John Plumb, Esq.

Biography

From https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60462025/john-plumb,_esq.

John Plumbe was born about 1666 in Hartford, Connecticut to John and Elizabeth Green Plumbe. His birth and age are confirmed by John Winthrop, who says in 1667 that John is then over a year old (Donald Lines Jacobus). His paternal grandparents were George and Grace Plume of Inworth, Essex, England. His maternal grandparents were Samuel (Boston printer of first Native American Bible) and Jane Bainbridge (Banbury) Green of Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

In the mid to late 1670s, the Plumbs relocated from Hartford to New London, New London, Connecticut. On 13 Feb 1689 John married Elizabeth Hempstead, daughter of Joshua (Sr.) and Elizabeth Larrabee Hempstead; granddaughter of Robert and Joane Hempstead (who were among the original settlers of New London, Connecticut) and Greenfield and Phoebe Lee Larrabee.

Claims by LAMB family descendants that Elizabeth Hempstead (Daughter of Joshua & Elizabeth, 25 Dec 1672-19 Sept 1733) married their ancestor Isaac are unworthy of consideration, as they are speculative, long dismissed by serious researchers, and not supported by any historical record.

John and Elizabeth had 11 children, 5 of whom lived to healthy adulthood: Elizabeth (1. Thomas Bartlett 2. Joseph Truman), John (Hannah Harris), Abigail, Joshua (Amy Schellenger), Sarah, Peter (Hannah Morgan), Lydia (John Monroe), Hannah, Daniel, Patience and Elisha.

Known early as "Deacon and Justice Plumbe," and eventually as "John Plumbe, Esquire," John was son, brother, husband, father and grandfather; an attorney, County Surveyor, Justice of the Peace, Judge of Probate and member of the Connecticut Colonial Council.

In 1704, John, along with a companion, Jonathan Hill, saved the life of Owaneco, son of Uncas and Sachem of the Mohegans, who was drowning. John Plumbe and Jonathan Hill received 200 acres of woodland for their act of "kindness;" the gift of which was approved by the Colonial Court the same year.

He was a Deacon in First Church of New London, and was chosen by his congregation (along with Deacon Douglass) in 1708 to seek a new Pastor in Boston (when the New London pulpit became vacant by the resignation of the Honorable Gurdon Saltonstall, who became Governor of Connecticut upon the death of John Winthrop). Their search ended with the calling of the Rev. Eliphalet Adams, who pastored the New London church for many years. Deacons Plumbe and Douglass were given "lands" by the grateful citizens of New London for their work as spiritual envoys (Caulkins' HISTORY).

Joshua Hempstead (the New London Diarist) was a professional associate of his Brother-in-Law John Plumbe as Surveyor, Justice of the Peace, and Judge of probates & wills. They made numerous legal decisions together over the years. Hempstead mentions this many times in his DIARY.

Joshua writes John's will, helps "lay out" his body for burial, and later carves the letters into his tombstone. To speculate, Joshua may have helped build the foundation of stones that supports John and Elizabeth's tombstone (a large, rather ornate slab).

H.B. Plumb, family historian (descendant of the other branch of the New England Plumbs) writes: "John Plumb was a judge in the county court [New London County] in 1710 and after, as a decision of his in a Groton school case is on record in June 1712...he was appointed Probate Judge, which office he held at the time of his death…he and his wife joined the church in 1693...the Mrs. Plumbe who joined the church in 1691 must have been his mother [Elizabeth Green Plumbe]…this is the son who lived, married and died in New London."

When John died at the relatively young age of 66 on Saturday, 28 Oct 1732 Joshua Hempstead records in his DIARY; "...this morn Brother Jno Plumb died with a violent Cold yt Seizd him Thursd was Senet. I was Called up at 3 Clock to go to Brother Plumbs & found him a Dying. he died ten Minutes (unreadable) a Clock. I Stayed after I help lay him out till after Sun rise..."

John, Esq. and Elizabeth Hempstead Plumb are buried together in the Ancient Cemetery in New London, Connecticut, under the table stone inscribed by Elizabeth's brother Joshua (DIARY for 10-11 Sept 1736). Their inscription reads: "Here lies the body of Mrs Elizabeth Plumbe;" and "Here lies the body of John Plumbe, Esquire."

(Above biography compiled from THE PLUMBS, 1635-1800 by H. B. Plumb; F.M Caulkins HISTORY OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, published by Press of the Day Publishing Company; and THE DIARY OF JOSHUA HEMPSTEAD, published by The New London County Historical Society)