Esther Hester Kirby Stone

• BIRTH 1652 Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA
• DEATH 1683 (aged 30–31) Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA
• BURIAL Village Green Cemetery, Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA
• MEMORIAL ID 163063625

Biography

Esther (or Hester) was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hinds) Kerbie, a first generation immigrant. She married Benajah Stone I, son of William and Hannah Stone in Connecticut, probably either Middletown or Guilford in 1673.

There is neither birth or marriage record for Ester Kirby. She was mentioned in the settlement of her father's estate, in 1677. "Ester Kirby wife of Benajah Stone about twenty five years of age."[1] Therefore born about 1652, probably in Middletown, Connecticut, where the family lived.

She is listed in the Middletown Congregational Church Records[2] as one of "seven children of Mr. Kirby, listed as covenanter Jan 21, 1668," along with siblings John, Sarah, Joseph, Bethia, Susannah, and Abigail. Esther owned the covenant 9th month 4th day 1668 (4 Nov 1668), and was baptized and/or accepted into full communion 11th month 10th day 1668 (10 Feb 1668/9).

Inscription
Although this person was likely interred in Guilford's original village cemetery (now the commons and public park in downtown Guilford), no surviving gravestone was known in 1818 when all gravestones at the Village Green, but not the people's remains, were dispersed to other town cemeteries.

Gravesite Details
Time and weather had erased the location of this grave when the cemetery was moved

Parents
John Kirby 1624–1677
Elizabeth Kirby 1627–1697

Spouse
Benajah Stone 1647–1738 (m. 1673)

Siblings
Mary Kirby Buck 1644–1712
Elizabeth Hinds Kirby Sage 1646–1670
Hannah Kirby Stone 1649–1717
Sarah Kirby Hubbard 1654–1697
Joseph Kirby 1656–1711
Susannah Kirby Cruttenden 1664–1729
Abigail Kirby Robinson 1667–1694

Children
Benajah Stone 1674–1714 m. Hannah DeWolfe 1676-1755 dau. of Edward and Rebeccah Tinker DeWolfe
Hester Stone Bristol 1676–1711 m. 1709 Hannah DeWolfe
Mary Stone 1681–1681 m. 1709 Bezaleel Bristol
Abraham Stone 1683–1703 died unmarried

References

[1] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kirby-96

[2a] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/163063625/esther-hester-stone

[2b] http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=163063625 Find A Grave Memorial] - SmartCopy: Jan 19 2017, 4:18:45 UTC