By Jared L. Olar
October 2007
Our Lobdell ancestors were descended from Lt. Simon Lobdell (1632-1717), an early settler of Milford, Connecticut. Simon, born in Northam, Devonshire, England, was the son of Nicholas Lobdell who settled in Hingham, Massachusetts. The genealogy of Nicholas has been tentatively traced back to Sussex during the 1400s, but may ultimately originate in a family of minor Sussex nobility who lived in the 1200s and 1300s.
The surname Lobdell or Lopdell, sometimes spelled "Lobden," first appears as a medieval placename in Sussex, England, during the 1200s A.D. The name is thought to mean "Spider Dell" or "Spider Valley," from Anglo-Saxon hloppa, "lob" or spider ("lob" and "cob" are archaic English words for "spider," as in "cobwebs"). Genealogical researcher Jared Lobdell thinks Lobdell was a location near the Bourne River in Sussex. The first appearance of this surname is in 1296, in the tax rolls of Ecclesdon and Preston-with-Hove in Sussex, England, where Robert de Loppedell and Agatha (Agnes?) de Loppedell are listed. Continuing with the history of this family, Jared Lobdell comments:
In the next generation were Robert de Loppedell (I assume the eldest son who got the land), William de Loppedell, in orders and apparently a member of the English embassy to France in the matter of the so-called War of St.-Sardos (1322), and Thomas de Loppedell, Rector of East Hoathly in Sussex, who died in the Black Death of 1348-9. The name appears in Roger (a knight if I recall, in Middlesex) in the XIVth c., and then in the line of Stephen Lopdell of the Isle of Horsey, near Eastbourne (Sussex) in 1467 . . . .I will be very interested to see what lineage the M&J people have found for Nicholas Lobdell. It is possible that Nicholas could have crossed in the Mary & John in 1630, then gone back to Devon to get his wife and children, since we know that Simon was b. in Northam in Nov/Dec 1632. There's no other Nicholas available unless we assume without evidence that the Nicholas of 1630 was Nicholas (b. 1578) and the Nicholas of 1635 a putative Nicholas b. 1605 (as Douglas Richardson suggests) -- or the other way 'round. There are no records I know of for any Lobdell births in Northam (Devon) before James, son of Nicholas, in 1629/30, and we know Nicholas (b. 1578 in Eastbourne) was in Northam in 1598. His cousin Nicholas (b. 1575) d. 1621 and names usually skipped a generation in the family. My own guess is that both Nicholas (b. 1575) and Nicholas (b. 1578) served in the Dutch Wars, that they were known as Long Nicholas (b. 1575) and Short ("Kort") Nicholas (b. 1578), that Kort Nicholas is the "Cornelius" Lobden of Greenwich CT legend (first printed 1853) who leapt from the rocks known as Lobden's (now "Aladdin's") Leap, that he had therefore been in the NY/CT area as early as the 1620s, gone back to Devon, come back on the M&J, went back, and finally brought his young family over in 1635. But I have no documents yet to support (or oppose) this. -- Jared Lobdell jlobdell54@hotmail.com http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?nicholas::lobdell::325.html 7 Mar. 2002 ". . . Samuel (b 1699) was the son of Joshua (1671-1742) and Mary Burwell Lobdell (d ca 1710). Joshua was the son of Simon Lobdell (1632-1717) who came with his father Nicholas to Hingham [MA] in 1635. Nicholas (1578-1650?) was the son of William (d 1588) of Eastbourne in Sussex, son of Nicholas (1510?-1546), believed to be son of John (1480?-1543), son of William (1455?-ca 1530), son of Stephen (1430?-ca 1500?), descended from Robert de Loppedell fl. 1296. -- Jared" -- ibid. :387.html 19 July 2003 ". . . and then in the line of Stephen Lopdell of the Isle of Horsey, near Eastbourne (Sussex) in 1467, William (probably his son d. circa 1525), John, William, and Nicholas. The name Lobdell or Lopdell as a placename is supposed to mean Spider Valley (AS hloppa, spider, and dell for valley), which I take to have been a singular location somewhere near the Bourne (river) in Sussex. It would seem that the name is a locative "of Spider Valley" and that the family was of Anglo-Norman stock (Norman because they owned land under Edward I and presumably Henry III but Anglo- because they were not major land holders likely to have preserved pure Norman lines on both sides)."
1. NICHOLAS LOBDELL, My descent is Nicholas (for whom I give the dates 1578-1651), Lt. Simon (1632-1717), Joshua (1671-1742), . . . Nicholas was the son of William (1535?-1588), son of Nicholas (1500?-1546), son of William (1460?-1530?), son (I think) of Stephen (1430?-1500?) of Horsey, nr Eastbourne, Sussex, where the family goes back to at least 1296. In an article in The American Genealogist 1977 (pp. 35-37), Douglas Richardson showed that Simon Lobdell was baptized in Northam, Devon, Dec 1632, son of Nicholas and Jane. He hypothesized that this was an unknown son Nicholas (b 1605) of Nycholas of Eastbourne in Sussex, who was living in Northam in 1598. There is no record whatever of any such Nicholas b. 1605. But there is some indication that Nicholas b 1578 was around the Dutch colony in New Amsterdam ca 1620-23, and probably before: certainly a number of Eastbourners served the Dutch 1600-1620. My reconstruction is that Nicholas of Northam father of Simon was the same Nicholas who was in Northam 1598, with a younger wife (their first son James was b 1625). Simon Lobdell Hereford England-4 Oct 1717, son of Nicholas Lobdell 1578-1650 England, son of William Lobdell 1535-1588 England, son of Nicholas Lobdell 1505-1546 England, son of John Lobdell 1480-1543 England, son of William Lobdell 1455-1525 England, son of Stephen Lobdell d 1467 Horsey, Sssex, England Another database says Nicholas b.1605 Northam, Devon, d.1690 Hingham, Mass., son of William Lobdell d.1588, son of Nicholas Lobdell d.1546, son of John Lopdell d.c.1541, son of William Lopdell d. post 1525. Nicholas Lobdell (b. Devon, Eng. 1594 d. Mass Bay 1641?) was not a Count, so far as I know. Count is not an English title, and N's English ancestry went back at least to the time of Robert de Loppedell in Sussex in the 1290s. Not Nicholas but his son Simon (b. 1632 also in Devon) settled in Connecticut, or rather in New Haven Colony, when he reached manhood. This Nicholas is not to be confused with another Nicholas, apparently of Plymouth and apparently b. 1605 (also Devon?) d. 1690. Nicholas of Hingham had two children in England and three (John, Joseph, and Ann?) in Mass Bay. The Lobdell/Lopdell (also Lobden/Lopden) family seems to have originated in the area around Eastbourne in Sussex at least as early as the XIIIth C. and possibly earlier. Nicholas and William, who were brothers, seem to have left the family wool business in Sussex around the time that the family ship fought against the Armada. They got lands in Sussex for that, but sold them ca 1588 and went to Devon. I guess the seafaring life got to them. The Sussex line of the family died out in the early XVIIIth C. (I think, at least the last reference I've found is to 1705), principally because they received lands in Ireland in the time of Charles II. Charles James Lopdell (their spelling) was Lord Mayor of Galway in the XVIIIth C. So, no Count in the family. A pirate, yes (Cordy Lobden, probably the one guilty of piracy 1618, fled to North America in the land between New Amsterdam and New Haven Colony, rode off a cliff near the present Greenwich CT escaping either Indians or the Law, and gave his name to Lobden's Leap -- now Aladdin's Leap. But no Count. Jared Lobdell Nicholas Lobdell *1605 Northam, Devon ENG +1690 Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts Married Jane *1610 Northam, Devon ENG +1641 05 Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts Nicholas Lobdell Born in 1605 in Northam, DEV. England Died 1635/1646 in Hingham, Massachusetts - (another source says he died 1690) He married about 1625 in Northam, DEV, England: Jane Born 1607 in Northam, DEV, England Died May 1641 in Hingham, Massachusetts Nicholas and Jane are the parents of these three children: (I)--Ann Lobdell Born 1624/1625 in Northam, DEV, England Baptized 1624/1625 in Northam, DEV, England Ann married Samuel Terry of Springfield, Massachusetts Jan. 3, 1660 (II)-Elizabeth Lobdell Born 1631 in Northam, DEV, England - (another source says Aug. 21, 1632 at Harberton, Devon, England) Baptized Aug. 21, 1631 in Northam, DEV, England Died Nov. 11, 1684 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA Elizabeth married Jonathan Burt of Springfield, Hampden Co., MA Oct. 20, 1651 Jonathan Burt.......(Son of Henry Burt and Eulalia March) Born Jan. 23, 1624 Died Oct. 19, 1715
2. LT. SIMON LOBDELL, perhaps son of Nicholas and Jane Lobdell, *1632 12 23 Northam, Devonshire ENG +1717 11 04 Milford, New Haven, Connecticut Christened on day of birth. Married Persis Pierce *1646 Charlestown, Massachusetts, daughter of Thomas Pierce and Elizabeth (*1610) *1606 Charlestown, Massachusetts Christened 1645/1646 01 07 at Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts. "My supposition — after much study — is, that Simon came as a young lad with one of a party from Hereford, England (a shire in West of England, bordering on Wales) in 1645, at which time history tells us the second party came — that his sisters Ann and Elizabeth came at same time but remained in Boston. "From public records at Milford it appears that Simon Lobdell, in 1646, had given him by the 'first planters' of the town, for a house lot, a triangular shaped half-acre of ground. In 1655 we find his name given as a resident of Milford. He took the freeman's oath at Hartford, Conn. May 21, 1657 ... He went to Springfield, Mass., ... there he was prison-keeper from 1666 to 1674... and accumulated considerable property. In 1681 Simon purchased 60 acres (but was not a settler) at Stony River, between Springfield and Windsor, and had interests in Hull, Mass., in 1682. No proof of his marriage nor birth of Mary, his first child, has been found, but I assume without proof that he married Persis Pierce. Simon returned to Milford, Conn., where his wife Persis was admitted to the First Church of Milford, 7 January, 1677... At Milford, his children married and there Simon died, previous to 4 Oct., 1717..."
3. JOSHUA LOBDELL, son of Simon and Persis Lobdell, was born on 23 December 1671 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Joshua married Mary Burwell, daughter of John and Alice Burwell, on 11 August 1695 in Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut.3 The ceremony was performed by Governor Treat.3 Joshua and Mary had at least 6 children. These children are Samuel, Sarah, Joshua, Mary, Ebenezer and Susannah.3 Mary died circa 1710, leaving Joshua a widower.3 According to Sallinger, "After the death of Mary, Joshua (the elder), with his children, moved to Ridgefield, CT in 1712. On March 3, 1712 Joshua bought one twenty-ninth part of the town of Ridgefield from Mr. James Brown of Norwalk, CT." He continued to purchase additional land throughout his life.3 Joshua married Eunice Olmstead, daughter of Lieutenant John Olmstead and Mary Benedict.4 Joshua and Eunice had at least 7 children. These children are Sarah, Caleb, John, Darius, Elizabeth, Simon and David.5 Joshua died before 31 October 1743.6 Children of Joshua Lobdell (I) and Mary Burwell: Samuel Lobdell b. 2 Feb 1699 Sarah Lobdell b. 1 Feb 1702, d. before 1714 Joshua Lobdell (II) b. 16 Mar 1703, d. 1767 Mary Lobdell b. 30 Oct 1704 Ebenezer Lobdell b. 24 Feb 1707, d. 1801 Susannah Lobdell b. 27 Feb 1709 Children of Joshua Lobdell (I) and Eunice Olmstead: Sarah Lobdell+ b. 27 Sep 1714 Caleb Lobdell b. 1 Feb 1716, d. 17 Jan 1803 John Lobdell b. 21 Aug 1721, d. 1778 Darius Lobdell b. 18 Oct 1729, d. 29 Nov 1796 Elizabeth Lobdell b. 14 Nov 1732, d. c 1790 Simon Lobdell b. 1739 David Lobdell b. 1739
4. EBENEZER LOBDELL, son of Joshua and Mary Lobdell, Born: 24 FEB 1707/8 Married: 28 DEC 1732 Died: 1801 in: Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut Wife: Rebecca BENEDICT, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Benedict. Ebenezer Lobdell was born on 24 February 1707 in Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut.1 He was the son of Joshua Lobdell (I) and Mary Burwell.1 According to Sallinger, after the death of their mother, Joshua (the elder), moved with his children Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Connecticut in 1712.1 Ebenezer married Rebecca Benedict, daughter of Thomas Benedict and Elizabeth Barnum, on 28 December 1732.1 Sallinger writes, "According to history, Ebenezer was one of the principal inhabitants of Ridgefield in 1784. . . According to Fairfield Co. Court Records, in 1751 Ridgefield court granted him a license to keep public house and sell strong drinks."1 Ebenezer died in 1801 in Ridgefield.1 He was about 94 years old.
5. SUSANNAH LOBDELL, daughter of Ebenezer and Rebecca Lobdell, born 9 July 1758 at Ridgefield, Connecticut; died at the age of 83 on 5 Aug. 1841, at the Ridgefield home of her granddaughter Sarah Ann (Gray) Roberts. She married DANIEL RIGGS, only child of Joseph and Mary Riggs, born circa 1762 at Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, died 6 June 1793. Daniel and Susanna resided at Ridgefield, where their four children were born:
10. SAMUEL RIGGS, born 20 May 1785.
-- ISAAC RIGGS, born 5 March 1787, md. Marinda Smith.
-- POLLY RIGGS, born 6 July 1791.
-- DANIEL RIGGS, born 16 May 1793.
Riggs Genealogy Resources:
Oxford Past (History of Oxford, Connecticut, incl. our Riggs genealogy)Descendants of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven (Incl. ancestry of Carl Spencer Riggs Sr.) Murrayville Cemetery Index Riggs Family Genealogy Forum Riggs Genealogy Message Board Riggs Genealogy Email List Archives
Children of Albert and Luvenia Riggs (with errors) Riggs burials in Murrayville