Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Samuel Bancroft

Male Abt 1672 - 1742  (~ 70 years)


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  • Name Samuel Bancroft 
    Born Abt 1672  Enfield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 29 Nov 1742  Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Edwards Cemetery, South Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I2490  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Thomas Bancroft,   b. Abt 1625, of Chellaston, Derbyshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Dec 1684, Enfield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 59 years) 
    Mother Margaret Wright,   c. 25 Dec 1631, Uxbridge, Middlesex, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef Nov 1676, of Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 44 years) 
    Married 8 Dec 1653  Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1219  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Hannah Bissell,   b. 12/12 Jan 1670/1, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24/24 Jan 1708/9, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 38 years) 
    Married Abt 1696  of Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1428  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Joanna Gillett,   b. 22 Apr 1676, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jan 1773, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 96 years) 
    Married 23/23 Feb 1709/10  Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1429  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, p. 41:
      "Thomas Bancroft (son of John), at Springfield, Mass., 8 Dec 1653; in 1654 res. there at 'lower wharf,' now Thompsonville (Enfield), Conn., as see 'S. Rec. of Possessions.' His cattle-mark was 'ye top of both ears cut off and a little piece cut out of ye off eare.' He m. (1) Margaret (dau. Samuel) Wright of S., 8 Dec 1653; m. (2) ___ (John M. Bancroft [the author's source for much on the Bancrofts] thinks that the Hannah (dau. Samuel) Gardner of Hadley, who (acc. to Boltwood's 'History Hadley,' p. 497) m. Nathaniel Bancroft, 1675, really m. this Thomas Bancroft, and was the 2d wife, who m. (2) John Barber.) He was a farmer; while at Westfield a selectman; (see his affidavit in regard to his bro.-in-law, John Griffen, p. 477, Vol. I.); in 1668 he was at Westfield; sold farm there in 1680, Mar 20; returned to Enfield, where he d. 14 Dec 1684; will dated in Nov. of that year and upon rec. at S.; gave son Thomas, Jr., 15 acres of land on S. side of Woxonoak river, belonging to Springfield; to sons Samuel, John, and Nath'l, equal shares at Enfield; ₤7 each to daughters Anne and Rebecca; house, etc. to his loving wife. The will, being unsigned, could not be estab., and estate was not settled until 3 Feb 1703/4, before which time the widow had m. (2) John Barber of S.
      Children (b. probably at Enfield), the first seven by 1st wife:
      A. Lydia, b. 6, 2d mo., 1655.
      B. Margaret, b. 16, 8 mo. 1656; d. probably unmarried 3 Feb 1703/4.
      C. Anna, b. 1, 7 mo., 1658; bu. 30, 6 mo., 1659.
      D. Thomas, b. 21, 11 mo., 1659; was living at time of father's death, and (presumably) at the sett. of his estate, 1703-4, when he is thus mentioned; to the eld. s., Thomas B., Jr., or to his issue, a double portion, ₤10.12.4.' From 'North. Rec.': 'Nath'l Edwards and Thos. Shelding of N., for securing (Thos. Bancroft) an offender, a day and a night, was allowed 3d, apiece, and Isiah Shelding one shilling on sd. allowance, as Sam'll Strong for his mare to Westfield to apprehend ye sd. Bancroft, as also pd. to John Taylor, who went to Windsor after said Bancroft - to be pd. as aforesaid.' Among others, he was an early settler at Cape May, N.J., and had located or purchased a lot there prior to 1700 - Beasley's 'Early History Cape May Co., N.J.' Samuel B. (presumably his son) m. Margaret Miller at Easthampton, Long Island, 1717; had one or more ch. there; soon after, was at Cape May; and abt. 1750 d., leaving wid. Margaret and numerous ch., from whom desc. can be traced to present day. Prob. Thomas Jr. was a seafaring man.
      E. Anna, b. 5 May 1663; m. James Sexton; was living 1703-4.
      F. Lydia, b. 6, 2 mo., 1665.
      G. Julia, 'dau. Thos. and Marg't B.,' d. 30 Jul 1666. - 'Springfield Rec.'
      H. Samuel (Lieut.), b. 25 Jan 1667.
      I. Ruth, b. 29 Aug 1670, at Westfield; m. John Stiles of W., and, after being a mother 13 times (twice with twins), d. in childbirth, 1714. 'Pres. Stiles's MS,' says, 'being left an orphan at an early age, was given to Mr. Fowler of Westfield, to bring up; when of age she lived with Rev. Mr. Glover of Springfield, and was in the fortified house when it was besieged by Indians, 1675.' This does not say she was of age when living in the fort-house. Rev. Peletiah Glover sett. as S. 1661, and d. there 29 Mar 1692.
      J. John, d. Enfield, 26 Feb 1684; mentioned in father's will.
      K. Rebecca, b. Enf., 23 Feb 1680; m. ___ Gillett.
      L. Nathaniel, b. 24 Oct 1683; m. Ruth Haile; res. W. Springfield; desc. in Granville, Mass., and Ohio."
      [Note: Stiles's book from which the above was taken does not have entires for Gardner, Miller, Haile (or Heald), or Gilbert.]

      2. Today's Hampden County of Massachusetts was originally Middlesex County until it was split off in 1662 and named Hampshire County. Hampden County was formed from Hampshire County in 1812. At the time of these early Bancrofts, Enfield, now in Conn., was then part of Springfield, Mass. The border between Massachusetts and Connecticut fluctuated.

      3. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, pp. 41-42: "Samuel Bancroft (s. of Thomas, g.s. of John), b. Enfield, d. (South) Windsor 29 Nov 1742, in 74th year. In 1684, Dec. 12, a grant was made, 'upon his father's motion,' of an allotment at Enfield, 20 acres in all, provided he dwell there 7 years. He sold land in Enfield adjoining land of his bro. Nathaniel, 24 Apr 1691, and mentions Hannah Barber as his father's relict. 11 Mar 1696/7, he witnessed a deed by Nath'l Bissell to Thomas Holcombe of land at Simsbury' and 23 Mar 1796/7 (1696/7?), the said Bissell of Windsor, 'in consideration of my affection for my dau. Hannah, wife of Samuel Bancroft,' deeds to him land East of the Connecticut River. 4 Oct 1704 James Saxton acquits John Barber of Springfield and Samuel Bancroft of Windsor concerning the estate of his father-in-law Thomas Bancroft. 23 Feb 1709/10, he is mentioned as Lieut. Sam'l; he owned the Covenant in (E.) Windsor church, 10 Nov 1700. In Queen Anne's War he left Windsor 10 Jul 1711, ret. 12 Oct, same year; served in Capt. Moses Dimond's Co. In 1710, Sgt. Sam'l B. was one of ch. comm. to build a church, with discretionary power. In 1717 he was on a school committee; in 1714 on a com. for draining lands with Roger Wolcott and Sam'l Rockwell. As his name does not appear on petition of E. Windsor inhabitants who wished to settle a minister, 1694, he prob. had not then removed from Enfield. He m. (1) Hannah (dau. Nathaniel and Mindwell, dau. Dea. John Moore) Bissell of Windsor, who d. 24 Jan 1708/9, in 38th year. (E.W.O. et C.R.); she was b. 12 Jan 1670; he m. (2) wid. Joanna Allyn, 23 Feb 1709/10, who was a sister of Ebenezer Gilbert and wid. of Thomas Allyn; she was b. 22 Apl 1676, and d. 8 Jan 1773, age. 97. Lieut. Samuel B. d. 29 Nov 1742, in 74th yr. (E.W.O. et C.R.); will prob. 1 Feb 1742/3. Children all of first wife:
      A. Margaret, b. 15 May 1698, living 1742, m., 6 ch.
      B. Eunice, b. 29 Dec1700; living in 1742.
      C. Nathaniel, b. 4 Jul 1703.
      D. Elizabeth, b. 27 Mar 1706; living 1742.

      BIRTH:
      1. Thomas and Margaret (Wright) Bancroft had two sons named Samuel. The first son was born 25 Jan 1667[/8] and died five days later. The death record image is attached to this individual and clearly identifies him as the son of Thomas and Margaret. This death record was apparently missed by most earlier researchers and the birth date was erroneously accorded to the later Samuel, whose birth record does not exist but certainly occurred after the death of the first Samuel. Since there was a child named Ruth born to the same parents in 1670, then the most likely date is "about 1672." The second Samuel is tightly associated with the other members of this family through probates and deeds and would not be a child of another set of parents.

      2. "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," v. 18, pp. 143-147, "Springfield Records" has the following birth records. Being that the Gregorian calendar was existant at this time, the order of months may have begun with April as the first month. The dates traditionally used for the Bancrofts appear to be based on the modern calendar with January as the first month. The Springfield record keeper switches to the names of month in May 1662, however, the month directly before is recorded as the first month which would mean that April was indeed the first month. I indicate in parantheses the modern date for births prior to 1662. Also at this early date, Enfield was part of Springfield, Massachusetts even though today it is part of Connecticut:
      "Liddia Bancraft d. of Thomas Bancraft borne the 6 day of ye 2 mon. 1655." [6 May 1655]
      "Margritt Bancraft d. of Thomas Bancraft borne the 16 day of ye 8 mon. 1656." [16 Nov 1656]
      "Anna Bancraft d. of Thomas Bancraft borne the 1 of the 7 mon. 1658." [1 Oct 1658]
      "Thomas Bancraft s. of Thomas Bancraft borne the 21 day of ye 11 mon. 1659." [21 Feb 1660]
      "Anna Bancraft d. of Thomas Bancraft borne ye 5 May 1663."
      "Samuell Bancroft s. of C**** & Margaret Bancroft borne Jan 1667." [The entry before is 23 Jan 1667.] [Note this entry was corrected in a later volume to "s. of Tho___{torn}"]