| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Frederick Humphries, "The Humphreys Family of America," (New York: Humphrey's Print, 1881), pp. 252-55:
"Ensign Samuel3 Humphrey, (Lieut. Samuel,2 Michael,1) was born 17 May, 1686, in Simsbuiy, Ct.[1] He married (1) 23 Feb. 1709-10,[2] Hannah (dau. of Joseph, 2d, and Mary Collier) Phelps,[3] of S., b. 25 Oct., 1693. She died in 1710, at the birth of her first child.[4] He married (2) 26 Feb. 1712-13,[2] Mary Tuller, b. 27 Nov. 1692, dau. of John Tuller, of S., and Elizabeth (Case), whose first husband was Joseph Lewis, of S.[5] He married (3) Dec, 1714, Lydia (dau. of Nathaniel) North, of Farmington, Ct.[6] She died 8 Aug. 1730.[7] He married (4) 31 Oct., 1731,[2] Mary Orton, of Litchfield (South Farms), Ct.
Mr. Humphrey at first settled in Simsbury, where three of his wives died, and where he married the fourth. He and his last wife were members of the Episcopal church and, before that order had other accomodations for worship, services were held at their house.
While a resident of Simsbury, he is said to have been a merchant trader, as his grandfather Michael,1 Humphrey had been, and to have transacted considerable business, which frequently called him to Boston. He was a man of good education for the times, and somewhat in the habit of writing. His name frequently occurs on the Simsbury Records, in connection with town offices and business transactions:
Dec. 18, 1716, "Samuel Humphris Jr. was chosen haward and pound keeper;" October, 1717, he was made "freeman;" and Dec. 26th of that year "Samuel Humphris, Lieutenants Sone" was "chosen colectar and for the gathering of the minesters and town Rats and also Chosen Cunstabel for the year in suin and Sworn sur vairs of highways;" Dec. 16, 1718, "Samuell humphris Sams son" was also chosen constable and collector.
January 19, 1713-14, "Samuel Humphrvs, jr." mortgaged to John Moor, land in "Long Meadow" at Weatogue, bounded partly on land of his father; May 20, 1714, was witness to a deed; and June 15, 1716, "Samuel Humphris Juner (son of Samuel, Sener) and Lyda Humphris, his wife," deeded land in "long meadow, at Weatouge, to Jonathan Humphris [Fam. 4. S.2]; acknowledged before Samuel Humphris, Justice," [Fam. 2, S.2] Feb. 21, 1731-2, "Samuel Humphrey 2d" gave a deed to his son Samuel: it was witnessed by John Humphrey, Jr., and Jonathan Humphrey, Jr., [Fam. 17, S.2] May 15, 1736, he deeded land that was "laid out to him in partnership with Samuel Humphry Johns son," [Fam. 6, J.2] Apr. 2, 1737, he gave a deed to his son Abel; March 19, 1739, "Samuel Humphrey, of Goshen," and Charles and Noah Humphrey, of Simsbury, sold to Samuel Pettibone, Jr., "land which belonged to their father Samuel Humphrey dec'd;" March 19, 1741. "Samuel Humphry, of Goshen," acknowledged the receipt of a valuable sum of money from his brothers Jonathan, Charles and Noah, for which he quitclaimed to them "all his right to certain lands of their honored father, Samuel Humphry of Simsbury, deceased"; at the same date he deeded land in Simsbury to David Phelps, [See Fam. 17 (189), J.2].
With regard to military affairs, we obtain the following from the Hartford Records:
March 18, 1723, "Samuel Humphris, as clerk," makes return of the choice of officers.[8] This was probably Samuel,3 either the son of Lieut. Samuel2 or of Sergt. John,2 [Fam. 6, J.2] The son of the latter is often styled, on the Simsbury Records, "Samuel Humphrey, John's son" to distinguish him from the son of the former, as both were living in Simsbury at the same time and were very nearly the same age.
October 11th, 1725, Sergt. Samuel Humphrey was chosen "Ensign of the South Company, or train band.[9] The index gives, Samuel Humphrey was "chosen Ens. Mch. 18, 1723, cp. [captain.?] M. 12, 1725;" but does not refer to documents. If these dates are all correct, ths last statement may relate to Samuel, 3 son of John,2 as his death did not occur until Sept. 20th, 1725, and he bore the title of "Captain."
Some difficulty appears to have arisen at a later date, when only Samuel 3 son of Samuel,'' of the three just mentioned, was surviving. But as his son Samuel4 had reached the age of 26 years, in 1736, we are in doubt to which of the two the following may refer: — "To the Honnerable Joseph Talcott Esqr these Lines are to Inform Your Honner that Ensign Samuell Humphry was Chosen Ensn in Capt : Benjamin Addams Company, and now by our Divission he fals in the South Company and he Refuseth to searue in his post and he hath not gott his Dismission nither and wee are vnder a Difficulty in this affair, and pray your Honners advice & Direction in the mater which is all at present from your hum'le Ser'ts. Simssbury Novr ye 8: 1736 James Cornish Jr. Capt. Samll Petibone Lieut.
The Index gives: "Gov. T. says he belongs to Capt. Adams Co'y": but the endorsement is on the back of the document, which is pasted down and cannot be read.[10]
About the year 1739, Ensign Samuel 3 Humphrey removed, with his wife and younger children, from Simsbury to Goshen, Ct., and settled upon a tract of land (one "right") which he had bid off at a division of lands at New Haven, March 9th, 1738. This land was located in the north part of the town, where he and his sons gave the name to the road on which they lived, it having been known as long as kept open, and till within a few years, as Humphrey Lane.[11]
When he left his old home, a large number of his friends and neighbors accompanied him as far as Farmington River (a distance of three miles) and there spent a night in prayer and praise. In the morning they bade him a kind and tearful farewell — never expecting to see him again in this life. The distance of his new home from Simsbury was about thirty-two miles! It is worthy of note that nearly all of his original purchase in Goshen is yet in the hands of his descendants. His great-great-grandson, Lemuel7 Palmer [Fam. 45, S.2], was the owner of this property a few years since.
On the Goshen Records, under date 22 Nov. 1748, is an entry concerning Ensign Samuel3 Humphrey's ear-mark for animals. This was transferred to his son Noah4 Humphrey, 27 Dec, 1777.
Mr. Humphrey continued to reside in Goshen until his death, which occurred 16 Oct., 1759, at the age of 73 years.
In the traditions concerning him there is no personal description given, but, from what is known of the large stature, strength and stamina of his brothers and his sons, he is presumed to have been a large, athletic man.
In the sumnrer of 1858, the writer[12] paid a visit to Mr. Lewis M. Norton, of Goshen [Fam. 4, S.2], to whom he had been referred as the best authority in matters of personal and local history pertaining to that vicinity; and from him was obtained, to a great extent, the account of this family, which he stated that he had mostly received, in February, or March, 1812. from David4 (son of Ensign Samuel3) Humphrey. In a letter written by Mr. Norton in the autumn of 1858, he describes him as being, at the time when he furnished the history of his father's family, "about eighty-six years old, but having retained his faculties to a remarkable degree." He also adds as follows: "I received from him, at the same time, much other information concerning the early settlers in this town. His mind was vigorous and his memory remarkably retentive." The same was true of Mr. Norton, who was well known, in that region, as a most zealous and careful collector of genealogical records.
Another source of information which Mr. Norton had, and regarded as very reliable, was Mrs. Mylos (Humphrey) Hamilton [Fam. 14, S.2], a granddaughter of Samuel3 Humphrey. On this authority, in the cases where records and authentic history were lacking, the writer has not hesitated to correct differences of traditoons by Mr. Norton's statements.
Rev. Grant Powers, A. M., in his address at the centennial celebration of Goshen, Ct., Sept. 28th, 1838, thus alludes to this family:
"Samuel Humphrey lived in Humphrey Lane. He was an original proprietor from Simsbury. He had eighteen children by four wives — ten sons and eight daughters; and his posterity are very numerous and have ever well-sustained the reputation of their worthy progenitor. Indeed, it is thought that the descendants of this Samuel Humphrey are more numerous, by far, than the descendants of any other man who ever lived in Goshen." Mrs. Hamilton always understood that there were nineteen children, and the child who died young may not have been included in the number given by Mr. Powers.
Owing to the distance and difficulty of communication across the wild and mountainous country, there seems to have been but little intercourse maintained between the older children of the family, who settled in and near Simsbury, and the parents and younger portion, after their removal to Goshen, and little knowledge of each other; and the compiler congratulates himself in having succeeded, from scant and scattered sources, in rescuing from loss the history of this remarkable family which, though lacking somewhat in chronology and details, is, as far as given, usually correct. Much additional and interesdng matter pertaining to this family was doubtless contained in the early Parish Records of Goshen, which were lost through their removal by a pastor (so said) during certain ecclesiastical and parochial disagreements in the parish.
Children: [KP note: children and succeeding generations given which I do not transcribe.]
Footnotes:
1. Simsbury Records: 20 May, acc. to Judge H. H. Barbour.
2. Simsbury Records.
3. Hannah Phelps was granddaughter of Joseph and Hannah (Newton) Phelps, and gr-gr.dau. of "Ould Mr. 'Williain Phelps,"— acc. to MS. Genealogy of the Phelps family, by Dr. Simeon Shurtleff, of Bushy Hill (Weatogue P. O.) His widow, Mrs. Mary Ann (Phelps) Shurtleff had the MS. in her possession in 1871. Also, acc. to Stiles' Hist. of Ancient Windsor, pp. 738-739.
4. According to Judge H. H. Barbour.
5. Goodwin's Genealogical Notes, p. 275.
6. "Samuel Humphris & Hannah Phelps, m. Feb.— 1710. the aboue said Samll Humphris was married to Mary Tuller his second wife in Feb. 1713. His mariag to lidia North, his third wife was Dec'r 1714." — Simsbury Records.
7. "Lidia Humphris wife of Insigne Samuel Humphris d. Aug. 8, 1730."— Simsbury Records. Another entry is "4 Apr. 1730."
8. State Library, Militia, Vol. I.. 1678-1729, Doc. 180;
9. Idem, Doc. 294;
10. Idem, Vol. II, 1730-1740, Doc. 306.
11. It was stated by Mary [dau. of Ashbel) Humphrey [Fam. 11, S.], and wife of Samuel Humphrey who built a house in Humphrey Lane [Fam. 45. S.] that the frame house built by Ensign Samuel Humphrey was on the west side of the highway — the fourth Humphrey house from the north on that side — and that it stood where the first log house had stood. The frame house on the east side was for his son David Humphrey.
12. Otis M. Humphrey, M. D."
2. Frederick Humphries, "The Humphreys Family of America," (New York: Humphrey's Print, 1881), pp. 243-52:
"Lieutenant Samuel2 Humphrey, (Michael,1) was born 15 May, 1656, in Windsor, Ct. He married Mary (dau. of Simon and Mary Buel) Mills,[1] born 8 Dec. 1662, probably in Windsor, Ct.
Lieut. Humphrey became an influential citizen of Simsbury, having removed with his father from Windsor, about 1669, to that town, then called "the New Village Massacoe,'' which had formerly been "an appendix to the town of Windsor." During the seven years following, he and his brother John, who was six years his senior, doubtless encountered many trials and privations at the new settlement. These culminated in its destruction by the Indians in 1676, after the inhabitants had fled to Windsor for protection.[2]
The next year, the appearance of danger from this source having diminished, many of the settlers returned to the "plantation" and among them Michael,1 Humphrey and his sons, — pioneers for the second time, the Indians having destroyed all the houses which had been erected and blotted out almost every vestige of the improvements which had been made. Samuel Humphrey was now about twenty-one years of age. We do not find much recorded concerning him during the next few years, when he was engaged in subduing the wilderness and in assisting to build up the little settlement anew. He may indeed be said to have grown up with the town; and through the discipline which he received in early life was, probably, the better fitted to become, as he evidently did become, one of its leading men.
May 7th, 1682, he was one of the signers of a document presented to the General Court, in which it was requested that Rev. Samuel Stow might continue his labors at Simsbury and that a church might be there gathered.[3] May 7th, 1683, he signed an agreement to decide by lot as to the location of the meeting-house, whether it should be on the east or west side of Hop River. He was a legal voter at that date. The church was erected in 1684. Samuel Humphrey and his wife both became members of the First Church, at its organization, and his name is frequently mentioned in connection with church matters.
He was a Justice of the Peace for several years;[4] Representative of Simsbury in the General Assembly, in 1702, 1719, and 1722-25; was commissioned Lieutenant about 1709-10.[5] It is stated that when, in 1711-12, forces were sent into the county of Hampshire, Massachusetts, to oppose the movements of hostile Indians who had assembled at that place in considerable force, a part of a Company attached to the expedition was raised in the town of Simsbury, of which Samuel Humphrey was appointed Lieutenant. His commission, signed by Governor Saltonstall, is in the possession of one of his descendants.
Like his father, he had a talent for affairs, and we find him filling many other positions of trust and honor between the years 1685 and 1725. The Simsbury Records give the following:
Dec. 31, 1685, Samuel Humphrey was chosen collector; June 27, 1687, he signed the agreement settling "Mr. Edward Tompson" as minister of Simsbury; June 25, 1688, "Saml & Michall Humphrey," with many others, signed the deed confirming the mill-lot to the owner of the mills; Dec. 13, 1690, he was chosen fence-viewer for the west side of the river.
In 1693, "Sergt Saml Vmphri" was on the town list; town rate for that year — "Samll Humphries," 13s. 4d. Dec. 17, 1694, he was chosen "select man;" Jan. 21, 1695-6, pound-keeper; 1696, — town rate for that year, "Sergt. Samuel Humphrey," 0-9-9-1 : in Dudley Woodbridge's (the minister's) rate £1-18-0. — Feb. 1, 1696-7, he was chosen "ordinary keeper," also Feb. 2, 1697-8; chosen "lyster and fence-viewer" the same day, but declined to qualify.
June 20, 1697, "Serj. Saml Humphries, Serj. John Humphries & John Humphrie Jr." signed an agreement about the minister's wood. Dec. 31, 1697, he was chosen lister; Apr. 4, 1698, was chosen Ensign of Simsbury train-band.[6] July, 1698, — an "Account of those men that wrought about fraiming of [Rev.] Mr. Woodbridges Barn:" 5th day, "saml., John & Thomas Humphry;" 6th day, "John & Thomas Humphry;" 7th day, "Ensign Humphries, John & Thomas Humphris." In 1698, the town owed "Samuel Humphries 10 pence for a pint of rum for the men that cleared the minister's well." Jan. 26, 1698-9, he was chosen fence-viewer; 1699, "Saml Huphres" was collector of the town rate; Dec. 20, 1699, and Dec. 20, 1703, was chosen selectman; May 20, 1700, and Dec. 8, 1705, "townsman;" 1701, lister.
May 6, 1707, he signed an agreement, with many others, to carry on the copper mines,[7] [See Fam. 17, S.2] Dec. 13, 1709, "Lieutenant Samuel Humphries" was fence-viewer for "Samon Brook field," and Dec. 18, 1710, "haward" and pound-keeper; 1712-1717, was Justice of the Peace. Nov. 7, 1712, Samuel Humphrey, "Sen.," signed an agreement about mines. Dec. 15, 1712, he was chosen tavern-keeper; also, May 18, 1713, Dec. 6, 1714, Dec. 15, 1715, Dec. 18, 1716, and Dec. 16, 1718. Aug. 23, 1714, "Saml Humphry, Sen." witnessed a deed; and Jan. 10, 1714-15, he deeded land as one of a committee. The deed was acknowledged before "Samuel Humphris, Justice of Peace," perhaps the one who signed it, as only the other three members of the committee acknowledged it. Oct. 31, 1715, he was a member of a committee to confirm certain grants, — which was done. In October, 1717, his name was included in the list of freemen.
Lieut. Humphrey was the owner of various tracts of land obtained by deed of gift from his father, by grants from the town, and by purchase.[8]
Mrs. Humphrey died 4 April, 1730, ae. 68 years, — probably at Simsbury, where the date of her death is recorded.
Lieut. Humphrey died in Simsbury, 15 June, 1736, ae. 80 years.[9] His will was dated 22 July, 1734. He gives his daughter Mary, £39.5.8; Elizabeth, £33.6.8; Abigail, £24.6.8; "the goods that he has given the three daughters, since the death of his well-beloved wife Mary, are to be applied on their portions;" mentions sons Samuel, Jonathan, Charles and Noah. Michael Humphrey was one of the witnesses to his will [Fam. 10 (121), J.2], which was exhibited and proved 6 July, 1736, Jonathan Humphrey and Mary Case being the executors. ("Hartford Probate Records," xii., 48: xiii., 24, 25.)
Children:[10]
I. Mary,3 b. 16 Nov., 1681; was married in Simsbury, by Rev. Dudley Woodbridge, 7 Dec, 1699, (Simsbury Records, "Red Book") to Bartholomew (5th son of John and Sarah Spencer) Case, of S., b. October, 1670.[11] They resided at Weatogue, in Simsbury, on the paternal homestead. He died 25 Oct., 1725, ae. 55 years. [Children and succeeding generations listed.]
II. Elizabeth,3 b. 22 Apr., 1684; m. 4 July, 1705 ("Hartford Records), ]ohn Collyer, Jr., of Hartford, Ct. [Footnote: "John Collier the son of goodm. [Goodman] Collier of Hartford m. July 5. 1705, Elizabeth Humphries dau. of Ensign Samuel Humphries of Simsbury."— Simsbury Records. Their children here given are mentioned by Judge H. H. Barbour in his work entitled "My Wife and My Mother," Genealogy, p. 48.] Children:
i. John,4.
[Four daughters whose names have not been ascertained.]
III. Samuel,3 b. 17 May, 1686 [Footnote: 20 May, 1686, acc. to Judge H. H. Barbour; 7 May, Shurtleff Records; 17 May, Simsbury Records]; d. 16 Oct., 1759, ae. 73; m. (1) Hannah Phelps; m. (2) Mary Tuller; m. (3) Lydia North; m. (4) Mary Orton. Family 3.
IV. Jonathan,3 b. 2 Dec., 1688 [Footnote: November, Shurtleff Records; 2 Dec. 1688, acc. to Judge H. H. Barbour and Simsbury Records]; d. 14 June, 1749, ae. 61; m. Mercy Ruggles.
V. Abigail,3 m. 24 Jan., 1716-17, John (son of John and Sarah Holcomb) Case [Footnote: Compiled from Goodwin's Gen. Notes, pp. 277-279; and Hist, of the Early Settlers of West Simsbury], b. 22 Aug., 1694; d. 2 Dec., 1752. He was brother of Hannah Case who m. Capt. Noah3 Humphrey, [Fam. 6, S.2] They resided in Simsbury, Ct. [Children and succeeding generations listed.]
VI. Hannah,3 b. 6 April, 1697.
VII. Charles,3 died in 1774; m. Hepzibah Pettibone. Family 5.
VIII. Noah,3 b. 1707; m. Hannah Case. Family 6.
Footnotes:
1. Simon Mills married Mary (dau. of William) Buel, 23 Feb. 1659-60, thirty-nine years after the first settlement of Plymouth: and the tradition is that his father came from Yorkshire, England. Their date of marriage is given as 23 Feb. 1649, in Brown's "Early Settlers of West Simsbury." In 1660, Mr. Mills was residing at Windsor; in 1669, he removed to Weatogue, or East Simsbury. Mary was the oldest child of Simon and Mary (Buel) Mills that survived to mature years.— Stiles' "Hist. of Ancient Windsor."
2. Page 107.
3. Page 110.
4. Lieut. Samuel Humphrey was made Justice of the Peace in Hartford County, by General Assembly, May, 1712, 1714, 1715, and 1716. — "Colonial Records of Connecticut^ 1706-1716."
5. He was commissioned Lieutenant in May, 1710, Idem, p. 145. He bears this title on the Simsbury Records, December 13, 1709.
6. "Samuel Vmphries" was made Ensign in Simsbury May 12, 1698; and was a deputy to the General Court from that town May 14, and in October, 1702. — "Colonial Records of Connecticut.
7. These mines attained a good degree ol celebrity, as appears by a public act passed by the Colony in 1709. Some of the companies were composed of persons of great wealth and respectability. In 1721, miners from Germany were employed. The work continued to be carried on at various periods, until 1773, when the mines were abandoned, for the space of about half a century, for prison occupation. [See Fam. 65, S.; also, Fam. 3, J.] In 1830, they were again worked, and, in 1855, a new company was formed. — Phelps' "Hist. of Newgate," pub. 1860.
8. Entries in Simsbury town books concerning land given to Samuel Humphrey by his father : —
Jan. 16, 1683, Michael Humphrey gives to his youngest son Samuel, "a certain Tract of Land on Salmon Brook, given me by the town ot Simsbury; onely tok what Articles sd Toune bound me to, respecting sd land, my son Saml by these presents shall be bound unto, as to Fence and Maintain fence, with the rest of the proprietors, with whom the sd land lyes in common with, which sd land is my first devision & in the lower Meadow, wh is thirty rods in Breadth, and goes from upland to upland being somewhat more than Forty rods in Length, and abutts Northerly, on goorg Sanders his land easterly on Nathaniell Holcomb his land, easterly on ye comons, westerly on ye comons, the said land being by estimation seven accres & three Rood be it more or less. signed 23 Jany, 1683. John Slater, Mary Mils, witnessses." Deed dated Nov. 3, 1684.
Nov. 22, 1684.— "Be it known unto all men by these Presents yt. I Michall Humphries of simsbury in the county of Hartford in ye collony of Conecticutt in New england for good consideration me thereunto mouveing have don & by these Presents do give grant Bargain & sell, unto My sonn Samuell Humphries of simsbury in ye county of Hartford aforesaid a certain parcell of Swamp Land wh is a part of my house Lott. and adjoyning to my sd House Lott, Being in Length sixteen Rods, and in Breadth thirteen Rods, & by estimation one accre, one Rood, and eight Rods, be yt more or less, as it lyes Bounded north by the House Lott of the sd Michael Humphries westerly by the land of the widow Mary Mills; easterly & southerly by land of John Moses; to him his Heyrs & executors, administrators and assigns, for ever to have hold possess & injoy. with all the Benefits & priviledges. of the said parcell of Land within ye Bounds specified in these presents, and do give him his Heyres & assigns full clear and peaceable possession without any Molestation or Trouble from by or under me or by my privity or consent. and give my son Samuel ful power to record these presents in the booke of records to him his heyrs and assigns for ever, as witnesse my hand, the Tweenty second of November, to the year. of our lord god one Thousand six hundred Eighty Foure. Signed and delivered in ye presence of Edward Pence, Mary Mills. Michall Humphreies. Michall Humphries personally appeared and acknowledgs this Instrument to be his free act and deeds the Twenty eight of November, 1684 Before me John Wadsworth Assistant."
Grants of land to Samuel Humphrey from the town of Simsbury: [KP note: Book details several transactions which I do not transcribe.]
9. Simsbury Records.
10. Dates of birth of the children of Lieut. Samuel Humphrey, as recorded in the "Red Book" at Simsbury:
Mary Humphries, the first Daughter of Samuell Humphries which Mary his wif bare to him who was the daughter of Simon Mills was Borne the sixteenth of nouember Anno Dom. one Thousand six hundred eighty one.
Elizabeth Humphries the second Daughter of Samuell Humphries Borne 22d of Aprill 1684.
Samuell Humphries the son of Saml Humphries Borne May seventeenth one thousand six hundred and eighty six.
Jonathan Humphries, ye second son of Sami Humphris was born december ye second 1688.
Hannah Humphris, the daughter of Sam'l Humphries was Borne the sixth of Apriell 1697.
11. Mary Humphries the Daughter of Ensign Saml Humphries was married in simsbury ["by Rev. Dudley Woodbndge," "Red Book," acc. to Dr. H. R. Stiles] the seuenth of December 1699 to Bartholomew Case the son of John Case of Simsbury."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1704 - Aft 1750 (> 47 years)
