A Sketch of Thomas Stanton

A Sketch of Thomas Stanton

A Sketch of Thomas Stanton

The First of This Family in America 1635-1677

Adapted from " A Record, Genealogical, Biographical,

Statistical, of Thomas Stanton of Connecticut

and his Descendants 1635-1891"

by William A. Stanton, Ph.D., D.D.

p. 9-29

pub. 1891 by Joel Munsell’s Sons, Albany, NY

According to the New England Historical and Genealogical Register (vol. ii, p. 13), Thomas Stanton took passage for Virginia in the merchantman Bonaventura on January 2, 1635. He recorded himself as being twenty years old. The ship’s records show no other passenger named Stanton. It is certain, therefore, that he came unattended by any relative bearing the same name. There was a John Stanton in Virginia prior to 1635; from 1652 to 1688, there are records of a Robert Stanton of Dorchester, Massachusetts and another Robert Stanton, a Quaker, who was a resident of Newport, Rhode Island prior to 1645. This Robert of Newport died in 1672 at the age of 73. Many have guessed that Robert was an older brother of Thomas, but there is not any evidence to that effect, nor, so far as records go, do they seem to have even known each other.

There is no proof that Thomas was related to anyone in America when he immigrated. There is a family tradition that before his death, he received a legacy from his former home in England, but no records have been found to prove it. Undoubtedly, there were many records and documents from New London, Connecticut that would have testified of Thomas’ origin and life. His will was probably recorded there, but hasn’t been found. In 1781, the traitor, Benedict Arnold, burned and sacked New London town, destroying many of the county’s records. Many other records do remain, however, and these were used to write this short biography.

Evidently, Mr. Stanton’s stay in Virginia was very short. Records from Boston, Massachusetts show him being there in 1636, serving as a magistrate. He may have traded and mingled with the Indians in Virginia, acquired some knowledge of their language, and then sailed to New England. We know that he subsequently visited the Indians in Virginia. Remaining New London county records contain a curious document without date, but apparently entered in 1668 or 1669. It reads as follows:

“Whereas Capt. Morrice bath reported and informed the King’s Commissioner that Mr. Thomas Stanton, Senr. did, in Virginia, some 20 odd years since, cause a massacre among the Indians, whereby to gain their Beaver to himself, and the said Morrice name Richard Arye, mariner, to be his author:

These may certify all whom it may concern that the said Ayre being examined concerning said report, doth absolutely deny that he knew or reported any such thing to Morrice nor ever heard of any such thing about Mr. Stanton in Virginia to his remembrance.”

This document is acknowledged in court by Richard Arye, and attested by David Wetherell, recorder.

The next we know of Mr. Stanton is in connection with the Pequot War. Just before the war, he had been serving Winthrop as Indian interpreter, while the latter was in command at Saybrook. July 4, 1636, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Hugh Peters and Mr. Thomas Stanton bore instructions from Boston to Winthrop at fort Saybrook, Connecticut (going overland), as to the Pequots. The war followed immediately. Caulkin’s History of New London, Connecticut (p.296) states, “the services of Mr. Stanton, as interpreter during the Pequot War were invaluable. He was moreover a man of trust and intelligence, and his knowledge of the country and of the natives made him a useful pioneer and counselor in all land questions, as well as difficulties with the Indians.” In Deforest’s history of the New England Indians, it says, “Sometime in April 1637, a small vessel arrived at the fort, having on board Thomas Stanton, a man well acquainted with the Indian language, and long useful to the colonial authorities as interpreter.” This occurred near the end of the Pequot War.

Mr. Stanton served through the war. Special mention is made of his bravery in the battle of Fairfield Swamp, where he nearly lost his life. He must have returned to Boston soon after peace was secured. Drake, in his history of Boston, names Thomas as one of the magistrates in the trial of John Wheelwright, which took place October 3, 1637.

The next seventeen months of Mr. Stanton’s life were eventful ones. He married and settled in Hartford, Connecticut. In June 1636, Rev. Thomas Hooker and 100 other persons left Newtown (Cambridge), Massachusetts and settled Hartford. In February 1639, there were 127 property owners in Hartford, two of whom were Thomas Stanton and his father-in-law, Dr. Thomas Lord. It is not known whether Thomas Lord and his family came to Hartford with Hooker or at a later date, but indications are that he was a member of the original group of settlers. Thomas Stanton married Thomas Lord's eldest daughter, Ann.

Thomas Stanton is mentioned over sixty times in “The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut from 1636-1677,” published by J. Hammond Trumbell in 1849. In those records, his name is spelled three different ways -Stanton, Staunton and Steynton. From Mr. Stanton's signature, it appears that he spelled it Stanton.

Thomas was a signer of the Constitution of the Colony of Connecticut. On April 5, 1638, the same court that issued the Constitution also made the following record:

“It is ordered that Thomas Staunton shal be a publicke officer for to attend the

Corte upon all occasions, either Generall or prticuler, as alsoe any meetinge of the Magistrates to interpret betweene them and the Indians, as also is to have for it 10£ pr Annum.”

At this same session of Court, Thomas, along with others, were sent on a mission to the Warranocke Indians. The same year (1638), he was a delegate at an English and Indian Council-meeting at Hartford. Among other delegates were Roger Williams of Providence, Uncas of the Mohegans and Miantinomo of the Narragansetts. He also received ten pounds for past services to his country, and was given authority to represent Hartford in all trade of beavers at one shilling per skin.

On November 24, 1638, he was at New Haven acting as interpreter for the Yorkshire colonists of Quinnipiac (New Haven) in their purchase of the land from the Indians where the city now stands. To the deed of said land is added the following declaration:

“I, Thomas Stanton, being interpreter in this treaty, do hereby profess in the presence of God that I have fully acquainted the Indians with the substance of every article and truly returned their answer and consent to the same, according to the tenor of the foregoing writing, the truth of which, if lawfully called, I shall readily confirm at any time.

(signed) Thomas Stanton”

Also in 1638, Thomas and Ann had their first child -a boy named Thomas Stanton, Jr. In 1641, his second son, John, was born.

In 1642, Thomas went to Long Island with his brother-in-law, Richard Lord to trade and collect old debts. It appears that these two were in business together. The partnership may have been dissolved the following year, however, when a quarrel broke out between them and Richard Lord drew his sword to fight Thomas. The fight was stopped and Richard Lord was fined £5 for his behavior.

In 1643, a daughter, Mary, was born in Hartford. In 1644, another daughter, Hannah, was born. A son, Joseph, was born in 1646.

Also in 1646, Thomas violated a merchant's license and sold some lead outside the jurisdiction of Hartford. For this violation, he was fined five pounds. Because of his trading trips or for some other reason, he was so long absent from Court as an official that a successor to him was appointed for one year, but in 1648, Thomas was back and again working as Court Interpreter at a salary of five pounds per year.

Later in 1648, another son, Daniel, was born in Hartford. In connection with this birth, it is inferred that some trouble arose. Shortly afterwards, Thomas entered a suit for £200 in an action of slander against one Joane Sipperance, “to the utter undoing of his wife's good name, and almost taking away her life.” Since he got judgment for only 20 shillings, it is concluded that while he had cause for complaint, it was not quite so serious a matter as he thought.

In 1648, he decided to remove his business from Hartford to New London, the result of which is the following entry in the Connecticut General Court records, dated February 6, 1649:

“This Courte, taking in to consideracon the petition of Thos. Staunton presented

to them, have graunted to him and doe order, that hee shall have liberty to erect a trading house at Pawcatuck, with six acres of planting ground, and liberty of feed and mowing, according to his present occasions, and that none within this jurisdiction shall trade within that River for the space of three years next ensuing; provided hee submit himselfe to such other exceptions and cautions as the Governor and Deputy shall judge meett.”

As soon as possible after receiving permission to do so, Mr. Stanton built and occupied his trading house on the Pawcatuck River, but for the time his family remained in Hartford. When they did move, they first went to Pequot and then to what is now Stonington, Connecticut. If these dates are correct, his seventh child, Dorothy (born 1651) was either born just before leaving Hartford or just after reaching Pequot. The three other children were born in Pequot -Robert in 1653, Sarah in 1655 and Samuel in 1657.

An interesting act of the General Court was written in May of 1650 that involved Thomas Stanton. The colonial government formally passed a law requiring that the “lighte and knowledge of God and of his Worde” be taught to the Indians. It was required of the elders of the churches to teach the Indians in Connecticut with the help of Thomas Stanton. The magistrates were ordered to enforce the law and see that the Indians were taught every year.

The Stanton's in Stonington

In 1652, Thomas received a grant of 300 acres, laid out in a square upon the river, next to his grant of six acres he had received in 1649. In 1659, Chief Cassawashitt deeded the whole of Pawkatuck Neck and the small islands that lay near to it, known as “The Hommocks” to him. The court confirmed this deed or grant in 1671.

Soon after Mr. Stanton went to his new trading house, the General Court of Connecticut elected him Deputy Magistrate. This occurred on May 15, 1651, and on October 6th of the same year, he was commissioned “to make a rigid inquest whether any of those murtherers of the English before the Pequott warres” could be found that they might be “brought to condign punishment.” He was also to demand £40 of Ninigret for payment of Eltwood Pomrye’s mare that had been killed by the Indians.

The next record of Thomas is dated June 20, 1656, when he and Captain George Denison, Mr. Brewster and Hugh Calkin are to make a list of the state of the state of the town and the inhabitants, and to make the County rate of £20. The same year, the Commissioners of the United Colonies advised the preparation of a catechism in the Narragansett or Pequot language, appointing Rev. Pierson of New Haven and Thomas Stanton to do the translation work. Mr. Pierson's removal from New Haven, however, prevented its execution.

In 1657, Mr. Stanton did something or said something that greatly roused the wrath of the General Court and led to a warrant for his arrest. The cause of offense is not clear, but is referred to as the “cast of Uncas” It may be that the record was intended to read that the Commissioners had cast off the Indian sachem Uncas, and that Mr. Stanton had proof in his pocket of some such insult to his noted friend. The following is the record, dated August 12, 1657, verbatim:

“James Morgan, ages bout 50 years, testified upon oath before this Court that he being last winter at Jacob Waterhouse his dwelling house, in company wth Mrs. Brewster, Goody Waterhouse and Capt. Denison, Thomas Staunton also being prsent, hee heard the said Staunton say that the Cornmissionrs had cast of Uncus, and hee had it in his pocket to shew .”

This Court orders and appoints that Leifted Wm. Lewis should tomorrow goe to Gilford, & if upon inquiry there hee understand that Thomas Staunton is gone to Branford and not returned, hee is to goe to Mr. Leet, and desire he would take order that Thomas Staunton, in that jurisdiction, at Branford or elsewhere, shall be forthwth sent to Mr. Wells, Deputy Governor, Gen: or else take security of 40 1. that hee will appeare before the Gen: Court at Hartford, on Tuesday next, & abide the judgmt of the Court, in reference to such things as shall be testifyd against him by Major John Mason.

Copia

You are to bring or cause Thomas Staunton to bee brought before the Gen: Court in Hartford, on Tuesday next, then & there to answere vnto such things as shall bee allaedged against him by Major John Mason & for so doeing this shall be yor wart.”

Lieutenant Lewis does not seem to have been successful in his effort to bring Mr. Stanton before the Court, and the following records give all the further light to be had on the subject.

“To Leifted Wm. Lewis:

This Court ordered the Secr to write to the Cornmissionrs in refference to Thomas Staunton, wch letter was read & approved, & the Secr ordered to send the same.

This Court orders that if Tho: Staunton comes in the vacancy of this Court, hee shall bee required to put in security for his appearance at the Court in Hartford in October next.

Tho: Staunton, for contempt of the last Gen: Court, in not appearing when sumoned thereunto, for wch offence the Court fines the said Thomas then pounds.”

The records do not indicate how the Court and the Commissioners were appeased

The next year, 1658, Thomas and his family moved to Wequetoquock Cove, two and a half miles east of Stonington. Even thought the General Court in Hartford dealt with Stonington and New London events, the area was claimed by Massachusetts and was called Southington and considered part of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts court ordered that the town be managed by Capt. George Denison, Robert Park, William Chesebrough, Walter Palmer and Thomas Stanton. In 1662, Charles II gave Connecticut a new charter that included Southington. In 1665, the name was changed to Mystic, and in 1667, it was finally changed to Stonington. The first meetinghouse was built in 1661.

On September 6-17, 1660, Thomas Stanton, along with Capt. George Denison and Thomas Minor were sent to the Narragansett sachem Ninigret to require of them the punishment of certain offenders and reparations of injuries done to the English - that “at least foure of the chiefe of them that shot in to the English house at Mouhegin should be proceeded with and punished according to justice, and in that case they cannot be drawn thereunto,” that five hundred fathoms of wampum should be exacted in expiation of the offense, and that speedy payment should be made of a quantity of wampum which the Commissioners, the year before, had required of the Narragansetts “for incolencies committed to Mr. Brewster's, in killing an Indian servant at Mrs. Brewster's feet, to her great affrightment, and stealing come, and other affronts.”

Three years after this edict, Mr. Stanton was appointed to apportion 8,000 acres to the Pawcatucks. Then on October 13, 1664, he was appointed magistrate by the General Court:

“This Court doth hereby impower Mr. Wm. Cheesebrooke, Mr. Thomas Stanton

and Mr. Thomas Minor to issue and determine all cases that shall be brought before them, to the value of forty shillings, to grant summons according to lawe to any that desire it, to summon men to appeare before them or at any Court in this Colony, and to marry persons, and punish for criminall matters to all value of forty shillings, or by stocks.”

In 1665, he became a Commissioner of Stonington and was given authority to hold a semi-annual court at New London, the county seat. He held court in New London for the first time on September 20, 1666. The judges or commissioners were John Mason, Thomas Stanton and Lt. Pratt. As commissioner, Thomas administered the freeman's oath to his sons, Thomas, Jr. and John.

In 1666, he was re-elected Commissioner, appointed Overseer-General of the Coassatuck Indians and made a member of a new Commission of Appeals on Indian Affairs. He was continually re-elected as Commissioner for 12 years until his death in 1677. Thomas became a member of the Connecticut General Assembly in 1666.

On October 11, 1666, Thomas entered a suit against Chief Cuskatome and the chiefs brother-in-law for “stealing a considerable estate” from him. Mr. Stanton got judgement in this case for £27 12s. 2d., to be paid within fourteen days. If not so paid, the Court authorized him “to dispose of these Indians by selling or sending them to Barbadoes or any other English Island.” Whether he secured the money or whether he sold the debtors is unknown.

From 1667 Until 1677

In 1667, Mr. Stanton was again elected a member of the General Assembly and continued to serve in that body until 1674. For his services to the Colony, the General Court granted him 250 acres, 30 of it meadowland, on the Pachaug River (later the town of Preston) in October 1667. Also that year, as Indian Commissioner, he was called upon to settle difficulties that were threatening between Uncas, the chief of the Mohegans, and the Niantic tribe.

During 1667 and 1668, several disputes arose between the town of Stonington and the General Court. In additon, more erupted between Stonington and neighboring Rhode Island -primarily over treatment of the Indians and religious matters. New London and Stonington residents considered their Rhode Island neighbors evil and sacrilegious and as a threat to their spiritual well being. The Rhode Island residents were usually not Puritans. Thomas petitioned the General Court of Connecticut and the government of Rhode Island multiple times on behalf of Stonington, but with negative results. Many town officials were fined by the General Court for complaining and Rhode Island simply ignored Stonington's complaints. The inter-colony feuds continued for several years. In 1671, Mr. Stanton was met and opposed by Tobias Saunders, John Crandall and some other Rhode Island men armed with clubs over religious issues. Crandall was arrested and imprisoned in New London for the assault.

In 1672, Thomas’ son, John, was appointed assistant magistrate in Stonington and they held court together in New London. On July 8, 1669, the two of them reported that they suspected a plot against the English, led by Uncas, Hermon Garrett and a daughter of Ninigret. Soon thereafter, Thomas went to Robinstown where the Indians were having a great dance to arrest Ninigret.

In 1672, he sent a demand to the Niantic Indians, that they surrender Mowweam who was charged with a double murder - that of an English girl and of an Indian woman. In 1675, Thomas and Major Winthrop were authorized to pay a ransom in exchange of a son of James Rockwell who had been kidnapped by Indians.

It was also in 1675 that the Indians in the area began to become very aggressive. Thomas reported the first hostility of King Philip's War -the burning of houses and the massacre at Swansea - to the Governor at Hartford. The following year, he helped negotiate the peace between the English and the Indians. He was paid £20 for his service and expense in securing the fidelity of Chief Ninigret to the English during the war. In August 1676, we was authorized to return several guns to Mamawhow, which he had taken from him the year before.

During the last year of Thomas’ life – 1677 - records indicate that he returned all of the wampum that he held in trust for the sachem Ninicroft to an Indian named Robbin Cassacinamon. Mr. Stanton died on December 2, 1677. His wife, Ann, lived with their daughter, Dorothy Noyes, until her death in 1688. During his life, he served as an Indian interpreter for Connecticut and the Governor of Massachusetts, and as Interpreter General of the New England Colonies. He was a county commissioner or judge for twelve consecutive years and a member of the Connecticut General Assembly for seven years. He was Indian Commissioner and a successful businessman and farmer.