Three hundred colonial ancestors and war service, their part in making American history from 495 to 1934 online

"Savage's Gen. Dictionary," Vol. I, A. C, also says that Peter,
Plymouth, I suppose son of Peter of the same, born after 1627, as
his name does not appear after the division of cattle that year,
was with Gov. Bradford, with others among the first purchase of
Dartmouth. Supposed to be the same Peter of New Haven.

The Order of the Court in the settlement of Peter^ estate mentions
his having had ''divers children by divers wives;" Martha was
probably his first wife in Salem, though he may have been married
in England; Mary was his second wife and administratrix; he
settled 15 £ on his two daughters, Mary and Priscilla; Mary was
placed in care of John Dean, and Priscilla in care of Wm. Gibson,
the remainder of his estate was devised to his widow, for the support
of the young family; in 1644, Mary and Priscilla were placed with
their uncle John Brown of Duxbury (Hinman, who collected the
facts from W. R. Russell, Esq., Reg. Deed, and Old Colony Records).

Peter born 1632; married Mary Gillet, July 15, 1658; owned land
in Windsor, in 1658-64; he died March 9, 1691/2, age 60; estate
409 £ 15s 6d.

Children :

Mary, b. May 2, 1659; Hannah, b. Sept. 29, 1660; Abigail, b. Aug. 8, 1662,
Hepzibah, b. Nov. 19, 1664; Peter, Jr., b. March 12, 1664; John^, b. Jan. 8,
1668; Jonathan^, b. March 30, 1670; CorneliusS b. July 30, 1672; Hester
b. May 22, 1673; Isabel, b. June 9, 1776; Deborah, b. Feb. 12, 1678; Sarah
b. Aug. 20, 1681, and two other daughters, married.

"You will notice that Peter Brown the first child, m. Mary Gillet, Peter, Jr.,
2nd. child m. Mary Barber, Samuel*, m. Mary Phelps. Dea. Cornelius, 4th child,
m. Abigail Barber; all famiUar names in Phelps family."

Children (b. and bp. O. C. R.) :

1. Mart, b. 2 May, bapt. 24 July 1659.

2. Hannah, b. 29, bapt. 30, Sept. 1660.

3. Abigail, b. 8, bapt. 10 Aug. 1662; m. Samuel Fowler, Nov., 1683.

4. Hepzibah, b. 19, bapt. 20 Nov. 1664.

5. Peter, b. 12 March 1666/7. Fam. 3.

6. John, b, 8 Jan. 1668. Fam. 4.

7. Jonathan, b. 30 March 1670. Fam. 5.

8. Cornelius, b. 30 July 1672. Fam. 6.

9. Hester, b. 22 May 1673.

10. Isabel, b. 9 June 1676.

11. Deborah, b. 12 Feb., "night before," 1678; m. John Hosford, 9 April 1696.

12. Sarah, b. 20 Aug. 1681; m. Joseph Moore.

13. , dau., unmarried.

14. , dau., unmarried.

("Barber Genealogy."), Mary Barber^ (SamueP, Thomas^),
m. July 22, 1696, Peter Brown, Jr., son of Peter and Mary (Gillett)
Brown. He was b. Mch. 12, 1666/7, she d. Aug., 1719.

Children, born in Windsor, Conn, :

1. Peter Brown, b. Jan. 28, 1699; prob. m. Aug. 14, 1722, Rachel Scott.

2. Dinah Brown, b. Jan. 4, 1701/2.



Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service 27



3. Samuel Brown, b. Aug. 28, 1705.

4. Mary Brown, b. Aug. 28, 1708.

5. Benjamin Brown, b. Aug. 11, 1711.

6. Ebenezer Brown 1

[twins, b. Aug. 27, 1719, d. Feb. 25, 1758.

7. Mindwell Brown J

References: History of Windsor, Conn., Stiles (1850), p. 559. Genealogy
Connecticut, Vol. II, p. 617. American Ancestry, Vol. XII, 1000, p. 138. History
of New England, p. 636. Genealogy of the Mead Family, pp. 123-128. National
Society Founders and Patriots (1924-1928), p. 83. American Ancestry, Vol. II,
p. 42. Ancient Windsor, Conn., Vol. II, Fart I, H. R. Stiles, 1892, pp. 117-118.

Some Genealogists claim that Peter Brown did not have a son.

See Barber Genealogy.



BURT ANCESTRY
Descendants of Henry Burt

In my researches in English records I have found that the Burts
were there an ancient family, their name being derived from the
Anglo-Saxon word "beort," signifying "bright" or ''illustrious."
The earliest mention of the name I have found is in Bloomfield's
great history of Norfolk county, where it is recorded that, in the
year 1199, a manor in that county was granted to Sir Hamo de
Burt which was alienated by his grandson. Sir Thomas de Burt,
in 1290. I have found records of the Burts in several Enghsh coun-
ties, notably in Leicester, Dorset and Surrey, as also in London,
and all in honorable connection, but to none of them could I trace
our ancestor. Before leaving the English branch, I would mention
the high character of Thomas Burt, the present member of Parlia-
ment for Morpeth, the first laboring man elected to that august
body, and concerning whom you will hear more fully from our
cousin, Mr. Henry M. Burt. I will add that the wife of the great
German marshal. Von Moltke, was an Enghsh girl, Mary Burt,
whose father, John Burt, had taken the marshal's sister for his
second wife.

It appears from the early records of Roxbury, Massachusetts,
that Henry Burt probably came to America in the ship James
in 1635.

Whatever may have been Mr. Burt's original intentions as to
the time of his moving to Agawam, they were suddenly decided
by the burning of his Roxbury house, in September, 1639, and soon
after that calamity he moved, with all his family, to the new settle-
ment there, where he lived until his death, in 1662. He immedi-
ately took an active part in all the affairs, religious and secular.
He was chosen one of the first selectmen, an office he held for several
years; he was a member of the divers committees to lay out and
allot the lands and "for the ordering of the prudential affairs of
the Plantation;" he was elected "the Clarke of the Writs," an
office analagous in its duties to those of our town and county
clerks. In 1650, and at other times during a vacancy in the position
of minister, he conducted the religious services of the town.



28 Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service

receiving therefor a monthly stipend of thirty shilKngs. It is said
that his residence was on what is now Main Street, between Union
and Wilcox. Of his personal appearance and disposition we have
no knowledge, but the several offices he held in town and church
indicate his ability as well as the respect and esteem his fellow-
townsmen entertained for him in entrusting to his management
such important public affairs.

Appreciating the fact that the earliest town governments of
New England were replete with every good democratic instinct,
and contained within themselves the fecund and potent germ of all
that is best in our political institutions, we may well be proud of
the prominent part taken by our ancestor in one of the earhest of
these famous nurseries of regulated political freedom.

The maiden name of Mr. Burt's wife is unknown, but her Chris-
tian name was Eulalia.

It is not true that all of Mrs. Burt's children were born in America,
since the eldest one was married here in 1643, at most only eight
years after the family left England. Of the nineteen reputed
children I can find records of only twelve, being three sons and nine
daughters. These children in order of their birth were:

1. Sarah, who married in Springfield, June 20, 1643, Judah Gregory, and a

second time Henry Wakely.

2. Abigail, m. in 1644, Francis Ball, and second, April 12, 1649, Capt. Ben-

jamin Mimn, and third, Dec. 14, 1676, Lieut. Thomas Stebbins.

3. Jonathan, m. Oct. 20, 1651, Elizaljeth Lobdell of Boston. He was an

active townsman of Springfield, and the leading deacon of the church.

4. Mary, m. Oct. 18, 1654, WiUiam Brooks, by whom she had 19 children.

5. Elizabeth, m. Nov. 24, 1653, Samuel Wright, Jr. They moved shortly after

to Northampton, where he was killed, with seven others, in an Indian
onslaught, Sept. 7, 1675. He left eight children, one born ten days after
his death. His widow, 9 yrs. later, m. Nathaniel Dickinson of Hatfield.

6. David, one of Founders of the town of Northampton, where, Nov. 18, 1654,

he m. Mary Holton. Henry Burt of Springfield, in 1640, David^ Joseph',
AsaheP, b. 1715; killed by the Indians in Northfield, Mass., April 15,
1747; Joseph^ Burt, born at Northfield, Mass., 1738; Augustus^ Burt, b.
Jan. 30, 1781, Westmoreland, N. H., Judge of Franklin Co. Court many
years; Henry Adams '^ Burt, b. Feb. 10, 1728, had three children:
Henry Augustus^.b. 1853; Mary «, 1855; Ellen », 1862. Henry Augustus »

Burt had one dau., Amy, b. 1873; Mary* m. Tobin and had one

son Lyman Burt, b. 1886; Ellen* m. Edward S. Stone, D.D., of Swan-
ton, who is eighth in descent from Capt. Miles Standish. Dr. Stone was
Rector of St. John's Church, Highgate for seventeen years, where a
bronze tablet was placed in his memory.

7. Dorcas, m. Oct. 28, 1657, John Stiles of Windsor.

8. Nathaniel, m. Jan. 15, 1662, Rebecca Sikes, and soon after removed to

Longmeadow, where bis descendants have been always foremost in
good work.

9. Hannah, m. Dec. 24, 1659, John Bagg of Springfield.

10. A daughter, the record of whose birth in the town register is so defaced as

to be almost illegible.

11. Patience, m. on Oct. 7, 1667, John Bliss of Springfield.

12. Mercy, m. Jan. 17, 1667, Judah Wright of Springfield, by whom she had

nine children. Among her descendants were Gen. Ethan AUen of
Revolutionary fame and Silas Wright, the distinguished statesman.



Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service 29

There has been much good-natured fun over the self-laudation
and boastful speeches at the New England Society dinners; and
Plymouth Rock has been jocosely called a second Blarney Stone.

Physically, the Burts are of medium stature, inclined to spare-
ness rather than corpulence; blonde in complexion, and almost
invariably blue-eyed ; with great nervous activity and a more than
average vitality. The proportion of those living beyond seventy
years is very large, while there are many instances of much greater
longevity.

I know of none of the family who have been highly distinguished
in literature, art, science or statesmanship, and of none who have
been oppressors, traitors, felons or outcasts. They have been good
citizens in peace and good soldiers in war, unostentatiously dis-
charging their duties towards each other, society and the state.

The men and women of our family have been peculiarly fortunate
in that they have enjoyed

"Domestic happiness, thou only bliss
That has survived the fall."

In rehgious faith they have been for the most part Presbyterian
and Baptist, and in political affiliations they have shown such a
broad eclectic spirit that I should hesitate to denote where the
majority rests, particularly as their independence has led many of
them into the mugwump fold.

In fact, take them all and all, the Burts are a typical New Eng-
land family with all the inherent qualities, good or otherwise, so
well represented by their ancestor, Henry, one of the founders of
this beautiful and prosperous city.

"Do then as your progenitors have done,
And by their virtues prove yourself their son!"

Without disparagement of the founders of the other original
English colonies, it can be fairly claimed that the establishment
of the Massachusetts colony was fraught with the greatest signifi-
cance to the highest human interests. Virginia and other Southern
colonies originated in the spirit of adventure or in the pursuit of
gain; New York was settled under the auspices of a trading com-
pany, as Pennsylvania and Maryland were each through the enter-
prise of a single proprietor. But the Massachusetts colonists
sought a field where they could practically demonstrate their
rehgious and poHtical convictions. The later EngHsh historians have
appreciated the high character of these immigrants. Says Green:
"They were in a great part men of the professional and middle
classes, some of them men of large landed estates; some zealous
clergymen, hke Cotton, Hooker and Roger Williams; some shrewd
London lawyers or young scholars from Oxford and Cambridge.
The bulk were God-fearing men from Lincolnshire and the Eastern
counties. They desired, in fact, only the best as sharers in their
enterprise; men driven forth from their fatherland not by earthly



30 Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service

want or the lust of adventure, but by the fear of God and the zeal
for a godly worship."

References: Burt Family, H. M. & S. W. Burt, 1898, p. 23780.
See summarized ancestry of the Gregory Family.



CHAMBERLAIN ANCESTRY
Chamberlain Family of England and America

Chamberlane 1: Chamberlan 20: Chamberlayne or Chambers 8: Chamber-
lanne, Presbury, Co. Eng., Wickham, Co. Oxford, and Theroldby,
Co. York, originally sprung from the Counts of Turkerville and founded
by Richard Chamberlain to King Stephen, 1135, etc., who from his
office, assumed his Sir Name: Gu an ass's of Woburn escutcheon or
within an orle of MuUets or. Crest — Out of a ducal, or, an ass's head
or . . . William b. ab. 1621 of Woburn, brother Edmund or Edward of
Woburn, of Concord, Mass., Billerica, Mass., ab. 1654, d. May 31,
1706, age 85 yrs.; m. Rebecca; she d. in Prison, Sept. 26, 1692, of the
preposterous charge of witchcraft; was mother of his four children and
perhaps of more.

William^ Chamberlain, the immigrant, was born undoubtedly
in England about 1620, and died at Billerica, Massachusetts,
May 31, 1706, "aged about 86 years." (Billerica Town Records.)
After considerable effort to ascertain his parentage, his ancestry
and his English home, they have not been discovered. The pub-
lication of the marriages in the English parish registers, now in
process, is likely to enable us to identify him, provided he were
married in England and the parish register where he was married is
still preserved. Of the forty proprietors of Billerica and Chelms-
ford with whom he was closely associated from 1648 to 1665, at
least six are known to have come to New England from East
AngHa, one from the County of Surrey and one from Kent. An
abstract of every Chamberlain will which was probated in East
AngHa between 1620 and 1700, Cambridgeshire excepted, has been
obtained, and from that number one abstract is given as follows:

"Francis Chamberlyn, senior, of Narburgh, Co. of Norfolk,
made his will June 1, 1676, bequeathing to his sons William Cham-
berlyn and Clement Chamberlain x25 each when they arrive at the
age of 21; to his grandchildren Mary Woodhouse, the daughter of
John Woodhouse, and to Ahce Chamberlyn each x5; to his son
Francis Chamberlyn ten shillings; to his son Thomas Chamberlyn
his mansion house and lands in Pentry, the said Thomas and his
wife Mary to be executors and Noah Clarke of Narburgh to be
supervisor. Witnesses: John Roberts and Noah Clarke." Will
proved, Sept. 16, 1677, in the Consistory Court of Norwich.

Wilham Chamberlain, the immigrant, probably first appeared in
New England in Boston, Massachusetts, as early as October 30,
1647, when he took a deed of a house and lot of Francis Smith.

On the southwest corner of West and Washington Streets, Wilham
Chamberlain owned property from Oct. 30, 1647, to Jan. 4, 1648/9,—
a period of about fourteen months.



Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service 31

Two days after William Chamberlain disposed of his property in
Boston, he was admitted an inhabitant of the town of Woburn —
ten miles northwest of Boston, admitted Jan. 6, 1648/9 "the 6 of
11 mo 1648" the Woburn town record shows.

'Tarly" Meadow and "Drum" Meadow are in the eastern part
of the present city of Woburn but it is doubtful if the exact spot
where William Chamberlain built his house in Woburn can be
identified.

"the 10 of 11 mo 1651: (Jan. 10, 1651/2) Thomas perce Edward
Winn & William Chamberlain are appointed a committee to looke
on the inlargement Allen Convars desirs neer his hous and looke on
an inlargment John Parker desirs and make a Return whether it
will not be prejuditiall to the Towne." (Ibid, p. 17.)

The town records further show that he and his wife Rebecca had
two sons born there (not in Concord as Savage stated), viz., Tim-
othy, b. Aug. 13, 1649, and Isaac, b. Oct. 1, 1650.

Sarah Shelley
From its genealogical significance the will of Sarah Shelley of
Boston is reproduced verbatim et literatim:

"I Sarah Shelley of Boston in New England Spinster, being Sick
in body, but through mercy of sound disposing minde Knowing the
uncertainty of this present Life do hereby revoke all former and
make and declare this my last will and Testament, etc.

It. I release unto my Brother William Chamberlin a debt of Six
pounds which he oweth me and I give and bequeath unto my
Sister his wife and unto her three daughters Twenty Shillings
apeice in money: etc"

Chamberlain, Rebecca, dau. of William Chamberlayne, Eng., London.
(See Pedigree XXXIX, "Burt's Royal Families.") (Lineage Book
D. A. C, p. 73). Henry Chamberlain, d. 1674, was a grantee of the
town of Hinman, Mass., 1638; m. Jane, she d. 1676 (N. E. H. Reg.,
p. 145). William Chamberlain, John Johnson, and Steven Taylor,
"Abriham" from London, Oct. 24, 1635.

From the will of Sarah Shelley it is apparent that Rebecca, the
wife of William Chamberlain, was her "sister." See Shelley
Ancestry.

Rebecca Chamberlain v^^as marriageable in 1648 and became the
mother of thirteen children between Aug. 13, 1649, and Sept. 27,
1671. She was, therefore, probably born between the years of
1625 and 1634. She and her sister Sarah Shelley were of the same
generation as Capt. Isaac Addington and his wife Anne (Leverett)
Addington, and since they were not sisters of the latter, they were
likely to have been either own sisters or half sisters to Capt. Isaac
Addington who appeared in Boston in New England as a "single-
man" before June 6, 1640, and lived here until his death in 1652.

In 1673 William Chamberlain was chosen constable of the town,
serving for one year. At that time the New England town con-
stables served warrants upon all freemen and freeholders for town
meetings, warrants upon the selectmen for choice of jurors, war-



32 Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service

rants upon offenders against the laws; collected the country rates
and the minister's rates and paid the latter to the settled minister
of the township, who was for many years the only person in the
township who received a compensation for his services at public
expense. The accounts which William Chamberlain and other
early constables rendered to the town of Billerica show that the
rates were paid in rye, wheat, Indian corn and other New England
farm products.

Wilham Chamberlain married about 1648. This marriage may
have occurred in England as no record of it has been found in New
England. His wife Rebecca was the mother of thirteen children,
twelve of whom reached maturity and ten of whom left descendants.
In 1692 the witchcraft delusion spread from Salem Village to
Andover, Haverhill, Reading, Lexington, Chelmsford, Billerica and
other towns. In 1816, John Farmer, the pioneer antiquary of New
England, in his article on the "Early History of Billerica" in
referring to the death of Rebecca Chamberlain on Sept. 26, 1692,
said that she was probably "a victim of the infatuation which
prevailed at that time." An examination of every paper in the
Middlesex County Court Files from 1670 to 1700 has revealed
many witchcraft cases but nothing relating to Rebecca Chamber-
lain. The town records of Billerica state that she "died in ye
prison at Cambridge." I have the documentary record of several
of whom it was recorded that they died there on the charge of
witchcraft. Both she and her husband were probably buried in
the Old South Cemetery in Billerica. Here she spent forty years of
her Hfe and William Chamberlain about fifty-four years. He was
the last of the original settlers of ancient Billerica to enter "into
that peace that passeth understanding."

The family of Chamberlaine is one of great antiquity in the Pala-
tinate of Chester; so far back as the year 1120, we find Phillipus
Camerarius in the suite of Randle, Earl of Chester, and again in
the reign of Edward I; Richard Chamberlaine occurs at disposing
of the Manor of Little Barrow to Hugh Despencer, first one of an
est, Earl of Winchester, who also purchased the interests therein
of Robert de Chamberlaine. The annals of Chester attest that this
ancient Family has successively given its members to fill many places
of honor and confidence Palatinate.

Children, last nine born in Billerica:

1. Timothy^ Chamberlain, b. at Woburn 13th 6 mo. 1649 (Aug. 13, 1649).

Savage stated in his Genealogical Dictionary that he was born at
Concord, but his birth is recorded at Woburn where his parents were
then living. He probably d. young as no further reference to him has
been found in many years of searching.

2. Isaac Chamberlain, b. at Woburn, Oct. 1, 1650; probably named for his

uncle Capt. Isaac Addington; assigned to Sergt. Ralph Hill's garrison
with his father's family, Oct. 8, 1675 (Hazen, 110); d. at Billerica,
July 20, 1681, aged 30 years.

3. William Chamberlain, Jr., b. about 1652.

4. John Chamberlain, b. about 1654.

5. Sarah Chamberlain, b. Jan. 18, 1655/6 (18 d. 11 mo. 1655).



Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service 33



6. Jacob Chamberlain, b. Jan. 18, 1657/8 (18 d. 11 mo. 1657).

7. Thomas Chamberlain, b. Feb. 20, 1658/9 (20 d. 12 mo. 1658).

8. Edmund Chamberlain, b. July 15, 1660.

9. Rebecca Chamberlain, b. Feb. 25, 1662/3.

10. Abraham Chamberlain, b. Jan. 6, 1664/5.

11. Ann Chamberlain, b. Jan. 6, 1665/6; alive Feb. 2, 1686/7. The town of

Billerica paid Clement Chamberlain £08: 03 for "keeping" her and Dr.
How 12s. for "doctering" her, Dec. 12, 1726, from which it is inferred
that in her old age she became a town charge.

12. Clement Chamberlain, b. May 30, 1669.

13. Daniel Chamberlain, b. Sept. 27, 1671.

Grace E. Chamberlain's line of Detroit, Mich., is: WUliamS DanieP, Thomas',

S Reubin^ Orson^ George S.'', Grace E.*. Her husband, Joseph Franklin '

Chamberlain's line is: Richard^ Benjamin^, John^, John*, Benjamin^, Ezekiel',
Joseph^, Mark Henry^, Joseph Franklin'.

References: "Chamberlain Family of Billerica, Mass.," G. W. Chamberlain.
Descendants of Joanna Arms of Yarmouth, 8th to 10th Gren-
erations.

Colonial Daughters of the 17th Century, No. 772, p. 146;
Daughters of the American Colonists, 1931, pp. 29-36,
No. 2089; and Daughters of the American Revolution,
No. 192195; ancestry traced by the author of this book.

Summary of Ancestry as follows:

1. William Chamberlain, b. England about 1620, d. at Billerica, Mass.,

May 31, 1706. He m. about 1648, Rebecca Shelly, who d. Sept. 26,
1692.

2. Rebecca Chamberlain, b. Feb. 25, 1662, at Billerica, Mass., d. 1728. She

m. Feb. 11, 1680, at Watertown, Mass., Dr. Phillip Shattuck, b. 1648,
Watertown, Mass., d. June 26, 1722, within present Umits of Waltham,
Mass.

3. Dr. Joseph Shattuck, b. March 6, 1687, at Watertown, Mass., d. May 19,

1729, at Watertown, Mass.; m. Oct. 12, 1708, at Boston, Mass., Mary
Ladd of Boston.

4. Samuel Shattuck, b. May 29, 1716, Watertown, Mass., d. Dec. 29, 1760,

Montague, Mass.; m. Dec. 9, 1740, prob. Northampton, Mass., Sarah
Clesson, b. Jan. 10, 1722, prob. Northampton, Mass. Her Will is
dated Sept. 14, 1785.

5. Samuel Shattuck, b. Sept. 18, 1741, Deerfield, Mass., d. Sept. 1, 1827, at

Portland, N. Y.; m. Nov. 1764, Greenfield, Mass., Chloe Field, b. Dec.
29, 1743, Deerfield, Mass., d. April 10, 1781, at Greenfield, Mass.

6. Chloe Shattuck, b. Nov. 22, 1766, Greenfield, Mass., d. Jan. 22, 1845,

Enosburg, Vt.; m. Nov. 17, 1785, prob. Greenfield, Mass., Ephraim
Leach, b. Dec. 1761, d. Feb. 28, 1840, Enosburg, Vt.

7. Tertius Leach, b. Nov. 21, 1786, prob. Greenfield, Mass., d. Feb. 4, 1864,

Waterville, Vt.; m. Jan. 1, 1812, Sheldon, Vt., Sophia Hawley, b. Aug.
17, 1795, Sheldon, Vt., d. Jan. 7, 1879, WaterviUe, Vt.

8. Tertius Hawley Leach, b. March 19, 1813, Enosburg, Vt., d. Sept. 19,

1881, Clinton, Iowa; m. Feb. 28, 1835, Sheldon, Vt., Orissa Fanton,
b. May 1, 1812, Sheldon, Vt., d. June 24, 1890, Fairfield, Vt.



34 Three Hundred Colonial Ancestors and War Service



CHAPIN ANCESTRY

It has long been known that Samuel Chapin, who was at Roxbury,
Mass., about 1638 and settled at Springfield, Mass., about 1642,
where he was a deacon and a prominent citizen and died in 1675,
brought with him from England, a wife named Cicely and several
children, Henry, Josiah, David, Catherine, and Sarah. There was
a tradition that he was born at Dartmouth, Co. Devon, a great-
great-grandson, John Horton, having written in 1779 that Samuel
Chapin was born in Dartmouth in Old England; and, in an attempt
to verify this tradition, the writer of this article caused a search to
be made some twenty years ago, in the registers of the Church of
St. Saviour's, Dartmouth, Co. Devon, from their beginning in
1582 to 1635, but only one Chapin entry was found, the baptism,
on 17 Dec. 1593, of Enghshe, daughter of Robt. Chapin. It seemed
probable, however, that Samuel Chapin might have been born in