The Stanton Family |
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The history of my Stanton family in New England starts with Thomas who was born about 1609 in England and became distinguished among the first planters of Stonington, Conn. He was the son of Thomas and Katherin Washington Stanton. He m. Anna, daughter of Thomas and Dorothy Lord, in 1637. As a young man he was educated to become a cadet. Not liking the military, and holding a deep interest in the religious principles of the migrating Puritans, he left England in 1635, in the ship Bonaventure. Landing first in Virginia, then leaving immediately for Boston. On his way north he mingled with the natives quickly learned their language and customs. Once in Boston, Winthrop and his associates recognized him a man with valuable skills. The next year the Boston authorities selected him for a mission to Saybrook, Conn. He was to serve as interpreter in the company of Mr. Fenwick and Hugh Peters, they were to meet with the Pequot Indians about the murder of Capt. Stone and Newton. After the meeting Thomas went up to Hartford, and settled there in 1637. Thomas' knowledge of the language and character of the Indians soon gave him prominence in the new settlements of Connecticut. His first year in Hartford, the General Court gave him ten pounds for services already done for the country. It was also declared that he should be a public officer, to attend the court upon all occasions, either general or particular, at the meetings of the magistrates, to interpret between them and the Indians, at a salary of ten pounds per annum. He was a man accustomed to speaking his own mind, and acting upon his own convictions, and maintained his position in many legal matters. This created a number of problems for him. Disagreements with the policies of Capt. Mason and the court relative to the treatment of the Indians arose. At some point they discontinued his salary for two years, alleging long absence as the cause, and appointed Mr. Gilbert to take his place, but in 1648 they restored him to the place with compensation. He became the intimate and special friend of Gov. Winthrop Jr. of Connecticut, acting as his interpreter in all of his dealings with the Indians. During an interview with Ninigret in the Narragansett country, Thomas became acquainted with the Pawcatuck Valley, and selected it for his future residence. He was the first white man who joined Mr. William Chesebrough in his new settlement. In February, 1650 he was given liberty to erect a trading house there. In the following spring he erected his trading house on the west bank of Pawcatuck river, in Stonington, in 1651. In 1643, after the articles of confederation between the New England colonies had been established, he was chosen above all of the distinguished interpreters of New England, to be interpreter general. In this capacity he would be consulted and relied upon in all emergencies. Especially between the ministers employed by the Commissioners of the United Colonies, acting as agents of the London Missionary Society, and the Indians, to whom they preached. He also aided the Rev. Abraham Pierson in the translation of his catechism into the Indian tongue, certifying to the same in his official capacity. Thomas took an active part in Stonington town affairs, he became prominent, and was elected to almost every position of public trust in the new settlement. In 1658, when Pawcatuck was included in the town of Southertown, under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, he was appointed selectman and magistrate. After Pawcatuck was set off to the Connecticut Colony by the charter of 1662, he was appointed magistrate and commissioner, and re-appointed every year up to the time of his death. He was elected deputy or representative to the General Court of Connecticut in 1666 and re-elected every year up to 1675. When courts were, first established in New London County in 1666, Major Mason, Thomas Stanton, and Lieut. Pratt of Saybrook, were appointed judges. Thomas took a prominent part in town, county and State affairs from 1636, when he acted as interpreter at Saybrook, until near the close of his life. His name is connected with the leading measures of the colony, and with almost every Indian transaction on record. In 1670, Uncas, the Mohegan sachem, went from Mohegan to Pawcatuck for Mr. Stanton to write his will, taking with him a train of his noblest warriors to witness the same, giving to the occasion all the pomp and pageantry of savage royalty. He d. Dec. 2, 1677, aged 68 years. His will was probated in June, 1678. His widow survived him about eleven years, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Noyes, at Anguilla in Stonington, Conn. Thomas Stanton along with William Chesebrough, Walter Palmer, Thomas Minor, and George Dennison, were the founders of Stonington (Southerton) Conn. Their decendants played leading roles in that town. CHILDREN: |
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