Anthony Stoddard (1678 - 1760)

Born 9 Aug 1678 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Prudence Goodrich (Welles) Stoddard — married 20 Oct 1700 in Wethersfield, Connecticut

Husband of Mary (Sherman) Stoddard — married 3 Jan 1716 in Woodbury, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 6 Sep 1760 at age 82 in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut Colony

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Biography

Reverend Anthony Stoddard B. 1678 Anthony Stoddard was born in August 1678 in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was the seventh of 13 children of Solomon Stoddard and Esther Warham. Anthony came from an educated family and his Father was a Reverend in Northampton.

Anthony attended Cambridge University, and graduated from Harvard College in 1697 with an AB. In October 1700, he married Prudence Welles in Wethersfield, Connecticut. He was 22, she was 18. Evidently they soon moved to Woodbury, Connecticut and all their ten children were born there; Baby 1701, Mary 1702, Solomon 1703, Eliakim 1705, Elisha 1706, Israel 1708, John 1709, Prudence 1711, Gideon 1714 and a Baby in 1715. Two of their children only lived a few hours. They also lost four of their children to "Died of a Great Fever". Mary 25, Soloman 24, Israel 19, and John 17, all died of the fever within 9 days of each other in 1727.

In May 1702, Anthony was ordained as the pastor of the First Church of Christ in Woodbury. Even though a Pastor, Anthony continued his education. In 1715, he graduated from Harvard College with an AM. "He was minister at Woodbury from 1702 till his death. He was clerk for the Court of Probate in the District of Woodbury. He held this position from October 1716 to May 1759 when he resigned. He was the lawyer and physician of his people, and one of the most extensive farmers in the town". One of his sermons "The Election Sermon" was published and wide spread.

Anthony became a widower in 1715 when Prudence died in childbirth. He was left with 8 children ranging in age from 13 years to 12 months old. Anthony married just a few months later. His second wife was Mary Sherman. They married in Woodbury in 1715. Later he married a third time. His third wife was named Hanna.

Known children of Anthony Stoddard and his wives:^[1]

1. Mary, b June 19, 1702
2. Solomon, b Oct 12, 1703; d May 23, 1727 "with the Great Fever"
3. Eliakim, b Apr 3, 1705; d 1750; m Joanna Curtiss in 1729
4. Elisha, b Nov 24, 1706; m Rebekah Sherman and d 1766
5. Israel, b Aug 7, 1708; d May 30, 1727
6. John, b Mar 2, 1710
7. Prudence, b Oct 12, 1711
8. Gideon, b May 27, 1714; m Olive Curtiss 1734
9. Esther, b Oct 11, 1716; m Preserved Strong
10. Abijah, b Feb 28, 1718, m Eunice Curtiss Apr 4, 1739
11. Elizabeth, b Nov 15, 1719; m David Munn

Anthony died in September 1760 in Woodbury, Connecticut, at the age of 82. He was buried in Woodbury in the churchyard of the Woodbury Congregationalist Church. Near the center of the old cemetery is a large monument to the early ministers. Because Anthony was the first minister, one side of the obelisk is dedicated to him.

A notice of Anthony's passing appeared in the Boston News Letter, No. 112. It was preached at the "Lecture in Boston, upon the Death of the Learned and Venerable Solomon Stoddard, late Pastor of the Church of Christ in Northampton; who departed this Life Febr. 11, 1729. AEtat. 86", by Benjamin Colman. It reads: "Northampton, Feb, 13, 1728-9. On the 11th Instant died and this Day was buried here, the very reverend and aged, our honoured and beloved Pastor, Mr. Solomon Stoddard; too eminent a Person to be suffered to slip into his Grave is silence. He was born at Boston, Anno 1643. The eldest son of Anthony Stoddard Esq. by his second Wife, who was the Sister of Sir George Downing. Had his School Learning at Cambridge under the famous Master Corlet. Took his first Degree at Harvard College, Anno 1662; and was afterwards one of the Fellows of that House. Growing out of Health by reason of too close an application to his Studies, he was prevail'd on to take a Voyage to Barbadoes with Governor Serle, as his Chaplain; he returned to his native Country in about two Years. Upon the Death of the excellent Mr. Eleazer Mather, the first Pastor of the Church in this Place, who died when but 35 Years of Age. Mr. Stoddard was chosen and invited to succeed him. He was ordained to the Pastoral Office over us, Anno 1672, and we have enjoyed an uncommon Blessing in him for 56 years together. He married Mrs. Mather, the prudent and pious Relict of is Predecessor, and Daughter of the Reverend Mr. Warham of Windsor, who now survives him; by whom he was bless'd with many children, eight of which are living, two Sons and Six daughters. His Eldest Son, the reverend Mr. Anthony Stoddard is now the worthy Pastor of the Church at Woodberry. His second son, Col.m John Stoddard, is one of the present Members of His Majesty's Council. And five of his daughters are married to worthy ministers. The Rev. Mr. Williams of Hatfield (one of his sons-in-law), preached a funeral sermon for him, the day of his interment. He had also the satisfaction for some time before he died, to have his grandson, Mr. Jonathan Edwards, joined with him, to be the colleague of his age and his successor at his death; for whom we can't wish anything better, than that the mantle of Elijah may rest on Elisha".

There is a portrait of Anthony that was painted between 1715 and 1735. In 2004, it was in the Yale University Art Gallery and had been a gift from Mary Gerard in 1957. The painting is oil on canvas 30" by 25" and is their # 1957.4.1.

Information from "Genealogies and Biographies of Ancient Wethersfield" by Henry Stiles, "History of Ancient Woodbury Connecticut", and Michael's Genealogy on the net. Compiled by G. Lewis, February 2008.

Burial

South Cemetery, Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut

GPS (lat/lon): 41.54106, -73.20859

Find A Grave Memorial# 15031180

Sources

1. ↑ Cothren, William History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut, from the first Indian deed in 1659 ... including the present towns of Washington, Southbury, Bethlem, Roxbury, and a part of Oxford and Middlebury, published 1854. Reference page 714

• Birth: Antony Stoddard, b August 9, 1678, Northamptom, Hampshire Massachusetts, parents Solomon and Esther Stoddard, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, database, FamilySearch : accessed 4 February 2016, Antony Stoddard, 09 Aug 1678; citing Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, ; FHL microfilm 14,766.
• Cothren, William, History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut, from the first Indian deed in 1659 to 1854, published 1854. Reference page 714
• Jacobus, Donald Lines, compiled & edited (1930-2). History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Volume I. For the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (Fairfield, Connecticut) Vol. 1, page 544
• True Record of Mortality in Woodbury, Connecticut, 1783-1853 (Ormel A. Hall, Bridgeport, Conn, 1853) Page 47

• Page 48: Inscriptions upon Monuments in the Grave Yard at Woodbury, Conn.: "July 29, 1783 Widow of Rev. Anthony Stoddard"

• Jacobus, Donald Lines, compiled & edited (1930-2). History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield. For the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (Fairfield, Connecticut), Vol. 1, page 657
• Genealogical Notes Or Contributions to the Family History of Some of the First Settlers of Connecticut and Masschusetts by Nathaniel Goodwin (1982), pg. 72
• Stoddard's Journal, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1851) Vol. 5, Page 24
• Barnes, Leon M., Barnes' Mortality Record of The Town of Woodbury (Leon M. Barnes, Woodbury, Connecticut, 1898) Deaths:

• Page 6: 1701, July 8, Mr. Stoddard's first child was born and died 1d
• Page 23: 1760. September 6, Rev. Anthony Stoddard, pastor of the First Congregational church, died of a violent disease of two days duration. Had beenin the ministry for sixty-one years, age 83.

• Historical Memorial, Presbyterian Church, Succasunna, N.J., 1765-1895 (The Iron era, Dover, N.J., 1895) Page 30.
• Sibley, John Langdon. Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University (Charles William Sever, Cambridge, 1873) Vol. 4, Page 381-83.