| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. "The Great Migration," by Robert Charles Anderson:
"John Finch
Origin: Unknown
Migration: 1632
First Residence: Watertown
Removes: Stamford 1642
Estate: Granted four acres in Beaverbrook Plowlands, 28 February 1636/7 [WaBOP 7]; granted four acres in Remote Meadows, 26 June 1637 [WaBOP 9]; granted a farm of ninety-one acres, 10 May 1642 [WaBOP 13]. (Presumably he had held a houselot and other small holdings prior to 1637. He does not appear in the early Watertown land inventories, and all lands known to be granted to him are at that time in the hands of John Wincoll, who purchased them from John Finch, presumably in mid-1642.)
Granted six acres by Stamford in October 1642 [TAG 10:42, 19:58].
An inventory of Stamford landholding was prepared on 1 March 1650, and John Finch's real estate is summarized there [Gillespie Anc 140, citing Stamford Town Records 1:43-44].
Birth: By about 1 595 based on estimated date of marriage.
Death: Stamford 5 September 1657 [TAG 10:44, 19:58].
Marriage:
(1) By about 1620 ___; not seen in any New England record.
(2) By about 1635 Martha (assuming she was the mother of his last four children), who married [blank] September 1658 John Green [TAG 10:113, 19:58].
Children:
With first wife:
i John, b. say 1620; m. (1) ___; m. (2) after 8 November 1652 Hannah (Marsh) Fuller, widow of Launcelot Fuller.
With second wife:
ii Isaac, b. say 1635; m. (1) Stamford [blank] October 1658 Elizabeth Basset [TAG 10:113]; m. (2) by 1682 Ann ___.
iii Samuel, b. say 1638; m. by about 1663 Sarah Hoyt, daughter of SIMON HOYT.
iv Joseph, b. about 1647 (deposed 6 May 1700 aged about fifty-three); m. Stamford 23 November [1670] Elizabeth Austin.
v Abraham, b. say 1648; m. about 1670 ___ ___.
Associations: See Daniel Finch for possible relations among Finch immigrants.
Comments: As noted under Daniel Finch, John has been credited as the man who lost his belongings in a fire in September 1630, but this is more likely Daniel. On 7 November 1632 "John Finch is fined 10s. for wanting arms for his man, & for being absent himself from training" [MBCR 1:102], and this is the earliest record we have for him in New England.
Savage has assigned to this John the death at the hands of the Pequots suffered by Abraham, son of Daniel.
The grants of Beaverbrook Plowlands and Remote Meadows in 1637 were for four acres each, which indicates that the maximum size of his family at that time was four heads. This would account for himself, wife, and two eldest sons John and Isaac, both of whom were born by this time.
Bibliographic Note: In addition to the sources cited under Daniel Finch, we take note here of the magnificent work by Paul Prindle on John Finch, which we follow here in many instances [Gillespie Anc 138-51]. In particular we have relied on Prindle for the data on the marriages of the sons of John Finch, and refer the reader to his work for fuller citations on these men."
2. See "The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620 -1633," compiled by Robert Charles Anderson, Vol. 2, Pages 1029 - 1033 (New England Historic Genealogical Society: 1995, Boston , MA), entry for "Simon Hoyt," children:
"xii. SARAH, b. say 1647; m. by about 1663 Samuel Finch, son of JOHN FINCH [Gillespie Anc 147-51]."
3. The book "Ancestry of Elizabeth Barrett Gillespie (Mrs. William Sperry Beinecke)," by Paul W. Prindle, 1976, p. 295:
"SARAH HOYT, daughter of Simon (2) Hoyt and his second wife, Susanna Smith, was born about 1647, probably at Fairfield, New Haven Colony. She married Samuel Finch, q.V. for the record of their children. He was a son of John Finch. Sarah Finch, widow, died 19 March 1712/3 (Stamford Town Records, 1:126)."
4. The book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011), p. 129, original record page 138 [1:114], shows a transaction dated the "2d month, 1665" wherein "Samuell Finch" signs for the "full portion of my wives of the estate of Simon Hoyte." The author includes the following footnote: "Samuel2 Finch, son of John1 Finch, married Sarah2 Hoyt, dau. of Simon1 and Susanna (Smith) Hoyte. Source: Jacobus, "Families of Old Fairfield, 1:203-4."
5. The book "Ancestry of Elizabeth Barrett Gillespie (Mrs. William Sperry Beinecke)," by Paul W. Prindle, 1976, pp. 147-50:
"3. SAMUEL FINCH, son of John (1) Finch and his second wife, Martha, was born about 1638, probably in Watertown, Massachusetts Bay Colony, or in Wethersfield, Connecticut Colony. He died at Stamford, Connecticut Colony, 23 April 1698 ("Stamford Town Records,' 1:135).
Samuel married Sarah Hoyt, q.v., daughter of Simon and Susanna (Smith) Hoyt. Sarah died 19 March 1712/3 (ibid., 1:126).
Samuel Finch witnessed a deed dated 31 December 1662 (ibid., 1:81), so must have attained his majority by that date. Proof that he was a son of John (1) Finch is given above in the account of his brother Isaac (2) Finch, based upon testimony recorded in Stamford Land Records, A:36.
"Stamford Town Records,' 1:138, contain a receipt signedby Samuel Finch and "Datted ye 2d month 1665. Witnes all men by this presents yt I, Samuell Finch, have received ye full portion of my wives of ye estate, Simon Hoyte." Years later an agreement was made, 1 February 1674/5, between the brothers Moses,nJoshua, Samuel and Benjamin Hoyt, and Thomas Lyon, Samuel Finch and Samuel Firman "conser'ing ye distribution of ye estate of our deceased mother, Sus'ana Bates." She was the wife of Robert Bates and the former wife of Simon Hoyt. Lyon, Finch and Firman were her sons-in-law. Among the detailed provisions of the agreement was one that "Thomas Lyon & Samuel Ffinch [were] to have ye horses & mares, you'g & old, runing in ye woods of Norwake, equally between us, & twenty shillings to each of us" ("Stamford Land Records," A261).
In 1667 Samuel Finch signified his intention of using the town's new horse pasture for one horse. He was propounded as a freeman of the Connecticut Colony on 14 October 1669 ("The American Genealogist," 19:53).
Samuel filled a variety of town offices. He served as fence viewer in 1679 and 1690; as surveyor of "cartways" in 1680 and of highways in 1685, and ten years later Samuel Finch Sr., Benjamin Hait and Sgt. Samuel Hait were named as surveyors for "ye whole town ... who are to dewide ye town according to their discreshion & call ym to work, ever' person yt are capable." Samuel Finch was made a sheepmaster in 1685, a lister in 1689, and a pounder in 1694. He served on only two town committees, in each instance being charged with the duty of laying out land. In 1678 he was asked "to lay out ye land granted to ye Souldiers upon Noroton Hill" (they were Stamford's veterans of King Philip's War), and in 1690 he was one chosen to lay out land granted by the town to an individual.
A few of Samuel's land rights and transactions were recorded in Stamford Town Records. In 1667 he was among those named as having rights to take up commonage. He drew lot No. 12 in the 1677 distribution, and in that same year there was granted to "Joshuah Hoyt, Danell Simkins, and Sam. Finch and Abram Finch, Richard Ayrs yt swamp com'only cald Shoresmag ... in consideration of their maintaining ye floud gats at Tilesome for ever" ("Stamford Land Records," A:92). The 16 acres were laid out three days later. This grant by the town was also recorded in "Stamford Town Records" in the minutes of a town meeting held 16 April 1677. At a town meeting held 22 December 1687, Samuel Finch, by "outcry" (i.e., at auction), bought "ye swamp on ye north of Slason wolfe pit, and so to Ambl'rs cartway," and at that same meeting he also purchased "Andralls swamp" for £1:13:00.
Also recorded in "Stamford Land Records" were three deeds in which Samuel Finch was the grantor, and a like number in which he was grantee, during the period 1675 to 1697. He also received seven grants or layouts of land from the town of Stamford, the last of which was made "9 of March 168/9" (sic - 1698/9 intended) and recorded ibid., A:337, laying out to his sons, "Samuell Finch &: Joseph Finch, for their fathers Estate, upon the west side of Norwoaton river, thirteen acres of land." The only deeds of interest are Samuel's purchase in 1675 of 2 1/2 acres in the East Field, with fencing, from (his brother) Abraham Finch (A:152), and the 1686 deed, noted above in the birth record of Abraham, by which Samuel conveyed land to his brother Abraham by deed of gift (A:153).
On 28 September 1697 Samuel Finch Sr. of Stamford executed four deeds of gift, each witnessed by Abraham Ambler and Samuel Hait, and signed by Samuel Finch with his signature. They were not recorded in Stamford Land Records, however, but were recorded in Fairfield Probate Records, 4:153-153a, as though they collectively constituted a will and testament:
"This Deed of Gift Testifieth yt I, Samuell Finch of Stanford, ... do grant ... thes following percells of land and meado 8c my personall Estate to ye persons herafter mentioned, as followeth: ... unto my Son Samuell Finch, that house, farm and lot which [he] now lives upon. . .as his proper Right 8c Interest. . .and all my land near tilesom brooke; and also that peice of land on ye west side of. . .ye north feild; and my long lot of land upon Shiphand ... and ... one halfe of all my out land, devided or undevided, Exepting what hereafter I shall Give in perticular of said lands; more, I Give him one four year old Steer to be posessd of, all this after my decease ... It is to be understood that halfe my Salt medow in ye East feild Shall be Said Samuells as the other lands.
"I Give, Grant and Conforme unto my wel beloved wife, Sarah Finch, one halfe of my hous and one halfe of the seler and halfe ye barne and one therd part of ye homsted belonging to ye house, dureing ye term of her widowhood, & after her decease or marriage, to remaine and be unto my Son Joseph Finch. also one therd part of all my personall Estate whatever, Excepting what I shall hereafter Give in perticular, [and] one therd part of all ye remainder when due debts are paid. I Give to my wife one bed and beding. I Give to my Said wife, not to be valued by apprisement, 8cdo order my wife to be in Equall proportion with Joseph to pay my Just debts, & therefore in perticular I Give to my s'd wife, one halfe of my Corn, English and Indian graine, and one halfe of that oldest percell of Swine; and one halfe of those debts due to me...
"I give, grant & Conferm to my Son Joseph Finch ye halfe of my dwelling house, barne 8c seler & two therds of my homested belonging to Said house, & ye peice of Land at Shiphand at ye rocke, 8c halfe of my Land and meddoe not mentioned, Excepting what I Shall give in perticular. also, I Give him, after my wives marriage or decease, yt part of houseing & land She posest, Granted by me to her; also I give Joseph my oxen, Cart, plows & harnes, Iron & wooden, belonging thereunto, & my steel trap 8c one halfe of ye Crop of Com, boath English & Indian, & halfe my percell of oldest swine, devided all between him and my wife. also I Give him his bed and beding, not to be Apprised With ye Estate, and order him to pay half myjust debts, and to receave one halfe of the debts due to me...
"I, Samuel Finch Sen'r of Stanford do Give, Grant, make over 8c Conferme unto my four daughters, Sarah Holly, martha Mead, Susannah Seely, & Rachill Finch, as followeth: I give unto Sarah one half of that East Swampe I bought of the Towne ... I give unto my daughter Susanna one halfe of ye East Swampe ... more, out of my personal] estate, fifty shillings more then Sarah 8: Martha ... I give unto my daughter Rachill Finch five pounds out of my Estate & her bed 8c beding, not to be Apprised. [In addition he gave to each of his four daughters] ... one quarter part of that Estate I have not given in perticular, to be posesed of it after my decease and Settlement of my Estate."
An inventory of the estate of Samuel Finch was taken 20 May 1698 by Abraham Ambler and Daniel Scofield. The total appraised value of £321:09:03 included his house, barn, homestead and three acres of land at Shippan, £104; "the house and home lott yt Sam'll Finch ]u'r dwels in," £60; other tracts of land, £64, and (what must have been a magnificent one) a "great Brase Ketle," £3:10:00. On 1 November 1698 the Probate Court accepted the "writeing" and inventory, and appointed the "widow, Sarah Finch, Relict of the s'd Samuell Finch, to Administer on ye s'd Estate with ye advice of Mr. Abraham Ambler and Mr. Samuell Hait" (ibid., 4:153a-154)
On 1 July 1713 the Probate Court appointed Joseph Finch of Stamford as administrator on the estate of "Sarah ffinch, late of Stanford, Widow, being dec'd." A bond of £ 60 was executed (ibid., 5:379).
Samuel (3) Finch and his wife, Sarah Hoyt, had six children. Unless otherwise noted, parenthetical references are to "Stamford Town Records":
5. i. Sarah Finch, born about 1663.
ii. Samuel Finch Jr., born about 1666. As shown in the birth records of their children, his wife's name was Sarah. A Sarah Gold on 5 December 1692 married a man named Finch (1:96) whose given name in the original record is partly missing due to the loss of the left-handedge of the page. The official transcript of the record shows the name as (Sa)muel Finch, but Donald Lines Jacobus, in his "Old Fairfield," op. cit., 1:231, read the name as Israel Finch. Since the eldest child of Samuel and Sarah Finch was born 2 March 1692/3 (1:122), only three months after the subject marriage, the soundness of the transcript appears questionable.
6. iii. Martha Finch, born circa 1669.
iv. Susanna Finch, born say, in 1672. On 5 December 1692 she married (O)badiah Seeley (1:96), son of Obadiah Seeley ("Old Fairfield," op. cit., 1:526).
v. Rachel Finch, born about 1674.
vi. Joseph Finch, born circa 1677. He died 18 December 1752 ("Stamford Births, Marriages and Deaths," 1:100). On 7 August 1703 he married Abigail Seeley (1:122), perhaps a sister of the Obadish Seeley Jr. who married Joseph's sister Susanna."
References:
As cited.
Stamford Town Records.
"History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield," by Donald Lines Jacobus, F.A.S.G."
DEATH:
1. The book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011), p. 152; author's notes in ( ): "p. 159 [1:126]: Death, Widow sarah Finch, deceased, March the 19th in Stamford 1712/13. (This is Sarah2 (Hoyt) Finch, daughter of Simon1 Hoyt,and widow of Samuel2 Finch (son of Stamford Planter John1 Finch), who died on 23 April 1698 (Jacobus, "Families of Old Fairfield," 1:202)."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1638 - 1698 (60 years)
