Captain Thomas Hart

Ecclesiastical and Other Sketches of Southington, Conn by Heman Rowlee Timlow, pp. cxxvi-cxxvii

"THOMAS HART, third son and youngest child of Deacon Stephen of Cambridge, Mass, and Hartford and Farmington, Conn., b. 1643; m. Ruth, daughter of Anthony Hawkins, of Farmington; b. Oct. 24, 1649, at Windsor, Conn. This Anthony Hawkins was a distinguished man in Farmington; and his wife was the daughter of Governor Wells, of Connecticut. Mr. Hart inherited a portion of his father's homestead, opposite the meeting-house. He was made a freeman by the General Court, at their May session, 1664, and is on the list of freemen of Farmington, Oct 12, 1669; confirmed ensign of Farmington trainband by the General Court, May session, 1678; lieutenant in 1693, and was deputy to the General Court, the same year; was captain May, 1695, and was appointed on a committee "To return the Thanks of the Court to the Rev. Mr. Samuel Hooker for his great paynes in preaching the Election Sermon, and that they desire him to grant a copy thereof to be disposed and improved by the General Court for the people's good." He was also deputy from Farmington in 1690-1706, excepting three years, and was chosen speaker of the General Court in 1700, 1704, 1705, and 1706. At the General Court, October session, 1700, "This Court doth allow unto Capt. Thos. Hart, Speaker, thirtie Shillings in pay for his conduct in the General Court in May last;" and at their October session, 1704, it was voted that "This Court allows to Capt. Thomas Hart five and thirtee Shillings in pay as Speaker this session;" and at their October session, 1705, it was voted that "This Assembly doth allow to Capt. Thos. Hart, Speaker, Thirtee Shillings for his conduct this session;" also at their May session, 1706, it was voted "That this Court grants unto Thos. Hart, Speaker, Thirtee Shillings." He was appointed commissioner for Farmington by the General Court, and Justice for Hartford County for several years. He was member of the Council in 1697. At the October session, 1699, the General Court appointed Captain Thomas Hart and others a committee "to take care of the countries interest in the undivided lands, and to indevour the preventing and detecting all illegall trading with the natives for land, and to implead such persons as have trespassed upon the countries land by intrusion." By a vote at the May session, 1700, he and others were continued on the same committee. In May, 1701, he was appointed a committee for a similar purpose and object. In Oct., 1702, he was appointed a committee to settle a line between Connecticut and Rhode Island. At the same session he was appointed on a committee "to draw a Bill to prevent disorders in Retailers of strong drinke and excessive drinking, and to prepare a Bill to put in execution the reformation Lawes." "He was a man of wealth, activity, and usefulness. He and John Hooker were the two prominent men of the town, and conspicuous in the colony. They were the justices of the peace, filled the more important town offices, and executed important public trusts." His wife died Oct. 9, 1724, aged 75 years. Captain Hart died Aug. 27, 1726, in his 83d year, and was buried with military honors. His will was dated 1721, in which he makes his sons, Thomas and John, executors; and left a large estate -- about 2,000 acres."

Probate Records, Hartford Dist., v. XII, p. 79-81. HART, Thomas, Sen., Farmington. Invt. in lands, £295-00-00. Taken 7 September, 1726, by Isaac Cowles and John Hart.

Will dated 24 July, 1721: To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know ye that I, Thomas Hart, Sen., of the Town of Farmingtown, now in the 76th or 77th year of my age, do make this my last will and testament: I give to my beloved wife Ruth Hart the free use, benefit and improvement of all the rooms in my dwelling house and cellar that we now are in possession of, during the time of her natural life; also ye use of the garden that we have and as we now possess them, and 1-3 of the use and benefit of ye orchard and fruit therein, during the time of her natural life; also I give unto my wife 1-4 part of all my household goods, and to dispose of it as she shall see cause among her children, as by a writing given her will show; also I give to my wife a cow; also I give her £6 as money yearly, to be paid unto her by my executor out of my estate for her comfort and support during the time of her widowhood. I give unto my son Howkins Hart, besides what I have given him and his eldest son in deeds of gifts already, all my reed-makeing tools, great table and joynt stools which he has already in his hands. I give my two sons Thomas Hart and Hezekiah Hart all my right in lands that have fallen unto me within the limits of ye Great Swamp Society and that should or shall accrue by virtue of the same. Also I give unto them my own proper original lott or division of land against Wethersfield, only reserveing out of ye lott against Wethersfield 10 acres, which 10 acres of land I give unto my grandson Ebenezer Hart, and 11 acres that I bought of Nathaniel Wadsworth, which I give unto my grandson Hezekiah's eldest son, which lands to be possessed by these my grandsons when they shall attain unto lawful age. The remainder of sd. lands to be equally divided between them or as they shall agree. I give to my son John Hart, besides what I have already given him, all the right, title, claim or interest in property that I have, might, should or ought to have in the 300 acres of land granted by the General Assembly unto Mr. Anthony Howkins, being laid out within the Township of Middletown, as may be seen by their Book of Records. I give unto my grandson William Hart the remainder of my lott in the Middle Tier of the South Division. I give unto my son Josiah Hart the Corn Mill at ye lower end of my home lott with all its appurtenances, and the remaining part of my homelott that I have not given by deed of gift heretofore; all my rights in land at the Farm and the Great Meadow and in the Indian Neck, excepting 10 acres of land at the Farm, for quality with the rest, which I give unto his son Thomas Hart. I give to my son Josiah 11 acres of land at the Third Meadow and my 10-acre pasture beyond the Round Swamp; also I give him my lott on the east side of the river against Town, and my part of my Father Howkins's, and my six-acre grant at the north end of the Dead Swamp; also all my right in that lott of my hond. Father Howkins against Wethersfield bounds, and ye lott that I bought of Thomas Porter, tailor, against Wethersfield bounds; also the 1-2 of the lott of my hond. Father Hart's on the west side of the river against Nodd, and my long table and 2 joynt stools, and my trunk in which I kept my righting, allowing unto my beloved wife the use of them during life (excepting the trunk); also I give him my right or part of Richard (negro servant) on these conditions, that he my son Josiah Hart maintain for my beloved wife, so long as she bears my name, a cow and necessary firewood; also 2 joynt stools and small table in the chamber, and all my land at the Bass River. I give unto my two daughters, Mary Newell and Margaret Strong, £5 apiece each of them, as money. And I give unto their two eldest sons, my two grandsons, Samuel Newell and Israel Strong, my own proper original lott in the North Division of land on the west side of the river against Nod. I give to my five sons, Howkins Hart, Thomas Hart, John Hart, Hezekiah Hart and Josiah Hart, all the remaining part of my estate, to be equally divided among them, excepting 15 acres of land at the west end of my lott in the West Division and westermost range or tier of lotts, it being in the 6th tier of lotts, which I give unto Richard (negro) our servant, to be his own free and clear after he has finished his service according to the wrighting my son gave him, excepting my sons shall see cause to lay out unto him 15 acres in some other division of land, which 15 acres is for his encouragement if he tarry in the Town and improve it; but if he shall, after his time is out according unto his agreement with my son Josiah Hart, leave the Town, then to return to my sons. I appoint my two sons, Thomas Hart and Josiah Hart, sole executors.

Witness: John Hart, Jr., Thomas Hart, Sen., LS.

               Timothy Porter, Sen., David Bull.

Court Record, Page 136 -- 4 October, 1726: Will proven.

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pg 473 of the book mentions Thomas Hart

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