CHAPTER IV.

Daniel Wilcox, Pioneer Settler of Savage Hill, Northwest Division of Middletown, and His Family.

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In treating this subject I shall take the liberty of going back-ward, or forward or sideways at my pleasure.

Daniel Wilcox was fourth in descent from John Wilcox, original proprietor of Hartford, 1639. The name of John's wife was Mary, and their home was on a part of what is now Bushnell Park. Their children were John, Sarah, and Ann. Sarah was married to John Bidwell of Hartford. Ann, born about 1616, married John Hall and settled in Middletown.

John Wilcox, Sr., was chosen surveyor of lands 1643, 1644, and Townsman or Selectman 1650. The office of Selectman in early times was one of honor, and it carried much responsi-bility.

John Wilcox's life in this new country was short. He died October 1, 1651. Our knowledge of his circumstances must come mostly from his will dated July 24, 1651.

Charles J. Hoadly, formerly State Librarian, told me that John Wilcox's will was the first probated in the colony. He had a new house and an old house, so called. He had horses, cows, oxen, swine, fowls, bees, fields of grain, of hemp, and of flax. He had silver and wamppeage and a pew, a man servant and a maid servant.

Besides other provisions for his wife Mary, he gives her the old house to live in, with the use of his furniture and half the fruit of his two orchards. She is to have the pew, a colt and the use of a horse for two years with bridle and pannell to ride to Windsor, to Wethersfield, to Hartford or to the Sermon.

We cannot connect John Wilcox with the English Wilcoxes; neither do we know the family name of his wife, Mary. It is my theory that she had a clearing out time when she moved from

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the new house after John's death and that like some neat house-keepers of the present day she destroyed all the family records.

The wife of one of my uncles, in a spasm of housecleaning, threw into the fire their family tree, prepared at considerable expense by a professional genealogist.

Charles N. Camp, genealogist of New Haven, is authority for the statement that John Wilcox, Senior, served in the Pequot War. (See Colonial Year Book, page 811.)

It is probable that John Wilcox was buried in the Center Church burying yard at Hartford where stands a granite shaft on which his name appears with those of a hundred founders of the Town inscribed thereon.

Mary survived her husband seventeen years and died in 1668. In her will, dated October 4, 1666, about two years before her death, she gives to "Cosin" Sara Long two pewter platters, and to daughter "An" Haul forty shillings and "my best feather pillow." All the rest of her estate after payment of debts and her comly funeral expenses she gives to son-in-law John Bidwell.

Toward the last on account of weakness she had been unable to occupy the "old house" and orchards, and according to a provision of her husband's will her son John was ordered by Court to pay her six pounds a year. She did not mention son John in her will. It would have been natural that she should have gone to spend her last days with daughter Sarah Bidwell (variously spelled Biddle, Bidoll) who lived in Hart-ford, the other children being away at Middletown, and possibly there was undue influence, as they, who are disinherited, say.

John Wilcox, 2d, eldest child of John, Senior, and his wife Mary, born in England, came to America with his father. He received a grant of land at Middletown before 1653, but instead of settling there at once, he went to Dorchester, was there in 1654, whereupon the General Court passed a vote to compel him to occupy his land or to find a substitute. He returned to Middletown and purchased the homesteads of Joseph Smith and Matthias Treat. These he sold, and purchased elsewhere

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before November 1, 1665. He married September 17, 1646, five years before his father died, Sarah, eldest daughter of William Wadsworth of Hartford. Of this marriage, one child, Sarah, was born, October 3, 1648. Sarah, the mother, died that same year, probably when little Sarah was born. From the dates given she could not have died earlier than October 3, 1648-9, and the next January (January 18, 1649-50) John married, second, Katharine Stoughton, daughter of Thomas Stoughton of Windsor (Thomas Stoughton, called "The Ancient," built the stone fort still standing at Windsor, page 742, "Upper Houses," Charles Collard Adams), but then there was the motherless little one and so we will excuse his haste. Katharine took such good care of Sarah Wadsworth's baby that she thrived and grew to womanhood and became the wife of David Ensign, who was an original member of the first church of West Hartford, 1713. Katharine, however, did not succeed as well with her own children. According to Charles Collard Adams, John, Thomas and Mary, her first three children, died young; only Israel, born June 19, 1656, and Samuel, born November 9,1658, came to maturity.

Katharine Stoughton, the mother, died, and John married, third, Widow Mary Farnsworth, alias Long of Dorchester, meaning that her first husband's name was Long. There were no Wilcox children of this marriage. Mary (Long) Farnsworth Wilcox died 1671, before September 7. In her will, dated May 3, 1671, she mentions her son Joseph Long and his wife Sarah, and her son Samuel Farnsworth, not then of age. Mary Farnsworth was a dressy body. She gives to Mary Wilcox her white "wascoat" and her red darning coat. To her daughter-in-law Sarah she gives a feather bed and boulster "already in her house at Hartford" and her "cloath wascoat with the great silver lace and a petty coate likewise."

John was now well along in years, but although thrice bereaved he was not utterly discouraged. He soon began to look about and before the end of the year he took to himself as wife Esther Cornwall, daughter of William Cornwall of Middle-town, a girl just out of her teens, two years younger than his

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daughter Sarah Ensign. Esther has three ways of spelling her name, hesides Esther it is recorded as Hester and Easter—an uncommonly pretty name—the latter—for a girl.

Three children were horn to John Wilcox and Esther Cornwall, Ephraim, Esther and Mary. After five years of wedded life with-Esther, John Wilcox died, May 24, 1676. Esther survived him fifty-seven years. She married, second, John Stow of Middletown and died May, 1733, aged eighty-three years.

Where, pray tell, would have been the Wilcox families of Westfield, Middletown and of Meriden, had it not been for this marriage of John Wilcox with Esther Cornwall. Nearly all of them come from their son Ephraim.

I was interested in looking up these families to find that Mr. Arthur Boardman, Treasurer of the Cromwell Dime Savings Bank, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Deacon, Trustee, member and liberal supporter of the Baptist Church of Cromwell, traces back to this same Ephraim, son of Esther Cornwall and John Wilcox, Jr.

Israel Wilcox, son of John Wilcox, Jr., and his second wife, Katharine Stoughton, born June 19, 1656, married March 28, 1678, Sarah Savage, daughter of Sergeant John Savage and Elizabeth D'Aubin, his wife, of Middletown.

In less than twelve years after their marriage Israel died, December 20, 1789, aged thirty-three years. His wife, Sarah, then thirty-one years old, was left with five young children, whose names were Israel, John, Samuel, Thomas and Sarah. Israel, just coming of the age of ten years, and Sarah, the baby, seven weeks old. Sarah, the mother, lived a widow thirty-four years, and died February 8, 1824. Her five children signed an agreement for the settlement of her estate in which they referred to her as "our honored mother."

Sarah, the daughter, signed the document as Sarah Riley, followed by Jonathan Biley. (See page 544, vol. 11, History of Wethersfield.)

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Josiah Willcox, brother of Daniel, settled out Avon way. Mrs. Aspinwall comes from both Daniel and Josiah.

Samuel, third son of Israel Wilcox and Sarah Savage, his wife, born September 26, 1695, married March 3, 1714, Hannah Sage, daughter of John Sage and Hannah Starr, his wife, born December 21, 1694.

Their children were Daniel (announced as the subject of this sketch), born December 31, 1715, Josiah, Hannah, Rachel and Elizabeth. Samuel, the father, died January 19, 1727, aged forty-one years. In his will he gave to his dearly beloved wife the use of all his improved lands and of his house and barn during her widowhood, but in case she should marry before Daniel, now fourteen, should come to the age of twenty-one then she was to have only one-half of the property specified, and Daniel was to have the other half. Hannah was only thirty-two when left a widow. Probably she found the care of the farm and the stock and the buildings, not to speak of the children, too great a burden and that she felt the need of someone to help her. At any rate it was not long before she was married to Malechi Lewis and he was installed on the place. Daniel now set up his claim, as by the terms of his father's will, to one-half of the property, "in order that he might improve it." Whether it was the fault of Malechi or Hannah we are not informed, but Daniel had to go to law for his rights. The year he came to his majority he appeared before the Court of Probate, held at Hartford, March 22, 1737, and laid his case before that body.

He declared that his mother had hitherto refused or neglected to divide with him, although often requested. Whereupon the Court appointed Messrs. Jabes Hamlin, Thomas Johnson and Samuel Shephard to distribute the estate according to the will, giving notice to the said Hannah Lewis and her husband, Malechi Lewis, first, of the time they shall proceed on the service aforesaid.

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From Cromwell Graveyard

Here
Lieth the
Body of
Samuell Willcocks
who departed this
life January the
19, 1728, in the 43d
year of his age.

Here lies Interred
the Body of Mrs.
Hannah Lewis
formerly Relict
of Mr. Samuel
Willcox but
died wife of
Mr. Malachi
Lewis on Jan
ye 22, 1750
In the 56 yr of her age.

Somehow when these young widows, even when they are our own grandmothers, marry and go out from the family they seem lost to us, but we do not want to drop grandmother "Hannah Sage," alias "Lewis." It is through her that we trace back to Dr. Thomas Starr, who was a surgeon of the Colonial forces in the war with the Pequots. He received his appointment May 17, 1637. (Col. War Year Book, page 1 or 17.)

In 1785 the North West Division of Middletown (so called) was set off to form a part of the town of Berlin, incorporated that year.

We do not know exactly when Daniel Wilcox settled on Savage Hill. The lots laid out to the original proprietors were long narrow strips of land that came all the way over to Stoney Swamp and it is probable that Daniel inherited from his father, Samuel, land in North West Division. He began to buy

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land there in 1735, when he was twenty years old, pieces bounded partly on his own land. There was a story that when he left home, to come through an unbroken wilderness and take up his abode in the Third Division, prayers were offered in the log-cabin meeting house in Upper Houses, for his safety. If this story is true, he must have come as early as 1735. A new meet-ing house, not of logs, was built in Upper Houses in 1735. He purchased here and there a few acres at a time until he had a fine farm one mile square in extent.

His house, a large, brown, frame building, stood on the west side of the way on Savage Hill next north of what is now called Bowers corner, and opposite the barn of Elmer Dyer. It was torn down before my remembrance. At one time it was used as a schoolhouse, and once a woman lived there who made very fine linen. Large fields of flax were grown, and the flax, at maturity, was left for months to decay on the ground.

Daniel Wilcox, born 1715, Dec. 31st, died July 29, 1789.
Married March 16, 1738
Sarah White, born April 22, 1716, died June 28, 1807.

Sarah White was a descendant of John White, who sailed from London in the ship Lion, June 22, 1632; arrived at Boston September 16; settled first in Cambridge; sold land there before 1636; was an original proprietor at Hartford, 1639. His house, on what is now Governor Street, stood where the shadow of the Charter Oak fell upon it at sunset. He was a preaching Elder in Thomas Hooker's church.

Nathaniel White, born about 1629, came from England with his father, John White, when five years old. He was one of the original proprietors of Middletown, 1650-51, where he held a high position. In 1659 he was elected to the Great General Court, and from 1661 to 1710 he was chosen a member of the Colonial Legislature eighty-five times. He was eighty-two years old when last elected. Legislators were at that day chosen twice a year. Nathaniel White was Captain of the first "Traine Band" of Middletown. This record would make his descend-ants eligible to the Society of Colonial Dames.

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In his will, probated October 1, 1711, Nathaniel White gave one-quarter part of his share of the undivided lands for the benefit of the public schools of Middletown forever. In 1741 the land was sold and the proceeds invested. When Cromwell was set off from Middletown in 1851, it received its share of the fund. In 1902, when the fine new public schoolhouse of Crom-well was opened, by unanimous vote it was named "The Nathaniel White Public School."

To Daniel Wilcox and his wife, Sarah White, were born thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters.

Sarah, the mother, became very stout as she advanced in years, so that she was not active. She apologized to her chil-dren, saying, "I do not work, but I save your father a great deal by my good management." Many of her descendants seem to have inherited her physique.

In the spring of 1762 England, then engaged in war with Spain, sent an armament against the Spanish West Indies. Two Connecticut Colonial Regiments were ordered to join the expedition and assist in the attack against Havana.

David Wilcox, second of the sons of Daniel, then in his nine-teenth year, enlisted March 17, 1762, in the 4th Company, Captain, John Patterson of the 1st Regiment; Col. Phineas Lyman of Suffield, Commander.

This 4th Company numbered, officers and men, ninety-eight. Ten never joined. Two deserted.

They arrived at Cuba June 17 where, in the intense heat, lacking water, they worked two months under unsufferable pri-vations. Some of the soldiers dropped dead from thirst, heat,

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and fatigue. In less than a month half the troops were dead or sick. Of the New England privates scarcely any returned. Such as were not killed in the service were generally swept away by the great mortality that prevailed.

Of Captain John Patterson's Company twenty-nine died between September 5 and November 30. He himself died at Havana September 5, 1762, at fifty-four years, a victim of the yellow fever.

David Willcocks died at Havana October 1, 1762. His name appears on the payroll of the 1st Connecticut Regiment, 4th Company. Nathaniel Willcocks, his cousin, who enlisted the same day, and in the same Company with David, died November 17.

Major John Patterson, son of James of Wethersfield, held a Captain's Commission under King George III, and was the first deacon of the First Church of New Britain. On May 11, 1753, being called of God to assist his country and mindful as he expressed it of the dangers of martial life, he made his will in which he directed his wife Ruth (Bird) to give their son John a college education. John, the son, graduated from Yale in 1762. He removed to Binghamton, N. Y., was a lawyer, and was Brigadier-General in the Revolutionary War.

Havana surrendered August 13, 1762. In the treaty of Paris, signed February 10, 1763, Great Britain restored to Spain all its conquests in the West Indies in return for Florida—all that Spain owned on the Continent of North America southeast of the Mississippi. At the time of the English and French War, when the call of alarm came for the relief of Fort William Henry, on the north shore of Lake George, Daniel Wilcox, Sr., enlisted as corporal in the Company of Captain Josiah Lee of Farmington, 6th Connecticut Regiment. Daniel Wilcox, Jr., just come to the age of sixteen, with other lads, went along to lead pack horses and to bring back other horses. The Fort, after a gallant defense of six days, was compelled to surrender to the superior force of French and Indian troops, and Daniel Wilcox returned after a service of eight days. Daniel, the son, was credited with seven days.

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Captain Josiah Lee was chosen deacon of the First Church of New Britain to take the place of Deacon Patterson, who died in 1762 at Havana.

The old story that Daniel "Wilcox gave to each of his thirteen children a farm on which he built a house needs to be modified. We have seen that David died at Havana. Isaac, born August 14, 1755, enlisted in the Revolutionary War. He was taken sick at Boston and was brought home, where he died November 23, 1775, at the age of twenty years. His grave is in Maple Cemetery at Berlin.

Olive, bom October 16, 1751, died November 1, 1771, the day she was to have been married to a Mr. Hart of New Britain.

Daniel Wilcox, Jr., born November 17, 1741.
Married September 22, 1763, at the age of 22 years, Susannah Porter of East Hartford.
Children: Nathaniel, born August 10, 1764.
Susannah, born May 1, 1766, married Richard Beckley.
David, bom December 6, 1768.
Susannah, the wife, died November 13th, 1769, in the 28th year of her age. Grave in Maple Cemetery.

Daniel, Jr., married 2d November 7, 1771, Mercy Gibson.
Children: Joseph, born August 4, 1772, died February 26, 1773.
Daniel, 3d, born October 26, 1774.

Daniel Willcocks, Jr., received to Church September 2, 1764.

Four months after Daniel, Jr., married, his father gave him six acres of land, deed dated January 10, 1764, on which to build a house, bounded north by his own land (Daniel, Sr.'s), east on highway, south on highway now known as Bower's Corner. Daniel Wilcox enlisted in the Revolutionary Army and died at Roxbury April 10, 1776.

On page 440, New England Register for 1900, appears the following communication from Daniel W. Fowler of Chicago:

I send you copies of two letters written by Daniel Wilcox, Jr., from Middletown, Conn., who was at the defence of Boston in the years 1775 and 6, and who died in the latter year, and was, it is

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stated, buried in the old cemetery in Roxbury. I have seen the pocketbook, which he had in his possession at his death, so it was claimed, and I have now one piece of Continental money, which says it is good for five Spanish Milled dollars, which was found in that purse at the time of his decease.

The Middletown North Society, which had the ordering of school affairs, voted November 7, 1748, that a school should be kept the whole year—ten months in the Society's schoolhouse, and two months in the Northwest Quarter at the house of John Savage.

These letters of Daniel, written from Roxbury, of which I have copies, show him to be a loyal soldier, thoughtful of his comrades; a loving son, husband and father; but the spelling and the grammar! However, what could be expected in the wilderness with school only two months in the year. He held the office of sergeant. The name of Daniel Wilcox, Jr., does not appear in Connecticut Men of the Revolution.

After the death of Daniel Willcocks, his widow, Mercy Gibson, married John (?) Parsons and removed to Landersfield, Berkshire County, Mass., with three Wilcox children.

At the time of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Worthington church, the Rev. E. G. Beckwith, then of Water-bury, gave an address, vaguely remembered after thirty-seven years as very interesting. No copy of it can now be found. Mr. Beckwith comes from one of the Wilcox sons, taken by Mercy Gibson Wilcox Parsons to Landersfield.

His grandfather on his mother's side was a Daniel Wilcox, grandson of the Revolutionary soldier and the fourth in direct line to bear the name. It was Mr. Beckwith who told about prayers being offered in the log cabin meeting house at Middle-town for Daniel's safety in the wilderness.

Mr. Beckwith later went to Hawaii. Miss Ruth Galpin having occasion to write to him there asked if he had a copy of that historical paper. He replied May 9, 1897, that he thought it was not a paper at all, but a bit of an off-hand talk—that he had no such paper in his possession and never had published any. He said his Revolutionary ancestor was with the army

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that invested General Gage at Boston and died at Roxbury during the siege. He said he had a copy of a letter written by him while there, one of several that were in his grandfather Daniel's possession in his boyhood.

Miss Galpin thinks she has seen a notice of Mr. Beckwith's death in the Congregationalist.

While in Berlin Mr. Beckwith gave Deacon Alfred North an account of the Massachusetts branch of the family, which should have been written in black and white. Trusted to memory, it is now lost.

The Rev. William Henry Willcox of Maiden, Mass., and Rev. G. B. Willcox of Chicago Theological Seminary came from this same Wilcox stock.

W. H. Willcox was a trustee of Wellesley College. It is said that he influenced Mrs. Stone to give the money to build Stone Hall at Wellesley, and also to give large sums to other educa-tional institutions. Mrs. Stone endowed a professorship of Natural Science at Hamilton College on condition that her niece's husband, Professor A. P. Kelsey, should be the first incumbent. Mrs. Kelsey was glad to have her aunt endow that professorship, but she was bitter toward Mr. Wilcox because she felt he had such strong influence over Mrs. Stone and got her to will so much of her money to institutions. Mrs. Kelsey and her sister were Mrs. Stone's heirs, and of course they wanted all they could get (L. D. N. Reed.)

Miss Gertrude M. Willcox, daughter of Prof. G. B. Willcox of Chicago, went out as a missionary to Kobe, Japan, in 1898. In Life and Light of November, 1899, page 528, is a letter written by Mrs. Dr. Davis to Mrs. G. B. Willcox giving a description of the interesting wedding of Miss Willcox to Mr. Weakley of the Methodist Mission.

(Letter in Life and Light, Feb. 3, 1899.)

WEDDING OF MISS GERTRUDE WILLCOX, BY MRS. DR. DAVIS.

The storm had cleared the atmosphere and cooled it a little, too, and everything outwardly went off just as it should. To the music

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of the organ out on the lawn the procession came down the steps from the "home building," led by the two ushers. Three tiny little girls followed, hand in hand, and then eight more girls in couples.

They went slowly and without a mistake to the right place. Of course they were all dressed in white, with blue ribbons and sashes of nearly the same shade, and they carried bouquets of white daisies and small chrysanthemums. They were so fresh and dainty and pretty.

Then last came your daughter dressed in the pretty, old fashioned gown which her mother had worn so long ago. I looked at her for you, and wished I might have changed places for awhile. On her shoulder was a tiny bunch of forget-me-nots, pinned on with a daisy pin, showing through her veil. That was fastened with orange blossoms. She carried a bunch of roses and maiden hair ferns. Mr. Weakley and Mr. Davis stood waiting for her, and four gentlemen stood in front of the bridal couple. The United States Consul, Mr. Demaree, Mr. Curtis, who married them and Mr. Davis. Mr. Demaree read. Mr. Davis led in prayer. All were touched when he said he would offer Professor Willcox's prayer. The bridal couple were moved by it, and theirs were not the only eyes that were wet with tears at this prayer from over the sea. Then Mr. Curtis went through the service and pronounced them husband and wife. From beginning to end it was impressive and beautiful.

Rev. W. C. Wilcox went out to Umgoti, Natal, with his wife Ida in 1881. No mention is made of him after 1909.

In the settlement of the estate of Daniel Wilcox, Jr., one-half the house was set to the widow and the place was transferred from time to time subject to the rights of Mercy Parsons.

Daniel's brother Jacob bought out the heirs, and in 1797 the property was sold to the Crofoot family. Written on the chimney piece of the house may be seen to-day "Samuel and Mary Crofoot 17-7—" the third figure illegible.

By deed of date January 22, 1822, Jacob Wilcox having again an interest in the place gave a quit claim to William Bowers, and now for ninety years that corner has been occupied by Captain William Bowers and his descendants. In early days it was a public house, the road leading over those hills being the New Haven and Hartford postroad before the Hart-ford and New Haven turnpike was opened.

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Lois Wilcox, eldest of the six daughters of Daniel Wilcox, born June 14, 1738, died August 18, 1805. Married September 14, 1756, Solomon4 Sage, born 1737 (Captain David,3 John,2 David1).

We do not find from town records that Daniel Wilcox made gifts of houses or lands to any of his daughters. Solomon Sage, Sr., was a large land holder in his own right.

Lois Wilcox and Solomon Sage were taken into the communion of the Kensington church May 29, 1768.

The distinction of this family seems to lie in their large households. Captain Oliver Sage, son of Solomon and Lois Sage, had sixteen children, eleven sons and five daughters. There were three pairs of twins. So far as known not a soul remains in this vicinity to represent this branch of the Sage family.

Jacob Wilcox, youngest son of Daniel and Sarah Wilcox, born in Berlin, June 21, 1758, died at the house of his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Porter, in Beckley Quarter, November 3, 1841, aged eighty-three years, four months and thirteen days.

He married, June 7, 1780, Rachel Porter, born in East Hart-ford, July 5, 1758; died March 15, 1847, at the house of her son Norris in New Haven, age eighty-eight years, eight months and ten days, both buried in East Berlin.

1. Alvin, bom 1773, died August 17, 1870.
2. Norman.
3. Orrin.
4. Cyprian, born September 22, 1795; died Ithaca, K T., February 24, 1875.

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5. Norris, married March 3,1822, Harriet Hart, daughter of Jesse.
6. Jacob.
7. Albert.
8. Betsey.
9. Lucetta.

Jacob Wilcox and Eachel Porter married June 7, 1780. Norris Wilcox, fifth of the seven sons of Jacob Wilcox, mar-ried Harriet Hart, second daughter of Jesse Hart, brother of Emma Hart Willard. He kept the hotel at Boston Corners, so called, on Berem Street, for a time; was postmaster, with office in Freedom Hart's comb shop, and removed to New Haven, where he became United States Collector of that port. His son William was a professor of mathematics in the Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Norris Wilcox was a large, portly, handsome man, and his daughter Katharine was a woman of remarkable beauty of per-son and character. She married a Smith and lived in Philadelphia. Her daughter, Jessie Wilcox Smith, is the well-known illustrator of magazines.

John Henry Wilcox, Mus.D., 1827-1875, of Boston, grandson of Jacob Willcox, son of Jacob Willcox, Jr., and Catharine Shellman, his wife, of Savannah, Ga., was considered the finest organist in the country. When new organs were to be dedicated Jt was thought that no one could show them off quite as well as be. Once he was called to assist in the dedication services of a fine new organ in a Philadelphia church where there was a large chorus choir, which he could not make sing to his liking, and his sarcastic remarks were not soon forgotten.

We have in our church hymn book two tunes written by John William Willcox, "Faban and Jesu," p. 10; "Boni Pastor," p. 452.

Jacob Willcox, Sr., was very deaf in his old age. Elisha Cheney, his nephew by marriage, lived on the southwest corner opposite the Bowers place. Uncle Jacob would go over to the Cheney house and ask to have brother Cheney come outside, "He wanted to have some privacy with him. They would go out into the road and then Jacob would shout loud enough to

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be heard half a mile. The Cheney girls thought it great fun to hear him.

Uncle Jacob, "Jeckup," so pronounced in his day, raised a lot of turkeys and Mr. Cheney tried to raise grain. When he complained that the turkeys destroyed his grain, Uncle Jacob would say: "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof,'' and that was all the satisfaction he would give. Jacob Wilcox's place was sold by his son Norris to William Dyer of Woodbridge, forty-four acres with buildings, price $4,500. (Vol. 15, page 373, New Britain Eecords.)

Wallace Wilcox, son of Alvin, eldest son of Jacob Wilcox, was a teacher and a very successful head of a boys' school in Stamford for years.

Cyprian P. Wilcox, son of Cyprian, son of Jacob, was a professor of modern languages, and had, before the war, a school for languages at Geneva, Switzerland. Later he came home and was in the University of Georgia till his death.

Hepzibah Wilcox, fifth child, third daughter, of Daniel Wilcox and Sarah White, his wife, born January 31, 1745, died February 19, 1821; married September 23, 1763, David Beckley, born February 17, 1742, died November 19, 1798.

CHILDREN
David, born March 31, 1765.
Silas, born September 28, 1766.
Caroline.
Joseph.
Hepzibah.
Luther.
Joseph, born November 12, 1775.

David (1), Lt. Joseph (2), Nathaniel (3), Sgt. Richard (4).

David Beckley and his wife Hepzibah Wilcox set up housekeeping in the old red Beckley house built by the father of David, Lt. Joseph Beckley. (No need for Daniel Wilcox to give Hepzibah a house.)

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Lt. Joseph Beckley, born 1695, grandson of Richard, the settler, married October 23, 1723, Mary Judd (deceased of John North of Far) who was the mother of his seventeen children. She died April 16, 1750, aged forty-eight years.

I read somewhere the latter statement, but cannot now give the reference and have not the date. This Joseph Beckley received permission to build his house on condition that he would keep a public house. He was licensed as a taverner, 1733, 34, 42.

Dr. Horatio Gridley in his history stated that a public house was kept there by the descendants of Richard Beckley for seventy-eight years in succession and that it was the first inn between Hartford and New Haven.

Inn-keepers of those days were of the best and most respected families; they often held positions of trust as town officers.

The eldest son of David and Hepzibah Beckley, David Beck-ley, Jr., born March 31, 1765, and his wife, Eunice Williams, born 1759, were grandparents of Mr. William Bulkley.

There was great excitement when about the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill, General Washington and his Staff put up at the Beckley House over night. It was said that Eunice Williams helped to set the table for their supper.

George Washington must have traveled with a large supply of elm tree switches, and we like to believe the story that the great elm tree directly in front of the house was planted by

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him at the time of this visit. The tree stands, but the house was torn down by Dick Beckley, the last in town to bear the name.

David Beckley and Hepzibah, his wife, joined the Kensing-ton church May 5, 1764.

Luther Beckley, born October 11, 1778, died January 1, 1841; son of David and Hepzibah; married, 1803, Sally Flagg, daughter of Solomon Flagg. They lived in one half of the old tavern, where their seventeen children were born. He was appointed town clerk and they came down street to live in the old Kiley house opposite the present Mechanics Hall. Toward the end of his life he lay in bed while his wife worked hard to support the family by taking boarders. Grand-parents of the first wife of Charles Risley (Mrs. Orpha Edward's story).

Patience Wilcox, thirteenth and youngest child of Daniel and Sarah White Wilcox, born January 4, 1760, died Sep-tember 21, 1810, aged fifty-one; married Eli Barnes; died June 18, 1815, aged 61.

The Barnes family came from Long Island with other refugees in war time, when the British took possession of the Island. They fled in such haste that the Barneses brought along, unbaked, a batch of bread that had been set to rise.

One child, Jemima, was born to Patience Wilcox and Eli Barnes. She married Samuel Kelsey, brother of Stephen Wilcox's wife, Mary.

Ezekiel Kelsey, father of Samuel, lived at the North end of Hubbard Street in East Berlin near the foot of Gravel Hill, where remains of the cellar may be seen. He had five or more children; two married in East Hartford. Elizabeth was the wife of landlord Amos Kirby. She used to play the violin for dancing parties.

Miss Isadore Kelsey said that her great-grandfather, Capt Eli Barnes, built the house which she occupies on the east cor-ner of Main Street (formerly called East Street), where the Middletown road passes east toward the mill, and that her grandmother Jemima was ten years old at that time. They

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lived at first in the house of Patience's brother Daniel, who died in the army. Miss Kelsey said her grandmother Jemima would have been 127 years old if living in 1906. This, as I reckon it, would make her born in 1779.

The Barneses kept a public house, with bar, and a ballroom in the south chamber. The land on which the house was built was a part of the mile-square farm owned by Daniel Wilcox.

When Patience died, on February 29, 1836, her brother Jacob, who settled her estate, sold her silver teaspoons to Allen Flagg, who gave them to his two daughters.

Miss Ida Wilcox is a great-great-granddaughter of Patience Wilcox and she would like to see those spoons.

Miss Kelsey said that when her grandmother Jemima was a little girl the family went into Upper Houses to attend church. Prom 1703 to 1790 East Berlin belonged to Upper Houses Ecclesiastical Society and were obliged to pay church taxes there.

(See Vol. 1, page 230, Private Laws of Connecticut, Resolve of May, 1790, annexing a part of Upper Houses in Middletown to Worthington Society in Berlin.)

Resolved by this Assembly that all that part of the second or Upper Houses lying in the Town of said Berlin, excepting the farm or lot of land on which said Israel Wilcox now lives is hereby annexed to and from henceforth shall be and remain a part of the said Society of Worthington. Provided always that nothing in this resolve contained, shall be construed to prevent the second or Upper Houses Society from collecting at such society rates or taxes as are now laid or due from said petitioners, or from any other person liable to pay such taxes.

The East Berlin Mill was built in 1771 by David Sage, Jr., Daniel Wilcox, Jr., and Josiah Wilcox, on land of Daniel Wilcox, Sr.

It was at first built as a carding mill and for spinning cotton and woolen yarn which was put out to women of the neighbor-hood to be woven into blankets and men's cloth. Deacon Frederic North remembered taking wool there to be spun into yarn.

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"Grandma Huldah"
Mrs. Reuben North.

Birthplace of Lynda and Huldah Wilcox in East Berlin
House built by Josiah Wilcox about 1779.

Josiah Wilcox, eighth child of Daniel and Sarah White Wilcox, born March 31, 1750, died September, 1835. Married, first, Elizabeth Treat, from Gen. Treat; married, second, 1779, Huldah Savage, daughter of John; married, third, Naomi Kirby, died 1837.

By deed of date February 14, 1775, Daniel Wilcox for paternal love and affection gave to his son Josiah six acres of land with house and barn thereon, bounded east on highway, south on Israel Wilcox's land, "west on my own land."

His house stands at the south end of Main Street, east of Berlin, on the west side of the way south of the Mildrum house, just north of the stream of water which crosses the road there. Large quantities of cider brandy were made by Josiah Wilcox. On the east side of the road was a cider mill where apples were crushed by a large wheel run by horse power which went round and round in a trough. The distillery was in a lot, south of the house, where the foundations may still be seen. Later the cider mill on the east side was abandoned and another was built south of the distillery. Deacon Alfred North pre-served for a long time a large record book of sales of cider brandy made by his grandfather. A while since I destroyed the book, thinking the business was almost disreputable.

Samuel Wilcox, son of Josiah, built the brick house, now owned by Fred M. North in East Berlin. He married Rhoda North and removed to Ohio, where his descendants have pros-pered. Occasionally a letter comes from them asking for information of their Connecticut ancestors.

Robert Wilcox, who married the "Sweet Singer of Michigan," is a descendant of Josiah Wilcox.

Olive Wilcox, daughter of Josiah, married in 1800 James Booth of New Britain and was mother of Horace Booth. Shortly before Mr. Booth died I called to see him. He told me that his mother had a string of gold beads. One day a pedlar, who went by the name of Squeaking Lease, came to the house and told Olive that the beads needed something done to them by a jeweler. She allowed him to take the string away, and that was the last she ever saw of her beads.

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Four of our D. A. R. members come from Josiah Wilcox. Stephen Wilcox, sixth son of Daniel and Sarah Wilcox, born October 19, 1746, died December 22, 1843, aged ninety-seven years. He married January 31, 1771 (?), Mary Kelsey (daughter of Ezekiel Kelsey), who died October 22, 1836, aged eighty-seven years.

Mrs. Emma Penfield Botsford, whose husband was a descend-ant of Stephen Wilcox, said there used to be in the family an obituary of him, which began: "An Old Revolutionary Soldier Gone." Daniel Wilcox in 1777 deeded to his son Stephen Wilcox, of Middletown, for love and affection, six acres of land with house and barn thereon.

Stephen Wilcox and his wife were received to the communion of the Worthington Congregational Church by letter from Upper Houses. Stephen Wilcox, son of Stephen, built the brick house stand-ing on the corner where the Stoney Swamp road turns to go up Savage Hill.

The two sons of Stephen Wilcox, Jr., went to Springfield about 1822 where they set up the first stove and tin store in that vicinity. They had the Wilcox gift of making money and prospered in business.

The house built by Stephen Wilcox, Sr., is now the pleasant home of the Misses Carrie and Hattie Mildrum.

Samuel Hart, brother of Mrs. Emma Hart Willard, married Mary Wilcox, daughter of Stephen Wilcox and his wife, Mary Kelsey, and four of our Daughters of the American Revolution members claim Mary Wilcox Hart as a grandmother. Mrs. Cowles has her silver teaspoons.

Mrs. Cowles has a cousin in this same generation from Stephen Wilcox, Miss Harriet Lyman, a fine musician, who has worked out a musical staff, so that the notes are alike on the bass and treble clefs. If adopted it will save no end of trouble for children learning to read music.

We all know Mr. Arthur Upson, a Christian lawyer of New Britain, a descendant of Stephen Wilcox. Mr. Upson has a cousin in the same line, a brother of Miss Harriet Lyman, the

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musician, Hon. Edward S. Lyman, who is one of the most prominent lawyers in central Alabama, employed as corporation lawyer for the L. & W. R. R. C, Judge of the County Court, ex-mayor of his city, and has been a member of the State Legislature.

Samuel Wilcox, tenth child of Daniel and Sarah Wilcox, born September 12, 1753, died March 12, 1832, married May 28, 1778, Phoebe Dowd. (Ancestors of Mr. Frank Wilcox.)

Their house was moved a few rods south of its original site, where it was owned and occupied many years by the family of Willys Dowd. Mrs. Dowd was a very efficient woman, and she brought up a large family of fine sons and daughters. She said that when her children were old enough to go to church, she took every one of them out into the lobby and took her slipper to them.

Huldah Wilcox, seventh child of Daniel and Sarah Wilcox, born May 24, 1748, married Jeremiah Bacon of Westfield, and we do not know anything about her life except that Mr. Frank Starr says her first husband died and that she married, second, Joseph Porter.

Sarah Wilcox, second child of Daniel and Sarah Wilcox, born December 31, 1739, married Jedediah North.

Their house, at the north end of Berlin Street, was moved back from under the two large maple trees, and turned into a barn for Golden Ridge Creamery.

When they first set up housekeeping there the wolves used to come down from the ledge and carry off the pigs so that they had to be shut up in the barn over night for safety.

Sarah Wilcox and Jedediah North had eight children. Sarah, the mother, died at age thirty-six, when her last child was born.

Levi, the second son, enlisted in the Revolutionary War at the age of sixteen. He was taken prisoner by the British and on shipboard was compelled to fight against his own countrymen. His story was that the blood ran ankle deep on

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deck. In prison he was fed on rice, and he never wanted to see rice again. He was set at making tools and repairing weapons, and at the close of the war, by advice of an English soldier who befriended him, he sent in to the British govern-ment a bill for skilled services. The bill was allowed and he received $1,200, with which he built his house in East Berlin. He married his cousin, Rachel White, and they had twelve children, all of whom lived to the age of sixty-six or over.

It would take too much time to tell of the ministers, mis-sionaries, doctors, college professors, and teachers, who have descended from Sarah Wilcox.