WEBB - ARDEN - SHAKESPEARE FAMILY CONNECTIONS

King Henry VIII separated the Church of England from the Catholic Church in 1533 and decreed marriage between first cousins legal, leading to perhaps the most complex family tree ever! 

Technically, William Shakespeare has no direct descendants.   However his mother is our 13th great grand aunt, sister to our 13th great grandmother.  Thus his maternal grandparents (Robert & Mary Webb Arden) are our 14th great grandparents.  On his father's side his, John Alexander Webb is his Great Grandfather and also our 15th Great Grandfather.   Richard Webb came to America in about 1629.  He is Beatrice Scofield Syska's 9th Great Grandfather and William Shakespeare's 2nd Cousin.

ARDEN FAMILY OF ENGLAND

The Arden Family takes its name from the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire and can trace it's male lineage back to the Anglo Saxon time period prior to the 11th century Norman Invasion.

Ralph De Arden (1373-1421)  m.  Sibell DeBelgrave -  18th GRGR

Robert De Arden (1413-1451) m. Elizabeth Clodshale - 17th GRGR

Walter De Arden (1441-1502) m. Eleanor Hampden   -  16th GRGR

Thomas Arden (1469-1546)  m. unknown - 15th GRGR

Robert Arden (1506-1556) m. Mary Webb  and  Grace Arden (1514-  ) m. Henry Webb  - both are my 14th GRGR

Mary Arden (1537 -  )  m. John Shakespeare   (Mary is my 13th great grand aunt)

Margaret Arden (1538-1608) m.   Alexander Webb.  - 13th GRGR

John Arden (  -1526), apparently inherited the Arden family's primary estate at Park Hall, Castle Bromwich.   John Arden had fallen in love with Alice Bracebridge (a distant cousin), but his father,  Sir Walter  disapproved.  John was kidnapped & taken to bracebridge Hall.  Arbitrators appointed by King Edward IV, at the request of Sir Walter, permitted the marriage but ordered Richard Bracebridge to give Sir Walter his best horse for trespassing during the Kidnapping.  In 1502 John Arden inherited Park Hall in Castle Bromwich, while his younger brother, Thomas (1469-1546) settled at Wilmcote near Stratford upon Avon.

WEBB FAMILY OF ENGLAND

Sir John Alexander Webb (1484-1516)  - 15th GRGR

Henry Alexander Webb (1510-1544) m. Grace Arden and Mary Webb (1512-1550) m. Robert Arden   -  14th GRGR

Sir Alexander Webb Sr. (1534-1573) m. Margaret Arden  - 13th GRGR

Sir Alexander Webb Jr. (1559-1629) m. Mary Wilson  - 12th GRGR

Richard Webb (1594-1676) m. Grace Wilson  - 11th GRGR

Sir John Alexander Webb (1484-1516) - 15th GRGR,  an officer in King Henry VIII's army, had four children by an unknown wife,  including Mary, Abigail, Sir Henry Alexander Webb and Margaret.  Our family is related to Mary and Henry.

• Mary Webb (1512-1550)  married Robert Arden (1506-1556) and had 2 daughters.
• Mary Arden Shakespeare (1537-) who married John Shakespeare and gave birth to William . - see below
• Margaret Arden Webb (1538-1608 ) who married Sir Alexander Webb Sr. and whose descendants emigrated to America  - see below

Mary Arden Home

• Abigail Webb Shakespeare (1515-  ) married  her first cousin, Richard Shakespeare in 1532 and had 2 sons- John and Henry.
• John Shakespeare also married his first cousin Mary Arden (1537 -  ), daughter of Robert Arden & Mary Webb (Abigail's sister), in 1557.  They had eight children including William Shakespeare. 

• Sir Henry Alexander Webb (1510-1544):    Presumably named after King Henry, he was an usher in the Privy Council of Queen Regent Catherine Parr (King Henry's 6th wife), who granted him lands and privileges for his service. Henry married Grace Arden (1514- )  (daughter of Thomas Arden) and had three children:  Alexander, Agnes and Robert.  
• Sir Alexander Webb Sr. (1534-1573) also married his first cousin, Margaret Arden (1538-1608)  who was the daughter of Robert Arden.
• Sir Alexander Webb Jr. (1559-1629) married Mary Wilson (1561-1629) emigrated to America abt 1629  with their family including Richard Webb (1594-1676) (my 11th gr gr)

COLONISTS PART II - 1621-1630 ARRIVALS ABOARD THE 'FORTUNE', HIGGINSON FLEET AND WINTHROP FLEET

Beatrice (Scofield) Syska's Ancestors First Generation Arriving in 1621-1630

1621-1630
Thomas Prence (1600-1673) and Apphia Quickie
Richard Norman (abt. 1580-1682) and Margaret (Alford) Norman (1594-1645)
Simon Hoyt (1590-1657) and Susannah (Smith) Hoyt Bates (1615-1674)
John Strickland (1584-1672) & Jane (Fenwick) Strickland (1590-1663)
John Pettit (1608-1662) - son of a French Huguenot 
Richard Webb (1611-1675) and Margery (Moyer) Webb (1610-1676)

Jonas Weed (1597-1676)
John Finch (1613- 1657 ) and Martha (Brett) Finch (1618-1681)
Robert Lockwood (1600-1658)

1) Thomas Prence (1600-1673)- 

came over aboard the Fortune landing in Plymouth, MA in 1621.   Later, he served several terms as the Governor of Plymouth colony and resided in Duxbury & Eastham MA.  

Thomas was born in Lechdale, Gloucestershire England, in the year 1600, the son of Thomas Prince/Prence Sr. and Elizabeth Todlerby.

Prence's father, in his will of July 31, 1639, mentioned "my son Thomas Prence now remayninge in New England in parts beyond the seas", and bequeathed him a "seale Ringe of Gold"

When Thomas arrived in Plymouth, only half of the Mayflower's 102 passengers including just 4  women, had survived.  Ships continued to arrive bringing more family and settlers, but the mortality rate remained high.   

Thomas Prence House in Eastham, MA -
Built 1646

Thomas Prence - House Diagram

During his life Thomas was widowed three times.   Patience Brewster, daughter of Mayflower passenger William Brewster, was his first wife and their's was the 9th marriage recorded in Plymouth. Patience died in 1634 of Pestilence Fever (probably small pox or influenza) and Thomas next married Mary Collier, who died in 1644.   Apphia Quickie Freeman (1602-1668) became his 3rd wife in about 1646.  Apphia probably arrived in America in 1630,with her husband at the time, Samuel Freeman, who she later divorced, prior to her marriage to Thomas.  After Apphia died in about 1668, Thomas married Mary (Burr) Howes.  In total, he fathered 8 daughters and 1 son.  

His youngest daughter Judith Prence (probably of his 3rd wife, Apphia Quickie) is documented as marrying Clement Buxton in 1677.  There are however a number of conflicting records regarding the marriage of Judith which essentially have her married to multiple husbands at the same time, thus this pedigree is far from certain.  
*Judith first married Isaac Barker in 1665 which is confirmed by the Will of Thomas Prence in 1673.  She may have married Clement Buxton 2nd in 1677, but records show Isaac living until 1688.  Further records indicate Judith also married William Tubbs in 1693, which could have been her 3rd husband, but again the dates don't match up.   

PEDIGREE (Unconfirmed):

• Unk Prence (1600-1673) - Judith (Prence/Pirent) Buxton (1646-1722)*- Moses Buxton (1686-1766) -Mercy (Buxton) Scofield (1721-1779)- Enos Scofield (1753-1830)**- Stephen Scofield (1782-1853) -Samuel Scofield (1805-1885) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield(1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

• Unk Prence (1600-1673) -  Judith (Prence/Pirent) Buxton (1650-1722)*-  Eunice (Buxton) Scofield  (1678-1743)  - Eunice (Scofield) Slawson (1707-1742/43) - Jonathan Slauson (1736-1820) - Daniel Slauson (1765-1846) - Nathan Dann Slauson (1803-1873)- Lewis Slawson (1830-1885) - Sarah Francis (Slauson) Selleck (1863-1938) - Maud J (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968) - Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

• Unk Prence (1600-1673) -  Judith (Prence/Pirent) Buxton (1650-1722)*-  Eunice (Buxton) Scofield  (1678-1743)  - Eunice (Scofield) Slawson (1707-1742/43) - Jonathan Slauson (1736-1820) - Lydia (Slauson) Selleck (1777-1845) - Sands Selleck (1817-1898) -  Sanders Selleck (1859-1947) - Maud J (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968) - Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

2) Richard Norman (abt. 1580-1682) and Margaret (Alford) Norman (1594-1645) - my 10th Gr. Grandparents

Richard Norman was a fisherman and shipbuilder who married Margaret Alford in 1615 in St. Giles in the Wood, Devon, England.  Documents show the Normans arrived in Salem, MA about 1626 with 5 children including  10 yr old Susanna. 
 But the Norman Family was already here in America, having come to the new world in 1623 with the Dorchester Company as part of the Cape Ann Colony.  The group moved to Salem in 1626, built homes and were established when Governor Endicott arrived in 1628.  

Per colonial records: "Old Goodman Norman and his son and others who owned what they came over on the account of a Company in England called by the name of Dorchester Co. of Dor. Merchants: they had sundry houses built in Salem"

Richard & Margaret's daughter, Susanna Norman married Robert Lockwood in 1634. Susanna's parents remained in Mass, but the Lockwoods moved to Connecticut about 1645, first to Stamford and then Greenwich. Robert Lockwood was Sergeant of the Fairfield County Regiment in 1650.  He passed away in 1658 and Susanna remarried Jeffrey Ferris about 1660, but she died a year later in December of 1661.   Robert & Susanna had ten children, with their eldest oldest son, Jonathan Lockwood, marrying his step-sister, Mary Ferris, in 1664.   

PEDIGREE

•  Richard Norman (abt. 1580-1682) and Margaret (Alford) Norman (1594-1645) - Susannah (Norman) Lockwood (1616-1660) - Jonathan Lockwood (1634-1688) -Still John Lockwood (1672-1758) - Robert Lockwood (1714-1784) - Lydia (Lockwood) Slausen (1742-1773) - Daniel Slausen (1765-1846) - Nathan Dann Slausen (1803-1873)- Lewis Slawsen (1830-1885) - Sarah Francis (Slausen) Selleck (1863-1938) - Maud J (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968) - Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

• Richard Norman (abt. 1580-1682) and Margaret (Alford) Norman (1594-1645) - Susannah (Norman) Lockwood (1616-1660) - Jonathan Lockwood (1634-1688) -Still John Lockwood (1672-1758) - Robert Lockwood (1714-1784) - Lydia (Lockwood) Slausen (1742-1773) - Lydia (Slausen) Selleck (1777-1845) - Sands Selleck (1817-1898) -  Sanders Selleck (1859-1947) - Maud J (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968) - Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

3) Simon Hoyt (1590-1657) my 9th Gr. Gr
 arrived in 1629 on the Higginson fleet of Massachusetts Bay Colony, possibly aboard the Lyons Whelp ship.  His first wife & the mother of his 5 oldest children died in England prior to his emigration.  Its unclear if any of those children came with him to America.   

In 1630 Simon married 2nd wife Susannah (Smith) Hoyt Bates (1615-1674), daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Buswell) Smith, and had 7 more children.  The family is recorded in Dorchester in 1633, then in Scituate in 1635, Windsor by 1639, Fairfield by 1649 and finally in Stamford in 1657 when Simon died.   Susannah married 2nd Robert Bates in Stamford about 1657 and passed away before 1674.    

Probate records document receipt by 5 of his children:  Joshua Hoyte of Stamford; Moses Hoyte of Westchester on April 2, 1666; Samuell Hoyte April 1665; Samuel Finch for his wife Sarah in April 1665, Benjamin Hoyte January 27 (yr unk); and Samuel Firman for his wife, Miriam on March 25, 1662.  

Records document that in 1674, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Benjamin, Thomas Lyon (wife Mary), Samuel Finch (Sarah) and Samuel Firman (Miriam) agreed upon the distribution of the estate of deceased mother Susanna Bates. 

Simon & Susanna's daughter Sarah Hoyt (1646- ) married Samuel Finch (1636-1698),my 8th grgr, the son of John & Martha Finch.  
Sarah & Samuel's daughter, Sarah Finch married Obadiah Seeley (1670-1745) in 1692. 

PEDIGREE:

• Simon Hoyt (1590-1657) - Sarah (Hoyt) Finch (1646-  ) -  Susannah (Finch) Seeley (1671-1745) - Obadiah Seeley 4th (1701-1745) - Obadiah Seeley 5th (1728-1775) - John Seeley (1755-1832) -Seth Seeley (1806-1880)- Emily (Seeley) Scofield (1843-1920) - Harry F. Scofield (1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

4) John Strickland (1584-1672) & Jane (Fenwick) Strickland (1590-1663) my 10th Gr Gri
arrived in Salem, with their children, before 1629 (exact date unknown).  John is recorded as a member of a jury in Watertown MA on Sept. 18, 1630 after which he moved to Wethersfield CT.  At some point, he moved to Long Island, but the date is unknown. 

In 1639, their son, Edmund traveled with Roger Ludlowe and three other men, along with their cattle, from Wethersfield, CT across 70 miles of wilderness and settled the town of Uncowa, now Fairfield.  
Source:    Fairfield, Conn. Tercenterary,  1639 - 1939,  Three hundred Year anniversary ,pg. 34 - 35

Edmund Strickland (1610-1670) married Hannah (unknown) ( -1695) in about 1641 and their daughter, Mary Strickland (1648 - 1714) married John Weed in Stamford in the year 1670.  

PEDIGREE:

• John Strickland (1584-1672) & Jane (Fenwick) Strickland (1590-1663) - Edmund Strickland (1610-1670) - Mary (Strickland) Weed (1648 - 1714) - Hannah (Weed) Scofield (1687-1739)-  Abraham Scofield (1727-1787)- Amy (Scofield) Scofield (1760-1844)- Stephen Scofield (1782-1853) - Samuel Scofield (1805-1885) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield(1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945) 

5) John Pettit (1608-1662) arrived in Salem about 1629/1630.  

Conflicting versions have John emigrating with his sister Anne Pettit or his brother Thomas Pettit and family, but neither is confirmed.  The passenger list of the Talbot, indicates Thomas Pettit, his wife Christian and their infant son, Thomas Jr. (born enroute on the Talbot), arrived in Massachusetts in 1629. While records from the Winthrop fleet have Anne Pettit arriving in Salem in 1630 and enrolled in the Boston church on Aug. 1630.

• Thomas Pettit settled in Boston (correction)  where he married Christian Mallows and worked for his father in law, Oliver Mallows, in his Mill, along with his brother John Pettit.  Records indicated he was granted a house lot in Boston in 1638.  Thomas moved to Exiter, New Hampshire and signed the 'Exiter Comgination" in 1640.  Thomas Pettit returned to Boston at some point whre he, along with Thomas Hooker and other colonists openly supported Anne Hutchinson during her trial. Records indicate Thomas Pettit was arrested in Boston at that time.  In 1655, Thomas again moved, this time to Newtown, LI, which is known today as Elmhurst, Queens. 

John Pettit, our ancestor, has not been found on ship passenger lists, but town records show John was made a 'Freeman' in 1631 and a communicant of the Ispwich church in 1632.  He was, further, employed in Boston in 1634 by Oliver Mallows, the father-in-law of his brother, Thomas. Property and church records have the family residing in Roxbury Mass in about 1640 and then moving to Stamford. John Pettit is considered one of the first settlers of Stamford.  

Born on 1608 in Essex Co. England, the eldest son of Mary & Henri Pettit, a French huguenot refugee.  
He first married Debrow/Deborah (unk) (abt. 1612-1652), the mother of his first two children, John and Deborah.  John's next married Mary Moore (1610-1657), the mother of David (1554-1657) and Jonathan (1656-1720).
I have not been able to determine Mary Moore's ancestry.

John & Mary Pettit's son, Jonathan Pettit (1656-1720) married Elizabeth Finch (1669-172) in Stamford, CT. 

Jonathan & Elizabeth moved with their son Nathaniel Pettit (1688-1768)  to Bedford, Westchester Co. NY.   While their daughter Elizabeth Pettit (1690-1772) married Nathaniel Scofield(1688-1769), son of John & Hannah (Mead) Scofield and remained in Stamford CT.   

PEDIGREE:

John Pettit (1608-1662) -Jonathan Pettit (1656-1720) - Elizabeth (Pettit) Scofield (1690-1772) - Sylvanus Scofield (1729-1795) - Rhoda(Scofield) Seeley (1765-1806) - Seth Seeley (1806-1880) - Emily (Seeley) Scofield (1843-1920) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield(1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)


John Pettit (1608-1662) -Jonathan Pettit (1656-1720) - Elizabeth (Pettit) Scofield (1690-1772) - Jonathan Scofield (1719-1788) - Elizabeth Ann, 'Betsey' (Scofield) Jones (1783-1838) - Sally Ann (Jones) Scofield (1808-1884) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield(1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945) 

6) Richard Webb (1611-1675) and Margery (Moyer) Webb (1610-1676)
Richard Webb arrived in America as a teenager sometime between 1626 and 1629 with his parents Richard Webb Sr. and Grace (Wilson) Webb. 
The Webb's are said to have come to America with much of their family including:  Alexander & Mary Webb (parents), and their four grown sons and families, including Richard, Henry, William & Christopher.  A fifth son, John Webb may have stayed in England initially, emigrating to America several years later.  

Sir John Alexander Webb (1484 -  ) served
as an officer in Henry VIII army.  H
is son Sir Henry John Alexander Webb (1510 -)
was granted the Webb Coat of Arms in 1577
by Queen Elizabeth I.  The coat of arms is
said to have established the family as nobility.

*Alexander Webb (1559- abt.1629) was the first cousin of William Shakespeare.  Alexander's mother, Margaret Arden, was the sister of William Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden.  In addition, their father's are said to be cousins as well. 


Richard Webb, Jr., married Margery Moyer, probably in Stamford, CT, and had 7 children.
Richard served two years as a Selectmen in Stamford and represented Stamford in the Connecticut General Court.  
Richard owned and operated the first mill in Stamford, which his son Joseph Webb  inherited when his father died in 1675.  Joseph married Hannah Scofield, daughter of Richard & Mary, though, we are not direct descendents of this line.  They were our great grand Uncle & Aunt.

Richard & Margery's other son Samuel Webb (1662-1736) married Hannah Jagger (1667-1729), probably the daughter of Jeremiah Jagger, and they are  my 9th Gr Gr.  Samuel & Hannah's grandson, Charles Webb Jr. was a Colonel in the Stamford Fairfield Regiment during the Revolutionary war and married Mercy Holly.   


PEDIGREE:

Richard Webb (1611-1675) & Margery (Moyer) Webb (1610-1676) - Samuel Webb (1662-1736) - Charles Webb (1697-1730) - Charles Webb (1724-1800)* - Sarah (Webb) Dann (1753-  )  - Betsey (Dann) Slausen (1777-1857) - Nathan Dann Slausen (1803-1873) - Lewis Slausen (1830-1885) - Sarah Frances (Slausen) Selleck (1863-1938) - Maud Justina (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968) - Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945) 

Colonists Arriving on John Winthrop's Fleet

In the spring and summer of 1630, John Winthrop's fleet brought 11 ships to the New England colonies carrying 1000 settlers, livestock and provisions with plans to start the Massachusetts Bay Colony.   The initial group of four ships, led by the flag ship Arbella, left England  April 8, 1630.   The Arabella reached Massachusetts on June 12, 1630. The Jewell arrived the following day; the Ambrose arrived on June 18; and the Talbot arrived on July 2.

7) Jonas Weed (1597-1676) - arrived on the Arabella.   

 There is some discrepancy regarding Jonas' birth year, but based on John Winthrop's journal and English baptismal records, its probably 1597.  He arrived in Salem, but settled in Watertown MA, where he was made a freeman in 1631.  
Jonas moved to Wethersfield about 1635 and, in 1637, he married his younger wife, Mary (unknown).  In 1641, Jonas and Mary joined a group of other settlers from Wethersfield to found Stamford CT. 

"Whereas there was a dismission granted by the Church of Watertown in Massachusetts dated 29th of Ma[ ] last to Andrew Ward, Jo: Sherman, Jo: Strickland, Rob'te Coo, Rob'te Reynolds & Jonas Weede, wth intent to forme a newe Ch: Covennte in this River of Connecticut, the sade prties hase soe accordingly done with the publicke allowance of the rest of the members of the saide Churches, as by certificate nowe prduced apprs. It is therefore, in this prsent Cort, ratified & confirmined, they prmising shortlie and publiquely to renewe the saide Covenant vppon notice to the rest of the Churches."


Three of Jonas & Mary's children are our direct ancestors: 


Jonas Weed Jr. (1647-1704), a shoemaker in Stamford Ct., married Bethia Holly (1655-1713) the daugther of  John & Mary (Waitstill) Holly.   Jonas & Bethia's daughter, Abigail Weed, married Jeremiah Scofield in 1714. 


John Weed (1643-1714) married Mary Strickland and their daughter, Hannah Weed married Samuel Scofield in 1709.  

Daniel Weed (1652-1697)  married Ruth Woods (1653-1709) and their son Abraham Weed married Susanna Bell in 1706.  Lois Weed, the granddaughter (out of wedlock) of Abraham and Susanna, married Abraham Scofield in 1752.

PEDIGREE:

• Jonas Weed (1597-1676) - Jonas Weed (1647-1704) -Abigail (Weed) Scofield (1695-1758)- Richard Scofield (1717-1772) - Enos Scofield (1753-1830)**- Stephen Scofield (1782-1853) -Samuel Scofield (1805-1885) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield (1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

•  Jonas Weed (1597-1676) - John Weed (1643-1714) -Hannah (Weed) Scofield (1687-1739)-  Abraham Scofield (1727-1787)- Amy (Scofield) Scofield (1760-1844)- Stephen Scofield (1782-1853) - Samuel Scofield (1805-1885) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield(1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945) 

• Jonas Weed (1597-1676) - Daniel Weed (1652-1697)- Abraham Weed (1680-1711) - Daniel Weed (1705-1776) - Ruth Weed (unk father) (1709-1773) - Lois Weed (Scofield) (1731-1763) -Amy (Scofield) Scofield (1760-1844)- Stephen Scofield (1782-1853) - Samuel Scofield (1805-1885) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield (1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945) 

8) JOHN FINCH (1613- 1657) - arrived on the Winthrop fleet.

Passenger lists show John Finch arriving with Abraham and Daniel Finch, possibly his brothers.  Abraham Sr., their father, may also have been on the ship them to America, but some genealogists believe that was a transcription error.  Others also believe John may be the son of Daniel not Abraham, but none of this is confirmed.

What we know is that Daniel, Abraham and John Finch all arrived in Massachusetts in 1630 and settled in Watertown.  In November of 1630, John Winthrop noted in his journal, "Old Finch had his wigwam and all his goodes destroyed by fire,"  which probably refers to either Abraham Sr. or the oldest brother, possibly Daniel.     

John Finch was born in England sometime between 1595 and 1613.  His first wife is unknown, but died before 1634 when he married Martha Brett in Watertown, who is, most likely,  mother of his last three children.  Martha was born in Kent, England in 1618 and is believed to have also come to America on the Winthrop fleet in 1630, but her parents are unconfirmed. 

While there is no evidence John Finch lived in Wethersfield, Abraham & Daniel definitely moved there.  Abraham  was killed on April 23, 1637 in the Wethersfield Massacre by Massutunk, a Pequot chief, who was tried, convicted and beheaded in 1639, for the murder.   

The Wethersfield Massacre  was part of the Pequot War
that ended with the massacre of hundreds of Pequots and
destruction of the Pequot tribe.

John Finch moved to Stamford, along with Daniel, before 1642 when he was granted six acres in the town.   John died in Stamford in 1657, after which, Martha married 2nd John Green. 

John & Martha's son, Samuel Finch (1636-1698) married Sarah Hoyt  (1637-whose daughter Sarah married Obadiah Seeley.


Another son, Isaac Finch (1639-1702) married Elizabeth Bassett (1637-1672), the daughter of John & Margery (Holland) Bassett.  Isaac & Elizabeth's daughter Elizabeth Finch(1669-1720) married Jonathan Pettit (1656-1720) in 1688.  

PEDIGREE:

• JOHN FINCH (1613-1657)- Isaac Finch (1639-1702) - Elizabeth (Finch) Pettit (1669-1720) - Elizabeth (Pettit) Scofield (1690-1772) - Jonathan Scofield (1719-1788) - Elizabeth Ann, 'Betsey' (Scofield) Jones (1783-1838) - Sally Ann (Jones) Scofield (1808-1884) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield(1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945) 

• JOHN FINCH (1613-1657)- Isaac Finch (1639-1702) - Elizabeth (Finch) Pettit (1669-1720) - Elizabeth (Pettit) Scofield (1690-1772) - Sylvanus Scofield (1729-1795) - Rhoda(Scofield) Seeley (1765-1806) - Seth Seeley (1806-1880) - Emily (Seeley) Scofield (1843-1920) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield(1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

• JOHN FINCH (1613-1657)- Samuel Finch (1636-1698) - Susannah (Finch) Seeley (1671-1745)-Obadiah Seeley 4th (1701-1745) - Obadiah Seeley 5th (1728-1775) - John Seeley (1755-1832) -Seth Seeley (1806-1880)- Emily (Seeley) Scofield (1843-1920) - James Scofield (1831-1918) - Harry F. Scofield(1870-1956)- Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

9)  Robert Lockwood (1600-1658)  arrived 1630 also aboard the Arabella with his brother Edmund Lockwood.  He settled in Watertown MA and married Susanna Norman four years later.  They moved to Fairfield Ct. about 1641.  Robert was the Sargent of the Fairfield CT Regiment and may have lived in Stamford and Norwalk as well.  Robert Lockwood died in 1658 and Susanna married Jeffrey Ferris, but Susanna died only a few years later in 1661.   


In 1664, Robert and Susanna's son Jonathan Lockwood (1634-1688) married Mary Ferris (1640-1708), who was his step-sister and the daughter of Jeffrey & Mary Ferris.  Jonathan & Mary moved to Greenwich and Jonathan was one of the early proprietors in 1672.  Their son Still John Lockwood (1674-1758) married Mary or Mercy (unknown) and fathered Lydia (Lockwood) Slausen/Slawson (1742-1773).

Robert Lockwood (1600-1658) - Jonathan Lockwood (1634-1688) -Still John Lockwood (1672-1758) - Robert Lockwood (1714-1784) - Lydia (Lockwood) Slauson (1742-1773) - Daniel Slauson (1765-1846) - Nathan Dann Slauson (1803-1873)- Lewis Slawson (1830-1885) - Sarah Francis (Slauson) Selleck (1863-1938) - Maud J (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968) - Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

Robert Lockwood (1600-1658) - Jonathan Lockwood (1634-1688) -Still John Lockwood (1672-1758) - Robert Lockwood (1714-1784) - Lydia (Lockwood) Slauson (1742-1773) - Lydia (Slauson) Selleck (1777-1845) - Sands Selleck (1817-1898) -  Sanders Selleck (1859-1947) - Maud J (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968) - Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (1906-1945)

COLONIAL ANCESTORS- Part I

Beatrice Scofield Syska (my grandmother) is a direct descendant of over 50 New England colonists, with a decidedly English heritage although we do have three early american ancestors, with French*, Scottish** and, possibly, Danish*** roots. 

 In fact, Beatrice's entire pedigree contains the descendants of and the early american settlers that came to the coast of New England circa 1620-1660.  

Beatrice's was the first generation to marry outside that relatively small group for 300 years and she chose to marry the son of polish and german immigrants.  Wonder how that happened, but we'll have to explore that later.  For now we are talking about Pilgrims.   

Our colonial ancestors were, predominately, puritans who came to america seeking a new way of life allowing them freedom to practice their religion outside the bounds of the Church of England.  Sailing ships carried them on journeys that took months with sparse provisions, cramped quarters and, what we would consider, deplorable sanitary conditions finally landing on the coast of Massachusetts, which was little more than untamed wilderness.   Most of our ancestors moved into Connecticut within a few years, settling the towns we know today as Stamford, Fairfield, Wethersfield and Greenwich and New Haven. Some from subsequent generations then moved to Westchester County, NY, and were among the first inhabitants of Bedford, Rye, Mamaroneck and Pound Ridge and a few even ventured down to Queens and Long Island, but most of them returned to Connecticut. And..... that's where their journey ended, which is not to say they didn't have other adventures in their neck of the woods.  Still unlike many other colonists that moved north to New England, south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, or to western NY, Ohio, Illinois and out to the great wild west, our ancestors basically stayed put in Southern CT and Southeast NY area for over 300 years - and of course some of us are still here! 

Our relatives began arriving in approximately 1621, a year after the Mayflower landed and just days after the first thanksgiving celebration.  They have been here since the literal genesis of our country, and thus, as settlers endured unbelievably harsh winters, starvation and disease, were right in the thick of those skirmishes with the Indians that progressed to all out wars and even the annihilation of one tribe, in particular, and of course were part of the witch trials both as accused and accusers.  And that only covers the first 80 years or so.  Our fore bearers became farmers, large land owners, soldiers and officers, statesmen and leaders, businessmen and entrepreneurs and, as time went by, were instrumental participants in the fight for independence, the revolutionary war and the construction of the United States of America. 

Below I have listed our colonist ancestors in order of their arrival in the new world, although in some cases their arrival is an estimate.  It's not a complete list as there are still some ancestors I have been unable to identify or trace with any degree of certainty.   

A great many Americans can trace their ancestry to the pilgrims leading to a treasure trove of sources and books tracing colonial family heritage that are fabulous tools, but not always entirely reliable.  To the best of my ability, I have confirmed these pedigrees through primary sources such as baptismal and birth records, property documents such as deeds, and citations from court and probate records.  In the absence of primary sources, I have confirmed the details with multiple secondary sources. 

I will share all the pedigrees for each line with you later. There are a few pedigrees I have either been unable to confirm at all or am still uncertain about.  If there is too much conflicting information or just no information about a person's ancestry, I have left their pedigree out all together.  In cases of minor discrepancies or some conflicting information I have included that information in the notes.  As it happens, the connection for which I have the most trepidation is the first, that of Thomas Prence and I will explain that later.  Amazingly, though, the vast majority of these pedigrees are quite reliable, even conclusive, in my estimation. I believe the colonists knew they were making history and, thus, understood the significance of keeping records, plus, they were deeply rooted to their community and church aiding in the process of maintaining records for future generations.  

Finally, I am not happy about publishing a list so dominated by males when, in fact, the female heritage is just as relevant.  Unfortunately, identifying one's male ancestors is much simpler than female ancestors, as wives have traditionally assumed their husband's surname and cultural restrictions severely limited references to women in records in the past. Ironically, those colonial witch trials created some of the best records of women in the community.  Rest assured, that I am searching just as hard for all of our female forebearers.

I have so much to tell you about all of these colonists that I'm afraid I have to do this in multiple parts.  Check back for subsequent entries  explaining the arrivals, significant details about their lives here in America and their pedigrees.

Beatrice (Scofield) Syska's Ancestors First Generation Arriving in 1621-1684

1621-1629

• Thomas Prence (1600-1673) and Apphia Quickie
• Richard Norman (abt. 1580-1682) and Margaret (Alford) Norman (1594-1645)
• Simon Hoyt (1590-1657) and Susannah (Smith) Hoyt Bates (1615-1674)
• John Strickland (1584-1672) & Jane (Fenwick) Strickland (1590-1663)
• John Pettit (1608-1662) & Debrow (unk) Pettit
• Richard Webb (1611-1675) and Margery (Moyer) Webb (1610-1676)

1630

• Jonas Weed (1597-1676)
• John Finch (1613- 1657 ) and Martha (Brett) Finch (1618-1681)
• Robert Lockwood (1600-1658)
• John Waterbury (abt. 1620-1658)
• Jeremiah Jagger (1600-1658)

1633-1639

• David Selleck (1614-1654) & Susanna (Kibby) Selleck (1616-1713)
• William Newman (1610-1676) & Elizabeth Bowstreet (1611-1676)
• DAVID PHIPPEN (1585-1650) and Sarah (Pinckney) Phippen
• John Brundish (1593-1639) and Rachel (Hubbard) Brundish (1611-1656
• Robert Rose (1594-1665) and Margery (Evered) Rose (1594-1664)
• Jeffrey Ferris (1610-1667) & Mary (unk) Ferris ( - 1658)
• Thomas Stevens (1623-1658)
• Richard Scofield (1613-1671)
• Daniel Scofield (1620-1669) and Sarah Youngs (1624-1697)
• Robert Pennoyer (1614-1678) & Ealse (Marshall) Pennoyer (1618-1671)
• John Bassett (1589-1652) & Margery (Holland) Bassett (1590-1656)
• William Mead (1600-1663) 
• William Hunt (1604-1667) & Elizabeth (Best) Hunt (1607-1667)
• Jonathan Gilbert (1617-1682)
• William Potter (1608-1662)  & Frances (Child) Potter (1610-1662)
• SAMUEL HOLLY (1593-1643) &  ELIZABETH (COGAN) HOLLY (1599-1647)
• George Slawson (1616-1695)
• John Youngs (1598-1672) and Joan (Herrington) Youngs (1600- abt. 1638)
• Richard Law (1607-1687) and Margaret (Kilbourne) law (1607-1689)
• Thomas Jones (1602-1681)  & Mary North ( -1650)
• David Provost (1608-1657) & Margaret Ten Waert (1608-1703)  
• Gerrit jansen Roos (1632-1698) & Altje Lamberts (1631-1659) 

1640-49

• Miles Merwin (1623-1697) & Elizabeth (Powell) Merwin (1630-1664)
• Obadiah Seeley (1614-1657)
• Nathan Gold (1623-1694) 
• Richard Smith (1595-1690) and Rebecca (Buswell) Smith (1593-1667)
• Clement Buxton (1615-1657) & Unica (unknown) Buxton (1612-1670)
• Francis Holmes (1608-1675)  & Ann Greenwood (1605-1675)

1650

• Stephen Clasen/McClay (1633-1692) and Elizabeth Perement (1631-1714)
• Richard Lounsbury (1634-1691)
• James Sands (1622-1695)
• Frances Dann (1659 -1723/24) 
• William Sutherland (1650-1724)