Henry WOLCOTT

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Simon Wolcott and grandson of Henry Wolcott and Elizabeth Saunders

Henry married Jane ALLYN on 1 Apr 1696. Jane (daughter of Capt Thomas ALLYN and Abigail WARHAM) was born on 22 Jul 1670; died on 11 Apr 1702. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Rachel TALCOTT. Rachel died on 8 Jan 1725. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Henry married Hannah ? on 11 Apr 1727. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Simon was the father of Roger Wolcott, who was a Major-General and second in command at siege and capture of Louisburg in 1745, and from 1750 to 1754, Governor of Connecticut. Roger's son, Erastus, served as General in the Revolution, was Judge of the Superior Court and member of congress from Connecticut. His daughter Ursula m. Matthew Griswold of Lyme, Governor of Connecticut from 1784 to 1786, and father of Gov. Roger Griswold. His son Oliver was member of congress from 1775 to 1778 and from 1781 to 1788; in 1777, 1779 and 1780, he served as a Brigadier-General in the army; Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Connecticut; he was the father of the late Governor Oliver Wolcott. Alexander, another son of Roger was a famous physician. A list of many other distinguished relatives of his daughter Ursula is given in the N.E. reg., 33, p. 223.

Simon Wolcott was but five years old when his father emigrated to America. He remained in England with his two sisters until the family had effected a settlement in this country; they came over within ten years after, but the exact time of their arrival we have not been able to ascertain. He was admitted a freeman in 1654.

Simon married Martha PITKIN on 17 Oct 1661. Martha (daughter of ? PITKIN and Unknown ?) was born in 1638 in England; died on 13 Oct 1719. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Martha Pitkin, sister of Mr. William Pitkin, the progenitor of the Pitkins in America, and of Roger Pitkin of London, was born in England in 1638. She followed her brother to America in 1661, to return with him England, "not once supposing he intended to remain in the wilderness," as she expressed it. Her first greeting on meeting her brother, whom she found feeding his swine was, "I left a brother in England serving his king, and find another in America serving his swine." She was a lady endowed with more than ordinary talent, improved by an excellent education. The reception she met with in the colony, was most flattering; her comely form and accomplished manner making the colonists anxious to retain her in their country. In the words of the Rev. Thomas Robbins, for many years the pastor of the church she attended, "this girl put the colony in commotion. If possible sh must be detained. The stock was too valuable to be parted with. It became a matter of general consultation what young man was good enough for Miss Pitkin. Tradition says that so many young man wished to marry the accomplished beauty, that they cast los for her hand, but fails to say what part Miss Pitkin was to take in the affair. The facts are, that the sons of Henry Wolcott, one of the first settlers of East Windsor, were well pleased with Miss Pitkin, and to avoid all question of strife or jealousy, it is believed it was decided by lot among themselves which one should sue for her hand. The lot fell to Simon Wolcott, the youngest son; at all events, he pressed his suit, and was successful. Her brother favored the match, and she became the wife of Simon Wolcott, and subsequently the mother of Governor Roger Wolcott, grandmother of Governor Oliver Wolcott, and great-grandmother of the second Governor Oliver Wolcott and of Governor Roger Griswold. Governor Ellsworth was also a lineal descendant. Her grand-daughter married Governor Matthew Griswold.

It was stated in the funeral sermon of Governor Roger Wolcott, her ninth child, "that he never went to school, but was educated by his mother in her own dwelling."