Biography
B. about 1610 in Holton St. Mary, England
M. before 1638
Wife: Mary (last name unknown)
D. 12 Aug 1691 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Emigrated: 1634 on the ship Francis
It is believed that William Holton was born at Holton St. Mary, a village near Ipswich, England in about 1610. His baptism is recorded on October 20, 1610 in Nayland church, "Willm sonne of Edward Holton." Nothing else is known of his early years.
William migrated to America on the ship Francis leaving Ipswich and arriving in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1634. He married a woman named Mary and they had seven or eight children born between about 1638 and 1653. Some researchers have said that Mary's last name was Winche, and was a 15 year-old girl who was also aboard the Francis; others have claimed William traveled back to England, stayed for three years, and married her there. None of this is verified information.
By 1639, William was living in Hartford, Connecticut, where he has been given credit as an original settler there ? his name is inscribed on the Hartford Founders' Monument. In 1653, he was one of the settlers who petitioned to form the town of Northampton, Massachusetts, and he became the first deacon there in 1663. He was also a town magistrate appointed by the General Court in 1665 and a justice of the peace. It was said he was "for years the most trusted and respected man in the little community."
During King Philip's War, William suffered the loss of his 28 year-old son Thomas who was one of five casualties when Indians raided Northampton on March 14, 1676. William's house was burned by the Indians in the raid, and it was said to be "the only house destroyed within the palisades," which had been put up to protect the town from attack.
William died on August 12, 1691 in Northampton.
Famous descendants of William Holton include Nathan Hale, Glenn Close, Bess Truman and Princess Diana.
Sources:
History of Charlestown, New Hampshire, Henry Hamilton Saunderson, 1876
History of Northampton, Massachusetts, James Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
The Ancestry of Diana, Princess of Wales: for Twelve Generations, Richard K. Evans, 2007
GeneaStar: Famous Family Tree and Genealogy [website]
- Killed By Indians Outside His Home ? Robert Bartlett
B. in England M. (probably) in Massachusetts Wife: Ann (possibly Warringer) D. 14 Mar 1676 in Northampton, Massachusetts Emigrated: 16 Sep 1632 on the ship Lyon There were three men named Robert Bartlett in the Puritan colonies of New England and sometimes...
- Remembered For His Anvil ? Medad Pomeroy
B. 19 Aug 1638 in Windsor, Connecticut M. (1) 21 Nov 1661 in Northampton, Massachusetts Wife: Experience Woodward M. (2) 14 Sep 1686 in Northampton, Massachusetts Wife: Abigail (Strong) Chauncey M. (3) 24 Jan 1705 in Northampton, Massachusetts Wife: Hannah...
- Indians Burned Down His House ? Preserved Clapp
B. 23 Nov 1643 in Dorchester, Massachusetts M. 4 Jun 1668 in Northampton, Massachusetts Wife: Sarah Newberry D. 20 Sep 1720 in Northampton, Massachusetts Preserved Clapp was born on November 23, 1643 in Dorchester, Massachusetts to Roger Clap and Joanna...
- A Founder Of Hartford ? William Lewis
B. in England M. 7 Feb 1618 in England Wife: Felix (last name unknown) D. 1683 in Farmington, Connecticut Emigrated: 22 Jun 1632 on the ship Lyon William Lewis' origins are unknown. He was from England and married a woman named Felix (last name unknown)...
- Volumes Of Descendants ? John Strong
B. about 1610 in Chard, England M. (1) in England Wife: Margery Deane M. (2) about 1636 in Massachusetts Wife: Abigail Ford D. 14 Apr 1699 in Northampton, Massachusetts Emigrated: 1635 on the ship Hopewell There are several large volumes devoted to the...
Biography
Son Killed and Home Burned by Indians ? William Holton
B. about 1610 in Holton St. Mary, England
M. before 1638
Wife: Mary (last name unknown)
D. 12 Aug 1691 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Emigrated: 1634 on the ship Francis
It is believed that William Holton was born at Holton St. Mary, a village near Ipswich, England in about 1610. His baptism is recorded on October 20, 1610 in Nayland church, "Willm sonne of Edward Holton." Nothing else is known of his early years.
William migrated to America on the ship Francis leaving Ipswich and arriving in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1634. He married a woman named Mary and they had seven or eight children born between about 1638 and 1653. Some researchers have said that Mary's last name was Winche, and was a 15 year-old girl who was also aboard the Francis; others have claimed William traveled back to England, stayed for three years, and married her there. None of this is verified information.
By 1639, William was living in Hartford, Connecticut, where he has been given credit as an original settler there ? his name is inscribed on the Hartford Founders' Monument. In 1653, he was one of the settlers who petitioned to form the town of Northampton, Massachusetts, and he became the first deacon there in 1663. He was also a town magistrate appointed by the General Court in 1665 and a justice of the peace. It was said he was "for years the most trusted and respected man in the little community."
During King Philip's War, William suffered the loss of his 28 year-old son Thomas who was one of five casualties when Indians raided Northampton on March 14, 1676. William's house was burned by the Indians in the raid, and it was said to be "the only house destroyed within the palisades," which had been put up to protect the town from attack.
William died on August 12, 1691 in Northampton.
Famous descendants of William Holton include Nathan Hale, Glenn Close, Bess Truman and Princess Diana.
Sources:
History of Charlestown, New Hampshire, Henry Hamilton Saunderson, 1876
History of Northampton, Massachusetts, James Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
The Ancestry of Diana, Princess of Wales: for Twelve Generations, Richard K. Evans, 2007
GeneaStar: Famous Family Tree and Genealogy [website]
- Killed By Indians Outside His Home ? Robert Bartlett
B. in England M. (probably) in Massachusetts Wife: Ann (possibly Warringer) D. 14 Mar 1676 in Northampton, Massachusetts Emigrated: 16 Sep 1632 on the ship Lyon There were three men named Robert Bartlett in the Puritan colonies of New England and sometimes...
- Remembered For His Anvil ? Medad Pomeroy
B. 19 Aug 1638 in Windsor, Connecticut M. (1) 21 Nov 1661 in Northampton, Massachusetts Wife: Experience Woodward M. (2) 14 Sep 1686 in Northampton, Massachusetts Wife: Abigail (Strong) Chauncey M. (3) 24 Jan 1705 in Northampton, Massachusetts Wife: Hannah...
- Indians Burned Down His House ? Preserved Clapp
B. 23 Nov 1643 in Dorchester, Massachusetts M. 4 Jun 1668 in Northampton, Massachusetts Wife: Sarah Newberry D. 20 Sep 1720 in Northampton, Massachusetts Preserved Clapp was born on November 23, 1643 in Dorchester, Massachusetts to Roger Clap and Joanna...
- A Founder Of Hartford ? William Lewis
B. in England M. 7 Feb 1618 in England Wife: Felix (last name unknown) D. 1683 in Farmington, Connecticut Emigrated: 22 Jun 1632 on the ship Lyon William Lewis' origins are unknown. He was from England and married a woman named Felix (last name unknown)...
- Volumes Of Descendants ? John Strong
B. about 1610 in Chard, England M. (1) in England Wife: Margery Deane M. (2) about 1636 in Massachusetts Wife: Abigail Ford D. 14 Apr 1699 in Northampton, Massachusetts Emigrated: 1635 on the ship Hopewell There are several large volumes devoted to the...