Eleazer Bishop

Tradition has it that in the year 1692, there came from the Channel Isles to New London , Connecticut, a lad named Eleazar {Eleaser} Bishop {Bischopp}. Two stories have come to us regarding his coming.

First:

The lad, Eleazer, at about the age of seven years, was playing by the shore of the Isle of Guernsey or Jersey (as both islands are mentioned in the narrative) with a large handsome dog. It was probably a seaport and he was playing near the wharf when the Captain of a British ship which had called there, saw the dog and was so determined to secure it that he sent men ashore with instructions to bring the dog aboard under any circumstances. The boy refused to be parted with his companion and so both dog and boy were brought on board the ship which was bound for America. Before the long voyage across the Atlantic had ended the ship's crew had so won the affection of the dog, that it was willing to remain on board and as the Captain had no further use for the boy, whom he had kidnapped, he determined to dispose of him at the first opportunity. Arriving at the port of New London, he was able to attain his purpose and dispose of the lad to one Richard Dart, a tailor of New London, who paid for the boyâs passage by giving the captain a yoke of oxen.

Second:

Eleazer ran away from his home in the Isle of Jersey, was a stowaway on a British ship bound for America, and at the age of fourteen found himself in New London in the home of Richard Dart, who took the boy as his own and brough him up in his own family. It is recorded that two companions of Eleazer Bishop, one, Deshon, and the other, John Eharpe, were brought by a British Ship to New London, Conn., and a wealthy farmer, Richard Dart, paid for young Bishopâs passage as recorded above.

At seven years of age, together with two other boys named Deshon and Sharp, Eleazer was kidnapped off the Isle of Jersey by an English ship and brought to New London, Conn., about the year 1676. A rich farmer named Richard Dart, living four miles from New London, paid the shipmaster a yoke of oxen for young Bishop's passage and took him home; he lived with Dart until he married Dart's daughter, June 22, 1704. Dart gave him several hundred acres of land, all wild; he commenced clearing and built a house. Under him were born seven sons and two daughters.

1722 “July 8th Eleazer Bishop and his wife had their children baptized, Peter, John, Samuel, Clement, Mary, Sarah” at the First Church of Christ, New London, Connecticut. [1] 1723 “Aug. 4th Eleazer Bishop’s child Nicholas” was baptized at the First Church of Christ, New London, Connecticut. [2]

1726 “June 26th Eleazer Bishop’s child Eleazer” was baptized at the First Church of Christ, New London, Connecticut. [3]

1754 Eleazar Bishop wrote his will on 29 August. “In the Name of God Amen this 29th Day of August A.D. 1754, I Eleazar Bishop of New London in the County of New London in the Colony of Connecticut being Advanced in year but Thry Gods Goodness of Sound minde and memory and calling to mind my Mortality and Knowing that it is appointed for all men Once to die therefore do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following. First and princepally I Give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that have it beseeching him for the Merritts Sake of my Redeemer Jesus Christ to forgive me all my Sins and to Receive me into his Heavenly Kingdom my body I Commit to the Earth to be buried in Decent Christian Burial beleaving in the General Resurrection at the Last Day. And as touching the worldly Goods and Estates wherewith God hath Blest me in this life I Give devise and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner and Form. First I will that all my Just Debts and funeral Expenses be well and Truly paid for by my Executors hereafter named. Item I give and bequeath unto my younest son Eleazar Bishop all my Homestead Lands Buildings &c to him his heirs & assigns forever on condition that my said son pay unto my son John Bishop the sum of One Hundred Pounds old Ten’r Bills of Credit and also that he pay unto my Daughter Sarah Shaw the Sum of Sixty pounds old Tenor Bills of Credit in one year after my Decease. Item I Give and Bequeath unto my son Nicholas Bishop all that my Houseing and Lands at and adjoining to Lakes Pond which I purchased of my son John Bishop by way of Exchange however the Same as abutted and bounded or Reputed to be bounded to him my Said Son Nicholas his heirs and assigns forever on condition that my side son pay unto his Brother my son Samuel Bishop the Sum of One Hundred pounds old Tenor Bills of Credit and also that he pay unto my two Grand Children (the Children of my son Clement deceased) the Sum of Sixty Pounds old Tenor Bills of Credit in one year after my Decease. It. I Give and Bequeath unto my Son John Bishop the sum of One Hundred Pounds old Tenor bills of Credit which in this my Will I have ordered my son Eleazar to pay him which with which what I have already done and paid for my said son is in full of his Portion of my Estates. It. I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Shaw the Sum of Sixty Pounds old Tenor Bills of Credit which in this my Will I have ordered my son Eleazar to pay her which with what I have already Done and Given unto my said Daughter is her full Portion of my Estate. It. I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Samuel Bishop the Sum of One Hundred Pounds old Tenor Bills of Credit which in this my last Will I have ordered my son Nicholas Bishop to pay to mu Said Son Samuel which with what I have already Given and Done for my Said Son Samuel is his full Portion of mu Estate. It. I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Mary Forsyth the Sum of Twenty Shilling old Tenor Bills of Credit which with what I have already paid and Given my said Daughter is her full Portion of my Estate. It. I Give and Bequeath unto my two Grand Children (the children of my son Clement Deceased) the Sum of Sixty Pounds old Tenor Bills of Credit to be Equally divided between them If they both live to Grow up and are of age and If Either of them Should die before they arrive to the Age of twenty one without Lawfull Isue then I give the whole sum to the Survivor being the sum which I have in this my Will ordered my son Nicholas to pay them. It. I Give and Bequeath unto my Loving Wife Sarah one Third part of the profits of my Homestead farm and of my Farme which I have given to my son Nocholas dureing the Term of her Natural Life as also one Good Cow which she shall Choose and a half a score of Sheep, and as much of my Indore Houshold Stuff as she shall want to keep house with. It. All the Rest of my Estate whatsoever If any should Remain I Give and Bequeath to be Equally divided into five Equal parts one of which I Give unto my son John one of which I Give unto my son Samuel on of which I Give unto my Daughter Sarah one of which I Give unto my Daughter Mary and the other unto my two Grand Children (the Children of my son Clement dec’d). And lastly I do Nominate and appoint my Good Friend Pygan Adams Esq’r Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament golding this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal the Day and Year first above written. Eleazar Bishop (his mark) Signed Sealed Published and declared by the Said Eleazr Bishop to be his Last Will & Testament In presence of John Richards, Abigail Richards, John Richards Jun’r” [4]

1755 September 3 Eleazer Bishop died. Joshua Hempstead reported his death and burial in his diary, “Thursd 4th fair … old Eleazer Bishop was buryed. Died yesterday aged 70 odd.” [5]

Research Notes:

There are two stories commonly reported about the origin of Eleazer Bishop. In her notes, Evelyn Miles Krase, wrote, "Eleazer Bishop or Bischoppe came from Jersey or Guernsey in 1690. Story I: Eleazer aged 7 playing on shore with handsome dog. A passing British ship's captain sent men ashore to secure dog. Boy refused to be separated from his companion so both boy and dog were taken aboard. In America captain disposed of boy to Richard Dart, a tailor of New London who paid for the boy's passage by giving a yoke of oxen. Story II: stowaway on American bound ship and at 14 arrived in New London." [6] Evelyn also stated Eleazer's birth date as 6-22-1683.

Tangled Roots provides the following account of the two stories, “Tradition has it that in the year 1692 there came from the Channel Islands to New London, Connecticut, a lad named Eleazar Bischoppe. Two stories have come to us regarding his coming. First: The lad Eleazar, at about the age of seven years, was playing by the shore of the Guernsey, (or Jersey, for both places are spoke of) with a large handsome dog. It was presumably a seaport, and he was playing near the wharf, when the captaind of a British ship which had called there, saw the dog, and was so determined to secure it that he sent men ashore with instructions to bring the dog aboard under any circumstances. The lad refused to part with his companion, and so both dog and boy were brought on board the ship, which was bound for America. Before the long voyage across the Atlantic had ended, the ship’s crew had so far won the affections of the dog that it was willing to remain of board, and as the captain had no further use for the boy, whom he had kidnapped, he was determined to dispose of him at the first opportunity. Arriving in the port at New London, Connecticut, he was able to attain his purpose, and disposed of the boy to one Richard Dart, a tailor of New London, who paid for the boy’s passage by giving the captain a yoke of oxen. Second: Eleazar ran away from home in the Island of Jersey, was a stow-away on an America bound Brithish ship, and at the age of fourteen found himself in New London, in the home of Ricard Dart. Dart, a wealthy farmer, had paid for young Bishop’s passage, took the boy as his own and brought him up with his family. Some years later, Eleazar married Richard Dart’s daughter, Sarah. It is recorded that two companions of Eleazar Bishop, one Deshon and the other John Sharpe, were brought by a British ship to New London CT. A wealthy farmer, Ricard Dart, paid." [7] Tangled Roots also reports that following information about the Bishop family of Jersey, “In correspondence with Mr. Murray LeMasurier of Toronto, a descendant of Antoine Bishop of the Isle of Jersey in the Channel Islands, he relates that he has researched the Bishop Family in Jersey and was assisted by Dr. Frank LeMaistre, Jersey’s foremost genealogist. Dr. LeMaistre indicates that Antoine and Eleazar were brothers, the sons of Anthone Bishop, and that they had come with their father, (and perhaps others) from England to Jersey in the Channel Islands. Antoine was evidently born circa 1677.” [8]

Footnotes: [1] S. Leroy Blake, The Later History of the First Church of Christ, New London, Conn. (New London: The Day Publishing Company, 1900), 484, [Archive-Link], [Archive-Catalog].

[2] S. Leroy Blake, The Later History of the First Church of Christ, New London, Conn. (New London: The Day Publishing Company, 1900), 485, [Archive-Link], [Archive-Catalog].

[3] S. Leroy Blake, The Later History of the First Church of Christ, New London, Conn. (New London: The Day Publishing Company, 1900), 488, [Archive-Link], [Archive-Catalog].

[4] Genealogical Committee of the Bishop Family Association, Tangled Roots: Descendants of John Bishop (1709-1785) of Horton, Nova Scotia, a New England Planter, vol. 1, Colonel John BIshop (1736-1815) (Wolfville, Nova Scotia: Genealogical Committee of the Bishop Family Association, 1990), xiii-xiv, [Link].

[5] Diary of Joshua Hempstead of New London, Connecticut (Collections of the New London County Historical Society, vol. 1, 1901), 655, [Link].

[6] Evelyn Miles Krase notes, bef. 17 May 1973

[7] Genealogical Committee of the Bishop Family Association, Tangled Roots: Descendants of John Bishop (1709-1785) of Horton, Nova Scotia, a New England Planter, vol. 1, Colonel John BIshop (1736-1815) (Wolfville, Nova Scotia: Genealogical Committee of the Bishop Family Association, 1990), xi, [Link].

[8] Genealogical Committee of the Bishop Family Association, Tangled Roots: Descendants of John Bishop (1709-1785) of Horton, Nova Scotia, a New England Planter, vol. 1, Colonel John BIshop (1736-1815) (Wolfville, Nova Scotia: Genealogical Committee of the Bishop Family Association, 1990), xi, [Link].

Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy 2013/08/18

The story of Eleazar Bishop Anc15EleazarBishopReport.jpg

Eleazar Bishop may or may not have been born in Jersey in 1683 but there is a lovely story suggesting that at the age of seven, he and his dog, together with two friends, were kidnapped from a beach in the island and ended up in the United States.

Newspaper report Like many such family legends, the truth is more than a little difficult to discover. One of the earliest surviving reports, in The Day, a New London, Connecticut, newspaper of 25 November 1891, relates to a gathering of the Bishop family, to celebrate the wedding anniversary of Gilbert Bishop and his wife. The eldest member of the family, John Bishop, is supposed to have read details of the family’s history. However, the date the newspaper report gives for the ‘kidnap’ is 1676, seven years before Eleazar was born – not seven years after.

Eleazar’s companions on the day of the kidnap were named as Debson and Sharpe, and it is said that the captain of a vessel passing the island spotted Eleazar’s dog and instructed the crew to capture it. Eleazar was not letting the dog go and ended up on the ship as well, together, apparently, with his two friends.

A family record relates what happened next:

” The story goes like this:In 1676, Eleazar, at age 7, was playing on the beach on the Isle of Jersey, with his dog when the captain of an English ship noticed them and decided he wanted the dog. He told his mate to get the dog; the mate had to kidnap young Eleazar to get the dog. During the voyage to America, the dog became attached to the crew but not so Eleazar. When the ship landed in New London, CT, the captain had to get rid of Eleazar so he sold him to Richard Dart for a yoke of oxen. Richard and his wife brought Eleazar into their home and raised him as one of the family. Eleazar Married their daughter, Sarah.” English birth? Although confirming the basic details, another family record suggests that Eleazar may not have been born in Jersey:

“Anthony Bishop emigrated from England to the Jersey in the Channel Islands with his two boys, Antoine and Eleaser. All three are reported to have been born in England.”

An online genealogy of the family, quoting from a 1990 book Tangled Roots: Descendants of John Bishop (1709-1785|) of Horton, Nova Scotia: A New England Planter Family by W E Boggs, records that Anthony Bishop and his sons Antoine and Eleazar moved to Jersey from England between 1683 and 1692:

” Eleazar was born in 1683 in England. He traveled to the Isle of Jersey in the Channel Islands with his father. In 1692, Eleazar was either kidnapped or stowed away on a ship bound for America. Upon arrival in New London, CT, Richard Dart, a tailor and wealthy farmer, paid for his passage with a yoke of oxen. He was raised as one of Richard Dart's family. Eleazar later married his benefactor's daughter, Sarah. ”Eleazar Bishop and his wife received several hundred acres of wild, uncleared land from her father. Eleazar was an industrious worker and a successful wheelwright and farmer. He died 3 Sep. 1755 and provided well for his wife who survived him. They had 9 children.” One of these children was John Bishop (1709- ) who moved from Connecticut to Nova Scotia between 1758 and 1768 as one of the ‘New England Planters’.

”Since John had inherited a sizable sum from his father, he was among the more well-to-do. They arrived with provisions for a year and enough stock for a good farm. Their land was in Greenwich, Township of Horton. The land had already been cleared and improved by the Acadians. It included houses, cellars, apple trees and parts of the dykes. John constructed a gristmill on the site. John died on 28 October 1785 at Greenwich and is buried at the Old Wolfville Cemetery. Hannah died after 17 October 1778.”

1 Anthony Bishop (1650-1721) b England, d Jersey m Sarah Wilcox (1637- ) 2 Anthoine Bishop (1677- ) 2 Eleazar Bishop (1683-1755) emigrated to Connecticut, US m (1704) Sarah Dart (1681-1755) d of Richard, s of Richard, s of Richard (of Devon) and Bethia (1639-1726) 3 Eleazar Bishop (1705-1720) 3 Timothy Bishop (1705-1720) 3 Peter Bishop (1706-1754) 3 John Bishop (1709-1785) moved from Connecticut to Nova Scotia m Rebeca Whipple (1711-1751) m 1 (1750 ) Susanne Whipple (1731-1772) 4 John Bishop (1731-1815) m (1751) Mary Forsyth (1722-1808) 5 Amelia Bishop (1754-1846) 5 Hannah Bishop (1756-1810) 5 Charles Bishop (1758-1816) 5 Joab Bishop (1764- ) 5 John Bishop (1766-1797) 4 William Bishop (1732-1815) 4 Peter Bishop (1735-1825)m 1 Elizabeth Godfrey (1735-1762) 5 Simeon Bishop (1755- 5 Elizabeth Bishop (1757- ) 5 Lemuel Bishop (1758- ) 5 William Bishop (1759-1833) 2nd wife of Peter Bishop (1763) Phebe Hamilton (1737-1831) 5 Amy Bishop 5 Nancy Bishop 5 Peter Bishop (1763-1848) m (1790) Ann Bowles (1771-1851) 6 Hannah Bishop 6 Carolina Bishop (1787- ) 6 Orlando Bishop (1801- ) 6 Leander Bishop (1813-1888) 5 Jonathan Bishop (1764- ) 5 John Bishop (1766-1866) 5 Hannah Bishop (1768-1856) 5 Eliphal Bishop (1770- ) 5 Phebe Bishop (1773-1816) 5 Jeremiah Bishop (1775-1856) m (1796) Keziah Coldwell (1771- ) 6 Colin Bishop 6 Elizabeth Bishop (1798-1886) 6 Horatio Bishop (1800-1892) 6 Clarissa Bishop (1802-1887) 6 Ebenezer Bishop (1805-1885) m (1836) Mary Gertridge (1819-1889) 7 Burton Brightman Bishop (1837-1909) 7 Freeman Byard Bishop (1838-1899) 7 Emmeline Amelia Bishop (1840-1913) 7 Mary Eliza Bishop (1842-1874) 7 Sophia Ann Bishop (1844-1888) 7 John Ingalls Bishop (1846- ) 7 William Aubrey Bishop (1848-1909) 7 Ida Maria Bishop (1850- ) 7 George Adolphus Bishop (1852-1858) 7 Leigh Spurgeion Bishop (1857-1861) 7 Price Leverett Bishop (1859- ) 6 Aaron Bishop (1808-1889) m (1834) Rebecca Gertridge (1817-1882) 7 George Calvin Bishop (1835- ) 7 Eliza Jane Bishop (1837-1871) 7 Edward Newton Bishop (1839-1924) 7 John Edwin Bishop (1841- ) 7 Hannah Mariah Bishop (1843- ) 7 Lenly Watson Bishop (1845- ) 7 Malina Amelia Bishop (1848-1910) 7 Sophronia Delight Bishop (1851- ) 7 Otis Oscar Bishop (1853-1918) m (1872) Harriet Amelia Witter (1843-1874) 8 Leslie ELdridge Bishop (1874-1896) 7 Annie Laura Bishop (1856-1931) 7 Leonora Amanda Bishop (1859-1881) 6 Harriet Bishop (1811-1875) 6 Mary Bishop (1820- ) 5 Eleazar Bishop (1777-1865) m (1803) Hannah Curry (1783-1847) 6 Enoch Bishop (1803-1857) m (1837) Rebecca Randall (1816-1891) 6 Eleazar Bishop (1823- ) 5 Esther Bishop (1779-1840) 5 James Bishop (1786-1856) m (1813) Lydia Martin (1794-1859) 6 Alice Bishop 6 Amanda Bishop 6 Elmira Bishop 6 Lydia Ann Bishop 6 Mary Louisa Bishop 6 Sarah Bishop 6 Theodore Harding Bishop (1830- ) 5 Harriet Bishop (1789-1863) 4 Timothy Bishop (1740-1827) m 1 (1762) Mercy Harding (1742-1783) 5 Abigail Bishop (1763- ) 5 Silas Bishop (1764-1856) m (1784) Anna Wells (1768- ) 6 Guy Bishop 6 Judah Wells Bishop 6 Silas Bishop 6 Orinda Bishop (1786-1851) 6 Mercy Ann Bishop (1810-1905) 5 Rebecca Bishop (1766-1858) 5 Eunice Bishop (1768- ) 5 Ezra Bishop (1770-1833) m Jerusha Newcombe (1774-1858) 5 Amy Bishop (1772-1819) 5 Timothy Bishop (1774-1850) m (1794) Eunice Coldwall (1773-1837) 6 Archibald Bishop 6 Daniel Bishop 6 Elijah Bishop 6 Eliphal Marie Bishop 6 Mercy Harding Bishop 6 Rebecca Bishop 6 Thomas Andrew Bishop 6 Levina Bishop (1794-1816) 5 Mary Bishop (1776- ) 5 Mercy Bishop (1776-1861) 5 Anna Bishop (1779-1867) 4 James Bishop (1742- ) 4 Temperance Bishop (1744- ) 2nd wife of John Bishop (1751) Hannah Allen (1712-1778) 4 Henry Allen Bishop m Irene Walcott 5 Edgar Allen Bishop (1861-1944) m (1886) Maybelle Estrella Slocum (1863-1943) 6 Ernest Walcott Bishop (1887- ) m (1913) Harriet Augusta Barnes (1886- ) 6 Ruth Mazell Bishop (1889-1936) 6 Chester Allen Bishop (1891-1931) 6 Harold Irving Bishop (1893- ) 6 Erle Gregory Bishop (1897- ) m (1918) Esther Jean Ware (1895- ) 6 Margaret Irene Bishop (1899- ) 3 George Bishop (1711- ) 3 Samuel Bishop (1712-1804) 3 Clement Bishop (1714-1747) 3 Sarah Bishop (1718-1833) 3 Mary Bishop (1720-1796) 3 Nicholas Bishop (1723-1780) 3 Eleazar Bishop (1726-1776) 4 Susanne Bishop (1751-1779) 4 Thomas Bishop (1752-1801) 4 Anne Bishop (1754-1833) 4 Simon Bishop (1757- ) 4 Rebecca Bishop (1759- ) 4 Hannah Bishop (1762- ) 4 Lydia Bishop (1764- ) 4 Eleazar Bishop (1766- ) 4 Mary Bishop (1768- ) 4 George Bishop (1770-1820) m (1794) Jane Burbidge (1776-1862) 5 Sarah Tritton Bishop (1794-1889) 5 James Burbidge Bishop (1797-1871) m (1827) Mary Flemming (1807-1879) 6 John Bishop (1828-1859) 6 George Bishop (1830- ) 6 James Bishop (1832-1913) m (1865) Sarah Flewelling (1849-1917) 7 Laura Bishop 7 Wallace Bishop ( -1921) 7 Ambrozine Bishop (1866-1918) 7 Melinda Bishop (1867- ) 7 Lillian May Bishop (1868-1934) 7 James Burbidge Bishop (1870-1957) 7 Charles Bishop (1873-1899) 7 Sarah Bishop (1875- ) 7 John Bishop (1879-1902) m (1902) Maggie Florence Fowler 8 Harold John Bishop (1903-1968) 8 Frederick Fowler Bishop (1906- ) 8 Elsie Marion Bishop (1909- ) 7 Dow Foster Bishop (1882-1954) 7 Wallace Bishop (1887-1921) 7 Blanche Bishop (1890- ) 7 Della Bishop (1890- ) 6 Burbidge Abel Bishop (1836-1900) 6 William Bishop (1839- ) 6 Elias Bishop (1842-1895) 6 Mary Bishop (1846- ) 6 Henry Abel Bishop (1849- ) 6 Jane Bishop (1851- ) 6 Isaac Bishop (1855- ) 5 Hannah Bishop (1799-1855) 5 George Nelson Bishop (1802-1867) 5 Henry Burbidge Bishop (1805-1885) 5 Mary Jane Bishop (1807-1901) 5 Rabecca Bishop (1809-1884) 5 Elias Bishop (1812-1897) 5 Eleazar Bishop (1815-1818) 5 John Bishop (1821-1911) 5 Burbidge Abel Bishop (1836-1900) 3 Joshua Bishop (1730- ) 4 John Bishop (1733-1815) m 2, Ruth Sheffield; 1 (1751) Mary Forsyth Avery (1723-1808) 5 Ann Bishop (1754-1846) 5 Hannah Bishop (1756-1810) 5 Charles Bishop (1758-1815) m (1777) Philandra Fitch (1764- ) 6 Robert Dixon Bishop (1778-1864) 6 Charles Bishop (1780- ) 6 Lydia Bishop (1785-1871) 6 Eunice Bishop (1794-1861) 6 Philandra Hannah Bishop (1799-1893) 5 John Bishop (1764-1798)