Launcelot Granger^[1]

1637 - 1689  (52 years)

• Name	Launcelot Granger  [2]
  Birth	25 Jun 1637	Shellington, Bedfordshire, England
  Gender	Male
  Arrival	1648	Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA   [2]
  Death	3 Sep 1689	Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
  Person ID	I24820	Master
  Last Modified	28 Sep 2015

  
  

  Mother	Grace Mi'kMaq,   b. 1610, Micmac Nation, Acadia, Nova Scotia, Canada d. 1643, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Canada (Age 33 years)
  Family ID	F6452	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Joanna Adams,   b. 1634, Huntingfield, Suffolk, England d. Aft 1701, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 68 years)
  Marriage	4 Jan 1654	Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, USA   [3]
  Children	1. Thomas Granger,   b. 14 Nov 1656, Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, USA d. 14 Mar 1730, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 73 years)  [Father: Natural]
  Family ID	F6428	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Sep 2015

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 25 Jun 1637 - Shellington, Bedfordshire, England Arrival - 1648 - Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA Marriage - 4 Jan 1654 - Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, USA Death - 3 Sep 1689 - Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  LauncelotHouse

  
  

  Histories

  Book ?, p1006 Grangers

  
  

• Notes

  According to the source referenced below, Launcelot was kidnapped as a boy in England and brought to Plymouth, where he was sold as an apprentice. After discharge from his servitude he moved to the colony of Massachusetts Bay. He later was said to have returned to England to claim his inheritance. The story goes that while in England, he was told by an old man that there had been frequent robberies on the road he was on, and that he would be safer in the shelter of the old man's cottage. As he headed back toward the cottage, he was accosted by two men who demanded his money. He replied that he had but one crown, barely sufficient to pay his expenses to his friends, and that if they would have his money they would have to fight for it. Thereupon they attacked him with swords, and he defended himself with a quarterstaff, knocking one man down with the butt of it while the other fled. At the next village he made oath before a magistrate as to what had passed and the inhabitants of the village found the man who was slain to have been "one of their 'honest' citizens." When Launcelot arrived at his mother's house, his younger brother was not pleased to see him and hired assassins to dispatch him. They attacked him with swords but he "defended himself so manfully with his quarter-staff that he killed two of them and the other fled." The story goes that he abandoned his inheritance because of the difficulties he encountered, but the author feels that he probably came away with at least a part of it, as he was a man of some means. He goes on to say that, romantic and improbable as the story may seem, there are plausible elements. He notes that Launcelot was a thick-set and sturdy man, capable of defending himself and that highway robberies were not uncommon in England at the time. paraphrased from: Launcelot Granger of Newbury, Mass., and Suffield, Conn: a genealogical history By James Nathaniel Granger The Granger family of this history came from England; however, the family originated in Normandy, and came to England with William the Conqueror at the time of the Norman Conquest. The name Granger appears on the “Roll of Battle Abbey” in Sussex. Granger simply means “farmer.” Launcelot Granger (c. 1626- 9/3/1689). There is a limited amount of space in this book for the history of each family involved—a much more detailed story of the Grangers, Launcelot and his descendants, can be found in the 487 pg. book: Launcelot Granger of Newbury, MA and Suffield, CT, by James Nathaniel Granger (Lockwood and Brainard, 1893). Launcelot came from England, and there was sort of a legend carried down though the early Granger generations concerning the difficulties Launcelot encountered trying to obtain his inheritance in England. Quoting below, the story: Laun celot Granger was born in the west of England, and, when a lad of twelve or fourteen years of age, he was stolen from his mother (his father being dead) and brought to Plymouth in Massachusetts, where he was sold (apprenticed) to serve two years for his passage. He had served on the ship as a cabin boy He afterwards married a lady named Adams, and settled east of Boston, where he lived till he had two children. Being the eldest of his family he returned to England to obtain his inheritance. On the way from the place where he landed to his mother's house, to which he traveled on foot, he had to pass though an uninhabited country and, just before night, stopped at a little cottage. The old man of the house told him that frequent robberies had been committed on the road a short distance ahead, and advised him to put up for the night. But, not knowing but what he would be in as much danger at the cottage as on the road, and being in haste, he determined to proceed. After he had advanced some distance into the woods he perceived by the light of the moon a man step into the road before him and move on slowly until a second one joined him. When he came up to them they demanded his money He told them he had but one crown, which was barely sufficient to pay his expenses to his friends, who lived at some distance. They however told him he must give up his money or they would take his life. He replied that if they got his money they must fight for it, on which they attacked him with their swords, while he defended himself with his quarter-staff With the butt end of this he knocked down one and dispatched him, and the other ran away When he arrived at the next village he made oath to what he had done, before a magistrate, and was suffered to proceed on his journey. The inhabitants of the village found the man who was slain to be one of their 'honest' citizens. When he arrived at his mother's house, he found his younger brother in possession of the estate, and very much displeased to see him, and, it is supposed, hired assassins to dispatch him. As he walked out with them, under the pretense of viewing the farm, they attacked him behind a wood, with their swords, but he defended himself so manfully with his quarter-staff that he killed two of them and the other fled. He returned and made known what he had done to the magistrate, who, upon investigation, acquitted him of all blame. Meeting, however, with difficulties in obtaining his inheritance, he abandoned it and returned to America. "Launcelot was a man of great resolution; was of full medium height and stockily built." Launcelot makes his first appearance in America on a tax list dated 12/19/1648; he was living in the “Mass. Bay Colony,” in the town of Ipswich. He was at least 21 at the time and a “well-to-do” man. Shortly after he moved north to the town of Newbury, MA. In Newbury on 1/5/1654 he married Joanna Adams, daughter of a strict puritan, Robert Adams; Launcelot was not a puritan. As a rule, the puritans had nothing to do with people outside their faith—however, as Launcelot was fairly wealthy, an exception was made! Immediately after his marriage, he leased a home from Richard Kent Jr. on “Kent’s Island” in Newbury. quoting below from the previously mentioned Granger genealogy a description of this home: This house (torn down in 1884) was built by Richard Kent Jr., in 1653, and after it was vacated by Launcelot (about 1674) was occupied by the Kent family. It was, as I have said, a house of the best class then built in the colony. It was forty-eight feet long by twenty-two wide, two storied with an attic. Between the inner and the outer shell the house was lined with brick up to the top of the first story- a protection against the Indians, who were most troublesome in the early days. Indeed, Mr. Kent shows a musket with which an Indian was killed upon the Island. In the east end of the house was the "great" or "company" room, with its large fireplace and closet in the chimney At the other end was the kitchen, with its still larger fireplace, its oven, and large milk and cheese pantry. Behind was the usual "lean-to" which was also provided with a fireplace and chimney closet. The second floor, which projected a foot beyond the lower, was divided practically the same as the latter. It was in all respects a typical house of colonial New England, with all the features to be found in those of the better class, and it is accurately represented in the picture which forms the frontispiece of this book It will always be a matter of regret that the old house was destroyed, but of pleasure that a picture of it was taken before it was demolished. Had it-stood it would have been a place of pilgrimage for those who are descended ended from its first occupant. Here Launcelot lived from January 1654, until at least the summer of 1674, when he started for Suffield. Here all his children were born; here was the cradle of the family, its first abiding-place, its first hearthstone. The spot is worthy of a visit from all who take interest in their ancestor. It can be best reached by the traveler from Newburyport, whence a carriage and driver will quickly take one over the three miles of good road which leads to Kent Island. Floor plans of Launcelot’s home in Newbury, MA. Nineteenth century picture of this house still standing Launcelot lived in Newbury to 1674 and then moved to Suffield, CT. The reason he moved was in part to find better land, but mostly to escape puritan bigotry and fanaticism! A Rev. Parson Parker dictated the local laws, and some of the “crimes” in Newbury included: women wearing silk bonnets, men wearing their hair below their ears, and anyone repeating foolish proverbs! Granger genealogy: Can my readers wonder that Launcelot and his pretty daughters may have been inclined to remove into the wilderness where Parson Parker had no jurisdiction, and where the young men could repeat proverbs and the young women wear silk bonnets if they wished? I n Suffield, on 9/14/1674 the Grangers were granted the following property: Launcelot 60 acres, George (next gen. in family line) 40 acres, Thomas 40 acres. On route to Suffield, Launcelot traveled the rough trail of the “Bay Path” across Mass; the “King Philips War” broke out, and postponed his wife and children making the journey until 1678. On 6/12/1678, after peace was assured, the town committee took up final distribution of the lands; Launcelot and his oldest sons were granted lots on High St. The “Bay Path”- the trail Launcelot traveled on route to Suffield. Granger genealogy: The home lots assigned to Launcelot Granger and his two sons were among the choicest upon the High street, lying just north of the meeting-house, which may be called the center of the settlement. Each had a frontage of twelve rods upon the road, and each contained eight acres. Launcelot's lot was in the center, that of Thomas on the south. while George abutted to the north. Launcelot's lot is almost opposite the present Gay mansion in Suffield, and the famous Gideon Granger owned and lived upon the lot set off to Thomas. T he “famous Gideon Granger” mentioned in the above quote was Post Master General of the United States. In 1900 there was a tree still alive on High St. across from the Gay Mansion—this tree was the “Launcelot Granger Tree.” The Suffield homes of Launcelot & George Granger, and Rev. John Younglove. Granger genealogy: Launcelot was back in Suffield with his wife and ten of his eleven children as we nave seen in 1678 when his home lot was set off to him. Henceforth he continued to reside there till his death in 1689. On his home lot he built his house and at the same time he planted in the road in front of his dwelling a maple tree. This stands today by the wayside, knotted and twisted with age, one of the two old domestic trees of the town, and still known as the "Launcelot Granger tree." It stands directly opposite the Gay mansion on the High Street, and cannot be overlooked by any one seeking to find it. It seems as though some steps might be taken to preserve as far as possible this relic of our ancestor. Launcelot Granger died at his house in Suffield on the 3d day of September, A. D. 1689. He was buried in the graveyard which stood opposite the meeting-house on the High Street. The church of the present day a fine brick building abuts the graveyard, and under the very shadow of its walls is the ground in which all the proprietors and their families were laid to rest. No stone marks his grave (its exact spot is unknown), but both Launcelot and Joanna sleep their last sleep on the crest of this gentle Suffield hill which overlooks a valley teeming with wealth and marked with a beauty rarely to be found elsewhere in the land. CH (born at Newbury, MA.): John (1/15/1655-4/5/1725), md. Martha Poor. Thomas (d. 3/14/1730), md. Mindwell Taylor. George (b. 11/28/1658). Robert (d. 8/8/1709), was killed by Indians; Robert was never married. He lived at North Brookfield, Mass., where his sister, Rebecca (Granger) Woolcot, had been killed by Indians in 1693. The war with them was nearly over when he too fell at their hands. With a companion he was shot from his horse as he passed down the road, nearly on the very spot where Mrs. Woolcot was killed sixteen years before! Mary, Md. John Burbank Jr. Elizabeth (3/13/1662-3/20/1692) md. Vicary Sikes. Dorothy (b. 2/17/1665), md. Dr. Robert Old. Rebecca (d. 7/27/1693), md. Joseph Woolcot; she was killed by Indians! Samuel (8/2/1668-4/22/1721), md. Esther Hanchett. Hannah (d. 9/9/1729), md. Thomas Taylor. Abraham (b. 4/17/1673) md. 1st Hannah Hanchett, 2nd Hannah ?. Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography: genealogical-memorial ..., Volume 2 By American Historical Society http://books.google.com/books?id=JyoEAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA306&dq=lexington+alarm+granger&ou tput=text#c_top 6/27/13 (The Granger Line) The origin of Launcelot Granger, the first ancestor of record, has never been definitely ascertained, but there is a tradition which has been handed down in various branches of the family with differences so slight that it may be assumed to be correct in regard to the essential points. According to this tradition Launcelot Granger came of a good family in the West of England and when he was twelve or fourteen years of age was stolen from his widowed mother and brought to Massachusetts, where he was sold (apprenticed) to serve two years for his passage. In Colonial times such cases were by no means rare. Launcelot Granger was the eldest of the family and it is said that later he returned to England to obtain his inheritance. The family historian says that his name shows him to have been a Cavalier and not a Puritan, and therefore "his trip to New England would hardly have been a voluntary one 'for religion's sake'." "When Launcelot Granger was living at Ipswich he courted and married the daughter of a Puritan, an elder in the church, a man of position and means. Launcelot himself was never a member of the church at Newbury. * * * The Puritans were bitter in their hatred of those outside their church organizations; they refused to associate with them; if the sons of Belial were rich they would permit their daughters to marry them. Launcelot, a child of Satan, married a daughter of Robert Adams, a Puritan of the strictest kind. He must have returned from England the second time, supplied well with that golden disinfectant which made him acceptable to the nostrils of the old Puritan as a son-inlaw." It was on January 4, 1654, that Launcelot Granger married Joanna, daughter of Robert and Eleanor Adams, of Newbury, and he then took her to a newly built house of the better class on Kent's Island, in Newbury. She was born in England, in 1634, and died at Suffield, Connecticut, some time after 1701. The first known record of Launcelot Granger is as a resident and taxpayer of Ipswich in 1648. In 1674 he started for Suffield, Connecticut. On June 12, 1678, Launcelot Granger and his two sons were assigned some of the choicest lots on High street, that awarded to Launcelot Granger being almost opposite the present Gay mansion. In the summer of 1675, when King Philip's War broke out, Suffield was abandoned by all. Launcelot Granger was wounded in the Indian fight at Westfield, on October 27, 1675. 1° 1678 he was back in Suffield and resided there during the remainder of his life. On March 9, 1682, he was elected land measurer, being several times reelected. His death occurred September 3, 1689. (II) Samuel Granger, son of Launcelot and Joanna (Adams) Granger, was born August 2, 1668, at Newbury, Massachusetts, and married, May 16, 1700, Esther, born August 1, 1678, daughter of Deacon John and Esther (Pritchet) Hanchett, of Suffield, Connecticut. Samuel Granger was a farmer and on November 29, 1697, the town granted him an allotment of forty acres. He died at Suffield, April 22, 1721, and his widow survived him only one month, passing away May 21, of the same year. (III) Robert Granger, son of Samuel and Esther (Hanchett) Granger, was born May 6, 1710, at Suffield, and held various minor town offices. He married, August 11, 1731, Anne Seymour, who died April 8, 1773. Robert Granger died February 14, 1785. (IV) Robert (2) Granger, son of Robert (1) and Anne (Seymour) Granger, was born in 1747, at Suffield, and served, during the Lexington Alarm, in Captain Elihu Kent's Suffield company of minutemen. He married, October 15, 1765, Elizabeth, born March 12, 1747, daughter of Simon and Elizabeth (Adams) Kendall. Mrs. Granger died July 21, 1772, and the death of Robert Granger occurred August 30, 1804. (V) Thaddeus Granger,son of Robert (2) and Elizabeth (Kendall) Granger, was born January 27, 1766, at Suffield, where he spent his life as a farmer. He married, March 14, 1793, Silena, born March 22, 1772, daughter of Daniel and Thankful (Brownson) King. Mr. Granger died November 12, 1848, and his widow passed away March 7, 1857, at the venerable age of ninety-five. (VI) Emily Granger, daughter of Thaddeus and Silena (King) Granger, was born December 12, 1797, and became the wife of William Fuller, as stated above....

  
  

• Sources

  [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=83722991&pid=203 [S747] Ancestry.com, U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc), Place: Ipswich, Massachusetts; Year: 1648; Page Number: 127. [S338] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.).