Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Thomas Huxley

Male Abt 1643 - 1721  (~ 78 years)


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  • Name Thomas Huxley 
    Born Abt 1643  of, , England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 21 Jul 1721  Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I1967  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family Sarah Spencer,   b. Abt 1646, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Oct 1712, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 66 years) 
    Married Abt 1667  of Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Thomas Huxley,   b. 7 Apr 1668, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Oct 1712, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 44 years)
     2. John Huxley,   b. Abt 1670, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Apr 1722, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 52 years)
     3. Mary Huxley,   b. Abt 1672, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Dec 1747, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 75 years)
     4. Sarah Huxley,   b. 8 May 1675, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Aug 1749, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     5. Elizabeth Huxley,   b. Abt 1677, , Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Aug 1745, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 68 years)
     6. Jared Huxley,   b. 21 Jan 1679, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1754, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     7. Hannah Huxley,   b. 3 Feb 1681, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Aug 1745, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years)
     8. Nathaniel Huxley,   b. 26 Aug 1683, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jun 1685, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
     9. William Huxley,   b. 26 Jun 1687, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1724, of Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 36 years)
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F377  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • BIOGRAPHY:
      1. The book "The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography": v. 43, p. 55, entry for Henry Minor Huxley (b. 1880): "His first paternal American ancestor was Thomas Huxley, who came to this country from England in 1632 and settled in Cambridge, Mass., later moving to Suffield, Conn. From him and his wife Sarah Spencer, the descent was through Jared and Mary Newton, (etc.)"

      2. From various Worldconnect databases as of 21 Sep 2007:
      "Thomas first appears in the records in 1660 when he is named in the will of John Wakeman, who was Treasurer of New Haven Connecticut: "I give to my servant Thomas Huxley my short gun with a rest and my hanger which he useth to train with, upon his good behavior, that is, if he shall carry him selfe honestly and faithfully in his place and service to the satisfaction of my executors and overseers, or with the approbation of any two of them. Wakeman died not long after moving to Hartford in 1661, where his will was probated - see Hartford Wills, page 168-9. Thomas took the Oath of Fidelity in New Haven in 1660 and probably moved to Hartford with John Wakeman. Six years later Thomas was married in Hartford where his first son was born the following year. In 1669 he was made a freeman of Hartford. In 1671 his brother-in-law Obadiah Spencer gave Thomas four acres of land which abutted the two acres Thomas had recently bought from John Pantry. In 1674 Thomas sold his land in Hartford and, together with his brother-in-law Thomas Spencer moved his family to Suffield - see Genealogical Descent of the Huxley Family by Jared Huxley. Its not known where he was living during King Phillip's War but may have returned for a time to Hartford after Suffield was abandoned by the settlers, or possibly Westfield where he and Sarah owned land prior to 1680. By 1679 he brought his family back to Suffield where his youngest four children were born and where he remained the rest of his life. He operated a tavern in Suffield and is often mentioned in the town records: "Sergeant Thomas Huxley was by a vote of the town in 1686, chosen keeper of a Public House for Entertainment." He served as a selectman for the town in 1682, 1698, 1703 and 1705 - see Sheldon's Documentary History of Suffield, pages 130, 144, 153. In November 1682 he was granted land for his son Thomas: "Thomas Hucksley, for his son a lot of 12 rod wide on ye west side of High Street ... provided he build upon it and fense it, by March come twelve month." In 1697 he sued Edward Scot for debt and was awarded 39 shillings and court costs - see Pynchon Court Record in Colonial Justices in Wetern Massachusetts by Joseph H. Smith. In 1712, after 46 years of marriage, he lost his wife just 16 days after the death of his oldest son. The following year the town granted him some additional land: "Att a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Suffield Aprill the 2nd, 1713: The Town by a full, and Clear vote, Gave unto the severall persons hereafter named, Land as followeth, viz: to Thomas Huxley eight acres. - page 179. He is last mentioned in the town records in 1716 when he was chosen moderator of one of the meetings: "At a Lawfull meeting of the Inhabitants of Suffield, November 29th, 1716, first, it was voted that Thomas Huxley should be moderator for said meeting. - page 198. He died five years later. Hartford Land Records: Book Dist:349 - Thomas buys two acres from John Pantry - 1671 Book Dist:352 - Thomas is given 4 acres by Obadiah Spencer - 1671 Book Dist:487 - Thomas sells his land in Hartford to George Knight - 1674 Book Dist:406 - Thomas sells land in Hartford - 1679 Suffield Land Grants: Thomas is granted 60 acres of land - 1678 Thomas is granted 8 acres of land - 1713 Hampshire County Deed Books: B:269 - Thomas & Sarah while living in Suffield sell 5 acres in Westfield - 1680."

      3. The following partial excerpts about the wives and children of Thomas Spencer are from "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," Volumes I-III (see notes of Thomas Spencer for full transcript):
      "...Sarah, b. say 1646; m. by 1667 Thomas Huxley (on 26 March 1667 John Winthrop Jr. treated "Huxlye, Sarah, above 20 years, wife of Tho[mas] Huxly of Hartford & daughter of Sergeant Tho[mas] [S]penc[er] of Hartford" [WMJ 710])..."

      4. "The American Genealogist," Vol. 27 "The Four Spencer Brothers: Their Ancestors and Descendants," compiled by Donald Lines Jacobus, M. A., pp. 162-63:
      "Sarah [Spencer], b ca. 1646; d. 24 Oct. 1712; m. Thomas Huxley, who d. at Suffield, 21 July 1721."

      5. FHL book 929.273 Sp33 "The Spencers of the Great Migration," by Jack Taif Spencer and Edith Woolley Spencer (Gateway Press, Baltimore; 1997) vol. 1, pp.157-158:
      "Sarah2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      b. ca. 1646.
      m. Thomas HUXLEY at Suffield, CT. He d. 21 July 1721 at Suffield. A dau. Elizabeth Huxley m. James King who was b. 14 March 1675 at Ipswich, MA. James d. 15 July 1757 at Suffield. He had a large landed estate.
      d. 24 Oct 1712."

      6. FHL book 929.273 Sp33 "The Spencers of the Great Migration," by Jack Taif Spencer and Edith Woolley Spencer (Gateway Press, Baltimore; 1997) vol. 1, pp. 286-288:
      "SGT. Thomas HUXLEY of SUFFIELD, BROTHER-IN-LAW of Thomas2 Spencer.
      Thomas2 Spencer had a half-sister, Sarah2 Spencer, who also was an early pioneer of Suffield through her marriage to Sgt. Thomas HUXLEY. Sarah2 was born in Hartford about 1646. Her husband first appears in the Suffield Town Records in 1678. Savage notes that Thomas HUXLEY and Sarah (Spencer) HUXLEY had the following children born in Hartford: Thomas (b. 1668), John, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth. The children born in Suffield included: Jared, 1680; Hannah, 1682; Nathaniel, 1683 (d. young); William, 1687.
      Sarah (Spencer) HUXLEY died 24 Oct 1712, while Thomas HUXLEY died 21 July 1721.
      Thomas HUXLEY had a grant for 60 acres on High Street in 1678. By a vote of the town in 1686, HUXLEY was chosen keeper of a "Public House of Entertainment". This tavern was situated on High St. on a lot later owned by CAPT. THADDEUS6 H. Spencer (1768-1825). HUXLEY became a freeman in 1681 and held important town offices (Sheldon). Like Thomas2 Spencer, Thomas HUXLEY was on the list of 34 men who had the "liberty of voting in all town affaires". HUXLEY, Sr. had a son (Thomas, Jr.) who received a grant of eight acres on the west side of High St. in March of 1683.
      In March of 1683, Thomas "HUCKSLEY" was chosen one of five Selectmen for the coming year. This nomination was indicative that HUXLEY, Sr. already was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens of Suffield. In April of 1685, the Town Council agreed to a scale of payments for compensating Serj. Thomas HUCKSLEY for digging of graves. In the same year, he received an additional land grant of ten acres "adjoining his meddow".
      In March of 1687, Thomas HUXLEY again was chosen as one of five Selectmen for the ensuing year. The same nomination was received in 1688. His elevation to this position seemed continuous for he was also on the list for 1690. Other mentions of HUXLEY Senior included "Surveyor of Highways, 1697. in 1698 he was chosen as one of four "Fence Viewers" for the ensuing year.
      On 10 Jan 1710, JohnHUXLEY, along with 24.others voted against a tax levy in support of a "School Master". In 1712, the same JohnHUXLEY was chosen as one of four "Fence Viewers". On 2 April 1713, the Town voted additional land to 102 "Inhabitants" of the Town of Suffield. JohnHUXLEY received seven and one half acres. Samuel3 Spencer was voted five and one half acres along with William3 Spencer who received the same allotment. Thomas HUXLEY (the original settler) received eight acres.
      On 29 Jan 17, Jared HUXLEY was chosen as Constable. On 22 March 1715, JohnHUXLEY was elected as one of four "Fence Viewers".
      The distribution of land to the various Inhabitants in 1713 continued to arouse a great deal of dissension. On 4 Aug 17 15, 25 persons signed as dissenters to the 1713 allotments. On 4 Aug 1715, 25 persons signed as dissenters to the land allotment of two years earlier. Jared HUXLEY was among the dissenters despite the fact that his father Thomas and brother (?) Johnwere among the beneficiaries of the distribution.
      The distribution of lands continued despite the opposition. On 3 Jan 1716, Samuel3 Spencer and William3 Spencer each received ten and one half acres. JohnHUXLEY received twelve and one half acres. At the same meeting, 30 dissenters opposed the distribution. This time, Thomas HUXLEY joined Jared HUXLEY with a negative vote. Eventually, the dissenters were successful in getting the land grants nullified by the Massachusetts General Court which had been made subsequent to 9 March 1713.
      At the Town Meeting of 29 Nov 1716, Thomas HUXLEY was chosen as Moderator.
      The name of William HUXLEY first appears in the record of 29 Nov 1717 when he was granted half a crown for digging a grave for the child of George GRANGER. We recall that Thomas HUXLEY (father of William?) was paid for grave digging as early as 1685.
      In March of 1718, John HUXLEY was sworn in as "Surveyor of Highways" - one of four so chosen.
      On 15 May 1718, 41 dissenters again signed a resolution opposed to further meetings on the question of land distribution. Thomas and Jared HUXLEY were among the signers in 1719, Jared HUXLEY was named one of two "Tything Men". In 1720, the Council voted that "JohnHUXLEY should have the use of the burying place for twenty years, provided, he clear it, and fence it, and keep it entire, and leave it fenced when the time is up". In 1721, JohnHUXLEY again was chosen a "Tything Man".
      Widow EXPERIENCE HUXLEY was mentioned in the record of 3 Dec 1725. She was EXPERIENCE (GIBBS) HUXLEY, widow of John HUXLEY, whom she had married in 1706.
      There is no further mention of the Huxleys for several years. In 1729, however, Jared HUXLEY and Samuel Spencer were listed as "Hogg Reeves" (overseers of swine). Again, there was a hiatus of several years. In 1736, Serj. Jared HUXLEY was paid 5 pounds "for keeping Ishmael Negro for ye time past". The same entry was noted in 1737. In June of 1737, "Jared HUXLEY Sen." was paid 3 shillings for "2 lode of poles in Town". In 1743, Jared HUXLEY received "2/ for Timber for Highways".
      The grave digging jobs for JohnHUXLEY seemed to continue on through the years. In 1744, John was paid ten shillings "for diging of the Grave".
      In 1745, "JARUT HUXLEY Junior" was on the list as a Highway Surveyor. He held the same position in 1750.
      Here the record terminates for the Huxleys because the book which HEZEKIAH Spencer Sheldon had prepared of the Suffield Town meetings from 1660 to 1750 had ended. Alcorn in his "Biography of a Town, 1670-1970" barely mentions the name of Thomas HUXLEY."

      BURIAL:
      1. No listing for either Thomas or Sarah Huxley per the Internet 6 Jul 2008 at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kathycamp/Inscriptions/Page043.htm: Suffield, Hartford County, Connecticut Headstone Inscriptions 1660-1937. This list of inscriptions, town of Suffield, was copied in 1934, under the auspices of the F.E.R.A. and the W.P.A. sponsored by the Connecticut State Library, as compiled under the supervision of Charles R. Hale, State Military Necrologist, assisted by Miss Mary H. Babin, Secretary. Hartford, Connecticut, December 1937.