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)

The Gritty details....

I had my own internal debate concerning whether or not to post this less than idyllic information that I had stumbled upon.  I didn't go trolling through criminal records and newspapers looking to uncover shocking family scandals- actually the idea never occurred to me.  I was in pursuit of ordinary details, just looking through some old newspapers hoping to find my grandmother's and great grandmother's obituaries when I saw these other articles concerning the Syska family. Genealogists caution, while newspapers can contain important information, they are not primary sources, but the historian in me finds them fascinating as they represent a snapshot in time.  They depict a true slice of life.  I guess it would be nice if all my ancestors were pillars of society, but wouldn't it be boring?

The first article is about my father's arrest for robbery as a 23 y.o. Mount Vernon Cabby.  I hope you don't mind, but I want to share a little about my dad to put this into context.   He was not convicted, but the article says he had a history of arrests for robbery and passing bad checks.  Honestly, I was horrified when I found this.  But my father was not raised in split level home with a white picket fence and roast beef on the dinner table every night.  He is the oldest of 8 children from a very poor family. His mother passed away when he was seventeen and his youngest brother was only two, while his  father worked sporadically and was described as erratic and heavy handed.    My dad didn't like to talk about his childhood, but I know it was not uncommon for him to go hungry and that he dropped out of school quite young- probably in sixth grade- in order to start working and earning money.

As a father, I never doubted he loved his family.  He coached our softball team, helped me build a fab log cabin in 3rd grade and decorated castle birthday cakes.  We called him daddy long legs, although daddy long arms might have been more appropriate because I watched him, time and again, reach his arm through the terrace bars down the block to buy marshmallows for roasting on the bbq.  My parents separated many times over the years. Dad was never happy about it.  When Mom was hospitalized on a respirator, due to emphysema, she refused to let Dad come to visit, so he sent her flowers.... again and again and again.  She never relented, but she had been through so much herself, and it was not in her nature to back down from a fight.

Stan & Margaret (Hennessy) Syska - 1963

Dad worked long hours as a carpenter rarely missing a day.  He never made a lot of money, in part, because he had trouble pressuring people to pay, arriving  home once with a Shihtzu and another time with a slightly used color tv instead of money.  Mom was clearly distressed, but we kept them both and named the former, Munchkin.  Dad could not take a job that required him to punch a time clock and, thus, he had no benefits or stability.  He also had a drinking problem, to be sure, disappearing at times for months even years.  When he was in his 70's, recovering from a fractured hip, I got a call that he had busted loose from the rehab facility.  He came back some 10 hours later, baffled by all the 'hullabaloo', never admitting where he had gone.  I suspect he paid a visit to his friends at the local Bodega. Officials at the facility were doubly concerned because he was in a wheelchair at the time, though I doubt he had trouble finding an accomplice to help him escape. He was in Yonkers, afterall, where he spent the bulk of his life.  Upon his discharge, we moved him into senior housing in a not so great part of Yonkers, but our initial concerns for his safety were assuaged by the realization that he literally knew EVERYONE in a ten block radius.

Sure my father had a checkered past and made some mistakes.   I wish he had an easier life, but I am grateful he was my father, warts and all.   As you read the articles and information about our family, keep in mind they are just snapshots, not the full story.

Add caption

16 y.o. Douglas Syska and 22 y.o. Merlin Scofield (his mother's brother) arrested for malicious mischief in 1946, a year after Beatrice (Scofield) Syska passed away.

William F. Syska Jr.  involved in a fight in 1918 and declaring bankruptcy in 1945

Based on a true Story involving the child of Gladys Syska - daughter of William & Lizzie Syska.

Walter's Hope (Google eBook)

Wes Allard

Xulon Press, 2010 - Religion - 250 pages

Was this the end for Walter-death at the hands of His mother? His mother's suffocating hand covers six year old Walter's face as she attempts to throw him overboard. Lured with a promise of fun on the lake, now Walter is locked in a death struggle with the very one who brought him life. Is this the end? Was Walter created simply to die at six years of age?What clues would be found to his early years in that abandoned chest in the basement in Evergreen, Illinois? 

Descendants of immigrants Adolph and Carolina (Petroll) Syska

Children & Grandchildren of Adolph & Caroline:

When I started my geneology research it seemed that every Syska or Szyszka I encountered was a descendant of Adolph and Caroline(Petroll) Szyszka.  Since then I have found other Syskas who came to the US from Germany, Poland, Prussia  and 'Russian Poland'.  The origins of the Szyszka surname is slavik meaning pine cone. I have found one other related spelling variation - Sczyszka.   After coming to America, many immigrants, but not all, changed the name to Syska.  Other similar sounding names - Sisko, Siska, Seska, Cisco- are probably not related and have different origins.
Although.... some of the Syska grandchildren were known to use Cisco as an alias- but that's a different story best left for a later blog entry.  Apologies to those whose legitimate surname is Cisco... 

Syska remains a somewhat uncommon surname in the US.  Adolph and Caroline had 11 children, 8 of whom emigrated to America, producing 28 grandchildren and well over 50 great grandchildren.  Although some of the information below is redundant, I thought it would be worthwhile to follow Adolph and Caroline's children and see how their branches grew.  Many settled  in the NY area, others made their homes in Illinois, Connecticut and Florida,while the grandchildren and great grandchildren spread throughout the country.

1st generation in US- Children of Adolph & Caroline

2nd generation

3rd generation

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Adolph & Caroline came to America aboard the Donau passenger ship from Bremen Germany and arriving in New York on June 15, 1885.  Four of their younger children came with them, 16 y.o. Pauline, 10 y.o. August, 7 y.o. Bertha and 21 y.o. Ottilie.  

Their children in order were 

Augusta (1852)
Amalie E. (1854) died in infancy
Anna Wilhelmina (1855) probably died in childhood
Julius (1857) died in infancy
Mary Wanda (1858)
Adolph (1863)
Ottillie (1863)
William (1866)
Pauline (1869)
August (1871)
Bertha (1875)

Wanda (Szyszka) Gerlach (1858-1948) came to america in 1874, at 16 years old, according to the 1900 Census.  Her full birth name is Mary Wanda Caroline Szyszka.  She married Andrew Joseph Gerlach on Dec 15, 1878.  The couple initially resided in Manhattan while Andrew owned a butcher shop on 125th St. They moved to Yorktown in Westchester County, NY, where they owned and operated a Farm, moving again before 1910 to the Bronx.  Wanda had 6 children from 1879 to 1891, two of whom died as infants.  Her husband, Andrew Gerlach Sr. died in 1918. After his death, Wanda moved in with her daughter and son in law, Louise and Henry Von Pein. in Mount Vernon.  Then in 1930 she was living in the the Bronx with her 14 y.o. grandson William.  She passed away in 1948 at 90 yrs. old and is buried with her husband in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.  Their four children: Louise Anna (Gerlach) Von Pein (1879), Clara O. (Gerlach) Hillier (1882-1977), Emma Gerlach (1884) and Andrew W. Gerlach (1891)

•   Louise Anna (1879-1968) married Henry Von Pein, a lawyer, and resided in NY, but after Henry's death, Louise moved to California with her daughters.  They had 3 children:  Gladys Von Pein (1903-1994), Lily Von Pein (1905-2001) and Mae Von Pein (1911-2001)
• Clara O. (Gerlach) Hillier (1882-1977), married Fred Hillier and had 2 children:   Wanda & Clare Helen.
• Andrew W. Gerlach (1891) married Agnes (unknown) and had 4 children:  William, Andrew, Norma & June 

Augusta (Syska) Hoffman Plate (1852-1935)  came to america in May of 1876 at the age of 24.  She is listed as a servant on the passenger list of the ship, Main,  arriving from Bremen.  There is a Wolga Szyszka, age 23, listed 2 lines above her, unknown if they are related.  She first married  Frederick Plate prior to 1880, when her only child, Frederick Plate, Jr., was born in New York, NY.  On October 13, 1886, Augusta married her 2nd husband, Hiram Hoffman.  I have been unable to determine if she was widowed or divorced from Fred Plate at the time.
*Update:   Frederick Plate,died 7 Mar 1883 in the Bronx
 Augusta and Hiram lived in the Bronx with her son from her first marriage, Fred,  and her father, Adolph Szyszka, until Adolph's death in 1912.  Hiram Hoffman passed away in 1925 after which Augusta moved in with her sister Ottillie (Syska) Strassle in 1925 and then  with her niece Carrie (Syska) Searles in 1930.

• Her son,  Frederick Plate Jr. married Adele (unknown ), moved to Queens and had 2 children - Frederick & Adele Plate.

Adolph Gustav Szyszka (1863-1940)  came to America on Oct. 1, 1879 according to his Naturalization record.  He married Katherine Stapelfield in 1887.  They lived in manhattan and Adolph worked as a Butcher.  Adolph and Katherine had four children:  William A. (1888-1982), Adolph G. Jr.(1890-1961), Louisa (1894-1906) and Hilda (Syska) Holtermann (1897-1975)

• William A. Syska married Catherine Voss, had 3 children and lived in manhattan until about 1930 when he moved to the Bronx, then to Yorktown in Westchester county and finally to Germantown, NY.  According to census records, he owned his own Butcher shop, location unknown.  A 1979 newspaper article, featured a 91 y.o. William A. Syska, who had suffered 3 strokes and lost the use of his right arm.  His cousin, William F. Syska (1866-1981) had also suffered multiple strokes affecting his speech.  

• William & Catherine's children were Catharine (Syska) Dalton (1912-), Hilda (Syska) Powers (1914- ) and William Syska Jr. (1917-1945). 

• Adolph G. Syska Jr. married Elsie Mahler and lived in Bronxville, NY with his wife and two children.  Adolph graduated from Columbia university as a mechanical engineer and, in 1928, he founded the Syska & Hennessy Engineering firm with John R. Hennessy.  He designed the mechanical systems for several notable buildings including the UN Headquarters.  

• Adolph & Elsie's children were Robert Syska (1925-2009) and Edna (Syska) Peltier (1922-2004) who married Paul Peltier and lived in several places, including New Orleans, La and San Antonio, Tx, but settled in Naples Fl in approximately 1979.

William F. Syska (1866-1956) came to America around 1883 at about 17 years old.   Census and other records give multiple dates from 1882 to 1885.  William was not on the passenger list of the Donau ship that brought his parents and 4 of his siblings in 1885.  He was naturalized on Nov. 5, 1900 in Chicago Illinois, but the record does not give his date of arrival. 
In 1891, William married Dorothea Elizabeth Zimmermann (1871-1954).  They lived first in Chicago, Illinois with Lizzie's parents, but moved several times after that to Missouri, Bronx, Pelham and New Rochelle, NY, Wilton, Norwalk and Westport CT., and Daytona Beach FL.  William worked as a farmer, butcher, owner/operator of a meat market as well as gas stations in Norwalk CT and Daytona Beach FL.  William and Lizzie owned several other properties in NY, CT and FL.

• William and Lizzie had 8 children-Erna J. (Syska) Braun (1892-), William F. Syska Jr. (1896-1981), Chester E. Syska (1898-1983), Herbert P Syska (1900-1974), Clara E (Syska) Vogt Keller (1903-2001),  Stanley E. Syska (1905-1971), Adele (Syska) Pinkham (1907-1992), Gladys L. (Syska) Ellis Allard (1909-2002)
• Erna married Andrew Braun and had 2 daughters and one son - Living. 
• William Jr. married Beatrice Scofield and had 8 children: Stanley M Syska (1928-2005), Douglas Syska (1929-2014), Paul W. Syska (1931-2011), daughter-living (1932), daughter-living (1934), Walter Syska (1935-2010) -moved to Tennessee, Robert Syska (1937-2007), son-living (1938), Russell Syska (1940-1978), son-living (1943)
• Chester married Helen Joslin in 1921 after a rocky start to their relationship in which Chester was charged with felonious assault for making public comments about Helen.   Chester and Helen lived in Westchester and Putnam counties in NY and Chester worked as a carpenter building homes.  About 1950 they moved to Stamford CT and about 1960 to Jacksonville, FL   Chester and Helen's children are: Arlene June (Syska) Perry (1922-1968),  Chester L. Syska (1925- unk) who operated a camp in Catskill NY,  Louise Syska (1927-1942), Richard Syska (1931-1996) moved to Berkely, CA
• Herbert Syska married Roseann (unknown) had one son:  Herbert P. Syska Jr. (1929-1993) who served in the US Marines and moved to El Paso, Tx.
• Clara married Peter Keller and had 2 children- a son and daughter living.  She next married Frederick Vogt but had no children with him.  She passed away in North Carolina at 97 years old. 
• Stanley E. Syska married Catherine, moved to Astoria, NY and had 3 children Stanley (1929-2009), Joan (1936-unk),  Donald (1939-2005) and Daniel
• Gladys lived in CT and FL and had 2 sons- living.
• Adele married Stuart Pinkham in CT and had one son, William Pinkham (1940-1997)

Arriving in NY port on June 15, 1885 aboard the Donau ship:
August W. Szyszka (1871 - ) came to America in 1885 with his parents and 3 sisters.  Each Census records gives a different immigration year for August from 1881 to 1901.  However, he is listed on the passenger list with his parents in 1885, which appears to be the most credible record.   He married his wife, Ella Hoke, in 1894. They had 3 children together, but 2 died in childhood, settled first in the Bronx where August worked as a meat cutter/butcher and also as a carpenter,next moved to Pelham in Westchester county before 1915 and then, before 1920, moved to New Rochelle with their daughter and son-in-law, Grace Carrie & Austin Searles.   Ella, passed away in 1925 and, by 1930, both August and his sister, Augusta Hoffman, a widow herself, were residing with Grace and Austin Searles.  On October 28, 1930, August married his second wife, Anna Kleiner.  They resided in their own apartment in New Rochelle, until August's death in 1955.

• Children of August and Ella are Grace Caroline (Syska) Searles (1895-1973) and Alma Syska (1898-1904) 

Augusta Ottillie (Szyszka) Strassle (1863-1944) came to America in 1885 at 21 years old with her parents aboard the Donau.  She married  Edward Strassle, a carpenter,  in 1886 and they resided in the Bronx with their 3 children.  Her husband, Edward, passed away between 1930 and 1940.  Ottillie died in Feb. 1944 at the age of 80.  

• Her children are:  Charles Tybert Strassle (1887-), Bertha Augusta Strassle (1888-) and Elinore B Strassle 1889-)

Pauline B. (Szyszka) Brunotte (1869-1938), 16 y.o,,   also came in 1885 with her parents, marrying Wilhelm Brunotte on April 20, 1893 in NYC.  Pauline's younger sister, Bertha, married Wilhelm's younger Brother, Leonard, 11 years later. Two sisters marrying two brothers - something my own parents did- is actually more common than I thought.  

Pauline and Wilhelm initially settled in the New York city area. Their first child, Wilhemina, was born in Bergen NJ Oct. 1897 and passed away in NYC in Jan. of 1898.  *Update:  Pauline had 10 children all together, but it appears only  3 survived childhood. The 1910 census indicated Pauline was the mother of 8 children, 2 of whom were still living, William and Helen.  After 1910, Pauline had 2 more children, but only 1 survived, Paul.  The family moved to Chicago Illinois prior to 1910.   Wilhelm, a teamster, worked as a sales manager at a brewery along with his brother Leonard.  Wilhelm  died in 1929 at.57 years old due to an accident at work.
His great niece (Bertha & Leonard's granddaughter) shared the following story: 
Wilhelm was on the loading dock when a stack of beer barrels busted loose and rolled over him.  He refused to go to the hospital so his brother took him home and he passed away 3-4 days later.  

Pauline passed away in Daytona Beach Florida in 1938.   She may have been residing with her younger brother William F. Syska who moved to Daytona beach Fl in the early 30's where he owned and operated a gas station, grocery store and orange grove.

• Their children are: Helen Marie (Brunotte) Holm Dempsey (1899 -1956 )  William Brunotte Jr. (1902-1987 ) Paul R. Brunotte (1911 -1987)

Bertha (Szyszka) Brunotte (1875-1949)  arrived in the USA when she was just 7 years old, on the Donau ship with her parents, two sisters and brother. In 1904 she married Leonard Brunotte, who was her sister Pauline's brother-in-law.  They married in New York, NY and their first child, Martha, was also born in NY, but passed away at 3 years old in 1907.  Their son, Thomas, was born in NY in 1906 and they moved to Chicago prior to 1910.  Their third child, John, was born in 1913.  Leonard worked as a teamster delivering beer for the same brewery where his brother Wilhelm worked.   In 1940, Leonard and Bertha were living on South wood in chicago in the home of their son and daughter in law, John & Theresa Brunotte.  Bertha passed away in 1949 at 74 years old and Leonard lived until 1969.  They are both buried in Mt. Emblem cemetery in Elmhurst IL.

• Bertha and Leonard's children are: Martha Brunotte (1904-1907), Thomas Brunotte ( 1906-1992 ) and John Brunotte (1913-1973)