Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Thomas Close

Male Abt 1637 - 1709  (~ 72 years)


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  • Name Thomas Close 
    Born Abt 1637  of Grinton, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 12/12 Feb 1708/9  Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I175  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father John Close,   b. Abt 1600, of Grinton, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1653, of Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 53 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth,   b. 1606, of Grinton, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Sep 1656, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 50 years) 
    Married Bef 1632  of Grinton, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F173  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Sarah Hardy,   b. Bef 1650, of Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Apr 1725, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 75 years) 
    Married 1669  Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F172  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. FHL book 929.273-K727kf: "Knapp's N' Kin, The Ancestral Lines of Frederick H Knapp and Others," compiled by: Frederick H Knapp, Rt. #2, Box 438C, AB Hwy, Richland, Missouri, 65556; 1987; Revised/Updated 1991:
      "The Close line:
      The name Close is of agricultural origin, though intimately associated with ecclesiastical usage, in which it is applied specifically to denote the precinct of a Cathedral or Abbey. Lower's "Patronymica Brittanica" defines it as follows:
      "Close, any piece of ground that is enclosed with hedge, wall or water." The word is from the Latin clausus, past participle of claudo, and meaning closed, enclosed or surrounded. The spelling of the name has varied with the custom of the times and the degree of literacy of its writers, Cloos, Closse, Closs, Clos, Clusse, Cluss, being various renderings of the name now used as Close.
      The name of Close in New England first appears in the will of William Frost, of Fairfield, Connecticut, dated 6 Jan 1644, where one Goodman Close is mentioned as having one of the testator's heifers. John Close died at Fairfield, Connecticut in 1653, and is buried there, and left surviving him his widow, and four children. His widow, Elizabeth, married afterwards, George Stuckey, of Windsor, Connecticut and later found in Stamford, Connecticut.
      According to research of the records in England, the family in the Parish Registers for County York, England, seem to indicate that John Close and his wife, Elizabeth, were born in Grinton Parish, County York, where the family attained considerable prominence about 1606; came to America about 1642, and finally settled in Fairfield, Connecticut. All of his children were born in Grinton Parish, Co York, England. The name is still found in America today; having many descendants of this particular line."

      2. The book "Ye Historie of ye Town of Greenwich with Genealogical Notes …," by Spencer P. Mead with the assistance of Arthur S. Kimball (Camden, Maine; Picton Press), pp. 518-19:
      "THOMAS2 CLOSE, above referred to, is the ancestor of the Close family in Fairfield County, Conn., and also of Westchester and Dutchess Counties,. N. Y., where many of his descendants settled. His will is`dated Dec. 30, 1708, and probated in 1709; executors, wife Sarah and son Joseph; mentions the following children: 3 Sarah, 3 Hannah, 3 Thomas, decd (and his three children), 3 Joseph, 3 Benjamin, 3 Elizabeth, 3 Ruth, 3 John, and 3 Lydia.
      Sarah3, b. Dec. 10, 1670.
      Hannah, b. March 12, 1672, m. in 1696, Johannes Luqueer of Newtown, L. I.
      Thomas, b. Dec. r6, 1674, d. in 1707, m. Feb. 1703, Hannah Knapp, and had: [Lists three generations of descendants.]
      Joseph, b. Nov. 20, 1676, d. Oct. 4, 1760, m. in 1701, Rebecca Tompkins, b. in 1679, d. Nov. 13, 1761, and had … [lists descendants; I did not copy any pages beyond 519.]"

      3. The book "Ye Historie of ye Town of Greenwich with Genealogical Notes …," by Spencer P. Mead with the assistance of Arthur S. Kimball (Camden, Maine; Picton Press), pp. 517-18:
      "According to "Hotten's Lists of Emigrants to America," Phettiplace Close came to Virginia in 1608, and was granted a patent of one hundred acres of land on the James River, in the Corporation of Henrico, in 1626. In response to an inquiry as to him, the secretary and librarian of the Virginia Historical Society, under date of May 29, 1908, states that he has no "evidence to show whether Phettiplace Close (Clause) left a family ... As the name does not appear here later, I think it probable that he was one of the numerous settlers, who succumbed to disease, or was killed by the Indians."
      The name of Close, in New England, first appears in the will of William Frost of Fairfield, Connecticut, dated Jan. 6, 1644, where one Goodman Close is mentioned as having one of the testator's heifers. (See "Manwaring's Abstract of Hartford Wills," vol. I, page 13.) Goodman Close probably died at Fairfield about 1653, and left him surviving, his widow, Elizabeth, and the following children: Hannah, Thomas, Joseph, and Mary. His widow afterwards married George Stuckey, and had one child, Elizabeth Stuckey.
      George Stuckey bought land at Windsor, Connecticut, in 1640, sold out in 1645, removed to Fairfield, where he married the widow Close, and later removed to Stamford, Connecticut, with his step-children. His wife died at Stamford, Sept. 4, 1656. He died at Stamford, Sept. 28, 1660, leaving a will, which is recorded in the Stamford Land Records. The will is dated Aug. 23, 1660, and makes mention of the Close children, namely, Mary Close, Thomas Close, Hannah Close, and Joseph Close, then deceased. On the settlement of his estate, Nov. 6, 1660, Mary Close was represented by her guardian, which shows that she was not twenty-one years of age at that time. According to the records, the Close family in New England, in 1660, consisted of Hannah Close, who, June 9, 1657, married Joshua Knapp, Thomas Close, and Mary Close, who, June 25, 1668, married Samuel Holly.
      A search of the Parish Registers for County York, England, seems to indicate that Goodman Close was born in Grinton Parish, where the family attained considerable prominence.
      Thomas Close above referred to settled permanently in Greenwich, Connecticut, and was one of the original patentees named in the patent granted to the Town of Greenwich by the General Assembly in May, 1665. He married Sarah, daughter of Richard and Ann (Husted) Hardy, in 1669. He died in Greenwich in 1709, leaving a will, dated Dec. 3o, 1708, which was probated in 1709. He was a member of the General Assembly in 1701.
      GOODMAN1 CLOSE, b. about 1600, in County York, England, m. Elizabeth ___, b. about 1606, in England, came to America about 1642, and finally settled in Fairfield, Connecticut, where Goodman Close died in 1653. His widow afterwards married George Stuckey, and died in Stamford, Connecticut, Sept. 4, 1656. Her children by her first husband were:
      -Hannah2, b. about 1632, m. June 9, 1657, Joshua Knapp, and after his death she married John Bowers.
      -Joseph, b. about 1634, d. without issue before 166o.
      -Thomas, b. about 1637, m. Sarah, daughter of Richard and Ann (Husted) Hardy, in 1669, he d. in Greenwich, in 1709.
      Mary, b. about 1640, living April 15, 1725, m. June 25, 1668, Samuel Holly."

      4. The book "Stamford Town Records, Volume 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, (Boston: NEHGS, 2011), pp. 84-86:
      "Page 94 [1:80]
      The last will & testament of Georg Stuckey conserning his worldly estate, made the 23d Agust Anno 1660.
      1. He commends his soule into the armes of Mercy of Jesus Christ, hoe gave it & his body in the Lords time appointed to the earth.
      Item, I give & bequeath unto my daughter in law Mary Close a mare & a mare colt & a heiffer of two yeer old those to be put out by the overseers of this my will for the best advantage for the use of the said Mary till shee comes of law-full age & this I doe because shee hath bin obediant to her mother's will, also one iron pot & two brase cittles, tht sometime hath bin her father's, I give to the fore-said Mary after the decease of my wife Ann.
      It. I make my wife Ann & my daughter Elizabeth my sole executors, the rest of my estate {after my just debts being paid} to be divided in too equall pts between my wife & my daughter Elizabeth & this respect
      Page 95 [1:80]
      I have to my wife, because shee should be carefull to the bringing up of my child Elizabeth & this I will tht my daughter Elizabeth's p[ar]t or portion be put out by the overseers to the best advantage till shee corn of lawful age or to marriage.
      Furthermore, my will is, as conserning wt is given above to Mary Close, that if Thomas Close & his sister Hanna recover anything of the estate by tht chalinge or claim, they have formerly made & molested me with, then I do hereby revoke & recall w is above given to Mary Close into the executers hands as theires; for as conserning w` they claime about a mare as given by me to my former wife, I doe here in the presence of God protest tht there never was any such thing realy acted that shee shold have to dispose of from me.
      Lastly, I doe hereby earnestly desire, authoratize & betrust my wel beloved neighbours & freinds, Frances Bell, Robert Battes, Richard Mills, & Georg Slason to be overseers of this my will & take due care of my wife & child & of the estate, respectively to this my will desiring that if these overseers see cause to take my child Elizabeth & to place her elswhere in some godly family & if Mary Close like not to live with her mother in law tht then I will & dispose of her to Master Bishop to be at this disposing till shee be of lawfull age.
      ([transcri])bed George Stukey
      Daniell Scofield "D" his mark
      John Holly
      transcrib'd out of the original whoe atested upon oath the 25 12mo. 60[/1], this to be the will of George Stokey, before Richard Law Officer in Stamford [Footnote: Since the will was dated 23 Aug. 1660, this date must be the following February, i.e., 25 Feb. 1660/1.]
      Page 96 [1:81]
      Entre concering Mt Bishop & Mary Close respecting severall other p.sons,
      Whereas a deed of gift, viz. of a mare given long since by George Stuckey to his former wife & by her disposed of to her sone Joseph & Hanna Close, was lately claimed by Joshua Knap to be made good by the said Georg Stuckey unto the said Joseph & Hanna for the clearing & isuing of wch claime a sute at law was intended, but not prosecuted by the said Joshua because it was inded betwene thm by composition, viz. by the said Joshua's acceptance of a mare wth foale, wt upon he gave an aquitanc & full discharge for himselfe, tht is his wives share in the deed aforesaid & as for the other pt. belonging to Joseph Close, the said Joseph dieing, bequeathed by will wt belonged to him {wth the approbation of George Stuckey his gardian}to his sister, Mary Close wr by wt was Joseph's right before is now become Mary's & now for a final isue likewise {as hath bin made on Joshua's pt. so for Mary}, wth the executors & administrators of George Stuckey & to his estate, the said Georg Stokey, having bequeathed by his will, a considerable legacy unto Mary, upon condition tht nothing were recovered in another way upon accot of the claimed mare by virtue of a deed of gift, I say, in consideration of such a will upon our acceptance, and the executor's performance of the same, the said Mary Close {with the approbation of her present gardian Mr John Bishop, doth reliquish wholly all interest & claime, as touching ther deed of gift aforesaid, and by this writing, both shee & her guardian wth & for her do fully & forever discharge the executors & estate of George Stuckey from tht deed of gift fr([om]) all claime thereunto & molestation thereabouts, by the said Mary Close or any els in her behalf excepting only wt estate may be found hers, either by her own fathers will or brother, Joseph giving her wt his father by will gave unto him & wt his father in ( ) George Stuckey hath given by his
      Page 97 [1:81]
      will & is pticulerly expr([essed]) therein. And wt is not expressed there, but only to his ([wife]) & shee hath owned or can owne to be her husband's will ([and]) intent that it should be added to the other estate. To th( ) We have set to our hands
      John Bishopp
      Mary M Close her marke transcrib'd
      Stamford 10mo 6 1660 [6 Dec. 1660]
      The officer's hands transcribed Richard Law & Frances Bell
      Wittnes Robert Bates his mark "R" transcribed
      The said Mr John Bishopp being desired by George Stuckey & his ([wife]) & chosen by Mary Close herself, to be her guardian, he is ap([pointed]) so to be by the authority of this place as this act of his ( ) this aquitance for & with the consent of the said Mary as( ) the good of the maide & for the finall isuing of matter ( ) differences that els might remaine amonst relation() ) is fully approved by them, Also Richard Mills, one of the overseers of the will approves the act above, testified by his hand transcrib,
      Richar[d] Mills
      Page 97 [1:82]
      P. Widdow Stuckey, entre the 20 1mo 62/63. [20 March 1662/3]
      Received of Frances Browne {Agent for the widow Stuckey} in behalf of Mary Close & for her use a mare & mare colt given by will as a legacy bequeathed to her by George Stuckey her father in law as also an horse colt comming too yeere old wch is in lieu of an heifer of two yeers old given her by the said George Stuckey as his will aforesaid specified, I say received as above mentioned by me
      Transcrib'd John Bishopp
      This mare & colt being received before the horse colt was delievered & recd this 11mo 22 1662[/3]. [22 Jan. 1662/3, since this record was entered in March 1662/3.]"

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. FHL book 929.273-K727kf: "Knapp's N' Kin, The Ancestral Lines of Frederick H Knapp and Others," compiled by: Frederick H Knapp, Rt. #2, Box 438C, AB Hwy, Richland, Missouri, 65556; 1987; Revised/Updated 1991. It has a family group sheet of this family noting its sources of information as:
      -Encyclopedia of Biography.
      -NK Gen. (1953).
      -NK Gen. Suppl. (1956).
      -Hist. of Greenwich, by Mead.
      -Will of Wm. Frost (1644).
      -Patronyminca Brittanica-Lower.
      -List of Immigrants to America, by Hotten.