Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

of his life in the insurance business. He
represented the Hartford companies in
Western Massachusetts, living ;it Green-
field for many years. His death occurred
in MJ07, and he is buried in Ellington,
Connecticut. Mr. Shepard married Lora
Pinney, of Ellington, who survives him,
now residing in that town. The) were
the parents of three children: Jean Ed-
ward, of further mention; James Pinney,
and Hazel. Mrs. Lora (Pinney) Shepard
is a direct descendant of Humphrey
I'iniu-v . who
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
was the founder of this fam-
ily in America. He came from England
in 1630 and located at Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Five years later he removed
from there and settled at Windsor, Con-
necticut. He died August 20, 168,1 His
wife was Mary ( Mull) Pinney, who came
from England in the same vessel. 'Their
son, Samuel Pinney, was horn in Dor-
chester, and was the oldest of their chil-
dren. He removed to Simsbury in 1667,
leaving there in 1676 at the time it was
hurned by the Indians. He was subse-
quently employed at surveying- in the
town of Ellington, and there purchased
lands from the Indians, on which he
settled. At that time Ellington was a
part of Windsor, and he is believed to
have been the first settler in Ellington in
1717. He died there. He married Re-
joice Bissell, who was a daughter of the
immigrant. John Bissell. Their son, Cap-
tain Benjamin Pinney. horn about 1715.
died in 1777.
Pinney. horn in 1753. in Ellington. He
was a farmer, sergeant of militia in the
campaign against Burgoyne, a member of
a company of Connecticut yeomen who
! le was the father of Eleazer
were famed for their bravery. He took
part in the battle of Stillwater, September
19, 1777. and in the battle of Saratoga,
October 7. 1777. being one of the division
that stormed the camp of Burgoyne. He
53
was a representative in the General
sembly; selectman, fourteen years; ad-
ministrator of many estates, and