James NORTH

Family/Spouse: Sarah SEYMOUR. Sarah (daughter of Sergt Samuel SEYMOUR and Hannah NORTH) was born on 2 Dec 1712; died on 20 Aug 1781. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Thomas NORTH died in Drowned in the French and Indian War.
2. Asahel NORTH was born in 1741; died in 1816.
3. Lydia NORTH was born about 1746; died on 18 Apr 1814.
4. James NORTH, Esq. was born on 18 Jan 1748/9 in Farmington, Connecticut; died on 14 May 1843 in Farmington, Connecticut.
5. Mercy NORTH was born in 1754.

Notes:

Name:
He settled in Kensington and was one of the founders and one of its "seven pillars" of the church there in 1712. He was a man of wealth and standing. He left a very large estate for those days, the inventory amounting to 1335 pounds, 2 sh. 5d. (Conn. Genealogies p. 622; also the Newell Family.) By deed dated Jan. 24, 1709, he sold Rev. William Burnham two parcels of land, one of eighteen acres, and one of twenty-two acres at Great Swamp; and by deed of Feb. 1, 1709, he sold land in Beech Swamp, Great Swamp, to Samuel Seamore, who had married his sister, Hannah North. (North's Hist. of Berlin, p.27) He lived near the Seymour Stockade, and not far from the church.

Thomas North was a pioneer settler in that part of Berlin known as Christian Lane, where he owned much land, possibly a part of the grant made to his father. His name appears among those who petitioned the General Assembly at Hartford, Oct. 16, 1705, to settle in Great Swamp, now Berlin, and to have a meeting house there. he was one of the seven pillars of the original Congregational Church of Kensington, which was formed in 1712. The other six were William Burnham, pastor, Stephen Lee, Dr. Anthony Judd, Samuel Seymour, Thomas Hart and Caleb Cowles.

Thomas North was a man of wealth and influence. Attempts to find his dwelling place have failed. Records give it as Kensington and Farmington, but we know that he lived near the Seymour Stockade in Christian Lane just back of the residence of the late Mr. John Goodrich of Berlin. It was built of sixteen foot palisades, sharpened to points and stuck in the ground, and affording protection against the Indians. Around this stockade clustered many families, including the Harts, the Standleys (Stanley), the Nortons, Cowles, Porters, Gridleys, Newells and others less closely connected with the Norths.

Thomas North and Thomas hart were a committee to whom Rev. William Burnham deeded land Jan. 7, 1716/7, for a burying place in Christian Lane "To e theirs and their heirs forever, for the above said use." This graveyard, fallen into a condition of sore neglect, was restored in 1909 by the Emma Hart Willard Chapter of the D.A.R.

By deed of Jan. 24, 1709, Thomas North conveyed to William Burnham two parcels of land, one of 18 acres, the other of 22 acres, described as being in Great Swamp. By deed of Feb. 1, 1709, he sold land in Beach Swamp, Great Swamp, to Samuel Seamore, who married his sister Hannah North.

Thomas married Martha ROYCE on 1 Dec 1698. Martha (daughter of Isaac ROYCE and Elizabeth LATHROP) was born on 1 Jun 1679. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]