"Witch! Goodwife Webster is a Witch!"

Mary REEVE WEBSTER
We are Related to William Webster husband of Mary Reeve
through both Martin Luther ENSIGN's father and mother
[9th and 10th Great-Grand Aunt]

In the winter of 1684 the colonial town of Hadley Connecticut was stunned by the death of Phillip Smith [10 Great-Grand Uncle], one of their most prominent and upstanding citizens. He was "killed by an hideous witchcraft!"

The "Witch" was Mary Webster, Wife of William Webster who lived near Hadley. Her maiden name was Reeve. She and William were married in 1670. William was 53, she is believed to have been somewhat younger. They were poor but when by members of the local church came to help them, Mary ordered them to leave. The church people believed that Mary's unacceptable behavior caused by the devil, who was at work bringing evil into their community. They began to look for other signs that she was a witch and had "entered into a covenant with the devil."

News of strange incidents begin to circulate through the small community. Once a team of horses stopped outside Mary Webster's home and refused to go any further. The driver threatened Mary with his whip and then the horses continued on their way. Another story tells of a wagon over-turning nearby. The driver went to punish her for the deed and returned to find his wagon turned upright again.

Mary was visiting a neighbor when a chicken fell down the chimney and was scalded in a pot of water over the fire. The neighbor noticed that Mary had also been scalded. These stories were told as evidence when she was sent to Boston on May 22, 1683 for a hearing. The charges brought against her was as follows:

...that she, not having the fear of God before her eyes, and being instigated by the devil, hath entered into covenant and had familiarity with him in the shape of a warraneage, (fisher or wild black cat of the woods) and had his imps sucking her, and teats or marks found on her, as in and by several testimonies may appear, contrary to the peace of our sovereign lord, the king, his crown and dignity, the laws of God and of this jurisdiction

She was imprisoned and held over for trial. On Sept 4, 1683, a jury found her- Not Guilty.

This did not put matters to rest. Phillip Smith continued to have problems with the woman, and blamed her for his declining health. He saw visions of Mary Webster at this bedside. His friends went and "disturbed" Mary, and while they were with her, Phillip was reportedly able to rest at ease, but when they returned to him, his case continued to worsen. They heard noises, and felt the bed shake, and sensed a presents in the room. Finally they pronounced him dead.

Mr. Smith dies: The Jury that view's his Corpse, found a Swelling on one Breast, his Privities wounded or Burn'd, his Back full of Bruises, and several Holes that seemed made with Awls. After the Opinion of all had pronounced him dead, his Countenance continued as Lively as if he had been Alive; his Eyes closed as in a Slumber, and his Nether Jaw not falling down. Thus he remained from Saturday Morning about Sunrise, till Sabbath-day in the Afternoon; when those who took him out of the Bed, found him still warm, though' the Season was as cold as had almost been known in any Age: And a New England Winter does not want for Cold.

On the Night following his Countenance was yet fresh as before; but on Monday morning, they found the Face extremely tumify'd and discoulour'd. It was black and blue, and fresh Blood seem'd running down his Cheek upon the Hairs. Divers Noises were also heard in the Room where the corpse lay, as the Clattering of Chairs and Stools, whereof no account could be given. This was the End of so good a Man.

[see: The Magnalia Christi Americana, by Cotton Mather - 1702.]

This time the people of Hadley took the law into their own hands. As Smith lay dying they took Mary Webster out and hung her. When morning came she was still alive, so they took her down, rolled her in the snow. They buried her in the snow and left her. She survived the ordeal, and lived another eleven years during which time the famous Salem Witch trials took place. History calls her "Half Hanged Mary".

http://home.comcast.net/~bluebirdsong/chesley/witch.htm

Philip SMITH is the son in-law of Nathaniel FOOTE

Founders of Hartford CT - Part II

I continue to find more grandfathers who are on the Hartford founding fathers list. Newest additions are 12- Richard Church and 15-William WESTWOOD.

Our Fathers the Founders of Hartford CT - Part II

Ancestors of Mary BRONSON (1806-1888), wife of Horace Datus ENSIGN of Part I.
Mary is the 2nd great grandmother of Camilla SMITH.

The Adventurer’s Boulder:

The plaque reads -

In Memory of the Courageous Adventurers Who Inspired and Directed by Thomas Hooker Journeyed Though the Wilderness from Newton (Cambridge) in the Massachusetts Bay to Suckiaug (Hartford) - October, 1635

Matthew Allyn, John Barnard, William Butler, Clement Chaplin, Nicolas Clarke, Robert Day, Edward Elmer, Nathaniel Ely, Richard Goodman, William Goodwin, Stephen Hart, William Kelsey, William Lewis, Mathew Marvin, James Olmsted, William Pantry, Thomas Scott, Timothy Stanley, Thomas Stanley, Edward Stebbins, John Steele, John Stone, John Talcott, Richard Webb, William Westwood.

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The Founders of Hartford

http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/bliss_thomas_sr.htm

11th great-grandfather
10-Thomas BLISS, Sr., was born (according to the Bliss Genealogy) in Okebampton, in the village of Belstone, Co. Devon, son of Thomas Bliss, of Belstone. He settled first at the "“Mount,” afterward Braintree, now Quincy ; rem.to Hartford, where he was one of the proprietors “by courtesie of the town” in 1639-40; his house-lot was on a highway west of the present Lafayette Street, and he possessed fifty-eight acres. He d. in 1650 ; inv. Feb. 14, 1650, £86. 12. 8. His widow, Margaret, removed to Springfield after a time with the larger part of her family ; d. there Aug. 28, 1684.

Thomas BLISS / Thomas BLISS Immigant-b. Abt 1590 / Mary BLISS Immigant-b.1620 / Jonathan PARSONS-b.1657 / Mary PARSONS-b.1688 / Jerusha GRAVES-b.1717 / Jerusha COOLEY-b.1738 / Sylvanus BRONSON-b.1769 / Mary BRONSON-b.1806 / Martin Luther ENSIGN-b.1831 / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN- b.1859 / George Ensign SMITH-b.1898 / Camilla SMITH-b.1926 / Lark / JR

Note: see in part III the history of our Uncle Thomas Bliss Jr. son of Thomas Bliss - listed here.

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http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/bronson_john.htm

11th great grandfather / brother of Richard Bonson
11-John BRONSON (Brownson, Brunson), Hartford, 1639, a proprietor “by courtesie of the town”; his house-lot was on the road to the Neck, now Windsor St. He served in the Pequot War. He removed to Tunxis about 1641 ; deputy from Farmington, May, 1651 ; one of the original members of the Farmington church, Oct. 13, 1652 ; d. 1680; inv. Nov. 28, £312. 1. 6

JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Mary BRONSON and Horace Datus ENSIGN / Sylvanus BRONSON and Esther REMINGTON / Jerusha COOLEY and David BRONSON / Abner COOLEY and Jerusha GRAVES / Elizabeth GUNN and Simon COOLEY / Elizabeth WYATT and Samuel GUNN / Mary BRONSON and John WYATT / John BRONSON (BROWNSON) and Frances HILLS / Roger BROWNSON and Mary UNDERWOOD

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http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/bronson_richard.htm
The Founders of Hartford

10th great grandfather / brother of John Bronson
12-Richard BRONSON supposed to have been at Hartford, with his brother, John, removed to Farmington, 1653; joined the church there, 1654; d. 1687. Inv., Sept., 1687, £405. 8. His first wife was a sister of the wife of William Pantry, of Hartford, who mentions in her will, Sept 12, 1651, " two children of Richard Brunson, that lie had by my sister, John and Abigail ;" his wife when he died was Elizabeth, widow of George Orvis, of Farmington, and before him, of David Carpenter. She d. in 1694.

JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Mary BRONSON / Sylvanus BRONSON and Esther REMINGTON / David BRONSON and Jerusha COOLEY / Joseph BRONSON / Isaac BRONSON / John BRONSON / Richard BRONSON (BROWNSON) and Abigail WILBOUR / Roger BROWNSON and Mary UNDERWOOD

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11th great grandfather

13-Richard Church, Hartford, 1637, was an original proprietor, and received, in 1639-40, a home-lot on the east side of the road to the Cow Pasture (North Main St.) ; freed from watching and warding, etc. March, 1655 ; chosen chimney-viewer, 1648; surveyor of highways, 1655. Removed to Hadley with "the withdrawers," in 1659; d. there, Dec. 16, 166 1. His widow, Anne, d. March 10, 1684, aged 83.-Ch: i. Edward, b. 1628, Hatfield. ii. John, Hartford; b. ab. 1636; freeman, 1658; m. Oct. 27, 1657, Sarah, dau. of Richard Beckley, of New Haven ; died 1691 ; inv. Nov. 9. He was the progenitor of those of the name in Hartford. iii. Samuel, Hadley.

JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Mary BRONSON / Sylvanus BRONSON / Jerusha COOLEY / Jerusha GRAVES / Isaac GRAVES / John GRAVES / Mary CHURCH / Richard CHURCH and Anne MARSH

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http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/day_robert.htm
The Founders of Hartford

11th great grandfather
14-Robert DAY came in the “Elizabeth,” from Ipswich, Co. Suffolk, to Boston, in April, 1634, aged 30, with wife, Mary, aged 28; freeman, Mass., May 6, 1635. An original proprietor at Hartford ; his home-lot in 1639 was on the road from Centinel Hill to the North Meadow, near the junction of the streets now Main and Village streets. He was chosen viewer of chimneys and ladders, 1643. His first wife is supposed to have died before his removal to Hartford, and he m. (2) Editha, sister of Deacon Edward Stebbins. He d. in 1648 ; will dated May 20; ins. Oct. 14, £142. 13. 6. His widow, Editha, m. (2) John Maynard, of Hartford; (3) 1658, Elizur Holyoke, of Springfield. Ch. : 1. Thomas, removed to Springfield, 1658; m. Oct. 27, 1659, Sarah, dau. of Lieut. Thomas Cooper; freeman, 1668; d. Dec. 27, 1711. ii. John, Hartford; received the property of his stepfather, John Maynard, by his will; M.1 Sarah, dau. of Thomas Butler, of Hartford ; in the distribution of Thomas Butler's estate, 1697, John Day's wife was one of the heirs; freeman, May, 1680; d. in Hartford ab. 1730. iii. Sarah; m. (1) Nov. 17, 1658, Nathaniel Gunn, of Hartford; (2) Nov. 24, 1664, Samuel Kellogg, of Hatfield, and was killed with her son, Joseph, by the Indians, Sept. 19, 1677. iv. Mary, b. ab, 1641 ; m. (1.) Oct. 28, 1659, Samuel Ely, of Springfield ; (2) April 12, 1694. Thomas Stebbins, of Springfield ; (3) Dec. 11, 1696, Deacon John Coleman, of Hatfield ; d. Oct. 17, 1725, aged 84. The Hon. Thomas Day, Secretary of State, and president of the Conn. Historical Society, was a descendant of Thomas, of Springfield, as also was the late Hon. Calvin Day.
1 Savage says he m. Sarah Maynard, but he is probably mistaken.- See Hinman, p. 456.

JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Mary BRONSON and Horace Datus ENSIGN / Sylvanus BRONSON and Esther REMINGTON / Jerusha COOLEY and David BRONSON / Abner COOLEY / Elizabeth GUNN / Samuel GUNN / Sarah DAY / Robert DAY and Editha STEBBINS (STEBBING) / Ricahrd DAY and Anna KIRBY

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http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/marsh_john.htm
The Founders of Hartford

10th great grandfather
15-John MARSH was one of the original proprietors of Hartford ; his bome-lot in the distribution of 1639 was on what is now Front St., then the road from the Little River to the North Meadow. Chosen chimney-viewer, 1658; removed the next year to Hadley with the " withdrawers," under the lead of his father-in-law, Gov. Webster. He went from there to Northampton, and united with the church there, June 18, 1661. He m. in Hartford, ab. 1640, Anne, dau. of Gov. John Webster; she d. in Northampton, June 9, 1662 ; and he m. (2) Oct. 7, 1664, Hepzibah, widow of Richard Lyman, and dau. of Thomas Ford, of Windsor; She d. April 11, 1683, and he d. in 1688, in Hartford. He had a brother Joseph, who was a clothier, in Braintree, Cc Essex, England, where lie made his will, May 22, 1676, in which he mentions several of the children of John Marsh.-Ch.: i. John- b. ab. 1643: m. in Northampton, Nov. 28, 1666, Sarah, dau. of Richard and Hepzibah Lyman ; he returned to Hartford ; freeman, 1669 ; lived upon the old homestead ; d. 1727. His eldest Son, John, was much concerned in the settlement of the "western lands," and explored Litchfield, where lie was one of the first settlers. Descendants of this family are still living in Hartford, ii- Samuel, b. ab. 1645; Hatfield, where lie was made freeman, 1690; m. May 6, 1667, Mary Allison; d. Sept. 7, 1728, c. 83. iii. Joseph, bapt. Jan. 24, 1647-8; d. young. iv. Joseph, bapt. July 15, 1649; d. young. v. Jonathan, b. ab. 1650, Hadley; freeman, 1690; m. 1676, Dorcas, dau. of Azariah Dickinson ; d. July 3, 1730, a. 80 ; vi. Daniel, b. ab. 1653 Hadley; freeman, 1690; m. Nov. 5, 1676, Hannah, widow of Sammel Crow, of Hadley, and dau. of William Lewis, of Farmington; d. Feb. 24, 1725, c, 72. vii. Hannah, m. Jan. 28. 1675, Joseph Loomis, of Windsor. viii. Grace, m. Jan- 26, 1672-3, Timothy Baker, of Northampton ; d. May 31, 1676. ix. Lydia, b. Oct. 9, 1667 ; m. Dec. 8, 1692, David Loomis, of Windsor.

JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Mary BRONSON and Horace Datus ENSIGN / Esther REMINGTON and Sylvanus BRONSON / Esther SAWYER / Esther MARSH / Ebenezer MARSH / Samuel MARSH / John MARSH and Anne WEBSTER / John MARSH and Grace BALDWIN

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11th great grandfather
16-William WESTWOOD William Westwood, b. about 1606 ; a power of attorney from his daughter, Mrs Cook, and her husband (1707), describes him as “formerly dwelling in the country of Essex, in the kingdom of England, Husbandman alias Yeoman:” He came to New England in the “Francis” from Ipswich embarked the last of April, 1634 (a. 28), with wife, Bridget (a. 32). Settled in Cambridge; freeman, Mass., March 4, 1634-.5; sworn “constable of the plantations at Conecticott,” Sept 3, 1635; one of the committee for onlering affair at Conn., March, 1635-6 ; at the first court, April 26, 1636, and in every one following, until March, 1637. He was an original proprietor of Hartford, and his home-lot in 1639 was on the west side of the "road from Little River to North Meadow," now Front St. He was chosen townsman, 1640, 1647, 1653 ; deputy, 1642-1649; again in 1651 and 1652, and Oct. 1656. He signed the agreement to remove to Hadley, where he held a prominent place among the first settlers, and was one of the first townsmen chosen; Ire d. in Hadley, April 9, 1669, a=,. about 63. His widow, Bridget, d. May 12, 1676, s'. Shout 74. (Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford.)

JR/Lark/Camilla SMITH b.1926/George Ensign SMITH b.1898/Harriett Camilla ENSIGN b.1859/Martin Luther ENSIGN b.1831/Mary BRONSON b.1806/Esther REMINGTON b.1772/Elijah REMINGTON b.1743/Abigail LANE b.1716/Abigail Rebecca HOVEY b.1678/Sarah COOK b.1662/Sarah WESTWOOD b.1644/William WESTWOOD b.1606

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11th great-grandfather
17-Thomas SCOTT Sr., was an original proprietor; his home-lot in 1639 was on the road from the Meeting House to the Landing, now State St., and also extended some distance on Front St. Hinman says that in 1635-6 he kept a bridge over brick-hill brook, at five shillings per annum. He was one of those appointed by the General Court, Jan. 16, 1639, “to view those parts by' Vnxis Sepus' (Farmington), which may be suitable for a plantation.” He d. Nov. 6, 1643, by accident, “John Ewe by misadventure was the cause,” and he was sentenced to pay £l0 to the widow, and £3 to the county. Inv. f174. 12. 4. His widow, Ann, m. Nov. 7, 1644, Thomas Ford, of Windsor, and d. at Northampton, May 5, 1675.-Ch.: i. Elizabeth, b. about 1625; m. Feb. 6, 1648, Dea. John Loomis, of Windsor; d. May 7, 1696. ii. Thomas, d. 1657. iv. Mary, m. Nov. 7, 1644, Robert Porter, of Farmington. v. Sarab, m. Dec. 15, 1645, John Stanley (q. v.), of Farmington; d. June 26, 1661. VOL. 1.-17.

Henry SCOTT / Thomas SCOTT Sr.-b. abt 1594 / Edmund ,Sr. SCOTT-b.1618 / Hannah SCOTT-b.1651/ Issac BRONSON-b.1672 / Joseph BRONSON-b.1708 / David BRONSON-b.1733/ Sylvanus BRONSON-b.1769 / Mary BRONSON-b.1806 / Martin Luther ENSIGN-b.1831 / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN-b.1859/ George Ensign SMITH-b.1898 / Camilla SMITH-b.1926 / Lark / JR

Important information:
The “widow Ann” was not our grandmother and she was not mother of the children mentioned. Their mother was Thomas’ second wife and our grandmother Elizabeth STRUTT. Elizabeth was the mother of Edmund SCOTT Sr. Edmund is mentioned in part III -see Thomas Upson.

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http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/selden_thomas.htm
The Founders of Hartford

10th great grandfather
18-Thomas SELDEN, Hartford, 1639, an original proprietor; his home-lot was near the present junction of Washington and Lafayette Sts. ; freeman, April, 1640 ; constable, 1650 ; he d. in 1655 ; will dated Aug. 14 ; inv. Dec. 19, £292. 3. 4. He names in his will his wife, Heater, his “brother, Mr. John Wakeman,” and his “cousin Thomas Hoamer.” His wife, who was probably Hester Wakeman, m. (2) Andrew Warner, who went from Hartford to Hadley, where she d. in 1693. -Ch. : i. Thomas, bapt. in Hartford, Aug. 30, 1645; m. Felix, dau. of Capt. William Lewis, of Farmington; removed to Hadley; d. there, Nov. 24, 1734. ii. John, bapt. March 3, 1649-50; d. May, 1650. iii. Mary, bapt. March 26, 1648-9. iv. Esther, bapt. March 3, 1649-50 ; d. May, 165 1. v. Joseph, bapt. Nov. 2, 1651; he m. Feb. 11, 1677, Rebecca, dau. of Deacon Edward Church, of Hatfield; settled in Hadley about 1678; moved from there to Deerfield, in 1684, and prior to 1700 he removed to Lyme, Ct., where he d. July 14, 1724.

JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Mary BRONSON and Horace Datus ENSIGN / Sylvanus BRONSON and Esther REMINGTON / David BRONSON and Jerusha COOLEY / Mary TAYLOR and Joseph BRONSON / John TAYLOR and Hannah GILLETT / Mary SELDEN and John TAYLOR / Thomas SELDEN and Hester WAKEMAN / John SELDEN and Mary BALDOCK

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http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/webster_john.htm
The Founders of Hartford

1) 11th great grandfather through Mary BRONSON
and

2) 10th great grandfather through Horace Datus ENSIGN

19-Gov. John WEBSTER Hartford, 1636; by family tradition he was from Co. Warwick; he was an original proprietor of Hartford, and his home-lot in 1639 was on the east side of the street now called Governor St. He was one of the Committee who for the first time sat with the Court of Magistrates, 1637 and 1638, and a magistrate from 1639 to 1655, when he was made deputy-governor, and the next year governor. He was one of the committee who formed the code of criminal laws for the Colony in 1642 ; a Commissioner for the United Colonies, 1654. He was an influential member of the church in Hartford, took a deep interest in the controversy which agitated that and other churches, was one of the leaders of the Hadley company, and removed thither in 1659 ; he was admitted freeman, Mass" and in May, 1660, made a magistrate. He d. in Hadley, April 5, 1661, leaving a widow, Agnes. Ch. : i. Matthew, freeman, Hartford, 1645 ; Farmington, 1669; d. July 16, 1675. ii. William Hadley, m. Feb. 17, 1670, Mary, den. of Thomas Reeve, of Springfield ; his wife was accused of witchcraft, and sent to Boston for trial, in 1684, but was acquitted, and died in peace, 1696. He d. about 1688 (s. p.). iii. Thomas, Northampton ; m. June 16, 1663, Abigail, dau. of George Alexander, of Northampton ; removed to Northfield in 1674 ; driven away in 1675 by the Indians, and removed to Hadley. He returned again to Northfield, and d. there in 1686. iv. Robert, Middletown; m. about 1652, Susannah, dau. of Hon. Richard Treat, of Wethersfield ; at the organization of the town of Middletown, Feb. 26, 1654, he was chosen recorder; he continued there until about 1660, when he returned to Hartford; chosen townsman, 1664 ; list and rate maker, 1668 ; he d. in Hartford in 1676. v. Anne ; m. John Marsh, of Hartford and Hadley; d. June 9, 1662. vi. Elizabeth, m. prob. William Markham, of Hadley, as 2d wife; d. in 1688. vii. Mary ; m. John (1) Hunt; their descendants lived in Northampton. John, eldest son of Lieut. Robert Webster, was the great-grandfather of Noah Webster, the renowned lexicographer.

1)
JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Mary BRONSON and Horace Datus ENSIGN / Esther REMINGTON and Sylvanus BRONSON / Esther SAWYER and Elijah REMINGTON / Esther MARSH and Jeduthan SAWYER / Ebenezer MARSH and Elizabeth GILLETT / Samuel MARSH and Mary ALLISON / Anne WEBSTER and John Marsh / John WEBSTER and Agnes SMITH / Matthew WEBSTER and Elizabeth ASHTON

2) JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Horace Datus ENSIGN and Mary BRONSON / Isaac ENSIGN and Lydia NOBLE / Lucretia SEYMOUR and Datus (Datis) ENSIGN / John SEYMOUR and Lydia MASON / Elizabeth WEBSTER and John SEYMOUR / Robert WEBSTER Lt. and Susanna TREAT / John Webster and Agnes SMITH / Matthew WEBSTER and Elizabeth ASHTON

Other history notes:
John WEBSTER was the 5th Governor of the state of CT.

http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/hale_thomas.htm

20-Thomas Hale, Roxbury, freeman, Mass., May 14 1634: a single man says the church record; an original prosprietor at Hartford; his home-lot was on the wset side of the road from Seth Gran't to Centinel Hill; had served in the Pequot War; granted fifty acres, Oct. 12 1671, for his services; signed the agreement for planting Norwalk, June, 1650, and was there in Feb., 1651; his name occurs in a list of inhabitants there, 1655, He m. in Feb., 1640 Jane Lord, of Roxbury, Savage suggest that lie perhaps he perhaps died in Charlestown. (From Society of the Descendants of Hartford.)

Thomas Hale was born in England and died in Connecticut.  He was settled in Roxbury, MA by 1634.  While in MA, he married Jane Lord in 1639.  Jane died before 1659 when Thomas married Mary Nash in Charlestown, MA.

Thomas was made Freeman of Mass Bay in 1634. In 1635 he was an original proprietor of Hartford, CT.  When the Pequot War began in 1637, both Thomas and his brother Samuel enlisted.  Thomas moved to Norwalk, CT around 1650.  After Thomas married Mary Nash, he moved to Charlestown, MA - her hometown.  He and his family lived in Charlestown until his mother-in-law died in 1674.  The family then moved to Norwalk, CT where Thomas died in 1678. (History from Ancestry.com)

THOMAS HALE ORIGIN: Unknown
MIGRATION: 1633
FIRST RESIDENCE: Roxbury
REMOVES: Hartford 1636, Roxbury 1639, Hartford 1640, Norwalk, Charlestown by 1659, Norwalk by 1674
(Thomas Hale - the Great Migration Begins).

JR / Lark / Camilla SMITH / George Ensign SMITH / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN / Martin Luther ENSIGN / Mary BRONSON and Horace Datus ENSIGN / Esther REMINGTON and Sylvanus BRONSON / Elijah REMINGTON and Esther SAWYER / Samuel REMINGTON and Abigail LANE / Hannah HALE and John REMINGTON / Timothy HALE and Sarah BARBER / Thomas HALE Immigrant and Jane LORD maidservant. 

NOTE: to read about 21-Reverend Samuel Stone / 22-John Stone / 23-Geroge Steele see Part IV. 

Early America - John Webster

10th great-grandfather
John WEBSTER Governor - b.1590 / Robert WEBSTER Lt.- b.1619 / Elizabeth WEBSTER- b.1673 / John SEYMOUR- b.1694 / Lucretia SEYMOUR- b.1730 / Isaac ENSIGN- b.1756 / Horace Datus ENSIGN- b.1797 / Martin Luther ENSIGN- b.1831 / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN- b.1859 / George Ensign SMITH- b.1898 / Camilla SMITH- b.1926 / Lark / JR
____________________
11th great-grandfather
John WEBSTER Governor -b.1590 / Anne WEBSTER-b.1621 / Samuel MARSH-b.1645 / Ebenezer MARSH-b.1687/ Esther MARSH-b.1714 / Esther SAWYER "GUNN"-b.1739 / Esther REMINGTON-b.1772 / Mary BRONSON-b.1806 / Martin Luther ENSIGN-b.1831 / Harriett Camilla ENSIGN-b.1859 / George Ensign SMITH-b.1898 / Camilla SMITH-b.1926 / Lark / JR

John Webster (Governor of the Colony of Connecticut)

John Webster (August 16, 1590 – April 5, 1661) was governor of the Colony of Connecticut in 1656. Preceded by Thomas Welles (1656). Succeeded by John Winthrop, Jr. (1657).

Born	August 9, 1590 Cossington, Leicestershire, England
Died	April 5, 1661 (aged 70) Hadley, Massachusetts(1661-04-05)
Spouse(s)	Agnes Smith
Religion	Congregationalist

Webster married Agnes Smith (born 29 August 1585 in Cossington, Leicestershire, England) on 7 November 1609 at Cossington. She died in Hadley, Massachusetts in 1667. They had nine children (five of whom were born in England, and four in the Colony):

• Matthew (born about 11 February 1608/1609), married Sarah Waterbury and Mary Reeve
• Margaret (born about 21 February 1609/1610 married William Bolton and Thomas Hunt
• William (born 26 December 1614) married Mary Reeve
• Thomas (born 24 November 1616) married Abigail Alexander
• Robert (born 17 November 1619) married Susanna Treat (daughter of Sir Richard TREAT and Alice GAYLORD.)
  
• Anne (born 29 July 1621) married John Marsh (son of John Marsh and Grace BALDWIN.)
  
• Elizabeth (born 16 March 1622/1623) married William Markham
• Mary (born 30 March 1623) married Jonathan Hunt
• Faith (born 8 April 1627, died 10 days later).

His descendants include lexicographer Noah Webster.

Webster was born in Cossington, Leicestershire, England, the son of Matthew Webster (1548–1623) and his wife, Elizabeth Ashton. He entered the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his wife and five children in the 1630's, settling in the area of Newtown, Massachusetts (which is now known as Cambridge). He left for Hartford, Connecticut in 1636, in all probability with Thomas Hooker and his adherents. His first public office was as a member of a committee that joined with the Court of Magistrates in determining the course of war with the Pequot Indians. According to the records at the time, he was chosen from 1639 to 1655 to be magistrate, in 1655 Colony of Connecticut, governor of the Colony of Connecticut in 1656, and first magistrate from 1657 to 1659.

A split amongst the church members in Hartford grew when the current reverend at the First Church in Hartford, Samuel Stone, declared that the requirement that stated only parents that had both taken communion should be allowed to have a child baptized would be removed, and non-communicants would be allowed to vote. John Webster, among others, were a part of a council that agreed that this was not acceptable. Reverend Stone chose to ignore this sentiment, and the issue was taken up with the General Court in Massachusetts. The Court ruled that although Reverend Stone had been too strict in ignoring the majority of his parishioners, he was right in liberalizing the baptism ritual. It was also found that those who disagreed with the reverend could remove themselves to a location in Massachusetts to practice how they saw fit. This eventual location chosen was Hadley, Massachusetts, and in 1659, a new community was built there. John Webster only enjoyed it for less than two years, for in the year 1661 he contracted a fever and died.

(Source: Wikipedia)