Edward Lay (1608 - abt. 1682)

Born 1608 in England

Died about 1682 at about age 74 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island

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Edward Lay migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 204) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Edward Lay was an early member of the First Church in Hartford. He received a lot in the 1639 distribution on the west side of "the road from George Steele's to the Great Swamp." He didn't build on his lot and it was forfeited to the town, but on Feb. 18, 1640, the town returned it to him and "to have the like liberty of lots that be new given."^[1][2][3]

Savage claimed that he and Edward Lee are the same person. He also said that he removed to Saybrook, on the east side or Lyme in 1648, and that he died before 1657 or perhaps he removed to Portsmouth, Rhode Island.^[4]

Aug 12, 1657 "This Court considering the ingagem^t of Edward Lay to this Jurisdiction (by 15l. secured in Rich: Fellowes his hand,) of Robert Codnams estate, that the said Lay should appeare, seu^rall yeares since, at Hartford, to answere at the Court his abusive cariage & expressions before seu^rall of Seabrooke, w^ch to this time hee hath not attended, they order that vpon the payment of 5l. to the Treasur^r by the said Codnam hee shall bee free from the aforesaid seizure of Robert Codnams estate in his hands, & the said Edward Lay shall bee free from the forfeiture of bond & contempt therein, w^ch 5l. being paid by Codnam for Edward Layes disappearance, according to ingagem^t, they judge that Edward Layes estate should satisfy Codnum for the same."^[5]

The Founders of Hartford sketch of Edward Lay says that he also went to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, where he married Martha before 31 Oct 1654. This needs to be researched.

Assuming that the Edward Lay of Portsmouth is the same man who was in Hartford and Saybrook. Note: Anderson's Great Migration Directory says he settled in Hartford and Saybrook, but says see also Austin's Genealogical Dictionary.^[6]

Edward Lay of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, was a deputy in 1667.^[7]

His wife Martha was attacked by an Indian, John, who was sentenced to death 15 Jun 1671.^[7]

31 Oct 1677 He and forty-seven other persons were granted 5000 acres in what was to be East Greenwich, but Edward never went there.^[7]

Pleading age and debility of body to hard labor, Edward requested of the Assembly, 1 Aug 1679, that he be allowed to keep an Inn. The assembly recommended that the Town Council allow this. He was called 71 years this same year (b. 1608). 7 Sep 1680, Edward was indicted for selling strong drink without a license. 26 Oct 1681, a 40s fine by the General Court of Trial was remitted, he once again pleading age and debility. ^[7]

Edward Lay made a will 20 Sep 1682, which was proved 11 Feb 1682. He named his wife, Martha, executor and friends John Briggs, Caleb Arnold and John Sanford as overseers. He left his wife all his lands and personal estate, "more especially because of the great love affection and tender care found in my said loving wife during time of my sickness." He left his brother Robert 1s and his eldest brother John's (deceased) son, John, 2s, and to the sons of his brothers, Robert and John, 1s each.^[7][8] There is some confusion over the date of probate. Austin's Dictionary says 1692, which of course has led other's to follow suit.^[9]

Research Notes

Interesting information to further explore: Whose home was It? Edward & Martha Lay’s Tavern and Inn

Sources

1. ↑ Barbour, Lucius Barnes, 1982, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, Maryland and Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc., Glastonbury, Connecticut pp.365
2. ↑ Vol. 14 Original Distribution of The Lands in Hartford Among the Settlers 1639 Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society]] (The Connecticut Historical Society and the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, Hartford 1860-1928) p. 357 description, p. 206 mentions that Bunce bought his land #121 on the map.
3. ↑ Vol. 6 Hartford Town Votes Vol. 1 1635-1716 Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society (The Connecticut Historical Society and the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, Hartford 1860-1928) p. 42, town returns land
4. ↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692. Vol. I-IV. Boston, MA, USA: 1860-1862.
5. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. By Connecticut; Connecticut. Council; Council of Safety (Conn.); Connecticut. Laws, etc; Trumbull, J. Hammond; Hoadly, Charles J. Hartford: Brown & Parsons, 1850 p. 302 Link at Archive.org
6. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration Directory (The). Immigrants to New England, 1620-1640. A Concise Compendium. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Austin, John Osborne. Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island: Comprising Three Generations of Settlers Who Came Before 1690 : With Many Families Carried to the Fourth Generation. (Albany: J. Munsell Sons, 1887) p. 123
8. ↑ Rhode Island Genealogical Register Vol 3 #1 p. 24.
9. ↑ The original should be looked at but does not seem to be online.