thomas, 71, 104. Smith, Nehemiah, 92. Smith, Joshua, 145. Smith, Letitia H., 180, 243. Smith, John, 44, 60. Smith, Sir Thomas, 16, 17. Smith, Susan, 143, 171. Smith, Samuel, 163, 210. Smith, Zenas. 163. Snow, Joseph, 187, 256. Snow, Harriet W., 268, 333. Sowther, Nathaniel, 33. Spink, William, 138. Spicer, Capt. John, 224, 232. Standish, Amos A., 221. Stark, Betsey, 166, 218. Starr, Anna, 152, 190. Starkweather, Eunice, 220.

Starr, Joseph, 82. Staples, Robert, 75. Stearns, William, 254. Stewart, William, 342. Stiles, Shubael, 344. 5 Stoder, Ralph, 92. Stocking, John, 249. Story, William, 114.

Story, Dr. , 162.

Strong, D wight S., 209, 286. Streeter, Josiah, 196. Sturtevant, Edward E., 191. Sturtevant, Elias, 193. Street. Nicholas, 92. St. John, p:dwin, 227. St. John, Urban, 227. St. John, Elizabeth, 227. Sutton, Sarah Ann, 243, 321. Swodel, Mary, 84, 127. Swodel, William, 89, 127. Swodel, Hannah, 59, 89, 127. Sylvester, Esther Alice, 226, 300. Sylvester, Lydia, 78, 301. Sylvester, Levi P., 301.

Taiuton, Eunice, 161, 204-5. Turner, Roswell, 217. Talmadge, Josiah, 201. Tallraadge, George M„ 230.

Tarbox, , 221.

Taylor, Rev. Alfred H., 227, 308. Taylor, Lorain, 227. Taylor, Levi, 227. Taylor, Samuel Bill, 227. Taylor, Samuel, 168, 226, 231. Taylor, Mary, 190, 260. Taylor, Gurdon Bill, 231, 314. Taylor, Henry, 231. Taylor, James H., 231. Taylor, Mary E., 231. Taylor, Julius, 232. Taylor, Mary Ann, 227, 309. Taylor, Rodman, 227. Tenny, John, 65, 97. Teuny, Lucretia, 263, 329. Tefft, Rowland. 258. Tewksbury, John, 102, 138, 139. Thomas, Evan, 20, 31, 32, 33. Thatcher, Rev. Peter, 104. Thaxter, Samuel, 106, 107. Thompson, Captain , 192.

Thompson, Betsey, 343. Throop, Captain John, 343. Thomas, S., 135. Thomas, Mary, 343. Tilman, Mary, 126, 151. Ticknor, Harriet R., 268, 333. Tindall, William, 14. Tolman, Samuel, 99.

Tracy, , 306.

Tracy, Betsy B., 150, 178. Tracy, Simon, 116. Tracy, Daniel, 87. Trumbull, Jonathan, 158. Treadway, Mary A., 344. Trowbridge, Betsey, 186, 250. Truxton, Com. William, 179. Turner, Allyn, 165, 212. Turrell, L , 171. Turrell, Daniel, 40, 46, 47. ' Tuttle, Richard, 26, 27, 28, 55, 93. Tuttle, Rev. Timothy, 93. Tuttle, Samuel, 99. Twining, Anna, 391. Twining, Joanna, 341. Tyng, PMward, 31. Tyng, William, 34.

u.

Udall, Hannah, 162, 207.

36G

INDEX.

V.

Vallentine, John, 75. Vassall, John, 114. Vassall, Lewis, 114.

Vinton, Rev. John A., 6,"34, 44, 59, 68 Vaughn, Robt. Chambers, 6.

w.

Waggoner, Clark, 274.

Waite, Mary. 67, 99.

Waite, Thomas, 68, 101.

Wakefield, Deliverance, 44, 70.

Wakefield, John, 33.

Walker, Cynthia, 342.

Walker, John 0., 333.

Wallen, Elinor Randolph, 244, 322.

Walworth, Hon. Reuben H., 137.

Waldron, Hannah, 211, 290.

Ward, Andrew Henshaw, 4, 47, 100

108, 110, 111, 142. Warren, John, 170. Warham, Charles, 99. Washington, Gen. George, 179, 215.

Washington, Col. , 215.

Warren, Sarah, 69.

Warren, Mary, 49, 71, 103.

Warren, Elizabeth. 69.

Washburn, Mrs. Miles, 4, 111, 142.

Waterman, Judith. 75, 137.

Watts, Elizabeth, 140, 168.

Watts, John, 168, 169.

Watts, Richard, 168.

Watts, Sarah, 168.

Way, Aaron, 44.

Webb, John, 30.

Webb, Joseph, 64.

Webster, Daniel, 161.

Webster, James, 141.

Webster, Marv, 141.

Wells, John Howell. 136.

Welstead, Elizabeth, (?) 54, 72.

Welstead. William, 75.

West, Ada M., 313.

West, Dr. Charles, 313.

Wheelock, Rev. Eleazer, 132, 133, 162.

Wheelock. Obadiah, 201.

Wheeler, Thomas, 46.

Wheeler, Martha, 125, 145.

Wheeler, John, 145.

White, Eunice, 191.

White. Warren, 209, 286.

White, William, 56.

White, Daniel H., 344.

Whitney, Piatt, 200.

Whitteredge, Phebe, 102.

Whitteredge, Susan, 68, 102.

Whitteredge, Richard, 102.

Williams, Betsey, 134.

Williams, Amos. 166, 216.

Williams, Dudley, 1 89.

Williams, Isaiah, 135.

Williams, Phebe, 202, 268.

Williams, Elias L., 206, 280.

Williams, Charles S., 220.

Williams, Anna, 268, 333.

Williams, Stephen Harding, 133.

Wills, John, 83.

Wilmot, Judge David, 219.

Wilmot, Randall. 219 j

Willis, Abigail. 45.

Willis, Michael, 45 •'"

Willis. Mildred, 45 J

Winthrop, Adam, 107.

Winthrop, Dean, 36, 40, 42, 43, 44.

Winthrop. Gov. John, Sr., 51.

Winthrop, Gov. John, Jr., 3, 57, 58, 59,

66, 81, 90. Winthrop, Mary. 66. Winthrop, Hon. Robert C, 66. Winthrop. WTait Still, 66. Wilson, Perley, 186. Wiggleswonh, Rev. Michael, 68, 69. Witter, Ezra, 219. Wight, Rev. John, 214. Wood, John, 106. Wrood, Ellen, 209. Wood, Ora, 208. Wood. Seth, 140. Woodhull, Ezra C. 178. Woodhull' Hannah, 163, 207. Woodward, Emory, 267. Woodward, Lydia, 126, 151. Wroodward, Samuel, 262, 329. Woodward, Caleb, 221. Woodward, Caleb Nelson, 221. Woodward, Joseph M., 221.' Woodward, Gideon P., 221. Woodward, Sarah A., 221. Wood worth, Asa, 121. Woodworth, Mehitable, 95, 137. Woodworth, Lois S., 171, 239. Woodruff, James, 134. Woodruff, Susana, 134. Worden, Samuel, 68, 101. Worcester, Marv J., 209, 288. Wright, Gen. Daniel, 154, 193. Wright, Daniel, 220. Wright, Patience, 193.

INDEX.

367

Wright, William A., 173. Wright, Zilpah, 191. Wright, Silas, 272.

Wright, S. A., 263. Wyman, Darius, 267. Wyman, T. B., Jr., 6, 41, 53.

Y.

Yeomans, Aaron, 257. Yerrington, Lucy, 168, 219, 222. Yerrington, Lucy, 220. Yerrington, Joseph, 219. Yerrington, Amos, 219. Yerrington, Polly, 219. Yerrington, Anna, 220. Yerrington, Betsey, 220. Yerrington, Ezekiel, 220. Yerrington, Ruth, 220. Yerrington, Sally, 221. Yerrington, Joseph A., 221.

Yerrington, Mary Emeline, 221. Yerrington, Luther S., 221. Yerrington, Lucretia, 221. Yerrington, Lucy Ann, 221. Yerrington, Charles Alonzo, 222. Yerrington, Stephen Noyes, 222. Yerrington, Ezra Milton, 222. Yerrington, Henry Warren, 222. Yerrington, Sarah B., 222. Yerrington, Noyes, 222. Youngs, Susan, 219.

ERR A.T^.

A t should appear between the consecutive numbers and the following names on page 59, viz. : Philip, Samuel, John, and Joshua.

On page 65, third line from bottom, in place of Bood read Boad.

On page 68, index number 11 should appear in center of page, just above the family of Sarah Bill.

P. 74, in place of Robert Momentong, read Robert Mamentaug.

Figures denoting the generation are wanting at the end, and just above the names of each of the children, on page 88.

The name of Hurst, in parenthesis, should follow the two children of Mehitable, on page 97.

A t should appear before the names of Jonathan and Charles, on page 100.

In place of the index number 75, on page 109, should be 73.

Beginning of 8th line from top of page 110, in place of rom read from.

P. 136, 11th line from top, in place of (Dorothy) Mason, read Marsh.

P. 136 a t should appear in front of Jonathan, 2d line from bottom.

P. 146, about the center, in place of Huntingdon read Huntington.

P. 148, 12th line from bottom, in place of Hunt read Huntington.

P. 151, 14th line from bottom, in place of Sarah Lizer, read Sarah Sizer.

P. 156, near the center, in place of (James) Calkins, read Caulkins.

P. 160, 7th line from top, for 1805, read 1804.

On page 177, second line from bottom, in place of Howe, read Hone.

P. 180, 9th line from top, for Caroline Day, read Caroline Dey.

On page 191, center of page, there should be no t before Jehiel.

P. 207, trth line from top, in place of Betsey Hill, read Betsey Hall.

P. 215, 12th line from top, for Ann L. Lord, read Ann S. Lord.

P. 219, 12th line from bottom, in place of Mattlie (Grant), read Matthew.

On page 226, near the center, instead of Alice, read Amanda.

On page 234, the name Harrow should appear in parenthesis imme- diately after the name of Lucy.

On page 235, third line from bottom, in place of 1 SSI read 1831.

P. 268, in place of Harriet P. Fisher, read Harriet R. Ticknor.

On page 186, near the top, and 246, near the center, instead of Mar- garet Everinghim, readMargaret Evernghim.

It is desirable that the read er should mark the above corrections on the pages designated, that they may not lead any one astray.

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