Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

iel Foote settled near the south end of the
present Broad street, where a monument
to him now stands.
The eldest son of Josiah Churchill was
Joseph Churchill, born December 7,
1649, wno received by will of his father
the house and lands, including fifty acres
at "ye west end of Wethersfield bounds,"
which is in the present town of Newing-
ton. He also received property by the
will of his maternal grandmother, Eliza-
beth (Deming) Foote, who became the
second wife of Governor Thomas Wells.
He served the town as surveyor, assessor,
collector, constable and selectman, was
sergeant of militia, and died April 1, 1699,
leaving an estate valued at £461. He
married, May 13, 1674, Mary, whose surname
does not appear in the records. She
survived him, was living in 1728, and
probably died early in 1730.
Their second son was Samuel Churchill,
born 1688, settled in what is now New-
ington, where he purchased fifty-two
acres of land in 1712. He was active in
town and church affairs from 1746 to his
death, July 21, 1769; was ensign of mili-
tia, and is described in the records as a
smith. He married, June 26, 1717, Mar-
tha Boardman, born December 19, 1695,
died December 14, 1780, daughter of Daniel
and Hannah (Wright) Boardman,
granddaughter of Samuel Boardman, of
Claydon, England, one of the first settlers
of Wethersfield.
Captain Charles Churchill, son of Sam-
uel Churchill, was born December 31,
1723, in Newington Parish, where he
passed his life, and died October 29, 1802.
He was one of the most public-spirited
citizens of the parish, active in every
movement to promote its progress and
welfare. For thirteen years he was a
member of the society's committee, was
chosen moderator, December 7, 1778, and
continued to serve in that capacity from
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
3*3
1781 to 1801. He was chosen deacon,
August 31, 1786. In May, 1762, he was
appointed by the Assembly, captain of
the Tenth Company, Sixth Regiment of
Connecticut Militia, and held that rank
twenty years. During the Revolution,
when he was too old for military service,
he was very active in civil affairs, and also
served in the field with three of his sons.
In 1779, with his company, he went to
the defense of New Haven against the
British raider, Tryon. He was appointed
by the town on various important com-
mittees, was active in raising men for the
service, and in providing for soldiers and
their families. He frequently entertained
his company at his house, on which occasion
it was the custom to roast a whole
ox in the fireplace in the cellar, and to
keep the five bake ovens in the house
busily engaged. On May 17, 1778, he
was appointed justice of the peace, and
as a means of fitting himself for his duties
he collected a considerable library of law
books, some of which are still preserved
by his descendants. In 1747 he was
licensed as a taverner or innkeeper. Both
he and his wife were among the most kind
and hospitable people in the community.
His lengthy will was written by himself
and disposed of an estate valued at $3,-
834.80, which included one hundred and
twenty acres of land, and a tannery. He
married, November 19, 1747, Lydia Belden,
born September 6, 1725, died March
19, 1805, daughter of Josiah and Mabel
(Wright) Belden, descended through his
grandfather, Josiah Wright, from Simon
Willard, the founder of Concord, Massachusetts,
whose son Josiah, married Han-
nah, daughter of Thomas Hosmer, of
Hartford. Their eldest daughter Doro-
thy married, June 15, 1682, John Belden,
of Wethersfield. He was a son of John
and Lydia (Standish) Belden, grandson
of Richard Belden, founder of the family