Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

this fact accounts for the origin of many
French names in Scotia.
Matthew Grant, the immigrant ances-
tor of the family in America, is traced
in England to William Graunt, of Roxby,
Yorkshire, who lived in the middle of the
fifteenth century. He married Jane,
daughter of William Burton, of Ingmanthorp.
His son, John Graunt, of Roxby,
married Jane, daughter and co-heiress of
Edward Belford, of Exilby. Their son,
George Grant, married, November 7,
1570, at Roxby, Julian, daughter of Marmaduke
Claryonette or Clargennet. Their
son, John Grant, born May 6, 1573, mar-
ried July 7, 1600, Alice Turberville,
daughter of Matthew Turberville, of
Woolbridge, Dorset.
Matthew Grant, the ancestor, son of
John Grant, was born October 27, 1601,
at Woolbridge, Dorset, England. He
married, November 16, 1625, Priscilla
Grey, daughter of Rev. Anthony Grey,
rector of Burbach, Leicestershire, and
Magdelena, daughter of William Purifoy,
of Caldecot, Warwickshire. Priscilla
Grey was baptized March 14, 1609, at
Banbury, Leicestershire. Matthew Grant,
with his wife, embarked on the "Mary
and John" at Plymouth, England, March
20, 1630, and settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts.
He was admitted a freeman
at the latter town, May 18, 1631. In Oc-
tober, 1635, he formed one of the party
who went overland and formed the first
settlement at Windsor. His home was in
the Palisado, near the town lot. It is said
that he was a carpenter. He bequeathed
his land to his son, John, with whom he
spent the declining years of his life. Matthew
Grant held many offices ; he was
surveyor, recorder, deacon of the church,
selectman, and withal, an important man
of the town. Dr. Stiles, in his history of
Windsor, states: "Few men indeed filled
the large place in the early history of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
98
Windsor or filled it so well as honest
Matthew Grant." Matthew Grant was
the compiler of a book of records and of
church records that have been of untold
value in writing of the early families of
Windsor.
Samuel Grant, son of Matthew and
Priscilla (Grey) Grant, was born Novem-
ber 12, 1631, in Dorchester, and died September
10, 1718, in East Windsor Hill.
He was engaged in tending the ferry at
the age of eighteen years, and was a
farmer by occupation. He married, May
27, 1658, at Windsor, Mary Porter, born
in 1638 in England, daughter of John and
Anna (White) Porter. In 1672 he removed
to East Windsor Hill, and joined
the church in 1685.
Samuel Grant, son of Samuel and Mary
(Porter) Grant, was born April 20, 1659,
in Windsor, and died May 8, 1710. He
lived in East Windsor Hill, where he was
a carpenter and owned a cider mill, and
was also part owner of a saw mill. After
his death his widow conducted a tavern.
He married (second) at Stonington, April
11, 1688, Grace Miner, born there, September
20, 1670, died April 16, 1753,
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Booth)
Miner.
Samuel Grant, their son, was born September
.19, 1691, and died April 7, 175 1,
at East Windsor. He married at Wind-
sor, January 1, 1718-19, Theophyle Bart-
lett. In 1726, he was living in Bolton,
having exchanged five hundred acres of
land in Bolton for five hundred acres on
which a large part of the present city of
Rockville now stands, then called North
Bolton. He was a prominent man and
held many offices. In later life he re-
turned to Windsor and there died.
Ozias Grant, his son, was born in 1733,
in East Windsor, and died May 22, 1823,
in Rockville. He was a farmer and owned
a grist mill. He was pressed into the