Gov. George Wyllys

Biographical Summary #1:

Governor George Wyllys, born at Fenny Compton, County Warwick, son of Richard Wyllys, Esquire, and Hester, daughter of George Chambers, of Williamscote, County Oxford. His pedigree is traced back in England for several generations. In Camden's Visitation of Warwickshire, in 1619, George Wyllys is described as living at Fenny Compton, age 29, with his wife, Bridget, daughter of William Young, of Kingston Hall. The name of the wife he brought with him to New England was Mary (probably a second wife). In 1636 he sent his steward, William Gibbons, with twenty men, to Hartford, to purchase and prepare for him a farm, erect a dwelling-house, and have everything in readiness for himself and his family. He had been a partner with Robert Saltonstall (~• ed note: or was it Richard Saltonstall ? ) and William Whiting in the Dover and Piscataqua patents (Massachusetts Rec. i. 324). He was an original proprietor, and it is hardly necessary to say that his home lot covered the square now included between Main, Charter Oak, Governor, and Wyllys Streets., and that on it stood the famous Charter Oak. He came in 1638, was chosen magistrate April 11, 1639, again 1640, 1643 and 1644; deputy governor, 1641, governor, 1642; and Commissioner of the United Colonies. He died in Hartford, March 9, 1644-5. His widow, Mary, was living in 1655.

Children:

i. George, probably he who was born in 1611 j left by his father in England, in possession of the estate of Fenny Compton.

ii. Hester, married October 17, 1645, as his second wife, Capt. Robert Harding, of Boston, afterward of Rhode Island; in November 1646 he went home to England, and in 1651 was a merchant in London,

iii. Amy, married October 30, 1645, Honorable John Pynchon, of Springfield; she died Jan. 9, 1699.

iv. Samuel, born 1632; graduate of Harvard College, 1653; married (1) 1654, Ruth, daughter of Governor John Haynes; chosen magistrate, 1654, and continued in that office until 1685; in the absence of the governor and deputy governor he was repeatedly appointed moderator of the General Court. In 1661, 1662, 1664, and 1667 he was one of the Connecticut Commissioners for the United Colonies "He was extensively engaged in trade, and often absent from the Colony. He had an interest in several sugar plantations at Antigua, in partnership with Richard Lord, and frequently went to the West Indies. His speculations proved unprofitable; and as he had borrowed considerable money, his affairs became deeply involved, so that pecuniary assistance was granted him by the Assembly. This led to his withdrawal from the magistracy, but he retrieved his affairs, and he was again Assistant from 1680 to 1693, and also in 1698. His wife, Ruth, was living in 1680; but died before 1688, when he married (2) at Berwick, Maine, November 28, 1688, Mrs. Mary Love. He died in Hartford, May 30, 1709. His only son, Hezokiah, was born April 3, 1672; married May 2, 1704, Elizabeth, daughter of Reverend Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Whiting) Hobart, of Haddam, Connecticut. He held many positions of trust; was town clerk of Hartford, 1705-1732; chosen Secretary of the Colony, 1712, and continued in that office until 1734; died December 24, 1741; Mrs. Elizabeth Wyllys died September 1762. His only surviving son, Colonel George Wyllys, born October 6, 1710, graduate of Yale College, 1729; appointed secretary for the Colony, pro tem. 1730, and in 1734 was regularly appointed secretary, and held the office for the long period of sixty-six years. He also succeeded his father as town clerk of Hartford, was lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment, and served on many committees of the General Assembly. He married Mary, daughter of Reverend Timothy Woodbridge, of Simsbury. She died November 11, 1774; he died at his mansion on Charter Oak Hill, April 24, 1796. His children were:

i. Samuel, baptized Jan. 7, 1738-9; Yale College, 1758; went to England in 1764, and remained there for six years; in 1771 he became the first captain of the first company of Governor's Foot Guard; in 1774, Colonel of the 1st Connecticut Regiment; he served through the Revolutionary War as colonel of a Connecticut regiment. He married February 3,1777, his cousin Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Ruth (Wyllys) [Lord] Bolden, and widow of Captain John Stoughton. He was town clerk of Hartford, 1796-1805; held other town offices, and was Major-General of the Connecticut Militia. He succeeded his father as Secretary of State in 1796, and held the office until 1809. Mrs. Ruth Wyllys died September 2, 1807. He died June 9, 1823.

ii. Mary, baptized March 7, 1741-2; married March 8, 1764, Eleazer Pomeroy, of Hartford; died in Middletown, November 14, 1805.

iii. William, baptized August 12, 1744; died unmarried in Hartford, Jan. 18, 1826.

iv. Hezikiah, born in 1747; Yale College, 1765; colonel of a Connecticut regiment in the Revolution; married in 1785, Amelia, widow of Colonel Joseph Trumbull, of Lebanon, and daughter of Colonel Eliphalet Dyer, of Windham. She died Jan. 15, 1818; he died March 29, 1827, and was the last of the Wyllys name who lived in the old mansion.

v. Susanna, born May 13, 1750; married Jan. 22, 1788, Judge Strong, of Litchfield; died in Hartford, May 23, 1794 (without children.).

vi. John Palsgrave, baptized August 11, 1754; Yale Coll., 1773; served through the Revolutionary War; brigade major in 1776; in 1781, major in the 3d Connecticut Regiment, and distinguished himself by his gallantry. He married his cousin Jerusha, daughter of Col. Samuel and Mabel (Wyllys) Talcott, who died in Hartford, August 9, 1783. In 1785 he was appointed major of the troops raised for the defence of the frontier. He was killed in the attack on the Miami Towns, September 30,1790, while serving in Gen. Harmar's expedition against the Indians, (without children.)

SOURCE: James Hammond Trumbull, editor, The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Volume 1 (Boston, Massachusetts: Edward L. Osgood, 1886), pages 271-272. Retrieved: 3 May 2011 from Google Books

Biographical Summary #2:

http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/wyllys_george.htm

Governor George Wyllys, b. at Fenny Compton, Co. Warwick, son of Richard Wyllye,1 Esq., and The Wyllys ArmsHester, dau. of George Chambers, of Williamscote, Co. Oxford. His pedigree is traced back in England for several generations. In Camden's Visitation of Warwickshire, in 1619, George Wyllys is described as living at Fenny Compton, c. 29, with his wife, Bridget, dau. of William Young, of Kingston Hall. The name of the wife he brought with him to New England was Mary (prob. a second wife). In 1636 lie sent his steward, William Gibbons, with twenty men, to Hartford, to purchase and prepare for him a farm, erect a dwelling-house, and have everything in readiness for himself and his family. He had been a partner with Robert Saltonstall and William Whiting in the Dover and Piscataqua patents (Mass. Rec. i. 324). He was an original proprietor, and it is hardly necessary to Say that his homelot covered the square now included between Main, Charter Oak, Governor, and Wyllys Sts., and that on it stood the famous Charter Oak. He came in 1638,2 was chosen magistrate April 11, 1639, again 1640,'43 and '44; deputy governor, 1641, governor, 1642 ; and Commissioner of the United Colonies. He d. in Hartford, March 9, 1644-5.

His widow, Mary, was living in 1655.

Children

1. George, prob. he who was b. in 1611 ; left by his father in England, in possession of the estate of Fenny Compton.
2. Hester, m. Oct. 17, 1645, as his second wife, Capt. Robert Harding, of Boston, afterward of Rhode Island ; in Nov. 1646 lie went home to England, and in 1651 was a merchant in London.
3. Amy, m. Oct. 30, 1645, Hon. John Pynchon, of Springfield ; she d. Jan. 9, 1699.
4. Samuel, b. 1632; grad. Harvard Coll., 1653; m. (1) 1654, Ruth, dau. of Gov. John Haynes ; chosen magistrate, 1654, and continued in that office until 1685 ; in the absence of the governor and deputy governor he was repeatedly appointed moderator of the General Court. In 1661, 1662, 1664, and 1667 he was one of the Connecticut Commissioners for the United Colonies. He was extensively engaged in trade, and often absent from the Colony. He had an interest in several sugar plantations at Antigua, in partnership with Richard Lord, and frequently went to the West Indies. His Speculations proved unprofitable; and as he had borrowed considerable money, his affairs became deeply involved. so that pecuniary assistante was granted him by the Assembly. This led to his withdrawal from the magistracy, but he retrieved his affairs, and lie was again Assistant from 1680 to 1693, and also in 1698." His wife, Ruth, was living in 1680 ; but d. before 1688, when he m. (2) at Berwick, Me., Nov. 28, 1688, Mrs. Mary Love. He d. in Hartford, May 30, 1709.

Samuel Wyllys' only son, Hezekiah was b. April 3, 1672 ; m. May 2, 1704, Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Whiting) Hobart, of Haddam, Conn. He held many positions of trust; was town clerk of Hartford, 1705-1732; chosen Secretary of the Colony, 1712, and continued in that office until 1734 ; d. Dec. 24, 1741 ; Mrs. Elizabeth Wyllys d. Sept. 1762.

Hezekiah Wyllys' only surviving son, Col. George Wyllys, b. Oct. 6, 1710, grad. Yale Coll., 1729; appointed secretary for the Colony, pro tam. 1730, and in 1734 was regularly appointed secretary, and held the office for the long period of sixty-six years. He also succeeded his father as town clerk of Hartford, was lieut.-col. of the First Regiment, and served on many committees of the General Assembly. He m. Mary, dau. of Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of Simsbury. She d. Nov. 11, 1774 ; he d. at his mansion or Charter Oak Hill, April 24, 1796. His children were: i. Samuel, bapt. Jan. 7, 1738-9 ; Yale Coll., 1758 ; went to England in 1764, and remained there for six years ; in 1771 he became the first captain of the first company of Governor's Foot Guard ; in 1774, Col. of the 1st Conn. Regt. ; he served through the Revolutionary War as colonel of a Connecticut regiment. He m. Feb. 3, 1777, his cousin Ruth, dau. of Thomas and Ruth (Wyllys) [Lord] Belden, and widow of Capt. John Stoughton. He was town clerk of Hartford, 1796-1805; held other town offices, and was Major-General of the Connecticut Militia He succeeded his father as Secretary of State in 1796, and held the office until 1809. Mrs. Ruth Wyllys d. Sept. 2, 1807. He d. June 9, 1823. ii. Mary, bapt. March 7, 1741-2; m. March 8, 1764, Eleazer Pomeroy, of Hartford ; d. in Middletown, Nov. 14, 1805. iii. William, bapt. Aug. 12, 1744; d. mum. in Hartford, Jan. 18, 1826. iv. Hezekiah, b. in 1747 ; Yale Coll., 1765 ; colonel of a Connecticut regiment in the Revolution; m. in 1785, Amelia, widow of Col. Joseph Trumbull, of Lebanon, and dau. of Col. Eliphalet Dyer, of Windham. She d. Jan. 15, 1818 ; lie d. March 29, 1827, and was the last of the Wyllys name who lived in the old mansion.' v. Susanna, b. May 13, 1750 ; m. Jan. 22, 1788, Judge Strong, of Litchfield ; d. in Hartford, May 23, 1794 (s. p.). vi. John Palsgrave, bapt. Aug. 11, 1754; Yale Coll., 1773; 'served through the Revolutionary War; brigade major in 1776 ; in 1781, major in the 3d Conn. Regiment, and distinguished himself by his gallantry. He m. his cousin Jerushn, dau. of Col. Samuel and Mabel (Wyllys) Talcott, who d. in Hartford, Aug. 9, 1783. In 1785 he was appointed major of the troops raised for the defence of the frontier. He was killed in the attack on the Miami Towns, Sept. 30, 1790, while serving in Gen. Harmar's expedition against the Indiana. (a. p.) NOTE to page 238. - David Ensign m. (2) Sarah, dan. of John and Sarah (Wadsworth Wilcox ; settled in the West Division about 1886 ; an original member of the West Hartford Church, 1713; died Dec. 13, 1727.

1. “Of your charite pray for the soul of Richard Wyllys, gentleman lord of the mannour of Fenny Compton, and one of the King's justices of the Peace in the Co. of Warwick. And Jane his wife, which Richard deceased the V J I1 day of February in the year of our Lord MDXXXI. Of whose souls Jesu have mercy. Amen. Here lyeth buried the body of Richard Willis, of Fenny Compton, in the County of Warwick, gentleman son of Ambrose Willis, deceased, which said Richard had by Hester his wife, five children, that is to say, George, William, Richard Judith, and Mary, all now living, who deceased the tenth day of June, 1597.”
2. April 6, 1638, George Willis, of Fenny Compton, gentu., and Marie his wife, conveyed to Richard Smarte all their land in Old Stratford Wellcombe, and Bishopton; ”George Willys, ju 3.,” one of the witnesses

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