Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

lineage back to the year 1200, when the
surname came into use as an inherited
family name. Wilcox, variously spelled,
dates back to an early period of English
history. One "Wilcox or Wilcott" is recorded
as furnishing three men at arms
at the battle of Agincourt. Another of
the name is on record as court physician
to King Charles. The family is one of
honor and renown in old England, several
of its branches bearing arms. In Amer-
ica the name is found in the very begin-
nings of our Colonial history. The Wil-
coxes were at Jamestown, Virginia, as
early as 1610, and at Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts, as early as 1636.
The derivation of the surname is interesting.
It is of that large class of Eng-
lish surnames which had their source in
nicknames and sobriquets. It is a compound
of Will, meaning literally "the son
of William," and the suffix cock, a term
of familiarity generally applied in the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries to
one of a sharp or forward nature. The
sobriquet was of such a character that
it adhered to its bearer throughout life,
and was transmitted to succeeding gen-
erations. Thus we have the surnames,
Wilcox, Jeffcock, Hancock, etc.
The family in America has figured
prominently in New England life and af-
fairs since the middle of the seventeenth
century. William Wilcox, immigrant an-
cestor and progenitor of the family herein
under consideration, was the first of the
name to establish himself in New Eng-
land. His descendants are found largely
in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Others
of the name followed him and became
the founders of flourishing and influential
families.
(I) William Wilcox, the founder, was
born in the year 1601, at St. Albans,
Hertfordshire, England, and came to this
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
204
country in 1636, a passenger in the ship
"Planter," bringing with him a certificate
of conformity to the doctrines of the
Church of England, signed by the min-
ister of St. Albans. He was thirty-four
years old at the time of his arrival. He
settled in Massachusetts, where he was
admitted a freeman, December 7, 1636.
William Wilcox was a linen weaver by
trade. He removed, in 1639, to Stratford,
Connecticut, where he subsequently rose
to prominence in public affairs. In 1647
he was deputy to the General Court at
Hartford. He died in 1652, aged fifty-one
years. His wife, Margaret Wilcox, was
born in England, in 161 1, and accom-
panied him to America. They were the
parents of several children, among them
Samuel, mentioned below.
(II) Samuel Wilcox, son of William
and Margaret Wilcox, was born about
1636. He accompanied his parents to
Stratford, but on attaining his majority
married and settled in Windsor, Connec-
ticut, where he was prominent in local
affairs until his death. His home was in
that part of Windsor, which is now Simsbury,
where he had a grant of land. Samuel
Wilcox was sergeant of the Windsor
military company. He married Hannah
; they were the parents of three
children of actual record, but there were
doubtless others.
(III) Deacon William (2) Wilcox, son
of Samuel and Hannah Wilcox, was born
in Connecticut, about 1670. He was a
lifelong resident of Simsbury, where he
was the owner of considerable property.
He married, January 18, 1699, Elizabeth
Wilson, daughter of Samuel and Mary
(Griffin) Wilson, of Simsbury. They
were the parents of William, mentioned
below.
(IV) Deacon William (3) Wilcox, son
of Deacon William (2) and Elizabeth