Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

shire, where he succeeded to the posi-
tion of "Post," in charge of the Court
mails, made vacant by the death of his
father, William Brewster, in 1590. A
conscientious Christian, he was an ardent
and courageous supporter of the Independent
(Puritan) church, which sought
to remove certain Romanizing practices
from the established State church, and
the little band of seceders held their
meetings, and church services, in Scrooby
Manor, the home of William Brewster,
who for these activities was, with others
of his church, imprisoned. Released
eventually, William Brewster went to
Holland, where he was made an elder.
He was in virtual leadership of the
famous "Mayflower" pilgrims, and was
regarded as such during their subsequent
colonization in this country. Elder William
Brewster's career will be found
recorded elsewhere in this work.
Richard Bacon's ancestry is traced
back through Zaccheus Bacon, Nathaniel
(second) Bacon. Nathaniel was born in
1659, an d ms name later was changed
to Thomas. He was the son of Nathaniel
Bacon, progenitor, who settled in Hartford,
removing thence to Middletown,
where his name appears in the records
of 1653. Born in England, the son of
William Bacon, of Parish Stretton, Rutlandshire,
England, Nathaniel Bacon was
one of the pioneer settlers of Middletown.
and served as magistrate in New Haven
in 1 661. His daughter became the wife
of Thomas Miller.
Deacon Ebenezer Stillman, father of
Henry Allyn Stillman, was born in 1776.
His first wife, whom he married on May
16, 1797, was Rhoda, born October 31,
1778, and died April 27, 1833, daughter
of Captain John Francis, who was born
in Wethersfield, Connecticut, June 20,
1744 (after the death of his eldest brother,
John). On September 20, 1764, he mar-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
LP
ried Rhoda, daughter of Elias Wright.
Rhoda Wright, who died on March 2J,
1816, was in the direct line of descent
from Thomas Wright. Esquire, who was
born in England on November 19, 1610,
and came, probably, to Massachusetts,
whence he removed to Wethersfield about
1639, and there received a house-lot of
three acres on February 11, 1640. His
main estate, however, was an island in
the Connecticut river, called by the
Indians, Mannahannock, i. e., Great
Laughing Place. He was deputy to the
General Court in 1643; selectman, 1658;
and served in other positions of trust and
responsibility. He was made freeman on
May 11, 1654. He took prominent part in
the church dissension which led to the set-
tlement of Hadley. Captain John Francis,
husband of Rhoda Wr
right, died May 30,
1824. During his life, he saw much mil-
itary service. On July 8, 1776, he enlisted
in Captain Aldin's company, Third Regiment
of Connecticut State Troops, under
Colonel Samuel Wyllys, of Hartford. In
1777, he was made a sergeant in the
Fourth Company, under Captain Hezekiah
Wells and Colonel Erastus Wolcott
was commissioned second lieutenant on
July 29, 1778, in Captain Elijah Wright's
company, Colonel Roger Eno's regiment.
In 1780. he was first lieutenant in Captain
Samuel Granger's company, attached to
Colonel Levi Well's regiment. The following
year he was made captain of the
Wethersfield company of the Provisional
Regiment. He saw service along the
Hudson river. Long Island sound, and
elsewhere. Holding the confidence and
esteem of all who knew him, he was sub-
sequently elected to many civil offices
was in 1800 elected a deputy to the Gen-
eral Court.
His father, John Francis, was born in
Wethersfield, Connecticut, October 12,
1684, and died September 19, 1749. He
;