Joseph Easton II (1648 - 1711)

"(II) Joseph (2), son of Deacon Joseph Easton, founder, was born (it is believed) in Hartford, Connecticut, about 1648, as in October, 1669, he is recorded in the town records as a freeman, which implies a voter. March 5, 1674, he was chosen a grand juror, and in April, 1691, a deacon of the First Church. He was possessed of considerable land and money, which he disposed of by will, February 8, 1690, proved

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in court, March 3, 1712. He died December 30, 1711, and Hannah Ensign, who were of the original colony, and one of the proprietors of Hartford. Children: 1. Joseph (see Forward). 2. James. 3. Hannah. 4. Elizabeth. 5. Jonathan. 6. Timothy. 7. Thankful."

Genealogical & Family History of Northern, NY Pages 32-40

William Richard Cutter, A. M. Editorial Supervisor

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/EASTON/1999-01/0916278394

I'll tackle the easy questions first. In this book that I have, written by William S. Easton in 1899, he goes to some length to show that Hannah Ensign was actually the wife of Joseph Easton's son, Joseph. WSE has looked at land, church, and probate records to establish this. He also points out that Hannah's dad, James was of the same age as Joseph, Sr., and finally he figures that because Joseph, Sr.'s daughters were named Mary and Sarah - their mother must have had one of those names.

Col. James Easton, born in 1728, is the son of Joseph Easton, born in 1697, who is the son of Joseph Easton born in 1669, who is the son of Joseph Easton born in 1648 (and married Hannah Ensign), who is the son of Joseph, the emigrant. All of the above took place in East Hartford, CT.

The Joseph who was born in 1669 had 7 children, one was the above-mentioned Joseph, born in 1697. He also had another son Samuel who was born in 1702. Samuel had a son also named Samuel born in 1733. This Samuel also had a son named Samuel, born in 1761. He also had a son Samuel born in 1784 (this is all taking place in Hartford). This Samuel moved to upstate NY (Martinsburg), married Ann Denison and had 10 children two of whom were Ansel Ives (of Central America fame) and Giles Alexander, born in 1829. Giles had 5 children one of whom was my grandfather, Stanly Alexander, born in 1873. Both Ansel and Giles went straight to California from NY so we missed all of the midwest family.

Incidentally, it's through that marriage to Ann Denison that we are ultimately related to William Brewster of the "Plimouth Plantation" which allows you to join all kinds of patriotic organizations, if that's of interest.

http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/easton_joseph.htm

Deacon Joseph Easton, born ab. 1602, Cambridge; freeman, March 4, 1635; an original proprietor at Hartford; his home-lot, in 1639, was on the south side of the highway, now Elm St., near the west end. Chosen chimney viewer, 1649 ; surveyor of highways, 1652, 1656, 1666 ; constable, 1658. He in. Hannah, dau. of James Ensign, of Hartford. He bought land on the east side of the river, of Richard Goodman, and was one of the committee on fencing the meadow in 1683; d. Aug. 19, 1688, aged SG.-Ch.: i. Joseph, settled in East Hartford; lived in the North Meadow ab. 1700; chimneyviewer, 1669; townsman, 1704; deacon; d. Dec. 30, 1711. ii. John, Hartford ; admitted to the South Church, Aug. 28, 1670 ; surveyor of highways, 1671 ; townsman, 1693; in. Elizabeth -, who d. June 10, 1710. He d. Nov. 2, 1716. iii. Mary, m. John Skinner, of Hartford; d. June 18, 1695. iv. Sarah, m. Robert Shirley, of Hartford. Colonel James Easton, of Hartford, afterward of Pittsfield, who was associated with Colonel Ethan Allen in the taking of Ticonderoga, was a great-grandson of Joseph Easton, of East Hartford.

Children with Hanna Ensign (easton)

James Easton Joseph Easton Thankful Easton Timothy Easton Hannah Easton Elizabeth Easton Jonathan Easton