Thomas HANFORD
HUSBAND:
[F8034]. Thomas HANFORD.
Son of Jeffry HANFORD [16068] and Eglin HATHERLY [16069]4. He was probably born in Devonshire, England.
He came from England about 1642. His mother had arrived in New England in 16354, but he did not come until this time1. Persecution of Puritan clergymen and their adherents during this period forced many to embark secretly from their native England. Thomas was probably one of these, for there is no record of the ship in which he came, nor of the date of his sailing or arrival4. Another indication of this is Cotton Mather's hint that he had studied for the ministry in England. He probably landed at Boston4. He settled at Scituate, Massachusetts1.
In 1643 his name appears on a "list of all who are able to bear arms in the New Plymouth Colony".4 In 1643 he also witnesses the will of his brother-in-law, Edward FOSTER. In 1650 he became a Freeman in Massachusetts Colony4. He became a teacher in Roxbury, Massachusetts1.
On 29 OCT 1651 he desired to move to New Haven, Connecticut, but sought help with transportation. By 14 NOV 1651 he had already moved to New Haven, and it was proposed by the court to provide funding to hire him as a school teacher. This was approved, and on 17 NOV 1651 he was hired as school master at 20 pounds per year, plus "chamber and diet", and 30 shillings to pay for his expenses in moving there4. About MAR 1652 "the governor acquainted the court that he hears the school master is somewhat discouraged because he hath so many English scholars which he must learn to spell, which was never the town's mind, as appeared in the order which was now read. And it was now ordered that the school-master shall send back such scholars as he sees does not answer the first agreement with him, and that parents of such children were desired not to send them". The school was chiefly intended for Latin scholars4.
On 17 JUN 1652 "the Governor informed the court that one of Norwalk had been with him to desire liberty for Mr. Hanford's remove to be helpful to that plantation in the work of the ministry: also Mr. Hanford himself, who saith he finds his body unable, and that it will not stand with his health to go on in his work of teaching school, and therefore desires liberty to take his opportunity, which liberty he did reserve when he agreed with the town; the record of which agreement being read, it so appeared. Therefore, if his mind was so set, they could not hinder him, but a convenient time of warning was desired, which he granted, if it was a month or two4." "From the foregoing it should not be understood that Mr. Hanford was in feeble health. The population of New Haven at that time was wsome 800 people, and teaching their children of all ages was undoubtedly arduous4."
Therefore, it is probable that he moved to Norwalk in the summer of 16524. Also in 1652 he married (1st) Hannah NEWBERRY, daughter of Thomas NEWBERRY pr Dorchester, Massachusetts4. They had no known children4. It is probable that he married Hannah before his removal to Norwalk, and even possible that Golding4 is in error about the date 1652, so that he could have married before he moved to New Haven in OCT 1651.
In 1652 in Norwalk the table of the grants of homelots to the first settlers says there was set to "Mr. Hanford, 4 acres, Bounded East by Town's highway, west by John Bowten's homelot, North by Town's highway, south by John Ruscoe's home-lot4."
On 18 DEC 1653 "it was agreed by the Townsmen about Mstr. Hanfords house, which was to be 26' in length and 16' in breadth, but upon further consideration, the frame was to be 31' in length and 18' in breadth4." On 18 MAY 1654 at the Court of Election Thom: Hanford of "Norwack" was among the names of those who were "Mayde free4." He was said that he was ordained a Reverend in 1652 at Norwalk, Connecticut. However, Golding4 says that it was in 1654, which is most probable, since he was made a freeman then.
It is believed he completed his studies with Rev. Charles Chauncey, afterwards second President of Harvard4. Cotton Mather, in his "Magnalia" mentions him as of that class of "Young Scholars, whose education for their designed Ministry, not being finished, yet came over from England with their Friends, and had their education perfected in this Country before the College was come into Maturity enough to bestow its Laurels4." It therefore appears that he began his religious education in England4.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Norwalk in 1656, his rate was fixed at 3 score pounds to be paid in goods4. On 3 JAN 1659 the inhabitants voted to build a meeting house. This meeting house served for 20 years4.
He married (2nd) on 22 OCT 16614 at New Haven,4 (Norwalk5), Connecticut Mary MILES4 [8035].
On 8 OCT 1663 he was appointed by the General Assembly at Hartford to serve with two others to hear differences between the Church of Christ at Stratford and one John Thompson4.
On 8 OCT 1674 The General Court at Hartford granted him 200 acres1,4. He received other grants overthe next 20 years4. He received a deed of Winnipauk, Indian Sagamore of Norwalk4.
He was mentioned in the will of his uncle, Timothy HATHERLY of Scituate, Massachusetts4.
In 1686 he is mentioned as a patentee in the Patent taken by the Township of Norwalk for its various grants of land, pursuant to an order of the General Court at Hartford4. On 25 MAR 1686-7 he was confirmed in his work of the ministry by the townspeople of Norwalk4.
He died about DEC 16934. The inventory of his estate was taken on 4 JAN 16941. He was buried in East Norwalk, Connecticut4.
WIFE:
[8035]. Mary MILES.
Daughter of Richard MILES3 [16070]. She married (1st) on 12 DEC 16544 at New Haven, Connecticut4 Jonathan INCE3,4. She married (2) on 22 OCT 1661 at New Haven Connecticut Thomas HANFORD3 [8034]. Her husband Thomas died in DEC 16933. On 23 JAN 1694 she applied for the administration of her husband's estate3. On 13 MAR 1693 (undoubtedly 1694) she filed the inventory of her husband's estate3. On 6 DEC she was discharged from the trust of her husband's estate3. On 3 JUN 1723 at a town meeting, after appointing a committee to seat the new meeting house, they voted Mrs. Hanford into the pew with Mrs. Buckingham3. She died 12 SEP 17303, probably at Norwalk, Connecticut.
CHILDREN of Thomas HANFORD [8034] and Mary MILES [8035]::
- Theophilus HANFORD. Born 29 JUL 1662 at Norwalk, Connecticut. He did not marry. He died by 1705.
- Mary HANFORD. Born 30 NOV 1663 at Norwalk, Connecticut. She married John EDWARDS.
- Hannah HANFORD. Born 28 JUN 1665 at Norwalk, Connecticut. She married Joseph PLATT.
- [4017]. Elizabeth HANFORD. Born 9 JAN 1666-7 at Norwalk, Connecticut. She married John BURR. She died before 1708.
- Thomas HANFORD. Born 18 JUL 1668 at Norwalk, Connecticut. He married Hannah LOCKWOOD, widow of John BURWELL. He died 7 JUN 1743.
- Eleazer HANFORD. Born 15 SEP 1670. He married Hannah FRISBIE. He died before 1728.
- Elnathan (Nathan?) HANFORD. Born 11 OCT 1672 at Norwalk, Connecticut. He married (1) about 1695 to Sarah WILSON. He married (2) 26 JUN 1700 to Abigail, widow of LOCKWOOD.
- (CPT) Samuel HANFORD. Born 5 (22-Golding) APR 1674. He married Isabelle HAYNES, dau. of William HAYNES. He died 2 FEB 1751.
- Eunice HANFORD. Born in MAR 1675-6. She married about 1700 to Gersham BULKELEY. She died by 1706.
- Sarah HANFORD. Born in MAY 1678. She married 27 DEC 1705 to Samuel COMSTOCK.
SOURCES:
- History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield. Donald Lines Jacobus. 1930. DAR:Fairfiled, CT. Pg. 256.
- The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy. Frederick A. Virkus. 1925. A.N.Marquis & Co.:Chicago, Ill. Vol.1:141,644.
- HANDY-10.
- Descendants of Rev. Thomas Hanford. Augustus C. Golding. 1936. Scituate, MA/Norwalk, CT. Vol.1:cx.
- Descendants of Rev. Thomas Hanford. Paul W. Prindle. 1981. Hanford, Vol.2:2.