Mary SLAWSON

Notes:

Mary lived at Wilton, Fairfield County, Connecticut until after her husband's death, and then moved to Greenfield, Ulster, County, New York.

Mary married David WESTCOTT in Sep 1739 in Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. David (son of John WESTCOTT and Rose HOLMES) was born on 27 Jul 1719 in Wilton, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; died on 30 Jul 1806 in Wilton, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Abigail WESTCOTT was born on 23 Apr 1757 in Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA; died on 28 Nov 1782.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Nathaniel Slauson
• Occupation: Between 1776 and 1780; Tax Collector, Kent, Conn.

Notes:

Born probably at Bedford, Westchester County, NY. Moved to Stamford Connecticut with his parents about 1697. First to use name SLOSSON, although he was referred to a SLASON, SLAWSON and SLASSON. He was left a full orphan in 1706 and removed to Deerfield, Franklin County, Mass. Raised by his mother's relative. After his marriage to Margaret Belding they resided at Norwalk until 1739, when they became part of the original group of settlers at Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut. Interred in the family cemetery at Kent. He bought nine acres of land at Captain's Plain, in Norwalk, Conn., Feb. 24, 1720-1721; and five acres at Kent, in Norwalk, March 1, 1720-1721; and in each deed was described as of "Deerfield, Mass." He probable began his residence in Norwalk directly after buying the land; for he was called "of Norwalk," Nov. 16, 1721, when Samuel Belden gave him a deed of all of said Belden's right in the undivided lands in Norwalk, "in consideration of the love and good will which I have and do bear toward my loving cousin, Nathaniel Slawson of said Norwalk." He was chosen constable of Kent, Dec. 4, 1739; the town meeting was held at his house Sept. 1, 1740; and in 1744, he was a lister, and his own estate was valued at L55 10S. They joined the church in Kent, July 12, 1711.[Slosson 11-20-00 Greene.FTW]

Moved to Stamford, CT with his parents about 1697. He was left a full orphan in 1706, and removed to Deerfield Franklyn Co., MA, where he was raised by his Mother's relatives. About 1717 or 1718 he returned to Connecticut, and resided in Norwalk, Fairfield County. Married 11 December 1719 at Deerfield to Margret Belding. They resided at Norwalk, mostly in the portion known as Wilton until 1739, when they became part of a group of original settlers at Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut. He died 8 Mar 1787. They are interred in the family cemetery at Kent, CT.
Nathaniel, after being orphaned, was brought up by Daniel Belding (1648-1731), who was undoubtedly related to his Mother. This is further substantiated by the fact that Daniel Belding had a sister, Susanna, and was therefore in all probability Nathaniel's uncle. Daniel Belding's son was William Belding, who married Margaret Arms, and their eldest child was Margaret Belding, who married Nathaniel. Nathaniel and his wife were, therefore, first cousins, once removed.
With Nathaniel, the SLOSSON spelling of the name is first used, with the
exception of his eldest children (daughters), all the dedcendents of Nathaniel
have used this spelling. His father's (Eleazer's) will mentioning him by name,
was proved under the name SLASON. His marriage record, on file in Deerfield,
gives his name as SLASSON. When he returned from Deerfield to Norwalk with his bride he purchased land on 1 Feb 1720/1 and made a further purchase on 1 Mar 1729/1. In both these deeds he was "NATHANIEL SLASON". On 16 Nov 1721, Samuel Belden (Belding) (for differences of spelling of this name see notes for Eleazer Slason) presented him with a deed for rights in land "in consideration of the love and good will I have and do bear toward my cousin, Nathaniel Slawson, of said Norwalk". This is particularly interesting for two reasons: first; the reference to his "cousin". Previous genealogist, failing to have the connection between Nathaniel's mother and the Belding family, interpred this to mean "cousin" as a result of his marriage to Margaret Belding. Actually, Samuel meant what he stated when he said "cousin", and it is somewhat far reasoning for him to be guilty of publicly stating his "love" for a cousin-in-law. Nor did the donor say "Nathaniel Slawson, husband of my cousin, Margaret Slawson", which would be the usual phraseology in those days of meticulous accuracy as attested by the many documents so worded that are on file for other families, as well as other branches of this family. On close scrutiny, there seems to be no question that Samuel Belden (Belding) was acknowledging the blood relation existing between himself and Nathaniel Slawson.
He bought 9 acres of land at Captain's Plain in Norwalk in 1720 or 1721, 5 acres in Kent; and on 11 Jun 1722 two parcels of land on E side of the E branch of Pimpsewaug River at Pimpsewaug, Norwalk, and on 14 Aug 1729, 1 1/2 acres from his father-in-law, William Belding adjoining his homestead in the Parish of Wilton which included the districts of Kent and Pimpsewaug, CT.
He and Margaret were members of the church at Wilton at the ordination of Rev. Wm. Gaylord 13 Feb 1732-3.
In the first division of lands at Kent in May, 1738, he drew lot #21 about 3
miles NE of Kent village, in the district called Flanders; and tradition says he
settled thereon about 1 Nov 1739. He was chosen constable of Kent 4 Dec 17339.
They joined the church at Kent 12 Jul 1741.

"George Slawson: An American Pioneer" by Harold D. Slosson - Born in Bedford, raised in Deerfield, Mass.; he moved in 1720 to Wilton and Norwalk, Conn.; next in 1739, becoming one of the original shareholders of Kent, Conn.

Nathaniel married Margaret BELDEN on 11 Dec 1719 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Margaret (daughter of William BELDEN and Margaret ARMS) was born on 10 Feb 1701 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 14 Apr 1780 in Kent, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Good Hill Cemetery, Kent, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Belding; Also known as Margaret Belden

Notes:

[Slosson 11-20-00 Greene.FTW]

In 1704 the French and their Indian allies massacred English Settlers at
Deerfield, Massachusets.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Slason
• Fact: Selectman
• Birth: Abt 1641, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA

Notes:

[Slosson 11-20-00 Greene.FTW]

Eleazer became one of the original patentees of Bedford, Westchester County, New York, and resided there although he never gave up his holdings in Stamford, CT. He returned to Stamford about 1697, where he died in 1695/98(?). His will is dated 29 Apr 1691, and proved 22 Jul 1699.

Notes from New England Genealogy: (as published) Slawson, Eleazer, Stamford, son of George, had a fam. but the names are unkn.
(we have names in our records). George, Lynn 1637, rem to Sandwich, yet is not found among men able to bear arms in 1643: probably went to Stamford bef 1644, where were, 1669, propound for freem. he with s. Eleazer and John. He had a d. wh. m. John Gould, and these three ch seem to be all he had when his will was made. He d. 17 Feb 1695. John, Stamford, son of Eleazer m. 12 Nov 1663, Sarah, d. of William Tuttle of New Haven, had John b. 1664, Sarah, 1667: and Johnathon, 1670. She was killed 17 Nov 1676, with an axe, by her brother Benjamin Tuttle, who though probably insane, was executed for it, 13 Jun following. He married second wife Elizabeth Benedict, had Mary, Thomas, and perhaps more ch and d. 1706. One of the original patentees of Bedford, Westchester County, New York. Returned to Stamford about 1697, where they died.

On June 6, 1692, he testified in favor of the accused witch, Elizabeth CLAWSON, that he had lived near her as neighbors for many years, and always observed her to be a woman for peace and without malice.

"George Slawson : An American Pioneer" by Harold D. Slosson - Moved from his birthplace in Stamford to Westchester Co., NY, where in 1681 he became one of the original patentees of Bedford, New Yor,

Eleazer married Susanna BELDING in 1680 in Bedford, Westchester, New York. Susanna (daughter of William BELDEN and Thomasine (Tamsen) SHERWOOD) was born on 05 Nov 1651 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died in 1706 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[Slosson 11-20-00 Greene.FTW]

No actual marriage records seem to exist, although there is no questions that
her given name was Susanna, there has never previiously been an effort to
establish her maiden name as Belding. With direct proof lacking, this
conclusion has beeen reached by certain other corroborating data, which is
explained more fully under the note for her son, Nathaniel. It would appear from
the evidence available that she came to Bedford as a married woman, and that she
was a widow at the time of her marriage to Eleazer Slason. No record has been
found covering any previous marriage, and the compiler, although morally
convinced the statement is correct, does not submit it as a fact. William and
Thomasine Belding were among the early and prominent settlers of Deerfield, MA,
although the town was not settled until after Susanna Belding was born. There
is also no doubt that the Belding family of Deerfield and the Belden family of
Norwalk were one and the same family. The Deerfield records usually used the
Belding spelling, and these records make frequent references to the individuals
of the family who moved to Norwalk. The Norwalk records rarely spell the name
other than Belden, although the Belding spelling is known. Whenever the name
enters the records of Stamford there seems to be an unsettled quality to the
matter, and both spellings are used on occaision, apparently indiscriminately.
The Deerfield records show Susanna's birth date and connection to the family,
and trace the relationships mentioned in the note for son, Nathaniel.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Taken Prisoner by Indians
• Birth: 26 Dec 1671
• Military Service: Between 1703 and 1704; Sgt. Indian War

William married Margaret ARMS on 02 May 1700 in Deerfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts. Margaret (daughter of William ARMS and Joanna HAWKS) was born on 06 Oct 1683 in Hatfield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts; died in 1780. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Admitted a Freeman
• Religion: Puritan (congregationalist)
• Occupation: May 1657; Judge of Stamford, Conn.
• Occupation: May 1659; Dep. Judge of Stamford, Conn.
• Occupation: Oct 1663; Deputy to New Hampshire Leg.
• Will: 19 Dec 1694

Notes:

From the introduction of "SLASON-SLAUSON-SLAWSON-SLOSSON" by George Slawson:
The original spelling of the name (after being Anglicized), and before it came to this country, was SLAWSON. When George SLAWSON came to America, it was so spelled in Lynn, Mass., and in Sandwich, Mass., and it was not until his arrival in Stamford in 1642 that the first variation occurred. In Stamford, the town clerk entered the name (and quite possible so at its owner's instigation, as he was an educated man) as SLASON. Thereafter, for over a hundred years, the town clerks of Stamford so spelled the name with a fine disregard for whatever method the possessor of the name might prefer. George, himself, signed his name on several documents--witnesses to treaties with the Indians, and various legal documents--and his signature is known with both spellings, although the SLAWSON spelling is predominant. In the course of time, the spelling of the town clerks of Stamford was quite widely accepted, but as it gave too easy rise to improper pronunciation, the majority of the family inserted either a U or a W in the middle to force correct pronunciation. Today, SLASON is the least common of the 4 methods of spelling of the name. The SLAUSON spelling came also from another source besides the one outlined above. It is a peculiarity of handwriting that the letters "WS" are difficult to form, and that of "US" are not. Purely as a convenience and aid to easier manipulation, many members of the family changed from SLAWSON to SLAUSON, and on several occasions both methods are in use by children of one family. The SLOSSON method of spelling received a comparatively late start in America, being unknown prior to 1739. During this year a group of families moved from Norwalk, Conn., to form a new settlement at Kent, Conn.; among them being the family of Nathaniel SLASON. On their arrival at Kent, one of their number was elected town clerk, and his first entry showed the families of Nathaniel SLOSSON, all of whose descendants still use this particular spelling. By about 1800, the various methods of spelling the name had become pretty well fixed in the various channels, and, except for occasional changes from SLAWSON to SLAUSON, few individuals varied the routine in vogue for their particular branches of the family.
Richard SLAWSON's name on the records in England was spelled SLAWSON, but there is nothing that he wrote it so-or even know how to write. There is however, ample evidence to prove that this spelling continued to exist in England, and later migrations to America have been made by individuals using this spelling. However, from the spellings used on tombstones, it would seem that the SLAWSON spelling was an Anglicized version of SLOSSON, which according to the author, was known as early as the twelfth century. There seems to be little doubt that this spelling was in use considerably earlier than 1600, and no evidence to prove it had not been completely abandoned in favor of SLAWSON by that date. In 1739 this spelling was again put into use, this time in America-- and it is in active use here today, but is apparently unknown in England.
Apparently neither George nor Thomas were too well equipped with funds, and being unable to afford passage, they shipped on as sailors. Upon reaching America they went ashore and stayed out of sight until the ship sailed without them. This was not an unusual occurrence, as the ships' records show they frequently left America with only a portion of their crews. It would also explain why the names were not on the passenger list.

George Slawson emigrated to America, probably on the ship JONAS which landed in 1636. The JONAS, John Crowther - master, was chartered for a voyage to Charleston (MA) and Boston Towne, but is is not known when she arrived or whether she brought passengers. George moved out of Lynn, MA in 1637 with a group of other persons to Sandwich, MA on Cape Cod. The name of his first wife (mother of all his children), whom he married at Sandwich, CA 1640, is unknown. They moved to Stamford, CT, in 1642 and settled there. Marriage No. 2 on 16 Dec 1680 at Fairfield, CT to Mary Williams (Jennings), the widow of Joshua Jennings.
There were no children by his second marriage. He died 17 FEB 1694/5 at
Stamford, and she died in March 1697. Prior to his arrival in Stamford, his
name was infallibly spelled SLAWSON, but the Stamford records usually refer to him as SLASON. According to his own writing, he used both spellings, apparently without much discrimination, although SLAWSON is the one he used most frequently.
Authors of local histories pertaining to the New England colonies agree that
George and Thomas (2) Slawson were in Lynn, MA in 1637, and that their names were included in the list of those who went from Lynn, Duxbury and Plymouth to form the new colony at Sandwich. Unfortunately, the early records of Sandwich are very meager, due largely to a fire which destroyed most of them.
See notes under Eleazer.

"George Slawson: An American Pioneer" by Harold Dye Slosson - Salied across the Atlaantic, landing in Lynn, Mass., 1636; then went south, helping found Sandwich; next west, becoming in 1642 a Stanford, Conn., pioneer.

Name:
"Connecticut Ancestry": The Slason Genealogy gives his parents names as Richard Slawson and Anne Angell, who were married at St. Saviour's Church in Southwark, Surrey on 13 March 1610. this Church is directly across the Thames River from London, and it is possible that Richard Slawson had come to the greater London area from some other place. Birth records for George Slason and his brother Thomas do not seem to have been found.

Both the Slason Genealogy and the Bedford genealogies report that he "probably" immigrated to the New World on the ship "jonas" in 1636, but without further explanation.

George Slason was in lynn, Essex County, massachusetts by 1637 and soon afterward in Sandwich, Brnstavle County (Cape Cod), by 1638. the name of George Slason (but not Thomas) appeared on an undated list of men who had taken the Oath of fidelity at Sandwich. George Slason (but not Thomas) was awarded 2 acred in a division of meadow land in Sandwich dated 16 April 1640.

The Slason "brothers" apparently removed from Sandwich to Stamford during the first year of settlement of that town. Thomas Slason was granted a houe lot and another 3 acres, and presumably George was also, but no record of such a grant to George seems to have been preserved. There is no further record of this Thomas Slason in Stamford and although it has been claimed that he quickly returned to the Plymouth Colony, it also seems possible that the single record for Thomas in Stamford instead belonged to George all along and that Thomas therefore never exited - at least not as a Stamford resident.

In a difficult chapter from Stamford's early years, George Slason and (Thomas Stevenson) had the unfortunate experience of being accused by the new Haven Court on 1 April 1644 with being responsible for the escape of the Dutchman who had murdered Capt. Daniel Patrick, and who was under arrest and under their guard at Stamford. Apparently because of the mitigating circumstances offered by Slason and Stevenson in their own defense, the case was not pursued and no sentences imposed.

Stamford Historian the Rev. Mr. Huntington called George Slason an "exemplary member of the church, a peace maker, and one whom all delighted to honor." Huntington also related that George Slason was one of two Stamford leaders (along with Francis Bell) chosen to call the Rev. John Bishop to be pastor at Stamford, replacing the Rev. Richard Denton who had abruptly left Stamford without pastoral leadership in about 1644. The source for this account is not clear but it was reported as follows at a celebration of the Church in 1841:

"Rev. John Bishop succeeded Mr. (Richard) Denton (as pastor of the stamford Congregational Church). To show the value which the church placed in that age, upon the regular ministrations of the Gospel, I will state the method of making out the call to Mr. Bishop. Hearing he was in the neighborhood of Boston, two brethren, George Slason and Francis Bell, were deputed to go to Boston, and if he was to be found to make known to him the wishes of the Church. Although the country was full of hostile Indians, they went on foot carrying their provisions, and succeeded at length in finding Mr. Bishop "to the eastward of Boston." He accepted the call and returned with them on foot bringing his Bible under his arm, through the wilderness, to Stamford. (This Bible is still in the possession (in 1841) of Mr. Noah Bishop, one of his descendants.) Mr. Bishop labored here in the inistry nearly 50 years, and died in 1693."

The lands of George Slason were recorded in the Spring of 1650/51, when most of Stamford's land holdings were summarized in the Town Records. Unfortunately, the page has been torn so a complete description of some of his outlying land has been lost. His homelot, however, is described as "One house and home lot with an acre and half adjoining to it, the home lot, and it contains 3 acres, more or less, bounded by Obadiah Seeley to the South, Thomas Morris (to the) NOrth, abutting the highway (on the) West & the Meadow (on the) East."

George Slason served at least twice as Deputy (Representative) from Stamford to the New haven Colony Court at New Haven, in 1657 and 1663. After Stamford and the other New Haven Colony towns became a part of the Connecticut Colony, George Slason and his sons John and Eleazer were three of 21 Stamford men who were approved as freemen by the Connecticut Assembly at their meeting in Hartford of 14 October 1669.

He married (2) at Fairfield on 16 December 1680, Mary (Williams) Jennings widow of Joshua Jennings who had died at Fairfield in 1675. they had made an extensive pre-nuptial contract on 18 November 1680 including recognition that she would "bring two or three of her younger children with her." Mary (Williams) Jennings) Slason returned to Fairfield after the death of George Slason. She made her will there on 27 march 1697, naming her (own) children Matthew, isaac, Samuel, Joshua and Joseph Jennings and Mary Curtis, her grandson John Smith, and "daughter in law hannah Jennings." Her inventory was taken during 1697 and filed on 10 January 1697/98.

Prior to the time of his second marriage, George Slason transferred title to a substantial portion of his property in Stamford to his three children. On 10 September 1680, he confirmed and clearly identified lands that he had "formerly given" to his son in law John Gold to be his forever "as part or portion to or with my daughter Hanna." The gift included his house and 3 1/2 acre homelot on south Street, and another 3 acres of upland in the North Field. Apparently John Gold had previously made a partial payment to his father in law since he (Gold) signed a note attached to this deed of gift that courteously allowed his benefactor to keep the previous partial payment, "The aforsaid John Gold doth (in consideration of ye premises) aquit & discharg his farther-in-aw for named of what sum so ever ye said Gold paid in pte of purchase of he said house & lands, viz: three pounds or there abouts."

Then, about 2 month later on the 3rd day, 10th month (December) 1680, George Slason made substantial gifts of property to both of his sons, John and Eleazer. Both deeds were witnessed by Jonathan Bell and Samuel Weed, and for some reason were not recorded until 16th day 2nd month (April) 1686.

George Slason made his will at Stamford on 19 December 1694, mentioning his wife but not by name, and his sons John and Eleazer and his daughter the wife of John Gold. His signature is smudged on the document, but it is clear that he could write his own name at the time. He added a codicil about 3 weeks later (9 January 1694/5), signed at this time only with his G S mark. Both instruments were witnessed by Abraham Ambler and Samuel Holly.

His inventory was taken by Jonathan Bell and Jonas Weed and filed on 5 November 1695, consisting of over 25 acres of land and rights still remaining in his name, livestock, tools, household furnishings, and 3 old bibles.

George married Mrs. George SLAWSON about 1640 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. Mrs. was born about 1619 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: William Beldon

Notes:

Excerpt from "Connecticut Puritan Settlers": tradition says, that two brothers by the name of Belden, were among the first settlers of the colony of Conencticut, and that they made their first location at Wethersfield, but that one of them, (William), after a while, on the settlement of Norwalk, removed thither. As early as Feb. 7, 1641, and among the earliest grants, Richard had eight distnect tracts of land allotted to him by the town, and little or no mention is made of William, save that he had three sons, Samuel, Daniel and John, born by his first wife, Tomisin; yet Williams death is found in Wethersfield, about 1660, and Samuel and John are found at Norwalk, about 1673.

Source: Belden/Baildon by Stephen M. Lawson: William Belden, of Wethersfield, died in 1655. His will dated 27 March 1655, may be found in Hartford County Probate records, in the Particular Court for the years 1650-1663, Volume II, pages 69-70. No land records have been discovered for him although he is mentioned in several records.
Descendants believe William to be the first son of the emigrant Richard, and that he was born about 1622.
In the "Parish Registers of Heptonstall", by Edith Horsfall (Yorkshire Register Society 1925) as cited by Donald E. Poste, there is a William baptized 23 April 1609, shown as a son of Lawrance Beldon of Ayringden.
In this same Register, a Richard Beldon is mentioned although his birth is not shown. William and Richard have been shown as brothers, father and son, and also as cousins. A research agency in 1935, wrote that they were distant cousins, that William Belden came to America in 1646 and established a home in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he married Thomasine Allen (?). The researcher (name and address now lost), as well as others, made the statement that all Beldens were descended from the large family of the name lving in York County, England.
Most writers have seemed inclined to accept as fact that Richard Belden was the son of Sir Francis Bayldon. Particularly in view of the English history of a Yorkshire manor and family, "Baildon and the Baildons, by Wm. Paley Baildon, ed. by Francis J. Baildon", we used the same assumption in our "Family Hustory of Judge Ellsworth B. Belden (1969).
If Richard Belden was the son of Sir Francis Baildon (Bayldon), then William Belden, of Wethersfield, was not his brother. As Richard was the only one named in Wethersfield records as having a house or land, we have placed William as Richard's first son......

"Belden Ancestry in England" by Stephen M. Lawson states that the parentage of Richard Belden (d. Aug. 1655, Wethersfield, Hartford Co, CT) has not been absolutely proved. The most probable BELDEN ancestry is presented here, summaried from a two part article "the English Ancestry of Richard Belden of Wethersfield, Connecticut, With the Probable Ancestry of William Belden of Wethersfield," by Paul C. REED in "The American Genealogist (76:1-2, Jan and Apr 2001). Refer to the "Appendix on the Belden English Ancestry". Which states the following: The parentage of Richard Belden (d. Aug. 1655, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT) has not been absolutely proved. the 'traditional' viewpoint is that he was the son of Sir Francis BAILDON and Margaret GOODRICK who was baptized May 26, 1591 at Kippax, Yorkshire, England. However, there is no documentary evidence identifying Richard BELDEN of Wethersfield as the Richard BAILDON baptized at Kippax. Researcher Paul C. Reed has written a two-part article published in "The American Genealogist" in January and April 2001 in which he concludes, "Richard Baildon, the son of Sir Francis Baildon, died in England. He was not the New England immigrant," and that "The best deduction that can be made is that Richard Belden, born about 1598-1599, was the eldest son of Lawrence Beldon, bnaptized shortly before the commencement of the Heptonstall registry."

Note: For the above reasons, I am putting William Belden as the son of Lawrence Beldon.

William married Thomasine (Tamsen) SHERWOOD in 1646 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Conn. Thomasine (daughter of Thomas SHERWOOD and Alice SEABROOK) was born on 24 Oct 1615 in Bocking, England; died on 04 Jan 1684 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Daniel Belding
• Residence: Daniel Belden

Notes:

When Daniel and Elizabeth and Esther, went to Canada, whence he came back in 1698.

Daniel married Elizabeth FOOTE on 10 Nov 1670 in Hatfield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of Nathaniel FOOTE, Jr. and Elizabeth SMITH) was born in 1654 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 16 Sep 1696 in Deerfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Killed by Indians

Notes:

Elizabeth along with son Daniel, and the youngest 2 children were killed by Indians on September 16, 1696, when Samuel, Abigail, and two others of the children were wounded.

Excerpt from "Discendants of Nathaniel Foote Sr. & Elizabeth Deming" by Ellwood Count Curtis:

The Hatfield town record states:
"16 September 1696: The Indians came along from up Green river to the town, and assaulted Mr. Daniel Belden's house; took Mr. Belden, his son Nathaniel and daughter Esther captive, killed his wife and three children, and wounded Samuel and Abigail, but they recovered, although Samuel had a hatchet stuck in his head, and some of his brains came out at his wound."

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: 06 Apr 1676; Soldier under Capt. Wim. Turner at Hadley
• Military Service: 19 May 1676; Served in the Indian fight at Great Falls
• Residence: 1684, Removed from Hatfield to Sunderland (Deerfield) Mass.
• Occupation: 1698; Farm-viewer
• Occupation: 1699; Constable
• Occupation: 1700; Tythingman
• Occupation: 1701; Fence-viewer and school Commissioner
• Residence: 1713, Removed to Sunderland

Notes:

Name:
William Arms, the ancestor of the Arms family in the United States, came from the Island of either Jersey or Guernsey, in the English Channel. It is presumed that he assumed the name of Arms, as none of this name are found on the island from which he came. He was a knitter of stockings by trade. The first heard of him was his marriage with Joanna, daughter of John Hawks, one of the settlers of Hadley, Mass., in 1677. His name appears in the town records of Hatfield, Mass., in 1677. He removed from Hatfield to Sunderland thence to Deerfield, Mass., about 1684. In 1698 he was chosen farm-viewer, and one of a committee to build a school house and hire a schoolmaster; in 1699, a constable; in 1700, a tythingman; in 1701, a fence-viewer and school commissioner. After that his name appears almost yearly in the town records. Also, in the records of Sunderland, Mass., from 1714 to 1722, where he is spoken of as "Good Mr. Arms." He served in the Indian fight at Great Falls, and was one of those entitled to the township granted by the General Court, 1736. His body lies in the old burying ground at Deerfield, a little east of the center of the grounds, adjacent to his son William and grandson William.

William Arms served as a soldier under Capt William Turner, at Hadley, April 6, 1676; was in the Falls fight Ma 19, 1676; at hatfield 1677, where he speculated largely in real estate; he also owned real estate in hartford; he came to Deerfield about 1698, and settled at the south end of the Street on "Arms Corner," now in the possession of his descendants, Geo. A. and Richard C. Arms, for which he exchanged with Thos. Hunt a house and land in hartford; he removed to Sunderland, 1713; came back three or fou ears later and died Aug. 25, 1731, aged 77. He married November 21, 1677, Joanna, daughter of John Hawks of Hadley; she die November 22, 1729, age 76.

William married Joanna HAWKS on 21 Nov 1677. Joanna (daughter of John HAWKES and Elizabeth BROWNE) was born on 08 Feb 1654 in Hadley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts; died on 22 Nov 1729 in Deerfield, Mass.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]