Porter Ancestors

John Porter, 3rd was born 3 January 1651 at Windsor CT. John Porter's father, John Porter, 2nd was born in England about 1620 and was baptized at Essexshire. Grandfather John Porter was a member of the Windsor Church, which was organized at Plymouth, England by people of Devon, Dorset, Warwick and Somerset counties in March 1630 under the guidance of Maverick and Warham. John Porter's grandparents and eight of their children left Essexshire on the ship "Mary and John". Their oldest child, Anna, was about eleven years old. John Porter, 2nd was nine years old, and their youngest child was four at the time they sailed.

The Porters first settled at Dorchester, along with the first settlers including Rev. Maverick and John Warham. A short time later, John Porter moved his family to Hingham, Mass. A baby girl, Mary, was born about 1630. A son, Samual, was born soon after and died in 1632. Little Rose was born in 1632 and another boy in 1934. The Porters had twelve children, with the first nine being baptized at Holy Cross, Felsted, England and three born in New England. Mary was born about 1635, and was baptized on 1 October 1637. She married in 1658 to Samuel Grant (a stem father of Gen'l U.S.Grant).

We think John Porter, 2nd moved to Windsor with Rev. Ephraim Hewett about 1637. Nathaniel Porter was born on 29 February 1640 and baptized at Windsor on 19 July 1640. Hannah (Anna) Porter, their youngest child, was born on 4 September 1642. It appears that John Porter's home was located near the Little River, at its junction with the Connecticut River. He was a constable from 1639 to 1640, a juror in 1640, a grand juror in 1643.

It appears that Porter's home was located near the Little River, at its junction with the Connecticut River. John Porter was a constable from 1639 to 1640, a juror in 1640, a grand juror in 1643, and a deputy to the General Court from 1646 to 1648. John Porter was a man of considerable wealth and died at Windsor on 21 April 1648. Rose died at Windsor on 10 May 1648. At the time of his parents' death, young John Porter was twenty eight years old. The Porter's oldest child, Anna, married William Gaylord on February 24, 1645. Sarah Porter had married in 1644 to Joseph Judson. John Porter was a deputy to the General Court from 1646 to 1648. He was a man of considerable wealth and died at Windsor on 21 April 1648. Rose died at Windsor on 10 May 1648.

In 1650 John Porter,2nd married a young lass, Mary Stanley, at Hadley, Mass. Mary was about eight-teen years old. Mary was born about 1633 in Kentshire, England. She had emigrated in May 1634, from Kentshire, England with her parents, Thomas Stanley and Benedicta Tritton. Thomas, and his family, came to New England with his brothers, Timothy and John Stanley. John Stanley died at sea in April 1634 while enroute to America. Thomas adopted John's son. The Stanley family settled first at Lynn, Mass. where Thomas was chosen as a Constable and Deputy to the General Court on 2 September 1635. In June 1636, the Stanleys moved to Hartford, CT., where Thomas was assigned two 40 acre parcels near the Little River. Benedicta gave birth to a baby boy in 1638 and a girl in 1640. Thomas Stanley was a juryman in 1639 and again in1643. He was a Constable in 1644, 1647 and 1653. Due to a controversy in the Hartford church, Thomas moved his family to Hadley, Mass. He kept his landholdings at Hartford and eventually willed them to his only son when Thomas died in January 1663.

After their marriage, John Porter, 2nd and his wife, Mary, settled in Windsor, CT. They had twelve children between 1651 and 1675. Their first child, John Porter, 3rd was born 3 January 1651. John Porter and Mary Porter's second child, and first daughter, Mary was born on 17 July 1653, and will marry in 1673 to Joseph Phelps. John and Mary Porter's 3rd child,Sarah, was born on 5 September 1655. James was born on 22 December 1657. Nathaniel was born on 20 April 1660.

John and Mary Porter's sixth child, Hannah, was born on 1 January 1663. Hannah was named after her father's youngest sister. Mary joined the church at Windsor on 10 May 1663 and had six of her children baptized at the same time. Aunt Hannah Porter married in 1663 to John Coleman, who was killed by Indians on 20 September 1677. Samuel was born on 5 March 1665. John and Mary Porter's eighth child, Rebecca, was born on 8 March 1667. John Porter was a deputy to the General Court in 1668. Ester was born on May 8, 1669.

By the time young John Porter married Johanna Gaylord in 1669, he had five younger sisters and three younger brothers. Young John Porter and Joanna Gaylord were married on 16 December 1669. John and Mary Porter had more children after John's wedding: Ruth was born on 7 August 1671. Hezekiah Porter was born on 9 November 1673. John and Mary Porter's twelveth child, Joseph was born at Windsor on 7 February 1675.

John and Joanna Porter had eleven children: Joanna was born on 7 February 1671. John Porter was a Freeman in 1672. Mary was born on 20 November 1672. John was born on 17 January 1675. Sarah was born on 1 June 1677. Anna was born on 26 August 1679. Daniel was born on 13 November 1681.

Joanna Gaylord

Joanna Gaylord was born on 5 February 1653 at Windsor CT. Her father, Walter Gaylord, was born at Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England, about 1626. Walter came to New England with his parents in 1630.

Joanna's grandfather, William Gaylord, was born at Pitminster, Somersetshire, England, about 1585. He resided at Crewkerne from 1619 to 1624 and at Chilthorne Domer (near Yeovil), Somersetshire in 1627. He and his brother - John, left from Devonshire, England, aboard the ship - "Mary & John" on 30 May 1630. Under the leadership of Rev. John Maverick and Rev. John Warham they were bound for Nantasket, Mass. (in Boston Harbor). He was sworn in as a Freeman on 18 May 1631 and was one of the founders of Dorchester, Mass., where he was granted land before 1633. He was one of the first Deacons of the Dorchester Church. He was a Representative from 1635 to 1638. About 1635, he moved to Windsor, Ct. with Rev. John Warham and served as a Representative for the area for forty years. He received a 21 acre land grant, at Windsor, on 25 December 1654. He secured a second allotment of land on the east side of the Connecticut River.

Walter Gaylord settled at Windsor, Ct. and he married at Hartford, Ct. on 29 April 1648 to Mary Stebbins. She was born at England, about 1630, to Deacon Edward and Francis Stebbins.

Walter Gaylord received a 21 acre land grant at Windsor in December 1654. He secured a second allotment of land on the east side of the Connecticut River.

Walter and Mary (Stebbins) Gaylord had five children. Joseph was born 13 May 1649. Mary was born 19 March 1651. Joanna - our ancestor - was born in 1653. Walter and Mary had lived at Windsor since their marriage in 1648. They had three children: Joseph, Mary and Joanna. Benjamin was born 12 April 1655. Life at Windsor was great for the Gaylords until 1657.

Walter's mother, Ann Gaylord died at Windsor on 20 June 1657. Walter's youngest child, Isaac was born the next day. Walter's wife, Mary, died at Windsor on 29 June 1657 just eight days after Isaac was born. Walter was now a widower with five young children.

Walter Gaylord remarried, on 22 March 1658, to Sarah Rockwell. Walter and Sarah Gaylord had three children together.

Eleazer was born 7 March 1662. Sarah was born on 13 April 1665, and married in 1686 to William Phelps. Joanna Gaylord was born on 5 February 1663.

Johanna Gaylord married, at Windsor, Ct., on 16 December 1669 to John Porter 3rd. He was born on 3 January 1651 to John Porter Jr and Mary Stanley Porter.

Walter Gaylord died, at Windsor, on 9 August 1689, and Sarah on 7 August 1683.

Johanna Gaylord Porter died in 1716 and John on 4 January 1699. John and Joanna Porter had eleven children, including - David Porter. He was born in 1685 and married in 1707 to Anna Phelps.

 

David Porter was born in 1685 and will marry Anna Phelps in 1707. Isaac Porter was born on 23 April 1687. Martha was born on 23 April 1687. (Isaac's twin). Another set of twins born! Lydia and Ester were born on 28 November 1689.

David Porter

David Porter was born in 1685 to Johan and Joanna (Gaylord) Porter. The Porters probably lived in Windsor, CT. John and Joanna (Gaylord) Porter had eleven children. By 1700 their older children were grown. Only Daniel, David and the two sets of twins remained at home. Daniel was nineteen; David Porter was fifteen. Isaac and Martha were thirteen. Lydia and Esther were eleven. In 1707 both Daniel and David got married.

On 3 January 1707 David Porter married Anna Phelps, who was born on 2 October 1686 to Capt. Timothy Phelps and Mary (Griswold) Phelps. The Phelps also lived in Windsor CT. Anna Phelps was second to youngest of twelve children. Anna's mother had died in 1700; her father remained at Windsor with the unmarried children. By 1707 only three daughters were unmarried; the youngest being nineteen. Anna's father, at the age of sixty-eight, went on expedition to the Great Falls after Anna and David's wedding. In 1709 Capt. Timothy Phelps served under Col. William Whiting and Capt. Mathew Allyn in the Queen Anne War.

David Porter was one of the first settlers at Hebron, Tolland County CT Hebron is twenty-miles northeast of New Haven. Hebron will become the homestead for many generations of "Porter" families as well the "Strong" and "Beach" families. David and Anna Porter lived in Hebron and had eight children. Their first child, David, was born on 13 September 1708, and Anna was born on 25 September 1710. Jerusha was born on 15 September 1712, and John was born on 18 September 1714. Tabitha was born on 11 November 1716. Pelatiah was born on 30 May 1719. Increase Porter was born on 18 February 1722. Lydia was born in November 1724.

Increase Porter

Increase Porter was born on 18 February 1722 at Hebron CT to David and Anna (Phelps) Porter. David Porter was one of the first settlers at Tolland County CT Hebron is twenty-miles northeast of New Haven.

Increase grew up in Hebron with his three older brothers [David, John and Pelatiah], his three older sisters [Anna, Jerusha and Tabitha] and younger sister [Lydia]. The children were all born between 1708 and 1724 [every two years].

Increase Porter married in 1750 to Mary Niles, who was born in 1728. Mary was the only child of Increase Niles Jr. and Sarah (Littlefield) Niles. The Niles were early settlers of Braintree Mass. Increase Nile Jr.'s grandfather, John Niles, was a weaver in Wales and came to America aboard the ship "Speedwell" and arrived at Dorchester Mass. in September 1634, where he was granted land. John Niles was at Braintree in 1636 and was a Freeman there on 26 May 1647. Increase Niles was born at Braintree on 16 December 1646. Increase Niles Jr. was born in 1681 and grew up in Braintree with his older brother (John), younger brother (Ebenezer) and younger sister (Mary). Mary's father died on 11 May 1751 or 12 May 1752. Her mother remarried to Noal Hayward.

Increase and Mary Porter had eight children. Their first child, Increase Porter Jr. was born on 26 February 1751. Abigail was born in 1753. Aaron was born in 1755 and Mary was born in 1757. Next came Anna, Lydia and David born in 1759, 1761 and 1763. Clarinda was born on 31 May 1765. Increase Jr. was fourteen years old when his youngest sister was born. His mother, Mary Porter, died on 4 June 1765, four days after bearing her eighth child - Clarinda.

Increase Porter was a widower with eight children ranging in age from fourteen to an infant. Increase married again in 1766 to Abigail Kellogg, who bore him one son. Asahel was born 22 September 1767.

Increase's mother, Anna (Phelps) Porter, died at Hebron on 24 January 1767. Increase Porter Jr. was sixteen when his grandmother died. His step-mother, Abigail (Kellogg) Porter died on 3 October 1769. Again Increase Porter was a widower, this time with nine children! Increase Jr. was 18 and Abigail was 16. Mary was 15. The older Porter children probably took care of their younger siblings.

Increase Porter Jr. married Lydia Woodworth on 1 March 1773. He was twenty-two at the time. Lydia Woodworth was born at Lebanon, CT, in 1751. Increase's sister, Abigail Porter, married Levi Washbourne in 1775. The Washbornes are also ancestors and were early settlers of Stamford CT and Hempstead LI. William Washbourne came from England before 1644. His daughter, Agnes Washbourne, married Robert Jackson in 1644 at Hempstead.

Increase Porter Sr. was a Private from Connecticut during the Revolutionary War; he would have been over fifty years old at the time of the revolution.

Increase Porter Sr. died on 8 June 1788.

Increase Porter Jr.

Increase Porter Jr. was born on 26 February 1751 at Hebron CT to Increase and Mary (Niles) Porter. This is the third generation of Porters to live at Hebron, Tolland County CT. Hebron is twenty-miles northeast of New Haven.

Increase Jr. was the oldest of eight children. He was fourteen years old when his youngest sister was born. His mother died on 4 June 1765, four days after bearing her eighth child.

Increase Porter Sr. was a widower with eight children ranging in age from fourteen to an infant. In 1766, Increase Jr.'s father married again in 1766 to Abigail Kellogg, who bore him one son.

Increase Porter Jr. was sixteen when his grandmother died. Anna (Phelps) Porter died at Hebron on 24 January 1767. His step-mother, Abigail (Kellogg) Porter died on 3 October 1769. Again Increase Porter Sr. was a widower, this time with nine children! Increase Jr. was 18 and Abigail was 16. Mary was 15. The older Porter children probably took care of their younger siblings.

Increase Porter Jr. married Lydia Woodworth on 1 March 1773. He was twenty-two at the time. Lydia Woodworth was born at Lebanon, CT, in 1751. Increase's sister, Abigail Porter, married Levi Washbourne in 1775. The Washbornes are also ancestors and were early settlers of Stamford CT and Hempstead LI. William Washbourne came from England before 1644. His daughter, Agnes Washbourne, married Robert Jackson in 1644 at Hempstead.

Increase Porter Jr was twenty-two years old when he married Lydia Woodworth. The Porters probably lived at Hebron CT. Increase Jr. and Lydia had nine children between the years 1774 and 1790. Their first child, Lucy, was born on 20 February 1774. Two years later a baby boy, Benjamin, was born but died young.

Little Lydia Porter was born on March 1776; Aaron was born in 1778. Next came Bela Porter who was born in 1782. Then came Asahel, Clarinda, and Amelia. Increase's father died 8 June 1788 before his granddaughter, Harriet, was born.

Lydia (Woodworth) Porter died on 14 March 1792 leaving Increase Porter Jr. a widower with eight children. The oldest child was eighteen and the youngest was about two. Lucy probably took care of her younger brothers and sisters until she married. Life sure repeats itself. Increae Porter Jr.'s father was also left a widower with eight children.

In 1798 Increase's oldest child, Lucy, married Thomas Tarbox. At that time Lydia was twenty and Bela was sixteen. However Lydia did not stay home either! Lydia Porter was married at Hebron, CT, on 1 June 1798 (or January) to John Beach. He was born 30 January 1773 to Capt. Elisha Beach and Desire Taylor of Hebron.

This left the boys, Aaron and Bela, to take care of the younger children. Bela stayed home until the age of twenty-three. In 1805 both Bela and Clarinda were married. This left Increase Porter Jr. with only the two youngest children: Amelia was seventeen and Harriet was fifteen. Increase Porter Jr. lived until 1838.

Bela Porter 1782-1818

Bela Porter was born on March 1782 at Hebron CT to Lydia (Woodworth) and Increase Porter Jr. This is the fourth generation of Porters to live at Hebron, Tolland County CT. Hebron is twenty-miles northeast of New Haven.

Bela Porter grew up at Hebron with her two older sisters, younger brothers and three younger sisters. His mother died in March of 1792. Bela's older sisters was 16 and 18; his youngest sister was two. His sisters, Lucy and Lydia, probably took care of the younger brothers and sisters. Lucy married 1796.

At that time Lydia was twenty and Bela was sixteen. However Lydia did not stay home either! Lydia Porter was married at Hebron, CT, on 1 June 1798 (or January) to John Beach.

This left the boys, Aaron and Bela, to take care of the younger children. Bela stayed home until the age of twenty-three. In 1805 both Bela and Clarinda were married. Bela Porter married Mary "Polly" Strong. Mary "Polly" Strong was born at Hebron on 29 June 1787 to David and Leah (Bissell) Strong. The Strongs lived on the family farm in Hebron.

Mary "Polly" Strong and Bela Porter married at Hebron in 1805. Like Bela's sisters wedding, it was well attened by Strongs, Porters and Beaches. Lydia (Porter) and John Beach brought their three young children. Maybe Bela's five year old nephew, Nelson Beach, was ring bearer and his three year old niece was flower girl?

Mary and Bela Porter lived at Hebron and raised their six children: William, Emily, Benjamin, Cephas, Bela Jr. and Mary. Emily Porter was born in 1806.

Bela Porter died on 11 November 1818, at the age of thirty-six. Mary was a widow with six young children; Emily was twelve and the youngest must have been a baby. Mary (Strong) Porter married again at Hebron in 1823 to John S. Porter (a cousin of Bela).

Mary's father, David Strong, died in 1821; her mother died in 1830. Bela's father, Increase Porter Jr., lived until 1838.

Emily Porter

Emily Porter was born in 1806. Emily's parents, Mary (Strong) and Bela Porter, lived at Hebron and raised their six children: William, Emily, Benjamin, Cephas, Bela Jr. and Mary.

Emily's father, Bela Porter, died on 11 November 1818, at the age of thirty-six. Mary was a widow with six young children; Emily was twelve and the youngest must have been a baby. Mary (Strong) Porter married again at Hebron in 1823 to John S. Porter (a cousin of Bela).

Emily Porter was schooled at New Haven CT and at Hartford, CT. She married her first cousin, Nelson John Beach, at Lowville NY on 12 October 1828. Actually this must have reduced the size of the wedding list since the mother of the groom was also the bride's aunt and the bride's step-father was an uncle of the groom.

Click on Nelson Beach to learn about Emily Porter's adult life.