Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Mary Jane, born October 25, 1854; Emma
L., July 31, 1857; Charles Edward, died
in his second year ; Charles Chauncey,
living on the homestead.
CHESTER, Thomas Weston, M. D.,
Physician.
Prominent among the physicians of
Hartford, Connecticut, whose professional
reputations are of long standing, appears
the name of Thomas Weston Chester. He
is a descendant of Captain Samuel Chester,
who was undoubtedly born in England
about the year 1625, and who was
settled in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1663.
It is evident that he was a man of wealth
at this time, about the prime of life, and
was actively engaged in the trade with
the West Indies. In 1663 he removed to
New London, Connecticut, where he was
admitted a freeman and simultaneously
became a member of the church there.
He had a warehouse there, at what was
called Close Cove, and for several years
after his removal continued to carry on
business in Boston. Being skilled in sur-
veying as well as in navigating, Captain
Chester was of great assistance to the
colony in the laying out of lands and
other civil engineering in the new settle-
ment. He is referred to as a trustworthy,
faithful, loyal, judicious and worthy citi-
zen. During his trading he had visited
many foreign ports and traded in foreign
climes. He was the owner of large tracts
of land in what is now Groton, on the
site of the present Fort Griswold and
Groton Monument. He received from the
Indian Sachem, Uncas, several thousand
acres of land at Colchester, Connecticut.
Samuel Chester, Jr., his son, was born
about 1660, and appears to have been a
master mariner. In 1689 he was engaged
in the maritime trade, commanded a vessel
owned by John Wheeler, and engaged
in the European trade.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
342
John Chester, son of Samuel Chester,
Jr., was born about 1690. There is very
little known of this member of the family
except that he married at New London,
November 1, 1716, Mercy Starr.
Deacon Joseph Chester, son of John
Cheser, was born according to Hinman,
January 17, 1731. He settled in the
northern part of New London, where his
grandfather owned land, and he himself
became a large landowner, and engaged
in farming on an extensive scale. He was
elected an elder of the church on April
10, 1778. He married (second) April 27,
1757, Elizabeth Otis. Deacon Chester
died August 4, 1803.
Joseph Chester, Jr., son of Deacon Jo-
seph Chester, was born January 27, 1758,
and died April 2, 1791. His death was
accidental and was caused by the caving
in of a well which he was digging. He
was a farmer, located near Salem, in what
is now the town of Montville, Connecti-
cut. He married, September 22, 1785,
Elizabeth Lee, who was born May 25,
1757, and died January 6, 1843, tne daugh-
ter of Benjamin and Mary (Ely) Lee, of
Lyme.
Joseph Chester, son of Joseph Chester,
was born at Montville, January 31, 1788,
and died at Norwich, Connecticut, January
30, 1832. He settled at Chelsea Landing
in the town of Norwich, where he was
a merchant. He married, September 10,
181 1, Prudee Tracy, born February 20,
1789, at Franklin, Connecticut, and died
in Norwich, October 6, 1853.
Rev. Albert Tracy Chester, son of Joseph
Chester, was born in Norwich, June
16, 181 2. He was graduated from Union
College in the class of 1834, receiving the
honorary degree from the same college
of D. D. in 1847. He was ordained in the
Presbyterian church and his first pastor-
ate was at Ballston Spa, New York ;
later
pastorates at Saratoga Springs and at
Buffalo. He died in the latter city. He