The Founders of Hartford
Nicholas Desborough (Disbro, Desbrough, Disborow Desbrow), Hartford, 1639, a proprietor “by courtesie
of the town”; his home-lot was on the east side of road to the Cow Pasture (North Main St.), not far from the
present tunnel. He served in the Pequot War; received a grant of fifty acres for his services, May 11, 1671. He m.
1640, Mary Brunson, prob. sister of John. Chosen chimney-viewer, 1647, 1655, 1663, 1669 ; surveyor of highways,
1665 ; freed from training, etc., March 6, 1672-3, when sixty years old. He m. (2), after 1669, Elizabeth, widow of
Thwaite Strickland.1 Cotton Mather (Magnolia, vi. 69) tells a marvellous story of molestations in
Desborough's house
by invisible hands, in 1683. He d. in 1683 ; inv. Aug. 31, £81. 15. - Ch.: i. Mary, m. Obadiah Spencer, of Hartford.
ii. Sarah, m. Samuel Eggleston, of Middletown; d. 1683, aged 71. iii. Phebe, bapt. Dec. 20, 1646 ; m. John Kelsey,
of Hartford, who removed to Killingworth. iv. Abigail, b. Feb. 1, 1648-9; m. (1) Robert Flood, of Wethersfield; (2)
Matthew Barry.
1 Elizabeth, dau. of Edward Shepard of Cambridge, prob. m. (1) Thwaite Strickland, of Hfd.;
(2) Nicholas Disboro, Gregory Wilterton gave her land in Hid. by deed, with reversion to her dau. by her first
husband, Thwaite Strickland, and her sons, John, Joseph, Jonathan, and Ephraim Strickland. The dau. m. John Andrews -
Gen. Reg. xxxix. 192 ; xxxiii. 856.
 |
|
