Jacob DEMING

Notes:

Name:
"Deming Genealogy": Jacob Deming settled in Hartford, where the birth of his first child is recorded upon the town records. At the may session of the General Court at Hartford in 1698, he was granted a sum of money as compensation for personal damage, as appears from the following record: "Jacob Demmon having been wounded in the countrey service in firing the great gunes in Hartford (by order from the Govern'r and council when peace was proclaimed) whereby he susteined great losse and dammage, this court orders that he shall receive out of the countrey treasurye the sume of ten pounds cash, to be paid to him by the treasurer." At the October session of the same year "the court gives to Jacob Demmon five pounds more than was formerly given him in consideration of his wounding and dammage in firing the great gune which brake in firing." He evidently recovered from his injuries, for he had two sons born afterwards, but he disappears entirely from the Hartford records after the year 1703, and it is probable that he moved away or died about that time. His wife Elizabeth was living in 1718, and was probably a widow at that time, for the will of her father, Richard Edwards, dated 14 Apr 1718 bequeaths ten pounds to each of his daughters, with the special provision that Elizabeth is to receive her portion at once, as she may need it for her maintenance. According to some authorities, she married second a Mr. Hinckly, of Kingston, RI. It has been very difficult to trace the fate of the children of Jacob Deming. His eldest son Jacob, does not appear upon any records thus far examined, with the exception of the entry of his birth upon the town records of Hartford. His son Lemuel was a hatter, and married Susanna, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Bunce, who was born in 1704. Lemuel died 10 Dec 1724, leaving a "wife and child," as appears from his nuncupative will, in which he also refers to his mother and his friend, Timothy Phelps, to each of whom he left a small sum of money. In the inventory of his estate are "200 rackoons skinnes, 31 gallons rum, 51 pounds wool, 2 doz and 3 blocks a stone bason, tools, etc." A Timothy Deming of Hartford deeds land upon the east side of the river between the years 1740 and 1762, and it is supposed that he was the son of Jacob of hartford. While proof of this is lacking, there is evidence to support the theory, and the line is so continued. Contemporary with this family, there was living in the eastern part of East hartford a branch of the Damon family, whose names appear upon the records of East hartford and adjoining towns as Demmon, and sometimes as Deming. to add to the confusion, one of these men was named Timothy Damon (or Deming, as it often appears.) His brother, David Damon, appears upon the East hartford records as David Deming, who died 1 Apr 1825, aged 81 yrs. The same record shows the following marriages: Ruth Deming to Ebenezer Hills in 1775, Phebe Deming to Russell Hills in 1783, and Prudence Deming to Samuel (or Solomon) Brewer in 1797. These persons may have been descendants of Jacob Deming, of Hartford, and it is equally possible that they were descendants of the Damon family.

Jacob married Elizabeth EDWARDS on 14 Mar 1695 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard EDWARDS and Elizabeth TUTTLE) was born in 1675. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
"Deming Genealogy": According to Savage, John Deming Jr., was born in 1638, but the authority for this statement is not given. Hinman says that he was born in 1632, and if this earlier date is correct, he must have been born before his father moved to Wethersfield. To distinguish him from his father upon the early records of the town, he is called "Sergeant John Deming," this title indicating that he may have taken part in the Indian wars of the period. In 1662 he became one of the selectmen of the town, and was Representative from Wethersfield to the General Court from 1669 to 1672. In 1694, he and his wife appear among the members of the church at Wethersfield. His son John probably remained with his father on the home farm, while the other sons scattered, and their records are only partly found. Joseph probably moved to Woodstock, Hezekiah went to Farmington, and Jacob to hartford, while Jonathan lived in the vicinity of Wethersfield. Of Samuel no trace can be found, and it is supposed that he either died young, or moved to a distance. The fate of his daughters, Mary and Sarah has not been discovered. Fe 16, 1712, shortly after his death, his sons John, Joseph, Jonathan, and Hezekiah deed to each other, lands and other property possessed by each of them at the death of "our natural father Mr. John Deming." This indicates that Jacob and Samuel were not living at that time.

According to one authority Sergt. John Deming was a "packer" in 1692. As he inherited his father's tools a few years later, it is possible that this was also his father's trade. His brother David, to whom his father first bequeathed his tools, (and later withdrew the gift) is described as a "knacker," which is defined as a maker of small work, or a rope-maker. Perhaps both John and David followed the trade of their father, and the copyist has mistaken the word "knacker" for "packer."

John married Mary MYGATT on 12 Dec 1657. Mary was born about 1637. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Joseph and Ann Mygatt

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]

Notes:

Name:
There is a difference of opinion as to the name of the father for Elizabeth and John Deming. The book "The Descendants of Nathaniel Foote and Elizabeth Deming" by Ellwood Count Curtis, list Elizabeth's father's name as Richard. However, the book "Genealogy of the Descendants of John Deming of Wethersfield, Connecticut" lists John's father's name as John. Since the latter book gives reason for their conclusion, I am using the name of John.

I have placed the "Sr" after his name to be able to distinguish him from his son.

John married ? UNKNOWN. [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]