John Sturges, Sr., of Fairfield

Disputed Origins

Edward Sturgis, of Yarmouth of Yarmouth mentions only his son Thomas in his will of 1695 implying that all his other sons are dead. Since John Sturges did not die until 1700, he could not be Edward's son.

Sturgis Opera House, Fowler, Michigan (Photo copied)

Family Beginings in America

John Sturges settled in Fairfield in 1660 in the 37th year of his age; he was made a freeman May 14, 1669. He is supposed by many to have been a son of Edward Sturges of Yarmouth, Mass., and to have gone to Fairfield, Conn., but owing to the absence of a portion of the Yarmouth records it has been impossible to establish this. He was appointed a Selectman of Fairfield in 1669 and owned a large estate there. His will is dated March 4,1697-8. It mentions his sons Jonathan, Joseph, John, dau. Deborah, wife of James Redfield; his grandson ( )Sturges (son of Joseph)....

His residence was in Fairfield on the northwest side of the highway unto Mill Plain. According to the Town Records of Fairfield, he appears to have been father in law of ...Seeley, but whoever this daughter may have been, her name is not mentioned in the will. --------------------------------
From: The History of Fairfield
by Elizabeth Schenck (1889) "John Sturges, sometimes spelled Sourge & Sturgee in the Town Records, settled at Fairfield in 1660 in the 37th year of his age; & purchased Richard Fowles homestead; was made a freeman 14 May 1669, appointed select man the same year & owned a large estate at Fairfield. His will is dated 4 March 1697, in which he gives to his son Jonathan his homestead, his sword & various parcels of land; to son Joseph his fowling-piece, long-gun & various parcels of land: to son John his little gun; to daughter Deborah wife of James Redfield, several parcels of land, & his negro woman Jenny; to his grandson Christopher Sturgis 5 pounds sterling; to his son-in-law Richard Straten 5, & to said Straten's five children by his daughter Sarah, 5 pounds sterling, to be equally divided between them, out of his moveable estate; to daughter Abigail wife of Simon Couch his negro boy Jack. The rest of his moveable estate, he divided between his two daughters Deborah & Abigail. To his absent son Thomas, "if he ever returned again" he gave 60 pounds sterling, out of the rest of his children's property. He had previously given his sons various parcels of land in the town. His first residence appears to have been on the NW side of the highway, leading into Millplain. He married Deborah, daughter of John Barlow. He appears from a Town Record to have been the father-in-law of Benjamin Seeley, but no mention is made of this daughter in his will.

The spelling of Sturgis or Sturges was interchangable and John S. Sturgis(27 Aug 1820 - 24 Jun 1889) even spelled it both ways himself in the same document (his will).

It is believed that John Sturgis was the son of Edward Sturgis of England and Barnstable but no proof of this exists due to the loss of records by fire during the War of 1812.

• John STURGES - (1624 - 1700) & Deborah BARLOW - (12 Oct 1636 - 1700)
• 1. Jonathan STURGES Judge* - (1651 - 29 Nov 1711) & Susanna BANKS - (About 1665 - )
• 2. Deborah STURGES * - (About 1660 - ) +Benjamin SEELEY 2. +James REDFIELD - (About 1646 - About 1719)
• 3. John STURGES -
• 4. Sarah STURGES - & Richard STRATTON -
• 5. Joseph STURGES - (1654 - 12 May 1728) & Anna (???) -
• 6. Abigail STURGES -

Please Note: My goal has been to show an overview of the descendents of John Sturges. Not all of this research is my own as I have concentrated on the Jonathan Sturgis line. There is a great deal of confusing information out there concerning the number/names of the children of John Sturges. I know there are some errors, so please, check original sources for information concerning your family tree. Should you find a mistake or have something to add, please contact me. http://showcase.netins.net/web/drbab/sturgis.htm -----------------------------------------------

Includes NotesNotes for John Sturges: From: The History of Fairfield, by Elizabeth Schenck (1889) "John Sturges, sometimes spelled Sourge & Sturgee in the Town Records, settled at Fairfield in 1660 in the 37th year of his age; & purchased Richard Fowles homestead; was made a freeman 14 May 1669, appointed select man the same year & owned a large estate at Fairfield. His will is dated 4 March 1697, in which he gives to his son Jonathan his homestead, his sword & various parcels of land; to son Joseph his fowling-piece, long-gun & various parcels of land: to son John his little gun; to daughter Deborah wife of James Redfield, several parcels of land, & his negro woman Jenny; to his grandson Christopher Sturgis 5 pounds sterling; to his son-in-law Richard Straten 5, & to said Straten's five children by his daughter Sarah, 5 pounds sterling, to be equally divided between them, out of his moveable estate; to daughter Abigail wife of Simon Couch his negro boy Jack. The rest of his moveable estate, he divided between his two daughters Deborah & Abigail. To his absent son Thomas, "if he ever returned again" he gave 60 pounds sterling, out of the rest of his children's property. He had previously given his sons various parcels of land in the town. His first residence appears to have been on the NW side of the highway, leading into Millplain. He married Deborah, daughter of John Barlow. He appears from a Town Record to have been the father-in-law of Benjamin Seeley, but no mention is made of this daughter in his will. The spelling of Sturgis or Sturges was interchangable and John S. Sturgis(27 Aug 1820 - 24 Jun 1889) even spelled it both ways himself in the same document (his will). More About John Sturges and Deborah Barlow: Marriage: Sep 13, 1650, Fairfield, CT.3025 Children of John Sturges and Deborah Barlow are: +John Sturges, b. 1655, of Fairfield CT3025, d. Jan 05, 1744, Fairfield, CT..