Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Tree

THE CHURCHILL FAMILY: " The Churchills of America," (FHL book 929.273-C475c) ENGLAND: They claim the parish is Muston in Dorsetshire.

WETHERSFIELD p. 30 “Judge Adams’ list, as published in the Memorial List of Hartford County, settlers, nearly all from places other than Watertown, Mass; some directly from England; most of them came between 1636 and 1640.”Josiah Churchill’s name on the list. (Source: The history of Ancient Wethersfield, by S.W. Adams, Henry R. Stiles, Vol. 1, p. 30, Family History Library US & Canada Book 974.62/W2 H2as 1990 v. 1. Also FHL fische 6071105. Also online at https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE222175 All children listed in the Barbour Collection of Weathersfield Vital Records except #1 Mary and #4 Ann. (FHL film 2982.) On the Weathersfield records, Josiah is written Josias. Note that there are two Josiah's at this period of time, probably related to each other. “Josiah Churchill the Settler was in Wethersfield probably prior to 1638 when he married Elizabeth, dau. of Nathaniel Foote. Received his homestead 28 April 1641, house and six acres of land, bordered by High Street west; Great Meadow east; Road into Great Meadow south homelot of John Jessup north.  Sold it to Henry Hayward (or Howard) 1659 or earlier; then bought the Charles Taintor homestead. Died January, 1686; drew land in west division 1670.” (Source: The history of Ancient Wethersfield, by S.W. Adams, Henry R. Stiles, Vol. 1, p. 259, Family History Library US & Canada Book 974.62/W2 H2as 1990 v. 1. Also FHL fische 6071105. Also online at https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE222175

SURNAME: Josiah (Josias) Churchell, 929.273-C475c, p 323 -- The Churchill family collecting these records chose to use the spelling Josiah "Churchill". By the 3rd generation, many of them were using this spelling and for the book they published. This first entry for Josiah Churchell was "The 2d month & 28 daie 1641 lands of Josias Churchell lying in Wethersfield on The Connecticut River...6 acres more or less..." In the Wethersfield Records, there are 2 families with similar names. Josias and Elizabeth (our line) and a Josiah and Elizabeth (abt 30-40 years younger). Some of the children in both families have the same given names, probably because they share the same ancestors. . Page 324 lists -- "He executed his will 17 Nov 1683 and died before January 1687. The inventory of his estate was taken 1-5 Jan 1687. Mention was made of the following children: Joseph, Benjamin, Mary CHURCH, Elizabeth BUCK, Anne RICE and Sarah WICKHAM. A son of Josiah and Elizabeth is not listed in the Wethersfield vital records, but is listed in the Churchill Family Record, 929.273-C475c p 325:

HISTORY The following is from <i>The Ancestry of William Francis Joseph Boardman </i>#228 “Josiah or Josias Churchill, born in England about 1615, was one of the early, but not among the first, settlers of Wethersfield, Connecticut. He is said to have come from Devonshire, England, in which county, John Churchill, who became the Duke of Marlborough, was born in 1650. It is also said, as in the <i>Boston Transcript</i> of May 21, 1902, that Josias, John and William Churchill, the emigrants, were sons of Joseph Churchill of London. “Josiah Churchill entered in the records of Wethersfield April 28, 1641, his homestead on the east side of High street, just north of the road leading to the meadow. This land is described as follows: ‘One pece whereon his house standeth on: six acr more or less Theands (the ends) abutt against the hie waie (highway) west and great mea: (meadow) east. Thee sides against the waie into the great mea: (meadow) South & the house lott of John Jesiope North.’ “He had probably arrived in Wethersfield a few years before the above date, and was living there in 1638, when he married. He sold his first homestead in 1659, or before, and purchased one formerly belonging to Charles Taintor, where it is probable he afterward lived. The Taintor homestead was on the west side of High street, the second lot north of Fort (now Prison) street,and a little south of his former home. In 1670 he drew eighteen acres of land in the Western Division, and in this section of the town many of his descendants dwelt. “Josiah Churchill held several offices in his town. He was surveyor in 1665 and later; Constable in 1656 and 1669; Surveyor of highways in 1672. He often served as Juror in the several courts between June, 1643 and March 1675. “He died January 1, 1686-7, possessed of an estate inventoried at L618. 12s 6d. At this time he owned two home lots and one hundred and ten acres of land. His son, Benjamin, received the old homestead at the death of his mother. “A great chist,” marked J.C. descended to his son Joseph.”   #229 “The wife of Josiah Churchill was ELIZABETH FOOTE, daughter of Nathaniel Foote (#458) and Elizabeth Deming (#459), who was born in England about 1616. Their marriage occurred in 1638, and probably in Wethersfield. She died there September 8, 1700, aged about 84 years. “Children of Josiah and Elizabeth Churchill: 1.      Mary b. March 24, 1639; m. prob. Samuel Church of Hadley, who died April 13, 1684. 2.      Elizabeth b. May 15, 1642; m. October 31, 1660, Henry Buck who died July 7, 1712, aged about 86. 3.      Hannah b. Nov. 1, 1644; m. Jan 9, 1667 Samuel Royce, and died before 1683. 4.      Ann, b. 1647; m. Rice 5.      Joseph b. Dec. 2, 1649; m. May 13, 1674 Mary, dau of Thomas Catlin; and died 1699. 6.      Benjamin (#114) 7.      Sarah b. Nov. 11, 1657; m. June 11, 1673 Thomas Wickham  Source: William Francis Joseph Boardman, The Ancestry of William Francis Joseph Boardman, Hartford, Connecticut : being his lineage in all lines of descent from the emigrant ancestors in New England, p. 262-263, Family History Library film 928235.

This family also in <i>Churchill Genealogy</i>; Hinman’s Puritan Settlers of Connecticut, pp.590-596; Goodwin’s <i>Foote Genealogy</i> pp.  268ff;  Stiles <i>History of Wethersfield</i>,  II, p. 219ff.

PROBATE: All children were living at time of Josiah's will except Hannah and infant son, at time of father's will, dated 17 Nov 1683, proved 3 March 1686.

WILL “Josiah Churchill, Wethersfield.  Invt #618-12-06.  Taken 5 January 1686-7 by Mr. James Treat.John Buttolph.  Will dated 17 November 1683. “I Josiah Churchill of Wethersfield do make this my last will and testament:  I give unto my wife Elizabeth Churchill, the use of all my Estate, whether Real or Personal, during her natural life, excepting such parcels of Land as shall hereafter be excepted, she paying all my Just Debts. And after her decease, my will is that all my Land and other Estate of mine she shall then stand possessed of, to be divided as follows: I give unto my son Joseph the House and Homelott he now liveth on, with all other Buildings thereon, and one Lott in the Little West Field containing 10 acres, and another Lott containing 6 acres. I give unto my son Joseph my 50-acre Lott at the West end of Wethersfield Bounds. I do give unto my son Joseph, after the decease of my wife Elizabeth, 5 acres in the Great Swamp & 2 acres of Meadow lying toward the lower End of sd. Meadow& half of my 5-acre Lott at the upper end of the Great Meadow. I give unto my son Benjamin Churchill 6 acres in the Little West Field, also 10 Acres more in the West Field. I give unto my son Benjamin, after the decease of my wife,my now Dwelling House & Homelott and other buildings upon my sd. Lott, & 7 acres of land in the Great Swamp & 4 acres in Beaver Meadow & half my 5-acre Lott at the upper end of the Great Meadow. My will is that all the rest of my Moveable Estate be equally divided betwixt my daughters Marah Church, Elizabeth Buck, Ann Rice and Sarah Wickham. My will is that my wife be sole Executrix. Witness: Samuel Talcott and John Deming Signed: Josiah Churchill Ls. Court Record p. 128 - 3 March 1686-7  Will proven (https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Connecticut_Online_Genealogy_Records, Manwaring, Charles Williams, compiler. A Digestof the Early Connecticut Probate Records. 3 volumes. A digital version of thethree volume set is available online at Internet Archive: Volume 1 (1635-1700)