Elizabeth Curtis

Elizabeth Curtis is not proven as the daughter of John Hutchins & Maria Hutchins

Elizabeth

• “widow Curtiss”
• Born 1587 in Nazeing, Essex, England
• Died 4 Jun 1658 at about age 71 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut
• Parents: unknown
• Wife of John Curtis (abt 1577 - abt 1639) — married about 1610 [location unknown]. Seen as the son of William Curtis & Agnes.

Children of John Curtis and Elizabeth:

1. John Curtis Sr. died Dec. 2, 1707, ae about 96 y, at Stratford.[11] b. about 1611. Married Elizabeth.
2. Capt. William Curtis died Dec 21, 1702,[11] ae 84, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut. Estimates place his marriage about 1642, making a birth about 1611-1621. ??Died 1702 ae 84 is frequently seen. Is this a case of he was 84 or 84 was calculated from his supposed baptism? 84 is not in the death record. Married 1) Mary 2) Sarah Marvin
3. Thomas Curtis died before 1 Dec 1648. He married about 1646. so born about 1615-1625. Married Mary Lewen.

Notes

Elizabeth left England with her husband John and their two younger sons, William and Thomas, and arrived at Roxbury, Massachusetts. Their eldest son John Jr. had gone in 1635. The family left Roxbury either in the fall of 1639 or at the very latest, in the winter of that year, for Wethersfield, Connecticut. In March of 1640, the Widow Elizabeth (Hutchins) Curtis with her eldest son John and youngest son Thomas moved to Stratford, Connecticut. Records indicate that John Sr. died in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1639 and that it is the eldest son John who was amoung the earliest settlers of Stratford. Son John Jr. died in Stratford in 1707 in his 94th year.

In 1639 in Wethersfield, John Jr. "received" a home lot on the east side of High Street opposite the Common. "This record indicates that this John Curtis's father had died before any land had been granted at Wethersfield to him, and that his son John Jr. received this home-lot." (H.R.Stiles History of Ancient Wethersfield)

The English first made contact with the natives (the Pequot Indians) of Southern Connecticut in 1632. In 1634 a Pequot sachem was killed by Dutch traders and started a long series of events that culminated in the Pequot War of 1637. In the winter of 1634-1635 the English first established Pyquag (Wethersfield), and in 1636 the inhabitants of Watertown Massachusetts migrated to Wethersfield. As a result of the conflict between the English and the Pequot, in April 1937, the Pequot Indians attacked Wethersfield, destroying much property, killing nine English settlers, including three women, an taking two young girls as prisoners. This became the excuse for a full scale Massachusetts and Connecticut colonial war of extermination against the Pequots, terminating in the massacre Pequot's eastern fort on the Mystic River. This attack, which occurred while most of the Peqot men were away, resulted in the deaths of between 300 and 700 women children and old men. The defeats of the Indians in the Pequot War of 1637, and King Phillip's war of 1675, ensured that New England would remain English. (King Phillip or Metacom, was the son of Massasoit of the Pokanoket Wampanoags).

Mr. John and William Curtis and Mr. Joseph Hawley were from Roxbury. After Elizabeth's husband John Sr. died in 1639 at Wethersfield, Connecticut, she and her eldest son John Jr. and youngest son Thomas moved to Stratford Connecticut in 1639. These were the first principal gentlemen in the town and church of Stratford.' (Benjamin Trmbull's History of Connecticut 1789). C.G.1903 says "The Curtis family was from all account one of the most prominent of the first settlers of Stratford, and it has been claimed that they suggested naming the town after Stratford-on-Avon, England. That the name Curtiss was well known in Shakespear's town is shown by the fact that the poet used it as one of the characters in 'The Taming of the Shrew'".

The Widow Elizabeth has long been considered the earliest known descendant of the Stratford branch of the Curtiss family until "A Genealogy of the Curtiss-Curtis Family of Stratford, Conneticut" was published in 1953, in which new documentation of the husband of The Widow Elizabeth and his ancestors was presented. (The records of the parish register of the Church of Nazing; "Marriages: John Curtyce and Elizabeth Huchins April, 19, 1610".)

"I, the within named, Charles Arthur Hoppin, maintain that the mere fact of the names John and Elizabeth as parents of the three known sons, John, William, and Thomas, and the corresponding agreement of American records of the names and ages of the said sons, with their baptismal records at Nazing, England, and the 1635 embarkation record of the son John's agreement with the Nazing John's baptism, and the recorded presence of all five persons in New England promptly following the complete disappearance of them all in the records of Essex, England, CONSTITUTE, in themselves, and WITHOUT mentioning other evidences of a significant character confirmatory thereto, SUFFICIENT WARRANT for my affidavit, as above, whch affidavit, in its entirety I hereby reaffirm this 28th day of December 1935". Charles Arthur Hoppin.

GEDCOM Note

Category:Stratford, Connecticut

{Puritan Great Migration}

Disputed Origins

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-305176

It has been widely accepted that the widow Elizabeth Curtis of Stratford, mother of John, William and Thomas, was

• Elizabeth Hutchins who married John Curtyce 19 April 1610 in the parish of Nazeing, England[1] with children baptized there:
  • John Curtis baptized 26 Feb 1614/15[1]
  • William Curtis baptized 21 June 1618[1]
  • Thomas Curtis baptized 12 March 1619/20[1]

John Curtis, her husband, is in records in Nazing 1632-1638

• 1632 "by the hands of John Curtys and Richard Campe, customary tenants"[2]
• 1637 Taxed in Nazing six shillings in 1637, in the tax known as “Ship Money” [3]
• 1637 Several persons having refused to serve on a jury, others including John Curtis were to be assigned.[2]
• 12 Jan 1637/8 on a list of coppieholders and freeholders[2]
• 1637/8 on a list of tenants of the manor of Nazeing.[2]

A John Curteis was in of Roxbury, Massachusetts, June 1639, registered with 15 acres and 5 persons in his household. There are no other references to this John in Roxbury.[4] Note: William Curtis (1592 - 1672) a nephew of John Curtis had been living in Roxbury, since 1632.[5]
A John Curtis (presumably the son) was of Wethersfield 1639.[6][7]

Widow Elizabeth in Stratford: Subject of this biography.

A 2015 Article by Barry E Hinman. "Widow Elizabeth Curtis of Stratford, Connecticut," TAG Vol. 87, No. 4 (published December 2015), 299ff, points out that there is no absolute proof that the widow Elizabeth Curtis, was ever from Nazeing, that:

• The Nazing baptism and marriage records name no parents.
• Some of these baptismal records were assigned by Anderson (Great Migration) as children of William of Roxbury. See Footnote Discussion[8]
• There is nothing to prove that the John and Elizabeth who married in Nazeing were the immigrants to Massachusetts.

There is in Hotten's list a reference to Jo: Curtis, age 21, transported to Virginia, on the "Safety" 10 Aug 1635.[9] It gets mentioned, but should probably be ignored totally as it neither supports or disproves any scenario of this family. If it was John of Nazeing, he had plenty of time to return to England to join the family later in New England.

From the 1953 Supplement to A genealogy of the Curtiss-Curtis family of Stratford, Connecticut.

"Miss Curtis says: (Anyone can do that, but there is no actual proof). Mr. Hoppin says: (I, the within named, Charles Arthur Hoppin maintain that the mere fact of the names John and Elizabeth, as parents of the three known sons, John, William, and Thomas, and the corresponding agreement of American records of names and ages of the said sons, with their baptismal records at Nazing, England, and the 1635 embarkation record of his son John, John's agreement with the Nazing John's baptism and the recorded presence of all five persons In New England, promptly following the complete disappearance of them all in the records of Essex England, constitute, in themselves, and without mentioning other evidences of a significant character confirmatory thereto, sufficient warrant for my affidavit, as above, which affidavit, in its entirety I hereby reaffirm this 28 day December 16, 1935"[3]

Biography

The Widow Curtiss first appears in a list of Stratford property owners (c1650), with her two sons, John and William Curtiss. In a list of "Every man's fence in the old field with what numbers and the several rods." The Widow Curtiss had 2 rods 10 feet 2 inches of fence. John Curtise had 4 rods 10 feet.[10]

The births of her grandchildren were being recorded as early as 1642 in Stratford.[11]

Her lot was near or adjoining that of Rev. Adams Blakeman, who is believed to have come there from Wethersfield.

In her will, (see below), proved 4 Nov 1658 at Fairfield, CT, she mentions her three sons, John, William and Thomas. The mention of these three sons is the strongest evidence that the Widow Curtiss is the same woman who had sons John, William and Thomas baptized in Nazeing in the decade after 1610.

Death

Died: 4 June 1658 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. [12]
"1658 June 4, Elizabeth Curtiss dyed"

Burial:

Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA.

Will:[13]

• Summary: Not dated; proved on November 4, 1658.
• In it, Elizabeth mentions:
• sons: John and William
• grandchildren John, Israel, Jonathan, Sarah (children of John and William); grandchild Mary Curtiss, daughter of son Thomas
• executors: sons John and William
• overseers: John Burdseye, Henry Wakelyn, Jsseph Hawly
• The witnesses were John Brimsmaid and John Washborn

The last will and testament of Elizabeth Curtiss

• "In the Name of God, Amen, I Elizabeth Curtiss to make publick my last will and testament...being weak yet of perfect in my minde...
• "Inprmis unto my Sonns John Curtiss and William doe give my Mare and Coalt.
• "Item, unto John Curtiss and Jonathan Curtiss ye Sonnes of my Sonnes John and William, my Grandchildren I doe give the coalt that my young mare hath: and after the sayd young mare hath up her first coalt, Then I doe give ye sayd young mare to the Rest of my Grandchildren, Sonns and Daughters of my aforsd Sonns John and William:
• "Item, I doe give one house and Lott to my grandchildren, John Curtiss, Israel, Jonathan, and Sarah Curtiss ye children of ye said John and William: and they to enjoy it when they become to ye age of twenty:
• "Item, I doe give unto my Grandchilde Mary Curtiss ye Daughter of Thomas Curtiss forty shillings and to bee paid unto her by my sonns John and William within a yeare after my desesase:
• "Item, I doe give my grandchilde Mary Curtiss ye daughter of Thomas Curtiss, deceased forty shillings and to bee paid unto her by my sonns John and William Curtiss within a yeare after my decease:
• "Item, I doe give unto my sonns John and William Curtiss my two cowss, one hiefer, one bullock and a calf after my deceas: provided ye if my sayd young mare before given to my grandchildren should miscarry. Then my Will is if my two sonns John and William Curtiss should give foure pounds each of them to there children ye have no share in my house and Lott to be paid att ye Age of twentie:
• "Item, I doe give my Bible to John Curtiss my Grandchilde the Sonn of John Curtiss allso my desire is ye there be so much of my corn sould as may buy a bible for Jonathan Curtiss ye Sonn of my Sonn William and given to him:
• "The rest of my goods Wthin ye house that are moveable goods I doe give to my sonns John and William Curtiss to be equally divided betwixt them:
• "My two Sonns John Curtiss and William Curtiss I doe make executors: my will is yeJohn Birdseye, Henry Wakelyn and Joseph Hawly shall bee overseers of this my Last Will and Testament.
• "In ye prsence of John Brimsmaid John Washborn
• Elizabeth Curtiss (Seal)
• "This will was proved by John Curtiss and William Curtiss to bee ye last will and testant of Elizabeth Curtiss of Stratford: and ye court approvs of it; it being attested to: 4th: 4th: '58 John Minor"

  ---

References

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-305176#comment_6512025 cites

1. Winters, William. Memorials of the Pilgrim Fathers: John Eliot and His Friends, of Nazing and Waltham Abbey. Waltham Abbey, Essex: 1882 p. 46 from the Nazing registers
2. Winters: Memorials. "From Original MSS. Relating to Nazing Court Leet. pp 70-71
3. Curtis, Harlow Dunham. A genealogy of the Curtiss-Curtis family of Stratford, Connecticut : a supplement to the 1903 edition. Curtiss-Curtis Society, 1953. Nazing Records p. x cites “State Papers volume 16 # 358 p. 4 Hoppin statement p. xiii
4. “A Note of the estates and persons of the Inhabitants of Rocksbury” – Report of the Record Commissioners, containing the Roxbury Land and Church Records. Second Edition. Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, 1884. p. 4
5. Report of the Record Commissioners, containing the Roxbury Land and Church Records. Second Edition. Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, 1884. p. 75
6. Stiles, Henry Reed. Families of Ancient Wethersfield Connecticut; Consisting of the History of Ancient Wethersfield, Comprising the Present Towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington; and of Glastonbury Prior to Its Incorporation in 1693, from Date of Earliest Settlement Until the Present Time, with Extensive Genealogies and Genealogical Notes on Their Families. Vol II. 1904.At HathiTrust p. 262 <Hathitrust>
7. Stiles, Henry Reed. and Sherman W. Adams. The History of Ancient Wethersfield Connecticut... Vol I – History, Part 1. New York: The Grafton Press., 1903. p. 264 <Hathitrust>
8. One of the points that Hinman makes is that Anderson has used the same baptisms to support children of William of Roxbury children.
   1. William bpt 21 Jun 1618; d. Roxbury late 1634. A William definitely existed in Roxbury. Anderson also says “The child William has presented a problem to those who have treated the Curtis family in the past. He clearly existed, .... But the date of marriage of the immigrant to Sarah Eliot, the baptism of son Thomas nineteen months later, and the regular arrival of children after that leave no place for William. ... so there remains a possibility that this William belongs in another family. There is, however, no baptism for another William anywhere near the right time.....
   2. Thomas: There were two Thomas bpt., one 12 Mar 1619/20 and one 19 Jan 1622/3. Anderson has assigned both to William of Roxbury. Of course there is no way without parents names in the registers to prove that the first was the son of John but neither can one prove he was the son of William.
9. Hotten, John Camden (editor). The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political Rebels, Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years, Apprentices, Children Stolen, Maidens Pressed, and Others, who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. London: John Camden Hotten, 1874 p. 123
10. Wilcoxson, William H. History of Stratford Connecticut 1639-1939. (Stratford: 1939) p. 72
11. Connecticut Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928.
12. Stratford, Fairfield Co CT Town Records
13. #S93 Page 1, citing Fairfield Probate Records, Vol. 1648-56, Page 1

• Curtiss, Frederic Haines. A Genealogy of the Curtiss Family (Rockwell & Churchill, Boston, 1903-1953). open library link.* Donald Lines Jacobus. History and Genealogy of the Families of OldFairfield (1930-1932, reprint 2000): vol 1, p 169
• Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, 3 vols. (Boston, 1995), 499-501.
• Barry E Hinman, "Widow Elizabeth Curtis of Stratford, Connecticut," in The American Genealogist, vol. 87, no. 4 (published December 2015):299-306.
• Notes. The Curtiss Family of Stratford, Conn. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. 43:321. Link at American Ancestors (1889). First article to make connections between the widow Curtis and Nazeing.