John Wolcott

Notes:

John Wolcott, b. 1607, was baptized at Lydiard St. Lawrence in 1607. John remained in England when his family emigrated to America. A letter to Henry Wolcott, Jr., from his cousin in England dated 1631 says: "Your Brother John continues in his old course of living", whatever that means. Henry Wolcott, John's father, in a deed dated 1642 refers to his second son, Henry, as his oldest son.

Notes:

Henry Wolcott, an English gentleman from the Parish of Lyiard, St. Lawrence, and his wife Elizabeth Saunders, with their sons Henry, Christopher and George, emigrated to New England on the ship Mary and John. The ship left Plymouth England and arrived in Massachusetts on May 31, 1630. Henry was described as "a resolute Puritan, a stout-hearted and God-fearing man". He may have been influenced by Simon Venn of Lydiard St. Lawrence, who Henry later appointed as overseer of his property he inheirited at Tolland. Simon was a brother of John Venn of London, one of the partners in the Massachusets Bay Company in 1628 and 1629.
Mr. Wolcott's residence in Windsor was toward the southern end of the town, south of the Farmington River, on a tract of high land which has always borne the name of "The Island" along which the road passes southward, and then through the meadow\emdash being the first, or meadow, road to Hartford. The lot of his eldest son, Henry, Jr., adjoined his own on the south, both fronting the west. He continued an honored resident of Windsor until his death, which occurred May 30, 1655.
Henry Wolcott Sr's Last Will (from the Wolcott Genealogy) The thirtieth of May (1655), I, HENRY WOLCOTT, sick of body, but of perfect memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form following. First. I commend my soul to God my maker, hoping assuredly through the only merit of Jesus Christ my Saviour, to be a partaker of life everlasting; and I commend my body to the earth, whereof it was made. I will that my wife shall have all my house lot, orchard, garden, hop yard, and my lot in Plymouth meadow, during the term of her natural life. Also, I give unto my wife two of my cows, and half the household goods in my dwelling house. Also, I leave my land in England to Henry my eldest son, without encumbrances. Also, I give unto him my two books of martyrs. [Note: Records show that John Wolcott b. abt 1607 was Henry's eldest son] Also, I give to Christopher my second son, my lot in the Great meadow and also, my house lot and houseing upon it, after the death of my wife, he paying out of it thirty pounds, after my wife's decease, as I shall hereafter appoint. Also, I give to George my third son, the five pounds he owes me, and five pounds more. Also, I give to Simon, my youngest son, all my land on the easterly side of the Great River and also my lot at Arramonets. Also, to the children of Henry, my eldest son, five pounds to Henry the eldest of them, and to the rest of them forty shillings apiece. I give all the rest of my goods to be equally divided amongst all my children. Also, I appoint Henry Wolcott, my son, to be overseer of this my will and testament. Also, my will is, that Christopher, my son, shall have my lot in Plymouth meadow, after the decease of my wife.
My will is that my debts shall be first paid. October 4, 1655. The above written being testified to the Court by Mr. Henry Wolcott, upon oath, and by Mr, Wichfield to be the last will and testament of Mr. Henry Wolcott, senior, deceased, the Court approbated of the same, and ordered it to be recorded.
John Cullick, Secretary.

(Research):Henry Wolcott was born in 1578 at Tolland, Somerset and died in 1655 at Windsor CT. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Saunders of Lydeard St. Lawrence, Somerset, in 1606. Henry, Elizabeth, and three of their sons sailed from Plymouth on the Mary and John . They arrived in Dorchester MA 31 May 1630. Their two daughters and youngest son arrived a few years later. Henry settled at Windsor CT in 1636. He was a member of the CT House of Delegates from1637 to 1643, and was a member of the House of Magistrates from 1643 until his death in 1655. Henry and Elizabeth Wolcott, both died in 1655, and are buried in the churchyard of the First Congregational Church at Windsor CT - http://www.wolcottfamily.com/somerset.html

Lydeard St Lawrence The Lydeard part of the name is believed to be a corruption of Lidegaard from the Celtic garth meaning ridge and Old English led meaning grey. The second part of the village name is taken from the dedication of the church. From Saxon times the manor was owned by the Bishop of Winchester as part of their Taunton Deane estate. After the Norman Conquest it was granted to Wilward by William the Conqueror and known as Pylegh. The parish of Lydeard St Lawrence was part of the Taunton Deane Hundred. In the 18th century the manor was acquired by the Hancock family.

Henry married Elizabeth Saunders about Jan 1605/06 in Lydeard St Lawrence, Somersetshire, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Living and Living) was christened on 20 Dec 1584 in Lydeard St Lawrence, Somersetshire, England; died on 7 Jul 1655 in Windsor, Connecticut Colony. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[Henry's] widow survived him about five weeks; she died July 7 [1655], and her will, dated July 5, is attested by her mark. The explanation of this, which we find in one of our old manuscripts, is unquestionably authentic: "Their wills were made just before their deaths, and Mrs. Wolcott, not being well enough to write her name, only made her mark."
- Wolcott Genealogy

Notes:

Married:
Henry Woolcott and his wife, Elizabeth, were presented at the Diocesan Court in July 1609 for the offence of incontinence. "They weare marryed two yeeres agon and shee was delivered of childe within thirtye weekes after." They were admonished, and the case was dismissed. Note: Incontinence in this case meant immoderate, intemperate, not holding back (from Old French).
Be it noted that in Henry Sr's wlll, John is not mentioned and therein Henry Jr is the eldest son, Chrostopher, second, and George, third.

Notes:

The English ancestry of this Wolcott line goes back to John Woolcott-I of Tolland, Somersetshire. His will there was dated 9 Feb 1571, proved 11 April 1572, and mentioned the children John-II (b. 1582, bap 20 Dec 1584), Alice, and Mary, his wife Agnes, and brothers Henry and Roger Woolcott. The will of John Wolcot-II, yeoman of Tolland dated 10 Nov 1623 mentions several children, among them his two eldest sons Christopher and Henry. Henry was the progenitor of the New England Wolcott line. CG p447

John married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Notes:

Living married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes: