Some Informaion that I have. Notes: William Gifford was probably born around 1615. He immigrated to New England after 1643, and settled in Stanford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He was ordered whipped and banished from Connecticut in 1647, and went to Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts. His first wife has not been identified, but his second wife was Mary Mills, whom he married on 16 July 1683, at Sandwich. William Gifford died 21 December 1687 at Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts at approximately 72 years of age. Most of the Giffords in the United States are descended from him.
William Gifford was a member of the Society of Friends. Although he suffered the persecutions visited upon the Quakers of that time, he prospered in material affairs and became a large land owner. .
Children of first wife
Unknown Wife
1. John Gifford (d. 1708 Sandwich, Massachusetts) married
Elishua Crow
2. Elizabeth Gifford (25 February 1665/6 - 19 October 1701)
3. Samuel Gifford (12 March 1666/7 - 24 April 1738 Sandwich,
4. John Gifford (12 June 1668 - 1750 Rochester, Massachusetts)
married Desire Sprague 24 November 1696
5. Mary Gifford (born 9 October 1669) married Robert Ransom
6. Grace Gifford (born 17 August 1671) married Gideon Hoxie
7. William Gifford (7 May 1673 - 1733 Falmouth, Massachusetts)
married (1) Elizabeth Wheaten 13 March 1701/2; (2)
Experience (Bowerman) Claghorn 7 November 1726
8. Yelverton Gifford (22 April 1676 - 31 March 1772 North
Kingstown, Rhode Island) married 28 February 1714 Ann
Northrup
9. Josiah Gifford (born 17 February 1681) married Mercy
Chadwick 11 March 1714/5
10. Hannaniah Gifford (died c.1709 Manasquan, Shrewsbury
Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey); married Elizabeth
Biographical Sketch - William Gifford probably arrived in New England after 1643, as he does not appear on the list of those to bear arms that year. He first settled at Stamford, Connecticut, but was ordered whipped and banished in 1647. The first record for him in Massachusetts is among a list of debts due on the inventory of Joseph Holiway ‘of Sandwidg’ in December 1647. He served on the Grand Inquest 4 June 1650. He was one of four men (Thomas Tupper, Thomas Burges, Nathaniel Willis, and William Gifford) ordered to call a town meeting for the new Sandwich plantation (original deed dated 22 May 1651). The June 1658 list of holdings at Sandwich included William’s land.
William was a proprietor of lands at Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Although he suffered the persecutions visited upon the Quakers of that time, he prospered in material affairs and became a large landowner. In Bowden's "History of the Society of Friends in America," it is mentioned that two English Friends, named Christopher Holden and John Copeland, came to Sandwich on June 1657, and had a number of meetings.
Sources
"William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass. (d. 1687)", by Almon Daniels & MacLean W. MacLean, edited by Anne Borden Harding, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 128, Oct., 1974, Pgs. 241-261.
2 ↑ See also "London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812," Ancestry.com database online, images for St. James, Clerkenwell $ [1].
3 ↑ Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 5, pg. 354.
4 ↑ Documents relating to the Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. IV, pgs. 116 & 150.
5 ↑ "Guilelms: Gifford duxit Elizabetham Grant, vtr: de hac pochia [pr] licen:" Parish registers for St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Westminster, 1550-1926, Familysearch.org image database online, FHL 005108407 [2].
6 ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Town of Sandwich, MA Births 1682-1842 Marriages 1720-1812 Death 1701-1841, pgs. 6 (Christopher) & 22 (Jonathan & James).
7 ↑ Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, by Noyes, Libby, Davis, reprint 1983, p. 482.
8 ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #148618931 William Gifford
9 ↑ Barnstable County Probate Records, Vol. 1, pgs. 14 & 15.
• History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts: 1620-1637-1686-1890, edited by Simeon L. Deyo, pgs. 168, 172, 185-86, 193-94, 268, 283, 633, 672 & 688-89 (last two pgs. state unproven info. about his parentage & immigration year, 1630.)
• Wilbour, Benjamin Franklin. Little Compton Families (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003); pg. 276. Duplicates information & leaves out dau. Mary.
• Second marriage, Mary Mills : New England Historical and Genealogical Register, V128:247-50
I hope this helps. L Ann Kaufman
