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Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Ahnentafel #512 - Samuel Lathrop

Samuel Lathrop

Born: March 1650, New London, Connecticut
Died: 9 Dec. 1732, Norwich, Connecticut

Buried: Old Norwich Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut

Married: 1) Hannah Adgate Nov. 1675 in Norwich, Connecticut
2) Mary (Reynolds) Edgerton Dec. 30, 1697 in Norwich, Connecticut

Records:

1660 - The seventeenth century home of Dr. John Olmstead, Norwich's first physician, was located at the current site of Lathrop Manor, on Washington Street in Norwichtown. He later sold his house, built around 1660, to Samuel Lathrop (1650-1732). It was then inherited by Samuel's son, Thomas Lathrop (1681-1774). It is possible the original house burned in 1745 and was rebuilt. In any case, after Samuel's death, it was owned by Dr. Daniel Lathrop, who joined with Dr. Joshua Lathrop (whose home is across the street) to establish Connecticut's first apothecary, at that time the only one located between New York and Boston. Benedict Arnold lived in the house as a young man while he was
apprenticed to the Lathrops, who were merchants in addition to running an apothecary. Dr. Daniel Lathrop married Jerusha, the daughter of Governor Joseph Talcott. The property was famed for its gardens and Lydia Huntly Sigourney, who later became a popular poet and author, lived in the house as a child while her father was working as a gardener for the Lathrops. Sigourney recorded her memories of the house and garden in her books, Sketch of Connecticut, Forty Years Since (1824) and Letters of Life (1866). After Mrs. Jerusha Lathrop died in 1806, the house was owned by another Daniel Lathrop, the son of Dr. Joshua Lathrop. An important resident in the later nineteenth century was Daniel Coit Gilman, an influential educator who taught at Yale and became the first president of Johns Hopkins University. A Lathrop descendant, Gilman delivered A Historical Discourse at Norwich's Bicentennial Celebration in 1859. Today the house is a bed & breakfast called Lathrop Manor.

1672 - Norwich, New London Co., CT - Samuel Jr. appears on list of residents.

1689, Oct. 15 - mentioned in Elizabeth (Marvin) Olmstead's - 
"Elizabeth Holmsted . . . relict of John Holmsted," included bequests to "Sgt. Richard Baskett (written now Richard Bushnell), my kinsman"; to "my brother Adgate's three children, viz: Sarah, Rebeckah & Thomas"; to "my brother's eldest daughter, Abigail"; and made "my kinsman . . . Samuel Lothrop" executor and residuary legatee.  Richard Bushnell was son of Mary (Marvin) Bushnell, but he had also married Elizabeth Adgate, daughter of Thomas Adgate with his first wife.  In her legacy to the younger Adgate children, Elizabeth identified them as belonging to her "brother Adgate," but not to her "sister Adgate," which would have been more appropriate, inasmuch as Mary (Marvin) (Bushnell) Adgate was still alive in 1689. Most importantly, "my kinsman . . . Samuel Lothrop" was not a Marvin descendant, and had married Hannah Adgate, another daughter of Thomas Adgate with his first wife. Thus these legacies went to all surviving children of Thomas Adgate with both his wives, but not to all of the surviving children of Mary (Marvin) (Bushnell) Adgate. 
1704, May 22 - New London, New London CT - mentioned in Thomas Adgate's will. Adgate died July 21, 1707.
to my son in law Samuel Lothrup £20. Parts of the above portions had been paid during testator's lifetime. 
1719, July 1 - Norwich, New London Co., CT - Joseph Reed sold 28 acres to Samuel Lathrop, Jr. [may be his son Samuel]

1730 - "His rank among the citizens of Norwich is shown in the enrollment of 1730, where his name stands next to the two Deacons Huntington . . .  He was a member of the First Church in Norwich."

Children:
Hannah b. 1677, d. 1721, md. Jabez Perkins 1698 as first wife
  • Jabez b. 1699, d. 1739 md. Rebecca Leonard 1725, children: Jedidiah, unnamed daughter, unnamed son, Jabez, Elkanah, Rebecca, Samuel, Hannah, Charity, Charity 2d, Samuel 2d
  • Hannah b. 1701, d. 1788, md. Joshua Huntington, 1718, children: Jabez, Jedidiah, Andrew, Lydia, Zachariahs
  • Elizabeth b. 1703, md. John Deming before 1749
  • Jacob b. 1705, d. 1776 md. Jemima Leonard 1730, children: Jacob, Jemima, Simeon, Jabez, Hezekiah, Ebenezer, Daniel, Elkanah, Zebulon, Zephaniah, Lucy, Judith, Mary
  • Mary b. 1706, d. 1769 md. Daniel Kirtland 1748 at least one child Lydia
  • Lucy b. 1709, d. 1746 md. Richard Bushnell 1731 (a cousin)
  • Judith b. 1714, d. 1740 md. Ephraim Leonard had at least one son Daniel 
Elizabeth b. 1679, d. 1708 md. John Waterman 1701 as his first wife; supposedly had six or seven sons and two daughters
  • Elizabeth b. 1702, d. 1752 md. Jonathan Avery 1724 as his first wife, children: Elizabeth, Hannah, Charles, Elisha, Jonathan
  • Eleazeb. ca. 1704, d. 1784 md. 1) Martha Adgate 1731 & 2) Elizabeth (--?--) Fountain, children: Martha, Ruth, Eleazer, John, Peter
  • John b. 1706, d. 1730 - Hempstead wrote under date of 12 Dec. 1727, "I went to Norwich with John Waterman Junr. & Lodged at Cuz Wm. Hides"; and on 6 June 1730, "News is come that James Hawkes is drowned at Suranam and Jno. Waterman Junr. of Norwich their boat Sunk" [Diary of Joshua Hempstead of New London, pp. 192, 222].
  • Hannah b. 1708, d. 1759, md. 1) Capt. Absalom King 1730 & 2) Benedict Arnold 1733, children: Hannah King, Benedict Arnold (d. 8 months old), Gen. Benedict Arnold, Hannah Arnold, Mary Arnold, Absalom King Arnold, Elizabeth Arnold
Thomas b. 1681 md. Lydia Abel 1709
He became a thriving man, having a good record as a Christian citizen.
  • Dr. Daniel b. 1712, d. 1782 md. Mrs. Jerusha (Talcott) (--?--) 1744, children: Daniel, James, Joshua, Abigail
1866 - Letters of Life:
This edifice and estate, comprehending a farm in a neighboring village, with other portions of land in the vicinity, appertained to the name of Lathrop, one of the most ancient and meritorious of the aristocratic families of Norwich. It was owned by the widow of Dr. Daniel Lathrop, a lady of noble bearing, cultivated intellect, and eminent piety, the daughter of John Talcott, Governor of Connecticut, and born in Hartford, May 3, 1717.  Though far advanced in years when I first beheld her, time had not impaired either her physical or mental system. Her tall, majestic form, was unbowed, her step elastic, and her heart in ardent, healthful action. My early life retains no more cherished or indelible picture than her beautiful age. 
Left childless, and destitute of near male relatives, the care of my father over her affairs had become indispensable; and he, with his household, were tenants of a part of her mansion, which was admirably arranged for the accommodation of two families.  
My father . . . became a member, in his boyhood, of the family of Dr. Daniel Lathrop, a man of distinguished talents and collegiate education, matured by foreign travel. Destined for the medical profession, but possessing acute sensibilities, he was rendered so unhappy by the sufferings of others, especially by the necessity of performing any surgical operation, that he commuted active practice for the business of an apothecary. This allowed him frequent opportunities of giving salutary advice, especially to the poor, which gratified his benevolence, and kept his scientific knowledge from oblivion. To a competent patrimony he added a very large fortune gathered in his mercantile department, which he expended with great liberality. He was held in high honor, and numbered among the benefactors of his native city, being the first to found a school where the common people might be instructed gratuitously in Latin and Greek, as well as in the more essential branches of a solid education.
1842 - Sketch of Connecticut, Forty Years Since: 
In this department of the town was the mansion of Madam L-------.  It raised its broad, dignified front, without other decorations than the white rose, and the sweet brier, rearing their columns of beauty and fragrance, quite to the projection of the roof. In front, was a court of shorn turf, like the richest velvet, intersected by two paved avenues to the principal entrances, and enclosed by a white fence, resting upon a foundation of hewn stone. On each side of the antiquated gate waved the boughs of a spruce, intermingling their foliage, and defying, in their evergreen garb, the changes of climate. The habitation, which faced the rising sun, had on its left, and in the rear of its long range of offices, two large gardens for vegetables and fruit. A third, which had a southern exposure, and lay beneath the windows of the parlour, was partially devoted to flowers. There in quadrangles, triangles and parallelograms, beds of mould were thrown up and regularly arranged, according to what the florists of that age denominated "a knot."  There, in the centre, the flaunting peony reared its head like a queen upon her throne, surrounded by a guard of tulips, arrayed as courtiers in every hue, deep crimson, buff streaked with vermillion, and pure white mantled with a blush of carmine. In the borders, the purple clusters of the lilac, mingled with the feathery orb of the snow-ball, and the pure petals of the graceful lily. Interspersed were various species of the rose, overshadowing snow-drops, and daffodils the earliest heralds of Spring - the violet, whose purple eye seems half to beam with intelligence - the hyacinth, the blue-bell and the guinea-hen in its mottled robe. 
  • Lydia b. 1718, d. 1794, md. Joseph Coit, children: Lydia, Elizabeth, Lucy, Lucretia, Joseph, Thomas, Daniel, Jerusha, Joshua
  • Dr. Joshua b. 1723, d. 1807 md. 1) Hannah Gardiner 1748, 2) Mercy Eells 1761, children: Thomas, Lydia, Daniel, Daniel (2nd), Joshua; Joshua Lathrop House
Margaret b. 1683, d. 1696 age 13
Samuel
Simon b. 1689, d. 1774 md. 1) Mary Lothrop ca. 1710 & 2) Martha Lothrop 1714. Mary & Martha Lothrop were sisters, daughters of Israel & Rebecca (Bliss) Lothrop.  Israel was Simon's uncle, brother of his father Samuel. 
Simon soon exhibited his large business talent, attaining early to the first rank among his townsmen. His name early appears as one of the pioneers in occupying and improving the locality which was soon to become the site of the City of Norwich. In 1721 a square of 20 feet is granted him, with two of the Huntingtons and Daniel Tracy, on the west side of Rocky Point, on which to lay the foundations of their business prosperity. In 1724 the town vote him liberty "to build a wharf at the Landing place at his own charge, provided it shall be free to all mortals." Ten years later the town gave him the special right of building a warehouse on the hillside opposite his dwelling house, 30 feet by 40, to hold for his personal use during the town's pleasure. In addition to his prominence as an enterprising business man, he became still better known as a military officer. The history of Norwich, by Miss Caulkins, says of him: "Col. Simon Lothrop was a man of more than ordinary renown. He commanded one of the Connecticut regiments in the successful expeditions against Annapolis and Louisburg, and was valued for his judgment in council as well as for his gallant bearing in the field. At one period he was left for a considerable time in the chief command of the fortress at Cape Breton."  He had entered the service as Lieut.-Col. commanding the Connecticut regiment for the above expedition, and received the commission of Colonel Oct. 29, 1745.
Mr. Lothrop was several times a representative from Norwich in the General Assembly of the State. He was often under appointments from the Assembly on important commissions, relating alike to the interests of business and religion. Of his home-life we have these touches in the history before quoted: "He was an upright man, zealous in religion, faithful in training up his family, and much respected and esteemed for his abilities and social virtues."  Of both his military popularity and his business thrift we have preserved for us the following hearty tribute in the spirit of the times which produced it:
"Col. Lotrop he came on, As bold as Alexander; He wa'n't afraid, nor yet ashamed, To be the chief commander.
Col. Lotrop was the man, His soldiers loved him dearly; And with his sword and cannon great, He helped them late and early.
Col. Lotrop, staunch and true, Was never known to baulk it; And when he was engaged in trade, He always filled his pocket." 
  • Martha b. 1715-16, d. md. 1) Ebenezer Devotion 1738; 2) Rev. Dr. Coggswell, children: Ebenezer Devotion, Martha Devotion, Hannah Devotion
  • Simon b. 1718, d. 1740
  • Elijah b. 1720, d. 1814 md. Susanna Lord children: Elijah, Hannah, Anna, Eunice, Jerusha, Nancy, Simon, Lynde, Gurdon
  • Hannah b. 1722, d. before 1774 md. probably a Truman
  • Eunice b. 1725 md. Jonathan Huntington 1746
  • Mary b. 1729 md. 1) David Nevins & 2) (--?--) Bingham children: David Nevins, Samuel Nevins, Betsey Nevins, Mary Nevins, Martha Nevins, Aurelia Bingham
  • Rufus b. 1781, d. 1805 md. 1) Hannah (--?--), 2) Zerviah (--?--)
  • Elizabeth b. 1733, d. 1763
  • Lucy b. 1735 md. Ichabod Fitch 1758, child Simon 
Nathaniel b. 1693, d. 1774 md. Ann Backus 1717
He settled first on the Namussuck farm, which his great grandfather had owned in New London, but in 1735 sold that farm and removed to Norwich. He was, with his older brother the Colonel, in the Louisburg expedition, having been commissioned lieutenant Dec. 12, 1745. 
  • Asa b. ?, d. 1761
  • Nathaniel b. ?, d. 1757 md. Margaret (--?--), children: Burrel, Hannah, Asa, 
  • Zebadiah b. 1725, d. 1793 md. Clorinda Backus, children: Joseph, Zebadiah, Simon, Asa, Eunice & Nathaniel
  • Azariah b. 1728, d. 1810 md. Abagail Huntingon 1764, children: Gurdon, Charles, Nabby, Charlotte, Burrel, Gerard, Charlotte (2nd), Augustus
  • Anna b. 1735, d. 1815 md. Col. William Whiting
  • Chloe b. 1737, d. 1746 
  • Lucy b. ?, d. 1747

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