Deacon Samuel PRENTICE

Samuel married Abigail BILLINGS before 1728. Abigail (daughter of Ebenezer BILLINGS, Jr. and Phebe DENISON) was born on 01 Mar 1706/7 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 30 Oct 1789. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Abigail PRENTICE was born on 11 Dec 1734 in Stonington, New London Co. Connecticut; died on 18 Aug 1786.

Notes:

Name:
His grandfather conveyed to him by deed of gift, one hundred acres of land in Newton, in 1705. He sold this land and removed to Stonington, Conn., about 1709.

Samuel married Esther HAMMOND in 1701. Esther (daughter of Nathaniel HAMMOND and Mary GRIFFIN) was born in abt. 1684 in Newton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; died in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Christopher Avery Cemetery, Ledyard, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Sarah STANTON on 20 Jan 1674/5 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. Sarah (daughter of Thomas STANTON and Anna LORD) was born about 1656 in Pawcatuck, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 07 Aug 1713 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
An ancient note book kept by nathaniel hammond, Jr., is still in existence and is no (1902) in possession of a descendant, Mr. George Warren hammond, of yarmouthville, Me. it contains many valuable records relating to early Newton families and is relied upon to prove, without a question of doubt, who his mother really was. So much doubt has been entertained on this point in the past that the author has taken pains to copy a few entries from this very interesting and ancient book. the following are among the earlier entries and may be taken to prove the connection conclusively. Under date of Feb. 23, 1711-12, the entry is as follows:

Then reckoned with my unkol, Joseph Griffin, and paid for his son's work, the year ending June 12, 1711.

There is also an entry of money paid to Benjamin Griffin, probably the son.

August 1, 1712, Paid to my onkel, Joseph Griffin, four pounds.

May 25, 1713, then reckoned with my unkol, Joseph Griffin; due to him ten pounds, seven shillings.......

May 6, 1702, nathaniel and Thomas Hammond, Samuel Truesdale and Elizabeth, his wife, Samuel Prentice and Esther, his wife, mary and Sarah Hammond, children of Nathaniel Hammond, late of Newton, agreed that the share of their sister, Hannah, deceased, in her minority, should go to their brother, Thomas. In this agreement they mention "Mary Williams, our mother, widow of our father, Nathaniel Hammond."

Nathaniel married Mary GRIFFIN about 1670. Mary (daughter of Richard GRIFFIN and Mary ?) was born about 1650; was christened on 17 May 1657 in Roxbury, Massachusetts; died on 13 Oct 1732; was buried in Eliot Cemetery, Roxbury, Massachusetts . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Richard and Mary Griffin

Notes:

Name:
Mary Griffin, b. about 1650, (bapt. with several other children of Richard and Mary Griffin, in Roxbury, Mass., May 17, 1657, ) dau. of Richard and Mary (?) Griffin, the early settlers in Roxbury, Mass. She m. 2nd Capt. Isaac Williams, of Newton, Mass. She had a brother, Joseph Griffin, who adm. her father's estate.

"At a Court held in Boston, by adjournment, March 28, 1680, adm. on the estate of Richard Griffin, sometime of Muddy River, dec'd intestate, formerly under the administration of mary his relict, now also dec'd is granted to joseph Griffin, his son." (Suffolk Court Records, Vol. 9, p. 1)

Notes:

Name:
Capt. Thomas Prentice, b. in England in 1621. The earliest record of his being in this country is the birth of his tow children, Thomas and Elizabeth, twins, Jan. 22, 1650. He and his wife joined the church in Cambridge in 1652. They lived in the eastern part of Cambridge village, and later in Newton, Mass., where he d. from a fall from his horse July 6, 1710, aged 80 years. He was appointed captain of the troop of horse in the Indian war, June 24, 1675. He was a terrible enemy to the hostile Indians, but ever a friend to the Indian converts. He m. Grace, and brought her with him to this country with his eldest child. Mrs. Grace d. Oct. 9, 1692.

Thomas married Grace ?. Grace died on 09 Oct 1692. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Thomas Stanton, who became distinguished among the first planters of Stonington, Conn., was in early manhood in England designed and educated for a cadet, but not liking the profession of arms, and taking a deep interest in the religious principles of the migrating Puritans, he left his native land, embarking o board of the good ship 'Bonaventure,' in 1635, and landed in Virginia, but left there almost immediately for Boston, mingling with the native on the way, and rapidly acquired a knowledge of their language and customs. On arrival in Boston he was recognized by Winthrop and his associates as a valuable man, worthy of the most unlimited confidence, for the very next year he was selected by the Boston authorities to accompany Mr. Fenwick and Hugh Peters, as interpreter on a mission to Saybrook, Conn., to hold a conference with the Pequot Indians relative to the murder of Capt. Stone and Newton. After the close of the conference Mr. Stanton went up to Hartford, and there fixed his permanent abode in 1637. Mr. Stanton's accurate knowledge of the language and character of the Indians soon gave him prominence in the new settlements of Connecticut, for the very first year that he came to Hartford, the General Court gave him ten pounds for the service he had already done for the country, and declared that he should be a public officer, to attend the court upon all occasions, either general or particular, at the meetings of the magistrates, to interpret between them and the Indians, at a salary of ten pounds per annum. Mr. Stanton did not always agree with the policy of Capt. Mason and the court relative to the treatment of the Indians, and drew upon himself their displeasure; but being a man accustomed to speak his own mind and act upon his own convictions, maintained his position, though they discontinued his salary for two years, alleging long absence as the cause, and appointed Mr. Gilbert to take his place, but in 1648 they restored him to the place with its compensation. He became the intimate and special friend of Gov. Winthrop of Connecticut, acting as his interpreter in all of his intercourse with the Indians. it was while thus employed, in an interview with Ninigret in the Narragansett country that Mr. Stanton became acquainted with the Pawcatuck Valley, and selected it for his future residence. He was the first white man who joined Mr. William Chesebrough in his new settlement. He petitioned the General Court of Connecticut for liberty to erect a trading house there, which was granted in February, 1650. In the spring following he came to Pawcatuck and erected his trading house on the west bank of Pawcatuck river, in Stonington, in 1651, near a place ever since known as Pawcatuck Rock, for the reason that the deep water channel in the river touched the east side of said rock where vessels trading with him could easily receive and discharge their cargoes without any expense for the erection of a wharf. Mr. Stanton did not remove his family to Pawcatuck in Stonington until 1657, where he had previously erected a dwelling house...

After the articles of confederation between the New England colonies had been established in 1643, among all of the distinguished interpreters of New England, Mr. Stanton was selected as interpreter general, to be consulted and relied upon in all emergencies. In this capacity and in their behalf he acted as interpreter, especially between the ministers employed by the commissioners of the United Colonies, acting as agents of the London Missionary Society, and the Indians, to whom they preached. He also aided the Rev. Abraham Pierson in the translation of his catechism into the Indian tongue, certifying to the same in his official capacity. After Mr. Stanton became an inhabitant of Pawcatuck in Stonington he took an active part in town affairs, he became prominent, and was elected to almost every position of public trust in the new settlement. In 1658, when Pawcatuck was included in the town of Southertown, under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, he was appointed selectman and magistrate. After Pawcatuck was set off to the Connecticut Colony by the charter of 1662, Mr. Stanton was appointed magistrate and commissioner and re-appointed every year up to the time of his death. he was elected deputy or representative to the General Court of Connecticut in 1666 and re-elected every year up to 1675.

Thomas married Anna LORD in 1637 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Anna (daughter of Thomas LORD and Dorothy BIRD) was born in 1621 in Towcester, England; was christened on 18 Sep 1614; died in 1688 in Anquilla, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Thomas Hammond, son of William and Mary (?) Hammond, of Melford, England, and grandson of John and Agnes (?) Hammond, of Lavenham, England, was baptized at Melford, county of Suffolk, England, with his twin brother, John, Sept. 2, 1603. He was a first cousin of William Hammond, who settled in Watertown, Mass., in 1636.

He married in Lavenham, England, Nov. 12, 123, Elizabeth Cason, b. in Great Whelnetham, a few miles north of Lavenham, before 1604, daughter of Robert and Prudence (Hammond) Cason. She was a grand-daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (?) Hammond, of Great Whelnetham.

Thomas Hammond was one of the first settlers in Hingham, Mass. Had land granted him there in 1636. Took the freeman's oath march 9, 1636-7.

He was on the grand jury in 1637. His two younger children were baptized in Hingham. The elder children were undoubtedly born in England, although the place of their birth has not been definitely ascertained.

Thomas Hammond, Vincent Druce, John Parker, Nicholas Hodgdon and John Winchester all settled in Hingham at about the same time; all of these removed from there and settled in the same neighborhood, near the boundary line between what are now the towns of Newton and Brookline, Mass.

Nicholas Hodgdon first purchased 67 acres of land on Cambridge Hill, which he sold Dec. 4, 1650, to Thomas Hammond and Vincent Druce, then of Hingham. They also bought 13 acres, granted by the town of Cambridge to Robert Bradish, and 16 acres in Muddy River, next to lands of John Parker. Hammond and Druce bought in 1658, of Thomas Brattle and others, 600 acres in Muddy River (now Brookline) called Royton farm, which they held in common for some years. The division was finally made as shown by his unsigned will. He probably removed to Cambridge Village (now Newton) about 1650, but held lands in Hingham for same years after that date. In 1652, he sold land there (Suffolk Deeds, folios 221-222)...

In 1656, he sold lands in Hingham to William Sprague for L60. In the same year he bought of Esther Sparhawk, daughter of Nathaniel Sparhawk, 330 acres more of land, in Cambridge, for L40.

His homestead, in Newton, was near the Brookline boundary and near a beautiful sheet of water, which has since borne his name, "Hammond Pond." the homestead remained in the family several generations, Josiah Hovey Hammond, father of Mr. George W. Hammond, of the Forest Paper Co., having been the last of the race who was born there.

Thomas Hammond was one of the wealthiest men in town in his day. there seems to have been a close friendship between himself and Vincent Druce, but no relationship has been shown by any papers or records found.

He died in 1675, leaving an unsigned will which was admitted to probate.....It is found in Middlesex Probate, No 7160....

His inventory amounted to L1,139 16S 2d and was by Elder Wiswall and John Spring. It was dated Oct. 25, 1675, and states that he deceased Sept. 30, 1675. A family tradition relative to Elizabeth Cason, his wife, is given on p. 299 of Jackson's History of Newton and is as follows:

"It is said that when a young woman, in England, she took a walk with a party of young folks and went into the Mint to see how money was coined. the master of the Mint was pleased with her appearance and chat, and gave her an invitation to try her hand in the operation. She had evidently made some impression on him, and he was desirous to know if she could make as good an impression upon the coin; so he placed a piece of silver coin upon the die, about the size of a half crown--she came forward and grasped the lever and stamped a fair impression upon the coin, where upon he presented her with the silver piece, which she bore off in triumph; and from her fair hand it has passed through those of her descendants, to the seventh generation, and is now (1854) possessed by Stephen Hammond, of Roxbury, whose son, William, of the eighth, is looking wishfully for it."

This coin is now (1902) in the possession of Mr. George W. Hammond, of Yarmouthville, Me.

Thomas married Elizabeth CASON on 12 Nov 1623 in Lavenham, England. Elizabeth was born before 1604 in Great Whelnetham, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Robert Cason and Prudence Hammond

Notes:

Name:
Richard was in Massachusetts Bay by 3 May 1657, when he joined the church in Roxbury. He was admitted as a freeman 6 May 1657. His three oldest children were baptized in Roxbury the same month. Mary Griffin joined the church in Roxbury 7 Apr 1661.

Richard owned 12 1/2 acres in Muddy River on the Roxbury line. His widow purchased an interest in an adjoining half acre in january 1667/8.

Richard died intestate. His widow Mary was appointed administrator of his estate 3 May 1667. Then their son Joseph Griffin was appointed 25 March 1680, replacing "Mary his Relict now also deceased."

Richard married Mary ? about 1652. Mary died before 25 Mar 1680. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]