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THRALL, Willard A.,
Peach and Tobacco Grower.
For many generations the Thrall family
has been seated in Windsor, and has
furnished many prominent and active
citizens to the town. The ancestor, William
Thrall, born 1605-06, was probably
a native of England, as he is found in the
English Colony of Windsor as early as
1640, in which year he had a grant of land
in the town. In 1676 he contributed 2s.
6d. to the Connecticut Relief Fund for
the poor of other colonies. He died Octo-
ber 3, 1679, having survived his wife three
years. Her name does not appear on
record. She died July 30, 1676.
Their son, Timothy Thrall, baptized
February 25, 1641, was also a contribu-
tor to the Connecticut Relief Fund in
the sum of is. 6d. He married, November
10, 1659, Deborah Gunn, who was
baptized February 27, 1641, died January
7, 1694, the second daughter of Thomas
Gunn, who was early in Windsor and
moved elewhere, leaving to Timothy
Thrall his property in Windsor on re-
moval.
Timothy Thrall, eldest son of Timothy
and Deborah (Gunn) Thrall, was born
December 7, 1662, in Windsor, died there
January 31, 1724. He married, December
31, 1699, Sarah Allyn, born July 13, 1674,
died December 28, 1740, daughter of
Thomas and Abigail (Warham) Allyn,
granddaughter of Hon. Matthew Allyn,
a pioneer of Hartford. Four children of
this marriage are recorded in Windsor.
There were, doubtless, others, including
the next mentioned.
David Thrall, born 1709-10 in Wind-
sor, lived in that town and died March 22,
1772. He married Jane Barber, born
June 16, 1720, died February 9, 1789,
daughter of John and Jane (Alford) Bar-
ber.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
267
There eldest son, David Thrall, born
September 23, 1749, was a farmer on the
paternal homestead through life, and was
admitted to the Windsor church with his
wife, November 20, 1785. He married
Zulima Denslow, born March 13, 1754,
daughter of Benoni and Sarah (Griswold)
Denslow.
Their son, Hon. Horace Thrall, was
born July 26, 1795, passed his life in
Windsor and died January 31, 1865. He
resided on the paternal homestead of his
father, engaged through life in agricul-
ture, and was a prominent and influential
citizen. Politically he was an earnest
Democrat. He was possessed of fine men-
tal gifts, was a man of upright character,
and was universally esteemed and re-
spected. After serving in various local
offices of trust and responsibility, he rep-
resented his town in the State Legisla-
ture. His death was predicted by himself
two days previously, and that day he took
a drive with a handsome team of colts,
of which he was proud, and returned in
apparent perfect health, but almost immediately
he took to his bed and informed
his family that he would die at 10 P. M.
on the following Tuesday. Monday, he
settled up his affairs, showing the most
intelligent capability in disposing of his
property. The wedding of his son had
been set for February 14, but he requested
that the ceremony be performed before
his death, and this took place on January
31, the day of his death, at the age of
sixty-nine years and six months. As he
had predicted, at the hour of his departure,
a close watch was kept, and no
signs of dissolution were observed until
the clock struck ten on Tuesday evening,
when he suddenly lost consciousness and
passed away inside of an hour. Mr.
Thrall was married to Eliza J. Wilson,
who was born August 16, 1806, at Wilson's
Station in the town of Windsor,