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Note: REFN: 2222
John came with Elder Goodwin and Thomas Hooker and 100 men, women and children from Newtown (Cambridge, Mass.) in 1636 to the shores of the Connecticut River. They made the journey through a pathless wilderness with 160 cattle in just two weeks. They came thus to the Indian town of Suckige, now Hartford. By February 1639/40 he owned 36 acres, number 16 on the North side of the stream that now runs through Bushnell Park where Temple and Front Streets now cross. He built his house there. In 1642, he married Anne Webster, daughter of Governor John Webster. Later John also acquired 17 acres in East Hartford. John's name is on a shaft of the founders of Hartford which is in the grounds of the Centre Church in Hartford. John was also at one time Lieut. Gov., and in 1656 was Governor for one year in Hartford.
In 1660, John was part of a large party which moved up the river, secured land from the Indians, aand formed the town of Hadley. In April 1661, John Webster, his father-in-law died. On June 9, 1662 Anne (Webster) Marsh also died.
On October 7, 1664 John married Hepzibah (Ford) Lyman, daughter of Thomas Ford and widow of Richard Lyman of Northhampton (Richard had died June 3, 1662). John was living in Northhampton at the time, I think. John and Hepzibah lived in Northhampton for about two years and then returned to Hadley. Hepzibah brought 5 Lyman children into her marriage to John. Sarah, one of the daughters, later married John Marsh, son of John. This was Nov. 28 1666, when John was about 23 and Sarah was 22 or 23. John and Sarah moved to Hartford and lived all their lives in the Marsh Homestead. Hepzibah died 4/11/1683.
John died Sept 28, 1688 while on a visit to his daughter Hannah Loomis in Windsor, Conn. ("probably while on a visit to his daughter Hannah Loomis living there.")
"A true copy of the last will and testament of John
Marsh of Hadley, who dyed at Windsor, presented at the Court at
Northampton, the 4th of December, 1688.
I, John Marsh, of Hadley, in the county of Hampshire, in
New England, being very sensible of mine own frailty and
mortality, yet through the mercy of God, of sound mind and
memory at present, doe make this my last will and Testament as
follows; I commit my selfe soule and body into the hands of the
Almighty and Eternal God whose I am, and into the arms of my
Dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom I desire
steadfastly to belong, and on whom do repose and rest alone for
righteousness, life and salvation, leaving my body to be
interred with a comely burial.
And for the outward estate the Lord hath blessed me
withal, my will is, that after my just debts are paid, and
funeral expenses discharged, that then
I give to my son, John Marsh, ffive pounds.
I give to my son, Jonathan Marsh, all my Gold.
I give to my son, Daniel Marsh, my two Cob Irons.
I give to my daughter, Hannah Loomis, alias Marsh, thirty
pounds, unless I pay a part of it before my decease, n'th, if
so then so much shall be discounted from the Legacy.
I give to my son, Samuel Marsh all my lands within the
township of Hadley.
I give to my daughter, Lydia Marsh, my green Rug.
I give to my grandson Baker, of Northampton, ffive pounds,
when he shall attayne to the age of one and twenty years.
I give and bequeath to my daughter, Lydia Marsh, twenty
pounds.
And all said Legacies, my will is, that my Executors see
faithfully discharged. And I do constitute and appoint my
loving sons, John Marsh and Samuel Marsh, to be Executors to
this my will annulling and making voide all former wills at any
time by me willed or bequeathed.
JOHN MARSH.
Sealed and subscribed in the presence of
THOMAS HOVEY,
THOMAS HEAD." [:ITAL]
Having come with the Hooker/Goodwin party as one of the first settlers, his name appears on
the memorial to the earliest settlers (Which is in the churchyard of the Centre Church in Hartford).
! (1) "Marsh Genealogy," by Dwight Whitney Marsh (Carpenter & Morehouse, Amherst, MA, 1895) p.2-19. FHL #929.273 M352md.
(2) "The Great Migration Begins - Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," by Robert Charles Anderson (NEHGS, Boston, MA, 1995) 1:689. Cites: (a) Manuscript volume of vital records kept by John Pynchon, at CT Valley Historical Museum, p.141.
! Birth: (1) Age 70 at death in 1688 (b. 1618), England, s/o John Marsh/Grace Baldwin of Banktry, Essex, England.
Marriage to Anne Webster: (1) Abt 1642, Hartford, CT. Marriage to Hebzibah Ford: (1,2a) 7 Oct 1664, widow of Richard Lyman. (2a) Northampton, MA.
Death: (1) 28 Sep 1688, Windsor, CT, probably while on a visit to his daughter Hannah Loomis who lived there.
(1) 1635: Believed to have come to Cambridge on the Charles River by the Bay, then called Newton, now included in greater Boston, MA.
(1) 1636: One of the 100 men, women and children who followed Rev. Hooker, Stone and Elder Goodwin from MA to Hartford, CT. Almost all of Hartford's earliest settlers and Rev. Hooker came from Braintree, Essex Co. in England.
(1) 1639/40, Feb: Lands were recorded to John Marsh, part of which belonged to John Stone and were given by him to Samuel Stone, and by Samuel Stone to John Marsh of Hartford. Also "Thomas Beale had an allotment of lands sequestered for him, but he did not come to Hartford and they were given to John Marsh before Feb 1639/40." These lots totaled 36 acres, making his homelot number 16 on the north side of the stream that later ran through Bushnell Park, and on the street nearest the Connecticut River, where Temple and Front Streets later crossed.
(1) 1640: His name is on Hartford's earliest map. (1) Received 76 7/8 acres in a distribution of land to original proprietors at the West end of Hartford.
(1) Received a grant of 72 acres at what was later East Hartford, just across the river.
(1) Adopted Grace Martin, daughter of his sister Lydia (Marsh) Martin. Tradition says that she "had a false lover in England who married another. She came to Boston and was in danger of being sold for her passage." If so, she may have been "rescued" by her uncle John Marsh. She is called his daughter in documents.
(1) 1649: On jury, Hartford. (1) 1656, 12 Mar: One of the signers of a letter, in which the signers refused to recognize Mr. Stone as pastor and called for an impartial mutual council.
(1) 1656, 11 Jul: Signed as a "withdrawer" from the First Church at Hartford.
(1) 1657: Chimney viewer, Hartford. (1) 1660: Moved from Hartford, CT to Hadley, MA with his family. In 1659/60 a large party from Hartford moved about 40 miles up the Connecticut River to form the new town of Hadley.
(1) 1660, Feb: The town of Hadley cast lots for land and John Marsh drew No. 34.
(1) 1660: Harvard town meeting voted to give the Jews who lived in John Marsh's house liberty to stay seven months.
(1) 1660, 8 Oct: Hadley, MA town meeting agreed that "Jo Marsh hath his house lot with his father, Mr. Webster, of Mr. Webster's, and he to have eight acres allowed for it within the fence, and he to come up at spring next."
(1) 1661, 18 Jun: One of the original members of the church at Northampton, MA, at its organization.
(1) 1664: May have moved to Northampton for a brief time after his marriage to Hepzibah.
(1) 1667, 29 Jan: Grace Marsh, widow of Branctree, Essex, leaves bequests to children of her son John, now in New England.
(1) 1675: Selectman, Hadley, MA. (1) 1681, 7 Nov: Certified at Hartford that he was brother of Joseph Marsh of Braintee from whom he received money.
(1) 1688, 27 Nov: Inventory of the estate of John Marsh, late of Hadley, deceased, includes wheat in barn, a young steer, a bedstead, and clothing.
(1) 1688, 4 Dec: His will proved at Northampton, calls himself in will of Hadley in the county of Hampshire in New England. Left son John 5 pounds. Gives to son Jonathan all his gold. To son Daniel, 2 Cob Irons. To daughter Hannah Loomis 30 pounds. To son Samuel, all his lands within the town of Hadley. To daughter Lydia Marsh, his green rug and 20 pounds. To grandson Baker of Northampton, 5 pounds when he reaches age 21. Appoints sons John and Samuel to be executors. Witnessed by Thomas Hovey and Thomas Head.
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