Capt. William Fowler, Jr. of Milford

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fowler-705

Mr. William Fowler had a son William, who appears at New Haven in 1644, where he took the oath of fidelity at that time, and was admitted to the General Court, March 16, 1645. He appears to have remained there, where he spent much of his early life, and where he was a large land-holder, but eventually returned to Milford and inherited his father's possessions, and died there in 1682. His will was probated in New Haven, June 13, 1683.

At East Haven, "Fowler's Cove" and "Fowler's Creek," now so called, derived their names from him. About two miles from New Haven, now the village of Whitneyville, and on the site of the establishment for the manufacture of firearms erected by Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin, William Fowler, Jr., built a mill in 1645, which the town of New Haven bought of him, January 3, 1659, f°r £100. We shall say more of him hereafter.

William Fowler, Jr., first married, in 1645, Mary, daughter of Edward and Anna Tapp, sister of Jane Tapp (wife of Governor Robert Treat), by whom were born to him all his children. He married, second time, November 1, 1670, at Milford, Elizabeth, widow of Richard Baldwin. Her maiden name was Alsop. She was living at the date of his death, and, as we learn from his will, was "a tender, dutiful and loving wife," and he desired that "she might continue to live with his children, to be a guide and help to them as a mother and head of a family." The last codicil of his will is dated December 3, 1682, and his will was probated in New Haven, June 18, 1683. She died in 1688.

From the colonial records of Connecticut we gather he was appointed by the General Court "lieutenant" of militia in 1666, and "captain" in 1673, and he was a member of the House of Deputies from 1673 to 1680 inclusive, from Milford, serving on various important committees, and on a secret committee or council of war in reference to hostilities with the Dutch upon the eastern end of Long Island and the main land.

William Fowler's children were:

I. Sarah (3), birth not recorded. Married John Smith (ye Smith) July 19, 1665.

II. Hannah (3), birth not recorded. Married Daniel Buckingham, an elder in the church at Milford. Ch1lren: Hannah, born Oct. 11, 1663; Daniel, born February 28, 1665. He was associate executor of his fatherin-law's will, and died May 2, 1711.

III. John (3), baptized in New Haven, March 5, 1649. * He married Sarah, daughter of Thomas Welch, and died in 1693.

IV. Jonathan (3), baptized at New Haven, February 8, 1650, where he lived in 1681, but was at Norwich in 1683 and '84, and afterwards at Windham, where he died in 1696.

V. Mark (3), baptized at New Haven, January 17, 1655, and died there in 1688.

VI. Deborah (3), baptized at New Haven, June 1, 1658. Married Jesse Lambert of England, May 10, 1688.

VII. Abigail, (3), born at Milford, November 27, 1660 Married John Elderkin, of Norwich, in 1685, and died in March, 1713.

VIII. William, (3), born at Milford in 1664. Married Anna Beard, of Milford, where he lived and died February 23, 1728. His wife died June 25, 1740.

IX. Mary, (3), birth not recorded. Died, unmarried, in 1685, at Milford.

X. Mercy, (3), born April 1, 1669. Married John Bills, and settled in New London, and subsequently removed to Lebanon, Conn.

John Fowler, (3), third child of William, Jr., who married Sarah Welch, lived and died in Milford. He received by deed from his father one-half the mill and his brother, William, the other half, and "the house at the east end of the mill, built for a conveniency of tending the mill, is to descend equally to those two brothers; yet so that it shall be to the longest liver of those, he that doth outlive paying to his brother or his assigns the value of his half." Those two brothers received the bulk ot their father's possessions in Milford, the other children having been otherwise provided for.

This John died early, at about 42 years old. His will is probated May 15, 1693, in which he mentions " his only son John, whom he gives two-thirds of all his estate, both real and personal, and the other third to his loving wife, Sarah Fowler, requesting her to " take care of him and educate him in the fear of God and provide for him what will be necessary while he is under age; to improve what may be improvable for her advantage till her son shall arrive at the age of 21, and then hold her own part as abovesaid in houses, lands, mills, goods and chattels." "And I do entreat my Honorable Uncle, Robert Treat, Esq., the Governor, and my brother, Elder Daniel Buckingham, to be helpful to my dear wife when they may." The boy was then less than three years old. We shall see what a mother did. 14 Captain John Fowler, (4), or "Esquire Fowler," as he was commonly called, son of John and Sarah (Welch) Fowler, was baptized April 5, 1691, and from what will be seen of his weight ot character, his mother faithfully discharged the duty enjoined upon her in her husband's will, for he became a man of prominence and sterling qualities and merit, filling various offices of trust and acquiring large landed property. The Town Records and Connecticut Colonial Records show that he began public life at an early age and continued engaged in it up to his death. He was chosen Town Clerk in 1718 at 27 years of age, and filled that station without interruption till his death, August 30, 1756, 38 years.

In 1726 he was elected to the General Assembly, also in 1729, 1734, and 1735, and from 1737 to 1756 inclusive, and Clerk of the House, with but two exceptions during the same period, literally dying in the harness. This assembly held two sessions each year at Hartford, May and October, occupying the greater part of those months. In 1739he wasappointed by the said assembly captain of the first company "Milford Train Band," and in 1744 and in 1746 was appointed with five others, viz.: Robert Treat, Gurdon Saltonstal, Andrew Burr, Thomas Wells and Hezekiah Huntington, as "Commissaries to make all necessary provisions for fitting out and setting forth the troops now to be raised in this Colony for His Majesty's service in the expedition against Canada;" also to raise effective men to the number of two hundred, including officers, if they judge needful, and send them to the assistance of His Majesty's subjects in the Colony of New York, and also for the defense of our frontier, to be sent into the County of Hampshire in case of an invasion or imminent danger thereof."

On the 28th of February, 1711, this John Fowler married Susannah Burwell, by whom he had four children, one son and three daughters. She died March 18, 1744:

He settled first in New Haven. He was one of the Seven Pillars of the church of New Haven and took the oath of fidelity in 1644. He served as Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain of the New Haven trainband and was appointed to raise troops as a defense against the Dutch.

He built the first grist mill in New Haven colony which was purchased by the town on Jan. 3, 1659 for 100 pounds.

In 1645, he married Mary Tapp. They were the parents of ten children.

In 1660/1661, he moved from New Haven to Milford around the time that his father died, where he was given lot #41. He was a Lieutenant of the Milford militia and admitted to the Milford Church in 1669. The same year, he was on the list of freemen at Milford.

On November 1, 1670, he married Elizabeth Alsop, daughter of John & Temperance Alsop, the second marriage for both of them. His will was dated October 3, 1683 in Milford and probated June, 1683.

Find A Grave Memorial# 29788104

GEDCOM Note

Category: Milford, New Haven Colony

Biography ==William Fowler Jr was the son of William and Sarah Fowler, who emigrated from England to Boston, then New Haven Connecticut in 1637<ref name=Abbott/> <ref name=Fowler />

Before 1645, he married Mary Tapp, daughter of Edmund and Anna Tapp<ref name=Abbott /> <ref name=MilfordVR/> <ref>Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 Volume 1, page 572 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015, which states: FOWLER, William(-1683) & 1/wf Mary [TAPP]; 1645 or before; Milford, CT {Reg. 11:248,106:147; Milford VR 156; Holbrook Anc. (1942) 141; Putnam's Mag. 5:299; Beard (1915) 11; Baldwin 83; Fowler 13; Flagg Anc. 246; Paul Anc. 84-5; New Haven Gen. Mag. 3:622; TAG 9:103</ref>
About 1660, the family moved from New Haven to Milford<ref name=Fowler/> On 1 November 1670, he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Alsop) Baldwin, widow of Richard Baldwin<ref name=Abbott /> <ref name=MilfordVR/> <ref>Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 Volume 1, page 572 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015, which states: FOWLER, William (-1683) & 2/wf Elizabeth (ALSOP) BALDWIN, w Richard; 1 Nov 1670; Milford, CT {Ackley-Bosworth 189; Milford VR 72; Johnson (,1) 200; New Haven Gen. Mag. 3:622; Bryan 19; Hinckley Anc. 14; Fowler 13; Nichols (,3) 45; Fairfield Fam. 1:488; TAG 9:169; Sv 1:109; Baldwin 83</ref>

1683 died in Milford<ref name=Abbott /> Captain William Fowler was an important man in the founding of Milford. He was one of the seven pillars of the church, a judge, and in 1643 a deputy to the general court.<ref name=Abbott /> He was one of the Seven Pillars of the church of New Haven and took the oath of fidelity in 1644. He served as Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain of the New Haven trainband and was appointed to raise troops as a defense against the Dutch. He built the first grist mill in New Haven colony which was purchased by the town on Jan. 3, 1659 for 100 pounds.In 1660/1661, he moved from New Haven to Milford around the time thathis father died, where he was given lot #41. He was a Lieutenant of the Milford militia and admitted to the Milford Church in 1669. The same year, he was on the list of freemen at Milford.<ref name=grave>29788104</ref>

Children ===:Children of William and Mary (Tapp) Fowler:<ref name=Abbott>Abbott, Susan Woodruff. Families of Early Milford, Connecticut. Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979. Page 280-281.</ref><ref name=Fowler>Fowler, Daniel W. Descendants of Capt. William Fowler, New Haven, Connecticut. Milwaukee, WI: Starr & Son, 1870. Page 13-14.</ref> <ref name=MilfordVR>Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), Volume Milford, page 70 1630-1870 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928, which lists under FOWLER, FFOWLER, FOWER:

• on page 70 Abigail, d. William Jr., b. Nov. 27, 1660*on page 71 Deborah, d. Capt. W[illia]m, decd., m. Jesse Lambert, May 10, 1683, and*Hannah, d. Sergt. William, m. Daniel Buckingham, Nov. 21, 1661, by Matthew Gilbert, Dept. Gov.
• on page 72 Marcy, d. Lieut. William, b. Apr. 1, 1669, and*Mary, mother of Deborah and w. of William, was d. of Edmund & Anne Tapp and sister of Jane (Tapp) Treat, and
• Mercy, d. Lieut. [ ], b. Apr. 1, 1669; m. John Betts, of Lebanon*Sarah, d. Lieut. William, m. John Smith, blacksmith, b. of Milford,July 19, 1665, by Mr. Ffenn, Magestrate and
• William, s. Lieut William, b. [ ], 1664, and*William, Lieut. Widower, m. Elizabeth Baldwin, wid., Nov. 1, 1670, by John Clarke, Commissioner
• on page 73 William, 2d Capt., 1677
• William, Capt., s. William, [m.] Mary Tapp, d. Edmund & Anne, [ </ref>

1. Fowler-2539|Sarah, b. ca 1645, m. 19 July 1665 John Smith, d. 22January 1693/4<ref name=MilfordVR/>
2. Joseph, bapt. 1 July 1649# Fowler-493|Hannah, m. 21 November 1661 Daniel Buckingham<ref name=MilfordVR/>
3. John, bapt. March 1649, m. Sarah Welch
4. Jonathan, b. 8 February 1650/1, m. Elizabeth Reynolds
5. Mark, bapt. 17 January 1655, m. Mary _______, d. 1686# Fowler-3528|Deborah, bapt. 4 March 1658, m. 10 May 1688 Jesse Lambert<ref name=MilfordVR/># Abigail, b. 27 November 1660<ref name=MilfordVR/>, m. 1685 John Elderkin, d. March 1713
6. Fowler-2676|William, b. 1664<ref name=MilfordVR/>
7. Mary, d. 1685 unmarried
8. Mercy, b. 1 April 1669, m. John Betts (Bills?)<ref name=MilfordVR/>

Sources

<references />

See also ===* Colonial Connecticut Records, 1636 - 1776 (http://www.colonialct.uconn.edu/). "Willm Fowler is established Lieutent for and to ye Train Band at Milford." 11 May 1671.

• Colonial Connecticut Records, 1636 - 1776. "Deputies.. For Milford; Lt. Wm. Fowler, Mr. George Clark." 7 Aug 1673.
• Colonial Connecticut Records, 1636 - 1776. "... Councell of Warr in this Colony..." 26 Nov 1673.
• Orcutt, Samuel. Space:The History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880|The History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880 (Springfield Printing Company, Springfield, Mass., 1880) Reprint: Bowie, Maryland, Heritage Books, Inc., 1998, p. 693, 759.
• Rev. F. W. Chapman, The Buckingham Family; or the Descendants of Thomas Buckingham, One of the First Settlers of Milford, Conn. (Hartford,CT, Press of Case, Lockwood and Brainard, 1872), p. 14.
• Baldwin, John D. (1880). A Record of the descendants of John Baldwinof Stonington, Conn.: with notice of other Baldwins who settled in America in early colony times. Printed by Tyler and Seagrave, Worcester,Mass. (pg 10
• Cleveland, Edmund. Space:The Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families|The Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families (Hartford, Conn., 1899) Volume I, Pages931-932 (Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Co. Hartford 1899). Note: E.J. Cleveland's account skips a generation between Capt. William Fowlerand Jonathan Fowler (m. to Hannah Clark), but confirms birth of Capt.William Fowler in England and that his father was Hon. William Fowler.

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