John Steele

John Steele, bapt. Fairstead, England, Dec. 12, 1591, son of Richard (2).

Richard (1) Steele, son of Robert Steele, was buried at Fairstead, England, 10 Jan. 1595.

Richard Steele Jr., bapt. in Fairstead, Essex County, England 12 Apr. 1549, died and buried there 12 Jan. 1631, "aged 82". He married Elizabeth, v/ho was buried 1626 at Fairstead.

Children - Richard; George (died at Hartford, Conn. 1665); John, bapt. 1591, d. 1665, m. 1622 Rachel Talcott, daughter of John and Anne Skinner Talcott, b. 10 Oct. 1602. Braintree, Essex County, England. Died 24 Oct. 1653.

Arriving in America in 1630, he was to become best known as John Steele of Farmington, Conn.

From England, probably County Essex, near London. First appears in Dorchester, Mass., in 1630; a proprietor of Cambridge, 1632; freeman, 1634; representative to General Court, 1635.

In Autumn of 1635 he led a pioneer band to the wilderness to settle a new town, Hartford, and lay the foundations of a new Colony, Connecticut - 3d of the N.E. Colonies.

Having been educated in the duties of a magistrate, he was well qualified as a leader in the new community. For 23 years elected to the principal Colony Court - for four years its Secretary or Recorder. For nearly 20 years he was also Recorder of the town of Hartford, and upon the organization of the town of Farmington acted as its recorder. Here his closing years were passed, and here he died 25 Nov. 1665. He married second, Mary, widow of Richard Seamer or Seymour.

Mary, third child of John and Rachel, b. Hartford 31 Mar. 1637, married William Judd, and died 27 Oct. 1718. (NEB genealogy)

http://www.lifefromscratch.com/web/pafg42.htm#436

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Among the early pioneers from England, in the settlement of a New England, particularly in founding the colony of Conn.

one of the proprietors of Cambridge(first called Newtown), in 1632.

laid the foundations of a new town, afterwards named Hartford.

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Thomas Judd and His Descendants by Sylvester Judd, pg. 37

The Great Migration Begins; Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 by Robert Charles Anderson

"ORIGIN: Fairstead, Essex

MIGRATION: 1633

FIRST RESIDENCE: Cambridge

REMOVES: Hartford 1635, Farmington 1645

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admission to Cambridge church prior to 14 May 1634 implied by freemanship.

FREEMAN: 14 May 1634 [MBCR 1:369].

EDUCATION: Sufficient education to be recorder at Hartford and Farmington. His inventory included "two Bibles" valued at 16s., "fourteen books" valued at £3 and "three quires of paper" valued at 2s.

OFFICES: Deputy to the General Court for Cambridge, 4 March 1634/5, 6 May 1635, and 2 September 1635 [MBCR 1:135, 145, 156].

Appointed Massachusetts Bay commissioner for new settlements on Connecticut River, 3 March 1635/6 [MBCR 1:171].

On 11 April 1640 "Mr. Steele is returned Recorder for the town of Hartford, and hath brought into the Court 114 copies of the several parcels of land belonging to & concerning 114 persons" [CCCR 1:48]. On 1 December 1645, as part of the establishment of Farmington, "Mr. Steele is entreated for the present to be recorder there, until the town have one fit among themselves" [CCCR 1:134].

Probably the "Mr. John Steele" requested 5 March 1656[/7] "to go over the great river and take an exact view of the land in difference between Robt: Sanford & Jno White" [PCCR 175].

ESTATE: On 5 August 1633 granted three roods for a cowyard in Cambridge [CaTR 5]; granted two acres in Westend Field, 1 December 1634 [CaTR 10]; in 20 August 1635 division of meadow ground given a proportional share of two [CaTR 13].

In Cambridge land inventory of 20 August 1635 John Steele held nine parcels: one house with garden and backside in town, about half a rood; three roods in cowyard row; half an acre in Old Field; two acres on Small Lot Hill; two acres in Westend Field; ten acres and a half in the neck of land; one acre in the Ox Marsh; three acres and a half in the Long Marsh; and twelve acres in the Great Marsh [CaBOP 13-14]. On 28 August "John Steele of the New towne" sold to Robert Bradish "all his parcels of land lying or being in Newtowne" [CaBOP 15-16].

In the Hartford land inventory John Steele held four parcels: two acres "on which his dwelling house now standeth with other outhouses, yards & gardens"; two acres in the Little Meadow "part whereof was received of Georg[e] Steell"; three acres and thirty perches in the North Meadow; and twenty-one acres, three roods and twenty-two perches "part whereof he bought of John Tayllcott" [HaBOP 410-11].

In his will, dated 30 January 1663[/4] and proved 15 June 1665, "John Steel of Farmington, being stricken in years and weakness," bequeathed to "my dear and loving wife Mercy Steel the house wherein I now dwell with the appurtenances belonging to it in all three little closes thereunto belonging, also one barn during the time of her natural life"; to "the said Mercy a certain parcel of household goods that were hers at the time when I married her ... also a mare colt ... also two cows and one three year old heifer, as also one third part of all the provision in the house ... one half of all the linen cloth she hath made since I married her ... a parcel of pasture land enclosed ... at three acres for her use during her natural life"; to "my son Samuell Steel my best bed" and household goods, also "a silver bowl which was mine own marked with three silver stamps and an "S" all on the upper end of the bowl ... also ... one half of all my books, also my gold scales and weights ... a piece of enclosed pasture" of three acres after "my and my wife's decease"; "and to avoid the trouble of other conveyances of house and land to my son Samuell Steel of what I gave him at his marriage with Mary Boosy I here express it," also a parcel of land on which his stillhouse stands, and seventeen acres and one parcel of three and a half acres of meadow; one parcel of land in the Cock Crook; to "my son-in-law William Judd one third part of my land called Cock's Crook"; to "my son-in-law Thomas Judd one third part of my land at Cockscrook" and twenty acres at Hartford"; to "my two sons-in-law William and Thomas Judd my now dwelling house and barn, house lot, yards, garden, orchard" after "mine and my wife's departure out of this natural life"; "a few things should be disposed to my loving wife and children and grandchildren: to my wife two small silver spoones and some small matter of linen, and to Mary Judd one piece of gold and to Sarah Judd one piece of Gold to John Steel son of John Steel deceased one silver spoon, to Samuell son of the said John deceased one silver spoon and to Benony Steel one silver spoon and to Rachel daughter of Samuel Steel one silver spoon to be delivered to them at their marriage by my son Samuell Steel, but my wife and two daughters shall have theirs immediately after the departure of my natural life"; "the remainder of my silver spoons broken or whole as also a small gold ring I give and bequeath to my son Samuell Steel"; residue to "my two sons-in-law William and Thomas Judd and do make them my sole executors"; "my son Samuel Steel and James Steel to be the overseers" [Hartford PD Case #5187; Manwaring 1:239-40; Steel Anc 251-52].

The inventory of the estate of John Steele, presented on 20 June 1665, was untotalled, and included £67 in real estate: "house, barn, lot & orchard," £55; and "one piece of pasture land," £12 [Hartford PD Case #5187].

BIRTH: Baptized Fairstead, Essex, 12 December 1591, son of Richard Steele.

DEATH: Farmington 27 February 1664[/5?] [Farm VR Barbour 158, citing Farmington LR 2:319].

MARRIAGE:

• (1) Fairstead 10 October 1622 "John Steele, son of Richard of this parish, & Rachel Talcott of Brancktree [i.e., Braintree]." She died at Farmington 24 October 1653 [Farm VR Barbour 158, citing Farmington LR 2:320].
• (2) Farmington 25 November 1655 Mercy (Ruscoe) Seymour [Farm VR Barbour 158, citing Farmington LR 2:331], widow of Richard Seymour [NEHGR 71:111-13]. She died after 4 July 1668 (on which date John Winthrop treated "Mrs. Steele, widow, 67 y. of Farmington" [WMJ 829]).

CHILDREN: With first wife

• i JOHN, b. say 1624; m. Hartford 22 January 1645[/6] Mary Warner [HaVR 606], daughter of ANDREW WARNER.
• ii SAMUEL, b. about 1626 (deposed 6 June 1685 aged about 59 [Goodwin Anc 253, citing Farmington LR 1:43]); m. by 1652 Mary Boosey (eldest child b. Farmington 5 December 1652 [Farm VR Barbour 158, citing Farmington LR 2:330]).
• iii DANIEL, b. say 1628; living in 1636 (named in grandmother's will of January 1636/7 [Goodwin Anc 240]); apparently d. by 1645 (when a younger brother of the same name was born).
• iv RACHEL, bp. Fairstead 29 June 1632; living in 1636 (named in grandmother's will of January 1636/7 [Goodwin Anc 240]); no further record.
• v LYDIA, b. say 1635; m. Farmington 31 March 1657 James Bird [Farm VR Barbour 158, citing Farmington LR 2:331].
• vi MARY, b. say 1637; m. Farmington 31 March 1657 William Judd [Farm VR Barbour 158, citing Farmington LR 2:331].
• vii SARAH, b. about 1639 (d. 22 May 1695 "in the 57 year of her age" [Goodwin Anc 253, citing Waterbury LR 1:67]); m. by 1663 Thomas Judd (see father's will).
• viii DANIEL, b. Hartford 29 April 1645 [HaVR 575]; d. [6?] November 1646 [HaVR 575].
• ix HANNAH, d. 17 July 1655 [Farm VR Barbour 157, citing Farmington LR 2:320].

ASSOCIATIONS: Brother of GEORGE STEELE of Cambridge and Hartford.

COMMENTS: On 21 May 1647 John Steele sued "Tho[mas] Demon" [CCCR 1:148].

BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: The best account of the family of John Steele was prepared in 1915 by Frank Farnsworth Starr [Goodwin Anc 239-53]."

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He was baptized on 12 Dec 1591 in Fairsted, Essex, Eng.(28) He immigrated in 1633 to Cambridge, MA.(28) He was a Deputy to the General Court on 4 Mar 1634/35 in Cambridge, MA. (28) He became a Freeman on 14 May 1634 in Cambridge, MA.(28) He was a Massachusetts Bay commissioner for new settlements on the Connecticut River, appointed on 3 Mar 1635/36.(28) He was a Deputy to the General Court on 6 May 1635 in Cambridge, MA.(28) He moved about Aug 1635 to Hartford, Hartford, CT. (28) In a Cambridge land inventory of 20 Aug 1635, John held nine parcels: one house with garden and backside in town, about half a rood; three roods in cowyard row; half an acre in Old Field; two acres on Small Lot Hill; two acres in Westend Field; ten acres and a half in the neck of land; one acre in the Ox Marsh; three acres and a half in the Long Marsh; and twelve acres in the Great Marsh. All of this land he sold on 28 Aug 1635. He was a Deputy to the General Court on 2 Sep 1635 in Cambridge, MA. (28) He was a Recorder for the town on 11 Apr 1640 in Hartford, Hartford, CT.(28) He moved in 1645 to Farmington, Hartford, CT.(28) He died on 27 Feb 1654/55 in Farmington, Hartford, CT.(28) Sources states that John's death record is provided in the Barbour Collection for Farmington, CT.

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BIRTH: Baptized Fairstead, Essex, 12 December 1591, son of Richard Steele. Came from Fairstead, Essex to Massachusetts Bay in 1633 & settled in Cambridge. Moved to Hartford in 1635 & Farmington in 1645 Died in Farmington, 27 February 1664[/5?]. Married: (1) Fairstead 10 October 1622 "John Steele, son of Richard of this parish, & Rachel Talcott of Brancktree [i.e., Braintree]." She died at Farmington 24 October 1653. (2) Farmington 25 November 1655 Mercy (Ruscoe) Seymour [ Farm VR Barbour 158, citing Farmington LR 2:331], widow of Richard Seymour. She died after 4 July 1668 (on which date John Winthrop treated "Mrs. Steele, widow, 67 y. of Farmington."

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34190359

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https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Family:John_Steele_and_Rachel_Talcott...
John Steele died in Farmington, Connecticut, 27 February 1664[/5?].[4][6]

There is no record of the burial of John Steele. His name is on the Founders of Hartford Monument in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, but that does not mean he was buried there.

Massachusetts
Farmer's register says John was in Dorchester 1630,[8] but Savage's Dictionary points out that he mentions no "high authority".[9]

The earliest records found for John in Newtown, later called Cambridge, MA, is the same year the town records begin, 1632, when he is alloted a division of the "Common Pales", 14 rods. It was established at the first town meeting that the "impaled ground shall be divided according to every man's proportion in the said pales." If they wanted to sell their portion it was first to be sold to the town for what they paid or they would give permission to sell to whom they choose. They were responsible for keeping their pales (fencing) in good shape. The date was broken off but it was between 7 Jan 1632 and 5 Aug 1633, showing he was already settled by that time, at least.[10][2]

John Steele was granted land in Newtowne (Cambridge): 5 Aug 1633 three roods for a cowyard in Cambridge, 1 Dec 1634 two acres in the Westend Field, and 20 Aug 1635 2 shares of meadow.[11][3] 20 August 1635 he owned the following in Newtown: In town, a house with a garden and about a half rood in back; three roods in Cowyard Row; half an acre in the old field; two acres on Small Lot Hill; two acres in the West end field; 10 and 1/2 acres in the neck; one acre in the Marsh; three and 1/2 acres in the Long Marsh; 12 acres in the great Marsh.[12] He sold all his property in Newtowne to Robert Bradish on 25 August 1635.[12]

John Steele was a freeman in Massachusetts 14 May 1634.[13][3]

He served as a Cambridge's deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts 4 March 1634/5, 6 May 1635 and 2 Sept 1635[13] As people began leaving Massachusetts to resettle along the Connecticut River. John Steele and several others were appointed by Massachusetts Bay with "full power & aucthoritie to hear & determine in a iudiciall way ... differences wch may arise" etc.[13]

Connecticut
Mr. Steele, and four others presided at the first "Corte holden att Newton 26 Apr. 1636.[14] The following February 1636/7 "the plantacion nowe called Newtowne shal be called & named by the name of Harteford Towne"[14]

John Steele was chosen recorder in Hartford 16 Nov 1639.[15][14] In 1645, he was requested to do the same for Farmington until they were able to choose one for themselves.[14] The wording here implies that he was not yet a resident of Farmington[2]

His land recorded in Hartford: 1 parcel with house, out houses, gardens, of about two acres; and several other parcels of meadow and swamp..[15] It is #28 on the map, near the Meeting House Yard.

The first specific mention of John in Farmington is "about" 30 Jan 1652, he was admitted to the Farmington Church.[2][16]

His land in Farmington, Jan 1655, consisted of a parcel with dwelling house that now stands, New house & cellar, outhouses, yards, orchards, that he bought of John Wernor about 2 acres and at least one other parcel.

Mr. Steel was Deputy to the General Court of Connecticut many times during his life. The records refer to him as Mr. Steele[14] He also served on several committees on various matters.[2]