Individual Details
John Gregory Sr.
( - Abt Sep 1689)
See "The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America" by Henry Marvin Benedict dated 1870, page 50.
Per "Connecticut Vital Records to 1870" (The Barvour Collection) (n.d.), Vol. Norwalk page 10: John Benedict Jr. married Phebe Greggarie, daughter of John on 11 Nov. 1670.
See burial info on John Benedict who died 11 Nov. 1729 for info on his wife's parents at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33502497.
http://www.themorrisclan.com/GENEALOGY/GREGORY%20John%20F2130.html -
HUSBAND:
[F2130]. John GREGORY. [see PC M2-10].
Born December 16, 1615 in St. Peter's Parish, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; son of Henry GREGORY [F4260] and Mary [F4261].
He was a shoemaker.
He married Sarah ST. JOHN [F2131] (about 1635/1637-S3)(1636-S8)(in 1637-S5,S14) at (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England-S3,S5).
He is NOT the John Gregory that married Sarah Burt and Elizabeth Brightman. They were at least a generation earlier. In any case, he was already in New England, and his will mentions his wife Sarah.
There is no record of John at Springfield, Massachusetts. Was he the John Gregory who was a proprietor in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in 1638? Plymouth Colony records dated January 7, 1638/9 show that a John Gregory was granted six acres of land at the west end of New Field (possibly later called Barnstable, where a William Crocker is found and John Gregory's sister Anne married a man by the same name in New Haven). (S20).
He is later settled at New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, and was admitted member of the New Haven Court on 24 February 1644-1645. He lived in the Yorkshire quarter of New Haven, with a property of six acres acquired from John Evance? (S20).
So he was in New Haven, Connecticut in 1644. However, it is said that his son John was born in New Haven in 1636, and his son Jachin in 1640-42. If that is true, he was there at least by 1636.
On 25 May 1646 it was ordered "that Bro. Seely & Brother Gregory doe looke that noe hydes come out of the tanners hands but those that are well tanned & that they seal them if they do allow them & that they have 4d per hyde for viewing of them." On 6 June 1648, "Brother Seely" again complained about the quality of the work of several tanners, including John. (S20).
On 31 January 1647-1648; "that as hides were nearly as cheap here as in England shoes might be sold more reasonably in New Haven than they were selling." John then deposed; " to the courte that a good while since there was a pare of shooes spake of in courte wch he sould William Paine, of the tenns [size 10], French Falls, at 5s 10d, at wch their was some offence taken, and he condemes himself that he hath let it lye so long uncleared, but now he presented a noat in courte wch showed the perticulers howe they did amount to so much, under two shooemakers hands, but the courte professed they could not see cause shooes should be sould at this rate." (S20).
January 8, 1648/9 noted that "John Cooper acquainted the court that he finds great difficultie in viewing fences, because some are gone out of towne & other agoeing & leave none to take order about their fences." John Gregory is mentioned as being absent. John sold property to Thomas Wheeler, and removed to Startford, CT. (S20).
Property in Stratford included; "Item two house lotts five acres and a halfe more or less buting east upon the highway and west upon the swampe bounded with Thomas uford on the north and John Hurd on the south. (S20).
Item two acres in the old feyld more or less buting north upon the highway and south upon the fresh pound bounded with Richard Booth on the east and John Curtis on the west."
These properties were on the west side of what later became Main St. between South Avenue and Birdsey Street, opposite the lot of William Crooker, his brother-in-law. He also owned four acres on the west side of "neesing-paw reef in the new feyld." (S20).
He apparently moved to Stratford, Connecticut in 1650 with planter Roger Ludlow. He was a sealer at Stratford, Connecticut; that is, he caught seals for food or used them for oil for lamps.
By 1651 or 1653 he had left Stratford. Records show that John Peacock purchased John's land during this time frame. By the fall of 1653, John settled in the new town of Norwalk. A record dated 24 April 1654 shows that the town ordered "that the allotments to beginne to be layed out as following; Videlicett to beginne at the end of the hither plaine where John Greggory mowed last year." John had lot "No. 1" with four acres of it being an original grant, supporting the conclusion that he was an early settler to the town. (S20).
He was a Selectman in March 1656-1657 and again in the years 1665, 1666, and 1669. (S20).
He was appointed Cow Herder in the year 1659. (S20).
He was selected as Deputy for Norwalk in October 1659, October 1662, May 1663, October 1663, March (May) 1665, October 1667, May 1668, May 1669. October 1669, October 1670, October 1671, May 1672, October 1672, May 1674, October 1675, October 1677, October 1678. May 1679, October 1680, and May 1681. (S20).
On 12 September 1660 he is named as "constubull for the Third yer insuing." (S20).
" March 11, 1662. John Gregorie arrived here [New Amsterdam] yesterday from New England, requested further answer to the propositins of some Englishmen . . . . The following answer was given to him . . . that there was no fnudamental difference in religion between the two and only slight difference in church government and in civil justice. The bearer, your present messenger and agent John Gregorie being not further instructed, we shall break off for the present." (S20).
On 20 January 1665-1666; "Goodman Greggorie [was] to have liberty to buy the homelot of Stephen Beckwith [of four acres], to build a fence across the creek by his house and shopp, thefence to have a gate and pair of barrs." (S20).
In 1666: Robert Treat and John Gregory, after consulting with Governor Cataret of New Jersey, chose the site of Newark which was settled by families from New Haven, Milford, Guilford, and Branford. When the first division of lands was made, John drew lot 41 "upon consideration that he come with his family to build and inhabit the same about two years." The town sold his lot in 1668 to Henry Lyon, and in 1669 disposed of an upland lot "that was formerly laid out to John gregory, if he had come to town." (S20).
On 2 January 1670, the town challenged his right of ownership "of the lands he howlds from the right of James the Indyan" as well as his right to "Cokkanus Island." The town traded him other lands in return for the island, so that it - like the other islands in Norwalk - would remain common property. Gregory's Point which extended into the harbor from his house lot also belonged to him and it is presently owned by the Norwalk Country Club with Gregory Boulevard running into it. His total holdings were valued at £188.10.00 in 1655, and had increased to £253.10.00 in 1671.
June 1, 1670, on a committee to mark out the bounds between the Norwalk and Saketuk Rivers. (S20).
June 26, 1672, sent to a special meeting of the Legislature to consider war with Holland over the Dutch colony of Nieuw Nederland. 1674, appointed the sealer of leather. (S20).
His will was dated 15 AUG 1689 at Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut. (S2,S20). His will was probated on 9 Oct 1689 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He therefore apparently died between 15 AUG and 9 OCT in 1689 in Norwalk (Danbury-S4,S17), Fairfield County, Connecticut. He left most of his estate to his wife, Sarah; with his two daughters to receive equally, and son-in-law James Benedict to have as much as John Benedict had.
August 15, 1689; " Know all men by thes pres yt I John Gregory of ye Town of Norwalk in ye County of fairefield in the Colony of Conocticut upon Right Consideration moveing me thereunto: do freely give unto my beloved wife Sarah Gregory all my moveable goods houshoulds, cattle, chattels, and all moveables in house and shop, I doe by this my act and deed pass over to ye sd Sarah my wife to be actually possesed of ye moveable estate and to be hers to despose of after my deseace according to her owne will and descretion amongst the Children.
I doe also give to my said beloved Sarah my book of acct and all debts therin and what bills of debt are oweing me I pass them over by deed of gift to my sd wife provided ye sd Sarah shall see yt what I owe to any upon these account be duly paid wch is not [?] to wt is owed to me.
I do also give to my sd wife Sarah all my Lands not desposed of by deeds of gifte only shee shall after my deseace either despose ye sd Lands and [give?] ye prise and monyes of them amongst my two daughters by an equall proportion to each making ye devition by judisius descretion.
Jams Bennidick my son in Law may have so much as to answer ye worth as neer as may of that medow given to John Bennedick in Consideration of the deed only cautioning my beloved wife to remember the granchildren in her dissposall of the goods given her.
I have set to my hand and seale this fifteenth of Agust in ye yeer of our Lord 1689."
Per "Connecticut Vital Records to 1870" (The Barvour Collection) (n.d.), Vol. Norwalk page 10: John Benedict Jr. married Phebe Greggarie, daughter of John on 11 Nov. 1670.
See burial info on John Benedict who died 11 Nov. 1729 for info on his wife's parents at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33502497.
http://www.themorrisclan.com/GENEALOGY/GREGORY%20John%20F2130.html -
HUSBAND:
[F2130]. John GREGORY. [see PC M2-10].
Born December 16, 1615 in St. Peter's Parish, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; son of Henry GREGORY [F4260] and Mary [F4261].
He was a shoemaker.
He married Sarah ST. JOHN [F2131] (about 1635/1637-S3)(1636-S8)(in 1637-S5,S14) at (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England-S3,S5).
He is NOT the John Gregory that married Sarah Burt and Elizabeth Brightman. They were at least a generation earlier. In any case, he was already in New England, and his will mentions his wife Sarah.
There is no record of John at Springfield, Massachusetts. Was he the John Gregory who was a proprietor in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in 1638? Plymouth Colony records dated January 7, 1638/9 show that a John Gregory was granted six acres of land at the west end of New Field (possibly later called Barnstable, where a William Crocker is found and John Gregory's sister Anne married a man by the same name in New Haven). (S20).
He is later settled at New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, and was admitted member of the New Haven Court on 24 February 1644-1645. He lived in the Yorkshire quarter of New Haven, with a property of six acres acquired from John Evance? (S20).
So he was in New Haven, Connecticut in 1644. However, it is said that his son John was born in New Haven in 1636, and his son Jachin in 1640-42. If that is true, he was there at least by 1636.
On 25 May 1646 it was ordered "that Bro. Seely & Brother Gregory doe looke that noe hydes come out of the tanners hands but those that are well tanned & that they seal them if they do allow them & that they have 4d per hyde for viewing of them." On 6 June 1648, "Brother Seely" again complained about the quality of the work of several tanners, including John. (S20).
On 31 January 1647-1648; "that as hides were nearly as cheap here as in England shoes might be sold more reasonably in New Haven than they were selling." John then deposed; " to the courte that a good while since there was a pare of shooes spake of in courte wch he sould William Paine, of the tenns [size 10], French Falls, at 5s 10d, at wch their was some offence taken, and he condemes himself that he hath let it lye so long uncleared, but now he presented a noat in courte wch showed the perticulers howe they did amount to so much, under two shooemakers hands, but the courte professed they could not see cause shooes should be sould at this rate." (S20).
January 8, 1648/9 noted that "John Cooper acquainted the court that he finds great difficultie in viewing fences, because some are gone out of towne & other agoeing & leave none to take order about their fences." John Gregory is mentioned as being absent. John sold property to Thomas Wheeler, and removed to Startford, CT. (S20).
Property in Stratford included; "Item two house lotts five acres and a halfe more or less buting east upon the highway and west upon the swampe bounded with Thomas uford on the north and John Hurd on the south. (S20).
Item two acres in the old feyld more or less buting north upon the highway and south upon the fresh pound bounded with Richard Booth on the east and John Curtis on the west."
These properties were on the west side of what later became Main St. between South Avenue and Birdsey Street, opposite the lot of William Crooker, his brother-in-law. He also owned four acres on the west side of "neesing-paw reef in the new feyld." (S20).
He apparently moved to Stratford, Connecticut in 1650 with planter Roger Ludlow. He was a sealer at Stratford, Connecticut; that is, he caught seals for food or used them for oil for lamps.
By 1651 or 1653 he had left Stratford. Records show that John Peacock purchased John's land during this time frame. By the fall of 1653, John settled in the new town of Norwalk. A record dated 24 April 1654 shows that the town ordered "that the allotments to beginne to be layed out as following; Videlicett to beginne at the end of the hither plaine where John Greggory mowed last year." John had lot "No. 1" with four acres of it being an original grant, supporting the conclusion that he was an early settler to the town. (S20).
He was a Selectman in March 1656-1657 and again in the years 1665, 1666, and 1669. (S20).
He was appointed Cow Herder in the year 1659. (S20).
He was selected as Deputy for Norwalk in October 1659, October 1662, May 1663, October 1663, March (May) 1665, October 1667, May 1668, May 1669. October 1669, October 1670, October 1671, May 1672, October 1672, May 1674, October 1675, October 1677, October 1678. May 1679, October 1680, and May 1681. (S20).
On 12 September 1660 he is named as "constubull for the Third yer insuing." (S20).
" March 11, 1662. John Gregorie arrived here [New Amsterdam] yesterday from New England, requested further answer to the propositins of some Englishmen . . . . The following answer was given to him . . . that there was no fnudamental difference in religion between the two and only slight difference in church government and in civil justice. The bearer, your present messenger and agent John Gregorie being not further instructed, we shall break off for the present." (S20).
On 20 January 1665-1666; "Goodman Greggorie [was] to have liberty to buy the homelot of Stephen Beckwith [of four acres], to build a fence across the creek by his house and shopp, thefence to have a gate and pair of barrs." (S20).
In 1666: Robert Treat and John Gregory, after consulting with Governor Cataret of New Jersey, chose the site of Newark which was settled by families from New Haven, Milford, Guilford, and Branford. When the first division of lands was made, John drew lot 41 "upon consideration that he come with his family to build and inhabit the same about two years." The town sold his lot in 1668 to Henry Lyon, and in 1669 disposed of an upland lot "that was formerly laid out to John gregory, if he had come to town." (S20).
On 2 January 1670, the town challenged his right of ownership "of the lands he howlds from the right of James the Indyan" as well as his right to "Cokkanus Island." The town traded him other lands in return for the island, so that it - like the other islands in Norwalk - would remain common property. Gregory's Point which extended into the harbor from his house lot also belonged to him and it is presently owned by the Norwalk Country Club with Gregory Boulevard running into it. His total holdings were valued at £188.10.00 in 1655, and had increased to £253.10.00 in 1671.
June 1, 1670, on a committee to mark out the bounds between the Norwalk and Saketuk Rivers. (S20).
June 26, 1672, sent to a special meeting of the Legislature to consider war with Holland over the Dutch colony of Nieuw Nederland. 1674, appointed the sealer of leather. (S20).
His will was dated 15 AUG 1689 at Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut. (S2,S20). His will was probated on 9 Oct 1689 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He therefore apparently died between 15 AUG and 9 OCT in 1689 in Norwalk (Danbury-S4,S17), Fairfield County, Connecticut. He left most of his estate to his wife, Sarah; with his two daughters to receive equally, and son-in-law James Benedict to have as much as John Benedict had.
August 15, 1689; " Know all men by thes pres yt I John Gregory of ye Town of Norwalk in ye County of fairefield in the Colony of Conocticut upon Right Consideration moveing me thereunto: do freely give unto my beloved wife Sarah Gregory all my moveable goods houshoulds, cattle, chattels, and all moveables in house and shop, I doe by this my act and deed pass over to ye sd Sarah my wife to be actually possesed of ye moveable estate and to be hers to despose of after my deseace according to her owne will and descretion amongst the Children.
I doe also give to my said beloved Sarah my book of acct and all debts therin and what bills of debt are oweing me I pass them over by deed of gift to my sd wife provided ye sd Sarah shall see yt what I owe to any upon these account be duly paid wch is not [?] to wt is owed to me.
I do also give to my sd wife Sarah all my Lands not desposed of by deeds of gifte only shee shall after my deseace either despose ye sd Lands and [give?] ye prise and monyes of them amongst my two daughters by an equall proportion to each making ye devition by judisius descretion.
Jams Bennidick my son in Law may have so much as to answer ye worth as neer as may of that medow given to John Bennedick in Consideration of the deed only cautioning my beloved wife to remember the granchildren in her dissposall of the goods given her.
I have set to my hand and seale this fifteenth of Agust in ye yeer of our Lord 1689."
Events
| Residence | 1653 | Norwalk, Connecticut, British America |  | ||
| Residence | 20 Mar 1656 | Norwalk, Connecticut, British America |  | ||
| Occupation | 1660 | shoe maker - Norwalk, Connecticut, British America | | ||
| Will | 15 Aug 1689 | Norwalk, Connecticut, British America | | | |
| Death | Abt Sep 1689 | Norwalk, Connecticut, British America | | ||
| WikiTree | Gregory-64 | ||||
| LDS Family Tree ID | 93JT-QMG |
Families
| Spouse | Sarah St. John (1614 - 1689) |
| Child | John Gregory Jr. (1636 - ) |
| Child | Judah Gregory (1642 - ) |
| Child | Jachin Gregory (1640 - ) |
| Child | Joseph Gregory ( - ) |
| Child | Thomas Gregory ( - ) |
| Child | Phoebe Gregory (1650 - 1749) |
| Child | Sarah Gregory (1652 - 1694) |
| Father | Henry Gregory ( - 1665) |
Notes
Residence
Google Books "Norwalk: v. 1 and supplement" by Charles Melbourne Selleck, page 79.Will
Google Books "Norwalk: v. 1 and supplement" by Charles Melbourne Selleck, page 81. Thomas Benedict (#2267) was a witneww to this will.Death
Google Books "Norwalk: v. 1 and supplement" by Charles Melbourne Selleck, page 81.Endnotes
1. James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New Engalnd, showing Three Generationsof those who came before May 1692: on the Basis of Farmer's Register in Four Volumes (), Four Vol's, Archive CD Books USA (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1860), Vol. 2 page 312.
2. Donald Lines Jacobus, History and Genealogy of the families of old Fairfield (New Haven, CT: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., 1932), 1A page 236 my ebooks; digital images, Heritage Quest Online, My E-Books: Old Fairfield by Jacobus 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3 ( : accessed .
3. Rev. Charles M. Selleck, A.M., Norwalk, Conn. (Norwalk, Conn.: by author, 1896), page 81; digital images, Google Books ( : accessed .
4. Donald Lines Jacobus, History and Genealogy of the families of old Fairfield (New Haven, CT: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., 1932), 1A page 236 my ebooks; digital images, Heritage Quest Online, My E-Books: Old Fairfield by Jacobus 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3 ( : accessed .