Ann LANGFORD 1585-1659, Sussex Eng - New Haven CT

Hannah or Ann LANGFORD is my10th great-grandmother, 11th to my children, 12th to the grandchildren.  It can be somewhat difficult to find and verify names and relationships in such an early time, without original old Parish Registers, clear writing, and consistency in family residences or parishes. There could be errors in this post. Variants of the name Ann can be Anne, Annie, Anna, Hannah, Hanny.

 I first saw the name Ann LANGFORD in walking back through time in my Treat-Graves-Brooks-Potter male ancestors in very early Connecticut, and decided to see if I could find any information and details about her - her parents, more information about her husband, and perhaps the region she apparently lived in - Sussex, England.  Lewes, in East Sussex, is situated on the River Ouse, where the river cuts sharply through the South Downs - chalk hills. The River Ouse drains south to the English Channel, only 8 miles away.  

Ann LANGFORD Potter Beacher appeared in New Haven, Connecticut, having emigrated after her 2nd husband John Beecher, had unexpectedly died in 1638 in his first months after travelling to New Haven, Connecticut to help prepare land and a home for her, his son, and at least one or more stepchildren. That pointed me back to Lewes to find more information in England. I was able to tease out her first husband's name, William POTTER, and searching backwards in time, I was very surprised to find his death/burial of 14 Aug 1619, in Lewes, Sussex, Eng., aged 39. Further information a little further down in this post.

William POTTER and Ann LANGFORD were married 06 Oct 1607 in Lewes, Sussex, England [transcribed records at FamilySearch], and had several possible children born in Lewes as found on FindMyPast:

   1.  William [jr], bap 28 Aug 1608, d. 1662 in New Haven CT; m abt 1639 CT,
            Frances ____; 6 children known.
   2.  John [ancestor], bap 18 Feb 1608/09, d 10 Aug 1644 New Haven CT;
            m Elizabeth WOOD  in Eng., (1606-28 Jul 1677), 4 children known. 
   3. Mary, bap 21 Mar 1611/12; nothing further known about her.
   4. Steven, bap 1 Aug 1614; nothing further known about him. 

Nothing is yet known about William's occupation, nor the cause of his death at a relatively young age. On his minimal burial register it states he was a "housekeeper" - and several other men on the same list, also listed that. Did they mean "householder" -? Did he work in an Estate House-? Confusion continues. In the early 1600s, deaths were often caused by various epidemics such as Dysentery, Scarlet Fever, Plague, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Typhus, Influenza and related secondary infections such as Pneumonia. Perhaps it was a disease that caused his early death.

One might suspect that William sr. and their two younger children Mary and Steven died about the same time. However, I have not found burial records for the children in Lewes, Sussex, nor nearby places. 

Several years after William's death, about 1622/23, Ann LANGFORD Potter married for a second time to John Beecher. I have  few records or history for John Beecher. The couple had one known son, Isaac, who was born about 1625, in Lewes. He married and had 10 known children (as seen in the book, Families of Ancient New Haven, V.01) Clearly I need to continue more research, including letters to the local parishes/societies.

John Beecher set off for New Haven, Connecticut in 1637/8 along with oldest stepson Wm Potter jr., to set up a house on land he bought.  Unfortunately, as mentioned before, John  died in the winter of 1638/39. I have not found details of his death. Not knowing of his death, Ann LANGFORD Potter Beecher with the living children: John, William jr, and Isaac - set sail for New Haven, Connecticut, arriving only to find that her husband had died in the winter. 

In terms of support for the widow Ann LANGFORD, and her youngest son, Isaac Beecher jr., I found a history note that because Ann LANGFORD Potter Beecher was a midwife, she was granted assistance from New Haven community leaders. Her two other Potter sons would have been of an age to assist her as well. Her youngest son, Isaac Beecher jr., married  Mary ____, approximately 1650 in New Haven, and had 5 known children, all sons. In New Haven town, the land she had is listed in her previous name: Ann Potter, and is by her two Potter sons, William jr. and John. Her son by John Beecher, would have been living with her on her property.  See map link at bottom of the page. 

Ann LANGFORD Potter Beecher did not marry again, having buried two husbands, and likely continued working as a midwife for the community. She remained in New Haven, and died on 5 Apr 1659, aged 74. 

A map of 1641 New Haven town is available and I was able to find the POTTER family as well as many other of my very early New Haven ancestors. The plan of the town is unique, and the 9-square design was planned by one of the early town settlers, John Brockett, and is known by his name, i.e., "the John Brockett map."  Click here to view the map online at the New Haven Museum (and yes, it is safe to click through). 

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If any of these people are also your ancestors, I am happy to share what I have about their families and ancestors as well. You can best contact me at calewisATtelusDOTnet as Blogger is not allowing me to reply to any comments on my posts.  

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 50, Deacon Richard MILES II, 1597-1667

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes, although it seems not always relevant for me to use!  "Naughty" is the weekly theme, but I'm not following it.  None of our ancestors seems to have run off with someone's wife, or stolen anything, or... Good solid people. So here's one more of my very early immigrant ancestors, Deacon Richard MILES II, from England to New Haven, Connecticut. He is my 10th great-grandfather in my mother's lines.

Richard MILES II was the son of Richard MILES I and Alice CHERRYE, of Hertfordshire England, likely in the Wormley or Great Munden region.  He was born approximately 1597, in Great Munden, Hertfordshire.  Both his parents died about 1628, and he seems to have married shortly afterwards, certainly by 1632. He and his wife, with their first three children, immigrated to New Haven region, first to Milford, and then later moved to New Haven where he owned property by 1643.

His first wife is unknown; their six children are the following, "Herts" = Hertsfordshire:

1. Martha MILES [ancestor], b. abt 1633 Herts Eng., d. bef Dec 1662, East Haven CT; m. 20 Oct 1650 to George PARDEE, New Haven CT; 5 children [Mary PARDEE ancestor]
2. Mary, b. abt 1635 Herts, d. 12 Sep 1730; m.1/ 12 Dec 1654 ti Jonathan Ince; children; m.2/  22 Oct 1661 in Norwalk CT  to Rev Thomas Hanford.
3. Richard III, b. abt 1637 Herts, d. Boston MA; m. Experience Callicott
4. Samuel, bap 22 Apr 1640, New Haven CT, d. 24 Dec 1678; m. 9 Apr 1667 to Hannah WILMOT, 5 children; Hannah's 2nd marr. to Miles MERWIN II, 3 children [Elizabeth MERWIN ancestor]
5. Anna/Hannah, b. abt 1642, New Haven CT, d. 19 Jul 1730 West Haven CT; m. 3 Nov 1664 to Samuel Street; 7 children
6. John, b. Oct 1644, New Haven CT.

Note that Martha MILES Pardee is my 9th great-grandmother; Hannah WILMOT Merwin is my 7th great-grandmother; the lines braid.

In 1646, Richard married a second time to a New Haven widow, Katherine Elithorpe Constable, originally from Yorkshire, England. She had no children from her first husband, nor any with Richard.  He apparently was appointed deputy to the general court in 1651.

Richard died Jan. 7th, 1666/67 in New Haven, CT, having written his will December 28th, 1666.

Although a will is known of, and was probated by June 13th, 1667, six months later, I have not yet seen/found a copy of it.  His second wife, Katherine, died almost 20 years later Jan. 8th, 1687/88, at the apparent age of 96 years, in Wallingford, CT, approximately 14 miles north of New Haven.

Several resources provide information on the MILES family: Families of Ancient New Haven, History of the Colony of New Haven, and Families of Early Milford, are three useful texts, along with Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut, Vol.III,  which had potted histories as well. American Ancestors website databases are also helpful in shedding some additional light. 

If you know anything more about any of the above individuals, I would be so pleased for more details. And if you wish more information on them, I'm happy to share. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section.

Sometimes my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my personal genealogy posts.

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS: #4, George PARDEE

Following the challenge of writing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, issued by Amy Johnson Crow, here is my 4th installment.

George PARDEE, my 9th great-grandfather on my maternal lines, is an early settler in New Haven, Connecticut.  He was baptised 19 Feb 1622/3 in Pitminster, Somerset, England, so likely he was born perhaps a month before this date. His parents were Anthony PARDEE & Anstice COXE; George is the only emigrant from this family. He was the 6th of their 7 children, the second boy in this family.

Taken from The Pardee Genealogy by Donald Lines Jacobus, (New Haven, New Haven co., CT, USA: New Haven Historical Society, 1927),  p.20, here is a copy made of the baptism certificate:
The date on the sheepskin parchment of the church register of St. Andrew and St. Mary, Pitminster, shows it was difficult to read the specific day - either the 13th or 19th of Feb 1623, son of Anthonie Pardee.   This particular church register apparently dates back to 1545.   Note this book is available on Ancestry, and can be read chapter by chapter.  A wonderful genealogy history - I got lost in it some months ago!

George was educated and expected to follow his father as a curate, and studied Latin.  However, he immigrated to the New Haven area about 1644, and began a 5 year apprenticeship to a tailor, Francis Brown/Broone.  Other families from Pitminster area were the Trowbridge and Treat families, both of whom figure prominently in my ancestor lines.  By 1650, as an educated man, George was the Schoolmaster at Hopkins School in New Haven.  In 20 Oct 1650, he married (1) Martha MILES, and they had 5 children - 4 living past infancy.   Our ancestor line goes through their 4th child Mary.
  Children by 1st wife:
     John, b. 20 Aug 1651, d abt 28 Jun 1653
     John, b. 2 Dec 1653, d. 1683
     George, b. 15 Jan 1655, d. 22 Nov 1723
     *Mary, b. 18 Feb 1657/8, d bef 1686, m. Joshua HOTCHKISS (3 children)
     Elisabeth, b. 10 Jun 1660
  Children by 2nd wife:
     Joseph, b. 27 Apr 1664, d. aft 1742
     Rebecca, b. 18 Apr 1666, d. 14 Jun 1731
     Sarah, b. 2 Feb 1667/8, d. abt 1756
     Hannah, b. 7 Jul 1672

Martha died in 1662, and he married (2) Katherine (or Rebekah - or they may have been the same person) Lane in 29 Dec 1662 in New Haven.  George & Katherine/Rebekah had 4 more children as listed above.

About the time of this 2nd marriage, George became a Rector of the Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven.

Interestingly, about the same time as George was a Rector, he also was issued a licence for an "ordinary" - i.e., an innkeeper.

A memorial tablet put up by a descendant of his states:
In memory of George Pardee / 1630-1700 / Farmer, Ferryman and Teacher / of Latin and Good Manners / Who first owned this land / and of  / William Bradley Pardee /  1821 - 1893 // This tablet is placed under the will of / William S. Pardee / Their Loyal Descendant

We know that George died 14 Apr 1700 in New Haven, and that apparently his 2nd wife had died before this time.  It is not certain if Rebekah and Katherine are the same person.

If you have more information on this first immigrant, George PARDEE, I would be very happy to learn more. You may contact me at calewis at telus dot net, or leave a comment below.