Abigail Filer

Notes:

Walter Filer Arrival, Farm, Family and Will
The Great Migration Begins Sketches
PRESERVED PURITAN WALTER FILER ORIGIN: Unknown
MIGRATION: 1633
FIRST RESIDENCE: Dorchester
REMOVES: Windsor 1636
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admission to Dorchester church prior to 14 May 1634 implied by freemanship.
FREEMAN: 14 May 1634 [ MBCR 1:369]. "Walter Fylar" was freeman of Connecticut at Windsor, 11 October 1669 [ CCCR 2:519].
OFFICES: Dorchester fenceviewer, 20 May 1634, 10 February 1634/5 [ DTR 6, 10]; chosen bailiff for six months, 2 November 1635 [DTR 13, 16]; assessor for militia rate, 18 January 1635/6 [DTR 15].
Hartford Particular Court jury………[CCCR 1:55; RPCC 12, 18, 19, 24, 26, 30, 39, 43, 46, 47, 50, 54, 57, 69, 83, 86, 87, 122, 157, 185, 195, 199, 202, 238, 239, 240, 256, 258, 259]. … Appointed recorder of ships clearing Windsor for Saybrook, 5 February 1644/5, 1 December 1645 [CCCR 1:121, 135]. Deputy to Connecticut General Court for Windsor, 3 October 1661 (as "Lt. Walter Filer"), 14 May 1663, 8 October 1663 [CCCR 1:372, 399, 409]. Grand jury, 7 December 1654 [RPCC 132].
Sergeant of the Windsor train band by 1642 [CCCR 1:76; RPCC 17]; appointed ensign 7 June 1660 [RPCC 214]; appointed lieutenant 6 September 1660 [RPCC 219].
ESTATE: Dorchester land of Walter Filer referred to as abuttor of town pound, gate in pales, and driftway for cattle, 3 November 1633, 3 November 1634 and 17 April 1635 [DTR 4, 8, 11]; granted two acres marsh, 27 June 1636 [DTR 16]; in meadows beyond Neponset, received Lot #30, six acres [DTR 321].
On 8 May 1673 Connecticut General Court granted to "Lt. Walter Fyler the sum of one hundred and fifty acres of land, provided he take it up where it may not prejudice any former grant" [CCCR 2:194].
In his will, dated 14 September 1679 and proved 6 March 1683/4, "Walter Fyler of Windsor" bequeathed to "my wife" his entire estate for life (along with £100 which she could dispose of as she pleased), to grandchild Thomas £20 and to "the three other children now in being" £5 apiece, and to "my two sons John and Zerubbabell Fyler" the residue equally; in a codicil of 2 November 1680, "It having pleased God to add one more year to my life," he specifically bequeathed to son John "my homestead, barn, garden and orchard, together with the press and mill in the barn," and to Zerubabel land, wearing clothes, and any debts incurred [ Manwaring 1:302]. His inventory totalled £629 5s. 8d.
In her will, dated 22 June 1687 and proved 5 November 1690, "Mrs. Jane Fyler of Windsor" bequeathed to "my son John Fyler" £30 "of that my estate my husband willed me to my free dispose," to "my son Zerubbabell Fyler" £20, to Zerubabel's son Thomas £10, to Zerubabel [Zerubabel's son] £10, to his daughter Jane "out of the same estate" movables, to each of his other three children £5, and to "my daughter-in-law, Zerubbabell's wife Experience," wearing clothes; codicil dated 17 May 1689. The inventory of Mrs. Jane Fyler, who died 11 September 1690, relict of Lt. Walter Fyler of Windsor deceased, was taken 10 November 1690 and totalled £122 5s. 8d. [Manwaring 1:445-46].
BIRTH: By 1613 based on date of freemanship.
DEATH: Windsor 12 December 1683 [ CTVR 55 (and from probate inventory)].
MARRIAGE: By 1642 Jane _____; she died Windsor 11 September 1690 (from probate inventory).
CHILDREN: i JOHN, b. Windsor 12 September 1642 [ Grant 36; CTVR 34], bp. 18 September 1642; Harvard 1666 [ Sibley 2:214]; m. (1) 17 October 1672 Elizabeth Dolman [Grant 36 (and see JOHN WITCHFIELD)]; m. (2) 21 October 1686 Bethesda Poole "of Dorchester" [CTVR 52]. ii ZERUBABEL, b. Windsor 23 December 1644 [Grant 36; CTVR 34]; m. Windsor 27 May 1669 Experience Strong [Grant 36].

Source:


The Fyler - Filer Family


Genealogy and History


Volume 1


by Jack Fyler Arnold


Zerubabel and Experience Strong


Pg 2


When they married, Experience's Grandfather Thomas Ford, gave them the Hosford place

Zerubabel married Experience Strong on 27 May 1669 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Experience (daughter of John Strong and Abigail Ford) was born on 4 Aug 1650 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 20 Oct 1714 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1633, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
• Residence: 1634, , , Massachusetts, USA
• Probate: 1683-1684, , Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Notes:

Walter Filer from Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33

WALTER FILER

ORIGIN: Unknown
MIGRATION: 1633
FIRST RESIDENCE: Dorchester
REMOVES: Windsor 1636
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admission to Dorchester church prior to 14 May 1634 implied by freemanship.
FREEMAN: 14 May 1634 [ MBCR 1:369]. "Walter Fylar" was freeman of Connecticut at Windsor, 11 October 1669 [ CCCR 2:519].
OFFICES: Dorchester fenceviewer, 20 May 1634, 10 February 1634/5 [ DTR 6, 10]; chosen bailiff for six months, 2 November 1635 [ DTR 13, 16]; assessor for militia rate, 18 January 1635/6 [ DTR 15].
Hartford Particular Court jury, 2 July 1640, 2 March 1642/3, 6 April 1643, March 1643/4, 6 June 1644, 5 December 1644, 5 March 1645/6, 1 October 1646, 21 May 1647, 24 May 1647, [April?] 1648, 17 October 1648, 28 December 1648, 6 September 1649, 6 June 1650, 8 July 1650, 5 September 1650, 2 March 1653/4, 2 October 1655, 4 March 1657/8, 2 December 1658, 17 May 1659, 1 September 1659, 5 September 1661, 1 October 1661, 9 October 1661, 4 December 1662, 30 December 1662, 6 January 1662/3 [ CCCR 1:55; RPCC12, 18, 19, 24, 26, 30, 39, 43, 46, 47, 50, 54, 57, 69, 83, 86, 87, 122, 157, 185, 195, 199, 202, 238, 239, 240, 256, 258, 259]. Appointed recorder of ships clearing Windsor for Saybrook, 5 February 1644/5, 1 December 1645 [ CCCR 1:121, 135]. Deputy to Connecticut General Court for Windsor, 3 October 1661 (as "Lt. Walter Filer"), 14 May 1663, 8 October 1663 [ CCCR 1:372, 399, 409]. Grand jury, 7 December 1654 [ RPCC 132].
Sergeant of the Windsor train band by 1642 [ CCCR 1:76; RPCC 17]; appointed ensign 7 June 1660 [ RPCC 214]; appointed lieutenant 6 September 1660 [ RPCC 219].
ESTATE: Dorchester land of Walter Filer referred to as abuttor of town pound, gate in pales, and driftway for cattle, 3 November 1633, 3 November 1634 and 17 April 1635 [ DTR4, 8, 11]; granted two acres marsh, 27 June 1636 [ DTR 16]; in meadows beyond Neponset, received Lot #30, six acres [ DTR 321].
On 8 May 1673 Connecticut General Court granted to "Lt. Walter Fyler the sum of one hundred and fifty acres of land, provided he take it up where it may not prejudice any former grant" [ CCCR 2:194].
In his will, dated 14 September 1679 and proved 6 March 1683/4, "Walter Fyler of Windsor" bequeathed to "my wife" his entire estate for life (along with £100 which she could dispose of as she pleased), to grandchild Thomas £20 and to "the three other children now in being" £5 apiece, and to "my two sons John and Zerubbabell Fyler" the residue equally; in a codicil of 2 November 1680, "It having pleased God to add one more year to my life," he specifically bequeathed to son John "my homestead, barn, garden and orchard, together with the press and mill in the barn," and to Zerubabel land, wearing clothes, and any debts incurred [ Manwaring 1:302]. His inventory totalled £629 5s. 8d.
In her will, dated 22 June 1687 and proved 5 November 1690, "Mrs. Jane Fyler of Windsor" bequeathed to "my son John Fyler" £30 "of that my estate my husband willed me to my free dispose," to "my son Zerubbabell Fyler" £20, to Zerubabel's son Thomas £10, to Zerubabel [Zerubabel's son] £10, to his daughter Jane "out of the same estate" movables, to each of his other three children £5, and to "my daughter-in-law, Zerubbabell's wife Experience," wearing clothes; codicil dated 17 May 1689. The inventory of Mrs. Jane Fyler, who died 11 September 1690, relict of Lt. Walter Fyler of Windsor deceased, was taken 10 November 1690 and totalled £122 5s. 8d. [ Manwaring 1:445-46].
BIRTH: By 1613 based on date of freemanship.
DEATH: Windsor 12 December 1683 [ CTVR 55 (and from probate inventory)].
MARRIAGE: By 1642 Jane _____; she died Windsor 11 September 1690 (from probate inventory).
CHILDREN:
i JOHN, b. Windsor 12 September 1642 [ Grant 36; CTVR 34], bp. 18 September 1642; Harvard 1666 [ Sibley 2:214]; m. (1) 17 October 1672 Elizabeth Dolman [ Grant 36 (and see JOHN WITCHFIELD)]; m. (2) 21 October 1686 Bethesda Poole "of Dorchester" [ CTVR 52].

ii ZERUBABEL, b. Windsor 23 December 1644 [ Grant 36; CTVR 34]; m. Windsor 27 May 1669 Experience Strong [ Grant 36].

ASSOCIATIONS: In a letter dated 15 January 1671[/2?], and sent from Tiverton, Devonshire, Jane Hosford, former resident of Windsor and second wife of WILLIAM HOSFORD, asked Walter Filer to act in her behalf in handling her affairs in New England, and included a power of attorney in favor of Filer. She addressed him as "loving & much respected friend" at the opening of her letter and called herself "your everloving friend & sister in what I may" at the close [Connecticut Colony Deeds 3:22]. This may of course have referred to a church relationship, but the Filers and Hosfords appear to have been connected in some way, as Walter Filer and his wife Jane witnessed the will of William Hosford in 1654, and Walter Filer witnessed the will of Jane Hosford in 1655. In the course of fulfilling his duties under this power of attorney, Walter Filer appointed "my cousin Steven Fyler of London in Old England" to deliver the money due to Jane Hosford [Connecticut Colony Deeds 3:23].
Claims have been made that Ann, wife of John Hoskins, was sister of Walter Filer, but serious doubts have been cast upon this alleged connection [ TAG 30:191-92; M&JCH19:169]; there may be some confusion here between "Hoskins" and "Hosford."
COMMENTS: Banks lists Walter Filer as from Suffolk in England (no parish stated), citing "Banks Mss.," but this seems very unlikely; an origin in the West Country is more probable [ Topo Dict 165].
In his list of "what children has been born in Windsor from our beginning hither to so far as I am able to find out," compiled on 17 August 1677, Matthew Grant credited "Water Fylar" with six children [ Grant 90]. Some treatments of the Filer family have added four hypothetical children on the basis of this record, but there is no evidence for any more than the two known sons. The wills of Walter Filer and his wife Jane mention only the two sons and children of Zerubabel, and when John Filer made his will and died childless in 1723, he left his estate solely to the heirs of his brother Zerubabel, so Grant's count may be wrong here. Perhaps there were some infant deaths.
On 1 March 1654/5 at the Particular Court "Several elders complain of Walter Fyler for sundry scandalous expressions" [ RPCC 139].
On 4 February 1662/3 "Mercey Barber with her consent and desire is placed with Lt. Walter Filer and his wife until she be eighteen years of age unless she marry before with her master's and dame's and her eldest brother's approbation," and on 30 January 1664 "Mercy Barber made choice of Lt. Walter Fyler to be her guardian" [ RPCC 262, 264].

FIRST SETTLERS OF WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT
http://home.everestkc.net/4dbteague/FirstSettlersofWindsorCt.html

This house is located at the southeast corner of the once- palisaded area of the Windsor settlement. Built by Lt. Walter Fyler in 1640. He and other family members came to America from Plymouth England in 1630 on the ship "Mary and John". They settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts Colony. In 1634 they moved to Windsor. CT. Lt. Fyler received the piece of land on which the house sits for his services in the Pequot War, 1636-1638. The house is perhaps the oldest frame building in the state of Connecticut, being built by Lt. Fyler in 1640. The original building was of the one-room, end-chimney type.

The owner died in 1685. Succeeding generations of Fylers lived in the house until 1773 when a sea captain, Alexander Allyn, purchased the house. In fact, many sea captains owned houses near the Green. Windsor was a port of entry and at times six or seven vessels would be tied up waiting to be loaded or unloaded. The house faced the original Boston Post Road and served at one time as the Windsor Post Office. Today the house is connected by a breezeway to the Wilson Museum, a local historical museum. Among the many items here, be sure to see the order of payment to General Israel Putnam for his wages for the marched relief of Boston in April 1775 during the American Revolution.

Dur ing the year 1631, Wahginnacut, an Indian sachem from the Connecticut River, visited the governors of Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies, in order to induce emigration to the Connecticut valley from both these colonies. The reason the Indians asked the settlers to go into Connecticut was for protection and defense against their enemies, the Pequots, who made war with them. So William Holmes was selected by the governor of Plymouth to build a trading house in Windsor. He took with him the frame of the trading house all fitted and all the mateials which would be required to complete it.

In June, 1635, the pioneers of the Dorchester company came to Ct. and prepared to settle near the Plymouth trading house. The main body of the Dorchester people followed on the 15th of Oct. 1635. They were organized as a church in England and came overseas together on a ship called "Mary and John" in 1630 Their household goods & provisions were sent around by water, and 60 persons, among whom were women and little children, began the slow & wearisome journey through the wilderness to the distant settlement. They drove their cattle, horses, & swine before them, and the frosts & snows of winter were hard upon them ere they reached their destination. The river was frozen over by the 15th of Nov., and the vessel containing their goods had not arrived. The winter which followed was marked by great suffering. They had insufficient shelter for themselves and their animals, and they could get but part of the latter across the river. On the 26th of Nov. 13 of them resolved to return to Massachusetts. One of them fell through the ice & was drowned; the rest reached Dorchester in 10 days. Those who remained in Ct. suffered extreme destitution, being obliged to live on acorns, malt & grains. Winthrop tells us that they lost nearly 2,000 lbs. worth of cattle. Most of this first party returned to Dorchester in the small vessel “Rebecca”, which had providentially appeared. But, nothing daunted, in the spring of 1636, they set out again with Mr. Warham, the junior pastor of the church, and a large part of its members. With those from Dorchester there came others from Cambridge and Watertown.
THE MEMORIAL HISTORY OF WINDSOR CONNECTICUT, by J. Hammond Trumbull


First Settlers of Windsor, Connecticut Recorded in the Town Records of 1640,
five years after their removal from Dorchester. The following ancestors were among those listed.
Thomas DRIBBLE
John TAYLOR
John STRONG
Thomas FORD
Walter FYLER

Walter married Jane Irving in 1640 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Jane was born in 1602 in , , , England; died on 11 Sep 1690 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Jane O Irving
• Arrival: 1630, Nantasket Beach, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

John married Abigail Ford on 30 Dec 1636 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA. Abigail (daughter of Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde) was born on 8 Oct 1619 in Bridgeport, Dorset, England; died on 6 Jul 1688 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Roman married Jane (Nee: Cope or Penny) Cope in 1601 in , Suffolk, England. Jane was born in 1578 in , Suffolk, England; died in 1637 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Eleanor Deane in 1609 in Taunton, Chard, Somerset, England. Eleanor was born in 1586 in Chard, Somerset, England; died on 24 Apr 1654 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Elizabeth Charde on 19 Jun 1616 in Bridport, Dorset, England. Elizabeth was born in 1589 in Bridport, Dorset, England; died on 18 Apr 1643 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]