Jonathan Daniels

Life

Jonathan Daniels was born in New London, Connecticut, in 1692, to John Daniels and Agnes Beebe. He married Mary Potts somewhere around 1714, probably in New London. The couple had a number of children in New London, but later they moved westward - first to Colchester, then to Middletown and Hartford. After the eldest children had married in Connecticut, they proceeded further southwest to Rye, New York, and then after a few years, further south to Woodbridge, New Jersey. Many of Jonathan's children accompanied him all the way to New Jersey, although in appears that two children married while Jonathan was still in Rye. His time in Rye can thus be dated to between 1743 and 1752.

Some of Jonathan's children married New Jersey spouses, so we can roughly date his arrival based on that; he arrived around 1752 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He died there, leaving a detailed will, in 1764.

Will

Jonathan's will explicitly named all of his surviving children at the time, save two: his firstborn son Lemuel, who was not mentioned at all. Jonathan's second-born son, William, also was given short shrift, being granted ten shillings only. It was the third son, Benajah, who was given the power of executor, which makes sense given he too went to New Jersey.

Jonathan granted his surviving wife Mary the use of his house, and named three grandchildren only by name: all Chiles children, who were all born in Woodbridge.

Known and suspected children

1. Lemuel, b. 1715, in Colchester, m. Hannah Fuller
2. William, b. 1717, in New London, did not marry
3. Johanna, b. 1720, in New London, m. Jacob Wood (hypothesis), lived on Staten Island with Jonathan's sister Margaret Symons
4. Benajah, b. 1722, in New London, m. Susanna Fitzrandolph, went to Woodbridge
5. Mary, b. 1724, in New London, m. John Chiles, went to Woodbridge
6. Lucretia, b. 1725 in New London, m. Abner Tubbs, died young
7. Margaret, b. c. 1726 in New London, m. George Ferris near Rye NY in 1743, died before 1760
8. Eunes, b. 1728 in New London, m. unknown Barstow, possibly went to Woodbridge
9. Lois, b. 1730 in New London, m. unknown Tharp, possibly went to Woodbridge
10. Esther, b. 1732 in New London, m. Jonathan Brown, married in South Salem, New York
11. Jonathan, twin, b. 1733 in New London, m. Johanna unknown, went to Woodbridge
12. Noah, twin, b. 1733 in New London, died young
13. Randolph, b. 1735 in New London, m. unknown, went to Woodbridge
14. Thankful, b. 1736 in New London, m. Edward Daniels, went to Woodbridge

References and sources

Sources:

• The Groton Avery Clan, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden), Vol. I, p. 113
• Jonathan Daniels' will (summary attached as a source)
• DNA match analysis

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• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Sep 18 2021, 10:54:07 UTC