Dr. Daniel Porter

Dr. Daniel Porter had a son and grandson, both named Daniel, who were doctors. His sons Samuel and Richard were also doctors.

Dr. Daniel Porter, immigrant ancestor, the "bonesetter of Farmington", was early in the Colony. In March, 1644-5, he was fined by the "Particular Court" 40 shillings for an offense against the rights of property.. By the General Court in 1654 he was made surgeon general for the Colony, and was licensed to practice physics and "chirurgery".

His salary "for his encouragement in attending the services of the country" was increased in 1671 from 6 pounds to 12 pounds a year, and he was advised to "instruct some meet person in his art". (Anderson's History of Waterbury, Vol. Ill, p. 832).

He evidently practiced the suggestion of the general Court, for several of his sons were physicians. He was required to visit the sick in Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield and occasionally in Middletown.

In 1668 he was "freed from watching, warding and tryneinge", and in 1669 had a special grant of 100 A. for his services. Though not on the list of freemen in 1669, he was one of the 84 proprietors of Farmington in 1672. He died in 1690.

His wife was Mary, and they were probably married about 1651/2, since his eldest child, Daniel, was born in 1653. They had seven children, of whom Richard, born 24 Mar. 1658, was the fourth.

"Because Dr. Daniel Porter died near the end of the administration of Sir Edmond Andros, he left no will nor inventory to shed light on his character and surroundings. In August, 1688, he provided for his children by deed to avoid making a will under Andros' administration. Scarcely anyone at that time left estate or will to enrich the royal governor with probate fees. They divided their accumulations while living - a desirable course in many ways." Julius Gay in The Farmington Magazine. Vol. II. p. 2. (NEB genealogy)

1688: Daniel Porter’s deed of gift

(Punctuation and bold font added)

From A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.
1687 to 1695. Page 57 Name: Daniel Porter, Sen. Location: Farmington

A Deed of Gift in lieu of a Will, dated 15 August, 1688:

• To all Christian People to whome it may concerne:
• Know ye that I Daniel Porter sen. of Farmington, in the County of Hartford, in New England, for and in Consideration of my natural Love & Affection to my beloved wife & Children, & for other good Cause thereunto me moving, have given, granted, assigned, set over & confirmed, and do by these presents give, grant, assign, set over & confirm, fully, wholy, clearly, & unto them in manner as followeth:
• Item. I give unto my wife Mary Porter all my Household Goods & one Cow, the use of the longer rooms in my Dwelling house and a comfortable maintenance here provided for her by my sons John and Samuel Porter, during her Widowhood.
• I give my daughter Anna my heifer with a Calf, also some other Cow, to be wintered and summered for her by my sons John & Samuel Porter during the time of her single state; also a peice of Land, unless my sons see Cause to pay her the sum of œ10.
• I give to my son Daniel Porter my Woodlott lying against Wethersfield Bounds.
• Unto my sons Daniel and Richard Porter I give my Farme lying part in Wallingford, butting upon Farmington on the North, 60 acres of it to Daniel Porter & 40 acres to Richard Porter.
• To my son Nehemiah Porter I give my 20 acres of Land in the Great Swamp, also my Division of Land adjacent to the Great Swamp.
• I give to my son John Porter the Land which I bought of Thomas Richeson, both Swamp & Upland.
• I give to my daughter my Lands lyeing in or by the Great Swamp which I received by an Exchange for other Lands with Joseph Woodford, all which parcels of Land aforementioned lyeing within the Township of Farmington except the forementioned Farme.
• To my sons John & Samuel Porter I doe give my Dwelling house & Outhouses, Barn, Orchard & Homelott in Farmington, and also my Lands in Farmington Meadow, and all my Land at the Long Swamp, and all my Pasture Land lying in the Mill Swamp, also all my Land at the Great Pond;
• & also I give unto my sons John & Samuel Porter all my Personal Estate except what was given before to my wife and my daughter Anna, as all my Cattle, Horses, Sheep & Swine, as also all my Tools & all the Implements belonging to my teame and Husbandry, the forementioned John & Samuel Porter receiveing and paying all my Just Debts and providing for their Mother according to what is before mentioned.
• The remainder of my Land lying in the Township of Farmingtown I give to my Children, Daniel, Nehemiah, Richard, John, Samuel & Anne Porter.
• Witness: John Stanly sen., John Hooker.
• Daniel X Porter. Ls.
• Court Record, Page 14--9 April, 1690: The son of Daniel Porter, Bonesetter, of Farmington, presented a Deed of Gift whereby his Father disposed of his Estate. Approved as his Will & Deed.

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References

1. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the ..., Volume 4. edited by William Richard Cutter. Page 1584.