John HART

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All of the family of John with the exception of his son John, who was absent at the time, were burned to death in the night in their house in 1657. (The son John took advise of his father's estate under the will of his grandfather in 1683.) "Mr. Julius Gay gives the date of the burning of John Hart's house as Dec. 15, 1666." (Anderson's History of Waterbury, I., p. 118, note.)

Born in England and married Sarah. They resided in Farmington, where he was made a freeman by the General Court, at their May session 1654. Sarah, his wife, joined the church at Farmington, Oct. 9th, 1653; he was admitted to the church April 2, 1654. he was one of the first settlers of Tunxis, and bought his house lot of the original owners, and among the list of the eighty-four proprietors of 1672, is numbered the 'Estate of John Hart.' At the October session of the General Court, in 1660, a committee was raised to examine 'Thirty Mile Island,' with the view of settlement, when John Hart, of Farmington was elected one of said committee. His sad and untimely death occurred on this wise, wiz; his house, which was located near the center of the village, was fired in the night by Indians, and he and all his family, with the exception of his eldest son, John, who was that night at Nod, or Northington, since called Avon, looking after the stock on a farm they owned there, perished in the flames. What aggravated the public calamity was the burning of the town records at the same time. the General Court made diligent search among the Tunxis tribe for the incendiaries, but this neither restored life nor records. This fire occurred 1666.

Family/Spouse: Sarah ?. Sarah died in 1666. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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He was one of the appraisers of his uncle Stephen hart's estate in 1689. In May, 1695, he was confirmed by the General Court ensign of the Farmington train-band, and in October, 1703, was commissioned lieutenant, and subsequently promoted captain. He was for four successive years (1702-5) a deputy from Farmington to the General Court, and was appointed in may, 1705, one of the auditors of the colony. When his father's house was burned by the Indians, he was absent from home, and thus providentially saved to be the progenitor of a numerous posterity. the offices and honors thus bestowed upon him indicate that he stood high in the community. Capt. John Hart died in Farmington, Nov. 11th, 1714, aged 60 years; his wife died Sept. 19th, 1738, aged 74 years.

Family/Spouse: Mary MOORE. Mary was born about 1664; died on 19 Sep 1738. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]