Congruent Maternal/Paternal lines

I have discovered additional convincing evidence that my father's and mother's ancestors knew each other long, long ago.

In 1652 my paternal 9th great grandfather Thomas Judd was one of seven founders of the Church of Christ in Farmington, CT, and was a pillar of the church until his death in 1688.  His children and grandchildren were baptized there.

Samuel and Hannah Hickok, my maternal 8th great grandparents, were members of the congregation at the same time and their children were also baptized there.

There were only 84 proprietors of town of Farmington at the time.

Detailed church records can be seen here.

From the church website > click here.

From the Farmington Historical Society:

George Washington, who traveled through town in 1780 and 1781, is said to have called Farmington "the village of pretty houses." And when the French army, commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau, camped in town in 1781, an officer wrote, "This town contains some of the handsomest houses and best people in America."

Fast Facts

We have a double link to Roger Williams through the marriage of Samuel Godfrey and Patience Sabin whose mothers (both granddaughters of Roger Williams) were first cousins.  

Roger Williams, an anti-Puritan, was exiled from Massachusetts Bay Colony.  He survived in the wilderness by depending on the Indians.  He had an exceptional language ability and learned several Indian languages which he later wrote a book about.  He founded Providence Rhode Island and started the First Baptist Church in America.

Capt. Samuel Godfrey was one of the Sons of Liberty who took part in the famed Gaspee Affair, a fiery event in Rhode Island which was instrumental in sparking the American Revolution.

The Hickock/Hiccox/Hickok family is connected through Anna Dillingham Crofford.  Our ancestor, Hannah, was a 6^th cousin to Wild Bill (James Butler) Hickok.

Joost Van Den Vondell was the “Shakespeare of the Netherlands” in the 1500’s.  His great great grandson came to America in the late 1700’s. (Later note: this connection is not definitively proven).

Charles Wesley Wandell b. 1819 was a missionary to Australia.  He wrote a letter in 1869 from White Pine, Nevada to his sister Miriam Olivia (our ancestor) saying that he was glad to hear that she was “coming west” by railroad and covered wagon.

Thomas Welles, 4^th Gov of CT – through Judd ancestry.  Was a first settler of Hartford, and is memorialized on a monument there. 

Orrin Judd was a well known preacher in Connecticut.  His scandalous divorce is documented in the newspaper of the time.  He wrote a translation of the New Testament Book of Matthew (look him up on Amazon).

Sarah L Wright married Whitfield Abbott – 2^nd marriage for both – both had been widowed.  Their child was George Wright Abbott, a carpenter, who became my great grandfather.  Sarah was then widowed again at age 36.  Sarah’s mother was born in Ireland.