Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

and on December 8, 1910, was made vice-
president and sales manager. Seven years
later, November 20, 191 7, Mr. Tolles was
made president of the company. He also
holds the office of president of the Jewell
Belt Hook Company, being on the board
of directors of both the Jewell Belting
and Jewell Belt Hook companies. He is
a member of Lafayette Lodge, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons; the Hart-
ford Club; the Hartford Golf Club; the
Farmington Country Club ; the Connecticut
Society, Sons of the American Rev-
olution. Both Mr. Tolles and his sister
are gifted musically. While students in
the High School they began singing in
the choir of the Center Congregational
Church, and have been active in musi-
cal circles and members of various musi-
cal organizations to the present time.
Mr. Tolles married Annie Louise Rob-
erts, daughter of Charles F. Roberts, of
Hartford. Children, born at Hartford
Helen Roberts, born November 7, 1897,
and Bryant Franklin, January 20, 1899.
Mr. Tolles and his wife are members of
the Asylum Congregational Church.
(The Cornish Line).
(I) James Cornish, the immigrant
ancestor, was of Saybrook, Connecticut,
in 1659, when he witnessed William
Jackson's will, and in May, 1660, bought
land and taught school there later. Soon
after he came to Saybrook he married
Phebe Larrabee, widow of Gabriel Larra-
bee. "Old William Brown," of Rusper,
County Sussex, England, was her father.
She married (first) Thomas Lee, by
whom she had several children, coming
to America in 1641, losing her husband
on the voyage. She married (second)
Gabriel Larrabee, by whom she had children
also. Through her son James came
the family at Simsbury. She died at
Northampton, December 28, 1664.
:
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
221
In 1661, James Cornish taught school
at Windsor, but in 1664 was at Northampton
and in that year sold his place at
Saybrook. He taught school also at
Northampton, but soon removed to West-
field, of which he was the first town clerk
and teacher. His house was destroyed
by Indians in King Philip's War. In
1674-76 he was again at Windsor and he
kept school there again; in 1678 he was a
teacher at Norwalk, Connecticut. Teach-
ing was poorly paid and he moved often.
While in Westfield, he was for a time
clerk of the courts at Northampton, ap-
pointed by Governor Andros in 1687,
serving two years. After 1667 ne lived
most of his time in Westfield, but in 1695
he settled in Simsbury, Connecticut, and
spent his last years with his son's fam-
ily. Fie was born in England about 1612,
died at Simsbury, October 29, 1698.
(II) Deacon James (2) Cornish, son of
James (1) Cornish, was born in 1663, died
April 2, 1740. He married (first) November
10, 1693, Elizabeth Thrall, born May
1, 1667, died January 25, 1714, daughter
of Timothy and Deborah (Gunn) Thrall,
of Windsor. He married (second) April
: 5> I 7 I 5> Hannah Hilliard, born Decem-
ber 20, 1681, died December 2, 1751,
daughter of Andrew and Hannah (Burr)
Hilliard. Pie came from Westfield to
Windsor, where he lived from 1690 to
1698, then moved to Simsbury. He was
deputy to the General Court from Simsbury
many years ; was deacon of the
church from 1715 until he died. He was
a well-to-do farmer. Children by first
wife: James, mentioned below; Eliza-
beth, born September 25, 1695 > Joseph,
October 18, 1697; Benjamin, March 28,
Sarah, April 19, 1709. By
1701 ; Phebe;
second wife: Gabriel, May 25, 1716;
Jemima, November 20, 1718; Keziah,
October 12, 1721 ; Mary, Jabez, 1726.
(III) Captain James (3) Cornish, son