Rev. Thomas Hanford

Thomas Hanford was born in Alverdiscott Parish, Fremington, Devonshire, England, on Sunday, July 22, 1621, and died in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1693. He was buried in plot 210, Old Cemetery, East Norwalk, near the grave of his son, Thomas.. His wife was Hannah Newberry They were married in Connecticut before 1652. She took the name Hannah Hanford. He is the son of Jeffery and Eglin (Hatherly) Hanford.

His second marriage was to Mary Miles. She was born in 1635. She is the daughter of Richard and Catharine (Constable) Miles. md 22 Oct 1661 mp New Haven Colony. They had ten children:

i. Theophilus Hanford was born in Norwalk on July 29, 1662, and died before 1705.

ii. Mary Hanford [#649]: She was born in Norwalk on November 30, 1663, and died between 1705 and 1723.

iii. Hannah Hanford was born in Norwalk on June 28, 1665. She married Joseph Platt.

iv. Elizabeth Hanford was born in Norwalk on January 9, 1666/7, and died before 1708. She married John Burr of Fairfield.

v. Thomas Hanford was born in Norwalk on July 18, 1668.

vi. Eleazer Hanford was born in Norwalk on September 15, 1670.

vii. Elnathan Hanford was born in Norwalk on October 11, 1672.

viii. Samuel Hanford was born in Connecticut on April 5, 1674.

ix. Eunice Hanford was born in Connecticut in March, 1675/6, and died before 1706. She married Gershom Bulkley circa 1700.

x. Sarah Hanford was born in Connecticut in May, 1678. She married Samuel Comstock in Norwalk on December 27, 1705.

Reverend Thomas Hanford came from England between 1634 and 1643. By the latter date he was in Scituate, Massachusetts, which was founded by his mother's brother, Timothy Hatherly. Here he completed his studies with Charles Chauncy, (Rev.) who later became the second president of Harvard University. He became a freeman of Mass. in 1650. In 1651 he went to Roxbury, Conn., to teach school. He taught for four months, finding the students dense and unruly, he became discouraged and quit in June of 1652, citing ill health. (References to salary, housing, and school for the new teacher, Thomas Hanford, and later his resignation from his position appear in New Haven Town Records: General Court for New Haven, November 14,1651, November 17,1651, March 11, 1651/2, and June 7, 1652.)

He was called to Norwalk, Conn., that same year to serve as its first minister of the First Congregational Church. He became ordained in Hartford on May 18, 1654. The town of Norwalk then gave him a home lot and other land and built him a house. He served for over 50 years. The Norwalk Land Records also show that he was given land by the Winnipauk Indian, Sagamore.

http://otal.umd.edu/~walt/gen/htmfile/1298.htm

Some books which cover Rev Thomas's life are:

A complete copy of the inscriptions found on the monuments, headstones, &c., in the oldest cemetery in Norwalk, Conn. September, 1892. Dedicated to the memory of Norwalk's first ancestors - Van Hoosear, D. H. (David Hermon), b. 1844

Plot 210 Mr Thomas Hanfordye Eldest son of ye Revd Mi-

Thomas Han ford who died June ye 7 AD 1743 in ye 75 year of his his age with Hannah his wife Iving at his rite hand who Dec'd Dec'r 28 1745 aged 78 years

fc 5 days

[The Rev Thomas Hanford was the 1st Pastor of the first church in Norwalk and was ordained 1652. (Cotton

Mather says he was Educated in England). His mother Eglin Hanford aged 46 a widow come to America

in 1635. "She embarked at London 10 Aprl 1635 on the Planter, Nicholas Trarice Master. She brought with her, two daughters Margaret aged 16 and Elizabeth aged

14. She afterwards married Deacon Eichard Sealis of Situate, Mass," her son Thomas is known to have been

in Mass in 1643 and taught school there. "Thomas Hanford married 1st Hannah dau of Thomas Newbury

of Dorchester, no issue is heard of by her; 2nd married Oct 221661 Mary widow of Jonathan Ince the New Haven scholar." She d. 1723 or before. He died probably before 1693, and is said to have been buried under a brownstone tablet lying close tn the ground near where his son Thomas was buried [210].

His children were :

I. Theophilus b. July 201662 "went to

parts unknown [Probate Reeds].

II. Mary b. Nov 301663 married John Edwards

of Fairfield.

III. Hannah b. June 28, 1665.

[Slate.] plot 211

Here lyes Buried the Body of Capt. Elnathan Hanford

who departed this life August ye 24th 1704 iu ye 58th year of his age.

Norwalk after two hundred & fifty years, an account of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the charter of the town, 1651--September 11th--1901; including historical sketches of churches, schools, old homes, institutions, eminent men, patriotic and benevolent work, together with the record of soldiers and sailors enlisted in Norwalk from 1676 to 1898. The civic progress in the last century and statistics of commerce and other miscellany of local interest - Weed, Samuel Richards, 1837-

Thomas Hanford, pastor primus of the town, was a

scholar who fed his flock with the manna of the morning.

A strong mind has such a strong grasp that it is

possible for it of a titan to make a peak. The Hanford

family was a power. The head of it had been college prepared by a master from the Westminster school near

the Parliament House, and was so singularly and susceptibly endowed that even the savage Winnipauke from his twelve miles distant weird and "wild cat" wigwam

was apparently led, as a child, by his hand. He was

called when young to the new settlement and his life

was spent in adherence to convincings which philosophy

then was, and which the whole fraternity of philosophers

now would probably have been, utterly powerless to supplant.

Of the first Mrs. Hanford's family it is told the town

came to one of its members to learn what should be

done and of the mother of the family that she was a foreparent who moved the world. This woman, who died

in a corner house the grass around which home grows in

its original plot in East Norwalk to this hour, married

the titled grandson of Ware, the historian of Ireland,

and so influential were her precepts and potent her pattern that down to our own day and here on one of our

streets, one of her blood who chanced, a stranger in the

town, to tramway pass one of God's Norwalk creations,

involuntarily, with clasped hands remarked its presence.

That crystal stream was to its accidental beholders inherited intuitions a stream which rose in Heaven. Time

may dim and change impair, but it is impossible to wholly eradicate such effective tuition as was imparted

by the first minister of this place and his family.

The ancient historical records of Norwalk, Conn. : with a plan of the ancient settlement : and of the town in 1847 - Hall, Edwin, 1802-1877 "Genealogical register":

THE FIRST MINISTER.

In the great Bible of Capt. Hezekiah Betts, who died

in 1837, aged 77, I find, among other historical memoranda, entered by his own hand, that Thomas Hanford began to preach to the people of Norwalk about the year 1648. As Capt. Betts was so curious about such matters, and so accurate, I had entertained no doubt that his record was correct, and so published it ; but as the people who agreed for the settlement with Mr. Ludlowe, in 1650, engaged to " invite an orthodox and approved minister with all convenient speed," it is clear

that Mr. Hanford was not here in 1648. Trumbull is

doubtless correct, when he says, p. 299, " the same

year [1652] Mr. Thomas Hanford began to preach

at Norwalk, and some time after a church was formed

in that town, and Mr, Hanford ordained pastor. '*

Mr. Hanford's Salary.

At a meeting held by the inhabitants of Norwalke

(1656), agreed and voted, that Mr. Handford shall

have three score pounds allowed for the yere insuing,

by them for his rate, and he is to be paid as followeth:

30 pounds in wheat, and pease, and barley, at the prices

4 shillings per bushell for wheat and barley, and

for pease, 3 shilling per bushell. The other 30 pounds

is to be payed, 8 pounds in and the other 22

pounds is to be payed in beefe and pork at the common

currint prise that it brings, when it is dew.

Mr. Hanford growing old.

IMarch 25, 1686 or 87. The towne did by vote manifest

and declare that they doe desire Mr. Hanford to

proceed in the worke of the ministry, and therein to continue in the sayd work, untill the Lord by his providence shall dispose of him otherwise ;—promising to

indeavor to our ability for to give him due incouragement.

Death of Mr. Hanford.

At a towne meeting. Dee. 26, 1693, voted and agreed

for to allow unto Mrs, Hanford, widow of Mr. Thomas

Hanford, deceased, for his labor and work in the ministry'

the sum of sixty pounds the yeere espireing the

first of March next.

Indian Deed to Mr. Hanford.

Know all men by these presents, that I Winnipank,

Indian Sagamour of Norwalk, do freely Give to my

beloved friend Thomas Hanford, senior, Minister of

Norwalk in ye County of Fairfield, in ye Colony of

Connecticut, my Island of Land Lying against Rowerton,

containing Twenty acres more or less, with all ye

trees, Herbage, and other Appurtenances thereof ; which Island is bounded on y° East with ye Island called

Mamachimins, and Chachanenas, and on ye West with

the point of Rowerton ; I the said Winnipank Do

ly this my act and Deed, Alienate the said Island from

all claims of English or Indians, and as being my peculiar

propriety, never by deed of gift, or sale made over

to any, but now by this my deed I do give it freely to

my beloved friend Thomas Hanford, senr., to possess,

improve, to him and his heirs forever. In confirmation

of this my act or deed, I have set to my hand & seal

this second day of December Anno Domini One thousand six Hundred and Ninety.

The mark of J Winnipank.

Signed, sealed, and deliver- Winnipank Indian, in the presence of subscriber, acknowledged John Greggory, above Instrument to be Samuel Hanford. his free act and deed, before me in Norwalk.

Dec. 28th, 169S, Nathan Gold, Assist.

Mary Handford, the daughter of Mstr Thos. Handford,

borne the thntieth of November, Anno 1663.

Hannah Hanford, the daughter of INIstr Thos. Hanford

borne the twentie eighth of June, Anno 1665.

' EUssabeth Hanford, the daughter of Mstr Thos. Hanford,

borne the ninth of January, Anno 1666.

Thos. Hanford, the sonne of Msir Thos. Hanford, borne

the eighteenth of July, Anno 1668.

Eleazer Hanford, the sonne of Mstr Thos. Hanford, borne

the fifteenth of September, Anno 1670.

Elnathan Hanford, the sonne of Mstr Thos. Hanford,

borne the leaventh of October, Anno 1672.

Samuell Hanford, the sonne of mstr Thos Hanford, borne

References

Wikipedia: Thomas Hanford

GEDCOM Source

@R-1299451368@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::101180052

GEDCOM Source

@R-1299451368@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::101180052

GEDCOM Source

@R-1299451368@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::101180052

GEDCOM Source

@R-1299451368@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::101180052