Simeon Chester Sr. (1733 - 1811)

Born 20 Mar 1733 in Groton Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Bent) Chester — married 2 Jan 1763 in Groton, New London, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 21 Feb 1811 at age 77 in Prob Connecticut [uncertain]

Biography

Simeon was born in 1733. He was the son of John Chester and Mary (Starr) Chester.

From The Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly Volume X, No. 1, Jan 1907, Whole No. 37, published by The Old Northwest Genealogical Society, Memorial Hall, East Broad Street, Columbus Ohio 1907 :pp. 162-4,^[1]

Simeon 4 Chester (John 3 and Mary Starr, Samuel* 2 ), b. Mar. 20, 1733. When a young man, probably soon after his marriage, he moved with John Starr to Truro, Nova Scotia. When the Revolutionary War broke out they left for the Colonies. Being pursued by enemies, they secreted themselves in the woods, where for some time they were fed by their wives until they could find an opportunity to escape to their native country, by aid of friendly Indians acting as guides through the wilderness. After a tedious journey they arrived at Groton, their native place, in safety, having traveled with their wives the whole way on foot. Simeon Chester had acquired considerable property in Nova Scotia, and was compelled to sacrifice it when he was driven away from there, on account of his loyalty to the Colonies, at the outbreak of the Revolution. By an act of Congress, approved April 7, 1789, and the supplemental act, passed February 18, 1801, to more fully effectuate the provisions of the original act, which provided for setting apart certain Government lands to reimburse certain patriots, refugees from Nova Scotia, named therein, for their financial sacrifices and personal services during the War of the Revolution, Simeon Chester was awarded 960 acres of land in three separate tracts ; the first being located in what is now Franklin County, Ohio, in One-half Section 51, Township 12, Range 21, and the other two being located in Licking County, Ohio. His son, Elias Chester, Subsequently moved onto the tract in Franklin County, above described, and gave to the township, subsequently laid out, the name of Truro, for his former home in Nova Scotia. The tracts in Licking County were settled upon by his first son, Simeon Chester, Jr. 2 It is said that the Chester family in America were noted for the three p's, to-wit, piety, poetry and productiveness. These traits are exemplified in the life of Simeon Chester, Sr. In common with his ancestors and relatives, he proved his piety by selecting Biblical names for his children. The family Bible contains proof of his poetical prowess. On the occasion when his wife gave birth on December 25, 1773, to three children, Elias, Elijah and Elisha, he wrote in the family register as follows :

"Send them no more by twos or by threes, But one, good Lord, as often as you please."

Another example of his poetry is extant, being found in his reply to the United States Government when they wrote him concerning the details of the amount of property sacrificed by him when he was compelled to leave Nova Scotia on account of the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, and the amount of property he had remaining for his subsistence. It is as follows :

2. This seems to have been 335 acres 15 perches in Half Section No. 18 west, in Township 17, Range 18, and 322 acres 64 perches in Half Section No. 20 west, in Township 19, Range 17, Refugee Lands.

The patent for the first tract is from James Madison, President, to Simeon Chester, in trust for the heirs of Simeon Chester, deceased. He conveyed this tract as follows : The north half, two hundred acres, to John Jackson, Jan. 18, 1813 ; twenty acres to John McQuown, Dec. 15, 1821; fifty-one acres to Peter McMullen, Apr. 1, 1820; and seventy-one acres to William Green, Dec. 23, 1826. Of the second tract there is no patent of record. He conveyed one hundred acres of it to Andrew Richards, July 20, 1834, and the remainder to Christian Reamer, June 1, 1835.

" I and my dear wife just escaped with our life, Two sons and three daughters, all in rags and tatters. Four bushels of corn, one shoulder of meat, Is all we seven have got to eat."

He married Elizabeth (Bent) Chester, of Boston. His children were :

i. Simeon Chester, b. Mar. 20, 1767; m. Anna Higby.

ii. Elias Chester, b. Dec. 25, 1773; m. Hannah Ladowney, and moved to Franklin County, Ohio,

iii. Elijah Chester, b. Dec. 25, 1773, d. 1773.

iv. Elisha Chester, b. Dec. 25, 1773. d. 1773.

v. Elizabeth Chester ; m. Jonas Babcock.

vi. Calvin Chester.

vii. Susan Chester ; m. Wright.

viii. Lydia Chester; m. Joseph Eaton. Their son, Orrin Chester Eaton, lived near Jacksontown, Licking County, and later at Felton Springs, Ohio,

ix. Caleb Chester.

He passed away in 1811.

Sources

1. ↑ * : The Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly Volume X, No. 1, Jan 1907, Whole No. 37, published by The Old Northwest Genealogical Society, Memorial Hall, East Broad Street, Columbus Ohio pp. 162-4,

• Ancestor#A021453-National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Library Record Copy Services A021453/M240587/R000040A04402
• Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
• Connecticut, Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934

Acknowledgements

• This person was created on 14 September 2010 through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged.