William Westwood

William Westwood

• Son of James Westwood and Elizabeth Worlick
• A 1st settler of Hartford and Hadley and one of the wealthiest.

Biographical Summary:

William Westwood, born about 1606; a power of attorney from his daughter, Mrs. Cook, and her husband (1707), describes him as "formerly dwelling in the country of Essex" in the kingdom of England, Husbandman alias Yeoman." He actually came from Ipswich in Suffolk, England. He travelled to British North America (BNA) aboard the ship" Francis ". The ship sailed from the port of Ipswich, in Suffolk,England; embarked the April,1634 (a. 28), with wife, Bridget (a, M). Settled originally in Cambridge; freeman, Massachusetts. March 4, 1635; sworn "constable of the plantations at Connecticut, Sept 3,1635; one of the committee for ordering affairs at Connecticut, March, 1635-6; at the first court, April 26, 1636, and in every one following, until March, 1637. He was an original proprietor of Hartford, and his home-lot in 1639 was on the west side of the "road from Little River to North Meadow," now Front St. He was chosen townsman, 1640,1647, 1653; deputy, 1642-1649; again in 1651 and 1652, and October 1656. He signed the agreement to remove to Hadley, where he held a prominent place among the first settlers, and was one of the first townsmen chosen; he died in Hadley, April 9, 1669, age about 63. His widow, Bridget, died May 12, 1676, age about 74.

SOURCE James Hammond Trumbull, editor, The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Volume 1 (Boston, Massachusetts: Edward L. Osgood, 1886), page 268. Retrieved: 3 May 2011 from Google Books

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40565897/william-westwood

On Mar. 3, 1630/1 of record at Glemsford, Suffolkshire, England, William Westwood of south adjoining Essex County m. Bridget Kerrington [Willus Westwood and Bridgittam Kerington], dau. of Henry and Elizabeth, bapt. of record Jan. 23, 1602/3 at Glemsford [Parish Recs].

On Apr. 10, 1634 at the Port of Ipswich, England, William, "aged 28 yeres", wife Bridget "aged 32 yeres," along with John Lea [Lee] "aged 13" and Grace Newell "aged 13," sailed on the Francis of Ipwich, Mr. John Cutting master, for New England.

William and Bridget temporarily settled at Cambridge, Mass. where on Mar. 4, 1634/5 William was elected a freeman of the Mass. Bay. By early 1636 he and Bridget relocated to Hartford, Conn. where William was an original proprietor and prominent citizen. His homelot in 1639 was on the west side of the road (later Front Street) north of the Little River facing east to the Connecticut River. This lot was bounded on the north by Stephen Hart and on the south by Matthew Allen. He was one of Hartford's early townsmen (selectman) and a frequent deputy to the Connecticut General Court.

Due to dissention in the Hartford Church following the death of Rev. Hooker, in 1659 William was one of the numerous dissenters that withdrew from the Hartford church and removed to the Mass. Bay to settle the Town of Hadley. At Hadley William was also a prominent member of the Hadley settlement. He d. testate at Hadley Apr. 8, 1669, "aged about 63," where wife Bridget d. testate May 12, 1676, aged 74.

Only one child was known of the marriage, dau. Sarah b. circa 1644 at Hartford. On May 30, 1661 at Hadley, Sarah m. Capt. Aaron Cook, Jr., s. of Capt. Aaron Cook and Joan Denslow, bapt. Feb. 21, 1640/1 at Windsor, Conn. Aaron d. Sept. 16, 1716 at Hadley (g.s.) and the widow Sarah at Hadley Mar. 24, 1729/30 (g.s.) They had eight children b. at Hadley: Sarah, Aaron 3rd, Joanna, Westwood, Samuel, Moses, Elizabeth, and Bridget.

On May 13, 1707 at Hartford, Conn. under seal of Gov. John Winthrop of Connecticut, Capt. Aaron Cook and wife Sarah gave a Letter of Attorney to their friend and kinsman, Col. William Whiting of Hartford, empowering him to seek at England any and all property and estate that may have fallen to Sarah through her father [Conn. Archives, Private Controversies, 6:93a-b]. Two witnesses also testified on behalf of this Letter of Attorney, one being Capt. Cyprian Nichols of Hartford, who stated under seal of Gov. Winthrop:

• And the said Cyprian Nickols, one other of the said Witnesses being about Sixty five years of Age, at the same time being also Solemnly Sworn, did Testifie, declare & Say. That he formerly dwelt in the same house with the said Wm. Westwood, in Hartford aforesaid about the space of thirteen years and was very well acquainted with him. That he hath often heard the said William Westwood say that he formerly dwelt in the County of Essex in England, and had severall Relations of the same Name living in that County. And that the said Sarah Cook is the reputed daughter and only Child of the said William Westwood, begotten and born in Lawfull Wedlock. [ibid, 6:95]

The maintainer of this memorial is a descendant of Capt. Cyprian Nichols, the above cited witness. This 1707 testimony proves that Cyprian was a resident of Hartford, in the William Westwood household, 22 years earlier than printed historical sketches of him admit (by Savage, Goodwin, Hinman and Barbour).