Judge Zebulon WEST

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 16 Mar 1707

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He was a man highly distinguished from integrity and benevolence and much respected in Tolland where he lived. He held public office from the time he was 29 years old till the day of his death. He was selectman for seventeen years, town clerk for thirty-four years. He was the first man who represented the town in the General Assembly and was elected for forty-three regular sessions, and was Speaker of the House for several sessions. Was judge of probate for eleven years. he was also one of the judges of the Hartford County Court, and one of the members of the Governor's Council. It used to be said that Zebulon West never did but one wrong thing, and that was when he succeeded in having the meeting house placed south of the centre of the town, against nearly a majority of the wishes of the inhabitants of the town. He educated three sons at Yale College. Stephen, who became a clergyman, settled at Stockbridge, Mass., and became one of the most distinguished theological writers of New England. Jeremiah, the youngest son, settled as a physician in Tolland.

Zebulon West was town-clerk thirty-four years. He was a son of Dea. Francis West, who before the year 1720, was a resident of Stonington. This is verified by the record of a deed from Josiah Rockwell, of Windsor, to Francis West, of Stonington dated November 29, 1718; also of a deed from Nathaniel Grant, of Tolland, to Francis West, of Stonington, dated March 1, 1720, both conveying land in Tolland. He was a resident in this town in January, 1721, as appears by the record of a deed from john Huntington to "Francis West of Tolland." These records show that he then had over seven hundred acres of land standing in his name, lying principally in the southeast corner of the town. He had several sons whose names appear on the records of the town. Their names are Samuel, Joseph, Amasa, Zebulon, Pelatiah, and Christopher. Joseph and Samuel were in town January 14, 1720, on which day the ear marks of their cattle were recorded. Samuel's mark was a half-penny on the fore side of the right ear; and Joseph's mark was a half penny on the foreside of the left ear.

Zebulon married Mary DELANO on 07 Oct 1731 in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Jabez DELANO and Mary DELANO) was born on 12 Apr 1712 in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts; died on 14 May 1743 in Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Zebulon married Sarah AVERY on 22 Feb 1744 in Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. Sarah was born in 1718 in Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut; died on 17 Nov 1778; was buried in Bolton Center Cemetery, Bolton, Tolland Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nathaniel married Lucretia WOODBRIDGE on 2 Nov 1771. Lucretia was born about 1752; died in Sept 1816 in East Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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He studied medicine, and on the first outbreak of the Revolution, in April, 1775, volunteered for service in the medical department of the army. He continued in this employment until March, 1782, - holding the rank of surgeon's mate until June, 1778, when he was promoted to be full surgeon. he was connected from July, 1775, to the end of 1776 with General Joseph spencer's Connecticut regiment, and after that with Colonel Samuel B. Webb's regiment.

On his resignation from the army he established himself in practice in his native village, and attained the leading position among the physicians of that county.

He took an active part in the organization of the Connecticut Medical Society (in 1792), of which he was Treasurer in 1794, Vice-President in 1803, and President from 1804 until his death.

He was also much in public life. He served as a member of the General Assembly during fourteen sessions between 1785 and 1804, as well as of the convention of 1788 which ratified the Constitution of the United States. After holding for many years a commission as Justice of the Peace, he was for the last thirteen years of his life on the bench of the County Court as a Justice of the Quorum.

He died at his home in Tolland, very suddenly, while sitting at the tea-table, on October 18 1806, in his 54th year.
Dr. West is said to have been full six feet in height, with a large and well-proportioned frame, and to have become so corpulent in later life that he weighted about 350 pounds and seemed to shake the ground as he walked. In social life he was cheerful and humorous, and peculiarly companionable and agreeable in his family.

He received the honorary degree of M.D. from this College in 1804.