Samuel Humphrey (1656 - 1735)

Born 15 May 1656 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Mills) Humphrey — married 26 Feb 1680 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 15 Jun 1735 at age 79 in Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile managers: David Paulsen [send private message] and Patty Baker [send private message]

Samuel Humphrey is related to US President Ulysses S. Grant. Here is the trail.

Biography

LT SAMUEL HUMPHREY^[1] was born in 1656. He passed away in 1736. ^[2]

^[3]"Samuel Humphrey was born May 15,1656 to Michael Humphrey and Priscilla Grant. His future wife, Mary Mills, was born six and a half years later (Dec 8,1662) to Simon Mills and Mary Buell. They were married in 1680. They had eight children:

1. Mary born 1681 Nov 16, married to Bartholomew Case
2. Elizabeth born 1684 Apr 22, married to John Collyer [our direct line]
3. Samuel born 1686 May 17, married four times
4. Jonathan born 1688 Dec 2, married to Mercy Ruggles
5. Abigail unknown when born, married to John Case
6. Hannah born 1697 Apr 6 (she was not in her father's 1734 will, presjme deceased)
7. Charles unknown when born
8. Noah born 1707, married Hannah Case

Samuel and Mary Humphrey spent their life in the Windsor/Simsbury area (Simsbury was created in 1670). Samuel was active in the First Church. His name is frequently mentioned in connection with church matters. ...

With other townsfolk in 1707, Samuel signed an agreement to carry on the copper mines near Simsbury. This was the first incorporated copper mine in America. The mine was operated until 1754. During the Revolutionary War, the mine was turned into a prison for British soldiers and British loyalists.

Indian troubles continued to plague the colonists. Around the age of 53, Samuel Humphrey was commissioned a lieutenant by Massachusetts Governor Saltonstall. He was part of a company that included men from Simsbury. In 1711-12, forces were sent fifty miles north into the county of Hampshire, Massachusetts, to oppose the movements of hostile Indians who had assembled at that place in considerable force.

Amongst his years performing town duties and his time in the militia, Samuel made many purchases of land. He was also Justice of the Peace for several years and served in the town politics and meetings. Samuel Humphrey represented his town of Simsbury in the Connecticut colonial general assembly. He did this for many years between 1719 and 1725.

In 1734, he wrote his will. He died two years later at the age of 80, his wife had preceded him in death."

Abiel Brown calls him Ensign, actually his son's Militia rank.

^[4]"Samuel Humphrey of Simsbury. Although he was Captain in war he never received remuneration for his time and suffering in the American cause. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, who had 33 years previously in 1797, preached a "century sermon" for Benjamin's 100 year old aunt, Sarah Mills-Fuller-Garrett-Woodford. An excerpt from Benjamin's funeral sermon: "He was a man of Christian integrity toward God and his fellow citizens. His prayers and his pious example will operate long after he is sleeping in the dust. He kept the world indebted to him while he lived in it." During the last years of his long life of 91 years he became quite deaf, and his tottering form was permitted to ascend the pulpit, always standing in prayer by the side of the venerable Hallock."

Will dated 22 July 1734, Simsbury. Proved 6 Jul 1736

Burial: Hop Meadow Cemetery; Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA - ^[5] (Please see note below from Find A Grave Photo Volunteer)

Research Notes

• From a Find A Grave photo volunteer: "I spoke with the (cemetery) caretaker, she stated that during this time period "Simsbury" included Canton and Windsor. So, it is possible that the stone was in Hopmeadow OR is in a different town. We went through her book, dating back to the 1600's, and there was no listing for Samuel Humphrey."

Sources

1. ↑ http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=2300270&pid=839148888 Ancestry Family Trees
2. ↑ Entered by David Paulsen, Aug 20, 2012
3. ↑ Poole, James P.; Poole, Laura.; The Olcott family (ancestors of Harold Olcott 1902-1989) p. 47 https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/808642
4. ↑ Mills, Vera E.. The Mills Family: Twelve Geneations Descended from Pilgrim Simon Mills I from Yorkshire, England, 1630. United States: n.p., 1963. p. 40. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/761880
5. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112485925/samuel-humphrey

• Welles, Edwin. Births, Marriages, and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor, and Fairfield, and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut: (Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1898) Page 44
• "The Humphreys Family In America" published 1885. pp. 111, 243-246.
• History of West Simsbury; Abiel Brown
• Pettibone Registry (see Sharp-661),
• Barbour ms., Genealogy of the Pettibone Family.
• Stiles; History of Windsor CT
• Vital and Town Records of Windsor and Simsbury CT
• Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112485925/samuel-humphrey: accessed 07 September 2023), memorial page for Lieut Samuel Humphrey (15 May 1656–15 Jun 1735), Find A Grave: Memorial #112485925, citing Simsbury Cemetery, Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Edwin Poor (contributor 47460787).