Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

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RAYMOND, George S.,
Banker.
The family of Raymond traces far back
into the past, including in its history
many generations of the Counts of Toulouse,
and the name is conspicuous among
those crusaders of old who fought for pos-
session of the Saviour's tomb, held in
possession of the Moslems until the English
army wrested it from them during
the recent World War, 1914-1918. It is
said that that portion of France governed
by the Count of Toulouse in the twelfth
century surpassed all others in its civili-
zation and the refinement of its people.
The name itself is of ancient French origin
rai, a beam of light; monde, mean-
ing world. Authorities, unquestioned,
state that Raymond Berenger was one of
the earliest Frenchmen to bear a double
name. Stephen and Pierre Raymond in
the twelfth century were enrolled among
the first Knights Hospitaler of the order
of St. John, but previously a branch of the
French family, driven by persecution,
went to England and at about the time of
the Conquest settled at a place in the
Hundred of Wye, in Kent, which became
known as Raymond.
(I) The Connecticut family trace descent
from Richard Raymond, who came
from England and was made a freeman at
Salem, Massachusetts, May 14, 1634, and
twenty-eight years later, October 20, 1662,
bought a house and lot in Norwalk, Connecticut.
It is most likely that he became
a resident of Norwalk soon after this pur-
chase, but he only stayed two years before
moving to Saybrook, Connecticut, where
he is rated a "mariner," engaged in coast-
wise trade. Prior to coming to Connecti-
cut, Richard Raymond and his wife Judith
were members of Salem First Church,
and all his children, save John, were bap-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Conn-9—19 289
tized there. In 1676 he willed all his lands
in Norwalk to the children of his son John
and "his present wife Mary Raymond."
Prior to Richard Raymond little is
known, of Raymonds in this county further
than that in 1630-31 "The Company
of Laconia," headed by John Mason, sent
out to Little Harbor (now Portsmouth),
New Hampshire, a company of about
forty, among them William Raymond,
and a John Raymond is also mentioned.
As early as 1636, Richard Raymond was
granted land for fishing purposes at Winter
Island, Salem, and as he styled him-
self "mariner," he was probably master
and certainly part owner of the "Hopewell,"
a ketch of forty tons. Concerning
the relationship existing between Richard
Raymond and others of the name in
Salem there is nothing decisive known.
Richard Raymond died at Saybrook, in
1692, aged about ninety.
(II) John Raymond, son of Richard
and Judith Raymond, was of Norwalk,
Connecticut, where in a division of lots in
the winter wheat field, in 1668, he drew
lot No. 21. In 1687 he shared in another
division of lands, again drawing lot No.
21. His father's will of 1676 gave all his
lands in Norwalk to the children of his
son John and his then wife Mary. John
Raymond married, December 10, 1664,
Mary Betts, daughter of Thomas Betts,
and among their children was a son, John
(2), of further mention.
(III) John (2) Raymond, son of John
(1) and Mary (Betts) Raymond, was
born in Norwalk, Connecticut, September
9, 1665, died April 12, 1737. He was
an important man in the early history of
the town, was captain of the train band, a
land surveyor, and a large property owner.
He married, March 7, 1690, Elizabeth St.
John, daughter of Samuel St. John, and
granddaughter of Matthias St. John, the