Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

descent of the Norsemen, they flew to the
coast and fought the invaders, and made
Ragnar a prisoner. He was put to death
immediately and is said to have consoled
his last moments with the hope that "the
cubs of the boar would avenge his fate."
His son, Hubba, above mentioned,
spent the winter in fortifying his camp
and equipping his followers. In Febru-
ary, 867, despite the desperate battle
given by the Northumbrians, the forces
of Hubba triumphed. They killed Osbert
in battle, but took prisoner Aella, his erstwhile
rival chieftain, but now compatriot
in fighting the common foe. Hubba and
his followers now gave themselves the
pleasure of torturing to death the men
who had thrown King Ragnar Lodbrog
into a cage of snakes to be devoured.
This victory gave Hubba and his brother,
Hingua, undisputed possession of all the
country south of the Tyne and north of
Nottingham. They continued to increase
their dominions by victorious invasions
of the surrounding countries, and their
exploits form one of the most thrilling
chapters in early British history. Hubba
was finally slain in his camp with twelve
hundred of his followers by Odyn. Scat-
tered across Britain and Wales have stood
seven historic eminences each known as
"Hubba's Hill."
It is common knowledge that there was
great confusion in spelling names during
several centuries following the adoption
of family surnames, and that of Hubbard
was no exception to the rule, more than
fifty different spellings of what is apparently
the same name being found on
record. Even in America, the forms,
Hubbard, Hubbert, Hubard, Hubert, Ho-
bart and Hobert are common. Several
branches of the family in England have
borne coats-of-arms.
(I) George Hubbard, the ancestor of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
399
the family, is distinguished from other
immigrants of the name, by the reference,
"George Hubbard of Guilford." He is
believed to have been in Watertown, Massachusetts,
in 1633 ; '^ October, 1635, he
removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in
that part which is now called Wethers-
field. There he resided for three years,
and later settled in Milford, where he was
admitted to the church, January 15, 1644.
Four years later, September 22, 1648, he
purchased land in Guilford, whence he removed,
and was admitted to the church
there, October 6, 1650. He was a sur-
veyor. In each community he interested
himself in public matters, and was several
times honored with public office. In 1639
he served as representative ; for eight
terms he served as deputy magistrate, and
in 1666-67 was a member of the General
Assembly. He died in Guilford, in January,
1683. George Hubbard married
Mary Bishop, daughter of John and Anne
Bishop, and she died in Guilford, September
14, 1675.
(II) John Hubbard, son of George and
Mary (Bishop) Hubbard, was born in
England, in 1633, and died in 1705. He
was brought to America by his parents,
and in 1650 was a resident of Wethers-
field, Connecticut. On March 26, 1661,
he was admitted a freeman in Wethersfield.
A few years before his death John
Hubbard removed to Hatfield, Massachusetts.
About 1648 he married Mary Mer-
riman, of Concord, Massachusetts.
(III) Jonathan Hubbard, son of John
and Mary (Merriman) Hubbard, was
born January 3, 1658-59, in Wethersfield,
Connecticut, and died in Concord, Massa-
chusetts, January 17, 1728. He had removed
to the latter town in 1680, and
there married, January 15, 1681, Hannah
Rice, who was born in 1658, and died
April 9, 1747, in Concord; she was a