Individual Details

Marriage

New England records. The first record which we have of him is found in the Reverend John Eliot's list of the members of his church in Roxbury, Massa- chusetts, which includes the names of " William Cornewell, " Joane Cornewell, the wife of Willia Cornewell." The date 1633 is given just before and just after the entry of these names.

Event

May, 1637, he was one of the seventy-seven soldiers, all but nineteen of whom were from Hartford and the other Connecticut River towns, who attacked and all but exter- minated the Pequot Indians in their fort at Mystic. Whether he was in Hartford before this campaign, or came from Massa- chusetts with Captain John Underbill, and was one of the nineteen soldiers of Captain Underbill's company who joined the little Connecticut force under Captain Mason at Saybrook, is an open question. It is certain that he was settled in Hart- ford very soon after the Pequot expedition.

Event

he accompanied Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Goodwin in an expedition sent by the Colony of Connecticut to consummate the purchase of Stratford from the Indians.

Event

In 1639, when the land records of Hartford begin, William Cornwall had a house lot of eight acres in the village, "no. 54, west of South Street, south from the Lane," which corresponds to a location near the north end of the present Village Street. One half of his house lot lay in the "Souldier's Field," a choice tract which was divided among the veterans of the Pequot War. His possession at this early date of a share of the "Souldier's Field" confirms the family tradition that he received a grant of land for military services against the Indians. The total amount of land recorded to him in Hartford in 1639 was about sixteen acres.

Event

In the earliest record of his land in Hartford, which is dated Feb., 1639, he is styled "Williani Cornwell, Sergeant-at-Arms." In view of the statement in the Family Tradition that William Cornwall had been "an officer in the King's body-guard," and because of the difficulty of accounting for the presence in this early Hartford record of the unusual title, Sergeant-at-Arms, in any other way than by taking it as a reference to his position in England, it is not unreasonable to suppose that William Corn- wall had been in England one of the sixteen sergeants-at-arms, who, in the time of Charles I, were devoted to the special service of the King, while four more were attendant on the Houses of Parliament and the Lord Chancellor. It is easy to believe that the Hartford recorder put this title after William Cornwall's name because he had known him in England and the position which he held there.

Event

Though an early settler in Hartford, he was not one of the original proprietors of the town. We find his name third in a list of forty-two householders who, in 1640, held their rights of pasturage on the Common and of drawing wood and water "by the courtise of the town."

Event

He removed before March 5, 1648, from the village of Hart- ford to the east side of the Connecticut River at Hocanum. On that date he bound out his second son, William, who was seven years old, to Susannah Hooker of Hartford, widow of the Reverend Thomas Hooker, with provision for his education. The original indenture in the handwriting of Governor Edward Hopkins is still in existence.

Event

he removed with the first settlers to Middle- town, fifteen miles below Hartford on the Connecticut River. There his house lot of five acres, with ten acres on the opposite side of the street, was in the center of the village, "Lower Houses," "near ye landing place, by ye spring," at the southwest corner of the junction formed by the highway leading up from the river and the highway running north and south, which corresponds to the corner of the present Main and Washington Streets.

Event

He was representative from Middletown in the Colonial Leg- islature in 1654, 1664 and 1665. He was constable in 1664.

Event

In 1666 he received a grant of land in East Hartford of twenty-four acres in a general division. This may have been given to him as a veteran of the Pequot War, but it is more likely that he received it as a citizen of Hartford, his rights in which he may have retained. The grant of land referred to in the family tradition was no doubt his four acres in the "Souldier's Field."

Event

In 1667 the General Court at Hartford "freed William Corn- well's head from the paying of rates."

Event

April 7, 1674, he made his will, which he signed with a very feeble hand. In it he speaks of himself as "well stricken in years and much abated in any natural strength."

Event

Nov. 4, 1676, he deeded land on the east side of the Connecti- cut River to his sons William and Samuel. This deed was wit- nessed by his son John Cornwell and his son-in-law John Hall, Jr., "by the assignment of their father Sergeant William Corn- well, he not being able to sign it," which shows that the "abate- ment of his natural strength" alluded to in his will two years before had progressed.

Death

He died in Middletown, Feb. 21, 1678, and was probably buried in the. old cemetery by the Connecticut River, though there are no tombstones standing there of so early a date. His will and inventory are on file in the Hartford Probate office.
"Last will and testament of Sergeant William Cornwell of Middletown. "Whereas I, William Cornwell, Sr., of Middletown, being well stricken in years and much abated in my natural strength (though, through mercy, in as perfect use of my understanding and memory as ordinarily men are of my years), expecting my change to be very near, as duty binds me to prevent all future trouble in consequence to my children and to others, I do leave this as my last will and testament covering that portion of my outward estate which God hath given me as followeth : "Imprimis : I give to my son John Cornwell so much addition to his present house lott out of my house lott as may make up his present house lott the full half of the whole, the sayd addition to be taken out next to the dividing line betwixt us. I also give to my said son John the one half of that wood land in the south division of the land beyond the Mill lying below the land of my son William and William Lucas, the other half of said land to my dauter Sarah Cornwell, this land to be equally divided between them. Moreover I give to my son John two acres of the meadow and swamp at the Riverlet at the eastern end of the meadow and swamp to begin next the Riverlet at the end next the boggy meadow and so to carry a straight line north and south through the said meadow and swamp as it divides the line between the aforesaid two acres and the remaining of my meadow at the Riverlet. "I give to my son William Cornwell ten acres of my land upon the Indian Hill at the east end, the whole breadth of the lot, moreover I give to my said son one third part of my land yet to be divided by the list of 1674 on the east side of the river, the other two thirds of the aforesaid land to my sons Samuel and Thomas equally to be divided between them. I give moreover to my son Samuel one hundred acres of my wood lot at the Long Hill, the remainder to go to my son Jacob. I give moreover to my son Thomas what is aforesayd the remainder of my lott at the Indian Hill, the ten acres as above mentioned being taken out of it. "I give to my dauter Hester Willcox my whole lot on the east side of the River lying against Goodman Coales swamp at the upper end of the rocks west in the pond "I give to my dauter Elizabeth Hall one parsell of upland lying in the Boggy meadow quartered between the bounds of Deacon Hall and my son Samuel Cornwell. "I give my loving wife Mary Cornwell my household, all the buildings, household stuff and moveables whatsoever with the remainder of my meadow at the Riverlet qtiietly and peacefully to enjoy the same with all the benefits thereof during the term of her widdowhood, and also the whole stock of cattle during the said term. It is also my meaning here and will that while my dauter Sarah continues in single state, living with and being a comfort to her mother, she should have her maintenance out of the same so far as her mother's comfort will allow. After my wife her decease I will the above mentioned house, household and meadow land at the Riverlett, remaining to my son Jacob Cornwell, he to pay all just debts and the charges of my decent funeral out of the same, and also to his sister Sarah Cornwell one third part of the valuation of the forementioned housing and land as shall be offered and invited in current pay of the country within twelve months after his possession of the same. In case my wife in the term above mentioned see cause to change her condition by marriage it is then my will that my loving wife should leave all the household stuff whatsoever to Jacob, he to allow her four pounds sterling a year so long as she live in good current pay of the country in case she find need and demand of him, and that at her decease my three daughters shall have the household stuffs equally divided among them, only my son Samuel to have (upon a former promise) one of the feather beds first taken out and delivered to him, and the long table, joynt stools and bedstead in the new room to be left to Jacob with the house. "I request my respected and loving brothers and friends Deacon Stocking and Deacon Hall to be my overseers in order to the execution of this my last will and testament which is that it be so in all respects as above mentioned and so left by me. I witness by subscribing my hand and fixing my seal. William Cornell. [seal] "Signed in the presence of us Nath. White. Nath. Collins, "the 2d. I2th, 1674. "Lieut Nath. White made oath that he and Nath. Collins were present when Sgt. William Cornwell signed and delivered on the other side his last will and Testament. John Allyn, attest, Secretary." "An inventory of the Estate of William Cornwell, lately deceased. "To his wearing apparel, one cloath suit, 25s, one cloath cloak, ii,5s, one pair breeches, 9s, to one cloath cloak 12s, one hatt 6s, £03 . 17 . 00 "To one payre of stockings, 2s, one doublet 8s, to one ioi . 08 . 00 "To one feather bed and bowlster and two pillows £4 . los, one rug and blanket £1 . 2s, io=; . 12 . 00 "To curtains and valiants £1 . to another feather bed and bowlster and one pillow £4 . 5s, £05 . 05 . 00 "To one rug and blanket i8s, one payre of sheets, £1 . To anotlier payre of sheets £1 . to another payre of sheets 8s, £03 . 06 . 00 "To one payre of cotton sheets £1 and one sheet ids. Other old linen 5s. To 5 shirts £1 . 2s, £02 . 17 . 00 "To 9 pillow cases i8s, to four table cloaths iSs, to fourteen napkins 17s . 6d, to six towells, 4s, £02 . 17 . oB "To his books, one bible and 3 small books, los, to seven cushions 14s, to one coat and vest 3s, £01 . 07 . 00 "To one joined bedstead in the best room ii . ids, to a trun- dle bedstead 5s. To a bedstead in the other room 14s, £02 . 09 . 00 "To a desk 8s, to a box 2s, to an old desk, 2s, to 3 chairs 3s, to a joint stool, 12s, to a long table i6s, £02 . 04 . 00 "To his brass, one great kettle £1, to another kettle los, to a warming pan 9s, to two skillets, 5s, £02 . 04 . 00 "To 2 brass candles 12s, to pewter, one great platter, los to 3 platters of a sort 15s, £01.17.00 "To 3 pewter dishes more, iSs, to 2 pewter dishes, 6s, to 4 porringers and a small bason and a saucer 4s, ;£oi . 05 . 00 "To a small bason and 2 dram cups and twelve spoons 4s, to a wine cup and small pewter pot 2s, £00 . 06 . 00 "To two old pewter pots and one pint pot 3s, to a dripping pan IS, 6d, to a cullender, is, 6d, £00 . 06 . 00 "To two small tin pans is, to an aple roster is, to earthern ware, one chamber pot 2s, to one platter 2s, £00 . 06 . 00 "To five earthern ware dishes 3s, to 2 saucers and a porrin- ger and a wine cup is, to two porringers and a salt seler 2s £00.06.00 "To three earthern pots 5s, to 2 stone bottles is, to one cream pot and a pounding pan is, 2 milk pans, 2s, £00 . og . 00 "To two glass bottles is, 6d, to a looking glass 14s, to another bed and blanket and post net £2, £02 . 15 . 06 "To a small kettle and brass ladle and skimer 6s, to one payre of cobjrons i8s, to another pair of cobjrons los, £01 . 04 . 00 "To a gridiron and stirring irons 3s, 6d, to 2 shocking irons 4s, to a hatchet and hamer and other old iron 2s, 6d, £00 . 10 . 00 "To an iron hook and thimble Ss, to a spit 5s, to shiers and payre of tongs 6s, to hammel and hooks 4s, 6d, £01 . 00 . 06 "To an iron pot and pot hooks, 7s, to two milk bowls 4s, to 2 with plowes, 2s, 6d, to 3 dishes, is, £00 . 14 . 06 "To half bushel and payle, 4s, to a payre of cards, 2s, to 15 trenchers, is, to a bottle and small quantity of flax 2s, 4d, £00 . 09 . 04 "To 12 barrells and tubs 12s, to six pounds wool 6s, to 7 bushels of Indian corn, 17s, 6d, to 3 bush rye, gs, £02 . 04 . 06 "To a pilion and pilion cloth 6s, to tallow and candles 3s, to a pair of breeches, a pound of woolen yarn 2s, 8d, to a hand- kerchief 6d, £00 . 12 . 00 "To 4 bands and 2 caps 4s, to 2 knives, 8s, to a baril with pork in it £1, 2s, 2 small pieces of bacon 3s, £01 . 17 . 00 "To a young hog los, to 3 cows £9, to one yearling heifer £2, to 4 ewes and 3 lambs, £1 . i6s, £13 . 06 . 00 "To 3 hogs, £1 . los, to a haulberd 8s, to a frying pan, is, to a payre of — and faril is, £02 . 00 . 00 "To the house and barn and 3 acres of land next to the house, £45 . 00 . 00 To i^ acres of land joyning to the other £8. 5s, to 5 acres of meadow by the ferry, £22 . los, £31 . 15 . 00 "To ten acres of land at the Indian Hill, £6 . los, to 27 acres and Yt. of land at the Long Hill, £20, £26 . 10 . 00 "To 395 acres of land beyond the Mill, £25, to 250 acres of land at Long Hill, £20, £45 . 00 . 00 "To 65 acres of Jand in the boggy meadow quarter £8, to about 24 acres of land over the great river, £14, £22 . 00 . 00 "To 4 acres of land £1, to a great lot over the great river, £12, £13 . 00 . 00 "To a hatchet, £00 . 05 . 00 £251 . 03 . 00 "The children of the deceased which are legatees are John Cornwell and William Cornwell and Samuel Cornwell and Jacob Cornwell and Thomas Cornwell and Sarah Hubbard and Esther Stow and Elizabeth Hall. "Rich Warner Richard Hall John Hall."