Lt. Thomas Leffingwell, Sr.

Origins

From MyNewEnglandAncestors

In 1892 Leffingwell researcher Rev. E.B Huntington tried to follow the origins of the Leffingwell name back to England and Wales. Although the Leffingwell name is English, he couldn’t find any trace of it. It just seemed to have disappeared. ...

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/vitals/KZ9Q-314

Shows parents as Thomas Leffingwell (son of William) born circa 1600 at White Colne, Essex, England married Alice Tandridge Sep 5 1622. Leffingwell Record has Thomas married Alice at White Colne on July 7 1621.

Thomas, progenitor of the Leffingwells in America, is said to have made his first appearance on these shores in 1637 -- a lone hunter in the forests of Connecticut, but friend of Uncas, chief of the Mohegans. By his wife Mary (said by one family tradition to have been a daughter or sister of Uncas), he sired five sons and two daughters, the first born in 1648. Two of the sons, Jonathan and Joseph, disappeared without trace, as a result of which the Leffingwells of record through the ninth generation (as of 1897) were all descendants of Thomas, Jr., Nathaniel, and Samuel.

One of the Founders of Norwich, Connecticut. Founders of Norwich Connecticut Memorial (with Thomas Leffingwell’s name) is located at Founders Cemetery in Norwich.

Trumbull, in his "History of Connecticut," says:

"Uncas, with a small band of Mohegan Indians, was encamped on a point of land projecting into the river, and there closely besieged by their most inveterate foes, the Narragansetts. Finding himself in danger of being cut off by the enemy, he managed to send to his friends, the English colony at Saybrook, the news of his extremity, with perhaps some appeal for help. Upon this intelligence, one Thomas Leffingwell, an ensign at Saybrook, an enterprising, bold man, loaded a canoe with beef, corn and pease, and, under cover of the night paddled from Saybrook into the Thames, and had the address to get the whole into the fort. The enemy soon perceiving that Uncas was relieved, raised the siege. For this service Uncas gave leffingwell a deed of a great part, if not the whole of the town of Norwich. In June, 1659, Uncas, with his two sons, Owaneco and Attawanhood, by a more formal and authentic deed, made over unto said Leffingwell, John Mason, Esq., the Rev. James Fitch, and others, consisting of thirty-five proprietors, the whole lownship of Norwich, which is about nine miles square."

Thomas Leffingwell was afterwards lieutenant. In 1659 he removed to Norwich and had several grants of land there. His home lot was on the highway next to Joseph Bushnell's land. He became a prominent man in the town, serving as selectman, surveyor, and on important committees. He was deputy to the general court for fifty-three sessions, 1662-1700; and was also a commissioner. He divided his property among his children before his death, which occurred about 1714-15, when he was about ninety-two years old.

Helped Uncas and the Mohegans fight off their foes, the Narragansetts, and in return was given land which became the town of Norwich.

Operated the Leffingwell Inn, a "house of public entertainment" sometime shortly after 1700. The house still stands and is a historic museum in Norwich. George Washington, on April 8, 1776, "partook of the Hospitalities of Leffingwell Inn"

THE LEFFINGWELL IMMIGRANT

conjecture as to immigration conjecture as to burial site Thank you for your interest in this American hero. Use edit button please. Trumbull, in his "History of Connecticut," says:"Uncas, with a small band of Mohegan Indians, was encamped on a point of land projecting into the river, and there closely besieged by their most inveterate foes, the Narragansetts. Finding himself in danger of being cut off by the enemy, he managed to send to his friends, the English colony at Saybrook, the news of his extremity, with perhaps some appeal for help. Upon this intelligence, one Thomas Leffingwell, an ensign at Saybrook, an enterprising, bold man, loaded a canoe with beef, corn and pease, and, under cover of the night paddled from Saybrook into the Thames, and had the address to get the whole into the fort. The enemy soon perceiving that Uncas was relieved, raised the siege. For this service Uncas gave Leffingwell a deed of a great part, if not the whole of the town of Norwich. In June, 1659, Uncas, with his two sons, Owaneco and Attawanhood, by a more formal and authentic deed, made over unto said Leffingwell, John Mason, Esq., the Rev. James Fitch, and others, consisting of thirty-five proprietors, the whole township of Norwich, which is about nine miles square." Thomas Leffingwell was afterwards lieutenant. In 1659 he removed to Norwich and had several grants of land there. His home lot was on the highway next to Joseph Bushnell's land. He became a prominent man in the town, serving as selectman, surveyor, and on important committees. He was deputy to the general court for fifty-three sessions, 1662-1700; and was also a commissioner. He divided his property among his children before his death, which occurred about 1714-15, when he was about ninety-two years old. Operated the Leffingwell Inn, a "house of public entertainment" sometime shortly after 1700. The house still stands and is a historic museum in Norwich. George Washington, o...

Comment: He was very friendly with the Mohican tribe of which Uncas was Chief.

Comment: Leffingwell built and operated the Leffingwell Inn, a "house of public entertainment" sometime shortly after 1700 (See Trilogy, pp. 177-178). The house still stands at 348 Washington Street, and has been proclaimed the oldest in Norwich. In fact, George Washington, on April 8, 1776, "partook of the Hospitalities of Leffingwell Inn". In additon to the Inn, Thomas had paper and fulling mills, and a store that sold "lamb's gloves, sattin, cambricks and stuff shose; lute strings, palongs and humhums". It was noted in Trilogy that the Leffingwell house may have been built onto the old Backus residence; local historians say the house was built by Stephen Backus.

Marriage: Marriage to: Mary Leffingwell (born White) 1647 Saybrook, Middlesex, England, Uk

Death: 1714 Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA

Burial: Old Norwichtown Cemetery, Connecticut, USA

References

• http://mynewenglandancestors.blogspot.com/2017/04/lt-thomas-leffing...
• https://archive.org/details/leffingwellrecor00leff/page/9
• Leffingwell, A. Tracy., Leffingwell, C. Wesley. (1897). 1637-1897: The Leffingwell record. A genealogy of the descendants of Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell, one of the founders of Norwich, Conn. Aurora, N.Y.: Leffingwell Pub. Co.. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89061954624
• Ancestry.com. U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2012. Original data:Torry, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004. AncestryImage Name Mary Leffingwell Maiden Name White Gender Female Marriage Date About 1648 Marriage Place New England, USA Death Year 1711 Spouse Thomas Leffingwell

  ---

Thomas Leffingwell * FamilySearch Family Tree Birth: Mar 10 1624 - Croxall, Derbyshire, EnglandDeath: 1714 - Norwich, New London, ConnecticutFather: Thomas LeffingwellWife: Mary Singing Lark LeffingwellChildren: Rachel Parke (born Leffingwell), Nathaniel Leffingwell, Samuel Leffingwell SrSiblings: William Leffingwell, Christian Leffingwell, Michael Leppingwell, Dorothie Leffingwell, Ann Leffingwell

GEDCOM Note

My Ancestors: In Memory of John Paine and Mary Ann May of East Woodstock, Connecticut

THOMAS LEFFINGWELL was a native of Croxhall, Eng., and one of the earliest settlers of Saybrook. He became acquainted with Uncas in 1637, and in 1645 left Saybrook in a canoe that would carry twenty cwt. laden with beef, corn, peas, etc., entered Pequot river (The Thames) in the night and relieved Uncas, who was besieged by Pessacus, the brother of Miantonomoh, chief of the Narragansetts, who had been killed by Uncas in 1643. Thomas Tracy and Thomas Minor probably accompanied Mr. Leffingwell on this expedition. "For this service Uncas gave said Leffingwell a deed of great part if not the whole town of Norwich." It does not appear that Leffingwell had any such deed. He petitioned the General Court May 6th, 1667, for leave to accept a grant of land from Uncas, and Thomas Tracy did the same. Final action is thus recorded: "October 10, 1667. This Court grants unto Ensign Thomas Tracy and Thomas Leffingwell the sum of 400 acres of land to be equally divided between them." This land was in Preston.
"Jany. 6, 1661: chosen by the town, Thomas Tracy, Thomas Leffingwell and Francis Griswold with the Townsmen to end all disputes value of forty shillings." Records of the Gen. Court of May 10, 1679, have this entry: "Whereas Uncas his son hath damnified Thomas Tracy Jun. in his swine, and Uncas is willing to make him satisfaction for the same in land this Court grants him liberty to receive of Uncas to the value of 100 acres of land. Lt. Thomas Tracy and Lt. Thomas Leffingwell are appointed to lay out this grant."
Lt. Leffingwell belonged to Capt. Davison's volunteer company of English and Mohegans during Philip's war. He was one of the last survivors of the thirty-five proprietors. He died about 1710 and Mary, his wife, Feby. 6, 1711. Lieut. Thomas Leffingwell attended fifty-three sessions of the General Court at Hartford as representative from Norwich between 1662 and 1700. In Oct., 1696, Lieut. Thos. Leffingwell of Norwich and Sergeant John Frink of Stonington moved the General Court "that they with the rest of the English volunteers in former wars might have a plantation granted to them." Six miles square of land was granted, largely in the town, named in their honor, Voluntown.

Children:
Rachel b. March 17, 1648, m. Robert Parke. Thomas b. Aug. 27, 1649, m. Mary Bushnell. Jonathan b. Dec. 6, 1650. Joseph b. Dec. 24, 1652. Mary b. Dec. 10, 1654, m. Jonathan Bushnell, 1673. Nathaniel b. Dec. 11, 1656, m. Mary Smith. Samuel b. 1660, m. Anna Dickinson. Deborah m. Andrew Warner.
THOMAS LEFFINGWELL, son of Lt. Thomas and Mary Leffingwell, was born at Saybrook Aug. 27, 1649. He
Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors, Ancestors, Page 155
listed - LEFFINGWELL, John (1688-1773) Conn,; m. Sarah Abel
Freeman; Landowner
LEFFINGWELL. Thomas (1649-1724) Conn,; m. Mary Bushnell
Freeman; Landowner
LEFFINGWELL, Thomas (1622-1714/5) Conn.; m. Mary White( Iti s misspelled LEFFINDWELL)
The Leffingwell Line).
The origin of the English surname Leffingwell is uncertain. It has been spelled variously, Leafphingwell, Levingwell, Lephingwell. Lefingwell, Leapinvill, Lepingwell, Leppingwell, and Leapingwell. The last form of the name is the one used in England at the present time, but the earliest form on record is Leffingwell, the form used by the American families. In 1495. Lawrence Leffingwell lived in county Essex, England, and there were Leffingwells in county Herts also. In the parish of White Colne, county Essex, there was a family of Leffingwells, Thomas and Alice his wife. The baptisms of their children are in the parish register as follows: Christian, March 16, 1599; Michel, February 19, 1603, probably the Michel who settled in Woburn, Massachusetts, in 1637; Robert, 1637; Margaret, November 10, 1630; Thomas, March 10, 1624, probably the immigrant ancestor.
I) Lieutenant Thomas Leffingwell was born in England, and was perhaps the Thomas who was baptized at White Colne, county Essex, March 10, 1624, son of Thomas and Alice Leffingwell. He came to New England when quite young, evidently, and settled in Saybrook, Connecticut.
He became very friendly with the Indians, especially the Mohegan tribe, of which Uncas was chief. Trumbull, in his "History of Connecticut," says: "Uncas, with a small band of Mohegan Indians, was encamped on a point of land projecting into the river, and there closely besieged by their most inveterate foes, the Narragansetts. Finding himself in danger of being cut off by the enemy, he managed to send to his friends, the English colony at Saybrook, the news of his extremity, with perhaps some appeal for help. Upon this intelligence, one Thomas Leffingwell, an ensign at Saybrook, an enterprising, bold man, loaded a canoe with beef, corn and pease, and, under cover of the night paddled from Saybrook into the Thames, and had the address to get the whole into the fort. The enemy soon perceiving that Uncas was relieved, raised the siege. For this service Uncas gave leffingwell a deed of a great part, if not the whole of the town of Norwich. In June, 1659, Uncas, with his two sons, Owaneco and Attawanhood, by a more formal and authentic deed, made over unto said Leffingwell, John Mason, Esq., the Rev. James Fitch, and others, consisting of thirty-five proprietors, the whole lownship of Norwich, which is about nine miles square."
Thomas Leffingwell was afterwards lieutenant. In 1659 he removed to Norwich and had several grants of land there. His home lot was on the highway next to Joseph Bushnell's land. He became a prominent man in the town, serving as selectman, surveyor, and on important committees. He was deputy to the general court for fifty-three sessions, 1662-1700; and was also a commissioner. He divided his property among his children before his death, which occurred about 1714-15, when he was about ninety-two years old.
He married Mary (???) (perhaps White), who died at an advanced age, February 6, 1711.
Children: Rachel, born March 17, 1648;
Thomas, mentioned below;
Jonathan, December 6, 1650;
Joseph, December 24, 1652;
Mary, December 10, 1654;
Nathaniel, December 11, 1656;
Samuel, at Saybrook, married Anna Dickinson.
(II) Sergeant Thomas (2) Leffingwell, son of Lieutenant Thomas (1) Leffingwell, was born at Saybrook, August 27, 1649, and died at Norwich, March 5, 1723-24. In 1660 he went with his father to Norwich, where he lived the rest of his life. He was admitted a freeman in 1671, and was representative to the general court. He lived near his father, and in 1700 his house was kept as an ordinary or inn. The inventory of his estate shows him to have been well to do for those days. He married, in 1672, Mary Bushnell, born at Saybrook, January, 1655, died September 2, 1745, daughter of Richard and Mary (Marvin) Bushnell. Children, all born at Norwich: Thomas, mentioned below;
Elizabeth, November, 1676;
Anne, January 25, 1680;
Mary, March 11, 1682;
Zerviah, October 17, 1686;
John, February 2, 1688-89;
Abigail, August 9, 1693;
Hezekiah, 1695, died 1699.
(III) Deacon Thomas (3) Leffingwell, son of Sergeant Thomas (2) Leffingwell, was born at Norwich, March 11, 1674, and died there July 18, 1733. He was a merchant and cordwainer by trade, and also kept an inn. He was elected deacon of the church in 1718. In 1708 he was ensign of the First company of militia, and in 1713 was representative to the general assembly. His will was dated March 20; 1737-38, and proved September 13, 1743. He married, March 31, 1698. Lydia Tracy, born October 11, 1677, died November 28, 1757, daughter of Dr. Solomon and Sarah (Huntington) Tracy, and granddaughter of Lieutenant Thomas Tracy. Children: Sarah, born February 13, 1698-99, died April 1, 1770; Hezekiah, born May 9, 1702, died 1725; Thomas, mentioned below; Lydia, born July 28, 1706; Zerviah, May 31, 1709; Samuel, April, 1722.
(IV) Thomas (4) Leffingwell, son of Deacon Thomas (3) Leffingwell, was born at Norwich, February 2, 1703-04, and died there September 28, 1793, in his ninetieth year. He lived on the homestead, and carried on the Leffingwell Tavern. He and his wife were members of the First Congregational Church. He married, January 23, 1728-29, Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Pratt) Lord. Children: Elizabeth, born January 4, 1729-30, married Nathaniel Shipman (see Shipman IV); Thomas, born July 29, 1732, died December 8, 1814; Andrew, born June 30, 1734, died August 12, 1782; Martin, born November 13, 1738, died April 6, 1781; Lydia, born June 9, 1744, died May 23, 1823; Oliver, born July 6, 1751, died at sea, October 5 or December 11, 1771.

LIEUTENANT THOMAS LEFFINGWELL,1 born 1622, died at Norwich, Conn., in 1710. He married MARY WHITE, who died Feb. 6, 1711, at Norwich. He was for 38 years member of the General Court of Connecticut. He served in the Pequot War and in King Philip's War; was a friend of Uncas, Sachem of the Mohegans, and relieved him when besieged by the Narragansetts in 1645. His son DEACON THOMAS LEFFINGWELL,2 born at Saybrook, Conn., Aug. 27, 1649, died at Norwich, March 5, 1724. He married, September, 1672, MARY BUSHNELL, born Jan., 1654, died at Norwich, Sept. 2, 1745, daughter of Richard Bushnell and Mary Marvin, his wife, daughter of Matthew Marvin of Norwalk, Conn., who came in the ship Increase in 1635 and was one of the founders of Hartford Conn., his name being on the monument erected in the cemetery at Hartford. They were parents of