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Grant Resources

Letter from Abigail Grant to Azariah Grant, 1776, questioning whether he proved a "Grand Coward" at the battle of Bunker Hill

Will of Matthew Grant

Abstract of Azariah Grant Probate Papers, VT, 1826

Abstract of Azariah Grant Probate Papers, VT, 1819

The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 by James Savage

Grant Family 1601-1898, Descendants of Matthew Grant of Windsor, Conn., by Arthur Hastings Grant, 1898

Grant Family Magazine, edited by Arthur Hastings Grant

Sue Lescher

Ancestry of American Presidents, Gary Boyd Roberts, 1995

Bementfamily.com

Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., PA  containing biographical and genealogical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settlers, by John Franklin Meginness, 1903 through HeritageQuest Online.

Robert Vose and his Descendants, by Ellen F. Vose, 1932

Matthew Grant diary, written between 1637 and 1654, at the Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT, oldest diary in its collection.

Windsor Historical Society, 96 Palisado Avenue, Windsor, CT 06095, email info@windsorhistoricalsociety.org

God's Acre by Barney E. Daley

History of Ancient Windsor by Henry R. Stiles, 1892

Barbara Lewis

Berlin Town Records

Probate Records of Washington County, VT, at Montpelier Probate Court


From Barbara Lewis, 2/19/2006
From Women's Letters, America from the Revolutionary War to the Present, edited by Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler, The Dial Press, October 2005

ABIGAIL GRANT TO AZARIAH GRANT

By the summer of 1776, the fighting between the British and the colonists had been going on for more than a year, and it would continue on land and at sea until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. Anywhere from two hundred thousand to twice that number of American colonial men would fight at one point or another (estimates vary greatly, as many men enlisted more than once). But the fighting, as this letter from a wife to her husband suggests, was not always done in the most heroic fashion.

The original of this letter has not been found; the text below comes from a copy that was discovered among the papers of an old Connecticut family and reprinted in a nineteenth-century collection (The Huntington Letters in the Possession of Julia chester Wells, ed. W.D. McCrackan, pp 174-75. New York: Appleton Press, 1897)

August ye 19th a.d. 1776

Loving Husband

after Love to I would inform you that we are well through Gods mercy upon us and through the Same Mercy I hope these Lines will find you well also I keep riting to you again & again & never can have only one Letter from you tho I hear by Captn Wm Riley news that makes me very Sorry for he Says you proved a Grand Coward when the fight was at Bunkers hill & in your Surprise he reports that you threw away your Cartridges So as to escape going into the Battle I am loath to believe it but yet I must unless you will write to me & inform me how it is, And if you are afraid pray own the truth & come home & take care of our Children & I will be Glad to Come & take your place, & never will be Called a Coward, neither will I throw away one Cartridge but exert myself bravely in so good a Cause. So hopeing you will let me know how it is, & how you do, So bidding you farewell, wishing you the best of heavens Blessings & a Safe & manlike return, subscribing myself your Loveing wife untill Death

Abigail Grant


 

Will of Matthew Grant of Windsor, Connecticut, dated 9 December, 1681

I Matthew Grant of Windsor, beinge aged and under present weakness, yet of Competency of understandinge, doe by this declare my Last Will concerning the dispose of my Estate as followeth:

1st, I doe declare that my son Samuel, my eldest son, is already satisfied with the portion I made over to him in Lands already recorded to him, and that is my will concerning him.

2dly, Concerninge my son Tahan, my will is that he shall have as a legassy, payd to hime in Country paye by my son John, the full some of five pounds, and this to bee payd two yeers after my decease. Alsoe I doe appoynt hime to gather upp all the debts oweinge to me in this towne or elsewhere, and my will is hee my son Tahan shall have them for his owne.

3dly, my will is that my son John, with whome I have lived some time, I doe give to hime all my meadow land in the great meadow; also I give to hime my pasture land lyeinge belowe the hill agaynst Thomas Dibles home lott and my owne. Alsoe, I doe give hime, the sayd John, my home lott and orchard with the ould houseinge which I built before hee came to dwell in itt. Alsoe I doe give to hime my wood lott lyeing in the quarter lotts. Alsoe I give to my son John all the rest of my estate exceptinge my wearinge cloathes. My son John shall paye to my son Tahan five pounds as is already expressed in my will concerninge hime, at the time and manner afforesayd, and alsoe unto my Daughter Humphreys five pounds in Country pay, two yeers after my decease. Alsoe my will is and I doe give my Daughter Humphrey as a Legassy five pownds, to bee payde in country paye two yeers after my decease.

Alsoe I doe make my son John sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament.

As Witness my Hand:
Witness: John Loomys senr, Thomas X Dibble.
Matthew Grant. Ls.
Invt. œ118-18-06. Taken 10 January, 1681-2, by Thomas Dible sen., John Loomis.
Court Record, Page 51 -- 2 March, 1681-2:
Will proven.

Source: A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS: 1677 to 1687. Page 88
Name: Matthew Grant
Location: Windsor
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Abstract of Azariah Grant Probate Papers, VT, 1826
Joshua Y. Vail appointed administrator, Oct. 5, 1826, because widow didn't take out letters within 30 days. Same day Charles Bulkley and George Worthington appointed committee to appraise the estate. Joshua Vail says estate is insolvent and insufficient to pay just claims so George Worthington and Charles Bulkley appointed to receive, examine and adjust all claims and demands, must post notification in two public places in Berlin and Montpelier. Appraisal includes 110 acres at $175 plus various household goods totaling $295.11.
Oct. 31, 1825 widow requests list of articles to be assigned her out of the estate totaling $120.60.
March 21, 1826 commissioners make report to Court re claims settled against the estate in the amount of $128.36. May 6, 1826 Administrator applies to sell real estate to pay debts.
June 5, 1826 Phoebe Grant, widow, presents petition to court representing 50 to 70 acres free from incumbrances and thereby right of Dower should be set off to her.
July 14, 1826 committee reports that 60 acres in Berlin, part of Lot 11 in the 14(?) range drawn to the right of Matthew Brett amounting to $126.00. then set off to Phoebe as dower 218 3/4 acres amounting to $42.
Aug 21, 1826 Court Court says all concerned be notified.
Aug 2, 1826 sold to Edward B. Brown for $69 Lot No. 11 in the 12th range to the right of Matthew Britt except 50 acres off from the west end and encumbered with a mortgage to Kenny Timber (?) of $101.
Sept. 19. 1826 final accounting, personal estate $120.61, sale of real estate $69.90, total $189.51, all debts and claims $189.51.

Abstract of Azariah Grant Probate Papers, VT, 1819
Feb. 27, 1819, Montpelier Probate Court, Abigail Grant appointed administratrix.
March 5, 1819 estate appraisal $80.75.
April 1, 1819 widow application for articles to be assigned to her totaling $80.75
 


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