Joseph DEMING

Notes:

Name:
"Deming Genealogy": Joseph Deming was a farmer of Wethersfield until 1769, when he bought land in Berkshire Co., Mass., and soon afterwards removed to the new settlement at Williamstown, together with his sons, Aaron and Titus. It is probable that his wife survived him, as she is mentioned in his will of 9 apr 1782. the father and his sons were diligent and thrifty, and acquired land from time to time, which was retained by their descendants for three generations. The old house, built by the father soon after he came to Williamstown, was standing until 1876, when it was destroyed by fire. At a point where the farm adjoins Hancock brook there was a small mill privilege, which was utilized by the family for manufacturing purposes for many years.

Joseph married Elizabeth FRANCIS on 8 Jan 1736 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Elizabeth was born on 18 Jan 1717 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sarah DEMING was born on 24 May 1737 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; died on 29 Mar 1829.
2. Francis DEMING was born on 12 Jan 1739 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; died on 19 Dec 1819 in Newington, Connecticut.
3. Aaron DEMING was born on 16 Oct 1740 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; died on 12 Jan 1741 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
4. Aaron DEMING was born on 20 Mar 1744 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; died on 12 Mar 1837 in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
5. Elizabeth DEMING was born on 1 Jul 1750 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
6. Titus DEMING was born on 29 Feb 1760 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; died on 11 Aug 1833 in Henrietta, New York.

Notes:

Name:
"Deming Genealogy": Ebenezer Deming was a hatter by trade, but was also a land-holder both in Wethersfield and Saybrook. His property in the latte town, he deeded to his son Oliver, and at his death he willed his homestead in Wethersfield to his son Moses, "because he has dwelt with me in the same house many years." To his son Joseph he gave land in Newington, and all his children were specifically named in his will, which was dated 15 Mar 1765, and proved 27 May 1765.

Ebenezer married Rebecca TREAT on 27 Dec 1704 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Rebecca (daughter of James TREAT and Rebecca LATIMER) was born in abt. 1686 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 26 Dec 1753 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Lieut. James Treat and Rebecca Latimer

Notes:

Name:
"Deming Genealogy": the birth-date of Ebenezer Deming has never been discovered. It is supposed that he was the youngest son of John Deming, and that he was born about 1659. In 1698 he received a deed of land in Wethersfield from his brother David Deming of Cambridge, and inherited from his father other land in the vicinity. In the record of his marriage the family name of his wife is obliterated, and it has not been discovered from any other source. In the distribution of his estate, his widow and all of his children including his two sons-in-law Talcott and Wright, are named.

Ebenezer married Sarah UNKNOWN on 16 Jul 1677 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Rebecca LATIMER on 26 Jan 1665 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Rebecca (daughter of John LATTAMORE and Ann ?) was born on 06 Oct 1646 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; died on 2 Apr 1734 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
"Deming Genealogy": John Deming, the immigrant ancestor of most of the persons bearing his family name, was one of the early settlers of Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he recorded his homestead in 1641, as a house, a barn, and five acres of land, bounded by High Street, west, the Great Meadow, east, Thomas Standish's homestead, north, and Richard Crabbe's homestead, south. The dates of his birth, marriage and death, have never been discovered. His wife was HONOR TREAT, daughter of Richard Treat, whose second wife Alice Gaylord, was her mother. It has not been proven that Honor was his first and only wife, nor that she was the mother of all of his children, although it is probable. In his will of 13 Feb 1668, Richard Treat makes the following bequest: "Item: My debts being paid, I give to my loving sons John Demon, and Robert Webster, equally, all the rest of my goods and chattels whatsoever, except Mr. Perkins book, which I give to my son John Demon, and my great bible to my daughter Honor Demon. And that money in my cousin Samuel Wells, his hand, unto my cousin David Deming, son of John Demon senior." This obscure clause seems to indicate that there was a John Demon senior, as well as John Demon the son-in-law, and suggests the possibility that the father of John Deming of Wethersfield was also names John. This is stated as a fact by Hinman, without giving authority, and the theory is further supported by the statements of the compiler of the Wells Genealogy, and other genealogists. Treat refers to David Deming as his cousin, and indicates the same relationship with Samuel Wells, who is presumably the son of Gov. Thomas Welles, who married Elizabeth Deming, said to have been a sister of John Deming. It would thus appear that the Treats, Welles, and Demings were connected in some way, perhaps before their removal to America. This is the only clue to the parentage of John Deming, and may ultimately lead to its final discovery.

It has been stated by some genealogists that John Deming was among the very first settlers of Wethersfield in 1635, and such is probably the case, but the proof is lacking. His first appearance upon the public records of the colony, after recording his homestead, was in 1642, March 2nd, when he was one of the jury of the "particular court." In 1645, Dec. 1st, he appears among the deputies as Jo. Demon, and in 1656 as John Dement, when as a deputy, he is appointed one of a committee, "to give the best safe advice they can to the Indians." In 1657, May 21st, he appears as a deputy to the General Court, as John Deming, and the following year as John Dement. He was a deputy at various courts until 1667, under various names, the name Deming prevailing at the last. He was also a litigant in several lawsuits. He is one of those named in the famous charter of Connecticut, in which King Charles granted to them and to those who should afterwards become associated with them, the lands of connecticut, "in free and common socage," and established a colonial government with unusual privileges.

Across the river from Wethersfield, and within its boundaries, lay the "Naubuc Farms," afterwards incorporated into the town of Glastonbury. Here among the first to obtain a lot, was John Deming in the year 1640, his name appearing as John Demion. It is not at all likely that he ever lived here, for he had a house in Wethersfield the following year, and he sold the land on the east side of the river to Samuel Wyllis before 1668. he also owned land in Eastbury, for which he was taxed in 1673. In 1669 he is listed among the freemen of Wethersfield, as John Deming Senior, together with John Deming Junior, and Jonathan Deming. He bought considerable land in Wethersfield at various times, some of which he gave to his sons before he died. The actual date of his death has never been discovered. He signed a codicil to his will Feb. 3, 1692, and this is the last recorded act of his life. When the public lands were allotted to the inhabitants in 1695, he did not draw a portion. It is probable that he died soon after 1692, although his will was not pored until 21 Nov. 1705, and Savage, and other genealogists have assumed that he lived until that year.

No public record has been found of the births of the children of John Deming, but their names, as far as known, have been taken from his will, which is preserved in the Probate Court of Hartford........

This old will is the one glimpse we have of the character of John Deming. It reveals a spirit of piety, of love for his family and his friends, and the companionship of some of the best men in the colony. It shows that he was a man of substance, well supplied with lands, and cattle; that he was equipped to work at some trade, which o doubt proved of service in the little colony when they first settled so far fro the older towns on the coast. We would like to know what that trade was, but the records are silent on that point. under the first will, David was to have the tools of the shop, and David, we know, was a rope-maker; but under the codicil to the will, these tools went to john Deming Junior, and whether he continued in his father's trade or not, we are not informed. At the time this will was written, John Deming must have been over seventy years old, and we may picture him in his last days among his children, and grandchildren, reading from his old Geneva bible, or talking with his old friends and neighbors of the trials and hardships of the early days of the settlement. As his wife is not mentioned in his will, it is probable that she died first. The church records of Wethersfield show among the members in 1694 "Jon. Deming Jr's. widow." It is hard to tell to whom this refers, unless to the widow of John Deming the first settler, but it is more probable that some other person is meant. Eunice Standish and her sister Sarah mentioned in the will as cousins, were daughters of Thos. Standish, whose land adjoined Deming's. The connection of this family with Capt Miles Standish of the Plymouth colony, has not been discovered. It would be interesting to learn how close was the relationship between the Deming and Standish families.

That John Deming was a prominent man in the affairs of the Connecticut colony, cannot be doubted, and his apparent association by kinship and friendship with those whom we look upon as among the founders of new England, indicates that he was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and possessed of some education. It is to be hoped that future investigation may bring to light more information than we now have regarding his life in America, and the history of his birth and ancestry in his mother country.

Trumbull speaks of John Deming as one of the fathers of Connecticut, and Hinman says of him, that in 1654 he held the office of constable of Wethersfield, an office which proved that he was in the full confidence of the Governor. His name frequently appears upon the records of the colony with the prefix "Mr.," a courtesy paid only to men of some prominence. The same authority states that he was a representative at fifty sessions of the General Court, while in Hollister's roll of deputies, he is credited with nineteen sessions. It is certain that he bore his full share in the upbuilding of the colony, serving his country as the opportunity presented itself, and setting an example of good citizenship, which has born fruit in the loyalty and patriotism of many of his descendants during many generations.

John married Honour TREAT about 1637. Honour (daughter of Hon. Richard TREAT and Alice GAYLARD) was born in 1616 in Pitminster, Somerset, England; was christened on 19 Mar 1615/16 in Pitminster, Somerset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Robert and Honora/Honour Trott

Notes:

Name:
"Hale, House and Related Families": "He was baptized under the name of Trott, married under the name of Trett; his children were baptized by the names of Trott and Tratt, and he was called Treat when he died." He signed documents with the spellings Treat and Treate. Winthrop referred to him in 1669 as Mr. Richard Treat, senior above 80 years. But in 1657 he noted Elizabeth Treat, 1 1/2 years, a daughter of "Mathias Treat alias Trott - a Kinsman of Mr. Trott." These entries show Winthop's knowledge of the shift in spelling the name, and confirm the opinion of the compiler of "The Treat Family" that Matthias Treat of Wethersfield was a relative of Mr. Richard Treat.

Alice Gaylard(Gaylord, Gaylaud) was daughter of Hugh Gaylard who appears in Taunton manor Registers as early as 1573, and was buried at Pitminister, 21 Oct 1614. He was probably son of Nicholas and Johane Gaylard, and by 1608 had an adult son George.

Richard Trotte appears in the Taunton manor Registers, which show that in 1600 he held land by surrender (because of death) of Robert Trotte, Honora relict of said Robert to hold during her widowhood. The family lived in the hamlet of Trendle (now the parish of Trull), in the large parish of Pitminster, less than five miles south of Taunton. Here all his children were born.

He emigrated after the baptism of his youngest child in June 1637, and was living in Wethersfield, Conn., by 1641, when entry of his land holdings was made there. He served as Deputy for Wethersfield to the General Court at the sessions of Apr. and Sept. 1644, Apr., Sept. and Dec. 1645, Apr and Oct. 1646, May and Sept 1647, May and Sept. 1648, May and Sept. 1649, May and Oct 1650, May and Sept. 1651, may and Sept. 1652, May and Sept. 1653, May and Sept. 1654, may and Oct. 1655, May 1656, Feb, May and Oct, 1657; and as Assistant of the Colony from May 1658 to May 1665. He was named as Patentee of the Royal Charter of Connecticut in 1662.

Richard married Alice GAYLARD on 27 Apr 1615. Alice was christened on 10 May 1594 in Pitminster, England; died after 1670 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Ann ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]